Higgins clinches Indian Open title
In a battle of two baize sport stalwarts, John Higgins of Scotland crushed the challenge of compatriot and defending champion Anthony McGill 5-1 (70-2, 84-43, 28-78, 71-0, 71-35, 104-1) to clinch the Indian Open Snooker title, in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
It was expected to be the contest of highest standards, what with McGill, the reigning champion taking on World No 3 and four-time world champion Higgins. The pair had met on four previous occasions --- in ranking events --- with McGill holding a slight edge.
DULEEP TIE DRAWN
KANPUR: Hanuma Vihari and Deepak Hooda slammed a century each as the Duleep Trophy match between India Blue and India Red ended in a draw on the fourth and final day here today.
Opener Vihari and Hooda stitched 131 runs for the fourth wicket to help India Blue score 444 all out and take a 61-run first innings lead.
India Red leg-spinner Karn Sharma grabbed five wickets for 94 runs while Basil Thampi and Vijay Gohil took two wickets apiece at the Green Park.
SARDAR RETURNS
NEW DELHI: Veteran midfielder Sardar Singh today returned to the national team as Hockey India named a strong 18-member squad under the captaincy of Manpreet Singh for the Asia Cup to be held in Dhaka from October 11-22. Sardar, recently awarded the prestigious Khel Ratna Award, was dropped from the Indian team which toured Europe last month but got a recall for next month’s event to strengthen the team..
MANIKA WINS
AHMEDABAD: Manika Batra notched up three successive wins but Achinta Sharath Kamal’s hopes of a World Cup berth were dashed on a disappointing day for the Indians at the ITTF-ATTF 30th Asian Cup table tennis tournament here on Saturday.
Manika will take on Japanese Miu Hirano in the challenge round for a quarterfinal berth.
SHAPATH QUALIFIES
NEWDELHI: Indian teenager Shapath Bhardawaj has now qualified for the prestigious ISSF World Cup Finals for shooting.Having become the country’s youngest athlete to figure in the government’s Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme.