Asian junior champion N Srinath suffered a shock defeat at the hands of unheralded Murad Nuri of Azerbaijan in the first round of the World Junior Chess Championship that got underway here.
     Srinath had to pay the price after falling into a passive position and he could not solve his problems effectively on an otherwise good day for the Indians in the first round of the premier event for the under-20 aged players in the world.
     Grand Master and highest rated Indian in the fray, Vidit Gujarathi started his campaign with a regulation victory over Roberto Castro Carneiro Vitor of Brazil.
     Another Indian Grand Master S P Sethuraman also got off to a good start at the expense of Melih Yurtseven of Turkey while GM Sahaj Grover got a full point as his opponent withdrew from the event at the last minute.
     But, Grand Master-in-waiting Debashish Das had to sweat hard before he could knock down Pedro Neves of Portugal while S L Narayanan and Sameer Kathmale cruised past Gun Sumer 

Srinath shocked by Nuri in World Junior Chess

PTI Automatic

Jim Furyk fired the sixth 59 in US PGA Tour history, reaching golf's magic number in the second round of the BMW Championship.
     Furyk capped his round at the par-71 Conway Farms Golf Club with a three-foot birdie at the ninth hole, his last of the day.
     He had 11 birdies, one eagle and one bogey and joined Brandt Snedeker atop the leaderboard yesterday.
     "Pretty exciting day," said Furyk, 43.
     American Furyk got to six-under through his first six holes with four birdies and an eagle at the par-four 15th, where he holed a 115-yard wedge.
     He birdied 17 and 18 to complete a back-nine 28. Furyk, a former US Open champion and eight-time Ryder Cup player, said he tried to forget about his first nine holes as he set off on his inward run, knowing he needed four birdies to break 60.
     He birdied three in a row starting at the second before his only miscue of the day, a bogey at the par-four fifth.
     "It was a little hectic down the stretch," Furyk said. "I had the ..

Furyk fires 59 at BMW Championship

Ace Indian golfer Shiv Kapur has described the ongoing impasse between International Olympic Committee and Indian Olympic Association as the "biggest shame" and said he feels "extremely sad" at the way the IOA was handling the issue of its suspension by the world body.
     "I feel extremely sad. I have signed the petition which was started by Abhinav Bindra and I have also sent it to 1000 people. I think sports should not suffer because of politics. It is a biggest shame," Kapur told reporters here.
     "Golf is becoming an Olympic sport in 2016. It is a big step. It has been my dream to win an Olympic gold as I had also won Asian Games gold in 2002. It is a big opportunity," he added.
     The 31-year-old Kapur is one of the finest golfers in the country and he showed that once again at the British Open when he made his first ever cut at a major tournament in July.
     "It was a great learning experience. I was lucky I could play my best golf with the world watching. It was a ...

IOA's handling of suspension issue biggest shame: Kapur

Hailing the BCCI disciplinary committee's decision to punish corrupt players on IPL spot-fixing scandal, the Indian Cricket Board interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya today said it's a victory of the sport.
     "From the very first day (after the IPL scandal broke out), I had voiced concerns for clean-up of cricket and I always maintained that... This is a part of that exercise. Undoubtedly, it's a victory of cricket," Dalmiya told reporters here.
     "I am sure it will act as a deterrent and others will learn a lesson as well."
     Acting on ACU chief Ravi Sawani's report, the BCCI disciplinary committee today slapped life bans on former India fast bowler S Sreesanth and spinner Ankeet Chavan.
	The BCCI also handed out Amit Singh, a former Rajasthan Royals player, a five-year ban, while another Royals cricketer Siddharth Trivedi got a one-year suspension in the scandal which rocked the Twenty20 league this year.
	There was no decision on another accused Ajit Chandila, who recently got ..

It's a victory for cricket: Dalmiya

Despite the BCCI imposing him a life ban on spot-fixing charges in the IPL, Indian Test pacer S Sreesanth today said he still hopes to play for the country.
     Asked about the life ban handed on him by the BCCI, Sreesanth said he was confident of making a comeback.
    "I will make a comeback and I have started training for that," he told a Malayalam television channel.
     Earlier in the day, the BCCI cracked the whip on corrupt players and slapped life bans on Sreesanth and spinner Ankeet Chavan for their involvement in the IPL spot-fixing scam while handing out lesser punishments to some others in the scandal which rocked the Twenty20 league this year.
     Amit Singh, a former Rajasthan Royals player, was handed a five-year ban while another RR cricketer Siddharth Trivedi got away with a lighter one-year suspension after the BCCI disciplinary committee met in New Delhi to discuss anti-corruption chief Ravi Sawani's report on the scam.
     After appearing before the committee ..

