Fit Yuvraj raring to roar again, fans waiting eagerly to see him on the field

September 7, 2012

yuva_roar

The cricketing world anxiously awaits the Twenty20 contest between India and New Zealand here on Saturday, says a report in The Hindu, adding that for, staging a comeback to the fold would be a valiant son of the game, who nearly got caught in the vice-like grip of the Grim Reaper, but shook himself free after a pretty close call.


Yuvraj Singh is no ordinary cricketer, half a dozen sixes off a Stuart Broad over in the 2007 World T20 tournament eliciting ecstasy in equal measure as Nadia Comaneci’s perfect 10 at the 1976 Montreal Olympics perhaps, if not for the exploit’s enormity itself. Few would doubt the feisty southpaw’s attitude but a pause to ponder would be worthwhile whether it’s too early to thrust him into the T20 cauldron or if he should have been allowed more time to recoup sufficiently, after coming within hand-shaking distance with death.


“I watched Yuvraj at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore about a fortnight ago,” said V.V.S. Laxman. “Not only did he look in good shape physically and mentally, he was also hitting the ball well. Most importantly, he was hungry again to contribute to the team. I was chatting with him when he was undergoing treatment in the US. The mental strength in his approach to life came through very clearly,” the former player noted.


Meanwhile Indian Express writes that Yuvraj Singh takes the centre stage. “Not just for the fact that the left-hander is making his comeback in Team India colours for the first time since November last year, but mainly because curtains have finally fallen on Yuvraj’s testing times. And it now rises on his second cricketing life.He withstood huge physical discomfort during the 2011 World Cup, but still emerged as the player of the tournament for India. Later that year, he was diagnosed with cancer. But the 30-year-old refused to budge, winning the battle of his life. Now, in Vizag with the T20 side, Yuvraj is ready to face his first international delivery on Saturday. Against New Zealand in the first of two T20s,” says the report.

“Can’t describe in words how I’m feeling right now,” Yuvraj said, speaking to The Indian Express on a rainy Thursday. “I just can’t wait anymore. When I arrived in Vizag this morning, it was raining and our practice was cancelled. I was disappointed. I really want to play.” With no training, Yuvraj hit the gym hard at the ACA-VDCA Stadium — for close to 90 minutes. So what does it feel like to be able to hit those cover drives again? Yuvraj, with tongue firmly in cheek, answered. “Arrey pehele tabiyat ke bare mein pooch, phir cricket ke baare mein baat karenge.” Cricket, after all, can mean just that much.


Meanwhile in an interview to The Times Of India, Yuvraj says that h was a happy-go-lucky guy who believed in going with the flow. “I was always tense about my batting, bowling and the game. However, everything changed after I was diagnosed with cancer. It was like a setback. Now, I am happy to breathe and eat normally again. The battle has made me stronger. I'm not going to stress about my performance anymore. I don't know how I will play, but I can assure you that I will give my 100 per cent to it,” says Yuvi, adding that there were times when he feared that he wouldn’t make it, especially when chemotherapy started affecting his body.


“But eventually, I was confident that I will overcome it. My mother has been a great support. She used to get food for me at the hospital. My friends didn't pity me, they motivated me. When I was on medication though, I used to feel dejected and cry a lot,” says Yuvraj, adding that he doesn’t neglect his health anymore.


Yuvraj says in the interview that initially he was nervous and was struggling to hit the ball. “It's been three months of intense training and I'm improving. The more I play, the more I get better. I used to watch my matches in the hospital and get angry. It was Anil (Kumble) who asked me to stop watching cricket and take care of my health. When I came back, I wanted to play. But I used to start panting after climbing just three steps. I am working on it. I don't know how I will perform, but getting on the field will be a huge achievement and I can't wait to do it.”


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Agencies
January 25,2020

Headingley, Jan 25: England have become the first team in the world to score 500,000 runs in Test cricket. They achieved the feat during the ongoing fourth and final Test against South Africa being played at The Wanderers.

On Friday - the opening day of the Test match -- England captain Joe Root's single through the covers took the Three Lions to a landmark 500,000 run-mark in the longest format of the game. They achieved the feat in their 1022nd Test match.

Australia comes second in the list, with 432,706 runs in 830 Tests. India, meanwhile, are third, with 273,518 runs in 540 Tests, followed by West Indies (270,441 runs in 545 Tests).

In the third Test played at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth, England had become the first team to play 500 Test matches on foreign soil. Australia are the second team to play the most away Test with 404 matches they have played so far.

