The Hindu : Sport : Rashid Khan closes the gap

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Rashid Khan closes the gap

Special Correspondent

Chikkarangappa was seven-under 209
Rahul Bakshi a distant third at 215

BANGALORE: Rashid Khan did the catching up to a nicety. The Delhi youngster, couple of years senior to leader S. Chikkarangappa, was trailing by six shot last night but played some flawless golf on a perfect day at the Eagleton Golf Resort.

At the end of the third and penultimate round of the LG Karnataka Open here Chikkarangappa was seven-under 209 while Rashid closed the lead and was just a stroke adrift.

Rashid, who claimed the LG Haryana Open last month carded a five-under 67 on this day while Chikka managed just a level-par score of 72. The two will battle it out for the title on the morrow while the rest of the field will fight it out for minor placings.

Distant third

The duo had left the rest of the field far behind as Rahul Bakshi who also submitted a level-par round was a distant third at 215. 17-year-old Chandigarh lad Abhijit Singh Chadha also fired a 5-under 67 to be placed fourth at 217 along with Bangalore’s Abhishek Jha and Delhi’s Kanishk Madan.

Another local lad who has improved by leaps and bounds Khalin Joshi was placed seventh at 218. Abhinav Lohan was sole eighth at 222.

Rashid, despite hitting only seven greens in regulation on his front nine, took the turn at two-under. Carrying on the good work he did not miss any of the greens in regulation on his return journey.

After a birdie on the par-5 13th, the Delhi lad upped his game and made consecutive birdies on the 16th and 17th and saved a great par on the 18th to be home and dry with a score that should give Chikka a restless night.

“I had planned to catch up with him and not really overtake him as six shots was a bit too much,” said Rashid. “I am looking forward to one more title but Chikka is also a good player. I need to play a steady game and I am aware that he is playing on his home course.”

Chikka on his part admitted: ``I was off colour…nothing went right for me since morning. I failed to get my putt going yet again and will have to do something out of the ordinary to stave of the challenge on the morrow”.

Top scores (after 54 holes): Chikkarangappa (68, 69, 72) 209; Rashid Khan (74, 69, 67) 210; Rahul Bakshi (71, 72, 72) 215; Abhijit Singh Chadha (75, 75, 67), Abhishek Jha (73, 72, 72), Kanishk Madan (70, 75, 72) 217; Khalin Joshi (74, 72, 72) 218; Abhinav Lohan (75, 71, 76) 222; L Selvadurai (76, 74, 73), HS Kang (76, 73, 74), Bhawani Singh (77, 72, 74) 223.

Mishal scores century

Darshan Mishal’s 103 helped South score 259 against East in a Hanumant Singh Trophy inter-zonal academy under-16 tournament match in progress here on Thursday.

The scores: South 259 in 138.3 overs.(Darshan Mishal 103, Shikar Hukku 28, Ravikanth Singh three for 41, Sourav Das three for 69) vs. East 49 for three in 41 overs.

Central 319 for eight decl. in 93 overs vs. West 222 for two in 91 overs (Aakarshit Gomel 89 n.o., Akhil Hirwadkar 62, Vijay Zol 38).

North 373 in 136.5 overs (Gaurav Kochar 112, Vinay Choudhury 57, Suchith five for 121) vs. President’s XI 146 for five in 50 overs (Jay Pandey 54 n.o., Nitin Basoya four for 34).

Bronze for Poncha

India’s Rehan Poncha bagged a bronze in the 400m individual medley event at the Singapore Open swimming championship on Wednesday, according to information reaching here. The Bangalore lad clocked 4:35.4s.

Poncha, who was pleased with his performance said: “I am happy with my performance and I am confident that I can do below 4:30s by the World Championships in Rome next month.”

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