Sharma plays solid 2nd round to move to 11th

Kuala Lumpur: Defending champion Shubhankar Sharma carded a superb 4-under 68 to leap from overnight tied-41st to tied-11th at the halfway stage of the Maybank Championship. Gaganjeet Bhullar, who was tied-8th after the first day, slipped 36 places after turning in a 3-over 75. Seven of the 11 Indians, including Ajeetesh Sandhu, made the cut. In Palm Harbour, USA, Anirban Lahiri opened with a 1-under 70 in the first round to sit in a tie for 28th place at the $6.7 million Valspar Championship. Lahiri is four shots behind the leaders, Joel Dahman of the US and Austrian Sepp Straka. In Phoenix, Aditi Ashok stumbled on a bogey and a double bogey on the last two holes to card a 1-over 73 in the first round of the $1.5 million Founders Cup on the LPGA tour. Aditi was placed tied-90th.

Paris

Hazard lifts Belgium in Euro qualifying

Eden Hazard ensured Belgium kicked off their qualifying campaign for Euro 2020 on Thursday with a brace in a 3-1 home victory over Russia, while a Memphis Depay-inspired Netherlands romped to a 4-0 win over Belarus. World Cup runners-up Croatia, relegated from the top tier of the Nations League last year, ground out an unconvincing 2-1 victory against Azerbaijan in Zagreb.

London

Surrey batsman Jacks smashes 25-ball ton

Surrey’s Will Jacks blazed his way to a 25-ball century, which included six sixes in an over, during a pre-season T10 clash with Lancashire in Dubai. In all, he smashed eight boundaries and 11 sixes. Had the match been accorded official status, Jasks’ effort would have bettered Chris Gayle’s world record for the fastest century in competitive cricket, achieved in the 2013 IPL, by five balls. 

Lausanne

Under-pressure AIBA president Rahimov resigns 

World amateur boxing body’s under-fire president Gafur Rahimov today resigned from the top job amid a dispute with the International Olympic Committee, which had threatened to take the sport off the 2020 Olympics roster. Accused of having links to organised crime by the US Treasury department, Rahimov took over as AIBA chief last year despite warnings from the IOC that it would jeopardise boxing’s future at the Olympics. 

Ipoh (Malaysia)

India face Japan in opener of Azlan Shah Cup

The Indian men’s hockey team will renew its quest for glory when it takes on Asian Games gold medallists Japan in its opening encounter of the 28th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup here tomorrow. — Agencies