Sheetal is a para-archer who has defied all odds to claim historical achievements, including winning a silver medal at the World Archery Para Championships in India…reports Asian Lite News
The success story of Indian female athletes is gaining momentum in recent times and it’s vital to shine the light on them as they keep reaching new heights annually. If you seek motivation or want to be more intentional with your time on Instagram, consider following these accounts. These women have overcome incredible challenges and made India proud. Simran Verma
Meet Simran, a female boxer and silver medal winner of the Youth National Championship and Asian Championship silver medalist, whose unwavering dedication to her sport has propelled her to remarkable heights. She resonates deeply within the boxing community, and her Instagram profile serves as a one-stop destination for budding women boxers to learn more about training and prove themselves in the ring.
Avani Lekhara
The first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics, Avani has made history. Her Instagram offers a profound glimpse into the world of Paralympic shooting, shedding light on the nuances between an abled and differently-abled body. Through her platform, she champions the message of celebrating one’s uniqueness and defying biases to achieve success. Additionally, she connects with other para-athletes for advice. Avani’s story inspires individuals worldwide, showcasing the power of determination and breaking barriers to pursue one’s dreams.
Sheetal Devi
Sheetal is a para-archer who has defied all odds to claim historical achievements, including winning a silver medal at the World Archery Para Championships in India. Her Instagram account reflects her inspiring journey, one of positivity and resilience. She encourages people to believe in their dreams despite any obstacles to spreading awareness about para-archery and serves as a role model for young people, especially those facing challenges.
Aditi Chauhan
Aditi, the Indian women’s football goalkeeper, has defied stereotypes and made history in the sport for over 14 years, from playing in England’s league to triumphs in the Indian Women’s League. Despite facing ACL injuries, Aditi’s passion for representing India has never wavered. She founded the She Kicks Football Academy and the Aditi Chauhan Foundation, empowering underprivileged girls through football. Her Instagram account exemplifies dedication to breaking barriers and advancing women’s football in India, inspiring future generations.
Bhavinaben Patel
Meet Bhavinaben, the Indian para-table tennis player who made history by becoming the first to win a silver medal in both the Asian Games and Paralympics in Tokyo. On her Instagram, she offers more than just glimpses into her training sessions; it’s a source of inspiration and motivation. With messages emphasizing patience, focus, and dedication, her account is a must-follow for anyone seeking to incorporate her winning mindset into their daily routine. Just as one cannot skip meals, one cannot afford to overlook the valuable lessons she shares.
This is India’s best-ever performance in the Asian Games the total medal count of 107 exceeding the previous highest haul of 70 medals by a wide margin….reports Asian Lite News
With the men’s doubles pair of Satsiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty smashing their way to a historic first-ever gold medal in badminton and with two medals each in archery and kabaddi, India bagged 12 medals including six gold to end its campaign in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou with their highest-ever haul of 107 medals.
India finished the Asian Games with a bang, claiming a final-day haul of 12 medals, which took its tally to 107 —– 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze medals — a total that causes disbelief for all those who still remember that the country had left with just one gold medal from Kabaddi when China hosted their first Asian Games in 1990
This is India’s best-ever performance in the Asian Games the total medal count of 107 exceeding the previous highest haul of 70 medals by a wide margin.
It came on the sheer dint of years of sweat and toil of a contingent of 963 including athletes, coaches, support staff and administrators.
While Rankireddy and Shetty uncorked wild celebrations, throwing their racquets, armbands and — in the case of Shetty his sweat-soaked shirt — they danced with gay abandon after beating an experienced South Korean pair in straight sets to win their first gold, the men’s kabaddi team resorted to an unprecedented on-court protest over an official error, holding up play for an hour.
The officials ruled in favour of the Indians after a review, which resulted in the Iranian teams having an on-court sit-in protest. The matter was finally resolved with the Indians getting the points and the Iranians left unhappy over the loss of points as India regained the gold medal after being relegated to fourth position in the 2018 edition in Indonesia.
India, in a sense, presented both the good and bad sides of sports, leaving a bad aftertaste for true sports lovers.
But the good was more prominent on Saturday as India finished fourth in the medals tally, with an unprecedented overall medal haul of 107 — 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze, which though a far cry to China’s massive total of 382 medals — 200 gold, 111 silver and 71 bronze. Japan finished second with 186 medals — 51 gold, 66 silver and 69 bronze — while the Republic of Korea took third place with 190 medals of which 42 were gold, 59 silver and 89 bronze.
