Author: Abhishek Shukla

Owner of Sports India Live.
by Abhishek Shukla

Hockey India names 18-member Indian Junior Women’s team for 3 Nations Tournament to be held in Australia

New Delhi, 15 November 2019: Hockey India on Friday named the 18-member Indian Junior Women’s Team for the 3-Nations Tournament scheduled from 03 – 08 December 2019 in Canberra, Australia, which also involves Junior Women’s teams from hosts Australia and New Zealand.

The 3 Nations Tournament will see India play a total of four matches – two each against Australia and New Zealand. The tournament starts on 3rd December 2019 when the hosts take on New Zealand, while India will play their opening match on 4th December 2019 against New Zealand.

The Indian Junior Women’s Team will be Captained by Suman Devi Thoudam and Vice-Captained by Ishika Chaudhary. Bichu Devi Kharibam and Rashanpreet Kaur have been selected as the Goalkeepers who will guard the goal-posts, while the out-field players include Ishika Chaudhary, Suman Devi Thoudam, Priyanka, Mahima Choudhary, Marina Lalramnghaki, Gagandeep Kaur, Prabhleen Kaur, Mariana Kujur, Chetna, Reet, Baljeet Kaur, Ajmina Kujur, Beauty Dungdung, Deepika, Lalrindiki and Sharmila Devi, who recently represented the Senior Women’s team at the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Odisha. 

Speaking about the team selection, Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team’s Coach, Baljeet Singh, said, “We had a good experience earlier this year when we took part in matches in Ireland and Belarus, and we are expecting a tougher challenge this time in Australia. The players who have been selected in the side provide some good options for us, both defensively and going forward. Playing against the likes of Australia and New Zealand will give the players a wealth of experience, and shall help us in performing at a high intensity consistently.”

INDIAN JUNIOR WOMEN’S TEAM: 

1. Bichu Devi Kharibam

2. Rashanpreet Kaur

3. Ishika Chaudhary (Vice-Captain)

4. Suman Devi Thoudam (Captain)

5. Priyanka

6. Mahima Choudhary

7. Marina Lalramnghaki

8. Gagandeep Kaur

9. Prabhleen Kaur

10. Mariana Kujur

11. Chetna

12. Reet

13. Baljeet Kaur

14. Ajmina Kujur

15. Beauty Dungdung

16. Sharmila Devi

17. Deepika

18. Lalrindiki

by Abhishek Shukla

Former Hockey India Skipper Sandeep Singh named Haryana Sports minister

Hockey India on Friday congratulated former India Skipper Sandeep Singh on being named as the sports minister of Haryana after he turned out for the BJP in the recent state assembly elections and won from Pehowa seat. He took oath as a Minister of the State on Thursday and was named sports minister earlier today. 

Sandeep Singh has been an inspiration par excellence in field hockey and has overcome personal struggles and a life-threatening injury only to return to the hockey pitch, winning several accolades for the country. He made his international debut in 2004 at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and his mercurial rise as India’s ace drag flicker saw him ascend to the Captain’s role in 2009. 

Under his captaincy, the Indian team clinched the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2009 defeating hosts Malaysia – a feat India achieved after 13 years of wait. He was the recipient of the Arjuna Award in 2010.

“I highly commend Sandeep Singh’s commitment towards sports. He was a huge inspiration to thousands of aspiring hockey players in the country and many have followed his footsteps. He was among the best drag flickers in the world and he led the Indian national team from the front. On behalf of Hockey India, I wish him the very best as he takes charge as the sports minister of Haryana. Under his leadership, I am sure he will improve sports at the grassroots and make Haryana a flourishing state in sports. We look forward to working with him to develop hockey in that region,” stated Md. Mushtaque Ahmad, President, Hockey India.

by Abhishek Shukla

81st Cadet and Sub-Junior National Table Tennis Championships set to start from tomorrow

Dharamshala, December 15: The UTT 81st Cadet and Sub-Junior National Table Tennis Championships which get underway at Indoor Stadium here tomorrow marks the beginning of the first of three Nationals in TTFI’s calendar of events.

They are not only considered a stepping stone for the aspiring paddlers, but also provide them with the opportunity to represent their states as the best among equals. But the greenhorn that has made it to the state squads will have to utilize the chance and convert it into medals, particularly the Cadet players, who are in their first year of a grand exposure.

And for the Sub-Juniors, it’s time to redeem and cement their place, having moved to the next level with some fine ground work in previous years. Their consistency at state level may have earned them a place in squads, but in the face of stiff competition from every participating state, only the best survive to reach the podium.

Of course, the Cadet events have been a tricky affair because there is always a struggle to cobble a team together. Hence, striking a balance is very important but no state can boast of such a luxury. West Bengal Cadet boys and girls, having claimed both titles in the last edition, have deservingly made it to the top of group A ,but they have a better girls’ squad than that of boys.

The group B topper, Tamil Nadu also face a similar problem with one strong player in P.B. Abhinand but it cannot be said of the rest of the team members. Also one cannot discount the chance of PSPB Academy players who have started making waves once again.

In other words, the scene is more or less the same in most of the group toppers without exception and that gives every ‘strong’ on paper the chance to win the title. In comparison, Tamil Nadu girls are better than the rest and they seem to have an edge over the others, thanks to Sharvani Nagam, who claimed the Central Zone title after being in three finals.

Similarly, the West Bengal team will rely on Diya Bramhachary, who with a few titles this season in her kitty, and support coming from Nandini Saha and Rupsa Ghoshal. But the surprise element has always been Maharashtra who created history a couple of seasons ago, winning three out of four titles.

However, the situation is tailor-made for Tamil Nadu as Preyesh Raj Suresh can carry their entire medal burden on his shoulders. The left-hander claimed three out of five singles titles in the just-concluded National Ranking championships. But it is foolhardy to bank on him alone and Tharun Shanmugam would be expected to pitch in. Yet, Maharashtra and Delhi can be the dark horses with strong performers in their line-ups to cause a stir or two.

But the best bet in Sub-Junior Girls is West Bengal, followed by Tamil Nadu and finally Delhi who have players of the calibre that can turn the tables on their rivals if things go according to plan. In the Sub-Junior category, the problem crops up in finding a winning doubles combination.  This neutralizes the effect of some good singles players who, with all their experience, have to bear the brunt.

As for entries, there are 32 squads each in Sub-Junior Boys and Girls while 31 in Cadet Boys and 30 in Cadet Girls. But apart from team superiority which will come to the fore in the first three days, the last four days of the nationals will witness paddlers vying with one another to win individual glory and prize money, nearly worth Rs. 3 lakh. Besides the rewards, it is worth 10 gold medals.

