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DELHI THE HINDU 18 SPORT FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2019 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE expected to dominate Sania plans comeback in January Agence France-Presse New Ramkumar to open proceedings with Nagal playing second singles Sania Mirza on Thursday an­ nounced her return to com­ petitive at the Hobart International in January, two Press Trust of India years after taking a materni­ ty break. NUR-SULTAN (Kazakhstan) The 33­year­old, who last A formidable India is expect­ played at the China Open in ed to demolish the challenge October 2017, will team up of a depleted Pakistan in the with Ukraine's Nadiia Kiche­ Davis Cup tie to be played in nok — ranked 38 in the WTA the indoor courts of the Na­ doubles chart. tional Tennis Center from Sania, who married form­ Friday after the fixture was er Pakistan Returning to action: Sania Mirza, who took a two-year shifted to a neutral venue fol­ Shoaib Malik, gave birth to maternity break, announced that she will play at lowing a drama­filled build her first child — a son which the Hobart International. * AFP up. the couple named Izhaan. While security concerns “I am playing in Hobart, (for sure),” said Sania. place between January 11­18 were resolved, the shifting of then I am playing the Austra­ She added that she had and is a key lead­in tourna­ the match did no good to the lian Open... I am planning to experienced “a lot of ment to the Australian competition. play a tournament in Mum­ change” after having a baby. Open. India, with players of the bai, which is a $25,000 (ITF “Your routine and sleep Sania, regarded as India’s calibre of Sumit Nagal, Ram­ women's event) next month, pattern changes. I (now) feel best­ever women’s tennis kumar Ramanathan and vet­ but I am 50­50 about it, so fit, my body is where it used player, will partner Ameri­ eran , was al­ let’s see how my wrist be­ to be before I had the baby,” can Rajeev Ram for the ways expected to win easily, haves. We will see, but Ho­ Sania said. mixed doubles at the Austra­ but the pullouts of Pakistan’s All set: The Indian and Pakistan teams strike a pose after the draw was made on Thursday. * COURTESY: TWITTER bart and The Hobart WTA takes lian Open. top players Aisam­ul­Haq DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Qureshi and Aqeel Khan has DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD made it a no­contest. The schedule Bhupathi cannot get over the ‘hurt’ Windies SCOREBOARD Learning experience B Nov. 29 (Fri): Ramkumar It will be a learning expe­ Ramanathan v Muhammad Press Trust of India was disappointed with the someone new in the on top Afghanistan — 1st innings: 187. 32-5-114-3, Zahir 13-2-53-2. Shoaib, Sumit Nagal v West Indies — 1st innings: rience for Pakistan’s junior way the Federation dealt system’ and I would have Shayan Acharya Afghanistan — 2nd innings: players, who will lead their Huzaifa Abdul Rehman lbw b Amir 11, on with it. When they wanted respected that but I didn’t Lucknow John Campbell c Ihsanullah b Ibrahim Zadran lbw b Cornwall 23, B country’s challenge in the Nov. 30 (Sat): Leander Paes Thursday said he cannot me to become captain, even get that call.” Amir 55, c Ihsanullah b c Cornwall b Chase tie, the winner travelling to & Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan v get over the “hurt” caused they flew down to “Honestly, the way the Shamarh Brooks scored a Rashid 7, Shamarh Brooks b Amir 62, Ihsanullah run out 1, Rahmat Croatia in March 2020 for Shoaib & Huzaifa by AITA’s manner of Hyderabad, had a meeting federation has dealt with gritty 111 against Afghanis­ 111, lbw b Shah c Brooks b Cornwall 0, c Brooks b Corn- the World Group qualifiers. B Dec. 1 (Sun): Reverse sacking him for refusing to with me,” said Bhupathi. not only me but everyone tan on Thursday, taking the Rashid 13, c Ibrahim wall 0, Nasir Jamal b Chase 15, The match will offer the singles travel to Pakistan for a “I don’t mind if they think in Indian tennis for the last West Indies closer to victo­ b Zahir 2, lbw b Amir Hamza c Cornwall b Chase 1, 46­year­old Paes a chance to DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Davis Cup tie on security that it is time for me to 20 years, there is no ry. Afghanistan’s spinners Zahir 42, st Afsar b () 2; Extras further better his Davis Cup grounds. step out, but a courtesy surprise. spun a web, but Brooks Amir 11, Rahkeem Cornwall lbw b Rashid 5, lbw b Amir (lb-4, nb-1): 5; Total (for seven record for most doubles Slam trophies, will be part­ “I am still in touch with phone call saying ‘listen “But at some level it stood firm, hitting 15 boun­ wkts. in 36 overs): 109. wins. He stands on top with nering debutant Jeevan Ne­ the boys on a daily basis. I we think it is time to put kind of hurts,” he added. daries and a six. 3, () 4; Ex- tras (lb-12, nb-1): 13; Total (in 43 wins, which he achieved dunchezhiyan. He ensured that West In­ Fall of : 1-53, 2-55, 3-55, 83.3): 277. 4-59, 5-96, 6-98, 7-109. last year while playing The left­hander will be­ dies reached 277 in the first Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-34, 3-116, against China. come India’s 75th player to fi­ mad Shoaib, who has not singles, Nagal will take on non­playing captain Rohit innings, a lead of 90 runs. 4-137, 5-150, 6-224, 7-243, 8- West Indies bowling: Roach 4-2- gure in a Davis Cup match. won a single match in the Huzaifa Abdul Rehman. Rajpal. Matches will start at In the second outing, Af­ 260, 9-270. 5-0, Holder 3-0-18-0, Warrican Jeevan set to make debut Ramkumar will open the main draw of an ITF Futures “We are looking to white­ 1:30 p.m. (IST) on Friday and ghanistan ended the day Afghanistan bowling: Yamin 10- 12-3-31-0, Cornwall 14-3-41-3, Paes, owner of 18 Grand tie on Friday against Muham­ tournament. In the second wash them,” said India’s at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. on 109 for seven. 3-24-0, Amir 28.3-4-74-5, Rashid Chase 3-1-10-3.

