Punjab men storm into final of hockey Nationals

Chandigarh

Punjab thrashed Association of Indian Universities 5-0 to enter the final of the senior men’s hockey National Championship (Division A) in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh. Gurbaj Singh (5th, 15th minute) and Parvinder Singh (27th, 37th) scored two goals each. Punjab will face Railways in the final on Sunday. Amit Rohidas scored a brace as the defending champions eased past Odisha 4-2.

Kolkata
Dalmiya’s widow hurt by SC observations

Former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya’s widow Chandralekha said she has been “deeply hurt” by the Supreme Court’s observations on her late husband during the hearing on Justice RM Lodha-led committee recommendations. “I am deeply hurt and saddened by the uncalled observations that have appeared in newspapers,” the 69-year-old said in a statement. The Supreme Court referred to Dalmiya’s election in 2015 in its observation. “The past president of BCCI (Dalmiya) could not communicate. Those who elected him did not see whom they were electing? These days, even in politics people are retiring. Even the Supreme Court judges retire at 65. You have been given five more years,” the Court bench had observed.

Des Moines (Iowa)
Olympics champion James runs fastest 400m of 2016

Kirani James let the rest of the world know that he’s still the man to beat in the 400 metres. The Olympics champion broke the Drake Relays record with a world-leading time of 44.08 seconds on Friday. James, who represents Grenada, beat American LaShawn Merritt by 0.14 seconds and shaved over a quarter of a second off the time he posted at a race in the Bahamas two weeks ago.

SOCHI (Russia)
Rosberg takes pole for Russian Grand Prix

Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg seized pole position for the Russian Grand Prix on Saturday after a power unit failure piled more misery on Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton. The German, chasing his seventh successive win and fourth of the season, clinched one of the easiest poles of his career and will be joined on the front row by Finland’s Valtteri Bottas in a Williams. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel qualified second but has a five-place grid penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change.

Avondale (USA)
Lahiri bounces back at New Orleans

Anirban Lahiri bounced back from a disastrous start at the Zurich Classic golf tournament on the PGA Tour. After being three-over through the first six holes on a truncated weather-hit Thursday, he hauled himself up on Friday when he played 30 holes in hot and humid conditions to ensure weekend action for himself. Lahiri got back to even par in the first round to be placed tied 80. He then rose to tied 46th after 36 holes with a bogey-free 69 in the second round. Sharing the lead were Jamie Lovemark and Jhonattan Vegas at 11-under when the second round play was suspended because of darkness. — Agencies