Harika fights for a draw
Kanty-Mansiysk: India's Grand Master Harika Dronavalli earned a hard fought draw in the third round of the elite FIDE Women's Grand Prix at Kanty-Mansiysk in Russia on Monday to keep her chances alive for a top-five finish. Playing aggressively right from the start, she pushed her lower ranked opponent from Russia, Natalia Pogonina, into time trouble. But Pogonina made her 40th move within her stipulated time of 90 minutes with barely a few seconds to go. That was enough for her to save the game and share the point. Harika (ElO 2543) has one point after three rounds, with two draws and one victory, and is joint-eighth.
Goel congratulates Sindhu
New Delhi: Sports Minister Vijay Goel has congratulated Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu for winning her first Super Series Premier title at the China Open badminton tournament. In a message, the Minister said, the victory has helped Sindhu further to consolidate her position among top ranking women Badminton players of the world. He said that victory of Sindhu at the tournament has once again underlined India's strong presence in the China Open as she is the third non-Chinese player to win the title in 30 years after another ace badminton star from India Saina Nehwal did it at an earlier occasion.
‘AIFF will bid for U-20 World Cup’
Doha: All India Football Federation President Praful Patel has said that India will bid for the Under-20 FIFA World Cup in the next few years as part of its drive to further develop the game in the country. India is hosting the Under-17 FIFA World Cup next year and Patel said the progress made and publicity gained since winning the rights to host the Under-17 global event for the first time will help in bidding for the Under-20 FIFA World Cup. "They will give their best during the Under-17 World Cup next year and following the tournament we will bid for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. We have told the FIFA Competitions Committee that we are keen to host the event at the earliest available opportunity in 2019," he told website www.Sc.Qa.
Sonia crashes out
Haridwar: World Championships silver-medallist Sonia lather was knocked out following a stunning second-round loss but other international medallists pulled off comfortable wins to advance to the quarterfinals of the National Women's Boxing Championships, here on Monday. Sonia (57kg), representing Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) was outwitted 1-2 by Uttarakhand's Kamla Bist. In other results, former World Championships silver-medallist Sarjubala staved off a spirited challenge from Mizoram's Rebecca lal to enter the quarters.