CHANDIGARH: Teenage boxer Sandeep Kaur made sure the tricolour was flying high in Poland when she won gold in the 52kg weight category at the 13th International Silesian Boxing Championships for women. She won the yellow metal in the junior section. Sandeep thumped her opponent, Poland’s Karolina Ampuska, by a 5-0 margin in the summit clash.

Success didn’t come easy for the 16-year-old, a native of Hassanpur village in Patiala. Sandeep’s humble background meant she always had to fight it out – be it a financial crunch in her family or fellow villagers telling her parents to force her to give up the sport – the struggle was immense.

Sandeep’s father, Sardar Jasvir Singh drives an auto in the streets of Patiala to make ends meet. His earning was enough to make sure the family didn’t sleep hungry. He also made sure Sandeep didn’t have to give up her boxing.

Sandeep’s uncle, Simranjit Singh, who used to box at a village academy, inspired her to take up the sport. “I used to go with my uncle to a boxing academy near our village when I was a child. At the academy, I saw several youngsters box, and gradually my interest in the sport grew. I was 8 when I first picked up the boxing gloves and started training,” Sandeep told TOI. She trained under coach Sunil Kumar at the academy. Sandeep’s family had to face a lot of resistance over her taking up boxing by fellow villagers.

Indian cricket, at the moment, is riding a wave of uneasiness. The dust of the 1-4 Test series loss in England has not yet settled, yet the cramped scheduling has forced authorities to work overtime to send 75% of the squad to UAE ahead of the Asia Cup starting on Saturday. The rest of the team - enjoying a short three-day break following the gruelling three-month long England tour - and the coaching staff are due to arrive only on Sunday. India's campaign begins against Hong Kong on Tuesday.

READ ALSO: Top five run-getters in Asia Cup

That's how Indian cricket has been over the last couple of years. Hurtling from one series to another, the team management is torn between giving players good, sufficient preparation time and preserving them for bigger events. Right now, there are 10 selected players, six nets bowlers from the first-class arena and physio Patrick Farhart doing their bit in Dubai.


"We have sent six bowlers to bowl in the nets so that the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar don't overstrain, having come back from an injury.

"The bowlers at the ICC academy are too young and inexperienced to provide quality practice," a source close to the team management told TOI.

Their regional rivals won't miss a chance to remind them of regular captain Virat Kohli's absence. With Kohli rested, it's time to turn the focus on MS Dhoni, even as stand-in captain Rohit Sharma sharpens his willow in anticipation of another dominating show in white-ball cricket. Dhoni is still carrying the burden of a below-par, uncharacteristic performance in England but for the rest of the team and the management, he remains the man to walk up to. "There's the experience and knowledge of Dhoni. He is used to looking after a team," sources close to the team management told TOI.

READ ALSO: Top five wicket-takers in Asia Cup

The team management and younger players have always harped on the tactical guidance offered by Dhoni, even 18 months after he stepped down from the leadership role. At this juncture, though, doesn't it seem appropriate to let Dhoni alone and let him rediscover his match-winning game ahead of the World Cup? Surely, the unforgiving, ego-puncturing boos at Lord's wouldn't have faded away so soon.

India have resisted in grooming a backup for Dhoni, and any flicker of his once famed flamboyance has been magnified and glorified by the team management. "The World Cup is too far ahead. We will play a lot of games before that. A lot of players will get an opportunity to stake claim for a berth in that World Cup squad. It's a great opportunity to try for that perfect combination," said Rohit on Friday.

But the combination is more likely to revolve around protecting Dhoni. It's unlikely that the team management sees someone like Dinesh Karthik as a handy replacement. The hyped Rishabh Pant has been ignored for the tournament. There is practically no time to groom someone for Dhoni's role before the World Cup.

In such a scenario, Dhoni needs to be given the best opportunity to find his touch and be a match-winning force by the time the World Cup arrives. For that, he needs time at the crease. He doesn't play much domestic cricket too. In Kohli's absence, the upcoming two weeks on the slow UAE pitches will present Team India with a big opportunity to get its oldest warrior back in shape, slaying opponents like he once used to.

LONDON: Alastair Cook displayed his all-too familiar obduracy and powered England to a position of strength in the fifth Test against India, laying the groundwork for a swansong befitting a distinguished career.

Scorecard | As it happened

Cook was unbeaten on 46 runs in his last international innings as England reached 114 for 2 at stumps on day three at the Oval.

