Dhoni owner of Ranchi RAYS
Ranchi: After motorsports and football, Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has now lent his support to Indian hockey by becoming the owner of the Ranchi franchise of the Hero Hockey India league (HHIl). Dhoni bought the team along with Sahara India Pariwar, who already is the owner of the Uttar Pradesh Wizards side in the HHIl. The new Ranchi franchise will be known as ’Ranchi Rays’ from third edition of HHIl to be held in January-February next year. As part of the arrangement, Dhoni is the principal owner of the new Ranchi franchise and Sahara are expected to provide logistical support to the team.
Tuff laxmi Prasad in Durand SEMI
Margao: N D Opera scored twice in the second half to help Tuff laxmi Prasad post a thumping 4-0 win over Army Green in Group A preliminary qualifying round match and enter the semi-finals of the 127th Durand Cup. Despite Army Green's early domination, Tuff laxmi Prasad scored the others through Seriton Fernandes and Mackroy Piexoto. Tuff laxmi Prasad will now take on the winner of the Pool C match between Sesa Academy and Army Red.
Pakistan near win vs australia
Dubai: Pakistan took a huge step towards victory in the first Test by taking four key Australian wickets after hundreds from Younis Khan and Ahmed Shehzad put them in the driving seat in Dubai on Satuday. After setting an imposing 438-run target, Pakistan rattled the Australians through a brace of wickets apiece from spinners Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah to leave Australia tottering on 59-4 at stumps on the fourth day. Australia need another 379 for an unlikely win.
Saina out of French Open
Paris: Ace India shuttler Saina Nehwal crashed out of the French Open Super Series after going down to World No. 2 Shixian Wang of China in a hard-fought women's singles quarterfinal contest here. Seeded fifth, Saina posed a quite a challenge to her Chinese rival but in the end it was a case of so close, yet so far for the Indian who lost 19-21, 21-19, 15-21. The battle lasted an hour and 10 minutes. Nehwal had lost to Wang in previous week's Denmark Open as well. With Nehwal's defeat, India's representation in Paris ended after Parupalli Kashyap had lost earlier in the day.
Sarita hopeful of World c’ships
New Delhi: Provisionally suspended l Sarita Devi has not given up hopes of participating in next month's World Championships, saying that she has written to the International Boxing Association (AIBA) presenting her case. Sarita, who was suspended for refusing to accept her Asian Games bronze medal after a controversial semifinal loss, said she is disappointed with the turn of events since then. "I am disappointed with how things have gone but I have written to Boxing India, which will forward the contents to AIBA. I cannot reveal the contents of the letter but I am hopeful that things will be sorted," Sarita said. The international body had explicitly stated that the former world and Asian champion will not be allowed to participate in the World Championships, from November 19 in Jeju Islands, Korea.
nadal ends 2014 on a bitter note
Basel: Rafael Nadal will have season-ending appendicitis surgery next month, ruling him out of the upcoming Paris Masters and the ATP finals in london. Nadal announced the decision Friday after losing 2-6, 6-7 (4) to 17-year-old Borna Coric in a sub-par performance in the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors in Basel. He said he made the decision last week to undergo surgery on November 3, and that his 2014 season is over. “It's the day to say goodbye to the season,” Nadal said. “It's been a very hard year for me, mentally and physically. I'm not going to play Paris and london, I'm not competitive enough for that. I need to do the surgery for my appendix and I need to work on my back.”
central in duleep trophy final
Mohali: Mahesh Rawat scored a century and combined well with lower-order batsmen to pile on the misery of the North Zone bowlers as Central Zone's Duleep Trophy semifinal ended in a draw here on Saturday. Coming into the final day of the match, Central Zone had their place in the summit clash assured on the back of their first innings lead and their batsmen got some good practice under their belt ahead of the final. Their second innings could not start yesterday after North were bundled out for 457. Rawat scored 116 off 161 balls to keep North at bay. North, chasing 394, ended the day and match at 24 for one in their second innings.
lahiri rises to second in macau
Macau: Anirban lahiri put himself into the lead pair for the final round of the Venetian Macau Open with a flawless four-under 67 here on Saturday. Second-placed lahiri is now 12-under for three rounds and just two shots behind defending champion Scott Hend of Australia, who also shot a 67 today in the $900,000 event. Hend and lahiri were one-two at the Macau Open last year also. Of the other Indians who are in the fray, Shiv Kapur (67) brought himself into top-10 at tied ninth at six-under 207 while Jyoti Randhawa (69) is tied 13th at five-under 208. SSP Chowrasia (73) slipped to tied 28th at one-under 212, while Jeev Milkha Singh (74) is tied 38th at even par 213. Daniel Chopra (78) crashed to 55th place at two-over 215. lahiri, who rued his putting on second day, benefitted from extra work on the practice green as he on first, sixth, ninth and 17th. He is currently second on the Order of Merit.
‘Gascoigne unwell’ says friend
london: A friend of Paul Gascoigne says the troubled former England midfielder has been unwell in recent weeks and is seeking help. Gary Mabbutt was speaking after The Sun newspaper reported that Gascoigne was undergoing further treatment for alcohol addiction. Once one of England's most talented and respected players, the 47-year-old Gascoigne has faced alcohol and mental health problems in recent years. Mabbutt says “Paul hasn't been well for the past couple of weeks. He wants to get better and he's asked for help. He is being looked after very well - he has got a lot of support around him.” Spurs are also aware of the situation.