Dejan Kulusevski equaliser and a stunning stop from Fraser Forster saved Tottenham’s blushes as Ange Postecoglou’s side drew 1-1 with Rangers in their Europa League clash in Glasgow.
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The result takes Spurs to 11 points from six games, and they sit ninth, only on goal difference out of the top eight, who automatically progress to the knockout rounds, with two league phases matches to come in the new year.
A draw means Tottenham remain winless in their last three Europa League contests, and they have only won once in their last eight matches in all competitions, but for much of the night, things looked like they would play out much worse.
“It’s fair to say we’re in a bit of a struggle,” Postecoglou said post-match.
The Australian manager has been under intense scrutiny this week after back-to-back Premier League losses, and the former Celtic boss’ heart must have been in his mouth when Rangers were through on goal in the 86th minute.
Cyriel Dessers barged his way past several defenders to get a shot away, but Forster stayed big and pulled off a brilliant piece of goal keeping, not for the first time in the match, to tip the ball wide and deny the home side.
Only a minute later, the Ibrox descended into raptures as Dessers found the back of the net this time, but the celebrations were short-lived as the linesperson’s flag was up, and replays showed he was well offside.
Those chances for Rangers were brewing all night, whereas Kulusevski’s equaliser seemingly came from nowhere.
Spurs were patiently playing the ball around at the back for more than a minute before attacking down the right and Kulusevski took matters into his own hands to score in the 75th minute.
The Swede cut back, found fellow substitute Dominic Solanke in the box, continued his run, received the ball back from Solanke and slotted it home with a left foot, first-time shot from near the edge of the penalty area.
Things were looking dire for Tottenham before Kulusevski’s brilliant run as they went unpunished for their sloppiness in the first half, but it took less than two minutes after the break for Rangers to finally capitalise on yet another Spurs error.
They coughed up the ball in midfield, and right back James Tavernier broke down the right-hand side, whipped a beautiful, curling ball in the box to pick out front man Hamza Igamane in the box, and the Moroccan slammed the half-volley into the bottom corner.
The third-placed side in the Scottish Premiership looked more threatening for most of the evening, and the home supporters relished watching their team take it up to an English side.
It was the first time Spurs has travelled north to face Rangers in a competitive fixture since the 1960s, and the last time the blue half of Glasgow hosted a Premier League outfit, they were humiliated 7-1 by Liverpool.
That was in a Champions League contest in 2022 when Mohamed Salah came off the bench to score a stunning six minute hat trick, and it was arguably the most disastrous night of decades of heartbreak against English opposition in European competition, having not beaten a team from south of the border since getting the better of Leeds United in 1992.
For most of the freezing cold evening, it appeared as if that streak might be broken but Rangers ultimately did not make the most of the 15 shots they took, six of which were on target.
Both sides looked like they would be made to pay for their sloppiness with the ball throughout the first half as they each had threatening opportunities on the counter attack, but lacked the poise to finish.
It was a back-and-forth, end-to-end contest with Tottenham having more of the ball but their makeshift defence looked incredibly vulnerable at times.
Teenager Archie Gray, who typically plays right back, started alongside Ragu Dragusin as a central defender due to Spurs’ injury woes but it was goal keeper Forster who repelled Rangers’ attacks best with two excellent first half saves.
The former Celtic shot stopper was booed and jeered extensively by the home fans, but kept his cool to tip a bullet from Nedim Bajrami over the bar in the 10th minute before ensuring they headed to the sheds deadlocked with an excellent save with his feet from a Vaclav Cerny shot in the final minute of the half.
Rangers came out hard and finished the opening stanza the better of the two sides, while Tottenham controlled the middle period of the opening half.
The home side lost centre back John Souttar, who is the brother of Socceroo Harry, in the 34th minute to a groin injury and it appeared as if a change at the back might open things up for Spurs.
They had their chances but only one of their six first half shots was on target, and that was a tame shot from Son Heung-min, who started up front with Timo Werner, James Maddison and Brennan Johnson sitting behind him, in a change of formation from Postecoglou.
The much-maligned Werner was benched at half time for goal scorer Dejan Kulusevski, while Johnson last an hour before making for Dominic Solanke, and Postecoglou took the unusual step of publicly expressing his frustrations with Werner post-match.
“He wasn’t playing anywhere near the levels he can. It’s not acceptable to me. I told him that. He’s a senior international, a German international,” he said.
“In the moment we’re in now, I need everyone to be at least going out there and giving the best they can. What he produced wasn’t acceptable. I expect more from the senior players like him.”
Spurs seem to be in a funk in attack, and with a trip to Southampton, a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United and a visit from Premier League leaders Liverpool before Christmas, they will need to break it fast to get back to winning ways.
Chelsea down Astana in Conference League | 00:42
SUPER SUBSTITUTE INSPIRES MAN UTD COMEBACK
Second-half substitute Rasmus Hojlund scored twice as Manchester United fought back to earn a 2-1 win at Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on Thursday.
The hosts took the lead shortly after half-time, but Hojlund levelled on 62 minutes, six minutes after replacing Marcus Rashford, when the Danish striker tapped in Amad Diallo’s deflected shot.
Two minutes from time, he beat Plzen goalkeeper Martin Jedlicka again with a clinical finish, turning around his marker after United captain Bruno Fernandes had found him inside the box with a clever free-kick.
Matej Vydra, a former Watford, West Brom, Reading, Derby and Burnley forward, opened the scoring for the hosts with a close-range finish three minutes after half-time.
Pavel Sulc found Vydra facing an empty net after he had intercepted United goalkeeper Andre Onana’s pass inside the box.
Hojlund double guides United to victory | 00:58
The goal was a wake-up call for United manager Ruben Amorim, who made three replacements in its wake, including Hojlund.
“It was not a great game,” said Amorim, before praising the substitutes. “They changed the game. They are there to do that so I’m pleased with that.”
He added he was happy with the outcome: “It was important not to give up so that is a great message.”
The former Sporting Lisbon boss replaced the sacked Eric ten Hag in November, but the chilly evening in Plzen showed United still have some way to go.
Both teams came into the match with nine points from five Europa League games, and they took time to find their pace.
Fernandes had the first shot on target half an hour into the game, but Jedlicka parried his low right-footed effort from the edge of the box.Onana watched Cheick Souare’s shot curl just past the top corner of his goal two minutes before the break.
United substitutes Mason Mount and Antony were denied by Jedlicka in the second half, with Mount failing to beat the ‘keeper twice from close range.
But Hojlund turned the match on its head to put United in a strong position for direct qualification to the last 16.
“We didn’t have so much time to work on this type of game. We were controlling the game but didn’t have the pace (in the first half),” said Amorim.
“We want to improve and we want to improve really fast,” he added. United next face Rangers at Old Trafford on January 23.
Harry Kane became England’s all-time leading goalscorer as the Three Lions enjoyed a perfect start to Euro 2024 qualifying by winning 2-1 away to Italy on Thursday, as Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in his record 197th cap in Portugal’s 4-0 win over Liechtenstein.
Kane netted his 54th goal for England in his 81st international appearance from the penalty spot in Naples after Declan Rice had fired the visitors into an early lead.
The England captain moves clear of the record mark he had shared with Wayne Rooney.
Gareth Southgate’s men gained some measure of revenge for their defeat by the Azzurri in the Euro 2020 final.
In their first match since bowing out in agonising fashion to France in the World Cup quarter-finals, England were dominant in the first 45 minutes.
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England’s forward Harry Kane acknowledges the public at the end of the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C qualification match between Italy and England, on March 23, 2023 at the Diego-Maradona stadium in Naples. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)Source: AFP
Rice rifled home his third international goal on 13 minutes after Italy failed to clear a corner.
Another set-piece led to Kane’s record-breaking moment as Giovanni Di Lorenzo handled inside the area.
The Tottenham striker banished the memories of his missed penalty late on against France in Doha by sending Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way.
But Italy rallied after the break when Argentine-born striker Mateo Retegui fired home on his international debut.
England were forced to see out the final 10 minutes a man down after two quickfire yellow cards for Luke Shaw, but they held out for their first win away to Italy since 1961.
In the other game in Group C, North Macedonia beat Malta 2-1.
RONALDO MARKS HISTORIC NIGHT
Ronaldo marked Roberto Martinez’s bow as Portugal boss with another historic night in Lisbon.
The 38-year-old, who was dropped from the Portuguese starting XI during the World Cup, set a new record for men’s international appearances by passing the previous mark of 196 caps held by Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.
