Playing in one format mentally tough, says Sania Mirza

September 21, 2015

Mumbai, Sep 21: Indian top women's tennis star Sania Mirza on Sunday said that while confining herself to playing in doubles was good for her body physically it was, at the same time, a mentally draining affair.

Sania Mirza"I am playing in one format which is a lot easy on my body, but mentally it's tough. Peaking for 25 weeks a year is not easy," world No 1 in doubles, she was conferred with the honorary life membership of the Cricket Club of India.

Sania, who had won the US Open doubles crown with Swiss partner Martina Hingis after grabbing the Wimbledon title for back-to-back Grand Slam women's doubles titles, explained how difficult it was to keep playing non-stop on the pro circuit.

"The main thing is to peak for the (Grand) Slams, but it's very tough and one of the hardest things to do mentally.

But tennis players are used to it. I have already played 60 matches this year, close to 50 of those with Martina - which are a lot of matches."

The Hyderabad-based player said while chemistry between partners off the field was not essential, it helps during a difficult period in matches on court.

"We don't have to be best of friends. But at Wimbledon when we were 5-2 down in the third set, during the break (between games) it was chemistry that helped us pull through.

We have to trust each other's ability on court," she added.

She was referring to the 5-7, 7-6, 7-5 win she and Martina achieved over Russian rivals Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the women's doubles summit clash.

"Martina loves India. India has been good for her," she added referring to the Swiss player's partnership in women's doubles as well as mixed doubles with another Indian ace - Leander Paes.

Asked about the remainder of the season, Sania said on paper it would be considered a failure if she and Martina do not clinch the two tournaments they are taking part in - the Guangzhou International Women's Open, starting tomorrow in China, and the WTA year-end finals at Singapore from October 25 in which they are the defending champions.

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News Network
April 30,2020

New Delhi, Apr 30: Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday mourned the demise of veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor, called his death 'unreal and unbelievable' loss.

"This is unreal and unbelievable. Yesterday Irrfan Khan and today Rishi Kapoor ji. It's hard to accept this as a legend passes away today. My condolences to the family and may his soul rest in peace," Kohli tweeted.

Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
"It's shocking to hear about the sudden demise of #RishiKapoor ji. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. May his soul rest in peace," Dhawan tweeted.

Earlier today, actor Amitabh Bachchan confirmed the news of the demise of the 67-year-old Rishi Kapoor. Rishi Kapoor was admitted to the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday.

In September 2019, the veteran actor returned to Mumbai after staying in New York for almost a year for cancer treatment.

He was last seen in the 2019 film 'The Body' alongside Emraan Hashmi and Shobita Sobhita Dhulipala.

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News Network
January 30,2020

Hamilton, Jan 30: Caught unaware about the Super Over scenario, Rohit Sharma took five minutes to “find” his abdomen guard after the third T20 International against New Zealand had ended in a tie on Wednesday.

The India vice-captain said the team had almost given up with New Zealand going great guns at one point.

“Everything was packed. All my stuff was inside my bag. I had to get it out. It literally took me five minutes to find my abdomen guard because I didn’t know where it was,” Rohit said.

“I mean we never thought it would go to the Super Over, the way they were batting at one point. It looked like they could easily win the game,” he added.

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News Network
May 24,2020

Melbourne, May 24: Former Australia captain Mark Taylor does not foresee the T20 World Cup scheduled in October-November going ahead and wants the ICC to take a decision during its Board meeting this week.

Taylor also feels that if IPL takes place during the window the T20 World Cup was to be held, the Australian players are likely to be cleared by their Board to take part in the cash-rich league in India.

The ICC Board meets on May 28 to discuss a host of issues related to COVID-19 pandemic, including a revamped schedule and the fate of the men's T20 World Cup in Australia.

For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here

"My feeling is the World T20 won't go ahead in Australia in October as planned. Is it going to be viable to have a world tournament in October or November? The answer to that is probably no," Taylor, also a former Cricket Australia (CA) director, was quoted as saying by 'Nine Network'.

"It would probably be good (if a decision is made this week). Because then everyone can start planning and we can stop sitting here and saying 'well ifs, buts or maybes'."

CA chief executive Kevin Roberts has said that a call on the fate of the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held from October 18 to November 15, may potentially not come until August.

Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths

But players and administrators around the world are keen for some certainty and many have predicted that the 16-team event will soon be postponed.

There are reports that the BCCI is eyeing the October window for the IPL though officially it maintained, that it will not consider new dates of the cash-rich league until the T20 World Cup's fate is decided.

Taylor said the CA wants to keep BCCI happy so the Australia players are likely to be cleared for the IPL if it happens in October.

Pat Cummins, who was bought for a record amount of Rs 15.50 crore in last year's IPL auction, is among the Australians keen to take part in this year's competition.

"The Cricket Australia board will want to keep India happy. So they may want to let the players go to India if the IPL goes ahead," Taylor said.

"Because they want India to come here this summer and play, which will be our biggest summer in terms of dollars. That's the sort of discussion going on. No doubt."

Virat Kohli's team is scheduled to arrive in Australia for a Test tour starting November, which will go along way in addressing CA's financial woes triggered by teh COVID-19 pandemic.

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