Injured Kuruniyan to return home
Pune, Feb 1 (PTI) Villarreal youngster Ashique Kuruniyan, signed on loan from Indian Super League club FC Pune City, has suffered an injury and is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury. Ashique picked up an injury during training last week and ultrasound reports confirmed a grade-2 injury detecting a muscle tear in the middle third of the hamstrings. Further MRI reports confirmed the same, which means that the player will be completely rested from all sporting activities for about four to six weeks. After being monitored by their medical staff during the last week, Villarreal have now confirmed that the youngster has been sent home to continue his rehabilitation. “Kuru will now continue his recovery and early stages of rehabilitation at home and the club would like to wish him a speedy recovery. We hope that he can join the team back in pre-season next year,” said Juan Anton de Salas, International Business Manager, Villarreal CF. Commenting on the development, FC Pune City CEO, Gaurav Modwel said, “It is unfortunate that Ashique has suffered an injury which will halt his development in Spain. I would once again like to place on record my thanks to everybody in Villarreal FC including the coaches and medical staff who have been involved in Ashique?s development so far. Once his rehab is complete, we will endeavour to send him again to Europe to complete his development.” PTI BS BS
Vadodara, Feb 5 (PTI) Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today said cashless India, digital India and clean India are the projects “very dear” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vadodara is taking steps in that direction.Rupani was speaking after flagging off marathon in Vadodara which highlighted the message for promotion of cashless and digital transactions.The marathon saw participation of more than 74,000 athletes.”Cashless India, digital India and clean India are the projects which are very dear to Prime Minister Modi and it is highly appreciable that Vadodara is taking all steps to realise all this objectives,” said Rupani.35,000 school students, 1,497 divyang (physically disabled persons), 1,000 military and para-military jawans took part in the marathon.Vijay Goel, Union Minister of Sports, who was present at the event, said, “We are toying with an idea of organising marathon nationwide on a particular day to be flagged off by Prime Minister Modi.”Goel stressed the need to start preparations for 2020 Tokyo Games from now itself.”A comprehensive plan which will include, preparation, overall strategy for sports facilities, training, selection procedure and other related matters is being finalised for effective performance in Olympic Games to be held in 2020, 2024 and 2028,” said Goel.”We are waiting for a report of a committee headed by secretary (sports) to suggest improvements in the National Sports Development code and functioning of sports,” he said.He said, “Sports Ministry will soon launch talent search portal to spot and groom bright sportstars across the country.” PTI COR RMT
The Committee of Administrators (COA) on Wednesday confirmed that the 10th season of Indian Premier League (IPL) will begin as per schedule on April 5 before adding that the the existing processes for availing the services and appointment of vendors will continue for this edition.”The IPL 2017 season will commence as scheduled from 5th April 2017. The IPL operational timelines for 2017 season will be communicated shortly by the BCCI / IPL management team,” a media release said.”The COA has issued directions that the existing processes for availing the services and the appointment of the vendors for IPL will continue for this season,” the release added.The COA further assured the franchises and all the stakeholders that all the IPL preparations will be promptly dealt with under the supervision and directions of the COA by the BCCI and the IPL management team.The IPL players’ auction for season 10, which will be the final edition under the existing 10-year contract, will be held in Bengaluru on February 4.Earlier today, the COA met the concerned BCCI officials to take stock of the urgent and important matters mainly concerning the successful conduct of IPL 2017.
Kolkata, Mar 14 (PTI) Former skipper Michael Clarke today lauded BCCI and Cricket Australia for their handling of the recent DRS controversy but felt the infamous Monkeygate episode of 2007-08 series dragged on far too long. BCCI and CA reached truce last Thursday with the former withdrawing the complaint it filed with the ICC against Australia skipper Smith for seeking dressing room advice on DRS in the second Test against India. Speaking about the Monkeygate episode involving Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh vis-a-vis the latest dispute, Clarke said, “I would be very honest about where I saw the situation at SCG at that time. I was very close to Andrew Symonds. I asked him whether he was racially vilified. It was not only about the racial vilification of Andrew. It should have ended right there, continuing with the spirit of the game. “Look at the Steve Smith incident, its the right way. They have handled it really well. We know we are in for great Test series. We focus on the next match. (It) does not matter how hard you are on the field or who you play against, you should hold highest respect for each other.” Charged with racial abuse, Harbhajan was initially handed a three-match ban which was later reduced, even as both the boards got locked in a fierce courtroom battle in the aftermath of Indias 122-run defeat in the Sydney Test. “Whatever happened is in previous Test and its gone. They come out in Ranchi, that was very smart. They might have sat somewhere in CCI and taken a decision to not take it any further,” Clarke said at the India book launch of his autobiography My Story. The launch took place at cricket historian Boria Majumdars sports museum Fanattic. “Its fantastic to watch the series as a commentator, as a lover of the game. It will be no different in Ranchi and Dharamsala. We wanted to be competitive. The decision was the right one for the game of cricket.” Smith left India miffed when he looked towards the dressing room for advice on whether to review a lbw dismissal in the Bangalore Test. India captain Kohli made his displeasure known at the post-match press conference, just stopping short of calling his counterpart cheat. Clarke said he too has made mistakes in his career but would never cheat. “In the same series (2007-8), when I was batting I edged a Kumble wrongun at the slip. But I didnt walk blatantly. I should have walked. That was one of the mistakes I made,” he revealed, adding it was out of pure love for the country. “I loved to represent my country so much. I really wanted to perform. I didnt want to go and was so disappointed. Ive made plenty of mistakes in my career. “But I always believe I played the game with right spirit, with utmost importance to represent my country, my franchise. I would never try and cheat. I dont think its fair to look back on one, two three individual incidents in my career but I have played the sport with utmost dignity and held respect for my country. MORE PTI TAP AH AHadvertisement
India mounted a positive reply after Steve Smith’s unbeaten 178 and Glenn Maxwell’s maiden century powered Australia to a series-high 451 on day two of the third Test on Friday. (Scorecard)Lokesh Rahul made an elegant 67, his fourth half-century in five innings, before Pat Cummins dismissed him in the paceman’s first Test after more than five years in the wilderness.India were 120 for one at close, still 331 behind, with Murali Vijay unbeaten on 42 and Cheteshwar Pujara on 10. (Ranchi Test, Day 2: Key Highlights)Home skipper Virat Kohli, who did not take the field since sustaining a shoulder injury in Thursday’s second session, is expected to bat.Earlier, lion-hearted left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja bowled the bulk of the overs to claim 5-124 and effected a spectacular run-out to wrap up Australia’s first innings. (India vs Australia, 3rd Test, Day 2: As it happened)After Australia had resumed on 299-4, paceman Umesh Yadav broke Maxwell’s bat in two with the very first delivery but could not really unsettle the batsman. (Virat Kohli joins team in warm-up, but does not field on Day 2)The normally swashbuckling Maxwell assiduously inched his way to become the second Australian cricketer after Shane Watson to score a century in all three formats.After reaching his hundred with a fierce cut that flew through the slips for his ninth boundary, Maxwell looked quite overwhelmed by the achievement as he embraced Smith with a huge bear hug, took off his helmet and kissed the badge. (Gallery)He added four more runs to his score before edging Jadeja to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha for 104. Maxwell also hit two sixes and faced 185 balls in his four-hour vigil, the longest he has spent on the crease in an international match.advertisementBetter known for his exploits in the shorter formats, the 28-year-old grasped his chance in his first Test outing in more than two years to build a series-high 191-run partnership with his skipper.Smith, who crossed 5,000 Test runs in Australia’s 800th Test, the first ever at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium, was in complete control at the other end.His 19th Test century, which contained 17 boundaries, is the highest score by an Australia captain in India, eclipsing predecessor Michael Clarke’s 130 in Chennai four years ago.Jadeja, who bowled more than a third of the overs in the Australia innings, kept India in the game, dismissing Matthew Wade for 37 and the scoreless Cummins in the same over.Smith missed his double century when he sprinted for a risky second run and bowler Jadeja, his back to the stumps, collected a throw and flicked the ball onto the stumps to run out Josh Hazlewood.The four-Test series is all square at 1-1.
After KL Rahul and Ravichandran Ashwin, India Test opener Murali Vijay too has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League 2017, starting April 5. The Kings XI Punjab batsman will undergo a wrist surgery. (De Villiers suffers back injury ahead of IPL 2017)Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli, who is nursing a right shoulder injury, will miss the initial phase of the tournament. A call on his return to action will be taken in the second week of April.”Mr. Virat Kohli – The Indian Captain will undergo rehabilitation after sustaining an injury to his right shoulder. His recovery will be assessed in the second week of April to determine an exact return to play date for IPL 2017.” (India-Australia series got same attention as Ashes: Stokes to India Today)WATCH SPORTS WRAPThe Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Medical Team released an update on the fitness status of some of the players at the end of India’s successful international home season 2016-17.Vijay suffered a shoulder injury during the four-match Test series against Australia, which India won 2-1, and had to sit out of the second Test in Bengaluru.”The Indian opener will require surgery to his right wrist and also undergo rehabilitation for his left shoulder and hence may not be able to participate in IPL 2017,” BCCI’s press release stated. (Duminy, De Kock absence big blow for Delhi Daredevils: Dravid)JADEJA, UMESH ADVISED REST FOR TWO WEEKSMeanwhile, Gujarat Lions’ star all-rounder Ravinda Jadeja and Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Umesh Yadav have bee advised rest for two weeks and will miss the first few matches for their respective franchises.advertisement”Mr. R Jadeja & Mr. Umesh Yadav have been advised rest for 2 weeks to recuperate. Mr. R Jadeja has issues with the spinning finger & Mr. Umesh Yadav has right hip and lower back soreness and they will recover during the initial phase when their respective teams will play their first and second match of IPL 2017.”Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Rahul and Rising Pune Supergiant’s Ashwin have already been ruled out of the tournament due to shoulder injury and sports hernia respectively.”The opening batsman (Rahul) is likely to undergo surgery of his left shoulder and may not be available for IPL 2017 season during which he will have to complete his rehabilitation,” BCCI stated.Ashwin has been advised up to eight weeks of rehabilitation but is expected to be fit for ICC Champions Trophy in England in June.”Mr. R Ashwin – The all-rounder has reported groin pain and has been advised 6-8 weeks of rehabilitation, which he will undergo and hence will not be available for the upcoming IPL season,” the statement read.In some good news for Mumbai Indians, captain Rohit Sharma has been declared fit for the tournament.”Mr. Rohit Sharma & Mr. Hardik Pandya – have been declared fit to play competitive cricket. They will be available for IPL 2017.”
Let’s face it. With over one million nonprofits in the US, we have competition. That’s why we have to do a good job explaining how we’re different from organizations that seem similar. This isn’t just beneficial to your organization; it’s best for the common good. Competition spurs us to do better, to work more effectively, and to use our limited resources more wisely. It avoids duplication of effort and allows donors to focus resources on the best groups to fulfill their goals. Competitive thinking makes us more successful in our missions, and that improvement in turn makes the world a better place.Yay competition!So how do you compete? Here are four dimensions for thinking about differentiation:1. Strength: What is your strong suit, or what strength can you create? Are you especially good at building relationships with your constituents? Do you have very good services or an innovative approach to tackling your issue?2. Difference: What makes you unique? Do you have the most stellar reputation in your field? Are you the biggest, or the first to offer a service? Are your services more accessible than those of your competitors? Is your overhead lower than that of other groups?3. Simplicity: Is your strength or difference a simple, easily grasped concept? At best, you can stand for just one attribute in each audience’s mind, so make that quality clear and memorable.4. Value to audience: Last, check yourself. Is the quality you’ve chosen something that your audiences actually care about? The competitive advantage you cite is not an advantage if it’s irrelevant or uninteresting to the people you want to reach.
