Cruyff diagnosed with lung cancer
HAGUE: Dutch football great Johan Cruyff is battling lung cancer, his spokeswoman said on Thursday. "He has been in hospital this week for tests and lung cancer has been confirmed," said Carole Thate, a spokeswoman for the 68-year-old former Ajax and Barcelona star. She gave no further comment on Cruyff's condition, saying he was undergoing further tests. Cruyff, who personified his country's attacking Total Football in the 1970s, was a smoker during his playing days and until undergoing an emergency heart bypass in 1991. Afterward, he became the face of an anti-smoking campaign. Barcelona financial vice president Susana Monje sent the club's best wishes to its former player and coach. "We would like from the club to give Johan Cruyff and all of his friends a very big hug after hearing today of the situation that he is living through," Monje said.
Somdev crashes out, Sanam in quarters
Bengaluru: India's Davis Cupper Somdev Devvarman crashed out of the $50,000 Air Asia Open against unseeded Italian Alessandro Bega even as his compatriot Sanam Singh made into the quarterfinals with a thrilling win over Belarusian Egor Gerasimov. Somdev lost to Bega 7-6(7), 7 -5 after he put up a rather inconsistent show, making far too many unforced errors. In another match, determination and a little luck saw Indian Sanam Singh making it to the last eight with a thrilling victory over Gerasimov 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (6). The second seeded pair of Saketh Myneni and Sanam made short work of the Sood Brothers, Chandril and lakshit to move into the semifinals of the doubles competition with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.
Kashyap retires against Rajiv in French Open
Paris: Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap on Thursday bowed out of the men's singles event of French Open after he retired in the third game of his second round match against Rajiv Ouseph of England in the $275,000 Super Series tournament here on Thursday. Eighth seed Kashyap lost the opening game but came back strongly in the second only to be forced to concede the match in the decider. In the end of the 43-minute match, Rajiv advanced to the quarterfinals with a 21-11, 13-21, 4-2 win over the Indian at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin.