City bridge tournament
SHILLONG: The Survey of India Bridge Club will organise the all Shillong bridge competition pair event in memory of the late BK Mazunder on October 26 at 9am at the Survey of India Community Hall, Barik, Shillong. Another pair event will be conducted by the Meghalaya Bridge Association in memory of the late J Bhattacharjee on the following day at 9am, followed by team of four duplicate events in memory of the late Major General PK Gupta by the Survey of India Bridge Club.
Jwala-Ashwini ousted in France
Paris: Star Indian shuttler PV Sindhu made a sensational start to her French Super Series campaign as she crushed world number six Ji Hyun Sung of Korea in straight games to sail into the second round of the event here on Wednesday. World number 10 Sindhu defeated the Korean, who ousted Saina Nehwal at the Denmark Open last week, 21-8, 21-12 in just 29 minutes. Sindhu, who exited the Denmark Open early, rode on her superior smash winners and deft net play to tame the Korean in a one-sided contest. In women’s doubles, the pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa went down fighting against Gebby Ristiyani Imawan and Tiara Rosalia Nuraidah of Indonesia in their opening round match. Renewing their partnership after the London Olympics last year, the duo staged a comeback after losing closely in the first game but were overwhelmed 18-21, 21-13, 17-21 by the world number 16 pair. In the other women singles match, Indian qualifier Arundhati Pantawane crashed out of the first round as she lost to Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand 17-21, 21-16, 14-21. In men’s singles, RMV Gurusaidutt failed to cross the first hurdle. The Indian could not put up a fight in the first game but he tried to make a comeback in the second before going down 9-21, 14-21 to Chen Yuekun of China in another first round match. (PTI)
Federer rallies past Istomin in Basel
BASEL: Roger Federer worried his hometown fans before beating Denis Istomin 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday in the second round of the Swiss Indoors. Federer conceded a set for the first time in five matches against the 48th-ranked Uzbek and rallied from 0-40 down in his first service game in the third. The seventh-ranked Federer converted his first match point with an angled backhand volley. Top-seeded Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina eased past Swiss wild card Henri Laaksonen, 6-4, 6-4. Federer is looking for a strong finish to the most difficult season of his career. His chances of qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals in London improved when Richard Gasquet lost 6-4, 6-2 to fellow Frenchman Michael Llodra. (AFP)
Li Na, Jankovic advance at WTA C’ships
ISTANBUL: Jelena Jankovic topped second-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-3 in her first match at the WTA Championships on Wednesday. Earlier, fifth-ranked Li Na edged Sara Errani 6-3, 7-6 (5). Errani also lost her opening group match on Tuesday to Azarenka and likely will be eliminated from the round-robin event featuring the top eight players in the world. Jankovic, who was ranked No. 1 in 2008 and returned in the top 10 for the first time since 2011, outplayed the erratic Azeranka to snap a four-match losing streak against her. (AP)
Proteas ahead after Tahir wrecks Pak
Dubai: Leg-spinner Imran Tahir came to haunt the country of his birth, Pakistan, by claiming a maiden five-wicket haul to give South Africa an early control of the must-win second Test on Wednesday. The 34-year old finished with a career best 5-32 while fit-again paceman Dale Steyn took 3-38 to bundle Pakistan out for 99 all out in 36.4 overs at Dubai stadium before South Africa finished the day on 128-3. They lead by 29 runs and enjoyed a good day in their bids to level the two-Test series after losing the first game by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi last week. Graeme Smith was unbeaten on 67 and nightwatchman Steyn was three not out. (AFP)