Category Archives: Sports

Nikhat Zareen, Sindhu nominated for BBC ISWOTY Award

Amazing Feats, Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World Opinion, , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA:

The athletes were short-listed after a panel of jury, consisting of sports journalists and writers, voted for their preferred players, based on their achievements.

Nikhat Zareen, Sindhu nominated for BBC ISWOTY Award

Hyderabad: 

Reigning boxing world champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nikhat Zareen and two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu were among five athletes nominated on Monday for the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year (ISWOTY) award.

Others who made the cut were wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, who recently staged a protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and accused him of sexual exploitation and intimidation, and Tokyo Olympics silver medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu.

The athletes were short-listed after a panel of jury, consisting of sports journalists and writers, voted for their preferred players, based on their achievements.

The winner will be chosen by a public vote that began on Monday and will continue till February 20 midnight. The winner will be announced on March 5.

Rupa Jha, the Head of India BBC News, announced that they have introduced a new award category — BBC Indian para-sportswoman of the year.

Ekta Bhyan, the 2018 Asian para Games gold medallist, welcomed the move and emphasised on the need to make the stadiums more accessible to the physically challenged athletes.

“The stadiums and swimming pools should be accessible easily for the disabled athletes. Mental barriers need to be broken, about 60 to 70 percent of disabled population is still restricted to homes. More awareness and work is required at grassroots level,” Bhyan, flanked by London Olympics bronze-winning boxer Vijender Singh, said.

“Sports should be a part of education. Why should disabled athletes start their careers at the age of 15 or 16, sport should be accessible to them much earlier and there should be a comprehensive and non-discriminatory policy for disabled,” she added.

Vijender said the women athletes are two steps ahead of their male counterparts and deserve respect more than the awards.

He lamented that the national boxing federation does not keep in touch with boxers like him.

“I know about the current status of boxing as much you (media persons) know. We are not called for even Nationals or other events. I was asked about Indian boxing by Salman Khan and Rahul Gandhi and told them I don’t know because we are not involved,” he said.

He advised that every village in India should have its own multi-sport stadium to encourage youngsters.

source: http://www.telanganatoday.com / Telangana Today / Home> Sport / by Telangana Today / February 06th, 2023

Ulfat Bano: Defying odds to train footballers

Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021),

Narbalpeth Village (Budgam), JAMMU & KASHMIR:

Ulfat Bano

Tucked away in a remote corner of Budgam on the scenic Srinagar-Gulmarg highway, is a small village called Narbalpeth. Here, every day, at the crack of dawn Ulfat Bano makes her way to a small playground next to her house to train young kids in the art and skill of kicking a football.

Dressed in a hijab and track-suit, Ulfat has been doing this religiously for more than a decade.

The middle of five sisters, she was once a fan of martial art sports and cycling till the bug of football bit her. Actually, it was poverty that pulled her to this sport.

For 37-year-old Ulfat, the initial years were a struggle for the family of five daughters to survive. “At times we slept on empty stomachs or just one roti with salt. Spending money on good education was not an option for my parents. I used to help my mother stitch sweaters and shawls to add to my father’s meagre income,” she says.

She looked at sports as a ladder to success. Most sports are expensive to pursue. The equipment, and coaching is not something everyone can afford. “My father saw my interest in sports, and asked me to take the lead in preparing my other sisters for a better future.”

Ulfat sharing her skills with the youngest of her trainees

“I come from a poor family. Football is cheap to play. Other sports require money. This can be played without much investment,” she says.

Her father who works as a helper in the state irrigation department helped Ulfat prepare a small ground close to her home to play football with her sisters.

“Such was the fun we used to have, gradually our neighbours too started joining us,” she says. In the not-so-economically well-off neighbourhood, many parents saw this as an avenue for their children to grow in life.

Ulfat Bano became the bridge for the young boys and girls in her area. With the local administration opening special avenues for sportspersons in jobs and providing other facilities, excelling in this field was a choice many parents from the lower middle class and poor backgrounds made for their children.

“I empathized with the children. I myself am not well-educated. I knew if other children like me did not get access to good education due to financial constraints, sports could be a good avenue to move up in life,” she says. Many girls and boys trained by her have today got admissions to good colleges and jobs in government departments because of football.

Employed in Kashmir University as a sweeper, Ulfat was spotted by the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council which helped her become a certified coach.

JKSC has roped in Ulfat to train future footballers in the valley

“We spotted this young girl during practice sessions in Budgam, doing tremendous work for the girls of her area,” says Nuzhat Gull, Secretary of the JKSC. Nuzhat took her under her wing and gave her the opportunity to mentor girls at the Bakshi stadium in Srinagar.

“Her specialty is that despite coming from a marginal background, she is resilient enough to break stereotypes,” adds Nuzhat.

Ulfat was sent by the JKSC to Kolkata to do a NIS coaching course in 2021. She also has a AIFF ‘D’ coaching certificate and has completed the AIFF grassroots leaders course.

JKSC roped her into scout talent in the Union Territory.

Gradually her reputation as a coach grew. More and more children showed interest in learning from her. Today, Ulfat trains around 400 children in Budgam and Srinagar. Not just this, such is her passion, that during winters she conducts training in indoor spaces. She also travels to far-flung areas of the Union Territory to convince parents to allow their children to play football.

Her aim is to train young kids of Jammu and Kashmir learn to play football in the hope, doors open for them for a better future. “Children from all backgrounds come to train. Some are from very poor families. I want to be their messiah for a better life,” says Ulfat.

What stands Ulfat Bano apart from a lot in the crowd is the fact that she has been rendering her services as a coach voluntarily. “I do not charge any money. I am here only to allow kids to have a level-playing field. I am only hoping to get a regular job in this field soon,” she says.

Many of Ulfat’s trainees have played in the state-level age-group championships

For her training kids is all she eats and breathes.

Her sisters all are married and settled. “I don’t want to marry and get distracted from my main aim in life, which is to see a few of my trainees play for the country,” she says.

Some of the children she has trained have represented the state in the age-group championships. “I am waiting for the day when someone comes back to me with the India jersey,” she says before starting her scooty to go for her evening training session at the Bakshi stadium in Srinagar.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Nakul Shivani / posed by Shaista Fatima / January 27th, 2023

Karnataka’s Mohiuddeen Hisham bags the ‘Best Goalkeeper of League’ title at AIFF National Level Futsal league 2021

Karnataka (under research project), Sports,

KARNATAKA :

Karnataka’s Mohiuddeen Mohammed Hisham emerged as a ‘champion’ by winning the ‘Best Goalkeeper of the League’, three times at AIFF – Nationals 7s Futsal League Finals 2021 in Bengaluru.

Hisham representing Karnataka won the man of the match title in three matches against three different states including the finals against West Bengal. He belonged to the Group D which consisted of four states Karnataka, Manipur Meghalaya and Andhra Pradesh.

All India Football Federation’s Nationals 7s Futsal League Finals 2021 began from September 20th to 25th with the participation of 28 states from India. The final match was held in Bengaluru district of Karnataka.

Hisham’s first Match 7 as a goalkeeper was against Meghalaya with a score of 2:0. Manikantha was the ‘Man Of The Match’.

The next match 15 was Manipur Vs Karnataka with a goal score of 0:0, where Mohiuddeen M Hisham won the ‘Man Of The Match’.

With a goal score 3:3, M Hisham bagged the ‘Man of the Match’ title in the Quater Finals Match 3, that was Kerala Vs Karnataka and Karnataka won the tie breakers (1:4).

AIFF Nationals 7s Futsal League
Finals, held in Bengaluru was between West Bengal Vs Karnataka, with a score of 0:1. Mohiuddin M Hisham was finally given the ‘Best Goalkeeper of the League’ title.

Talking to The Hindustan Gazette, M Hisham said, “I kinda expected to be the man of match because I knew I gave my best. I was happy that I gave a good performance. And everyone were so proud, my family, friends, including my principal. Even though it’s a dental college and we need to focus on our own studies and career, my principal has supported me a lot,” he said.

22-year-old Hisham is pursuing 3rd year BDS in AJ Institute of Dental Sciences in Mangalore disctrict. He has played football for national level, five times and won 3 matches among them.

“I started playing football when I was 13 years old in school. I was fat that’s why they asked me to be the goalkeeper and eventually I started liking it,” he told THG.

The dental student first played football for national level when he was only 15 and then 17 years old. At the age of 20, 21 and 22 years, he won all national matches, respectively.

He further said, “When I was young, I used to be nervous during the matches, but now I’m used to it. I keep playing football in many places. Now I’m not nervous, I try giving my best in each and every match.”

On asked upon if he’s going to pursue his career in dental or football he said, “Dental will be a back-up plan, because you never know. I’ll be going to Bangalore for my internship, as well as play for ‘Bangalore C division’ and ‘I League’. I want to shift to Bangalore and focus on football and train myself. Later I have plans of doing master’s in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and alongside I’ll be playing football,” Hisham added.

He said, “Football is my favourite sport. Football is my life, it’s everything. However, you always need to have a backup in life because you never know and that’s why I’m pursuing dental.”

“I want to thank my father MA Khaleel Basha and mother Shamshad Banu. I want to thank my coach Qasim sir, my club team Mangalore United FC Members – Touseef Ahmed , Shihaz Theruvath and Taswar Ahmed and my Principal Dr.Nillan K shetty for always supporting me,” Mohiuddin M Hisham said.

source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> National> Karnataka / by Rabia Shireen / September 30th, 2021

Hyderabad teen Shafia Sultana wins Black belt Championship Cup

Amazing Feats, Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA:

Syeda Shafia Sultana has won the Black Belt Championship Cup 2022 and also won 2 good medals in a row. The national level championship was organized by Combat School of Martial Arts on Sunday, 18th December at Victory Indoor Stadium, Chaderghat in Hyderabad.

Shafia, is a BiPC student of Shaheen Group of Institutions from Hyderabad’s Malakpet Branch.

She is being coached by Senior Master Syed Iftequar Hussain, the founder President and Technical Director of Pako Martial Arts & Self Defence Academy

Syeda Shafia Sultana has many other feathers on her hat, she won the Thaiboxing World Champion, Thaiboxing Asian Champion, 10 times Karate International Champion and won the National Champion In Karate, Kickboxing, Koshiki, Kudo & Thaiboxing several times.

source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Sports / by Ayesha Mastoor / December 19th, 2022

Faisal Ali Dar: J&K’s 1st Padma winner in sport is also a humanitarian champion

Amazing Feats, Sports, World Opinion,

JAMMU & KASHMIR:

FAISAL ALI DAR watched Enter the Dragon when he was in class X. He was so enamoured by Bruce Lee that he started mimicking the martial arts master’s stunts. He persevered until he had perfected some of Lee’s on-screen moves. His friends and neighbours told him that his passion would bring him nothing. But he continued to pursue it with determination.

The journey that Dar embarked on in 2003, from a village boy to a martial arts trainer, motivational speaker and social worker, is a gripping tale of hard work, dedication and sacrifice. He started with wushu and switched to kickboxing in 2008. In 2010, he won silver medal in the Asian kickboxing championship. Initially, his efforts to woo youngsters to the sport did not evoke much response. “People thought it was a waste of time,”he said.

At his village of Bagh in Bandipora, 70km north of Srinagar, the lack of proper training and equipment impeded his efforts to establish himself as a kickboxer. “When I was training for kickboxing, I would use nylon slippers to practice punching with other kids, as I did not have money to buy pads and punchers,” he said. “I did not know the rules. I needed a coach and proper equipment which I could not afford.”

Things changed when coach Kuldeep Handoo—the first Dronacharya awardee from Jammu and Kashmir—took him under his wings. “He worked on my fitness and training and also taught me the rules of the game,’’ he said. “I worked as a labourer to save money to travel to Jammu for training.”

His family was supportive, but he did not want to burden them. “During the harvest, I would work in the orchards to load apples in trucks,” he said. The money was barely enough for his travel and stay, but he continued his training. He worked with building contractors to fund jerseys and equipment.

It was during this time that Dar realised the need for a training academy in Kashmir. “After participating in different tournaments, I realised that if our youngsters get proper training and support, they will make it big,” he said.

Dar participated in four nationals and won two golds and one silver. He called it quits in 2013 so that he could devote himself to coaching youngsters at his Ali Sports Academy, named after his late grandfather, Muhammad Ali.

There are 2,687 students registered in 17 clubs under the academy. Sixteen of them have participated in international championships, bagging four golds, five silvers and three bronzes in various events. “At the national level, 24 players have won gold, 33 silver and 56 bronze in different martial arts events,’’ he said.

The academy’s training programmes have been popular with girls. “One of our trainees, Abida Akhtar, won a silver in the 48kg category wushu championship in Malaysia in 2017,” said Dar.

The academy offers coaching at an annual fee of Rs50. “We have opened branches of our academy in eight districts now,” said Dar. “I believe athletes from Jammu and Kashmir, with proper training and physical fitness, can win Olympic medals.”

Dar took up another mission when he realised the depth of drug addiction in the valley. “We worked on de-addiction and then introduced them to sports so that they don’t return to drugs.” Dar and his volunteers played an active role in relief and rescue in the 2014 floods and during the Covid-19 pandemic. “During the pandemic, we mobilised our volunteers to distribute food and medicine to the people at their doorsteps.”

Dar has also been active in social projects like plantation drives, sanitation drives, blood donation camps, disaster management drives, female self-defence training camps, and women empowerment awareness campaigns. “We are honoured that he has been awarded Padma Shri,” said his father, Muhammad Shafi Dar.

pix @rashtrapatibhvn

Dar is the first Padma Award winner in sport from Jammu and Kashmir. “It is his hard work that has paid off,” said Arsalan Habib, a friend. “His contribution to the promotion of sports is exemplary.”

source: http://www.theweek.in / The Week / Home> The Week / by Tariq Bhat / additional pix edited @rashtrapatibhvn / February 13th, 2022

J&K Government Award | Umran Malik, Ayeera, Inshah among 10 sportspersons awarded

Amazing Feats, Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021)

JAMMU & KASHMIR:

Each awardee will receive, a cash prize of Rs 51 thousand, a medal and a citation.

Representational Image

Srinagar: 

The pace sensation of J&K Umran Malik is among the 10 sportspersons who were awarded the J&K Government Award in the field of Sports on the occasion of Republic Day 2023.

J&K Government announced awards in various fields on the eve of Republic Day 2023 which included Sports. This year 10 sportspersons who have excelled at various levels and brought laurels for J&K were awarded.

Umran Malik headlines the list which also includes Ayeera Chisti, Inshah Bashir, Ishan Pandita, Ankita Raina, Soham Kamotra, Rahul Jangral, Muskan Rana, Kritharti Kotwal and Mannat Choudhary.

Umran Malik climbed the ladder of success last year and went on to represent the Indian National Cricket team in T20 and ODI cricket. With his sheer raw pace, Umran Malik has mesmerized every cricket follower on the planet. He is currently the fastest-ever Indian pace bowler. Apart from the Indian National Cricket team, Umran Malik plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL.

Ayeera Chisti recently became the first female player from J&K to bag a medal in the World Junior Wushu Championship. She also won a medal in another International Wushu event held in Georgia.

Inshah Bashir is the International Wheelchair Basketball champion. Apart from Representing the Country at the International level, Inshah has also been captain of the J&K team. She received the National Award from President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi last year. She had lost her ability to stand in 2009 due to an accident but continued to defy the odds by carrying on her sports activity on a wheelchair, making J&K proud.

Ishan Pandita is an International footballer who has roots in Kashmir. Born in New Delhi, Ishan has represented India at the International level and is playing for top clubs in Indian Super League. He has also played professional football in Spain.

Ankita Raina is an International Tennis star who has been playing top-level professional Tennis from last more than 10 years. She has been a regular in Grand Slam events. Apart from that Ankita has represented India at the International level as well as in the Olympics.

Having roots in Kashmir, Ankita since 2013, has regularly been the Indian number one in both singles and doubles.

Soham Kamotra is an International Chess player from Jammu who has bagged a couple of medals for India at the International level. Last year Soham bagged a gold medal in the Commonwealth Chess Championship in the Under-18 age category, held in Sri Lanka.

Earlier Soham had bagged a bronze medal in the Asian Under-18 event.

Rahul Jarngal is an accomplished mountaineer who has scaled Worlds Highest Peak Mount. Everest. Jarngal who hails from Hiranagar Jammu has also successfully climbed Mt. Kangchenjunga amoung many other peaks.

Rahul works as Executive Engineer Instrumentation in ONGC and has an accomplished record in sports and academics.

Muskan Rana is a top-level gymnastic player from Jammu who has been bringing laurels for J&K at various levels.

Muskan Rana was last year declared as Junior National Champion in the 26th Junior National Rhythmic Gymnastic Championships held at Bengaluru in Karnataka. Muskan Rana has won five medals including two gold, and three silver medals for J&K. She is considered one of the top talents in the Country.

Kritarthi Kotwal an accomplished Fencing player last year bagged the junior team bronze medal for India in the Commonwealth Fencing Championship held in London. Kotwal is a highly talented Fencer and has been winning medals for J&K on regular basis.

Mannat Choudhary who hails from R S Pura, Jammu is a Volleyball player who represented the Indian Volleyball team in AVC Cup Volleyball Championship in Thailand last year. Mannat is a top volleyball player of J&K who has also captained J&K junior teams at the National level.

Each awardee will receive, a cash prize of Rs 51 thousand, a medal and a citation.

source: http://www.greaterkashmir.com / Greater Kashmir / Home> Sports / by Abid Khan / January 27th, 2023

Team Mangalore United – IIID MLR wins IIID HRC T -15 Regional League Cricket Tournament 2023

Sports

Mangalore, KARNATAKA:

Mangaluru:

IIID MLR Chapter representing Mangaluru has won the IIID HRC T -15 Regional League Cricket Tournament. The tournament comprised of total 8 teams including Hyderabad, Chennai, Goa, Bangalore, Amaravati, Vizag, Kerala, and Mangalore.

The Mangalore team named Mangalore United led by Architect Mohammed Nissar, Chairperson, IIID Mangalore Chapter has won all their league matches by topping the league table defeating Hyderabad in their finals to lift the Cup. This was one of the prestigious cricket tournaments organized by the IIID Hyderabad Chapter at Grand Arena Sports County Telangana.

Zaheer Ahmed from Mangalore United won the 3 Man of the match awards, got the best Batsman of the tournament by scoring 273 Runs which included the fastest century in the tournament by scoring 33 balls 100, and also got the Man of the series Award.

While Naeem Aseel got the best bowler of the tournament by achieving 10 wickets in total and got 1 man of the match award with Raseem achieving the Man of the Match Award from one of the league matches.

Architect Mohammed Nissar lifted the cup and said that the journey was indeed challenging from team selection to playing the right mix of players and setting the team strategy for every match and also thanked all Mangaloreans who supported Mangalore United and the other chapters who supported Mangalore and believed that they could win this tournament.

source: http://www.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / January 30th, 2023

A look at Sania Mirza’s Grand Slam title wins across her illustrious career

Amazing Feats, Leaders, Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World Opinion

Hyderabad, TELANGANA:

 Sania Mirza

Sania Mirza is truly the first female tennis superstar from India.While Leander Paes led Indian tennis into the new millennium with his 1996 Atlanta Olympics bronze medal and several honours, tennis fans all around the nation yearned for a woman to represent the tricolour on the women’s court.Hyderabad-born, Sania Mirza gave the country just that.Here is a list of Sania Mirza’s Grand Slam titles, which helped her become India’s top female tennis player and a household name in the world of sports.

Source: Olympics Website

Australian Open 2009 mixed doubles

Her first victory came in 2009 when she teamed up with Mahesh Bhupathi to win the Australian Open mixed doubles championship.The pair was on a mission after falling short at the last hurdle at Melbourne Park the previous year and didn’t drop a set until making it to the quarterfinals.To win the title, the pair defeated Andy Ram of Israel and Nathalie Dechy of France 6-3, 6-1. 

Source: Olympics Website

French Open 2012 mixed doubles 

Three years later, the pair would team up once more to represent India with pride, this time on the revered clay of Roland Garros.Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi, who were the seventh seeds for the 2012 French Open, breezed through the competition.They won the title match 7-6, 6-1 against the Polish-Mexican team of Klaudia Jans-Ignacik and Santiago Gonzalez to win their second Grand Slam.

Source: Olympics Website

US Open 2014 mixed doubles

At the 2014 US Open, she teamed up with Brazilian player Bruno Soares to win her third mixed doubles championship at a Slam.The top-seeded pair lived up to their reputation by defeating Abigail Spears of the USA and Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico in the title bout, which required a tie-breaker.

Source: Instagram

Wimbledon 2015 Women’s doubles 

Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis partnered in 2015 and won three consecutive Grand Slam doubles championships. They won their 1st Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2015. Without dropping a set, the pair advanced to the championship match against Sania Mirza’s previous partner, the Russian team of Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina.Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis persevered to win a closely contested three-set match in the final.

Source: Twitter

US Open 2015 Women’s doubles 

The duo continued their rich vein of form and seemed almost unstoppable over the course of the next few months as they picked up the US Open 2015. Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza won their second Grand Slam doubles title together, defeating Casey Dellacqua and Yaroslava Shvedova in the final, 6–3, 6–3. 

Source: Twitter

Australian Open 2016 Women’s doubles

In 2016, at the Australian Open, Sania Mirza captured her final Grand Slam. With Hingis, she had won three straight major championships.The top-seeded Indo-American team defeated Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 7(7)-6(1), 6-3, to claim the championship in Melbourne.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Photos / by Asian New International / posted by Abdul Rahman / January 28th, 2023

JKMBA felicitates cyclists Aabid, Nazir for completing Sgr-Leh MTB expedition

Amazing Feats, Sports

Srinagar, JAMMU & KASHMIR:

Srinagar : 

The Jammu & Kashmir Mountain Biking Association (JKMBA) Sunday felicitated cyclists Aabid Rashid Bhat and Nazir Ahmad Wani, members of JK Mountain Biking Association for successfully completing the Mountain Terrain Biking Expedition here at Nigeen.

The duo were felicitated for covering 440km distance, right from Srinagar to Leh while passing Fotu La and Namikla with an altitude of 14000ft in the said expedition.

Cyclists Bhat and Wani started their cycling journey on August 13 and finished the three days Srinagar-Leh Mountain biking expeditions by reaching Leh on 15 August earlier this year.

Aabid Rashid Bhat 45 hails from Malbagh, Naseem Bagh area in Srinagar city,  Nazir Ahmad Wani 50 hails from Dana Mazar Safa Kadal in Srinagar.

In the “Felicitation Ceremony”, Rouf Tramboo President, Adventure Tour Operators of Kashmir (ATOK), and Er. Mushtaq Ahmad Wani gave away the mementos and prizes to the Riders at Nigeen.

Riyaz Wani, President of JKMBA told Rising Kashmir that a brief discussion was also held on the occasion for the development of mountain Terrain biking, the introduction of new MTB routes, and conducting a few more long-distance mountain biking expeditions in the valley.

Secretary JKMBA, Asif Bhat, informed on the occasion about previous MTB expeditions done Umer Nabi and Riyaz Wani Srinagar to Leh in year 2014, and Er. Mushtaq Wani, Er. Kaiser Abdullala, A R Bhat, and Jolley Jaleed completed  Srinagar to Jammu in 2022.

On the occasion, Aabid, one of the riders shared all his experiences during the 440km long mountain biking expedition while as Nazir Ahmad Wani thanked the management of JK Mountain Biking Association for their support during the expedition and felicitations to both of them.

Secretary JKMBA, Asif Bhat, President JKMBA, Riyaz Wani, Zahid Iqbal, Yasir Makhdoomi,  Dr Shuja ul Basher and 30 members of JKMBA  were also present on the occasion.

source: http://www.risingkashmir.com / Rising Kashmir / Home / August 23rd, 2022

Mohammed Siraj becomes new World No. 1 ODI bowler; Shubman Gill achieves career-best ICC Ranking

Amazing Feats, Sports, World Opinion

Hyderabad, TELANGANA:

Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill gained big in ICC Rankings
Shubman Gill (L) & Mohammed Siraj have gained big in the ICC Rankings

Mohammed Siraj has become the new world number one bowler in the ICC ODI Rankings. The Indian fast bowler replaced New Zealand’s Trent Boult at the top of the bowling charts thanks to his impressive performances in the 50-over format.

As far as Mohammed Siraj’s recent performances in ODI cricket are concerned, the right-arm fast bowler bagged 24 wickets in 15 matches last year. In 2023 so far, he has played five matches, scalping 14 wickets, including two four-wicket hauls. The 28-year-old achieved his best bowling figures of 4/32 in the third ODI against Sri Lanka on January 15.

Mohammed Siraj climbed to the third position in the rankings last week. He has now jumped ahead of Josh Hazlewood and Trent Boult to secure the top spot with 729 rating points to his name.

Trent Boult, who does not play ODI cricket these days for New Zealand, has slipped to the third spot with 708 rating points. Australia’s Josh Hazlewood is second in the rankings with 727 rating points.

The gap between Siraj and Hazlewood is of two points only. Interestingly, the two players will face off in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy and then play together for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2023.

Mohammed Siraj was not the only Indian to gain big in ICC ODI rankings

New Zealand v India - 2nd ODI (Image: Getty)
New Zealand v India – 2nd ODI (Image: Getty)

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has replaced Virat Kohli as the highest-ranked Indian batter in the ICC ODI Rankings. The young Indian opener aggregated 360 runs in three matches of the recently concluded series against New Zealand.

Gill now has 734 rating points to his name. He has moved from eighth to sixth position, overtaking Virat Kohli (727 rating points) and Steve Smith (719 rating points).

Indian captain Rohit Sharma has returned to the top 10 as well after scoring a ton against the Blackcaps. He is currently ninth with 719 rating points.

source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / SportsKeeda / Home> Cricket / by Vinay Chhabria / January 25th, 2023