China secures men’s, women’s singles golds at TT worlds
Suzhou (China): Two-time defending champion Zhang Jike from China withstood a late challenge from Japanese rival Jun Mizutani to reach the men’s singles last four at the world table tennis championships here on Saturday. Zhang had to overcome a third set slump and some dicey moments in the fifth before beating the Japanese 11-4, 11-6, 10-12, 11-5, 11-9, reports Xinhua. Zhang was joined by three other Chinese players Ma Long, Fang Bo and Fan Zhendong in the men’s singles semi-finals, securing the gold in advance for host China. China has also secured the women’s singles gold as the world’s top two players Ding Ning and Liu Shiwen will vie for the title. On Friday, Chinese Xu Xin teamed up with South Korean Yang Hae-un and won the mixed doubles title. (IANS)
ISL: Zico offers ex-Brazil player Adriano Goa contract
Rio de Janeiro: Former Brazil footballer Adriano could be the latest high-profile name to sign for Indian Super League (ISL) club FC Goa. FC Goa manager and former Brazil great Zico revealed on Facebook that he had offered a contract to the 33-year-old, who has not played regular football since 2010, reports Xinhua. “I met up with Adriano at the training centre and was happy to see that he is well and in shape. I asked him to play at FC Goa this season,” Zico said. Former internationals to feature in ISL in its debut season last year included Fredrik Ljungberg (Mumbai City), Robert Pires (FC Goa), David James (Kerala Blasters) and Alessandro del Piero (Delhi Dynamos). (IANS)
Azarenka against Williams in first round of Madrid Masters
Madrid: World No.16 Venus Williams and No.31 Victoria Azarenka are the two star tennis players clashing in the first round of the Madrid Masters. Venus’ sister and World No.1 Serena Williams will start the tournament against compatriot No.36 Madison Brengle while reigning champion Maria Sharapova will play her first game against Swiss World No.21 Timea Bacsinszky, reports Efe. On the opposite side of the draw, World No.2 Romanian Simona Halep will start against French Alize Cornet while No.4, Czech Petra Kvitova, will face a qualifier. Denmark’s World No.5 Caroline Wozniaki will face Australian Jarmila Gajdosova and Ana Ivanovic, No.7, will play Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru. Spaniard Carla Suarez, World No.10, will face Kazakhstani Zarina Diyas. (IANS)
Mourinho lacks respect for other managers: Wenger
London: English football club Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger has said his Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho lacks respect for fellow managers. Arsenal fans had kept on chanting “boring Chelsea” during their last weekend’s 0-0 stalemate at the Emirates Stadium. Mourinho had hit back saying the Gunners’ 11-year trophy drought was “boring”, reports BBC. “The biggest thing for a manager is to respect other managers. Some people have to improve on that,” said Wenger. In February 2014, Mourinho had called his opposite number a “specialist in failure”, and then in October the Arsenal manager shoved his rival during a heated touchline argument. “You can have incidents with other managers sometimes. It gets a bit heated when you fight directly with them but in the end, I believe time heals and the important thing is to respect each other as much as you can,” added Wenger. (IANS)
Gandhi Buniyadi, Jail Road Boys win in inter-school tourney
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Gandhi Buniyadi defeated Shillong Secondary School by nine wickets while Jail Road Boys got the better of Madrasa Hemayul Islam by 7 wickets in the 10th I.P. Das Memorial (Junior) Cricket Tournament organised by the Shillong Cricket Association at the SCA Cricket Ground, Polo, on Saturday.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss Shillong Secondary School scored 54 runs losing 8 wickets in a curtailed 12-over match. Migrak G Momin scored 23 runs off 28 balls. Pappu claimed four wickets giving away only 6 runs while Vikash took 1/8 runs for Gandhi Buniyadi.
In reply, Gandhi Buniyadi reached the target of 55 in 6.4 overs losing only one batsman. Mukesh scored a run-a-ball 23 while Binay Singh contributed 11 runs off 14 balls. Mrinmoy Das claimed the lone wicket for Shillong Secondary.
In the second match of the day, Madrasa Hemayul won the toss and chose to bat against Jail Road Boys. However, they lost all their wickets for only 49 runs in 12.4 overs. Md. Mahtab Khan scored 14 runs off 17 balls. Sumit Sujikar took 3/9 runs while Bittu Deb took 2/7 runs for Jail Road Boys.
In reply, Jail Road Boys achieved the winning target in 7.4 overs losing three wickets only. Monojit scored 18 runs off 18 balls, while Sameer Ahamad took 1/5 runs for Madrasa Hemayul.
