Qureshi and I can do very well next season, says Bopanna
BANGALORE: Happy to be reunited with doubles partner Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan, Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna on Tuesday exuded confidence of doing “extremely well” in the upcoming season, starting in January next year. “It is great for me to get reunited with Qureshi and I am really looking forward to continue (the partnership). It is (also) a very positive sign and we can do extremely well (in next season, beginning January),” he told reporters here on the sidelines of “Unshaven is Unbathed” movement launched by Gillette. The Indo-Pak pair, who took the world by storm by reaching the US Open final in 2010, will be coming together for the new season, commencing with ATP Tour in Chennai. Bopanna parted ways with Qureshi in 2011 to partner compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi, keeping an eye on 2012 London Olympics. The Pakistani united with Jean-Julien Rojer. A haywire and not-too-impressive last season for both Bopanna and Qureshi prompted them to announce their reunification for the next season. Even though Bopanna reached a career-high individual doubles ranking of world number three, playing with a string of partners, the Bangalore-lad failed to qualify for London’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Bopanna changed five doubles partners in 2013. Early on in the same season, he split with Bhupathi and partnered Rajeev Ram, Marcelo Melo, Colin Fleming and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. (PTI)
Totti’s return makes us even stronger: Roma coach
ROME: The return of captain Francesco Totti after a long injury layoff has put a spring back in the step of AS Roma coach Rudi Garcia. The experienced playmaker, who has been out for eight weeks with a thigh injury, returned for Monday’s 2-2 Serie A draw at AC Milan. Totti came on as a 64th-minute substitute for Mattia Destro who was himself featuring for only the second time this season following a series of niggling injuries. “We knew that neither Totti nor Destro had 90 minutes in their legs so I chose to divide the match between them,” said Garcia. “It’s good news that the captain is back because with him we are even stronger.” Second-placed Roma are unbeaten in 16 matches this season and trail leaders Juventus by five points. Garcia’s men, chasing their first Serie A title since 2001, host bottom of the table Catania on Sunday before the top two clash immediately after the Christmas break. Roma are trying to play down title talk although expectations have been raised in a city hungry for success. “I’m not looking either behind me or ahead of me,” said Garcia. “What we need to do now is play well at home in the next match and prepare for Juventus.” Roma twice went in front against Milan, through Destro and a Kevin Strootman penalty, but Milan responded each time with goals from Cristian Zapata and Sulley Muntari. (Agencies)
No WC fears for Schweinsteiger
BERLIN: Bayern Munich’s Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger has said he has no fear of missing the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, despite his on-going ankle problems. “I have not had a moment’s concern about missing the World Cup,” Schweinsteiger said. “It’s annoying that I can’t play, but I have to take care of my body. It’s not the first time…(that I’ve been injured). “Light jogging is now possible, but no ball work. “It’ll take a while yet, but I am working harder in training than when I am fit.” (Agencies)