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Rutvick Mehta

A romantic of the ferocious Rafael Nadal forehand, Rutvick Mehta loves his tennis but has been covering various other sport since 2012. He writes for HT.

Articles by Rutvick Mehta

Abhay Singh leads India’s charge in new era for Indian squash

With squash being included in the Olympic programme for Los Angeles 2028, tournaments like the World Squash Team Championships come with more context

Hangzhou, Oct 04 (ANI): India's squash mixed doubles duo of Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh wins a bronze medal at the Asian Games 2023, in Hangzhou on Wednesday. (ANI Photo) (SAI Media twitter)
Published on Dec 08, 2024 09:29 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta  

‘Coach’ Joshna out to test the waters at World Team event

Joshna, among India’s most decorated squash pros, will coach the India women’s team in Hong Kong in what will be her first coaching gig

Joshna Chinappa is coach of Indian women’s team heading to the World Squash Team Championships in Hong Kong. (Wikimedia Commons)
Published on Dec 06, 2024 08:50 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Delivering an Olympics a complicated process: Sebastian Coe

Sebastian Coe discusses India's bid for the 2028 U-20 World Championships and potential 2036 Olympics, emphasizing the need for global experience in hosting.

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya with World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. (mansukhmandviya- X)
Updated on Nov 27, 2024 09:45 PM IST
ByRutvick MehtaRutvick Mehta

Rafa leaves, shedding tears and carrying some legacy

Few tennis pros are as loved and respected as Nadal is. And that, more than his records, is what Nadal hopes to have left behind.

Rafael Nadal during the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. (AFP)
Published on Nov 20, 2024 09:45 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

One GOAT to another: Federer pens note to Nadal

Federer pays tribute to Nadal in an emotional farewell letter, celebrating their epic rivalry and impact on tennis as Nadal concludes his career.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal during a press conference in London in September 2022. (Action Images via Reuters)
Updated on Nov 20, 2024 05:00 AM IST
ByRutvick Mehta, Mumbai

Sinner’s sublime surge in shifting power centre of men’s tennis

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner dominate men's tennis, with Sinner winning two Grand Slams in 2024 and Alcaraz leading their rivalry this season.

Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during the final against USA's Taylor Fritz at the ATP Finals in Turin. (AFP)
Updated on Nov 18, 2024 09:50 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

World Pickleball Championship: How a fledgling sport is scaling new heights

The World Pickleball Championship in Mumbai saw over 500 participants, highlighting the sport's rapid growth and potential for professional players in India.

Armaan Bhatia, Indian Pickleball player plays a shot during PWR DUPR 2024 at RK Khanna Stadium in New Delhi, India, on October 27. (Sanchit Khanna/HT photo)
Updated on Nov 18, 2024 09:18 AM IST
ByRutvick Mehta, Mumbai

Developing Dhamne still a work in progress

The 16-year-old from Pune is the brightest young Indian tennis prospect and he is just starting his journey at the pro level

Manas Dhamne with world No.1 Jannik Sinner after having a hit together last month. (Piatti Tennis Centre/HT)
Updated on Nov 15, 2024 10:33 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Progress after pro plunge for teen Aryan

Bhuj-born teen has a 15K title, a final appearance and was part of Davis Cupper squad in his first year

Aryan Shah has made a steady start in his first season as a professional. (HT Photo)
Published on Nov 14, 2024 09:28 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Building top rivalry and fresh momentum in women’s tennis

Sabalenka emphasizes importance of her rivalry with Swiatek in women’s tennis, highlighting a dynamic 2024 filled with coaching changes and rising stars

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts after winning a point against US' Coco Gauff during the WTA Finals Championship in Riyadh. (AFP)
Updated on Nov 11, 2024 12:19 AM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Sublime Sabalenka is on top of the world

A season that gave her two Grand Slam trophies and as many WTA 1000 titles has seen her emerge as year-ending No.1

Aryna Sabalenka will end the year as world No.1. (REUTERS)
Updated on Nov 13, 2024 07:13 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Nikhat Zareen begins challenging trek back to the top

The post-Paris hollow that followed the pre-Paris hype was eerily unusual for an athlete so used to winning

Boxer Nikhat Zareen completely isolated herself after returning from a disappointing campaign at the Paris Olympics. (HT)
Updated on Nov 06, 2024 10:48 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Can AI help athletes deal with online abuse?

Tracking those around half a billion social media posts around the Olympics, the AI software could detect abusive content across 35 different languages

The Eiffel Tower with the Olympics rings after the opening ceremony of the Paris Games. (AFP)
Published on Nov 01, 2024 10:29 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Is it time for India to look beyond Commonwealth Games?

Competitions are anyway stronger in the Asian Games and world events in most events dropped for 2026 CWG, say experts

PV Sindhu won the women’s singles gold at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Badminton is among the six sports where India usually excel that have been dropped from the 2026 Glasgow edition. (REUTERS)
Updated on Oct 27, 2024 05:02 AM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

On hard courts, Sinner has Novak’s number

In the twilight of his career with his fellow Big Three club members moving into the shadows, the Serbian stares at a significant challenge

Italy's Jannik Sinner has now Sinner has now beaten Novak Djokovic in their four previous contests. (AFP)
Updated on Oct 25, 2024 05:42 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

The dream that’s still driving Deepika forward

Deepika Kumari returns to training post-Olympics, craving gold after winning silver at the World Cup Final, fueled by a desire for more medals.

