B Shrikant anchors the Mumbai sports desk. A journalist for more than two decades, he covers hockey, chess, athletics, basketball and volleyball.
Articles by B Shrikant
No tie-breaker yet
With both Hockey India and India’s top 22 players refusing to budge from their respective positions, the crisis in Indian hockey does not seem like it will end till senior HI officials fly down here and speak to their players.
Updated on Jan 11, 2010 11:52 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Pune
Hockey India serves 24-hour deadline to agitating players
Hockey India (HI) has set a 24-hour deadline for the agitating players to end their boycott of the national camp or risk disciplinary action. Top HI officials are flying down to Pune tomorrow to resolve the issue, reports B Shrikant.
Updated on Jan 12, 2010 02:40 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Pune
Hockey players to continue with strike again from today
India’s senior hockey players aren’t budging from their “no pay, no play” stand and will not resume practice today. On Sunday afternoon, the 22 players at the preparatory camp in Pune rejected Hockey India’s proposals, report Saurabh Duggal & B Shrikant.
Updated on Jan 11, 2010 12:55 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saurabh Duggal & B Shrikant, Chandigarh/mumbai
No pay, hockey team rebels
Twenty-two senior players of the Indian hockey team on Friday refused to take the field for practice demanding payment of dues. Hockey India, which runs the game in India, owes each player Rs 25,000 for matches and tournaments played by them.
Updated on Jan 09, 2010 01:40 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B. Shrikant, Mumbai
Hockey india elections postponed
Hockey India (HI) can't hold elections on January 29. That's the verdict of SK Mendiratta, the Sports Ministry-appointed observer for the elections.
Updated on Jan 08, 2010 11:31 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B. Shrikant, Mumbai
Hockey team says no pay, no play
“No pay, no play”. That's the message coming out loud and clear from the Indian hockey camp at the Shiv Chhatrapathi Sports Complex in Balewadi near Pune, reports B Shrikant.
Updated on Jan 09, 2010 12:31 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Hockey India seeks details from Punjab
The Hockey India (HI) has sought detailed minutes of Hockey Punjab AGM, where Sukhbir Singh Badal was elected president, before it decides on the Northern state's affiliation application, reports B Shrikant.
Updated on Jan 05, 2010 11:01 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Changing tack for associate tag from Hockey India
Some of the units denied affiliation on the one-state-one-association rule by Hockey India (HI), are now willing to be recognised as associate members. Among them are Mumbai and Vidarbha.
Updated on Dec 31, 2009 11:58 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
National win a boost for GM title, says Adhiban
His mother, Leela, is from Mayiladuthurai, a small town around 281 kilometres east of Chennai, a place made famous by another chess mom, Susheela, whose son answers to the name of Viswanathan Anand, reports B Shrikant.
Updated on Dec 14, 2009 10:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Adhiban wins title, becomes 2nd youngest champion
Even as other parents left for the day, Mrs Leela Baskaran was pacing the table tennis hall at the Goregaon Sports Club, reports B Shrikant.
Updated on Dec 13, 2009 10:42 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Still a lot of chess left in me, says champ Anand
“Forty is the old age of youth,” said author Victor Hugo. Times have changed thereafter to ‘life begins at 40’ being a popular mantra. One day before completing four decades, Viswanathan Anand showed he belonged to neither extreme, reports B Shrikant.
Updated on Dec 11, 2009 12:18 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Ganguly’s absence opens up field
India will have a new national chess champion when the National Premier Championship comes to an end in Mumbai on December 14, reports B Shrikant.
Updated on Nov 29, 2009 10:50 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Lack of equipment stumps coach Brasa ahead of the crucial Champions Challenge
Though he comes from Spain and is not known to quote Greek mythology at will, Jose Brasa, chief coach of the Indian hockey team, would no doubt be likening himself to Sisyphus, the king in Tartarus cursed to roll a boulder up a hill only to watch it roll back down, reports B Shrikant.
Updated on Nov 16, 2009 01:04 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Pune
Sandeep to miss flight to Argentina
India suffered a huge setback ahead of the Champions Challenge-I championship in Argentina with former skipper and drag flicker Sandeep Singh unlikely to take part because of a back injury, reports B Shrikant.
