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A Life Lived For The Love Of Football: Remembering Thupten Rapgyal
Sports Desk
17 Jun 2023, 15:22
Rapgyal’s journey in football began in his childhood, playing barefoot on the streets of Gangtok. With raw talent and an unwavering determination, he quickly caught the attention of local coaches and scouts. Soon, he found himself representing his state in the Santosh Trophy, India’s premier football tournament.
His skills on the field were unparalleled. Rapgyal possessed incredible speed, agility, and an innate understanding of the game. His ability to control the ball and create scoring opportunities made him a formidable force on the pitch. His presence alone was enough to strike fear into the hearts of opposing teams.
But Rapgyal’s success was not limited to football. He was a true polymath, excelling academically as well. Despite the demands of his sporting career, he pursued higher education and earned degrees from prestigious institutions across the country. His determination to balance academics and sports set him apart from his peers.
Rapgyal’s achievements extended far beyond the football field. His coaching skills were renowned, and he was often sought after to train and mentor young athletes. His coaching sessions at Palzor Stadium became a rite of passage for aspiring footballers in Sikkim. Rapgyal’s guidance instilled not only technical skills but also values of discipline, teamwork, and perseverance in his students.
It was not uncommon to see Rapgyal dedicating countless hours to nurturing talent, even during his own playing days. He understood the importance of passing on his knowledge and experience to the next generation. His commitment to fostering young athletes’ growth and development has left an indelible mark on the sporting community in Sikkim.
Rapgyal’s coaching prowess brought success to many football clubs in Sikkim. Under his guidance, the Sports Association of India (SAI) and Boys Club soared to new heights, clinching victory in various tournaments. His ability to inspire and motivate his players was unparalleled. He was not just a coach but also a mentor, a friend, and a role model.
Beyond the accolades and victories, Rapgyal will be remembered for his humility and sportsmanship. He was never one to seek the limelight or boast about his achievements. Instead, he led by example, always displaying grace and respect, both on and off the field. His humility endeared him to fans, teammates, and opponents alike.
The loss of Thupten Rapgyal leaves a void in the world of football, not just in Sikkim but also across the nation. His contributions to the sport and his dedication to nurturing young talent will forever be etched in the annals of football history. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of athletes, reminding them of the power of passion, perseverance, and the pursuit of excellence.
As the sun sets on Sikkim, it is with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to a true legend. Thupten Rapgyal, a veteran footballer, a mentor, and an inspiration, will forever be remembered as a shining star in the sporting firmament of Sikkim.
Source: neweekly.in
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Countdown to the Paris Olympics begins Stefan Nestler
The Olympic flame has been lit with 100 days left before Paris 2024 kicks off in the French capital. At a time of global crisis, security will be a top priority.
On Tuesday, the Olympic flame was lit in the ancient ruins of the Temple of Hera in Olympia in southwestern Greece. It will now make its way to Paris, where the Summer Olympic Games are due to open on July 26.
Until the closing ceremony on August 11, 10,500 athletes from 206 countries will compete at Paris 2024 in 32 disciplines.
The French government has said that security will be the top priority during the event. Some 45,000 police and gendarme officers will be deployed every day, as well as 18,000 soldiers and 20,000 private security guards.
In addition, more than 2,000 foreign police officers, including from Germany, will be helping to keep guard.
Macron: 'We can do it'
France increased its security alert to its highest level after an attack by Islamist terrorists in Moscow at the end of March left more than 140 people dead.
Providing security for the opening ceremony alone will be a huge logistical challenge: 160 boats carrying athletes are due to sail six kilometers (3.78 miles) along the Seine River. More than 300,000 spectators are expected.
"We can do it and we are going to do it," French President Emmanuel Macron insists. But he has also admitted that there are back-up plans in place should the security threat become too acute. These would include holding the opening ceremony in a stadium.
Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine and concerns about a further escalation of the situation in the Middle East have exacerbated fears of a security threat.
Despite this, eight of the 10 million available tickets for the 2024 Summer Olympics have already been sold and some 15 million spectators are expected.
Parisians not looking forward
It will be a test for the French capital's infrastructure. Last autumn, Clement Beaune, who was France's transport minister at the time, described the plans to organize traffic as "hardcore." Security barriers and diversions will be abundant, particularly around the Eiffel Tower and the Place de la Concorde. Some metro stations will be closed.
