SAI paves way for participation
New Delhi: The Sports Authority of India’s timely intervention has paved the way for the country’s participation in the Deaflympics at Sofia, Bulgaria. The athletes were left to fend for themselves following bitter infighting between two rival factions, engaged in an ugly battle for supremacy, failed to send the entries on due date, thus prompting the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf to directly get in touch with the SAI. Mark Cooper, CEO, International Committee for Deaf Sports (ICSD) flew in to Delhi to hold an urgent meeting with SAI DG Jiji Thomson and the presidents of rival federations to break the impasse and work out a formula for India’s participation in the 18 individual events at July 26 to August 4 quadrennial event.
NRAI breaches ioa constitution
New Delhi: In a blatant breach of IOA’s Constitution, the National Rifle Association of India allowed members from an ad hoc committee in Jharkhand — which is neither affiliated to the state Olympic body nor recognised by the government — to cast votes in NRAI’s last elections. The NRAI recognises the ad hoc body instead of the Jharkhand Rifles Association (JRA) that is affiliated to the state Olympic committee and recognised by the government. The JRA is also registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860. Whereas the ad hoc committee, formed by the NRAI in 2012, is neither affiliated to the state Olympic body nor recognised by the state government.
Rosberg quickest in practice
Monaco: Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg posted the fastest time in both practice sessions for the Monaco Grand Prix on Thursday. Teammate lewis Hamilton was second quickest in the afternoon’s second practice run ahead of the Ferrari pair of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa. Rosberg clocked a time of 1 minute, 14.759 seconds to finish .318 in front of Hamilton and .437 faster than Alonso. Three-time defending F1 champion Sebastian Vettel finished 10th in the morning session and ninth in the afternoon.
Rogge praises changes
london: IOC President Jacques Rogge says wrestling’s governing body has made the necessary changes to give the sport a chance of saving its place in the Olympics. Rogge said that FIlA has “reacted well” in fixing the issues that led the IOC executive board in February to remove wrestling from the list of core sports for the 2020 Games. Wrestling is now competing with seven other sports for a single spot on the 2020 program. The IOC board meets in St. Petersburg, Russia, next week and will recommend one sport or a short list of sports for a vote by the full IOC in September. Rogge says “I would say that wrestling has reacted well, but that does not guarantee” it will make the list.
EB win Calcutta league
Kolkata: East Bengal defeated archrivals Mohun Bagan 3-2 for a record 34th Calcutta Football league Premier Division title at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Thursday. Edeh Chidi was the chief architect with a brace (23rd and 72nd), while Orji Penn struck once (29th) to complete the tally against a lacklustre Mohun Bagan who scored through Odafa Okolie (39th) and Tolgay Ozbey (90+3rd). PNS/Agencies