MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 (PAGE 14) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU Real Kashmir host East Bengal as race Fit-again Hardik, Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar for I-League second spot heats up back in Indian ODI team SRINAGAR, Mar 8: and in our game. We will have to make sure we move the ball fast AHMEDABAD, Mar 8: Real Kashmir FC would look and catch them off-guard when- to ride on their impressive form ever possible," he added. Bruised and battered in New at home when they host East The Red-and-Gold outfit Zealand, India's ODI squad today Bengal here tomorrow as the from Kolkata will have similar got a major boost as a fit-again race for second spot heats up in aspirations as they sit fifth on Hardik Pandya returned for the the I-League. the table with 20 points from 15 three-match series against South Real Kashmir FC are cur- games. A win against Real Africa, having successfully recu- rently placed third with 22 Kashmir away from home will perated from a back surgery. points from 14 games and a win be a major boost for the side in Along with Pandya, opener on Monday at the TRC Ground their bid to finish as high as pos- Shikhar Dhawan and seamer can take them to second spot. sible by the end of the league. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will also They were coming into the East Bengal midfielder add depth to the 15-member match after beating Neroca FC Jaime Santos Colado was happy squad, selected under the chair- Austrialian Women team celebrating victory in T20 World Cup final against India in by a solitary goal. with the way the team has made manship of Sunil Joshi. Melbourne. The Snow Leopards, who a comeback in the league. However, it could be curtains have excelled in counter-attack- "The team is regaining confi- for veteran Kedar Jadhav as ing football and converting set- dence and playing good games. Shubman Gill's return in the Australia outclass India in pieces to win games, will be We must continue on the same white-ball fold is a good enough Zealand as Pandya and be-35 Jadhav, who has literally looking another strong show at path in the remaining matches," indictor. Bhuvneshwar rightfully got their stopped bowling in ODIs and is home. They had lost just once in he said. Vice- Rohit Sharma is places back. also not doing well batting at the Women’s T20 World Cup final their six previous matches at "Real Kashmir is a great yet to fully recuperate from his Dhawan had dislocated his No 6 slot, has been finally MELBOURNE, Mar 8: sion, their onslaught fired smashed for 52 runs in her four home. team -- both home and away. In calf muscle injury and is expect- shoulder during the final ODI dropped from the side. Australia to a formidable 184 for overs. Speaking on the eve of the the first game, they made things ed to return to action during the against Australia at home and With the next 50- World India saved their worst for the four in the stipulated 20 overs. Half the battle was won there match, Real Kashmir FC's very difficult for us and we later this missed the New Zealand series. Cup in 2023 when Jadhav will be last as a brutal Australian side Overwhelmed by the occa- for the formidable Australians, Mason Robertson said, "It is an know their strengths while play- month. Thus, Prithvi Shaw Bhuvneshwar, on the other 38, it is highly unlikely that he outclassed them by 85 runs for an sion, India crumbled to 99 all out who, in stark contrast to the important match for us. They ing at home. It will be a difficult retained his place in the ODI hand, had a sports hernia surgery will add to his 73 ODIs. unprecedented fifth T20 World in front of a turnout of 86174 at India, saved their best for the last. have not lost a match in the last yet entertaining game." squad, while Mayank Agarwal, but has successfully completed Shardul, who did improve as Cup triumph in a final that prom- the iconic Melbourne Cricket The manner and magnitude five encounters and are looking The previous encounter after a dismal New Zealand tour, his rehabilitation at the National a batsman, leaked runs during the ised much but delivered very lit- Ground, a record in women's of the defeat, including a few sub like a much stronger side than between the two teams in the had to make way for Dhawan. Cricket Academy. T20s as well as ODIs. tle here today. cricket history. plots, were reminiscent of the before." league had ended in a pulsating The Mumbai