Azlan Shah Hockey: India beat Pak 3-1

Mar 12
India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 3-1 in the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey tournament at Ipoh, Malaysia, today.

At half-time, the winners led Two-One. India's first victory has also kept their hopes alive of reaching the final. In their remaining two fixtures in the round-robin competition, India will meet New Zealand on Thursday and hosts Malaysia on Saturday.

In earlier match played today, defending champions New Zealand beat Korea Three-Nil.

Badminton: Saina leading Indian contingent at Swiss Open starting today

Mar 12

The Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton tournament kicks off in Basel today. Olympian and defending champion Saina Nehwal, who has been given a top billing in the Women's Singles category, is leading the Indian contingent. Besides Saina, PV Sindhu and P. Kashyap are the other top shot Indian shuttlers, who are participating in this 6-day event.
London Olympics quarterfinalist P. Kashyap will clash with Hsuan Yi Hsueh of Chinese Taipei in the Men's Singles opening round today. Besides, Sourabh Verma, Srikanth K. and HS Prannoy will also be seen in action in the Men's Singles first round today.
Saina Nehwal will begin her campaign from tomorrow, when she will take on Sashina Vignes Waran of France in the opening round. PV Sindhu will meet third seeded Korean Ji Hyun Sung in the Women's Singles opening round. The tournament will see India's participation in the Men's Doubles category as well.

Mayer pulls out; Nadal advances to fourth round at Indian Wells

Mar 12 Rafael Nadal advanced to the fourth round at Indian Wells on a walkover in California. The former world No. 1, playing his fourth tournament since returning last month from a seven-month injury absence, was preparing to take to the court when he learned third-round opponent Leonardo Mayer of Argentina had pulled out with a bad back. Mayer's sudden withdrawal left Nadal feeling a little flat, but the Spaniard was quite animated when describing the earthquake, which originated from an epicentre just 30 miles from Indian Wells. Nadal, who is playing his first hard-court tournament since a sore left knee forced him out of the semi-finals at Miami last March, said he wouldn't put in a lot of extra practice, but would work out in the gym. Olympian Vijender to be summoned agian by Punjab police in drugs haul case Mar 12 The Olympian Boxer Vijender Singh would again be summoned to join the investigation in the 130 crore rupees Punjab drug haul case. He has been named in this case by his friend boxer Ram Singh, a policeman who has already joined the probe. DIG, Ludhiana Range, M.F. Farookhi has told AIR Jalandhar Correspondent that investigation is still on and when there is need to call Vijender, he would be summoned. Vijender had denied giving blood and hair samples to police during his questioning at Panchkula, Monday evening. Meanwhile, SSP, Fatehgarh Sahib, Hardyal Singh Mann has said that Vijender knows Anoop Singh Kahlon, from whose possession police recovered 26 kilogram Heroin, last week. He also knows the kingpin of this international drug racket, Jagdish Bhola, a dismissed cop and wanted in this case. Police has documentary proof regarding this