‘Women’s cricket still getting step-motherly treatment’

While the cricket administrators and media have played a big role in popularising men’s cricket by providing them a huge support at the same time it has also meted “step-motherly” treatment to other sports, including women’s cricket, felt Shantha Rangaswamy, India’s first woman cricket captain.“Men’s cricket is given too much publicity. A big good innings by a batsman even in gully cricket gets highlighted while it is not the same for achievers in other sports. We got fairly good coverage in our times in newspapers but with electronic media coming up, I would say it is 99.5 per cent men’s cricket and 0.5 per cent for rest of the sports, including women’s cricket. This is step-motherly treatment towards all sports and I request you to kindly ensure more coverage to other sports,” urged Rangaswamy.Rangaswamy, who has been transferred as Divisional General Manager, Canara Bank, Nagpur recently, was interacting with the scribes in ‘Meet the Press’ organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) at its office in Vivekanand Nagar. The event was co-ordinated by Dilip Bhagde, Director, Lata Mangeshkar Hospital.Appreciating the merger of women’s cricket with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Rangaswamy also minced no words in highlighting the shortcomings. “It’s good for the girls. They are getting paid better now. In my career spanning more than twenty years, I earned nothing from the sport except name. Now, the standard of game has also improved with better facilities. But BCCI has failed on a couple of fronts.“They have stopped the Under-16 tournaments for girls. Cricketing life of a woman is very short and scrapping of U-16 cricket is a big mistake. “In fact, BCCI, the richest sports body in the world, should adopt about 5000 schools all over India to broaden the base for the bigger tournaments.”Women’s cricket is often termed boring and the first woman cricketer to get Arjuna Award came up with a few suggestions to make it more attractive. “May be we can shorten the boundary. We can even increase the number of powerplays which will bring field restrictions into play. Women’s tournaments should be promoted at smaller centres.”Rangaswamy said she would definitely take up her suggestions with the BCCI chief, Shashank Manohar, if she gets to meet him here. “The BCCI bosses are too busy with their work. But I am sure that others including Diana Eduljee and Shubhangi Kulkarni, who are in the board, have been presenting their views on development of women’s cricket. I would also take up the cause if I happen to meet the BCCI officials.”Rangaswamy termed the Indian Premier League “master stroke” as far as business and entertainment was concerned but lamented that it would shorten the career of players. “It is a master stroke as far as business strategy is concerned. They have added entertainment value and brought cricket in India at par with the English Premier League soccer in England and NBA Basketball League in the US. Even it has diverted the attention of die-hard family soap viewers.“But the slam bang nature of the sport is very dangerous for the next generation. It will make no harm to a Sachin (Tendulkar), Rahul (Dravid) or Jacques (Kallis), who can play any form of cricket but the young generation who are watching these cross-batted unorthodox shots will never learn the correct techniques and will fail in the longer formats or quit the game soon.”On the chances of Indian women’s team winning the Twenty20 World Cup next month Rangaswamy sounded positive. “In the last edition in 2005 we defeated Australia twice, in the league and then in the third place play-off. They are a much improved unit now and stand a very good chance of winning the title.”

Women have contributed a lot to men’s cricket

WOMEN have contributed a lot in the development of cricket, informed Rangaswamy. In a candid talk with mediapersons, the former India all-rounder said, “Cricket in its infancy was played with men and women together. They used to bowl under arm then. With the long skirts proving a hindrance for women while bowling, they tried to bowl over arm. Over arm bowling thus came into existence,” said Rangaswamy.“All know about Sachin (Tendulkar) becoming the first batsman to score a double hundred in a One-Day game. But very few are aware of the fact that it was a woman, Australia’s captain Belinda Clark, who achieved the feat years ago that too at Mumbai in a World Cup game against Denmark in 1997. “The men’s Prudential World Cup was staged in 1975 in England but the women’s World Cup was hosted a couple of years (1973) earlier in the same country,” Rangaswamy enlightened the gathering.

