Nico Rosberg survived great late pressure to claim his second win of the season in Sunday's thrilling and dramatic British Grand Prix.
     It was the Mercedes team's first victory in Britain since Stirling Moss won in 1955 and Rosberg's second in three races and third of his career and came just three days after he celebrated his 28th birthday.
     But the race was overshadowed by a dangerous spate of Pirelli tyre failures, including one that blew home hero Briton Lewis Hamilton's hopes of a home win in the other Mercedes car as he led from pole position.
     However, the 2008 world champion produced a remarkable drive to storm from last place - which is where he was when he resumed his race - to finish fourth.
     In all, four drivers were hit by tyre blowouts while championship leading defending triple world champion German Sebastian Vettel was forced to retire his Red Bull for the first time this year after inheriting the lead.
     Hamilton's tyre explosion was followed by ...

Rosberg wins thriller as tyres cause concern

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Amittrajit Ghosh with navigator Ashwin Naik today won the fourth edition of the Mughal Rally, which passes through the route used by Mughal kings to travel to Kashmir centuries ago.
	Amanpreet Ahluwalia with navigator Sandeep Mansukhani were runners-up and were followed by Abhishek Mishra- Sudeep Halder driver-navigator team in third position.
     The winning team bagged the prize money of Rs 2 lakh and the trophy while the second placed team got Rs 1.25 lakh. The third placed team was given Rs one lakh.
	State Tourism Minister G A Mir gave away the prizes among the winners at SKICC here.
	In all, 55 teams took part in the rally.
	The teams of Jammu and Kashmir, which included three women participants, also participated in the Rally.
	The three-day rally was the joint endeavour of the Tourism department and the Jammu Kashmir Bank in collaboration with Himalayan Motor Sports, Shimla.
     The event is organized every year to harness the adventure tourism potential of Jammu and

Ghosh-Naik combine wins Mughal Rally

West Indies stand-in skipper Kieron Pollard won the toss and invited India to bat in the second match of the cricket tri-series, here today.
     West Indies' regular skipper Dwayne Bravo missed out on the game due to a groin strain. Ravi Rampaul has also been left due to sprained ankle.
     Tino Best and Devon Smith have replaced the two injured players.
     India have fielded an unchanged side.
     Teams:
     India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav.
     West Indies: Kieron Pollard (C), Chris Gayle, Johonson Charles, Devon Smith, Marlon Samuels, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Sunil Narine, Kemar Roach and Tino Best.

West Indies win toss, ask India to bat

Adrian Sutil finished seventh after being in contention for a podium finish even as Paul Di Resta fought his way to ninth after starting last on the grid in the incident-filled and dramatic British Grand Prix, here today.
     Sutil was running third after beginning the race from sixth position but lost his way in the last six laps as Mark Webber, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton all passed him.
     Nico Rosberg won the race, marked by several tyre failures, while Webber and Alonso joined him on the podium in the second and third position respectively.
     Nevertheless, it was third consecutive double points finish for Sahara Force India (59) as it collected eight points to increase its lead over sixth-placed McLaren (37) by 12 points.
     Di Resta, who had qualified impressive fifth, was forced to start last position after it was found that his car was underweight during Saturday's qualifying. The stewards though allowed him to compete from last on the grid.
     

Sutil comes close to podium but finishes 7th, Paul 9th

Top Indian golfers, including Anirban Lahiri and Shamim Khan, will star in the Eagleburg Open to be played at the magnificent Eagleton Golf Resort near here from July 2 to 5.
     The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and Eagleton - The Golf Resort have announced the PGTI - Eagleburg Open, with a prize purse of Rs 30 lakh.
     The stellar field will also include the likes of C Muniyappa, who will be leading the local challenge, as well as India's other top professionals such as Himmat Singh Rai, Digvijay Singh, Chiragh Kumar, Mukesh Kumar, Rahil Gangjee, Harendra Gupta, Shankar Das, Manav Jaini, Rashid Khan, Abhijit Singh Chadha and Vinod Kumar, to name a few.
     The top foreigners in the field include Mithun Perera (Sri Lanka), Kunal Bhasin (Australia) and Md Zamal Hossain Mollah (Bangladesh).
     Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI, said: "The PGTI looks forward to returning to the Eagleton Golf Resort, one of the premier championship courses in the country, after a gap of four 

PGTI and Eagleton announces Eagleburg Open

As if the missed deadlines and shoddy state of preparedness weren't enough, the organisers of the Lusofonia Games in Goa have been dealt another body blow with Brazil deciding not to send its football and volleyball teams.
     Portugal has only agreed to send its 'C' level soccer side. The Goans, thus, have been devoid of an opportunity to watch the highly-skilled Brazilian footballers live in action.
     Brazil's former sports minister Bernard Razjman, had told the organisers during his last visit to Goa that it would take a lot of money to bring the champion football side here.
     "Same was his view for Brazil's volleyball team which is one of the best sides in the world. Bringing both teams here involve a lot of money but they should have come here to play. Football is Goa's state sport and Brazil would have added a lot of sheen to the Games," an official told PTI.
     Portugal also expressed helplessness to send its top-notch football team for the third edition of the Games ..

