India File

Boxers for world championship

NEW DELHI: Three boxers have been chosen in a seven-member squad to take part in the 10th World Boxing Championship in Houston, US, from August 20 to 27. With a hectic season ahead, including the South Asian Federation Games at Kathmandu in September and the Asian meet and Olympic qualifier in October, the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation has decided not to field some stars like Bangkok Asian Games gold medallist Dingko Singh and Commonwealth Games middleweight silver winner Jitender Singh.

Lightfly Md Ali Qamar of Bengal, national featherweight champion Ramanand (Services) and the seasoned GurcharanSingh (lightheavy-Services) comprise the team.

Pia in quarters

MUMBAI: Pia Abraham saved two match balls before defeating Scotland’s Sara McDonald 9-6, 7-9, 9-3, 4-9, 10-9 and making it to the quarter-finals of the plate event at the 10th World Junior Girls’ Squash Championship at Antwerp on Wednesday. She almost squandered a 8-4 lead in the decider before regaining her composure to win 10-9.

Deepali Anvekar and Supriya Balsekar however lost their matches. Deepali lost to Australia’s Felicity Goodall 9-6, 0-9, 3-9, 2-9 in the classic plate while Supriya was crushed by Ireland’s Siobahn Parkar 4-9, 0-9, 0-9 in the consolation plate.

`No betting here’

AHMEDABAD: Betting and match-fixing were unimaginable in Indian cricket and no Indian player was involved in such practices, according to BCCI secretary JY Lele. “As cricketers in India were from different regions and speak different languages, there was little possibility for one player to ask another to throw his wicket away for aprice,” Lele said.