Olympic high jump champion Hellebaut to make comeback

Belgium's Olympic high jump champion Tia Hellebaut announced on Tuesday she was coming out of retirement following the comebacks of her tennis playing compatriots Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.
Hellebaut, 32, retired from competition in December 2008 and gave birth to a daughter last June.
She said in a blog on her website (www.tiahellebaut.be) on Tuesday that she had decided to return during a holiday in Spain at the end of September, the month when Clijsters won the U.S. Open and Henin announced her comeback.

Sourav, Leander cheer team India at the Eden

Kolkata, Feb 16 (IANS) Among the third day audience of the second Test between India and South Africa cricket Test were two of Kolkata's favourite sons - Sourav Ganguly and Leander Paes - cheering for the home team.
The camerapersons flocked round the two VIP spectators at the sports arena when they walked in to take their places.
For local boy Ganguly, who grew up as a cricketer practising at the Eden Gardens, this was the first Test match at the venue after his retirement from international cricket. The former India captain entered in the post-lunch session, and was at the stadium when V.V.S. Laxman completed his half-century.
Paes, on the other hand, was there by the post-tea session, accompanied by wife Rhea Pillai and four-year-old daughter Aiyana.

Rain threatens to dampen India's chances at Eden

Kolkata, Feb 16 (IANS) Rain could play spoilsport in India's pursuit of win against South Africa at the Eden Gardens here if the weather prediction for the city for Wednesday holds true.
'The forecast for the next 24 hours for the city is that rain or thundershowers may occur in some areas, besides a partly cloudy sky,' an official of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Kolkata, told IANS.
A rain interruption would be the last thing skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni would expect as India have South Africa on the mat at stumps on the third day of the second Test here Tuesday. South Africa are fighting to save the Test, trailing India by 341 runs.

Brit teen aims to be Formula One's female Lewis Hamilton

London, Feb.16 (ANI): Seventeen-year-old Alice Powell is hoping to become Britain's first female Formula One driver in more than 30 years.
Powell has secured a contract to race for the company that launched Lewis Hamilton's career, reports The Times.
Alice Powell started driving go-karts aged 8, before attracting the attention of the racing team Manor Competition, which developed the careers of both Hamilton and the Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen.
Alice, who is studying for three A levels, will attempt to beat her 28 male rivals in the 150mph Formula Renault UK series before tackling Formula One.

Tiger Woods got me pregnant twice, says porn star 'mistress'

Published>Tue, Feb 16 10 08:21 PM

London, Feb 16 (ANI): Joslyn James, a porn star who claims to have been one of Tiger Woods' many mistresses, has said that she had twice been pregnant by the golfer.

James alleged that first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, the other in an abortion, and both occurred at the same time as Woods' wife Elin was expecting his children Sam, now 2, and Charlie, 1, reports The Times.

It was in an interview with Inside Edition, an American television programme, that James made the revelation.

"I feel bad for Elin. She didn't deserve this and she didn't deserve being humiliated," James said in the interview.

Woods, 34, was unaware of either of his mistress's pregnancies, she said.

"Actually, the day I was going to tell him, I had a miscarriage," she said of her first pregnancy. "After I lost the baby I didn't want to talk about it."

Sex was "never protected" and contraception was "never talked about", she told the programme.

"The first [pregnancy] was when Elin was pregnant with Sam," James said, adding that when she found out she was pregnant again in 2008 she arranged an abortion without telling Woods.

"Elin was pregnant with Charlie at that time. I just didn't want to ruin anything," she said.

According to James, she was Woods' "full-time" mistress between 2007 and 2009.

"I was in love with Tiger and because of what he said to me and the length of time that we spent together I believe that he loved me too," she said at a press conference held in Los Angeles earlier this month.

James, 32, has starred in adult films such as Big Breasted Nurses.

The disgraced sports star recently completed several weeks at a sex rehab clinic in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in a bid to save his marriage. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Magnificent Laxman puts India in charge

Published>Tue, Feb 16 10 08:07 PM

Vangipurappu Laxman crafted an unbeaten 143 on Tuesday to put India in a position to retain the world number one ranking and revive memories of his epic innings in the 2000-1 series against Australia.

Laxman shared in an Indian record seventh-wicket stand of 259 with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (132 not out) which put India in sight of a series-levelling victory in the second and final test at Eden Gardens.

India posted 643 for six declared to take a lead of 347 on the third day after resuming on 342-5. South Africa were six without loss at the close.

Laxman hit a magnificent 281 at the same venue to help India script a sensational turnaround after following on to end Australia's 16-match winning streak.

"I really feel happy whenever I do well and bail the team out of tough situations," Laxman told reporters after scoring his 15th test century.

South Africa, bidding for their first series victory in India in a decade, had rallied with three late wickets on Monday after centuries by Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag out India in control.

"This morning it was crucial because we had lost three quick wickets yesterday evening," said Laxman, who missed the opening test due to injury.

MISSED CHANCES

"I thought (nightwatchman) Amit Mishra (28) played really well and he brought the momentum back to our team this morning by some of the attacking shots that he played.

"Obviously then the big partnership between me and MS Dhoni took away the game from South Africa."

The tourists, 1-0 in the series, delayed the second new ball by fours overs in gloomy morning coditions that allowed Laxman and Mishra settle down.

South Africa failed to take at least five chances on the field, two of them off Laxman (23 and 48) as India steadily regained control.

"If you don't take your opportunities against a good side, you're going to pay the price," South Africa's batting consultant Kepler Wessels said.

"We expected India to come back strongly. They're a very good team under their own conditions. We certainly expected them to put up this sort of fight."

South Africa will reclaim the number one ranking if they win the series.

"We're in a position where we have to save the game to win the series. There's two days of tough test cricket ahead and we'll fight as hard as we can," Wessels said.

Source: Web Search

Laxman dedicates century to wife on marriage anniversary

Published>Tue, Feb 16 10 08:03 PM

Kolkata, Feb 16 (IANS) V.V.S Laxman's wife Sailaja and their children pleasantly surprised the cricketer Monday by coming to Kolkata for his marriage anniversary Tuesday. The batsman returned the compliment by scoring a classic hundred on Day Three of the second Test against South Africa and dedicating it to his better half.

Expressing his gratitude to Sailaja, the stylish right-hand Hyderabadi batsman said: 'She has been a pillar of strength for me and my family.'

'Definitely, I would like to dedicate this to my wife. It's tough being wife of a cricketer because we always keep travelling.'

'Today (Tuesday) is my marriage anniversary and it's great that my wife and my kids gave a pleasant surprise to me by coming to Kolkata,' Laxman said at the day-end media meet here.

Laxman stroked an unconquered knock of 143 as India took a 347-run first innings lead over South Africa by posting a mammoth 643 for six declared at the Eden Gardens.

The 35-year-old Hyderabadi got his fourth hundred at his favourite venue and also became the first batsman to score thousand-plus runs here.

'It feels good to score a hundred in Kolkata. People are so warm here. I always love coming here. I am glad I was able to maintain my record this time around too,' said Laxman, who got his 15th hundred in 110 Test matches.

Asked about playing at the half-filled Eden, he said even though all the galleries were not available, the spectators were very passionate. 'When Harbhajan got two wickets off successive balls, the way the crowd erupted was unbelievable. The crowd and passion in Kolkata is just amazing.'

Asked how he had geared up for the match after missing the Tests at Dhaka and Nagpur following a finger injury against Bangladesh in the Chittagong Test, Laxman said he was training well in Nagpur and even before the Test series.

'In the last three days of the Nagpur Test I had long net sessions. I batted using the bowling machine. I was quite confident coming into the Test,' he said.

Laxman was confident that India would be able to pull through a victory here to level the series they trail 0-1 after losing the opening Test at Nagpur. A win will also enable India successfully defend their top ranking in Tests.

'The pitch is deteriorating. There will be lot of assistance to the spinners without doubt. And with the quality of spinners we have, I am confident we will be able to capitalise,' Laxman said.

South Africa need 341 runs to stave off innings defeat.

'There will be a tough fight without doubt. We are not looking to finish off tomorrow. There is enough time to bowl them out.'

Laxman said the innings gave him a lot of satisfaction as it came when his team needed it.

'It always gives a lot of satisfaction whenever you perform and contribute to the team. I always enjoy batting in a tough situation and deliver for the side.'

Lauding Amit Mishra, who scored a stroke-filled 28 after coming as night watchman on the second day, Laxman said: 'His knock was invaluable. He got the momentum back today with his breezy innings.'

'Later, (M.S.) Dhoni and I took the game away from them (South Africa).'

Laxman was eloquent in praising Dhoni who scored 132 not out as the pair put on 259 runs for the unfinished seventh-wicket stand.

'He is a very powerful cricketer. He is possibly the most destructive batsman in world cricket now.'

'You can see the body language of the bowlers whenever Dhoni gets in, they become very defensive in the way they bowl and field.'

'Dhoni scores at a quick pace. It's great when a No. 7 batsman comes and destroys the opposition,' he said.

On the mood in the Indian camp after the innings loss in Nagpur, Laxman said the players regrouped after the Nagpur loss.

'We just wanted to do the things which we have been doing in the last two years. First, it was important to score a lot of runs in the first innings to put pressure on SA,' he added.

Source: Web Search

Laxman, Dhoni tons put India in driver's seat against South Africa

Published>Tue, Feb 16 10 06:40 PM

Kolkata, Feb 16(ANI): Centuries by V.V.S. Laxman and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni helped Team India take a 347 run lead against South Africa on the third day of the Kolkata Test on Tuesday.

Laxman's 15th and Dhoni's fourth Test centuries steered India to 643 for six declared.

Laxman smashed 16 fours in his 143 not out off 260 balls and shared an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 250 with Dhoni, who scored 132 off 187 balls with 12 boundaries and three sixes.

The only wicket to fall in the day was that of nightwatchman Amit Mishra (28), who was dismissed by fast bowler Morne Morkel (2-90) after enjoying a brief flourish.

In reply to India's daunting first innings lead, South Africa were six for no loss when bad light stopped play for the day.

Skipper Graeme Smith (five not out) and Alviro Petersen (one not out) were at the crease, with Team India still 341 runs ahead of them.

India, who lost the first Test in Nagpur by an innings and six runs, need a win to square the series and retain their number one position in the official Test rankings. (ANI)

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Twenty20 'ripe for corruption' says players union head

Published Tue, Feb 16 10 06:38 PM

International players' union FICA chief executive Tim May has warned that Twenty20 cricket is "ripe for corruption" and urged the sport's administrators to exercise extreme care.

"Twenty20 is just ripe for corruption -- the shorter the game the more influence each particular incident can have," the former Australia off-spinner said in an interview in the March issue of The Wisden Cricketer magazine which goes on sale this Friday.

"So I think it opens up a great deal of opportunities for the bookmakers to try and corrupt players into providing various different outcomes in the game, if not the result itself. Cricket needs to be very, very careful."

May was also critical of the way the Indian Premier League's (IPL) dealings with players.

"The refusal to grant players the ability to review the security arrangements and the decision of the IPL and its franchises not to recognise or deal with any players' managers or agents, is self-defeating," he said.

"Its decision-making is very arrogant. The attitude is that they're the only game in town, they're the biggest game in town and, as long as they pay these huge amounts of money, they can do what they like. That may not always be the case."

Source: Web Search

Laxman, Dhoni script hundreds as India dictate terms

Published>Tue, Feb 16 10 06:23 PM

Kolkata, Feb 16 (IANS) Classic V.V.S. Laxman and blazing Mahendra Singh Dhoni cracked centuries as India reigned supreme with a massive 347-run first innings lead after South Africans floored crucial catches on day three of the second cricket Test here Tuesday.

In a top-class batting exhibition, Laxman remained unbeaten on 143 while skipper Dhoni was unconquered on 132 as the two plundered an unfinished 259-run partnership, the highest for the seventh wicket by India in Tests, to propel the hosts to 643/6 when the innings was declared 86 minutes into the post tea session.

At stumps, which was drawn 18 minutes earlier due to fading light, South Africa were six for no loss, with captain Graeme Smith (batting 5) and Alviro Petersen (1) out in the middle.

The visitors, who got 296 in their first knock, now need 341 to stave off an innings defeat.

Resuming at 342/5, India lost only one wicket, that of night watchman Amit Mishra (28), during the day.

Laxman (343 mins, 260 b, 16x4) once again sparkled on his favourite Eden turf, completing his 15th century in 110 Tests a short while before becoming the first batsman to complete 1,000 runs at the historic ground when he reached 102.

He reached the three-figure mark with a flicked single of Jean Paul Duminy 12 minutes into the final session, and after a 281-minute stay at the wicket.

A little later, Dhoni (187 b, 273 mins, 12x4, 3x6) completed his century by picking up a single with a paddle sweep off the same bowler. It was the Indian captain's fourth hundred in 43 Tests and came in 230 minutes.

The two players then went on the rampage as Dhoni hit two successive sixes off Duminy before effecting the declaration.

The butter-fingered South Africans floored four chances during the day, with Laxman reaping the fruits of a dropped catch by Duminy off Wayne Parnell at backward point at 48.

Playing in his aggressive style, Dhoni was batting on 85 (189 mins, 137 b, 10x4, 1x6) as India reached a mammoth 548/6 at tea.

The Indian duo completely dominated the South African bowling as they let loose a flurry of scintillating shots to remain unseparated through the session.

After being cautious in the opening session, the stylish Hyderabadi opened up in the post lunch period to play a top class knock with a spree of wristy strokes to delight the crowd.

If Laxman was top art, Dhoni was intimidating for the South African bowlers, who were already reeling under the onslaught from the earlier batsmen. As India stretched the lead, the rival bowlers seemed like going through the motion.

India reached the 400 in the 98th over with Dhoni pulling Kallis through mid-wicket.

However, he was also lucky, as Kallis failed to reach an outside edge. Harris was again the unlucky bowler.

The 100 of the pair was posted in 125 minutes, while Laxman brought up the 500 with a couple of Duminy in the 17th over after lunch. In the morning, Laxman played a watchful knock as India fought through a fine spell from Dale Steyn to consolidate their position and reach 431 for six.

Earlier, Mishra (38 b, 56 mins, 5x4) survived two chances before attempting an upper cut off Morne Morkel only to see Kallis stretch himself and take a fine catch at second slip.

Playing under overcast conditions, Mishra and Laxman (137 mins, 96 b, 7x4) added 48 for the sixth wicket as Steyn bowled his heart out sticking to a good off stump line, beating both batsmen on several occasions.

Spinner Paul Harris, who began proceedings from the other end, almost got Mishra in his first over, but Kallis dropped the edged cut at slip.

The new ball was taken after the 84th over, the ninth of the innings, and shortly after Mishra got another reprieve when rival captain Graeme Smith failed to latch on to an overhead catch off Kallis.

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