Indian Navy edge Laximi Prasad; Sesa FC wins
Margao: A goal by Riyadh B in 84th minute guided Indian Navy to get better of Tuff Laximi Prasad 3-2 in a hard fought quarter final league match of the 127th Durand Cup Football Tournament played at at Raia Ground ton Saturday. While in another match, Sesa FC warded off Mohammedan Sporting’s challenge in the second half to score a 1-0 win in their group C quarterfinal league match of the 127th Durand Cup, played at Raia Panchayat ground. Sesa Football Academy started on an attacking note as they moved the ball well among themselves on the flanks, followed by lofted crosses that kept the rival defense on tight lease.(UNI)
Chikkarangappa clinches TAKE Solutions India Masters
Bangalore: Local favourite Chikkarangappa S made a valiant comeback with a final round of five-under 67 to earn his maiden international win at the Asian Development Tour’s TAKE Solutions India Masters here on Saturday. Chikkarangappa, playing at his home course Eagleton, overcame the overnight six-shot deficit as he posted a tournament total of 18-under 270 to achieve a remarkable two-stroke victory at the USD 70,000 event. Abhishek Jha, another Bangalorean and good friend and practice partner of Chikka, shot a contrasting three-over 75 to finish runner-up at 16-under 272 despite starting the day with a six-shot lead. Chikkarangappa (64-70-69-67), who was overnight tied second and nursing an injury in his left wrist, had a three-shot swing early in his favour as he converted a 25-footer for birdie on the third even as Abhishek Jha (66-66-65-75) dropped bogeys on the third and fourth. Chikka became the second Indian after Sujjan Singh to win on the Asian Development Tour. (PTI)
Raonic beats Berdych to reach Paris Masters final
Paris: Canadian seventh seed Milos Raonic reached a Masters final for the second time when he beat Czech fifth seed Tomas Berdych 6-3 3-6 7-5 in the semi-finals of the Paris event on Saturday. Raonic, who qualified for the ATP World Tour Finals on Friday, will take on either world number one Novak Djokovic or Japanese sixth seed Kei Nishikori in the showpiece match. The big-serving Raonic, runner-up at the Toronto Masters last year, followed up his quarter-final defeat of second seed Roger Federer impressively against the 2005 Paris champion. After firing down 21 aces against Federer, Raonic had to wait until the fifth game to serve his first on Saturday but by that time he had already broken Berdych for a 3-1 lead. Although Berdych read his serve pretty well, Raonic held and bagged the opening set when his opponent’s sliced backhand sailed long. (Reuters)
ISL brought lot of enthusiasm to football in India: AIFF
Margao: All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel is delighted with the response the ongoing Indian Super League has got so far and said the tournament has brought lot of enthusiasm to the beautiful game in the country. “It’s been a few weeks into the ISL and it’s an ambitious and enlightened endeavour on behalf of the AIFF to bring football to the masses and enhance its popularity and bring more responses to the game,” said Patel, who was was here to unveil FC Goa’s magazine. “There is a lot of interest in Indian football because of the ISL, because of the international players and coaches. In Goa you have seen how Zico and (Robert) Pires have brought in a lot of interest and enthusiasm from fans. The teams have been putting in a lot effort into the matches. It’s a great opportunity for us to host a tournament such as the ISL,” he addded. (PTI)