Home Ministry has cleared Pak’s participation: WFI

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Decks were today cleared for the participation of Pakistani grapplers at the Asian Junior Championship after the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) agreed to give an undertaking that the movement of the contingent from the neighbouring nation will be restricted to the competition venue.  “We got a call from a Home Ministry official today that wrestlers from Pakistan can come to India and compete. They will be granted visas,” said WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar. “We have to give an undertaking that Pakistani wrestlers do not go anywhere except their hotel and the venue.”

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Sindhu, Prannoy move ahead in Thailand Open

Top shuttlers PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy moved into the pre-quarterfinals of the $350,000 BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament here today.  Sindhu brushed aside Bulgaria’s Linda Zetchiri 21-8 21-15 in the opening round to set up a clash with Hong Kong’s Yip Pui Yin. Playing only his second tournament after recovering from an inflammation in his ankle, Prannoy defeated Spain’s Pablo Abian 21-16 21-19. The fourth-seeded Indian will face Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia tomorrow. Parupalli Kashyap saw off Canada’s Jason Anthony Ho-Shue 21-15 21-17. 

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In a first, men’s hockey team included in TOPS

In a departure from the norm, the Mission Olympic Cell today included the entire Indian hockey team in the TOP scheme, rewarding the players for their silver medal-winning performance at the Champions Trophy. It’s the first instance that an entire team has been made beneficiary of the financial assistance scheme. Each of the 18 members of the hockey team will now get a monthly allowance of Rs 50,000. A press release from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) said the women’s hockey team’s inclusion in the TOPS would depend on its performance in the upcoming World Cup and the Asian Games. — Agencies