Sania enters top-5 in doubles ranking
New Delhi: Sania Mirza achieved a career-best rank of number five in the world as the new WTA doubles chart was released on Monday. Sania, who turned a pro in 2003 and overcame a career-threatening wrist injury in between, has entered the top-five for the first time in her career. Sania and her Zimbabwean partner Cara Black could not go deep in the just concluded Wimbledon championships, but a second round appearance fetched her crucial 130 ranking points, enough to push her in the top-5.
N Koreato send cheerleaders to asiad
Seoul: North Korea on Monday said it would send a cheerleading squad to the coming Asian Games in South Korea, as it issued a fresh call for improved ties with Seoul following a series of missile tests. A government statement carried by the North's official KCNA news agency said the despatch of the cheering delegation for the September 19-October 4 Asiad in Incheon would "help melt frozen North-South relations". The North has sent such squads to the South before, most recently for the 2005 Asian Athletics Championships in Incheon, when one of the cheerleaders was Ri Sol-Ju, now the wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.
West Indiesbeat NZ by 39 runs
Roseau: Andre Fletcher hit 62 off 49 deliveries while Sheldon Cottrell and Sunil Narine starred with the ball as West Indies beat New Zealand by 39 runs in their second and final Twenty20 match to draw the series 1-1. Right-hander Fletcher's top score, spiced with three fours and three sixes, led the home team to 165-6 off 20 overs at Windsor Park. lendl Simmons contributed 36 and Trent Boult led the Kiwi bowlers with 2-22 on Sunday. New Zealand was still in with a chance at 82-2 in the 12th over before a late collapse. Samuel Badree claimed McCullum while Narine bowled Taylor to start the rot. Two run outs toward the end also damaged New Zealand's run chase
Boxing India elections postponed
New Delhi: The much-awaited elections of Boxing India, the group authorised by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) to run the sport in the country, have been postponed. The polls were due to be held on July 9 in Mumbai but the group, which is a consortium of corporates and administrators, has decided to call them off."Due to certain exigencies and discussions, Boxing India has decided to postpone the elections and will revert post the AIBA EC Meeting that will be held between 15th and 18th July," the group wrote in a mail sent across to the 26 state units, which have decided to back it.
Amritraj announces launch of CTl
New Delhi: Vijay Amritraj on Monday announced the launch of Champions Tennis league (CTl) in India with an aim of taking the sport to new levels of awareness and popularity in the country. The CTl will feature six city based teams, who will play 13 matches over a 10-day period from November 17 to 26.The teams will be structured into two groups, each having three sides each, where they would play each other in a home and away format. The teams topping their respective group will play each other in the grand finale for the prize money of Rs. 1 crore.
Garcia is Kolkata’s marquee player
Kolkata: Indian Super league Kolkata franchise, Atletico de Kolkata on Monday unveiled UEFA Champions league winner Spaniard luis Garcia as their marquee player in the first such announcement of the much-anticipated tournament here on Monday. 36-year-old attacking midfielder Garcia earned 20 caps for Spain between 2005 and 2008 and was part of the 2006 World Cup team. He was instrumental in liverpool's UEFA Champions league triumph in 2004-05. Garcia had scored winning goals in the quarterfinal and semifinal against Juventus and Chelsea respectively in that Champions league triumph. "I'm really looking forward to the venture. I hope to bring a bagful of experience and skills to India," Garcia said in a video message.The Kolkata franchise also formally announced Antoniao lopez Habas as their marquee manager and his two assistants — Miguel Angel and popular former Mohun Bagan forward Jose Ramirez Barreto.
Prosecutor doubts witness objectivity
Pretoria: The chief prosecutor in the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius on Monday challenged the credibility of a physician who testified that the athlete has an anxious nature linked to his disability. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said the defence witness, physician Wayne Derman, could not be objective about the double-amputee runner, who killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his home in what he has described as a mistaken shooting. The prosecution says Pistorius fatally shot Steenkamp through a closed toilet door after an argument.
MSD named cricket website ambassador
New Delhi: Mahendra Singh Dhoni will promote the newly launched cricket website www.DrCricket7.Com. Rhiti Sports Management on Monday announced the launch of the new cricket platform. Rhiti Sports' chairman Arun Pandey said: "We all know that India is a cricket crazy nation and fans here continuously like to follow the lives of their cricket heroes. It will be a great online platform for them to follow and know what their favourite cricketers are doing when they are not playing cricket."