Real Kashmir-EB match on February 28 in Srinagar

New Delhi: The I-League match between title contenders Real Kashmir and East Bengal which was scheduled for last Sunday but was postponed due to thick snow cover on the ground in Srinagar will now be played on February 28. East Bengal were to travel to Srinagar to play there on February 10 but after an inspection by a team from the All India Football Federation, the match was postponed and that game will now be played at the TRC ground on February 28.

Bhubaneswar

Nepal ride on Sabitra's brace to beat India in Gold Cup   

Sabitra Bhandari struck two early goals as India slumped to a 1-2 defeat against Nepal in their second game of the Gold Cup women's football tournment at the Kalinga Stadium. Sabitra (4th min, 6th min) scored early for Nepal before India found a late consolation goal through Ratanbala Devi (83rd min) as the home team suffered its first defeat in the four-nation championship. Myanmar stay firmly seated at the top of the table with six points from two games while India and Nepal are locked in the second place with three points each. Iran are yet to open their account. India will face Myanmar in the final game of the group stage at the same venue on Wednesday. 

New Delhi

Prajnesh in top-100, touches world No. 97    

Prajnesh Gunneswaran broke into men’s singles top-100 for the first time with a jump of six places that took him to world No. 97. Gunneswaran is only third Indian player to break into the top-100 barrier in the past decade after Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri. If Gunneswaran can maintain his rank in the top-100 will secure him entry into Grand Slam singles main draws. Bhambri is now world No. 156 behind Ramkumar Ramanathan, who rose to 128 with a jump of five places. 

Kochi

Kochi Blue Spikers edge out Chennai Spartans in thriller 

Kochi Blue Spikers beat Chennai Spartans 3-2 in a thrilling Pro Volleyball League match. The Kochi side won 12-15 10-15 15-11 15-13 15-10. It was Spartans’ second defeat in three matches. They had beaten Black Hawks Hyderabad after having lost the opening round to Calicut Heroes. 

Melbourne

Smith, Warner bans to end during Pakistan ODI series  

Steve Smith and David Warner could be in line for an immediate return to the Australian team when their bans expire midway through the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates. The five match Pakistan series will be held on  March 22-31. Smith and Warner, who were banned for their roles in last year’s Cape Town ball-tampering scandal, are eligible for selection again on March 29, meaning they can be called up for the fourth ODI against Pakistan. Australia face Pakistan in the first ODI in Sharjah on March 22, with the second match scheduled for two days later at the same venue.

Hisar

Women’s hockey: RSPB’s fine show continues, Punjab lose   

Railway Sports Promotion Board continued their fine form and defeated Karnataka 4-0 to register their third consecutive win at the ninth Hockey India Senior Women National Championship (Division A). Punjab went down to Jharkhand 1-2. In another match, Odisha beat Rajasthan 5-2. — Agencies