Mysuru, May 28 (IANS) Vani Kapoor, one of India’s most experienced players, is all set to continue from where she left off before the break in the schedule of the Women’s Pro Golf Tour. Vani won three times in a row before the WPGT took a pause in late March. The Tour now resumes at the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club in Mysuru with the seventh leg.Vani has been most prolific this season. In five events, she has won three times in the fourth, fifth, and sixth legs and was runner-up in the second and the third. She did not play at the opening event, which means she has been in the Top two in each of the five starts she has had. Vani is now looking at a four-in-a-row feat at Mysuru.Sneha Singh, who has won twice, is not playing this week, but Rhea Purvi Saravanan, who won the season opener, will be back in action. Only three players have won this season.Some of the other well-known players who will tee up at JWGC include Amandeep Drall, Jasmine Shekar, Seher Atwal, Vidhatri Urs, Neha Tripathi, Ridhima Dilawari and Shweta Mansingh.Vani Kapoor, Amandeep Drall and Ridhima Dilawari are also hoping to prepare themselves ahead of possible starts on the Ladies European Tour and later the Hero Women’s Indian Open in the second half of the season.A total of 27 players, including two amateurs, are in the field this week for the event that carries a purse of Rs. 14 lakh. Currently, Vani leads the Hero Order of Merit with Sneha Singh and Amandeep Drall chasing her.Earlier, Vani Kapoor survived a bogey-bogey finish and still managed to complete a third straight win in the 2025 Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour. The in-form Vani shot 1-over 73 in the final round at the challenging DLF Golf and Country Club, which is also her home course, to win the sixth leg by three shots.Vani shot 72-72-73 for 1-over 217 even par while amateur Anvvi produced her best finish on the Hero WPGT with cards of 71-77-74 for a total of 220.–IANSbsk/

Paris, May 28 (IANS) Emma Raducanu’s struggles against World No. 1 Iga Swiatek continued on…

Greater Noida (UP), May 28 (IANS) American Strikers on Wednesday defeated Trans Titans by 35 runs in the ongoing Intercontinental Legends Championship at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida.Gaurav Tomar (65 in 28 balls) and Manpreet Gony (39 in 19 balls) starred with the bat. Winning the toss and opting to bat, the American Strikers’ opener Gaurav Tomar gave the team a blistering start.Building on this momentum, Ayan Khan (24), Manpreet Gony (39), and P. Mehra (35) helped the team reach a mammoth total of 214 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. Along with his stellar batting, Manpreet Gony also impressed with the ball, taking one wicket, earning him the “Man of the Match” award.In reply, the Trans Titans had a shaky start, losing openers Rishi Dhawan (1) and Athawale (5) early. Though V. Sood (21), P. Shah (33), Himang (31), and Awana (36) attempted to stabilise the innings, none could convert their starts into big innings.As a result, the team could only muster 179 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in the allotted 20 overs, falling short by 35 runs.The American Strikers will now face the Indian Warriors in their next match on Thursday. African Lions will meet Asian Kings in the evening match, which gets underway at 7:30 pm. Fans can catch the Live action on Sony Ten 5 and FanCode.The Intercontinental Legends Championship (ILC) features six teams from 6 continents. The 6 teams are African Lions, Trans Titans (Australia and New Zealand), Euro Gladiators, American Strikers, Asian Kings and Indian Warriors. The six iconic teams represent six global regions.The league stage concludes on June 3, paving the way for the semifinals scheduled for June 4 at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM, respectively. The grand finale will be held on June 5 at 7:30 PM.–IANSbsk/

Paris, May 28 (IANS) Carlos Alcaraz added another feather to his growing cap on Wednesday as the defending champion surged into the third round of Roland Garros 2025 with a commanding four-set win over World No. 56 Fabian Marozsan.The 21-year-old Spaniard not only moved a step closer to defending his title but also achieved a remarkable personal milestone—becoming the second-fastest man to notch up 20 match wins at Roland Garros in the Open Era since 2000. He reached the landmark in just 23 matches, trailing only Rafael Nadal, the undisputed king of clay.Alcaraz’s 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory was a showcase of mental resilience and tactical brilliance. Under the closed roof of Court Philippe Chatrier—forced by mid-match rain—the match briefly tilted in favour of Marozsan.The Hungarian, who stunned Alcaraz in Rome last year, used his touch and variety to snatch the second set with a flurry of drop shots and clever net play. But Alcaraz responded with characteristic flair, turning up the tempo in the third and fourth sets and leaving the crowd in awe with his athleticism and shot-making.“It was a great, great match. I played well in the first set. I had really high confidence. In the second set, he started to play much better—really aggressively—and didn’t miss at all,” Alcaraz said post-match. “It was a little bit difficult dealing with his game in the second set, but I was pleased to stay strong and refreshed in the third set.”Statistically, Alcaraz outclassed his opponent. He won 71 percent of points on his first serve and fired 41 winners, 19 more than Marozsan, to dominate the match in just over two hours.“It’s always a special feeling to play here. This court has given me some of the most unforgettable moments of my career,” he said.Up next for the World No. 2 is a third-round meeting against either France’s towering wildcard Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or Bosnia’s veteran campaigner Damir Dzumhur.On the women’s side, it was a day of gritty determination and emotional strength for Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, who reached the third round of Roland Garros for the 10th time in her career. The former World No. 3 defeated Hungary’s Anna Bondar 7-6(4), 7-5 in a tightly contested match that saw her dig deep at key moments.Svitolina was cheered on from the stands by none other than her husband, Gael Monfils, who had lit up the tournament on Tuesday night with a marathon five-set win that had the French crowd on its feet. Monfils’ energy seemed to flow into Svitolina, who credited his presence as a key motivation behind her strong performance.“It means a lot to have Gael in the box, especially after the match he played yesterday,” Svitolina said. “He inspires me every day, and I just wanted to give it my best.”–IANShs/bsk/