According to Competition Manager Ganeshan Neelakanta Iyer, 16 Stag Americas’ tables will be employed for the seven-day championships. However, both GKI (Cadets) and DHS (Sub-Junior) balls will be used for the competitions. Veteran A.S. Kler takes the referee’s chair with Mangesh Mopker and Atul Dubey as his deputies. They will have the services of more than 50 Blue Badge, international and national umpires. 

The championships, organized by the Himachal Pradesh Table Tennis Association, will be inaugurated by Anurag Thakur, HPTTA president and Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

by Abhishek Shukla

Delhi Capitals reveal list of retained players ahead of VIVO IPL 2020 Auction

15th November 2019, New Delhi: JSW and GMR co-owned Delhi Capitals today revealed a list of retained players ahead of the VIVO Indian Premier League 2020 Auction which is to be held next month in Kolkata. The Delhi-based franchise has retained a total of 14 players which includes three overseas players.

The retained players include Indian internationals Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Ishant Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, along with Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan. Delhi Capitals have also retained three overseas players which include South African speedster Kagiso Rabada, West Indian all-rounder Keemo Paul and Nepalese leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane.

Meanwhile, the IPL franchise which finished third last season, has released six Indian and three overseas players with Hanuma Vihari, Jalaj Saxena, Manjot Kalra, Ankush Bains, Nathu Singh and Bandaru Ayappa, all having been released. The three overseas players who have been released include South African duo of Chris Morris and Colin Ingram, along with New Zealand left-hander Colin Munro.

The off-season has also seen Delhi Capitals earlier trade Sherfane Rutherford to Mumbai Indians, Jagadeesha Suchith to Kings XI Punjab, Trent Boult to Mumbai Indians, and the duo of Rahul Tewatia and Mayank Markande to Rajasthan Royals, while having brought in experienced players in Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane.

“At Delhi Capitals, we have always believed that the core of the team has to include Indian players. The last few years we have had a lot of youngsters who have added a lot of exuberance, and last year we were successful in bringing in some experienced players like Shikhar Dhawan and Ishant Sharma. This year also we have added two highly experienced and seasoned performers in R Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane. Both are match winners, and have years of experience at this level. We do believe that we have retained players who make our side a very formidable one going into the next season, and we will only get stronger and better from hereon,” said Delhi Capitals CEO Dhiraj Malhotra, on the occasion.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the players we have released for their time with the Delhi Capitals franchise, and would like to wish them all the very best for their respective futures,” said Malhotra.

Please find below the finalized Delhi Capitals squad ahead of the VIVO Indian Premier League 2020 Auction:RETENTIONS:INDIANS:1. Shikhar Dhawan
2. Prithvi Shaw
3. Shreyas Iyer
4. Rishabh Pant
5. Axar Patel
6. Amit Mishra
7. Ishant Sharma
8. Harshal Patel
9. Avesh Khan
10. Ravichandran Ashwin
11. Ajinkya Rahane
OVERSEAS:1. Kagiso Rabada
2. Keemo Paul
3. Sandeep Lamichhane

RELEASES:INDIANS:1. Hanuma Vihari
2. Jalaj Saxena
3. Manjot Kalra
4. Ankush Bains
5. Nathu Singh
6. Bandaru Ayappa
OVERSEAS:1. Chris Morris
2. Colin Ingram
3. Colin Munro
TRADES:1. Sherfane Rutherford to Mumbai Indians
2. Jagadeesha Suchith to Kings XI Punjab
3. Trent Boult to Mumbai Indians
4. Rahul Tewatia & Mayank Markande to Rajasthan Royals

by Abhishek Shukla

Rajasthan Royals retain their core, add quality and leave space for an active auction

Mumbai, 15 November 2019: Rajasthan Royals today announced that they would retain 11 and release 11 players ahead of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Top ranked Test- batsman in the world, Steve Smith will lead the team under the able guidance of newly appointed Head Coach, Andrew McDonald. 

Ahead of the retention deadline, key trading took place between the teams and India’s Test Vice Captain Ajinkya Rahane was traded to Delhi Capitals for spinner Mayank Markande and all-rounder Rahul Tewatia. 

Mayank had an impressive debut IPL season with Mumbai Indians in 2018 season. In his first match the spinner picked up three wickets and the prized scalp of former India captain M.S. Dhoni. He finished the season with 15 wickets from 14 matches. The 2019 season saw less of Mayank as he played only three matches after which he was traded to Delhi Capitals.  

26-year-old Rahul was part of the Rajasthan Royals set up in 2014, after which he moved to Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and then the Capitals. The leg-spin bowler is known to make handy contributions with the bat as well.

“Ajinkya has been that true Royal who has always given his best for the team and stands strongly for the Royals philosophy, ‘never give up’. A classy player who has given the Royals fans some great memories to cherish over the years. On behalf of the Royals family, of which Jinks continues to be an integral member, I wish him good luck for a new beginning,” commented Zubin Bharucha, Head of Cricket, Rajasthan Royals.

In other tradings, Medium-pacer Dhawal Kulkarni was traded to Mumbai Indians. Pacer Ankit Rajpoot will join the Royals squad from KXIP who was traded for all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham. Rajpoot had a great 2018 IPL season, where he took 11 wickets from eight matches. He was retained by KXIP for his eye catching performances but only played four matches in the 2019 season. At the ongoing Mushtaq Ali trophy, playing for his team, Uttar Pradesh, Ankit has gone on to make a record to take a 5-fer in just 2 overs. He claimed 5 wickets and gave away just 17 runs while playing against Tripura. He becomes the second bowler in the history of T-20 to do so. 

Commenting on the trades, releases and retentions, Head of Cricket Rajasthan Royals, Zubin Bharucha said, “We would like to thank all the players for their services to the team. The format of IPL is such, that at times you have to take tough decisions to benefit both the team and those individuals. While we have to let go of some members, they will always remain part of our extended Royals family. I wish each one of them the best of luck for their future endeavours,” added Bharucha. 

Speaking on the upcoming season, Head Coach of the Rajasthan Royals, Andrew McDonald said, “I’m looking forward to my first season as the coach of the Royals. My main objective will be to work on improving the squad and set a style of cricket that can win us the IPL. We have done some trades keeping in mind the combination that we wish to establish and will further work on securing players during the auction that are required to fill necessary roles. I am hopeful of a great season and believe we can give Royal fans across the globe a reason to Halla Bol.”

Speaking about leading the Royals once again at IPL 2020, Steve Smith said, “It’s an honour to be named the Rajasthan Royals captain for the 2020 season. It’s been a pleasure leading the Royals in previous years and I can’t wait to play alongside this extremely talented squad, plus those we pick up in the auction”.

