Bharat Ratna for Dhyan ChandIJ
Sangrur: Sports Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said that the government was mulling over conferring the Bharat Ratna on hockey wizard Dhyan Chand for his contribution to the game and sports in general in the country. Jitendra was talking to reporters after laying the foundation stone of `6.87 crore synthetic track at War Heroes Stadium here. He said the government was also making efforts to sort out the impasse between the International Olympic Committee and the Indian Olympic Association so that the country's athletes can take part in next year's Olympics under the National Flag. Speaking about Punjab government's desire to work for inclusion of Kabaddi in Olympics, Jitendra said the government was prepared to extend every help in this direction.
Afridi in war of words
Karachi: A war of words has broken out between three big names of Pakistan cricket with veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi describing former stars, Muhammad Yousuf and Shoaib Akhtar as "heckle and jeckle". The dispute broke out after Yousuf and Akhtar made critical comments about Afridi's performance in Pakistan's recent ODI series against South Africa on recent television talk shows. Yousuf and Akhtar were particularly critical about Afridi but when the former captain returned home on Monday from South Africa, he minced no words in lashing out at his two former teammates. "I don't care about what they say. But the way some of these experts behaved and acted as if the team never lost in their time. But to me comments from a pair of heckle and jeckle and Mr Bean don't make a difference," a visibly irritated Afridi told reporters.
Misbah wants to comeback in t20s
Karachi: Pakistan's Test and ODI captain Misbah-ul-Haq has expressed his willingness to revive his Twenty20 career, provided the Cricket Board (PCB) and national selectors want him to do so. "I stepped away from T20 Internationals to give youngsters a chance. But I have continued to play in domestic T20 cricket and if the selectors and board want me to play T20 Internationals again I will do it," Misbah told reporters in lahore. The senior batsman also insisted that he was under no pressure while leading the Test and ODI sides despite the national team's poor performances in recent times. "I am thankful the board reposed confidence in me again. I take captaincy as a challenge but even when we were losing in the UAE to South Africa the players were determined to come out of the bad run," Misbah said.
McCullum, Taylor hit tons
Dunedin: New Zealand's Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor tamed the toothless West Indies attack on the opening day of the first Test on Tuesday, both scoring centuries as the home side reached an imposing 367 for three. At close of play McCullum was 109 not out off just 122 balls, with Taylor unbeaten on 103. Hamish Rutherford (62) and Peter Fulton (61) earlier chipped in with half centuries on a dispiriting day for the tourists. New Zealand lost the toss but quickly made the West Indies attack look ordinary despite a green-tinged wicket and cloud cover for much of the day. The cloud cleared at tea, when New Zealand were 194-3, and in the bright sunshine of the final session Taylor and McCullum produced a ruthless display of power batting to press home their advantage. New Zealand's senior batsmen added a further 173 runs in the final session, heaping more misery on the tired West Indies attack, ending the day with an unbeaten partnership worth 182.
Easy wins for kabbadi teams
Hoshiarpur: Indian men registered their second win of the 2013 Kabaddi World Cup as they breezed past Spain in their group match while women's team defeated Kenya in an easy encounter here on Tuesday. India beat Spain 55-27 in their Pool A match at the lajwanti Stadium. The Indian eves overwhelmed Kenya 56-21 to bag their second win in as many matches. The men's team will now take on Kenya on December 5 while their female counterparts will face United States on December 7. Twelve nations are participating in the men's section and women's competition has eight teams in fray. The fourth edition was inaugurated by Punjab Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka at outdoor stadium Hoshiarpur and was introduced to the players of all the participating teams. Speaking on the occasion, Maluka said that due to the efforts of the Punjab government Kabaddi has now got international status. He said that Punjab was laying more stress on sports and the budget of sports department has been enhanced to `142 crore from the earlier budget of `12 crore. He said that his government has enhanced the prize money for Olympic gold winner to `2.5 crores from `1 crore.
46 medals for india
New Delhi: Indian athletes went on a medal spree at the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games as they kicked-off their campaign with 11 gold, 19 silver and 16 bronze in Newcastle, Australia on Tuesday . Surjit Singh of Bihar opened India's account with a silver in athletics. The 23-year-old has two more events to go. Twelve medals came in athletics, 15 in aquatics and 19 were grabbed by Indians in badminton. The competition that started yesterday will go on till December 7 in nine disciplines. The Special Olympics Bharat contingent of 520 athletes, coaches and staff, representing 21 states, is participating at the event.
nico back in sahara Force India
Silverstone: German driver Nico Hulkenberg will return to Sahara Force India in the Formula One Championships next year after agreeing a multi-year deal, the F1 team said on Tuesday. Hulkenberg raced for Sahara Force India in 2012 before moving to Sauber this season. "Sahara Force India is delighted to confirm that Nico Hulkenberg will return to Sahara Force India in 2014 after agreeing a multi-year deal," the F1 team said in a release. "The 26-year-old German is no stranger to Sahara Force India having spent 2011 and 2012 seasons with the team," it said.
PNS/Agencies