Pune Sports - Discuss Pune Warriors, Pune FC and other sporting events and news

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Sport Stadiums in Pune

1. Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex at Balewadi
2. Nehru Stadium
3. Pune International Cricket Centre
4. PCMC Hockey Stadium
5. Deccan Gymkhana
6. PYC Hindu Gymkhana
7. Pune Race Course - The Royal Western India Turf Club

Pune Teams

1. Pune Warriors India - IPL Cricket
2. Pune FC - Football (Soccer)
3. RFS Pune: Rugby Football Sports Pune - Rugby
4. Pune Marathas - American Football - EFLI - Elite Football League of India
5. Pune Strykers - World Series Hockey

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PUNE: The city is all set to host the 26th edition of the Pune International Marathon on December 4, which will see participants vying for a total prize purse of Rs 25 lakhs in three different categories.

One of the country's oldest events will feature men's half and full marathons besides women's half-marathon.
The registration for the event will start on October 21. Participants can register for the championship against a fees of Rs 500, to be paid in the Hi tech branch of Bank Of Maharashtra.

No entries will be entertained after November 6.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a...w/10311672.cms

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Pune: Fifteen-year-old Rutuja Bhosale of Pune became the youngest state tennis player ever to win the senior national tennis championship. The standard XI student from Pune's Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC) beat Isha Lakhani 6-4, 6-3 to win the Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship in New Delhi on Saturday.

Joining Rutuja was Arjun Khade, another budding player from Pune who won the boys under-18 title on the same day. Both these Lakshay-Bharat Forge and Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) Vision players from Pune have had a good run in the hard court tennis in the country.

"It is a fantastic achievement," Rutuja's coach Sandeep Kirtane said on Saturday. Rutuja has become the second youngest in the country to have won the senior national title. Ratnika Batra was the youngest ever to have won the national title in 2008 at the age of 14.

Senior south-paw Isha, who has been playing the game for over two decades, was the favourite on paper. But Rutuja played a strong game to outwit her more experienced opponent. "She is one of the senior most players in the country. I knew the match would be tough, but I put everything into the game and concentrated on it," Rutuja said.

Kirtane said his ward had made optimum use of her strong forehand to outwit Isha. "It is always difficult to play a senior player who is ranked much above you, but Rutuja prepared very well mentally," he said.

Rutuja's mother, Neeta was beside herself with joy. She said on Saturday, "I was always travelling with her outside Pune, but this time I was not so fortunate to see her win her first maiden senior national title on her debut."

http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MAH...5-2504887.html

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Pune, October 22: Days after becoming the first and the only Indian I-League team to play against an English Premier League team — Blackburn Rovers — Pune FC is set to embark on a totally new association by aligning with the information technology giant Infosys to promote football in the city.

In a first of its own, wherein an IT company has decided to sponsor a major Indian football team, the Infosys has signed a two-year association with Pune FC for an undisclosed amount.

“It is an absolute honour to tie up with a company like Infosys. The football scenario in India has changed considerably of the past couple of years. Associations between large corporates and I-League clubs will help football become a more broad based and popular sport. We look forward to this being a long and fruitful partnership between both our companies.” said Chirag Tanna, Head of Operations of Pune FC.

Speaking about Infosys’s foray into football, Mritunjay Singh, Vice-president, Infosys, praised Pune FC for its professional approach towards playing and organizing football.

“We are happy to be associated with a club – Pune FC – that has taken serious steps in being leaders to promoting the sport in the way it should be done involving the community and likewise spread the word. We as a community promote this ideology in our institution and similarly extend our hand to all those who do the same,” Mr. Singh added saying that the Infosys would raise the sponsorship amount by 20 percent in the second year.

Mr Singh added, “We did an Inter-IT tournament together early this year and are committed to host its second edition—Dribble v2.0 as well and that’s because we liked the way it was organized.”

