MONDAY, JULY 20, 2020 (PAGE 10) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU Badminton is most flourishing sport in Harikrishna wins Chess960 event at Biel Festival India, future also bright: Gopichand CHENNAI, July 19: draw against England's Michael NEW DELHI, July 19: kids from all over the country, all young with 16 years as the old- Adams and posted wins over Punjab, Mizoram and even abroad est one. Sindhu was the youngest. India's Grandmaster P Alexander Donchenko and Noel The inspiring success of P V coming to my academy to train Nobody thought these players Harikrishna finished on top in Studer of Switzerland in the Sindhu and Saina Nehwal at the with even one of the parents opting would become the world beaters of the ACCENTUS Chess960 second and third rounds respec- global level to stay in Hyderabad with the child. now. People thought our women tively. has made So there is enormous interest in the players will not be able to hit the The 34-year old badminton sport now." shuttle so hard." Indian then settled for the most Assuring that badminton's Asked how he created so many draws against Keymer flourishing future is also bright, Gopichand world's best players, Gopichand and Wojtaszek in rounds sport in India expressed hope that the cost of said, "I had a formula in mind four and five before vic- in the last playing the sport will also reduced which I could not actually apply to tories in the next two decade, in the coming years. myself during my career due to rounds over Romain national chief "What has been happening in injuries. coach P the past some years (India produc- "When we grow up most of us Edouard and Spain's Gopichand said today. ing world beaters) is one side of it think of being classical players with David Anton Guijjaro, Gopichand said when he started and what is coming up in future is tossing up the shuttle and playing the highest ranked player coaching in 2004 with 25 trainees, another side. I believe the sport is the strokes. Players like Dinesh in the tournament, saw including Sindhu, Saina and K well poised (for further develop- Khanna will have this superb him emerge triumphant. Srikkanth in Hyderabad, nobody ment) in the future. defensive play. But I had something GM Arkadij thought India would produce such "Moreover, the cost of the shut- different: jumping, running every- Naiditsch replaced GM world class players. tle is going to go down in the next where and stretching yourself all Salem Saleh as the UAE "I can say, this is the sport (bad- few years with the introduction of over. player could not make minton) which has developed the synthetic shuttle. That should make "I had many injuries and I could tournament, part of the 53rd the trip due to the COVID-19 most in the country in these past 10 the sport more flourishing in the not apply this to me but I was able Biel Chess Festival 2020, with travel restrictions. year or so. When I started my years to come." to do that in my coaching." 5.5 points from seven rounds. The tournament continues coaching career in 2004, there were Gopichand said nobody in the He said Prakash Pradukone's Harikrishna (Elo 2690) Sunday with the rapid event and just 10 good courts in Hyderabad country thought that he would be All England title in 1980 was one remained unbeaten through the the classical event will begin on but now there are more than 1000," able to produce the Sainas and of the defining moments of Indian seven rounds and benefitted July 21 after a day's rest on he said during a webinar. Sindhus of the world when he start- badminton. He rated his All from the loss of Poland's Monday. "There are so many academies ed coaching in 2004. England triumph in 2001 as his best Radoslaw Wojtaszek in the final The Biel Chess Festival is coming up in the country, so many "I had 25 trainees at that time, achievement.(PTI) round to Swiss player Noel being held by adhering to all Studer to claim the top spot late health protocols due to the pan- on Saturday. demic, according to the tourna- German Vincent Keymer, ment website. 