Abhishek wrecks Karnataka

Karnataka were dismissed for a paltry 133 by Gujarat in the Vijay Merchant Trophy cricket tournament (under-17) on Thursday, reports DHNS from Bangalore.

Mayank Agarwal stood tall among ruins with a patient 62 (213 balls, 11x 4) as Abhishek K Patel led the Gujarat onslaught with a five-wicket haul. In reply, Gujarat were 10 with out no loss at the end of the day.

Brief scores: Karnataka: 133 all out in 90.2 overs (Mayank Agarwal 62, Patel 3-16, Abhishek K Patel 5-30, Rikin R Christian 2-22) vs Gujarat: 10 for no loss in 5 overs.

Jha clinches strokeplay event

Bangalore lad Abhishek Jha, won the strokeplay format in the Goodricke Eastern India Open at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club on Thursday. He submitted a card of one-under par 71 to finish with a  two-day total of one-over 145 and emerged on top.

Simarjeet Singh was a shot behind 146 followed by Saurabh Bahuguna at 147. Three players — Tarun Gogale, Sanjeev Mehra and HS Kang — were tied for the fourth spot at 148.

Scores (36 holes): 145: Abhishek Jha (71, 74); 146: Simrajeet Singh (72, 74); 147: Saurabh Bahuguna (70, 77); 148: Tarun Gogale (74, 74), Sanjeev Mehra (77, 71), HS Kang (76, 72); 149: Jasjeet Singh (73, 76), Aditya Khaitan (73, 76), Manav Das (74, 75), Pawan Kumar (74, 75), Mithun Perara (76, 73), Gagan Verma (79, 70).

Kramnik to face Anand for title

World chess champion Viswanathan Anand will defend his title against challenger Vladimir Kramnik of Russia in a 12-game world championship match in October 11-30 at Bonn, Germany, reports PTI from New Delhi.

The match, to be held at an art and exhibition hall, will have a prize fund of euro1.5 million, to be shared equally by the two players, organisers said on Thursday in the German city.

Anand won his title in September at the world championship tournament in Mexico City. Kramnik finished second in the double round-robin event.

China simplifies entry procedures

Visitors to China will no longer have to fill in health declaration forms from next month as a way of simplifying entry procedures ahead of next year's Beijing Olympics, state media said on Thursday, reports Reuters from Beijing.

Instead, visitors would have to tell border officials of any illness, the ‘China Daily’ said. "The move aims to simplify immigration procedures and improve efficiency," it quoted a joint issued by the national quarantine watchdog and civil aviation regulator as saying.

The health forms were started during the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which began in the southern province of Guangdong in late 2002.

A1 GP to debut in India in 2009

After Formula One’s expected high profile entry into the country, Indian motorsport fans may get the opportunity to have a glimpse of A1GP race by 2009, reports UNI from New Delhi.

Indian Olympic Association had signed an agreement with Federation Internationale de Automobile (FIA) to bring F1 Grand Prix to India  in 2009 winter or early 2010 with race track to be built either in Greater Noida or Sohana, near Gurgaon. 

Friday’s races postponed

Friday’s Bangalore races have been postponed to Monday (December 24) due to unsuitable track conditions following rain, a press release from the Bangalore Turf Club said on Thursday. Friday’s race card will hold good for Monday’s races.

Davenport eyes major comeback

Lindsay Davenport is done with dabbling in tennis. She’s planning a full-fledged comeback in 2008, with her eyes on at least three Grand Slam tournaments, along with the Fed Cup and, possibly, the Beijing Olympics.

“I just didn’t think that athletically I’d be able to rebound as well as I have. My body has felt really great the last six months,” she said.