Sports Highlights at 1700 Hours

Following are the top/expected stories at 1700 hours:

EXPECTED STORIES: *Report of Russia Open badminton tournament.

*A lead report of Indonesia Open badminton.

STORIES ON THE WIRE: SPO-NEEESHAM-COACH

When Neesham hit six in WC Super Over, his formative coach breathed his last Auckland, Jul 18 (PTI) When New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham was trying to get his team over the line in the Super Over of the World Cup final against England, his high school teacher and formative coach David Gordon breathed his last back home.

SPO-IND-SELECTION

Selection for West Indies: Focus on Dhoni's future, Kohli's availability Mumbai, Jul 18 (PTI) Skipper Virat Kohli's availability and veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni's future will be in focus when the MSK Prasad-led national selection panel meets here on Friday to pick the Indian cricket squads for next month's tour of the West Indies.

SPO-WOM-IND-HIRWANI

Hirwani to work with Indian women's team as spin consultant New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) Former India international and National Cricket Academy (NCA) spin coach Narendra Hirwani is set to work as a consultant with the country's women's team.

SPO-ATH-USHA

PT Usha nominated for IAAF's Veteran Pin New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) India's track and field legend PT Usha has been nominated for the International Association of Athletics Federation's (IAAF) 'Veteran Pin' for her outstanding service to the sport.

SPO-WC-BOULT

Will take dog for walk by beach: Boult on coping with WC heartbreak Auckland, Jul 18 (PTI) New Zealand pacer Trent Boult's plans of getting over the gut-wrenching World Cup loss to England include walking his dog along the beach but he concedes that losing the trophy on boundary-count will be hard to swallow for at least a couple of years.

SPO-CHAPPELL-CANCER

Ian Chappell reveals battle with skin cancer Melbourne, Jul 18 (PTI) Former Australian captain Ian Chappell Thursday revealed he is battling skin cancer but the 75-year-old expects to be fit enough to commentate when the Ashes comes calling next month.

SPO-HOCK-MANPREET

Next three months critical for us: Manpreet Bengaluru, Jul 18 (PTI) Men's captain Manpreet Singh Thursday said the next three months will be crucial for Indian hockey ahead of the final round of Tokyo Olympic Qualifiers in November.

SPO-BCCI-SELECTORS

Rule Change: Chairman of selectors not secy to convene selection committee meeting New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) Chairman of selectors will replace BCCI's general secretary as the convener of selection meetings, the Committee of Administrators (CoA) directed on Thursday, continuing the reforms mandated by the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Panel.

SPO-ATP-IND

Ramkumar exits from Hall of Fame Open Newport (US), July 18 (PTI) Ramkumar Ramanathan made a second round exit from the ATP Hall of Fame Open following a straight set defeat against Ugo Humbert, a result which will severely impact his singles ranking.

SPO-SUNRISERS-COACH

Bayliss replaces Moody as Sunrisers head coach New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) England's World Cup-winning coach Trevor Bayliss Thursday replaced Australian Tom Moody as the head coach of IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad.

SPO-SHOOT-HEENA

India must put up united front: Heena on shooting's exclusion from 2022 CWG New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) Pistol ace Heena Sidhu Thursday said India is a "big" enough nation to put up a "united front" against the 2022 Commonwealth Games organisers' move to exclude shooting from its roster.

SPO-BAD-IND

Sindhu battles past Blichfeldt to enter Indonesia Open quarters Jakarta, Jul 18 (PTI) Top Indian shuttler P V Sindhu had to dig deep into her reservoir of experience to beat unseeded Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark and claim a quarterfinal berth in the women's singles event of the Indonesia Open here Thursday.