Jwala-Ashwini in Semi-finals
Calgary (Canada): Commonwealth Games silver medallist pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa emerged as the lone Indian survivors at the Canada Open after reaching the semifinals of the $50,000 Grand Prix badminton tournament here. The 2011 World Championship bronze medallists notched up a 21-19, 21-13 win over Hong Kong combo of Chan Kaka Tsz Ka Yuen Sin Ying in women’s doubles competition at the Markin MacPhail Centre. Among other Indians, B Sai Praneeth and Ajay Jayaram bowed out of the quarterfinals in the men’s singles event, while women’s doubles pair of Pradnya Gadre and N Sikki Reddy also suffered a loss. In women’s doubles, Pradnya and Sikki produced a gallant fight but it ended with a heartbreaking loss.
POA, Badal laud Satnam
Chandigarh: President of Punjab Olympic Association (POA) and Member of Parliament, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa on Saturday said that they would honour Satnam Singh for creating history by becoming the first Indian basketball player to be drafted into NBA. Dhindsa said after the completion of the NBA league, the POA would organise a special event to mark the achievement of the boy from Punjab. He said “it is a proud moment for all Indians that a boy from remote area in Punjab has made a remarkable presence in the field of sports at international level”. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal felicitated Satnam too.
‘Two olympic medals possible’
Kolkata: Satisfied with her rehab programme post a wrist surgery, boxer l Sarita Devi on Saturday said that India can win two medals in women’s boxing with her and her state-mate Mary Kom having a great chance in next year’s Rio Olympics. “I can’t say about men’s boxing but in women’s section Mary and I will surely get a medal each,” Sarita Devi said here after inaugurating the 1st All Bengal Girls and Womens’ Karate and Self Defence Championship. “We know each other well and she has supported me throughout. Hopefully, we will return with Olympic medals from Rio,” she added. Sarita Devi, who won silver and bronze medals in last year’s Commonwealth and Asian Games, respectively, underwent a surgery in the right wrist and then had her rehabilitation in Bangalore with the help of Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ).
Rossi wins dutch gp
Assen (Netherlands): Valentino Rossi strengthened his world championship lead on Saturday by coming out on top in a thrilling battle with Marc Marquez to win the Dutch MotoGP here. The Italian, on his Yamaha, started from pole and led almost all the way, although reigning world champion Marquez did briefly overtake seven laps from the end. Rossi quickly regained the lead and then held off one last desperate push on the final corner by the Spaniard, on a Honda, to claim his third win of the season and the 111th victory of his illustrious career. “This win is very important because I was competitive all weekend,” said Rossi, whose final winning margin was 1.242 seconds. For Rossi it was a seventh MotoGP win on the Assen track, one more than legendary Italian Giacomo Agostini.