Gaurav Gill dominates Rally of Coimbatore
Coimbatore, July 31: JK Tyre’s top rally star Gaurav Gill staved off a late challenge from Arka Motorsports’ Karna Kadur to emerge the overall winner of Rally of Coimbatore, the second round of the Blueband Sports FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) for four-wheelers, at the picturesque Kethanur Windmill Farm here on Sunday. With a big lead of one minute and 31 seconds in his bag, Gill stuck to his original plan of driving safe and steady. Kadur cashed in on the chance to top the time sheets in the first two stages – Black Thunder (19.65 km) and Thunder World (14.75 km) – of the day, which was a rough section. He made nine and 10 seconds on the seven-time national champion, who always wanted to be a leader on the stage. (PTI)
India’s Maini gets maiden podium in FIA F3 race
Budapest, July 31: India’s Kush Maini drove a spectacular race at Hungaroring to bag his first podium finish in the Formula 3 feeder series. Having qualified 6th, Maini started the race in P7 in the F3 Sprint Race, which reverses the qualifying order for the top 12 drivers. Kush Maini showed great composure on the drying conditions, as the Sprint Race started on a wet track, and was dry by the end of it. The race had a rolling start thanks to the wet conditions, and as soon as the race got underway, Maini started making moves right out of the bat. Maini soon caught up with the championship leader Victor Martins, and passed him as he made a mistake in the tricky conditions. Maini then also passed Isack Hadjar who was second in the championship and battled with Jak Crawford to finish in the top 3, behind Franco Colapinto, and teammate Caio Collet who won the race. Crawford was later crashed into by Arthur Leclerc, and dropped down the order. (Agencies)
Higuain scores 3 as Inter Miami draw Cincinnati
Fort Lauderdale (US), July 31: Gonzalo Higuain had his first MLS hat trick and Christopher McVey scored the equalizer – his first MLS goal – in the seventh minute of stoppage time to help Inter Miami to a 4-4 tie with Cincinnati. McVey took a pass from Corentin Jean, cut back to evade a defender and blasted a rising shot off the crossbar into the net for Miami (7-10-5) to cap the scoring. Higuain opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, gave Miami a 2-1 lead in the 37th and converted from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time to take a 3-2 advantage into halftime. Brenner and Brandon Vazquez scored two goals each for Cincinnati (7-8-8). Miami visits the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, while Cincinnati will host the Philadelphia Union on Saturday. (AP)
Alcaraz, Sinner to meet in Croatia Open final
Umag (Croatia), July 31: Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz overcame a second set scare on the way to defeating qualifier Giulio Zeppieri 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to advance to his seventh career ATP final at the Croatia Open on Saturday. With the victory, the 19-year-old Spaniard is in his tour-leading sixth final of the year. “It’s amazing to be in a final here again,” said Alcaraz, who won his maiden ATP title here last year. He overcame his first dropped set in the clay-court tournament and a roll of his ankle in the semi-final against the 20-year-old Italian. Sunday’s final against second-seeded Jannik Sinner will be Alcaraz’s 100th match on the tour. Sinner eased past fellow Italian Franco Agamenone, a qualifier, 6-1, 6-3 to advance to his first ATP final this year and eighth overall. (AP)