Post the successful trading and all player releases, Rajasthan Royals has a total purse of INR 28.9 crores available for the auction.

by Abhishek Shukla

Ashalata Devi nominated for AFC Women Player of the year award

MUMBAI: Persepolis FC and Islamic Republic of Iran goalkeeper Ali Reza Safarbeiranvand, Japan’s versatile defender Tomoaki Makino and AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 star Akram Hassan Afif of Qatar lead the nominees for the AFC Player of the Year – Men’s category at the AFC Annual Awards Hong Kong 2019.

Meanwhile at the event to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday, December 2, 2019, China PR’s Li Ying, who was part of the team in the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019, Indian stalwart Ashalata Devi Loitongbam and Japan’s captain Saki Kumagai are the frontrunners for the AFC Player of the Year – Women’s category.

Safarbeiranvand is famously known for saving Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and he repeated the feat against Oman in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 to lead IR Iran to the semi-finals. He has been an inspirational figure in goal for both club and country but outside the pitch, he remains a strong advocate for social responsibility.

Makino’s commanding presence in the heart of the Urawa Red Diamonds have been one of the key reasons in helping his team keep six clean sheets en-route to reaching the AFC Champions League final. He was also integral in leading the Samurai Blue to their fifth final of the AFC Asian Cup.

Afif is arguably Asia’s brightest prospect and he burst onto the scene at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 where he produced 10 assists – the most in the tournament’s history. He was a figure of consistency for club Al Saad where they reached the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League.

Li, the top scorer in the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, was shortlisted for the AFC Player of the Year- Women’s award after guiding China PR to the Round of 16 in the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019. She also featured prominently for her club Guangdong Huijun F.C, helping the newly promoted side maintain their status in the China Women’s Super League.

Meanwhile, Devi has enjoyed an impressive year by leading India to the Olympic 2020 Qualifiers Round 2 and winning the 2019 SAFF Championship title. The defender was also instrumental in helping her club, Sethu FC, win the Indian Women’s League crown. She was subsequently voted as the Women’s Player of the Year for the 2018-2019 season in the country.

Kumagai has been a force in women’s football after guiding Japan to the Round of 16 in the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019. She also helped Olympique Lyonnais to their fourth consecutive UEFA Women’s Champions League title which led to her nomination for this year’s BBC World Women’s Football of the Year award.

The star-studded cast of nominees (in alphabetical order of MA) for the AFC Annual Awards Hong Kong 2019 are:

AFC Player of the Year (Men)
Ali Reza Safarbeiranvand (Persepolis F.C. and IRN)
Tomoaki Makino (Urawa Red Diamonds and JPN)
Akram Hassan Afif (Al Saad and QAT)

AFC Player of the Year (Women)
Li Ying (Guangdong Huijun F.C and CHN)
Ashalata Devi Loitongbam (Sethu FC and IND)
Saki Kumagai (Olympique Lyonnais and JPN)

AFC Asian International Player of the Year
Sardar Azmoun (IRN)
Makoto Hasebe (JPN)
Son Heung-min (KOR)

AFC Futsal Player of the Year
Mahdi Javid (IRN)
Tomoki Yoshikawa (JPN)
Yushi Sekiguchi (JPN)

AFC Youth Player of the Year (Women)
Karly Roestbakken (AUS)
Wang Linlin (CHN)
Jun Endo (JPN)

AFC Youth Player of the Year (Men)
Hiroki Abe (JPN)
Lee Kang-in (KOR)
Doan Van Hau (VIE)

AFC Coach of the Year (Women)
Katayoun Khosrowyar (IRN)
Asako Takakura (JPN)
Neungrutai Srathongvian (THA)

AFC Coach of the Year (Men)
Tsuyoshi Otsuki (JPN)
Go Oiwa (JPN)
Chung Jungyong (KOR)

AFC Member Association of the Year (Inspiring)
Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran
Japan Football Association
Korea Football Association

AFC Member Association of the Year (Developing)
DPR Korea Football Association
The Hong Kong Football Association LTD.
Football Association of Singapore

AFC Member Association of the Year (Aspiring)
Guam Football Association
Mongolian Football Federation
Yemen Football Association

AFC President Recognition Awards for Grassroots Football (Inspiring)
Chinese Football Association
Japan Football Association
Football Association of Malaysia

AFC President Recognition Awards for Grassroots Football (Developing)
The Hong Kong Football Association LTD.
All India Football Federation
Football Association of Singapore

AFC President Recognition Awards for Grassroots Football (Aspiring)
National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam
Guam Football Association
Palestine Football Association

by Abhishek Shukla

Seminlen header save India blushes at Dushanbe

DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN: Super-sub Seminlen Doungel’s stoppage time goal cancel out Zelfagar Nazary’s opener as Afghanistan were held to a 1-1 draw by India in their FIFA World Cup 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 Joint-Qualification encounter on Thursday at the Central Republican Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

On the balance of play, Afghanistan will feel they should have sneaked it as they dominated proceedings and created better goal-scoring chances. They will surely be kicking themselves for not burying numerous goal-scoring opportunities they created, especially in the later stages of the encounter. But in the end, the result was perhaps a fair reflection of the action on show. Both teams had periods of dominance and numerous scoring opportunities.

Despite some quick and accurate passes from both sets of players, neither side was able to establish dominance over the midfield during the early stages which made for an end-to-end, open encounter.

Afghanistan were pressing high without the ball, trying to put pressure on the India defence which looked organised and comfortable to dictate the pace of the match and limit the Afghanistan’s options to counterattacks.

Playing out from the back, the hosts were looking to connect with target-man Omran Haydari but Adil Khan, at the centre of India defence, had little trouble defusing the searching long balls and crosses aimed at the forward.

By midway through the first period India were piling on the pressure. Sunil Chhetri led India’s offensive efforts but like his counterpart, failed to be as lethal as they needed to be in front of goal.

Inevitably, failing to convert their chances came back to haunt India as Afghanistan took the lead at the stroke of half-time when David Najem cut back into the box as Nazary ran into the box and smashed it past Gurpreet Singh Sandhu after Rahul Bheke missed the ball completely.

Afghanistan’s spirits were lifted by the goal which they brought with them when they returned from the break.

But they weren’t the only ones, India came out of the sheds fired up to bring themselves back into contention, controlling the ball, winning set pieces and keeping Afghanistan pinned into their own back third.

The Blue Tigers were all over Afghanistan and asking more and more questions. Goalkeeper Ovays Azizi produced a glorious save to keep India  at bay when he denied Brandon Fernandez in a one-on-one inside the box, diving full length to stop the ball from going in.

However, Afghanistan weren’t without chances of their own, but between some solid defending and the safe hands of Gurpreet, the attackers were unable to get an edge on their opponent.

