Didn't expect Arjuna award this year: Hima
New Delhi, Sep 18 : Despite her golden run in international athletics this season, teenaged sprint sensation Hima Das said she did not expect her name to be nominated for this year's Arjuna award.
The 18-year-old Assamese athlete was among the 20 sportspersons recommended for the Arjuna Award, which is subject to approval by Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore.
"I didn't expect the Arjuna award this year. I was thinking may be next year, I will be considered," said Hima, after being unveiled as a brand ambassador for sports manufacturing giant Adidas.
Hima, who became an overnight sensation after clinching the gold medal at the U-20 World Championship in Finland earlier this year, added two more medals -- a gold and silver -- at the 18th Asian Games, to finish the season in style.
The youngster is now focused on preparing for the next season where she will feature in the South Asian Games, Asian Championship and World Championship.
"The season is over now. Next year, there is South Asian Games, Asian Championship and World Championship, so how to approach the different events and how to prepare I will do it during training," she said.
On being asked which medal she holds closest to her heart, Hima said: "The Finland (World Junior Championship) race remains one of my favourites and also the semi-final at the Asian Games when it had started raining."
Asked about her target in the next season, Hima, nicknamed the "Dhing Express", said: "There are few targets in my mind. I will do that one by one. People expect a lot from me now and I will achieve that."
"I scored 50.79 at Asian Games, so even 50.78 is a step ahead. I thrive in competition, it feels good to improve timings and create records," she added.
Hima also spoke highly of India's foreign coach Galina Petrova Bukharina, who has been a force behind the success of India's athletes in the Asian Games.
"She is very supportive. She herself is an Olympian and sometimes we also don't realise her methods and later we come to know why we did a particular training. So we always come prepared everyday for the challenge that she will throw at us," she concluded.
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50 Pakistan cricketers find no takers in Hundred Draft
London, Mar 14 (PTI): Top Pakistan cricketers such as Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub and Shadab Khan found no bidders in the Hundred Draft where 50 players from the country had signed up.
Pakistan were represented by 45 male cricketers and five female players in the draft.
Naseem and Shadab were in the top category price bracket of GBP 120000 while Ayub placed himself in the GBP 78500 segment.
Among the women players, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Yusra Amir, Iram Javed, and Jaweria Rauf did not find any takers.
The Indian Premier League owners buying stakes in the Hundred teams could be cited as a reason behind this.
Currently, four IPL franchises have stakes in the Hundred teams — Mumbai Indians in Oval Invincibles, Lucknow Super Giants in Manchester Originals, Sunrisers Hyderabad in Northern Superchargers and Delhi Capitals in Southern Brave.
Besides them, Sanjay Govil, an Indian-American entrepreneur has bought a 50% stake in Welsh Fire, while Cricket Investor Holdings Limited, a consortium of Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs, have purchased a 49% stake in London Spirit.
But apart from that, the modest form of Pakistan cricketers in white ball formats too might have played a part in them not attracting any Hundred bid.
Last year, players like Naseem and Shaheen Shah Afridi also had to deal with NOC related issues with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which eventually curtailed their presence in the Hundred.
