Gambhir hopes for Test return
Indian top-order batsman Gautam Gambhir is hopeful his solid showing in the tri-series win in Australia would earn a recall into the Test squad for the home series against South Africa.

The diminutive left-hander amassed 440 runs in 10 innings at an average of 55.00 to emerge the highest run-getter for India as they beat the formidable Australia 2-0 in the final series earlier this month.

Chile debacle was the worst: Dilip
Yet to get over the shock of the most disappointing day of his career, a shattered Dilip Tirkey still cannot believe that the Indian hockey team has not qualified for the Olympics, reports PTI from New Delhi.

The three-time Olympian, who missed out on a rare record of being only the fourth player from the country to have played in four Games, said the Chile debacle was the worst day in his 12-year international career.
“It is still difficult to accept that we have not qualified for the Olympics. March 9 was the most disappointing day of my career, worse than the draw to Poland that denied us a semifinal berth in the 2000 Sydney Games,” Tirkey said.

Farhat steers Badshahs home
Former Pakistani opener Imran Farhat made a quickfire 94 studded with eight sixes to lead Lahore Badshahs to a 38-run win over Chandigarh Lions in an ICL Twenty20 match on Sunday, reports PTI from Panchkula. Lahore Badshahs posted a challenging total of 187 and then restricted Lions to 149 for seven.

Avishka Gunawardene struck a brilliant unbeaten 55 as Delhi Giants crushed Ahmedabad Rockets by nine wickets in the other match of the day.

Brief scores: Lahore Badshahs: 187/6 in 20 overs (Imran Farhat 94, Humayun Farhat 48; A Hall 3-20) bt Chandigarh Lions: 149/7 in 20 overs (D Mongia 35; Azhar Mahmood 3-30).

Ahmedabad Rockets: 107/6 in 20 overs (D Martyn 44, S Sriram 32) lt to Delhi Giants: 111/1 in 15.3 overs (A Gunawardene 55 n.o).

IOC calls for truce in Tibet
The International Olympic Committee called for a peaceful resolution to the unrest in the Himalayan region of Tibet, which threatens to derail China's hopes for a smooth run-up to August's Beijing Olympic Games, reports Reuters from Beijing.

Tensions remained high in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa on Sunday as police and troops locked down the city where street protests against Chinese rule turned violent two days earlier.

"The International Olympic Committee (IOC) shares the world's desire for a peaceful resolution to the tensions of past days in the Tibetan region of China," said IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies."

Collins pulls out of Lanka tour
West Indies suffered twin blows when bowler Pedro Collins pulled out of the home series against Sri Lanka and the news that a trio of key players may be competing in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) rather than the May series with Australia, reports AFP from Barbados.

Donald Peters, chief executive officer of the WICB said that captain Chris Gayle, as well as former captains Shivarine Chanderpaul and  Ramnaresh Sarwan could miss the first two Tests against Australia in Jamaica because they have signed up to play in the IPL.

Top players for PSPB badminton
Some of India’s top notch players will be seen in action in the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board badminton tournament that gets underway at the Siri Fort sports complex on Monday, reports UNI from New Delhi.
The draw includes the likes of B Chetan Anand and Saina Nehwal, the current men’s and women’s singles National champions.

Manipur eves win Nationals
N G Bala Devi (17th, 75th) and Bandand Devi (34th, 61st) scored a brace each as Manipur scored a 4-1 victory over Orissa to win the 16th Senior National women’s football championship , reports PTI from Haldia.
 Pinky Bampalmagr scored a consolation goal for Orissa in the 35th minute.