Dolby

India will not boycott in either case as well. And that is what I was trying to say. Majority of the nations would not boycott the games either way. Whether Russia is there or not.

Lets ask a counter question. Who all will boycott the Paris Olympics if Russia and Belarus athletes are allowed as neutrals? Who all will boycott if Russian and Belorussian teams are allowed as well?

Winner gets ?

[hide] Knockout Stage December 3rd - December 18th, 2022 8 Nations, The Winners of each Quarterfinals will qualify for the Semifinals. Quarterfinals Date & Time (GMT +3) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 December 9th 2022, h. 18:00 Croatia 0 2 Brazil December 9th 2022, h. 22:00 Netherlands 1 2 Argentina December 10th 2022, h. 18:00 Morocco 0 3 Portugal December 10th 2022, h. 22:00 England 1 2 France [/hide]

[hide] Knockout Stage December 3rd - December 18th, 2022 16 Nations, The Winners of each Round of 16-Matches will qualify for the Quarterfinals. Round of 16 - From Group E to H Date & Time (GMT +3) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 December 5th 2022, h. 18:00 Japan 1 2 Croatia December 5th 2022, h. 22:00 Brazil 2 0 South Korea December 6th 2022, h. 18:00 Morocco 1 3 Spain December 6th 2022, h. 22:00 Portugal 2 1 Switzerland [/hide]

Deccan Herald is a regional mid-sized newspaper. And as far as I know, it is decent. Nothing extraordinary but not conspiracy theorist as well. Regarding the article you shared, DH is simply reposting the article by AFP, which I gather is a French news agency.

[hide] Knockout Stage December 3rd - December 18th, 2022 16 Nations, The Winners of each Round of 16-Matches will qualify for the Quarterfinals. Round of 16 - From Group A to D Date & Time (GMT +3) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 December 3rd 2022, h. 18:00 Netherlands 2 0 United States December 3rd 2022, h. 22:00 Argentina 2 0 Australia December 4th 2022, h. 18:00 France 3 0 Poland December 4th 2022, h. 22:00 England 3 0 Senegal [/hide]

I am ready to take credit.

[hide] Group Stage November 20th - December 2nd, 2022 32 Nations, The Top 2 Nations from each Group will qualify for the Round of 16. Group A Date & Time (GMT +3) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 November 20th 2022, h. 19:00 Qatar x x Ecuador November 21st 2022, h. 19:00 Senegal 0 2 Netherlands November 25th 2022, h. 16:00 Qatar 0 2 Senegal November 25th 2022, h. 19:00 Netherlands 3 0 Ecuador November 29th 2022, h. 18:00 Ecuador 1 2 Senegal November 29th 2022, h. 18:00 Netherlands 5 0 Qatar Group B Date & Time (GMT +3) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 November 21st 2022, h. 16:00 England 1 0 Iran November 21st 2022, h. 22:00 United States 1 1 Wales November 25th 2022, h. 13:00 Wales 0 0 Iran November 25th 2022, h. 22:00 England 2 1 United States November 29th 2022, h. 22:00 Wales 0 2 England November 29th 2022, h. 22:00 Iran 0 1 United States Group C Date & Time (GMT +3) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 November 22nd 2022, h. 13:00 Argentina 3 0 Saudi Arabia November 22nd 2022, h. 19:00 Mexico 0 1 Poland November 26th 2022, h. 16:00 Poland 2 0 Saudi Arabia November 26th 2022, h. 22:00 Argentina 2 0 Mexico November 30th 2022, h. 22:00 Poland 0 2 Argentina November 30th 2022, h. 22:00 Saudi Arabia 1 2 Mexico Group D Date & Time (GMT +3) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 November 22nd 2022, h. 16:00 Denmark 2 0 Tunisia November 22nd 2022, h. 22:00 France 2 0 Australia November 26th 2022, h. 13:00 Tunisia 1 1 Australia November 26th 2022, h. 19:00 France 1 2 Denmark November 30th 2022, h. 18:00 Australia 0 2 Denmark November 30th 2022, h. 18:00 Tunisia 1 3 France Group E Date & Time (GMT +3) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 November 23rd 2022, h. 16:00 Germany 2 0 Japan November 23rd 2022, h. 19:00 Spain 3 0 Costa Rica November 27th 2022, h. 13:00 Japan 1 1 Costa Rica November 27th 2022, h. 22:00 Spain 2 1 Germany December 1st 2022, h. 22:00 Japan 0 2 Spain December 1st 2022, h. 22:00 Costa Rica 0 2 Germany Group F Date & Time (GMT +3) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 November 23rd 2022, h. 13:00 Morocco 0 2 Croatia November 23rd 2022, h. 22:00 Belgium 0 2 Canada November 27th 2022, h. 16:00 Belgium 1 1 Morocco November 27th 2022, h. 19:00 Croatia 1 2 Canada December 1st 2022, h. 18:00 Croatia 2 1 Belgium December 1st 2022, h. 18:00 Canada 2 0 Morocco Group G Date & Time (GMT +3) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 November 24th 2022, h. 13:00 Switzerland 1 1 Cameroon November 24th 2022, h. 22:00 Brazil 2 1 Serbia November 28th 2022, h. 13:00 Cameroon 0 1 Serbia November 28th 2022, h. 19:00 Brazil 2 0 Switzerland December 2nd 2022, h. 22:00 Serbia 1 0 Switzerland December 2nd 2022, h. 22:00 Cameroon 0 2 Brazil Group H Date & Time (GMT +3) Nation 1 T1 T2 Nation 2 November 24th 2022, h. 16:00 Uruguay 0 1 South Korea November 24th 2022, h. 19:00 Portugal 2 1 Ghana November 28th 2022, h. 16:00 South Korea 1 1 Ghana November 28th 2022, h. 22:00 Portugal 2 0 Uruguay December 2nd 2022, h. 18:00 Ghana 2 0 Uruguay December 2nd 2022, h. 18:00 South Korea 1 2 Portugal Top 3 Place 1st 2nd 3rd Nation :ARG :GER :BRA [/hide]

