Indian archers continue to disappoint
New Delhi: India’s disappointing performance in the World Archery Championships continued with both the men’s and women’s compound teams losing in the pre-quarterfinals at Belek, Turkey, on Friday. The men’s compound trio of Rajat Chauhan, Sandeep Kumar and Abhishek Verma, who were seeded 13th, were no match to their fourth-seeded opponents from France and lost 176-188 in the pre-quarterfinals. In the women’s compound team event, Trisha Deba, Jhano Hansdah and Jyothi Surekha Vennam lost to world’s top-ranked side, USA 156-172 in the pre-quarters. India’s campaign in the individual events had ended on Thursday with Rajat Chauhan being able to reach to the quarters in the men’s compound event. In the recurve mixed team event, the Indian pair of Deepika Kumari and Jayanta Talukdar had lost to Taiwan in the quarters. India’s medal hope remained only in the compound mixed team event tomorrow with the duo of Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Abhishek Verma taking on their United States counterparts in the bronze-medal play-off. (PTI)
Bopanna, Roger-Vasselin in Japan final
Tokyo: Rohan Bopanna reached his third final of the season when he combined with Edouard Roger-Vasselin to get past Treat Huey and Dominic Inglot in straight sets in the ATP Japan Open, here on Friday. Bopanna and his French partner, seeded fourth, beat the Austrian-Briton combination 6-4, 7-6 (6) in the semifinals of the hard court event. Bopanna had earlier won the Marseille event in France with Briton Colin Fleming and ended as a finalist with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi at the Rome Masters. Bopanna and his partner broke their rivals twice in the and saved a crucial chance to take the opening set. The two teams had several chances to break each other in the second but did not succeed, eventually pushing it to tie-breaker, where the fourth seeds prevailed. (PTI)
Gangjee and Kapur make cut in Taiwan
Tamsui (Taiwan): With conditions continuing to be tough on the second day, only two Indians – Rahil Gangjee (73-74) and Shiv Kapur (73-76) – made the cut for the weekend at the Taiwan Masters. Gangjee, who came in through the Qualifying School at the start of the season, is now three-over 147 and in tied 17th place, while Kapur at five-over 149 is tied 39th. With the starting field of 132, only the top-50 and ties made the cut with 51 going through for weekend action. Sam Cyr of the United States returned with a three-under-par 69 to snatch the second round lead from Australia’s Scott Hend on Friday. (PTI)
Afghanistan qualify for 2015 World Cup
Sharjah: Afghanistan defeated Kenya on Friday by seven wickets to finish second in the ICC World Cricket League Championship here and qualify for their maiden cricket World Cup in 2015. Deciding to field first after winning the toss, Afghanistan dismissed Kenya for 93 in 43.3 overs and then achieved the target in 20.5 overs with seven wickets to spare. The victory meant Afghanistan finished on 19 points – five behind champion Ireland, who qualified for ICC’s flagship event in July. By virtue of finishing second, Afghanistan have earned a place in Pool A that includes co-hosts Australia and New Zealand, as well as Bangladesh, England, Sri Lanka and Qualifier 3. (IANS)
Sauber extend engine deal with Ferrari
Yeongam: Sauber have signed a fresh multi-year engine deal with Ferrari starting with the 2014 Formula One season. Ferrari has supplied engines to the Hinwil-based squad since BMW’s exit from the team in 2010. The announcement on Friday means all teams barring Lotus have named their suppliers for the season, which will see 1.6 litre turbocharged V6 engines replace the V8s. Lotus are expected to extend their partnership with Renault. Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn said, “We are pleased to extend our technical partnership with Ferrari taking Sauber into the new era of engines that starts in 2014. Ferrari has been a long standing partner of the team, first from 1997 to 2005 and then again from 2010 onwards.” (IANS)