Month: August 2023

In his private thought swirl amidst the din and decibel of 12,000 screaming people, a sense of calm focus descended. “I just zoned out. I was actually not thinking about anything else today, just thinking about what to do to take the next five points. A lot of thinking I was doing inside but was not aware of what was happening around me. I was pretty much in my zone after the second game.This was HS Prannoy explaining in brief how he famously brought down Viktor Axelsen playing the Dane at the badminton World Championships quarterfinals in Copenhagen. At stake when playing in the lion’s den was Prannoy’s first World’s success, an elusive achievement, after spending a dozen medal-less years on the international circuit. At 31, Prannoy though wouldn’t think time was running out, but that his time was now. He had trained for 3-4 years to think in that fashion.Mental trainer Mon Brokman, watching the match from Bangalore, knew he had equipped his ward with tools to deal with just this sort of situation. He would be pleased with what followed. A former international in fencing and part of Israeli special forces during his 20-year military stint, Mon had worked with Prannoy on something as fundamental as how to breathe when things don’t go your way. Mon’s expertise is in teaching athletes to deal with discomfort, something he himself learnt during his 20 years in the military where he says he grew an identity under constant pressure and persistent stress.“The big part of learning in the military is not just physical or tactical, but resilience to different situations. You learn certain tools in training used when everything is not going smooth. Sometimes athletes hope and expect everything will work for you, I call it the red carpet-expectation. But I teach how to prepare when things don’t work for you. Against Axelsen in the first, it didn’t work out for Prannoy. But he knew how to keep it calm and smooth,” Mon, who runs the Behavioural Foresight training centre in Bengaluru, explains. These tools use physiology at its base. “Things like the nervous system and heart rate if you can control them, if you can control emotions in critical moments, you finish a winner.”
Knowing he had worked hard all his career to get into this medal position, but finding the crowd was shouting against him during the Axelsen match, would’ve unnerved any shuttler. “The Prannoy when we started working together, might have ‘hoped’ certain situations will happen in his favour, or would be comfortable with some opponents and not with others. But for the Prannoy today, who the opponent is won’t matter. He knows nothing comes easy. He could be above the shouting crowd, when the match didn’t start the way he wanted.”
He calls Prannoy an artistic athlete, and places a lot of store on helping him to unfurl that creative personality on court. “Some athletes are mechanical, some express themselves like artists like Prannoy. He does his homework on tactics and strategy. We worked on enabling him to express freely to play at his best.”
Even after injury, most athletes rely on going back to be technical, but Mon would stress on forgetting about the past, and working with strength on new things. “Against Viktor after the first set, he could focus on what’s relevant and to express creatively. You can’t play the whole match with one tactic. He played a few points differently. And no matter if he wasn’t comfortable, he remained creative as opponent.”
Mon was always impressed with Prannoy as an athlete. “I saw a tough person with resilience four years ago and with a fire to keep performing.”
At that time he was injured so badly, he couldn’t practice even, but Mon found the steely determination inspiring. He found someone that was injured, who was finding it tough to keep pushing when the season didn’t work out well.
“He was feeling lost. We gave him tools to regain trust in himself.”
What made Prannoy unique was how late in his athletic life he had the courage to seek out mental training, unlearn and reassemble his mind framework. He was 27 then. “When you have a lot of experience and already know a lot of things, athletes typically don’t want to explore so much. They just repeat what has given them past results. We needed to build trust with Prannoy because you need to choose carefully who you are listening to. But he was prepared to find solutions, even if they were inconvenient and not comfortable. I haven’t seen that willingness to try things never tried before in a lot of mature, experienced athletes,” Mon explains.
One of the techniques was to test his physiology in simulation rooms where he was made to play certain computer games and his performance outside was plotted against markers on his state of mind, with biofeedback and neurofeedback tools. These were memory games, competitive races and first reaction games from his special forces days. Mon had seen a spark when in Japan a few weeks before his World’s medal, Prannoy flipped a set to win after trailing Axelsen by 5-6 points.
