THE HIMALAYAN MAIL JAMMU Q WEDNESDAY Q MAY 27, 2020 7

India footballer Indumathi Hockey players demand Bharat dons COVID-19 role Ratna for Balbir Singh tances to our stations as NEW DELHI, MAY were greats in their own well. It has been a difficult 26: 's hockey stal- times. I feel Balbir Singh time. But I don't have any warts feel that the late Bal- didn't get due honour," complaints." bir Singh Sr did not get the said Dhyan Chand's son Despite such difficulties, recognition he merited in Ashok Kumar, who played however, the 2019 SAFF his lifetime and the three- a key role in India's 1975 Women's Championship time Olympic gold-win- World Cup win. joint-top scorer feels a ning centre-forward "He was only bestowed sense of honour, serving should be bestowed with a with a Padma Shri, but he her country whichever way posthumous national ho- should at least have been she can. nour to make up for it. give Padma Vibhusan," he "Of course, it is an ab- Indian hockey wit- added. solute honour to play for In- nessed an end of an era, on Another former India dia. There are some mo- Monday, when Singh died hockey Dilip ments in the India jersey, at a hospital in Mohali at Tirkey also urged the gov- like when we qualified for the age of 96 after battling ernment to consider Singh the Olympic Qualifiers multiple health issues for so if Dhyan Chand is the spiring a generation of for at least the Padma Vib- Round 2, or when we won over two weeks. father of Indian hockey, sportspersons and will husan posthumously for the SAFF Championship While Major Dhyan Balbir is the uncle," cap- continue to do so," he his stellar achievements in last year…I will never forget Chand, considered the fa- tain of the 1975 World added. the field of sports. NEW DELHI, MAY . time for me personally. I these moments," she said. ther of Indian hockey, Cup-winning team Ajit Pal Three Olympic gold "It is very sad that Balbir 26: The nationwide lock- "It has been a difficult sit- have barely had the time to "But I also take a lot of showed his mastery with Singh said. medals (1948, 1952, and Singh ji is no more with us down has transformed uation for the entire coun- do anything else. In difficult pride in serving the country the hockey stick in a "We somehow gave due 1956) as a player and cap- but as a nation we can still many otherwise buzzing try. But taking the neces- times like these, you gener- in my police uniform, at a colonised India, the post- respect to Dhyan Chand tain, a world cup gold as give him his due recogni- streets across the country sary precautions is ally want to spend some time when the nation needs independence era be- by naming the National manager and to-this-date tion. People like Dhyan into tranquil expanses. It is paramount to the safety of time with your family, but I us the most. I will keep longed to Singh. Stadium in his name be- the highest individual Chand, Balbir Singh are on a few of such streets one and all," said Indu- have not had much oppor- serving as long as my nation Dhyan Chand was be- sides celebrating his birth- scorer in an Olympic final born once and it is our filled with ghastly echoes mathi. "We try to ensure tunities to do that," Indu- needs me to serve," Indu in- stowed with many hon- day as National Sports (1952, Helsinki) -- Singh is duty not to neglect their that the quaint figure of a that everybody is observing mathi informed. "It is a call formed with a quiver in her ours in his life, but a Day or say naming Dhyan widely considered the best achievements," Tirkey female police officer goes the guidelines and that no- for the nation. I have to play voice. Padma Shri, India's fourth Chand award after him centre-forward of all time said. about her duty with her col- body who does not need to for the nation every day The 25-year-old, who highest civilian award in but Balbir Singh never got and to many experts and "People like Dhyan leagues, making sure that be outside." during COVID-19 pan- also won the Hero IWL title 1957, was all that Singh the recognition he de- fans "the man who took Chand and Balbir Singh movement is restricted Being a footballer at the demic, and I had to respond with Sethu FC last season got in his lifetime. served. What he got was a forward the original wiz- are our national treasure. amongst the people in or- highest level in the country, fast." hopes that her toil in the po- "Both Dada Dhyan Padma Shri but I feel both ard's legacy". The government still can der to flatten the proverbial Indu, as she is fondly called The creative midfielder lice uniform during this Chand and Balbir Singh deserve to be honoured "Balbir Singh was a true pull back and study their curve. by her teammates in the whose duties keep changing emergency will help people were stalwarts of Indian with Bharat Ratna. Why inspiration for all of us. He achievements and records Wearing the traditional dressing room, is no on a day-to-day basis, said understand the importance sports. Both have achieved not? They are our national and Dada Dhayan Chand and honour them accord- khaki uniform of the Tamil stranger to a disciplined that the lockdown has been of taking the necessary pre- equally in terms of records heroes who have been in- had no comparison, both ingly," he added. Nadu Police -- a surgical and regimental life. How- especially difficult for her cautions in order to prevent mask stretched over her ever, the lockdown has fellow police officers. contracting the Coron- face, and a pair of gloves meant that she has had to "Our duty schedules keep avirus. "It is for the people pulled over her hands for follow a rigorous routine, changing. Sometimes we of this country that my col- West Indies cricketers resume protection, India women's where she has to report for are on night duty as well, leagues and myself are team midfielder Indumathi duty at seven in the morn- sometimes vehicle-check, working day and night. We Kathiresan is barely recog- ing, and has to keep pa- and so on," the hope that you too, in turn, training amid COVID-19 crisis nisable to those stopped by trolling the streets till al- Police Sub-Inspector would help us out by follow- her for checking on the most midnight every day. stated. "Some of us like my- ing the safety precautions NEW DELHI, MAY the tour will happen at streets of Anna Nagar, "It has been a demanding self, have to travel long dis- and keeping yourself safe." 26: Gearing up for a pro- some point this summer," posed tour of England in said Johnny Grave, CEO of July, some members of the CWI. West Indies Test team, led "Our next Board of Direc- 'Unrealistic' to resume cricket in by skipper Jason Holder, tors Teleconference is on have returned to training in May 28 and if the tour has small groups following a to take place as currently bio-secure environment: Dravid coronavirus-forced hiatus. planned, by the start of NEW DELHI, MAY 26: Former have better medication. Away from nets for a long June, we would need to India captain Rahul Dravid feels talk of "In case of the bio-bubble, you do all period due to the COVID-19 have their approval and resuming cricket secure from the coro- the testing, the quarantine and then on lockdown, the players in- support by then in order to navirus outbreak is "unrealistic", reject- day two of the Test match, what if one cluding Kraigg Brathwaite, get the charter flight logis- Shai Hope, Kemar Roach, tics in place and select the ing a thumbs down to the concept pri- player tests positive? What happens doors," the country's cricket prepare for defending the Shane Dowrich, Shamarh players. marily floated by the England and then? The rules, as they stand now, will board said in a press re- Wisden Trophy," said Brooks and Raymon Reifer "We are in the final stages Wales Cricket Board. see the Public Health Department lease. Johnny Grave, CEO of trained at the Kensington of discussions with the ECB The ECB had recently announced coming in and putting everyone in The players trained un- Cricket West Indies. Oval behind closed doors and we expect to hear from that it would have "bio-secure venues" quarantine." der the watchful eyes of CWI is holding regular on Monday. them shortly once their bio- to host Pakistan and the West Indies That will mean an abrupt end to pro- West Indies assistant coach discussions with the Eng- "The initiative to get back secure plans have UK Gov- later this summer. Dravid is not con- ceedings in the Test match. Roddy Estwick, as well as land and Wales Cricket everyone to do it with the kind of calen- to training has been given ernment and ECB Board vinced. "It is a bit unrealistic to have "...that ends all the expenses that other coaches from the Bar- Board (ECB) regarding the dar that we have, with the travelling local Government ap- support." England players, things at the level, the ECB is talking were made to get everyone there and bados Cricket Association. tour comprising three Tests about. Obviously, the ECB is very keen that you do on tours and the number of create that environment. proval, with strict protocols including Stuart Broad, Ben "It's great news that the and remains "increasingly to conduct these series because they people involved," he added. "We're going to have to work with the of social distancing, observ- Stokes, Chris Woakes and players are now able to be- confident" about it going have had no other cricket...," Dravid Not just the ECB, even South Africa Health Department and Government ing the guidelines as set out James Anderson too have gin their cricket training, ahead as planned. said during a webinar conducted in has suggested that the scheduled tour authorities to find out a way in which by the authorities and resumed training, becom- having been restricted to "Based on the informa- support of YUVA, a non-profit organisa- by India can be tried out in a bio-secure even if a player tests positive, the whole CWI's Medical Advisory ing the first set of cricketers fitness and conditioning tion we have at the mo- tion. "Even if they are potentially able environment. tournament isn't cancelled," Dravid, Committee and was con- to do so following the coron- work at home for the past ment, everyone is getting to create a bubble and manage it in that "All of us are hoping that things will who heads the National Cricket Acad- ducted behind closed avirus break. few weeks, as we begin to increasingly confident that way, I think it will be impossible for evolve with time and get better once we emy, added. IPL 2020 finale week: Top five finals in 's history NEW DELHI, MAY 26: Sport , who