Doping test centre inaugurated
Mangaluru: All arrangements had been made for the smooth conduct of the 19th Senior National Athletics championship for the Federation Cup slated to begin here on April 30, Karnataka Forests Minister and district-in-charge B Ramanath Rai said on Tuesday. The infrastructure at the Mangala stadium had been developed for the five-day event, he said speaking after inaugurating the doping test centre at the stadium. He said the government had sanctioned Rs1 crore for the championship, of which Rs50 lakh had been released. The remaining amount would be released soon, he said. State Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Abhayachandra Jain said the new synthetic track and other facilities at the stadium had already been set up. The event is important as athletes for the 21st Asian Athletic C’ship to be held at Wuhan, China in June would selected from among the winners here, he said.
Sathiyan enters in main draw
Suzhou: India’s G Sathiyan continued his good show and qualified for the main draw of the men’s singles event at the World Table Tennis Championships, here on Tuesday. Sathiyan, ranked 188 in the world, beat Felipe Olivares of Chile 11-7, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 in his final qualifying round match to earn a place in the main draw. But a tough opening round match awaits Sathiyan in the main draw as he is set to face Sweden’s world number 64 Gerell Par. However, it was curtains for Sanil Shetty as he crashed out in the last round of the qualifiers, losing to higher ranked Elia Schmid of Switzerland. Shetty was leading at one stage before losing 12-10, 13-15, 11-9, 6-11 11-7, 13-15, 9-11 to Schmid.
CAS hearing cancelled
laussane: The Court of Arbitration for Sport says a hearing scheduled on Wednesday in the doping case of three-time Chicago Marathon winner liliya Shobukhova has been cancelled. The court could not confirm why an appeal filedby the IAAF to double Shobukhova’s ban to four years would not take place. However, reports in Russia suggest the IAAF, Russian athletics federation and the athlete reached an out-of-court settlement. If the hearing took place, the court panel’s published verdict could have addressed a German TV documentary’s allegations made last December. Broadcaster ARD alleged Shobukhova paid Russian officials to cover up her doping before she was banned for two years for suspicious blood values in her biological passport. The broadcaster linked a subsequent refund to Shobukhova to business associates of IAAF President lamine Diack’s son.
Fan injured by flying bat
Chicago: A fan was hit by a flying bat at Wrigley Field and carried from the stands on a stretcher during the Cubs’ 4-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night. The team says the fan was conscious and communicating with staff while being transported to first aid. He was then taken by ambulance to a hospital. Chicago rookie Addison Russell, playing his first game at Wrigley, lost control of his bat on a swing as he led off the bottom of the seventh inning. The bat flew into the seats between the Cubs’ dugout on the third base side and the netting behind home plate, hitting the fan and drawing blood.
O’Sullivan reaches last eight
Sheffield: Five-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Matthew Stevens 13-5 to reach his 17th quarter-final at the snooker World Championships here. O’Sullivan, who claimed his fourth and fifth world crowns in 2012 and 2013 and lost to Mark Selby in the final last year, would level with Steve Davis on six titles if he wins and is just one behind Stephen Hendry’s record of seven. He will next face Stuart Bingham in the quarters, reports Xinhua. “It’s going to be a really tough game against Stuart. He beat me in the UK last season and he’s really improved as a player,” the 39-year-old said on Monday. Shaun Murphy defeated Joe Perry 13-5 while Judd Trump beat Marco Fu 13-8 to set up a match against China’s Ding Junhui. Australia’s Neil Robertson ended with a 145 break to beat Ali Carter 13-5.
Man United target Gerson
Rio De Janerio: Brazilian football club Fluminense have placed a 22 million pound price tag on Manchester United target Gerson. The 17-year-old has caught the eye of Old Trafford scouts for his performances with Brazil’s Under-20 team. An attacking midfielder, Gerson has already made 12 first-team appearances for Fluminense and scored four goals, reports Xinhua. Fluminense are understood to be keen to hold on to the teenager until after the Rio 2016 Olympics in the hope his value will rise.
Collage group reach final
New Delhi: Blistering knock by Pramod Chandila of 90 runs and good bowling by Arun Chaprana 3/52 enabled Collage Group beat Central Warehousing Corporation by 18 runs to enter the final of 25th All-India Om Nath Sood Memorial Cricket Tournament being played at R.S.K.P., grounds here on Tuesday.