THE HIMALAYAN MAIL JAMMU Q WEDNESDAY Q JULY 07, 2021 11

Mithali Raj reclaims number Huge honour to be named flagbearer one spot in ICC ODI rankings at Tokyo Olympics, says Manpreet 76th after scoring 73 not NEW DELHI, JULY 5: out and 28. Celebrated boxer MC Mary Left-arm spinner Sophie Kom and men’s hockey Ecclestone continues her team skipper Manpreet ascent, gaining four places Singh will be the country’s to reach a career-best sixth flagbearers at the opening position among bowlers af- ceremony of the Tokyo ter returning with figures of Olympics, the Indian three for 33 and two for 36. Olympic Association (IOA) Kate Cross’ haul of five announced today. for 34 in the second match One of India’s biggest of the series has helped her medal hopes, wrestler Ba- reach 18th position from jrang Punia, will be the flag- truly honoured to get this the flagbearer for the open- podium finishes at the 25th. bearer at the closing cere- opportunity of leading the ing ceremony alongside the showpiece, which was post- Nat Sciver and Sarah mony on August 8. The IOA team out during the open- incredible Mary Kom,” poned by a year because of Glenn have both moved up has communicated the de- ing ceremony and I thank Manpreet was quoted as the pandemic. one place to reach 22nd and cision in this regard to the the sports ministry and IOA saying in a Hockey India re- At its executive board 43rd positions, respec- organising committee of the for naming me. It would be lease. “I have always been meeting last year, the Inter- tively. Tokyo Games. added motivation for me. I inspired by her journey in national Olympic Commit- In the Women’s T20I In a first, India will have promise to do my best for a boxing and personally for tee had made provisions for Player Rankings, Pakistan two flagbearers — one male medal,” the six-time world me, this is a big moment in flagbearers from both gen- spinner Nida Dar, who be- and one female — at the up- champion added. my career, and it is also a ders at the opening cere- came the first woman from coming Games to ensure The country’s sole indi- huge moment for hockey. I mony. “...the IOC executive her country to the mile- “gender parity”. This was vidual Olympics gold thank the IOA for this great board also decided that DUBAI, JULY 6: India She last occupied the top 1997. stone of a 100 T20I , recently informed by IOA medallist Abhinav Bindra opportunity, and am look- there should be — for the skipper on spot in February 2018. Big-hitting India opener has gained six spots to chief Narinder Batra. was the flagbearer at the ing forward to the responsi- first time ever — at least one Tuesday reclaimed the The first time she reached Shafali Verma’s scores of 44 reach 15th position after “It would be a huge mo- opening ceremony of the bility at the opening cere- female and one male athlete number one spot in the number one position was in and 19 in the last two ODIs finishing with four wickets ment for me given that it is 2016 Games in Rio de mony in Tokyo,” he added. in every one of the 206 women’s ODI rankings af- April 2005 after scoring an of the series saw her gain 49 in a three-match series my last Olympics. Who Janeiro. The Tokyo Games are teams and the IOC Refugee ter more than three years unbeaten 91 against New places to reach 71st position against the West Indies. knows I might even get “This is amazing, and I scheduled to open on July Olympic Team participat- following a stellar show in Zealand at the World Cup while veteran pacer Jhulan For the West Indies, emotionally overwhelmed,” am speechless. I think it’s a 23 and over 100 Indian ath- ing at the Games,” IOC chief the three-match series in Potchefstroom and the Goswami is up four places Shamilia Cornell has Mary Kom told PTI. “I am huge honour to be named letes would be gunning for Thomas Bach had said. against England. difference of more than 16 to 53rd. moved up 14 slots to 27th India lost the series 1-2 years at No.1 is the largest In the bowlers’ list, all- place while Stafanie but the 38-year-old Raj hit a for any woman batter. rounder Deepti Sharma is Taylor has advanced 10 half-century in each of the England’s Janette Brittin up one place to 12th after places to reach 42nd posi- Tunisian Ons Jabeur becomes first Arab contest. was number one for the finishing with figures of tion after claiming a hat- She struck 72 and 59 in first time in 1984 and the three for 47 in the final trick and finishing with four the first two ODIs and then last time in 1995, while New match. for 17 in the last match. Fa- women to enter Wimbledon quarterfinals guided India to a four- Zealand’s Debbie Hockley For England, opener tima Sana is up 85 places to LONDON, JULY 6: wildcard 6-2 6-3 to reach victory in the final is the only other female bat- Lauren Winfield-Hill has 94th. Tunisian trailblazer Ons her first Wimbledon quar- match of the series with an ter to have been No. 1 more advanced 14 places to 41st Among batters, Chedean Jabeur became the first terfinals