Manu Gandas Returns to Form, Eyes Strong Indian Open Performance

Manu Gandas Returns to Form, Eyes Strong Indian Open Performance

Manu Gandas, the 27-year-old golfer from Gurugram, faced a challenging first season on the DP World Tour (European Tour) in 2023. Despite qualifying by topping the PGTI Order of Merit, he made only five cuts in 25 appearances.

“The results didn’t go my way, but I’ve gained invaluable experience,” said Gandas, whose best finish was a tied-20th at the ISPS HANDA World Invitational in Northern Ireland. “I now understand the demands of competing with world-class golfers in challenging conditions.”

Gandas has shown signs of improvement in the 2024 PGTI season, winning the Players Championship in Kolkata and finishing 13th at the Vooty Masters. He is now eyeing a strong performance at the Hero Indian Open, a DP World Tour event on his home course.

This year’s Indian Open will feature a record prize purse of $2.25 million and will be the second of five events comprising the Asian Swing. The tournament will attract 144 players, including 2015 champion Anirban Lahiri, Indian veteran Shiv Kapur, and three-time DP World Tour winner Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium.

“I’ll try to apply my learnings,” said Gandas, who finished tied-32nd last year. “The DLF course can be intimidating, especially in windy conditions.”

Reflecting on his European experience, Gandas highlighted the colder, windier, and wetter conditions, which affect warm-up time and distances. He also noted the longer courses, which test the long game.

Gandas has been troubled by recurring niggles in his right wrist and left ankle. “I’ve been playing with pain for the past 2-3 years,” he said. “This season, I’m prioritizing rest and physical strengthening to improve my yardage.”

Despite the challenges, Gandas remains determined. “There were times of self-doubt, but as an athlete, you must persevere,” he said. “I had support from Shubhankar, but homesickness can be a factor. Technical and mental inputs from tour regulars were helpful, but speaking to my coach Anitya Chand was invaluable.”

Meanwhile, Indian Golf Union (IGU) President Brijinder Singh announced plans to hire a National Development Manager (NDM) and National High Performance Manager (NHPM). “We’re interviewing candidates and expect to appoint an NDM by early April,” he said. “The NHPM will be an established player with a strong commitment to golf.”

Lance Klusener Joins Lucknow Super Giants as Assistant Coach for IPL 2024

Lance Klusener Joins Lucknow Super Giants as Assistant Coach for IPL 2024

South African cricket legend Lance Klusener has been appointed as the assistant coach of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. The announcement was made by LSG on Friday, adding Klusener to their already formidable coaching staff led by head coach Justin Langer and assistant coach S Sriram.

Klusener brings a wealth of experience to the LSG dugout, having previously served as an assistant coach for the Mumbai Indians under Shaun Pollock in the early years of the IPL. He also has a successful track record as head coach of the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League, guiding them to their maiden CPL title.

Beyond his IPL and CPL stints, Klusener has also held coaching roles with the Afghanistan national team, as well as the South Africa and Zimbabwe batting units. He has also worked in the Indian domestic circuit with Tripura.

During his playing days, Klusener was renowned as one of the finest all-rounders in white-ball cricket. He was a key member of the South African team that reached the semi-finals of the 1999 World Cup, where he was named Player of the Tournament. Klusener’s all-round abilities, including his explosive batting and accurate medium-pace bowling, made him a formidable force on the field.

Klusener’s appointment as assistant coach at LSG is expected to further strengthen the team’s coaching setup. His experience and expertise will be invaluable to the players, particularly in the areas of batting and all-round development. LSG will be hoping to build on their impressive performance in the 2023 IPL season, where they reached the playoffs under the guidance of Langer and Sriram.

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Roy Hodgson Departs Crystal Palace, Oliver Glasner Appointed as New Manager

Roy Hodgson, the oldest manager in the English Premier League at 76, has stepped down from his position at Crystal Palace after a brief illness during a training session. The decision was made to allow the club to move forward with its plans to appoint a new manager. Austrian coach Oliver Glasner has been brought in as Hodgson’s replacement until the end of the 2025-26 season.

Hodgson, who had previously managed Palace from 2017 to 2021, returned to the club last March and successfully guided them to safety in the league after a poor run of form under Patrick Vieira. He expressed his gratitude for his time at Palace, emphasizing the club’s special place in his footballing life.

The former England coach, who has had a long and illustrious career, has managed several high-profile clubs, including Inter Milan and Liverpool. He also led the England national team from 2012 to 2016. Hodgson’s departure marks the end of an era at Palace, as he was a respected and experienced figure in the Premier League.

Oliver Glasner, the new Palace manager, has a reputation for success. He led Eintracht Frankfurt to the Europa League title in 2022 and has a proven track record of developing young talent. Palace chairman Steve Parish expressed his confidence in Glasner’s ability to get the most out of the club’s talented squad.

Hodgson’s exit from Palace raises questions about his future in football management. He had previously stated that he would retire after his first spell at Palace, only to return to the sport eight months later. It remains to be seen whether he will continue his coaching career or step away from the game altogether.

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