BE N N E T T, C OL E M A N & C O. LT D. | E S TA BLI S H E D 183 8 | T IM E S OF IN DI A .

C OM | DE L HI

STUDENT EDITION
➤ Know the story behind the ➤ As we take a step towards ➤ A look at top 5
TODAY’S usage of idiom ‘Make bricks healing the Earth, an NIE
reporter highlights the
bowlers who can FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021

EDITION
without straw’, and much more make a difference in
Newspaper in
Education

in ‘Wizard’s Corner’ importance of trees for the

mankind the India-SA series

PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 4

CLICK HERE: PAGE 1 AND 2

NASA gears up to launch a $10 bn machine that allows humans to peer back in time
James Webb Telescope: The most-
powerful space telescope ever built The climate movement in
India is mostly restricted

O
to the cities, that is why
n December 24, an Ariane 5
rocket will take to the skies FEATURES it is being led by the privi-
leged section of the society. The

1 2 3
from Arianespace’s ELA-3
launch complex near Kourou
French Guiana. Its payload
The JWST will allow Unlike Hubble, Webb will not lack of awareness is among the
will be one of the most-precious pieces scientists to see the telescope sit stationary topmost reasons as to why it is
of cargo humanity has ever sent to space much farther out will not orbit at the L2 orbit not inclusive of all the classes
– the $10 billion James Webb Telescope
(JWST) – a device with the potential to
into space than Hubble. It the Earth. Instead it point. Instead, it will and communities in India. In the
markedly transform our conception can, reportedly, see will orbit the sun, also move in another
developed countries, govern-
of the early universe. With the ability objects 10 billion times around 1.5 million smaller orbit, roughly
to peer deep into the endless abyss (and
fainter than the faintest kilometres away from similar in size to the
ments listen to the masses. Here,
effectively billions of years into the past)
and reveal some of the earliest stars and of stars visible without a the Earth, at what is Moon’s orbit around it is not the case. For example,
galaxies to have ever formed in the uni- telescope, and thousand called the second the Earth, which crores of money are being spent
verse, the JWST will allow us to under-
stand how cosmic phenomena in our own
times fainter than what Lagrange point, also takes about six on the installation of smog tow-
backyard came to exist. Hubble picks up known as L2 months ers in Delhi, but they are not
effective. I believe that if the
Although often described as a replace-
ment for the Hubble Space Telescope
 The telescope will be tightly
S ever
LUEsequences
ing one of the most-complex
Cdeployment problem of air pollution becomes
launched in 1990, the JWST has some
important differences and will, at least
HOW folded inside the payload bay of
an Ariane 5 rocket  Once in attempted
a voting issue, only then some-
thing can be done about it
for the time being, work alongside
Hubble to help astronomers unravel the
IT space, it will separate from the
launch vehicle and begin its
 One of the goals of the tele-
scope is to look back through
Aditya Dubey, 18-year-old
climate activist and winner of
mysteries of the cosmos. When Hubble
was launched, it expanded our view of WILL journey towards the orbit point
 After being released from the
time to when galaxies were
young. Webb will do this by
Diana award, which honours
young people who work
the universe, providing us with dazzling
images of galaxies that appeared too WORK rocket, Webb will gradually
unfurl as it travels to its desti-
observing distant galaxies that
are over 13 billion light years to improve the lives of
faint to see with the naked eye nation beyond the Moon, execut- away from the Earth others