India continued to have the majority of possession and chances in front of goal with Chhetri combining well with Brandon to create opportunities that were often unlucky not to score from.

As the clock counted down India continued to put pressure on Afghanistan and the pressure eventually told as Doungel scored the all-important goal in stoppage time when he headed home a Brandon Fernandez corner to the delight of the away fans.

With this result, India now have three points from four matches in Group E — this being their third draw in a row.

by Abhishek Shukla

Lajong Are Shillong Premier League Champions 2019

Shillong Lajong FC are officially crowned the Shillong Premier League Champions of 2019 at the closing ceremony held at the JN Stadium today.

The Reds ended the Shillong Premier League at the top of the table with 27 points from 12 games. These group of youngsters whose average age is just below 20, played some brilliant football this year as they scored a total of 30 goals and conceded just 6 throughout the course of the league.

Shillong Lajong were declared winners of the SPL on Tuesday afternoon after defeating Ryntih Sports Club with a 4-0 margin, ending the season well on top of the table.

In today’s closing ceremony at the JN Stadium, Captain Kenstar Kharshong was named the Best Defender of Shillong Premier League 2019, Phrangki Buam – the top scorer of the league with 10 goals whereas Maxderidoff Wahlang was awarded the Emerging Player Award.

Earlier this year, The Reds won the U-18 Shillong Premier League and most of the players of the youth side were given the opportunity to play in the senior division of the League. The Shillong Lajong Academy Boys who featured in this year’s Shillong Premier League team are a group of incredibly talented youngsters, who performed exceptionally well under the guidance of Spanish Coach, Jose Carlos Rodriguez along with Alison Kharsyntiew and Birendra Thapa. They were very consistent in the second leg of the league as they won all the matches and drew one match without losing any. Their teamwork and dedication was a delight to the fans and were deservedly crowned the Champions of Shillong this year.

by Abhishek Shukla

Speedster Trent Boult Traded To Mumbai Indians

13th November 2019, New Delhi: Delhi Capitals would like to announce the successful trade of Kiwi fast bowler Trent Boult to Mumbai Indians for the 2020 season of the VIVO Indian Premier League.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank Trent for the time he spent with us, and his contribution to the Delhi team,” said Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal on the development. “I wish him all the very best for his stint with Mumbai Indians which I am sure will be a successful one.”

Apart from Delhi, Trent Boult has represented Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders in the past. The 30 year old has 38 scalps to his name across 5 seasons of the IPL. His standout season was in 2018 when he took 18 wickets from 14 games for the Delhi Daredevils.

by Abhishek Shukla

Preyesh, Poymantee win junior titles on last day

Bhavnagar, November 14: Preyesh Raj Suresh does not need a second invitation as he seizes every opportunity that comes his way. And the Tamil Nadu boy, who won the season’s third Sub-Junior Boys title yesterday, also claimed his first Junior Boys crown when he beat Jeho Himnakulhpuingheta 4-3 in a thrilling final of the UTT National Ranking (Central Zone) Table Tennis Championships which concluded at the SAG Sports Complex here today.

Anusha Kutumbale from Madhya Pradesh, however, failed in her attempt to add her third Junior Girls title when she went down fighting to Poymantee Baisya of West Bengal 3-4. The West Bengal paddler ended the season with her first crown in the season.

Peyesh, unlike most others, took on his defensive opponent head on and without getting immersed into his rival’s game plan devised his own. The TN boy, too, kept returning whatever was sent at him and when he got the opportunity grabbed it with both hands with clean winners. Until Game 6, the pendulum kept swinging from one extreme to another, but Jeho was one game up at that stage. Yet, the Tamil Nadu boy played with purpose in the last two games to wrap up the win and the title.

Preyesh’s first winner’s trophy in the category came at the cost of state mate Vishwa Deenadayalan, touted as the favourite to win his fourth gold of the season. But he was certainly not in his elements and just one valiant attempt in the third game was not good enough. Preyesh, running an excellent form, finished the semi-final match without any more problems.

In the second semi-final, defensive Jeho Himnakulhpuingheta prevailed over the attacking Chinmaya Somaiya 4-2. After losing the two opening games, the Mizoram boy reassessed the situation and switched to a complete defensive mode, posing a lot of problems. Unable to adjust to the ball coming slow to him, the left-handed Maharashtra boy could not cope with it and, despite stretching his opponent in every way possible, he was not able to stop Jeho from moving into the final.  

In the title-showdown, the MP paddler had won the North and South Zone titles before, was in discomfort but never showed it with a cool head. It helped her take a 3-2 lead but the West Bengal paddler came back at her and levelled the score. After that in the marathon decider, both had their chances but it was Poymantee who seized the moment.

Anusha was well and truly on her way when she coasted to a 3-0 lead against Prithoki Chakraborti of West Bengal. When the MP girl faltered in the fourth game, one thought it was an aberration. But Prithoki followed that win with her second in the fifth, too, giving a little scare to her rival. However, Anusha, made up for her women singles loss, to complete the task in style and enter the final.

Poymantee Baisya, on the other hand, began badly before settling down nicely to beat the stuffing out of her Delhi rival, Vanshika Bhargava. The West Bengal girl won 4-1 but third game which saw both girls losing three games points each. However, on the fourth game-point Poymantee sealed it in her favour to move ahead.

Results:

Junior Boys: Final: Suresh Raj Preyesh (TN) bt Jeho Himnakulhpuingheta (Miz) 7-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7; Semi-finals: Suresh Raj Preyesh bt Vishwa Deenadayalan (TN) 11-4, 11-9, 2-11, 11-6, 11-6; H. Jeho bt Chimaya Somaiya (Mah) 11-13, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-2, 11-9.

Junior Girls: Final: Poymantee Baisya (WB) bt Anusha Kutumbale (MP) 11-4, 1-11, 9-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 16-14; Semi-finals: Anusha Kutumbale bt Prithoki Chakraborti (WB) 11-9, 11-4, 11-5, 7-11, 8-11, 11-5; Poymantee Baisya bt Vanshika Bhrgava (Del) 6-11, 11-4, 17-15, 11-3, 11-9.

by Abhishek Shukla

Ajinkya Rahane Joins Delhi Capitals in Trade

14th November 2019, New Delhi: Delhi Capitals has completed yet another successful trade by getting on board experienced Indian right-hander Ajinkya Rahane, and releasing spinners Rahul Tewatia and Mayank Markande to Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2020 season of the VIVO Indian Premier League. 

