Former cricketers Ajit Agarkar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Amol Muzumdar during Mumbai Cricket Association Awards function in Mumbai.
Sindhu, Prannoy enter semis
Macau: Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy came out with contrasting wins to enter their respective semi-finals at the $120,000 Macau Open Grand Prix Gold here Friday. While defending champion Sindhu defeated China's li Han 21-17, 19-21, 21-16 in a marathon encounter which lasted an hour and three minutes, Prannoy had a relatively easy triumph over Indonesian Sony Dwi Kuncoro 21-19, 21-17 in 42 minutes at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion. He will next play Hong Kong sixth seed Wong Wing Ki Vincent. Sindhu should feel confident about her next match as she will be up against Thai eighth seed Busanan Ongbumrungan against whom the Indian has a brilliant 4-0 record.
‘Ensure no life ban on sarita’
New Delhi: A strong plea was made by an Opposition member in the lok Sabha today for efforts to avert a life ban on boxer l Sarita Devi from International Boxing Association for refusing her bronze medal at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Congress member Ranjit Ranjan said what has happened to Sarita Devi should not happen to any player as she was denied her due in the Games. She said Sarita Devi could have bagged the gold medal if things had gone right at the semifinals of the women's lightweight (60kg) competition in September. Ranjan wanted government to intervene immediately to avert a life ban for the boxer.
Shyam SUNDAR holds Kramnik
Doha: Indian Grandmaster M Shyam Sundar achieved the best result of his career when he held former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia to a creditable draw in the second round of Qatar Masters International Open chess tournament here. Kramnik, who also drew his first round game with Stelios Halkias of Greece, met with a very unusual opening treatment from Shyam Sundar, who found difficult moves before steering the game to a level endgame. The Reti opening by the Russian stalwart saw Sundar opting to develop and part with both his Bishops early, and although Kramnik could claim to be better, the complexities always remained in a rather wild game. Grandmaster and former world junior champion P Harikrishna maintained a clean slate by defeating Alezander Ipatov of Turkey.
Sa eves beat India, win series
Bengaluru: Nadine Moodley's dogged half-century and Mignon Du Preez's 46-run knock, helped South African women beat their India counterparts by four wickets to clinch the three-match ODI series by 2-1 margin, here Friday.
After bundling out India for 180, South Africa successfully chased the target when they scored 184 for six in 48 overs. Having been outsmarted in the second ODI, Moodley and Du Preez put their heads together and stitched a match-winning 108-run partnership for the third wicket, having joined forces at 13 for two.Moodley scored 54 off 90 balls with seven boundaries while Du Preez's 46 came off 59 balls with six hits to the fence. Earlier, South Africa skittled out India cheaply for 180 in 47.3 overs.
Pele says ‘nothing serious’
Sao Paulo: Brazilian great Pele says he is not seriously ill, easing fears that his health deteriorated even though a hospital said he was in intensive care and undergoing renal support treatment. The 74-year-old Pele used his official Twitter account to deny widespread reports that said his condition worsened and that he was put in intensive care to treat a urinary tract infection. “I want to take this opportunity to let you know that I am doing fine,” he said. “I was not put into intensive care on Friday. I was simply relocated to a special room within the hospital for privacy purposes only.”
lahiri leads by two strokes
Khon Kaen (Thailand): Indian golfer Anirban lahiri extended his lead with a five-under 67 after the second round of the $500,000 King's Cup as his compatriot and overnight leader S.S.P. Chowrasia slipped to tied fifth position at the par-72 Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club here Friday. The five-time Asian Tour winner lahiri, who shared the first round lead with compatriot Chowrasia, compiled a two-day total of 12-under 132 to take pole position, holding a two-shot advantage over Australia's Andrew Dodt. lahiri continued to assert himself at the Asian Tour event with another round that could edge him closer to his third win on the regionÂ’s premier Tour this year. “I am happy the way i am playing and i am still comfortable with my position” he said.