MUMBAI: ESPN will telecast two league matches involving India live in the World Cup hockey champiopnship Commencing from May 21, at Utrecht. The two matches are against Germany at 1600 hrs on the opening day and versus New Zealand on May 26 at 1930 hrs. The rest of the three league matches against hosts Holland, South Korea and Canada will be taped and showed on May 26 at 0900 hrs and 1500 hrs and on May 30 at 1130 hrs respectively.

The semi-finals on May 30 and 31st will be shown live at 1930 hrs and at midnight respectively. The men's final will be telecast live on June 1 at 19.30 hrs, preceded by the third-fourth place play-off at 17.00 hrs.

Timings of matches involving Indian women are: vs England (May 23, zero hrs), vs New Zealand (May 26, 0900 hrs) and vs S Korea (May 29, 2200 hrs). The women's final will be telecast live on May 31 at 1930 hrs.

Bhupathi partner

MUMBAI: India's Davis Cup star Mahesh Bhupathi would have a new partner, Mirjana Lucicof Croatia, in the mixed doubles event at the French Open to be held at Paris from May 25, according to reports received here today.

The India No 2, Bhupathi, had won the event at the Roland Garros last year with Rika Hiraki of Japan. The duo decided to team-up during the Australian Open last January, reports said.

Nirupama 175th

NEW DELHI: Nirupama Vaidyanathan, India's first woman tennis player to win a Grand Slam match, has risen to 175 in the latest Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings following her recent exploits at the European circuit.

Having gained 126 points, Nirupama climbed 21 rungs from the 196, she reached after her historic Australian Open debut early this season, according to the rankings announced in Miami yesterday.

Athletics squad

NEW DELHI: The Amateur Athletic Federation of India (AAFI) has selected 12 athletes to represent the country in the VIII G. Kosanov Memorial International Meet to be held in Almaty (Kazakhstan) on May 22-23.

The team: Men:Premjit Singh (400m), Lijo David (400m), Bahadur Prasad (1500m), Gulab Chand (5000m), N. Gojen Singh (5000m), Anil Kumar (discus throw).

Women: Jyotirmy Sikdar (400m/800m), Neelam J. Singh (discus throw), Saraswati Dey (100m/200m), Sunita Rani (5000m). Coaches: Gerguei Tebernyshov and Jaswant Singh).

Firoz still 2nd

NEW DELHI: Firoz Ali continues to be in the second spot in the latest Omega Tour Order of Merit released today. His earnings, however, remain the same at $51,695.