Duminy in doubt for Test at Mohali
mumbai: South Africa are still fretting over the fitness of their key batting all rounder Jean-Paul Duminy ahead of their opening Test against hosts India commencing at Mohali on November 5. Duminy, who split the webbing on his right hand while going for a hard return catch in the third One-Day International of the five-game series at Rajkot on October 18, will know on November 1 how much it has healed when the bandage comes off. "He would not be playing in the (two-day) game here (at the Cricket Club of India against Board President's XI commencing on Friday). His chances of playing at Mohali are 50:50 at present," the team's media manager lerato Malekutu told reporters here after the team's practice extended training session at the Brabourne stadium.
‘2016 Asia Cup in B'desh, 2018 in India’
New Delhi: The next year's Asia Cup T20 tournament will be held in Bangladesh in February with India hosting the 2018 edition of the marquee event, said BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur. The BCCI secretary was a part of the Asian Cricket Council meeting in Singapore, where he proposed about India hosting the 2018 Asia Cup (50-over format) and the members agreed. "Since India would host World T20 next year, the Asia Cup T20 will serve as an ideal preparatory tournament for Asian nations. With international cricket not possible in Pakistan and Sri lanka will be in midst of monsoon, Bangladesh was the unanimous choice of the members," Thakur said on Thursday. "The 2018 edition in India will be ODI format keeping 2019 World Cup in mind," he stated.
Hawgood returns, Van Gent joins men's team
new delhi: A former chief coach of the Indian women's hockey team, Neil Hawgood was on Thursday appointed as an assistant coach while Dutchman Roger van Gent is set to join the men's team as a strategy coach ahead of next year's Rio Olympics. Hawgood served as Indian women's hockey team's chief coach for a period of more than two years, but the Australian will now return back to the country in a much lower profile. He will assist current chief coach Mathias Ahrens. A top Sports Authority of India (SAI) also official confirmed that Roger Van Gent will soon join the men's team as a strategy coach and will assist chief coach and Hockey India High Performance Director Roelant Oltmans in the run up to the Olympics. "Yes, we have cleared a Dutchman's name for the men's team. He will assist Roelant Oltmans and will soon join the team," the official said.
Vijender meets British MP Hon Keith Vaz
london: Indian boxing sensation Vijender Singh who turned 30 on Thursday was invited to the House of Commons in the capital on Wednesday evening where he met Rt. Hon Keith Vaz MP. In an hour long meeting held at the Chess Room of Parliament, Hon Keith Vaz congratulated Vijender Singh for winning his professional debut fight and wished him good luck for his second fight scheduled to be held at Dublin, Ireland on 7th November 2015. During this meeting Hon Keith Vaz presented a birthday gift to boxer Vijender Singh. After meeting with Hon. Keith Vaz, Vijender Singh said "It's an honour for me to be here at the House of Commons to meet Hon Keith Vaz MP. It was really good and motivational meeting him. He appreciated me for joining professional boxing and extends his full support in my new journey. Hon Keith Vaz is a big time sports lover".
Yuki in sf, Prashanth goes down fighting
pune: A fluent Yuki Bhambri played with a lot of authority to reach the singles semifinals of the KPIT-MSlTA Challenger even as N Vijay Sundar Prashanth exited but not before making an impression, here on Thursday. Top seed Yuki tamed Taipei's Ti Chen 6-4 7-6(4) and has now reached at least the semifinals each in his last five Challengers. Prashanth put up a valiant fight against second seed Russian Evgeny Donskoy before losing a tight singles quarterfinal 6-7(8) 6-7 (5) after sweating it out for two hours at the Centre Court of Balewadi Sports Complex. Prashanth, who won three ITF Futures this season, proved that his victory over Somdev Devvarman was not a fluke.