5 Indian boxers assured of medals at World Boxing Futures Cup
Bangkok, March 13: Five Indian boxers assured themselves of podium finishes at the World Boxing Futures Cup after a series of impressive quarterfinals wins here on Friday. India’s medal hopes were strengthened with victories from Gunjan (48kg), Joyshree Devi (54kg), Ambekar Meetei (50kg), Chandrika Pujari (51kg) and Radhamani Longjam (57kg), all of whom advanced to the semifinals, thereby assuring the country five medals at the tournament. In the morning session, Gunjan secured a convincing 5-0 unanimous decision victory over Azerbaijan’s Gular Huseynova, while Joyshree Devi produced a dominant display to defeat Japan’s Yura Kanemaru by Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) in the first round. Ambekar Meetei also progressed with a 4-1 victory over Japan’s Akira Uekubo in the men’s 50kg category. The evening session saw two more Indian boxers advance, with Chandrika Pujari (51kg) defeating Spain’s Andrea Buelga Garcia by RSC in the second round, while Radhamani Longjam (57kg) registered a 4-1 win over England’s Siobhan Haley. Meanwhile, Sahil Duhan (60kg) went down 1-4 to France’s David Harutyunyan in his last eight bout. (PTI)
Shooters Samrat, Suruchi added to TOPS core group
New Delhi, March 13: Rising pistol shooters Samrat Rana and Suruchi Singh, Asian gold-winning long-distance runner Gulveer Singh and world champion para-shuttler Pramod Bhagat are among eight athletes who have been added to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme’s (TOPS) Core group following a recent assessment of performances. Badminton star HS Prannoy, former Asian gold-winning rifle shooter Divyansh Singh Panwar and wrestler Deepak Punia were among the major names dropped from the core group for failing to meet “the requisite parameters of performance”, according to a well-placed source. The rejig of the list was undertaken at the 169th meeting of the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC), headed by TOPS CEO N S Johal, here. Another shooter who has been added to the list is this year’s Asian silver medal-winner rifle-man Niraj Kumar. Former Asian gold-winner Shiva Narwal was, however, left out of the core group that continues to be 56-strong after the most recent omissions and additions. Also elevated from developmental to core were the badminton mixed doubles duo of Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila, along with boxer Jaismine Lamboria, who won the 57kg featherweight category gold at the world championships last year. (PTI)
New tech to allow two-way communication with informers: AIU
New Delhi, March 13: The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Friday said it would now be able to carry out two-way communication with anonymous informers of doping and other ethical violations in the sport while preserving their confidentiality through an enhanced intelligence gathering tool. The AIU is an independent body created by the World Athletics that manages all integrity issues – both doping and non-doping. Its responsibilities include anti-doping measures, pursuit of individuals engaged in age or competition results manipulation, investigating fraudulent behaviour with regards to transfers of allegiance, and detecting misconduct such as bribery and breaches of betting rules. The two-way communication with anonymous informers, who can reach out through even WhatsApp for filing complaints or giving tipoffs, will allow the investigators to clarify and review inputs on any violations. The anonymous informers could not be reached for follow-up queries earlier by the investigators. ‘Report Integrity Concerns’ link on the AIU’s website allows informers to give inputs. They can also scan the relevant QR codes to open anonymous WhatsApp or email on someone’s device. (PTI)
Goa to host next Ultimate Table Tennis event in July
New Delhi, March 13: Goa will host the seventh season of franchise-based Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) event in July at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, the organisers said on Friday. Organised by 11Sports Pvt. Ltd. under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), UTT has grown into one of the country’s most prominent sporting properties since its launch in 2017, the organisers said in a statement. The competition has seen legendary players like Achanta Sharath Kamal continue to lead from the front, while also providing a stage for the next generation of Indian stars – including Diya Chitale, Manav Thakkar, and Manush Shah – to grow and compete against some of the world’s best. (PTI)
NZC grant leave to Oram, Ronchi to take up coaching roles in PSL
Wellington, March 13: New Zealand men’s team assistant coaches Jacob Oram and Luke Ronchi have been granted leave by the country’s cricket board (NZC) to skip Black Caps’ upcoming T20I series against South Africa and instead take up coaching assignments with Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League. Ronchi, who played for the franchise from 2017-2021, returns in the role as head coach with Oram confirmed as one of his assistants. With the PSL starting on March 26 and running until late April followed by the finals, the pair will miss the BLACKCAPS upcoming series against the Proteas and the tour to Bangladesh in April. Black Caps performance manager Mike Sandle confirmed Wellington Blaze coach Jonny Bassett-Graham and NZC network coach Graeme Aldridge would assist Rob Walter in the upcoming South Africa series, with Canterbury’s Brendon Donkers to assist on the tour of Bangladesh. Sandle said the team and NZC supported Ronchi and Oram to pursue the coaching opportunity. (PTI)
Grassroots push and sports tourism key priorities, says Raksha Khadse
New Delhi, March 13: Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse on Friday said strengthening grassroots development and promoting sports tourism are among the government’s key priorities as she inaugurated the Annual Convention of the Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) and unveiled the JK Bose Memorial Trophy. The trophy was unveiled in the presence of SJFI president Saraju Chakraborty and Delhi Sports Journalists Association chief Abhishek Tripathi. Addressing the gathering, Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao said Indian sports has reached a crucial stage of growth and structural changes in governance are expected soon. (PTI)
