Columnists

Shivani Naik

Assistant Editor

Abhinav Bindra’s right turn on road to redemption — 2006 World Championship

Wed, Apr 01, 2020

As the world is at standstill, The Indian Express looks back at sporting memories — starting with how a World Championship gold in 2006 put Abhinav Bindra on track for Olympic glory two years later.

The sudden change of tide that left Advait Page’s dreams high and dry

Sat, Mar 28, 2020

The 18-year-old landed back home in Indore last week just as the American outbreak was set to rise, cutting short his freshman's year taking the first direct flight out of Newark into Mumbai, avoiding any European layover.

Sparring partner of Taiwanese players at All England tests positive

Sat, Mar 21, 2020

Badminton's most prestigious tournament - which screened no one during the playing week keeping in line with UK's insistence on carrying on, might well have risked the biggest names in shuttle.

An Expert Explains: Why stronger bodies don’t imply better immunity against COVID-19

Sat, Mar 21, 2020

Are sportspersons' immunities a better shield against Covid-19? Here's what Dr Nikhil Latey, who has trained a bunch of Olympians over the years, has to say.

Left Italy just before lockdown, says fencer Bhavani Devi

Wed, Mar 18, 2020

Bhavani Devi returned to India in the nick of time during the pandemic when she was bang in the middle of her training-cum-competition shuttling between Greece and Italy and finally for a camp in Belgium.

Swimmer Kushagra Rawat and his route to Tokyo via Gold Coast

Wed, Mar 18, 2020

Kushagra Rawat, in his latest outing, finished with a bronze medal at the New South Wales Open Swimming Championship to achieve the 'B' standard of Olympic qualification in his pet event, the 400m.

How concerns over travel and preparations led to BWF’s decision

Sun, Mar 15, 2020

The badminton world body on Friday suspended all events till April 12 after players expressed their displeasure. SHIVANI NAIK looks at the implications.

Okuhara, Sindhu’s pint-sized headache that keeps flaring up

Sat, Mar 14, 2020

Okuhara once again snatched a match from Sindhu's grasp with a counterattack that was so poised and precise that you wondered how a 21-7, 21-7 scoreline fetched up the last time they battled at Basel.

All England Open 2020: Titles are the ultimate Lakshya

Fri, Mar 13, 2020

A good start at the All England is only just a good start for 20-year-old Lakshya Sen

Saina Nehwal battles the uncontrollables after All England ouster

Fri, Mar 13, 2020

Japanese Akane Yamaguchi dismantled Saina Nehwal with disdain in the first round of the All England. Now, she faces the likelihood of being quarantined on her return home having travelled to Spain after February 15.

Out of All England Open 2020, Tokyo looks too far for Kidambi Srikanth

Thu, Mar 12, 2020

Most times on Wednesday in his opening round of the All England, Srikanth looked like a teenager standing ashore, looking forlornly towards a brightly-lit party boat sailing quickly away. That was the Olympics slipping out of his grasp.

All England Open 2020: Lakshya Sen pulls off a brilliant come-from-behind win on debut

Thu, Mar 12, 2020

The 20-year-old beats World No. 18 Lee Cheuk Yiu of Chinese Taipei to progress to the 2nd round in Birmingham on Wednesday

Indian pair of Jerry-Sikki nick a set against World No.1 before going down

Wed, Mar 11, 2020

All England Open (Super 1000): The Indian World No 26 mixed doubles pair Pranav Jerry Chopra and Sikki Reddy took a set off the World No 1 Chinese pair Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiaong before going down in their first round match.

Indian shuttlers need to get act together at All England

Tue, Mar 10, 2020

Saina Nehwal is struggling to lock the Tokyo qualification and has drawn the indomitable Akane Yamaguchi in the first round. She has beaten the Japanese only twice, losing eight times.

Doubles in India lacks care, love and funds, says outgoing coach Flandy Limpele

Tue, Mar 10, 2020

"The Indian scene is not fair to the coaches. Salaries are not equal (Agus Dwi Santoso for singles comes for $8000 per month, Flandy was paid $6500), neither do they have equal assessment."

Indian badminton players pull out of All England amidst Coronavirus fears

Fri, Mar 06, 2020

Those seeking for Olympic qualification like Saina Nehwal and K Srikanth are scheduled to travel as of now, as are PV Sindhu and B Sai Praneeth, whose qualification isn't under threat.

In face of coronavirus uncertainty, P Gopichand wants shuttlers to focus on performance

Mon, Mar 02, 2020

BWF, with a chunk of its top players coming from east Asian countries, is currently trying to salvage its European spring swing of events including the All England and Swiss Open.

Tokyo Olympics: How Indian shuttlers’ qualification chances are affected due to coronavirus

Sat, Feb 29, 2020

With German Open cancelled and the outbreak threatening to disrupt even more tournaments upto cutoff of April 30th, precious qualifications are on the line.

Top players returning from injury need funding too: Ajay Jayaram

Wed, Feb 26, 2020

“I was in the Top 20 in 2017 when I got injured. Ever since my comeback after an eight-month hiatus, I've had to fund myself entirely for all international tournaments, let alone training and other expenses,” said Ajay Jayaram.