Kalmadi conferred with Asian athletics top award
Wuhan: Scam-tainted Suresh Kalmadi has been conferred with the Asian Athletics Association President’s award for his contribution towards the development of athletics in the continent at the AAA Gala Dinner and award ceremony here. Kalmadi, who was jailed and later released on bail in connection with the 2010 Commonwealth Games scam, served as president of AAA for 13 years from 2000 to 2013 and was also credited with the introduction of top events like Asian Grand Prix series, Asian Indoor Championships and Asian All Star Meet, besides other competitions. He was named Life President of the AAA in its council meeting in Jakarta in March for his contribution for Asian athletics. Athletics Federation of India President Adille Sumariwala received the award on behalf of Kalmadi from AAA President Dahlan Al-Hamad of Qatar at the function held last night here ahead of the start of Asian Athletics Championships. Al-Hamad had defeated Kalmadi in the presidential elections of the AAA in Pune in 2013. (PTI)
Inderjeet wins gold in shot put in Asian Athletics C’ships
Wuhan: Up and coming track and field star Inderjeet Singh bagged a gold medal in men’s shot put event as India opened the medal account on the first day of the 21st Asian Athletics Championships here on Wednesday. Inderjeet, a silver medallist in 2013 World University Games and a bronze medal winner in last year’s Asian Games in Incheon, clinched the gold by heaving the iron ball to a new championship record of 20.41m, which he achieved in his fourth attempt. Chang Ming-Huang of Chinese Taipei won the silver with a throw of 19.56m, while Tian Zizhong of the home country bagged the bronze with an effort of 19.25m. Inderjeet went into the championships as Asian leader in the season so far with his 20.65m effort and after winning gold in the Federation Cup Senior Nationals in Mangaluru last month. He lived up to the expectations by bagging the yellow metal in the showpiece event. (PTI)
Pro Kabaddi League to begin in Mumbai from July 18
Mumbai: Following a successful inaugural season, the second edition of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) will begin from July 18, the organisers announced on Wednesday. The league promoted by Mashal Sports and Star India with the backing of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India and the International Kabaddi Federation, will feature 60 games played across 37 days in eight cities. The season opener will pit the two finalists of last year as hosts U Mumba take on reigning champions Jaipur Pink Panthers in the opening leg to be held at the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) here. Following the same ‘caravan style’ format of the first season, the league games will be played at each franchise city for a duration of four days, where the home team will play four of the visiting franchises. After the opening leg in Mumbai, the league will move on to the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, followed by the home of current champions, Jaipur Pink Panthers at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The Indoor Stadium at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna will be the venue for the culmination of the first half of the PKL season 2. Hyderabad, will play host to the second half of the league with the caravan arriving at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium on August 4. During the inaugural season, within 12 hours of its commencement, PKL achieved 140 million impressions on Twitter through six million tweets. (IANS)
