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SPORTS - February 0216

Feb 0216

Jul 21, 2019

Hima Grabs 5th gold of month

The timing is slower than her personal best of 50.79 seconds, which she managed at the Jakarta Asian Games and she also narrowly missed out on the World Championships qualifying mark of 51.80.
However, it was better than the timing of 52.88 seconds, which she managed earlier in the season.
It was Hima's fifth gold medal since July 2 when she ran her first competitive race in Europe. In her first competitive 200m race of the year, she clocked 23.65 seconds on her way to gold at the Poznan Athletics Grand Prix in Poland on July 2.
After that, she won her second 200m gold at the Kutno Athletics Meet, also in Poland, on July 7 with a time of 23.97 seconds.
On July 13, she won her third 200m gold at the Kladno Athletics Meet in Czech Republic with a time of 23.43 while her fourth gold came at the Tabor Athletics Meet in the same country on Wednesday.
It was the first 400m competition for the 19-year-old since she struggled to finish the Asian Athletics Championship in April this year because of a back issue.

Sindhu enters season's 1st final

PV Sindhu enjoyed one of her finest hours of the season as she entered the final of the Indonesia Open BWF Tour Super 1000 tournament with a straight-game win over All England champion Chen Yufei of China.
Sindhu, who has been struggling a bit this season, showed her brilliance once again as she saw off world No 3 Chen 21-19, 21-10 to enter her first final of the season.
The world No 5, who reached the semi-finals at Singapore and India Open, set up a summit clash with Japan's fourth seed Akane Yamaguchi. Sindhu holds a 10-4 advantage over Yamaguchi, whom she has beaten in their last four meetings.

Thapa becomes 1st Indian gold winner in President's Cup

Four-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa became India's first gold-medallist at the President's Cup boxing tournament after getting a walkover in the finals in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Making his international debut in the newly-introduced Olympic category of 63kg, Thapa was to fight Kazakhstan's Zakir Safiullin in the summit clash but his opponent had to pull out due to injury.
Thapa had lost to Safiullin in the Asian Championship semifinal earlier in 2019.
Signing off with a silver medal was woman boxer Parveen (60kg) who lost her final bout to local hope Rimma Volosenko.
Thapa couldn't make the cut for the September world championships after losing in the trials to Commonwealth Games silverwinner Manish Kaushik. Thapa had defeated Kyrgyzstan's Argon Kadiribekuulu 4-1 in the last-four stage bout. Earlier, Sweety Boora (81kg) and Duryodhan Singh Negi (69kg) had ended their campaign with bronze medals.

Algeria beat Senegal, win African Cup

Algeria won the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time when a freak second-minute goal by Baghdad Bounedjah gave them a 1-0 win over gallant Senegal in the final.
Bounedjah, who missed a penalty in the quarter-final against Ivory Coast and spent the last few minutes of that game in tears after being substituted, stunned the Lions of Teranga with a shot which took a wicked deflection off Salif Sane and looped over the bewildered goalkeeper Alfred Gomis and into the net.
Algeria, who committed 32 fouls according to official match statistics, sat back after that and had to scrap for their win in a match that was certainly not a classic but was tense and gripping throughout.
Senegal, beaten by Cameroon on their only previous appearance in the final in 2002, were awarded a penalty for handball in the second half but the decision was revoked following a VAR review.
The final whistle provoked wild celebrations among the large contingent of travelling Algeria fans. It was a fitting end to a tournament that, with 24 teams for the first time, produced plentiful drama even if quality was sometimes lacking.

Jul 20, 2019

Sindhu Crushes Okuhara

Three months after former world champion Nozomi Okuhara hammered PV Sindhu in straight games at the Singapore Open semi-finals, the Indian returned the favour by coming out on top in Jakarta.
Fifth seeded Sindhu beat the Japanese third seed 21-14, 21-7 in 44 minutes to move into the semifinals of the $1.25 million Indonesia Open.
This was the Hyderabadi's eight victory in 15 meetings, and first this year in two face-offs, over the world No 2 Okuhara.
The only Indian left in the BWF World Tour Super 1000 tournament, world No 5 Sindhu was challenged stroke for stroke at the start by Okuhara.
However, from 6-6 Sindhu took off, never losing the lead to close the game in about 25 minutes.
The four-time World Championship medallist was even more comprehensive in the second game, leading from the start till the mid-game break at 11-6.
Sindhu lost the next point but won the next 10 successive points to smash the confidence of her opponent and pocket the second game and contest quickly.
The Rio Olympics silver medallist will next face upcoming Chinese sensation and third seed Chen Yufei, who has a 3-4 record against the Indian.

Stokes Nominated for New Zealander of the Year Award

After ripping the heart out of New Zealand's bleary-eyed cricket fans with a Man-of-the-Match performance in the World Cup final, England all-rounder Ben Stokes has now been nominated for the New Zealander of the Year award.
The 28-year-old Stokes was born in New Zealand but grew up in England when his father Gerard moved there to take a rugby league coaching job.
Stokes remained in England when his parents returned home and carved out a successful cricketing career, scoring 84 not out in the final that helped his side to their maiden 50-over World Cup title at Lord's.
Nominations for the award only opened on July 1 and close on September 15. A shortlist is confirmed in December with the winner named next February.
The award is typically given to prominent members of the community with comedian Mike King, who has become a mental health and suicide prevention advocate, the most recent to receive the award.
The last sportsman to win it was former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw in 2016 after he led the side to their second successive Rugby World Cup title towards the end of 2015.

SL to Sack Coaches over Cup Failure

Sri Lanka's sports minister has ordered the sacking of the national cricket coach after a lacklustre World Cup campaign that saw just three wins from nine games.
Chandika Hathurusingha and his assistants would be fired after Sri Lanka's upcoming oneday series against Bangladesh.

Tendulkar, Donald Inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Sachin Tendulkar was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame along with South Africa fast bowling great Allan Donald and Australia's twice World Cupwinning woman player Cathryn Fitzpatrick.
Tendulkar is the sixth Indian to receive the honour, after Sunil Gavaskar, Bishan Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid.
Donald took 330 Test and 272 ODI wickets before retiring in 2003.
Fitzpatrick is the second highest wicket-taker of all time with 180 ODI scalps and 60 Test wickets. She also coached the Australia women's team to three World Cups.

India Top Standings after Aishwarya's record

Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar shot down the men's rifle 3 positions junior world record on way to gold, helping India top the medals tally in the Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany. India finished with 10 gold, nine silver and five bronze.
The youngster aggregated 1171 in qualification where a shooter fires 40 shots each in the kneeling, prone and standing positions.
His score was enough for a fourth place in a field of 72 where the top eight made it to the medal round.
In the finals, Aishwarya began strongly and finished with a resounding victory.
He also ensured India topped the medals tally, something a Chinese 1-2 in the event could have jeopardised. China finished second with eight gold and 24 medals in all.

Jul 19, 2019

Zimbabwe Cricket Suspended

The International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to suspend Zimbabwe cricket with immediate effect.
This decision which was taken at the ICC Annual Conference in London was approved following a failure to fulfil their obligation of providing free and democratic elections, with no government interference in administration.
This suspension resulted in funding from the ICC being suspended with participation in ICC events including the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier under threat.

Sachin Tendulkar Inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was inducted into the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Hall of fame at a ceremony in London.
South African pacer Allan Donald and former Australian cricketer Cathryn Fitzpatrick were inducted as well.
The 46-year-old became the sixth Indian to be included in the elite group, after Sunil Gavaskar, Bishan Bedi, Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid.

Indonesia Open

Top Indian shuttler P. V. Sindhu fought hard to progress to the women's singles quarterfinals but it was curtains for Kidambi Srikanth in the men's singles event of the Indonesia Open
Sindhu, seeded fifth defeated unseeded Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark in a second-round encounter.
Eight seeded Srikanth was stunned by NG Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong in a 39-minute second round contest.
Sindhu would next face the winner of the match between Malaysia's Soniia Cheh and-third seeded Japanese Nozomi Okuhara in the last-eight round of the BWF World Tour Super 1000 tournament.