Mon’s earliest findings on Prannoy were that when things didn’t work out for him in a match, he would start to attack quickly. “We discussed how he just needs to get points, not win them quickly! It’s understandable when you lose 3-4 points continuously, you want to feel good so you rush to get points. But in the last 2 years, he has mastered his emotions,” Mon says.
It’s evident in matches, where he doesn’t stab at the next 1-2 shuttles, but moves to construct a long rally. “Even if you want, when pressure is on, you tend to go back to what you used to do. Hence it’s easier to work with kids who don’t resist change. Prannoy, even with that experience, though wanted that change.”
It took him time – to effect it first in training and then in tournaments. Years of conditioning, stagnant functioning in certain ways can hold athletes back. “But Prannoy was open to changing things,” Mon says.
One of the toughest techniques was to learn to breathe a certain way. “If you can’t control breathing, you can get stuck. In badminton, you need to be able to move to the next point quickly and can’t afford to get stuck. We built his breathing capacity and he realised it can liberate the way he plays. So even if he disliked the techniques, he understood it was important and went for it. Daily, he works on mental economy to perform.”
The results were observable as far back as the 2-3 Thomas Cup key deciders he played last May. But breath control was most evident in the Axelsen match in the ‘zone’ that Prannoy spoke of. “Instead of thinking of lots of fears about how far he can go and allowing emotions to control him, he trusted himself, followed the breathing process.”Mon came from an Olympic family where both his parents were at the Games, so there was a tradition to be athletes.
“I started at 6, and by 12 I was in the national team in fencing. I went to the European, World Championships. At 18, we have compulsory military in Israel. I was still competing while I served,” he recalls. Psychology gave him the most amount of learnings in special forces.
“In individual sport, it’s you against everyone. Even your best friend can be your opponent. Same was the case for Prannoy against Kidambi (Srikanth), so I had tuned myself to understand his situation.”
Nimrod Mon Brokman has learnt Japanese martial art, Chinese medicine and pursued Vipasana. Mon’s coming to India itself was a search for more knowledge of eastern philosophies. He was studying psychology in Israel, and got acquainted with eastern knowledge like yoga and meditation in 2015. He learnt Japanese martial art, Chinese medicine and pursued Vipasana and figured there’s a lot of wisdom in eastern philosophies. “I wanted to learn the vocabulary of eastern knowledge. But I realised in the best books translated from Indian languages to English to Hebrew, a lot was lost in translation,” he recalls.
In 2016 he would work with Israeli athletes bound for the Rio Games, but by the end of the year, he had travelled to India and met business partner Shiva Subramaniam. “Learning meditation, I decided to stay longer in India.”
He’s been in India for seven years, and is smitten by its chaotic creativity. “You look left and right, there’s the most rich and most poor. But there’s something colourful, creative and alive about this place. Most other places around the world are very technical, straight line, linear. But yaha sab kuchh milega,” he says in a smattering of Hindi.
“In India sometimes the longest route is the shortest route. People solve problems in a unique way,” he says of its mystical contradictions. Mon is attracted to the usual tropes – ancient philosophy, ayurveda in food, and admires the fact that many international companies are led by Indians.
Working with Prannoy and an IPL team in Rajasthan Royals also satiated his appetite to delve into psychology of sport. It’s the literal Indian food though that he can’t get over. “In Israel I didn’t have the foodie culture. We just eat after we are hungry. Here I love everything that my Bengali fiance’s mother makes at home. In India it’s not just about taste. There are entire stories about the dish itself,” he chuckles. His favourite story to tell this last week though, was the long elusive podium success he tasted with the brand new World Championships bronze medallist, HS Prannoy.

South Africa (SA) andAustralia (AUS) are all set to continue their ongoing T20I series. The sides will face each other in the second T20I of the series on Friday, September 1. The hosts will be looking to improve on their performance in the first game of the series.
Mitchell Marsh-led Australia were sensational in the first T20I, as they registered a mammoth victory to win the first game. Skipper Marsh was sensational with the bat in the first innings, with Tanveer Sangha impressing with the ball in the second innings.
SA vs AUS Match Details:
Match: South Africa vs Australia, 2nd T20I Match
Venue: Kingsmead Stadium Cricket Ground, Durban
Date & Time: Friday, September 1, 09:30 PM IST
Live Streaming Details: FanCode
SA vs AUS Pitch Report:
The surface at Kingsmead Stadium Cricket Ground is preferred by the batters and they will be keen on posting a big total on the board by making full use of the conditions. Opting to bowl first could be a wise decision on such a surface.
SA vs AUS Head-to-Head:
Played – 23 , South Africa – 8, Australia – 15
SA vs AUS Probable Playing XI
South Africa (SA)
T Stubbs, RR Hendricks, AK Markram (C), HE van der Dussen, DA Miller, Q de Kock (wk), H Klaasen, T Shamsi, KA Maharaj, K Rabada, A Nortje
Australia (AUS)
Tim David, TM Head, MP Stoinis, MW Short, MR Marsh (C), Sean Abbott, JP Inglis (wk), MS Wade, Spencer Johnson, Tanveer Sangha, Nathan Ellis
Probable Best Performers:
Probable Best Batter-
Mitchell Marsh (Australia): 
Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh could be the best batter in the sides upcoming T20I match against South Africa. Marsh was sensational for his side in the first T20I, scoring 92* runs in 49 deliveries, which was crucial for the Aussies in registering a big win.
Probable Best Bowler-
Tanveer Sangha (Australia):
Australias Tanveer Sangha was inspirational with the ball in his hand in the first T20I against South Africa. Taking four wickets and conceding 31 runs in four overs, the debutant’s spell was crucial in the team’s win. The side will hope for a similar performance in the second T20I as well.
Today’s Match Prediction: Australia to win the  2nd T20I Match
Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.

UEFA will announce the names of the Mens and Womens Players of the Year on August 31. The prize distribution ceremony will be part of the Champions League draw for the 2023-24 season. Lionel Messi is a top contender for the mens category after guiding Argentina to a memorable FIFA World Cup triumph last year in Qatar. Messi also won his second Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) last season before moving to Inter Miami earlier this summer. Manchester Citys treble-winning stars– Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne– will also battle in the race with the Argentine superstar to claim the prestigious award.
TOPSHOT – Nassr’s Portuguese forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his goal during the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Nassr and Al-Shabab in Riyadh’s Al-Awal Park Stadium on August 29, 2023. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP)(AFP)
Meanwhile, defending winner Alexia Putellas has failed to find a place in the final shortlist of the womens category. Other two Spanish players- Aitana Bonmati and Olga Carmona- have made the cut after lifting the FIFA Womens World Cup trophy last month. Australian forward Sam Kerr will compete with the Spanish duo to become the UEFA Womens Player of the Year this time.
This coveted accolade was named the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award when the European football governing body introduced it back in 2011. Messi was crowned the winner of the inaugural edition. Later in 2017, UEFA rebranded it as the Men’s Player of the Year Award, with Cristiano Ronaldo being adjudged the winner.
Ahead of this years UEFA award ceremony, lets take a look at the winners of the previous editions (men and women):
Cristiano Ronaldo (2017):
Thanks to a Champions League triumph with Real Madrid, Ronaldo was named the UEFA Player of the Year in 2017, edging past Messi in the race. The Portuguese goal machine netted 12 goals in the European competition including a brace in the final against Juventus.
Luka Modric (2018):
After leading Croatia to the final of the FIFA World Cup, Luka Modric pipped Ronaldo and Liverpools Mohamed Salah to win the title in 2018. The Real Madrid midfielder also clinched the World Cup Golden Ball for his exceptional show in the showpiece event.
Virgil van Dijk (2019):
Virgil van Dijk became the only defender to win this coveted accolade when he saw off competition from Ronaldo and Messi to be named the UEFA Mens Player of the Year in 2019. After joining Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018, the Dutch international recorded more clean sheets than any of his counterparts in Europes top-five leagues.
Robert Lewandowski (2020):
The Polish striker played a key role in Bayern Munich’s dominant run in the 2019-20 Champions League. He scored in every game in the Bavarian giants run-up to the final, where the German club defeated Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Lewandowski also scored 31 goals in 34 Bundesliga appearances that season.
Jorginho (2021):
Jorginhos exceptional performance in the midfield helped Chelsea win the long-awaited Champions League title in 2021. His most enthralling performance came in the first leg of the quarter-finals against Porto which led Thomas Tuchel to describe the Italian as one of “the very best midfielders in the world. Jorginho played a pivotal role at EURO 2021, where the Italian football team were crowned champions.
Karim Benzema (2022):
Courtesy of his stunning performance in the Champions League for Real Madrid and in the UEFA Nations League with France, Karim Benzema bagged the award last year. He struck the net 15 times in the Champions League, while also scoring 27 goals in the La Liga.
Lieke Martens (2017):
After guiding the Netherlands to UEFA Euro title on home soil, Lieke Martens was adjudged the Womens Player of the Year in 2017. The Dutch winger also showed off her consistency in the Barcelona colours that season.
Pernille Harder (2018):
An unforgettable performance in Denmarks run till the UEFA Women’s EURO final helped Pernille Harder win the first of her two Womens Player of the Year awards.
Lucy Bronze (2019):
Lucy Bronze was the first female defender to be crowned UEFA Womens Player of the Year. The Champions League winner overcame her Lyon teammates Ada Hegerberg and Amandine Henry in the top-three list to win the award.
Pernille Harder (2020):
After bagging the title in 2018, Harder repeated the feat two years later. The Danish forward played a pivotal role in Wolfsburgs exceptional run in the Champions League, where they lost to Lyon at the final stage. Despite the defeat, Harder established herself as one of the best attacking footballers in European football, scoring 38 goals in 33 appearances across all competitions.
Alexia Putellas (2021):
The Barcelona forward became the first Spanish footballer to win the title in 2021. Putellas led the Catalan giants to win the Champions League trophy that season.
Alexia Putellas (2022):
Puttellas won the title for the second consecutive time last year having led Barcelona to a domestic treble. They also reached the final of the Champions League but fell short in the summit clash against Lyon.

NEW DELHI, MUMBAI : Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd, a unit of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), secured the media rights for all bilateral cricket matches to be played in India during the next five years for 5,963 crore through the e-auction conducted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday. The RIL-run broadcaster outbid Sony Pictures Networks India across digital and television, while the third bidder, Disney Star, placed just a couple of bids, according to two people familiar with the development.
The winning bid for digital and the rest of the world rights was at 3,101 crore, translating to 35.23 crore per match, far exceeding the base price of 25 crore. Linear TV rights were sold for 2,862 crore, or 32.52 crore per match, surpassing the per-match reserve price of 20 crore. Disney Star clinched the rights for the previous cycle at 60 crore per match for both digital and TV rights.
Only three firmsincumbent Disney Star, Viacom18 and Sony Picturesopted to bid for the rights.
Following the auctions, BCCI secretary Jay Shah posted on X (formerly Twitter): Congratulations, Viacom18, for winning the BCCI media rights for both linear and digital for the next five years. India cricket will continue to grow in both spaces after IPL (Indian Premier League) and WPLT20 (Womens Premier League), and we extend the partnership with BCCI media rights as well. Together, we will continue to capture the imagination of Indian cricket fans. Also, a big thank you to Disney Star and Disney+ Hotstar for your support over the years. You played a key role in making India cricket reach its fans across the globe.”
A Disney Star executive, on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the company did not bid aggressively. We were clear from the beginning that we would bid for the rights only to the extent that it made business sense. Viewership of the bilaterals has been on the decline over the last few years, and the non-availability of marquee Indian players has only further pulled the property down,” he said.
Following the auctions, N.P. Singh, the managing director and chief executive of Sony Pictures, said his companys disciplined bid” was grounded in market forecasts and a long-term growth strategy. We remain committed to delivering top-tier sporting entertainment as we continue to see growing enthusiasm across various sports genres.”
Sony Pictures bid 2,762 crore for TV rights and around 3,000 crore for digital, the people said.
India will play 88 matches in the next five years, including 25 Tests, 27 one-day internationals, and 36 T20 matches.
Viacom18 appears to have gained the upper hand in terms of cricket broadcasting rights, as it already owns the digital rights of IPL. Sony Pictures, which is merging with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, will have to contend with the TV rights of the International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments, while Disney Star, which at one point in time had the rights to all three major cricket-related propertiesBCCI, IPL and ICCwill offer IPL on TV and ICC tournaments on the digital platform for the next rights cycle.
A sports marketing expert said the bilateral format is broken and needs to be refreshed to draw viewers. The excitement generated by bilateral cricket has ebbed. It was just the India tours of Australia and England that generated some viewership.”
For BCCI, the silver lining was that the rights were sold for more than the last rights value despite the drop in viewership.
Consulting firm E&Y was the strategic adviser for the media rights, and Argus Partners was the legal adviser for the draft of the tender documents. Mjunction Services Ltd provided the auction platform.
A sports marketing expert said the bilateral format is broken and needs to be refreshed to draw viewers. The excitement generated by bilateral cricket has ebbed. It was just the India tours of Australia and England that generated some viewership,” he said.
The BCCI earned 7,606 crore in revenue in fiscal year 2022. The expenses incurred in that year were 3,064 crore, and it paid 1,159 crore in income tax. The board has reported a combined revenue of 27,411 crore in the five years to 2022.
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“India-Pakistan will always…”: Babar Azam ahead of high-octane IND vs PAK Asia Cup clashBrimming with confidence after their crushing win over minnows Nepal in their Asia Cup 2023 opener, Pakistan captain Babar Azam said his team is 100 percent ready for much-awaited blockbuster against India. India and Pakistan will lock horns on September 2 in Pallekele.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant advanced to the final of the Durand Cup 2023 after beating FC Goa 2-1 in the second semi-final of the competition at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium, in Kolkata, on Thursday.
! ♥#MBSG#JoyMohunBagan#pic.twitter.com/F223NUyGti
— Mohun Bagan Super Giant (@mohunbagansg) August 31, 2023
The Mariners came from behind through goals from Jason Cummings and Armando Sadiku after Noah Sadaoui had put the Gaurs ahead in the game.
FC Goa started the game on the front foot with Sadaoui leading the charge. The Moroccan had an early opportunity to score when he pounced on a mistake from the MBSG defence, but his left-footed shot went over the bar.
In the 17th minute, the Mariners had their first shot on goal through Dimitri Petratos, but Dheeraj Singh was well-positioned to save it. Six minutes later, Hugo Boumous gave away possession cheaply to Sadaoui, who capitalised on it and buried his shot into the far corner to give FC Goa the lead.
FC Goa had another opportunity to extend their lead, but the Mariners were awarded a counter-attack and Cummings made no mistake to level the scores before half-time.
In the second half, Mohun Bagan Super Giant started well and looked more threatening in attack. Jay Gupta tested Vishal Kaith from a distance, but the keeper made a brilliant save. At the hour mark, substitute Sadiku curled a screamer from outside the box that went past Dheeraj, who was well outside his line.