West Indies and Karnataka start favourites in semifinals names squads Ashwin and Mayank expected to take the field; Rajasthan will bank on its speedsters; spin trio is Haryana’s strength for India tour DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD MUSHTAQ ALI Press Trust of India Friday’s matches ST. JOHN’S (Antigua) S. Dipak Ragav B Karnataka v Haryana, The West Indies on Thurs­ Surat 2.30 p.m. day announced its ODI and After close to three weeks of B Tamil Nadu v Rajasthan, T20 squads for the upcom­ league­style competition 6.30 p.m. ing series of India. Kieron spread over two stages, the DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Pollard will continue to business end of Syed Mush­ ting line­up in the form of lead both the squads with taq Ali is on with semifinals openers Devdutt Padikkal as his de­ to be played at the Lalbhai and K.L. Rahul who have gi­ puty in the shorter format Contractor Stadium here on ven big starts in most match­ and Shai Hope taking over Friday. es, followed by the likes of the role of the vice­captain The stakes are high and Mayank, skipper Manish in the ODIs. big reinforcements in the Pandey and Karun Nair. The squads: form of Mayank Agarwal for The middle­order has not ODIs: , Shai Karnataka and R. Ashwin for been tested but Mayank’s Hope, , Rostan Tamil Nadu have arrived starting at 6.30 p.m., the toss ing. On Thursday, Tamil Na­ presence should address Chase, , Kieron with the duo wasting no time will become a crucial factor du went the extra mile in its that. K. Gowtham’s return in Pollard (Capt.), Sheldon Cot- in hitting the nets within as the side chasing is bound preparation by shunning the last match against Mum­ trell, Brandon King, Nicholas hours of reaching. to have a clear advantage as nets and instead opting to bai was a welcome sign as the Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, The Dinesh Karthik­led Ta­ dew could affect the team use the centre at the off­spinner can open the at­ , Romario Sheph- erd, Jason Holder, Keemo mil Nadu takes on Rajasthan bowling second. C.B. Patel Stadium. * VIJAY SONEJ tack as cover­up for the pac­ Different ball game: The Karnataka players at a training session on Thursday. Paul and Hayden Walsh Jr. and would want to continue It is an area where Rajas­ Spinners R. Sai Kishore I ers who have leaked runs. T20Is: , Brandon its good run in white­ball than can neutralise a spin­ and Hari Nishanth practised fast bowlers can apply the squeeze in the nals with a loss each in the Haryana will rely upon the King, , Cot- and Aniket Choudhary, middle overs. league and Super League cricket, having topped its heavy Tamil Nadu attack and with wet balls while the bat­ spin trio of Yuzvendra Cha­ trell, Lewis, Sherfane Ruther- group in both the league during its loss to Karnataka smen tried some big­hitting, needs to take advantage of In the other semifinal, stage. hal, Amit Mishra and Jayant ford, Hetmyer, Pierre, Lendl stages. last week, the Tamil Nadu targeting specific areas. Tamil Nadu’s opening woes Karnataka takes on Haryana Karnataka, which won the Yadav to set the game up, Simmons, Holder, Pollard The team will start as the bowlers found it difficult to For Rajasthan, skipper and get quick wickets before and both teams have had an Vijay Hazare Trophy, has the while the batting will largely (Capt.), Walsh Jr, Paul, Poo- favourite but with the match hold the ball while defend­ Deepak Chahar, along with leg­spinner Rahul Chahar identical path to the semifi­ edge with its explosive bat­ depend on Shivam Chauhan. ran and Kesrick Williams. Bajrang finally gets his Khel Ratna Man City owner acquires CFC­Odisha in a thrilling duel Sports Minister Rijiju awards National honours to four stake in Mumbai City After a barren first half, four goals shared in the second Nandakumar Marar Football Group India (CFGI), ISL MUMBAI to be helmed by Damien Willoughby, as the CEO. The City Football Group K. Keerthivasan (CFG), owner of English Pre­ Ranbir Kapoor and Bimal mier League champion Parekh, existing co­owners, team Manchester City, ac­ will own the remaining 35% Chennaiyin FC and Odisha quired a 65% stake in Mum­ stakes. FC dished out an exciting bai City FC (MCFC). For the Mumbai City, one of the brand of football, making up first time ever, a club in In­ teams competing in the In­ for a sedate goalless first ses­ dia will form part of a group dian Super