No Brazil, Portugal football teams for Lusofonia Games

The ICC Women's Committee chairperson Clare Connor is delighted with the governing body's International Development Board (IDI) for approving six global women's tournaments between 2016 and 2023.
    The schedule will see two ICC Women's World Cups as well as four ICC World Twenty20 events, including the continuation of the joint men's and women's events of the World Twenty20 in 2016 and 2020 in India and Australia, respectively.
     In 2018, in the West Indies and 2022 in South Africa, the women's event will be a stand-alone tournament.
     Speaking from London, Connor said: "I am delighted with the schedule of women's events through to 2023. It is a great outcome for women's cricket.
      "The agreement of a schedule that incorporates a fixed cycle for women's events illustrates how seriously women's cricket is taken by the International Cricket Council.
     "Following on from the highly successful ICC Women's World Cup recently in India, an event that clearly showcased the ...

ICC Women's Committee head happy with schedule

The India Under-19 team today posted a comprehensive 71-run victory over Papua New Guinea in a friendly match ahead of their tri-series games against counterparts from Australia and New Zealand.
     Skipper Vijay Zol top-scored with a 46-ball 48 in a pathetic batting effort by the India U-19 side. Sent into bat, India were all out for 136 in 43.1 overs.
     But the bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav's 4/13, bundled out Papua New Guinea for just 65 in 36.5 overs to emerge comfortable winners.
     For PNG, Sakavai Charlie Gebai (4/26) was the best bowler.
     Zol struck six fours during what turned out to be the most crucial knock at the Tracy Village.
     In another match, an impressive five-wicket haul by Matt Fotia helped Australia beat New Zealand by 19 runs at Marrara Oval.
     New Zealand had been cruising in their chase of Australia's total of 225 from 50 overs but fell short thanks to tight bowling by  Fotia (5/38).
     Cam Valente (2/30), Riley Ayre (1/30), Jeremy Maher ...

India beat Papua New Guinea in friendly match

In a reprieve to tennis ace Leander Paes, the Bombay High Court has dismissed a cheque bounce case filed against him by a city-based interior designer.
	Justice R Chavan dismissed Mustafa Eisa's petition challenging a magistrate's order acquitting Paes in the case.
	The High Court dismissed the petition as neither Eisa nor his advocates were present when the petition was scheduled for hearing on several occasions.
	Eisa's complaint had alleged that two cheques worth Rs 15 lakh issued to him bounced after Paes issued stop-payment instructions to the bank. The amount was for work done by Eisa at Paes' Carter Road suburban residence.
	The magistrate had on September 20, 2011, dismissed Eisa's complaint and acquitted Paes as no one appeared for Eisa.
	Eisa then moved the High Court saying his lawyer had sought adjournment for the first time on September 20, 2011 but the magistrate dismissed his complaint saying the parties were not obeying the court's orders and have not shown readiness ..

HC dismisses cheque bounce case against Leander Paes

Eyeing a fourth term as the Asian Athletics Association's President, scam-tainted Suresh Kalmadi is in for a tough fight as he takes on Qatar's Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad in the elections of the continental body, which meets here for a crucial two-day Congress starting tomorrow.
     Kalmadi, who is out on bail after spending 10 months in jail for his alleged involvement in the Commonwealth Games scam, will preside over the Congress and seek a re-election.
     "But it is going to be a very tough fight and his chances are 50-50. He is not a sure-shot favourite to get a third term," an Athletics Federation of India source told PTI.
     Kalmadi will be locked in a straight fight against Qatar Athletics Federation President Al-Hamad, who is also senior vice-president of the Asian body, on the last day of the Congress on July 2.
     The biennial Congress, before the July 3-7 Asian Athletics Championships, at a five-star hotel here will also be attended by IAAF President Lamine Diack, ...

