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Hindustan Times
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Teen squash star Anahat charts the path for excellence
Mumbai: About a year ago, when Saurav Ghosal got on board Team Anahat as mentor and at times also a hands-on coach, he knew that her forehand wasn't at the level it needed to be. Anahat Singh. (Getty Images) Anahat Singh was told that. But she also had to be shown that. So, India's 38-year-old retired squash star got on court for a game with the country's brightest teen talent. The condition: they will play only on the forehand side. The challenge: 'let's see if you can beat me,' Ghosal told Anahat. She could not. 'She absolutely hates to lose,' Ghosal said. 'So, that not only exposed the piece of the puzzle in her game, it also made her realise that 'if I need to get better and not lose, I need to get this right'. I would play on that fact.' A year on, that forehand is a lot more secure, and often even lethal. It showed in the 17-year-old's outing at the World Junior Championships in Cairo, where Anahat went a step better than last year to secure an individual bronze before losing in the semi-finals. That she was the only non-Egyptian in the last four reflected how her game is a handful for most opponents her age at the junior level. What also reflected in the semi-final finish was aspects of her game that are work-in-progress. And while in the basic SWOT analysis of where her game is at currently, strengths outweigh weaknesses, there continue to be refinement opportunities as Anahat ends another junior cycle and dives deeper into pro waters. She is already fishing in it as India's top-ranked woman at world No.54. For Ghosal, three standout features define Anahat's game at present. The foremost winds back to his forehand challenge. 'The hating to lose attitude drives her to push sometimes beyond what she thinks she is capable of,' he said. 'Second, the amount of balls she gets back, especially for the women's game, and the way she can anticipate where the ball is going and make the opponent hit the extra shot, that's been natural from a very young age. And third is her short game. She has good touch. She also has a decent amount of control on the ball for her age, which helps her break up play and put balls away.' She is also a receptive learner, and the different coaches she has worked with in the past few years is an indicator of that. Anahat is currently training under former French pro Gregory Gaultier, with ex-Italian pro Stephane Galifi also in her team that features Ghosal in a more mentorship role. The teen had also worked with Ritwik Bhattacharya, among other coaches. The current team has made her a 'different player today than what she was even in March', according to Ghosal, when Anahat won a PSA title in Mumbai amid a rich haul of Challenger level titles to go with her junior dominance. The biggest uptick, forehand aside, has come in her match intensity. 'She used to float in and out in terms of intensity. I feel Greg has a lot to do with ramping that up,' Ghosal said. 'There's also a bit more structure to her game now. She has a better understanding of what her strengths are and how she can manoeuvre the ball around in her favour on a more consistent basis.' Which means she doesn't necessarily have to hunt for a 10/10 shot every time to win a point. A 7/10 shot, hit repeatedly, will open up larger spaces on court for her to exploit. 'Chances are then that you'll win points more consistently,' Ghosal said. 'These are facets of the game she hadn't explored earlier, and with time she is starting to see the benefits of it. That's the trajectory she is on.' A trajectory that the former world No.10 sees for Anahat is to bring her to a level where she can be a 'mainstay in the top 10 and even higher'. There's work to be done in that. The physicality is one part of it, and that will be a continuous process even though Ghosal cautioned against making her a 'muscle woman'. And then there's this one piece that Ghosal believes can further elevate her game. 'We're trying to get her to step up on the T and volley a lot more,' he said. 'The more she cuts the ball earlier, the more the intensity will shoot up. That's something she will have to do at the top level. Otherwise, she will get stuck behind the top women and they will take advantage. It's something that doesn't come naturally to her, but it's a lot better than what it was a year back.'