NEWS IN World’s first SMS, reading ‘Merry Christmas’, World’s first science-Sanskrit film
CLUES sells for over 100,000 euros as NFT in auction to depict ‘Mangalyaan’ saga
D
Who’s the first cricketer to become a he first text mes- on’t be surprised if you find tough
concussion substitute in Test cricket?
CLUE 1: The 27-year-old
was born in Klerksdorp,
South Africa.
Council last year.
CLUE 3: Count
Glamorgan, Queensland,
T sage ever sent, read-
ing ‘Merry
Christmas’, was sold
on Tuesday for 107,000 euros
($121,000) as a ‘Non-Fungible
space exploration theories and tech-
nical jargons relating to rocket sci-
ence being used in Sanskrit, the ancient lan-
guage of vedas and mantras, in a film. A sci-
ence documentary in the classical language,
CLUE 2: He was named Brisbane Heat and the Token’ at a Paris auction house. considered to be the first such initiative in
as the Emerging Australian national side The text, which was sent on the world cinema, will soon enthrall movie
Cricketer of the Year by are some of the major December 3, 1992, was put up buffs with the success story of India’s his-
the International Cricket teams he has played for. for auction by the British tele- toric ‘Mars Orbiter Mission’ (MOM) alias ‘Mangalyaan’. National award-winning film-
com company Vodafone.  Non-Fungible Tokens, or NFTs, are a type of digi- maker Vinod Mankara, known for his efforts to revive Sanskrit, which is generally con-
Vodafone engineer Neil Papworth tal asset that has surged in popularity this year, sidered a dead language, is coming out with the innovative docu film. Titled ‘Yaanam’,
Answer: MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE. The Australian middle-order with NFT artworks selling for millions of dollars
sent the SMS from his computer the proposed 45-minute movie is based on ‘My Odyssey: Memoirs of the Man Behind
batsman has dethroned England captain Joe Root from the No. 1  Traded since around 2017, these digital objects,
spot in the ICC Test rankings for batsmen, following his good per-
to a manager in the United the Mangalyaan Mission’ penned by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan.
Kingdom, who received it on his which encompass images, video, music and text,
formances in the first two Ashes Tests. Indian Test skipper Virat
Kohli slipped a notch to be placed seventh, while newly-appointed 2-kg ‘Orbitel’ telephone, similar exist on blockchain, a record of transactions kept
limited-overs captain Rohit Sharma, who will miss the South Africa to a desk phone but cordless and on networked computers. Each NFT has a unique
Test series due to a hamstring injury, remained fifth. with a handle. digital signature

he month of December Times

T brings with it the per-
fect mix of chilly
weather, good vibes,
the promise of cheerful times, and
an appreciation for the little
NIE
wishes
you all a
things in life. This Christmas, be
merry and usher in the celebra-
tions with gratitude by taking a
MERRY
moment to thank your near and CHRISTMAS
dear ones..
 02 “Life is short, but there is always time
enough for courtesy.”
RALPH WALDO EMERSON, POET
WIZARD’S CORNER
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021

Riding with the

ANAGHA SASTIKAR Riddle

Art Educator
Bodakdev School For
Children, Ahmedabad
Draw the easy way 1) XEERUTT 3) HACENIM
SIDDHARTHA KOTHARI,
class X, St Joseph's Boys' High School,
Bengaluru
a. Exercise b. Texture a. Window b. Machine
I am a soft, fluffy staple fiber. I
c. Village d. Superiors c. Tubelight d. Teaser am white in colour. I'm a very
4) EATMCJIS famous Cash Crop. Huge
2) TSEGAOH a. Mechanics b. Muscular Industries turn me into attractive
products. My fiber is most often
a. Discharge b. Hospital c. Majestic d. Mesmerising spun into yarn or thread and used
c. Hierarchy d. Hostage Answers: 1) b, 2) d, 3) b, 4) c to make a soft, breathable, and
durable textile.
Step-1 Step-2
Answer: Cotton

CHRISTMAS CLASSICS
Complete these
SURYAKUMARI DENNISON, teacher, Aavishkar Academy, Bengaluru
statements on Christmas
poems and stories. Choose A) Dancer B) Dasher
correctly! C) Dollar D) Donder

1 'Hercule Poirot's
Christmas' is by
A) Arthur Conan Doyle
Step-3 Step-4
B) Agatha Christie C) Ruth Rendell
D) Raymond Chandler
3 In a story by Dr Seuss,
the creature who tries

2 The miser in Dickens'

'A Christmas Carol'
to steal Christmas is the
A) Grinch B) Gorgon
is
A) Bob Cratchit
C) Ghost D) Griffin
5 The TV Special, 'A
Charlie Brown
Christmas', is based on
B) Nigel Fezziwig
C) Ebenezer Scrooge 4 Not in Clement
Clarke Moore's
'The Night Before
the comic strip
A) Walnuts
D) Tiny Tim
Step-5 Step-6 Christmas' is a rein- B) Groundnuts
3) A. Grinch 4) C. Dollar 5) D. Peanuts
deer called C) Chestnuts
Answers: 1) B. Agatha Christie 2) C. Ebenezer Scrooge D) Peanuts

