Author: Abhishek Shukla

Owner of Sports India Live.
by Abhishek Shukla

Kush Maini claimed his second win of the year in the British F3 Championship in race three at Donington Park

Hitech GP’s championship leader Kush Maini claimed his second win of the year in the British F3 Championship in race three at Donington Park, after coming out on top of a lap one battle with championship rival Kaylen Frederick. 

At the start, Frederick who was on pole had a good launch to lead the pack down to Redgate, holding off Maini who then got a good run on Frederick down the Craner Curves and dived up the inside of his championship rival at the Old Hairpin. Frederick refused to budge, so the pair went wheel to wheel through Starkey’s Bridge and Schwantz with Maini on the outside, before making the move stick on the inside of McLeans.  

That set the tone for much of the rest of the race, with Maini able to pull out a steady gap while De Pauw fended off Frederick.  

With all that drama going on, Maini had extended his lead to over two seconds, and he was able to pull out further over the following laps, with the margin reaching 3.2 seconds at the end of the eighth lap. 

The result meant that Maini claimed his 9th podium in 14 races including the 3rd place on Saturday in round 13. This increases Maini’s championship points to 296 with a lead of 54 points with 10 races still to go. 

Winner – Kush Maini, Hitech GP: 

“I knew I had to get him [Kaylen Frederick] on the first lap because it’s too hard to follow around here. I got a good start thankfully and put him under pressure into turn one, which messed up his run down to the Old Hairpin. I got a run on him, lunged him into the Old Hairpin, he kept around the outside and then wheel to wheel to McLeans. I braked really late and he had nowhere to go, so I got the move done and I’m really happy. 

“When you have fresh air it’s a lot easier to drive and I just put my head down and enjoyed the drive. I did not really push to pull away, I literally just wanted to enjoy the drive and it was really nice.  

“There’s still way too many races left [to think about the championship] so we’re just going to keep up this form.” 

BRDC British F3 is back in action in two weeks’ time at Snetterton in Norfolk, with four races on 3-4 October. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Rajasthan Royals first match preview

Rajasthan Royals begin their journey into the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League on the 22nd of September with a big game against the Chennai Super Kings. This will be the first time since 2009 that an entire season of the IPL will be played outside India and also the second time that the tournament has been moved to the UAE, with the previous trip being in the 2014 season. A new time of the year, new venues but with a renewed belief, the Royals are ready to go and make their mark in the much-awaited Dream11 IPL 2020.

Venue talk

The Sharjah cricket stadium will have its first game of the Dream11 IPL 2020 when it hosts the Royals against Chennai Super Kings. One of the three venues for this year’s competition, the venue is iconic in cricketing books and has its own special place in history, having witnessed some intense nail-biting finishes through the course of time. The Sharjah cricket stadium hosted six IPL games back in 2014, including a solitary game for the Royals against Kings XI Punjab. 

While teams batting first have usually ruled the roost at the venue, the situation is quite contrasting when it comes to IPL cricket. The teams batting second have ended up on the winning side on four of the six occasions.

The venue promises to produce an entertaining affair, as it has the highest boundary count out of the three being played on.

Early Team news

The team has all its bases covered, with plenty of options to go with depending on the nature of the surface on the day. Our big international contingent who recently returned from the England-Australia series in Manchester, with the exception of Jos Buttler, have completed their respective quarantine periods and are available for selection, boosting the squad’s morale and providing coach Andrew McDonald with great flexibility ahead of the big opening game. 

Jos Buttler will miss the opening game of the IPL as he remains in quarantine, having arrived separately with his family. Ben Stokes, who is currently in New Zealand with his family, will also remain unavailable for the first game of the Dream11 IPL. 

Opposition chatter

The Super Kings from Chennai turned up in style on the opening night with an impressive win against the defending champions, Mumbai Indians. The game saw the Super Kings start slow and were off the pace in both the innings. However, they were able to turn it around both times and emerge victorious. Our defeats last season were tough to take and the boys are motivated to get over the line this time, making up for the previous heartbreaks against last season’s runners-up. CSK are likely to remain without all-rounder Dwayne Bravo for the game but will have the rest of their squad available for the showdown. 

The big talking point

The first game of the season is always an exciting occasion, often because it presents an opportunity to watch our stars and some of the new signings in action. The Royals have a balance of youth and experience, with a huge amount of raw talent. Steve Smith’s availability means he will, for the first time ever captain Rajasthan Royals, right from the start of a season. Smudge, along with the rest of the squad will look to begin this year’s Dream11 IPL with a win and get those vital two points on board. With a good pre-season behind the Indian boys and some intense international cricket behind the recent arrivals, the fans can expect a big push from the boys in this first game and anticipate a high-energy clash in Sharjah. 

Word from the camp
Steve Smith (Captain)
Yeah obviously missed the last three one-dayers in England. Been in Dubai for a couple of days now with some good rest  and then got into a bit of running. Yesterday I did a bit of zig-zag running, which is part of the protocols to pass to get back to play and today I’ll have a hit in the nets. Hopefully, pull up well from the hit and be good to play tomorrow.
The guys have been here for a month now and from all reports, the training’s been magnificent.  It’s been good to catch up with both the old and the new Royals, we’re in a good place and have got a really good squad this year, really strong and we’re ready to get going.  

Chennai and Mumbai both have been two really strong teams for a long time now. We obviously watched a bit of the game the other night, the Super Kings played really well to get over the line in the end. Hopefully, we can put on a really good show and get our campaign off to a good start.

Andrew McDonald (Head Coach)
Fantastic news that Steve is available. It’s fantastic especially on the back of some setbacks back in the UK. It’s obviously great to have your skipper available for the first game as I’ve said before we are in really good hands. In terms of the rest of the squad, we couldn’t be happier with their preparation. We’ve got what we needed, having been here nice and early to get our preparation going on the back of the long lay-off. 
We have got the bases covered and have some really good depth in the squad and really looking forward to seeing what it looks like in a real competitive match against CSK. They had a fantastic first game, they’re one game into the tournament which is a slight advantage when you come out against the team that’s already played and performed. So, we’ll definitely have our work cut out and really looking forward to what our guys can bring to the table and we’re really excited about what the journey presents.  

We’ve trained at Sharjah a couple of times. Most of our players have got a really good feel for the surface. We’ve had some net practice in the middle which is always a positive rather than just nets out at the back. The guys have been able to feel what it’s like batting at the centre and have had plenty of fielding down there, so they are quite familiar with the stadium. Clearly a different surface to Dubai or Abu Dhabi in terms of runs and the size of the venue so it’ll create some difficult challenges there for the bowling unit so no question there being a high-scoring ground. But we feel the team will put out their best show to be able to combat what CSK will throw at us. 

by Abhishek Shukla

“Feels good to be back with the rest of the group,” says Indian Men’s Hockey Team Striker Mandeep Singh

Bengaluru, 21 September 2020: Indian Men’s Hockey Team striker Mandeep Singh is excited to be back on the pitch and go about basic activities to improve fitness after recovering from Covid-19. He was the first player to be admitted in the hospital in Bengaluru and Mandeep recalled the experience as being one of the toughest times of his life.

