Arjun shoots 68 and moves up in Bangkok Airways golf
By IANS,
Koh Samui (Thailand) : Arjun Singh trying to fight his way back into the upper ranks of the Asian Tour fired a three-under 68 under windy conditions to be the best placed Indian at the halfway mark of the Bangkok Airways Open at the Santiburi Samui Country Club here Friday.
Arjun is now four-under 138 for 36 holes in 17th place. He is six behind leader Antonio Lascuna who shot a second successive 66 with birdies on last three holes to be 10-under 132 for two rounds.
Karun fastest in Dubai GP2 test session
Dubai, Jan 22 (IANS) India's Karun Chandhok logged the quickest time of one minute, 21.894 seconds in the afternoon session of the official GP2 series test at the Autodrome circuit here Tuesday.
Driving for last year's champion team, iSport International, the 24-year old Karun, completed 33 laps in the afternoon as against 35 in the morning when he clocked 1:22.366 that placed him overall fourth. During both runs, Karun outpaced his team-mate Bruno Senna who had a time of 1:22.527 (19 laps) in the morning and 1:22.144 (49 laps) later in the day.
Squash is not being promoted properly: Amr Shabana
By Anand Phillar, IANS
Chennai : At 28, Amr Shabana has the squash world at his feet but the Egyptian star is not a happy man for he feels the sport has not taken off in a big way and the authorities are doing precious little to improve its profile.
The reigning world champion feels that the possibility of squash being included in the 2012 Olympics is no big deal.
National Hockey: UP beat Karnataka for third straight win
Lucknow: Hosts Uttar Pradesh registered their third consecutive win in the Men's National Hockey Championship (Division A) defeating Karnataka 2-1 in a Pool C...
India drub France 6-0 in second hockey Test, clinch series
By IANS,
New Delhi : In-form dragflicker Sandeep Singh converted three penalty corners as India pummelled France 6-0 in the second hockey Test and clinched the three-match series at the French National Institute of Sports and Physical Education (INSEP) in Paris.
India will play the third and last final Test Wednesday before leaving for Holland for the last leg of their European tour.
Sandeep scored in the 12th, 37th and 47th minute, with captain Rajpal Singh (39th), Mohd. Amir Khan (55th) and Hari Prasad (58th) the other scorers Monday.
Sports Minister congratulates Anand
By IANS
New Delhi : Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Mani Shankar Aiyar has congratulated Vishwanathan Anand on being crowned the new world chess champion.
Aiyar in a statement Monday said: "I am pleased, as all Indians are, to hear of your (Anand's) thrilling win at the World Chess Championship in Mexico. Wrestling the championship from an array of stars and simultaneously passing the 2800-mark ELO rating is a brilliant achievement. This is an immensely proud moment for all Indians."
Belgian coach accused of child abuse to leave
By IANS
Kozhikode : A Belgian football coach has decided to quit as honorary coach with a sports organisation here following reports that he was allegedly involved in a paedophile case in his country.
Jozef Achtergael, 57, who coached children at the Sports and Educational Promotion Trust (SEPT) here, has informed the sports trust that he is quitting, T.M. Abdurahman of SEPT told IANS Tuesday evening.
The SEPT had quizzed Achtergael on the charges following a news report last week.
Yamaha, Honda launch motorbike championships
By IANS,
Chennai : The SIDVIN-FMSCI National Motorcycle Racing Championship, commencing here at the weekend, has shifted to a higher gear with two global brands, Yamaha and Honda, deciding to concurrently run a separate single-make series.
The Yamaha series, to be conducted in two classes, Novice and Expert, will see the 150cc, liquid-cooled, six-speed YZF-R15 bikes modified with the Daytona Racing Kit, including the racing exhaust system, racing ECU, high-lift camshaft and petal shaped large disc brakes.
Despite retirement Ganguly in Shah Rukh’s scheme of things
By Aroonim Bhuyan,IANS,
Dubai : As the curtains come down on former India skipper Sourav Ganguly's international career after the Australia series, he will still have a major role in leading Kolkata Knight Riders in the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), said team owner and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan.
“Most of the team policies are decided by him (Ganguly's) and we will all sit down with him and discuss where he stands and, inshallah, he will play as well for the Knight Riders as he did last season,” Shah Rukh told IANS here.
Pakistan name Shahid Ali Khan as new hockey coach
By Omar Khalid, IANS,
Karachi : Pakistan Friday appointed Olympian Shahid Ali Khan as the new head coach of the national hockey team, assigning him to prepare a strong team for the Asia Cup in May in Dubai.
The decision to appoint Shahid was taken during the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) executive board meeting in Lahore.
Second division I-League clubs unhappy over venue change
By IANS,
New Delhi : Second division I-League clubs have expressed their unhappiness over the sudden change of venue by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in the middle of the final leg of the league.
The fourth and the fifth round of the second division I-League have been shifted to Amity School from the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Gurgaon.
Boxer clinches gold, volleyball team claims bronze for India
By Ravi Kant Singh, IANS
Hyderabad : P. Narjit Singh did India proud by winning the 54 kg category gold medal in boxing, while the men's volleyball team defeated Qatar in straight sets to claim the bronze medal on the penultimate day of competitions in the 4th Military World Games here Saturday.
Narjit defeated Marcel Schneider of Germany 12-8 to claim the lone boxing gold, while Hari Krishan Belwal, Satya Raju, D. Bhagyarajan and Mohinder Thapa all won bronze medals after having lost their respective semi-final bouts Friday.
India take big lead in third Test
By IANS,
Wellington : India took a 182 run lead against New Zealand in the first innings of the third and final Test against New Zealand here Saturday.
Replying to the Indian total of 379, New Zealand were shot out for 197 on the second day of the Test.
Twenty20 World Championships cricket standings
By IANS
Durban : Following are the final standings in the two groups after the league matches Thursday (tabulated under matches played, won, lost, points, net run-rate)
GROUP E:
India 3 2 1 4 +0.750
New Zealand 3 2 1 4 +0.050
South Africa 3 2 1 4 -0.116
England 3 0 3 0 -0.700
GROUP F:
Pakistan 3 3 0 6 +0.843
Australia 3 2 1 4 +2.256
Sri Lanka 3 1 2 2 -0.697
Bangladesh 3 0 3 0 -2.031
Saturday's semi-final line-up:
Cape Town: Pakistan v New Zealand
Durban: India v Australia
FIFA World Cup: Chile defeats Australia 3-1
Cuiaba (Brazil): Chile defeated Australia 3-1 in the FIFA World Cup B group match here Friday.
Alexis Sanchez gave Chile a 1-0 lead in the...
India-Australia ODI abandoned due to rains
By IANS
Brisbane : Just when India looked like taking control over Australia, rains came down for the third time forcing abandonment of the opening match of the Commonwealth Bank Triangular One-Day Series here Sunday. Each team got two points.
Chasing India's 194 all out in 45 overs, Australia were struggling at 51 for three wickets in 7.2 overs when rains forced the players inside the dressing rooms. Minutes later the umpires declared the match abandoned.
Malaga joint fifth with Valencia in Spanish football league
By DPA,
Madrid : Malaga demolished Valladolid 3-1 to move to joint fifth in the Spanish Liga and dream of the Champions League.
