Somdev, Yuki to lead Indians in Delhi
New Delhi: India’s top two singles players, Somdev Devvraman and Yuki Bhambri, would aim to win another ATP Challenger title but they will face stiff challenge from a number of talented players at the Delhi Open, beginning here on Monday. After a long wait, the country’s players have got the opportunity to play in back-to-back Challenger events in India and the players have relished the chance to compete in a field, which features top players. Yuki won the first leg in Chennai and Somdev reached semifinals of both Chennai and Kolkata events while players such as Sanam Singh and Saketh Myneni also did well. The field for the Delhi Open has two top-100 players, including Somdev and top seed from Kazakhstan Aleksandr Nedovyesov apart from six more players in top-160. (PTI)
Missing out on IPL experience: Hafeez
Karachi: Pakistan’s T20 captain, Mohammad Hafeez, feels the PCB should sort out the issue of Pakistani players not being allowed to play in the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL). “It is strange that for years now Pakistani players have not been allowed to play in the IPL. Because it is a world class league and there is so much to learn from it,” Hafeez said in an interview to Express newspaper. “I played in the first season of the IPL and I got a chance to share the dressing room with greats like Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Pointing and it was a great learning experience. I believe that what our players are missing out the most is this aspect of playing in the IPL,” he said. The allrounder who represented Kolkata Knight Riders in the first season said he had stopped following the IPL auction because Pakistani players were not part of it. (PTI)
Bhullar ends tied 27th at Africa Open
East London: Gaganjeet Bhullar got his putts right just in time as managed a one-under 70 in the final round to end tied 27th at the Africa Open on the European Tour, here on Sunday. Bhullar, who had three rounds in the 60s, finished at 12-under par, the best total he has achieved so far on the European Tour this season. Bhullar began with a par but bogeyed the second. He hit back to find back to back birdies on third and fourth as he looked set make a good charge. But thereafter he could not find a single birdie. He did well not to lose patience and parred the next 14 holes to come home in 70. Bhullar’s best finish this season so far has been tied 10th in Abu Dhabi and tied 22nd in Qatar. He also finished 59th at Joburg Open. Earlier Shiv Kapur missed the cut with rounds of 70-70. At the top Thomas Aiken, who won the Avantha Masters in 2013 – where Bhullar was second – was in lead with five holes to go. He was at 19-under. Darren Fichardt was lying second at 18-under with John Hahn and Oliver Fisher. Overnight leader Emiliano Grillo came to grief with a nine on par-4 first hole and then dropped more bogeys on fifth, eighth and ninth to fall down to 19th but he had five more holes to play. (PTI)
Brazil opens Beira-Rio WC stadium
Porto Alegre (BRAZIL): Brazil’s Beira-Rio became the eighth stadium to be ready for this year’s football World Cup when it officially opened almost two months behind schedule. The venue’s owner, Internacional Football Club marked the occasion with a 4-0 victory over local rivals Caxias in the Rio Grande do Sul state league on Saturday. It is only the second of Brazil non-Confederations Cup stadiums to be ready for the World Cup, despite a December deadline set by football’s governing body FIFA. Stadiums still under construction for the June 12-July 13 event are Sao Paulo’s Itaquerao, Curitiba’s Arena da Baixada, Cuaiba’s Arena do Pantanal and Manaus’ Arena da Amazonia. Located in the southern city of Porto Alegre, the 51,000-seat Beira-Rio will host five World Cup matches. Widespread delays in addition to the deaths of several workers have brought the construction of the stadiums under a cloud. There have also been several violent protests by members of the public concerning economic issues in the South American country. (IANS)