Focus Merit

Category: Sports Current Affairs

11th Indoor Cricket World Cup to be hosted by Australia in October

January 25, 2020

Australia is set to host the 11th edition of the Indoor Cricket World Cup from October 10 to 17. The tournament will be held at the state-of-the-art indoor cricket venues in Melbourne – Casey Stadium and CitiPower Centre, the World Indoor Cricket Federation announced.

Last held in Dubai in 2017, Australia is the reigning men’s and women’s champions and the host will be seeking to continue the run of never losing a World Cup in either division in the 25-year history of the tournament. Cricketers from up to 10 countries will compete in the tournament in four divisions: under-21 men and women and open men and women.

Indian Olympic Association appoints Prem Chand Verma as the Deputy Chef de Mission

January 25, 2020

Dr. Prem Chand Verma has been appointed as Chef de Mission by Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Dr. Verma, is currently appointed as Commissioner, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Union Ministry of Finance.

Dr. Verma who also happens to be the Working President of Table Tennis Federation of India has replaced Rakesh Sharma for this coveted post and would be accompanying the Indian contingent to Japan by the end of July.

Rowing Federation of India lifts 2 year ban over Dattu Bhokanal

January 25, 2020

Asian Games gold medallist rower and Olympian Dattu Baban Bhokanal’s two-year ban, imposed on him on April 30, 2019, has been lifted by the Rowing Federation of India (RFI). This paves the way for India’s top rower to participate in the Olympic Qualification Regatta in April.

The RFI had banned Bhokanal, who was a member of the men’s quadruple sculls team that won gold at 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, for pulling out of the single sculls race midway earlier in the Games. Bhokanal, who was the lone rower representing India in the 2016 Rio Olympics, was in the wilderness for over eight months and his ban was set to end on April 30, 2021.

Maharashtra tops in Khelo India Youth Games 2020

January 24, 2020

Maharashtra has topped the medal tally of the 3rd season of the Khelo India Youth Games concluded in Guwahati. The state clinched 256 medals including 78 gold comprising 78 gold, 77 silver and 101 bronze.

Haryana stood at 2nd position with a total of 200 medals while Delhi secured 3rd position with 122 medals. Assam’s swimmer Shivangi Sharma won five gold and two silver medals and became the most successful female player of the tournament.

The winning trophy was given by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in the presence of Union Minister of State for Food Processing, Rameshwar Teli and Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju in a glittering closing ceremony.

Bengaluru: Exclusive sports ground for visually impaired cricketers

January 22, 2020

Visually impaired cricketers are likely to get a dedicated sports training complex that will enable them to develop into professional players, as stated by the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI).

In an interview with the media persons in Bengaluru Mahantesh G K, President of CABI and head of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, informed that CABI has approached the Karnataka government with a request to allot 25 acres of land to set up a sports complex with a training ground, gymnasium and swimming pool, and has received a positive response.

CABI has been striving to develop cricket on a large scale among visually impaired people by identifying and encouraging school students, and adults. The entire facility will be sensitive to the needs of people with visual and other disabilities so that everyone can come and practice their respective sports.

Yogeshwar Dutt & Deepa Malik inducted in All India Council of Sports

January 22, 2020

Paralympian Deepa Malik and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt have been inducted in the All India Council of Sports (AICS) along with shooter Anjali Bhagwat, footballer Renedy Singh, mountaineer Bachendri Pal and former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

AICS is an advisory body to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports which was formed in 2015 by the  then Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. Its term has also been extended by three years and veteran sports administrator K Malhotra will continue as President.

Tendulkar and Walsh to coach Aussie bushfire relief match

January 22, 2020

Sachin Tendulkar and Courtney Walsh will coach star-studded teams in a charity match to raise funds for victims of Australia’s bushfires. The former Test captains are the latest players to come out of retirement for the appeal, joining Aussie greats Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Michael Clarke and Shane Watson. India’s Tendulkar and Windies fast bowler Walsh will coach teams skippered by Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting respectively. Steve Waugh and Australian coach Justin Langer will also have non-playing roles.

The bushfire relief match will take place ahead of the Big Bash final with the venue to be confirmed on January 31 after the Qualifier is played with the winning team hosting the final. Before that double-header, the Australia and India women’s teams will play their tri-series match in Melbourne and it could be the city hosts the trio of matches if the Melbourne Stars secure the BBL final at the MCG.

Indian shooters bags Gold medal in Meyton Cup held in Austria

January 22, 2020

Indian shooters Divyansh Singh Pawar and Apurvi Chandela have clinched a gold medal each in Meyton Cup in Innsbruck, Austria. While Divyansh won the gold in the men’s 10m air rifle event with an effort of 249.7, Auprvi bagged the metal in the 10m air rifle women’s category with a 251.4.

Deepak Kumar and Anjum Moudgil also a bagged bronze medal each in men’s and women’s 10m air rifle events respectively. Deepak shot 228 en route the bronze, while Anjum’s effort of 229 also fetched her a podium finish. The Meyton Cup is a private tournament where shooters go on their own to participate to gain experience before international events.

Sania Mirza wins WTA doubles title with partner Nadiia Kichenok

January 18, 2020

Sania Mirza lifted the WTA Hobart International trophy at Hobart, Australia with partner Nadiia Kichenok after edging out Shaui Peng and Shuai Zhang in the final. The unseeded Indo-Ukrainian pair pipped the second seed Chinese team 6-4 6-4 in one hour 21 minutes.

It is Sania’s 42nd WTA doubles title and first since Brisbane International trophy in 2007 with American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Sania did not compete on the WTA circuit in the entire 2018 and 2019 seasons to start a family with Pakistani cricketer husband Shoaib Malik.

South Africa: ICC U-19 World Cup Cricket begins

January 17, 2020

The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2020 will take place between 17 January and 9 February 2020 in South Africa. Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe are automatic qualifiers and have been joined by five regional qualifiers Canada, Japan, Nigeria, Scotland and the UAE.

Indian team, under the captaincy of Priyam Garg, will look to defend the title when it begins its campaign against Sri Lanka at the Oval, Bloemfontein. India are placed in Group ‘A’ and will face New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Japan, who will be making their first-ever appearance in any World Cup.

India is the most successful team in the tournament, having won four titles till date, including the last edition in 2018. After playing Sri Lanka in their first group game, India will facedebutant Japan in their next group match on the 21st of this month.