Former Spain striker Albert Luque shot Malaga ahead Sunday with his trusty left foot in the eighth minute, and Apono made it 2-0 from the penalty spot on the half hour after Inaki Bea had pulled down Eliseu Pereira.
Pedro Oldoni pulled a goal back for Valladolid eight minutes from time. Instead of dropping back, Malaga continued to attack and were rewarded for their aggressiveness when Nacho made it 3-1 in the 89th minute.
Sri Lanka gain crucial 147-run lead in Colombo Test
By IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lanka gained a vital 147-run first innings lead over India on the third day of the third Test here at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium. India were 57 for one at tea and were still trailing by 90 runs.
Replying to India's first innings total of 249, Sri Lankans were all out for 396.
The host's total was boosted by Kumar Sangakkara's gritty 144, which was his 17th Test hundred and second against India . His dismissal did not arrest the run flow as the Sri Lankan tail made some contributions to get them close to 400 runs.
Kevin Pietersen seeks ‘urgent help’ to get Indian visa
New Delhi : Sacked England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has taken recourse to social media to urge India's external affairs ministry to expedite his visa...
Britain’s Prince Charles to boycott Beijing Games over Tibet
By DPA
London : Britain's Prince Charles would stay away from the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games later this year in an apparent protest against China's human rights record in Tibet, a campaign group said Monday.
The Free Tibet campaign group said it had urged Prince Charles, 59, not to attend the games and received a letter confirming that the heir to the British throne would not be going to Beijing for the ceremony.
Out of medal reckoning, India in handball classification race
By Ravi Kant Singh, IANS
Hyderabad : India will be fighting for the fifth to eighth classification spots after going down 23-26 to Lithuania in the handball competition of the 4th Military World Games at the Saroornagar Indoor Stadium here Thursday.
The victory put Lithuania in the semi-finals from Group A as the number two team behind South Korea, who finished unbeaten in the five-team group.
Belarus and Latvia have made it to the last four from Group B.
Also in Group A, Greece defeated Turkey 32-26 to make India's task that much easier.
Scoreboard: India vs Australia, Day Three, second Test
By IANS,
Mohali : Scoreboard at stumps on Day Three of the second cricket Test between India and Australia at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here Sunday.
India: (first innings) 469 all out
Australia 1st innings (overnight 102 for four)
Matthew Hayden b Khan 0
Simon Katich b Mishra 33
Ricky Ponting lbw b Sharma 5
Michael Hussey c Dhoni b Sharma 54
Michael Clarke lbw b Mishra 23
Shane Watson lbw b Mishra 78
Brad Haddin b Harbhajan Singh 9
Cameron White b Mishra 5
Brett Lee c Dravid b Harbhajan Singh 35
Mitchell Johnson not out 9
I am looking forward to getting back to PGA: Atwal
By IANS,
Chattanooga (Tennessee) : Four years ago, Indian golfer Arjun Atwal lost a chance to register a PGA Tour win in his rookie season, when he lost a five-way play-off at the 2004 BellSouth Classic. This time in Chattanooga, where the world's first Coca Cola bottling plant is located, Atwal uncorked champagne with a win in the play-off to grab the Chattanooga Classic and with it earn a return to the PGA Tour in 2009.
Sushil Kumar should have got Padma award: Coach
By IANS,
New Delhi : Beijing Olympics bronze medal winning wrestler Sushil Kumar should have been given a Padma award, says his coach and former grappler Satpal.
"He was the one who got medal in wrestling after 50-60 years. He is an idol for young wrestlers. He should have got the Padma award," Satpal added.
Dhoni seeks divine blessings before World Cup
By IANS,
Ranchi: India's cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni Saturday sought divine blessings before the World Cup starting Feb 19.
Good start for Chowrasia, Ghei and Randhawa
By IANS
Kota Permai (Malaysia) : Gaurav Ghei pushed aside the disappointment of a tragic disqualification to bring home a fine five-under 67 in the opening round of Maybank Malaysian Open Thursday. But going one better than Ghei was S.S.P.Chowrasia, who hit the headlines last month with a win in the joint-sanctioned Emaar-MGF Indian Masters.
Chowrasia's six-under placed him in tied eighth place on a low-scoring day, where the leader Nick Dougherty shot 10-under 62 after flirting with history, when a 59 looked possible.
Redknapp signs four-year deal with Portsmouth
By IANS
London : Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has signed a new contract, reportedly worth seven million pounds, that will tie him to the English Premier League club for another four years.
Redknapp is enjoying his second spell as manager of the football team and led the side to its highest ever finish in the top flight last season when they were in ninth place.
The 60-year-old was delighted to put pen to paper on a new deal that will ensure he stays at Fratton Park until 2011, a reward for the team's fine start to the season.
Gurbaz Singh to lead India in Junior Asia Cup
By IANS,
Hyderabad : India's hockey team that won the silver at the recent Azlan Shah tournament will form the nucleus of the side for the junior Asia Cup starting here at the Gachibowli Stadium July 11.
A five-member committee headed by Aslam Sher Khan met here Tuesday and retained seven players who were part of the team for the Azlan Shah cup in Malaysia in May, where India beat some top teams to emerge runners-up.
The committee selected 18 players after trials and named midfielder Gurbaz Singh captain for the July 11-18 eight-nation tournament.
India to begin World Twenty20 campaign against Afghanistan
By IANS,
Gros Islet (St. Lucia) : Eleven months after losing their World Twenty20 crown in England, India will take another shot at the title when they begin their campaign against new entrants Afghanistan here Saturday.
India won the inaugural championships in 2007 in South Africa that cracked the jackpot for the shorter format of the game. Twenty20 was an instant hit in cricket's financial powerhouse India, who had earlier won a cricket World Cup (50 overs) way back in 1983.
SC bans Tamil Nadu bull fights
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday banned Tamil Nadu's centuries-old Jallikattu bull fights.
A bench of Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose also...
Pune FC looks to gain from Mohun Bagan form
By IANS,
Pune: A positive Pune FC will be out to improve its position in the points table against Mohun Bagan AC in the I-League Round 9 Sunday.
Somdev beats De Voest as India qualify for Davis Cup World Group
By IANS
Johannesburg: India's Somdev Devvarman defeated Rik De Voest 4-6, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-4 in a near five-hour slugfest in the first reverse singles Sunday to seal India's place in the elite Davis Cup World Group for the first time since 1998.
India have taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the tie. Junior Australian Open champion Yuki Bhambri will make his Davis Cup debut in the dead singles rubber next.
Thierry Henry considers retiring after Euro
By DPA,
Paris : France's star striker Thierry Henry is considering ending his international career after next month's Euro, media reports said.
The 31-year-old was quoted as saying by Friday's L'Equipe said that his age was the reason why he was considering retiring, as age was very important for strikers. "I have thought of retiring after Euro."
The Barcelona striker is the top scorer for the Les Bleus (France) with 44 goals in 99 matches. He believes his side, who will be facing the Netherlands, Italy and Romania in the first round, are amongst the favourites for the Euro title.
Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore
By IANS,
Chennai: Chennai Super Kings defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by five wickets in an Indian Premier League match here Wednesday.
Royal Challengers scored 161 for four after electing to bat. Chennai Super Kings chased it down with an over to spare.
Murali Vijay smashed 78 off 39 balls while Suresh Raina struck an unbeaten 44.
India cruise to a five-wicket win over Netherlands
By Pragya Tiwari,
New Delhi: India made heavy weather of their chase against the Netherlands before cruising to a five-wicket victory in a World Cup Group B match here Wednesday.
Cricket Australia regrets Speed’s exit
By IANS,
Melbourne : Cricket Australia Tuesday regretted the unceremonious exit of International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed and said the job of administering cricket is becoming more challenging with the growth of the sport around the globe.
ICC effectively sacked Speed sending him on a paid leave till the end of his term in June. The reason was a "fundamental breakdown" in relationship between Speed and ICC top-brass over the controversial Zimbabwe issue.
West Indies 159/3 at tea
By IANS,
New Delhi : The West Indies were 159 for three at tea on the opening day of their first Test against India at the Ferozeshah Kotla here Sunday.
Sports minister to bat for Unmukt at Delhi University
Bu IANS,
New Delhi: India's Sports Minister Ajay Maken Thursday said he would take up U-19 World Cup winning captain Unmukt Chand's case with the Delhi University.
India lose to Canada in world junior squash
By IANS,
Quito (Ecuador) : India went down fighting to Canada 1-2 in the quarterfinals of the World Junior boys squash championships.
Canadians Andrew Schnell and Nicholas Sachvie were too strong for Aditya Jagtap and Ravi Dixit, respectively, winning the match in straight games while Ramit Tandon defeated Arjun Gupta in the dead rubber here Thursday
The results:
Canada beat India 2-1 (Andrew Schnell beat Aditya Jagtap 11-5, 11-9, 11-4; Nicholas Sachvie beat Ravi Dixit 11-7, 11-7, 11-4; Arjun Gupta lost to Ramit Tandon 2-11, 1-11).
Olympic village opened to participants
By Xinhua,
Beijing : The Beijing Olympics athletes' village has been opened here as the advance contingents of 12 national Olympic committees were expected to check in.
"The advance men from 12 national Olympic committees are scheduled to check in at the village soon," Yin Lei, an organising committee staff at the village's arrival and departure centre, told Xinhua Sunday.
"We call it a soft opening," he said.
Cipolla, Tipsaveric advance to Chennai Open second round
By IANS,
Chennai : Flavio Cipolla of Italy advanced to the second round of the Chennai Open tennis with a stunning 6-4, 6-1 win against second seed and World No. 16 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland here Tuesday.
On the outside court, seventh seed Janko Tipsaveric of Serbia came through 6-3, 6-2 victory against Pablo Andujar of Spain to move into the second round.
The results (seeding in prefix):
Premier US basketball league players give computer lesson
By IANS,
New Delhi : It was an altogether different experience for students of a vocational training school for poor children Saturday as they received computer lessons from premier US basketball league players.
"It was really interesting. They taught us how to paint on the computer, some games and basic tools (of using the computer)," said an excited eight-year-old Ravi Kumar.
Like Kumar, there were over 50 children who interacted with the players from the National Basketball Association (NBA), who are here for five days for promoting the game.
Roberto Carlos denies Boca Juniors move
By Xinhua
Buenos Aires : Brazilian soccer star Roberto Carlos said he plans to retire after completing his contract with Turkish team Fenerbahce, denying Argentine press reports that he could join Boca Juniors.
"Me go to Boca? No. No way. No one has called me. I have not heard anything. It does not interest me in any case, because I have signed a three-season contract with Fenerbahce and I plan to retire after that," he told Brazilian website TyC Sports by telephone Thursday from Turkey.
Buenos Aires press reports said he was hours away from moving to Boca Juniors.
Playing in World Cup a dream for me, says Kohli
By IANS,
New Delhi: Delhi batsman Virat Kohli says playing for India in the World Cup, beginning Feb 19, will be a dream come true for him.
Watson, Haddin were approached by Indian bookie: Daily
By IANS,
Melbourne : Australian cricketers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin were approached by a suspected Mumbai gangster with links to illegal bookmakers during the tour of England last year, according to a media report.
"Watson was approached in the bar of the team's West London hotel, the Royal Kensington Garden, after the Lord's Test, and Haddin was confronted during the World Twenty20 tournament," according to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald Tuesday.
"Both players immediately reported the approaches to authorities and neither is suspected of any wrongdoing," it said.
Beckham will play against Sevilla, yellow card annulled
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.
Some smart guys will have to shut their mouths: Casillas
By DPA,
Vienna : Spain goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas was happy Sunday, after breaking "the curse of the quarters" in major tournaments, and he remembered those who did not have faith in the team after Spain beat Germany 1-0 in the final of Euro 2008.
"I was already tired of the curse of the quarters. I think there are some smart guys who are going to have to shut their mouths for a long time," Casillas said in Vienna in reference to Spain's previous failures to get past the quarter-final stages at major tournaments.
India overcome Belgium 3-2 in second hockey Test
By IANS,
New Delhi : India overcame Belgium 3-2 in the second Test of the three match hockey series at Antwerp, Belgium.
Dragflicker Sandeep Singh converted two penalty corners in the 26th and 67th minutes while skipper Rajpal Singh scored in the 39th minute Thursday. Cedric Charlier (10th min) and Thomas Briels (55th min) struck for Belgium, a Hockey India (HI) press release said.
The first Test between the two teams was a 3-3 draw.
Belgium began aggressively while India struggled with their passing and trapping, losing possession frequently.
Final scoreboard: India vs. Pakistan
By IANS,
Dhaka : Following is the full scoreboard of the final match in the Kitply Cup one-day international tri-series in which Pakistan defeated India by 25 runs here Saturday:
Final, Kitply Cup, India vs. Pakistan, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka, June 14
Pakistan:
Salman Butt retired hurt 129
Kamran Akmal c Dhoni b Irfan 15
Younis Khan c Sehwag b Ishant 108
Misbah-ul-Haq c Rohit b Irfan 33
Shahid Afridi not out 10
Shoaib Malik not out 11
Extras (b 2, lb 4, w 2, nb 1) 9
Total (for three wickets in 50 overs) 315
Yousuf vows to shine in Champions Trophy
By IANS,
Karachi : Pakistan's premier batsman Mohammad Yousuf Tuesday vowed to silence his critics with a forceful showing in the Champions Trophy in South Africa.
Yousuf, under fire for his below-par showing in the recent one-day series against Sri Lanka, said that he is looking to give his best in the elite tournament starting Sep 22.
Scoreboard: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab, IPL
By IANS,
Mohali : The following is the scoreboard of the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here Saturday.
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Chrish Gayle c Bisla b Srivastava 14 (12balls, 4sx3)
Sourav Ganguly c Chawla b Pathan 50 (40 balls, 4sx6, 6sx1)
Mandeep Singh c Lee b Srivastava 4( 7 balls, 4sx1)
Manoj Tiwary not out 75 (47 balls, 4sx8, 6sx2)
David Hussey b Chawla 3 (5 balls)
Angelo Mathews c Lee b Pathan 19 (11 balls, 4sx2)
Wriddhiman Saha not out 0
Arsenal back on top of Premiership table
By IANS
London : Arsenal withstood a Sunderland fightback to win 3-2 and return to the top of the English Premier League Sunday.
