SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 15 Nadeem dreams of India cap New Delhi, India Joshua promises to find ndian spinner Shahbaz INadeem yesterday said destiny will decide his dream of playing for the country after breaking a two-decade old List-A a way against Povetkin bowling record with figures of 8-10 in a domestic game London, United Kingdom in Chennai. Joshua heavier than Povetkin Nadeem, 29, helped his nthony Joshua has admit- state side Jharkhand reg- Ated to feeling under “tons London, United Kingdom Joshua -- whose Internation- ister a big win over Rajast- of pressure” ahead of his latest al Boxing Federation, World han with his 10 overs of wily world heavyweight title defence ritain’s world heavyweight Boxing Association and World left-arm spin that included against Russia’s Alexander Pov- Bchampion Anthony Joshua Boxing Organisation titles will a hat-trick on Thursday in etkin at London’s Wembley Sta- will be over a stone heavier be on the line -- weighed in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, dium today. than his veteran Russian oppo- on Friday at 17 stone 8 pounds India’s top domestic one- Joshua, the 2012 Olympic nent Alexander Povetkin when (111.5 kilogrammes), whilst day competition. champion, will be fighting in he defends his title at Wembley 39-year-old Povetkin tipped “Performances like these front of his home London crowd on Saturday. the scales at 15st 12lbs. are a step towards achieving as he looks to extend his un - my dream of playing for my beaten professional record to 22 country India,” Nadeem told consecutive wins when he puts sional career, but he secured a -- it’s time to put on a perfor- AFP by phone from Chennai. his International Boxing Feder- unanimous decision over New mance. “But to tell you frankly I ation, World Boxing Association Zealand’s Joseph Parker in Car- “This is not new to me, this have deliberately stopped and World Boxing Organisation diff in March. feels like home.” thinking about this (India titles on the line. The night Joshua outpointed call up) because the more The fight sees Joshua return- ‘Fire in my belly’ Parker at Cardiff’s Principality you think about it the more ing to the scene of arguably his “There’s loads of pressure; tons Stadium, Povetkin demonstrat- frustrated you become and greatest triumph, an 11th-round of pressure,” Joshua told a Wem- ed his considerable punching it starts affecting your per- stoppage of former champion bley news conference on Thurs- power on the undercard, with a formance. Wladimir Klitschko last year. day. “That’s the reality. fearsome fifth-round knockout “I believe if you contin- But he will be under particu- “You’re calm and collected but of Britain’s David Price. ue performing consistently lar pressure to deliver this time underneath it all it’s the reali- Povetkin, like Joshua, is a for- then one day selectors will around. Many boxing fans had ty. We both know what we are mer Olympic champion, having take note and you will get hoped this weekend would see in for. It’s the same with every won gold at Athens in 2004. your chance,” said Nadeem, Joshua up against World Boxing fight. The only blot on his 35-fight who is also a regular with Council heavyweight champion “What more can I do than give professional record is the 2013 Indian Premier League side Deontay Wilder. my best? I’ll go out there and defeat by Klitschko. Delhi Daredevils. Negotiations with the Amer- find a way to win.” He will be giving away sev- He added: “My job is to ican’s camp have proved fruit- Joshua added: “I know I have eral inches in height and reach keep performing at the do- less, although whether that’s the a lot of fire in my belly; that’s just against Joshua, but Povetkin is mestic circuit and leave the fault of Joshua’s promoter Eddie as important as skills. convinced he is now a stronger rest to God. If it’s destined Hearn, Wilder’s management or “Skills and technique apart, fighter than the one beaten by it will happen.” some combination of both - the we both have a big heart and Klitschko. often protracted nature of talks Britain’s Anthony Joshua (L) stares at his challenger Russia’s Alexander Povetkin can dig deep. We both showed “Joshua is one of the strongest before a ‘mega fight’ actually during a joint press conference at Wembley stadium in London that against Klitschko (who beat in the division,” said Povetkin. takes place makes it difficult Povetkin on points). “Anthony is a very strong fighter Fenati suspended to say. “The one who’s toughest will but I am just as strong. That Britain’s Tyson Fury, ber, as he continues his come- internationally. come