Indian tennis veteran Leander Paes along with his French partner Jeremy Chardy prevailed over Marcel Granollers and Sam Groth in a hard-fought three setter to enter the semifinals of the Delray Beach Open here.
     After conceding an early lead, the Indo-French pair staged a strong comeback to register a 6-3 4-6 10-6 victory over their Spanish-Australian rivals last night at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.
     Paes and Chardy will now take on the top seeded US pair of Bob and Mike Bryan in the last four stage.

Paes-Chardy in semis of Delray Beach Open

PTI Automatic

Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan today supported the Union Government's move to hoist national flag on the campuses of all 46 Central Universities in order to instill nationalism and pride in students.
     "My take is simple. It (flag) should be unfurled at the Universities. It (flag) is the pride of the nation. The more the merrier I would say. Though you have touched upon a sensitive topic, one should never say anything ill about the country you live in," said the Asia Cup-bound opening batsman at a promotional event here today.
     Dhawan comments came after he was asked about the sensitive topic in the wake of arrest of JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar on sedition charges, leading to a massive controversy.
     "I was watching kabaddi last night and I subconsciously stood up while the national anthem was played. I play for the flag, playing for the country is the biggest honour for me. As citizens, we should take responsibility of our actions," he added.
     All 46 ...

Dhawan supports hoisting national flag at universities

In a massive fillip to the still nascent professional boxing scene in India, the country will host its maiden WBA-sanctioned fight card here tomorrow under the aegis of the Indian Boxing Council.
     The six bouts to be held at the Sri Fort Sports Complex, will be all-Indian affairs featuring national-level boxers with officials from the World Boxing Association (WBA) supervising the fights which will be conducted by the Indian Boxing Council (IBC).
     WBA is one of the four international bodies which sanction title bouts in professional boxing.
     The four-round contests will feature Siddharth Varma (super welterweight), Sukhwinder (cruiserweight), Manoj Grewal (heavyweight) and Sumit Rangi (heavyweight) who have had national careers over the last 10 years in addition.
     "India is going to become a great country in the professional circuit. We are mighty impressed with how the IBC is moving forward in promoting professional boxing," WBA's Regional development Adviser Stanley .

WBA sanctions maiden pro fight night in India

India's Anirban Lahiri was one-over through 16 holes and will need to come back to complete remaining two holes in the first round of the Northern Trust Open golf tournament at the Riviera Golf and Country Club here.
     Lahiri, who was among the late starters, had two birdies against three bogeys when darkness led to suspension of play with 14 players yet to complete their first round.
     It was a nice weather as early showers gave way to partly cloudy conditions in the morning before sunshine and mid-60 temperatures in the afternoon.
     Lahiri was provisionally tied 77th with Colombian Camilla Villegas (63) leading by three shots. Chez Reavie, Bubba Watson and Luke List were tied second with 66 each.
     It was not the best of days for Lahiri, who found only six of the 16 fairways and six of the 16 greens in regulation.
     Lahiri starting from 10th birdied the 11th, but gave back shots on 12th and 15th. Then on par-3 fourth, his tee shot landed just two feet away for a nice .

Lahiri is one-over, Spieth shoots one of his worst rounds ever

It was job first and retirement talk second for Brendon McCullum today on the eve of the final Test against Australia starting tomorrow, with his focus firmly on a series-saving win and not his international swansong.
     The clash in Christchurch will mark the charismatic New Zealand captain's 101st and final Test on his home ground at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
     New Zealand are playing "big brother" Australia, are one Test down in a two-Test series, and the swashbuckling McCullum needs just one more six to move to 101 and topple Australian Adam Gilchrist with the most Test sixes.
	His farewell has drawn a sell-out crowd, with day three the fifth anniversary of the devastating earthquakes which claimed 185 lives in Christchurch.
	Despite the emotional occasion, McCullum said it was "pretty easy" to shut out the distractions.
	"We have got a job to do. We are 1-0 down in the series. We have got one Test to go and we have to find a way to square the series," he said.
	"At the ...

Job comes first as McCullum prepares to bow out

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is holding negotiations with legendary West Indian batsman Sir Vivian Richards to appoint him as mentor of the national team for the forthcoming Asia Cup and ICC World T20 in Bangladesh and India.
     A highly placed source in the Board confirmed to PTI that talks were being held with Richards as the PCB was keen to have him on board as mentor for the two premier T20 events.
     "Yes the board is very impressed with the way Richards has worked as mentor with the Quetta Gladiators team in the Pakistan Super League and also want him to mentor the Pakistan squad in the Asia Cup and World T20," the source said.
     He said one obstacle in the appointment of Richards as mentor was that he had some media commitments in the ICC World T20.
     "They are trying to find a solution because the Board is keen Richards should mentor the Pakistan team but he has not agreed to anything as yet," the source said.
     Richards himself this week expressed interest in 

Pakistan keen to appoint Richards as mentor of cricket team

India would take on Malaysia in men's category and Korea in women's category in the quarter finals of the ongoing Badminton Asia Team Championships at the Gachibowli indoor stadium here tomorrow.
	The line-up of matches for tomorrow was decided in the draw conducted tonight after the conclusion of day's matches.
	Men: Korea vs China, Japan vs Chinese Taipei (both to begin at 4.30 PM); India vs Malaysia; Hong Kong China vs Indonesia (both at 11.30 AM)
	Women: China vs Indonesia; Korea vs India (both at 4.30 PM);Malyasia vs Thailand, Chinese Taipei vs Japan (both at 11.30 AM).

India to take on Malaysia in Badminton Asia Team Championships

Knight of Ke, ridden by Zulquar Nain, won the Kanyakumari Plate, the chief event of the races here today.
   The winner, owned by S Prema, V Sathish Kumar and Wayne Beck, is trained by Fahad Khan.
   Trainers R Foley and Fahad Khan saddled two winners each while jockeys Zulquar Nai, N Rupa and C Umesh rode two winners each.
   Only two favourites obliged in a card of eight events on a day when the second race "The Kendal Farms Plate" was declared null and void following some objections.

Knight of Ke triumphs

The Indian men today beat China for the first time in a team event before the women lost to Japan in the Badminton Asia Team Championship here today.
     The Indian men defeated a depleted China 3-2 in the five-match tie comprising three singles and two doubles. The home team won all three singles but went down in doubles.
     Both Indian men and women have already qualified to the quarterfinals.
     In the first men's singles match, captain Kidambi Srikanth, currently the top ranked player for India at 9, gave a good start to his team with a superb 21-11, 21-17 win against China's Houwei Tian.
      It was a keen contest between the two as Tian, ranked eighth, put up a competitive show. Srikanth, however, prevailed over his rival.
     In the second singles between India's Ajay Jayaram and China's Zhengming Wang, the Indian came out on top winning 22-20, 15-21, 21-18.
      Though Wang (world no.11) was well ahead of Jayaram in terms of ranking, the 25th-ranked Indian came up with 

India men stun China, women blanked by Japan

Dabang Delhi were back with a bang in Season 3 of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi with a 35-21 win over Bengaluru Bulls 35-21 here today.
     Delhi's five-star raider Kashiling Adake led the onslaught with the upcoming Selvamani K who covered himself with glory with a super-raid early in the match.
     Delhi with the first win in the very first match of the second leg has seven points whereas Bengaluru Bulls remain on 13 points in nine matches.
       So dominating were the winners that they inflicted the first of the two all-outs in the 17th minute to go up 16-7 at the break. The win was achieved as a result of good team work. This came despite their consistent raider Surjeet Narwal failing to score. Even Kashiling was also unable to score till the 16th minute till he touched out Ashish Kumar. But all that was compensated by their defence.
      Captain Ravinder Pahal, who was his usual self today, managed to affect two tackles to boost his confidence and of his mate, the young Sandeep 

Dabang Delhi drub Bengaluru Bulls in Pro Kabaddi

Pakistan's banned leg spinner Danish Kaneria has slammed the Pakistani and English cricket authorities after it was announced today that fast bowler Mervyn Westfield has been allowed to play lower-level cricket with one year of his spot-fixing ban remaining.
     "If anything, the permission by the England and Wales Cricket Board to allow special treatment to Westfield, confirms their bias and discrimination towards me throughout this case," Kaneria told PTI in Karachi.
      The ECB anti-corruption tribunal had banned Kaneria for life in 2012 and Westfield was jailed the same year and banned from professional cricket for five years and club cricket for three years on spot fixing charges.
      Both were banned after they played together for Essex in the English county championship.
     Westfield claimed in his testimony that he accepted a 6000 pounds to under-perform in a 40-over pro match between Essex and Durham in September 2009.
      The paceman claimed Kaneria had groomed him .

