Jindal delighted at new norms for shooters

Published Sat, Jan 30 10 06:25 PM

New Delhi, Jan 30 (PTI) A former shooter himself, Member of Parliament Naveen Jindal today welcomed the liberalised norms announced by the Sports Ministry for the import of weapons and cartridges by the marksmen for their training. "I have always pursued the cause of youth and sports in India. Being a shooter myself, shooting is close to my heart. I am delighted and grateful to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for the notification, which I am sure, will help improve the performance of our shooters," Jindal said in a statement. "(The notification) may help India win medals at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games and further popularise the sport of shooting in the country," he added. Jindal had been pursuing for liberalised and rationalised procedures for import of weapons and ammunition and resale of used weapons by renowned shooters.

Source: Web Search

Lalith Babu in joint lead with Maxim Turov

Published Sat, Jan 30 10 06:09 PM

Chennai, Jan30 (PTI) International Master M R Lalith Babu of Andhra Pradesh stayed on course for his maiden Grandmaster norm after he overwhelmed compatriot Deepan Chakkravarthi in the seventh round of Chennai Open IM Chess Tournament here today. With this second consecutive win against a Grandmaster, Lalith Babu led the table along with overnight leader Grandmaster Maxim Turov of Russia with 6.5 points. Turov settled for a quick draw in 12 moves against compatriot Grandmaster Dmitry Krayakvin from an exchange Spanish variation. Turov allowed Krayakvin to sacrifice his queen and take a perpetual check early in the opening. The second spot is shared by six players -- GMs Dmitry Krayakvin, Marat Dzhumaev, Martyn Kravtsiv, Mikulas Manik, IM Vikramaditya Kamble and youngster Anwesh Upadhyaya. Anwesh Upadhyaya of Orissa moved closer to getting a norm with a handsome win against IM Bitoon Richard of Philippines as also another youngster R Siddharth who drew his game against Grandmaster Rinat Jumabayev. Vaibhav Suri, another youngster from Delhi, also stayed in the hunt for a norm after he defeated higher rated International Master Himanshu Sharma to move into the third spot with 5.5 points. Seventeen players are in the third spot with 5.5 points. MORE PTI COR BN PDS

Source: Web Search

Anand draws with Smeets; Carlsen joins Kramnik in lead

Published Sat, Jan 30 10 05:23 PM

From Our Chess Correspondent Wijk Aan Zee (The Netherlands), Jan 30 (PTI) After a lucky win in the previous round, world champion Viswanathan Anand was back to splitting points as he played out a quick draw against Dutch Jan Smeets in the 11th round of the Corus Chess Tournament here. Anand took his tally to six points out of a possible 11 and apart from the draws, the Indian was lucky to post a victory against Alexei Shirov of Spain in the 10th round of the elite group ''A''. With just two rounds to come in this category-19 event, Anand''s chances of a comeback are bleak unless he comes up with a winning performance against Russian Vladimir Kramnik in the penultimate round. Kramnik, meanwhile, was joined in the lead by world number one Magnus Carlsen of Norway who put it across Leinier Dominguez of Cuba. Both Kramnik and Carlsen now have 7.5 points and they are now a half point ahead of nearest rival Alexei Shirov of Spain. Anand shares the fourth spot along with Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine, defending champion Sergei Karjakin of Russia and Hikaru Nakamura of United States while Dominguez and Hungarian Peter Leko share the eighth spot with 5.5 points each. Anand did almost nothing with black pieces as Smeets was quite happy to get a half point against the World champion even though the latter had white pieces. The players split the point after just 15 moves.

Source: Web Search

Williams overcomes Henin for fifth Australian Open title

Published>Sat, Jan 30 10 05:19 PM

Melbourne, Jan 30 (DPA) Serena Williams Saturday overcame a fighting Justine Henin 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to claim her fifth Australian Open title.

The laboured victory marked the 12th Grand Slam for the American and her first in an even-numbered year at Melbourne Park after title success in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009.

Henin, the 2004 champion, was playing in only her second event since reversing a 2008 retirement which lasted 20 months.

