Ponytailed Jadeja foxes Kangaroos

 

Takes five-for as Australia skittle out for 177

Captain Rohit Sharma hits unbeaten half century as India make 77-1 on opening day of first Test

By Paritosh Pramanik

NAGPUR, Feb 9

LAST September during the Asia Cup, Ravindra Jadeja injured his knee and was out of India set-up for quite a while. During the recovery course he missed the T20 World Cup held in Australia as well.

After four months, a fit-again Jadeja returned to the field for Saurashtra with a bang. He picked up eight wickets against Tamil Nadu in a Ranji match sending warning to his rivals that he is back to his best.

On Thursday at VCA Jamtha Stadium, the pony tailed spinner wreaked havoc as he took his 11th five-wicket haul which saw Australia skittle out for 177 under 64 overs on the first day of the first Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India then knocked off 77 runs for the loss of KL Rahul who got out in the penultimate over of the day. Captain Rohit Sharma 

was unbeaten on 56 in 

company of night-watchman Ravichandran Ashwin (0).

For more than a week before the Test, all talk was about the spinning Jamtha track but it was Indian seamers Mohd Siraj and Mohd Shami who shattered Australia’s confidence with two wickets in the first three overs. Jadeja then broke Australia’s back taking five wickets to see the visitors bundle out in 4.5 overs after tea. Ashwin took the other three important wickets.

India made an aggressive start to their chase with Sharma hitting three boundaries from the first over of their innings. He and KL Rahul (20) batted without any trouble playing against spinners Nathan Lyon or Todd Murphy. Sharma was more severe on the Australian bowlers hitting nine fours and six in his unfinished innings. India raced to 50 runs in 15.3 overs with the captain 

scoring bulk of runs. He 

completed his half century with a sweep off Nathan Lyon 

two overs before the end of day’s play.

In the morning, Siraj made an instant impact, trapping Usman Khawaja (1) in front on his first delivery. The ball swung back and kept relatively low to bang on Khawaja’s pads. India took the review just on the stroke of the last second and got immediate success. Next over, first ball, Shami got David Warner (1) as the ball banged onto the top of the off stump sending it cart-wheeling.

Australia’s trusted pair of Marnus Labuschagne (49) and Steve Smith (37) then showed how to bat against spinners and added 82 runs for the third wicket. Both looked at ease while tackling Jadeja and Axar Patel despite walking in under pressure.

They used their feet to perfection by going down to the reach of the turning deliveries. The Australians went into lunch break 76-2.

Indians waited for their chances. They knew it wouldn’t be too long for the Australians to commit a mistake. After lunch, the spinners found that chink in Australian batting as six wickets fell 

during that period, all to the slow bowlers.

A few overs after lunch, Jadeja gave India the much-needed breakthrough with two wickets in two balls. He first forced Labuschagne to step out only to see the batter stumped. Needing a single to complete his half century, Labuschagne stepped out to guide the ball for a single but completely missed the turn and an agile debutant 

wicketkeeper KS Bharat rattled the stumps. The next delivery was a straighter one and new man Matthew Renshaw could not read it to be trapped leg before. A few overs later, Jadeja got the big fish in Smith who presumed that the ball would turn but it went through the gap between his bat and pad.

“I tried to bowl to the stumps as there was no bounce and the ball was keeping low. We knew we would get wickets only we needed to remain patient,” said Jadeja after the day’s play.

Peter Handscomb (31) and Alex Carey (36) tried to dominate Indian spinners and added 53 runs from 68 

deliveries for the sixth wicket before the latter was cleaned up by Ashwin, to become the second highest wicket-taker for India with 451 scalps. Two deliveries later, he found an edge of rival captain Pat Cummins and Kohli took the catch at the lone slip.

India’s race to WTC final begins today

 

MEET AUSTRALIA IN THE FIRST TEST AT JAMTHA STADIUM IN NAGPUR

n By Paritosh Pramanik

NAGPUR, Feb 8

ALL the talk that built up a special aura around this edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will finally settle into a new, unknown chapter on Thursday morning when India and Australia begin their quest for supremacy at the Vidarbha Cricket Association’s Jamtha Stadium.

For the Australians, this series is bigger than The Ashes, the ‘Final Frontier’. For India, it assumes special importance as they try to extend their ascendancy and retain the trophy which is in their grip since 2004. To make it happen, the hosts have unpacked a ‘cracked’ dry surface for their spinners who would try to trap the Kangaroos in their web.

A 3-0 win would see India finish second in the World Test Championship chart. It would give them another shot at the title against Australia which will be played in June (7-11) at The Oval.

On the other hand, a depleted Australian side, which has already booked a place in the WTC summit clash, have done their home work well to counter the Indian spinners.

The Indian team had the best preparation going into the series with Rohit Sharma-led side camping in Nagpur for around seven days ahead of the first game. The home team is game for the challenge ahead. For Rohit, it would be a test of character and leadership.

The toss would play a crucial role in the outcome of the match. Team winning the spin of coin will definitely like to bat first on the wicket which is being termed as ‘doctored’ by the Australians press.

India are set to go in with three spinners with Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja selecting themselves. They might go with Axar Patel as the third spinner given his ability to bat lower down the order. He will form a potent force along with Ashwin and Jadeja as Australia are packed with left-handers in David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Matt Renshaw and Alex Carey. The two pacers Mohd Siraj and Mohd Shami may get to play leaving Umesh Yadav on bench.

India’s batting looks solid but there is a selection dilemma. Rohit Sharma will be opening the innings but who will be his partner is the big question.

KL Rahul, the vice-captain of the side, had a poor Bangladesh tour where he led the team. In the same series, his opening partner Shubhman Gill had cracked his maiden Test century. If Gill is picked ahead of Rahul for opener’s job, then the latter will either be pushed down the order or may have to sit out to make way for Suryakumar Yadav, who is another in-form white-ball 

batter.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli will walk in in that pecking order. The wicketkeeping position is also not confirmed yet. Had there been Rishabh Pant, he would have walked in. But the team management will have to decide whether to pick relatively experienced Ishan Kishan or hand the Test debut to Srikar Bharath who was understudy of Pant after Wriddhiman Saha retired.

“It is going to be a tough one (selection). When you have selection issues that says a lot about how the guys are performing, so that is very crucial from the team’s perspective. What we have to do is we have to go to each venue, try and check the conditions and pick the best eleven,” Indian captain Sharma said.

The Pat Cummins-led side also has problems of plenty. With pacer Josh Hazlewood failing to recover from injury and Cameron Green too missing the recovery bus, the visitors have very little to choose from the resources available. 

Australia will heavily depend on spinner Nathan Lyon. He might get help from Ashton Agar, four-Test old Mitchell Swepson or uncapped Todd Murphy. 

It will be for the first time since 1988 that Australia will field two frontline spinners. The pace department will be led by captain Cummins who will have to choose his partner from debutant pacer Lance Morris or seamer Scott Bowland, a six-Test veteran.

All said and done any team batting first will try to post as many runs as they can. Batting in second innings would be an altogether tough task.

“Yeah, I think it’s more important here than anywhere else in the world, that first innings lead, hopefully. You just got to find a way to put a big total on the board especially thinking if it is going to 

spin, it’s going to get really 

hard in that second innings,” the Australian captain 

summed up.

Teams (from): India: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KS Bahrain, Ishan Kishan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.

Australia : Pat Cummins (C), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (VC), Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, 

David Warner.

Spinning track to test teams

By Paritosh Pramanik

NAGPUR, Feb 7

AUSTRALIA vice-captain Steve Smith and opener David Warner kneeled down and had a close look at the centre pitch. Slowly, other Australians surrounded the 22-yard strip and got glued to it for a few minutes. The strip looked bald, without a tinge of grass and with loose cracks on it. Though there was a bit of watering on it in the afternoon, it hardly mattered.

Later in the evening, when India’s nets session was about to conclude, groundsmen were seen sweeping the wicket with huge brushes. It is believed that the brooming is being done to break the knots of grass on the pitch, if any. The pitch was then rolled lightly.

All the talk about Indian pitches for this series has surrounded around rank turners being laid down for Australia who have not won a series here since 2004.

With the World Test Championship final slot at stake, there is no hiding the fact that Jamtha will also offer a spinning track. It always has. Vidarbha’s stunning win over Gujarat last month is the testimony to this. Chasing 74 for a win, Gujarat were bundled out for only 54 runs with spinners accounting for all second innings wickets. Vidarbha’s premier left-arm orthodox Aditya Sarvate took 11 wickets in the match while rookie Harsh Dubey five.

The first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy is set to have a similar surface. Whether it aids spinners from Day One is the question that is haunting the Aussies most. First-hand experience of the surface can be had from the spin-twins of Vidarbha who were the architects of the last Ranji win here against Gujarat. “The Jamtha pitch was never seamer friendly. It has always been on the slower side. Three spinners would be ideal for India,” felt Vidarbha’s experienced spinners Akshay Wakhare and Aditya Sarvate who share 542 First-Class wickets between them. A look at the pitch and the preparations that went on at the fag end of Tuesday to keep good length spots dry on both ends would tempt India to play three spinners. But it should not backfire as Australia have come well-prepared and are aware of things to come.

India vice-captain KL Rahul was not keen on revealing the team combination. “Yes, we did see it (the pitch), but it is still too early to really know what the it is going to do. We can only look at it and assume it’s going to play a certain way, but you never know with pitches. Yes, there is the temptation to play three spinners because we’re playing in India. We’ll take that call on the day of the game or the day before the game,” Rahul said.

Australian vice-captain Steve Smith was clear on his reading of the track.

“Pretty dry, particularly one end that I think will take a bit of spin, particularly to left-arm spinners spinning it back to our left-handers, there’s a 

section that’s dry,” Smith told the media.

India must also be aware of the South Africa Test at the venue in 2015-16 when the match finished inside three days with the hosts winning it by 124 runs. During that Test 33 wickets fell to spinners from both sides and ICC had slapped a “poor” rating to the Nagpur surface. In quest of a winning start India would also be weighing options to stay out of the “poor” trap.

Bend it like Kishan!

Jamtha Jottings

By Paritosh Pramanik and Anupam Soni

 THERE have been several football loving cricketers in the Indian team in the past. Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was a footballer in his school days. Indians prefer playing football during warm-up sessions.

On Tuesday, Indian wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan and Virat Kohli were seen kicking the ball targeting a specific area. In this ‘competition’ Ishan emerged the clear winner. The players unleashed free-kicks targeting a dugout. While Kohli’s spot kicks flew wide, it was Ishan who hit the bull’s eye on several occasions with a few shots swinging in. He pumped his fist time and again after sending the ball into the dugout forcing Kohli to acknowledge his skills.

****    ****    ****    **** 

BEGIN WITH SPIN

With rank turners expected at Jamtha Stadium, the Australians started their first practice session at the main stadium with spinners bowling at plastic stumps. They practised on the same wicket where India had done their nets the previous day.

Premier Australian spinner Nathan Lyon spun the ball sharply on quite a few occasions with the coaching staff smiling sensing what they would be in for the next five days.

****    ****    ****    **** 

Using RUGBY BALL as bat

Australians are famous for introducing new techniques and ideas during training sessions. At VCA Jamtha Stadium the Australian players were seen practising close-in catching drills with a rugby ball instead of cricket bat. A support staff threw underarm balls towards the ‘batter’ who tried to hit it with a rugby ball. The cricket ball deflected with the rugby ball and players tried to catch it. They succeeded at times and failed on a few occasions. But with this drill their reflexes got fine-tuned.

****    ****    ****    **** 

COMPULSORILY OPTIONAL!

India’s practice session, two days ahead of the first Test was labelled as ‘optional practice session’. 

Over the years, it has been observed that generally senior players give it a miss. But that was not the case on Tuesday. All the players with sole exception of Mohd Shami turned up for the optional session. With cut-throat competition in place for a spot in the final eleven, nobody wanted to give the session a miss. 

Out of sight is out of mind, they say! n

Indian cricketers slog it out in nets

 Fit-again Jadeja batted for over an hour in the morning session

n By Paritosh Pramanik

Aware of how humongous this Border-Gavaskar Series will be, Indian cricketers started their preparations for first Test at the right earnest at Vidarbha Cricket Association’s Civil Lines Stadium on Friday.

The Australians are calling the four-match Test series ‘Final Frontier’ or the ‘Everest’ and winning it means a lot to the Pat Cummins-led team who haven’t won a Test series in India since 2004.

The Indian think-tank too are taking it seriously as a spot in the ICC Test Championship final is at stake.

Australia are leading the chart with a 75.36 percentile (136 points) and have confirmed their place in the final. 

India are at the second position with 58.93 PCT (99 points). They need to win the series 4-0 to ‘book’ a final date with the Australians.

On Friday, with an eye on the Test Championship final  spot, Indian cricketers batted behind closed doors at the old VCA Stadium. The first Test gets under way from Feb 9.

With fans and an eager media not allowed to watch the proceedings, Indian cricketers went into the routine under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff led by Rahul Dravid.

According to sources at VCA, the team did their nets session in two batches.

“#TeamIndia have begun their preparations for the Border Gavaskar Trophy ahead of the 1st Test in Nagpur,” tweeted BCCI.

In the morning, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Ravichandran Ashwin were at the Stadium for the nets.

“Rahul, Virat and Pujara all batted for long hours, may be for around one-and-a-half hours,” said one of the sources. 

According to information, many Vidarba Ranji Trophy bowlers including Lalit Yadav, Rajneeesh Gurbani and others were used by the Indian batters in the morning session.

The evening session was occupied by India captain Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav. All had a gruelling batting session.

Jadeja, who is returning from an injury break, too batted for long hours. There were several throwdown sessions as well and Indian cricketers batted at the centre wicket to get feel of a match.

Premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who would be an important cog in Indian set-up, bowled in the nets. Also did Axar Patel and part-timer Washington Sundar.

As per schedule, India would be performing the same routine on Saturday as well and will then take a break on Sunday. From Monday onwards the training session would shift to the main stadium (Jamtha Stadium).

Alfiya is Asian woman heavyweight champ

Wins gold in first round itself in Jordan

Becomes Maharashtra’s first woman boxer to win yellow metal 

By Paritosh Pramanik

THE bout lasted just over two minutes. The National Anthem was played for one last time in Amman, Jordan and Alfiya Akram Khan Pathan proudly stood on the podium with the gold dangling around her neck as she basked in glory.

The gold was shining bright, Alfiya’s face was much brighter.

Nagpur girl Alfiya, the fast rising Indian woman boxer, punched her opponent to submission as she clinched the 81+kgs weight category gold at the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Champions at Amman in Jordan on Friday.

Alfiya crushed hosts Jordanians’ dream as she outpunched her rival Islam Husaili in the first round itself by Referee Stopped Contest 

(RSC) and in the process won her first major senior international gold.

Alfiya, in the process, also created history by becoming the first woman boxer from Maharashtra to win gold in Asian Championship.

Alfiya, daughter of Assistant Sub-Inspector, Police Headquarters Akram Pathan, started on an aggressive note. While she gauged her opponent’s moves in the semi-finals, in the gold medal match, the Maharashtra boxer was in a combative mode.

She threw powerful left, right punches on the spot of her opponent which forced referee to briefly stop the bout 

(Contd on page 2)

Alfiya ensures India a silver

‘Was confident of defeating Kazakh boxer, again’

By Paritosh Pramanik

SHE had defeated Lazzat Kungeibayeva of Kazakhastan on her senior debut earlier this year to clinch the gold medal at the Elorda Cup, Kazakhstan in July 2022.

Indian boxer Alfiya Pathan continued in same vein to beat the same rival again within four months as she stormed into the final of the ongoing ASBC Asian Women’s & Men’s Elite Boxing Championships being played at Amman in Jordan, on Wednesday. She will take on Jordan’s Islam Husaili in the final.

The fast rising Indian boxer had made her senior debut in style with a stunning 5-0 win over 2016 world champion Lazzat. Alfiya was again at her brutal best as she once again dominated her 81+kg semi-final bout to secure a spot in the final with a 5-0 unanimous verdict.

Nagpur’s Alfiya thus confirmed at least a silver medal for India.

“Yes, I was confident enough that I will defeat her again,” Alfiya told ‘The Hitavada’ from Amman in Jordan after her bout.

Known for being as one of the most fierce boxers, Alfiya, playing from the red corner, took little time to get over her much-heavier looking rival and landed punches at the right spot. She took the first round 50-45 despite fumbling initially, but was on her feat immediately.

The second round, too, was completely dominated by the Nagpur girl sweeping it 50-45 (100-90).

In the third round, the left-handed pugilist, used her experience and consumed time instead of going all over her Kazakhastan rival.

Kazakhastan’s Lazzat did tried hard to gain upperhand in the final few seconds, but Alfiya was too clever to avoid her opponents’ punches.

Alfiya, who is trained by NIS coach Ganesh Purohit at Nagpur’s Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur, said that the planning was same as last time but she could play the way she wanted. “This time, the plan was same but it was like (I wanted) to show my game more but it did not go like I was thinking. But I am pretty sure that in my final I will do what I want to,” she assured.

Alfiya will take on Lina Jaber of Jordan in final and said she would focus on things she could not do in her earlier bout.

“I will be going to play against the Jordan’s (Lina) and will be more focusing on the things that I was unable to do in the ring in my semis bout,” she said.

In Latif Bhai’s death, city football loses a benevolent fan

By Paritosh Pramanik

NAGPUR, Oct 12 

THE passing away of Abdul Latif Abdul Hameed — fondly known as Latif Bhai ‘Fruitwale’ — has created a huge void in football circles of the city.

Latif Bhai, Vice-President of Nagpur District Football Association and President of Nagpur Blues Football Club, passed away on Monday night following a cardiac arrest, according to his close associates.

He was 67 year old.

Latif Bhai was dear to all. Always ready to help, going out of his way for the betterment of footballers, Latif Bhai was a father figure in city’s football circles.

Latif Bhai was a non-political, social person. He had thousands of friends, from all religions and caste. He always wanted to add more to his treasure and loved spending time with his ‘brothers’.

On the fateful Monday night, Latif Bhai, a resident of Teacher’s Colony, Jaffar Nagar, went out to meet his friends on his two-wheeler near Gittikhadan Police Station. He was enjoying his time with them when he suddenly collapsed. He was immediately rushed to hospital. However, destiny had other plans. He could not be revived.

Latif Bhai and a few of his friends had started Nagpur Blues way back in 1985 in Ajni. The club started growing in the NDFA-organised leagues. His more than two decades association with NDFA started in the year 1997. He worked in NDFA in various capacities. He was elected as committee member in the late Sardar Atal Bahadur Singh led football governing body of the district. He was the serving Vice-President of the association.

Latif Bhai was instrumental in shaping careers of many a footballer, helping them get government jobs. 

