At one point of time, I thought I will spoil the Indian party: Jai Bhagwan

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 12:26 PM

New Delhi, March 18 -- For Jai Bhagwan, it cannot get bigger than this. Once an estranged boxer, who fled the National camp and thought of leaving the sport, bagging his maiden international gold at the XXX Energy Drinks Commonwealth Championships is a return to his roots. A boxer's tryst with destiny is fraught with blood and sweat. And, till the last punch is traded, no one can say for sure that the medal is won. On Wednesday, the torment Jai Bhagwan faced in the ring almost drained him. It made his steps heavy and the fiery punches turned cold. He even thought that the bout had slipped away. "In the second round, my opponent (Valention Knowles of the Bahamas) landed some solid combination of punches," said Jai Bhagwan. "With his formidable defence, he seemed impregnable. I thought I would be the only one spoiling India's party. Before me, three of my teammates had won gold and I was confident Vijender would also win," he said after the bout. In the third round, however, Jai Bhagwan went all out. "That's what I did," he said. "I fought with purpose and went after my opponent." Giving credit for his victory to his friend and guide, Vijender, Jai Bhagwan said, "He has given direction to my life and now, I want to win an Olympic medal." Like Jai Bhagwan, Amandeep and Parmajeet Samota also won their first international gold medals. "Last year, I did not get too many chances as Nanao Singh was the number one boxer. This year, after beating him, I secured a place in the team," explained Amandeep who ruled the 49kg bout. "The selectors and the chief coach chose me ahead of Nanao for the Championships and I am happy I didn't let them down." Amandeep missed the Beijing Olympic quota by a whisker in the second qualifier and he was not picked for the third qualifier because he skipped the national trials. The Mongolian boxer, whom he had defeated in the quarterfinals of the second qualifier, claimed silver at the Beijing Olympic Games.

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IPL surges on multiple delivery platforms

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 12:22 PM

Cuttack, March 18 -- The commercial logic of the IPL keeps becoming more and more apparent. According to an official release, the opener had 19.9 million Indians glued to their TV screens. The connect between the teams and regions they notionally represent is also becoming stronger as the highest average viewer ship for the Kolkata Knight Riders versus the Deccan Chargers was in Kolkata and Hyderabad. The net too has seen interesting traffic for IPL. YouTube had eight million views for the first match while the official online site had 15 million exclusive page views on the first day. As such, despite cricket being a sport that has only nine nations with Test playing status, it appears that the format enjoys a global audience.

According to Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi various mobile operators estimated the SMS traffic during the match to be well over 12 million SMS.

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Commonwealth Games, a boon for Delhi: Suresh Kalmadi

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 12:18 PM

New Delhi, Mar 18 (ANI): The Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC), Suresh Kalmadi, has said the Commonwealth Games will be a boon for New Delhi.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Kalmadi said: "The Commonwealth Games to be staged later this year has been possible due to the liberal loan worth 1600 crore rupees advanced by the Government of India. So, this event will be a boon for New Delhi.

"The Organising Committee has the budget of 1600 crores. This money has been given to us as loan which we have to repay through sponsorships, through revenue, merchandising and ticketing. So, we have to return all the money we have got. And we are getting a lot of sponsors on board. There is going to be no expenses on our account to the government.

Whatever is happening, the stadiums, the roads, metro and airport is not just for the 15 days of the Games, but that is a legacy for the city of Delhi to enjoy," added Kalmadi.

Kalmadi further said the CGOC is confident about successfully conducting the games.

He also claimed that the game would leave behind world-class sporting infrastructure and allied civic facilities in the country. (ANI)

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TV babe Kirsty Gallacher rubbishes Tiger Woods link

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 12:08 PM

London, March 18 (ANI): Scottish TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher has refuted claims linking her to Tiger Woods.

The beauty was upset after rumours buzzed online that she had an affair with the golfer.

"It was all speculation and it was incorrect. It was very upsetting," the Sun quoted her as saying.

Gallacher is the daughter of ex-Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher.

She is engaged to rugby star Paul Sampson. (ANI)

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Cricket tribunal to decide fate of Oz club players for racially abusing Indians

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 11:52 AM

Melbourne, May 18 (ANI): Ten local cricketers in Australia will be handed down their punishment by a cricket tribunal for racially abusing six Indian players.

The Geelong Cricket Association launched a probe after receiving an official written complaint against 10 Thomson cricketers for alleged racial abuse of opposition Indian players playing for the Waurn Ponds Cricket Club on Sunday.

The complaint alleges six Waurn Ponds players of Indian decent were subjected to a series of racially motivated verbal attacks during fourth-grade qualifying final at Grinter Reserve No. 2.

Witnesses claimed some of the players were reduced to tears and were considering giving up the sport after the alleged taunts.

The claims are being taken so seriously that Cricket Victoria sent its code of conduct commissioner Ron Beazley to speak to the players involved before the hearing started officially in Geelong.

Geelong Cricket Association president Ron Dew said that the hearing continued until about 1 a.m. and that a finding would be delivered at about 7.30 p.m. tonight.

He said it was the first time the association had heard such charges and his association had been glad to accept the expertise of Beazley.

"He is the most experienced person in Australia to deal with this sort of issue," he said.

Last night's hearing was closed to the media, but Dew said that players from both teams were able to give their version of what happened during the game. (ANI)

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Woolmer remembered on third death anniversary

Published Thu, Mar 18 10 11:36 AM

Karachi, Mar 18 (PTI) Former Pakistan cricketers today paid tribute to coach Bob Woolmer, whose tragic death during the ODI World Cup in the West Indies exactly three years ago had left everybody stunned. Woolmer died on March 18 just a few hours after Pakistan''s shocking defeat at the hands of minnows Ireland and elimination from the mega-event. "What happened was tragic. Bob''s death came as a big shock for all of us even before we could recover from the defeat to Ireland," former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed said. Initially the Jamaican police had said they were probing a murder case but after three months they announced that the former England cricketer had died of natural causes. Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was the Pakistan captain in the World Cup and worked closely with Woolmer, said that the period spent in Jamaica after Woolmer''s death was the worst of his life. "We were treated like murder suspects and all sorts of accusations were made without anyone realising how close the players were to Woolmer," Inzamam said. "We worked as a team with Woolmer and there is no doubt that he was one of the best coaches I have seen in my career," he added. Danish Kaneria, who was a member of the World Cup squad, said that there was no doubt that Woolmer''s "shocking" death left the players shattered. .