Kaneria lashes out PCB, ECB after Westfield is cleared to play

The city of Kolkata will turn into the headquarters of FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 as well as the main broadcasting centre to cater stories of the entire tournament to 209 countries, FIFA Head of Events Jaime Yarza said here today.
	After meeting the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat Nabanna, Yarza told reporters that they were happy with the venues and other infrastructure in the city to conduct the tournament successfully.
	Expressing satisfaction over the work done at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan, Yarza said that the venue would turn into a top venue of the U-17 World Cup.
	"The Yuva Bharati Krirangan will host the final match of the tournament. We are also trying to arrange the opening match of the tournament at the same venue," Yarza said.
	A five-member FIFA delegation led by Yarza and member of local delegation and Tournament Director Javier Ceppi, accompanied by the West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas, called on the chief minister Mamata Banerjee and ...

Kolkata to turn into FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 HQ: Jaime Yarza

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has ruled out the possibility of appointing separate coaches for Test and limited overs cricket.
     The PCB chief also assured national team's present coach Waqar Younis that he would continue as coach for all three formats of the game.
     "There have been suggestions to have separate coaches for Test and limited overs cricket but this is not feasible in Pakistan cricket and we just need to fully support Waqar. We will have one coach for all formats," Shaharyar said.
     The decision came after Shaharyar held a meeting with the national team coach Waqar.
     "Waqar made some valid points and he is concerned about improving the team's performance. The PCB will back him completely," he said.
     Waqar came under fire after Pakistan team's poor performance in recent months.
     Pakistan has slipped badly in ODI and T20 rankings in the last 12 months. Many former players and critics have also suggested that PCB should seriously .

PCB chief rules out separate coaches for limted overs and Test

Shyam Habbu trained Romal Flame,
confidently  guided by apprentice Munna Alam won the Indian Air Force Cup the main event ot the races here today .
     The winner is owned by Vijay B Shirke, Jay V Shirke and K N Dhunjibhoy and Z K Dhunjibhoy representing  five starts Shipping co. Pvt. Ltd.
     Trainer Javed Khan scored a treble. Jockey A Sandesh booted home a good double.
     Punters  had a bad day.  Single favourite won in a card of eight events. The juckpoot Pool (70 per cent) was carried over.

 Shyam Habbu trained Romal Flame,

Aditya Verma, the secretary of the Cricket Assocition of Bihar (CAB), has lodged a complaint with the   Board's Ombudsman A P Shah that the BCCI's joint secretary, Amitabh Choudhary, has conflict of interest and wanted it to be looked into.
     Ombudsman Shah, on his part, has given BCCI time till February 20 to file its reply to the CAB secretary's complaint, said Verma at a media conference here today after distributing the copy of his complaint to Shah and the latter's communication granting time to the Board to respond.
     Verma, in his communication to Shah, has said that the question of recognition of the CAB and rival body Bihar Cricket Association was pending before the Supreme Court.
     "It is also brought to your kind attention that the dispute over the recognition of the Cricket Association of Bihar is related to the recognition accorded to the Jharkhand Cricket Association, whose president, Amitabh Choudhary, is currently the Joint Secretary of the Board," Verma has ..

BCCI jt secy Choudhary has conflict of interest, says Verma

The annual Goa Triathlon would be held at Bambolim Beach near here on February 21, the event organizer Enduro Sports Goa said today.
     Enduro Sports Goa comprises Elias Patel, a long distance swimmer and well-known Radio Jockey, and Joseph Rodrigues, president of the Traditional Karate Association of Goa and vice president of the Goa Cycling Association, the association said.
     Enduro Sports Goa strongly believes in promoting community-based sporting events in Goa, creating an awareness for health and fitness in society, as well as lending a hand to the underprivileged, it said.
     Triathlon is a specialiSed Olympic sport involving a combination of swimming, cycling and running.
     This year's edition of the Goa Triathlon would see over 350 participants compete for the coveted title, it said.
     Participants come from different parts of India like Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Delhi and many other cities and towns, it said.
     International participants would be ...

