India hope to finish 9th in Jr hockey WC
New Delhi: After failing to qualify for the quarterfinals, the Indian team now hopes to finish ninth in the ongoing Hockey Junior World Cup. The host country will be playing for the 9-12 classification matches after finishing third in their pool and will take on Argentina on Thursday. “The team is putting in the best possible efforts for the match tomorrow (Thursday) against Argentina. No doubt, the players are little disappointed about the draw against Korea yesterday (Tuesday) but we are looking forward to securing ninth position in the tournament and have kept our hopes high. We are focusing on reviewing the previous matches so we don’t repeat mistakes,” India captain Manpreet Singh said here on Wednesday. India needed to win against South Korea Tuesday but only managed a 3-3 draw, despite leading 3-1 till the 58th minute. Korea progressed on a better goal difference. “We tried our best against Korea and went for fast attacks till the end but ended up losing. Moreover, I was given a green card which turned the tables in the game. Any small or big change during the game affects the players and creates a huge impact on the overall match,” added Manpreet. (IANS)
HI accepts blame for India’s poor show
New Delhi: Hockey India (HI) secretary general Narinder Batra took the blame and apologised for India’s dismal showing at the Hockey Junior World Cup at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. India needed to win against South Korea in their last Pool C clash Tuesday night to qualify for the quarterfinals. Despite leading 3-1 till the 58th minute, South Korea equalised 3-3 and advanced to the last eight – thanks on a better goal difference. “I personally take full responsibility for the dismal performance of Team India in the Hockey Junior World Cup in New Delhi,” said Batra on Wednesday. The HI executive also asked fans to not blame the team and the support staff. “Kindly do not put any blame on the team, the coaching and the high performance team and I, as head of all operations in Hockey India, take full responsibility and apologize to the nation, all hockey lovers, the ministry of sports and the Sports Authority of India for letting them down,” added Batra. (IANS)
IOC happy with amendments, wants polls
New Delhi: Pleased with the constitutional amendments undertaken by the IOA to bar charge-framed officials, the International Olympic Committee now wants the Indian body to conduct its elections as soon as possible to ensure a smooth return to the Olympic fold. In its first Executive Board meeting led by President Thomas Bach since his election in Lausanne, the IOC expressed satisfaction with the IOA for making amendments which would bar charge-framed officials from the contesting the body’s elections. “On Sunday, the currently suspended NOC of India agreed to amend a clause in its constitution as requested by the IOC to meet the basic standards for ethics, good governance and integrity,” the IOC said in a statement. “The Executive Board welcomed these latest positive developments, which pave the way for the IOC to approve the new NOC constitution and for the NOC to hold its elections as soon as possible,” it added. (PTI)
Taylor ton torments West Indies
Wellington: New Zealand’s Ross Taylor tormented the West Indies’ bowlers today, making the most of an early let-off to score a century on the first day of the second Test as the home side reached 307 for six. The former skipper, who scored an unbeaten double century in the series opener, was dismissed shortly before close of play at Wellington’s Basin Reserve for 129 when Shane Shillingford pulled off a diving catch. In-form Taylor arrived at the crease with the home side in deep trouble at 24-2 on a green wicket and was dropped before he got off the mark. In conditions that favoured the bowlers, the 29-year-old forged half-century partnerships with Kane Williamson, Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson to swing the match New Zealand’s way, taking the sting out of the second new ball with BJ Watling. (AFP)
