AFI to mull franchise system
New Delhi: The Athletics Federation of India is likely to take a decision on owning a commercial property which will organise a franchise-based athletics league in the country in a bid to make the sport lucrative and raise its profile. It is learnt that a company associated with a businessman involved in the organisation of World Kabaddi league has shown interest in running an athletics league on the lines of highly successful IPl cricket tournament and Indian Badminton league, and it will make a presentation at the AFI Annual General Body Meeting in Varanasi on Saturday.
aus challenge for india next
Ipoh (Malaysia): Out of title reckoning, a misfiring India would look to redeem some pride with an improved performance in their last league match but it would be easier said than done against world champions Australia in the Azlan Shah Cup here on Saturday. India have crashed out of the title race here after garnering just four points with one scrappy win and a draw out of four matches. On the other hand, the Kookaburras, who are defending their title here, are on a roll and have sealed their final berth by registering four victories out of as many games.
hamilton quickest in china
Shanghai: lewis Hamilton put Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel in his place before the Chinese Grand Prix by dominating Friday's free practice for Mercedes. World champion Hamilton, who has won three times in Shanghai including last year, topped the timesheets, clocking a fastest lap of one minute, 37.219 seconds in the afternoon. Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo was third fastest, ahead of Vettel and Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg. Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg finished 16th while Sergio Perez was two places worse than his teammate.
IAF win by 6 wkts; in last-16
New Delhi: Fabulous 93 run knock by wicket keeper batsman Devendra lochab and 3/31 by left arm spinner Vikas Singh Hathwala enabled Indian Air Force beat Sonnet Cricket Club by 6 wickets to enter the last-16 of 25th All-India Sperry Om Nath Sood Memorial Cricket Tournament. Batting first, Sonet CC scored 195 runs helped by Milind Kumar’s unbeaten 100. In reply, IAF got to the target with much ease.
IOC to stay in lausanne
lausanne (Switzerland): With the IOC celebrating 100 years in Switzerland, the Olympic body is already planning to stay in lausanne for another century. The International Olympic Committee held a series of ceremonies with local officials on Friday to mark the anniversary of the April 10, 1915, date when modern Olympics founder Pierre de Coubertin decided to establish the headquarters in lausanne. IOC President Thomas Bach says "it was the right decision to take then and it still is now." The IOC is building new headquarters on the same site to bring all its 500 employees under one roof.