IOA to approach govt in bid to host 2032 Olympics
NEW DELHI: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has submitted a formal expression of interest to bid for the 2032 Olympic Games and is set to approach the government for support.
IOA president Narinder Batra told the visiting International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach earlier this year that India would consider bidding for the Games. Bach had welcomed the move.
“We are serious about this bid for the 2032 Olympics. So, we have already submitted to the IOC the letter expressing our interest in hosting 2032 Olympic Games. I had a meeting with the Bid Committee of the IOC. They welcomed the move and said that India should have hosted an Olympic Games much earlier,” Rajeev Mehta said.
New Delhi and Mumbai are the top two venues in the mind of the IOA top brass but other cities are also not ruled out.
SHARATH BREAKS INTO TOP-30 OF RANKINGS
NEW DELHI: Sharath Kamal has broken into the top-30 of the ITTF rankings while teammate G Sathiyan has jumped four places to reach a career-high 31st position.
With 36-year-old Sharath and the much younger Sathiyan achieving career-best rankings, the year has gotten better for Indian table tennis. Sharath held the 31st spot in the rankings for October and November before gaining a place in December. Manika Batra has gained a place to be 52nd in the women’s rankings.
MAHESHWARI RETAINS WOMEN’S SKEET TITLE
JAIPUR: Rajasthan’s Maheshwari Chauhan retained her women’s skeet title at the National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC) for shotgun events here on Monday. Maheshwari got the better of Punjab’s Ganemat Sekhon, the same rival whom she had beaten last year. While the two women had to be separated through a shoot-off in last year’s final, Maheshwari overcame Ganemat 52-51 in this year’s final to clinch the gold.
GAGAN SETHI KEEPS HORNBILL RALLY TITLE
KOHIMA: Delhi’s Gagan Sethi successfully defended his JK Tyre Hornbill Rally title here on Monday. Competing in the open category, Gagan (with navigator Sabatullah Khan for the first time) finished the 55-km TSD rally with a mere penalty of 29 seconds to emerge victorious. The rally, held in the backdrop of the famous Hornbill Festival, was flagged-off by multiple Indian National Rally Champion Hari Singh from Indira Gandhi Stadium. The competitors traversed through rocky terrains on the outskirts of Kohima to reach the finish line in Kisama Village. They had to negotiate a total of seven surprise time controls.
KP ARAVIND 4TH DRIVER IN TVS TEAM
BANGALORE: Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team has announced a fully-fit Aravind KP as its fourth rider for Dakar 2019. Aravind KP, who was injured during the PanAfrica Rally, and has been training in Spain for the last few weeks.
For Aravind, this will be his third Dakar outing. The TVS team also includes the experienced Metge brothers — Michael and Adrien from France — and Enduro Champion Lorenzo Santolino from Spain. Unlike previous years, the 41st Dakar Rally, from January 6- 17, will cover only one country, Peru.