Founded in 2007, Pune FC rose on the city’s football scene dramatically by qualifying for the top division I-League within two of existence. Pune FC finished third in its inaugural year in 2009 and in 2010 it ended up 5th in the 14-team league.

As part of Infosys’s first foray into major league football, the sponsorship deal will entail that Pune FC will sport Infosys logo on the sleeve and on all common branding spots that Pune FC involve themselves.

In turn, Pune FC coaching staff will train Infosys personnel, the IT giant’s football team and whoever are serious about learning football and extend all possible help . Also, monthly sessions will be conducted for the children of Infosys employees.

“Apart from that we will help Infosys out in various other football activities,” added Mr Tanna.

So far, Infosys’s association with sport was with cricket, but this partnership with Pune FC serious began when Infosys sponsored the first Inter-IT football tournament Dribble v1.0 that was held from June to early August.

Ever since the club was formed, Pune FC has been able to inspire the footballing spirit in the youth of the city. With Pune fast becoming a hub of football activities and the fact that Pune FC has teams at all levels of age groups, it makes a strong impression and raises hopes for a better future for any aspiring football player.

Pune FC is one of the new generation of Indian Football clubs, being promoted by the Ashok Piramal Group, which has diverse business interests. The club was named after the city of its origin in keeping with the tradition of many international football clubs, which are highly successful in drawing the crowds. And, crowds do come to watch Pune FC play I-League matches by paying for tickets, at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi.

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Pune: Pune FC found the winning touch early in the season by scoring a resounding 3-1 win over Chirag United Kerala in a third round of the I-League football championship match at the Balewadi Sports Complex.

Having drawn both their opening matches, Pune FC seemed to take the same route as they did in the first two seasons, but the win took their points tally to 5. Derrick Pereira coached side will thank the efforts of Gurjinder Kumar (19th minute), Jeje Lalpekhlua (70th) and Douhou Pierre (87th). Chirag pulled one back through Charles Dzisah (75th) off a penalty-kick.

Desperate for a win after drawing first two games at home against Shillong Lajong FC (1-1) and Sporting de Clube Goa (2-2) , Pune FC started with attacking line-up with Jeje, Subhash Singh upfront and Dohou held back in the first half to support the duo from the mid-field.

It was Chirag United who first launched a shot on goal when former Pune FC player Gunasekaran Vignesh’s chip from right catching Pune goalkeeper Shahin Meloly out of place before the ball deflected out through the outer side of cross bar in the opening minutes after Australian forward Michael Matricciani fed him.

The first scoring moment for Pune came in the 19th minute when Gurjinder Kumar ran into the box from the left flank and deceived three defenders turns on the turn as they thought he will pass the ball to nearby Jeje but he rolled back to find an opening to place the ball in the far corner from 10-yards. Pune FC found sting with Subhash and skipper Arata making dangerous runs into the box along with man-of-the-match Jeje.

However, it was Pune FC who had the last laugh in the 70th minute as Dohou fondled with visitors defence at the edge of the box and found Jeje who yet again made smart turn to slot at goal and this time he was on target and Sharath had no answer to it.

Striker Vineeth CK who was lively for the visitors upfront was rewarded with a penalty after Chika Wali tripped him inside the box and Charles DZisah reduced deficit with a perfect placement in the 75th minute.

In order to defend their 2-1 lead Pune FC coach Derrick Pereira replaced Subhash with defender Othallo Tabia who unlike his right-back position played up from the right flank to push Arata in the centre and Dohou upfront with Jeje.

The ploy worked as Dohou deservedly scored a goal from near angle three minutes into the regular time, after Arata and Jeje’s effort saw Venkatesh darting in to release finisher but was blocked by Sharath. On rebound, Dohou shot struck the inner side of the cross bar and just cleared the goal line. Pune FC maintained pressure and had no need to defend their two-goal lead towards the end.