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Tendulkar, Tiwary power Mumbai Indians to 218

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 11:22 AM

New Delhi, March 17 -- Riding on Sachin Tendulkar (63) and Saurabh Towary's (61), Mumbai Indians post a total of 218 against Delhi Daredevils. Delhi Daredevils skipper Gautam Gambhir opts to field first as he retains the same XI while Mumbai Indians have K Pollard. Delhi Daredevils squad G Gambhir, S Ladda, AB de Villiers, T Dilshan, D Karthik, MF Maharoof, M Manhas, A Mishra, D Nannes, P Sangwan, V Sehwag. Mumbai Indians squad

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Sehwag, Dilshan departs after fiery start

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 11:08 AM

New Delhi, March 17 -- Riding on Sachin Tendulkar (63) and Saurabh Towary's (61), Mumbai Indians post a total of 218 against Delhi Daredevils. Delhi Daredevils skipper Gautam Gambhir opts to field first as he retains the same XI while Mumbai Indians have K Pollard. Delhi Daredevils squad G Gambhir, S Ladda, AB de Villiers, T Dilshan, D Karthik, MF Maharoof, M Manhas, A Mishra, D Nannes, P Sangwan, V Sehwag. Mumbai Indians squad

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A fistful of gold

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 10:22 AM

A medal at the Olympics, No. 1 rank in the world and big endorsements - since he last topped the podium at the Chemistry Cup in Germany in 2007, almost everything that Vijender Singh touched has turned into gold. Figuratively speaking, that is, as it was only on Wednesday at the Commonwealth Boxing Championships that the Bhiwani pugilist could end his two-and-a-half-year gold-medal drought.

The 24-year-old survived some anxious moments and a bleeding nose in the first round before turning the tables on Frank Buglioni of England, winning by a 13-3 margin in the 75kg category final. In the process, Vijender also bagged the best boxer award.

Another upward curve that is almost parallel to Vijender's rise is that of Indian boxing. It was only fitting that his fight rounded off what turned out to be a historic performance by the Indians at this stage. The hosts won an unprecedented six gold medals, making a clean sweep in all the categories where they had made the finals. Interestingly -somewhat worryingly as well - there was no silver or bronze in their account as the domestic competition had fizzled out in the quarter-finals in the other four weight categories.

Paramjit Samota set the tone on Wednesday, giving India the first - first-ever in the history of this competition as well - and the most unexpected gold by winning the super-heavyweight (91+ kg) category final. Amandeep Singh (52kg), Suranjoy Singh (52kg) and Jai Bhagwan (60kg) also won their respective bouts. And as Dinesh Kumar (81kg) was assured of a gold after his opponent's walkover, India had already surpassed their previous best performance - 4 gold and 3 silver - at the Glasgow edition of the event in 2007.

But that was no consolation to a wild and vastly partisan crowd, or for that matter Vijender himself, as he stepped into the ring for the day's headline fight. He had defeated Buglioni three times in previous three meetings, but this was a fight as much against his inner demons as against a rival who had come prepared.

No wonder then that the Indian looked circumspect as Buglioni landed a thunderous blow on his face, prompting drops of blood to trickle out of his nose. That was only setback Vijender had to face in the nine-minute fight as he clawed back before clinically dismantling his opponent in the second and the third rounds.

"Everyday is a new day in boxing," said Vijender, who had fallen short at the world championships in Milan last year, bagging a bronze. "But a gold medal is something to cherish not for a year or two, but for the whole career," he added. "I was bit scared after the bleeding from the nose in the first round and thought that the referee would stop the bout. But it was a minor cut and once I set my eyes in, I was confident.

"After the bleeding started, I was trying to control by breathing so the blood did not flow out. I stayed at a distance after the first round which gave me a chance to counterattack. I have tried it a lot of times with sparring coach Kutappa, and it worked," said Vijender.

Earlier, fellow Bhiwani boxer Samota gave India a flying start with a come-from-behind 7-3 win over New Zealand's Joseph Parker. Amandeep looked more convincing against Peter Mugai of Kenya than his 3-0 score suggested. Suranjoy's dream run continued as he won his sixth gold in 11 months with a 1-0 win over Oliver Lagivi of Mauritius after the referee stopped the bout. The closest fight of the day was between Jai Bhagwan and Valention Knowles of Bahamas, with the Indian winning 6-2 in the end.

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Australians accused of racially abusing Indian players

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 10:06 AM

Melbourne, March 18 (IANS) A cricket tribunal in Australia's Geelong city is looking into an accusation that 10 local cricketers racially abused a team with six players of Indian descent, a media report said Thursday.

The Geelong Cricket Association discussed the accusations till early Thursday morning after learning that players from the Thomson club racially abused members of the Waurn Ponds team during a fourth grade qualifying final Saturday, The Age reported.

Waurn Ponds team has up to six players of Indian descent.

Cricket Victoria has sent its code of conduct commissioner Ron Beazley to speak to the players before the hearing officially started in Geelong.

Geelong Cricket Association president Ron Dew said it was the first time the association had heard such charges. The association, he said, had been glad to accept Beazley's expertise.

'He is the most experienced person in Australia to deal with this sort of issue,' he was quoted as saying.

There have been a string of attacks on Indians in Australia since May last year. One of the assaults proved fatal. Nitin Garg was fatally stabbed Jan 2 while walking to his place of work.

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Miserable night for Duncan as Magic rout Spurs

Published Thu, Mar 18 10 09:48 AM

San Antonio's Tim Duncan had a night to forget as the Spurs slumped to a 110-84 loss to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

Duncan, a 12-times All Star and three-times NBA Finals MVP, finished with five points and was 1-for-10 from the field, the worst shooting performance of his career.

After the Charlotte Bobcats snapped Orlando's eight-game win streak on Sunday, the Magic responded with an impressive performance against the Spurs.