Paris, May 28 (IANS) China’s Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen defeated Emiliana Arango of Colombia…

Kuala Lumpur, May 28 (IANS) Manchester United just can’t seem to get a break as their post-season tour began on a sour note as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to the ASEAN All-Stars in the Maybank Challenge Cup at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.In sweltering heat, United struggled to find rhythm against a spirited ASEAN side managed by Vietnam’s Kim Sang-sik. The match, attended by nearly 70,000 fans, saw United dominate possession but fail to convert opportunities.The first decent opportunity came in the 17th minute when Amani Aguinaldo failed to keep his shot down, after the ball bounced to him in a promising position, as the defender flashed a powerful attempt off target.Kobbie Mainoo, who took over the captain’s armband from Harry Maguire, was among the few bright spots, testing goalkeeper Patiwat Khammai with a long-range effort. Youngsters Shea Lacey and Jim Thwaites also showed promise, with Thwaites making a crucial last-ditch tackle to prevent a second goal.It took nearly until the hour mark for United to register a noteworthy effort after the break, despite dominating possession. Bruno Fernandes showed good technique with a volley from Delbridge’s headed clearance, but it was some way off target.Myanmar captain Maung Maung Lwin netted the decisive goal in the 71st minute, capitalising on a pass from Adrian Segecic to slot past Tom Heaton.In response, Amorim’s men did carve out a series of half-chances, without really appearing likely to equalise. Amad’s free-kick lacked power and preceded other shots by Jim Thwaites and Obi, following neat play by Harry Amass and Garnacho, and Amad was ruled offside when shanking a volley from a Fernandes pass. The loss adds to a disappointing end to their season, following a Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.United will look to bounce back in their next friendly against Hong Kong on May 30.–IANSaaa/bsk/

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) One of India’s most vital all-rounder in recent years, Ravindra…

New Chandigarh, May 28 (IANS) When Punjab Kings (PBKS) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at Mullanpur on Thursday, it will be more than just a match — it will be a battle of ambition, redemption, and shared legacies. Both teams are chasing the same elusive goal: their first IPL title.This is PBKS’ first playoff appearance since 2014, when they topped the league table but lost the final to Kolkata Knight Riders. Interestingly, RCB’s last top-two finish came in 2016 — a season in which they too faltered in the final, against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Since then, both franchises have struggled with consistency in the playoffs, but 2025 marks a refreshing turn of fortunes.PBKS’ transformation this season has been led by its uncapped Indian core. The likes of Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh and Harpreet Brar have consistently delivered, offering the team both balance and flair. On the other hand, RCB have moved away from their reputation of being a star-studded but top-heavy unit. This year, they are led by Rajat Patidar, with Jitesh Sharma as his deputy, both boasting limited international experience but strong IPL form.Both sides have had to manage injury concerns, too. PBKS leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is expected to return after missing two games due to a wrist niggle, while RCB are set to welcome back Josh Hazlewood, who has recovered from a shoulder issue.However, each team will be missing a key player — PBKS allrounder Marco Jansen has returned to South Africa to prepare for the WTC Final, while RCB’s Tim David is unlikely to feature after suffering a hamstring injury.The last time these two teams played at Mullanpur, RCB emerged victorious, with Virat Kohli producing a match-winning 73 not out and celebrating animatedly in front of Shreyas Iyer — a gesture that seemed to spark a tense exchange. That backdrop adds fuel to this rivalry, especially since both Kohli and Iyer are their teams’ top scorers this season.Kohli has amassed 608 runs at a strike rate of 147.91, while Iyer has notched up 514 at a blazing 171.90. However, Iyer’s form at Mullanpur has been underwhelming — just 25 runs across four innings — and his record against some of RCB’s bowlers doesn’t inspire much confidence either. Hazlewood has dismissed him three times in 19 balls, conceding just nine runs, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar has similarly dominated him in previous encounters.PBKS, meanwhile, will have to rethink their combination with Jansen unavailable. They may bring back Azmatullah Omarzai to maintain balance or turn to Xavier Bartlett or Vijaykumar Vyshak. The challenge will be maintaining both bowling depth and batting cushion. For RCB, accommodating Hazlewood might mean benching Nuwan Thushara, who was impressive against LSG. The overseas combination will be crucial in the final selection.PBKS and RCB have faced off 35 times, with Punjab winning 18 and Bengaluru 17. It’s a rivalry as tight as the stakes on Thursday.Mullanpur, the venue for the Qualifier, has offered mixed conditions so far. While early games here saw totals exceeding 200, recent matches have been low-scoring, including totals of 111 and 95. The pitch for Thursday could go either way, but with temperatures expected around 30°C and no rain forecast, conditions should be stable.The winner of this clash will book a direct ticket to the IPL 2025 final. The loser will still have another chance, facing the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2. But both teams would prefer to avoid the longer route, especially with momentum and confidence running high.RCB may enter with a psychological edge from their previous win at this venue, but PBKS will take heart from the support they enjoy in Mullanpur.When: Thursday, May 29 at 7:30 PM ISTWhere: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New ChandigarhWhere to Watch: The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports network, whereas live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.Squads:Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Musheer Khan, Xavier Bartlett, Praveen Dubey, Yuzvendra Chahal, Vishnu Vinod, Yash Thakur, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen, Mitchell Owen, Harnoor Singh, Pyla AvinashRoyal Challengers Bengaluru: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (c & wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thushara, Suyash Sharma, Rajat Patidar, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh, Josh Hazlewood, Blessing Muzarabani.–IANShs/bsk/

Paris, May 28 (IANS) Italian star Lorenzo Musetti continued to thrive at the French Open, racing into the men’s singles third round with a straight-sets victory over Daniel Elahi Galan of Colombia on Wednesday.
The eighth seed on Wednesday raced past Elahi Galan 6-4, 6-0, 6-4 to reach the third round at the clay court major, sending out a strong statement to his rivals at Roland Garros.Musetti converted six of 12 break points he earned, according to Infosys Stats, to wrap a two-hour, six-minute triumph and build impressively on his opening 7-5, 6-2, 6-0 win over Yannick Hanfmann.“Honestly, today was not easy to play because of the wind,” Musetti was later quoted as saying by the ATP on its website. “I think I managed to stay there and play a solid match. That is what I needed. I had to raise the level, raise the battle, and I’m really happy to be in the third round.”With this win, Musetti took a 3-0 lead in his ATP head-to-head record against Galan to 3-0 and also improved to 23-5 his record on clay since last July. During that period, his achievements include winning a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and reaching at least the semifinals at all three clay ATP Masters 1000 events in 2025, including a championship-match run in Monte-Carlo.“It’s been a tremendous clay season so far, but the ambitions now are higher and of course, here I never reached more than the fourth round,” said Musetti, who is competing at a career-high No. 7 in the ATP Rankings.“Hopefully this year will be the year, and the mentality is to try and beat everyone… I have the chance to play against everyone here, and hopefully I will take these chances,” he added.Musetti, who will play the winner of the match between Mariano Navone and Reilly Opelka next, was joined in the third round by 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals champion Hamad Medjedovic on Wednesday. Medjedovic beat qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 to advance to face Daniel Altmaier or Vit Kopriva.–IANSbsk/

London, May 28 (IANS) Jeffrey Schlupp will leave Crystal Palace this summer, after spending eight-and-a-half years with the club. The 32-year-old has made 247 appearances for the club since moving to South London from Leicester City in January 2017.”It’s been an incredible eight years playing for this club. I’ve met some great people – the Chairman, the gaffer, and all the staff I’ve met over the years – and it’s meant a lot to have played for Crystal Palace. A big ‘thank you’ to this group, who have achieved something so special.”You ask anybody about the Palace fans, and they know about the atmosphere that they create, and the number of times they’ve pulled us through in difficult times. They’ve been our 12th man, so thank you to all the fans who have always supported me. Hopefully, I’ve done you proud. I’ll definitely see you again soon,” said Schlupp.A product of the Leicester City academy, Schlupp made his senior debut in 2011 following a brief loan to Brentford in League One. He went on to make 150 appearances for the club, winning the EFL Championship in 2013–14 and was a part of the historic Foxes side that lifted the Premier League in 2015–16.Schlupp’s ability to fit in various different roles, offering important squad flexibility to the side, made him a regular pick in numerous Palace squads.During his stay in South London, Schlupp scored 19 times while also providing 17 assists.In August 2023, Schlupp made his 200th appearance for the club. With 220 Premier League appearances for Palace to his name, he has made the fourth-highest number of appearances for the team in the competition. He departs from Palace with an FA Cup winner’s medal to add to his collection, having featured in the third-round win over Stockport County.After 16 appearances for Palace this season, Schlupp has spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Celtic, where he went on to win the Scottish Premiership title.”Across nine separate seasons with Crystal Palace, Jeffrey has made many an important contribution to the Football Club – and scored some incredible goals!“Whatever has been asked of him – whatever the role, whenever the time–he has given his utmost to, and it speaks volumes that he has made such a great impression in different systems and under different managers.“Successful squads are built on players of Jeffrey’s calibre and character, and we have much to thank him for as he moves on from SE25. He leaves with our heartfelt gratitude and the very best wishes of everyone at Crystal Palace,” added Chairman Steve Parish.–IANSaaa/