Sindhu sails; Sai Praneeth tests Covid positive
BANGKOK:Ň PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth notched up straight-game wins, while Sameer Verma shocked world No 10 Lee Zii Jia as Indian shuttlers made impressive starts at the Thailand Open Super 1000 tournament here on Tuesday.
But later on Tuesday, Badminton World Federation revealed that world No 13 B Sai Praneeth has tested positive for coronavirus and was forced to withdraw from the tournament. As such, his hotel roommate Srikanth has also been forced to withdraw and is in self-isolation. “The player (Sai) has been taken to hospital for further observation and testing, and is required to stay in hospital for a minimum of 10 days,” BWF said.
On the court, a week after being sent packing by Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt in the first event of the Asia leg, world champion Sindhu showed great discipline and focus to see off world No 12 Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-17, 21-13 in the women’s singles opener.
In men’s singles, former world No 1 Srikanthdecimated another Thai player Sitthikom Thammasin 21-11, 21-11.
But the highlight of the day was the lion-hearted performance by world No 31 Sameer, who stunned eighth seed Lee 18-21, 27-25, 21-19 in a thrilling opening match.
Messi banned for two matches after Barca red
BARCELONA:ŇBARCELONA captain Lionel Messi has escaped a lengthy ban for lashing out at Athletic Bilbao’s Asier Villalibre in Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup final defeat and will only serve a two-game suspension.
The Spanish soccer federation said on Tuesday Messi had been banned for two matches, meaning he will miss Thursday’s Copa del Rey last-32 tie at Cornella and Sunday’s La Liga match at Elche. Barca said they will appeal the ban.
Aubameyang breaks goal drought in Arsenal win
LONDON:Ň Arsenal captain Pierre-emerick Aubameyang finally ended his scoring drought in the Premier League with two second-half goals in 3-0 win against Newcastle on Monday as the Gunners try to claw their way out of midtable. Aubameyang, who hadn’t scored in the league since December 16, broke the deadlock in the 50th minute before Bukayo Saka added a second with style in the 61st. An unmarked Aubameyang got his second goal in the 77th.
Ibrahimovic nets brace as Milan beat Cagliari
MILAN:ŇAC Milan coach Stefano Pioli labelled Zlatan Ibrahimovic a champion who continues to surprise him after the 39-year-old produced another stellar performance in Milan’s 2-0 win at Cagliari on Monday.
Injury has deprived Milan of Ibrahimovic’s services for much of the season but when he has started, the goals have flowed to help Pioli’s team climb to the top of the Serie A standings.
“He is a champion in everything he does,” Pioli said.
Odisha rally to hold Hyderabad 1-1
Goa:ňodisha FC put up a spirited show in the second half as they fought back to hold Hyderabad FC to a 1-1 draw in the Indian Super League at the Fatorda Stadium here on Tuesday.
Halicharan Narzary (13’) put Hyderabad ahead before the break but saw his header cancelled out after a fine strike from Odisha’s Cole Alexander in 51st minute.