VIJAYAWADA:

The Andhra Pradesh Badminton Association (APBA) has banned Olympian and national shuttler PVV Lakshmi from participating in state tournaments.

The decision is the fall out of the dispute between coach Bhaskar Babu and Lakshmi, which erupted after the National Games at Imphal. Lakshmi has been given an opportunity to explain why she should not be banned. APBA has also resolved to bring this issue to the notice of Badminton Association of India and her parent department.

Golfers disappoint

CALCUTTA: Indian golfers put up a rather dismal show in the first round of the 52nd Singapore Open Golf Championship being played at the Singapore Island Country Club course. The best Indian on view was Ashok Kumar (73), followed by Lakshman Singh at 76, Amish Jaitha (77) and Rahul Ganapathy (79). Prom Meesawat (Thailand) scored five-under 67 to lead the field.

Bagan for Japan

CALCUTTA: Mohun Bagan will leave for Japan next month for thier second round Asian Club Cupchampionship match against the reigning champions Jubilio Aiwata Club scheduled to be played on October nine.Bagan qualified for the second round after beating Mukti Joddha Sansad of Bangladesh in the home match 2-1 and drew the away match in Dhaka, 0-0.

Bijen's brace

HALDIA: Bijen Singh's brace enabled East Bengal beat Tollygung Agragami 2-0 in the group B match to reach the semi-final round of the 15th All Airlines Gold Cup football tournament on Tuesday.

Anfa in final

NEW DELHI: Anfa Juniors, Kathmandu today pipped St John's School, Ranchi 3-1 to enter the finals of the sub-junior (U-16) Subroto Cup football championship. SKCC Adarsh Seva Vidyalaya, Varanasi, defeated Government HS, MP 2-1 to enter the U-14 semi-finals. Hazare benefit BARODA: The West Zone Ranji Trophy league clash between Baroda and Gujarat, to be played at the IPCL ground here from November 14, has been allocated as a benefit tie for former Baroda leg spinner and cricket legend Vijay Hazare's son Sanjay.

EMEprevail

FARIDKOT: EME Jalandhar routed Harpal Club Quila, Raipur, 5-3 via tie breaker and Signals defeated Ropar Hawks 1-0 on the second day of the eighth Baba Farid Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at Government Barjindra college stadiumNat Sepak Takraw NAGPUR: Delhi would host the tenth senior men's and sixth women's National Sepak Takraw championships which will be held in January-February next year.

Ravi, Negi lead

BHOPAL: Ravi Kumar (3.5) and VS Negi (3.5) shared the lead at the end of fourth round of Smt Prabha Devi Memorial international rating chess tournament today. Mumbai's Raghunandan Gokhale (UBI) was joint third with 2.5 points.

Points position after four rounds: VS Negi, Ravi Kumar (3.5); Manoj Mishra, SK Rathod (3); RV Gokhale, Pankaj Gupta (2.5).