Narang secures olympic berth
New Delhi: Gagan Narang on Friday won the bronze medal in the 50m Rifle Prone Event of the ISSF World Cup at Fort Benning in USA, earning himself a quota place for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Narang, who won the bronze in 10m Rifle at the london Olympics, shot 185.8 overall to secure third place behind gold medallist Michael McPhail (208.8 points) of USA and Ole Kristian Bryhn (206.3) of Norway. The other quota place from the event went to McPhail. Earlier in the competition, Narang and India's only individual Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, had failed to qualify for the 10m Rifle final. Narang is third Indian shooter to make the Rio cut after Jitu Rai and Apurvi Chandela. Chandela had secured the quota place by winning the bronze in the 10m Rifle at World Cup in Korea last month. Pistol ace Jitu Rai had won India's first Olympic quota place
at the World Championships in Granada, Spain last year, when he won silver in the 50m Free Pistol event. Each country can win a maximum of 30 quota places from a total of 15 shooting disciplines (including shotgun events), two each from each discipline
hockey team's prep from today
New Delhi: Indian men team's preparation for the upcoming FIH Hockey World league Semi-final in Antwerp starts on Saturday with 48 core probables at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here. The preparatory camp will continue till June 9 ahead of the Hockey World league Semi-final in Antwerp, Belgium from June 20 June till July 5. Initially the camp will start with 48 players which will be cut down to 33 after a week's training.
refueling to return in f1
Paris: In a bid to become more attractive and win back disgruntled fans, Formula One will reintroduce refueling in 2017 along with more aggressive-looking cars, louder engines, and faster lap times. Fans have also been unhappy at the quieter engines, which were implemented as part of the last set of rule changes before last season, because the aggressive roar of an engine is part of F1 folklore. Spectators will now hear "higher revving engines and increased noise" from 2017, the FIA said in a statement. Despite major advances in technology, lap times have dropped as drivers prioritize tire management over driving at full throttle. In order to increase the speed, cars will improve their aerodynamics with wider tires and less car weight, which the FIA hopes will lead to laps being "five to six seconds" faster.
federer, djokovic in semi-finals
Rome: Roger Federer kept up his pursuit of the elusive Italian Open title with a 6-3, 6-3 win over sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych on Friday to reach the semifinals of the clay-court tournament. Federer will next face either seven-time Rome champion Rafael Nadal or Stan Wawrinka, who were playing in the night session at the Foro Italico. Top-ranked Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, was pushed to three sets for the third consecutive match in a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win over fifth-seeded Kei Nishikori. The defending champion was also pushed the distance by Nicolas Almagro and Thomaz Bellucci in his opening two matches. Djokovic let out a loud roar and threw his arms forward in a windmill action when he broke Nishikori's serve early in the third set to take control. Djokovic's semifinal opponent will be David Ferrer, who beat David Goffin of Belgium 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
chant to oust ioa chief increases
New Delhi: At least 10 National Sports Federations and six state Olympic units have come out in the open in demanding a No Confidence Motion against Indian Olympic Association president N Ramachandran by calling a Special General Meeting. National Rifle Association of India, Fencing Association of India, Indian Rugby Football Union, Ice Hockey Association of India and Ice Skating Association of India were among the latest NSFs to demand ouster of Ramachandran. Basketball Federation of India headed by K Govindraj also demanded Ramachandran's ouster but it is not clear whether his faction is recognised by the IOA or not. "As per Rule VIII (i) and (ii) of IOA Constitution, we Badminton Association of India are moving a vote of no confidence against Mr N Ramachandran, President IOA. We request you to convene the Special General Meeting (SGM) of IOA at the earliest to discuss on the vote of no confidence against Mr N Ramachandran, president IOA," the NSFs wrote to the IOA president, secretary general and treasurer in almost identically-worded letters.
Gatlin runs 9.74 to win 100m
Doha: Justin Gatlin lived up to the pre-season hype, winning the 100 meters in a world-leading 9.74 seconds at the Diamond league opener on Friday, a personal-best time and a new meet record in Doha. There was a big gap between the American and his chasers, with U.S. relay teammate Michael Rodgers second in 9.96 and Keston Bledman of Trinidad and Tobago third. Gatlin was the fastest man in the world last season, but went even faster on a sweltering hot night at Qatar Sports Club.
Jeev likely to make cut
Terassa (Barcelona): Jeev Milkha Singh, playing his first event in two months, gave himself a good chance to cross the first hurdle as he shot 74 and 70 in the first two rounds of the Open de Espana here on Friday. Jeev, whose only cut since January has been the Hero Indian Open in February, was in danger after a rusty first round of 74 with two birdies and four bogeys. But he covered the ground on the second day with three birdies in first five holes.
But bogeys on ninth and 12th set him back before a closing birdie on 18th gave him the chance of playing the weekend. Jeev was even par for two rounds and tied 41st with around half the field yet to complete the round. The cut was likely one over.