Kothari clinches World Billiards crown

LEEDS: India’s Sourav Kothari defeated Peter Gilchrist of Singapore 1134-944 to clinch the World Billiards Championship title here on Friday.

The former Asian champion was pipped at the post for the coveted crown on two occasions in the last two years, including a loss to Gilchrist in the 2016 final in Bengaluru.

Earlier in the semis, Kothari steered his way to a dramatic victory in the dying minutes of the game over 6-time World and defending champion David Causier of England by 1317-1246.

MANZI NETS HAT-TRICK

COIMBATORE: Uruguayan Pedro Manzi’s scored a hat-trick in Chennai City FC’S 4-1 win over Indian Arrows in the Hero I-league opener at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium on Friday.

Romario Jesuraj, who had an outstanding game, scored the fourth for Chennai. Captain Amarjit Singh Kiyam scored Arrows’ lone goal.

BANTHIA IN BOYS’ FINAL

Pune:fourth seed local boy, Siddhant Banthia, entered the boys’ singles final of the 2nd HCL Asian B1 Junior Tennis Championship here on Friday.

In the semi-final, Banthia was leading 6-2, 4-2 when top seed Dostanbek Tashbulatov pulled out. He will face Sergey Fomin of Uzbekistan in the final.

FOOTBALL TEAM LOSES

CHONBURI, THAILAND: The Indian women’s football team slumped to a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Nepal in the AFC Under-19 Championships qualifiers on Friday. Striker Rekha scored both the goals for Nepal in the 59th and 88th minutes to give her side three points from the match.

PRAJNESH IN LAST FOUR

NEW DELHI: Prajnesh Gunneswaran knocked out third seed Italian Thomas Fabbiano 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3 to enter the semi-finals of the Liuzhou Challenger in China on Friday.

The win enabled Prajnesh to exact sweet revenge over Fabbiano, who had defeated the Indian in the final of the Ningbo Challenger last week.