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Pune FC launched their full fledged academy Peninsula Pune Football Club Academy (PPFCA) on 18 July, 2011, with an all residential scheme for the U-19 level with a view to have similar facilities for their U-17 and U-15 category squads.

Presently the club has a two year program for the trainees under the guidance of PFC Head of Youth Development Ranjan Chowdhury, who was formerly the Director of the Tata Football Academy.

Vision




The Academy Shall Help Widen The Talent Pool In India....


The objective behind the setting up of the academy was to provide a viable feeder system for the senior team and with the lack of academies in India, also to set-up an institution that would help widen the talent pool in the country.

At the time of the academy’s launch, Pune FC Head of Operations Chirag Tanna stated about the setup’s objective as, “This program was identified to fill the gap of scouting for talent at professional level and then grooming them, which was found to be time consuming.”


BACKGROUND



The club owners, the Piramal Group have been very pro-active about the club’s activities and recently revealed in an interview how they want to make Pune FC an “institution”.

Chirag Tanna revealed to Goal.com “It was a decision by the management. Infact we had decided on it from the day the club was formed that we would look to have an all residential academy later.”

The club hopes that in time, with this youth system providing them with players for the senior team and also with the option of selling some of these players to other clubs, the setup would become economically self-sufficient.

The academy is not based on any European system, but is built on a system to benefit PFC.


Ranjan Chowdhury Has Joined The Club As Head Of Youth Development...

Ranjan Chowdhury, as mentioned above, is the Head Of Youth Development at Pune FC and was formerly the Director of TFA, which is renowned for producing players who have gone on to represent India at the International stage.

Chowdhury himself comes with a clean reputation and as a person known to be an ideal guide for raw talent.

Gift Raikhan is the Head Coach of the youth team with several local coaches working under him. The club has its own Physiotherapist for the youth academy and everything related to the youngsters training is taken care of.

SCOUTING



Of the 25 players who form the first batch of the academy, twenty aspirants made it through the grind of open trials involving 280 players conducted across the length and breadth of the country over the past six months and meticulously shortlisted by Chowdhary. The other five are players retained from the existing under-19 team.

Not only did players from across Indian come to Pune for trials, the club scouts and coaches attended camps and tournaments across the North-East to unearth raw talent which is so abundantly present in the region.

Special attention was paid to select the players with the right physique and potential.

First team goalkeeper, Amrinder Singh was one such talent, who came for U-19 trials but impressed the academy management so much during pre-season, that he was instantly promoted to the senior team, for whom he made his debut in the Federation Cup as a substitute against East Bengal.

Also four of the U-19 lads were also included in the Durand Cup squad of Pune FC.

FACILITIES


The Trainees Are Well Looked After By The Club...

The U-19 squad is currently based at the rented premises of Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Hostel, Balewadi, and travel to the Pune FC training ground based at Mamurdi to train via a bus hired by the club.

The training ground at Mamurdi, though it came under criticism during the recently held Federation Cup, is largely regarded as one of India’s better training facilities.

A catering firm takes care that the academy members get well-balanced and nutritious meals during the day.

In addition to football training, PPFCA have tied up with Vidya Valley School for the overall and continued development of the young footballers, which will enable the footballers to pursue their education though the distance learning programmes.

The trainees are also paid a handsome stipend which is said to be the highest amongst academies in India and takes care of their daily expenses.

The team is going to the Sikkim Gold Cup in November and intend to take part in several other tournaments in the coming season.

In the future the club will look to add residential squads of U-15 and U-17 as well.


TIMETABLE


The Academy Has Two Training Sessions Daily...


The academy trainees usually have breakfast at around 7.30 a.m. and then go for a morning training session to Mamurdi from 8.30 to 10.30 in the morning.

After their practice the players return to their Balewadi hostel and take some rest and have lunch before returning to Mamurdi for another training session in the afternoon from 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

The club shall soon have teachers coming in to look after the students education.

