shot-putter Manpreet fails dope test
New Delhi: Asian champion shot-putter Manpreet Kaur has been caught in the dope net after testing positive for a banned stimulant, a massive embarrassment for the country which might lose the gold medal clinched by her earlier this month. Kaur, who won a gold medal in the recently-concluded Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, tested positive for stimulant dimethylbutylamine. The test was conducted by National Anti-Doping (NADA) officials during the Federation Cup National Championships held in Patiala from June 1-4. She has not been put under provisional suspension as dimethylbutylamine is a specified substance under the WADA Code but India will lose the gold medal she won in Bhubaneswar if her confirmatory urine sample 'B' test also returns positive.
Akhil gets opponent for pro debut
New Delhi: Former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Akhil Kumar will take on Australian Ty Gilchrist, while his protege Jitender Kumar will face Thailand's Thanet likhitkamporn when the duo makes its professional debut on August 5 in Mumbai. Vijender Singh headlines the card and this will be the first time in nine years when the Beijing Olympians are seen in the same event. Akhil, a former World Cup bronze-medallist, is an experienced boxer and has represented country in nearly 250 bouts during his amateur career. The 36-year-old Haryana-lad will face Gilchrist in a four-round, Junior Welterweight (63Kg) contest.
Chennai Open ready for exit from city
New Delhi: Unable to meet the "commercial demands" of the main organisers, IMG, Chennai Open is set to move out of the city after 21 years and Pune is likely to host India's only ATP World Tour event from next year. Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA) Secretary General CBN Reddy said they will make an official announcement on the development tomorrow but another official, who did not wish to be named, confirmed that the event is moving out of city. "We can't meet the commercial demands of the IMG," said the official on the condition of anonymity adding without elaborating. The reason is surprising since the Tamil Nadu government has been supporting the event for long and IMG had even extended the contract with TNTA for three more years recently.
200+ Indian players in ISl Player Draft
Mumbai: The Player Draft of the Indian Super league season 4 will be held here on Sunday with more than 200 domestic footballers up for grabs for the ten clubs, including the new two entrants of Jamshedpur FC and Bengaluru FC. ISl regulations allow clubs to have a minimum of 15 and maximum of 18 Indian players in the squad, including two mandatory Under-21 development players. The clubs were allowed to retain a maximum of two senior players from their 2016 squad, in addition to retaining upto three U-21 players. Eight teams have made most of the retention regulation for the season by signing 22 domestic players.