Bhullar tied second
Abu Dhabi: Gaganjeet Bhullar has a fair chance of staking his claim on Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf as the Indian golfer is just two strokes away from the leader Craig lee after the third round of the European Tour event here. Bhullar carded a flawless six-under 66 and moved up through the field from overnight tied 13th to tied third in the company of five-time Major winner, Phil Mickelson (63) with a score of 10-under 202. However, Bhullar and Mickelson gained a place to tied second, following the two shots penalty handed out to Rory McIlroy (70) for an incorrect drop, which pushed the former World No. 1 to the fourth spot at nine-under 207. Now Scotland’s Craig (69) at 12-under is ahead of Bhullar and Mickelson. Bhullar and Mickelson will likely play together with the leader lee in lead group on the final day.
Our batting gives us edge: Mithali
Visakhapatnam: Confident of getting the better of Sri lanka in the upcoming limited-overs series, Indian women’s cricket captain Mithali Raj today said the home side’s experienced batting line-up would be its biggest strength in the matches starting here on Sunday. India and Sri lanka will lock horns in a three-ODI and three-Twenty20 series. “Even though we lost the practice match, we are very confident of victory against the visiting team since we have a good batting line up,” Raj said. “Also the strategy will differ based on our opponents. Our team is well-balanced. All the players in the squad had really done well in domestic cricket this season. Now we have a fielding coach as well and the team’s fielding standards have gone up,” she explained. Coach Poornima Rao said being an experienced side, India would start favourites. “We are not worried about the defeat in the practice match since we didn’t played full strength. In the ODIs we have the advantage of Mithali’s batting and the experience of Jhulan Goswami’s pace bowling,” she said.
Sporting Club de Goa bEAT EB
Malappuram: Sporting Club de Goa surprised defending champion East Bengal 2-1 in a Group ‘B’ match in the 35th Federation Cup football tournament being played at Payyanad Sports complex stadium here on Saturday. Sporting forged ahead in the 18th minute through Victorino, while East Bengal’s Sueoka scored the neutraliser in the 59th minute and Beevan D’Mello scored the winner for Sporting Club in the 85th minute.
No automatic berth for Keshavan
New Delhi: luger Shiva Keshavan has apparently not got an automatic quota for next month’s Sochi Winter Olympics but likely to get a berth after reallocation of slots among different countries, according to sources. It is learnt that the letter sent by the International Olympic Committee to Indian authorities for accreditation of athletes and coaches for the February 7-23 Games mentions Keshavan as “not yet qualified but first in re-allocation”. It said “one slot on reallocation -- athlete Shiva Keshavan”. When contacted Indian Amateur luge Association officials said they would have to look what has been written in the IOC letter. “I have not seen it and will comment only after I see the letter,” IAlA Chief Executive B S Verma said. Sources, however, said that Keshavan is likely to get a berth after re-allocation.
Mumbai set for Kenya-Ethiopia tussle
Mumbai: The metropolis is set to witness another intense rivalry for top honours between Kenya and Ethiopia on Sunday when the USD 3,60,000 prize money 11th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon is flagged off from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. Kenyans have dominated the men’s section over the last 10 years, winning seven, while Ethiopians have lorded over the women’s event, also with seven titles. The latest edition also promises another hot contest in cool conditions. Kenya’s two-time champion and Delhi Commonwealth Games gold medal winner John Kelei is bidding to turn back the clock and prove that age has not diminished his skill and stamina in the gruelling 42.195-km distance. PNS/Agencies