Why trials with Sushil? Rio berth is mine, says wrestler Narsingh Yadav

May 11, 2016

Mumbai, May 11: Narsingh Yadav hates media interviews. The Mumbai-based wrestler would rather express himself on the mat, against formidable opponents. On the rare occasions he agrees to be interviewed, the answers are measured, and show his reluctance.

rio

However, all that has changed since he won a quota place for the Rio Olympics in the 74 kg category by winning a bronze medal at the World Championships last September. That has intertwined his fate with that of India’s most decorated wrestler, Sushil Kumar, as only one of them can go to the Games to be held in August.

The issue has snowballed into a controversy with talk of holding trials to select the rightful competitor for Rio gaining momentum. Sushil, who won bronze and silver in the last two Olympics and is eager to add a third medal, has demanded that trials be held.

Pinned to a corner, and having to defend what he believes is “his right”, the 26-year-old Narsingh has come out swinging with feisty interviews.

“Trial ka toh wajood hi nahi banta. Mera haq hai Rio jaana. (There is no basis to hold trial. It is my right to go to Rio). Whichever wrestler is demanding a trial, ask him if he ever had to undergo one when he went for the Olympics,” Narsingh told HT at Sports Authority of India’s Mumbai campus, his base since he began the sport.

Having spent a lot of time at the national camp in SAI’s Sonepat centre with India’s other top wrestlers, Narsingh is back home at the SAI centre. It is his comfort zone, far from the whisper campaigns and intrigue that has engulfed Sonepat.

Narsingh’s personal coach, Jagmal Singh, who is also the national team’s assistant coach, lends another dimension to the debate whether trials should be held.

“Imagine a scenario where trials are held but the person who wins picks up a serious injury, there would be limited time for recovery. The wrestler would have to go to Rio half-fit. Would that not affect India’s chances of winning a medal?”

While many have said the wishes of a wrestler of Sushil’s stature cannot be ignored, Narsingh is in no mood for such arguments.

“There were trials held for deciding the team for the World Championships, where I won bronze and the quota. Whoever wanted trials should have participated in those trials.”

Jagmal added: “Being asked to undergo a trial would affect any wrestler mentally as he is bound to wonder why he is being asked to do it, that too if he is being asked to go up against someone who has moved up from another weight class.”

While it is yet to become clear whether or when the trials will be held, it seems im

minent the two wrestlers will grapple in the media for what both believe is their right.

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News Network
March 12,2020

Miami, Mar 12: The NBA has suspended its season "until further notice" after a Utah Jazz player tested positive Wednesday for the coronavirus, a move that came only hours after the majority of the league's owners were leaning toward playing games without fans in arenas.

Now there will be no games at all, at least for the time being. A person with knowledge of the situation said the Jazz player who tested positive was center Rudy Gobert. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the league nor the team confirmed the test.

"The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight's schedule of games until further notice,'' the league said in a statement sent shortly after 9:30 p.m. EDT. "The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.''

The test result, the NBA said, was reported shortly before the scheduled tip-off time for the Utah at Oklahoma City game on Wednesday night was called off. Players were on the floor for warmups and tip-off was moments away when they were told to return to their locker rooms. About 30 minutes later, fans were told the game was postponed ``due to unforeseen circumstances."

Shutdown for two weeks?

Those circumstances were the league's worst-case scenario for now -- a player testing positive. A second person who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity said the league expects the shutdown to last a minimum of two weeks, but cautioned that time-frame is very fluid.

"It's a very serious time right now," Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I think the league moved appropriately and prudently and we'll all just have to monitor the situation and see where it goes from here."

The Jazz released a statement saying a player -- they did not identify Gobert -- tested negative earlier Wednesday for flu, strep throat and an upper respiratory infection. That player's symptoms diminished as the day went along, but the decision was made to test for COVID-19 anyway. That test came back with a preliminary positive result.

"The individual is currently in the care of health officials in Oklahoma City," the Jazz said, adding that updates would come as appropriate.

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News Network
January 12,2020

Mumbai, Jan 12: India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will receive the prestigious Polly Umrigar Award for his exploits in international cricket in the 2018-19 season, the BCCI announced on Sunday.

The world's leading pacer will be honoured during the BCCI Annual Awards here on Sunday.

The world's No. 1 ODI bowler made his Test debut during India's tour of South Africa in January 2018 and has not looked back since. He picked up a five-wicket haul in South Africa, England, Australia and the West Indies becoming the first and only Asian bowler to achieve the feat.

He played a stellar role in the historic 2-1 Test series win in Australia, India's first Down Under and which helped them retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy. While Bumrah nets the biggest prize in the men's category, Poonam Yadav will claim the top prize in women's section and will be awarded the best international cricketer.

The award will be another feather in the leg-spinner's cap who recently received the Arjuna Award. Former India captains Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Anjum Chopra will be presented with the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award and the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for women respectively.

A member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, Srikkanth took on the fearsome West Indies fast bowlers and scored an attacking 38, the top individual score in the low-scoring final at the Lord's. He also captained India and post-retirement served as the chief selector and it was during his tenure that the 2011 World Cup squad was picked.

Anjum is one of the finest batswomen and the first Indian to play 100 ODIs. In a career spanning 17 years, Anjum represented India in four 50-over World Cups and two T20 World Cup (played in one).

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said, "The BCCI Awards is our way of recognising the finest on-field performances right from the age group to senior level and also honour our legends.

"It will be a special evening in Mumbai as we will also have the 7th MAK Pataudi lecture and I am delighted to inform that it will be Virender Sehwag, who will address the gathering."

Board secretary Jay Shah said, "The BCCI Awards are an important feature in India's cricketing calendar, a melange of aspiration and inspiration. "We wanted to make Naman bigger and better and have introduced four new categories – highest run-getter and wicket-takers in WODIs and best international debut men and women – from this year. A total of 25 awards will be presented."

Arun Singh Dhumal, the board's treasurer, said, "Right from domestic to international level, Indian Cricket has had a memorable 2018-19 season. We have started the year on the right note with Team India completing a convincing series win against Sri Lanka and they will be in attendance. The U-19 team is in South Africa for the World Cup and all eyes will be on the stars of tomorrow. It will be a special evening and I congratulate the award winners".

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News Network
June 12,2020

New Delhi, Jun 12: The BCCI on Friday called off Indian cricket team's short tour of Zimbabwe in August due to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The announcement was on expected lines after Sri Lanka Cricket announced on Thursday that India's limited overs tour in June-July was postponed indefinitely.

"The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday announced that the Indian Cricket Team will not travel to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe owing to the current threat of COVID-19," BCCI secetary Jay Shah said in a statement.

"Team India was originally scheduled to travel to the island nation from 24th June 2020 for three ODIs and as many T20Is and to Zimbabwe for a series comprising three ODIs starting 22nd August 2020," Shah added.

The Indian team is yet to resume training and the camp is unlikely to take place before July. The players will take around six weeks to be match-ready.

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