Sports Shorts: India beat Ireland 4-1 to finish 5th in Azlan Shah Cup

A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Saturday

A resilient India defeated Ireland 4-1 to finish a disappointing fifth at the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia, on Saturday.

The win enabled India to avenge their 2-3 loss against the same opponents in the last round robin match on Friday.

For India Varun Kumar (5th, 32nd minutes) scored a brace, while Shilanand Lakra (28th) and Gurjant Singh (37th) found the bet once each.

Ireland's lone goal came from the stick of Julian Dale in the 48th minute.

India began strongly and earned back-to-back penalty corners in the fifth minute. Though the first attempt was saved, Varun sounded the board from the second chance to hand his side he lead.

India continued their attacking game in the second quarter and achieved success in the 28th minute when striker Shilanand beat Ireland goalkeeper Jamie Carr from close range after being fed by Nilam Sanjeep Xess's fierce pass from right side of the circle.

India continued in the same vein and won another penalty corner in the 32nd minute and Varun scored with a fierce dragflick past Carr to help India tale a comfortable 3-0 lead.

India's next goal came off Gurjant's stick in the 37th minute. It was brilliant play by Talwinder Singh, who received a good pass from Simranjeet Singh who laid it to Gurjant and the young striker from Punjab made no mistake in slotting the ball home.

Though India conceded a goal in the 48th minute, the team's defence remained resolute throughout the match restricting Ireland's number of circle entries.

India earned another penalty corner in the 50th minute and another one towards the dying minutes of the match, but they failed to make use of both the opportunities.

'Good day' leaves Woods two strokes off lead at Valspar

Tiger Woods moved into a tie for second place at the halfway point of the Valspar Championship in Florida on Friday and said his game was tracking nicely in time for the year's first major championship, the US Masters.

Woods, who underwent spinal fusion surgery last April, shot a three-under-par 68 that left him two strokes behind leader Corey Conners after the second round at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor.

PGA Tour rookie Conners only got into the event as an alternate but leads the way after carding a 69 for a six-under 136 total. The Canadian would have been further ahead but for a double-bogey on his 13th hole, where he three-putted from short range.

The tournament lost two of its biggest names with world number four Jordan Spieth (71) and four-times major champion Rory McIlroy (73) missing the cut, both bowing out at five-over 147.

For Woods, however, Friday was "a good day," despite the 42-year-old carding his lone bogey of the round at his final hole, the par-four ninth, where his six-foot par putt grazed the hole after his birdie chip had struck the flagstick.

This week, his fourth start of the year, is likely to be his penultimate event before the April 5-8 Masters at Augusta National, and Friday's round marked another encouraging outing by a player whose previous comeback attempts have been short-lived due to recurring back injuries.

"I keep getting a little bit better, here and there making little subtle tweaks and I've done that from tournament to tournament," the 14-times major champion told reporters.

"I'm finding the rhythm of the round, hitting shots, I don't have a problem posting scores. I'm able to play more feel golf."

Woods was joined on four-under 138 by fellow Americans Brandt Snedeker (68), Ryan Palmer (66) and Kelly Kraft (70) and Englishman Paul Casey (68).

IOC strengthens Paralympics partnership with new deal

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympics Committee (IPC) have signed a landmark long-term partnership deal until at least 2032, the governing bodies said on Saturday.

The new deal adds to the existing co-operation agreements that were signed before the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, with the IOC continuing to make it obligatory for Olympic hosts to also stage the Paralympics.

The two organisations will also work towards increasing visibility for the Paralympic Games along with the development and implementation the Olympic Agenda 2020, which dictates a strategy for the future of the Games.

"Enhancing the cooperation between the Olympic and Paralympic Movement was one of the key recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020," IOC President Thomas Bach said a day after the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games kicked off in PyeongChang.

"Therefore, the IOC is pleased to strengthen its substantial support to the IPC and the entire Paralympic Movement because we share so many of the same values and objectives."

The IOC will continue to provide financial stability for the IPC, benefiting Paralympic athletes and organisers for the next 14 years.

"Strengthening the relationship with the IOC and securing the future of the IPC and the Paralympic Movement was my number one priority when I was elected as IPC President last September," IPC President Andrew Parsons said.