German athletes criticise IAAF
Frankfurt: A group of athletes led by Olympic discus champion Robert Harting has released a video message criticizing track and field’s world governing body over recent doping allegations. “Dear IAAF, we cannot trust you anymore,” Harting said in the English-language video posted on YouTube. “We have to act now.” Harting, a three-time world champion who won Olympic gold in london in 2012, has been a vocal critic of the International Association of Athletics Federations. He declined to be considered for the IAAF’s “Athlete of the Year” award in 2014 because he did not want to appear alongside candidates who have served doping bans, including US sprinter Justin Gatlin.
Narang in first final since 2012
New Delhi: Ace Indian shooter Gagan Narang missed out on a podium finish after reaching his first final of men’s air rifle event in a global event since winning the london Olympics bronze medal, at the ISSF World Cup in Gabala, Azerbaijan on Monday. Narang is recovering from a neck injury which had been impacting his performance in his pet event for quite some time. He finished fifth. Having qualified for the 8-man final in 8th position, Narang improved three positions shooting a score of 144.5 in the final rounds. Cao Yifei of China won the gold with a final round score of 207.4, while Kim Sang Do (206.9) of Korea won the silver and Petar Gorsa (186.5) of Croatia bagged the bronze medal. Former Olympic champion in the same event, Abhinav Bindra finished 14th in qualifying. Both Bindra and Narang have already secured quota places for Rio 2016 and would not be eligible for any more quotas as a result.
Sarjubala in ABC Semis
New Delhi: World Championships silver-medallist Sarjubala Shamjetsabam led the charge by advancing to the semifinals as India were assured of six medals in the Asian Women’s Boxing Championships in Wulanchabu, China on Monday. Sarjubala (48kg) defeated Kazakhstan’s Alina Turlubayeva 2-0 to march into the semfinals, where she will be up against home girl E Naiyan. Other Indians making the last four stage were Meena Kumari Devi (54kg), Pwilao Basumatary (57kg), Pooja Rani (75kg), Saweety (81kg) and Seema Poonia (81+kg). Meena triumphed over the more fancied and home favourite liu Piaopiao, while Basumatary got the better of Kazakhstan’s Zhanna Baskayeva 2-1. India are only behind hosts China in the semifinal strength. The home team has eight of its girls in the last-four stage.
‘FIFA can’t be credible if Sepp leads’
Geneva: FIFA cannot make credible changes in the last months of Sepp Blatter’s leadership of the scandal-hit body, former presidential candidate Prince Ali bin al-Hussein said on Monday. The Jordanian prince also doubted the worth of FIFA’s in-house reforms task force which is supported by Michel Platini, his former ally and now front-runner to succeed Blatter in the February 26 election. “I don’t think anybody will take any decisions that are credible in the current situation,” Prince Ali said on Monday. “I think that the important thing is that you need an overall change in leadership,” said the prince, who described Platini as “not good for FIFA” when the UEFA president launched his campaign two weeks ago. “The entire football world would like to see a change.” Still, Prince Ali has not committed to making a second bid to be president and enact that change.
Hertha Berlin’s team bus shot at
Bielefeld (Germany): German football club Hertha Berlin’s team bus was shot at by a motorcyclist, media reports said on Monday. The Bundesliga club said the bus was fired here on Sunday. Hertha Berlin are in the north-west region of the country to play a German Cup match. No one was injured in the incident, bbc.com reported. Hertha play their first-round tie with German second division side Arminia Bielefeld on Monday night. The police have started investigating the shooting and primary inquiries have revealed that only a driver was on board at the time of the shooting. The vehicle was travelling from the team hotel to pick the players up when the incident happened.
Indian under-12 team finishes 2nd
New Delhi: An Indian under-12 team, represented by Nagaland’s Green wood School, finished second in the Asian Youth Football Festa 2015 held at Anseong, South Korea. The side got the second position in their group by winning 3 out 4 matches. The school was selected to represent India in the festival since it was the winner of the last under-14 Subroto Cup held in 2014, the Sports Ministry said in a statement.