Category: Sports

PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF WOMEN ATHLETE

Lesson 6 women and sports

Over the past several decades , the role of women has changed drastically .However , gender beliefs and stereotypes still do exist across the world especially in sports . Most of the people in our society consider that sports are not meant for females but only for males .Social tradition , customs and cultures have great influence upon the psychology of women . In a male dominating society , males are expected to be aggressive , independent , dominating , robust and confident , whereas females are expected as well as considered to be emotional , sensitive , cooperative , sympathetic , loyal , etc. It is a well – known fact that participation of women in sports is increasing year after year .With this enhancement in female participation in sports , there is also renewed interest in the psychological characteristics of the female athletes and the effects of athletics on women . The various psychological traits of women athletes are stated below .

  1. Gender Role Orientation : It is an established fact that there has been an increase in the level of women’s participation in the types of sports that have been traditionally limited to only males , e.g., wrestling , weightlifting , kick boxing , body building , etc . However , many sports have been still considered inappropriate for women . For a long time it was considered that women should not take part in athletics because of the potentially harmful masculinising effects of sports .
  2. Competitiveness : It is evident that in the field of sports , both men and women are competitive in their own fields . In fact , women are more goal oriented and perform magnificently in artistic activities such as gymnastics . However , a number of research studies indicate that females who take part in sports are more competitive in comparison to the females who do not participate in sports .
  3. Confidence : As mentioned earlier , due to social pressures , women tend to have less confidence than men . Participation in sports , competitive environment , awards and recognitions increase confidence levels of sportspersons . However , a significant difference may exist between sportswomen and non- sportswomen .
  4. Self-esteem : Most of the research studies indicate that training plays a vital role in performance . Self -esteem improves with good performance . In the field of sports , intensive training helps in enhancing self-esteem . Research studies also show that those people who engage in sports have high self-esteem in comparison to non-participants .
  5. Aggression : Aggression is a forceful , goal- directed action that maybe verbal or physical . Participation in sports has many positive aspects which usually involve aggressive behavior . Various studies of aggression show that athletes who participate in contact sports , i.e., football players , judos or wrestlers are more aggressive than the athletes who participate in less contact sports . However , females who participate in contact sports show more aggression in comparison to females who do not participate in sports at all.

Argentina Vs Brazil : Just a game away from the silverware

Argentina won its semifinal against Colombia 3-2 on penalties after three saves by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Regular time ended 1-1 at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia on Tuesday

It will be Lionel Messi’s Argentina against Neymar’s Brazil in the Copa America final on Saturday at the historic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Argentina won its semifinal against Colombia 3-2 on penalties after three saves by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Regular time ended 1-1 at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia on Tuesday.

Argentina hasn’t captured a major title since 1993 when it won Copa America. On that occasion, the team eliminated Colombia on penalties 6-5 in the semifinal after a goalless draw.

Brazil beat Peru 1-0 on Monday to advance to the final. The Selecao has never lost a Copa America final at home and has won five out of six matches so far.

It took Argentina only seven minutes to open the scoring. Rodrigo de Paul found Messi in the penalty box with a through pass. The star earned his fifth assist in the tournament with a pass to Lautaro Martinez, who put the ball in the right corner past Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina.

A more aggressive Colombia, led by Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, hit the bar and the post in the second half before it leveled in the 61st minute with Luis Diaz, who received the ball on the left of Argentina’s box shot almost with no angle to beat Martinez.

Argentina reacted after 67 minutes when Angel di Maria came into the match, replacing Nico Gonzalez. The winger created several opportunities including one in the 80th minute that ended with Davinson Sanchez saving a finish by Lautaro Martinez on the goal line.

The last big opportunity in regular time came with Messi hitting Ospina’s right post in 81st minute from short range.
Martinez saved the shots taken by Sanchez, Yerry Mina and Edwin Cardona in the shootout. Messi converted his opportunity from the spot and was one of the most joyous players in the celebrations. He seeks his first major title with Argentina against favorites Brazil.

Colombia will play on Friday in the third-place playoff against Peru.

When – 11 th July 2021, Sunday

Where to watch – Sony Liv in India

Timings – 5:30 IST

Venue – Marcana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Mancini Revolution – Calcio’s Rebirth

The Overhaul

After Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, first time since 1958 for the 4 time winners and a shameful moment for Calcio(Italian Football), the Italian Olympic committee reacted by appointing two high commissioners to do an in depth review of the Italian Football Federation(FIGC) and what went wrong. One of them was the legendary Ex Milan center back Alessandro Costacurta. He re watched Italy’s ill fated world cup qualifying draw with Sweden, the very game which condemned the Italians to their disqualification. Along with Roberto Mancini, the ex Manchester City and Internazionale Milan manager, Costacurta concluded Italy were playing too defensive form of Calcio(Football) even singling out the two Italian strikers Andrea Belotti and Ciro Immobile for playing too deep in their own halves. Costacurta wanted Azzuri(Italy) to play with no fear, with directness and taking the game to their opponents. He mentioned all his observations and wishes to Mancini who simply replied “You have come to the right man.”

