Kashyap in Korea Open semis with upset win over Jorgensen
INCHEON: Parupalli Kashyap progressed to the men’s singles semi-finals of the Korea Open World Tour Super 500 with a straight-game win over former world no 2 Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen here on Friday.
In a clinical display, the 33-year-old from Hyderabad, who is the lone Indian left in fray, outsmarted Jorgensen 24-22, 21-8 in 37 minutes to make it to his second semi-final of the season. He had reached the last four at the India Open Super 500 tournament. The 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist will now face world No 1 and two-time world champion Kento Momota of Japan on Saturday.
A former world No 6, Kashyap, who was promoted from the qualifying round, had last played Jorgensen five years ago at the Denmark Open.
The Indian entered the match with a 2-4 record against Jorgensen, a 2015 World Championship bronze medallist. GANGJEE IN LEAD
KOBE (JAPAN): Defending champion Rahil Gangjee moved into sole lead at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship with a flawless eight-under 63 while Ajeetesh Sandhu climbed to tied sixth here on Friday.
Sandhu holed an ace and then parred the next six before snatching a final birdie on way to 66. Viraj Madappa (74-68) at tied 58th also made the cut, while Shiv Kapur (72-71) was one shot off the projected line at even par with some players yet to finish.
Khalin Joshi (71-73) and S Chikkarangappa (71-75) missed the cut.
Gangjee zoomed to the top with a 63 that took him to a nineunder total and a one-shot lead at the halfway stage at the Higashi Hirono Golf Club.
RODRIGUES WINS
NEW DELHI : Hero Motosports on Friday emerged victorious at the Pan Africa Rally with their rider Joaquim Rodrigues being crowned the winner in the Moto (two-wheeler) category in Merzouga, Morocco.
After a consistent run of 1,500km spread across five stages and six days, the Portuguese clinched the top prize in 16 hours, 21 minutes and 43 seconds, 11 minutes and 34 seconds ahead of second-placed Jacopo Cerutti of Solarys Racing Team.
Indian rider CS Santosh finished a creditable fifth, an hour, 22 minutes and 43 seconds behind Hero teammate Rodrigues.
Santosh’s personal best was also the best ever result by an Indian in a rally outside India.
Johnny Aubert of TVS Sherco, the other Indian manufacturer, finished sixth.