Sports Shorts: Alonso takes second Le Mans 24 Hours win

Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday

Double Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso won the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race for the second year in a row on Sunday with Toyota team mates Kazuki Nakajima and Switzerland's Sebastien Buemi.

The number eight car crew, who took the lead with an hour to go, were also crowned world endurance champions with Nakajima driving the final stint and becoming the first Japanese to win the title.

Toyota's number seven TS050 hybrid car, crewed by Britain's Mike Conway, Japan's Kamui Kobayashi and Argentina's Jose Maria Lopez, led most of the way but suffered two late punctures and dropped to second in a one-two finish for the Japanese manufacturer.

Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne -- Alonso's former McLaren Formula One team mate -- finished third in his debut Le Mans with Russian team mates Vitaly Petrov and Mikhail Aleshin in the number 11 SMP Racing BR Engineering car.

India wallop Poland 5-0 in FIH Series Finals

Gurjit scored a brace to lead the Indian women's hockey team to a dominant 5-0 victory over Poland at the FIH Women's Series Finals Hiroshima 2019 in Hiroshima on Sunday.

Right from the outset, India were on the attack, their left side causing problems for Poland's defence with regularity. Poland enjoyed a lion's share of possession, but India caused more problems with their speed in attack. The best chance to open the scoring fell for India in the final seconds of the quarter.

India's high pressing strategy put Poland's defenders constantly under stress as they looked to play the ball out quickly, often inaccurately and turned over possession in crucial areas with regularity.

Put under pressure by Sunita Lakra, Poland faltered in playing out from the back, and the ball fell to Navjot Kaur on the left. Her cross was inch perfect, directed towards the far post, where Jyoti deflected it in, giving India a deserved lead.

India won a flurry of PCs in the final five minutes of the quarter. From one of them, Vandana Katariya pounced on a loose ball after Gurjit's dragflick had been saved by Gabara  to score India's second. From another, Gurjit slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, to give India a three goal lead as they went into halftime.

India won a stroke in the 35th minute, and Gurjit duly dispatched it to score her second and India's fourth of the game. It was with that lead the team went into the final break.

The final quarter was an ill-tempered affair, both teams reduced to ten at times, by players being carded. India held firm control over the game though, their regular circle penetrations enough to keep Poland in defensive mode.

India's fifth came via brilliant stick work from Navneet Kaur in the 56th minute. Navneet picked up the ball with her back to goal at the top of the Poland circle, turned away from her marker with ease and unleashed a shot into the bottom corner. Gabara got a hand to it, but the power of the shot was too much for her to save. It was the final bit of action as India got home comfortable 5-0 victors.

Jinson betters own record in 1500m in an event Europe

Asian Games gold medallist Jinson Johnson marginally bettered his own national record timing in 1500m while competing at the Next Generation Athletics Meet in the Netherlands.

Johnson clocked 3:37.62 to finish sixth in the event at the Dutch city of Nijmegen on Saturday to eclipse his earlier national record timing of 3:37.86, which he set during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Ajay Kumar Saroj also took part in the event, clocking 3:40.39.

P U Chitra won the women's event by clocking 4:13.52.

Dope testing is a pre-requisite for ratification of national records and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) will have to see this aspect while taking a decision.

The 28-year-old Johnson will compete in another event in Sweden on Tuesday.

Aditi shoots 65 in second round, but slips in third round on LPGA

Indian golfer Aditi Ashok slipped on the third day of the Meijer LPGA Classic with a two-over 74, shortly after playing out one of her best rounds on the LPGA Tour, in Grand Rapids, USA.

Aditi completed her second round on Saturday with an seven-under 65 that closed with an eagle on 18th. After 36 holes she was eight-under and tied-fifth.

She, however, dropped to T-38th as she managed only a 74 which had double bogey on 17th, after three birdies and three pars in first 10 holes.

Brooke Henderson birdied the final three holes for a three-under 69 and built a two-shot lead over Annie Park. Lexi Thompson is lying third three shots back after a 62, that matched the course record.

The 21-year-old Henderson, who has 64-64 in the first two rounds, added a 69 and is now 19-under 197 at Blythefield Country Club, while Annie Park, with 69 followed by 65-65, is 17-under and Lexi is 16-under. Brittany Altomare matched Thompson at 16 under with a 69.

The 2017 winner at Blythefield, Henderson successfully defended her Lotte Championship title in April in Hawaii for her eighth LPGA Tour victory, tying Sandra Post's Canadian record.

Fury downs Schwarz in second round TKO

British heavyweight Tyson Fury made quick work of German opponent Tom Schwarz with a dominant second round TKO on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Fury, who entered as the heavy favorite, controlled the bout with his jab in the first round before ending it with a devastating combination in the second. The 30-year-old Fury landed several shots on the nose of Schwarz to bloody him and send him to the ropes where he finally went down on one knee.

Schwarz returned to his feet but could not fend off the flurry of punches as his corner threw the towel at about the same time the referee stepped in to stop things.

It was an impressive statement from Fury (28-0-1) in his first bout since his controversial draw against Deontay Wilder in December.

Fury's performance came just weeks after a shocking heavyweight outcome with Andy Ruiz Jr. defeating Anthony Joshua in a title bout.

In his post-fight interview, Fury said he will fight again this year in late September/early October, before a rematch with Wilder in 2020.

Antuna hat trick helps Mexico to Cuba rout in Gold Cup opener

Uriel Antuna scored a hat-trick as Mexico got their Gold Cup campaign off to a dominant start with a 7-0 rout of Cuba in their opener at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.

The 21-year-old was a last-minute replacement for injured defender Jorge Sanchez in the Mexico squad for the tournament and the addition paid big dividends.

The LA Galaxy midfielder gave Mexico the perfect start in their quest for a seventh Gold Cup title when he scored in the second minute of the match, moments after Raul Jimenez had hit the post from close-range.

Antuna, who just made his international debut 10 days ago off the bench against Venezuela, gave his team a 4-0 advantage in the 44th minute, then capped his night with a final goal in the 80th minute.

Jimenez scored twice, while Diego Reyes and Ernesto Vega also tallied for El Tri.

Cheered on by a supportive crowd, Mexico showed no sign of letting down their fans down despite missing key figures like Hector Herrera, Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, Carlos Vela and Hirving Lozano from their squad.

It was a first competitive win for new manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino, who was hired back in January and had overseen three friendly wins against South American opposition.

Cuba, making their first Gold Cup appearance since 2015, have now lost to Mexico four times in as many meetings in the biennial championship of the North, Central American and Caribbean region.

Canada earlier thrashed Martinique 4-0 at the same stadium in Saturday's other Group A match.