WILDER DRAWS WITH FURY IN THRILLING BOUT, RETAINS TITLE

American Deontay Wilder retained his WBC heavyweight title after a thrilling split decision draw with Britain’s Tyson Fury at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, leaving both fighters talking up a rematch.

The hard-hitting Wilder knocked Fury down twice, including a brutal right-left combination that sent the towering Fury to the canvas in the 12th.

But the ‘Gypsy King’ willed himself to his feet and held on to send the fight to the judges. One judge scored the fight 115-111 to Wilder, another 114-112 to Fury and the third had it 113-113.

LOS ANGELES:

LAKSHYA, ASHMITA WIN

Lakshya Sen defeated Thailand’s Kunlavat Vitidsarn to lift the men’s singles title in the Tata Open India International Challenger here on Sunday. Sen won 21-15, 21-10 victory in just 35 minutes. In the all-Indian women’s singles final, qualifier Ashmita Chaliha outclassed her eighth-seeded opponent Vrushali Gummadi 21-16, 21-13.

MUMBAI:

DHANKAR CHAMPION

Seasoned Amit Dhankar emerged champion in the 74kg as the Senior National Wrestling Championship concluded here on Sunday. He beat SSCB’s Vinod 5-1 in the final. Haryana’s Mousam Khatri held off a spirited challenge from Satyawart Kadiyan to claim gold in the 97kg. Railways yet again claimed the team title with 183 points.

CHIKKA ENDS TIED 2ND

GONDA:

India’s S Chikkarangappa achieved the most noteworthy result of his professional career with a tied second finish at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open on Sunday.

BEAU CHAMP:

IOA MEETING

The Indian Olympic Association, in its annual General Body Meeting here on December 22, will discuss its parent body IOC’s diktat to not award any world event to the country in the wake of the controversy over non-issue of visa to a Kosovo boxer.

NEW DELHI: