'CAN'T COMPARE VIRAT KOHLI WITH SACHIN TENDULKAR':YUVRAJ SINGH

Virat Kohli will leave his own mark in international cricket and should not be compared with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, said Sunrisers Hyderabad teammates Yuvraj Singh and David Warner to NDTV on Thursday.

Yuvraj said Kohli and AB de Villiers "were the best of this generation" but to match Tendulkar's 100 international centuries is still a long way to go.

He may had many run-ins with Kohli but Warner has a healthy respect for the Indian Test captain, who is now leading IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore.

"Virat is a great competitor but can't compare anyone with Sachin. Virat will leave a legacy when he is done playing cricket," said Warner.

Meanwhile, Yuvraj Singh, sidelined with an injury since the ICC World T20, hopes to play his first game for Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday.

Yuvraj is likely to feature in the playing XI against Gujarat Lions. SRH skipper Warner said: "Yuvraj has an important role to play for Sunrisers with his batting and left-arm spin bowling."

India's 2011 World Cup-winning hero, Yuvraj, still wants to play all three formats for the Indian team.

SACHIN TENDULKAR ACCEPTS IOA’S INVITATION TO BECOME INDIA’S RIO 2016 OLYMPICS GOODWILL AMBASSADOR

Retired cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has accepted Indian Olympic Association’s invitation to become the Goodwill Ambassador for the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympics.

In what has been a controversial topic since IOA (Indian Olympic Association) named Salman Khan as ambassador, the Olympic body were forced into naming other ambassadors after a furor over naming a non-sporting ambassador. Even now, Tendulkar’s nomination might pacify some due to his laurels in sports and for the country, some might question the selection given cricket is not part of the Olympics.

His statement to IOA expressed interest in meeting the athletes before they leave for Rio and any other awareness campaigns preceding the extravaganza in person or through social media.

The IOA Secretary General, meanwhile, said they are yet to get a confirmation from Rahman. “Mr. Rahman is yet to communicate to us but we are hopeful that he will also accept our invitation,” Mehta said.

Asked about what specific role the goodwill ambassadors would play, Mehta said: “These iconic sportspersons and celebrities will spread the idea of Olympic movement in every nook and corner of the country, every village, block and city of India.

“They will help in building up a sporting culture in this country. We need a sporting culture if we want to become a sporting country,”

THIS DAY, THAT YEAR: SACHIN TENDULKAR AT HIS FINEST IN SHARJAH

18 years have passed since Sachin Tendulkar played that knock against Australia in Sharjah that's regarded as one of the greatest in ODI history. 18 years is a really long time. However, even today, the voice of late Tony Grieg still rings fresh in the collective minds of the Indian cricket fans as he narrated the exploits of a young batsman who, at 24, had already earned the status of a legend.

On April 22, 1998, against Australia, in the final league match of the Coca Cola Cup that also featured New Zealand, Tendulkar scored a magnificent 143 to take India into the summit clash of the tri-nation tournament. Needing to score at least 254 after being set 285 to win, to trump New Zealand on run-rate and qualify for the final, India's targets were revised from 285 (to win) and 254 (to qualify ) to 276 (to win) and 237 (to qualify) after a brief desert storm.

With three wins from their first three matches, Australia had already sealed a final berth. India and New Zealand were on equal footing having won one match each. It all boiled down to the result of the final match, the sixth of the series. India, though, were better placed to qualify needing either a win or bettering their run-rate than New Zealand in the event of a defeat. As per the revised target, India needed 276 in 46 overs but fell short 25 runs. However, they achieved the desired run-rate setting a final clash with Australia which they went on to win thanks to another batting masterclass from Tendulkar.

Having won the toss, Australia opted to bat first and thanks to Michael Bevan's third ODI century and Mark Waugh's 81, posted 284/7 in 50 overs.

In reply, the Australia bowlers, led by Tom Moody, took the early initiative reducing India to 138/4 in 29 overs. After a brief interruption, India were asked to chase 276 in 44 overs. The safe bet from hereon would be to go for the qualification and forget the win. However, Tendulkar was on a different plane. Together with VVS Laxman, he added 104 runs for the fifth wicket during a stand that saw him record his 14th ODI century and also ensured India overhauled the 237-run target to edge ahead of New Zealand on run-rate.

However, Tendulkar wasn't done as he went after the target and it was Damien Fleming who waved off the threat after having him out caught behind for 143 off 131. That knock, his highest at the time, was encrusted with nine fours and five sixes. India lost but Tendulkar's knock gave them the final spot and a chance at redemption. He again produced a glorious century in the final that helped India to a six-wicket win.

'YOU INSPIRE YOUNG INDIANS': SACHIN CONGRATULATES DIPA KARMAKAR FOR HISTORIC OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION

Accolades poured in for Dipa Karmakar, who today became the first Indian woman gymnast to qualify for the Olympics, with iconic cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal leading the sports fraternity in praising here for the historic feat.

