Mumbai, September 9, 2021: Young Indian paddler Mudit Dani is all set to participate in the top division European League after he signed up to play for B75 Table Tennis Club in the Danish Super League.
Currently the sixth ranked Indian in the men’s single world rankings, Mudit has earlier played in the leagues in Germany and France and, now has signed a season-long contract with B75 Table Tennis Club.
“I’m very excited as this is my first time playing in the top league in a European country. For this I’d like to thank B75 for believing in me. Experience of playing in the leagues always helps players to perform better at the international level,” Mudit said.
Ace Indian paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal has also played in the Danish League in the past. The upcoming season of the league will see participation of some of the top international paddlers from across the world including the Olympic Games medallist and the former World No. 8 Michael Maze of Denmark.
“There weren’t many tournaments last year due to the pandemic and now with the international circuit resuming gradually, I’m looking to get much-needed match practice while playing here. This league has some top players and I look forward to a great season with the team,” the 22-year-old added.
Mudit made his senior debut in 2018 and won his first-ever medal in the senior circuit at the US Open in 2019. Recently he played the World Table Tennis Contender in Doha and Budapest.
Author: Abhishek Shukla
Owner of Sports India Live.
Want to see the team dominate matches, states Rajasthan Royals’ Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara
Dubai (UAE), 09 September 2021: Sri Lankan legend and Rajasthan Royals’ Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara arrived in the UAE earlier this week and is looking forward to resuming the season with a confident Royals squad who are placed fifth in the IPL points table.
Speaking from his hotel room, where he’s under quarantine with his family, Kumar said, “The first phase of the season had both positives and negatives for our team. It was a bit of a mixed bag with some injuries and pull-outs, but those are very understandable situations where you must support the players. After that, we were left in a different place to where we had envisioned ourselves after a great Auction earlier this year. But I was glad to see other players stepping up and filling in the roles that were required of them and playing to their own strengths to help the team.”
Summing up the first phase of the season, Kumar said he was happy to see the character shown by his side to deal with hindrances. “We started off with a great game against Kings, then we beat Delhi and finished the phase with probably our best all-round performance which came against SRH. It was a good way to finish the phase but was tough on the players because they had worked so hard to be in that position. However, the guys showed a lot of character, patience, and understanding in that environment where it was quite a tough period with what was happening in India and around the world due to COVID. I think it was a great test for everyone involved with the franchise, and I was very impressed with all the players and the management because they all had tough jobs, but their focus was immense,” said the 43-year-old.
Having stayed in touch with players during the off-season, Kumar says “it was good to see lots of feedback from the players.” “I expect them to always challenge the plans we set for them and question as to why they’re doing something, or if they have a better alternative. I think that’s the real way we can challenge each other as coaches and players to get better. And I’m genuinely very happy to note that our players are excelling at that. I really love the energy and the attitude of all the players at the Royals, especially the younger Indian guys, who are all very keen to learn and very confident in their abilities,” he added.
Commenting on what he expects from his team as they aim to make it to the playoffs, Kumar said, “What I want to see from them is their best efforts – competing as hard and for as long as possible to create opportunities to take games by the scruff of their neck and win them – that’s the real key. If one player can win us the odd game here and there, different players become those match-winners in different games, and that’s really what you’re looking for in terms of formulating a side winning.”
Sending messages of support and best wishes to players who have had to pull out, Kumar added, “Jos Buttler has of course had a new addition to his family and we congratulate him and the family. We really miss those guys because they’ve been brilliant due to what they bring to the franchise, not just on the field but also off it. With Ben (Stokes), we understand the situation and realize the importance of this period in his life and continue to provide all the support and love he needs.”
“Jofra Archer has had a huge miss in terms of cricket with his injury, and we would really like him to get better. He’s brilliant to watch when he’s playing not just for RR, but generally in world cricket. I think world cricket needs Jofra Archer back because he’s been such a great performer and athlete,” added the Lankan great.
Talking about the squad for the remainder of the tournament, and referring to Jaydev Unadkat as ‘a great example of hard work and determination’, Kumar added, “Earlier this year, I was particularly impressed with JD (Jaydev Unadkat), because we all know that he has gone through some difficult phases in his career but I think he really stepped up during the first phase of IPL 2021. His bowling was outstanding, and that just goes to show that you can come back from a setback and start doing well if you put in the work. I know we have a really good squad again which gives us the chance of going with various combinations. I’m also really excited to see what our younger players can bring to the table.”
Praising the leadership of young captain Sanju Samson, Kumar said, “I really think Sanju Samson does well when he’s Sanju Samson. He’s a very impressive cricketer and a very bright young man. He’s got a balanced head on his shoulders, and I like the way he keeps everything very simple, clear and direct. His captaincy was very impressive given he had to take over at a tough time without a full-strength squad. So we’ll keep talking to him and supporting him to make sure he’s excelling in his game and is going to be an excellent captain for the franchise.”
India’s national champions to participate in the Regional Qualifiers at the Esports World Championship 2021
New Delhi, September 09, 2021: A strong 17-member Indian contingent is geared up to present the country’s challenge at the Regional Qualifiers of the 13th Esports World Championship which are scheduled online from September 11 to October 10.
After impressive title-winning triumphs at the recently-concluded National Esports Championship (NESC) 2021, Hemanth Kommu (PES 2021), Hitesh Khorwal (Tekken7), five-member Team for Dota2, comprising of captain Jaikishan Malik, Manav Kunte, Shubham Goli, Vedant Patil, Ranjit Biswal and five-member Team for CS:GO, comprising of captain Ritesh Sarda, Shuvajyoti Chakraborty, Anshul Adardkar, Hrishikesh Shenoy & Harsh Jain will represent India at the prestigious tournament.
The 2021 Esports World Championship, unlike the last edition, which was completely held virtually, will be played with the remodeled format comprising a mix of online and offline competitions. The countries are divided into 10 different regions in the Regional Qualifiers and the winners will proceed to the Finals, which will be played offline in Eilat, Israel from November 14-19. The Indian contingent is placed in the South Asia region alongside Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and UAE.
“The NESC ’21 was a stupendous success in every possible way, there were many surprising and impressive results. This Indian contingent will be tough one to beat and I’m certain that they will not only put up a strong fight but also strive for a podium finish. It’s great to see a growing interest among the Indian youth towards Esports. On behalf of the Esports Federation of India, I wish the entire squad best luck for the prestigious event,” said Mr Yugal Kishore Sharma, Director of Esports Federation of India (ESFI).
