MUMBAI: Top seeds Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi moved into the semi-finals of the $2.5 million Indiana Wells Super 9 tennis tournament, according to information reaching here.

The Indians defeated P Galbraith and Paul Haarhuis 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 and will play E Ferreira and R Leach on Saturday. Paes lost in the first round of the qualifiers 3-6, 2-6 to Sebastien Lareau.

Sridhar scores coimbatore: National Games champion Vinod Sridhar won the third and final leg of Gold Flake Aces Tour tennis championship today. The 19-year-old eliminated Saurav Panja (WB) 6-4, 6-4 in over an hour. Sridhar received Rs 26,000 and 30 AITA points, and his tally of 64 earned him a wild card for the qualifying draw of the Chennai ATP Gold Flake Open, subject to the approval of the ATP Tour committee.

Panja won the doubles with Sandeep Kirtane.

Coach killed

NAGPUR: National volleyball coach, B S Gavallikar, died here Friday when a truck collided with the motorcycle he was riding,near Khairi village on Nagpur-Kamptee road.

The 52-year-old NIS coach, a professional coach with a Kamptee company, died on the spot, police said.

Punjab champs

CHANDIGARH: Punjab dethroned defending champions and arch rivals Kerala in the National Women Handall Championship final here today. Punjab, who were beaten by Kerala in the last Nationals at Lucknow, prevailed by a narrow 30-28 margin after leading 14-12 at half time.

Maharashtra beat Delhi by 30-28 to take the third spot.

ENS & Agencies