Another high for Manika, Sharath
NEW DELHI: Top Indian paddlers Manika Batra, Achanta Sharath Kamal and G Sathiyan achieved career-best world rankings in the latest chart released by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) on Tuesday.
Manika, who became the first Indian woman to win singles gold at Commonwealth Games, was rewarded for her consistent show as she moved up to World No. 55, climbing one rung up the order. Sharath, 36, jumped four places to grab the World No. 31 spot. Sathiyan too jumped four places to reach the World No. 36 spot.
BOXING CHAMP DIES
BERLIN: Germany’s former world boxing champion Graciano Rocchigiani, who won belts at two different weights, was killed in a car accident in Italy on Tuesday, aged just 54. Police in Brandenburg confirmed Rocchigiani’s death to SID, an AFP subsidiary, having informed the former boxer’s relatives. Germany’s ‘Rocky’ won the IBF world super middleweight belt in 1988, which he defended three times before vacating to step up to light-heavyweight.
CILIC BUNDLED OUT
TOKYO: Top seed Marin Cilic crashed out of the Japan Open in a shock 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(1) defeat to Germany’s Jan-lennard Struff in the first round. The former US Open champion looked to be in complete control after pocketing the first set with a brutal drive volley but things quickly unravelled for the Croatian when Struff suddenly caught fire.
SPECTATOR LOSES SIGHT
PARIS: A spectator hit by a tee shot played by US golfer Brooks Koepka during the Ryder Cup has lost sight in her right eye, AFP reported. The woman was stuck when the American’s drive veered wide of the fairway on the sixth hole on Friday. AFP named her as Corine Remande. “Doctor’s told me I had lost the use of that eye,” she told the French news agency. Ryder Cup organisers said they will “continue to offer support” to the fan.
FLAG-BEARER
NEW DELHI: Rio Paralympic gold medallist Thangvellu Mariyappan was on Tuesday named as flag-bearer of the Indian contingent for the 3rd Paralympic Asian games to be held in Jakarta from October 6-13.
DELHI STATE BILLIARDS
NEW DELHI: The Delhi State Billiards & Snooker Championship will start at the Megapool Snooker academy at Dwarka from October 6. The junior and sub-junior and ladies championship will also be held simultaneously.