Sasikiran keeps India in hunt for podium
Tromso (Norway): Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran guided Indian men to a creditable 2.5-1.5 victory over Germany in the 10th and penultimate round to stay in contention for a podium finish at the 41st Chess Olympiad here. Sasikiran’s 48-moves win against liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu not only raised visions of a best-ever Indian finish but also set the tone for what could be the first ever Olympiad medal for India. Nisipeanu, an import from Romania in to the German team, was at sea with white pieces. Playing the Grunfeld, Sasikiran patiently outplayed his higher-rated opponent. It was a Bishop and pawn endgame wherein an extra pawn help the Indian garner full point. At the top of the table, Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi held GM Arkadij Naiditsch to a draw with black pieces. Negi was slightly off colour for major part of the game but continued to fight till he achieved what was the most important half point for India. Playing the tournament of his life, Sethuraman held Georg Meier while on the fourth board, B Adhiban signed peace treaty with David Baramidze.
Jose proud to be recommended for Arjuna
New Delhi: On the verge of becoming the first basketball player to get the Arjuna Award after 13 years, national women’s team captain Geethu Anna Jose on Wednesday said that she was proud to have been recommended for the coveted honour. Jose, who was among 15 sportspersons recommended for the Arjuna Awards by a selection panel on Tuesday, is set to become only the second woman to attain this distinction after Suman Sharma way back in 1983. “Historically, since it is very difficult for Indian teams to participate in the Olympics and win medals at the Asian level due to tough competition from teams like China, Indian basketballers are sometimes ignored for the Arjuna Award,” said Jose.
AITA drops Snehadevi from Asiad team
New Delhi: The AITA national selection panel today courted a controversy by dropping Snehadevi Reddy from the women’s Asian Games squad, giving her place to Shweta Rana, who was initially included as a reserve player. Now Snehadevi has been made a reserve player while Shweta is part of the six-member playing squad as AITA described the move as a “corrective” step. Shweta (580) is a higher-ranked tennis player than Snehadevi (889).
Yuki returns to Davis Cup squad for Serbia tie
New Delhi: Yuki Bhambri on Wednesday returned to the Indian Davis Cup squad for the World Group play-off tie against world No 2 side Serbia as the selectors picked an expected six-member squad, to be led by country’s top singles player Somdev Devvarman. Due to a heel injury, Yuki had missed out on the away tie against Korea in Busan, where a 3-1 victory had sealed for India a play-off berth.
Dynamos sign Belgian defender Reymakers
New Delhi: Indian Super league outfit Delhi Dynamos announced the inclusion of 29-year-old central defender Wim Raymaekers in their squad on Wednesday. Raymaekers carries with him an experience of over 200 games at the first and second division level in Belgium and Holland.
BI elections should be held early: mary kom
Mumbai: M C Mary Kom is keen that the elections to the newly-formed Boxing India take place at the earliest to ease the concerns of the pugilists like herself about their own future. "lots of women boxers are coming up. We are trying to get more medals in the future in any competition. Right now there is no federation. It (erstwhile IBF) is banned, so we are very upset. We will be really grateful if the federation (BI) holds the elections as soon as possible. We are waiting for the election," she said.
Argentina hires Gerardo Martino as coach
Buenos Aires: Gerardo Martino has been hired as coach of Argentina, less than three months after leaving Spanish club Barcelona. The Argentine Football Association said the 51-year-old Martino will replace Alejandro Sabella, who stepped down after Argentina’s loss to Germany in last month’s World Cup final.
Shot in arm for RCA
Jaipur: At loggerheads with BCCI over its move to propose a five-member panel to look after cricket in the state, the Rajasthan Cricket Association today got a shot in the arm when the Registrar of Co-operative Societies here refused to recognised the Board's ad-hoc committee. Meanwhile, lalit Modi was elected president of the Nagaur District Cricket Association for the fourth consecutive term.