Wasim Jaffer joins an elite club of cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid, Dilip Vengsarkar, VVS Laxman and Mohd Azharuddin, who have record 50 or more hundreds at first class level.

Mumbai :

Seasoned opener Wasim Jaffer cracked his 50th century in first class cricket to rally champions Mumbai from a difficult situation on day one of their Ranji Trophy Group A clash against fellow-state rivals Vidarbha at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.

Jaffer remained unbeaten on 133 at stumps after batting right through the day and guiding the 40-time champions from a precarious 39 for 3 to a close of play first innings total of 254 for 8. With his 50th first-class hundred, Jaffer joined an elite list of seven other Indian cricketers – Sachin Tendulkar (81), Sunil Gavaskar (81), Rahul Dravid (68), Dilip Vengsarkar (55), VVS Laxman (55) and Mohammad Azharuddin (54) – who have 50-plus hundreds at this level.

The 35-year-old former India batsman showed immense patience and tenacity even as wickets fell from the other end. But for his 393-minute vigil, the hosts, who were asked to take first strike, would have folded up for a meager score.

There were only two significant partnerships for Mumbai, who were rocked by the initial three-wicket burst by medium pacer Sandeep Singh whose victims included South Africa-bound Ajinkya Rahane who was caught in the slip cordon for one run.

Jaffer, who faced 261 balls and struck 13 fours and a six to remain unconquered with tailender Vishal Dabholkar (0), put on 64 runs for the fourth wicket in 98 balls with Abhishek Nayar (27) before the latter was bowled round his legs by off spinner Akshay Wakhre who grabbed 2 for 65.

Later the opener added 58 in 111 balls with Shardul Thakur (26) who was one of three victims snapped up by Rajasthan-born Vidarbha left arm spinner Ravi Jangid.

It was Jaffer’s 34th hundred in Ranji Trophy and his tally of 50 hundreds in first class cricket includes five in Tests.

Vidarbha opted for the second new ball towards close after 87 overs but neither South Africa-bound Umesh Yadav, who went wicketless after six spells, nor Sandeep Singh could break through the ninth wicket stand which was worth 27 runs.

Yadav bowled six overs in his first spell and then was used in short bursts of three overs without success and the best bowler on view on a wicket that offered some bounce and movement was 32-year-old Sandeep who finished with 3 for 29.

Speaking to the reporters after the end of the day’s play, Jaffer said his team has recovered well now in a good position to call the shots.

“We are in a good position though we would have liked it to be something like 270-6. It was a good recovery,” he said.

Satisfied with his day’s rescue work, Jaffer said the team’s batsmen knew that the first session would be a tricky one with the ball seaming around a bit.

“It feels good to score a century. Someone had to stand there and make runs. Happy to have compiled my 50th first class hundred. The first session was very trying. We needed to hang around. There was not a big partnership at all but at the end of the day we are happy.

“They bowled well in the first session and the ball was seaming around and it was a very criticial period. We knew once we played out the first session the wicket will ease out.

“A few bad shots were played, but they will learn with time. The wicket was not doing much after the first session and at end of the day we have recovered well,” he emphasised.

Asked about whether Umesh Yadav’s pace has fallen a bit after his comeback from a serious back injury, Jaffer said it was the first time he had faced him and cannot make a comparison.

“He bowled all right. I have not played him before today and cannot compare,” he said.

“Sandeep bowled all right. He does not have pace but swings the ball and bowls to his strength,” he noted about Vidarbha’s most impressive bowler of the day.

Brief Scores: Mumbai 254 for 8 (Wasim Jaffer 133 not out; V Dabholkar 0 not out; Sandeep Singh 3 for 29, Ravi Jangid 3 for 48).

source: http://www.sports.ndtv.com / NDTV Sports / Sports Home> Cricket> News / by Press Trust of India / Thursday – November 28th, 2013

Mysore :

Arm Wrestling, though not new to the globe, is definitely new to the city as very few people know about it.

Mysore, which has produced a lot of sports persons in various sports like body-building, athletics and cricket, with some of them reaching international-level, has also produced arm wrestlers.

Syed Faizan and Robinson Samuel from city are among those who have taken up arm wrestling.

The 23-year-old Faizan, a body-builder who took up body-building for fitness participated in the Mysore Shree Arm Wrestling Men’s Championship organised by Karnataka Arm Wrestling Federation, Mysore, held for the first time in city recently and won the title.

Son of Syed Abdul Khader, Proprietor of Biriyani Paradise on Sayyaji Rao road, Faizan, a B.Com graduate from MES College in city took up body-building at the age of 18 and is being coached by Mansoor, himself a body-builder who has won ‘Mr. Mysore’ title numerous times.

Faizan, speaking to Star of Mysore, recalled that his parents were hesitant to send him to gym in the beginning, but later agreed and allowed him to pursue body-building.

Apart from being a body-builder and an arm wrestler, Faizan is also an actor, who has acted in an African movie as a fighter and a model for many brands.

Faizan said that one has to work hard honestly and without taking short cuts to achieve in the sport.

Mansoor, coach of Faizan, said that arm wrestling has been around since the days humans figured out that they had arms and added that the sport became more popular in 1950s and 1960s when contests took place all across the United States and today, arm wrestling competitions are held around the world for men, women and kids in various weight categories.

Mansoor said that various factors play an important part in one’s success in arm wrestling. Technique and overall arm strength are the two important contributing factors to win an arm wrestling match. Other factors such as length of the arm, muscle and arm mass, hand grip, wrist endurance and flexibility, reaction time, etc. can add to the advantages of one arm wrestler over another.

Faizan said that his aim is to win ‘Mr. Mysore’ and ‘Mr. Dasara’ titles and also to win a medal for the State.

Robinson Samuel, 25, a final year M.Sc (Medical Biochemistry) student at JSS Medical College in city, is the son of Krupanand Samuel, a retd. Employee of District Tuberculosis Centre in city and Esther Celestian, a senior Lab Technician at Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI) in city.

Robinson won the second place in the Mysore Shree Arm Wrestling Men’s Championship held in city recently.

He said that initially he was into arm wrestling with his friends and took it seriously drawing inspiration from his elder brother Calvin Cornelius, a body-builder.

Robinson said that his parents were surprised when he expressed his desire to take up arm wrestling as a sport and supported him in all ways.

He says that he would exercise at home with the equipments he had made by himself for the training and added that he also goes to a gym just to keep himself fit. Robinson said that there are many different moves in arm wrestling such as Hook, Toproll, i Press etc. and added that arm wrestling is really a leverage sport. These moves all create different types of leverages, helping you to beat your opponent.

He said that because different moves work for different individuals, it is important to figure out which move provides the best leverage advantage to get the best chance of winning.

Apart from arm wrestling, Robinson has a music band in Chennai which plays Gosple music and soft rock.

Robinson said that his aim was to win titles but to be a full time Biochemist.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles /  by S. Kenneth Shishir / December 02nd, 2013

Wait till Wasim Jaffer draws stumps on his career. Wait till he adds a few more tons to his already glittering array of records. And then he’ll leave us with that searching question. Should he have played just 31 Tests? When he was 32, supposedly a time when batsmen peak, the selectors felt his best years were behind him. Now he’s 35, and probably his best years are indeed behind him. But he remains that unbending spinal column for Mumbai.

Against Vidarbha at the Wankhede yesterday, he notched up his 50th first-class ton (34th in Ranji). If not for Jaffer’s unbeaten 133 (261 balls, 393 minutes, 13 fours, one six), Mumbai wouldn’t have come anywhere close to 200, let alone 254 for eight, on the opening day.

With his Bjorn Borg-like stillness – doesn’t he also look a touch like the Swede legend with that wispy beard these days? – Jaffer steadied the innings amidst a regular slide of wickets. He had two fifty-plus stands – 64 with Abhishek Nayar and 58 with Shardul Thakur – but then run edifices are not built on small scraps.

Vidarbha quicks, Sandeep Singh (3/29) in particular, made most of the morning conditions as they made the ball to dart around. “He (Singh) doesn’t have much pace but he uses his swing and doesn’t give you easy balls to hit. He bowls to his strength and bowls patiently. He wants batsmen to make mistakes and that’s exactly what he did,” Jaffer said.

Singh rattled Mumbai early, consuming Kaustubh Pawar at point and Ajinkya Rahane at first slip. Young Siddesh Lad, who seldom appears rushed in his shot-making, promised much before driving Singh away from his body and perishing to second slip.

But it was Vidarbha’s spinners who walked away with the spoils. Not that they had to earn every wicket. Abhishek Nayar was bowled behind his legs in trying to sweep Akshay Wakhare and Aditya Tare perished attempting an injudicious, if not reckless, sweep off the same bowler’s quick off-break that was pitched on the middle-stump.

Suryakumar Yadav couldn’t have made a better gift of his wicket. Somehow he doesn’t cease to embarrass himself or those who back his talent. Mumbai’s innings had reached a point when Jaffer could have done with a hand – and Yadav was the last of the frontline batsmen. He stepped out to left-arm spinner Ravi Jangid (3/48) but the hoick ended up warming the palms of mid-off, making it 161 for six.

Jaffer termed it “a poor shot” but hoped that Surya would learn. “He (Surya) was the last of the recognised batsmen. I’m sure he’s aware of that. But he’s got potential and he’s got runs,” said Jaffer, who felt that Mumbai should have closed at something in the range of 260 for six.

Jaffer’s knock had streaks of the familiar flair but it was more businesslike as Mumbai never settled in. We didn’t quite see those withering drives through mid-off and covers, but he pierced the on-side at will.

But if this match is a preamble to India’s tour of South Africa – given the presence of Umesh Yadav and Rahane – then the script didn’t go as planned. Yadav looked rather stiff in his morning spell as Jaffer tucked him off his toes with consummate ease. Yadav’s acceleration to the wicket wasn’t to be seen, though it’s not quite cricket to be overly critical of a genuine quick bowler returning after a long layoff. The rustiness was expected but India will hope he finds his rhythm soon.

As the day wore on, it seemed strange that this was the place brimming with people for someone’s farewell Test just about 10 days back. All that remained now were desolate stands, an inert giant scoreboard and a crumpled-up India flag lying on one of the roofs. This felt like a true Ranji Trophy match.

Scoreboard: Mumbai (Ist innings) K Pawar ct A Wakhare b S Singh 3, W Jaffer not out 133, A Rahane ct H Badani b S Singh 1, S Lad c F Y Fazal b S Singh 20, A Nayar b A Wakhare 27, A Tare lbw b A Wakhare 17, S Yadav ct Umesh Yadav b R Jangid 5, S Thakur ct (sub) U Patel b R Jangid 26, Z Khan b R L Jangid 6, V Dabholkar not out 26. Extras: 1 wd, 8 b, 7 lb. Total: 254 for 8 in 89.0 overs. FoW: 4/1, (Pawar), 10/2 (Rahane), 39/3 (Lad), 103/4 (Nayar), 141/5 (Tare), 161/6 (Yadav), 219/7 (Thakur), 227/8 (Zaheer). Bowling: Sandeep Singh 19-8-29-3, Umesh Yadav 18-2-69-0, S Wagh 16-3-28-0, R Jangid 18-2-48-3, A Wakhare 17-0-65-2

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Sport> Cricket / Bangalore Mirror Bureau / by Deba Prasad Dhar / November 28th, 2013

Mysore :

V. Anandaraju, an employee of city-based N. Ranga Rao & Sons, has won gold medal in 60 kg Black Belt Category (Loba) at the Squay Martial Art National Championship 2013 held at Goa between Nov. 14 and 16. He represented Karnataka in the championship.

Anandaraju, 24, has been practicing Squay Martial Art since three years at the Mysore Association for Squay Martial Art under the guidance of his coach Malatesh. He has also practiced Karate for about 11 years.

A BBM graduate from Maharaja’s college, Mysore, he hails from an agrarian family from H.D.Kote in Mysore district.

About Squay Martial Art : The Persian word Squay means ‘knowledge of war’. According to the legend, thousands of years ago, Kashmir’s King Dharyadev trained his fighters in this defensive art form. The modern form of squay was introduced in Kashmir by one Nazeer Ahmed Mir. Now squay is practiced in 20 Indian States.

The swift movements and defensive steps of squay are similar to those of Kalaripayattu of Kerala. Just like in Kalaripayattu, squay employs weapons such as swords and shields.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / November 22nd, 2013

Mumbai :

Dressed in a pair of worn-out track pants and a jacket, Tehrunnisa  calls herself a ‘sportswallah’ — a word she uses to describe her life and career as an athlete. A police constable by profession and an athlete, the 48-year-old mother of two travelled all the way from Allahabad to accompany her children Tamanna and Masoodullah  to the third edition of NSCI Squash Open Championship at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium. She calls it her City of Dreams. Logistics issues though have made her stay a nightmarish experience.

The trio which arrived in the city on Tuesday night, has been camping at the LTT platforms. As the NSCI Open is a club tourney, the organizers do not provide accommodation. “We don’t have money or the time to find a place to stay in this city. We have travelled to metro cities before and at times I’ve used my contacts in the police to find accommodation.

“Nothing has materialized here as of now. We will survive. They say squash is a rich-man’s sport. I want to prove them wrong,” says Tehrunnisa, who stayed at the bus depot in Indore with her children during the Nationals in February.

“It is a four-day event. Instead of wasting time hankering after people in power, I might as well help my kids stay here and practise. It is all an experience for them. You learn by watching and they will get the chance to meet the likes of  Saurav Ghosa  and Joshna Chinappa. It is a great honour for us to just sit in this facility today,” says Tehrunnisa, who reminisces about the time she was awarded the 400m gold in Police Games by then Governor of UP, Motilal Vohra.

Having lost her husband in a car accident in August this year, Tehrunnisa is the sole bread winner of the family and tries to make ends meet and fuel the sporting hopes of her kids within the Rs 12,000 that she makes every month. Cutting corners is the only way to live.

“They started playing in 2010. They couldn’t get into the  Amitabh Bachchan Sports Academy .  Excuses such as gender and lack of seats were cited. But finally my children found a way,” she stresses as her son Masoodullah (17) returns from his round one match against Yohan Poncha with a 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 win. “I wish Amitabh Bachchan could visit the academy. He is our local hero and a word from him can do wonders for the children who are playing without any facilities.”

Daughter Tamanna (19), her eldest, will be in action on Wednesday. The only girl playing in the academy in Allahabad, Tamanna has suffered prejudice and neglect at the hands of the authorities as well as coaches. “They said girls don’t play squash. There was no encouragement or facilities from anywhere,” says Tehrunnisa. “Travelling across the country I was sometimes worried about Tamanna’s safety. With a girl your worry escalates. But as long as I am alive I shall be with both my children all through the journey.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Sports Other/ by Maria Bilkis, TNN / November 28th, 2013

Veteran pacer Zaheer Khan made a comeback to India’s Test side after close to a year but opener Gautam Gambhir was ignored as the selectors today announced the squads for the Test and ODI tour of South Africa starting December 5.

The 35-year-old Zaheer, who had been battling fitness issues and was even dropped from the BCCI’s list of contracted players, was chosen in the 17-member Test squad after taking 13 wickets in three Ranji Trophy matches at an average of 19.84 this season.

Gambhir, however, had no such luck as the opener, who has been downgraded to group B in the list of contracted players, failed to find a place despite a healthy average of 74 plus in the ongoing Ranji season. “His name was discussed, in fact, we discussed a lot of things. Even skipper M S Dhoni was consulted and all the players were selected unanimously,” BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel said after a meeting of the selection committee here.

The month-long tour featuring three ODIs followed by two Tests is India’s first international assignment after the retirement of iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar.

Baroda batsman Ambati Rayudu, a seasoned domestic player, has been named in both the Test and ODI squads, while veterans like Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh continued to remain on the sidelines. The 28-year-old Rayudu, who is currently a part of the team in the ongoing ODI series against the West Indies, has played four one-dayers for India.

There were no major surprises in both the squads with the selectors opting to go in for a pace-heavy bowling attack considering the conditions in South Africa.

Pacer Ishant Sharma, who has been struggling for form, was retained in both the squads. The gangling speedster took a match-haul of nine wickets in Delhi’s win over Haryana in a Ranji Trophy match yesterday.

Another fast bowler Umesh Yadav, who had been dropped due to poor form in the recent series against Australia and West Indies, has been recalled in both the Test and ODI squads largely becaue of his ability to bowl fast.

An off-colour Yuvraj Singh has managedt o hold on to his ODI spot despite having an indifferent show against Australia and the ongoing series against West Indies.

Rookie Haryana pacer Mohit Sharma has also been included in the 16-member ODI squad. Wriddhiman Saha, a regular in the overseas Test tours, was retained as a reserve wicketkeeper, pipping Tamil Nadu’s Dinesh Karthik and Gujarat’s Parthiv Patel. The Test squad has seven specialist batsmen, two wicketkeepers, five pacers, two spinners and one all-rounder in Ravindra Jadeja.

While Shikar Dhawan and Murali Vijay are certain to open the innings, Virat Kohli is expected to take the number four slot vacated by Tendulkar. Cheteshwar Pujara will bat number three, while Rohit Sharma will take the number five slot, followed by Ajinkya Rahane or Ravindra Jadeja depending on the team combination. Zaheer is expected to feature in the playing XI while the quartet of Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav will be vying for the two remaining slots. R Ashwin is expected to mantle the spin duty and bat at number eight, while Pragyan Ojha may get a chance depending on the pitch conditions.

The three ODIs are scheduled to be held in Johannesburg, Durban and Centurion on December 5, 8, 11 respectively. This will be followed by a two-day practice match against South African Invitational XI at the Willowmoore Park in Benoni. The first Test match starts on December 18 at the New Wanderers while the ‘Boxing Day’ Test from December 26 will be played at the Kingsmead in Durban.

Test squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kolhi, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Wriddhiman Saha, Zaheer Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Pragyan Ojha

ODI Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kolhi, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Amit Mishra.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> Sport> Report / by PTI / Monday – November 25th, 2013

The usual crowds which arrived for their week-end game at the exclusive Delhi Golf Club (DGC) on March 30 were in for a surprise-offerings laddus by beaming caddies. Eighty kilos of laddus were distributed that day. One man picked up the tab: 26-year-old Ali Sher, a former caddie who had just won Rs.5 lakh with a historic victory at the Wills Indian Open Golf Championship which has a total prize money of $1,50,000 (Rs.30 lakh). He became only the second Indian to win the prestigious title-after a gap of 26 years.

Ali Sher’s spectacular Indian Open win along with Basad Ali’s fourth place and Santosh Kumar’s joint ninth place, against tough foreign competition, is the most decisive sign that the caddie-turned-professional is storming Indian golf. About 115 of the 126 professionals now playing in India started out as caddies. The top three Indian professionals-Basad Ali, Rohtas Singh and Ali Sher-have won 15 of the 29 tournaments in the 1990-91 Indian circuit. Delhi’s Rishi Narain is the only non-caddie to have won a tournament on the same circuit.

Ali Sher wears his glory lightly as does his family. In the dung-littered Nizamuddin basti where he lives with his wife Sitara Begum, four children, three brothers (Ali Hasan and Ali Jan are professional golfers), his mother and cousins (Nazuruddin and little Yousuf are caddies), there are no unwrapped packets of glittering presents.

Keeping Ali Sher company at the top is Calcutta’s Basad Ali, 33, for whom topping the Indian circuit has become something of a habit. His affair with golf began on the day his father found him a job as a caddie in the Royal Calcutta Golf Club. He isn’t even sure he wants his children to take to the game. “They have to study,” he says

“They have to groom themselves better,” says a condescending Rishi Narain. That must be why Basad Ali had to wait outside the club annexe while someone went in to get him the Grindlays Bank cheque for Rs.1,24,000 that he had won at the Indian Open.

Ali Sher’s Indian Open victory – which he followed up with a record score in the Addi Open-should encourage more sponsors, apart from infusing more talent into the game and grading tournament for caddies. Then the hundreds of caddies will have more to dream about.