According to Mandeep, what helped was constant team-support and reassurances from Hockey India during this entire phase. “I think we had read and heard so much about the pandemic being a deadly disease, the first few days was stressful and anxious after testing positive for the virus. Although I have been in some of the most difficult match-situations as a professional hockey player, I had never felt this stressed. I was never taken away in an ambulance, never been seriously injured either. So, this phase was a new experience for me but I am really grateful to the constant team-support and Hockey India officials speaking with us individual to assure everything will be taken care of. After recovering, they (Hockey India) even gave us an option to return home to take a break if we felt like it but we wanted to stay back and rejoin the rest of the group,” explained the young forward who scored maximum goals for Team India in 2019 season. 

He further emphasized that they have a good support system around them which is why returning to activities has been a smooth transition. “We have a very good trainer in Robin Arkel and he knows exactly how much to push us. We are taking only 50-60 per cent of the regular work load at the moment and have just one session per day. Chief Coach Graham Reid is also constantly monitoring how we feel during a session. It feels good to be back with the rest of the group and I feel relieved to be fine and recovered fully,” he said. 

With FIH Hockey Pro League restarting from tomorrow, Mandeep feels it’s good that sporting activities have begun around the world. “Over the weekend, we watched brilliant IPL matches between Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians and then Delhi Capitals Vs Kings XI Punjab. Though we don’t follow cricket very closely, it was exciting to watch these two matches. It brings a very positive energy especially when everything else has been halted due to the pandemic. I think watching live sports on TV will also give people who have endured a lot over the past six months, a reason to take their minds off their troubles for some time and enjoy the action. As a team we will also be watching the Germany Vs Belgium hockey match tomorrow,” he added. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru FC launch home kit for 2020-21 season; JSW Group Is Principal Sponsor

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC launched the home kit for the 2020-21 season with the JSW Group returning for a second stint as the club’s principal sponsor, the Blues announced, on Saturday.

Launched through a video featuring club captain Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh and Suresh Wangjam, Bengaluru FC have gone with a classic blue kit from partners PUMA, complete with  a suave white collar and red stripes around the sleeve. Minimal in design, the home kit for the new season goes with the hashtag #SimplyBengaluru.

In a big development, the season and kit also marks the return of JSW as the principal sponsor of the Blues – an association Bengaluru FC had carried for five seasons from 2013 to 2018 on the front of their shirts.

Speaking on the return of JSW as the club’s principal sponsor, owner and club Director, Parth Jindal said, “As the JSW Group continues to build each of its businesses to be the best in the world, we are also rapidly increasing our consumer-facing businesses across steel, cement and paints. This calls for the JSW brand to be more visible and this is where sports delivers that advantage. This year, we are proud to be on the front of the jerseys of all the JSW Group Sports teams and are happy to be back on the Bengaluru FC Jersey.

“This Bengaluru FC team will always hold a special place in the JSW Growth story, as it marked our foray into sports in India and embodies all the JSW Group Core values of the confidence to dream big, the courage to spark progress, committing to deliver excellence with no excuses while always working with compassion and in collaboration with our communities. We couldn’t be happier to be back on the front of the BFC Jersey and I wish them the very best for the season.”

Speaking on the launch of the kit and the principal sponsor, club CEO, Mandar Tamhane said the Bengaluru FC blue has become synonymous with the city. “We’ve always looked to keep our home kit simple, much like most things in Bengaluru city. Through these colours we only hope to strengthen the bond the club has managed to develop with the city in such a short span of time.

“As for JSW choosing to be principal sponsors of the club, it is a matter of pride that they’ve chosen Bengaluru FC as a vehicle to carry the message of their expansion across sectors and industries. “

The new season of the Indian Super League begins in November and the Blues are slated to start their first phase of the pre-season at the club Academy in Bellary before proceeding to Goa at the end of October. 

by Abhishek Shukla

#IPL2020: Head Coach Ricky Ponting and Captain Shreyas Iyer expecting a strong start from the Delhi Capitals

Dubai, 19 September 2020: After having had a reinvigorating season last year, Delhi Capitals will start their 13th season of the Dream11 Indian Premier League (IPL) here on Sunday, 20th September 2020 against Kings XI Punjab at the Dubai International Stadium. The JSW and GMR co-owned franchise will look to resume from where they left off last season, having made it to the play-offs in an impressive campaign marked by brilliant team performances. 

Speaking ahead of their opening match and adjusting to the ‘new-normal’, Head Coach Ricky Ponting and Captain Shreyas Iyer addressed the media virtually over a video call, and seemed fairly confident of a good start. “We have done most of our planning and research on Kings XI leading up to this first game. One thing I say about IPL is that every squad is really strong. We can talk about how strong our team is, but I can guarantee that you can say the same thing about every other team,” expressed Ponting. 

“We learned some lessons last year that if we turn up 100% prepared to play and committed to our tasks and plans, we think we will be really hard to beat. You know it’s been a long lead-up to this first game, but I’m looking forward to the challenge, as I’m sure all the players also are. I expect that we will start the tournament strong tomorrow,” said the Australian great looking ahead to his team’s opening match. 

While captain Shreyas Iyer was quizzed on what he thinks about new additions in the form of Ashwin and Rahane, to which he replied, “They definitely bring a lot of strength and experience, and if you see the practice sessions we have had over the last few days, they have been amazing. They help everyone in the team and especially the younger guys.” 

“With Rahane also in the mix, we think we’ve got a really balanced squad of players. There’s a lot of competition for spots and lots of flexibility. He gives us more depth to our batting and with the rest of the players in fine fettle, we think we’ve got lots of flexibility there,” added Ponting addressing the query on where he sees the experienced Indian fit into the side. 

On challenges of playing away from home, and in the UAE, Shreyas reckoned that it “will be a big task” for his team, but “Dubai being a slow wicket shall help” in the latter stages of the tournament. 

Asked whether playing in front of empty stadiums will be a challenge, Ricky said, “Playing in front of empty stadiums will be different. There are some challenges there for all the boys but once we do start, it will be about our group dragging their own atmosphere and energy, and will be focusing on lifting each other up.” 

25-year-old Iyer was asked about the bio-bubble and how his team is dealing with it. “Circumstances are definitely challenging and unusual for us because we are used to staying in the sun for 6 hours. But we will be giving our best efforts to follow each and every rule, and at the same time we will be trying to come together as a team to make sure we are able to keep ourselves entertained and to ensure that we don’t feel like we are far away from our families,” he said. 

Sending a message to the Delhi Capitals’ fans, Ponting said he would be hoping to do right by them. “We know we will have great support from back home, especially from Delhi. We’ve just got to make sure that we are doing the right thing by our supporters. So far the coaching group has done a good job to get the players prepared and now it is up to all of us to make sure we are ready to for the first game tomorrow,” said the Head Coach. 

Ricky was also of the opinion that “seamers will have an impact during the early stages of the tournament” but “it will spin later as the season progresses.” “With only three venues and like 24 games in each stadium and only 4 wickets being used, 5 or more matches will be played on one pitch, so I think we can expect the conditions to change quite a bit,” he said. 

Meanwhile Shreyas was asked if his team has decided on how they will be celebrating dismissals in the center, to which he said, “We haven’t decided anything yet. We did celebrate in our internal practice games by giving each other fist bumps. But we will have more clarity once we are briefed in our meeting later today.” 

