Ahmedabad, July 8 (IANS) With the Indian contingent in the last leg of its preparations for the 2024 Olympics, its principal sponsor, the Adani Group, has pledged its whole-hearted support to the champions of the nation through a campaign with the theme #DeshkaGeetAtOlympics. The campaign centres around the athletes, who have spent hours and years in training to win and hear the national anthem after the victory.

The social media campaign has been launched even as the Indian sportspersons continue to put in the hard yards before flying out to Paris for the Olympic Games set to be held from July 26 to August 11.

The campaign, anchored by an inspiring film, encapsulates the relentless dedication of Indian athletes and reignites the feeling of patriotism amongst the audiences as India’s best athletes take centrestage once again.

The film showcases India’s top sporting talent sweating it out as they prepare to head to Paris, aiming to surpass the Tokyo Olympics ‘medal haul and earn the honour of hearing the national anthem at one of the most anticipated global sporting events. In the last Olympics, India finished with a record tally of 7 medals, Adani Sportsline informed in a release on Monday.

The Adani Group is committed to elevating and developing the sporting ecosystem in India in a way that inculcates and drives a sporting culture across the nation. Through its contribution, the Group aims to develop India’s next generation of sporting champions and support them in their journey towards representing India on national and international platforms like the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and the Olympics.

Since 2016, the Adani Group has supported more than 28 athletes in sports like boxing, wrestling, tennis, javelin throw, shooting, running, shotput, brisk walking, archery, and more.

Among those who benefited are Commonwealth Games gold medalist wrestlers Ravi Kumar Dahiya and Deepak Punia and boxer Amit Panghal. Dahiya and Punia also secured silver medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics 2020 and the 2023 Asian Games. The Group also sponsored the Indian contingent at the Tokyo Olympics. The Group was associated with the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022, and Hangzhou Asian Games 2022 contingents as official partners as well.

Speaking on the launch of the film, Sanjay Adesara, CBO, Adani Sportsline, said, “At Adani Sportsline, we extend our best wishes to our champion athletes, and hope that we have more success than ever before. With the help of our programmes, we are fully committed to supporting our athletes all the way in their quest for excellence at the highest level in sport. And while they are fighting it out for the top prize, we must support them, cheer them on, and motivate them.”

–IANS

bsk/

Jhansi, July 8 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Hockey defeated Hockey Haryana and Hockey Chandigarh beat Uttar Pradesh Hockey to clinch the title in the women’s and men’s competitions respectively on Day 8 of the 2nd Hockey India Junior Women’s and Men’s North Zone Championship 2024 here on Monday. Among the day’s other results, Hockey Chandigarh secured third place in the women’s tournament while Hockey Punjab bagged third place among the men’s teams.

In a closely fought final for the women’s title, hosts Uttar Pradesh Hockey secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Hockey Haryana to emerge as champions.

Hockey Haryana broke the deadlock and took the lead when Shashi Khasa (37’), the tournament’s top-scorer, found the back of the net. The equaliser evaded Uttar Pradesh for most of the second half before Rashmi Patel (58’) scored in the match’s dying embers. Minutes later, Purnima Yadav (60’) scored again for Uttar Pradesh Hockey to complete an emphatic victory.

Hockey Chandigarh emerged as the men’s champions following a 2-1 triumph against Uttar Pradesh Hockey in a grueling fixture. Ashu Maurya (14’) gave Uttar Pradesh the lead towards the end of the first quarter.

However, Hockey Chandigarh bounced back in the second quarter riding on the efforts of Rajveer Singh (26’). As the game looked set up for a shootout, Gurjeet Singh (55’) delivered a late winner for Hockey Chandigarh.

Chandigarh women claim third place

In the women’s battle for third place, Hockey Chandigarh defeated Delhi Hockey 4-0. Pooja (11’, 34) gave Hockey Chandigarh the early lead and doubled it soon after half-time. Vedangi Vyas (42’) scored in the third quarter before Tamanna (49’) further widened the gap with another field goal.

Punjab beat Haryana for third place

In the men’s battle for third place, Hockey Punjab defeated Hockey Haryana 6-1. Om Rajnesh Saini (24’) and Lovenoor Singh (29’) scored for Punjab in the second quarter before Vinay (30’) pulled one back for Hockey Haryana. Following a goalless third quarter.

Hockey Punjab took control in the final minutes of the match with goals from Abhishek Gorkhi (48’), Charanjeet Singh (55’, 56’) and Ajaypal Singh (60’).

–IANS

bsk/

London, July 8 (IANS) Surrey duo of fast bowler Gus Atkinson and wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith will make their Test debuts in England’s first Test against the West Indies at Lord’s on July 10, which is the final match for retiring veteran fast-bowler James Anderson.

