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‘Award system leaves
a lot to be desired’
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Samota too wants Arjuna, moves court
KP holds the key for England
Umesh commits himself
to life in the fast lane
asia cup
Somdev in final round of US Open qualifiers
Sania in doubles final of New Haven Open
MAKA Trophy: GNDU pip Punjabi varsity after legal battle India women team eyeing second straight World Cup gold
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‘Award system leaves
a lot to be desired’
Patiala, August 23 The matter got really heated up in 2011 when Commonwealth Games gold medallist weightlifter Renubala Chanu returned her medal after she was not awarded the Arjuna Award. At that time, many other renowned coaches and players, including former captain of the Indian hockey team Sandeep Kaur, also voicied their opinion against the selection criteria. After that the sports fraternity has been seeking the formation of transparent criteria which could enable every player to calculate his/her merit on her own to avoid further confusion. But till date their opinions and views have remained unheard. Expand selection panel
Speaking to The Tribune in this regard, Dronacharya awardee Virender Poonia, husband and coach of discus thrower Krishna Poonia (who was one of the front-runners for the Khel Ratna this year), said the government should form a point-based system considering the technicalities of all the games. “The government should set aside points for every National/International medal and participation after assessing the level of the team in a given sport and the competition being faced in every sport," he said. "You cannot equate a ‘World Cup’ that happens every year with a World Cup that happens every four years. Similarly, if the comparison is to be drawn in between two games, one cannot ignore the kind of competition a player has faced to reach at a particular level. Shooting is a rich man’s sport and the level of competition to reach the international level is much less than games like athletics, wrestling or boxing. It is not really justified to follow the same criteria for performance assessment in these sports. Moreover, the government should expand the selection panel and add more people who are well versed with sports." Little transparency
Criticising the selection criteria, former Indian women's wrestling coach PR Sondhi said there was no transparency in the selection process. “There are no set norms, so the selection committee picks up winners according to their own will, which is discouraging for both coaches as well as players,” he added. One of the senior boxing coaches, on condition of anonymity, said while on one hand boxing is being considered as the top sport due to its spectacular results in various international tournaments, the sports ministry has not considered a single player for the Arjuna Award. Paramjeet Samota and Manoj have higher merit and better performances than many other players who have already been bestowed with the honour earlier. "So why are they being ignored? It is beyond my understanding? The Indian Boxing Federation must put its foot down when they know that the boxers are more deserving,” he added. Money makes trouble
IBF President Abhishek Matoria said that he will not sit back and let the "injustice" continue. "Our players are more deserving and we will take this up with the Sports Ministry and ensure that they get their due share," he said. The first Arjuna Awardee of the country, GS Randhawa, has gone to the extent of saying that these days one could not get these awards without lobbying. “When I received the award, I did not have to apply for it. My association has recommended my name and based on my performance I was selected. These awards should be given to the deserving coaches and players without applying. I honestly feel that the amount of cash being given with these awards has also spoilt their sanctity," he said. "When the government already gives cash awards after a player returns with a medal, what is the need to give cash awards once again? If we shun this practice, I am sure the confusion over these awards would be by and large over.” |
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Don’t forget what we have achieved, says Yuvraj
New Delhi, August 23 Yuvraj said the 2015 World Cup was a distant dream, and his immediate focus would be on the here and now. “I am not sure what happens tomorrow. My target is to play for the country as soon as possible”, he emphasized. Looking thinner and fitter, Yuvraj Singh agreed with captain M.S.Dhoni's recent observation that age was not a factor for a player to regain his place in the Indian team, but fitness was. “I am happy that the youngsters have performed great for the country. The young players are serving the country strongly, and I look forward to the best national team,” he said. He felt that the Indian team should have an ideal mix of youth and experience, asserting the immense contribution made by the senior players, who are now out of favour, should not be forgotten. “The team should have balance”, he said.”People should not forget what we have done in the past”, he reminded all those, who are now rooting for a “young team”, about the contribution of the seniors, overs the years. Yuvraj, who last played for the country in an ODI series against England in January, where he scored just one half century, has since been out of favour of the national selectors as he had been ignored for the ICC Champions Trophy in England in June. But the south paw has now set his sights on the ODI series against Australia, if he maintains his fitness and match form, to deserve a recall. The 32-year-old Yuvraj Singh, along with Zaheer Khan, had a two-month training programme at the high-altitude Brive-La-Gaillarde area in Southern France under Tim Exeter, famous for working with rugby teams and Welsh soccer star Ryan Giggs. The intense four-five hours training schedule was very taxing, but Yuvraj said he was better for the experience. After his string of poor scores in the Indian Premier League for the Pune Warriors, Yuvraj and Zaheer trained at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. But the NCA was too distracting for him, and therefore opted to train under Exeter at an isolated place, amidst natural surroundings. “I wanted to get away from the NCA, and train without any disturbance, as in India, there are lots of distractions”, he noted. And Zaheer Khan was great company in France. “Zak was very disciplined, very focused, trained hard and lost six kilos (of weight) and got back to fitness. We jelled well as we started playing for the country together, and working hard helped each other”, Yuvraj maintained. The dashing cricketer said it was a pleasant surprise to see Arjun Tendulkar batting like him. “Sachin asked me to have a look at Arjun's batting as he batted like me. When I saw him bat, I thought of my batting as a young boy in Chandigarh. Arjun has the passion for the game like his father”, Yuvraj certified.
