33 COVID cases at SAI Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jan 21: Sixteen members of the senior men’s hockey team were among the 33 COVID-19 cases detected on Friday at the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence here. The positive cases came after 128 tests were conducted at the high-profile centre, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) said. Majority of them are asymptomatic and all of them have been isolated, SAI said but did not divulge the identities of those infected. “16 athletes and one coach from the Senior Men’s Hockey team, training at the centre ahead of the upcoming FIH Pro League in South Africa, have tested positive. They are all asymptomatic,” the SAI said. Among the junior women’s hockey girls training for the World Cup in April, 15 have tested positive. Out of the positive cases, three are asymptomatic while 12 are symptomatic. One senior women’s hockey team player, who is symptomatic, and a masseuse from the athletics team have also tested positive. SAI said it is taking all the necessary steps to treat the players in isolation and help them recover steadily. Earlier, over 25 COVID cases were reported at the SAI’s Patiala training centre with boxers being the worst hit. (PTI)
Lahiri opens with 69 in California
La Quinta, Jan 21: Anirban Lahiri was off to a flying start with an eagle and a birdie in the first four holes but the Indian golfer couldn’t keep the momentum going as he carded 3-under 69 in the opening round to be T-52nd at the American Express here. Lahiri, who is playing his first event of 2022, managed just one more birdie after the first four holes and also dropped a shot at the La Quinta Country Club here on Thursday. He was placed T-52nd at the USD7.6 million PGA TOUR event in which the first three rounds will be played over three courses in California this week. FedEx Cup champion Patrick Cantlay, who finished 2021 with wins at the BMW and Tour Championships, got off to a great start with a 10-under 62 and shared the lead with rookie Lee Hodges. (PTI)
GM Gujrathi draws, in joint lead
Wijk Aan Zee (The Netherlands), Jan 21: Indian Grandmaster Vidit Santhosh Gujrathi settled for a draw against Dutchman Anish Giri in the fifth round to stay in joint lead with 3.5 points at the Tata Steel Masters here. Azerbaijan’s Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Richard Rapport posted victories in round five late on Thursday and joined Vidit Gujrathi at the top of the standings in the 13-round tournament. The other five games, hard fought, were drawn. World No.1 Magnus Carlsen and Andrey Esipenko trail the leaders by half a point. The other Indian GM in the fray – R Praggnanandhaa- went down to Rapport and remained in the bottom half of the standings with two points. (PTI)
‘Chanu can deliver in Paris Games’
New Delhi, Jan 21: Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu can deliver again at the 2024 Paris Games but she will have to be selective in her competitions while preparing for the global showpiece, India’s newly-appointed weightlifting High Performance Director (HPD) Aveenash Pandoo said on Friday. He said Chanu’s coach Vijay Sharma will be able to put together a plan in that regard. The 46-year-old HPD said his main focus will be towards developing youth and junior programmes. (PTI)
Lloris to stay with Spurs until 2024
London, Jan 21 : France captain Hugo Lloris chose to extend his stay at Tottenham beyond a decade by signing a new two-year contract, the Premier League club said on Friday. The deal ties Lloris to Tottenham until 2024. He joined in 2012 and currently captains the team. Lloris, who was free to talk to foreign clubs from the start of this month, has made 395 appearances for Tottenham and is on a run of 67 straight starts in the league going back to March 2020. (AP)