TRAINEE QUOTE



Riyan Yadgiri, 18, Centre Back, PFC U-19 Team

PFC U-17 Player of the Year 2010

“I have definitely improved at the Pune FC academy. We practice six days a week, twice a day and such rigourous practice has helped us improve. They have put everyone on diet, , physical training in the gym has been given special importance. The coaches are also very dedicated to the team and help us give our optimum in practice and work on every aspect of our game like tactical and technical. Also the boarding arrangement is great as it helps the team bond.”

RATING





The Academy Has All The Right Ingredients To Succeed...

6.5/10

The club has set up a professional academy with all the right ingredients to produce players of good caliber and that's the primary reason for them to have received such a high ranking.

It is though, still in a nascent stage and it remains to be seen what kind of talent comes through and also the academy is still run from rented premises and for a viable future, the club officials would have to find a more permanent solution.

http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/22...illar-in-pfcs-

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Copyright @ Robinson Salvadi

U/C Mhalunge Cricket Stadium

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The team of cops made little headway against their formidable opponents, RFS Pune

Anyone idling around the perimeter of the Police ground on Saturday evening would have observed an unequal sporting contest. On one side were RFS Pune, the city's top rugby team, full of athletic teenagers and players in their 20s with goatees and gelled hair. Their interplay was crisp and intuitive, and they spent most of the game foraying into the opponents’ territory. Defending that area, in blue jerseys a group of men, mostly moustached and middle-aged, tried to bring down their younger, speedier opponents, without much success.



Next to the touchline, the team substitutes sat on grass, alongside figures in khaki shirts with shiny badges on shoulder straps, cheering their team. On a chair a little away sat Meeran Borwankar, the Commissioner of Police, watching the newly created Pune Police rugby team make their competitive debut.
Of the 15 police personnel who took the field for the friendly match and the 25 that made up the squad, only three had played rugby before. Anna Ramchandra Shevkar, a 51-year-old havaldar with Pune police, had captained the Maharashtra State Police team for three years. Ashim Aditya, 49, referred to as ‘Bangali’ by his colleagues ever since his transfer from the Calcutta Police in 1983, had been Shevkar's teammate at MSP. As had Shankar Jadhav, 50, also a former all-India boxer.



Three months ago, these three approached Borwankar with the idea to have their own rugby team to which they got an instant yes. “As a policy, police encourage sport,” says Borwankar. “We had been renting this ground out to other teams for practice for a while. Now, the ground has a home team.”


Having found plenty of enthusiastic recruits among colleagues, the three former MSP players coached them for two months, from 7 to 9.30 every morning. “We have boxers, kabaddi players, athletes, footballers,” captain Shevkar and player-cum-coach Jadhav rattle away in near-synchronised chorus. “Some of us,” Shevkar adds, “would have to finish duty before arriving at practice.”



As expected, the police made little headway on debut against their formidable opponents. By the end, no one was keeping score. “I don't know, it must have been 35-5 or something,” says Surhud Khare, coach of RFS Pune. “But they were superb for first-timers. The main thing is, they showed a lot of heart, and tackled hard. I’m 43, but I've been making excuses about ligament problems and stuff like that. Now they've inspired me to maybe go out there and play again.”



Next up, the Pune Police will intensify training (with Khare helping them along) to prepare for their first major challenge, the second division of the Callaghan Cup.

This will be either in Chennai or in Orissa, in two months' time,” says Shevkar. “Kolkata, Tamil Nadu and Greater Bombay have very good rugby teams. Hopefully, Pune will be able to match them very soon

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/on...round/872419/2

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PUNE: Pune will host Hockey India's (HI) first Junior National championship at the Shiv Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex in Balewadi from December 10 to 21.

The tournament, to be organised under the aegis of Maharashtra Hockey and HI, will witness teams from 26 states and 520 players competing for top honours.

Besides 75 officials, 100 volunteers would also be involved to make the tournament a success.

