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DELHI THE HINDU 16 SPORT FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Enterprising players find the space to train Former Wimbledon Full marks to the young talent for adapting to the situation arising out of the lockdown champions saddened Agencies health is definitely the most TENNIS Todd and Zeel were in Tu­ LONDON important thing!” nisia when the ITF cancelled The Wimbledon tennis Pat Cash: “These are just Kamesh Srinivasan the tournament, forcing eve­ championships were can­ very weird and strange NEW DELHI ryone to fly home before the celled for the first time since times. For me, it’s just a big There is a saree drying over a borders were sealed. the Second World War on kick in the gut, because it’s a clothesline which serves as Wednesday. Here are some tournament I love and a the net. Yuki Bhambri vol­ Healthy trend reactions from former tournament that so many leys and jumps up for an With the International Ten­ champions to the Grand love.” imaginary overhead smash. nis Federation (ITF) an­ Slam — originally scheduled Billie Jean King: “I fully The drill continues for a few nouncing that there would for June 29­July 12 — being understand and support the minutes as Prateek Bhambri, be no play till July 8, this is a cancelled for the first time decision of the committee . a former National junior healthy trend as the players in 75 years. I’ve been fortunate to go to champion who coaches sis­ are utilising the time on hand Boris Becker: “The pro­ Wimbledon every year since ter Prerna Bhambri, helps in instead of worrying about blem is the surface, you only 1961 and I am certainly go­ Yuki’s training by throwing things beyond their control. have the summer months to ing to miss this year.” balls from a bucket. Many videos of enterpris­ prepare and ultimately play Petra Kvitova: “Definitely If that is the video doing ing tennis players, finding on the best grass courts a tough one to take... Not the rounds on social media, the space to stay healthy and which is usually the case at only is it a special tourna­ cut to Ahmedabad, where active during the lockdown, Queen’s and Wimbledon. ment to me, but it’s a tour­ Zeel Desai has her father Me­ are doing the rounds. In the “But in order to do so the nament that has been part hul doing the job of ball­ Sharpening her skills: Zeel Desai engaged in a rally with father Mehul. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Capital, coaches Sachin grass courts need much of history for so long that it thrower. Singh and Chandra Bhushan more preparation time than will leave a big hole in the In front of her home, over to keep his daughter occu­ home can control the num­ Academy (ARA), said: “Even grammes and mental chal­ have been sharing videos of any other surface. On grass calendar. a garden bench that serves as pied as she was getting bored ber of coronavirus cases,” he though a lockdown is incon­ lenges which they have to their trainees doing physical you can only play in the “I will missing playing on the net, Zeel keeps hitting fo­ at home. said. venient in India, the govern­ complete. training, yoga and wall summer months.” the beautiful grass and rehands and backhands. She “I thought it could just ment’s action has been quick “Though everyone is at practice. Andy Murray: “Very sad wearing my whites, but of also uses the terrace to hone freshen her up a bit, having a Quick and proactive and proactive. home, we are still creating a The tennis fraternity de­ that Wimbledon has been course we know it will be her skills, using the wall as a racquet in her hands. She al­ Australian coach Todd Clark, “We have created an ARA competitive atmosphere,” re­ serves full marks for adapt­ cancelled this year but with back better than ever next net. so does fitness routines for who has been guiding Zeel at WhatsApp group. Daily, we vealed Clark, who is based in ing to the situation and mak­ all that is going on in the year. And maybe we will all Mehul said he was happy an hour daily. Staying at the Ahmedabad Racquet provide players fitness pro­ Ahmedabad. ing the best use of it. world right now, everyone's appreciate it even more!” Online classes ensure training is not impacted Carlsen launches richest online event RAKESH RAO The format involves seven Coach Sushrutha Reddy feels Zoom a better platform to teach a group NEW DELHI rounds of single round­robin With scores of chess tourna­ where each match features CHESS the confines of your room, Kumar said the spurt in num­ trains some of India’s bright­ ments cancelled worldwide four rapid games, the time provided you have internet bers is largely due to parents’ est prospects like R. Praggna­ owing to the COVID­19 pan­ control being 15 minutes P.K. Ajith Kumar access. belief that chess will keep nandhaa and Aravindh demic, World champion each plus 10­second incre­ hen the warning sig­ Conducting chess classes their children occupied Chithambaram. “Now I Magnus Carlsen has come ment for every move. Wnals began to emerge online is nothing new. India’s when schools are closed. teach all of them online,” he up with a $250,000­online The winner of each match from China a few weeks ago, best­known trainer R.B. Ra­ “Coaches like me don’t have said. event for eight elite players. gets three points and loser Sushrutha Reddy felt he mesh has been doing it for any other option but to go The Magnus Carlsen Invi­ gets none. should be prepared. It didn’t the last 15 years. But what is online,” he said. Multiple platforms tational will be played from If the match ends 2­2, an matter he was living in Ben­ new is that more coaches Pravin Thipsay pointed There are multiple platforms April 18 to May 3 with shor­ Armageddon game (where galuru, far away from the ep­ and wards have opted for it out that online coaching had to reach out to the students. ter time controls. the player with white pieces icentre of the coronavirus because of the lockdown in its own advantages. “In a city Skype appears to be pre­ gets five minutes on the outbreak. several countries. like Mumbai, where I am liv­ ferred the choice since it is Participant list Magnus Carlsen. clock and black, four) will A chess coach, he knew “Normally I get new stu­ ing, travelling can be such a free. But Sushrutha has The list of participants for * FILE PHOTO: RAJEEV BHATT decide the winner. The win­ that he would have to ex­ R.B. Ramesh. dents during the school va­ huge problem,” said the vete­ found out that Zoom works the world’s richest online ner gets two points and the plore more ways of reaching * FILE PHOTO: R. RAGU cation, but more than 50 – ran Grandmaster. “Now you better when you have to event will be announced continue top professional loser, one. out to his trainees online. including a few from over­ can train someone even till teach a group. “I had also soon. Live action with com­ play in an online environ­ The top four players will case around the globe. Ho­ seas – have joined over the 10 p.m. Of late, I have been tried Cisco Webex, which too mentary in nine languages ment, we have not only the be involved in a knockout More than anticipated wever, there has been no last couple of weeks,” said having more students online was useful,” he said. will be available on opportunity but the respon­ semifinals. But the demand to learn the compromise in the quality of Sushrutha. “I now conduct than offline.” “Zoom may not be free, Chess24.com. sibility to players and fans The semifinals, third­ game through the internet training. lessons online to some 85 But for Ramesh, much of but when you have a reason­ Commenting on the inita­ around the world who need place match and final will was more than he anticipat­ Unlike popular sports like students right through the his time used to be spent at able number of students, tive, Carlsen said, “This is a a distraction when no other use the same four­game ra­ ed once the lockdown in In­ football or cricket, chess can day.” his academy, Chess Gurukul, you can easily cover the historic moment for chess, live, competitive sport is be­ pid format to decide the win­ dia began. That has been the be taught flawlessly within Chennai­based T.J. Suresh before the lockdown. He cost.” and given that it’s possible to ing played.” ner. AICF’s new secretary refutes Chauhan’s charges Deshpande says Venketrama Raja has no need to cover up for anybody

