Tiger Woods to return to therapy after press conference

Published>Fri, Feb 19 10 01:21 PM

Washington, Feb 19 (ANI): Professional golfer Tiger Woods will be returning to therapy after he speaks publicly for the first time about his infidelity, states a letter from PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.

Finchem's letter to the PGA Tour policy board and other officials explained why Woods chose February 19 to make his first public comments, which are to be televised live by all the major networks.

Woods' statement comes during the Match Play Championship, sponsored by Accenture, the first company to drop him as a pitchman.

"As we understand it, Tiger's therapy called for a week's break at this time during which he has spent a few days with his children and then will make his statement before returning," CBS News quoted Finchem's letter as saying.

"Accordingly, there was very little flexibility in the date for the announcement," it read.

Woods' speech from the clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass, home of the PGA Tour, is his next major step in image rehabilitation, since his adultery scandal exploded last November. (ANI)

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Jeev continues dream run, ousts Kuchar in 2nd Rd

Published>Fri, Feb 19 10 01:05 PM

Indian pro Jeev Milkha Singh continued his dream run in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, ousting two-time PGA Tour winner Matt Kuchar to breeze into the third round of the USD 8.5 million elite golf tournament in Tucson.

Jeev, who had upstaged three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington in his opening round, tamed Kuchar one-up in the Bobby Jones bracket to set up a third round showdown with Englishman and eight-time European Tour winner Ian Poulter, who edged out Adam Scott 2 and 1.

The Indian played immaculate golf with the fifth hole bogey being the lone blot in his otherwise impeccable card.

Jeev did not have a great start as Kuchar won the opening hole with a par. But the Indian was soon in his elements and he two-putted from 67 feet to birdie the par-five eighth hole which put him one up and the gap increased with Kuchar

dropping a shot on the next.

Jeev went three-up after the 13th hole birdie but his American opponent responded with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes to inject some fresh drama.

Jeev's short game, however, stood him in good stead and Kuchar could not bridge that gap.

"I ground it out and I think that's what match play is all about. You cannot lose patience and you have to hole those short putts which is what I did," an elated Jeev later said.

"It was real hard work. I think it was a fantastic match. It started off not too good on the first, but came back pretty good. Matt came back strong and birdied 14, 15, and I made some good up-and-downs on 16 and 17 and the last was an exciting one," said the affable Indian.

The face-off with Poulter would be an opportunity for Jeev to avenge his last year's defeat at the Englishman's hand.

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India deserves to be the number one Test team: Bhajji

Published>Fri, Feb 19 10 12:35 PM

Kolkata, February 19(ANI): Thrashed in the first Test in Nagpur, Team India's fighting spirit stood out to the core during their convincing victory in the second Test in Kolkata. The ace off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who bowled a match-winning spell of five for 59 in the second innings to lead India to a thumping victory by an innings and 57 runs on Thursday, said that India deserves to be the number one Test team.

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Australia satisfied with India''s security measures

Published Fri, Feb 19 10 12:21 PM

Melbourne, Feb 19 (PTI) Australia Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has expressed satisfaction with the security measures for foreign athletes during this year''s sporting events in India in the wake of the recent terror threat by a millitant group. Smith, who met Indian authorities last year to review Commonwealth Games'' security arrangements, also said that not a single sporting event anywhere in the world was free from security scare in the current scenario. "I was satisfied then and I''m satisfied now that all of the necessary co-ordination and consultation continues to occur and, of course, we are deeply interested in those arrangements," Smith was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press, a news agency here. "It is a very regrettable fact of the modern era that there are always the risk of security risks in major sporting events, whether they''re conducted in Australia, the Sydney Olympics or the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, or whether they''re conducted in India," he said. .

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Tiger Woods' wife to skip his public statement

Published>Fri, Feb 19 10 12:15 PM

New York, Feb 19 (ANI): Tiger Woods' wife Elin Nordegren will not be present on the spot when the golfer apologizes for his extra-marital affairs publicly.

The Swedish beauty reportedly refused to answer a reporter's question about whether she would show up when Woods breaks his silence.ccording to Radaronline.com, it has been confirmed that she will stay away.

Woods will speak at the PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

"Tiger Woods will be speaking to a small group of friends, colleagues and close associates at 11 a.m . . . at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse," the New York Post quoted a statement issued by Woods' management team.

It added: "Tiger plans to discuss his past and his future and he plans to apologize for his behavior.