The new Man at the helm

Mancini was not Costacurta’s first choice to play fast, flamboyant football, but his appointment has proven to be a masterstroke who immediately took over from Gian Piero Ventura in 2018. Mancini has predominantly played a 4-3-3 formation. Building his team around the core of Lorenzo Insigne, Marco Verratti and Jorginho. Mancini has done a fantastic job of rebuilding, handing out 35 debuts. He has aptly integrated the country’s exciting upcoming young players like Federico Chiesa, Alessandro Bastoni, Manuel Locatelli, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Niccolo Barella, Giacomo Raspadori with seasoned veterans like Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Ciro Immobile. Italy waltzed through the Euro qualifiers without conceding many goals. This Italian squad has included many players from mid to lower Serie A table clubs like Sassuolo, Torino and Fiorentina, a testament to the manager’s approach. He has got them playing exciting, attractive football which is a radical shift from the country’s famed ‘Catenaccio’ defensive tactics. Italy scored 7 goals without conceding any in this summer’s Euro group stages and after beating Austria, Belgium and Spain are in the final which will be played on 12th July.

Roberto Mancini
Jubilant Italian Players

Italy qualified for the Euros with 3 games to spare and will be playing the final 4 of the nations league in October. Italy went from being the 21st ranked country in FIFA world rankings to 7th under Mancini’s watch. They are on a fiery 33 match unbeaten streak counting all qualifiers. The Euro Final appearance is the culmination of Mancini’s fine work with the Azzuri.

SPORTS.

The word sport is generally a system of activities that are based in physical athleticism or physical dexterity. Several organs that aim to use, maintain or improve physical ability and skills while providing the enjoyment to participants and in some cases, entertainment act as an spectators. Sports is usually governed by a consistent adjudication of winners. A sportsmanship is an attitude that strives for fair play, courtesy towards teammates and the opponents as well. Grace in victory or the defeat. It expresses an aspiration or ethos that the activity will be enjoyed for its own sake the most impact thing is not winning but taking part in the game.

Sports are the way to relive stress and maintain a healthy body by engaging in different types and categories of sports. The sports promote friendliness, team work, hard work, and discipline. The satisfaction you get while playing the sport is equals or even exceeds the one you get from winning it. Sports can through casual or organised participation improve one’s physical health, Hundreds of sports exist from those between single contestants through to those with Hundreds of simultaneous participants either in teams or competing as individuals. When we look into the top sports played , Soccer or well known as football or also called as soccer is the most popular sport in the world. In the last global census FIFA it was established that there were around 265 million people who play this sport and have over 4 billion of fans in the world. One reason for the football popularity is all you need to play football is a ball and your foot. Moving on to the next sport that is Cricket which is the most popular all over the world including a long rectangular pitch at the centre of the cricket field. The International Cricket Council ICC identified that around 125 countries play This sport and have over 2.5 billion fans. Hockey is the sport consists of both ice and on-field. The game involves 2 teams trying to put a ball into the opposing team’s net with hockey stick and hockey as around 2 billion fans and over 100 counties and 5 continents play hockey sport which include both men and women. And next badminton is one of the most participated sports which is played regularly by an estimation their are over 220 million people who play badminton and have 2 billion fans around the world. The next sport is volleyball which was originated from America and around 998 participants both whether won or lost this sport was played all over the world. One popular variant of this game is it is played on sand and gained around 900 million fans. The most famous sport basket ball have around 825 million fans and is now played world wide and to the maximum 450 million people have played basketball. If you like to jump, run, and shoot then you will love this sport more. And then is tennis is widely recognised as individuals sports in world have around 60 million men and women players which has ranking in this sport and has around 875 million fans. It is the popular sport in Asia. Finally we speak about the sport Golf which is the one most popular pastimes in the world and owned around 450 million fans and approximately 60 million people have played this sport.

The top rated players in India are Pullelu Gopichand Jwala Gutta, Prakash Padukone, Sania Nehwal, P.V Sindhu ,Siril verma, players from badminton and Apurvi Chandela ,Ganga narana, Rajyavardhan Singh Gavaskar, Ravichandran Ashwin from cricket and Vishwanath from chess and Rohan Bopana, Sania Mirza, Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi Sushil Kumar, Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav from tennis and Yogeshwar Dutt in wrestling and Vijender Singh from Boxing.

The awards given for the cricket achievers or players are most popularly Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Lauren’s world sports award.

The love for sports will never end till the history of sports man exist and make us give the Heritageous spirit that boost every Indians.

Rise of Women’s cricket

The Indian men’s cricket team is one of the best teams in all formats among the other world class teams. People following men’s cricket are many. People know the names of every player playing for the nation. Many fans go craze on their favourite stars. There is also women’s cricket in India which was played from many years back. But people following women’s cricket are very few. The count is incomparable with that of men’s cricket. In men’s cricket, there are many idols like Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli. But there is no big name in women’s cricket that everyone knows. The reason is apparent. There is no proper plan and infrastructure for women’s cricket across the country in domestic State level and District level. There was no inspiration for girls to take up cricket. They didn’t get to know the life of a woman cricketer. They didn’t have any idea of how would the life be after playing for the nation; what are the benefits they get; and how to get into a State level team. No growth of women’s cricket was seen till 2010s.