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Samota too wants Arjuna, moves court
Patiala, August 23 Samota is the first Indian boxer to win a gold medal in the superheavyweight category in the Commonwealth Games, which he did in New Delhi in 2010. He also won a bronze medal in the Asian Games in the same year. He has also bagged two bronze medals in the Asian Championships and Commonwealth Championship and has been a national champion for four consecutive years. Speaking to The Tribune, Samota said he was deeply disappointed with the selection panel that made the selections. He said it is working according to its own whims and fancies. “I fail to understand on what lines they are actually selecting players as my merit is much higher than that of many players who are being bestowed with the Arjuna Award this year, and the ones who have been given this award in the past,” he said. “I have nothing against those players but the ministry cannot continue to adopt this pick and choose policy when it comes to honouring a sportsperson.” “Why would anyone want to get into sport if these awards are also politicised? I don’t have any political backing and hence no award. This is disgraceful,” he added. Samota said he was left with no option but to seek the intervention of the courts. “I tried to meet the Sports Minister in this regard but could not meet him,” he said. “However, I was informed that my merit was not enough for this award. I just want to ask what else they require. They have been honouring players who have won bronze medals in the Commonwealth Games and my merit is way above that!” “Sportspersons expect the government to acknowledge their performance and these awards are a mark of our achievements,” he added. “But sadly, the government is defeating the sole purpose of these awards. But I will fight for my right till the end.”
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London, August 23 An unusually subdued Kevin Pietersen reached the interval on 29 not out and Ian Bell was on four with England still trailing the touring side by 311 runs. Cook and Root, who resumed on 32 for no wicket, batted cautiously through the first hour under clear blue skies against tidy but largely unthreatening fast bowling. Root produced two neat wristy flicks to the mid-wicket boundary and Cook drove Ryan Harris square for four but runs were generally hard to come by. The pair had taken their opening partnership to 68, England's best of the series, when three balls after the drinks break Cook nibbled at a wide ball from Harris and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin took a diving catch. The England captain swished his bat in frustration as his disappointing series continued and his dismissal sent Root into his shell. The 22-year-old failed to score a run off 19 balls in a row but he pulled Peter Siddle for a single just before lunch to reach his half-century, made from 145 deliveries and including eight fours. It was a welcome return to form for Root, who has struggled with the bat since making 180 in the second test at Lord's, and England took lunch on 97 for one. Root hit two fours in James Faulkner's first over of the day but with a century in his sights he swept at a full-length ball from off-spinner Nathan Lyon and top-edged a simple catch to Shane Watson at short fine-leg. Pietersen got off the mark by driving Mitchell Starc for four through mid-off but the normally dynamic right-hander also struggled to find his touch. Trott's first boundary came off the 78th delivery he faced and Pietersen's frustration was evident when, on 11, he attempted a suicidal quick single and was well short of safety when David Warner's throw narrowly missed the stumps. England edged to 150, off 431 balls, and when Pietersen drove a full toss from leg-spinner Steve Smith back over the bowler's head for four it was the first boundary for 11 overs. Lyon, bowling round the wicket to imaginative field settings, extracted some turn which troubled both batsmen but they picked off a few easy singles to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Australia took the second new ball just before tea and Starc trapped Trott lbw with his first delivery, the batsman failing to get the decision overturned on review. Scoreboard Australia 1st innings 492 England
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Umesh commits himself to life in the fast lane
New Delhi, August 23 “As a fast bowler, I needed to have a clear mind about what my priorities are. My strength is to bowl consistently at a fast pace and that will always be my aim as long as I play for the national team,” Yadav told PTI during an interview today. The 25-year-old speedster said that if he ever has to cut down on his pace, it will create a “problem.” “If I have been selected in the Indian team to play across all formats, it is because I have the sheer pace more than anything else. Even when I got injured last season (stress reaction in back), cutting down on pace never ever crossed my mind. “Agreed, when you come back, your body asks you a few questions but you should always stick to doing what you do best,” said Yadav, who has played 9 Tests and 26 ODIs for India so far. Whenever a