Jitender stripped of medal

New Delhi: Taekwondo player Jitender Verma was Wednesday stripped of the bronze medal he won in the Jharkhand National Games besides being banned for two years after he was found guilty of doping by the Nada disciplinary panel. His sample collected by Nada officials during the 34th National Games, held in Ranchi, in February, was found positive due to adverse analytical finding for Methylhexaneamine stimulant.

Tennis points

Paris: Ranking points will be awarded at the London Olympics tennis tournament to ensure the highest number of top players take part in an event sandwiched into a crowded schedule, it was announced Wednesday. It will be the fourth successive Olympics that points will be given, the International Tennis Federation and the ATP said in a joint statement.

Jaini in lead

Pune: Delhi’s Manav Jaini shot a five-under 66 to establish a two-stroke lead in the first round of the PGTI Players Championship here Wednesday. Abhishek Jha of Bangalore, Chandigarh’s Gurbaaz Mann and Sri Lankan BG Lalith Kumara are in tied second at three under 68.

Hockey meet

Mumbai: The youngsters from Jammu & Kashmir gave a scintillating display by trouncing Tripura 12-3 in their opening group league encounter at the Junior National Hockey Championship (U-17), being held in Mumbai.

Sam is coach

London: Sam Allardyce joined West Ham as manager on Wednesday, charged with leading the East London club back into the Premier League. The former Bolton and Newcastle manager said he could lead the newly relegated side back to the topflight, but warned fans that his team will not always play the attractive style of football associated with the Hammers.

Barca interest

Barcelona: Barcelona is reportedly interested in bolstering their Champions League-winning squad with Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi. Rossi’s agent Federico Pastorello said the Villarreal forward was interested after being approached by the Spanish champion.

ACSU role

Calcutta: The ICC Wednesday announced that India’s Yogendra Pal Singh was appointed as the new Head of the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU). Yogendra Pal Singh, 55, takes over from Ravi Sawani, who is retiring from that full-time post after holding it since November 2007. Sawani will remain involved with the ACSU as a consultant.

CA move

Calcutta: Cricket Australia’s Playing Conditions Committee (PCC) has recommended the full CA Board consider restoring the Ryobi Cup to a non-split innings, 50-over format to reflect the likelihood that the 2015 World Cup, to be played in Australia and New Zealand, will be played in that format, and to reflect lack of ICC support for a split innings format.

       Staff Reporter &        Agencies