Will SAI’s ‘performance review’ talk put Terry Walsh under pressure?

This piece was published in Sportskeeda
 
The Indian senior men’s hockey team may have launched their 2014 Incheon Asian Games campaign on a winning note, but the team’s head coach Terry Walsh and Hockey India’s High Performance Manager Roelant Oltmans would be under the scanner after the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has recently gone on record stating that their fate will be decided after the conclusion of Asia’s showpiece event.

Of course, there is no harm is carrying out a ‘performance review’ of the foreign coaches, but its the ‘timing’ that needs to be questioned. Where was the need to go public and state that nothing but a gold medal by the men’s team at the Asiad would convince the SAI top-brass that the foreign coaches are indeed delivering?

History will vindicate that the timing of statements from top sports officials has not only courted controversies from time to time, but also created needless pressure on athletes/coaches. A recent media report stating foreign coaches associated with Indian hockey will come up for a ‘performance review’, is certainly not in good taste given the team was about to embark for the Incheon Asian Games.

At least, the announcement by SAI about putting foreign coaches on notice could have been avoided and could have been done after the Games were over. One is not sure whether SAI’s frosty relations with Hockey India has anything to do with it. We all remember how Hockey India came down heavily on SAI after the women’s team preparing for the Asian Games found their Patiala turf ‘dangerous’ with Roelant Oltmans even writing to the Sports Ministry in this regard.
The SAI did not hold back punches then with its Director General Jiji Thomson stating that Hockey India can use any other available turfs as the former was not insisting them to use only the Patiala turf. Whatever may be the relations between Hockey India and SAI, one must ay that SAI got it wrong by stating that the performances of the hockey foreign coaches would come up for review just on the eve on the Asian Games. It creates unwanted pressure on somebody like Terry Walsh to deliver. Knowing the thorough professional Walsh is, he is unlikely to get affected. But clearly, pressure or no pressure, the SAI could have been better off with the timing of their ‘performance review’ statements.

Ideally, such talk would have been seen in good light after the end of the Asian Games and not on the eve of it! We all want our hockey team to fare well and don’t want needless distractions.

Rupinder hat-trick lifts sloppy India in 8-0 win over Sri Lanka

This piece was published in Sportskeeda

It was a typical tournament opener for India – the often seen ‘first game sluggishness’ of the national team came to the fore as they locked horns with lowly Sri Lanka at Incheon at the Asian Games. It was crystal clear that complacency had crept into the Indian ranks as they dished out a performance bordering on mediocrity and lack of serious intent to go for the jugular.

Normally, a 8-0 win would be touted as a decent enough win for any side, but head coach Terry Walsh must have been downcast with the way wards played on Sunday. The Indian forwardline lacked the desired spark, especially Gurwinder Singh Chandi who had a poor day in office wasting several scoring chances and his woes were compounded when he was taken off the pitch after taking a nasty blow on his face off a deflection following an Indian foray in the second quarter.

Nikkin Thimmiah gave Indian an early lead in the 5th minute and it looked like Sri Lanka were hurtling towards another heavy defeat after their 0-14 drubbing at the hands of Pakistan in the opening tie on Saturday, when Rupinder Pal Singh converted a penalty stroke and later his drag-flick colleague Vokkaliga Raghunath whipped home India’s second penalty corner to give them a 3-0 lead in the opening quarter.

The usual flow of attacks from the Indians was absent as they were slow to mount their raids and though Chinglensana Singh and Ramandeep Singh made the scoreline 5-0, it appeared as if the Indian had left their aggressive streak in their hotel rooms when the need of the hour was to put it on display on the pitch.

Sri Lanka – playing in the Asian Games after a hiatus of 36 years – grew in confidence as the match wore and kept things tight in the third quarter as they allowed held that quarter goalless before Rupinder made it 6-0 scoring his second of the day at the stroke of the third quarter hooter.

Rupinder completed his hat-trick firing home India’s sixth penalty corner in the fourth quarter before Ramandeep added his second in the closing stages as Sri Lanka walked off the pitch with their heads held high even in a 0-8 loss.

India next play Oman on Tuesday.

India seek to make the most of battered Sri Lanka in Asiad opener

The start of the Indian men’s hockey team’s campaign in the Asian Games against Sri Lanka has been made a tad easier by the mauling defending champions Pakistan inflicted on the latter. Clearly, the morale of the Sri Lankans will be at low ebb after the opening game thrashing, which will offer India a significant advantage in their tournament opener. Sri Lanka – ranked 40th in the world - are no way going to pose a serious threat to India; at best, they can only hope that they don’t lose by another big margin like they did against Pakistan.

India, no doubt, will enjoy the psychological advantage against the battered morale of the Lankans, who will be pushed hard to avoid a second consecutive defeat. From the Indian perspective, head coach Terry Walsh will be keen to see that the team racks up two convincing wins in their first two games so that they are not short on confidence in their much hyped clash with arch-rivals Pakistan on Thursday.

The Indians have a knack of starting tournament campaigns on a sluggish note, but at Incheon they must look to skirt such a scenario as it could dent their pool-topping chances in a big way. Skipper Sardar Singh will look to marshal his troops on the pitch and nothing but a facile win will satisfy the billion hockey fans of the country.

Making the right noises holds the key to India’s progress to the knockout stage and complacency should be a big ‘no’. We all know how India failed to qualify for the Asia Cup semifinals in 2009 for the first time ever because of a 2-2 draw with China. This time around China are pitted in Pool B alongside India and the latter must guard against loose play as it is not really difficult for stunning upsets to happen in modern hockey replete with fast-paced stuff.

Exclusive Interview: Indian boxers command lot of respect in the ring, says coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu

This piece was published in Sportskeeda

The respect Gurbax Singh Sandhu commands among boxers is phenomenal. After all, he is not just another ‘coach’ taking care of his wards for a particular tournament – he has served as the head coach of the Indian boxing team for close to two decades now since first taking charge in 1993. Boxers all across the country have plenty of admiration for Sandhu, who toils behind the scenes to make things ‘happen’ in the ring for India. His biggest achievement in his coaching career was producing India’s first Olympic boxing medal through Vijender Singh at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Dronacharya awardee coach spoke in an exclusive interview.

Excerpts:

Q First of tell us how are the preparations going on for the Incheon Asian Games?

All our boxers are working hard – we delivered a phenomenal performance in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games where we scooped up five medals, including four silver medals. Both our men and women pugilists really performed above expectations given that our team hardly had any exposure tours before the event – it was the first time ever four Indian boxers had reached the final of the CWG.

Q What kind of medal haul you are looking at the Incheon Asian Games?

It’s difficult to say how many medals India can win in Incheon, but I can for sure say that our boxers won’t disappoint. All countries will be well prepared for the Games. Hosts Korea will pose a big threat – they always have a formidable line-up of boxers and by virtue of being the hosts they will be even more dangerous. Kazakhstan’s boxers are really solid and so are boxers from Japan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Philippines also have decent boxers in the lower weight categories.

Q The Indian boxing has been through a tough time with the International Boxing Association (AIBA) banning the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) and later the Sports Ministry derecognising the national body. Given this scenario, how would you assess the state of Indian boxing?

There is no doubt that our boxers had a tough time as they were unable to take part in international competitions under the national flag. Look, the only way to evaluate the boxers is to see them play in tournaments and since we did not have any exposure trip before the Commonwealth Games, it was difficult to know where we stand on the world stage. Despite all the odds, I believe Indian boxing in good health and have shown plenty of promise for the future. All the credit for the good health of Indian boxing must go to our boxers, the Sports Ministry, SAI and our boxing federation.

Q Star boxer Vijender Singh is missing the Asian Games owing to a hand injury. Is it a blow to the Indian contingent?

See, every boxer has a role and responsibility in the team, Vijender is an iconic boxer and has won the country’s first Olympic boxing medal. Not having him in Incheon is disappointing, but then we have Vikas Krishnan replacing him in the 75-kg category – remember Vikas had won the gold in the 2010 Asian Games in the lightweight (60-kg) category.

Q The Asian Games will mark a comeback for Akhil Kumar, who stunned the world champion en route to a quarterfinal appearance in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Your thoughts.

It’s great to see Akhil in the national colours – he is very aggressive and will be out to prove a point. Having said that, I must say making a comeback is never easy – hopefully Akhil will live up to the expectations.

Q Haryana has seen boxers mushrooming from all corners of the state as compared to other states. Why is that other states are not able to churn out quality boxers in good numbers?

The Haryana government is perhaps the only one to announce cash awards for all state athletes, not just boxers. Look at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the state government announced cash awards of Rs 1 crore, Rs 50 lakh and Rs 25 lakh for gold, silver and bronze medal winners – what’s more the government announced a cash award of Rs 5 lakh for all state participants, let alone medal winners. Such massive encouragement from the state government is bound spur youngsters to chase glory as they know cash awards and a secure job is not beyond them if they win a medal in any international competition. The cash incentives from the government have been a big factor in more boxers springing up from Haryana.

Q It is fair to say that the Indian boxers command respect among opponents in the ring although we are far away from powerhouse like Cuba?

Cuba have a rich legacy in boxing and India to be honest are still not there, but yes ever since Vijender won the country’s first Olympic boxing medal things have changed. Now, opponents know if they are up against an Indian boxer they are in for a tough fight. As I have said before, Indian boxing is on a sound footing.

Q You have served as the national boxing coach for close to two decades now starting in 1993. You were given a contract extension last year till the 2016 Rio Olympics.

I wanted to step down last year, but the boxing federation, SAI and Sports Ministry wanted me to continue. I will help my team to make a podium finish at the Asian Games as well as in other international tourneys, including the Rio Olympics. As far as my coaching future is concerned, all I want to say is that I will never be a burden on Indian boxing.

Exclusive Interview: Gold is a realistic possibility, says India's star wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt

This piece was published in Sportskeeda

The absence of iconic wrestler Sushil Kumar has effectively meant that the mantle of spearheading the country’s challenge in the upcoming Incheon Asian Games rests on Yogeshwar Dutt. The 31-year-old gangling wrestler from Haryana will be looking to live up to the expectations of billions fans and corner India’s first wrestling gold in Asian Games in 28 years. The 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist and the twice Commonwealth Games gold medallist wrestler has recently shifted to a new weight category – 65-kg – after featuring in the 60-kg category for most part of his international career.
Yogeshwar - India’s best bet for a gold medal in the upcoming Asiad - spoke to Sportskeeda in an exclusive interview.

Excerpts:

Q How are you shaping up for the upcoming Incheon Asian Games?
By God’s grace everything has been going well for me as for my other team members. We are lending finishing touches to our preparations for the Asian Games and hope to come home with a decent bag of medals. I just need to stay focused and remain injury-free and results will be good.

Q At the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games you had a fairly easy run outclassing your opponents en route to gold. You were hardly stretched in the tournament.
I agree that I did not have to break much sweat in Glasgow. I remember beating my Canadian opponent 10-0 in the final bout. I guess I did not let complacency creep into my game and was better prepared than most others.

Q You have grappled in the 60-kg category for most part of your career – you won bronze in the 2006 Asiad, reached the quarterfinals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, won gold in the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games and bronze in the 2012 London Olympics. Now you have shifted to the 65-kg category recently in the CWG. Any significant adjustments you have to make to your game?
Not really. It’s all about adjusting to the new weight category and I have done it well so far. You saw at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games how I fared in the 65-kg category. I’m bullish about making a podium finish in the upcoming Asian Games in this weight category.

Q Tell us a bit about your favourite leg-twisting technique, which you employed so effectively first in the 2012 London Olympics and later in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
It’s a technique that has worked well for me so far and I happy about it. It always helps to surprise your opponent.

Q You lost your father a few days before you boarded the flight for the 2006 Doha Asian Games, where you scooped up a bronze. Your memories.
It was a traumatic period for me but I overcome that huge personal loss in the best possible manner winning a medal - bronze for my country. That medal was hugely satisfying given the circumstances.

Q India’s only double Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar has chosen to give the upcoming Incheon Asian Games a miss. How much will the team miss his absence?
Sushil Kumar is a sure shot medal hope for India and obviously the team will miss his absence. We minus Sushil will strive hard to make the country proud and ensure his absence does not dent our morale in any way.

Q How do you assess the competition from other countries in the Incheon Asian Games?
Every wrestler is training hard and it will not be easy. Grapplers from Iran, Japan, Korea, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan will be formidable opponents and Indian wrestlers are also best in the business. We hope to bag at least 4 or 5 medals - a gold medal is a realistic possibility, something we have not been able to attain since Kartar Singh last achieved the feat in the 1986 Seoul Asiad.

Q What’s your take on the latest rule changes implemented by the world wrestling body?
I believe the rule changes are going to benefit the Indian wrestlers in a big way. The new rule changes will ensure no wrestler takes his bout for granted as anything can happen in the final round. Indian grapplers are known for their solid endurance and we will richly reap the benefits of it.

Q Finally, when will you shed the ‘eligible bachelor’ tag?
I will think about it after the 2016 Rio Olympics. For now, I want to stay focused on wrestling as I’m determined to come up with all guns blazing in the Asian Games as well as in other major international tourneys – the biggest being the 2016 Olympics.

Why India are looking good to clinch the Asiad hockey gold?

