Sports

New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) Hailing Hockey India's yet another ground-breaking initiative, National Women's Hockey League 2024-2025, former Indian skipper Pritam Rani Siwach championed its significance for aspiring players who are looking to reach the national team set-up.

Lauding the initiative, Pritam, who along with her husband runs the Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy, said, “It is an excellent initiative started by Hockey India. The National Women’s Hockey League will provide an opportunity for young players to showcase their skills and techniques and make a name for themselves, thus creating their own pathway to the national team going forward.”

It must be noted that the Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy is based in Sonipat and has produced many stars for the Indian team, such as Neha, Sharmila Devi, Nisha Warsi, and Jyoti, among others.

“Through this, the players will also get to know what areas they need to work on and how they can improve their game. It is also equally important for the coaches as well as they will be more aware of the players and how they can work on them, train them and refine their game,” she added.

The National Women's Hockey League is the first domestic women’s league of its kind in India, promising an exhilarating showcase of talent and skill. The league is structured into two phases, with the inaugural phase set to take place in Ranchi, Jharkhand, from 30th April to 9th May 2024. All matches during this phase will be hosted at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium.

The National Women’s Hockey League will feature teams that secured top-eight positions in the recently concluded 14th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2024 in Pune. The teams are – Hockey Haryana, Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey Jharkhand, Hockey Madhya Pradesh, Hockey Bengal, Hockey Mizoram, Manipur Hockey, and Hockey Association of Odisha.

The Dronacharya Awardee also expressed her thoughts on the senior men’s team as they prepare and train rigorously ahead of the Paris Olympics. She said, “The team has some really talented players who have the capabilities of winning matches. Yes, the pool in which India is placed in is a bit tricky but I am confident that the team will pass this test and hopefully change the colour of the medal to gold.”

--IANS

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Mullanpur, April 18 (IANS) Left-handed batter Rilee Rossouw replaces an out-of-form Jonny Bairstow as Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to bowl first against Mumbai Indians in match 33 of IPL 2024 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium on Thursday evening.

[7:14 PM, 4/18/2024] Niharika Ians: Both teams have four points from six matches, but due to net run rate, PBKS are at eighth place, while MI are at ninth position. With the league phase nearing the half-way stage, this makes Thursday’s clash a very important match for MI and PBKS to win and keep themselves in contention to enter the playoffs.

With regular captain Shikhar Dhawan out due to a shoulder niggle, Sam Curran will continue leading the side. Curran added that uncapped Indian batter Atharva Taide has also dropped out of the playing eleven as a tactical change.

“Keeping up with the trend of the tournament (on electing to bowl first). It is not nice to lose the close games but we are doing a lot of things right,” said Curran.

Thursday’s match will also see Rohit Sharma becoming just the second player after MS Dhoni to play 250 matches in the IPL. MI skipper Hardik Pandya said his playing eleven is unchanged and was a good toss to lose for him as he was itching to bat first.

“We don't judge (our performances), couple of times we had the game in our grasp and didn't finish the game, IPL tests you, when the game is not over it is not over. We just take it game by game, go out there and give our 100 percent. Every individual should commit to the team's goal and once we do that, the results will be seen,” he said.

Playing XIs

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (captain), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Mohammad Nabi, Gerald Coetzee, Shreyas Gopal and Jasprit Bumrah

Substitutes: Akash Madhwal, Nuwan Thushara, Kumar Kartikeya, Piyush Chawla and Naman Dhir

Punjab Kings: Rilee Rossouw, Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran (captain), Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Liam Livingstone, Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep Singh

Substitutes: Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Bhatia, Shivam Singh, Rishi Dhawan and Vidwath Kaverappa

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) Meg Lanning, the legendary Australia captain, has revealed an unhealthy obsession with exercise and not eating enough food led to her shock retirement from international cricket last year.

Meg, the five times World Cup winning captain and Commonwealth Games gold medal winning skipper for Australia, announced her retirement from international cricket at 31, leaving everyone shocked. The announcement came on back of her pulling out of Women’s Ashes due to an undisclosed medical issue.

