Khade seeks cash incentives for SAG medal winners

Published Sat, Feb 06 10 03:51 PM

Tapan Mohanta Dhaka, Feb 6 (PTI) With hardly any cash incentive for medal winners in South Asian Games, India''s top swimmer Veerdhawal Khade feels that the athletes lack motivation to take part in the biggest sporting extravaganza of the region. "We need cash incentive for medal winners as it could inspire more sportpersons to compete. It will definitely help motivate sportpersons," Khade told PTI. "The players spend a lot on travelling and training. Some cash incentive would definitely help. Moreover, it would not only act as a recognition, but also increases the motivation level," said Khade, who in 2008 became the youngest ever Indian swimmer to make the Olympics. It was only on the insistence of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) that a full strength swimming contingent studded with Olympian trio of Khade, Sandeep Sejwal and Rehan Poncha decided to take part in the event at the last moment. "Everybody was in a training phase preparing for the Commonwealth Games (in October 2010). We were not prepared to come here and did not know about our participation. At the last moment, we were told to come here." (More) PTI TAP SHN

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Tea scoreboard: India vs South Africa, day one, first Test

Published>Sat, Feb 06 10 03:09 PM

Nagpur, Feb 6 (IANS) Scoreboard at tea in the first cricket Test between India and South Africa here Saturday.

South Africa first innings:

Graeme Smith b Khan 6

Ashwell Prince c Dhoni b Khan 0

Hashim Amla batting 60

Jacques Kallis batting 120

Extras: (b 4, lb 1, nb 2) 7

Total: (for two wickets in 62 overs) 193

Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Prince, 4.3 overs), 2-6 (Smith, 6.3)

Bowling:

Zaheer Khan 12 4 30 2

Ishant Sharma 11 1 24 0

Harbhajan Singh 16 0 68 0

Amit Mishra 19 2 57 0

Virender Sehwag 4 1 9 0

Toss: South Africa, who chose to bat

Umpires: Steve Davis (Australia) and Ian Gould (England)

TV umpire: Amiesh Saheba

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)

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Wenger says finishing third better than winning Cup for Arsenal

Published>Sat, Feb 06 10 02:59 PM

London, Feb.6 (ANI): Arsenal coach Arshne Wenger has claimed that finishing in third place in the Barclays Premier League this season would rank as a better achievement than winning the Carling Cup or FA Cup.

Long-suffering Arsenal fans, however, are not likely to bit. It is almost five years since their team won a trophy - the FA Cup in 2005 against Manchester United - and there are ominous signs that another campaign may drift by without any silverware.

If Arsenal lose against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow, they will trail the Premier League leaders by nine points. Another defeat against Liverpool at home on Wednesday, coupled with a Chelsea victory away to Everton, and the gap would be 12.

"It's very important that we win something. We're here to win trophies. But it depends on what you call trophies. Is it the Champions League, the Premier League, the League Cup? If you win the League Cup, for me, you cannot say that you win trophies," The Sun quoted Wenger, as saying.

The Frenchman believes, though, that should Arsenal lose in West London tomorrow, the nine-point gap would not prove irretrievable. After all, Arsenal have already closed an 11-point deficit on Chelsea this season, when they went top of the league briefly after the 4-2 home win over Bolton Wanderers last month.

Cesc F'bregas, the Arsenal captain, disagrees. After losing tamely 3-1 against United at the Emirates Stadium last weekend, the Spaniard declared that the same result at Stamford Bridge would spell the end of Arsenal's championship chances. (ANI)

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Pak women football team registers its first win ever without taking the field !

Published>Sat, Feb 06 10 02:49 PM

Lahore, Feb.6 (ANI): Pakistan women football team achieved a unique feat when it registered its first win in international event without scoring a single goal during a match against Sri Lanka in a league match of the South Asian Games being held in Dhaka.

Pakistan were awarded three points and a 3-0 win over Sri Lanka as per the FIFA ruling, when the islanders failed to turn-up for the match.

Sri Lankan coach cited a travel issue for the team's early departure back to Colombo.

The Lankans had a disappointing event, losing to India 1-8, Bangladesh 0-2, Nepal and Pakistan 0-3.

