India File

Ferreira cries foulMUMBAI: Three-time World champion Micheal Ferreira today termed the forthcoming Melbourne Amateur World Billiards Cham...

Ferreira cries foul

MUMBAI: Three-time World champion Micheal Ferreira today termed the forthcoming Melbourne Amateur World Billiards Championship as a farce since the organisers have fixed their own rules to faciliate home players winning the title.

The Australian Billiards and Snooker Association got the nod from the international federation to permit only their own player, fifth ranked Robbie Foldvari, to play in the event to be held in the third week of August while barring the other top seven professional players in the world. This include world No 1 and 2 England8217;s Mike Russel and India8217;s former champion Geet Sethi respectively.

India will field a four-player team consisting of current national No 2 B Bhaskar, Shyam Jagtiani and Prem Prakash. Former National champion Arvind Savur will accompany the team as coach.

Kudos for Usha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Assembly today congratulated PT Usha and her teammates on winning a gold medal in the 4x100m relay of the AsianChampionships at Fukuoka in Japan.

Making a special mention, speaker M Vijayakumar termed PT Usha as a 8220;wonder phenomenon8221; and said the State was proud of her. Congress I Legislature Party deputy leader G Karthikeyan raised the issue in the house.

Nagaland shocked

PONDICHERRY: Underdogs Punjab caused a major upset when it edged out defending champions Nagaland to enter the semifinals of the 47th BN Mullik Memorial All-India Police Football Championship, alongwith Kerala, Central Industrial Security Force and Border Security Force.

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In the quarter-finals played here today Punjab drubbed Nagaland 4-0 with Narendra Kumar scoring twice and Kuldip Singh and Jandir Singh scoring one goal each for Punjab.

Madras champs

PUNE: International Benjamin Siddhi of Madras Sappers was declared the best pugilist in the fourth Army Open boxing championship which concluded at the Army School of Physical Training here today.

Kamaljit Singh of Bombay Sappers was adjudged the best loser in the meet.Madras Sappers Bangalore secured 57 points to claim the team championship, while Gorkha Regiment 31 and Signals 28 finished second and third respectively.

Delhi races

NEW DELHI: For the first time in its 76 year8217;s history, the Delhi Race Club DRC will conduct five races of a million rupees each at stake this season.

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Talking to newspersons, Delhi Race Club DRC president PS Bedi said that total stake money which will be offered in the club this season is over Rs 2 crore 38 lakhs as compared to about Rs 2 crores 21 lakhs.

He said the million rupees races have been framed for 2-3 years old horses and that 35 trainers and 50 jockeys have been licenced for the forthcoming season.