Latest news with #Simranjeet
NDTV
19 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
India Stars Return Empty-Handed After Shambolic Run At Archery World Cup 2025
India's 16-member squad endured a shambolic campaign at the Archery World Cup 2025 Stage 3 after falling short in securing medals across recurve and compound events in Antalya. The Antalya leg, which commenced on Wednesday and will conclude on Sunday, will not feature an Indian archer competing in the singles event for medals, according to Four-time Olympian and India's seasoned archer Deepika Kumari, who had clinched bronze in Shanghai, was defeated 6-0 by Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion An San of the Republic of Korea in the second round. An San later squared off against Simranjeet Kaur in a closely contested quarter-final on Saturday. Simranjeet, ranked 54th after qualification, came close to orchestrating an upset, leading 5-3 at one stage. However, Simranjeet floundered in the fifth set, which allowed An San to equalise at 5-5. An San went on to dominate and delivered 11 in the shoot-off to win the contest with a 6-5 scoreline. In the men's category, Parth Salunkhe, bronze medallist in Shanghai, suffered a shock first-round exit in the individual recurve event along with Olympian Tarundeep Rai. Meanwhile, Dhiraj Bommadevara, India's top qualifier at 13th, allowed a 4-2 lead to slip from his palms in the second round encounter against Chinese Taipei's Tang Chih-Chun by a 6-4 scoreline. Atanu Das was also ousted in the second round, after succumbing to a defeat against Paris 2024 silver medallist Brady Ellison of the USA. The recurve men's team of Dhiraj Bommadevara, Atanu Das and Parth Salunkhe crashed out following a 5-1 defeat against France in the third-place playoff. In the compound archery events, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, the reigning Asian Games champion, returned empty-handed after losing to Estonia's Meeri-Marita Paas 152-150 in the second round. Madhura Dhamangaonkar, who secured a gold medal in women's individual compound in Shanghai last month, suffered a bitter defeat against Mexico's Mariana Bernal 159-152 in the quarter-finals. Reigning women's world champion Aditi Swami was overwhelmed by Mexico's Andrea Becerra 152-147 at the same stage. Listen to the latest songs, only on
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Simranjeet's golden punch at boxing championship
Fifteen-year-old Simranjeet Kaur from Chakar village, who clinched the gold medal in the 57-60 kg category at the State Junior Women Boxing Championship held in Pathankot on Wednesday, has said that the game has been her passion since 2021. A student of Class 12 (commerce), her journey is rooted in determination and humble beginnings. With her mother as a homemaker and father working as a labourer, she has carved her path with grit and discipline. Last month, she brought pride to the nation by securing a silver medal in the under-17 60-kg category at the Junior Asian Championship in Jordan. Her love for boxing began unexpectedly. 'I used to go for evening walks and noticed children practising boxing. One day, I thought, why not me? I joined the training centre in my village in 2021. Since then, it has become my passion,' she said. She is no stranger to the podium. Last year, Simranjeet bagged a silver in the 54-kg category at the School National Games in Delhi and also clinched gold in the 60-kg category at the state-level Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan in SAS Nagar. Despite being in her board exam year, she maintains a strict routine, training for two and a half hours each in the morning and evening while keeping up with her academics. 'Sports isn't just about medals. It shapes your mind and body,' said Simranjeet who aspires to pursue law during higher studies.
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Simranjeet set to be 1st woman pugilist from Punjab to turn pro
Simranjeet Kaur Bath, 29, is all set to become the first woman boxer from Punjab to turn professional. Simranjeet, who was born in Chakkar village in Jagraon, was a part of the Indian team at the Tokyo Olympics and has been signed by former American professional boxer Roy Jones Jr and Indian boxer Mandeep Jangra. The duo will help her complete the transition from amateur to professional circuit and train her for upcoming matches. Simranjeet represented India in the light welterweight category. She is the first woman boxer from Punjab to participate at the Olympics. 'I am happy that my career is starting with such a promoter, who has given many star boxers to the world. Mandeep is already making the country proud in the professional ring and I will also try to get recognition for the country. Roy Jones Jr is the best promoter and I will take my career forward with him,' Simranjeet, who is a two-time Asian Championships medallist, said. She will be the third Indian boxer after World Championship medallists Nishant Dev and Amit Panghal to turn pro this year. Roy Jones Jr praised Simranjeet and said she was India's top boxer. 'She has been doing well at the amateur level and I am confident that she will prove herself on the professional circuit as well,' he said. Mandeep too expressed thrill over Simranjeet's switch to the pro boxing arena. 'I am happy that we will help her in her professional journey,' he said. Over the years, Beijing 2008 bronze medallist Vijender Singh, Commonwealth Games silver medallists Sarita Devi and Neeraj Goyat along with Olympian Vikas Krishan, have turned pro.
