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India too far behind in football to think of World Cup: Chhetri

June 10, 2014

New Delhi, Jun 10: Conceding that India has been left far behind in world football, national team captain Sunil Chhetri today said that the country should not think of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup in the near future, and instead should aim to be in the top 10 in Asia.

With the FIFA World Cup just a few days away, Chhetri was asked when would India qualify for that showpiece football event and he was at pains to explain that the country was nowhere near that level.chetri

"It's unfair to compare India with the top football countries in the world. We are far behind in world football," Chhetri said at the launch of an e-magazine at the German Embassy here.

"Our focus should not be in qualifying for the FIFA World Cup but to be among the top 10 rankings in Asia in the near future. We have to take small steps and first think of rising up to be among the second rung Asian countries," he said.

Elaborating further, Chhetri said India's aim should be to rise up to the level of the likes of Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

"We are a dominant country in South Asia. But our standard of football should move ahead of winning SAFF Championships. Our first aim should be to be able to compete with Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

"Then in the next level, we can think of competing the top Asian countries likes Japan, South Korea, Iran, Australia who are representing Asia in the FIFA World Cup in Brazil this time," said Chhetri, who will be commentating during the World Cup.

The 29-year-old striker said he was open to playing in the high-profile Indian Super League, scheduled to be held later this year, if he is allowed to take part in the tournament by his club Bengaluru FC.

"As of now, I don't know whether I will play in the ISL or not. Of course, I want to play in the tournament. But it all depends on my club. I have a contract with Bangaluru FC and I can play in the ISL only if my club permits me," he said.

"I have not discussed the issue with the club (authorities), whatever the club wants I will do. But I wish the ISL all the success. It will be a huge tournament," Chhetri said.

Chhetri's club Bengaluru FC won the I-League in its first season and he attributed the success to attending to basic things properly under one command - that of the coach.

"It's because of doing small basic things in a proper and strict way. If we have to sleep at a particular time, all the players will have to follow it strictly. Even while not playing, we have to follow some guidelines, which I cannot divulge.

"Even now, I am to follow the rules and keep myself fit. In short, we follow what the European clubs do and I feel that was the reason for our success," said Chhetri, who had stints at the Sporting Clube de Portugal reserve side and MLS club Kansas City Wizards.

"There was no two command in the club. (Coach) Ashley Westwood is the boss and all of us whatever he says. He decides everything. That makes the club a united team, with everybody in sync with one goal."

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Agencies
August 4,2020

New Delhi, Aug 4: Former India women's team captain Anjum Chopra firmly believes that the BCCI has a plan for women's cricket but she wants the Board to communicate its ideas more specifically.

Speaking to news agency, Chopra, who is now a successful broadcaster, said the BCCI is thinking in earnest about the progress of women's cricket.

"It's not that the BCCI is not thinking about women's cricket. I only think they need to be more specific in communication about women's cricket," Chopra said.

"I firmly believe that they must be thinking about women's cricket but the communication all this while has been very specific to men's cricket."

The latest trigger for criticism of BCCI was India's withdrawal from a tour of England in September owing to logistical issues arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chopra concedes it was "not nice" but Indian players' participation in the women's IPL, in November, will still be useful preparation for next year's ODI World Cup.

"It is heartening to see women's cricket making headlines. They should have been a part of that England tour and it did not feel nice initially but the women's IPL, irrespective of the format, will be helpful for World Cup preparations. Any form of cricket is good preparation," Chopra said.

"Missing out on a tournament is not nice, but logistically there may have been issues. And you can't send an under-prepared team."

"If you see in isolation we may have missed out on an opportunity to play in England. The more the girls play the better it is, before playing a tournament of the stature of World Cup. The assurance from the president is a very good thing."

Chopra welcomed the Sourav Ganguly-led BCCI's decision to hold the women's event in the UAE alongside the IPL, which will run from September 19 to November 10. The women's IPL will coincide with the business end of the men's league.

"I am definitely happy, it's always nice to be part of any cricket anywhere across the world.

"They should have been nearing the final stages of the preparation for the World Cup by now, but because of the pandemic things did not go as planned," she added.

Chopra had a successful international career spanning over 17 years, during which she represented India in a record six World Cups and became the first woman cricketer to appear in 100 One-day Internationals.

She also felt that the pandemic would not have much impact on the women's game that has gained momentum in recent times.

"...Cricket was on pause button...Once cricket resumes and players are back on the park, everything is going to get picked up. It might take some time to get started as everything starts from zero...

"The awareness the women's game has created, I hope it stays. They will just restart, not start after the pandemic."

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News Network
February 4,2020

Feb 4: India captain Virat Kohli on Tuesday said the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash has impacted his outlook towards life, which he feels, is sometimes taken for granted in pursuit of control over the future.

Bryant, a two-time Olympic gold-medallist and one of the most decorated basketball players of all time, died in a helicopter crash last month along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, who was also a budding hoopster.

"Firstly, it was a shock to everyone. I grew up watching those NBA games in the morning and watching what he did on court. But when someone that you have looked up to in some ways, passes away like that, it does put things in perspective," Kohli said on the eve of the first ODI against New Zealand here.

"...at the end of the day, life can be so fickle. It's so unpredictable. I think a lot of the times we get too caught up in the pressures of what we have to do tomorrow...we really forget living life and enjoying life and just appreciating and being grateful for the life we have," he added.

Kohli said a tragedy like this makes one realise that nothing can be more important than enjoying every moment of existence.

"...it did put things in perspective for me massively. It just makes you feel like not wanting to have control of things in front of you all the time, and just embracing life and appreciating it.

"You start looking at things from a different point of view suddenly and you want to enjoy every moment you're going through. You realise that what you're doing at the end of the day is not the most important thing. The most important thing is life itself," Kohli signed off.

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News Network
June 2,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 2: Bangladesh opening batsman Tamim Iqbal has said that he was ashamed on seeing the training regime of Indian skipper Virat Kohli.

Iqbal said that the incident happened two-three years back as he thought to himself that why he cannot do the same even when he is the same age as Kohli.

"I must say this, it is not because I am talking to an Indian commentator, India is our neighbour so whatever things they do, it affects Bangladesh as well. We follow what is happening in India, when India changed its approach towards fitness, it impacted Bangladesh the most," Iqbal told Sanjay Manjrekar in a videocast hosted by ESPNCricinfo.

"I have no shame in admitting this, when I saw Virat Kohli running around two-three years ago, I was ashamed of myself, I thought this is a guy who is probably my age, but he is training so much and I have not doing even half of it. We have a great example in our team as well, Mushfiqur Rahim manages himself well regarding fitness," he added.

During his initial days of international cricket, Kohli was fond of chicken which he has admitted several times during media interaction.

But in 2013, the 31-year-old batsman intentionally shifted his focus to fitness, diet, and training.

Now he has become punctual about his diet which has given him a different character on and off the field.

The comparisons between Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar have also kept on growing and many have picked the current Indian skipper to break the records set by Tendulkar.

Tendulkar managed to call time on his career after registering 100 international centuries, while Kohli currently has 70 centuries across all formats.

Currently, Kohli is ranked at the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings while he is in the second place in Tests rankings.

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