Indian Abroad - July 16-31, 2022

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SPORTS

Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022

Gujarat to host 36th National Games in September

Gandhinagar, July 8 (IANS): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has announced that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has agreed to host the 36th National Games in the state. This will be the first time the state will host the prestigious games, scheduled to take place between September 27 and October

10, 2022. Minister of State for Sports, Harsh Sanghvi welcomed the decision and said, “Gujarat is known for setting records and benchmarks. With the 36th National Games, Gujarat will set yet another record to host the event within the limited time of three months, with more than 34 sports disciplines in six cities across the state.” The 36th National Games were to be organised in Goa in May 2020, But they were postponed indefinitely due to the spread of Covid-19. Principal secretary, sports, Ashwini Kumar said in a press statement, “The various sporting events will be spread across the state covering six cities of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Bhavnagar. This will ensure a larger

community movement through means of sports.” Aligned with the Olympic movement, Gujarat will enhance and optimally utilise its existing infrastructure to organise these games. This way, the infrastructure created and enhanced will continue to be utilised by the state’s sportspersons on a regular basis. Secretary-general, IOA, Rajeev Mehta expressed his happiness with Gujarat’s readiness to organise the National Games. He mentioned that the infrastructure in the state was assessed in consultation with the IOA and National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the details of the sports were finalised accordingly. He appreciated the proactive approach of the state government to host the Games.

Rohit terms embracing new batting approach as biggest takeaway from T20I series

Nottingham, July 11: Though India lost the final match of the T20I series against England at Trent Bridge by 17 runs, they had already won the first two matches at Southampton and Edgbaston to set up their fourth straight T20I series win over the hosts. In both of their victories, the new aggressive batting approach stood out, something which has been happening since the Delhi T20I against South Africa in June. The embracing of the new batting approach by the Indian batters was what skipper Rohit Sharma termed as the biggest takeaway from the 2-1 T20I series win. “The biggest takeaway has been the approach of each and every individual who has played in this series for us. How they have relished the moment in the middle, taking on the opportunity, the opposition and taking that extra risk. The mindset

is something we’re trying to change and that I guess is the biggest takeaway from all the players,” said Rohit in the post-match press conference. Sharma further revealed how taking up the new batting approach has been accepted by the Indian players. “They are willing to do that, they are willing to take that risk. When I go and talk to certain individuals or players and I hear the same kind of response from them, that is the biggest takeaway. While doing that, results will go here and there. We’re looking at the larger picture and to achieve that we will make some mistakes. “As a captain, I’m pretty much okay with that. Honestly, to come here and win a series in England, it’s not easy. It was a challenging one for us. Winning always gives you confidence, and we can try to take that confidence and move forward

and try to see how we can improve in all the departments.” In the third T20I, talismanic batter Virat Kohli showed glimpses of moulding himself into the new batting approach by India, flicking David Willey over mid-on for four and followed up with a clean loft down the ground for six. But his time at the crease was short-lived as he stepped out to slap through covers, but was caught out at short extra cover on the very next ball. Rohit admitted that Virat’s 11 in the third T20I was as per the new batting approach of India in the shortest format of the game, which involves high risk. “We, as a team, want to play in a certain way and every player needs to buy into that thought process. Otherwise, it’s not gonna happen for you.” “All the batters who are part of this squad are willing to take that extra risk and go and see what extra they can do with the bat. It’s important to find out within yourself, to try and do different kinds of things and unless you try it you will never be able to find out. So, I think it is something that we’ve been trying to do for a while now. “I have said it at (previous) press conference at the start that some days, it might just come off, some days it might not. But we don’t want to be afraid of going and taking that extra risk. That’s how we’re going to learn as a team and that’s how we’re going to move forward as a team as well. So it’s everyone’s thought process and everyone are quite comfortable with that idea as well. So, that’s the kind of direction the team is willing to move.”

