Chess:India clinches series

India completed a comprehensive 2-0 series victory over fancied Armenia after clinching the third and final round 3-1 at the Russian Cultural Centre here on Tuesday.

India won the first round 2.5-1.5 on Sunday and drew the second 2-2 before coming up with a commanding performance on the final day. In all, India won six of the nine decisive games over three days.

Grandmaster S. Arun Prasad and the World under-16 champion B. Adhiban emerged as the heroes of India’s comprehensive victory having contributed 2.5 points each from their three games. World junior champion Abhijeet Gupta won two games against the Armenian spearhead Zaven Andriasian on the top board.

Making the difference

For the second successive day, Arun won with black pieces against higher seeded GM Hrant Melkumyan, in 40 moves, to aptly reflect India’s superior preparedness for the tie. Arun’s passed pawn on the queen’s side made the difference on this day.

Abhijeet avenged the loss suffered on Monday by overpowering Andriasian in an emphatic manner in 45 moves after sacrificing a knight.

Earlier, an in-form Adhiban was made to take things easy by coach Vishal Sareen and the youngster settled for a quick 13-move draw against GM Avetik Grigoryan. Deep Sengupta, looked well placed against Samvel Ter Sahakyan but took a draw in 42 moves once the other boards were decided.

The results: Third round:

India bt Armenia 3-1 (Abhijeet Gupta bt Zaven Andriasian; S. Arun Prasad bt Hrant Melkumyan; B. Adhiban drew with Avetik Grigoryan; Samvel Ter Sahakyan drew with Deep Sengupta).

Football:I-League: Injury Time Equaliser Leaves Churchill Frustrated

A brilliant come back by Air India saw them snatch a point from under Churchill’s nose as Michael Tayo scored an injury time goal to deny Churchill full three points in an eighth round I-League encounter at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa.

Churchill Brothers would be disappointed having dropped two crucial points and this is the fifth consecutive game where they have failed to win. They continue to occupy the third position with 14 points from nine outings.

The Airmen shall consider themselves lucky to escape with a point and are currently second on the table with 16 points.

Churchill Brothers saw most of the ball but couldn’t convert the chances that came their way thanks to some brilliant goalkeeping on display by Air India’s Arup Debnath. His alertness and quick reaction denied Churchill for long. Kalu Nnanna’s right footer was well saved by the Air India custodian.

The Mumbai club were lucky to escape as defender Chukuwama Udofia made a goalline save off a Chitra Sen shot. The goal came in the 38th minute as Odafa Okolie from inside the box drew two defenders and then chipped for Felix to head it in.

In the second session, Churchill continued to apply pressure and it was only the brilliance of Arup Debnath which came in their path. He made some stunning saves off Bineesh Balan, Odafa Okolie and Felix Chimaokwu.

The Goan side slowed down and it was well exploited by Air India coach Bimal Ghosh. He brought on fresh legs in the form of Samson Singh, Gauranga Biswas and Thomte for Kailash Patil, Surojit Roy and Napoleon Singh. The positive changes spurred Air India as they dominated the proceedings in the last quarter or so.

Their efforts brought reward in the final minute of injury time when Michael Tayo tapped it in from close range. This would certainly boost the morale of Air India who could have come out empty handed from the match.

Churchill were left to rue their defensive errors and would need to get it right before they travel to Kolkata to face Mohammedan Sporting and East Bengal.

Arup Debnath was awarded the Man of the Match award.

Final Score: 1-1

Goalscorer Churchill: Felix Chimaokwu (38th min)

Goalscorer Air India: Michael Tayo (93rd)

Football: India placed at 144 in FIFA ranking

In the latest rankings that were release FIFA has placed India at 144 .

The latest rankings are as follows

FIFA rankings (previous position in brackets):

1. (1) Spain

2. (3) Germany

3. (2) Italy

4. (5) Netherlands

5. (4) Brazil

6. (7) Argentina

7. (6) Croatia

8. (9) Russia [Images]

9. (8) Czech Republic

10= (10) Portugal

10= (14) England

12. (11) France [Images]

13. (13) Turkey

14. (12) Cameroon

15. (16) Israel

16. (15) Bulgaria

17. (22) Paraguay

18. (17) Greece

19. (18) Romania

20. (19) Ukraine

144. India

Football: I-League: Air India pip JCT

Uttam Singh is turning out to be Air-India’s trump card in the ongoing I-League a la Stoke City’s midfielder Rory Delap.

The Manipuri sweeper’s patented long throw ins finally prised open JCT’s rugged defense, paving the way for substitute Samson Singh to score the match winner in the 85th minute in a seventh round match at the Cooperage on Sunday.

Ironically, it was again a short man who got the goal for Air-India from this unusual set piece.

The 1-0 victory extended Air-India’s winning streak on their home turf in this tournament and helped them to fly high to 14 points and second place, four behind leaders Sporting Clube de Goa [Images]. The Phagwara outfit, who were decidedly superior on Sunday and did not deserve to lose, stuttered to their second defeat and continue to remain in fifth spot with nine points.

It was a faulty clearance by international stopper back Anwar Ali, a rare blemish, which resulted in the throw in from the right flank that led to Air-India’s goal. Ali and his colleague Julius Akpele at the heart of the JCT defense, gave nothing way and neutralized Air-India’s occasional attacks with solid panache.

The home side, who were subdued in the first half and could not get their speedy wingers going, did create some golden opportunities as the game drew to a close with substitute Emmanuel Oveighara finding the cross bar with an acrobatic back header in the 85th minute.

Three minutes later the Nigerian striker was fractionally out of position to finish a lightning counter from the left even as Michael Tayo got to the ball and had his try deflected by goalkeeper Karanjit for a corner.

JCT had the measure of their opponents in the first session in which Eduardo Escobar da Silva was a livewire and a constant threat to the local fortress. The Brazilian was responsible for almost all the attempts and the plays and also threatened from his set pieces. However, his striking partner Balwant was not up to the challenge and was replaced after the change over by Harvinder who proved to be equally ineffective.

With the Brazilian fading out and not proving to be the same danger in the second session, Air-India were able to come more into the game. But they were even more successful in also blunting the edge of JCT’s attacks with their robust tactics.

Luckily, the free kicks they conceded in the critical areas did not prove costly.

I League updates

Air India and Md Sporting drew their match 1-1 at the Barasat Stadium in Kolkata.