Sania-Black in Portugal Open semis
Oeiras (Portugal): Top seeds Sania Mirza and Cara Black progressed to the Portugal Open women’s doubles semifinals by overcoming Spanish-Chinese pairing Silvia Soler-Espinosa and Shuai Zhang on Thursday. The Indian-Zimbabwean combine won 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 10 minutes on the clay courts of Sports Complex of Jamor. Though Silvia and Shuai broke their opponents once in the first set, the top seeds responded by converting two of the seven break points they earned. The second set turned out to be even more difficult to hold on to service games as there was a total of five service breaks. But the Indian-Zimbabwean duo got the significant break needed to clinch the set and match. In the next round, Sania and Cara will take on American third seeds liezel Huber and lisa Raymond for a place in the summit clash.
Chawla, lilly in Asian C’ship pre-quarters
New Delhi: Indian cueists Kamal Chawla and Dharminder lilly entered the pre-quarterfinals of the Asian Snooker Championship being held in Al Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. Runners-up in the snooker nationals this year, Chawla, 34, held his nerve to beat Jordan’s lailth Alnaser 4-3 in the round-of-32 clash. Meanwhile lilly also got past Funk Kwok Wai (Hong Kong) 4-3 in another interesting match-up. lilly, 39, will now take on Chuan leong Thir of Malaysia in the round-of-16 match while Chawla faces China’s Chen Zifan in the pre-quarters tie. Earlier another Indian in the fray, Brijesh Damani, had crashed out after losing to Baldandorj Batsukh of Mongolia. The winner of the event is eligible for a place on the Pro Tour for the next rwo seasons.
Poonia, Om Prakash to train in US for CWG
New Delhi: Star Indian throwers Krishna Poonia and Om Prakash will be leaving for the US this Saturday for a training-cum-competition programme in preparation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow. Krishna, the first Indian woman athlete to win a gold medal in CWG - Delhi 2010, will be training at Olympic Training Centre in Chula Vista, California. The 31-year-old Arjuna Awardee will also be participating in competitions in the countdown to the Glasgow Games. Meanwhile, 2006 CWG silver medallist in women’s discus throw, Seema Punia (previously Seema Antil) will also accompany the three-member team to train at the Olympic Throwing Centre, New Port Beach, California. National record holder in men’s shot put and Asian Indoor Champion Om Prakash will be training at Aphelion Athletics Club, Pennsylvania (USA).
East Bengal rope in Nigerian striker Ranti
Kolkata: I-league runners-up East Bengal have signed Nigerian goal machine Ranti Martins for the next two seasons. Terming it a new journey, the leading goalscorer of NFl/I-league with 185 goals and four-time winner of the Golden Boot said: “It’s a privilege to join East Bengal. It will be something new for me but I don’t see it as any pressure and instead look at it as a responsibility.” Ranti conceded that it was his mentor Armando Colaco’s presence at the club played a big role. “Colaco’s presence is a factor of course. East Bengal had been in contact with many for a long time but this time everything was right.” The five-time national league winning coach Colaco has been offered a new deal and the Goan will take a decision by next week. “To put it simply they came with an offer at the right time,” Ranti, who represented financial hit United SC and Rangdajied United FC, last season said.
World TT: eves earn direct quarters berth
Tokyo: Indian women topped their group to secure a direct entry into the quarterfinals while the men will fight it out in the round of 16 after finishing third in their group in the second division of the World Team Table Tennis Championships here on Thursday. The women got past Bulgaria 3-2 in their toughest test in Group G which they topped with five wins in as many matches. Given a bye in the first round of the knock-out stage, India face the winners of the Egypt-Brazil in the quarterfinals on Saturday. The men’s team led by World No.39 Sharath Kamal finished third in Group F behind Iran and Italy though all three teams had nine points and suffered a loss each. For India, the loss against Italy yesterday from a winning position cost them dear. They take on Egypt on Friday.