Shuttler Saina Nehwal said she's definitely in the race for the Tokyo Olympics but before that she has to get back to her rhythm and win tournaments. The 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist, who has slipped to 22nd in Badminton World Federation's (BWF) Tokyo Olympics qualification rankings, has recently struggled with niggles and is likely to return to action in next year's Asian Tour. “I know Olympics is in everyone's head. It's something very big but before that you have to think about so many tournaments. I've to get back to my rhythm,” Nehwal said. “There's some two-three months' of training before that. You have to be perfectly fine and play seven-eight tournaments, after that only I will think about the Olympics. But yes, I'm definitely in the race.”
Eng will play full series in India in 2021: Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly said that England will indeed tour India in early 2021 and play a full-fledged series with the hosts. “England’s tour will consist of four Test matches, three ODIs and five T20Is,” the BCCI president said during a promotional event. He asserted that all necessary precautions will be taken owing to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. “It is a bilateral series, so it will not be too difficult to manage,” he said. Ahmedabad is tipped to host a day-night Test match in the series. “We will continue to assess the situation,” he added. Ganguly also said that efforts are on to have the next edition of IPL in India. “This is India’s tournament and should be held here,” he said. The T20 World Cup is also scheduled to be held in India later in October.
Archery federation gets back recognition
Suspended for eight long years, the Archery Association of India (AAI) was granted annual recognition by the sports ministry as a national sports federation (NSF), validating its elections held for new office-bearers on January 18 this year. The ministry informed that the recognition will be valid for one year. The ministry accepted the elections of AAI for a period of four years from 2020-2024 and put its stamp of approval on the elections of Arjun Munda as president, Pramod Chandurkar (secretary general) and Rajendra Singh Tomar (treasurer). However, the ministry nullified the elections of P B War Nongbri (vice president) and K B Gurung and Kumjum Riba (joint secretaries) on account of the violation of certain provisions of the national sports code, 2011. Accordingly, the ministry has directed the AAI to ask these officials to demit office and conduct fresh elections for these posts.
Argentina bids final farewell to Maradona
Argentina’s Diego Maradona, one of the world’s greatest ever soccer players, was buried last week amid a global outpouring of grief from the streets of Buenos Aires to Naples in Italy. The death of Maradona at the age of 60 on Wednesday last, following a heart attack, has sparked both mourning and celebrations of a true sporting star. In a day of high emotion, the World Cup winner was taken by hearse to the Bella Vista cemetery on the outskirts of Buenos Aires - where his parents are also interred - for an small private ceremony of his family and close friends. Thousands of Argentines lined the roads as the procession passed on the hour-long journey from the presidential palace in central Buenos Aires, where Maradona had lain in state during the day.
