: Tushar Shahani and Neel Joshi kept  India's challenge alive in the ongoing British Junior Open  squash at Birmingham, reaching the semifinals in the Under-17  and 15 boys categories respectively.
Shahani made it to the last four at the expense of  compatriot Saksham Choudhary, currently ranked number one in  the Under-17 category in India, 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 11-5.
Both players were seeded in the 9-16 bracket.
Shahani made the most of an early lead to complete a  victory and in the process became the lowest seeded player to  reach the semifinal across all categories this year, a Squash  Rackets Federation of India release said here today.
He faces top-seeded Egyptian Omar El Torkey late on  Saturday for a place in the final.
In the Under-15 section, two Indians were in contention  for the last four berths. Joshi, seeded in the 3-4 bracket,  beat Ahmed Ismail of Egypt 11-9, 10-12, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9.
The Mumbai lad will face second-seed Malaysian Muhammad  Amir Amirul Azhar in the last .

Two Indians in semis of British Junior open squash

PTI Automatic

Iranian Grandmaster Parham  Maghsoodloo took sole lead on the seventh day of the IIFL  Wealth 3rd Mumbai International Chess Tournament here by  notching a convincing victory over earlier leader Indian  Grandmaster Deepan Chakkravarthy.
The game was dominated by Parham from the beginning,  and he went on to clinch the game on move 45 when Deepan threw  in the towel. With only two more rounds to go, Parham is  currently on 6.5/7, followed by as many as five players,  including top-seed Abhijeet Gupta, on 6/7, a media release  issued here said.
The junior tournament, on the other hand, is yet to  produce a sole leader. On the first board, top seed Gukesh D  was held to a draw by Aaryan Varshney.
Nikhil Magizhnan and defending champion Pranav V won  their respective games against Srihari L R and Jubin Jimmy  to  take joint-lead after round seven.
A total of 600 players from 25 countries are  participating across the two sections of this tournament which  has a cumulative prize fund of Rs 

Iranian GM Maghsoodloo takes sole lead in Mumbai chess tourney

Local golfer Amit Shah qualified  from the Ahmedabad qualifiers for the National Final of the  18th edition of the MercedesTrophy here today.
Playing at the Kalhaar Blues and Greens on the  qualification day here, Shah carded a Nett. score of 73.6 to  finish in top spot.
He will now be competing against 39 other golfers  selected from qualifiers across 11 other cities of the  tournament in the National Final to be held at Pune's Oxford  Golf Resort from April 4-6.
Shah becomes the third person to qualify for the finals  after the first two days of the opening leg in Pune saw one  qualification on each day.
Shah said, "It is the best day of my life and winning the  MercedesTrophy qualifier means a lot to me. I didn't think I  am going to win this but by god's grace it was my day and I  played well."
The best Gross Winner of the day was Rajiv Vipin Vasa  with a score of 79 and there were a host of other prizes on  offer to be won as well.
Prominent winners included Sachin Jain who won ..

Shah qualifies for Nationals Finals of MercedesTrophy

Mohun Bagan will seek a revival of  fortunes under new coach Shankarlal Chakraborty when they face  reigning champions Aizawl FC in an I-League fixture at the  Salt Lake Stadium here tomorrow.
Having kicked off their campaign in style that included a  1-0 win over bitter foes East Bengal in the Kolkata derby,  Mohun Bagan's title aspiration has dwindled as they slipped to  fifth place in the table after seven matches.
Mohun Bagan last won against Churchill Brothers on  December 10 and dropped points for three consecutive matches  before suffering their first-ever home defeat.
The Mariners succumbed to a 1-2 defeat to a 10-man  Chennai City FC, their first defeat of the season that came at  their home ground, and moments later their 2014-15 I-League  winning coach Sanjoy Sen stepped down.
Sen's understudy, Chakraborty, was elevated to the chief  coach's position and his first priority would be to help the  players regain self-confidence.
"Keeping in mind Mohun Bagan's support base, ...