Goa Triathlon to be held at Bambolim Beach on February 21

Pakistan's national T20 captain, Shahid Afridi has not ruled out making some changes in the national squad for the World T20, which begins India in next month.
     Although the national selectors have announced a 15-member squad for the Asia Cup and the World T20 but Afridi said the selectors and team management will closely watch performances in the Asia Cup to be held in Bangladesh from February 24.
     "I hope that we don't need to make changes in the squad and it plays in both events but if any player (s) fails to click in the Asia Cup than there can be changes made in the side for the World Cup," Afridi said.
      The International Cricket Council has set March 8 as a deadline for those teams who have qualified for the super round to make last minute changes in their selected squads.
     "If they are players who impress everyone in the Pakistan Super League they can be considered for the World T20."
        Afridi also minced no words in stating that he was disappointed with .

W T20 squad announced but Afridi open to changes post Asia Cup

India's Gaganjeet Bhullar and Rahil Gangjee got off to a good start on the first day of the inaugural USD 3 million Maybank Championship here today.
     Bhullar, coming back from an injury which stalled his progress for more than a year, shot four-under 67, while Gangjee carded 68.
     Bhullar was tied 16th and Gangjee was 20th.
     Australian Nathan Holman fired a flawless seven-under-par 64 to seize the first round lead with Filipino ace Angelo Que leading the chasing pack.
     However, the other Indians left themselves some work to do in the second round, as the next SSP Chawrasia and Rashid Khan shot 73 each, while Chiragh Kumar was further down with 74. Himmat Rai shot 75, while Jeev Milkha Singh and Arjun Atwal scored 76 each and Shiv Kapur struggled to 81.
     Bhullar, who found every fairway on the front nine of the course and every green on the same stretch, had six birdies and two bogeys. Bhullar's first bogey came on 11th and he closed with a disappointing bogey on ...

Bhullar, Gangjee off to a fine start in Malaysia

Putting up a much better show than her second-round win, Ankita Raina breezed into the women's singles semifinals of the Delhi Open with a clinical straight sets victory over Anna Morgina, here today.
     Coming out with a strategy to pin the Russian to the baseline, Ankita raced to a 6-2 6-0 win in just 58 minutes in the quarterfinals of the USD 25000 ITF event.
     The Russian proved no match to India's number one singles player, thanks to her endless errors. Ankita on the other side stroked the ball beautifully and showed much better control over her shots.
     The Russian not only struggled with shot making but xq3made matter worse with her bad temperament.
      It has been a good start to the season for the 23-year-old, who is the only Indian left in the draw.
     She had reached the singles quarterfinals in Aurangabad and had a good Fed Cup, where she recorded the biggest win of her career by beating top-60 player Nao Hibino.
     Ankita next faces Uzbekistan's Sabina ...

Clinical Ankita reaches singles semifinals of Delhi Open

Mahesh Bhupathi and Yuki Bhambri, playing for the first time together as a team, saw off initial resistance from Yannick Mertens and Stephane Robert to reach the men's doubles semifinals of the Delhi Open, here today.
     The Indians beat the Belgian-French combination 7-5 6-1 in the quarterfinals of the USD 50,000 hard court tournament at the DLTA complex.
     In the singles, Prajnesh Gunenswaran walked into the quarterfinals after getting a walkover from Chinese seventh seed Yan Bai, who pulled out due to an upset stomach. He will next face second seed 
Kimmer Coppejans, who won his second
round against Maxime Janvier 6-2 6-4.
     Yuki, who is trying to get match sharpness after recovering from an elbow injury, played well from the baseline, served better and struck the ball hard and clean.
     Bhupathi, who is also making a comeback from a knee injury, served well and showed glimpses of his glorious past with some of his shots.
     Bhupathi was broken in the third game when he 

Bhupathi-Yuki team storms into Delhi Open semis

Fit-again captain Lasith Malinga
returned to lead the side, while vice-captain Angelo Mathews also made his way back from injury in Sri lanka's 15-member squad for next month's World Twenty20 in India.
     Malinga had missed the recent tour to India along with Mathews and seamer Nuwan Kulasekara, who was also nursing a niggle.
     The team features veteran batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath have also made the cut for the big-ticket event starting March 8.
     Surprise omission is fast bowler Kasun Rajitha who stunned India at Pune with a three wicket burst and helped Sri Lanka win the first T20.
     Sri Lanka lost their number one T20 ranking in January in New Zealand and then lost 2-1 to India in the recent series.
     The squad:
     Lasith Malinga (Captain), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, TM Dilshan, Niroshan Dickwella, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milinda Siriwardana, Dasun Shanaka, Chamara Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dushmantha Chameera, Thisara ...

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