Ind aim to upset Germany in HWL today
New Delhi: Out of title race after a crushing defeat at the hands of Australia, hosts India would be hoping for a miracle when they take on Olympic champions Germany in the fifth-eighth place play-off game of the Hockey World League Final, here on Friday. Going into the clash, the Indians can take heart from their drawn pool match against the same team. India squandered a two-goal lead against world champions Australia to suffer a 7-2 hammering in the quarterfinal of the eight-nation tournament on Tuesday. (PTI)
Strong start by Jeev in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi: Jeev Milkha Singh opened the new season with a three-under 69 in the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf on Thursday. Of the other two Indians in the fray, Shiv Kapur returning to the Tour after a gap of a year shot one-under 71 and Gaganjeet Bhullar was one-under at the 13th hole with play still going on. Matthew Baldwin, Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Romain Wattel were tied in lead at five-under 67 each. Eight others were at four-under 68. Jeev, who was dogged by injuries through 2013, had a bogey on 12th after teeing up from 10th. He birdied the 13th, 18th, third and sixth and dropped no more shots for his 69. Kapur bogeyed second and fifth and turned in two-over, but three birdies on 10th, 13th and 15th brought him under-par. Bhullar had three birdies and two bogeys with five more holes to go. Meanwhile, in Thailand, Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri seemed headed for a fine and flawless outing before a late double bogey blotted his first round card in the Kings Cup. His round of 69 placed him tied eighth and four-behind joint leaders Prom Meesawat of Thailand and Swede Rikard Karlberg. Jyoti Randhawa and SSP Chowrasia shot two-under 70 each to be tied 17th, while Rahil Gangjee, who had five different outcomes on five successive holes from 10th to 14th, shot 71 to be tied 31st. Gangjee shot birdie-par-double bogey-eagle and bogey in succession from 10th to 14th. (PTI)
Lanka fights as Pak gets spin in Sharjah
Sharjah: Sri Lanka fought hard against Pakistani spinners led by Saeed Ajmal to reach 220-5 at close on the opening day of the third Test here on Thursday. Ajmal took 2-62 to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 166-5 before Angelo Mathews (24) and Prasanna Jayawardene (28) saw off the day with a 54-run unfinished stand on a spin-friendly Sharjah stadium pitch. Pakistan had to rue a dropped catch by paceman Mohammad Talha when Mathews had not scored while a leg-before decision against Prasanna was turned down on referral – two lapses that denied Pakistan the chance to take full control. Pakistan took the second new ball after 87 overs with Sri Lanka on 206-5 but Mathews, who hit a career best 157 not out and alongwith Prasanna helped Sri Lanka to salvage a draw in the first Test in Abu Dhabi, batted sensibly. Sri Lanka lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning the second match in Dubai by nine wickets. (AFP)
‘No discrimination during Sochi Olympics’
Moscow: No discrimination is foreseen during the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. “The Games will be held in a full accordance to the Olympic Charter, with no discrimination on any criteria,” Putin said during a ceremony at the Kremlin Palace. Last June, Putin signed a controversial law banning the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relationships” to minors. The move sparked outcry abroad with many athletes and celebrities called to boycott the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Putin himself strongly denied that gay people faced any discrimination in Russia on the official level. He said over 6,000 athletes from 85 countries and regions and hundreds of thousand visitors were expected to Sochi, vowing that the Games would become a big festival of sport. The president reminded that foreign athletes could arrive in Russia visa-free for the period of the Games and said the event would make nations closer, increase trust, strengthen friendship and partnership between peoples. The 22nd Winter Olympics are slated for February 7-23 with competition for 98 sets of medals. The Paralympics are to take place from March 7-16. (IANS)