New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a vocal supporter of Indian athletes across sports over the years. From hosting the 2024 T20 World Cup-winning team to bidding the athletes farewell for the Paris Olympics, he has been a pillar of support for all sportspersons representing the country.

Following Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh’s historic bronze medal in the 10 m Air Pistol Mixed Team event in the shooting competition in Chateauroux, France, PM Modi spoke to Sarabjot to congratulate him for his achievement.

“Congratulations Sarabjot, you have brought pride and honour to the country and your hard work has paid off. Please wish Manu from my side too. You just missed out in the individual round but did it in the mixed team round. The way you and Manu have performed has been brilliant, what’s the secret behind your teamwork?” PM Modi asked Sarabjot during their phone conversation.

Sarabjot replied. “We have been together since the 2019 nationals, Junior World Cup and other tournaments and have won gold medals on a number of occasions. I hope to perform better next time and will try my best to bring a gold medal for the country.”

This was Sarabjot’s first medal in what was his debut in the quadrennial event, joining the illustrious group of RVS Rathore, Abhinav Bindra, Vijay Kumar, Gagan Narang, and Manu Bhaker all of whom have won medals for India at the Olympic Games.

Manu’s historic campaign in the Paris Olympics keeps on breaking more records. She started off by becoming the first woman to win a medal in shooting and followed it by becoming the first athlete to win two medals in the same campaign post India’s independence. She and Sarabjot also became the first Indian shooters to win a medal in a team event at the Olympics.

However, Manu’s journey has not ended yet as the 22-year-old still has one more event to play in Paris 2024, the Women’s 25 m Pistol event.

“Manu has to prepare for the 25 meter as well, wish her all the best from my side and I want to congratulate both of you one last time and wish all Indian athletes from my side, Jai Hind,” concluded the Prime Minister.

–IANS

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Chateauroux (France), July 30 (IANS) On Tuesday, Manu Bhaker made history once again in less than 48 hours by becoming the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympic Games. After her dual podium finish, the sharpshooter is on cloud nine and said she is ‘proud to perform at the biggest stage’ for her country.

Manu made history on Sunday by becoming the first Indian female shooter to win an Olympic medal, bagging a bronze in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol Individual event.

She then added more lustre to her success by securing her second bronze in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team competition with Sarabjot Singh earlier on Tuesday, becoming the first Indian to win multiple medals in one edition of the Games.

The duo showcased resilience and composure, overcoming a slow start to open up a big lead before emerging 16-10 winner against South Korean pair, Lee Won Ho and Oh Ye Jin 16-10 in a thrilling match.

“Extremely humbled by the support and wishes that have been pouring in. This is something that I’ve always dreamt of. Proud to perform at the biggest stage for my country,” Manu wrote on X on Tuesday.

Manu became the second Indian woman to win two Olympic medals after shuttler PV Sandhu, who clinched consecutive medals in the 2016 (silver) and 2020 (bronze) Olympics.

Manu still has the 25m pistol event left to compete in, where she will compete alongside Esha Singh, giving her a chance to win a hat-trick of medals in Paris. With several records broken, this accomplishment represents a critical turning point in Indian sports history.

–IANS

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Dhaka, July 30 (IANS) The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has named former Test captains Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque for one of the four-day matches against Pakistan Shaheens in preparation for the two-match Test series against their senior men’s side.

Bangladesh and Pakistan Shaheens will square off in two four-day games and three one-day matches in Islamabad from August 10–27. The first Test between the two senior men’s teams begins in Rawalpindi on August 21, while the first four-day match is slated for August 10–13.

“Mushfiqur and Mominul requested us to include them in the first four-day game against Pakistan Shaheens. We feel the matches would be good preparation for some of the cricketers likely to represent us in the upcoming Test series against Pakistan,” Abdur Razzak, member of the national selection panel, told Cricbuzz on Tuesday.

Seven Test cricketers from the recent series against Sri Lanka have been selected for the upcoming four-day match, including Shahadat Hossain, Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan, Nayeem Hasan, and Hasan Mahmud.

Shahadat Hossain, a young middle-order batsman who featured in the last four Tests at home against New Zealand and Sri Lanka, is unlikely to be included in the Test squad. Consequently, he will remain with the Bangladesh A team for the second four-day game against Pakistan Shaheens.

The selection of Mossadek Hossain, who last played a Test in 2022 against Sri Lanka, has stirred considerable discussion.

“We have picked players like Mossadek as we have eight Test matches and we want to keep some experienced players ready so that in case we have any injury issues, they can come in as replacements,” said Razzak.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for us to test some of our players with the A team as those matches work to our advantage. We will also have New Zealand and South Africa and even West Indies… although the latter is yet to be confirmed. When these matches take place, we will understand more.

“International cricket goes on in its own flow so if we can arrange these matches in between, it will be easier for us to form teams. If we need a young player or someone who has played for the national team before or if those who are playing require practice in a competitive setup, the A team’s matches become important in that regards,” he added.

Bangladesh A squad for the 1st four-day match: Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Mahidul Islam Ankhon, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Murad, Tanvir Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rahman Rejaur Raja, Ruyel Miah.

Bangladesh A squad for the 2nd four-day match: Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mohammad Naim, Saif Hassan, Soumya Sarkar, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Zaker Ali Anik, Towhid Hridoy, Mahidul Islam Ankhon, Hasan Murad, Tanvir Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rahman Rejaur Raja, Ruyel Miah.

Bangladesh A squad for one-day series: Soumya Sarkar, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mohammad Naim, Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Mahidul Islam Ankhon, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Zaker Ali Anik, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Tanvir Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rahman Rejaur Raja, Ruyel Miah.

–IANS

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Paris, July 30 (IANS) The Indian men’s team continued its unbeaten run in Pool B with a 2-0 win over Ireland in their third game in the Olympic Games hockey competition at Yves-du-Manoir Stadium here on Tuesday.

Skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored both goals in the 11th and 19th minutes of the game respectively. India then survived some anxious moments and absorbed the pressure created by the Irish, thanks mainly to goalkeeper P.R Sreejesh, to claim three points.

With this victory, India have momentarily moved to the top of the Pool B table with seven points. Belgium and Australia will play later in the day.

–IANS

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Paris, July 30 (IANS) Bhajan Kaur dominated Poland’s Wioleta Myszor in straight sets in the Round of 16 Elimination Round to register a 6-0 victory over her opponent and reach the pre-quarterfinals. World Ranked 45, Bhajan Kaur scored 28, 29, 28 in the three sets to confirm her qualification to the next round. Myszor was not able to find her footing in the match as she struggled with scores of 23, 26, and 22 with only one shot in the inner-10 circle.

Bhajan Kaur earlier progressed to the Round of 16 in the women’s archery event after defeating Indonesia’s Syifa Nurafifah Kamal 7-3 in the Round of 32 Elimination Round.

The clash started on a feisty note as both archers finished with 27 points in the first set which saw one point being awarded to both competitors. The Indonesian pulled ahead winning the second set 29-27 and taking the 3-1 lead over Kaur. Following the second set, Kaur registered impressive scores of 29, 27 and 28 in the next three rounds to seal the victory.

Despite Kaur’s win, there were some signs of gloom in the Indian archery camp as fellow compatriot Ankita Bhakat was eliminated just moments before Kaur’s match.

Despite being just one set away from victory whilst possessing a 4-2 lead, Ankita lost the final two sets and missed out on qualifying for the next stage with a 4-6 loss against Poland’s Wioleta Myszor.

India’s third participant in the women’s Individual Round, Deepika Kumari will be in action against Poland’s Reena Parnat on Wednesday in the Round of 32 elimination round.

–IANS

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