Olympian javelin thrower Shivpal fails dope test, stares at maximum 8-year ban
The 29-year-old, who competed at the Tokyo Olympics, is learnt to have returned positive for a banned substance when his urine sample taken out of competition earlier this year was tested. He was training at the NIS Patiala then.
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The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Rob Walter named as new New Zealand all-format coach
Former South Africa coach Rob Walter has been named as New Zealand's new coach, across all three formats of the game. The 49-year-old South African takes up the Black Caps job from the middle of June, and will lead the side on their upcoming tour of Zimbabwe. Walter was an early favourite for the job, after he quit his South African post leading their one-day and T20 sides in April. It was revealed Walter never stopped living in New Zealand during his time with South Africa, commuting from his home in Hawke's Bay, where he lives with wife Heather and their two sons. 'The Black Caps have been a successful and highly-regarded team on the world scene for some time now and it's a real privilege to be given the chance to add to that,' Walter said. 'It's an amazing opportunity to work with such a talented group of players and support staff through a period of time in which so many global events, as well as massive bilateral series, will be contested.' Walter's contract means he will lead the Black Caps to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, as well as three major ICC tournaments, including the 2027 World Cup. NZ Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink said Walter was a world-class coach with outstanding pedigree. 'His success in New Zealand's domestic game, combined with his recent achievements on the global stage with South Africa, makes him the ideal candidate to lead the Black Caps.' Walter previously coached Otago Volts in New Zealand's domestic competitions from 2016 until 2021, before moving to Hawke's Bay and briefly coaching Central Stags. In January 2023, he took up the job as South Africa's head coach in white-ball formats, leading South Africa to the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, and semifinals of the 2023 World Cup, and the 2025 Champions Trophy. He replaces Gary Stead, New Zealand's most successful coach, who leaves his role at the end of the month. Stead hoped to stay on as the Black Caps' Test coach, but New Zealand Cricket opted for one coach across all three formats. He won the World Test Championship in 2021, and made three white-ball finals during his seven-year tenure.
India Gazette
5 hours ago
- India Gazette
India's first-ever professional basketball league announced in association with BFI
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 7 (ANI): India's first-ever professional basketball league has been launched, with the competition set to feature structured competitive league in 5x5 and 3x3 formats for both men and women, establishing a comprehensive professional ecosystem that opens the door for athletes across the country to pursue basketball as a viable career. This league, launched on Friday, is a collaboration between the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) and ACG Sports Private Limited. Designed to redefine how the sport is played, experienced, and supported in India, the league aims to shift basketball from a niche discipline into a mainstream pursuit. To guide the league's global strategy and operations, Jeremy Loeliger, Former CEO and Commissioner of Australia's National Basketball League (NBL), has been appointed Director of ACG Sports. In his new role, Loeliger will lead the development of the league's blueprint, bringing international standards of governance, competition, and commercial innovation to the Indian shores, as per a press release from BFI and ACG. 'Basketball represents more than just a sport - it is a vehicle for building character, leadership, and opportunity,' said Karan Singh, Managing Director of ACG. He further added, 'Our vision for this professional basketball league is to establish a self-sustaining ecosystem where every child with passion and talent can see a viable future in basketball in India. We are grateful for the partnership with BFI in making this dream a reality. While this is a commendable first step, we know that building a thriving basketball ecosystem will require sustained effort and collective support to reach its full potential.' As part of its long-term strategy, ACG will launch India's first fully residential high-performance centre within the year. The academy will feature world-class facilities, attract top coaching talent from the U.S. and Australia, and offer comprehensive training programmes for players, coaches, and referees. Nutrition, mental wellness, and academic balance will be integral to the curriculum - ensuring holistic development of future stars. Aadhav Arjuna, President of the Basketball Federation of India, stated: 'This partnership with ACG is unlike anything we've seen before. It is driven by vision, structured for long-term impact, and rooted in a clear understanding of what Indian basketball truly needs. We're building not just visibility, but real momentum and global credibility. Our vision is to win medals at the Asian Games and Olympics' Kulvinder Singh Gill, Secretary General of the Basketball Federation of India, stated: 'This league will unlock new opportunities for young Indian talent to grow, compete professionally, and gain invaluable exposure alongside international players and coaches.' The complete league framework, including team structures, competition formats, player eligibility, and governance models, is currently in development with input from global basketball experts and key industry stakeholders. Detailed announcements on participation guidelines, venue requirements, and operational protocols will follow in a phased rollout. In the coming months, the newly formed League Council will begin overseeing standards and operations, while nationwide scouting initiatives, customised athlete development tracks, and dynamic fan engagement programs will begin laying the foundation for a vibrant, inclusive, and commercially sustainable basketball culture in India. (ANI)
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Building the future: MLC CEO Johnny Grave's mission to unify and professionalise US Cricket
File photo of Johnny Grave, the MLC CEO. Johnny Grave, former CEO of Cricket West Indies, has taken charge as the new CEO of Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States, transitioning from managing an established cricket nation to leading a T20 league in America. In his first four months, Grave has expanded MLC venues from two to three for the 2025 season, including securing the Oakland Coliseum, and is working to establish cricket infrastructure while preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The move to secure Oakland Coliseum required coordinating the shipment of drop-in pitches from New York and assembling international pitch curators to ensure T20-standard surfaces. This expansion comes after criticism of wicket quality during the 2023 T20 World Cup. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Grave faces the challenge of organising America's fragmented cricket landscape, which includes Minor League Cricket (MiLC), various T20 leagues, and century-old summer leagues. He aims to create a unified structure between MLC and USA Cricket. MLC2025 Domestic Draft Show "The road map should be very clear that by playing in an academy, playing in a local league, getting selected for Minor League cricket and from Minor League cricket, playing in those open tournaments and then continuing to perform will lead you into getting drafted for Major League and then hopefully to USA colours. That's probably where we need a bit more alignment with, with all the ownership group and all the cricket that's been placed, and bring a bit of structure into that," Grave stated in a conversation with Cricbuzz. MLC has secured nearly $100 million in Series A and B funding rounds. The league is working to create sustainable business models for Minor League Cricket, where team ownership currently costs up to $160,000 per season. "We have really positive talks about redefining the business model for Minor League to help them become sustainable, both from a league perspective and the individual owners. And I think one of the things that's become very clear is that there is a sustainable vision for Minor League," Grave explained. Players with both MLC and USA Cricket contracts can earn approximately $120,000 annually, reaching $135,000 with additional tournament earnings. However, mid-to-lower tier players earn between $10,000 and $40,000 annually. "We've had really good discussions with the players' union. We're probably going to be the first league in the US to sign an agreement with the players' union, which mainly focuses on the domestic players and supporting them and being seen as a player-friendly ecosystem is really important to us," Grave said. Grave believes the U.S. could achieve ICC full member status with proper infrastructure development. The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics presents a significant opportunity for cricket's growth in America. "The LA28 Olympics will have an amazing boost to the sport at all levels. And we've got to be ready with USA cricket to capitalise on that, both in terms of greater enthusiasm in the grassroots, in the schools and the colleges, but also in terms of the fan base, and not making it just a one-off," Grave emphasised. During his tenure at Cricket West Indies, Grave helped revive international cricket during the pandemic by organising the England vs. West Indies Test series under bio-bubble protocols. The Caribbean Premier League became the first T20 franchise league to resume during COVID under his leadership. "I think the US already has a very compelling case to become a full member infrastructurally with all the MLC has been putting in. The one concern I think that the game of cricket would have would be the ongoing governance challenges that the board has faced over pretty much all of its recent history," Grave noted regarding USA Cricket's ICC membership prospects.
