Indian sports news wrap, February 13

FOOTBALL

Sreenidi Deccan takes on TRAU

Sreenidi Deccan Football Club takes on Tiddim Road Athletic Union (TRAU) Football Club of Manipur in a at the Deccan Arena stadium here on Wednesday.

The Deccan Warriors are currently fourth in points table but a victory could take them up to second place while TRAU are languishing at the bottom.

Sreenidi Deccan left it very late to snatch a winner against Churchill Brothers last time and Vaz Pinto acknowledged the importance of such a morale boost.

“It showed me that the players were ready to fight until the final whistle and also kept their focus to stick to the game plan, keeping possession and winning second balls,” head coach Carlos Vaz Pinto said.

Sreenidi Deccan found itself seven points adrift of I-League leader Mohammedan SC at the mid-season break but a win here could see them close the gap to two points.

 “We can only focus on what is in our control and that is our own game plan. The league is a marathon where all matches are difficult so it is important to be consistent and keep picking up points.” said Vaz Pinto.

Sreenidi Deccan trounced TRAU 5-0 in the corresponding fixture earlier this season but Vaz Pinto is not taking anything for granted.

“They have a very good coach who deserved to win the Best Coach Award last season for what he achieved with the resources at his disposal. They have not had the best of seasons but they have the ability to turn it around and we need to prepare for that,” he said.

Midfielder Brandon signed from Punjab FC on the January transfer window deadline day and the two-time I-League champion is looking forward to make his debut for Sreenidi Deccan.

“I am excited to be here. Everyone is very friendly and gives their best to be successful. We must treat every game like a final if we are to win,” he said.

-V.V. Subrahmanyam

SHOOTING

Shotgun World Cup: Sekhon, Battula pair placed 14th in mixed skeet

The pair of Ganemat Sekhon and Munek Battula shot 140 and placed 14th in mixed skeet in the Shotgun World Cup in Rabat, Morocco, on Monday.

The other Indian team of Areeba Khan and Abhay Singh Sekhon shot 134 for the 19th spot.

Earlier, in men’s skeet, Sheeraz Sheikh scored 120 out of 125 and missed the final by one point. He placed 11th, after shooting 24 in each of the five rounds.

Abhay Singh (116) and Munek Battula (109) were 32nd and 62nd respectively.

In women’s skeet, Ganemat Sekhon shot 114 for the 12th spot. She missed the final by three points. The other Indian shooter, Areeba Khan (107) was 27th.

– Team Sportstar

GOLF

Arjun Prasad fires 62 for opening round honours

Delhi golfer Arjun Prasad scored an exceptional eight-under 62 to take sole lead in the first round at the Tata Steel PGTI Players’ Championship at the Tollygunge Club course here on Tuesday.

Defending champion Sachin Baisoya (63) was a shot behind in second place.

The scores (first round): 62-Arjun Prasad; 63-Sachin Baisoya; 64-Stepan Danek, Udayan Mane, Karan Pratap Singh, Mohammad Sanju; 65-Manav Bais, Anirudh Kamireddypalli, Mani Ram, Samarth Dwivedi, Rahil Gangjee, Manu Gandas.

– Team Sportstar

ATHLETICS

AIU slaps 12-year suspension on hammer thrower Rachna Kumar

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has suspended hammer thrower Rachna Kumari for 12 years for a second anti-doping rule violation.

Rachna returned positive results for multiple anabolic androgenic steroids in samples collected out of competition at Patiala on September 24 and on November 1 at the National Games last year.

Rachna had earlier served a four-year suspension from 2015 to 2019. Her current suspension began on November 24 last.

In another doping case, quartermiler Nirmala Sheoran has been handed an eight-year suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for a second doping violation. She reportedly tested positive for anabolic androgenic steroids and testosterone. She was earlier suspended for four years in 2018

-Y.B.Sarangi