15, was the surprise package in At the chess board, the dis- the Chess960 event (also known tance is increased by having two as Fischer random chess), tables between the players. All claiming second spot with five pieces, boards and chess clocks points. Wojtaszek, with 4.5 are cleaned after each game. points, took the third spot. Also, spectators are not allowed Harikrishna started with a at the venue. (PTI) BCCI Cricket Operations chief Saba Karim asked ‘to resign’ NEW DELHI, July 19: of COVID-19 pandemic)," a BCCI source said. Former India wicket-keeper Domestic cricket is unlikely Saba Karim has been asked to to start before December with resign from the post of BCCI the COVID-19 cases continuing General Manager - Cricket to rise in the country. Operations. If the IPL happens in The 52-year-old Karim, who September-November as is played one Test and 34 ODIs for being speculated, domestic India, was appointed by the cricket cannot be played at the BCCI in December 2017. The same time. Board has not issued a formal The development comes statement on the matter but it is after BCCI CEO Rahul Johri's learnt that it was not satisfied resignation was accepted earlier with Karim's planning for this month. domestic cricket. The Board's Chief Financial "Yes, he has been asked to Officer Santosh Rangnekar had resign. One of the reasons for also resigned last year after the that is that he was not able to new office-bearers, headed by prepare any tangible action plan president Sourav Ganguly, took for domestic cricket (in the wake charge. (PTI) Ian Chappell wants overhaul of DRS, says it encourages ‘player dissent’ NEW DELHI, July 19: and devalued. "The look of disdain on the face Former Australia captain Ian of umpire Richard Kettleborough Chappell has called for an overhaul after three of his decisions were of the Decision Review System overturned early on day two of the (DRS), saying it is encouraging dis- first Test between England and sent from the players in its existing West Indies, was ample proof of his "manipula- feelings about the system at that tive" state. moment. "My sympathies were In the with Kettleborough, one of the bet- ongoing Test ter umpires on the international series panel. And with the return to a third between review in the pandemic era, there England and are signs the system is being West Indies, manipulated," Chappell said refer- which has ring to the technology that was used marked for the first time in 2008. resumption of international cricket, The Indian cricket board did three reviews are awarded per not have faith in the DRS for a long innings, one extra than usual. time before it embraced the tech- "'The umpire is always right nology. and you don't argue with his deci- Chappell said the system sion' used to be the first lesson a should never have allowed players young cricketer was taught. This to be a part of decision-making. admirable exercise in discipline and "There was a time when the self-control is now not applicable as BCCI distrusted the DRS. I'm no the introduction of DRS is encour- longer in lock-step with the BCCI aging a form of player dissent," on this because I still don't have Chappell wrote for ESPNcricinfo. much faith in the DRS...Right from The 76-year-old, who has the outset the DRS should have scored 5345 runs in 75 Tests for been placed in the hands of the Australia, cited the example of the umpires; players shouldn't be part current series in England to show of the decision-making process," he how the DRS is being manipulated wrote.(PTI) BJYM leader, Ankush Sharma inaugurating ‘Champion Trophy 2020 at Akhnoor’ on Sunday. FCC beats Thathi Warriors by 19 runs Excelsior Sports Correspondent wickets while Ankit, Sumit and Arun clinched 3, 2 and 1 wickets JAMMU, July 19: Friends respectively. Cricket Club Akhnoor defeated Amit Singh was declared as Thathi Club by 19 runs in a 'Man of Match' for his splendid thrilling match today at performance with ball. The Akhnoor. match was officiated by Atul Batting first FCC scored 89 Sharma and Sunil Govil as for the loss of 10 wickets in the umpires while Raman Sharma stipulated 15 over. Amit Singh acted as scorer. scored highest 44 runs for his The tournament is being team while Koushal scored 14 organized by Singh Cricket Club runs. For Thathi Warriors, Anil Akhnoor under the overall took four wickets while Shottu supervision of Sham Singh and Martin claimed three wick- Langeh (Chairman, Akhnoor ets each. Tehsil Cricket Committee), In reply, Thathi Warriors whereas the tournament was failed to chase the target and inaugurated by Ankush Sharma bundled out on 70 runs in 16.0 (Youth leader BJYM) in pres- overs. Shottu made highest 25 ence of Deepesh Singh (Ex- runs while Rahul scored 18 runs. chairman MC Akhnoor) and For FCC, Amit Singh was Rakesh Malhotra, Councillor wrecker in chief, who took 4 W.No 6 of MC Akhnoor..