Bits and Pieces

‘Doubles glory no stepping stone to singles success’

MUMBAI: Doubles has been the source of Indian tennis pride since Mahesh Bhupathi partnered Japan’s Rika Hiraki to a grand slam title in 1997 but a lack of coaching quality will ensure singles success remains out of reach, Rohan Bopanna has told Reuters.

Bopanna, who joined Bhupathi, Leander Paes and Sania Mirza as the latest Indian grand slam champion when he teamed up with Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski at Roland Garros, said the country should not be satisfied with winning doubles crowns.

And the 37-year-old disagreed with the theory that doubles glory was a stepping stone to singles success.

“If playing doubles was a shortcut to success we would have had a number of players ranked in the top 50,” Bopanna said in an interview.

“There was no system in place for players to come through. Whoever did well in singles in the past did it on their own.”

Bopanna said Indian players had the skills to compete at the highest level but often lacked the fitness to be successful.

“We need to have a system in place at the grassroots level for the future of Indian tennis.

That’s one reason I have started my academy in Bengaluru,” he said, adding that he had also met India’s sports minister to discuss how to promote tennis in the country.

Japan coach yellow-carded over car prang

TOKYO: Japan’s under-fire football coach Vahid Halilhodzic has picked up a caution from his employers after he was involved in a minor traffic accident, local media reported Friday.

The 65-year-old’s car collided with another vehicle in Tokyo on Thursday afternoon, his second fender-bender in two years after running into a taxi in August 2015.

“We deeply apologise for the trouble this incident caused,” Japan Football Association chief Kozo Tashima told reporters.

“We are relieved it wasn’t serious and no one sustained injuries. We have warned the coach once again to take care when driving.”

Halilhodzic is already facing a humiliating performance review after Japan drew 1-1 with Iraq in an Asian World Cup qualifier earlier this week.

The Franco-Bosnian’s previous prang also followed a series of poor results, coming after Japan finished last at the 2015 East Asian Cup.

Halilhodzic has split opinions since taking charge following Japan’s quarter-final exit at the 2015 Asian Cup.

The firebrand former Algeria coach has clashed with Japan players and staff in a rollercoaster two years.

Japan should still qualify for the 2018 World Cup but defeat against Australia on August 31 would put them at risk of dropping into a play-off.

Jersey side cowed over not finding a manager

LONDON: Channel Islands football club Jersey Scottish have taken the drastic step of withdrawing from the island’s Premiership for next season after failing to find a manager.

Scottish, who won the last of their 13 Jersey league titles four years ago, have been unable to replace manager Pat Brennan who retired after helping the team to third last season.

“Despite numerous attempts to try to find a new manager, those attempts have proved fruitless,” club secretary Craig Fletcher told BBC Radio Jersey.

The club will still operate an Over-35 team next season and have not given up hope of returning to the Premiership for the 2018/19 campaign.

“As a former player I’m devastated and there were a lot of very sad faces when we reached the decision,” Fletcher told the Jersey Evening Post.

Central District Tigers, Malir District Leopards win

By our correspondent

KARACHI: Central District Tigers and Malir District Leopards emerged winners on the opening day of the Olympian Shahbaz Ahmad 5-a-side Hockey League at the KHA Sports Complex on Thursday night.  

Central District Tigers defeated East District Lions 10-9 after extra-time. Muhammad Ali of Central District Tigers was declared the man-of-the-match.

In the second match, Malir District Leopards thrashed West District Sharks 10-7. Man-of-the-match from Malir Leopards was international Asim Khan, while Abdullah Bukhari was from the West District Sharks.

Director-General Karachi Development Authority Syed Nasir Abbas was the chief guest on the occasion.

Dr Junaid Ali Shah (President KHA), Olympian Samiullah, Iftikhar Syed, international Jameel Ahmed were also present on the occasion.

Tapal CC record emphatic win in Gymkhana Twenty20

By our correspondent

KARACHI:  Tapal Cricket Club recorded an emphatic 100-run victory over Heroes Cricket Club in their last Group D fixture of the Omar Associates Karachi Gymkhana Ramazan Festival Twenty20 whose league matches concluded here at the Karachi Gymkhana on Friday.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, Tapal CC were restricted to 167 for nine after being 107 for one at the halfway stage.  They, however, routed their opponents for a paltry 67 in 17.5 overs.

Opener Hafiz Asad, adjudged Man of the Match, provided a flying start to Tapal CC, hammering a six and five fours in his 57 off 40 balls, scoring 97 with Hamza Ghanchi (33 off 21 balls) for the second wicket.

Heroes CC pulled it back through the spin duo of Faisal Khan (3-18) and Hannan Khan (2-9).

Tapal CC’s spin trio of Nasir Owais (3-12), Rafay Safdar (2-2) and Wasim Ali (2-18) rocked the visiting side from Quetta with only Manzoor Shah (25 off 26 balls) offering some resistance.

South African club hire English coach Butler

JOHANNESBURG: Former English top-flight footballer Peter Butler has been named coach of Platinum Stars, the South African Premiership club announced Friday.

The 50-year-old was a midfielder during a playing career spanning 450 appearances and including spells with West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion.

He coached in Australia, Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand before being put in charge of Botswana in 2014.

Butler was unable to build on a first Africa Cup of Nations appearance by Botswana five years ago and they fell 1-0 at home to Mauritania last weekend in a 2019 qualifier.

Platinum dumped out-of-contract Cavin Johnson after finishing ninth in the 16-club national league and taking only one point from three CAF Confederation Cup group matches.

Juventus fan dies in hospital following Turin stampede

TURIN, Italy: A Juventus supporter has died in hospital nearly two weeks after being injured when panic broke out during the screening of the Champions League final in one of Turin’s main squares.

The city government and the club confirmed in separate statements that the fan, 38-year-old Erika Pioletti, died on Thursday night.

“Juventus Football Club would like to express its sincere condolences for the death of Erika,” said Juventus.

“The events that took place in Turin and the city’s victims of the tragedy on 3 June remain in the hearts and minds of all involved with the club.

“An estimated 30,000 people had been in San Carlo square watching the game between Real Madrid and Juventus, which was being played in Cardiff, on a giant screen.

More than 1,500 were injured when supporters suddenly panicked and surged out of the square.

Most suffered light injuries but one 7-year-old boy was left in a coma for more than a week. He is now recovering.

Asim Khan out of Kent Squash Open

By our correspondent

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Asim Khan lost in the first round of $10,000 Kent Squash Open at The Mote Club, Maidstone, England, on Friday.  Fifth seed Adam Murrills from England thrashed this lone Pakistani in this event 11-4, 11-3, 11-7 in just 31 minutes.