Sports

By IANS New Delhi : Indian hockey chief K.P.S. Gill is not optimistic about the national team's chances in the Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament, starting in Malaysia Saturday. "It is a young team and I think we may not finish among the top three this time in the Azlan Shah," said Gill here Friday. After a series of failure last year, the Indian team - led by new captain Prabodh Tirkey and under new coach Joaquim Carvalho - will be hoping for a turnaround when they start their Azlan Shah campaign with their opening match against Australia, at Ipoh, Malaysia, Saturday.

By Xinhua London : Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United was named footballer of the Year Friday for an unprecedented sweep of England's three major individual soccer honours this season. The Portugal winger finished ahead of Didier Drogba of Chelsea and teammates Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes in the 60th vote organised by the Football Writers' Association (FWA). "I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to win such an important award, it is a real honour," Ronaldo said.

By IANS New Delhi : Indian hockey team needs a sports psychologist who can help the players cope with the mental stress to enhance their on-field performance, said ace Indian goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza here Friday. "In the last few tournaments, if one can notice, even while we take an early lead we fail to hang on to the advantage and soon let in few goals. The real reason is that after we take a lead we tend to relax a bit and give our opponents a chance to pounce on us," said the 22-year-old D'Souza from Mumbai.

By IANS New Delhi : Officials are becoming desperate to revive Indian hockey. The latest attempt is six-a-side schools' tournament - the maiden tile of which was won by Amity International School of Noida here Friday. First came the essentially made-for-television Premier Hockey League (PHL), with four seven-and-half-minute halves accompanied by all the razzmatazz - and now the six-a-side matches with two 10-minute halves. However, students, many of who would have played this version for the first time, had fun playing the short and brisk 20-minute matches.

By IANS Kolkata : A yoga session coupled with a regular fitness regime and extensive net practice marked the day Friday for the Indian team at a conditioning camp here ahead of the Bangladesh tour. Yoga guru Sukhdev Kumar, who flew in from Singapore Wednesday evening, worked extensively with the cricketers. But the focus was mainly on stretching and other fitness regimes. The players did sit for a meditation session in batches, but that was for 15 minutes.

By Xinhua London : Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko will need surgery on his groin at the end of the season, the English Premier League champions said on their official web site. The club Thursday said they were hopeful the Ukraine national would be available for their remaining four matches. Chelsea play Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton in the league, and face another meeting with United in the FA Cup final at the new Wembley May 19. Shevchenko's groin injury forced him to miss Tuesday's Champions League semi-final defeat at Liverpool.

By Xinhua Rio de Janeiro : Juan Manuel Martinez completed his hat-trick in 13 minutes, pacing Colombian champions Cucuta of Mexico to a 5-1 win over Toluca in their football's Libertadores Cup third round first leg tie. In the other matches, Paraguayan champions Libertad came from behind to beat Brazil's Parana 2-1 away while Nacional of Uruguay beat Mexico's Necaxa 3-2 in Montevideo. Cucuta had a bad start Thursday when Vicente Sanchez put Toluca ahead only 25 seconds, scoring a pass from Antonio Naelson.

By DPA Athens : About 20,000 officers have been deployed from Athens and other Greek cities to prevent violence during the Euroleague final four basketball tournament. Police squads from across the country have been divided into three operational centres and three security zones around Athens city centre ahead of this weekend's final, which ends Monday, and the Champions League match at the Olympic stadium May 23. The operational centres have been set up inside the Olympic Indoor Sports Hall that will host the game and police headquarters, as was the case with the 2004 Olympics.

By Xinhua Madrid : English soccer mid-fielder David Beckham will be able to play with his Real Madrid team against Sevilla Sunday after his yellow card was annulled. The Spanish League's Appeals Committee decided Thursday to annul the yellow card Beckham received in the game they won 4-1 against Athletic de Bilbao almost a week ago.

By Xinhua Madrid : Barcelona midfielder Anderson Luis de Souza "Deco" has been ruled out for two weeks after he sprained his left ankle during a training session here. The Brazilian soccer star left the training session Thursday after being kicked by team-mate Ludovic Giuly during the training session. The club's medical staff confirmed that Deco sprained his left ankle after subjecting him to medical examinations at Sant Cugat del Valles' Asepeyo clinic. They added that he would need at least 15 days to recover.

By DPA Sydney : The Australian government will support cricket authorities in case they have to pay a fine if the September cricket tour to Zimbabwe is cancelled in protest over human rights violations by the government of President Robert Mugabe. Prime Minister John Howard said Friday that Australian cricketing authorities were liable to a fine of $1.6 million from the International Cricket Council if it pulled out.

