Sports funds

New Delhi, Aug. 19: India plans to invest at least 10 per cent of funds for universalisation of primary education towards training children in sports to try and catch up with neighbour China.

The Centre is thinking of dedicating a section of funds from the second phase of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to sports, in a move which it hopes will also check the drop-out rate, government sources said.

Despite Abhinav Bindra’s gold winning performance at the Beijing Olympics, India ranks 41st in the official medals tally. China, the only country in the world with a comparable population, stands at the top of the tally with 43 golds and 76 total medals at the end of today’s events.

“China has shown what can be achieved if children are trained in sports from a young age. We need to learn a lesson,” said a senior official in the human resource development ministry.

Study order

Madurai (PTI): The Madurai bench of Madras High Court has directed a college to release a Class XII student’s certificates after her father ordered it to withhold the papers to deter her from studying further. Rubinisha’s mother had moved the court after her father, who was opposed to the education of Muslim women, persuaded Seethalakshmi Aachi Women’s College to keep back her marksheet and transfer certificate.

SEZ hearing

New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court will hear on August 26 petitions from all over India challenging setting up of special economic zones on agriculture land. A bench headed by Justice C.K. Thakker has deferred the hearing as the Centre, Haryana, Gujarat, Bengal and Rajasthan had failed to file their replies.

Shoot bid

Mumbai (PTI): Two persons tried to shoot a jeweller in suburban Borivli and fled after the weapon misfired, police said. The jeweller, Acharya, was leaving his home when the duo threatened him with a gun.

Bull death

Krishnagiri (PTI): A bull chased by a pack of stray dogs fell into a dry well and died, police said. The bull was yoked to a farmer’s plough when the dogs started barking at it. The bull broke free, started running and fell into the 80ft-deep well.