Idiom -etrics Editor

in the making
WEAVE A STORY WITH HEADLINES
SURYAKUMARI DENNISON, teacher, Aavishkar Academy, Bengaluru Include some of these headlines to make a story and give
(Choose the idiom that best suits Photo: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

it a title. Mail the story to us at toinie175@gmail.com.

the situation)
The interesting one will be published in the
edition. Watch out for this space!!!
E
veryone wondered why Meera was participating in
the painting competition. They had never seen her
draw anything, and felt she was wasting her time.
When the entries were finally displayed, Meera's beautiful
portrayal of a spectacular sunset left staff and students
The headlines:
speechless. "This is amazing, Meera!" exclaimed a
teacher. "None of us knew of your aptitude for art. 1) Biden welcomes a new And the
Your secret skills have come as a big surprise." puppy to the White House winner is...
A. Hobby horse B. Stalking horse ANJALI DESAI
C. Dark horse Answer: C 2) Joumou pumpkin soup class IX, St Xaviers, Ahmedabad

gets cultural heritage tag

HAPPY HAPPY
M TRIVIA
ohan was ill
equipped to
3) Bajrangi Bhaijaan once WORLD!
I
head the Drama n the biblical account of the bondage
of the Israelites in Egypt, Moses urges
Club because he had again
B
Pharaoh to set his slaves free. Instead, eauty lies in the eyes of the
never read a play in his
Pharaoh imposes a heavy burden on beholder, but then, we do
life.
them. "You shall no longer give the peo-
4) Can Mamata do her magic have beauty contests and I
A. Make bricks without am happy that one I liked the most,
straw ple straw to make bricks as before," he in Goa? is Miss Universe 2021. What a
commands the taskmasters. "Let them go
B. Drop a brick delightful start of the day as I
and gather straw for themselves."
C. Hit one's head rushed to catch the school bus. On
Therefore, the idiom 'make bricks without
against a brick wall the way, I saw huge piles of plastic
Answer: A
straw' means to attempt to do something
without the required resources. hallo!
ciao!
hello!
hola!

Learn a waste. Despite aggressive campaign

of “Say no to plastic”, this waste
GERMAN piled up roadside bothered me.
On reaching school, I shared my

3 The average of first 50 natu-

ral numbers? 1) Ich heiße …
Work sheet concern with my friends and one of
them shared that “Plastic waste
sculpture museum to come up near
A) 66 B) 29.7 C) 2.5 D) 25.5
Answer : D Meaning: My name is …
Q:1 How will you tell your name? Bengaluru”. She added, “This can
2) Sprechen Sie Englisch? be replicated in every city.” Soon,
NUMBER SERIES 4 When is Pi Day celebrated
around the world?
Meaning: Do you speak English? Q:2 How will you ask someone his
name?
Chemistry teacher entered the
class and seeing worried look on

1 Who is the Father of

Mathematics?
A) January 14 B) February 14
C) March 14 D) April 14
Answer : C
3) Wie heißt du?
Meaning: What’s your name?
Q:3 How will you ask, “ How are
my face, she thought I have
Chemistry fear. She said, “Be dili-
A) Girolamo Cardano B) Archimedes gent to bond with Chemistry.”.
4) Wie geht es dir? you?”
5
C) Georg Cantor D) John Horton The value of Pi? After a long but a fruitful day
Meaning: How are you?
at school, I came back home to find
Answer : B
A) 5.78278 B) 3.14159
C) 7.09072 D) 1.65488
Answer : B
5) Gut, danke
Q:4 How will you express your grati- more joy as my father and brother

2 Who discovered Zero (0)?

A) Paul Erdös
Meaning: Fine, thank you tude and inform that you are fine? were delighted as they shared the
news in the Times of India that
B) John Horton Conway
C) Aryabhatta, AD 458
6 Value of cos 360°?
A) 1 B) 2 Answer : A
Answers: 1) Ich heiße Andreas 2) Wie heißt du? 3) Wie geht es dir? 4) Gut, danke
“Going Dutch! F1 gets a new world
champ!!”
D) Terry Tao
Answer : C
C) 3 D) 4
 CLICK HERE: FOR PAGE 3 AND 4

SCHOOL IS COOL
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24 2021
It’s not just a place where you get to learn Einstein’s Theory of
Relativity. It’s also a place where you can think beyond the
classroom. Hence we say, SCHOOL IS COOL!
03
TIME TO CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT
SHARE AND CARE BEING WITH FAMILY
C
hristmas is a time to celebrate and gives us an opportunity to get together. It also

