Indian quarter-milers to train in Poland

New Delhi

A 14-member Indian athletics contingent comprising 400m specialists (men and women) will be leaving for Poland on May 16 for an intensive five-week training in the lead-up to the Asian Games in Indonesia. The athletes will be based out of Spala and will return to India on June 20.  This tour is part of the preparations for the Asian Games, where the track and field athletes are expected to make a big contribution. Squad (all 400m): (Men) Rajiv Arokia, Ayyaswamy Dharun, Jithu Baby, P Kundu Mohammad, Mohammad Anas Yahiya, T Santosh Kumar Women: Hima Das, Nithyashree A, MR Poovamma,  Sarita Gayakwad, Sonia Baishya, VK Vismaya, Debashree Majumdar.   

Kolkata

Mohun Bagan rope in Minerva defender Sukhdev   

Kolkata soccer giants Mohun Bagan roped in defender Sukhdev Singh from I-League champions Minerva Punjab FC for the upcoming season, the club announced in a statement on Monday. Sukhdev’s arrival completes Mohun Bagan’s squad with 25 players.  According to the media statement, the signing of Sukhdev was kept under wraps as arch-rivals East Bengal were also keen on signing him. “Previously, we had shared the names of 24 players and intentionally kept the name of Sukhdev under wraps, as he was also under the radar of East Bengal,” the statement read. 

Paris

Tsonga withdraws from French Open  

France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has withdrawn from next week’s Lyon Open and the French Open later this month after failing to recover from a knee surgery. Tsonga, who is the defending champion in Lyon, went under the knife in April and said on Twitter on Monday that he was disappointed he would not be able to play either tournament. “I’m obviously very disappointed, but I still want to come to Lyon as an ambassador and to Roland Garros as a spectator,” he said. The 33-year-old, ranked No. 37 in the world, has not played since reaching the semifinals of the Montpellier International in February, where he was beaten by compatriot Lucas Pouille. 

Dublin

O'Brien hits ton as Ireland avoid innings defeat   

Kevin O'Brien became the first Ireland batsman to score a hundred in Test cricket as the debutants avoided an innings defeat by Pakistan on Monday. Ireland, made to follow-on, were 319/7 at the close of play of on the fourth day of their maiden Test. O'Brien was 118 not out. Ireland now have a lead of 139 and with a few more runs, they might make the chase tricky for Pakistan. Brief scores: Ireland: 130 and 319/7 (K O'Brien 118*, Thompson 53, Amir 3/57); Pak: 310/9 decl. — Agencies