Nadal pulls out of Paris
Paris: Paris Masters organizers say third-ranked Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the tournament next week for “personal reasons.” later it was confirmed that he was having his appendix out. Nadal was playing in the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors in Basel on Friday, his third tournament since Wimbledon, when a wrist injury curtailed his schedule. The Spaniard also needed treatment for appendicitis this month in Shanghai. US Open champion Marin Cilic and Ernests Gulbis also withdrew. Cilic has a right-arm injury and Gulbis a right-shoulder injury. The three will be replaced by Pablo Andujar of Spain, Jerzy Janowicz of Poland and Vasek Pospisil of Canada.
Advani in World Billiards final
leeds: Indian cueist Pankaj Advani performed on expected lines, making a clinical entry into the World Billiards Championship final of the 150 up points format section, here on Friday. Eyeing his 11th world title, Advani outplayed compatriot Sourav Kothari 5-2 to set up a title clash with former champion Peter Gilchrist. Advani and Kolkata star Kothari were locked 2-2 when the 10-time world champion shifted gears to come out with three century breaks. Sourav, son of former national coach Manoj Kothari, also had two runs of over 100 but failed to keep pace with India's poster boy of cue sports. Singapore cueist Gilchrist edged out England's Robert Hall 5-3 in the other semi-final.
WINDS UNSTEADY lAHIRI
Macau: Indian golfer Anirban lahiri struggled in extremely windy conditions through his first nine holes before steadying himself to end with a two-over 73 that saw him lose the lead and be tied fourth at the midway stage of the $900,000 Venetian Macau Open on Friday. lahiri, who had a stunning 61 on the first day went 12 shots over his first round card, and stood at eight-under 134, but only two shots behind the in-form Australian Scott Hend (62-70), who shared the lead with another Australian Adam Groom (65-67). Five Indians, including lahiri made the cut. Others making the cut were SSP Chowrasia (66-73) in tied 14th place, while Jeev Milkha Singh (71-69), Jyoti Randhawa (66-74) and Shiv Kapur (72-67) were all in tied 25th place.
NASH out of 2014/15 nba season
los angeles: los Angeles lakers guard Steve Nash has been ruled out for the season with a back injury, putting the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player's career in doubt. The lakers and Nash announced their joint decision Thursday, less than a week before the start of what would have been the 40-year-old Nash's 19th NBA season. He played in only 15 games last season with nerve root irritation, but hoped for a comeback season after several months of rehabilitation. Instead, the Canadian point guard played in just three preseason games before feeling more back pain. He then strained his back while carrying bags several days ago.
Armstrong barred from ride
Austin (Texas): USA Cycling says lance Armstrong can't ride in a South Carolina event this weekend with several of his former U.S. Postal Service teammates. Armstrong had hoped to ride with George Hincapie and several other former teammates at the non-competitive ride that bears Hincapie's name. But because the ride is still authorized by USA Cycling, Armstrong can't participate under his lifetime ban for using performance-enhancing drugs.
GERMANY REAPS WC WIN PROFITS
Frankfurt: The World Cup title has earned the German Football Federation a surplus of 4.5 million euros ($5.7 million) for the year. Half of the profit will go to the German Football league, which runs the Bundesliga, and the other half to the federation budget. FIFA's prize for winning the World Cup title was $35 million. Each of Germany's 22 World Cup players gets a bonus of 300,000 euros.
MD Sporting U-Turn, will play on
Kolkata: Just days after shocking the football fraternity by declaring they were shutting down for the season due to acute funds crunch, the city's 123-year-old club Mohammedan Sporting announced that they would play in all tournaments and resume practice on Saturday. “After the wide media coverage (of our shutdown), we've started getting sponsors now. Talks are on and things have started looking bright,” Mohammedan Sporting president Sultan Ahmed said. The Durand Cup reigning champions would compete in the tournament with the quarterfinal league beginning in Goa on October 28, said Ahmed. “We'll play in all tournaments and will go to Goa to defend our title in the Durand Cup. We'll also take part in the second division I-league, the Kalinga Cup and the IFA Shield,” he said. Agencies