SSP Chowrasia was the lone Indian golfer to make the cut at the ISPS Handa Wales Open after Jeev Milkha Singh and Shiv Kapur fell by the wayside at the halfway mark of the tournament here.
     Chowrasia, a two-time winner on European Tour but winless since 2011, shot one-under 70 and was even-par for two rounds. He was lying 20th at the end of the second round.
     Shiv Kapur (72-77) and Jeev Milkha Singh (76-75) missed the cut, which fell at four-over 146.
     In the third round, Chowrasia found a birdie on the very first hole and moved inside top-15, but had 16 more holes to play.
     Home favourite Liam Bond took full advantage of his late call-up by taking the lead at The Celtic Manor Resort.
     The Welshman was one of the few under par players from round one to shoot better than 71 again on a firm course.
     Bond went one better than the first round's two-under 69 as birdies on fifth, eighth, 11th, 14th and 15th more than made up for bogeys at the seventh and 18th.
     ..

Chowrasia lone Indian to make cut at Wales Open

PTI Automatic

The hockey fraternity today hailed Indian team's qualification for the next year's World Cup but cautioned that the side still need improvement in all areas to be a strong contender at The Hague, Netherlands.
     Olympians Zafar Iqbal, Ajit Pal Singh and Vasudevan Baskaran were all effusive in their praise for the team's inspiring performance in the ongoing Asia Cup, where they will lock horns against South Korea in the final tomorrow but also spelt out key challenges facing the relatively young Indian side.
     "I feel happy for the team as their qualification will rebuild the Indian hockey history. But there are key issues engulfing the team and we need to quickly address them with not much time left for the World Cup. These include play consistent and controlled hockey, improve tactical skills, improve fitness level," Baskaran told PTI.
     "I believe we are as good as the top teams in the world. We are technically and skill wise sound but we also need to work on our defence and 

Hockey team need to address shortcomings before WC: Olympians

The cancellation of the 2014 edition of the Indian Grand Prix does not mean that the future of the Formula One race in the country is uncertain, Sahara Force India Team Principal Vijay Mallya has asserted.
     "I am proud of the race, but I don't believe it is curtains. I know for a fact that the promoters in India have agreed all the commercial terms with Bernie (for 2015) and therefore I see no reason why it should not happen," Mallya said.
     Mallya said India was an important destination and F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone knows it well.
     "I am hoping that we will see the race back in India in 2015 if Bernie has decided that there cannot be a race in 2014, because according to him the calendar cannot accommodate it. But I think Bernie is smart enough to understand the enormous potential that there is in India. I don't think he will take a short-term view," he said.
     In words wrapped with caution, Mallya also questioned the logic of the shunting out of the Indian race from the 

It's not curtains for Indian GP: Mallya

Senior Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar has started batting in the nets and is looking forward to the Champions League Twenty20 after recuperating from a surgery for a hand injury sustained during the Indian Premier League this year.
	"Yes. I had surgery on my hand for the injury I sustained during the IPL match in May. I have already started batting in the nets since last ten days and I am looking forward to the Champions League," said Tendulkar today when asked about news reports that he underwent a surgery in London last month.
	Champions League T20 tournament is scheduled to be held in different Indian cities from September 21 to October 6, with the qualifiers scheduled from September 17.
	The 40-year-old batsman, who has retired from ODIs and T20 internationals, has not played a game since injuring his hand on May 13 when batting and retiring hurt with an unbeaten 38 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He missed the Mumbai Indians' last five games.
	In his absence, Rohit Sharma led ...

Tendulkar resumes training after undergoing hand surgery

Formula One's silly season has become more like European football's transfer window with every passing year.
     Just as the top clubs and top players jostle work for the best deals for their futures, so do the top teams and drivers.
     The only difference is that football has a deadline.
     F1, however, has Monza - the traditional unofficial race meeting at which most of the main 'transfers' are completed or confirmed.
     Down the years, the Italian Grand Prix has been the scene of many major announcements - including Ayrton Senna's move from Lotus to McLaren as Alain Prost's partner, Nigel Mansell's angry confirmation that he was to leave Williams on learning that Prost was on his way and Michael Schumacher's infamous overnight switch from Jordan, after just one race, to join Benetton.
     And that is just a brief example picked from the early 1990's.
     This year is no different.
     The drivers' market, as so often, appears to be in a state of suspended animation as ...

F1's 'transfer' window set to close at Monza

The lows of Indian hockey have far outnumbered the highs in recent times, but captain Sardar Singh today said the "belief" could return if the team wins the ninth Asia Cup here tomorrow.
     Sardar and drag-flicker V R Raghunath were the only members of the present team who were part of the Indian side which failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a massive low given that the country was an eight-time gold-medallist at the event.
     The star midfielder said winning a major tournament was long due for Indian hockey and the Asia Cup triumph would infuse new "life" into the game back home.
     "It's been long time that we didn't taste any good win or won a major tournament. The Asia Cup can bring belief among hockey lovers back on the Indian team," Sardar told PTI in an interview on the sidelines of the eight-nation tournament at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium.
     "The Asia Cup title can motivate youngsters who are leaving the game and taking up other sports. I hope this ...

Asia Cup triumph would help bring back belief: Sardar

The Supreme Court might have refused to grant him relief but a defiant N Srinivasan is expected to attempt a comeback as BCCI President after being forced to step aside, when the Board officials gather for the final Working Committee meeting before next month's AGM, here tomorrow.
     Srinivasan was dealt a major setback when the Supreme Court deferred the hearing on his petition, challenging the Bombay High Court's order which declared the BCCI probe panel to investigate the spot-fixing scandal as "illegal and unconstitutional".
     The hearing will now be conducted on September 11 and notices have been sent to Srinivasan and the BCCI on the matter.
     Given the circumstances, it remains to be seen whether Srinivasan opts to remain in hibernation or chair tomorrow's meeting to seek a third term in the AGM scheduled next month.
     "I've no idea about it. Please don't ask me anything about the meeting, these are tricky and sensitive issues. You'll come to know after the meeting ..

Spotlight on Srinivasan again as BCCI WC meets tomorrow

World number one Serena Williams will have the chance to avenge her ouster from the Australian Open when she faces Sloane Stephens on Sunday in an emotional fourth-round showdown at the US Open.
     Defending champion Williams, whose relationship with Stephens was strained after the prodigy upset the 16-time Grand Slam champion at Melbourne, advanced early Saturday by beating 78th-ranked Kazakh Yaroslava Shvedova 6-3, 6-1.
     "It's going to be tough," Williams said. "Sloane is playing so well. I'm always so happy for her. She's doing great. I'm really proud of Sloane. It's going to be a really good match."
     US 15th seed Stephens eliminated US 23rd seed Jamie Hampton 6-1, 6-3, Friday and now faces the superstar she accused of disrespectful intimidation tactics and mind games for a quarterfinal berth on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts.
     "It'll be epic and something a lot of people will be looking forward to," Stephens said. "I'm excited about it."
     Williams, who at 31 ...

Serena gets chance for revenge against Stephens

It was end of US Open campaign for Somdev Devvarman and Mahesh Bhupathi after they lost their respective hard-fought matches even as Rohan Bopanna had a mixed day, here.
     Somdev, who had qualified for the singles main draw, battled hard for two hours 40 minutes before losing 6-7 (8), 4-6 5-7 to Italian 20th seed Andreas Seppi.
     Bhupathi, partnering comeback girl Martina Hingis in the mixed doubles event, lost 6-7 (5) 6-7 (5) to Yung-Jan Chan and Robert Lindstedt in the first round.
     Bhupathi has already exited from the men's doubles, so it is end of road for him at the last Grand Slam of the season, which is the last for the veteran Indian.
     Bopanna had sweet-sour day as he advanced in the men's doubles but suffered a shock first round exit in the mixed doubles along with third seed German partner Julia Goerges.
     Partnering Edourad Roger-Vasselin in the men's doubles, the sixth seed Indo-French team beat American pair of Bradley Klahn and Sam Querrey 6-2 6-4.
     .

Somdev, Bhupathi out of US Open

Bayern Munich avenged their 2012 Champions League final defeat with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over ten-man Chelsea after UEFA Super Cup final finished 2-2 after extra-time.
     Bayern's Javi Martinez produced a dramatic 121st-minute equaliser to take the game to penalties and when Chelsea replacement Romelu Lukaku missed the 10th spot-kick after the previous successful nine, the Bavarians lifted the cup at the fourth attempt.
     "One second changed everything, I am so happy for the players," said Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, refering to Martinez's equaliser.
     Spain's Fernando Torres' early strike had been cancelled out by Franck Ribery's second-half thunderbolt while Chelsea's Ramires was dismissed in the 85th minute as it finished 1-1 after 90 minutes at Prague's Eden Arena.
     Chelsea Belgian left winger Eden Hazard looked to have hit an extra-time winner for Jose Mourinho's Europa League winners, but Guardiola-coached Bayern bombarded the Blues' goal in the dying stages ..

