Zonal Level Inter-School Tournament
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
REASI, May 3: Defeating Gulshan Hill Public School Mahore by a convincing margin, Government Middle School (GMS) Mahore won the kabaddi title in the ongoing Zonal Level Inter-School Tournaments at Government Higher Secondary School Mahore, near here.
The tournament in which about 200 students including both boys and girls are taking part is being held in the disciplines of kabaddi, kho-kho, volleyball and wrestling, under the overall supervision of Dr Swarn Singh Chib, District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Reasi.  Mohd Misri, Principal Higher Secondary School Mahore, was the chief guest in today’s proceedings.
Earlier, Higher Secondary School Mahore got better of Pir Panchal Public High School Mahore in under-17 years boys kabaddi final to claim the title, while in kho-kho under-17 boys, Pir Panchal Public High School trounced Government HSS Mahore by a resounding margin.
In kho-kho under-14 boys, GMS Mahore scripted easy win over Pir Panchal to win the title, while kho-kho under-14 boys title went to GMS Mahore and Pir Panchal PHS emerged runners-up.
The volleyball under-17 boys title was claimed by HSS Mahore, which drubbed Pir Panchal PHS in the finals.
Meanwhile, in girls under-14 kho-kho, Pir Panchal PHS emerged winner, while Mountaineering Convent Public School remained the runners-up team, while in kho-kho under-17 years girls, GHSS Mahore thrashed Pir Panchal PHS by a resounding margin and lifted the title trophy.
In 32 kg under-14 boys wrestling event, Sahil Imran of Gulshan Hill Public School bagged the top slot, while Shamsudin of Government Middle School Mahore got the second place, while in under-17 boys wrestling, Bashir Ahmed of HSS Mahore claimed 46 kg bout, while Sukhdev Singh of Pir Panchal PHS remained runners-up in this weight category.

4th Ashok Sodhi Memorial T20 Tournament

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, May 3: Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP) XI outplayed Shiva Cricket Club, while Singh Cricket Club (SSC) Akhnoor drubbed Muslim Cricket Club to advance in the ongoing 4th Ashok Sodhi Memorial T20 Cricket Tournament, being organised by Print and Electronic Cameramen Association at Parade ground, here.
Earlier, in the first match, Singh Cricket Club (SCC) Akhnoor trounced Muslim Cricket Club (MCC) Jammu by 4 wickets in a good contest.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, MCC scored 130 runs in 19.4 overs. Munir played a power-packed innings of 43 runs including four fours and two sixes, while Aamir scored 29 off 34 balls with the help of 2 boundaries. Vicky also contributed well made 19 runs to the total. Roshan Verma was pick of the bowlers for Singh Club, who captured 3 wickets by conceding 31 runs in his 3.4 overs, while Pankaj claimed 2 wickets in his four overs by giving away 24 runs. Five of the Muslim Club batsmen were sent back to pavilion by way of run outs as they lacked coordination between them.
In reply, SCC Akhnoor chased the required target comfortably in 17.2 overs, losing 6 wickets in the process, and thus won the match by 4 wickets. Sunny was the top scorer with 31 runs including 5 boundaries, while Surinder contributed useful 25 runs with the help of 3 boundaries and Jatin chipped in brisk 18 runs. For Muslim Club, Nazir took 3 wickets, while Aamir and Manoj claimed one wicket each. Munir was adjudged man of the match for his fabulous knock.
Meanwhile, in another match, JKAP thrashed Shiva Cricket Club, RS Pura easily by 7 wickets.
Needing 115 runs to win, JKAP XI rode on quick knock of 45 and 42 runs by Yasir and Ishtiaq to chase the required total in 11.4 overs. Both these batsmen smashed six fours and 2 sixes each in their respective knocks. RK Bhat also contributed 9 runs in 14 balls to help the winning cause. Vikram and Sudesh took one wicket each for Shiva Club.
Earlier, electing to bat first after winning the toss, Shiva Club managed to score 114 runs in the stipulated 20 overs by losing 9 wickets. Kishore and Jyoti contributed 24 and 23 runs to the total respectively, while Tarandeep remained unbeaten on 12 runs. Rohit Bharadwaj was the wrecker-in-chief, who scalped 4 important wickets in his 4 overs by conceding just 12 runs, while Ashwani, Bhalwan and Sanjeet claimed one wicket each.
The matches were officiated by Sadiq Hussain Malik, Sanjay Pardhan, Vijay Choudhary and Ajay Sharma.