At end of play, he had put on 52 runs for the third wicket with skipper Joe Root (29) as England took a 154-run lead.

Post tea, Cook and Keaton Jennings (10) extended their opening partnership to 27. It wasn't a frustrating stand yet, but it became quickly so for India as they wasted both reviews on the openers within three overs after the break.

On both occasions, Ravindra Jadeja (1-36) and keeper Rishabh Pant convinced skipper Virat Kohli to go for the reviews, despite the ball missing the off-stump. Mohammed Shami (1-32) then bowled Jennings in the 13th over.

Cook and Moeen Ali (20) put on 35 runs for the second wicket and took England past 50 in the 24th over. The latter enjoyed a life on 14, as KL Rahul dropped him at second slip off Ishant Sharma (0-11).

Jadeja did get Ali soon after, bowling him through the gate as the ball spun a mile after kicking up from the rough.

India had the match ball changed on two occasions thereafter, as Cook and Root played out the remaining overs without much ado and bringing up their 50-stand off 80 balls. The score crossed 100 in the 38th over as the hosts assumed a commanding position in this Test.

This was after Jadeja scored 86 not out as India finished their first innings at 292 (95 overs), conceding a 40-run lead. The left-hander faced 156 balls and hit 11 fours as well as a six, narrowing the gap between the two teams.

Post lunch, India tried to extend their innings as long as possible. Ishant Sharma (4) though fell in the fourth over after the break, caught behind off Moeen Ali (2-50).

At the other end, Adil Rashid (1-19) dismissed Mohammed Shami (1) who again tried to hit out instead of putting a price on his wicket.

Jasprit Bumrah (0) did just that, and batted out 14 deliveries, which allowed Jadeja to smash the ball around. In doing so, he put on 32 runs for the tenth and final wicket.

Jadeja reached his ninth Test half-century off 113 balls, after India had crossed 250 in the 84th over. England were so flustered that they took the new ball in hope of dismissing the last wicket quickly.

The partnership, and India's innings ended through a run-out in the 95th over as Jadeja finished unbeaten.

Earlier, Hanuma Vihari scored a half-century on debut as India reached 240 for seven at lunch.

Starting from overnight 174 for six, Vihari and Jadeja looked to bat for time and dig India out of the precarious position they found themselves in.

James Anderson (2-54) and Stuart Broad (1-50) bowled a threatening first spell, but both batsmen played watchfully and with patience. There were a couple edges, though they didn't go to hand or fell short.

Runs started trickling in as India scored 33 runs in the first hour of play. 200 came up in the 63rd over, with the duo adding 50 runs for their seventh-wicket partnership off 117 balls.

Jadeja started taking a few more liberties with his stroke making, while Vihari stayed calm and looked to score when the opportunity presented itself. In the 71st over, England reviewed a caught behind decision against Jadeja, but there was no edge.

Vihari (56) then reached his maiden Test half-century off 104 balls, justifying the decision to include him ahead of Karun Nair.

Just when it appeared that he would take India to lunch without any loss, Ali struck against the run of play and dismissed Vihari. The batsman reviewed, but DRS didn't prove conclusively if he did not edge behind, as the bat seemed to hit pad the same time as the ball.

Vihari and Jadeja added 77 runs in all, as India scored 66-1 in this first session of play.

On day one, India reduced to England to 198 for seven, and they finished at 332 on day two, thanks to Jos Buttler's 89.

England have already taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, with wins in Birmingham, Lord's and Southampton. India won the third Test at Nottingham.

LONDON: India's susceptibility to quality swing bowling once again came to the fore as they struggled to reach 174 for six after England's tail wagged considerably to give the hosts an upper hand on the second day of the fifth and final Test here on Saturday.

Scorecard | As it happened

India still trail England by another 158 runs with four wickets in hand and three full days' play remaining in the match.

Courtesy birthday boy Jos Buttler's 89 and his 98-run ninth-wicket stand with Stuart Broad (38), England managed a decent first innings score of 332 after they were struggling at 198 for seven at the end of first day's play.

In reply, India's top-order disappointed once again with Shikhar Dhawan (3) failing once again in what could be his last Test innings for a considerable period of time.

KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara made identical 37 to stitch together 64 runs for the second wicket to stabilise the Indian innings before the English bowlers got back into the groove, picking up crucial wickets when it mattered.

