Sepaktakraw natl c’ship begins in Kohima
Kohima: A total of 25 teams will vie for honours in the 24th Senior Sepaktakraw National Championship, which was inaugurated here on Tuesday. Organised by the Nagaland Sepaktakraw Association, the three-day tournament will see 24 state teams and the SSB fight it out for titles in different categories. Inaugurating the championship, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio appreciated the initiatives of the Sepaktakraw Federation of India (STFI) for placing the country in third position in the world rankings. STFI president Dr SR Prem Raj said Sepaktakraw was becoming popular day by day and the game was being conducted in various schools. (PTI)
Khurram gives Pakistan lead in first Test
Abu Dhabi: Opener Khurram Manzoor notched a maiden hundred to help Pakistan take the upper hand in the first Test against South Africa in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The 27-year-old right-handed batsman was unbeaten on 131 and skipper Misbah-ul Haq on 44 not out as Pakistan made a strong reply of 263-3 to South Africa’s 249. Manzoor put in a solid 135 for the opening wicket with debutant Shan Masood (75) to help Pakistan take a 14-run lead with seven wickets intact. Manzoor, who hit twin half-centuries in Pakistan’s last Test against Zimbabwe in Harare in September, dominated the ball during his 244-ball knock and has so far hit 14 boundaries. Along with Misbah he added 85 for the unbroken fourth wicket stand as Pakistan looked set to get a big lead. In the morning South Africa were dismissed after adding just four runs to their overnight score of 245-8. (AFP)
BCCI to oppose use of 2 new balls in ODIs
Mumbai: The BCCI will again oppose the experimental rule of using two new white balls from either end of the ground in ODIs during the International Cricket Council’s meeting in January next year, according to a BCCI official. “It (the rule) is still under trial. In September, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh had opposed it. There will be a meeting (of ICC) in January, where BCCI will again oppose it,” the source said. BCCI’s reservations regarding the use of two new balls is said to be due to its concern that India’s spin-heavy attack will be rendered ineffective by this new ODI rule. The Indian Board had expressed its reservation on the rule in September at the ICC Chief Executives meeting. However, Australia, New Zealand and England were among those in favour of using two new balls, while West Indies and South Africa abstained from voting. For any change in the existing rule, a two-thirds majority vote is required under the ICC constitution. (PTI)
India bag rich haul at Commonwealth karate championship
New Delhi: India’s 18-member team signed off the seventh Commonwealth Karate Championship with a rich haul of medals, including three gold, in the three-day event in Montreal, Canada. Deven Kumar Mohanty from Delhi, Maharashtra’s Karl Vatcha and Kanupriya Bhatia from Uttrakhand won the gold medals, while India also bagged seven silvers and six bronze medals in the tournament, which concluded on Sunday. One North Easterner was among the medal winners – Nobin Pacha Jomoh from Arunachal Pradesh earned two silver medals. The team was led by KAI President Karate R Thiagarajan and General Secretary Bharat Sharma, while Viraf Vatcha and Ambedkar Gupta were the coaches. Meanwhile, Karate Association of India’s President Karate R Thiagarajan was also elected as the Vice President of Commonwealth Karate Federation. The medal winners: Deven Kumar Mohanty Delhi 2 Gold; Karl Vatcha Maharashtra 1 Gold; Kanupriya Bhatia Uttarakhand 2 Gold; Nobin Pacha Jomoh Arunachal Pradesh 2 Silver; Deepika Dhiman Delhi 1 Silver & 1 Bronze; Aniket Gupta Delhi 1 Silver; Rahul Haryana 1 Silver; Yamini Singh Rajasthan 1 Silver & 1 Bronze; Sahil Singh J&K 1 Silver; Vaishta Cooper Maharashtra 1 Silver; Pranay Sharma Delhi 1 Bronze; P Saisheren Tamil Nadu 1 Bronze; Supriya Jatav Madhya Pradesh 1 Bronze; Samadhya Palash Madhya Pradesh 1 Bronze. (PTI)