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DELHI THE HINDU 16 SPORT SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE IN BRIEF IOC revises qualification deadlines Mixed feelings for Ramanathan Krishnan Athletes now have up to June 29, 2021, to book their berths for Tokyo Games Playing now not a priority: Ramesh OLYMPICS the impacts of COVID­19 and its related restrictions be­ WIMBLEDON players. I feel sad for them come clearer. because we do not know UTHRA GANESAN whether they would carry NEW DELHI “We aim to finalise the Rayan Rozario adapted qualification sys­ COIMBATORE the same form or confi­ The International Olympic tems by mid­April, with the When The Championships dence next year.” South African players Committee has revised its details on specific events to was called off a couple of He was quick to add that symptom­free qualification deadline for the follow when available. The days ago due to COVID­19, one must not take a chance JOHANNESBURG Tokyo Games to June 29, priority remains to reflect, many former champions ex­ with corona. “Good luck to The South African cricket 2021. pressed disappointment. the players,” he signed off. team’s chief medical officer where possible, the alloca­ Ramanathan Krishnan, who His son, Ramesh Krish­ Shuaib Manjra has said that tion method/pathway of the Many yet to complete made the world take notice nan, who had reached the the players have completed a original qualification systems The 2020 Olympics, post­ 14­day period of self isolation for each sport,” it added. of India with his exploits at Wimbledon quarterfinals poned by a year due to CO­ after returning from India The IOC, while allowing the prestigious event in the (1986), said these were quite and they were symptom­free. VID­19 pandemic, has forced international federations the sixties, shared his views too. extraordinary times. “Sorry The team returned from India the IOC and International discretion to tweak their “My immediate feeling this has to happen and, in on March 18 after the ODI Federations to rework their rankings system accordingly, about the cancellation was the present scenario, we series was called off due to qualification and tourna­ sought to ensure sport­spec­ one of joy and sorrow,” he have plenty on our mind. Al­ the pandemic. But the ment calendar. While some ific balance between protect­ told The Hindu from Chen­ so, things are so uncertain players will remain in of the events, like hockey, ing those close to qualifying nai. that playing the sport is not lockdown for the next two have already completed their in 2020 and giving the top “It’s sort of joy to me as a priority at the moment,” weeks. IANS qualification processes and performers of 2021 a chance it’s going to save the players, said Ramesh. would not be affected, sever­ to qualify. the spectators and the oth­ The Wimbledon and IOA contributes ₹71 lakh al, including badminton and Extended wait: A man wearing a face mask takes a selfie next to a Tokyo 2020 Olympics It also authorised IFs to de­ ers involved, from this virus French Open junior title­ to PM­CARES Fund track& field were yet to com­ countdown clock that has been adjusted for the new start date of July 23, 2021.* GETTY IMAGES cide on the age­eligibility of threat. At the same time, it’s winner in 1979, Ramesh said NEW DELHI plete the same. athletes who may not make one of sorrow as the players it’s going to be tough for all The Indian Olympic In a communiqué to Na­ define their own qualifica­ said. The IOC also reiterated ter. “We understand that at the cut in 2020 but do so in may have to miss the event players. Association (IOA) has for a year,” he added. “The main thing is to re­ contributed a sum of tional Olympic Associations, tion period deadlines, should its efforts to revise an overall this time these are unlikely to 2021. While there is no upper ₹71,14,002 towards the PM the IOC has now confirmed the deadline be prior to this final qualification system at include the full details on the age limit, sports like gymnas­ main fit so that when things CARES Fund. IOA also the new dates. “The new date. The revised final sport the earliest, even as soon as dates and locations of the tics (16 years), football (un­ Huge loss return to normalcy you can expressed gratitude to all the qualification period deadline entries deadline has now mid­April, but admitted that specified events, recognising der­23) and boxing (17) have a Krishnan, a semifinalist in get going. For the older NSFs, State Olympic is 29 June 2021, and IFs can been set for 5 July 2021,” it specifics would only come la­ that these will follow later as minimum age. 1960 & ’61 and who reached players such as Federer and Associations and other a world­ranking of No. 6, Serena Williams, it’s a year federations/bodies for said that in a tennis player’s lost, which is a lot for them.” extending their support and career, losing one year of Ramesh, a regular visitor humble contributions. IANS Ayushi steps it up in tough rifle event Wimbledon is a huge loss. to Wimbledon, said, “I was PM Modi tells Indian “It’s so precious not only looking forward to my travel for the international stars this year, but that will have Kamesh Srinivasan Podder, who works with the NEW DELHI but also for the Indian to wait for another year.” Railways, is himself a nation­ sportspersons It is the toughest event in ri­ al­level shooter, and interna­ fle and pistol. The rifle 3­po­ tionally qualified coach. sition event demands 120 It was Pankaj who initiat­ to ‘boost morale’ shots during qualification, ed Mehuli Ghosh, Common­ 40 each in kneeling, prone Agence France-Presse nation as well as spreading wealth Games air rifle silver NEW DELHI and standing positions. The­ medallist, into shooting, the message of social