CHENNAI: Geet Sethi of India would be defending his title in the Florsheim World Professional Billiards Championship scheduled here from August 3-8. The championship would be played on a new experimental rule of 1000 points during league phase, 1500 (semi-finals) and 2000 points in final.

England on top

SHENLEY, ENGLAND: Seamer Clare Taylor took three wickets to reduce India to 123-5 chasing England's first innings 329 all out in the one-off cricket Test match.

Taylor claimed Anju Jain and Anjum Chopra in her third over with India's total at one. She finished with 3-25 off 13 overs.

Oberoi in semis

MUMBAI: Unseeded Bikram Oberoi of India blanked Mo Li Hang of Hong Kong to enter the boys' under-19 semi-finals of the Fuji Film Hong Kong Junior Squash Open.

According to information received here, two more Indians, unseeded Ishaan P Balwani and second seeded Naishad R Lalwani, moved into under-11 semis. Mumbai's Balwani beat Chan Man Him of Hong Kong2-9, 9-5, 9-4, 9-2 while Lalwani sidelined Fung Ji Yung of Hong Kong 9-6, 9-2, 2-9, 9-7. Lalwani runs into Marchs Phua of Singapore who beat Harshjit S Sethi of India 10-9, 9-3, 9-4 in the quarter-finals.

Second seeded Joshna Chinappa went down to Lim Yoke Wah of Malaysia in a girls' under-15 first round match 8-9, 9-7, 9-0, 2-9, 9-5.

Badminton meet

BANGALORE: The fifth Rs 4-lakh All-India Open badminton tournament will be held here from August 9-11.

All top Indian shuttlers, including reigning National champions P Gopi Chand (world No 37) and Aparna Popat (world No 20), are expected to take part in the tournament, which would be part of the All India Senior Grand Prix Circuit.

Natl Games

CHANDIGARH: Chandigarh will host three events of the National Games to be held in Punjab from November 5, 2000. The decision to hold shooting, rowing and golf in the city was taken at a meeting of Punjab Olympic Association (POA).

-- ENS & Agencies