THE MIZORAM POST AIZAWL 6 SPORTS FRIDAY 18 DECEMBER 2020

Spanish League: leads Barcelona Australian Open to start on February 8 SYDNEY, DEC 17 Australian Open champion to 2-1 comeback win over The Australian Open will start Novak Djokovic, had warned , DEC 17 culminated a well-executed set on Feb. 8, three weeks later than organisers against expecting Barcelona defender Jordi Alba piece to open the scoring in the scheduled, the ATP Tour said competitors to go straight from scored one goal and set up 28th. on Thursday in releasing an quarantine into Grand Slam another to spark a 2-1 played Cristian “” update of its calendar for 2021 matches. comeback victory over Real Portugués clear into the area, revising the first seven weeks of The ATP tournament Sociedad, depriving the Basque where he squared the ball for the season. scheduled to take place in Country side of the Spanish the Brazilian striker to tap The start date of the main Adelaide has been moved to league lead on Wednesday. home. draw of the tournament was Melbourne to be played in the Alba cancelled out Willian Alba responded with a originally slated for Jan. 18 and week commencing Jan. 31 José’s opener by curling in a precise, right-footed strike after Tennis Australia have been alongside another men’s warm- strike in the 32nd minute. The redirected a pass from locked in drawn-out up tournament in the city. left back then helped the hosts Griezmann to him near the negotiations with local A shortened version of the take the lead a minute before edge of the box. Barcelona kept government over COVID-19 ATP Cup men’s team halftime when he crossed for pressing for the go-ahead goal, health security measures. tournament, which made its to score. which Alba set up when he sent Organisers were still unable to debut this year in cities around The result shuffled the order in a low cross that took a slight confirm the start date on Australia, will take place in of Sociedad, Atlético Madrid deflection off a defender before Thursday. Melbourne from Feb. 1-5 and Real Madrid, all level on reaching De Jong. This year’s Wimbledon before the Grand Slam begins points at the top of the table Sociedad rallied late and tournament was cancelled due on the following Monday. and separated only by goal forced Barcelona to rely on to the COVID-19 pandemic, The ATP season will now difference. Atlético is now in Marc-Andre ter Stegen to protect while the U.S. and French open with tournaments in first place, Sociedad in second, its advantage. The German got Opens went ahead with the Delray Beach, Florida and and Madrid in third. The win low to make back-to-back saves players confined to bio-secure Antalya in Turkey from Jan. 5- by Barcelona boosted its to deny Willian José and Isak ‘bubbles’, unable to leave their 13 before preparations for the chances of joining the tightly- with five minutes left. hotel rooms except to train and trip to Melbourne Park begin. contest title race. ’s “It has been a long, long play. The state of Victoria on The Auckland Classic and team climbed into fifth place, time since we have seen a Thursday recorded a 48th New York Open will not take six points adrift the front- our last.” While contributing as keep creating chances. injured. Koeman rested González raced back to block his Barcelona playing with that level straight day without a case of place this year, the ATP said, runners. Atlético has three Barcelona’s main playmaker, “The attitude of our team was centerback Clement Lenglet shot before he slammed into the of aggressiveness, and that community transmitted COVID- while the Maharashtra Open in games in hand, Barcelona two, Messi was unable to seriously very good, especially when we did and opted to align an goal post. Pedri was substituted after speaks for the respect that they 19 but many health restrictions India and Rio Open in Brazil and Madrid one, in respect to threaten to score and twice not have the ball. The team made inexperienced pair of central the hard knock but walked off the have for us,” Sociedad coach remain in place in Melbourne, will be rescheduled. Sociedad. failed to find teammates on a gigantic step forward as far as defenders with Ronald Araújo pitch. . “We were not and international travel to “The reconfigured calendar “I think this was our best promising counterattacks. pressuring to recover possession,” and Óscar Mingueza. They Sociedad was without as clinical as we had to be. We Australia is still strictly limited. for the start of the 2021 season game of the season,” Alba said. Fellow forwards Antoine Barcelona coach Ronald both performed well against and top scorer , have to convert our chances.” The ATP said men’s represents a huge collaborative “It is tough to play without fans Griezmann and Martin Koeman said. “This is the game one of the fastest and