India finish fifth at Men’s Act
New Delhi: Akashdeep Singh scored three goals as India thrashed Oman 6-1 to finish fifth in the third Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament at Kakamigahara, Japan on Sunday. In a fifth-sixth place match, India dominated from the word go, scoring three goals in each half. Kothajit Singh converted a penalty corner in the sixth minute of the match to give India an early advantage. Five minutes later, Gurjinder Singh doubled the team’s lead by converting another penalty corner. In the 24th minute, Akashdeep Singh gently tapped in Mandeep’s pass from a difficult angle to place India in a comfortable position at half time. Akashdeep then made it 4-0, scoring from close range after pouncing on a loose ball in the 40th minute. Oman, however, pulled one back in the 58th minute from a penalty corner through Mohammad Hoobais Al Shar, whose low drag-flick beat Indian goalkeeper Harjot Singh. In the 66th minute, Malak Singh scored with a fierce hit from top of the circle before Akashdeep scored his third goal of the day just two minutes minutes from the hooter to hand India comprehensive victory.
Huge participation in Salwan Run
New Delhi: More than 49,000 young students from different parts of the country, along with 1700 visually impaired and 250 differently-abled children, took part in the 19th edition of Coca-Cola Salwan Cross Country Run, which is touted as the world’s largest race for school children. The joy, enthusiasm and fervour was palpable in the air as the students from 800 schools across the country lined up for the run. The run brings together students from various schools across India. The race was made extra special with the participation of more than 1700 visually impaired and 250 differently-abled children, who with their energy, made the morning a truly special one. The race witnessed participation by Olympians — boxer Shiva Thapa, 20km race walker K T Irfan and 400m runner M R Poovamma. The trio ran alongside visually impaired children as volunteers. The race had participants in eight different categories — visually impaired, intellectually challenged (4.5 kms), Under-14 Girls and Boys (4.5 kms), Under-16 Girls and Boys (6 kms) and Under-18 Girls and Boys races (8 kms).
Raikkonen out of two races
Paris: Finland’s 2007 Formula One world champion Kimi Räikkonen has driven his last race for lotus after it was announced on Sunday that he will miss the final two races of the season. The 34-year-old — who will drive for Ferrari next year — is to undergo back surgery bringing to an end what has been a fractious relationship with the team that offered him a second chance in Formula One last year. Things came to a head last weekend at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when a fed up Raikkonen, who is third in the overall standings, arrived saying he had not been paid all year and unless that was put right he would boycott the last two races of the campaign.
Marquez seals MotoGP title
Valencia: Spaniard Marc Marquez at 20 years of age became the youngest rider to ever win the MotoGP world championship as he finished third at the Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday. Two-time world champion Jorge lorenzo claimed his eighth victory of the season, but it wasn’t enough to overturn Marquez’s 13-point lead which he held heading into the race. In the end there was just four points between them. Marquez’s Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa finished second. Mahindra MGP3O rider Efrén Vázquez equalled his best result of the year at Valencia, finishing a fighting fifth to secure his top-ten championship position and close his account with the team on a high note. Team-mate Miguel Oliveira was tenth — securing another double top ten for the only Indian constructor in international motorcycle racing.
Devendra Singh creates record
Asansol: Armyman Devendra Singh created record in the free pistol event while Maharashtra, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and BSF earned gold medals in their respective groups at the 23rd All India G V Mavalankar Shooting championship here on Sunday. Singh of the Services scripted the feat in the 50 metre free pistol junior men individual group scoring 269 points. He eclipsed the record of fellow Armyman Sandip Bhalotia who had scored 266 points in Jalandhar in 2008. Another Army shooter Sukhvinder Singh earned silver in the same event scoring 266 points, equalling Bhalotia’s record. Vinay Vishwasrao Patil of Maharashtra scored 268 points in free pistol 50-metre men’s individual event and bagged a gold medal.
Run for Girl Child flagged off
Rohtak: The third ‘Run for the girl child’ mini marathon organised by Indian Institute of Management (IIM) witnessed an enthusiastic response with large number of people turning up for the event here on Sunday. The marathon was flagged off by Padmashri awardee and legendary racer Milkha Singh on the campus of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) here. “Whether it be a sage or a king, all have been borne by women. I too have daughters, and it saddens me that people think of daughters as a burden. It is definitely our responsibility to make sure that women succeed in all spheres of life,” said Singh.
PNS/Agencies