Sindhu, Srikanth, Sameer reach round 2
Taipei: Top Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu and K Srikanth, and fast-rising Sameer Verma reached the second round of the $200,000 Chinese Taipei Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament on Wednesday. In women’s singles, world no. 14 Sindhu defeated Indonesia’s lindaweni Fanetri 21-19, 21-19 to set up a clash with third seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei. World No. 3 Srikanth defeated Chinese Taipei’s Tzu Wei Wang 21-17, 21-15 in a 34-minute battle in men’s singles competition. The third seeded Indian will next take on Indonesian Ihsan Maulana Mustofa. Sameer also crossed the first hurdle with a hard-fought 20-22, 21-13, 21-13 win over Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Po Cheng. He will meet world no. 1 Chen long of China next. However, it was the end of the road for Commonwealth Games bronze medallist RMV Gurusaidutt as he lost 21-23, 17-21 to Shesar Hiren Rhustavito of Indonesia.
National hunt for World Junior Boxing
Mumbai: The ad-hoc committee formed by world boxing body AIBA to oversee the ring sport in the country will hold trials at five Sports Authority of India centres on July 20 and 21 to pick the boxers for the upcoming AIBA World Junior Championships at St Petersburg, Russia. The selection is open to all the boxers born in 1999 and 2000 in all 13 weight categories of junior class, said a communication to the Indian boxing fraternity sent by ad-hoc panel’s chairman Kishen Narsi. Thirteen boxers each would be selected from the trials to be conducted at the SAI centres in Guwahati, Mumbai and Bengaluru as well as the SAI National Boxing Academy at Rohtak, said Narsi. In between, the final squad for the September 4-12 World Juniors will be picked on August 5 to communicate it to the world juniors organising authorities before August 7.
AIFF asks states to send nominations
New Delhi: All India Football Federation has invited state associations to send in their nominations for the upcoming U-15 and U-18 I-league which is scheduled to kick off from September. The teams will be grouped into zones and would play home and away matches amongst them, eventually the top two zonal teams would qualify into the final round. Interested clubs and academies, who are not in Hero I-league and the 2nd Division league, can take part in these youth leagues by getting themselves certified under the AIFF Academy Certification Program.
It’s my wish to turn pro: Vijender
Mubai: Star Indian boxer Vijender Singh on Tuesday shot back at his detractors and reiterated that it was not money that prompted him to leave amateur boxing but his “wish” to become a professional. “Why not, it’s a good thing. It’s been 15 years (as an amateur boxer). It’s my wish (to turn professional),” said the 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medallist after his first professional training stint at a suburban mall here with his pro trainer lee Beard. When pointedly asked if it was for money that he had abandoned the amateur ranks and with it the chance to take part in coveted events like the Olympics, Vijender said: “It’s (for) everything.” On why he didn’t wait till next year’s Rio Games and then become a professional boxer, Vijender, who represented the country in 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics, curtly replied: “I had represented India in three Olympics. It’s not easy. Why don’t you do itIJ
Barca, Juve players lead Best Player shortlist
Nyon: Champions league finalists Barcelona and Juventus provide eight of the 10 players shortlisted for UEFA’s Best Player in Europe Award for last season. UEFA says Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard are also voted in from an initial 35-candidate list. Champions league-winning Barcelona players on the shortlist are forwards lionel Messi, Neymar and luis Suarez. Beaten finalist Juventus has Gianluigi Buffon, Paul Pogba, Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal. UEFA asked journalists from its 54 member countries to each name their top five players from the 2014-15 season. No English players were among the 35 candidates chosen. A three-man shortlist will be named Aug. 12. The UEFA panel of journalists will pick the winner at the Champions league groups draw in Monaco on Aug. 27.
Mumbai City FC retain Pavel, sign up Norde
Mumbai: Mumbai City FC have retained Czech defender Pavel Cmovš and signed up Haitian striker Sony Norde for the Indian Super league (ISl) Football Season 2, commencing on October 3. Pavel, who had an excellent inaugural season, comes in to strengthen the Mumbai team’s defense while Norde, who was the star striker scoring 11 goals for I-league champions Mohun Bagan last season, adds extra firepower up front, said a media release on Wednesday. Mumbai FC with start their campaign against FC Pune City on October 5.
Van Niekerk runs sub-20 second 200
lucerne (Switzerland): South African sprinter Wayde van Niekerk joined American great Michael Johnson in elite company while setting a national record in the 200 meters. Van Niekerk clocked 19.94 seconds on Tuesday to become only the fourth runner to have a sub-20 time over 200 meters and a sub-44 in the 400. He ran a career-best 43.96 this month to beat Olympic champion Kirani James of Grenada at the Diamond league meet in Paris.
Rivaldo and son score in 2nd division
Sao Paulo: Former Brazil star Rivaldo and his son both scored in the same match in the Brazilian league’s second division on Tuesday. Rivaldo scored once and Rivaldo Jr. netted twice in Mogi Mirim’s 3-1 win over Macae.