GUANGDONG, June 17: India registered a hard-fought 3-1 win over Mongolia to book their place in the quarterfinals of the World Team Snooker Championship here on Wednesday.The nervy victory helped the former champions set up a last-eight meeting with China ‘B’, against whom they had lost narrowly in the league stage on the opening day.Hosts China beat Singapore 3-1 in their pre-quarterfinal match.Earlier in the day, India were too good for the lowly Turkey, scoring a lopsided 3-0 win in their final Group ‘B’ league match to advance to the knockouts.After a grueling battle with Nasanbuyan Orgil, Aditya Mehta secured the win to put India ahead in the last-16 clash against Mongolia.Pankaj Advani made a break of 51 enroute to a 70-6 win over Sergelen Batdelger.Advani and Ketan Chawla, playing his first match of the tournament, then went down 54-70 in the doubles to give Mongolia a look-in.But multiple-time world champion Advani returned to score a facile 67-37 win over Orgil to seal the tie.In the morning, Advani kickstarted the rout against Turkey, registering a comfortable 60-39 win over Ismail Turker.Aditya Mehta, a former World Games gold medallist, outclassed Enes Bakirci 95-17 to give India a 2-0 lead.The country’s top two players combined to score a 90-13 win over the Turkish duo of Turker and Bakirci to clinch the doubles match and the rubber 3-0. Advani compiled a break of 46 in the final match. (PTI)
Lorenzo Musetti withdraws from Wimbledon
LONDON, June 17: Former Wimbledon semifinalist Lorenzo Musetti has pulled out of the upcoming grass-court Grand Slam as he continues to recover from a left thigh injury.Musetti’s withdrawal opens up a spot in the main draw for fellow Italian Matteo Berrettini, a Wimbledon finalist in 2021, who is coming off a quarterfinal appearance at the French Open.The injury sustained during the Italian Open in May also made Musetti withdraw from the French Open.“Rehabilitation is going very well and the medical results are encouraging. Unfortunately, as I have not yet been able to begin a full athletic training program, and after careful evaluation, we have come to the difficult conclusion that I will not be able to participate in Wimbledon this year,” the 15th-ranked Musetti said on Instagram on Wednesday.“It is not an easy decision, but it is the right one. My priority is to return to the court at 100%.” Musetti reached the semifinals at the All England Club in 2024, losing to Novak Djokovic.Berrettini is ranked No. 49 but was outside the top 100 when Wimbledon’s entry list was established.Wimbledon starts June 29. (PTI)
Arjun Singh, Veer Shah to lead juniors at Pickleball WC
MUMBAI, June 17: Arjun Singh and Veer Shah were on Wednesday picked as Indian captains for the U-18 and U-14 categories respectively for the Pickleball World Cup later this year.The squads were announced after official selection trials held in Ahmedabad from June 12 to 14. The World Cup is scheduled to be held in Da Nang, Vietnam, from August 30 to September 6.“The Indian squad looks extremely strong and we are confident that we will be able to better our result from the last time,” Arjun said.“Da Nang will be a true proving ground, and we have full confidence that this team will play with immense passion, carry the tricolour with pride, and inspire countless young kids back home to pick up a paddle,” Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, IPA president said. (PTI)
