Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has ordered an inquiry into reports that a member of the country's A team caused a mid-air panic in an inebriated state while on a British Airways flight.
     SLC has not named the cricketer but according to ESPN Cricinfo, the concerned player was 21-year old opening batsman Ramith Rambukwella.
     "...Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce that it is disappointed to hear of such an incident and SLC will discuss with the Manager of Sri Lanka 'A' Team. An inquiry will be conducted based on the Manager's report and disciplinary action will be taken on the player concerned if found guilty," a SLC statement said.
     Media reports said a drunken Sri Lankan cricketer caused panic on a packed British Airways flight when he tried to open the cabin door at 35,000ft.
     The Sri Lanka A team was on a tour of the West Indies playing two four-day 'Tests' and 50-over and Twenty20 internationals.
     ESPNcricinfo revealed the name of the players on their twitter page.
   

Lankan player causes mid-air panic, SLC orders inquiry

PTI Automatic

Top seeded Indian Grand Master Parimarjan Negi won the Continental Chess Association Open title, his third of the season, after pipping his nearest rival Bindi Cheng by 1.5 points, here.
     The young Indian Negi ended the tournament, featuring six GMs, unbeaten with 7.5 points after nine rounds.
     Negi won six rounds and drew the remaining three to finish 1.5 points ahead of Canadian International Master Cheng, who won six rounds, lost one and drew two.
     Before this, Negi had won the Spring open in Dallas, Texas, in March and was Joint winner at the Cappelle de Grande in France in February.
     American Grand Master Konrad Holt from Kansas was third with 6.5 points, winning six rounds, drawing two and losing the other one.
     Negi will next play the World Open 2013, starting Wednesday at the same venue. He was the joint winner of the tournament in 2008 when it was played in Philadelphia, US.

Negi wins Continental Chess Open title in Washington

Star Qatari high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim has pulled out of the 20th Asian Athletics Championships due to a back strain, taking the sheen off the continental showpiece event which has already seen pull-outs by some of the top draws.
     "Off for a while, Out from Birmingham DL (Diamond League) and the Asian championship, back injury," Barshim, the 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist and current world leader, wrote on his Twitter page.
     A Qatari official said Barshim wanted to compete in the here but had to think about avoiding aggravating his injury in view of next month's World Championships in Moscow.
     "He wanted to compete in the Asian Championships but he has to think over the situation that he may aggravate his injury and World Championships is next month," he said.
     The 22-year-old Barshim, who is also the defending champion, was one among the very few star attractions left in the Championships, which starts here tomorrow, after some top athletes of the ...

Further depletion of star athletes, Qatari Barshim pulls out

Dragflicker Sandeep Singh and forward Shivendra Singh were the notable omissions in the list of 48 Indian probables announced today for next month's Asia Cup in Malaysia.
     Sandeep, who was picked for the World League Round 3 (Semi-Final) played at Rotterdam, Netherlands last month, was dropped yet again after India's dismal show in the event.
     Shivendra also failed to fins favour in the list of probables, who will train in Bangalore from July 16 to August 16.
      The Asia Cup, which is into its ninth edition, will be held in Ipoh from August 24 to September 1.
     Hockey India Selectors B P Govinda, Savitri Purty, Chief Coach Michael Nobbs and Scientific Advisor Jason Konrath alongwith Government Observer Harbinder Singh selected the core probables.
     India is placed in pool B with Korea, Bangladesh and Oman while Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan and Chinese-Taipei are in Pool A.
     The Asia Cup is also the qualification tournament for the FIH Men's World Cup to be played in .

Sandeep, Shivendra dropped from probables list for Asia Cup

The upcoming Ranji Trophy matches will be played only during weekends and the gap between the fixtures will be four days after the third game, the BCCI announced today.
     BCCI's Tour Programme and Fixtures Committee met at the Cricket Centre here yesterday to finalise the domestic cricket schedule for the 2013-14 season.
     The committee decided to implement the decisions taken by the Technical Committee in its previous meeting which included every team will play four 'home' and four 'away' games in the Ranji league phase.
     "The Tour Programme and Fixtures Committee of the BCCI met at the Cricket Centre in Mumbai, on Monday, 1 July 2013, to finalise the domestic cricket schedule for the 2013-14 season. The detailed tournament schedule will be displayed on www.Bcci.Tv on Monday, 8 July 2013," said the release from BCCI's secretary Sanjay Patel.
     Other decisions of the Technical Committee will also be implemented during the upcoming Ranji Trophy season which include that ...

