Bolt-yuvraj to face off
Bangalore: Superstar sprinter Usain Bolt will play a four-over cricket match against a team led by Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh in his maiden visit to India on September 2 here. The interesting aspect of the game will be that seven players have been picked from among cricket fans through a contest in the social media to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience to rub shoulders with Bolt. Bolt and Yuvraj will each lead a team in the seven a side cricket face-off at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Two other Indian cricketers — pacer Zaheer Khan and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh — will also take part in the contest to be held between 4pm to 5pm. Team Bolt will have his school days friend and personal assistant Nugent Walker Jr and Harbhajan. Team Yuvraj will have Zaheer Khan while both teams will have a specialist wicketkeeper, a release said. “To be hosted by former cricketer Ajay Jadeja, the game will consist of four overs. In a unique format, Bolt and Yuvi both will be present on the pitch to bat throughout their respective over. Four runs will be deducted every time a player gets out,” the release said. “Seven lucky winners from across India have been selected via digital contests on Facebook and Twitter hosted by PUMA Cricket,” the release added.
Sl overpower Pak, WIN SERIES Dambulla:
Seamer Thisara Perera claimed 4-34 and Tillakartane Dilshan hit an unbeaten 50 as Sri lanka trounced Pakistan by seven wickets in the final one-dayer on Saturday to clinch the series 2-1. Dhammika Prasad chipped in with two wickets as the hosts bowled Pakistan out for 102 and then surpassed the Duckworth-lewis target of 101 in the 19th over of a one-sided game in Dambulla. An hour-long rain interruption after Pakistan had slumped to 81-8 in the 26th over of the first session forced the umpires to reduce the game to 48-overs-a-side. Sri lanka galloped home in style to build on the 2-0 sweep in the preceding Test series and left Pakistan searching for answers ahead of the World Cup less than six months away. Opener Upul Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara fell cheaply before Mahela Jayawardene (26) and Dilshan put on a 41-run stand for the third wicket. Dilshan cut Shahid Afridi to the fence to bring up his half-century and also seal his team’s easy win. Fawad Alam top-scored for Pakistan with an unbeaten 38, but eight batsmen failed to reach double figures as the tourists crumbled in 32.1 overs after electing to bat on the slow wicket. It was Pakistan’s lowest one-day total on Sri lankan soil, falling below the 116 they made against New Zealand at the same venue in 2003.
Kabaddi World Cup FROM Dec 5
Chandigarh: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday approved revised dates of fifth edition of World Kabaddi Cup on the proposal of the sport organisations from various countries. As per the new dates, this mega event of Punjab’s traditional game will now commence from December 5 to 15. This decision was taken in a meeting with the representatives of various Kabaddi organisations, which apprised Badal about clashing of dates due to grand finale of Wave World Kabaddi league on Nov 29. In view of the clashing of dates, Badal asked Secretary Sports P S Aujla to prepare a revised schedule. He also directed that there will be no change in the venue of both men and women semi-finals, which would be held in Pakistan whether in lahore or anywhere as per the convenience of Government of Punjab Province, Pakistan. Badal, who is also Sports Minister, informed that there would be 10 teams participating in World Kabaddi Cup -- India, Pakistan, Argentina, USA, UK, Scotland, Canada, Sierra leone, Spain, Kenya and Denmark in the men’s category discipline while women’s teams from India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Kenya, UK, Malaysia, Denmark and Mexico would participate.
Khalsa thrash lahore
New Delhi: Table-topper Khalsa Warriors continued their invincible run, thrashing lahore lions by 64-55 in a high-voltage contest of the ongoing World Kabaddi league here on Saturday. The Akshay Kumar co-owned, Khalsa Warriors started on a high note and continued their fine run throughout the first quarter. Some stiff challenge by lions’ defence led to a neck and neck battle but in the end the Warriors managed to lead 15-14 at the break. With the lions stepping up the gas, the competition went tough with every passing minute but star stopper Satnam Singh Sattu came up with seven successful stops to ensure the Warriors stay on course.
Mumbai City FC launch logo
Mumbai: Mumbai City Football Club, co-owned by Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor, would play all its home games in the upcoming Hero Indian Super league at the D Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, it was announced at the team’s logo launch function here on Saturday. The pre-season training, which has already started and would gather force from September 1, is being held at the Father Agnel’s ground in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. During the October 12 to December 20 tournament, the team would hold its training at the renovated Cooperage football ground in South Mumbai. “The coach has already been identified and we would make a formal announcement on September 6. The marquee player’s name will be revealed in the following week,” said Ranbir Kapoor after unveiling the logo in the presence of co-owner Bimal Parekh and Nita Ambani, the chairperson of IMG-Reliance which has floated the unique ISl in partnership with Star India. “I have been a football fan from my school days. We have all invested our heart and soul into this (ISl). This team belongs to not just me but 20 million Mumbaikars whose hearts beat here and who call the city home,” he said.
Chowrasia, Kapur make cut
Torino: SSP Chowrasia gave away a late double bogey but was still the better of the two Indians who made the midway cut at the 71st Italian Open presented by Damiani. Chowrasia shot 72 and was still at three-under for 36 holes in tied 44th place, while Shiv Kapur (69) was at two-under 142 and in tied 57th place. Missing the cut were Gaganjeet Bhullar (70-73) and Jeev Milkha Singh (76-71).
