No plans to drop football: DG
New Delhi: Sports Authority of India on Tuesday denied any plans not to clear the national football team at government cost for the Asian Games. Reports claimed that the government was having second thoughts on sending the football team at government cost as India don’t have much of a chance to advance beyond the group stage in the Asian Games. SAI Director General Jiji Thomson told PTI that there was no such plan. “It is not true,” he said when asked about reports that SAI was mulling not to clear the football team at government cost for the Asian Games. India have been drawn in Group G along with United Arab Emirates and Jordan. Two teams from the group will advance to the round of 16. India recently lost to Pakistan 0-2 in the second friendly match after winning the first 1-0.
Vijender out of Asian games
New Delhi: A hand injury sustained during the Commonwealth Games has forced star Indian boxer Vijender Singh out of action for an indefinite period, which includes the upcoming Asian Games where he was the defending champion. The middleweight boxer had sustained a ligament injury in his left hand during the CWG final in Glasgow, which he lost to settle for a silver medal. “I thought I could do it and had been training to be ready for the trials but my hand is not holding up. The bone will take some time to settle down. There has been bleeding also so I have decided to play safe,” Vijender said. “My doctors have said that the best way to deal with this injury is to just take rest. I don’t know how long it might be but hopefully it is not too long,” he said.
Hockey clinic in Rohtak
New Delhi: Hockey India (HI) high performance director Roelant Oltmans will conduct a one day clinic for 30 coaches in Rohtak, Haryana on August 27. The session will be organised by Hockey Haryana in association with HI. Speaking on the initiative, Oltmans said: “The clinic is extremely important as the game is in a phase where new techniques are being introduced almost on a daily basis by all international teams. Hence, there was this realisation that the coaches who are involved in the development of the game as well as the players at grass root level are aware of these changes which will be further utilised in sharpening their skills as coaches and implementing the changes in the game play as well as the budding players. With this initiative, we are hopeful that we will start making the youngsters learn the game in line with international standards,” the Dutch coach added.
AirAsia to sponsor KXIP
Chandigarh: low cost carrier AirAsia India on Tuesday announced its association with the Indian Premier league (IPl) side Kings XI Punjab by becoming one of its sponsors. “Showing our commitment to Chandigarh, we are going to be sponsoring Kings XI Punjab,” AirAsia India, CEO, Mittu Chandilya told reporters.
Bolt to make maiden India visit
Bangalore: Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt will make his maiden visit to India early next month, not to race but to compete in a cricket face-off against India discard Yuvraj Singh here. Both the Puma ambassadors are coming together for the event on September 2, organised by the sportswear giants at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. “Puma brings Usain Bolt down for a one-of-a-kind cricket face-off between two sporting legends. For the first time ever, watch the Fastest Man on Earth -- Usain Bolt, challenge Yuvraj Singh to an exclusive cricket showdown at Chinnaswamy Stadium on September 2,” said a media release issued on Tuesday. The face-off has been titled ‘Bolt and Yuvi — Battle of the legends’.
Wawrinka to play in Chennai
New Delhi: World No. 4 Stanislas Wawrinka on Tuesday confirmed that he will defend his Chennai Open title next year. The 20th edition the Aircel Chennai Open, India and South Asia’s Premier ATP World Tour tennis event is scheduled to be held at SDAT Stadium from January 5 to 11. The Swiss player, who has great single-handed backhands as his weapon, had won the tournament’s singles title for the second time last year. He then went on to win Australian Open, his first Grand Slam trophy, beating Rafael Nadal in the final. “This will mark my seventh visit to Chennai and I am looking forward to being part of the action and adventure and, of course, all the festivity. I definitely plan to show up ready to play my best with the goal of kicking off the New Year by defending my title in Chennai.”
Bulls prevail over Telugu
Bangalore: Hosts Bengaluru Bulls defeated Telugu Titans 27-26 in a match that went down to the wire in the Star Sports Pro Kabbadi league at the Kanteevrava Indoor Stadium here on Tuesday. Though the Bulls gained five points taking their tally to 42, they have yet to qualify for the semifinals as they needed to win the game by a couple of points. They now have to win against table-toppers Jaipur Pink Panthers by more than nine points. The match started slowly with both teams playing cautiously. The first half belonged to the Bulls who made a turnaround with an allround display. However, the Titans roared back in the second half, giving a tough fight to the hosts before succumbing by one point.