Gavaskar warns India ahead of World Cup
IPL coming but Australia ODI series loss shouldn't be forgotten, says Sunny
The Indian team shouldn't commit the mistake of forgetting the ODI series defeat against Australia amid the noise created by the highprofile Indian Premier League (IPL) beginning on March 31, said the legendary Sunil Gavaskar.
India lost the third and final ODI by 21 runs in Chennai on Wednesday to concede the series 1-2 to Australia, and batting legend Gavaskar said Rohit Sharma's men could be up against the same opponents in the 50-over World Cup which the country is hosting in October-November.
"Of course, now the IPL starts (March 31). This (series defeat) shouldn't be forgotten. India sometimes makes the mistake of forgetting this, but this one shouldn't be because in the World Cup, we may face Australia again," said Gavaskar on Star Sports.
"It (defeat in 3rd ODI) was (due) the pressure created (by Australians). The boundaries had dried up and they (Indian batters) weren't even getting singles”.
Vani ends title drought
It has been little over three years when she last won on the Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour, seasoned Vani Kapoor drilled a crucial birdie on the very last hole to card 3-under 69 and take the lead in the seventh leg of the ongoing season. That slender edge was good enough as Gaurika Bishnoi, who led for a good part of the day, was unable to find a birdie over the last seven holes and also bogeyed the Par 4 14th. Vani finished at 2under 214 for three days and Gaurika (72) ended at 1-under 215 to be second. Ridhima Dilawari, who played alongside Gaurika, too, had a chance as she birdied 16th and 17th.
Gurugram: CHENNAI:
Indian team's growing injury list is concerning but captain Rohit Sharma doubts any player will opt out of the IPL games to manage workload when the high-profile T20 league begins on March 31. "They (players) are all adults. It's all up to the franchises now. The franchises own them (the players) now, so we've given some indications or some kind of borderline kind of thing to the teams.
Sindhu, Prannoy advance Basel:
Star Indian shuttler HS Prannoy beat All England Championships finalist Shi Yu Qi of China to storm into the men's singles pre-quarterfinals at the Swiss Open Super 300 badminton tournament here. World number 9 Prannoy continued his good run as he recovered from a second game slump to notch up a 21-17 19-21 21-17 win over Shi Yu Qi, who is a 2018 world championships silver medallist, in the men's singles opening round. Two-time Olympic medallist and fourth seed PV Sindhu too made a positive start to her title defence, beating Jenjira Stadelmann of Switzerland 21-9 21-16 in a lop-sided opening round of women's singles.
AHF honours Hockey India New Delhi:
Hockey India was on Thursday awarded with the Best Organiser Award by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) for the successful hosting of the FIH Men's World Cup in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela earlier this year. The award was received by HI secretary-general Bhola Nath Singh during the AHF Congress held in Mungyeong, Korea. While the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar had previously hosted the FIH World Cup in 2018, the newly-constructed Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela caught the imagination of the hockey fraternity for its huge seating capacity. The Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium also features an Olympic-style hockey village, which housed the participating teams, giving them the experience of a Games Village at multi-discipline sporting events such as the Olympics, Commonwealth and Asian Games.
Chikka fourth in Hong Kong Hong Kong:
Indian golfer S Chikkarangappa shot a fine fourunder 66 to be placed tied fourth after the first round, even as Miguel Tabuena's hot streak continued at the World City Championship with a superb seven-under-par 63. Chikka, who led after two rounds at the DGC Open, was the best Indian after the opening round. The next best Indian was Karandeep Kochhar and Honey Baisoya , who shot 69 each to be tied 31st. SSP Chawrasia (70) was tied 48th, while Veer Ahlawat, Jeev Milkha Singh and Shiv Kapur carded one-over 71 each to be placed tied 63rd. Among other Indians, Viraj Madappa and Gaganjeet Bhullar shot 73 each to occupy tied 87th spot.
Emma, Sloane knocked out
Former U.S. Open champions Emma Raducanu and Sloane Stephens were knocked out of the Miami Open, hours after No. 1-ranked and defending champion Iga Swiatek pulled out of the tournament because of a rib injury. Bianca Andreescu - the 2019 U.S. Open champ - defeated Raducanu 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. Andreescu improved to 2-0 lifetime against Raducanu, the 2021 winner at Flushing Meadows. Shelby Rogers beat Stephens 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. On the men's side, Dusan Lajovic beat three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray 6-4, 7-5.