C’wealth c’ship: Ind end with 117 medals
New Delhi: Indian weightlifters ended their Commonwealth Youth, Junior & Senior Championships in style, bagging six medals on Sunday to take their overall tally to a staggering 117, including 57 gold, on the final day of the event in Penang, Malaysia. Besides 57 gold, Indian lifters finished with 39 silver and 21 bronze. The biggest contributors to the tally were the youth boys, who notched up 24 medals, including 16 gold and eight silver. The youth girls were not too far behind with 21 medals, inclusive of a dozen gold. The junior men and women’s teams also bagged 21 medals each, while senior men won 12 and senior women accounted for a total of 18 medals. Youth boys and girls, Junior men and women, and senior men – all pocketed the Winners Team Trophy – while the Senior women had to be satisfied with the runners-up team title. (PTI)
Sindhu in final of Macau Open
Macau: India’s top seed shuttler PV Sindhu cruised into the women’s singles final of the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold at the Macau Forum here on Saturday. The world No. 11 overcame a much lower ranked Qin Jinjing of China 21-13, 18-21, 21-19 in their first-ever encounter. Sindhu took an hour and eight minutes to win the match and will take on world No. 30 and seventh seed Li Michelle of Canada in the title clash on Sunday. Sindhu, who won the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold in May, has a great chance to bag another Tier-III title before the season ends next month. Sindhu had more number of smashes and net winners over the three games played. (PTI)
Philander sets up South African win
Centurion: Vernon Philander led a strong performance by South Africa’s bowlers to set up a four-wicket consolation win for the hosts in the third and final one-day international against Pakistan at SuperSport Park here on Saturday. Philander took three for 26 in a Pakistan total of 179 all out. South Africa made heavy weather of the chase but won with 68 balls to spare, steered home by an unbeaten 48 from captain AB de Villiers. Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq also played a captain’s innings, making 79 not out. But no other Pakistan batsman scored more than 25. Philander, recently recalled to the one-day side after starring for the South African Test team, struck with the fourth ball of the match when Ahmed Shehzad was caught at first slip without scoring. Shehzad made a century when Pakistan clinched the series by winning the second match in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday. (AFP)
4th World Cup Kabaddi gets underway
Bathinda (punjab): The fourth edition of World Cup Kabaddi tournament, in which 20 teams including eight women’s are taking part, got off to a glittering start here on Saturday evening. 85-year-old Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal accompanied by his Deputy and son, Sukhbir Singh Badal, inaugurated the tournament, which saw performances from Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra. Twelve teams including India, Pakistan, Argentina, America, England, Canada, Sierra Leone, Iran, Denmark, Kenya, Spain and Scotland will vie for the men’s title whereas Pakistan, Mexico, New Zealand, Kenya, America, England, Denmark and India will clash for the title in women’s section in the fortnight-long event. (PTI)
Bhullar keeps share of lead in Jakarta
Jakarta: Despite a nightmarish start in the third round, Gaganjeet Bhullar kept himself in the fray by finishing with a share of the lead with Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond at the Indonesia Open here on Saturday. Bhullar (69) shares the lead after 54 holes with Jazz. Bhullar, ranked sixth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, opened with a double bogey but steadied ship with his solid ball striking as he joined Jazz, who shot a 68, atop the leaderboard on 13-under-par 200 at the Pantai Indah Kapuk course at Damai Indah Golf. There was a lot to cheer for the Indians, as Jyoti Randhawa carded a fine five-under 66 to move up to tied fifth place at 204, while Anirban Lahiri carded 67 and was placed at 11th place at seven-under 206. (PTI)