The price of metro tickets will be doubled during the Games. This is unlikely to increase the enthusiasm of Parisians for the event. In a recent poll, 44% said that they thought that Paris 2024 was a "bad thing."
Germany's team in Paris one of the biggest
The Olympic qualification period ends officially on June 23. The German Athletics Association (DLV) has made qualifying for Paris 2024 also dependent on performance at the European Athletics Championships taking place in Rome starting June 7.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) has to register the German athletes competing in Paris 2024 by July 8. It expects 400 to participate, which would make Germany's "Team D" one of the biggest national teams.
In 2021, 415 Germans took part in the Games in the Japanese capital Tokyo, winning 10 gold medals, 11 silver medals and 16 bronze medals. It was the German team's worst haul since German reunification. The DOSB is hoping for better results this year. "I believe that Team D will play a good role, and that one or two surprises are possible," said sport director Olaf Tabor.
Belarusian and Russian athletes to compete as 'neutrals'
Last December, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) cleared athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in Paris 2024, but as "neutrals," and not as part of teams. They will be banned from attending the opening ceremony, and nobody who has actively shown support for the war in Ukraine will be allowed to compete at all.
The Russian and Belarusian national anthems will not be played, and national symbols and flags will be prohibited.
According to the IOC, only 12 Russian athletes and five Belarusians have qualified for Paris 2024 so far, but the numbers could rise to 36 (Russia) and 22 (Belarus). In Tokyo, 330 Russians and 104 Belarusians competed. In an open letter to the IOC last week, Ukraine demanded the complete exclusion of Russia and Belarus from the Olympics.
The IOC has come under fire from various quarters over its decisions regarding Russia and Belarus. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the body had become "a place where neo-Nazism and racism flourish."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete was "shameful." He added that the IOC had essentially given Russia "the green light to weaponize the Olympics" because it would use athletes "as a weapon in its propaganda warfare." The Germany-based human rights organization Society for Threatened Peoples described IOC President Thomas Bach as a "dinosaur" who was incapable of learning.
At the lighting of the flame ceremony in Olympia, Bach repeated a message of hope: "Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. […] Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message: Yes, it is possible to compete fiercely against each other and at the same time live peacefully together under one roof."
Bach's term is due to end in 2025, but some IOC members have suggested changing the statutes so that he can continue as president for another four years. The 70-year-old has said he would rather wait until after Paris 2024 to make a decision on this.
Mahmud defends BCB’s decision to bring Mustafizur back from IPL
Khaled Mahmud Sujon, the head coach of Abahani Limited believes the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) decision to bring back Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) is right one because the ‘country comes first’ always.
Mustafizur is currently playing for Chennai Super Kings where he has been the form of his life, taking 10 wickets in five matches. Initially he was given NOC until April 30 but the BCB extended it by one day, just to give him the opportunity to play CSK’s match on May 1.
He thereafter would have to return to the country to play the five-match T20 series against Zimbabwe at home.
"What I believe at the end of the day is that the country should come first always," Mahmud said after Abahani's match against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.
"Had he (Mustafizur) played the whole IPL, I would have been happy. There would've been no issues if the national team didn't have any series. Now, some may argue that the New Zealand cricketers are staying back for the IPL. But you have to understand that they have no shortage of players. We don't have 10-12 bowlers like Mustafizur, we need to keep that in mind as well.”
According to Mahmud, BCB has taken the correct decision to call back Mustafizur from the IPL even though it’s not uncommon for the cricket boards around the world to allow their players to play IPL, instead of International cricket.
Yesterday, the chairman of the cricket operations of BCB Jalal Younus hogged the headline by saying that Mustafizur had nothing to learn by playing in the IPL.
Mahmud differed with his statement but said that Younus might have tried to mean it in other sense.
"You can learn from everywhere. I think maybe he [Jalal] didn't mean it like that. He probably tried to mean that Mustafizur has been playing for many years, he is not a young pacer like Tanzim Hasan Sakib. He is already a very big name in world cricket. He probably meant it from that angle. The young Indian pacers can learn from Mustafizur, that's what he meant."
Mahmud also believes that Bangladesh might give Mustafizur rest in the first two T20s against Zimbabwe in a bid to manage his workload.
