Sochi Games begin today, 65 leaders expected
Sochi: A record number of world dignitaries are coming to the Sochi Olympics, triple the amount that attended the 2010 Vancouver Games, Russian organizers said on Thursday on the eve of the opening ceremony. Dmitry Chernyshenko, head of the Sochi organizing committee, told the IOC that 65 heads of state and government and international organizations are expected to attend Russia’s first Winter Olympics. “This is a record for Winter Games, three times the number in Vancouver,” he said in his final update to the International Olympic Committee general assembly. The IOC said yesterday it was aware of 44 world leaders coming to the games. Chernyshenko’s figures could be higher because of the inclusion of international organizations. Sochi organizers have declined to provide the names of the leaders coming to the opening ceremony or the countries they represent. Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon are among those attending and meeting with President Vladimir Putin. A number of top world leaders are skipping the games, however. They include President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron and German President Joachim Gauck.
sai suspends wrestling coach
New Delhi: The Sports Authority of India on Thursday suspended Satvir Singh, wrestling chief coach at SAI Training Centre in Hissar, against whom the police have registered a case earlier this month for allegedly sexually harassing a teenage woman wrestler there. Satvir was booked by the police on February 1 under various sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) on a complaint lodged by a trainee wrestler at Hissar SAI Centre. “Satvir Singh, chief coach (Wrestling) posted at SAI Training Centre, Hissar has been suspended with immediate effect in pursuance of complaint of girls Trainees (Wrestling) of Sexual Harassment against the coach in the police and news appeared in local/regional leading newspapers,” the SAI said in a release.
Somdev to play Yuki in semis
Chennai: Top seed Somdev Devvarman won his match against Jordi Samper Montana of Spain via a walkover to set up a semifinal clash with his Indian compatriot Yuki Bhambri in the $50,000 ATP Challenger Tennis tournament here on Thursday. The other semifinal will be between unseeded Alexander Kudryavtsev of Russia and his second seeded compatriot Evgeny Donskoy. Montana, who was suffering from stomach cramps and vomiting, offered a walkover to Somdev while seventh seed Yuki Bhambri put up a superb performance to come from behind and get the better of unseeded louis Pouille of France 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Ashwini goes down fighting vs Arundhati
Bangalore: Ace Indian shuttler Ashwini Ponappa’s challenge in the women’s singles ended after losing out to Arundhati Pantawane in the main draw of the Canara Bank All-India Senior Ranking badminton tournament, here on Thursday. The unseeded Ashwini fought her heart out against top seed Arundhati, but lost the encounter 19-21, 18-21. Return to the singles event after a gap of four years probably played into the mind of the Bangalore girl as she lost nerve at the closing stages of both the sets. Arundhati remain composed to outsmart Ashwini and reach the next round.
Sania wins doubles decider with Prarthana Astana:
Sania Mirza combined with Prarthana Thombare to win the deciding doubles rubber and help India beat New Zealand 2-1 in the last Pool D match in the Asia/Oceania Group II competition in Fed Cup, here on Thursday. Playing her first live match, Sania and Prarthana beat Maria Erakovic and Abigail Guthrie 7-5 6-1 to win and put India atop Pool D.