Federer withdraws from Montreal
Montreal: Roger Federer pulled out of next month’s Rogers Cup hard-court tournament on Wednesday. A spokeswoman for Tennis Canada, Valerie Tetreault, said that Federer “wants to make sure he will be (in) top shape for” the US Open which begins August 31. I am disappointed that I won’t be playing in Montreal because it’s a tournament and a city that I really enjoy and has incredible fans,” Federer said in a statement released by Tennis Canada. I hope to be back in the future.” Federer has not competed since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final on July 12. Federer, who turns 34 on August 8, won the Rogers Cup twice, in 2004 and 2006, and he was the runner-up a year ago. Play begins August 10 in Montreal. Federer will be replaced in the main draw by Jerzy Janowicz, a semifinalist at Wimbledon in 2013.
Constantine announces probables
New Delhi: India coach Stephen Constantine on Thursday announced a list of 28 probables for forthcoming 2018 World Cup preliminary joint qualification match against Iran. The match is slated to be played at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on September 8, 2015 and would be telecast live on Sony Six. The 28 probables would be assembling for a preparatory camp in Pune on August 23. The match against Iran will be preceded by an international friendly against Nepal on August 31, which will be played at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune.
Jeev rallies to win; Kapur exits
Aberdeen (Scotland): Indian golfers had a mixed day in office as Jeev Milkha Singh rallied to win, while Shiv Kapur exited early on the opening day of the Saltire Paul lawrie Matchplay at the Murcar Golf links. Jeev, trailing four-down at one stage, rallied to win 1-up on the 18th against Scott Hend, but Shiv Kapur allowed local man Richie Ramsay to make a comeback from three-down to win 1-up in another match. Jeev, who has vast experience at Matchplay, started very slowly. Jeev fought back to win the par-5 seventh, as Hend missed a birdie putt but the Australian again went 4-up with his fourth birdie in eight holes. Kapur had a good start against Ramsay, who holds the course record at Murcar links with a 62. After three halved holes with pars, Kapur birdied the fourth and parred fifth, as Ramsay bogeyed fifth.
FC Pune City sign Mutu
Pune: FC Pune City clinched their big-ticket name by signing former Chelsea and Fiorentina star Adrian Mutu of Romania as its marquee player for the 2015 edition of the Indian Super league here on Thursday. The club also confirmed the signing of Ivory Coast’s Didier Zokora.
FIFA delegation visits Goa
Goa: A two-member FIFA fact-finding team on Thursday wound up its visit to Goa after consultations with various stakeholders about developing the sport in the state. Dr Shaji Prabkharan, Regional Development Officer of FIFA in South and Central Asia, and Vincent Subramaniam, Technical Officer, were accompanied by CEO of I-league Sunando Dhar and Scott O’Donnell, Director of AIFF academies during their meeting in the last four days as a part of AIFF initiative for its pilot project of developing football in seven Indian states. These states include the six states chosen to host the FIFA Under-17 World Cup and Mizoram. The team visited Goa after Bengal, Kerala and Maharashtra. Now they would travel to Guwahati.