Aizawl stand in way as Mohun Bagan eye revival

Cheteshwar Pujara battled hard as  India batted sedately to reach 76 for 4 at lunch against South  Africa on the second day of the first cricket Test
At the break, Pujara was unbeaten on 26 (91 balls, 5  fours) while Ravichandran Ashwin was batting on 12 (22 balls,  2 fours).
Only 48 runs were scored off 25 overs during the first  session in which Rohit Sharma (11, 59 balls) was trapped leg  before by Kagiso Rabada after he did all the hardwork during  the first hour.
Starting from overnight score of 28 for 3, Pujara and  Rohit were ready to show patience and frustrate the opposition  bowlers.
They were content playing out deliveries and preserving  wickets rather than scoring runs.
Vernon Philander (1/14 in 10 overs) didn't concede single  run in his first five overs, keeping a tight leash on Rohit.  He beat the batsman on a few occasions but it wasn't enough to  induce an edge.
Morkel (1/17 in 8 overs) came on as first change just  before the drinks' break and immediately he ...

India crawl to 76 for 4 at lunch on Day 2

Scoreboard at lunch on day two in  the first Test match between India and South Africa here  today:
South Africa First Innings  286
India  (overnight 28-3)
Murali Vijay
c Elgar b Philander
1
Shikhar Dhawan
c & b Steyn
16
Cheteshwar Pujara
not out
26
Virat Kohli
c de Kock b Morne Morkel
5
Rohit Sharma
lbw b Rabada
11
Ravichandran Ashwin  not out
12
Extras
(lb 5)
5
Total
(4 wickts, 36 Overs)
76
Fall of wickets: 16-1, 18-2, 27-3, 57-4.
Bowling: Vernon Philander 10-6-14-1, Dale Steyn 11-4-25-  1, Morne Morkel 8-3-17-1, Kagiso Rabada 7-2-15-1.

 Scoreboard at lunch on day two in

India were 76 for four at lunch on  the second day of the first cricket Test against South Africa  here.
India resumed at overnight 28 for three and lost Rohit  Sharma for 11 before the break.
Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada and Vernon  Philander picked up a wicket each.
Brief scores:
South Africa 1st innings: 286 all out
India 1st innings: 76/4 in 36 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara  batting 26).

India 76/4 at lunch on Day 2

Chennaiyin FC take on a struggling  Delhi Dynamos FC in an Indian Super League game at the  Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here tomorrow, with a chance to top  the standings.
The hosts, with five wins from eight matches, are second  on the table with 16 points and a win would put them clearly  in front of FC Pune.
A confident Chennaiyin are looking strong under new head  coach John Gregory and have recovered well after a loss to FC  Goa in the opening game.
The former champions will, however, miss Gregory's  services, as he has been suspended for three matches owing to  disciplinary reasons. Assistant coach Syed Sabir Pasha is set  to step up in his absence.
Despite an inferior head-to-head record against the  visiting team, the Chennai side will head into the match with  confidence.
While CFC's performance has looked up since the opening  loss, Dynamos (on three points) have endured a forgettable  campaign so far, winning only a game and losing their other  six.
The team has been solid at .

Chennaiyin FC host struggling Delhi Dynamos

Manchester City FC CEO Ferran  Soriano has termed India as a "land of opportunity" and  remains keen to tap into the growing football market in India.
Soriano, who is also the CEO for City Football Group that  owns six football clubs across continents, witnessed the live  action in the Hero Indian Super League during Jamshedpur FC's  home encounter against Mumbai City FC yesterday.
Sounding optimistic on the rapid development of Indian  football and the growth of India as a football market, the 50  -year-old Spanish CEO said he is "very positive on Indian  football."
"We think India is a major opportunity for football  because there is talent and passion and we are very positive  about the development of football in the country.
"That is why we are here. We want to watch some ISL  games, meet people and want to see players," said Soriano  whose company owns clubs like MLS New York City FC, A League's  Melbourne City and Premier Leagues Manchester City FC.
Invited by Tata Steel, owners 

