Navratilova is Czech again
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova on Tuesday said she had regained Czech nationality more than 30 years after fleeing communism in the country of her birth to live in the United States. “I lost it at the time I defected. I got it back on January 9,” Navratilova told reporters on a visit to Tokyo. The 51-year-old said she was maintaining dual nationality.
Thai weightlifter Pawina retires
Record-breaking Thai weightlifter Pawina Thongsuk has announced her retirement and will not defend her Olympic title in Beijing this year, reports Reuters from Bangkok.
Pawina, who has won gold at every major Games or championship she has competed in, has called it quits because of a persistent knee injury.
Sunitha advances, Shikha bows out
A rusty Sunitha Rao ovecame a jittery start while Isha Lakhani and Ankita Bhambri benefited from the retirement of their opponents to advance to the second round of the $50,000 ITF women’s tennis event on Tuesday, reports PTI from New Delhi.
Sunitha defeated Ksenia Palkina of Kyrgyzstan 6-4, 6-4. Meanwhile, an errant Shikha Uberoi was outplayed 3-6, 3-6 by qualifier Montinee Tangphong of Thailand in her first-round match.
Other results: Teodora Mircic (Srb) bt Mihaela Buzarnesbt Anastasija Sevastova (Lat) 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4); Isha Lakhani bt Vesna Manasieva (Rus) 6-3 (retd); Ankita Bhambri bt Ivana Lisjak (Cro) 6-3, 1-0 (retd).
Badshahs down Superstars
Skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq struck an unbeaten half-century to guide Lahore Badshahs to a five-wicket win over defending champions Chennai Superstars in the second edition of the Indian Cricket League’s Twenty20 tournament at Panchkula on Tuesday, reports PTI.
Needing 158 to win, Badshahs, comprising former Pakistan international cricketers, made it look easy in the end reaching the target with an over to spare.
Earlier, electing to bat first, Superstars opener and former Australian batsman Michael Bevan struck a brilliant 56 of 53 balls. His knock was studded with six hits to the fence.
Lara ruled out of rest of tourney
Star batsman Brian Lara has been ruled out of the Indian Cricket League’s Edelweiss 20s Challenge due to a forearm injury which he sustained six weeks ago, reports UNI from New Delhi.
In his absence, former New Zealand opener Nathan Astle will lead the Mumbai Champs.
Rastogi off to bright start
Karan Rastogi got off to a positive start by registering an easy straight sets victory at the $15000 ITF men’s event in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, reports PTI from New Delhi.
Fifth-seed Rastogi defeated Russian Andrei Stoliarov 6-2, 6-1 in the first round on Monday.
He next takes on French player Antoine Tassart, who defeated local challenger Sylvain Anibie 6-3, 6-4.
Torchbearers for Olympic relay
Lenovo on Tuesday announced the names of six torchbearers who will run for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in New Delhi on April 17, reports PTI from Mumbai.
The six torchbearers are actors Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan, tennis player and former Olympic bronze medallist Leander Paes, corporate executives Subramanian Ramadorai and Jaishankar Krishnan, and orthopaedic surgeon Vaibhav Bagaria.
Kenyan eves pull out of qualifiers
Due to political turmoil in the country, Kenya have withdrawn from the women’s Olympic hockey qualifiers to be played in Baku, Azerbaijan, from April 12-20, reports UNI from Lausanne.