Orlando's Vince Carter had a game-high 24 points, with eight assists, and Rashard Lewis scored 20 as the Magic opened up a big lead in the third quarter and were able to rest their starters for much of the fourth.

The Magic (48-21) led by 10 at halftime and outscored San Antonio 28-16 in the third to put the game out of reach.

Richard Jefferson had 20 points for the Spurs (40-26), who entered the game having won eight of their last nine.

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United on red alert in face of Liverpool threat

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 09:08 AM

Manchester United will be the ones on red alert when Liverpool turn up at Old Trafford on Sunday for a Premier League match neither side can afford to lose.

United were thumped 4-1 by Liverpool at home last March and still went on to win the championship but the stakes are higher than ever now.

The leaders are just two points clear of Chelsea, who have a game in hand and no Champions League to distract them after being dumped out by Inter Milan, and Arsenal as the season enters the final stages.

Liverpool are out of the title picture but Rafa Benitez's side are making an all-out push for fourth and a possible Champions League place and need every point they can get.

They showed their mettle at Anfield on Monday with a resounding 4-1 win against almost-relegated Portsmouth, before turning their attentions to Lille in the Europa League on Thursday.

Liverpool beat United twice last season and will be chasing another double on Sunday after winning 2-0 at Anfield in October.

"It would be very dangerous to think this is a poor Liverpool side coming to Old Trafford because they will be anything but," midfielder Darren Fletcher told the Manchester Evening News.

"It would be a huge mistake to think that Liverpool aren't a threat. They maybe haven't had the season we expected after the one they had last year but they are still a dangerous side.

"They are still the same team they were last year in the main," added the Scot.

"We know what they are capable of because they pushed us all the way and dished out that defeat here and the one at Anfield this season. They are still fresh in our memories.

"We have to learn the lessons from last year's game. The warnings are there. If you are not 100 percent focused and you make mistakes then Liverpool will punish you."

United will hope England striker Wayne Rooney is the one doing most of the punishing after some sensational recent form.

He scored twice against Fulham at Old Trafford last Sunday to take his season's tally to 32 and is on course to surpass the 42 scored by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007/2008.

While Rooney will be one of the leading lights at the World Cup in South Africa this summer, so too will Liverpool's Spanish striker Fernando Torres who also grabbed a brace against Portsmouth.

Third-placed Arsenal will go top of the league for a day if they win at home to lowly West Ham on Saturday, with Chelsea at Blackburn Rovers on Sunday.

Portsmouth, docked nine points on Wednesday for going into administration last month, host Hull City with Iain Dowie making his debut as manager for the relegation-threatened visitors.

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Brilliant Messi compared to sporting greats

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 08:46 AM

Lionel Messi earned himself comparisons with sporting greats Diego Maradona and Michael Jordan after the Barcelona forward's brilliant performance in the Champions League on Wednesday.

After scoring a hat-trick against Valencia in La Liga on Sunday, Messi netted twice and helped create another to inspire Barca to a 4-0 win over VfB Stuttgart at the Nou Camp and send the holders through to the quarter-finals 5-1 on aggregate.

"I think he is certainly one of the best in the world and people are right to make comparisons with Diego Maradona," Stuttgart coach Christian Gross told a news conference.

"It's amazing when you think he is still only 22-years-old. He's just a fantastic player."

Argentina forward Messi also earned effusive praise from Barca coach Pep Guardiola.

"The best players are always in the thick of the action," Guardiola told a news conference.

"(Michael) Jordan did it with the Bulls, (Kobe) Bryant does it with the Lakers and Leo does it here.

"We want him to stay with us because he's the best and we wouldn't swap him for anyone."

Messi's first goal came in the 13th minute when the FIFA World Player of the Year raced at the Stuttgart defence and smashed the ball past Jens Lehmann into the roof of the net.

His perfectly-weighted pass nine minutes later set Yaya Toure free on the left to cross for Pedro to score Barca's second and Messi struck again on the hour with a clinical drive from the edge of the penalty area.

They were his seventh and eighth goals in his last four matches in all competitions.

Barca President Joan Laporta said one of Messi's strengths was his unselfishness.

"The first to promote the spirit of the team is Messi himself," Laporta said in a television interview. "His enormous talent entertains us in key moments, but the whole team performed at a fantastic level."

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Woods will still be 'terrific,' says Obama

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 08:26 AM

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Wednesday he was sure Tiger Woods will still be a "terrific golfer" when he returns to competition, while one of the PGA Tour's most senior players urged America to forgive the scandal-hit golfer.

In an interview with the Fox News Channel, Obama was asked his thoughts on Woods' decision to return to golf at next month's Masters, the first major of the season.

Woods has not played in a tournament since November last year after disappearing from public view following tabloid revelations about his marital infidelities.

"I think that Tiger has acknowledged that he betrayed his family; that is a personal issue that he has got to work out," said Obama, himself a keen golfer.

"I hope they've worked it out and I am sure he is still going to be a terrific golfer."

At the PGA Tour event in Tampa, Kenny Perry, who lost in a playoff at last year's Masters, agreed that Woods would still be a great player and urged the public to forgive him.

"We have all made mistakes. It's like any sickness, like alcohol, drugs, you name it; there's so many things out there that people get hung up into and it grabs you and just can't get away from it for whatever reason," said Perry.

"I hope we are that country that will forgive, and give him a second shot. Everybody deserves a second chance."

Asked how he would react if he bumped into Woods on the practice range at Augusta, Perry said: "I'm going to go give him a hug. I'm going up there and get right in his face and tell him if I can do anything for him, let me know. I'm here to help you."

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Messi mauls Stuttgart to send Barca through

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 06:26 AM

Lionel Messi's brilliance sent holders Barcelona through to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 4-0 dismantling of VfB Stuttgart on Wednesday.

Messi scored twice, including a 13th minute stunner that set the Catalans on their way, and was instrumental in the second goal from Pedro, before Bojan Krkic sealed a 5-1 aggregate win.

Barca's victory sent them through to the last eight for a third successive season and salvaged some honour for Spain after the elimination of La Liga sides Real Madrid and Sevilla.

"Only Manchester United have managed to get to the quarters the following season as reigning champions before and I want to congratulate my team for that," proud coach Pep Guardiola said at a news conference.

"Being among the eight best again and being able to compete with them fills us with excitement," he added.

The excitement during the match was supplied by the beguiling skill of Messi.

After collecting the ball just inside the visitors' half, he raced towards the retreating Stuttgart defence before unleashing a left-foot shot that fizzed past goalkeeper Jens Lehmann high into the net.

SMART WORK

The FIFA World Player of the Year turned creator nine minutes later. A superbly weighted pass sent Yaya Toure clear on the left and forward Pedro timed his run to perfection to sweep home the Ivory Coast midfielder's low cross.

More smart work from Messi set up Toure in the 55th but his low drive flew just wide of Lehmann's right-hand post.

Messi beat Lehmann again with a low strike from the edge of the area on the hour, his eighth goal in four matches in all competitions, to end Stuttgart's hopes.

As Barca asserted their dominance, a rampant Messi almost completed his hat-trick with a header in the 68th, well saved by Lehmann, before Krkic wrapped things up a minute after replacing Andres Iniesta.

Stuttgart coach Christian Gross said Real's elimination by Olympique Lyon last week had probably been an extra motivation for the Barca players.

"They pinned us back and we couldn't make any headway down the flanks," the Swiss said. "They are the best team in the world and when they go ahead in front of their own fans it's very difficult," he added.

The draw for the quarter-finals is on Friday and on this evidence, Barcelona will again be the team to avoid.

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Bordeaux join Lyon in Champions League quarters

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 06:08 AM

Girondins Bordeaux survived a second-half scare to grab a 2-1 win over Olympiakos Piraeus on Wednesday and give France a second team in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Bordeaux, leading 1-0 from the first leg, went further clear through an early Yoann Gourcuff free kick and with the visitors down to 10 men from the 60th minute they appeared to have the tie firmly in hand.

Not so. The Greek side levelled through Kostas Mitroglou in the 65th minute and Bordeaux were reeling when captain Alou Diarra was sent off three minutes later.

Bordeaux held their nerve, though, and a goal from Marouane Chamakh two minutes from time sealed a 3-1 aggregate win that took them through along with Olympique Lyon -- the first time France have had two teams in the quarter-finals since 2004.

"We made it hard for ourselves in the second half," Gourcuff told French TV channel Canal Plus. "But we had a fantastic first half, we should actually have been 2-0 or 3-0 up at the break."

"Now, we just hope to avoid Barcelona," coach Laurent Blanc told reporters.

His Olympiakos counterpart, Bozidar Bandovic, said: "Congratulations to Bordeaux. I think we were the better side in the second half. If the players had had more self belief, it could have been a different story."

FLYING START

Bordeaux got off to a dream start, with Gourcuff scoring from the edge of the box with a whipped free kick into the far top corner.

Blanc's side, who had conceded only two goals from eight games in the competition, could have secured their qualification before the break.

Gourcuff collected a lobbed pass from Benoit Tremoulinas before rushing through the defence only to be denied by goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis, who dived at his feet, in the 40th minute.

Four minutes later, the former AC Milan player fired another free kick that smashed the bar.

Olympiakos, reduced to 10 men when Matt Derbyshire was sent off for a second booking with an hour gone, looked thoroughly beaten but turned the tide.

Mitroglou fired home a stunning volley from a throw-in and Bordeaux were also reduced to 10 men when Diarra got his second yellow card.

Bordeaux's game deteriorated but the French champions held on until Chamakh sealed their progress when he headed home at the far post from a Tremoulinas cross.

Olympiakos even ended up with nine men when Olof Mellberg was sent off long after the 90 minutes were up.

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Poland's Radwanska eases into last four at Indian Wells

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 05:46 AM

Fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska breezed into her second semi-final of the year with a 6-4 6-3 victory over fourth-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva at the Indian Wells WTA tournament on Wednesday.

Poland's Radwanska, who also reached the last four in Dubai last month and has yet to drop a set at Indian Wells, broke her opponent twice in each set to win the match in one hour 31 minutes.

The 21-year-old sealed victory when Dementieva hit a backhand service return long and will next meet either her good friend Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark or China's Zheng Jie.

"I'm very happy I am in this condition, always playing two sets," a smiling Radwanska told reporters. "It's always better to win in two sets but it's always hard, especially here."

The Pole, a winner of four WTA titles, was delighted to extend her winning record against Dementieva to 4-2 on a sunny afternoon in the California desert.

"We've played on different surfaces but Elena is always very tough," Radwanska said after converting six of her eight break point opportunities.

"If I win the match, I'm just a couple of points better. It's not like 6-1 and 6-1. If it's an important moment, I think I'm just little bit better."

Dementieva, a losing finalist here to compatriot Maria Sharapova in 2006, was frustrated with her display in ideal conditions on the stadium court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

"It was a perfect day to play tennis, and this year it's not windy," the 28-year-old said. "It's beautiful weather.

"I just didn't play the way I should to beat her. I was actually playing her game the way she feels pretty comfortable with the long rallies.

"I was not aggressive with my footwork and with my shots, just way too many mistakes from me. And she was playing as usual. She was pretty solid on the baseline, no mistakes."

Second seed Wozniacki was scheduled to play 18th-seeded Zheng in an evening match on Wednesday.

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Tournaments at home are key to success: Sandhu

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 04:48 AM

Even though the victory margin for Suranjoy Singh's victory on Wednesday was just 1-0 through RSC OC, the joy on the face of national coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu said it all. The diminutive boxer from Manipur landed three straight punches on Mauritius's Oliver Lavigi and if fellow boxers are to be believed, this is a new era for Indian boxing after the Beijing Olympics.

Having won 17 medals, including an elusive gold in the Asian championship as well as a bronze in the world championships, in international competitions in the last 11 months before the Commonwealth Boxing Championship, Indian boxers added six more medals to that total on Wednesday.

No time to relax

National coach Sandhu was all praise for his wards but maintained that the team could not relax before the Commonwealth Games in October. "This performance has given me a problem," he laughed. "It will be tough for me to stop the boxers from taking a week off, but I guess they deserve this before we get our focus back on the bigger aim. We still have to face most of the European boxers and next month's Cuban tour will provide us an opportunity to do so," Sandhu added.

