From cycling 14km daily to Asian Games: Aakash Bhardwaj eyes success …

New Delhi [India], August 24 (ANI): Aakash Bhardwaj did not follow the conventional route of an international shooter. He had never picked up a pistol until the age of 21. Today, the marksman from Jaipur is set to represent India in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol event at the upcoming 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Hailing from Niwaru Road on the outskirts of Jaipur, Aakash grew up in a modest household. His father worked long hours as a commercial driver on a monthly income of 10,000 rupees. Before turning to shooting, Aakash pursued athletics and rugby, winning a national bronze medal in rugby. Concerns over contact injuries prompted him to search for an individual sport where personal discipline decided the outcome, according to a press release from NRAI. sport-ipl.my

In late 2021, an academy advertisement drew him to the range. His natural precision surprised coaches on his very first day.

Reflecting on his family’s sacrifices, Aakash Bhardwaj said, “Coming from a background where every rupee counted, shooting felt out of reach at first. My father worked relentlessly as a driver to provide for us. When I showed genuine promise, he bought my first pistol on a credit card. My elder brother Subham covered my monthly academy fees from his own earnings. My father and brother made countless sacrifices so I could pursue this dream without carrying the financial burden."

The daily routine was gruelling. Aakash routinely walked, hitched rides from passers-by, or cycled 14 kilometres to reach the Marudhara Sports Shooting Academy on Kalwar Road. He saved 10 to 20 rupees from his daily travel allowance to purchase basic nutrition and training pellets. Without a personal coach in his formative phase, he designed his own conditioning routine.

Speaking about his solitary training journey, Aakash added, “In the beginning, I had to figure out many things on my own. I would spend six to seven hours every single day doing dumbbell conditioning and dry-fire drills. I used to analyse my errors closely, noting down how my shots shifted whenever my neck tilted. That solitary grind taught me how to stay calm and trust my own hard work."

His breakthrough came through steady domestic scores, eventually propelling him into the national selection trials. Aakash highlighted how the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) provided a level playing field and prompt institutional backing.

“When you come from a humble background, you need a system where only your performance matters. The best part of NRAI’s selection process is its complete transparency. My selection for the Asian Games was earned strictly through the ranking points accumulated across the trials.

“The administrative team at NRAI has backed me at every turn. Whenever I needed logistical help, equipment clearance, or administrative support, the federation sorted it out immediately. That reassurance lets athletes like me focus entirely on hitting the target."

As he prepares for his maiden Asian Games campaign at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery, Aakash remains determined.

“If my journey has taught me one lesson, it is that no hardship can hold you back if you remain dedicated. When you believe in your preparation and stay disciplined, results will follow. I am looking forward to giving my absolute best for India in Japan." (ANI)

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Dhruv Jurel made his Test debut in the 2024 home series against England. His opportunity came because of the unfortunate car accident of Rishabh Pant and then KS Bharat failing to grab his chances.

Jurel proved his mettle straightaway in that series by scoring 190 runs in four innings at an average of 63, which was only bettered by Yashasvi Jaiswal among Indians.

But when Pant returned, he took his spot back by virtue of being the incumbent keeper of the Test team. Jurel was now the designated first-choice backup, with Bharat shunned away.

Over the last couple of years, Jurel has waited patiently for his opportunity and grabbed it whenever Pant has been injured.

Jurel produced some solid knocks in Pant’s absence, including a maiden Test century in Ahmedabad last year against the West Indies.

The 25-year-old from Agra has been so impressive that now the management has played him alongside Pant in the Test XI. Of Jurel’s 12 Tests, six have included Pant in the lineup, including one in Australia and two in Sri Lanka.

Jurel’s record after his century is outstanding: in 12 Tests, he averages 40 with a strike rate of 59, and only Gill and Jaiswal have scored more runs than Jurel in the Test matches that he has featured in.

Jurel registered his second Test century in the IND vs SL 2nd Test in Colombo and, incidentally, he formed a crucial 112-run partnership with Pant, driving India beyond 400, and later on, his propelled the score to over 500 as he crossed the three-figure mark for the second time in his Test career.

IND vs SL 2nd Test: Here are some key records that Dhruv Jurel made in his century knock against Sri Lanka in Colombo

Jurel breaks Hardik’s record

With his 115*, Jurel now has the highest Test score by an Indian batsman batting at No. 7 or below in Sri Lanka. Hardik had smashed 108 in 2017 in Pallekele while coming in at the No. 8 position.

Jurel joins Richard Hadlee, Vettori on an elite list

Dhruv joined the likes of Hadlee, Vettori, and Agha on a list of only 22 instances of an opposition batsman batting at No. 7 or below to record a Test century in Sri Lanka. Jurel’s 115* is the fourth-highest score on this list.

Highest Test scores by visiting batsmen from No.7 or lower in Sri Lanka:

1. 151* – Richard Hadlee (New Zealand), Colombo (SSC), 1987
2. 140 – Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Colombo (SSC), 2009
3. 132* – Salman Agha (Pakistan), Colombo (SSC), 2023
4. 115* – Dhruv Jurel (India), Colombo (SSC), 2026

Jurel-Pant create record with century stand

Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant’s seventh-wicket stand of 112 runs from 152 balls is the highest partnership by an Indian pair for the 7th wicket or lower in Sri Lanka.

This is merely the second time an Indian duo has recorded a century stand in Sri Lanka for the seventh wicket and lower. The previous instance was in 2015, when Amit Mishra and Cheteshwar Pujara put on a 104-run partnership in Colombo (SSC).

