Page 18 - Sports

Balakot airstrike becomes theme for Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata

Kolkata, Oct 06 (ANI): A Durga Puja committee in Kolkata has replicated scenes of Balakot air strike, as its Durga puja pandal this year.The Young Boys Club Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee in Central Kolkata, which is celebrating golden jubilee this year, is recreating the events of the air strike with clay models and digital projection at its pandal. In Balakot air strike the Indian Air Force (IAF) jets had bombed a terror outfit's training camp in Pakistan. Kolkata turned into an art lover's paradise with numerous marquees and installations cropping up across the city.

NBA India Games: MoS Kiren Rijiju promises govt support to basketball in India

Mumbai, Oct 06 (ANI): Minister of States for Sports Kiren Rijiju arrived for the NBA match in Mumbai. Speaking to mediapersons, he said, "NBA coming and having their event in India itself is a big event. I'm looking forward to ensure that basketball becomes very important in India, along with that we are going to create a sports culture in India". He further added, "I'm very happy with the way it has been accepted. The NBA teams have interacted with me. We have assured them that we will give them give support, encouragement to ensure that basketball becomes very important in India."

Panasonic contributes to Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games

Tokyo (Japan), Oct 03 (ANI): The Tokyo International Forum hosted a test event for para-powerlifting as part of preparations for 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The spotters wore Panasonic's Power Assist Suit to assist with loading weights, and spotting the competitors to enhance safety and precision. Eri Yamamoto won the gold medal in powerlifting. The Japanese Para Powerlifting Federation and Panasonic have worked on adjusting the Power Assist Suit to fit the needs of the tournament. The Power Assist suit decreases the burden of the spotters and help tournaments to run smoothly. This advanced technology will definitely attracts lots of attention at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and spread worldwide.

Rohit shines as Test Opener, says mental preparation is important

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Oct 2 (ANI): Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma on October 2nd said that he was mentally prepared for the past two years to play as an opener in his Test career. "In West Indies they told me that it's gonna happen now, so I was prepared for past two years that at some stage I might have to open. So mentally I was ready for it," said Sharma. He also emphasised that opening in the red ball cricket is a different game as compare to white ball cricket and mentally preparation is mandatory. Rohit scored unbeaten 115 runs in his first innings as an opener to take India to a commanding 202 for no loss against South Africa before rain.

Ind vs SA: Rohit is mature player, he knows what situation demands: Virat Kohli

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Oct 01 (ANI): Ahead of three-match home series against South Africa starting at Visakhapatnam, Indian Skipper Virat Kohli said, "In test cricket, it's finding your game in different conditions. We are not looking at certain kind of display, certain kind of batting from Rohit. It's about him finding him game at the top. His strength is to take the game forward. He is a mature player and he knows what the situation demands."

Watch: Cricket-Bollywood fusion at Indian Sports Honours annual ceremony

Mumbai, Sep 28 (ANI): Virat Kohli attended the second edition of the Indian Sports Honours with wife Anushka Sharma. A number of sporting celebrities Ajinkya Rahane, Smriti Mandhana, Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh were also spotted. Indian former track and field sprinter Milkha Singh also attended the event. Several B- town celebrities including actress Priyanka Chopra were also spotted at the award ceremony. Indian Sports Honours are awards given annually by the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group in association with the Virat Kohli Foundation to outstanding sports personalities from India.

Powerlifter Arathi bags 5 gold medals in Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in Canada

Chennai, Sep 26 (ANI): Chennai-based powerlifter Arathi Arun once again made India proud in Canada. She bagged five gold medals in 72 kg-M1 category at Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships. She received grand welcome at the airport. Surgeon by profession and mother of two children, Arathi is currently Asian Powerlifting Gold Medallist and National Champion.

Ind vs SA T20I: Team South Africa practices ahead of match

Bengaluru (Karnataka), Sep 21 (ANI): Players of South African cricket team were seen practicing at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on September 21. Today, India and South Africa will play the last match of T20I series. India is leading the series with 1-0.

Ind vs SA: Team India sweats it out ahead of 3rd T20I

Bengaluru, Sep 20 (ANI): Ahead of 3rd T20I match against South Africa on September 22, Indian team practiced on field in Bengaluru. Captain Virat Kohli and his troops are all set to lock horns against South Africa in the 3rd T20I of the three-match series. The match will be played at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. India had sealed victory by 7 wickets against South Africa in the 2nd T20 while the first match was washed out due to rains.

Gambhir thought of leaving cricket in 2007 after being left out of 50-over World Cup squad

Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Sep 20 (ANI): Cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir on Thursday stated that he thought about leaving cricket in 2007 after being left out of the 50-over World Cup squad. India had a disappointing 50-over World Cup in the Caribbean in 2007 as they were knocked out in the group stages. However, in the same year, the Men in Blue lifted the maiden T20 World Cup in South Africa under the leadership of MS Dhoni and Gambhir finished as the leading run-scorer in the tournament. "In 2007, when I missed the 50-over World Cup, that was the lowest moment in my cricketing career. I had given up on cricket. Before that, I had missed both U-14 and U-19 World Cups. In 2007 I thought I was the closest to play the World Cup, but when they did not include me in the squad, I had given up on cricket," Gambhir said. "Then I was chosen in Twenty-20 World Cup in 2007 and I got dismissed for a duck in the first match against Pakistan. But as fate has it, I finished as the leading run-

Wrestler Babita Phogat congratulates sister Vinesh for qualifying in Olympics

Balali (Haryana), Sep 18 (ANI): Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has secured a spot in 2020 Tokyo Olympics after an impressive victory over world number one United States' wrestler Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. Sister Babita Phogat congratulated her on the achievement. Vinesh became the first Indian wrestler to qualify. Vinesh had a wonderful stint in the past in Asian and Commonwealth Games.

Support price based procurement system for apples launched in JandK: Principal Secy

Srinagar, Sep 12 (ANI): Rohit Kansal, JandK, Principal Secy informed that Governor has launched 1st ever support price based procurement system for apples in Jammu and Kashmir. While speaking at the press conference, Rohit Kansal said, "Today, Governor launched 1st ever support price based procurement system for apples in JandK, we've taken note of concerns raised by farmers regarding rates offered to them, as well as transportation issues, this scheme addresses all these concerns." "This scheme will directly or indirectly touch more than 3 million farmers", he added.

PV Sindhu attends grand finale of Junior Badminton Championship

New Delhi, Sep 11 (ANI): Indian ace badminton player PV Sindhu attended grand finale of a Junior Badminton Championship (JBC) in the national capital on September 10. Sindhu felicitated the winners of Championship and also gave a big thumbs-up to the tournament. Junior Badminton Championship completed its fifth edition in 2019. PV Sindhu recently became the first Indian to win a historic World Championships gold medal. She will next play at the China Open World Tour Super 1000 which will be taking place from September 17-22 and Korea Open World Tour Super 500 (from September 24-29). While addressing the media, PV Sindhu said, "For me step by step every tournament is important to play."

JandK cricket team camp shifted to Vadodar

Vadodara (Gujarat), Sep 07 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir cricket team camp was shifted to Vadodara on September 06. Cricketers started their practice at Motibaug ground ahead of Vijay Hazare Trophy. Vijay Hazare Trophy will begin from September 24.

Shooting World Cup gold medallists receive grand welcome in Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 05 (ANI): Indian shooters Abhishek Verma and Deepak Kumar received a grand welcome upon their arrival at Delhi Airport on September 5. Abhishek won gold in men's 10m air pistol event and Deepak won gold 10m air rifle mixed team event at International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup in Rio in Brazil. "India has a bright future in the Olympics as shooters are performing well in the tournament," said Varma while talking to ANI.

US Open: Roger Federer knocked out of quarterfinals by Grigor Dimitrov

New Delhi, Sep 04 (ANI): Grigor Dimitrov slammed Roger Federer by 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to reach his first US Open semi-final. He has become the lowest-ranked player to do so since 1991. Dimitrov, who had dropped all seven prior meetings with Federer, made a dramatic comeback to defeat the Swiss legend at Arthur Ashe Stadium and will face Russian fifth seed Medvedev in Friday's semis. Grigor Dimitrov reached his first US Open semi-final to match the deepest Slam runs of his career from Wimbledon in 2014 and the 2017 Australian Open. Grigor broke Federer twice on the way to a 4-0 lead in the final set and the 38-year-old Swiss star had no effective reply. Federer started the match tremendously but was not able to maintain his usual high level against Dimitrov. The climax came in the fourth set, Dimitrov fighting off five break points to win the set and level match at 2-2.

PV Sindhu meets Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 04 (ANI): Shuttler PV Sindhu met Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan in Delhi. Sindhu became the first Indian to win a World Championships gold medal by defeating Japan's Nozomi Okuhara 21-7, 21-7 in Switzerland's Basel. Two days after emerging victorious, the 24-year-old met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He congratulated her and said that she brought glory to the nation by winning a gold medal.

Hanuma Vihari, find of the series, says Virat Kohli

Kingston (Jamaica), Sep 03 (ANI): India defeated West Indies by 257 runs on the fourth day of the second Test in Jamaica's Kingston at Sabrina Park. With this win, India has won the two-match series 2-0 and they have moved to the top of World Test Championship standing with 120 points. This win is the eighth consecutive series victory for India over Windies. Speaking to mediapersons, Indian captain Virat Kohli said, "We came back really nicely into the game. As a test team we are placed very nicely. I am very confident about how we are going about our things."

Ind vs WI Jamaica test: Duke Ball helped me in gaining confidence, says Bumrah

Jamaica, Sep 02 (ANI): India ended day three of the second Test match at Jamaica's Sabina Park in a dominant position after setting target of 468 for West Indies. In pursuit of 468, Windies got off to a poor start as the side lost its opener Kraigg Brathwaite (3) in the third over of the innings. While addressing the post match press conference, Indian cricket team bowler Jasprit Bumrah said, "I have been working on a lot of deliveries and have played a lot of cricket in England including lot of test matches with a duke ball. There is lot of movement in the duke ball so a player gets lot of confidence which also helped me." "Ball in good areas, create pressure and try to ball full as this was the plan going on in the first innings," Bumrah added. Bumrah is the leading wicket-taker for India as he scalped six wickets, and, with the lone wicket, Ishant became the most successful Indian pace bowler outside Asia.

Khelo India: Youth, kids participated in various sports in J-K's Poonch

Poonch (J-K), Aug 31 (ANI): Youth participated in various sports in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch. Kids also showed their enthusiasm. The event was organised under the scheme of 'Khelo India'. 'Khelo India' is a national programme for development of sports.