unbeaten 75, gaining four than 10 years apart – first position with scores of 42 Nation has progressed 17 Arab woman to reach the Sabalenka keeps going spots to reach the top of the achieving the feat in 1987 and 36 while Sophia Dunk- places to 61st and Kycia Wimbledon quarterfinals Second seed Aryna Sa- ladder. and for the final time in ley has soared 80 places to Knight 20 places to 71st. with a dazzling 5-7 6-1 6-1 balenka of Belarus over- victory over seventh seed Iga came a mid-match wobble Swiatek today. Jabeur lost to beat Kazakhstan’s Elena England ODI squad in isolation after virus outbreak four games in a row from a Rybakina 6-3 4-6 6-3 and position of strength to con- reach her maiden Grand LONDON, JULY 06: cede the opening set but re- Slam quarterfinals An outbreak of the coron- sponded in sensational fash- Killer Khachanov avirus in England's One- ion to outplay last year’s Russian Karen Day International squad French Open champion. Khachanov reached his first forced it into isolation on The 26-year-old has now quarterfinals after seeing off Tuesday. beaten three Grand Slam American Sebastian Korda Tests on Monday, a day champions so far here, tak- Sabalenka, having reached lot,” she said. — Reuters 3-6 6-4 6-3 5-7 10-8 after the team's last ODI ing out five-time Wimble- her first in Australia in Day 7: Highlights Kerber too good against Sri Lanka in Bristol, don winner Venus Williams 2020. Business as usual Teenager Coco Gauff’s revealed seven infections and Spain’s Garbine Mugu- While that was viewed as It was business as usual Wimbledon hopes were among three players and ruza during her impressive a surprise, even by herself, for top seed Novak Djokovic dashed by Germany’s for- four staff. None were . the Tunis-based player has as the Serbian dismantled mer champion Angelique named. In doing so she has en- reached at least the third the challenge of Chile’s Cris- Kerber as she went down 6-4 The squad has gone into deared herself to the Wim- round of every subsequent tian Garin with a 6-2 6-4 6-2 6-4 in a Centre Court battle isolation dating from Sun- bledon crowds with a wily Grand Slam tournament victory to advance to the of the generations day, the England and Wales game full of variety but also and became the first Arab last-eight and keep his title Barty on a roll Board said in a power when required. woman to win a WTA title defence intact at the grass- World No.1 Ash Barty statement. Novak Djokovic sent Cris- on the Birmingham lawns court Major booked a place in the quar- The six-match limited- tian Garin home with a 6-2 last month. “My goal is to Pliskova through terfinals for the first time overs series against Pak- 6-4 6-2 victory. break this quarter-final and Eighth-seeded Czech with a 7-5 6-3 victory over istan, starting on Wednes- Jabeur will contest her be able to go to the semi and Karolina Pliskova ended Li- Czech French Open cham- day with the first ODI in second Grand Slam quarter- why not the final? I’m enjoy- udmila Samsonova’s 10- pion Barbora Krejcikova, Cardiff, was still going final tomorrow against Be- ing my time here in Wimble- match unbeaten run on who was riding a 15-match ahead. larusian second seed Aryna don, enjoying the grass a grass, beating the Russian winning streak. England planned to name a new squad on Tuesday to move away from the strin- utive Tom Harrison said. players and management be captained by Ben Stokes. gent enforcement of bio-se- "We made a strategic staff who have spent much "We have been mindful cure environments, could choice to try to adapt proto- of the last 14 months living Will be starting from scratch in Sri that the emergence of the increase the chances of an cols, in order to support the in very restricted condi- delta variant, along with our outbreak," ECB chief exec- overall wellbeing of our tions." Lanka series: Suryakumar Yadav COLOMBO, JULY 06: The high "So, this (tour) also I have to start ally well in whatever position they Brazil beats Peru 1-0 to advance of a successful debut series behind from zero and that was a different se- send me to bat, I will be the same. I him, Indian batsman Suryakumar Ya- ries and this is a different series, but just go out and express the same way dav on Tuesday said he would be look- the challenge remains the same, I have on how I do in every game and I really to Copa America final ing to "start from the scratch" in the to go out in the park and perform the enjoy it," he added. upcoming limited-overs assignment same way, what I did," Yadav added in Yadav also revealed that all-rounder RIO DE JANEIRO, JULY 06: pushed the ball to the back of the net. tally too," Brazil coach Tite said. against Sri Lanka, eager to learn from a virtual press-conference. Hardik Pandya bowled in the intra- Many Brazil players didn't want to The 23-year-old Paquetá, who "In these Copa America matches we "calm and composed" head coach Yadav said that he would be work- squad game and in the nets. Pandya's take part in the Copa America