The All India Chess Federation (AICF) said it will be bidding to host the 44th Chess Olympiad later this year after the prestigious event was moved out of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The Chess Olympiad is a biennial event in which teams from some 190 countries compete over a two-week period. The 2022 edition was supposed to take place in Moscow from July 26 to August 8. Last week, FIDE (the International Chess Federation) decided to move the Olympiad and all other official competitions planned in Russia in the wake of the country's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. The other events that were moved away from Russia are the first chess Olympiad for people with disabilities and the 93rd FIDE Congress. If India gets the nod to host the Olympiad, it would be the second major world event to be held in the country after the World Championship match in 2013 between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen, the current world No.1.
Delhi Capitals appoint Ajit Agarkar as assistant coach
Former India pacer Ajit Agarkar was appointed by Delhi Capitals as the team's new assistant coach.
“I am very excited to be part of Delhi Capitals squad for this season,” Agarkar said on the development. “I have been lucky enough to be a player and to be returning in a different capacity. It's obviously very exciting. We have a young and terrific squad led by one of the most talented players in the world - Rishabh Pant. And the coach Ricky Ponting has been a legend of the game. Looking forward to working with them, can't wait to get started and creating some special memories," he added. Agarkar has 288 ODI and 58 Test scalps under his name and has represented Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils in the IPL.
Baba twins score tons in the same match
The Baba twins of Tamil Nadu - Aparajith and Indrajith - achieved a rare feat in Indian cricket. They became the first set of Indian twins to score centuries in the same first-class match for the same team. However, the two had scored hundreds in a first-class match before - during the 2018 Duleep Trophy in Dindigul - though for different teams. Aparajith was representing India Red while Indrajith played for India Green. Last week Indrajith (127) and Aparajith (101 batting) - notched up a 206-run third wicket stand that was the highlight on Day 1 of their Ranji Trophy clash against Chhattisgarh at the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati. The duo were instrumental in Tamil Nadu ending the day on 308 for 4. “Batting with each other has always been fun right from the time we took up the sport as kids. We root for each other always. While the last time we scored hundreds in a match - it was for different teams - but doing so in the same match and that too for Tamil Nadu is a truly special feeling altogether,” Indrajith said. Aparajith, on the other hand, was all praise for Indrajith for the way he went about his innings. “He was striking so fluently. I didn’t want to do anything silly. With the wicket on the slower side, the idea was to settle down before playing shots,” Aparajith said.
India to send second-string teams to CWG
India will send its second-string hockey teams for the men's and women's competitions at this year's Commonwealth Games due to a short turnaround time between the Birmingham event and the Hangzhou Asian Games, which is a qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics. “We will send India 'A' teams for the Commonwealth Games this year because we want our main players to be fully fit for the Asian Games as it is an Olympic qualifier,” a Hockey India official said. “We will send reserve players who will not be part of the Asian Games squad.” He, however, hinted that first-choice goalkeepers of both the senior sides could be sent for CWG for some game time ahead of the Asiad. The Commonwealth Games are scheduled from July 28 to August 8, while the Asian Games will be held from September 10 to 25 this year.
Chanu wins gold, qualifies for Commonwealth Games
Star Indian lifter Mirabai Chanu qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the 55kg weight category by clinching the gold in the Singapore Weightlifting International. Competing in the 55kg weight class for the first time, Chanu lifted 191kg (86kg+105kg) to stand on top of the podium. The second placed lifter, Australia’s Jessica Sewastenko’s best effort was 167kg (77kg+90kg).
Cummins, Hazlewood and Warner to miss IPL start
Australia's star players, including David Warner, Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins, will miss the start of the IPL despite skipping the limited overs series against Pakistan, which is set to coincide with the T20 league. Warner, Hazelwood and Cummins are part of the Test squad for the Pakistan series, starting March 4-25, but will be skipping the limited overs matches, starting March 29.
However, they won't be able to link up with their IPL teams before April 5 as Australia's selection committee made it clear that contracted players who are not part of the limited-overs matches in Pakistan will not be available for the league until the bilateral series ends.
Ireland, UAE qualify for T20 World Cup
Ireland booked their spot at this year's T20 World Cup with a comfortable 56-run victory over hosts Oman in qualifying round, as the United Arab Emirates also secured a ticket to Australia. The Irish will be making their seventh straight appearance in the showpiece, having only missed the inaugural edition in 2007. Andy Balbirnie's side made a shaky start to the Global Qualifier A event, losing their first game last week to the UAE, but bounced back with successive wins to reach the semi-finals. With the two finalists to qualify, last-four game was a winner-takes-all affair, and Ireland made a strong start, posting a challenging total of 165-7 after Oman won the toss and opted to field first. Oman, who had qualified for the last two T20 World Cups, never got going with the bat and were bowled out for 105, as Irish spinners Simi Singh (3-20) and McBrine (2-24) took five wickets between them. It was a similarly one-sided game in the other semi-final as the UAE beat previously unbeaten Nepal by 68 runs to qualify for the main tournament for only the second time.
Liton ton gives Bangla series win vs Afghans
Liton Das struck a hundred and shared a record 202-run stand with Mushfiqur Rahim to set up an 88-run win for Bangladesh in the second ODI against Afghanistan. Liton’s 136 guided the hosts to 306-4, before they bowled out the visitors for 218 to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-match series.
Badminton coach Tan Kim Her gets extension
The sports ministry has approved the appointment of Malaysian badminton coach, Tan Kim Her, as India's doubles coach till the Asiad 2026.
