Kochi: High jumper K. S. Anandhu was a revelation at the state schools meet in November and he shone even brighter on the second day of the 59th national schools meet at the Birsa Munda athletics stadium in Ranchi on Thursday.
The 13-year-old, from Guruvayur Sree Krishna HSS, rightful successor to the sensational Sreenith Mohan, smashed a national schools record in the Under-14 boys’ high jump, adding colour to Kerala’s impressive form.
Anandhu cleared 1.89 metres that rendered history, a 1.88m record in the name of Delhi lad Sikkander since 2008. Kerala racked up six gold, four silver and three bronzes, taking the overall tally to 10 gold medals. With three days remaining, Kerala (73 points) lead second placed Maharashtra by 50 points.
Parli Schoolgirls V. V. Jisha and Sandhya B. M. struck gold in the senior girls 400m and sub-junior high jump respectively. Jisha clocked 56.18 seconds for gold while Sandhya cleared 1.46m in her jump.
P. T. Usha trainees Jisna Mathew and Shaharbana Sidhique bagged gold and silver in the junior girls 400m race. Jisna recorded a time of 56.06 seconds and her training partner could only make it at 57.75.
Jenimol Joy avenged her loss to Athira Surendran in the state meet in senior long jump. The two SAI trainees could not give their best, but with 5.45 and 5.41 metre jumps, Jenimol and Athira, added two more medals to the state’s kitty.
Race walker Bincy was the sixth gold medalist for Kerala, which she achieved with an average 26:47.58 min effort in senior girls 5 km race walk.
Sanju with RR
Kochi: The sensational Sanju Vishwanadh Samson has renewed his contract with IPL franchisee Rajasthan Royals for Rs 4 crore.
The 19-year-old Kerala wicket-keeper batsman who scored a century in India’s final win over arch-rivals Pakistan in the just concluded U-19 Asia Cup has thus confirmed his stay with the Royals in IPL-7.
Sanju had a Rs10 lakh contract with the Royals and was voted the best young player of the previous season. “For me playing under a great like Rahul Dravid is precious than the crores,” said a humble Sanju on the contract renewal.
SNC draws game
Kochi: Sree Narayana College Kannur took a step closer to clinching the final berth despite being held to a 1-1 draw in their group encounter with MES Mampad at the Goal inter-collegiate football tournament on Thursday.
Libin Baby struck the equaliser three minutes after the hour mark after Ashraf had put SN ahead in the first minute. SN is tied with Nirmala College Muvattupuzha on four points but has a slightly better goal difference.
Nirmala play MES, SN face-off University College Thiruvananthpuram in the last group matches on Friday. SN took a surprise lead, but MES hit back by earning a penalty in the 34th minute. But Mohammed Safwan’s effort was saved by SN goalkeeper Vishnu V.K. and thankfully Libin earned them a point later on.
Defending champions Sree Kerala Varma College Thrissur await the group winners in the final to be played at the Sacred Heart College ground on Sunday.
Pradheesh shines
Kochi: Pradheesh scored in a 1-0 pre-quarterfinal victory for G.V. Raja Sports School Thiruvananthapuram over Subulu Salam HSS Moorkkanad in the 13th MAT football championship at Aluva on Thursday. The striker got the winner in the 68th minute. In another pre-quarterfinal to be played on Friday, Army Sports School Bangalore take on Government vocational HSS Thrikkaripur.
Fed Cup tickets
Kochi: The ticket sales for the 36th Federation Cup football championship to be hosted by the cities of Kochi and Manjeri were inaugurated here on Thursday.
Kerala Football Association president KMI Mather said the tickets will be available ahead of the opener on January 14 from the branches of Federal Bank and Canara Bank at Kochi and Manjeri respectively.
The tickets can also be collected on the match days at the stadium counters. The rates are different for Manjeri and Kochi. Students and women will get them at subsidised rates.
rate card
Manjeri: Season ticket (gallery) – 300, Gallery – 60, Chair – 100, Chair (VIP) – 150
Kochi: Season tickets (gallery) – 200, Season (chair) – 400, Season (VIP) – 1500, Chair (VIP) – 300, Chair – 100, Gallery - 30
Galaxy win big
Kozhikode: Abishek Tiwary’s 87 enabled Galaxy Palakkad beat Globstar by 100 runs and storm into the finals of the 4th President’s Trophy all-Kerala T20 tournament at Perinthalmanna on Thursday.
Riding on Abishek’s innings Galaxy cruised to a total of 171 for 3 while batting first. In reply Globstar were all out for just 71 runs in 16 overs.
In another semifinal match, Cricket Academy Thrissur defeated Jolly Rovers Perinthalmanna by 56 runs. Replying to the Thrissur total of 129, Jolly Rovers were all out for 73.
BRIEF SCORES: Galaxy Palakkad 171 for 3 in 20 overs (Abishek Tiwary 87) lost to Globstar 71 in 16 overs (Shery 3/17). Cricket Academy Thrissur 129 for 6 in 20 overs (Akhil Das 66) bt Jolly Rovers Perinthalmanna 73 in 19.2 overs (Sharafudeen 3/4).
