'Injury plagued' Ferdinand hopes to get his career back on track

Published>Fri, Mar 05 10 01:20 PM

London, Mar 5(ANI): England skipper Rio Ferdinand hopes to get his career back on track on Saturday, as he resumes his club duties with Manchester United.

Ferdinand has declared himself free of back injury, which had cast a shadow over his preparations for this summer's World Cup finals, and will play in the Premier League game against Wolves.

He was due to return to action against West Ham two weeks ago, but he felt a twinge in his back, which also ruled him out of the Carling Cup final and England's win over Egypt.

"This latest problem has only been a minor setback. It's just been precautionary, me not playing, to make sure it doesn't get any worse. But I'm fine now, no pain, so I'm cool," The Sun quoted Ferdinand, as saying.

"It was decided it was best for me to stay in Manchester and train, rather than with England," he added.

The 31-year-old had earlier said that he would get "very disappointed" if his team does not make it to the World Cup final.

"You don't play just to get a cap or to be there. You play to win and to achieve something, and if I was to finish my career with England and not even to have got to a final, I'd be very disappointed," Ferdinand had said. (ANI)

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Barreto, Chidi in goal rush

Published>Fri, Mar 05 10 01:14 PM

Kolkata, March 5 -- Edeh Chidi and Jose Barreto spanked an insipid Chirag United 5-1 and handed Mohun Bagan a major fillip for their I-League campaign in their opener of the second phase of the I-League on Thursday.

This was Barreto's first hattrick since his four-goals burst against Air India away on Jan 17. Mohun Bagan, the only team in the League to have scored five goals in a match thrice, now stand third with 23 points and are ahead of Chirag United - who remain on 23 points - by virtue of superior goal difference.

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International body to help untangle affiliation issue

Published>Fri, Mar 05 10 12:50 PM

New Delhi, March 5 -- March 10 is a rest day at the Hero Honda FIH Hockey World Cup. But for Hockey India and international hockey federation (FIH) officials, it'll be a working day. They will be busy solving the Hockey India (HI) affiliation riddle with state associations that have filed litigations in various courts all over the country. Though the meeting has been called by Hockey India, FIH officials, including president Leandro Negre, too are expected to meet the state association officials in order to negotiate a settlement so that litigations can be withdrawn and elections held by May-end. Negre is getting actively involved in the negotiations, as he wants to get approval from the FIH board for the World Club Championship for which he has had negotiations with an Indian sponsor. The FIH board will meet in New Delhi on March 15. The FIH doesn't want to give the event to an ad-hoc body and face the same problems it encountered in the run-up to the World Cup. HI has invited four groups from Maharashtra - Mumbai Hockey Association, Vidarbha and two factions of Maharashtra - for the meeting along with groups from Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. Confirming Mumbai Hockey Association's participation in the meeting, Olympian Joaquim Carvalho welcomed Negre's invitation for talks. "We welcome Negre's initiative and are ready for talks. Our only demand is that all units affiliated to the erstwhile Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and the Indian Women's Hockey Federation (IWHF) be involved in free and fair elections. We will withdraw the cases and participate in the elections," said Carvalho. Ikram Khan, secretary of one of the Maharashtra Hockey Association factions, said he too would attend the meeting.

Negre has invited president of the now-defunct IHF to watch the World Cup matches. They are expected to meet before the semis to discuss the issue. "Gill has accepted the invitation and may watch the semis," a source told HT. Gill has filed a case against the suspension of the IHF by the Indian Olympic Association and it needs to be settled before the elections.

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Brit boxer to represent native Pakistan in CWG, London Olympics

Published>Fri, Mar 05 10 12:46 PM

Lahore, Mar.5 (ANI): British boxer of Pakistani origin and younger brother of light-weight world champion boxer Amir Khan, Haroon Khan, has reportedly joined the Pakistan pugilist team for upcoming events, including the 2012 London Olympics.

According to a private television channel, which quoted sources in the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF), Haroon along with his father recently visited Karachi where he underwent trials.

Pakistan boxing coach Abdul Majeed Brohi was present during the trial bouts and gave Haroon the green signal to represent the country in forthcoming events, following which he is likely to be included in the squad for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

"My aim is that at least one of my sons plays for Pakistan and make a name for the country in London Olympics 2012", sources quoted Haroon's father as saying to PBF officials.

Haroon is likely to represent Pakistan in the 52 kilograms weight category in the Delhi Commonwealth Games, The Nation reports. (ANI)

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Gangjee off to a flying start in Kuala Lampur

Published Fri, Mar 05 10 12:36 PM

Kuala Lumpur, March 5 -- Three birdies in the first five holes saw Rahil Gangjee off to a flyer and he ended the day at four-under 68 to be placed tied ninth on the truncated first day of the co-sanctioned Maybank Malaysian Open on Thursday. Gangjee was three shots off joint leaders Spaniard Ignacio Garrido and Welshman Rhys Davies, who shot 65 each in the event sanctioned by European and Asian Tours. Digvijay Singh and SSP Chowrasia shot three-under 69 each to be tied 16th. Gaganjeet Bhullar and Arjun Atwal carded 72 each to be 48th, while Himmat Rai was also even but with two holes to play. C Muniyappa carded a 73 while Shiv Kapur was one-over but had one more hole to play.

