Oly champ to get Rs75 lakh
New Delhi: The gold medal winners at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games will get Rs75 lakh as prize money as the government on Thursday revised the Scheme of Special Awards to medal winners in international events. According to the revision, the amount of award money for medal winners in Olympic Games (summer and winter) has been enhanced from existing Rs50 lakh (gold medal), Rs30 lakh (silver medal) and Rs20 lakh (bronze medal) to Rs75 lakh, Rs50 lakh and Rs30 lakh respectively. The amount of award money for medal winners in Asian Games and Commonwealth Games has also been enhanced from existing Rs20 lakh (gold medal), Rs10 lakh (silver medal) and Rs6 lakh (bronze medal) to Rs30 lakh, Rs20 lakh and Rs10 lakh respectively. Under the revised scheme, the number of days of training/coaching imparted by coaches to medal winners preceding the event to be taken into account for deciding eligibility of coaches for award money have been reduced from existing 240 days to 180 days.
Somdev, Myneni in QF
Hong Kong: India’s top two singles players, Somdev Devvarman and Saketh Myneni progressed to the quarterfinals of the $50,000 Hong Kong ATP Challenger tournament, here on Thursday. Myneni got the better of compatriot Ramkumar Ramanathan 7-5, 7-5 in his second round while seventh seed Somdev advanced when his opponent Philipp Petzschner retired. Somdev was leading 4-1 when the German wild card withdrew due to a shoulder problem. Myneni now faces Britain’s Kyle Edmund while Somdev is up against second seed Japanese Tatsuma Ito.
Force india skip test
New Delhi: In a bid to put more work on their new car, Sahara Force India have decided to skip the opening test session of the new Formula One season in Jerez from Sunday. The Silverstone-based team had planned to run its 2014 car with some 2015 parts at the four-day test in Spain but finally decided against it. “We have chosen not to run the old (2014) car in Jerez. The learning opportunities would have been limited so the focus is now on Barcelona,” said the team in a statement on Twitter. Meanwhile, Mclaren showed off its new car for the 2015 season - MP4-30 on Thursday. Mclaren will be using Honda engines for the first time since 1992 and has signed two-time world champion Fernando Alonso to partner Jenson Button for the upcoming season. Mclaren says the new car has a refined nose-box solution, slimmed rear-end packaging and an all-new power unit.
Vani leads in women’s golf
Kolkata: Indian golfer Vani Kapoor Thursday carded even-par 72 to take one shot lead at the end of the second round of the Hero-RCGC Women’s Professional Golf Championship at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club here. Vani finished with a two-day total of 145 to top the leaderboard, enjoying a single stroke lead going into final round Friday as overnight leader Kiran Matharu of England slipped a place after scoring two-over 74.
Budget cut for 2018 WC
Moscow: Russia’s Sports Minister says the government will cut the budget for hosting the 2018 World Cup as part of plans to slash state expenditure while recession looms. The Russian government is cutting its spending by 10 percent across the board. Mutko said in comments reported by the Tass news agency that stadiums and associated infrastructure would be exempt from the cuts, but “various organizational issues”, “subsidies to the organizing committee” would be cut.
Equestrian event in march
New Delhi: Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) has bagged the rights to organise this year’s International Equestrian Tent Pegging Championship in India. The championship will be held at the Noida Sports Stadium, Sector 21, from 10th to 15th March 2015.
Dagar sizzles in DD Cup
New Delhi: leg spinner Karan Dagar of Aryabhatta College and opener Ankita Dabas of Khalsa College set the Daredevils College Cup quarterfinals on fire with scintillating performances to help their respective teams earn an easy passage to the last four stage. BRIEF SCORES: Khalsa College: 179/5 beat RlA College: 92/8 by 87 runs; Ambedkar College: 59 lost to Aryabhatta College: 60/2 by eight wickets. Zakir Husain College: 143/5 beat SGGS College: 66 by 77 runs.