World number one Rafael Nadal needed three sets to beat Bulgarian teenager Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 on Thursday and reach the quarter-finals of the World Indoor Tournament. Nadal broke the 17-year-old Dimitrov in the first game but allowed him back on terms before he took the set after another break in the 11th game. Dimitrov conquered the hearts of the 9,000 spectators as he won the second set but in the third Nadal proved too strong.
Former Dutch boxing champion Rudi Lubbers, who lost to Muhammad Ali on points in a 12-round heavyweight fight in Jakarta four and a half decades ago, is back on his feet again.
Here's a glimpse of all that happened around the world last month, in 10 images
Bulgaria's CSKA Sofia were given a record fine and ordered to host their next two premier league matches behind closed doors because of fan violence during their league match at Litex Lovech on Saturday.
Six Bulgarian medics returned home free, amidst tears and hugs, after eight years imprisonment in Libya.
Dimitar Berbatov would be prepared to leave Tottenham in January's transfer window if a big enough club made an offer, the Bulgarian striker's agent told media on Monday.
Dimitar Berbatov scored twice as Manchester United beat AaB Aalborg 3-0, while Arsenal crushed Porto 4-0 with a double strike from Robin Van Persie in Champions League matches.
Star Indian boxer Vijender Singh's fourth professional bout was on Tuesday rescheduled from February 13 to March 12.
The Indian GM beat Bulgaria's Sergei Zigalko in a blitz game to become the only Indian to enter the second round of the Chess World Cup.
Indian steel magnate Pramod Mittal was confirmed on Tuesday as Bulgarian premier league club CSKA Sofia's new owner.
The hosts had blanked Germany in their opening tie and became the first to seal a quarter-final spot with their second 3-0 win in the inaugural team event.
He leads the men's seedings ahead of defending champ Roger Federer, with Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov seeded third.
Chelsea also got their Champions League campaign off to a good start, beating Werder Bremen 2-0.
The Indian ace was held for the second successive day in the Morelia/Linares Super Grandmasters' chess tournament.
In a repeat of last year's final, Viswanathan Anand will take on Veselin Topalov in the Title match of the Magistral Ciudad de Leon Chess Tournament after the Bulgarian Grandmaster defeated Rustam Kasimdzhanov in the semi-finals in Leon, Spain.
Goals from Hossam Ghaly and Dimitar Berbatov earned Tottenham Hotspur a valuable 2-0 away victory over Besiktas on Thursday in their opening UEFA Cup Group B match.
Top seed Veselin Topalov's winning spree was halted by GM Sergei Movsesian of Slovakia in the World Chess Championship.
Sixth seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, eighth seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy and India's Sania Mirza moved into the second round of the $1.3 million Qatar Open on Monday.
Tottenham Hotspur to a 4-0 win at Fulham while Manchester City beat Preston 3-1 to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The Bulgarian teenager has been banned for two years for doping, the International Tennis Federation said.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup, credited with expanding foreign ministry's social media outreach and handling sensitive issues deftly, was on Thursday appointed India's High Commissioner to Canada.
Rafael Nadal continued his quest for a maiden Paris Masters title when he survived a second set blip to beat Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas
It turned out to be a field day for India's young pugilists as they punched their way to an unprecedented nine medals, including four gold, in the Golden Glove of Vojvodina -- an international boxing tournament being held in Kikinda, Serbia.
It's French Open time! The tennis world's only clay court Grand Slam begins on Sunday and the best of the best will battle it out.
Young shooting sensation Manu Bhaker became the second Indian after judoka Tababi Devi to win two medals at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) after winning a silver while the men's hockey team moved to the semi-finals with a 4-2 win over Poland, in Buenos Aires, on Friday.
As Real Madrid star striker Cristiano Ronaldo watched, the World No 4 Nadal went past Italian Bolelli to set up a quarter-final clash against 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov.
After some patchy form in the opening rounds Dimitrov hit top form to beat home hope Nick Kyrgios in the last 16, fuelling hopes of a first grand slam final appearance.
While Harikrishna is ranked 28th on 2673 points, Sasikiran is 30th on 2670 points.
P Harikrishna drew with Bulgarian GM Ivan Cheparinov to remain in joint lead after third round
The Indian ace has 4.5 points with six rounds remaining in the World chess championship. Vaselin Topalova, with seven points, leads the field.
Rustam Kasimdzhanov held Viswanathan Anand to a draw in the fourth round of the 22nd Linares Super Grandmasters Chess tournament.
Paris St Germain will play Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona were pitted against an unpredictable Napoli, while Chelsea were drawn against Bayern Munich. City, who will be at home in the second leg, have yet to beat the Spanish side with two draws and two defeats in their previous four meetings.
India had plenty to cheer about its ace Viswanathan Anand in 2005
Sam Stosur powered into the French Open quarter-finals with a 7-6(0), 6-3 win against Simona Halep in Paris on Tuesday, adapting better to damp and heavy conditions than her higher-ranked Romanian opponent.
He drew his 14th round game against Peter Svidler of Russia.