"While Tiger feels that what happened is fundamentally a matter between he and his wife, he also recognizes that he has hurt and let down a lot of people who were close to him.

"He also let down his fans. He wants to begin the process of making amends, and that's what he's going to do." (ANI)

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Pakistani cricketers can participate in IPL 4

Published>Fri, Feb 19 10 12:11 PM

Lahore, Feb 19 (ANI): The fourth edition of the Indian Premier League will see the participation of Pakistani players and two new teams would take part in that event, according to IPL commissioner Lalith Modi.

Two new franchises will be included in the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after taking the number of participating teams to 10.

Talking to a private news channel, Modi said that the two new teams would join the competition from the 2011 season.

Modi said 12 cities were in contention, including four, which will host games during the 2010 season.

He said tenders for the franchises could be collected from the Board of Control for India or IPL from February 21 and that bids would be opened on March 8 in Mumbai.he cities in the frame are Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Kanpur, Dharamsala, Indore, Cuttack, Gwalior and Visakapatnam. But Modi also indicated that Rajkot, Pune, Vadodara and Kochi, which are in the process of building stadiums, might bid for teams.

The new team franchises will be granted access to venues hosting matches during the 2010 IPL in order to familiarise themselves.

The 2010 IPL, which is the third edition of the 20-over tournament, begins on March 12, the Daily Times reports. (ANI)

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Figure skating - Lysacek edges Plushenko to gold

Published>Fri, Feb 19 10 12:09 PM

American Evan Lysacek stunned his rivals, including reigning champion Yevgeny Plushenko, with a spell-binding free skate on Thursday to win the Olympic men's figure skating gold.

Russian Plushenko had been the strong favourite but Lysacek wowed the judges with an artistic performance to Sheherazade that brought the roaring crowd to their feet.

Unlike Plushenko, he did not attempt any quadruple jumps in his routine but was handsomely rewarded for his wobble-free jumps and his exquisite choreography.

His score of 257.67 eclipsed Plushenko by 1.31 points. Japan's Daisuke Takahashi was third.

Brian Boitano was the last American man to win the title when the Games were also held in Canada, in Calgary in 1988.

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Jaipur curators predict high-scoring opening ODI

Published Fri, Feb 19 10 10:50 AM

Jaipur, Feb 19 (PTI) With a batting-friendly wicket on offer, a high scoring encounter is on the card when India takes on South Africa in the first cricket one-dayer at the Sawai Man Singh stadium here on Sunday. If the curators of the ground -- Ashok Joshi and Taposh Chattejee -- are to be believed, they have made a batting beauty for the opener which will set the tone for the three-match series. "There is no doubt that it would be a fine batting wicket. People come to watch runs in ODIs and we won''t disappoint them," Joshi said. Fellow curator Chatterjee said the surface looks in great shape and would be ideal for strokeplay. "We have kept grass on the wicket and underneath too which will help in binding the soil. We had watered it adequately and we are rolling it to help it dry. "A little of evaporation and rolling pulls out the moisture from underneath. I makes the surface which means the ball will come on to the bat," he said. .

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Aguirre hat-trick helps Alianza crush holders Estudiantes

Published>Fri, Feb 19 10 10:46 AM

Winger Wilmer Aguirre scored a fine hat-trick as Alianza Lima rallied from being a goal down after eight seconds to humiliate holders Estudiantes 4-1 in the Libertadores Cup on Thursday.

It was four-times South American champions Estudiantes' worst defeat outside Argentina in the competition and Alex Sabella's first loss as their coach in the Libertadores Cup.

Alianza got off to the worst possible start after kicking off and playing the ball back into the centre of defence. They conceded possession to Jose Sosa, who ran into the box, rounded goalkeeper Salomon Libman and netted the fastest goal in South America's top club competition.

However, Alianza set about playing a fast, quick-passing game that soon had Estudiantes on the back foot.

Aguirre leveled the score in the 17th minute, racing into the box and blasting over keeper Agustin Orion. The man of the match burst through again just past the half hour to control a high ball out of his own half, fend off two defenders and place a low shot inside the far post.

His third goal in the 74th minute was a low shot inside the far post after he twice beat tall centre-back Leandro Desabato.

Central striker Juan Carlos Fernandez volleyed a brilliant fourth seven minutes from the end to chants of "Ole" from the home crowd.

Peru has not been a happy hunting ground for Estudiantes over the years with three defeats and a draw.

"I thought the worst," Alianza's Argentine coach Gustavo Costas told Fox Sports of the early goal. "But the team showed their maturity."

"We are very committed, we want to change Alianza history (in the Libertadores Cup)," said Fernandez, whose club's best performance was reaching the semi-finals in 1976 and 1978.

Estudiantes captain Juan Sebastian Veron said: "It wasn't a good night, above all defensively, which is normally one of our strengths."

There was also a quick strike in Chile where Uruguayan Juan Manuel Olivera converted a second-minute penalty for Universidad de Chile against Caracas FC of Venezuela. But there were no more goals and the home side won 1-0 in Group Eight.

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Germany rules in skiing, Australia in halfpipe

Published>Fri, Feb 19 10 10:25 AM

Germany's Maria Riesch got her groove back to win the women's super combined crown on Thursday after American Lindsey Vonn tumbled and ruined her bid for a second Olympic gold medal in as many days.

It was just one of the many feats by women on day six of the Winter Games. Over on the snowboard halfpipe, Australia's Torah Bright sliced her way to her country's first gold of these Games, while speedskater Christine Nesbitt picked up the third gold for host nation Canada.

Another woman made Olympic history. Norwegian biathlete Tora Berger skied and shot her way to the country's 100th Winter Olympic gold, the first nation to reach that landmark.

Her male team mate Emil Hegle Svendsen, however, quickly made that 101 with gold in the biathlon 20 km individual.

Thursday was also a good news day for beleaguered organisers, in that there were no new reports of operational snags after a string of problems, ranging from million-dollar ticketholder refunds to unreliable ice grooming machines.

The day started with all eyes on Vonn once again after a stunning win on a treacherous downhill on Wednesday that sent a succession of racers careening off the course.

The downhill diva, who came to Vancouver with a shin injury, was ahead after the first downhill run and was on course to finish on the podium in the combined when she clipped a gate and tumbled within sight of the finish line.

Riesch, rebounding from a disastrous downhill race, said her gold finish came down to getting her nerves under control.

"I was not nervous and that was the key because yesterday I was," Riesch said, noting that the course was "not so difficult".

Vonn's American team mate Julia Mancuso stayed on her skis to finish second to add another silver to her second place in the individual downhill. With three Olympic medals, Mancuso joins men's team mate Bode Miller as the most decorated U.S. skiers.

BRUISED AND BRONZED

Back with a vengeance was the combined's bronze medal winner Anja Paerson of Sweden, who survived a spectacular crash on the big hill at the end of Wednesday's downhill.

A deeply bruised Paerson decided to race only at the last minute, but once her bronze was in hand, she did not hesitate to do her trademark face-first celebration dive on the snow.

"This night I was very nervous that I wouldn't enter any more races here. But I was very determined to win one more medal," said Paerson, who now holds a record equalling sixth Alpine medal.

The United States led the standings with five golds after scooping up three on Wednesday, while Germany moved to second with four golds.

At three golds apiece stood Norway, South Korea, Switzerland and Canada, where an "own the podium" programme made for the home Olympics has begun to reap respectable rewards.

To the cheers of a fanatical home crowd, speedskater Nesbitt claimed the Olympic title by two-hundredths of a second and later said the way she raced "wasn't pretty".

"I was fortunate to win Olympic gold. It was probably the worst 1,000 I've done this year," Nesbitt said.

The Canadian gold rush comes after the country broke on Sunday its so-called "curse" for never before having won Olympic gold on home soil, previously in Montreal in 1976 and Calgary in 1988.

Australia's first gold came almost miraculously as Bright went from last to first in the halfpipe by pulling off a series of tricks to make up for a first final run with two falls.

After a day of women's triumphs, the men will cap Thursday with the individual figure skating title.

Russia's Yevgeny Plushenko was bidding to become the first man in more than half a century to successfully defend the men's title after he won in Turin four years ago.

He held a narrow lead over American Evan Lysacek and Japan's Daisuke Takahashi after Tuesday's short programme and has vowed to risk all by attempting to nail a quadruple jump in Thursday's free programme.

"Without the quad it's not men's figure skating," he said.