"Bangladesh indeed need not Mustafizur’s service to beat Zimbabwe. Jalal vai also spoke about Mustafizur's workload management. Mustafizur might not even play in the first two matches."
Source: BSS
Chinese runner’s victory in Beijing Half Marathon sparks probe
The victory of Chinese runner He Jie in the Beijing Half Marathon on Sunday has sparked controversy, with his win being questioned after African runners appeared to deliberately slow down to let him cross the finish line first, CNN reported.
A video clip capturing the final moments of the race shows a remarkable scene: Kenya’s Willy Mnangat turns towards He Jie and gestures for him to move ahead as the four runners, including former 5km world record-holder Robert Keter of Kenya and Ethiopia’s Dejene Hailu, run side by side just metres from the finish line.
In a display that raised eyebrows, Keter then seems to signal for He Jie to overtake the pack while motioning for his compatriot and Hailu to hold back. The Chinese runner indeed crosses the finish line in 1:03:44, claiming the USD 5,500 first prize, with the trio of African runners just one second behind, jointly securing second place, according to CNN.
The video clip captures the African runners applauding He’s victory and patting him on the back, though He himself appears less jubilant despite achieving his first-ever competitive half-marathon win.
At 25 years old, He Jie, who has previously broken China’s marathon record twice, confessed to reporters after the race that he “was not in [his] best competitive state,” but he remained silent on the controversial finish.
The race outcome swiftly ignited discussions on Chinese social media platforms, with calls for an investigation into the event and demands for action from organisers.
One user on Weibo emphasised the importance of fairness in sports, stating that the “ways of the world” should not compromise the integrity of competition.
Another popular comment said: “I support an investigation, and fair play is vital,” with the user adding they hoped authorities “can give a clear explanation to maintain the fairness of competition and respect athletes’ efforts.”
Responding to the public outcry, race organisers, the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau, and the Chinese Athletics Association issued a statement on Monday, affirming their commitment to addressing the matter. They announced an ongoing investigation into the matte, as reported by CNN.
Xstep, the Chinese sports company sponsoring both He Jie and the Beijing Half Marathon, acknowledged the situation in a statement to state-run outlet The Paper, noting that multiple parties were involved in investigating and verifying the incident.
“Further information will be communicated as soon as possible,” Xstep said in a statement to the outlet.
Meanwhile, World Athletics, the international governing body for the sport, acknowledged awareness of the footage circulating online and revealed that local authorities were conducting their own investigation.
“The integrity of our sport is the highest priority at World Athletics,” it said.
Sports analyst Mark Dreyer, author of “Sporting Superpower: An Insider’s View on China’s Quest to Be the Best,” weighed in on the controversy, describing the finish as a “bad look.”
“It’s one thing for four runners running right at the end to potentially hold hands or cross the line together in a show of sportsmanship. That’s not what we saw,” he said, adding, “It’s not a sprint finish for anyone other than He Jie. It doesn’t take a genius or running expert to figure that out.”
Despite the unfolding controversy, He Jie, hailing from northwest China’s Ningxia region, remains a figure of promise in long-distance running. Ranked 77th in the world in the men’s marathon by World Athletics, he is anticipated to play a significant role in representing Asian runners in the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
Source: The Print
BCB announces preliminary squad for Zimbabwe T20s
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today announced a 17-member preliminary squad for the five-match T20 International series against Zimbabwe, starting on May 3.
Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman were not included in the squad as they are not in the country at this moment.
All-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin found a place in the preliminary squad, raising a hope to get back into the national team after 2022.
Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, the chairman of national team selection panel, said the players of this squad will get the priority to be on the flight of USA and West Indies, which will host T20 World Cup.
"Unfortunately Shakib and Mustafizur haven't been in the country at this moment, so we couldn't keep them in the squad. Soumya also has an injury concern. He has been under observation but still he is in the squad so that he can take part in the strategic lecture session," Lipu was quoted in a video message sent by the BCB today.
"Mehidy Hasan Miraz is not in the squad but if any off spinner gets injured, he can make his way. He has played so many T20 matches. There are some who are out of the squad because we don't need them at the moment. But they would have the opportunity. Basically these players will get the priority in making the T20 World Cup squad," he added.
