Kidderpore Sporting Club beat Stead Fast Mumbai

Kidderpore Sporting Club (green) beat Stead Fast Mumbai 3-1 in a pool A league match of the All India Football Tournament for Bihar Cup at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna on February 28, 2013.
In another match of the pool B, State Bank of Travancore (SBT) beat Army XI Junior (Lucknow) 1-0.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Assam Regimental Centre too good for Stead Fast

Assam Regimental Centre (blue-red) thrashed Stead Fast Foptball Club, Mumbai 4-2 in a pool A league match of the All India Football Tournament for Bihar Cup at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna on February 27, 2013.
In another match of pool B, MEG Bangalore beat East Central Railway Danapur 1-0 to earn full points.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Mukesh Kumar continues to lead

Mewat (Haryana) February 28, 2013: Mukesh Kumar of Mhow fired a 68 and held on to his lead in round three of the PGTI Players Championship at the Classic Golf Resort in Mewat, Haryana. Mukesh’s total stood at 13-under-203 after three rounds. Delhi’s Rashid Khan was a stroke behind in second place.

Mukesh Kumar (68-67-68) held on to his overnight lead after a solid round that featured six birdies and two bogeys. Mukesh was on fire on the front-nine as he sank four birdies. The 47-year-old seasoned professional picked up his first birdie on the par-5 third where he found the green in two shots. He then landed his approach shots within seven feet to set up birdies on the sixth and eighth holes. Mukesh chipped it within three feet to add another birdie on the ninth.

Mukesh had a comparatively quieter back-nine. He dropped bogeys on the 10th and 17th as a result of missing some short putts. His last two birdies of the day came on the 13th where he sank a 15-footer and on the 14th where he produced a magnificent chip shot that landed within a few inches of the pin.

Mukesh said, “It was a fabulous round. I converted most of the chances that came my way. I’ve been on top of my game through this week and want to continue in the same manner. The only disappointment was missing a couple of short putts towards the end. I’m expecting some tough competition from the likes of Rashid Khan and Shamim Khan in the final round.”

Rashid Khan (66-70-68) also struck six birdies against two bogeys in his round of 68 that placed him second.

Shamim Khan (66-70-70), another Delhi golfer, brought in a card of 70 as a result of three birdies and a bogey to be placed third at 10-under-206.

Bangalore’s Chikkarangappa S was in fourth place at nine-under-207. 

Vijitha Bandara holds 3 shot lead on day 3 of 8th NCR Cup

Bandara on 18th green after missing the eagle at Delhi Golf Club on February 28, 2013

New Delhi, February 28, 2013 Overnight leader Sri Lanka's Vijitha Bandara shot one-over 73 to hold the lead on day three of Gannon Dunkerley 8th NCR Cup at the Delhi Golf Club. Bandara’s three days total was 217. Three shots behind was India’s Samarth Dwivedi after firing a two-under 70 for a total of 220 along with another countryman Prince Kajotia who finished third.

India’s Amit Kumar, who was tied on 2nd position yesterday, came back with the score of four-over 76 for the total of 224 to slip at 4th. India’s Pratap Atwal, whose best score on this course is seven-under, returned with two-under 70 for the total of 225 in a tie along with Dhruv Sheoran who shot four-over 76 for the total of 225.

Currently Number one on Sri Lanka amateur circuit, Bandara started the day with a bogey on first hole which led to lapse in concentration but he did some breathing exercise on the 2nd tee box to hit back to back birdies on 2nd, 3rd and 5th. He was level par after front nine but bogeys on 11th and 17th and a birdie finish got him one-over in total.

Not too impressed with putting, Bandara said, “I could have been three or four under today if I would not have missed short putts on first, 8th, 11th and 14th. I was also confused at some of the holes as my mind was saying something and my caddy was saying something else. I closed my eyes on the 18th green and counted from 20 to 1 to balance my mind but still I missed the eagle by six inch. I will do my breathing exercise in the evening so that I can start fresh tomorrow to clinch the title.”

43 players will be vying for the title tomorrow as two Pakistani players Sardar Murad and Amir Mehmood and Indian K. K. Bajoria withdrew from the tournament.