India is a land of opportunity, says Manchester City CEO

Chennaiyin FC head coach John  Gregory has been suspended for three matches and fined Rs four  lakh for making offensive remarks against the referee during  his side's Indian Super League match against Jamshedpur FC  last month.
The Chennai team had won the match 1-0 on December 28.
The suspension comes into immediate effect, the ISL said  in a statement.
All India Football Federation's disciplinary committee  found Gregory in breach of Article 50 (misconduct against  match officials) and Article 58 (offensive behaviour and fair  play) for his offensive remarks against the referee during the  match against Jamshedpur FC at JRD Tata Sports Complex, the  statement added.
Meanwhile, the ISL, in another statement said Claudio  Matias of Delhi Dynamos FC and Sehnaj Singh of Mumbai City FC  have been suspended for four and two matches respectively for  their club's upcoming games owing to disciplinary reasons.
Matias has also been fined Rs three lakh and Sehnaj Singh  Rs two lakh, the ...

Chennaiyin FC coach suspended for 3 matches, fined Rs 4 lakh

North Korea's Olympic representative  said today the reclusive nation was "likely to participate" in  next month's Winter Games in South Korea, Kyodo news agency  reported, in the latest sign of a thaw in tensions on the  peninsula.
The comments by Chang Ung, Pyongyang's representative to  the International Olympic Committee (IOC), come a day after  the North and South agreed to hold rare talks next week and  follow Seoul and Washington's announcement that they would  postpone joint military exercises that rile North Korea.
The Japanese news agency said Chang made the brief  comment to reporters during a stopover at Beijing's  international airport.
Kyodo said Chang was believed to be travelling to  Switzerland, where the IOC is based, quoting unnamed sources  as saying the trip may be aimed at meeting the committee to  discuss the North's potential participation in the Games at  Pyeongchang.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un said in a new year speech  that his country wished success ...

North Korea 'likely' to join Winter Games, says IOC official

Top seed Caroline Wozniacki  survived an early scare to join Julia Goerges in the WTA  Auckland Classic final after an exhausting Saturday involving  the quarter and semi-finals.
While second-seed Goerges progressed comfortably, winning  both her matches in straight sets, Wozniacki found heself a  set down in her quarter-final against 19-year-old American  Sofia Kenin.
But she regrouped to beat Kenin 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 then  overcame another patchy start to beat Sachia Vickery 6-4, 6-4  in the semis.
"I'm exhausted," the 27-year-old Wozniacki said after  spending a total of nearly five hours on court.
"It's a tough start to the season coming out here and  playing three sets this morning and then two tough sets now.  I'm not 17 any more, I can feel that for sure."
The incessant rain that washed out play on the previous  two days abated to occasional showers that left enough time to  allow the two rounds to be completed.
The third seed, Barbora Strycova from the Czech Republic,  and the ...

Wozniacki survives scare to face Goerges in Auckland final

Jose Mourinho intensified his war  of words with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte in bizarre fashion  after his team's FA Cup victory over Derby yesterday,  apparently referencing a match-fixing scandal in Italy.
The Manchester United manager was responding to comments  made by Conte earlier in the day in which he appeared to make  disparaging statements about Mourinho.
The Italian was even interpreted as suggesting that the  United manager may be suffering from "dementia" after Mourinho  had made a reference, 24 hours earlier, to his own behaviour  and the fact that he no longer acts "like a clown".
Initially, Mourinho appeared to be backing Conte  following the furore caused by his words on Thursday -- only  then to make the reference to match-fixing.
"I was asked about my passion and, you know, I was  speaking about myself and then the question to the Chelsea  manager was that I said he behaved like a clown," said  Mourinho.
"Probably the journalist wanted to say that but didn't  have 

Mourinho hits back at Conte, raises match-fixing

- Scoreboard at the close on day  three in the fifth Ashes Test between Australia and England in  here today:
England first innings 346
Australia first innings (overnight 193-2)
C. Bancroft
b Broad
0
D. Warner
c Bairstow b Anderson  56
U. Khawaja
st Bairstow b Crane
171
S. Smith
c and b Ali
83
S. Marsh
not out
98
M. Marsh
not out
63
Extras (b2, lb3, w1, nb2)
8
Total (4 wickets; 157 overs)
479
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-86, 3-274, 4-375
Bowling: Anderson 30-11-52-1, Broad 23-2-70-1, Ali 37-9-  125-1, Curran 20-2-71-0 (1w), Crane 39-3-135-1 (2nb), Root 8-  3-21-0.

