Dipika-Joshana win doubles title
Kuala lumpur: India bagged its second title at the Tri-Nation squash doubles tournament on Thursday when Dipika Pallikal and Joshana Chinappa emerged winners in the women's doubles final.Pallikal and Joshana rallied to beat New Zealand's Joelle King and Amanda landers Murphy 8-11, 11-5, 11-1 at the National Squash Centre.Hosts Malaysia was the the other country to participate in the three-day event, seen as a warm-up to the next month's Commonwealth Games. The Indians put up a commendable show considering they are busy playing singles for major part of the season.
Siddhanth Shines bright
Mumbai: Mumbai boy Siddhanth lohia won the bronze medal at the Ultimate World Schools Rapid Chess Championships that concluded in Kavala, Greece. lohia from Dhirubai Ambani School, took third place in the under-9 group event conducted over two days over nine rounds, said Nagesh Guttula who is the joint secretary of the Mumbai District City Chess Association. During the course of his progress to the bronze medal, lohia upset reigning Asian champion Sindarov Javokhir of Azerbaijan and also shocked world no. 2 Sulemani of Uzbekistan to take his first day score to 4.5 out of 5. On day two, he increased his tally to seven out of nine and had to settle for the bronze after he tied with the silver medallist, said Guttula.The tournament had attracted competitors from 29 nations between age groups of under seven and under 17.lohia, coached by Balaji Guttula, has set his sights on the World Youth Championship to be held in South Africa later this year.
Charlesworth to quit before cwg
Sydney: Ric Charlesworth will step down as Australia's coach before next month's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Hockey Australia said on Thursday. Australia beat the Netherlands 6-1 to win the World Cup final in The Hague last weekend and Charlesworth, 62, believed now was the best time to quit. "last Sunday's World Cup final is the best full stop I could wish for in my coaching career. I believe it would be indulgent for me to go to the Commonwealth Games," he said in a statement."I have thought about it a lot. The high point of my year was the World Cup. The team will be moving on and it's my personal decision — I don't want to be packing up and away for another three weeks."The now four-time World Cup winning coach will continue to work with the Australian squad over the next four weeks prior to its departure for Glasgow on July 19.There was no immediate word on who will take over from him.
NZ face battle for 2nd Test survival
Port Of Spain: New Zealand face an uphill battle for survival at 73 for one in their second innings, still trailing the West Indies on first innings by 166 runs, at stumps on the third day of the second Test at Queen's Park Oval on Wednesday.After the home side added another 150 runs through the first half of the day to be eventually dismissed for 460, so taking a first innings lead of 239, the Black Caps negotiated 41 overs to the close for the loss of Brendon McCullum.
Saina sails into quarters
Jakarta: Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal cruised into the women's singles quarterfinals of the USD 750,000 Indonesia Open Super Series on Thursday. Saina, seeded eighth, had a relatively easy outing against Kirsty Gilmour as the Indian took just 36 minutes to sent her rival packing 21-17, 21-9 to take a 3-0 career lead over the world No. 17 Scottish shuttler at the Istora Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. But a Herculean task awaits Saina, the three-time winner here, in the next round as she takes on world no.1 li Xuerui of China on Friday. Saina has a 2-6 win-loss record against the top seeded reigning Olympic champion.