Joao Cancelo fired home the opening goal after just eight minutes but it was not until Bernardo Silva doubled Portugal’s lead early in the second half that the floodgates opened.
Ronaldo made it 3-0 from the penalty spot before blasting home a free-kick from the edge of the area for his 120th international goal.
Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo.Source: AFP
In the same group, Rade Krunic scored twice as Bosnia and Herzegovina swept aside Iceland 3-0.
But Slovakia, who have qualified for the last two Euros, were held 0-0 at home by Luxembourg.
Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark bounced back from their disappointing early exit at the World Cup to beat Finland 3-1 in Copenhagen.
Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund scored a hat-trick for the Danes on his first start for his country.
Elsewhere in Group H, Dion Charles scored twice as Northern Ireland won 2-0 in San Marino, while Slovenia came from behind to win 2-1 away to Kazakhstan.
The two best teams are left standing in the NBL with the Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers to face off in the Championship Series but they had to battle hard to overcome the brave Cairns Taipans and Tasmania JackJumpers.
The NBL Championship Series is now set between the Kings and Breakers, but it could have easily been different with the Taipans and JackJumpers forcing both semi-final series to three games.
The Breakers dominated the JackJumpers in Game 1 at home 88-68 last Sunday but Tasmania hit back impressively in Hobart on Thursday to win 89-78 in Game 2 to force the decider back in Auckland on Sunday.
New Zealand proved too much led by the season-high 32 points from Barry Brown Jr to win 92-77 and book in their place in a first Championship Series since 2016.
It then turned out quite the spiteful and heated series between the Kings and Taipans including Sydney coach Chase Buford ejected in Game 2, and he and centre Tim Soares fined for incidents in that game on Friday.
Sydney did beat Cairns at home 95-87 in Game 1 on Wednesday but the Snakes hit back to win 93-82 in that Game 2 setting up a decider on Sunday. The Kings prevailed 79-64 on a standout defensive performance led by Jusin Simon.
The Kings and Breakers will now meet in a best-of-five Championship Series beginning Friday March 3 at Qudos Bank Arena.
The delayed start is due to the FIBA window this week which sees the Australian Boomers play Bahrain on Thursday and Kazakhstan on Sunday, both in Melbourne.
It’s Breakers vs Kings in the NBL Grand Final.Source: FOX SPORTS
PLANNING PAYS OFF FOR BREAKERS COACH TO LIVE DREAM
When New Zealand Breakers coach Mody Maor put together his plans of building his team for NBL23, he had a clear vision both in terms of play and culture he wanted to create. It’s fair to say it’s worked and now there’s nothing he’s looking forward to more than battling the Sydney Kings.
It was quite the mission that Maor embarked upon at the end of last season. He replaced the man he’s worked under around the world, Dan Shamir, and took over a team and club just exhausted after the last two years thanks to COVID and that needed an overhaul.
Maor’s focus firstly was on working out the culture his team wanted to possess, the characters he wanted involved and how they wanted to conduct themselves. Secondly was the style of play to be based on intense, physical defence for 40 minutes and then efficient offence.
On both fronts, Maor and the Breakers organisation have hit the spot perfectly to have now reached the Championship Series for the first time since 2016 as they attempt to win a fifth championship when things get underway against the Sydney Kings on Friday March 3.
To start with, the Breakers nailed their imports. Dererk Pardon could be the best genuine big in the league at both ends of the floor and Jarrell Brantley is quite the all-round talent as a power forward as well.
Then there’s Barry Brown Jr who provides that lethal scoring punch highlighted by his 32 points in a match-winning display in Game 3 of the semi-final series against the Tasmania JackJumpers at Spark Arena on Sunday.
Bringing New Zealanders home with Izayah Le’afa and Tom Vodanovich was important too as was retaining local veterans Tom Abercrombie and Rob Loe, and adding yet another future NBA first round draft pick Rayan Rupert.
Add in the experience of Cam Gliddon, the continued growth into one of the best point guards in the league of Will McDowell-White and the Breakers have not only been an outstanding team, but also one that plays with great heart and character.
That clearly starts with their coach and the energy Maor displays is infectious, but his pure love of the game of basketball shines through too. That rubs off on his players and that’s why even when he’s demanding more of them, there is a genuine love there.
