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THE HINDU DELHI TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019 SPORT 17 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE India’s vital cogs in fine fettle 2011 World Cup hero Yuvraj bids adieu He was the architect of two ICC titles over the last 12 years If the batting was all about dominance, the bowling arm was equally in sync Amol Karhadkar This game taught MUMBAI <> me how to fight, Yuvraj Singh, the player­of­ how to fall, to dust the­tournament in India’s off, to get up again triumphant 2011 World Cup and move forward. campaign, announced his It has been a lovely retirement from the game journey. here on Monday. Yuvraj has featured in 23 domestic sea­ sons and will be remem­ stead making himself availa­ bered as one of the most skil­ ble for selection. ful white­ball cricketers. “I was told that if you are The architect of India’s not able to pass the Yo­Yo REVIEW two ICC titles over the last 12 test, I would get a farewell years, Yuvraj hopes to conti­ game. I did not tell anyone in K.C. Vijaya Kumar nue plying his trade in fran­ the BCCI that I have to play London chise overseas leagues for the last match,” he said. India’s World Cup campaign the next few years. “If I was good enough, I has been a steady accumula­ “I want to play T20s. At would have retired on the tion of incremental steps. It this age I can manage to play ground. I don’t like to ask for commenced with a loss to some kind of fun cricket. It’s a game, I have never played New Zealand in a warm­up been too stressful just think­ the game with that mindset, fixture, then came the win ing about my international so I told them I don’t want a over Bangladesh in the se­ career, performing in big farewell game, if I don’t clear cond practice­game and tournaments like the IPL,” the Yo­Yo test, I will quietly when the championship Yuvraj said in an interaction head back home. I cleared started, Virat Kohli’s men with the media after an emo­ the test and then, rest is not were ready with their big­ tional retirement speech in my call.” boys act! Perfect day: Virat Kohli’s men had plenty to cheer about in the game against Australia. * REUTERS the presence of his family. South Africa was lorded “Now I would like to enjoy Note to youngsters Pillars of support: Yuvraj with the two women who matter the over at Southampton and the but Australia was out of the cence to strike big with cogs in fine fettle. myself. With BCCI’s permis­ Yuvraj signed off with a word most: wife Hazel, left, and mother Shabnam. * VIVEK BENDRE crucial Sunday clash against contest in the last 10 overs. nonchalance. But sport isn’t about the sion, I would like to go and of advice for youngsters. “I Australia at the Oval proved Before the World Cup sweat and success, it is also play (in overseas leagues). see a lot of younger guys get­ to be a one­way street once started, there were worries Icing on the cake about empathy and apprecia­ It’s been a very long and ting a lot of money in IPL. So­ India’s batting might was about Rohit Sharma and The icing on the cake was tion. Kohli can be a brash hard journey and I think I metime they are getting mo­ amply reflected through its Shikhar Dhawan as they had about how Rahul shaped up competitor, but he also re­ deserve that.” ney a bit too easily, without 352 for five. failed in the warm­ups. But, at the death. Following the vealed that he has a heart. Yuvraj admitted that hav­ really appreciating it,” he Still it remains a long road as Kohli pointed out, the fine efforts of Dhawan, Rohit, His act of requesting the In­ ing consulted his friends and said. and Kohli struck a cautionary openers are big­match Kohli, Pandya and M.S. Dho­ dian fans to stop booing mentors, he had decided “When you talk to them, note: “It’s too early to decide players. Once the smell of a ni, he walked to the crease in Steve Smith will be remem­ that the 2019 IPL, where he they don’t listen. Honestly, (the semifinalists). After tough contest reached their the 50th over and imme­ bered for long. played a limited role in 20 years ago, I also did not about six games we will be in nostrils, the two were back at diately struck a six. For a tra­ “Just because there are so Mumbai Indians’ road to vic­ listen. It’s a learning process, a better position to know their best. Rohit’s hundred ditional opener expected to many Indian fans here, I just tory, would be his last. they will learn themselves. It where we stand in the tour­ against South Africa and Dha­ display the classical virtue of didn’t want them to set a bad The southpaw revealed is important that they focus nament, where we stand in wan’s century at Australia’s patience, Rahul has been example. I told him sorry on that he declined the “fare­ on cricket and on playing for the table, but we couldn’t expense were solid building­ equally adept in hammering behalf of the crowd because I well game” offer last year, in­ India.” have asked for a better start blocks. the bowling, especially in the have seen that happen in a against two strong sides.” A few months back, there shorter formats. few earlier games, and in my Defeating a defending was ambiguity around who If the batting was all about opinion that’s not accepta­ champion and that too Aus­ would turn up at No. 4. K.L. dominance, the bowling arm ble,” said Kohli. tralia is never easy, but India Rahul did enough in the was equally in sync, and In­ stepped in with confidence game against South Africa to dia prospered. Jasprit Bum­ Rough time and had a perfect day. The reiterate that the slot is his. In rah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar Smith and David Warner runs were accumulated, stea­ the tussle involving Australia, have struck a fine tandem have had a rough time ever dily at the start and then with India had enough runs in its and Pandya, too, chipped in since they returned after a break­neck speed towards kitty and more overs to bat, as the third seamer. Spinners one­year ban following the the end. And when Aaron and hence the team­manage­ Yuzvendra Chahal and Kul­ ball­tampering crisis but they Finch’s men buckled down to ment employed Hardik Pan­ deep Yadav did reasonably deserve a shot at redemp­ the chase, the Indian attack dya as a floater and promot­ well and going ahead, India tion. Kohli has recognised proved restrictive. The 36­ ed him to No. 4. He didn’t will stride in with the know­ that need, and it is hearten­ run triumph may seem close disappoint and used his li­ ledge of having most of its ing. WI­SA match Each innings a quest for nirvana abandoned Arun pleased with his wards Special Correspondent dents in the ICC mixed media Bumrah and Bhuvi.” Vijay Lokapally AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE London MUMBAI SOUTHAMPTON zone on Sunday, Arun said: As for Mohammed Shami, India’s bowlers have deli­ “It’s a dream to have a bowler who is yet to play, the bow­ Flamboyance? “It was natu­ The South Africa­West In­ vered in the two games so far like him (Bumrah). He is one ling coach said: “You have to ral,” he would quip. Swag­ dies match was abandoned and behind­the­scenes guide of the best in the world, both wait for your chance and be ger? “Not put on.” after persistent heavy rain Bharat Arun is extremely at the beginning and at the ready to grab the His cricket, as Yuvraj on Monday. Both sides pleased with the progress of death. opportunities.” Singh wanted the world to earned a point each. his wards. After another “My job is to remind him Australia was always a step know, was his “life”. His Earlier, West Indies pa­ command performance that and Bhuvi about their plans behind in the chase and Arun cricket a magical combina­ ceman Sheldon Cottrell re­ laid the Aussies low at the and also about what they explained the bowling ap­ tion of flamboyance and life duced Faf du Plessis’ team Oval on Sunday, Arun lauded have done well in the past.” proach. “We had plans about lessons, adding to the lustre to 29 for two before rain his pace unit, especially Jas­ Arun stressed that open­ not giving the batsmen any that he brought to his stopped play. prit Bumrah and Bhuvnesh­ ing the attack with Bumrah width and also to take the batting. West Indies is fifth in the war Kumar, who shared six and Bhuvneshwar was an es­ pace off the