Deep Chand, Shukanya win Mawana Sugars marathon

New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) More than 5,000 people wore their running shoes on a warm Sunday for the Mawana Sugars Indian Open marathon here, with Deep Chand and Shukanya Mall winning the men's and women's sections respectively to each take home Rs.250,000 in prize money.

The marathon in its 21st edition, took the route that is proposed to be the course for the Commonwealth Games marathon, beginning from Princess Place.

The event, co-sponsored by Usha and Honda, has been promoting various social causes and focussing on the importance of good health. This year's theme was 'Energising the Spirit of Running.'

Deep Chand clocked 2:22:33 secs while Shukanya Mall took 2:59:58 to complete the course of the full marathon. Santosh Kumar (2:26:17) and K.C. Ramu (2:28:23) came second and third in the men's section. Preetil Rao (3:04:42) Jyoti Bisht (3:12:58) were the first and second runnners up in the women's event.

Shukanya, a BA final year student, had a string of achievements before coming here, including a first place in Airtel half-marathon.

'I had participated in the event last year and I still wonder how I came second. But this time, I have settled the score. It is very satisfying experience. I will put the prize money in my training and diet and hopefully will make India proud in Commonwealth Games,' said Shukanya, who is from Devariya, Uttar Pradesh.

In the half-marathon, Sandeep Kumar (1:6:54) and Pampa Chanda (1:19:29) took the honours in the men's and women's categories. They took home Rs 50,000 each. Soji Mathew (1:07:12) and Borappan (1:07:19) finished second and third in the men's category while Rajshri Patil (1:19:30) and Geeta Rani (1:19:79) took the second and third positions in the women's event.

The women winners of the full and half marathons had another reason to cheer about as they took home Usha Janome sewing machines.

Interestingly, all the winners, apart from the cash prizes, were also given sugar equal to their weights.

The race saw an enthusiastic participation from the students of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprashtha University (GGSIP). 'This was my first participation in a half-marathon and I am thrilled to cover the entire distance. Now I am looking forward to participate in more such events,' said Saurabh, a BBA student.

In contrast, it was the 122nd half-marathon for 50-year-old Sunita Godara, a former national champion and 1992 Asian marathon champion. 'I am so happy to be able to complete the distance. I have had a long association with the event, running makes me feel good,' a beaming Godara told IANS.

Siddharth Shriram, Chairman, Mawana Sugars Ltd., said: 'We are happy that people have come out in great numbers to support Mawana Sugars Indian Open Marathon this year. We would come next year to support another cause.'

The total prize money this year was increased to Rs.15 Lakh and cash prizes were awarded up to the 30th position.

Butt has stooped down to new levels: Miandad

Karachi, Feb 7 (PTI) Pakistan former captain and current PCB Director-General, Javed Miandad has accused board chairman Ejaz Butt of stooping down to new levels to discredit him just because he had criticised him and his administration. Butt today claimed that the PCB had to face a rebuke from the International Cricket Council after Miandad decided to take a private cricket team from the United States not affiliated with the recognised USA cricket body to China.

"Because of him (Miandad) we got a letter from the ICC asking us why was a board member patronising an unrecognised body in the USA," Butt said. Butt had also claimed that Miandad had not worked on any of the projects given to him as DG and had violated all code of conduct by openly criticising him and the board.

He also said that Miandad had hardly done seven days work in one year and was paid 8.3 million rupees for it. But Miandad hit back at Butt saying it was unfortunate that Butt had now stooped to such levels to discredit him.

"I never took any unauthorised team from USA to China and I was totally misquoted on this by a newspaper. And when the board asked me about this I clarified my position," Miandad added.

He said that it was shameful that the board Chairman had gone on record and disclosed his salary to the media. "How can a Chairman do that, how can he publicise a confidential matter? Is this not a violation of code of conduct?," Miandad, a veteran of 124 Tests, asked.

Fan dies after Stoke stadium incident

A soccer fan died on Sunday after suffering a head injury and a heart attack in an incident during a Premier League match at Stoke City in central England, police said.

The 30-year-old man collapsed inside the Britannia Stadium on Saturday just after the half-time interval in the game between Stoke and Blackburn Rovers.

Police said they were investigating what led to the man's death and would not comment on a BBC report that he had been hit on the head with a bin.

"The circumstances are being fully investigated and a 25-year-old man remains in custody and is helping police with their inquiries," Staffordshire Police said.

Chief Inspector Adrian Roberts, who was in charge of policing at the game, told the BBC that no Stoke fans were involved in the incident. Some 1,300 Blackburn fans were at the game, which Stoke won 3-0.

Police and paramedics found the man, a Blackburn supporter, on a concourse inside the stadium with other Blackburn fans.

He received medical treatment inside the stadium before being taken to hospital where he died early on Sunday.

(Reporting by Peter Griffiths; Editing by Clare Fallon; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Jeev signs off at tied 15th in Dubai

Dubai, Feb 7 (PTI) First round joint leader Jeev Milkha Singh had to be content with a tied 15th finish after signing off with his worst card of the week in the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament here today. Jeev began the USD 2.5 million event in the right earnest, carding a four-under 68 in tough conditions, but could not maintain the tempo and his top 10 hopes went up in smoke today as he went two-over 74 to total four-under 284.

Among other Indians in fray, Shiv Kapur too managed an identical two-over 74, while SSP Chowrasia carded four-over 76 to finish tied 51 and tied 60 respectively. Overnight tied 9th, Jeev had a forgettable front nine and at the turn the Indian was two-over, courtesy two bogeys at the second and ninth hole.

On resumption, Jeev tried to pull things back by picking a stroke at the 10th but a 16th hole bogey brought him back to square one. Shiv, meanwhile, faltered on both side of the turn.

The Indian dropped bogeys at the first, seventh and the 18th hole and sunk a double bogey at the 12th, against birdies at the sixth, 13th and 15th hole. However, Chowrasia had the most disappointing day in the greens as the Kolkata pro dropped four bogeys and a double bogey and had just two birdies, one at each side of the turn.

At the top, Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez (72) eclipsed Lee Westwood (72) of England in a sudden death play off to emerge as the champion, while one stroke behind was Thongchai Jaidee (73) of Thailand.

Punjab overall champions in school judo

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 7 (PTI) Punjab claimed overall title in the National School Judo championship, which concluded here today. Punjab won the title with 97 points (13 gold, 9 silver and 10 bronze).

They also claimed title in the boys under age group of 14, 17 and 19 years. Haryana came second with 68 points (9 gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze).

Karnataka was in third position with 44 points(6 gold, 3 silver and 10 bronze).