Saina, Sindhu enter 2nd round in Indonesia
ALORSETAR(MALAYSIA): Saina Nehwal and P V Sindhu made a positive start to the new season, reaching the second round of the Indonesia Masters with contrasting wins in women’s singles here on Wednesday.
Saina, who is coming back from an ankle injury, had to dig deep into her reservoir to eke out a 22-24, 21-15, 21-14 win over China’s world no.7 Chen Yufei in a match that lasted an hour and nine minutes. Sindhu, on the other hand, didn’t sweat much as she dumped local hope Hanna Raramdini 21-13, 21-10.
Saina will face China’s Chen Xiaoxin, while Sindhu takes on Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei in the next round. Young men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also crossed the opening hurdle after dis- patching eighth seeded Japanese pair of Takuto Inque and Yuki Kaneko 21-15, 21-17 to set up a clash with Chinese Taipei’s Liao Min Chun and Su Ching Heng. Sameer Verma suffered a 16-21, 21-12, 10-21 loss to Japan’s Kazumasa Sakai.
TOUGH DRAW
ALORSETAR(MALAYSIA): The road to Uber Cup Finals would be a difficult one for Indian women shuttlers, who have been handed a tough draw at the Asia Team Championship but the men’s team got an easier deal at the tournament to be held from February 6 to 11. The event serves as a qualifier for Thomas and Uber Cup Finals. The women’s team has been clubbed with Japan and Hong Kong China, while the men’s team was put along with Indonesia, Philippines and Maldives.
HARIKRISHNA HELD
GIBRALTAR: IM Hemant Sharma held higher-rated P Harikrishna to a draw in the first round of the Masters section of Gibraltar Chess festival. Playing with white, Sharma gave little away to Harikrishna and the resulting middle game was equal after exchange of queens.
RUSSIAN GM IN LEAD
CHENNAI: Russiangm Rozum Ivan shot into a one-point lead after defeating Indian GM RR Laxman in 47 moves at the Chennai Open Grandmaster Chess on Wednes- day. Ivan is on eight points and will need half-a-point to win title.
DALIMA TO LEAD
NEW DELHI: Defender Dalima Chhiber will lead a 20-member Delhi State senior women’s football team in the National Championship scheduled in Cuttack from Jan 28 to Feb 15.
Team: Goalkeepers: Aditi Chauhan, Jyoti, Sangeeta; Defenders: Swati Rawat, Dalima Chhiber, Meghna Arora, Ashwarya Subramanian, Pooja Mandrawal, Tanvi, Bharati Bisht; fielders: L Nobi Charu, Smriti Girish, Yachnika Garg, Dolly. Forwards:
Prerna Negi, Pranchi, Jyoti Ann Burret, Khushi Bajaj, Margaret Devi, Shivani.
PWL: PUNJAB IN FINAL
NEWDELHI: Defending champions Punjab Royals put up a dominant show to storm into the final of the Pro Wrestling League, beating Veer Marathas in a semi-final on Wednesday.