tourna- started the tournament on the bench, play a mental marathon." . ing for the first time with Dravid. bowling has been severely restricted ment. Look at them now. was one of leading players for Brazil. Brazil will seek its 10th title in the Yadav made his India debut in the "...it is a great opportunity for every- by his fitness issues in the past few The Selecao advanced to the final He constantly received the ball in the South American championship in its T20 format during the home series one, having a tour amid this situation, months. with a 1-0 win over Peru on Monday. middle, easing the pressure on Ney- ninth final in the latest 14 editions of against England, in which he scored a it is a great challenge and responsibil- "He (Hardik) did bowl in the Eng- Shortly later, their star said he hoped to mar, and also marked with intensity. the tournament. half century and was generally impres- ity for each and everyone to come out land series. During the IPL, he did not see their archrivals on Saturday at the Peruvian goalkeeper Pedro Gallese It was moved to Brazil after Ar- sive. He is part of the Shikhar here and express themselves. bowl. He bowled in the intra-squad Maracana Stadium. was one of the best of the match de- gentina and Colombia withdrew from Dhawan-led second string India team, "And the great thing is having Rahul game and he bowled in the nets. So, it is "I want Argentina in the final," Ney- spite his team's elimination. He made co-hosting it due to COVID-19 con- which will take on Sri Lanka in 3 ODIs (Dravid) sir around, I have heard a lot his and the team management's call mar said after the match at the Nilton two difficult saves from short range in cerns in Argentina and street protests and as many T20 Internationals start- about him. on how they want to go about it, but Santos Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. the 18th minute, one by Neymar and in Colombia. ing July 13. "I think this is my first tour with him yes, he is bowling. That's a very good "I am cheering for them because I the other by Richarlison, which could "Today we were solid at the back, "Pressure will be there, because if but I have heard a lot from many play- sign," said the Mumbaikar. have many friends there. In the final, have allowed Brazil to cruise to victory everyone helped, that's the spirit to there is no pressure, there is no fun, so ers that he is very calm and composed Yadav also bushed aside suggestions Brazil will win," he added, laughing. sooner. win titles," midfielder Casemiro said. as I said, it will be a great challenge when it comes to this role," added the that adapting to the conditions would Argentina and Colombia will play Brazil gave the impression it could He was one of the players who be- and I am really looking forward to it," 30-year-old. be a challenge here. the other semifinal on Tuesday. Only score when it wanted against Peru, a fore the tournament criticized the orga- said the aggressive right-handed The Mumbai player also said that "...we have played in these condi- Lionel Messi's team can match Brazil's team the Selecao had beaten 4-0 in the nization for sending the Copa to Mumbai batsman. his job with the national side is the tions, we play in Mumbai, Chennai, campaign so far with five wins in six group stage of the tournament. But the Brazil. Asked if a successful debut series same as it is for his IPL franchise where heat is heavy, humidity is high, Copa America matches. second half was very different, with "Now it is all about mentality and would help him cope better with the Mumbai Indians. and most importantly we have come Neymar made the difference on the Gianluca Lapadula forcing goalkeeper heart. You don't play a final, you win pressure, Yadav said, "I think, that "I think I have been doing the same here 15-20 days early to get acclima- bumpy pitch of the Nilton Santos Sta- Ederson to make a key save in the 49th a final." Brazil has alarming COVID- (debut series against England) was a thing what I did for my franchise back tised to these conditions, it will be dium in Rio de Janeiro. The only goal minute after a cross. Brazil still had 19 figures and a crisis at its soccer con- completely different challenge and in the IPL. When I made my debut, the fine," he said. of the match came in the 34th minute opportunities, but continued to waste federation which led to the suspension every-time you come, I mean for a bat- same happened, I did not do anything Asked about the team being called after he tricked defender Alexander counter-attacks. of president Rogerio Caboclo after a ter, every-time you go in or play a dif- different, it was all the same. second-string and reaction within to Callens on the left edge of the box and "It (the match against Peru) wears sexual harassment charge. Caboclo ferent game, you start from scratch." "I have been enjoying that role re- it, Yadav quipped. assisted Lucas Paquetá, who just us down not only physically, but men- denies any wrongdoing.