We know that emotion is tied directly to giving, but does it matter when it comes to sharing online? This week, Business Insider featured a chart to illustrate the primary emotions evoked by the top 10% of most shared content.Awe, amusement, and joy are among the top emotions that prompt people to share with their networks. However, the emotions that work to power the viral engine are not necessarily the same ones that drive people to give. You’re not BuzzFeed, after all—your mission is to connect with your donors on a primal level and inspire giving.
2. Communicate. Get your social media monitoring in place so you can spot a potential situation before it gets out of control. If you start noticing spikes of negativity, pay attention and nip it in the bud. If the issue spirals, remember the goal of crisis communications is to minimize the news cycle. Get out ahead of the situation with your prepared materials.Across all channels, deliver a consistent message. Whether it’s the evening news, local newspaper, your website or blog, people should hear consistent info about the facts of the issue, your response to it, what actions your taking, and what’s coming next. Be as transparent and honest as possible. The more up-front your message, the more credible your organization will appear.Social media in particular provides your group an opportunity to respond quickly. Again, be consistent. Don’t be defensive or negative, stay positive and matter-of-fact, and avoid commentary or opinion. Expect the best, prepare for the worst. Sounds a little gloomy, but it’s actually a great strategy. If your nonprofit has a communications plan in hand when a PR crisis hits, you’ll be glad you followed that motto. How well you emerge from a crisis hinges on how well you manage your message. These five steps are simple enough to implement whether you have just one person handling communications or an entire team. 1. Plan. We often don’t believe we’ll find ourselves in a crisis situation and don’t plan in advance. Trust us, it can happen. Before trouble strikes, assemble your crisis team. These are people who work well together and can deliver your message calmly and consistently. Brainstorm potential crisis scenarios. Talk about if and how your organization will respond in certain situations. Prepare templates of press releases, blog posts, Web pages, even tweets and status updates that you can quickly customize to fit any situation. Not having to start from scratch when everything’s going haywire helps your team stay calm and focused. 5. Learn. Convene your crisis team and talk about what went well and what you’d do differently next time. Ask your key stakeholders for feedback. Include key members of your board and staff in this conversation.Did you minimize the story or let it drag on? How could you have better managed the news cycle? Did you act quickly enough? Did you hold back too much info? Roll this feedback into a revised crisis plan. 
4. Restore. The worst is over, so it’s time to focus on restoring your good reputation within the community. Keep sending out positive news through your communications channels. Update those channels early and often—more frequently than in calmer times. Share press releases, testimonials, blog posts, and so on about the great work you’ve been doing and continue to do. Whatever the format, optimize this flurry of positive online content for search engines. This will help restore your good reputation, but equally important, it will fix your SEO by pushing crisis-related results off the front page of a Web search about your organization. Out of sight, out of mind. 3. Monitor. Always know what’s going on in your market. This is another area where having monitoring channels in place makes life easier. These could include traditional clipping services as well as digital channels like social media. It helps to know what people are saying about your organization and whether it’s positive or negative. A crisis doesn’t happen very often, but don’t press your luck. Create or revise your communications plan, and you’ll be ready for the next storm that blows your way. Adapted from the Nonprofit 911 webinar “Crisis Communications for Nonprofits” with Susan Kearney, COO of Network for Good. Download the full webinar.
Want more information about Personal Fundraising Coaching with Network for Good? Click here to learn how a coach can elevate your fundraising! Read more on The Nonprofit Blog Every year, Giving USA releases a report on philanthropy and giving in the United States. The annual report, released on June 18, 2019, gives comprehensive highlights on charitable giving trends in the United States. Due in part to the tax law change or volatile December 2018 market, overall giving is down 1.7%. On the individual giving side, it has also dropped by 3.4%. So what does this mean for your nonprofit? Now is the time to re-evaluate your strategy to better engage your donors so you are more stable for the future. Follow these three steps to stay ahead of the decreasing giving trends.1) Know Where You Have BeenThe number one thing to do is to dig in and analyze past performance. Understanding how you have fared will help you understand where you want to go and set goals to get you there.How was this past fiscal year?Did you reach your goals?Did you see increases in average gift?Did you see increases in retention rate?Did you see increases in the number of donors?Once you’ve answered these questions – it’s time to act! Perhaps try A/B testing to experiment with new strategies to increase giving for your organization.2) Know What You Are Good AtWhen fundraising, what is your BEST practice or trait?What is the BEST fundraising activity that your organization does each year?Is it thanking your donors? Is it organizing events? Is it staying mission-focused?Think about which fundraising practices you feel is your, and your organization’s, best skill. Do an internal audit to evaluate what your most successful fundraising practice is. The things that you are most skilled in and have the most knowledge in are the best and most important practices to lean into and expand upon. Once you have optimized your best skills, you can try new things to expand your skill set.3) Know Where You Want To GoWhat can our organization do that it hasn’t done already?How can we increase average gifts, donors, and donor retention?Once you’ve established how your organization has performed and what you are good it, it’s time to determine next steps. Use the strong skill-sets you’ve determined as a person and as an organization to set your goals. Start small, test your new initiatives, and build on that. For example, let’s say that you want a healthier lifestyle. At the end of the day, what is the good of driving past the gym if you’re never going to step foot in it? When it comes to fundraising (and professional growth) you have to be disciplined and strategic, Step out of your comfort zone, try new things, and build some “muscle” so you can get the most out of everything you do.There is no better time than to start today!
This is a post from a member of the Freelancers Union community. If you’re interested in sharing your expertise, your story, or some advice you think will help a fellow freelancer out, feel free to send your blog post to us here.On November 14th, the world will celebrate its second-annual Women’s Entrepreneurship Day – a globally recognized holiday which celebrates, supports, and empowers women entrepreneurs worldwide.It’s officially the age of the female entrepreneur.How can #PRGirls get a bite of the pie, you ask? It’s simple: some call it freelancing, I prefer consulting or strategizing!You get the gist. Not every woman has the gusto (or desire) to create a multi-million dollar company and that’s ok!Get your foot in the door of entrepreneurship by positioning yourself to one day create your own agency or firm. A great way to start is to offer your services as an independent communications consultant.During the summer of 2014, I quit my job and set out on this path titling myself an Integrated Marketing & Event Management consultant.Over the course of a year, I’ve juggled a total of 12 clients (not at the same time, of course!). And though it has its ups and downs, it has been a dream. I find myself learning more, growing more, and going the extra mile.In case you’re not already sold on it, I’ve put together a list of the top 4 reasons every #PRGirl should step out be her own #GirlBoss.**1. You earn more money **On average, freelancers earn 45% more than those who are traditionally employed. We’re also allowed to deduct certain business expenses that employees cannot, which allows us to actually keep more of what we earn.Anyone that’s ever seen billing for a PR firm (or any firm, really) knows that a company will bill a client over three to four times what the employee actually earns.It makes sense in the grand scheme of things – gotta keep the lights on! But how unfair!Join the Union (it’s free!)Become a member2. You’re your own #GirlBossThere’s no corporate ladder for me. Instead, my career is like a jungle gym and there’s tons of room to play.I have the freedom to explore my industry, set my own standards, and select my own clients. This means I deal with fewer pesky things like beaurocratic barriers, office politics, and gender discrimination.Forget climbing the corporate ladder: break your own glass ceiling in your free time!3. Freelancing can actually expand your already existing skillsetLast fall I picked up a few textbooks: one was a book on branding & design, another was on contract writing.Within a few months of beginning consulting these are two skills that I felt were imperative to have. Now, I can draft a client contract in under 20 minutes using a template that I created myself.Thanks to the built-in freedom and flexability that comes with independent counsulting, I’ve also been able to pursue other more tangential goals like attaining a Master’s degree from an Ivy League institution, laying the groundwork for a non-profit organization, sitting on a Board of Directors, growing an herb garden and traveling for months at a time.In a more traditional career there’s less incentive to actively pursue a new skill, but independent consulting requires that you pick up the skills you need to be unstoppable!4. You can go global – from your living roomNo office space means your office is in the cloud. You have the ability to grow your network across the country. What’s more #GirlBoss than that?Hunting for a traditional position means limiting yourself to local opportunities, unless you’re ready to uproot your life and move to a new location.With freelancing there’s no moving necessary, which means you can work with someone around the corner or around the globe.**Truth is: self-employment is an amazing personal & professional lifestyle choice. **It’s not all glory; sometimes freelancing isn’t an easy road to travel.But, it can provide great rewards for #PRGirls willing to step off the beaten path.Always remember that you need to have self-discipline & control to make it through. And yet, with proper time management and knowing where to set your boundaries, there’s no stopping you.Go get ‘em #PRGirls! And see YOU on November 14th to toast to Women’s Entrepreneurship Day!
Gonzalo Higuain may not be in top physical form but 30 minutes of playing time from the Argentine striker proved the difference between the sides as Juventus beat Olympiakos 2-0 in their Champions League Group D clash in Turin on Wednesday.Higuain’s direct running and goal-poacher’s instincts proved too much for a tiring Olympiakos defence and he pounced on his own rebound to slot home the opening goal nine minutes after coming on.”I made a choice,” Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri told Italian television. “Higuain was in less good shape compared to the others, but he is already moving quicker.”He has never been a problem and never will be. He’s a player that can make a difference and win us games,” he added.Juventus had spent the first hour of Wednesday’s clash looking dominant but not threatening, but that would all change with the introduction of Higuain.With his instinctive positioning, crosses into the box that previously looked aimless became dangerous, and he also freed up space for strike partner Mario Mandzukic, who netted the second goal in the 80th minute.Juventus have now won all five home games in all competitions this season and have yet to concede a goal to a visiting team.Juve captain Gianluigi Buffon also praised Higuain for his effort.”People will say the credit should go to Allegri or his team mates, but the credit goes to him (Higuain), because in such moments the only one that can give the answer is the one directly concerned,” Buffon said.advertisement”I congratulate him and we are very happy, we needed him and his goals.”No other side has managed to keep Juventus scoreless at home this season for as long as Olympiakos did, but it was little consolation to the Greeks.Olympiakos are bottom of group D after two defeats with Juventus in third behind Sporting Lisbon on goal difference after the Portuguese side lost 1-0 at home to leaders Barcelona.”We leave the pitch with the feeling that we gave everything against a better team,” Olympiakos goalkeeper Silvio Proto told reporters.”In the Greek league we are always favourites, in the Champions League we have to defend against Juventus or Barcelona and take our chances,” added the keeper, who pulled off a string of fine saves until Higuain broke the deadlock.”We are in a tough group, (but) we can get points if we believe in ourselves. We are a young side and we must make the most of this international experience.”
