O’Donovans return to action

ROWING

IRELAND’S Olympic heroes Paul and Gary O’Donovan return to action in the lightweight men’s double sculls in Belgrade today for the first time since their Olympic silver medal performance in Rio.

The World Rowing Cup runs from today until Sunday and has attracted rowers from 26 nations including two of Britain’s most experienced lightweight rowers, Peter Chambers and Will Fletcher, who will be the main threat to the O’Donovans.

Shane O’Driscoll and Mark O’Donovan will race in the men’s pair, in both the lightweight and heavyweight categories.

Two-time Olympian Sanita Puspure will once again take part in the women’s single sculls, while Denise Walsh will feature in the lightweight equivalent.

CYCLING

SPANIARD Mikel Landa hopes to erase the bitter memory of last year’s Giro d’Italia when the race begins with a 206km flat stage in Sardinia today.

Landa was given the role of Team Sky leader for the Giro last year in his first season for the British outfit but abandoned the race on stage 10 because of illness.

He will again be expected to challenge for the Maglia Rosa, and he will have plenty of highquality back-up in co-leader Geraint Thomas as Sky try to win the race for the first time, having dominated the Tour de France in recent years.

Landa’s main opposition will come from Movistar’s Nairo Quintana and home favourite and defending champion Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) as well as Thomas.

GOLF

ADAM DUNMORE leads the way after the opening round of the Club Professional Tournament sponsored by Carr Golf and Citroen at Dromoland Castle.

The Bundoran GC man has a two-shot lead over Eamonn Brady (Clontarf) and defending champion, David Higgins (Waterville Links) going in to today’s final round.

In a packed leaderboard, just five shots separate the top 20 players, amongst them is Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge GC) who won Wednesday’s Pro-Am with a five-under-par 67.

CRICKET

WEST INDIES beat Pakistan by 106 runs after the tourists collapsed chasing just 187 in the second Test in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Seven of the Pakistani batsmen failed to score over five runs as they were skittled out for just 81, with Shannon Gabriel snaring five wickets.

Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed top-scored with just 23 in a 42-run partnership with Mohammad Amir, but once Amir was out for 20, the remaining couple of wickets fell quickly.