Bubba once again rules the Masters
AUGUSTA (USA): Bubba Watson had just won his second Masters in three years, by the comfortable margin of three strokes, and the long-hitting lefty sounded like he needed to pinch himself to believe it. Watson won his second Masters title by posting a 69 with a 280 total. “A guy named Bubba from a small town, born in Pensacola, Florida, raised in Bagdad (Florida), it’s crazy to think that you’ve won,” Watson said at the champion’s news conference on Sunday. “A small-town guy named Bubba now has two green jackets. It’s pretty wild.” Watson likes to keep it simple, and winning at Augusta National in 2012 rocked his world to such an extent that it took him nearly two years to win again on the tour. The turning point for Watson on Sunday came on a pair of two-stroke swings between him and playing partner Jordan Spieth at the eighth and ninth holes that turned a two-shot deficit into a two-shot lead at the turn. (Reuters)
Selectors need to decide on direction: AITA
Mumbai: All India Tennis Association secretary Bharat Oza made it clear on Monday that the national selection committee needs to take a call on whether they would like to “go backwards” after veterans Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes announced their availability for the Davis Cup tie at home against Serbia. “Our selection committee including captain (Anand Amritraj) and coach (Zeeshan Ali) would decide on whether we need to go backwards or keep faith in the youngsters who did well against South Korea,” Oza told PTI. Oza also said that AITA would decide on the team composition for the September 12-14 home tie against Serbia in July. “The current lot of players prefer the hard courts and not grass as was the case with earlier players. The tie would most likely be held on hard courts,” said Oza. Oza’s reply was in reference to Paes’ declaration that he is willing to be part of the squad as a player or captain or to help out the team if called upon by AITA. (PTI)
PCB keen to bring back Waqar as coach
Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board is keen to bring back former skipper Waqar Younis as the chief coach of the national team as current coach Moin Khan is tipped to take over as the head of the national selection committee. According to a report published in The Dawn, the legendary fast bowler is in talks with the Najam Sethi-led board to succeed Moin, who was only appointed for the Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 following the end of Dav Whatmore’s two-year contract with the national side. Waqar, who has coached Pakistan in 2010 and 2011 before resigning on health and personal grounds, has again expressed his willingness for the post after his previous application was rejected in early February by a PCB panel entrusted with the responsibility of finding the national coach. (PTI)
Indian judokas strike gold at South Asian Championships
New Delhi: Indian judokas dominated and notched up an impressive haul of 10 gold, a silver and a bronze medal at the seventh South Asia Judo Championships held in Kathmandu. A 12-member Indian team participated in the Championships held from April 10 to 13. “All South Asian Countries in Judo Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka participated in the official Championship of South Asia Judo Federation,” the Judo Federation of India said in a statement. In the previous South Asia Judo Championships held in Pakistan, India won 10 Gold and a silver medal. The medallists: Men: Navjot Chana – 60Kg – Gold; Irom Sanju Singh -66Kg – Gold; Navdeep Chana -73Kg – Gold; Vikender Singh -81Kg – Gold; Avtar Singh – 90Kg – Gold; Khaidem Yaima Singh-100Kg – Silver; Women: Angom Anita Chanu – 52Kg – Gold; Suchika Tariyal – 57Kg – Gold; Garima Chaudhary – 63Kg – Gold; Huidrom Sunibala Devi -70Kg – Gold; Ch Jina Devi-78Kg – Gold; Rajni Bala – 48Kg – Bronze. (PTI)