Advani eye another dominant run at CCI Billiards Classic
Mumbai, March 17: Defending champion Pankaj Advani will look to continue his dominant run when he leads a talented group of Indian and international cueists at the CCI Billiards Classic beginning here on March 21. Offering a total prize purse of Rs 10.15 lakh, the tournament, organized by the Cricket Club of India, will kick off at the Sir Wilson Jones billiards hall here. Advani, India’s most successful cueist with 27 World Championship titles to his name, has been in stellar form with three consecutive wins at CCI in the past year. He secured the CCI Classic Snooker title in January 2023 and successfully defended it earlier this month. Additionally, he claimed the CCI Classic Billiards championship last April, demonstrating his dominance at the venue. Challenging Advani are top Indian players such as National champion Dhruv Sitwala, National runner-up Sourav Kothari, and Maharashtra No. 1 Mahesh Jagdale, along with several other talented contenders. (PTI)
Hockey India rope in Dutch goalkeeping coach van de Pol
New Delhi, March 17: India have roped in Dutch goalkeeping expert Dennis van de Pol to aid the men’s hockey team’s preparations for the Paris Olympics. A well-known hockey goalkeeping coach, Van de Pol has been working with the Indian goalies for nearly four years now, with his first stint in 2019. He will join the ongoing national coaching camp at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, where he will work closely with PR Sreejesh, Krishan Pathak and Suraj Karkera. The 10-day special goalkeeping camp, overseen by chief coach Craig Fulton, will end on March 26, a week before the team leaves for the Australia tour. “This is a very important phase for the Indian men’s team. In their quest for another podium finish at the Olympics, Hockey India is ensuring the team is provided with all the necessary support they need to fulfil this dream,” Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said in a media release. (PTI)
Vikramaditya, Prakash to fight for title in Grand Prix Chess Series
Mumbai, March 17: Vikramaditya Kulkarni and Guru Prakash advanced to the summit clash of the Rs 2.50 lakh prize money Grand Prix Chess Series, organised by Indian Chess School, here on Sunday. On the top board, Vikramaditya, champion of the 3rd series, secured a victory over Sanjeev Mishra, while Guru Prakash, victor of the 2nd series, triumphed over Arvind Iyer, achieving an impressive 5.5/6 record to lead the field of 101 players. A group of six players including Atharv Soni, Arnav Koli, Ram Vishal Parab, Mihir Shah, Arjun Singh, and Vivek Jadhav are closely trailing the leaders with a score of 5/6. They have an outside chance of clinching the event on a tie-break scenario if the final between the leaders concludes in a draw. (PTI)
Athletes receive scholarships at India Cements-TNSJA event
Chennai, March 17: Emerging sportspersons in the state were honoured at an event here on Sunday to present the India Cements-Tamil Nadu Sports Journalists’ Association Annual Awards and Scholarships 2023-2024. Ten emerging athletes received the awards at an event. Each scholarship awardee received a cheque for Rs 30,000, along with a trophy. (PTI)