Vijender’s bout postponed to March
Manchester: Star Indian boxer Vijender Singh’s fourth professional bout was today rescheduled from February 13 to March 12 but the venue of the fight remains Liverpool. The reason for rescheduling this fight was an injury to WBO World Lightweight Champion Terry Flanagan, who was to take on world title defence against Derry Mathews on that night. But the venue remains the Echo Arena in Liverpool. The Mathews versus Flanagan showdown will continue to be the headline attraction on the show and the other title fights will also be the same, which are Tommy Langford’s defending his WBO Intercontinental Middleweight title against Lewis Taylor and English Cruiserweight Champion Matty Askin’s taking on Lawrence Bennett. The undercard will feature former IBF World Bantamweight Champion Paul Butler and Vijender among others. “It’s very unfortunate that my fight on 13th February is rescheduled because of an injury to the contender of title fight. But nevertheless, I am preparing hard and waiting for March 12 when I see my opponent in the ring. I am doing more sparring and physical workout these days and it will help me to prepare myself for more rounds,” Vijender said. (PTI)
Rajput shines as India bags record 12th Olympic quota
New Delhi: Faced with a do-or-die situation in his own words, two-time Olympian Sanjeev Rajput battled the odds to secure India’s 12 quota from shooting for the upcoming Rio Games by finishing fourth in men’s 50m rifle 3 positions at the Asian Olympic Qualifying Competition here on Tuesday. Owing to the 35-year-old marksman’s effort, India could be sending 12 shooters, their highest-ever, to the quadrennial extravaganza in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro come August. At the London Olympics four years ago, India had 11 representatives in shooting. It also brought to end a three-day barren run that set in on day four of the competition. Overcoming a broken barrel barely three days ago and a struggling 2015, Sanjeev shot 429.5 after an impressive comeback in pone in the eight-man finals at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range to earn the country another Games berth. Sanjeev qualified for the finals in fourth position shooting a score of 1163. There were three quota places available in the finals and the other two went to Kazakhstan’s Vitaliy Dovgun and Thailand’s 20-year old Napis Tortungpanich. (PTI)
‘Huge challenge’ awaits new Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford
Colombo: South Africa’s Graham Ford on Tuesday admitted that a “huge challenge” awaits him to rebuild the islanders team on the back of a series of retirements when he starts his second stint as Sri Lanka coach in the three-match away Twenty20 rubber against India this month. Urging the Lankan fans to be patient, Ford said it was an honour for him to return to the island nation whom he coached from 2012 to 2014. “For a coach, it is really a special group of lads to work with,” Ford told reporters here a day after beginning his second stint with Sri Lanka cricket team. “At the same time, I am very aware what a huge challenge it is. I think Sri Lanka cricket finds itself in the very early stages of a very important rebuilding stage. A lot of hard work needs to be done,” he said. “Everyone, the players, the selectors and the board must have patience,” added Ford, who stepped down as coach of English county side Surrey last week. Ford, 55, faces an uphill task as Sri Lanka cricket is going through one of its most troubled times since getting Test status in 1981. Sri Lanka team is undergoing a transition phase following the retirements of batting stalwarts Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara last year and to add to its woes spinner Rangana Herath and opener Tillakaratne Dilshan are expected to follow suit later this year. (PTI)
