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DELHI THE HINDU 20 SPORT MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE COVID-19 IMPACT Axelsen takes the honours Sharath’s long wait ends A bit over­exaggerated, says Lockie Ferguson AUCKLAND Tai Tzu Ying wins her third crown Clinches Oman Open title; Harmeet loses in semifinal The way things played out after he reported a sore OMAN OPEN TT throat, leading to COVID­19 tests and isolation in his Press Trust of India hotel room, were a “bit Muscat over­exaggerated”, feels New A. Sharath Kamal ended his Zealand pacer Lockie decade­long wait for a title, Ferguson. “No. Probably a bit producing a sensational per­ over­exaggerated as to how I (Simsek, physio) and the formance to win the ITTF was. I just sort of had very, support staff. Completely very mild cold symptoms and understandable. So yeah, Challenger Plus Oman Open the procedures were as they kinda had a day in the hotel here on Sunday. Despite be­ were and followed by Tommy room by myself.” PTI ing a game down, the 37­ year­old Indian recovered to outclass top­seeded Marcos which he scored four goals in Freitas of Portugal 6­11, 11­8, the Champions League last 12­10, 11­9, 3­11, 17­15 in the week to a hospital in summit clash. Bergamo, at the centre of It was in 2010 that Sha­ Italy’s coronavirus drama. rath had bagged his last title, “We too are by your side, our at the Egypt Open. angels, to win the most important match of all,” said In the semifinals, Sharath Ilicic, who gifted the ball to had pulled off a stunning the Papa Giovanni XXIII come­from­behind victory Four­goal Ilicic donates Hospital in the city. Coach against Russia’s Kirill Skach­ ball to hospital Gian Piero Gasperini has The coveted trophy: finally got his hands on the prestigious All England kov.

ROME appealed for funds for the crown on Sunday. * REUTERS The fourth seed rallied Atalanta forward Josip Ilicic hospital to purchase medical from two games down to re­ Special Sunday: Sharath Kamal, who won a title after 10 has donated the ball with equipment. AFP champion, beat Chinese title at the prestigious tour­ gister a 11­13, 11­13, 13­11, 11­9, years, with Marcos Freitas, his opponent in the final. * ITTF ALL ENGLAND Taipei’s top seed Chou nament. 13­11, 8­11, 11­7 win in a thrill­ Tien­Chen 21­13, 21­14 in a ing seven­set semi­final that with my wife to participate sive and my shots were Valencia confirms Press Trust of India Other results (finals): in the Oman Open,” revealed sharper.” five positive tests BIRMINGHAM lopsided final, lasting 46 Women’s doubles: Yuki Fu­ lasted one hour and eight minutes, to add another kushima & (Jpn) minutes. Sharath after the triumph. Sharath is expected to MADRID Viktor Axelsen of Den­ feather to his cap. bt & Li Yin Hui (Chn) 21­ Freitas had made it to the gain 800 points and his Valencia confirmed on Sunday mark claimed his maiden “It feels great to win a title 13, 21­15. final with a 5­11, 11­9, 6­11, 6­ world rankings might be 31 five of the club’s players and men’s singles title at the All The 26­year­old is the even if it is a Challenger Plus staff have tested positive, first Dane to win the pres­ Men’s doubles: 11, 11­8, 13­11, 11­3 victory over event after a long time. Win­ or 32 next month. England Championship, & Yuta Watanabe (Jpn) bt Mar­ including defender Ezequiel tigious tournament since India’s Harmeet Desai. ning a tournament has be­ The results: while two­time former cus Fernaldi Gideon & Kevin Garay, who became the first Peter Gade in 1999. The latter dominated the come tough nowadays. This Final: A. Sharath Kamal bt Mar­ winner Tai Tzu Ying of Chi­ Sanjaya Sukamuljo 21­18, 12­21, cos Freitas (Por) 6­11, 11­8, 12­ player in La Liga to confirm a match in the initial stages be­ is a good win before the nese Taipei regained the Former World No. 1 Tai 21­19. 10, 11­9, 3­11, 17­15. positive test earlier on Sunday. fore the World No. 26 fought Olympic qualifiers.” women’s singles crown Tzu Ying, playing in her Mixed doubles: Semifinals: Sharath bt Kirill Valencia said all those affected his way back. here on Sunday. fourth straight All England & (Ina) About the final, he said: Skachkov (Rus) 11­13, 11­13, 13­ were “now at home, in good final, overcame top­seed­ bt & Our Special Correspon- “it was one of my best 11, 11­9, 13­11, 8­11, 11­7; Freitas health and obeying self­ The second­seeded Ax­ ed Chinese Chen Yu Fei 21­ (Tha) dent adds from Chennai: games. My shots were land­ bt Harmeet Desai 5­11, 11­9, 6­ isolation measures.” AFP elsen, a former World 19, 21­15 to claim her third 21­15, 17­21, 21­8. “I literally had to fight ing right. I was more aggres­ 11, 6­11, 11­8, 13­11, 11­3.

