Sania back into top 10 doubles rankings
New Delhi: Sania Mirza has broken back into the top 10 of the world women’s doubles by gaining two spots for ninth place in the latest WTA Team Rankings issued on Monday. Sania jumped from 11th spot despite not playing any event this week. The 26-year-old moved up as a result of other players dropping points. Sania had won back-to-back titles as she lifted the China Open trophy earlier this month, followed by another triumph in Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. Her partner Cara Black of Zimbabwe too gained a position to be at number 13. Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci hold on to the joint number one ranking, while Su-Wei Hsieh climbed two spots to number four and Katarina Srebotnik moved one spot higher to number three. (PTI)
Footy coach loses tooth in celebrations
AMSTERDAM: Twente Enschede manager Michel Jansen is facing a costly dentist bill after having his tooth knocked out by his assistant as they celebrated a goal by the Dutch league leaders on Saturday. Youri Mulder accidentally caught Jansen in the mouth with a fist pump as the pair celebrated Twente’s opener at home to champions Ajax Amsterdam. “Youri celebrated rather excitedly,” Jansen told reporters. Jansen’s day didn’t get any better as Twente gave up a late equaliser to draw the match 1-1. (Reuters)
Cole sits out Chelsea’s Schalke trip
London: Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole was omitted from the squad that travelled to Germany for Tuesday’s Champions League group game with Schalke, the Premier League club announced on Monday. Cole trained with his team-mates on Monday morning, having missed England’s last two World Cup qualifiers and Chelsea’s 4-1 win over Cardiff City on Saturday with a rib injury. However, he did not board the plane for the flight to Dusseldorf due to manager Jose Mourinho’s unwillingness to take risks with the 32-year-old’s fitness. “Jose Mourinho believes tomorrow’s (Tuesday’s) game has come just too soon for the left-back and he has remained in the UK,” said a story on the Chelsea website. German forward Andre Schurrle, who had been struggling with a leg injury, was a member of the 21-man squad. Schalke lead Group E on six points after two matches, with Chelsea three points back in third place. (AFP)