The Compound archers presented the good side of the sport as Jyothi Surekha Vennam, in her third Asian Games, and Ojas Pravin Deotable, in his maiden appearance, won gold medals in women’s and men’s individual events respectively in a discipline that is not the Olympic Games programme.
The women’s kabaddi team also restored their dignity by winning the gold medal after being dethroned in the previous edition in Indonesia in 2018. However, the 26-25 victory over first-time finalists Chinese Taipei was too close for comfort for fans in the sports that India gave to the world.
The men’s cricket team won the sixth gold medal for India — the biggest gold haul on a single day — based on a ludicrous rule that declared the winner based on the World rankings of the National team in a rain-abandoned match.
Wrestler Deepak Punia grabbed one of the four silver medals and archer Abhishek Verma had to console himself with his second successive silver medal after losing to Deotale in the final played in cold and rainy conditions.
The wizards from the land of Chathurangam, claimed two silver medals in chess, with the men’s team of D Gukesh, R OPraggnanandha E Arjun, Vidit Santosh Gujarathi and Pentala Harikrishna, finishing second behind Iran while Uzbekistan took bronze.
The women’s team took silver behind hosts China with Kazakhstan claiming the bronze medal.
On Saturday, the women’s hockey team restored some pride by winning the bronze medal match beating defending Champions Japan 2-1 in the third-place match. But what would rankle them most is that the team failed to secure a berth in next year’s Paris Olympics. China grabbed the opportunity to qualify for the Paris Olympics by beating the Republic of Korea in the final.
Archer Aditi Gopichand Swami won the bronze medal. At 17, she represents the future, which looks rosy going by the standard set at Hangzhou.
But the question that would plague the discerning fans of Indian sports is — how many of these will go ahead and succeed at the Paris Olympic Games next year?
The loss to Scotland means West Indies won’t be among the two teams to qualify for this year’s ODI World Cup….reports Asian Lite News
Two-time winners West Indies have been eliminated from the race to qualify for the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup after suffering an embarrassing seven-wicket defeat to Scotland in the Super Six stage of the ongoing qualifiers tournament at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
West Indies were the champions of the first two editions of the World Cup in 1975 and 1979 and finished runners-up to India in 1983. The 13th edition of the ODI World Cup, to be held from October 5 to November 19 in India, will be the first tournament to be played without the West Indies.
The loss to Scotland means West Indies won’t be among the two teams to qualify for this year’s ODI World Cup. The saddening setback is a continuation of West Indies’ decline in ICC tournaments, coming after not making it to the Super 12 stage of the 2022 Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia, after winning just one out of three games in the group stage at Hobart.
West Indies came into the Super Six stage with a very slim possibility of finishing in the top two and qualifying for the ODI World Cup. Losing to Zimbabwe and Netherlands in the group stage meant they carried forward no points into the Super Six and were required to win all three of their games to have an outside chance for qualification.
In a must-win game against Scotland, a shoddy batting performance meant West Indies were bowled out for just 181. The target of 182 wasn’t enough to trouble Scotland, who chased down the total with 39 balls to spare.
Matthew Cross and Brandon McMullen smashed fifties each while sharing a match-winning 125-run stand for Scotland to keep their chances of qualifying for the main event alive, as West Indies touched the absolute rock bottom in the history of their existence in cricket.
Scotland’s new-ball pair of McMullen and Chris Sole rattled the West Indies lineup in the first 10 overs. McMullen brought the first three dismissals — Johnson Charles fell while trying to go over the covers, Shamarh Brooks edged one to slips after going at one with heavy hands and Brandon King spooned a simple catch back to the medium pacer.
Sole increased the misery for West Indies when he uprooted Kyle Mayers’ off-stump in the seventh over to leave the side at 30/4, followed by captain Shai Hope being caught behind off Safyaan Sharif in the 13th over, and Nicholas Pooran holing to deep mid-wicket off Mark Watt in the 21st over.
The recovery finally came from the hands of Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd, who added 77 runs for the seventh-wicket stand. The duo helped the West Indies cross the 150-run mark in the 35th over.
Their stand came to an end in the 37th over when Sharif pulled off a one-handed blinder at the backward point off Watt to get Shepherd (36) out. Holder (45) fell lbw in the very next over against Chris Greaves as West Indies were eventually bowled out in the 44th over.
In reply, Scotland lost a wicket off the very first ball, when Christopher McBride hit a low full toss from Holder to mid-wicket. Cross and McMullen easily rebuilt the innings by adding 40 runs in the first 10 overs.
