India file

IOA to fight Govt sports policy `tooth and nail'NEW DELHI: The Indian Olympic Association described the proposed government's sports poli...

IOA to fight Govt sports policy `tooth and nail’
NEW DELHI: The Indian Olympic Association described the proposed government’s sports policy as an attempt to take control of sports bodies and said “the entire sports fraternity would oppose it tooth and nail.” “The proposal brought forward to introduce a new sports policy is a coup of the government to take control of sports bodies,” IOA President Suresh Kalmadi said. Kalmadi was reacting to Sports Minister Ananth Kumar’s bid to launch a nationwide census of sportspersons to provide them with recognition and eventually help them seek jobs.

Kabaddi dropped from Pusan Asiad
NEW DELHI: India lost a near-certain Asian Games gold medal as the 2002 Pusan Games Organising Committee excluded kabaddi from the competition list in which India has been champion since it’s introduction in 1990 Beijing Games. “We strongly objected to it and have the support of Pakistan and Bangladesh,” Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president SureshKalmadi said.

India A cricket team off to UAE
MUMBAI: Nayan Mongia led an Indian A team for Abu Dhabi today to take part in a three nation one-day cricket tournament from Nov 30-Dec two. India A (one), Pakistan A and Sri Lankan A teams have been invited to play the tourney to mark the United Arab Emirates (uae) National Day celebrations.
The squad: Nayan Mongia (Baroda, capt.), Gyanendra Pandey (UP, vice-capt.), RR Parida (Orissa), Rohan Gavaskar, Nikhil Haldipur (both Bengal), A Vijay (Karnataka), Pritam Gandhe (Vidarbha), Shiv Sunder Das (Orissa), Abbas Ali (MP), Vinod Kambli (Mumbai), Connor Williams (Baroda), Sarandeep Singh (Punjab), Zaheer Khan (Baroda), Sanjay Bangar (Railways) and Sachin Nair (Maharashtra)

Story continues below this ad

Girinath, Venkataramana share lead
KOZHIKODE: PDS Girinath took a full point to join the lead with Venkata Ramanan (5.5 points) at the end of the 8th round of the Fide-rating Chess Championship for Brio Trophy on Monday.

The leaders are followed half a pointbehind by IM Varghese Koshy and Orissa’s Soumya Ranjan Mishra. With 4.5 points each, MB Muralidharan and TJ Suresh Kumar are in joint third spot.

Results: MB Muralidharan (4.5) drew with TJ Suresh Kumar (4.5), Abdul Majeed (3.5) drew with D Ganesh (1.5), V Koshy (5) drew with K Ratnakaran (0.5), K Haridas (1) lost to PDS Girinath (5.5), Soumya Ranjan Mishra (5) bt KR Madhusoodanan (3), J Venkata Ramanan (5.5) bye

Mekhala beaten in first round
CHENNAI: The Indian challenge in the women’s International Squash Association World Circuit Championship ended in the 1st round pre-quarters itself with lone entrant, National champion Mekhala Subedar, crashing out to sixth-seeded Daphne Jelleger (Netherlands) 2-9, 2-9, 4-9. In other matches, Scotland’s unseeded Wendy Maitland trounced world No 43 and fifth seed Elin Blikra (Norway) 9-6, 9-6, 5-9, 5-9, 9-2 and top seed and world No 11 Claire Nitch (SA) trounced Malaysia’s Sharon Wee, 9-0, 9-1, 9-3.

Story continues below this ad

Tanasugarn to play in itfwomen’s
NEW DELHI: Top-ranked Thai tennis sensation Tamarine Tanasugarm has confirmed her participation in the $25,000 ITF Women’s tennis tournament here from December 13-18. Also competing for top honours would be Amanda Hopmans (Netherlands), italy’s Tatiana Garbin and Japanese Rika Hiraki. Representing India will be Nirupama Vaidyanathan and Manisha Malhotra. Sai Jayalakshmy, Rushmi Chakravorthy and Archana Venkatraman have been awarded wild cards.

Central, W Railway in women’s final
HYDERABAD: Western Railway men defeated ICF Perambur 72-52, while South-Central Railway beat Southern Railway 74-49 to enter the final of the All-India Inter-railway basketball Championship. In the women’s semi-final, Central Railway beat Southern Railway 50-46, while Western Railway triumphed over Northern Railway 62-51.