Sania to be playing captain in India’s Fed Cup campaign
New Delhi: Ace tennis player Sania Mirza was on Saturday appointed as playing captain of India’s Fed Cup team, which will seek to make it to Group I grade of Asia/Oceania zone in Hyderabad from April 14. Sania will lead a four-member team which also includes India’s top singles player Ankita Raina, Prarthana Thombare and Natasha Palha. There are also three reserve players in the team — Rishika Sunkara, Nidhi Chilumula and national junior champion Karman Kaur Thandi. “Sania is also considering playing singles to ensure that India advances to Group I of the Asia/Oceania zone,” an AITA release said. The team will assemble in Hyderabad 10 days before the tie and will undergo a training camp at Sania Mirza Tennis Academy. (PTI)
Former NBA player finds job at McDonald’s to make ends meet
Washington: Former Indiana Pacers centre David Harrison found a job at fast food chain McDonald’s about two years ago after he helped Guangdong Southern Tigers win the Chinese domestic league and now is still struggling to make a living. The 32-year-old said almost all of his basketball salary is gone and he can not find a job. Two years ago, Harrison’ credit card was rejected while trying to buy his son a meal at a McDonald’s and the manager recognised him and helped him get a job, reports Xinhua. “People were showing up trying to take my car. My house was in foreclosure. I didn’t have any income. I just had everything going out. I have child support t and I have a big family and I have to take care of them, even though I’m not playing in the NBA. I needed money,” Harrison said. (IANS)
Sharath settles for sixth position at Asian Cup TT
Jaipur: Achanta Sharath Kamal had to settle for the sixth spot after he went down to South Korean Kim Minseok 3-4 in a thriller at the 28th Asian Cup Table Tennis championship on Saturday. In the preceding edition too, Sharath had lost to the Korean to be at the sixth position in Wuhan. He has boosted his qualifying chances for the World Cup to be held later in the year. “It was a little disappointing, but he won the crucial points that mattered,” said Kamal, who at last found a way earlier in the day to overcome his nemesis and world number 15 Gao Ning, disposing him 11-7, 4-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-5 and assured himself of the sixth position. What made the difference to the two-time Commonwealth Games (CWG) gold winner was the crucial fourth game. He led 3-1 but his opponent was up to the task and surged ahead 10-8. That was when Kamal fought back well to take four straight points.The Indian ace was denied a semi-final spot by Mizutani who was simply too fast as he gave Kamal minimal time to exert his powerful forehand top spin. “I don’t think I played badly. I would say he was just too good. He is certainly in a different league,” said Kamal. (IANS)
Vasco to sign Messi’s cousin
Rio de Janeiro: Brazil’s Vasco da Gama are set to sign Argentine midfielder Emanuel Biancucchi, who is a cousin of Lionel Messi. The 26-year-old former 1860 Munich player has agreed to terms and is expected to undergo a medical with the Rio de Janeiro club on Saturday. He will be the fifth foreigner in Vasco’s squad alongside Martin Silva (Uruguay), Julio dos Santos (Paraguay), Pablo Guinazu (Argentina) and Santiago Montoya (Colombia), reports Xinhua. Biancucchi joins the four-time Brazilian Serie A champions from Bahia where his brother Maxi also plays. His previous clubs include Girona (Spain), Independiente (Paraguay) and Olimpia (Paraguay). Vasco were promoted to Brazil’s top flight in December after finishing third in Serie B. They will begin their 2015 Serie A campaign against Goias on May 9. (IANS)
Indian eves beat Thailand
New Delhi: Hosts India continued its winning spree and thrashed Thailand 5-0 to storm into the final of the Hero FIH Women’s Hockey World League Round 2 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, here on Saturday. India, who had earlier defeated Thailand 6-0 in the pool stages, opened their account in the 11th minute from a penalty stroke which was successfully converted by Jaspreet Kaur. India will face Poland in the summit clash on Sunday. India had earlier defeated Poland 2-0 in the pool stages. (PTI)
Bula Choudhury’s house burgled
Kolkata: Former national women’s swimming champion Bula Choudhury’s residence in West Bengal’s Hooghly district was burgled on Saturday and many of her valuables, including commemorative plaques and medals, were stolen. The Arjuna awardee who also has a house in the city, said her residence in Hindmotor was locked for some time and the burglars broke open and took away all her golden ornaments as well as plaques and medals. “The burglars broke open all the cupboards and took away my jewelery. They also took away all the plaques and medals that I had won over the years,” said Choudhury, the first woman to swim across seven seas in five continents. “I keep shuttling between the two residences and the house at Hindmotor usually remains locked. It’s fortunate that nobody was in the house at the time, who knows the robbers could have attacked us,” said Choudhury (IANS)