Sharapova revels in rivalry with Serena

November 12, 2012

Maria_Sharapova

New Delhi, November 12: “Beauty sells“, Maria Sharapova had once famously remarked, an ironic statement from someone who evokes a sense of awe and admiration both for her tennis and drop-dead gorgeous looks.

At 25, she presents a perfect picture. Four time Grand Slam champion, hugely talented, stunning looks, earnings in the range of $25 million a year the highest for a women athlete worldwide a long queue of endorsements, modelling assignments and fans across the globe.

On Sunday, during her maiden visit to the country, the Russian displayed that she had a funny bone and is experimental too. “I began my day with a dosa in breakfast; it came on the chef's advice!” Sharapova beamed.

Year 2012 has been special for her. After a shoulder surgery in 2008, the former world number 1 clawed her way back to the top again, with a remarkable French Open win this season and was followed by silver at the London Olympics.

“The French Open win this year was extra special. I was injured for a year. And to come back with a different perspective about how to get into winning positions and to learn how hard it is to convert them into wins... it was an incredible experience that I will never forget,” she said.

“After a rewarding season, I get to visit a country that is new for me and I haven't explored before. People appreciate what you do and that means a lot to me.”

On the surface, hers seems like a fairy tale story. But ask her, and the ever-smiling beauty throws open a window into her private world which was anything but perfect as she grew up in Sochi, Russia.

“I come from a very normal, average family. In fact my mother was still a student when she gave birth to me. My father had to look for so many jobs and we kept moving (from one city to another). We have seen hard times and looking back, tennis wasn’t such a big sport at that time,” comes the honest reply.

Critics believe that her background added to her success. “At the end of the day, I am glad that my family was never afraid to support me. They saw a fire in my eyes, one day hopefully I become the number 1 in the world. And I consider myself very lucky that they carried the belief.”

“It was a big decision for them to move to the US and they were never afraid to give me what I needed. It helped me at every step of the way what I am today,” Sharapova confesses. She now has plans to continue the upward journey in 2013 and said her rivalry with Serena Williams of the US were among the factors “that helped make tennis competitive.”

“Serena is an incredible athlete. It is great to have rivalries in sport as it makes the competition better. You try to keep working hard and change the result in future,” she said.



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News Network
April 21,2020

New Delhi, Apr 21: India skipper Virat Kohli on Tuesday said people seem to have become more compassionate while coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and hoped the sense of gratitude towards frontline workers like doctors and police personnel remains even after the crisis is over.

Speaking in an online class organised by "Unacademy", Kohli and his actor wife Anushka Sharma spoke at length about the challenges they faced before tasting success.

"The one positive out of this crisis that we as a society have become more compassionate. We are showing more gratitude to the frontline workers in this war, be it police personnel, doctors or nurses.

"I hope it stays this way even after we overcome this crisis," said Kohli with Sharma seated next to her.

Kohli said the pandemic has taught the world a very important lesson.

"Life is unpredictable. So, do what makes you happy and not get into comparisons all the time. People have a choice now how to come out of this phase. Life is going to be different after this," said the skipper.

For Sharma, the pandemic has forced people to care about the basics in life.

"There is a learning in all of this. Nothing happens without a reason. If the frontline workers were not there, we would not have access to basics," she said..

"This has taught us that no one is special than the other. Health is everything. We are more connected as a society now," she added.

During the session, Kohli was asked about the moment when he felt most helpless.

"I felt nothing was working for me when I was not picked for the state team initially. I cried the whole night and asked my coach 'why did I not get selected'?" he responded.

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News Network
June 2,2020

New Delhi, Jun 2: Manchester United's Paul Pogba on Monday paid tribute to George Floyd, stressing that violent acts of racism can no longer be tolerated and they have to stop.

Pogba took to Instagram to write: "During the past few days I have thought a lot about how to express my feelings about what happened in Minneapolis. I felt anger, pity, hatred, indignation, pain, sadness."

"Sadness for George and for all black people who suffer from racism Every day! Whether in football, at work, at school, Anywhere! This has to stop, once and for all! Not tomorrow or the next day, it has to end today! Violent acts of racism can no longer be tolerated," he added.

Protests erupted in Minneapolis and other US cities on Tuesday after Floyd, an African-American man, died following his arrest by the four officers.

A viral video showed a police officer, Derek Chauvin, pinning 46-year-old Floyd to the ground with his knee on his neck for nearly eight minutes. Floyd died at a local hospital shortly thereafter.

The four police officers were fired. Chauvin was also charged with murder and manslaughter, according to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.

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zaki ahmed
 - 
Wednesday, 3 Jun 2020

This photograph in the above mentioned article is of Floyd Mayweather Jr , the world welterweight & super heavy weight champion & wrongly menitoned as Pogba .

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News Network
January 28,2020

Hamilton, Jan 28: No one sits on the seat that Mahendra Singh Dhoni made his own in the team bus, revealed India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, saying that the talismanic former skipper is missed by the side.

In a video shot inside the team bus while it was on its way to Hamilton for the third T20 International against New Zealand, Chahal is seen talking to several members of the squad including Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul.

Towards the end of the video, he moved to the rear of the bus and pointed to an empty seat which, he said, was the former captain's preferred spot before he went on a sabbatical last year.

"Yeh woh seat hai jahan ek legend baithate the. Mahi bhai. Abhi bhi yaha koi nahi baithata. Hum unhe bohot miss karte hai (This is the seat that used to be occupied a legend. MS Dhoni. No one sits here now. We miss him a lot)," Chahal said in the video posted on 'bcci.tv'.

The-38-year-old Dhoni has not played a competitive game since the World Cup semifinal loss to New Zealand on July 9. Earlier this month, Dhoni was dropped from the BCCI's list of centrally contracted players, raising fresh doubts on his future.

However, on the same day, Dhoni returned to training, batting fluently in the Jharkhand team nets.

Head coach Ravi Shastri has hinted that the celebrated wicketkeeper-batsman might retire from ODIs soon but will be in contention for a T20 World Cup berth provided he does well for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.

The Indian team lead the five-match T20 series against New Zealand 2-0.

Virat Kohli's men will take on the hosts in the third T20 here on Wednesday.

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