Naman, Anshul out-punch Uzbek boxers to enter Thailand Open finals
Bangkok, May 29: India’s heavyweight boxers Naman Tanwar (90kg) and Anshul Gill (90+kg) progressed to the finals of the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament after securing hard-earned wins against their respective opponents from Uzbekistan here on Thursday. Naman overcame Juraboev Elyorbek 4-1, while Anshul edged past Rustamov Abdurakhmon 3-2 in two tightly contested bouts. The two Indians started on the back foot, but responded with greater control and sharper execution in the second round. In the final round, the duo took charge in their respective clashes with well-timed counters and sustained pressure, earning split-decision victories and booking their places in the finals, which will take place on June 1. In the women’s semifinals, Tamanna (51kg), Priya (57kg), and Lalfakmawii (80kg) exited the competition after battling through competitive bouts, each settling for a bronze. (PTI)
Indian men’s hockey team leaves for European Leg of FIH Pro League
Bengaluru, May 29: Eyeing fruitful outings against some of the top hockey nations, the Indian men’s team departed for the European leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25 on Thursday. The European segment of the competition will take place at Amstelveen, the Netherlands, and Antwerp, Belgium between June 7 and June 22. India are currently third in the standings with 15 points in the Pro League behind England and Belgium (16 points each). “Our focus is on securing maximum points and qualifying for the next year’s World Cup through this tournament,” captain Harmanpreet Singh said. India will kick off their European leg with back-to-back matches against the Netherlands on June 7 and 9, followed by a double-header against Argentina on June 11 and 12 at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen. The team will then head to Antwerp to lock horns with Australia on June 14 and 15 before ending their campaign with two crucial matches against hosts Belgium on June 21 and 22. (PTI)
Bajrang tenders unconditional apology for sullying coach’s name
New Delhi, May 29: Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia has tendered an unconditional apology to wrestling coach Naresh Dahiya for sullying his name during their protest against the then WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The Tokyo Games bronze medallist Bajrang, along with Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, had led a protest against Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment of several junior women wrestlers. During the sit-in at Jantar Mantar, in a press interactions on May 10, 2023, Bajrang had said that Dahiya himself was a rape accused, so he had no right to question their protest. Dahiya had dragged Punia to court, filing a defamation case, saying he has already been cleared of any wrong doing by the court. Punia was issued summons by the court which also granted him bail in the case in the fourth hearing. On May 17 this month, Bajrang tendered his apology to the coach and regretted his action. (PTI)
‘Shooting League of India will give exposure to sport around the world’
New Delhi, May 29: Paris Olympics bronze medallist Swapnil Kusale reckons the upcoming Shooting League of India (SLI) will provide additional exposure to the sport not just in the country but all around the world. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) announced the window for the inaugural edition of the SLI earlier this month. The tournament will be held from November 20 to December 2, and is expected to feature some of the biggest shooters from India and around the world. Swapnil believes the tournament will help in further popularising the sport in India, especially after the contingent’s success at 2024 Summer Games. In a historic achievement, Swapnil became the first Indian shooter to secure a medal in the 50m rifle 3 position (3P) event at the Olympics last summer. The inaugural SLI will feature mixed team events in pistol (10M, 25M), rifle (10M, 50M 3P), and shotgun (trap and skeet), as decided by the NRAI technical committee. Eight teams will be competing in the tournament, with four teams divided into two pools in the league stage. The selected players will be grouped into four tiers – elite champions, world elite, national champions, junior and youth championships – to strike a balance between experienced players and emerging talents. (PTI)
Top surfers gear up for 6th Indian Open of Surfing in Mangaluru
Mangaluru, May 29: The surfing spotlight returns to Karnataka’s coastal city of Mangaluru as the sixth edition of the Indian Open of Surfing is set to get underway at the Tannirbhavi Eco Beach on Friday. Scheduled from May 30 to June 1, this is the second stop of the 2025 National Surfing Championship Series. Organised by the Surfing Swami Foundation and hosted by the Mantra Surf Club under the aegis of the Surfing Federation of India (SFI), this year’s edition continues to serve as a pivotal leg in the National Championship series, drawing India’s finest surfing talent for three days of high-stakes competition and valuable ranking points. Originally scheduled at Sasihithlu Beach, this year’s competition has been relocated to Tannirbhavi Eco Beach due to unfavourable weather and wave patterns at the former site. While Sasihithlu has been synonymous with the Indian Open of Surfing for years, the new venue promises comparable wave quality while ensuring better safety conditions for surfers and spectators alike. (IANS)
Faruque Ahmed reveals govt asked him to step down as BCB chief
Dhaka, May 29: Bangladesh Cricket Board president Faruque Ahmed has revealed that the national government has requested him to step down from his position. Faruque, who assumed the role following on August 21 last year, was summoned by Youth and Sports Affairs Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, who conveyed the message to him on Wednesday. Faruque acknowledged the development and stated that he has not yet made a decision on whether he will resign. If Faruque chooses not to resign, the situation could become complicated. Forcing him out without a formal resignation might be considered government interference, which violates the ICC code of ethics. (IANS)