Chandigarh
Chander Mukhi Sharma is the new secretary general of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI). In its Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) in Bengaluru on Friday the BFI declared K Govindraj as it’s new president. BFI office-bearers: President: K Govindraj; Senior vice-president: Teja Singh Dhaliwal; Vice-presidents: Ajay Sud, Dr DR Saini, Shafiq Shaikh, Bhupendra Shahi, L Suren; Secretary general: Chander Mukhi Sharma; Associate secretaries: Shakthi Singh Gohil, Jugraj Singh, Ralin D’Souza, T Chengalraya Naidu; Treasurer: V Raghothaman.
Miami
Azarenka crushes Jankovic at Miami Open
Two times Miami Open winner Victoria Azarenka crushed Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic 6-1 6-1 in the second round on Friday. The clash of two former world number ones was expected to be a close battle but Azarenka, winner in Miami in 2009 and 2011, wrapped up the first set in just 28 minutes. Third seed Simona Halep, who beat Jankovic in the Indian Wells final, suffered a scare in the second set against Nicole Vaidisova but recovered to win 6-4 2-6 6-1.
Sepang
Hamilton holds off Vettel for Malaysia pole
World champion Lewis Hamilton splashed through the puddles at a rain-soaked Sepang circuit to secure pole position for Mercedes in a hectic Malaysian Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday. Four-times world champion Vettel backed up his third-place finish in Australia with a scintillating final lap to trail Hamilton by just 0.074 seconds. Nico Rosberg will start in third position. — Agencies