reafter, it is a 45­shot final. Prime Minister Narendra distancing along with along with his daughter, Modi urged current and asking people to Unlike air events, in when he set up the Bull’s Eye former Indian continuously follow which youngsters shoot Academy in 2014. UEFA tells clubs to sportspersons on Friday to advisories given during from 10 metres to strike complete the season help “boost morale” and lockdown,” said Modi. world class scores very early Groomed for 2024 PARIS encourage people to in their career, the 50m Having done well at the Khe­ UEFA and Europe’s top clubs event requires considerable Ayushi, right, with her father adhere to a nationwide Face challenges and coach Pankaj and Mehuli lo India Youth Games, Ay­ have stated their experience and expertise. ushi was recently inducted lockdown aimed at * determination that the He said traits learned in Ghosh. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT containing the into TOPS and is part of the current football season sport such as the “ability coronavirus. Remarkable progress development group being should be played to a to face challenges, self­ rea, to scores of 1137 and 1154 Given this backdrop, the 19­ groomed for the 2024 conclusion and threatened Modi held a video discipline, positivity and in the junior World Cups in that teams may be excluded conference with 40 stars self­belief are the essential year­old Ayushi Podder has Games. done remarkably well to be Suhl, Ayushi has come a long from the next Champions across various sports, tools to combat the spread way in a short time. Ayushi, a brilliant pencil­ League if their domestic including Sachin of the virus.” among the six shortlisted for sketch artist, has also competitions are ended Tendulkar, Viswanathan The athletes also the Tokyo Olympics. Ayushi “Ayushi is one of the most trained in Odissi under Dona prematurely. In a joint letter Anand, P.V. Sindhu and “praised the leadership of has had impressive scores of promising and consistent ju­ Ganguly, wife of former In­ released on Thursday, UEFA, Hima Das, his office said. the Prime Minister in this 1174 and 1168 in the Olympic niors,” says the high perfor­ dia captain Sourav Ganguly. the European Club They have a “very challenging times,” trials. mance coach of the Indian Now, during the lockdown, rifle team, Olympian Deepali Association (ECA), and the important role to play in according to the From shooting 1121 in the she relaxes with Western Right move: Tennis greats Ramanathan Krishnan and son European Leagues body boosting the morale of the statement. junior section of the 2018 Deshpande. dance and music, and keeps Ramesh, though feeling sad at Wimbledon’s cancellation, representing nearly a World championship in Ko­ Ayushi’s father Pankaj fit through yoga. have welcomed the decision. * FILE PHOTO: RAJEEV BHATT thousand clubs in 29 countries, said that they were working on the possibility of playing on into July and August if need be. AFP Ashish Kumar learning from Vijender’s game Sinha lends coaching a tech touch FIH extends Pro League Aims to better India’s Olympic middleweight record suspension ‘Best way to stay connected with wards in current times’ NEW DELHI Olympics. Vijender bagged compete in the Olympics BOXING planning coaching lessons The International Hockey the bronze medal in 2008 and win a medal,” said CRICKET for batsmen and bowlers; Federation has been forced to Y.B. Sarangi and made it to the quarterfi­ Ashish. VIJAY LOKAPALLY extend the suspension of FIH KOLKATA even fielders too. How? nals in 2012, Vikash Krishan, Thanking JSW for its sup­ NEW DELHI Pro League’s second edition “What I do is I ask them to Middleweight boxer Ashish a World championships me­ due to the pandemic and now port, Ashish said, “When I In Sunny Days, his best­sell­ record a particular action. Kumar has not yet met Vijen­ dallist, reached the last eight plans to hold the ties in July badly needed a sponsor, ing autobiography, Sunil Ga­ For batsmen, it can be for­ in 2016. and August, provided the der Singh, but the 25­year­ they came forward.” vaskar credits his mother for ward and backfoot defence, old from Himachal Pradesh current situation improves. PTI “My seniors have done Having achieved his first giving him lessons in batting execution of shots like cover draws inspiration from the well. Our middleweight box­ target of qualifying for the in the balcony of his house drive and sweep, which have Olympic bronze medallist. ers have set a high standard Olympics, Ashish wants to in Mumbai. Many cricketers to be strictly by the book. For Ashish, who booked and I want to maintain this,” make the most of the addi­ share similar experiences of “For bowlers, it can be an Olympic quota place at said Ashish, who has been tional time following the one of their family members the loading and delivery, the Asia/Oceania qualifying fighting in this weight cate­ postponement of the Tokyo chipping in as a volunteer. and the short follow­ gory since 2012. event in Amman last month, Games. “I now have more In the current times of Tarak Sinha. * FILE PHOTO: SHIV through. Obviously much watching Vijender box is a Ashish, who claimed sil­ Ashish Kumar. time to make myself stronger lockdown, noted coach Ta­ KUMAR PUSHPAKAR depends on the space availa­