“Rahul and Mayank are both extremely talented cricketers with a bright future ahead of them. I am confident they will excel at Rajasthan Royals,” Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal said on the occasion. “I am also extremely honoured to welcome one of India’s most stellar and consistent batsmen, Ajinkya Rahane, to the DC family. When the franchise underwent a revamp last year, a decision was made to keep Indian players at its core. The result was there for everyone to see, with the likes of Shikhar Dhawan and Ishant Sharma performing brilliantly for us, and complimenting the youth that DC has in Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and Prithvi Shaw, among others. That thought process has continued for us this time around as well, as is evident in the signing of Ravichandran Ashwin, followed by that of Ajinkya Rahane. I am sure Rahane’s wealth of experience, and familiarity with the conditions will help Delhi Capitals go a long way in IPL 2020.”

Ajinkya Rahane has been a vital cog in India’s batting, having scored more than 7000 runs across formats. In the IPL, he played for Mumbai Indians in 2008 and 2009. After skipping the 2010 edition, the 31 year old was picked by Rajasthan Royals – a team he was synonymous with, up until last season, during which he captained in a few games as well. Rahane has 3820 runs from 140 IPL games, with two centuries to his name. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Special Olympics Bharat athletes celebrate Children’s Day with WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair

14 November 2019, Mumbai: On the occasion of Children’s Day, 10-time WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair spent quality time with the children from Special Olympics Bharat as part of her India tour. Charlotte Flair, 30 children and five coaches from Special Olympics Bharat indulged in a host of fun indoor activities to raise awareness for Special Olympics at the ITC Maratha in Mumbai on Thursday, 14 November 2019.

WWE and Special Olympics are dedicated to creating a more inclusive and unified generation. WWE helps empower athletes of all ages and abilities to make great achievements and be recognized for their talents and accomplishments. Through this partnership, WWE also helps to celebrate the differences in each of us and educate and expand the reach of Special Olympics, the organization’s powerful message of inclusion and remarkable athletes to a wider audience through WWE’s worldwide platforms.

Charlotte Flair, had an enriching experience interacting with the Special athletes in Mumbai and was really happy to spend time with them and was touched by their heartwarming smiles.

“For me, the most important thing about being a part of WWE is putting smiles on the kids’ faces. It’s my second time in India and I am very excited to be here. I think sports is the one thing that unites everyone universally and it’s important to celebrate all children since they are the future,” said the WWE Superstar.

by Abhishek Shukla

Dream11 is the official fantasy game of Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10 League

Mumbai, November 14, 2019: Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10 League today announced Dream11, India’s Biggest Sports Game, as the league’s official Fantasy Gaming Partner.

The 3rd edition of the hugely successful and newly revamped Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10 League, will be held from 15th – 24th November at the iconic Zayed Cricket Stadium. This year, the league will feature a total of eight teams – Bangla Tigers, Maratha Arabians, Deccan Gladiators, Qalandars, Delhi Bulls, Northern Warriors, Karnataka Tuskers and Team Abu Dhabi. The upcoming season will feature a total of 29 matches between November 15 – 24 and will witness the nail-biting battle between some of the most explosive batsmen facing some of the most feared bowlers from across the world in a 10 – over per innings cricket game.

Through this partnership, fans will not only be able to get an opportunity to showcase their knowledge by creating their own virtual teams and compete with 7 crore+ users on Dream11. The T10 League will also see cricketing greats and commentators like Danny Morrison, Dean Jones and Mark Boucher along with Karishma Kotak testing their fantasy cricket knowledge and skill by making their Dream11 team ahead of every game.

Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10 League will be broadcasted globally, and will be live-streamed on multi-sports aggregator platform FanCode that offers sports fans news, live match scores, research-based insights, fantasy sports statistics, expert fantasy advice, in-depth game analysis and live match streaming, all on a single platform.

“We are thrilled at Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10 to be associate with Dream11 as our official Fantasy Game. Dream11 has an amazing track record of working with global sporting properties such as the ICC, IPL, NBA to name a few. Their platform will create the next level of engagement for our fans and ignite the presence and growth of Abu Dhabi T10 in India even faster.”  Mr. Shaji Mulk (Chairman, Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10 League).

Talking about the partnership, Dream11 spokesperson said, “We are excited to partner with the revolutionary cricket league, Abu Dhabi T10. In its previous two seasons, the League has successfully managed to garner great support from cricketing fans across the globe. With the exciting line-ups and short format, our 7 crore+ users are most certainly going to not only enjoy creating their fantasy teams on Dream11 but also enjoy watching the matches live.”

The Aldar Properties Abu Dhabi T10 will have an array of international cricketing superstars including Indian cricket legends Yuvraj Singh & Zaheer Khan, England Captain Eoin Morgan, West Indian superstars Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo & Kieorn Pollard to name a few.

The recent Nielsen – IFSG report suggests that 37% per cent of fantasy sports players consume more than 6-8 hours of real-life sports content per week to stay abreast with knowledge on players and match conditions turning passive sports viewers into active participants of a match, while 62 per cent of respondents watch different types of leagues, even when their team / country is not playing.

About Dream11:

Dream11 is India’s Biggest Sports Gaming platform with 7 Crore+ users playing Fantasy Cricket, Football, Kabaddi, Basketball & Hockey. It is a Game of Skill that offers Indian sports fans a platform to showcase their sports knowledge. Fans can create their own team made up of real-life players from upcoming matches, score points based on their on-field performance and compete with other fans. Dream11 helps sports fans increase their engagement and connect deeper with the sport they love by being a team owner, not just a spectator.

Dream11 is the Official Fantasy Game partner of the The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), VIVO Indian Premier League (VIVO IPL), International Council of Cricket (ICC), VIVO Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), Hero Indian Super League (ISL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Abu Dhabi T10, Mzansi Super League (MSL), Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), International Hockey Federation (FIH), Big Bash League (BBL), European Cricket League (ECL), European T20 Slam, Karnataka Premier League (KPL), Pro Volleyball League (PVL) and the T20 Mumbai League. In April 2019, Dream11 became the first Indian gaming company to enter the ‘Unicorn Club’.

A Series D funded company, Dream11 was founded in 2008 by Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth. Dream11 has been ranked #10 among India’s Great Mid-Size Workplaces in 2019 and was recognised as one of the top 10 innovative companies in India by Fast Company in 2019. Kalaari Capital, Think Investments, Multiples Equity, Tencent and Steadview Capital are the marquee investors in Dream11.


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About T Ten Sports Management

T Ten Sports Management FZC is a group company of the multinational and diversified conglomerate Mulk Holdings. T10 League is the brainchild of Shaji Ul Mulk, Chairman and founder of Mulk Holdings. The T10 League has been launched by the T Ten Sports Management in 2017. Since its launch to sell-out crowds in Sharjah in 2017, the rise of the T10 League, the world’s only International T10 Franchise League has been exponential.

by Abhishek Shukla

AIFF & FSDL secure DSport as Hero I-League broadcasters

New Delhi, 14 November, 2019: All India Football Federation (AIFF) has signed a three-year deal with Lex Sportel Vision Pvt. Ltd. to broadcast the Hero I-League on DSport starting 2019-20 season. The 13th edition of Hero I-League is scheduled to commence from 30th November 2019 featuring 11 teams and 110 matches.