Winning at Wimbledon extra special; it got me playing tennis as a kid: Novak

London, July 11 (IANS): Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic reiterated that winning at Wimbledon was “extra special” for him, given that this was the major that got him playing the sport as a kid in the first place. Djokovic produced a tennis master-class on Sunday evening to defeat Australia’s Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3) for his seventh Wimbledon title, and fourth consecutive crown at the grass-court major. This is Djokovic’s first major title of the season and his 21st Grand Slam overall. “Obviously over the moon with joy and happiness of experiencing this moment once again. I’ve said it many times, this tournament is www.indianabroad.news

extra special for me because it has been the first tournament that I’ve ever watched as a kid that got me to start playing tennis,” Djokovic was quoted as saying by atptour.com. “I don’t take any wins for granted, and particularly not (at) Wimbledon. In contrary, actually every time feels a bit different, special in its own way. Of course, having family and close people in my life here to share this victory with them, it was beautiful.” This time one year ago, the Serbian top seed here had earned his third major of the 2021 season and positioned himself for a run at the Grand Slam -- winning all four major trophies in a calendar year. But this year, he was forced to miss the Australian Open due to his stance on taking the Covid-19 vaccine, and lost

the French Open quarterfinal match to Rafael Nadal. “Coming into Wimbledon, I felt good for my tennis because I’ve won three titles in a row here prior to this year. I always liked playing on grass. I felt like each year I’ve been improving my tennis on grass,” Djokovic said. “I came off from Paris (Roland Garros) from a tough and also emotional loss against Nadal that obviously was disappointing. But Rome, Paris, I was already playing the tennis that I want to play, that puts me in a position to compete for the greatest titles. “I liked my chance coming into Wimbledon. As I always am, I’m very inspired to play my best tennis in London,” added Djokovic. The tennis ace also thanked the Wimbledon crowd for supporting him in the final. “I did definitely feel support and feel love from the crowd today, so I’m very grateful for that,” Djokovic said. “Obviously it’s not (a) secret that any player would like to have people backing him during the match because in the end of the day this could make a quite big difference with how you feel mentally. Definitely easier to overcome certain obstacles and situations in the match when you have people supporting you and being there for you.”

Harmanpreet to lead 15-member Indian women’s squad in Commonwealth Games Mumbai, July 11 (IANS): Seasoned batter Harmanpreet Kaur will lead a 15-member Indian team in the maiden women’s cricket competition at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham starting on July 28, the BCCI announced on Monday. Opener Smriti Mandhana will be her deputy in the competition that will feature women’s T20Is. “The All-India Women’s Selection Committee met on Monday to pick the squad for the forthcoming 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. This will be the first time that Women’s T20 International will be featured in the prestigious multi-sport event,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah informed in a release. India is in Group A with Australia, Barbados, and Pakistan. Sri Lanka, England, New Zealand, and South Africa are placed in Group B. The top two teams from the respective pools will progress to the semifinals. India is scheduled to play three games in the league stage of the tournament starting July 29, the release said. Besides Harman and Smriti, other regulars like opener Shafali Verma,

spinners Sneh Rana and Rajeshwari Gayakwad, all-rounders Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar and wicketkeeper-batter Taniya Bhatia have been included in the squad. Upcoming bowler Meghna Singh who had some great outings in the recently-concluded away series with Sri Lanka coming in as a substitute bowler, has also been retained. Jemimah Rodrigues, who was dropped for the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand earlier this year, before making a comeback in the just-concluded ODI series against Sri Lanka. Playing her first international match since October 2021, Jemimah scored a crucial 36 not out off 27 balls against Sri Lanka in the first T20I in Dambulla to help India start their tour with a win. Simran Dil Bahadur, Richa Ghosh and Poonam Yadav have been named as the reserves. The Indian women will play their first match against T20 World Champions Australia at Edgbaston on July 29 and take on Pakistan on July 31 before rounding off their preliminary league engagements

against Barbados on August 3, the release said. The Indian women’s squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, S. Meghana, Taniyaa Sapna Bhatia (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Deepti Sharma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Thakur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Radha Yadav, Harleen Deol, Sneh Rana. Standby: Simran Dil Bahadur, Richa Ghosh, Poonam Yadav.

World champion Nikhat Zareen ready for ‘new experience’ at Commonwealth Games with eye on Paris Mumbai, July 8: World Champion Nikhat Zareen will get a chance to judge the competition and gain experience in the 50kg weight class for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, when she embarks on her campaign in the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, starting on July 28.

because they could be taller and may have longer reach. So, 50kg was the best option in this scenario as 52kg is not part of the competition,” Nikhat said.

Nikhat, who won the gold medal in the recent World Championship in the 52kg category, will have to reduce weight and come down to 50kg for the Commonwealth Games. Incidentally, this is the same weight class that has been shortlisted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for Paris 2024.

