Navneet helps India win gold medals in Asian Lawn Bowls
New Delhi, April 14: Delhi player Navneet Singh helped India win gold medals in the men’s pairs and men’s fours events in the recently-concluded Asian Lawn Bowls Championships here. India beat Hong Kong 17-15 in the men’s pairs final, and Malaysia 19-6 in the men’s fours summit clash in the tournament held from April 6 to 12 at the Delhi Public School R K Puram. India won the overall men’s champion trophy, overall team trophy and challenge trophy, according to a release. (PTI)
TT: Hosting debut for Uttarakhand with U-19 girls team event
Dehradun, April 14: Uttarakhand marks a significant milestone in its sporting journey as it hosts the UTT 87th Inter-State Junior and Youth National Table Tennis Championships for the first time. The Girls’ Under-19 Team competition is set to begin on Wednesday at the newly built Multipurpose Hall in Parade Ground. The boys’ team events and other categories will follow from the sixth day, after a transition day, with the contingent scheduled to arrive on the fifth day. The occasion adds an extra layer of excitement to an already high-stakes event, as 29 teams from across the country have assembled to vie for top honours. The competition format ensures that quality and depth will play a decisive role. Teams have been seeded based on the cumulative ranking points of their top three players, with each side allowed a maximum of four members. Tamil Nadu leads the field with a formidable lineup and the highest cumulative points, making them early favourites. West Bengal and Delhi follow closely, both equipped with multiple high-ranking players capable of delivering under pressure. Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh also bring balanced combinations that could challenge for top honours. (PTI)
Yorkshire sign Hasan Ali to replace Naveen-ul-Haq in T20 Blast
New Delhi, April 14: Yorkshire have signed Pakistan international Hasan Ali as their overseas player for the upcoming T20 Blast. The experienced Pakistani fast bowler will replace Naveen-ul-Haq, who is out due to injury. Naveen suffered a stress fracture in his right shoulder. He had already missed the T20 World Cup earlier this year and will not be available for his stint at Headingley. His absence is a setback for Yorkshire, who had originally signed the Afghan pacer for the competition. With Hasan, the club has found a proven performer in T20 cricket. The 31-year-old has significant experience, having represented Pakistan 57 times in T20 internationals and played in various leagues around the world. His previous performances in English domestic cricket have been impressive, taking 44 wickets at an average of 14.93 over three seasons with Warwickshire from 2023 to 2025. He is also in strong form in the Pakistan Super League. Hasan is expected to be with Yorkshire throughout the Blast group stage. He will also play in two County Championship matches against Warwickshire and Leicestershire, adding depth to the squad across formats. (IANS)
Coach admits using false COVID-19 vaccine certificate to enter China
ZURICH, April 14: Swiss ice hockey coach Patrick Fischer has admitted he used a certificate falsely claiming he’d been vaccinated against COVID-19 to get around China’s travel restrictions for the 2022 Winter Olympics. In a statement late Monday, Fischer said he made a “serious mistake in this matter” by travelling to Beijing with the Switzerland men’s team using false paperwork. “I’m very sorry if I’ve disappointed people with this situation,” Fischer said. “I was in an extraordinary personal crisis because I didn’t want to be vaccinated. At the same time I certainly didn’t want to let my team down at the Olympic Games.” Swiss public broadcaster SRF said it confronted Fischer with documents showing he was fined nearly 39,000 Swiss francs ($50,000) by local authorities in 2023 for document forgery after buying the certificate on social media. SRF said he went public with his admission shortly after. Switzerland hosts the world championship next month. Fischer was already due to step down after that and the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation said it considers the matter closed. Fischer is one of Switzerland’s most successful hockey coaches ever. He’s been in the post since 2015 and took the team to three Olympics as well as winning three silver medals at the world championship. (AP)
PSL hands Muzarabani two-year ban for choosing IPL
ISLAMABAD, April 14: Blessing Muzarabani has been banned from the Pakistan Super League for two years after the Zimbabwe fast bowler withdrew to sign for an Indian Premier League team. Muzarabani was picked by three-time PSL champion Islamabad United as a replacement for West Indies fast bowler Shamar Jospeh. However, the IPL’s Kolkata Knight Riders snapped up the tall fast bowler after they were instructed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. “Despite a clear offer and an unequivocal acceptance of essential terms, the player (Muzarabani) chose to disregard these obligations in favor of a conflicting arrangement,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement. “Following a thorough disciplinary review … Blessing Muzarabani is declared ineligible to participate in the next two editions of the PSL, effective immediately. “This decision stems from a fundamental failure to honor agreed-upon commitments, an action that undermines the professional framework of the league.”. (AP)
