SUNDAY 6 13 JANUARY SPORTS CHENNAICHENNAI Maharashtra, Bengaluru enter QFs AGELESS | NT Bureau | win for Bengaluru.Bengaluru. Both BengaluruBengaluru and Chhattisgarh secured 10 Chennai, Jan 13:3: points each (3 wins and a draw) but FEDERER Maharashtra, Sashastraa Seema the former advanced on Bal, Central Secretariat and the basis of better Bengaluru HA entered goal difference. the quarter-fi nals of the Results: Pool A 9th Hockey India Senior : Hockey Uttara- Men’s hockey champi- khand beat Hock- SOUNDS onship ‘B’ Division heree ey Bihar 9-4; Saturday. Pool B : Hockey In Pool A, Hockey Maharashtraarashtra beat Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy 2-1 with goals fromm Rahul CONFIDENT Sander (27th minute) andd Pratap Shinde (60th minute). Himanshuimanshu  Sanik had equalised for MP Hock- Says he is playing good tennis ey Academy in the 54th minute through a fi eld goal. and ready to defend title Shinde’s goal helped Maharash-aharash- tra win and enter the quarter-fiter-fi nals defending champion Novak Djokovic in as topper of Pool ‘A’. In Pool ‘B’, Jharkhand bt Hockey Andaman the second round, outlasting the Serb Jharkhand trounced Andamanaman & & Nicobar 18-0, Sashastra Seema over fi ve sets. ‘I think the focus really Nicobar 18-0 while in a Pool ‘C’ Bal bt Hockey Jammu & Kashmir is on those early rounds, especially game, Sahastra Seema Balal edged 3-2. Pool C: Central Secretariat tomorrow,’ said Federer, whose vic- out Jammu and Kashmirir 3-2 to beat Hockey Mizoram 12-0, Hockey tory against Marin Cilic in last year’s reach the last eight. Andhra Pradesh beat Hockey fi nal was his 20th Grand Slam title. In Pool ‘D’, Bengaluru HAA rode on ‘I know what Denis did to Novak. I Gujarat 6-2. Pool D: BengaluruBengaluru Melbourne, Jan 13 (AFP): Harish Mutagar’s hat-trickck (22nd, watched basically the entire game a Hockey Association beat Andhra 23rd, 30th minute) to scoreore a 8-2 Ageless Roger Federer said Sunday couple years ago when he beat Novak here. Hockey Association 8-2. win over Andhra. It was the third he was in a confi dent mood and warned his I’ve had some tough ones against him in the past. rivals he was ‘playing good tennis’ as he aims for He can play well in fast courts, and that’s what a third successive Australian Open title. it’s going to be a little bit here as well,’ added the The Swiss master enjoyed a successful Hopman world number three, who has won all six previous Cup warm-up in Perth and knows that at even encounters against Istomin. the grand old age of 37 he has a great chance of a ‘Depending on how you match up with your op- record seventh Melbourne crown and 21st major ponent, who is going to win the big points, the victory. ‘I’m playing good tennis. I’m confi dent that margins are so slim nowadays that I’m just not I think it needs a good performance by my opponent thinking too far ahead. I don’t think I should be- probably to beat me,’ said the third seed, who opens cause I think that would be a mistake. I hope I can his defence against Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin in put myself in contention as the tournament goes Monday’s night match on Rod Laver Arena. deeper, but we’ll see.’ A buoyant Federer revealed he had enjoyed a successful break coming into the 2019 season. Federer also revealed that6 he was shocked that ‘Throughout my career, I’ve been very lucky that tennis was to lose ‘legend’ Andy Murray this year in the off-seasons I never had any setbacks,’ he and the Scot should be ‘incredibly proud’ of all he told reporters at Melbourne Park. ‘What I can say had achieved. ‘I was disappointed and sad, a little is the off-season was great for me. I think maybe bit shocked, to know now that we’re going to lose it showed a little bit at the Hopman Cup already. him at some point. But we’re going to lose every- Again, look, I’m playing. We’ll see how it’s going body at some point. It’s just now that it’s defi nite,’ CChennaiyinhennaiyin FFCC he added, acknowledging that the era of the ‘Big to be here in Melbourne.’ Federer’s fi rst-round opponent Istomin caused a massive upset in Four’ -- himself, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and B toto faceface KKeralaerala Melbourne two years ago when he knocked out Murray was drawing inexorably to a close. BBlasterslasters reservesreserves Shubman Gill | NT Bureau | receives maiden call-up Chennai, Jan 13:  Chennaiyin FC B will commence their Second Division League cam- Vijay Shankar to replace paign against southern rivals Kerala Blasters reserves on Monday, 14 January at the Panampilly Ground in Kochi. Pandya, leaves for Australia In their second consecutive appearance in the second tier of Indian football, CFC B are pitted against Bengaluru\92s Ozona FC and South | NT Bureau | United FC, and Fateh Hyderabad AFC apart from KBFC in Group B. Chennai, Jan 13: The ties will be played on a home-away basis with CFC contesting their home games at the SSN College ground here. Vijay Shankar is all set to replace Under the tutelage of Sameer Shaikh, a former Youth Development Hardik Pandya in the ODI squad Coach at DSK Shivajians, CFC B have been training in Goa over the against Australia as Pandya along last three weeks. The CFC B squad comprises talent from the state and with KL Rahul, has been suspended around the country, including a number of CFC U-18 boys who qualifi ed by the BCCI following their inap- for the fi nal round of the 2018-19 Hero Elite League recently. propriate comments about women overs squad for the New Zealand Having fi nished bottom of their group with two wins in last season\92s in a popular television show re- tour, in place of Rahul. 20-year-old 2nd Division League, the CFC B players with an average age of 18 years cently. Shubman Gill is in a good nick garnered some valuable big-game exposure from competing against sen- The 27-year old Tamilnadu all- of form and has impressed in the ior professional teams like Mohammedan Sporting (Kolkata), Langsning rounder will be the lone replace- domestic matches this year and ment in the squad against Aus- India A tour with his stellar per- FC (Shillong) and Tiddim Road Athletic Union FC (Imphal). Their aim tralia. Initially, the selectiors had formances. will be to improve on last year\92s showing while focusing on their picked Mayank Agarwal in place The right-handed batsman from overall development and growth. of KL Rahul but since Agarwal Punjab has become the second CFC B are one of six Indian Super League clubs (except NorthEast is nursing a niggle, the selectors player from the team led by Prithvi United FC, Mumbai City FC, FC Pune City and Delhi Dynamos FC) IIran,ran, IIraqraq ppowerower decided to not name any other Shaw in World Cup to make it to fi elding reserve teams in the preliminary round of the 16-team 2nd replacement for the remaining two Indian team. He has played 36 List Division League. The preliminary round group winners from Group A ODIs against Australia. A matches and has scored 1529 and Group B and the top two teams from Group C will progress to the However, 2018 Under-19 World runs at an average of 47.78. In nine iintonto AAsiansian CupCup fi nal round. However if an ISL reserve team fi nishes in the qualifying Cup star Shubman Gill has earned fi rst-class matches, he has scored positions, the slot will be passed on to the next non-ISL team. his maiden call-up in the limited 1089 runs at an average of 77.78. Resurgent Man City kknockoutnockout pphasehase Stellar all-round show by Ashok Abu Dhabi, Jan 13 (AFP): home a Ghoddos cross after 38 resumes title quest minutes. The Rubin Kazan forward | NT Bureau | IV-DIVISION D: City Central Iran sank Vietnam and Iraq beat lashed in his third goal of the tour- League 219 in 50 overs (A Sulthan Jan 13 (AFP): Chennai, Jan 13: Yemen as the neighbours and arch- nament from the edge of the box 20 60*, Syed Sadiq Pasha 47, AS rivals powered into the Asian Cup Pep Guardiola’s rejuvenated Man- minutes from time to give Iran a C Ashok Kumar’s stellar showing Rangarajan 3/56) bt Youngsters round of 16 on Saturday ahead record ninth successive fi rst-round Cricket Club 154 in 43 overs (T chester City face a potentially tricky of their highly anticipated group with both the ball and bat enabled challenge at home to Wolverhamp- victory dating back to 2007. Manoj Kumar 72, Md Saad Hus- decider next week. Sardar Azmoun Bharath Petroleum Corporation ton Wanderers on Monday as they Co-favourites with South Korea Club to beat Minerva Cricket Club sain 4/10, L Sonu Singh 3/54). struck both goals in Iran’s 2-0 to lift the Asian Cup, Iran crushed continue their Premier League win in Abu Dhabi, while teenager by 64 runs in the fourth division C V-DIVISION ‘B’: ICI Sports and