Vijender settles for bronze

NEW DELHI, Sep 12: Vijender Singh’s quest for a gold medal ended in heartbreak as he went down to Uzbekistan’s Abbos Atoev in the semi-finals, bringing down the curtains on India’s campaign by settling for a bronze at the World Boxing Championships in Milan, Italy.

The bronze with which he had to be content with after the 3-7 loss to Atoev late last night was Vijender’s third successive this year. But even in defeat, the Olympic bronze medallist scripted history by ending India’s medal drought in the elite event. “Obviously I am a bit disappointed but I am glad that I ended India’s medal jinx at this prestigious event,” the world number two, who was given the top seeding in Milan, said after the bout. The 23-year-old went into the bout as favourite, considering that he had beaten Atoev, a former light heavy weight champion, just a couple of months ago at the Asian Championships in China.

Shorten ODIs to 40 overs: Kumble

NEW DELHI, Sep 12: Former India captain Anil Kumble is the latest to join the debate on the future of One-dayers and has suggested that the 50-over version be shortened to 40 overs a side to save it from extinction.

With the advent of Twenty20 cricket, the future of ODIs is in jeopardy. The England and Wales Cricket Board recently scrapped a 50-over competition from its domestic calendar in 2010. “I don’t think ODIs are going to get extinct, but there is a little bit of threat on the development of the format. You need such innovations as Sachin (Tendulkar) suggested but my thought is to shorten ODIs from 50 to 40 overs,” Kumble said last night on the sidelines of Van Huesen India Men’s Fashion Week.