"I was over-exercising and under-fuelling. I got to the point where I was doing about 85-90km (running) a week. I was in denial. It became a bit of an obsession. It was because I could escape mentally. I would throw the headphones in, I wouldn't take my phone with me."

"I would have my Apple watch with me and listen to music. Nobody could contact me. I really liked that because I felt like I was in control. I felt like I was eating. I was still eating. But I'm much more aware of it now. I was not eating enough. I'd eat maybe a couple of meals a day if I was lucky and they weren't significant."

"It didn't start off as a deliberate thing. It just became a bit of a new normal. It sort of slowly crept into conscious decisions. Essentially I felt good. I was light. I could run heaps. I wasn't getting injured like everyone was telling me I was going to do. It almost became a bit of, 'I am going to show you' sort of thing," said Meg on the Howie Games podcast.

Further talking about how things transpired in leading to her missing out on Women’s Ashes last year, Meg said, "It sort of just spiralled and I was in denial. I got down to 57kg from 64kg. It wasn't ridiculous but it was significant. The ratios were out of whack. But it was the other things that I did not realise.”

“It (affected) my ability to concentrate. I didn't really want to see other people. I disengaged a lot from friends and family. I didn't realise that I was doing this. It sort of became a new normal. I naturally would enjoy spending time by myself. I'm totally fine with that. But there would be very few people who I would want to engage with."

"I would get really snappy, real moody if anyone asked anything. I became a bit of a different person. Pretty hard to be around, I would say. I was not in a place to be able to go on tour and play cricket and give the commitment levels required for that Ashes series mentally and physically. So the decision was made with me in conjunction with the medical team to miss that tour."

Meg also revealed she feared sleeping in night due to her obsessive routines. "I felt very out of control in terms of what my future looked like: 'If it's not cricket, what does life look like if I am not playing?' "I dreaded night time because I knew I would go to bed and not be able to sleep."

"How could I not want to travel the world and play cricket? That doesn't make any sense. That would make me so mad. I would just get more angry with myself. If you can't sleep, you can't do anything. No matter what was happening, I was always able to perform. (But) it had become a bit of auto pilot."

Meg continues to play domestic cricket, having recently led Delhi Capitals 2024 Women’s Premier League runners-up finish last month and has signed up with London Spirit to play in The Hundred for the first time in England. She also said that being a private person, she struggled to tell her battles, which is still on, but is now getting better.

"It's still not back to normal ratios I would say, (I have) lots of conversations that I have with myself around what I should do and what is the right thing to do for my health but it's hard for my brain. I have that battle and sometimes I win, sometimes I don't."

"I feel like I'm in a good spot now. Cricket is still part of what I do. But I wasn't cut out for the international touring schedule and what came with all of that. What I have come to know is that everybody is always going through something, no matter how much they look like they have got things under control."

"And that was something that I felt like I was good at, looking like I had everything under control. And that's absolutely not the case. I've really started to understand how actually talking to people and letting people know can actually help."

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) Former SAI coach Ajit Singh on Thursday said that Anshu Malik (57kg) has a chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics in women's category, whereas, Vinesh Phogat (50kg) will "struggle" at the Asian Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers in Kyrgyzstan’s Bishkek, starting from April 19 to 21.

Vinesh usually competes in the women’s 53kg but has dropped down to the 50kg category since Antim Phangal has already secured a quota in the category.

Speaking to IANS, Ajit Singh said in the men's category, Aman Sehrawat (57kg) and Deepak Punia (86kg) are strong contenders. However, he has no hope from the Greco-Roman wrestlers at the tournament.

“I have no hope from Greco-Roman, to be honest. In the women's category, Anshu can make it to the podium. While in men’s, Aman and Deepak Punia, I feel, can get quotas for India. Vinesh Phogat, I don’t think so, she will struggle,” said Ajit.

There will be a total of 36 Paris 2024 quotas on offer in 18 weight divisions in Bishkek. India has fielded seventeen wrestlers.

This qualifier will be the penultimate opportunity for Indian grapplers to secure a quota for the Summer Games. The World Qualification Tournament in Turkey, scheduled in May, will be the final wrestling qualifiers.

Indian squad:

Men’s Greco-Roman: Sumit (60kg), Ashu (67kg), Vikas (77kg), Sunil (87kg), Nitesh (97kg), Naveen (130kg)

Women’s freestyle: Vinesh Phogat (50kg), Anshu Malik (57kg), Mansi (62kg), Nisha (68kg), Reetika Hooda (76kg)

Men’s freestyle: Aman Sehrawat (57kg), Sujeet (65kg), Jaideep (74kg), Deepak Punia (86kg), Deepak (97kg), Sumit (125kg)

Where to watch: Live streaming on the United World Wrestling’s (UWW) official website (10:00 AM onwards).

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara while sharing his view on what makes Rohit Sharma a special player said the 36-year-old is a leader whether name him captain or not.

He added that Rohit's ability to put both Team India and Mumbai Indians (MI) first sets him apart.

During MI's clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Rohit smashed an unbeaten 105 off 63 balls in a losing cause and in the process the iconic opener achieved two milestones: the most runs by a batter in the MI vs CSK rivalry with 512 runs and counting and the first Indian to hit 500 sixes in T20 cricket.

"When you look at Rohit Sharma, you feel that he connects to the public very well... Spend his entire life from youth to present-day playing for India sometimes not getting the nods from the selectors and having to work his way back and you know. When you have such an image and a statue like Rohit Sharma... sometimes some people don't take the knock-down very well but I think what is very admirable is his ability to put everything aside and put India first and in this case also put Mumbai Indians first and come out and play the cricket the way it should," Lara said on Star Sports.

"He does not look like a big sulker, which is great. He's a leader, doesn't matter if you name captain or not. At some point in time when you get to a certain age, at a certain level you are a leader. I think he represents that role very well," he added.

--IANS

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Sharjah, March 16 (IANS) Rashid Khan etched his name into the record books, claiming the best figures by an Afghanistan captain in T20Is, a feat previously held by Nawroz Mangal for over 14 years during the opening T20I clash between Afghanistan and Ireland.

Rashid's spell of 3 wickets for just 19 runs in four overs showcased his mastery with the ball and underlined his pivotal role in Afghanistan's bowling arsenal. With crucial dismissals of Ireland's key batsmen, including Paul Stirling, Curtis Campher, and Gareth Delany, Rashid spearheaded Afghanistan's efforts to contain the opposition, limiting Ireland to a modest total of 149 for 6 in their 20 overs.

Despite Rashid's heroics, Afghanistan faced a setback in their pursuit of victory, succumbing to a 38-run defeat at the hands of a resilient Irish side.

While Mohammad Ishaq showcased promise with a spirited knock of 32 runs off 22 balls, the Afghan batting lineup faltered against Ireland's formidable bowling attack, with Ben White emerging as the chief destroyer with four crucial scalps. Despite contributions from veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, Afghanistan failed to overcome Ireland's relentless pressure, ultimately falling short of the target.

As the series unfolds, Afghanistan will be eager to regroup and bounce back in the second T20I showdown scheduled for Sunday, March 17.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) Shane Watson, the former Australian all-rounder, has opted out of contention for the role of Pakistan's head coach, despite being the preferred candidate of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), says a report.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Watson, who recently coached the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), was in advanced discussions regarding the position but has decided to prioritize his current coaching and commentary commitments, including his role with the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket and his commentary deal at the IPL.

While Watson had initially considered the offer from PCB, thoroughly enjoying his time in Pakistan during the PSL, he ultimately chose to honor his existing commitments, citing family obligations and the need to balance multiple roles. His decision leaves Pakistan without a head coach ahead of their upcoming T20I series against New Zealand and the T20 World Cup in June.

Despite reports suggesting a substantial financial offer from PCB, it is understood that the actual figure was lower than speculated and played no part in Watson's withdrawal. The rapid pace of developments regarding the coaching offer meant that accepting it would have required Watson to step down from his current roles abruptly, which was deemed impractical.