out victorious.” “When I fought Klitschko for pulling rival’s himself a former world heavy- back to the ring is a reminder Joshua’s last fight saw the A crowd of some 80,000 is ex- I was much weaker and brake weight champion, is set to meet that Joshua is not the ‘only show 28-year-old taken the distance pected at Wembley and Joshua in worse shape than I am Wilder in Las Vegas in Novem- in town’, either domestically or for the first time in his profes- said: “Coming back is a blessing now.” Paris, France isgraced Italian Moto2 Drider Romano Fenati, who grabbed a rival’s brake lever during the San Mari- Liverpool eye history against Southampton no Grand Prix earlier this month, had his licence sus- Liverpool, United Kingdom Chelsea, Tottenham and the two have had time off, you come pended until the end of the Manchester clubs with reign- back in and you have still got year by the International iverpool look to maintain ing champions City having had to get back up to speed straight Motorcycling Federation on Ltheir impressive start to the 11 of their stars reach the last away. Friday. new season in a potentially his- eight. “I’ve used this period to try The 22-year-old had al- toric meeting against Southamp- Tottenham, whom Liverpool and refresh my body, refresh ready said he was retiring ton, with Jurgen Klopp’s players beat impressively 2-1 in London my mind because last season from the sport after being benefitting from their relatively last week, had nine of their key was long. sacked by his Marinelli quiet summer of international personnel reach that stage of “Especially with the World Snipers team and the For- football. the World Cup, while Klopp has Cup, it was enjoyable and ended ward Racing team he was Only four clubs in Premier seen the likes of Andy Robert- with the disappointment but due to join next year. League history - Newcastle in son, Virgil Van Dijk, James Mil- it was a long season and this is Fenati was called to the 1994, Manchester City two sea- ner and Georginio Wijnaldum going to be another long season FIM headquarters in Swit- sons ago and the Chelsea sides make major contributions for hopefully with a lot of games so zerland on Tuesday. of 2005 and 2009 - have opened his side having missed out on I’m using this period to be as “A new FIM licence for a campaign with six consecutive Russia completely. ready as possible.” the 2019 season may be victories. Klopp also appears to have Klopp’s policy has also been granted to him subject to Now, Reds boss Klopp can managed those players who did aided by a busy summer transfer the conditions laid down in add his current Liverpool side play an extended role in Russia window in which he has added the FIM Regulations,” the to that list with a victory over extremely well. depth to his squad in key po - sport’s governing body said Southampton at Anfield on Sat- sitions. in a statement. urday. Fitness levels In the win over PSG, the Liv- Fenati’s moment of mad- A win would also mark the Club captain Jordan Henderson, erpool manager was able to ness, when he caused Ste- first time since 1990-91 that Liv- who reached the semi-finals start Daniel Sturridge ahead of fano Manzi to temporarily erpool have opened the league with England, has started just Roberto Firmino and bring new lose his balance before re- season with seven consecutive one league game but played a signing Xherdan Shaqiri off the gaining control of his bike, victories. crucial role against PSG in mid- bench, to replace Mohamed Sa- caused widespread con- Liverpool’s impressive start week and explained the logic be- lah, with the game in the balance demnation. to the season, which has also hind Klopp’s management style. at 2-2. “The FIM representa- included the thrilling midweek “The lads have worked so Now, Liverpool fans dreaming tives... reminded Mr Fenati home Champions League victo- hard in pre-season and I can see of a first league title in 29 years, of the profound influence ry over Paris Saint-Germain, can the benefits already in how fit will hope the players who were high-level athletes can have be traced to a number of factors. they are, the rhythm they have involved deep into the World on fans and young people But the fact that a only small got from playing games,” said Cup - including Croatian de - and urged him to be mindful number of Klopp’s key players Henderson. fender Dejan Lovren who is cur- of his responsibility to set a made it through to the latter “You can see that in the per- rently injured - will soon be back positive example in future,” stages of the Russia World Cup formances, they are winning to peak form.