Manika first Indian to win ‘Breakthrough Star’ award

KOLKATA: Table tennis player Manika Batra became the first Indian to get the ‘Breakthrough Table Tennis Star’ award at the ITTF Star Awards, in Incheon on Wednesday. “I am honoured and happy to have received the award. I feel, 2018 has been the best year of my career so far and I am happy for what I have achieved,” Manika said at the ceremony.

Manika started the year on a high at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, guiding India to its firstgold in women’s team category. She also bagged gold in the singles category, defeating former World No 4 Feng Tianwei. duo of Prapanjan and Sachin led the charge for Gujarat and both achieved a super 10 each to score 22 points. Parvesh Bhainswal and Sunil Kumar led the defence for Gujarat and contained Haryana raiders throughout the match at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Reigning NBA MVP Harden also chipped in four assists on a night when seven Rockets players finished in double digits. Rockets point guard Chris Paul produced a triple double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists as Houston improved to 12-14. Mike D’antoni’s side remain near the foot of the Western Conference, one place off the bottom ahead of the Phoenix Suns, who are 4-24.

SANTOSH, RODRIGUES IN TEAM FOR DAKAR 2019

NEWDELHI: CS Santosh, Joaquim Rodrigues and Oriol Mena were on Wednesday named in the three-member Hero Motosports Team for the 41st edition of the Dakar Rally starting January 6. SELECTIONS

1: 4-Outstanding, 2-Storm Star, 9-Forever Free.

2: 2-Star Aligned, 6-Brazos,

3-Cavarozzi.

3: 5-Vintage, 2-Cormorant,

6-Westarn Front.

4: 5-Barack, 2-Perpetuel Winning, 7-Rogue One.

2-Bonafide, 4-Abraxas,

7-Night Watch.

5-Iron Age, 8-La Magnifique, 6-Chaplin.

4-Bluebell, 1-Gold Medalist, 3-Benevolence.

Vintage.

Barack – Iron Age.