Anand seals Candidates title
Khanty Mansiysk: Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand sealed the Candidates tournament title with an effortless draw with Peter Svidler of Russia in the 14th and final round here on Sunday. Having won one of the strongest tournaments of recent times with one round to spare, Anand just didn’t want anything to go wrong and went for the draw with white pieces that was for the taking. The Indian ace thus officially earned the right to a rematch with Magnus Carlsen of Norway along with the winner’s purse of 1,35,000 Euros. The bidding for Anand-Carlsen II are now open and FIDE, the apex chess body will decide the awarding of this match after receiving all the bids by April 30 this year. The match will be held from November 5-25.
Schumi’s medical suite at home
london: Ailing seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher’s wife is reportedly building a 10-million-pound medical suite at their home by lake Geneva in Switzerland so that he can undergo treatment at home. Corinna Schumacher is using the family’s 500-million-pound fortune to build a suite equipped with high-tech medical facilities at their mansion, The Sun reported as Schumacher completes three months in hospital on Sunday. Corinna has been at the 45-year-old’s side throughout his stay but wants to take him home despite experts saying that he is unlikely to ever wake up. The German ace has been in an artificially induced coma since December 29 after suffering serious brain injuries while skiing in the French Alps.
India draw Malaysia and germany
New Delhi: Indian men have been drawn alongside heavy-weight Malaysia and Germany, while women’s pool features Thailand in the Thomas and Uber Cups to be held here from May 18-25, here. India have a slightly tough draw in the men’s section, which include Korea besides Malaysia and Germany while the eves group include Canada and Hong Kong. But national coach Pullela Gopichand said he is confident of making into last-8 round of both men’s and women’s competition. “I won’t expect easy draws here at the Thomas and Uber Cups. If you look at the men’s draw its is on the tougher side but all matches would be good. Except for lee Chong Wei there, every singles match we have a chance,” Gopichand told reporters at the Draw Ceremony of the prestigious event. “On the women’s side, if we wouldn’t have drawn Hong Kong it would have been better. But Hong Kong doesn’t have so much depth. I think we should get into the last-eight stages here,” the former All England Open Badminton Championships winner said.
Pawan helps SAI win 7-3
Chennai: Pawan Rajbhar struck four goals to help Sports Authority of India beat Maharashtra 7-3 on the second day of the 4th Hockey India Junior Men’s National Championship (Division A) here on Sunday. Pawan found the target in the 34th, 42nd, 52nd and 65th minute through field efforts while Saurabh Kumar and Sandeep Singh scored one goal each in 45th and 69th minute respectively in the pool D match. For Hockey Maharashtra, Mithlesh Kumar converted a penalty stroke early in the second session before Sumit Kumar scored twice in the 59th and 63rd minute. In pool B, Hockey Odisha thrashed Karnataka 5-0 while Himachal Pradesh defeated Mumbai Hockey Association ltd 3-2. Hockey Bhopal and Chhattisgarh played out a 3-3 draw in pool D.