Though the West Indies bowling was disciplined, they were unable to break the Cross-McMullen partnership. Their only chance came when McMullen hit one straight off Akeal Hosein to the mid-wicket in the 12th over, but Kyle Mayers spilt the chance.
McMullen, who was the pick of Scotland bowlers with his 3-32, also got to his fifty in the 25th over. Cross upped the ante by hitting a hat-trick of boundaries against Kevin Sinclair in the 27th over to reach the 40s, before bringing up his half-century in the 29th over.
Scotland continued to be steady despite the loss of McMullen (69) in the 30th over. In the overs 26-35, they added 56 runs to overhaul the target. Cross (74 not out) had captain Richie Berrington (13 not out) by his side when Scotland eventually got over the line.
Brief scores:
West Indies 181 in 43.5 overs (Jason Holder 45, Romario Shepherd 36; Brandon McMullen 3-32, Mark Watt 2-25) lost to Scotland 185/3 in 43.3 overs (Matthew Cross 74 not out, Brandon McMullen 69; Akeal Hosein 1-26, Romario Shepherd 1-28) by seven wickets
The International Cricket Council initiated a five-week-long celebration to mark the anniversary of the start of the first-ever Cricket World Cup, the Women’s World Cup that was staged in England on June 20, 1973…reports Asian Lite News
Cricket has a unique place in global sport as the sport that organised the women’s World Cup before a men’s world event.
The women’s event was held in 1973 while the men’s took place two years later. The factor common in both events is that they were held in England.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday initiated a five-week-long celebration to mark the anniversary of the start of the first-ever Cricket World Cup, the Women’s World Cup that was staged in England on June 20, 1973.
The tribute to mark the anniversary of the tournament will end on July 28, the day the final match of the 1973 edition was played.
Over the next five weeks, the ICC will publish content that celebrates the event that began the global extravaganza for both the women’s and men’s games, seeking to pay tribute to the heroes of that era.
The tournament opener between Jamaica and New Zealand was washed out without a ball being bowled. The tournament was won by England, who beat Australia by 92 runs at Edgbaston on July 28, 1973, with the trophy presented to the winning captain, Rachel Heyhoe-Flint.
The tournament featured seven teams — Australia, England, an International XI, Jamaica, New Zealand, Trinidad & Tobago, and Young England. British businessman Sir Jack Hayward’s liberal sponsorship of GBP 40,000 brought to life the first-ever Cricket World Cup.
To begin celebrations, the ICC has shared several photos from the event on ICC’s social media channels. The photos include a picture of Jamaica cricketer Paulette Lynch posing with ICC Hall of Famer Heyhoe-Flint, who features in many of the images.
Several former players were delighted to share their memories of the inaugural event and what it meant to them and the game.
Enid Bakewell MBE was the tournament’s leading run scorer with 264 runs for England, scoring two centuries in four innings at an average of 88.00 and a high score of 118, the ICC informed in a release on Tuesday.
She said: “My main memories of 1973 are seeing my dad with his rug over his arm coming to me after I had scored a century!
“After the final had been won by England, we were presented to Princess Anne who later gave me an MBE at Buckingham Palace.
“Rachael Heyhoe-Flint was the real superwoman who fought to promote the women’s game. She took her ukulele to Lord’s and played it outside the ground on the street to let people know that women played cricket.
“She was a real inspira”ion on and off the field,” Enid Bakewell said.
Lynne Thomas was the second leading run-scorer and opened the batting for England. She ended the tournament with 263 runs in four innings that included a highest score of 134, averaging 87.66.
She said: “It was a great honour for me to represent England in the first-ever World Cup in 1973. I felt I was also representing my home country, Wales, of which I am very proud. It was a hugely successful tournament played in a true sporting spirit.
“The staging of the World Cup in 1973 put a tournament format into the women’s cricket calendar for the first time. It took place every four years and is still being played today. I think that its success has contributed to the forming of other women’s world events such as the T20 World Cup,” she was quoted as saying by ICC in a release.
Being introduced to Her Royal Highness Princess Anne before the final and holding the Cup after the presentation were also major highlights for the players.
“I have fond memories of the happy times the team spent together. The closeness of the team members, how we blended together and the fun we had. We all enjoyed playing cricket and the friendships we formed will last forever,” she added.
Louise Browne (Trinidad & Tobago captain): “It does not seem as though 50 years have gone by since I was asked to lead the Trinidad and Tobago women’s team to the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1973. Four members of our squad had attended Cricket Week in Malvern (England) in 1971, but the rest of the team had not travelled beyond the Caribbean borders.
“At that inaugural World Cup, we placed fifth among the seven participating teams, with wins only against Young England and Jamaica. Our participation, however, brought recognition to women’s cricket, not only in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica but throughout the Caribbean region.
“It is a pleasure to know that women can now play cricket professionally. The franchise tournaments being established worldwide have added excitement to the game. I hope that the present players will continue to be true ambassadors for our sport, and they will represent their country or region with the passion and pride that we did. Women’s cricket in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean, and the world still has a long”way to go, but we are on the right track.”
Said Margaret Jennings (Australia), “It was the first time I had ever travelled to the UK along with most of my teammates.
“Previously, tours had been once every 10 years but here we were playing against the best teams in the World before anyone else had even thought of it. It was such a wonderful feeling to play against different countries and provided all of us with experiences money could not buy,” she said.
“Thanks to Rachel Heyhoe-Flint and Sir Jack Hayward we were treated well, and we all felt like real international cricketers in 1973. The concept of playing against all teams was one to be savoured and the final game against England where we were well and truly beaten, didn’t matter as cricket was the winner,” she added.
Sharon Tredrea of Australia recalled some memorable moments from the 1973 event. “This was the biggest thing to ever happen in women’s cricket, a World Cup format, prior to the men, none of which would have occurred without the amazing work of Rachel Heyhoe-Flint and her friend, Sir Jack Hayward, who sponsored the entire tournament.
“For me, representing your country is such a proud moment. To have had the opportunity to participate in this World Cup, now 50 years ago was a privilege. The competition during the World Cup was fierce, but played in a very sporting way, with a lot of respect for opponents. This World Cup showcased the best of the best from around the world and opened the eyes of many who dismissed women’s cricket.
“The build-up, once we arrived in England was incredible. It was like nothing any of us had experienced before. Every day, news articles in the major newspapers were published, and to have the opportunity to play on major grounds in the UK was mind-blowing.
“It created a tournament that has carried on through 50 years, albeit the format changing with the times, now 50 overs not 60, but it was the catalyst for more regular international competitions and the forerunner to the game we now see, boasting professional women cricketers around the world. I was fortunate to go on and play in three more World Cups, winning those three as a member of the Aussie team.
“Although it was bitterly disappointing to lose that first final to England, the media loved it and it pr”vided unheard-of publicity for the women’s game globally,” she recalled.
ICC Chief Executive, Geoff Allardice paid tribute to the pioneers of the women’s game, saying: “Today is not just a celebration of 50 years of the Women’s Cricket World Cup, but the first-ever Cricket World Cup and gives us the opportunity to recognise the women who were pioneers of our sport. In staging the first-ever Cricket World Cup, they set the foundations in place for the vibrant women’s cricket landscape we enjoy today.
“The global growth of women’s cricket is one of the ICC’s six strategic priority projects. Part of this is our mission to grow the number of female cricket fans and participants in the game worldwide and deliver ICC women’s events of equal standing and recognition with men’s events.
“The launch of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2009, the professionalization of women’s cricket around the world and the exciting number of global franchise T20 leagues is the fruit of the seed that was pla”ted by Rachel Heyhoe-Flint and her fellow players back in 1973,” he added.
Indian Premier League is here and the restaurant at Seven Seas hotel are offering discerning diners the exciting chance to witness all the action of IPL with the best screen experience and top seats in the house, an exclusive theme-based delectable IPL menu and some absolutely refreshing tap drinks with buckets of Popcorn ofcourse for the full feels for cricket lovers and foodies! Feature by FnB columnist Riccha Grrover for Asian Lite International.
This special IPL experience is happening now at their Seventh Sense Restaurant. The restaurant have curated a special IPL themed menu that features mouth-watering dishes representing every IPL team. From Punjab’s Amritsari Fish Fry to Lucknow’s Famous Galouti Kebabs, Delhi’s Ram Ladoo to Mumbai’s delicious Pav Bhaji, Kolkata’s Shukto to Hyderabadi Gosht Biryani and so many more dishes on this one or a kind seasonal menu to enjoy while you cheer for your favourite IPL team.
With the IPL season currently on, there is a lot of excitement amongst cricket fans and Seven Seas hotel is only making the experience even better for their regular patrons and new guests. The exceptionally talented Chef Saurabh Singh and his wonderful team have curated the mouthwatering IPL themed menu that will leave those taste buds satiated. Just one glance at the dishes spread at the buffet is enough to entice you and make you crave a bite of each dish while you watch your favorite team on screen with your friends and family.
Sharad Sharma, General Manager at Seven Seas Hotel shares “Cricket and food unites the people in India. We are celebrating cricket and delicious regional dishes of India. We have added special dishes like Chennai’s Puttu with Kadla Curry, Rajasthan’s Dal Baati Churma, Gujrati’s Dabeli and so much more to provide the best pan-india food experience to our guests at Seven Seas.”
“At Seventh Sense Restaurant, Special IPL offers are added in the menu during all the evening matches. The experience of watching an IPL can’t get better than this” added Jitendra Kumar Singh, Assistant F&B Manager.
Weather you’re a die-hard cricket fan or just looking for a fun night out, visit Seventh Sense Restaurant and don’t miss out on this unique and delish experience with the IPL Fever on.
The new IPL menu started from 9th April and will be on till May 28, 2023 for a fabulous cricket season.
You will find that the decor is cricket themed, the vibe is cricket focussed and the buzz in the restaurant with fellow cricket fans is all very cheering. To top it the food is outstanding, the menu choice is varied and will satiate a variety of palates and service is top-notch also attentive. The buffet spread and lay out is extraordinary including the presentation of treats and eats. The whole experience is exceptional and it’s highly recommended!
The Seven Seas hotel in Rohini is in a commercial area is 2 km from a metro station and 4 km from Japanese Park, which features lakes and walking trails. Polished rooms come with Wi-Fi access, flat-screen TVs and minibars. Elegant suites add living areas. Room service is available. Dining options include a restaurant, a 24-hour eatery and a cafe. There’s also a nightclub and a bar. An outdoor infinity pool and a hot tub offer city views. Other amenities consist of a spa, a gym and a kids’ pool, as well as a grand ballroom. Seven Seas Hotel has become a much sought after destination for making any corporate or social event a memorable and resounding success. The luxury hotel is home to over 100 classically designed with world-class amenities to ensure that our guests keep coming back. The hotel offers scrumptious cuisines from different parts of the world, prepared by expert chefs. Address- 12, M2K Rd, Mangalam Place, Sector 3, Rohini, New Delhi, Delhi 110085. Instagram – @sevenseashotel
Mumbai Indians ride on Sciver-Brunt’s unbeaten 60 to beat Delhi Capitals, emerge WPL champion…reports Asian Lite News
Nat Sciver-Brunt struck a superb half-century to capitalise on a good show by their disciplined bowlers as Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Capitals by seven wickets to emerge champions of the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) in front of an adoring full-house at the Brabourne stadium, here on Sunday.
Sciver-Brunt struck 60 not out off 55 deliveries, hitting seven boundaries and raising 72 runs for the third wicket with captain Harmanpreet Kaur (37) and 39 for the unbeaten fourth wicket partnership with Amelia Kerr (14 not out) to guide them to 134/3 in 19.3 overs after their bowlers Issy Wong, Hayley Matthew and Amelia Kerr shared eight wickets between them as Delhi Capitals were restricted to 131/9 in 20 overs.
Delhi Capitals, who had topped the table for a direct berth into the final, had opted to bat first on winning the toss but could manage only 131/9 in 20 overs, that too because of an unbeaten 52 runs partnership for the 9th wicket between Shikha Pandey (27 not out) and Radha Yadav (27), who hammered 36 runs off the last two overs of their innings.
Mumbai Indians too got off to a poor start as they lost both their openers Hayley Matthews (13) and Yastika Bhatia (4) with only 23 runs on the board.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt came together to raise 72 runs off 75 balls for the third wicket, building the innings with patience and caution, and keeping alive Mumbai Indians’ hopes.
With Mumbai Indians needing 37 runs off 23 balls, Harmanpreet went for a risky single and was out by yards as Shikha Pandey sent an accurate throw to bowler Alice Capsey, as they slumped to 95/3. Sciver-Brunt found a willing partner in Amelia Kerr as they took Mumbai past the 100-run mark.
With 21 needed off the last two overs, Sciner-Brunt struck a boundary off Jonassen to complete her half-century off 52 balls.
She took a single off the next ball and Amelia Kerr blasted two boundaries off successive deliveries and took a single from the last delivery as Mumbai went into the final over needing five runs from six deliveries. Alice Capsey conceded one run off the first delivery and then Sciver-Brunt struck a brace off the next ball and paddled the third delivery for a boundary to seal victory for Mumbai Indians.