At stumps, debutant Hanuma Vihari was unbeaten on 25 with Ravindra Jadeja (8 not out) for company as India lost their way after tea.

After the final break of the day, conditions favoured bowlers a lot more under heavy cloudy conditions and floodlights as the ball darted around with James Anderson (2/20) and Sam Curran (1/46) troubling the Indian batsmen most.

Rahul looked set for a big score before Curran went through his defense with a nearly unplayable delivery in the 23rd over.

Thereafter, India lost three wickets for 33 runs as Anderson wreaked havoc with the moving ball, dismissing both Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane in quick succession.

Pujara was caught behind, while Rahane (0) was caught at slip in the space of 13 balls.

Just like previous matches, India skipper Virat Kohli (49) looked in great nick and seemed determined to take his side out of troubled waters with positive intent. He hit six boundaries during his 70-ball knock and looked batting easy even as his colleagues struggled.

But Kohli perished while trying to be too positive, edging a Ben Stokes (2/44) delivery to his counterpart Joe Root at the slip cordon.

Vihari looked out of sorts against Stuart Broad's (1/25) inswingers initially. The bowler had two LBW shouts against the debutants -- the first of which looked out on replays but England didn't opt for DRS.

Vihari then regained his composure and batted till the end of day in company of Ravindra Jadeja (8 not out)

In between, young wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant (5) again failed to cash in on the opportunity edging a Stokes delivery to Alastair Cook on the slip cordon.

Earlier, replying to England's total, the visitors made a poor start and lost opener Dhawan early, out trapped LBW by Broad in the second over.

Rahul though batted with more freedom than in the earlier Tests, and looked to play his shots as he hit four fours.

Pujara, meanwhile, was solid at the other end as they played out a nearly chanceless session.

Pujara, though, survived a good LBW shout as TV replays showed England should have opted for DRS but they didn't.

After a comfortable passage of play, Moeen Ali (0/9) teased the two unbeaten batsmen before the tea break as India crossed the 50-run mark.

Pujara survived again, on 10, when Cook put down a catch at forward short leg in the 16th over.

In the morning session, Buttler scored his 10th career half-century to rescue England to 304 for eight as Indian bowlers struggled to wrap up the home team's tail.

Starting at overnight score of 198 for seven, the Indian pacers found some lateral movement in the morning but were unable to get the English tail-enders' out.

The English tail-enders' performance has been the main reason why India are 1-3 down in the series, and it was a near-repeat effort from the home team's lower-order on Saturday morning as Indian bowlers failed to get wickets despite getting assistance from the pitch.

Mohammed Shami (0/72) was again India's best bowler on Saturday, beating the bat again and again but luck didn't favour him.

Adil Rashid (15) and Buttler pushed the score past 200 quickly as 45 runs came in the first hour of play.

Jasprit Bumrah (3/64) did account for the wicket of Rashid, out lbw in the seventh over of the morning despite a DRS referral from the batsman.

But Buttler and Broad denied the Indian bowlers any further breakthroughs in the remainder of session, much to the frustration of the Indians.

Buttler reached his half-century off 84 balls as England crossed 250 in the 104th over.

Later, Buttler brought up his 50-run partnership with Broad off 61 balls as England quick scoring rate added to India's frustration.

India reduced England to 181 for seven at one stage on Friday, but now the game seemed to be slipping away from the visitors.

England have already taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series with wins in Birmingham, Lord's and Southampton. India won the third Test at Nottingham.

NEW DELHI: The sepaktakraw world championship in Bangkok is just a fortnight away and Asian Games bronze medallist Harish Kumar is busy serving - not on court but at his brothers' roadside tea stall in Delhi's 'Little Tibet', Majnu ka Tila. Tea has been the 21-year-old's ticket to sporting glory. For each one of his 15 medals, he and his family have passed countless steaming cups over the counter.

Five days after the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games ended, Harish's euphoric return home is a fading memory in the neighbourhood but his celebrity is undimmed. On a wet Friday afternoon, his house in Majnu ka Tila's narrow lanes is easily found. Being part of India's first-ever sepak success at the Asian Games has made him a role model for young athletes here.

Harish's success is all the more inspiring because of his family's precarious financial situation. His father Mohan Lal drives a rented autorickshaw. His mother, Indira Devi, till recently worked as a household help to bring up Harish and his five siblings, two of whom are sightless. Two of his brothers, Naveen and Tarun, started the tea stall to supplement the family's income, and Harish not only helps them but also drives his father's auto when he is not training at the Sports Authority of India centre in Bawana.

