JAMMU | THURSDAY | APRIL 29, 2021 JB SPORTS JAMMU BULLETIN 9 Amidst Covid disruption, Sharath I have total control in team and Kamal confident ahead of Tokyo selection matters: Babar Azam that starts in Harare against UMBAI PR first is to work on footwork and coor- M ,A 28: Zimbabwe from Thursday For the second time in as many dination, the second is a bit more tac- would not be an easy assign- years Achanta Sharath Kamal has tical.” ment for his team. entered a period of uncertainty. There The contrasting styles make them are no plans to travel abroad for train- an impressive pair. He said they would more or ing camps as numerous table tennis “She can slow down the game when less go with the same combi- destinations have shut their borders to needed, and I can speed it up. That nation that was played in the Indians as the Covid-19 wave sweeps way we can complement each other home series against South through the country. In the build up to really well, and the opponent is not Africa. his fourth Olympics, travel within comfortable playing us. They want to Babar said that Zimbabwe India too has been a problem. finish the rally quickly, but we try to might be low in Test rankings His mixed doubles partner Manika prolong the rally and make the oppo- but no team could be taken Batra had to travel to Chennai last nent move much more than what they lightly at the top level and week to train with him. The original like,” Sharath adds. that the African nation would plan was for him to practice at her He puts vicious power and spin on have the advantage of playing training venue in Pune. The lockdown the ball. Batra, with the long pimpled at home. in Maharashtra resulted in change of rubber on her backhand side – which The Test batsman also said plans she switches mid-rally – plays a he was not worried about the And then, he says “I don’t know if deceptive game that can frustrate the frequent middle order failures (the Olympics) will happen.” toughest opponents. But the World Training and preparation has con- in the white ball series. ARACHI PR quently it is said in press con- tinued, yet amidst the uncertainty, he No.62, the highest ranked women’s K ,A 28: Asked about the absence of beating the South Korean World No.5 winner would earn one of the 16 spots player from India, also has a powerful Pakistan’s top batsman ferences and in the media that seasoned leg-spinner, Yasir says this is the most confident he has duo of Sangsu Lee and Jihee Jeon available for the event in Tokyo. They been ahead of an Olympic Games. forehand that makes a difference. Babar Azam on Wednesday I don’t have authority and Shah from the series due to an enroute. overcame the Singaporean duo of Lin “When Sharath hits his forehand, he dismissed criticism that he don’t take independent deci- “My ranking does the talking for It’s in the mixed doubles event Ye and Pang Yew En Koen 4-2 in the injury, Babar said experience that,” says the World No.32 during a opens up the opponent,” 2008 was a powerless captain, who sions,” Babar said. is always missed but Pakistan where India’s biggest chance of a semi-final before drawing up against Olympian Neha Aggarwal had told took dictation from head “I want to make it clear SAI-organised press conference. medal lies at the Olympics. the top seeded Korean team they had had other good spinners in “But you need to have a partner coach, Misbah-ul-Haq. once and for all that I have “This is the best ranking I’ve had “The main reason (for the confi- beaten in Jakarta. Nauman Ali Nawaz and who can hit the next shot with just as The top ODI batsman fre- total control and say in team going into an Olympics. In 2004 I was dence) is the medal we won at the They started slow, losing the first Zahid Mahmood. selection and other matters. I just entering the international field. In Asian Games, where Manika and I two sets before taking the next four to much power to finish off the rally. quently faces accusations of Yasir since his debut in 2008 I first broke into the top 100. In were paired up for the first time,” says pull-off another famous win. He’s never had that kind of partner for being a captain without handle everything on the field 2014 has missed a series only 2016, I was just coming back from an Sharath, a TOPS-supported athlete. “That gives us a lot of confidence a while. But Manika’s new forehand authority and recently former and I decide the playing once when Pakistan played a injury and even the qualifying stage “We started to believe that if we can and faith that this is going to be the complements his. She can match his skipper Shoaib Malik in eleven with the management