Advani bags 13th world title
Karachi: India’s poster boy of cue sports Pankaj Advani on Tuesday clinched his 13th world title after winning the World 6-Red Snooker Championship in a convincing manner here. Defending champion Advani outplayed Chinese Yan Bingtao 6-2, stamping his authority on the green baize in the final. The final started off with a bang with the Bangalore cueist racing to a rapid 3-0 lead in the best-of-11 final. But the Chinese found his form and ran away with the next two frames with the aid of a 66 break. In the final frame, Bingtao took a healthy 28-5 lead before missing what was going to be his final shot of the tournament as Advani cleared the table with finesse. A 35 break saw the Indian ace adding another feather in his ever-glowing crown.
Kvitova diagnosed with Mononucleosis
Toronto: Two-time Wimbledon champion and World No.4 Petra Kvitova has been diagnosed with mononucleosis. Kvitova revealed the news on Monday afternoon in Toronto, where she says her doctors have cleared her to play the Rogers Cup this week. Kvitova received the diagnosis a little over a week ago. “(After Wimbledon) I spent a few days off in Monaco as a vacation and then I was trying to practice a little bit,” Kvitova explained. “Unfortunately I found out I was diagnosed with mono. So it’s going to be a little tougher for me to practice in a good way.” looking ahead to the summer hardcourt season, she intends to play so long as her doctor gives her clearance.
FIFA appoints reform commission chairman
Paris: FIFA on Tuesday appointed former International Olympic Committee director general Francois Carrard to lead the world football governing body’s 2016 Reform Committee. Swiss lawyer Carrard, 77, previously guided the IOC through its own governance reforms in the wake of the bribery scandal-hit Salt lake City Winter Olympics of 2002. FIFA is currently reeling from its own bribery scandal after seven football officials were arrested in a raid on a Zurich hotel on the eve of a FIFA congress in May.
India go down 1-4 to Spain
Sant Cugat del Valles (Spain): Failing to sustain an aggressive start, the Indian men’s hockey team went down to Spain 1-4 in its third match of the ongoing Europe Tour here. In a a come-from-behind move, Indian forward SV Sunil scored the only goal for his team to level matters in the first quarter, but it was only downhill for the visitors from there. In the first quarter, both the teams started with an aggressive game plan and attacked on each other’s sides to try to take the early lead. Spain opened their account in the ninth minute with a stunning field goal to make it 1-0. However, India reacted quickly and attacked fiercely. After a series of attacks and counter-attacks, the second quarter ended goalless with the scoreline reading 1-1. In the third quarter, both the teams entered the ground with better strategies. However, it was Spain who managed to earn a penalty corner in the 31st minute and Pau Quemada converted it perfectly to take the lead again. In the final quarter, both sides locked-horns again and looked for opportunities to score goals.