Captain Steve Smith frustrated England with a fighting half-century and pushed Australia to 165/4 at the close of a see-sawing day two, rescuing the hosts after a top order collapse in the series-opening Ashes Test in Brisbane on Friday.With his team in peril at 76/4, Smith’s unbeaten 64 in an 89-run stand with number six Shaun Marsh gave Australia hope of reeling in England’s first innings 302 at the Gabba.Lefthander Marsh, under pressure to perform after winning his eighth recall to the Test team, played a fine support role to be 44 not out at stumps.The #Priceless Shot of the Day from Steve Smith!#Ashes @MastercardAU pic.twitter.com/U2GSYpxsny- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 24, 2017Sublime. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/bFwwXmbN9b- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 24, 2017″I think the game’s in the balance still,” Australia spinner Nathan Lyon told reporters.”There are two unbelievable batters at the crease.”Hopefully we can put (England) under pressure in the second innings but there’s a lot of cricket in this game.”That’s stumps! Brilliant from Smith and Marsh to get the Aussies through to the close of play: https://t.co/P6sH6ROa7L #Ashes pic.twitter.com/71GwmeDPlO- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 24, 2017After day one saw only four wickets fall, 10 tumbled on day two as the Gabba pitch recovered some of its customary bounce and pace.England lost their last six wickets in a hurry to be out for 302 at lunch and Australia seemed to be back in control at their Brisbane fortress.advertisementBut the pendulum swung again as England’s bowlers scythed through the hosts’ top order.After replacing Matt Renshaw in the squad, opener Cameron Bancroft’s first bat in his Ashes Test debut lasted 19 balls after he nibbled at a teasing ball from Stuart Broad and was caught behind for five.Number three Usman Khawaja’s problems against spin in the subcontinent followed him home as he was trapped lbw for 11 by Moeen Ali.The alarm bells began ringing when opener David Warner holed out for 26, pulling paceman Jake Ball straight to Dawid Malan at short mid-wicket to give the Ashes debutant his first wicket in Australia.And Australia were left reeling at 76 for four when Peter Handscomb was trapped lbw for 14 by James Anderson in the first over after tea.Anderson gets in on the act as the @Specsavers DRS sends Handscomb on his way: https://t.co/P6sH6ROa7L #Ashes pic.twitter.com/Vg2fbwMDcF- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 24, 2017RESCUE MISSIONOnce again it fell to Smith to mount a rescue mission and the 28-year-old was a rock through 148 balls as he ground out one of his grittiest half-centuries.He reached his 22nd Test fifty with a single having all but nicked Anderson behind on the first ball faced.A half-century for the skipper! Super stuff from Steve Smith after his side was in early trouble #Ashes pic.twitter.com/vZmwUYMjSd- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 24, 2017England had been in control at 246 for four in the morning session when momentum shifted away from them but seamer Ball felt his team were well-placed.”I think with the turn and a little bit of varied bounce we were quite happy with the (302) score.”Malan had reached his third half-century in his sixth Test, completing a hat-trick of fifties for England’s rookie batsmen after opener Mark Stoneman had 53 on day one and number three James Vince scored 83.FIFTY up for @dmalan29! ???234/4 at drinks #Asheshttps://t.co/HL3At7yNqz pic.twitter.com/NQSAmSJJMn- England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 24, 2017But like his colleagues, Malan squandered the chance by pulling Mitchell Starc straight to a fielder and was out for 56.The wicket broke a stubborn 83-run partnership with Moeen, and England promptly crumbled.Denied a wicket on day one when recalled wicketkeeper Tim Paine grassed a nick from Vince, spinner Lyon trapped Moeen lbw for 38 and bowled Chris Woakes for a duck in quick succession.Jonny Bairstow was caught for nine by Paine skying a pull shot, before Warner took a brilliant, diving catch at leg gully to remove Ball for 14.Broad was dropped in the deep by Marsh when on 10 but he was out for 20 pulling Josh Hazlewood to Handscomb, bringing an end to England’s innings.Starc captured 3/77 and Cummins 3/85 for Australia.
Wireless headphones have been increasing over the years especially because smartphones are dropping the old 3.5m headphone jacks to go wireless. We’re seeing quite a demand for products like the AirPods, which tells us that people are willing to make that jump from wired to wireless. But wireless audio still has a way to go before they can come close to providing the kind of sounds that wired headphones deliver. But companies like Fiil believe that not only can wireless headphones provide good sound, but they can be smart as well.Fiil, a fairly new Chinese brand, launched the Diva Pro via a Kickstarter project that made its way to India recently. Priced at Rs 23,999, the Diva Pro is a smart, noise canceling pair of on-ear headphones that boasts of a smart touch interface, impressive wireless audio quality, and an attractive design language. I tested out the pair for a while and here’s what I have to say about them.DesignThe first thing you’ll notice right out of the box is how elegant and classy the Diva Pro looks. The on-ear headphones have a sweet minimalistic design going for it that gives it an elegant and premium look. It speaks volumes without saying too much. The outside of the cups have “FIIL” written that starts to light up when the headphones are turned on. When in pairing mode, the light starts to blink on and off and then stays on once paired with a device. This looks particularly good in the dark (to others, of course).advertisementThe headphones have a sweet minimalistic design going for it that gives it an elegant and premium lookThe headphones are offered in a choice of high gloss white, red and black options. I received the headphones in white, and as much as I love my headphones in black I’ve got to say that the Diva Pro in white looks exquisite. The power cum Bluetooth button can be found on the right earcup just above the toggle to switch between radio and Bluetooth-connected device. The 3.5mm and micro-USB ports fall below the toggle.ComfortThe Diva Pro have sufficient padding around the cups that make them comfortable to sport for a couple of hours. On-ear headphones aren’t designed for all-day use. These headphones are comfortable for short periods, when traveling to work or when lounging at home. There’s also a good amount of padding around the headband so you won’t feel uncomfortable when it sits on your head. The headphones are made up of a good mix of plastic and aluminum and are solid where it needs to be. The earcups slide out buttery smooth and stay firm in their position, which means you won’t need to keep adjusting them over your ears every now and then. The only negative that I could find is that the headphones aren’t the lightest you’ll find in the market and the weight can feel a bit too much on your ears after a little while. But the leather cups and memory foam inside