Maor now can’t wait to take on the regular season champion Kings in the Championship Series starting next Friday and is proud of what he’s helped to build.
“There is nothing in the world I am looking forward to more,” Maor said.
“They’re the defending champs, best team in the league and this is what finals is supposed to be. You get to play against the best to see what you’ve got and we’re looking forward to it.
“You don’t drag in what happened before into what’s happening now. The beautiful thing about basketball is that every season is a new book, not even a new chapter and we knew exactly what kind of people we wanted in the building. That’s where it starts.
“The second thing we knew was how we wanted to play and we brought in people that fit what we wanted to do on defence and who we wanted to be as an organisation and as a team. Those were the first steps and the main ones.”
Coach ejected after dodgy flop call | 01:45
POST-GAME ACT SHOWS WHY JACKJUMPERS HAVE CONNECTED
The Tasmania JackJumpers have won the hearts and minds of the community of the Apple Isle and what captain Clint Steindl did to try and brighten up a young fan in Auckland highlights just how genuine that connection is.
Even if you just look at what the JackJumpers have accomplished on the court in their first two seasons in the NBL and reaching one Grand Final, and being within one game of reaching a second is quite the feat.
It’s a better start in the NBL for any expansion franchise in the history of the league and they gave themselves a real shot of back to back Grand Final appearances with a stirring win in Hobart on Thursday night in Game 2 against the New Zealand Breakers.
While winning Game 3 on the road like they did a year ago against Melbourne United in the semi finals might have eluded them with the Breakers winning on Sunday, it shouldn’t take away from what the JackJumpers have done.
When Scott Roth arrived as coach, the club didn’t exist, the fight for the hearts and minds of the Tasmanian community was up for grabs and there was no such thing as a JackJumpers brand.
Not only have the JackJumpers been successful on the court after two seasons, but what they’ve done within the community of Tasmania is even more remarkable.
Suddenly so many youngsters in the state is dreaming of playing for the JackJumpers and are wearing the green proudly every day, and feel like they have a sporting team on a national stage that is truly theirs.
That has taken a lot of work. The entire JackJumpers organisation has put in enormous time and effort to connect with the community and it’s paid off.
The connection the state of Tasmania has with their team is unlike anything else in the NBL and it just happens to be a bonus that the team itself has battled above their weight and given them plenty to be proud of on the court.
It’s that connection with the community that has a young fan like Henry travel with his family to Auckland for Sunday’s Game 3 and why he was so devastated his team couldn’t quite get over the line afterwards.
When captain Clint Steindl saw that, he put aside all of his own emotions having just had his season ended and put Henry first. That’s why not only have the JackJumpers won the hearts of so many, but why Steindl himself has been the ideal first captain.
“We did the handshake line and were walking off the floor, and the little fella was in tears,” Steindl said.
“So I just had a chat to him and kind of walked off but saw my shoes and took them off, went back and gave them to him. He was still in tears but I just told him to keep his head up.
“He travelled all the way out to see us get a win and unfortunately it didn’t happen so it was just something I thought I could do try and put a smile on his face.
“As much as I tried, he still had the tears but maybe he can put them up in his bedroom or something and it will give him something to aspire to. That’s what we’re trying to do in Tassie and I just tried to help the little fella out.”
Xavier Cooks wins NBL MVP | 00:45
DELAYED START TO BENEFIT KINGS AND COOKS
The league’s MVP Xavier Cooks battled through an ankle injury to help his team into the NBL Championship Series but now the 12 days before Game 1 against the New Zealand Breakers will be of great benefit to him and the Sydney Kings.
The Kings came into this season as the defending champions and while they did have expectations by many of being favourites to go back-to-back, it shouldn’t be undersold their achievements to now be back in the Championship Series.
Sydney lost all three imports from that title winning team with the departures of Jarrell Martin, Ian Clark and league MVP Jaylen Adams. To replace them was never going to be easy but they’ve done tremendously with the additions of Tim Soares, Justin Simon and Derrick Walton Jr.
However, the key to any success the Kings have had this season has gone with their captain Cooks. Fresh off becoming a championship winning captain and Grand Final MVP last season, he has gone to another level in NBL23.
Despite any arguments over the merits of Bryce Cotton winning a fourth MVP award, it’s hard to deny Cooks was a deserved winner and after all he was the best player on the best team in the league.
Cooks showed his MVP credentials with a spectacular performance in Game 1 of the semi finals against the Cairns Taipans where he produced 27 points and 14 rebounds in a match-winning performance.
He rolled his ankle early in the second half of Game 2 in Cairns on Friday night and didn’t return. There were questions over whether he would play in Sunday’s decider or indeed what impact he could have.
Clearly he was not close to 100 per cent, but he shook off the pain to still deliver 11 points and 11 rebounds in his team’s eventual 79-64 victory over the Snakes to book a spot in a second consecutive Championship Series.
The Kings will now host Game 1 against the New Zealand Breakers on Friday March 3 at Qudos Bank Arena and this is where the near two-week break thanks to the FIBA window before the Grand Final starting will benefit Cooks and the Kings.
“Going back to the other night and they told me if I really needed him that he could play, but I just felt like in the moment he wasn’t very good in that game anyway, and it didn’t feel like we were having much of a chance to win it,” coach Chase Buford said.
“It just seemed smarter to shut him down and give him every chance for this game. I know he was hurting and he battled like hell to play in the game and to play as well as he did.
“He had 11 rebounds and I just can’t thank him enough, and couldn’t be prouder of him. He’s just a warrior and hopefully this extended layoff will give him time to get healthy.”
TAIPANS DEFY THE ODDS TO GET EVER SO CLOSE
Cairns Taipans coach Adam Forde always knew he’d feel up against it trying to battle the bigger clubs and whether it was the change in officiating in Game 3, his team’s injury woes or a rough finals schedule, one thing never changed and that was the pride he had in his group.
The Taipans did end their season frustrated on Sunday after losing Game 3 of the semi finals to the Sydney Kings, but they deserve to be proud of everything they overcame to get so close to the Championship Series.
Even just in the semi-final series against the Kings, the Taipans started it having already played two Play-In Games just to reach it having lost to the Tasmania JackJumpers and then defeated the Perth Wildcats.
Then they started the series against the Kings missing superstar forward Keanu Pinder and energetic guard Tahjere McCall. Then while McCall returned for the last two games of the series, they lost their cool-headed and efficient point guard Shannon Scott with a hamstring injury.
The Taipans did win Game 2 on their home court on Friday night to force a deciding game back in Sydney on Sunday, but coach Forde always knew his team would be up against it with the dramatic way that game in Cairns unfolded.
With the Kings unhappy with the way the game was officiated which ended up with coach Chase Buford ejected late in the game after disputing a flop call against Kouat Noi that the NBL later revealed as the wrong decision, there was a chance Sunday’s game would be called differently.
As a result, the Taipans high pressure defence was getting called tight right throughout the game on Sunday and at one point the Kings had attempted 22 free-throws to just 11 from the Snakes.
That was just one source of frustration for Forde post-match.
The other was that with his team fighting so hard even without key players and with a shorter rotation with really only Sam Waardenburg, DJ Hogg, Lat Mayen, Ben Ayre, McCall, Bul Kuol and Jonah Antonio playing significant minutes, that they just ran out of gas.
With the Kings having had nine days from the end of the regular season to the start of the semi finals, the Taipans had to play the games against the JackJumpers and Wildcats in that time.
So by Sunday, the Taipans had played five games from the previous Thursday and it clearly took its toll.
Despite the reflections on all of that, Forde was rightfully named Coach of the Year and he deserves to be proud of how competitive a team he oversaw all season long despite what they had to battle through.
“A lot of that is skewed because they 17 foul shots in the first half so that’s bang for your buck if you’ve ever seen it,” Forde said.
“We knew what it would be like going in because this is history repeating itself and they did it last year, and got the benefit of it. We talked about it before the game about the changes that will take place after fines had been paid and everything else.
“So you flag it but that still doesn’t mean you let them off the hook when you see it coming, you’re just prepared for it. It is what it is, it’s a business right and about what’s more entertaining.
“That’s the reality and we know what we’re battling with and we don’t shy away or pretend we’re something we’re not. We know we’re a community owned club who will have to find the diamonds in the rough and play our style, and not always get the benefit of things.”
UNFINISHED BUSINESS JUST ONE FACTOR IN PINDER’S DECISION
Keanu Pinder will have a sour taste in his mouth this entire off-season having not made it back on the court during the NBL finals and that could factor in his decision in wanting to return with the Cairns Taipans, but it’s just one consideration.