"It is a huge responsibility as it involves the future faces of Indian hockey. It is always nice to be associated with the sport and I am glad that my experience was being utilised," said Mir Ranjan Negi, an executive committee member of Maharashtra Hockey.

The organising secretary of the event, Manoj Bhore, who is also joint secretary of Hockey India and treasurer of Maharashtra Hockey, said, "I thank Hockey India for allotting the tournament to Sports City, Pune.

"The Junior National will provide the right platform for Hockey India to have a look at the talent that exists in the country."

The president of Maharashtra Hockey, Rekha Bhide added, "Pune has been a front-runner in taking initiatives in hosting events. As president of Maharashtra Hockey I will ensure that there will be no stone left upturned in making this championship an event to remember."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/s...w/10729767.cms

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Pune’s Shruti Bhattepatil stunned seasoned shooters like Suma Shirur, Avneet Sidhu and Anjali Bagwat to win the gold in the women’s 10m air rifle event of the 55th National shooting championship at Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi on Wednesday.

Shruti, who had scored 395, along with Anjali (395) and Suma (395), was behind Mampi Das (396) and Avneet (396) in the qualification round. But the local girl impressed in the final round scoring 104.4, which included eight 10 pointers. Shruti scored 10.6, 9.7, 10.7, 10.8, 10.7, 9.9, 10.6, 10.8, 10.3 and 10.3 to clinch gold with a total score of 499.4. Mampi scored 103.2 with a total of 499.2 to clinch silver, while Anjali totalled 498.4 to finish third.

“There was a pressure on me to perform with some seniors like Anjali and Suma, but I kept the pressure aside and tried to do my best. I told myself that I am not participating against Olympian Anjali, but with a shooter. This thought charged me up and I could give my best,” said the 18-year-old shooter, who trains at Gun For Glory academy in Balewadi. Incidentally, Shurti also trains under Anjali and seeks advice from her regularly.

Army’s shooters dominated the 50m pistol event, as the gold and silver went to the armymen in the National Shooting Championship.

The podium was topped by Om Prakash, who shot 563 in the qualification round and then 98.4 in the finals to take his score to 661.4. The shooter had sufficient lead in the qualification round as well as in the final, as second to him was army’s Vijay Singh, who scored 558 and 89.0 in the qualifications and final respectively.

The bronze went to ONGC’s Amanpreet Singh, who came from behind to grab the third spot.

Om Prakash was, however, not satisfied. “My target was to score 570 in the qualification round, but I missed my target by seven points,” said the shooter. The armyman is now aiming to do well at the Asian Shooting Championship, which will be held in Qatar in January. “If I shoot the way I am shooting now, I am sure of winning a medal there,” he added.

http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report...onship_1613700

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The Mercedes-Benz Golf Tournament, a 20 year old global amateur tournament is at present in its 12th edition in India. Indian professional golfer and brand ambassador, Gaganjeet Singh Bhullar will also make an appearance at select locations across India.The Mercedes Benz Golf Tournament sees upward of 50,000 players participate from 56 countries each year. The tournament this year was kicked off at the Oxford Golf & Country Club in Pune. The tourney will see 8 invitational and 6 regional events pan India. This includes Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Delhi, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Chennai, Chandigarh & Bangalore.

The World Final would be held at Stuttgart. Mercedes Benz began the global event in 1989. Having tee'd off at Pune, 7 invitational rounds remain. This will be followed by six Regional rounds, after which the national finals will be held. The three winners would get the opportunity to participate in the Mercedes Trophy World Finals. One of the national final participants stands a chance to participate at the British Open.

The MercedesTrophy Golf Tournament is a brilliant platform for golfing enthusiasts and Mercedes Benz owners to be part of a global golf event. Its success has prompted Mercedes-Benz India take the tourney to a larger level in encouraging sporting talent in India.

Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes Benz India Private Limited, Mr. Peter Honegg had this to say. "Golfing truly represents an evolved and contemporary lifestyle across the world, the attributes which blend seamlessly with the values of Mercedes-Benz. Over the years, MercedesTrophy has turned into a global a sporting extravaganza, bearing testimony to our fruitful association with this sport around the world. This amazing tournament is designed for customers, prospects and provides the right mix for an exclusive social interaction. We are delighted to welcome friends, customers, and golf aficionados for the Mercedes Trophy from all over India".

Director – Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India Private Limited, Mr. Debashis Mitra had this to say. "The association of sporting prowess and lifestyle finesse has been a hallmark of the MercedesTrophy. With this event, Mercedes-Benz is providing its consumers and several golf enthusiasts across the subcontinent a truly celebratory occasion to play with some of most respected golf players internationally and experience India's prestigious luxury golf experience like never before."

http://www.rushlane.com/mercedes-ben...e-1224568.html

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New Delhi: Pune Strykers is the third team announced by World Series Hockey (WSH) as the franchise has been acquired by a corporate gifting and innovation company.

Sai Grace Sports and Events Private Limited (SGSEPL) is the owner of the Pune franchise, WSH said in a statement.

It is third of the eight city-based franchises unveiled by WSH. The Chennai and the Bangalore franchises have been announced.

The director of SGSEPL, Manoj Choudhary is the promoter of Jewel Products, one of India's leading corporate gifting and innovation companies.

Choudhary, a hockey aficionado, said Pune has a glorious hockey legacy and it was only fitting that the city fields a team in WSH.

"We have always involved ourselves in sports and World Series Hockey provides an excellent platform to express our abiding interest in the game."

The WSH will be held from December 17 to January 22 and will involve 200 leading players -- Indian and international -- who will showcase their talent in 61 matches. It will be a multi-city franchise-based league with players being allocated to the teams based on the internationally accepted and practised 'draft' system.

http://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/h...-series-hockey

CHENNAI: Pune Strykers, to be owned by Sai Grace Sports and Events Private Limited (SGSEPL), became the third team to be unveiled for the controversial multi-million dollar World Series Hockey starting from next month.

The Pune outfit is the third of the eight city-based franchise to be announced by the organisers after Chennai and Bangalore.

The Bangalore franchise named Karnataka Lions was acquired by Sporting Ace Pvt Ltd, while Chennai Cheetahs, the first franchise to be named, are owned by Chennai Sports Organisers, backed by LT Nanwani, the director and promoter of Jubilee Granites mining company.

"Pune has a glorious hockey legacy and we felt it was only fitting that the city fields a team in World Series Hockey," said Manoj Choudhary, director of SGSEPL, who is also the promoter of Jewel Products, one of India's leading corporate gifting and innovation companies.

"We have always involved ourselves in sports and World Series Hockey provides an excellent platform to express our abiding interest in the game," he added.

Yannick Colaco, chief operating officer of Nimbus Sport, the joint promoters of the event along with Indian Hockey Federation, welcomed SGSEPL to the WSH family.

"Manoj's passion and association with hockey along with his strong business acumen and corporate relationships will definitely ensure the Pune Strykers make an impact in the inaugural edition of WSH," he said.

The WSH will be held from December 17 to January 22 and will involve 200 leading players -- Indian and international -- who will showcase their talent in 61 matches.

The inaugural edition of the league will comprise eight teams out of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Pune, Bhopal, Punjab, Ranchi and Rourkela.

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Pune, Jan 3 (IBNS): For the first time ever a grand prize of Rs One Lakh awaits the winner of the 50th edition of Mumbai-Pune Cycle Race, which is back into its usual place—the start of the year.


The 153-km cycle race, scheduled on Sunday, January 8, will have all its usual prizes including the most vaunted ‘King of Ghat’ title, which now will earn Rs 31,000 just as the Maharashtra Cycling Association (MCA) has managed to increase prize money for all positional finishers following the generous sponsorship.

