Ko roars into Tour Championship lead

MIAMI - World number one Lydia Ko fired a sensational course record 10-under-par 62 to power into a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the season-ending LPGA Tour Championship on Friday. The teenager from New Zealand blasted 11 birdies on her way to taming the 6,450-yard layout at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. It was an extraordinary performance from the 19-year-old, whose round might have been even better had it not been for a bogey on the par-three 12th. Ko needed only 22 putts to compile her round, which followed a first-round 70 on Thursday which saw her start the day at two under. Ko's majestic display left her sitting on 12 under, a 36-hole aggregate of 132, three shots clear of Ryann O'Toole and South Korea's Soyeon Ryu, both at nine under.–AFP

 

Mikkelsen hangs on despite clutch problems

COFFS HARBOUR - Clutch pedal problems threatened Andreas Mikkelsen's hopes of ending his Volkswagen career with a win in Rally Australia as his overnight lead was drastically reduced. The Norwegian kept French world champion Sebastien Ogier and New Zealand's Hayden Paddon at bay during a sweltering day. However, a mechanical problem in the final country speed test slashed his advantage to just two seconds over Ogier with one day remaining. His 12 second lead was almost erased when his Volkswagen Polo R's clutch pedal was bent and pushed down on the brake pedal. Mikkelsen drove more than half the 14.84km stage with the brakes on and conceded 9.2 seconds to Ogier. Failure to win this race means he will fall short in his efforts to overhaul Belgian Thierry Neuville for the runners-up position.–AFP

 

 

Mourinho criticises FA over handling Rooney

MANCHESTER - Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho issued thinly veiled criticism of England's Football Association over the Wayne Rooney drinking controversy, likening them to careless schoolchildren. Rooney, 31, apologised this week after being pictured looking the worse for wear as he mingled with guests during a late-night wedding party at the England team hotel last weekend. British press reports claim Mourinho was angry with the FA for not supervising Rooney more closely and he appeared to suggest the striker could have been looked after more carefully. "The only thing I say is that (when) the player goes to the national team, he belongs to the national team." Rooney's behaviour has prompted lively debate in British football circles and the matter is being investigated by the FA.–AFP

 

 

Shahsawars face Guard Group in Polo Cup final

LAHORE - Wi-Tribe Shahsawars will vie against Guard Group in the main final of the Treet Polo Cup 2016 while Rijas will take on Sukhchan in the subsidiary final today (Sunday) here at the Lahore Polo Club ground. The chief guest of the prestigious final will be former Punjab Governor Lt Gen (R) Khalid Maqbool while Treet Corporation CEO Syed Shahid Ali and Director Shaharyar Ali will be guests of honour. In his statement, LPC president Irfan Ali Hyder hoped that both the finals would be full of entertainment and thrill and amuse the spectators and polo enthusiasts to larger extent. “Now we have a good number of young polo players, who are not only giving tough time to the experienced ones but also excelling in different tournaments, being played here at the LPC.”–Staff Reporter

 

 

Sadique wins gold in rifle shooting

ISLAMABAD - Havaldar Sadique Umair of Army won gold medal in the rifle shooting competition of the First National Air-Gun Shooting Championship-2016, held at Gun and Country Club on Saturday. In the Rifle Shooting male event, Saidque of Army bagged gold medal with 796.3 score while shooters of Navy, Zeeshan Shakir and Ghufran Adil won silver and bronze medals, respectively with 790.4 and 761.6 scores. In the Rifle male team event, Navy got first position with 1,752 score, while Army and Pakistan Air Force obtained second and third positions respectively with 1,750 and 1,728 scores. The concluding ceremony will be held today at 3:00pm. Chairman CDA sand federal capital mayor, Sheikh Ansar Aziz will be the chief guest and will award certificates and medals to the teams and players.–Staff Reporter