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England pacer Brydon Carse was dropped on Monday for the second cricket test against Pakistan following the latest off-field incident to affect the national team.

Images on social media showed Carse in police handcuffs outside a nightclub in Derby on Saturday night, following a game with his club side Durham.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement that Carse will be replaced in the squad by Sonny Baker for the second test, which starts on Thursday.

"Following a referral from the ECB, the Cricket Regulator have confirmed that they will investigate events on Saturday night in Derby," the ECB said in a statement on its website Monday. "Brydon Carse will no longer be available for selection for the Second men's Rothesay test match while this investigation is ongoing and the full facts are obtained."

The Cricket Regulator independently investigates matters where there is an allegation of a breach of the ECB's regulations. Outcomes include no further action being taken, a caution or a charge for breaching regulations.

The incident came just days after the midnight curfew imposed on the England men's cricket team was scrapped under newly appointed captain Joe Root.

That restriction had been put in place by England managing director Rob Key after controversial late-night incidents on the winter tours of New Zealand and Australia.

Key said in December that he would investigate the drinking habits of the England team following reports players were over-indulging in alcohol during the Ashes series, which England lost 4-1.

One video appeared to show England's opening batter Ben Duckett unable to remember how to get back to the hotel. Then, in June, former test captain Ben Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson were dropped for one test match following an incident in a nightclub.

They were out past the curfew following the first match in a three test series against New Zealand. Stokes returned for the final New Zealand test but then suddenly announced his retirement from test cricket during the match - a chain of events that led to the return of Root for a second spell as skipper.

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Salman Butt defended Pakistan's cricket team against harsh British media criticism. He argued the team never claimed to be world champions or a dominant force. Butt highlighted England's diverse player origins while defending Pakistan's homegrown talent. England secured a significant innings victory over Pakistan in the first Test. This defeat marked a new era for the English team after coaching changes.

India’s men’s hockey team arrived at the 2026 World Cup with genuine hopes of going deep into the tournament. Instead, their campaign ended in the championship stage, leaving behind a familiar feeling of frustration. The quality was there, the experience was there, and the team had already shown during the Pro League that it could compete with the best. But when the World Cup demanded something different, India could not find the answers quickly enough.

The warning signs were visible from the beginning. India’s opening defeat to England put them under pressure early. They had led 2-1 but eventually lost 4-2, leaving little room for another slip-up. The win over Pakistan kept the campaign alive, but the bigger challenge was always going to come against teams such as the Netherlands and Argentina. Those matches exposed the areas India had struggled with throughout the tournament.

Craig Fulton’s team has been built around defensive organisation and quick attacks after winning the ball. It is a style that has worked for India. The problem was not the philosophy itself. The problem was what happened when opponents stopped giving India the space required to make that approach effective.

Against stronger teams, India struggled to take control through the middle of the pitch. Hardik Singh and Manpreet Singh were still important figures, but India often found it difficult to turn possession recoveries into sustained pressure. Too many attacks ended before they could properly develop, leaving the forwards with limited opportunities.

That also explains why it would be unfair to put the entire burden of criticism on the forward line. Players such as Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh and Dilpreet Singh still have important roles to play, but forwards need service. When the ball does not reach the attacking third with enough quality or regularity, finishing becomes only part of the problem.

The other concern was tempo. India had looked sharper in transition during the Pro League. At the World Cup, particularly against the better sides, the movement of the ball was not always quick enough. For a team that relies heavily on turning defensive recoveries into attacking opportunities, even a small delay can allow the opposition to regroup.

There was also a tactical question. India needed another route when the counterattack was not available. Fulton has spoken about the team being capable of playing faster attacking hockey, but the tournament did not show India executing that alternative consistently enough. If that was the second plan, it needed to become a more familiar part of the team’s game before the pressure matches arrived.

The players cannot escape responsibility either. Experienced internationals are expected to recognise when a match is drifting away from the original plan. Against Argentina, India looked flat for periods despite having enough time to change the contest. Harmanpreet Singh eventually moved higher and tried to influence the game from another area, showing the kind of initiative that India needed more consistently.

The comparison with Paris 2024 is important. Many of these players were part of the Olympic bronze-winning side. The quality has not disappeared overnight. At Paris, India were able to rely on their defensive structure and showed remarkable resilience, including in the quarter-final against Great Britain after playing much of the match with ten men.

The World Cup offered a different challenge. The new format left less room for recovery, while the championship stage forced India to chase results. That exposed a weakness in their ability to dictate games when patience and counterattacking alone were not enough.

So where does India go from here?

The next major target is the Asian Games, where India will enter as defending champions. They have been placed in Pool A alongside Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Pakistan, Malaysia, China, Oman, Uzbekistan and Thailand are in the other group, meaning the traditional rivalry with Pakistan can only happen once the knockout rounds arrive.

For India, this tournament carries significance beyond another gold medal. Winning the Asian Games would secure direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Given India’s standing in Asian hockey, anything less will be viewed as a disappointment.

But the Asian Games should not simply become an opportunity to forget the World Cup. It should be used to address what went wrong. India need greater control in midfield, quicker ball movement and a more reliable attacking option when opponents sit deep. The balance between attacking numbers and defensive security also needs work.

The core of this team still has plenty to offer. Harmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh and Jarmanpreet Singh bring experience, while the younger players need to be given the responsibility to grow alongside them.

The World Cup has ended, but the road to Los Angeles is already beginning. India’s next challenge is not just to win the Asian Games. It is to make sure that when the next major tournament forces them outside their comfort zone, they have the answers ready.

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