Briefs

Smrti fired a 2nd round of 70 and now shares the third spot with former world No 1 Annika Sorenstam, who had a round of 71 at the 6,463-yard course.

KSCA triumph

BANGALORE: Karnataka State Cricket Association XI lifted the Coromandal Cements Trophy defeating India Cements by an innings and 73 runs, on the penultimate day of the three-day final of the KSCA Diamond Jubilee Invitational cricket tournament.

Brief scores: India Cements 114 and 179-7 Rahul Dravid 53, Sunil Oasis 47; Anand Yalvigi 3-80 lost to KSCA XI 366-7 S Siruguppi 30, A Vijay 43, Vijay Bharadwaj 164, B Akhil 69; Gokulkrishnan 3-74.

Bagan to host

CALCUTTA: Mohun Bagan has stepped in to organise the first-legtie of its opening round Asian Club Championship match against Muktijoddha Sangshad of Bangladesh at the Salt Lake Stadium on August 21 following the IFA8217;s refusal to bear the expenses of the visiting team.

Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra told reporters that McDowell, the sponsor of the club8217;s football team, would sponsor the tie.

Sporting sponsor

CALCUTTA: Bangalore-based UB Group, which floated two football playing companies partnering East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, will sponsor the Mohammedan Sporting Club.

According to reports, UB group chief Vijaya Mallya discussed the matter with Sporting officials and agreed for sponsorship of Rs 25 lakh for this soccer season.

Hari, Rohitaaz top

BANGALORE: Last year8217;s National champion rallyist Hari Singh of J K Rally team and rider Rohitaaz Kumar of Chandigarh added one more feather in their cap emerging victorious in the knock-out 25th Karnataka-1000 rally.

According to the final results announced, Hari Singh ofChandigarh in a Maruti Esteem with G S Mann as his navigator logged 1:42.40 penalty minutes. V R Naren Kumar of Coimbatore followed with 1:44.34 seconds. Manik Raiky of J K Tyre rally team settled for the third place with 1:47.16s.

Alesi hospitalised

BUDAPEST: French F-1 driver Jean Alesi 35 was rushed to hospital by helicopter after a high-speed crash during Saturday8217;s free practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Alesi smashed into a metal barrier in his Sauber-Petronas causing a 45-minute delay as wreckage was cleared. Alesi was able to walk into the medical centre at the Hungaroring track but minutes later was taken away on a stretcher to a waiting helicopter.

Stoichkov shocked8217;

SOFIA: Bulgaria8217;s soccer veteran Hristo Stoichkov suffered an electric shock and was admitted to Sofia8217;s military hospital for treatment, a hospital official said.

8220;He is safe but still under medical supervision,8221; a duty officer said.