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di Resta 7th fastest in Jerez

Published Fri, Feb 19 10 10:05 AM

Jerez (Spain), Feb 19 (PTI) Force India test driver Paul di Resta clocked the seventh fastest time as, for the second day in row, inclement weather marred the Silverstone-based outfit''s testing at the Circuit de Jerez here. With heavy rain and high winds showing no signs of abating, Force India had to modify its testing schedule with di Resta getting another half day testing in the VJM03 before Vitantonio Liuzzi took over in the afternoon. di Resta managed to get 33 laps under his belt and his best of 1:30.344 put him seventh in the 12-driver field, two places ahead of Liuzzi who made 24 laps with the best of 1:30.666, which put him just ahead of Lewis Hamilton. The team made the most of the amended programme yesterday to run through further set-up evaluation, plus race preparation and fuel and hydraulic systems checks. With no major issues the drivers completed over 250km in total. "Unfortunately the weather was again very bad, but at this stage any running gives me more experience of the car and how the team works," di Resta later said. "I ran with the intermediate and wet tyres over the morning, which at least means I have got some solid experience of wet running and it won''t be such a novelty when I am faced with similar conditions in places such as Malaysia," he added. MORE PTI AY SSC

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Speedskating - Nesbitt nabs gold after 'worst' race

Published>Fri, Feb 19 10 09:45 AM

One might think Canada's Christine Nesbitt would be giddy after winning gold in the women's 1,000 metres on Thursday, but the speedskating perfectionist was conflicted.

"I cannot believe I won," Nesbitt told reporters after a furious charge to the finish allowed her to overcome some panic at the start of the race and eventually claim Canada's third gold medal of the Vancouver Games. "Mixed emotions."

Nesbitt was 19th fastest after 200 metres and ninth best with a lap to go before her final kick put her two-hundredths of a second ahead of Dutch silver medallist Annette Gerritsen.

"It wasn't pretty, I know it wasn't pretty," said Nesbitt, the world champion and runaway World Cup leader who is unbeaten over the distance this season. "I was fortunate to win Olympic gold. It was probably the worst 1,000 I've done this year."

The analytical Nesbitt, 24, said she felt very nervous before the race and let it affect her.

"As soon as the gun went off, I panicked off the start. I had a slip after two or three steps. I wasn't quite right. In a sprint it's hard to get out of that. It can be tough to fix. I was almost trying too hard, maybe.

"I've had races like that, where I panicked, and I think that's why I was able to skate a good last lap because I've been there before and I was able to still finish strong."

While Nesbitt did not look happy after her time was posted, the home crowd thundered its approval when she edged into first place with one pair still to skate.

"I did not think it would be good enough," said Australian-born Nesbitt, whose family left Melbourne for Canada when she was an infant. "I wasn't that happy. I knew the worst I could do was bronze, but I didn't come here for the bronze."

When compatriot Kristina Groves and Margot Boer of the Netherlands failed to beat her time, the first Canadian speed skating gold medal of the Vancouver Games was hers and the Richmond Olympic Oval erupted in noise.

The jubilant crowd serenaded her with affection. Her Dutch speedskater boyfriend Simon Kuipers stopped her by the barrier during her victory lap and planted a kiss on her mouth.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper congratulated Nesbitt over the telephone, telling her "the country is thrilled, and we're all very proud," his representative said in a statement.

The Dutch oompah band Kleintje Pils, which has been providing music at the venue, burst into the Canadian national anthem and the crowd went wild.

"I don't know how to react," said Nesbitt, who vowed to study tapes of her race to fix her problems before the 1,500 metres race. "I don't feel like I won Olympic gold."

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Robinho scores twice as Santos win 6-3 at home

Published Fri, Feb 19 10 09:37 AM

Robinho scored twice as Santos beat Bragantino 6-3 on Thursday in his first home match since returning on loan from Manchester City.

Robinho, who had last played at Vila Belmiro in August 2005 before his transfer to Real Madrid, scored Santos' second goal when he touched home from Neymar's free kick just before the half hour.

He scored again 13 minutes into the second half with a deft lob over the goalkeeper to make it 5-1 and ran to celebrate with his two-year-old son, as Santos went four points clear at the top of the Paulista (Sao Paulo) state championship.

Robinho has scored three goals in three matches, all victories, since his return on a six-month loan last month.

Struggling Palmeiras sacked coach Muricy Ramalho after Wednesday's 4-1 home defeat by Sao Caetano.

Ramalho, who steered Sao Paulo to three successive Brazilian championship titles from 2006 to 2008, became the fourth coach to lose his job in Brazil's top flight this year.

Having taken charge in July, Ramalho lasted less than seven months at Palmeiras after failing to steer them into this year's Libertadores Cup, the top South American club competition they won in 1999.

Palmeiras appointed former AS Roma and Brazil defender Antonio Carlos Zago, who had been in charge of Sao Caetano, as Ramalho's replacement. He takes over with Palmeiras in eighth place in the Paulista standings.

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