Delhi aim for another outright win
Vadodara: Delhi's batting heavyweights would like to get their act together when they take on Saurashtra in their final group league encounter in the Ranji Trophy here on Wednesday. Jharkhand with 32 points and Karnataka with 30 in their kitty are safely through to the next round while Odisha (22 points), Delhi and Maharashtra on 21 each are fighting for that final slot. Playing Saurashtra, who have had a poor season and have just about managed to save relegation with 12 points will be an advantage for the Delhi boys. A lot will depend on how India discard Gambhir and current international Shikhar Dhawan perform in this match. Not to forget Ranji Trophy's current top-scorer Rishabh Pant (903), who can be a game-changer on a given day.
South Central Railway in final
Mumbai: South Central Railway, Secunderabad, drubbed last year's runners-up Comptroller and Auditors General of India, Delhi, 6-1 to storm into the final of the 51st All India Bombay Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at the MHAl Mahindra Stadium on Tuesday. SCR will meet Punjab National Bank, who outclassed former champions and fancied Indian Oil 3-1 in another semifinal, in the title clash on Wednesday. Gagadeep Singh Jr scored two goals, off a penalty stroke and a penalty corner, while teammate Arun Singh scored the other goal to secure the win for the Punjab bankers. Indian Oil pulled one back through Raghunath midway through the second half.
Sudamericana title given to Chapecoense
Asuncion: South American football confederation CONMEBOl has agreed to award the Copa Sudamericana to Brazilian club Chapecoense, whose team was wiped out in a plane crash while heading to the final. "CONMEBOl awards the title for the 2016 Copa Sudamericana championship to Chapecoense," including the $2 million in prize money, the confederation said in a statement. The unsung club was having a fairy tale season until the charter plane flying it to the biggest match in its history ran out of fuel and smashed into the mountains in northwestern Colombia a week ago, killing 71 people. The side was heading to play the first leg of the final against Colombian club Atletico Nacional in the city of Medellin.
No Federer, Serena in iptl this year
New Delhi: Already struggling to get star power this year, IPTl has been hit further as neither Swiss icon Roger Federer nor American legend Serena Williams will be part of the popular league this season, due to prevailing "economic climate" in India. International Premier Tennis league (IPTl) founder Mahesh Bhuapthi, India's one of the most successful doubles player, confirmed the absence of the two star players. "We have had challenges this year and we are hoping to get past them. With current economic climate in India and uncertainty of spending money, I reached out to both Roger (Federer) and Serena (Williams) to explain the situation. They have been very supportive of the IPTl the first two seasons and we look forward to bring them in Futures," Bhupathi said in a statement.