SSP, Kapur survive to make cut at Perth golf
PERTH: India’s SSP Chawrasia survived some anxious moments before making his first cut of the year at the World Super 6 Perth golf tournament here on Friday.
Chawrasia, who was tied fifth after the first round, shot twoover 74 and was placed tied 37th after two rounds of the tournament, which is a mix of stroke and match play. It was Chawrasia’s first cut in three starts in 2019. Also making the 36-hole cut was compatriot Shiv Kapur (73-70) who was placed tied 49th.
However, four other Indians — Ajeetesh Sandhu (71-73), S Chikkarangappa (73-71), Khalin Joshi (73-72) and Viraj Madappa (74-75) missed the cut.
Chawrasia had three birdies against five bogeys while Kapur made f i ve bi r di e s and t wo bogeys. Thai Panuphol Pittayarat is atop the leaderboard after firing seven birdies against one bogey to share the lead with New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, Matthew Griffin of Australia and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters.
RIDHIMA WINS TITLE
AHMEDABAD: Ridhima Dilawari rallied from a three-shot deficit to a three-shot win while Gaurika Bishnoi slipped in the final round of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour’s fourth leg here on Friday. Ridhima carded a second successive one-over 73 but Gaurika crashed to seven-over 79. Ridhima ended the week at twoover 218 while Gaurika, who had four runner-up finishes last season, added one more at 221.
TURKEY TOUR FOR INDIA
NEW DELHI: The Indian senior women’s football team will be embarking on an exposure tour to Turkey where it will be playing in the Turkish Women’s Cup from February 27.
India have been clubbed with Romania, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in Group A while France (B), Jordan, Northern Ireland, and hosts Turkey make up Group B. Every team will play each other in the group once with the toppers making it to the final. The tournament is part of the Indian team’s preparation for the AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 2 (in April) and also the SAFF Women’s Championship scheduled in March.
The squad will leave India on February 20 and play its first match against Uzbekistan on February 27.
SONIA ADVANCES
NEW DELHI: Former world silver medallist Sonia Lather (57kg) was among the three Indian women boxers who advanced to the quarter-finals but the men were off to a disappointing start at the 70th Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.
World championships bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) and Pwilao Basumatari (64kg) also made the quarters of the prestigious European event on Thursday night.
Lather, who is also a two-time Asian silver-medallist, defeated Serbia’s Jelena Zekic 5-0. She will square off against American Yarisel Ramirez in the quarters. Borgohain, a gold medallist from the Indian Open last year, got the better of Australian Jessica Messina. Basumatari endured a stiffer challenge in Bulgarian Melis Yonuzova before prevailing 3-2. She has Croatia’s Marija Malencia coming up in the quarterfinals.
EXAMS RESCHEDULED NEWDELHI: The Sports Authority of India has requested the Central Board of Secondary Education to reschedule the class 12 exam dates of shooters Manu Bhaker and Vijayveer Sidhu to avoid a clash with the upcoming Asian Airgun Championships.
In a letter, SAI asked CBSE to consider Bhaker and Sidhu’s case and give fresh dates for two subjects as both the shooters are scheduled to participate in Chinese Taipei from March 25 to April 2.