Sydney, Jan 6 (AFP) - Scoreboard at the close on day

A 20-member Goa squad led by  Sporting Clube de Goa striker Vitorino Fernandes today left  for Ahmedabad to participate in the West Zone qualifying round  of the Santosh Trophy 2017-18.
Goa, who are placed along with Rajasthan and Gujarat,  will play their first match against Rajasthan on January 10.
They will lock horns with Gujarat on January 12.
Goa Football Association president Elvis Gomes said  the team to be captained by Vitorino Fernandes was announced  last evening.
The other members of the squad are Mathew Gonsalves,  Ozen Silva, Melroy Fernandes, Agnelo Gomes, Nickson Catanha,  Shallum Pires, Peter Carvalho, Jessel Carneiro, Mackroy  Peixoto, Kingslee Fernandes, Nestor Dias, Kapil Hoble, Beevan  D'Mello, Velito D'Cruz, Joaquim Carvalho, Clinton Niasso,  Marcus Mascarrenhas, Clive Miranda and Joaquim Abranches.
"This is one of the most formidable squads in recent  times. We have also appointed Armando Coalco as the coach and  Mateus Costa as the assistant coach," Gomes said.

Vitorino Fernandes to captain Goa in Santosh Trophy

North Korea's representative to the  International Olympic Committee (IOC) said today that the  reclusive nation was "likely to participate" in next month's  Winter Olympics in South Korea, Kyodo news agency reported.
The Japanese news agency said Pyongyang's IOC  representative Chang Ung made the brief comment to reporters  during a stopover at Beijing's international airport.
Kyodo said Chang was believed to be travelling to  Switzerland, where the IOC is based.
It quoted unnamed sources saying the trip may be aimed at  meeting with the IOC to discuss the North's potential  participation in the Games at Pyeongchang.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un said in a new year speech  that his country wished success for the Olympics, to be held  from February 9-25, and would consider sending a delegation.
Seoul and organisers are keen for the North to take part  to help ease worsening tensions on the Korean peninsula  stemming from Kim's confrontation with the world over his  country's nuclear 

N Korea 'likely' to join Winter Games, says IOC official

Scoreboard after today's first  one-day cricket international between New Zealand and Pakistan  at the Basin Reserve:
Martin Guptill c Shoaib b Fakhar 48
Colin Munro c Sarfraz b Hasan 58
Kane Williamson c Hasan b Rumman 115
Ross Taylor b Hasan 12
Tom Latham c Babar b Faheem 3
Henry Nicholls c Sarfraz b Hasan 50
Mitchell Santner c Rumman b Amir 7
Tim Southee not out 12
Todd Astles not out 0
Extras: (lb-3, w-7) 10
TOTAL: (for seven wickets in 50 overs) 315
Fall of wickets: 1-83, 2-156, 3-192, 4-198, 5-288, 6-297,  7-311
Bowling: Mohammad Amir 9-2-57-1, Rumman Raees 10-0-68-1,  Hasan Ali 10-0-61-3, Shadam Khan 9-0-49-0, Faheem Ashraf 9-0-  58-1, Fakhar Zaman 3-0-19-1
Azhar Ali lbw b Southee 6
Fakhar Zaman not out 82
Babar Azam lbw b Southee 0
Mohammad Hafeez c Boult b Southee 1
Shoaib Malik c Latham b Southee 13
Sarfraz Ahmed lbw b Astle 8
Shadab Khan c Latham b Boult 28
Faheem Ashraf not out 17
Extras" (lb-1, w-10) 11
TOTAL: (for six wickets in 30.1 overs) 166
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-7, 

