New Delhi

New Delhi

Saina seeks extension of Tokyo deadline due to coronavirus

Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap feel that the Badminton World Federation (BWF) should extend the Tokyo Olympics qualification deadline because the coronavirus outbreak has wreaked havoc on the qualifying tournaments. Concerns over the rapid spread of the deadly virus have forced the postponement of four qualifying events so far — Lingshui China Masters (Feb 25-Mar 1), Vietnam International Challenge (Mar 24-29), German Open (Mar 3-8) and Polish Open (Mar 26-29). “Qualification period can be extended if the tournaments are getting cancelled cause of coronavirus,” Saina wrote on Twitter. “It will be unfair for most of the players who are really close to qualifying for the 2020 Olympics,” she added. Saina is currently at the 22nd spot in the race to Tokyo and needs a rapid rise in the rankings to qualify.

Dronacharya Award-winning athletics coach JS Saini dies

Patiala, March 1

Veteran athletics coach and Dronacharya Award-winner Joginder Singh Saini, who groomed some of India’s finest track and field stars, died here today due to age-related problems. He was 90. Saini, who was the chief national athletics coach in 1970s to 1990s, was not keeping well for the past few days.

Born on January 1, 1930, in Hoshiarpur district, Saini was a science graduate and became an athletics coach in 1954 after completing a diploma in physical education and a course in coaching at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) here. He became the chief coach of the national federation, the Amateur Athletics Federation of India, in 1970. Saini received the Dronacharya Award in 1997 for his contribution to Indian athletics. He was the chief coach of the Indian athletics team which won 18 medals, including eight golds, at the 1978 Asian Games.

Advisory role

‘Saini Saab’, as he was fondly called by the Indian athletics community, was involved with coaching until 2004, and after that he became an adviser of the Athletics Federation of India. He competed in hurdles in his young days and some of India’s finest athletes were trained by him at NIS and national camps.

Saini was the one who encouraged Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, who won an Asian Games gold medal in 1962, to take up decathlon. Legendary marathon runner Shivnath Singh was among other illustrious athletes coached by Saini. — PTI

I don’t think being cautious or wary will help because you might stop playing your shots. New Zealand, much like England’s seaming surfaces, is a place where caution is required more often than in Australia, where most pitches are extremely true. Whatever the cause, at the Basin Reserve it was an abysmal batting effort from the No. 1 Test team, who failed to reach 200 in either innings

Ian Chappell, Australian great

SA, England join India in semis

Sydney, March 1

South Africa and England registered comfortable victories against Pakistan and West Indies, respectively, in their Group B matches to seal their spots in the semifinals of the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup. Group A leaders India were the first to reach the last-4 and the final place will go to the winner of Monday’s clash between hosts Australia and their trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand.

After South Africa registered a 17-run win against Pakistan, England thumped West Indies by 46 runs to claim their third win and climb to the top of Group B on net run rate. South Africa, however, have a game in hand against the Caribbean side.

Laura Wolvaardt did not get a chance to bat in the previous two matches but made a brisk, unbeaten half-century to help South Africa to a win over Pakistan for their third victory from as many matches.

Perry in doubt for NZ tie

Melbourne: Australia’s Ellyse Perry is in serious doubt for their do-or-die T20 World Cup encounter against New Zealand on Monday due to a sore hip. “We’ll give her every chance to play tomorrow, but we won’t be able to make a call on that until tomorrow,” Australia captain Meg Lanning said.

Brief scores: England: 143/5 (Nat Sciver 57, Danni Wyatt 29; Anisa Mohammed 1/23); West Indies: 97 (Lee-Ann Kirby 20; Sophie Ecclestone 3/7, Sarah Glenn 2/16)

South Africa: 136/2 (Laura Wolvaardt 53*, Marizanne Kapp 31; Diana Baig 2/19); Pakistan: 119/5 (Aliya Riaz 39*; Javeria Khan 31; Shabnim Ismail 1/20)

Porel 5-for after Majumdar unbeaten ton puts Karnataka on mat

Kolkata, March 1

Ishan Porel complemented Anustup Majumdar’s unbeaten century with a five-wicket haul to put Bengal in command against Karnataka in their Ranji Trophy semifinal. After Majumdar’s 149* propelled Bengal to 312, the 21-year-old Porel snared 5/39 as the three-pronged Bengal pace attack dismissed Karnataka for a paltry 122 in 36.2 overs, their lowest total this season.

India opener KL Rahul scored a 67-ball 26 while spinner Krishnappa Gowtham, batting at No. 8, top-scored with 31. Gowtham put up a quick 56-run stand for the eighth wicket with Abhimanyu Mithun (24) to help Karnataka avoid the follow-on. However, Karnataka conceded a massive 190-run lead. A total of 15 wickets tumbled on Day 2 as Bengal were 72/4 at stumps with Sudip Chatterjee (40*) giving Majumdar (1*) company, extending the hosts’ overall lead to a sizeable 262 runs.

Jackson, bowlers put Saurashtra in command

Rajkot: Sheldon Jackson struck a gritty hundred before the bowlers shone as Saurashtra gained an upper hand on the second day of their semifinal against Gujarat. Jackson’s knock of 103 helped Saurashtra post 304 and then the home team bowlers wreaked havoc on Gujarat’s batting line-up to reduce them to 119/6. Medium-pacer Roosh Kalaria first trapped Chirag Jani (29) in front of the wicket and then got Jackson to edge to wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel as Saurashtra slipped to 266/7. Jackson and Jani added 103 runs for the sixth wicket. Pacer Arzan Nagwaswalla (5/81) grabbed a five-for, while Axar Patel took three wickets and Kalaria bagged two.

At stumps, Gujarat were 119/6 with Rujul Bhatt (27*) and Patel (7*) at the crease.

Brief Scores

Bengal: 312 (Anustup Majumdar 149*; Ronit More 3/52, Abhimanyu Mithun 3/77, Prasidh Krishna 2/78); Karnataka: 122 and 72/4 (Mithun 3/9)

Saurashtra: 304 (Sheldon Jackson 103, Kishan Parmar 37; Arzan Nagwaswalla 5/81); Gujarat: 119/6

Liton ton guides Bangladesh to big win

Sylhet, March 1

Liton Das struck his second ODI century to help Bangladesh crush Zimbabwe by 169 runs in the first ODI of a three-match series. Liton hit 126 off 105 balls with 13 fours and two sixes and was involved in a few sizable partnerships as Bangladesh dominated the Zimbabwe bowlers after Mashrafe Mortaza opted to bat first. Mohammad Mithun hit 50 off 41 balls while Mohammad Saifuddin remained unbeaten on 28 off 16 balls as Bangladesh raced past the 300-run mark before posting their highest score against Zimbabwe. Liton and Tamim Iqbal put on 60 runs for the opening stand before debutant all-rounder Wesley Madhevere trapped Tamim in front for 24 for Zimbabwe’s first breakthrough.

Zimbabwe were never in the chase, losing opener Tinashe Kamunhukamwe in the second over. Wickets continued to tumble and half the side were back in the pavilion with only 79 on board. Madhevere top-scored with 35 as Mohammad Saifuddin picked up 3/22 while Mortaza and Mehidy Hasan took two wickets each.

Brief Scores

Bangladesh: 321/6 in 50 overs (Liton Das 126, Mohammad Mithun 50; Christopher Mpofu 2/68); Zimbabwe: 152 all out in 39.1 overs (Wesley Madhevere 35; Mohammad Saifuddin 3/22, Mashrafe Mortaza 2/35, Mehidy Hasan 2/33)