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) women wing chief Robina Irfan expressed hope that the 'lucky' win would provide her team more opportunity to prove its worth on the international circuit.

"For a long time, my girls have had to live with the lack of necessary exposure. The series against Afghanistan was cancelled in 2007 at eleventh hour and we were waiting for international field since then," The Nation quoted Irfan, as saying.

"The win will give us something to cheer about when FIFA will issues world ranking for women. For the promotion of women soccer in this South Asian nation, the sports culture for women must be encouraged," she added.

It is worth mentioning here that women's soccer competition has been inducted in the 26-year old South Asian Games for the first time this year. (ANI)

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Queensland pacer Ben Cutting on fast track to be Test fast bowler

Published>Sat, Feb 06 10 02:39 PM

Brisbane, Feb.6 (ANI): With Queensland losing the services of Mitchell Johnson, Andrew Bichel and Michael Kasprowicz, a new kid on the pacers block has emerged in the form of Ben Cutting.

Cutting has stepped up to the plate in fine style, now heading the Sheffield Shield wicket-takers' list with 25 wickets at 24 from six matches, thus putting himself in the frame for national selection at age 22, reports the Courier Mail.

"With guys leaving and retirements, this was always going to be a big year, and things have worked out well so far," Cutting said.

Cutting's emergence is testimony to the shrewd guidance of the Queensland coaching staff, including Joe Dawes (bowling coach) and conditioner Damian Mednis (formerly with the Queensland Reds), who supervised a plan to transform Cutting's wiry frame to one of an imposing force.

"I've worked hard in the gym to put on eight or nine kilograms. It has really helped my core strength, which is important in fast bowling," he said.

Cutting's progress may seem routine given his pedigree. He played for the Australian under-19 side and his tall action looks fluent and coherent.

But there have been times in recent seasons when he suffered from a cricketing form of the yips, with no-ball problems so severe he once bowled 20 in eight overs for the Queensland Second XI playing Victoria at Allan Border Field in December 2008.

It was not pretty viewing, and one senior Queensland Cricket official felt so sorry for him he phoned Dawes and said, "You better get down here ... the kid needs help."

The pair were later spotted in a private tutorial after the day's play.

The issue of Cutting's run-up became so sensitive that one of the Queensland coaches even asked the Gabba disc jockey to stop playing music when Cutting got to within three steps of starting his run-up in a Big Bash game.

Cutting's emergence has come at a perfect time, not just for his side but also for himself, given the boundless opportunities in the Twenty20 game.

A towering fast bowler, fearless hitter and a bullet arm makes him the perfect cricketer for the age. (ANI)

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Wenger says finishing third better than winning Cup for Arsenal

Published>Sat, Feb 06 10 02:25 PM

London, Feb.6 (ANI): Arsenal coach Arshne Wenger has claimed that finishing in third place in the Barclays Premier League this season would rank as a better achievement than winning the Carling Cup or FA Cup.

Long-suffering Arsenal fans, however, are not likely to bit. It is almost five years since their team won a trophy - the FA Cup in 2005 against Manchester United - and there are ominous signs that another campaign may drift by without any silverware.

If Arsenal lose against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow, they will trail the Premier League leaders by nine points. Another defeat against Liverpool at home on Wednesday, coupled with a Chelsea victory away to Everton, and the gap would be 12.

"It's very important that we win something. We're here to win trophies. But it depends on what you call trophies. Is it the Champions League, the Premier League, the League Cup? If you win the League Cup, for me, you cannot say that you win trophies," The Sun quoted Wenger, as saying.

The Frenchman believes, though, that should Arsenal lose in West London tomorrow, the nine-point gap would not prove irretrievable. After all, Arsenal have already closed an 11-point deficit on Chelsea this season, when they went top of the league briefly after the 4-2 home win over Bolton Wanderers last month.

Cesc F'bregas, the Arsenal captain, disagrees. After losing tamely 3-1 against United at the Emirates Stadium last weekend, the Spaniard declared that the same result at Stamford Bridge would spell the end of Arsenal's championship chances. (ANI)

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Ferdinand yet to be officially told about England captaincy

Published>Sat, Feb 06 10 01:56 PM

London, Feb 6(ANI): England defender Rio Ferdinand has not been officially informed that he has been selected to succeed John Terry as the captain of the national squad.

Terry was dramatically stripped of the armband after a 12-minute meeting with manager Fabio Capello at Wembley on Friday.

Capello did not name Terry's successor, but said he would promote the vice-captain, Ferdinand, and the designated "No 3", Steven Gerrard, would step up to become deputy.

When asked about the matter, a Football Association insider said: "As far as Fabio is concerned, Rio is next in line and after that it's Steven Gerrard. But he sees no need to make a huge deal about it."

"He might not even talk to Rio about it until the squad meets up for the match against Egypt on March 3," The Sun quoted the insider, as saying.

Terry has lost the job because of off-field troubles, yet Ferdinand is no stranger to controversies.

His England debut came as a sub against Cameroon in November 1997, but he would have played before, had he not been charged with drink-driving in the build-up to the 1998 World Cup qualifier against Moldova.

Later in 2003, he was banned for eight months for skipping a drugs test and missed Euro 2004 as a result. Ironically, Terry replaced him in the tournament.

The 31-year-old is plagued by back problems and has just returned after three months out. He is currently serving a four-game ban for violent conduct after whacking Hull's Craig Fagan. (ANI)

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Terry to remain Chelsea skipper: Ancelotti

Published>Sat, Feb 06 10 01:50 PM

London, Feb 6(ANI): Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has given his backing to skipper John Terry after he was accused of having an extra-marital affair with the former partner of his international team-mate, Wayne Bridge.

Terry was stripped of England captaincy and replaced by defender Rio Ferdinand - after a 12-minute meeting with manager Fabio Capello at Wembley on Friday.

It has led to calls from former players for him to lose the club' captaincy, however Ancelotti said that he has a secure job at Chelsea.

"I have a very good relationship with John in training. I'm not interested in anything else. I'm not interested in the private life of anybody," The Sun quoted Ancelotti, as saying.

The Chelsea manager's stance is in sharp contrast to that of his fellow Italian, Capello.

"I have no feelings about what happens with the national team. If the private life of a player doesn't involve or harm his professional life, I don't have a problem," Ancelotti said.

"If John is not able to train because he's tired or nervous, I can be interested. But he comes here and trains very well. He's always ready to train, always focused, always involved. Here, he will find a good place to stay," he added. (ANI)

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Gayle confident of beating Australia 4-1

Published>Sat, Feb 06 10 01:39 PM

Melbourne, Feb 6(ANI): West Indies skipper Chris Gayle has boldly predicted a 4-1 win over Australia for his side in the ODI series, starting at the MCG on Sunday.

Despite having lost the three-Test series against Australia late last year, Gayle said his side is fully motivated for series against the hosts.

"It's not intimidating to be honest with you, we're going to beat them 4-1. So, not to worry," The Courier Mail quoted Gayle, as saying.

The Windies are missing a glut of injured experienced players, but Gayle said this series provided the chance for the region's young players to shine.

"We are without two key batsmen, Shiv (Chanderpaul) and (Ramnaresh) Sarwan, but this is a chance for other players to grab the opportunity and make a name. It will be a challenging tour, but I know we are capable of winning," Gayle said.

The team is without Chanderpaul, Sarwan, Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor, Daren Bravo and the suspended Sulieman Benn, however, Gayle believes the unit has enough quality and backs them to perform against the in-form Australians.

"The Aussies are a good team and they played well against Pakistan, but they are beatable. We have been watching the series and we have seen what the Australians have to offer," Gayle said.

"On our side, we have a lot to offer. We have depth and we have players who are capable match-winners. Everyone knows what is required," he added.

West Indies team for the opening ODI: Chris Gayle (captain), Narsingh Deonarine, Travis Dowlin, Wavell Hinds, Nikita Miller, Runako Morton, Brendan Nash, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith and Gavin Tonge.

Australian team: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Clint McKay, Shaun Marsh, Shane Watson and Cameron White. (ANI)

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