Business Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Europe moves on from economic 'peak pessimism'
JANUARY'S 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos is sometimes seen as the moment that 'peak pessimism' reigned about Europe's future economic and political performance. Yet, fast forward to today and expectations for the region's prospects have improved significantly since. To be sure, Europe continues to have many challenges. However, the mood music has flipped, at a minimum, from 'glass half empty' to 'glass half full'. On Thursday (June 5), for instance, the European Central Bank (ECB) is widely expected by economists to cut interest rates for what would be the eighth time in a little more than a year. This would see the ECB diverge further from the recent path of the US Federal Reserve, which has had rates on hold in 2025. Other central banks in the region have also cut rates too. This includes the Bank of England which has made four cuts of a full percentage point since a peak last year of 5.25 per cent. Yet, it is not just this stimulus from monetary policy that has helped change perceptions of the economic and political outlook for the region. In Europe's largest economy, the new German government has surprised on the upside, despite its erstwhile shaky start in office, with reform of the so-called constitutional balanced budget amendment or debt brake. This could see over one trillion euros of additional spending in the next decade. Moreover, wider supply side reforms could lift the economy further in the next four years of Friedrich Merz's chancellorship. Further, there has also been a resurgence in the European trade liberalisation agenda. Last December, the EU agreed on a big deal with the Mercosur bloc, and it is chasing down agreements with a wide range of other nations. Moreover, the United Kingdom has recently delivered a big trade agreement with India. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up All in all, it is perhaps no big surprise that several big firms have changed their stance on Europe. Research by KKR, for instance, has highlighted an 'investment renaissance' in the region in 2025. This is even before the possibility of potential progress on the competitiveness agenda of former ECB chief (and ex-Italian prime minister) Mario Draghi. This is a political super priority for European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen amid a blizzard of economic initiatives, including a new EU Clean Industrial Deal launched in February which may become the signature issue of her second term of office. This shift in perceptions of Europe in 2025 highlights how sentiment about powers can change, sometimes significantly, in a relatively short space of time. What has underpinned this change is political developments not only economic ones, emanating both from Europe and the United States. In Europe, markets have perceived newfound political resolve following multiple key elections in 2024 and the first half of 2025, including in the United Kingdom and Germany. There is a perception that this may provide a much needed political 'window of opportunity' for reform, including scope for a very significant defence build-up. Yet, the increased positivity of sentiment towards Europe also reflects downgrades in perceptions of the US growth outlook under the second Trump administration. Views of US financial exceptionalism have been badly dented in the last few months, not least because of the chaos of Trump's trade tariff policy. One of the many ironies about the re-election of Donald Trump as US president last year is that this key event might actually strengthen rather than weaken Europe, despite concerns to the contrary. Trump's presidency has, so far at least, been a driver for the region's economic reform and strengthening of security and defence. Yet, we should not get carried away with this positivity. While there is still more potential for Europe to surprise on the upside, the fact that the region is at a possibly big economic and political pivot point means there are less rosy scenarios that may still materialise. What makes Europe's future economic and political pathway hard to forecast is that the regional landscape is characterised by intense volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (Vuca). So it is full of both risk and opportunity, with the balance between the two waxing and waning from time to time. At present, there is an upswing in positive perceptions about Europe's prospects, despite the region's ongoing challenges. Yet, several plausible developments could, collectively, help sour sentiment again. One example is the Ukraine war, which shows little, if any, sign of being resolved anytime soon. Indeed, there is a growing possibility that the conflict could continue into 2026, despite Trump's campaign pledge to resolve it within a day of taking office. Perhaps the central challenge facing the region, however, is enhancing its competitiveness, particularly in the EU's largest economies: Germany, France, and Italy. All three still face significant economic problems whereas some southern European powers such as Spain, Greece and Portugal, plus much of Eastern Europe, have outperformed the EU growth average in recent years, a trend likely to continue in the medium term. Failure to reform, economically, will intensify the political challenges facing Europe. Right-wing populism has not lost its appeal, as was shown in last Sunday's Polish presidential election result, which saw conservative historian Karol Nawrocki elected. A fan of Trump, Nawrocki flew to Washington during the election campaign for a brief meeting and a thumbs-up photo of himself with the US president in the Oval Office. Indeed, the rise of right-wing populism may yet help make for an existential crisis for the EU. No less a figure than Draghi highlighted this possibility last September in his European competitiveness report. Moving from domestic to international politics, the geopolitical context facing Europe is also likely to continue to be very difficult in the second half of the 2020s, whether or not Trump can deliver a sustainable deal to end the Ukraine war. This would primarily be because of continuing security problems posed by Russia. Beyond Moscow, there are wider challenges, including the possibility of significant migration flows from the region's southern borders, plus ongoing tensions in the Middle East. So, while the 1920s became known as the prosperous 'Roaring 20s', a century later there is a significant risk that the 2020s will be seen as a much more difficult 'Warring 20s' that help pivot Europe's future in a negative direction. Taken together, this showcases the potential tipping point that Europe may still be at. The first half of 2025 has been, overall, more positive than many expected, but big challenges still lie ahead, which could change the picture again in a significantly more negative direction. The writer is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Costacurta aims dig at French media over Donnarumma