duo of Shardul But the biggest news was Bhuvneshwar's experience as a Batting first after the coin What worked in the home 2003 men's World Cup final "We have the home advan- 1-1 draw in Kalyani. (PTI) Thakur and Shivam Dube paid Hardik's comeback, which, swing and seam bowler was sore- landed in Meg Lanning's favour, team's favour was that their open- when Ricky Ponting's Australia tage and we believe in our team for their shoddy showing in New though, was on predictable lines. ly missed in New Zealand condi- Australia came out in scintillat- ers easily neutralised the threat thrashed Sourav Ganguly's India Pandya's last ODI was tions. With Mohammed Shami ing fashion with their openers posed by the in-form spinner in an anti-climactic title clash. against New Zealand in the rested for this series, Alyssa Healy (75 off 39 balls) Poonam Yadav (1/30 in 4 overs) Like Zaheer Khan in his World Cup semi-final in Bhuvneshwar's presence will and Beth Mooney (78 off 54 with percentage game while tak- opening over at the Wanderers Manchester and the last interna- also be a bit of respite for Jasprit balls) laying the foundation with ing the likes of medium-pacer against Adam Gilchrist and tional game was a T20 against Bumrah, who himself is going a 115-run partnership in double Shikha Pandey and Deepti Matthew Hayden, Deepti Sharma the Proteas in Bengaluru in through a rough patch. quick time. Sharma to the cleaners. was all nerves when up against September. The three ODIs will be Stirred up by the grand occa- On the day, Pandey was Mooney and Healy, who blasted massive sixes as the beaming His absence affected the bal- played in Dharamsala (March husband Mitchell Starc watched ance of the ODI side as Dube's 12), Lucknow (March 15) and from the stands. underwhelming show in the 14 Kolkata (March 18). The match was as good as chances he got showed that he is India's ODI squad: Shikhar over when India were 18/3 in the still not cut out for international Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Virat fourth over, which became four cricket. Kohli (C), KL Rahul, Manish for 4/30 when skipper Pandya's performances at the Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Harmanpreet Kaur departed and DY Patil Corporate Cup was not Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra 58/5 when Veda Krishnamurthy about the 150 odd he scored or Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, was taking the long walk back. the he took but was about Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit From India's point of view, ShowShoe athletes being flagged off on day-2 of Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg. how fit he looked out there in the Bumrah, Navdeep Saini, the final outing was a far cry middle. Kuldeep Yadav, Shubman Gill. from their campaign opener Khelo India Winter Games At the same time, the soon-to- (PTI) when the same team humbled the Children in colourful attires posing along with chief guest hosts. and other dignitaries during Annual Day celebration at Indo- "The first game was very Bad weather fails to stop Suhail, Ayan Harika loses to Kosteniuk; American Montessori Pre School in Jammu. good, it gave us a lot of confi- dence. We spent a lot of time together, unfortunate for us not to from scripting victory in SnowShoe slips to third spot Indo-American Montessori Pre win today," Harmanpreet said Excelsior Sports Correspondent Haadi finished third with the tim- He congratulated players and after the game. ing of 24.50. All the podium posi- officials for the effort and said that LAUSANNE, Mar 8: It was the first loss for "Sometimes, we are not able GULMARG, Mar 8: Game was tions in the SnowShoe event were J&K State Sports Council and Harika in the tournament after School celebrates 1st Annual Day to give our best." the winner on day-2 of the ongoing grabbed by J&K players. other organizations involved are Indian Grandmaster two wins and three draws. On Triumphant captain Lanning Khelo India Winter Games-2020 as In the following days of making sure that event turns out Dronavalli Harika went down to the other hand, the win was *Vibodh pitches for promotion of art in schools said, "To put this kind of per- SnowShoe athletes, vying for the Winter Games, athletes from as success and players get all the former world champion change in fortunes for formance on the biggest day is top honours, braved chill and hos- Lakshadweep would be joining support. Alexandra Kosteniuk in the