Sehwag raises questions by skipping net session again

September 29, 2012

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Colombo, September 29: The Indian team's way of handling senior opener Virender Sehwag and the player's own attitude in this ongoing World Twenty20 is certain to raise questions whether all is well in the Indian camp.

On the eve of the high-voltage match against arch-rivals Pakistan, Sehwag was again seen skipping the entire net session although he did participate in a football game.

While skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli also did not bat during the hour and half net session having played Friday's match, it was inexplicable to watch Sehwag relax and enjoy a chit-chat with other team members when serious questions are being raised about his form and commitment in the shortest format.

During the afternoon training session, the Indians enjoyed their game of soccer for close to 75 minutes - a lengthier session by their standards. Sehwag was goalkeeper of one team and played the entire duration.

Finally, when the net session started, it was again Irfan Pathan who was all padded up and had the first hit in one of the two nets.

The fact that Pathan, who scored 31 off 30 balls against Australia, batted first in the batting session is seen as an indication that he may again open against Pakistan.

Skipper Dhoni has always had a penchant of bowling 'wrong one' to Indian media and it won't be a surprise if Sehwag walks alongside Gautam Gambhir against Pakistan as Irfan Pathan's technique was not good enough for handling a crafty bowler like Umar Gul.

However one expected Sehwag to have a decent hit at the nets when likes of Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Gambhir all looked serious during the session.

Sehwag was seen present in a melee chatting in a relaxed manner with Dhoni and Kohli. While Dhoni and Kohli had a reason not to bat, Sehwag, if he is fit (as claimed by team management) had no reason not to bat at all.

World T20's over the years have not been a happy experience for the 'Nawab of Najafgarh'. Even during India's victorious campaign in the 2007 edition, Sehwag missed the final giving Yusuf Pathan a chance to make his international debut.

During 2009 edition in England, there was a huge controversy as to whether the opener had carried an injury into the tournament which led to skipper Dhoni marching in with the entire team to read out a press statement.

In the 2010 edition in West Indies, Sehwag missed the entire tournament with an injury as India went in with Murali Vijay.

The 2012 edition is also turning out to be an unhappy one for him and it only depends on Sehwag to change the current script.

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News Network
June 5,2020

Jun 5: The Asian Football Confederation has awarded the hosting rights of the 2022 Women's Asian Cup to India for the first time since 1979.

The decision was taken at the AFC Women's Football Committee meeting. In February, the AFC Women's Football Committee had recommended India to be hosts.

In a letter to the All India Football Federation, Dato Windsor John, General Secretary, AFC wrote: "The Committee awarded the hosting rights of the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022 Finals to the All India Football Federation."

The tournament will likely be held in the second half of the year. In the 1979 edition, India had finished as runners-up.

"I need to thank the Asian Football Confederation for finding us suitable to host the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2022," AIFF President, Praful Patel said.

"The tournament will galvanise the aspiring women players and bring in a holistic social revolution as far as women's football in the country is concerned," he added.

The tournament will feature 12 teams, expanded from the previous slot of eight teams.

India qualifies directly as hosts. The event will also serve as the final qualification tournament for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

The tournament comes as the latest boost to AIFF as India is slated to host the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup next year.

India had also hosted the AFC U-16 Championships in 2016 and the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017.

"The tournament will play a huge role in further popularising women's football in India. The Women’s Asian Cup 2022 comes on the back of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2020, and will help us sustain, and build on the momentum gained," AIFF General Secretary, Kushal Das said.

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Agencies
June 7,2020

Mumbai, Jun 7: The Mumbai airport became home for a 23-year-old Ghanaian footballer for 74 days after he got stranded there due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown that led to cancellation of flights.

The ordeal of Randy Juan Muller reminded people of Tom Hank's character in the Hollywood film "The Terminal", and it ended after Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the Shiv Sena, reached out to help him.

Muller has now shifted to a local hotel and is waiting for airlines to resume operations so that he can fly home.

The Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) also provided him all help, including food, and allowed him to use the airport WiFi network to make calls, an official said.

Muller, a Ghana national who used to play for a club in Kerala, was scheduled to fly home by Kenya Airways flight when the lockdown was announced and he found himself stranded at the Mumbai airport.

"He would spend his time at the airport's fancy artificial gardens and somehow buy food from stalls and pass his time with the airport staff. Muller told me the airport staff was very helpful," Yuva Sena office-bearer Rahul Kanal said.

A security officer at the airport gave him mobile phone to call his family back home.

A Twitter user brought Muller's plight to the notice of Maharashtra Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray following which Kanal reached out to the footballer and helped him move into a hotel.

On Saturday, Muller thanked Thackeray and Kanal for their help.

"Thank you Aaditya Thackeray, Rahul Kanal. Thank you very very so much. I appreciate what you have done. Salute," he said.

Kanal in a tweet said when he met Muller at the airport, the latter cried with happiness.

"Have no words to salute his willpower and fight for survival in such circumstances at this age," Kanal said.

An official at the Mumbai International Airport Ltd said the footballer was provided all help.

"All personnel at the airport, including from MIAL and CISF, gave him every possible help during his stay at the airport. Besides food, he was also allowed to use the airport WiFi network to make calls. Airport staff would recharge his phone at their own expense," the official said.

The 2004 film "Terminal" of Steven Spielberg was about a man stranded at a US airport after being denied entry into the country and a military coup back home.

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Northamptonshire, Jul 31: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez has tested positive for coronavirus, and as a result, he will miss the British Grand Prix.

The Racing Point driver was absent from the circuit on Thursday after self-isolating following what his team called an "inconclusive" test. Perez then re-tested later in the day and it returned positive.

Formula 1 is following a strict testing regime as part of the safety protocols put in place when racing resumed earlier this month, and this is the first time a driver has tested positive.

"Perez has entered self-quarantine in accordance with the instructions of the relevant public health authorities, and will continue to follow the procedure mandated by those authorities," Formula 1 and the FIA said in a statement.

"With the assistance of the local organiser of the British Grand Prix, local health authorities and the FIA COVID-19 delegate, a full track and trace initiative has been undertaken and all close contacts have been quarantined," the statement added.

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