Ankur shoots double trap gold at Shotgun World Cup

Acapulco (Mexico), March 23 (IANS) Improving upon his silver medal at the New Delhi World Cup, shooter Ankur Mittal avenged his loss to Australian James Willet when he shot his way to the gold in mens

BY-PAKHI SHRIVASTAVA 

Marksman Ankur Mittal has delivered India's nine-member contingent its first medal at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup (Shot Gun) in Acapulco, Mexico by shooting gold in the men's double trap on Wednesday.

Mittal, who won silver at last month's ISSF World Cup in New Delhi, beat the gold medalist at that event, Australian James Willet, on day three of the competition.

Mittal had a strong day, ending second in qualification with a score of 138 out of a possible 150. Against China's Ying Qui he prevailed 6-5 in the shoot-off to decide second and third spots after both had finished their qualifying rounds on the same score. In the ensuing six-man 80-targets final round, Mittal missed a total of five targets, including just two in his last 40 to equal the world record and finish on top with a score of 75.

Willet managed 73 to claim silver, while Ying took the bronze with 52, before being eliminated after 60 targets.

QUNITINO DE KOCK DOUBTFUL FOR THIRD TEST,IPL 

South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock is a doubt for this week’s third and final Test against New Zealand

BY-PAKHI SHRIVASTAVA

 Misfortune and Delhi Daredevils have gone hand in hand in the last couple of seasons of the Indian Premier League. After news came in that JP Duminy will miss this season of the cash-rich league due to personal reasons, South Africa wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock is all but ruled out of this season with a finger injury.

South Africa team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee has already cautioned the wicket-keeper that if he does play in the IPL, he could miss the Champions Trophy in June.

"We will make a late call on his availability for the match on Friday after he undergoes a fitness test with protective strapping to see if he will be able to bat or keep wicket," Moosajee said in Cricket South Africa statement.

India's Joshna Chinappa progresses to second round of British Squash Open

Joshna defeated former world No 1 Rachael Grinham 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10

BY-PAKHI SHRIVASTAVA

India’s Joshna Chinappa entered round two of the prestigious British Squash Open even as compatriots Dipika Pallikal and Saurav Ghosal, PTI reported.

Joshna overcame a stiff challenge from former world No 1 Rachael Grinham of Australia. The Indian prevailed 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10. She next faces Raneem El Welily, the current world number three from Egypt.

Compatriot Dipika lost to world No 5 Laura Massaro of England 11-4, 11-5, 11-13, 11-1, while Ghosal failed to cross the qualification phase, losing in the final round to Alan Clyne Scotland in straight games 11-7, 11-4, 11-4.

CoA seeks directions from Supreme Court
The CoA has also taken due care to avert attempts of any possible sabotage of any of the forthcoming matches

BY-PAKHI SHRIVASTAVA 

The Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) has sought directions from the apex court for ensuring smooth conduct of the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the tenth edition of the Indian Premier League, with regard to financial demands raised by all the staging associations.

In the status report, the CoA has requested the court to “issue appropriate directions to ensure the smooth conduct of the fourth Test between India and Australia by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) as well as the smooth conduct of IPL matches by the State / Member Associations specified

 

Fairytale farewell for Podolski as Germany set record

Lukas Podolski will collect his last Germany cap on Wednesday against England

BY-PAKHI SHRIVASTAVA 

Lukas Podolski admitted his Germany farewell could not have been scripted better after netting a superb winner in the 1-0 friendly win over England. It was only fitting that the Galatasaray forw"The way it finished was like in a movie," said Podolski, who smashed home the winning goal in the 69th minute, and then came off to thunderous applause with six minutes left.

"I am proud of the last 13 years," beamed Podolski, who will join Japan's Vissel Kobe next season. "It was a great game, a great result and a great way to say goodbye."ard should claim his 49th goal on his 130th, and final, international appearance in Wednesday's emotional farewell.

Female cricketers offered motza pay rise

Cricket Australia  put forward a landmark five-year offer to the Australian Cricketers

BY-PAKHI SHRIVASTAVA

Cricket Australia has offered its female players a massive pay rise as part of a package that is set to spark the most bitter stand off with cricketers since the collective bargaining agreement was first introduced.

The offer landed the day after the Ranchi Test ended and with the Test side one win away from a historic result.

Cricket Australia is trying to move away from the revenue share model which has underpinned all player payments since the first Memo of Understanding was introduced in the 1980s.

Rohit, Parthiv to lead Blue and Red in Deodhar Trophy

Rohit sharma and parthiv patel will lead the teams 

BY-PAKHI SHRIVASTAVA

Rohit Sharma and Parthiv Patel will lead India Blue and India Red respectively in the three-team 50-over Deodhar Trophy, which will be played at the Dr YS Rajasekhar Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam from March 25 to 29. Tamil Nadu, who beat bengal  by 37 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final in Delhi on Monday (March 20), are the third team.

The national selectors have also included Shikhar Dhawan in Parthiv’s team. It will be an important series for Dhawan to re-establish his stature since last playing for India in the second One-Day International against England in Cuttack in January. Dhawan’s last significant knock came nine matches before when he made his second consecutive half-century for North Zone in the inter-zonal Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 tournament.