Updated on Nov 16, 2009 12:54 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Pune
Hockey elections postponed to Feb 2010
Hockey India will now hold elections in the first week of February 2010, just a couple of weeks before the men’s World Cup commences in New Delhi, from February 28, reports B Shrikant.
Updated on Nov 14, 2009 12:49 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Govt opens window for elections after ‘10 Worlds
The Hockey India (HI) managing committee’s bid for hastily arranged elections by month-end came to naught on Thursday.
Updated on Nov 13, 2009 01:28 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Rebel state bodies to meet ministry
At least 20 state associations affiliated to the erstwhile Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) will be meeting in New Delhi on Thursday to take up the matter of their Hockey India affiliation with the sports ministry and the international hockey federation (FIH), reports B Shrikant.
Updated on Nov 11, 2009 11:08 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Sachin — Hero No. 1: Dhanraj Pillay
Representing the country for 20 years is no mean achievement and it shows Sachin’s dedication and the hard work he has put in to become the best batsman in the world. I should know what it takes to play at the highest level for a long period as I’ve played hockey for India for 16 years.
Updated on Nov 10, 2009 10:35 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant
Rival chess body plays cash card
Rival factions setting up a federation not recognised by the players, government or the international body does not give sports administrators in India sleepless nights. But what could prove a big concern is the lure of big bucks on offer in a tournament proposed by a parallel chess body, reports B Shrikant.
Updated on Nov 07, 2009 11:24 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Twenty20 basketball to debut in Asian Indoor Games
Love Twenty20 cricket and futsal? Now get ready for the shorter version of basketball (the 3-on-3), a faster and more athletic form of the game, which will be making its debut at the 3rd Asian Indoor Games to be held at Hanoi, Vietnam, from Oct. 30 to Nov 8, reports B Shrikant.
Updated on Oct 30, 2009 01:07 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Kasparov-Karpov rivalry to restart on Thursday
Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov will meet for a rare rematch on Tuesday some 25 years after they first shook hands for a world championship and stopped speaking to each other.
Updated on Sep 20, 2009 12:34 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Asia Cup winners yet to get plots announced as rewards
Call it Hyderabad blues or what you will but two years after winning the Asia Cup, the India hockey team is waiting for promised land. Meanwhile, another Asia Cup came and went this year and India exited with a whimper.
Updated on Sep 17, 2009 01:06 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B. Shrikant, Mumbai
Hockey India picks new selection panel
After a merger of the governing bodies, it’s time to have a common selection committee for the men and women's national hockey teams. B Shrikant reports.
Updated on Sep 17, 2009 12:27 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Jha credits wife for Asian zonal chess title
From Robert George to Raghunandan Gokhale, Indian sport has seen husbands inspiring even coaching wives to glory. Robert coached Anju to the long jump bronze in the world championship and Raghunandan helped wife Anupama to a chess national title, reports B Shrikant.
Updated on Aug 24, 2009 04:48 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Brazil retain title
Playing aggressively and with determination, defending champions Brazil quelled a strong challenge from Cuba in a thrilling five-setter to retain their title. Brazil won 30-28, 21-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-8.
Updated on Aug 10, 2009 12:39 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant
Not a fairytale ending for India spikers
The Cinderella Story of the Indian junior volleyball team tragically ended without a medal. The Indian boys bowed out in straight sets to Argentina in the bronze medal match of the Men's U-21 Volleyball World Championships at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex at Balewadi in Pune, reports B Shrikant.
Updated on Aug 10, 2009 12:38 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Pune
Almost a smash-hit: India go down fighting
India lose to Brazil in a gruelling five-set encounter in the semifinals of the U-21 Volleyball World Championships, B Shrikant reports.
Updated on Aug 09, 2009 12:36 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Pune
India ready for mighty Brazil
The odds will be stacked against India when they take on defending champions Brazil in the semi-finals of the men’s U-21 Volleyball Championship at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune on Saturday.
Updated on Aug 08, 2009 12:24 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Pune
Yuvraj Walmiki
Family and faith are Yuvraj Walmiki's biggest strengths as he looks to break into the Indian hockey squad. B Shrikant reports.
Updated on Jul 24, 2009 12:51 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant
A little help from Spain
In this part of Andhra Pradesh, Barca, Nadal and an NGO are the dream merchants. B Shrikant reports.
Updated on Jul 24, 2009 12:06 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Anantapur