Williams also became the first women's champion to successfully defend her title since Jennifer Capriati in 2002, improving to 8-6 over Henin.

Source: Web Search

Legendary golfer Tom Watson blasts Tiger Woods over sex scandal

Published>Sat, Jan 30 10 05:09 PM

New York, Jan 30 (ANI): Legendary golfer Tom Watson has blasted Tiger Woods for cheating on his wife and having numerous flings saying it is "bad for our game".

"It's something he needs to get control of and a handle on and show some humility to the public when he comes back," the New York Daily News quoted Watson, as telling told NBC affiliate KSHB-TV.

Watson said he hoped to see Woods, who has taken a hiatus from pro golf, to on the links "probably this year."

According to Watson, Woods should not only work on his golf course "manners" but also get "his personal life in order."

He said: "His swearing and his club throwing, that should end...That's not part of what we want to project as far as the professional golf tour is concerned."

Covenanting on Watson's advice to Woods, Brooks Melchior of the sportsBYbrooks blog wrote "in the rhetorically-correct world of pro golf that qualifies at the very least as a pro wrestling-esque open handed slap at Woods." (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Ferguson asks Man U fans to stop Wenger jibes

Published>Sat, Jan 30 10 04:59 PM

London, Jan 30 (ANI): Sir Alex Ferguson has asked Manchester United fans to stop their vile abuse of Arsene Wenger.

Fans verbally attack Wenger home and away and Ferguson wants the chants to stop, starting tomorrow at the Emirates.

"There's been some terrible abuse from our fans to Arsene Wenger and there must be a line drawn. We have a team to support - we don't need to worry about anyone else," The Sun quoted Ferguson, as saying.

It has been seven years since Wenger and United boss Ferguson last went head-to-head for the title.

Ferguson believes tomorrow's clash is the big one.

"Looking at the way the league is shaping up, this game with Arsenal is the biggest game of the season. These games with Arsenal are historic," Ferguson said.

"Since I came down here, it's been Arsenal and United competing for most of the trophies," he said. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Double man of the match Harris happy to play a 'fill-in' role for Australia

Published>Sat, Jan 30 10 04:49 PM

Melbourne, Jan 30 (ANI): Fast bowler Ryan Harris, who claimed 10 wickets and two man-of-the-match awards in the past week, has set his sights on becoming Australia's next frontline bowler, but is content for now to play a "fill-in" role for the world champions.

Harris has been in the form of his life since being recalled into the Australia squad for the past two one-dayers against Pakistan.

Harris was scintillating in Australia's 135-run win over Pakistan in Perth on Friday, FOX Sports reports.

The right-arm paceman finished with figures of 5-19 to go with Tuesday's 5-43, taking his wicket tally in one-day internationals to 11 in just three appearances at the phenomenal average of 10.54.

But with star bowler Mitchell Johnson expected to return to the side for Sunday's fifth one-dayer against Pakistan at the WACA Ground, Harris said he wouldn't be surprised if he was the one to be dropped.

"I'm here to fill in at the moment. The boys are resting, Dougy (Bollinger) is resting as well. So if I don't play the next game, well that's the way it is," Harris said.

"I've still got to earn my spot. The boys have been there and have done such a great job over the last two or three years. If the boys say to me on Sunday have a rest, then have a rest. That doesn't really bother me," he said.

"I look long term and think that if I keep bowling well then I'll make them pick me, make myself be the frontline bowler. But that's probably a little way off. If I keep doing well and they need someone to bowl when one of the guys need a rest they'll know I'll be there," Harris said.

Harris's only previous one-day international before the current series came a year ago against South Africa and the all-rounder feared he would not get another chance. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Olympic hero Chris Hoy to provide a 'little inspiration' to Murray

Published>Sat, Jan 30 10 04:27 PM

London, Jan 30 (ANI): The most successful Olympic male cyclist of all time Chris Hoy, who represents Scotland and Great Britain, will be at Rod Laver Arena to support Andy Murray's bid for the Australian Open.

A spokesman for the multiple world champion and Olympic Games gold winner said Hoy and Andy Murray have known each other for some time and his attendance at the Rod Laver Arena will "provide a little inspiration".

Another sportsman expected to be in attendance is boxer, Ricky Hatton, who was in Murray's corner when he beat Rafael Nadal earlier this week, The Scotsman reports.

Meanwhile, First Minister Alex Salmond promised that he will treat Murray to a curry should the Scot defeat Roger Federer.

The First Minister expressed confidence the 22-year-old could overcome his opponent, but jokingly admitted that his offer of a prize could interfere with the modern sportsman's strict diet.

Revealing he has already telephoned the British number one to wish him good luck, Salmond said: "I tend to contact Andy after every game, win or lose. It's going to be a tough match but Andy Murray looks well up for it." (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Murray should feel the pressure because he is playing me, says Federer

Published>Sat, Jan 30 10 01:49 PM

London, Jan. 30 (ANI): A not-so-modest world number one Roger Federer has told Andy Murray that the Brit's biggest problem is that he is playing him, "who has won so many Slams."

"It's Andy's second Grand Slam final - the fact he didn't win the first one, when he played me at the US Open, doesn't help. Plus, he's playing, you know, me, who's won many Slams," The Sun quoted a 'tongue in cheek' Federer, as saying.

"I don't feel the pressure as I have done it before. He really needs to do it more than me. So, the pressure's big on him. We will see how he handles it. It's not going to be easy, that's for sure," he added.

Earlier, Federer took a pot-shot at Murray's ambition to become Britain's first men's Grand Slam winner since Fred Perry 74 years ago.

"I know Andy would like to win his first title for Britain in what is it? 150,000 years? This is probably the question Andy gets the most and he is probably a little bit fed up," he said.

However, the Swiss star did admit that Murray is a class player.

"Andy was an excellent player at the US Open. But now, he has played more matches, he knows what to expect from crowds, opponents, conditions and everything," he said.

"That is a big step, playing a lot of tough matches on big courts. If I play well I can win, if I play badly, I can lose. But now, I don't usually play badly. If I do, maybe it's just a few games," he added.

Federer also came out in defence of his six losses out of 10 clashes he had with Murray.

"Without taking anything away from him, he has beaten me when I was not at my very, very best. We played in Dubai and I'd just come back from glandular fever. I know some people don't like to believe it - for some reason - but that is the truth," he said.

We've played close matches when I was in control and I gave the match away. But that was also because of the way he plays," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Grand Slam win will take huge weight off my shoulders: Murray

Published>Sat, Jan 30 10 01:39 PM

London, Jan. 30 (ANI): Ahead of his Australian Open final clash with Roger Federer, British tennis ace Andy Murray has admitted that winning his first Grand Slam will lift an enormous amount of weight off his shoulders.

"I know that if I do it, it will be a huge weight off my shoulders and I'll play better tennis after I do it. Winning here would change my tennis life, yes...Winning a Grand Slam is just something I have always wanted to do," The Sun quoted Murray, as saying.

Murray will also be looking to deliver a better performance than his first Slam final, at the US Open in 2008, when he was taken apart by Federer, the only man in tennis history to have won 15 Grand Slams.

"I was disappointed but reaching a Slam final is such a difficult thing to do that you don't look back on it as a failure or anything like that. But I want to try and win it. Physically I am a lot stronger and my game's just got better," Murray said.

Murray seems to have a chance against Federer, as he has won six of their 10 meetings.

However, the fifth seed insists: "But in the 16 Slams I have played, Federer and Nadal have won 14 of them. They are obviously still the best two in the world and deserve to be there. It is my job - and the guys behind job - to try and close that gap and win these big tournaments.

"I'll always have the same sort of game style but now I can add little bits and pieces to make my play a bit more unpredictable," he added.

The ability to be a bit unpredictable and to catch Federer off guard could be the key for his victory, feels Murray.

"Roger has a lot of strengths - experience being his No 1 strength. He knows how to play the big matches. His record in Grand Slams is unbelievable. My job is to find the right tactics and the right way to win against him," he said. (ANI)

Source: Web Search