Zimbabwe will arrive in Bangladesh on April 28 after which they will travel to Chattogram straightway.
Chattogram Zahur Ahmed Chowhdury Stadium will host the first three matches on May 3, 5 and 7. The teams will then travel to Dhaka where the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium hosts the last two matches on May 10 and 12.
Preliminary Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Liton Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanvir Islam, Afif Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Saifuddin, Soumya Sarkar.
Source: BSS
Johnathan, son of Zimbabwe legend Alistair, called up in squad for Bangladesh tour
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has called up Jonathon Campbell as the only uncapped player in its 15-man squad for its tour to Bangladesh for a five-match Twenty 20 International (T20I) series in May.
Jonathon is the son of former Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell, considered as one of the finest ever players the country has produced.
Campbell played 60 Tests and 188 ODIs for Zimbabwe and scored more than 8000 runs.
His son Jonathon Campbell, 26, is a legspin-bowling allrounder who was part of the country's emerging team which won the gold medal at the 13th African Games in March 2024. He scored 115 runs from four innings at a strike rate of 126.37 but wasn't needed to bowl all that much. He did pick up a wicket though, from a total of two overs.
Tadiwanashe Marumani and Faraz Akram have been recalled in the side led by allrounder Sikandar Raza.
The rest of the selected players were part of the squad for Zimbabwe's last T20I series away to Sri Lanka in January.
They include the veterans Craig Ervine and Sean Williams, pacemen Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani as well as the young guns Clive Madande and Brian Bennett.
Madande, Bennett and Campbell were part of the Zimbabwe emerging men's team that won the gold medal at the 13th African Games in Ghana in March.
With ZC yet to appoint a new head coach, Stuart Matsikenyeri will be in charge of Zimbabwe against Bangladesh.
The two sides will play the first three T20Is in Chattogram on May 3, 5 and 7, before concluding the series in Dhaka with matches set for May 10 and 12.
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (captain), Faraz Akram, Biran Bennett, Ryan Burl, Johnathan Campbell, Craig Ervine, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Clive Madande, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Ainsley Ndlovu, Richard Ngarava, Sean Williams.
T20 World Cup / 'We have good chance'
The T20 World Cup is set to be played this year in West Indies and USA from June 1 to June 30. Bangladesh have been clubbed in Group D with South Africa, Sri Lanka, Netherlands and Nepal.
Shakib Al Hasan didn’t play excessive matches after the ODI World Cup in India, 2023. He was busy with DPL, BPL but he was seen less in national team. In the last edition of World Cup, Bangladesh went in a target of playing semi-final but couldn’t even have competition in front of quality teams.
Shakib said : 'It's tough to say that we're in a position to win the World Cup. But in T20's any team can beat anyone, there is no big or lower ranked team in this format. We need to believe. If we can play with that belief, then we can do good. Not saying, we're winning the World Cup. But we've good chance to do well in the World Cup.'
Bangladesh will start their T20 World Cup from Zimbabwe home series, starting from 3rd May. After, Bangladesh will tour USA for a 3 match T20 series. Bangladesh will have total 8 matches for their preparation before the tournament.
Nigar, Harmanpreet unveiled the trophy for a 5 match T20I series
India won the three-match T20 series 2-1, the last time when the two teams met. On the other hand, the One-Day International series ended at 1-1.
On Sunday (April 28) the 5 match T20I series will commence at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Nigar Sultana Joty, the Bangladesh skipper and her counterpart Harmanpreet Kaur unveiled the trophy for the T20I series on Saturday (April 27) infront of the historic Ali Amjad's Clock in Sylhet.
India’s squad for 5 T20Is : Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Dayalan Hemalatha, Sajana Sajeevan, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Radha Yadav, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Amanjot Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu.
Bangladesh’s squad for 5 T20Is against Bangladesh: Nigar Sultana Joty (c), Nahida Akter (vc), Murshida Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Rabeya Khan, Sultana Khatun, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Fariha Islam Trisna, Shorifa Khatun, Dilara Akter, Rubya Haider Jhelik, Habiba Islam Pinky.
Meanwhile, all the matches will be played at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. The last time the two teams met, India won the three-match T20 series 2-1, while the One-Day International series ended at 1-1, with the final game being tied.
