Doherty advances to last 16 in India

SNOOKER

KEN DOHERTY progressed to the third round of the Indian Open after a 4-3 victory over England’s Sam Baird yesterday afternoon in Vishakhapatnam.

The 1997 world champion, currently ranked at number 79, added Baird’s scalp to his firstround victory over John Astley.

The Dubliner now faces China’s Zhang Anda, ranked at 66, in the last 16 later today for a place in the quarter-finals.

However, there was disappointment for Fergal O’Brien who lost his second-round match against Shaun Murphy on a 4-1 scoreline. Mark Allen, meanwhile, beat Alexander Ursenbacher 4-2.

BASKETBALL

ALL roads lead to Cork this evening as UCC Demons and Garvey’s Tralee Warriors get the Men’s Super League season under way at the Mardyke Arena from 8.0.

This is set to be a tough test for both sides, with the home side missing key players from last year’s squad including Ciaran O’Sullivan, Ronan O’Sullivan and Roy Downey.

Tralee will go into the game without the services of a number of their squad due to injury, while guard Ryan Leonard has moved to US to play basketball.

MOTORSPORT

SEBASTIAN VETTEL isn’t expecting the Singapore Grand Prix to be a Sunday evening cruise through the city-state’s floodlit streets, despite being tipped as favourite for victory at the Marina Bay circuit.

The German heads into the weekend smarting from a crushing defeat at the hands of Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton, who led team-mate Valtteri Bottas in a dominant one-two at Ferrari’s home Italian Grand Prix.

“In theory it should be a bit better here than at Monza but I think it will be close,” said Vettel.

“We have seen that it’s very close no matter where we go, also on the tracks that definitely suit Mercedes or definitely suit Ferrari.”

CYCLING

IRELAND have named a strong six-man team for the men’s road race at the World Championships which take place in Bergen, Norway, next week.

Dan Martin will be expected to lead the team on a hilly course and will be assisted by Conor Dunne, Ryan Mullen, Nicolas Roche, Damien Shaw and Sean McKenna.

Dunne has just completed his first Grand Tour with Aqua Blue Sport while An Post-Chain Reaction duo Damien Shaw and Sean McKenna competed at the Tour of Britain earlier this month.

Lydia Boylan has been selected to ride the women’s race in her first World Championships while Eileen Burns will compete in the time trial.