Author: SpogoNews Team

New Delhi, Jan 14 The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is set to engage Olympians and Paralympians as coaches and assistant coaches at its various National Centres of Excellence, a move aimed at recognising their contribution. The employment process, already underway, creates vacancies for 23 assistant coaches and four coaches. According to a statement issued by SAI, Olympians and Paralympians are eligible to apply as assistant coaches and medal winners can directly apply for the position of coaches which falls under Group A position. To ensure that athletes who are still active can continue with their sporting career, Olympians and Paralympians…

Buenos Aires, Jan 14 (PTI) Gearing up for its first international assignment in almost a year, drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur on Thursday said the Indian women hockey team is paying more attention to penalty corner conversion and defence ahead of its clash against formidable Argentina. The Indian team will begin the eight-match tour against the world number two side on Sunday. “Playing against a strong team like Argentina on their home ground won’t be easy but our focus will be on bringing out our best play against them. We worked really hard on our fitness over the past 11 months in…

Brisbane, Jan 15 (PTI) India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj was targetted for abuse by a section of the crowd on the opening day of the fourth Test against Australia, a newspaper here reported, claiming that he was called a “grub” by some spectators. The reported incident happened a few days after Siraj was racially abused by spectators at the Sydney Cricket Ground on the third and fourth day of the drawn third Test. That had led to an expulsion of six people from the stands and an unreserved apology from Cricket Australia to the visiting team. On Friday, a report…

New Delhi, Jan 15 (PTI) Young shuttlers Varun Kapur and Samiya Imad Farooqui have attained career-best second spots in their respective categories in the latest BWF’s junior world rankings, which features six Indians in the top-10. Varun jumped four places among male singles players, while Samiya climbed six spots in the female category. Varun had a great run last year as he picked his sixth junior title, claiming the XII Portuguese International 2020 in November. While 17-year-old Samiya, a U-15 Asian Badminton Championship winner, has been one of the consistent performers at the junior circuit last year. “It’s great to…

Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Jan 15 (PTI) Kevin Benavides triumphed after 12 gruelling stages while teammate Ricky Brabec finished second to give Monster Energy Honda team the overall victory at the Dakar Rally here on Friday. It was an intense, yet intriguing 202-kilometre special stage, which brought down the curtain on the Dakar Rally on the shores of the Red Sea. Benavides clinched the 2021 Dakar crown with team-mate Brabec taking the runner-up position. This was the first title for the Argentinean Monster Energy Honda team rider and, once again, a historic result for Honda, which dominated throughout the 2021 Dakar.…

Margao, Jan 14 (PTI) A brace from Jorge Ortiz helped FC Goa script a 3-0 win over Jamshedpur FC in an Indian Super League match at the Fatorda Stadium here on Thursday. Ortiz scored a goal each in either half (19th, 52nd) while Ivan Gonzalez added a late third (89th) after Alexandre Lima received marching orders following a second booking. Goalkeeper Naveen Kumar got his first start for the Gaurs under Juan Ferrando while Lenny Rodrigues returned to the side. Top scorer Igor Angulo was a surprise exclusion as Alberto Noguera came in, allowing Ortiz to play in the number…

Kolkata, Jan 14 (PTI) Dennis Antwi stole the limelight from Chencho Gyeltshen as Gokulam Kerala FC came from two goals down to earn a remarkable 4-3 win against RoundGlass Punjab FC in an I-League fixture here on Thursday. Gyeltshen’s quick-fire brace and a goal by Rupert Nongrum failed to safeguard Punjab’s lead as Dennis Antwi struck twice and an own goal by Anwar Ali in the second half saw the Kerala outfit emerge victories at the VYBK Stadium. In the third minute, Gokulam were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead when a cross from Mayakkannan found Sharif Mohammad…

Vienna, Jan 15 (PTI) Promising Indian racer Jehan Daruvala was on Friday handed a one-year extension by Red Bull Racing team, which will enable him to compete along side Carling in the upcoming Formula 2 season. The 22-year-old, who is being hailed as the next big thing in Indian motorsports, created history last month, when he successfully culminated his maiden FIA Formula 2 Championship with a well-deserved victory. Daruvala’s victory in his rookie season was preceded by a hard fought podium a week prior. The Red Bull Junior program has been instrumental in producing some of the world’s best F1…

Bengaluru, Jan 14 (PTI) Ridhima Dilawari played some stunning golf over the last 10 holes to card five-under 67 and open up a massive six-shot lead after the second round of the first leg of the Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour here on Thursday. Ridhima is six-under 138 for 36 holes, while her nearest rival, local Bengalurean Pranavi Urs (71) moved into second place at even par 144. Vani Kapoor, third in the first round, stayed there despite a two-over 74 while Amandeep Drall had a rare off-day with a 78 that included a crippling quadruple bogey on Par-4 seventh…

Bangkok, Jan 14 (PTI) Star India shuttler Saina Nehwal was knocked out of the Yonex Thailand Open Super 1000 event after losing the women’s singles second round to Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan here on Thursday. In a battle of attrition, Saina managed to grab the opening game but ran out of steam in the end, losing 23-21 14-21 16-21 in a match that clocked 68 minutes. It was Saina’s fourth straight loss to the world number 12 Busanan. In the men’s singles, former world number one Kidambi Srikanth was forced to give a walkover to his eighth seeded Malaysian opponent Lee…