Asian TT: Indian women finish sixth, mixed pairs bow out
PYEONGCHANG (South Korea), Sep 5 : The Indian women’s team finished sixth in the Asian Table Tennis Championships after being blanked 0-3 by Thailand here on Tuesday.The Indians beat Singapore 3-2 in a 5-8 positions match before going down to Thailand in the fifth-position showdown.Against Singapore, Manika Batra began well against Jingyi Zhou (11-9, 11-3, 11-6) to put the team on the right path, but Sreeja Akula’s loss (7-11, 6-11, 7-11) to Jian Zeng gave the rivals a lifeline.Ayhika Mukjerjee’s win against Ru Xin Wong provided India a 2-1 lead.In the reverse singles, Manika failed to overcome Jian Zeng and lost 8-11, 6-11, 7-11, putting pressure on Sreeja to make amends for her earlier loss. And the Hyderabadi pulled off a 3-1 (12-10, 11-3, 9-11, 11-6) win over Jingyi to redeem the team’s chances.But the Thai denied the team as Suthasini Sawettabutt accounted for Sreeja 11-6, 11-5, 11-6, then Orawan Paranang downed Manika 11-4, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6 before Wanwisa Aueawiriyayothin overcame Diya Chitale 15-13, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8 to grab the fifth position.The paddlers faltered in the mixed doubles too.G Sathiyan and Manika went down 2-3 (11-7, 10-12, 11-6, 8-11, 9-11) in the round of 32 to another Thai pair, Phakpoom Sanguansin and Orawan Paranang. During the match, Manika seemed to have twisted her ankle and needed a 10-minute medical attention. But the Indian duo continued and lost. In their first round, the Indian duo beat the Malaysian pair of Shen Qi Wong and Xin Ai Tee 11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9. Harmeet Desai and Sreeja Akula followed suit and lost to the top-seeded Japanese pair of Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata 6-11, 7-11, 8-11 in another Round of 32 match. The Indian men’s team, already assured of a bronze medal, takes on Chinese Taipei in the semifinals on Wednesday. (PTI)
Villarreal fire coach Quique Setien
VILLAREAL, Sep 5: Villarreal fired coach Quique Setien on Tuesday after the team lost three of its first four matches in the Spanish league.The club made its decision early in the two-week break for international games, with director of football Miguel Ángel Tena taking over on an interim basis.Setien took charge of Villarreal in October after the departure of Unai Emery to English club Aston Villa, guiding the team nicknamed The Yellow Submarine to a fifth-place finish and a spot in this season’s Europa League.Villarreal has opened the season with losses to Real Betis, Barcelona and most recently Cadiz. (PTI)
Spurs duo Sanchez and Ndombele join Galatasaray
LONDON, Sep 5: Tottenham has sold defender Davinson Sanchez to Galatasaray, with midfielder Tanguy Ndombele also joining the Turkish club on loan.Tottenham announced the moves Monday, with European clubs still able to sell players to Turkish teams even though the European transfer window shut on Friday.Sanchez hasn’t started any of Tottenham’s opening four Premier League games under new manager Ange Postecoglou, who had said he wanted to trim a bloated squad.Tottenham did not disclose the transfer fee for Sanchez.Ndombele joins Galatasaray on loan for the remainder of the season, with the option to make the move permanent. (PTI)
EKH emerge winners of 3rd Meghalaya Muay Thai C’ships
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 5: The 3rd Meghalaya State Muay Thai Championship was held on the 2nd of September 2023 at Laitkor Kynton U- Mon which was organised by Meghalaya Amateur Muay Thai Association. Altogether 50 particpants including ofiicials took part in the event. J Khyriem was the chief guest for the event. East Khasi Hills emereged as the champions of the tournament while East Jaintia Hills came second.List of winners: Nangkitbonklang Songthiang 71kgs Gold, Naiwki Iakai 71 kgs Silver, Kyrshanbor R Songthiang 60 kgs Gold,Fibestar Songthiang 60 kgs Silver, Delbert Adrian Wankhar 60 kgs Bronze, Pyrshangbanjop Kharmudai 60 kgs bronze, Francis R Songthiang 63 kgs Gold, Mabanpaia Wankhar 63kgs Silver, Jefferson Ryndong 32 kgs Gold, Ezekiel 32kgs Silver, Fullshai Myrboh 20kgs Gold, Ehbhahmeki Warjri 20kgs Silver.
Sergio Ramos returns to Sevilla
MADRID, Sep 5: Former Spain defender Sergio Ramos completed a return to Sevilla on Monday, 18 years after he left the club to join Real Madrid.The 37-year-old Ramos has signed a one-year deal after his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expired.Ramos was born a few kilometers from Sevilla and joined its academy at the age of 7. LaLiga club Sevilla said: “Sevilla FC have reached an agreement for the signing of Sergio Ramos. “The academy graduate is returning to the club 18 years after he signed for Real Madrid in 2005, aged 19.” (PTI)