Many of his wards are now placed in Central Railways, South East Central Railways, Police Department and Accountant General Office through sports quotas. For them he was like ‘Bheeshmapitamah’.

From encouraging budding footballers to take up the sport to providing them kits free of cost, Latif Bhai never disappointed anybody.

Not only football players, a benevolent Latif Bhai was there for all. 

He was also a well-wisher of Ganpati Sena Ustav Mandal Motibagh and took active part in the celebrations.

Latif Bhai had a special bonding with sports journalists of the city. Whenever SJAN approached him, Latif Bhai was ready with basketfull of fruits. 

His last association with SJAN was during the walkathon organised in the month of July.

Despite not in the best of his health, Latif Bhai made it sure to visit the venue Dr Ambedkar College ground, Deekshabhoomi amid heavy rains in the morning. He happily distributed fruits to the participating journalists and wished them luck.

He distributed love and joy and nobody would leave empty handed from Latif Bhai’s doors.

His passing away has left the city’s sports circle empty.

---------------

NDFA pays tributes to Latif Bhai

NAGPUR District Football Association mourned the untimely demise of Abdul Latif who passed away on Monday night.

A condolence meeting was chaired by the NDFA President Haresh Vora at NDFA ground on Tuesday. A two minute’s silence was observed followed by a prayer for the departed soul. In the condolence message, NDFA extended deepest sympathy and shared the grief of the bereaved family. 

The meeting was attended by NDFA Secretary Iqbal Kashmiri, Atmaram Pande, Khalid Ansari, Kamil Ansari, Mohd Mubin, Abid Khan, Sanjay Kathale, Stanley Gregory, Hemant Sahani, Satnarayan Jerpot, Mehfooz Akhtar, Dr Kamal, AB, Khan, Papan Pramanik, Bernard D’Souza, Adnan Ali, Ankush Bhadange, Vishal Naidu and others.

Tirkey promises to take Indian hockey at new heights

 By Paritosh Pramanik

NAGPUR, Sept 26

THE election of former India captain Dilip Tirkey as the President of Hockey India has been the best possible thing to happen in the recent past for the game in India. Tirkey, a three-time Olympian, has become the first international player to head Indian hockey administration in the last 97 years of history in the country. The election to the president’s post as an unopposed candidate proves Tirkey’s popularity in the country. The two other contestants, Uttar Pradesh’s Rakesh Katiyal and Jharkhand’s Bhola Nath Singh, withdrew their nominations respecting Tirkey’s stature and trusting in his abilities.

However, Tirkey has a tough task at hand. He has promised to take Indian hockey at new heights. Another area he will have to give stress is at the grassroot level. India has a huge pool of budding players at sub-junior and junior levels. It will be up to his team to identify the right players and channel them in the right direction. He will have to put a system in place where the right player is groomed at the right time and in correct manner.

Tirkey is very much aware where the talent comes from in our country. It is the hinterlands where he will have to concentrate without neglecting the urban areas. He himself coming from a remote place like Sundergarh in Odisha, 44-year-old Tirkey might be well aware of tapping the talent from such areas all over the country, not only from Odisha or Jharkhand. It will be his team’s task to make sure that the game is developed in other regions of the country as well. Reviving old tournaments that had produced India material will also be in Tirkey’s mind. He will have to sit with all the stakeholders and prepare a blueprint to take the game to new heights.

Tirkey would be the fourth Indian sportsperson, who have represented the country, to head a sports federation. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is heading the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI). Former Indian goalkeeper Kalyan Choube was recently elected as the President of Indian Football Federation (AIFF). Another ex-Indian athlete Adille Sumariwalla is the 

chief of Indian Athletics Federation (AFI).

The calm, down to earth and disciplined character he is, Tirkey had been the flag-bearer of Indian hockey for more than a decade. He was the original wall of Indian defence helping Team India win many titles. After his retirement from the game in 2010, Tirkey joined politics (he is former BJD MP from Odisha) and sports administration (Chief of Odisha Hockey Federation) in Odisha. He was instrumental in promoting and popularising the game in Odisha further along with Chief Minister Navin Patnaik. The two joined hands and put Odisha, especially Bhubaneshwar, on the world hockey map by organising World Cup, FIH Pro Leagues and other tournaments. Not only organising tournaments in the best possible way, Odisha has been developed as the ‘Sports State’ with CM Patnaik giving 

thrust on building stadiums and providing infrastructure all over Odisha.

Tirkey rightly credited CM Patnaik for his election to President’s post. He recently had said that it is because of CM Patnaik’s love for sports that Odisha is able to 

organise such international level events. That also helped Tirkey in winning the hearts of all the other contestants who were fray.

