India lose 0-3 to Iran
Tabriz City (Iran): After the high came the low as India suffered a 0-3 defeat to hosts Iran at the AFC U-16 Football Qualifiers here on Friday. India entered the match high on confidence following a 5-0 thrashing of Bahrain in their first match on Wednesday, but could not sustain the momentum as Iran proved too hot to handle at the Gostaresh Foolad Stadium. Midfielder Mohammad Sharifi opened the scoring for the hosts in the 17 minute, his colleague Amir Khodamoradi doubled the lead by finding the net just before the half time (43rd), while Mohammad Ghaderi took the match beyond India’s grasp with his side’s third strike in the 56th minute. This is the qualifying tournament for next year’s AFC U-16 Championship, which will be held in India from September 15 to October 2.
AFI hopes to retain Snesarev
Kolkata: The Athletics Federation of India does not want to “lose” Russian coach Nikolai Snesarev, who has put in his resignation letter citing poor infrastructure less than a year ahead of Rio Olympics. Confirming that he has received a resignation letter from the Russian middle and long distance coach, AFI president Adille J Sumariwalla said he would meet SAI Director General Injeti Srinivas on Sunday to discuss the matter. “He has been asking about the facilities and he has every right to be upset about it and we will talk to him about it. I don’t think media is the right place to discuss, otherwise it will be a repeat of what happened with the hockey coach. If everyone starts speaking then we will lose a good coach,” the former Olympian said. Snesarev had criticised the standard of infrastructure in India and cited it as the main reason of putting forward his resignation on Thursday.
Jayaram in semifinal
Seoul: Indian shuttler Ajay Jayaram notched up a stunning three-game victory over higher-ranked Japanese Sho Sasaki to reach the men’s singles semifinals of the Korea Open Super Series badminton tournament here on Friday. Going into the match with a 1-2 head-to-head record, Jayaram eked out a 21-19, 16-21, 21-16 win over world number 26 Sasaki in a match that lasted one hour and five minutes. The world number 32 Indian will next take on the winner of the match between China’s Tian Houwei and Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen, seeded seventh. Jayaram had reached the semifinals of Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold, Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold and Russian Open Grand Prix this season.
Mayookha puts ONGC on top
Kolkata: Asian Games bronze medallist Annu Rani helped defending champions Railways get the solitary gold medal while triple jumper Mayookha Johny’s meet record pushed ONGC to the top of the medals tally on the penultimate day of the 55th National Open Athletics Championship here on Friday. Eyeing an Olympic qualification of 62 metres, Railways javelin thrower Rani struggled in the heat and humidity to throw 58.85 which was good enough to clinch her a fourth gold medal on the trot and better her two-year-old mark. Mayookha went on to win a third gold in the Nationals. She jumped 13.78 metres to erase her previous best of 13.71 at the 2011 National Open in Kolkata as the day saw only two new meet records. Durgesh Kumar Pal clinched a hat-trick of gold medal when he overcame a strong challenge from his Services colleague Ramachandran near the last hurdle to reign supreme in the 400m hurdles. It was a memorable day for Gujarat walker Babu Panocha who bagged his fifth title in nine years, reigning supreme in 20km walk earlier in the day. Panocha clocked one hour, 33 minutes 44 seconds to beat Jitender Singh of Services.
UK Athletics clears Farah
lONDON: British track and field's governing body says there is "no reason to be concerned" about Mo Farah or other British athletes working with American coach Alberto Salazar. UK Athletics launched an independent inquiry following media allegations that Salazar was involved with doping some of his athletes at the Oregon Project training center. UK Athletics announced in July it found "no evidence of any impropriety" by Farah, the Olympic and world champion at 5,000 and 10,000 meters. On Friday, the body said it "found no reason to be concerned about the engagement of other British athletes and coaches with the Oregon Project." The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is conducting its own investigation into allegations involving Salazar's training program.