Jithin Paul steals show in Fed Cup
Patiala: Jithin Paul of Jharkhand stole the limelight, beating 2010 Asiad gold medallist Joseph Abraham to second place in a close 400m hurdles race for men while earning a ticket for the Incheon Asian Games on day 2 of the 18th Federation Cup Senior National Athletics Championships here on Sunday. The day saw two national record holders biting the dust. Under hot and humid conditions at the National Institute of Sports tracks here, all the three podium finishers in men’s 400m hurdles crossed qualifying timings of 51.34 secs set by the Athletics Federation of India for taking part in next month’s Asian Games. The selection committee of the AFI can pick two out of the three 400m hurdlers for the Asian Games. “A country can send a maximum of two athletes in an event in the Asian Games. Sending two athletes in the Asian Games in men’s 400m hurdles is a distinct possibility though the selection committee will decide on it,” AFI secretary C K Valson said. National record holder in men’s long jump, Prem Kumar finished a disappointing 11th in a 12-men field in the final round. Ankit Sharma of Madhya Pradesh bagged the gold with a jump of 7.55m, a tad below the Asian Games qualifying standard of 7.63m.
I too deserve Bharat Ratna: Balbir
Chandigarh: With Major Dhyan Chand’s name finally being nominated for the Bharat Ratna, another hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr feels going by his achievements he too deserves the country’s highest civilian award and hopes to get the recognition in his lifetime. Balbir, 90 and a three-time Olympic gold medallist, looks back with satisfaction at his long tryst with the game but feels he has not got the honour he deserves. The gentle and soft-spoken Balbir, who has only got Padma Shri for his efforts, said it does hurt to get the snub but “awards and rewards are prerogative of the government”. “If my records and achievements as a player, as a captain, as a coach, as a manager and as an administrator are taken into account, then one should get (Bharat Ratna). But I want to state here that it is either up to God or the prerogative of the government,” Balbir said. “I hope to get (the highest award) and that too in my lifetime,” he added.
Punjab beat California 65-47 in WKl
Birmingham: The “curfew” imposed by their coach after the opening loss paid off today for Punjab Thunder as they outplayed California Eagles 65-47 in their second match of the Wave World Kabaddi league here on Sunday. Punjab, who had lost to United Singhs in the opening match in london, came out trumps thanks to some astute defending and the brilliant performance by their raider Sarabjeet Singh. Sarabjeet contributed 20 points to his team’s tally but the Man of the Match award went to stopper Yadvinder Singh, who pulled off nine crucial stops in the match. “I had told the players to just focus on training after we lost the opening match. I had told them not to go anywhere and just remain totally committed to the cause of the team,” said Punjab coach Gurpreet Singh. leading 33-25 at half time, Punjab piled on the pressure to emerge triumphant.
India lose to Pak in AFl cup
Melbourne: India were humiliated 101-7 by Pakistan in a first-ever meeting of Australian Football league (AFl) teams of both countries in a friendly-match called ‘Dosti Cup’. The match, played yesterday, was one of the highlights of the 2014 International Cup. A team of 15 AFl players have flown from India to play five matches here, while Pakistani team players were all Melbourne based. Dignitaries from both country’s consulates and leaders of both communities were invited.
lahiri finishes tied 12th at Fiji
Fiji: Anirban lahiri concluded the week with a strong finish with three birdies in last five holes and placed tied 12th at the end of the inaugural US$1 million Fiji International. lahiri, who faced a long and tiring journey from the US before the start of the Fiji International followed up his first round 74 with rounds of 69, 75 and 73 to finish at three-over 291. lahiri started with a string of four pars before crashing to a double bogey on par-5 fifth but though he partially made up with a birdie on sixth. Bogeys on 11th and 12th indicated a slide back, but he recovered well with birdies on 13th, 15th and 17th, with a bogey in between on 16th.
32-member team for Youth Olympics
New Delhi: A 32-member Indian contingent has left Indian shores to participate in the ongoing Youth Olympics in Nanjing. In the 32, there are 19 men and 13 women athletes. Some of the notable names among the juniors are paddler Sutirtha Mukherjee and archer Atul Verma. In tennis, young Ojasvinee Singh will be the sole representative. In boxing, there is Gaurav Solanki and Shyam Kumar Karkara.
Amla’s ton in proteas win
Bulawayo Hashim Amla’s 15th one-day international hundred guided South Africa to a comfortable 93-run victory in the first game of a three-match series against Zimbabwe, here on Sunday. Amla batted through the innings to finish unbeaten on 122 from 132 balls as the Proteas posted 309 for three, before spinners Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso took three wickets apiece to bowl Zimbabwe out for 216. The one-sided nature of the match at the Queen’s Sports Club was established right from the beginning as Amla shared a century stand with Quinton de Kock. While the early starts in Zimbabwean ODIs traditionally give plenty of assistance to the side bowling first and the game began under cloudy skies, the home side’s young attack was unable to capitalise on those conditions.