most both nursing minor injuries. Valencia needed extra time qualifying for the year’s first effort across tennis, under (due to COVID-19 restrictions), Braithwaite were likewise we want to play. This is the team I talented attacks in the league. Yet with Spain Mikel to prevail 4-2 at Terrassa in the Grand Slam would take place challenging circumstances,” but playing against a great team missing their finishing touch. want to see. Every player did their Their only error came late in Merino directing its attack, first round of the Copa del Rey in Doha from Jan. 10-13 before said ATP chairman Andrea was more than enough Yet the team maintained its part.” the match when Mingueza Sociedad still had more than with teams from the topflight. players relocate to Melbourne Gaudenzi. “Health and safety motivation. Our attitude tonight intense pressure on defense Koeman may have also found failed to intercept a long ball enough talent to deploy an attractive Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, to enter quarantine for two will continue to be paramount was great. We saw a Barça that well up the pitch and moved a new combination for the heart for substitute striker Alexander attack that has made it a potential Levante, Alavés and Elche all weeks. as we navigate the challenges fought for each ball like it was the ball quickly in attack to of defense with Gerard Pique out Isak, but Pedro “Pedri” title contender. Willian Jose enjoyed comfortable victories. Players, including reigning ahead.” Football Academy and Boxing Academy Mumbai City FC announces partnership with Cisco MUMBAI, DEC 17 (AGENCIES) six months, how valuable its will set up at East Lungdar -Sports Minister Indian Super League (ISL) club strategic technology solutions OUR REPORTER With regard of pandemic covid 19 he Mumbai City FC has partnered are to the future of connecting AIZAWL, DEC 17 stated that under guidance of Chief with global technology leader fans to teams and the sport they Taking initiative of development of villages Minister Zoramthanga taken various Cisco as the club's new official love. We look forward to Sports Minister Robert Romawia Royte initiative to combat in Mizoram, sport network technology partner. achieving excellence with their stated that Football Academy and Boxing added. Cisco will feature on the club's support both on and off the Academy will set up at East Lungdar while Moreover under leadership of matchdays in the Indian Super pitch for years to come." visiting on Sailulak, Leng and East Lungdar Hrangturzo constituency & minister League and at the Islanders' Brian Eaton, Director of villages. During interaction with VC of Lalchamliana and East Lungdar VC stress training facility at the Nagoa Village Global Sponsorships at Cisco, Sailulak lamented construction of on construction of Computer institution Panchayat Football Ground; said: "This partnership Community Centre using BADP fund , Football Academy and Boxing Academy support all aspects of the club's represents an opportunity to successfully completed one floor while at planned due to covid construction was business through their leverage our technology to Khualbuk village Tourism Department delay. networking solutions, and season. part of the Mumbai City FC make a positive impact, not only planned to constructed soon . Mentioning Sports Minister was accompanied connect the first team to fans in Bimal Parekh, co-owner of family and will partner with us on the business and operations about ICT Department revealed donation Sailulak High School through IT School with H.Dolianbuaia, Jt Secretary, LAD, A& Mumbai and across the country Mumbai City FC, said, "We are for the next three years. Cisco of Mumbai City FC, but on the of 7 computer set and accessories at scheme. C and C.Lalremsanga DYSO Lunglei. via Cisco Webex in this ISL delighted that Cisco will be a has shown, especially in the last local community as well." Sports Ministry formally Savita di has been a role recognises yogasana as competitive sport model for me, says will start by providing financial support to the NYSFI so that the federation can chart out goalkeeper Khushboo its plan for the coming year. BENGALURU, DEC 17 (AGENCIES) “Till now it wasn’t Indian junior women's recognised but now that it has hockey goalkeeper Khushboo come under us, the Sports has stated that the team is Ministry will start by providing preparing well for next year's the NYSF with financial AHF Women's Junior Asia support to make their annual Cup despite their preparation NEW DELHI, DEC 17 training and calender.” The getting a hit by the Covid-19 The Sports Ministry on Thursday Sports Minister also said pandemic. formally recognised yogasana as yogasana will be inducted in "There is no doubt that a competitive sport, which will future Khelo India Games we would've loved to be out enable the ancient practice to programme. “It’s popularity there on the field competing avail government funding. will not doubt increase in with the best teams from Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and India and we will include it around the world this year, Minister of AYUSH (Ayurveda in the Khelo India School and but the situation has been Yoga and Naturopathy Unani University Games,” Rijiju said. such that we've had to focus Sidda Homoeopathy) Shripad For competitions, 51 on ourselves only at the Yesso Naik formally promoted medals have been proposed moment," said Khushboo yogasana as a competitive sport in four events and seven who is part of the Indian during an event here. categories in the sport. Events junior women's core The move was made to proposed include traditional probables currently encourage yoga, spread yogasana, artistic yogasana stationed at the Sports awareness about its benefits and (single and pair) , rhythmic Authority of India (SAI) sport. So I eventually interact with her has been really to help improve physical and yogasana (pair, free flow/ facility. worked hard at the school helpful, and I would really want mental wellbeing of the people. group yogasana), individual "As we undertake sports level, and managed to to repay her support by one day “Yogasana has been a all round-championship and activities here in Bengaluru, perform well and rise being able to come close to competitive sport for a long team championship. A pilot our focus is firstly on next through the ranks to replicating what she's been time. But it has to be championship — National year's all-important AHF represent the state team for able to do for the country for recognised by the Government Individual Yogasana Sport Women's Junior Asia Cup the first time at the Hockey so many years," said Khushboo. of India so that it becomes an Championship — has also where we will have the India Senior National The 18-year-old, who has official and recognised been proposed to be opportunity to impress, and Championship in 2016," been a silver medallist at the competitive sport,” Rijiju said. organised in February next also book our tickets to the said Khushboo. "Since 3rd Youth Olympic Games “Today is a big day, we are year, followed by district, state, FIH Women's Junior World then, I have had the chance held in 2018, has also set her launching it formally as a national and World Cup. There is only one aim to play for the Indian sights on representing the competitive sport and I am sure Championships. for us, that is to win the Asia junior team, and have senior team at the biggest stage. it will go a long way,” he added. The two ministries have Cup, and then play the World continued in my "I think what I experienced An International Yogasana also developed an automated Cup," the goalkeeper, who development as a player," representing India at the Youth Sports Federation was formed scoring system for made her Indian junior team she added. Olympics in 2018 was under the presidentship of competitions. “The reason debut in July 2018 at the 6- Talking about who she something that will always stay yoga guru Baba Ramdev with behind making yoga a Nations Invitational takes inspiration from, with me. I keep looking back DR HR Nagendra as secretary competitive sport is to Tournament held in Belgium, Khushboo said India's at those beautiful memories general in November last year. encourage its practice and to added. veteran goalkeeper Savita and it motivates me to keep A National Yogasana Sport help improve the physical and Throwing light on her has been very supportive doing well to eventually make Federation of India (NYSFI) mental wellbeing of the journey, the goalkeeper said over the years. it to the senior team, and also was also established for people,” Naik said. it had always been a dream "I think Savita di has one day play at the Olympic preservation and “Having yogasana as a part for her to represent the been a real role model for Games for my country," said development of yoga as a of international event like country at the highest level. me. I've been lucky to have Khushboo. competitive sport. It was Olympics etc would provide "I used to watch some been guided by her in this "I want to make my parents, recognised by the sports an opportunity to spread the players back home in Bhopal journey of mine, and she my family and coaches proud, ministry as a National Sports awareness of Indian yoga and where the sport is widely keeps encouraging me all and I think performing at the Federation (NSF) last month. its innumerable health played, and I would always the time. Just to see her highest level is the best way to Rijiju said the sports ministry benefits,” he added. get attracted towards the train and to be able to accomplish that," she added.