By DPA Seville (Spain) : Defending champions Sevilla will face Espanyol in the first ever all-Spanish UEFA Cup final in Glasgow May 16 after both sides celebrated victories in their respective semi-final matches. Espanyol headed into their match Thursday against Werder Bremen, holding a 3-0 lead from the first leg and secured a 2-1 win thanks to second-half goals from Coro and Jesus Maria Lacruz. Sevilla faced a slightly tougher task as they trailed fellow Primera Liga side Osasuna 1-0.

By IANS Kathmandu : As the first reports of the conquest of the world's tallest and most magnetic mountain start pouring in this summer, there is a sad dearth of Indian heroes at the top, with sponsors favouring cricket over all other sports. While India, which boasts of a population of over one billion, holds the record for having sent a large number of climbers atop Mt Everest, second only to the US, there are no Indian expeditions to the 8,848-metres peak this time, barring a 20-member Indian Army team.

By Sri Krishna IANS New Delhi : It was a meeting that International Football Federation (FIFA) President Sepp Blatter would long remember. For 45 minutes, President A P J Kalam held forth on the sport quoting profusely from a book by French soccer star Michel Platini and his "own dream" of popularizing the sport in India's 600,000 villages.

By DPA Seville (Spain) : A 2-0 defeat of defensive Osasuna put defending champions Sevilla back into the UEFA Cup final. Goals from Brazilians Luis Fabiano and Renato were enough for Sevilla against their over-cautious opponents, in this one-sided all-Spanish semi-final Thursday. Sevilla go into their second successive UEFA final - this time against compatriots Espanyol - on a 2-1 aggregate, having lost 1-0 in Pamplona last Thursday.

By IANS Kolkata : Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar Thursday resumed practise at the Eden Gardens here a day after he injured his right ankle during a Team India conditioning camp ahead of the Bangladesh tour. Tendulkar batted for around 15 minutes at the indoor facility of the Eden Gardens in the second session of the five-day camp. According to officials, he used a heavy bat instead of a light bat which he was using following a surgery for tennis elbow injury last year. The entire team practised indoors due to rain Thursday.

By IANS Mumbai : Each Indian cricketer going to Bangladesh for the upcoming series would receive a uniform retainer of Rs.500,000, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said here Thursday. A top BCCI said that apart from this fee, the players would also receive match fees and bonus, if they win the series. The fees for Test matches would be approximately Rs.250,000 and Rs.150,000 for one-day internationals (ODIs).

By IANS Mumbai : Gaganjeet Bhullar and Vijay Kumar carded identical six-under-par 64 to snatch early lead in the first Rs.7 million Crompton Greaves Open golf tournament here Thursday. Mukesh Kumar was placed next with five-under 65, followed by Yusuf Ali with four-under 66 at the par-70 Bombay Presidency Golf Club. Shiv Kapur, one of top contenders this week, fought off his backache bravely and carded a two-over-par 72. Bhullar started magnificently with four consecutive birdies on the first four holes - the par-five first, second, third and par-five fourth holes.

By IANS Mumbai : For the first time, the Olympic torch will come to Mumbai April 17 next year on its relay route for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. This was announced by the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) in the presence of the International Olympic Committee in Beijing. Traditionally, the Olympic Torch has gone to capital city New Delhi.

By DPA London : Manchester United bowed out of the Champions League football with their manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, admitting they had been outplayed by AC Milan in every department. Goals from Kaka, Clarence Seedorf and Alberto Gilardino gave Milan a 3-0 win Wednesday night for a 5-3 aggregate victory and a place in the final against Liverpool, a repeat of the 2005 final, won by the English side on penalties. "We gave the goals away very cheaply and at that level you can't do that," Ferguson said.

By DPA Milan : AC Milan produced a stunning performance to beat Manchester United 3-0 in the second leg of their Champions League football semi-final to set up a repeat of the 2005 final against Liverpool. Kaka, the outstanding player of Wednesday night, Clarence Seedorf and Alberto Gilardino scored the goals as Milan overturned their 3-2 deficit from the first leg to advance 5-3 on aggregate. "In the first half, we played perfect football," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

By IANS Mumbai : Wedding bells sounded for India's promising wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Kaarthick as he tied the knot with city girl Nikita Vanjara here Wednesday. The marriage took place in the morning at a suburban hotel in the presence of close relatives and friends. Dinesh's co-players couldn't attend the marriage ceremony as they are currently taking part in the conditioning camp being held in Kolkata for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh. The 21-year-old Chennai-based cricketer is also a part of the Indian team and would join the camp on its concluding day Sunday.

