Sindhu enters semis, Saina, Marin stunned in Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2018

coastaldigest.com news network
February 3, 2018

New Delhi, Feb 3: Defending champion PV Sindhu geared up for an encore at the Yonex-Sunrise Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta India Open 2018, a part of the HSBC BWF World Tour 500, by booking a semifinal spot here on Friday.

But the women's field suffered a massive jolt when it lost two big guns, Saina Nehwal and Carolina Marin, in the quarterfinal rounds at the Siri Fort Badminton Indoor Stadium.

Fifth-seed Beiwen Zhang of USA shocked Saina 21-10, 21-13 in 32 minutes while Cheung Ngan Yi of Hong Kong accounted for second seed Marin 21-12, 21-19.

However, Sindhu kept the Indian flag flying high by going past eighth-seeded Beatriz Corrales 21-12, 19-21, 21-11 in 54 minutes.

The 25-year-old Corrales did well to claim the second game after losing the first 21-12. Down 13-20, the top seed, however, fought back by taking six points on the trot. She couldn’t the next two points though, failing to retrieve a shot despite a valiant dive.

Sindhu's semifinal opponent will be former World Champion and third seed Ratchanok Intanon, who handed out a 21-11, 21-11 drubbing to seventh seed Yip Pui Yin of Hong Kong.

It is not an easy matchup as the Thai star and current World No. 3 holds a 4-2 head to head advantage over the Indian. "She is a tricky opponent. It’s just that I have to play and give my best," Sindhu, who had defeated the 2013 World Champion 21-17, 21-17, three months ago in the Hong Kong Open, said.

Meanwhile, the Indian challenge in men's singles ended as eighth seed Sai Praneeth, Parupalli Kashyap and Sameer Verma bowed out in straight games to stronger opponents in the quarterfinals.

While Sai Praneeth lost to third seed Chou Tien Chien of Chinese Taipei 15-21, 13-21, Kashyap went down 16-21, 18-21 to Chinese Qiao Bin. The winners will clash in the first semifinal on Saturday.

Tien Chien, 28, who was last year's finalist here, held a 3-0 advantage over the Indian in their past three meetings and he extended that domination with a fluent victory in 43 minutes.

The 31-year-old Kashyap, who had lost to Qiao Bin in last year's China Masters, put up a spirited display but failed to get past his world No35-ranked rival.

Malaysian Isqandar Zulqarnain, who had upset Kidambi Srikanth on Thursday, continued his impressive run in the tournament defeating Verma 21-17, 21-14.

He will take on fourth seeded Shi Yuqi, who made it to the semis with a clinical 21-13, 21-12 victory over sixth seeded Wang Tzu Wei of Chinese Taipei.

Eight seeded pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Sikki Reddy were the only Indians to book a semifinal spot in the doubles defeating Chinese duo of Han Chengkai and Cao Tong Wei 21-8, 21-13 in the mixed doubles quarters.

KEY QUARTERFINAL RESULTS

Men's Singles

3-Chou Tien Chen (Tpe) bt 8-Sai Praneeth (Ind) 21-15, 21-13

4-Shi Yuqi (Chn) bt 6-Wang Tzu Wei 23-13, 21-12

Qiao Bin (Chn) bt Parupalli Kashyap (Ind) 21-16, 21-18

Isqandar Zulkarnain (Mas) bt Sameer Verma (Ind) 21-17, 21-14

Women's Singles

1-PV Sindhu (Ind) bt 8-Beatriz Corrales (Esp) 21-12, 19-21, 21-11

6-Cheung Ngan Yi (HKG) bt 2-Carolina Marin (Esp) 21-12, 21-19 

3-Ratchanok Intanon (Tha) bt 7-Yip Pui Yin (HKG) 21-11, 21-11

5-Biewen Zhang (USA) bt 4-Saina Nehwal (Ind) 21-10, 21-13.

Men's Doubles

1-Marcus Gideon/ Kevin Sanjaya (Ina) bt Manu Attiri/ B Sumeeth Reddy 21-19, 21-19

4-Kim Astrup/ Anders Skaarup Rasmussen bt Francis Alwin/ K Nandagopal (Ind) 21-13, 21-14

Women's Doubles

1-Kamilla Rytter Juhl/ Christinna Pedersen (Den) bt 8-Kittipak Dubthuk/ Natcha Saengchote (Tha) 21-11, 21-13

2-Jongkolphan Kititharakul/ Rawinda Prajongjai (Tha) bt Jakkampudi Meghana/ Poorvisha S Ram (Ind) 21-10, 21-15

Du Yue/ Li Yinhui (Chn) bt 6-Ashwini Ponnappa/ Sikki Reddy 21-17, 23-21

Mixed Doubles

5-Mathias Christiansen/ Christinna Pedersen bt Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/ Ashwini Ponnappa 21-17, 21-11

8-Pranaav Jerry Chopra/ Sikki Reddy bt Han Chengkai/ Cao Tong Wei (Chn) 21-8, 21-13

SEMIFINAL LINEUP

Men's Singles

3-Chou Tien Chen (Tpe) v Qiao Bin (Chn)

4-Shi Yuqi (Chn) v Isqandar Zulkarnain (Mas)

Women's Singles

1-PV Sindhu (Ind) v 3-Ratchanok Intanon (Tha)

5-Beiwen Zhang (USA) v 6-Cheung Ngan Yi (HKG)

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News Network
March 26,2020

New Delhi, Mar 26: As India continues its fight against coronavirus, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly pledged to donate rice worth Rs 50 Lakhs to the needy people.
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), in its statement, said Ganguly along with Lal Baba Rice will provide rice to people who have been put in government schools for safety and security.
"#Sourav to provide Free Rice to the Needy It is heartening to note that Sourav Ganguly along with Lal Baba Rice has come forward to provide free rice worth Rs 50 lacs to the needy people who have been put in government schools for safety and security. Hope this initiative of Ganguly would encourage other citizens of the state to take up similar initiatives to serve the people of our state. #CAB," CAB said in a statement.
CAB President Avishek Dalmiya has also lent support to the needy people as he donated Rs 5 lakhs to the Government's Emergency Relief Fund.
"CAB President donates 5 lakhs to the Government's Emergency Relief Fund to fight against #CoronaVirus/#Covid19," CAB said in a statement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a 21-day nation-wide lockdown to contain coronavirus.

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News Network
February 9,2020

New Delhi, Feb 9: The Indian Fed Cup team will travel to Dubai for this year's competition as the ITF has named the desert city as the new venue for the matches, to be held from March 3 to 7.

The ITF named the new venue after moving out the matches from then Chinese city of Dongguan due to Coronoavirus threat. The Asia/Oceania Group I matches were originally scheduled to be played from February 4-8.

"The event will be held in the week following the ATP Dubai tournament at the same venue, and will see six nations China P.R., Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Korea Rep. and Uzbekistan - compete for a place in the Fed Cup Play-offs in April," an ITF release said.

The six teams will vie for two spots in Fed Cup Play-offs.

"Being in Dubai makes no difference. But the dates give enough time to Sania for her recovery. Doubles is an important point. Ankita is playing well. The other team members will also get some tournament to play under their belt," India's Fed Cup captain Vishal Uppal told news agency.

Sania's participation was under doubt due to a calf injury she aggravated during the Australian Open, where she pulled out of the mixed doubles before retiring mid-way into her women's doubles opening round match.

"I think we have a good chance but we will have to be at our best and fight hard for every point, every game, every set, every match," Uppal added.

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News Network
June 29,2020

Jun 29: The West Indies cricketers will sport a 'Black Lives Matter' logo on the collars of their shirts during the upcoming three-Test series against England to protest against racism in sports.

Skipper Jason Holder, who has voiced his support to the cause that has once again come to the forefront after the killing of American George Floyd, said in a statement on Sunday: "We believe we have a duty to show solidarity and also to help raise awareness."

The ICC-approved logo, designed by Alisha Hosannah, will be the one which featured in the shirts of all 20 Premier League football clubs since the sport's resumption earlier this month.

"This is a pivotal moment in history for sports, for the game of cricket and for the West Indies cricket team," Holder was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

"We have come to England to retain the Wisden Trophy but we are very conscious of happenings around the world and the fight for justice and equality. "As a group of young men, we know of the rich and diverse history of West Indies cricket and we know we are guardians of the great game for a generation to come."

Holder, who wants racism to be treated at par with doping and corruption, said they arrived at the decision to wear the logo after much thought.

"We did not take our decision lightly. We know what it is for people to make judgments because of the colour of our skin, so we know what it feels like, this goes beyond the boundary. There must be equality and there must be unity. Until we get that as people, we cannot stop," he said.

"We have to find some way to have equal rights and people must not be viewed differently because of the colour of their skin or ethnic background."

The West Indies players are likely to wear the shirts for the first time in this week's four-day warm-up match at Emirates Old Trafford, starting on Monday.

The opening Test of the series, which will mark the resumption of international cricket after the coronavirus-forced hiatus, will get underway at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on July 8.

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