India sweep athletics event with 28 medals

Published>Tue, Feb 09 10 11:05 AM

India stamped their supremacy over Sri Lanka in track and field events with nine medals, including four gold, on the penultimate day of the South Asian Games on Monday. India won four gold, four silver and one bronze medal on the last day of the athletics competition to end their campaign with 10 gold, 11 silver and seven bronze medals - 28 in all.

The 4X400m Indian men's quartet of Bibin Mathew, Binu KM and Bineesh VB pipped the Sri Lankans in an exciting finish in the relay race. The Indians clocked 3:08.62s for the gold. In the women's 4X400m, the Indian quartet of Jauna Murmu, Ashwini AC, Mary Thomas Tiana and Priyanka Pawar clinched gold by clocking 3:38.62.

The boxing trio of Chhote Lal, Suranjoy Singh and Amandeep Singh further swelled India's medal tally on the penultimate day of the South Asian Games when each of them clinched gold in their respective categories.

Chhote Lal bagged gold in 57kg category, while Suranjoy and Amandeep won in 51kg and 48kg categories respectively. With the top pugilists busy preparing for the Commonwealth Games, India fielded only three boxers, and all of them put in a gold-winning performance.

Sandeep Kundu beat Ravindra Rajapaksha of Sri Lanka to clinch the title in the men's over-87kg category, while the Indian contingent rounded off their Taekwondo campaign with a gold, one silver and two bronze.

Swimmers end with 25

Indian swimmers concluded their campaign in style, winning four more gold medals with a new meet record and took their overall tally to 25. India also bagged a silver to sign off from the event with a haul of 16 gold, seven silver and two bronze medals.

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'Terry is the perfect captain'

Published>Tue, Feb 09 10 10:55 AM

Chelsea's hero on Sunday night with two goals against Arsenal, Didier Drogba insisted that John Terry has the full backing of his club team mates. Terry put the most difficult week of his career behind him with an impressive Chelsea performance in a 2-0 victory over their London rivals. The Chelsea captain took eight minutes to make his mark, heading the game's opening corner across the box for Didier Drogba to score the first of his two goals.

Terry was sacked as England captain this week by Fabio Capello following allegations relating to his private life but Drogba told Sky Sports: "We offered him (Terry) as much support as we can. The best thing for him is to play. All his team mates have to do everything for him. It has been a difficult week for us, for Chelsea, for everyone in the club. We tried to stay together and focus on the game. It is a matter of time."

Terry stripped off his shirt at the end of the game and threw it into the crowd, before running towards Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti for an emotional celebration. Ancelotti too paid tribute to Terry after the defender produced a typically inspirational performance.

"John is the perfect captain for Chelsea. My captain has a fantastic attitude and he is doing very well in every game. It is very important for the team to have this leadership. He has a strong mentality and Terry is working for his club and we are happy to have this performance from him in this moment.

Not my decision: Ancelotti

Ancelotti refused to be drawn on whether he was disappointed with his compatriot Fabio Capello for taking the England armband from Terry. He said: "I'm not disappointed because its not my decision, I don't want to judge this decision. I knew that John met Capello (on Friday at Wembley) but I didn't speak (with him) after that."

Ancelotti denied that Terry's woes had been an extra spur for his team. "No, I don't think so, I don't think it was good motivation because we wanted to win the Premiership, we want to win the other trophies. For this we have a good motivation, nothing else." At the end of the game it was a moment of mixed feelings for Terry as his left thigh was strapped after suffering a dead leg. But the coach has promised that he will be ready for the game against Everton on Wednesday.

According to reports in the British media, sources inside Chelsea Football Club said that no decision has yet been made regarding whether Terry will be given compassionate leave to miss the weekend's FA Cup fifth-round tie with Cardiff City, so that he can be with his wife, Toni, to repair their relationship.

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IOC chief says no worries as Vancouver readies for winter Olympics

Published>Tue, Feb 09 10 10:31 AM

Vancouver, Feb 9 (DPA) Vancouver Games organisers expressed confidence mild weather won't disrupt the start of the winter Olympics as they fine tuned preparations ahead of Friday's opening ceremony.

Work continued around the clock to get the snow-starved Cypress Mountain venue north of Vancouver in shape for the start of the freestyle skiing and snowboard events.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge, who was briefed Monday on the state of the planning, said he was not worried that events could be disrupted.

'We have absolutely no concern whatsoever,' Rogge told reporters here.

'Our technicians together with technicians of the international ski federation went and had a look there. We had a good meeting with the organising committee. There is no concern and there is no plan B.'

Organisers were still using helicopters and trucks to dump and ferry snow at the venue which on Saturday will see its first medal event, the women's moguls.

Temperatures are expected to remain about 3 degrees Celsius at Cypress with a 60 percent chance of rain forecast for Saturday.

Rain is also forecast for the weekend at Whistler Mountains, which unlike Cypress has enjoyed enough snow, and where coaches were able to inspect the slopes ahead of men's alpine ski downhill training on Wednesday.

International ski federation FIS race director Guenter Hujara said the course was 'worthy of an Olympics with all the challenges a downhill should have' but competitors will have to adjust to changing conditions.

'The course has three parts - winter at the top, late winter in the middle and spring at the bottom,' he said.

The organising committee meanwhile revealed that Arnold Schwarzenegger will hand the Olympic torch to former Olympic champion Sebastian Coe when the flame homes in on Vancouver Friday.

The California governor and the two-time Olympic gold medallist runner, now London 2012 chairman, join several big-name Canadians at the end of the 106-day relay including Walter Gretzky, the father of hockey great Wayne Gretzky, astronaut Julie Payette and former hockey player Richard Brodeur.

'Clearly we want to have a big finish,' said John Furlong, chief executive of the Vancouver organising committee.

Organisers are giving nothing away on who will actually light the cauldron at the opening ceremony Friday evening in BC Place stadium, although Wayne Gretzky himself is seen as a candidate.

The torch relay and opening ceremony will coincide with an anti-Olympics rally in Vancouver at which police are expecting some 1,500 protesters.

However Rogge said: 'For us it is not an issue. We accept the protest. We accept people protesting. It is a democratic freedom of expression. What we want is no violence and we want people to respect the laws of the country and then there is no problem.'

Meanwhile the IOC president said he expected Russian authorities to take strong action on doping after a reported 11 athletes failed doping tests in 2009.

Rogge said he had met Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as well as the country's minister of sport to highlight the IOC's concerns ahead of the Games.

'We have been alerted by the number of positive cases,' Rogge said.

'I had a meeting with the minister of sport of Russia. I alerted him. He said to us he would do everything in his power to improve the situation.

'I also had a meeting with the president of the Russian federation Mr Dimitry Medvedev and I insisted on the need to have strong action on doping.'

Source: Web Search

Mukesh Ambani bidding for Liverpool football club?

Published Tue, Feb 09 10 09:33 AM

Prasun Sonwalkar London, Feb 9 (PTI) Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries and Subroto Roy, chairman of Sahara Group are reportedly bidding for a 51 per cent stake in Liverpool football club one of the most successful clubs in the history of English football. Liverpool is presently owned by American duo George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who acquired the club in February 2007. However, deported disagreements between Gillett and Hicks, and the lack of the fans' support, have led to rumours that that international buyers such as the Dubai International Capital would bid for the club. The Liverpool club emerged as a takeover target for Ambani, the seventh-richest man in the world, as pressure mounted on Hicks and Gillett to cut a deal to sell the club, The Times reported today. Both Ambani and Roy have reportedly each tendered similar bids to pay off Liverpool's 237 million pounds debt in return for a 51 per cent stake in the club. Liverpool chief executive, Christian Purslow, however denied any knowledge of bids by Ambani and Roy, but The Times reported that approaches began as early as November and that some preliminary talks had taken place.

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John Terry's wife Toni's T-shirt shows her turmoil

Published>Mon, Feb 08 10 06:26 PM

London, Feb 8 (ANI): English footballer John Terry's wife Toni has been spotted in Dubai sporting a T-shirt which carried the message "I love the chaos" on the front and "I hate the confusion" on the back.

The 28-year-old mum of three-year-old twins, Georgie John and Summer Rose, looked troubled as her marriage with footie Terry is in a mess after his affair with French model Vanessa Perroncel came to light.

Toni later spent the night with family her instead of watching her hubby led Chelsea play against Arsenal, reports the Sun.

Meanwhile, Terry has been sacked as the caption of the national team following the revelation of his sexcapades. (ANI)

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India staring at embarrassing defeat

Published>Mon, Feb 08 10 06:20 PM

Dale Steyn produced a sensational exhibition of seam bowling to rip apart India's fragile middle order and leave the hosts staring at an embarrassing defeat in the first cricket Test against South Africa in Nagpur on Monday.

The 26-year-old Steyn returned with a career-best haul of seven for 51 as the hosts were bundled out for 233 in the first innings and suffered the ignominy of follow-on despite Virender Sehwag's aggressive 109.

Trailing by a mammoth 325 runs, the Indians were struggling at 66 for two in their second innings at close of play on an eventful third day's play which saw the hosts lose as many as six wickets in the span of 12 runs immediately after the tea break.

Murali Vijay (27) and Sachin Tendulkar (15) were at the crease at stumps with India still needing 259 runs to make the visitors bat again.

The Indians were cruising along at 221 for four at the tea interval but the complexion of the game changed in a matter of few minutes with Mahendra Singh Dhoni (6) and debutant S Badrinath (56) departing in quick succession. The tailenders also caved in without much resistance.

Resuming at 25 for no loss, the Indians lost Gautam Gambhir (12), Murali Vijay (4) and Sachin Tendulkar (7) in the pre-lunch session but Sehwag and Badrinath steadied the ship to some extent.

But Sehwag's dismissal just before the tea break opened up the floodgates with Steyn virtually ripping through the lower order in a dramatic spell of seam bowling.

With two full days left, the Indians now have the daunting task to save the game but it looks a tall order with seasoned batsmen like Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Yuvraj Singh not playing the match because of injuries.

A defeat will make it difficult for India to retain its number one status in Test cricket as they would have no other option but to win the next game in Kolkata to stay at the top. South Africa need to win the series by 1-0 margin to dethrone India from the top position.

Earlier this morning, the pace duo of Steyn and Morne Morkel dished out fiery spells to dismiss Gambhir, Vijay and Tendulkar cheaply before the home team recovered through the enterprise shown by Sehwag.

The first to go was Gambhir without adding a run to his overnight score of 12. He was out to the first ball he faced from the tall Morkel, edging it to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Vijay, playing in only his fourth Test match, made a grave error in judging a delivery from Steyn that swung and crashed into the stumps.

Worse was to follow as Steyn brought Tendulkar forward for a drive with a late out-swinger that the ace batsman could only edge to Boucher.

Sehwag cracked a fluent 109 off 139 balls to lead the home team's fight-back along with Badrinath, who hit a half-century in his maiden innings, before slashing a wide Wayne Parnell delivery to give a straight-forward catch to JP Duminy in the deep.

The four-wicket partnership had yielded 136 runs in 197 balls and lifted India from a precarious 56 for three to 192 for four.

Once Sehwag departed, Steyn triggered a batting collapse with his 13th five-for and the hosts eventually folded inside 65 overs.

India's second innings was hardly any better with both the openers, Gambhir (1) and Sehwag (16), returning back in the dressing room inside five overs.

Morne Morkel brought one back from outside the off-stump and a shoulder-arming Gambhir watched in horror as the ball pegged back his stump.

Sehwag was not at his best either, receiving a Morkel delivery on his rib cage that required medical attention.

In the next over, Sehwag tried to slash a Steyn delivery but managed just an edge which flew into Graeme Smith's palm in the first slip as India slumped to 24 for two.

