Kochi: Bharananganam girl N.V. Sangeetha was the star performer for defending champions Kerala with a meet record performance in high jump on Day One of the national schools athletics championship in Ranchi on Wednesday.
Sangeetha eclipsed the previous mark in the name of another Kerala girl Aparna S., from 2008 by three centimetres when she cleared 1.65 m in the junior category.
Kerala bagged three more gold with K.R. Athira of St. John’s Nellipoyil in junior 3000 m, Suhail P.V. in senior long jump and the talismanic P.U. Chithra in senior 3000 m etching their names on to the list of achievers on the first day.
Athira finished at 10:2.65 which was way below her state record performance of 9:54.10, but good enough to win Kerala’s first gold in the day. Chithra won gold at 9:58.15 m in her event while Malappuram boy Suhail struck gold with a leap of 7.20 m and his teammate Joffin Jose had to settle for silver on 6.95 metres.
Sinu hits half-ton
Kozhikode: Sinu Raj’s 60-run knock helped Thrissur Cricket Academy defeat President’s Perinthal-manna by 41 runs and enter the semifinals of the 4 th President’s Trophy all-Kerala T20 tournament at Perinthalmanna on Wednesday.
Batting first, Thrissur team posted a target of 166 runs with the help of Sinu Raj’s performance. President’s Perintha-lmanna had a nasty chase as they were all out for 124 runs.
In another quarterfinal match, Globstar Aluva registered a nine-wicket win over NCA Nilambur. Pranav’s brilliant bowling figure of 4/19 restricted NCA Nilambur to just 87 runs in first strike. Globstar found the target with ease as Rijilal starred with a hit of 69 runs.
BRIEF SCORES: Thrissur Cricket Academy 165 for 7 in 20 overs (Sinu Raj 60) bt President’s Perinthalmanna 124 for 8 in 20 overs (Rafeeq 40). NCA Nilambur 87in 19 overs (Pranav 4/19) lost to Globstar Aluva 88 for 1 in 9 overs (Rijilal 69).
Nias, Narayana hero
Kochi: Nias Nizar netted a second half winner as Sree Narayana HSS Thrikkanarvattom defeated Government Vocational HSS Chalakudy 2-1 in the Mini MAT football tournament in Aluva on Wednesday.
In a thrilling contest, SN came from behind to progress in the tourney. Jiss Jesus Jose opened the scoring for the Chalakudy School in the 19th minute and just six minutes later Nias equalised. The SN no. 5 got the winner in the 68th minute.
G.V. Raja sports school Thiruvananthapuram will take on rivals Subulu Salam HSS Moorkkanadu on Thursday.
It’s Bosco vs SH
Kochi: Don Bosco Vaduthala and Sacred Heart CMI reached the boys final of 24th P.L. Lawrence memorial inter-school basketball tournament at Fort Cochin YMCA on Wednesday.
Dennis Joseph top scored with 30 points for Don Bosco as they defeated Sacred Heart HSS 89-70 in the second semifinals after Sacred Heart CMI had knocked out Naval Children School 74-64 to book their berth in the final.
In the girls’ category, Naval Children School and Bhavans Vidya Mandir, Elamakkara are set to play the final on Thursday. The Naval school edged out St. John’s North Paravur 43-40 and Bhavans drubbed Choice Eroor 47-26, in the semifinals.
Vaisakan ’tricks
Kochi: Vaisakan K. scored a hat-trick as SN College Kannur thrashed Nirmala College Muvattupuzha 4-0 in the group match of Goal inter-collegiate football tournament being held at Sacred Heart College ground here on Wednesday.
Jinu V. and Ashraf K.P. were equally outstanding for the Kannur team and, in fact, it was the former who gave assist to Vaisakan’s first in the 11th minute. Just 20 minutes later Vaisakan smashed in his second.
The striker completed his hat-trick three minutes after the break with a clinical right-foot finish at the far post. In the 56th minute, Nijil T. completed the rout when he slammed in the fourth goal for SN College.
