India pip Pakistan to win Snooker Team World Cup
DOHA: The Indian combine of Pankaj Advani and Manan Chandra staged a remarkable recovery to pip Pakistan in the final of the inaugural IBSF Snooker Team World Cup. After being 0-2 down in the best-of-five final played last on Friday night, India found themselves in a deeper hole at 0-30 down in the third frame.
Thanks to a well-crafted 39 break from Chandra and a classy clearance of the final colours by Advani, the Indian hopes were kept alive. In the fourth frame, even though Advani found himself in a spot of bother when trailing 1-20 against Babar Masih, he took charge of the proceedings and displayed his mastery once again by clearing the table with a 69 break. This made India draw parity with Pakistan and it all boiled down to the final frame to determine the winners of the inaugural event. Chandra and Muhammad Asif found themselves in a seesaw frame but it was the Indian who changed gears and did most of the scoring with every given opportunity.
SHOOTING EVENTS REMOVED FROM ASIAD
NEW DELHI: The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is surprised at the exclusion of many shooting events (individual and team) from the Asian Games, starting from August 18.
Events such as 25m centrefire, 50m free pistol and 50m rifle prone have been dropped from the schedule. The team events too have been removed from the curriculum. The organisers have added 300m rifle --- a big bore event --- in the schedule.
NRAI secretary Rajeev Bhatia said that it was a ‘shocking development’. “Without any valid reason, the organising committee of the Asian Games has cancelled some of the events. How can it happen without prior information? It will drastically impact our tally,’’ said the NRAI official.
LEANDER PAES LOSES DUBAI OPEN FINAL
DUBAI: Leander Paes didn’t have the last laugh in his 97th ATP Tour final as he lost in the summit clash of the men’s doubles event at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship. Paes and American partner Jamie Cerretani lost to Jean-julien Rojer of the Netherlands and Horia Tecau of Romania 2-6, 6-7 (2-7).