Arjun Babuta breaches Air Rifle world record in selection trials
NEW DELHI, April 25: Arjun Babuta breached the existing finals world record (FWR) in men’s 10m air rifle on way to a commanding win in the ongoing Olympic Selection Trials (OST) 1&2 for Rifle and Pistol at the Karni Singh Range here on Thursday.Babuta, the 25-year-old Paris Olympics quota winner, shone with a sensational tally of 254.0 in the OST T1 final. The score was 0.3 above the mark set by fellow finalist and India teammate Divyansh Singh Panwar at the Cairo World Cup earlier this year.Also registering wins in their respective OST T1 final matches were Nancy (women’s 10m air rifle), Varun Tomar (men’s 100m air pistol) and Rhythm Sangwan (women’s 10m air pistol).Babuta’s score-sheet had two perfect 10.9s, besides 13 shots which were 10.6 and above.His lowest score of 10.0 came on the 21st shot, by which time he had already established a huge lead over the field, winning by 2.8 points in the end over 2022 world champion Rudrankksh Patil (251.2). Sri Karthik Sabari Raj (229.6) was third.Nancy too excelled in the women’s 10m air rifle, securing a comfortable win in OST T1 final.Her tally of 253.4, missed the world mark by 0.6, but it was sufficient to ward off quota holder Mehuli Ghosh by 0.7 points (252.7). Olympian Elavenil Valarivan (230.5) was third.The men’s 10m air pistol final saw Paris quota holder Varun Tomar secure yet another comfortable victory, with a score of 244.1. Ravinder Singh (240.0) was 4.1 points behind in second, while Varun’s fellow Paris quota holder Sarabjot Singh (217.4) picked up the final podium spot. Rhythm Sangwan, one of three shooters in the women’s field to have qualified for both 10m air pistol and 25m sports pistol trials, made up for her earlier disappointment in the sports pistol trials, by comprehensively winning the first trial match in 10m air pistol.After topping the qualification round on Wednesday with a score of 578, she led from start to finish in the finals to collect the highest podium points available. Her score of 243.5 was a massive 5.7 points better than second-placed Manu Bhaker (237.8). Reigning Asian Games champion Palak (217.5) finished third.In the men’s and women’s 50m rifle 3-positions OST T2 qualification round, Olympians Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Anjum Moudgil topped the scoring charts.Aishwary was especially sensational, posting a superb 595 to take an eight-point lead against his nearest rival Swapnil Kusale (587). (PTI)
FIH tells Pakistan hockey to resolve dispute or face suspension
KARACHI, April 25: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has asked the Pakistan government and the two parallel bodies haggling over control of the sport in the country to resolve their differences by Thursday, failing which they could be suspended.According to a Pakistan Hockey Federation official based in Karachi, the FIH had made it clear that the feud between the two bodies “should be resolved today” (April 25) with the help of the government, or Pakistan could face suspension from events.In a letter written to the PHF, the FIH has set April 25 as the deadline for Pakistan to decide on which body should govern the sport in the country and represent them at international level.The FIH has made it clear if the feud was not resolved immediately, Pakistan may not be allowed to participate in the forthcoming Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (May 4-11, Malaysia) and the Nations Cup (May 31-June 9, Poland).The organizers of the Azlan Shah Cup event have asked for guidance from the FIH although the PHF body headed by Shehla Reza, which is operating out of an office in Karachi, announced the Pakistan squad for the tournament on Wednesday.The parallel federations, one headed by Tariq Hussain Bugti and the other by Raza, contacted the hosts for sending their teams to represent Pakistan. The Bugti-led body has already called up Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans. (PTI)