Ketan Kushwaha to captain India team in U18 Asia Cup
BHOPAL, May 21: Forward Ketan Kushwaha was on Thursday appointed captain of the Indian team for the upcoming U18 Asia Cup from May 29 to June 6 in Kakamigahara, Japan.The squad was selected after a rigorous national coaching camp at Udhav Das Mehta (Bhai ji) Central Centre at SAI Bhopal under the team’s coaching staff comprising Sardar Singh and Rajnish Mishra.The team’s preparations included a high-profile four-match series against the Australia U-18 team in Bhopal as part of an exposure tour. Commenting on the final squad for the tournament, coach Sardar said, “The selection process was incredibly competitive, but we have picked an 18-member squad that gives us the perfect tactical balance.“Our training in Bhopal and the exposure matches against a top-tier side like Australia gave these boys a great understanding of international pressure and match tempo. We have spent the last few weeks working heavily on our tactical discipline, penalty corner routines, and structure.“The boys are in high spirits; and going into a major tournament like the Asia Cup, our objective is clear – we want to execute our plans effectively, top our group and put ourselves in the best possible position to bring home the trophy,” he added. Gearing up for the tournament, the Indian team won one match against Australia U18 and lost one. Two matches ended up as drawn affairs.India has been drawn in Pool A alongside South Korea, hosts Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Kazakhstan.The Indian team will kick off their pool-stage campaign on May 29 against Kazakhstan, before taking on hosts Japan on May 31.They will then face South Korea on June 1 and wrap up their group matches against Chinese Taipei on June 3.Following the gruelling group stage, the top two teams from Pool A and Pool B will advance directly to the semi-finals scheduled for June 5, with the tournament concluding with the final on June 6.
Indian U-18 squad:
Goalkeepers: Sawan Kumar, Ayush Rajak Defenders: Ansh Bahutra, Arman Soreng, Ashish Tani Purti, Arshdip Singh, Avi Manikpuri, Romit Pal Midfielders: Rahul Yadav, Premchand Soy, Varinder Singh, Karan Gautam, Siddharth Ben Forwards: Ketan Kushwaha (Captain), Akash Deep, Gazee Khan, Shahrukh Ali, Prahalad Rajbhar. (PTI)
IPA to select Indian jr team for Pickleball WC through trials
AHMEDABAD, May 21:The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) will conduct trials here next month to select the Indian team for the upcoming Pickleball World Cup in Vietnam.“The junior squad for the Indian pickleball contingent is extremely vital as it determines the players that will represent India on the global stage for many years to come. These are the players that will potentially one day compete at the major global events once pickleball officially enters those events as well.“The World Cup is the perfect starting point for the young talent across India to showcase their skills or compete alongside the best junior talent in the world,” said Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, President, Indian Pickleball Association.The three-day trials, from June 12 to 14, will determine the junior squad that will represent India in the third edition of the Pickleball World Cup in Vietnam from August 30 to September 9.Notable names that will be part of the trials include Arjun Singh, who recently won three medals at the US Open in both singles and doubles, Naomi Amalsadiwala, one of India’s rising stars in the open category, Panth Thakkar, who won bronze at the US Open in the doubles category, Purvansh Patel, Anoushka Chabbria, Veer Shah and Dev. (PTI)
Commonwealth Games Day to be celebrated across India
NEW DELHI, May 21: Shooter Anjum Modgil and badminton player Trupti Murgunde will be among the sporting stars in attendance when the country celebrates the Commonwealth Games Day on May 24 across 8,000 locations with the main event in Ahmedabad.The 75th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle will be organised on the same day “in the spirit of the Commonwealth Games movement, celebrating sportsmanship, unity, fitness and national pride”, the sports ministry stated on Thursday.Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, along with Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, will lead the event in Ahmedabad.“The theme for this edition, ‘A New Icon for a Fitter India ?” Pedalling to 2030’, reflects the vision of preparing India for CWG 2030 through fitness, unity and sporting spirit.” A special CWG-themed exhibition will also be inaugurated during the event, showcasing India’s sporting achievements over the last 12 years, alongside flagship schemes such as the Khelo India Mission and Sports Goods Manufacturing initiatives.Actor Ayushmann Khurrana, along with former Commonwealth medallists, including Rajani Etimarpu (Hockey), Gurjit Kaur (Hockey), Sonika Tandi (Hockey), Ankur Mittal (Shooting), Murgunde and Modgil (Shooting), as well as thousands of cyclists, will participate in the event. ”Union Ministers, State Ministers, MPs and public representatives will participate in their respective regions, further strengthening Sports Jan Bhagidari across the country,” the ministry said. In the run-up to the CWG Day celebration, a nationwide quiz competition, reel-making contest and torch design competition were organised on the MY Bharat platform, which saw participation from more than one lakh youngsters. (PTI)
Discus thrower Banvir banned for 7 years, Harendra gets 4
NEW DELHI, May 21: Discus thrower Banvir Singh has been banned for seven years by the the National Anti-Doping Agency’s Appeal Panel (ADAP) for flunking a dope test, adding two years to the punishment handed out to him by the Disciplinary Committee.Last year, NADA’s Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel had suspended Singh for five years effective from December 23, 2024 testing positive for steroid methandienone.He was also serving a two-year ineligibility period until December 22 this year for three whereabouts failures within 12 months.The ADAP enhanced the ban period in the latest update. NADA did not provide the reasons for the ADAP decision of the enhanced punishment.At 37 years of age, Singh could be one of the oldest athletes to be handed suspension for doping.Except for a second place finish in the Indian Grand Prix in Bhubaneshwar in 2022, Singh has never been in the top three in his career.Apart from this, long distance runner Harendra Kumar has been handed another four-year suspension effective from August 2 this year.He was earlier handed a four year ban by after testing positive for banned Darbepoetin (DEPO). (PTI)
