Palestine test awaits Indian football
Siliguri: An acid test awaits the Indian football team as it gears up to take on higher-ranked Palestine, who are also the current AFC Challenge Cup champions, in an international friendly here on Monday. The last time the two sides had met, in February 2013, India had squandered a 2-1 lead at the half-time to eventually go down 2-4 at the final whistle.The West Asian nation is ranked 102 in comparison to India’s 158. India coach Wim Koevermans said “Palestine are a very tough team”.It’s almost after a year that Team India has assembled in Siliguri. It was in last November that Team India had played back to back international friendlies against Philippines and Nepal here.National team captain Sunil Chhetri said: “The moment I heard that we were to play in Siliguri, I remembered the huge turnout which had stretched their vocal chords for us the last time we played here.(PTI)
Kapur makes cut, but lies way behind
St. Andrews:Shiv Kapur squeezed into the cut line at four-under after a third round of two-under 70 even as Jeev Milkha Singh missed the cut at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship here. Kapur (70-72-70) was the only Indian to make the cut as Jeev (76-75-73) missed it.Oliver Wilson will take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the championship, but the Englishman has world number 1 Rory McIlroy looking to spoil his hopes of a fairytale first European Tour title.Wilson is a nine-time runner up on The European Tour and played in The 2008 Ryder Cup, but he has slipped to 792 in the Official World Golf Ranking after a difficult couple of years and now plays mainly on the European Challenge Tour. That would all change though should he capture a breakthrough win at St Andrews, with the 34 year old charging clear of the field on 15 under par following a superb round of 65 over the famous Old Course.(PTI)
Plea for total waiver of entertainment tax for IPL matches
Kochi: Efforts will be made to bring IPL matches to Kerala if government allows total waiver of entertainment tax, Kerala Cricket Association President T C Mathew said on Sunday.”If there is full waiver of entertainment tax from next year, IPL matches can be brought to Kerala”. If the government gives land in Kochi or nearby areas for constructing an international cricket stadium, the association was prepared to hand over the Eda Kochi land to the government, he said. On the upcming Indian Super League (ISL), he said it has good future in the country as India has the largest sports television viewership in the world. However ISL in a proper manner to succeed. Pointing that the success of the Indian Premier League was not achieved on a day, he said it was due to the hard work and good execution of BCCI that helped IPL to achieve the popularity it presently enjoys.(PTI)
Mamunul keen to play for East Bengal or Mohun Bagan
Kolkata:Atletico de Kolkata midfielder and Bangladesh skipper Mamunul Islam Mamun said his main endeavour would be to win the hearts of football loving citizens of Kolkata and play for either East Bengal or Mohun Bagan after Indian Super League (ISL) that begins on October 12. Addressing mediapersons before the friendly match between ISL side and Pinky Roy’s Eleven being held later in the evening to create awareness about prevention of cancer, Mamunul said: “Playing for Atletico de Kolkata is a sort of dream come true for me as I have a desire to play in Kolkata for a long time. Asked weather he would hang on here after his assignment in the ISL, the Bangladesh captain said: “I shall stay if I get an offer from East Bengal or Mohun Bagan.(pti)