Addressing the ban on use of saliva during games, Ponting said he reckons shining the ball does not affect a T20 game as much as it does in a Test match. He said, “We’re having a health and safety meeting later this afternoon, where our doctors and physio will take about measures we need to take. Use of saliva is a habit – and I’ve spoken to the manager and I know that there are hefty fines. We are still a bit unsure on certain things – for example if sweat is allowed? But we will be briefed later today and I’m sure once games start, players will be aware of what they can do and what they can’t.”

by Abhishek Shukla

Eager to watch the FIH Hockey Pro League tie between Germany-Belgium this month, says Harmanpreet Singh

Bengaluru, 02 September 2020: The Indian Men’s Hockey Team defender and drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh feels the forthcoming FIH Hockey Pro League matches which resume on 22 September 2020 in Germany will provide insights into the variations and combinations the European teams will display.

The League will recommence with powerhouses Germany and Belgium facing-off against each-other. “Both these teams are really good and of course we are eager to watch them play and we will be following these matches closely because it will give us insights into their variations, any new combinations they are using,” stated the drag-flicker who is currently part of the on-going National Coaching Camp in SAI, Bengaluru. 

Harmanpreet, who Captained the India to victory at the FIH Olympic Test Event in Tokyo last year, feels the Indian Team has plenty of time to return to their formidable form and watching these FIH Pro League matches will help them implement changes to their tactics and be prepared before they begin their FIH Pro League campaign in April next year. “I feel we have enough time to prepare. Since we will be following these teams closely, we will be able to make timely implements into our game,” expressed Harmanpreet further adding that the Coaching Staff ensuring the players maintained their fitness levels over the past five months when training and coaching activities were halted due to nation-wide lockdowns, will be a key factor to bounce back. 

“The good thing that happened during the past five months was the Coaching Staff particularly our Scientific Advisor Robin Arkel kept a close watch on our fitness and diet. Even when we were on a break, we had a schedule to follow. I think these factors will help us bounce back,” added the defender who recently took part in an online webinar where he interacted with over 50 students and faculty members of a University in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 

“It was the first time I was doing something like this online. I enjoyed sharing my knowledge about the game with the students. They had many questions on shaping and nurturing talent from the age of 12-13 years of age and they were also keen on understanding how one adapts to playing on synthetic turf after being used to grass surface. The session was interactive and I was particularly happy to know that the students followed our team’s performances closely,” recalled Harmanpreet who engaged in this online activity on Major Dhyanchand’s 115th birth centenary on Saturday 29th August 2020. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Longer build-up to tournament a great opportunity to experiment, says Delhi Capitals’ Ravichandran Ashwin


Dubai, 02 September 2020:After having finished third in last season’s Indian Premier League, Delhi Capitals added some much needed experience to their ranks for the upcoming season, and India’s star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will be expected to make an impact, with 125 wickets in 139 IPL matches under his belt. 

https://youtu.be/g2Kqq5QNFX4

Ashwin, who had joined the team from Kings XI Punjab in a trade, is looking forward to working with the team. “I had heard a lot about the Delhi Capitals, and I look forward to working with Punter (Ricky Ponting). I’ve had some wonderful conversations with him over the last week or so. Shreyas is a lovely young leader who is very clear in his head, I’ve had a few chats with him too,” said the veteran spinner. 

“The whole atmosphere around the team is energetic with the youngsters. The mood in the camp is extremely exuberant. We’ve all gone through a difficult few months, and it’s great to see people in high spirits, mingling with each other despite being locked in for a week in the hotel. We were very disciplined as a group, and everyone was strict about staying in. I think that showed how much we want to go out there and play together,” added Ashwin. 

With Head Coach Ricky Ponting calling Ashwin “one of the most successful spinners in IPL history”, the 33-year-old feels he has started understanding his role better. “I feel that in the shorter format of the game, it’s harder to be a bowler and easier to be a batter. My job is to come in at 7 or 8, and you’re going to get 5-6 deliveries at the most, sometimes not even that. The last 2 years at Punjab, I started understanding these roles better. I understand my role with the bat better now, and I can contribute better than I have done in the past. Of course bowling is what I enjoy. I don’t mind going for runs, it’s a challenge I love,” he said. 

Talking about how he views the upcoming IPL season, the spin maestro said he will look to capitalize on teams having a slow start. “We’ve got a lot of energy reserve at this point and the eagerness to play the game is quite prevalent. The one thing Punter has made very clear to us is that we have to manage our workload well, and that’s going to be the key. This is probably the longest window an IPL team gets for practicing for the tournament. It’s usually 5-7 days, I’ve even joined the team just 2 days before the start because I’ve been playing for the national side right before that,” he said. 

“This is actually a wonderful opportunity to top up your skills, try out new things. It’s like a laboratory to try things out in the game that you love so much. You can really pace yourself out, use your creativity and imagination, and settle into things as the tournament kicks off. It will be a slow and skeptical start for most teams, and that’s one of the areas where I’d like to capitalize,” the 33-year-old added. 

Having completed the first few nets sessions with the Delhi Capitals, Ashwin said it was “exciting to be out in the open”. “Seeing a few human beings and being out in the open is not something we’ve done in the last few months, so yes, I’m excited. We’ve got nets, and top quality batsmen to bowl to, and then you’re testing yourself against the best. You know action is coming up and you’re back in the nets, so it’s an amazing feeling,” he signed off. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Teams that manage themselves best will go a long way, says Delhi Capitals’ Head Coach Ricky Ponting

Dubai, 02 September 2020: A very warm and humid Tuesday evening at the ICC Academy in Dubai saw JSW and GMR co-owned franchise Delhi Capitals train under their Head Coach Ricky Ponting for the very first time this season. The Australian legend seemed full of energy, and made sure his troops were upbeat as well. 

https://youtu.be/rf5w_Ia9mTM

Speaking post a three-hour nets session, Ponting said the conditions were draining but his team was happy to be back together. “The attitude from the start has been amazing, and today was no exception. It was hot and quite draining for the players but coming off on the back of a good season last year, you would expect the mood to be upbeat – and I was delighted to see that and it felt awesome to be back in the team environment, and I think there’s no better place than to be in the Delhi Capitals camp at the moment,” said the Head Coach. 

Weather conditions will be a challenge this season for franchises, which Ponting said can be overcome by managing training sessions better, “We’ve got a smaller squad so I want to sort of manage our training sessions differently than we did last year. I’ve made it clear to the boys that we are not going to over-train in the first three weeks. I believe our preparation leading up to the first game is critical. I want to make sure that physically, technically and tactically the boys are peaking for the first game.” 

“It is an unusual time we have got – having three weeks – I think we had slotted in about 20 training sessions before our first game, which in my opinion are too many, so we are just going to see how the boys are shaping up after every training session and then take it from there,” added the 45-year-old. 

Commenting on how he intends to maintain the positive team environment from last season, Ponting said he wants his players to remember why they were successful last season. “Last year, I had as much fun as I’ve ever had with a cricket team, and I want to make sure we can replicate that this season as well. I think it’s really important that when you have success, you understand why you have it. I’ll be banking on the guys we still have from last year – it’s important for them to remember the positives. If they can impose that on the younger and new guys in the team, before you know it, you’re going to have this really infectious attitude around the team again which is what I’m all about as a coach,” said the veteran. 

