T20 WC: Rinku will join squad ahead of Zimbabwe clash, there will be thoughts about playing Samson, says Kotak

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Chennai, Feb 25 (IANS) India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that middle-order batter Rinku Singh will be joining the squad on Wednesday evening ahead of must-win Super Eights clash against Zimbabwe here at the M A Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday. 

Rinku, who has figured in all the matches India have played so far in the ongoing T20 World, left the team hotel and travelled to Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday after his father, who is suffering from liver cancer, was admitted to a hospital and is on ventilator support. He did not attend a practice session on Tuesday.

While addressing the press conference, Kotak confirmed that the batter will return to Chennai on Wednesday evening. “Rinku’s father wasn’t well. So he went back. I think he is coming back this evening,” he said.

However, there are chances that India may bring wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson into the playing XI for the must-win match against Zimbabwe.

Speaking about if the team will have any changes after a 76-run loss against South Africa, Kotak said, “There can be changes, yes. We are discussing everything because we have two left-handers as openers and a left-hander at number three, and the opposition also has an off-spinner.

“Since we lost wickets in the first over in the last three games, any team would think about changes. We never decide the team too early, and it’s not fair to reveal plans in advance, but yes, there are definitely thoughts about it.”

Samson, in particular, attracted significant attention from the coaching staff during the practice session on Tuesday. With Abhishek Sharma facing challenges at the top of the order and Ishan Kishan not providing advantageous match-ups against the off-spinners, discussions have arisen about potentially breaking this pattern by including Samson in the team.

When asked if the net session gave the indications that Samson will play against Zimbabwe, Kotak replied, “Sometimes he wants to do some drills, but I don’t think net sessions give any indications. But, definitely, there will be thoughts about playing him.”

–IANS

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ISL 2024-25: Chennaiyin FC target to keep playoff hopes alive against leaders Mohun Bagan

Chennai, Jan 20 (IANS) Chennaiyin FC will host Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 on Tuesday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai.

The Marina Machans are currently 10th on the table with 17 points from 16 games, while the Mariners sit comfortably at the top spot with 36 points from as many matches as the Marina Machans. Chennaiyin FC are winless in their last four games (D2, L2), including consecutive 2-2 draws, and will look to end their drought against the Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

The Mariners, who secured a narrow 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture on November 30, are aiming for their first-ever league double over Chennaiyin FC. Notably, the Marina Machans and Mumbai City FC are the only sides Mohun Bagan have faced multiple times in the ISL without completing a league double.

Chennaiyin FC have struggled defensively so far, keeping the joint-least clean sheets (2) in the league along with Hyderabad FC. They have conceded 27 strikes, including nine in their last five encounters. The Mariners have been lethal in offence, recording the joint-most goals (31 – same as Odisha FC and NorthEast United FC), with Jamie Maclaren top-scoring with six goals, and Alberto Rodriguez, Subhasish Bose, and Jason Cummings netted on four occasions each.

The Jose Molina-coached team might look to exploit the weaknesses in the Chennaiyin FC backline, whereas the home team will want to wear a guarded look to bridge their seven-point gap with the sixth-placed Mumbai City FC (24), in order to repeat their heroics of qualifying as last season.

Chennaiyin FC have given away multiple goals in each of their last two home games – a 2-2 draw against Odisha FC and a 4-2 loss to Bengaluru FC. The last time they endured a longer streak was between December 2018 and February 2019, when they conceded eight goals over three consecutive home games. They will need to ensure that their defence is at the top of their game, especially on their home turf.

Chennaiyin FC assistant coach Noel Wilson revealed that injury concerns have troubled their defensive stability this season.

“This season, we have had injuries because of which we have not played the same back-four consistently. You wouldn’t want to change the defence across 100 minutes because once the opposition scores one goal, they are raring to go for another,” he said.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Jose Molina brushed aside concerns over his forwards not making the most of the goal-scoring chances being created in the last few games.

“I would be worried if my attackers didn’t have chances to score. But, that is not the situation. I am sure that the goals will come,” he said.

The two teams have played nine games in ISL history. Mohun Bagan Super Giant have won four matches, whereas Chennaiyin FC have clinched two victories. Three encounters have produced draws.

–IANS

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Jr World Cup Shooting: India shines in air pistol mixed team as Italy dominates skeet events (roundup)

New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) India pulled off a 1-2 in the 10m air pistol mixed team junior event, as Italy celebrated a golden double in the skeet competitions, as competition Day 3 of the ISSF Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun New Delhi concluded here at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range with the hosts still on top of the medal tally.