This piece was published in Sportskeeda

Every time a major international hockey tourney beckons, it sets the hockey tongues in the country wagging as to how our national team is going to perform. This time around, it won’t be a tall exaggeration to suggest that the Indian team ‘on paper’ at least, appears the best to clinch the coveted gold medal at the Incheon Asian Games and book their berth for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Of course, translating ‘on paper’ strength into on-pitch reality is easier said than done. Having said that, one cannot deny the fact that the Sardar Singh-led side has played some really ‘solid’ hockey in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games; more importantly, the team mitigated the daft errors which cost them dear in tight games at the 2014 World Cup.

The point is why do we believe India can harbor serious hopes of a gold-medal finish in Inchoen? Hosts Korea, who are the highest ranked side in the tournament (ranked number eighth), will be always be dangerous opponents along with defending champions and 11th ranked Pakistan and 13th ranked Malaysia.

But to tell the truth, all these teams who are touted as traditional powerhouses in Asian Games, have hit a lean trot. Korea dished out a trashy display in the 2014 World Cup and were soundly beaten 3-0 by lower ranked India as they were consigned to the tenth spot. Pakistan failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time ever and the team is grappling with lack of international exposure and fund crunch, while Malaysia are licking their lips after their wooden  spoon finish at the 2014 World Cup with their head coach being given the marching orders.

It is pertinent mention that no ‘coaching strategizing manual’ tells a team to take any team lightly just because their recent form hasn’t been anything to write home about. Surely, the head coach Terry Walsh must have ingrained in the boys that there is no allowance for ‘complacency’ and every game has to be fought hard if a Rio berth has to be secured in Incheon.

This Indian team can no longer be called a ‘young talented side, as it has as many as eight players who have played more than hundred internationals. In fact, India looks a vastly experienced side with the likes of captain Sardar Singh, Gurbaj Singh, SV Sunil, PR Sreejesh, Vokkaliga, Gurwinder Singh Chandi, Danish Mujtaba and Manpreet Singh more than capable of stepping up to the plate.

The Indian defence looks sorted out with Sreejesh manning the cage like a rock of Gibraltar. Gurbaj Singh has lent more depth to both the backline as well as in the midfield. He has taken some load off Sardar in midfield with young Manpreet always eager to shoulder new responsibilities.

The return of Gurwinder Singh Chandi has clearly added more teeth to the Indian forwardline. Chandi alongside Sunil, Dharamvir and Danish have gathered substantial experience over a period of time and have it in them to strike telling blows at opponents. Young turks like Akashdeep, Ramandeep and Nikkin will seek to complement their senior pros upfront.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan being pitted in the same group has triggered more excitement among fans, but it also means they won’t meet each other in the semifinal at least, though the prospect of a lip-smacking final clash is always there.

For that to happen, India must overcome the likes of 40^th ranked Sri Lanka, 22^nd ranked Oman and 27^th ranked China besides Pakistan before they can think about their chances in the knockout phase.

The year 2014 has been a decent one for Indian hockey so far and if the steady progress of the team under Terry Walsh ever since he took charge during the Hockey World League Final Round in New Delhi is any indication, it does not really seem out of place to believe that India can indeed pocket the gold in Inchoen.

Podium finish is not beyond me in Asian Games, says India's first women Commonwealth Games medallist Dipa Karmarkar

This piece was published in Sportskeeda

It was Ashish Kumar who brought Indian gymnastics on the international sporting landscape, picking up a bronze and silver in the 2010 Commonwealth Games and a bronze in the 2010 Asian Games. Four years later, Dipa Karmarkar gave women gymnasts plenty to look forward to by winning a bronze medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Even as the odds were stacked against her given the warring factions in Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) and lack of international exposure, the 21-year-old Tripura girl managed to rise above with a stellar performance in Glasgow.With a medal in her kitty, Dipa is now keen to better her CWG performance in the upcoming Incheon Asian Games.

We caught up with the talented athlete for her thoughts on competition, winning and development of gymnastics in India.

Excerpts:

How does it feel when you know that you are the first Indian woman gymnast to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games?

Bahut accha lagta hai (feels really good)! I cannot describe in words how I felt winning the bronze medal at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. I nearly missed the silver by a whisker, but even then I’m pretty chuffed with the way I performed in Glasgow given that I started the proceedings on a sluggish note and had plenty of catching up to do.

You are nursing an ankle injury – have you recuperated fully from that?

I’m getting better and better with each day and hope I will be able to perform at my best in the upcoming Incheon Asian Games. It’s important for me not to carry any niggles into the event and stay fit as a fiddle. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed and training hard for a medal in Incheon.

How would you assess the competitiveness flavour of the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. Do you think the Incheon Games will be your biggest challenge?
Look, I believe both Commonwealth Games and Asian Games offer stiff competition as you have formidable gymnasts from Australia, England and Canada in the former and redoubtable gymnasts from China, Korea and Japan in the latter. Getting a medal at both these events is a challenge and I want to improve on my bronze in Glasgow with at least a silver or gold in Incheon. I don’t think a podium finish is beyond me and I’m geared up for the challenge.

Is there a sense of satisfaction that your bronze medal effort in Glasgow is going to trigger a wave of popularity for gymnastics in India and encourage young girls to take up the sport?
Absolutely! I myself want to do whatever I can to help young girls take up gymnastics seriously. I’m confident that my performance in Glasgow must have emboldened many to pick up gymnastics as a sport. It was Ashish bhai (Kumar) who injected hope in the sport when he became the first Indian gymnast to win a Commonwealth and Asian Games medal in 2010. I think the sport is making the right noises in India.
There is always never-ending talk of infrastructure not being adequate for the sport to flourish in India. Your thoughts on the issue?
There is room for better infrastructure in India, although things are not bad at the moment. For example, foam pit, which can ensure athletes are injury-free is not available all over India. At the moment, foam pit is available in places like Delhi, Allahabad, Mumbai among a few others. The sport will get a big boost in India if foam pit is provided across India as players can train hard without the fear of getting injured.
Tell us about the cash rewards handed out to you after your bronze medal effort in Glasgow.

I received a cash award of Rs. 6 lakh from the central government and Rs. 5 lakh from the GFI. Such recognition helps us to stay motivated and spur athletes like us to achieve more glory for the country in the future.

Your coach Bisheshwar Nandi has been a huge influence on your playing career. What’s your take?

Bisheshwar Sir gets all the credit for whatever I have been able to achieve for India. I have been training with him for last 11-12 years and without him I wouldn’t have able to attain what I have today. He is a great coach, motivator and always ensures I keep raising the performance bar and never get complacent.

Your father, Dulal Karmarkar, was a weightlifter and is now a weightlifting coach at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Tripura. How come you did not take up weightlifting?

Just that my dad loved to pursue weightlifting while I had a liking for gymnastics and so pursued it (grins).

No team can be taken lightly in Asian Games, says men's hockey captain Sardar Singh

This piece was published in Sportskeeda

The Indian senior men’s hockey team will look to dish out a clinical performance at the upcoming Incheon Asian Games and thereby clinch a direct spot in the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Sardar Singh-led side had put up a superb effort in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, finishing runners-up to world champions Australia.
The Indian skipper touche on various issues concerning the game in an exclusive interview.

How do you assess your team’s preparations for the upcoming Incheon Asian Games?  

Well, we have been putting in the hard yards at the camp focusing on certain areas, where we feel that there is a need for improvement. We are working on our finishing as merely creating scoring chances is not enough. We got to convert them and that’s what big teams are made of – making the most of what one gets. We are training hard on the long corners as well as retackling besides looking after the other facets of the game. We will have 10-12 days to gear up in Incheon and hopefully we will be ready for the challenge when the event kicks off.
The silver-medal finish at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games was India’s first medal in any major event after the 2012 London Olympics. Your thoughts.

We are improving as a side and if you look at the World Cup we fought hard against higher ranked teams like Belgium and England. It was silly gaffes like late goals, which cost us dear in the World Cup. Daft bloomers came happening at the World Cup at crucial stages of the game, but we looked strong as a side. There was not much time gap between the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games, but we worked on our game at the pre-CWG camp and it really helped as we managed to reach the final toppling higher ranked New Zealand after being down 0-2 at one stage. We offered stiff resistance to the world champions Australia in the league phase, and of course we lost tamely to them in the final, there were many lessons to be learned.

The winners of the 2014 Asian Games book a direct berth to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Unlike the earlier Asian Games, do you think India’s job looks much easier considering Asian powerhouses Pakistan, Korea and Malaysia haven’t been in the best of form in recent times?

Not at all. In modern hockey, you can’t take any game for granted. Every team is beatable. Pakistan are the defending champions and will be determined to prove a point after failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first-time ever, while Korea as hosts will be pose a tough challenge to all teams. Malaysia also cannot be written off. Every match will be crucial and we are focused on our opening game and our first aim is to make it to the semifinals and we will take it from there.

Penalty corner conversions have always been a talked-about topic in Indian hockey. What’s your take?