“With all the protocols involved, the teams that manage themselves the best throughout the tournament, I think will go a long way. What I mean by management is not managing the players, but managing our time as well, and finding things and activities which we can do together as a group,” added Ponting who will be leading the Delhi Capitals into his third season as their Head Coach. 

Complimenting newer recruits Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane, the Australian great said the duo will add a lot of experience to the squad. “Both of them are class players, and have been long-term Indian players. Ashwin has been one of the most successful spinners in IPL history, and Rahane has led Rajasthan for a long time as well. They have all sorts of skill, class and experience which they’ll add to our squad. We all know how important experience is in T20 cricket, and we understand that. We’ve got a young captain in Shreyas, but to have those older, more experienced minds on the ground will help us a lot.” 

by Abhishek Shukla

Sunita Lakra retires from International Hockey

“Today is a very emotional day for me as I have decided to retire from International Hockey. I had been part of this wonderful journey with the Indian Women’s Hockey Team since 2008 and through this journey we have seen many ups and downs but we remained as one unit, giving each other the strength and motivation to remain strong and fight all the odds to excel and bring laurels to the country. 

I was very fortunate to have played at the Rio Olympics in 2016, India’s first appearance in over 3 decades. Many people told me it was a historic moment for women’s hockey in India but I always believed this team can achieve so much more. As much as I wish to be part of the Indian team as they prepare for the Tokyo Olympics, my knee injuries have cut short my dream. I have been told by the doctors that I would be requiring another knee surgery in the coming days and I am unsure how long it would take before I fully recover. Pursuant to my treatment, I will play domestic hockey and play for NALCO who have supported my career by providing me a job. 

I have come a long way in the sport and I carry with me some great memories with the Indian team who have stood strong by my side and the girls were always my family away from home. 

I would like to thank my teammates, Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne and the team support staff. My heartfelt thanks to Hockey India who ensured I was given the best treatment during my injury and I am grateful for their unparalleled support to women’s hockey. I would also like to thank Ministry, Youth Affairs & Sports (GOI), Sports Authority of India and Odisha State Government for constantly encouraging us and providing us with support. My family, my husband and friends back in Odisha have been my strongest supporters and I wish to thank them for helping me pursue my passion for hockey. I could not have come this far without their encouragement. 

Lastly, I wish all my teammates the very best as they begin the New Year with a new goal to win a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. I will miss being part of this fantastic team!” 

by Abhishek Shukla

Swimming has been given more importance in India in the last few years, says South Asian Games silver medallist Shivangi Sarma

New Delhi, 01 January 2020: Shivangi Sarma, who clinched a silver medal each in 100 m freestyle, 200 m freestyle and 400 m freestyle at the South Asian Games 2019, expressed that swimming has been given more importance in India in the last few years. Sarma said it’s good to see the Indian government supporting athletes financially.

“Swimming has been given more importance in the last few years. The government and the administration are supporting all the sports financially. A sportsperson incurs many expenses such as travel, lodging and so on, therefore it’s good that the government is supporting the athletes financially,” said the swimmer.

Sarma, who put up a brilliant performance in the last edition of the Khelo India Youth Games, is looking to better her results in the next edition of the competition. The third Khelo India Youth Games will be held in Guwahati from 10 January 2020 to 22 January 2020.

“I won two golds, two silvers and one bronze medal in the 2019 Khelo India Games. The competition was a great experience. I put up my best performance in all my events. Since Assam is my home state and the next edition will be held in the state, I am preparing even harder for the tournament and I want to make Assam proud,” said Sarma.

The swimmer from Assam had an important message for all the Assam athletes, who will be taking part in the third edition of the competition.

“I have worked hard in the last few years. I am training well with my coaches. I would like to tell all the athletes from Assam, who will be participating in the Khelo India Youth Games, that make yourself and Assam proud,” signed off Sarma.

by Abhishek Shukla

Nine Indians to play in British Junior Open

Chennai: The Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) has decided to curtail the entries (boys and girls) from India this year to the British Junior Open, considered the premier international squash event for juniors and held every January, to nine in all.

Considering that this is a prestigious tournament, the Federation believed it was time participation from the country should be restricted to the best performers of the year. Accordingly it has decided to pick five players with the best record not only in the national but Asian championship in 2019 for participation with financial benevolence from the Government. Another four who are all national champions in various age categories have been given the nod for participation at own cost.

In previous years, said Mr Cyrus Poncha, the Secretary General of SRFI, entry of any young player who had a fairly good ranking would get accepted and routed through the Federation. Last year in fact 25 players had been to Birmingham for the event but “we decided in keeping with the high status of the tournament, it would reflect Indian squash better by having the excellent performers of the year alone participating,” he added.

In keeping with this criteria, the following selections have been made for this year’s event:

Players to be funded by Government: 1.Veer Chotrani (Asian U-19 winner, 2019), did not participate in national; SRFI ranked 2. Yash Fadte(Asian U-19 silver medallist,2019), national champion, SRFI rank 1; 3.Neel Joshi (Asian U-17 silver medallist, 2019, national champion, SRFI rank 1; 4. Sanya Vats(Asian girls U-19 silver medallist, national champion, SRFI rank 1); 5. Anahat Singh (Asian U-13 silver medallist, national champion, SRFI rank 1)

Players to participate at own cost: 1. Yuvraj Wadhwani (boys U-15 national champion, SRFI rank 1); 2. Aishwarya Khubchandani ( girls U-17 national champion, SRFI rank 1); 3. Tiana Parasrampuria(girls U-15 national champion, SRFI rank 1); 4. Darshil Parasrampuria (boys U-11 national champion, SRFI rank 2)

by Abhishek Shukla

Aspiring badminton players in Assam should join the Assam Badminton Academy, says South Asian Games gold medallist Ashmita Chaliha

New Delhi, 31 December 2019: South Asian Games gold medallist Ashmita Chaliha expressed that all aspiring badminton players in Assam should join the Assam Badminton Academy in Guwahati. Chaliha, who won two golds at the South Asian Games this year, has been training with an Indonesian coach Edwin Iriawan at the academy for the last two years.

“I would suggest all the aspiring badminton players to join the Assam Badminton Academy. In the academy, there are good coaches and I have been trained by an Indonesian coach Edwin Iriawan for the last two years. If the players go to the academy regularly, it will be very helpful for them,” said Chaliha.

The 20-year-old, who won gold in the Tata Open India International and Dubai International in 2018, said that the Khelo India Youth Games is a great opportunity for upcoming athletes to excel in various fields. The third edition of the competition will be held from 10 January 2020 to 22 January 2020 in Guwahati.

“A lot of athletes are getting an opportunity to excel in tournaments such as the Khelo India Youth Games in various fields such as badminton, taekwondo, among others. The government has financially supported all the fields very well. I would like to wish all the athletes, who are participating in the Khelo India Youth Games in Guwahati, all the very best,” said Chaliha.

The badminton player spoke about how she deals with the pressures on the court. Chaliha doesn’t think about winning or losing and focusses only on playing her best game.