I will make a comeback: Sreesanth

Joint winners last year, Indian Oil Corporation and Air India began their campaign in the 88th All India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament on a solid note as they recorded big wins in different group matches here today.
     The first match of the second day between Air India and local outfit Indian Bank was interrupted by rain and was stopped for about 20 minutes in the first half.
     Air India won the match 10-2 with goals from Shivendra Singh (8th, 15th, 69th minutes), Somanna Pradhan (34th, 56th), Arjun Halappa (20th), V S Vinay (29th), Armaan Qureshi (32nd), Joga Singh (65th) and Sameer Dad (68th).  V Raja (18th and 43rd) scored both the goals for Indian Bank.
     In the second match, IOC beat Comptroller and Auditor General Office 8-1. Internationals V Raghunath (24th, 26th, 67th) and Prabhjot Singh (34th, 44th, 49th) scored three goals each and Deepak Tagore (29th) and Didar Singh (37th) netted once, while S S Bundelha scored the consolation goal for the Auditors.
    

Air India, IOC begin on winning note in Murugappa Hockey

The DDCA today decided to sack Vijay Dahiya from the post of chief coach of the senior state side and promoted his understudy former India medium pacer Sanjeev Sharma in that position.
     The All Powerful Sports Committee of the DDCA today met at the Feroze Shah Kotla and decided unanimously to sack Dahiya and appoint Sharma who has worked under Manoj Prabhakar and then Dahiya as an assistant coach.
     Former glovesman Rajiv Vinayak will be the assistant coach.
     Asked about the reason to remove Dahiya, a DDCA sports committee member told PTI,"He (Dahiya) wasn't available for the whole season. He is associated with Kolkata Knight Riders and during the second phase when we prapare for Vijay Hazare Trophy, he will be busy with KKR camps. Now we don't want somebody who can't devote full attention towards Delhi cricket."
     Sharma, who had played 2 Test matches and 23 ODIs for India in late 1980's and early 90's will have his first assignment as chief coach in the NKP Salve ...

Dahiya sacked as Sanjeev Sharma appointed Delhi chief coach

West Indies batting legend Brian Lara will be travelling to India with the Trinidad and Tobago team for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament, commencing on September 17 in Mohali.
     Although not a formal part of the team management, Lara during his visit to India, will be playing a dual role of that of a tourism ambassador and a mentor for the Red Force.
     Keen to help the team during the competition, the former West Indies skipper said, "I am just going to be there, not a part of management but as a former cricketer I am willing to lend a hand in any way I can.
     "I hope I will have a chance to interact with the guys while in India and whatever way I can help. I have always had an open door policy and I look forward to working with the guys, the management, the captain Denesh Ramdin and all the players," he told reporters here.
     As a T&T Sports Ambassador, Lara had played a similar role as unofficial adviser to the team during the recently-concluded Caribbean ...

Lara to travel to India with T&T for CLT20

All India Football Federation Players' Status Committee today asked Mohun Bagan and Churchill Brothers to clear by December 31 the dues of all the players whose salaries the two clubs are yet to pay.
     The Committee made at the AIFF Headquarters here with K P Sunny chairing the meeting.
     "It was unanimously decided in the Meeting that Mohun Bagan and Churchill Brothers have to clear their decks on player salaries on or before December 31, 2013," a release from the AIFF said.
     The Committee also asked AIFF to showcause Mohammedan Sporting Club for failing to provide any evidence supporting their claims of breach of contract by former India player Mehrajuddin Wadoo and for not sending any reply to the e-mail regarding the complaint made by them against the player.
     On the issue of whether Jovel Martins had committed a breach of contract with Sporting Clube-de-Goa by signing up with Pune FC, the Committee decided to seek an explanation from the Pune club within seven ...

AIFF Committee asks Bagan, Churchill to pay player dues be Dec

Chiragh Kumar continued to battle flu and yet challenge for top honours as he added a three-under 69 to move into shared second place at the halfway stage of the USD 500,000 Yeangder Tournament Players Championship (TPC) here today.
     Only two other Indians, defending champion Gaganjeet Bhullar and Rahil Gangjee made the cut and among those missing it was Anirban Lahiri.
     Chiragh, who has been under weather for the past two days and has admittedly avoided practice to conserve energy, played steady and avoided mistakes. Starting on the tenth, he managed four birdied against one sole bogey on the eighth. Chiragh at seven-under 137 is two shots behind leader Thaworn Wiratchant, who roared back into form with a second round card of 67 after shooting 69 on first day.
     Chiragh, who has been struggling with a flu since day one, fuelled his ambitions of winning a first Asian Tour title with a solid 69. The Indian was delighted to rediscover some of his best form after struggling ...

