Articles by Abhijeet Kulkarni
Semenya injured, but keeps CWG hopes alive
The depleted track and field event is in danger of another high-profile withdrawal if world 800m champion Caster Semenya fails to recover from a back injury.
Updated on Sep 29, 2010 12:13 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni/PTI, New Delhi
‘Court’ order: Ready to smash and crush
The last time the Indian national anthem was played during the medal ceremony of a badminton event in the 1982 Commonwealth Games, current sensation Saina Nehwal was not even born, and her mentor and now chief national coach Pullela Gopi Chand was still learning the ropes of the sport. Guide to badminton
Updated on Sep 20, 2010 12:14 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Bindra needs grace marks to make cut
When the selection committee meets in New Delhi on Wednesday to pick the 10m air rifle team for the Commonwealth Games, India's only individual Olympic gold-medallist, Abhinav Bindra, will need 'grace marks' to make the cut.
Updated on Sep 01, 2010 12:32 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
False bravado leaves BAI at a loose end
The Badminton Association of India’s (BAI) public stand that the governing body was self-sufficient and did not need government funding seems nothing more than mere posturing.
Updated on Aug 16, 2010 12:13 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni and Anupma Tripathi, Mumbai/new Delhi
Nirupama comes back to prop up CWG chances
Desperate to prop up its women's tennis challenge in the Commonwealth Games, the All India Tennis Association has roped in a 33-year-old who retired six years ago.
Updated on Aug 09, 2010 11:18 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Pune
Mother, a bedrock of support for the champion
Sometimes, the mother knows best. And there is no better person to vouch for this idiom, at the moment, than the newly crowned shooting world champion, Tejaswini Sawant.
Updated on Aug 08, 2010 11:31 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
The unsung coach who has shaped many a career
He never picked up a gun for competition even at the district level and was not officially recognised as a coach till 2007.
Updated on Aug 08, 2010 11:28 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Indian idol: Another high for shining Saina
Saina Nehwal’s growing stature in Indian sports received an official stamp with the 20-year-old being named for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for the year 2008-09. Saina's list of firsts
Updated on Jul 31, 2010 12:41 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
BAI may suspend Sinha despite court restraint
After months of shadowboxing, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) president VK Verma and secretary Vijai Sinha have taken their fight to court with the latter getting a restrain order against Tuesday’s extraordinary Executive Council meeting.
Updated on Jul 26, 2010 11:52 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Can’t judge by rankings alone, it’s the titles that really count
When Saina Nehwal breached the top-five barrier in the rankings back in March 2010, the 20-year-old elatedly messaged a few well-wishers and journalists informing them about the achievement. Now, she climbs on and it’s journalists who are trying hard to get through to her.
Updated on Jul 16, 2010 12:00 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni
Is BAI heading for a split?
While the popularity of badminton may be on an all-time high, thanks to the exploits of Saina Nehwal, the power struggle between Badminton Association of India president, VK Verma, and secretary, Vijay Sinha, is threatening to split the apex governing body of the sport.
Updated on Jul 09, 2010 11:12 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Changed strategy worked wonders for Saina
The change in strategy has worked wonders for the world number 3 as she completed a hattrick of titles with a successful defence of her Indonesia Super Series crown by beating Japan’s Sayaka Sato 21-19, 13-21, 21-11 in Jakarta on Sunday, report Abhijeet Kulkarni and Anupma Tripathi.
Updated on Jun 28, 2010 01:00 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni/Anupma Tripathi, Mumbai
Beyond the news
In September 2008, when Saina Nehwal defeated the then world champion Zhu Lin of China in the latter’s own backyard, her name was added to the long list of possible challengers to the Chinese hegemony.
Updated on Jun 21, 2010 12:40 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, New Delhi
Super Saina wins Series
Saina Nehwal (20) underlined her growing stature in world badminton with a comfortable 21-18, 21-15 win over giant killer Tzu Ying Tai of Chinese Taipei to win the Singapore Open and bag her second Super Series crown. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports. See graphics
Updated on Jun 21, 2010 01:49 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Saina in title round
Saina Nehwal exposed the mental frailty of top Chinese shuttlers with a come-from-behind victory over world champion Lu Lan to storm into the final of the Singapore Open on Saturday. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports.