Wellington, Jan 6 (AP) Scoreboard after today's first

New Zealand ended Pakistan's run  of nine consecutive wins in one-day internationals when they  beat the Champions Trophy holders by 61 runs under the  Duckworth-Lewis system today to open the five-match series.
Captain Kane Williamson made 115 to lead New Zealand to  315-7 as they batted first after losing the toss. Pakistan  were 166-6 after 30.1 overs when rain brought the match to an  early end.
Opener Fakhar Zaman was 82 not out and Faheem Ashraf 17  was not out but Pakistan were well short of the 227 runs it  needed to win the match under the Duckworth-Lewis system when  rain finally set in.
New Zealand swing bowler Tim Southee captured two wickets  in the first over of the Pakistan innings to place the  tourists under immediate pressure in reply.
Southee trapped both Azhar Ali (6) and Babar Azam (0) lbw  within his opening over, then took a catch from Trent Boult's  bowling to dismiss Mohammad Hafeez (1) to leave Pakistan's  innings in disarray at 13-3.
Fakhar batted superbly ..

New Zealand beat Pakistan by 61 runs in 1st ODI

Hockey India today named a 33-  member core probables for a junior men's national camp, to be  held in Bengaluru from January 7 to March 15.
The players will train under coach Jude Felix.
The camp includes Mandeep Mor, Pratap Lakra, Pankaj  Rajak, Harmanjit Singh, Vishal Singh, Raushan Kumar, Dilpreet  Singh, Maninder Singh, Sanjay, Senthamizh Shankar, Abhishek,  Sukhjeet Singh, Rabichandra Moirangthem and Shilanand Lakra  who were part of the 18-member Indian junior men's team that  won the bronze medal at the recently-held Sultan of Johor Cup  in Malaysia.
The group will be looking at the overall development  during the camp and will also get an opportunity to closely  watch their senior compatriots go about their preparations for  an all-important year that features the Gold Coast  Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and men's World Cup in  Bhubaneswar.
"It is a long camp and we will be looking at different  ways to bring in overall development. While our primary focus  will be to ...

Hockey India names 33 players for junior men's national camp

Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh batted  watchfully against some tight England bowling to guide  Australia to 365-3 at tea, establishing a first-innings lead  of 19 runs on day three of the fifth Ashes Test.
After earlier reaching his first test century in more  than a year, Khawaja continued his revival to be 166 not out  at the interval.
Shaun Marsh unbeaten on 54, sharing a 91-run fourth-  wicket partnership as England bowled with good discipline  after lunch to restrict Australia's scoring opportunities.
Khawaja raised his 150 off 333 balls, with 16 fours and a  six, with consecutive boundaries off Moeen Ali. His milestone  drew warm appreciation from a capacity Sydney Cricket Ground  cloaked in pink to support the McGrath Foundation breast  cancer charity fundraiser, which is in its 10th year.
It was the 31-year-old Khawaja's second time past 150 in  his 29 test matches and he needs 10 more runs to pass his  highest Test score of 175.
Australia took the lead 15 minutes before tea ...

Australia 365-3 at tea on day 3; lead England by 19 runs

Sumo's top-ranked referee sexually  harassed a teenage referee last month, Japanese media reported  today, in a fresh blow to the ancient sport after a former  champion was charged over a brutal assault on a rival.
While drunk on the night of December 16, Shikimori  Inosuke, 58, molested his male junior by kissing him and  touching his chest at a hotel in Okinawa, where sumo wrestlers  were making a winter tour, public broadcaster NHK and Kyodo  News said.
The top referee, whose real name is Itsuo Nouchi,  apologised to his junior for the harassment, NHK and Kyodo  said, quoting Japan Sumo Association officials.
"I don't remember anything as I was heavily drunk,"  Shikimori said, according to Jiji Press. "I don't know why I  did such an act."
The junior referee has no plans to file a police report,  but the association is expected to take disciplinary action,  local media said.
"It's embarrassing as he is in a position to supervise  others as the top referee," association chairman ...

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