“There are pressures for sportspersons, but my coach always tells me to play my game freely and not to take too much pressure. He tells me not to think about winning or losing and has asked me to focus on playing my best game,” said Chaliha.

by Abhishek Shukla

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launches torch relay of the third Khelo India Youth Games

New Delhi, 30 December 2019: The Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal and the officials of the Khelo India Youth Games launched the torch relay of the competition in Guwahati on Sunday. The tournament will be held between 10 January 2020 to 22 January 2020. Chief Minister Sonowal asked the people of Assam to create a fantastic environment for all the athletes who will be participating in the third Khelo India Youth Games.

“Athletes from all over the country will be coming to Guwahati for the Khelo India Youth Games. The competition is a great opportunity for our athletes. On behalf of the Assam people, I would like to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju for all their support. I would like to ask the people of Assam to create an environment wherein all the athletes carry out their events in a fantastic manner,” said Sonowal.

Sandeep Pradhan, Director General, Sports Authority of India said that he is extremely delighted to see the enthusiasm shown by the Assam Government for the conduct of the Kheo India Youth Games.

“It is a great honour for me to be here and to be part of this program. I am extremely delighted to see the enthusiasm the government of Assam has shown in conducting the Khelo India Youth Games. Sarbananda Sonowal sir has taken a great interest in the development of sports at a national level. He has taken a great interest to make Guwahati the sports capital of this country,” said Pradhan.

The opening ceremony of the third Khelo India Youth Games will take place at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati on January 10 2020 before the athletes take part in their respective events in full flow.
The preparations for the Khelo India Youth Games are being carried out in a fantastic manner. The officials of the competition are preparing a total of eight venues for the tournament and they are on track to make the Khelo India Youth Games one of the largest sporting spectacles of the country.

by Abhishek Shukla

ISL 2019/20: ATK gift Bengaluru Christmas blues

Kolkata, December 25: ATK delivered the perfect Christmas present for their supporters with a 1-0 win against defending champions Bengaluru FC in the Hero Indian Super League at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium here on Wednesday.

After a goalless yet intriguing first 45 minutes, David Williams (47′) scored in crackling fashion. The visitors’ half-cooked attempts to get back into the game failed and the hosts’ defence then did an exceptional job of keeping the Bengaluru attack at bay.

The three points at home has helped Antonio Habas’ men to the top of the Hero ISL table. ATK have 18 points, the same tally as Goa, having played a game more. Bengaluru are third, with 16 points from 10 matches.

ATK threatened as early as the second minute. Williams chipped the ball into the path of Krishna who ran in behind the defence and struck the side-netting with just goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to beat. Two minutes later, a poor pass back to the keeper by Rahul Bheke allowed Krishna to chase the ball but Gurpreet rushed off his line to kick the ball away from danger.

The visitors struggled to get into the game and were dependent on set-pieces to create openings in the first half. Dimas Delgado took a free-kick from just outside the box midway through the half but failed to test goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya.

While ATK threatened with fast counters, the Blues were made to work hard for chances. Delgado played a wonderful diagonal to release Udanta Singh in behind the defence but the India international pulled out of his chase at the last minute without getting a shot away as Arindam rushed to collect.

A determined ATK broke the deadlock two minutes into the second half. Krishna charged at the defence and attempted a through-ball for Williams which Bheke failed to properly clear. Jayesh Rane poked the loose ball into the path of Williams who unleashed a terrific strike that flew past Gurpreet and bulged the net.

Bengaluru stepped up their efforts to get back into the game but struggled to work the ATK custodian. A deflected Harmanjot Khabra cross from the right close to the hour-mark fell perfectly for an unmarked Delgado whose first-time effort from inside the box flew wide.

The Bengaluru attack failed to muster clear-cut chances against a solid ATK defence led by Agus Garcia. The home side was happy to sit back, hit the visitors on the counter and the organized approach triumphed on the night to secure three points.

by Abhishek Shukla

ISL 2019/20: ATK gift Bengaluru Christmas blues

Kolkata, December 25: ATK delivered the perfect Christmas present for their supporters with a 1-0 win against defending champions Bengaluru FC in the Hero Indian Super League at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium here on Wednesday.

After a goalless yet intriguing first 45 minutes, David Williams (47′) scored in crackling fashion. The visitors’ half-cooked attempts to get back into the game failed and the hosts’ defence then did an exceptional job of keeping the Bengaluru attack at bay.

The three points at home has helped Antonio Habas’ men to the top of the Hero ISL table. ATK have 18 points, the same tally as Goa, having played a game more. Bengaluru are third, with 16 points from 10 matches.

ATK threatened as early as the second minute. Williams chipped the ball into the path of Krishna who ran in behind the defence and struck the side-netting with just goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to beat. Two minutes later, a poor pass back to the keeper by Rahul Bheke allowed Krishna to chase the ball but Gurpreet rushed off his line to kick the ball away from danger.

The visitors struggled to get into the game and were dependent on set-pieces to create openings in the first half. Dimas Delgado took a free-kick from just outside the box midway through the half but failed to test goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya.

While ATK threatened with fast counters, the Blues were made to work hard for chances. Delgado played a wonderful diagonal to release Udanta Singh in behind the defence but the India international pulled out of his chase at the last minute without getting a shot away as Arindam rushed to collect.

A determined ATK broke the deadlock two minutes into the second half. Krishna charged at the defence and attempted a through-ball for Williams which Bheke failed to properly clear. Jayesh Rane poked the loose ball into the path of Williams who unleashed a terrific strike that flew past Gurpreet and bulged the net.

Bengaluru stepped up their efforts to get back into the game but struggled to work the ATK custodian. A deflected Harmanjot Khabra cross from the right close to the hour-mark fell perfectly for an unmarked Delgado whose first-time effort from inside the box flew wide.

The Bengaluru attack failed to muster clear-cut chances against a solid ATK defence led by Agus Garcia. The home side was happy to sit back, hit the visitors on the counter and the organized approach triumphed on the night to secure three points.

by Abhishek Shukla

“2019 was one of the most fun IPLs I have been a part of,” says Ponting

New Delhi, 14 December 2019: With the IPL getting into auction mode, Delhi Capitals Head Coach Ricky Ponting met members of the management to discuss the team’s potential targets for the upcoming season. “We’ve had several discussions over the last few months, and have put in a lot of time and effort to make sure that we’re well prepared,” Ponting said. “You can do all the planning in the world, but at the auction table, the unpredictable always happens.”

“There’s going to be a lot of focus and attention on fast bowlers, overseas ones in particular,” the former Australian captain said. “Pat Cummins could go for big money, as could Chris Woakes. All-rounders are always interesting in my opinion. Players like Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh, Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme could all be big picks.” “Going into the auction you have to be very specific about the kind of players you need,” he said. “For instance, we’ve got three openers, so we don’t need to look for one. You need to identify the problem areas in your starting eleven, and essentially plug the gaps.”

Ponting also spoke about the 2019 IPL season which was a stellar one for Delhi, with the franchise finishing third eventually in the competition. “The semi-final loss against Chennai was disappointing of course. But we played some great cricket, and even now, about 7-8 months after the tournament, I feel like there were times when we were the best team in the competition. I just remember how much fun everybody had. It was a totally different environment than most other IPLs that I have been a part of. The idea is to recreate that atmosphere and culture with our new and existing bunch of players.”

