Sports News And Tidbits

[yoyisohuni]

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[yoyisohuni]

[img] http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sites...lay/Award5.jpg [/img]

[img] http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...award-2012.jpg [/img]

[img] http://wikinewstime.com/wp-content/u...Award-2012.jpg [/img]

[SoftSword]

any news about hockey league here?
IPL team owners are interested in buying the hockey teams and india cements is one of them...

definitely a big move to promote our national game...

[satissh_r]

any news about hockey league here?
IPL team owners are interested in buying the hockey teams and india cements is one of them...

definitely a big move to promote our national game...

Field hockey solringala?

[SoftSword]

Hockey India League aims to get votes of fans

With star India midfielder Sardar Singh and five-time FIH Player of the Year Jamie Dwyer as brand ambassadors, the upcoming Hockey India League (HIL) plans to capture the imagination of fans in its inaugural edition starting early next year.

With the backing of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), and a window in the calendar, the league expects to feature the best of Indian and foreign talent.

Hockey India hopes to bring the feel-good factor back into the game after the team finished 12th at the London Olympics.

"This is one of the steps we have taken to improve the standard of hockey in the country. We did poorly at the Olympics and we are looking into the causes," Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra said at the launch of the tournament logo and introduction of the brand ambassadors.

"We also plan to have bilateral series with top sides like Australia, Germany and the Netherlands. There is also an All India University League on the anvil."

Batra said he had a clear objective about where he wants to see the Indian team over the next few years.

"I want the team to be in the top eight in world rankings in 2013, top six in 2014 and the top four in 2016. If we reach that level, with a bit of luck we can be on the Olympic podium in Rio."

The HIL is loosely based on the lines of the Indian Premier League and will have six franchises, the owners of four of which have been announced. Rajeev Shukla and Arun Jaitley, who are associated with the twenty20 cricket league, are on the HIL advisory board.

Sardar agreed that the upcoming league was a step in the right direction for Indian hockey. "Playing with the top foreign players will only improve the performance of the local players. The more experience we have of playing with and against the best players in the world, the more confidence we will get, which can only be helpful," Sardar, who was included in the FIH All-Star XI in 2010 and 2011, said.

Dwyer used to turn out in the Premier Hockey League and said that playing in India is a unique thrill. "I played here before and it is great for a hockey player. There are great crowds and great following for the sport. It will also be beneficial for Indian hockey as the players will learn a lot in a tournament like this," the Australian legend said.

Each franchise will have a roster of 24 players - 14 Indian and 10 foreign. At any given time, a team cannot field more than five foreign players. Contracts have already been signed with 90 Indian players and 14 from Pakistan.

There is a players' auction expected to be held sometime in October. The technical aspects of the tournament will be taken care of by the FIH, and Indian umpires will officiate in matches alongside foreign ones.

There will be a panel of coaches for the tournament and present India coach Michael Nobbs has the option of aligning with any particular franchise. There will be a full complement of other coaching and support staff for all the teams, Batra said.

Shukla said they have learnt from the financial problems some of the IPL franchises have faced, and had taken steps to ensure that the HIL franchises sustain their interest.

"The licence fee is much less than that in the IPL. We are not putting too much burden on the franchises to ensure that the financial model remains viable over time," he said.

Jaypee Group, owners of the Punjab franchise, said they would raise a world-class team and provide the best coaches and facilities. "We will raise a world-class team and arrange best of coaching and other facilities for our players so that they could be trained to lift the HIL Trophy," the group said in a release.


//indiatoday

[iqojoxifidoc]

மும்பையில் நடக்கும் இங்கிலாந்து அணிக்கு எதிரான இரண்டாவது கிரிக்கெட் டெஸ்ட் போட்டியின் முதல் இன்னிங்சில், முன்னணி வீரர்கள் விரைவில் ஆட்டமிழந்த போதும், இளம் வீரர் புஜாரா சிறப்பாக விளையாடி 248 பந்துகளில் சதமடித்தார். முதல் டெஸ்ட்டில் புஜாரா இரட்டை சதமடித்தது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. http://http://www.dinamalar.com/News....asp?Id=591621

[iqojoxifidoc]

1;India beat Pak; register 1st win in Lanco series

2;A lot of hard work remains to win the Test: Swann

3;Cook, Pietersen keep the Indians at bay

4;A lot of hard work remains to win the Test: Swann

hockey

India lose 3-4 to Australia, out of Lanco series final

others


Jeev overcomes news of ailing mother to equal course record

tennis
Wild card for Somdev Devvarman

foot-ball

Arsenal signs new Emirates sponsorship deal
athletics
Bolt named World Athlete of the Year
Usain Bol

Slideshow

http://http://www.thehindu.com/sport/

[raagadevan]

International Olympic Committee suspends India (?)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/s...w/17478889.cms

[raagadevan]

Suspended by International Olympic Committee, India faces ban from Olympics

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/s...w/17484320.cms

[raagadevan]

Row erupts as Saina Nehwal quits at match-point

It took her a few years; but now she has become one of India's "proud" and spoiled "elites" in sports!!! What a shame!

"Someone had booked her tickets from Hyderabad for Wednesday afternoon. If she did not want to play due to whatever reason, why did she come to Lucknow at all?"

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/s...w/17684058.cms