Para-athletes Pranav, Ajeet get TOPS funding for overseas training
NEW DELHI, June 25: The Sports Ministry’s Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has approved lengthy overseas training stints for Paralympic silver-winning duo of javelin thrower Ajeet Singh and club thrower Pranav Soorma at a total cost of Rs 35.46 lakh to enhance their preparations for this year’s Asian Para-Games in Japan.The 32-year-old Ajeet has left for international training at Offenburg in Germany till September 16, while Pranav has flown out for a training stint in Czechia till August 15.Both of them are a part of the government’s flagship Target Olympic Podium Scheme’s (TOPS) core group.Pranav, who became wheelchair-bound after a spinal injury caused by an accident at home, had won a gold at the previous Asian para Games and is currently ranked world number one in his classification of F51.During the training, for which 23.14 lakh have been sanctioned by the N S Johal-led MOC, Pranav will also participate in the Polish Championship, Czech Championship, Slovakia Championship, and the Ostrava League to gain experience and improve rankings.Uttar Pradesh’s Ajeet, who lost his left arm to a train accident while saving his friend, had won a bronze in the previous Asiad. He had been training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.Both the athletes are being accompanied by their coaches. In Pranav’s case, his father Sanjeev Soorma is also travelling with him as his escort.Sanjeev quit his job to support his son’s career. Away from his sport, Pranav is also a banker. (PTI)
BCCI Ombudsman disqualifies KSCA secretary Santosh Menon
BENGALURU, June 25: After examining the existing rules, the BCCI Ombudsman Justice Arun Mishra (retd) has ruled that KSCA secretary Santosh Menon cannot continue in his post as he has completed a “maximum permissible” nine years.Justice Mishra made this ruling while upholding the complaint filed by Dolphin Cricketers, an institutional member of the state association.The Ombudsman stated that Menon had completed his tenure on December 16, 2025, and thus declared the office of the KSCA secretary vacant.“Rules under the provision of cooling off. The Respondent No. 3 (Menon) has completed a cumulative term of 9 years as a member of the Managing Committee and as an office-bearer; he is disqualified u/s 6B(3)(g),” the Ombudsman stated.Justice Mishra also observed that the Rule 41 of KSCA constitution, pertaining to the duration of office bearers, does not have powers of embargo as this is a matter of instant dispute.Therefore, the Ombudsman directed the BCCI and KSCA to take further appropriate steps. The association president Venkatesh Prasad said they will seek legal advice before taking a call. (PTI)
Indian junior men’s hockey team set for exposure tour to Belgium
NEW DELHI, June 25:The Indian U-21 men’s hockey team is set to tour Belgium next month for six high-intensity matches against the hosts, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands.The tour will serve as a critical preparation phase for the squad under its new coach Frederic Soyez ahead of the men’s junior Asia Cup later this year.The tour will see India play two matches each against Austria and Belgium and one match apiece against Germany and the Netherlands.Of the six matches, which will be played from July 7 to 17 2026, five will be held at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium, while the concluding match of the tour against the Netherlands will be played at the Hockey Centre of Excellence in Antwerp.India will open their campaign against Austria on July 7, followed by the second match against the same opponents on July 8.The team will then face hosts Belgium on July 10, before taking on Germany on July 13 and Belgium again on July 14. The tour-concluding fixture against the Netherlands will be played on July 17.Ahead of the tour, recently appointed coach Soyez stated, “I am very excited about experiencing this first tour with the group. It is a great opportunity to get to know the players better in a different environment, while also laying the foundations of our playing project.“Tours like this are always important because they help create shared references, strengthen team cohesion and begin to build a real team identity.“These matches are very important because they immediately put us in conditions that are close to what we will face in major competitions,” the coach concluded. (PTI)