Praising Dipa for her historic feat, Tendulkar said her achievement would inspire the youth of the country.
"Congratulations #DipaKarmakar on creating history with your qualification. You inspire young Indians with your achievement. Best wishes," Tendulkar tweeted.

Within hours of her qualification in artistic gymnastics for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics at a qualifying event at the same Brazilian city, the Sports Authority of India also included her in the Target Olympic Podium (TOP)

Scheme, the government's initiative to fund Olympic medal prospects in their preparations for the Games. "Congrats Dipa Karmakar. By virtue of Olympic qualification joins TOPS that entitles her four additional assistance of 30 lakhs, four customised training," the SAI tweeted.

Sonowal congratulated Dipa for her feat and for taking Indian gymnastics to a high.
"Many congratulations for taking Indian gymnastics to a new high. Dipa Karmakar, we are so proud of you," Sonowal wrote on his official twitter handle.

Dipa today created history by becoming the first Indian woman gymnast to qualify for the Olympics with a strong performance at the final qualifying and test event in Rio.

The 22-year-old Tripura girl garnered a total score of 52.698 points in the Olympics qualifying event to book a berth for artistic gymnastics in the Rio Games.

Apart from being the first Indian woman, she will also be an Indian gymnast qualifying for the Olympics after 52 long years.
Other cricketing stalwarts Virender Sehwag and V V S Laxman also saluted Dipa for qualifying for the Olympics.

"Congratulations Dipa Karmakar on becoming the 1st ever Indian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics," Sehwag tweeted.

FANTASTIC TO SEE PARENTS ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO BECOME A SACHIN TENDULKAR:KAPIL DEV

Former captain Kapil Dev doffed his hat at the rise of cricket as a career option for youngsters, saying that parents now encourage their children to take up the game to earn a living.

"Now a cricketer can earn Rs 10 crore for playing 40 days only (in the IPL). It is just fantastic. Cricket is a career option now," Kapil said during his address at the 7th Global Sports Summit organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) here.

"Times have changed and the thought process has changed. Now parents say to their children 'if you do not want to study you can at least play cricket and become a Sachin Tendulkar or a Rahul Dravid'," the 1983 cricket World Cup-winning captain said.

Kapil asked the government to provide the required sports infrastructure, including play fields, and reduce tax on sports goods and equipment.

"The corporate has done their part by way of sponsorship and media have done their part by making sports, especially cricket, big. I think the government will have to do its part by giving sports infrastructure if India wants to produce champions," he said.

"The government will have to provide the sports infrastructure. Reduce the tax on sports goods and equipments. I heard that shooters have issues on importing their equipment and ammunition. The government will have to make it easy to bring in sports goods and equipments by reducing taxes on these," he said in the presence of Sports Secretary Rajiv Yadav.

He also said that every school in the country should have enough play fields.

"Schools are the places from where talent will come and if there are not enough play fields, how will the country produce world champions. 40 per cent of the premises of all schools should be play fields," said Kapil.

Responding to Kapil's plea, Yadav said that because of the limited budgetary allocation for sports, it's difficult for his ministry to provide all the facilities and it needs help from the corporate sector to build infrastructure.

"The budget allocation for 2015-16 is just Rs 835 crore, whereas it should be at the range of Rs 6000 crore. With limited sports budget we cannot give all the infrastructure and we need a bit of help from the corporate sector," Yadav said.

Yadav informed that the Finance Ministry has accepted that sports infrastructure building by corporates will get concessional finance from the government. He said it was a good beginning though short of corporate sector's demand to give sports the status of an industry.

"We had a meeting with Finance Ministry a few days back and the government has accepted that sports infrastructure building (by the corporate sector) will get concessional finance and this is a good news for the corporates," he said.

When queried by FICCI sports director Rajpal Singh whether the acceptance by the Finance Ministry would mean that sports will fully be given the status of an industry, Yadav said, "No, it's not full acceptance. Sports infrastructure building, training academies will be included for concessions but not the competition structure and coaching etc. They are not included for concessions.

"But it is a good beginning. We can start at least with something," he added.

He said he will take up the issue of provision of state-of-the-art sports facilities at the smart city project of the government.

"You can't have smart cities without state-of-the-art sports facilities. I will take up the matter with officials of the Urban Development Ministry.

"But you will need at least Rs 500 crore to build a sports complex in such smart cities while at the district headquarter, the amount could be Rs 150 crore at least," said the sports secretary.

Yadav also said that the School Games will be promoted in a big way from the coming 2016-17 financial year.

"We are looking at two tiers of talent grooming. First, from the 2016-17 onwards, we are going to promote School Games in a big way. Another is to revamp competition structure at the university level so as groom the talent identified at the school level."