‘Pak players' security a concern'
Karachi: The chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shaharyar Khan has admitted that participation of country's players in the lucrative Indian Premier league is not possible due to security concerns of the T20 event's franchises. Khan said that the Indian cricket board officials had told him clearly that they had no role to play in Pakistani players not taking part in the IPl since 2009.
“The Indian board has said that the franchises want to have Pakistani players — crowd pullers like Shahid Afridi but they don't for fear of security,” he told reporters here. “The concern of the franchises is that the majority of the crowds in India are not favorable to Pakistani players and they fear security issues if Pakistani players take part in the IPl,” he said. He was responding to questions about whether recent skirmishes between Pakistan and Indian bodies in hockey and kabbadi will also affect cricket ties.
Will take up CT issue with FIH: PHF
Karachi: The Pakistan Hockey Federation has said it would take up the issue of behaviour of tournament director at the recent Champions Trophy in India with the International Hockey Federation (FIH). PHF secretary Rana Mujahid told reporters in lahore after the Congress of the federation that it was decided to take up the controversial issue that occurred after the semi-final against India at the FIH level.
“We are going to approach the FIH and discuss these issues with them at the forthcoming Executive Board meeting,” Mujahid, a former Olympian, said. He said that it was disappointing for the PHF that after pressure exerted by Hockey India officials the tournament director had reversed his decision of not taking any disciplinary action against the Pakistani players for their celebrations after the win over India.
Grover moves to joint 5th
Al Ain (UAE): Indian GM and former under-10 world champion Sahaj Grover scored a crushing victory over ninth seed Constantin lupulescu of Romania to jump to joint fifth spot after the end of the sixth round of Al Ain Classic International Chess tournament, here on Wednesday. On what turned out to be his day in one of the strongest open in Asia, Grover was at his attacking best and was rewarded for his uncompromising play as lupulescu failed to find out the best defensive resources and caved in easily. The victory took Grover to 4.5 points out of a possible six. Defending champion Abhijeet Gupta, meanwhile bowed out of title contention after suffering a second straight loss in the tournament.
Kolkata may host U-17 WC final
Kolkata: Kolkata may host the final of the Under-17 football World Cup to be held in India in 2017, if All India Football Federation president Praful Patel has his way. "I will use my good office so that the final of Under-17 football World Cup is held in Kolkata," Patel said at the felicitation of programme of ISl-winner Atletico de Kolkata by the state government here. India would host the Under-17 football World Cup in 2017 and AIFF would bid for both the 2018 Club World Cup and the 2020 Under-20 football World Cup, Patel said. The AIFF president also got the state government's nod to develop Rabindra Sarovar stadium into an international standard venue to host the 2017 meet.
Ankita sails into ITF quarters
Pune: There was mixed luck for the two Indian women - Ankita Raina and Prarthana Thombare - who were seen in action in singles in the $25,000 NECC-ITF women's tennis tournament here on Wednesday. The 21-year-old India No. 1 Ankita, the fourth seed, advanced into the quarter-finals with a hard-fought three-set victory over Thai qualifier Kamonwan Buayam, ranked 264 places below her on the WTA list, in a second round match at the Deccan Gymkhana.
Ahmedabad-born Ankita, ranked 294th currently, won 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-1 by converting seven out of eleven chances to break her opponent's stronger serve. The Thai girl hit four aces but, in going all out, also committed 15 double faults. Ankita will face Nina Stojanovic of Serbia for a place in the semis following the latter's shock 6-2 6-3 win over seventh seed Polina leykina of Russia. Wild card Prarthana — who bagged the bronze medal with Sania Mirza in the women's doubles at the Incheon Asian Games a few months ago - went down in three sets after a fight against third seed Sofia Shapatova of Georgia.
HC seeks BI’s response on Sarita
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a response from Boxing India on a plea challenging International Boxing Association's (AIBA) decision to suspend boxer laisram Sarita Devi for refusing to accept the bronze medal at the Asian Games in South Korea. A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice P S Teji issued the notice to Boxing India and listed the matter for further hearing on January 5, 2015.
Earlier, the Centre had told the High Court that it has written to AIBA requesting it to revoke the suspension of Devi. The Sports ministry in its letter to AIBA had requested it to take a lenient view and not take any further action against her, saying she comes from a humble background and has risen very high in her sport due to her hard work and her suspension would have a demoralising effect on other aspiring sportspersons.
Chandela wins gold in Nationals
Pune: Reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallist Apurvi Chandela did an encore in the women's 10M Air Rifle event on the concluding day of the 58th National Shooting Championships at the city's Balewadi Shooting Range. Having qualified for the eight woman Final in pole position with a score of 1168, Apurvi comfortably won gold over second-placed lajja Gauswami of Gujarat, finishing with a final round score of 207.2.
lajja could only manage 205.1 while Hema K.C. Of Rajasthan won the bronze with an effort of 184.4. Army marksman Gurpreet Singh also rounded of a successful tournament when he bagged his second gold medal of the Championships after winning the 25M Centre Fire Pistol event with a final round score of 586. Gurpreet had earlier won the Team Gold in the 25M Rapid Fire Pistol event. Colleague Pemba Tamang won the Silver shooting a total of 584 while veteran Samaresh Jung of the CISF came in third with 583.
MlB avg salary exceeds $3.8 mln
New York: Major league Baseball's average salary shot up to more than $3.8 million this year in the steepest rise since 2001, putting big leaguers on track to top the $4 million barrier for the first time in 2015. The 12.78 percent hike was the biggest since a 12.83 percent rise from 2000 to 2001. Player salaries are spurting after several years of more modest gains. The increase is fueled by record revenue in the $9 billion range, much of it from national television contracts and club deals with regional sports networks.