Rakesh Rao mentioning that he conti­ from Chauhan.” Mumbai last October, and NEW DELHI nued to be the secretary. that Raja was trying to save The newly nominated secre­ Reacting to Chauhan’s al­ Irrelevant, meaningless it. tary of the All India Chess legation that Raja’s action Despande described Chau­ “What has AICF or its pre­ Federation (AICF), Vijay was a “malicious attempt to han’s charge that Raja re­ sident got to do with this? Deshpande, has refuted the cover his tracks”, Desh­ moved him to save the All The Maharashtra govern­ charges made by predeces­ pande said, “Chauhan Marathi Chess Association ment has asked for the ex­ sor Bharat Singh Chauhan should read the court order (AMCA) as “irrelevant and penditure statement of the and has also questioned his carefully and then challenge meaningless.” WYCC. The statement is now actions. it. Raja has no need to cover Chauhan had pointed out with the special auditors On Tuesday, AICF presi­ up for anybody. Having AMCA’s delay in submitting nominated for the purpose. dent P.R. Venketrama Raja made a huge contribution to the accounts to the State As soon as the AMCA gets the had removed Chauhan from chess, Raja is also known as authorities after availing a certified audit report, it will the post of secretary. Soon the first sponsor of Viswa­ grant of ₹2 crore for holding be submitted. What is there after, Chauhan shot off a let­ nathan Anand. He does not the World Youth Chess to save AMCA?” wondered ter to all the ‘stakeholders’, require any certification Championship (WYCC) in Deshpande. The biggest challenge will be mental fatigue, says Arif Being confined indoors for such a long time could cause problems BADMINTON the last General Elections,” panel of coaches in 1974. Arif says in a chat with The “There are no options but V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM Hindu. to stay indoors for anyone, HYDERABAD How difficult is it? “For given the grim scenario. But Renowned badminton coach me, it has been a different my genuine concern is that S.M. Arif feels the biggest kind of challenge. Though I the players do not get too challenge any athlete will retired 16 years ago, I conti­ rusty,” he feels. face after the lockdown will nue to visit the Fateh Maidan What is his advice to the be mental fatigue. and offer coaching free of trainees? “Just to do mini­ “Athletes — or for that cost. I can’t just be sitting at mum exercises possible at matter any individual — used S.M. Arif. home. I love being with the home to maintain basic fit­ to busy routines and now * FILE PHOTO: V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM trainees,” he says. ness levels. Too much of rest confined indoors for such a is a scary thing,” says Arif, long time might well face interactions over the phone It’s not just athletes! who introduced the likes of this kind of a challenge. So, it with his trainees. “So, it is not just the athletes Manoj Kumar, Praveen Ku­ is imperative to do everyth­ The 76­year­old, whose who are hit badly. Coaches mar, Gopi Chand, and Saina ing possible to avoid it,” says coaching with national find it extremely challeng­ Nehwal to the world of bad­ Arif. teams started four decades ing, too! And, being unsure minton. The Dronacharya awar­ ago, has always been a regu­ of what is in store, we are How does he keep himself dee says he is doing, right lar at the Fateh Maidan, his keeping our fingers crossed,” occupied? “Well, that is now, what he has never done ‘second home’. says the coach, the first to another huge task. I have in his 46 years of coaching — “This happens to be the produce international me­ been watching the Discovery stretching exercises on the longest break for me, beat­ dalists in badminton from In­ channel a lot of late,” he rooftop of his residence and ing the previous one during dia since joining the national signs off. Athletics anti­doping programme ‘severely disrupted’

Agence France-Presse in more than 100 countries. program will be severely dis­ against the need to conduct Paris “Under the current condi­ rupted in the short term, ho­ anti­doping tests“. The Athletics Integrity Unit tions of the global pandemic, wever we will still conduct In this respect, all 500 or (AIU) has acknowledged that many of these countries our priority testing missions so World Athletics registered its anti­doping programme have social distancing res­ in those places where it is testing pool athletes “must will be “severely disrupted” trictions or guidelines in feasible and safe to do so.” continue to fulfil their ‘whe­ because of the coronavirus place, these differ from The AIU added that it was reabouts’ obligations“. pandemic. country to country and in reviewing its testing plans Athletics has been hit The AIU, the independent turn are all changing very ra­ day by day “to ensure we are hard the COVID­19 pandem­ anti­doping watchdog for pidly,” it said. appropriately balancing con­ ic, with a raft of events hav­ track and field set up in 2017, “As a result, there is no siderations of public health ing been postponed or can­ operates testing procedures doubt that our anti­doping and the health of athletes celled.

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