The London football club opened up a 2-0 lead inside 15 minutes through a Robin van Persie free-kick and a Philippe Senderos effort but Ross Wallace and Kenwyne Jones levelled for the visitors.
The hosts started to grow frustrated as the clock ticked down but van Persie slotted home Theo Walcott's pass after 80 minutes to secure the win, before Paul McShane was sent off in stoppage time.
Randhawa fifth in BMW golf, rises to 72nd in world rankings
By IANS,
Wentworth : Jyoti Randhawa once again showed his amazing ability to finish strongly with a two-under-par 70 in the final round at the BMW PGA Championship to be in lone fifth place at Britain's Wentworth course.
Randhawa, starting the final day Sunday in fourth place, finished at eight-under 280.
The finish helped Randhawa climb to 23rd on the European Money list and also saw him jump from 88th to 72nd in world rankings. It also fetched him a purse of 190,800 Euros that took his year's earnings on European Tour to past 401,000 Euros.
Netherlands-Germany clash will be a battle of tactics, says Dutch coach
By IANS,
New Delhi: Dutch coach Michel van den Huevel feels his team's next clash with defending champions Germany in the Hockey World Cup here Sunday will be a battle of tactics.
The Dutch and Germans share a great rivalry in hockey and the encounter between the two sides has often matched the excitement of an India-Pakistan clash.
IPL wants grand finale at Lord’s
By IANS,
London : Officials of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have offered to stage the grand finale of the multimillion-dollar championship this September at Lord's, the Mecca of cricket, according to a report Monday.
The week-long finale would feature the top two teams from the IPL and the leading sides from the domestic Twenty20 leagues in England, Australia, South Africa and Pakistan, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The report, written by ex-England cricketer Simon Hughes, said Dubai had been earmarked for the event, but the ground was unlikely to be ready in time.
25 years on, 1983 World Cup heroes re-live truimph (Lead)
By IANS,
New Delhi : The heroes who changed India's cricketing landscape by winning the 1983 World Cup were felicitated by the Indian cricket board here Sunday as part of the silver jubilee celebrations of the historic win.
The 15 men including manager P.R. Man Singh penned a new chapter in Indian history 25 summers ago on the hallowed turfs of Lord's by beating Clive Lloyd's invincible West Indies.
With their fond memories they transported the audience at a city hotel, as they recalled the eventful day of June 25 when a bunch of no-hopers emerged world champions.
हताश मुस्लिम नोजवानों में एक उम्मीद भरते हैं सिराज
आसमोहम्मद कैफ । Twocircles.net
सिराज आज हैदराबाद पहुंचते ही तुरंत कब्रिस्तान गए । इसके बाद वो अपनी अम्मी से मिले जो इद्दत में है। उनके...
John in Dehradun to attend Dhoni’s wedding
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bollywood actor John Abraham has reached Dehradun to attend Indian cricket captain Mahindera Singh Dhoni's wedding with Sakshi Singh Rawat, media reports say.
Dhoni got engaged to school friend Sakshi at Vishranti Resort Saturday. The couple was said to be dating for the past two years. The two are tying the knot Sunday evening and reports say their wedding reception will be held July 7 in Mumbai.
The actor came with Dhoni's teammate Piyush Chawla.
John's girlfriend and actress Bipasha Basu took to microblogging site Twitter to congratulate the couple.
Keep it going Team India, says PM
By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday heartily congratulated the Indian cricket team for the victory in the Twenty20 World Championship after watching the nail-biting final between the sub-continental archrivals with "great interest".
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh watched the India-Pakistan Twenty20 World Cup final cricket match with great interest," said an official statement.
Laxman second Indian to score 300 runs in the series
By IANS
Perth : Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman, during the course of his critical knock of 79 off 156 balls in the second innings of the Perth Test Friday, became the second Indian batsman after Sachin Tendulkar to aggregate 300 runs in the four-Test series -- 303 at an average of 50.50.
Laxman also became the second Indian batsman to complete 1000 runs in Australia -- 1018 (ave.56.55) in 10 Tests, including four centuries and two fifties - after Tendulkar (1356 at an average of 56.50 in 15 Tests), the leading run-getter for India in Australia.
New Zealand 136 for four at tea in second innings
By IANS,
Wellington : New Zealand were 136 for four at tea on the fourth day, chasing an improbable 617 to win the third cricket Test against India at Basin Reserve here Monday.
New Zealand trail by a huge 481 runs with six wickets in hand.
Ross Taylor (48) and James Franklin (18) were at the crease after India picked the wickets of Martin Guptill, Daniel Flynn and Jesse Ryder in the second session. Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan took two wickets each.
IPL match advanced by an hour for hockey World Cup final
By IANS,
New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL) has decided to advance its league match on March 13 by an hour to avoid a clash with the final of the hockey World Cup here.
IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said that hosting an event like World Cup is a matter of pride for the entire nation.
"IPL is very happy that World Cup Hockey is being hosted in our country this year," Modi said.
The final of the World Cup hockey tournament will be held on March 13 (6.05 p.m.) at the Major Dhyanchand Stadium here.
Wenger confirms Thierry Henry’s return
By IANS,
London : Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed Friday New York Bulls striker Thierry Henry will make an emotional return to the club he left in 2007 on a two-month deal.
Australian cricket need fresh legs: Lawson
By IANS,
Melbourne : Former Australian pace bowler Geoff Lawson said it was time for the national selectors to inject fresh blood in the ageing cricket team to prepare for the Ashes next year.
Lawson said the Australian selectors should try out few options in the home and away series against South Africa.
"With South Africa coming up, now is the time to make changes," Lawson was quoted as saying by the Courier Mail Sunday.
Four Indians figure in ‘All-time Greatest Test team’
By IANS,
Dubai: Four Indians - Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev - have made it to the 'Alltime Greatest Test team' through an online poll across the world.
Harper Beckham cheers for David
By IANS,
London: Footballer David Beckham had a strong reason to perform during a match after his one-year-old daughter cheered for him from the stands.
Dumped by France, footballer Vikash Dhorasoo turns filmmaker
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS,
London : Two years after being denied the opportunity to become the first ethnic Indian star of the World Cup, French footballer Vikash Dhorasoo has turned into an acclaimed filmmaker.
"Substitute", praised by French critics and due to be released in London May 9, is Dhorasoo's film about his summer of 2006 in Germany, waiting to be called to take the field - a call that never came.
Dhorsoo's film career began when a friend handed him a Super 8 camera and told him to film what happened to him during the World Cup.
Khali seeks more Indians for world wrestling tourney
By IANS,
Mumbai : Grappler Dalip Singh Rana or "The Great Khali" - as he is more popularly known - says he wrestles not for himself but for the country and would be happy if more Indians join him.
Speaking at an event "The Great Khali Live In Mumbai" organised by Ten Sports here Saturday night, the first Indian world champion of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) called upon the youth to come forward and join him in the sport to bring greater glory to the country.
Prakash upsets top seed in Aptos Challenger
By IANS,
Aptos (California) : India's Prakash Amritraj started from where he left, upsetting top seed American Amer Delic in the opening round of $75,000 Aptos Challenger tennis tournament.
Prakash, who reached the final of Hall of Fame Tennis Championship last week, shocked the 143rd ranked Delic 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in their second Challenger meeting, here Wedensday. The two had met in a Texan Challenger in 2003 where Delic had beaten Prakash in three sets.
Pranitha, Dola make it to Beijing Olympics
By IANS,
Kolkata : Junior archer V. Pranitha and veteran Dola Banerjee made the cut for the Beijing Olympic Games archery on the concluding day of the trials for the mega event here Sunday.
The duo would join L. Bombayla Devi in the Indian women's recurve archery team at Beijing.
At the end of the four-day trials at the SAI, Eastern Centre, the 17-year-old Pranitha of Steel Plant stood first with a cumulative total of 5167 out of a possible 5760 points. Railway employee Dola, who got her second successive Olympics berth, was second with 5141 points.
Holders Bayern ease into last 16 of German Cup
By DPA,
Hamburg : Bayern Munich put the 5-2 home drubbing by Werder Bremen at the weekend behind them Wednesday as the holders beat Nuremberg 2-0 in the German Cup.
VfB Stuttgart beat Arminia Bielefeld by the same scoreline thanks to goals in each half from Cacau and Ciprian Marica, while last year's beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund needed extra time to overcome Hertha Berlin.
Miroslav Klose put Bayern in front after seven minutes in the all- Bavarian clash with Tim Borowski ensuring Bayern's place in the last 16 with the club's second midway through the second half.
Harbhajan denies racial abuse charge, hearing put off
By IANS
Sydney : Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has denied racially abusing Andrew Symonds but will still have to attend the hearing of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has been put off till Sunday.
The ICC Saturday said the charge comes in the wake of an alleged incident during third day's play of the second Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Friday.
Lucky to be given not out: Symonds
Sydney, Jan 2 (IANS) Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds admitted Wednesday that he should have been out long before he scored his second Test century on the first day of the second Test match against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Wednesday.
England beat India by six wickets in Twenty20
By IANS,
Manchester : England beat India by six wickets in their Twenty20 international match at the Old Trafford here Wednesday.
‘Title holders Germany will not be under pressure’
By IANS,
New Delhi: Young German teenage striker Florian Fuchs says he is aware of his team's reputation as they chase a hat-trick of hockey World Cup titles, but hopes that the pressure of expectations will not pull them down.
Fuchs, 18, who was drafted into the national team only in November before the Champions Trophy, says the focus of the players would be on the tournament.
Super Kings set Mumbai 169-run target in IPL final
By IANS,
Mumbai: Suresh Raina smashed an unbeaten 57 as Chennai Super Kings scored 168 for five against Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League final at the D.Y. Patil Stadium at Navi Mumbai Sunday.
Raina rode on his luck as he was dropped twice in his 35-ball innings that included three fours and three sixes.
Super Kings got off to a slow start after electing to bat with Murali Vijay (26) and Matthew Hayden (17) sharing a 44-run opening stand in as many balls.
Raina and Subramaniam Badrinath (14) added 19 runs before the latter was dismissed by Dilahara Fernando (2-23).
Tagore house to Twenty20, Rabindra Jayanti revelry sweeps Kolkata
By Sreya Basu, IANS,
Kolkata : Kolkatans made it a point to celebrate their "Bengaliness" Thursday. They may love their discos and lap up Bollywood-Hollywood through the year, but on "Pochishe Boishakh" only one name ruled their hearts - the famous bard of Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore, whose 147th birth anniversary it was.
Hockey India raises doubts over Hockey Punjab’s election
By IANS,
New Delhi : Hockey India (HI) Tuesday sought clarification from Hockey Punjab on the formation of the state body before considering its request for affiliation to the national federation.
In a leter to HP secretary Pargat Singh, HI president Ashok Kumar Mattoo said that the affilitaion committee had informed them about the objections raised over the merger process of the three units to form HP.
Tax officials claim ‘evidence’ against Kolkata Knight Riders
By IANS,
Kolkata : Tax officials who conducted search operations at the offices of the Bengal Cricket Association and Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders till the early hours of Thursday here claimed to have found "incriminating evidence" of irregularities.
"We have found incriminating evidence. We will investigate further. We needed to have a look at certain transactions and we've found whatever we were looking for," said Indian Revenue Service Deputy Director Akhilendu Jadhav.
Saina storms into singles pre-quarterfinal
By IANS,
Beijing : World Number 15 Saina Nehwal reached the pre-quarterfinal of the women's singles badminton of the Olympic Games event with a straight games win, 21-18, 21-10, over Larysa Gryga of Ukraine here Sunday.
Leander Paes and Cara Black win US Open mixed doubles
By IANS,
New York : India's Leander Paes won his second US Open and fourth Grand Slam mixed doubles title here at the Flushing Meadows when he and his Zimbabwean partner Cara Black beat Scot Jamie Murray and American Liezel Huber in the final 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 late Thursday night.
Leander, who won two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles with Martina Navratilova and another with Lisa Raymond, partnered Cara for the first time, but the two gelled so well it looked as if they were regular partners.
Party time on the streets of Bangladesh
By Sirshendu Panth, IANS,
Dhaka: Bangladesh has gone wild. It is now party time on the streets for the people, particularly the youngsters, with the much-awaited Cricket World Cup going cracking.
Now or never for Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi
By IANS,
New Delhi : Not many may remember that Leander Paes came close to winning a bronze in doubles in his 1992 debut Olympic Games in Barcelona before he won a singles bronze at the next Games in Atlanta.
Leander will be playing in his fifth Olympics and in the three Games after Barcelona he partnered Mahesh Bhupathi. The two dominated the world doubles play together as well as with different partners, but surprisingly they could never win an Olympic medal.
Dhoni asked to change wicket-keeping gloves
By Neena Bhandari, IANS
Sydney : India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was asked by umpires to change his wicket-keeping gloves in a one-dayer against Australia here Sunday as they had webbing that did not conform to the rules.
Concerns were raised on air by Channel Nine commentators, former Australia stumper Ian Healy and ex-captain Ian Chappell, after Dhoni took a spectacular one-handed catch of his Australian counterpart Adam Gilchrist for 16 early in the Australian innings in the Commonwealth Bank Triangular Series.
Tamim, Shakib star in Bangladesh win in warm-up match
By IANS,
Chittagong: Tamim Iqbal scored a blistering half-century as Bangladesh crushed Canada by nine wickets in their first warm-up match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium here Saturday.
75-year-old Roy completes 80th marathon
By IANS
New York : New Delhi's 75-year-old Ashis Roy completed a record 80 marathons when he ran the US Air Force marathon at Dayton, Ohio.
The race, organised Saturday as part of US Air Force's 60th anniversary celebrations, included plenty of festivities. All finishers of marathon were presented with Collector Medallion featuring the C-5 Galaxy aircraft.
The route had many hills, including nearly mile-long steep climbs at the start and finish, making it a tough race.
Pakistan stretched by Bangladesh in Asia Cup opener
By IANS,
Mirpur : Mohammad Hafeez and Umar Gul starred in Pakistan's 14-run win over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup opener at the Shere Bangla National Stadium here Sunday.
Bush defends decision to attend Olympic Games’ opening ceremony
By IANS,
Toyako (Japan) : US President George W. Bush defended Sunday his decision to attend the opening ceremony of next month's Olympic Games in Beijing, saying not to go would mean offending the Chinese people.
"It would be an offence against the Chinese people if I didn't go," Bush said in Japan after holding a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.
The US president also vowed to reassure critics by saying he would raise the issue of human rights violations during his meetings with Chinese officials while in Beijing.
Lunch scoreboard: India vs. Australia; Third Test, Day Two
By IANS,
New Delhi : Scoreboard at lunch on the second day of the third cricket Test between India and Australia at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium here Thursday.
India:
Gautam Gambhir batting 191
Virender Sehwag lbw Lee 1
Rahul Dravid c Hayden b Johnson 11
Sachin Tendulkar c Haddin b Johnson 68
V.V.S. Laxman batting 104
Extras (b 5, lb 6, w 2, nb 5) 18
Total (for three wickets in 115 overs) 393
Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Sehwag, 2.1 overs), 2-27 (Dravid, 10.4), 3-157 (Tendulkar, 51.5)
Bowling:
Brett Lee 26 2 92 1 (1nb)
Stuart Clark 26 8 51 0 (1nb, 1w)
Modi using ‘unethical efforts’ to thwart Kochi IPL: Tharoor
By IANS,
New Delhi : Minister of State for External Affairs Minister Shashi Tharoor Tuesday denied that he called up Indian Premier League (IPL) chief Lalit Modi requesting him not to reveal the name of the stakeholders of the consortium that won the franchise of the Kochi team.
Tharoor, who played the role of a mentor and helped the consortium bag the deal for Rs.1,530 crore, said in a statement that he had called up Modi to ask why he was further delaying the approval of the franchise when all the legal requirements had been fulfilled.
Pakistan score consolation win, India clinch series 3-2
By Qaiser Mohammad Ali, IANS
Jaipur : Shoaib Malik played the captain's role to perfection as he guided Pakistan to a consolation 31-run win over India in the fifth and final One-Day International to reduce the final margin to 2-3 here Sunday.
Malik top-scored with 89 (82 balls, 6x4s, 2x6s) and then took three wickets as he helped his team notch a morale-boosting win at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium ahead of the three-match Test series starting in Delhi Thursday.
Modi allowed to be represented by counsel at hearing
By IANS,
Mumbai : The disciplinary committee of the Indian cricket Board Friday decided to allow Lalit Modi, suspended Indian Premier League chairman, to be represented by his legal counsel at the hearing.
Modi, who is facing disciplinary charges by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), asked the panel, through his attorney Mehmood Abdi that since he was out of the country, his counsel should be allowed to represent him.
Modi has been charged on several counts ranging from financial irregularities to bid-rigging as chairman of the cash-rich IPL.
CWG badminton: Kashyap pulls off stunning upset, makes semis with Chetan
By Avishek Roy, IANS,
West Indies to host World Twenty20 in 2010
By IANS,
Mohali (Punjab) : West Indies will host the World Twenty20 in 2010 instead of a Champions Trophy, it was announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) here Saturday.
ICC chief executive officer Haroon Lorgat told reporters here that the decision was taken to avoid crowding of Champions Trophy and the World Cup.
West Indies were originally scheduled to host a Champions Trophy but the ICC board agreed it would switch to the shorter format to achieve a better mix of tournaments.
French Open: Paes-Damm bow out of men’s doubles
By IANS
Paris : India's Leander Paes and his Czech partner Martin Damm crashed out of the French Open after they lost to German pair of Michael Kohlmann and Rainer Schuettler in the second round of the men's doubles here Saturday.
Representing India has always been big turn-on for Laxman
By IANS,
Kolkata: Having served Indian cricket with distinction for more than a decade, V.V.S. Laxman Tuesday said representing the country has always been a great motivation for him, and the Tests the most revered format of cricket.
"For me, Test cricket was always very very important. Representing the country was a great motivation for me right from my younger days," Laxman told mediapersons after authoring a classic 143 on Day Three of the second Test against South Africa at his favourite hunting ground -- Eden Gardens.
Veiled threat to sports ministry from IOC, OCA
By IANS,
New Delhi : Taking up cudgels on behalf of its Indian affiliate, the International Olympic Commitee (IOC) has again held out a veiled threat to the union sports ministry that the country's apex sports body would face "sanctions" if the government did not stop meddling in the affairs of the sports bodies by fixing the tenure and age limit of their office-bearers.
New Zealand hoping to bounce back against Pakistan
By IANS,
Bridgetown (Barbados) : New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori is drawing strength from their last year's Champions Trophy experience as they strive to bounce back into contention in their second Super Eights match of the World Twenty20 against defending champions Pakistan here Saturday.
The Black Caps lost by 13 runs against South Africa Thursday and they now need to win their remaining Super Eights stage matches against Pakistan and later England Monday to advance to the semifinals.
Klien, Sutil likely for Force India
By Anand Philar, IANS
Chennai : Christian Klien and Adrian Sutil are the front-runners for the two race seats in Vijay Mallya owned Force India team for the 2008 Formula One series.
Mallya is scheduled to announce the driver line-up at the FIA prize distribution function at Monaco Dec 5.
The likes of Giancarlo Fisichella, Ralf Schumacher and Vitantonio Liuzzi are also in the fray while Sutil's name is linked as a replacement for Fernando Alonso at McLaren.
Chennai Superstars win, closer to ICL semi-finals
By IANS
Gurgaon : Chennai Superstars defeated Ahmedabad Rockets by 22 runs to move closer to the semi-finals of the Indian Cricket League's 20s Grand Championship here.
With this win at Tau Devi Lal Stadium Thursday night, the Superstars took their points tally to eight while the Rockets suffered their fifth successive defeat. The Ahmedabad side are languishing at the bottom of the eight-team competition with two points.
Venkatapathy Raju quits as Orissa coach
By IANS,
Cuttack : Former Test left-arm spinner and national selector Venkatapathy Raju has quit as coach of the Orissa Ranji Trophy team.
Raju, former Hyderabad captain and now vice-president of the state association, had quit as chairman of his state selection committee to take over as coach of the Orissa team.
Raju has apparently informed Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) president Ranjib Biswal his decision to quit after Orissa's match against Delhi last week, citing personal reasons.
Second IPL auction as it unfolded
By IANS,
Panaji : Bangladesh fast bowling spearhead Mashrafe Mortaza turned out to be the showstopper just when the second Indian Premier League (IPL) players' auction was heading towards a drab end. Here is how the auction unfolded Friday:
The auction started at 10.45 am at the historical Fort Aguada Resort and lasted a little over two hours.
Round I:
IPL champions Rajasthan Royals were the first to start the process as they bought Australian bowler Shaun Tait for $375,000.
ICC will never support two-tier Test system: Pakistan board
By IANS,
Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is confident that the game's governing body will never approve a proposed two-tier Test system that is said to be pushed by cricket's 'top-four' nations -- Australia, India, England and South Africa.
Reacting to reports that the proposed structure has the 'provisional backing' of the International Cricket Council (ICC), PCB's chief operating official Wasim Bari said that such a move will never materialise.
Federer top; Djokovic and Davydenko climb ATP ranking
By DPA,
Hamburg : Roger Federer retained the top spot in the men's tennis rankings Monday while Novak Djokovic returned to third and Nikolay Davydenko climbed to the sixth place.
Switzerland's Federer has 10,805 points in the latest Association of Tennis Professional (ATP) list to lead from Spanish rival Rafael Nadal (9,095) and Djokovic (7,950), who moved ahead of Briton Andy Murray again by virtue of a Shanghai semi-final berth last week.
Russia's Davydenko won the Shanghai Masters to rise from eighth to sixth with 4,700 points.
IPLgate takes backseat on Sachin’s 37th birthday
By IANS,
Mumbai: The Indian Premier League (IPL) controversy took a backseat as cricketers and cricket lovers got together to wish master blaster Sachin Tendulkar on his 37th birthday here Saturday.
Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan said: "The entire nation and cricket lovers across the world are proud to see him setting new records in all formats of cricket."
"As a great admirer of your style and sense of commitment to the nation, I join the millions of your fans in wishing you a very special birthday," he said in a message.
Scoreboard: England vs South Africa, World Twenty20
By IANS,
Bridgetown (Barbados) : The following is the scoreboard of the Super Eights Twenty20 match between England and South Africa in World Twenty20 here Saturday.
England:
Michael Lumb lbw b Botha 3
Craig Kieswetter c Steyn b Duminy 41
Kevin Pietersen c Smith b Botha 53
Paul Collingwood c Boucher b M Morkel 14
Eoin Morgan c de Villiers b Langeveldt 21
Luke Wright b Langeveldt 0
Tim Bresnan b M Morkel 13
Michael Yardy not out 8
Graeme Swann not out 1
Extras: (lb 3, w 7, nb 4) 14
Total: (for seven wickets in 20 overs) 168
FIFA World Cup: Benzema scores twice as France overwhelm Honduras 3-0
Porto Alegre (Brazil): Striker Karim Benzema scored twice as France strolled to a 3-0 win over 10-man Honduras in Group E encounter of the...
Aslam quits HI, blames IOA officials for poll delay
By IANS,
New Delhi : Hockey India (HI) secretary general Mohammad Aslam Khan formally resigned Friday, accusing a couple of heavyweights in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) of deliberately delaying the election to the apex body of hockey.
Aslam, whose six-month tenure will end Nov 20, said he would not like to continue beyond his term, even if an elected HI is not in place. He slammed some representatives of national sports federations.
Sangakkara double ton takes Sri Lanka to 457/2
By IANS,
Colombo : Skipper Kumar Sangakkara struck his seventh double ton to power Sri Lanka to a mammoth 457 for two in the first innings against India at lunch on the second day of the second cricket Test here Tuesday.
Sangakkara was batting on 214 and Mahela Jayawardene on 71 as Sri Lanka added 145 runs to their overnight score of 312 for two at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground here Tuesday. With his seventh double ton, Sangakkara passed Marvan Atapattu's six and now has the most double hundreds in his country.
Future Series cup delayed in transit
By IANS
New Delhi : The Future Series cup that India won in Ireland defeating South Africa 2-1 in the three one-day internationals and Sachin Tendulkar's Man of the Series trophy are yet to reach the country.
British Airways, which was supposed to carry the trophies to India, Thursday sought to dispel rumours that the bags which also had the Man of the Match trophies won by Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir, were not lost but delayed in transit as the airline had a large backlog of unaccompanied baggage.
Morgan rues Howard’s rejection as vice presidential nominee
By IANS,
Melbourne: David Morgan, who has just retired as the International Cricket Council (ICC) president Thursday rued the rejection of former Australian prime minister John Howard's nomination for the vice president's post.
Only England, Australia and New Zealand supported Howard, thus forcing the ICC to ask Cricket Australia (CA) and New Zealand Cricket(NZC) to withdraw the nomination.
Just over a month ago, Morgan and Indian Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who Thursday replaced the Englishman, jointly urged the 10 voting members to honour the rotational policy.
India approves $8 mn security system for Commonwealth Games
By IANS,
New Delhi: India Monday approved state-of-the-art security system for the 2010 Commonwealth Games here at an estimated cost of Rs.370 crore ($8 million), a move that also aims to set a benchmark for all such big events in future. The Integrated Security System (ISS) will be developed by an Indian company.
The decision, taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved the Hyderabad-based state-owned Electronics Corporation of India Limited for setting up the ISS for the Games.
Cuban coach Fernandez rates Akhil as India’s best boxer
By IANS,
New Delhi : Akhil Kumar may not have an Olympic medal from Beijing to show, but Cuban coach B. I. Fernandez rates him the best Indian boxer.
The Cuban is a naturalised Indian, having been associated with boxing in the country for 17 long years. He feels Indian boxing has come of age with the mushrooming talent. He is particularly impressed with the lot that went to Beijing.
When he picks Akhil as the best, naturally the question that follows is what about Vijender who has won a bronze at the Olympics. Fernandez's answer is that Akhil is a cut above the rest.
Foreign journalists happy with Village; surprised at negative coverage
By Alkesh Sharma, IANS,
No security for IPL before May 4, says Karnataka
By IANS,
Bangalore : Karnataka Home Minister V.S. Acharya Saturday said security cannot be provided to the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches here before May 4 as the state goes to a two-phase poll in April.
"We have informed the concerned authorities that we can provide security only after May 4," Acharya told IANS.
"Before the elections it will not be possible to provide security. We have commitment to other states also (sending police force to help during elections)," he said.
IPl will be 10-team league in 2011
By IANS,
Johannesburg: Buoyed by the success of the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), its chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi said the eight-team tournament will be expanded to 10 teams in 2011.
Modi said the IPL will be back in India next year and the cramped International Cricket Council (ICC) schedule does not leave any room for the possibility of a second IPL in a calendar year in 2010.
"We have been missing India but we have made a strong fan base in South Africa. We have a tight schedule next year. We will have two more teams in the league," said Modi.
Sri Lanka make 591/5, lead India by 165 runs
By IANS,
Ahmedabad : Sri Lanka made 591 for five in the first innings, in reply to India's 462, at the close of third day's play of the first cricket Test here Wednesday.
At stumps, Mahela Jayawardene was batting on 204 and Prasanna Jayawardene on 84. Sri Lanka have opened up a lead of 165 runs.
Parthiv Patel slams century, Gujarat takes lead against Hyderabad
By IANS,
New Delhi: Gujarat skipper and wicketkeeeper Parthiv Patel slammed a century against Hyderabad to give his team the first innings lead on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Super League match at Hyderabad Thursday.
Resuming at their overnight score of 209 for seven, Hyderabad could add a mere 27 runs with Siddharth Trivedi finishing with the figures of five for 39. At stumps, Gujarat were 243 for four with Bhavik Thaker batting at 37 and Digant Popat 3.
