UP Warriorz appoints Abhishek Nayar as head coach ahead of WPL season
Nayar played a key role as an assistant coach in helping Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinch the Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2024 and was also part of the coaching setup for Team India when they won the Champions Trophy earlier this year.
The Announcement was made in collaboration with renowned stand-up comedian Zakir Khan, who has been onboarded as the face of UP Warriorz fans on social media. The intriguing announcement video was shot at Abhishek Nayar's alma mater, Bombay Scottish School.
A respected figure in Indian cricket circles, Nayar brings a deep understanding of the game, a proven track record in player development, and years of experience across various coaching roles at both domestic and international levels.
A former Indian international all-rounder and a key figure in Mumbai's domestic cricket setup, Nayar has seamlessly transitioned into one of the most influential coaches in the Indian cricketing ecosystem. His journey as a coach has been defined by his ability to mentor and nurture young talent, helping top athletes push past their limits.
This is not Nayar's first time being associated with the UP Warriorz since he also spent a brief stint with the team during their off-season training camps post-Season 1. The franchise is confident that his stepping into the head coach role will bring consistency and strength to the team's preparations.
Nayar's expertise and ability as a coach are well documented and were seen in the IPL when he was the Assistant Coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Hailing from Mumbai, Nayar had been part of KKR since 2018 and has worked closely with players like Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, and Rinku Singh since their early years.
In 2024, Nayar also served as the assistant coach of the Indian men's national team, where he worked under Head Coach Gautam Gambhir. During his time with the Indian team, he worked closely with the top batters in the team, and KL Rahul personally credited Nayar for helping him regain his form in the T20 format. Among the other players he has worked with behind the scenes are also the likes of former India captain Rohit Sharma and former India wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik.
Speaking on his appointment, Abhishek Nayar expressed his excitement and said, 'I really enjoyed my time working with the UP Warriorz before, and I'm thrilled to take on this new role. WPL is a fantastic platform for women's cricket, and I'm looking forward to working closely with the management to build a strong team for Season 4. UP Warriorz already have a strong foundation in place, and I believe we can build something truly special. There is incredible potential, and I will give it my all to help win their first-ever title this season'
Jinisha Sharma, Director, Capri Sports, echoed the enthusiasm and stated, 'We believe that this appointment shows our strong intent to elevate the team's performance and push for greater success in the upcoming WPL season. With Abhishek Nayar's leadership, experience in coaching at the highest level and ability to bring out the best in players, the franchise is confident of a strong showing this season.'
Kshemal Waingankar, COO, UP Warriorz, said, 'Abhishek Nayar is one of the best brains in the business in Global cricket, and we are delighted to have on our side as the Head Coach. We are excited about his vision for UP Warriorz, and we are confident that under his leadership, the team can provide its fans with many more memorable moments in the future.' (ANI)
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Canada News.Net
a day ago
- Canada News.Net
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Healey in the semifinal, who had earlier defeated a Japanese wrestler by fall, Rachna showed great composure and advanced with a narrow 1-1 win on criteria. In the final, she faced a tough Chinese wrestler, Xin Huang and emerged victorious with a confident 3-0 score. Rachna is also the reigning Asian Champion in this category, having won a Gold Medal at the Under-17 Asian Championship held in Vietnam in June 2025. Ashvini Vishnoi (65 kg)-Gold Medal: Ashvini Vishnoi, the only wrestler from Rajasthan to win a gold at the World Championship, continued her remarkable form. After winning Gold at both the Under-17 Asian Championship and the Asian Beach Wrestling Championship in Vietnam, she carried her momentum to the world stage. She began by defeating Algerian wrestler Selsabil Rouabah by fall. 