The NESC 2021 was full of surprises as the new talents dethroned the defending champions and earned themselves spots at the Esports World Championship.
In PES 2021, the defending champion Moin Amdani among the country’s 31 top players, including Navneetha Anand and Ankur Diwakar, a duo which was part of Team India at the 2018 Asian Games, battled it out. Hemanth notched up a close victory against Navneetha in the final and secured himself a spot in the Regional Qualifiers. However, Amdani lost to Gulrez in losers bracket.
CS:GO also witnessed participation of 22 top Indian teams including Wicked Gaming, Tetroyd, Team Ano, Vac Banned, Redemptions and Infinity Esports. Living up to the favourites tag, Wicked Gaming put up a brilliant show and defeated Team Ano in a nail-biting summit clash.
In Tekken7, thedefending champion Abhinav Tejan and other 66 top Indian athletes took part. Hitesh Khorwal aka rcool emerged as the champion after he brilliantly cut short Rohit Jain’s winning run in the grand finale. The strong title contender Tejan suffered a defeat against Jeonsa, who was later defeated by mokujimaster.
In the popular multiplayer online battle arena game, DOTA 2, Team Punisher sealed a berth in the Regional Qualifiers after beating Macro Monks in the final.
This upcoming edition of the Esports World Championship will witness a strong competition with the National Esports Federations of 77 countries taking part in it. The matches will be streamed live on the International Esports Federation’s official channels.
“I will cherish the Tokyo Olympics 2020 experience for a lifetime,” says Indian Women’s Hockey striker Lalremsiami
New Delhi, 09 September 2021: From braving the personal tragedy of losing her father during the 2019 FIH Women’s Series Finals to scripting history with the Indian Women’s Hockey team at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, young striker Lalremsiami has come a long way. The 21-year-old striker was an integral part of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team that finished fourth at the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics 2020.
Speaking about her Olympics experience, Lalremsiami said, “I was a bit nervous, to be honest, and it kind of reflected in my performances in the first three matches. But, senior players and coaching staff helped me and other junior players to calm our nerves down, they kept motivating us and asked us to express ourselves freely. We stuck to each other, played like a unit, and I think that really helped us to do well when it mattered the most.”
“We went on to beat a strong team like Australia in the Quarter Final and qualified for the first-ever Semi-Finals at the Olympics. You know, it’s a very special feeling to be a part of history, and this is something I will cherish for a lifetime. The love and support from our fans have motivated us to do even better, and we want to make them proud again,” she added.
Fondly known as Siami, Lalremsiami has been an inspiration to many. Despite hearing the news about her father’s death during FIH Women’s Series Finals 2019, the young gun decided to stay back with the team, which went on to win the tournament beating hosts Japan 3-1.
Having fulfilled her late father’s dream by featuring in the Indian Women’s Hockey team that scripted history in Tokyo, Lalremsiami is now aiming to win an Olympic Medal for her father.
“One of the dreams of my father is fulfilled. And now, I want to win an Olympic medal for him. No doubt, we missed the Bronze medal by a whisker, but if we look at the positives, I think we have gained a lot of confidence, and it will help us to do even better in the future,” said the young striker from Mizoram.
The 21-year-old player further added that it’s time to move forward and focus on the qualifications for the Paris Olympics.
“It’s time to move forward, and focus on the Paris Olympics. Our priority is to win the Gold medal at the Asian Games 2022, which means we qualify directly for the 2024 Olympic Games,” she concluded.
200 Special Olympics Bharat athletes take part in Sunfeast India Move As One
New Delhi, 08 September 2021: Two hundred athletes and their families from across the country representing Special Olympics Bharat have registered for India’s largest citizen-led movement Sunfeast India Move As One (SIMAO). Special Olympics Bharat, which champions the use of sport and activity to transform the lives of children and young adults with intellectual disability has decided to come together with Procam International for this initiative, giving participants a chance to fundraise and build awareness for the organisation.
The second edition of Sunfeast India Move As One kicked off on India’s 75th Independence Day with an aim to encourage an active lifestyle with a simple act of movement dedicated to raise funds for the cause of children impacted by the ongoing pandemic – run, walk, jog, pedal or even use a wheelchair. Sunfeast India Move As One encourages people to commit a positive action for yourself, while contributing to the cause of these children.
The wide range of activities ensures an opportunity for every individual to join the movement. The Special Olympics athletes and their families will also undertake various activities to support the cause for a fitter, more inclusive India. Participants of Sunfeast India Move As One can also donate and pledge to support Special Olympics athletes and their quest for inclusion as their athletes walk the talk and participate in the movement to lead by example.
The movement has already garnered support from influential personalities including Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, world athletic icon Haile Gebrselassie, sporting champions Sakshi Malik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rohan Bopanna along with Rahul Bose, Rhea Pillai, Tara Sharma, Priya Dutt who have lent their voice to the voiceless, endeavoring to restore hope for as many children as possible.
Providing a further fillip to the movement, Special Olympics Bharat are the latest to come on board with the initiative to raise awareness and participate for the cause. The organisation aims to provide sports-training and opportunities of participation in athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them opportunities to learn, enjoy and benefit from participation in sports.
“Sunfeast India Move as One’s greatly resonates with Special Olympics Bharat,” says Dr Mallika Nadda, Chairperson of SO Bharat. “We truly believe that fitness and sports have the power to create change for the better. Our Special athletes take immense pride in doing their bit and move towards a fitter, healthier India. We are also delighted to join the movement and are looking forward to engaging with this incredible community at the Sunfeast India Move as One.”
Meanwhile, Vivek Singh, Jt. MD, Procam International said, “Sunfeast India Move as One is an inclusive movement. We are delighted to collaborate with Special Olympics Bharat to promote the message of inclusion and good health for all. This year, our focus is primarily on championing the cause of children and the work of SO Bharat in promoting equitable opportunities for children with intellectual disabilities, is an inspiring example for our journey forward.”
At INR 149, Sunfeast India Move As One encourages participants to run, walk, jog, cycle, use a wheelchair, treadmill, or stationary bike. INR 50 from every registration will go directly towards NGOs supporting children causes empanelled with GiveIndia for Sunfeast India Move As One.
Registrations for the Sunfeast India Move As One will continue till 13th Sep 2021. The movement commenced on 15th Aug 2021 and will continue till 15th Sep 2021. Participants will have the opportunity to fundraise until 30th Sep 2021. For more details log on to: sunfeastindiamoveasone.procam.in.
Sunfeast India Move As One is envisioned by leading sports IP creator Procam International, powered by the nation’s most trusted giving platform GiveIndia, championed by ITC’s Sunfeast, one of India’s leading biscuits brands and strengthened by the FIT India Movement.
The movement is blessed by Art of Living as its Value Partner and supported by ASICS, Imd1 – YoGo, FAST&UP, PhonePe, Republic TV, Fever FM & Radio One and E4M & BW.
(**Participants are urged to follow COVID guidelines issued by their respective state and centre while ensuing their daily activities**)
We’ll try to build on our momentum from the first half of the IPL 2021 season, says Delhi Capitals’ leg-spinner Amit Mishra
Dubai, 08 September 2021:Delhi Capitals’ leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who has taken the second-most wickets (166) in the history of the Indian Premier League, has been trying to get used to the conditions in the UAE during the pre-season camp in Dubai ahead of the second half of the VIVO IPL 2021. Mishra, who was diagnosed with Covid-19 just before the IPL was suspended in May 2021, spoke about how he re-built his fitness post recovery from the illness.
“After the IPL was suspended in May, I focussed on my recovery from Covid-19. According to the advice given to me by the doctors, I improved my fitness slowly and steadily. It was difficult for me during the recovery phase, but I am happy that I am here for the second half of the season. I trained on my own and didn’t go close to anybody after recovery. I got some gym equipment such as treadmill and set them up at my home as well because I didn’t want to train in a public gym,” said Mishra.
The JSW and GMR co-owned franchise Delhi Capitals had a fantastic run in the first half of the tournament, recording 6 wins in 8 matches. However, Mishra expressed that all teams will have to start afresh when the season resumes this month, “We are at the top of the table right now, but we have to start afresh. We have to set our strategies again. I think every team has an equal chance of doing well now since we are all re-starting the tournament. We are playing the second half of the IPL in a different country, so we have to devise our strategies according to the conditions here in the UAE.”
The Leg-spinner added that the Delhi Capitals will try to build on the momentum they had in the first half of the season.
“We have been doing well in the last two seasons and the performances have come because of a collective effort. From coaches to selectors to players, everyone should be credited for Delhi Capitals’ progress as a team in the last few years. We will try to build on our momentum from the first half of the IPL 2021 season and take one match at a time once the season resumes,” said the 38-year-old.
The Delhi Capitals are set to take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad on 22 September 2021, when the VIVO IPL 2021 season resumes.
Rajasthan Royals helped me when I was at my worst,” states leg-spinner KC Cariappa
Dubai (UAE), 08 September 2021: Ahead of an important phase of the Indian Premier League, two of our Karnataka-based players took out time to express their thoughts on the upcoming season and what’s in store for them. All-rounder Shreyas Gopal and leg spinner KC Cariappa have not had much competitive cricket under their belts in recent months but are all geared up to take their Rajasthan Royals side to the playoffs in the UAE.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Shreyas said, “I think there are two ways of looking at the break in the IPL season. For people who weren’t doing all that well including myself, I think it was a chance to put on the thinking cap and see what modifications and improvements could be made. Whereas, for people who had been doing well, the first two teams in the table for that instance, it puts a break on them and they’ll now have to restart, so puts everyone on level pegging.”
Meanwhile, for 27-year-old Cariappa, the season has come as a chance at redemption, after he had been away from cricket for a while. “It was a very depressing period for me when I was not part of the Karnataka team earlier this year. I did well last year in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but after that, things became bad for me,” said the leg spinner.
“I was just roaming around in Bengaluru and my fitness had taken a toll, but that is when Zubin (Bharucha) sir called me to ask to come for the IPL trials. I was shocked that someone is asking me to come for trials because I was lost almost for one year and weighed around 95kgs then. However, I went for it and bowled well,” added Cariappa.
“Zubin sir then called me and said, ‘I’ve been following you since 2015, but what is wrong with you? What is wrong with your fitness? We like your bowling but you have to get your fitness right.’ And that was the moment when I found the motivation again, and I worked really hard to get back into shape. So I’m really thankful to him and to the Rajasthan Royals franchise for showing faith in me. I feel that I’m back on my feet because of them and now it’s time to repay that faith on the field,” expressed an emotional Cariappa.
Shreyas, on the other hand, has been consistently featuring both in the IPL and in the domestic circuit, and wants to keep everything simple. “I think it’s more about the kind of mind space I’ve been in – the way I’m bowling, batting, fielding, and also how I’m feeling. I want to keep my work ethic high, but also realize that it’s going to be a long season with bubble life again, so I want to be present in the now, and remain simple with my process.”
The 28-year-old had played all 14 matches for the Royals in the 2020 season which was held in the UAE, and the all-rounder is again looking at using his experience in the gulf nation. “We played last year around the same time, so we have been witness to the conditions at all three places. We know the strengths in terms of length of the boundaries, etc. And as the tournament progresses, the pitches get a bit slower and are good batting wickets at the start. So we’ll be backing ourselves to do really well in these conditions and execute our plans,” stated Gopal who has 48 wickets in 47 IPL matches.
Calling the upcoming season as one of the most crucial of his life, Cariappa said that he will use his opportunities to make a case for the Indian team. “I have been training really consistently during the off season, and it (the upcoming season) is very important because I’ve been waiting for a big opportunity for a long time, and every year I’ve been getting only a few matches, and sometimes they go well, sometimes they go bad. But if I get an opportunity again, I just want to do well and, in my head, I tell myself that I should be in the Indian team – I feel every cricketer aspires to play for his country and so do I.”
Lastly, adding that two fellow Karnataka and India legends have inspired him, Shreyas Gopal added, “My favourite batter was always Rahul Dravid, and bowler was Anil Kumble. I tried imitating Anil sir’s action during childhood, and a part of it is still there in my action I think. When I first met him during my Mumbai (Indians) days, he told me about the importance of having a fierce body language, mindset, and then let the skill set take over. I think ever since I’ve tried having that burn and desire in me, and I’m always willing to bowl the hard overs, and be there for the team in those tough situations. Meanwhile, Rahul sir is a lot calmer, but if you look into his eyes, he’s a fierce competitor as well,” signed off Gopal.
OCA announces titles for Hangzhou Asian Games esports competition
Hangzhou, China, September 8, 2021: The Olympic Council of Asia has announced the titles for the debut of esports as an official medal sport at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in September 2022.
There will be eight medal events, plus two demonstration games, reflecting the popularity and growth of electronic sports in China and Asia. The announcement of the games titles was made on the first day of the two-day Chefs de Mission Seminar video conference for the 19th Asian Games on Wednesday, September 8.
The Director General of the OCA, Mr Husain Al-Musallam, said: “We hope that this announcement allows all participating teams ample time to prepare and equip themselves ahead of the qualifying stages.
“I believe we have ticked all the right boxes ensuring a high level of competition which promises great viewing for enthusiasts and casuals alike.
“We at the OCA are looking forward to working closely with our friends at the Asian Electronic Sports Federation and the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee to ensure a successful execution of the esports event at the 2022 Asian Games.”
The Asian Electronic Sports Federation, which is based in Hong Kong, China, has been appointed Technical Delegate of the esports competition at the 19th Asian Games by the OCA. The AESF will be in charge of the qualifying competition and for the operation and management of the esports competition in Hangzhou.
The eight official events, and publisher, are:
1、Arena of Valor Asian Games Version
2、Dota 2
3、Dream Three Kingdoms 2
4、EA SPORTS FIFA branded soccer games
5、HearthStone
6、League of Legends
7、PUBG Mobile Asian Games Version
8、Street Fighter V
The two demonstration events are:
9、AESF Robot Masters-Powered by Migu
10、AESF VR Sports-Powered by Migu
Mr Lokesh Suji, Director, Esports Federation of India & Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF) said on this announcement:
“Finally, we are here with esports at the Asian Games’22; 8 esports titles means 24 medals. For titles like Hearthstone; EA FIFA, DOTA2, League of Legends, Street Fighter, we have very strong chances of winning Medals for India; Tirth Mehta who got bronze medal last time (2018), will be able to convert that bronze to a Gold this time. We will soon launch the “Road to Asian Games” program in line with AESF, to identify the best of the talent and train them for the main event at Hangzhou, China in September 2022. Thankfully we have enough time at our hands (unlike last time) to have the best of the players represent India at Asian Games’22. For titles like AOV (Asian Games Version) and PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version); we are waiting for more inputs to come.
It’s time for our Sports Ministry to recognize ESFI and our sport “esports”. We are confident that we will increase our medals tally this time. ESFI & AESF both are committed to develop, support and grow esports not only in India but the region.”
It’s been a dream run for me,” states Indian Men’s Hockey Striker Dilpreet Singh
New Delhi, 08 September 2021: Star striker Dilpreet Singh has had a dream run so far with the Indian Men’s Hockey Team. Ever since his grand outing in the Sultan of Johor Cup in 2017 where the India Colts won the Bronze Medal, Dilpreet’s career has soared to new heights. He was called-up for the Senior Camp and soon became part of the team in almost every major tournament since 2018 including the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games as well as the World Cup in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Now, having been part of India’s historic feat at the Tokyo Olympic Games where they won the coveted Bronze Medal, a feat India has been waiting for 41 years, Dilpreet feels fortunate to be part of this team. He said, “We all worked so hard to achieve this feat. We never let any difficulties during the pandemic affect our morale. The Seniors played a big part in encouraging us constantly and making us feel like we can do this. I feel so fortunate to be part of this incredible group and yes, I do believe I have been lucky to have had such a great start to my international career,” stated the young forward from Punjab.
Only 21-years-old, Dilpreet said the support he received from Hockey India and the support staff particularly when he was dropped from the Senior Team following the 2018 FIH Men’s World Cup where the team was knocked out in the Quarter Finals became the turning point of his career. “Looking back, surely that was not an easy period for me. Maybe I could not handle the success of getting to play in such major tournaments so early in my career. I was hardly 18 or 19 years old then. But I am really grateful to Hockey India and the support staff who gave me all the support I needed back then and helped me mature as a player.”
“The Junior Team Coaches guided me all through 2019 and I also worked closely with the psychologist in SAI, Bengaluru at that time. After Chief Coach Graham Reid took over, he watched me during training and spoke to me personally and that motivated me a lot. After I got a chance to come back to the Senior Group, there has been no looking back,” expressed Dilpreet.
Moving ahead, Dilpreet believes the team has that fire in their belly to achieve greater feats. “I truly believe this is a new beginning. We all want to achieve more, and we want people to give us more love and continue to support us. And for this to happen, we know we must consistently perform well at major tournaments. We are mentally prepared for it,” he concluded.
Our performance at the Tokyo Games is a huge confidence booster for us,” says Indian Women’s Hockey Midfielder Salima Tete
New Delhi, 07 September 2021: The Indian Women’s Hockey Team fought tooth and nail against some of the top teams in the world at the Tokyo Olympics in July-August 2021. They made history when they defeated the three-time Olympic Gold Medallists Australia 1-0 in the Quarter-Final and played in their first-ever Olympic Semi-Final against Argentina. The Indian Women’s Hockey Team Midfielder Salima Tete, who played an integral role in India’s brilliant performance at the Olympics, expressed that even though the Indian Women’s Team couldn’t finish on the podium, they have shown signs of a bright future.
“Our performance in Tokyo is slowly starting to sink in now. We were really dejected when we lost to Great Britain in the Bronze Medal match, but now we are seeing the positives from the tournament. We may not have won a Medal, but we have certainly gained a lot of confidence from the way we played in Tokyo and it’s definitely going to help us to grow as a team and produce much better results in the future,” said the 19-year-old.
Tete added that she feels blessed to have received an opportunity to play in an Olympic Games at a very young age.
“The Olympic Games is the biggest tournament for any sportsperson and I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity of performing for my country at the biggest of stages. I have learned a lot by playing in high-pressure situations and I am certainly going to use my learnings in the upcoming competitions. One learns a lot when one is against the best and we are very happy with the way we gave a tough fight to each of our opponents in the knock-out stage of the Tokyo Games,” said the Midfielder.
When asked about the most important things that helped India perform exceedingly well at the Olympics, Tete said, “We always found a way to push the ball forward and attack our opponents in the Olympics. We created many goal-scoring opportunities and ensured that we utilized our Penalty Corners well. And also we gave everything we had on the pitch and never gave up, no matter what the situation was. The never-give-in attitude helped us to stay in the moment and keep fighting against our opponents until the final whistle was blown.”