Bayern see off Chelsea to win Super Cup on penalties

Top US player John Isner blasted New York fans for their support of French showman Gael Monfils at the US Open, admitting it felt like he was playing in Paris and not on home ground.
     Isner, the highest seeded American in the draw, defeated Monfils 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) to reach the third round in a match which finished just before midnight on Thursday on a packed Louis Armstrong Court.
     But the majority of the spectators got behind the Frenchman, who served up his trademark repertoire of leaps, bounces, flashy razor-sharp groundstrokes and smiling one-liners with the crowd.
     By contrast, Isner was all business, never managing more than a discreet fist-pump to accompany a winner as the crowd opted prefereed chants of "Monfils, Monfils" rather than "Isner, Isner."
     "He's a fun-loving guy and an exciting guy to watch no matter where he is playing, but honestly it was a bit surprising," said Isner, the 13th seed.
     "I know the New York fans. They like to see long ...

Isner hits out as US crowd backs Frenchman Monfils

Australian warhorse Lleyton Hewitt battled to a stunning five-set US Open win over Argentine sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro on Friday, relegating Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic to supporting roles.
     The 2001 champion defeated the 2009 winner, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-1 in the tournament's biggest shock to date.
     Hewitt, 32 years old and down at 66 in the rankings after a lengthy battle with injuries, served up a trademark warrior-like performance that recalled his golden days when he was world number one and Wimbledon champion.
     It was his 32nd career five-set victory and gave him a third round match-up with Russia's Evgeny Donskoy, the world number 102.
     "I was really pumped up after I won my first match because I knew I would have a chance to play on Arthur Ashe Stadium," said Hewitt after his four-hour, three-minute win.
     "I don't know how many years I have left to play and I was hankering to get out on this court again and put on a show."
     Del Potro, ..

Hewitt downs Del Potro as US Open magic returns

Their World Cup berth all but secured, a confident India would look to book a direct ticket to next year's mega-event by winning the ongoing ninth Asia Cup hockey tournament when they clash with defending champions South Korea, here tomorrow.
     Both India and Malaysia have virtually qualified for the World Cup to be held at The Hague, Netherlands after South Korea shut the door on Pakistan with a narrow 2-1 win in the first semifinal.
     Pakistan, record four time World Cup champions, will be missing the show-piece event for the first time since the inception of the tournament in 1971.
     Korea having already qualified for the World Cup, Pakistan's passage to the quadrennial event was possible by winning the Asia Cup.
     But their defeat has opened the door for India and Malaysia who will now just have to wait for the official confirmation from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) after the conclusion of the Oceania Cup in November.
     But the Sardar Singh-led Indian ..

India eye Asia Cup title win for direct qualification

India today defeated Malaysia to enter the final of the ongoing ninth Asia Cup hockey tournament here and the team's interim coach Roelant Oltmans said it was the best performance from his wards in the tournament so far.
     India will face defending champions Korea in the summit clash after the Koreans beat Pakistan 2-1 in the first semifinal at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium here.
     "I am quite pleased with our performance. I am pleased the way we played, the energy we brought showed in the game. We utilised the first chance of the game. We knew it will be a difficult game. Malaysia is a very good side. They showed that in the last couple of tournaments. We really had to go all out win this match," Oltmans said after the match.
     "I think it was the best game for us in the tournament. It's a great team effort," he insisted.
     "We had to be very well orgainsed and we did that through the game. It is a very young side. We are missing quite a number of players."
     There was 

It was our best game in Asia Cup: Oltmans

Chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand today said it would be a clash of style and power between two cerebral players when two of his favourite wards -- Saina Nehwal and P V Sindhu -- lock horns in the finals of Indian Badminton League (IBL) here tomorrow.
     Gopichand, who is credited for the rise of both Saina and Sindhu, said the duo should not be looked as rivals but as a pair, who can take Indian badminton to new heights.
     "It should always be Saina and Sindhu rather than who amongst the two is better. As a combination, as a pair, both of them can exchange notes at the end of each match. Both of them can benefit from each other's experience and it gives positive for Indian badminton," Gopichand told reporters here.
     "Overall it is a very good development for Indian badminton that we have two players in the top 10 and both of them competing gets much better for Indian badminton than one player playing," he added.
     Talking about the Saina-Sindhu match, the ..

Saina-Sindhu tie will be clash of brains, style & power: Gopi

Young shuttlers Siril Verma and Akshay Srinivas today entered the finals of boy's singles competition in 'Shuttle Express' after notching up victories in the semi-finals here today.
     Verma and Srinivas defeated Sai Dines Reddy and Arya Bhivpathaki respectively.
     Kanika Kanwal and Bhavya Rishi also made their way into the finals of the girls singles competition after defeating Simran Singhi and K Vaishnavi respectively.
     A total of 22 students from six franchise cities emerged as winners and runners-up, proving their mettle and inching closer to the finals of Shuttle Express.
     The finals will see Verma from Hyderabad Glendale Academy battling it out with Srinivas from NGV School, while Kanika from Delhi ASN International School clashing with Bhavya from Delhi Modern School.
     The 'Shuttle Express' will offer an incentive of Rs 10 lakh in prize money to the National winners in both the boys and girls singles events.
     Shuttle Express' Semi Finals:
     Boys U-16: ..

