THE HIMALAYAN MAIL JAMMU Q FRIDAY Q JULY 31, 2020 7

I am destined to win Olympic medal: Boxer Vikas Murray calls for more mixed- :Top Indian boxer tappa know of his plans? Vikas Krishan has decided to revive "They know and they are sup- doubles events on main tours his professional career in the US in- portive. They know what I am ca- NEW DELHI:Tennis is stead of training at the national pable of and they have encouraged "missing a trick" by not in- camp in Patiala as he believes con- me. I have also got immense sup- cluding more team events ventional is just not good enough port from Boxing Federation of In- involving both men and for a podium finish at next year's dia Executive Director R K Sa- women on the main tours, Tokyo Olympics. cheti," he said. three-times Grand Slam Vikas is currently training in Ben- Less than a year away from his winner Andy Murray has galuru's Inspire Institute of Sports third Olympics, Vikas said he has said. (IIS) with another professional never enjoyed boxing as much as Mixed doubles is cur- boxer and close friend Neeraj Goyat he does now. rently played only at the after being asked to leave NIS Pa- "If you watch me fight now, you four Grand Slams on the tiala for alleged violation of COVID- can see the artistry. In my past two professional tennis circuit. 19 quarantine norms, later deemed Olympics (2012 and 2016), I used to "I think sports miss a bit unintentional. be bothered by pressure and expec- of a trick with this stuff," He has no plans of going back tations, not anymore. I feel free of said Murray, who is taking even though the Sports Authority of that. This has made boxing very part in the Battle of the Brits (SAI) decided to allow him to enjoyable for me. Earlier there was exhibition featuring male and Roger Federer on the I'm sure they enjoyed it as return after an inquiry. an element of stress," he explained. and female players. same court, it is so brilliant well." "I will continue training here (in return to the US, where he contin- added the former world bronze- "The Hopman Cup, for for our sport," Murray told Murray said there was Bengaluru). I have fallen into a ues to have a contract with Hall of winner, who won his two pro bouts His friend Neeraj, also a pro boxer, has been a constant in his example, was a brilliant British media. opportunities for other rhythm and I don't wish to disturb Famer Bob Arum's Top Rank Pro- before returning to amateur circuit event in my opinion. The "We are able to do that in sports to embrace mixed- myself by once again taking the trip motions. last year. life for the past few years and Vikas said he is grateful for the support. players enjoyed it. I played tennis and we should em- gender events. to Patiala. I don't see the point," The welterweight (69kg cate- Vikas Krishan there a bunch of times and brace it a little bit more, not "Golf is another sport Vikas, who is training under Amer- gory) boxer will compete in the The Asian Games and Common- "I don't think I will be able to do as much for him as he has done for I loved it." necessarily every single where I think it would be in- ican coach Ronald Simms at the 70kg division in the pro circuit. wealth Games gold-winner will be The inaugural ATP Cup me. He has come to train with me, week but at times it would teresting to see a mixed Ry- IIS, told PTI in an interview over "As soon as I manage to get a making third Olympic appearance men's team competition support me whenever I have asked be great. I would like to see der Cup event," he said. phone. flight, I am going to the USA. I am in Tokyo next year. He is the most took the Hopman Cup's Rafa (Nadal) on the court "Again, it's a sport where him," he said. Asked about the controversy in in touch with Top Rank Promo- experienced among the five men Australian Open warm-up with some of the top female they are able to do it and Amid the strenuous preparations, Patiala, and Vikas offered a philo- tions. They have promised to who have made the cut so far. slot in 2020 but organisers players. they just miss out a little bit. has he factored in the COVID-19 sophical take. arrange fights for me and I hope to "I took a break from professional have said it will return. "When I watched Roger I do think people really en- mayhem, the one which forced the "I have never harmed anyone. I compete in 3-4 bouts before the with due permission from my pro- "Putting match-ups in and Serena playing, it was joy watching it, and the Olympics to be postponed and have made mistakes but the intent Olympics," he said. moter to pursue my Olympic tennis like Serena Williams great. They were into it and players like it too." is only to do well for the country. I "That would help my Olympic dream. Now that I have qualified, which still is a threat to the Games have never caused problems for chances more than anything else I will go