Sciver-Brunt was declared Player of the Match for her brilliant innings. She was also adjudged Player of the Match for her unbeaten 72 in the Eliminator against UP Warriorz.
WPL 2023 final: ‘Amazing feeling’, ‘historic win’, ‘feeling over the moon’; Mumbai Indians members rejoice after maiden triumph
On Sunday, she held the Mumbai Indians innings together once again and made all the difference for the first champions of the WPL.
Earlier, Delhi Capitals landed in trouble early as Shafali Verma (11), Alice Capsey (0) and Jemimah Rodrigues (9) were out in the first five overs, all three offering easy catches off full-tosses bowled by Issy Wong, who claimed a hat-trick in the Eliminator against Up Warriorz.
Captain Meg Lanning, who struck five boundaries in her 29-ball 35, and Marizanne Kapp (18 off 21 balls) added 38 runs in 35 balls for the fourth wicket partnership but were out at the most crucial juncture as Delhi’s innings derailed.
Kapp edged behind off Amelia Kerr and Lanning was run out in the next over after a mix-up with Jess Jonassen as Delhi slumped to 74/5 in 12 overs.
They lost Jess Jonassen (2), Arundhati Reddy (0), Minnu Mani (2) and Taniya Bhatia (0) in quick succession to slump to 79/9 from where they could only partially recover to 131/9 thanks to the late blitzkrieg by Shikha Pandey (27 not out) and Radha Yadav (27 not out).
The duo hammered 36 runs off the last two overs of the innings, hitting Issy Wong for 20 runs in the 19th over and taking off 16 from the final over bowled by Nat Sciever-Brunt, with Radha Yadav smacking sixes off the last two deliveries of their innings.
Issey Wong (3-42), Hayley Matthew (3-5) and Amelia Kerr (2-19) shared the spoils as Mumbai Indians set themselves up for a modest chase.
Brief scores: Delhi Capitals 131/9 in 20 overs (Meg Lanning 35, Shikha Pandey 27 not out, Radha Yadav 27 not out; Hayley Matthews 3-5, Issy Wong 3-42, Amelia Kerr 2-19) lost to Mumbai Indians 134/3 in 19.3 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 60 not out, Harmanpreet 37, Amelia Kerr 14 not out; Radha Yadav 1-24) by 7 wickets.
At the same time, there is some cheer for India as captain Rohit Sharma is back to lead the side since he sustained a left thumb injury during the ODI series in Bangladesh in December 2022..reports Asian Lite News
After a 2-1 T20I series win against Sri Lanka, India are all set to turn their focus towards ODIs against the Dasun Shanaka-led side, with the series kickstarting from ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday.
With the series all set to mark the start of a crucial year as the ODI World Cup will be held in India in October-November, the hosts’ have been hit hard by a late pull-out of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as a precautionary measure, thus extending his delay into playing competitive cricket since suffering a reoccurrence of back injury in September 2022, which also saw him miss Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
At the same time, there is some cheer for India as captain Rohit Sharma is back to lead the side since he sustained a left thumb injury during the ODI series in Bangladesh in December 2022. Alongside him, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and K.L. Rahul are expected to slot back into the playing eleven in Guwahati after not being a part of the T20I series against Sri Lanka.
With Rohit set to open and Kohli at number three, India need to see how they fit in Iyer, Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan. Kishan played a sensational career-best 210 against Bangladesh in Chattogram, while Gill showed he can be a solid opening option through his performances in the format in 2022.
Iyer, on the other hand, was the key figure in India’s middle order for ODIs in 2022. Moreover, the maverick Suryakumar Yadav is there in the squad too, itching to carry his T20I form into ODIs and get a spot in the Indian scheme of things for the ODI World Cup.
With the ball, veteran quick Mohammed Shami’s return will be good for India and can pair up with Mohammed Siraj, and either Arshdeep Singh or Umran Malik. It remains to be seen how India use up Hardik Pandya’s overs in the format apart from seeing how Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal fare in the spin department.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be banking on skipper and seam-bowling all-rounder Dasun Shanaka to lead by example after doing the same in the T20I series. They would wish for young opener Pathum Nissanka to give a solid start with Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka and Kusal Mendis chipping in.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana will take care of the spin bowling department with leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay coming in too. In the fast-bowling unit, they have options in Dilshan Madushanka’s left-arm fast-bowling apart from pacers in Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha and Pramod Madushan.
