Chinappa crashes out

Joshna Chinappa crashed out of the US Open Squash Championship after suffering a straight set first-round defeat to England’s Laura Massaro in New York. Chinappa, India’s lone challenge at the prestigious $ 42,450 event, lost 2-11 9-11 15-17 to her fifth-seed opponent in just 37 minutes at the Heights Casino club.

ASA suspended

Athletics South Africa (ASA) has been suspended by the country’s national Olympic committee over its controversial handling of the Caster Semenya gender case.”The suspension is based on the fact that ASA, through its officials and office bearers, has engaged in acts of misconduct and misdemeanours in relation to the Caster Semenya affair,” the Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee said in a statement.

Somdev through, Sanam out

Somdev Devvarman extended his run at the $50,000 Challenger event in Charlottesville to the semi-finals with a 6-3 6-4 win over Dutch Matwe Middelkoop.He will play American Ryan Sweeting for a place in the final. Sweeting shocked top seed Michael Russell 6-2 3-6 7-6(1). Sanam Singh, however, lost his quarter-final 5-7 7-6 (3) 6-7 (5) to American Kevin Kim.

‘Torres not fit to play for Spain’

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is not refusing to rule Fernando Torres out of the club’s match with Birmingham City, but he does not believe the 25-year-old is fit enough to face Argentina in Madrid on November 14. “No, I don’t think so,” Benitez said. “Yesterday I was talking with the Spanish clinical director and fitness coach and they know that Fernando needs to work hard with the physios and improve his fitness condition.”

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