FIBA 3×3: Indian men’s team one win away from main draw
SINGAPORE, March 28: India’s men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball teams made a resounding start to their campaigns at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup Qualifying round in Singapore, securing comfortable victories in their opening matches on Wednesday.The men’s team showcased their prowess with two consecutive wins, first overpowering Maldives with a commanding 21-10 victory. Pranav Prince led the charge with an outstanding performance, contributing eight points, while Sahaij Sekhon displayed clinical precision, clinching seven points. Despite a positive start from Maldives, scoring four two-pointers early on, Sekhon’s swift movement and Prince’s dominance turned the tide in India’s favor. In their second match, India continued their momentum, defeating Macau 21-13. The game remained closely contested until the halfway mark, with both teams exchanging one-pointers. However, Princepal Singh utilized his height and physicality to gain an advantage over the shorter Macau players, scoring eight crucial points. Sekhon’s pivotal two-pointer further extended India’s lead to 17-9, securing their back-to-back victory. With two wins under their belt, India currently occupies the second position in qualifying Group D, trailing behind Malaysia. Tomorrow’s clash against Malaysia promises to be a virtual knockout match, as the winner will progress to the main draw, intensifying the stakes for both teams.Meanwhile, the women’s 3×3 team dominated their opening match against Northern Mariana Islands with a comprehensive 21-1 victory. With the debutant Northern Mariana Islands unable to match India’s prowess, the victory served as a confident start to India’s campaign.Looking ahead, the women’s team will face tougher challenges in their upcoming matches against Hong Kong and Indonesia. However, buoyed by their impressive start, they remain determined to maintain their winning momentum and secure further victories in the tournament. (IANS)
Chelsea’s Lavia to miss rest of season after injury setback
LONDON, March 28: Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia was ruled out of the rest of the season Wednesday after suffering a setback in his recovery from a thigh injury, completing a frustrating first year at the London club.The 20-year-old Lavia joined Chelsea from relegated Southampton late in the summer transfer window for a reported fee of 58 million pounds ($74 million) but has only made one appearance in all competitions this season as a 58th-minute substitute against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on December 27th.During that game, he sustained a “significant thigh injury,” Chelsea said, and hasn’t played since.Lavia missed the first half of the season because of an ankle injury.It ends any chances of Lavia playing for Belgium at the European Championship starting June. (AP)
Larry Lloyd, former Liverpool defender, dies at 75
NOTTINGHAM, March 28: Larry Lloyd, the former England international who was an integral part of Nottingham Forest’s back-to-back European Cup-winning teams, has died. He was 75.Forest announced the death of Lloyd on Thursday, without disclosing any further details.Lloyd, a center back, played for Liverpool from 1969-74 the final five years of Bill Shankly’s era-defining managerial reign and won the first division as well as the now-defunct UEFA Cup in 1973.After a spell at Coventry, Lloyd moved to Forest in 1976 and made 218 appearances, helping manager Brian Clough mastermind the stunning rise of a provincial second-tier team to become the best in Europe in just three years. Forest gained promotion to the top flight in 1977, won the league in 1978 and then the European Cup in 1979 and ’80, with Lloyd and defensive partner Kenny Burns forming a solid and uncompromising foundation of the team’s success in front of goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Lloyd played four times for England and was later a manager at Wigan and Notts County. (AP)