The first ODI was also a day-night affair. It was 32-degree Celsius, sunny and overcast, increasingly the latter. The pitch had pace and the dry grass on it bound it rather than aided any untoward seam movement…writes Ashish Ray
It may only be limited overs cricket. But the cost of Rohit Sharma’s absence in the Test series in South Africa last winter (due to injury) and in the Edgbaston Test against England last week (because of Covid) is becoming all too apparent.
The authority, calm and control the Indian captain brings to the team’s campaigns tend to inject a dramatic difference to the tourists.
After winning the Twenty20 series 2-1 on Sunday, the Indians on Tuesday humiliated England in the opening ODI of the three-match series. The visitors, after dismissing the home side for 110, did not lose a wicket before crossing the finishing line, in effect winning the game by 10 wickets. It stamped India’s superiority over England in no uncertain terms.
While in the modern era, the coach and colleagues are consulted on what a team should opt for if they win the toss, the onus of the eventual decision is on the skipper. Bat first and set a target was the mantra in the just concluded T20Is, which were played in the late afternoon and evening.
The first ODI was also a day-night affair. It was 32-degree Celsius, sunny and overcast, increasingly the latter. The pitch had pace and the dry grass on it bound it rather than aided any untoward seam movement.
In hindsight, it is easy for pundits to say that it was a no brainer to bowl first. But the ease with which Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root (both were back in the England XI for this match) blunted the Indian quick bowlers at Edgbaston, the psychological advantage rested with the hosts. Besides, in the past seven years, England have been more potent in white ball cricket than in the red ball format, including winning the World Cup in 2019.
Sharma’s faith in his faster bowlers was not misplaced. In the muggy conditions caused by the heatwave sweeping England, they swung the ball disconcertingly. Statistics compiled on SKY’s coverage revealed the white ball has never swung more at The Kia Oval (venue of the match). It surpassed past records to bend on an average by 1.29 degrees. This, considering the fact that none of the exponents in the Indian XI is a classical swing bowler, emphasised how much the natural atmosphere plays a part in the sport.
Jasprit Bumrah, relieved of the onerous task of stand-in captain, was phenomenal with figures of 6/19.
There is no animated behaviour or sledging in Sharma’s leadership. But there oozes an inner steel in the Mumbai cricketer. He was misguided in his media reaction to the likes of the well-meaning Kapil Dev calling for introspection over Virat Kohli (injured and therefore rested in this game). This was most uncharacteristic of Sharma, who, under Kohli, was the PR face of Team India.
But as the Delhi star’s successor, he walks a tightrope about his obviously declining predecessor, who has been one of the great batsmen of his generation. You are damned if you defend him, damned if you don’t.
The aerial environment was almost identical when India batted. But the experience of Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan shone through. Neither was at his best, especially the left-hander. But with the ask so modest, they were unhurried, though not snail-paced. Sharma’s unbeaten 76 off 58 balls said it all.
Continuing dry surfaces as the hot weather intensifies could bring spinners into prominence in the next ODI at Lord’s on Thursday.
Rafael Nadal refused to surrender to his injury and hung on to hold off American Taylor Fritz in five sets, reaching the men’s singles semifinals at the Wimbledon Championships once again…reports Asian Lite News
The 22-time major champion Nadal left the court for a medical timeout in the second set, after losing the opening set 3-6, and appeared to be struggling with an abdominal issue midway through the four-hour, 20-minute quarterfinal encounter on Wednesday. Yet the second seed showcased trademark resilience, raising his aggression to keep points short and producing a high-class deciding-set tie-break to seal a 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) victory.
“The body, in general, is fine but of course in the abdominal, something is not going well, to be honest,” said Nadal after the match and admitted that for a lot of moments, he thought he would not be able to finish the match.
But the 36-year-old Spaniard didn’t let the crowd down as he returned to the court and picked up his racket. Wild cheering accompanied him since then whenever he got a point.
Nadal broke in the 11th game to take the second set 7-5, but Fritz dominated the following set with huge serves and big forehands.
The 24-year-old American put himself ahead with another 6-3 win, but Nadal always with a never-say-die attitude, came back again by winning the fourth set 7-5.
In the deciding set, both broke once and tied until 6-6. Nadal sensationally started the tiebreak with a 5-0 lead before wrapping it up 10-4.
“I just wanted to give myself a chance. Not easy to leave the tournament. Not easy to leave Wimbledon, even if the pain was hard,” said Nadal.
Nadal, who won the Australian Open in January and the French Open in June, is seeking to keep his bid for the 2022 Grand Slam alive at the grass-court major. His next opponent is Nick Kyrgios as the Australian beat Cristian Garin from Chile 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(5) to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam for the first time.