T
o me Christmas is all about the preparation that goes behind set up the crib. But out of all these what I enjoy the most is eating
means sharing and caring. To me, Christmas the festivities. The first thing that we do in the beginning of the cake. I never get enough of them. Every year in the month of
means celebrating the birth of Jesus. It is not the month of December is to hang the beautiful star. By November I make a list of all the things and wishes I want to
about presents but about spending time with your the time it's 6 in the evening I am eager to switch on the light ask from Santa. I mention most of them in my letter to Santa,
family and learning about Jesus' birth. Christmas is for of star, to see it emit the light through and then the wait for all those wishes to come true
an annual festival commemorating the birth of the intricate designs. Then comes the part begins. And finally on the eve of Christmas suddenly the
Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 where we decorate the Christmas tree excitement increases ten folds on the hope of getting all
as a religious and cultural celebration and that is something I love to the gifts that I asked for. The excitement
among billions of people do. I enjoy the entire culminates only after I have opened all
around the world. It is a process even the packaging and seen what is there
holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, who, accord- though I am tired in the them on the morning of
ing to the Christian religion, is the son of God. The name is by the end of it. Christmas. Finally Christmas for me is
a joining of “Christ” and “mass” which means the holy mass And then me and my all about the happiness that sur-
(supper, celebration or festival) of Christ. family members rounds the family.
R.MONISA , CLASS VII , together we D.SRIHARI , Class VIII
NAAHAR PUBLIC SCHOOL (CBSE) SENIOR SECONDARY , Kendriya Vidyalaya Coimbatore
VILLUPURAM

MAKE YOUR OWN

CHRISTMAS TREE A FESTIVAL
C
hristmas is incomplete without a Christmas tree. ?
This Christmas I made a beautiful tree which added
beauty to my home. The materials needed to make
your own Christmas tree are five green colour glitter
sheets, scissors, hot glue, ten waste CDs, brown colour glit-
ter sheets and decorative items. Once you are ready with
the materials take 10 circles with the glitter sheets. Paste
LOVED BYALL
LOVED BYALL
'Winter smells like a plum cake ,
made of wine and a pinch of love
with cashews and grapes sprinkled above.'
the circles on the CDs and the 10 circles on one

T
another in form of tree shape. he arrival of December gives me joy and eagerness. Christmas is the best part off
Decorate your Christmas tree snowy December. Just before the last day of school I give out presents to my
with some colourful material. friends. Christmas is a festival that is equally loved and cherished by adults
Stick some golden balls, gift and kids. I used to decorate my home with colourful balls, ribbons, balloons etc.
boxes and some bells and your Homemade traditional plum cakes, cupcakes, muffins and the grape wine are the
Christmas tree is ready, special treats on Christmas. Spreading love and midnight wishes is the best of
S.SUJITH , Class III ,
everything. Christmas to me is a celebration, which includes spend-
The New John Dewey ing time with family, decorating the entire house, in and out and
Matriculation shopping for the people I love. It does have a history to it along
School,
Panruti with some marked traditions which go along with it. On
Christmas Eve, my family goes to the church at night. I would
love to go with them, it’s a sort of experience with peaceful
atmosphere. Christmas is by far my favourite holiday for various
KID’S

CHRISTMAS! IT'S THAT

reasons, one being that I love decorating my Christmas tree.
“Christmas is the day, that holds, all time together.”
FLAVIA ADELLINE. F , Class X, St. Joseph’s Matriculation HSS , Coimbatore TOUCH
TIME OF THE YEAR!! Creative Christmas
Countdown
Christmas
isn’t a season.
P.LAYNA RAHUL,
Class VII,

Billabong

Hr. Sec. School

O It’s a feeling!
h, Winter! A most delightful season. Jack Frost’s time of year. Fire crackling with-
in the earshot. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Children with their eyes glim-