BUMPY RIDE: Harish Kumar's father Mohan Lal in his rented autorickshaw

They are a gifted family, but have been unlucky twice. Harish's eldest brother Pradeep was a talented cricketer who became a coach, but had to leave his job after injuring his right leg in a bike accident in 2011. Naveen showed promise as a sepak takraw player and was handpicked by coach Hemraj. He played at the international level, but was forced to quit after a ligament injury in 2013.

Inspired by Naveen, Harish had started playing sepak in 2011 with a ball made of bicycle tubes. Luckily for him, "Hemraj Sir" took him under his wing.

Would request CM Kejriwal to help me financially, says Harish

"All credit must go to our coach Hemraj Sir. He took me to IG Stadium and provided me shoes and kit. He also helped me get a monthly allowance from SAI. I represented India for the first time in 2013 at the World Championships in Bangkok and won a medal," says Harish.

He has never looked back since, but the family's finances sometimes cast a cloud over his future. The Asiad medal couldn't have happened at a better time, as a cash award of Rs 5 lakh from the sports ministry will help in the treatment of his blind brother and sister, and also pay for his education. He has enrolled in Class XII at an open school in Chandigarh.

"With our family's meagre income, it's my job to support the family. I have won so many international medals, but there was no substantial monetary reward attached to it. I desperately needed to win a medal at the Asiad as that would have ensured cash award from the ministry. Now, the amount will definitely help me," Harish told TOI.

He also has some hopes from the Delhi government. "I haven't got anything from them, but it's also true that I haven't approached them. I would request chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to help me financially and provide me a government job so that I can look after my family," he said.

NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal began his US Open quarterfinal as poorly as possible, shut out in a set by a 6-0 score for only the fourth time in 282 career Grand Slam matches.

On the previous three such occasions, he'd lost. On this one, he managed to come back to win, although it took 4 hours, 49 minutes and never did get easy for him.

The defending champion and No. 1 seed at Flushing Meadows recovered from his disastrous start and other stumbles along the way to beat No. 9 Dominic Thiem 0-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5) for a semifinal berth at a third consecutive Grand Slam tournament, winning a physical, back-and-forth tussle that stretched across and concluded after 2 a.m. Wednesday.

How tense and tight was this one? Not only was Nadal two points from losing at 5-all in the closing tiebreaker, but he finished with fewer total points, 171-166.




When it ended, on an overhead by Thiem that sailed long, Nadal walked around the net to hug his opponent and whisper words of encouragement.

When Nadal makes it this far in New York, he usually doesn't stumble. He has now won seven US Open quarterfinals in a row when he's made it that far; his only loss in that round came back in 2006.

He is bidding for a fourth title at Flushing Meadows and 18th Grand Slam trophy overall.

On Friday, Nadal will take on a familiar foe with a berth in the final on the line: 2009 champion and No. 3 seed Juan Martin del Potro, who defeated No. 11 John Isner 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

NEW DELHI: Sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Tuesday said the countdown for 2020 Olympics has started for the Indian athletes after the country's best-ever medal haul in the Asian Games.

READ ALSO: Govt felicitates India's Asiad medal winners with cash awards

A visibly delighted Rathore congratulated Indian medal winners of the just-concluded Asian Games but said their real journey has just begun.

"You made the entire country proud with your achievements. We salute the passion you have shown but this journey is not complete," Rathore said during a function to felicitate the medal winners with cash awards here.



"The countdown now has started for the Olympics (2020 Tokyo). You can't be satisfied with this. You should always think about what is the next," the minister said in his address to the athletes.

The minister said the medal winners have now become ambassadors and their job is to pass across positive message to the society.

"You have now become ambassadors of your sport, ambassadors of your state and for youngsters of the country. So your message should always be positive," Rathore said.

"Everyone has problems, everyone has challenges but the goal should be to never give up. Never say no, never feel defeated. That is what makes champions."

He said an athlete should never shy away from obstacles.

"You did not reach here easily. You had to overcome many obstacles but because of these obstacles you are what you are today. Don't think about obstacles, only think about your capabilities," Rathore said.

The minister said the success at the Asian Games was a result of teamwork.

