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The following are PTI's top/expected sports stories at 9:00 pm:

STORIES IN THE PIPELINE *Stories related to India's World Test Championship opener against West Indies.

*Report of Pro Kabaddi League.

STORIES ON THE WIRE:

SPO-IND-PREVIEW World Test C'Ship: Kohli's India gear up for red ball challenge on tricky track

North Sound (Antigua), Aug 21 (PTI) A perfect combination and a winning start will be foremost on skipper Virat Kohli's mind when India take on West Indies in their inaugural World Test Championship opener here on Thursday.

SPO-HOCK-IND-WOM Indian women hockey team beat Japan 2-1 to win Olympic Test event

Tokyo (Japan), Aug 21 (PTI) The Indian women hockey team won the Olympic Test event with Navjot Kaur and Lalremsiami leading the side to a 2-1 win over Japan in the final, here on Wednesday.

SPO-BAD-IND Sindhu makes positive start at World Championships

Basel (Switzerland), Aug 21 (PTI) Two-time silver medallist P V Sindhu produced a commanding performance in her opening match at the BWF World Championships here on Wednesday.

SPO-ATP-IND Prajnesh goes down to top seed Benoit Paire; ousted from Winston Salem Open

North Carolina, Aug 21 (PTI) A profligate Prajnesh Gunneswaran went down to world No.30 Benoit Paire in the second round to crash out of the Winston Salem Open ATP 250 tournament here.

SPO-HOCK-LD IND Indian men's hockey team hammers NZ 5-0 to win Olympic Test Event

Tokyo, Aug 21 (PTI) The Indian men's hockey team won the Olympic Test event here on Wednesday, beating New Zealand 5-0 to avenge the loss it endured in their round robin clash.

SPO-DURAND-EB Gokulam Kerala knockout East Bengal to enter Durand Cup final

Kolkata, Aug 21 (PTI) East Bengal's bid for a 17th title in their centenary year ended in a heartbreak with Gokulam Kerala producing a stunning 3-2 win on penalties to seal their place in the final of the 129th Durand Cup here on Wednesday.

SPO-FOOT-BABYLEAGUE AIFF eyes football renaissance with 'Baby Leagues'

By Philem Dipak Singh New Delhi, Aug 21 (PTI) From the Kashmir Valley to the north eastern corner of Lunglei, 'Baby Leagues' are mushrooming all across India with the national football federation's backing to catch them as young as six and lay the foundation for a "better future" for the sport.

SPO-OPEN-IND

Nagal moves to second round of US Open Qualifying event New York, Aug 21 (PTI) Young Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal earned his first win at a Grand Slam qualifying event, knocking out seasoned Japanese Tatsum Ito in straight sets at the US Open qualifiers, here.

SPO-BCCI-RIGHTS

BCCI awards title sponsorship rights to Paytm for five more years New Delhi, Aug 21 (PTI) One 97 Communications Pvt. Ltd, owners of Paytm, on Wednesday retained the sponsorship rights for BCCI's International and domestic matches with a winning bid of Rs 3.80 crore per match.

SPO-SEHWAG

Kumble should be chairman of selectors but BCCI needs to raise pay: Sehwag New Delhi, Aug 21 (PTI) Former skipper Anil Kumble's ability to boost confidence of the players makes him an ideal candidate for the role of chairman of selectors, said Virender Sehwag, who also advocated a hike in remuneration for the job.

SPO-BOX-MARY

BFI should consider doing away with selection trials for performers: Mary Kom New Delhi, Aug 21 (PTI) Celebrated Indian boxer M C Mary Kom on Wednesday said proven performers should not be made to undergo selection trials and asserted that she did no wrong by seeking an exemption from the ones for the world championships.

SPO-MISBAH

Misbah undecided on applying for Pakistan head coach role Karachi, Aug 21 (PTI) Pakistan's most successful Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq on Wednesday confirmed that he has not yet applied for the position of head coach with the national team.

SPO-IND-SUPPORT

16 interviewed for physio job, 12 for strength and conditioning coach Mumbai, Aug 21 (PTI) The process to pick the support staff of the Indian cricket team continued on Wednesday when the selection committee interviewed 16 aspirants eyeing the physio's job and 12 for the position of strength and conditioning coach.

SPO-KALLICHARAN

Kallicharan to be mentor of Puducherry team Chennai, Aug 21 (PTI) Legendary West Indies cricketer Alvin Kallicharan will be the mentor of the Puducherry team for the upcoming domestic season while out-of-favour India bowler R Vinay Kumar will be part of the squad as a guest player.