Learnt a lot from KP, Sehwag: Unmukt
Mumbai: Young Indian batsman Unmukt Chand, who led the Under-19 team to World Cup victory last year, today said he has learnt a lot from the likes of Kevin Pietersen and Virender Sehwag while sharing the dressing room with them during the Indian Premier League. “It is not about scoring runs but being with the team for two months. You get to play with players like Kevin Pietersen (of England) and Sehwag, which is always helpful and they keep telling you things. Being with them you get a feel of how the environment is, so it is helpful,” said Unmukt at the launch of his book — ‘The Sky is the limit’ – here on Tuesday. The Delhi batsman, who made his debut in the cash-rich league at the age of 18, said it was difficult facing world class pacers like Lasith Malinga and Shaun Tait. “I got the experience quite early, I was 18 that time. It was different. I was pretty oblivious to what was happening around me when I faced Malinga for the first time and got bowled on the second ball itself, so that was something of baptism by fire but you understand the nuances than thinking too much,” the 20-year-old said. (PTI)
Saina clubbed with Chinese world No 1 in Superseries Finals
Kuala Lumpur: Star Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal finds herself clubbed with world number one and Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China in BWF Superseries Finals here though she begins her campaign with a relatively easy match against Minatsu Mitani of Japan on Wednesday. World number six Saina, who struggled with injuries this season, has been clubbed in Group B along with Xuerui, world number seven Yeon Ju Bae of Korea and world number 13 Mitani in the December 11-15 year-end tournament to be fought among top eight performers from the 12-event Super Series circuit. Saina, seeded second in the tournament, faces defending champion Xuerui on December 12 in her second group match before taking on Ju Bae the next day. Top two players from Group A and B will advance to the semifinals. The winner of Group A will play against the runner-up of Group B while the winner of Group B take on the runner-up of Group A in the semifinals for places in the final. 2010 Commonwealth Gold medallist Saina qualified for the Superseries Finals, which carries a winner’s purse of USD 40,000, as the second highest ranked player, thanks to her three semifinal appearances in the Super Series circuit. Saina said he has prepared well for the tournament. “I have worked hard and prepared well for the tournament. I feel I am ready to challenge in Kuala Lumpur,” said the only Indian player to have qualified for the grand finale. “Whatever the draw is, there will be no easy matches in the Superseries Finals and I am completely prepared for it. I will take each match as it comes and give my best,” said Saina, the 2011 edition runner-up. (PTI)
Indians in a field of stars in Bangkok
Bangkok: Seasoned Jeev Milkha Singh and the young Indian duo of Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar will spearhead India’s challenge at the Thailand Golf Championships, which begins here this week. While Bhullar and Lahiri will attempt to add one more title to one each they have already won this season, Jeev, India’s most successful golfer, is looking to end the year with a morale-boosting show during a season that has seen him dip as low as 281 in world rankings. The field in Bangkok this week includes the most successful player of 2013, Swede Henrik Stenson, who emerged as the topper in FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai in the world’s two strongest Tours on either side of the Atlantic. In a field with two of the world’s top four ranked players, there are also three Major champions. Led by Masters winners Bubba Watson and Charl Schwartzel, also the defending champion, the field also has US Open winner, Justin Rose. Then there is Sergio Garcia and the Americans Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan and the Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa. On another note, India’s golfing depth will once again be on display as 12 Indians – Jeev, Bhullar, Lahiri, Digvijay Singh, SSP Chowrasia, Himmat Rai, Jyoti Randhawa, Sujjan Singh, C Muniyappa, Ajeetesh Sandhu, Abhijit Chadha and Abhinav Lohan – will fight it out at Amata Spring from Thursday. (PTI)