S
ome craftworks is a fun way to find
mering filled with excitement awaiting Christmas Day and Santa’s arrival. The bubbles of peace and to generate a

whole street is jolly and it’s so delightful to hear the words escaping from their chirpy creative outcome. Let me share an
faces, “A very merry Christmas”! Families sing yuletide carols while carrying their lush activity that welcomes Christmas with
green snow-capped Christmas trees. And you can spot all the little ones making snow vigour. The materials I required were a
angels or sledging taking full opportunity of the clear plastic container, some cotton, scis-
roads filled with snow. And, Ahh! The delightful smell of sors and double-sided tape. Firstly, I took a con-
Gooey Chocolaty pastries and gingerbread cookies with tainer and stuck double-sided tape on them. I
little gumdrop candies as buttons. The birds soar in the then stuck cotton balls on them, made the eyes
sky taking in the view of the busy streets. And the whole by sticking some stones and made the nose
street is decorated with Christmas lights. All the toy fac- with a small piece of orange-coloured paper and
tories working in full swing as it’s their time of the year! a piece of paper in which I drew the smile. I fur-
The students gayly lay out their sleeping bags preparing ther embellished my craft with a ball on the top
for stargazing and they are hoping to spot shooting stars and tying a green scarf at
tonight. And all passerby’s catching snowflakes with their the top. Voila! This
tongues. Oh, what a magnificent sight! As tiny Tim has small activity of
rightly said, God bless us, everyone! mine added colours
AARNA BHATIA , Class VII to my plans of cele-
PSBB Millennium School, OMR,
Chennai brating Christmas.
SWATHI KS , Class XI ,
National Model School.
C
hristmas is built upon a beautiful and
intentional paradox; that the birth of
the homeless should be celebrated in
every home. All Christ followers starts
prepared to decorating their house,
Christmas tree etc. in the first two week of December
in which great savior was born and we mainly have a
star latent in houses of all Jesus Christ followers’
home which symbolizes the start ‘Star of Bethlehem’
which the wise men followed and found the Jesus
Christ birth place and the Lord Jesus. We all get pre-
pared to spread joy and the upcoming arrival of
Jesus Christ with all love
and affection towards
others and that’s what
Jesus expect to do.
DERIN ANTONY. J,
Class XI ,
The
Bridgewoods
Public School V ASTHA,
Class VI,

National

IF I WERE I
Matriculation
f I were a Santa

S
anta is the person HSS

who brings Claus, I would

children happi-
ness during Christmas.
He brings gifts and
goodies to brighten
the world.
If I were Santa Claus,
I would make sure no
child goes to bed hun-
gry. I would see to it
that children are not
victims of child labour.
Since it is my responsibili-
ty to keep children happy,
I will see to it that they
are satisfied. Children
should be able to explore the
wonders of the world without
any barriers. So I will make
sure that kids are looked after
well by their guardians and
give them all the tools they
need to fulfill their curiosities.
If I were Santa Claus, I
would keep all the
children happy and safe at
free our planet
from Covid-19 so that
SANTA CLAUS life gets back to nor-
mal for all beings. I
would help the needy
and the poor people. I will make our
planet pollution-free and make the
earth a happy place to live for
everyone. I will shower an
adequate amount of rain
to the world. I would
make our India clean
and green. I would
ban junk food. I
Christmas celebrated at
would make people
healthy. I would
Kendriya Vidyalaya AFS
O
abolish religion, n 21st of December, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sulur celebrated
caste and creed. I Christmas and New Year to set an example of secularism and
would change all the unity in diversity. Due to pandemic situation it wasn't a very
private sector into grand one involving students but with safety measures few students
government sector. I and all teachers participated in the event. There was the Christmas
tree decorated with lamps and crib. The school Principal and the whole
will change the education
system of India. If I do all these staff had come. Teachers and students sang carol and the chief guest
Elsy shared few words on Christmas. This was followed by wishes from
things, our India will become a
Principal sir and Headmistress. Everybody prayed for the permanent
developed country. Merry
existence of love and peace in this violent-torn world. There was also S. VIGNESH,

all times. Christmas everyone. Class V,

a surprise element towards the end of the function. Santa Claus came
D. DEEKSHA , Class VI, S.KAVIYA , Class XI , National

SBOA Matriculation HSS John Dewey Matriculation Higher and gave a small gift to everyone. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the Matric.