League (ISL), sion and sharing four goals of seven football teams will benefit from the football between them in the second worldwide. know­how available with half of their Indian Super The acquisition announ­ CFG, via operations of clubs League (ISL) match at the cement was made by Nita in USA (New York City ), Nehru Stadium here on Ambani, chairperson of Australia (Melbourne City Thursday. Football Sports Develop­ Fc), Japan (Yokohima F Ma­ Chennaiyin striker Nerijus Valskis’ brace went in vain as ment Limited in the pre­ rinos), Uruguay (Athletico In the thick of it:Valskis netted a brace for Chennaiyin. Recognising excellence: Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju with Mohinder Singh Dhillon, sence of Ferran Soriano, Torque), Spain (Girona FC), Odisha came back twice from * B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM Bajrang Punia, Muhammad Anas and Tejinderpal Singh Toor. * SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA CEO of CFG. The majority China (Sichuan Jiuniu) and arrears to share the honours. Just when the home fans owners also formed the City England (Manchester City). ised, enjoyed more ball pos­ to the path of Xisco who Uthra Ganesan were raising the decibel le­ pion won bronze at the com­ cheque of ₹32,70,000. session and created more op­ made no mistake. NEW DELHI vels for a second successive petition in Nur­Sultan, Ka­ Punia, who was honoured portunities too. Though Valskis made it 2­1 win came the equaliser from With the season all but over zakhstan, in September to with Padma Shri this year, in the 71st minute, Santana Adriane Santana. The Spa­ A few minutes into the se­ and the Olympics less than secure an Olympic spot in had caused a stir after being spoiled Chennaiyin’s party niard’s powerful left­footer cond half, Chennaiyin tore 10 months away, Bajrang Pu­ the 65kg category. ignored for the Khel Ratna with a goal in the 82nd. nia is in the final stretch of found the back of the net, si­ into the Odisha defence to last year but was the unani­ Chennaiyin retained the his preparations for the Increased responsibility lencing the spectators. score the first goal. Rafael mous choice this time team which had beaten Hyd­ 2020 Games. And the wres­ Crivellaro’s pass from the “Any sportsperson feels around. He recently got en­ Earlier, Valskis reposed erabad FC recently while Od­ tler is determined to make middle saw Anirudh Thapa good after receiving an gaged to fellow­ wrestler the faith coach John Gregory isha made one change, Vitin his maiden outing at Tokyo a square it to Thoi Singh on the award and it is the biggest Sangeeta Phogat. had in him with a double Rai coming in for Martin memorable one. right. Thoi’s pass saw an un­ sports award anyone can ask Also receiving their res­ strike. With the match inter­ Guedes. estingly poised at 1­1, Valskis marked Valskis fire past Od­ Punia, who missed out on for. My sole focus is on the pective Arjuna Awards on The draw saw Chennaiyin produced a fantastic finish, isha ’keeper Arshdeep Singh. receiving the Rajiv Gandhi Olympics now and my res­ the occasion were National move to eighth with five heading home off a flag kick Khel Ratna earlier this year ponsibility has increased. I record­holders quartermiler points from six matches from Dragos Firtulsecu. Striking back due to his preparations for have recovered from my in­ Muhammad Anas and shot­ while Odisha remained sixth the World Championships, jury and have been training putter Tejinderpal Singh After a lukewarm first half, Odisha equalised through with six points from six. was handed over the same on the mat for the last 10­12 Toor while Toor’s coach Mo­ largely dominated by the vis­ Xisco Hernandez immediate­ The result: Chennaiyin 2 (Neri- by Sports Minister Kiren Riji­ days,” Punia said after re­ hinder Singh Dhillon was Landmark event: FSDL chairperson Nita Ambani with City itors, Chennaiyin showed re­ ly. A powerful strike from the jus Valskis 51 & 71) drew with ju on Thursday. The Asian ceiving the award. conferred the Dronacharya Football Group CEO Ferran Soriano at the Hero ISL press newed vigour in the second. right by Jerry saw the ball ri­ Odisha FC 2 (Xisco Hernandez and Commonwealth cham­ He was also handed a Award. meet. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT It looked much more organ­ cochet off the ’keeper and in­ 54, Adriane Santana 82). CM A ND-NDE YK