ball and we exe­ “Take things as they table with three points af­ wickets. sential strategy. “It was al­ cuted them well. It was a con­ come,” he often told himself ter three matches, while Speaking to correspon­ ways our plan to open with scious plan to bowl short to whenever cricket seemed to South Africa is second from Warner and he wasn’t very be ebbing away from his life. bottom after four games, comfortable with it.” He fought those demons, leaving its hopes of making waged a furious duel to ar­ the semifinals hanging by a Kuldeep’s form rest the threat of cancer, and thread. The burly former India seam­ lived to “live” his father's er also backed spinner Kul­ dream of winning the World deep Yadav to return to form. Cup. Yuvraj, 37, has been an “Every bowler goes through a enigma. You tell him he has stage where they get hit. I re­ been an under­achiever, he mind him about all the good would counter, “How?” things he has done in the past Three hundred and four and build his confidence.” ODIs and not even 50 Tests. It still pains him. Perhaps the only “regret” of his life. He watched 40 Tests from the ‘Getting the dressing room. It was frus­ Tale of bashful bails trating, but also pressed him Aussies all out to push himself. K.C. Vijaya Kumar He did not mind carrying a big boost’ London drinks because it meant he Cartwheeling stumps and could step on to the field. Special Correspondent flying bails are intrinsic to Nothing could keep him London cricketing lore. away from cricket once he Nagging on the pitch and a But, strangely, in the cur­ decided, on father Yograj mild voice off it, Bhuvnesh­ rent World Cup bails have Singh's diktat, to give up his war Kumar prefers to be turned coy and seemingly first love in sports — roller low­profile. After bagging refuse to respect Newton’s skating. A ‘complete’ cricke­ three wicketsat the Oval on law of gravity when the ball ter, Yuvraj left his mark on Sunday, the seamer spoke rolls onto the stumps. the game. He was a batsman to the media. Excerpts: It happened yet again who could make a mockery That winning feeling: when Jasprit Bumrah got of the field set for him. If the The conditions favoured one to sneak past David gaps were tough to pierce he the batsmen and there was Warner’s inner edge at the would go over the top. He nothing in the wicket (for Oval on Sunday. had the ability to do that and bowlers). Winning the One of the theories is that he did so frequently, daring match and getting them the lights affixed to the bails, the fielders and the bowlers. (Australia) all out is a good have added to the weight Bailed out! The bails stay put despite the ball hitting David For Yuvraj, batting was ro­ boost for the bowlers. and if the ball makes feath­ Warner’s stumps. * AFP mancing with the game, giv­ Countering David War- ery contact with the timber, ing vent to his emotions, ner: We didn't want to give nothing stirs. tional level. The technology Kohli said. each innings his quest for him room as that’s his Bhuvneshwar Kumar re­ is great and the lights come His Australian counter­ “nirvana”. He never shied strength. We just kept it flected a bowler’s angst on and you know it’s very part Finch added: “It's a bit away from his natural game, tight and luckily he didn’t when he said: “I want them precise when you actually unfair at times. But it does which was entertainment at get away. to dislodge. That’s someth­ make something happen seem to be happening more its best. There was, however, a sil­ to repeat the mistake. dence, proximity to the Ara­ Steve Smith’s dismissal: ing the ICC should look at. I with the stumps. and more, which is unfortu­ The game has seen few ken touch to his cover­drive, bian Sea has made him a se­ Just bowled a slow ball and want the bails to be very, ve­ “But you literally have to nate, because you would fearless strikers of the ball expansive at times, but exe­ No regrets rene individual. he missed it, that's all. He ry light.” smash the stumps really hate to see something like like Yuvraj. He was good at cuted with the mastery of a As he moves away from “I love the calmness of the shuffles and that’s his Rival captains Virat