Neeraj to head to South Africa for off-season training
Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra will travel to Potchefstroom, South Africa, later this month for an off-season training stint to start early preparation for next year’s competitions. The 26-year-old double Olympics medallist, who last competed in Brussels in the Diamond League Final in September, will spend 31 days in the South African city. Chopra’s training stint will be funded by the Sports Ministry.
New Delhi
BCCI holds six-hour review meeting for NZ loss
The BCCI has conducted an exhaustive review of India’s shock 0-3 debacle against New Zealand. Skipper Rohit Sharma, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir were in attendance along with BCCI secretary Jay Shah and president Roger Binny. “It was a six-hour meeting which was obviously on the cards after such a debacle. India are going on a tour of Australia and the BCCI would obviously like to ensure that the team is back on track and would like to know how the think-tank (Gambhir-Rohit-Agarkar) is going about it,” a senior BCCI source said.
Turin (Italy)
Bopanna-Ebden team seeded sixth at ATP Finals
India’s Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden have been seeded sixth and placed in Bob Bryan Group at the year-end ATP Finals, where they will open their campaign against fourth seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori. The event will be held on November 11-17. The other two pairs in the group are Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz, and Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic.
New Delhi
CAG inaugurates sports complex for audit teams
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Girish Chandra Murmu, on Friday inaugurated a sports complex in Ranchi, designed specifically for the national sports teams under the Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA&AD). The complex has been tailored for the IA&AD’s cricket, football, and hockey teams.
Abu Dhabi
Sharma 66th, Warring shoots 11-under to take lead
Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma (71-73) was placed tied-66th at the halfway stage of the Abu Dhabi Championship. Sharma, who had five birdies against four bogeys in his first round, made three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey in the second round. Paul Warring produced a stunning 11-under 61, one better than the record set by first-day leader Tommy Fleetwood.
Iksan City (Korea)
George enters semifinals of Korea Masters
India’s Kiran George continued his spectacular run in the Korea Masters badminton tournament as he stormed into the men’s singles semifinals with a 21-14 21-16 win over fifth seed Takuma Obayashi of Japan here on Friday. The 24-year-old, ranked 41st, runs into Thailand’s top seed and world No. 5 Kunlavut Vitidsarn next.
New Delhi
Advani reaches final of IBSF World Billiards Championship
Pankaj Advani edged closer to his 28th world title, securing a spot in the final of the IBSF World Billiards Championship (150-up format) with a 4-2 win over fellow Indian Sourav Kothari in Doha on Friday. Advani will face England’s Robert Hall in the final.