make sure to provide for an extremely comfortable on-ear experience. I would say that these headphones are good to keep on for about an hour and a half to two hours before one needs to take them off for a breather.PerformanceLargely, the Diva Pro sounds crisp, clear and smooth. I checked out “Sit Next to Me” by Foster The People, “Hysteria” by Muse and “Paper Aeroplanes” by Angus and Julia Stone to hear the various sound signatures from deep bass to acoustics and I found the sounds distinct and crystal. Now, the bass won’t boom too much and it can get moody at times, but there is a sufficient amount provided and audiophiles shouldn’t find anything to complain about. On some songs like “Teardrop” by Massive Attack, the lows are great, and you can feel the bass punch through. However, with songs like “Wake Up” by Arcade Fire and “Love of my Life” by Santana, I couldn’t enjoy the bass guitaring and drumming as much, but the high guitar riffs were on point. You won’t have to worry about any distortion or screechiness if you crank the volume all the way up, because the headphones never really get too loud.The mids and treble sound great and are nicely textured. “White Flag” by Dido and “Blush” by Wolf Alice sound great as the vocals are smooth and attractive and you’ll hear the cymbals in the background clearly as well. “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac is one of my absolute favourites to understand the lows and highs together, and I found the bassy part of the song could have had a little more punch to it. Overall, you are not going to have a lot of reasons to complain here as the Diva Pro headphones will produce crisp sounds for a majority of genres. The headphones support Bluetooth 4.1 and Qualcomm’s aptX for better wireless connectivity. It also comes with 4GB of storage so that you can carry up to 1000 songs on-the-go.advertisement The Diva Pro comes with some smart functions such as touch controls on the right ear cup. Swiping up or down on the Fiil logo will control the volume level while swiping right or left will change the song. As much as I love the touch gesture it didn’t always work well. I had to try swiping a few times before anything would happen. It takes a bit of practice and I doubt users will nail it all the time. A supporting Fiil app can be downloaded from the app store on Android or iOS. Setting up the app with your Fiil Diva Pro will allow you to invoke voice assistant by saying “Hello Fiil (pronounced feel)”. You can command the voice assistant to play a particular song or band, however, the voice recognition is quite poor and got most of my commands wrong. This is definitely something Fiil should work on if it really wants to make its products smart.Largely, the Diva Pro sounds crisp, clear and smoothThe Fiil+ app allows you to mess around with the sound modes as well such as 3D Sound and EQ. In fact, the headphones highlight 3D Sound that gives a spatial surround sound kind of listening experience, which is decent if you want to feel like you’re at a live gig. The EQ isn’t as responsive though and neither is the Bass Boost. Switch to Treble mode will significantly reduce bass output and emphasise the mids and vocals.BatteryWith the Diva Pro, you’re promised around 30 hours of playback time on a full charge. Because the volume levels are generally low, you’ll mostly prefer keeping the headphones on maximum at all times which can affect the battery a bit. In general, I found the headphones last for a good 25 hours and should take you through 5-6 days with about 3-4 hours of on-ear time before it runs out of steam. There are a few issues that Fiil needs to iron out with its next pair of headphones. Particularly, the voice prompt that notifies you about the battery level and volume levels. At high levels, you can’t hear the voice prompt warn you about the level despite lowering the volume while prompting. Furthermore, neither the voice prompt nor the supported app provides an accurate account of the battery level so you’ll have to guess a little bit here.advertisementWhen it comes to delivering on sound, the Diva Pro is just delightfulThe Diva Pro takes about an hour and a half to two hours to charge from zero to 100 per cent via the micro-USB port. It would be nice to see USB Type-C ports in headphones moving forward as more and more smartphones adopt that, making it easier to keep one universal cable. That being said, the box does include a micro-USB cable so there’s no need to worry about going to the shop.Should you buy it?When it comes to delivering on sound, the Diva Pro is just delightful. It’s got a good amount of bass that compliments crisp mids and treble. For a number of genres, the Diva Pro just works. Not only are the sounds clean, the headphones are also excellent at canceling out external noise, which makes them perfect for using when on the go. Had the Diva Pro’s priced stayed at Rs 27,999, it would have been hard for it to compete against the likes of say Bose’s QC35. However, Fiil’s headset is now available for Rs 23,999 on Amazon India, which makes it quite attractive. Notable qualities like design, comfort, and sound make them well worth considering if one is in the market looking for a classy yet solid pair of headphones under Rs 25,000.The Diva Pro are sold touting a smart touch interface. However, the biggest problem with these headphones as I see it is that the touch controls just aren’t quite there yet. They’re not the easiest to work with and the voice prompt could have been a lot better. Fiil has kept the prompt’s sound level so low that it kind of gets annoying because you can’t understand what the prompt is telling you and just ends up lowering the song level instead. Moreover, voice recognition through the fiil+ app is quite poor and I wouldn’t recommend using it at all. These are perhaps the only reasons to pass it on, especially if one is looking for smart on-ear headphones.Fiil Diva Pro8/10Good stuffAttractive minimalistic designCrisp, smooth sound with deep bassComfortable on-ear experienceBad stuffMiddling touch interfaceSoundstage could have been better
Hyderabad, Feb 7 (PTI) A 16-year-old girl, whose child marriage was stopped by the Rachakonda police here last year, has made a mark on the cricket field.The achievement of B Anusha, whose exploits on the sporting field during the inter-school cricket have received an all-round appreciation, is a shining example of what proper encouragement and guidance can do.Anushas family was going to get her married to a 26-year-old relative in April last year when the police and and the city-based child rights NGO Balala Hakkula Sangham rescued her in the Saroornagar area here, police said.Subsequently, the class 10 student found her calling in sports.”Anusha showed an all-round performance in the inter- school under-19 cricket match held in Madhya Pradesh recently,” Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh M Bhagwat said.After excelling in the national-level cricket tournament, Anusha is now set to participate in the under-19 rugby tournament to be held at the L B Stadium here in the next couple of days, Bhagwat said yesterday during an event to felicitate her.Congratulating Anusha on her exceptional performance, he assured all assistance to her in future.”The police department will play the role of a care- taker for Anusha. We will provide the required financial help till she completes her academics,” the commissioner said.He said families should encourage girls and women to excel in life and stop the discrimination against them.As per the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act-2006, the marriage of a girl under 18 years of age and a boy below the age of 21 is prohibited, and a punishment of up to two years of imprisonment and Rs 1 lakh fine is imposed on those found guilty, he noted. PTI VVK GK BASadvertisement
