Govt gives NSF status to HI
New Delhi: Hockey India’s (HI) bid to be the sole body of governance for the national sport in the country, has got a shot in the arm after the Government of India recently accorded it the status of a National Sports Federation (NSF). HI, which was derecognised by the Union Sports Ministry in 2012 for not adhering to government guidelines, internal disputes and mismanagement, have finally been recognised as the sole body for the promotion of hockey in the country by the government. In a letter addressed to HI secretary general Narinder Batra, dated February 28, Under Secretary to the Government of India, A K Patro said that HI will be the sole body responsible for running the game of hockey in the country. Hockey India is made responsible and accountable for the overall management, direction, control, regulation, promotion and development of the sport discipline, i.E. Hockey,” the letter from government of India said.
2nd successive win for Bengal lucknow:
Susheel Gupta slammed a hat-trick to help Bengal thrash Mizoram 5-0 in a league match and register their second consecutive win in Pool C on the fifth day of the fourth Hockey India Senior Men National Championship at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, here on Monday. Apart from from Susheel, Asheesh Sengar and Sunil Shah scored a goal each to complete Bengal’s tally. In another Pool C league match, Kunal Jagdale struck three goals as Maharashtra beat Vidarbha Hockey Association 6-1 to record their third win out of four matches, while the other ended in a 4-4 draw against Chattoshgarh. Earlier in the day, Chhattisgarh defeated Delhi 2-0 in a Pool D league game. Chhattisgarh took an early lead in the ninth minute through a field goal by Upendra Pillay before Shaheed Shaikh doubled the scorline in the 62nd minute.
Monday’s results
Pool C: Bengal 5 Mizoram 0.
Maharashtra 6 Vidarbha 1
Pool D: Chhattisgarh 2 Delhi 0.
Bopanna JUMPS TO 12th SPOT
New Delhi: Following his title win at the ATP Dubai 500 event, Rohan Bopanna on Monday jumped four places to 12th in the latest doubles ranking chart. leander Paes, who was unchanged at 10th, continues to be India’s number one player in doubles while Mahesh Bhupathi slipped further to 47, a loss of six places. Divij Sharan (64) and Purav Raja (71) are the other Indian players in top-100. Both of them moved one place up. In the singles, Somdev Devvarman (78) and Yuki Bhambri (146) did not find any change to their respective ranks. There was a huge gulf between the number and three players in the country with the tall Saketh Myneni placed at 297. In the women’s rankings, Sania Mirza was placed just outside the top-10 bracket at 11th.
Rashid tops Asian Order of Merit
Singapore: Rising Indian golfer Rashid Khan today rode on his title triumph in the season-opening SAIl-SBI Open to clinch the top spot in the latest Asian Tour Order of Merit. Rashid’s earnings stand at $54,000, way ahead of second-placed Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh ($33,000). Faced with yet another play-off at the same event again, the talented Indian came good to lift the trophy this year. “I don’t like play-offs. I played some seven play-offs in the last 14 months and I won only three. I lost my last play-off at the Bilt. It’s a lottery,” said Khan.