new season starts, there is talk about players trying to add a weapon or two in their armoury but Yadav feels that there is not much improvisation that a speedster can bring into his bowling than what exists currently. “Tell me what new can a bowler bring to the table apart from what we have seen so far. Whether it is back of the hand slower delivery or change in pace, there's nothing new that the batsmen can't counter. So it's more important that we do any one thing consistently,” he explained. For the Vidarbha lad, his idea of consistency is to bowl outswingers at a brisk pace. “I have a natural outswinger and if I can bowl four to five of them at a 140 kmph plus per over, I would be satisfied with my effort,” he said. Even the legendary Glenn McGrath's advice to him has been to find a “spot and hit there consistently.” “I have met McGrath a few times in India as well as in Australia when we toured there in 2011. McGrath told me that each bowler whether he is a fast bowler or medium pacer needs to identify the area where one needs to hit. Each bowler's length varies but if one finds his preferred length, then nothing like it.” — PTI
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India’s young guns in hockey have their task cut out
Indervir Grewal/TNS
Chandigarh, August 23 Though, interim chief coach Roland Oltmans has shown confidence in his young team’s ability to handle the pressure, the burden of not qualifying for a premier tournament like the world cup is bound to shake the confidence of any team. India were in the same situation in 2008 when they had to win the qualifying tournament for the Olympics after missing out on an automatic berth. The possibility of failing to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in the history of the event put immense pressure on the team, and it lost in the final to England. Rajpal Singh, who has seen this kind of pressure being part of the 2008 team, believes that a certain amount of pressure is required to perform. “I think some amount of pressure keeps you motivated. But this is a very young team and how they handle that pressure will be the key. It is up to the coach how he helps his team cope with the pressure.” Rajpal, who believes that the semifinal will the most important match of the tournament, said that the string of injuries that has afflicted the team could affect its chances. “It will be tough for India. They are missing good players such as Gurvinder Singh Chandi, Danish Mujtaba and Sunil.” But, the pressure faced by the team, according to Rajpal, could help this inexperienced team give its best. “Sometimes in a do-or-die situation, when there is no other option, you give your all.” “But the important thing is that they don’t let their emotions affect their performance. They will have to control their emotions and not let them affect their game tactically. This is where the coach will play an important role.” India will start their campaign against Oman on Saturday, and, with the other teams in their pool being Korea and Bangladesh, it is likely that they will reach the semifinal stage. With a possibility that the team could face Pakistan in the semifinal, emotions could play a big role. “As I said the semifinal will be the most important match and if we play Pakistan then emotions will be very high. This is a young team and how they handle that pressure and control their emotions will be significant.” Schedule
Format: The eight-team competition will see teams divided into Pool A and B consisting four each. The top two finishers form each of the pool at the end of the league stage will face each other in the semis. Live: ESPN Star Sports
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Somdev in final round of US Open qualifiers
New York, August 23 Sixth seed Somdev beat Ginepri 7-6 (4) 2-6 6-2 after a two hours contest. After winning the first set in tie-break, Somdev had three break opportunities in the second but could convert none. He dropped his serve twice as Ginepri made a comeback. Somdev did not repeat that mistake in the third set as he cashed in on three of the four chances to move to the third round. It was second meeting between Somdev and Ginepri and now the head-to-head score is 1-1. He now faces Briton James Ward and a win will book him a berth in the main draw of the last Grand Slam of the season. Somdev, ranked 113 and James, ranked 173 have never played against each other. Murray could meet Djokovic in semis
Murray, who is also the Wimbledon champion, landed in the top half of the draw for the Aug. 26-Sept. 9 tournament in New York while second seed Rafa Nadal and five-times U.S. Open champion Roger Federer were placed in the bottom half. Scotsman Murray, who beat Serb Djokovic in an epic five-set final to claim last year's title at Flushing Meadows, was elated to be back at a venue where he has enjoyed considerable success. — Agencies |
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Sania in doubles final of New Haven Open
