India exit FIBA Asia Cup after loss to Lebanon
Jakarta, July 17: The Indian men’s basketball team suffered a huge defeat against Lebanon, its third consecutive in the competition, to end its campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup on a disappointing note here on Sunday. India lost 63-104 in its final Group D match at the Istora Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. Winless India finished last in the four-team group. The top team from each group advanced to the quarterfinals, while the second and third placed sides will feature in the playoffs. India had earlier lost 47-100 against New Zealand before suffering a 59-101 defeat at the hands of Philippines. India’s best performance in the FIBA Asia Cup was fourth in the 1975 edition. (PTI)
Russian chess GM Nikolai Krogius passes away at 91
Washington, July 17: Nikolai Krogius, a Russian and Soviet chess grandmaster and former vice president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), has died at the age of 91 in New York, the Russian Chess Federation said. “On July 14, 2022, in New York, at the age of 92, Nikolai Vladimirovich Krogius passed away – international grandmaster, long-time head of the USSR Chess Federation, vice-president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), coach of world champion Boris Spassky,” the Russian chess federation said in a statement on Saturday. The Russian chess federation did not provide any further details on the cause of death. Krogius moved to the United States with his family in 1998. (UNI)
Aditi-Pajaree finish 24th in Great Lakes Invitational
Midland, (US), July 17: The Indo-Thai par of Aditi Ashok and Pajaree Annanarukarn finished T-24 despite a 7-under final round of the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational here on Saturday. In an event where Aditi and Pajaree finished third a year ago, they shot 72-62-69 in the three rounds. Personally, Aditi had a good round as she closed with five birdies, three of them in the last four holes. She will now take this form to Europe, which has two Majors – Evian Championship and AIG Women’s Open with the Scottish Open in the next three weeks. Aditi is confirmed for the Evian and the Scottish Open events. (PTI)
Iran recalls natl football team coach fired several days ago
TEHRAN, July 17: Just six days after dismissing Dragan Skocic as head coach, an Iranian Football Federation (IFF) spokesman announced Sunday that the Croatian will lead Iran into November’s World Cup after all. In the latest episode of a chaotic build-up to Group B games against England, the United States and Wales, Ehsan Osuli said after a meeting of the IFF board of directors that there had been a change of heart. The federation voted to fire Skocic, who took the job in early 2020, on July 11 after a friendly defeat to Algeria in June and reports of divisions in the team. (AP)
Australia’s Hewitt inducted into Tennis Hall of Fame
Newport, July 17: Two-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one, Lleyton Hewitt was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame here on Saturday. Surrounded by family and friends in Newport, the Australian relived his growth from a boy with a dream in Adelaide to one of tennis’ greatest champions in recent memory. “The Hall of Fame seemed like something that was so far away from me ever being part of,” Hewitt said during the induction ceremony. (IANS)