India file -- SAF Games in Nepal put off to 1999

Tuesday, June 24 1997

India file -- SAF Games in Nepal put off to 1999

KATHMANDU: The Eighth South Asian Games, scheduled to be held in September in the Nepalese capital, has been put off by two years until 1999.

Nepal Olympic Committee president Jeevan Ram Shrestha made the announcement last night after an emergency meeting of the South Asian Sports Federation executive committee.

The reason for the postponement of the games is the lack of proper infrastructure and sports facilities.

Asia Cup schedule

COLOMBO: Pakistan will meet World Cup champions Sri Lanka in the first match of the Asia Cup cricket tournament in July, Sri Lanka's Cricket Board said today.

The four-nation tournament will feature India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. All matches will be played during day time.

SCHEDULE

July 14: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan -- Premadasa Stadium. July 16: Pakistan vs Bangladesh Premadasa Stadium.

July 18: Sri Lanka vs India Premadasa Stadium. July 20: Pakistan vs India Sinhalese Sports Club. July 22: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh -- Sinhalese Sports Club. July 24: India vs Bangladesh -- Sinhalese Sports Club. July 26: Final.

KOA hits out

BANGALORE: In a significant move, G Somashekarappa, the secretary-general of the Karnataka Olympic Association, today came out strongly in support of Prakash Padukone's breakaway Indian Badminton Confederation.

Refering to BAI president Fazil Ahmed's reported reaction to the formation of the IBC, Somashekarappa, who is also the vice-president of the Indian Olympic Association, said in a press release: ``We are with him for his concern in promoting the game of badminton and thus the Olympic movement.''

The release said: ``I hope that good sense will prevail over Mr Fazil Ahmed to come to his senses in fighting against forces which are opposed to his dictatorial management.''

GOA supports IBC

PANAJI: The executive committee of the Goa Badminton Association (GBA) today decided to disaffiliate itself from the Badminton Association of India (BAI) and affiliate with Prakash Padukone's newly-formed Indian Badminton Confederation (IBC).

Tally revised

BANGALORE: In an unprecedented move, the Fourth National Games organising committee has decided to issue a ``revised medal tally'' recognising the ``controversial'' triathlon, Karnataka Sports Minister Ajay Kumar Sarnaik said today.

In a chat with newsmen here, he admitted that the triathlon medals were not included the medal tally released by the CMC, that took up computerisation of the games and periodically issued medal tally and results.