India file

Dani no more
NASHIK: Former international cricketer Hemchandra Tukaram alias Bal Dani died in sleep early after a prolongedillness, according to family sources. He was 66.

A former member in the panel of National selectors, Dani, a medium pace bowler, played one Test against Pakistan at the age of 19 in Mumbai.

He captained Services and North Zone, had 15 Ranji Trophy centuries and took over 400 wickets for Services. He was manager, selector and coach of Maharashtra from 1989-97. He retired as Air Commodore in 1987.

National academy
CHENNAI: The BCCI has fixed May 2000 as the month from which the National Cricket Academy, to be based in Bangalore, would start functioning.

A C Muthiah, BCCI president, said the working committee meeting had discussed the recommendations of the three-member committee, headed by Raj Singh Dungarpur set up for the purpose and decided to establish five zonal academies after the academy was set up.

The academy’s functioning would be based on a report by Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev who would gather information from the Australian Cricket Academy. Venues for the zonal academies wouldalso be spotted later, he said.

Ahlawat gets gold
CHENNAI: Lt Col SS Ahlawat (ASC), astride Toquade, rode a clear round (1.70m) in the final NEC show-jumping puissance round on the fourth day of UI Insurance National Equestrian Championships to claim gold.
Results: NEC dressage sub-juniors: Amar Sarin (Pegasus) on Tulsi, Ashwin Reddy (NPA) on Amanda, Aditya Ahuja (ARC) on Prowler.
NEC show jumping normal-intermediate grade: Ram Kishan (RVC-H) on Royal Challenge, Sundeep Dewan (61st Cavalry) on Mr Sam, Gulab Singh (RVC-M) on Sunbeam. NEC show jumping top score-novice grade: JP Masih (RVC) on Multan, Bhagirath (RVC) on Sagar, Dinesh Kumar(RVC) on Ojasti. NEC show jumping puissance (advanced grade): SS Ahlawat (ASC) on Toquade, Sundeep Dewan (Assam Rifles) on Master, Shailendra Singh (61st Cavalry) on Tulip.

Ritwik champ
CALCUTTA: Ritwik Bhattacharya beat Navnit Narain 10-8, 9-7, 9-5 to win the East India Squash Championship at the Calcutta Racket Club.Varun Kataruka defeated Rahul Suri 3-9, 9-3, 9-1, 6-9, 9-1 to claim the boys’ under-19 title.

In the over-35 years, R S Brar won the title defeating J L Shrestha 9-4, 9-2, 9-2.

Sports scholarship
NEW DELHI: Around two lakh sportspersons will be covered by a nationwide census to provide them with training and scholarships, according to Sports Minister Ananth Kumar. The government has embarked on a census to identify qualified sportspersons from the district level and above, Kumar said.

Usha School
KOZHIKODE: A new athletics coaching centre in the name of the P T Usha will come up at Koyilandy near here to impart long-term free physical training for those under 12 years of age.

— ENS and Agencies