Current Affairs

Anirban Lahiri wins Venetian Macau Open

27 year old Anirban Lahiri won the Venetian MacauOpen, making it his second title of 2014 and fifth career win on the Asian Tour. He edged out 2013 winner Australian Scott Hend and Thai Prom Meesawat by one stroke.

Lahiri began the game with a ranking of 90, and has now moved up to 72. Lahiri’s goal in 2014 has been to land in the top 50 in the World Rankings.

Other Indians participating landed the following ranks – Shiv Kapur was 8th with 274, while Jyoti Randhawa was tied 15th with 278, Jeev Milkha Singh was tied 26th with 285 and S.S.P. Chowrasia was tied 32nd with 286.

The only player who has won the Macau tournament twice is China’s Zhang Lian-wei. India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar has also previously won the Macau Open.

About Venetian Macau Open

The Macau Open is one of the tournaments on the Asian Tour. It is organised by Macau Sport Development Board of Macau Government Golf Association of Macau.

The tournament was inaugurated in 1998, and is holding its sixteenth edition this year. This year, the total prize money pool has been increased to US $900,000.

The competition a four-day, stroke play competition format involving 144 players. The event is held at the MAcau Golf and Country Club at Estrada de Hac Sa Coloane.  Since the Venetian Macau Resort Hotel became the title sponsor in 2012, the tournament is being called the Venetia Macau Open.

Serena Williams wins WTA Finals Singles Trophy

USA’s Serena Williams defeated Romania’s Simona Halep to clinch the BNP Paribas WTA FinalsSingapore Singles title. Williams’ won the US $2.05 mn prize money, along with the Billie Jean King Trophy. This match also saw the return of Williams after she had to drop out of the Beijing Open due to a knee injury.

This win marked Williams’ third consecutive title at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals in Singapore. This is the first time that such a feat has been accomplished by a played since Monica Seles in 1990-92.  Williams also won the Billie Jean King Trophy in 2001, 2009, 2012 and 2013.

Williams’ is already set to finish the year with a No. 1 ranking.

Sania Mirza and Cara Black win Doubles trophy of the WTA Finals

Zimbabwean national Cara Black and Indian Sania Mirza won the BNP Paribas WTA Finals SingaporeDoubles title. They defeated the defending champions Peng Shuai and Hsieh Su-wei.

With the doubles title, Black and Mirza won the Martina Navratilova Trophy and US $5,00,000. Peng Shuai and Hsieh Su-wei were awarded a cash prize of US $ 2,50,000.

Notably, the Black and Mirza pair are set to split up after this match. Mirza will team up with Hsieh Su-wei for the next season.