WI tour of India to begin on Oct 31
New Delhi: Sachin Tendulkar is expected to play his 200th Test at home as West Indies are scheduled to tour India between October 31 and November 27th 2013. The BCCI announced that the four-week tour, which will comprise of two Tests and three One-day Internationals apart from a three-day warm-up game. “The dates and venues of the matches will be announced shortly,” BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel said in a release. It is widely believed that the tour has been arranged to give Tendulkar an opportunity to play the historic 200th Test in front of his home fans. As per rotational policy, Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad is in line to host the 200th game but Tendulkar’s home city Mumbai and Eden Gardens Kolkata are also vying to host the landmark occasion.
Dravid: Tobacco control’s brand ambassador
New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry on Thursday announced former Indian cricket team captain Rahul Dravid as brand ambassador for its National Tobacco Control Campaign. India has been committed towards strengthening its national tobacco control efforts as well as contribute towards tobacco control, additional secretary MoHFW C K Mishra said while making the announcement today. "Despite effective, evidence-based tobacco control policies, smoking continues. India played a leading role in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) negotiations and has been striving to implement more tobacco control measures," Mishra said. It is only through collective resolve of governments, world leaders, development partners and civil society, we can save lives, protect and preserve the health of future generations from harmful effects of tobacco use, he said. "The national anti-tobacco control campaign has to go on till we achieve desired results," Mishra said.
Falling rupee casualty is top golf event
New Delhi: India will not be hosting USD 2.3 million Avantha Masters from next year after the sponsors -- Avantha Group -- decided against renewing the contract with the European tour because of current economic condition. The Avantha Group had been the sponsors of the tri-sanctioned event in New Delhi for the last four years but it would no longer be sponsoring the prestigious tournament from next season. “Having successfully hosted the prestigious Avantha Masters for four consecutive years, the Avantha Group has concluded that in order to attract top talent, both the timing of the event in the golf calendar along with a substantial prize money increase will be required,” the company said in a statement.
HI inducts Gangpur as associate member
New Delhi: Hockey India today inducted newly-formed Hockey Gangpur (Odisha), a body set up by former international players, as an associate member. HI now has 17 associate members, 27 affiliated members and two state Olympic association members. With this inclusion, Hockey Gangpur (Odisha) can take part in all the National Championships to be conducted by HI in future. “Many players including Dilip Tirkey, Ignace Tirkey, Prabodh Tirkey, Michael Kindo, lazarus Barla and Subhadra Pradhan have played at international level from the Gangpur region and the entry of Hockey Gangpur (Odisha) would play a major role in promoting and developing hockey in the tribal areas of Gangpur,” HI secretary general Narinder Batra said.
Trishul poised to win South India Amateur
Bangalore: local lad Trishul Chinnappa is poised to capture the Tata Steel Southern India Amateur title after he shot a brilliant 5-under par 67 to widen his lead to four shots at the end of the third and penultimate round at the Karnataka Golf Association Course here today. The 19-year-old’s three-round total read at an impressive 8-under 208 at the testing 7227-yard course.
PNS/Agencies