INDIA FINISHES WITH BEST PERFORMANCE

JAKARTA: India recorded its bestever showing in the Asian Para Games by bagging 72 medals, including 15 gold, with the shuttlers adding two yellow metals and three bronze on the concluding day of competitions here on Saturday.

With 15 gold, 24 silver and 33 bronze medals, India was placed ninth in the overall tally. China finished on top with 172 gold, 88 silver and 59 bronze for a whopping total of 319 medals.

South Korea (53, 45, 47) and Iran (51, 42, 43) were second and third respectively. This was India’s best ever performance, bettering the last edition (2014) tally of 33 medals (3 gold, 14 silver, 16 bronze). All of India’s five medals on Saturday came from badminton. In men’s singles SL3 class badminton, Pramod Bhagat defeated Ukun Rukaendi of Indonesia 21-19, 15-21, 21-14 to clinch the gold medal.

Athletes in the SL3 category generally have impairment in one or both lower limbs and poor walking or running balance. Athletes with cerebral palsy, bilateral polio or loss of both legs below the knee compete in halfcourt (lenghtwise) to minimise the impact of their impairment.

Tarun added another gold for India on the final day of the event by beating Yuyang Gao 21-16, 21-6 in men’s singles SL4 class.

FIA CONFIRMS 21-RACE CALENDAR FOR 2019

LONDON: Formula One’s governing body FIA has signed off on the 21-race calendar for the 2019 world championship following a World Motor Sport Council meeting on Friday.

The calendar confirms the provisional schedule released by F1’s owners Liberty Media in August. The season will begin on March 17 at the Australian Grand Prix and finish Deccember 1 in Abu Dhabi.