Mumbai City FC sign experienced midfielder Bradden Inman
Mumbai, 7 September 2021: Mumbai City FC are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Bradden Inman. The Australian midfielder joins the defending ISL Champions on a season-long contract until May 2022.
A product of English club Newcastle United’s youth academy, Inman played his football for over 10 years in England, turning out for clubs like Crewe Alexandra, Peterborough United, and Rochdale AFC. In 2019, the Adelaide-born player returned down under to ply his trade for A-League club Brisbane Roar, where he scored four goals and provided five assists in 25 appearances in the 2019-20 season.
The 29-year-old midfielder joined the fellow ISL side ATK Mohun Bagan ahead of the 2020-21 campaign and was loaned out to Odisha FC during the January transfer window. He made a total of 13 appearances in the ISL 2020-21 season, registering a goal and two assists to his name.
After the conclusion of the ISL 2020/21 season, Inman signed a short-term deal with the A-League club Western United, where he made five appearances for them.
Bradden Inman said:
“I am pleased to join the defending champions Mumbai City FC. They have a clear goal and ambition about where they see themselves in the immediate, which is to win trophies and be one of the best clubs in Asia, and my goal will be to do my best in my bid to help the club achieve its objectives.”
“It’s been a wonderful experience so far, for me, to play in India, and I am really excited to have joined Mumbai City. I feel like I have unfinished business in the ISL and I can assure the Club and the fans of my hunger to win football games with my new family.”
Head Coach, Sergio Lobera said:
“We are delighted to have an experienced player like Bradden with us at Mumbai City. He’s a quality player, and he is someone who will strengthen our attacking unit. His strong play-making skills will bring a lot of intensity and energy into the side. I am looking forward to working with him, and I am eager to see him make a difference for us on the pitch.”
FC Bengaluru United kickstart Durand Cup campaign in Kolkata with a win
Kolkata, 06 September 2021: FC Bengaluru United’s (FCBU) campaign in the Durand Cup began on a winning note against Central Reserve Police Force Football Club (CRPF FC) at the Kalyani Stadium in Kolkata. The teams had their chances through the game, but FCBU held their nerve in all the tight moments to emerge triumphant.
Both teams got off the blocks slowly, trying to hold onto possession. FCBU had a chance early on with new signee Pedro Manzi’s shot on goal sailing tantalisingly close over the post. In the 8th minute, a cross from the right in the box by Yumnam Gopi Singh set up a beautiful chance for Ronaldo Oliveira, who failed to convert. Manzi continued to pepper the goal with shots as FCBU gradually built up the intensity. CRPF FC too had their chances, including a dangerous corner in the 45th minute; goalkeeper Kunzang Bhutia’s timely save keeping the CRPF FC winger’s shot at bay. The FCBU backline too held firm right through the first half, neatly dealing with the long balls from CRPF FC.
Both teams upped the intensity in the second half, but it was FCBU who clearly held the upper hand with the number of close chances they continued to create. Close to three half chances in the first 4 minutes of the second half were created including a freekick taken by Manzi that hit the post and a header from Gopi that was saved by the CRPF FC keeper.
FCBU would feel hard done by when they were not awarded a penalty in the 60th minute when Manzi was pulled down in the box after a tackle from behind. But they refused to let that deter them and in the 63rd minute finally got on the scoreboard courtesy Manzi. A sumptuous cross from Asraf Mondal just beat the CRPF FC backline, superb control from Manzi as he evaded the keeper to net the ball in the bottom left corner of the goal.
Drama in the 71st minute as Manzi chipped the ball in for Luka Majcen, who tried to chip it past the CRPF FC keeper, who in turn, handled the ball outside the D and was handed a red card.
FCBU continued to apply the pressure with attacking substitutions and shots on goal. A freekick awarded to CRPF FC in the dying minutes was safely dealt with by Chelston Pinto, to seal the game in FC Bengaluru United’s favour. The Bengaluru team though would feel hard done by a couple of refereeing decisions, including the disallowing of a screamer of a goal from Sanju Pradhan towards the closing minutes of the game that would have pushed them to 2-0.
The Bengaluru outfit play their second game against Indian Air Force Football team on Thursday, September 9.
All the recognition is great but now we need to start planning for Asian Games 2022,” states Indian Men’s Hockey Skipper Manpreet Singh
New Delhi, 06 September 2021: It’s been a month since the Indian Men’s Hockey Team won the historic Bronze medal by beating Germany 5-4 at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Team Skipper Manpreet Singh believes now it’s time to stop basking in the glory of the achievement in Tokyo and it’s time to reset their focus and start planning for a busy 2022 calendar.
“I think these past few weeks have been great with people showering us with all their love and praises. Now, I feel it’s time we rest our bodies and mind. We have enjoyed all the felicitations, the honour and accolades we received has been overwhelming but now we must start thinking about how to better ourselves for the 2022 calendar,” stated the Captain.
With the all-important Asian Games scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China from 10 to 25 September 2022, the team’s top priority will be to qualify for the Paris Olympics by winning the Gold at Asian Games. “Last time, we ended up with a Bronze and lost out on winning the automatic qualification. We were lucky to have the FIH Olympic qualifying matches in India. But we can’t depend on the same again. The best would be for us to qualify by winning the Asian Games, so it gives us right amount of time to prepare for 2024 Olympics,” he explained.
Manpreet further expressed that this is a new beginning for Indian hockey with both the men and the women’s teams doing well at the Olympics. He believes the support they have garnered following this historic feat will only increase the popularity of the sport. “I truly feel this is a new beginning for Indian hockey. With the women’s team too doing so well at the Olympics, hockey is witnessing the same kind of support it once had. I was told many people from different professions woke up early to see our matches just like they would back in the glory days when Indian hockey fans would stay glued to the radio to hear the commentary.”
“I feel this fanbase we have earned after the Olympics is great for the sport in general and now it is on us to give these fans bigger and better feats to ensure their supports continues and the popularity of hockey grows further,” he concluded.
Blue Tigers emerge victorious in second International Friendly against Nepal
KATHMANDU: The Blue Tigers ran out winners in their second International Friendly against Nepal on Sunday (September 5, 2021) at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, with Farukh Choudhary and captain Sunil Chhetri scoring once each in the second half as the scoreline read 2-1 at the full-time whistle.
India began the first half well, with Bipin Singh penetrating through the Nepal backline from the left flank on a number of occasions. In the sixth minute, he played in a looping ball for an onrushing Manvir Singh to head but Kiran Limbu came charging off his line to collect.
Another Bipin cross wreaked havoc in the Nepali defence in the 24th minute as Anirudh Thapa looked to bring the ball under his control inside the penalty area. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Kiran again advanced from his goalline and cleared the ball away with his feet at the last moment.
As the home team sat back and looked to defend deep, the Blue Tigers continued to press for the opening goal. Thapa, who had found the net for India in the previous friendly three days ago, entered the penalty area from the right in the 29th minute, and fizzed in a low cross with Sunil Chhetri waiting at the back post, only for Ananta Tamang to save the day with a last-ditch sliding tackle.
Manvir Singh, playing down the right flank, clipped in a cross with five minutes to go in the first half, which was flicked on by Rahim Ali for Bipin, who headed the ball back across the goal for Sunil but it is cleared away for a corner.
With a minute of regulation time left to play in the first half, Sunil came close to giving India the lead as Seriton Fernandes played in a deep cross from the right and the resulting header from the Indian skipper went just over the bar.
The first half also saw Nepal cause danger to the Indian goal on a couple of occasions. In the 13th minute, Manish Dangi found himself in space in the penalty area but Chinglensana tracked back and was alert to the danger to stop the shot. Aashish Lama almost got a shot on target in the 28th minute but he could not connect from close range from a cross by Ayush Ghalan.
After the break, India continued their hunt for the go-ahead goal and created threats from both flanks, with Kiran called into action on multiple occasions. Head coach Igor Stimac had brought on Farukh Choudhary to replace Bipin at the break and it was the substitute who broke the deadlock with a calm finish in the 62nd minute.
Chinglensana swung in a curling cross from the left, which Sunil laid perfectly into the path of an unmarked Farukh, who placed it past the keeper and into the corner to give the Blue Tigers the lead.
Consequently, the match became extremely end-to-end, as Nepal began to push more men forward. Amrinder made a good save in the 65th minute from a close-range header and three minutes later, Nawayug Shrestha played in Bishal Rai inside the penalty area, but his effort from 10 yards went wide of the goal. Manish Dangi had another opportunity for the hosts in the 72nd minute as he connected with the ball from a cross at the far post but did not place it on target.
With 15 minutes to play, Farukh and Sunil combined excellently up top, and Rahim was played in towards goal. However, he was denied a shooting opportunity because of a sliding tackle from the Nepali centre-half.
As the match approached its critical stage, Sunil doubled the Blue Tigers’ advantage with a trademark finish – polishing off a fantastic counterattack. It was Nepal who were putting pressure with a free-kick in a dangerous area but Amrinder collected and played the ball to Thapa on the halfway line, who headed it on for a charging Sunil. The Indian skipper calmly approached the goal and sent Kiran the wrong way, before slotting the ball home to make it 2-0.
Just as the match neared the end, the home team scored in the 87th minute through Tej Tamang, who powered home a venomous shot from 30 yards. Five minutes were added by the referee but the Blue Tigers saw them off with ease and clinched the win.
India XI: Amrinder Singh (GK); Subhasish Bose, Chinglensana Singh, Pritam Kotal, Seriton Fernandes; Bipin Singh Thounaojam (Farukh Choudhary 46′), Lalengmawia (Yasir Mohammad 90′), Anirudh Thapa (Pronay Halder 90′), Manvir Singh (Suresh Wangjam 66′); Sunil Chhetri, Rahim Ali (Glan Martins 78′)
FC Bengaluru United and Sevilla FC nominated for Best Internationalisation Strategy by the WFS Award
Bengaluru, 4th September 2021: FC Bengaluru United and Spanish LaLiga side Sevilla FC have been nominated for the Best Internationalisation Strategy by the prestigious World Football Summit Awards. The two clubs have been nominated for the award alongside LaLiga outfit Valencia CF and Premier League team Everton FC. The winner of the Best Internationalisation Strategy award, presented by Deloitte, will be announced on 9 September and will receive the trophy during a ceremony on day one of WFS Europe at Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano on 22 September.
Since their inception in 2018, FC Bengaluru United have been on a robust growth trajectory, both on and off the field. They impressed with a strong showing in the I-League Qualifiers in 2020, and earlier this year, were crowned BDFA Super Division League Champions. In what is a strong testimony to their growing process, FC Bengaluru United have been invited to participate in the Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest football tournament, beginning in the first week of September in Kolkata, along with other top-flight Indian football clubs. The club has also garnered praise for their holistic vision of promoting the sport right from the grassroots.
In January this year, FC Bengaluru United announced their partnership with LaLiga giants Sevilla FC, a five-year agreement, which focuses on technological innovation, development and projects in the sport as well as increasing the Spanish football club’s footprint in one of the world’s most vibrant and rapidly growing football markets.
“We are extremely excited and honoured to be nominated for the Best Internationalisation Strategy by the World Football Summit Awards,” said Gaurav Manchanda, FC Bengaluru United and Nimida Sports Founder. “Our partnership with Sevilla FC marked an important milestone in the way the game of football can grow and expand its horizons. Knowledge exchange and bringing the game close to its fans are just some of the key aspects that such partnerships look to achieve. We are delighted that our joint vision to grow the game with Sevilla FC has been recognised on such a prestigious platform.
Created in 2017, the WFS Awards recognise and reward the work carried out by professionals in the different fields and sectors of the football industry. Previous winners of the award include LaLiga and RC Celta Vigo. The winner of the award is judged on the basis of their presence in new markets, business scalability, brand expansion, new sources of income, business diversification, use of technology involved to develop and implement the strategy as well as CSR initiatives involved in this strategy.
Sevilla FC president José Castro was delighted with the nomination: “It is clear that we are taking the right steps in terms of internationalisation. Partnering with FC Bengaluru United meant our entry into the Indian market, which we had set as a strategic objective within our international expansion plan, and now this prestigious nomination clearly endorses our commitment to international growth.”
Stimac names Indian squad for Friendlies against Nepal
NEW DELHI: A day after Indian Men’s Senior National Team beat Hero I-League team Mohammedan Sporting 2-0 in an exhibition match at the VYBK on Sunday (August 26) evening, Head Coach Igor Stimac maintained that “we need to be careful as we head to the next two matches.”
He also named the list of 25 players who will be travelling to Nepal to play the back-to-back International Friendlies on September 2 and 5, respectively.
“We can’t expect much after 10 days of preparation. The legs are still heavy from the load, and we need to slow down, and refresh the players,” Stimac told www.the-aiff.com.
“I am happy with the manner our players performed. They should have scored a few goals much earlier. But it was not easy under the heavy downpour, and a heavy pitch,” Stimac explained. It rained all throughout the match, and the downpour was heavy from midway in the second half.
“The conditions were challenging,” Stimac added. “The boys are all ready for 45 minutes, and we need to be careful going into the next two games against Nepal. We understand that the ATK Mohun Bagan and BFC players will be in better shape than others for two matches against Nepal.”
While the ATK Mohun Bagan players join the camp in Kolkata today, the BFC players will join the rest of the squad in New Delhi on 29th evening. The Blue Tigers leave for Nepal the next day, i.e., August 30.
The National Team probables have been training in Kolkata since August 15. That had marked the return of the National Team camp in Kolkata after 15 years with the Blue Tigers last having camped in Kolkata way back in 2006 prior to the FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Saudi Arabia.
25-man India Squad:
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Mandar Rao Dessai, Akash Mishra, Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose, Seriton Fernandes.
Midfielders: Lalengmawia, Bipin Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Brandon Fernandes, Liston Colaco, Yasir Mohammad, Glan Martins, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Jeakson Singh, Pronay Halder.
Forwards: Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri, Farukh Choudhary.
Bhavina finishes with historic silver
New Delhi, August 29: Bhavina Patel ended her maiden Paralympic Games journey on a contended note, finishing with a silver medal in the table tennis (Class 4) events in Tokyo this morning.
The Indian, who became the first woman paddler to win a medal at the Games, lost 7-11, 5-11, 6-11 in the final to world No. 1 Zhou Ying of China. Thus, Zhou won her third title, having won back-to-back gold medals at the Beijing (2008) and London (2012) Games.
Incidentally, Bhavina is also the second Indian female participant to win a Paralympic Games medal, opening the account for India in Tokyo.
Though the Indian began well this morning, matching stroke for stroke, Zhou proved a class apart. At 3-3, the Chinese took the initiative and broke away. Then she maintained the lead to go one-up. The top-ranked player did not need any further invitation or motivation after completing the opening game the way she did.
Zhou mixed her shots, exploiting angles well. However, Bhavina groped in the dark in a well-lit Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium Hall. Finding her plight, the Chinese shifted into higher gears, upsetting the world No. 8’s rhythm further in the second game. Bhavina could never make any adjustments in her game plan.
The 2-0 cushion for the Chinese was good enough to push the Indian to the brink. And, as expected, Bhavina lowered her guard without presenting any variety from her arsenal. It made the Chinese task that much easier.
And, as expected, Bhavina lowered her guard without bringing any variety to the table, and nothing left in her arsenal. It made the Chinese task that much easier, who needed just 19 minutes overall.
For Bhavina and other para-TT players, the silver medal in Tokyo would serve as the stepping stone and inspire a generation of players. The Mehsana girl, who got afflicted with polio at 12, started playing table tennis as a pastime sport. But she got hooked to the game when she joined the Computer Science course in Ahmedabad.
It was not all hunky-dory for Bhavina, with crutches on, to reach the practice venue regularly. It meant taking the few bus and auto rides, and she was up for them. But her determination got further strengthened when she had a reliable friend in Nakul Patel, then an under-19 cricketer, and now her spouse. The two together scaled the mountain of hurdles in front of her.
Nakul was apt when he praised Bhavina, saying, “she was determined and her drive to overcome the obstacles that saw her finish on the podium here in Tokyo.” Nakul, who is with Bhavina in Tokyo, felt as proud as every Indian back home.
It was not a surprise that President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the country congratulating the 34-year-old for her historic feat. In a fitting tweet, the Prime Minister said: “The remarkable Bhavina Patel has scripted history! She brings home a historic silver medal. Congratulations to her for it. Her life journey is motivating and will also draw more youngsters towards sports.”
Rajasthan Royals announce Tabraiz Shamsi as their second replacement player
IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals today announced the signing of South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi, the world no. 1 ranked T20I bowler who will be joining the Royals squad for the remainder of IPL 2021 to be held in the UAE from 19th September 2021. The left-arm leg spinner from Johannesburg, is the second replacement player for the franchise.
31-year-old Shamsi represents The Titans in South Africa’s domestic cricket, and made his international debut for South Africa during a bilateral T20I series against England in 2017. The left-arm leg spinner has since picked up 45 wickets in 39 T20Is, along with 32 wickets in 27 ODIs for his nation. In the IPL, Shamsi has played 4 matches in which he picked up 3 wickets for Royals Challengers Bangalore, who had recruited him as a replacement player during the 2016 season.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals would also like to share that Andrew Tye won’t be available for the remainder of the IPL season. “It is with great regret that I have to pull out of the remainder of the IPL 2021 with the Rajasthan Royals. It has been a long year for me which has kept me away from home for a lengthy period, and the disappointment of not making it to the World Cup squad has added to the dismay. Therefore, keeping my best interests in mind, I had to make this tough decision of staying at home and preparing myself mentally and physically for next year’s T20 World Cup. I am gutted that I won’t be able to rejoin the Royals family this year, but like all the fans out there, I will be cheering the team on”, added Tye.
Rohit and Bharat clinch gold medals at the 2021 ASBC Asian Junior Boxing Championships
New Delhi, August 29, 2021: India’s Rohit Chamoli and Bharat Joon clinched gold medals at the 2021 ASBC Asian Youth & Junior Boxing Championships in Dubai on Sunday.
Starting the day for India on a glorious note, Rohit defeated Mongolia’s Otgonbayar Tuvshinzaya to hand the country its first gold medal at the on-going championships. Playing in the junior boys’ 48kg final, the boxer from Chandigarh continued his impressive form in the prestigious continental event and showed good tactical brilliance.
After making a cautious start, Rohit’s timely and precise punches gave him edge over his Mongolian opponent in a close-fought match as the Indian managed to secure a 3-2 win as well as the gold medal.
Next in action, Bharat (+81kg) added one more gold to India’s tally as the lanky boy from Haryana outclassed Kazakhstan’s Yerdos Sharipbek and secured a win by unanimous margin. Meanwhile, Gaurav Saini suffered a 5-0 defeat against his Uzbek opponent Boltaev Shavkatjon (UZB) in the 70kg final and ended with a silver medal.