back to pro to prepare my- going ahead even next year. anyone else. That's all I have to because it is in the pro circuit that I self," he said. "I am destined to win an Olympic Dhoni or Ponting? Shahid Afridi say," he said. learnt the crucial lesson of not be- Talking of preparations, do High medal. Olympics will happen be- The 28-year-old Haryana-lad is lieving in luck. It is all about abil- Performance Director Santiago cause God can't be so cruel to me. I more eager to talk about his plans to ity, there is nothing called luck," Nieva and national coach C A Kut- know that," asserted the boxer. picks the 'better captain' NEW DELHI:Former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Legends of : Anand ends Flood relief in Assam, Bihar: Afridi on Wednesday said Indian wicketkeeper-bats- man MS Dhoni was a better disastrous campaign with loss Kohli-Anushka step up captain than Australia's in the preliminary stage. sure the Indian Ricky Ponting. The Norwegian will now people and the me- Afridi conducted a Ques- dia are made well play Russia's Peter Svidler tion and Answer session on aware about the in the semi-finals, while An- flood disasters in Twitter with his fans and ish Giri (Hungary) takes on Assam and Bihar. during the session, a user (Rus- The movie star asked, 'better captain, sia) in a repeat of their and her cricketer Dhoni or Ponting?' Chessable Masters semi-fi- husband have The former Pakistan all- nal. pledged to or- rounder replied, "I rate Legends of Chess is an ganisations that are Dhoni a bit higher than event in which Carlsen, NEW working to bring succour Ponting as he developed a Cup, and Champions Tro- 'best batsman' he has Liren, Nepomniachtchi and DELHI:Stranded in the to those affected by the new team full of young- phy). bowled to, Afridi named news avalanche on the Giri, semifinalists at the floods in both eastern sters." Dhoni called time on his legendary West Indies bats- coronavirus and the mili- Chessable Masters (part of states. Dhoni has so far played Test career in 2014 after man Brian Lara and South tary stand-off in Ladakh is 350 ODIs with his highest playing 90 Tests, managing Africa's AB de the Tour), the grim flood situation in Hope other movie and received an automatic in- cricket stars follow Anu score being 183 against Sri to score 4,876 runs at an av- Villiers.owled to, Afridi Assam and Bihar, which Lanka. He also remains the vite and are up against six has virtually been ignored and Chikoo's sterling ex- erage of 38.09. named legendary West In- only captain to win all major legends aged 40-52, who by the national media. ample and do likewise jat- When asked to pick the dies batsman Brian Lara have been at the top of Anushka Sharma and pat! There is not a mo- ICC trophies (50-over 'best batsman' he has and South Africa's AB de world chess at various Virat Kohli are making ment to lose. World Cup, T20 World bWhen asked to pick the Villiers. points in their career. The tournament is part of the Magnus Carlsen Chess World No 1 Barty to skip US Open over COVID-19 fears Tour. The winner of this NEW DELHI:World ropean tournaments in the had said she had not regis- event qualifies for the number one Ash Barty will coming weeks," she said. tered for the tournament $US300,000 Grand Final skip the US Open and the World number one No- and had decided to skip the scheduled from August 9 to tournament preceding it in vak Djokovic and 23-times event, which kicks off on 20. NEW DELHI:Indian black in the decider late on New York due to concerns Grand Slam champion August 31 and will be Results of Round 9: chess ace Viswanathan Wednesday. over the coronavirus pan- Serena Williams are played under strict bio-se- Vasyl Ivanchuk () Anand's signed off second Anand started the match demic. among players expected to curity protocols due to the beat from bottom after his dis- with a 57-move draw and "My team and I have de- compete at the US Open COVID-19 pandemic. appointing campaign at the the tie progressed in a simi- (India) 2.5-2.5 (Ivanchuk cided that we won't be despite concerns about un- However, the 22-year- Legends of Chess online lar vein with the players wins by playing black after travelling to the US for the dergoing mandatory quar- old's management team tournament ended with a opting for quiet draws. Armageddon is drawn); Western and Southern antine when travelling to told Reuters via email that loss to long-time rival Vasyl The Armageddon game Magnus Carlsen (Norway) Open and the US Open this Europe, which would have the reports were wide of Ivanchuk in the ninth and was a 59-move affair before beat year," the Australian said them miss tournaments in the mark and that she final round. the former world champion (Russia) 3-1; in a statement issued by Madrid and Rome ahead of would be participating at It was Anand's eighth loss signed peace with (Israel) beat Ian Nepomni- her manager on Thursday. the French Open. Flushing Meadows. in the $US150,000 tourna- Ivanchuk. achtchi (Russia) 3-2; Anish "I love both events so it Deaths from COVID-19 Osaka would also be ment. The 50-year-old The 50-year old Indian Giri (The Netherlands) beat was a difficult decision but surpassed 150,000 in the playing in the Western and ended in ninth position finished ninth in the stand- Peter Svidler (Russia) 2.5- there are still significant United States on Wednes- Southern Open, which is ahead of GM ings with 7 match points 1.5; Ding Liren (China) beat risks involved due to annually in Cincinnati, has spread of the virus. day, more than any other held annually in Cincinnati who finished last. and a solitary win (over Peter Leko (Hungary) 2.5- COVID-19 and I don't feel been moved to New York The reigning French country and nearly a quar- but has been moved to After all the four games Boris Gelfand) on his debut 1.5. comfortable putting my this year and is set to start Open champion will de- ter of the world's total, ac- New York this year and is ended in draws, the Anand- in the Magnus Carlsen Final standings: 1. team and I in that position. in mid-August. cide later whether to de- cording to a Reuters tally. set to start in mid-August. Ivanchuk contest went into Tour. Carlsen 25 match points, 2. "I wish the USTA all the The US Open kicks off on fend her title at Roland Naomi Osaka will play in Japan's Osaka, who is the Armageddon (a tie- In other matches, world Nepomniachtchi 20, 3. Giri best for the tournaments August 31 and will be held Garros starting in late Sep- next month's US Open in based in the United States, breaker), which also ended No.1 Magnus Carlsen beat 18, 4. Svidler 14, 5. and look forward to being in its usual home in Flush- tember. New York, the 2018 cham- last played competitive in a stalemate. Vladimir Kramnik 3-1 to Ivanchuk 13, 6. Kramnik 12, back in the US next year." ing Meadows, Queens, but "I will make my decision pion's management team tennis in early February The Ukrainian emerged finish with an all-win 7. Gelfand 11, 8. Liren 7, 9. The Western and South- will be played without fans on the French Open and has told Reuters. during Fed Cup qualifiers victorious as he played record after nine matches Anand 7, 10. Leko 6. ern Open, which is held in attendance to limit the the surrounding WTA Eu- Several media reports against Spain. Punjab youngster Princepal Singh creates NBA Academy history NEW DELHI:The first League and the first NBA for me, so I have to work The NBA G League gives ACG-NBA Jump Pro- ketball Without Borders, NBA Academy India gradu- Academy India graduate to harder and focus on all as- top young prospects a chance gramme. played in the NBA Academy ate to sign a professional con- sign a professional contract. pects like shooting (3 Point- to begin their professional ca- He said the experience Games. This exposure gave tract, Princepal Singh on "NBA G League stint will ers), dribbling and I have to reers while receiving mentor- during his NBA Academy In- me an opportunity to play Wednesday said his aim is to play a vital role in my career, I work on my strength. I need ship and life-skills training. dia stint played an important and learn from and with play in an NBA team in the am excited to perform on the to be fitter and faster than be- Singh, who started playing role and termed it as the other international players." future and he is ready to work international level. It will help fore," he added. at the Ludhiana "turning point" of his career. In November 2018, Singh hard to improve his overall me improve and develop my The 19-year-old Singh said Basketball Academy, joined "When I was in Ludhiana went to The NBA Global game. game and I am looking for- he has played against inter- 'The NBA Academy India' in Basketball Academy we used Academy -- the league's hub Singh, a forward of six feet ward to work hard and I hope national talents during his 2017, an elite basketball to play at state and national for top male and female and 10 inches from Punjab, to see myself playing for a NBA Academy programmes training centre in Delhi for level but after I got into the prospects from outside the has signed to play in the NBA team in the NBA soon," he as well as in the tournaments. the top prospects from India, NBA Academy India I got an US -- in Canberra, Australia, G League next season. He is said. He believes it would be a as part of the academy's inau- opportunity to play at the in- where he continued his de- the first NBA Academy grad- "NBA G League will be a good opportunity to be a part gural class of student-ath- ternational level," he said. velopment before graduating uate to sign with the NBA G new chapter and challenge of the G League. letes identified through the "I attended camps like Bas- this spring.