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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: India'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 captain 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 Chennai. 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 Tamil Nadu 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.

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