FC Goa made a few attacking changes, but Mohun Bagan SG head coach Juan Ferrando also brought on Brendan Hamill to shore up their defence. Jay Gupta had the best opportunity to equalise for FC Goa, but his header was brilliantly saved by Kaith with an acrobatic attempt.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant will now face arch-rivals East Bengal FC in the final of the Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium, in Kolkata, on Sunday.

England defeated New Zealand comfortably in the first T20I match of their four-match series but a bizarre review by skipper Jos Buttler became a major source of discussion between fans on social media. Glenn Phillips played a forward defence off the bowling of Liam Livingstone and both the bowler and wicket-keeper Buttler went up in appeal. While the umpire was not convinced at all, Buttler decided to take a review and the replays showed that the ball hit the middle of the bat.
Debutant Brydon Carse took three wickets to set up a seven-wicket win over New Zealand.
The 28-year-old South Africa-born paceman, in for the injured John Turner, returned fine figures of 3-23 from his maximum four overs as New Zealand were held to a modest 139-9.
Left-arm quick Luke Wood also took three wickets, following an expensive first over of the match that saw him hit for three sixes, on his way to 3-37.
What are your thoughts on this review? #SonySportsNetwork#ENGvNZpic.twitter.com/Wt1ZWU8oQt
Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 31, 2023
Carse, playing at his home Durham ground, told Sky Sports: “It was obviously a great start to my T20 career. It was awesome to play in front of a home crowd at Durham and put in a good performance for the team.
Jos Buttler is closest to the batter and still he went for the review
Saurabh (@that_cric8guy) August 31, 2023
“I tried to stick to my strengths, hitting the top of the stumps.”
I think they only did it for a laugh!
Elliott Taylforth (@elliottrib) August 30, 2023
Twenty20 world champions England made light of the chase, finishing on 143-3 with six overs to spare, as they went 1-0 up in a four-match series.
(With AFP inputs)

Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Mohammad Naim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Afif Hossain, Anamul Haque, Nasum Ahmed, Shamim Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha, Kusal Perera, Pramod Madushan, Dunith Wellalage, Binura Fernando

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa, who recently made history by clinching the silver medal in the FIDE World Cup. PM Modi took to his official X account to update on his meeting with the Indian Grandmaster. “Had very special visitors at 7, LKM today. Delighted to meet you, @rpragchess along with your family. You personify passion and perseverance. Your example shows how India’s youth can conquer any domain. Proud of you,” PM Modi wrote.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with FIDE World Cup 2023 runner-up Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa in New Delhi(PTI)
Praggnanandhaa earlier wrote, It was a great honour to meet Hon’ble Prime Minister @narendramodi at his residence! Thank you sir for all the words of encouragement to me and my parents.
In a thrilling showdown against Praggnanandhaa on August 24, Magnus Carlsen, the reigning World No. 1, secured a win at the International Chess Federation World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Norwegian grandmaster’s finesse came to the forefront as he secured the title by claiming the first game of the Rapid Chess tie-breaker with the black pieces. In a gripping second game, he held his ground for a draw with the white pieces, showcasing his mastery in the quicker-time control format.
Praggnanandhaa, regardless, exhibited commendable determination throughout the contest, but ultimately fell short in the face of Carlsen’s extensive experience in high-stakes matches. The two had earlier engaged in a series of draws in their Classical Chess games, adding to the intensity of their final battle. Despite finishing as the runner-up in the 2023 FIDE World Cup, Praggnanandhaa can take solace in his qualification for the upcoming FIDE Candidates tournament.
Looking forward, the anticipation shifts to the Candidates, a premier eight-player chess event slated to take place from April 2 to April 25, 2024, in the picturesque city of Toronto, Canada. The victorious contender emerging from this tournament will earn the prestigious opportunity to challenge for the coveted title in the 2024 World Chess Championship match.
Praggnanandhaa’s outstanding performance in the World Cup, including a notable victory over World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura and a successful journey to the finals by defeating World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana, underscores his promising potential.