coronavirus, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in a statement has said all its 45 years ago: A look back at Indian hockey’s only World Cup triumph Lausanne­based staff will Press Trust of India work from home starting wanted to win it for our the final and the Indian com­ painted in bright red on the Monday, until further notice, New Delhi country,” recalls Aslam. munity in Malaysia was entrance to the team dormi­ with the exception of some More than four decades ago, “We were riding high on equally excited. tory during the training essential functions. It also the Indian hockey team lifted confidence after the semifi­ “Wherever we went, peo­ IOC staff to work from been decided to close the camp. The boys played with its only World Cup crown on nal win. Pakistan was the ple gathered to have a home starting Monday Olympic museum from unity, for each other and this day — a glorious chapter former champion and a very glimpse. Autographs and LAUSANNE Monday, for two weeks. After there was no place for show­ strong team but they could photographs were taken. Pe­ In order to pro­actively limit this time, the situation will be written after the heart­break­ manship. It was the com­ not match our confidence in ople went crazy and we were the risk of spreading the reassessed. IANS ing loss two years earlier in bined efforts that made win­ 1973. the final,” he added. treated like heroes in Malay­ ning for India possible.” For Ashok Kumar, there sia and India.” After enduring a topsy­ Fortyfive years have Paul Pogba makes was added pressure as he Balbir Singh Sr. also went turvy campaign, the Ajit Pal passed since then and India fund­raising pledge was Dhyan Chand’s son. down memory lane. Singh­led Indian team script­ is yet to win another World LONDON “The historic World Cup ed history with a thrilling 2­1 “Definitely pressure was Cup. Manchester United star Paul win over Pakistan on the there. More because of my triumph almost didn’t hap­ Pogba has promised to Ashok Kumar lamented night of March 15 at the Mer­ Celebration time: Team captain Ajit Pal Singh proudly holds family background. When pen. The team entry for the financially support the fight to that despite such a historic deka Football Stadium in the trophy after the final. * THE HINDU ARCHIVES we reached Malaysia and I tournament was almost stop the spread of the . saw the World Cup trophy withdrawn before it started. feat, the winning team did coronavirus. He has organised not get its due. The golden voice of Hindi we did not want to leave any the equaliser to take the for the first time in the hotel So many people worked so a fundraising page on stone unturned in 1975,” said match into extra time. lobby, I made a promise to hard to make it possible,” he “Forget about celebra­ Facebook and the France commentator Jasdev Singh, Ashok Kumar, the son of le­ myself that I will make my said. tions, nobody called us to midfielder will double the describing the winning mo­ “I can never forget that gendary Dhyan Chand, who father proud,” he said. congratulate on this day. I amount raised if the target of ments of that iconic final, goal in my life. We had left still reverberates in the scored the winning goal Chandigarh with only one Team motto think not many remember £27,000 is reached. The against Pakistan in the final. appeal had raised over £2,000 hearts and minds of millions goal: to win the World Cup. National holiday “I had created a unique team the day. After all we are a within hours of being of Indians. “We had a practice camp Every member of the team A National holiday was de­ motto — ‘Regaining world su­ cricket crazy country. Who launched. AFP Ashok Kumar and Aslam in Chandigarh prior to the had the same goal and we clared in India on the day of premacy is our goal.’ It was remembers hockey heroes?” Sher Khan, the stars of the tournament. Huge crowd semifinal and final, remem­ used to gather to watch us. Miami make its home debut, bered those moments on the Giani Zail Singh was the chief which was to have ended 45th anniversary of that his­ minister then and he along Saturday, has been extended. toric win. with sports minister Umrao But that didn’t stop him from Singh visited us twice a visiting the empty stadium on Heartbreak week. Our morale was high Saturday. His club was to have “We were very close to win­ and we were determined to hosted the LA Galaxy, where win.” he played between 2007 and ning the trophy in 1973 but Beckham visits empty 2012, in its first match at its lost to the hosts despite lead­ India was trailing host Ma­ stadium as MLS club’s temporary home in Fort ing by two goals at one time. laysia in the semifinal when home debut delayed Lauderdale, Florida. “Special I missed a goal in extra time team manager Balbir Singh MIAMI day showing the family what and we missed a penalty Sr. pushed Aslam into the David Beckham’s six­year wait we’ve built,” Beckham posted stroke in sudden death. It battlefield. The move earned Champion squad: The members of the 1975 hockey World Cup­winning team at a felicitation function in New Delhi in May 2014. to watch his MLS club Inter on Instagram. AFP was heartbreaking for us. So rich dividends as he scored * FILE PHOTO: S. SUBRAMANIUM