We believe things are looking good in this area. Raghunath and Rupinder are doing a good job. I agree injection was a let-down at the World Cup, but we turned over a new leaf at the Commonwealth Games. We are achieving a 60-70% PC conversion rate in last few games, which shows a distinct improvement in the PC area.

Gurbaj Singh has been simply outstanding ever since he staged a comeback to the side after being dropped from the 2012 London Olympics team.

What should I say about Gurbaj? His performance has been extraordinary. He knows his job in the side very well and delivered when it mattered. Every player is trying to do his job and Gurbaj has performed outstandingly.

The Indian team is travelling to the Asian Games with only one goalkeeper PR Sreejesh. Drag-flicker Vokkaliga Raghunath is being groomed as a back-up option.

Yeah, Raghunath is having goalkeeping sessions at the New Delhi camp and Sreejesh is giving him tips all the time. He is just a back-up option, we hope his services are not needed and Sreejesh can manage all on his own.

Where do you think India stand as compared to the top teams like Australia, Germany and Netherlands?

Fitness-wise we are very much with them, but experience-wise they hold an advantage over us. We need to play these top teams on a regular basis and that way can improve our game and ranking. As far as other higher ranked sides like Belgium, England, Argentina and Korea are concerned we can beat them without really having to get overawed by them.

We need to play 40-50 games a year and Hockey India is working on that. Once we play these teams regularly, you will see more improvement in our game. Look at Australia and New Zealand or even the Netherlands and Belgium – they play each other frequently as they are geographically located close to each other.

Has Sardar Singh changed as a person with the mantle of captaincy?

Captaincy means additional responsibility; otherwise I’m the same player who wants his team to do well. I believe captaincy begins off the pitch and there must be camaraderie among players which gets reflected in on-pitch performance. There is no senior or junior in this Indian team, we always look to play as a unit and do our best for the country.

India's comeback boxer Akhil Kumar upbeat about Asiad campaign

This piece was published in Sportskeeda

Thirty-plus cricketers staging a national comeback may be deemed ‘not unusual stuff’, but when a boxer makes a comeback at the age of 33 for an event as big as the Asian Games, it is something out of the ordinary.

Indian boxer Akhil Kumar has clearly set a new longevity benchmark, making it to the national side for the upcoming Incheon Asian Games. The 33-year-old Haryana Police DSP is famously remembered for his win over Russia’s world champion Sergey Vodopyanov in the pre-quarterfinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, before his medal-winning march was halted in the quarterfinals.

The 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games gold-winning pugilist spoke to Sportskeeda in an exclusive interview.  

Excerpts:  
Q Staging a comeback to the national boxing team at the age of 33 is not an often-heard-of thing. Your thoughts.  

You can call it a comeback but the point is I never lost the hunger to represent my country. The upcoming Incheon Asian Games will be my first international tournament since I last featured in the 2011 Baku World Boxing Championship, where I lost in the second round. I’m training hard and looking forward to faring well. I have many well-wishers and I believe it is their prayers that have enabled me to return to the national fold.  

The International Boxing Federation (AIBA) increased the upper age limit for amateur boxers from 34 to 40 last year - a move that must have sounded like music to your ears.  

I was elated to know that the AIBA has increased the upper age limit to 40 years. For somebody like me I was thrilled as I could play competitive boxing for another seven years. Now not just, Asian Games, I can focus on the 2016 Rio Olympics and beyond. In terms of achievement, I have played in 2 Olympics, 2 Commonwealth Games as well as number of World Championships – I have got a lot of recognition for what I have done in the ring and finishing the Asiad on a high will be nice.  

You will be fighting in the 60-kg at the upcoming Incheon Asian Games. You had fought in the bantamweight category (60-kg) for a long period, winning the gold at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games as well as reaching the quarterfinals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Do you think shifting to a new weight category will pose a big challenge?  

Not really. I’m going to Incheon projecting myself a new boxer given that I’m shifting to a new weight category. I don’t care about reputations of other boxers and so don’t wish to know which boxers are going to be a threat for me. I want to take one bout at a time, and see how things pan out.  

How do you assess your medal-winning chances at the Asian Games?  

Well, it’s difficult to say that I will win this medal or that medal in the Asiad. All boxers will be well prepared for the event – boxers from Korea, Kazakhstan and Philippines are going to be hard to beat, but I will strive to ensure I box better than these boxers and bag a medal for my country.  

Vijender Singh’s bronze at the 2008 Olympics triggered a resurgence of Indian boxing – do you think Indian boxing has been able to sustain that?  

