The NBA on Thursday launched a youth basketball campaign across Canada in a "bid to capitalise on the country's growing interest in the game" (REUTERS, 9/5). ... Tenri University in Japan "on Thursday announced its elite judo program will cease activities until it takes steps to prevent physical abuse." A day after judo department head Shozo Fujii stepped down, both Tenri Manager Saburo Tosa and team captain, 73 kg world champion Shohei Ono, "also resigned from their posts" (KYODO, 9/5). ... Force India Team Chief Vijay Mallya has warned F1 bosses that "handing race seats to 'pay drivers' is bad for the sport and sends the wrong signal." Mallya, who co-owns the Silverstone-based outfit, said that "he does not believe in recruiting drivers purely based on what kind of budget they can bring the team in advertising revenue" (AFP, 9/5). ... As many as 11 athletes "are awaiting ratification of their National records" by the Athletic Federation of India since April last year. To date, "16 new marks have been established" either in recognized domestic meets or in int'l competition that includes Olympics and World Championships. But "the official recognition is still awaited" (THE HINDU, 9/5).
