Junior Squash: Indian boys, girls crash out in QFs
HOUSTON, (USA) July 22: India’s boys and girls lost narrowly in the quarterfinals of the World Junior Squash Championships Team competition in Houston – the sixth-seeded boys going down 1-2 to fourth seed South Korea and the girls losing by an identical margin to third seed Malaysia.Yuvraj Wadhwani got India boys off to a winning start with a 3-2 victory over Seojin Oh on Sunday. However, Shaurya Bawa, who last week won an individual bronze, went down to silver medallist Joo Young Na in four close games.In the deciding tie, Kun Kim proved too strong for Arihant KS.In the girls’ clash, Anahat Singh won a hard-fought match 3-2 against Thanusaa Uthrian after Shameena Riaz lost to Whitney Wilson.In the deciding tie, Nirupama Dubey rallied strongly before losing a five-gamer to Doyce Ye San Lee.
India results (quarterfinals): Boys: India lost to South Korea 1-2 (Yuvraj Wadhwani bt Seojin Oh 11-7, 4-11, 7-11,11-7,11-6; Shaurya Bawa lost to Joo Young Na 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 6-11; Arihant KS lost to Kun Kim 7-11, 6-11, 9-11).Girls: India lost to Malaysia 1-2 (Shameena Riaz lost to Whitney Wilson 7-11, 3-11, 10-12; Anahat Singh bt Thanusaa Uthrian 6-11, 15-13, 11-6, 5-11, 11-6; Nirupama Dubey lost to Doyce Ye San Lee 7-11, 11-7,11-5, 10-12, 3-11). (PTI)
Nagal bounces back to beat Klein, enters pre-quarters
VEINNA, July 22: India’s top-ranked tennis player Sumit Nagal on Monday fought back from the brink to defeat Slovakia’s Lucas Klein in the opening round of the ATP 250 Kitzbuhel Open in Austria.The Paris Olympics-bound Nagal won 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (3).Nagal won the first set, but was a shadow of his dominant self in the second set as Klein cantered through it.The world No. 80 Indian was down 3-5 in the deciding third set, but found a way to come back and force the tie-break.In the tie-break, Nagal regained his flow to emerge a 7-3 winner to earn a spot in the pre-quarterfinals.In the round of 16, Nagal will face fourth seeded Spaniard Pedro Martinez, a world No. 45. (PTI)
Kerala, Tamil Nadu score easy wins in South Zone jr. hockey
KOLLAM, Julky 22: Hockey Kerala and the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu registered convincing wins in the second Hockey India Sub-Junior Men & Women South Zone Championship here on Monday.In the men’s section, Tamil Nadu defeated Telangana Hockey 11-1.Renjith (38’, 40’, 54’, 55’) led the attack for TN. Gowtham (4’, 41’, 52’) scored a hattrick whereas Nithish J (25’, 45’) scored a brace.Krishna Mukil (12’) and Nithish M (13’) also scored a goal each. Sairam Chouhan (27’) scored the consolation goal for Telangana.Kerala defeated Le Puducherry Hockey 7-0. Bahala Suraj (21’, 26’, 50’, 56’), Aditya Lakra (52’, 57’) and Dinesh Minz (28’) were their goal-scorers.Hockey Andhra Pradesh and Hockey Karnataka played out a 3-3 draw.In the women’s section, Tamil Nadu defeated Telangana 8-0. Captain Jovian Defny Mj (9’, 32’, 44’) led from the front. Kowsica S (8’, 51’), Subika M (11’), Gopika R (41’) and Harita J (59’) also scored.Hockey Andhra Pradesh defeated Karnataka 3-0. For the winners, Patan Mujiya Begum (29’, 59’) and Lakshmi Pariki (12’) found the target.Kerala outclassed Le Puducherry Hockey 11-0. Parameswari Pinapothula (22’, 34’, 37’, 46’), Abhay Jyothi A S (19’, 48’, 57’) Reshma Samad (28’, 52’), Sabitha (41’) and Kaushika (43’) scored for Kerala. (PTI)