On the addition of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane to the side, Ponting said, “They are the kind of players who are likely to do well on the Kotla wicket, and of course, bring tremendous experience with them.” Delhi Capitals will go into the 19th December auction in Kolkata with a purse of INR 27.85 crore and 11 available slots, including five overseas players.  

by Abhishek Shukla

ISL 2019/20: Goa rally past ATK to go top

Goa, December 14: FC Goa emerged 2-1 winners against ATK following a Hero Indian Super League game of two halves at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Saturday.

After a first-half laden with inaction, the game saw three goals in six minutes after the break which ultimately settled the fixture in favour of the hosts. Mourtada Fall (60′) headed in the opener for Goa but ATK equalised through Jobby Justin (64′). Ferran Corominas (66′) made an impact at the other end two minutes later to restore his side’s advantage.

With 15 points from eight matches, Sergio Lobera’s team has displaced ATK at the top of the table. Antonio Habas’ men are second with 14 points.

Ahmed Jahouh and Lenny Rodrigues bossed the midfield and forced ATK inside their own cage. However, neither team was able to carve out clear-cut chances. David Williams charged at the Goa defence just before the break, in an attempt to create something for his team. Seriton Fernandes’ firm challenge prevented the forward from getting a shot away quickly before Carlos Pena came around to clear the danger.

Goa’s dominance was finally rewarded from a set-piece at the hour-mark. Brandon Fernandes picked up his fifth assist of the season by delivering an excellent free-kick towards the far post from the right flank. Mourtada Fall outmuscled Augustin Garcia to head the ball into the net to put Goa ahead.

Jobby Justin’s maiden ISL goal turned out to be ATK’s equliser. Sehnaj Singh fed Roy Krishna into the box but Fall slid in with a brilliant tackle to take the ball off the striker. A minute after coming on, Jobby was at the right place at the right time to tap home the rebound.  

The game opened up after the deadlock was broken and Goa regained their lead immediately. From a quick counter, Boumous played a clever ball across the goal from the right for Ferran Corominas who guided it in at the near post to make an impact on his return from injury.

Goa’s composure on the ball stopped ATK from getting back into the game and the home crowd had plenty of reasons to celebrate when the scoreline remained unchanged at the full-time whistle.

by Abhishek Shukla

ISL 2019/20: Unbeaten Bengaluru face Mumbai hurdle

Bengaluru, December 14: It’s the battle of the blues as Bengaluru FC take on Mumbai City FC in a Hero Indian Super League clash at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Sunday.

After an indifferent start, the hosts have found their mojo and sit second on the table with 13 points from seven matches. More importantly, Carles Cuadrat’s men are unbeaten and have the best defensive record in the competition.

Bengaluru have conceded just two goals so far and one of them came from a penalty. Mumbai face a tough task of breaching the Bengaluru backline at the Sree Kanteerava where they are yet to ship in a goal this season. Both goals they conceded came in away matches.

Led by Juanan and ably supported by Albert Serran and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Bengaluru rarely afford opponents a crack at their goal. In fact, they have faced the lowest shots at home (23) in the league.

Whenever the defence has come under pressure, Gurpreet has been sensational in forming the last line of defence. He was particularly exceptional in Bengaluru’s 1-0 win over Odisha FC in the previous game, pulling off six saves.

“I think Mumbai have a few new players, but the soul of the team is the same. I trust my players and my team to do a good job. We have made it tough for teams to score against us, and we aren’t a good opponent to play against,” said Cuadrat.

While their defence has been exemplary, Bengaluru have struggled in attack. Their forward line has struggled to score goals and has just seven to show for their efforts. In fact, they scored more than one goal in a game just once – in a 3-0 win over Chennaiyin FC.

Jorge Costa’s Mumbai side will bank on Amine Chermiti to trouble the Bengaluru backline. The Moroccan is focal point in attack and has scored four goals this season.

Mumbai badly need a win at this juncture, having gone on a six-game winless run after their opening match win over Kerala Blasters.  

“It’s true that in the last games we did not lose but we did not win. We performed enough to win the games so tomorrow we need to continue like this with quality and a little bit of luck,” said Costa.

The Portuguese coach will bank on his team’s away form. They are unbeaten on their travels and six of their seven points so far have come from away games. Only FC Goa (9) and Odisha FC (8) have scored more goals away from home than the Islanders (5).  

“With all respect to Bengaluru, we are speaking about the champions. We will respect Bengaluru and all the teams but we want to play with quality and do our best to win the game,” he said.

by Abhishek Shukla

Sweden Down India in U17 Women’s Tournament opener in Mumbai

MUMBAI: The opening match of the U17 Women’s Football Tournament 2019 saw India go down 0-3 to Sweden, who scored twice in the first half and once in the second half at the Mumbai Football Arena on Friday (December 13, 2019).

Prior to kick-off, Anna Lekvall (Honourable Conusel General, Embassy of Sweden), Dr. Vijay Patil (President, DY Patil University and Mumbai Cricket Association), Souter Vaz (Secretary, WIFA) and Abhishek Yadav (Director, National Teams, AIFF) shook hands with the players. Aaditya Thackeray (President, MDFA and Vice-President, WIFA) also graced the occasion with his presence.

As the match began, the away side took an early lead four minutes into the game, with Matilda Vinberg converting a spot-kick.

India came close to equalising only a few minutes later, creating two chances in consecutive minutes. Lynda Kom charged down the left and took a shot from the edge of the box that was saved by the Swedish custodian in the 11th minute.

Moments later, Sunita Munda beat her marker down the right flank and put in a cross towards Sumati Kumari. However, the Swedish defender came in with a last-minute challenge and the defence cleared the ball away.

The game became a midfield battle as both sides looked to pass their way past the opposition. India goalkeeper Manju Ganjhu showed great alertness on two occasions, rushing outside the penalty area to clear the ball away.

In the 21st minute, Lynda broke through once again and registered a powerful effort that drew a good save from the Sweden keeper.

Manju made another save in the 24th minute but a minute later, Sweden doubled their advantage through Ida Weidenberg. The forward ran down the left flank with the ball and slotted it into the far corner.

The last chance of the first half fell to Sweden’s Monica Bah, who was played in on goal in the 32nd minute. However, she was denied by Manju, who tipped the ball over the crossbar with a fingertip save.

The second half began just as the first ended, with both teams battling it out. India coach Thomas Dennerby rang in the changes as Jyoti Kumari, Purnima Linda, Sai Sankhe, Anisha Baxla, Aveka Singh and Mariyammal came on off the bench over the course of the second half.

The Indian defence, marshalled by skipper Shilky Devi, repelled the Swedish attack as Sumati Kumari posed danger for the opposition on a number of occasions, breaking past the backline. In the 70th minute, she charged into the box down the left but her cut-back towards Sai was not finished.

Five minutes later, she slipped through on goal yet again but her shot from inside the penalty area went narrowly wide. 

As the match drew to a close, Sweden scored in stoppage time through Monica Bah to make it three as they picked up the three points.

