Rani to lead Indian women’s hockey team in Asian Games
NEW DELHI : Striker Rani Rampal will lead a strong 18-member Indian women’s hockey team at the Asian Games to be held in Indonesia from August 18 to September 2. While the team will be led by Rani, who had successfully captained India to its ninth women’s Asia Cup title victory last year, experienced goalkeeper Savita has been named as the vice- captain.
Rajani Etimarpu has been named as the reserve goalkeeper for the event, where India will vie for the gold to get a direct qualification for 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Team: Goalkeepers Savita, Rajani Etimarpu; Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka, Sunita Lakra, Deepika, Gurjit Kaur, Reena Khokhar; Midfielders: Namita Toppo, Lilima Minz, Monika, Udita, Nikki Pradhan, Neha Goyal. Forwards: Rani Rampal, Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, Navjot Kaur.
HOCKEY ‘A’ TEAM BEATS BANGLADESH 5-1
BANGALORE : Defender Rupinder Pal Singh starred with a hat-trick as the India ‘A’ men’s hockey team recorded a crushing 5-1 win over Bangladesh in its last practice match here on Friday.
The experienced dragflicker scored in the 24th, 47th and 60th minutes at the Sports India (previously SAI) campus.
He gave the team a 1-0 lead in the second quarter after Bangladesh had made a good start that kept India ‘A’ from scoring in the first quarter. Rupinder’s goal was followed by Gurjinder Singh’s strike through a penalty conversion in the 27th minute.
VIJENDER’S C’WEALTH TITLE FIGHT POSTPONED
NEW DELHI: Indian boxing star Vijender Singh’s clash against Briton Lee Markham for the Commonwealth Super middleweight title was on Friday postponed after the latter pulled out due to injury.
The fight was scheduled for July 13 and would have given Vijender a shot at his third title after having claimed the WBO Asia Pacific and Oriental Super Middleweight titles. Vijender is currently in Manchester.
“Lee has pulled out citing injury. Vijender’s UK promoters -- Queensberry Promotions -tried to find an opponent for him to fill in the July 13 slot but that did not work out,” an official from Vijender’s India promoters, IOS Boxing said told.