Sindhu re-enters top-10 shuttle rankings
New Delhi: India’s rising shuttler Kidambi Srikanth climbed up five places to a career-best No. 13 in the men’s singles rankings, while PV Sindhu re-entered the women’s top-10 released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Thursday. Sindhu earned a place to rise to number 10 position in the table, riding on her brilliant performance during the recently-concluded Uber Cup here. She won five consecutive matches to help the Indian team win its maiden bronze medal in the biennial event. Leading from the front, Saina Nehwal also came up with some stellar performances by winning five successive matches, including a victory over reigning World Champion Ratchanok Intanon, to retain her No. 8 place in the rankings. Reigning Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China continues to figure at the top of the women’s singles list. In men’s singles, despite losing two of his three matches during India’s campaign in the Thomas Cup, Srikanth’s victory over higher ranked German Marc Zwiebler enabled the 21-year-old to move up to his career best ranking. Parupalli Kashyap, meanwhile, managed to maintain his number 21 position in the list, which is headed by Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei. There are no Indians in the top-25 of the doubles rankings. (PTI)
Tiger Woods to miss US Open
Los Angeles: Tiger Woods, struggling to return to top form after undergoing back surgery, will not play in the 2014 US Open next month, he announced on his website. The 14-time major winner has not competed since the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March and this is the sixth major championship the American has missed because of injuries. “Unfortunately, I won’t be there because I’m not yet physically able to play competitive golf,” Woods said on Wednesday. “I’d like to convey my regrets to the USGA leadership, the volunteers and the fans that I won’t be at Pinehurst. “The US Open is very important to me, and I know it’s going to be a great week. Despite missing the first two majors, and several other important tournaments, I remain very optimistic about this year and my future.” Woods shot a third round 66 at the WGC-Cadillac Championship to vault back into contention but struggled with back pain in the final round on March 9. He also missed four months of the 2011 season with knee and Achilles injuries. (AFP)
Swansea snap up Fabianski from Arsenal
LONDON: Lukasz Fabianski aims to oust Michel Vorm as Swansea City’s first choice goalkeeper after rejecting a contract extension with Arsenal and joining their English Premier League rivals on a free transfer on Thursday. The 29-year-old Polish international signed a four-year deal, which will be activated upon the expiry of his Arsenal contract on July 1, and becomes Garry Monk’s first signing since taking over as manager in February. “I am very happy with the move, the decision and the club,” he told the Swansea website. “For me, it was an easy decision to make. “If I’m completely honest, the main reason I came to Swansea was because I want to be the number one goalkeeper. I want to play week-in, week-out. It’s going to be a real fight, but I’m not afraid of that.” Fabianski, who has won 21 international caps, will compete with Dutch international Vorm for a starting spot at the Liberty Stadium after ending his seven-year spell at the Emirates. The injury-prone Vorm, who underwent knee surgery in December, was named in the Netherlands’ preliminary World Cup squad earlier this month. Swansea also have German goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel on their books. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had said he had wanted to keep the goalkeeper, who was backup to first choice Wojciech Szczesny but started the FA Cup final earlier this month as the Londoners beat Hull City 3-2. (AFP)
New York City to sign David Villa: reports
Madrid: Atletico Madrid forward David Villa is about to sign a three-year contract with New York City FC, according to news reports on Thursday. Villa will be transferred to NYCFC in the summer of 2014. Spanish radio station Cadena Cope said that the US club, which is jointly owned by Manchester City and New York Yankees, offered the 32-year-old player a huge deal. Villa moved to Atletico Madrid in 2013 after leaving Barcelona where he joined in 2010. (IANS)