What a three-year ride already it’s been in the NBL for Pinder. He started off in Adelaide as a big man seen as being supremely talented with great athleticism for his size and a decent outside shot.
Well, things never clicked and then coach Conner Henry struggled to find a role for him and to have confidence in him to be able to go out and do what was asked of him.
It’s fair to say it was a mutually agreed decision from both Pinder and the 36ers to part company at end of that 2020/21 season.
That’s when Adam Forde came calling to Pinder fresh off being appointed coach of the Taipans. The two had already previously worked together in underage state programs in Western Australia so that connection was there.
Forde was then prepared to back in Pinder to play a key role on his team and really, build around him with him being a focal point while giving him the confidence that he could be a genuine star in the league.
The rest is history. Pinder has gone back-to-back in winning Most Improved Player awards turning himself into a quality player last season, and then one of the very best players in the NBL this season.
Had he not missed nine of the last 11 games of the season through injury, he would have been genuinely a candidate for the All-First Team and in the MVP discussion, that’s how good he was.
Pinder returned for two games from an ankle injury but against the South East Melbourne Phoenix on January 25 copped a stray elbow from Dane Pineau and hasn’t been able to play since.
He suffered a fractured orbital socket and was bed ridden unable to let any light into his eye for some time, but this past weekend he was hounding coach Forde to let him play against the Kings.
Common sense prevailed and Pinder wasn’t allowed back on the court, but had the Taipans reached the Championship Series and with almost two weeks until they are to start, he would have been right to go.
That’s why he was so frustrated to have missed the chance to try and help Cairns win a championship this season, but now offers will come thick and fast for him.
His two-year deal with the Snakes is over and given any club in the league could legitimately build around him, there’ll be no shortage of offers coming his way. On top of that, big money European and Asian clubs would love to secure his services too.
It’s going to be the biggest off-season of Pinder’s career because this could very well be the biggest contract he ever signs and it could be life changing.
So he has a lot to weigh up. There’s that love and appreciation he has for coach Forde and the Taipans for helping him reach his potential. There’s also the unfinished business to try and help them win that first NBL championship.
Pinder has to weigh that up against also doing what’s best for his future both in terms of basketball and life. Right now, he will get over the frustration of missing out on getting back on the court then will focus on his big decision.
“Honestly not being out there hurt more than I thought it would because I was very close to coming back,” Pinder said.
“I felt like if we had won this game I would have been able to come back to play the Grand Final so I was really looking forward to that, and I was ready for that.
“I wanted to play the last game honestly but they didn’t let me obviously so it’s all good. I’m very upset about it and I’m just going to deal with it in my own time I’ll be alright.
“Something you will always think about is where you feel most comfortable and play your best basketball,” Pinder added.
“I don’t want to be in a situation where I’m not playing my best basketball and stuck in a pigeon hole as just another piece of the puzzle.
“I would rather be in a place where I can be the man and play the best basketball I can so I can reach my goals in life. So obviously it’s going to play a factor in the decision and we’ll see how things go.”
Jeswin Aldrin after winning the silver at the Asian Indoor Championships in Kazakhstan last week. Photo: Special Arrangement
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A lot had happened to long jumper Jeswin Aldrin last year. Despite a sensational 8.26m effort and a wind-assisted 8.37 that helped him qualify for the World Championships, and brought him the Federation Cup gold jolting national record-holder M. Sreeshankar, the youngster was asked to do two trials as his formed dipped a couple of months later.
He was left out from the original team for last year’s Oregon Worlds but was cleared at the last minute and had to make a mad rush to the USA. However, he was omitted from the team for the Commonwealth Games that came shortly after.
In many ways, 2022 was Aldrin’s best year but also one that shattered him. The youngster may not have forgotten those bitter days but he has found his calm.
Has the hurt healed?
Jeswin Aldrin
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
“Yes. It’s just that I was not performing consistently, that was the problem. I want to perform consistently this year so that it won’t happen again,” said Aldrin, in a chat with The Hindu from Ballari’s JSW Inspire Institute of Sport, on Friday.
Aldrin, who has already qualified for this year’s Budapest Worlds with his gold-winning 8.26m at the National Games last October, opened his season with a silver and a decent 7.97m at the recent Indoor Asians in Kazakhstan.
