S Ravi remains in Elite Panel
new delhi: S Ravi retained his place in the ‘Elite Panel’ while C Shamshuddin has been elevated to ‘Emerging Panel’ in the ICC Selection Panel of Umpires for the coming season. According to bcci.Tv, Ravi has been retained by the ICC Selection Panel of Umpires owing to his impressive track record. Since making his debut as an official in a T20I between India and England in October 2011, Ravi has officiated in 11 Test matches, 26 ODIs and 18 T20Is. late last year, Ravi officiated in the first day-night Test along with England’s Richard Illingworth between Australia and New Zealand at Adelaide Oval. 46-year-old Shamshuddin has been elevated to ICC’s ODI Emerging Panel. He has already officiated in seven ODIs and 10 T20I matches. Shamshuddin was selected to officiate in ICC events including the ICC Under-19 World Cup.
Ronaldo museum to himself upsizes
lisbon: Cristiano Ronaldo’s museum on Madeira has upsized to a larger home in anticipation of the Real Madrid star winning “future trophies”, his cousin told AFP on Monday. The Portugal striker’s self-financed shrine now occupies a prime seafront position in Funchal, the island’s capital where “CR7” was born in 1985. The museum’s new two-storey site “will be able to welcome Ronaldo’s future trophies,” his cousin and museum director Nuno Viveiros said. The treasure trove charting the success of Madeira’s most famous son draws in 200,000 visitors a year. It boasts two waxworks of the former Man Utd forward whilst a 3.4-metre-high bronze statue he unveiled of himself in December 2014 has been moved to greet visitors at entrance.
AIFF launches global scouting programme
New Delhi: In an effort to scout players for the U-16 national team presently preparing for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, the All India Football Federation in collaboration with Sports Authority of India has launched a global scouting programme. The programme, named the SAI-AIFF Overseas Scouting Project (OSP), will kick off with on-field trials in Dubai on June 10-11 for 2000 & 2001 born boys residing in the UAE and nearby states/countries.
India to host Junior hockey World Cup
lucknow: The city of lucknow will host the junior men’s hockey World Cup from December 8 to 18, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced on Tuesday. The event will feature 16 teams — defending champions Germany, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, England, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and Spain.
Tintu finishes second in Prague
new delhi: Rio Olympics-bound Tintu luka ran her season’s best of 2:00.61 to win a silver in 800m in the Josef Odlozil Memorial Athletics Meet in Prague in Czech Republic. The reigning Asian champion was second behind 2013 World Youth Championship gold winner Anita Hinriksdottir of Iceland who ran 2:0054 at the Czech capital on Monday night. 27-year-old luka is still a long way to go as she is placed at 30th spot amomg the season’s top list with former world champion and london Olympics silver medallist Caster Semenya of South African leading with 1:56.64, followed by world indoor champion Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi with 1:56.92 and Renelle lamote of France with 1:58.01.
Gurusaidutt in main draw of Australian Open
syndey: India shuttler R M V Gurusaidutt on Tuesday qualified for the main draw of the $750,000 Australian Open superseries badminton tournament with easy victories in his qualifying matches here. In his first match of the day, world No. 89 Gurusaidutt defeated a local challenger Michael Fariman 21-7, 21-14 in 33 minutes to advance to the second qualifying round, in which he got the better of Malaysian Jiann Shiarng Chiang 21-16, 21-12 in a contest that lasted 30 minutes. Gurusaidutt has now joined other Indian men’s singles players in Kidambi Srikanth and Sameer Verma in the main draw of the tournament.
Charlotte talks about her journey in cricket
new delhi: Charlotte Edwards, former England captain and one of the most recognisable names in women’s cricket, has expressed her satisfaction and delight at the growth and development as well as incentives and opportunities offered to women’s cricket by the ICC since its merger with the International Women’s Cricket Council (IWCC) in 2005. In an exclusive article for the ICC, which is available for free download and editorial use at www.icc-cricket.com, Edwards has spoken candidly of her journey with women’s cricket tracing back to the early days when she had to purchase her England blazer nearly two decades ago to becoming a professional cricketer. “In 1996, I made my debut against New Zealand as a 16-year-old girl. Back then, I purchased my own England blazer as the game was totally amateur,” writes Edwards, who retired last month after representing England in 23 Tests, 191 ODIs and 95 T20Is. What I’m most proud of is where the women’s game currently sits. We have some wonderful role models and a game to be really proud of.”