India's Joshna Chinappa had a tough time against unseeded Haley Mendez of US before prevailing in her opening match at the CIB PSA women's World Squash Championship at the Great Pyramids here.
The Indian won 9-11, 12-10,8-11, 11-6, 11-6 in a match played late on Thursday.
The 12th seeded Joshna admitted she was a touch nervous in the start and with Haley playing well things turned tough. However, the Indian showed her fighting qualities to catch up and dished out a steady game towards the end to make it a comfortable finish.
Another Indian, Sunayna Kuruvilla, went down in the first round against Nele Gilis of Belgium. Sunayna started off well, winning the first game but thereafter it was the Belgian all the way. Nele won 8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5.
The Egyptian men's Open is also being held simultaneously and the interest for India here is Vikram Malhotra and Saurav Ghosal. Ghosal has a bye into the second round. Earlier Ramit Tandon went down in the opening round to Leo Au of Hong Kong. .

Joshna stretched in World Championship opener

PTI Automatic

A fighting Saina Nehwal was knocked out of the USD 700,000 French Open after going down in straight games to Korea's AN se Young in the women's singles quarterfinals here on Friday.
The 29-year-old Indian, who had claimed the Indonesia Masters in January this year, lost 20-22 21-23 to world no 16 Young after a 49-minute thrilling contest.
It was her first quarterfinal appearance since making it to the final eight at the Badminton Asia Championship in April this year. Saina had lost in the first round in the last three tournaments at China, Korea and Denmark.
Saina fell back early in the opening game with Young opening up a 7-2 lead. The Indian slowly narrowed the gap to 7-8 and had grabbed a slender 15-12 lead for a brief period at one stage but the Korean soon clawed her way back.
Young reached 18-15 but a fighting Saina was the first to grab a game point at 20-19 but the Korean eventually pocketed the game with three straight points.
In the second game, Young again surged to a 5-2 ..

Saina knocked out of French Open

In a matter of few weeks, India's top rally driver Gaurav Gill got to experience the best and worst moment of his professional career, leaving the otherwise strong-willed person completely shaken.
Driving through treacherous terrains at lightening quick speed makes you fearless and your vision razor sharp. But one can't really prepare for something which happened with Gill last month.
Going flat out in the Jodhpur round of Indian National Rally Championship, the 37-year-old, driving at more than 160kmph, hit the apex coming out of a blind corner and before he could react, his car collided with a motorcycle, leading to the death of three including a minor who was on that trespassing vehicle.
"This kind of incident teaches you everything about life. Life can't be the same again. It has to change. It is obviously not easy to live with this when it is not your mistake," an emotional Gill opened up to PTI a little more than a month after the "massive tragedy".
"It is something you can't ...

Life can never be same again: Gaurav Gill opens up on Jodhpur tragedy

Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar on Friday revealed that he was not selected when he appeared for his first selection trials and the rejection spurred him to work even harder on his game.
"When I was a student, the only thing in my mind was to play for India. My journey started at the age of eleven," Tendulkar said in Marathi while interacting with the students of Late Laxmanrao Dure school in western Maharashtra.
"I even remember when I went for my first selection trails, I was not selected by the selectors. They had said that he will need to work hard and improve his game.
"At that time I was disappointed because I thought I had batted well, but the result was not as per expectation and I was not selected. But after that my focus, commitment and capacity to work hard increased further. If you want to realise your dreams, then short-cuts won't help," he added.
Three classrooms and a stage for cultural activities have been built in the school from the MPLAD funds given by Tendulkar ...

Wasn't selected when I appeared for first selection trials: Tendulkar

KL Rahul presented himself as a potent keeper-batsman option with a strong show while birthday-boy Abhimanyu Mithun savoured a rare hat-trick as Karnataka lifted the Vijay Hazare Trophy title with a 60-run win over Tamil Nadu in the rain-hit final, here on Friday.
Rahul remained in the thick of things after hosts elected to field under overcast conditions, contributing in dismissal of four Tamil Nadu batsmen.
Mithun returned with his first ever five-wicket haul in List A games, which included a hat-trick in the final of the innings. He cleaned up M Shahrukh Khan, M Mohammed and Murugan Ashwin as Tamil Nadu folded for 252 in 49.5 overs.
The MSK Prasad-led selection panel on Thursday picked Rahul in India's Twenty20 squad for the Bangladesh series along with Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson.
Prasad said they are willing to give Pant a long rope despite his below-par show of late but Rahul by keeping the wickets in the semi-final and final has made a case for himself, looking at the ...

Mithun, keeper-batsman KL Rahul guide Karnataka to Hazare Triumph

The decision to move the Tokyo 2020 marathon and race-walking events to northern Japan is "final", the International Olympic Committee's John Coates said Friday despite opposition from local officials.
Coates, chairman of the IOC's Coordination Commission, said the decision was made after the world championships in Doha, which saw dozens of athletes receive medical attention in hot and humid conditions.
"The IOC was shocked by what we saw in Doha in very similar conditions in terms of temperature and humidity to what's expected here in Tokyo," he said, adding that the IOC had the "health and welfare of the athletes" in mind.
Coates met Friday with Tokyo's Governor Yuriko Koike, who earlier in the day said she was opposed to the plan to move the events to the city of Sapporo and described it as a "bolt from the blue".
Coates said he recognised the "great disappointment" of people in Tokyo, but said the decision was final, even if city officials insist they still want to host the ...

Tokyo 2020 marathon move decision 'final', says IOC's Coates

Birthday boy Abhimanyu Mithun snared five wickets, including a hat-trick, as a dominant Karnataka defeated Tamil Nadu by 60 runs via VJD method in a rain-marred final to lift the Vijay Hazare Trophy for the fourth time here on Friday.
Mithun, who turned 30 on Friday, returned with impressive figures of 5 for 34, which includes a hat-trick in the final over, to bowl out Tamil Nadu for 252 in 49.5 overs after opting to bowl.
Chasing the target, Karnataka were coasting at 146 for one in 23 overs when rain played spoilsport, interrupting play for almost 40 minutes.
The match was later called-off by the on-field umpires as they believed there wasn't enough time to complete the game.
Brief Scores:
Tamil Nadu: 252 all out in 49.5 overs (Abhinav Mukund 85, Baba Aparajith 66; Abhimanyu Mithun 5/34).
Karnataka: 146 for one in 23 overs (Mayank Agarwal 69, KL Rahul 52; Washington Sundar 1/51).
Karnataka won by 60 runs via VJD method.

Mithun claims hat-trick as Karnataka lift Vijay Hazare Trophy

Cricket back in the 1970s and 1980s wasn't a financial viable sport unlike today where players make huge amounts and hence a group of cricket lovers have come forward and launched a program to support the support staff of yesteryears.
Conceptualised by senior columnist Makarand Waingankar, the 'Cricketers' Foundation' has been set up to help lesser-known characters, who contribute to cricket but are left largely ignored.
The foundation aims to raise funds to help veteran Mumbai players, coaches, umpires and maidan maalis (groundsmen), who may have fallen on hard times now.
A lot of these support staff don't receive any monetary benefit from BCCI or the local association -- in this case the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) as they haven't played for India/Mumbai and don't qualify to receive any pension.
Apart from Waingankar, Abhijit Sanzgiri, veteran TV commentator Fredun Dre Vitre, who is now a High Court lawyer, former Mumbai player Salil Datar, Amit Gadkari, Dr Shailesh Shrikhande .

Cricket lovers come forward to aid financial weak support staff

The International Olympic Committee on Friday defended a plan to move the 2020 marathon and race-walking events from Tokyo to northern Japan, despite opposition from local officials.
John Coates, chairman of the IOC's Coordination Commission, said the decision was made after the world championships in Doha, which saw dozens of athletes receive medical attention in hot and humid conditions.
Coates met Friday with Tokyo's Governor Yuriko Koike, who earlier in the day said she was opposed to the plan to move the events to the city of Sapporo and described it as a "bolt from the blue".
Coates, speaking to reporters before talks with Koike, said the IOC had the "health and welfare of the athletes" in mind.
"The IOC was shocked by what we saw in Doha in very similar conditions in terms of temperature and humidity to what's expected here in Tokyo," he said.
"We didn't want Tokyo to be remembered for similar images as you will have seen in Doha in the marathon and in the race-walking events," 

IOC defends moving Tokyo Olympic marathon, citing Doha conditions

Cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir is a happy man after Sanju Samson was selected in the Indian T20 team for the three-match series against Bangladesh, saying it was "long overdue".
Gambhir has been advocating for the talented Kerala cricketer's inclusion in the Indian team for a long time. The series against Bangladesh starts November 3.
"This is well & truly through the gap by @IamSanjuSamson!!! Congratulations on being picked in the T20 squad. Soft hands, nimble feet and hopefully a sane head...go Sanju grab ur moment, long overdue," Gambhir tweeted.
Samson played his sole match for India -- a T20 -- in July 2015 when a second- string team toured Zimbabwe. He was 19 then.
Since that high, it has been a roller-coaster ride for the wicketkeeper-batsman, who has been dropped from the Kerala team on disciplinary grounds.
He has not been consistent enough, has had fitness issues but every now and then, he came up with innings befitting his rich batting talent.
One such knock ...

