US 1-2 in high diving DEBUT
Barcelona: Americans Cesilie Carlton and Ginger Huber finished 1-2 in the inaugural high diving competition at the swimming world championships Tuesday. Plunging from 20 meters - the equivalent of a seven-story building - off a temporary platform into Barcelona’s harbor, Carlton impressed the judges with her final dive, a triple half pike, and move up from third after the second of three rounds. Carlton won gold with a total of 211.60 points, Huber had 206.70 and Anna Bader of Germany took bronze with 203.90. Only six women competed. The men’s competition, off 27 meters, concludes Wednesday. The 32-year-old Carlton works in the Chinese gambling city Macau as a performer in a show called City of Dreams in the House of Dancing Water. She’s from San Antonio, Texas.
Doping overshadows world MEET
Moscow: Even before a race has been run, a series of recent doping scandals has already begun to overshadow next month’s world track championships. Two of Usain Bolt’s main rivals in the 100 meters — Jamaican teammate Asafa Powell and American sprinter Tyson Gay — have failed doping tests in recent weeks. Sherone Simpson, another Jamaican, is also among the recent positives. But Sebastian Coe, a vice president of the IAAF, said on Tuesday that the competition is bigger than any individual athlete. “We will have here in Moscow some of the world’s greatest competitors, both domestically and internationally,” Coe said. “And the message that should eminate from the last few weeks, is that the IAAF (and others). take the abuse of drugs in sport very, very seriously.”
Bayern president charged
Munich: German prosecutors filed tax evasion charges against Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness on Tuesday. Hoeness reported himself to authorities earlier this year over a previously undeclared Swiss bank account. News of the case against Hoeness, long one of the most prominent figures in German football, emerged in April. Ken Heidenreich, a spokesman for Munich prosecutors, declined to comment on details of the indictment, citing tax secrecy laws. “We have filed the charges to the Munich state court,” Heidenreich said.
Easy draw for India at SAFF
Kathmandu: Defending champions India were on Tuesday handed a relatively easier draw for the South Asian Football Federation Championship which begins here from September 1. India, the second highest ranked team at 146th, have been pooled in Group A alongside hosts and last edition semifinalists Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the biennial regional tournament. last edition runners-up and highest ranked team in the tournament, Afghanistan (140th), 2008 edition champions Maldives, Sri lanka and Bhutan form the Group B in the September 1-11 event. India, who have not played an international match for a long time, escaped from being clubbed either with Afghanistan or Maldives, two strong sides in the tournament.
SAFF U-16 title in the bag
Kathmandu: Defender Jerry lalrinzuala scored a spectacular goal through a long-ranger as India beat Nepal 1-0 to lift the South Asian Football Federation Under-16 Championships title here on Tuesday. India, represented by All India Football Federation’s Regional Academy, surged ahead in the 18th minute with lalrinzuala unleashing a powerful left-footed 35-yard strike to beat the Nepalese goalie which was the decider.
Indiaspank Russia 10-1
Monchengladbach: Vandana Kataria slammed a hattrick as Indian eves thrashed minnows Russia 10-1 to enter the quarter-finals of the Women’s Junior Hockey World Cup here on Tuesday. After the 1-6 drubbing at the hands of Australia and 2-0 victory over New Zealand, the Indian girls needed to win by a bigger margin against Russia and hope for either an Australian victory over New Zealand or a draw in the final Pool C match to make it to the knock-out stage. India’s prayers did not go unheard as Australia managed to hold New Zealand to a 3-3 draw. Australia topped Pool C with seven points from three games, while India finished second with six points. India will now face Pool D champions in the quarterfinals on Thursday, while Australia will be up against the second-placed team from Pool D.
Financial assistance to player
New Delhi: Sports Minister Jitendra Singh has approved financial assistance of Rs1,50,000 from National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons to former hockey player, Barbara J Francis for her medical treatment. The amount of financial assistance will be given to Francis, who is suffering from aliments which are of chronic nature, in three years at Rs50,000 per annum. Earlier also, Francis was given financial assistance of Rs3.50 lakh in two spells, once Rs1.50 lakh in February 2009 and again Rs2 lakh in May 2011 from National Welfare Fund for sportspersons. With the approval of further financial assistance of Rs1.50 lakh, she has been sanctioned total financial assistance of Rs5 lakh.
PNS/Agencies