OFF TO A WINNING START Afternoon Despatch & Courier www.afternoondc.in
MUMBAI | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2013
SPORTS
Paes-Stepanek pair makes a winning start at year-end finals
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ONDON: Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek made a stupendous start to their campaign at the year-end ATP World Tour finals as they shocked second seeds Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares in a closely-fought Group B match. The seventh seeded Paes and Stepanek pair beat the AustriaBrazilain combination 6-3 5-7 108 in one hour and 42 minutes. Before prevailing in the Super Tie breaker, Paes and Stepanek overcame some anxious moments towards the end as their rivals fought hard. Paes and Stepanek served throughout well but it was in the 12th game of the second set, Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic and Leander Paes of India play a return to Alexander Peya of Austria and Bruno Soares of when the Indian dropped his Brazil during their ATP World Tour Finals tennis match at the O2 Arena in London on Tuesday. serve from 40-15 to make it a more thrilling contest, stretched their rivals but Peya and Soares match points but Peya and the four-team Group B, behind Soares saved three of them. The Spanish combo of David Marrero to a Super Tie breaker. Before that saved all. Paes and Stepanek had four Indo-Czech pair is now second in and Fernando Verdasco. they had four chances to break
My good form gives me better chance to win Indian Open: Shiv N
EW DELHI: After returning to the European Tour with a win at Dubai City Challenge last week, Shiv Kapur has now set his eyes on the 50th edition of Hero Indian Open that gets underway at the Delhi Golf Club from Thursday. Shiv said it was satisfying to win the European Challenge Tour Grand Final but it also left him drained. He would look to pull himself up and hoped his "good form" will give him a "better chance" to clinch the prestigious title. "It was a satisfying win. Playing three tours, juggling between events and finally winning in the end is satisfying. But mentally it was straining. I got tired but coming into the tournament with a victory boosts the confidence," Shiv told reporters here. "I need to get my energy up
this week. For the last few years, I have been telling you guys how much I want to win this tournament, how it is the fifth major and it still remains a dream to win the Indian Open. It is happening in DGC this year and the fact that it is the 50th year, makes it more special and knowing that you are coming into the event playing close to your best also gives me a better chance this year," added the Delhi golfer who had won the Volvo Masters of Asia in 2005. The 31-year-old has won three titles in the last 10 months -Shubhkamna Champions in December, Gujarat Kensville Challenge in February, and Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Shiv Kapur during the skills challenge at the Hero Indian Open. Grand Final last week -- and Shiv said probably it was the experi- handled situation better in the play well but still not win. I was ence which comes with age. "I last one year and I have learnt to playing well in Foshan City in think I am getting better with age. accept things better. It is hard be- China but didn't play well on the I am more patient now. I have cause, there are weeks when you last day," he said.
Rejuvenated Mumbai FC look for second away win against Mohammedan M
UMBAI: A rejuvenated Mumbai FC side will be looking for their second away win of the season when they take on promoted side Mohammedan SC in an I-League Round nine encounter at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on Wednesday. The match will be crucial as a win for either side will give them a chance to move into the top half of the table going into the break. Both teams currently have seven points each. However, Mumbai FC enjoys the advantage of a better goal ratio and thus sits at eight in the league table, one place above the hosts. The visitors go into the game Mumbai FC during their practice session at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday. high on confidence after snapping their three game losing run Coach Khalid Jamil was satisfied down and secure a draw from the by securing a last minute draw with the character the team jaws of defeat in the last game deagainst Bengaluru FC at home. showed to come back from a goal spite being a man short for more
than an hour. Nevertheless, he expects his team to stay focussed and concentrate on the game against the Kolkata-giants. The biggest team news ahead of the game is the return of talismanic defender Haroon Amiri who comes back after completing his two-game suspension. New signings striker Hashmatullah Mohamed Jan and midfielder Ahamad Arash Hatifie have settled into the team with Hashmatullah already getting on the scoresheet on debut against Bengaluru FC. Both teams have met four times in the past, twice in the first division and twice in the second division. Each side has secured a win apiece in either division and Mumbai FC will be hoping to go one better this time.
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IN BRIEF Indian men beat Oman 3-0 in ACT
NEW DELHI: India men's hockey team defeated Oman 3-0 to register their first win in the third Asian Champions Trophy at Kakamigahara, Japan. India opened the scoring against the run of play in the 19th minute through Akashdeep Singh's strike, courtesy a lapse in concentration from Oman defence. Talwinder Singh doubled India's lead in the 30th minute with another field goal after he was nicely set up by Prabhdeep Singh. After the change of ends, the Indians found it difficult to breach the Omanese defence till the 62nd minute when Amit Rohidas converted a penalty corner to make the scoreline 3-0. India will now play Pakistan in their next league match on Thursday.
Mohun Bagan meet spirited Lajong in an away game
SHILLONG: Mohun Bagan have a daunting task ahead of them as they lock horns with home favourites Shillong Lajong FC in their bid to earn full points during their ninth round I-League encounter at the J N Stadium here. The Thangboi Singto's side is on a high after earning their first home win this season against Mohammedan Sporting last week. Mohun Bagan on the other hand will miss their main striker Odafa and Eric, which Karim Bencherifa termed it as a major setback for the team. He also complained of another setback as the team, majority of who are below 23 years old, is yet to make best of the combinations among its players.
HPCA welcomes Court’s decision to restore "status quo ante"
SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association welcomed the High Court's decision to restore "status quo ante" in respect of the takeover of HPCA land and properties, and "disapproved" the action of the state government saying it was "politically motivated". "It is a victory of all the members and constituents of HPCA, their combined efforts and hardwork. We reaffirm our commitment towards the development of the game in Himachal in the best interest of all the stakeholders," Anurag Thakur, the President of HPCA, said in a press release. "We are committed to provide world class facilities to the players of the state and create more infrastructure for them and make Himachal one of the powerhouses of the game in the country," he added.
Divij-Raja in quarters of Ortisei Challenger event
NEW DELHI: Divij Sharan and Purav Raja scored an easy straight sets win over David Kostner and Patric Prinoth to move to the doubles quarter-finals of the ATP Challenger event in Ortisei, Italy. The top-seeded Indian pair beat the local pair 6-1 6-3 in the first round of the euro 64,000 hard court event. Divij and Raja broke their rival thrice in the opening set and once in the second set. They next play Martin Fischer of Austria and Peter Gojowczyk of Germany. Both Divij and Raja had played singles qualifiers too went down in close matches in their respective final rounds.
SA to host Pakistan to fill in for shortened Indian visit
KARACHI: Left in the lurch after India shortened its tour, South Africa will now host Pakistan for a three-match ODI and twomatch Twenty20 series from November 18, the two countries' boards announced. The Pakistan Cricket Board has hit a USD 1.5 million bonanza with this short limited-overs series, to be held in South Africa.