The Golden Jubilee cycle race, an all-India level event organized by the MCA under the aegis of the Cycling Federation of India is being organized as part of the 71st birthday celebrations of Sharad Pawar, president of the Nationalist Congress Party, the chief mentor of the cycle race for last several years.

“We are happy to have been able to be on board in the golden jubilee year. I am also happy that we became first hospitality industry to join hands with the sport of cycling in general and the MCA in particular,” said the Citrus Hotels Director Omprakash Goenka. Citrus Hotels are the sponsors of the event.

Maharashtra Cycling Association, Honarary Secretary, Pratap Jadhav explained, “Apart from the Mumbai-Pune cycle race, the CITRUS Hotels will be supporting other events of the MCA through the year.”

As usual, the cycle race will be over a distance of 153-km from Chembur to Sambhaji Park on Jangali Maharaj Road in Pune, apart from 20-km through neutral zone from Gateway of India to RK Studio in Chembur.

http://www.indiablooms.com/SportsDet...ils030112m.php

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POKHARA: India’s top tier club Pune FC will be one of the 12 clubs participating in the 10th Aaha Gold Cup, organisers Sahara Football Club confirmed here today.

Pune — who are currently at the sixth spot in i-league — will be joined by six ‘A’ Division clubs, Sahara Football Club, Rupandehi-XI, ANFA U-19 team, Dharan Football Club and African United Club in the January 31 to February 11 event to be held at the Pokhara Stadium.

Defending champions Mega Three Star Club, recently-concluded National League champions Nepal Police Club, Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club, Yeti Himalayan Sherpa Club, Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club and Ranipokhari Corner Team will be the top tier teams competing in the tournament, informed Sahara Club secretary Keshab Bahadur Thapa.

The winners will receive Rs 200,000 and the runners-up Rs 100,000, while the best player of the tournament will get a motorbike.

Meanwhile, Him Shree Foods — manufacturer of Aaha and Rara noodles —has agreed to sponsor the tournament for the next 10 years.

Sahara Club president Bikram Thakali and Him Shree Foods chairman Surya Bahadur KC signed in the Memorandum of Understanding. As per the agreement, Him Shree will provide Rs 11.1 million for 10 years to the organisers.

With the agreement, the tournament will be renamed as Aaha Rara Gold Cup from the next edition. Him Shree chairman KC said they had agreed to renew the contract evaluating on the success it had during the previous editions. “We are satisfied with how the club (Sahara) has handled the tournament to gain popularity. So, we decided to go with the contract extension,” said KC.

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Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex at Balewadi.

Home ground for Pune FC.

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Pune, Feb 21 (IBNS): The 3rd All-India New India Assurance Carrom Tournament will be held at the Boxing Hall of the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex at Mhalunge-Balewadi here from February 22 to 24.

As many as 28 teams from across the country, including five from Mumbai Regional Office of the New India Assurance Company Limited and two from Delhi Regional Office will compete in the three-day event, hosted by The New India Assurance Sports Club.

The tournament will have team championship, singles and doubles for men and women.

The tournament, to be conducted on knockout basis, will see Mumbai II taking on Hyderabad in the opening match in the first round of the team championship.

Four teams—Bangalore, New India Assurance Head Office, Mumbai I, and Chennai—have been given first round byes directly into the pre-quarterfinals. Twenty-four teams will compete in the first round and 12 winners will join the four to make up the pre-quarterfinal line-up.

The team championship will follow the singles and doubles competition during the meet squeezed in three days that will make an action packed schedule at the Boxing Hall.

While the first two days will see early rounds being played with all finals slated for the final day on February 24.

“We have been regularly holding all-India and zonal tournaments amongst our employees in various sporting activities such as cricket, table tennis, badminton, kabaddi, chess and carrom,” said A. B. Dange, Chief Manager and Vice-President, New India Assurance Sports Club, Mumbai.

