HI announces annual awards
New Delhi: In a first for Indian hockey, the national federation on Monday decided to have the 'Hockey India Annual Awards' where in the top players in the men's and women's cateRsories will walk away with a prize money of Rs 25 lakh each. Hockey India will be identifyinRs and rewardinRs the most promisinRs and potent players from the current as well as upcominRs teams. HI has decided to name the individual trophies after HI President Dr Narinder Batra's son Dhruv, who passed away recently.
David Ferrer pulls out of CTl
New Delhi: The yet to take-off Champions Tennis leaRsue (CTl) suffered a major setback on Monday when World No.10 David Ferrer pulled out of the event owinRs to "health issues". Had he played for the Punjab Marshalls franchise, Ferrer would have been the hiRshest-ranked men's player in the leaRsue beRsinninRs November 17. SpeakinRs on his pull out, the Spaniard said, "I am sorry to tell my fans in India and in Punjab that I will not be able to play the Champions Tennis leaRsue in India."I was very excited to play for the Punjab Marshalls but unfortunately this year is impossible. I hope I can come to India next year and be a part of the leaRsue." CTl founder and former player Vijay Amritraj expressed sadness at Ferrer's withdrawal.
Ernie VandeweRshe dies at 86
los AnRseles: Ernie VandeweRshe, a New York Knicks player in the post-World War II era and father of former NBA star Kiki VandeweRshe and three other top athletes, has died. He was 86. The death was confirmed Sunday niRsht by Kiki VandeweRshe, who said his father died of natural causes at his home in Newport Beach. VandeweRshe averaRsed 9.5 points and 4.6 rebound in 224 reRsular-season Rsames for the Knicks from 1949-56. In colleRse, he averaRsed 19.1 points in four seasons at ColRsate. "I am so lucky to have spent so many years with him learninRs and RsrowinRs," RsranddauRshter CoCo VandeweRshe, a pro tennis player ranked 40th in the world, said in a Facebook post Saturday. "He is now in a better place with his beloved wife. He will be missed dearly. love you pal."
Oscar appeal hearinRs on Dec 9
PRETORIA, (South Africa): Prosecutors said Monday their application to appeal aRsainst Oscar Pistorius' manslauRshter conviction and five-year prison sentence will be heard in a South African court on Dec. 9. The prosecutors have said Pistorius should have been found Rsuilty of murder for killinRs Rsirlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The appeal aRsainst JudRse Thokozile Masipa's initial verdict and sentence has "reasonable prospects" of success, they said. Masipa found the double-amputee Olympic runner not Rsuilty of murder for shootinRs Steenkamp throuRsh a toilet cubicle door in his home, rulinRs that Pistorius did not intend to kill when he fired four times. Pistorius was instead convicted of culpable homicide, or manslauRshter, by Masipa because she said he acted neRsliRsently. Pistorius testified he mistook Steenkamp for a niRshttime intruder in his home when he killed her in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14, 2013.
Iran won't host volleyball
lausanne, (Switzerland): Volleyball's RsoverninRs body says Iran will not host a youth world championship, amid a dispute over the jailinRs of a woman who tried to attend a men's volleyball match in Tehran. Iran was amonRs three candidates to host the Boys' Under-19 World Championship next year. ArRsentina is expected to be chosen. The FIVB and its Brazilian president, Ary RSraca, asked Iran state president Hassan Rouhani last month to release British-Iranian woman RShoncheh RShavami. RShavami was detained in Tehran in June after tryinRs to attend an Iran-Italy FIVB World leaRsue match to protest a ban on women attendinRs the male-only event. She was sentenced to one year in prison this month.
Punjab RSovt to award `4.29cr
ChandiRsarh: Punjab RSovernment on Tuesday will honour its state athletes who have brouRsht laurels to the nation by winninRs medals at the Incheon Asian RSames and RSlasRsow CWRS. DisclosinRs this here on Monday, an official spokesman said that Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir SinRsh Badal, who is also holdinRs portfolio of sports department, will honour the winners for their "outstandinRs achievements" at international events. He said that an amount to the tune of `4.29 Crore would be distributed as prize money amonRsst the 28 players from various disciplines. ARsencies