title defence. But the early days of war-torn Yemen 5-0 in their open- of the TNCA League. Recreation Club 236 in 48.4 overs Mohanad Ali’s early solo strike ing Group D game. They were in- 2019 suggest their uncharacteristic kick-started Iraq’s 3-0 victory in Chasing 241 for win, Minerva (V Rajesh 59, M Anbu Selvan 48, debted to goalkeeper Alireza Safar December collapse is fi rmly behind Sharjah. CC was bowled out for 176 with S Sethupathi 38, B Yokeshwaran them. The fi nal month of last year Beiranvand for a courageous save Iran and Iraq will meet in Du- only S Balaji making a meaningful 5/38) bt Grove Cricket Club 126 saw City lose successive league from Nguyen Cong Phuong, but bai on Wednesday to decide who contribution of 52, thanks to Ashok in 39 overs (A Anandh 3/15); games, against relatively modest were otherwise barely ruffl ed by tops Group D in a repeat of their the Southeast Asian champions. Kumar’s fi ve-wicket haul. Earlier Kamyuth Club 206/8 in 50 overs (S opposition in both Crystal Palace combustible quarter-fi nal of 2015, Ashok Kumar contributed with the C Ashok Kumar and Leicester City, following an end ‘We just need to relax more,’ Gokul 97*, R Magesh 31, K Nanda which Iraq won on penalties. bat as well scoring 43 to help his to their unbeaten domestic start to said Queiroz. ‘In the second half 4/62, I Vetrivel 3/29). Kumar 30) lost to Komaleeswarar Iran, looking to end a 43-year title team post 240. the campaign earlier at the begin- our anxiety to score a third goal IV-DIVISION ‘B’: National Unit- Cricket Club 210/6 in 48.4 overs drought since last winning Asian led to some bad passes.’ Queiroz Brief scores: IV-DIVISION ‘A’: ning of December. But a victory over ed Club 106 in 38.1 overs (V (S Surender 66*, MS Raja 55, B football’s most coveted prize, could singled out Azmoun, who came out Perambur Club 212/6 in 50 overs Vignesh Raja 4/26, KR Shrreyas Praanesh 3/48); Harnath Cricket leaders Liverpool to kick off New Year completely rejuvenated the have scored four or fi ve but for some of international retirement for the (Manoj Vasan 72, S Babu 50, VS Raghavan 3/29) lost to Mylapore Club 171 in 45.3 overs (T Baskar mood at the Etihad Stadium after poor fi nishing in Abu Dhabi. Asian Cup. ‘He’s a fi nisher,’ said the Karthick Manikandan 3/48) bt Recreation Club ‘B’ 108/2 in 18.2 53, GB Sathish Kumar 42, T ‘It’s a pity our performance didn’t Portuguese, now in his eighth year Triplicane Friends United Cricket overs (KR Shrreyas Raghavan 55, City had been denied the services of Adhavan 33, D Dhivya Bharath injured playmaker Kevin De Bru- produce a couple more goals,’ Iran as Iran coach. ‘We have high hopes Club 191/9 in 50 overs (D Harsha- S Ajay Kumar 36*). 3/42) lost to Prasad Cricket Club yne for most of the fi rst half of the coach Carlos Queiroz told report- for him for this competition. But vardan 50, N Hariharan 3/36); IV-DIVISION C: Bharath Petro- 172/8 in 45.4 overs (S Vigneshwar campaign. And two stunning cup ers. ‘But winning is the best medi- the way the team is contributing State Bank of India Recreation leum Corporation Club 240 in 43.5 61, V Vignesh 30, R Sai Bharat victories in the space of four days cine in football. To win two games around him, and our movement in Club 138 in 49.3 overs (KM Har- overs (M Shiva Ram 77, C Ashok 4/47); Jai Hind Cricket Club 171 -- albeit against lower league clubs and score seven goals -- I have to the last third, are very interesting.’ ish 53, V Saravana Guru 4/32, R Kumar 43, R Mithun 43*, S Sunil in 47.3 overs (S Noor Mohamed Rotherham and Burton Albion -- praise my players because I am In Sharjah, 18-year-old Ali scored Pavithran 3/43) lost to Madras 5/55, S Nithin Athreya 4/27) bt 62, MS Shriram 3/41) lost to Eagle suggested the clinical, cutting edge very demanding.’ a wonderful solo goal to put Iraq Emmanuel Cricket Club 139/7 in Minerva Cricket Club 176 in 43.1 Cricket Club 172/6 in 31.1 overs that characterised City’s play dur- Saman Ghoddos and Mehdi Tare- 1-0 up after 11 minutes, although 28.2 overs (K Rajesh Kumar 59, overs (S Balaji 52, C Ashok Kumar (A Vivek 39, N Vint Lakhani 37, ing last season’s record-breaking mi went close for Asia’s top-ranked questions must be raised of the R Chinnarasu 42, V Vijaysarathi 5/40). K Venkatesh Sundar 3/50). title-winning campaign was back. team before Azmoun rose to head Yemeni defence.