Saina scripts sensational victory against World Champ Marin

December 11, 2015

Dubai, Dec 11: Saina Nehwal scripted a remarkable victory over reigning World Champion Carolina Marin to turn around her campaign at the BWF Super Series Finals even as Srikanth faced exit after suffering his second straight loss in the men's singles here today.Saina

Facing early exit after her capitulation against Japan's Nozomi Okuhara yesterday, Saina rose like a phoenix to notch up a memorable 23-21 9-21 21-12 win over the World No. 1 in a women's singles match that lasted an hour and 15 minutes. The Indian plays defending champion Tai Tzu Ying in her final league match tomorrow.

World No. 8 Srikanth's campaign is almost over after he went down 13-21 18-21 to Denmark's Viktor Axelsen in a Group B match. His hope of progressing any further hinges on a match between Japan's Kento Momota and Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien Chen.
The 22-year-old from Guntur will meet Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien Chen tomorrow in his final Group B match in the round-robin stage.

In the women's singles match that saw a lot of vociferous cheering and vocal celebrations and pumping of fist, it was Saina who walked away with a smile on her face.
Saina came out with a positive attitude and it reflected in her game as she used her repertoire of strokes to tame her formidable opponent, who was not as nimble-footed as Okuhara and also committed too many errors on her forehand.

In the opening game, Saina led 9-4 but she misjudged a couple of shots and Marin too stepped up the pressure by dominating the net to grab the lead with six straight points. However, Saina ensured she had the advantage at the break.

Marin tried to keep the shuttle at the forecourt by drawing Saina close to the net and marched ahead to 15-12. Saina fought back and wrested control at 16-15 when the Spaniard hit the net. Saina continued to surge ahead with Marin succumbing to unforced errors, reaching 19-16.

Marin then drew level at 19-19 before Saina earned the game point with Marin finding the net. But a couple of wayward shots and it was 21-20 in favour of Marin. However, another forehand return going to net and a wide shot by Marin gave the game point to Saina, who grabbed it this time.

The second game started on an aggressive note with the duo battling like warriors. Saina kept her poise and even smiled at her mistakes while pumping her fist after winning crucial points.

Marin kept the shuttle at back hand and deep forehand of Saina, testing her all the time. She moved into the lead at 7-5. The Spaniard was called for a fault when her racquet touched the net but unfazed, she continued to race ahead and entered the interval with a five point advantage.

Saina tried to slow down the pace of the rallies after the break but Marin continued to dominate by playing her acute angled strokes. The Indian also faltered with a few unforced errors to allow Marin to gallop away with the second game.

The decider started on an aggressive note again as once again the duo fought tooth and nail. Saina moved into a slender 10-5 lead at one stage before Marin reduced it down to 8-11. However, a mistimed shot gave Hyderabadi an 11-8 lead at the interval.

Saina continued to exert pressure on her opponent after the break and pushed her to commit errors. Marin's unforced errors fuelled Saina's charge as she extended her lead to 16-8. A couple of terrific angled smashes took Saina to 19-9. Marin grabbed three points then but Saina moved into the match point when Marin hit wide and closed the issue comfortably in the end.

In the men's singles, Srikanth, who had beaten Viktor twice early this year en route to his triumph at Swiss Open and India Open, could not produce his best.

In the first game, World No 6 Viktor moved into a 6-3 lead in the opening game but Srikanth kept breathing down his neck and played some exciting rallies by mixing his shots. The Indian clawed back to level the scores after catching his rival in the forecourt.
However Viktor entered the break with a 11-10 lead after Srikanth misjudged a shuttle as it fell on the baseline.

A few unforced errors and some sharp strokes helped Viktor to swell the lead to 16-11 after the interval.

Srikanth tried to keep the shuttles in the corners but he couldn't control it properly as Dane led 20-13 and went on to win the game.

In the second game, Srikanth seemed little unsure of his strokes as his smashes went wide and Viktor too used his variation to dominate the proceedings. He once again opened up an 8-4 lead and entered the break with a six point advantage.

After the interval, Viktor stepped on the gas and his smashes got more precise even as Srikanth struggled with his returns going wide and buried at net. Viktor quickly moved to an 18-10 lead.

Srikanth then started playing better and came up with some steep smashes and low returns to trouble the Dane and narrowed the lead down to 15-19.

Viktor then played an amazing shot to move to match point. The Indian saved three match points but Viktor sealed the match with another cross court smash.

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News Network
April 27,2020

Mumbai, Apr 27: The pressure to replace iconic Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps was "immense" due to high expectations from fans says K L Rahul, who has been doing the wicket-keeping duty for India in the limited overs format for some time now.

Dhoni quit Test cricket in 2014 and has not played for India in the limited overs format since last year's ODI World Cup in England.

Rahul kept the wickets in the limited overs series against Australia in January this year and also during the team's tour to New Zealand.

"I was nervous when I was doing it for India because of the crowd pressure. If you fumble, people feel that you cannot replace MS Dhoni. The pressure of replacing a legendary wicket-keeper like MSD was immense as it involved people accepting someone else behind the stumps," Rahul told Star Sports on its show 'Cricket Connected'.

Rahul, who has played 32 ODIs and 42 T20Is, said keeping the wickets is not alien to him since he dons the gloves during the Indian Premier League (IPL) and also when he plays for his Ranji side Karnataka.

"People who follow cricket know that I haven't been away from wicket-keeping for too long as I donned the gloves in the IPL and every time I played for Karnataka," the 28-year-old said.

"I am always in touch with wicket-keeping but am also somebody who is more than willing to take up the role if the team needs me to," he stressed.

Dhoni's career is a matter of intense speculation. Many former players feel that it won't be easy for Dhoni to make it to the national squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in Australia. 

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Agencies
January 23,2020

Aurangabad, Jan 23: An FIR has been registered against three people including former cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin for allegedly duping a travel agent, Mohammad Shadab, of more than Rs 20 lakh.

However, Mohammad Azharuddin has refuted allegations and said: "I strongly rubbish the false FIR filed against me in Aurangabad. I am consulting my legal team and would be taking action as necessary."

Azharuddin's personal assistant Mujeeb lives in Augurangabad and has good relations with the travel agency of Shadab.

The travel agent alleged that Mujeeb asked him to book some flight tickets but did not pay the amount.

The police have booked the three under Section 406, 420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

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News Network
March 5,2020

Mumbai, Mar 5: Former India spinner Sunil Joshi was on Wednesday named chairman of the national selection panel by the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which also picked ex-pacer Harvinder Singh to the five-member group.

The CAC, comprising Madan Lal, R P Singh and Sulakshana Naik, picked the two selectors with Joshi replacing South Zone representative MSK Prasad.

In an unprecedented decision, the BCCI said the CAC will review the panel's performance after one year and make recommendations accordingly.

"The committee recommended Sunil Joshi for the role of chairman of the senior men's selection committee. The CAC will review the candidates after a one-year period and make the recommendations to the BCCI," read a statement from BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.

Harvinder was chosen from central zone and replaces Gagan Khoda in the panel.

The existing members of the selection panel are Jatain Paranjpe, Devang Gandhi and Sarandeep Singh.

"We have picked the best guys for the job," Lal told news agency.

The CAC had shortlisted five candidates for interviews -- Joshi, Harvinder, Venkatesh Prasad, Rajesh Chauhan and L S Sivaramakrishnan -- from a list of 40 applicants.

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