Ohh I am not denying that most likely Qatar has hired fans. It is almost certain that a good amount of Indians (and other expats in Gulf) are being paid by the organizers to party and enjoy.

Football popularity in India can be broken in 2-3 different groups. First, the traditional football strongholds in India: Kerala/West Bengal/Goa and North East. These regions have been the bedrock of Indian football since a long time and Football World Cup is a big deal there. Normally, you would find a lot of Brazil/Argentina fans in these regions. Also, a lot of Indians in Qatar/Middle East are from the Indian state of Kerala which is crazy about football. Second and newer group of football fanatics are the EPL/Champions League watchers in urban areas. I don't have numbers but viewership of EPL in India is quite high. And, in the recent past, I have seen that not only is this new generation consuming football and part of the online fan groups of various clubs, but is also contributing to fan driven data/tactic analysis. And in recent past with ease of following other leagues as well, other European leagues are also getting a foothold in India. And third group would be the followers of Indian football, outside the traditional regions in group 1. Those who follow Indian team and ISL. First 2 groups are excited about the World Cup. But, it is the usual excitement and not insane hype. There is not much media coverage or ad campaigns regarding WC. Normal Indian sports fan is more excited about the India-NZ T20 series but there is still a significant group which is excited about Football World Cup. And obviously, those who are residing in Qatar or other Gulf states, are really excited about the World Cup as for them it is almost like a home World Cup.

These rules are not applicable on European countries like Spain. If India had denied visa to a support staff on such flimsy grounds, by now whole of IOC/European media would be threatening us with ban.

1) I would not say people in India are overwhelmingly pro-Russia but there is a divide in general public. When we compare it to Europe where public opinion is almost unanimous, this divide seems pro-Russia. 2) Legacy issues. Many don’t trust USA as traditionally USA has supported Pakistan over India while Russia has helped India. 3) Some in Indian RW are more averse to US/Europe because of their habit of interfering in our internal matters using NGOs and their overt/covert support to missionaries. 4) Majority would just go with the government stand. In past, we were firmly in Russian bloc. In the present Ukraine conflict, govt has not taken a clear Russia or US stand. There are enough signs in recent past to suggest that India might pivot towards a more hardline stand against Russia. Public sentiment would also shift then. 4) With respect to China, I think apart from a small minority, there is consensus in Indian polity and public sentiment. And no I wouldn’t say that we see them as allies. 5) In fact it is fear of China that is forcing India and US to forge close ties (Quad).

Once again rain deals a huge blow to SA’s chances in a WC

Basically, allot 200-250 quota to host nation? Let Australia use it for Cricket, Japan for Baseball?

Yes, you need atleast 2-3 stadiums to have any meaningful tournament. 6 team tournament would mean 15 + 15 group stage matches followed by 4 semis and 4 medal matches. 38 matches in 3 stadium would also mean each stadium hosting a game everyday for 15 days. Would require one hell of a curator team. Aren’t you missing UK? Olympic Gold medal match at Lord’s would be quite iconic.

Even a 6 team tournament requires 6x15x2= 180 athletes.

The KING is back. What a game! What an innings!

Rhythm

It seems that the eliminated shooter with the highest score becomes 5th, second highest becomes 6th and so on. So, we could have a situation where both 5th and 6th are from same ranking round.

1) A shooter can only earn one quota. 2) Quota is allocated to NOC and not athlete. 3) If Greece nominates Korakaki for 10m quota, she can take part in any other event where she has achieved MQS, as long as there are max 2 Greek athletes in that event.

Not sure. Maybe the shooter with higher score in ranking match gets 5th place.

qualify for final of 25m Pistol Women. and not eligible for quota.

qualify for final of 50 Rifle 3 Positions Men. already won the quota in European Championship so not eligible for quota. So, 6 nations fighting for 4 quota.

Problem is not of talent. Atleast not in T20. Players like Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmeyer, Roston Chase, Fabian Allen are missing from the WC squad. For a decade or so, WI board simply fails to get the top players to prioritize "National team" over various T20 leagues across the world.