Sick Chiragh moves into tied second spot

Tainted cricketer Ankeet Chavan and young Harmeet Singh were today severely scolded by the senior members of BCCI's disciplinary committee that handed life ban to the 27-year-old spinner while reprimanding the India U-19 World Cup star for IPL spot-fixing scandal.
     The disciplinary committee included DDCA president and leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, president N Srinivasan and senior vice-president Niranjan Shah.
     "What exactly were you thinking when you decided to indulge in such wrongdoings?" one of the senior committee members apparently asked Chavan.
     "Did you ever think about the consequences that will be faced by your parents and family?" was another question asked to Chavan.
     Harmeet, who was let-off with a reprimand was asked as to how he decided to meet strangers even after attending classes on how to avoid questionable people.
     The committee took a soft stand on the Mumbai-based Sardar considering his age and having understood that IPL ..

Committee scold players for irresponsible act

ONCG qualified for the semifinals of the Durand Cup for the first time in their history after inflicting a shock defeat on I-League runners-up Pune FC 2-1, here today.
     Dashing Nigerian striker Henry Ezeh scored twice, a penalty kick conversion in the 59th minute and a brilliant solo goal a minute later. A depleted Pune FC reduced the margin in the 62nd minute when substitute striker Diganta Khaddar found the net off a deflection in the quarterfinal league round match.
     ONGC topped Group IV with six points from two matches. Army Red (three points) and Pune FC (0 points) were eliminated.
     ONGC will now meet the winners of Group 2, either Indian Navy or Bhawanipur in the semifinal on September 17 at the Ambedkar Stadium.
    Fancied Kolkata outfit, Bhawanipur, which included former Mohun Bagan legend Jose Ramirez Baretto in their line-up were held to a goalless draw by tenacious Indian Navy in another Group 2 match.
     Indian Navy now top this group with four points from ..

ONGC beat Pune FC 2-1, qualify for semis of Durand Cup

Zimbabwe fast bowler Tendai Chatara struck twice as Pakistan set off in pursuit of a target of 264 runs on the fourth day of the second Test at Harare Sports Club today.
     Pakistan were 55 for two at tea, needing another 209 runs to clinch a 2-0 series win, after bowling out Zimbabwe for 199 in their second innings.
     Opening batsmen Khurram Manzoor and Mohammad Hafeez went for their shots at the start of the final innings, in contrast to the cautious approach taken by Pakistan in the first innings when they laboured to 230 at 2.19 runs an over on a tricky pitch.
     Both batsmen hit some handsome boundaries before Hafeez, on 16, tried to work Chatara to leg and chipped a simple catch to mid-on.
     Chatara made another breakthrough when Azhar Ali played across the line and was bowled without scoring.
     Earlier, left-arm opening bowler Rahat Ali took five for 52 as Zimbabwe were bowled out after adding only 78 runs to their overnight total of 121 for four.
     Rahat made ..

Chatara strikes twice in Pakistan chase

The BCCI could explore the possibility of hosting an ODI tri-series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka later this year and the modalities are likely to be discussed during the Asian Cricket Council meeting here tomorrow.
     The officials from the three boards will be present at the meeting and there is a strong chance that the BCCI might propose to have a tri-series sometime in December in India.
     PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed, SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga and CEO of ACC Syed Ashraful Haq have arrived in the southern capital of Tamil Nadu for the meeting.
     The ACC is headed by BCCI's president-in-exile N Srinivasan.
     The ACC meet assumes significance as it has been scheduled just two days before the proposed meeting between Cricket South Africa chief Haroon Lorgat and BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel in Dubai on the sidelines of an ICC board meeting to resolve the impasse over India's tour of South Africa.
     The BCCI is presently in disagreement with Cricket .

BCCI mulls tri-series involving Pak, Lanka

BCCI's president-in-exile N Srinivasan today chaired the disciplinary committee meeting that imposed life bans on tainted cricketers S Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan for their role in the spot-fixing scandal during IPL-VI.
     While there were questions raised by Cricket Association of Bihar secretary Aditya Verma, who was present at the five-star hotel where the meeting was held, a senior BCCI official explained as to how no one can raise a question about the Tamil Nadu strongman attending the meeting.
     "Mr Srinivasan has recused himself from the day-to-day activities of the Board. But a meeting of the disciplinary committee which will announce the verdict of players accused of spot-fixing is not something that happens everyday. So Mr Srinivasan can't be accused of contempt of court for presiding the meeting," a senior BCCI official told PTI.
     "Fact is that Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya doesn't have any authority whatsoever to sign any papers is another reason. A disciplinary committee ..

