REQUIRED 8 COACHES: HI TO IOA
New Delhi: Hockey India president Narinder Batra on Wednesday shot off a letter to the IOA top brass, asking the sports body to allow eight coaching and support staff each for the men and women's national teams at the Rio Olympics. The letter has been addressed to Indian Olympic Association president N Ramachandran and secretary general Rajeev Mehta. Batra warned that if the IOA does any sort of compromise then it will be held responsible for the teams's showing at Rio. "If the IOA indulges in compromising then Hockey India will assume that the IOA has decided to demoralise the teams even before they have left for Olympic Games and then IOA should be prepared to take moral responsibility in case the teams are not able to give their best performance during the Olympics," Batra added.
GOA POlICE SENDS TEAM TO BCCI OFFICE
Panaji: Goa Police, probing the Rs3.13 crore fraud allegedly committed by three functionaries of Goa Cricket Association (GCA), on Tuesday dispatched its team to the Mumbai headquarters of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to gather relevant details. "The entire misappropriated sum includes a cheque of Rs2.87 crore which was released by BCCI to GCA," a senior police official told PTI. "The records of BCCI will be crucial evidence in this case. Once we get details of the cheque, the investigation will get an impetus," the official said. According to police, the trio had opened accounts between October 23, 2006 and May 23, 2008 when GCA was headed by Dayanand Narvekar, while Dessai was its secretary and Phadke a treasurer.
WIlDCARD PURSUED FOR MARY
New Delhi: In a last-ditch attempt to fetch M C Mary Kom a Rio Olympics berth, the Indian Olympic Association and the ad-hoc committee administering boxing in the country have officially sent a request for a wildcard entry to the celebrated boxer, who could not make the cut via qualifiers. "Mary Kom had sought our assistance in the matter and we have written to the International Boxing Association (AIBA) to request for a wildcard for her," IOA President N Ramachandran told PTI. The ad-hoc committee, headed by Kishen Narsi, has also written to AIBA, seeking what is officially called a Tripartite Commission Invitation Place. There is only one such place on offer in the 51kg category, in which Mary Kom competes. Mary Kom could not book an Olympic ticket after losing in the second round of the World Championships last month.
PlUNKETT STARS FOR ENG VS lANKA
Nottingham: Tailender liam Plunkett hit a six off the last ball of the match as England achieved a remarkable tie in the first one-day international against Sri lanka in Nottingham on Tuesday. England, set 287 to win, collapsed to 30 for four and 82 for six. But a stand of 138 between man-of-the-match Chris Woakes, who made an ODI-best 95 not out, and Jos Buttler (93) revived their chances. After England had seen their hopes of victory disappear in a final over where they needed 14 to win, Plunkett drove the last ball from Nuwan Pradeep for a six over long-off to the delight of a capacity crowd at Trent Bridge. Woakes and Plunkett put on an unbroken 50 in 28 balls. "It was nice to get that one out," Plunkett told Sky Sports. Sri lanka captain Angelo Mathews top-scored for his side with 73 and Seekkuge Prasanna blasted a quickfire 59 after England captain Eoin Morgan won the toss.