“I’m not completely happy but I’m satisfied with the silver. We tend to make many mistakes in the first competition. The landing has been bad for me, also the second cycle. In the Indoor Asians, my ‘second cycling’ was very bad so I’m focusing on not repeating the same mistakes in the next competition,” said the 21-year-old.
Really Happy with 8.12m in Golden Fly Series in Liechtenstein. It’s been long season one more round to go before the end of this season.Thanks for having here.Thanks @afiindia@Media_SAI @jsw_sports @IIS_Vijayanagar for the support. Will keep on improving. More to come pic.twitter.com/5IUEZxAHCJ
He also explained that his rhythm on the approach run was a little ‘off’ and that could have been the reason for the many fouls (four) in Kazakhstan.
The battle between 23-year-old Sreeshankar and Aldrin, the top two in India’s all-time list, had been one of the highlights of Indian athletics last year and could the one to follow this year too as the national season opens early next month.
Aldrin considers Sreeshankar a blessing and the ‘bar’ to target and look up to.
Long jumpers M. Sreeshankar, right, and Jeswin Aldrin.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
“Sreeshankar jumping better than me is good, I now have a target within the system to look up to,” said Aldrin who hails from Mudalur in Thoothukudi.
“He pushes me to do better, if he wasn’t there I would have been overconfident thinking that I am the best.”
After closing last season with 8.26m, Aldrin feels that 8.30m is within his range this year which has the Asian and World Championships and the Asian Games lined up.
“I think it’s possible if I’m consistent at 8.10 or 8.20. I’m planning to do that this year,” said the youngster who is doing his BA (Public Administration) final year at Chennai’s Madras Christian College.
Triple jumper Praveen Chithravel after his silver medal show at the recent Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
With his performance graph fluctuating wildly the last few years, triple jumper Praveen Chithravel has often left athletics aficionados confused. He could do 17m one day and fall to 15 the next.
The youngster promised much with his performances at home but often failed to deliver on the international stage.
Now, after opening his season with an impressive 16.98m for the Indoor Asians silver in Kazakhstan last week, Chithravel feels this could be a very memorable year.
“The goal is to do more than 17.40m this year. I need to jump something like 17.40 or 17.50m, that sort of process is going on and it’s going good,” said Chithravel in a chat with The Hindu from his training base at Ballari’s JSW Inspire Institute of Sport, on Thursday.
The 21-year-old will have plenty of opportunities for the big jumps this year is packed with the Asian Championships (July, Thailand), Worlds (Hungary, August) and Asian Games (September, China).
But a lot could happen before that.
Praveen Chitravel with a massive 17.18m in the men’s triple jump at the Inter State Championships. The 21 year old from Tamil Nadu makes the third highest jump in Indian history. He qualifies for the World Championships. Still 4 more jumps to go. pic.twitter.com/bvFsgQOFxN
“Now we have four or five jumpers over 17m, they are pushing me. There’s a good chance that one of us could break the national record on March 2 itself (at their domestic season-opening Jumps Indian Open in Ballari),” said the triple jumper from Thanjavur, who is third in the country’s all-time list (17.18m, Chennai, 2022).
Many eyebrows were raised when Ranjith Maheswary set that National record, a stunning 17.30m in July 2016 a month before his Rio Olympics flop show (16.13). But now, India has come a long way in triple jump with Eldhose Paul and Abdulla Aboobacker picking gold and silver at the last Commonwealth Games with Chithravel missing the bronze by just 4 cms.
On the occasion of 74th Republic day celebration @SAI_Bengaluru
Chithravel was surprised that he almost touched 17m at the Indoor Asians.
“I was not prepared for this competition, we are preparing for the Asians, Worlds and Asiad. We had to give our entry suddenly, just 20 days before the meet. And we (his coach, Cuba’s two-time Worlds silver medallist Yoandri Betanzos) had to change the training schedule all of a sudden. There were a lot of complications in the first two weeks but then when you think too much there could be problems, so I thought, ‘let’s just go and do it’,” said Chithravel.
“This year has been sort of telling me, ‘you can do it’.”
He had a ‘no mark’ at the last Asians final (Doha 2019) with a hamstring injury. “I was the only Indian triple jumper to qualify for the last Asians… now the Asians are coming back so I hope to do some good things,” he said.
