Tri-colour at Sochi Games New Delhi: The suspension on the Indian Olympic Association having been lifted by the world body, the tri-colour will be hoisted at the Winter Olympic Games Village in Sochi, Russia on February 16.
Senior officials of the International Olympic Committee and Sochi Organising Committee for the 2014 Winter Games are expected to take part in the flag-hoisting ceremony for which the Indian contingent has been waiting with excitement. “The flag hoisting ceremony will be held on February 16 and we all are anticipating the ceremony with excitement,” Winter Games Federation of India Secretary Roshan lal Thakur said from Sochi.
Canada beat US 3-2
Sochi: eghan Agosta scored twice and assisted on Hayley Wickenheiser’s goal to lead Canada to a 3-2 victory over the United States on Wednesday in a tense preview of the expected gold medal match. Agosta scored in the second period to tie the game 1-1 and then Canada added the go-ahead goal 93 seconds later on a shot that U.S. goalie Jesse Vetter seemed to have stopped, drawing a whistle from referee Anna Eskola of Finland. But the puck trickled through Vetter’s pads and over the goal line. Video — and presumably audio — review confirmed the puck went into the net before the whistle. Charline labonte made 25 saves for Canada. Hilary Knight scored and Vetter stopped 28 shots for the United States.
Groothuis wins again
Sochi: For the Dutch, another gold medal at the speedskating oval. For Shani Davis, a stunning defeat. Davis’ shot at Olympic history ended Wednesday at Adler Arena when Stefan Groothuis won gold for the Netherlands in the 1,000 meters, ending the American’s hopes of becoming the first male speedskater to win the same event at three straight Olympics. After Davis completed the first full lap of the 2½-lap race, it was clear his reign was over. He crossed the line more than seventh-tenths of a second behind Groothuis’ winning time of 1 minute, 8.39 seconds. On the cool-down lap from a performance that would leave him in eighth place, Davis simply stared at the ice, his skates far apart. When the final pair was done, he went over to Groothuis and gave him a congratulatory slap on the back.
leaders Chelsea held 1-1
West Bromwich: Victor Anichebe grabbed a late equaliser for relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion to stun Chelsea, with the Premier league leaders barely looking like potential champions in a 1-1 draw. Chelsea was poised to move four points clear at the top of the standings after defender Branislav Ivanovic’s stoppage-time strike in the first half at The Hawthorns. But Anichebe headed home his third goal of the season in the 87th minute to thwart Chelsea and lift West Brom out of the drop zone on goal difference. For 60 minutes there was only one team, and that team couldn’t kill the game, especially in the first 15 minutes of the second half,” Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said.
Chhetri is india’s best
New Delhi: India captain Sunil Chhetri will be presented the 2013 AIFF Player of the Year Award in the Indian Football Awards function here on Wednesday. Chhetri emerged winner through voting among all the club coaches of I-league. Seven awards will be presented to the winners ranging from administrators to supervisors and players. Five among the seven swards have been instituted for the first time while one re-instituted after 2001.
Somdev back in elements
Kolkata: Second seed Somdev Devvarman was back in his elements as the India No.1 knocked out last week’s Chennai leg runner-up Alexander Kudryavtsev in 57 minutes to storm into the last eight of the ATP Challenger Tour at BTA Courts, here on Wednesday.
PNS/Agencies