Will approach BCCI: Sreesanth
Kochi: He contemplated “suicide” during his time at Tihar Jail but pacer S Sreesanth is now hoping to sing the redemption song and would approach the BCCI for lifting the life ban imposed on him from playing cricket by the Board. “I’ve sought an appointment with BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur. He has told a TV channel that I can file an application requesting to lift the ban. I’m hopeful after indication from the higher-ups of the BCCI that it would consider my request. So I want to file an application. I hope the next meeting of the BCCI would take a favourable decision,” Sreesanth said.
Platini to run for FIFA president
Geneva: Michel Platini will run for FIFA president and plans to announce his intentions this week. Two officials familiar with Platini’s plans have said that the FIFA vice president has made a decision to try to succeed Sepp Blatter. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Platini has not announced his candidacy. The officials said that the UEFA president has been encouraged to run by most leaders of FIFA’s continental confederations. The FIFA election is on February 26 and would-be candidates must apply by October 26. Platini is set to be the first serious contender to announce he will stand, two months after Blatter was re-elected for a fifth four-year term. Two former FIFA vice presidents from Asia are also possible contenders. Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan and South Korean politician Chung Mong-joon have made public statements about the election in recent days.
Blatter deserves Nobel: Putin
Moscow: The Russian president, speaking with Swiss TV on Monday, said the embattled head of FIFA deserves a Nobel Prize for his work. Two days after Putin and Blatter hosted the preliminary draw for the 2018 World Cup, Putin said “people like Blatter ... deserve special recognition.” Besides Blatter, Putin suggested to Swiss state broadcaster RTS that heads of international sports federations and Olympic committees would also be worthy recipients. “let’s have Nobel Prizes for people like that,” said Putin, who approved lavish spending on the 2014 Sochi Olympics that cost $51 billion to prepare and stage.
Nadal makes winning start
Hamburg: Top-seeded Rafael Nadal overcame a sluggish start to beat Fernando Verdasco 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 in the first round of the Hamburg Open on Tuesday. Nadal was playing his first match since losing to Dustin Brown in the second round of Wimbledon. The former world No. 1 has fallen to No. 10. In the all-Spanish match, Nadal appeared to have trouble adjusting to clay and finding his timing. But his game picked up noticeably in the last two sets. Verdasco saved one match point but then hit the net with a backhand to hand Nadal the win. The match was played under the court’s canvas cover because of rain.
9-member panel for NSDCI draft
New Delhi: The Sports Ministry on Tuesday constituted a nine-member working group which will prepare a revised draft of the National Sports Development Code (NSDCI) and submit its recommendations within three months. The working group will be headed by Delhi High Court Judge CK Mahajan (Retd.) and has former hockey skipper Ajitpal Singh and former national TT champion Indu Puri as its prominent members. The Sports Code came into force in 2011 but Indian Olympic Association and several other National Sports Federations refused to follow Age and Tenure Guidelines. “Since then a lot of developments have taken place in sports necessitating more accountability and transparency in the functioning of the sports bodies. Hence, further amendments to the NSDCI are needed,” a release said.
Raina signs up with IOS for 3yrs
New Delhi: Indian middle-order batsman Suresh Raina has signed a three year deal with leading sports management group, IOS Sports & Entertainment. IOS will now manage Raina’s endorsements and brand associations, corporate profile, patents and digital rights, images, visibility on social networking sites and merchandise. “I was in touch with Neerav from past few months and we had several rounds of dialogs. I have been observing his company doing very interesting work for Olympic Sportspersons,” Raina said.
FIFA tweaks rules for task force
Zurich: FIFA has changed composition rules for a task force criticised as lacking credibility to drive reforms after a corruption crisis. An 11-member panel announced last week to propose ideas at a September 24-25 FIFA executive committee meeting was widely judged to lack independence. Changes such as limiting terms in office, publishing salaries and stricter integrity checks can be passed February 26 at the presidential election meeting to replace Sepp Blatter. FIFA now says “an independent person from outside” football will lead the task force, instead of a “neutral chairman.”
Herrera allegedly hits TV journalist
Mexico City: The coach of Mexico’s national football team Miguel Herrera’s off-field composure is being questioned after a television anchor claimed the coach punched him at the Philadelphia airport following Mexico’s 3-1 victory over Jamaica to take the Gold Cup. Television Azteca sports anchor Christian Martinoli described the incident on Monday on a Television program. He said Herrera apparently wanted to hit him again but fellow sports commentator luis Garcia got between them. PNS/Agencies