Esqueda brace keeps East Bengal title hopes alive

Kolkata
A fit-again Enrique Esqueda struck twice with his clinical headers as East Bengal came from behind to beat Neroca FC 2-1 and continue their surge for a maiden I-League title here on Thursday. The Mexican, coming back from a rib injury, turned it around for East Bengal with his goals in the 67th and 86th minutes after coming off the bench. Former Bengaluru FC striker Chencho Gyeltshen had scored in the third minute on his Neroca debut. 

Ballarat (Australia)
Vani makes a solid start at Vic Open on LPGA
Vani Kapoor produced a solid 2-under 71 on her LPGA debut, lying at tied-37th at the ISPS Handa Vic Open. Vani came through the qualifiers and a playoff to get a berth in the tournament, which is co-sanctioned by Australian LPGA and US LPGA. Vani made birdies on the second, fifth and 13th, and had a bogey on the ninth hole of the par-73 Creek Course. This is the first time that three Indians are figuring in an LPGA tournament. Aditi Ashok (73) and Diksha Dagar (78) —  both playing on the par- 72 Beach Course — are tied-97th and 155th, respectively. 

Gwalior 
Punjab, Railways, PSB and PSPB enter semifinals  
Akashdeep Singh scored a brace as defending champions Punjab stormed into the semifinals of the 9th senior men’s hockey National Championship (Division A) here on Thursday. Railways, Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) and Punjab & Sind Bank also entered the semifinals. Punjab beat Haryana 3-0 with India strikers Ramandeep Singh (25th minute) and Akashdeep (46th, 54th) getting the goals. 

New Delhi
Ministry grants Rs 35cr to SAI for TOPS athletes 
The Sports Ministry has granted Rs 35 crore from its National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for customised training of athletes who are included in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). In addition, the Ministry has also disbursed an amount of Rs 5.98 crore for athletes across 22 disciplines seeking funds from NSDF during 2018. NSDF funds are allocated specifically for those athletes, who appeal for financial assistance from the government. While Rs 7.24 crore, Rs 6.25 crore and Rs 9.02 crore (all approx) were spent during financial years 2017-18, 2016-17 and 2015-16, respectively, the current financial year’s spending till December is Rs 5.98 crore. 

MELBOURNE
Australia’s Starc ruled out of India ODI series 
Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has been ruled out of the ODI series in India after sustaining a pectoral muscle injury during the second Test win over Sri Lanka, Cricket Australia said on Thursday. Kane Richardson will take his place in the 15-man squad for the tour, which starts with two Twenty20 matches later this month. Squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Turner, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa, D’Arcy Short  

Karnal
Haryana state squash meet on February 23-24 
The Haryana squash championship for all categories will be held at Alpha International City, Karnal, on February 23 and 24. The last date for receiving the entries is February 17. The entries could be sent at [email protected]. The state team for the National Games will be picked up on the basis of performance in the championship. — Agencies