No drugs issue, says Akram
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has rubbished reports that he had undergone a rehabilitation programme in a London hospital for a drugs related problem. Akram said he had been under treatment for an acute sugar related problem and had nothing to do with drugs. “Diabetics is not a new illness for me. But it got a bit out of hand and I had to seek treatment,” he said.
Bopanna gets wild card
India’s leading singles player Rohan Bopanna and his compatriot Somdev Varman have got wild card entries into the main draw of the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open 2007, scheduled to be held from September 24-30 in Mumbai, reports UNI.
Top notch players from around the world will take centre stage at the second edition of the 416,000 US Dollars Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open being organised by Globosport.
Sania clings to 27th spot
Despite being out of action since her early exit from the US Open Grand Slam tennis, Sania Mirza clung to 27th place in WTA ranking for the third consecutive week, reports PTI from New Delhi.
The Indian staralso maintained her doubles ranking to be at 18 spot in the latest rankings. Among the Indian men, Mahesh Bhupathi moved out of top-20 and stands at 21st spot in the doubles charts which saw his compatriot Leander Paes continue to be ranked 16th.
Rohan Bopanna, however, improved his doubles ranking by two places to take the 84th position.
He also climbed up seven spots to be in 245th spot in the ATP men’s singles ranking despite his first round exit in the China Open last week.
Raymond killed in road accident
A 22-year-old international footballer, Raymond Miranda was killed on the spot when a bus hit his motorcycle, police said on Monday, reports PTI from Panaji.
Miranda, hailing from Goa Velha, had played for Sporting Clube and Goa as an U-20 player in the first Luzofonia Games held in Macao last October.
He was going to Panaji when a tourist bus going to Margao hit his motorcycle near Sauri-Zuari on Sunday. Bus driver Dilip Pandurang Galande has been arrested, police said.
Chandhok tops in GP2 at Belgium
India's Karun Chandhok notched his first victory in the GP2 series in the second race at the Spa-Francochamps circuit on Sunday, agencies report.
Starting off the front row in front of over 100,000 people Karun passed Andy Soucek in a bold move around the outside to take the lead just five laps from the end to take the first win for an Indian at a Formula 1 race weekend.
After the race, Karun reflected "It's been a really emotional day for many reasons.
“I was really happy obviously but when the Indian National anthem started playing I must admit I had tears in my eyes.
“It was then that I realised that it was the first time the Indian anthem had been played at a Formula 1 weekend and to be the first person in over a billion to have that feeling was something unreal.”