In Brief

In a TV interview, Pele, 58, said he resisted pressure and threats from Brazil8217;s ruling generals to play. 8220;I had left the National team in 8217;71, and in 8217;74 I was in good shape. But that story about torture made me desist,8221; Pele said on Sunday on the Bandeirantes TV network. 8220;The military tried to force me,8221; he added. 8220;I was pressured with tax questions, but I decided to stick to my position.8221;

Martina nominated

NEWPORT: Martina Navratilova heads the nominees to be voted on for election to the international tennis Hall of Fame next year.

The Hall8217;s enshrinee nominating committee selected Navratilova, Malcolm Anderson, Nancye Wynn Bolton and Mervyn Rose to be included on the ballot in the player category. Robert Kelleher and the late Derek Hardwick were nominated for theircontributions to tennis.

Athletes fired at?

JOHANNESBURG: Gunfire rang out near a bus carrying All Africa Games AAG athletes back to the village to the north of Johannesburg here.Police spokesman Mark Reynolds said about eight shots were heard at about 5.50 pm local time on Tuesday as the highway patrol was escorting a bus carrying athletes and officials.

Aravinda praised

NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka had erred in dropping Aravinda de Silva from the One-day squad in the tri-nation Aiwa Cup, and he will become one of the key factors in the team8217;s performance in the Sharjah Cup next month, Roy Dias said.

The veteran has proved his mettle in the first Test match against Australia which the home team won by six wickets, Dias said.

Chetan for Europe

VIJAYAWADA: Air-India8217;s Chetan Anand and Andhra Pradesh8217;s G Jwala will represent India in three tournaments in Europe, according to Badminton Association of India joint secretary Punnaiah Choudary on Wednesday. A 15-day coaching campOctober 10-25 will be held at Sports Authority of India8217;s Southern centre at Bangalore.

Team Men: Madhur Kalia Delhi, Abhishek Bakshi Air-India, Arup Baidya Railways. Reserves: Thomas Kurien Kerala, A Prithivi AP.

Women: Parul Priyadharshini Railways. Reserves: Ketki Thakar A-I, Trupti Murgvude A-I. Coach: Sanjay Sharma.

Itinerary: Hungarian International, Budapest Oct 28-31, Norwegian International, Moss Nov 4-7, Toulouse Open, Toulouse, Nov 12-14.

BAI meeting

VIJAYAWADA: The rules revision committee, formed by Badminton Association of India, with SS Mani as convener, will meet on November 18 at NSCI, Mumbai, to discuss the revision of rules in conducting various tournaments in India. The other members are: LC Gupta Hon secretary, Punnaiah Choudary joint secretary, South, SV Nattu joint secretary, West, Girish Nattu.

Azhar shines

HYDERABAD: Deposed Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, who has been at the receivingend of late, struck form at last, missing the three-figure mark by just four runs. But his effort proved futile as India Pistons notched up a comfortable six-wicket win to seal Hyderabad XI8217;s fate, thus making it to the last four of Coromandel King Moin-ud-Dowlah cricket tournament at the ECIL ground on Wednesday.

Brief scores: Hyderabad 253 in 49.1 overs Mohd Azharuddin 96 11215;4, 1215;6; Ritender Singh Sodhi 2-48 lost to Indian Pistons 254-4 in 41 overs Sathyajit Medappa 92 12215;4, R Sodhi 86 n.o. 8215;4.

Chemplast 260-9 in 50 overs Madan Gopal 112, Muthu Pandi 32; Fatima Reddy 3-55, Kanwaljit Singh 3-43 bt Hyderabad President8217;s XI 153-6 in 50 overs Santosh Yadav 52 n.o, Raghuram 37.