Friedrich to power Mumbai Mumbai:
Striving to build a formidable outfit with world-class football players on board, the Mumbai Franchise of the Indian Super league (ISl) today announced the signing of Germany’s Manuel Friedrich for the inaugural season of the upcoming league. Friedrich comes to the Mumbai Franchise with over 15 years of professional experience as a top quality centre back, packed with 413 appearances at various levels of football. Friedrich has played international football for Germany and has been a critical part of famouse Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund, Bayer leverkusen, Werder Bremen and Mainz 05. He will be the first recognisable German footballer to play in India and the only team member in the ISl to have played 2014 UEFA Champions league football. Known to be a strong defender and acknowledged for his aerial duels, the 34-year-old will be the backbone of the Mumbai squad’s defense strategy. With his abilities, he will also be an asset to the team during set pieces due to his aerial skills.
Body for Guj suspension
New Delhi: Calling the suspended Gujarat State Amateur Boxing Association uncooperative, Boxing India (BI) on Friday said it would form a Dispute Commission to address the issues related to GSABA after the crucial September 11 elections. “Despite Boxing India’s initiative during this phase, the Gujarat State Amateur Boxing Association (GSABA) has been uncooperative and has railroaded Boxing India’s efforts to shape the future of Indian boxing,” BI said in a statement. “In this vein, Boxing India has had to provisionally suspend the GSABA. Post elections, the newly elected body will form the Dispute Commission that will re-look into the matter and address the issue,” it added.
Chess now negi’s 2nd choice
New Delhi: He played a stellar role in India’s bronze winning effort in the recently concluded Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway but GM Parimarjan Negi feels that there’s more to life than just ‘64 squares’ as he gets ready for a new innings which will require the same effort or even more from the immensely talented young man. The 21 year old, who has got a chance to pursue an undergraduate (UG) programme at prestigious Stanford University will be leaving for the US in September and in the next four years won’t be very active in the circuit. “Well, chess will take a backseat for the time being. I will have to concentrate on my UG programme. I passed my plus two examination three years back. Then I didn’t enroll myself in any college although I could have got through on sports quota. I wanted to crack into top-100 and decided to concentrate on chess. Now I am in top 80 and I feel there’s a time for everything. Now academics will be my priority,” Negi told PTI in an interview.
Sardar’s Ice Bucket Challenge
New Delhi: India hockey captain Sardar Singh is the latest to complete the AlS Ice Bucket Challenge and nominated batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, Bollywood actor John Abraham and former Netherlands skipper Teun de Nooijer to take up the dare. Sardar took up the challenge at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here on Thursday after the Indian team’s traning session ahead of the Incheon Asian Games.