Indian Aces lose again
Singapore: Indian Aces suffered a 20-27 defeat at the hands of a determined Japan Warriors in the crucial Singapore leg but continue to sit on top of the points table of the IPTl, here on Wednesday. In the opening match of the tie, Mark Philippousis lost the closely fought legend singles 5-6 to Fernando González. Another defeat was in store for Indian Aces with Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna losing 4-6 to Jelena Jankovic and Jean-Julien Rojer in the mixed doubles. Japan Warriors took one more step forward towards win by sealing the women's singles as Jelena Jankovioc got the better of Kirsten Flipkens 6-4. Finally, Indian Aces tasted win when Ivan Dodig and Feliciano lópez scored an easy 6-3 win over Jean-Julien Rojer and Fernando Verdasco in the men's doubles. Verdasco, though, got the decisive set and the match win for the Warriors in another Spanish derby against his friend lópez, who took a crucial game to get a bonus point for the Indian Aces.
South Central win title
Mumbai: South Central Railway lifted the prestigious Bombay Gold Cup title in its 51st edition by edging their way past Punjab National Bank 4-3 in a closely contested final here on Wednesday. The railway men, in their maiden appearance in the title contest, fought back twice from being in arrears to turn the tables on their more experienced rivals to take home the winners' prize money of Rs. 3 lakh. Sanjeep Neelam Xess scored twice off penalty corners for the winners while forwards M G Poonacha and Raju Pal scored field goals, the latter one an amazing reverse-flicked effort from zero angle that proved to be the match-winning effort.
MCC recommends red cards
Mumbai: In order to bring about a balance between bat and ball, the game's lawmakers - Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) - has recommended limiting bat size edges and depths. In addition, the MCC's World Cricket Committee, headed by former England captain Mike Brearley that met here for two days ending on Wednesday, has also come up with the radical suggestion of introducing a football-hockey-like red card as punishment for violent acts on the cricket field. The committee also deliberated on the ball-tampering laws which it felt will remain unaltered, was split vertically on the possibility of reducing Test cricket from a five-day affair to a four-day one, it was announced by Brearley, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, former Pakistan opener Rameez Raja and MCC's head of cricket - John Stephenson - here on Wednesday.
‘2017 make or break for india’
Mumbai: "The new year will bring Indian football tailwinds that we may not have for a very long time," said Joy Bhattacharya, project director of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017, while addressing Goal 2016, India's 4th International Convention on Football Business, organised here by FICCI and supported by All India Football Federation. Referring to 2017 as the year of Indian football, he said that there are very few times when there is a World Cup happening, along with full support from the government. "If we have to make it, 2017 is the year." He further went on to add that in order to take the sport forward, it is very important to identify the right ingredients of a favourable environment.