Saina, Lakshya eye title at Saarlorlux Open
Saarbrucken (Germany): Saina Nehwal and Lakshya Sen will look to put their best foot forward when they spearhead the Indian challenge at the Saarlorlux Open badminton tournament beginning here tomorrow. Saina will open her campaign against Germany’s Fabienne Deprez. Lakshya, meanwhile, has received a bye in the opening round and will begin against the winner of the first round match between Eetu u Heino and Elias Bracke. Kiran George, Mithun Manjunath and Rahul Bharadwaj are also in the fray.
Karachi
Tainted Sharjeel set to be part of PSL players draft
Pakistan’s tainted opener Sharjeel Khan is set to be part of the players draft for the fifth edition of PSL. Sharjeel, who completed a five-year ban for breaching the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Anti-Corruption code in August, has been given clearance by the board to resume playing club cricket. “Sharjeel recently appeared in a written test conducted by the PCB’s Anti-Corruption unit and passed it successfully. He has now been told to travel to Bahawalpur, Sheikhupura and Karachi where he will give lectures to members of the junior teams taking part in the domestic youth events. “In all probability Sharjeel should be cleared to also feature in the players draft for the PSL,” a board official said. — Agencies
MELBOURNE
MotoGP: Marquez rides luck to win in Australia
MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez rode his luck on “destroyed” tyres before swooping late to win the Australian Grand Prix for Honda on Sunday as pole-sitter Maverick Vinales’ challenge ended with a crash. Marquez, who sewed up his sixth MotoGP title and fourth in a row in Thailand three weeks ago, roared past Vinales on the straight as they entered the final lap at Phillip Island and held off his fellow Spaniard in a nerve-jangling finish. Marquez’s 55th premier class win moved him past Australian Mick Doohan to outright third in the all-time list behind Italian great Valentino Rossi (89) and Giacomo Agostini (68).
Milan
Seven-goal Atalanta run riot to close in on Juventus
Luis Muriel hit a hat-trick as Atalanta put their midweek Champions League humiliation behind them with a crushing 7-1 win over 10-man Udinese on Sunday that moved them to within three points of Serie A leaders Juventus.
Paris
Doubles for Icardi, Mbappe as PSG outclass Marseille
Mauro Icardi and Kylian Mbappe both scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain demolished old rivals Marseille 4-0 in a game that further laid bare the gulf that exists between the sides and allowed the reigning champions to extend their lead at the top of Ligue 1.
Madrid
Granada go top in La Liga to continue fairytale
Granada moved top of La Liga on Sunday with a 1-0 victory over Real Betis that continues a magical start to the season while Sevilla and Real Sociedad joined a group of four teams just a point behind the leaders.
Madrid
NBA: LA Lakers beat Hornets 120-101
Anthony Davis scored 25 of his 29 points in the first half as hosts Los Angeles defeated Charlotte Hornets. Davis also had 14 rebounds and three blocks. LeBron James scored 20 points, dished out 12 assists and grabbed six rebounds. Agencies