BCCI schedules Ranji matches on weekends in 2013-14 season

Acceding to the demands from the archers, the Archery Association of India (AAI) today decided to shift the national camp out from Army Sports Institute (ASI) in Pune to Sports Authority of India, Aurangabad for remainder of the season.
     "The archers will now train in Aurangabad till the World Championships in October," said AAI assistant secretary Gunjan Abrol.
     The camp has been shifted from ASI after women archers requested change in venue which was marred by suicide of archer Pratima Boro followed by an alleged sexual misconduct case in the facilty.
     A request to the SAI director general to shift the camp was made on grounds of no separate hostel for women archers.
     "The ASI had excellent facilities but there was no other choice, he said.
     "Being a SAI campus, there would be hostels in Aurangabad and once the camp gathers pace, the archery infrastructure will develop," he added.
     A total of 48 archers would take part in the camp.
     The camp has ...

National archery camp shifted to Aurangabad

Pacer Ravi Rampaul was today replaced by Jason Holder in the West Indies cricket team for the second leg of the ODI tri-series against India and Sri Lanka after he sprained his ankle in the opening game.
     West Indies, who have beaten both India and Sri Lanka in their first two matches here, will now travel to Port of Spain in Trinidad for the second half of the tournament.
     Rampaul did not play the team's second match, against India, along with skipper Dwayne Bravo, who was nursing a groin injury but is expected to be fit for the upcoming matches starting with the one against India on Friday.
     Holder made his debut during the team's tour of Australia earlier this year and was also picked for the Champions Trophy squad. But the youngster warmed the benches during the tournament in which the team failed to go beyond the group stage.
     West Indies Squad: Dwayne Bravo (capt), Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle, Johnson Charles, Kieron Pollard, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin, Devon ...

Holder replaces injured Rampaul in WI team for tri-series

Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Manoj Kumar (64kg) gave India a perfect start at the Asian Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan by thrashing local favourite Ibrahim Saleh in the opening round.
     The 26-year-old Indian, a silver medallist at the recent Limassol Boxing Cup in Cyprus, Lac Mohamed Dilshan of Sri Lanka tomorrow in his pre-quarterfinal bout.
     In the first round, Manoj surprised the short but strong local lad with his aggressive intent and pace.
     Making full use of his height, the Indian dominated the proceedings through the bout, never allowing Saleh to play his natural game.
     By the end of the final round, Manoj had the clear advantage with fatigue setting in on the Jordanian boxer. Manoj entered the round of 16 with victory by virtue of a unanimous decision.
     Later today, Jagroop Singh (81kg) will make his debut at the Asian Championships against Uzbekistan's Boburbek Yuldashev.
     Reigning national champion in the light weight division Vikas Malik 

India off to winning start at Asian C'ships

Former national hockey coach Joaquim Carvalho today hit out at the performance of his successor Michael Nobbs, saying the Australian has not done anything worthwhile to galvanise the sagging fortunes of the team in his two-year-old tenure.
     "He has shown no improvement in the Indian team. A good coach needs to come up with good strategies against specific opponents, should have good management and communication skills as well as ability to read the game. He is no coach," Carvalho told PTI.
     However, Carvalho's former India and Mumbai teammate Mervyn Fernandis has questioned frequent changes of coaches.
     "I do not believe in talking about coaching. That's my personality. We have made so many changes, brought in foreign coaches after using Indians, but where have all these changes got us to? And before making any change we should see what are the other options," Fernandis said.
     Nobbs, under whom India finished 12th with the wooden spoon in the London Olympic Games last .

Carvalho slams Nobbs' performance as hockey coach

Known for his sound technique and insatiable appetite for runs, Cheteshwar Pujara believes he has it in himself to succeed Rahul Dravid at the crucial number three position in the Test side and says comparison with his childhood idol acts as a "morale-booster".
     "It's a big compliment for me (comparison with Dravid) because someone who has been successful in Indian cricket and someone who has been called 'The Wall' of the Indian cricket, if you are compared with that person, it's a morale-booster for me and increases my confidence," Pujara told PTI in an interview.
     "He is one of my childhood idols. I try and learn as many things as possible from him. Unfortunately, he has retired now but whenever I had the opportunity to play alongside Dravid, I always enjoyed his company, the way he used to guide me, the way he used to give me tips, it was always motivating for me," he said.
     Seen by many as one who could go on to be an able successor to the former great, Pujara has an ..

