I am not retiring, says Mary Kom
New Delhi: Tired of answering constant queries about her retirement plans, Olympic bronze-medallist and five-time world champion boxer MC Mary Kom pleaded to be left alone, saying she does not wish to call it quits. The 30-year-old, who has taken a brief sabbatical from the game after the birth of her third child, was here on Friday to launch her autobiography ‘Unbreakable’. As she unveiled the book, the Khel Ratna awardee made it clear that she had no plans to hang her gloves just yet. “I just want to say and request that I am not going to retire,” said the affable Manipuri even before was asked about it by the media. “My humble request is please support me, I will try my best to win a medal,” she added. The autobiography, which details her rise to the top from a modest background, was launched by Sport Minister Jitendra Singh and two-time Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar, whom Mary Kom addressed as ‘big brother’. Sushil was effusive in praise of Mary Kom, calling her the toughest of the six Indians who won medals at the London Olympics last year. “She is the strongest among the six of us. All those who have supported her have actually done the country proud. She is a fantastic person and a truly great athlete. I congratulate her for this book,” said the soft-spoken wrestler. (PTI)
India to face Pak in men’s kabaddi final
Chandigarh: India will take on Pakistan in the final of the men’s section of the 4th World Cup Kabaddi in Ludhiana on Saturday. In the semifinals, India trounced England 63-32 and Pakistan beat the USA 51-33. Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif and Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab CM, will be watching the final from the stands. The last three World Cup in 2010, 2011 and 2013 were also held in Ludhiana where the Indian men registered victories by beating Pakistan twice and Canada once. (PTI)
Saina fails to qualify for last-4 of Finals
Kuala Lumpur: After two successive defeats, Saina Nehwal finally managed to post a hard-fought win over Yeon Ju Bae of Korea in her last Group B match but it was not good enough to ensure a semifinal berth for the Indian shuttler in the World Superseries Finals here on Friday. The 23-year-old Indian registered a 21-11, 17-21, 21-13 win over Bae. World number six Saina had suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Minatsu Mitani of Japan and world number one Chinese shuttler Li Xuerui in her two matches of Group B, which had put her in a must-win situation on Friday to salvage any hope of a semifinal qualification. A straight-game victory over Bae would have brightened her chances but after the Korean snatched the second game, it dashed the hopes of Saina to reach the semis. Later in the day, Xuerui packed off Mitani 21-11, 21-14 to make it a three-way tie among Saina, Bae and Mitani for the second place in the group. However, when the difference of games won and games lost was calculated, Bae was found ahead of Saina and Mitani and the Korean joined Xuerui as the runner-up from Group B. (PTI)
Boult takes 10 as Kiwis thrash Windies
Wellington: Trent Boult led New Zealand to their first Test win in more than a year on Friday when he produced career best figures in a fiery bowling display that crushed the West Indies inside three days. The West Indies lost 16 wickets on the third day as they handed New Zealand a comprehensive victory by an innings and 73 runs. It was the Black Caps first win in 11 Tests under Brendon McCullum, who replaced Ross Taylor after their last success in Sri Lanka nearly 13 months ago. The West Indies resumed Friday at 158-4 in the first innings in reply to New Zealand’s 441. They were forced to follow on when they collapsed to be all out for 193, and the second innings ended at 175. Boult was the chief destroyer with six for 40 in the first innings where his last four wickets came in the space of six deliveries. In the second innings he returned figures of 4-40 and also pulled off a spectacular one-handed, diving catch when Denesh Ramdin (19) slashed at a Neil Wagner delivery. (AFP)