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
KARGIL, May 3: Muthaharry Public School Saliskote held an Annual Day function in school premises, here today.
Minister for CA/PD and Transport, Qamar Ali Akhoon, was the chief guest on the occasion.
Every year the school celebrates its Annual Day function on the death anniversary of Ayatullah Sayheed Mutharry.
The Minister appreciated the role of school in providing education in the village and its adjoining area and congratulated the teachers and management of the school for hundred percent result of the school in board examinations. Later-on, Minister distributed gifts among the students.
Chief Executive Councilor LAHDC, Kargil, Kacho Ahmed Ali Khan, also interacted with the students and impressed upon them to follow the teachings of Sayeed Mutharry.
The Chairman of the School Management and the Executive Councilor for Social Welfare LAHDC, Kargil, Syed Kazim Sabere, also threw light on the achievements of the school.

NEW DELHI, May 3:
Indian pugilists had a mixed day at the third International Republic of Kazakhstan President’s Cup with Manpreet Singh and L Devendro Singh advancing to the semifinals while Shiva Thapa and Manoj Kumar crashed out on the second day of the tournament in Almaty.
In the light fly weight division, L Devendro Singh (49kg) breezed past his Russian opponent Egorov Vasily with consummate ease.
The 20-year-old dominated the quarterfinal with his swift counter-attacks and agile footwork. Vasily had no answer to Devendro’s superior power play as he led 7:2 in the first round and 16:6 by the end of the second.
In the last round, the Manipuri boxer continued to attack with his three punch combination and added six more points to his tally, finally winning the bout on points 22:9.
Devendro will have a tough ask ahead in the semis on Saturday as he takes on the Olympian and Asian Games silver medallist Birzhan Zakipov of Kazakhstan.
Asian Games silver medallist Manpreet Singh (91kg) also secured his last-four spot with another power-packed performance. He defeated Telesenko Alaxander of Ukraine in a completely lop-sided contest.
The 23-year-old heavy weight was at his menacing best as he overwhelmed the Ukrainian boxer with his hard hitting jabs and body blows. The reigning national champion eventually won the bout 17:7 on points.
In the semis, he will take on local challenger Abduganiev Arbek.
Having made it to the semifinals, both Manpreet and Devendro are now assured of at least a bronze medal finish. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, May 3:
Commonwealth Games gold medallist Katulu Ravi Kumar and N Soniya Chanu were today selected to represent India in the weightlifting competition in the London Olympics.
Indian weightlifters had earned two quota places for London Olympics one each in men’s and women’s sections in the April 22-30 Senior Asian Championships at Pyeongtaek, South Korea.
The Indian Weightlifting Federation today announced that Ravi Kumar (men’s 69kg) and Soniya Chanu (women’s 48kg) will represent the country in the July 27-August 12 London Olympics.
“Ngangbam Soniya Chanu in 48 kg women will represent India in Olympic Games whereas Katulu Ravi Kumar in 69 kg men will participate,” a federation release said.
The two lifters were chosen at the selection committee meeting held here yesterday.
Soniya Chanu had won a bronze in women’s 48kg category Senior Asian Championships while Ravi Kumar had finished sixth in men’s 69kg.
This is the first Olympic quota place India has earned in men’s weightlifting after a gap of 12 years since the 2000 Sydney Games.
Thandava Murthy Muthu competed in the men’s 56kg in 2000 Sydney Olympics and finished 16 with a total lift of 245kg. (PTI)

