Windies rout Afghans in T20 series
Basseterre: Another abject batting display by Afghanistan paved the way for the West Indies to complete a series-clinching 29-run win on the Duckworth lewis System (DlS) in the rain-affected second fixture of the three-match T20 International series here. Set a revised target of 123 after the hosts were limited to 112 for three in a match reduced to 15 overs per side, the Afghans were routed for just 93 off 13.3 overs with fast bowler Kesrick Williams leading the demolition with figures of three for 11 to take the "Man of the Match" award. This effort did little to enhance the visitors' claims to be elevated to the ranks of the Test-playing nations.
BAI announces cash reward for Praneeth
new delhi: Badminton Association of India president Hemanta Biswa Sarma has announced a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh for shuttler B Sai Praneeth for his title-winning effort at the Thailand Open Grand Prix on Sunday. "It is a matter of extreme pride for me and the whole of BAI to see Sai take the podium in Thailand. I called him right after the game and congratulated him," Sarma said in a statement. Anup Narang, official spokesperson and secretary general of BAI further added: "It is great day for Indian badminton. We are really elated at Sai's achievement and to celebrate that Dr. Sarma on behalf of BAI has announced a cash reward of 3 lakh for the champion."
Dovizioso wins Italian GP
SCARPERIA: Andrea Dovizioso won the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday for the third MotoGP victory of his career. Having started on the front row at the Mugello circuit, it was Dovizioso's first podium finish before his home fans since joining the Italian Ducati team in 2013. Championship leader and pole sitter Maverick Vinales finished second and Danilo Petrucci came third after starting ninth. Seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi finished fourth. Dani Pedrosa and Cal Crutchlow crashed on the final lap. Vinales leads the standings with 105 points, 26 ahead of Dovizioso and 30 ahead of Rossi. Before the race, 69 seconds of silence were observed to mourn Nicky Hayden, the 2006 MotoGP champion who died last month after he was hit by a car.
"UPP will be beneficial for youngsters"
chennai:Ultimate Ping Pong (UPP), the country's first-ever professional table tennis league can prove beneficial to Indian youngsters, Chennai's A Muralidhara Rao and N Ravichandran, who have been picked as coaches for the inaugural edition, said. The league can help Indian players, especially the younger lot, who can learn a lot by just watching the top-ranked paddlers perform, Muralidhara Rao, who has been chosen by Challengers, one of the six franchises said. World No 7 Wong Chun Ting (Hong Kong) and ninth-ranked woman Han Ying (Germany) will be the marquee names in UPP.