Shuttle Express gets its finalists

Shillong Lajong FC today announced that Seikhohao Tuboi, who missed the last season due to an injury, would be fit for the upcoming I-League as they renewed the contract with the Manipuri forward.
     "A well structured and intensive health regime has ensured that Tuboi regain full fitness and will be a part of the team in the upcoming season," Shillong Lajong FC media manager said here today.
     Commenting on the new deal with the club, the 24-year-old forward said he was looking forward to don the jersey again.
     "I cannot wait to get back on the field and start scoring goals again," Tuboi, who started training with the team, said.
     The Manipuri striker, who joined Shillong Lajong in the 2008-2009 season, had played a stellar role in helping Shillong Lajong FC qualify for the I-League in 2009-10.
     Tuboi was also instrumental in taking SLFC to the Federation Cup 2009 final, probably the best moment for the northeastern side.
     "He has always been a crowd's favourite .

Lajong renew contract with pormising Manipuri striker Tuboi

Out-of-favour opener Gautam Gambhir roared back to form with a fine century for Essex against Gloucestershire in a Division II County Championship match here today.
     After four successive failures at the start including a duck in the first innings of this match, the Delhi left-hander showed glimpses of his old self with a delightful knock at the County Ground, here today.
     This is Gambhir's first century in county cricket and 34th first-class century of his career.
     Rssex were 191 for no loss in their second innings at tea with Gambhir batting on an even 100 off 144 balls with 11 boundaries and a big six. He reached his century off 141 balls. The 100th run came with a push off left-arm seamer David Payne.
     Gambhir reached 90's with a four and a big six off medium pacer Benny Howell. Gambhir's footwork was assured from the start and he played both new ball bowlers Payne and Will Gidman with ease.
     Gambhir was prepared to wait for the loose balls but also didn't lose 

Gambhir scores century in 2nd innings vs Gloucestershire

He stunned world number 5 Vietnamese Tien Minh Nguyen twice in the ongoing Indian Badminton League (IBL) but Hyderabad Hotshots men's singles player Ajay Jayaram today said he needs to work on his consistency to reach his target of breaking into the top 15 this year.
     "I have beaten the world number five twice here and even in the recent past I have beaten a few top 10 players. Definitely, this will boost my confidence quite a lot," Ajay, who is currently ranked 24 in the world, told reporters here.
     "I have to change the giant killer kind of tag by consistently beating them in the coming tournaments and playing the quarters and semis consistently. That is the positive I take from this tournament. I aim to break into the top 15 by the end of this year," he added.
     Parupalli Kashyap is the top ranked Indian player with a world ranking of 14.
     The 25-year-old Ajay is now looking at the Super Series tournaments in China and Japan after the IBL concludes tomorrow but said .

I want to break into the top 15 this year: Jayaram

The BCCI today made it clear that it was upto N Srinivasan to take a call on whether he would like to attend the Sunday's working committee meeting in Kolkata.
     The BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said it will be entirely Tamil Nadu strongman's call but at the same time categorically mentioned that no one will stop Srinivasan from attending or chairing the meeting, where the date of the AGM is likely to be finalised.
     "We have consulted the legal experts after today's Supreme Court hearing. What we have gathered is that no one can and no one will in fact stop him from attending the meeting if he wishes to do so. He (Srinivasan) is well within his rights to attend the meeting but it will entirely be his call," Patel told PTI over phone from Baroda today.
     "In fact, it would be very helpful if Mr Srinivasan is able to attend the WC meeting in Kolkata as a lot of documents would need his signature. The Balance sheets and various reports that will be tabled at this meeting ...

Srini's call whether he wants to attend WC meet or not: Patel

In an effort to avoid duplication, Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) has decided to sell tickets online and introduce bar-code system for the ensuing ODI between India and Australia at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on October 26.
	"For the first time we will introduce bar-code tickets to prevent any manipulation and duplication. Only authentic ticket-holders would be allowed to enter the stadium after thorough checking by police and private security guards," OCA secretary Ashirbad Behera said.
	Admitting that there was disorder during the previous ODI between India and West Indies in 2011 at Barabati Stadium, Behera said steps would be taken to prevent its recurrence.
	Chaos had prevailed during the match as people exceeding the stadium's seating capacity of 45,000 people gained access.
	"It would be difficult to maintain law and order and regulate crowd if people beyond the stadium's capacity gain entry," Commissioner of Police R P Sharma said after meeting with OCA representatives ...

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