World C’ship silver-medallist boxer Amit Panghal turns professional
NEW DELHI, Feb 13: India’s lone male boxer to win a world championship silver medal, Amit Panghal, has become the latest from the country to turn professional.One of India’s most accomplished male boxers, the 29-year-old has signed with US-based talent management company Critical Sports and Entertainment.“Critical Sports and Entertainment is proud to announce the signing of world-renowned Olympian boxer Amit Panghal,” the agency wrote in an Instagram post.The Haryana boxer, who competes in the 51kg category in the amateur circuit, is yet to be allocated his maiden professional fight.The development comes just a month after world championship bronze-medallist Nishant Dev also made the switch to professional boxing.A former world number one, Panghal has won medals in all major international competitions except the Olympics.Panghal once dominated the sport with gold medals at the Asian Games and Asian Championships, along with a historic silver at the 2019 World Championships.However, his international appearances have been limited in the past four years. After an early exit from the Tokyo Olympics, Panghal lost his place in the Indian team.He later won a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games before qualifying for the Paris Olympics, where he was eliminated in the pre-quarterfinals by Zambia’s Patrick Chinyemba.With this move, Panghal follows in the footsteps of 2008 Olympic bronze-medallist Vijender Singh, Vikas Krishan, Mandeep Jangra, and Neeraj Goyat, who also moved to professional boxing after a good run in the amateur circuit. (PTI)
Bahutule appointed Rajasthan Royals spin-bowling coach
JAIPUR, Feb 13: Former India cricketer Sairaj Bahutule was on Thursday appointed Rajasthan Royals’ spin-bowling coach for the upcoming IPL season, adding to the long list of support staff led by head coach Rahul DravidBahutule, a former leg-spinner and left-hand batter, played two Tests and eight ODIs taking a total of five wickets but his exploits in first-class cricket put him in the league of domestic greats.Bahutule, 52, scored over 6,000 runs and took 630 wickets, besides 197 scalps in List A games.Head coach Dravid said Bahutule would bring a wealth of experience to the side that won the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008 under the legendary Shane Warne. (PTI)
Viswanath, Taufel, Bowden to officiate in Masters League
MUMBAI, Feb 13: Legendary former India cricketer Gundappa Viswanath, along with retired ICC Elite Panel umpires Simon Taufel and Billy Bowden, will officiate in the inaugural edition of the International Masters T20 League beginning on February 22.While the umpires’ panel, being headed by Taufel, will also have experienced officials like Umesh Dubey and Lyndon Edward Hannibal, Viswanath will serve as the match referee.The tournament for retired cricketers, which will conclude on March 16, will be played in Navi Mumbai, Vadodara and Raipur.A top-order batter in his prime, Viswanath played 91 Tests and scored 6,000-plus runs in an era when fearsome West Indies pacers like Andy Roberts held sway. He went on to serve as an ICC match referee from 1999 to 2004. Taufel, a five-time ICC Umpire of the Year, is known for his impeccable decision-making, while Bowden was one of the most recognisable figures on the field because of his flamboyant style.The Australian said it would be an “absolute privilege” to officiate in matches that will feature some of the greatest cricketers of all time.The IML has six teams — India, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Australia, England and South Africa.The iconic Sachin Tendulkar will captain India and his rival numbers would be Brian Lara (West Indies), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Shane Watson (Australia), Eoin Morgan (England) and Jacques Kallis (South Africa).The legendary Sunil Gavaskar has been roped in as the league commissioner. (PTI)
Man arrested with fake accreditation at Karachi Stadium
KARACHI, Feb 13: A man was arrested from inside the National Stadium compound as he tried to get into the venue using a fake accreditation card before Pakistan’s tri-series match against New Zealand.A police officer said the man, identified as Muzzamil Qureshi, was stopped at the entrance of the main building during security check on Wednesday.“He was posing as a mediaperson and had fake ICC and PCB accreditation cards,” the official said.The officer said that when the security personnel grew suspicious and checked him, he had another fake card showing him as a cameraman.“He has been arrested and is being questioned at the area police station to find out where he got the fake cards made, and why was he using them,” the official said.Stringent security measures are in place for spectators coming to the stadium for the tri-series matches, with over 7,000 policemen deployed in and around the venue. (PTI)