Secondary School, Panruti celebrations. Hr. Sec. School


INDIAN WICKET TAKERS
TO LOOK OUT FOR
Pace or spin, India boast a deadly bowling unit that has had a good run of
success both at home and away, with some great performances against SA
Photo: ANI
REAL ROUND OFF YEAR ON A HIGH
Atletico Madrid suffering continues with fourth straight defeat, putting them in fifth place
K
arim Benzema scored two goals
in Real Madrid’s 2-1 win at Ath-
letic Bilbao on Wednesday to
send Carlo Ancelotti’s side into
the winter break eight points
clear atop La Liga. As Real ended the year
with a bang, city rivals and defending
champions Atletico Madrid suffered their
fourth straight defeat, a 2-1 reverse at
Granada, to leave them fifth, but a yawn-
ing 17 points adrift.
Benzema ultimately put the fixture out
of reach of Real’s Basque hosts in a matter
of minutes, Oihan Sancet pulling one back
with his speedy 10th minute reply which
hit the woodwork before evading Thibaut
Cortois. Benzema’s 14th and 15th goals of
the season consolidated his position at the
top of the league’s goalscoring chart.
Benzema dazzled with his opening goal
from the side of the area. The France strik-
er stunned Bilbao when he used one touch
to send a pass from Toni Kroos curling into
the far corner of the net. “What a striker,
what a captain, what a player,” Ancelotti said.
Benzema’s second came after a poor
touch by Bilbao defender Unai Nuñez gift-
ed him the ball with only Simón’s replace-
ment, Julen Agirrezabala, to beat. “I like
2 1 PARALYMPIANS LIFTED INDIA’S SPIRITS
20UND UP
RO
I
sent the largest ever contingent of
54 athletes spreading across
nine disciplines, to the
Tokyo Paralympics. Our
athletes returned with
an unprecedented haul of 19
medals, lifting our spirits
with impressive perform-
ances. Be it gold medallist
javelin thrower Sumit Antil
breaking multiple records in
a few minutes or high jumper
Nishad Kumar shattering the
Asian record and Manish
Narwal setting a new Para-
lympic record in Mixed 50m
Pistol shooting, Indians did not
fail to impress. A look at some
cherished moments...
Nishad Kumar
Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve.
Find another way.
Satchel Paige
T P
eam India has been a force acer Mohammed Shami has
to reckon with in the longest been a serious weapon in India’s
format of the game. In the pace armory in the past few
last 3-4 years, the team has years. Be it home or away, Shami’s re-
dominated Test cricket, win- silience combined with his ability to
ning both at home and away, bowl precise lines and lengths makes
with some exceptional per- him a very dangerous bowler. Against
formances on foreign soil. One of the main South Africa, has has some fantastic
reasons for India’s recent run of success figures to his
has been the bowling performances. The name. In the 8
ability of bowlers to take all 20 opposition Tests he has
wickets anywhere in the world makes the p l a y e d
pack a deadly unit. Be it the pacers or the against the
spinners, the bowlers have had extraordi- Proteas so far,
nary performances, giving the team a Shami has got
chance to bounce back from any situation a total of 34
and finish on top. As Team India begins wickets and is
Mission South Africa, the bowlers will play the leading
a major role in deciding the series on Pro- pacer with
tea soil. A look at the top wickek takers… most number
of wickets Photo: AP
R
avichandran Ashwin has had a dream against South
Africa in the
run in 2021 in Test cricket, with 52
current Indian set up. Along with a
wickets in just 8 matches. Ashwin couple of fifers, Shami has a brilliant
crossed many milestones this year, includ- average of just under 21 against the
ing becoming India’s third highest wicket Proteas. And on South African soil as
taker of all time, surpassing Harbhajan well, the 31-year-old has impressed
quite a bit, grabbing 21 wickets in 5
Singh’s tally of 417 wickets. This was even matches during the 2013 and 2018 tours.
after he did not feature in even a single His performance of 5 for 28 in the sec-
Test in England. As Team India gets set for ond innings of the Johannesburg Test
the Protea challenge, Ashwin will be one on the last tour helped India script a
rare win. Shami’s performance in the
of Virat Kohli’s go-to men in the spin
upcoming tour will play a key role if
department. With the likes of Ravindra India are to create history this time
Jadeja and Axar Patel missing out due to around in South Africa.
injuries, Ashwin will have more responsi- MOHAMMED SHAMI VS SA IN TESTS:
bility. The offie loves playing against the
M - 8 | Wkts - 34 | BBI - 5/28 | BBM -
Proteas. He is the leading wicket-taker
6/74 | Avg - 20.91 | 5W - 2
against South Africa in the current India
squad. In the 10 Tests that he has fea-
J
tured in against them so far, the 35-year- asprit Bumrah’s astronomical rise in red-ball
old has 53 scalps at a terrific average of cricket has been one of the major reasons for
19.75. With 5 fifers and one 10-wicket haul India’s consistent success on foreign soil. One
already, he will be a tough nut to crack. of the most prolific bowlers in recent times,
Bumrah will once again be spearheading the pace
R ASHWIN VS SA IN TESTS: attack. His pace and deadly accuracy make him one
M - 10 | Wkts - 53 | BBI - 7/66 | of the most feared bowlers and India’s hopes of a
BBM - 12/98 | Avg - 19.75 | 5W - 5 maiden series win in South Africa heavily rely on
this type of soccer in a great stadium like bao crowd when substituted late.
this, it makes me happy, but it makes me Sancet struck from the edge of the area
even happier to beat this good team,” said to send the ball in off the post. “We had our
Benzema, who was applauded by the Bil- chance to tie the match,” Bilbao coach
Marcelino García said. “I am proud of how
COVID HIT we played against a great league leader.”
A total of 12 players between Madrid and Atletico hit
Bilbao missed the game after testing posi- Earlier Atlético’s shaky defence of their La
Liga crown took another big hit with in-
tive for COVID-19. That included Madrid jured duo Antoine Griezmann and Stefan
midfielder Luka Modric and Bilbao’s Unai Savic absent. Atletico would be more than
Simón, the goalkeeper for Spain’s national happy to swop trajectories with Granada,
for whom this was a third consecutive win
side. The outbreak on Madrid’s squad gave in front of their home fans and their fifth
Eden Hazard, Eduardo Camavinga, and game without loss.
Nacho Fernández the opportunity to earn This was certainly not how Diego Sime-
one envisaged the night before his 10th year
rare starts. anniversary in charge at Atletico. What’s
“I want to highlight the players who hadn’t more, his Portuguese striker Joao Felix
played much were ready to go, that is the had Granada on the backfoot in the second
minute when his low angled shot got the
strength of a team that wants to com- better of his fellow countryman Luis Max-
pete,” said coach Carlo Ancelotti. “Now to imiano. Venezuelan forward Darwin
rest and get back those players who Machis levelled in the 17th minute. Felix
had a header arguably harshly disallowed
weren’t with us today... I think that we can as the first half drew to a close with Jorge
have them all back after the holidays.” Molina grabbing the winner after the hour
mark for Granada. AGENCIES
WITH BEST EVER MEDAL TALLY
Flying High: NISHAD KUMAR Overcoming odds:
Hailing from Himachal Pradesh’s HARVINDER SINGH
Una district, high jumper Nishad From suffering impairment in his
Kumar cleared 2.06m to win a sil- left leg due to medical negligence
ver medal. In the process, he set at age one to losing his mother just
an Asian record in the men’s 20 days before bagging gold at the
high jump T47 event. Putting 2018 Para Asian Games, Tokyo
the heart-wrenching tale of bronze medallist Harvinder Singh
losing his right hand in a fod- has never allowed the odds to over-
der-cutting machine behind power him. In the run-up to the
him, Nishad jumped 2.02m in Tokyo Games, he was down with
his first attempt in the medal dengue and subsequently Covid-
round before reaching 2.06m in his 19 affected his training. He con-
third attempt. It was bettered by verted his farm in Kaithal district
American Roderick Townsend with of Haryana into a range, and the
a jump of 2.15m. The son of a mason rest is history. He says his per-
and housewife, Nishad now looks formance in Tokyo was far from
forward to pursuing his dreams of perfect. He aims to get there by Paris
a Paralympic gold. 2024.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
V
eteran pacer Ishant Sharma bowler, who is well
will be India’s most experi- known for using
enced bowler in the upcoming the old ball to
tour of South Africa with this being good effect,
his fourth tour of the Rainbow Na- he can be
tion, In the past, he has done rela- an inter-
tively well against the Proteas. In the e s t i n g
15 matches that Ishant has played choice for
against South Africa, the lanky pac- skipper Vi-
er has managed 31 wickets with a rat Kohli
slightly higher average of 43.51. In in the
