Kohli rested, Rohit Sharma to lead in Asia Cup

Mumbai

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Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been rested for the Asia Cup starting on September 15. Rohit Sharma (in pic) is set to lead the team in the 50-over tournament in the United Arab Emirates. Kohli recently overcame a back problem that had troubled him during the second Test of their ongoing five-match series against England. He also missed a stint with English County championship side Surrey before the tour due to a neck injury. India begin the defence of their Asia Cup crown on September 18 with a match against a qualifying team. They play arch-rivals Pakistan the following day.

New Delhi

ISL: Cahill joins Jamshedpur FC

Australia’s record goalscorer Tim Cahill has joined Indian Super League (ISL) side Jamshedpur FC, the 38-year-old striker announced. Cahill struggled for playing time at club level last year and left A-League side Melbourne City in December to return to Millwall — where he first came to prominence 20 years ago — before being released by the Championship club. Jamshedpur did not specify details of the contract that the former Everton player had signed. The fifth season of India’s top-flight gets underway on September 29.

Barcelona

Jayaram loses in Barcelona Masters quarters 

Shuttler Ajay Jayaram lost to second seed Rasmus Gemke of Denmark 21-13 13-21 11-21 in the quarterfinal of the Barcelona Masters. Jayaram, who had suffered a hamstring injury last year, had reached the finals of Vietnam Open last month. 

MONZA

Record lap puts Ferrari’s Raikkonen on pole in Italy

Kimi Raikkonen put Ferrari on pole position for their home Italian Grand Prix with F1’s fastest lap ever. Teammate Sebastian Vettel completed the front-row sweep for Sunday’s race, with Lewis Hamilton a close third for Mercedes. Raikkonen’s stunning lap of 1 min, 19.119s, at an average speed of 263.587 kph, smashed the track record of 1:19.525 set by Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya for Williams at Monza in 2004.

Brussels

Coleman scorches to seventh fastest 100m time 

American Christian Coleman used an injury and media snubbing as motivation to scorch to the seventh-fastest 100m time of all time as he snatched the Diamond League trophy for the blue riband event in scintillating style in Brussels. Coleman clocked a personal best of 9.79s, the fastest 100m run since the now-retired Usain Bolt won the 2015 world title in Beijing.  — Agencies

Rani to be flag-bearer in closing ceremony

The Indian women’s hockey team’s captain Rani Rampal has been selected as India’s flag-bearer for the closing ceremony. “Rani will be the flag-bearer for tomorrow’s ceremony,” Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra said. Many of India’s 550-plus athletes have gone back home. The choice of the flag-bearer depends on the availability of the athletes. 

N Korean boxing coaches kicked out for ring protest     

Two North Korean coaches were kicked out after mounting a protest in the ring. Coach Pak Chol Jun refused to leave the ring and incited boxer Pang Chol Mi to remain behind in protest after China’s Chang Yuan won gold with a 3-2 split decision. Both were eventually forced to leave by police and security staff. Another coach, Pak Il Nam, got into an angry frenzy outside the ring as he tried to whip up the crowd to jeer the decision. Both coaches will now face disciplinary action. — Agencies