U19 Women’s Asia Cup: Sonam, Kamalini guide India to 9-wicket win over Pakistan

New Delhi, Dec 16 (IANS) Coach Sumit Bhatia is all pumped up for the first edition of the Kho Kho World Cup scheduled to take place from January 13-19, 2025. Bhatia, who holds a distinct record of being the only head coach to have won the Asian Championship twice, believes that this historical step is an indication of the realisation of the dream to take the sport to the international level and help it gain global recognition.

Having been honoured with the best coach award by the Delhi government, Bhatia has been a part of various Indian teams’ success, including the 2016 and 2023 Asian Kho Kho Championship victories, and has trained players like Nasreen Shaikh and Sarika Sudhakar Kale. Both of them have been Arjuna Awardees.

Nasreen, who is also a part of the World Cup camp, is the only player who has played in two Asian Championships and won the gold. The coach-student duo is now gearing up for the global event.

Sharing how the journey of Kho Kho World Cup’s inception, the coach said, “We organised an international camp here before COVID happened, in 2020. Coaches and players from 16 countries came here and we gave them training. Now they will be coming here for the World Cup but this campaign started in that camp”.

He further said, “Around 30-35 countries were willing to play the tournament but we picked the best 20 teams for both men and women. Some countries have single teams while some have double teams but a total of 24 countries will be participating in the tournament. It was our dream to take Kho Kho to the international level and now we can see that our dream is getting fulfilled.”

He also lauded the launch of the Ultimate Kho Kho League and shared how the franchise-based model has helped the players and coaches gain recognition, while also bringing forward grassroot talent.

“When the Ultimate Kho Kho league started, I also joined Telegu Yodhas as their head coach and we also played the final. Players have gotten exposure through the league and it’s not just financial. Earlier we used to hesitate while admitting being a Kho Kho coach but today our players introduce us as their coach,” said Bhatia.

He added, “The league got so much coverage that wherever we go, the players are approached for autographs. So the platform of the league started a new world for both coaches and players and now not just India but the entire world knows us. Earlier we used to tell people about our game but now they know what is Kho Kho and Ultimate Kho Kho league and are also waiting for the third season.”

Bhatia also discussed the impact of sports science on Kho Kho and lauded the newly introduced technology and said, “We have benefitted a lot from it. Sometimes we don’t understand why a player is not performing well. But with the introduction of sports science, we now know about the details of the problem.

“For example, a player might be facing issues with his left leg while sitting and so, it gives us an opportunity to work on that weakness… Sports science has helped us in identifying the accuracy and weakness of a player. So it’s very beneficial for us.”

–IANS

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Brisbane, Dec 18 (IANS) India are sitting third on the World Test Championship (WTC) table after Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep’s spirited tenth-wicket partnership helped India salvage a crucial draw against Australia in the rain-marred third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at the Gabba on Wednesday. 

While their effort ensured that the five-match series remained evenly poised at 1-1, it also set the stage for a dramatic finish to the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 qualification race.

Both India and Australia saw their WTC points percentage (PCT) dip; India to 55.88 percent and Australia to 58.89 percent. South Africa, meanwhile, with 63.33 PCT are out in front of the standings and in the box seat to feature in the one-off Test in June 2025, with Australia and India their closest challengers ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the New Year Test in Sydney at the start of next year.

With just two matches remaining in the ongoing WTC cycle, India faces a near-impossible task to secure a spot in the final. Their current PCT of 55.88 leaves them in third place, trailing South Africa and Australia. To overtake both and ensure qualification, India must deliver flawless performances in the upcoming Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.

It won’t be easy, but it is not impossible, as India needs to win their remaining two matches against Australia to ensure qualification. Any other outcome, however, would leave their fate dependent on other results to reach the Finale at Lord’s.

If India wins each of the remaining Tests against Australia, it would raise India’s PCT to 60.52, ensuring they surpass Australia even if the defending champions secure a 2-0 victory in their final series against Sri Lanka.

If India loses one of the remaining two Tests of this series, the team will have to rely on Sri Lanka whitewashing Australia 2-0.

While India battles for survival, South Africa and Australia find themselves in more favourable positions. South Africa’s comprehensive victory over Sri Lanka in Gqeberha has made them the team to beat. With a PCT of over 60 percent, they need just one win in their remaining two Tests against Pakistan to secure a spot in the WTC final. Even if they lose both matches, they remain strong contenders unless India pulls off a miraculous 3-1 series victory in Australia.

Australia, sitting in second place, will travel to Sri Lanka for two Tests. A 2-0 series win would solidify their spot in the final, provided India falters in either Melbourne or Sydney.

For India, the equation is simple yet daunting; win both Tests against Australia or risk elimination.

–IANS

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