S o u t h S o u t h
Africa, the Africa series.
33-year-old Umesh has got
has got 20 the numbers
wickets with against South Africa
his best fig- that might just force Kohli
ures of 4 for to go in with him. He is
79 being reg- currently the fourth
istered on highest wicket taker
the 2013 tour. against South Africa in
With the ex- the current Indian
perience squad. In the 4 Test
that Ishant matches that he has
brings in, he played against the
Photo: AP
could be a Proteas so far, he has
strong contender for the third seam- got 16 wickets at a
er slot for skipper Virat Kohli. highly impressive av-
ISHANT SHARMA VS SA IN TESTS: erage of 12.12. Although
all his wickets vs SA
M - 15 | Wkts - 31 | BBI - 4/79 | were taken on Indian soil,
BBM - 5/73 | Avg - 43.51 | 5W - 0 Umesh has the proven art
.......................................................... of reversing the ball and
that might come in handy
U
mesh Yadav might not be a for Virat on this tour.
regular feature in the Indian UMESH YADAV VS
team due to stiff competition
SA IN TESTS:
in the pace department, but the 34-
year-old has proved to be very use- M - 4 | Wkts - 16 | BBI -
ful from time to time with both the 3/9 | BBM - 6/59 |
new and the old ball. A skillful
Avg - 12.12 | 5W - 0 Photo: ANI
his performance. Although he has only featured in soil, with his best figures of 5 for 54 being regis-
3 Tests against South Africa so far, the 28-year old tered in Johannesburg. He has got the experience
is among the top 5 highest wicket-takers in the of playing in South African conditions and his per-
current Indian team with a total of 14 Protea formance will be key for skipper Virat Kohli in
scalps. Although India lost the 2018 series in South achieving an unprecedented series win for India.
Africa 2-1, Bumrah’s performance on that tour was JASPRIT BUMRAH VS SA IN TESTS:
a big highlight. Interestingly, all his 14 wickets M - 3 | Wkts - 14 | BBI - 5/54 | BBM - 7/111 |
against the Proteas were taken on South African Avg - 25.21 | 5W - 1
WANT TO GAIN EXPERIENCE
Karim
Benzema
BEFORE PARIS OLY: SEN
L
akshya Sen, who script-
ed history by becoming
the youngest Indian
shuttler to win a men’s singles
medal at the 2021 World bad-
minton championships, is fo-
cusing on playing more match-
es against different opponents
in order to gain much-needed
experience before competing
at the all-important Paris 2024
Olympics.
Sen said he wants to learn
from his mistakes and gain
more experience with each
tournament. “I have time be-
fore the Paris Olympics and I
want to play more matches win a medal for the country,”
and big tournaments against he added.
different kinds of opponents The Prakash Padukone
in order to gain some much- Badminton Academy (PPBA)
needed experience and im- in Bangalore has recently
prove my game to compete at roped in Korean coach Yoo
that level,” Lakshya Sen said Yong-sung, a two-time Olym-
in an interview. pic silver medallist, as their
“Not just playing, I want head coach. Sen, who trains at
to win big tournaments and the academy, will benefit from
improve my rankings, so that the tactical expertise and prac-
I can qualify for the Olympics tical intelligence of the former
Photo: AP and fulfil my biggest dream to Olympic medallist. IANS
Pairing up: MANISH NARWAL Manish Narwal (L) and Singhraj Adhana
(shooting Gold) SUMIT ANTIL: Breaking Records
Manish Narwal clinched gold at Six years ago, Sonipat wrestler
the Tokyo Paralympics shooting a to- Sumit Antil lost his leg below
tal of 218.2 in P4 Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 the knee in a motorbike acci-
event. The 19-year-old smashed the dent. But that didn’t deter the
Paralympic record and holds the sportsman and he switched
world record. The Haryana lad has an over to para sports, and ex-
impairment in his right hand. celled in F64 javelin throw
with a gold medal at the Tokyo
SINGHRAJ ADHANA (Silver) Paralympics. Sumit shattered
Singhraj Adhana made it a sen- the men’s F64 category world
sational one-two finish for India at record multiple times. He sent
the Tokyo Paralympics when he the spear to 68.55m in his fifth
bagged the silver behind Manish Nar- attempt, which was the best of
wal’s gold in P4 Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 the day by quite a distance and
Sumit Antil
event. Adhana, who hails from Ba- a new world record. Antil had bettered the pre-
hadurgarh in Haryana, competes with vious world record of 62.88m, also set by him,
Harvinder Singh polio-impaired lower limbs. five times on the day.