Kosteniuk, who had struggled Excelsior Correspondent started with 'Saraswati Vandana', outstanding and something that tile weather conditions when the SnowShoe events in sprint cate- The Khelo India Winter sixth round of the FIDE thus far and had lost three which was followed by different I'm really proud of." long distance SnowShoe run was Women's Grand Prix chess tour- JAMMU, Mar 8: Indo- cultural items including dance gories. Games are organized by Winter straight games. Earlier, Mooney and Healy flagged off here today. Secretary Sports Council Games Association of J&K in col- nament here to slip to third spot. American Montessori Pre performances, Poem 'Ek Beti Ki The world no. 9 Harika will rode on dropped chances to The second day of the Khelo termed it a great sight to see ath- laboration with J&K State Sports The Indian no.2 was outma- School, Resham Ghar Colony, face Zhansaya Abdumalik in the Pukaar' based on Beti Bachao smash blistering fifties and India Winter Games which were letes competing amid hostile Council while as SnowShoe event noeuvred by the Russian in a Jammu, celebrated its 1st seventh round on Monday after theme and Ramayan Act etc. power Australia to a challenging inaugurated by Union Sports weather and making sure that is held by J&K Snowshoe Berlin defence game in 55 Annual Day 'Aagaaz' with pomp 184 for four. Minister Kiren Rijiju yesterday, Speaking on the occasion Games turn out as a success. Association. moves late on Saturday. a rest day.(PTI) and show at Dr BR Ambedkar Vibodh Gupta lauded the efforts Mooney top-scored for saw continued snowfall and low Auditorium, Govt Polytechnic of Management, Principal, Staff Australia but it was Healy, who visibility that created lot of prob- College, Bikram Chowk, here. and appreciated the performanc- took to the attack after being lems for the organizers on day-2 The programme commenced es of the students. dropped in the fifth ball of the today. with the lighting of the ceremo- He spoke on the importance innings by Shafali Verma off Majority of the events got late nial lamp by the chief guest, of inculcating moral values and Deepti Sharma.(PTI) and some of the events were post- Advocate and former MLC cultural ethos among the stu- poned for the evening. Despite the odd conditions Vibodh Gupta, in the presence of dents from the very beginning of Saurashtra poised for the guests of honour including one of the major event of the the education process. Games 'SnowShoe Run' was held Vikash Kumar (Academic Gupta strongly asserted that Ranji Trophy glory Trainer IAMPS), Kamal Bakshi today in senior and junior men's art and culture should become category. (Chairperson), Lata Bakshi an integral part of the schooling at home (Joint Director), Himanshu Due to tough conditions and system. RAJKOT, Mar 8: low visibility the distance for the Bakshi (Director) and Pallavi The students were felicitated Saurashtra, led by the inspira- men's senior category was Bakshi (Principal). for the achievements in various tional , will back reduced from 8 to 5 kilometers The dignitaries were accord- categories. themselves to win an elusive Ranji while as for junior from 5 to 3 ed a warm welcome by Kamal Guest of honour Vikash kilometeres. Trophy title at home but a buoyant Bakshi (Chairperson) by presen- Kumar appreciated the achieve- In the run 16 top athletes from Bengal will be no pushovers in tation of bouquets. ments of the school, while all over J&K and four athletes what promises to be an absorbing IAMPS Jammu touched the Pallavi Bakshi proposed the vote from Uttarakhand participated. final beginning here today. chord of the parents by 'Aagaaz', of thanks. The run was flagged off by Both the teams are desperate the theme of the 1st Annual The event concluded with Secretary Sports Council Dr to go all the way with Saurashtra function which means the presentation of National Naseem Javaid Chowdhary in reaching their fourth final in eight 'Beginning'. The programme Anthem. presence of CEO Gulmarg seasons while Bengal has not tast- Development Authority, Assistant ed success in the premier domes- Director Tourism Nasir Ankita shines with two wins as tic event since the 1989-90 tri- Mehmood, President J&K umph. SnowShoe Association Tariq India creates Fed Cup history While Bengal bulldozed over Ahmad Zargar, Olympians Gul the mighty Karnataka in the semi- Mustafa, Nadeem and number of DUBAI, Mar 8: start as they were trailing 1-4 but finals, Saurashtra edged out