Pune eager to keep AFC Cup hopes alive
Nay Pyi Taw: Pune FC will look to keep their hopes of qualifying for the AFC Cup knockout stage alive when they take on Myanmar side Nay Pyi Taw in a crucial Group H Round 5 encounter at the Paung Luang Stadium here on Tuesday. Going into the game on the back of two consecutive losses at home in different competitions, Pune will be keen to shrug off their disappointing run and will seek their first ever win on the continental stage. With their qualification hopes now hanging by a thread, Pune (fourth with two points) will hope to bounce back after losing back-to-back games against Singapore’s Tampines Rovers at the turn over point of the group stage. On the other hand, Nay Pyi Taw (third with four points) also come into the game on the back of a disappointing run in the competition. After drawing their opening game 2-2 in Pune, Nay Pyi Taw beat Tampines in Myanmar before losing back-to-back games against group leaders Kitchee SC home and away. Tuesday’s clash will be an equally crucial one for both sides to keep their aspirations of a second place finish alive. (PTI)
Ivanovic wins 2nd title of year in Monterrey
MONTERREY (Mexico): Ana Ivanovic won an all-Serbian final at the Monterrey Open on Sunday, beating Jovana Jaksic 6-2, 6-1 for her second title of the year. Ivanovic, the 2008 French Open champion, also won the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, to start the year. It’s the first time since 2010 she has captured multiple titles in a season. Jaksic, playing in her first WTA Tour final, started off strongly against the second-seeded Ivanovic, breaking her at love and winning the first six points of the match. But Ivanovic reeled off 16 of the next 17 points to take control of the match and finish it off in one hour. It’s the 13th title of Ivanovic’s career. (AP)
Pistorius apologises after taking the stand
Pretoria: Oscar Pistorius fought through tears to apologise to the family of his slain girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, as he took the witness stand in his defence on Monday. Stammering and with his jaw trembling, Pistorius told the court he did not intend to kill his 29-year-old lover on Valentine’s Day last year. The Paralympic gold medallist is accused of premeditated murder, but claims he shot the model though a locked toilet door believing she was an intruder. “I want to take this opportunity to apologise to Mr and Mrs Steenkamp,” he said, at times barely audible as he sobbed. “I was trying to protect Reeva, I want people to know that she was loved when she went to bed that night.” In the tribunal Steenkamp’s mother June, flanked by other relatives, sat stony-faced during the apology. She has for weeks sat through gruesome evidence, including brutal images of her dead daughter. “I tried to put my words on paper to write to you but no words can ever suffice,” he continued. The athlete cut a broken and emotional figure as he spoke publicly for the first time about events on the night Steenkamp died. (AFP)
Daredevils preparatory camp from April 9
New Delhi: The preparatory camp of Delhi Daredevils, under the guidance of head coach Gary Kirsten, for the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League will begin here on Wednesday. The main focus of the camp will be to help the team come together ahead of the long season and special concentration will also be given to fielding drills. “The idea behind this short camp in India is to help the team come together and gel and thereby build a strong foundation for the bigger challenges ahead,” Kirsten said. Captain Kevin Pietersen, senior players like Ross Taylor, JP Duminy and the whole Indian contingent, led by vice-captain Dinesh Karthik will also be part of the camp. The team will assemble on Tuesday and will fly out to the United Arab Emirates on April 12 where an extensive camp will be held before the team’s opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Sharjah on April 17. (PTI)