Giroud’s spectacular strike helps Chelsea top Atletico
BUCHAREST: A Olivier Giroud overhead kick gave Chelsea a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 first leg in Bucharest.
The French striker broke the deadlock in the 68th minute with an outrageous bicycle kick which was flagged offside but eventually given following a lengthy VAR review as the ball had come off Atletico’s Mario Hermoso before Giroud hit it. Holders Bayern Munich recorded an emphatic 4-1 win at Lazio in Tuesday’s last-16 first leg to take a “huge step” towards the quarter-finals.
Robert Lewandowski gave Bayern an early lead before 17-year-old Jamal Musiala scored his first Champions League. A Leroy Sane strike gave Bayern a three-goal halftime cushion before Francesco Acerbi scored an own goal just after the break.
Easy draw for Sindhu, tough one for Saina
NEW DELHI: Reigning world champion PV Sindhu has got an easy passage to the quarter-finals but her compatriot Saina Nehwal was not as fortunate, drawing a tougher first-round opponent in the prestigious All England Championships.
The tournament is scheduled to be played from March 17-21. Sindhu will kick-off her campaign against Malaysia’s Soniia Cheah. If she wins here initial rounds, Sindhu could face Akane Yamaguchi in the quarter-finals. Saina has drawn the in-form Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark in her first round match.
Parupalli Kashyap has also got a tough draw as he locks horn with world No. 1 Japanese Kento Momota in his opener.
Fight till the last ball, says Vengsarkar
MUMBAI: Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar advised youngsters to “fight till the end (of the match)” during the prize distribution ceremony for the Under-14 Ageas Federal Insurance Cup on Wednesday.
“No match is over till the last wicket falls or last run is scored. So, fight till the end even if you lose early wickets. After all, winning the match for your team is more important than individual performance,” said Vengsarkar. The final was won by Gaud Saraswat Cricket Club with a 166-run win over Ageas Federal Vengsarkar Academy.
Brief scores (final): Gaud Saraswat CC 298/4 in 40 overs (Aryan Chavan 158, Auwab
Kunni 93) beat
132/9 in 40 overs (Shivank Rao 40 not out, Mann Bhanushali 4/14, Kavya Gori 2/17)