Punjab, Chandigarh start with wins

Chandigarh: Punjab blanked Jammu and Kashmir 3-0 in the junior mixed team championship on the opening day of the North Zone Inter State Badminton Championship at Panjab University badminton hall on Tuesday. Chandigarh thrashed Rajasthan 3-0, while Himachal bowed to Haryana 0-3. In the mixed event, Rajasthan registered a 3-1 win over Himachal Pradesh. Chandigarh got the better of Punjab 3-2, while Delhi blanked J&K 3-0. — TNS

Minerva sign Ghana’s Asiedu 

Chandigarh: Minerva Punjab FC have signed 20-year-old Ghana Junior National Team and  Middlesbourgh FC’s U-23 midfielder William Opoku Asiedu for the upcoming season, the club said here on Tuesday. The Ghana youngster sealed a switch to the Chandigarh-based club for the upcoming I-League season, which is likely to begin in the first week of November.  — TNS

DAV, PU in tennis final 

Chandigarh: DAV College, Sector 10, drubbed Arya College, Ludhiana, 2-0 to enter the Panjab University inter-college lawn tennis championship final here on Tuesday. Yuvraj Singh beat Hardeep Singh 6-4 6-3, while Jagmeet Singh registered a 6-2 6-3 Jotpal Singh to help DAV College set up the title clash with hosts PU, which blanked GGD SD College, Sector 32, 2-0 after Manjot Singh humbled Rohit 7-5 6-2 and Parav Dev Garg drubbed Krishna 6-1 6-2. — TNS

Raid-de-Himalaya begins on Oct 8 

Shimla: The 19th edition of Raid-de-Himalaya will begin from Manali on October 8, rally organisers said on Tuesday. The 2,000 km-long cross-country motor race, comprising transport and competitive sections, will pass through places like Kaza, Sarchu, Kargil, Leh and Pensi La. It will culminate in Leh in Jammu and Kashmir on October 13. A total of 118 motorists will compete in it. — IANS