China to play S Korea in Sudirman final
GOlD COAST: Defending champions China will face three-time winners South Korea in the final of the mixed teams Sudirman Cup after fighting off a stern Japanese challenge here on Saturday. The 10-time winners needed victory in the fifth match by women's doubles pair Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan to seal a 3-2 win over the 2015 finalists Japan. Chen and Jia prevailed 21-12, 21-19 over the Japanese duo Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi after a 49-minute tussle. South Korea, who beat China for their last Sudirman Cup title in Eindhoven in 2003, won the other semi-final 3-1 over Thailand.
Bagan, EB threaten ISl disruption
KOlKATA: Indian football's traditional clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal today joined hands to declare an unofficial war against Indian Super league (ISl), threatening to disrupt the cash-rich event if their three-point demand is not met with. The Big two clubs refused to budge from their three-point demand and did not submit the bid document for their induction into the ISl. "We cannot tolerate AIFF's torture anymore. We have just decided one thing in our meeting - 'No Bagan and East Bengal, no ISl'. We will not allow ISl here," Bagan’s general secretary Anjan Mitra said after a joint meeting with state body, Indian Football Association. "We will not allow business in the name of football. Money can't buy you everything. Football will be played like football. We want all of your cooperation in such a movement," he added. "The Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) said 'don't worry about venue we will bring out a solution by talking to three clubs'. Venue will not be a problem. It's secondary. Primary concern is the franchise fees," he said.
Stan beats Zverev, retains Geneva Open title
geneva: Stan Wawrinka warmed up for the French Open by retaining his home Geneva Open title on Saturday, beating Mischa Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. The top-seeded Wawrinka clinched by breaking serve with a fierce forehand crosscourt pass to beat left-hander Zverev's advance to the net. Wawrinka's first title in 2017 is the 16th of his career, and the seventh on clay including the 2015 French Open. The Swiss is the No. 3 seed at Roland Garros, and first plays the 152nd-ranked Josef Kovalik of Slovakia. Victory against the 33rd-ranked Zverev avenged a loss when Wawrinka last faced him, at the previous Swiss event on tour in Basel in October. "I would have hated you if you had beaten me in two tournaments," Wawrinka quipped to his opponent.