India Starting XI: Manju Ganjhu (GK), Shilky Devi (C), Martina Thokchom, Kiran, Lynda Kom, Sumati Kumari, Astam Oraon, Sunita Munda, Priyangka Devi, Kritina Devi, Nirmala Devi

Sweden Starting XI: Elin Svahn (GK), Hanna Wijk (C), Saga Carlsson, Johanna Elin, Emilia Charlotte, Matilda Vinberg, Rusul Kafaji, Monica Bah, Emelie Jansson, Ida Weidenberg, Sara Eriksson

by Abhishek Shukla

ISL 2019/20: ISL’s attacking forces collide in Goa as ATK come calling

Goa, December 13: What do you expect when two of the most attacking sides in the Hero Indian Super League lock horns with each other? Plenty of action, drama and definitely goals. That’s all probably a certainty as FC Goa hosts ATK at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium here on Saturday.

The hosts, known for their fluid attacking style, have not exactly been at their best this season due to a variety of factors including injuries and suspensions. Despite that, they have picked up points even from lost causes, coming up with injury-time equalisers on at least three occasions.

The Gaurs find themselves third on the table with 12 points from seven games. Their opponents, ATK, have been brilliant ever since their opening day loss against Kerala Blasters FC. They are unbeaten in six games now and sit on top of the table with 14 points.

The match also sees the two best attacks in the league go head to head. ATK have scored 15 goals while FC Goa have pumped 13 so far.

Goa’s attack is expected to be further boosted by the return of star striker Ferran Corominas. Also, the form of Brandon Fernandes has been key to Sergio Lobera’s team. He was instrumental in Goa’s 1-0 win over Hyderabad in the last game, assisting Manvir Singh’s winner. With four assists, the midfielder has the joint-most assists this season.

“We are playing against FC Goa and not just (Ferran) Corominas. I know Corominas is an important player, but we don’t have any special tactics for him. Normally I don’t choose one player from the opposition or from my team. I understand football is a collective sport and not an individual sport,” said  ATK head coach Antonio Habas.

ATK’s attack, however, carries an equal if not a greater threat. Led by Roy Krishna, who leads the scoring charts this season with six goals, and David Williams, ATK have the ability to score at will. Add the creativity of Javier Hernandez and Edu Garcia into the mix, the Goan midfield will have to be at their best.

More importantly, ATK wouldn’t mind Goa enjoying most of the possession, given the pace they have going forward. Antonio Habas’ team are deadly on the counter and when given space to attack, Krishna and Williams are near unstoppable as NorthEast United found out in a 3-0 defeat last time out.

“For me, you will have to defend your goal and give your best. We have good strikers playing in front for us. We need to play hard and keep the concentration for every game, not only for ATK,” said Goa coach Sergio Lobera.

“Sometimes it is not always a very good start to the season. I am very happy now. We are playing good. We are not keeping too many clean sheets, but we will work on that,” he added.

Interestingly, Lobera’s Goa has never lost to an ATK side while Antonio Habas’ ATK team has never lost to Goa. There is so much to look forward to on Saturday.

by Abhishek Shukla

ISL 2019/20: Messi’s brilliance salvages the day for Kerala

Kochi, December 13: There was no shortage of entertainment as Kerala Blasters FC and Jamshedpur played out a 2-2 draw in a Hero Indian Super League clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Friday.

Kerala had the better chances to score but it was a Piti (38′) penalty that broke the deadlock. CK Vineeth (71′) added the visitor’s second before Raphael Messi Bouli scored a brace (75′, 87′) to pull his team level.

With the spoils being shared, Jamshedpur are third with 13 points from eight matches while Kerala sit seventh with seven points.

Mario Arques, who was deemed fit to start after a lengthy layoff, nearly got his team off to a splendid start. Seityasen Singh nicked the ball on the right flank and cut inside to deliver a threatening cross that was headed straight at the goalkeeper by the Spanish midfielder at the far post.

The visitors were careless in possession early in the game, with Jeakson stealing the ball off Aitor Monroy to set Raphael Messi Bouli free, but the Cameroonian striker couldn’t keep his shot on target.

With the game nearing half-time, the referee penalised Vlatko Drobarov’s manhandling of Tiri inside the box from a corner conceded by a Seityasen backpass. Piti calmly slotted home from 12 yards to put Jamshedpur ahead.

Kerala spurned a well-worked chance to equalise after the restart. Seityasen drilled a low cross into the box from the right flank for Arques who failed to connect at the near post. The loose ball fell perfectly for Sergio Cidoncha whose powerful strike from inside the box flew wide.

Sahal Abdul Samad’s introduction in place of Cidoncha in the second half gave the hosts a much-needed spark in midfield. In the 66th minute, the Kerala-born midfielder danced his way past the Jamshedpur defence before getting a shot away. Tiri was well-positioned to block the strike and keep his team in the lead.

Five minutes later, on his return to Kochi, substitute CK Vineeth struck Jamshedpur’s second. The forward played a one-two with Farukh Chaudhary before dribbling into the box and finding the gap between Rehenesh and the near post.

Kerala Blasters pressed high up the field as an emergency response and worked the ball well to find a goal in the 75th minute. Sahal produced a delightful chip from inside the box for Messi who nodded in at the far post to provide a ray of hope for his team.

With three minutes left for the end of regulation time, Kerala found an equaliser. Seityasen Singh dribbled into the box and was brought down by Robin Gurung. Messi stepped up and converted from the spot to complete his brace and a late comeback for Kerala.

by Abhishek Shukla

ISL 2019/20: Kerala look to end winless run as Jamshedpur eye top spot

Kochi, 12 December 2019: Kerala Blasters will be after that elusive second win of the Hero Indian Super League season when they take on Jamshedpur FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium here on Friday.

The Blasters, after their opening matchday win over ATK, are winless for six games now. With three draws and as many losses in these six matches, the Blasters find themselves at the wrong end of the table in the eighth position.

However, they won’t have it easy against fourth-placed Jamshedpur FC who can go to the top of the table with a win in Kochi.

However, the form graph is interesting. Kerala Blasters played out two consecutive draws (against FC Goa and Mumbai City) coming into this match and so have Jamshedpur FC (against NorthEast United and Chennaiyin FC). Kerala coach Eelco Scahttorie and Jamshedpur manager Antonio Iriondo will want their sides to register a much-needed win on Friday.

Kerala have themselves to blame for the mess they find themselves in. The team looked on course for victory against both FC Goa and Mumbai City, only to concede late and settle for a point. The concentration in the latter part of matches have let the team down. Add to the mix the fact that Jamshedpur FC have scored 4 of their 9 goals in the final 15 minutes of games, Schattorie’s side have to be concerned. They have also shown a vulnerability while dealing with set-pieces.

“That (conceding late goals) has to do with the quality that you have in the team. One of the first things in team meetings at my previous clubs, one thing I keep repeating is that there has to be a mindset to have double alertness,” said the Dutchman.

“Last week we had some mismatch during set-pieces. You have to find a solution, in this case, I tell my players to be a bit smarter, a bit meaner, to be street-smart,” added Schattorie.

Though Raphael Messi Bouli has shone in attack of late, the absence of Bartholomew Ogbeche will weaken their frontline which has not exactly been on fire. The Men in Yellow have scored just six goals which is the second-lowest in the league.

But the return of influential midfielder Mario Arques will be a relief for Schattorie, though it is unsure if he will be fit enough to start.