Tendulkar and Vijay maintained a strict vigil to ensure there was no further setback in their second innings.

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Bowlers wanted to carry on, so imposed follow-on: Steyn

Published Mon, Feb 08 10 06:10 PM

Nagpur, Feb 8 (PTI) South African captain Graeme Smith shoved the ignominy of follow-on down India''s throat only after his pacers had assured him that they had enough energy left to have another go at the home side batsmen, in-form speedster Dale Steyn said here today. In reply to South Africa''s massive first innings total of 558 for six declared, India were bundled out for 233 with Steyn being the wrecker-in-chief with his devastating seven for 51, in the first Test here. The speedster said the bowlers were not tired and so it was decided to ask India bat again. "There was a huddle after the Indian first innings. The batters came and told us that we were 300-odd runs ahead and if the bowlers had enough gas on tank to go on and bowl another 26-27 bowlers. "We said, we were not finished yet and it would be good to take a couple of wickets in the second innings. We told them we had enough fuel in the tank," said the 26-year-old pacer who came up with his career-best bowling performance today. Steyn said his teammates adapted to conditions quite fast and that helped them a lot. "We have been speaking about these kind of wickets. We wanted to adapt as quickly as possible. We hit the right areas with the same intensity," he said. .

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Bolton's Cahill out for months with blot clot

Published Mon, Feb 08 10 05:58 PM

Bolton defender Gary Cahill will miss several months of action, effectively ending his hopes of a place in England's World Cup squad, after suffering a blood clot in his arm.

The 24-year-old had felt ill last week and was taken to hospital on Saturday, missing the goalless draw with Fulham, the club said on their website (www.bwfc.co.uk) on Monday.

"He came in on Saturday and the swelling was quite serious and the medical staff decided to take him to hospital right away," said manager Owen Coyle.

"It turns out he had a blood clot in his arm so he is going to be out for a number of months...it might be for the rest of the season; we will hear from the specialist later.

"I believe he would have made the World Cup for the summer but we have to make sure first of all he recovers from this blood clot. Gary will come back and continue to be a top, top footballer."

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Steyn's seven-wicket haul rips India apart in Nagpur Test

Published>Mon, Feb 08 10 05:10 PM

Nagpur, Feb 8(ANI): A seven-wicket haul by South African fast bowler Dale Steyn in the first innings forced India to follow-on in the first Test being played here. Steyn's piercing line and length overshadowed an exciting counter-attacking century (109) by Virender Sehwag on the third day of the match on Monday.

In the second knock, India was precariously placed at 37 for the loss of two wickets and still 288 runs in arrears when reports last came in. Both openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were back in the pavilion. Steyn and Morne Morkel had taken a wicket apiece in round two.

Steyn's seven for 51 runs led to India collapsing for 233 in their first innings.

South African captain Graeme Smith enforced follow-on, as they were handed over an important lead of 325 runs.

Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell and Paul Harris grabbed a wicket each to make sure India was at some distance from the imposing South African total of 558-6 declared.

India lost wickets at regular intervals, including six wickets after tea.

Earlier, Sehwag displayed both class and resistance to score 109 off 139 deliveries with 15 boundaries. Middle-order batsman Subramaniam Badrinath scored a maiden Test half century (56 off 139 balls). (ANI)

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Inter Milan widen lead through win over Cagliari

Published>Mon, Feb 08 10 04:54 PM

Rome, Feb 8 (DPA) Serie A football champions Inter Milan beat visiting Cagliari 3-0 Sunday and stretched their lead to 10 points on city rivals AC Milan.

The Devils, who like Inter have a game in hand, drew 0-0 at Bologna, while Roma remained eight points adrift from the top thanks to a 1-0 win in a late classic game at Fiorentina.

The Rome side struggled through most of the game against the tonic Florence side, but their Montenegro striker Mirko Vucinic managed a winning corner-kick flick with eight minutes to go.

Fiorentina had much to regret as they missed several good chances that began when Peruvian Juan Vargas twice forced great saves from Julio Sergio.

After a wide volley from Riccardo Montolivo, Roma's Brazilian goalkeeper got into serious action on 28 minutes to parry Vargas' close-range volley and a following searing shot from Manuel Pasqual.

Montenegro's Stevan Jovetic forced a hard save from a tight angle before defender Lorenzo De Silvestri blew a perfect counter-attack assist with an embarrassing high drive.

After the break, Vucinic botched a first attempt for Roma with a close-range blunder off a perfect feed from Norse John Riise, and Alberto Gilardino on 51 minutes failed to convert a great assist from Jovetic.

Fiorentina kept up a hammering pace and threatened with a break from Jovetic and a 74th-minute header from Gilardino, but Julio Sergio was always in the right spot to deny their efforts.

Earlier Sunday, Argentine Diego Milito scored his 14th goal for Inter but lost ground to Udinese's Antonio Di Natale, now the top scorer on 16 goals after a hat-trick in a 3-1 win that ended Napoli's unbeaten run of 15 games.

The Naples-born Udinese captain converted an early spot kick and secured his side's win with two late goals, after Christian Maggio levelled in the first half before being dismissed with two yellow cards.

Napoli three times shook the woodwork during the game and ended a run of 15 unbeaten games, but still held onto fourth position that secures the last available Champions League berth.

Genoa-side Sampdoria won 2-1 at bottom side Siena to leapfrog in sixth place struggling Juventus, who drew 1-1 Saturday at minnows Livorno. Palermo moved to fifth by beating Parma 2-1 Saturday.

Elsewhere Sunday, Genoa moved level with Juve as they edged Chievo 1-0, Catania beat Lazio 1-0 in a relegation tie, and struggling Atalanta won 1-0 against Bari.

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Nancy Dell'Olio hopes Toni forgives John Terry

Published>Mon, Feb 08 10 04:50 PM

London, Feb 8 (ANI): Nancy Dell'Olio, the ex-girlfriend of former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson, says footie John Terry's wife Toni should forgive him.

Dell'Olio has herself gone through the pain that Toni is experiencing - Eriksson cheated on her twice when they were seeing each other.

He slept with telly girl Ulrika Jonsson and FA secretary Faria Alam, and Dell'Olio forgave him each time, though they broke up later.

"I have met both John and Toni and see them occasionally. They are a lovely couple. There is absolutely no justification for John's behaviour but anyone can make mistakes," the Sun quoted Dell'Olio, as saying.

She continued: "In the end, we are all human beings and this is something private between them.

"Only they can know if there is true love for each other. Nobody from outside can know what is going on between them.

"The only thing that is important is what is happening in their relationship. This woman, Vanessa Perroncel - the former girlfriend of Wayne Bridge - I am very sorry to say that she is nothing.

"It is clear that she just wanted to have her moment of fame."

Dell'Olio felt Toni should forgive John if she saw real remorse in him.

She said: "I know it is a big embarrassment and must have hurt Toni deeply but I am sure that John is going to be truly sorry for his mistake.

"He is going to be full of remorse and regret for his stupidity. Only Toni knows of their love for each other and if she sees real remorse, I hope she will have the strength to forgive him. I think it is wonderful to be forgiven and to forgive.

"I am sure that they love each other. One or two mistakes should not ruin that and we must not forget how young they are."

Dell'Olio added: "I absolutely believe John and Toni can rebuild the trust they had between them.

"When there is love, there is always a chance. It will be very hard and it will take a lot of time but if they try as much as they can I think they can come out of this even stronger." (ANI)

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England's dream Euro 2012 draw makes them 1-10 bookie favourites

Published>Mon, Feb 08 10 04:24 PM

London, Feb 8(ANI): An easy draw for the Euro 2012 has made England the favourites in the bookies eyes, who are so convinced of the Three Lions getting through to the finals that they have been immediately installed at an incredibly short-price of 1-10.

England has been pitted in Group G against relatively easy teams from Switzerland, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Wales.