Srinivasan chairs BCCI disciplinary meet

Sanam Singh and Vijayant Mailk have raised hopes of an all-Indian final at the USD 15,000 ITF men's singles Futures event in Toronto, Canada after winning their respective quarter-finals.
     Second seed Sanam beat Canadian Braydenx Schnur 7-5 6-1 while fourth seed Vijayant got the better of eighth seed South African Fritz Wolmarans 7-6(3) 6-2.
     Malik has a tough task at hand he faces top seed Peter Polansky in his semifinal while Sanam will fight it out with fifth seed American Michael Shabaz.
     However the pair was out of the doubles event after conceding their semifinal when they were trailing 0-2 in the opening set.
     In the Sharm-al-Sheikh event Egypt, Arjun Kadhe lost 5-7 4-6 to Colombian wild card and eight seed C Rodrigues in the second round, leaving N Sriram Balaji as the only Indian in the draw.
     Balaji faces local qualifier Mazen Osama in the quarter-finals.
     But in doubles Kadhe had some success as he reached the semifinals with Spanish partner Pol ...

Sanam, Vijayant reach singles semis of Toronto ITF Futures

Fourth seed Chandril Sood of Uttar Pradesh came from a set down to subdue top seed and last year's runner-up Nitin Kirtane of Maharashtra 4-6 6-1 7-6(2) and set up a title clash against second seed Mohit Mayur of Tamil Nadu in the men's singles final of Rs 3.5 lakh DS Max Top Spin AITA Prize Money tennis championship.
     In a seesaw semifinal, which lasted almost three hours, Chandril overcame his self doubt and quite a few unforced errors to down a gritty Kirtane.
     Chandril was brilliant with his returns but often made unnecessary errors. He, however, gathered his wits and staged a fine recovery to stop his rival, who was almost twice his age and had far more experience.
     Kirtane got off to a great start and broke his opponent in the ninth game to claim the opening set at 6-4. But Chandril was at his best in the second set as he gave no chance to Kirtane, blasting winners on both flanks to outsmart him 6-1.
     In the decider, Chandril got distracted by a couple of adverse 

Chandril sets up title clash with Mohit in AITA Championship

Currently India's highest ranked player in the Official World Golf Rankings at 150, Gaganjeet Bhullar is closing in to earn full European Tour playing rights for next year.
     The European Tour which covers around 45 tournaments with approx 133 million Euros prize money and visits 25 countries is considered the 2nd most lucrative professional tour behind the USPGA Tour.
     In February this year, Bhullar gave himself a flying start towards the European Tour when he bagged a hefty cheque of 200,000 Euros with his 2nd place finish at the Euro 1.8 million Avantha Masters at Jaypee Greens, Greater Noida.
     Bhullar's exploits in Europe have placed him at 102nd position in the Tour rankings known as the Race to Dubai. The top 110 players earn their playing rights automatically for the following year.
     Last season, the 110th player on the European Tour earned 203,365 Euros and the 25-year-old from Kapurthala, who was recently conferred with the Arjuna award, has already passed that 

Bhullar closing in to get European Tour card for 2014

The National Basketball Association (NBA) will kick off the two-day Bangalore leg of its 'NBA Jam 2013' from tomorrow at Kanteerva Stadium.
     "The three-day event features the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament ever staged in India with 500 teams expected to participate. There would be performances from top musical artists and a variety of on and off court activities for fans," NBA India Senior Director Akash Jain told reporters here.
     More than 100 teams and 450 players would compete in Bangalore from various leading colleges across two age divisions, 16-18 and 19-23 years, he said.
     A women's division has been introduced for the first time this year, Jain said.
     The winners in Bangalore will be flown to Mumbai to compete in national finals on September 29, which will see the presence of NBA veterans like Horace Grant and Ron Harper, Jain said.
     The finals will be televised on Sony Six. The national winners will have a chance to play 3-on-3 against the NBA ...

NBA Jam 2013 to kickstart in Bangalore from Sept 14

The Indian team started their campaign at the Asian Inter-Club Championships and Asian Cup with four bronze medals on the opening day at Pyongyang, North Korea today.
     Apurba Chetia (junior men 56kg) and Manalisha Sonowal (junior women 48kg) won two bronze medals apiece -- one each in the two tournaments.
     Around 200 athletes from 15 Asian countries are taking part in the two tournaments.

Indian lifters win 4 medals in North Korea

Cracking the whip on corrupt players, the BCCI today slapped life bans on Indian Test pacer S Sreesanth and spinner Ankeet Chavan for being involved in the IPL spot-fixing scam while handing out lesser punishments to some others in the scandal which rocked the Twenty20 league this year.
     Amit Singh, a former Rajasthan Royals player, was handed a five-year ban while another RR cricketer Siddharth Trivedi got away with a lighter one-year suspension after the BCCI disciplinary committee met here to discuss anti-corruption chief Ravi Sawani's report on the scam.
     "After considering the evidence on record and hearing each of the Players in person, the Disciplinary Committee has passed the following order...Mr Amit Singh is banned for a period of five years from playing any representative Cricket, or in any way being associated with the activities of the BCCI or its affiliates," BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel said in a statement.
     "Mr. Siddarth Trivedi is banned for a period of one 

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