Harika in quarterfinals of Women’s World C’ship

 

Grandmaster D Harika joined compatriot Koneru Humpy in the quarterfinals of the World Women’s Chess Championship beating former champion Alexandra Kosteniuk of Russia in the rapid tie-break games that concluded. Harika beat the local favourite 1.5-0.5, showing nerves of steel. Harika won the first game in the rapid chess after being pushed to the tie-break by Kosteniuk and then held on to her own in the return game to make it to the last eight of the championship. In the next round now, Harika plays the lowest remaining seed Meri Arabidze of Georgia while Humpy will take on Ukrainian Mariya Muzychuk. It turned out to be another exciting day of tie-breaks and the biggest gainer was Arabidze who caused another upset at the expense of Viktorija Cmilyte of Lithuania winning the first and drawing the second tie-break game.

 

Wellington

New Zealand bad boy Ryder in trouble again

Troubled New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder, once touted as the Black Caps’ likely World Cup match-winner, is once again in hot water. The talented but polarising 30-year-old has been suspended from the final round of New Zealand’s domestic competition after admitting a charge of serious dissent while playing for Otago against Northern Districts last weekend. Media reports said Ryder unleashed a torrent of abuse after being caught behind and it was believed there was damage to a changing room following his tirade.

 

miami

Serena set to fight through knee pain at Miami

World number one Serena Williams is prepared to fight through pain to get onto the court tomorrow and begin defending her title at the ATP and WTA Miami Open. The 19-time Grand Slam singles champion, forced out before her Indian Wells semi-final last week against eventual champion Simona Halep, said yesterday that she expects to “manage pain” when she opens in the second round against Romanian Monica Niculescu. “I’m just managing where I am right now,” Williams said. — Agencies