This situation prevailed for some years until 2011. After that a name had gone familiar with people. That name is Mithali Raj. She is also called as the lady Sachin Tendulkar of India. She has a pretty long and successful career. She made her debut in 1999 and is still playing for the country with career spanning over 2 decades. At 16, Raj scored an unbeaten 114 on ODI debut and soon established herself as the lynchpin of India’s batting. The roots of her copybook stroke play lay in her precocious talent that blossomed under the tutelage of her former coach, the late Sampath Kumar, and a regimented upbringing in an army family. With a passion for Bharatanatyam, her nifty footwork found expression on the field, becoming as much a hallmark of her batting as have been grace and an unrivalled precision at plundering runs in the cover region. She captained the Indian team for the first time at a young age of 22 years. She holds the record of having 3rd longest test careers, playing for 19 years. She is the 2nd highest run scorer in history of women’s cricket in all three formats added. She scored 10266 runs in her career totally. She has an amazing average of 44.6 in tests, 51.26 in ODI’s and 37 in T20s.

After her, many girls took up cricket as their career and started representing India. BCCI also looked up to the growth of women’s cricket. They developed the infrastructure and conducted many domestic games which boosted the talents to work hard. Also created a craze for young girls towards cricket. In the growth of Indian women’s cricket, there is a notable contribution done by Mithali Raj. She was also awarded with Padma Shri and Arjuna Award for cricket. She deserves every honour that she received. Thank you Mithali Raj.

The Gentleman’s Game

Cricket one of the most widely played sports in the world. A game that has millions of fans. A sport which has not to remain just a sport but a life for many/ but which has become a life of many.

Move passion, move people, move a lot of money, move to television. But to understand this you have to look a little in history, know its origin and evolution now. Cricket was invented in the vast fields of England, supposedly by shepherds who herded their flock. Later on, this game was shown kindness by aristocrats, and now has the stature of being England’s national game. After a century now, cricket stands in the international arena, with a place of its own.

THE GAME

Cricket involves two teams with 11 players on each side. The captain who wins the toss decides whether his team bats or bowls first. If they bat first, they aim to score a lot of runs and make sure the other team does not reach that score.



FORMATS OF THE GAME

Cricket is played in many formats, but the most popular are TEST CRICKET and ONE DAY cricket. In TEST cricket game goes on for 5 days, with each team batting twice – if time permits.

ONE DAY is the most popular format, with each team getting 50 overs to score runs. And the other team tries to outscore them within the same number of overs.

T-Twenty format which consists of 20 overs per team to play is now one of the shortest formats in international cricket and one of the most emerging formats in the current era.

The Cricket world cup is the biggest international event of cricket. The winner of the cup shows who are champions of the game. Australia has 5 World Cup titles in their name the most by any country.


Women’s cricket also emerged a lot in recent years. But it still doesn’t get the same amount of support and viewership from the fans. Seeing the current support from them one day it will get the same amount that today the men’s team get.

Cricket has produced many legendary players all over this time. The first one was Sir Don Bradman with an average 0f 99.97, then comes the god of cricket Sachin Tendulkar, MR Cricket Mike Hussey, and King Virat Kohli, and successful captains like M.S Dhoni, Ricky Ponting and many more.

World Sports Journalist Day: a tribute to those who make Sports beautiful!

Sports be it soccer, cricket or baseball or any other has some or the other time played a role in some of our lives. But sometimes we just overlook those who make our sports look more spicy and enthusiastic before us.

Significance:

In 1994, International Sports Press Association established July 2 as “World Sports Journalist Day” as the organisation was found on July 2, 1924 and this was an effort made to honour sports journalists all over the world.

Sports Journalists do a lot of work before, dyeing and after sports matches, all of which are often overlooked. They’ve always played an integral part in transferring the information pertaining to sports to their ever loving audiences.

History of Sports Journalism.

Sports Journalism started in early 1800s when sports was beginning to get itself presented as a separate section in Western Newspapers. In early 1800s only elites could afford newspapers and as a result information relating to sports were restricted to horse riding or boxing , that is, the sports that were typically meant for elites.

In 20th century, New York Herald and New York World were two of the world’s first newspapers to cover sports journalism separately and have a complete full time sports department.

Slowly, the need and love for sports started to increase among the masses and that is why there was the demand for all together separate sports channels in television like ESPN and sports magazines like Sports Illustrated.

Digital Era and Sports Journalism.

Online Sports Journalism started when ESPN created its first ever sports website in the world in 1995. During initial years, only broad topics relating to sports were covered in Digital Sports but as internet expanded all over the world, many big and small bloggers, internet channels, web portals began covering all single and minutest topics relating to sports.

