FIH asks IOA to recognise HI as national hockey association
New Delhi: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has now formally written to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), requesting it to remove all reference of the now defunct Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) from its records and website, and recognise Hockey India (HI). FIH had approved HI during its Congress in November 2014 as the national hockey governing body. This decision was later appealed by the IHF in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), according to a release. But the world’s highest court for sports declined their plea and confirmed its decision to reinstate HI as the governing body for hockey in India. IOA suspended IHF after a secret film by television reporters showed hockey federation secretary general K. Jothikumaran accepting money in 2008. In the same year, India had failed to qualify for the first time. (IANS)
Nedved appointed Juventus vice president
Turin: Former Czech football star Pavel Nedved has been appointed Juventus vice president at the Italian club’s annual shareholders’ meeting here. His new role was confirmed at the Juventus Stadium on Friday by club president Andrea Agnelli at a press conference. “Pavel has developed massively over the last five years as a board member. He’s now a skilled and knowledgeable member of staff and fully aware of all the various activities that go on inside the company. He possesses commercial perception and specific skills in the balance sheet analysis of a sporting business,” Agnelli told the club’s official website. Nedved replied “I’d like to thank the president and the club for their belief in me so I can go on working for one of the world’s top teams. My role won’t change much. I’ll still be in daily contact with the players and coach, it’s on the pitch where I can help the most. (IANS)
Raikkonen, Vettel to face 10-place grid penalties
Austin: Ferrari drivers Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen will have to bear 10-place grid penalties for Sunday’s Formula 1 United States Grand Prix after their team decided to use an updated power unit. Reportedly, it has always been Ferrari’s plan to have a new engine for the USGP as it would allow the Italian car makers to have fresh engines for the remaining four races. It would also give them an opportunity to work on developing its 2016 power unit. As Vettel and Raikkonen have both used up their allocated four engines this season, following an update at Monza last month, they will have to face the penalty of having a fifth one. “We will have the hit of 10 places penalty for a new engine at this event, but it has always been the plan. It’s not a big secret, no surprise for us,” Sebastian Vettel was quoted as saying by autosport.com on Saturday. (IANS)
Australia, SA to tour Windies for ODI tri-series in 2016
Barbados: Australia and South Africa will tour West Indies for a 10-match ODI tri-series slated to be held in June next year. Confirming the tour, WICB manager cricket operations Roland Holder said that it would provide a golden opportunity for their team to test themselves against two of the best sides in the world in the ODI format, ESPNcricinfo reported. Earlier in June, Australia had retained the Frank Worrell Trophy after defeating West Indies 2-0 in Tests. Meanwhile, South Africa thrashed West Indies on their last Caribbean tour in 2010, sweeping two T20Is and five ODIs before claiming the three-Test series with a 2-0 scoreline. (ANI)
Yuki top seed at Pune ATP Challenger
Pune: Yuki Bhambri, who became a top-100 player last week, will be the top seed for the $50,000 ATP Challenger to be played at the MSLTA School of Tennis in Mhalunge-Balewadi complex here. Former top-100 player Evgeny Donskoy of Russia, currently ranked 118, will be second seed followed by Spanish Adrian Menendez-Maceiras, who made the final in Bengaluru and is ranked 137. British Davis Cupper James Ward, who also reached the final in Bengaluru and is ranked 166, will be the fourth seed. Saketh Myneni was seeded fifth while compatriot Somdev Devvarman, ranked 181, is seeded sixth. Belgian Yannick Mertens, ranked 183, is seeded seventh while Russian Alexander Kudryavtsev will be seed No.8. Italian Riccardo Regazzini will be the referee of the event. Meanwhile, wildcard entry and national champion Sriram Balaji was replaced by local boy Anvit Bendre as a main draw wildcard. Other wildcards include junior Wimbledon doubles champion Sumit Nagal, Olympian Vishnu Vardhan and Aryan Goveas. (IANS)
