Pro Boxers Allowed in Rio Olympics but Will Vijender be There?
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) opened the doors for pro boxers to compete in the Rio Olympics but India’s biggest pro star Vijender Singh may not throw his hat in the mix as he hasn’t been left with any time or chance to make the cut.
A total of 26 entry places can be earned at an Olympic qualifying tournament in Venezuela next month, AIBA said.
I welcome AIBA’s decision of allowing professional boxers to compete in the Rio Olympics. I am yet to receive the formalities for this entire process. Since there is no federation in the country, I don’t know who will guide me for this entire thing. Right now I am concentrating on my 16 July title fight to be held in New Delhi.Vijender Singh
His measured response to the world body’s decision is not without ground given that the final Olympic qualifier for the Indians will be the AIBA World Qualifiers in Azerbaijan, starting June 16. The Rio Games are scheduled to start on August 5.
The team for that event has already been finalised and since Vijender was not a part of the trials held last month, he is not in the reckoning to make the cut. The strapping six-footer is already preparing for his next pro bout which leaves him with no time to pursue an Olympic berth at this stage.
.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Serena Strolls as Venus Exits Last 16 in Paris
Defending champion Serena Williams powered into the French Open quarter-finals on Wednesday, but Timea Bacsinszky dumped out sister Venus as the Swiss continued her love affair with Paris.
Serena reached the last eight at Roland Garros for the 10th time after pulverising 18th seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-1 6-1 in just over an hour on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Swiss eighth seed Bacsinszky ended any prospect of Serena facing sister Venus in the semi-finals after dumping out the elder Williams in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. Kiki Bertens reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final after defeating American 15th seed Madison Keys 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. Putintseva, 21, the youngest player left in the draw, extended her best run at a major with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Spanish 12th seed Carla Suarez Navarro.
.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Murray, Wawrinka set up Semi-final Clash as Djokovic Hits $100m
Andy Murray and defending champion Stan Wawrinka set up a French Open semi-final duel Wednesday as Novak Djokovic became the first player to smash the USD 100 million prize money barrier.
The top seed reached the quarter-finals for the 10th time by defeating 14th seeded Roberto Bautista Agut 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-5.
Second seed Murray reached the semi-finals in Paris for a fourth time by battling back to defeat the last home hope Richard Gasquet 5-7 7-6 (7/3) 6-0 6-2. Wawrinka, the 31-year-old third seed, became the oldest man since 1985 to reach the semi-finals with a 6-2 6-1 7-6 (9/7) win over Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas..
Stan’s played great tennis here the past couple years. It’s going to be extremely tough, hopefully I can play my best tennis and try and reach my first final here.Andy Murray
BCCI Seeking ‘Hindi Speaking’ Head Coach for Indian Team
The BCCI finally invited applications for the head coach of the Indian cricket team with the circular comprising a nine-point criteria including one stating a ‘desire’ to have a Hindi speaking coach.
Communication skills befitting the coach of an International team are mandatory along with the ability to effectively convey the right messages and must demonstrate proficiency in English. It is desirable to communicate in Hindi and other regional Indian languages.Point number six of the criteria.
It has been learnt that Ravi Shastri, who was team director until the World T20, will apply for the job and so will his support staff comprising Sanjay Bangar and Bharat Arun.
Messi’s Ex-advisors Absolve Him in Tax Fraud Trial
Lionel Messi’s former tax advisors came out in support of the football star Wednesday as his trial for alleged fraud continued in Barcelona, saying he never handled his wealth management.
Messi, 28, and his father Jorge Horacio Messi are accused of using a chain of fake companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid paying taxes on 4.16 million euros ($4.6 million) of Messi’s income earned through the sale of his image rights from 2007-09.
He “didn’t take any decisions and I didn’t see anyone consulting him for anything,” said Angel Juarez, one of the partners at law firm Juarez Veciana which managed Messi’s tax affairs at the time. “I don’t know if any of my correspondence has been included in the case, but they will see that Lionel Messi does not appear in any of it,” added Inigo de Loyola, another partner.
India to Take on Pakistan in Champions Trophy Opener Next Year
Defending champions India have been seeded second and will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening match of next year’s ICC Champions Trophy after the two countries were placed in the same group for the event to be held in England.
The Asian powerhouses will go head to head at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on June 4. The 18-day tournament will run from June 1 to 18 and will also see matches played at the Cardiff Wales Stadium in Cardiff and The Oval in London. A couple of days before the all-Asian clash, Australia and New Zealand will lock horns in a repeat of the World Cup 2015 final at Edgbaston.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)