‘Need to follow Saudi Arabia, Iran model’

Four days before they cross swords with Cambodia in an international friendly ahead of their Asian Cup qualifier against Myanmar later this month, India head coach Stephen Constantine called for more international friendlies, stating that such fixtures are instrumental to a team’s consistency before crucial tournaments.

“You hear club coaches complain that they don’t have much time to prepare. So (for the) national team it’s even less,” he said. “There needs to be that level of consistency in the game. We need to understand each other and when you don’t play for one week, one month, it can be a problem. So it’s very important to have an international friendly before a qualifier. It helps gel the boys, try new players, and try new systems or whatever it is that you’re working on.”

The national team’s camp came to an end at the Andheri Sports Complex on Saturday. Speaking on the sidelines after the team’s final practice session, Constantine stressed that the disastrous World Cup qualifying campaign, in which the country ended at the bottom of their group last year, was a stepping stone for the squad to grow.

“In the first round of qualifiers (World Cup), we learnt how to compete. We were not competing against anybody two years back. We couldn’t even beat Nepal. So in these games we learnt how to compete. We will now have to learn how to qualify,” the British coach said, before adding that he felt a singleleague system would help the nation perform better in international tournaments.

“Which are the best leagues in Asia? We could say Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc. And what do they have in common?” When a journalist replied ‘one league’, he nodded in affirmation.

Constantine, who has handed debuts to over 30 players in his tenure, also added that he wants to rely on the squad and not experiment much by shuffling too many players. On being asked why there were no players from the Aizawl side, the current leaders in the I-league, Constantine added: “As a team they’re performing verywell. Wecansaythey’rethe Leicester City of India. But I have experimented over the last two years and I don’t need to do that now. I have a group of players I am comfortable with. So for somebody to come in, they need to be better than what I have, not the same as I have.”

‘WE HAVE A CHANCE’

He also said that being placed in a relatively easier pool should help their cause in the Asian Cup but that shouldn’t make the players approach the games in a carefree manner. “On paper, it’s not bad, it could have been worse but we got to do it out there and for that we need to prepare here and get ourselves in the right position to qualify. But, yes, we have a chance.”

Apart from Myanmar, India also have Kyrgyz Republic and Macau in their group. The last time India took part in the Asian Cup finals was back in 2011 when under Bob Houghton the team finished at the bottom of their group to crash out.

Roger Federer reached the 10th Indian Wells Masters semifinal of his career by walkover on Friday as Australian Nick Kyrgios withdrew from their highly anticipated quarterfinal with food poisoning.

Federer, a four-time champion in the California desert, will take on 17th-seeded American Jack Sock, who toppled fourth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.

“Unfortunately I am unable to play due to sickness,” Kyrgios said on Twitter. “At this stage we think it’s food poisoning, and I’m praying it’s nothing more.”

Kyrgios had been due to face Federer after knocking out Novak Djokovic in the last-16 stage on Wednesday.

The Australian’s illness is a cruel twist of fate for the talented 21-year-old, who has shown signs of starting to deliver on his promise in recent weeks after a young career marked by controversy.

His stylish win over Djokovic was the second time in as many weeks he had beaten the former world No 1 after also defeating the Serb in Acapulco.

“After a restless night of being sick I have nothing left and to play a great champion like Roger I need to be at my best to have a chance,” Kyrgios said.

Federer, meanwhile, tweeted his support to the Australian youngster. “Hope you feel better @Nickkyrgios,” said the Swiss ace, who spoke to disappointed fans. “I was actually really looking forward to the match,” said Federer, who had looked sharp in a 6-2, 6-3 dismantling of Rafael Nadal in the fourth round – a reprise of his thrilling five-set victory over his old foe in the Australian Open final.

Federer’s 18th Grand Slam title in January came after a frustrating 2016 campaign marred by injury. “I think the six months off last year was really difficult,” Federer said. “I played one tournament where I felt normal. All the other tournaments either I was sick, hurt or injured.

“To be back on court feeling normal again is so nice, you feel just happy and fresh and I think it translates also to my game. I can play freely, take chances like I have nothing to lose – it might be one of the first times in a long, long time I feel this way.”

BIG WIN FOR SOCK

That could be bad news for Sock, whose victory over fifth-ranked Nishikori was his first career win over a top-five player.

The American is ranked at a career-high 18th in the world after titles at Auckland and Delray Beach this year.

But he’s had to battle to get this far in Indian Wells, where he saved four match points against Grigor Dimitrov in the third round and was two points away from defeat against Malek Jaziri in the fourth.

After saving two break points in the opening game of the match, Sock broke Nishikori for a 2-0 lead and that was enough to give him the set.

Nishikori responded in the second with breaks in the fourth and eighth games to level the match, but Sock broke him to open the third to take control.

Sock out-lasted Nishikori for a decisive break in the fifth game, the Japanese star succumbing after fending off four break points.

In the women’s semifinals, Svetlana Kuznetsova toppled world No 3 Karolina Pliskova 7-6(5), 7-6(2) to book an all-russian final against Elena Vesnina.

Vesnina powered past France’s Kristina Mladenovic 6-3, 6-4, continuing a sparkling campaign that has seen her shock German’s soon-to-be world No 1 Angelique Kerber in the fourth round and seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams in the quarter-finals.

It’s a sharp turnaround from Vesnina’s first-round ouster in qualifying here last year, and marks her first trip to a final of one of the WTA’S elite Premier Mandatory events.

World No 8 Kuznetsova is back in the Indian Wells final for the first time since back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2008.