News at a glance
India to take part in Jr NBA World C'ships
NEW DELHI: Two teams from India will compete at the inaugural Junior National Basketball Association (NBA) World Championships in the US from 7-12 August next year.The top performers in the 5-on-5 competitions from the Reliance Foundation Jr NBA Program will make for a city All- Star Team. One boy’s and one girls’ team from each of the eight participating cities will be selected to compete in a National Final. The winners of the National Final will then represent India at the Jr NBA World Championship, a media release said. The Jr NBA World Championship will feature boy’s and girls’ divisions, each comprising 16 regional champions (eight US and eight international teams). The championship will be separated into US and international brackets that include round-robin competition followed by singleelimination boy’s and girls’ tournaments. Along with India international teams from Africa and Middle East, Asia Pacific, Canada, China, Europe, Mexico and South America will also take part in the tournament.
Bandra YMCA rallies to down Indian Gym
MUMBAI: In a match of fluctuating fortunes, speedy Bandra YMCA boys got the better of Indian Gymkhana 61-50 to move into the boys under-18 quarter-finals of the of the Mastan YMCA Basketball tournament, hosted by Bombay YMCA’s Physical Education Department at their floodlit courts at Agripada.The tie proved to be most enthralling affair of the day with fortunes fluctuating from quarter to quarter.The Bandra boys were off to a fine start as they took 12-5 lead in the first quarter. But in the second and third quarters they were at the receiving end as the Indian Gymkhana boys went into the deciding quarter leading by 10 points (42-32). It was here that Bandra boys showed their attacking moves as they caught their opponents with a spate of baskets to catch the boys from King’s Circle at 42-42.Thereafter try as hard as they could the tense Indian Gymkhana players failed to add to their lead for a longer period as their rivals put up tight defence. While they appeared quite jittery while trying to shoot baskets, the Bandra outfit went all out to maintain their hold to win the tie.
Charnel hits a six to lead Karnatak to a big win
MUMBAI: Charnel D’Almeida was at his best scoring form striking six goals in leading Karnatak SC’s emphatic 12-0 win against Uchil United SC in a fourth-round league match of the 22nd Late Shri Ramanath Payyade Memorial Football Tournament, organised by the Karnatak Sporting Association and played at the KSA ground, Cross Maidan. Besides Charnel’s fantastic efforts, Roger Sam struck four goals while Karan Shetty and Rishon Sam chipped in with one each to complete the rout. In the second match of the day, Mogaveera SC prevailed over Jai Hind SC by solitary goal 1-0 margin. The crucial winner was scored Pranal Shetty in the 37th minute.
India back in World Series of Boxing from February
LAUSANNE: India will return to the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) semi-professional World Series of Boxing (WSB) in February next year with the country finding a place in the Asian group for the event's eighth season. The yet-to-be-named franchise, which would be fully owned by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), will replace Mumbai Fighters, the team that had withdrawn in 2012 due to lack of support from the national body at that time. The WSB's format will follow the three-group, regional regular season and global play-offs, with the Croatian Knights joining for qualification from Group Europe, while Group Asia having a team from India for the first time, the AIBA said in a statement.
Kadian upsets Sitwala in National 6-Red snooker
CHENNAI: Digvijay Kadian of Haryana defeated two-time Asian billiards champion Dhruv Sitwala of PSPB 4-2 on Tuesday to qualify for the group stages of the 7th National 6-Red Snooker championship here.The Haryana cueist played confidently throughout the match and mixed attack with safety play to stay ahead of his fancied rival to win easily. A total of 24 players have qualified from the winner bracket so far in the double elimination format. Alok Kumar of PSPB, who has won the national title several times, also entered the group stage defeating Nitin Sharma 4-2.
Blitzkrieg down Sunday Boys
MUMBAI: Blitzkrieg FC scored a hard-fought 1-0 win against Sunday Boys in a First Division match of the MDFA League at the St. Xavier’s ground, Parel. After a barren first half, striker Prabhakar Matkar netted the lone goal of the match in the 58th minute.