Sehwag, Sardar on panel for national awards

New Delhi: The Sports Ministry has included cricketer Virender Sehwag and hockey player Sardar Singh in a 12-member committee to select this year’s National Sports Awards winners. The committee will be headed by former Supreme Court judge Mukundakam Sharma. PTI

Birmingham
Shubhankar set to miss cut after carding 71 in Rd 2

Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma fought hard to make the cut as he rallied after being hit by a series of bogeys in the second round of the Hero Open, but his efforts were unlikely to be enough. He carded a 1-under 71 for the second round, and par for the tournament, two strokes off the projected cut of 2-under. He was tied-79 at the end of his round, two strokes off the cut line. Sharma started fighting back with birdies on the 12th, 13th, 14th to get to par for the day. A birdie on the 17th took him to 1-under for the day. He had opened with a birdie on the first, but had three bogeys in a row from ninth to 11th. Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez retained his pole position as he moved to 13-under a 3-under 69.

Southampton
England cruise to victory against Ireland in first ODI

David Willey celebrated his return to the England team with a maiden ODI five-wicket haul as the world champions drew first blood in the series against Ireland here last evening. In England’s first home ODI since winning their first 50-over World Cup, Willey’s 5/30 restricted Ireland to 172 all out in 44.4 overs, a total the hosts overhauled with six wickets to spare. England had lurched to 78/4 but Sam Billings settled the team’s nerves with 67 off 54 deliveries in an unbroken 96-run stand with Eoin Morgan. England got over the line with 22.1 overs still remaining.

New Delhi
Ad with Indian women’s cricket team goes viral

The Indian women’s cricket team is among the several sportspersons that feature in a sports shoe advertisement which has gained plaudits for the effective manner in which it delivers its message. The video talks about the unifying power of sport, and figures elite athletes including LeBron James, Naomi Osaka, Eliud Kipchoge, Caster Semenya, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Serena Williams, among others. The Indian women player feature a minute into the video, rallying themselves while entering the field before a match. Agencies