The ongoing 61st National inter-state athletics championships in Chennai turned out to be a memorable one for Karnataka’s B Aishwarya. Just a day after she made the cut for the Commonwealth Games in long-jump, the 24-year-old from Bengaluru produced yet another stellar performance to rewrite the national record in the women’s triple jump event. Aishwarya jumped a distance of 14. 14m to break Mayookha Johny’s national record of 14. 11 which was set 11 years ago. The result means that Aishwarya has qualified for the Birmingham CWG in triple jump too. However, Aishwarya’s effort fell short of making the grade for the World Championships which is set at 14. 32m. It was Aishwarya’s third jump that saw her create the record. Discus thrower Kirpal Singh rewrote his own meet record. Kirpal, who had a throw of 59. 74m back in 2016, registered a distance of 60. 31m to win the gold.
Running legend Hari Chand passes away at 69
One of the unsung heroes of Indian athletes, 1978 Bangkok Asian Games double gold medallist Hari Chand breathed his last in Jalandhar on Sunday night. He was 69. Considered one of India’s greatest long-distance runners, Chand, in his only Asian Games appearance, had returned with gold medal in 5,000 and 10,000-metre events. He also took part in the 1976 Monreal and 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Born on April 1, 1953 at Ghorewah village in Hoshiarpur district, Chand’s first major international success came at the 1975 Asian Championships in Seoul, where he won the gold medal in the 10,000m and a bronze in the 5,000m, defeating his contemporary and compatriot Shivnath Singh, one of his fiercest rivals in the Indian and Asian circles. His success at the continental meet got him the prestigious Arjuna Award. The CRPF athlete is, however, best remembered for his feat at the Montreal Games, where he created a longstanding national record by clocking 28. 48. 72 to finish 8th in the 10,000 m heats, despite running barefoot with tape around his feet. Chand’s national record was eventually broken by Surendra Singh after more than three decades.
Sindhu, Sen bow out, Indian challenge ends
Jakarta: Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and rising star Lakshya Sen made quarterfinal exits in their respective singles events, ending India’s challenge in the Indonesia Open Super Series 500 tournament. Sen was first to be eliminated as the 20-year-old went down fighting and forced a decider against his higher-seeded Chinese Taipei rival Chou Tien Chen 21-16 12-21 21-14. India’s last hope then rested on Sindhu but she went down without a fight to her old foe Ratchanok Intanon 12-21, 10-21.
Minister Tiwary slams ton for Bengal
Bengal’s middle-order batsman Manoj Tiwary is a busy man. He’s been juggling his roles as the minister of youth affairs and sports in the West Bengal government, MLA of Shibpur constituency, near Howrah, and the most senior cricketer in the Bengal team with aplomb. When he is not addressing issues as a minister and people’s representative, he is busy helping his state team win their first Ranji Trophy since the 1989-90 season. The 36-year-old last week scored a 239-ball 113 as Bengal marched into the semifinals by virtue of their first innings lead over Jharkhand.
Swastika too moves court
Swastika Ghosh became the third table tennis player to approach the Delhi High Court over exclusion from India’s Commonwealth Games squad. Her father and coach Sandeep Ghosh said they have filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court. “She is No. 4 as per the selection criteria and should be in the team,” said the f ather. Diya Chitale and Manush Shah had also sought the HC’s intervention in the matter. Chitale has now been included in the squad at the expense of Archana Kamath but the selectors did not include Manush, who too is in the top four as per the criteria in the men’s team when the Committee of Administrators running the TTFI announced the squad.
Indian judokas leave for Spain
A 36-member Indian judo team left for Spain to participate in the European Open, after securing visas for their travel following intervention of Ministry of External Affairs. The contingent, including 15 men and as many women judokas besides six coaches and support staff, initially struggled to get visas. The Sports Ministry then coordinated with the MEA to g et their travel documents cleared. This is the first international exposure for the judo team in three years.
Israeli fans can watch WC in Qatar after deal
Israeli citizens will be allowed to travel to Qatar to watch football’s 2022 World Cup, despite the absence of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the government said. World football’s governing body “FIFA has confirmed that Israeli citizens will be able to enter Qatar during the World Cup and watch games, just like all fans around the world,” a joint statement by Israel’s defence, foreign and sports ministries said. Israeli citizens, like other foreigners, will be permitted to obtain a visa online with proof of a ticket purchase, the statement added. “This is a diplomatic feat that fills the hearts of fans with joy,” Israel’s foreign minister Yair Lapid said on Twitter.
