Joshna goes down fighting
Cairo: Joshna Chinappa's memorable run in the Women's Black Ball Squash Open came to an end after she went down fighting against world number five Joelle King in the quarterfinals of the PSA gold event. Seeded three, King won the 64-minute engrossing match 7-11, 12-10, 2-11, 11-5, 11-8 to become the only non-Egyptian to enter the last four on Wednesday. It was a tight match with Joshna leading 2-1 at one stage. But as the experienced New Zealander was to admit, she had to dig deep into her reserves to ensure that the Indian was not going to have it easy. As the contest wore on, Joshna's lost the earlier grip and that turned the match firmly in King's favour.
Sony to broadcast 2020 Olympics
Mumbai: The Sony Pictures Networks India has been awarded the broadcast rights in the Indian subcontinent for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Thursday. The Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), an established pay-television network in India, has also acquired media rights for the 2020 Lausanne Winter Youth Olympic Games. It will provide comprehensive coverage across its broadcast and digital platforms in the Indian subcontinent. In addition to the coverage on Sony's digital platform, SonyLIV, the Olympic Channel and other IOC digital platforms will feature highlights and replays of key events to supplement SPN's coverage of the Olympics.
Real secure Militao from Porto
Madrid: Real Madrid have clinched a deal to sign the Brazilian defender Eder Militao, 21, from Portuguese champions FC Porto from next season, the two clubs announced on Thursday. The centre-back is the Spanish giants' first signing since Zinedine Zidane returned to the club as coach for a second spell this week. Real said Militao would join on a four-year deal until 2025. Meanwhile, in a statement to the Portuguese stock exchange, Porto said Real had agreed to pay the player's release clause of 50 million euros ($56.5m), "effective at the end of the season". Militao, who can also play at right-back and has been capped once by Brazil, reinforces a Real defence that has often been diminished by injuries this season.
Dey, Mookerjee advance to q/f
Basel: Subhankar Dey and Riya Mookerjee advanced to men's and women's singles quarterfinals respectively of the Swiss Open badminton tournament on Thursday. Dey registered a hard-fought 12-21, 22-20, 21-17 win over fifth seed Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in a men's singles contest that lasted one hour and 11 minutes, while Mookerjee made it to the quarterfinals after her opponent from Canada, Michelle Li retired hurt when the score read 18-16 in favour of the Indian. In women's doubles, Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy registered a straight-game 21-14 21-17 win.