Atkinson has played nine ODIs and three T20Is, for England and was a part of the Ben Stokes-led squad for the Test tour of India earlier this year but did not feature in a single game. Overall, he has picked 59 wickets in 19 first-class matches.

On the other hand, Smith, who averages 40 in first-class cricket, played two ODIs for England against Ireland last year and is now all set to play his first Test in a fresh-looking playing XI after being selected ahead of Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes for the West Indies series.

Shoaib Bashir, the 20-year-old off-spinner from Somerset, will make his first home Test appearance after playing three matches on the tour of India and picking 17 wickets earlier this year. His selection made ahead of left-arm spinner Jack Leach has also been made possible by captain Stokes back to taking all-rounder duties.

Chris Woakes, who took a break from the game following the demise of his father, completes the rest of England’s bowling attack, marking his return to Tests for the first time since last summer’s Ashes series against Australia.

Harry Brook also returns to the playing eleven and will bat at No.5 after missing the tour of India to be with his ill grandmother Pauline, who later passed away in March. But all the focus will be on Anderson’s farewell from international cricket at a venue where he debuted in Tests against Zimbabwe in May 2003.

England playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir and James Anderson.

–IANS

nr/bsk/

Johannesburg, July 8 (IANS) South Africa batter Tristan Stubbs is all set to bat at No.3 in the upcoming Test series against the West Indies, confirmed head coach Shukri Conrad. Stubbs has been a regular in white-ball cricket for South Africa but will now get a chance to cement himself in the Test side through the series against West Indies to be played at Trinidad and Guyana from August 7-19.

“Tristan will bat at No.3 for us…that’s how highly I rate him. Aiden (Markram) and Tony (de Zorzi) will open and Temba (Bavuma) and Bedders (David Bedingham) will be at four and five. Technically Tristan is one of the best around. He’s a helluva player, the type of player I want at the top of the order.”

“He’s the type of cricketer I want at the top of the order, he’s got all the makings of a top-class No.3 batter. I certainly wouldn’t be giving someone something to do that they aren’t capable of. I’m not hanging him out to dry. Technically he is one of the best around. It’s unfair that people see him as just a white-ball player.”

“I know it’s a different format, but if you look at the way he commanded his space during the World Cup, he has imprinted himself on games. We have eight Tests, he’ll get a really good run. I have to keep an eye on the future with this Test squad and he is definitely part of that future,” said Conrad to reporters.

Speaking about giving a call-up to batter Matthew Breetzke, who has a first-class average of 37 and is coming off a domestic season where he averaged 46 in first-class cricket, Conrad said, “Matt’s done really well domestically in the last couple of years. He can open the batting and play anywhere in the top order.”

“We have eight Tests to give ourselves the best chance at (qualifying for the final of the World Test Championships) and we probably need to win seven. But every Test series will be challenging. The West Indies are a different kettle of fish in their own country,” he concluded.

–IANS

nr/bsk/

New Delhi, July 8 (IANS) London Olympics bronze medallist shooter Gagan Narang has been elevated as the Chef-de-Mission (CDM) of the Indian contingent for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, starting on July 26. Initially tasked with overseeing India’s operations at the shooting range — which will be far from the main venues, Narang has been named as a replacement for boxing legend MC Mary Kom, who had relinquished the opportunity due to some personal reasons.

Narang won a bronze medal in the 10m Air Rifle event in London in 2012. Last year, he was one of the senior officials of the Indian contingent at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Shiva Keshavan, India’s first-ever representative at the Winter Olympics, is the Deputy Chef-de-Mission of the contingent.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has also announced P.V Sindhu as the female flag-bearer alongside Achanta Sharath Kamal during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris on July 26.

IOA President Dr. P.T Usha on Monday said the 41-year-old Narang’s elevation from Deputy Chef-de-Mission’s position was an automatic choice in the wake of Mary Kom’s withdrawal.

“I was looking for an Olympic medalist to lead our contingent and my young colleague is an apt replacement for Mary Kom,” Usha was quoted as saying in a release on Monday.

“I am also delighted to announce that India’s only woman to win two Olympic medals, PV Sindhu, as the female Flag-bearer alongside Table Tennis ace A.

Sharath Kamal in the opening ceremony,” Dr. Usha said. “I am confident that our athletes are well prepared to deliver the best results for India in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The IOA had initially announced Mary Kom as the CDM and Gagan Narang, a member of the executive committee of the IOA, as the deputy CDM while naming Sharath Kamal as the flag-bearer.

A few days after the announcement, Mary Kom expressed her inability to take up the responsibility. The IOA seemed to have mulled on a replacement for many days before deciding to promote Narang to the post.

The Chef-de-Misson is the overall leader of the Indian contingent at the Olympics.

–IANS

bsk/