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MUMBAI THE HINDU 18 SPORT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

TV PICKS NBA: Sony Ten 1 (SD & HD), Bagan regains I­League title in style 5.30 a.m. Ranji Trophy : Final, day three, Star Sports 2 (SD & Diawara’s spectacular strike does the trick; matches Dempo SC’s record HD), 9.30 a.m. All­England badminton Amitabha Das Sharma Aizawl, coached by Stanly championships: Star Sports KALYANI 3, 2.30 p.m. Rozario, played the right Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe: Babacar Diawara’s spectacu­ game with regular counter­ 2nd T20I, SS Select 1 (SD & lar 80th­minute finish en­ attacks that detained the host HD), 5.30 p.m. sured Mohun Bagan’s crown­ from going all out. Legends World T20 Series: ing glory moment in the South Africa vs West Indies, I­League at the Kalyani Stadi­ Good chance Colors Cineplex (SD & HD), 7 um here on Tuesday. With p.m. Bagan created a good chance Champions League : Sony the clash against Aizawl FC in the last minute of the Ten 1 & Sony Ten 2 (SD & HD), seemingly headed for a tame opening half when Diawara 1.30 a.m. (Thursday) draw, Diawara’s winner en­ released Tajikistan winger sured the full three points Komron Tursunov unmarked IN BRIEF took Bagan’s tally to an unas­ inside the box. The latter, ho­ sailable 39 from 16 matches. wever, failed to keep send at­ Bagan thus matched Dem­ tempt on target. po SC’s record — set in the 2009­10 season — of claiming Bagan continued to strug­ the league title with four gle in the second half seeing rounds to spare. If the NFL — most of its attacks fizzle out the previous version of the before the Aizawl FC box. Champs: Mohun Bagan made it a memorable final season in the I­League when it regained the league — and I­League are After a number of failed title with four rounds to spare. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT considered together then Ba­ opportunities, emerging es­ Murray hands Bucks gan has also equalled Dem­ pecially from set­piece situa­ third straight defeat po’s tally of five titles. Dempo ing being acquired by ATK The possession­based a fairly good job in defence tions, play­maker Joseba Bei­ LOS ANGELES has three I­League and two this year, thus made its last I­ football that Bagan mastered employing two towering tia managed to create the Jamal Murray scored 21 NFL crowns while Bagan col­ League season memorable. under its Spanish coach Kibu points as Denver Nuggets centre­backs — Ghanaian Jo­ opening that was finished sent Milwaukee Bucks lected its second I­League tit­ Vicuna this season was large­ seph Adjei and Ugandan Juu­ brilliantly by Diawara. With tumbling to a third straight le to add to the three NFL tit­ Drab affair ly absent as the host lacked ko Richard — whose strong this the Senegalese striker defeat with a 109­95 victory les won previously. The first half was a drab affair the initiative to break into the physical presence posed a scored his 10th goal in 12 on Monday. Bagan, which will play in with neither opponent show­ opposition defence. big challenge for Bagan’s at­ matches to become Bagan’s The results: Hawks 143 bt the ISL from next season hav­ ing enough attacking intent. Aizawl FC, meanwhile, did tackers. top scorer this term. Hornets 138 (OT); Nuggets 109 bt Bucks 95; Raptors 101 bt Jazz 92. AGENCIES CCFC motivated to do something special Leicester blanks Aston Villa Head coach Nawas says it’s eager to do well against Maziya Sports & Recreation Vardy ends goal drought to become the league’s top­scorer AFC CUP said. Maziya’s head coach EURO LEAGUES Marjan Sekulovski said the K. Keerthivasan team was prepared and will Agencies Chennai go for full points. London Ghosal stuns Rosner, Chennai City FC (CCFC) “It is our first game in the Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy makes last eight hasn’t had a good run in the I­ group stage. It will be difficult ended his long scoring LONDON League this season. However, and [moreover] we don’t drought with two goals after Saurav