Avani wins historic title at Sirikit Cup, team ends second

MANILA, PHILIPPINES: Avani Prashanth on Friday became the first Indian golfer to win the Queen Sirikit Cup, a prestigious event for amateurs in the AsiaPacific region, and also helped the Indian team finish second for its best-ever show in the competition’s 43-year history.

With a total of 16-under, Avani finished 10-strokes ahead of Fiona Xu of New Zealand (68-73-72-69), who was six-under for the week.

In the team competition, Korean teens Kim Min-sol, Yoo Hyun-jo and Seo Kyo-rim held firm to beat back a strong challenge from an Avani-inspired India. Korea had a 72-hole team aggregate of 12-under 564, five strokes clear of India.

“It’s been a long-awaited win and I’m excited for what the rest of the year holds,” Avani said after her win in Manila.

Cheema lies tied 2nd at Indian Open golf

GURUGRAM: Angad Cheema produced a one-under 71 to lead the Indian pack but it was Germany’s Yannik Paul who continued to dominate with a 69 to extend his lead to five strokes at Hero Indian Open here.

The Chandigarh golfer showed better application than his Indian colleagues, sinking three birdies against two bogeys to share the second spot along with three others: German Marcel Siem (70), Iceland’s Gudmundur kristjansson (71) and Finland’s Mikko Korhonen (72).

As many as 16 Indians managed to make the cut which fell at four-over.

Brook slams 184* to put England in charge

WELLINGTON: Red-hot Harry Brook made a majestic 184 not out to put England firmly in control against New Zealand in the second Test in Wellington on Friday.

Joe Root was also unbeaten on a classy 101 as the tourists blazed their way to 315 for three, after being reduced to a precarious 21 for three inside seven overs, before rain ended the opening day of the series decider early.

Indian taekwondo players to train in Korea

NEW DELHI: India’s budding taekwondo players will get to train in South Korea, the most successful nation in the sport at the Olympics.

Twelve gold medallists of the All-India Inter SAI Taekwondo Championship that started at the IG Complex here on Friday will visit Korea National Sport University with the support of the Korean government and receive an education and training program for about three weeks, it was announced here.

Anirudh-Prashanth storm into doubles final

BENGALURU: The Indian duo of Anirudh Chandrasekhar and N Vijay Sundar Prashanth eliminated fourth-seeded Arjun Kadhe and Max Neuchrist 7-6(1), 4-6, 10-2 to storm into the doubles final of the Bengaluru Open here on Friday.

In the singles quarter-finals, Hamad Medjedovic of Serbia toppled top seed Chun-Hsin Tseng of Taipei.

Harry Brook