India's Seema Tomar records her second best, finishes fifth at International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup

Seema Tomar from India came fifth at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup being held in San Marino.

India's trap shooter Seema Tomar recorded her second best finish in a World Cup ever as she came fifth in the Women's Trap event on day one at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup for Shotgun, which got underway in the tiny European republic of San Marino on Friday.

The former World Cup silver medallist shot a terrific 72 out of 75, which was her best qualification score in a World Cup, to be one of six women to reach the final rounds. Seema's score was second best and only one less than Emma Elizabeth Cox's 73. While Seema could not then qualify for the medal matches and bowed out in fifth position, the Australian Emma eventually landed the Gold medal.

On Saturday, in the Men's Trap event, Kynan Chenai was the best finishing Indian among three, as he shot 117 to end in 24th place ahead of his compatriot Prithviraj Tondaiman, who shot the same score but was placed 28th. Manavjit Singh Sandhu, the most experienced of the three, came into his own in the last round of shots with a perfect 25, but having started poorly, could only manage a score of 115 to finish in the 38th place.

Kynan and Manavjit are preparing for this year's Olympics to be held in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janerio in August.

Nita Ambani nominated to IOC

IOC is the supreme authority of the Olympic Movement and is responsible for holding of the summer and winter Olympics and Paralympics.

Nita Ambani has been nominated for membership in the International Olympic Committee. (Source: BCCI)

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s wife Nita Ambani has been nominated for membership in the International Olympic Committee and will become the first Indian woman to be on the apex sporting body if she gets elected at the IOC Session scheduled from August 2 to 4.

The Switzerland-based IOC is the supreme authority of the Olympic Movement and is responsible for holding of the summer and winter Olympics and Paralympics.

“Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation has been nominated as a candidate to be a new member, pending election, of the IOC,” a statement said.

The election will be held at the 129th IOC Session in Rio de Janeiro on August 2-4.

The independent selection process follows a new procedure for recruitment of IOC members based on the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations.

Once elected, she will continue to be a member until the age of 70.

Ambani is the first Indian woman to be nominated to the IOC.

Sir Dorabji Tata was the first Indian representative in the IOC while Raja Randhir Singh is currently a honorary member of the IOC and he was a member from 2000-2014.

Technically, as per the Olympic Charter and the IOC rules, the category under which Ambani is being considered is the one for volunteers who represent the IOC and Olympic Movement in their country.

They are not delegates of their country within the IOC.

The retirement age for such nominees is until they reach 70 years.

Since December 1999, the number of members has been limited to 115, which includes a maximum of 70 individual members, 15 active athletes, 15 representatives of the International Federations, and 15 representatives of the NOCs.

The term of office of members is 70 years for those whose election took place after 1999.

The 70 IOC members (excluding those from International Federations, athletes and representations of National Olympic Committee) are volunteers who represent the IOC and Olympic Movement in their country.

New members are elected by the IOC Session.

Each candidature file is analysed by the IOC Nominations Commission, then forwarded to the Executive Board.

The latter submits its proposals to the Session, which elects new members by secret ballot.

Ambani said, “I believe in the power of sport to shape our youth, to bring together communities and bridge gaps between cultures and generations. I am grateful to IOC for this opportunity, it’s a recognition of India and Indian women. I am looking forward to the opportunity to contribute in meeting the goals of IOC.”

Her nomination is acknowledgement of her work at the grassroots and in promoting education and sports.

Sushil Kumar misused public money, alleges WFI; judgment on June 6 .

WFI alleged that Sushil Kumar 'misused public money' by training away from the Indian team in Georgia
The judgement in Sushil-Narsingh case would be announced on June 6. (Source: File)

In the latest twist in the ongoing Sushil Kumar vs Narsingh Yadva saga, Wrestling Federation of India has alleged that Sushil Kumar ‘misused public money’ during his Georgia training.

In March, Indian wrestlers were sent for a training camp in Georgia but Sushil didn’t train with the team.

• He was training 40 kms away from the camp with the Georgian wrestling team. He defended his decision saying “if I had to train with Indian wrestlers, I could have done that in India only. I get to train with better Georgian wrestlers.”
  
  14 RetweetHe was training 40 kms away from the camp with the Georgian wrestling team. He defended his decision saying “if I had to train with Indian wrestlers, I could have done that in India only. I get to train with better Georgian wrestlers.”

During the hearing on Thursday in Delhi High Court WFI alleged that Sushil ‘misappropriated public money’ by training away from the Indian team.

• 3 Retweets6 like

The case has ended and the judgment will be pronounced on Monday, June 6. Sushil had filed a petition in Delhi HC seeking trails in the 74 kg category for a spot in the Rio Olympics team. Narsingh has won the quota for India in that category.

Maria Sharapova with perfect keepy-uppies

Maria Sharapova who is away from the tennis courts while she awaits decision on her suspension, she's been training and staying fit.

