News at a glance
Double for Swastika Ghosh
MUMBAI: Swastika Ghosh of Kharghar, Navi Mumbai won the youth and junior girls titles, for a deserving double, in the Bombay YMCA 4th Maharashtra State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament, at the University Pavilion. Ghosh fended off the challenge of Thane’s Shreya Deshpande in both finals while winning the youth championship round in straight games in the best-of-seven contest and the junior final 4-2. Thane’s Sanish Ambekar earned a hard-fought 116, 9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5 win over Ravindra Kotiyan for the youth boys title, while another Thane lad Deepit Patil bagged the junior boys crown with an impressive 11-6, 115, 11-9, 11-6 win over Shaurya Pednekar. Kotiyan made amends by winning the men’s title, while Senhora D’Souza won the women’s crown where Shreya Deshpande lost her third championship round.
Samant shines with hat-trick
MUMBAI: Prathamesh Samant played a stellar role by notching up a fine hat-trick to steer Worli Sports Club ‘A’ to an emphatic 4-0 win against Poinsur Gymkhana in a Second Division match of the MDFA League 2017-2018 and played at the St. Xavier’s ground, Parel on Wednesday. After Sanket Gawde opened the scoring for the Worli side in the 25th minute, Samant got down to action scoring three quick goals, the first in the 43rd minute and three minutes later added his second before completing his hattrick with the fourth goal in the 55th minute. In another encounter, Tata Power held on to Avinash Ashokan’s fifth minute strike to overcome FC Mithagar 1-0.
Atharva nets winner in St. Paul’s victory
MUMBAI: St. Paul’s, Dadar overcame Dr. Antonio Da Silva, Dadar 1-0 in Boys’ Under-14 Div-II league match of the MSSA Inter-Schools Football Tournament played at Azad Maid an on Wednesday. Striker Atharva Re wales cored the decisive winner to seal St. Paul’s win. In the second match, St. Xavier’s, Goregaon and Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Kandivali played out a 1-1 draw. Aditya Sakpal netted the lone goal for the Goregaon schoolboys while Jenin Dominic scored for the Kandivali lads.
SC clears the air on Lodha panel
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has made it clear that Justice R M Lodha committee, which had recommended a slew of structural reforms in the BCCI, should not entertain any representation unless it is referred to by the top court. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said this after counsel appearing for the Lodha panel, which also comprises former apex court judges Ashok Bhan and R V Raveendran, sought a clarification on whether they should deal with the grievances in "respect of certain matters". "In our considered opinion and keeping in view the order dated January 2, Justice Lodha Committee may not entertain any further representation unless it is referred by this court," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said. The top court had on January 2 this year said that a committee of administrators (CoA) shall supervise the administration of BCCI through its chief executive officer.
Ganguly hails new ICC rules
KOLKATA: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday batted for the new International Cricket Council (ICC) rule through which players can be ordered off the field if they commit major offences. The ICC had on Tuesday announced that player can now be sent off the field for the rest of the match if a Level 4 offence is committed. "It was introduced by the MCC and there are reasons for that. Lot of difficult situations occurred in low level cricket outside India -- particularly in England or in South Africa. It is a good thing," Ganguly said.