National football team coach Fabio Capello did express delight with the draw for England, but vowed to take every team in the group seriously, especially the Swiss who are ranked 18th in the world.

"My first game was against Switzerland and we have moved along since then. I remember I was really happy after seeing the players in training, but it was not the same in the match," The Sun quoted Capello, as saying.

"They were not the same players out on the pitch that I saw in training. I think, when we play Switzerland again, we will show that we have progressed since my first game in charge - but it will be a tough match," he added.

Capello further said the two games against John Toshack's Wales will be the most intriguing, as their team boasts a number of emerging young stars like Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey.

"I know a lot of the Welsh team - they are good, young players. It will be interesting. Derbies are never normal games," Capello said.

"It will be impossible for us to play even one game relaxed. I was speaking to Toshack on the plane and he was telling me how Wales are a young team. Their average age is 22," he added.

EURO 2012 Qualifying Groups:

Group A: Germany, Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan

Group B: Russia, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, FYR Macedonia, Armenia, Andorra

Group C: Italy, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Estonia, Faroe Islands

Group D: France, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belarus, Albania, Luxembourg

Group E: Holland, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Moldova, San Marino

Group F: Croatia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Georgia, Malta

Group G: England, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Wales, Montenegro

Group H: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus, Iceland

Group I: Spain, Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania, Liechtenstein (ANI)

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John Terry 'seduced lonely Vanessa Perroncel after Wayne Bridge split'

Published>Mon, Feb 08 10 04:22 PM

London, Feb 8 (ANI): Vanessa Perroncel embarked on a passionate affair with John Terry after he comforted her over her split from Wayne Bridge, it has emerged.

Two of the French lingerie model's closest friends spilled the beans on the 33-year-old's affair with the former England captain.

Antonia Graham and Nadean Moses claimed it was Terry who seduced Perroncel, who was "sad and lonely" following her break-up from Bridge, his friend and England team-mate.

Terry, 29, phoned Perroncel last July offering to help help her get back with Bridge, 29, as the couple were in the midst of breaking up.

"Vanessa was sad and lonely. John was playing the caring friend," the Mirror quoted Graham as saying.

"He called Vanessa up. Vanessa told me, 'John is being the peacemaker. He said Wayne and I are great together'."

The cracks begun to show in Vanessa's relationship with Bridge after his 10-million-pound transfer to Manchester City from Chelsea last January.

After they broke up, she returned with their three-year-old son Jaydon to Oxshott, Surrey, where Terry and his wife Toni, 28, were neighbours.

Graham and Moses claim it was only two weeks later that the Chelsea skipper visited Perroncel to offer his support but their friendship soon turned into a passionate affair.

Mose said: "He would pop round a couple of times a week, offering a shoulder to cry on. He brought DVDs for her son."

Perroncel and Terry were always careful not to be seen outside the house together and Terry would carefully park his Bentley or Range Rover out of sight.

Graham and Moses hit back at accusations that Perroncel was a home-wrecker claiming she was heart-broken after her split from Bridge.

"Vanessa put her whole life into that relationship with Wayne. She was devastated when they split." (ANI)

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Tiger Woods' wife gives him another chance to save marriage

Published>Mon, Feb 08 10 03:55 PM

London, Feb 8 (ANI): Elin Nordegren, wife of Tiger Woods, has given the disgraced golfer another chance.

She has told him: You have six months to prove you won't cheat again to save our marriage.

Nordegren made the decision after meeting doctors at the clinic treating Tiger's sex addiction.

They told her that her husband has made 'remarkable progress'.

"She has been convinced there is hope for the marriage," the Mirror quoted a close friend of 30-year-old Elin as saying.

"The doctors told her she shouldn't underestimate Tiger's ability to learn new coping skills and grow as a person.

"She has been convinced by the professionals that there is hope - and this isn't lawyers or businessmen giving her advice, it's doctors. And they say he has made remarkable progress.

"It is so hard for Elin. After all the horrible stories about his affairs and all the hurt, the reality is there is still a lot of love left for Tiger. That's why she is willing to give him another chance.

"She would hate herself if she just gave up on him, especially when he's so serious about getting help. But one thing is for sure... Elin won't be duped twice," the friend added. (ANI)

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Sehwag's hits century but S.Africa in control

Published>Mon, Feb 08 10 03:49 PM

Opener Virender Sehwag was dismissed after making his 18th test century as India battled to save the opening test against South Africa on Monday.

India were 221 four at tea on the third day, needing another 138 runs to avoid the follow-on after South Africa's imposing first innings total of 558-6 declared.

Sehwag had scored 109 before pace bowler Wayne Parnell claimed the prize wicket to improve South Africa's chances of winning the first of the two tests in the series.

Subramaniam Badrinath marked his test debut by reaching 56 not out and he was at the crease with last recognised batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni (6).

Fast bowler Dale Steyn struck twice early to put India on the back foot after the hosts resumed at 25 without loss.

Steyn dismissed Murali Vijay for four and Sachin Tendulkar for seven in a fiery opening spell after Morne Morkel removed opener Gautam Gambhir, who failed to add to his overnight score of 12.

Sehwag batted with uncharacteristic patience to put on 136 for the fourth wicket with Badrinath, who batted with poise after starting tentatively.

Sehwag hit 15 fours to lift India before falling to a poor shot to be caught by JP Duminy in the covers to put the pressure back on India.

Gambhir, who had notched eight centuries in his previous 11 tests, fell to a beauty from Morkel that moved just a shade, the resulting edge thudding into wicketkeeper Mark Boucher's gloves.

It was the first ball that Gambhir faced in the morning and a big blow for India.

Steyn dismissed Vijay with one that cut back sharply as the batsman shouldered arms. The South African then enticed Tendulkar to nibble one to Boucher, who is approaching a record 500 dismissals in test cricket.

Hashim Amla hit an unbeaten 253 and Jacques Kallis struck 173 to put South Africa on top in their bid to record a rare series victory on Indian soil and reclaim their number one ranking from the hosts.

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Sehwag departs after notching up 18th century

Published Mon, Feb 08 10 03:43 PM

Nagpur, Feb 8 (PTI) Virender Sehwag slammed his 18th century before throwing his wicket away as India reached 221 for four in reply to South Africa''s mammoth first innings total of 558 for six at lunch on the third day of the first cricket Test between the two sides here today. Sehwag cracked a fluent 109 off 139 balls to lead the home team''s fight-back along with S Badrinath, who hit half century in his maiden innings, before slashing a wide Wayne Parnell delivery to give a straight-forward catch to JP Duminy at the deep. The irrepressible Sehwag was quite clearly the dominant partner in the fourth wicket partnership with Badrinath, who negotiated a fiery post-lunch spell from Dale Steyn, that yielded 136 runs in 197 balls and lifted India from a sorry-looking 56 for three to 192 for four. India were 337 runs adrift of South Africa''s total and need 138 more runs to avoid the follow-on. At tea, Badrinath was unbeaten on 56 off 138 balls after a 190-minute stay that had yielded seven fours while captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was giving him company on six. Sehwag looked totally at ease as he did in the first session after India resumed at the lunchtime score of 119 for three while debutant Badrinath looked content to play the supporting role. After nicking tall pacer Morne Morkel just short of wicket-keeper Mark Boucher when on 70, the flamboyant opener cover drove and square drove the speedster for two successive fours to exert his mastery. .

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Sreesanth likely to return for Kolkata Test

Published>Mon, Feb 08 10 01:57 PM

Nagpur, Feb 8 (ANI): Kerala pacer S Sreesanth is likely to play in the second Test match of the ongoing series between India and South Africa.

Sreesanth is expected to undergo a fitness test on February 10.

He was left out of the squad for the Nagpur Test due to a hamstring injury that he got during the series against Bangladesh.

India plays the second Test against South Africa in Kolkata from February 14. (ANI)

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