(Report and pic: The Hitavada)

Jain emerges champ

Winners of all categories pose for a group snap with the guests. (Pic The Hitavada)


Helps Lokmat ‘A’ win team championship


LOKMAT’S Ashish Jain had the better of his injured opponent Vilas Tijare, also of Lokmat, in the final of the 6th badminton tournament for mediapersons to win the men’s singles title.
The three-day meet was organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) in co-operation with the PGTD of Physical Education, RTM Nagpur University.
Jain, who picked up his second SJAN singles title, also helped his team secure the team championship. He won his singles and then with partner Amit Sampat defeated the Sakal’s combine of Naresh Shelke-Rajesh Vyawahare for the team championship victory.
In the men’s singles final, Jain defeated colleague Tijare 21-8,
21-2. Tijare had an elbow injury which got aggravated in an earlier game when he executed some smashes. In the team championship final, surprise finalist Sakal put up a good fight against Lokmat A.
Jain trounced Rajesh Vyawahare 21-6, 21-5 but Manoj Muley made it 1-1 when he beat Pawan Dhande 21-12, 22-20. Pawan tried his best in a tight second game but Muley kept his cool and with his deft placings prevailed. The combination of Jain and Sampat restored the lead with 21-19, 21-5 win over Naresh Shelke-Vyawahare. With better reach, Sakal’s combination put up a good fight in the first game of the doubles but they ran out of steam in the second to lose tamely.
In the first reverse singles Tijare, who had earlier beaten Shelke in the men’s singles, again won 21-11,
21-4 to finish it off for Lokmat A.
Earlier, in the team championship semi-finals, The Hitavada A lost to eventual champions Lokmat A 3-1.
Dhande defeated an error-prone Anupam Soni 30-24 in the first singles for a 1-0 lead. Jain gave no chance whatsoever to a fighting Hitesh Limbachia in his clinical
30-8 win. 2-0. The Hitavada’s Soni, partnering Nikhil Dixit, however kept the tie alive by winning the doubles 30-23. The loss prompted Jain to play the first reverse singles in which he outsmarted Dixit 30-11.
The Hitavada’s women players won all the cash and trophies on offer. Tanveer Shaikh won the title beating Farina Salim in the final while Anushree Rotkar and Yemon Ganguly were the losing
semi-finalist.
Girish Pandav, President, Radhikatai Pandav Charitable Trust was the chief guest of the prize distribution function. Rakesh Kochhar, Director, Gurunanak College of Engineering, Dr Yeshwant Patil, Co-ordinator, Post Graduate Teaching Department of Physical Education, RTM Nagpur University and SSK Naidu, SAI coach shared the dais. Dr Ram Thakur, President, SJAN, made introductory remarks. Naresh Shelke Vice-President conducted the proceedings while Kishor Bagde, Joint-Secretary proposed a vote of thanks. (Report: The Hitavada)

Tanveer clinches women's title

The Hitavada's Tanveer Shaikh.



The Hitavada's Hitesh Limbachia.


The Hitavada's Anupam Soni.