Jul 18, 2019

Qatar in India's Qualifying Group

India have been drawn alongside Oman, South Asian rivals Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Asian champions Qatar in the preliminary joint qualification Round 2 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
While Qatar will play the 2022 World Cup as hosts, they will have the chance of booking their place for the 2023 Asian Cup in China by topping this group.
In case they win their 2nd round group, Qatar will be given the choice of playing the third round, subject to FIFA approval.
Held in Kuala Lumpur, the draw saw 40 teams being divided across eight groups of five each. The eight group winners from this round as well as four of the best second place finishers will progress to the third round of World Cup qualifying and also seal berths in the 2023 Asian Cup main rounds.
The rest of the teams will fight it out for the remaining 12 spots for the Asian Cup.
India have played only one competitive fixture against Qatar in the past, losing 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier in 1996.
They have played Oman on more occasions, however, including twice in the World Cup qualifiers in 2015. India lost both those games — 2-1 at home and 3-0 away.
North Korea and South Korea are drawn together in Group H. The two teams had been drawn together in two stages of the 2010 World Cup qualifying as well.
At the time, North Korea's home games against their southern rivals were shifted to Shanghai after the country refused to play the national anthem and fly the national flag of South Korea.

Inzamam Steps Down as Pak Selector

Inzamam-ul-Haq announced his decision to step down as Pakistan's chief selector when his contract expires on July 31, 2019.
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam, who was appointed to the role in April 2016, oversaw a period which included Pakistan's victory in the Champions Trophy two years ago.
Inzamam's final assignment was to select the Pakistan squad for the World Cup, where the Sarfaraz Ahmed-led team finished fifth in the group stage and failed to qualify for the semi-finals.
During Inzamam's tenure, players such as Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Abbas, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi and Usman Shinwari made their international debut.

Anish Wins 25m Rapid Fire Gold

Anish Bhanwala won his second ISSF Junior World Cup gold in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol, consolidating India's position at the top of the standings in Suhl, Germany.
Anish shot a solid 584 in qualification to top the charts. In the final, Anish led from the front and never shot below three hits out of five in each of the 10 series of shots.
Agneya Kaushik combined with Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu and Udhayveer Sidhu to win the team bronze with a total of 1709. India won two more medals on the day in the 10m air rifle mixed team junior.
The pair of Shreya Agrawal and Yash Vardhan won silver. Mehuli Ghosh and Hriday Hazarika won the bronze.
India now has eight gold, eight silver and four bronze from the tournament for a total of 20 medals.

Hima Das Clinches Fourth Gold

Indian sprinter Hima Das clinched her fourth gold in a fortnight as she won the 200m race with a creditable timing in the Tabor Athletics Meet in Czech Republic.
Hima won the race in 23.25 seconds, which had a mediocre field with most of the competitors representing clubs of Czech Republic. Compatriot VK Vismaya was second with a season's best of 23.43. Hima has a 200m personal best of 23.10 seconds.
This was 19-year-old Hima's fourth gold since July 2, 2019 when she ran her first competitive race in Europe. She has been improving since her first race.

Jul 17, 2019

Australia Targets T20 World Cup in 2020

Australia is banking big on women and men T20 cricket world cups in 2020 to achieve the mark of half million tourists in a year, a target which it had set for 2022.
With a record 3,64,600 visitors in 2018-19, Tourism Australia is in talks with airports in Australia and Indian airlines to increase the capacity between two countries.
According to the data provided by Tourism Australia, visitors from Delhi and Maharashtra contribute heavily to the tourist inflow and with 7.5 lakh Indians living there, the Australian government is hopeful to achieve 5 lakh tourist by the end of 2020.
Since last five years, the island nation has seen double digit growth in Indian visitors every year with majority of them visiting Canberra and South Australia.

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