A majority of big and small websites are completely dedicated to sports and they also at times charge subscription fee from their readers. Search Engines like Google or Bing also provide information relating to sports during those days which are important for a particular sport.

Issues faced by Sports Journalists.

1) Deadline Pressures:

Sports journalists face deadline pressures than any other beat reporters as sports matches generally happen in late noon or in the evening and as a result reporters who’re covering sports or writers who’re into sports have to manage completion of work in shortest time possible.

2) Political Pressures

There has been an interlinking of sports and politics in the past. And if this is so, how can the media be kept away? Sports Journalists face lots of threats by certain sports associations that expect the journalists to cover sport matches in their own way and they also expect journalists to shape the public opinion.

3) Accusations of low objectivity:

Sports Journalists have also been accused of favouring or promoting their own favourite teams or players in the past. Some have also been accused of giving more preference to their home teams and this is one more challenge they face in the sports world.

In any way, Sports Journalists do a lot for their audiences to make the sport matches more interesting and entertainment their viewers or readers throughout and even after the matches. It’s important for us to celebrate them and honour them genuinely.

Is the defeat in wtc acceptable? Questions arises over virat’s captaincy.

The final of the WTC(2019-2021) was played from 18 to 23 June 2021 at the Rose Bowl Southampton, England, between India and New Zealand. It was initially scheduled for five days, but time lost during the game to rain interruptions so there was a sixth day reserved for outcome of results. And as expected  the planned reserve day was used .New Zealand won the match by eight wickets to be crowned as the winners of the ICC World Test Championship                                           

  • Newzealand captions kane Williamson & Ross Taylor returning after playing winning knock in WTC(2019-2021) final

After the defeat of the Indian team, the captain comes first on target . The news about the outraged  Indian fans , annoyed cricket expert and WhatsApp memes start circulating over the internet. The netizens and twitterati starts demanding that the captain should leave the capticancy. But the question arises that is it right time to take back his captaincy? Or if he is removed from the captaincy then do we have any good option for his replacement? But before making any conclusions , let’s have a look over virat’s captaincy record.

  • Indian captain virat kholi after the defeat in wtc final.

Virat has captained 61 test with a winning percentage of 59.01% , which includes 36 wins ,15 losses and 10draws . He is having second best winning percentage as a captain among all current playing captains. When talked about oneday cricked , virat has a win percentage of about 70% , which includes 65 wins. His win percentage in T20 cricket is 65.1% which includes 27 wins. It’s just unfortunate that virat has lost couple of icc trophies even with sach a fantastic record in mordern day cricket .

What’s the experts view?

“The decision of making and removing someone from captaincy cannot be taken emotionally. If someone asks to remove virat from captaincy then can we remove him on the basis of single match? When talked about the record, virat has won 36 matches . I personally feel that just because of loosing single match we should not overreact. There was our mistakes, batting mistake , team management mistake . If we actually talk about the captaincy debate then it is quite clear that it will happen in T20 cricket. But even it’s not right time to discuss over T20 cricket now because world cup commencing and if we continue these debate then cricket would be harmed the most. I feel that virat is captain and the world cup plan is designed with him . If the india looses the World cup then it’s sure that Rohit would be made captain of T20 format.” Said the cricketing expert Vikrant Gupta.

“Do we have any alternative for captaincy? Is there any better option for virat’s replacement? Is there anyone who can score runs consistently and can do captiancy like him in a pressure situation. I don’t think that it’s right time to remove him from his captiancy.” Said the indian sport journalist vijay Lokapally.

☝️Visit these link to know about other cricketing expert view on wtc final.

MEANING OF MOTIVATION

Multicolored Bontainer

Kilimanjaro is a snow – covered mountain that is 19,710 feet high and is said to be the highest mountain of Africa ……. close to the western summit there is the dried and frozen carcass of a leopard . No one has explained what the leopard was seeking at the altitude.

– Ernest Hemingway

In the above passage , two points draw the attention of the reader . First, the behaviour of the leopard was purposive – that he was trying to find out something by climbing on the snow -covered peak . Second, to understand the leapord’s behaviour , we would have to understand his purpose – what he was seeking . But one thing is sure that there was some force of motivation behind such action . Motivation is the main determinant of an individual’s behavior . The term ‘Motivation’ is derived from the word ‘Motive’ . Motive is a combination of of thought , feeling or condition that causes one to act . Motive can be for a short period or can be for a long longer one . If a child takes a colourful ball , he plays with the ball but if , in the meantime , he is attracted towards the other colourful ball , or toy, then we say that his motive for the first ball was a short period . But if a player wants to win gold medal at the international level and he/ she works hard for years to get the medal , we say that his/her motive is for longer period .

Human behavior is controlled , directed and modified through certain motives . When a person feels hungry and searches for food , we say that he/she is motivated by his/her drive , i.e. biological drive . When he/she gets food and is satisfied , we say that his/her drive for food has been fulfilled .

