Tennis
Don’t want a repeat of 2012: Paes
With the All India Tennis Association (AITA) selection committee set to announce the squad for Rio Olympics on June 11, veteran doubles specialist Leander Paes ( above ) on Tuesday said he does not want a repeat of the 2012 fiasco when Rohan Bopanna refused to partner him. “I am fully confident that the AITA will send the best team in doubles for Rio. I have complete faith on the selection, committee particularly Anil Khanna, that they will select the best medal prospects,” Paes said at a press conference.IANS
Table tennis
Ghosh reaches a new career-high of 61
An Olympic medal may still be a long shot for an Indian table tennis player, but all the four Rio Games qualifiers – Soumyajit Ghosh, Achanta Sharath Kamal, Mouma Das and Manika Batra – have shown considerable improvement in their world rankings.
According to the latest ITTF rankings, Ghosh has jumped four places to be at No. 61 while Sharath Kamal now occupies slot No. 69.PTI
Basketball
Zika no worry for Curry as LeBron, Irving undecided on Rio
Stephen Curry says the Zika virus was not a factor in deciding against going to the Rio Olympics, while LeBron James and Kyrie Irving ( below ) will wait until after the NBA Finals to decide about playing for the US team.
“I’m in a series right now. Once that’s over, I’ll sit down and decide,” Irving said. “It’s just whatever’s best, I feel, after this crucial finals is done.
“We’re in a hell of a series right now, so I haven’t really thought about it, but I did see Steph pull his name out, which you just respect a guy like that. It’s his decision.”AFP
football
Jeje guides India to 6-1 rout of Laos
Jeje Lalpekhlua ( right above ) continued his free-scoring form, netting a brace to inspire the Indian football team to a 6-1 second leg victory against Laos here on Tuesday, ensuring progression to the 2019 Asian Cup’s third qualifying round with a 7-1 aggregate score.
India, who won the first away leg game 1-0 thanks to a Jeje goal, saw their advantage evaporate as Laos took the lead at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium through Khonesavanh Sihavong.
But India’s response was impressive and clinical, scoring through the in-form Jeje (43th, 74th minutes), youngster Sumit Passi (46th, left ), Sandesh Jhingan (48th), Mohammed Rafique (83rd) and Fulganco Cardozo (87th). IANS
Ex-Chelsea doctor settles case against Mourinho
Former Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro on Tuesday agreed a deal to settle a case against Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho for alleged discrimination for an undisclosed sum, Chelsea said.
“The parties agreed to the settlement of this dispute on confidential terms,” a representative of the club said at the start of a brief hearing at a London employment tribunal.AFP
Italy opt for Ventura to replace Conte
Giampiero Ventura ( below ) takes over as Italy head coach after Euro 2016 as the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) opted on Tuesday for a low-key manager, radically different from Antonio Conte for the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.AFP
Germany blow as Rudiger limps out
Germany centre-back Antonio Rudiger is out of Euro 2016 after tearing ligaments in his right knee, the German football federation announced on Tuesday.
The AS Roma defender was expected to start for the world champions in their opening Group C game against Ukraine on Sunday.AFP
badminton
Gurusaidutt enters main draw of Australian Badminton Open
India’s R.M.V. Gurusaidutt qualified for the main draw of the $750,000 Australian Badminton Open Superseries here on Tuesday.
The world No.89 first defeated local challenger Michael Fariman 21-7, 21-14 in 33 minutes to move into the second qualifying match in which he moved past Malaysian Jiann Shiarng Chiang 21-16, 21-12 in 30 minutes. IANS
Cycling
Sagan to mountain bike at Rio Olympics
World road race champion Peter Sagan ( left ) will seek Olympic gold in Rio on his mountain bike. The Slovak Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday that Sagan, one of the most popular and successful cyclists in the world, was awarded its lone starting spot in the mountain biking event at the Summer Games. AP
weightlifting
Two Russian 2008 Olympic medallists positive for doping
Russian weightlifters Marina Shainova ( below ) and Nadezhda Evstyukhina, who medalled in the Beijing Olympics, tested positive for doping, one of their coaches said on Tuesday.
“The B sample showed a positive result for turinabol,” Vladimir Shainov, coach of Shainova, told TASS news agency.AFP
Athletics
Tintu runs season’s best in Prague, finishes second
Rio Olympics-bound Tintu Luka ran her season’s best of 2:00.61 to win a silver in 800m in the Josef Odlozil Memorial Athletics Meet in Prague in Czech Republic.PTI
Boxing
Keeping fingers crossed for a wildcard entry to Rio: Mary Kom
Star Indian woman boxer M C Mary Kom ( above ) on Tuesday said she was keeping her fingers crossed for a wildcard entry into the upcoming Rio Olympics.
“I am having my fingers crossed and hoping for the best. It will be known by this month end,” she told reporters at the sidelines of a function.PTI
