Bhajji, Gauti face acid test vs K’taka
Bangalore: Veterans Harbhajan Singh and Gautam Gambhir face a stern test as the duo will aim at resurrecting their international careers when Rest of India take on Ranji Trophy champions Karnataka in the Irani Cup, here on Sunday. All eyes will be on Harbhajan and Gambhir as they would be itching to show the national selectors that they are still good enough to perform at the highest level. With Ravichandran Ashwin's lack of skills while bowling in unfamiliar conditions against better batting sides being thoroughly exposed, its time that Harbhajan pulls up all the 'tweaker's tricks' up his sleeves against a quality batting line-up. Harbhajan will be itching to perform against a side that boasts of domestic heavyweights like Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey along with latest batting sensation lokesh Rahul and young Karun Nair. Similarly for Gambhir, Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay's inconsistent performances means that he is very much in the mix. A solid knock against the hosts’ pace trio will boost his confidence.
Raja, Demoliner bow out of Zagreb
Zagreb (Croatia): Purav Raja's hopes of winning his second ATP World Tour title crashed after a semifinal defeat along with Brazilian partner Marcelo Demoliner at the Zagreb event, here. The unseeded Indo-Brazilian pair lost 6-7(4) 6-3 6-10 to second seeds Jean-Julien Rojer from the Netherlands and Horia Tecau from Romania. Raja and Demoliner played throughout well in the match but were outplayed in the Super Tie breaker. They saved as many as four break chances out of five they faced. Raja had won his first ATP level title last year with compatriot Divij Sharan at Bogota, Colombia in July. They also won numerous Challenger level titles in a successful 2013 season.
Gurmeet, Khushbir defend titles
Kochi: Defending champions Gurmeet Singh and Khushbir Kaur won the men's and women's 20km title respectively, at the second National Open Race Walking Championships that commenced here on Saturday. Gurmeet took 1 hour 22 minutes 58 seconds to complete 10 laps on the 2km loop course marked on Bristow Road here, and Khushbir, representing ONGC, clocked 1:36:25 hours to bag the women's crown. Kerala's K T Irfan had to be satisfied with second position, finishing the course in 1:23:23 hours while Tamil Nadu's K Ganapathi (1:23:34) stood third to complete the podium. In the women's section, Railway walker Rani Yadav (1:41:24) finished second while her teammate and former national champion l Deepmala Devi (1:42:34) was third.
Yuki wins double-crown
Chennai: Yuki Bhambri played some of his best tennis in his career this week as he annexed double crown winning both singles and doubles event at the ATP Challenger tennis tournament here this evening. The Indian Davis Cupper, who is ranked 174 in the singles list beat Alexander Kudryavtsev of Russia 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a thrilling three-setter. In the deciding set, Yukli was trailing 3-5 against the world No 234 but won four games in a row with double breaks. Yuki, then partnered Michael Venus of New Zealand and the second seeds comfortably beat a fighting N Sriram Balaji and Blaz Rola of Slovakia 6-4, 7-6 (3) in straight sets. In the singles final, Kudryavtsev of Russia continued to have the tag of an under-achiever compared to the enormous talent, he has when he lead 5-3 in the final set only to concede the next 4 games.
second test a draw; lanka win series
Chittagong: Mominul Haque hit an unbeaten century to steer Bangladesh to a draw in the final Test against Sri lanka in Chittagong today, leaving the tourists with a 1-0 series win. Bangladesh, who needed to bat out their second innings after being set an improbable victory target of 467, were 271-3 when stumps were drawn on the fifth day at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium. Mominul, a 22-year-old left-hander, held the innings together till both sides accepted the draw as soon as he reached 100, his third Test hundred, the post-tea session. Shakib Al Hasan returned unbeaten on 43 as he and Mominul added 120 for the fourth wicket after Bangladesh were 151-3 before tea. Sri lanka, who won the first Test, failed to dislodge the hosts who appeared determined. Brief Scores: Sl: 587 and 305/4d drew with B’desh: 426 and 271/3 (Mominul Haque 100, Shakib 43; Dilruwan Perera 2/55).
IOA polls today
New Delhi: Slammed by the sporting fraternity for bringing shame on the country, a beleaguered IOA will hold its much-awaited elections on Sunday which is expected to clear the decks for India's return to the Olympic fold after 14 months of suspension. World Squash Federation President N Ramachandran is set to be elected unopposed. Kho Kho Federation of India president Rajeev Mehta and All India Tennis Association chief Anil Khanna will be elected unopposed as secretary general and treasurer respectively. PNS/Agencies