Jr women’s hockey Haryana, J’khand and UP reach semis
KAKINADA, (Andhra Pradesh) Aug 9: Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh qualified for Division A semifinals of the Hockey India Junior Women’s National Championship here on Saturday.Haryana recorded a compelling 4-1 win over Odisha with goals from Kajal (2’), Supriya (27’), skipper Sashi Khasa (36’) and Saadi (60’) giving them the clear advantage.For Odisha, Amisha Ekka scored the consolation goal in the 47th minute in the first quarterfinal of the day.Chhattisgarh won 2-1 against Madhya Pradesh in a penalty shootout after their contest ended with a 1-1 result in the regulation time over four quarters.Yashoda (2’) struck an early goal for Chhattisgarh but Huda Khan (15’) promptly equalised fo Madhya Pradesh towards the end of first quarter.Captain Rukhamani scored twice for Chhattisgarh but MP’s Kajal could only score one in the penalty shootout.Jharkhand defeated Punjab 3-1 to make the final four. Pawanpreet Kaur (6’) gave Punjab an early lead but it lasted only a minute.Sweety Dungdung (7’) scored a field goal for Jharkhand to equalise followed by goals from Shanti Kumari (22’) and Roshni Aind (46’).In the final fixture of the day, Uttar Pradesh recorded a 2-1 win over Maharashtra.After a close but goalless first half, Sallu Pukhrambam (36’) scored the opening goal for Uttar Pradesh in the third quarter.Soon after, Maharashtra’s Diksha Nitin Shinde (45’) levelled the game again through a field goal.In the final quarter, Rashmi Patel (55’) scored the decisive goal of the game with a penalty corner. (PTI)
Rybakina’s coach cleared to return from suspension
WASHINGTON, Aug 9: The coach of 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has been cleared by the WTA Tour to return from his suspension for a potential breach of its code of conduct.Stefano Vukov was provisionally suspended in January while the tour conducted an investigation. It announced in February that had been completed and that the ban remained in place, without saying how long it would last.The organization said Friday that Vukov would again be permitted to receive credentials allowing him access to player areas and practice courts at its events.“The WTA is fully committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all athletes and other participants, as set out in our WTA Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Code,” the tour said in a statement. “Any sanctions issued following a breach of these safeguarding rules are carefully considered and are subject to appeal before an independent tribunal. While case details remain confidential, we can confirm that Mr. Vukov is eligible to receive credentials at WTA events.” The New York Times first reported that Vukov’s ban had been lifted.Rybakina announced before last year’s U.S. Open that Vukov would no longer be her coach, but then said before the Australian Open that he would be rejoining her team. She insisted that he had never mistreated her during their time working together.Rybakina, ranked No. 10 on the WTA Tour, just reached the semifinals of the National Bank Open in Montreal before losing to Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, the eventual champion. (PTI)
Diksha makes late recovery, lies 10th after first round
LONDON, Aug 9: Indian golfer Diksha Dagar recovered from a double bogey on her second nine with two late birdies in the last four holes to finish with 3-under 70 on the opening day of the PIF London Championship.She was Tied-10th at the Ladies European Tour event at the Par-73 course in the Ladies European Tour event.Aditi Ashok (73) was T-37, Pranavi Urs (75) T-67 and Avani Prashanth (76) was T-75.Aditi had four birdies and as many bogeys, while Pranavi had five birdies, three bogeys and two double bogeys in a 2-over 75. Avani parred her entire front nine and had one birdie against four bogeys in the 76.Alexandra Swayne and Laura Fünfstück lead the Individual competition with Team Nadaud on top at the end of the first day of action. In glorious conditions at Centurion Club, Swayne and Fünfstück both fired rounds of 67 (-6) on the first day to share the lead. (PTI)
India’s Ramesh Budhial seals final berth in Asian Surfing
CHENNAI, Aug 9: Ramesh Budhial became the first-ever Indian to enter the Open Men’s final at the Asian Surfing Championships here on Saturday.Ramesh started the day topping his quarterfinal heat race with a score of 14.84 points ahead of Philippines’ Neil Sanches (12.80 points).In the semifinal, Ramesh continued his solid effort to score 11.43 points to finish second behind Indonesia’s Pajar Ariyana 13.83, and it ensured a maiden final berth for the Indian surfer.India’s Kishore Kumar too entered the semifinal but finished fourth behind compatriot Ramesh, Ariyana and China’s Shidong Wu (9.10) with 8.03 points.Earlier, Kishore ended up in the second place in Quarterfinals Heat 4, logging 10.50 points behind Philippines’ Eduardo Alciso (12.03) to move into the last four stage.The third Indian surfer, D. Srikanth fought well and ran Korea’s Kanoa Heejae (10.94 points) in the quarterfinals but was ousted as his heat score read 10.90.In the Under-18 boys’ section, Indian campaign ended with the exit of Harish P and Aadya Singh and in the corresponding girl’s segment Dhamayanthi Sriram too was eliminated in the quarterfinals. (PTI)
Former top-10 player Badosa pulls out of the US Open
NEW YORK, Aug 9: Former top-10 player Paula Badosa pulled out of the U.S. Open on Friday after dealing with a back injury that has sidelined her since a first-round loss at Wimbledon on June 30.The U.S. Tennis Association announced Badosa’s withdrawal and said Jil Teichmann would replace her in the field. Alizé Cornet, who retired from tennis last year but returned to action this year, is the next woman in line to get a berth in the draw at Flushing Meadows if someone else pulls out.Play is scheduled to begin on Aug. 24 in the singles brackets at the year’s last Grand Slam tournament.Badosa, a 27-year-old from Spain, reached a career-best ranking of No. 2 in 2022 and is currently No. 12.She reached the semifinals at the Australian Open this January. Her best showing at the U.S. Open was a run to the quarterfinals last year. (AP)