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- NEW DELHI: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 India (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 Chess: 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 Ian Nepomniachtchi (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 assist 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 Magnus Carlsen 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 (Ukraine) Anand's signed off second Anand started the match demic.