12k test runs for sangakkara
Wellington: Sri lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara joined an elite group of cricketers on Saturday when he became only the fifth to make 12,000 runs in his career. The prolific 37-year-old left-hander reached the milestone when he knocked Trent Boult square for two in Sri lanka's first innings of the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington. Sangakkara started the two-Test New Zealand series on 11,988 runs and after scoring six and one in the first Test in Christchurch, he was determined to get the final five in Wellington.
Anil kumar wins chess title
Chennai: Kerala's O T Anilkumar clinched the seveth Chennai Open FIDE Rating Tournament (Category B) after scoring 8.5 points from nine rounds, here on Saturday. Anilkumar won eight rounds and had a draw result in the third to login a whopping 8.5 points and pocket the winner's purse of ` 30,000. The second place was shared by Dusthageer Ibrahim M, Toshali V and Harshini A at 7.5 points. 372 players played in this nine round Swiss event, including two FIDE title holders.
India to host Asia Cup Rally
Bengaluru: The popular Coffee Day Rally, which has been an integral part of the FMSCI National Championship, will double up as a round of the 2015 FIA Asia Cup and will be held from Dec 11 to 13 in Chikkamagaluru. The Asia Cup is run as part of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship and consists of four rounds to be held in Malaysia, Japan, China and India, in that order. Announcing this here Saturday, R Bharath Raj, president of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, said: "It's a great New Year's gift for not only the FMSCI, but also entire nation. Getting a round of the Asia Cup is just a beginning as we endeavour to make India a preferred international Rally destination.
Yuki advances in Chennai
Chennai: India's Yuki Bhambri and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan cleared the first hurdle in the qualifying event of the ATP Chennai Open, scoring easy wins over their compatriots, here on Saturday. Bhambri outplayed Siddharth Rawat 6-1, 6-3 in his first round qualifying match of the USD $ 250,000 hard court event while left-handed Nedunchezhiyan defeated lakshit Sood 6-2, 6-2. Among other Indians reaching the second round were Vinayak Kaza, who rallied to beat Thai player Danai Udomchoke 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, and Sasi Mukund, who got the better of wild card Fahad Mohammed 6-3, 6-4. National hard court champion Vishnu Vardhan and N Vijay Sundar Prashanth also moved to the second round. Vardhan defeated Suraj Prabodh 6-1, 6-3 while Prashanth advanced when Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha retired mid-way through the contest.
junior lifters bag medals
New Delhi: India's junior women lifters, Pramila Krisani and Joti Mal bagged a silver and a bronze medal, respectively at the 17th Asian Youth (boys & girls) and 22nd Junior Women Championships in Doha, Qatar. In the Junior Women's 53kg category, Pramila lifted 76kg in snatch and 101kg in clean & jerk for an overall 177kg to seal the silver medal in her favour.
Guwahati to host saarc games
Guwahati: Guwahati will host the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Games and the Himalayan Region Sports competition, Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said here Saturday. While the Saarc Games will see participation by all Saarc countries, the Himalaya Region Sports Competition will have Nepal and Bhutan besides Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and the eight northeastern states. The union minister, however, did not specify the exact dates for the Games. The minister said the sports ministry has plans to cover over six lakh villages of the country with sporting infrastructure.
15-wicket fest in sl-nz test
Wellington: Fifteen wickets fell in a bowlers' blitz on Saturday as Sri lanka ended the first day of the second Test in Wellington at 78-5 in reply to New Zealand's first innings 221. Sri lanka's response in their attempt to level the series after an eight wicket drubbing in the first Test has been highlighted by Kumar Sangakkara becoming just the fifth player in cricket history to post 12,000 career runs. New Zealand's innings was rocked by batting hero Brendon McCullum's second-ball duck. McCullum's return to the scene of his greatest triumph, a New Zealand record 302 knock against India last February, only lasted two deliveries. Kane Williamson, with 69 and Ross Taylor who made 35 propped up the New Zealand innings with a 79 run stand for the third wicket. Nuwan Pradeep was the pick of the Sri lankan bowlers with four for 63 while lakmal took three for 71. NZ made a bright start to the day, reaching 141/2