Taekwondo c’ship begins in Imphal
IMPHAL: The 32nd National Senior Taekwando Championship 2013 kickstarted at the Indoor Stadium, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, here on Friday. Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam opened the championship. Gaikhangam, in his speech, said it is indeed impressive that sports that have made an immense contribution in bringing peace and development and in enhancing the popularity of the country on the world stage. Saying that notwithstanding the shortage of infrastructure, the contribution made by the state’s young sportspersons is laudable, the Deputy Chief Minister mentioned the name of London Olympic Games bronze medalist MC Mary Kom. Mangibabu said the championship will certainly play a significant role in producing more national and international taekwando athletes from the state. He said Manipur now has 14 Olympians, two Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardees, 13 Arjuna awardees, one Dronacharya awardee and another Dhyanchand awardee. A total of 32 teams, including one from Meghalaya, are participating in the national event. (NNN)
India’s Greco-Roman wrestlers disappoint at world meet
Budapest: India’s Greco-Roman grapplers Ravinder Singh, Harpreet Singh and Hardeep failed to make an impact at the World Wrestling Championships as they crashed out in the penultimate day of the tournament, here on Saturday. While Ravinder lost in the pre-quarterfinal of the 60kg category, Harpreet (84kg) and Hardeep (96kg) lost in their opening bouts. After a bye in the first round, Ravinder got the better off Erbol Kalabaeyu of Belarus in his first bout but lost to USA’s Jesse Thielke 6-0 in the next one. Harpreet was matted by Eerik APS of Spain 6-0 while Hardeep too could not pose any challenge Marin Cazac from Moldova as he lost the match through a fall. The 66kg, 74kg and 120kg weight categories will be contested on Sunday. Meanwhile, Indian eves finished a lowly 30 in the overall team rankings with a solitary point. The event was dominated by Japan with 48 points, followed by Mongolia (47) and USA (37). (PTI)
Dortmund’s winning streak ends
BERLIN: Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund struggled to a 1-1 draw at Nuremberg on Saturday that ended their perfect start to the season of five straight league wins. Despite several changes to the team that lost 2-1 at Napoli in the Champions League in midweek, Dortmund, who stay top of the Bundesliga table with 16 points, were initially the better side. With top striker Robert Lewandowski and midfielder Nuri Sahin on the bench and defender Mats Hummels injured, coach Juergen Klopp brought in youngsters Marvin Duksch and Erik Durm. The visitors broke the deadlock in the 37th minute with a fierce free kick from Marcel Schmelzer. Nuremberg, who have yet to win this season, grew bolder in the second half and secured an equaliser in the 51st minute with Per Nilsson’s close-range effort after Dortmund defenders failed to clear a free kick. Bayern Munich remain in second place after thrashing Schalke 04 4-0 away in the late match. That meant that Bayer Leverkusen stay third; they won at Mainz 4-1. In other matches, Hamburg lost to Werder Bremen 0-2 at home, while Hannover 96 tasted victory on their home ground, overcoming Augsburg 2-1. Wolfsburg were winners at home over TSG Hoffenheim by the same margin. (Reuters)
Anand Amritraj named Indian Davis Cup captain
New Delhi: The All India Tennis Association appointed former Davis Cupper Anand Amritraj as the new non-playing captain of the Davis Cup team on Saturday on a one-year contract. India will take on Taiwan in the Asia/Oceania Group I tie next year. The 61-year-old Amritraj replaced SP Misra, who lost his job after eight top players revolted, calling for changes in Davis Cup playing conditions, early this year. The decision to appoint Amritraj was taken at AITA’s Executive Committee meeting in Goa. The players had demanded that Rohit Rajpal be made the new captain but AITA stuck with Misra for the ties against Korea and Indonesia before agreeing to find his replacement. The committee decided that Zeeshan Ali will continue as the coach. The venue for the Chinese Taipei tie has not been decided as yet. The committee also decided that the venues for future Davis Cup matches should be rotated throughout the country. (PTI)