Saina, Sindhu crash in Paris
Paris: Indian shuttlers had a bad day in the office at the French Super Series with Saina Nehwal and three others crashing out in the second round of the event here on Thursday. Saina, seeded fourth, was shocked 22-10, 15-21, 20-22 by Yeon Ju Bae of Korea in one hour and 11 minutes. The other Indian female shuttler in the fray, PV Sindhu, also failed to clear the second hurdle, losing to the less formidable Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland. World number 11 Sindhu, who stunned world number six Ji Hyun Sung of Korea in straight games in the opening round, lost 21-10, 19-21, 16-21 to 30th-ranked Gilmour in a keenly-contested match that lasted exactly an hour. The Indian male shuttlers were no better as K Srikanth and Ajay Jayram also bowed out in the second round. Young Srikanth gave sixth seed Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand a tough time before going down 21-15, 18-21, 15-21. Jayram too was shown the door in the second round by top seed Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia. It was a creditable performance by Jayram against the highly-rated Lee Chong Wei, who has to dug deep to pocket the 21-18, 21-18 victory and secure his place in the quarterfinals. (PTI)
Dalglish to coach in Indian Super League
Mumbai: Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, popularly called ‘King Kenny’ by Reds’ fans, will soon be seen coaching one of the eight franchise teams in the much-awaited Indian Super League scheduled to start next January. A Hall of Famer in England and Scotland, Kenny is the recent signing by tournament organiser IMG-Reliance as manager. He will be joined by former Manchester United goalkeeper great Peter Schmeichel and France international Marcel Desailly. IMG-Reliance & Star India had announced the launch this week of the Indian Super League, a football championship that will feature international stars and foster local talents, with the aim of making the game one of the country’s flagship sports and India a name to reckon with in the global arena. The league will feature eight city teams and will tap the burgeoning interest among the country’s young population that is increasingly taking interest in the sport. The league will kick off in January 2014 and will run through March. (PTI)
Smith, de Villiers put South Africa on top
Dubai: Graeme Smith smashed a double century and AB de Villiers hit a robust hundred to guide South Africa to an imperious position in the must-win second cricket Test against Pakistan here on Thursday. The South African skipper made 227 not out for his fifth double ton while de Villiers – dropped off the first delivery by wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal off paceman Mohammad Irfan – was unbeaten on 157 for his 17th Test century. The duo plundered a hapless Pakistan attack to take South Africa to 460/4 at close on the second day, giving them a big 361-run lead with three full days to play to force a series-levelling win. Pakistan won the first Test by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi last week. Smith and de Villiers have set an all time South African record for the fifth wicket in Tests with 326, beating the previous best of 267 set by Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince against the West Indies at Antigua in 2005. (AFP)
Benaud injured in car accident
Sydney: Former Australian cricket captain Richie Benaud has injured himself in a car accident and will remain in hospital for two weeks to recover. The 83-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator ended up with chest and shoulder injuries, besides a broken sternum, when his 1963 Sunbeam Alpine “mounted a nature strip and hit a small brick wall”. “No one else was injured, and I was more worried about the car than myself,” Benaud said in a statement. He is expected to be hospitalised for two weeks at the Prince of Wales hospital, local media reports stated. Benaud’s wife Daphne said the former cricketer was recovering well. “Richie’s remarkable,” Mrs Benaud said. “At first I was quite concerned but today he’s looking unbelievably well,” she added. Cricket Australia has wished Benaud a speedy recovery. “We wish cricket legend Richie Benaud a speedy recovery after being involved in a car accident in Sydney,” CA said in a tweet. (PTI)