India in Pool A of Hockey World Cup
New Delhi: Eight-time Olympic champions India have been clubbed with five other nations, including 2010 world champions and world number one Australia, in Pool A for the men’s Hockey World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in the Netherlands from May 31-June 15. The inaugural edition of the men’s Hockey World League Final just concluded and the FIH revealed the pools for this summer’s Hockey World Cup on Wednesday. “Pool A will consist of the 2010 World Cup champions Australia (World Ranking: 1), England (4), Belgium (5), India (8), Spain (10) and Malaysia (13), while Olympic champions Germany (2) will face hosts, the Netherlands (3), New Zealand (6), Korea (7), Argentina (11) and South Africa (12) in Pool B,” FIH said in a release. “The pools are based on the current FIH World Rankings, which have been updated to include the ranking points earned by the teams that competed in this month’s Hockey World League Final. “The results have triggered some changes to the rankings, with Australia taking back the number 1 ranking spot from Germany who have been top of the table since their Gold medal performance at the London 2012 Olympic Games.” (PTI)
FICA urges others to block ICC proposal favouring ‘big three’
LONDON: The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) urged Test-playing nations on Wednesday to reject the controversial proposals that would effectively place Australia, England and India in charge of the world game. A working group of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Finance and Commercial Affairs committee has come up with the proposal recommending international calendar and revenue share be controlled by the three boards who bring the most income to the game. Cricket boards of South Africa and Pakistan have objected to the restructuring proposal, while FICA said it was “extremely concerned about the future of international cricket”. “This proposal is designed to vest control of the game in the three Boards of India, Australia and England,” FICA executive chairman Paul Marsh said in a statement. “The game deserves far better than this and all within FICA call on the other seven ICC Board members to reject this proposal at next week’s board meeting. The future of the game depends on them doing so,” he said. (Reuters)
City building on my foundations: Mancini
LONDON: Galatasaray manager Roberto Mancini says he has no bitterness towards his former club Manchester City and believes their success this season is partly due to the foundations he laid during his three-year tenure at the club. Mancini was sacked at the end of last season despite taking City to their first major honours in three decades with an FA Cup victory in 2011 and the English Premier League title the following year. In an interview with the BBC’s World Service he also said that his former rivals Manchester United needed to restructure their declining squad if they are to compete for the title. The Italian, who made way for Manuel Pellegriuni and moved to Galatasaray after leaving City last year, said: “Chelsea changed and bought some new players, City bought four or five new players. After many years, it’s the time for United to refresh their team.” Mancini said that City’s current situation is partly down to the players he signed for the club. “The players scoring the goals are players that I bought – Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure and David Silva,” he added. “I think Pellegrini is doing a good job but what is happening now at Manchester City, we did three years ago.” (Reuters)
Bhullar fires five-under 67 in Doha
Doha: Gaganjeet Bhullar did not allow the final round collapse from last week affect him as he got off to a great start with five-under 67 in the first round of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters here on Wednesday. Bhullar, who slipped to 10th after being tied second at the start of the final round in Abu Dhabi, teed off from the 10th and fired three birdies in a row, before adding two more on the stretch to turn in five-under. Thereafter he had just one more birdie and a lone bogey second and was three behind leader George Coetzee (64). Shiv Kapur, who returned to the European Tour this year, tied 37th last week, and was four-under through 16 holes. He had four birdies in his first seven holes and played pars on the rest. Jeev Milkha Singh carded one-under 71. Bhullar, Thomas Aiken, John Daly and Branden Grace were all tied eighth at 67. (PTI)