Messi helps Barca win Super Cup
Tbilisi (Georgia): lionel Messi scored twice and set up the winning goal as Barcelona started the season in dramatic style by beating Sevilla 5-4 after extra time to lift the UEFA Super Cup. The action-packed, all-Spanish match was won when Pedro, linked by British media with a move to Manchester United, scored from close range after a shot by Messi rebounded in the 115th minute on Tuesday. In the final seconds of extra time, Sevilla defender Adil Rami had a golden chance to send the match to penalties but missed an open goal from close range. Earlier, Sevilla had battled back from 4-1 down to 4-4 as Barcelona’s fitness was tested in its first competitive match of the season — Europe’s curtain-raiser between the winners of the Champions league and the second-tier Europa league.
‘India in rebuilding process’
New Delhi: Indian football coach Stephen Constantine says the national team is going through a rebuilding phase. “We are in the process of rebuilding our national team and it’s obvious that the door is always open,” Constantine said on Wednesday. India are slated to play Iran in a 2018 World Cup qualifying match at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on September 8. They lost to Oman and Guam in their previous qualifying games earlier this year.
Aus A thrash South Africa A
Chennai: Skipper Matthew Wade led from the front with a sparkling century as Australia A cruised to a 108-run win over South Africa A to maintain their clean slate in the tri series cricket tournament, here on Wednesday. Batting first after winning the toss at the M A Chidambaram Stadium, Australia A were all out for 272 in 47.2 overs. In reply, the South African A team was bowled out for 164 in only 37.1 overs, with Cameron Boyce (3/48) and Ashton Agar (3/41) picking up three wickets apiece. They were ably supported by pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile, who finished with economical figures of 2/8 from seven overs, as Australia A recorded yet another big win. The Aussies have not lost a match en route to the title clash, slated for Friday
HC dismisses Hiken’s plea
Mumbai: Observing that the allegations of corruption levelled against Mumbai cricketer Hiken Shah were of serious nature, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by him challenging BCCI’s order suspending him for flouting its anti-corruption code. The cricket body suspended Shah, a batsman who was part of Mumbai Ranji squad, on July 13 after he was found guilty of making “corrupt approach” to a team-mate who was also a member of Rajasthan Royals IPl franchise. Shah approached the High Court claiming that he was not given a hearing before BCCI passed its order and hence the suspension should be set aside. A division bench of Justices V M Kanade and B P Colabawalla was, however, of the view that the allegations against Shah were serious and he can approach BCCI’s disciplinary committee if he wishes to.
Gurpreet 5th in rapid pistol final
New Delhi: Gurpreet Singh, who has already secured a Rio Olympics quota for India, today displayed great form to reach the finals of men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in first place with a combined score of 586 over two stages of qualification in Gabala, Azerbaijan. In the six-man final however, Gurpreet appeared subdued, not once shooting a perfect series of five shots, to finish in fifth position. The event saw yet another Chinese 1-2 at the top, with Hu Haozhe beating compatriot lao Jiajie to the gold. Boris Artaud of France won the bronze medal.