Wawrinka to play in Chennai Open
Chennai: World Number eight Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka on Monday confirmed his participation in the 19th edition of the Aircel Chennai Open, India’s only ATP World Tour tennis event, starting December 30. last year, Wawrinka had partnered Frenchman Benoit Paire to lift the doubles title. The Olympic doubles gold medallist will be participating in the tournament for the sixth successive year and would look to win title here second time, having triumphed here in 2011. The 28-year-old has had a terrific 2013 as he qualified for the season-ending ATP World Tour, where he reached semi-finals and lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. Wawrinka compiled a career-best 51-23 match record in the season and had nine wins against Top 10 players. In September 2013, Wawrinka proved his class at the US Open yet again. “I am glad to say that Chennai Open 2014 will mark my sixth visit to Chennai to participate in a tournament I have grown to respect and love. As always, I am really looking forward to experiencing, once more, the excitement and support of the people,” Wawrinka said.
Saina looks for late flourish
Hong Kong: More than a year has passed by since Indian ace shuttler Saina Nehwal won a title and the Olympic bronze medallist will now eyes a late flourish when she begins her campaign at the Hong Kong Super Series on Wednesday to end the troubled season on a high. Battling poor form, Saina will once again resume her hunt for the first title of the season at the USD 350,000 event, which she had won three years ago. The last title that Saina won was Denmark Open in October 2012. The seventh seeded Indian will open her campaign against Indonesia’s Bellaetrix Manuputty in the women’s singles competition at Hong Kong Coliseum in Kowloon. The 23-year-old had a difficult season as she grappled with injuries and inconsistent form. The world number seven Indian will take on either Eriko Hirose of Japan or Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand in the second round once she cross the first hurdle.
India aim for win vs resurgent Nepal
Siliguri: Having lost to Nepal in the SAFF Championship last month, the Indian football team is set to face a tough task as they lock horns with the Himalayan nation in an international friendly here on Monday. After playing out a 1-1 draw with Philippines on Friday, India are still looking for their first international friendly win this year. last time the two teams met, Nepal edged past India 2-1 in Kathmandu. Expecting a fierce challenge from the neighbours, national coach Wim Koevermans said his boys will go all out for a victory at the Kanchenjunga Stadium. “It’s not a match of revenge as is being stated. Every team takes the field to win. Sporting culture says that once you lose to a team you stay keen to win it the next time you play. We want to win. But it’s not that easy. We know Nepal are a strong side,” Koevermans said.
Prashanth shocks fourth seed
Bhopal: N Vijay Sundar Prashanth knocked out German fourth seed Torsten Wietoska in the first round of the USD 15,000 ITF Futures tournament, here on Monday. Prashanth scored a 6-3 7-6(6) win over Wietoska, who had reached the semifinals last week in New Delhi. It was a smooth start for top seed Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan as he beat Arjun Kadhe 6-4 6-3 in his first round. National champion Mohit Mayur Jayaraksh laboured to a 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 7-5 win over luca Margaroli. Meanwhile, qualifier Shahikh Abdullah sent packing Ashwin Vijayragavan 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 to move to the second round.
lalith babu shares lead
Chennai: Grandmaster M R lalith Babu of India defeated GM Ter-Sahakyan Samvel of Armenia and shared lead with 4.5 points after the fifth round of the Chennai Grandmaster International Open Chess tournament held in celebration of the FIDE World Championship, here on Monday. Sharing the lead along with lalith Babu were GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (India) and IM Mozharov Mikhail (Russia) among others.
‘UCI head planned doping cover-up’
london: lance Armstrong claims former International Cycling Union president Hein Verbruggen instigated a cover-up of his doping at the 1999 Tour de France. Armstrong said that Verbruggen insisted “we’ve got to come up with something” to explain his positive tests for a banned corticosteroid. Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, appeared to ignore its own anti-doping rules when it accepted Armstrong’s backdated prescription for a cream to treat saddle sores. That allowed Armstrong to continue in the race. PNS/Agencies