But the Spaniard said he could not guarantee that he would play the semifinals on Friday as he would go for some tests on Thursday.
“I hope to be ready to play,” said Nadal on Wednesday. “Nick is a great player on all surfaces, but especially here on grass. He’s having a great grass-court season and it’s going to be a big challenge. I need to be at 100% to keep having chances and that’s what I am going to try to do.”
The win against Fritz improved Nadal’s quarterfinal record at Wimbledon to 8-0. The two-time champion’s ability to find big shots at big moments was key in what was otherwise an even battle at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. The American converted eight break point opportunities to Nadal’s seven, while both players fired 56 winners in a high-quality display of all-court grass-court tennis, according to a report on the ATP Website.
Wednesday’s victory was Nadal’s fourth consecutive triumph in a five-set match. He also went the distance this year in wins against Denis Shapovalov and Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open, and Felix Auger-Aliassime at Roland Garros. The Spaniard’s career record in five-setters now stands at 26-13.
This is India’s most extreme Giant Swing. You are fitted with a seat and chest harness which is connected to the fixed wire ropes…reports Asian Lite News
Adventure sports have always been an escape from mundane life.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a worldwide lockdown as restrictions forced people to stay indoors. The global health crisis had a huge impact on the adventure sports market, as the aviation and hospitality sectors also bore the brunt. However, with the adventure sports activities gradually opening now, it is time to set yourself free!
India is home to some stunning destinations, which in the last few years have been developed to house some thrilling adventures. Niharika Nigam, Director, Business Development at Jumpin Heights shares adventure sports activities that will help you beat the pandemic blues and get your adrenaline pumping while exploring some gorgeous landscapes in the most novel ways possible!
Bungy jumping: Quite popular among adrenaline junkies, this extreme adventure sport will make you forget all your worries as you see the world ‘upside down’ (literally!).
Rishikesh in Uttarakhand touted as the adventure capital of India is home to India’s highest Bungy platform standing mighty tall at a height of 83 meters. After operating over 1 lakh jumps there – a global record for adventure tourism in India, they have recently opened their second location in Goa with a whole different vibe of bungy jumping over Mayem Lake in North Goa.
Run by ex-Army officers, and with jump masters trained extensively under experts from New Zealand, they follow Australia and NZ safety standards for Bungy operations. Besides, Rishikesh and Goa offer safe and professionally conducted bungy jumping amidst breathtaking views. So explore the valleys of Rishikesh or the azure lake of Goa while jumping into their infinity! Take that ‘leap of faith’ and earn some serious bragging rights!
Giant Swing: This is another extreme adventure, and it can be done solo as well as with two people in tandem. You can try this exhilarating activity with your friend, spouse, sibling, or family members and have once in a lifetime memory to be cherished for a long time! Jump is done from the same Bungy platform in Rishikesh. This is India’s most extreme Giant Swing. You are fitted with a seat and chest harness which is connected to the fixed wire ropes.
On jump, after an initial free fall, the ropes will smoothly swing you like a pendulum as you are left suspended in the mid-air. This adventure sport allows you to enjoy double the freefall of the Bungy, with considerably more speed, and almost as much fear.
Flying Fox: Imagine yourself taking in the bird’s eye view of the scenery around you, while being harnessed to the wire on a zip line. Asia’s longest flying fox is in Rishikesh where you can fly at 140kph. Accelerate up to speeds of 160 kmph and feel the air gushing past, while you are lowered down to just 7 meters above the river level.
River rafting: Summer is here, with scorching heat increasing day by day, and what would be better than river rafting in white waters at Rishikesh or Manali! The excitement and adrenaline rush you get while riding and tumbling down the white waters is simply unmatched! Since it is a team sport, it is great for mental health as well as overall well-being. And basically having a splendid day out in the river!
In addition to this, there is paragliding, skiing, and trekking – all available in the country – which can help rejuvenate your senses.
These adventure sports can be enthralling but physically demanding as well. It is advised you do not go for these activities under peer pressure or in questionable settings. Ensure your safety by researching the organisation handling these sports. Make sure they have solid rescue operations and safety procedures in place. Be certain of the expertise of their experts and know your own limits. It is also important to do your own research and see what criteria each of these sports demands.
The pandemic took a toll on overall physical and mental health as lockdown meant a sedentary and restricted life for most of us. Adventure sports can make you feel alive again and help you challenge yourself as these activities are a true test of mental strength. After all, “A life lived without adventure is a life wasted.”