Motivation is one of the main psychological factors which affects performance . Motivation means to be inspired to do something . The definition of motivation is to give reason , enthusiasm or interest that causes a specific action or certain behaviour . Motivation is present in every function of life .

The following definitions may clarify the meaning of motivation more explicitly .

According to Crooks and Stein,“ Any condition , that might energies and direct our actions” is called motivation.

According to Sage,“ The drive to strive ” is called motivation .

According to Alderman,“ Motivation is the general level of arousal to action in an individual .”

“Motivation is the inclination to persue and persist in activities related to one’s sports .”

HISTORY OF CRICKET

Cricket is a global passion, played everywhere from Test match arenas to village greens, tropical beaches and dusty back lots. Just look at the varied cricket events sponsored by royal london: star-studded internationals for men and women; Britain’s club championship pairing 256 community teams, county cups for teens. It has a great history too…

LONG BACK

Cricket was first recorded in 16th-century England, and it was played in grammar schools, farm communities and everywhere in between. But things really took off when 18th-century nobles realised that not only was it a great sport but also an excellent opportunity for betting.

With sky-high stakes being wagered, it was deemed necessary to come up with agreed rules. The oldest surviving set of cricket laws date from 1744 – printed on a handkerchief, naturally. It’s now in the MCC Museum at Lord’s in London.

The oldest permanent fixture is the annual Eton v Harrow match, played since 1805. A young Lord Byron turned out for Harrow in the first match, though history doesn’t record how poetic – or “mad, bad and dangerous” – his bowling was.  

The first international match was in 1877 when Australia beat England in Melbourne. The match was dubbed a “Test”, since the gruelling nature of playing over five days was deemed the ultimate “test” for any side.

But it was Australia’s first win on English soil – in 1882 at The Oval in London – that led to matches between the two nations being christened the Ashes. Following the defeat, newspapers published an obituary mourning “the death of English cricket”, adding that “the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia”.GREAT PLAYERS

GREAT PLAYERS

Cricket’s earliest star was WG Grace, who played 44 seasons from 1865 to 1908. Despite the game’s reputation as the epitome of fairness, Grace was as famous for his gamesmanship as his batting. He once ran three, then when the ball was flung in from the outfield, caught it, put it in his pocket and ran three more.

The top batsman in history is India’s Sachin Tendulkar, who retired in 2013 after scoring 15,921 runs in 200 Tests and 18,426 in 463 one-day internationals. He is the only player to have made 100 international centuries, was the first batsman to score a double century in a one-day International and is the only player to amass more than 30,000 international runs.

A special mention must go to West Indies’ legend Sir Garfield (Gary) Sobers, who became the first batsman to hit six sixes in a single over off six consecutive balls in first-class cricket, playing for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan in 1968.

5 Best Adventure Activities in Rishikesh

River Rafting

River Rafting is undoubtedly one of the most popular adventure activities in Rishikesh. This water sport allures thousands of tourists from all around. Rishikesh offers a thrilling opportunity to raft down the River Ganga. Rafting right amid rocky mountains, taking all the freshness of the green surroundings and enjoying as the water caresses your face, what could be better? One could feel their heart beat pumping as they move across the gushing water of River Ganga at Rishikesh.

Rishikesh offers this adventurous sport from the month of September to June every year. During these months, the water of River Ganga is perfect for rafting; it is neither too wild nor entirely calm. There are a number of rafting operators who arrange this activity for people. People can also opt for riverside camping along with rafting.

Safety Tips

  • Do not panic while rafting!
  • Make sure to wear the correct sports-wear
  • Attentively listen to your trainer and follow the instructions properly
  • It is good to learn proper swimming techniques
  • Select an authorized and professional rafting services provider
  • Always wear a life jacket and helmet

 

Camping

Camping is a popular activity which is ideal for all those who wish to stay close to Mother Nature. Rishikesh is one of the most popular camping zones in India. Those who take part in this activity are known as campers. This is a basic activity that can be enjoyed by people of any age group. Camping involves staying in a tent in the wild areas.

These days, modern camps are available which come with modern facilities. Some popular riverside camping sites include Shivpuri, Kaudiyala, Brahmpuri and Byasi. Camping is a great way of staying close to nature and exploring its beautiful treasures. Nothing can be better than enjoying the sounds of flowing of wild rivers and chirping of the birds. Also, camping offers an opportunity to explore the lives of the locals from nearby villages and discover new things.

This outdoor recreational activity is usually enjoyed while participating in adventure activities like trekking, wildlife safari, mountaineering and river rafting.

There are two types of camping available at Rishikesh – luxury camping and jungle camping. While the jungle camps are basic tents and offer temporary accommodation, luxury camps are Swiss camp cottages that come with basic facilities like electricity at camp site, attached washrooms, fan and hot/cold water facility. 