Sandhu was also of the view that like China, India should host more tournaments to give boxers the home advantage. Before the Commonwealth Games in October, the Indian team will only take part in that training-cum-competition event in Cuba. "We recently went to China and the way they are preparing is tremendous. They had won four medals at the Beijing Olympics and the reason for their success is that they are organising more and more events in China. Now that we have got a world-level stadium, we should do the same," he said.

Sparring coach Jaidev Bisht said it was imperative for the boxers to have played against the biggest names in their weight category before a big event. "One of the positives here is that we won gold in the super heavyweight category. Even though countries like Australia and Canada missed the event, boxers from Scotland, England and Wales were a threat. The medal will boost the confidence of boxers like Amandeep (Singh) and (Paramjit) Samota," said Bisht.

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Equestrian - Briton Whitaker has ban lifted

Published Thu, Mar 18 10 12:46 AM

British showjumper and four-times Olympian Michael Whitaker has had a ban from competing in the 2012 London Games lifted by the British Olympic Association (BOA).

The 50-year-old Whitaker was fined and suspended from competition for four months when his horse Tackeray tested positive for a banned substance at an event in France last May. Under a BOA byelaw, he was then automatically rendered ineligible to represent Britain at future Olympics.

The BOA said in a statement that his eligibility for selection had been restored on appeal because there were significant mitigating circumstances.

It said there was no evidence that Whitaker had deliberately administered the prohibited substance. Media reports said the drug was a hormone in a calming product which was permitted for mares and Whitaker argued that his stallion had been given the wrong food container.

Whitaker, a team silver medallist with his brother John at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, had to pull out of the last Beijing Games when his horse went lame.

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Tendulkar powers Mumbai Indians to a 98-run win

Published>Thu, Mar 18 10 12:20 AM

New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) Skipper Sachin Tendulkar struck a power-packed 63 as Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Daredevils by 98 runs for their second consecutive win in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Ferozeshah Kotla here Wednesday.

Chasing a mammoth target of 219, Daredevils made 120 for nine in 16.3 overs with skipper Gautam Gambhir not able to come out to bat due to a hamstring injury.

Put into bat first, Tendulkar and Saurabh Tiwari (61) guided Mumbai Indians to 218 for seven in 20 overs.

Gambhir's decision to opt for fielding backfired as Tendulkar, who was adjudged Man of the Match, gave Mumbai Indians a great start with his 32-ball innings and Tiwary's big shots at the end assured the Mumbai team a big total on board.

An injured Gambhir limped out of the ground early. His absence was felt as Daredevils tried to chase down a mammoth total in their first match at their home ground.

Daredevils failed to put up a decent partnership despite a solid start from Virender Sehwag (26) and Tillekaratne Dilshan (17). The openers added 38 runs for the first wicket and at a time when they were going all guns blazing, it seemed that 218 would be too less a target to chase.

But they failed to capitalise on it and the Daredevils lost wickets at regular intervals.

Farveez Maharoof (28) and Dinesh Karthik (16) also got starts but their efforts were not enough.

Earlier in the day, Tendulkar started the run feast by hitting fast bowler Dirk Nannes for a four through the covers and in the next over stepped down and guided Maharoof's slower delivery to the mid-on boundary for another four.

Maharoof again found himself at the receiving end of Tendulkar's fury in the fourth over as the batting maestro hit the Sri Lankan all-rounder for four boundaries.

Maharoof, however, got rid of Jayasuriya in the same over, with substitute field Yogesh Nagar taking a brilliant catch running back, to pull back things in Daredevils' favour.

Leg spinner Amit Mishra dropped Tendulkar on 36, but atoned for it by dismissing him in the 11th over with Nagar taking a neat low catch at long off. Tiwari and Ambati Rayudu (34) then entertained the Kotla crowd with their 71-run stand.

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Scoreboard: Mumbai Indians vs. Delhi Daredevils

Published>Wed, Mar 17 10 11:46 PM

New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) The following is the scoreboard of the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils at the Ferozeshah Kotla grounds here Wednesday.

Mumbai Indians:

Sanath Jayasuriya c sub (Nagar) b Maharoof 7

Sachin Tendulkar c sub (Nagar) b Mishra 63

Aditya Tare b Sangwan 17

Saurabh Tiwary run out (Karthik) 61

Aambati Rayudu c Dilshan b Maharoof 34

Keiron Pollard st Karthik b Ladda 10

Dwayne Bravo c Manhas b Ladda 9

Rajagopal Sathish not out 0

Extras (b 1, lb 3, w 11, nb 2) 17

Total (for seven wickets in 20 overs) 218

Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Jayasuriya, 3.4 overs), 2-74 (Tare, 6.3), 3-122 (Tendulkar, 10.5), 4-193 (Rayudu, 17.4), 5-205 (Tiwary, 18.5), 6-214 (Bravo, 19.3), 7-218 (Pollard, 19.6)

Bowling:

Dirk Nannes 4-0-35-0

Farveez Maharoof 4-0-51-2

Pradeep Sangwan 4-0-41-1

Sarabjit Ladda 4-0-44-2

Amit Mishra 4-0-43-1

Delhi Daredevils:

Tillekaratne Dilshan b Malinga 17

Virender Sehwag c Rayudu b Bravo 26

AB de Villiers b Bravo 11

Farveez Maharoof st Tare b Jayasuriya 28

Dinesh Karthik st Tare b Harbhajan Singh 16

Mithun Manhas c Sathish b Jayasuriya 1

Amit Mishra b Pollard 3

Pradeep Sangwan run out (Sathish) 4

Sarabjit Ladda not out 0

Dirk Nannes b Harbhajan 3

Gautam Gambhir absent hurt

Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 8) 11

Total (for nine wickets in 16.3 overs) 120

Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Dilshan, 3.4 overs), 2-56 (Sehwag, 6.1), 3-58 (de Villiers, 6.5), 4-79 (Karthik, 8.4), 5-80 (Manhas, 9.1), 6-106 (Maharoof, 11.2), 7-115 (Mishra, 12.6), 8-116 (Sangwan, 13.3), 9-120 (Nannes, 16.3)

Bowling:

Zaheer Khan 2-0-20-0

Lasith Malinga 2-0-22-1

Dwayne Bravo 2-0-11-2

Keiron Pollard 4-0-24-1

Harbhajan Singh 2.3-0-23-2

Sanath Jayasuriya 4-0017-2

Toss: Delhi Daredevils, who chose to field

Results: Delhi Daredevils won by 98 runs

Man of the match: Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai Indians)

Umpires: Billy Doctrove (West Indies) and Shavir Tarapore (India)

TV umpire: S. Ravi (India)

Match referee: S. Venkataraghavan (India)

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Pitch looks fine, we have no apprehensions: Tendulkar

Published>Wed, Mar 17 10 11:36 PM

New Delhi, March 17 -- Competitive cricket returns to Ferozeshah Kotla on Wednesday. Ever since the infamous pitch controversy in December last, when the India-Sri Lanka tie was abandoned due to a dangerous wicket and the venue banned for a year, there have been speculations on how the wicket would behave. On Tuesday, the wicket, which was termed slow and low during last year's Champions League T20 and the subsequent India-Australia ODI, got a seal of approval from Sachin Tendulkar. "It looks to be a good wicket," said Tendulkar. "It is a typical Delhi track, devoid of grass. At this moment, it looks a very good track to play on. There are no apprehensions." Practice games involving Delhi and Railways players evoked mixed reactions, with some happy and the others terming it slow.

"It's a good track and I don't see any problem with the wicket."

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Mumbai Indians beat Delhi Daredevils by 98 runs

Published>Wed, Mar 17 10 11:26 PM

New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Daredevils by 98 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Ferozeshah Kotla grounds here Wednesday.

Chasing a target of 219, Delhi Daredevils made 120 for nine in 16.3 overs. Daredevils captain Gautam Gambhir didn't come out to bat due to a hamstring injury.

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Chairs crumble under 'heavyweight' claims

Published>Wed, Mar 17 10 11:16 PM

New Delhi, March 17 -- The newly built Talkatora Indoor Stadium, where the XXX 5th Commonwealth Boxing Championships are being held, seems to have been commissioned in haste. A close look reveals the venue, which was inaugurated by Sports Minister, MS Gill, before the event, is far from ready. From the seats to the flooring, there are several shortcomings. But the most glaring is the quality of seats. Around 20 seats have already been broken or taken out. To add to the embarrassment, a Scottish boxer narrowly escaped getting injured after his seat gave way, unable to bear his weight. The seating apart, the venue still requires finishing touches everywhere. The glass panes are not polished. The flooring is dirty. "This is a test event for us also. The problems faced will be rectified as soon the championship gets over," said Anand Kumar Tiwari, Director Public Relations, New Delhi Municipal Council. "The seats didn't break but came out due to some fixing problem. They will be rectified after the event." "The chairs have been recommended by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee and they are of international standards." On other remaining work, Tiwari said, "The structural part is completed and only minor works are left."

For sheer passion, intensity and thrill nothing can match a boxing bout. Add to it a splash of entertainment. With the country's top boxers - including Vijender - participating, it's a must-see for every sporting buff. All this for only Rs 100!

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Kings stumped by Kallis in wonderland

Published>Wed, Mar 17 10 10:52 PM

Bangalore, March 17 -- It's a good thing that Ugadi, the New Year's day here, is not a dry day. Vijay Mallya's team ensured there would be enough demand for his product when the first home match of the Royal Challengers ended on Tuesday. After all, when a big target is chased down, the good times roll. The boys from Bangalore have never put 200 on the board in two seasons of the IPL, their previous best being 181 against the Chennai Super Kings, at this stadium, in 2008. They chose a good day to change this. Jacques Kallis set a few tongues wagging when he began the pursuit of 204 by leaving a ball alone in the first over. But the old master from South Africa clearly knew what he was doing. Bedding down to anchor the chase, Kallis chose his deliveries to hit. Manish Pandey, also careful to begin with, turned adventurous, launching sixes over long off and mid-wicket even as the fielding restrictions ended after six overs. Bangalore stayed well ahead of the curve, and even when Pandey (38) fell, the rate did not dip as Robin Uthappa ambled out with murder on his mind. A period of pure mayhem followed as Uthappa brought up a 19-ball half-century that kept the crowd on its feet and a sea of orange RCB flags waved ceaselessly. The IPL is meant to be a place where players from different countries play together and become friends, but this clearly does not apply to pals from the same country. Uthappa, who jointly runs the Bat & Ball Inn, a resto-bar in Bangalore, took apart his business partner, Sreesanth, in an over that read 6,6,2,6,4,1. The 25-run over took the edge off the Kings XI target and Kallis was in no mood to leave the job half done even when Uthappa departed. Heaving three massive sixes off left-arm spinner Bipul Sharma, Kallis stayed unbeaten on 89 as Bangalore got home with seven balls and eight wickets to spare. When Anil Kumble lost the toss early in the evening, Manvinder Bisla and Ravi Bopara were happy to make first use of a good batting track, and it showed the way they batted.

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Cricket Australia sends psychologist to help Clark deal with his personal crisis

Published>Wed, Mar 17 10 10:46 PM

Wellington, Mar. 17 (ANI): In order to help Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke cope with the blinding media spotlight following his break up from fiancee Lara Bingle, Cricket Australia has flown a psychologist to Wellington where the team is preparing for the first Test against New Zealand.

Ross Chapman's arrival to Wellington coincides with the end of Clarke's 10-day silence over the allrounder's personal crisis.

"Great to be back with the boys. Just home from a big training session. Thanks to all my followers for your support," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Clarke, as saying on his Twitter page.

One CA official last night said Chapman's arrival in New Zealand had been planned prior to Clarke's split with Bingle, but there is no doubting his brief has changed dramatically in the wake of the past week's media circus.

As Clarke joined teammates for his first training session since his return to the tour, every player, plus coach Tim Nielsen and Chapman, attended an extended team meeting on Tuesday.

Clarke had become a virtual prisoner in his hotel room until security removed Australian TV crews camped in the foyer.

When a throng of TV cameramen and photographers positioned themselves near the players' race to get footage of him entering the field, he appeared through a back gate, grinning broadly.

He struck the ball firmly in the nets before leaving, again without saying a word. (ANI)

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Sachin, Tiwary hit fiery fifties to take Mumbai to 218

Published Wed, Mar 17 10 10:22 PM

New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) Skipper Sachin Tendulkar (63) and Saurabh Tiwary (61) smashed blistering half-centuries to propel Mumbai Indians to a huge 218 for seven against Delhi Daredevils in their Indian Premier League match here today. Tendulkar drove, pulled and cut the Delhi Daredevils bowlers with elan after being invited to bat. Tendulkar''s knock, his fourth IPL fifty, came off just 32 balls and was studded with 11 fours in front of a packed Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium crowd. Young Tiwary took the cue from his captain and smashed an aggressive 37-ball 61, laced with four fours and three sixes to take Mumbai Indians to the highest total of IPL-III so far. They surpassed their own earlier highest of 212 for six which they made against Rajasthan Royals in their first match on March 13 in Ahmedabad. Ambati Rayudu also contributed a 21-ball 34 with the help of a four and three sixes. Tendulkar, who was dropped on 36 by Amit Mishra, shared three substantial partnerships in quick time. First he raised a 38-run stand with his opening partner Sanath Jayasuriya and then shared a 36-run partnership from 17 balls with Aditya Tare. Together with Tiwary he rattled up a quickfire 48 from 26 balls to lay the foundation for a big score. More PTI PDS AT

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Mumbai Indians set Delhi Daredevils 219 to win

Published Wed, Mar 17 10 10:08 PM

New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) Sent in to bat, Mumbai Indians scored 218 for seven against Delhi Daredevils in their Indian Premier League match at Ferozshah Kotla ground here today. Brief Score: Mumbai Indians: 218 for seven in 20 overs. (Sachin Tendulkar 63, Saurabh Tiwary 61, Ambati Rayudu 34; F Maharoof 2/49).

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India sweep six gold medals in Commonwealth Boxing

Published>Wed, Mar 17 10 09:36 PM

New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) Indian boxers swept six of the 10 gold medals on offer in the Commonwealth Boxing Championships here Wednesday.

The Indian gold rush began with Parmjeet Samota winning the title clash in super heavyweight category (+91kg).

Amandeep (49kg), Dinesh Kumar (81kg), Bejing Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh (75kg), Asian champion Suranjoy Singh (52kg) and Jai Bhagwan (62kg) were the other five to clinch the yellow metal at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium on the final day of the championship.

Parmjeet defeated New Zealand's Joseph Parker 7:3 in what was an evenly contested fight till the second round with the Indian leading 4-3. But in the third and the final round, Parmjeet showed great technique to pin down Parker.

The second gold came from Amandeep, who defeated Kenya's Peter Mungai 3:0 in the final of the light fly weight catrgory.

Dinesh was lucky to win the third gold for India without dropping a sweat. His opponent Callium Johnson of Scotland withdrew from the title-clash with an elbow injury.

Vijender outpunched England's Frank Buglioni 13-3 to bag the gold in the middle-weight category. Vijender lead 7-2 in the second round and by the third opened up a 10 point lead to win the bout.

Asian champion Suranjoy beat Mauritius' Oliver Lavigi 1-0 after the referee stopped contest.

Jai Bhagwan beat Bahamas Valention Knowles 6-2. Both boxers were tied 2-2 after the second round but in the third, Jai Bhagwan dominated and won four points.

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Women's hockey team to play Test series in Japan, China

Published>Wed, Mar 17 10 09:18 PM

New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) The Indian women's hockey team will play two bilateral Test series against Japan and China to prepare for the World Cup.

The team has already reached Gifu to play four Tests against Japan at Gifu Green Stadium beginning Friday. The next three matches are on March 21, 22 and 24. The team will then depart for Shanghai to play five Tests against Asian champions China.

The team will return home April 4.

The women's World Cup will be held in Rosario, Argentina, in August-September.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: E.Rajini, Yogita Bali

Defenders: Subhadra Pradhan (captain), Jaspreet Kaur, Eti Srivastava, Joydeep Kaur

Preeti Kiro

Midfielders: Deepika Thakur, Mukta Barla, Kirandeep kaur, Thockchom Ranjita Devi

Rosalin Ralte, Ritu Rani, Sunita Lakra

Forwards: Saba Anjum, Chanchan Devi Rani, Monica Badran, Poonam Rani, Soundarya Yendala, Rosalin Dung Dung.

National coach: M.K. Kaushik

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Gambhir put in Mumbai to bat

Published>Wed, Mar 17 10 08:52 PM

New Delhi, March 17 -- Delhi Daredevils skipper Gautam Gambhir opts to field first as he retains the same XI while Mumbai Indians have K Pollard. Delhi Daredevils squad G Gambhir, S Ladda, AB de Villiers, T Dilshan, D Karthik, MF Maharoof, M Manhas, A Mishra, D Nannes, P Sangwan, V Sehwag.

S Tendulkar, D Bravo, S Dhawan, JP Duminy, Harbhajan Singh, S Jayasuriya, Z Khan, D Kulkarni, C Madan, L Malinga, A Nayar, K Pollard, A Rayudu, R Sathish, K Sahabuddin, A Tare, S Tiwary.

Source: Web Search

Uphill going for cricket

Published>Wed, Mar 17 10 08:46 PM

Kolkata, March 17 -- IPL fever is not restricted to the plains of the east. It's going uphill into lands that seldom show any love for cricket. Three partners in an event management company based in Kohima dropped in to catch Tuesday's evening show. "Leagues and inter-district games have started and IPL has become a primetime TV habit," said Kevi Doze, with Kedi Kense and Alezo Kense nodding in agreement. "They have started selling T-shirts of the IPL teams too," he said while informing that the demand for English Premier League jerseys is still unmatched. Doze said that people in Nagaland have started identifying themselves with the teams. "Not diehards yet, but each one has his or her own favourite," said the Chennai Super Kings fan. His partners were rooting for Kolkata Knight Riders.

"Cricket still has a long way to go but we have started noticing kids playing on the streets with tennis and even leather balls. It has started getting popular among schoolchildren and there is a sizeable number of female fans too," said Doze.

