India's only individual Olympic Gold Medalist ABHINAV BINDRA was named on a panel "entrusted with the task of preparing the blueprint for the country's success at the next three Games." The world's second-most populous country sent more than 120 athletes to Rio de Janeiro last year "with hopes of exceeding the six medals won at London" in '12, but returned with only a Silver in badminton and a wrestling Bronze. National badminton coach PULLELA GOPICHAND and former India hockey captain VIREN RASQUINHA were also named in the eight-member task force which will help identify core medal prospects for the 2020 Tokyo Games and "nurture talents for the next two editions of the quadrennial event" (REUTERS, 1/30). ... A historian, a retired auditor and a financial exec were among four people named by India's highest court on Monday to run the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Former India women's captain DIANA EDULJI was the only administrator with direct cricket experience although historian and columnist RAMACHANDRA GUHA has written "numerous books about the sport." Earlier this month, BCCI President ANURAG THAKUR and Secretary AJAY SHIRKE were removed by the Supreme Court for "failing to implement administrative reforms within the world's richest cricket body." The court appointed former Comptroller & Auditor General of India VINOD RAI and Infrastructure Development Finance Corp. CEO VIKRAM LIMAYE as the other administrators to supervise BCCI operations. The committee of administrators, to be chaired by Rai, will take immediate charge and run the board in liaison with BCCI CEO RAHUL JOHRI until new officials are elected (REUTERS, 1/30). ... MORTEN ESPERSEN formally notified Rowing Ireland of his resignation from his role as high performance director on Monday. Espersen led Ireland to its first Olympic rowing medal in '16 when GARY and PAUL O'DONOVAN claimed Silver at the Rio Games. The "Dane will continue in the role for three months while a new HPD is chosen" (RTÉ, 1/30).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Ligue 1 side Montpellier Manager FRÉDÉRIC HANTZ and assistant coach ARNAUD CORMIER were dismissed by the club on Monday. Montpellier named former players JEAN-LOUIS GASSET and GHISLAIN PRINTANT as co-interim coaches (Montpellier). ... Ascenso MX side Venados named BRUNO MARIONI its coach on Sunday. Marioni replaces JOSÉ LUIS SÁNCHEZ SOLÁ (LA AFICIÓN, 1/29).
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