Gambhir elated with Samson's inclusion, says it was long overdue

Steve Smith and David Warner return to the short format Sunday in the first of Australia's three games against a buoyant Sri Lanka, with both tipped for next year's Twenty20 World Cup at home.
The star batsmen were both banned for a year for their roles in a ball-tampering scandal but have rejoined their country's Test, one-day and now T20 sides.
Despite their success in other formats, Australia have never won a T20 World Cup, with a 2010 final appearance their best showing.
The competition gets underway Down Under next October and selectors are banking on the same 14 picked to play Sri Lanka forming the bulk of their side.
"We have looked to put a squad together that we think can take us through to that tournament," said national selector Trevor Hohns.
"The squad we have selected is quite role specific and we believe it gives us the flexibility to thrive in all match conditions."
Aaron Finch retains the captaincy, with Smith still barred from holding any leadership role until the end 

Smith, Warner return to Aussie T20 side as World Cup looms

Veteran sports journalist and author K R Wadhwaney passed away at his home here.
Wadhwaney, 90, was suffering from old age related problems and died peacefully on Thursday night at his home in Press Enclave, Saket.
The journalist is survived by his wife Asha, daughter Sneh and son Rohit.
Wadhwaney's daughter, a former national level swimmer, is married to former India wicketkeeper bastman Vijay Dahiya.
His cremation will take place at Lodhi Road electric crematorium on Friday.
Wadhwaney, who was born in Karachi (now in Pakistan), migrated to Lucknow after the partition in 1947.
He started his career in Lucknow before moving to New Delhi in the 1960s. He remained active as a sports journalist for almost 50 years.
After working in top organisations, Wadhwaney later went on to become the Sports Editor of the Indian Express newspaper.
He worked as a freelance writer for several Indian newspapers after his retirement.
Wadhwaney had also written 31 books on sports and its various aspects.

Veteran sports journalist K R Wadhwaney no more

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to return to football management and resume battle with that stubborn coat zipper, claiming he misses "wet Wednesdays at Stoke".
The Frenchman, who turned 70 earlier this week, ended his 22-year reign at Arsenal at the end of last season after capturing three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups with Gunners.
But during a visit to Tokyo, Wenger told AFP that absence had not diminished his passion for the game and revealed he has had "offers from all over the world" during his hiatus.
"I refused until now to come back because we had some family sickness problems," he said in an interview.
"The offers always came in at a moment when I couldn't really do it or didn't want to do it."
Wenger, who coached J-League club Nagoya Grampus before joining Arsenal in 1996, has previously been linked to the Japan national team job.
Asked if he might be tempted in the future, Wenger said: "I can envisage everything -- I loved being in Japan. I don't rule .

Wenger eyes return, misses 'wet Wednesdays at Stoke'

Atletico Madrid may need time to adjust after a summer of change but even this early in the season old problems are casting doubts over their Spanish title challenge.
After 77 attritional minutes at the Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday, Alvaro Morata darted to the near post and headed in Renan Lodi's cross for a 1-0 win over Bayern Leverkusen in the Champions League that all but secured qualification.
After the game, Morata delivered a firm response to those criticising the team and their coach, Diego Simeone.
"People on the outside say we are going through a bad time," said Morata, who arrived on loan in the summer.
"But in La Liga we are three points off the top and in the Champions League we have seven points from three games. If this is a bad time, I wish all the bad times were like this."
Yet there was enough in Morata's celebration, a raging run down the sideline to the bench, where he hugged Koke, who had just been whistled by the frustrated home fans, to suggest this was a win ..

Atletico hope Simeone has answers after familiar frustrations return

Three months into the Premier League's first season using VAR, confusion and anger abounds, from managers, players and fans, at the inconsistent use of the technology.
England's top flight was the last of Europe's big five leagues to implement VAR, with the objective of observing and learning from mistakes made elsewhere.
However, the desire not to re-referee games or overly disrupt the flow of matches by encouraging referees to come to the side of the pitch to review incidents on monitors has led to an inconsistent application of the rules.
Offside decisions do not fall into the category of needing to be a "clear and obvious" error and have therefore been regularly overturned.
But for penalties, red cards and fouls in the build up to goals, the high bar for changing the initial decision by the referee means few have been overturned.
Ninety games into the season, not a single penalty has been awarded by VAR, nor has a referee come to the sideline to review his initial decision.
"The ..

VAR confusion reigns in Premier League

Manchester City have the chance to exert some short-term pressure on runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool this weekend as Manchester United look to end their away day blues.
Jurgen Klopp's side saw their long winning streak ended by a hungry United in a draw at Old Trafford last week but still have a comfortable six-point lead over second-placed City.
Guardiola's defending champions can cut that gap to just three points, at least temporarily, if they beat Aston Villa at home on Saturday, while Liverpool have a trickier-looking tie against Spurs the following day.
Frank Lampard's young Chelsea side travel to Burnley on the back of a six-match winning run in all competitions while third-placed Leicester visit Southampton on Friday.
Manchester United will be desperate to put more distance between themselves and the relegation zone but travel to Norwich without an away win in the Premier League since February.
AFP Sport picks out some of the talking points ahead of the weekend's ...

Man City look to Spurs to slow Liverpool Premier League charge

Pressure is mounting on head coach Niko Kovac as injury-hit Bayern Munich look to beat minnows Union Berlin Saturday with just two points separating the top nine Bundesliga teams.
Third-placed Bayern are only a point behind leaders Borussia Moenchengladbach, having been knocked off the top three weeks ago when Hoffenheim grabbed a shock 2-1 win at the Allianz Arena.
Union Berlin, in 14th place, have already beaten top-six clubs Dortmund and Freiburg in their first Bundesliga season and hope to deny Bayern a first win in three league games.
Club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge branded Bayern "careless" in Tuesday's 3-2 Champions League win at Olympiakos and called on the team to beat Union at home to "meet the standard FC Bayern has set" by regaining first place in the league.
However, a worry for Kovac is Bayern's trend of conceding exactly two goals in each of their last five games, on top of their defensive woes with first-choice centre-backs Niklas Suele and Lucas Hernandez out long 

Defensive woes blight Kovac as Bayern host minnows Union

An impatient Kylian Mbappe is set to make his first start for Paris Saint-Germain in two months this weekend after a blistering return to form off the bench in the Champions League.
The French champions host Marseille at the Parc des Princes on Sunday night in what is no longer much of a rivalry on the field but remains one of the great grudge matches in European football.
How Marseille would love to claim a first win over their bitter foes in almost a decade, but they will not look forward to the prospect of facing a fit-again Mbappe.
The 20-year-old World Cup winner came on as a substitute and scored a rapid blistering hat-trick in PSG's 5-0 demolition of Club Brugge in Belgium on Tuesday.
He doubled his goals tally for the season in the process and showed why he felt he deserved to start for the first time since pulling up with a hamstring injury in a game against Toulouse in late August.
"I wanted to start. The coach made his decision and you have to accept it," Mbappe said.
"I ...

Mbappe back with a bang as PSG get ready for grudge match

Nicolas Pepe came off the bench to rescue Arsenal at home against Vitoria Guimaraes with two late free kicks in the Europa League on Thursday.
Arsenal came from behind to win 3-2 and stay perfect in Group F.
They are one of only two teams on nine points from three games, along with Sevilla, who beat Dudelange of Luxembourg 3-0 in Group A.
Manchester United are one of the teams on seven points and need just one more win to ensure they qualify from Group L after eking out a 1-0 win against Partizan on an emotional day in Belgrade.
Celtic came from a goal down to beat Lazio 2-1 in Glasgow and remain top of Group E. PSV Eindhoven were held 0-0 at home by Linz but still lead Group D Rangers drew 1-1 in Porto in Group G while Wolves beat Slovan 2-1 in Bratislava in Group K and both are in contention.
At the Emirates, Arsenal made 10 changes from the team that lost at Sheffield United on Monday in the Premier League. For much of the match, they looked even worse.
Arsenal dominated possession 

Pepe rescues Arsenal as United eke out rare away win

Champions Juventus turn their focus back to maintaining their Serie A supremacy ahead of nearest challengers Inter Milan with both Italian teams riding high after their European successes this week.
Juventus are just one point ahead of Inter Milan in the Italian league after eight games.
Maurizio Sarri's side head to promoted Lecce, while  Antonio Conte's Inter are at home against Parma.
Juve extended their unbeaten run in all competitions with Paulo Dybala's quick-fire double earning a 2-1 over Lokomotiv Moscow in Turin on Tuesday in Europe.
Inter Milan beat Dortmund 2-0 in the San Siro the following night to boost their last 16 hopes, with Napoli also coming through with a thrilling 3-2 win in Salzburg.
"We're very much alive," said Conte.
"Unfortunately, we can't enjoy this result too much. We now have less than three days to recuperate ahead of our match against Parma, who are on an excellent run."
Third-placed Atalanta return to the comforts of home against Udinese licking their .

Juventus, Inter return to Serie A fray after European successes

The second round of the US PGA Tour's inaugural Zozo Championship in Japan was postponed on Friday because of heavy rain with Tiger Woods and Gary Woodland leading the 78-player event.
Officials made the decision half an hour before the scheduled 7am start after overnight showers turned heavy with forecasts of up to 130 millimetres (five inches) rain falling over the next 24 hours at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club.
The second round will now be played on Saturday, with a 6:30am start time (2130 GMT Friday), followed by the third round.
"The golf course has already taken on four-tenths of an inch of rain, so it has actually reached the point of saturation and it's become unplayable," said Gary Young, US PGA Tour vice-president of rules and competitions Gary Young.
"With more rain in the forecast and three to five inches of rain (75mm to 130mm) for the day, we thought the right decision was to call (off) play."
Golfers will stay in the same threeball groupings for the third round, .

Page 547 -