THE HIMALAYAN MAIL JAMMU Q MONDAY Q JULY 13, 2020 7 England should drop Joe Denly, Sprinter Hima takes to cricket to stay fit NEW DELHI, JULY an injury during the race at 12: Star sprinter Hima Das the Asian Games and she feels former captain Vaughan is not losing her sleep over pulled out midway into the qualifying for the Olympics, individual 400m race in the On the other hand, 22- having included cycling and Asian Championships in year-old Crawley scored his a bit of cricket in her Doha in April last year. She second half-century in five "medium-intensity" train- was later dropped from the Tests with a superb 76-run ing regime while taking care team for the World Cham- knock in the second innings to avoid the sweltering pionships. at the Ageas Bowl on Satur- summer heat. After treatment on her in- day. “It’s not even a conver- "There are no immediate jured back, Hima won six sation. You could argue that competitions and so we are low-grade races in Poland Denly was very lucky to neither doing low level and Czech Republic in July have played 15 Test training nor intense. We are and August last year. But matches. There are a lot of just doing medium inten- she ran just one 400m race players who have played sity training. Let us see the whole of last year and only eight Tests and got when we pick up our train- There is a year still to go. However, Hima clarified four out of those five wins hundreds,” said Vaughan, ing," Hima said from NIS "Let us first pray that this that the decision rests with came in 200m. who led England in 51 of his Patiala. pandemic ends quickly. her coaches and the Athlet- The Athletics Federation 82 Tests. “He has missed his "It is very hot here and so Then athletics season be- ics Federation of India. "I of India has tentatively chance and they have to we do only morning train- gins (on December 1) and am recovering (from the in- fixed September 12 to start stick with Crawley. I’m ing. In the evening we have there is a lot of time next jury). I will do whatever is the domestic season, but an sorry for Denly - he’s just spare time and I do cycling year to qualify for the decided by my coach and upsurge in COVID cases in not good enough,” he (in the velodrome) and even Olympics," she said, exactly the AFI. They will decide the country leaves a cloud of added. do bowling with cricket two years after she won the (which one I will run)." uncertainty over it. Asked to speculate on the balls. gold in the World Junior Asked if she has fully re- Asked if starting the do- SOUTHAMPTON, missed the series-opener to Denly, who plays at No. 3, player who would make way "I try to enjoy life as much Championships in Finland. covered from the injury, she mestic season in September JULY 12: Former England be with his wife for the de- struggled with the bat in the for Root at the Old Trafford, as I can. My motto is 'be The 20-year-old Hima, said, "It is in the process but is feasible, Hima said, "We captain Michael Vaughan livery of their second child. opener, scoring 18 and 29 in Crawley said it is a “tough positive and be happy'," known as 'Dhing Express', I am fit to undergo outdoor are doing training keeping feels the out-of-form Joe “England have a decision the first and second innings, scenario”. added the reigning junior is the first Indian woman to training and we have been in mind the tentative sched- Denly should be the one to make on Denly. Crawley respectively. The 34-year- “That’s not my place to world champion in 400m. win a gold in a world cham- doing that for the last 30 to ule. But, on the other hand, making way for skipper Joe surely has to stay in the old has failed to breach the say. My job is to score runs, The pandemic has pionships and holds the na- 40 days." COVID-19 cases are in- Root in the second Test side,” Vaughan told ‘BBC 40-run mark in eight in- and that is what I will try to pushed back the Tokyo tional record (50.79 sec- She won a silver in the in- creasing, even in Patiala, against the West Indies in- Sport’. nings. Denly, who made his continue to do as long as I Olympics by a year and the onds) in 400m. dividual 400m race at the and a lot of athletes will stead of young Zak Crawley. “Joe Denly played the way debut last year, averages get a chance,” Crawley said. international season stands A lower back injury has 2018 Asian Games and was have to come (for the na- In the second Test, sched- he has played in all of his 15 29.53 in 15 Tests and has “It is for the powers that suspended till November been troubling her for some a part of the gold-winning tional meet). uled to begin on Thursday Tests. It’s been the same failed to capitalise on good be to decide. Joe has done 30. time, leading to specula- quartets in the women's "Ultimately, the AFI will in Manchester, either Denly story. He did the hard yards starts. His highest score of extremely well over the past "I am not worried about it tions that she may not run 4x400m relay and mixed take a decision on the issue, or Crawley is expected to be then make a mistake,” 94 came against Australia in year and it’s a tough sce- (Olympics qualification), it 400m in future and switch 4x400m relay events. taking into account the cir- replaced by Root, who Vaughan added. 2019. nario,” he added. will only create tension. to 200m. Hima, however, suffered cumstances." Barcelona grind out narrow win; Army first priority, shooting 2nd, says Jitu Rai NEW DELHI, JULY second. But I do my dry 12: Not content with bring- practice and carry my pistol Ronaldo double saves Juve ing home sporting laurels, wherever I go." BARCELONA, JULY awarded for handballs and one of India's most accom- Though he has not been 12: Lionel Messi notched a the second in the last plished shooters Jitu Rai able to taste success in 20th assist of the season to minute, as Serie A leader has taken to serving the na- shooting for a while, Rai is help a lacklustre Barcelona Juventus twice hit back to tion as a newly-promoted continuing to practice hard secure a 1-0 win away to draw 2-2 with Atalanta to Subedar Major in the In- and has his eyes trained on a Real Valladolid on Satur- move closer to a ninth suc- dian Army in Manipur. comeback. day, maintaining the pres- cessive Serie A title on Sat- The sincere man that he "I have not done that sure on La Liga leaders urday. is, as acknowledged by his badly and I am still in na- Real Madrid. The Portuguese forward coaches, the 33-year-old tional ranking in air pistol. Chilean midfielder Ar- took his league tally to 28 brushed up his knowledge I am trying my best and I turo Vidal struck the only goals this season as Juven- on one of India's most sensi- am confident that I will be goal of the game in the 15th tus went eight points clear tive regions before taking able to do well again," said minute, firing into the net of second-placed Lazio off for the northeast. the multiple World Cup Major does, they lead teams them again when I am al- off the post after being with six matches to play. It's been a month since gold-winner. at the front where they play lowed to take leave." played in by Messi, who Atalanta are a further point Rai joined his regiment -- 11 "I will train hard for a a critical role, and I am al- "My work here is differ- now has 20 assists in the back in third after being de- Gorkha Rifles -- in a state comeback into the national ways ready to serve Indian ent," Rai, who has to wear league to go with his 22 nied a tenth successive that has, in the past, en- team and also aim for the are 14th on 39, seven above shot, moments after Kike Army, serve my country," protective vests during goals. league win. dured insurgency. Olympics," Rai, who the relegation zone. Perez had missed the target said the 2016 Khel Ratna mock drills, said. Yet Barca failed to build Both handballs were "You must have read it reached the final of the Rio "It was a very difficult from inside the area as the awardee, who was hon- The winner of multiple on their early advantage clearly accidental but, un- (insurgency in the north- Games in 2016, added. game against a team who home side made a lively oured with the Padma Shri medals at top international and were forced to grind der the current rules, ref- east), I read about it and I Rai never forgets to thank know how to play well and start after the break. this year. events, including World out the victory in the sec- eree Piero Giacomelli had know we have to be on his seniors in the Indian did just that today.