"The success is a result of teamwork of the government, IOA, federations, athletes and coaches. These medals belong to the whole country," Rathore said.

How often do you hear a celebrated cricketer say that the only reason behind cricketers in India being put on a pedestal is the sheer popularity of the game in India and that non-cricket sports athletes who overcome almost impossible odds at times to win medals for India in continental and world events are the real heroes. That's exactly what Indian cricketer and former India captain Gautam Gambhir has said in a candid interview to TimesofIndia.com.

Talking about India's overall performance in Indonesia, where India won the most number of medals in one edition of the Asian Games (69) and equaled their best ever performance in terms of gold medals won (15), Gambhir said, "It has been fabulous, absolutely fascinating. Look at Swapna Barman's story. This is what creates heroes. I have always been a believer that cricketers are put on a pedestal because cricket is the most popular sport in the country. But there are some absolute, real heroes in other sports as well. Look at what our athletes have done, look at what your badminton players have done, look at what your shooters have done. They have worked equally hard. There are many more heroes (in non-cricket sports) as compared to what you create in cricket in India. These are the actual heroes."



At this edition of the Asian Games, stories of some star performers like Dutee Chand (silver in 100m & 200m), Manjit Singh (gold in 800m), Tejinderpal Singh Toor (gold in shot put) and Swapna Barman (gold in heptathlon) defying almost insurmountable odds made almost everyone sit up and ask, "Why do our athletes have to struggle so much?" And Gambhir is no different.

Speaking to TimesofIndia.com he said, "They (non-cricket sports athletes) have gone through so much financially, from the facilities point of view. Personally if you ask me, look at what some of the athletes have achieved, coming from humble backgrounds. They are your actual heroes. I am sure things will get better for them," he added.

"But people would have never recognised them had they not won the medals, but from now on I hope things get better and some of our athletes don't have to struggle so much. Personally if you ask me they are much bigger achievers than what cricketers achieve on the cricket field. I know we are doing the same thing for our country, but look at the amount of facilities and money cricketers get as compared to what these athletes get. So, if I have to be honest about who the real heroes are, it's those athletes who have struggled so much in their life and gone past all odds and created history for India," the World Cup-winner said.

नई दिल्ली
2017 में अपनी पत्नी अधुना अख्तर से अलग होने बाद फरहान अख्तर की ऐंकर शिबानी दांडेकर से बढ़ती नजदीकियों की खबरें आपने पढ़ी होंगी। हाल ही फरहान ने इंस्टाग्राम स्टोरी के जरिए शिबानी को उनके जन्मदिन पर विश किया और इसपर उन्होंने किस वाले इमोजी भी बनाए थे। इसके बाद से दोनों के अफेयर को लेकर कयासबाजी होने लगी।

देखें, मिस दीवा 2018 के मौके पर कुछ यूं नजर आए सितारे

एक टीवी शो पर मुलाकात के बाद से ही दोनों एक-दूसरे को डेट कर रहे हैं। शिबानी इंडियन प्रीमियर लीग की ऐंकरिंग को लेकर भी फेमस हैं।

अभी शिबानी 'सेल्फ टुअर 2018' के सिलसिले में कनाडा में हैं। इसमें शंकर, एहसान, लॉय के अलावा उनका कोई स्पेशल भी साथ है। इसका खुलासा तब हुआ जब उन्होंने इंस्टाग्राम पर एक तस्वीर पोस्ट की। इस तस्वीर में वह एक शख्स का हाथ पकड़े हुए हैं।
इसमें शख्स की पीछ दिख रही है तो वहीं शिबानी पलटकर कैमरे की तरफ देख रही हैं। हालांकि, इसमें अनुमान लगाना कतई मुश्किल नहीं है कि वह जिसका हाथ पकड़े हैं वो कोई और नहीं, फरहान अख्तर हैं। ऐसा लग रहा है कि यह कपल अपने रिश्ते को आॅफिशल करने के लिए तैयार है।

काम के लिहाज से देखें तो फरहान अख्तर को शोनाली बोस की अगल मूवी 'द स्काय इज पिंक' में देखा जाएगा। इसमें उनके साथ प्रियंका चोपड़ा और जायरा वसीम भी लीड रोल्स में दिखेंगी। इसके अलावा वह जोया अख्तर की 'गली बॉयज', 'मिर्जापुर' और 'इनसाइड एज 2' के निर्माता भी हैं।