SPORTS BAR: Punjab win in Santosh Trophy

Eight-time champions Punjab scraped past Himachal Pradesh 2-1 in a Group B North Zone qualifying round match of 68th National Championships for Santosh Trophy.

Eight-time champions Punjab scraped past Himachal Pradesh 2-1 in a Group B North Zone qualifying round match of the 68th National Championships for the Santosh Trophy. Sandip Singh (66th minute) and Aftabvir Sing (90+2) scored for Punjab while Chandan Kumar found the target for Himachal in the 90th minute at Ambedkar Stadium. In another match, Jammu and Kashmir drubbed Uttar Pradesh 3-0. Shahid Mushtaq (6th), Asif Majeed (21st) and Taufeeq Ahmed (83rd) were the scorers for Jammu and Kashmir.

Vani wins title
Delhi’s Vani Kapoor upstaged Sharmila Nicollet to win the first Leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf tour, which concluded at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club. Vani, who was trailing by a single shot to Sharmila, carded a two over 74 in the final round and finished with a total score of 229, three shots clear of her nearest rival. Shweta Galande had a good outing as she carded 76 in the third round and finished third with a total score of 237 along with Neha Tripathi, who returned with an eight over 80 in the third round.

Nikolai returns as running coach
Long distance running coach Nikolai Snesarev of Belarus, who left India after a row with Sports Authority of India over his pay hike demand in 2011, is all set to return to the country to take charge till the Asian Games in September. “Nikolai is landing here tomorrow. He is coming along with his wife and both will be employed by SAI,” a top official of the Athletics Federation of India said. “Both of them have been given a contract till the end of the Asian Games. If their performance was satisfactory, their contracts can be extended till the 2016 Rio Olympics,” he said.

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Guarin criticises Inter
Midfielder Fredy Guarin has criticised Inter Milan for putting him on the transfer market without his consent and thanked the club’s fans after their protests led a swap deal with Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic to fall through. “Inter it is you that put me on the market without me ever asking ANYONE to leave because at Inter I was calm and happy. Now I am asking you for clarity and respect for me, the fans and my agent,” Guarin said on Twitter.

Ramsey out for six weeks
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has been ruled out for as long as another six weeks, manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday. The 23-year-old Wales international has not played since December 26 and is not expected to recover from his thigh injury until mid-March. Ramsey had a superb start to the season scoring 13 goals by the end of November but even without him Arsenal have been top of the Premier League for most of the time since then. “It is a blow for us because we have also lost Theo Walcott for a long period and Mathieu Flamini is suspended for four matches so before we had a lot of players in those positions but not now.”

Neymar returns to training
Neymar has returned to the training pitch for the first time since sustaining an ankle injury two weeks ago and is recovering well, the Spanish champions said on Friday. The Brazil international is on track to return to action in between one and two weeks, meaning he will be available for Barca’s Champions League last 16, first leg at Manchester City on February 18, Barca said on their website.

Zaha completes loan switch
Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha has joined strugglers Cardiff City on loan until the end of the season, Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Friday. The 21-year-old has found first team opportunities hard to come by at Old Trafford this season, featuring only four times for David Moyes’ side in all competitions. “He has pace, power, technical ability and goes past people,” Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told reporters.

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