‘India not to make up numbers in Asian Cup’

NEWDELHI: Facing heavyweights like Bahrain and UAE is a tough ask but India football coach Stephen Constantine is confident that Sunil Chhetri and his men won’t just be going to make up the numbers during next year’s Asian Cup. In their last appearance in 2011, India were comprehensively beaten by Australia, South Korea and Bahrain but Constantine feels things will be different this. “I feel we have a decent chance to do that (to qualify for knock-out rounds) but we will need to be ready both mentally and physically. We are going there to win and not to make up the numbers,” Constantine said.

REAL KASHMIR FACE HINDUSTAN FC

BANGALORE: Real Kashmir and Hindustan FC lock horns in the virtual final of the 2nd Division League on Wednesday to determine the team which will play the I-league next season. Hindustan FC have to win as a draw will take Real Kashmir, who have a better gola difference, to the top tier. Hindustan FC coach Vikrant Sharma said: “It’s a decisive match. So against Real Kashmir, my team will be going all out.”

ANAND DRAWS WITH ARONIAN IN OPENER

STAVANGER: Viswanathan Anand was caught off-guard by Levon Aronian of Armenia as he conceded an easy draw in the first round of Altibox Norway chess. Coming to the first round after a fine performance in the preceding blitz tournament where he tied for second spot, Anand could do little as Aronian came up with an unusual move order in the Anti-berlin with black. Magnus Carlsen beat Fabiano Caruana of United States to emerge sole leader.