Kalmadi set for tough battle in AAA elections

India's Anaka Alankamony and Veer Chotrani put up a brave fight but failed to win crucial points when it mattered the most to lose out in their respective singles event finals at the 20th Asian Squash Championship in Amman, Jordan.
     Anaka went down to Hong Kong's Ho Ka Po in the girls Under-19 final 9-11 10-12 10-12 while Chotrani lost to Malaysia's Muhammad Hafiz Abdul Harif 5-11 12-14 10-12 in the boys Under-13 event, last night.
     The Indian contingent will return home with a rich haul of seven medals.
     Besides the two silver, the Indians came away with five bronze through Saksham Choudhary (boys under 13), Ranjit Singh (boys under 15), Robin Maan (boys under 15), Harshit Jawanda Kaur (girls under 17) and Kush Kumar (boys under 19).
     In the first game, Anaka used her drive-drop strategy to great effect and raced to a 7-2 lead ensuring Ka Po moved to all four corners of the all-glass court.
     Ka Po clawed her way back to take the lead at 10-8 and win the first ...

Anaka, Chotrani lose in Asian Squash Championship final

Defender Sushila Chanu will lead an 18-member Indian team in the FIH Junior Women's World Cup to be played at Monchengladbach, Germany from July 27 to August 4.
     Hockey India selectors B P Govinda, Savitri Purty, chief coach of senior women's team Neil Hawgood, junior women's coach Narinder Saini and scientific Advisor Matt Tredrea alongwith Government Observer Harbinder Singh selected the squad and nine standby players on the basis of their recent performance during the Scotland tour, senior women team's Europe tour, FIH World League Round 3 in Rotterdam and fitness in the preparatory camps.
     It was a challenging task for selectors to pick up the best 18 out of the existing 46 eligible players, a HI statement said.
     Striker Rani has been named as the vice-captain of the team.
     India is placed in Pool C along with New Zealand, Australia and Russia.
     India will play their opening match against Australia on July 27 followed by games against New Zealand on July 28 and 

Sushila Chanu to lead India in Jr Women's Hockey World Cup

The ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit's report on corruption in the Bangladesh Premier League has been delayed till at least the next month after officials sought more time to complete their investigation.
     The report has been delayed thrice before and according to Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmul Hassan, it is now expected to come out only in the first week of August.
     Former captain Mohammad Ashraful had confessed to indulging in corruption during his interviews with the ACSU, which wants to have a word with a few more before drawing up the final report.
     "They haven't completed the report. They are yet to complete interviews outside Bangladesh. As a result, they have asked for more time. From what I have understood after talking to them, I think we will most probably get the report in the first week of August," Hassan said.
     "Because Ashraful is already temporarily suspended and the report is still not submitted, we don't know what sort of decision we ..

ICC ACSU report on corruption in BCB delayed

An eight-member Indian team has left for Corfu, Greece to participate in the World Karate Federation Youth Cup to be held from July 1 to 7.
     The Indian contingent under under the leadership of All India Karate Federation general secretary Bharat Sharma departed for Greece last night from here.
     Apart from Sharma, the team consists of five karatekas and two coaches.
     Team: Arko Chatterjee (Cadet Kata event), Pranay Sharma (Sub-Junior Boys), Harshit Goyal (Cadet Boys +70kg Kumite event), Karl Vatcha (Sub-Junior Boys Kata event), Rahul (Junior Boys +76kg Kumite event), Viraf Vatcha (coach), Aniket Gupta (coach).

8-member Indian karate team to participate in WKF Youth Cup

Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza and her American partner Liezel Huber advanced to the third round of women's doubles event at the Wimbledon with a three-set win over Italian-German duo of Flavia Pennetta and Andrea Petkovic here.
     The sixth-seeded Indo-American pair had to sweat it out for little over two hours to get the better of their unseeded opponents 7-6 3-6 6-2 late last night.
     Even though Sania and Huber committed more unforced errors than their opponents, they enjoyed better share of break points conversion, utilising two out of the five opportunities that came their way.
     Sania-Huber combination will face unseeded pair of Shuko Aoyama of Japan and South African Chanelle Scheepers in their next round.
     Sania is also in the fray in the mixed doubles event where she is pairing up with Horia Tecau of Roumania.
     Sania and Tecau, who got a bye in the first round, are seeded second in the mixed doubles event and the duo will play all German combination of Martin .

