Third PSA title for Ritwik

New Delhi: India's top seed Ritwik Bhattacharya won his third PSA Tour title when he overpowered Swedish qualifier Bader Abdel Aziz in the final of the seventh Esportiu Rocafort Barcelona Open. Former national champion Ritwik outplayed Aziz 11-10 (2-0), 11-2, 11-2 in 28 minutes on Sunday, according to a release from the player's sponsor, JCT, on Tuesday.

India signs doping code

New Delhi: India has become the latest country to sign the Copenhagen declaration aimed at curbing the menace of doping in sports. With the government signing the declaration earlier this month following Cabinet approval, the number of countries who have signed the code has now gone up to 161, according to WADA.

In fact, India was the only one remaining to sign the declaration from among all the governments that attended the world conference on anti-doping in sport in the Danish capital in March 2003.

With the addition of India, the number of Asian countries who have signed the declaration rose to 31.

Maria backs bid

Moscow: Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova is backing Moscow's bid for the 2012 Olympics. The 17-year-old, who was born in Siberia but now lives in Florida, will serve as an 'ambassador' for the Russian bid. 'If Moscow becomes the host of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, my dream and the dream of millions of Russians will come true,' she said in a statement posted on Monday on the bid committee's web site. 'I can't wait to explain to people why Moscow should host the Games.'

Moscow is considered the outsider in the race, which also includes Paris, London, New York and Madrid. The IOC will select the host city on July 6.

Asian Tour benefit

Singapore: Stars ofv golf's Asian Tour will play a charity tournament later this month to raise money for victims of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated much of the region, tour organisers said on Tuesday.

The tsunami relief fund Pro-Am will be played on January 31 at Singapore's Sentosa Golf Club with each team competing contributing a minimum of $3,000. The tournament will match one Asian Tour professional with three amateurs.

Hidayat IBF's best

London: Olympic men's singles gold medallist Taufik Hidayat has been named player of the year for 2004 by the IBF. The 23-year-old Indonesian was unseeded in Athens but stormed to success, dropping only one game in his five matches before claiming the Olympic title over South Korea's Shon Seung-mo.

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