Serie A: Sampdoria substitutes ensure win against Hellas Verona
Rome, April 18: Claudio Ranieri’s halftime substitutions paid off in a 3-1 win over Hellas Verona in a midtable Serie A clash. After Darko Lazovic put Verona ahead early from a free kick, Ranieri made three changes during the break and two of the players he sent on – Antonio Candreva and Keita Balde – helped set up an equalizer from Jakub Jankto. A penalty kick was converted by Manolo Gabbiadini, the other halftime sub. Morten Thorsby then added another for 10th-place Samp.
A halftime substitute also made a major impact in Sassuolo’s 3-1 comeback win over Fiorentina as Domenico Berardi converted two penalties after he came on. Giacomo Bonaventura had put Fiorentina ahead before Berardi responded after the break and Maxime Lopez added another for Sassuolo, which is eighth.
Crotone striker Simeon Tochukwu converted a penalty for his 17th goal of the season but the last-place Calabrian club lost 2-1 at home to Udinese. Rodrigo De Paul scored twice for Udinese but also received a direct red card for a foul in the 90th.
Also, Cagliari beat Parma 4-3 with an injury-time winner from Alberto Cerri in a matchup of the other two clubs in the relegation zone. (AP)
Deepak Punia claims silver, Ravinder bronze in wrestling
Almaty (Kazakhstan), April 18: Deepak Punia’s defence fell apart in front of his idol and Iranian legend Hassan Yazdanicharati as the Olympic-bound Indian settled for a silver medal while Sanjeet claimed a bronze on the concluding day of the Asian Championship here on Sunday. Deepak lost his 86kg final inside the first period by technical superiority. Another Indian earning a podium finish on Sunday was Sanjeet (92kg) who almost blew away a commanding position against Uzbekistan’s Rustam Shodiev before winning the bronze play-off 11-8. Overall, India won seven medals from the men’s free style event. (PTI)
Five Indians in Youth World Boxing Championships QFs
New Delhi, April 18: India’s Poonam entered the semifinals of the featherweight (57kg) category while five of her compatriots advanced to the quarterfinals of the Youth Boxing World Championships in Kielce, Poland. Poonam, who has never lost a bout during her entire career so far, eliminated Kazakhstan’s Nazerke Serik by unanimous decision in the quarter-finals on Sunday. Gitika (48kg) made the last eight while from the men’s contingent, Asian silver-medallist Ankit Narwal (64kg), Bishwamitra Chongtham (49kg), Sachin (56kg) and Vishal Gupta (91kg) are one win away from ensuring a medal for the country.. (PTI)