Randhir Singh to meet Sports Minister
New Delhi: India’s IOC member Randhir Singh will meet Sports Minister Jitendra Singh here on Wednesday in the run-up to the crucial joint meeting with the International Olympic Committee, which is scheduled to be held on May 7 in lausanne where the country’s suspension will be discussed. The IOC had last week invited representatives of the suspended IOA and Sports Ministry for a meeting in yet another attempt to find a way for India’s return to the Olympic movement even as the stand-off between the government and sport body persisted. Now, the government wants an agreement with the Indian Olympic Association and the National Sports Federations on the contentious Sports Code before the joint meeting with the IOC. The continuing stand-off between the government and sports administrators over the controversial sports code had resulted in the postponement of a joint meeting with the IOC thrice, delaying India’s re-entry into the Olympic movement.
U-17 World Cup: FIFA wants to educate AIFF
New Delhi: With India in the reckoning for hosting the Under-17 World Cup in 2017, FIFA is learnt to be keen on educating the AIFF officials on the nitty gritty associated with organising big international football events. The United Arab Emirates FA, host of 2013 junior World Cup, recently told the All India Football Federation that it was open to the idea of having some AIFF officials in its organising committee of the upcoming tournament so that they get first-hand experience of hosting an event of such a magnitude. The sport’s apex body could consider taking a final decision on India’s bid in its forthcoming executive committee meeting in May. UAE’s proposal is likely to discussed in the AIFF’s next executive committee meeting.
Mumbai boys to train at QPR facility
Mumbai: Five south Mumbai school boys would undergo a 21-day coaching stint with English Premier league team Queens Park Rangers in london from next week. Rudolf D’Souza (13), Arfat Ansari (15), Tanaay Shah (15), Uzair Ansari (15) and Praful Kumar (16) were selected after their display in the Milind Deora soccer championships by the club’s coaches for next week’s stint at QPR.
SAI to set up sports medicine centre
New Delhi: Stepping up its efforts to set up the National Institute of Sports Coaching and National Institute of Sports Science and Medicine, SAI’s Director General along with two consultants on Monday left for a study tour to Britain, where they will be visiting leading universities. SAI DG, Jiji Thomson and consultants from Ernst and Young, one of the world’s leading professional services organisations, will be visiting varsities in london, Birmingham, leeds and leicestershire during their five-day tour. The study tour involves visiting the coaching institutes and Science and Medicine centres in the universities and meeting the concerned officials to better understand the challenges and opportunities that involves in setting up these institutions. Majority of varsities in Britain have Centre for Sports Medicine and this could be cited as one of the major reasons their athletes are doing well at international events.
Second consecutive win for Mahi Racing
New Delhi: Mahi Racing Team India co-owners actor Nagarjuna and Nandish Domlur are thrilled by their side’s second win in a row in the FIM Supersport Championship. Nagarjuna and Nandish were in Spain, cheering the two riders, when Fabien Foret took the chequered flag for Mahi Racing, co-owned by Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Foret recorded the fastest lap of 2’02.743 in the 18-lap race. It was Foret’s 16th win of his career and the 2002 WSS Champion has now become the new leader in the current World Championship.
Punjab, IOB men make winning starts
Mumbai: Punjab opened their campaign in the 28th Ramu Memorial All India Basketball Tournament with a 76-71 victory over Karnataka here on Monday. Amritpal Singh had a game-high 25 points for the Punjab team. Ranbir Singh had 11 points while Harvinder Singh had 12. Karnataka, who had a better second half and outscored Punjab 46-43, paid for their first half lethargy. Arvind notched up 24 points while Sanjay Raj scored 12 and Srinivas Naik chipped in with 13. In another match, Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Overseas Bank fought a close game before the bankmen put their superior experience to use to prevail 72-65 with Harish Koreth coming up with 19 points and 4 rebounds.
Chandigarh win sub-junior national Hockey
New Delhi: Chandigarh defeated Punjab 2-1 to lift the 3rd Hockey India Sub-Junior Men National Championship (North Zone) title at Sonepat on Monday. Punjab took lead in the 20th minute through a field goal by Kawaljit Singh. But just three minutes later Manjinder Singh scored the equaliser for Chandigarh. In the second half, Chandigarh controlled and dictated the pace and finally a field goal by Harmeet Singh in the 64th minute helped his team emerge victorious. Meanwhile, Haryana won the 3rd Hockey India Sub-Junior Women National Championship (North Zone) after getting the better of Chandigarh, 3-1 in the final. Two goals by Udita at 14th and 24th minutes saw Haryana leading 2-0 at half time. Chandigarh though reduced the margin through Anjali in the 50th minute, Haryana’s Navpreet Kaur scored field goal in the 61st minute to take the match out of Chandigarh’s reach.
PNS/Agencies