Pune face Tampines in AFC Cup today
Pune: Seeking their first-ever win on the continental stage, Pune FC host Singapore’s Tampines Rovers in a must-win group match of the AFC Cup here on Tuesday. Despite taking the lead in first half, Pune FC went down 1-3 to the same opponents in the previous round a couple of weeks ago and thus will seek revenge at this turn-over stage of the competition. For Pune FC (2 points), who are at the bottom in Group-H behind Kitchee (7), Nay Pyi Taw (4) and Tampines Rovers (3), a win will boost their hopes of qualification to the next round. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Pune FC coach Mike Snoei said, “It’s our last chance to stay in contention and we will go for a good win. Tampines is not an easy opponent but we definitely want revenge for our loss against them in the last game.” (PTI)
Chelsea will be better in Paris: Mourinho
LONDON: Chelsea will give a better account of themselves in the Champions League in Paris on Wednesday than they did in an unexpected weekend defeat at Crystal Palace, manager Jose Mourinho said on Monday. Mourinho was furious at the lack of ‘spirit and mentality’ that too many of his highly paid players had shown in the 1-0 defeat by lowly Palace in the Premier League on Sunday. He praised his defenders for regularly giving everything but without naming names told reporters that too many of the other players often did not perform in testing away games against less fashionable sides. The only consolation, he said, was that the whole squad should be sufficiently motivated by a glamorous Champions League night in Paris facing PSG in the quarter-final first leg. “Paris is the kind of match they feel comfortable to play,” he said. “Big match, great stadium, opponents with top quality, they will be fine. They will be in their natural habitat in that match. They can do a good match there.” Mourinho is attempting to become the first manager to win three European Cups with different clubs after his successes with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan six years later. He said Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o was unlikely to be fit for Wednesday’s match and England full back Ashley Cole was definitely out. (Reuters)
Saina & Co face tough draw at India Open
New Delhi: Ace shuttlers Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu and K Srikanth will be country’s best bets when they compete in a world class field at the India Open Super Series, which will get underway with the qualifiers at the Siri Fort Sports Complex here on Tuesday. In its fourth edition, the India Open will be a big opportunity for the country’s shuttlers to show their mettle in front of the home crowd against some of the biggest names in the game. Indian chief coach Pullela Gopichand reckons it will be the toughest Indian Super Series. “The entire group has a tough draw because all the top players are playing. It will the toughest Indian Open we have had in all its editions. It’s going to be tough but that’s the way it is, we have to face it,” said the 2001 All-England champion. London Olympics bronze medallist, Saina is the only Indian to be seeded, eighth, and will once again be the star attraction when she starts her campaign against Austrian Simone Prutsch on Wednesday. (IANS)
IOA to pick boxers for CWG, Asiad
New Delhi: With the Indian Boxing Federation’s return to the fold of its international body likely to take time, the Indian Olympic Association is set to constitute a committee to pick the teams for the upcoming Commonwealth and Asian Games. A top IOA official told PTI that in view of the upcoming Glasgow CWG (July 23-August 3) and Incheon Asian Games (Sept 19-Oct 4), a committee will be constituted to pick the India boxers as the deadline for sending the final list of participants for these showpiece multi-sporting events is fast approaching. “The CWG and Asiad are a few months away and deadline for sending final list of participants will be approaching. But the situation is fluid now as we don’t know how long it takes for the boxing issue to be resolved,” the official said. “So, we have decided to form a committee to pick teams for the CWG and Asian Games. It may be done during the April 3 Executive Committee meeting or a few days later. We have to do it fast,” he said. (PTI)