By IANS Kolkata : The five-day conditioning camp of Team India to warm up for the Bangladesh tour began on an unwelcome note here Wednesday with Sachin Tendulkar injuring his right ankle and V.V.S Laxman not turning up due to gastroenteritis. Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar sustained injury in his right ankle during practice session at the Eden Gardens. He got hurt while trying to negotiate a delivery from pacer S. Sreesanth. The injury might not be too serious but Tendulkar was seen limping back to the dressing room for medical assistance at around 4 p.m.

By IANS, Kolkata : India's tennis sensation Sania Mirza halted traffic in the heart of Kolkata Wednesday during the launch of an out-of-home brand campaign of a soft drink. Around 12.30 p.m., the star unveiled a giant hoarding of Sprite, the drink brand of Coca Cola, in the happening Park Street-Rawdon Street crossing in central Kolkata as thousands cheered her. Sania smiled and waved at the crowds.

By IANS, New Delhi : Dipika Pallikal has became the second Indian after national champion Joshna Chinappa to break into the top 100 to a career high of 91st in the latest women's world squash rankings. Dipika, who is currently training under Egyptian coach Mohamed Essam Saleh, has 224 points and climbed 43 places. Joshna, who was first female Indian player to break into top 100, slid two places to 41st with 1478 points.

By IANS, Mumbai : Professional golfer A.S. Lehal teamed up with Ravi Sanghrajka, Shashank Sandhu and Dilip Goenka to win the Pro-Am competition of the Rs.7 million Crompton Greaves Open at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club here Wednesday. "We had an enjoyable round of golf and my partners played really well," said Lehal. "I hope to take this form into the rest of the week and card a good finish this week," he added. Lehal and his teammates Sanghrajka, Sandhu and Goenka finished with a total of 55.8 points to win the title.

By IANS, Kolkata : Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar sustained injury in his right ankle during a practice session Wednesday at Eden Gardens. Sources within the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) said that Tendulkar got hurt while trying to negotiate a delivery from pacer S. Sreesanth. The injury might not be too serious but Tendulkar was seen limping back to the dressing room for medical assistance at around 4 p.m., the sources said.

By IANS, Karachi : Having been left out of the upcoming one day series against Sri Lanka, Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar expects to return to the international cricket in September for the home series against South Africa. "I'll be back by September. I am bowling already and have been training at the academy. I am doing everything as per normal. I am not unfit but just need more time to toughen up and can't wait to get back," The News quoted Akhtar as saying Wednesday.

By Xinhua Rome : AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini will have to sit out the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Manchester United Wednesday due to a left knee injury. "Maldini will remain in the team's training camp even though he's not available for tomorrow's game," coach Carlo Ancelotti told a Milan Channel late Tuesday. Maldini worsened a knee problem in the first leg last week, which United won 3-2.

By DPA Madrid : There are high hopes in Spain for an all-Spanish UEFA Cup final, unless history repeats itself for Espanyol Barcelona. Seven years ago there was an all-Spanish Champions League final between Real Madrid and Valencia, but never before have two Spanish teams faced each other in the UEFA Cup final. There will be at least one Spanish side in the Glasgow final May 16, since title holders Sevilla and Osasuna are the teams in one of the semi-finals. Osasuna beat holders Sevilla 1-0 in the first leg in Pamplona last week, with the return match set for Thursday.

By DPA, Liverpool : Goalkeeper Pepe Reyna was the Liverpool hero as he saved two Chelsea penalties to take his side into the final of the Champions League. Liverpool won the return leg of the semi-final clash 1-0 in Liverpool after extra time Tuesday night, but then had Reyna save two penalties in the shootout to see his side go through 4-1 on penalties after the aggregate score ended 1-1.

By IANS, Kolkata : Five members of a football team were arrested Tuesday for the death of a teenager who they had allegedly hit on the head with a wicket after a row over sharing the same playing area at the Maidan here. "We have made five arrests so far. All of them (members of the soccer group) were arrested from Kolkata this morning," Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ajay Kumar told IANS.

By IANS, New Delhi : Abysmal performance in the World Cup resulted in India slipping to the ninth spot below Bangladesh in the latest Maruti Suzuki cricket ratings for one-dayers, where World Champions Australia still remain at No.1. Australia lead the chart with 98 points and are closely followed by South Africa at the second place with 92 points. Sri Lanka, runners up in the World Cup, are third with 82 points.

By Krishna Prasad, Indo-Asian News Service, Bangalore : Two days after Adam Gilchrist's slaughter of the lambs in the World Cup final, cricket's fans and fanatics are still coming to terms with the onslaught that fetched 149 off just 103 balls and took the truncated game away from the Lankans even before they began their reply. But, how legal was the wicket keeper's innings? And, as a direct corollary, therefore, how authentic was Australia's 'Cup triumph'? Bloggers especially churmuri.com have raised this pertinent question.

By IANS, Patiala : Fresh after a training camp in South Africa, a host of top national athletes will be in action in the season opener Indian athletics Grand Prix (GP) meet at the National Institute of Sports (NIS), here starting Wednesday. The event will also help the athletes to meet the qualifying mark for the forthcoming Asian and World Athletics Championship. On site and off site rivalry between Seema Antil and Krishna Poonia will make women's discus throw event much to watch out for.

By IANS, London : In an interesting revelation, deputy police commissioner of Jamaica, Mark Shields said that Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer was murdered by an outsider and the assailant was not from the Caribbean. "The difference between Woolmer's murder and most of these is that Jamaican killers tend to use knives or guns. The fact that Woolmer was strangled has led the police here to conclude that his killer came from outside Jamaica," Shields was quoted as saying in BBC's 'Panorama' programme Monday.

By IANS, Kolkata : Five members of a soccer group were arrested Tuesday for the death of a teenager who they had allegedly hit on the head with a wicket during a row over sharing the same playground at the Maidan here a day earlier. "We have made five arrests so far. All of them (members of the soccer group) were arrested from Kolkata this morning," Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ajay Kumar told IANS.

By IANS, Mumbai : One might be well aware of his golfing skills and now Shiv Kapur is ready to impart some of those skills to amateur golfers in a specially designed golf clinic on the eve of the seven-million-rupees (nearly $1,72,000) Crompton Greaves Open at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club here Wednesday. Kapur, a European Tour competitor, will teach the basics to amateurs and the corporate golfers in the city. A pro-amateur competition will also be held as a precursor to the 72-hole stroke-play starting Thursday.

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali, Indo-Asian News Service,New Delhi : Shaken by allegations that the player-agent nexus is influencing the national team's selection, the company that looks after the commercial interests of Sourav Ganguly has sought an unprecedented meeting with the cricket board chief to help in evolving a sponsorship policy. Shailendra Singh, managing director of Percept D'Mark, has sought the meeting with board president Sharad Pawar to discuss allegations, levelled in the aftermath of the World Cup debacle, that some companies were influencing the selection of the national team.

By IANS, Karachi : Pakistan will support India if the latter initiates a vote of no-confidence motion against top officials of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would strongly back the Indian board if it makes such a move against ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed and a few other officials at the next ICC executive board meeting scheduled in June, reported The News Tuesday.

By IANS, Melbourne: After creating history by completing a hat-trick of World Cup wins, the Australian cricket board Tuesday offered contract to 25 players, selected by the National Selection Panel (NSP), for a period of 12 months. The contracted players will be paid a base retainer amount, which is levelled according to a player ranking system decided by the NSP. Each contracted player will also receive match fees, tour fees and prize money for on-field success.

By IANS, Karachi : Pakistan's dope-tainted pacer Mohammad Asif has said he is fit and ready to make a comeback to international cricket after missing the recent World Cup in the Caribbean due to injury and doping-related problems. "I am fully focused on making a successful comeback with the series in Abu Dhabi," Asif was quoted as saying by The News Tuesday. Pakistan is scheduled to play three one-day matches against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi from May 10-15. Asif also said that he does not fear any doping ban and added that he has set his sight on resuming his international career.

By DPA London: Reading spoiled the return of England striker Michael Owen after 10 months out with an injury as they beat Newcastle 1-0...

By IANS,London: Fresh from the World Cup, three Sri Lankan players - Russel Arnold, Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya - have committed their immediate futures to Lashings World XI, the Kent-based Harlem Globetrotters of cricket. Alongside the players who have become the backbone of the club are team manager Alvin Kallicharran, captain Richie Richardson, vice-captain Chris Harris and Rashid Latif. Also new to the squad is South Africa's Hashim Amla. All four players will be heading for Britain this summer to join the Lashings squad for the start of their season.

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali

New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) Shaken by allegations that the player-agent nexus is influencing the national team's selection, the company that looks after the commercial interests of Sourav Ganguly has sought an unprecedented meeting with the cricket board chief to discuss the issue. Shailendra Singh, managing director of Percept D'Mark, has sought the meeting with board president Sharad Pawar to discuss allegations, levelled in the aftermath of the World Cup debacle, that some companies were influencing the selection of the national team.