KOLKATA, July 10 (UNI): Jhanu Hansdah brought smiles on the faces of the Indian contingent at the 44th World Archery Championship in an otherwise gloomy opening day at Leipzig in Germany.
The 27-year-old from Jamshedpur stood 22nd overall with a total of 1365 while two of her compatriots, Bheigyabati Chanu and Sumanlata Murmu were placed 52nd and 55th in a field of 73 compound archers, according to information received here.
The silver-lining was Jhanu’s performance in the 60 meter event where she stood third overall on Sunday with a personal score of 347.
The Indian National record stood at 345 in her name.
The threesome, apart from qualifying for the individual championship, also ensured India qualified for the team championship with a total of 4033 to be placed 14th in a field of 18.
India will play third-ranked France in the first round of the team event.
Jhanu’s individual opponent will be 43-ranked Dirma Miranda Dos Santosh of Brazil while Bheigyabati’s first round rival will be 13th-ranked Hiroko Taniguchi of Japan.
Sumanlata will take on 10th ranked Glayda Willeof Belgium, who is also the world record holder for 144 arrows at 1411 out of 1440 points.
She set the record in May this year.
The three-member Indian men’s team was a disappointed.
India's No 1 Jayantilal Nanoma was 80th with 1332 points, while National champion Cherukuri Lenin stood 117th with 1292.
The third Indian Chungda Sherpa finished 130th out of 139 archers in the men’s compound.
In the individual elimination round, Nanoma will take on 49th-ranked Daniele Bauro of Italy while Lenin will meet 12th-ranked Reo Wilde of the US.
India finished 34th out of 40 in the team event.
Mountaineering Foundation opens branch in Leh LEH, July 10 (UNI): In an effort to boost tourism in the area, Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) opened its first branch office here earlier this week.
The office was inaugurated by Air Vice Marshall P C S Rautela on Saturday in the presence of CEO Leh Development Authority cum Deputy Director Tourism.
The branch office will function under the legendary mountaineer Sonam Wangyal and it will issue clearance on behalf of the government to foreign climbers and trekkers who want to climb Stoke Kangri, a popular destination for the foreigners.
Earlier, these climbers had to get permission from IMF's Delhi office.
Mountaineering equipments will also be made available at the branch office by the IMF to the climbers on payment.
Pakistani coach can produce better results than a foreigner:Miandad KARACHI, July 10 (UNI): Local coaches will produce far better results for the Pakistan cricket team than the shortlisted foreign nationals, asserts former Pakistan coach Javed Miandad.
Speaking to mediapersons, Miandad said, "Pakistan’s biggest achievement, winning the 1992 World Cup, was due to the efforts of players and local coach (Intikhab Alam)." "Foreign coaches have not done any good to the Pakistan team in the past.
And after looking at the past performances, one could easily say that they are not better than local coaches," he added.
Miandad said the three Australians, Dav Whatmore, Jeff Lawson and Richard Done who have been shortlisted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to be the next coach of the national team, are not as experienced as the former national maestros.
Giving an example of his own stint as the coach of Pakistan team, he claimed that he delivered better results than any body else but due to poor policies of the PCB he stepped down.
He also said the players are not required to be consulted in the matter such as selection of a coach.
"There is no question of player power in the team.
The players have no right to say anything on appointment of coach or other issues." He added the players should accept Salman Butt, as the vice captain unconditionally.
"Players should focus on their performances and not on such issues." "PCB should have strong policy regarding player power.
But due to their incompetence they (PCB) have to listen to the players also," adding the handling of the doping case by the Board, not only tarnished the image of the respective players but also made the people of Pakistan ashamed.
"I must say that the PCB seemed really stupid on the issue.
First they held both the bowlers (Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif) responsible and called them back from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy.
Then they themselves formed the tribunal to look on the issue which also held them responsible.
But afterwards they made another committee which proved that both the bowlers are innocent," he lamented.
About Twenty20 form of cricket Miandad was of the opinion that the format is suitable for tealike Australia, South Africa, England etc because they need money but not for teafrom the subcontinent.
It will only destroy cricket and will do no good to Pakistan cricketers.