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Kajal (73 kg) - Silver Medal: Kajal repeated her Under-17 Asian Championship final face-off with Chinese wrestler Wenjin Qiu, and unfortunately, the result was the same. Kajal had a strong run to the final, defeating Hungarian wrestler Bianka Barany Almasi by fall in just 25 seconds, followed by another fall win (12-0) over Romanian wrestler Claudia G. Mantong. She secured her third fall victory over Georgian wrestler Anna Godelashvili. In the semifinal, she outclassed USA's Ella J. Poalillo with an 11-0 technical superiority. The final against Qiu was hard-fought; although Kajal showed better preparation this time, she lost by a close 5-8 margin. Yashita (61 kg)-Silver Medal: India's third Silver Medal came from Yashita in the 61 kg category. She began with a 5-1 win over Kyrgyz wrestler Akylai Chynybaeva and then defeated Bulgarian wrestler Andrea Niseva 3-1. In the quarterfinal, Yashita edged past UWW wrestler Varvara Aliseyenka 2-2 on criteria. She secured a convincing 5-0 victory over Hungarian wrestler Barbara Bager in the semifinal. In a closely contested final, she lost bout from USA wrestler Taina Rose Fernandez 11-0. Komal Verma (49 kg)-Bronze Meda: Komal Verma secured a Bronze Medal in the 49 kg category. She started strong, defeating Spain's Sheila Mondrago Garcia 10-0. In the quarterfinal, she lost to USA's Morgan Nicole Turner (0-10), but as Turner advanced to the final, Komal got a chance in the repechage. She made full use of the opportunity by beating Kazakhstan's Saniya Soltangali with a 10-0 technical superiority and then clinched the bronze by defeating UWW wrestler Anhelina Burkina 8-3. Hardeep (110 kg, Greco-Roman)-Gold Medal: Hardeep created history by becoming the first Indian to win a Gold Medal in the heavyweight (110 kg) Greco-Roman category at the Under-17 World Championship. Already crowned Asian Champion earlier this year in Vietnam, Hardeep continued his winning streak. He opened with a 2-0 win over a Kazak wrestler, followed by a 4-2 victory over a Polish opponent. In the quarterfinal, he dominated his Ukrainian opponent 9-0. The semifinal saw him beat a tough Turkish wrestler 4-2. In the final, he faced a strong Iranian wrestler, a match that tested his determination. In a dramatic finish, Hardeep won on criteria with a 3-3 scoreline, securing India's first-ever gold in this category at the Under-17 Worlds. This achievement surpasses the previous best, a silver medal by Raunak Dahiya in 2023. The Indian wrestling team has once again proven its strength on the global stage. With 3 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals, it has been a memorable campaign at the Under-17 World Wrestling Championship in Athens. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) congratulates all the medalists and extends gratitude to the coaching staff, support teams, and partners whose relentless efforts continue to elevate Indian wrestling on the global stage. This is a proud moment for Indian Wrestling. The commitment, confidence, and courage displayed by our young athletes, especially the women wrestlers, show the promising future of wrestling in India,' said a WFI spokesperson. The championship continues in Athens, where Indian wrestlers are set to compete in the remaining bouts in the Freestyle category. Lacky (110 kg) has advanced to the Gold Medal bout, scheduled to take place tomorrow. Unfortunately, two Freestyle wrestlers, Saurabh Yadav (82 Kg) and Arjun Ruhil (92 Kg), were unable to travel to Athens due to the non-issuance of visas. Arjun Ruhil, the reigning Asian Champion, was a strong medal contender, and his absence is a significant setback for the Indian team. (ANI)
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Manitobans look to stay on target at Worlds
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She will be competing in the U18 Compound event at the 2025 World Archery Youth Championships in Winnipeg from Aug. 16-24. It's the first time Winnipeg is hosting an international archery tournament, which will run from August 16-24. The event features both compound and recurve competitions, with all matches up to the semifinals held at the Winnipeg South End United Soccer Complex, and the bronze and gold medal finals taking place at The Forks. Sandhu, a compound archer, hopes to build on what has already been a successful start to her young archery career. She holds multiple provincial medals in both indoor and outdoor competitions, along with first-place finishes at the 2024 National West Cup, 2024 Archery Nationals, 2024 Manitoba Outdoor Championships, 2025 Manitoba Indoor Championships and, most recently, the 2025 National West Cup held this past June. Consistent practice is what Sandhu says has been a big help in her growth, dedicating five to six hours every day to archery. 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BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Bailey Mathers, who will be competing in the U21 Compound event, is hoping to rebound from a rough Canada Cup tournament earlier this year. Her dad also shoots, and by the time she was 12, Mathers had started taking lessons. A year later, she was competing. Mathers now coaches young athletes in the sport herself, a full-circle moment for the archer who came up through lessons and has gone on to earn first-place finishes at the Indoor Target Provincial Championships, National Indoor Championships and Provincial Championships Mixed Team events, along with medals at several other provincial and national competitions. 'The most important thing for being a good archer, I'd say it's the mental game,' said Mathers, who practices six times a week. 'You can shoot super well in practice, but when you get into competition, if all of that goes away as soon as you get a bit stressed out, it's really hard to perform well.' 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Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada Super 60 league to make debut at Vancouver's B.C. Place Stadium
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