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NEW DELHI, May 3:
After clearing all the obstacles, administrative and otherwise, female wrestler Geetika Jakhar is all set to fly to Finland for the final London Olympic Qualifiers, which starts in Helsinki tomorrow.
After emerging victorious in the trials against Alka Tomar, Geetika also won the battle in the court against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to obtain her right to compete in the Olympic qualifiers.
She was then struggling to get her visa, but now with the help of the Sports Ministry, she has cleared this hurdle too and is going to Helsinki, Finland tomorrow to try and make the cut for the London event.
“I am happy that finally, I am going. God’s with me. This is my last chance to become an Olympian and I will give it my best shot. I thank the Sports Ministry and all who helped me and supported me in this crisis time,” Geetika told PTI after she was informed that her ticket and visa are ready. (PTI)

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
Kulgam, May 3: Aamir Hussain bagged first position in the Annual Road Race Competition, organised by the Department of Physical Education Government Degree College Kulgam, here today.
The second and third place in this event went to Tanveer Ahmad Kumar and Aamir Ahmad Dar respectively.
I25 students participated in the event which was flagged off by College Principal Dr MY Peerzada and SP Kulgam M Shafi Mir. The participants were received by Prof AR Dar, Prof Riyaz Ahmed, Dr Ajaz Ahmed, Asifa Munjakhal, Prof Shamim Hakim, Prof Gowhar and Prof Shazad.

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Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 3: Under the banner of J&K State Sports Council, the Jammu and Kashmir Speedball Association shall be holding selection trials and screening on May 5 for picking the teams for sub junior and junior national championship to be held at New Delhi from May 10 to 15.
According to a handout issued here, the association has directed the players interested to take part in the trials to contact Sunny Nanda on Mobile number 9906072005.

BANGALORE, May 3:
Pankaj Advani today became the only active cueist in the world to play on both the professional Billiards and Snooker tour after the seven-time world champion announced his entry into the Professional Snooker League.
Following his recent stellar performance at the Asian Snooker Championships in Doha, where he finished runner-up to compatriot and country’s current numero uno cueist in snooker, Aditya Mehta, Advani decided to turn pro after a decade-and-a- half of playing snooker.
Nominated by the Asian Confederation of Billiards and Snooker, the 26-year-old shall enter the league based on a wild card entry.
“I feel that there is a time and place for everything in life, and I feel that this is the right time to give this a shot,” said Advani about his decision.
“At the age of 18, when I was really keen to go and play the pro league I didn’t get an entry, and after 8 years, the desire has rekindled. It will be exciting to see what follows next,” said the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee.
With Advani’s decision to turn pro, he will be off the amateur circuit for the next two years.
Elaborating on his plans for the next two years, Advani said, “My focus is to become a better and stronger player by participating in the Pro Tour, while continuing to actively participate in international Billiards events.”
To compete in a gruelling 10-month-long Pro Snooker Tour, the national billiards champion will be splitting his time between Sheffield, UK and India. (PTI)

LONDON, May 3:
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif was today released from a British jail after completing half of his one-year sentence for his role in a spot-fixing scandal.
Asif, 29, was set free from the Canterbury Prison in Southeast England this morning, his London-based law firm SJS Solicitors said.
Asif was jailed in November after Southwark Crown Court in London found him guilty of conspiring to cheat and accept corrupt payments over deliberate no-balls bowled during the Lord’s Test against England in August 2010.
The fast bowler is still under ICC suspension and it is not known if he would challenge his seven year-ban (two years suspended).
His lawyer though had indicated yesterday that Asif will try to clear his name.
“I look forward to meeting him and helping him in his legal fight to restore the reputation he once had,” Asif’s lawyer Ravi Sukul had said.
Then Pakistan Test skipper Salman Butt and talented young fast bowler Mohammad Aamir were also jailed on the same charges.
Aamir was released in February after three months in jail while Butt is still serving a 30-month sentence.
Agent of these players Mazhar Majeed, who was exposed through a sting operatiob by now defunct ‘News of the World’, was also handed a 32-month sentence. (PTI)