“I have checked out a few things and boxers from England and Ireland will be my main opponents. I am taller than both of them and I would try and use my longer reach and attack from distance against them,” said Nikhat.

“IOC has selected 50kg for Paris while in Asian Games, competitions will be held in 51kg. They have picked 50kg for Commonwealth Games too. Coming down from 52 to 50 is not a big difference, I will not have to reduce a lot of weight,” Nikhat said on Friday during an interaction facilitated by the Sports Authority of India (SAI). “Though I will have to lose two kgs weight, I will continue to have the same muscle mass and strength. There is also, 54kg in Olympic (and WCG) but that would be tougher because many times those in 60kg come down to 54 so competing against them would be difficult

Nikhat said Commonwealth Games would be a new experience for her as she would be taking part in a new weight category.

The 26-year-old boxer from Nizamabad in Telangana, who defeated Thailand’s Jitpong Jutamas in the fly-weight final to win a gold medal in the 2022 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Istanbul, was confident that the 12-member Indian team -- four female and eight male -- do well in the Commonwealth Games. Nikhat predicted the team to win eight medals including four gold in Birmingham. “We have a strong team with four women and eight men boxers in Commonwealth Games. I expect us to win eight at least eight medals, four of them gold,” she said. Nikhat said 2022 has proved her best year in recent times and said

her attitude towards the sport has changed in the one year or so and she is now more serious and dedicated towards her sport. Nikhat, who has had to endure many a hardship as she came through the ranks to get into the national camp, into the international arena, and succeed, said went into the trials for the Commonwealth Games because she had to participate in many events following her World Championship triumph. “There were a lot of events that I had to attend but I managed to keep myself fit so that with three days of preparation, I could get ready for the trials,” she said, adding that her preparations have gone on well after the trials and now is ready for the CWG challenge.

Wimbledon 2022: Liv Hovde clinches girls’ junior singles title London, July 9 (IANS): United States’s Liv Hovde defeated Luca Udvardy of Hungary 6-3, 6-4 to clinch the Wimbledon 2022 junior girls’ singles title, here on Saturday. On a full No. 1 Court, the 16-year-old Hovde of Texas took 1 hour and 13 minutes to take down Udvardy and win her first junior Grand Slam title. Hovde’s previous best showing at a junior major was a semifinal result at this year’s Australian Open. “It feels amazing and I can’t even believe it. There were a lot of people, so it was very nerve-wracking at the beginning, but then I just focused on myself, and it got better throughout the match,” said Hovde in her postmatch press conference. Hovde, who is currently sitting at a career-high junior ranking of No 4, is the 14th American to win the girls’ singles title at Wimbledon, joining Claire Liu (2017) as champions in this century. Before Liu, the last American to win the girls’ singles trophy was Chanda Rubin 30 years ago. The teenager has had a tremendous season on the grass, coming into Wimbledon with the Grade 1

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Roehampton title in her pocket from the week before. She has now gone an overpowering 12-0 on the surface over the last two weeks. Hovde had dropped only one set en route to the final, and she kept up her commanding form to start the championship match. She raced to a 4-1 lead over 16-year-old Udvardy, the younger sister of WTA Top 100 player Panna Udvardy. Udvardy fired solid volleys to pull back on serve at 4-3, but Hovde used an error-forcing forehand to break again for 5-3. In the next game, Hovde used a powerful backhand to force another error on her first set point. In the second set, Hovde stopped a run of five straight service breaks by holding onto her serve for another 5-3 lead. Udvardy powered through a quick hold to reach 5-4, but Hovde, unbothered, found four excellent serves in a row to hold at love and take the title. Hovde had 13 winners to Udvardy’s 11, and the American converted six of her eight breakpoints on her way to hoisting the champion’s trophy.

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Meanwhile, in the junior doubles final, unseeded Rose Marie Nijkamp of the Netherlands and Angella Okutoyi of Kenya edged No.4-seeded Canadians Kayla Cross and Victoria Mboko 3-6, 6-4, [11-9]. It was a historic day for Kenya as 18-year-old Okutoyi became the first Grand Slam champion from her nation. Both Okutoyi and 16-year-old Nijkamp earned their first junior Grand Slam titles with the 1-hour and 13-minute win.

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