Italian legend Alessandro Costacurta taunts French media who have often been critical of Gigio Donnarumma: 'They say he isn't the best when he has to come off his line, but they forget to say that he's the best in the world at everything else.' The Italy captain massively contributed to PSG's 1-0 win over Arsenal in the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday with several crucial saves. The former Milan goalkeeper earned praise from the Italian media on Wednesday, and even an Azzurri legend like Costacurta showed his admiration for the 26-year-old. The ex-Italian defender, a five-time Champions League winner with Milan, also aimed a dig at French media who have often been critical of Donnarumma in recent years. 'The French say that Donnarumma isn't the best when he has to come off his line; perhaps they are right,' Costacurta told Sky Sport Italia via TMW. 'However, they forget to say that he's the best in the world at everything else. He made two incredible saves.' Donnarumma made two crucial saves against Arsenal yesterday, but the Gunners had a goal disallowed in the second half. In that circumstance, Gigio's timing in coming off the line surely wasn't ideal. Donnarumma has kept 11 clean sheets in 37 appearances across all competitions with PSG this season. The Italian captain was rated 8/10 by Gazzetta dello Sport, which saw Gigio as the best player on the pitch at the Emirates last night. Donnarumma was also rated 8/10 by Sky Sport Italia. Tuttosport praised him on their front page, saying he had put in a 'super' performance.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Italy star was offered to join Messi's Barcelona
Former Italy star was offered to join Messi's Barcelona Former Fiorentina and Italy star Giuseppe Rossi reveals he was offered a chance to join Barcelona and form a three-man attack with Lionel Messi and David Villa. Rossi was one of the most exciting Italian strikers of his generation, but recurring knee injuries severely affected his career and often forced him to the sidelines to treat serious fitness issues. Advertisement His performances massively impacted sports betting picks, especially during his time in Spain, where he played for Celta Vigo, Levante and Villarreal, scoring 64 goals in 171 games in La Liga. A former Fiorentina striker, Rossi scored seven goals in 30 appearances with the Italy national team, and also played for Parma and Genoa in Serie A, netting 26 times in 62 games in Italy's top flight. The ex-Italian striker experienced several sliding door moments in his career and discussed some of them in his latest interview with Radio TV Serie A. FLORENCE – MARCH 22: Giuseppe Rossi during Pepito Day at Stadio Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2025 in Florence. Pepito Day is special event dedicated to Giuseppe Rossi, affectionately nicknamed 'Pepito'. This day will mark the farewell to football of the Italian-American striker, famous for his career at clubs such as Fiorentina, Villarreal and Manchester United, as well as for his appearances for the Italian national team. (Photo by) 'Guardiola's Barcelona wanted me; of course, Leo Messi was a key figure. They said every player who joined Barcelona had to be approved by him, but I don't know if that was true,' Rossi said via TMW. Advertisement 'I know that they saw me as part of a front three with Messi and David Villa, which tells you what kind of season I had [2010-11]. The deal didn't go through because Villarreal wanted more guaranteed money rather than bonuses. Everything fell apart. I could have played for one of the strongest teams in football's history.' Rossi had another chance to leave Villarreal that summer, with an offer from Juventus. The Bianconeri had just appointed Antonio Conte to replace Luigi Delneri after a disappointing season and would go on to win the title in that campaign. 'There was a big chance. They offered me a great contract,' Rossi said. 'I spoke to Conte and [ex-Juventus CEO] Beppe Marotta. They saw me as Alessandro Del Piero's successor. I hesitated at first because I wasn't convinced it was truly the great Juventus of the past, but it wasn't an offer I could turn down. Advertisement 'I told Villarreal I wanted to leave, but the club blocked my exit because they had already sold several big names, and they wanted to make a good impression in the Champions League. 'They told me: 'This is the contract. Just tell us how much you want to stay.' In that sense, it was a nice moment.' Rossi retired in 2023 but only recently played his farewell game, which was attended by some Fiorentina and Serie A legends, including Gabriel Batistuta and Luca Toni.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Report Conte is Paratici's priority for Milan
Report Conte is Paratici's priority for Milan Tuttosport newspaper reports that if Fabio Paratici becomes the new Milan sporting director, he will try to reunite with Antonio Conte at San Siro. Paratici held talks with Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani earlier this week, and multiple sources, including Sky Sport Italia, see the ex-Juventus and Tottenham director as one of the frontrunners for the Milan sporting director role. According to Tuttosport newspaper, Paratici already has clear ideas for developing Milan in 2025-26, and the starting point would be Conte's appointment as the new head coach. Report Conte is Paratici's priority for Milan VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08:Fabio Paratici of Juventus looks on during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona and Juventus at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 8, 2020 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by) The Italian tactician is under contract with Napoli until 2027, but has also been linked with Juventus and Italian media refuse to rule out a summer exit. Advertisement Tuttosport insists that Conte is not entirely happy with the lack of replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia during the January window, so he's keeping all options open regarding his future. Conte already denied being unhappy about the Kvaratskhelia situation in February, saying he was focused on Napoli's long-term project. The ex-Italian midfielder has already worked with Paratici at Juventus, winning three consecutive Serie A titles in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
