Federer digs deep to advance in Basel event
Roger Federer had to fight hard to hold off Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic on Tuesday, edging to a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win to reach the second round of the Swiss Indoors.
The eight-time champion flirted with his earliest exit in Basel since his 1998 debut as a teenager, but came out on top in a nervy deciding set. “I was up 6-2, 3-1, it could have ended very quickly,” Federer said. “But I made life more difficult. I didn’t have the best serving stats, maybe that caught up to me.”
PUNE CITY SACK COACH
Having been in charge of the team for only three games, Miguel Angel Portugal has been relieved of his duties as head coach by Indian Super League club FC Pune City, pending paperwork. The announcement of Portugal’s departure is expected to be made by the club by Thursday. Portugal, who took over the reins from Ranko Popovic this summer, has seen his side draw one and lose two games. Portugal was the head coach of Delhi Dynamos last season when the club finished eighth and went out of play-off reckoning midway through the season.
FIRST JORDAN FRIENDLY
The India football team will play Jordan in a friendly on November 17 in Amman, the first such encounter between the two sides. “All India Football Federation confirms an international friendly for the Indian senior national team against Jordan. The match will be played in Amman on November 17,” said the AIFF in a press release. Jordan, who went down 1-2 to World Cup runners-up Croatia in their last friendly earlier this month, are ranked 110th, while India are placed 97th.
INDIA THRASH PAK 18-0
The India U-19 women’s team completed a mammoth victory over Pakistan, as they pumped 18 goals past their neighbours in the opening match of the first round of the AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers on Wednesday. Renu scored five goals, all in the second half, to help India earn a massive win.
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HARI SINGH POLO
The Maharaja Hari Singh Memorial Cup polo tournament started Wednesday with seven teams participating. Pool A comprises Sona Polo, LA Pegasus Polo Knights, Hyderabad Chaughan and Sahara Warriors, while Pool B has LA Pegasus Polo Titans, Jindal Panther and Aravali Polo. Sona Polo beat LA Pegasus Polo Knights 6-5, Sahara Warriors beat Hyderabad Chaughan 4 ½-2 and Jindal Panther beat LA Pegasus Polo Titans 5-4.
NEWDELHI: NEWDELHI:Bajrang NEWDELHI: CHONBURI: NEW DELHI: