Deepak Jain Sat, Jan 16 10 06:39 PM
South Africa were 382 for six wickets in reply to England's first innings of 180 when lightning stopped play 50 minutes after lunch on the third day of the fourth and final test at the Wanderers on Saturday.
Scores: England 180 (Dale Steyn 5-51) v South Africa 382-6 (Graeme Smith 105, Hashim Amla 75, AB de Villiers 58, Mark Boucher 79 not out).
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Deepak Jain>Sat, Jan 16 10 06:09 PM
New York, Jan 17 (ANI): Tiger Woods, who has cheated on his wife Elin Nordegren with a bevy of beauties, might have been crazy about her - at one point.
Few years ago, the philandering golf great spent a lot of time getting cozy with a hot blonde while shooting a Nike commercial with directors Albert and Allen Hughes.
"He was grabbing her ass," the New York Post quoted Allen as saying.
Allen added: "Everyone was going, 'Who's the blonde?' "
The blonde, however, turned out to be Nordegren. (ANI)
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Deepak Jain Sat, Jan 16 10 05:23 PM
New Delhi, Jan 16 (PTI) Seven players including third seed Iranian Grandmaster Ghaem Maghami Ehsan are sharing the lead at the end of fourth round of the 8th Parsvnath International Open Chess tournament here today. Playing black side of Sicilian Defence, Maghami overcame Indian International Master K Rathnakaran in 58 moves. The top Grandmasters in the fray are finding it difficult to get decisive results in their favour as five of them signed peace treaty against lower rated opponents in the fourth round. Russian Grandmaster Dmitry Kryakvin had to spilt point with Vikramaditya Kamble while Dibyendu Barua shook the hands with young K Priyadharshan in 15 moves. Third round hero Jharkhand youngster Abhishek Das had another fruitful day in the office as he held Indian Grandmaster Deepan Chakkravarthy to a creditable draw with black pieces. Tenth seed Grandmaster Alexander Zubarev of Ukraine tried hard to get a favourable result but forced to split the point against Chandra Shekhar Gokhale after a marathon match that last 87 moves arrived out of Kings Indian Attack. Veteran Indian Grandmaster Praveen Thipsay settled for his third consecutive draw in the tournament. In another surprising result, Indian International Master Deep Sengupta had a shock defeat at the hands of young Swayams Mishra of Orissa.
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Deepak Jain>Sat, Jan 16 10 05:09 PM
Kolkata, January 16 (ANI): German football legend Lothar Mathhaus unveiled the FIFA World Cup trophy 2010 in Kolkata on Friday. The programme was part of the tour organised by FIFA or International Federation of Association Football, soccer's governing body, to take the trophy around 86 countries to provide soccer fans an opportunity to see the World Cup Trophy. Addressing reporters at the unveiling ceremony, Matthaus said that the future of football lies in Africa and Asia.
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Deepak Jain Sat, Jan 16 10 04:49 PM
Margao, Jan 16 (PTI) Salgaocar would be looking to exploit the home advantage when they take on an in-form Pune FC in the 10th round of the I-League tomorrow at Nehru stadium here. Both the teams are seperated by two points and Pune who have played one match more for their nine points. Salgaocar have seven points from eight points. Salgaocar will be without striker Manjit Singh who is nursing an injury. While Ekene will not be able to play on account of a double booking. But Salgaocar''s coach Tim Hankison is confident that his team will emerge victors against Pune FC. "Our boys have played well in Mumbai against Mumbai FC but failed to convert the chances that came our way which saw us ending on losing side. Hopefully, they do not commit the same mistakes," stated Hankison. Pune F C who have not lost in their last four matches will be looking to keep their good run. They have injury worries as defenders Caitano Costa and Chika Wali is ruled out tomorrow''s match due to injuries along with striker Edmar and Jeje. "Going by form, we have a good chance to pick full points. But we have to be cautious against our rivals as they are a good side and have advantage of playing at home, so we should play to our potential for a win," stated Derrick Pereira, Pune F C coach.
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Deepak Jain Sat, Jan 16 10 04:19 PM
Monday's order of play on the showcourts on day one of the Australian Open (prefix denotes seeding, times GMT):
Rod Laver Arena - play starts at 0000 14-Maria Sharapova (Russia) v Maria Kirilenko (Russia)
15-Kim Clijsters (Belgium) v Valerie Tetreault (Canada)
5-Andy Murray (Britain) v Kevin Anderson (South Africa)
From 0800
2-Rafa Nadal (Spain) v Peter Luczak (Australia)
Jelena Dokic (Australia) v 27-Alisa Kleybanova (Russia)
Hisense Arena - play starts at 0000 2-Dinara Safina (Russia) v Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia)
7-Andy Roddick (U.S.) v Thiemo de Bakker (Netherlands)
4-Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) v Michael Russell (U.S.)
Justine Henin (Belgium) v Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium)
Margaret Court Arena - play starts at 0000
Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) v Alexandra Dulgheru (Romania)
Guillaume Rufin (France) v Bernard Tomic (Australia)
5-Elena Dementieva (Russia) v Vera Dushevina (Russia)
8-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) v Monica Niculescu (Romania)
From 0830
Matthew Ebden (Australia) v 12-Gael Monfils (France)
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Deepak Jain Sat, Jan 16 10 03:59 PM
Karachi, Jan 16 (PTI) Livid with Pakistan''s shambolic performance in the ongoing Test series against Australia, PCB Director General and former captain Javed Miandad called the team "indisciplined" and said he would have sacked some players if he had the authority. "If I had the authority, I would sack all those players who regularly violated the clauses of their central contracts by giving unnecessary statements that only damage the image of Pakistan cricket," Miandad said. "If I had my way I would drop them from the team and select new players because as it is this team is not winning us any matches in Australia," he added. The former great said the players lacked the application to do well in Test cricket. "Twenty20 has clearly damaged our cricket. When it first started, I had warned that it would damage us the most because already we have a weak domestic system to groom our players," the former Pakistan coach said. He said Pakistani players lacked the discipline and temperament to play long innings in Test matches.
Source: Web Search
Deepak Jain>Sat, Jan 16 10 03:49 PM
London, Jan. 16 (ANI): As he gears up for his first Australian Open as a dad after the birth of twin daughters, Swiss tennis ace Roger Federar has expressed confidence that fatherhood won't affect his career.
The world No.1 has wife Mirka and six-month-old daughters Myla and Charlene in tow at Melbourne Park as he attempts to add to his record 15 grand slam triumphs, The Mirror reports.
The three times Australian Open champion will have to rewrite history if he wants to continue his grand slam winning ways.
Only eight players have won grand slam singles titles after becoming fathers, with just American Jimmy Connors managing the achievement more than once.
But Federer insists it will be business as usual when he kicks off his Open campaign against Russian Igor Andreev.
"There's always going to be speculation once you have a family, you look at history and see some players don't win when they have a family. The hunger's still there - I'm working as hard as I have been, I haven't just been babysitting," he said.
"I've been putting in the big hours and I feel my game's where it's supposed to be," he added.
Former world No.1 John McEnroe is among those who believe Federer the father is facing one of his biggest challenges.
"There's no tougher opponent than kids. When you try to juggle that, try to spend the time necessary to be the best player in the world and be a great father and husband, it gets more complicated," McEnroe, a father of six, said.
"I'm not going to say that (it will be the start of Federer's decline) because Roger loves the game so much - maybe he'll be different. I know from my own - when I had kids I thought I could handle both things," he added. (ANI)
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Deepak Jain>Sat, Jan 16 10 03:39 PM
Chandigarh, Jan 16 (ANI): Annoyed by the negligence of the National Rifles Association India's first and only individual Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra is planning to move out of shooting range forever.
The 27-year-old Bindra, who clinched the historic Olympic gold medal in the 10m air rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, is tired of being at loggerheads with the NRAI.
Abinav's father A S Bindra informed the media that he (Abhinav) is annoyed that his point of view is not being taken properly by the national body and is being treated like a Mr. Nobody.
"He needs space to do his training and prepare himself for this year's Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games the way he prepared for the Olympics," A S Bindra said.
Earlier, Abhinav defied NRAI by openly criticising its functioning.
Recently the NRAI insisted that Bindra should be present at national level trials.
A S Bindra said that Abhinav has been asked to undergo trials and he even agreed to it.
On December 18m 2009, Abhinav came from Germany where he is undergoing training for trials but to his dismay, the NRAI postponed the trials.
"He has requested that he be exempted from such trials not once but twice. He can't be harassed like this," A S Bindra added.
"His (Abhinav) emotional state is very low. He is planning that if 'I am subjected to such harassment then it's better to quit then confront'," he said.
The NRAI, however, dismissed Abhinav's allegations and said the body never misinformed him about the trial schedule. (ANI)
Source: Web Search
Deepak Jain Sat, Jan 16 10 03:23 PM
Philem Dipak Singh Chittagong, Jan 16 (PTI) Aware that the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings can change hands after every series, top ranked India would settle for nothing less than a victory when they take on lowly Bangladesh in the first of the two-match Test series starting here tomorrow. With India playing not many Tests this year and other teams -- including South Africa, Australia and England -- closely behind them, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men will have to get maximum result from the Bangladesh series. India is expected to maintain their world number one status if they win the series against Bangladesh 2-0 as South Africa, engaged in a Test series against England at home, is left with no chance of toppling the Dhoni-led side. Even though some of the Indian players, who were part of the just concluded tri-series squad, would be a bit low in morale after losing the final to Sri Lanka, they will have to get over the disappointment and concentrate at the job at hand. Notwithstanding the unimpressive start in 50-over format, the Indians would be aiming to begin with a bang in Test cricket. The complexion of the team has also changed after six players, including stalwarts Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, joining the touring squad. More PTI PDS SSC MRM
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Deepak Jain>Sat, Jan 16 10 03:19 PM
U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters, who came out of retirement last year after a two-year break, was left feeling disorientated on her return to the Australian Open.
The 26-year-old, who gave birth to a daughter during her time away from the game, plays a qualifier in the first round on her competitive return to an altered Melbourne Park.
"Obviously a lot of things have changed around the courts and everything ... so that took a few days to get used to," the 15th seed, who lost to compatriot Justine Henin in the 2004 final, told reporters on Saturday.
"It's just nice to see (it) again, because I never thought it would happen again (returning), obviously to be playing tennis here."
Clijsters, who won the U.S. Open title as a wild card in just her third tournament back after retiring, was victorious at the Brisbane International last week, beating Henin in three sets and is considered one of the favourites in Melbourne.
While she put her return to her best tennis down to sheer hard work, the pace of her progress has come as a surprise.
However, it would not mean she would be throwing herself back into the tour like she had prior to motherhood.
"My schedule is this year obviously far from being busy. Obviously I hope to do well at the tournaments but I think I'll play about 15 or 16 tournaments maybe including Fed Cups and everything.
"My focus is not really based on rankings as much as probably trying to really aim for the big tournaments, of course.
"It's something that's done talking a lot with my coach, my fitness coaches too, because I really want to be able to peak at the right time."
Clijsters said the days of signing up for doubles as well as singles at tournaments were behind her, a regime which may have pushed her towards the exit door.
"Obviously my situation too with the family, I think it's important for me to also have the life at home a little bit."
Source: Web Search
Deepak Jain Sat, Jan 16 10 02:59 PM
New Delhi/Chandigarh, Jan 16 (PTI) Frustrated with the national federation''s "attitude", disillusioned Olympic hero Abhinav Bindra has created a flutter by threatening to quit shooting, throwing Indian sports into yet another controversy. Abhinav said he was frustrated with the National Rifles Association of India''s attitude towards him but the NRAI claimed they were being made a scapegoat in the entire episode and they have never asked him to appear for trials. "There are days when I feel like throwing away my rifle. The whole thing started in July when the sports ministry intimated me that the NRAI wants to me to compete in trials for Commonwealth Championships, I came back in November only to be told by the NRAI that the trials have been postponed to January," said Abhinav, India''s first individual Olympic gold medallist. "Now I get to know that my name is not there in the team for the Commonwealth Championship in February. I am not upset that somebody else is getting a chance, I am only upset about the process. First they throw me out of the Commowealth Games core group, then they deny me a contract with the sponsors and now I am not there in the Commonwealth Championship team," he added. .
Source: Web Search
Deepak Jain>Sat, Jan 16 10 02:53 PM
Kolkata (West Bengal), Jan 16 (ANI): German football legend Lothar Mathhaus unveiled the FIFA World Cup trophy 2010 in Kolkata.
The programme was part of the tour organised by Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA or International Federation of Association Football), soccer's governing body, to take the trophy around 86 countries to provide soccer fans an opportunity to see the World Cup Trophy.
The tour began its journey from the FIFA headquarters in Zurich on September 21, 2009 and will end in South Africa on May 4, 2010.
Addressing reporters at the unveiling ceremony, Matthaus said that the future of football lay in Africa and Asia.
"The future, the moment shows us - Asia and Africa is going on same level like Europe and South America and I accept the World Cup African team (is) best team, under the best teams all over the world," said Matthaus.
"I am sure in a couple of years we (will) have teams from Asia and from Africa under the top ten in the world," he added.
Matthaus, the first footballer to receive the FIFA Player of the Year Award in 1991, led West Germany to a historic 1990 World Cup triumph over Maradona's Argentina, but Matthaus hailed Maradona as the greatest footballer of our times.
Matthaus further said, "(Diego) Maradona was in his time the best player, especially in the 1986 World Cup. I think without Maradona, Argentina can never win the World Cup. In 1990, Italy was little bit different because Maradona didn't play at highest level like 1986."
"So it was easier for us to win the final against Argentina, I played professional football from 1979 till 2000 and in these 21 years I didn't see a better player than Maradona," he added.
The solid gold 6 kg-heavy trophy has been kept for public display in the Salt Lake. It will stay in the stadium for the next two days, after which the trophy shall travel to Vietnam and Thailand completing the Asian tour.
It is expected to travel across 89 countries in the world to create enthusiasm and reach out to the millions of football loving people all across the globe.
FIFA World Cup tournament will kick off in South Africa on June 11, 2010.(ANI)
Source: Web Search
Deepak Jain>Sat, Jan 16 10 02:24 PM
London, Jan 16 (ANI): Ace England midfielder David Beckham will be able to return to AC Milan whenever he wants after his loan from LA Galaxy expires at the end of the season.
"Milan's doors will always be open for him, in July, next January or whenever he wants," said chief executive Adriano Galliani.
"He's the man I court most. He's a fantastic footballer. You should see how he trains."
Beckham, 34, helped Milan to wins in the first two matches since he rejoined and he will start against Sienna tomorrow, the Daily Express reports. (ANI)
Source: Web Search
Deepak Jain>Sat, Jan 16 10 02:00 PM
Cabinda (Angola), Jan 16 (DPA) The Ivory Coast became the first team through to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations when they beat Ghana's Black Stars 3-1 in a Group B game played in Cabinda.
Although they played most of the second half with just ten men after Emmanuel Eboue was sent off for a two-footed challenge, the Elephants were simply too strong for Ghana and won through goals by Gervinho, Siaka Tiene and Didier Drogba here Friday.
Asamoah Gyan pulled one back for Ghana from the penalty spot in second half injury time.
After Togo's withdrawal from the tournament following an attack on their team bus, which left the bus driver, as well as the assistant team coach and press officer dead, Ivory Coast, who are on four points, can no longer finish worse than second in the group.
Burkina Faso, who face Ghana in the final group game Tuesday are on one point, while Ghana have none.
After playing their opening game against Burkina Faso to a goalless draw, the Ivory Coast could not afford a defeat and they faced Ghana with much more purpose than they displayed in their first match.
Their first chance fell to Didier Zokora, but he saw his shot well saved by Richard Kingson in the 19th minute, with the Wigan custodian again denying the Sevilla midfielder just a few minutes later.
It was only a matter of time though, when the goal would fall and on 23 minutes Salomon Kalou played a through ball to Gervinho, who side-footed the ball into the net.
