FOGNINI FINED FOR GESTURE
SHANGHAI: World number 17 Fabio Fognini was fined $2,000 for making an obscene gesture to fans following his embarrassing exit from the Shanghai Masters, a tennis official said Thursday. The Italian raised his middle finger to spectators as he trudged off court after crashing to 553rd-ranked Wang Chuhan 7-6(7/5), 6-4 on Tuesday. He also appeared to shove the Chinese wildcard at the net after the pair shook hands following their first-round match. “He was fined $2,000 for making a visible obscenity,” said an official at the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the governing body of the men's professional tennis.
India aim to retain hockey title
NEW DElHI: With the objective of retaining its Sultan of Johor Cup junior men's hockey title, India will depart for Johor Bahru, Malaysia on Thursday night, leaving aside any burden of previous achievements. The Indian colts will approach the tournament as favourites and coach Harendra Singh is confident of his wards' performance in the tournament to be held from October 12 to 19. “This is a new team and they have developed themselves as a single unit in the preparation camp,” he said. Apart from India, the other participating teams in the prestigious under-21 tournament are Australia, Great Britain, Pakistan, New Zealand and host Malaysia. The 18-member Indian team led by Harjeet Singh will take on New Zealand in their opening match on October 12 followed by games against Great Britain (October 13), Pakistan (October 15) and Australia (October 18).
‘2022 WC-Winter OlY won’t clash’
lAUSANNE: The IOC has reiterated that it has been assured by FIFA President Sepp Blatter that the 2022 World Cup will not clash with the Winter Olympics. The association of European football clubs said Wednesday that the IOC should be willing to move the dates of the 2022 Winter Games so the World Cup can be switched to the winter to avoid the summer heat in Qatar. FIFA is considering moving the World Cup from its traditional June-July time slot because of the searing Qatar temperatures. IOC says “it is in the interest of both organizations that there is no clash between our calendars, and we have received assurances from President Blatter that this will not be the case.” Blatter has suggested a switch to November-December. But European clubs prefer January-February, which would clash with the Olympic dates.
SAINA SEEDED 7TH FOR Denmark OPEN
ODENSE: Star Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal has been seeded seventh in the women's singles event of the Denmark Open Super Series Premier, to be held here from October 14-19. The Olympic Bronze medallist had won this tournament in 2012. P V Sindhu, who is not seeded, will be figuring in the other half of the draw in the women's singles. India’s highest ranked male shuttler, K Srikanth and Parupalli Kashyap will be representing India in the men's singles. Srikanth and Kashyap have been placed in different halves of the draw. Srikanth has a tough task at hands in the opening round itself as he will face world no. 1 lee Chong Wei.