SPORTS CAFE

Nivia's Astra is match ball for ISL this season

NEW DELHI: The NIVIA has launched the official match ball for the Indian Super League 2021-22 season named 'Astra' on Saturday. Astra is a FIFA Pro category approved ball which is the highest quality certification that FIFA can grant on the quality of the ball. The ball has to pass stringent quality parameters in achieving proper bounce, water absorption, roundness, with the final trials occurring at FIFA designated laboratory in Switzerland to get this certification and to be eligible to be used at the highest level of international matches.

Bopanna-Shapovalov move ahead

CALIFORNIA: The duo of Rohan Bopanna and Denis Shapovalov moved into the second round of the men's doubles event at the ongoing Indian Wells Masters here in California on Friday. The Indo-Canadian pair defeated the team of Hubert Hurkacz and Felix Auger Aliassime by 6-1, 2-6, 10-4 in the Californian tournament opener.

Army's Rana to be appointed boxing coach

NEW DELHI: The Boxing Federation of India has decided to replace men's chief coach C A Kuttappa with Army Sports Institute's Narender Rana ahead of this month's world championship, which is also set to mark the end of High Performance Director Santiago Nieva's tenure.

Sharma moves to 3rd place in Spain

MADRID: Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma played one of his best rounds of the season to force his way into contention at the halfway stage of the Acciona Open de España. Sharma followed up his first round 67 with a seven-under 64 that sparkled even more with two eagles, one each on a Par-5 and a Par-4.

Delhi FC thrash Corbett FC with a fiver

BENGALURU: Delhi FC produced a late surge of goals to oust Corbett FC 5-1 in a Group B encounter in the I-League Qualifiers 2021. With the pouring rain providing the setting here at the Bangalore Football Stadium, Delhi FC adapted to the difficult playing conditions to assert their dominance over the club from Uttarakhand.