India thrash Venezuela 3-0
New Delhi: India sent Venezuela crashing out of the WSF Men’s World Team Squash Championship to set up an exciting pre-quarterfinal clash against Hong Kong in Mulhouse, France. After upsetting strong contenders Argentina and Finland on consecutive days, India clinched pole position in Pool ‘H’ after despatching 25/28th seed Venezuela 3-0 in the final qualifying round of the biennial World Squash Federation event taking place in France for the first time. Eighth seed India had come into the contest as overwhelming favourites and they lived up to their billing, virtually toying with the Venezuelan attack. Mahesh Mangaonkar was first up on all-glass court against Miguel Vellennilla and raced away to a 2-0 lead, dropping just three points on his way.
Somdev, Divij-Raja advance
Nottingham: Indian players made a positive start at the ATP Nottingham Challenger event as Somdev Devvarman recorded victory in singles while Divij Sharan and Purav Raja advanced to the doubles quarterfinals, here. Somdev, ranked 140, defeated local qualifier Brydan Klein 7-6(2), 6-4 in the opening round of the euro 64,000 grass court event. The Briton is placed 113 rungs below Somdev. Somdev next faces American fifth seed Jack Sock who is ranked 102. In the doubles event of the same tournament, fourth seeded Indian pair of Divij and Raja overcame a fighting Rik De Voest of South Africa and Adil Shamasdin of Canada 6-1, 3-6, 10-7 in the opening round.
wrestlers set for Asian C’ships
New Delhi: Indian junior wrestlers will get first taste of major rule changes in the sport when 24 grapplers participate in the Junior Asian Wrestling Championship starting in Phuket, Thailand on Thursday. In a bid to keep their Olympics hopes alive, world wrestling body (FIlA) had introduced changes in the point system to encourage attacking wrestling. This will be the first time Indian wrestlers will compete since FIlA Extraordinary Congress last month decided to make bouts two-period affair of three minutes each, replacing best of three periods, for cumulative scores to decide the winner. A takedown will be worth two points, making it more valuable than a point for the pushout or a penalty point and passive wrestlers would be penalised. The championship will end on June 16.
USIS for sports infrastructure
New Delhi: Sports ministry has decided to construct synthetic turfs for football, hockey and athletics and multipurpose indoor halls across the country under Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS). “Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is implementing Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS) to develop sports infrastructure in the country,” the Ministry said in a release. “Under this scheme, sanction is accorded for laying of synthetic playing surface (for football, hockey and athletics) and for construction of Multipurpose indoor hall.”
Mahamal shocks Petrosian
Varna: International Master Anurag Mahamal came up with a sterling show to checkmate top seeded Grandmaster Tigran Petrosian of Armenia in the second round of Grand Europe Golden Sands International Chess tournament, here. In another big upset by an Indian player, International Master Shardul Gagare came up with a remarkable game to outwit Grandmaster levente Vajda of Romania as it turned out to be a tough day for higher seeds. With seven rounds still to come as many as 36 players share the lead and there are ten Indians in the leading pack. Apart from Mahamal and Gagare, Grandmasters Vidit Gujrathi, S Arun Prasad, M R Venkatesh, M Shyam Sundar and Sahaj Grover maintained a clean slate while Ashwin Jayaram, Swapnil Dhopade and N Srinath also made merry at the expense of lower ranked players.
lahiri aims Asian tour win
Samui: Anirban lahiri, who has three victories at home, will be looking for his maiden win at the Asian Tour when he tees off at the $312,000 Queen’s Cup here on Thursday. lahiri, whose all three wins have come at the Delhi Golf Club, leads a strong Indian contingent of nine golfers, many of whom are past winners on Asian Tour. The Queen’s Cup will be staged at the Santiburi Samui Country Club from June 13 to 16. Himmat Rai, Rahil Gangjee and C Muniyappa have all tasted victories on Asian Tour, while Sujjan Singh has won on the Asian Development Tour. The challenge also includes two promising players in Abhijit Chadha and Ajeetesh Sandhu.
Punjab vs Odisha in Hockey final
Sonepat: Defending Champions Punjab set up a clash against Odisha in the final of the 3rd Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2013 after getting the better of Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy 6-2 here on Wednesday. While in the other semi-final match, Odisha defeated Hockey Maharashtra 2-1 in a hard fought battle. Parvinder Singh and Gaganpreet Singh scored twice for Punjab in the first semi-final. In the match between Orissa and Hockey Maharashtra, after a goalless first half, Joseph Toppo scored the first goal for Odisha in the 41st minute, while Sunil Ekka added another one to the kitty through a field goal in the 55th minute.
PNS/Agencies