Sixth Khelo India Winter Games to begin at Gulmarg today
Srinagar, Feb 22: The famous winter destination of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir is decked up to host the sixth Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) in which over 400 athletes will participate. The officials on Saturday said all arrangements have been put in place for the four-day event from Monday at a a famous ski-resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. The event will be flagged of by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Secretary of the J-K Sports Council Nuzhat Gul said registration process has been completed. “Participants from 30 states and UTs have registered, and 400 athletes are participating in the games. There is a good snow cover (in Gulmarg) and we hope the weather supports us,” Gul said. The first leg of KIWG for ice events was held in Ladakh’s Leh, from January 20 to 26 this year, while the second leg of the games, for snow events, is being held at Gulmarg from February 23 to 26. All six editions have been held in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Gulmarg will feature four medal disciplines, namely Ski Mountaineering, Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing (Cross-Country), and Snowboarding, with Alpine Skiing drawing the highest participation, the officials said. (PTI)
Sonam Maskar secures 16th RR Lakshya Cup title
Mumbai, Feb 22: Rifle shooter Sonam Maskar of Maharashtra clinched the 16th RR Lakshya Cup 2025 title with a final score of 251.5, edging out defending champion Kiran Jadhav by a razor-thin margin of 0.1 here Sunday. The winner took home Rs 1,50,000, the All Silver Rotating Lakshya Cup, and a Capapie jacket-trouser set at Lakshya Shooting Club inside Karnala Sports Academy in Panvel, Navi Mumbai. Kiran Jadhav of the Navy finished second with 251.4, earning Rs 75,000 and a gift from Capapie, while Isha Taksale of Maharashtra secured third position with 230.0, taking home Rs 40,000 and a gift from Capapie. In the junior category, Viddhi Godhani of Gujarat claimed the top position with a score of 250.1, winning Rs 75,000 and a Capapie jacket-trouser set. Parigha Bele of Maharashtra finished second with 249.5 to win Rs 40,000 and a gift from Capapie, followed by Manyata Singh of Orissa in third place with 228.6, earning Rs 20,000 and a gift from Capapie. (PTI)
PSL’s newest franchise Sialkot Stallionz sold again
Karachi, Feb 22: Sialkot Stallionz, the newest franchise brought last month in the Pakistan Super League for 185 crore rupees by a business group based out of Pakistan, has been sold again after a dispute over sale of shares and questions over the financial background of some owners. With the PSL 11 season yet to start, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has faced an embarrassing situation over the financial background and record of the owners OZ group which brought the Sialkot franchise in the auction last month. Soon after the auction, problems arose over the financial standing of the new owners. A dispute emerged when some of the partners sold 98 percent shares to a Australian company. But when one of the main owners, Muhammad Shahid – a businessman from USA – threatening legal action, the Australian group backed out of the deal. Now the Sialkot franchise’s 98 percent shares have been bought by another company CD ventures, which had earlier taken part in the auction for the franchise rights of Multan Sultan and had made a final bid of 235 crores. Walee Technologies brought the Multan franchise for 245 crores and renamed it Rawalpindi. Many cricket fans and analysts vented their frustration on social media describing the whole episode as not good PR for the PSL which has now completed 10 years. Many questioned why the PCB did not done due diligence while scrutinising the bidders for the auction. (PTI)