other senior players and officials. regrouped to dominate the deci- Gujarat in a see-saw contest at the Despite having to counter The Indian Fed cup team cre- sive set. SCA Stadium, which is also the tough conditions and terrain, ath- ated history by progressing to India finished second in the venue for the final. letes did their best by completing the play-offs for the first time six-team Group with four wins There will also be star power the run at the altitude of around 10,000 feet above sea level. ever with Ankita Raina leading in a row after losing the opening on display with Test regulars the side to a 2-1 win over tie to China, who In senior category, Suhail Cheteshwar Pujara and Nisar cruised to victory with the remained unbeaten Wriddhiman Saha joining the in the tournament. timing of 34.08 seconds. He Saurashtra and Bengal squads defeated World bronze medallist Since earning respectively, having returned from their place back in Muzamil Hussain Mir by eight New Zealand. second difference. Umer Farooq Asia/Oceania In fact, Pujara was very much finished third with the timing of Group I in 2016, Saurasthra's 12th man with 35.19 seconds. India has remained Unadkat being in constant touch In junior category, it was in the regional with his senior teammate during World junior silver medalist group. the hard-fought semifinal. Now Ayaan Bin Shahnaz who cruised With the rise of his physical presence in the all- to win with the timing of 24.23 Ankita, things important game will be a big boost while as Maqsood Sofi finished began to improve. to the side.(PTI) second with the timing of 24.40. Rutuja also Indonesia, here. played a key role as she provid- Ankita today night pulled off ed winning starts in a few ties, Boxing: Pooja, Vikas book Olympic a crucial singles win against tal- sharing the burden with Ankita. ented Aldila Sutjiadi to lock the Sania's return to Fed Cup berths; enter semis of Asian qualifiers tie 1-1 after Rutuja Bhosale suf- after four years also helped as JORDAN, Mar 8: in the hunt for an Olympic berth if fered a crushing defeat against her inspirational presence and an unranked Priska Madelyn he can win the two-bout box-off guidance helped the side Asian champion Pooja Rani Nugroho. between the losing quarterfinal- immensely. (75kg) and the seasoned Vikas Up against the 16-year-old ists. The top five boxers in his cat- India's non-playing captain Krishan (69kg) on Sunday became Indonesian, who is ranked 15th egory will get a spot in the Tokyo Vishal Uppal is delighted with the first set of Indian boxers to qual- on the ITF junior circuit, Rutuja Games. the result. ify for this year's Tokyo Olympics lost 3-6 6-0 3-6 in one hour and While Rani secured her maiden "It's a historic moment and to by advancing to the semifinals of 43 minutes in the opening sin- Olympic spot, Krishan will be be part of it feels surreal. I am the continental qualifiers here. making his third successive appear- gles. Ankita, proud of each and every member While fourth-seeded Rani ance at the quadrennial showpiece, who lost her previous two sin- of our team -- the players, notched up a facile 5-0 win over scheduled in July-August. gles, demolished the challenge physio, coach, manager. We all Thailand's Pornnipa Chutee, "I had never fought against this of Sutjiadi 6-3 6-3 in the second came together and worked Krishan endured a tough one girl before today and honestly, I rubber. towards a common goal," Uppal against third-seeded Japanese was a bit scared. I had told my She then combined with sea- said. Sewonrets Okazawa before also coaches about it before the bout. soned Sania Mirza to beat "The key was to do the fun- prevailing in a unanimous verdict They instilled confidence in me and Sutziyadi and Nugroho 7-6(4) 6- damentals well and keep it sim- against the Asian silver-medallist. I could pull off a one-sided result. I 0 to seal India's place in the ple on court. As a team everyone However, first-timer Sachin am happy," said the 29-year-old play-offs where they will take stepped up one day or the other Kumar (81kg) went down in a Rani, who fought career-threaten- on either Latvia or the which is very important. I hope split decision to China's national ing shoulder and hand injuries Netherlands in April. this win will give a big boost to champion Daxaing Chen in his before her gold at last year's Asian They overcame a sluggish women's tennis in India." (PTI) quarterfinal bout. But, he remains Championships.(PTI)