Safety Tips 

  • Safety Tips Always check the site if you are allergic to a particular thing
  • Always follow the campfire safety
  • Always stay updated with the climatic condition
  • Be aware of wild animals
  • Do not drink water from any source it might have germs
  • Guard your skin against the direct sun
  • Have fun but stay alert
  • keep yourself hydrated
  • Pack and Store Food Safely
  • Pick the clean shelter and site
  • Use Insect Protection

Bungee Jumping

Bungee Jumping is one of the most challenging adventure activities. This activity is perfect for those adventure enthusiasts who live life without fear. During this activity, a person is harnessed to the wire that dives from an altitude of around 220 to 273 ft. On release, the wire takes the person down to the river level and then goes back up. The speed of rushing down slowly accelerates upto speed of 160 km ph. This activity offers you a thrilling experience as you fall free at such high speed. This one is surely one among the top things to do in Rishikesh. 

Requirements

  • Age : Minimum 12 year
  • Weight: Minimum 40kg and Maximum 110kg

Safety Tips

  • Choose an experienced and reliable adventure service provider
  • Never Overthink
  • Wear Comfy Outfits
  • Choose your backdrop
  • Go for a Medical checkup before jumping
  • Don’t overeat before the jump.

Swing

Swing is a popular adventurous activity that involves jumping from a bungee platform which comes with a seat and chest harness that is further connected to fixed wire ropes. To perform this activity.

Though the activity may look a bit scary at first, the entire experience of the swing is breathtaking. This activity can be performed alone or by two people at a time. A person is set on a seat and harness which is connected to the fixed wire ropes. On jump from the platform, the ropes smoothly swing the person like a pendulum. The entire experience of the swing is exhilarating. As soon as the activity is completed, jumpers are lowered down to a drop zone in the river.

Requirements

  • Age : Minimum 12 year
  • Weight: Minimum 30kg and Maximum 120kg

Safety Tips

  • Do Not Overthink
  • Wear Comfy Outfits
  • Go for a Medical checkup before jumping
  • Don’t overeat before the jump
  • Be confident
  • Choose an experienced and reliable adventure service provider

Waterfall Trekking

For those who wish to spend some time close to nature, Waterfall Trekking is the perfect activity. This activity takes you closer to nature away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Waterfall trekking is a great option for all those who love trekking and nature. This activity can- be enjoyed by people of all age groups.

There are a number of hidden waterfalls in and around Rishikesh. However, these hidden treasures are not easily accessible. To reach these waterfalls, one has to trek. This is an exciting activity which takes you through the unexplored areas of Rishikesh which are set amid those green surroundings. As you walk through the narrow trails around Rishikesh, you may also get to see exotic wildlife of Uttarakhand.

Some beautiful waterfalls around Rishikesh are Neergadh Waterfall, Garud Chatti Waterfall and Patna Waterfall. All these waterfalls are immensely beautiful and promise a refreshing experience to all the trekkers.

Safety Tips

  • Always be alert
  • Wear protective gear such as helmet, and knee guard
  • Wear comfortable clothes
  • Always Stay on developed trails
  • Watch your footing avoid walking on rocks covered with algae it can be slippery
  • Be particularly cautious while taking pictures
  • Do not lean over a ledge at the top of a falls
  • Wear Sturdy Hiking Boots
  • Keep yourself Hydrated

Manga Review: Haikyuu!

The premise of Haikyu!! is simple: middle schooler Shouyou Hinata happens to see a volleyball match on TV one day. He watches the Little Giant of Karasuno High School score point after point by jumping higher than anyone else, outplaying his tall opponents. And Hinata, short for his age, realizes that he could play volleyball too. When Hinata finally makes it to his first tournament in his third year of middle school, his team is crushed in the first round by a team led by setter Tobio Kageyama, a temperamental genius. Hinata vows to crush him the next time they meet on the court… only to walk into the volleyball gym on his first day at Karasuno, and see Kageyama practicing his serves. The rest of the series follows the unlikely pair and their teammates on their journey to the national championships and beyond. 

What really makes Haikyu!! stand out, and what got me hooked despite my generally lukewarm attitudes towards sports stories and male protagonists, was the depth of character development everyone gets. It’s not just a story about Hinata and Kageyama. It’s also a story about their teammates, their coaches, their rivals, and everyone else around them who plays a role in their development. Many chapters feature flashback sequences showing the reader how a rival team member we were seeing for the first time got to where they are today, making it impossible not to care for every character the reader encounters.

Even though it’s a story about a boy’s volleyball team, the women in the story (the managers, sisters, and girls volleyball team members) have their own arcs and interests not centered around the men. In other sports manga I have read, the team managers were only interested in helping the team move forward. In Haikyu!!, first year manager Hitoka Yachi’s entire introduction to the story is about her discovering what she wants for herself, and how she wants to achieve that. Yachi and third year manager Kiyoko Shimizu have their own interests, goals and personalities separate from how they relate to the team.

