Author: S Kannan

The first round at a Grand Slam is slippery. And, if it happens to be the hallowed precincts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, the grass is green but does pose a problem or two for many players. On Monday, the opening day of The Championships, as Britons like to address Wimbledon, a European flavour was on view in the gentlemen’s singles section. It was about two men from Spain and Italy – Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner – negotiating the first round with a certain degree of caution against opponents who had nothing to lose. Opening…

Some comebacks are more special. The return of Simone Biles to blazing form and sealing her Paris Olympics berth at the US trials over the weekend has caught the imagination of all gymnastics fans. To say that she was stunning in the floor routine would be stating the obvious. Watched by her husband Jonathan Owens, a leading NFL star in the US, Simone was all smiles. She is heading to her third Olympics and this one will be special for sure, as she has shown great flourish in the trials held in Minneapolis, US. At 27, the gymnast with an…

Last year, at The Championships in Wimbledon, when Novak Djokovic lost the gentlemen’s singles final to Carlos Alcaraz, there were loud utterances: “Changing of the guard.” Novak’s loss to the Spaniard was defining and tennis fans thought, this was the end of the Serbian’s raging run. How wrong it was, as Novak went on to win the US Open in raucous New York, his 24th Grand Slam title, less than two month later. As ‘The Championships’ rolls into action at the well-manicured lawns of London’s most famous suburb for a fortnight – Church Road, SW 19 – all eyes will…

Rahul Dravid and emotions, you got to be kidding. For a man who has always appeared inert to wins and losses, the latest images of the Team India coach on his last day at office after India won the ICC T20 World Cup in Barbados are so beautifully different. The Wall, or Jammy as people have lovingly addressed Rahul Dravid, was brought on as coach not because he was craving for the job. It was circumstances which led to him being appointed as Team India coach, for which former BCCI President Dada Sourav Ganguly can take credit. That was in…

Two champions, both battling fitness issues, have decided to take a plunge in the men’s singles main draw at The Championships in Wimbledon, which begins on Monday. Yes, Novak Djokovic, who underwent a knee meniscus tear surgery, bang in the middle of the French Open, has decided he will fight it out for a 25th Grand Slam title. As the second seed, he knows, the path ahead is not easy. Fitness and form, both will determine if Djokovic can last a fortnight on grass. If Djokovic is making a brave bid and competing at Wimbledon, the same goes for Murray,…

Team India is blessed to have a captain as cool as Rohit Sharma. Come rain, wind or sunshine, the India skipper has maintained such a calm approach that one wonders if he ever feels pressure. After India whacked England to enter the ICC T20 World Cup final, Rohit spoke in his inimitable style. Measured words, no hyperbole, just plain simple talk. It is this mature approach which has made Rohit lord and master. Was there revenge on the minds of every Indian on the field? Perhaps there was, for Rohit will want to sign off on a high on June…

This must be one of the rare moments in Indian hockey where two former captains, PR Sreejesh and Manpreet Singh, are in the 16-member squad for the Paris Olympics purely as players under Harmanpreet Singh. More important, the two stars who were once commanders are playing their fourth Olympics in a row, which is a big feat. There are emotions always around Indian hockey, be it failure or success. Just that, after winning a historic bronze medal in Tokyo three years ago, expectations have risen. Fans of Indian hockey have always demanded medals, like the “dil maange more” slogan. Sure…

No, don’t call South Africa chokers again. On Thursday morning, India time, even as bleary-eyed cricket fans were trying to focus on their TV sets, the Proteas’ fast bowlers were on fire. To bowl out Afghanistan, the tournament’s surprise packages, for 56 in 11.5 overs was a massive achievement, as Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje showed how lethal they could be in helpful conditions at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. At the end of a virtual no-contest, South Africa hammered Afghanistan by nine wickets to enter the ICC T20 World Cup final, where they await the…

The Paris Olympics fever is in the air. At a time when the sporting world romances with football — Euro 2024 and the Copa America — plus the ICC T20 World Cup in cricket, it is the Olympics starting on July 26 which will grab eyeballs next month. The last 30 days, are, indeed, fascinating, from many perspectives. These are troubled times for the world at large. War rages in many regions – Russia in conflict with Ukraine, Israel in Palestine and a few more troubled regions, though not much in the news. The Olympic movement is all about peace,…

In what can be termed as one of the most needless controversies generated before the Paris 2024 Olympic, the recalcitrant Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) dragged its feet before announcing the name of Anush Agarwalla as the dressage rider who makes the cut. Facts before fiction. Anush was the sole rider from Kolkata, based in Europe, who had secured the Olympic qualification slot as early as February 2024. Yes, in many sporting disciplines, equestrian included, the quota place won is for the nation and not the individual athlete. As a dressage rider, Anush will be the first to represent India…