Absolutely. Indian boxing is in good health and our boxers are looked upon with a lot of respect by our opponents. Obviously, Vijender triggered a wave of popularity for the sport in the country – he recently acted in a Bollywood movie and we also have a film based on the life of MC Mary Kom, which shows boxing is making the right noises across various platforms. No sport can survive if it has no money or glamour and boxing is showing that it is a marketable brand in the country.  

Haryana has churned out a slew of medal-winning boxers for the country ever since Vijender won India’s first Olympic medal. Why is that the other states are not able to replicate that?  

Look, it depends on what policy the state government is adopting. The Haryana government has given immense encouragement to boxers by handing out cash awards and government jobs that athletes from the state are ‘extra’ determined to corner glory for the country. I don’t want to say anything about other states, but yes the mushrooming of boxers from Haryana can be attributed to the efforts of the state government.  

Boxing runs in the Akhil Kumar family – you wife Poonam Beniwal is a former flyweight state champion and is a NIS coach at Patiala. You have a young daughter – will you like her to take up boxing?  

She is just three. I won’t force anything on her and it’s her wish to pursue which sport she wants to. She does accompany me to practice sessions and wears my gloves. She also keenly follows my wife’s younger sister Preeti Beniwal, who is also a talented boxer.  

You are the only Indian boxer to beat a world champion at the Olympics. You have beaten many higher ranked boxers in your playing career. Which has been your most satisfying win so far?  

I will rate my win over world champion Sergey Vodopyanov of Russia in the pre-quarterfinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics as my best career win. I was trailing 2-6, but never gave up and held him at 9-9 at the conclusion of the fourth and final round. The referee awarded the bout to me because I landed more punches than the Russian. This win is still talked about glowingly in Indian boxing circles as no Indian boxer has beaten a world champion in the Olympics.

I’m aiming to break into top-7 by the end of 2014" says P V Sindhu

This piece was published in Sportskeeda

P V Sindhu is in seventh heaven after having won her second consecutive World Badminton Championship bronze in Copenhagen, Denmark. The 19-year-old climbed two places to 10th spot in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings, following her exploits in the 2014 World Badminton Championship. Sindhu spoke in an exclusive interview about her exploits in the marquee event and future aspirations.

Excerpts

Q Heartiest congratulations on winning your second World Badminton Championship crown. How was the overall experience?

It was really satisfying to win the World Badminton Championship title for the second consecutive time. Getting to the semifinals was not easy as I had scalped two higher ranked players along the way. Of course, improving on the bronze of the 2013 edition would have been nice, but I’m still happy to have settled for the bronze.


Q You lost in the semifinals to Spain’s Carolina Martin – to whom you lost earlier in the year at the Australian Open. Is she a hard nut to crack?

Look, Carolina is a solid player and is in good nick at the moment and eventually won the 2014 World Badminton Championship. I have lost to her twice this year, but have also won once again her and will be looking to beat her in our future encounters.

Q How would you differentiate your bronze-winning efforts at the 2013 and 2014 World Badminton Championships?

Every tournament, you play different players and other than that I found both the bronze-winning performances hugely satisfying. Hopefully, I can better the colour of the medal in the future World Badminton Championships.

Q You seem to have a knack of beating the mighty Chinese players – be it Li Xuerui, Wang Shixian or Wang Yihan.

My preparation levels are same for all players, not specifically the Chinese girls. I am happy to have done well against the Chinese players, and beating them gives you extra satisfaction as they enjoy a rich legacy in the sport.

Q You climbed two places to 10th position in the world rankings. Where do you want to be by year-end?

I’m pretty chuffed to have again broken into the top-10. I’m looking to get among the top-7 by 2014-end. I fully realize that it won’t be easy, but I will be putting in the hard yards to attain that.

Q Where do you think Indian shuttlers stand as compared to the Chinese, Malaysians, Japanese, etc?

Our shuttlers are as good as the players of these countries. Fitness-wise as well as tactics-wise we are capable of matching them in all departments of the game.

Q Do you think that there is lot of money in the sport now?

The Indian Badminton League has been a shot in the arm for badminton in India. The sport has gained more popularity and fan following in the country. Things are looking good.
  Q You are busy preparing for the upcoming Incheon Asian Games. But looking at the bigger picture, how would you assess your chances of a podium finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics?

Right now, I’m focused on the Asian Games, where I want to do well. I want to take one tournament at a time, but of course the bigger goal is to win an Olympic medal. Saina Nehwal did a fantastic job clinching a bronze in the 2012 London Olympics.

