Bhullar sizzles with 65
Chiangmai (Thailand): Gaganjeet Bhullar made the great charge with a sizzling seven-under 65, the best card of the day, but Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng fired a majestic six-under-par 66 to open up a commanding five-shot lead over the field at the end of the third day in the inaugural USD 750,000 Chiangmai Golf Classic here on Saturday. Bhullar's 65 took him to 11-under 205, while Digvijay Singh, lying tied second overnight slipped to tied fourth after a battling round of two-under 70, that put him at 12-under after a finishing bogey on par-5 18th.
Digvijay, however, is still the best placed Indian among the five left after the cut. Shiv Kapur (68), Anirban lahiri (68) and Himmat Rai (70) were all tied 26th at eight-under in the low-scoring event. Adding to the drama was Thongchai Jaidee, who needs a win to qualify for the Masters next month. Thongchai fired a 69 to move to 13-under, alongside Australia's Matthew Stieger, but they are five shots behind Prayad. Digvijay is tied fourth.
Murray, Ferrer advance to final
Key Biscayne (Florida): Andy Murray returned to the final of Sony Open with a 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-2 win over No. 8-seeded Richard Gasquet. Murray lost a set for the first time in tournament when Gasquet played a brilliant tiebreaker. But Gasquet appeared to hurt his right foot and received treatment from a trainer after the second set, and he limped at times in the latter stages of the match. Murray's opponent on Sunday will be No. 3-seeded David Ferrer, who beat No. 15 Tommy Haas, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. The Scotsman overtook Gasquet despite twice double-faulting on break point.
Barua retained Indian eves’ coach
New Delhi: Former international player Anadi Barua was on Saturday retained chief coach of the Indian women's football team for the 2014 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers to be held in Palestine in May. Barua, a FIFA diploma holder, has been given the charge of the women's team for the Group D qualifying round matches to be held in West Bank from May 21-25. In January, Barua was appointed chief coach of the Indian women's team that beat a visiting club side from the Netherlands in one of the two friendly matches in Pune. Barua represented India in Nehru Gold Cup and he was an integral member of Delhi for seven years in Santosh Trophy. He has been an All India Football Federation selector for different age-group teams. He has also been the coach of Delhi in Santosh Trophy.
Smriti makes cut, Sharmila out
Agadir (Morocco): Smriti Mehra shot an a creditable even par 71 to make the cut in tied 25th place after two rounds at the lalla Meryem Cup golf tournament here. Smriti is one-over 143 for two rounds. However, things were not so pleasant for fellow Indian Sharmila Nicollet, who missed the cut with a round of 71 after the first round of 78. Smriti had an aggressive round with four birdies and four bogeys in her 71, but will need another good round to move up in the tournament.
Bagan bank on Odafa vs Dempo
Kolkata: Fighting to beat the drop, a beleagured Mohun Bagan side will be bolstered by the presence of their talismanic Nigerian striker Okolie Odafa in a crucial I-league encounter here on Sunday. Mohun Bagan are still at the bottom of the table and coach Karim Bencherifa has every reason to feel edgy as his team failed to pick up full points in the previous home match against United Sikkim. "We need a good win to get back on track," Bencherifa said about their 2-2 draw against Shillong lajong who came back from behind to steal a point.
Juve beat rival Inter Milan 2-1
Milan: Juventus beat bitter rival Inter Milan 2-1 in an entertaining match at San Siro to provisionally extend its Serie A lead to 12 points. It took Juventus less than three minutes to take the lead with a stunning strike from Fabio Quagliarella. Rodrigo Palacio leveled in the 55th but Juventus were back in front five minutes later when Alessandro Matri fired in from close range. Inter's Esteban Cambiasso was sent off for a brutal tackle as the final whistle sounded. At the other end of the table Genoa drew 2-2 with Siena in a relegation battle.
United beat Sunderland 1-0
Sunderland: Manchester United relied on a first-half own goal by Titus Bramble to beat Sunderland 1-0 on Saturday, securing a seventh straight Premier league win to inch the runaway leaders closer to a 20th English title. Robin van Persie's shot in the 27th minute was heading wide but Bramble stuck out a leg and deflected the ball into the corner of his own net, rewarding United for their early dominance at the Stadium of light.
McIlroy barely makes cut
Humble (Texas): Steve Wheatcroft ran off three straight birdies early in his round Friday and kept bogeys off his card for a second straight 5-under 67, giving him a one-shot lead over D.A. Points and Jason Kokrak going into the weekend at the Houston Open. Rory McIlroy also will be around, but just barely. In only his 10th full round of the year, McIlroy walked onto the seventh green - his 16th hole of the day — and saw that he was tied for 77th. He two-putted from 85 feet on the fringe for birdie on his next hole, and then safely found the green at the par-3 ninth for a 70. By the end of the day, McIlroy made the cut on the number.
PNS/Agencies
