It was gold rush for Indian archers at the World Cup Stage 3 here with star couple Atanu Das and Deepika Kumari clinching the mixed team top honours after the women's recurve trio's victory in a near perfect Olympic build-up. Deepika and Atanu bounced back from a 0-2 deficit to down the Netherland's Sjef van den Berg and Gabriela Schloesser 5-3 and fetch India a third gold medal from the competition. This was after the women's recurve team of Deepika, Ankita Bhakat and Komalika Bari notched up the gold medal with a comfortable win over Mexico, shrugging off the disappointment of missing Olympic qualification last week. The two got married after a two-year courtship and would be celebrating their first wedding anniversary on June 30. "It feels we are made for each other. But in the ground we are not couple but like just other competitors, we motivate, support and back each other," Atanu said. Deepika, who had earlier spearheaded the women's team to a second successive World Cup gold medal this year, said: "It feels happy."
Vinesh gets top billing for Tokyo
Asian champion and star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been top-seeded in the women’s 53kg category for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Japan’s Mayu Mukaida is in the second position, while Luisa Valverde Melendres has bagged the third position. Earlier this month, Vinesh had clinched gold in the 53kg category at the Poland Open. The Indian wrestler was in top-notch form during the game as she defeated Khrystyna Bereza of Ukraine 8-0 in Final.
Malleswari is first VC of Delhi Sports University
Karnam Malleswari, India’s first woman Olympic medal winner, has been appointed as the vice-chancellor of Delhi Sports University. The appointment has been made by the Delhi government. Malleswari had scripted history at the Sydney Olympic Games held in 2000 as she brought home a bronze medal in weighlifting. The Delhi Assembly had in 2019 passed a bill to set up a Delhi Sports University (DSU), which will offer graduation, post-graduation and doctorate degrees in cricket, football, and hockey among other sports.
Manpreet to lead men’s hockey team
India named incumbent Manpreet Singh as the skipper of the men’s hockey team for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics where he will have two deputies in defenders Birendra Lakra and Harmanpreet Singh. India had announced a 16-member strong team for the showpiece event last week but refrained from naming the team’s leadership group.
Verma picks first medal for India in WC Stage III
Abhishek Verma fetched India’s first medal in the World Cup Stage III in Paris by winning the gold in men’s compound individual event. It was hard to believe that Verma was taking part in an international competition after almost two years and was almost perfect throughout his semifinal and final clashes on the day. This was Verma’s second individual World Cup gold medal. The 32-year-old last won an individual medal in 2015 at World Cup Stage 3 in Wroclaw. The Delhi boy got past Russia’s Antony Bulaev 146-138 in the semis to enter his first World Cup final since Salt Lake City 2018 where he picked a silver. Verma was able to handle pressure well against his higher ranked rival Kris Schaff of the USA to prevail in a tense shoot off in the summit clash. After both archers ended with 148 points, the World No. 5 Schaff hit a nine. Verma responded with a perfect 10 to seal the tie.
Fan rules for Olympics
No alcohol, no hugs, no cheers and no autographs: Tokyo Olympic organisers unveiled tough new rules for spectators as they marked one month until the opening ceremony. Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto warned festivities “will have to be suppressed” to keep the Games safe, and conceded that organisers will need to be “creative” to stoke a party atmosphere. Games chiefs decided to allow up to 10,000 spectators into competition venues, but Hashimoto warned them not to expect the kind of festival mood currently being enjoyed by football fans at Euro 2020. Fans are forbidden from cheering or “making direct contact with other spectators” and will be asked to go straight home after events end.
Younis quits as Pakistan batting coach
Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan and the Pakistan Cricket Board parted ways, meaning Pakistan will be without a batting coach when they play three One-day Internationals and three Twenty20s in England. The PCB, however, said that Younis’ replacement will be named by the time the team travels to the West Indies from England to play five T20s and two Tests next month. Younis had been included in the eight-member team management for the twin tours and the legendary batsman was to join the rest of the team management and three cricketers in a hotel for a five-day isolation period before leaving for Abu Dhabi to leave for Manchester with the rest of the players who are currently featuring in the HBL Pakistan Super League which is in progress in the UAE.