Separately, AIFF have commissioned Instat Limited – an Ireland based company to produce a feed of the live audio-visual coverage for the broadcast on DSport. Instat will produce all 110 Hero I-League games with an 8-camera setup. AIFF’s agreement with Instat Limited will run for three years.

The Hero I-League for past two seasons was showcased on Star Sports. However, as per the request of the I-League clubs, the AIFF & FSDL (Football Sports Development Limited) negotiated the deal with the new broadcast partner providing exclusive rights for on-air and digital content. FSDL will also contribute partly to the cost of production.

AIFF General Secretary Mr. Kushal Das in his statement said, ”I need to thank Lex Sportel Vision for penning a three-year deal with AIFF. It has enabled us to bank on Instat Limited’s expertise in producing live telecast of Hero I-League matches on DSport. The eight-camera set-up for all matches will surely add to enhanced viewing for the fans. I also need to thank FSDL for negotiating and facilitating the deal.”

by Abhishek Shukla

Blue Tigers ready to overcome challenges and brave adversities against Afghanistan

DUSHANBE (TAJIKISTAN): Hours after arriving in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, India head coach Igor Stimac stated that the Blue Tigers need to overcome “tough challenges” imposed by Afghanistan, besides braving adversities, when they face-off in the Group E encounter of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 preliminary joint Qualification Round 2 match at the Republican Central Stadium in Dushanbe tomorrow (Thursday, November 14, 2019).

“We know how difficult this game is going to be for us. We both (India and Afghanistan) have already faced Qatar and Bangladesh in the qualifiers. We see Afghanistan as a physical side with good composure. They have some players who also have the experience of playing in Europe. They are not in the top division, but playing in Europe always gives you an extra bit of confidence. They have stamina and they’ll pose a tough challenge for us,” Stimac said in the pre-match press conference held in Dushanbe today (November 13) morning.

Dushanbe welcomed the Blue Tigers contingent with chilly weather as the mercury hovered around 6-7° degrees Celsius. However, despite the low temperature, the fighting spirit of the Indian team remains high as ever.

“As a player, you have to be confident and face every challenge head-on. That’s why we are here. Yes, the conditions have not been in our favour to some extent but that won’t have any effect when the referee blows the whistle. If we can execute the coach’s plans on the pitch, we can surely hope for a good result,” a buoyant Pronay Halder voiced at the official press conference.

Meanwhile, experienced centre back Anas Edathodika flew back home late on Tuesday owing to a family emergency. “Anas (Edathodika) is having a tough time. Our thoughts are with him and his family. He has been an instrumental member of the squad and we will miss him. The onus is now on the other players to take the mantle and deliver on the pitch,” Stimac added.

Coach Stimac thanked the Tajikistan FA for their hospitality as well as for providing Afghanistan with the opportunity to host their home games in Dushanbe.

“Thank you very much for welcoming us. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for all the hospitality and hosting the qualifying games. It’s the first time I’m here in Tajikistan and I have really been enjoying it,” the 52-year-old coach echoed.

The Coach further analysed the Blue Tigers’ last match against Bangladesh as well, saying, “The most difficult games are those when people who are following you, write the result before the game starts. We witnessed it against Qatar as well as Bangladesh. When Bangladesh came, they were defending with 10 players and were looking to counter-attack. Without taking away any credit from them, we earned a point against them. We can’t forget that they were leading until the 87th minute.”

The gaffer also maintained that India’s passion for the beautiful game is changing and the Blue Tigers will try their level best to fulfil the expectations and grab their first win in the joint qualification round.

“We are happy that people in India are following us with lots of passion now. They have a great expectation on us and we’ll try our level best to make them happy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Anoush Dastagiv, Afghanistan Head Coach mentioned though it’s not their own country, they get “confidence” when they play in Dushanbe.

 “Yes, geographically it’s far from own country and we would have been happier if we could have gotten the chance to play in our own country. But, playing in Tajikistan has always given us much-needed confidence. We have beaten Cambodia, Bangladesh here and settled with a draw against Tajikistan, Jordan. Those results will surely give us a psychological boost tomorrow,” Dastagiv said.

“Here, people speak our language. We feel at home. Whenever we play in front of Afghani crowd, we never fail to get positive results. We hope we can get something closer to that tomorrow as well,” he added.

The match is scheduled to kick-off at 7.30 PM IST (7 PM local time). It will be telecast live on the Star Sports network and streamed live online on Hotstar and Jio TV.

by Abhishek Shukla

Inaugural International Badminton Championship for athletes with and without intellectual disabilities off to a smashing start in Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand – 13 November 2019: More than 150 delegates from 14 countries will take part in the inaugural Special Olympics Asia Pacific Unified Badminton Championship, which is being held in Bangkok, from 13 November to 16 November 2019.

Hosted by Special Olympics Thailand, and supported by the Badminton Association of Thailand, the Sports Authority of Thailand and Plan B Media, the event is a showcase of the power of sport to foster mutual understanding, respect and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities.

The championship will welcome athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to display their courage, passion and skills as part of a global movement to create positive change and drive social inclusion.

Thailand will welcome teams from countries across both the Asia Pacific and East Asia regions including Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, and Sri Lanka.

Mr Dipak Natali, Acting President and Managing Director of Special Olympics Asia Pacific, said: “I am hopeful that this inaugural unified championship will foster deeper understanding and friendships between people with and without intellectual disabilities across the region. It confirms what millions of badminton fans across Asia already know – the power of sport to elevate, unite and include.”

The result of a global partnership between Special Olympics and the Badminton World Federation (BWF), this is the first unified badminton championship to be held in Asia since the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was announced during the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, UAE, held in March 2019. The long-term alliance aims to create growth opportunities and enhance participation in badminton events throughout the world.

In the Asia Pacific region, Special Olympics has collaborated with Badminton Asia and Badminton Oceania since 2018 to equip coaches with resources and skills to deliver inclusive, high-quality badminton training to athletes with and without intellectual disabilities. Between 2017 and 2018, there was a 25,000 increase in the number of Special Olympics athletes taking up the sport across the Asia Pacific region.

Special Olympics Bharat will be represented by a team of four male and four female athletes.