The National
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Simranjeet Singh aims to make up for lost time after realising dream of international cricket with UAE
Having just celebrated his 35th birthday, Simranjeet Singh must have feared the international cricket career he had always craved had passed him by. Nearly four years earlier, he had already given up on trying to crack Ranji Trophy domestic cricket in India, and had looked for ways to make a living from the game elsewhere. It was Covid times, and cricket had dried up in the state of Punjab. So the left-arm spinner travelled from his home in Ludhiana to the UAE instead, and picked up some matches. He impressed, and the boss of one of the domestic club sides he played for arranged to convert his visa into a permanent one, on the proviso he represent the staff cricket team. The matches continued and, when he went up against UAE national team players, he found he could more than hold his own. Still, recognition had to be forced as much as earned. He found out where the national team were training, and approached the coach, the former India Test player Lalchand Rajput. 'On my first day here, I spoke to [Rajput], and said, 'Sir, I am a spinner, I have completed my three years [residency qualification to be eligible to play international cricket] here and play A Division cricket – can you just check me out, and tell me what you think?'' Simranjeet said. 'He said, 'OK, just wait five minutes and in the next round you can come and bowl.' He gave me an opportunity in the nets, and felt good about me. 'He invited me back the next day, so I came back and after that he said I could continue joining their camp. The fact the bowlers were impressed with my bowling made me confident.' Simranjeet was kept on to bowl in the nets, and bolstered the ranks whenever there were practice matches. He discovered he was becoming a permanent fixture in the training squad. Then, last November, they made it official: he was called into the team for a regional T20 World Cup qualifier in Qatar, and debuted a week after turning 35. 'You know when you are bowling well and think you have a chance,' Simranjeet said. 'After that, sir told me I would be going in the team. I had been waiting for that moment for 18 or 19 years. When he announced the name of Simranjeet Singh in the 14-man squad, it was like a dream for me. 'I had goosebumps and was thinking, 'Seriously? Now I am in an international team?' It was a proud and emotional moment for me and my family.' He said he was lost for words when he told his news to those closest to him. 'I went home and was on a video call with my family,' he said. 'There are four of us in our family – mum, dad, sister, and me – and we were all in separate places. No one was sitting together. 'The video call started, and I couldn't speak any words. I had been given my kit, so I just showed my UAE helmet on the screen, and everyone started crying. 'They had also all been waiting since 2006 for this moment. In those years, I had not been earning any money. They had been paying for me – my sister, my mum, everybody – as I had not been working in India until I got here. 'I wasn't earning, I was just playing cricket for seven or eight hours per day, practicing. I was easily doing 40-50 overs in practice every day. So for me to bowl 15 or 20 overs, that is an easy task.' In accordance with his Sikh faith, Simranjeet has never cut his hair or his beard, and he is proud to represent his religion as an international cricketer. He is grateful to Rajput, as well as Harbhajan Singh Kala, his first coach back home in Ludhiana, for helping him reach this point. Rajput, for his part, believes he can be an asset for the national team, both now and in the future. 'As a left-arm spinner, the more revolutions he gives is what struck me,' Rajput said. 'Most bowlers here have played T20 and T10, so they try to bowl the ball a little bit flatter. They want to contain the batters and are not bowling to take wickets. 'What I saw from him is a typical left-arm spinner, the type we see in India, who are putting more revolutions on the ball, giving flight, and beating the batsmen in the air. 'He has a lot of variations as well because he has a good arm ball. I think we have to back such players, and he has done exceptionally well. 'He never wants to give up at any time. He is always saying, 'Sir, I will bowl at this stage.' That is a good sign. He is not afraid of getting hit.' Simranjeet will face the biggest challenge of his fledgling international career to date on tour in Amsterdam this month. The national team return to Cricket World Cup League Two action when they face Scotland and the Netherlands – perhaps the two strongest sides in it. 'When you play against the best, only then will you come to know where you stand,' Rajput said. 'If you are playing against the best team and you do well, then the sky is the limit. 'You must always aim to be the best, and that is the attitude we are trying to get across. 'I come from Mumbai in India, and cricketers in Mumbai have the attitude that you must never give up at any time, until the last run is scored and the last wicket is taken.'