Comparison with Dravid is a morale-booster for me: Pujara

He has been with the Indian cricket team through some of its most memorable triumphs and long-serving manager Ranjib Biswal feels the side's good run of the past two-three years has a lot to do with the influx of small-town boys.
     Biswal, who was the team's manager during the 2011 World Cup, the 2012 Asia Cup and the recent Champions trophy, said cricketers from small towns were making an impact was a good sign for the game.
     "Those who stay in metros are overconfident. I appreciate the boys from small town, they  don't have fear in them. They are there to prove something but the boys from metros get laidback. See the performance of Umesh Yadav, (Ravindra) Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, they are all from small towns which proves cricket is not a game of metros only," said Biswal.
     Biswal was a team selector when Mahendra Singh Dhoni led Team India to the first Twenty20 World Championships in 2007. Having seen Dhoni grow and evolve as a captain, Biswal said he is the best ...

Cricket has moved from metros to small towns: Ranjib Biswal

The Indian under-19 cricket team produced a fine all-round performance to outplay Australia and notch a 47-run win in its opening match of the ongoing tri-nation series at Marrara Oval here today.
     India's bowlers got the better of Australia, sparking a dramatic collapse late in the day. Australia appeared on track to reach India's total of 221, before losing six wickets for 19 runs to be all out for 174.
     Ben McDermott was the only Aussie batsman to offer a fight with a half-century, while the remainder of Australia's line-up was stifled by India's impressive bowling.
     Kuldeep Yadav led the way with figures of 3/19 after opener Ankush Bains sparkled with a 100-ball 64 which included five fours and a six. Skipper Vijay Zol also displayed impressive form with a 63-ball 46, studded with six fours.
     Earlier, Australia won the toss and elected to bowl on what looked to be a variable wicket.
     India's openers proved up to the task, looking ominous early and untroubled by 

India beat Australia in Under-19 tri-series

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has ordered an inquiry into reports that an unnamed member of the country's A team player misbehaved on a British Airways flight while being drunk.
     "...Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce that it is disappointed to hear of such an incident and SLC will discuss with the Manager of Sri Lanka 'A' Team. An inquiry will be conducted based on the Manager's report and disciplinary action will be taken on the player concerned if found guilty," a SLC statement said.
     Media reports said a drunken Sri Lankan cricketer caused panic on a packed British Airways flight when he tried to open the cabin door at 35,000ft.
     The Sri Lanka A team was on a tour of the West Indies playing two four-day 'Tests' and 50-over and Twenty20 internationals.

SLC orders inquiry into drunken player on flight incident

Nothing much to show for at the international scene for the past few years, India will seek to re-establish itself as a continental power in athletics when the 20th Asian Athletics Championships begins here tomorrow.
     With a record participation of 577 athletes from 43 countries out of 45 members in the Asian Athletics Association -- the highest ever in the history of the championships -- India is looking to regain some of the lost ground in the five-day flagship event of the AAA, to be held at the Shiv Chhatrapati Stadium at Balewadi here.
     The biggest ever gathering of Asian track and field athletes include London Olympics bronze medallist high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar, former 1500m world champion and Olympic medallist Mariyam Jamal of Bahrain and India's Sudha Singh and Vikas Gowda.
     India is being represented by a record 107 athletes as it has the luxury of naming three participants in each of the 42 events (21 each for men and women). The event also assumes .

India seek to establish Asian power status

Dragflicker Sandeep Singh was today dropped from the list of 48 Indian probables, for next month's Asia Cup in Malaysia, who will train in Bangalore from July 16 to August 16.
     Sandeep, who was picked for the World League Round 3 (Semi-Final) played at Rotterdam, Netherlands lats month, was dropped yet again after India's dismal show in the event.
      The Asia Cup, which is into its ninth edition, will be held in Ipoh from August 24 to September 1.
     Hockey India Selectors B P Govinda, Savitri Purty, Chief Coach Michael Nobbs and Scientific Advisor Jason Konrath alongwith Government Observer Harbinder Singh selected the core probables.
     India is placed in pool B with Korea, Bangladesh and Oman while Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan and Chinese-Taipei are in Pool A.
     The Asia Cup is also the qualification tournament for the FIH Men's World Cup to be played in The Hague, The Netherlands from May 31 to June 15 next year.
     The list of 48 senior men core probables includes ...

Sandeep dropped from probables list for Asia Cup

Ashley Westwood, who started his career as a trainee at the Manchester United Academy in the mid 90s, has been appointed coach of Jindal Sport's newly-owned Bangalore-based club for the upcoming I-League season.
     One of the two latest entrants in the I-League, JSW Sports issued a statement on the appointment of the 36-year-old former English footballer who, after graduating from the Man U academy, went on to play for more than 15 clubs before culminating with a stint at Portsmouth.
     "JSW Sports has appointed former Manchester United player Ashley Westwood as coach of the club for the upcoming I-League season," the club said in a statement.
     Westwood said he was looking forward to the opportunity.
     "This was too exciting a prospect to turn down. I have been around for a fair bit of time on the English football scene and the chance to change things in this part of the world is a challenge I will relish," said Westwood.
     A defender in his playing days, Westwood began .

