Belief that we’re the best is half the battle won: Sania Mirza

November 2, 2015

New Delhi, Nov 2: It was a choice between playing both singles and doubles on the WTA Tour and shortening her career or focusing solely on the team game to be able to play to her fullest. Her professional career had been hampered by injuries and when it was clear that her body wouldn’t be able to cope with the demands, Sania Mirza made a decision three years ago. Many questioned, some argued while others felt she was taking the ‘easy route’ out. On Sunday, as the 28-year-old stood proudly on the podium in Singapore with her second WTA Finals trophy and as the best doubles player in the world, she knew there would be no more questions.

saniaLast year when Mirza and Zimbabwe’s Cara Black qualified for the $7million year-ender, it was their maiden run. Not only did she become the first Indian to clinch the title but on Sunday when she retained it, albeit with a different partner, it was the perfect way to end the season.

Perfect chemistry

With Black, Mirza achieved glory but when the Indian combined forces with Swiss miss Martina Hingis in March, a run which only can be described as magical, began. The 35-year-old compliments her game and that booming forehand which opponents have still failed to break down. Hingis is almost as agile as she was 15 years ago as she races down the court or at the net to finish off points. They have become friends which is much-needed in such partnerships and have even started calling themselves ‘SanTina’.

When they came together, just a couple of days shy of the Indian Wells tournament, Mirza and Hingis were hoping the new combination would work. They won without dropping a set. Nine titles later, which include two women’s Grand Slams, the Indo-Swiss duo ended the season as the best. Spaniards Garbine Muguruza and Carla Suarez Navarro literally had no answer to those booming forehands which Mirza kept hitting on Sunday. In 66 minutes, it was all over. The scoreline read 6-0, 6-3 in favour of the world No 1 pair. They had ended their season just as they had begun, winning without dropping a set.

In fact, since March, they’ve only lost nine sets. For the statistically minded, the final win was their 22nd on the trot, having last lost a match in August in Cincinnati. It was particularly memorable for Hingis as she completed 50 WTA doubles wins, a milestone only 15 before her have reached.”It’s about choosing the right partner,” smiles Hingis.

Reaching top spot

When Mirza decided to focus on doubles, the aim was to become the best. She finished 2013 breaking into the top 10 and after that it was just a matter of time as she inched closer to the summit. In April this year, she clinched the elusive No 1 spot and has refused to part with it since.

With such a dominant partnership whereby they’ve lost just one final in Rome, it’s the belief and confidence which have played a huge role. “We do feel very confident every time we step on the court... We do feel, believe we’re the best team out there... I think half the battle is won there,” explained Mirza after the win. “On court, off court, we have a lot of fun and it’s the perfect way to end the year for us.”

With such chemistry, a dream of a Calendar Grand Slam is not farfetched and that’s already next year’s target for SanTina.

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News Network
January 31,2020

Wellington, Jan 31: A nervous New Zealand threw it away yet again as a perseverant India prevailed in the Super Over for the second successive time to take a 4-0 lead in the T20 International series on Friday.

Needing just 11 runs off the last two overs with seven wickets in hand, New Zealand dug a hole for themselves yet again, taking the game to a Super Over two nights after doing the same in Hamilton.

New Zealand managed 13 runs in six balls and India got there effortlessly.

KL Rahul smashed 10 runs off the first two balls before he was caught. Then, a fired-up Virat Kohli and Sanju Samson finished the game in style.

Earlier, Manish Pandey proved his value to the team with an unbeaten 50 off 35 balls, taking India to 165 for eight from 88 for six in the 12th over.

India's total wasn't enough considering the batting-friendly conditions but the hosts made life a lot tougher for themselves from a commanding position before succumbing to pressure.

The entertaining knocks from Colin Munro (64 off 47) and Time Seifert went in vain (57 off 39).

Mohammed Shami, who was rested on Friday, had bowled a brilliant 20th over on Wednesday and man of the match Shardul Thakur was up to the task this time, conceding just six runs when the opposition needed seven for victory.

With the series already in the bag, India gave opportunity to Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar and Navdeep Saini for the first time in the five-match series, resting Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Shami. However, none of them was able to make an impact in the game.

Chasing 165, New Zealand lost Martin Guptill early. But Munro and Seifert put on 74 runs for the second wicket to put themselves on track.

