Mary Kom world’s top woman boxer; Manisha, Pinki eighth
NEWDELHI: Mary Kom rose to the top of the boxing world rankings on Thursday, two months after becoming the first female boxer to win six World Championships. The 36-year-old was ranked No 1 by the International Boxing Association in the lightfly 45-48kg category, scoring 1700 points. Mary capped her 2018 campaign winning the World Championship title after defeating Ukraine’s Hanna Okhota 5-0 in Delhi. Okhota is ranked No 2 in the world, with 1100 points.
Among other Indians, Pinki Jangra is eighth in 51kg category list. Asian silver-medallist Manisha Maun holds the same position in the 54kg category.
OLY CHEF-DE-MISSION
NEW DELHI: Birendra Prasad Baishya, president of the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) was on Thursday named Chefde-mission for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
CRICKET ACADEMY
NEW DELHI: Hargopal Sports Culture & Social Welfare Society with the support of Directorate of Education Sports, Govt of NCT, Delhi has opened a Cricket Academy for the underprivileged children at Sarvodya Co-edu Sr Sec School, Malcha Marg, New Delhi.
PRO VOLLEYBALL
CHENNAI: The Pro Volleyball League will begin on February 2 with Kochi Blue Spikers taking on U Mumba Volley in the first match. The first season of the league will see six teams fighting for the title. The final is slated to take place in Chennai on February 22.
RAPTORS WIN
BENGALURU: Sai Praneeth sealed the semi-final berth for Bangalore Raptors as his win enabled the home team defeat Chennai Samshers 3-2 in the Premier Badminton League here Thursday.
Bangalore lost their first match but roared back by winning Chennai’s trump match, which dashed the visitors’ semifinal hopes as getting six points from the tie became impossible. After losing the first match, Bangalore came back strongly as Praneeth beat veteran Parupalli Kashyap 15-11, 15-12.