Dipika leads India into quarters

Chennai: Dipika Pallikal continued to dazzle as India booked a quarter-final berth in the 13th World Junior Women’s Team Squash Championship by drubbing France 3-0 Tuesday.

Dipika set the momentum in the hosts’ favour by defeating Emilie Lamilango 12-10, 11-6, 11-7.

Anaka Alankamony, who replaced Anwesha Reddy for Tuesday’s encounter, beat Julia Lecoq 7-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8. Surbhi Mishra rallied from behind to round off the tally by overcoming Cyrielle Peltier 8-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-4.

India win

Pune: India’s U-21 volleyball team defeated former champions and 2007 runners-up Russia 3–2 (25-22, 26-28, 33-31, 22-25, 15-11). The trio of Gurinder Singh, Naveen Raja Jacob and Captain Mandeep Singh led the attack by powering in 29, 26 and 14 points, respectively. In the a second round match, Cuba blanked top seeds Iran 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-22).

Junior hockey

Boston: Monorama Devi’s last-minute goal helped India pull off a 3-2 upset over Australia in their opening match of the Women’s Junior World Cup hockey here.

The other scorers for India were Ritu Rani (45th) and Monika Badran (53rd minute). For the Australians, Casey Eastham (31st) and Marnie Hudson (60th minute) scored.

Nadal return

Madrid: World No. 2 Rafael Nadal will return to action at next week’s Montreal Masters after a two-month injury layoff, his coach and uncle Toni Nadal said on Monday.

Nadal has been suffering from tendinitis in both knees and has not played since the French Open.

Prakash up

Vancouver: Prakash Amritraj of India defeated Ivan Dodig of Croatia, 7-5, 6-3 in the first round of $175,000 Odlum Brown Van Open being played on the hardcourts of the Hollyburn Country Club Monday.

Sponsorship

Calcutta: The 14th edition of the Chennai Open will be held from January 4 to 10 at the SDAT Tennis Stadium in Nungambakkam. Telecom company Aircel will be the title sponsors, a press release said on Tuesday.

TTIS soccer

Calcutta: The Siliguri Vivekananda Vidyalaya thrashed Royal Academy 7-0 in a Siliguri edition senior leg match of the Suthol TTIS shootout 2009 match Tuesday. In a junior leg match the Himalayan Buddhist School beat Siliguri Baradakanta Vidyapith 7-2.

Yakubu fate

Calcutta: East Bengal are likely to fine Ghanaian recruit Yusif Yakubu for not attending the club’s pre-season camp. Yakubu had not informed the club about his late return.

According to sources, the club will slap a showcause notice on Yakubu as soon as he returns.

Staff Reporter & Agencies