hockey team to tour Bangladesh New Delhi:
Fresh from a Commonwealth Games silver medal in Glasgow, the Indian men’s hockey team is now eyeing the Asian Games and will tour Bangladesh for a three-match series starting August 6 to tune-up for the challenge in Incheon, South Korea. The series is expected to provide international exposure to the young players just before the Asiad in South Korea from September 19 to October 4. In this regard, the core probables for the Asian Games team will find the series an appropriate opportunity to test their skills against an international opponent. The team will be captained by the experienced defender Vickram Kanth while midfielder S K Uthappa will be the vice-captain. The team will depart for Dhaka on August 5 for the scheduled.
Serena, Agassi to play in Singapore
Singapore: Multiple Grand Slam champions Serena Williams and Andre Agassi will turn up for their IPTl franchise Singapore ‘Slammers’ during their home leg matches against UAE Royals, Team Manila and Indian Aces at the Singapore Indoor Stadium (SIS) between December 2-4. “After the WTA Tour finals, this will be the second major professional tennis event to grace the city in 2014 and we are proud to become a part of the word tennis calendar,” said Greg Tan, Vice President of the Singapore Tennis Association.
U Mumba crush Puneri Paltan
New Delhi: U Mumba produced a clinical performance to thrash Puneri Paltan 44-28 in today’s first match in the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi league here at the Thyagraj Stadium. The Union Information & Broadcast Mminister Prakash Javadekar also dropped in at the venue to watch the proceedings for some time. U Mumba stamped their authority as Shabeer Pathapalem and Jeeva Kumar stole limelight as they were adjudged ‘Star Raider’ and ‘Best Defender’ respectively while captain of Puneri Paltan, Wazir Singh scored maximum points for his team.
Parliament lauds cwg participants
New Delhi: Parliament lauded Indian sportspersons for their “sterling” performance at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games at Glasgow where the contingent won 64 medals, including 15 gold.”I am sure the sterling performance of the Indian contingent would be a source of encouragement and motivation to all our budding sportsmen to take up sports and bring glory to the country in future,” Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said amid thumping of desks in lok Sabha. On behalf of the House, she congratulated the Indian sportspersons “who have won medals for our country as well as those who participated in the Games in the true spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
Sitwala, Joshi, Shandilya in league
Mumbai: Former World Professional runner-up Devendra Joshi and Dhruv Sitwala, along with Asian Games gold medallist Ashok Shandilya, are some icon players who would represent different teams in the Videocon Billiards Premier league’s inaugural season scheduled here from August 16-24. Ten teams, purchased at a cost of Rs1.25 lakh each for two seasons, would take part in the league to be held in six gymkhanas/clubs in Mumbai, it was announced at a media conference. PNS/Agencies