Maghami maintains sole lead; Tania holds Liem

Deepak Jain Mon, Jan 18 10 08:56 PM

New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) India''s Tania Sachdev held top seed Le Quang Liem of Vietnam while young International Master M R Lalith Babu drew with Richard Bitton of Philippines in the seventh round of the Parsvnath International Open Chess tournament here today. Sachdev was joint third, while Lalith joined a pack of seven players including second seed Grandmaster Lenic Luka of Slovena at the second place. Among other Indians in fray, Tamil Nadu youngster Arun Karthik held Russian Grandmaster Dmitry Kryakvin to a creditable draw after playing with black pieces. Iranian Grandmaster Maghami Ehsan Ghaem settled for a quick draw against Russian Grandmaster Maxim Turov to maintain his slender half point lead. Playing safely with white pieces, Maghami offered to split point on the 14th move and his Russian rival gleefully accepted the offer. Meanwhile, playing white side of King''s Indian Defence, Lenic overcame India''s Swapnil Dhopade in 46 moves.

Source: Web Search

Yobo to miss rest of Nations Cup, Essien in injury scare

Deepak Jain>Mon, Jan 18 10 08:32 PM

Benguela (Angola), Jan 18 (DPA) Nigerian coach Shaibu Amodu will have to make do without his captain Joseph Yobo, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) announced in their website.

Yobo was taken for a scan after having to be substituted during the Super Eagles' 1-0 Group C victory in Benguela Saturday.

'We have asked the doctors to do a scan on the injury, so that we will be able to see whether it is serious,' Amodu said earlier Sunday.

Late Sunday night, the NFF said on their website that the Everton player had torn a hamstring and would be out for the rest of the tournament.

Ghana coach Milan Rajevac meanwhile was Sunday sweating over the injuries of star midfielder Michael Essien.

Essien, who has only just recovered from an injury and played only one half of Ghana's opening Group B match against the Ivory Coast, was taken to hospital after injuring his knee during training Sunday.

The Chelsea player who captains his country arrived at the tournament late carrying a hamstring injury that he had picked up playing for his club.

Essien is doubtful for the Black Stars' final group game against Burkina Faso Tuesday.

Source: Web Search

Joshna top seeded for WISPA Challenger

Deepak Jain>Mon, Jan 18 10 08:26 PM

Chennai, Jan 18 (IANS) Stephen Coppinger from South Africa, ranked No.49 in the World, and India's Joshna Chinappa (No.34) have been given top billing in the PSA and WISPA Challenger squash tournament that commenced with the qualifying rounds, here Monday.

The tournament is part of preparation of Indian players for the Commonwealth Games 2010.

The Indians in the main draw of the PSA event are Siddharth Suchde (ranked 99) and Ravi Dixit (223) while 11 Indian are slotted in the qualification rounds.

Joining Joshna in the main draw of the WISPA event are Indians Dipika Pallikal (46), Anaka Alankamony (87) and Anwesha Reddy (114).

The results (qualifying rounds):

PSA: Naveen Jangra bt Vrishab Kotian 11-6, 11-6, 11-7; Deepak Mishra bt Waqar Pathan 11-5, 11-5, 11-4; A Parthiban bt Kush Kumar 11-5, 11-9, 11-7; Zyad Alowayesh (Kuw) bt B Balamurugan 11-13, 11-3, 11-8, 11-7.

WISPA: Ankita Sharma bt Aisha Al-Hamad (Kuw) 11-4, 11-1, 11-2.

Source: Web Search

Siddarth, Ravi in PSA events

Deepak Jain Mon, Jan 18 10 08:16 PM

Chennai, Jan 18 (PTI) Top Indian squash players including Siddarth, Ravi Dixit and Joshna Chinnappa figures in the PSA and WISPA events being held here as part of India''s preparation for the Commonwealth Games. Supported by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, these events offers prize money of USD 8750 and USD 8000 respectively for PSA and WISPA categories. South African Stephen Coppinger (PSA ranked 49) has been given the pride of place in seedings and Suchde (ranked 99) and Ravi Dixit (ranked 223) are direct entrants in main draw based on their rankings, while eleven other Indians would be participating in the qualification rounds. In the WISPA event, Chinappa (ranked 34) has been given top billing, while Dipika Pallikal (ranked 46), Anaka Alankamony (ranked 87) and Anwesha Reddy (ranked 114) are the direct entrants. The first qualifying round ties held today were won by Naveen Jangra, Deepak Mishra and A Parthiban (all Indians) and Zyad Alowayesh (Kuwait). Jangra beat Vrishab Kotian (Ind) 11-6, 11-6, 11-7, Deepak Mishra defeated Waqar Pathan (Ind) 11-5, 11-5, 11-4, Parthiban saw off Kush Kumar (Ind) 11-5, 11-9, 11-7, while Alowayesh beat B Balamurugan 11-13, 11-3, 11-8, 11-7. MORE PTI RE ATK

Source: Web Search

Bangladesh starts poorly against India in Chittagong Test

Deepak Jain>Mon, Jan 18 10 07:58 PM

Chittagong, Jan 18(ANI): India took three Bangladesh wickets for a paltry 59 runs on the second day of first cricket Test between the two sides before play was suspended due to bad light. Earlier, India had scored 243.

Fast bowler Zaheer Khan scalped two wickets, while Ishant Sharma picked up one.

Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal (31) and Imrul Kayes (23) scored 53 runs for the first wicket before exiting. Sharma snared Shariar Nafees.

Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar scored an undefeated 105 runs, registering his 44th Test century with twelve fours and two sixes.

Medium-pacer Shahadat Hossain and left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan claimed five wickets each. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Mattoo's resignation accepted, Anil Khanna new OC

Deepak Jain>Mon, Jan 18 10 07:52 PM

New Delhi, Jan 18 (IANS) Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi Monday accepted Ashok Kumar Mattoo's resignation as treasurer of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) and appointed All India Tennis Association secretary-general Anil Khanna in his place.

Earlier in the day, Hockey India (HI) senior vice president Vidya Stokes said the executive board has accepted the resignation of Mattoo from the president's post. Stokes will hold the charge till the election Feb 7.

Ironically, Mattoo's resignation was accepted the day Kalmadi disbursed Rs.1 crore to the players who had walked out of the national camp last week demanding settlement of all their outstanding payments, including match fee, incentive bonuses and sponsorship money for last year.

After failing to resolve the pay dispute with the players, Mattoo felt his authority was compromised when Sahara India Parivar released on its own Rs.1 crore for paying the players and Kalmadi stepping in to carry out the negotiations.

Mattoo told the players that he was helpless to either make the payment or even give a written assurance as demanded by them since he was holding the charge in ad hoc capacity. He tried in vain to convince the players that HI funds did not permit it to make the entire payment in one go and he even showed the balance sheet.

In a statement here Monday, Kalmadi said he was accepting Mattoo's resignation 'with great reluctance' after failing to convince him to reconsider his decision.

'It is with great reluctance and after consulting my senior colleagues that I have decided to accept my colleague Ashok Kumar Mattoo's resignation as treasurer of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games.'

Kalmadi said: 'I wish I could have persuaded him to change his mind. We tried hard to convince Mattoo to stay on, but he had made up his mind. We respect his sentiment and accept his wish to retire from sports administration. We will miss his valuable inputs as we head for the home stretch of our preparations to host the Commonwealth Games. We wish to place on record our appreciation of his meticulous work over a number of years.'

Mattoo's successor Khanna, a chartered accountant, is also the president of the Asian Tennis Federation.

Source: Web Search

Rain at Australian Open: Sania's match put off

Deepak Jain>Mon, Jan 18 10 07:42 PM

Melbourne, Jan 18 (IANS) Sania Mirza's opening singles match against French Aravane Rezai was put off to Tuesday after unexpected showers abandoned play at Melbourne Park here Monday.

Rain delayed the start of play on the outside courts on the opening day of the Australian Open. The only matches to start on time were on the covered main show courts at Rod Laver Arena, where Russian Maria Kirilenko knocked out No.14 seed Maria Sharapova.

Sania and 26th-seeded Rezai were to play on court six. Theirs is now the first match at show court two, slated for local time 1100 hrs Tuesday.

It is the third meeting between Sania and Rezai. They are 1-1 with Rezai winning their previous meeting at Madrid last year.

Source: Web Search

England fined for slow over-rate in Johannesburg Test

Deepak Jain>Mon, Jan 18 10 06:55 PM

Johannesburg, Jan.18 (ANI): The England team has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its defeat to South Africa in the fourth and last Test in Johannesburg.

AN ICC press release said Roshan Mahanama of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fines after Andrew Strauss's side was ruled to be one over short of its target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with the new ICC Code of Conduct regulations governing minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

As such, Strauss was fined 20 per cent of his match fee while his players received 10-per-cent fines. If Strauss is found guilty of two further minor over-rate offences in Tests over the next 12 months, he will receive a one-match suspension as per the provisions of the new, enhanced ICC Code of Conduct.

The penalty was accepted by Strauss without contest so there was no need for a hearing. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

England fined for slow over-rate in Johannesburg Test

Deepak Jain>Mon, Jan 18 10 06:47 PM

Johannesburg, Jan.18 (ANI): The England team has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its defeat to South Africa in the fourth and last Test in Johannesburg.

AN ICC press release said Roshan Mahanama of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fines after Andrew Strauss's side was ruled to be one over short of its target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with the new ICC Code of Conduct regulations governing minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

As such, Strauss was fined 20 per cent of his match fee while his players received 10-per-cent fines. If Strauss is found guilty of two further minor over-rate offences in Tests over the next 12 months, he will receive a one-match suspension as per the provisions of the new, enhanced ICC Code of Conduct.

The penalty was accepted by Strauss without contest so there was no need for a hearing. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Mattoo given a raw deal in hockey fiasco

Deepak Jain Mon, Jan 18 10 04:18 PM

India, Jan. 17 -- The way Kalmadi hung him out to dry while portraying himself as the saviour of Indian hockey hurt Mattoo. It was like casting aspersions on his ability to handle the responsibilities of a HI president. Mattoo has been pleading with the players and also simultaneously talking tough as he was told not to give in to the 22 striking players. "The understanding in Hockey India was that giving in to the demands of the players could lead to similar strikes in future, which would embarrass the federation and the country ahead of international tournaments. There was a similar feeling in IOA, and HI officials were constantly told not to succumb to the pressure," said a source. Accordingly, Mattoo along with Harish Sharma, Narendra Batra and Rajiv Mehta, gave the players an ultimatum on Tuesday to join the camp within 48 hours or else be replaced by a new set of players. They had even reached Delhi to threaten the players' representatives with a list of 20 alternative names. "Till late in the night on January 12, HI officials were told to be tough with the players. But the very next day, things took a dramatic turn with Dhanraj Pillay stepping in as an emissary of Kalmadi and a truce was agreed upon, the players' main demand on money was accepted and assurances given on other issues." Mattoo was left looking like a villain. More than that, he was made to look incompetent, someone who was not able to handle things as well as Kalmadi did. "He felt humiliated," said the source. Another thing that prompted Mattoo to take the call was that Sahara India got in touch with Kalmadi directly and worked out the payment to the players. Mattoo, it is learnt, made three unsuccessful attempts to talk Sahara into doing what they ultimately did. "Mattoo was very unhappy with the manner in which the crisis was resolved. He always said he would give players the money if he had it. While he was advised not to give in to the players' demands, things were worked out keeping him out of the picture.

Source: Web Search

We need regular fielding camps: Pak coach

Deepak Jain>Mon, Jan 18 10 03:48 PM

Hobart, Jan 18 (IANS) Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has warned that unless his charges are made to attend regular fielding camps they cannot do well in Test cricket, especially against strong teams like Australia.

As his team suffered its fourth consecutive 3-0 whitewash against the Aussies Monday, Intikhab stressed the need for world class fielders in his team.

'You cannot expect to beat top teams if you can't even take simple catches,' said the experienced coach.

Intikhab watched with disbelief as young pacer Mohammad Aamer floored a sitter to let Ricky Ponting off the hook on the opening morning of their third Test against Australia here last week. Later, the Aussie skipper went on to plunder the visiting attack on his way to 209 at the Bellerive Oval in front of jubilant home fans.

Pakistan lost the first two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney primarily because of poor fielding.

'It's true that we are losing Tests again and again but the problem remains the same and that's our poor fielding.'

Intikhab said he would float the idea of holding regular fielding camps at all major centres of the country.

'You need to hold fielding camps lasting for at least 15 days on a regular basis,' he said.

'You should have those camps in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other major centres and all (Test and first-class) players should attend them,' he was quoted as saying by Pakistani daily The News.

Intikhab believes that unless the players improve their fielding they will be unable to produce positive results.