The inaugural function will be held on Wednesday, February 22 at 8.30 am with Sadashiv Mishra, General Manager, The New India Assurance Company Limited, being the chief guest.

A R Sekar, Chairman and Managing Director of The New India Assurance Company Limited will chair the closing ceremony on February 24 at 4 pm with R. K. Deka, General Manager and President of The New India Assurance Sports Club being the guest of honour.

http://www.indiablooms.com/SportsDet...ils210212f.php

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MUMBAI: Radio City Connect took Pune by surprise by organizing a grand launch and awareness campaign of the “Pune Strykers” Hockey team at SGS Mall. The team was launched on-air and on-ground at the same time. For the first time ever, public witnessed a team launch live in a mall, along with a flash mob and studio shift. A Radio City studio was created in the mall where RJ Sonali went live and treated listeners with the grand proceedings of the launch. The shoppers in the mall were abuzz with excitement on seeing the glittery event and spell bound to witness their favorite hockey team amidst them.

The entire team of Pune Strykers, along with the CEO, Team Coach and Psychotherapist introduced themselves with great pride to the audience on- ground as well as to the listeners on-air. True hockey lovers poured in to meet the players’ one on one.

Radio City Connect orchestrated a flash mob where the dancers grooved to the peppy Pune Strykers Anthem, and the audience also joined the fun, shaking their leg to the music. Piyush Malhotra, a renowned choreographer was engaged to choreograph the super energetic multiple flash mobs.

Adding to the excitement, Radio City Connect incorporated Minute to Win it games for contestants. People actually got a chance to hit some goals themselves and experience the exciting game of hockey. Many giveaways like miniature hockey, bags, key chains, pens were given during the entire activity, making the evening memorable for them. The contestants sang, danced, acted and were gratified with merchandise for the team.

Moreover, a signature campaign was carried out by Radio City Connect that gave a chance to the audience to articulate their love and blessings to the team by writing messages and signing on the board.

http://www.radioandmusic.com/content...-series-hockey

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Finals 2012

Pune strikers vs Sher E Punjab

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Pune Warriors India is owned by Sahara Adventure Sports Limited. Former Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly is the captain and mentor of the side. Former South African pacer Allan Donald is the bowling coach of PWI.

The star players of the side are Jesse Ryder, Angelo Mathews, Rahul Sharma, Ashok Dinda and Wayne Parnell.

The team hasn’t been impressive in their first season, managing only four wins out of fourteen matches.

Squad:
Sourav Ganguly (c)
Eklavya Dwivedi,
Michael Clarke,
Ashok Dinda,
Callum Ferguson,
Raiphi Gomez,
Harpreet Singh,
James Hopes,
Dheeraj Jadhav,
Kamran Khan,
Murali Kartik,
Harshad Khadiwale,
Bhuvneshwar Kumar,
Nathan Anustup Majumdar,
Mithun Manhas,
Angelo Mathews,
Mohnish Mishra,
Ali Murtaza,
Ashish Nehra,
Manish Pandey,
Wayne Parnell,
Sachin Rana,
Jesse Ryder,
Marlon Samuels,
Rahul Sharma,
Steven Smith,
Tamim Iqbal,
Alfonso Thomas,
Krishnakant Upadhyay,
Robin Uthappa,
Shrikant Wagh
Luke Wright.

http://www.cricketcountry.com/cricke...er-names/12994

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PUNE: The Rs 260 crore Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium at Gahunje off the Pune-Mumbai expressway received a major fillip to its hopes of becoming a Test centre after International Cricket Council president Sharad Pawar backed the move on Sunday.

During a ceremony to inaugurate the stadium, Pawar assured that it would be awarded an international status soon.

"Ranchi, Rajkot and Pune are in line to acquire international Test and one-day status. On behalf of ICC, I request BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale to send us an application in this regard," Pawar said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/12499629.cms