Gaganjeet soars to tied sixth

Macau: Gaganjeet Bhullar turned in his second successive card of two-under 69 to soar to the tied sixth spot in the third round of the $500,000 Macau Open here Saturday. Bhullar now has a 54-hole total of 209, six shots behind leader Thaworn Wiratchant who was three-under after 14 holes before play was suspended. C. Muniyappa carded 71 to rise to tied 28th at 213, one shot ahead of Digvijay Singh, who carded 70.

Sporting win

New Delhi: Sporting Clube de Goa beat Assam Rifles 2-0 in a Durand Cup Group I quarter final league match at the Ambedkar Stadium Saturday. Nigerian Junior Elijah scored both the goals.

Viduka plan

Sydney: Former Australia captain Mark Viduka, who has been released by the releagted Newcastle United, is planning to return home after deciding to call time on his European career, the striker’s manager said on Saturday.

Mosley view

Monza: Ferrari’s wish to have three cars in Formula One next season is a fantasy, outgoing FIA president Max Mosley said. Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali thinks an extra car for the bigger teams would make the sport more interesting and sees retired champion Michael Schumacher, who recently called off a comeback bid because of injury, as a potential third driver.

Mosley said it was too late to change the rules for next year after a new Concorde Agreement was signed between the governing body and the teams, in August.

India 7th

Ningbo (China): Indian defeated US 3-1 in the final round to finish seventh in the women’s World Team Chess Championship. Favourites China One (21.5) topped a three-way tie on 12 match points to finish ahead of Russia (21.0) and Ukraine (20.5).

Selection

Calcutta: The BCCI selection committee will meet in Chennai on Wednesday to select the Rest of India team for the Irani Cup and the three teams for the Challenger Series 2009-10.

Mentor dies

Moscow: Maria Sharapova’s first tennis mentor, Yuri Yudkin, has died at the age of 73, the Russian tennis federation said on Saturday.

NadalOut

Madrid: Rafael Nadal has pulled out of Spain’s team for next week’s Davis Cup World Group semi-final against Israel because of stomach muscle problems and has been replaced by Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Usha Award

Chitradurga: YSprint queen P.T. Usha has been chosen for this year’s Basavashree award in recognition of her contribution to the field of sports.