Jamshedpur FC, on the other hand, have shown fighting spirit and tactical flexibility in plenty so far. They love having the ball but are equally deadly on the counter, thanks to the pace they have on the wings. The likes of Farukh Chowdhury, CK Vineeth and Aniket Jadhav have all impressed down the wings.

Also, Iriondo has a knack of getting his substitutions to work. This season, substitutes have helped Jamshedpur FC win crucial points when losing or have given them the lead when things were at a stalemate on numerous occasions.

However, the absence of star striker Sergio Castel and midfielder Piti is bound to affect the team’s gameplan and come as a relief of sorts to Kerala.

“I don’t know how Kerala’s winless run is going to affect the team but Kerala are a good team. They have not been lucky in the first part of the season due to factors like injuries. They try to play football, they have a good style. In this kind of short leagues, you don’t have too much time,” said Iriondo.

“Maybe Sergio and Piti were important for the team. Maybe if they were in the team, it would be different. We are missing them a bit now,” he also admitted.

Kerala Blasters have never beaten Jamshedpur in four encounters between the two so far and they have won only two out of their last 10 home games. Will they improve both records with a win on Friday or will Jamshedpur continue their march to the top?

by Abhishek Shukla

Khelo India Youth Games is a brilliant initiative: India’s shooting prodigy Manu Bhaker

India’s shooting prodigy Manu Bhaker, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games last year, has lauded the Khelo India Youth Games initiative by the Indian sports ministry. She expressed that the competition provides a brilliant platform for youngsters to showcase their talent. 

“I had never thought that there could be a competition like Khelo India. Everyone used to say the one can have a good life only if he or she studies well, but one cannot make a career in sports. I think the Khelo India Games is a fantastic platform for youngsters to showcase their talent. I would like to thank the Prime Minister and the Sports Minister for this initiative,” said the 17-year-old.

Bhaker, who secured a berth at the Tokyo Olympics through a good performance in the shooting World Cup in Munich earlier this year, has not started preparing for the quadrennial Games as yet.

“I am excited about the Olympics 2019. I will discuss a few plans with my coach and then implement them. For now, I am just going through my regular drills. I practice for 5-6 hours a day on average. There are a lot of sporting events ahead of the Olympics. They will serve as good preparation for the Olympics,” said Bhaker.

The young shooter set a junior world record in the women’s 10m air pistol at the World Cup Finals in Putian in November this year. Bhaker, who has brought many laurels to her country, spoke about the undying support she has received from her family throughout her career so far.

“My parents have always been supportive of whichever game I have picked up, in my academics and cultural activities. Once I started excelling in shooting, my father reduced his travels for the Merchant Navy company he was working for, in order to be there for me. Before taking up shooting seriously, I had played a lot of other sports. I used to keep trying different sports every month. I was interested to try every sport and it was my parents who asked me to take up shooting,” Bhaker signed off.

by Abhishek Shukla

Awards and recognition is a big motivation to excel, says Indian Women’s Hockey Team Skipper Rani

New Delhi, 12 December 2019: The year 2018 has been eventful for the Indian Women’s Hockey Team as they not only booked their ticket to 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where for the first time in the history of the game the Indian Women Team will make back-to-back appearances in the most prestigious sporting event, but the lead up to the Qualifier also saw them amass creditable victories against quality sides like Spain, Ireland, Japan, China, Korea, England among other countries.

Their feat has brought several accolades, awards and recognition in this past one year which the team Skipper Rani sees as a new era for women’s hockey in the country. “The fact that people never expected any great result from the Indian Women’s Team always bothered us. No one expected us to win, just a participation would bring satisfaction. But now I see that attitude change towards the Indian Women’s Hockey Team. We have proved with our performances in 2018 and 2019 that we can achieve greatness too,” stated Rani on the sidelines of the FICCI India Sports Awards 2019. 

While winnings awards and being recognised spurs her to do better, Rani also sees this as a positive step towards drawing more attention to Indian Women’s Hockey. “Personally this award is a big boost for me to do better and contribute to my team’s performance. I also think this kind of recognition highlights Indian Women’s Hockey among a different genre of people who are not necessarily hockey followers. I believe this will only help the sport grow. I would love to see the Indian Team inspire more women take up the sport professionally,” she added. 

The Indian Team is currently in Bengaluru for the ongoing National Coaching Camp till 15 December 2019. After a three-week break for Christmas and New Year, the core group will return to camp on 5 January 2020 to prepare for the New Zealand Tour. “One of the primary focus for us will be on fitness and recovery. While the plan is to play top quality matches against good teams in the lead up to the Olympics, all of us need to manage our body and mind well. We will need to peak at the right time and going by the weather in Tokyo around the time of the Olympics, I believe fitness will play a huge part in how teams fair,” she added. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Tokyo 2020 can provide platform for India’s best Olympic performance – Kiren Rijiju

NEW DELHI, 11 December 2019: Mr Kiren Rijiju, MoS (IC), Youth Affairs and Sports, today expressed hope that upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics will provide India a good platform to have best ever performance in Olympics.

Speaking at the ‘9th Global Sports Summit – TURF 2019, organized by FICCI, jointly with Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and Government of Odisha, Mr Rijiju said that Tokyo 2020 is the immediate target for the government. However, there are certain limitations with regard to existing talent. “We can’t create champions overnight as it takes years and need to ensure that there is an entire infrastructure from training to society support in place,” said Mr Rijiju.

He stated that upcoming Paris Olympics in 2024 and Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 will provide a good opportunity to significantly improve India’s performance. “If we can’t prepare for next 8 years then we have to blame ourselves in terms of making policy, setting directions, channelizing resources. We must ensure that India is no more a country which is not taken seriously in Olympics,” added Mr Rijiju.

He said that there is no lack of resources or talent in the country and invited the corporate sector to invest and reap the benefits. “Sports is a glamour as well as big opportunity to do business. There are unlimited opportunities in India, and we must be able to unleash the talent we have,” added Mr Rijiju.

Highlighting the sports potential in various states, Mr Rijiju said that each medium-sized State in India is larger than 50 per cent of the countries on this planet and urged each State to adopt and promote one sport as its core.

Mr Ajmal Ghani, Senior Advisor to the President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and Founder of Afghanistan Sports Federation said that the government has allocated 150-300 acres of land in 8 different zones to be built and invited Indian companies to invest in sports sector. He said that Afghanistan has some of the most liberal investment laws.

Mr Tusharkanti Behera, Minister of Sports, Government of Odisha, said that the launch of Fit India campaign has made a significant impression on the masses. The state is also setting-up various training centers to target the youth.

Mr Radhey Shyam Julaniya, Secretary, Department of Sports, Government of India said that when fitness industry grows, all things associated with it, whether it is apparel or food industry also grow, and these developments will lead to growth in infrastructure.

Mr Sandip Somany, President, FICCI said that we are the youngest country in the world. This demographic dividend is set to play a big role in making India a $5 trillion economy and fitness will be a critical element in achieving this target.

FICCI-Koan Advisory Knowledge Paper ‘Federated Growth – Unleashing India’s Sports Economy’ and FICCI-IISM Knowledge Paper ‘Weighing Up Fitness: Deep Insights on Indian Fitness Trends’ were also released during the event.