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India pip the Netherlands to storm into main event

Published>Fri, Mar 05 10 12:26 PM

New Delhi, March 5 -- In a first for the Indian badminton, women shuttlers have qualified for the main event of the Uber Cup on Thursday. They were vying for the fourth spot in finals against the Netherlands - the fourth placed team from Europe. Based on the overall world ranking points (top three singles players and two doubles pairs) in accordance with the new Badminton World federation (BWF) rankings list, released on Thursday, India ranked higher than the Dutch. India had kick-start their campaign with a 3-2 win against Hong Kong. They later lost to Japan 1-4. But later, they went on to win the last two crucial ties against the Philippines and Chinese Taipei 5-0 and 3-2 respectively. India's ace shuttler and World No. 7, Saina Nehwal, was ecstatic with the win. "This is the first time we've ever qualified, so the team is extremely excited. We hope to take the form into the finals as well," said Saina. National coach, Pullela Gopichand, said that although he was happy with the performance, at the same time they would have to work harder as the pressures would be immense. "There is no doubting the fact that it's an achievement. Now, we we'll have to focus even harder," he said. Indonesia, India and Korea have completed the cast from Asia in Thomas Cup while Korea, Japan, India and Indonesia have made Uber Cup finals.

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Deodhar Trophy dates upset IPL teams' preparations

Published>Fri, Mar 05 10 12:16 PM

Mumbai, March 5 -- When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the dates for Deodhar Trophy, the inter-zonal one-day championship, some of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchisees were disturbed. The reason: The Deodhar Trophy, to be played from March 6 to 9, was going to clash with their final phase of IPL-3 preparations. And the franchisees did have reason to be offended. With most of the overseas and India's international players joining their respective teams barely a week before the start of the tournament, the last week was probably the only time before IPL-3 when the whole squad would have been able to train together. A glance at the Deodhar Trophy squads is enough to justify the franchisees' case. Of the 75 players slated to participate in the Deodhar Trophy, 40 are included in the initial 23-member squad list of their respective IPL team (see box). Kolkata Knight Riders' preparations will take the most serious beating since they will lose six players each during the Deodhar Trophy. Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore are not far behind as they will miss five players for a better part of the last week of IPL preparations. It wasn't a surprise that many franchisees requested the IPL to intervene and asked them to release the players to skip Deodhar Trophy. IPL chairman Lalit Modi, however, did not bow to the request, which would have taken the sheen out of the premier domestic one-day tournament. "(We) told them (franchisees) to go straight home. They (players) have to play the Deodhar Trophy," Modi, who also heads the BCCI's Tours, Programme and Fixtures Committee, told Hindustan Times on Friday. "They will all request. Everybody can. You can ask for the moon. But rules are rules. We are not going to sacrifice Deodhar Trophy for them." Mumbai Indians, the most expensive IPL outfit, will miss their star spinner Harbhajan Singh, who hasn't yet joined the preparatory camp being held at the Cricket Club of India, during the Deodhar Trophy. Yet, Head Coach Robin Singh insisted it wouldn't have any impact on the team's planning. "We've been together for a long while now, so it's really not an issue. As long as they are playing cricket, we are fine," Robin said.

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Backroom boys add to teams' cutting edge

Published>Fri, Mar 05 10 12:12 PM

New Delhi, March 5 -- Half-a-dozen tacticians standing at a vantage point, capturing every move on their cameras and gazing into laptops for the entire duration of the game. Meet the die-hard video-analysts who have accompanied their teams to the FIH Hockey World Cup, under way at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. On the face of it, the job looks tedious and tiresome, but speak to the men and they are as passionate about their profession as those in the thick of action. Gerold Heoben, the Netherlands' assistant coach, says, it's a job, which has acquired a new dimension. "Players make the game and video analysis is a tool to prepare them." Pakistan's video analyst, Nadeem Khan Lodhi, agrees. Complex formations, man-marking and player analysis form an integral part of the goal-scoring recipe. Analysing the opponent's strategies and identifying one's weaknesses is what makes the role of a video-analyst critical." Both agree that much of what they do makes for their teams' success. Associated with Pakistan for more than six years, Lodhi says, "I give video footage of each team to the players. The technical staff and coaches study it and according chalk out strategies." Heoben says with the game getting "so quick", this has become a necessity. "Before a tournament, we analyse data which could run into hundreds of hours but we filter it so that it is easy for the coaches to analyse." Lodhi also transmits live footage to the bench when Pakistan play and says it is common practice with most teams. "We make use of CR (cross-reflective) antennas, which is a wireless router that transmits the match as it happens. The coach can study the data and give specific instructions." The technology is now being used increasingly in most sports and hockey is not an exception. With almost every team using it, is there a chance of the teams negating each other's advantage? Lodhi admits that there can never be a foolproof way to succeed. Heoben also feels there is a flip side to technology. "No doubt, it is good but it can also be dangerous and trick you into underestimating a team. Sometimes, a team might lose badly but it still could have played a good tactical game. Today, South Africa lost by 12 goals, but they played well inside the D."

Truly, a motley bunch with a passion for the game!

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Lewis Hamilton 'rents two LA pads to be closer to Nicole Scherzinger'

Published>Thu, Mar 04 10 09:34 PM

London, March 4 (ANI): F1 race ace Lewis Hamilton is reportedly renting two properties in Los Angeles in order to keep his relationship with Nicole Scherzinger going strong.

The racing car driver wants to make sure he can be close to Scherzinger when she takes part in the new season of Dancing With The Stars.

He has secured a house off posh Melrose Avenue and a penthouse at the smart Palazzo apartments at Park La Brea.

Hamilton has confirmed that he has reunited with the Pussycat Doll.

The pair had previously announced a split in January, blaming their busy work schedules for the break-up.

"Lewis is determined to give their relationship another go. It unravelled before because they were never together in the same place, which made seeing each other very complicated," the Sun quoted a source as saying.

The insider added: "Lewis likes a bit of variety so he's opted for two properties, a secluded house in Melrose and a swanky penthouse near his favourite shopping arcade, The Grove." (ANI)

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