Harmanpreet’s brace helps India triumph

DUSSELDORF : India’s drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh scored twice to ensure that India beat Belgium 3-2 in a battle of nerves at the three-nation invitational hockey tournament Monday.

Earlier in the tournament, India had lost 1-2 to Belgium in their first match and drew 2-2 with Germany in their second game. Goals by Harmanpreet Singh (34th minute, 38th) and forward Ramandeep Singh (49th) helped India win match No.3.

LOBERA NAMED COACH

MUMBAI: Indian Super League side FC Goa announced Monday that Spaniard Sergio Lobera would replace Brazilian legend Zico as their new head coach. The ISL team said that 40-year-old Lobera, who recently coached Moroccan side Moghreb Tetouan would take up his role in July. In 2012 Lobera was briefly an assistant to the late Tito Vilanova at Spanish giants Barcelona before leaving to take charge of Las Palmas.

GAURAV MOVES UP

NEW DELHI: Gaurav Chauhan (91kg) assured himself of at least a bronze medal by being the only Indian boxer to register a victory on the opening day of the President’s Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan. Gaurav defeated Kazakhstan’s Erkin in the quarterfinal to make the last-four stage. However, Deepak Singh (52kg) and Parveen Kumar lost their respective opening bouts to bow out of the competition. While national champion Deepak went down to Kyrgyzstan’s Musaev, Parveen lost to Nurbolat Sermakhanov.