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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Agencies
March 6,2020

Mumbai, Mar 6: Former India batsman Virender Sehwag expressed excitement over the upcoming Road Safety World Series and said he is looking forward to playing with Sachin Tendulkar again.

"I am very excited about this tournament because I will get another chance to play with Sachin. We have played many international matches together and there was a gap and then we played an All-Star match and now again getting a chance. I am looking forward to playing with Tendulkar," Sehwag told media persons.

In the opening match of the Road Safety World Series, India Legends will play against West Indies Legends on March 7. The main aim of the Series is to create awareness about road safety and change people's mindset towards their behaviour on the roads.

Sehwag hailed the initiative of Road Safety World Series and said: "I think it is a very good initiative by the government that they are working towards creating awareness regarding road safety. Awareness regarding road safety is important for everyone."

Road Safety World Series, a five-nation T20 cricket tournament, will showcase some of the biggest names in cricket from India, Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and South Africa.

Players who will feature in this series include Tendulkar, Sehwag, Brian Lara, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brett Lee, Brad Hodge, Jonty Rhodes, Muttiah Muralitharan, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Ajantha Mendis and many more. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar is the Commissioner of the Series.

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News Network
February 13,2020

Feb 13: Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were buried in a private funeral service in Southern California last week, multiple outlets reported late Tuesday.

Citing Kobe Bryant's death certificate, Los Angeles Fox affiliate KTTV reported the remains of the former Lakers star and his daughter were transferred to Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary in Corona del Mar. Kobe and Brianna were laid to rest in a private ceremony there last Friday.

According to KTTV, the death certificate cited Kobe's cause of death as "blunt trauma" sustained in a "commercial helicopter crash." It also said his death was "rapid."

Corona del Mar is a community within Newport Beach, where the Bryant family lives.

Kobe, 41, and Gianna, 13, were among nine people killed when the helicopter they were in crashed on a hillside in Calabasas, Calif., northwest of Los Angeles, on Jan. 26. Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, 56; his wife, Keri; and their daughter Alyssa, 14 -- who played on the same club basketball team as Gianna Bryant -- also were killed. Christina Mauser, a 38-year-old who was the top assistant coach of the Mamba girls basketball team, was also killed in the accident, as were Sarah Chester, 45; her daughter Payton Chester, 13; and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.

A public memorial service for the Bryants will be held Feb. 24 at Staples Center, beginning at 10 a.m. PT.

While the date -- 2/24 -- conveniently falls between two Lakers' home games, it still could have been chosen symbolically. Gianna -- one Kobe and Vanessa' four daughters -- wore No. 2 on her basketball jersey while Kobe was No. 24 for part of his 20-year-tenure with the Lakers, and his retired jerseys -- he also wore No. 8 -- hang at Staples Center.

The Los Angeles Times reported that "entry is expected to be severely restricted" at the venue despite Staples Center's capacity of about 20,000.

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News Network
April 12,2020

New Delhi, Apr 12: As devotees across the world celebrate Easter today, former Sri Lanka skipper and current Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) president Kumar Sangakkara on Sunday condoled the demise of people who lost their lives during last year's Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka and said someone must seek answers to the questions which still remain unresolved.

"A year on we all share the pain of the families grieving lives lost, we stand with you and for you. We remember. So many questions still unanswered, but answer them someone must," Sangakkara tweeted.

On April 21, 2019, multiple blasts ripped through Sri Lanka when the Christian community was celebrating Easter Sunday.
The explosions rattled churches and high-end hotels across the country, killing 258 people and injuring over 500.

A local terror group called National Thowheeth Jama'ath had claimed responsibility for the devastating attacks.

The island nation was put under a state of emergency for a period of four months from April to August.

The Sri Lankan police had then said that 293 suspects were arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday bombings in the island country in April.

This year, most of the devotees would be offering the prayers from their homes as mass gatherings have been suspended in most countries due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Easter marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ following his crucifixion on Good Friday. It also marks the culmination of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and penance.

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