No ISL-I-League merger for now
The All India Football Federation ruled out an immediate merger of the I-League and the Indian Super League, deciding that the former will remain the country's top-tier tournament for the next two-three years. AIFF President Praful Patel said the ISL will be expanded into a seven-month long tournament to be played in the weekends. Earlier, it was mooted that ISL will be named the official league with 11 teams, including Bengaluru FC, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. Recently crowned I-League champions Aizawl FC had threatened to fast-unto-death if they were to be relegated. Despite being the champions, Aizawl FC would have been relegated if ISL was made the top-tier league as they did not have a place in the franchise league.
Men in blue clinch third place
India thrashed New Zealand 4-0 to finish third in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia. Defender Rupinder Pal Singh scored a brace through penalty corners in the 17th and 27th minute before S.V. Sunil (48th) and Talwinder Singh (60th) scored field goals in the last period to sign off an emphatic win. India had finished runners-up in last year's edition when they had lost 0-4 to Australia in the final.
Great Britain won the title after a gap of 23 years with a 4 -3 win in the final against defending champions Australia.
Silver lining for Indian pugilists
Shiva Thapa (60kg) became the first Indian boxer to clinch three consecutive Asian Championships medals, while Sumit Sangwan (91kg) notched up his maiden podium finish as both boxers settled for silver medals at the continental showpiece in Tashkent.
Shiva lost in a split verdict after a head-butt from his opponent, second seed and local favourite Elnur Abduraimov, resulted in a cut above his right eye.
Sumit, on the other hand, lost to Kazakhstan's top-seeded Vassiliy Levit in a unanimous verdict. Levit is the silver medallist from last year's Rio Olympics.
There was also some disappointment for India with Gaurav Bidhuri (56kg) and Manish Panwar (81kg) losing their box-off bouts for World Championship slots.
Another honour for Sachin
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar was honoured with the Fellowship award at The Asian Awards in London. The master blaster attended The Asian Awards ceremony on Friday at the London Hilton on Park Lane. The event honours Asian excellence, and past awardees of the Fellowship honour include Indian musician Ravi Shankar, and actors Jackie Chan and Ben Kingsley.
Sachin is awaiting the release of his upcoming biographical drama Sachin: A Billion Dreams, which is releasing on May 26.
