Goalie Paul available for Federation Cup
For Subrata Paul, news of India making it to 100 in Fifa rankings for the first time since April 1996 would be doubly satisfying because it came on a day the national team goalie found he could play again for club and country despite having failed a dope test.
Paul is travelling to Cuttack with his club DSK Shivajians for the eight-team Federation Cup which begins on May 7. India coach Stephen Constantine has been informed by the AIFF that should he want, Paul can be selected for next month’s friendly against Lebanon and the 2019 Asian Cup qualifier against Kyrgyz Republic at home.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has cross-checked with the National Anti Doping Authority (NADA), which tested Paul in March and found traces of banned substance terbutaline in his A sample, and was told that neither Paul’s club nor India would be penalised even if he is eventually punished. HT learnt this late on Thursday from its sources in the AIFF.
SATISH LOSES IN ASIAN BOXING QUARTERS
Previous edition’s bronze-medallist Satish Kumar (+91kg) lost in the quarterfinals to bow out of medal contention at Asian Boxing Championships. Also going down in the last-eight stage was Manish Panwar (81kg).
Satish lost to Kazakhstan’s Kamshybek Kunkabayev in a unanimous verdict. Manish, on the other hand, went down Turkmanistan’s Nuryagdy Nuryadyyev, also a unanimous decision in the evening session last night.
SINDHU, SAINA LOSE A PLACE IN BWF RANKING
Olympic siver medallist PV Sindhu and former World No 1 Saina Nehwal slipped a place each to be at the fourth and ninth spots respectively in the latest BWF World ranking released on Thursday. Both Sindhu and Saina last played at the Asian Badminton Championship in China with the former losing in the quarterfinals, while the latter bowed out in the first round.
In men’s singles, Ajay Jayaram continues to be the bestranked Indian at the 13th spot, while Sai Praneeth gained a place to reach 22nd. Former World No. 3 K is at the 26th spot followed by Sameer Verma at 27th.