lahiri waits on the cut line
Paris: Anirban lahiri went through contrasting emotions on a challenging le National at the Alstom Open de France when he finished the first round at two-under 69 and then carded a very disappointing 77 in the second. It left him hanging at four-over 146 and he was on the danger line for the cut, which will be decided later. lahiri, winner of the Malaysian Open and the Hero Indian Open, had a dream start of five-under for his front nine, but then had a disappointing finish to the first round late on Thursday as he added a bogey and a double bogey on back nine to finish at 69. The top 65 and ties will make the cut.
Bharucha passes away
Mumbai: Adi Bharucha, a man who devoted almost his entire life to swimming and took part in the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games, died here on Friday. He was 85 years old. According to the Greater Mumbai Amateur Aquatics Association (GMAAA), Bharucha breathed his last this morning at the Parsee General Hospital. He was ailing for the last couple of years. Bharucha was admitted to the hospital on Thursday afternoon after his health deteriorated and he was operated on in the night before he passed away at 7:35 AM. Bharucha had the distinction of representing Maharashtra state for nearly three decades at the Senior Nationals and won several medals and championships during his time. He served aquatics as as a competitor, technical official and administrator and was the first recipient of the GMAAA’s lifetime Achievement Award.
‘Include jwala, ashwini in top’
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take steps to include shuttlers Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa in the ‘Target Olympic Podium’ (TOP) scheme of the Union government. “Jwala Gutta, the badminton player who is currently ranked 13th in the world, has brought laurels to the country on many occasions by winning tournaments at the international level. “She is the first-ever Indian woman to have won a medal at the world championships and the only Indian in the Indian history of Olympics to qualify for two events,” Rao said in a letter to the Prime Minister. Gutta also bagged a gold medal in 2010 Commonwealth Games and a silver medal in the 2014 edition of the event. She recently won the Canada Open, Rao pointed out. Noting that Gutta and her doubles partner Ponnappa have not been included in the TOP scheme, Rao requested the PM to make the players part of the programme.
Rio organisers unveil torch
Brasilia: Rio de Janeiro organisers unveiled the Olympic torch for the 2016 Games on Friday. Organisers said the torch’s design was inspired by Brazil’s “nature, and the harmonious diversity and energy” of the Brazilian people. The torch innovates with different segments that open up when the Olympic flame is passed from one torchbearer to another. After expanding vertically, the segments will reveal “the elements that add the Brazilian flavor,” with soil, sea, mountains, sky, and sun represented in the colors of the Brazilian flag. Agencies