Kohli hard. And these are fast that happen in a World Cup picking the length early and seasoned batsman. He was cricket, Yuvraj has no re­ sea.” He has made peace strength as well. He scores and Aaron Finch too bowlers. These are not your final or a semifinal. learnt from Virender Sehwag also guilty of throwing his grets. May be just one — not with himself, thanks to runs and also gets out in weighed in. medium­paced bowlers. I “ I don't know how much not to curtail what came to wicket away to some innocu­ being able to play more than mother Shabnam and wife that area. Getting him out “This is not something don't know what's actually lighter they can make the him naturally. Hit the ball ous balls. “My fault,” he 40 Tests. Ever since making Hazel. A new life beckons was good for us. you expect at the interna­ wrong with the stump,” bails.” and hit it hard. would admit. And pledge not Mumbai his permanent resi­ Yuvraj. A life outside cricket.

CM M ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU DELHI TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2019 SPORT 19 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Lacklustre India steamrollers Uzbekistan Yugal puts it past Parav Special Correspondent Shubham Swami 6­0, 6­0; GURUGRAM Shubham Malhotra bt Jaydeep USA books a direct ticket to the semifinals on basis of goal difference Chudasama 6­3, 6­0; Ashutosh Top seed Yugal perspired to Tiwari bt Tanmay Sharma 6­0, HSF would be Reid’s challenge, a 5­7, 6­1, 10­7 victory over 6­0; Kunj Kotak bt Sagar more so given that the team Parav Dev Garg in the se­ Choudhary 6­0, 6­1; Tanik UTHRA GANESAN would now have a three­day cond qualifying round of the Gupta bt Vashu Gupta 6­4, 7­5; BHUBANESWAR break before its next game. Col. K.K. Uppal memorial Aakash Ahlawat bt Vaibhav Kundu 6­3, 6­1. It was expected to be a cake­ $300,000 Asian men’s ten­ First round: walk and India duly made it Japan draws with USA nis tournament in Baliawas Parav bt Mo­ hammad Shariar 6­0, 6­0; Jay­ one, thrashing minnow Uz­ on Monday. Earlier, USA booked a direct deep bt Aaditya Tewari 7­5, bekistan 10­0 in its final Pool ticket to the semifinals des­ Other results: qualifying 6­4; Ashutosh bt Nitant Yadav B game of the Hockey Series pite a 2­2 draw with Japan in singles (second round): ash­ 6­0, 6­0; Tanik bt Sanisth Ju­ Finals here on Monday. Pool B by finishing on top of vardhan Goel bt Dinesh Suyal neja 3­6, 6­4, [10­6]; Aakash The host finished firmly the pool. 6­0, 6­2; Dharmil Shah bt bt Kanav Kashyap 6­1, 6­4. on top of its pool with the re­ Tied on points, USA edged sult and would now await the ahead of the Asian Games winner of the cross­over champion on goal difference game between Japan and Po­ and can now wait out the Aaryan advances land in the semifinal. cross­over game between Sports Bureau South Africa and Russia to mar bt Harmanjot Minhas 6­4, LUDHIANA 6­1. Slow start find its semifinal opponent. It was an inconsequential USA went ahead twice Aaryan Pandit got past Nae­ LR Balaji bt Gajraj Sangwan game but despite the huge through the game but Japan sar Jewoor 7­5, 6­2 in the first 6­2, 6­0; Anuj Malik bt Sukhraj gap in rankings and stature — Singh 6­3, 6­0; Kshitij Kamal managed to fight back, get­ round of the ₹100,000 AITA bt Sukhraj Singh 6­3, 6­0; wIndia is fifth while the Uz­ ting the equaliser a minute men’s ranking tennis tour­ Aaryan Pandit bt Naesar Je­ beks 43rd — the host started from time to secure a point. nament at the Harvest Ten­ woor 7­5, 6­2; Suraj Prabodh bt slowly, which meant it The other Pool B match nis Academy in Jassowal on Paranjay Kukreti 6­1, 6­2. scored only three goals in the saw South Africa, second­ Monday. Doubles (pre­quarterfinals): first 15 minutes, all through highest ranked here but The results: Singles (first Kaivalya Raval & Ayush Sharma penalty corners. But it also struggling for form, finally round): Dalwinder Singh bt bt Mayank Yadav & Harshit Ya­ wasted four of them, and a open its account with an ea­ Udit Kamboj 6­2, 6­1; Amit dav 6­1, 7­5; Dalwinder Singh & handful of open chances. sy 6­0 win against Mexico. Bzad bt Kaivalya Raval 6­2, Hardeep Singh Sandhu