I am working on the mental aspect of my game: PV Sindhu

Agencies
March 17, 2018

Birmingham, Mar 17: Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu says losing close matches from advantageous position dealt a blow to her confidence and she is looking to overcome it by working on the mental aspect of her game.

Sindhu achieved unprecedented success in the last couple of years but she also lost some heart-breaking losses in the finals of 2016 Rio Olympics, 2017 World Championship, 2017 Dubai Super Series Final and India Open this year.

"I have lost matches were I am leading. I know physically and mentally at times when you lose such matches it hits you, but we have to comeback stronger to ensure that it doesn't happen again," Sindhu said after ekeing out a thrilling win over Japan's Nozomi Okuhara to enter the semifinals of the All England Championship here.

"I have been working on my mental game. My coaches have been telling me, because sometimes I find when I hit out or tap to the net, when you actually have to get points, I lose confidence and get nervous. So they tell me 'let it be its over.' I have been practising that and I think I am getting better," she added.

In a re-match of the epic Glasgow World Championship final, Sindhu saw off Okuhara 20-22 21-18 21-18 in the pulsating clash that lasted one hour and 24 minutes. "It was like the World Championship and Dubai Super Series match, not so long may be but it was not easy to play against Okuhara. We know each other's game so there were long rallies. We had to give our best," Sindhu said.

"In the first game, I was leading 20-19 and I hit at the net. I was nervous, I was also trailing in the second but I knew it is not over till the last moment and I fought back and won 21-18. We can't expect easy points, we have to strategies our game focusing on each point. I was down in the decider and she was leading 16-12 like yesterday against Jindapol. So I am just happy I could fight back and win. It feels really great to be at the semifinal."

Asked what was her strategy against Okuhara, an opponent she has played 10 times now, losing five and winning as many times. "I have to be patient enough, and keep going, keep the shuttle in the court because she is a rally player, so have to be very consistent. She doesn't leave any shuttle, till the last minute, even if you hit the shuttle down, you can't relax and think it is over, you have to pick it up. You have to be ready always," Sindhu said.

The World No. 3 Indian, however, said quick recover will be the key tomorrow as she has played three three-game matches in the last three days. "I am playing well but it has been three-setters right from the start in this tournament and I really need to go back and recover well. It is not over because tomorrow going to be a big match. I have to give my 100 per cent," she said.

India chief coach Pullela Gopichand said he was happy to see Sindhu upset Okuhara today in another pulsating contest.

"It was a tough match and I think both of them are used to playing long matches,and it is good that she ended on the right side this time but Okuhara has been a fantastic fighter and it is great entertainment for the spectators," he said.

"Overall very happy to see Sindhu pull off a great win. They have had a very similar matches all along, and hopefully she will pull through in the next couple of days as well," he said.

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News Network
April 24,2020

New Delhi, Apr 24: India's World Cup-winning former opener Gautam Gambhir performed the last rites of his deceased domestic help after her mortal remains could not be sent to her home in Odisha due to the coronavirus-forced national lockdown.

Gambhir, also a BJP Lok Sabha MP, posted a tribute on his Twitter page for his employee Saraswati Patra, who was working at his residence for the past six years.

"Taking care of my little one can never be domestic help. She was family. Performing her last rites was my duty," he tweeted.

"Always believed in dignity irrespective of caste, creed, religion or social status. Only way to create a better society. That's my idea of India! Om Shanti," said the 38-year-old Gambhir, who played 58 Tests for India between 2004 and 2016.

Media reports in Odisha said the 49-year-old Patra hailed from a village in Jajpur district.

She was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital a few days ago and was battling diabetes and high blood pressure for a long period. She breathed her last while undergoing treatment on April 21.

Union Minister of Petroleum and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan appreciated Gambhir.

"Taking care of Saraswati throughout the course of her illness, he also ensured her dignity in death by performing her last rites himself since her mortal remains could not be sent to her family back home in Odisha," Pradhan, who also belongs to Odisha, tweeted.

"His act of compassion will enliven the faith in humanity for millions of poor, who are working far from their home for livelihood and will garner respect from all folds of the society."

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Agencies
January 14,2020

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News Network
January 10,2020

Srinagar, Jan 10: Real Kashmir FC made a strong comeback in the second half to play out a 1-1 draw against former champions Punjab FC in their home I-League match here on Friday.

The 'Snow Leopards' equalised in the 62nd minute through Gnohere Krizo in front of a partisan crowd of 8,500 spectators after Makan Chothe had given Punjab FC the lead in the 21st minute at the TRC ground.

After Thursday's draw, Punjab FC is placed third on the table with 10 points from seven games. Real Kashmir FC remained at eighth with six points from five matches. This was Real Kashmir's third home match on the trot.

The match was a story of two halves as the first belonged to the visitors who enjoyed a 62 per cent possession of the ball, whereas the second belonged to the home side.

Both the teams were looking to gain an early advantage and Punjab FC took the lead after 21 minutes.

Confusion inside the Real Kashmir box because of a long ball from Punjab opened up an opportunity for Chothe and he made no mistake as he smashed the ball at the back of the net.

As the fans cheered on, Real Kashmir created a flurry of chances, but none of the home side players could find the back of the net. Punjab was able to hold on to their slender lead heading into the tunnel.

The second half resumed with Real Kashmir pressing high up the field and pressurising Punjab.

In the 56th minute, Real Kashmir playmaker Kallum Higginbotham cut through two defenders on the left side of the box and the ball fell to Mason Robertson, whose shot was too weak to trouble the Punjab goalkeeper.

Soon after, it was Danish Farooq who tried a curler from a distance but his shot did not have enough bend to trouble the Punjab goalkeeper. The home team's effort finally paid off in the 62nd minute.

A miscalculated header by Danilo Augusto fell at the feet of Gnohere Krizo, who was one-on-one with the keeper. He made no mistake in striking the ball into the opponent's goal to score the equaliser.

Real Kashmir was in their groove now, and Kallum came in from the right with a beautiful low cross across the face of the goal but Mason could not get a touch as the chance went begging.

The duo of Kallum and Mason were proving difficult for Punjab to deal with. In the 82nd minute, a beautiful long ball by Kallum found the head of a towering Mason, but the effort went just over the crossbar.

Within a few moments, Punjab again had another nervous moment as Chesterpoul Lyngdoh's cross from the right side hit the arm of Thoiba Singh but the referee turned down an appeal for penalty.

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