India have played 268 Tests on foreign soil in which they have won 51, lost 113 and 104 have ended in a draw.

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News Network
April 12,2020

New Delhi, Apr 12: As devotees across the world celebrate Easter today, former Sri Lanka skipper and current Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) president Kumar Sangakkara on Sunday condoled the demise of people who lost their lives during last year's Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka and said someone must seek answers to the questions which still remain unresolved.

"A year on we all share the pain of the families grieving lives lost, we stand with you and for you. We remember. So many questions still unanswered, but answer them someone must," Sangakkara tweeted.

On April 21, 2019, multiple blasts ripped through Sri Lanka when the Christian community was celebrating Easter Sunday.
The explosions rattled churches and high-end hotels across the country, killing 258 people and injuring over 500.

A local terror group called National Thowheeth Jama'ath had claimed responsibility for the devastating attacks.

The island nation was put under a state of emergency for a period of four months from April to August.

The Sri Lankan police had then said that 293 suspects were arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday bombings in the island country in April.

This year, most of the devotees would be offering the prayers from their homes as mass gatherings have been suspended in most countries due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Easter marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ following his crucifixion on Good Friday. It also marks the culmination of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and penance.

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News Network
January 31,2020

New Delhi, Jan 31: Indian women's team captain Rani Rampal on Thursday became the first-ever hockey player to win the prestigious 'World Games Athlete of the Year' award.

The World Games announced the winner on Thursday after 20 days of polling by sports fans world-wide.

"Indian hockey superstar Rani is The World Games Athlete of the Year 2019! Huge congratulations!," the World Games said in a statement.

"With an impressive number of votes, 199,477, Rani is the clear winner of the Athlete of the Year race, where sports fans all over the world have voted for their favourite during 20 days of polling in January. All in all, over 705,610 votes were cast during the poll," it added.

Last year, India won the FIH Series Finals, and Rani was named Player of the Tournament. Under Rani's leadership, the Indian women's team qualified for just the third Olympic Games in its history.

"I dedicate this award to the entire hockey fraternity, my team and my country. This success has only become possible with the love and support from hockey lovers, fans, my team, coaches, Hockey India, my government, friends from Bollywood, fellow sportspersons and my countrymen who have continuously voted for me," said Rani, who was recently named among the Padma Shri awardees.

"Special thanks to FIH for nominating me for this prestigious award. Thank you to The World Games Federation for this recognition," she added.

Rani further said after a successful 2019, she is now looking forward to achieving greater heights with the national team in 2020, which also happens to be an Olympic year.

"It is my privilege and honour to win this award. It is always nice when your country recognises your effort. It is even better when the international sports community recognises it. Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me," she said.

"2019 was a great year for our team because we qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. As a team we want to make 2020 a great year!"

Rani, who has been a member of the national team since she was a 15-years-old, currently has more than 240 caps for India.

"Rani is an inspirational athlete, and a role model for many in India. It was amazing to see the support the Indians, even as high up as Mr Rijiju, the Minister of State, Youth Affairs and Sports, gave to her in this vote together with the Hockey fans all around the world. This is what sport is about: uniting people from different backgrounds and different countries," said International World Games Association President Jose Perurena.

The International Hockey Federation also congratulated Rani on being named for the award.

"Congratulations @imranirampal for becoming the first ever Hockey athlete to win the prestigious @TheWorldGames Athlete of the Year award!" the FIH, who nominated Rani for the award, said in its twitter handle.

"On behalf of FIH and the global hockey community, I would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Rani for having been voted The World Games Athlete of the Year 2019. This is an acknowledgement of her outstanding performances - together with her team-mates - and her dedication to hockey and her leadership," FIH CEO Thierry Weil said.

"This prestigious Award is also a great recognition for hockey globally. Furthermore, we are working hard for and looking forward to having Hockey 5s as a demonstration sport at The World Games 2021."

Congratulating Rani, Hockey India President Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad said, "This is a very proud moment for all of us. She is the first Indian athlete to win this award and through her achievements Rani has been able to draw a lot of attention towards women's hockey. Many people are aware of the team's recent accomplishments and I am confident this team is capable of winning larger goals and I wish Rani and the team best of luck this Olympic Year."

There were initially 25 nominees, male and female nominated by their respective sports federations, which was later reduced to 10 in the final round of public voting.

The FIH has recommended Rani's name for her outstanding performances and her ability to lead by example.

Karate star Stanislav Horuna of Ukraine was second behind Rani with over 92,000 votes and Canadian powerlifting world champion Rhaea Stinn was third.

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