Virat Kohli breaks records for fun these days and that has made him the darling of international cricket.However, a young Kohli, who once broke windows instead of batting records, was scolded by the aunties in his colony. The 29-year-old Indian captain loved batting as a boy. Just like thousands of kids growing up in different societies across India, Virat Kohli loved going out to bat and he loved hitting the ball long and high.And just like thousands of kids around the country, who have broken their neighbours’ windows, Virat was scolded and reprimanded.Also Read – Watch: Virat Kohli entertains AB de Villiers and RCB teammates at his restaurant”When I was growing up, there was a Kansal aunty who used to be mad at me. I used to break her windows all the time. Would hit the ball with force. I would be so pissed that the glass was so fragile that it would break easily,” Kohli revealed during a live chat to talk about the State of Play.Kohli said he would often wonder why the glass was not stronger so it would not break in the first place.”That was because the lane we used to play cricket in, her house was right next to where we would bat. So everytime, we hit a ball with force, it used to break her window. I would be so pissed that these glasses were so fragile. Why couldn’t they make it stronger so we could play in peace? Those were good times, those were fun times,” the 29-year-old added.advertisementAlso read – Kohli treated to Hyderabadi biryani at Siraj’s houseToday, Kohli is regarded as the best batsman in the world. He is second in the list of century-scorers in ODIs and is touted to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most hundreds in the format.Also Read – Gary Kirsten reveals why he loves working with Virat KohliIn 66 Tests, Kohli has 5554 runs while in 208 ODIs, he has amassed 9588 runs. Besides, he has scored 1983 runs in 57 T20 Internationals and is the only batsman to average over 50 in all three formats in international cricket.Kohli has as many as 56 international hundreds.He is also the leading run-scorer in the Indian Premier League with 4814 runs which include a record-breaking season when he scored 973 runs and smashed four hundreds.Kohli’s passion for cricket is no secret. And he now says he was crazy about batting since his early years.”Even in school, we would play so much. It was all about waiting for that games period or recess. Hardly, anyone would eat food; they’d rush out to play. Those were pretty good days,” he said.For someone who lives life on the fast lane now, Kohli began his cricket journey with a plastic bat. “I got fascinated with plastic bats at home. My father used to chuck balls at me.”Kohli also urged Indians to get involved in physical activities instead of wasting time browsing on social media. The Delhi run-machine also urged people to not wait for professional sporting facilities to go out and play a sport.”We stayed in a colony but we never waited for a proper cricket field. We went out and played in a rectangular feld. If I see that now, then maybe I would find it too small but back in those days, that was all we needed.”People should not wait for professional facilities – people want it the easy way nowadays,” he said.
New Delhi, May 25 (PTI) Olympic medallists Sushil Kumar and Sakshi Malik, along with two others, are all set to compete in the upcoming Asian Games after being exempted from the trials scheduled next month, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) said today. A WFI official today confirmed to PTI that the federation has decided to let Sushil, Sakshi, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia prepare on their own and skip the trials after receiving requests from these wrestlers. Although an official announcement in this regard is yet to be made, the official said the federation is of the view that these wrestlers have proved their credentials time and again and this decision has been taken considering the fact that they face no competition from others in their weight categories. “The WFI has taken a decision in principle to let these wrestlers prepare on their own and not disturb them. On their requests, we have decided to let them skip the trials as they are best bets in their weight categories and hardly face any competition,” a top WFI official told PTI. “Sushil has requested us to train at the Chatrasal Stadium under our coach Vinod. Vinesh and Sakshi are currently at the national camp, while Bajrang is Georgia with his personal coach. . “The WFI has no objection because they face no competition in their weight categories. The WFI is only bothered about medals and we feel allowing them to skip the trials will reduce the pressure on them,” he added. Although a formal decision is yet to be taken in this regard, the WFI official said it is more or less certain.advertisement “We have taken this decision in consultation with our coaches who also feel that asking them to come for the trials will put extra pressure on them which we don’t want. We at WFI feel they are our best bet in their respective weight categories and can bring medals for us,” the official said. The WFI will hold the trials for the men’s categories freestyle and Greco-Roman on June 10 at the Sports Authority of India centre at Sonepat, where a training camp for both the categories is going on. Similarly, the training camp for women wrestlers is being held at SAI, Lucknow, and the trials are expected to be held there on June 17. The WFI official said all these wrestlers have already proved themselves at the Asian level with their exploits in the recent Asian Championships. While defending champion Bajrang won a bronze in the 65kg category in the Adian Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in March this year, Vinesh settled for a silver in the 50kg division. Sushil, however, skipped the Asian Championships in March but won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast while Sakshi won a bronze in the 65kg female category. However, it will be easier said than done for the WFI to let these wrestlers skip the trials because of a 2014 Delhi High Court directive, which ordered sporting federations to conduct trials before any major tournaments. Interestingly, it was two-time Olympic medallist Sushil, who took the WFI to court after the federation had decided not to hold a trial for the 74kg freestyle category in the run-up to the 2016 Olympics.The WFI then decided to let Narsingh Yadav represent India at the Rio Olympics after he won a quota place for the country. Asked about the matter, the official simply said: “The WFI’s stand remains the same. That time Narsingh won the quota place and as per WFI rules whoever wins the quota place gets to represent the country. But in this situation Sushil doesn’t have any competition and he is the best best in his weight category.” PTI SSC PM PM PM