Former Man U graduate appointed JSW's coach

Pakistan-born leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed today had his bid for Australian citizenship accepted, making him eligible to play in the upcoming Ashes series in England.
     The former refugee, 31, played for Australia A last month in England and selector John Inverarity has indicated he will be considered for the Ashes squad.
     Ahmed described his experience as "unbelievable".
     "I still can't believe this and it's a great honour for me," he said.
     "Now I am a citizen and now I can really concentrate on my cricket and can look to my bright future in cricket."
     Ahmed returned home from England in June after the government moved a bill through the upper house of parliament to amend the Citizenship Act to help fast-track his application.
     The legislation allows the immigration minister to apply shorter residential requirements on some citizenship applicants, such as elite athletes with the potential to represent Australia, as in Ahmed's case.
     Ahmed thanked the government 

Pakistan-born Ahmed can be an Aussie

Facing a revolt from teams over exploding tires at the British Grand Prix, Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone on Monday gave tire supplier Pirelli the green light to run tests to resolve the problem.
     Ecclestone said he spoke to International Automobile Federation (FIA) President Jean Todt, who agreed for the tire manufacturer to undertake unrestricted tests on a date yet to be arranged. One possibility would be replacing next month's young drivers' test at Silverstone for the tire tests.
     "(Pirelli) said they'd like to sort it out, but they don't have a chance to do any testing because of these bloody silly restrictions we have," Ecclestone said of the FIA ban on in-season testing.
     "But I spoke to Jean Todt over the weekend and he has said, 'Let them test.' So he has allowed them to run two three-day tests between now and, well, when they want, to try and do something for next year, as well as this year."
     The move to allow testing comes a day after drivers, ...

Ecclestone: Pirelli to have 2 3-day tests on tires

India's Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna breezed into the quarters and pre-quarterfinals of the men's and mixed doubles events with their respective partners at the Wimbledon here.
     The fourth seeded pair of Paes and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek teamed up to knock out Polish duo Lukasz Kubot and Marcin Matkowski 6-4 6-2 6-4 in the third round of the men's doubles event at the All England Club.
     Bopanna paired up with Chinese Jie Zheng to post a straigh-set 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 win over Robert Farah of Columbia and Darija Jurak of Croatia in the second round of the mixed doubles event.
     While Paes and Stepanek took 38, 33 and 40 minutes in the three sets to get the better of their opponents, Bopanna and Zheng nedded 50 and 35 minutes to clear the hurdle.
     Paes and Stepanek had 19 winners to their opponents' 8 while the Bopanna-Zheng had 17 winners to their opponents' 6.
     Sania Mirza and her partner Horia Tecau of Romania, seeded second, is scheduled to take on German ...

Paes, Bopanna advance in Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray edged closer to an epic Wimbledon final showdown while Poland played Grand Slam gatecrashers by guaranteeing at least a semi-final spot.
     World number one Djokovic, the 2011 champion, dropped his serve for the first time at this year's tournament before beating Tommy Haas, the 35-year-old German 13th seed, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in the fourth round.
     Djokovic will be playing in his 17th successive Grand Slam quarter-final where he will face Tomas Berdych, the seventh seed and 2010 runner-up, who beat Australia's Bernard Tomic, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-4.
    	Djokovic boasts a 13-2 career record over Berdych but lost to him at Wimbledon in 2010.
	"Haas is always a tough opponent. I had lost to him twice on grass before. He has great variety in his game and I always knew it would be a tough challenge," said Djokovic, who fired 13 aces and 40 winners.
	"It was never going to be easy. I had to work for my games but I served well and returned well. .

Djokovic, Murray close in on final, Poland joins party

A sports administrator who helped Qatar send its first female athletes to the Olympics received the IOC's top award for women in sports on Monday.
	Ahlam Salem Mubarak Al Mana was awarded the annual World Trophy today for her work as president of the Qatar Women's Sport Committee.
	The International Olympic Committee called her "a pioneer for women's rights in Qatar" and said she "has played an active role in popularizing sports among schoolgirls" in the Gulf country.
	The IOC said Al Mana also played an "integral role" in the participation of four Qatari female athletes at last year's London Olympics, the first time Qatar sent women athletes to the games.
	"Concerned about the lack of coaches in Qatar, she took an active role in promoting teachers from different schools into coaching positions and appointed overseas coaches for various sports teams in the country," the IOC said.
	Women from five continents also received awards for promoting gender equality.

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