It took Ghana's Black Star's some time to get into the match, but Kwadwo Asamoah nearly found an equalizer six minutes from the break when his shot from the edge of the area forced Boubacar Barry into a great save.
At half time Ghana coach Milovan Rajeva brought on Chelsea's Michael Essien in an attempt to strengthen their midfield.
Their efforts to get back into the game received a serious set- back ten minutes after the restart though when Arsenal's Eboue was sent off for a lunging two-footed tackle on Opoku Agyemang.
Ghana immediately made their numerical advantage count as they pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Matthew Amoah saw his volley strike the post in the 57th minute, while Barry needed to make a leaping save shortly afterwards from an Asamoah strike.
Against the run of play Tiene made it two for the Elephants in the 66th minute with a free-kick from 32 metres which the Valenciennes defender placed just under the crossbar in the left corner, beating Kingson.
Although playing with a man more Ghana could not come back into the game and Drogba gave Ivory Coast a third goal in the last minute of the game with a powerful header from an Abdelkader Keita cross.
Instead of celebrating Drogba's goal, Ivorian goalkeeper Barry held a scarf with a message in support of the Togo side into the TV cameras.
Three minutes into injury time Gyan pulled one back for the Black Stars from the penalty spot after Scottish-based Souleymane Bamba brought down a Ghanaian player in the area.
Source: Web Search
Deepak Jain Sat, Jan 16 10 01:54 PM
Philem Dipak Singh Chittagong, Jan 16 (PTI) Aware that the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings can change hands after every series, top ranked India would settle for nothing more than a victory when they take on lowly Bangladesh in the first of the two-match Test series starting here tomorrow. With India playing not many Tests this year and other teams -- including South Africa, Australia and England -- closely behind them, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men will have to get maximum result from the Bangladesh series. India is expected to maintain their world number one status if they win the series against Bangladesh 2-0 as South Africa, engaged in a Test series against England at home, is left with no chance of toppling the Dhoni-led side. Even though some of the Indian players, who were part of the just concluded tri-series squad, would be a bit low in morale after losing the final to Sri Lanka, they will have to get over the disappointment and concentrate at the job at hand. Notwithstanding the unimpressive start in 50-over format, the Indians would be aiming to begin with a bang in Test cricket. The complexion of the team has also changed after six players, including stalwarts Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, joining the touring squad. More PTI PDS SSC MRM
Source: Web Search
Deepak Jain>Sat, Jan 16 10 01:50 PM
London, Jan 16(ANI): England striker David Beckham is reportedly planning to hang up his boots after their final game of the World Cup campaign in South Africa.
According to reports, Beckham wants to give his best in the tournament and then settle down back in Britain with wife Victoria and sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz.
"The World Cup could be David's swan song. He wants it more than anything and he wants to go out with a bang," The Sun quoted a close family friend, as saying.
"His mind is made up. He will spill his guts for his country on the world stage one last time - then he wants to be a dad," the source added.
Beckham is currently on loan at AC Milan from LA Galaxy, where he has 18 months left of a five-year contract, but he has made a series of emotional calls from Italy to Victoria, at their US home, emphasizing the importance of the family being together in England.
"David and Victoria are getting on better than ever and after a wonderful family Christmas they have realized what really matters to them. Both of them have decided they want the family back in the UK," the friend said. (ANI)
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Deepak Jain>Sat, Jan 16 10 01:40 PM
London, Jan 16 (ANI): Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is hopeful that striker Dimitar Berbatov can make it to the end of the season without having knee surgery.
Berbatov has been struggling since November and needs an exploratory operation to see what the problem is. But he is not keen on surgery, having suffered no problems during United's warm weather training camp in Qatar this week.
Ferguson, who is preparing his side for the visit of Burnley, said: "If we could see it through until the end of the season it would be better. The advice was to have an exploratory operation but Dimitar wants to play through it."
"Sometimes he feels it and sometimes he doesn't. Maybe the climate helped but he didn't feel it when we went away, so he trained every day.
"It is a difficult one and if he is feeling OK it is not a problem. But if he keeps continually coming up against a problem we would have to make a decision on it," The Sun quoted him, as saying. (ANI)
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