Maria Sharapova was suspended after testing positive for meldonium. (Source: Reuters)

Maria Sharapova showed some of her football skills as the ace tennis player uploaded a video on her Instagram account. The Russian did some perfect keepy-uppies using both her feet and thighs.

Sharapova was suspended from the game after she was tested positive for meldonium, a banned drug.

Here’s a look at Maria Sharapova’s football skills.

French Open 2016: Sania Mirza-Ivan Dodig to face Leander Paes-Martina Hingis in mixed-doubles final

Sania Mirza last won a mixed doubles Grand Slam trophy at 2014 US Open with Brazilian partner Bruno Soares.

Sania Mirza and her partner Ivan Dodig won 6-1 3-6 10-6 in the quarterfinal contest. (Source: File)

On a day that saw the mixed doubles pairings play twice, due to the rain backlog, it was Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig along with  Leander Paes and Martina Hingis who emerged on top in battling semifinals.

Both teams had to go through two tough sets followed by a supertiebreak to seal their place in the final which will be played on Saturday.

Playing simultaneously on side-by-side courts, Paes and Hingis overcame the challenge of Andrea Hlavackova and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-3, 3-6, 10-7. On the other hand, Mirza and Dodig had the tougher task of beating French pairing of Kristina Mladenovic and Pierre-Hugues Herbert 4-6, 6-3, 12-10.

A win for Paes would mean a Grand Slam for him in mixed doubles – i.e. winning all four Majors – something he has already achieved in men’s doubles. An unprecedented and daunting task for someone who is 42 and still chasing the dream of representing his country at the Olympics.

Earlier in the day, Mirza and Dodig overcame a mid-match lapse to beat the seventh seeded Yung-Jan Chan and Max Mirnyi 6-1, 3-6, 10-6 in the quarterfinals.

Sania last won a mixed doubles Grand Slam trophy at 2014 US Open with Brazilian partner Bruno Soares.

And in the top-half of the draw, Paes and Hingis cruised to the semifinals after beating Elena Vesnina and Soares 6-4, 6-3.

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali hospitalised with respiratory issues

Ali has been hospitalized several times in recent years, most recently in early 2015 when he was treated for a severe urinary tract infection.

Muhammad Ali has suffered from Parkinson’s for three decades, most famously trembling badly while lighting the Olympic torch in 1996 in Atlanta.

Boxing great Muhammad Ali is hospitalized in the Phoenix area with what two people familiar with his condition say may be more serious problems than his previous hospital stays.

The people told The Associated Press on Thursday that Ali is fighting respiratory issues that are complicated by the Parkinson’s that he was diagnosed with in the 1980s.

The two spoke separately in describing Ali’s condition that they say is concerning to family members.

The people declined to be identified because they were not speaking on behalf of the family.

A spokesman for Ali sent out a release earlier Thursday saying the former heavyweight champion is being treated at an unidentified hospital for a respiratory issue.

Spokesman Bob Gunnell said that the 74-year-old was in fair condition, and that a brief hospital stay was expected.

Ali’s longtime Parkinson’s doctor declined comment when reached by the AP on Thursday night.

“I can’t really say much more than what’s in the papers,” said Dr. Abraham Lieberman of the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.

Ali has been hospitalized several times in recent years, most recently in early 2015 when he was treated for a severe urinary tract infection initially diagnosed as pneumonia.

Ali has looked increasingly frail in public appearances in recent years, including on April 9 when he wore sunglasses and was hunched over at the annual Celebrity Fight Night dinner in Phoenix, which raises funds for treatment of Parkinson’s.

His last formal public appearance before that was in October when he appeared at the Sports Illustrated Tribute to Muhammad Ali at The Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, along with former opponents George Foreman and Larry Holmes.

Ali has suffered from Parkinson’s for three decades, most famously trembling badly while lighting the Olympic torch in 1996 in Atlanta.

Despite the disease he kept up a busy appearance schedule until recently, though he has not communicated verbally in public for years.

Doctors say the Parkinson’s was likely caused by the thousands of punches Ali took during his career, where he traveled the world meeting opponents in big fights.

An iconic figure who was at one point arguably the most recognized person in the world, Ali has lived quietly in the Phoenix area with his fourth wife, Lonnie, who he married in 1986.

News of his hospitalization brought well wishes from boxers and others on Twitter, including Sugar Ray Leonard, who modeled his career after Ali.

“Prayers & blessings to my idol, my friend, & without question, the Greatest of All Time @MuhammadAli ! #GOAT,” Leonard wrote.

IPL 2016 Final: Who said what about SRH’s win

Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by eight runs to win their maiden Indian Premier League title.

Sunrisers Hyderabad defended 208 against Royal Challengers Bangalore to win IPL 2016 title by 8 runs. (Source: PTI)

Sunrisers Hyderabad clinched the 2016 IPL title by beating Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final. The Hyderabad unit sucessfully defended 209 runs even after fifties from Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli for RCB.

After their effort, Twitterati was in full praise of the team as they won their maiden title.