Updated on Jun 20, 2010 12:49 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Performance in IPL boosted my confidence, says Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav, the Vidarbha fast bowler, was getting ready to meet his college professor in Nagpur when he was informed about his selection in the Indian squad for the World Twenty20 being played in the West Indies.
Updated on May 07, 2010 12:28 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Panaji
RCB demolish Deccan by nine wkts, qualify for CLT20
Royal Challengers Bangalore qualified for the Champions League Twenty20 after routing Deccan Chargers comprehensively by nine wickets in the third-fourth place play-off match of the Indian Premier League in Mumbai, reports Abhijeet Kulkarni.
Updated on Apr 25, 2010 12:21 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Battle to enter big league
A chance to participate in the lucrative Champions League next years is what makes the fight for the third place exciting as Deccan Chargers take on Royal Challengers Bangalore today.
Updated on Apr 24, 2010 09:45 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
‘I want to be a match winner’
T Suman’s promotion up the batting order has proved to be a masterstroke for the Deccan Chargers. Having played a match-winning knock against the Royal Challengers, the 27-year-old overcame an attack of gastroenteritis to guide his team to victory against the Super Kings on Saturday.Suman spoke to HT on how IPL has changed things for him.
Updated on Apr 11, 2010 11:27 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Nagpur
All Charged up
Adam Gilchrist’s men will be hoping that the upswing, starting with Monday’s encounter against the Royal Challengers, continues for their three league games if they are to entertain any hopes of making it to the last four, reports Abhijeet Kulkarni.
Updated on Apr 11, 2010 11:17 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Nagpur
No Murali, no win for Chennai Super Kings
The Chennai Super Kings skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, justified the decision to exclude Muttiah Muralitharan from the squad saying that in T20 cricket, picking a balanced XI was more important that playing the best XI.
Updated on Apr 11, 2010 12:26 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Nagpur
Re-charged Deccan to face Super Kings
Gilchrist will hope they would raise the bar once again in what could be termed as the second virtual quarterfinal against the in-form Chennai Super Kings on Saturday.
Updated on Apr 10, 2010 12:27 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Nagpur
Warne’s pep talk does it for Trivedi & Royals
Siddharth Trivedi’s final over (1, 1, dot, wkt, 1+wkt, wkt) against the Deccan Chargers bore a rather interesting look. Before every ball bowled, captain Shane Warne walked up to the bowler for a quick chat, then ran up to his fielding position.
Updated on Apr 06, 2010 10:34 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Nagpur
No comfort for Chargers at ‘home’
The last time the Deccan Chargers played a ‘home’ game against the Mumbai Indians, the D.Y. Patil Stadium resonated with the chants of ‘Sachin’ and ‘Malingaaa’ — players from the opposing team.
Updated on Apr 06, 2010 10:14 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Nagpur
Warne scalps four inspiring Royals to an incredible win
Having restricted the Royals to 159, the Chargers looked set for their fourth win of the tournament before their batting collapsed under pressure. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports.
Updated on Apr 06, 2010 12:23 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Nagpur
With four losses in a row, the Chargers are desperate for a victory
With both the Royals and Chargers struggling to find the right bowling combination, the onus will be on the batsmen to end the losing run. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports.
Updated on Apr 05, 2010 12:06 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Nagpur
Mumbai Indians beat Deccan Chargers by 41 runs
Mumbai Indians defeated defending champions Deccan Chargers by 41 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the DY Patil stadium in Mumbai, reports Abhijeet Kulkarni.
Updated on Mar 29, 2010 02:07 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Home alone for the Chargers
In the first two editions of the Indian Premier League, the Mumbai Indians were struggling to find their feet and that was reflected through the average turnout at the stadium, reports Abhijeet Kulkarni.
Updated on Mar 27, 2010 11:13 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
‘I have stopped sledging’
It is difficult to keep S Sreesanth out of the news, be it on the field or off it. Probably the most colourful personality in the Kings XI dressing room, the 27-year-old spoke to HT about the changes in him as a cricketer, that one over which cost his team the match against the Royal Challengers and his new social initiatives.
Updated on Mar 25, 2010 02:02 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Cuttack
Deccan Chargers beat Delhi Daredevils by 10 runs
With the city not hosting any of the IPL nights, the Sunday crowd at the Barabati Stadium was treated to a fashion show before defending champions, the Deccan Chargers, took on the Delhi Daredevils, reports Abhijeet Kulkarni.
Updated on Mar 22, 2010 01:15 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Cuttack