Football
Smalling extends Man United deal to 2019
England centre-back Chris Smalling ( above ) has extended his contract with Manchester United until 2019, the Premier League giants announced on Tuesday. “I’m delighted to sign my new contract. I am so proud to play for such a great club,” said Smalling.AFP
AIFF collaborates with DFB
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Tuesday signed a partnership with German Football Association (DFB) for a technical collaboration which would lay emphasis on Coach Education, Grassroots Programme and Youth Development.PTI
Tennis
Navarro overcomes Rodina at Stuttgart
Eighth-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro ( below ) of Spain needed three sets to overcome Russian qualifier Evgeniya Rodina 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-4 in the first round of the Porsche Grand Prix on Tuesday. Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic defeated Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko 7-6 (8), 6-4. AP
Nishikori cruises in Barcelona
Defending champion Kei Nishikori cruised into the third round of the Barcelona Open with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili on Tuesday.
Second seed Rafael Nadal will begin his quest for a ninth title in Barcelona in a rematch of his quarter-final defeat to Nicolas Almagro last year.AFP
HOCKEY
Have come back with lot of positives from Hawke’s Bay: Rani
The Indian women’s hockey has drawn quite a few positives from its performance in the recently-concluded Hawke’s Bay Cup even though it ended seventh in the event, feels captain Ritu Rani.
“We have come back with many positives along with the loopholes or the weaknesses. We will go back to the drawing board and chalk out a plan,” Rani said after landing here with the rest of the team.PTI
BADMINTON
Kashyap reaches second round of Asia C’ship
India’s Parupalli Kashyap ( above ) made a resounding start to his campaign at the USD 200,000 Badminton Asia Championship, thrashing Singapore’s Zi Liang Derek Wong in straight games (21-17 21-13) to reach the second round of the continental championship here on Tuesday.PTI
CHESS
Anand crushes So
Five times world champion Viswanathan Anand scored a crushing victory against overnight leader Wesley So of United States in the fifth round of Shamkir Chess 2015.
Anand took his tally to three points in the process.PTI
Indian women hold top seed Ukraine
Aided by an excellent victory by Padmini Rout against former world champion Anna Ushenina, the Indian eves played out a draw with top seed Ukrainian women in the third round of world women team chess championship, here.
India was on top of the table at the end of the second round of the World team chess championship for men at Tsaghkadzor, Armenia, on Monday.
Athletics
IAAF’s Diack: Russia won’t be excluded for doping plague
IAAF President Lamine Diack ( below ) says Russia will not be barred from major athletics competitions because of allegations of a systematic doping program. AP
IAAF wants Jeptoo ban doubled to four years
Athletics’ world governing body has asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to double the two-year doping ban handed out to Rita Jeptoo, CAS said on its website on Tuesday.Reuters
Budenholzer named NBA’s coach of the year
Mike Budenholzer (above), who led the Atlanta Hawks to a franchise-record 60 wins this season, has been named the NBA’s coach of the year, the league announced.AFP
