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Four-time champions India will take on Afghanistan in their opening match of the SAFF Championships in Dhaka on December 5.

India start vs Afghanistan

Four-time champions India will take on Afghanistan in their opening match of the SAFF Championships in Dhaka on December 5. India play their second Group A match on December 7 against Nepal before taking on holders Maldives on December 9. The eight-nation tournament begins on December 4 with a match between hosts Bangladesh and Bhutan.

Mankad loses

Harsh Mankad had to be content with a runner-up place at the Calabasas Challenger after losing the final with his partner Treat Conard Huey. The Indo-Philippines pair lost 6-2 5-7 10-4 to Mexicos Santiago Gonzalez and German Simon Stadler. At the Seoul Challenger,Somdev Devvarman lost his opening doubles match along with American Todd Widom 6-1 7-6 7 to second seeds Amir Hadad and Harel Levy.

Beckhams Milan return certain

David Beckhams return to AC Milan on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy in January is nearly 100 per cent certain says the Serie A clubs CEO Adriano Galliani. Beckham has long been linked with a second loan spell at Milan,after performing well in a six-month stay with the Serie A side last season. A great player will arrive,his first name is David,his last name Beckham, Galliani was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency on Monday.

Basketball player dies

Kevin Widemon,a 23-year-old American guard,died of a heart attack during a Portuguese basketball tournament. The Portuguese basketball federation said Widemon collapsed in the locker room on Sunday during halftime of a game between his team Ovarense and Academica in Leiria,in northern Portugal. Widemon had played 10 minutes in the 3rd-place playoff game of a tournament which was cancelled following his death.

Safina back as world No 1

Russian Dinara Safina reclaimed first place in the WTA world rankings on Monday,edging back in front of Serena Williams on the eve of the season-ending Tour Championships in Doha. Safina,who went to the top of the rankings in April but was overtaken by Williams earlier this month after an early exit in Beijing,will end the year as number one if she out-performs Williams this week.