Dabang Delhi to clash with Bengal Warriors in PKL final

Ahmedabad

Dabang Delhi and Bengal Warriors will clash in the final of Pro Kabaddi League Season 7 after winning their respective semifinal matches here today. In the first semifinal, Naveen Kumar was the star as Dabang Delhi beat defending champions Bengaluru Bulls 44-38 to book their maiden final berth. Bengal Warriors beat U Mumba 37-35 in a tightly-fought contest to also clinch a place in the final for the first time. The final will be played here on Saturday. 

Dubai

Three UAE national team players suspended by ICC

Three UAE national team players, including captain Mohammed Naveed, have been provisionally suspended on charges of corruption, ICC said today. Batsman Shaiman Anwar and right-arm pace bowler Qadeer Ahmed were the other national team players charged by ICC. A fourth individual, Mehardeep Chhayakar, who has participated in cricket in Ajman League, was charged for refusing to co-operate with ICC.

New Delhi

GFI president has no time for gymnastics: IOA chief to FIG

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra has written a strong letter to the international gymnastics federation (FIG), alleging that the head of the national federation, Sudhakar Shetty, has no interest in the sport and is even unaware that his signatures were “forged” by other officials. Batra said in the letter that “all is not well in the Gymnastics Federation of India”. GFI, which is slated to go to polls on November 3, has been mired in factionalism for some time, with rival groups claiming the right to run the sport in the country. The faction led by Shetty is recognised by FIG but does not have the recognition of the Sports Ministry and IOA. 

Tokyo

IOC plan to move Tokyo Oly marathon to Hokkaido

The International Olympic Committee today announced a plan to move the marathon and race walking at Tokyo 2020 to Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido from originally planned courses in the capital due to worries about heat. IOC’s statement said that it is planning to move the events to Sapporo, which will mean “significantly lower temperatures for the athletes during the Olympic Games.” However, Tokyo 2020 organisers appeared to think the move was just a proposal and that further discussions would be had at their coordination commission meeting planned for the end of this month. Agencies