Anand to Dhoni leaves CSK Manjrekar reacts to IOC to hold crisis talks commentate training base on Tuesday on Candidates commentary panel snub Agence France-Presse have the opportunity to ask IPL LAUSANNE Sports Reporter Says it’s the prerogative of the BCCI to employ him or not questions” added a source Chennai Press Trust of India With less than five months close to one international GM Viswanathan Anand Chennai CRICKET was washed out. to go before the Tokyo sports federation for the first time will don M.S. Dhoni on Sunday left Manjrekar, a TV presen­ Olympics, the International While many international the hat of a the Chennai Super Kings Amol Karhadkar ter and commentator for Olympic Committee presi­ sporting events have been commentator for training camp here follow­ MUMBAI more than two decades, dent Thomas Bach plans postponed or cancelled, Ja­ chess.com during the had been embroiled in emergency talks with mem­ panese Prime Minister Shin­ ing the postponement of the Sanjay Manjrekar, the FIDE Candidates quite a few controversies. ber organisations, sources zo Abe promised on Friday 13th edition of IPL till April former Test cricketer­ Tournament. The five­ India all­rounder Ravindra close to the IOC said on Sun­ that Tokyo would host the 15 in the wake of COVID­19 turned­commentator, has time World champion Jadeja blasted Manjrekar day. Olympic Games as planned pandemic. reacted to his omission will be part of the after being referred to as a The IOC plans a confe­ in July and August, despite Dhoni, who had arrived from the Board of Control commentary team “bits and pieces cricketer” rence call on Tuesday to questions raised by the pan­ in Chennai for CSK’s prepa­ for Cricket in India’s alongside other GMs and by the latter on air during “keep the international fed­ demic. ratory camp early this (BCCI’s) commentary pa­ will give his views last year’s World Cup. erations informed of the sit­ Bach said on Thursday month, left the base in front nel. regularly during the of his cheering fans. M.S. Dhoni. Manjrekar retracted his uation, as well as the Nation­ that his organisation would tournament from his * TWITTER.COM/CHENNAIIPL “I have always consi­ statement, but continued al Olympic Committees and follow the recommenda­ “It has become your dered commentary as a home here. Anand failed Sanjay Manjrekar. to be in the news for the athletes,” one source close tions of the World Health home, sir!’ Keep whistling,” cuss the various options af­ great privilege, but never * wrong reasons. to the IOC told AFP. Organisation regarding a to qualify for the Chennai Super Kings wrote EMMANUAL YOGINI ter government­imposed an entitlement. It is up to Last November, during The IOC “will take stock possible postponement. Candidates tournament, on its twitter handle along travel restrictions and refu­ my employers whether the pink­ball Test against of the actions taken” to res­ The issue of qualifying which will be held in with a short video. Yekaterinburg, Russia, sal of three states to host any they choose to have me or sons for his exclusion. Bangladesh, Manjrekar pond to the coronavirus cri­ will be a focus of Tuesday’s matches forced the post­ not & I will always respect made a derogatory remark sis “and the federations will telephone meeting. from March 17 to April 4 Interacts with fans to find a contender to ponement of the cash­rich that. No comment at fellow commentator The video showed fans lin­ face Magnus Carlsen. T20 tournament. “Maybe BCCI has not While BCCI president Sou­ Harsha Bhogle. ing up to catch a glimpse of The 38­year­old Dhoni been happy with my per­ rav Ganguly had, after the Manjrekar had stressed Dhoni as he signed auto­ hasn’t played any cricket formance of late. I accept IPL Governing Council on “10­15 years of First graphs and interacted with since featuring in India’s that as a professional,” meet on Saturday, declined Class cricket” experience the fans. semifinal loss to New Zea­ Manjrekar wrote on his to react to Manjrekar’s to express views on the vis­ The BCCI on Friday post­ land at the 50­over World Twitter timeline on omission, the latter’s tweet ibility of the ball under poned the start of this year’s Cup in England last year. Sunday. in a way puts an end to the lights. In an interview with IPL from March 29 to April There has been a lot of Manjrekar had been a controversy over his evic­ ESPNcricinfo later on, 15 in wake of the pandemic, speculation over Dhoni’s in­ regular fixture in the tion from the commentary Manjrekar not only apolo­ which has caused massive ternational future ahead of BCCI’s panel of commenta­ box, starting with India’s gised for his remark but al­ upheaval across the globe. this year’s T20 World Cup in tors for more than a de­ ODI series against South so admitted 2019 was “the On Saturday, the BCCI Australia, with some saying cade. Africa, which was put off worst year for me as an Follow the rule: Thomas Bach has said that IOC will abide Anand. * R. RAGU and the eight IPL team own­ it will depend on his perfor­ There has been specula­ due to COVID­19 after the analyst and commenta­ by the recommendations of the World Health Organisation ers met in Mumbai to dis­ mance in IPL­13. tion over the possible rea­ opener at Dharamshala tor”. regarding a possible postponement of the Tokyo Games. * AP

CM M ND-NDE YK