Kapil and Rashmika Sahgal put down compatriots Jonathan Gavin Antony and Vanshika Chaudhary 16-10 in the 10m air pistol mixed team gold medal clash to give India their third gold of the competition. Later, Italians Marco Coco and Arianna Nember claimed top honours in the junior men’s and women’s skeet finals, respectively.

India presently has three gold, five silver, and three bronze medals to show for their efforts.

On Saturday morning, both the Indian teams had dominated the qualification, with Rashmika–Kapil topping at 582-15x and Vanshika–Gavin following at 578-20x. Also in the mixed team pistol, Spain’s Ines Castro Ortega and Lucas Sanchez Tome secured bronze with a narrow 16-14 win over Iran’s Parimah Amiri and Mohammadreza Ahmadi in mixed air.

Italy’s charge in skeet competitions was led by Marco Coco, who carried his qualification form (122) into the junior men’s final, shooting 56 hits from 60 targets to win gold. Finland’s Lassi Akseli Matias Kauppinen claimed silver with 53 hits, while Cyprus’s Andreas Pontikis took bronze with 43.

India’s Harmehar Singh Lally (35 hits) and Atul Singh Rajawat (25 hits) were eliminated in fourth and fifth place, respectively, while the Netherlands’ Ryan Kooijman finished sixth with 14.

The women’s skeet final saw World Championship silver medalist Arianna Nember of Italy produce a stellar display, hitting 53 targets to secure gold. India’s Olympian Raiza Dhillon pushed her close with 51 for silver, while reigning Asian champion Mansi Raghuwanshi added bronze with 41, having earlier topped qualification with 117.

USA’s 14-year-old Chloe Chaleunsinh finished fourth with 32, Individual Neutral Athlete Kseniia Shuliak was fifth with 22, and India’s Agrima Kanwar completed the final line-up with 13.

Other Indians in action:

Skeet Junior Men Qualification

Jyotiraditya Singh Sisodiya – 116 (13th)

Yashvardhan Singh Rajawat – 113 (18th)

Ishaan Singh Libra – 109 (26th)

Skeet Junior Women Qualification

Yashasvi Rathore – 107 (9th)

Shivani Raikwar – 105 (12th)

Fixtures: Competition Day 4

On Sunday, September 28, two finals are scheduled in the 50m rifle 3 positions event. The women’s final will take place at 12:00 PM IST, followed by the men’s final at 2:00 PM IST, with qualifications starting at 9:30 AM.

Pistol shooters will also be in action on Sunday morning with Stage 1 qualification of the junior men’s 25m rapid fire pistol beginning at 9:15 AM.

–IANS

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Vani shares the lead with Amandeep and Vidhatri in 7th leg of WPGT

Mysuru, May 29 (IANS) Vani Kapoor, seeking a fourth title in as many starts, grabbed a share of the lead in the first round of the seventh leg of the Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club. Vani, who has not finished below the second place on the domestic WPGT in the last five starts, has also won the fourth, fifth, and sixth legs of the Tour.

Playing at the JWGC in Mysuru, Vani shot 71, as did her friend and former Hero Women’s Indian Open runner-up, Amandeep Drall, and local star, Vidhatri Urs.

The trio shot 1-over 71 each as none of the players broke par on the course, which had seen a lot of rain over the last few days. In fact, with more rain expected, the players will go out in a shotgun start in the second round on Friday morning.

The course continued to be wet as it had rained over the last couple of days. That also meant preferred lies were being used. The wet fairways and the mild drizzle, plus the winds added made it challenging. The forecast for Friday is more rain.

Rhea Purvi Saravanan, who won the opening leg this season, was tied for fourth with a round of 2-over 72.

Vani Kapoor had two birdies against three bogeys, as did Vidhatri Urs. Amandeep Drall had pars through the front nine and then had two birdies against three bogeys on the back nine.

Rhea had back-to-back bogeys on the front nine and then a double bogey on the par-4 11th, but she recovered some ground with back-to-back birdies on the 16th and the 17th.

Jasmine Shekar was the only player to play one of the stretches in under par. She shot 1-under 35 with two birdies against one bogey on the front nine. However, she had four bogeys on the return journey. Jasmine, among the winners last year, was fifth with 3-over 73, while Durga Nittur shot 74 to be sixth.

Khushi Khanijau was the sole seventh with 75, and four players, Karishma Govind, Ridhima Dilawari, Neha Tripathi, and Lavanya Jadon, were tied eighth at 6-over 76 each.

–IANS

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