Sania-Huber through to 3rd round of Wimbledon

Non-profit sports foundation Olympic Gold Quest has chalked out plans to extend its support to 40 athletes by this year-end and help them train for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, according to its chief executive officer Viren Rasquinha.
     "We are continuously researching for athletes for the 2016 Olympics. We have 31 of them on board and we want to take that number to at least 40 by the end of this year. Our priority sports are badminton, boxing, shooting, athletics, archery and wrestling. So we are sticking to these sports," said the former India hockey captain here.
     Two days ago OGQ signed up two-time Olympic wrestling medallist Sushil Kumar till the Rio Games as an advisor to identify young talent.
     "Sushil himself approached OGQ and he was keen that we support him. As we know, he is going for his third Olympic medal and we hope that in Rio he can finally win a gold medal. He has come this far on his own efforts and merit," Rasquinha said.
     On the ...

OGQ to support 40 athletes for Rio Games

Former India hockey captain Viren Rasquinha is hopeful that India would qualify for next year's World Cup through the Asia Cup, but sees the route full of pitfalls.
     He said that the underperforming drag-flickers will hold the key to India's success.
     "Of course, it is possible (to qualify). But I will say it is going to be very tough. It is not going to be easy at all. There are lots of strong teams in the Asia Cup. They need to play much better than what they did at the FIH World League (Round 3)," Rasquinha told PTI in an interview here.
     India lost out on a golden chance to qualify for next year's World Cup in Hague, The Netherlands by finishing a lowly sixth in the just-concluded eight-nation FIH World League Round 3 in Rotterdam.
     However, skipper Sardar Singh has subsequently expressed confidence that the team would qualify for the game's showpiece event by winning the Asia Cup scheduled in Ipoh, Malaysia from August 24 to September 1.
     "They need to play ...

Rasquinha optimistic about India qualifying for next World Cup

Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams cruised effortlessly into the Wimbledon fourth round as the first week's shockwaves left just eight of the top 20 seeds still standing.
     World number one Djokovic, the 2011 champion, destroyed French 28th seed Jeremy Chardy, 6-3 6-2 6-2 in just 86 minutes yesterday.
     He fired 38 winners, eight aces and committed just three unforced errors.
     "I felt very confident to step onto the court and everything went my way," said Djokovic after his 50th career grasscourt win.
     "I haven't lost many points on my service games. I did everything I wanted to do. I enjoy it very much when everything works well. It's a fantastic feeling."
     Djokovic, yet to drop his serve, will tackle veteran Tommy Haas for a place in the quarter-finals, just weeks after he beat the German in the French Open quarter-finals.
     But 13th-seeded Haas beat the Serb star in Miami this season and also got the better of him in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2009.
     ..

Djokovic, Serena move into new look Wimbledon last-16

In a triple bonanza for India, it will host the World Twenty 20 Cup competition in 2016 and World Test Championship 2021, both for the first time, and the 50-over World Cup for the fourth time in 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced here tonight.
     The three competitions were allotted to India by ICC at its annual conference which finalized its global events from 2015 to 2023.
     According to an ICC media release, the first edition of the World Test Championship will be staged in 2017 by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in June-July 2017 while the second edition will be held in India in February-March 2021.

India to host World Twenty20 Cup in 2016, World Test

The International Cricket Council today agreed to strengthen the sport's approach towards fighting corruption in the wake of the recent spot-fixing scandals in domestic Twenty20 events like the Indian Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League.
     In the ICC Annual Conference 2013 which concluded here today, the chairman of the world body's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), Ronnie Flanagan, presented his annual report in a joint session that was attended by the ICC Board and the ICC Chief Executives' Committee (CEC).
     The report included a number of recommendations for dealing with anti-corruption matters, a statement from the ICC said.
     Reiterating its zero-tolerance approach to corruption, the ICC Board agreed to incorporate an enhanced set of principles for dealing with anti-corruption matters that includes a consistent framework for international and domestic anti-corruption rules, addresses the jurisdictional challenges and sets out principles to support ...

ICC to strengthen anti-corruption approach

The BCCI again had its way as there was no specific discussions during ICC Cricket Committee Meeting on uniform implementation of DRS but recent ball change controversy during Champions Trophy in England prompted the parent body to take some strong measures.
     "There was no specific discussions on the DRS issue," an ICC official told PTI today.
     However the recent incident where umpire Aleem Dar changed the ball during an ICC Champions Trophy match between England and Sri Lanka when the home team was bowling might have prompted the Cricket Committee to recommend some strong measures including five-run penalty to batting team.
     The committee has also recommended that bowling captain should be reported under ICC's Code of Conduct while the batsmen would have the prerogative of choosing the replacement ball.
     As per press release,"The formal introduction of a two-step process when the umpire believes the condition of the ball has been changed, but there is no eyewitness to 

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