Saina to resume practice next week
Bengaluru: Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal is set to return to practice here from next week after recovering from an ankle injury, her father Harvir Singh said. “Saina will, in all probability, start her practice in Bengaluru from next week. For now, she is undergoing treatment for her ankle injury at our hometown, Hyderabad. She is fast recovering, there’s nothing to worry,” Singh said. The Hyderabadi had suffered an ankle injury last month which forced her to skip the Hong Kong Open and also posed a serious question-mark on her performance at the season-ending BWF Super Series Finals.
India drops to 7th in FIH rankings
New Delhi: The bronze medal in the recently-held Hockey World league (HWl) Final, notwithstanding, India dropped a place to the seventh position in the latest International Hockey Federation (FIH) for men. Only last month, the Indian men's hockey team jumped two places to occupy sixth place in the the FIH rankings on the back of its good showing in the the Hockey World league Semi-Finals. World champions Australia, the winners of HWl Final in Raipur earlier this month, continue to occupy the top spot ahead of second placed Netherlands and Germany. With England (Great Britain) remaining in fourth, Belgium leapfrogged Argentina (6) and India into fifth place as they finished runners up at the HWl Final in Raipur. Meanwhile in the women's section, Olympic and World champions Netherlands remain at the top of the rankings followed by Argentina and Australia. Indian eves remained static at the 13th spot.
Dilli suffer third straight loss
New Delhi: Riding on fine performances by World Championship medallists Vladimir Khinchegashvil, Vasilisa Marzaliuk and India’s Praveen Rana in the deciding bout, Punjab Royals prevailed over Dilli Veer 4-3 in the Pro Wrestling league. It went down to wire with Punjab and Delhi teams tied at 3-3, before Praveen Rana helped the Royals have the last laugh. With this defeat, Dilli Veer slumped to their third consecutive loss in the competition.
NZ, Spain accept Rio hockey invites
london: Former field hockey gold medalists New Zealand and Spain have accepted invites to compete in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after South Africa rejected the offers. The New Zealand men, champions in 1976, and Spain women, champions in 1992, complete the 12-team fields. Both were the highest placed teams from the Hockey World league semifinals who had not already qualified. The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee turned down the automatic qualifying berths its national teams earned by winning the African championships in November in Johannesburg. SASCOC has also turned down an Olympic berth for its women’s rugby sevens team.
Female trio yet to pick Rio events
Kolkata: Still undecided about the events they would be competing in next year’s Rio Olympics, Indian trio of OP Jaisha, lalita Babar and Sudha Singh would take a final call after the Mumbai Marathon slated for January 17. “It’s clear from all ends that we will decide on what events they would compete in Olympics not later than Jan in 2016,” National long and middle distance running coach Nikolai Snesarev said. Agencies