Yogeshwar, Sushil shine
New Delhi: The celebrated Indian wrestling duo of Yogeshwar Dutt and Sushil Kumar sparkled on debut in new weight categories by winning a gold and silver medal respectively in the International Competition in Sassari city, Italy. london Olympics bronze-medallist Yogeshwar won the gold medal in the 65kg category while two-time Olympic medallist Sushil won the silver in the 74kg division. This was a strong performance by the Olympic Gold Quest-backed wrestlers in their first competitive tournament post the 2012 london Olympics. With just over 50 days left for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the performance of both the wrestlers will be a huge boost to their confidence after a sabbatical to recuperate from injuries post the london Olympics. At the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Sushil will fight in the 74kg category whereas Yogeshwar will compete in the 65kg.
Matsuyama wins first US title
Dublin (US): Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama cemented his status as one of golf’s rising stars on Sunday, winning his first US PGA Tour title in a playoff at the Memorial. Matsuyama, who had birdied the final hole of regulation to force the playoff with Kevin Na, won at the first playoff hole with a 10-foot par putt. The 22-year-old Asian star became the fourth Japanese player to win on the US PGA Tour, notching the victory in just his 26th start. His triumph capped a wild final day that saw overnight leader Bubba Watson, the reigning Masters champion, drop out of contention after a bogey at 14 followed by a double-bogey seven at the par-five 15th at Muirfield Village. Matsuyama’s own hopes looked dim after a double-bogey at the par-three 16th and bogey at 17.
AB, Amla vie for Test captaincy
Johannesburg: Star batsmen AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla are the leading candidates to succeed Graeme Smith as South Africa’s Test captain. Cricket South Africa’s board meets in Johannesburg Tuesday to make what is seen as a crucial decision after a decade of Smith at the helm. Smith captained South Africa in a world-record 109 Tests before announcing his retirement during the third and final Test against Australia last March. The national selectors will table their recommendation for the captaincy, but the final decision will be made by the board. The first assignment of the new captain will be to lead South Africa in two Tests in Sri lanka during July. De Villiers, 30, was vice-captain under Smith and is the one-day international (ODI) skipper. He has led the side in 40 ODI games. He had no prior captaincy experience.
SAI seeks extra Rs 80 crore
New Delhi: Sports Authority of India (SAI) is seeking an additional Rs 80 crore from the newly-formed government to meet the athletes’ requirements ahead of next month’s Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in September. SAI secretary Neeraj Kansal said that the nodal agency has written to the sports ministry for the amount over and above the Rs 165 crore allocated to the National Sports Federations (NSFs). A total of Rs 1219 crore was earmarked for sports in the interim budget announced in February. “We have written to the ministry for the release of additional funds. We are expecting the amount to be released after the budget is passed in the parliament,” said Kansal. The general budget is likely to tabled in the parliament in July. Another SAI official said the money will be distributed among six disciplines which are expected to get India a majority of the medals at the Glasgow Games (July 23-August 3) and the Incheon Asiad (September 19-October 4).
Senananyake reported for action
Bangalore: Sri lanka off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake has been reported with a suspected illegal bowling action during his side’s seven-run victory over England in the fourth One-Day International at lord’s last Saturday. Senanayake was reported at the end of the match by on-field umpires Marais Erasmus and Ian Gould, both from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, TV Umpire Chris Gaffaney, and Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees. Crowe handed over the copy of the report to the Sri lanka team manager yesterday. The umpires’ report cited concerns over a number of deliveries that were considered to be suspect. Senanayake’s bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC process relating to bowlers reported in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Kohli is Ceat cricketer of the year
Mumbai: India’s top batsman Virat Kohli today won the Ceat International Cricketer of the Year award while off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, the fastest player from the country to pick 100 Test wickets, bagged the Indian Player of the Year award for 2013-14. left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan was named the International Player of the Year while Robin Uthappa, who was part of the triumphant Karnataka Ranji Trophy team, clinched the Domestic Cricketer of the Year honour at a function held here on Monday night. Kohli had won the best player award in 2011-12 too. India’s under-19 cricketer Vijay Zol got the Young Player of the Year award while former stumper Syed Kirmani was honoured with the lifetime Achievement Award. PNS/Agencies