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
Can Sardar Singh’s men end the 36-year wait for an Olympic medal?
India’s excruciatingly long 33-year drought for a major medal ended with a bronze at the Hockey World League Final in Raipur last week. After beating Netherlands via tie-break shootout in the third-place match, will Sardar Singh & Co be able to end another, longer wait of 36 years for an Olympic medal?
Updated on Dec 13, 2015 01:06 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Hockey World League: India lose 0-1 to Belgium in semifinals
Inconsistency continued to haunt India as they conceded an early goal to lose 0-1 to Belgium and crash out of the title race of the Hockey World League Final in Raipur on Saturday
Updated on Dec 06, 2015 09:38 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Raipur
India lose to Dutch in Hockey World League
India lost momentum after matching defending champions Netherlands move for move in the first half to go down 1-3 in their last league match at the Hero Hockey World League at Raipur on Monday.
Updated on Nov 30, 2015 10:16 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Raipur
Hockey World League: Listless India lose to Argentina without a fight
Argentina played compact and error-free hockey to emerge 3-0 winners.
Updated on Nov 28, 2015 12:07 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Raipur
Big deal but Sim Bhullar still has a long way to go
Getting a start in the first match of a short 10-day NBA contract was a long shot for Sim Bhullar.
Updated on Apr 05, 2015 09:28 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Bekele the apple of coach Kotu's eye
For a man who has trained athletes like double Olympic medallist Kenenisa Bekele, Tirunesh Dibaba and the national team of Ethiopia, a powerhouse, Tolosa Kotu comes across as an unremarkable 62-year-old in a track suit. B Shrikant reports.
Updated on Jul 04, 2013 01:27 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Pune
Poonia and Preeja carry India's hopes in Asian Athletics Championships
Well begun is half done, and that would be ringing in India chief coach Bahadur Singh's ears as three of his medal hopefuls line up on the opening day of the 20th Asian Athletics Championships here on Wednesday. B Shrikant reports.
Updated on Jul 03, 2013 03:27 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Pune
Shot clock to debut at World League semis
Hockey players who like to take their time in getting ready for penalty corners and use it as a ploy to break the rhythm of rival teams, beware! B Shrikant reports.
Updated on Jun 12, 2013 01:34 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Army players face action for playing in HIL
The Army Sports Control Board (ASCB) has taken strong exception to their taking part without permission and has asked the Madras Engineering Group (MEG) to recall them and initiate disciplinary action. B Shrikant reports.
Updated on Feb 01, 2013 01:01 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
IHF forces FIH to amend rules
The turf war between Hockey India (HI) and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) has harmed the prospects of the sport in the country no end. But, it has done one good thing.
Updated on Nov 01, 2012 11:21 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
From oblivion to Paralympic silver
Call him the Oscar Pistorius of India. While the South African 'blade runner' started participating against able-bodied athletes out of choice, Hosanagara Nagarajegowda Girisha has to do it because of lack of awareness. B Shrikant reports.
Updated on Sep 05, 2012 12:18 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Forgotten hero: India’s first Paralympic gold medallist
Murlikant Petkar who? You would not be wrong in asking this question. Even members of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) are asking the same question. A lot of them are unaware of Petkar’s record in the Paralympic Games and his role in the history of Indian sports.
Updated on Aug 22, 2012 11:38 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
It’s all in the family for these stick-wielders
From the time when Dhyan Chand and Roop Singh hunted in a pair in the 1932 and 1936 Olympic Games, the sport of hockey has seen many sets of brothers representing their countries in the quadrennial sports extravaganza. B Shrikant reports. Siblings on the field
Updated on Jul 07, 2012 01:57 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Blocked out criticism, focused on match
In a chat with HT over phone from Moscow, Anand shared his preparation for the match and plans for the year. Excerpts:
Updated on Jun 01, 2012 12:33 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Viswanathan Anand: The Lightning Kid
When Viswanathan Anand made his meteoric rise in the world of chess, in the '80s, he was nicknamed The Lightning Kid for the speed with which he calculated complex chess moves and executed them. B Shrikant writes.
Updated on Jun 01, 2012 11:13 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, New Delhi
FIH presence not enough to settle IHF-HI tussle
Hopes soared and then went into a tailspin as another round of talks to solve the hockey governance issue failed on Thursday. Even the presence of international hockey federation (FIH) president Leandro Negre and the world body's COO Kelly Fairweather was not enough to goad the two bodies into resolving their differences.
Updated on Apr 26, 2012 11:36 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Former India goalkeeper Adrian fails dope test
Former India goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza on Friday became only the second known case of a hockey player failing a dope test. B Shrikant reports.
Updated on Apr 14, 2012 01:56 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Evans slam dunks to glory in low-key affair
The All-Star slam dunk competition is a preview to the star-studded All-Star Game that involves some of the biggest National Basket-ball Association (NBA) stars.
Updated on Feb 26, 2012 11:41 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Orlando
‘Being Asian-American means I have to prove myself more’
His story is the true Cinderella story of the 2012 season of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Jeremy Lin is lapping up all the attention.
Updated on Feb 26, 2012 12:58 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Orlando, Florida
Orlando turns into basketball oasis
The Orange County Convention Centre in downtown Orlando is huge and looks like an oasis in sprawling desert. In the evenings it looks deserted from outside and one get lost trying to find his way into or out of the venue. On Thursday, the Orange County Convention Centre was a beehive of activity at the inauguration of the NBA Jam Session, the community participation programme of NBA Cares, the basketball league's effort towards social cause.
Updated on Feb 25, 2012 02:53 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Orlando
New year, new trials
2012 will be crucial after the modest success of last year. Indian sports and some of its protagonists are in for a year that could make or break their future. HT looks at the challenges. Next 12 months will be crucial for some | They have a point to prove
Updated on May 09, 2015 09:02 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant
Indo-Pak series vs WSH this January
If Hockey India's efforts materialise and it gets permission from the government, India-Pakistan rivalry will take on the cash-rich World Series Hockey (WSH) in January next year. B Shrikant reports.
Updated on Nov 19, 2011 12:40 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Shivendra returns in experimental national squad
With Canada and Poland -- two of its opponents for February's Olympic Qualifiers - in the fray, Hockey India selectors have decided to test some combinations during the FIH Champions Challenge I to be held at Johannesburg, South Africa, from November 26-December 6. B Shrikant reports.
Updated on Nov 19, 2011 12:36 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
A gain but the real test is to qualify for London Games
The uncertainty over New Delhi hosting one of the three hockey qualifiers for the 2012 Olympics is over. On Saturday, the executive board of the international hockey federation (FIH) on Saturday accepted Hockey India's arguments in favour of re-affirming its status as India’s national federation.
Updated on Nov 13, 2011 12:12 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Deputy Sports Editor, Mumbai
HI hopes to get approval for Oly qualifiers
Amidst threats from the international hockey federation (FIH) to strip India of the right to host the Olympic Qualifiers because of a dispute over governance of the sport in the country, Hockey India (HI) on Tuesday submitted to the FIH the host-city contract, fulfilling the obligation from its side.
Updated on Nov 09, 2011 12:02 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B. Shrikant, Mumbai
India hockey team players suspended
Five members of the Indian contingent including Gurbaj Singh, Gurvinder Singh Chandi and Tushar Khandkar were suspended on Saturday for various durations for their role in the skirmish with Pakistani players in the three-Nation International Hockey Series at Busselton, in Australia on Friday.
Updated on Oct 30, 2011 12:47 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Blood on field during India-Pak hockey match
In a bizarre show of aggression, India and Pakistan traded blows during a tri-nation hockey tournament in Australia on Friday, leaving four players, including three Pakistanis, injured.
Updated on Oct 29, 2011 12:38 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
‘Strong body for a strong mind’
You wouldn’t associate any sort of physical fitness with a sport like chess, but fatigue is detrimental to chances of winning the match
Updated on Sep 14, 2011 12:08 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai
Not just Maken, everyone should take the blame
In the blame game that followed the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) decision to scrap New Delhi as host of the Champions Trophy, a statement by the acting president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), VK Malhotra, caught the eye. He blamed sports minister, Ajay Maken, for the “mess” that resulted in FIH taking such a drastic step. B Shrikant writes.
Updated on Sep 08, 2011 01:52 AM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant
Hockey India vows to punish Sardar, Sandeep
Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh and midfielder Sardar Singh have given four reasons to the coaches for abruptly withdrawing from the Asian Champions Trophy camp at Bangalore, but disciplinary action is inevitable following a report submitted by members of the team management.
Updated on Aug 24, 2011 11:39 PM IST
Hindustan Times | B Shrikant, Mumbai