IOC creates $2m fund
lausanne (Switzerland): The International Olympic Committee is setting up a $2 million fund to assist refugees. “With this terrible crisis unfolding across the Middle East, Africa and Europe, sport and the Olympic Movement wanted to play its part in bringing humanitarian help to the refugees,” IOC President Thomas Bach said Friday. The IOC has a long-term relationship with the United Nations and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
Sharmila wins first title of 2015
Greater Noida: Overnight leader Shamila Nicollet carded one-under 71 on the final day of 15th leg of Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour on Friday to claim her first title this season. Amandeep Drall finished with a score of 215 to take second position, three strokes behind Sharmila as the `6,00,000 event culminated at the Jaypee Greens here. Hero Order of Merit leader Vani Kapoor of Delhi and Kolkata’s Neha Tripathi finished with identical totals of 220 to tie for the third place.
I-league, ISl merger possible
Mumbai: Faced with the prospect of closure of two I-league teams, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday held a meeting with all club officials, chief promoters of Indian Super league and decided to form a working group as a precursor to merge the two championships. “We are working towards one entity in future — the I-league clubs and the ISl. A working group will be formed, about nine members, to work out the way,” said AIFF President Praful Patel after the meeting held to lay the road map for the domestic club league, in which ISl promoters IMG-Reliance were also represented. Patel said that I-league-ISl merger cannot be done overnight and many more interactions were due to take place before the final blueprint for a joint league is put in place.
Carolina can be beaten: Saina
Bengaluru: World No. 1 shuttler Saina Nehwal on Friday said All England and World Champion Carolina Marin is a tough opponent blessed with better wrist work but the Spaniard is beatable and the Indian ace will look to get the better off her rival in Japan Super Series starting next week.
“Carolina is a tough opponent, but can be beaten. I beat her thrice before the All England tournament and lost twice to her. She is left-handed player and these are bestowed with better wrist work, she is one like that,” Saina said in an interview here.
DD to start ‘cleaning camp’
New Delhi: Pro Kabaddi league team Dabang Delhi on Thursday joined hands with not-for-profit organisation Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) India for an initiative ‘Click2Clean’, a campaign that aims at cleaning up unclean and littered public places in cities, through collective action by citizens, government and the private sector.
Perez, Hulkenberg impress
Monza: Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg finished an impressive fourth and fifth fastest, respectively as Force India witnessed a great opening practice session in the Italian Grand Prix here on Friday. Perez clocked 1:25.278s to finish fourth ahead of teammate Hulkenberg (1:25.325s). Meanwhile, it was not a good opening outing for Ferrari as Sebastian Vettel, who finished practice in third place, was over 1.5 seconds behind the leading Mercedes driver lewis Hamilton.