lone test in Ireland and a two took a toll on my body.”He’s been do it at the Asian Games, it can hap- best Olympic Games in terms of per- intensity.” tweets inferred that Babar giving their input. I know Test series in England in what my responsibilities are building up the confidence for the pen at the Olympics too. That is formance and results,” he says. They’ve been doing all they can was not taking independent 2018. past few years. Bronze medals at the amidst the chaos and uncertainty. decisions. as captain,” he said. because Asia is the powerhouse of The pair has continued to try and Responding to a question 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta certain- With just 16 teams competing in the Some other former captains Babar also made it clear he table tennis. The best teams are from carry that momentum forward ever that many people felt he was ly had a lot to do with it. here – China, Japan, South Korea. since. The recent training sessions in mixed doubles event, they need to and players have also advised had no issues with the head Sharath Kamal spearheaded the win only three matches to secure a Babar to be more authorita- coach and whether Pakistan a selfish player, Babar said he And then there are the subsidiaries of Chennai were the first part of many does not agree. men’s team to a bronze medal finish, China – Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei scheduled. medal. The journey began for them tive as captain. needed a white ball coach Babar also said he was the country’s first Asian Games medal and Singapore. When you can medal “We’re hoping to have at least five- three years ago, when the quietly con- Babar said in a virtual press was the domain of PCB. in the sport, beating a star-studded at the Asian Games, you have that six days of good practice every month fident pairing returned with India’s conference that the debate “The team management is working hard on getting into Japanese team along the way. A day confidence.” where we completely focus on mixed first mixed doubles medal at the Asian over whether he was a captain fully supporting every player, the mode of finishing off later the 38-year-old paired up with The Indian pair were in Doha over a doubles,” he explains. “We’ve Games. Now that the mixed event is with authority should end so I am happy,” he said. matches and also try to con- Batra to pick up an unexpected bronze month back, competing at a mixed worked on a lot of aspects and train- making its debut at the Olympics, now. The Pakistan captain also vert 50s into 100s and 100s medal in the mixed doubles event, doubles tournament where only the ing is divided into a few parts. The they hope to repeat their success. “I don’t understand but fre- said that the two-Test series into bigger scores. Mumbai Indians look to overcome middle-order woes, Asian Boxing Championship moved from Leicester’s Wesley Fofana thanks EPL return to winning ways against Rajasthan Royals India to UAE due to Covid-19 crisis for allowing him to break fast mid-game the tournament so far and will the BFI said in a statement. LEICESTER CITY,APR 28: seek to build on the six-wick- “The event will now be Leicester defender Wesley Fofana has thanked the English et win over Kolkata Knight organised by BFI in associa- Premier League for allowing him to break his fast during Riders in the previous match. tion with UAE Boxing Ramadan in the middle of a match. Mumbai skipper Rohit Federation. Leicester’s game against Crystal Palace on Monday evening Sharma (201 runs) has got The daily addition of over 3 was briefly stopped in the first half to allow Fofana and Palace starts but hasn’t played a big lakh new cases has led to sev- defender Cheikhou Kouyate to take a drink after the sun had knock and the Mumbaikar eral countries imposing bans gone down. would be itching to get one as on flights to and from India. During the month of Ramadan, which runs from April 12 to would be his opening partner “With the newly-imposed Quinton De Kock (47 runs). May 12 this year, fasting Muslims do not eat or drink during international travel restric- But Mumbai’s middle- daylight hours. tions from many countries order, which boasts of hard- “That’s what makes football wonderful,” Fofana said in a due to the prevailing pan- hitting batsmen like post on Twitter after the match in which he thanked the league NEW DELHI,APR 28: to 31 in the national capital, demic situation, BFI and Suryakumar Yadav (154 as well as Palace, and Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, who which is recording over runs), Ishan Kishan (73 runs), The Asian Boxing ASBC jointly took