Ghosal stunned fifth that is not the team’s concern know the strength of all the coming off the bench as it re­ seed Simon Rosner of now. teams. [But] we always we turned to winning ways with Germany 13­11, 7­11, 11­4 and The focus is on its maiden play to win,” he said. a 4­0 drubbing of Premier entered the quarterfinals of League struggler Aston Villa the St. James Place Canary AFC Cup campaign against Male­based Maldives team — Dismal record at the King Power Stadium Wharf Squash Classic, a PSA on Monday. World Tour Gold event here Maziya Sports & Recreation — Maziya is no stranger to In­ Leicester’s goal­machine late on Monday. to be played at the Nehru Sta­ dian clubs in the AFC Cup. It Back in form: Jamie Vardy came off the bench to pump in two Vardy had not found the net * dium here on Wednesday. has played Mohun Bagan and goals for Leicester City against Aston Villa. AFP since December but convert­ While CCFC qualified for BFC six times across three ed a penalty just past the It was the Foxes first win because of the coronavirus the AFC Cup as the I­League The drill: Chennai City FC players hone their skills at a seasons, but has lost five * hour to double Leicester’s in five league games, ending epidemic. In an empty Ma­ champion last season, Mazi­ practice session in Chennai on Tuesday. R. RAGU times. ya made it by winning the lead shortly after replacing a slump that had put its top­ pei Stadium in Reggio Emi­ playoffs against Bengaluru FC we are motivated to do so­ League for one season in With four teams in Kelechi Iheanacho. four place and hopes of lia, Caputo opened the scor­ (BFC) 4­3 on penalties after mething special. 2016­17 before shifting base to Group­E, including Bashund­ Harvey Barnes had qualifying for Champions ing just before half time off a the two­leg contest ended 4­4 Coimbatore in 2018­19. hara Kings (Bangladesh) and opened the scoring before League football next season Gregoire Defrel cross. He ad­ on aggregate. Respect for opponent Nawas felt playing here TC Sports Club (Maldives), half­time after a dreadful in peril. ded a second on the hour to CCFC head coach Akbar “We respect them [Maziya] as would be a big motivation. every side will play three misjudgement by Villa bring his tally this season to Vardy not ruling out they beat BFC, which is a “Everybody is excited to matches each at home and ’keeper Pepe Reina. Caputo shines 13 goals. England return Nawas said his team was competitive team. We can’t play their first AFC group away. The top two will pro­ LONDON more than eager to prove it­ Vardy struck again after Francesco Caputo scored a The results: Premier League : underestimate them,” he said game because we are playing gress to the round­of­32. Leicester 4 (Barnes 40, 85, Var­ Leicester City striker Jamie self. 79 minutes to take his league double as Sassuolo beat at an interaction on Tuesday. dy 63­pen, 79) bt Aston Villa 0. Vardy refused to rule out a “We are proud to be parti­ in Chennai’s Nehru stadium. Having not met earlier, tally to 19 goals for the sea­ Brescia 3­0 on Monday in a return to the England side for cipating [in AFC Cup], and CCFC is coming back to “It’s a good motivation. We both CCFC and Maziya will son before Barnes claimed match which could be the Serie A: Sassuolo 3 (Caputo 45, Euro 2020 with first­choices being the only Indian team, Chennai after playing in the I­ are looking forward to it,” he fancy their chances. his second. last in Serie A for a month 61, Boga 75) bt Brescia 0. Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford nursing injuries, but the 33­year­old said he had Put the smile not discussed it with national Sindhu looks to overturn Langer in search of ‘finisher’ like Dhoni coach Gareth Southgate. “Who knows? Gareth and I back, urges both agreed the door would a run of poor form CRICKET the past with a Mike Hussey dates to seal the spot. The still be open for whatever or a Michael Bevan who are challenge starts with the up­ Binotto Press Trust of India reason and then we would sit masters at it. coming ODIs against New Agence France-Presse Seven Indians withdraw owing MELBOURNE down and have a talk about it Zealand. Melbourne (if needed).” REUTERS Master to coronavirus concerns Australia’s head coach Justin “So it’s a role that’s there Ferrari Formula One boss Langer says his team is des­ M.S. Dhoni is a master of it, for someone to grab hold Mattia Binotto on Tuesday ALL-ENGLAND be seen in action at the Are­ perately looking for a finish­ Jos Buttler has been brilliant of,” said Langer. na Birmingham. urged his team to “put a er in the mould of Mahendra at it for England,” Langer “No one at this stage has smile on people’s faces” at Abdumalik Press Trust of India While Sindhu, who is al­ Singh Dhoni or Michael Be­ was quoted as saying by ICC. absolutely secured it, have the Australian Grand Prix Birmingham most assured of an Olympic van in limited overs cricket. “What I’ve learned is eve­ they? as Italy went into lockdown holds Harika berth, will look to end a Undeterred by the coronavi­ The three­match ODI se­ ryone in the world is looking “But there are good op­ to combat coronavirus. nearly two­decade­old title rus outbreak, Indian shut­ ries against New Zealand, for it,” he added. portunities there for some­ “At a difficult time for Press Trust of India jinx at the All­England, tlers will continue to chase beginning on March 13, pro­ Dhoni has won India in­ one to do that,” he added. Italy and the world as a Lausanne former silver medallist Saina glory at the All­England vides Australia an opportun­ numerable matches from Over the last year, as ma­ whole, as part of a global Nehwal and K. Srikanth will Indian Grandmaster D. Ha­ Championships beginning ity to test the depth in its seemingly hopeless posi­ ny as 13 batsmen have occu­ sport, it is our obligation to eye valuable points to rika was held to a draw by here on Wednesday, with middle order, and potential­ tions, and so have the likes of pied positions 4­7 for Austra­ try and put a smile on peo­ squeeze inside the top 16 be­ Zhansaya Abdumalik of Ka­ reigning World champion ly hone in on batsmen who Bevan and Hussey. lia in ODIs, with nine ple’s faces as they prepare fore the deadline for Olym­ zakhstan in the seventh P.V. Sindhu spearheading could fill the ‘finisher’ role. Langer feels it is the right different batsmen tried out M.S. Dhoni...fantastic to watch the first race of pic qualification ends on round of the FIDE Women’s the campaign. “We’ve been fortunate in time for the potential candi­ at No.6. finisher * FILE PHOTO: K.R. DEEPAK the season,” he said. Grand Prix chess tourna­ The season’s first Super April 28. ment here. She remained 1000 event witnessed a dra­ Chief National coach P. on four points, half a point matic build­up in the wake Gopi Chand was the last In­ behind two Russians. of the COVID­19 outbreak. In dian to win the champion­ Morkel predicts 2­1 win for India First thing we need to The results: (seventh round): the United Kingdom, the ship, in 2001. Sindhu will look to overturn a run of re­ D. Harika 4 drew with number of cases has gone change are the cars: Aditya Zhansaya Abdumalik (Kaz) 4; past 300 with five deaths so cent poor finishes and emu­ Boucher’s guidance will fire up Proteas, says former all­rounder Alexandra Kosteniuk (Rus) 2 far. late her mentor with the top Shayan Acharya SPORTS REPORTER lost to Anna Muzychuk (Ukr) medal. players might feel a bit more Seven Indians, including Mumbai CHENNAI 4; Alexandra Goryachkina H.S. Prannoy and World No. World No. 6 Sindhu, who responsibility on their The co­founder of the X1 (Rus) 4.5 drew with Mariya 10 men’s doubles pair of Chi­ had reached the 2018 semifi­ As India gears up for a three­ shoulders, and get tied up. racing league, Indian racer Muzychuk (Ukr) 3.5; Nana rag Shetty and Satwiksairaj nals, will need to cut down match One­Day Internation­ “We've got a good mix. Dzagnidze (Geo) 4 drew with Aditya Patel said new cars Rankireddy, have with­ on unforced errors and al series against South Afri­ Faf is back, but it’s unfortu­ Pia Cramling (Swe) 3.5 Ju would be run in the upcom­ drawn from the All­England. strengthen her defence as ca, starting on Thursday, nate that Rabada is injured. Wenjun (Chn) 3 drew with former Proteas bowling all­ ing season and that one The $1,100,000 BWF she opens against USA’s Bei­ He would have added lot to Marie Sebag (Fra) 2.5; Alena rounder Albie Morkel pred­ round, as street racing, Kashlinskaya (Rus) 4.5 drew world tour event offers wen Zhang. our attack,” he said. icts a 2­1 win for the home might be held at a different with Antoneta Stefanova 12,000 ranking points to the The 24­year­old is expect­ side. venue if the Buddh Interna­ (Bul) 2.5. winner and with Olympic ed to take on Korea’s Sung Ji Conducive conditions However, he is confident tional Circuit (BIC) is un­ qualification on the line, Hyun if she crosses the Morkel also believes the that under new head coach available. most of the top players will opening hurdle. conditions in Dharamsala Mark Boucher, South Africa and Kolkata will suit the vis­ BIC and Madras Motor Akbar Travels will play some competitive iting side, whereas Lucknow Race Track (MMRT) hosted Aditya Patel and cricket. in last four — which will host the second the league’s inaugural sea­ Vijay Shankar. son last year. Mechanical is­ * Albie Morkel. ODI — maythrow up SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Tough task sues were reported with the * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT challenges. Mumbai: Akbar Travels (Ker­ “Even if a team is in top cars used last season. “They [the cars] were Having played in India in ala) recorded a 2­1 win form, beating India in India fidence. “We have got some “We’ve kind of dissected tested. They came from the past, Morkel knows the against Mumbai United in is almost impossible. It's young, exciting guys. Our everything, and realised the abroad, actually. And that conditions well. “White­ball the quarterfinal of the 3rd gonna be a tough series for batting is coming through first thing we need to guy is reputed to have run cricket is a completely diffe­ late Shri Vishwanath An­ them. India will win it 2­1, and there are some young change are the cars. We are these cars for many years. rent game. chan Memorial Veterans but South Africa should at fast bowlers. International speaking to multiple people He has one of the most suc­ Football tournament at the least compete,” Morkel told cricket is a tough place to “Normally, in India, the in India and abroad. I think, cessful teams. But we’re still KSA ground, Cross Maidan. Sportstar. learn your trade. wickets are fantastic for by the end of next month, waiting for the final report The results (quarterfinals): In the city for the UnAca­ “ So, it can also be to our white­ball cricket. The fields we should have an idea [as to come, as to what the is­ Akbar Travels 2 (K.T. Asah­ demy Road Safety World Se­ advantage long­term,” said are small, and there are to] in which direction we sues with the cars were. raf, P. Shibumon) bt Mumbai Morkel, who quit interna­ high­scoring games. United 1 (Glen Moraes). ries, representing South are going,” he said on the si­ “We’re just waiting for tional cricket last year. Central Railway 3 (Ishrat Africa Legends, Morkel said “That suits the South Afri­ delines of the CII Tamil Na­ the BIC to come back with Kamal, Aziz Qureshi, Chirag Upbeat: P.V. Sindhu will be hoping to emulate mentor the recent ODI series win “If you're a youngster, cans style of play. That’s du Fitness & Sports Summit their verdict by the end of Shaikh) bt Xaverites SC (Vile Gopi Chand and claim a maiden title at the All­England against Australia had helped you just go out there and why it’s gonna be a compet­ 2020 at the Taj Coromandel this month. Because, they Parle) 1 (Lawrence Pereira). championships. * FILE PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL the South Africans gain con­ play. Whereas, more senior itive series,” he stated. here on Tuesday. have some issues.”

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