India boys finished their campaign in junior category with two gold, one silver and three bronze medals. Earlier, Ashish (54kg), Anshul (57kg) and Ankush (66kg) claimed bronze with their semi-finals finish.
Later tonight, 10 Indian boxers Muskan (46kg), Vishu Rathee (48kg), Tanu (52kg), Aanchal Saini (57kg), Nikita (60kg), Mahi Raghav (63kg), Rudrika (70kg), Pranjal Yadav (75kg), Sanjana (81kg) and Kirti (+81kg) will fight for gold in the girls’ finals.
India have won six bronze medals in the junior event with Devika Ghorpade (50kg), Aarzoo (54kg) and Supriya Rawat (66kg) finishing in the girls’ semi-finals.
In the last Asian Junior Championships held in 2019 in Fujairah, UAE, India had finished at the third position with 21 medals (six gold, nine silver and six bronze)—13 medals in girls’ category (four gold, six silver and three bronze) while eight medals were claimed in the boys’ section (two gold, three silver and three bronze).
The gold medallists in the junior category will be awarded with USD 4,000 while USD 2,000 and 1,000 will be given to the silver and bronze medal winners respectively. The on-going Championships provided the much-needed competitive tournament to the promising young talents at the Asian level after a gap of almost two years lost due to pandemic.
The event witnessed a thrilling action in the presence of pugilists from strong boxing nations like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to name a few. It is also the first time that both the age groups—junior and youth—were played together.
India’s 15 boxers will fight for gold as the finals of the youth event will take place on Monday. Nivedita (48kg), Tamanna (50kg), Simran (52kg), Neha (54kg), Preeti (57kg), Preeti Dahiya (60kg), Khushi (63kg), Sneha (66kg), Khushi (75kg), Tanishbir (81kg) will be in action in the women’s category while, among men, Vishvanath Suresh (48kg), Bishwamitra Chongtham (51kg), Jaydeep Rawat (71kg), Vanshaj (64kg) and Vishal (80kg) will play their finals.
“FIH Women’s Player of the Year Award 2020-21 nomination is a recognition for all my hard work and sacrifices,” says Indian Women’s Defender Gurjit
New Delhi, 28 August 2021: Dragflick specialist Gurjit Kaur, who was one of the architects of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team’s fourth-place finish at the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics 2020, has been nominated for the FIH Women’s Player of the Year Award 2020-21. The 25-year-old defender etched her name in the history of world hockey following her heroics in the Tokyo Olympics Quarter Final match. She scored a match-winning goal from a Penalty Corner in India’s historic 1-0 win over Australia, which earned the Indian Women’s Hockey team a place in their first-ever Semi-Final at the Olympic Games.
Speaking on her nomination for FIH Women’s Player of the Year Award 2020-21, Gurjit expressed, “It’s a huge thing for me to be nominated for the FIH Women’s Player of the Year Award 2020-2021. For an athlete, it’s one of the best things when all your hard work and sacrifices get recognised at a world level, and I am really happy to see my name on that list. It will give me extra motivation to do even better for the team.”
When asked about that decisive goal against Australia, which helped the Indian eves script history at Olympic Games, Gurjit said, “I think that’s my job, and I just did it. My job is to dragflick, and I got a chance, which I converted.”
“No doubt, there is my name on the scoresheet, but that doesn’t mean it was mine alone, it was a team goal. Each one of us contributed to it, from the defence line to midfielders, to strikers, who created the penalty corner, and eventually, it was my responsibility to convert it,” she added.
The Indian Women’s Hockey Team missed out on the Olympic Medal by a whisker, having lost to Great Britain in the Bronze Medal Play-Off match. However, the Amritsar-born player feels that there are a lot of positives to take from this dream campaign. She said, “Even though we missed out on winning the medal by a whisker, there are a lot of positives to take from this dream campaign.”
“People have started watching us, and I am sure our performance will inspire young girls to take up hockey. The Tokyo Olympics 2020 marks the beginning of a new era of Indian hockey. We have gained a lot of confidence, we have become fearless, and going forward it will certainly help us perform well in major tournaments. I also hope we get the same amount of love and respect going forward,” she concluded.
Our experienced Midfielders group will be crucial for India’s success in the upcoming years: Indian Hockey Team Midfielder Pradhan
Bengaluru, 22 September 2020: Indian Women’s Hockey Team Midfielder Nikki Pradhan has been part of many memorable moments for the national side which includes the Gold Medal win at the Women’s Asia Cup 2017, victory at the FIH Women’s Series Finals 2019 and booking a place at the Tokyo Olympics after defeating USA at the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers last year. Pradhan, who has played over 100 matches for the Indian team, recalled her time at the Bariatu Girls’ Hockey Center in Ranchi, where she learned the techniques of hockey.
“The time I spent at the Bariatu Girls’ Hockey Center is always going to remain special for me. I picked up the sport of hockey at a young age, but I learned most of the techniques of the sport at the Hockey Centre when I joined in 2005. Practicing and learning at the centre laid a good foundation for me and I kept building on the skills I developed there as I moved forward in my career. I was very fortunate to take up hockey seriously at a place like the Bariatu Girls’ Hockey Center,” said the 26-year-old.
Pradhan expressed that India’s present experienced Midfielders group will hold the key in the big tournaments in the upcoming years.
“We are very lucky to have so many Midfielders in the Indian team, who have already played 100 matches for the national side. Experience is a huge factor when it comes to big tournaments like the Olympics and if we play at our hundred percent then we can win against any team. Experience teaches one to be calm and think clearly under pressure and therefore our experienced Midfielders group will be the key to our success in the upcoming years,” said Pradhan.
The 26-year-old, who became the first woman hockey player from Jharkhand to represent India in the Olympics in 2016, spoke about her experience at the quadrennial event.
“It was fantastic to take part in the Rio Olympics. Just being around the top athletes from all over the world was something else. The Indian Women’s Hockey Team made it to the Olympics after 36 years so it was a huge moment for us. However, it was disappointing to come back without a victory. But it didn’t deter us from trying harder and Hockey India has shown tremendous faith in us over all the good and bad times. Hockey India through SAI, State Governments and State Units have constructed the best pitches for practice and international matches and instilled the belief in us that we can take on any top side in the world. When we have a tremendous backing of our own federation, then it inspires us to perform every time we step on the field,” said the Midfielder.