a decision delayed taking a goal kick on the half-hour mark to allow the 20,000 daily cases right now. Hardik Pandya (36 runs), Championship which was to relocate the tournament,” fast to be broken. Krunal Pandya (29 runs) and scheduled to be held here “In the wake of internation- the BFI said. The stoppage was agreed pre-match with referee Graham Kieron Pollard (65 runs), has- next month was on al travel restrictions to India, The national body’s Scott. It is thought to be the first time it has happened in the Boxing Federation of MUMBAI, APR 28: MI are coming into the n’t fired in unison so far. Wednesday moved to Dubai President Ajay Singh said it Premier League history. Fofana was substituted during the sec- Defending champions match after suffering back-to- The middle-order can pum- because of the deepening India (BFI), in consultation was a difficult decision but ond half of Leicester’s win over West Bromwich Albion last Mumbai Indians will look to back losses, the last one being mel any good attack into sub- COVID-19 crisis in India but with Asian Boxing one that had to be taken. “It’s week to allow him to rest and take on food. Leicester manager sort out their middle-order a nine-wicket defeat against mission on any given day and the national federation will Confederation (ASBC), has unfortunate that we have to Brendan Rodgers described the defender’s performances as woes and bring their cam- Punjab Kings in Chennai and Sharma would hope for their remain a co-host along with decided to conduct the shift the venue out of India. “remarkable” considering the circumstances. “I’ve worked paign back on track when need to start the Delhi leg batting to click on Thursday its UAE counterpart. upcoming 2021 edition of the We were very keen to host with lots of players with devotion to their faiths and for a lot of they take on an inconsistent afresh. when the action shifts to the The tournament was to be ASBC Asian Elite Men and the championships in Delhi the guys it gives them strength,” Rodgers said after the West Rajasthan Royals in an IPL The Sanju Samson-led Feroz Shah Kotla ground held at the Indira Gandhi Women Boxing but we are left with no Brom game. “He’s finding an incredible strength to play con- game on Thursday. Rajasthan have lost thrice in here. Indoor Stadium from May 21 Championships in Dubai,” options,” he said. tinuously and train during Ramadan. India’s relay teams on verge of missing Olympic Former Sri Lanka bowler Nuwan Zoysa qualifiers in Poland due to flight suspension banned for six years for trying to fix matches NEW DELHI,APR 28: Suseendran, Himashree Roy MUMBAI, APR 28: and/or Zimbabwe, he would Star sprinters Hima Das and and AT Daneshwari. Former Sri Lanka seamer be willing to give away 12-15 Dutee Chand might miss the India will also field teams in and coach Nuwan Zoysa was runs in Olympic qualifying World the men’s 4x400m in the event on Wednesday banned from an over while bowling, or Athletics Relays in Poland on to be held in Chorzow, Silesia, all cricket for six years after to get out deliberately when May 1 and 2 as the Indian in Poland. being found guilty of trying batting,” the ICC judgement team’s connecting flight to The top eight teams from the to fix matches and failing to said. Amsterdam has been suspend- World Athletics Relays will disclose corrupt approaches “Mr Zoysa told (Player A) ed following the record-shat- automatically qualify for the from a suspected Indian that he could get good money tering spike in the country’s Tokyo Olympics. bookie. if he under-performed in this COVID-19 case load. The women’s 4x400m relay The ban on Zoysa, a left- way. (Player A) immediately refused that approach and The women’s 4x100m and team has pulled out of the arm seamer, is backdated to the men’s 4x400m relay teams event as more than two mem- told Mr Zoysa that he would- October 31, 2018, when he n’t agree to do that,” it added. were to board a KLM flight to bers are unfit. was provisionally suspended. Amsterdam in the wee hours The Indian mixed 4x400m Following full hearings “In his role as a national and arguments, the Tribunal on Thursday but the Dutch relay team has already quali- coach, he should have acted government has suspended fied for the Tokyo Olympics found Zoysa guilty of as a role model. Instead, he charged in 2018 after his stint to as Mr W in ICC docu- breaching articles relating to flights from India effective after reaching the final during became involved with a cor- Monday evening. as bowling coach of Team Sri ments, “was involved in fix- trying to fix matches, entic- the 2019 World rupter and attempted to cor- The Athletics Federation of Lanka in a T10 tournament ing matches, or aspects of ing others to breach the code Many European countries have from where they can proceed Championships in Doha. rupt others,” Alex Marshall, India is trying to book an alter- organised in the UAE in matches” and wanted to have of conduct and failing to suspended flights from India. to Poland. We are also trying The AFI was hopeful of the ICC General Manager- 2017. Zoysa on board because, “as report approaches by corrupt nate flight available to any So, we may be stuck and there for any connecting flight to women’s 4x100m relay team European city en route to Integrity Unit said in a In its full judgement, the a coach he knew players and individuals. is a high possibility that the Dubai or any other West Asian qualifying for the upcoming release. ICC said Zoysa was intro- would be able to get them to Zoysa was also charged by Silesia in Poland where the team may not go for the city.” Olympics in Tokyo. event will be held. There is no “Contriving to fix a game duced to the Indian suspect in fix matches”. the ICC on behalf of the event,” a top AFI official told. S Dhanalakshmi, who had The World Relays will be the betrays the basis of sporting Colombo in 2017 during his “At (Mr W)’s request, Mr Emirates Cricket Board for direct flight to Poland from “But still we are trying, talk- beaten Dutee in the final of first major international event India. principles. It will not be tol- time as Sri Lanka A’s bowl- Zoysa approached (Player A) breaching three counts of ing to the government and to women’s 100m sprint in the for Indian sprinters since the ing coach. late in 2017 and asked him “There is a serious doubt that erated in our sport.” their ECB Anti-Corruption our embassies if they can help Federation Cup last month, Asian Athletics After a few interactions, whether, in connection with our team may not be able to The 42-year-old, who Code for the T10 League our athletes to fly in any was also named in the team, Championships in Doha in the former bowler became Sri Lanka’s then upcoming take part in the World Relays. played 30 Tests and 95 ODIs and these proceedings are European city like Frankfurt along with Archana April 2019. for Sri Lanka, was originally aware that the man, referred series against Bangladesh ongoing. We have always got depth in batting but IPL 2021: Scott Kuggeleijn named as Madrid and Chelsea draw 1-1 in now we got it in bowling too: Virat Kohli Kane Richardson’s replacement for RCB Champions League semifinals NEW DELHI,APR 28: MUMBAI,APR 28: NEW DELHI,APR 28: Royal Challengers New Zealand pacer Scott Kuggeleijn was on Tuesday Bangalore skipper Virat With a dominant start and a announced as a replacement for Kane Richardson in the Royal milestone goal by Christian Kohli on Tuesday said that Challengers Bangalore squad for the remainder of IPL-14. Pulisic, Chelsea showed its the luxury of having depth in Along with compatriot Adam Zampa, Australian Richardson strength against Real Madrid the bowling department is in the Champions League faring well for the team this on Monday quite the tournament midway citing personal rea- sons in the wake of a second COVID-19 wave in the country. semifinals. Chelsea took con- season. trol early in Tuesday’s first leg RCB pipped Delhi Capital The Aussie cricketer flew back to his nation as the cases of Covid-19 kept mounting in India. Kuggeleijn, who has been to hold the Spanish power- by one run to notch up their house to a 1-1 away draw, with part of the IPL bubble as a reserve for Mumbai Indians, moved fifth win of the season. Kohli Pulisic becoming the first U.S. used six bowlers in the game to RCB as a replacement for Richardson, ESPNcricinfo report- international to score in the and also had the option of ed. No replacement has been named yet for leg-spinner Zampa. tournament’s last four. He also handing the ball to all-round- The 29-year-old Kuggeleijn has so far played 2 ODIs, 16 surpassed DaMarcus Beasley hot Karim Benzema equalized Champions League match er Glenn Maxwell. T20Is for New Zealand besides appearing in 2 IPL fixtures in to become the top American for a lackluster Madrid squad since the controversial Super “For the most part I think our bowlers. We felt 160-165 paced,” Kohli said at the post the past. Zampa and Richardson will be flying back to their scorer in Champions League on a rainy night at the Alfredo League folded last week amid we were top in this game with was par. It was a bit two- match presentation. country on Tuesday night via Doha. history with five goals. A red- Di Stéfano Stadium in the first widespread criticism.