India shine in jr. women’s squash
New Delhi: India began their team campaign well, notching up resounding wins over France and Hong Kong in their Pool C ties of the World Junior Women’s Squash Championships in Cairo, Egypt. After routing 11th seeds France 3-0, third seeds India got the better of sixth seeds Hong Kong 2-1 in their preliminary group engagements. Hong Kong took the advantage when Aparajitha Balamurukan lost 3-11 8-11 11-8 15-17 to Tze-Lok Ho. Indian nerves were settled when Asian Junior Champion Anaka Alankamony put in an assured performance to demolish Asian Junior champion Ka-Po Ho 11-0 11-5 11-3. Anaka was ruthless and won the match dropping only eight points. Saumya Karki completed the comeback, beating Ka-Yi Lee 12-10 11-8 11-6. India play Ecuador on Thursday and are assured of topping Pool C. (PTI)
Bagan to honour PK Banerjee
Kolkata: Mohun Bagan athletic club, India’s first swadeshi club to win the prestigious IFA shield after beating a British team, will celebrate their centenary triumph from Thursday. The barefooted Indians – now dubbed as immortal eleven-won the IFA Shield against the sturdy East Yorshire on July 29 in 1911. Mohun Bagan will also felicitate West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and confer on footballing legend PK Banerjee the ‘Mohun Bagan Ratna’, the highest club award, for his contribution to the club on Friday at the Netaji Indoor Stadium. PK Banerjee will be rewarded for his contribution for services rendered to the club as coach. Banerjee, who led India at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, had coached Mohun Bagan after his retirement in 1967, though his coaching debut was with East Bengal. (UNI)
US Olympics medalist commits suicide
Washington: US skier Jeret Peterson, who won silver at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, has committed suicide by shooting himself in the head, US media reported Wednesday. Police discovered Peterson’s body in Utah’s Lamb Canyon. His suicide comes three days after he was detained for speeding and driving while intoxicated. The San Francisco Chronicle said the 29-year-old athlete – known as Speedy – called the 911 emergency number to say where he was before shooting himself. Peterson had depression and alcoholism problems throughout his life. He got into a drunken fight at the 2006 Olympics in Turin and was excluded from the team and sent home for that incident. (IANS/RIA Novosti)