As head coach of Quetta Gladiators, Watson made significant changes to the team's structure and personnel, notably replacing long-time captain Sarfaraz Ahmed with Rilee Rossouw. Under his guidance, the Gladiators showed promising form in the PSL, reaching the playoffs for the first time in five seasons before being eliminated in the latter stages of the tournament.

--IANS

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Colombo, March 16 (IANS) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Saturday announced the appointment of former Pakistan pace bowler Aaqib Javed as the men’s cricket team fast bowling coach.

SLC in its announcement stated, “Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the appointment of former Pakistan pace bowler Aaqib Javed as the national team’s ‘fast bowling coach.’ He will work with the national team until the completion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in the West Indies and USA during June 2024.”

Aaqib is currently serving as the director of cricket operations and head coach of the Lahore Qalandars of the Pakistan Premier League and his role with Sri Lanka Cricket will resume, with immediate effect.

“We warmly welcome Aaqib and believe that his immense international experience, both in playing and coaching will help our bowlers come into good shape ahead of the upcoming major international competitions, such as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” said Ashley De Silva, CEO, Sri Lanka Cricket.

Aaqib had a successful international career where he played 163 ODIs and 22 test matches for Pakistan, capturing a tally of 236 international wickets. A member of Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup-winning team, Javed has worked for several national teams in different coaching capacities.

Among those stints are working as the bowling coach of the Pakistan national team, serving as the coach of the UAE national team, and also working with the Afghanistan national team in a development role.

During his tenure as coach, the UAE National Team has obtained ODI and T20I status, made the ICC Men’s 50 Over World Cup in 2015, and also featured in the qualifiers for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2014.

The former Pakistan pace bowler also coached the Pakistan U19 team to a World Cup win back in 2004 and served as the bowling coach when Pakistan won the 2009 T20 World Cup

in England.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) Australia pacer Mitchell Starc opened up on returning to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is prepared for a “bit of circus.”

After nearly nine years, Starc is set to make his highly anticipated return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) arena, donning the colours of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the upcoming 2024 edition. Starc's astronomical price tag of 24.70 crore in the auction made headlines, establishing him as the costliest player in IPL history following a fierce bidding war with the Gujarat Titans.

The seasoned pacer, who previously represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL's early seasons, is eager to embark on this new chapter with KKR, expressing his excitement about the prospect of reuniting with the franchise. Reflecting on his IPL journey, Starc acknowledged his previous stint in the league and his decision to withdraw from joining KKR in 2018, highlighting the anticipation surrounding his return to the fold. The Australian pacer played two seasons of the IPL in 2014 and 2015 with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and had picked up 34 wickets across both campaigns.

In an interview with cricket.com.au, Starc shared his enthusiasm for the challenge ahead, emphasising his readiness to embrace the dynamic environment of the IPL. With a fresh roster of teammates and a renewed sense of purpose, Starc is poised to make his mark in the world's premier T20 competition, relishing the opportunity to compete against the best in the business.

"It's been eight years, I think. Back to KKR where I was supposed to be in 2018. So I'll be back there for the chance to pull on the gold and purple. I guess my memories are a few and far between of back in 2014 and 2015 with RCB but yeah, really excited to get stuck in. Obviously, a new group of players. A bunch of guys I certainly haven't met or been able to work with before,” said Starc to cricket.com.au.

Acknowledging the electrifying atmosphere and global appeal of the IPL, Starc anticipates an exhilarating season ahead, characterizing the tournament as a "circus" that encapsulates the essence of T20 cricket at its finest.

"A couple of guys that I've, international guys that I've played against and come across. Yeah, it's gonna be exciting. It's definitely a new challenge. But yeah, it'll be exciting. It's always a bit of a circus when it is the best T20 league in the world. So, yeah I look forward to it," said Starc.

KKR will play their season opener against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 23 at the iconic Eden Gardens.

--IANS

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New Delhi, March 16 (IANSlife) A stubborn pimple can be a frustrating reminder that your skin needs more than just a quick fix. While spot treatments can offer temporary relief, they often act like band-aids on a deeper issue.

"That stubborn breakout might be a message from your skin, signalling a lack of vital antioxidants like Glutathione. Contrary to what some may say, Glutathione isn't just another trendy skincare ingredient. It is much more than just that," says Shikha Dwivedi, MSc Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics of OZiva.

So, what is Glutathione and why is it important for the skin?

Pat came the reply from Shikha, who said: "Simply put, Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant naturally produced by your body, acting as a frontline soldier against free radicals – harmful molecules that damage your skin cells and contribute to various concerns. You can think of it as your skin's internal shield, protecting it from the daily onslaught of environmental stressors and promoting overall health and radiance."

The Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics of OZiva also highlight how Glutathione can battle against various issues including:

Hyperpigmentation: Free radicals can wreak havoc on your skin tone by triggering the overproduction of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin colour. This can lead to dark spots and uneven patches, making your complexion appear dull and uneven. Glutathione helps combat this by neutralizing free radicals, preventing them from triggering excess melanin production and promoting a more even, radiant skin tone.

Inflammation: This isn't just about the occasional sunburn. Inflammation can manifest in various ways on your skin, including redness, irritation, and even acne breakouts. Free radicals contribute to this inflammatory response, and Glutathione's antioxidant properties help mitigate their harmful effects, creating a calmer and healthier skin environment.

Premature aging: As you age, your body's natural production of Glutathione declines. This leaves your skin more vulnerable to free radical damage, which can break down essential components like collagen and elastin. These structural proteins are crucial for maintaining skin firmness and elasticity, and their breakdown leads to visible signs of aging, like wrinkles and loss of firmness. By supporting your body's natural production of Glutathione, you can help keep these structures protected and delay the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and other age-related concerns.

There are some ways to combat stubborn acne that can address skin concerns and truly become a powerful ally.

According to Shikha, Glutathione builder provides the essential building blocks our body needs to naturally produce Glutathione. She said: "Key ingredients like Milk Thistle Extract, Grape Seed Extract, and Tetrahydro curcuminoids work together to combat hyperpigmentation and brighten your skin. By neutralizing free radicals and boosting Glutathione levels, this formula effectively fades dark spots, promoting a luminous complexion and addressing a common concern with remarkable efficacy.

"For a truly comprehensive approach consider the Bioactive Gluta Fizzy. This innovative formula goes beyond just Glutathione, offering a blend of five potent bioactives to tackle various skin concerns. L-glutathione directly targets the enzyme responsible for dark pigment production, leading to a visibly brighter and more even skin tone. Hyaluronic Acid provides an extra boost of hydration, leaving your skin plump and supple. Additionally, a Collagen Builder stimulates collagen synthesis, helping to diminish the appearance of wrinkles and maintain skin firmness. Finally, the powerful antioxidants Lycopene and Astaxanthin shield your skin from environmental aggressors like the sun and inflammation, contributing to overall skin health and vitality."

While both Glutathione-based solutions provide valuable support for overall skin health and combat free radicals, Shikha asserts that Bioactive Gluta Fizzy takes a multi-pronged approach, making it particularly well-suited for addressing stubborn acne.

Here's how it works according to the Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics of OZiva:

Targeting the root cause of hyperpigmentation: L-Glutathione and Lycopene aren't just general antioxidants; they specifically target the enzyme responsible for dark pigment production. This targeted action helps to fade existing dark spots and prevent new ones from forming, leading to a visibly brighter and more even skin tone.

Reducing inflammation, a Trigger for Acne Breakouts: Astaxanthin, another powerful ingredient in Bioactive Gluta Fizzy, boasts potent anti-inflammatory properties. This translates to a calmer and healthier skin environment, helping to reduce visible redness and irritation associated with acne. By mitigating inflammation, Astaxanthin can help prevent future breakouts, supporting a clearer complexion.

Creating a hydrated and healthy base for cell regeneration: Hyaluronic Acid acts as a powerful humectant, meaning it draws and retains moisture in the skin. This enhanced hydration plumps the skin and creates a supportive environment for cell regeneration.

N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in

--IANS

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