learning process. “I have ver at the Asian champion­ * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT and better prepared.” rak Sinha has kept his wards ble for these kids to record never met Vijender bhai sa- ships and gold at the Thai­ engaged by using technolo­ plained, was to keep the their videos.” Infantino says ‘nobody hib, but I like his counterat­ land Open, gained his quota always supported me. My Keeping in touch gy to reach out to his stu­ youngsters in a state of posi­ Sinha has a big pool of in­ knows’ when football tacks and long­range game,” place after overcoming some brother Johnny Chaudhary, In the time of lockdown, dents, especially those in the tive mindset. “Most young­ ternationals players from can resume Ashish told The Hindu. tough times. “I sustained a an international wrestler, Ashish is doing his best to under­15 section. sters, who are kind of out­ Delhi’s iconic Sonnet Club ASUNCION leg injury. Then, I lost my has backed me right from stay in touch with boxing. “I give them lessons door individuals, find it such as Surender Khanna, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino Special weight category father. I am happy that, des­ the start. “We get inputs from our through video messages and tough to be locked inside the Randhir Singh, K.P. Bhaskar, admitted that “nobody Ashish knows the impor­ pite this, I could bring cheer “After my father’s death, coaches through video con­ we interact constantly to en­ house. They can get restless Raman Lamba, Manoj Prab­ knows” when football can tance of representing the to my family with success at he did not let me stay at ferencing. I stay indoors and sure the process is main­ and also there is this fear of hakar, Atul Wassan, Sanjeev resume around the world. country in the middleweight the Olympic qualifying home as the situation could do strength exercises and tained in this critical phase losing focus. This is the best Sharma, Aakash Chopra, “We all wish that we could category, in which Indian event. have distracted me. He mo­ follow the training schedule for all us,” Sinha told The way to stay connected with Ajay Sharma, Ashish Nehra, have football tomorrow but boxers have given fine per­ “My family, which has Hindu. them,” he added. Shikhar Dhawan and Rish­ unfortunately it’s not possible tivated me saying my father given by the coaches,” said The idea, as Sinha ex­ Sinha’s day begins with abh Pant. and nobody in the world formances in the last three some boxers and wrestlers, had always wanted me to Ashish. today knows when we will be able to play like before. Our world and our sport is going Life more to be different when we Numbers reveal that women’s cricket is fast gaining in popularity return to normality. We have important than to make sure that football The ICC women’s T20 World Cup was the most watched event after the 2019 men’s ODI World Cup survives and that it can IPL: Raina prosper once again.” AFP P.K. Ajith Kumar The Hindu. “Though I wasn’t on Harmanpreet Kaur’s as­ KOZHIKODE Press Trust of India surprised that it became such tonishing innings against New Delhi Premier League Biju George was following the a big hit on television, I didn’t Australia in the semifinal is, put off indefinitely The IPL can wait till mil­ recent women’s T20 World expect it would become the of course, the main reason LONDON lions of lives which are at Cup closely. That wasn’t sur­ ICC's second­most watched for the change in fortune for Premier League clubs will ask risk due to the outbreak of prising as he had been the event.” women’s cricket here. players to take a combination COVID­19 pandemic are fielding coach of the Indian Snehal said Cricket Austra­ “We should also give credit of pay cuts and deferrals saved, felt veteran India team till recently. lia had done a lot of work on to the huge improvement in amounting to 30 percent of batsman Suresh Raina. the ground, while the ICC quality across the interna­ their salary due to the Biju, though, was stunned Raina has already done promoted the World Cup tional teams.” financial crisis caused by to know that all his friends in his bit in the fight against through its digital platforms coronavirus, the league said his hometown of Thiruva­ the deadly virus by donat­ in a statement on Friday. The well. “This World Cup was Just curious! nanthapuram, too, had ing ₹52 lakh, one of the Professional Footballers’ further proof that women’s watched the mega event held Snehal said there was a time highest donations among Association (PFA) will meet cricket is fast rising in popu­ in Australia. when people used to come to elite sportspersons. with league and club officials larity,” she said. He was in for a bigger a watch a match in India just Asked about the IPL, to discuss the proposal on Biju could not have agreed out of curiosity. Saturday. A meeting between ‘shock’ when the ICC re­ which has been postponed more. “When I joined the the 20 English top­flight leased the viewership figures Wave of support: Fans at the ground and viewers across the globe made the women’s “Years ago, I had played a to April 15 but is unlikely to * support staff of the Indian clubs also agreed to of the tournament: it was the T20 World Cup a grand success. FILE PHOTO game in front of a full house take place in the near fu­ indefinitely extend the most watched ICC event after team, many of my friends did at Rajkot, but most specta­ ture, Raina said “it is all suspension of the season the 2019 men’s ODI World alone. The Indian fans were hensively beaten by the host. Pradhan. “Both Cricket Aus­ not even know that we had a tors were there just to see about life” at the moment. until it is “safe and Cup. Across the digital chan­ in for a disappointment in That match was watched by tralia and ICC deserve credit national team,” he said. how the girls played cricket,” “Life is most important appropriate” for football to nels, there were 5.4 billion the final, though, as the Wo­ 86,174 fans. Among them was for making the World Cup “India reaching the final of she said. “That is no longer at this point of time. IPL return. AFP viewing minutes in India men in Blue were compre­ former India seamer Snehal such a big success,” she told the 2017 World Cup, riding the case.” can surely wait.” CM A ND-NDE YK