'You should have better fielding skills and better catching skills,' he said.

'For that our players will have to take fielding very seriously. Unfortunately, back in Pakistan nobody is doing that.'

Pakistan have dropped more than two dozen catches on the twin Test tours of New Zealand and Australia this season and their players are now routinely described as 'butter-fingered' by the local media.

Intikhab also reiterated his team's lack of Test experience.

'We didn't play any Test cricket for two years. I'm not making excuses (but) we have played too much ODI and Twenty20 cricket. It's a bit difficult when you play too much ODI cricket and you come to Test cricket. In Test cricket you need to be patient, and show determination.'

Intikhab took a swipe at the senior players for failing to do their job but hoped they would learn from their mistakes.

'I hope we can learn from our mistakes, especially the senior players, they've got to take responsibility. They should try and stay at the wicket but it hasn't happened here. We can learn from our mistakes, we have youngsters in the side and they are learning. It takes time. There aren't any superstars in our team, they have to really show what they are made of and learn from mistakes. Good sides always learn from mistakes.'

--Indo-Asian New Service

kh/av/dg

Source: Web Search

'Shot selection became key'

Deepak Jain Mon, Jan 18 10 03:18 PM

Chittagong, Jan. 17 -- Sachin Tendulkar never ceases to amaze. Even after 20 years of international cricket, over 30,000 runs in Tests and one-dayers to his name, his hunger is insatiable. There was a time when Indian batting depended on how he fared. Over the years, that burden has got shared but even today, he is the one answering most SOS calls. India had lost the openers in quick succession on Sunday. The minnows tag attached to Bangladesh can make it difficult to curb instincts. But then he is different. He batted out the day to get India past the 200-mark with wickets falling at the other end at short intervals. A wristy push to mid-wicket for a single got him off the mark. After an edge, off debutant Shafiul Islam, went between Imrul Kayes and the keeper to the thirdman boundary, he cut out the extra-cover drive from his repertoire of shots. And when an inside edge, off Shahadat Hossain, went towards the fine-leg boundary, Tendulkar was cursing himself. He kept playing close to his body, nudging and pushing balls in the gaps. Just six fours from 140 balls elucidated the restrain he showed, something no other Indian batsmen did. "One had to be patient when wickets were falling. One had to tighten up the game and shot selection became important. Somebody needed to hang around and get a partnership going. But that did not happen," Tendulkar said. Tendulkar crossed 13,000 runs in Tests when he reached 30. A crisp pull to the square-leg boundary, off a longhop from Mahmudullah Riyad, took him to the milestone. "Yes, it's a nice feeling to get to 13,000 runs in Test cricket. Not that I was counting. I was focusing on the game when it appeared on the scoreboard," he said.

Source: Web Search

Newly-built sea link hits Indian runners' CWG qualification

Deepak Jain Mon, Jan 18 10 03:03 PM

Mumbai, Jan. 17 -- The addition of the Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL) to the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon route was supposed to churn out faster timings. Instead, it adversely affected the chances of Indian athletes of qualifying for the Delhi Commonwealth Games. Ram Singh Yadav, who finished second amongst Indians, had crossed the line in 2:18.03 sec last year. This year he clocked 2:21.02 sec. Binning Lyngkhoi was the best Indian runner with a timing of 2:20.12 sec. Both fell short of the qualification mark of 2:19.00 sec. While Yadav termed running on the link as "tough", his teammate Angad Kumar was more categorical: "It was uncomfortable because we didn't have any shade from the sun and the hot wind slowed us further." Kumar came in fifth amongst the Indian runners. The pace of the race was also slower with even men's champion Denis Ndiso of Kenya (2:12.34sec) almost a minute behind the course record of 2:11.51 set by Kenneth Mugara. For coach K.S. Mathew, the inability of his wards to set faster timings means that their CWG qualification is now in jeopardy. "We don't have any marathon in India now which has a course certified by the IAAF. We have to go abroad and race and there are not enough races for us to do that," he said.

On Sunday, the full-marathon flagged-off at 7:40 am. Jones admitted the late start is not ideal for Mumbai. While the races in New York, London and Berlin start past nine since the temperature is still cool at 10-12 degree Celsius, marathons in hotter countries generally have an early start. That there was no water available for runners on the 5.6 km link stretch only compounded matters.

Source: Web Search