NEW DELHI, June 10: Olympic silver medallist wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya and Paralympic bronze medallist high jumper Sharad Kumar have secured interim relief from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in their separate pleas seeking regularisation of services with the Delhi government.The CAT’s Principal Bench issued notices to the Delhi government and other respondents after observing that an “arguable case” had been made out by both applicants, who have been serving in ad-hoc positions in the Directorate of Education for several years.Dahiya was appointed as Assistant Director of Education (Sports) on an ad-hoc basis in October 2021, while Sharad, a Tokyo Paralympics bronze medallist and Arjuna Awardee, was appointed Assistant Director of Education (Physical Education & National Integration) in March 2022.Both have alleged that their appointments were repeatedly extended without regularisation.Before joining the Delhi government, Dahiya was employed with Northern Railway under the Talent Scouting Quota and later received an out-of-turn promotion, while Sharad was serving as an athletics coach with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and had been promoted within the organisation.Both resigned from their previous posts after accepting appointments with the Delhi government.The tribunal directed that neither athlete be discontinued from service until the next hearing and listed both matters for August 19.In Sharad’s case, the order also noted that the Delhi Lieutenant Governor had earlier directed the Directorate of Education to pursue regularisation of his services in consultation with the UPSC. (PTI)
Kochhar, Bhullar in 10-member Indian golf contingent
RABAT (Morocco), June 10: In excellent form with three top-10 finishes in just five Asian Tour starts this season, Karandeep Kochhar will lead a 10-member Indian contingent in the International Series Morocco golf tournament which will tee off on Thursday.The other Indians in the USD 2 million event are Anirban Lahiri, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Aryan Roopa Anand, Udayan Mane, SSP Chawrasia, Rashid Khan, Shaurya Bhattacharya, Ajeetesh Sandhu and Shubham Jaglan The 26-year-old Kochhar was tied ninth at last week’s AM Green IGPL Bharath Classic, after a tied fifth at International Series Japan and fourth place at the Philippine Golf Championship. Late last year, he won the Egypt Golf Series Red Sea Open on the Asian Development Tour.“I think I’ve been playing really well this year. I’ve only played five events so far and I’ve already had three top-10 finishes, so that’s definitely encouraging,” said a confident Kochhar.“Even in the other events, I felt like I was playing solid golf. In New Zealand, I just had a poor Sunday, and in Singapore I wasn’t playing my best, but I still managed to make the cut, which I was happy about.” That consistency has been tested over the past three weeks as Kochhar competed throughout Morocco’s unique professional golf swing, progressing from the Asian Development Tour and Asian Tour to this week’s International Series Morocco. (PTI)
Hyderabad to host 2nd season of Archery Premier League
HYDERABAD, June 10: Hyderabad will host the second season of the Archery Premier League from October 8-18, with no expansion to the six-franchise field that competed in the inaugural edition last year.The 11-day tournament will be held at People’s Plaza on Necklace Road and will retain the six franchises from the inaugural edition — defending champions Rajputana Royals (Rajasthan), Mighty Marathas (Maharashtra), Prithviraaj Yodhas (Delhi), Kakatiya Knights (Telangana), Chero Archers (Jharkhand) and Chola Chiefs (Tamil Nadu).A total of 48 Indian and international archers will compete across recurve and compound disciplines.Unlike last year, when the league began on the day of Dussehra, the second season will conclude well before the festival.Details regarding team squads, player signings, fixtures and broadcast arrangements will be announced later. Launched by the Archery Association of India in 2025 with the aim of strengthening India’s Olympic medal prospects, the league brings together recurve and compound archers, both men and women, in the same competition. The event also features a unique 15-second shot clock, five seconds shorter than the limit used in Olympic. (PTI)
