Qatar defeat Estonia 3-0 in Asian Cup warm-up
Doha: Qatar downed Estonia 3-0 in a warm-up game for the Asian Cup football tournament to extend their unbeaten streak to 10 games. Mohammad Muntari, Abdul Karim and Mohammad Ismail each scored to put the match beyond Estonia’s reach, reports Xinhua. The 2014 Gulf Cup of Nations champions will begin their 2015 AFC Asian Cup campaign against the UAE Jan 11 before taking on Iran and Bahrain. Qatar will play their final friendly on New Year eve in Canberra against Oman. (IANS)
Bharat Petroleum lift Scindia Gold Cup
Gwalior: Bharat Petroleum, Mumbai, vanquished Central Railway, Mumbai, 3-1 today at this citadel town’s Railway Hockey Stadium to wear the laurels in the 78th All-India Scindia Gold Cup Hockey Tournament.Studded with international players, the Bharat Petroleum team attained a 2-1 lead by halftime. For the victors, the maiden goal was scored by Lalit Upadhyay in the 6th minute and Hariprasad did likewise in the 25th. Central Railway’s forward Affan struck the ball home in the 27th. In the second half, Bharat Petroleum dominated the proceedings and Varun Kumar converted a penalty corner in the 43rd. Madhya Pradesh Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Narottam Mishra awarded the trophies besides Rs 3 lakh to the winning team and Rs 2 lakh to the runners-up. (UNI)
Irish twin boost for Dabang Mumbai in Hockey India League
Mumbai: Irish twins – goalkeeper David Harte and defender Conor Harte – will represent the Mumbai franchise of the Hockey India League (HIL) in the coming season. Dabang Mumbai is a newly assembled team, owned by DoIT Sports Management. The franchise was earlier called `Mumbai Magicians’ owned by the Dabur Group which pulled out of the third edition of HIL, which will begin Jan 22. While David is all set to play in his second year in the league, it will be Conor who will feature for the first time.M It was in the HIL Players’ Closed Bid 2014 that David was bought for a whopping $51,000 which makes him the second most expensive goalkeeper in this season after P.R. Sreejesh. The Indian vice-captain was picked by Uttar Pradesh Wizards for $69,000. David made his international debut in 2006 and is considered one of the top goalies in the world with 135 international caps. David was also adjudged the ‘Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament’ in the FIH Champions Challenge 2014, held in Kuantan, Malaysia, where Ireland finished at a respectable fourth position. Conor too has featured in 177 games for his country, said a HIL release.(IANS)
Ranji: Mandeep, Yuvraj lift Punjab to 327/3, Iyer shines for Mumbai
New Delhi: Mandeep Singh (not out 154) and Yuvraj Singh (not out 95) powered Punjab to 327 for three on the first day of their Ranji Trophy match against Saurashtra in Rajkot while Mumbai batsman Shreyas Iyer’s 153 helped the visitors reach 306 for four against Bengal at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday. Punjab’s right-hander Mandeep, who registered his eighth First-class century, joined Yuvraj when the team’s scoreboard read 100 for three as Saurashtra’s Sudeep Tyagi removed openers Amitoze Singh (45) and Jiwanjot Singh (11) quickly. (IANS)