Minority Report: Evans up for Open defence

DEFENCE POWER PLAY: Arlette Bomahou in action at the Powerlifting World Championships in Glasgow.

Lindie Naughton

BADMINTON: Irish No 1 Scott Evans will return to Dublin from his Danish base to defend the men's singles title at the Carlton 100th anniversary Irish Open starting in Baldoyle on Wednesday, December 4.

Last year, Evans became the first Irish winner of the men's title in 40 years beating French qualifier Lucas Corvee in a thrilling final.

Back to defend her women's title is Danish teenager Lina Kjaersfeldt. In last year's final, she beat home favourite and Irish No 1 Chloe Magee. Magee and brother Sam pair up for the mixed doubles and hope to do better than last year when, as No 2 seeds, they went out in the quarters.

A total of 300 players from 35 countries have signed up for this very special centenary event.

SNOOKER: After a couple of years away from the circuit, Celbridge's Martin McCrudden made a winning comeback at the RIBSA Irish Open in Carlow – the second round of Irish snooker's new look Premier Tour.

McCrudden stormed his way into the last 16 when he beat current Irish No 1 Rodney Goggins of the 147 Club in Wexford with breaks of 100 and 134 to take the match.

On the other side of the draw Robert Murphy defeated his Q Club Wicklow teammate Michael Judge 4-0 for a place in the final. He failed to reproduce that form in the decider, with McCrudden winning easily 4-0.

POWERLIFTING: As well as Danielle Hayes, who won the 80kg world title, there were a number of other impressive performances from a strong Irish team of 41 men and 13 women at the World Championships held in Glasgow earlier this month.

Dublin-based Arlette Bomahou, originally from France, won the 90kg weight class, when she squatted 102.5kg, "benched" 62.5kg and deadlifted 160kg.

Emer O'Driscoll from Co Meath took silver in the 58.5kg class, as did her training partner Siobhan Hynes in the 55.5kg.

VOLLEYBALL: Naas Cobras remain top of the women's premier division after beating the Ballymun Patriots 3-1 last week.

The team, which includes a number of former Irish junior international players, is definitely the one to beat this season. In other matches, DVC kept up their hopes of league victory alive by beating Galway 3-1.

Meanwhile, new Irish women's coach, Dutchman Wim Roosenburg, holds his first team trials this weekend.

SQUASH: A team of promising young Irish players came home from the Belgian Junior Open with four bronze medals. Among the stars of the trip were Sutton's David Ryan, Griffin Gillanders, Stephanie Ryan, Nikita Gilevsky, Conor Moran and Sam Buckley.