The immediate biggest assignment for Tirkey will be the FIH World Cup in 2023 in Odisha. It will be the first big test of his administrative skills. Tirkey is not new to such big events but being at the helm and guiding all his men would test him for the first time. How successful he will be, will chart the way ahead for Indian hockey which has in the recent past seen an upward journey since the bronze medal by the men’s at Tokyo Olympics and a creditable fourth place finish by the women’s team. It is time for the former India defender to capitalise on that success.

He pedalled 20 kms in Sri Lanka to train for CWG

Shuttler Abeywickrama narrates ordeal during political, economic crisis in Island nation

By Paritosh Pramanik

NAGPUR, Sept 14, 2022

THE economic crisis followed by political upheaval in Sri Lanka has affected one and all and sports was no different. With protests and sky-rocketing prices of almost all commodities, life had been difficult for the commoners in the Island nation. Travel expenses touched the sky and it was difficult to get petrol, diesel. Serpentine queues were seen at petrol pumps with people waiting for days to get the fuel. Narrating harrowing and troublesome days, Sri Lankan shuttler Dumindu Abeywickrama said it was the toughest phase of his life where he had to pedal 20 kms for his badminton training.

The shuttler, who was part of the Sri Lankan team in the recently concluded Birmingham Commonwealth Games, is in the city for the Maha Metro International Badminton Challenge Nagpur 2022.

Drenched in sweat after winning his men’s singles qualifying round match against India’s Munawar Mohammed 21-16, 21-10, Abeywickrama said it was quite a difficult phase when his country was in turmoil. “Those were very difficult days. Now, things are getting normal but the last few months have been very hard. Before the Commonwealth Games, the Government asked us not to venture out of home and restrict training sessions. It was very difficult for all shuttlers as we had very few days left for the Birmingham Games,” narrated Abeywickrama.

“To top that, my Indonesian coach Jeffer Rosobin, too, returned to his country after the crisis. It was very difficult to train. I practised on my own for several days. He still coaches me but we discuss over phone only,” said Abeywickrama.

“I used to go for training at night. At times I had to pedal all the way to my club for practice as there was a shortage of fuel. The training centre was around 10 kms from my home in Colombo. It used to be a 20 kms ride daily,” added Abeywickrama, who lost to Indian ace Kidambi Srikanth in the prequarter-finals in Birmingham CWG.

Srikanth had defeated Abeywickrama 21-9, 21-12 to make quarters.

This was after Abeywickrama had won his opening round match against Samuel Cassar of Malta 21-12, 22-20.

The 19-year-old Sri Lankan said that there was very little help from his Government and he had to manage his own expenses.

“My father is an accountant and my mother is a lawyer. I have to fund all my expenses and hardly get anything from the Government. My maternal uncle, who is a marine engineer, helped me in getting my shoes and racquet before CWG. Badminton is a very expensive sport...my racquet alone costs Rs 60,000,” lamented Abeywickrama.

The final year commerce student feels that his Government is supporting only cricket and cricketers. “They support only cricket and cricketers. They care little for other sports. If all goes well I will shift to India. My father also wants me to shift to India so that I get ample opportunity in badminton here,” mentioned Abeywickrama who ranked No 2 in Sri Lanka.

On his India sojourn and Nagpur International tournament, Abeywickrama said he will take one match at a time. “I have won my first match. I will be playing my second game in the evening and hope to qualify for the main draw first. I just want to give my best in every match. After this tournament I will be playing at Raipur and then the Infosys Open at Karnataka. I hope to do well in India,” Abeywickrama signed off.

Qureshi’s appointment as Hockey Mah VP challenged

Principal Correspondent

Aug 31, 2022

THE appointment of Nagpur District Unified Hockey Association (NDUHA) Secretary Parvez Qureshi as one of the Vice-Presidents of Hockey Maharashtra has been challenged by Mumbai Hockey Association Secretary Ranvir Singh, terming it as illegal.

The elections to Hockey Maharashtra is due on September 8 and according to reports, the entire body has been elected unopposed.

According to a letter to Returning Officers Bhagwantrao Gaikwad, Retired District Judge and Sharad Madaka, Retired Asstt Charity Commissioner, Hockey Maharashtra, Ranvir Singh objected to the entire election process and claimed to have violated the conditions laid down by Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of India, National Sports Development Code of India and Memorandum of Association, Hockey Maharashtra.

Ranvir asked the returning officers to verify as to in which meeting it was passed to grant affiliation (to NDUHA) with agenda. He also claimed that NDUHA has not completed five years of membership as per article 15 of Memorandum of Association of Hockey Maharashtra as approved by Asst Charity Commissioner, Alibag, hence cannot contest election. Terming the entire election process of Hockey Maharashtra, as illegal, Ranvir Singh asked the returning officers to declare the election illegal. “It is prima facie case of fraud, cheating, suppressing of facts, misleading and misguiding you both the returning officers, and (I) request you both to take cognisance and grant urgent hearing immediately to stop the election process and declare it as invalid, null and void in the interest of natural justice failing to which I shall be constrained to take up such action against you both before the Honourable Bombay High Court at your risk and consequences which please note,” wrote Singh.

