Sports

30 Jul

Dream Sports Foundation launched the ‘Dare To Dream’ initiative

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Dream Sports Foundation (DSF), the philanthropic arm of Dream Sports, one of India’s leading sports technology companies, launched the ‘Dare To Dream’ initiative in partnership with Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools (BBFS) Residential Academy to support six talented young footballers. Scouted by the Indian Football Foundation, a sister concern of the BBFS, the young prospects are between the ages of 12 to 17 years and come from challenging backgrounds from Manipur, Meghalaya and Uttarakhand. As part of India’s largest football training program, the BBFS Residential Academy currently has four campuses across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi NCR and Kerala. Bhavit Sheth, Chief Operating…

28 Jul

First Indian badminton player Nandu Natekar passes away

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Indian badminton icon Nandu Natekar passed away in Pune on Wednesday. Natekar, who was the first Indian badminton player to win an international event back in 1956, was 88. The six-time national singles champion made his India debut at the age of 20 and successfully shouldered the responsibility of leading India’s challenge in the Thomas Cup men’s team championship for more than a decade from 1951-1963. Recipient of the first Arjuna Award in 1961, Natekar was a touch artist who would mesmerise his opponents with his deceptive skills and stroke perfection. He created history for Indian badminton when he clinched…

27 Jul

Second T-20 postponed as Krunal Pandya tests positive for Covid-19

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The second T20 International between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo on Tuesday was postponed after all-rounder Krunal Pandya tested positive for Covid-19. Krunal, who tested positive on Monday, has been quarantined and the entire contingent's RT-PCR test reports are awaited. "Yes, Krunal has tested positive and today's T20 international has been postponed. The RT-PCR test reports of others in the Indian contingent are awaited," a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity. The match was to be played at the R Premadasa Stadium. India won the first T20 international by 38 runs and it is quite baffling…

26 Jul

India reach quarterfinals in men’s team archery

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The Indian men’s archery team reached the quarterfinals beating Kazakhstan 6-2 at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. The Indian team of Atanu Das, Pravin Jadhav and seasoned Tarundeep Rai defeated the Kazakhstan team of Denis Gankin, Ilfat Abdullin and Sanzhar Mussayev in a close encounter in which all four sets were decided by a single point. They will now meet top seeds South Korea in the next round. The Indians, seeded ninth, won the first set 55-54, as Jadhav and Das scored a 10 each in the last two arrows at the Yumenoshima Park Archery Field. In the second round,…

26 Jul

Tokyo Olympics 2020: Paddler Sharath Kamal advances to Round 3, archers progress to quarters

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He may have lost the mixed doubles opener at the Tokyo Games but there was no stopping veteran table tennis star Achanta Sharath Kamal in his men's singles opener on Monday, July 26. Overcoming a sluggish start, Sharath Kamal dominated Portugal's Tiago Apolonia, showcasing his class on the biggest stage. Sharath Kamal will next face defending champion Ma Long in the third round on Tuesday, July 27. The 39-year-old Sharath struggled in the first game but pulled himself up just in time to win 2-11 11-8 11-5 9-11 11-6 11-9 in the 49-minute second-round contest. The Indian paddler now has…

25 Jul

Tokyo Olympics: PV Sindhu Makes Winning Start At Tokyo Olympics, Beats Ksenia Polikarpova In Straight Games

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Indian badminton star and Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu started her campaign with a comfortable 21-7, 21-10 victory over Ksenia Polikarpova of Israel in her first match of Group J of the women’s singles at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday (July 25). Sindhu lost the first two points but soon bounced back with frequent cross-court shots to register an easy win in straight games. The 26-year-old Indian, seeded sixth, beat the 58th ranked Polikarpova 21-7 21-10 in a lop-sided opening match. The world number seven Indian will next play Hong Kong’s world number 34 Cheung Ngan Yi in the group…

24 Jul

India’s first medal in the Olympics was won by Rupo Mirabai Chanur in weightlifting

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There were huge expectations from weightlifter Mirabai Chanu in the Women’s 49 kg category and she didn’t disappoint as she clinched a Silver medal to open India’s medal tally at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Chanu lifted 115 kg in her second attempt and created a new Olympic record. However, when Chanu went for 117 kg, she could not lift the weight and settled for the Silver medal, to win her maiden Olympic medal. China’s Hou Zhihui clinched the gold medal. Cantik Windy Aisah of Indonesia won a Bronze medal in the same category. Could not have asked for a happier…

22 Jul

Tokyo Olympics: Mandeep Singh has over 150 international caps for India.

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Making his maiden appearance at the Olympic Games, star India striker Mandeep Singh has been enjoying every experience since the team arrived in Tokyo on Sunday. Recounting the moments, Mandeep said, “It has been great so far. Although it took us some time at the airport due to testing and other procedures, ever since we checked into the Games Village it has been incredible. Everything is well-organised and everyone is very careful about all the protocols.” Mandeep also said that the team is quite used to the routine testing and maintaining social distancing and other norms that are mandatory at the…

22 Jul

Olympics set to begin amid Covid-19 gloom

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The Olympic Games, beginning on Friday, is the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza but in the Japanese capital, which is the host city, there is clear lack of enthusiasm. According to media reports, the local public is largely indifferent which is understandable, considering that the Games are being held in the times of the Covid-19 pandemic. “For Tokyo locals, concern has been replaced by indifference. A thriving city enthusiastically hosting a global sporting event is a sight to behold. Right now, Tokyo is not one. That is hardly the fault of the Japanese. With about 80% of the population opposed to…

21 Jul

2nd ODI: Chahar takes India to thrilling 3-wicket win

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Pace bowler Deepak Chahar hammered 69 off 82 deliveries and shared an unbeaten 84-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Bhuvneshwar Kumar to bring India back from the dead and win the second One-day International by three wickets for an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Sri Lanka had made 275/9 in their 50 overs while India reached the target with five balls to spare. The Indian team looked down and out after left-handed batsman Krunal Pandya was dismissed as the seventh man with the team score on 193. Although there were 89 deliveries to get the remaining 83…