Misery for India as Japan win 2-0

JOHANNESBURG: Japan blanked India 2-0 in a 5-8 placing match of the Women’s Hockey World League Semifinal here on Thursday. India made a zestful start to their campaign against Japan with Monika getting an early shot on goal in the opening minute of the game. But Japan’s goalkeeper Megumi Kageyama made a good save to deny India the early lead.

In the following minutes Japan put up a tighter defence while their attackers broke the Indian defence to foray into the striking circle. The aggressive approach resulted in Japan winning their first PC of the match in the seventh minute which was successfullyconverted by Kan a No mu ra.

The second quarter saw Indian attackers try different channels to break the Japanese defence but in vain. Akiko Kato showed excellent dribbling skills but Savita was exceptional in her effort to save.

PUNJAB BAG TITLE

NEW DELHI: Punjab defeated Karnataka 5-3 via penalty shootout to clinch the Oorja U-19 title at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Wednesday. In an action-packed match, both teams were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation time. The Oorja talent hunt tournament saw 12,500 boys and girls playing more than 1200 matches.

PLAYERS RELIEVED

NEWDELHI: Indian tennis players, struggling to get home tournaments, heaved a sigh of relief that country’s only ATP World Tour event has not moved out of the country. IMG (Reliance), owners of the tournament, ended their contract with TNTA to take Chennai Open out of the southern city and signed a deal with MSLTA. They were considering Singapore as a potential venue but eventually settled for Pune and rebranded the tournament as Maharashtra Open, which will now be played from 2018 till 2022.

Country’s top singles player Yuki Bhambri said keeping the tournament in India was crucial.

“How many tournaments we have in India? If we had lost this one too, it would have been a big setback. Sad for Chennai but still we have kept it in the country. No Challenger has been held this year so far. We need tournaments in India,” said Yuki.

THE SECOND QUARTER SAW INDIAN ATTACKERS TRY DIFFERENT CHANNELS TO BREAK THE JAPANESE DEFENCE BUT IN VAIN