keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes.

Last December, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran found support from an unlikely quarter. With a week to go for the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships in Surat, an ill-prepared Sathiyan realized he was yet to pick a mixed doubles partner for the event. What followed was a last-minute pairing with West Bengals Ankita Das and a gold medal finish. Beyond the gilt-edged outcome, a sombre truth united the players -- both had lost their fathers the previous month.It was the first tournament either of us was playing since our fathers had died, Sathiyan told ESPN in a chat. We both knew exactly what the other was going through. After such a huge loss, any pressure, challenge or outcome seemed small to us. They became the first Indian pair to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships.On Monday, the 23-year-old from Chennai rewrote history books yet again by coming the youngest Indian and only the second after Achanta Sharath Kamal to win an International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) title - the Belgium Open. It was a giant leap for the 150-odd ranked player who has been training in Grunwettersbach, Germany, since September and turns out for third-division club TSG Kaiserslautern there. A pro tour title allows you to hope and dream big, he said. A spot in the top 50 is my aim for the next two years now.Sathiyans journey as a table tennis player hasnt been free from moments of self-doubt. Hailing from a conventional family background, a career in sport was considered fickle and frowned upon. Midway through my engineering course I realized that its not what I really wanted to, he said. Table tennis was the only thing that never failed to amaze me.A large share of the plaudits for Sathiyans success has gone to coach S Raman, a former Olympian under whom the player has trained in Chennai for over four years now. Sweet timing has been one of Sathiyans most special facets right from his early years, said Raman. If he adds more muscle power, his shots can be a lot more explosive.Aggressive play has been a recent addition to Sathiyans arsenal and has brought him success already. At the nationals in January, he beat his idol, Sharath Kamal, in the semi-finals.He has grown a lot more aggressive on both flanks, said Raman. Theres still some work that needs to be done though on his serve and physical fitness levels. Serve is the only component that is in your control as a player and one that can help you dictate overall play.Sathiyan will return to Germany for a fortnight in November and then again in March to wrap up the season. He said the European stint had added teeth to his game. Though he ruled out shifting his base to Europe, he hoped for a longer season there next year.Its tough to establish yourself in Europe as every team allows only one Asian, he said. Also to be by yourself in a different country... [it] is difficult to adapt. But thats the sacrifice you make to become a champion.Despite various challenges, Sathiyan managed to complete his engineering degree in 2014, one that possibly cost him a decent head start in the sport. This way, I figured, even if Im injured and my career is cut short, Id at least have the luxury of an option, he said with a laugh. Fake Vans Shoes . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Cheap Fake Vans . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. http://www.fakevans.com/ . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. Fake Vans Outlet . You can watch the game live on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Flyers had won seven of eight before dropping their last two outings on consecutive days over the weekend. Philadelphia was handed a 6-3 loss by the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Rangers the following night in New York City. Fake Vans Old Skool . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. BALTIMORE -- Ravens tight end Benjamin Watson has torn his right Achilles tendon and is likely lost for the season.The injury occurred on Baltimores first offensive play in a preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Saturday night.Watson appeared to trip while running a pattern and slumped to the turf. After he finally got up, he had to be helped off the field.Signed as a free agent in March, Watson was expected to be a key element in the Ravens passing game. He had 74 cattches for 825 yards and six touchdowns last season with New Orleans.ddddddddddddThe 35-year-old broke into the league in 2004 with New England and played with Cleveland from 2010 through 2012 before going to the Saints.He has 434 catches for 4,963 yards and 38 touchdowns in 163 games.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '