India thrash Korea, in Johor Cup final
Johor Bahru: India thrashed Korea 6-1 in their penultimate round-robin match to seal their place in the final of the Sultan of Johor Cup Under-21 hockey tournament here on Wednesday. The Indian colts scored three goal each in either half at the Taman Daya Hockey stadium to continue their unbeaten run in the six-nation tournament. It was India’s fourth win on the trot in the tournament, having defeated England (2-1), Argentina (3-2) and Pakistan (4-0) in their previous matches. For India, Amit Rohidas (7th minute), Satbir Singh (9th), Talwinder Singh (31st) netted three goals in the first half, while Amon Mirash Tikey (57th), Ramadeep Singh (62nd) and vice-captain Affan Yusof (65th) score three more on the other side of the break.
Indian boxers assured of two medals
New Delhi: Two Indian boxers were assured of medals in the youth event of the ongoing AIBA Women’s Youth and Junior World Championships after entering the semifinals in Albena, Bulgaria. Nikhat Zareen (54kg) and Simranjit Kaur (60kg) made the last-four stage after winning their respective bouts comfortably. Nikhat, the reigning junior world champion, defeated Italian Desire Galli, while Simranjit got the better off Justine Moerl from Germany. Both the boxers clinched the bout courtesy unanimous decision of the judges. In the junior event, 14 year old junior boxer Asha Roka (48kg) had powered through to the semifinals on Thursday.
Paes, Somdev reach semifinals
New Delhi: leander Paes and his Italian partner Daniele Bracciali on Thursday stormed into the semifinals of the Thailand Open in Bangkok after defeating Colombian pair of Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah in a three-set thriller. The second seeded Indo-Italian duo emerged 6-7(4) 7-6(8) 10-8 winners in the quarterfinal match that lasted two hour and two minutes. They play third seeded pair of Jamie Murray of Scotland and John Peers of Australia in the semifinals.
Indian eves lose, WC dream ends
Kuala lumpur: Indian eves hopes of earning a berth in next year’s World Cup came down crashing after they lost 1-2 to defending champions Korea in the semi-final of the eighth women’s Asia Cup hockey tournament here on Thursday. The Koreans scored two early goals through Cheon Seul Ki (2nd minute) and Cheon Eun Bi Min (9th) to stun the Indians. India tried hard to make a comeback in the second half and pulled through Ritu Rani’s goal in the 41st minute, but the Koreans did just enough to hold on to their slender lead. The Indians, who needed to win the Asia Cup to qualify for next year’s World Cup to be held at The Hague, Netherlands, will now play China in the bronze medal play-off match on Friday.
Gujrathi, Sethuraman in line for medal
Kocaeli: Indian Grandmasters Vidit Gujrathi and S P Sethuraman placed themselves for a medal contention as they defeated Jorge Cori of Peru and Vladislav Kovalev of Belarus respectively in the 12th and penultimate round of World Juniors Chess Championship here. The victories took Gujrathi and Sethuraman to nine points out of a possible 12 and at least one of them looked poised to get a medal. Yu Yangyi of China almost assured himself of the gold medal by beating Samvel Ter-Sahakyan of Armenia.
PNS/Agencies