NEW DELHI: Pritam Rani Siwach will lead a 16-member Indian women's team to an Asia Cup preparation tour of New Zealand from August 20 to 30.Indian women will play practise-cum-Test matches against their counterparts in preparation for the fourth Asia cup to be held in Delhi from December 1-10, Indian Women's Hockey Federation (IWHF) said in a release.

Team: Pritam Rani Siwach (captain), Tingongleima Chanu, Helen Mary, Mary Stella Tirkey, Sandeep Kaur, Amandeep Kaur, Sunita Dalal, Suraj Lata Devi, Sita Gussain, Sumrai Tete, Shaina Kispotta, Kiran Bala, Jyoti Sunita Kullu, Manjinder Kaur, Fordina Ekka, Pakpi Devi. Chief coach: G S Bhangu. Manager: Rupa Saini.

Departure delayed

NEW DELHI: The Indian hockey junior team's scheduled departure for the Netherlands failed to materialise as the Dutch embassy issued visas only late in the evening. The team is now expected to leave on Tuesday.The Indians, who are supposed to play a four-Test series against theDutch will thus be unable to reach in time for the first match scheduled for August 10. The delay was the result of the Dutch embassy's insistance on interviewing some Indian players who will be going abroad for the first time.

BCCI meetings

MUMBAI: The programmes and fixtures committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will meet in Mumbai on August 18 to finalise the itineraries of the home series against New Zealand and South Africa.The New Zealanders are arriving on September 30 to play three Tests and five One-Day Internationals. India are also playing three Tests against South Africa in February-March after returning from Australia.

Kapil Dev dazzles

GURGAON: Kapil Dev fired a two-under par 142 over two days earning 74 points under the Stableford format to win the best cricketing golfer award at the Ambassadors' Cup Golf Tournament. Zimbabwean Craig Evans (67) and New Zealand's Deepak Patel (65) took the second and third prizes respectively in the inaugural eventat the Classic Golf Course on Sunday.

SAF Shooting

ASANSOL: The West Bengal Rifle Association will host the South Asian Federation (SAF) Shooting Championship next year.

The championship was being organised as part of the state association's golden jubilee celebration this year. About 140 shooters will participate from seven countries in the championship.

-- ENS & Agencies