I'm keen to play in Australia and help my country beat them in their own backyard, says Indian speedster Varun Aaron

This piece was published in Sportskeeda
 
The Indian team may have been hugely disappointing in their 1-3 loss to England in the recent five-match Test series, but one man – Varun Aaron – exuded hopes that his international cricket career was very much on track. The 24-year-old Jamshedpur lad, who overcome a long-standing back injury and rehab and made it to the England tour after a 16-month lay-off, impressed all with his pace featuring in the final two Tests.

Aaron is famously remembered for bowling the fastest ball ever by an Indian during the 2010-11 Vijay Hazare Trophy final against Gujarat at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, where he clocked a scorching 153 kph to Niraj Patel who shouldered arms to that zippy delivery.

Aaron, who is currently training in Chennai-based MRF Pace Foundation under Aussie pace guru Glenn McGrath, spoke to Sportskeeda in an exclusive interview.

Excerpts:

You sat out for the first two Tests before finally getting an opportunity in the third Test at Manchester and subsequently played the fifth and final Test at Oval. How would you assess your performance on the England tour?
Well, I was determined to do well since I was staging a comeback to the Test side after a long hiatus – this was my first Test after my debut in the 2010-11 season against West Indies. I relished bowling at Old Trafford as the deck had purchase for the seamers. I had a three-wicket haul in my comeback Test and bagged two more in the Oval Test, so couldn’t have been disappointing with my overall performance.
“I’m keen to play in Australia”

You had to warm the reserve bench for the first two Tests against England. How optimistic were you about your chances of playing in the Test series?
I knew I had to be patient as the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma were faring well with the ball. So, there wasn’t any disappointment as such at not playing the first two Tests, but I was well aware that if an opportunity came my way I had to grab it with both hands.

You made your ODI and Test debuts against England and West Indies at the same venue – Wankhede Stadium in 2011 and played your first international game in England recently after almost a 16-month lay-off. Your thoughts.
My international cricket journey has been an up-and-down ride. I made my ODI and Test debut in 2011 and was picked for the Australia tour in 2011-12, but had to opt out due to a stress fracture. I then recuperated and played in the 2012 IPL where I featured in a few games before the back injury surfaced again.

I hit an extensive rehab programme, followed by a surgery in England last year before finally playing in the Indian domestic circuit. I owe a lot to my strong support staff, my parents, people at NCA, BCCI as well as trainer Rajnikanth at MRF Pace Foundation – they all have helped me recuperate from my prolonged back injury.

What are the lessons learned from the England tour?
As a cricketer you keep learning all the time. Any match can turn on its head in a matter of sessions – look at the Manchester Test – England were 160 for 7 but went on to garner a 200-run lead. It shows there is no scope for complacency.

You had to withdraw from the 2011-12 Australia tour owing to a back injury, and another Aussie tour awaits us this December – must be keen to stay injury-free and make the cut?

I’m keen to play in Australia and help my country beat them in their own backyard. You can always stake your claim as one of the top sides in the world if you can beat the Aussies in their own den. As for staying injury-free, certain things are not in my control but I have become more aware of my body, which will help me in the long run.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has emerged as more than just a tailender with a doughty display with the bat in England. How important it is for a guy who is primarily a bowler to chip in with the willow?
I think tailenders have a responsibility of contributing to the side as a batter. The contribution of a bowler with the bat holds the key in proving the difference between a win and defeat. I haven’t able to focus much on my batting in recent times, but will be keen to work on my batting so that I can be handy for the side batting at number eight, nine, ten and eleven.

Indian cricket was looking forward to the lip-smacking prospect of Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav bowling in Australia on the 2011-12 tour, but unfortunately, you sustained an injury. India never had two bowlers who could hurl the ball at more than 150kmph at both ends. So hopefully this 2014-15 Australia tour see both of you hurl the red cherry from both ends.
Hope so. Umesh and I are good friends and it will be great if both of us can play together in Tests. Selection is something that is not our hands and I’m confident both of us would bowl from both ends in Tests sometime in the future.

The 2015 World Cup is just some months away. You are picked in the Test side now – do you think realistically it is possible for you make it to the marquee event?
Test cricket is the ultimate thing for any cricketer and I’m no different. Having said that, I will look to keep performing in whatever format I get a chance to play and surely make it to the ODI side. As far as the World Cup is concerned, there is a lot of cricket to be played before that, and hopefully I can make the most of the opportunities and stake my claim in the WC side. Just want to take one match at a time!