There have been happenings in last few days, and hogging the max headlines was the news of BJP’s leader Arun Jaitley’s demise. Arun Jaitley was very close aide and friend of PM Narendra Modi. He was very accomplished lawyer and BJP’s leading legal brain, and held Finance portfolio and for few months additional portfolio of Defence also, in Modi 1 govt. He was instrumental in bringing GST and many other financial reforms from2014-19.He was one BJP leader who was friendly with all the leaders of the other political parties and commanded great respect from them. In his death India has lost a very able political figure. May his soul Rest in Peace.
Yesterday, 25th Aug 2019, was also great day in sports, and three events are worth mentioning-
1 PV Sindhu winning the World Badmintton Championship- For last few years Sindhu was reaching the finals of many prestigious tournaments of the world, but always was losing finalists and people started calling her a CHOKER, as she was found wanting at the close moments of the match, and sometimes losing the match from winning position .But yesterday’s World Championship final against Nozami Okuhara of Japan, she proved herself and won the final in just 37 minutes with score of 21-7, 21-7.The score indicates the one sidedness of the match. During the match she was aggressive, precise and attacking the lines, she was enforcer, this aspect was earlier missing in her game.
It was her 3rd successive appearance in World Championship finals- in 2017 she lost to Okuhara in three games, again last year she lost to Carolina Marin in the finals, which was very close affair of 3 games, and the last two games went to 22-20,second game she won but in the last game she could not convert championship point, and lost the match at 22-20. Earlier she has lost Olympic finals to Okhuhara in 2016, lost to Saina Nehwal in finals of Commonwealth games of 2018, lost to Tai Tzu Ying in Asian Games finals in 2018.After2016Olympics till yesterday, she had reached 17finals but lost in 11 finals. Hope yesterday’s win in prestigious tournament will give her confidence to win big stage finals.
2 England’s historic win over Australia in Ashes series at Leeds(England)- After being all out for 67 in 1st innings and giving lead of 112 runs to Australia. Australia made 246 runs in the 2nd innings and England were asked to chase 359 runs for victory in the last innings. At the end of 4th day’s play England were 156 runs with3 of their top players back in the pavilion. When their 6th wicket fell at 259 on the last day, and 100 runs still required for victory with only Ben Stokes(no.5 batsman) at crease and rest to follow were all bowlers. Soon they were 9 down for 286 and still they were short by 73 runs. It looked as if all is over for England and Australia will take 2-0 lead in this series and retain the Ashes with them. But Ben Stokes had different ideas, with only last man Leach to support him, he went on rampage, in 42 balls he hammered 74 runs including 8 sixes over the fence. In last wicket partnership of 76 runs (45 balls), Leach scored only 1 run but he gave very valuable support to Stokes. In the end Australia were left with no option but to concede to the genius of Stokes.
Looks like for England , Ben Stokes is the player of the season. His wonderful form is continuing even after World Cup 2019.
3 India wins 1st test against West Indies at Antigua by 318 runs. Chasing 419 runs for victory in last innings, WI were all out for mere 100 runs. Jasprit Bumrah took 5 wickets in 8 overs, rattled through the top order of WI, attacking the stumps relentlessly in a devastating spell. He was ably supported by Ishant Sharma who took 3 wickets. The last wicket partnership of 50 between Roach and Cumminns gave WI’s total some respectability. There was much hue and cry when Ravichandran Ashwin was not picked up in the team for this test match, the criticism came from many Ex players and cricket critics. As India went into match with 3 seamers Bumrah, Ishan Sharma and Mohd Shammi and one all Ravindra Jadeja who can bowl spin. In the end team management was proven right as seamers picked 18 of the 20 wickets, with 2 wickets being picked by Jadeja in 1st innings. Ishant Sharma picked 5 wickets in 1st innings and Bumrah picked 5 wickets in 2nd innings. So in the end WI were no match for India.
Waiting for your views/comments/feed backs.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
26th Aug 2019.
R. N. Mungale.
We have lost an able administrator.
P. V. Sindhu has made us proud.
Ben Stokes was superb.
India won but that doesn’t justify dropping Ashwin.