Sanjib

6. OP Jaisha, heard she is focusing on 800m and 1500m and not 5000m. I thought, she had the best chance in 5000m, still expecting a quota from her, she mentioned she can go below 2mins in 800m at Rio, she also said in a 1500m race she completed the last 800m below 2min 5 s which prompted her to take this decision. 7. Don't we have any more 50Km race walk event? If so, was expecting to get the remaining quota there. 8. Definitely 1 quota in triple jump(Renjith/Arpinder/Mayookha). 9. Arokya Rajiv and Anilda should get 2 quota's in individual 400m. Anilda got the 52.6s timing last week, in very cold and difficult conditions, so she is definitely in line, Rajiv should get it, outside chance even for Mohammad Anas. 10. Sini got the timing of 2:05.16 in that same severe cold condition last week in 800m, she has moved to 800m from 1500m, she has a chance in better conditions. 11. I know with the recent performances, we have lost hope on Neeraj, but do not count him off. 12. L Suriya, has a chance in 5000m, provided she participates in events, very upset with her non-participation. I also have a question, with clear signals that Jaisha, Lalitha and Sudha are not going to participate in Marathon, we know Kavita is going to participate in Marathon, what about the other 2 places, can other athletes replace them and any idea if so who can be selected?

Yes, Prashanth. She got this 2min 5.4s in 800m timing in an event with absolutely no competition for her, I rmbr in the Junior nationals a month back she clocked around 4min 10s, so a 5s improvement in a month. I was just wondering if she can be quickly moved to Europe and compete with Tintu in a couple of events, there's still a month to go for the qualification period to close, and Lily is a junior athlete so can improve much faster than the seniors. Can we somehow contribute here maybe build up an opinion poll quickly on this and share with AFI/PT Usha, even if we are ignored, we can at least make an attempt with facts from our side. Thoughts and opinions from everyone is welcome on this.

Lily Das clocked a Junior record breaking 4min 21.5s in 1500m and 2min 5.4s in 800m, in a state level meet in Bengal this week-end.

So let's wait and let AITA decide on it, anyway with Sania there is a genuine problem with both being forehand players, unlike Hingis who has a killer back-hand. Let's move ahead, big week, lots to discuss. Just for a start what about our mid-field today without Sardar against the German mid-field? Would like to hear from you guys on this topic.

We can have fans of legends, but when we talk about current men's doubles, Rohan currently is ranked 10 and he has the right to choose his partner as per the rules, it's as simple as that, similarly Mirza is World No. 1 and has the right to choose her partner, what is the fuss all about? I have a simple question why is Leander not even near top 10 in rankings, he knew the Olympics is scheduled this year and the Men's Doubles ranking would matter?

Thanks, for all the details.

Hi Guys. Can we get the athletics schedule for the coming week-end?

Just a query. What about the Seeding's in badminton, have they been already decided, or will be decided based on the ranking's in August? Australian Open and a couple of Grand Prix Gold events to come, Jwala/Ashwini currently are 9th I guess, if they can push to 8th position, it will really help them.

Guys, I'm surprised to see no participation for OP Jaisha and L Suriya in 5000m/10,000m anywhere in the last 1 month. What kind of planning is this? I thought they had very good chances specially in 5000m.

But the average of the best 2 performances are taken in the qualification period. Hence India needs to do much better in the next event, hope there will be better competition for us.

We go to office everyday, sometimes we are not so well, running a little temperature etc, still we manage to work as much as possible, suppose Narsingh is having a bad day for health/any other reasons and he looses, does that prove Sushil is better, all these years Sushil did nothing after the London Olympics, Narsingh is constantly performing, is there no value for that, Sachin scoring a duck, what did that prove??? What about the wrestlers in the other 7 weight categories, don't they deserve a trial, by that logic? Why are selectors needed then, just to identify who will perform against whom in trial?

All our emotions run with Leander for the legend that he has been. Let us realize that now we have 2 players(Sania & Bopanna) who has given us 4 entries for Rio. Obviously Sania will go with Rohan in the mixed doubles, since their combined ranking is high and eligible firstly, and secondly with a stronger back-hand and Service, Rohan complements Sania better than Lee. Rohan gets to pick his partner in Men's doubles, which is fair based on his ranking, Leander has not been doing too well in Men's doubles since last year, maybe lost a little bit of power, definitely the touch is still there. I think it is just, to accept whoever Rohan picks as his Men's doubles partner, most probably it will be Lee, if not him probably Saketh, anyway I don't see much hope for a medal in Men's doubles with either.

Any further news on athletics on the events this week-end?

Well done Soumyajit, now the real deal, plays world no. 13 today in round of 16, if he pulls this off, it will go a long way to boost his confidence for Rio.

All these are predictions, let's wait and watch, I don't think India will go without Paes.

Most people in our country only will not be able to recognize a sportsperson other than a cricketer, think about the big rural section of our country. So if Reliance can bring some money this way will be of great help to our athletes.

Badminton, we are better served than last time, though recent form is poor, Sindhu also has a chance, she won World Championship medal twice so don't loose hope, Srikanth let's see how he comes back in Australian Open, he had a 4 week practice after a long time. I think among men currently Pranoy was in best form, but again suffered a toe injury. Saina is very slow on court compared to top players, look at the balletic movement Intanon possess, Okuhara is perhaps the fastest on court even with her short ht, we Indian's again bow down to fitness.

Saina V Marin's match will not be telecasted today, it's on Court 3. Guys any live stream link?

India played better hockey today, drew 1-1 with Japan. In Tennis unfortunately Rohan/Mergea lost is straight sets 6-4, 6-4 against Dodig and Melo.

Thanks Juddy, much appreciated.

Miserable performance by India Women Hockey team continues, as they loose 4-0 to New Zealand.

Guys, where are we with Birendra Lakra's injury now, such a key defender, any chance to play at Rio?

This is fantastic, congrats to all, thanks for the news.

Any link?

I'm surprised that people are still in support of Sushil(probably India's best athlete of the past, I don't deny that). Medal or no medal, Narsingh should go. Moreover he has improved a lot and now is a consistent performer. How long will we keep living in the past. What has Sushil done, since the London Olympics? Look at countries like Japan how they suspended a sure shot medalist like Momota in Badminton, of-course for different reasons, but the point here is if we are to grow as a sporting nation, we have to abide by some principles, Sushil clearly seems to have lost focus on what he was best at. Just now in women's boxing we have realized, that we have to look beyond Mary and Sarita, to the future like Sonia. Think about the Australian cricket team of the past, how a world cup winning captain was removed in year or so after winning the world cup. Sports is ruthless, and that is the beauty of it, the earlier we realize that, the better for our future.