New Delhi Marathon to be last qualifiers for CWG, Asiads
New Delhi, March 25: The seventh edition of the Ageas Federal Life Insurance New Delhi Marathon on Sunday will be the last opportunity for the country’s marathon runners to qualify for this year’s two multi-sport events – the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. Leading the pack will be Anish Thapa Magar, Nitendra Rawat, Belliappa AB and Arjun Pradhan, who have all been preparing for the season’s most-awaited race, with an eye to secure their tickets to Birmingham, UK and Hangzhou, China. The qualifying time for the Commonwealth Games in July-August is 2:18:40s for men and 2:38:19s for women. The corresponding qualifying time for the Asian Games in September is 2:18:48s and 2:39.28s respectively. (PTI)
Anshu, Sarita to lead India in Asian Wrestling C’ships
New Delhi, March 25: World championships silver medallist Anshu Malik and bronze winner Sarita Mor will lead a 10-member Indian women’s wrestling team at the Asian Championships to be held in Ulaanbatar, Mongolia next month. While Anshu, a silver medallist in the 2021 World Wrestling Championships in Oslo, will represent in her pet 57kg category, Sarita will be take part in the 59kg section. Sarita is a bronze medallist in her category at the 2021 World Championships. The team was picked after the selections trials held at the SAI Training Centre in Lucknow on Friday. In the other high-profile bout in the trials, Manisha defeated Rio Olympics medallist Sakshi Malik 5-1 to seal her place in the 62kg category. Reigning Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat, surprisingly, didn’t turn up for the trials. Other women grapplers to book their places in the Asian Championships-bound squad are Manisha (50kg), Swati Shinde (53kg), Sushma Shokeen (55kg), Radhika (65kg), Sonika Hooda (68kg), Nikki (72kg) and Sudesh (76kg). The Asian Championships will be held from April 19 to 24. (PTI).
Assam CM Himanta Sarma re-elected as BAI chief
Guwahati, March 25: Incumbent Himanta Biswa Sarma was re-elected unopposed as the president of Badminton Association of India (BAI) for a second term of four years – 2022 to 2026 – during its General Body Meeting here on Friday. Sarma, who is also the current Chief Minister of Assam, was elected as BAI chief for the first time in 2017. He is also a Badminton Asia vice president and a member of the Badminton World Federation Executive Council. Former junior national coach Sanjay Mishra will be the new general secretary of BAI with incumbent Ajay Kumar Singhania becoming vice president in the new Executive Council. Maharashtra Badminton Association president Arun Lakhani will be the new treasurer. Chief national coach Pullela Gopichand will also make a foray into BAI administration after being elected as vice president along with Anbumani Ramadoss and nine others. “Badminton has been in the ascendancy in India for the last two decades and we are committed to continue that rise by providing better facilities to players and a robust governance system,” Sarma said after being re-elected as BAI chief. (PTI)
Hulkenberg replaces Vettel again for Saudi Arabian GP
Jeddah, March 25: Nico Hulkenberg will again deputize for Sebastian Vettel at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as the four-time F1 champion continues his recovery from the coronavirus. Aston Martin said Friday it expects Vettel will be well enough to race at the Australian GP on April 10. Vettel missed the season-opener in Bahrain last Sunday after testing positive for COVID-19. Hulkenberg finished 17th in that race. The 34-year-old Hulkenberg will drive the AMR22 in the first practice session at the Saudi Arabian GP later Friday. Hulkenberg lost his seat in F1 at the end of the 2019 season, but he competed in two races in 2020 as a replacement for other drivers. (AP)