Brazilrace to be ready for stars
Rio de Janeiro: One month from the start of the World Cup, Brazil is scrambling to get the stage ready for Cristiano Ronaldo and lionel Messi while dousing lingering anger at the multi-billion dollar price tag. As championships around the world draw to a close, Ronaldo and Messi are bracing to headline a galaxy of stars at the four-week showpiece which kicks off on June 12 in Sao Paulo. Organisers hope Brazil’s opening game against Croatia at the futuristic Corinthians Arena will draw a line under the pre-tournament chaos, allowing football to finally take centre-stage. The stadium has itself become emblematic of the problems faced during the build-up, where the logistical complexities of staging the 32-team extravaganza have at times appeared overwhelming. Construction of the $424 million stadium ground to a halt in November, when a giant crane toppled over and killed two workers. A third labourer died in an accident in March. The 68,000-capacity venue is one of 12 World Cup stadiums that were supposed to be ready by the end of December. Only six were completed on time, with final delivery to FIFA pushed back to May 15.
Orissa take on Manipur in final
Golaghat: A heady mix of youth and experience will rub shoulders when Manipur and Orissa renew acquaintance in the final of the 20th National Women’s Football Championship here tomorrow. “We have nine National Team Players in the first team, and Orissa is full of U-19 Footballers. What better than to see the next generation of Footballers playing with their Senior counterparts in a Cup Final,” Oinam Bembem Devi, who’s captaining Manipur, said. “Orissa have done exceptionally well to reach this far. I believe that this Final will further pep up the future India senior team players to give their all against their incumbents. This is healthy competition,” added the AIFF Women’s Player of the Year who has been part of all of Manipur’s incredible adventures in the nationals.
Chand completes a double
Chennai: Orissa’s Dutee Chand exhibited great athleticism to win the gold in 200m and complete a sprint double on the final day of 12th Junior Federation Cup athletics Championship here today. The 18-year-old equalled former Tamil Nadu sprinter Velu Pandeswari’s 17-year-old national junior record with her timing of 23.95 secs in the 200m event at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here. The Odisha sprinter, who earlier eclipsed the 100m record, is confident of doing so in the longer sprint when she would take part in the Asian and World junior championships later this year. Her impressive 100m time of 11.63 secs helped her earn the “Best Athlete” award in the three day meet that concluded here on Sunday. local girl Archana Suseendran (24.70s) and Bengal’s Himashree Roy (24.86s) went home with silver and bronze medals respectively.
Indian Army, Kolkata in final
Patna: Indian army, Kolkata entered the final of the 2nd All India Jananayak Karpoori Thakur football tournament defeating Railway Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, 3-0 in first semi-final at Moin-ul Haq stadium on Sunday. Anthony Ramesh took a pass from Santu Subba from right flank and scored in the 38th minute to give the Indian Army, Kolkata 1-0 lead. The score line stood 1-0 in favour of the armymen at the half-time. In the second half, the RCF, Kapurthala tried hard for equaliser, but all their efforts went in vain even as the Indian Army, Kolkata, tightened its vice-like grip on the match with the midfielder lallueu Mawia scoring a solo goal in the 49th minutes to double his team’s lead. Arjun Tuddu successfully took a penalty kick in the 66th minute to seal the match for the Indian Army, Kolkata by a 3-0 margin.
Sanjeevani sets new record
Nashik: City-based athlete, Sanjeevani Jadhav on Sunday set another national record in 3000 mts running event at the 15th All India Junior championship in Chennai. Jadhav completed the distance in 9.47.28 minutes, her coach Vijendra Singh told reporters over phone from Chennai. She broke Sahala Khatun’s record of 10.02 minutes set in 2011. Earlier, Sanjeevani had bagged Gold medal in 5000 mts, setting a new record clocking time of 17.11.27 minutes. “Sanjeevani has performed well and has the ability to run for Olympics,” her coach said.
SAI beat Assam 6-0 in hockey
Vadodara: Sports Authority of India (SAI) registered their second consecutive win by defeating Assam 6-0 in the second match of Pool A of the fourth Sub Junior Men National Hockey Championship here on Sunday. Sports Authority of India looked composed and attacked from the very 1st minute of the game. They did not let Assam to score a single goal throughout the match.