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World No. 6 Marin Cilic of Croatia will be the top seed in the 2017 Chennai Open with organisers confirming that four-time champion Stan Wawrinka will, as expected, not defend the title he won this year. Cilic won the title at Indias longest running and most prestigious ATP tournament, in 2009 and 2010.Cilic, the 2014 US Open winner, is in some of the best form of his life, having won titles in Basel and Cincinnati to finish the season at a career-high No. 6. The Croat leads a lineup that includes World No. 14 Roberto Bautista Agut (Spain), No. 27 Albert Ramos-Vinolas (Spain), No. 35 Martin Klizan (Slovakia) and No. 48 Borna Coric (Croatia), adding to the star value of the ATP 250 event, scheduled for January 2-8, at the SDAT Tennis Stadium in Nungambakkam.Former top-10 players Tommy Robredo (Spain) and Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) also return to India, the former after 12 years and the latter after two years, threatening to give the top seeds a run for their money.Robredo, who had gone as high as World No. 5 in 2006, is a player of high pedigree, having won 10 ATP singles and starring in Spains Davis Cup conquests thrice. The first and only time he played in Chennai in 2004, he teamed up with Rafael Nadal to win the doubles title. He is currently No. 57 and, even at 34, cannot be trifled with.Youzhny is a familiar and popular star in Chennai, having won the 2008 title after beating Nadal in straight sets. He pulled out in the second round with an injury during his last stint in Chennai but has been showing glimpses of his much feared all-round game in recent months. He also holds the distinction of making it to the quarterfinals in all Grand Slams, along with the Big Four of Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Nadal.Frenchman Benoit Paire, ATPs most improved player of 2015, will be another star who can cause a ripple in Chennai.This is an impressive lineup, Tom Annear, Chennai Opens tournament director, said. Tennis fans in India can expect high quality tennis this year, he added.Indias campaign will be charged by local hero and wild card entry Ramkumar Ramanathan, who also has a training base in Barcelona. The 22-year-old rose to prominence in 2014 when he toppled Somdev Devvarman in the opening round in Chennai. He has been a national champion and has been part of Indias Davis Cup team as well and is currently No. 2 in AITAs rankings.We have great faith in Ram, TNTA president MA Alagappan said. We believe he will go a long way in world tennis. Moreover, Indias fans love him and will give him all the support that he needs.Moldovas Radu Albot, who has become a bit of a star in his country with his tennis exploits, is one of the upcoming players to look out for. The World No. 97 from the tiny Eastern European country has created a series of records, winning his countrys first ATP Challenger, first doubles title and even the first ATP World Tour event. Cheap Nike Shoes From China . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night. Cheap Nike Air Max Shoes Wholesale . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. http://www.cheapairmaxstore.com/ . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Cheap Air Max Shoes . Cote was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 15. Cote helped running back Jon Cornish run for a league-high 1,813 rushing yards en route to being named the leagues most outstanding player. Cheap Air Max For Sale . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya smiled as he crossed the finish line and later directed cheering fans from the podium. The one color of Olympic medal he lacked in his illustrious career finally is his.Kipchoge grabbed the lead in the marathon Sunday around the 21-mile (35 kilometer) mark and finished off his first Olympic victory in this event in a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 44 seconds.Ive won my Olympic gold medal, Kipchoge said. It was the Olympic gold medal thats not (around) my neck.Kipchoges golden moment came was overshadowed by the silver medalist, Feyisa Lilesa, taking his opportunity to support protests back in his native Ethiopia. He crossed his wrists at the finish line, during the gift ceremony and again during the news conference in the symbol for the anti-government protests in EthiopiaThe nation has been marred by violence in recent weeks as government security forces have killed dozens of people amid protests over the nations decision to take over lands in the Oromia region. Protesters are calling for more freedom and an end of government brutality.Having relatives in prison meant Lilesa could not stay quiet on the Olympic stage, no matter the consequences.If I go back to Ethiopia, maybe they will kill me, Lilesa said. If not kill me, they will put me in prison. I have not decided yet, but maybe I will move to another country.American Galen Rupp, running only his second marathon, added bronze to the silver he won in the 10,000 meters in London.Meb Keflezighi of the U.S. did some push-ups at the finish line after slipping, having a little fun to celebrate his final Olympic marathon. He finished fourth.It wasnt like over excessive celebration, Keflezighi said. Theres nothing to celebrate about.dddddddddddd. Im happy to finish my fourth Olympic games here, and Im OK with it.For Kipchoge, this is the victory that he missed in 2008 at the Beijing Games when he finished second and also in the 2004 Athens Games where he took bronze.The elusive gold medal came with a field of 155 runners -- the largest ever in an Olympic marathon -- starting in the rain from the Sambodromo stadium. The wet conditions meant spectators on the course were sparse in spots and caused several runners to re-tie shoelaces.At the 9-mile (15 kilometer) mark, 58 runners were within 10 seconds of the lead. Then runners started breaking away with Kipchoge, Rupp and Lilesa turned the marathon into a three-man race. Kipchoge later took charge with a kick that allowed him to finish 70 seconds ahead of Lilesa.Rupp finished in 2:10:05 -- 11 seconds behind Lilesa -- for a bronze that is the first American medal in this event since Keflezighi won silver in 2004. This also was the 32nd medal for the U.S. in track and field at the Rio Olympics.Rupp said the marathon is a special event that he didnt really understand until this year. His first was at the Olympic trials in Los Angeles.I definitely fought it a while, Rupp said. I was still stubborn, wanted to be a track runner and thought I could do both. I was just happy I was able to close it out the way I did.Yonas Kinde finished 90th in the marathon as a member of the refugee team. He fled Ethiopia fearing for his safety and now lives in Luxembourg.---Online:AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org/ ' ' '