Mr Victor R Vaz National Sports Director, SO Bharat, said: “Events like this help in building confidence of our Athletes, motivating them to achieve greater heights. Dynamic collaborations like the one between SO Thailand and the Badminton Association of Thailand, are a doorway for maintaining superior quality sport specific standards for both Athletes and Coaches. This international event speaks louder about Inclusion as it provides a platform for Unified pairs (players with and without Intellectual Disabilities) to coordinate and bond on and beyond sports”

Special athlete Kalpana Mehra expressed her delight & said, “I am very excited to take part in the Unified Badminton Championship. Sports makes me happy. I am travelling out of the country for the first time and that too representing India. I am proud.”

Kalpana’s Unified Partner, Arpita Malik said, “This Championship is very important to me, it’s a great platform for us to showcase our talent as a team. My partner Kalpana and I have trained well, and we are hoping to clinch a medal. Playing Unified is an extraordinary experience. I am learning more than just sports.”

More than 2,300 spectators are expected to attend the Opening Ceremony of the badminton championship, which will be graced by some of Thailand’s biggest music and sports stars. They include Special Olympics Thailand’s brand ambassadors, popular girl group BNK48 and singer Ada Chunhavajira. National badminton champion Boonsak Polsana will also lead the parade of athletes. Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Mr Pipat Ratchakitprakan will attend as Guest of Honour.

Red Bull Athlete CS Santosh
by Abhishek Shukla

BANGALORE TO WITNESS THE FIRST EDITION OF RED BULL ACE OF DIRT

November 13th, India: Red Bull Ace of Dirt, a first of its kind race comes to India where different off-road disciplines come together to compete in an elimination format to be the last man standing. The city of Bengaluru will witness a never-seen-before bike race on November 14th at the Big Rock Dirtpark, a one of its kind, self-designed track by Red Bull Athlete CS Santosh. The winner of Red Bull Ace of Dirt will get a once in a lifetime opportunity to train with ace motorcyclist and Red Bull athlete, CS Santosh

32 selected riders will battle each other on a specially laid course which consists of Motocross, Dirt track and Enduro sections all put together to offer a unique challenge to make it to the final top 4 to compete for the win! But they must make it through the semi-finals round that will offer a unique challenge where all will compete on identical Hero Xpulse bikes which will eliminate any advantage or disadvantage their own machines would have had!

Commenting on the event, Red Bull athlete CS Santosh said, “I am excited to have this opportunity with energy drink giant Red Bull to dream up this event with this unique concept here in India on a new format of racing that we have not previously had. We are also delighted to have Hero MotoSports join hands for this event as part of their vision to promote Motor Sports and Off-Road biking culture in India. All these major partners coming together to offer a complete ecosystem for the event, is a great support to the event and motor sports in the country. Ultimately, this format will allow all different types of riders to compete together and develop good overall skills that will one day be a platform to transition into cross country rally racing and on day to the Dakar!

by Abhishek Shukla

Vanlalbiaa Struck Twice As Mohammedan Claim Gold Cup

GANGTOK, SIKKIM: Mohammedan Sporting Club blank Sikkim Himalayan FC 2-1 to claim the title in the 39th Sikkim Governor’s Gold Cup at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok on Tuesday.

Vanlalbiaa Chhangte (4th and 79th), who adjudged as the player of the tournament, scored twice after Sikkim Himalayan equalized through Eugene Nimako (62nd).

The Black Panthers looked dangerous from the outset and took the lead as early as the 4th minute through Vanlalbiaa, who rounded Sikkim Himalayan goalkeeper Urgen Pintson to slot from close range.

Encouraged by their start, the Black Panthers piled on the pressure only to be denied by Urgen, who produced a string of brilliant saves to keep his side in the match.

That’s not to say Sikkim Himalayan didn’t have their chances. There were several occasions when they broke past the Mohammedan SC back-line and threatened 1v1 with Mohammedan SC goalkeeper Priyant Singh, however were failed to be as lethal as they needed to be in front of goal.

Mohammedan SC though continued to dominate the proceedings, but poor decision-making let them down in the final third which saw Dipendu Biswas’ charges went into the breather with only a solitary goal lead.

Sikkim Himalayan came out of the sheds fired up to bring themselves back into contention, controlling the ball, winning set pieces and keeping Mohammedan SC pinned into their own back third and their efforts were soon rewarded in the 62nd minute when a chipped ball headed into the path of Eugene who ran onto it and smacked it hard at goal. Priyant failed to put in a clean save and the ball trickled past the goal line.

Nonetheless, Mohammedan SC continued to have the majority of possession and chances in front of goal with Tirthankar Sarkar combining well with Vanlalbiaa and Charles Atcha to create opportunities they were often unlucky not to score from.

Sikkim Himalayan defense looked comfortable in absorbing Mohammedan SC’s attacking pressure, while looking to catch their opponents off-guard as it appeared like the local side were trying take the game to the penalties.

With time running out and the game heading towards penalties, Mohammedan SC reclaimed their lead in the 79th minute when Vanlalbiaa find the net with a powerful drive at the end of a determined run and cross from the left.

The match started to become a little tenser as the clock counted down with Sikkim Himalayan showing great determination in their pursuit of an equalizer, while Mohammedan SC players tried to kill the game’s rhythm and they did what they needed to secure third Sikkim Governor’s Gold Cup title.

by Abhishek Shukla

India named team for World Junior Squash Championship

Chennai: The Indian juniors are ready for their next big challenge, the World junior men’s and women’s individual championship (July 30 to August 4) followed by the World junior women’s team championship(August 5 to 9) both to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In all 11 players will be participating from India in these championships. The junior women’s team comprises Sanya Vats, Yoshna Singh, Aishwarya Khubchandani and Ananya Dabke. All these four players will be joined by Amira Singh and Megha Bhatia in the Individual competitions, that precedes. The team event is held once in two years. At the 2017 edition held in Tauranga, New Zealand, the girls had finished 6th.

The boys who will be taking part in the junior men’s individual championship are Tushar Shahani, Veer Chotrani, Arnaav Sareen, Rahul Bhaita and Yash Fadte.

The squad will be accompanied by the following officials: Coaches: Bhuvneshwari Kumari, Abhinav Sinha and Cyrus Poncha. M. Dimple will be the physiotherapist.

by Abhishek Shukla

Kush Maini wins rookie category at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

Kush Maini backed by JK Racing and driving for M2 Competition won the Rookie Category on the last Lap of an exciting Race in Belgium in Race 1 of the Formula Renault Eurocup Series . Having Started 11th on the Grid he had to avoid going into the back of Leonard Lorandi’s car which was very slow of the start. Moving up Positions as the race progressed, Kush made his way upto 6thPlace  when the Safety Car was called out. This helped Bunch up all the Drivers for the last few laps of the Race.

Kush Maini wrested the  Trophy from the hands of Patrik Pasma in the last corner. Rookies Petr Ptáček and Caio Collet (R-ace GP), finished seventh and eighth, while Alexander Smolyar (R-ace GP) and Xavier Lloveras claimed the final points on offer. Kush who finally finished in 5th position overall was extremely happy with the result.

“I started eleventh, so I knew that I would have to fight to move up the order. I was pretty confident, because I simply didn’t carry over my pace from practice to qualifying. I was able to preserve my tyres in the race while also passing my rivals. This allowed me to be extremely fast on the last lap and I pressured Patrik Pasma into a mistake when he missed his final braking point and I was able to win the rookie category. It is a reinforcing result, because it justifies our potential.”

The Series will break for Summer and will return with the Race in Nurburgring at the end of August .

by Abhishek Shukla

Haryana Steelers take on Dabang Delhi K.C at Mumbai

Mumbai, 27 July 2019: The Haryana Steelers will be looking to continue their good form when they face Dabang Delhi K.C in their second match of Pro Kabaddi League season 7 in Mumbai on Sunday, 28 July 2019. Naveen, who scored 14 total points, helped Haryana get off to a great start in the tournament with a 34-24 victory over Puneri Paltan in Hyderabad on Monday. 
Haryana Captain Dharmaraj Cheralathan said that an excellent start to the competition makes a big difference to the team’s campaign.
“A good start makes a big difference to the team. Our key players (Vikash Kandola and Prashanth Kumar Rai) were rested for the first match, and if they return to  the team, we will play even better in the upcoming matches,” said Cheralathan.
The Haryana Steelers got the better of Dabang Delhi K.C two out of three times in the last season. Haryana won the first and third Zone A matches against Delhi with scores of 34-31 and 34-27 respectively. The Cheralathan-led team will be hoping to hold the upper hand against Dabang Delhi K.C in this season as well.
However, the Steelers will have to be wary of Meraj Sheykh. The Iranian is one of the best all-rounder in the Pro Kabaddi League and he could pose a serious threat for the Haryana team. The Steelers defense was in top form against Puneri Paltan and they will need to maintain their performance when they face the quick Chandran Ranjit from the Delhi team.
Cheralathan expressed that the Haryana Steelers have their strategies in place for Dabang Delhi K.C.

“All players are good in Dabang Delhi, they have played two matches and won both, but we have our strategies in place to play against them,” said Cheralathan.

by Abhishek Shukla

Hockey India names 18-member Indian Women’s Hockey Team for Tokyo Olympics 2020 Test Event

New Delhi, 26 July 2019: Hockey India on Friday named the 18-member Indian Women’s Hockey team for the forthcoming Tokyo Olympics 2020 Test Event scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan from 17th – 21st August 2019. The Indian team will be Captained by Rani and Vice-Captained by Savita.

Under Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne, the composition of the team has remained similar to the one which participated at the FIH Women’s Series Finals Hiroshima 2019, with the Dutchman having opted for only two changes in the 18-member team selected for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 Test Event. Youngsters Sharmila Devi and Reena Khokhar have come into the team, with Sunita Lakra and Jyoti giving way. Khokhar had been sidelined due to injury but makes a comeback into the side after recovering successfully, while Sharmila Devi will be expecting to make her debut for the national side.

The Indian team, currently ranked No. 10 in the FIH Rankings, will be facing tough challenges as they will be up against the likes of World No. 2 Australia, World No. 11 China and hosts Japan who are currently ranked 14th in the FIH Rankings.

The team consists of experienced Goalkeepers Savita and Rajani Etimarpu, who will look to guard India’s goalpost, while Defenders Deep Grace Ekka, Reena Khokhar, Gurjit Kaur, Salima Tete, and Nisha have also been included in the 18-member team. Midfielders Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Nikki Pradhan, Monika, Lilima Minz and Neha Goyal will look to command the midfield. Rani, Navneet Kaur, Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Navjot Kaur and Sharmila Devi are the Forwards who have been picked in the team.

“We are looking forward to playing three top countries at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 Test Event as I rate them all highly. We have selected a squad of 18 players where only 16 players will be allowed to play in accordance to the Olympic standards. I will be very interested to see how we fare against these countries, and what we need to improve for the FIH Olympic Qualifiers because everything that we do, will be focused on that. We will be learning good lessons in this tour regardless of whatever happens,” said Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne looking ahead to the event.

Indian Women’s Hockey Team:

1. Savita (GK) – (Vice Captain)

2. Rajani Etimarpu (GK)

3. Deep Grace Ekka

4. Reena Khokhar

5. Gurjit Kaur

6. Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam

7. Salima Tete

8. Nisha

9. Nikki Pradhan

10. Monika

11. Lilima Minz

12. Neha Goyal

13. Rani – (Captain)

14. Navneet Kaur

15. Vandana Katariya

16. Lalremsiami

17. Navjot Kaur

18. Sharmila Devi

by Abhishek Shukla

Hockey India names 18-member Indian Men’s team for Olympic Test Event

New Delhi, 25 July 2019: Hockey India on Thursday named 18 players for the Indian Men’s team for the Olympic Test Event which is set to be played between 17-21 August 2019 in Japan. 

The team management has decided to rest senior players such as Captain Manpreet Singh, PR Sreejesh and Surender Kumar. The Indian team Chief Coach Graham Reid said that the break will help the players shake off any niggling injuries and get fresh ahead of the Olympic qualifying matches in November.

“We are resting some senior players including Manpreet Singh some of whom have had a very rigorous last 12 months of hockey and will give them a chance to shake off any niggling injuries and get fresh for the next three months of preparation for the November qualifying matches,” said Reid.

In the absence of the senior players, Harmanpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh have been named the Captain and Vice Captain respectively and two players – Ashis Topno and Shamsher Singh have earned their debut spots in the Indian national team. However, experienced striker SV Sunil has returned to the national team after a gap of nine months.

Reid expressed that the Olympic Test Event will give a few players a chance to show their mettle at the international stage.

“With no world ranking points at risk, the Tokyo test event gives us an ideal opportunity to not only get a first hand look at how Tokyo is shaping up for next year’s Olympics, we will also see some players who have not had a chance to show us what they can do on the international stage,” said Reid.

Indian Men’s Team List:

1. Krishan Bahadur Pathak

2. Gurinder Singh

3. Harmanpreet Singh (Captain)

4. Kothajit Singh Khadangbam

5. Hardik Singh

6. Nilakanta Sharma

7. Vivek Sagar Prasad

8. Jaskaran Singh

9. Mandeep Singh (Vice Captain)

10. Gursahibjit Singh

11. Nilam Sanjeep Xess

12. Jarmanpreet Singh

13. Varun Kumar

14. Ashis Topno

15. SV Sunil

16. Gurjant Singh

17. Shamsher Singh

18. Suraj Karkera