batted with a However, RCB collapsed spectacu- boundaries and a solitary six. KKR events stopped for the coronavirus bloodied knee, that kept CSK in the larly after the loss of its openers and emerged as the champions of IPL in pandemic. The 13th edition of the game. But his heroics went in vain as a fell 8 runs short off the target. Ben 2012 for the first time in IPL history. world’s largest cricket extravaganza, lethal bowling attack consisting Cutting’s all-round performance The inaugural seasons of the IPL in the Indian Premier League (IPL), was Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance and La- which included an unbeaten 39 off 15 2008 changed the face of Indian indefinitely postponed as a result. sith Malinga’s experience helped MI and 2/35 in his 4 overs, helped him cricket. MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super The tournament was to begin from win a thrilling final and lifted its 4th win the Man of the Match award. Kings and -led Ra- March 29 but before that the Indian IPL trophy in the last 7 years. Opting to bat first playing in its 4th jasthan Royals sauntered into the DY government enforced a countrywide A relatively new team in the IPL, final, CSK were gunning for 3rd con- Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and lockdown to contain the coronavirus. Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) had a secutive victory in IPL finals. Open- treated fans to an experience that set As we approach May 24, the difficult first year in IPL 2016 but in ers Mike Hussey and the tone of T20 cricket in future. planned grand finale day of IPL 2020, 2017 it had out performed rest of the gave the Yellow Army a dream start Warne put the Men in Yellow to bat Star Sports will air all the 12 finales teams and made it to the finals under as they notched up 87 for the opening first and it was Raina who came to played so far from. the leadership of Steve Smith. before Shakib Al Hasan saw spoil RR’s party as he went on to score The pendulum swung wildly for Mumbai Indians won the toss and the back of Vijay, who departed for a quick-fire 43 off 30 balls before cap- both, (CSK) and chose to bat, but the RPS bowlers, 42. ‘China Thala’ and tain MSD walked out to complete for- Mumbai Indians (MI). A game which Jaydev Unadkat and Adam Zampa, Hussey then took the KKR bowling malities with his finishing touches to never gave away the plot and a match gave no room to the batsmen to im- attack to the cleaners dispatching the the innings. Dhoni clobbered 29 off which no cricket fan will ever forget. provise. Krunal Pandya played an in- ball to all parts of the ground. Raina 17 as CSK finished at 163/5 in 20 An experienced CSK side led by MS spiring innings as his 47 off 38 balls went on to score a belligerent 73 off overs. Dhoni and a fearless MI side led by ensured his team reached a re- just 38 balls that took CSK to a com- Yusuf Pathan was the star for RR as Rohit Sharma faced each other for a spectable total of 129/8 in 20 overs. fortable score of 190/3 in 20 overs. he picked up 3 including the record 4th time in the finals. With a low total to chase, RPS were Playing in its first final, KKR had to one of opener Parthiv Patel. Pathan MI opted to bat but its top order strong favourites to emerge as the go all out to ensure the victory. After also out played the CSK bowlers as he couldn’t contribute much until new champions of IPL but the MI an early loss of captain Gautam scored a powerful 56 off just 39 balls – Caribbean power house Keiron Pol- bowlers held their ground and kept Playing its third IPL final on the Singh’s 38 and Ben Cutting’s thun- Gambhir, opener Manvinder Bisla an innings decorated with 4 massive lard came out to bat and smashed a bowling at good lengths. With 11 runs back of a great season, RCB were clear derous 39 off 15, the Orange Army along with South African legend sixes and 3 fours. With 8 needed in quick-fire 41 off just 25 balls that took to defend in the last over, Mitchell favourites to win its first crown in were helped to 208/7 in 20 overs. Jacques Kallis mustered 136 runs to- the last over, Dhoni handed the ball his side to 149/8 in 20 overs. Johnson bowled one of the best overs 2016. SRH, playing its first final, also RCB started off brilliantly during the gether that gave KKR a shot at the title. to Lakshmipathy Balaji, but Warne Chasing 150, CSK began well with of his life. He dismissed the danger- had a great season with captain David chase with both openers Chris Gayle Kallis played till the second last over and , batting at the other leading the charge. man, Steve Smith as RPS fell short of 1 Warner roaring in top form. and captain Virat Kohli stitching a and ensured his team were in a win- end, handled the pressure well. RR However, MI bowlers never gave up run. MI cruised to its third IPL title. SRH batted first and with Warner’s 100-run partnership for the opening ning position before falling to Ben managed to scrape through in the and kept bowling a good line and Watch IPL 2017 final, MI vs RPS great start, coupled with Yuvraj wicket. Hilfenhaus for a match-winning 69 end, winning the match by 3 wickets – length giving no room to the batsmen. highlights off 49 – his innings studded with 7 the first ever champions of IPL.