The Hitavada’s Tanveer Shaikh outplayed her colleague Farina Salim in the final of the sixth edition of badminton tournament for media employees to emerge women’s champion.
Hitesh Limbachia and Anupam Soni, both of The Hitavada, lost in the semi-finals to their opponents from Lokmat. While Limbachia stretched Vilas Tijare to the limit in the first two games to go down fighting 21-16, 20-22, 21-10, former champion Ashish Jain showed no mercy against Soni to record a facile 21-6, 21-1 win to book a place in the final yet again.
Tanveer had the better of two of her colleagues enroute to the title. In the semi-final, Tanveer defeated Anushree Rotkar 30-6 and a couple of hours later she drubbed Farina 30-5.
Earlier, in the quarter-finals, Soni defeated Abhishek Kulkarni 21-18, 21-9 while Limbachia scored a hard-fought 18-21, 21-16, 21-18 win over Sakal’s Rajesh Vyawahare. Jain outwitted Sakal’s Manoj Muley 21-7, 21-6 while Tijare had to sweat it out to carve a 21-18, 21-16 win over Sakal’s Naresh Shelke.
Men’s singles final and team championship semis and final will be played on Sunday which will be followed by prize distribution function. Krishnarao Pandav, President, Sanmarg Shikshan Sanstha will be the chief guest of the function to be presided over by Dr Gauri Shankar Parasher, Pro-VC, Rashtra Sant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University. Navneet Singh Tuli of Gurunanak College of Engineering, Dr Yeshwant Patil, Co-ordinator, Post Graduate Teaching Department of Physical Education, RTM Nagpur University will be the guests of honour.
The meet is being organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) in co-operation with the Post Graduate Teaching Department of Physical Education, RTM Nagpur University.
Results: Women’s singles (final): Tanveer Shaikh (The Hitavada) bt Farina Salim (The Hitavada) 30-5.
Men’s singles (QF): Anupam Soni (The Hitavada) bt Abhishek Kulkarni (Tarun Bharat) 21-18, 21-9, Ashish Jain (Lokmat) bt Manoj Mule (Sakal) 21-7, 21-6, Hitesh Limbachia (The Hitavada) bt Rajesh Vyawahare (Sakal) 18-21, 21-1, 21-18, Vilas Tijare (Lokmat) bt Naresh Shelke (Sakal) 21-18, 21-16.
Men’ singles (semis): Ashish Jain bt Anupam Soni 21-6, 21-1 Vilas Tijare bt Hitesh Limbachia 21-16, 20-22, 21-10.
Team championship (QF): Sakal bt Tarun Bharat ‘A’ 3-0 (Naresh Shelke bt Abhishek Kulkarni 30-19, Rajesh Vyawahare bt Vikas Barokar 30-22, Naresh Shelke-Manoj Mule bt Vikas Barokar-Abhishek Kulkarni 30-28).
The Hitavada ‘A’ bt Tarun Bharat ‘B’ 3-0 (Nikhil Dixit bt Roshan Tamboli 30-7, Anupam Soni bt Raj Sharma 30-10, Hitesh Limbachia-Nikhil Dixit bt Roshan Tamboli-Raj Sharma 30-15).
Loksatta bt The Hitavada ‘B’ 3-1 (Uday Dindorkar bt Ankeet Ghutke 30-14, Piyush Patil bt Amol Deokar 30-14, Vikram Harkare- Manoj Joshi lost to Amol Deokar-Ankeet Ghutke 16-30, Uday Dindorkar bt Amol Deokar 30-16).

(Report: The Hitavada)

PICS BY ANIRUDDHASINGH DINORE

All pics Aniruddhasingh Dinore

Farina zooms into semis

THE Hitavada’s Farina Salim made it into the semi-finals of the sixth edition of badminton tournament for media employees. The meet, which got under way on Friday at Subhedar hall, is being organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) in co-operation with the Post Graduate Teaching Department of Physical Education, RTM Nagpur University.
Farina edged past companion Yemon Ganguly 30-25 in the second round match to become the first shuttler from the women’s section to enter the semi-finals.
In men’s second round, The Hitavada’s Anupam Soni and Hitesh Limbachia posted contrasting wins to advance into the third round. While Soni put up a brilliant show to breeze past Lokmat’s Amit Khodke 30-19, Limbachia was made to sweat hard by Pawan Dhande of Lokmat 30-29.
Lokmat’s Ashish Jain and Vilas Tijare also won their respective second round matches. Jain drubbed Loksatta’s Piyush Patil 30-7 whereas Tijare defeated Hitavada’s Nikhil Dixit 30-12.
Earlier, the meet was inaugurated at the hands of Girish Pandav, President, Radhikatai Pandav Charitable Trust. Dr Yashwant Patil, Co-ordinator, Post Graduate Teaching Department, Rajesh Kochar, Director, Gurunanak College of Engineering, Dr Ram Thakur, President, SJAN, and SSK Naidu, chief referee also graced the function.
SJAN vice-president Naresh Shelke conducted the proceedings and treasurer Anupam Soni proposed a vote of thanks.
Results: Men’s singles (Round 1): Hitesh Limbachia (The Hitavada) bt Roshan Tamboli (Tarun Bharat) 30-15, Abhishek Kulkarni (Tarun Bharat) bt Prashant Chahande (Sakal) 30-28, Manoj Mule (Sakal) bt Uday Dindolkar (Loksatta) 30-19, Pawan Dhande (Lokmat) bt Pawan Godbole (Tarun Bharat) 30-5, Ashish Jain (Lokmat) bt Wasim Qureshi (Dainik Bhaskar) 30-12, Anupam Soni (The Hitavada) bt Manoj Joshi (Loksatta) 30-19, Nikhil Dixit (The Hitavada) bt Dvendra Sadavarti (Punyanagari) 30-21, Amit Sampat (Lokmat Times) bt Ankit Ghutke (The Hitavada) 30-26, Amit Khodke (Lokmat) bt Vikram Harkare (Loksatta) 30-24, Naresh Shelke (Sakal) bt Raj Sharma (Tarun Bharat) 30-11. Round 2: Ashish Jain bt Piyush Patil (Loksatta) 30-7, Vilas Tijare (Lokmat) bt Nikhil Dixit 30-12, Hitesh Limbachia bt Pawan Dhande 30-29, Anupam Soni bt Amit Khodke 30-19, Manoj Muley bt Amit Sampat 30-17. Women singles: (Round 2): Farina Salim (The Hitavada) bt Yemon Ganguly (The Hitavada) 30-25. Team championship (Round 1): Tarun Bharat ‘A’ bt Lokmat ‘B’ 3-1 (Vikas Barokar bt Rupesh Chakraborty 30-16, Abhishek Kulkarni lost to Javed Siddiqui 16-25, Vikas Barokar-Abhishek Kulkarni bt Satish Pandit-Rupesh Chakraborty 30-25, Vikas Barokar bt Satish Pandit 30-20.

(Report: The Hitavada)

Girish Pandav (L), President, Radhikatai Pandav Charitable Trust plays a shot to inaugurate badminton tournament for mediapersons at Subhedar hall. Also seen is Yashwant Patil, Co-ordinator, Post Graduate Teaching Department. (Pic: The Hitavada)

Farina Salim of The Hitavada during her second round match of the badminton meet for mediapersons at Subhedar Hall. (Pic The Hitavada)

Yemon Ganguly-Shukla of The Hitavada plays a shot during her match. (Pic The Hitavada)

Badminton for mediapersons begins today

THE sixth edition of badminton tournament for media employees will get under way on Friday at Subhedar Hall. Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) in co-operation with the Post Graduate Teaching Department of Physical Education, RTM Nagpur University are hosting the tournament.
The three-day event will be inaugurated by Girish Pandav, President, Radhikatai Pandav Charitable Trust, the main sponsor of the tournament, at 8.30 am. Navneet Singh Tuli, Director, Gurunanak College of Engineering will be the guest of honour. Dhananjay Welukar, Director, Physical Education, RTM Nagpur University and Yeshwant Patil, Co-ordinator, Post Graduate Teaching Department will share the dais.
The meet will feature men’s singles, women’s singles and team championship, which is being introduced for the first time in SJAN tourney.
The team comprising minimum four and maximum six players will have to play best of five matches in each round. Team winning three matches first will be declared winners (3-0, 3-1 or 3-2).
Every team will have to give the names of the players for first two singles prior to the match. Names for doubles and remaining two singles could be decided later by the team. Action starts immediately after the inauguration function.
Report: The Hitavada

Loksatta’s Sant gets top billing

6TH BADMINTON MEET FOR MEDIAPERSONS

DEFENDING champion Vijay Sant of Loksatta got top seeding in the men’s singles followed by Lokmat’s Aashish Jain for the sixth edition of badminton tournament for media employees which commences at Subhedar Hall from Friday.
The meet is being organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) in co-operation with the Post Graduate Teaching Department of Physical Education, RTM Nagpur University.
Radhikati Pandav Charitable Trust is the main sponsor of the event while Gurunank Engineering College is the co-sponsor.
The meet will feature men’s singles, team championship and women’s singles. Winners and runners-up will get cash prizes alongwith attractive trophies.
For the first time in this inter-press annual event there will be a team championship.

SEEDINGS: Men’s Singles—1. Vijay Sant (Loksatta), 2. Aashish Jain (Lokmat), 3. Vilas Tijare (Lokmat), 4. Naresh Shelke (Sakal), 5. Jaideep Hardikar (DNA), 6. Hitesh Limbachia (The Hitavada), 7. Anupam Soni (The Hitavada), 8. Manoj Muley (Sakal).
Teams—1. Loksatta, 2. Lokmat ‘A’, 3. The Hitavada ‘A’, 4. Sakal.
(Report: The Hitavada