Ad hoc committee on boxing plans N’tnls
New Delhi: The ad hoc committee on boxing formed by the world governing body AIBA to run the sport in the country is planning to hold men’s and women’s national championships in the next two months. With the Olympic qualifying events coming up in a few months’ time, the AIBA ad hoc committee has asked the stakeholders to make suggestions on how to hold these championships so that it can take decisions in its meeting to be held soon. “We are left with following options to allow boxers based in all parts of the country an opportunity to compete in a meet or meets to showcase their skills and attract selectors’ gaze to get selected in the preparatory India camps for further graduation and also acquire certification to bag various educational or vocational job opportunities,” ad hoc committee chairman Kishen Narsi said in a letter addressed to ‘Indian Boxing Family Members’.
Jeev moves to tied 16th in Italy
Milan: Jeev Milkha Singh carded four-under 68 to move to tied-16 at the end of the third round of Open D’Italia golf here on Saturday. Jeev, who has been struggling with his form of late, has now shot three straight rounds in 60s with 68, 69 and 68 to be 11-under. Shiv Kapur (70) moved to nine-under and SSP Chawrasia had a very eventful finish with one birdie, one eagle and two bogeys in his final five holes. Jeev had a bogey on fifth, but thereafter he was flawless with birdies on seventh and ninth and added another birdie on 12th before finding an eagle on 14th. He moved up to tied 16th after being 25th overnight. Kapur had four birdies and two bogeys, one of them on the 18th, while Chawrasia parred each of the first 13 holes, before he birdied the 14th, bogeyed the 15th, eagled the 16th and bogeyed the 18th.
UEFA upholds sanction on Croatia
Zurich: European football’s governing body UEFA has upheld a one-point deduction imposed on the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) and ordered the country’s national team to play their next two home matches behind closed doors. The sanction was imposed by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) on July 23 after racist behaviour by Croatian fans during the Euro 2016 Group H qualifier between Croatia and Italy in Split on June 12. The HNS had lodged an appeal which was rejected on Friday by the UEFA’s appeals body which also imposed a fine of 100,000 euros on the Croatian body, the UEFA announced on its website. The Croatian team will also not be allowed to play any of their remaining qualifiers at the Stadion Poljud in Split. The point deduction means that Croatia are now two points adrift of Norway in Group H.
Sethuraman crashes out of World Cup
Baku (Azerbaijan): Indian Grandmaster S P Sethuraman crashed out of the World Cup of chess after a draw with Azerbaijani superstar Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in the second game of the third round here. After a fine victory against compatriot Harikrishna, Sethuraman had a tall task against Mamedyarov, who is considered the local favourite in a strong field here. The Indian fought hard to no avail and had to be satisfied with a draw in a difficult circumstance in a pawn less endgame where he either faced a loss or a draw in the ensuing position. Mamedyarov was gracious and typical in the situation, the draw was good enough for the Azerbaijani Grandmaster to go through to the last 16 of the $1.6 million prize money tournament and he chose the practical way. Playing white, Sethuraman started with the English opening that met with some stiff resistance earlier on. Mamedyarov equalised early with a knight sortie giving nothing to the Indian and it was a tall task to carry on from the beginning.
lahiri makes cut in second event of Web Tour
Davidson (USA): Anirban lahiri took another step closer to achieving his immediate goal of securing a PGA Tour card for 2016, as he played a steady round of two-under 70 and coasted into the weekend rounds of the Small Business Connection Championship at River Run, the second of four Web.Com Tour Finals events. Sixth in the first of four Web.Com Tour Final series.
CAS dismisses IHF plea, rules in favour of HI
New Delhi: In a major legal victory for Hockey India (HI), the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) has dismissed Indian Hockey Federation’s (IHF) plea to be the sole governing body of the sport in the country, thereby drawing curtains on a seven-year old power tussle. The IHF had filed a case in CAS in Switzerland in relation to their de-recognition by the Indian Olympic Association and subsequently by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in 2008. The CAS judgement not only dismissed IHF’s all appeals, it has also directed the de-recognised body to bear all the litigation and arbitration costs and pay CHF 6,000 each to HI and FIH.