bt Har­ The second quarter was In control: Akashdeep Singh scored thrice as India swamped Uzbekistan to finish on top of its pool* BISWARANJAN ROUT The results: 6­1; Sawan Malik bt Siddharth shom Gupta & Ankush Mishra better, India finally started Pool A: India 10 (Akashdeep Bhalla 6­0, 6­0; Drona Walia 6­1, 6­2; Sukhraj Singh & Gur­ getting its basics in place and inside the circle to stay alert. the completely lackadaisical position. ness was just not there. Singh 3, Mandeep Singh 2, Va­ bt Pranash Babu 6­4, 6­3; Har­ noor Singh Kular bt Ankit Jais­ slammed in four more. The second half was more manner in which the Indians The Uzbeks, predictably, It would be easy to defend run Kumar 2, Nilakanta Sharma, deep Singh Sandhu bt Vamit wal & Kartik Parhar 7­5, 6­3; Arora 6­1, 6­3; Harshit Yadav Through the first 30 mi­ of the same, a sedate 3rd went about their jobs. were all about defence but the performance as depen­ Amit Rohidas, Gursahibjit Amit Bzad & Kshitij Kamal bt bt Ayyooque Khan 6­1, 6­1. Harmanjot Minhas & Praveen nutes, the ball entered the quarter and decent fourth despite that, left enough dent on the opposition but Singh) bt Uzbekistan 0. Pool B: USA 2 (Deegan Huisman Mandeep Yadav bt Gurnoor Kumar 6­3, 6­3; Sawan Malik & Indian circle once, when it one but even though it mat­ Lacking coordination gaps for India to walk the best sides stay within 2) drew with Japan 2 (Kenta Ta­ Singh Kular 6­3, 6­1; Deepin­ Gajraj Sangwan bt Shashank sped away past a bored P.R. tered not, the number of There was little co­ordina­ through and score. their structure and plan re­ naka, Suguru Hoshi); South der Singh Bains bt Ayush Shar­ Chaturvedi & Bhupinderpal Sreejesh, who took turns goals scored would not have tion, there were glaring basic The defence had little to gardless of everything. Africa 6 (Austin Smith, Keenan ma 6­2, 7­6(4); Digvijay Singh Singh 6­0, 6­2; Deepinder with Krishan Pathak under made coach Graham Reid errors in passing and trap­ do for India and the midfield Horne, Richard Pautz, Matthew Mehta bt Mayank Yadav 6­3, Singh Bains & Mandeep Yadav the bar every quarter but happy. ping and the forwards were was almost up into the Uzbek Reid’s challenge De Sousa, Nicholas Spooner, 6­3; Alok Aradhya bt Harshom bt AbhayYuvraj Singh & Sidd­ had little to do except stroll More disappointing was more often than not out of third of field but the sharp­ Getting India in that zone Nqobile Ntuli) bt Mexico 0. Gupta 6­2, 6­4; Praveen Ku­ harth Bhalla 6­0, 6­1. Srikkanth bats for bringing Jadeja in place of Jadhav Parris puts spring in England’s step The 1983 World Cup­winner says impact players and game­changers like Yuvraj are rare The player looks ready to make a big impact at the competition S. Dinakar WOMEN’S WC CHENNAI As India’s World Cup cam­ Agence France-Presse paign progresses and the NICE pitches get more worn out, India would do well to in­ England coach Phil Neville clude Ravindra Jadeja for Ke­ did not hold back in his dar Jadhav in the eleven, be­ praise for Nikita Parris after lieves former India captain the forward was named K. Srikkanth. player­of­the­match in her “I have always had an at­ side’s 2­1 win over Scotland tacking mindset. Bowlers in the Women’s World Cup win matches. The inclusion K. Srikkanth. * FILE PHOTO on Sunday. of Jadeja will give India a left­ The 25­year­old scored arm spinner who can bowl Yuvraj Singh’s retirement England’s opener from the with control. He would be from the game, Srikkanth penalty spot and tormented the spin back­up that India said, “He was a game­chan­ the Scottish defence from needs just in case one of the ger and match­winners such the right flank as the Lio­ two wrist spinners has an as him come rare. An explo­ nesses got their campaign off­day.” sive left­hander, he was a ve­ off to an ideal start. And Srikkanth, one of the ry handy left­arm spinner in “Nikita is the example of heroes in India’s 1983 World limited overs cricket. And he the work that England have Cup triumph, added, “And could be electric on the done, that Manchester City Jadeja is a capable left­hand­ field.” have done, and what Nikita In the zone: Nikita Parris scored England’s opener from the ed bat apart from being a ter­ Srikkanth, who was the herself has applied over the penalty spot. * PHOTO: MARC ATKINS/ GETTY IMAGES rific fielder.” Versatile: Srikkanth feels Ravindra Jadeja should be in the Indian XI because of his excellent chairman of selectors when last 16 months,” said Neville, all­round skills. * AFP India triumphed in the 2011 who became coach in early signing for the best team in display came when she nut­ ICC ambassador World Cup, said “Yuvraj’s 2018. the world in Lyon, scoring megged Scotland defender Srikkanth will be travelling hesion in the side and the for the semifinals. “These role for India as the competi­ contribution to that victory Parris looks ready to goals in the WSL, making an Nicola Docherty in her own to England as one of ICC’s fielding has been outstand­ three teams look very good. tion enters the climactic was huge, with the bat and make a big impact at the impact in the big games on half. ambassadors for the World ing. Only Kuldeep Yadav For the fourth place, it could phase. the ball. A gifted player, he competition after her prolif­ the big occasions,” said Ne­ It was a difficult day for Cup and attending India’s needs to gain in confidence a be a toss up between New “He’s got the pace, move­ could change the course of a ic form in the Women’s Sup­ ville. Docherty, whose handball matches against the West In­ little bit. As for being an ICC Zealand and the West ment and gets the ball to skid match so easily.” er League (WSL) for City se­ “She is someone that has gave Parris the chance to dies, England and ambassador, I am Indies.” around. Shami’s a testing Srikkanth feels Virat Kohli cured a move to Champions still got another five or 10% open the scoring before El­ Bangladesh. honoured.” bowler. If the conditions fa­ and his men have the cricket­ League winner Lyon. left in her,” he added as he len White made it 2­0. Claire He said, “This Indian team The former India captain Shami a key player vour pacemen, he could ing ability and the mental “We have seen a player called the forward from Li­ Emslie got a goal back, but looks very good. Everybody felt India, England and Aus­ Srikkanth expected Mo­ come in for Kuldeep.” strength to give India its develop from being a really, verpool “a special player”. England held on despite the is contributing, there is co­ tralia were in line to qualify hammed Shami to play a key Turning his attention to third World Cup conquest. really good WSL player, to One highlight of Parris’s rocky finish. Squash National Nadal not obsessed with Federer Slam record camp under Ryder By his own estimates, his career­long battles against knee and wrist injuries have cost him some Majors

Special Correspondent nior championship, the Agence France-Presse he admitted that after an in­ career title and 950th match GREATER NOIDA camp will also prepare the Paris jury­hit start to 2019, he felt win. The National training camp, Indian players for the World Rafael Nadal insists he is not “down mentally and physi­ “All the things that I went to prepare the Indian under­19 championship to obsessed with beating Roger cally” and questioned his through probably give me players for the 26th Asian ju­ be held in Malaysia from Ju­ Federer’s record of 20 Grand love for the sport. that extra passion when I am nior championship, started ly 30 to August 4. Slams, claiming “you can’t be playing, because I know I will at the Shiv Nadar University HCL, the global informa­ frustrated all the time be­ ‘Not enjoying it’ not be here forever. here on Monday. tion technology giant, has cause your neighbour has a “I was not enjoying it too “So I just try to be positive, taken up the responsibility bigger house than you or a much, I was worried about to be intense, and to be pas­ 32 players of supporting Indian bigger TV or better garden.” my health. I was down men­ sionate about what I am The camp, hosted by HCL, squash, and has in fact Nadal swept to an historic tally and physically after In­ doing.” featuring 32 players, has come up with the HCL 12th Roland Garros title with dian Wells,” said Nadal. Chris Ryder of England as Squash Podium Program, in a 6­3, 5­7, 6­1, 6­1 victory over “I was too negative. After Next up for Nadal is his lat­ the coach, to impart high its attempt to improve the Austria’s Dominic Thiem on Madrid and Barcelona, I was est assault on Wimbledon, performance training, with standard of the players and Sunday. thinking about what I needed where he has twice been suitable scientific support. the coaching system in the That took him to 18 ma­ to do. I could stop for a while champion, in 2008 and 2010. Apart from the Asian ju­ country. jors, just two behind Federer. and recover or change my at­ However, the All England At 33, Nadal is the best titude and recover.” Club has also been the site of part of five years younger After a loss in the Austra­ some spectacular lows. than the Swiss veteran but lian Open final to Novak Djo­ He lost four years in suc­ with a career blighted by in­ kovic, where he won just Ankita loses final cession to players outside the juries, he refuses to target eight games, a second round top 100 — Lukas Rosol, Steve the all­time record. exit in Acapulco was fol­ Darcis, Nick Kyrgios and Dus­ qualifying round “That’s not the way that I lowed by a withdrawal from A King’s reception: Rafael Nadal is congratulated by the ball boys and girls following his tin Brown —from 2012­2015. see the life,” said the Spa­ the semifinals in Indian French Open final win * CLIVE BRUNSKILL/GETTY IMAGES Sports Bureau ger in France, Sumit Nagal niard. “It’s a motivation, yes, Wells, when a knee injury In 2017, he was knocked NOTTINGHAM beat Hugo Nys of Montene­ but it’s not my obsession. meant that an eagerly­await­ and surgery on my foot, so after another, and then so­ play the next couple of out in the last 16 by Gilles Ellen Perez of Australia gro 6­4, 6­2 in the first “It’s not what makes me ed clash with Federer was many issues in the last 18 metimes you are groggy,” he weeks. Muller, 15­13 in the final set. stopped Ankita Raina 6­1, round. get up every morning or go shelved. months that have made the explained. “Thinking a lot, finally I Last year, he lost a marath­ 3­6, 6­3 in the second and fi­ The results: and train and play.” His return in the clay court last few weeks very special.” “In Barcelona, I was able think I was able to change on semifinal to Novak Djo­ nal qualifying round of the $250,000 WTA, Nottingham: Nadal’s caution is season saw semifinals losses Nadal revealed that in Bar­ to stay alone for a couple of and was able to fight back for kovic by dropping the last set $250,000 WTA tennis tour­ Qualifying singles (second well­founded. in Monte Carlo, Barcelona celona, he had even locked hours in the room and think every small improvement.” 10­8. “I played a great event nament on grass in and final round): Ellen Perez By his own estimates, his and Madrid before a much himself away, questioning about what’s going on, what I On Sunday, Nadal took his last year. I have been able to (Aus) bt Ankita Raina 6­1, 3­6, Nottingham. career­long battles against needed title triumph in where his season was need to do. Roland Garros record to an be very close to win another 6­3. Ankita had earlier beaten First round: Ankita bt Zhang knee and wrist injuries have Rome. heading. “One possibility was to astonishing 93 wins and just title there. As everybody Zhang Kai­Lin of China, as Kai­Lin (Chn) 6­3 (retd). cost him “around 15 or even “In 2018, I played nine “Mentally, I lost a little bit stop for a while and recover two losses having previously knows, I love to play on the latter retired after losing € 92,040 Challenger, Lyon: more Grand Slams.” events and finished just se­ of energy, because I had too my body. And the other was won the title in 2005­2008, grass,” said Nadal who added the first set. First round: Sumit Nagal bt In the aftermath of his lat­ ven of them,” Nadal added. many issues in a row. It is change drastically my atti­ 2010­2014, 2017 and 2018. he will not play a warm­up In the €92,040 Challen­ Hugo Nys (Mne) 6­4, 6­2. est Roland Garros triumph, “I had issues with my knee tough when you receive one tude and my mentality to It also gave him an 82nd event before Wimbledon. CM M ND-NDE YK