Author: S Kannan

Some romances never fade, even after the main protagonist has walked away into the sunset. One of the biggest hits of Indian sport, against all odds, Sania Mirza bid the tennis world an emotional farewell this year in Dubai. There was emotion and nostalgia as Sania left fans in tears. For the cynics who ask if she won a major tournament this year, please understand that her very presence on court was inspirational for over two decades. Over this period, the young lass from Hyderabad, who went on to eventually become a Super Mom, defined stage presence. There was aura,…

Australian cricketers are usually not known to show excessive emotions around retirement time. There is a difference, this time, however, as the dramatis personae in question happens to be David Warner. A series against Pakistan down under may no longer leave fans giddy with excitement, given the current standard of cricket in a country where politics and non-performance have badly hit a side that were once standard-bearers for Asia. But whatever be Pakistan cricket’s travails, this series is all about what Warner will do in the three Tests he plays. Will there be emotion? Yes, definitely, going by the build-up…

Everyone likes to worship the rising sun. It provides glow and warmth. The same was the case with Saurabh Chaudhary, the pistol prodigy and teen champion who has now shockingly dropped off the Indian shooting radar. When the reticent boy from rural Uttar Pradesh was winning medals at competitions from the junior level to the senior level, and then on the international stage, he was labelled a prodigy. DV Seetharama Rao, former National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) secretary had even nicknamed him “Submarine.” Not now, however, as Saurabh has vanished and there is no one to even find out…

There is optimism in the air as India’s women’s hockey team prepare for the FIH Olympic qualifiers to be held in Ranchi from January 13. As a precursor to the Paris Olympics qualifiers, the senior Indian team will be travelling to Valencia in Spain for a five-nation tournament to be played from December 15 to 22. The field is rich, with matches against Ireland, Spain, Germany and Belgium sure to test India. Since the time the women’s team finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, there has been a general appreciation that, in terms of fitness, these girls are very much…

Mirabai Chanu is on the path to recovery. She will be meeting her doctor in Mumbai in two days and then decide on her rehab programme. The Olympic silver-winner weightlifter got injured at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, about two months ago. “Mira is much better and her review is due in two days or so. She had been to a Grand Prix competition in Doha, just for the weigh-in. It was important to go there, as athletes are also randomly tested as per the anti-doping protocol. Her next competition will be in March in Thailand, where, again, there will…

Talk of giving back to the sport that gave you so much. Abhinav Bindra, Beijing Olympic gold medallist, has finally agreed to take up a mentoring role with India’s current crop shooters. With India having already won 13 quota places for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is keen to maximise the chances of India winning medals. India has drawn a blank after the 2012 London Olympics, with no shooting medal in either Rio di Janeiro or Tokyo. Even as fans are excited that Bindra will be there to help the shooters, the former champion…

It’s one of the more heart-warming associations to be found on a golf course these days – between a daughter and her father. The end result is that Diksha Dagar is in the form of her life. In her own words, she is thankful to her Col Narinder Dagar, daddy and caddy. At a time when the focus was on Aditi Ashok at the Spanish Open in Malaga two weeks ago, Diksha had also done well. This has been an outstanding year for her, finishing seventh in the season’s last big event. But then, Diksha, a fighter to the core,…

Raja Randhir Singh, Acting President of the Olympic Council of Asia, has seen Indian sport from close quarters. A former trap-shooter, who represented India in five Olympics, he won gold at the Asian Games in Bangkok in 1978 and clinched several national titles. In an exclusive chat with RevSportz, Randhir, now 77, spoke about how India has grown into a country which no longer goes to major sporting competitions just for exposure. “The Indian athlete today has got not just potential, but great self- belief to take on the world,” said Randhir, who was Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) head…

All through this week, RevSportz will have features on, and interviews with, the Indian athletes who shone brightest in 2023. We start with the elder stateman’s in the man’s category, Rohan Bopanna. He has finally managed to get a winter break after a hectic tennis season where he finished eighth in the individual doubles in the ATP rankings. The best part was his striking up a lovely partnership with Australia’s Matt Ebden. In a conversation with RevSportz, Bopanna spoke on a gamut of topics. RevSportz: A winter break for you, finally, and back home, Rohan? Bopanna: It’s a luxury, really,…

News of Rafael Nadal’s likely return to the tennis tour in 2024 has taken Internet by storm. On Friday evening, the Spanish left-hand slugger set social media ablaze, especially the Wimbledon, French Open, US Open and Australian Open X (Twitter) handles which had his posters, again. “After one year outside of the tour, I think it’s the right moment to be back,” he said, still the heartthrob of millions of fans. “So I feel ready to announce that I will be back in Brisbane, the first week of the season.” The winner of 22 Grand Slam titles hobbled out of…