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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 2022)
November 7, 2022 ASIA / PACIFIC Fewer willows worry Kashmir’s cricket bat makers By Dar Yasin The Associated Press S ANGAM, India — Lines of shops display neat stacks of willow wood along a nondescript motorway in Indian-controlled Kashmir’s Sangam village. Behind the shops are small manufacturing units, where that willow is handmade into cricket bats that find their way to India and cricket-playing nations around the world. But in the future, those bats are probably hard to come by. Kashmir’s dwindling willow plantations are impacting the region’s famed cricket bat industry and risking the supply of cricket bats in India, where the sport is hugely followed. The industry employs more than 10,000 people and manufactures nearly a million bats a year. Most are sold to Indian tourists, while the rest are exported to Indian cities and other countries. “There will be no bats produced in Kashmir in the coming years if the shortage continues,” said Fawzul Kabeer, who owns a company that exports cricket bats. Kabeer said the demand for Kashmir willow bats increased after it was introduced during the ICC World T20 competition in Dubai last year. Tens and thousands of towering willow trees were introduced to the picturesque Himalayan region by the British in the early 19th century to maintain the supply of firewood during Kashmir’s harsh winters. Decades after, the region’s villagers also began abundantly planting the tree and using its wood to produce cricket bats. But over the years, farmers in the region have been planting poplars in place of willows. The faster-growing poplar tree is preferred by the booming plywood industry. “The trees are being cut in large numbers and no one is planting them again,” Kabeer said. The problem is not expected to affect international players, who mostly use bats made from imported English Black Pearl Acupuncture Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine are great for: - Acute/Chronic Pain (i.e. neck, back, sciatica & shoulder) - Treating & Preventing the flu and colds - Stress Relief - Headaches/Migraines www.blackpearlacupuncture.com Sita Symonette Licensed Acupuncturist seasymonettea@gmail.com Call to schedule an appointment: (503) 308-9363 505 N.W. Ninth Ave., Portland, OR 97209 LENTS i iNTERNATIONAL FARM ERS m ARK ET SUN DA Y S 9 AM - 2 PM SE 91st Ave & Foster Rd Last day of t he season is CRICKET BAT CONCERNS. Manzoor Ahmed Wani, a Kashmiri worker, top photo, prepares a cricket bat at a factory in Awantipora, south of Srinagar, in Indian controlled Kashmir, in this September 22, 2022 file photo. Kashmir’s dwindling willow plantations are impacting the region’s famed cricket bat industry and risking the supply of cricket bats in India, where the sport is hugely followed. In the bottom photo, a Kashmiri shepherd walks with his cattle through a field where willow trees were chopped down over a government wetland at Haretaar, north of Srinagar. (AP Photos/Dar Yasin, File) willow, but will hit regional players and cricket enthusiasts who use the more affordable Kashmir-made bats. World Cup hopes for South Korea rest on Son Heung-min By Kim Tong-Hyung The Associated Press S EOUL, South Korea — Few players carry an entire nation’s hopes like Son Heung-min. South Korea will be counting on the Tottenham forward’s two-footed shooting ability and his scoring touch at this year’s World Cup. The 30-year-old forward started the Premier League season without scoring a goal in eight games, but he seems to have regained his touch just in time for the tournament in Qatar. The current group of players is arguably the best South Korea has ever assembled. Son is supported by several players in their 20s and early 30s getting regular minutes in European soccer. Still, the South Koreans will head to Qatar as underdogs in a tough Group H with Portugal, Uruguay, and Ghana. South Korea coach Paulo Bento’s critics say he has a rigid style of play that’s over-reliant on Son and struggles at times to maximize his skill set. The defense has also been less than stout. Asian powerhouse Qatar marks South Korea’s 11th appearance at the World Cup and its 10th straight. The country has reached the knockout rounds only twice — making the semifinals at home in 2002, and the last 16 in the 2010 tournament in South Africa. South Korea breezed through Asian qualifying but has looked underwhelming in recent friendlies, including a 2-2 draw against Costa Rica and a laborious 1-0 win over Cameroon in September. Some have criticized the South Korean soccer association for failing to book warm-up matches with stronger opponents and deciding to host all the team’s friendlies since June at home. South Korea’s run at the 2018 World Cup ended in the group stage. Son’s late goal capped off a 2-0 victory over Germany in the team’s final group match to eliminate the defending champions, but the South Koreans still failed to advance. “We will clearly be an underdog, but I hope we can create a real surprise for the stronger teams,” said Son, who will be playing in his third World Cup. Building around Son Son shared the Premier League scoring lead last season, but he has often struggled to be as loose and dangerous as he is with Tottenham when he’s playing for his country. Since taking over South Korea in 2018, Bento has experimented with various attack partners to fit with Son and now appears to have settled with a committee THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 5 November 20! Farm-Fresh Produce Local Food Kids' Activities Double your SNAP dollars up to $20 each week. Farm Direct Checks accepted. portlandfarmersmarket.org Welcome Home! Knights of Pythias Active Retirement Center 3409 Main Street Vancouver, WA 98663 Phone: (360) 696-4375 Website: www.koprc.com KEY PLAYER. Son Heung-min of South Korea dribbles the ball dur- ing a friendly soccer match between South Korea and Cameroon at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, on September 27, 2022. South Korea is counting on Son and his scoring touch in order to be competitive at the 2022 World Cup. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) approach. Hwang Ui-jo, a forward for Greek club Olympiakos, adds another natural scorer to the lineup. But Hwang doesn’t create space for Son like Jeonbuk Hyundai’s Cho Gue-sung can with his ability to win balls in the air and stretch defenders. If Bento opts to sit deep and dial up defensive pressure against Uruguay or Portugal, he may pair Son with Freiburg forward Jeong Woo-yeong, who has the speed to chase balls and make plays across the field. Wolverhampton’s Hwang Hee-chan and Mainz’s Lee Jae-sung are likely to start as wingers, while Olympiakos’ Hwang In-beom pulls the strings from the midfield. Tough road Bento wants his fullbacks to aggressively push forward and provide width to the attack. But the space they leave behind has also created defensive problems that South Korea has struggled to fix. Jung Woo-young, a veteran of Qatari club Al Saad, has often looked taxed in his role as the lone defensive midfielder shielding the backline. The team has shown a tendency to gradually concede space as the game progresses and easily allow goals in transition. Bento at least has a solid center back pairing. Kim Min-jae, who has looked impressive in his first season with Napoli, brings a rare combination of size, strength, and speed. His partner, Kim Young-gwon, is one of the most experienced players on the team. The men’s World Cup begins November 20 in Qatar. Options for seniors 62 + and under 62 with disability Subsidized and affordable Private Pay Rates Call or e-mail for more information: (360) 696-4375 or lori@koprc.com We offer options for a lunch meal, housekeeping and laundry. Centrally located in uptown Vancouver, WA Go paperless! Read The Asian Reporter – exactly as it’s printed here – online! Visit <www.asianreporter.com> and click the “Online Paper (PDF)” link to view our last two issues.