India win bronze in Sepaktakraw
New Delhi: Indian men’s team’s fine run in Sepaktakraw World Super Series came to an end on Sunday as they lost to Malaysia in the semifinals here. The home side were beaten 15-13, 8-15, 6-15, 3-15 at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex but still will walk away with a maiden bronze. Under ISTAF (international federation) rules, both the semifinalists will get a bronze each. Backed by a cheering home crowd, the fourth seed Indians began confidently winning the first set despite star striker Akash Singh looking a little subdued compared to his Malaysian counterpart Norshahruddin Mad Ghani. In the second set, India matched Malaysia point for point early on, but fell back after 4-4 to allow their second seed opponents to win the set. Malaysia led all the way in the third set, at one point scoring seven straight points. In the fourth set, it was all over for the home side as their opponents raced to an 11-2 lead and wrap up the match in quick time.
Chowrasia scores one-under 70
Cardiff: SSP Chowrasia rounded off the week with one-under 70 to finish with a total of three-over 287 at the ISPA Handa Wales Open here on Sunday. Chowrasia, the lone Indian out of the three who started out the week, had shot 75 in the third and that cost him a better finish at The Celtic Manor Resort. Chowrasia birdied three times, all three times on back nine on 11th, 15th and 18th and his bogeys came on fourth and 16th. Earlier in the third round, Chowrasia was even par after five, but then double bogeyed the eighth and bogeyed 15th and 17th. He was tied 37th and should finish just inside 35th place. Into the final round Gregory Bourdy and America’s Peter Uihlein were tied for the top spot after five holes.
Chopra slips down to 64th
Fort Wayne (US): Indian-born Swede Daniel Chopra, already assured of a PGA card for 2014, shot an even par 72 on the third round to lie tied 64th in the Hotel Fitness golf Championship here. Chopra’s card included an incredible six birdies, but he also gave away four bogeys and a double bogey in the third round to aggregate three-under 213 after three days in a tournament that has been low-scoring. Patrick Cantlay opened a three-stroke lead a week after the former UClA star missed a chance to wrap up a PGA TOUR card.
Kanika, Siril emerge winners
Mumbai: The IBl ‘Shuttle Express’ witnessed a nail-biting finish with Siril Verma defeating Akshay Verma in the U-16 boys category and Kanika Kanwal notching up a convincing win over Bhavya Rishi in girls event here today. While Siril beat Akshay 21-19, 21-8, Kanika defeated Bhavya 21-7 21-18 to emerge as the winners here.
Rishab, Prem score big wins
Bangalore: Cueists Rishab Pandya and Prem Prakash scored identical 4-0 victories in their respective opening rounds as the Bangalore Qualifying leg for the Indian Open began here on Sunday. Maharashtra’s Rishab beat Karnataka’s Niranjan K 68-27, 66-09, 81 (64)-25, 65-02 while Tamil Nadu’s Prem Prakash defeated Maharashtra’s Ashith Deepak Panday 67-48, 66-47, 65-25, 77-50. Karnataka’s Balaji Reddy, l.Nagaraj, Germain Girish & K.S.Naveen Kumar also advanced to the next round comfortably as Naveen registered the highest break of the day — 70.
Norway win men’s double sculls
Chungju: Nils Jakob Hoff and Kjetil Borch of Norway won the men’s double sculls on Sunday, the final day of the rowing world championships. Hoff and Borch took the lead at the midway point of the race and held off a late challenge from Rolandas Mascinskas and Saulius Ritter of lithuania. PNS/Agencies