Sports Reception

Kabaddi: Indian league signs multi-million dollar deal
DELHI: The Indian sport of kabaddi has received a major boost with Chinese mobile company VIVO signing a five-year deal worth $46.7 million to sponsor the game´s popular league.

Pro Kabaddi has held its own among the myriad professional sporting leagues to emerge in the wake of the lucrative and hugely successful Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament in 2008.

Kabaddi attracts impressive viewer ratings in a competitive market dominated by cricket, but where smaller shares are fiercely contested by other popular sports leagues including badminton and hockey.

"This association is important for us as Pro Kabaddi league has reached incredible heights and now proudly stands as one of the most successful leagues in India," Vivo India CEO Kent Cheng said.

VIVO, who are also title sponsors of the IPL, is not the first Chinese smartphone manufacturer to enter the massive Indian sporting market.

OPPO this year replaced Star India to become the major sponsor of India´s hugely popular national cricket side.

Star India, and its broadcaster Star Sports, already backs the Pro Kabaddi as it moves into its fifth edition with 12 teams duelling it out over more than 130 matches.

"Vivo coming on board as the title sponsor is a significant milestone in the growth story of the league. Star Sports will continue its efforts to elevate the stature of the sport further," Star India managing director Sanjay Gupta said.

Kabaddi, which originated in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, was first included in the Asian Games in 1990 in Beijing. India has won every gold in the event since then.

Umar Akmal, Junaid Khan to receive warnings for verbal spat
ISLAMABAD: Cricketers Umar Akmal and Junaid Khan are likely to get a strict warning from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for making comments against each other ahead of a match of Pakistan One Day Cup at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi, last month.

“The inquiry committee set by the board will submit it’s report in a day or so. But it is clear both the players are not going to face any suspension. However, they will be given a strict warning with the advice to avoid such statements in future,” a source in PCB told APP on Tuesday.

The verbal spat between Umar Akmal and left-arm pacer Junaid Khan took place when the former captaining the Punjab province against Sindh in Rawalpindi was asked about his team combination.

He first informed that all-rounder Nasir Nazir would be playing in place of left-arm pacer Junaid. And then while expressing his shock at his (Junaid’s) absence stated that he had just come to know that the bowler was absent from the match. Within minutes, Junaid in a video message on his social media account from his hotel room expressed displeasure over what Akmal had said.

The PCB had set up a committee headed by General Manager (Domestic Cricket Affairs) Shafiq Ahmed to look into the matter and submit a report at the earliest.

The source said the committee had finalized its report adding “as per information no disciplinary action has been proposed against both the players and they’ll be receiving just warnings.”

Both Umar Akmal and Junaid Khan are also part of Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, to be played in England and Wales from June 1 to 18.

India´s Jhulan Goswami becomes top women´s wicket-taker
NEW DELHI: India fast bowler Jhulan Goswami has become the highest wicket-taker in women´s one-day internationals after overtaking former Australia star Cathryn Fitzpatrick with her 181st dismissal.

Pace spearhead Goswami achieved the feat against hosts South Africa in the 50-over quadrangular tournament in Potchefstroom on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old Goswami, who took three wickets in India´s victory, got past Fitzpatrick´s long-standing record in her 153rd ODI. Fitzpatrick took 180 wickets in 109 matches between 1993 and 2006.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) congratulated the former captain for her incredible service to women´s cricket since making her debut as an 18-year-old in 2002.

The Bengal cricketer led India in 25 ODIs from 2008-2011 and has represented the country in 10 Tests and 60 Twenty20 matches. She was named women´s cricketer of the year in 2007.

DUNEDIN, New Zealand: South Africa were all out for 308 in their first innings on the second day of the first Test against New Zealand in Dunedin on Thursday.

Jeetan Patel and Trent Boult took the last two wickets to wrap up the innings in the fifth over after lunch.

For South Africa, Dean Elgar made 140 and Temba Bavuma 64 while bowling for New Zealand Boult took four for 64 and Neil Wagner three for 88.