Deepika Kumari won silver at the World Cup Final in Mexico. (REUTERS)
Updated on Oct 23, 2024 10:14 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Asian TT: India’s three medals a boost of confidence

Women’s doubles pair Ayhika and Sutirtha showed solid improvement with their role in two of the 3 bronze medals

Ayhika Mukherjee (L) and Sutirtha Mukherjee were part of two bronze-winning shows for India. (Getty Images)
Updated on Oct 14, 2024 12:00 AM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Social media noise during the Games was scary: Sift

The 23-year-old shooter who exited in the qualification stage, says she found the social media chatter surprising and overwhelming

Sift Kaur Samra entered Paris Olympics as one of India’s medal hopes but found the expectations too much to handle. (PTI)
Updated on Oct 12, 2024 05:44 AM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

22 Slams later, Rafa, who never gave up, bids adieu

Nadal, one of the greatest players to have graced the sport, decided that he no longer has it in him to play professional tennis

Playing a physically brutal style that made many wonder about his sustainability, Nadal will sign off with 22 Grand Slams, second only to Novak Djokovic’s 24, in the all-time list. (AFP)
Updated on Oct 11, 2024 05:00 AM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Nadal’s beautiful yet brutal symphony

He could be the most humble of champions yet at the same time, given the opportunity, he would crush opponents ruthlessly

Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Slam winner, will retire after Davis Cup finals. (AFP)
Updated on Oct 17, 2024 02:52 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

TT: India women make their mark with Asian medal

They had their moments against mighty Japan after upstaging Korea to enter the semis and seal a medal in the Asian championships

Manika Batra registered India’s only win against Japan on Wednesday. (REUTERS/FILE)
Published on Oct 09, 2024 10:55 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

India’s Paris Olympics fourth-place finishers pick up the pieces

Post-Paris Olympics, Indian athletes reflect on their fourth-place finishes, blending disappointment with motivation for future competitions.

Arjun Babuta finished fourth in 10m air rifle final at the Paris Olympics. (REUTERS)
Updated on Sep 30, 2024 10:04 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Anand, India and the dream called the Olympiad gold

At the prize distribution ceremony, D Gukesh and Co passed the trophy along to five-time world champion Anand, who held and raised it aloft

Viswanathan Anand at Tech Mahindra Chess League in Mumbai. (HT/Prakash Parsekar)
Published on Sep 26, 2024 07:33 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

It’ll take another 10 years to develop another Grand Slam champion: Paes

Leander Paes emphasizes the need for collective effort to revitalize Indian tennis, stressing grassroots development and more tournaments for young players.

Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza and Leander Paes during the Tennis Premier League auction in Mumbai. (HT)
Updated on Sep 25, 2024 10:28 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Sreejesh’s farewell means a ‘fresh start’ for Karkera

Suraj Karkera sees a "fresh start" in his role as India's hockey goalkeeper, stepping up after Sreejesh's retirement, eager for more game time ahead.

Goalkeeper Suraj Karkera gave a good account of himself in India’s winning campaign at Asian Champions Trophy. (HI)
Updated on Sep 23, 2024 10:59 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

India’s sorry Davis Cup tale of friction continues in circles

Indian tennis faces turmoil, with players sidelined and discontent towards the AITA. Recent Davis Cup losses highlight a need for leadership change.

Sumit Nagal skipped India’s Davis Cup tie against Sweden citing a back injury. (AFP)
Updated on Sep 20, 2024 10:39 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Neeraj ends season with Brussels second spot, and hand fracture

The best by India’s javelin world champion was one centimetre short of the winning throw by Grenada’s Anderson Peters

Neeraj Chopra threw 87.86m in Brussels on Saturday. (AFP)
Published on Sep 15, 2024 09:48 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Dark cloud to sunshine, Sinner signals change with US Open win

Italy’s world No.1 and Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz shared two Slams each this year, taking over from the Big Three of tennis

Italy's Jannik Sinner kisses the trophy after winning the men's final against USA's Taylor Fritz. (AFP)
Published on Sep 09, 2024 09:36 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Paralympians sign off with India’s biggest medal success

India's Paralympians excelled in Paris, winning 29 medals, surpassing Tokyo's 19. Athletics led with 17 medals, showcasing India's growing prowess.

Navdeep Singh’s gold medal on Saturday was India’s seventh of the Paralympics. (REUTERS)
Updated on Sep 08, 2024 10:46 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta

Sabalenka crowned the queen at Queens

After three years of near-misses at the US Open, the Belarusian beats Jessica Pegula to win her third hard-court Slam

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates with the US Open trophy after defeating Jessica Pegula in the women’s singles final. (Getty Images)
Published on Sep 08, 2024 08:20 PM IST
ByRutvick Mehta
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