Patriotic crowds greet Olympic torch in Hong Kong
By DPA,
Hong Kong : Flag-waving patriotic crowds turned out in heavy rain to greet the Olympic torch in Hong Kong Friday as a student brandishing a Tibetan flag was whisked away by police.
Christina Chan, 21, was heckled by pro-China crowds near the start of the relay route and taken away by police who said it was for her own protection after she wrapped the Tibetan flag around her body.
The mood of the Hong Kong crowd, which greeted the torch on its first appearance back on Chinese soil after its troubled round-the-world tour, was overwhelmingly pro-China.
BMW-Sauber’s Kobayashi eager to gorge on butter chicken
By IANS,
New Delhi : BMW-Sauber's Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi is looking forward to gorging on butter chicken during India's inaugural Formula One race slated for Oct 28-30.
Scoreboard: India vs Australia, U-19 World Cup Final
By IANS,
Townsville (Australia) : The following is the scoreboard of the the Under-19 World Cup final between India and Australia at the Tony Ireland Stadium here Sunday.
Australia:
One-two finish for Brawn GP, Force India’s Sutil is fourth
By DPA,
Monza : Force India missed a second successive podium finish with Adrian Sutil coming fourth at the Italian Grand Prix Sunday, showing that Giancarlo Fisichello's second-place finish in Spa two weeks ago was no fluke.
Brawn GP closed in on their first world championship title when Rubens Barrichello led a Brawn one-two from team-mate Jenson Button.
Ferrari's Raikkonen took third place after McLaren-Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, who was running third, spun on the last lap and crashed out.
Scoreboard of India-Australia match (Final scoreboard)
By IANS
Brisbane : The following is the scoreboard of India's innings in the second of the three finals in the Commonwealth Bank series here Tuesday.
Scoreboard:
Commonwealth Bank Series, 2nd Final, India vs. Australia (day/night), Brisbane Cricket Ground, March 4
India:
Robin Uthappa c Hopes b Clark 30
Sachin Tendulkar c Ponting b Clarke 91
Gautam Gambhir c Johnson b Clarke 15
Yuvraj Singh c Hayden b Symonds 38
Mahendra Dhoni c Clarke b Bracken 36
Rohit Sharma c Symonds b Clarke 2
Irfan Pathan b Bracken 12
Harbhajan Singh lbw b Lee 3
Scoreboard: India vs Sri Lanka, lunch, day 3
By IANS,
Colombo : Following is the scoreboard at lunch on day three of the first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Cub ground here Friday.
Sri Lanka 1st Innings (overnight 422 for four)
Michael Van Dort c Karthik b Sharma 3
Malinda Warnapura c Karthik b Harbhajan 115
Kumar Sangakkara c Dravid b Zaheer 12
Mahela Jayawardene c Karthik b Sharma 136
Thilan Samaraweera c Laxman b Zaheer 127
Tilakaratne Dilshan batting 102
Prasanna Jayawardene c Sharma b Harbhajan 30
Chaminda Vaas not out 1
Extras: (nb 16, w 1, lb 5,b 4) 26
Kumble one short of 600 Test wickets
By IANS
New Delhi : Indian skipper Anil Kumble is now just one wicket short of becoming only the third bowler in the world to take 600 Test wickets. Kumble, who had figures of four for 148, now has 599 wickets.
Kumble, the highest wicket taker in the ongoing series with 15 wickets at 29.33 runs apiece, also became the first Indian bowler to have claimed 20 wickets (ave.32.95) in three Tests at SCG.
Saina, Sridhar get favourable Olympics draw
By IANS,
New Delhi : India's Saina Nehwal and Anup Sridhar have got a favourable draw in the women's and men's singles badminton events, respectively, of the Beijing Olympics.
Saina's way to the pre-quarterfinal is certainly not a bed of thorns.
World No.15 Saina will face 30th ranked Russian Ella Diehl Karachkova in the first round. If she clears the first round, Saina will meet the winner of Ukraine's world No. 27 Griga Larisa and Italy's Allegrini Agnese, ranked 55th.
Ankita, Prerna in Pune ITF semifinals
By IANS,
Pune : Sixth-seeded French girl Elodie Rogge Dietrich knocked out top seed Poojashree Venkatesha 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 while wildcard Ankita Raina got the better of second seed Rushmi Chakravarthi 7-5, 1-6, 6-0 to enter the semifinals of the $10,000 women's International Tennis Federation (ITF) Futures tournament here Thursday.
Dietrich now takes on unseeded Prerna Bhambri who outplayed Aishwarya Agrawal 7-5, 6-3. Pune girl Raina will clash with fourth-seeded Miki Miyamura of Japan who outclassed Shivika Burman 6-2, 6-1.
Australia recover after Zaheer’s first over strike
By James Keith, IANS,
Bangalore : Australia did remarkably well to recover from Matthew Hayden's third-ball dismissal to reach 75 for one at lunch on day one of the first cricket Test against India at the M Chinnaswamy stadium here Thursday.
Ricky Ponting, playing his 200th Test innings, was at sea at the start but regained composure to remain unbeaten with 41, his second highest score on Indian soil, following his 60 at the Eden Gardens in 1998. Giving the Australian skipper company was a gritty Simon Katich with 28 runs to his credit.
Results and standings of English Premier League
By DPA
London : Following are the results and standings of the English Premier League after the matches played Saturday.
The standings are tabulated under matches played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, against and points.
Results:
Birmingham City 1 Reading 1
Derby County 0 Middlesbrough 1
Manchester City 4 Bolton Wanderers 2
Portsmouth 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Sunderland 1 Aston Villa 1
West Ham United 0 Everton 2
Wigan Athletic 5 Blackburn Rovers 3
Fulham 0 Newcastle United 1
Standings P W D L F A Pts
Arsenal 16 11 4 1 33 14 37
India, England to play two Tests, seven ODIs
By IANS,
New Delhi : India will play two Tests and seven One-Day Internationals in a home series against England in November-December.
India will open their Test campaign in Ahmedabad, where they lost to South Africa on a green pitch within three days in March.
The second Test will be played in Mumbai while the one-dayers have been allotted to Delhi, Indore, Rajkot, Jamshedpur, Cuttack, Guwahati and Kanpur, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a release Wednesday.
The final itinerary will be decided on the basis of logistics.
Team India to have a new physio before South Africa series
By IANS
New Delhi : The Indian cricket team will have a new physiotherapist before the home series against South Africa starting next month, it was announced by a top official of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) here Thursday.
This follows the resignation of Australian John Gloster, who put in his papers citing personal reasons Wednesday in Australia. Gloster sent his resignation to the BCCI and in it he mentioned he would not like to renew his contract. The contract ends after the on-going Commonwealth Bank tri-series in Australia.
McLaren terminates designer Coughlan’s contract
By DPA
Melbourne : McLaren Friday terminated the contract of former chief designer Mike Coughlan, months after suspending him in the Formula One spy scandal.
Coughlan, who was suspended in July upon the discovery of Ferrari documents at his house, could not be fired sooner due to legal issues, a McLaren spokeswoman told Deutsche Presse-Agentur Friday on the sidelines of the Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park here.
McLaren's chief designer received technical information from Ferrari's Nigel Stepney, who was immediately fired by his team.