Panathinaikos win Greek Cup final marred by crowd violence
Athens, May 22: Crowd violence and tear gas marred the Greek Cup final where Panathinaikos made a first-half penalty hold up to beat PAOK 1-0 on Saturday. Also, penalty-scorer Aitor Cantalapiedra was allegedly hit in the hand by a chunk of cement thrown from the crowd. Only 43,000 tickets were sold for the 70,000-seat Athens Olympic Stadium to keep apart fans from both clubs. Despite that, Panathinaikos fans attempted before the final to get close to PAOK fans, and spilled onto the track around the field. Riot police forced them back using tear gas, and PAOK supporters threw flares at the retreating Panathinaikos fans. (AP)
Linette sends Jabeur packing in French Open upset
Paris, May 22: Poland’s Magda Linette knocked out No 6 seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 in the opening match of the French Open, here on Sunday. World No 56 Linette was only 2-16 against Top 10 opponents coming into the match, and she had lost to Jabeur in the Roland Garros third round last year. But this time, Linette pulled off a comeback against Jabeur, who won the WTA 1000 Madrid title earlier this month. Both of Linette’s previous Top 10 wins also came at Grand Slam events (including over the then-World No 1 Ashleigh Barty at last year’s Roland Garros via retirement), and she grabbed another upset at a major after 2 hours and 28 minutes of play. (IANS)
Indian paddler Diya Chitale wins U-19 title in Peru
Mumbai, May 22: India’s teenage rising table tennis star Diya Chitale won the gold medal in the U-19 Girls’ singles event of the WTT Youth Contender Lima 2022, beating Colombia’s Juhana Lozada 3-0 in the final. The Mumbai-based Diya scored an authoritative win against Juliana Lozada 11-6, 11-2, 11-5 in 31 minutes at the Villa Deportiva Nacional, Lima, Peru, on Saturday. The 19-year-old Diya, was dominant from the opening round and progressed to the winner’s podium without dropping a game. The high point of her success was her fluent victory against Laura Watanabe of Brazil, the current South American Youth Champion in the quarterfinals. Diya completed a quick 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 win in a little over 30 minutes. In the penultimate round, Diya defeated Brianna Burgos of Puerto Rico 11-5, 11-2, 11-5. (IANS)
Mito Pereira leads PGA C’ship; Woods withdraws
Tulsa (US), May 22: Mito Pereira spent four hours soaring and sliding at Southern Hills in the cold and wind, calling it the biggest round of his life Saturday in the PGA Championship. Pereira soared to a five-shot lead. He nearly lost it all in six holes. And when a third round finally ended, the 27-year-old from Chile stood on the cusp of fame. He made three birdies over his last six holes, the final hole from just outside 25 feet that he called a bonus, giving him a 1-under 69 and a three-shot lead over Matt Fitzpatrick of England and Will Zalatoris. Woods, limping badly on his battered right leg from his car crash 15 months ago, withdrew from the final round after posting a 79, his highest score ever in a PGA Championship. It was his first withdrawal from a major in his pro career. (AP)
Technical snag dents Indian driver Jehan’s hopes in Spain
Barcelona, May 22: Indian racer Jehan Daruvala was left ruing his bad luck after an electrical problem denied him the chance to fight for victory in Sunday’s Formula 2 Feature race in Spain. The Red Bull-backed driver, fourth on the grid after a strong qualifying display on Friday, had chosen to start the race on the harder prime tyres, opting for the alternate strategy that would have seen him run a long first stint before his pitstop. With most of his rivals starting on less durable soft tyres, the decision would have paid dividends in the closing stages of the race, putting the Prema Racing driver in contention for the win. But it was not to be as Daruvala, already the lead driver on the alternate strategy, was forced to grind to a halt after an electrical problem switched his car off on just the 4th lap. (IANS)