Chennai Super Kings had experience on their side in the Indian Premier League this season but that also meant MS Dhoni’s team mostly consisted of players over the age of 30.But age as they say is just a number and that is what CSK have proved in the 11th edition of the IPL as they gear up to face the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final on Sunday.Ahead of the summit clash, Dhoni and his counterpart Kane Williamson addressed a press conference where Captain Cool spoke about the major hurdles he faced while leading CSK to the final this season.”The challenge this year was slightly different than the challenges we have faced in the past few years. The age group of the boys was definitely a concern. A lot of times, because of the frequencies of the games, you have to maneuver your resources and look at the bigger picture.”At times you might be pushed to think maybe this bowler needs to bowl but he is not 100 per cent fit at that point of time, then, can you play with someone else at that point of time but that also depends on the point table.”It sounds very complex but to make it easy, we had to take care of our resources that we have and to make sure when we come to the business end of the tournament the best XI is available for selection and you know, this year we have been able to do that. We did have a few injury concerns in the middle but it is good to have all the players available for selection,” Dhoni said.advertisementWhen asked about how he was going to chose the bowlers for the all-important final the two-time IPL winner gave an interesting answer.”You know, I have a lot of cars and bikes in my house and I don’t ride all at a time. A lot of times, when you have six to seven bowlers in the side, you want to see the condition, you want to see who is batting and what is needed at that point of time.What goes into @msdhoni mind before he chooses a particular bowler? The @ChennaiIPL captain offers a very interesting analogy. #VIVOIPL #Final #CSKvSRH pic.twitter.com/XEIEDdBEtHIndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 26, 2018″In the past when CSK had won, we had (Pawan) Negi and (Ravindra) Jadeja at the same time and I gave them different slots of bowling and the unfair thing is a lot of times, the player gets criticised for what the batsman is doing but the fact is if I don’t need somebody to bowl at one point of time, I may not bowl him,” Dhoni quipped.The 36-year-old was also quizzed on who does all the planning and strategising at CSK to which Dhoni said all that is done by coach Stephen Fleming.”Strategies are made by (Stephen) Fleming and I go and implement them. It becomes easy. He is the coach and takes a big pay cheque. So, he does all the planning,” Mahi stated.It was a bit emotional at the start, but once tournament starts you have to be professional than emotional. @ChennaiIPL fans have waited and wanted us to do well. @msdhoni #VIVOIPL #FInal #CSKvSRH pic.twitter.com/6MDZTcv5WPIndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 26, 2018While Chennai, the two-time IPL champions, already made to the final beating Hyderabad by two wickets in the Qualifier 1 of the cash-rich league here on Tuesday, Hyderabad had to go through the second qualifier.The Kane Williamson-led side overcame Kolkata Knight Riders’ challenge by 14 runs at the Eden Gardens on Friday to seal a place in the coveted final.Both the sides have met each other thrice in the ongoing edition of the league and the Super Kings hold a 3-0 record over their southern neighbours.
New Delhi, Jun 14 (PTI) The following are the top/expected stories at 1700 hours: EXPECTED STORIES: *Report of Day 1 of India vs Afghanistan Test Match in Bengaluru. *Report of Russia vs Saudi Arabia football match. *Stories related to FIFA World Cup. STORIES ON THE WIRE: SPO-HOCK-SUSHILAIndian defender Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam completes 150 international capsNew Delhi, Jun 14 (PTI) Indian defender and former captain Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam completed 150 international caps for the country when India faced Spain in the second game of the five-match series. SPO-IND-LD TEADhawan, Vijay take India to 248/1 as rain stops play Bengaluru, Jun 14 (PTI) Shikhar Dhawan gave Afghanistan a rude reality check on what longest format is all about with a first session hundred as ruthless India reached 248 for 1 before heavens opened up forcing an early tea on the opening day of the one-off Test. SPO-FIFA-WC-SYRIAFootball can bring peace: Syrian great Firas al-Khatib By Abhishek Hore Moscow, Jun 14 (PTI) A political stance halted his international career for five years and now that he is back in the fold, Syrian football great Firas al-Khatib says he doesn’t care about politics anymore as football could end up being better at bringing about peace in his war-ravaged country. SPO-BAD-INDJayaram enters US Open second roundFullerton (US), Jun 14 (PTI) On a comeback trail after recovering from injury, Indian shuttler Ajay Jayaram notched up a gritty three-game win over Korea’s Yun Kyu Lee to reach the second round of the US Open World Tour Super 300 tournament here. SPO-HOCK-IND Indian women’s team salvage a 1-1 draw against Spain in 2nd matchadvertisement Madrid (Spain), Jun 14 (PTI) Anupa Barla produced a late goal as the Indian women’s team salvaged a 1-1 draw against hosts Spain in the second game of the five-match series at the Consejo Superior de Deportes Hockey Stadium here. SPO-DHAWAN-RECORD Dhawan first Indian to hit ton before lunch, joins list of greats Bengaluru, Jun 14 (PTI) Shikhar Dhawan today became the first Indian player to score a century in Test cricket before lunch, joining an esteemed list of former cricketers, including the legendary Don Bradman. SPO-FIFA-WC-IND World Cup fever grips cricket-crazy India’s football-mad pockets By Rupesh Samant and Lekhsmi Gopalakrishnan Panaji/Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 14 (PTI) No stakes but high sentiments — this best describes India’s anticipation for the FIFA World Cup as the country’s football hubs paint themselves in the colours of Russia 2018 to continue a long-distance love affair with the ‘beautiful game’. SPO-RAJPUT Only time will tell how Afghanistan succeed in Tests: Ex-coach Rajput Pune, Jun 14 (PTI) Former coach Lalchand Rajput, under whom Afghanistan had earned the Test status, said it is an emotional moment for the team as they play their maiden Test against India but only time will tell how they succeed in the longer format of the game. SPO-MODI-AFGHAN PM salutes indomitable spirit of Afghanistan on Test debutBengaluru, Jun 14 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said it is a matter of pride and honour for India to host Afghanistan’s maiden Test match and paid tribute to the war-ravaged country’s indomitable spirit. PTI APAAPA
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