Gymnast Patra off to Turkey for training

Gymnast Rakesh Patra will leave for a 15-day training in Turkey Saturday to get ready for the Asian Games with an aim to break the jinx of fourth-place finishes at major competitions.

The 26-year-old from Odisha finished fourth in the ring event at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Mersin, Turkey earlier this month. He had also narrowly missed a medal at the Melbourne World Cup in February as well finishing in the fourth place. In fact, at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games too, Patra had finished fourth in rings.

“It has been very frustrating for me to finish fourth in a number of major events,” Rakesh, who had narrowly missed the Rio Olympic qualification after being ranked 25th, even as the top 24 in the world made the cut, said.

TEAM PULLS OUT

The Philippines national basketball team said on Friday it has pulled out of the Asian Games as it prepares to appeal sanctions handed down over a nasty on-court brawl with Australia at a World Cup qualifier.

Basketball’s governing body FIBA suspended 10 players and two coaches from the Philippines national squad over the melee, which saw players and fans exchanging punches and flying kicks at July 2 match in Manila.

“We don’t have the time and chance to send an optimal team for the Asian Games, the president of the Philippine basketball federation (SBP) Al Panlilio said.

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