Where Haikyu!! sometimes falls short is its pacing. The weekly manga spent almost a full calendar year on a single match between Karasuno and another school, yet the transition into the final arc of the story felt very sudden and rushed. Without giving away too much, the characters’ high school life ends abruptly, and flashes forward to their lives several years later with no warning. The drastic shift in direction was entirely unexpected by most readers, yet many grew to welcome it as the story developed further and flashback sequences elaborated on the years in between. Furudate’s decision to continue the story beyond the typical high school sports manga confines was a bold choice, and while it may be alienating to some readers, others find it exciting and refreshing.

The art style also shifts dramatically as the comic goes on. The characters become more angular and stylized, and the action more exaggerated and expressive. It’s not as noticeable when reading archivally, but it is kind of surprising to see such style drift in a manga, even a long-running one.

One of the recurring themes in Haikyu!! is the idea of flight. At first, Hinata seems too short to succeed at volleyball, a sport in which height is crucial to scoring points and winning games. But Hinata is capable of jumping extraordinarily high, and with the right teammates, he soars. In chapter 30, Karasuno’s coach says, “Because we don’t have wings, humans are always searching for different ways to fly.”

THE BEST PARAGLIDING DESTINATION IN INDIA

Why do people paraglide

We human beings are blessed with the ability to talk, express our thoughts and feelings, walk freely on the land and various other things. Man is a curious creature wanting to try and explore new things and experiencing joy in that. Seeing the birds fly freely in the sky witnessing the nature and human made settlements through the microscopic view , many feet away from land has often led people to wonder how it would be to be in that sky. Well the creation of Aeroplane did do a little to experience that but still nothing comes closer to the experience of getting yourself loose in the air without a metal box enclosing you. The feeling of spreading your limbs freely experiencing the glories of nature , the very reason of our existence is incredible. And what if there is an opportunity to be this free bird amidst the world famous mighty Himalayas- where the wind from the great mountains will caress your face destressing you of your worries, the luscious greenery will provide you peace , the valleys and the rivers flowing hundreds and thousands of feet below you will scream peace and tranquility providing relief to the buried souls. Yes it is PARAGLIDING we are talking about.

To all the adventure sport lovers who are missing the rush of adrenaline flow through them while they take the “safe risks” by flying in air, in this covid pandemic where staying at home is the sole option, this blog is for you to read . The blog I am sure will give you all the reasons and information regarding paragliding in BIR BILLING.

Why to choose Bir as a paragliding destination

Bir , a small village located in the heart of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh- The land of Gods , is a paradisal abode for all the adrenaline lovers, offering an unforgettable lifetime experience of letting yourself free amongst the clouds while gliding through them. IT IS THE BEST PARAGLIDING DESTINATION IN INDIA which attracts gliders from all over the world. Bir has also played as a host of 2015 Paragliding world cup.

The Bir-Billing area is a popular site for paragliders both searching for tandem paragliding as well as solo paragliding which attracts people from all over the world to paraglide. It is the highest paragliding spot in India and is the best budget friendly option which enables you to take a flight from 2430 meters above the sea level. It also offers you an opportunity to camp and relax in the lap of nature , away from all the worries , in a pocket friendly way.

Bir Billing can be accessed via road, train and flight. The Gaggal airport in Dharmshala is the nearest air port to Bir which is connected to Kullu and Delhi and the distance between Dharmshala to Bir is 68 kilometers which can be accessed only by road. To reach Bir by train one has to travel till Pathankot railway station and then take a toy train to Ahju railway station which is just 3 kilometers away from Bir. The toy train experience is also a wonderful one and I would recommend taking the train option as the toy train seeping through the majestic Himalayan valleys and tunnels will take you a step closer to the nature. Also there are buses at regular intervals from Dharmshala and Shimla to take you to Bir and overnight buses from Delhi to Dharmshala and Shimla runs daily.

Paragliding in Bir

The take off site at Bir offers a mighty 360 degree view of Dhauladhar Mountain Range. A single paragliding flight of about 15 minutes will cost rupees 2000 generally while a 30 minute long flight will cost you around 3000 rupees.(Note these are the general rates and it may differ from one paragliding company to the other).

You will be taken to the take off site by the company you choose to paraglide with. For the first time paragliders , tandem paragliding where you will paraglide with a professional paraglider, is highly recommended. A harness securing you with the paraglider will be tied to ensure your safety and the balloon and navigation will be the responsibility of your paraglider. You will have to take a short run pre take off from the cliff in the air which will get you set free in the air. The process of the short run followed by the jumping in air can be a bit scary but within two minutes max your fear will be overpowered by excitement and ecstasy of being able to shake your hands and limbs freely in the air without a caged body .

Best Time to visit Bir

The best time to visit Bir is between October to June. However paragliding in December and January when the mighty Himalayas are covered in white sheet of snow is simply fantastic. However, the paragliding may be stalled sometimes due to snowfall in the winter months.

For staying you can either choose the option of rental homes or the hotels, the prices of which starts from 500 rupees per night and go as high as to 3000 rupees per night depending upon the luxuries.

