Former Indian football team coach Akramov passes away
New Delhi, Feb 20: Former Indian football team coach Rustam Akramov, who introduced the legendary Bhaichung Bhutia to the international game in 1995 and took the Blue Tigers to their highest-ever FIFA ranking, has died at his native place in Uzbekistan. He was 73. The legendary Uzbek coach died on February 15, according to the official website of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan. During his career, he made a huge contribution to the development of Uzbek and former Soviet football. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) condoled the death of Akramov who was in charge of the national team from 1995 to 1997. (PTI)
Bautista beats Basilashvili to clinch Qatar Open title
Doha, Feb 20: Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut captured his 10th tour-level trophy, ending his dominant week in style with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open final here. With his victory, Bautista Agut now leads Basilashvili 4-2 in their ATP head-to-head and has improved to 11-3 on the season. The 2021 Doha champion Basilashvili was aiming to win his sixth tour-level title. This was the 33-year-old world No. 16’s maiden ATP Tour title since 2019. (IANS)
Jelena Ostapenko claims Dubai Tennis crown
Dubai, Feb 20: Latvian former French Open singles champion Jelena Ostapenko stormed to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title, dispatching Veronika Kudermetova of Russia 6-0, 6-4 for her fifth career crown. The world No. 31 Ostapenko, who was ranked as high as No.5 in March 2018 following a string of superb performances including her Roland Garros crown in 2017, eased to victory after 65 minutes and is projected to rise in the rankings from No.31 to No.13 on Monday, according to wtatennis.com. Kudermetova, though, had the consolation of winning the doubles title alongside Belgium’s Elise Mertens, dismissing Ostapenko and Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine in the final. (IANS)
Auger-Aliassime to meet Rublev in Marseille final
Marseille, Feb 20: Felix Auger-Aliassime reached consecutive tour-level finals as he ended the breakout run of Roman Safiullin with a 7-6(4), 7-6(5) victory in the semi-finals of the Open 13 Provence in Marseille on Saturday. Auger-Aliassime will face Andrey Rublev in Sunday’s championship match. Rublev had earlier defeated a French opponent for the third consecutive match, putting an end to Benjamin Bonzi’s dream run with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 semi-final victory. (ANI)