Smooth progress for trio

Chennai: Defending champion Alok Kumar and title contenders Pankaj Advani and Geet Sethi have smoothly progressed to the knock-out stage as leaders of their respective groups at the National Billiards Championship here on Thursday.
Advani from Bangalore was in total command, winning all his five league matches. Nine-time world champion, Sethi also won five of his league matches so far and Alok Kumar, who accounted for one loss to Bangalore’s Shankar Rao in five outings booked their berths with ease.

Blatter’s plea

Rio de Janeiro: Fifa president Sepp Blatter has asked for time to clear up corruption allegations involving football’s scandal-ridden governing body.
Blatter, on Wednesday, tried to side step questions about a life ban issued to former Fifa presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam and tried to focus on the announcement of the dates for the 2014 World Cup. “Let us work,” the 75-year-old Swiss official said. “I am not alone. I am not a dictator, as has been said.”

Messi match

Calcutta: The sale of tickets for the Lionel Messi-starrer friendly match between Argentina and Venezuela at the Salt Lake Stadium here on September 2, will begin on Friday with a base price of Rs 700. Tickets can be booked online at www. bookmyshow. com. Tickets will be available at the Mohammedan Sporting ground from August 3, the event managers said in a release.

Blues complain

London: Chelsea have lodged a formal complaint with the Malaysian FA about anti-semitic abuse allegedly suffered by Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun during a friendly in the Muslim-majority country last week.

Abandoned

Yangon: A World Cup qualifier between Myanmar and Oman was abandoned on Thursday after angry fans hurled rocks and glass bottles at the referee, the visiting coach Paul Le Guen and one of his players, witnesses said. Oman were leading the second leg 2-0 and 4-0 on aggregate.

El Hadji ban

Dakar: Senegal have suspended controversial Blackburn Rovers striker El Hadji Diouf for five years from all soccer-related activity in his home country.
Diouf has been involved in several on and off the field disputes during his career.

Umpire no more

Barbados: International cricket umpire Clyde Duncan on passed away in Trinidad and Tobago after battling cancer for a long time. The 57-year-old Guyanese officiated in two Tests, 21 ODIs and six Twenty20 Internationals in a career spanning 22 years from 1988 to 2010.

Parnell converts

Johannesburg: South African fast bowler Wayne Parnell has converted to Islam after a period of personal study and reflection and will celebrate his 22nd birthday Friday as a Muslim.