State-ranking TT championship

Gulbarga District Table Tennis Association in association with district administration and the State Bank of India will conduct a State-ranking table tennis chamionship here from Oct 11 to 14. About 400 players from across the state are expected to participate in the tournament to be held at the Chandrashekhar Patil Stadium, reports DHNS from Gulbarga.

The events to be held are men’s and women’s singles, non-medallist singles and doubles, boys and girls (under 12) singles, girls (under 14) singles. Last date for sending entries is October 9.

Details of the tournament can be had from association secretary Shivakumar Kotnoor on 94482 52048 or the Office of the Assistant Director of Sports and Youth Services at 08472-278637.

First one-dayer abandoned

The one-day cricket tie between India A and South Africa A, first of the three matches in the series, scheduled at Motera this morning has been abandoned owing to a soggy outfield caused by heavy rainfall during the past few days, reports PTI from Ahmedabad.

The match was scheduled to begin at 9.00 am. The umpires inspected the ground at 10.30 am and called off play due to unsuitable ground conditions.

The other two matches of the series between the two teams are scheduled at Vadodara (Sept 28) and Rajkot (Sept 30).

Indian football team for Dubai

The Indian football team left for Dubai on Wednesday as part of its preparation for the first round of 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Lebanon, reports PTI from Mumbai.

The team, led by ace striker Bhaichung Bhutia, will take on their West Asian rivals in Beirut on October 8 before the home leg in Chennai on October 28.

The team had a preparatory camp in Goa from September 20. They will continue their training in Dubai and also play some matches against local sides to acclimatise to conditions and get match fit. The team will be in Dubai till October 5 and reach Beirut the following day.

Karnataka’s N S Manju, who had to miss the recent Federation Cup in Ludhiana due to a groin injury is also part of the squad.

Spinners shine on day one

Karnataka’s Sunitha Vasudevan had a match haul of ten wickets as 28 wickets fell and a mere 108 runs were scored on the opening day of their South Zone Senior women’s cricket tournament tie against Tamil Nadu, reports DHNS from Anantapur.

Brief scores:  TN: 50 in 35.1 overs (Sunitha Vasudevan 6- 4) and 31/8 in 28 overs (Sunitha Vasudevan 4-9, Vilasini 3-2) vs   Karnataka: 27 all out in 33.2 overs (Kamakshi 6-10, Kamini 3-9).

I won it fair and square: Landis

American Floyd Landis, who has been stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title after failing a dope test, insists he has prevailed on the French roads without cheating.

In a letter to his fans posted on his Web site (www.floydfairnessfund.org), Landis said: "I can sleep well at night knowing that I won the 2006 Tour de France fair and square.