Pugilists Akhil, Jitender set to turn pros soon

NEW DELHI: Eight years after they made waves at the Beijing Olympics, two of Indian boxing’s most celebrated names – Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar – are set for a comeback to the ring by turning professional.

The two boxers are close to finalising a deal with Infinity Optimal Solutions (IOS), who are India promoters of the reigning WBO Asia Pacific champion Vijender Singh.

The two will make their professional debut alongside Vijender in a fight night being planned in the next two months in India.

SAINA TO SKIP IOC MEET FOR UPCOMING EVENTS NEW DELHI: India’s top shuttler Saina Nehwal is unable to attend International Olympics Committee’s Athletes Commission meeting next month as she will be preparing for super series events in China and Hong Kong.

Saina, who was appointed to IOC’S athletes commission last month, has written to the Indian Olympic Committee to convey to the IOC her inability to attend.

The dates for the China event are from Nov 15-20 and in Hong MALAYSIA MAY STOP HOSTING FORMULA ONE KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia may scrap the Formula One Grand Prix race after its contract ends in 2018 given the event’s failure to spur economic benefits for the country, sports officials said on Tuesday.

High costs combined with falling ticket sales and TV viewership have dented returns. “The locals are not buying the tickets to watch F1,” chief executive of Sepang International Circuit, Razlan Razali said.

IAAF OPTS AGAINST QATAR BRIBERY PROBE PARIS: Athletics’ world body has decided not to investigate bribery claims against Qatar after a preliminary probe failed to find anything more than “rumours” surrounding bidding for the 2017 world championships.

The IAAF was acting on testimony from UK Athletics chief Ed Warner that the world body’s then vice-president, and now president Sebastian Coe had told him Qatari delegates were handing out cash-stuffed “brown envelopes” before members cast their votes in 2011.

But the body’s ethics board said Coe, when questioned, couldn’t remember hearing the rumour or making the comment, and that nobody present had cor-