WOMEN AND SPORTS

In the field of games and sports, people do not acknowledge women’s sports to be at par with men’s sports .Right from the beginning of Olympic Games, the role of women in sports and games has been neglected. However, from the last decade of previous century , there is an increasing interest of women in sports both as participants and spectators. The provision of sports facilities to both women and men in sports shows a new trend. More people, than in the past, now want to see women on the playfields. However , few discriminations still persist in terms of salaries, cash awards, television time, etc. Indeed a lot of efforts have been taken vis-a`-vis women participation in sports and even greater steps are yet to be taken.

SPORTS PARTICIPATON OF WOMEN IN INDIA

Here, we will discuss in detail women’s participations in the field of sports .As a matter of fact, women’s participation in sports has a long history . In ancient Olympics , women were not allowed to even watch sports competitions . Even in the first modern Olympic games which were held in 1896 in Athens , there was no participation of women .In fact , women started participating in the modern Olympic Games from 1900 onwards . They participated only in two sports events . In this Olympics , only twenty – two women participated . In 1904 Olympic Game , only six women participated in three events . With the passage of time , the number of women participants in Olympics increased and exactly after 100 years i.e., in 2000 Sydney Olympics , the number of women participants increased up to 4,096 . In this Olympics , a total of 10,500 sportspersons from 199 countries took part and out of which 38.2 per cent were women. This number of women participants was a record during that time . In 2008 Olympic Games , which were held in Beijing , a total of 10,700 sportspersons from 205 countries took part and out of which 4,637 were women whose percentage was 42.4 , whereas only 23 women of India participated in the London Olympics . In 2012 London Olympic Games , 10,960 sportsperson from 205 countries participated , out of which 4,862 were women whose percentage was more than ever before . For the first time women boxing was included in the Olympic program . In 2008 Olympics , 26 female sportsperson participated from India . Only four Indian women participated in the Olympics held in 1952 in athletics . Karnam Malleshwari became the first Indian Women to secure a bronze medal in weightlifting in Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 . In 2012 London Olympic Games , Sania Nehwal and MC Mary Kom added feather in the cap of India by securing one bronze medal each . Though PT Usha could not win any medal in the 1984 Olympic in 400 m hurdle race , yet her performance was remarkable and extraordinary . In fact , there is a long list of Indian woman sportsperson who have won various positions in the World Cups , Common Wealth Games, Asian Games ,SAF Games , etc.

T20 world cup shifted from India to UAE AND OMAN

The T20 world cup 2021 will be held from October 17 to 14 November in UAE and OMAN as confirmed by the ICC on Tuesday. Matches will be played in four venues – Dubai International stadium, the sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi, the OMAN Cricket Academy ground and Sharjah stadium. BCCI will remain the host of the event.

BCCI confirms T20 World Cup in UAE, Oman | Sports News,The Indian Express

It the heartbreaking news for Indian fans but because of the pandemic and keeping in mind safety of the players this decision has been taken by ICC and BCCI .Good news is that T20 World cup going held without any delay and fans can watch it on their TV or in phone .

“The ICC Men’s T20 world cup 2021 will be staged in UAE and OMAN due to the on going covid-19 situation in India” ICC said on their official release.

Acting ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said: “Our priority is to deliver the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 safely, in full and in its current window. Whilst we are incredibly disappointed not to be hosting the event in India, the decision gives us the certainty we need to stage the event in a country that is a proven international host of multi-team events in a bio-secure environment. We will work closely with the BCCI, the Emirates Cricket Board and Oman Cricket to ensure fans can enjoy a wonderful celebration of cricket.”

President BCCI Sourav Ganguly  said: “The BCCI is looking forward to hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 tournament in UAE and Oman.  We would have been happier hosting it in India but considering the uncertainty due to the Covid -19 situation and the importance of a world championship, the BCCI will now continue to host this tournament in UAE and Oman. The BCCI is looking forward to creating a spectacle.”

BCCI Secretary, Jay Shah, said: “The BCCI made every effort to stage the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and provide its passionate fans with a reason to cheer after a long period of gloom. However, the prevailing pandemic situation in the country meant that the health and safety of everyone concerned was fraught with risk should a tournament of this stature is held across the country. The BCCI will continue to host the tournament, which will now be held in the UAE and Oman and work closely with the ICC to make it a memorable event.” 

Vice President Emirates Cricket Board, Khalid Al Zarooni said: “Emirates Cricket Board is honoured that the BCCI (Board of Cricket Control India) and the ICC (International Cricket Council) have entrusted us with staging and delivering the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The UAE’s reputation as being a safe country in which to host high-profile sporting events is a strong compliment to our government’s unwavering commitment to implementing and monitoring effective health practices during the pandemic. Having hosted a number of high-profile tournaments in recent months our team is well-prepared and ready to mobilise to ensure the success of the T20 World Cup.”

Oman Cricket Chairman, Pankaj Khimji said, “It is indeed a great moment for Oman Cricket to be selected as a venue/host of the forthcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. We shall leave no stone unturned to exceed the requirements of BCCI and ICC. Oman will certainly extend a very warm welcome to all the teams, officials and media in October.”