SAFF Cup football

Five northeastern players in India squad:
Baichung Bhutia, Potsangbam Renedy Singh, Bungo Singh, Moirangthem Gouramangi Singh and Sushil Kumar Singh were named in the India squad for the SAFF Cup football championship in Maldives and Sri Lanka to b eheld from June 3-14.
Regular India defender Surkumar Singh, who injured himself in India's second friendly against Chinese Taipei on May 27 in Chennai, had to miss out.
The Squad:
Goalkeepers: K Subrata Paul, Subhashish Roy Chowdhary. Defenders: Mahesh Gawli, Gouramangi Singh, Deepak Mondal, N S Manju, Anwar Ali, Sameer Naik. Midfielders: Steven Dias, Climax Lawrence, N P Pradeep, Bungo Singh, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Renedy Singh, KuttimaniForwards: Baichung Bhutia (Capt), Sunil Chhetri, Manjit Singh, Abhishek Yadav, Sushil Kumar Singh

India vs Chinese Taipei Friendly

Four Manipuris in India first XI:

Irungbam Surkumar Singh, Moirangthem Gourmangi Singh, Bungo Singh and Potsangbam Renedy Singh took the field in India's second and final friendly match against Chinese Taipei on May 27 in the run up to the June 3-14 SAFF Cup in Maldives and Sri Lanka.

The match ended 2-2 draw.
N. P. Pradeep scored both the goals for India in the .

In the first friendly against the same opponents on May 24, there were five Manipuris with young striker Sushil Kumar Singh taking field along with Surkumar, Gouramangi, Bungo and Renedy.

India Squad on May 27: Subrata Pal, Mahesh Gawli, Surkumar Singh, Gourmangi Singh, Deepak Kumar Mondal, Bungo Singh, N.P. Pradeep, Renedy Singh, Climax Lawrence, Sunil Chhettri, Bhaichung Bhutia (captain).

India squad on May 24: Subrata Pal, Mahesh Gawli, Surkumar Singh (66' Nanjangud Shivnanju Manju), Gourmangi Singh, Deepak Kumar Mondal, Bungo Singh, N. P. Pradeep, Renedy Singh, Climax Lawrence (77' Sampath Kumar Kuttimani), Sunil Chhettri, Bhaichung Bhutia (71' Sushil Kumar Singh).

International Challenge Badminton Championship

Shuttlers arrive in the city:

Guwahati, Nov 30: Altogether 41 players arrive here on Friday to take part in the India International Challenge Badminton Championship which will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium at Amingaon from Sunday.

Apart from India other countries that will take part in the meet are Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nepal, Italy, Austria, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Players from almost all the participating countries have arrived today while Sri Lanka team is scheduled to be arrived tomorrow.

Pakistan has sent maximum number of 14 players while Indonesia and Malaysia have five-member teams. Austria, Italy and Japan have two members each while Bangladesh has a six-member squad.

Only five players of the Indian team have arrived today while the majority of the players are scheduled to reach here tomorrow.

Afghanistan has withdrawn from the championship due to some visa problem.

All the players have been given accommodation at hotels situated at the Guwahati-Shillong road in the city.

This afternoon all the players have workout sessions at the competition venue.

Oil India Limited (OIL) has agreed to be the title sponsor of the championship which will be the maiden international event organised by the Assam Badminton Association.

Source: The Sentinel; The Assam Tribune