Sports Shorts: Nelson secures win for Chennaiyin FC

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

Chennaiyin FC rode on Gregory Nelson's 83rd minute strike to post a 1-0 win over FC Pune City in an Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Chennai, on Saturday.

Also, the CFC defence held firm despite pressure mounted by the Pune team in the dying minutes. The team had missed crucial points in the last two home games against Kerala Blasters and Delhi Dynamos by conceding goals near the end.

The former ISL champion went to the top of the standings on 20 points with the win, their sixth of the season.

Chennaiyin FC continued their dominance of the Pune outfit, having never lost in their seven previous encounters, winning five and drawing two. They won the away encounter early in December (1-0).

The winning goal came courtesy a good move by the dynamic Raphael Augusto, who came in as a substitute in the second half.

The introduction of Augusto did the trick for the home side. His immaculate through pass found Nelson on the right.

The winger cut his man before firing his shot past the Pune 'keeper.

The second half too saw the two teams create chances but the marksmen were not able to find success and the goalkeepers rose to the challenge.

Bengaluru Blasters set up final date with Hyderabad Hunters

Bengaluru Blasters set up a potentially explosive championship match with Hyderabad Hunters after notching up a hard-fought victory over Ahmedabad Smash Masters in the second semifinal of the third Premier Badminton League in Hyderabad.

The Blasters' star player Viktor Axelsen and their Mixed Doubles' pair of Kim Sa Rang and Sikki Reddy won the last two matches of the contest to beat a valiant Ahmedabad Smash Masters 3-2 (4-3 on points).

The final will take place at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium on Sunday.

Earlier, Taiwan's Tai Tzu Ying came back from an error- prone defeat in the first game, to win her crucial Trump match and keep the Smash Masters alive in the tie.

The World No 1 beat a fighting Kristy Gilmour (Scotland) 2-1 in the Women's Singles, the third match of the contest, to give her side a 3-2 advantage on points.

The Blasters' World No 1 Viktor Axelsen, however, levelled the tie 3-3, getting the better of HS Prannoy in the second Men's Singles.

It proved to be an easy 15-11, 15-14 victory, even though he had to douse a rousing fight from Prannoy in the second game.

Kim Sa and Sikki beat Law Cheuk Him and Kamilla Rytter Juhl 15-12, 13-15, 15-9 to the delight of the Blasters' fans.

Earlier, India's Sourabh Verma set the ball rolling for the Smash Masters, overcoming Malaysia's Chong Wei Feng 2-1 for the first point. The World No 17 smashed his way to an easy 15-2 win the opening game.

UP Dangal clinch second win in Pro Wrestling League

Belarus' Vanesa Kaladzinskaya overcame Nigeria's Odunayo Folasade to guide UP Dangal to their second successive victory in the Pro Wrestling League here at the Siri Fort Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

Vanesa began slowly, allowing Odunayo of Mumbai Maharathi to steal the early initiative. She, however, came into her own as the bout progressed and eventually won 7-5 in the 57 kg competition.

At one stage, she was on the brink of defeat but she held on to her nerve to give her side an unassailable 4-2 lead in the tie.

Asian Champion Abdurakhmonov Bekzod set up the victory, after the two were tied 2-2, scripting a crucial victory over India's Veer Dev in 74 kg event to put UP in the driving seat after the fifth bout.

The Uzbek wrestler made a meal out of his opponent, injuring him smartly and completing the rout 12-0 with over three minutes left in the bout.

In the inconsequential seventh bout, Rio Olympic gold medalist Soslan Romonov beat Bajrang Punia to register his side's third point but lost 3-4 on the night.