Singh submitted detailed objection on election of 15 out of 17 members who are elected unopposed.

 

Nagpur’s Qureshi is Hockey Maharashtra Vice-President

Principal Correspondent

Aug 29, 2022

IN A positive development for hockey in the city, Nagpur District Unified Hockey Association’s (NDUHA) Parvez Qureshi has been elected as one of the vice-presidents of Hockey Maharashtra during the elections held on Sunday.

The 17-member State body, which will be led by Krishna Prakash from Thane, was elected unopposed during a meeting held in Pune. Qureshi is Secretary, NDUHA.

Former secretary Manoj Bhore has been elected as the Senior Vice-President while Manish Anand (Pune) has been elected as the secretary.

It might be termed as positive news for hockey players of Nagpur as they will now be able to take part in the State championships of Hockey Maharashtra.

After Hockey India disaffiliated Vidarbha Hockey Association citing Indian Olympic Association’s One-State-One-Unit diktat, hockey teams from Vidarbha were unable to take part in the national championship. Hockey Maharashtra had barred teams affiliated with VHA from participating in the state level competitions.

But Nagpur District Unified Hockey Association applied for affiliation with Hockey Maharashtra immediately after VHA’s disaffiliation. A few other districts from Vidarbha too joined Hockey Maharashtra. Four districts from Vidarbha found place in the new 17-member Hockey Maharashtra body. Apart from Qureshi (Nagpur), the others include Manisha Akre (Yavatmal), Vaishali Saimon (Bhandara) and Poonam Durge (Gondia).

The new Hockey Maharashtra Body: President: Krishna Prakash (Thane); Senior Vice President: Manoj Bhore (Pune); Vice-Presidents: Parvez Qureshi (Nagpur), Dhananjay Mahadik (Mumbai City), Manisha Akre (Yavatmal), Dr Anita Kolhe (Jalgaon); Secretary: Manish Anand (Pune), Joint Secretaries: Pankaj Bharashakale (Aurangabad), Adrian D’Souza (Mumbai Suburbs), Vaishali Saimon (Bhandara), Surabhi Bhosale (Osmanabad); Treasurer: Kailash Sonar (Raigad); Executive Members: Ajij Sayyed (Nashik), Zarar Qureshi (Solapur), Helen Mary (Mumbai City), Surekha Patil (Kolhapur), Poonam Durge (Gondia).

Crown-hungry Jennifer jumps to 6th spot in World TT Rankings

 

The city paddler move-up seven places in U-15 age category

Wants to reach top 5 by the end of the year

In U-17, she moves up to 31st

In U-19 she jumps 35 places to 55th

n By Paritosh Pramanik

THE ever-improving and title hungry city’s international table tennis player Jennifer Varghese has risen to a career-best sixth spot in the world table tennis rankings which released on Tuesday.

Jennifer, who won Youth Contender title in Agadir in Morocco on Sunday, entered the top 10 of the Under-15 age category for the first time. Jennifer, a student of Centre Point School, Katol Road, has won six titles since she made her international debut at WTT Youth Contender in Tunisia in March.

After her Tunisia heroics where she won her first international title in Under-15 age group and where she ended second best in U-17 category, Jennifer had leaped to the 20th spot in the rankings. 

She then improved her position at the Havirov competition at Czech Republic after winning another U-15 crown in June, moving up to 13th position.

At Morocco where she finished second best, the rising paddler garnered 60 points which took her to sixth position with a total of 1019 points.

It has been an amazing turnaround for Jennifer who, a few months back, never thought of making it to the Indian team.

“A few months back I did not even think that I might get the chance to play in international tournaments. But now reaching in the top ten ranking is like an amazing dream come true. I am extremely happy to be on that ranking and I will strive to play better to reach the top five in Under-15,” the talented paddler told ‘The Hitavada.’

Jennifer is also a proud owner of South Asian Junior and Cadet TT Championship held in Maldives, where she won three gold medals, one each in individual, team and doubles events.

The 14-year-old paddler is doing fairly better in the higher age groups as well. In the Under-17 age category, Jennifer has moved up to 31st in the world. Her Under-17 title at Agadir in Morocco fetched her 350 points.

In the Under-19 age group, Jennifer is fighting well against much older and experienced paddlers from the world and has jumped 35 places to move to 55th in the rankings.

Jennifer is now hoping to be inside top 5 bracket in Under-15 by the end of the year for which she said she would have to work much harder. “At the end of 2022 I hope to be in the top 5 of U-15 and in the top 20 of U-17. In U-19 I want to be in top 40. My next focus would mostly be on trying to better my game and perfecting my strokes for all upcoming matches,” concluded Jennifer.

Jennifer’s performance since March, 2022

Event Date Position

WTT Youth Contender (Tunsia) 21-27 Mar (U-15 Winner, U-17 Runners-up)

South Asia Cadet and Jr TT C’ships (Maldives) 9-11 May (U-15 Singles Winner, Doubles Winner, Team Winner)

WTT Youth Contender Havirov (Czech Rep) 6-12 Jun (U-15 Winner)

WTT Youth Contender Agadir (Morocco) 1-7 Aug (U-17 Winner, U-15 Runners-up)

Laying of synthetic track in mid-October

 

RTMNU adds water harvesting and treatment plant at ground

A tank with a storage capacity of 2 lakh litres to be constructed to store rain water

By Paritosh Pramanik

August 1, 2022

Excessive rains in July tested Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University’s construction work of athletics synthetic track. And it ‘passed’ with flying colours. 

After completion of asphalt work on the track in June, the officials wanted to test the surface and the level of the asphalt before laying off the synthetic track at its Ravi Nagar Sports Complex.

The rains last month helped the officials gauge the work and it was found that the work, till now, is up to the mark.

With the work moving in the right direction, the university is planning to lay the synthetic track in mid-October.

“We tested every aspect. Even 5 ft and 10-ft pits were dug beside the asphalted track to check the water logging beneath the surface. The surface is perfect and now we can move to the next phase. The laying of synthetic track, in all probability will be done in mid-October,” confirmed Dr Sharad Suryawanshi, Director, Department of Physical Education and Sports, RTMNU while talking with ‘The Hitavada’ on Monday.

The 8-lane synthetic track will have a steeplechase pit, one discus-cum-hammer throw cage, a shot put ring, steeplechase water barrier, pole vault boxes, take off boards and other facilities. This will be the second athletics synthetic track of the city after the Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur.

A couple of months ago an international measurement observer and athletics technical expert Low Kok Kwong of International Athletics Federation visited the construction site. He was satisfied with the laying work of the synthetic track. In his first visit Kwong had checked the dimensions and tolerance level of the track.

RTMNU had a budgetary allocation of around Rs 10 crore for the synthetic track and the work is being carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD). With enough funds saved RTMNU has decided to construct a water harvesting system and water treatment plant at the ground which will help in watering the football field.

“We have saved a lot of money and it was decided to construct a water sump (tank) to save water. The sump will be of 2 lakh litres capacity where water will be stored.

“Another sump of a lesser capacity will be constructed beside the bigger one to store the overflow. This water will be used in watering the football field and also the synthetic track to maintain its heat,” said Dr Suryawanshi, who is also secretary of Nagpur District Athletics Association and a former international runner.

“The same treated water will also be used for the steeplechase pit. After storing the water in these two sumps, if there is more overflowing water then it will be diverted into the well. 

“Hence, there won’t be any shortage of water, I think,” Dr Suryawanshi concluded.

NDFA set to lose vote counts in WIFA

By Paritosh Pramanik

July 31, 2022

NAGPUR District Football Association (NDFA), the football governing body of the district, is set to lose a couple of votes in the Western India Football Association (WIFA).

During a meeting of WIFA held on Friday, few district associations demanded equal votes for all districts.

Till now, districts’ votes were counted according to the strength of their clubs. Districts like Pune, Nagpur, Mumbai, Thane, Kolhapur who have more than 20 affiliated clubs had the advantage of two or three voting rights. Amravati had two votes.

But the executive committee, after discussion, decided to amend the constitution and make it a one-district-one vote. Nagpur used to have three votes in WIFA.

According to NDFA secretary Iqbal Kashmiri, who attended the meeting along with President Haresh Vora, who is Vice-President of WIFA, it was decided to amend the constitution and make it an even field for all associations.

“We have more than 80 registered clubs. According to the present WIFA constitution, districts having more than 20 clubs have the advantage of two votes. Similarly, districts with more than 30 registered clubs had three votes. Till now, NDFA used to have three votes in WIFA,” Kashmiri told ‘The Hitavada’.

WIFA has 34 affiliated districts and some of them were against this ‘impartiality’.

“Several members had submitted a memorandum to change the constitution of WIFA and to make it (votes) equal for all districts. WIFA President Praful Patel also said that everywhere it is the same (number of votes for an association). ‘AIFF too has one vote for one State, same is at FIFA’ Patel informed the meeting,” said Kashmiri.

Patel directed all districts to submit their annual report after which allocation of votes would be decided. 

The general body meeting of WIFA will be held in Kolhapur.

“Those associations submitting their annual report which include tournaments conducted, players registration, press coverage of tournaments, scoresheets, and other events, will get the voting rights. Those failing to submit detailed reports would lose their voting rights,” informed Kashmiri, who is also a WIFA executive committee member.