Federer, Murray cruise in Miami heat
Miami: Two-time winner Roger Federer and defending champion Andy Murray eased into the fourth round of the ATP and WTA Miami Masters, producing efficient wins in heat and humidity. Fifth-ranked Federer pounded Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker 6-3, 6-3 in just over an hour while British sixth seed Murray downed practice partner Feliciano lopez 6-4, 6-1 on Sunday. Ivan lendl, the coach from whom Murray recently parted, was sitting in the player box to watch his former protege’s triumph. Federer, 32, broke for victory in the final game, with de Bakker saving a pair of match points but also double-faulting at a crucial moment. Federer secured his 21st match win of the season when a backhand from the Dutchman floated long. “I’m feeling really good with my game,” said Federer, who next faces French ninth seed Richard Gasquet.
Can’t blame us in Harbir’s case, says IOA
New Delhi: Indian Olympic Association on Monday said it would write to 2014 Commonwealth Games organisers and the British High Commission here to furnish the reasons for refusal of accreditation to hockey player Harbir Singh Sandhu but insisted it cannot be blamed for the incident. IOA secretary general Rajiv Mehta told PTI that Harbir was the only one who was denied accreditation by the orgainsers out of the provisional list of 700 Indian athletes for the 2014 Glasgow Games. “We sent a provisional list of more than 700 athletes. Except for Harbir, there was no issue for any other athlete. The communication from 2014 CWG organisers was that the player was denied accreditation after a background check by UK Home Office. We had written twice earlier to furnish the reason but each time we have been told that UK Home office can only tell the reason,” he said.
Young guns to lead Indian challenge
Johor Bahru: With top brass skipping the tournament, young guns of Indian badminton, including Sourabh Varma and Arundhati Pantawane, will brace up for the challenge when they begin their campaign at the $120,000 Malaysian Grand Prix Gold, starting with the qualifiers at Pasir Gudang here on Tuesday. After back-to-back tournaments, top Indian shuttlers, including Saina Nehwal, P V Sindhu and Parupalli Kashyap, have decided to skip the event. In their absence, it would be the young crops like Sourabh, H S Prannoy, Sai Praneeth B and RMV Gurusaidutt who will lead the Indian challenge at the Stadium Perbandaran Pasir Gudang.
Pistorius murder trial enters fourth week
Pretoria: A neighbor of Oscar Pistorius testified at his murder trial on Monday that she heard gunshots as well as screams from both a man and a woman on the night that the double-amputee runner fatally shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The testimony by Anette Stipp matched some of the testimony by other witnesses who have said they also heard a woman screaming around the time that Pistorius killed Steenkamp before dawn on February 14 last year. The defense has countered that the neighbors were actually hearing Pistorius screaming in a high-pitched voice after he shot Steenkamp. Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel opened Monday’s court session by noting evidence will include analysis of cellular telephones, including two that were removed from the bathroom where the shooting happened.
Dhawan named Sunrisers Hyderabad captain
Hyderabad: India opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan was on Monday named captain of Indian Premier league side Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 7th edition of the cash-rich Twenty20 event beginning on April 16. West Indian Darren Sammy will be the vice-captain of the side, Sunrisers Hyderabad said in a release. “Shikhar Dhawan with his significant contribution as a batsman in the previous season has retained his position in the team not just as a crucial opener in the batting order but as the appropriate choice to extend his captaincy role in Champions league to the upcoming IPl as well,” the release said. PNS/Agencies