Munro scored a half-century of 38 deliveries, inclusive of six fours and three sixes. He was out against the run of play as Kohli's direct hit surprisingly found the target after a relay throw from the deep.

It was the turning point as New Zealand lost regular wickets. Yuzvendra Chahal bowled Tom Bruce (0), but Seifert found a partner in Ross Taylor as they pushed the score past 150 in the 18th over.

Seifert scored a half-century off 32 balls, including four fours and three sixes. But the great choke was yet to come again. Needing 18 off 18, the Black Caps lost four wickets in the last over bowled by Thakur.

Taylor holed out of the first ball, while Seifert was run out two balls later. Daryl Mitchell (4) was caught next and Mitchell Santner (2) couldn't steal two runs off the last ball as the sides engaged in a tie-breaker for the second game running.

This was after New Zealand won a fourth consecutive toss and opted to field. Kane Williamson didn't take part in the match owing to a shoulder niggle.

Tim Southee was the stand-in skipper, with the Black Caps making two changes.

Put in to bat, the visitors were struggling at 88-6 at one stage before Pandey's lonesome rescue act took them to a respectable total. KL Rahul contributed 39 runs off 26 balls, inclusive of three sixes and two fours.

Leg spinner Ish Sodhi got into the act and ran through India's batting order. First to go was Shreyas Iyer (1) and then Shivam Dube (12) was caught at mid-wicket.

Sodhi finished with 3-26 while Santner dismissed Sundar for nought as the New Zealand spinners rounded up a good outing with 4-54 in eight overs.

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Agencies
February 20,2020

New Delhi, Feb 20: Grappler Divya Kakran on Thursday became the second Indian woman to win a gold medal at the ongoing Asian Wrestling Championship.

Divya, a bronze medallist at Asian Games 2018, earned her first gold by winning all her four bouts against Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Japan.

Her final bout against Naruha Matsuyuki of Japan was the closest one but she managed to outclass her opponent 6-4 to seal her name on the gold medal. The 68 kg category was played in round-robin format as only five wrestlers were in the fray.

India is likely to add some more medals to its tally when Nirmala Devi, Pinki, and Sarita go out to grapple for the yellow metal in their respective weight categories.

Three-time Commonwealth championship gold medallist, Nirmala Devi (50 kg) first defeated Munkhnar Byambasuren of Mongolia in the quarterfinals by 6-4 to reach the semis.

In the semi-finals, Nirmala got the better of Dauletbike Yakhshimuratova of Uzbekistan by 10-0 and will play against 2018 Under-23 World Champion Miho Igarashi of Japan for the gold medal.

Pinki (55 kg) started her day on a winning note against Shokhida Akhmedova of Uzbekistan by 12-4 in round 3 and lost to Kana Higashikawa of Japan to enter the semis where she defeated Marina Zuyeva of Kazakistan by a score of 6-0.

Pinki will play in the gold medal bout against Dulguun Bolormaa of Mongolia.

Sarita (59 kg) will now face Battsetseg Altantsetseg of Mongolia in the gold medal bout after winning against her opponents in the qualifiers, quarterfinals and semi-final by a score of 10-0, 11-0 and 10-3, respectively.

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Agencies
April 12,2020

London, Apr 12: Former Formula 1 legendary driver Stirling Moss died at the age of 90 on Sunday.

"All at F1 send our heartfelt condolences to Lady Susie and Sir Stirling's family and friends," Formula 1 said in a statement.

Often referred to as the greatest driver never to win the world championship, Moss contested 66 Grands Prix from 1951 to 1961, driving for the likes of Vanwall, Maserati and Mercedes, where he famously formed a contented and ruthlessly effective partnership with lead driver Juan Manuel Fangio.

In his 10-year-long stint at the tracks, Moss took 16 wins, some of which rank among the truly iconic drives in the sport's history - his 1961 victories in Monaco and Germany in particular often held up as all-time classics.

Moss won the 1955 Mille Miglia on public roads for Mercedes at an average speed of close to 100mph, while he also competed in rallies and land-speed attempts.

Following an enforced retirement from racing (barring a brief comeback in saloon cars in the 1980s) after a major crash at Goodwood in 1962, Moss maintained a presence in Formula 1 as both a sports correspondent and an interested observer, before retiring from public life in January of 2018.

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