Sathish Kumar, R V Rahul qualify for 2018 Commonwealth Games
NEW DELHI: India's Sivalingam Sathish Kumar and Ragala Venkat Rahul qualified for next year's Commonwealth Games after winning a gold medal each in their respective weight divisions at the Commonwealth Senior (men & women) Weightlifting Championships in Gold Coast, Australia. Rahul created several new records en-route to his standout total lift of 351kg while competing in both senior and junior men's categories. He lifted 156kg in snatch and 195kg in clean & jerk. 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sathish Kumar lifted 148kg in snatch and 172kg in clean & jerk for a total effort of 320kg in senior men's 77kg. Meanwhile, the Indians did well in the junior and youth sections as well. In junior men's 77kg, Ajay Singh bagged the yellow metal with a total lift of 310kg (140kg + 170kg). Two Indian women weightlifters also claimed gold medals on the day.
India U17 Boys to compete in qualifiers
MUMBAI: The India U-17 Rugby team will compete at the 'Asia Rugby U17 Rugby Sevens Championship' to be held at the Tainan Municipal Rugby Stadium, Tainan in Taiwan on September 9 and 10. This tournament will serve as a qualifier for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games to be held in Argentina, a media release said. The team is led by Narasing Marndi and coached by Rehamuddin Shaikh. A total of ten countries from across Asia.
Dinaz, Annuben shine in Bai Avabai’s win
MUMBAI: Dinaz Sarkari and Annuben Jiwasa scored a brace of goals each to power Bai Avabai Petiti, Bandra to a fluent 4-0 win against Worli Municipal School, Worli in a Girls’ Under-16 Div-II match of the MSSA Inter-Schools football tournament and played at the Schools Sports Centre, Azad Maidan on Thursday. In another match, Sai Baba Path, Parel overcame St., Jude’s, Kurla 1-0 with Priyanka Kanojia scoring the lone goal of the match.
Arman, Ashita lift Indian Open crowns
MUMBAI: Second seed Ashita Pranaya Bhengra (India) and top seed Arman Jindal (USA) recorded contrasting wins in the girls’ and boys’ Under-19 finals respectively to clinch the top honours in the Bombay Gymkhana organised 9th Indian Junior Open Squash tournament, an Asian Squash Federation Platinum tournament. In the girls’ final, the Chennai-based Bhengra breezed past top seed Sanika Choudhari (India) in three games with a degree of comfort. Bhengra produced some solid strokes and clever change of pace to outwit her Maharashtra opponent Choudhari and race to a 11-1, 11-7, 11-5 win to emerge champion. On the other hand, Jindal was made to work extra hard by 3-4th seed Vikas Mehra (India) before clinching victory in five absorbing games. The US player managed to hold his cool and composure to seal a 1210, 11-7, 11-13, 5-11, 11-7 win. In the Girls’ Under-17 finals, top seed Amita Gondi (USA) defeated second seed Sanya Vats (India) 13-11, 11-9, 11-8, while top seed Saksham Choudhary (India) overcame second seed Tushar Shahani (India) 11-5, 118, 5-11, 11-7 to win the Boys’ Under-17 title.
Anand shocked by Kovalyov
TBILISI (GEORGIA): Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Canadian Grandmaster Anton Kovalyov and now faces ouster threat from the World Chess Cup here. Having struggled in the second game of the first round that he eventually managed to draw, Anand's dip in form continued against Kovalyov who kept his nerves in a thrilling game after a speculative piece sacrifice by the Indian ace.