New Haven, August 23 Sania and Jie, seeded third, got the better of Spanish team of Silvia Soler-Espinosa and Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-3 in the semi-finals of the $690,000 hard court event, the last tournament before the US Open. Now they await winner of the other semi-final between the pairs of fourth seeds Liezel Huber/Nuria Llagostera Vives and Anabel Medina Garrigues/Katrina Srebotnik. It is Sania’s fourth final of the year and 25th overall, as she emerged victorious among the 16. Sania, only Indian female to win Grand Slam title, has won two titles so far this season. Both titles came with Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who now plays only singles. — Agencies
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MAKA Trophy: GNDU pip Punjabi varsity after legal battle Amritsar, August 23 The GNDU can now boast of possessing it for 22nd time. The President of India, Pranab Kumar Mukherjee, would award the trophy to Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Director (Sports) of the university in an investiture ceremony at Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi on August 31. Apart from a replica of MAKA Trophy, the university would be given award money of Rs. 10 lakhs. Vice Chancellor Ajaib Singh Brar said the information was received from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, New Delhi today. He categorically credited the success of this achievement to all the sports men-women who participated in various events of inter-university competitions. There has always been neck to neck fight between the GNDU and the Punjabi University, Patiala over clinching this prestigious trophy. Earlier, Punjabi University, Patiala was declared as winner for the year 2010-2011. But GNDU had filed writ petition in the Delhi High Court against the decision, as the performance details by Punjabi University, were not received with the All India University by June 30, 2011, which was the last date of submission. The Delhi High Court after hearing both the sides had ordered stay on conferring the award. After verifying the records the court directed the selection committee to recalculate the marks of contesting universities. The Deputy Director (Sports) had appeared before the selection Committee on March 4, 2013 and presented all the facts. On May 23, 2013, the scrutiny committee after in-depth verification of marks of the contesting universities, declared GNDU as winner. During 2010-2011, GNDU was runners-up for the 12 time and remained at third place for two times. GNDU started its actual participation in Inter-University and other tournaments in the year 1974-75, he added. MAKA TROPHY
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy was instituted in 1956-57 as a running trophy by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. This running trophy is awarded by the President of India every year to that University which has all round best performance in sports at Inter-University, National and International sports competitions. |
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India women team eyeing second straight World Cup gold Kolkata, August 23 The trio, who had won the gold in Stage 3 World Cup in Medellin, dominated the range with victories over Indonesia (217-216), Mexico (211-202) and finally Denmark (214-206) in the semi-finals to open the door for their second straight gold medal. The Indian team, who had qualified as sixth seed, will face heavyweights Koreans, the top seed, in the title match on Sunday. The men's team of Tarundeep Rai, Jayant Talukdar and Priyank on the other hand continued their miserable run to make a quarterfinal exit after losing to the US 221-222. Indian compound men trio of Rajat Chouhan, Sandeep Kumar and Abhishek Verma made a prequarters exit going down to their South African opponents by one point (232-233). — PTI
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No one took my fixing claim seriously: Sushil Pune dash Bangalore's hopes of reaching semis Smriti wins 8th leg of Hero-KGA Pro C'ship Virender appointed umpire for India A series Man City's Kompany out for a month Guardiola ready to rekindle Mourinho rivalry |
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The bitter and prolonged protests and lobbying before the final announcement for this year’s National Sports Awards have left the sports fraternity fuming yet again.
England crawled painstakingly to 181 for three at tea on an attritional third day of the fifth and final Ashes test against Australia at The Oval on Friday. Replying to Australia's 492 for nine declared in ideal batting conditions, England lost Alastair Cook for 25, Joe Root (68) and Jonathan Trott (40) to leave their hopes of winning a home Ashes series 4-0 for the first time hanging by a thread.
The Indian hockey team faces a do-or-die situation – it has to win the Asia Cup to qualify for next year’s World Cup – and going by its record there is a greater possibility of it buckling under the pressure again.
Somdev Devvarman is one win away from US Open main draw after recording a hard-earned victory over American Robby Ginepri in the second round of the qualifiers, here.
Sixth seed Somdev beat Ginepri 7-6 (4) 2-6 6-2 after a two hours contest. After winning the first set in tie-break, Somdev had three break opportunities in the second but could convert none. He dropped his serve twice as Ginepri made a comeback.
