Indian shooters eye another rich haul
changwon: Having tasted success in the Commonwealth Games recently, Indian shooters will eye another rich medal haul when the ISSF World Cup Stage 2 begins on Sunday in this Korean city, with the country's focus trained on the likes of Mehuli Ghosh on the first competition day. India has sent a 38-member team to this International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup, which will feature rifle, pistol and shotgun disciplines at the Changwon International Shooting Range. Over 850 athletes from 70 countries have confirmed participation for the tournament. This will be the same range where the first Olympic quota places for the Tokyo 2020 Games will be held in four months' time. Two finals men's and women's 10m air rifle are slated for competition on the first day. India has three competitors each in both events - Ravi Kumar, Deepak Kumar and Arjun Babuta in the men's while Apurvi Chandela, Anjum Moudgil and Mehuli Ghosh will carry the country's hopes in the women's competition.
Hockey India names 61 players for Camp
new delhi: Hockey India on Saturday named 61 women players for the Sr Women National Coaching Camp that will commence on 22 April 2018 at the Sports Authority of India, Bengaluru. The 61-member group, which features all the 18 members who played at the XXI Commonwealth Games, was picked on basis their recent performance that includes the Hockey India Senior Women National Championship. This group will be further pruned down to 48 players on 2 May 2018. Under the coaching of Chief Coach Harendra Singh, the Indian Team ended their XXI Commonwealth Games campaign with a reassuring fourth place. "I have stated earlier too that we are disappointed as we did not finish on the podium but there are a lot of positives which we can take from the CWG performance," stated Harendra Singh.
Ahmed defends Pakistan squad
islamabad: Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed has defended the 16-man national squad for tours of Ireland and England as the "best of the best" despite criticism over the omission of batsman Fawad Alam. "It's not like I voted him (Alam) out," Ahmed said on the last day of Pakistan's training camp in lahore on Saturday, adding that "I would have picked all the 25 ... but we had to pick the best of the best 16 players." Wasim Akram was among several former Pakistan test players who have criticized selectors for ignoring Alam in the middle order - especially since Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan have now retired. Alam was among 25 players called up for the camp after scoring consistently on the domestic circuit, but he failed to make the final squad.
Farah faces tough exam in london
london: British track legend Mo Farah had few peers in distance championship running but he may find a few better than him on the road in Sunday's london Marathon. The 35-year-old - who achieved the Olympic double of 5000/10000 metres champion twice - couldn't hope for a better send off in his second tilt at his home marathon than for Queen Elizabeth II due to press the start button from a specially erected podium at Windsor Castle. However, with the likes of Kenya's Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele and Kenyan defending champion Daniel Wanjiru in the field Farah will have his work cut out to make an impression.