Source: Web Search

Delhi Daredevils to take on Mumbai Indians today

Published>Wed, Mar 17 10 08:36 PM

New Delhi, March 17 -- A Delhi-Mumbai tie in Ranji Trophy is usually at the top of the charts. In the IPL, the contest between these two metros should be electrifying. But Sachin Tendulkar, the Mumbai Indians' skipper, thinks this masala mix won't mean the renewal of rivalry. "No, it is definitely not like the Ranji Trophy." Despite Tendulkar's insistence on it being just like any other game, there is a feeling about this game having potential to be the best of the season. The two come in with a cent per cent record and both have stars enough to light up a midweek night. "The confidence is high. We are working together," said Tendulkar, seemingly relaxed after a win over 2008 champions, Rajasthan Royals in the first game at home. The rampaging Daredevils, however, will be tough nuts to crack. Possessing some of the best in the business, they are on a roll, having tamed Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals in their dens. Both Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag, the current and former Daredevils skippers, stamped their authority in the first two games - Gambhir's composure, steering his team against Kings XI, and Sehwag's pyrotechnics, helping his side gallop to a win over the Royals. Them and the rest of the batting comprising Tillakaratne Dilshan (a bit of a worry with his two successive ducks), AB de Villiers and Dinesh Karthik among others, could be a worry for Tendulkar. Especially after the way Yusuf Pathan terrorised their bowling in the first match and nearly won it for Shilpa Shetty. "I don't think bowling is a worry," said the master. "Harbhajan Singh had to leave the field. His four overs had to be adjusted. In this match Harbhajan will be back."

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Unchanged Punjab opts to bat first

Published>Wed, Mar 17 10 08:22 PM

Bangalore, March 16 -- Royal Challengers Bangalore team JH Kallis, MK Pandey, RV Uthappa, V Kohli, R Dravid, EJG Morgan, MV Boucher, P Kumar, A Kumble, DW Steyn, R Vinay Kumar Kings XI Punjab team

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Swann rises to second position in ICC Test rankings

Published>Wed, Mar 17 10 08:08 PM

Dubai, March 17 (IANS) Graeme Swann's maiden 10-wicket haul has made him the first England bowler in six years to rise to second position in the Reliance Mobile International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings for bowlers.

The 30-year-old off-spinner bowled England to a 181-run victory over Bangladesh in Chittagong to give his side a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

Swann jumped three places in the latest rankings announced Wednesday.

Swann's progress towards the top is even more remarkable as he was in 23rd position eight months ago. During this period, he has played 10 Tests and has claimed 45 wickets, including 14 against Australia and 21 against South Africa.

This means he could potentially edge closer or even surpass top ranked Dale Steyn of South Africa depending on how he performs in the second Test in Dhaka, which starts March 20.

Australian Mitchell Johnson and Pakistan's Mohammad Asif have dropped one rung to third and fourth places respectively.

Despite its defeat, there is some positive and encouraging news for Bangladesh.

Captain Shakib Al Hasan has climbed to 15th position by improving his ranking by three places following match figures of 5-195 and Mushfiqur Rahim has become the second highest-ranked wicketkeeper-batsman after India's Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the rankings for Test batsmen.

The batting table is headed by India's Virender Sehwag while Hashim Amla of South Africa is second followed by Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene at third.

In the list for all-rounders, Swann has moved to third position, while Shakib has dropped to the fourth spot.

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Bangalore Royal Challengers beat Kings XI Punjab by 8 wickets

Published>Wed, Mar 17 10 07:52 PM

Bangalore, March 16 -- Kings XI Punjab's 203 proved achiveable for Royal Challengers Bangalore as their opener J Kallis scored an unbeaten 89 in thier first home match in Bangalore. Earlier, Manvinder Singh Bisla's blistering 52-ball 75 and his 129-run opening wicket partnership with Ravi Bopara (77) powered Kings XI Punjab to an intimidating 203 for three against a frazzled Royal Challenger Bangalore in the Indian Premier League here today. Virtually unknown to Indian cricket, Bisla announced his prowess and intentions on the IPL platform with a ruthless exhibition of attacking strokes. He cared little for reputation, treating Dale Steyn and Anil Kumble with casual disdain, smashing them into the stands with effortless ease. The well-built opener struck six boundaries and five sixes before he smashed Jacques Kallis into the hands off Eoin Morgan at mid-wicket. But by then he had put Kings XI Punjab in a position of strength, a situation from where Mahela Jayawardene (13-ball 26) plundered the whithering Bangalore attack at will. Bopara, who played the anchor's role to a nicety, broke loose as the overs whittled down to notch his second successive half century of the championship. The English import took barely 42 bails for his 77 which was embellished with nine boundaries and two sixes. As in the first game against Kolkata Knight Riders, the Bangalore bowling lacked direction and temperament, caving under the Bisla-Bopara plunder. Royal Challengers Bangalore team JH Kallis, MK Pandey, RV Uthappa, V Kohli, R Dravid, EJG Morgan, MV Boucher, P Kumar, A Kumble, DW Steyn, R Vinay Kumar

KC Sangakkara, MS Bisla, RS Bopara, DPMD Jayawardene, Yuvraj Singh, IK Pathan, M Kaif, PP Chawla, Bipul Sharma, YA Abdulla, S Sreesanth.

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Orissa enters Women''s football semi final

Published Wed, Mar 17 10 07:16 PM

Imphal, Mar 17 (PTI) Sasmita Mallick unleashed a flurry of goals to help Orissa defeat Haryana 5-0 and reach the semifinals of 18th Senior Women''s National Football Championship from Group-B at Khuman Lampak main stadium ground here. Mallick scored as many as five goals. In group A, host Manipur and Tamil Nadu had already entered the semi final.

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T20 World Cup selection on March 26

Published>Wed, Mar 17 10 06:46 PM

Mumbai, Mar 17 (ANI): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) national selectors will meet in Mumbai on March 26 to pick up the squad for the International Cricket Council (ICC) World T20 championship to be played the next month in the West Indies.

The five-member selection panel headed by chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth will select the squad from list of 30 players, who have been short listed taking into account their current form in the game.

The final team will be selected after the completion of the third edition of the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament, which will end on April 25.

The third edition of the T20 World Cup will be played in the Caribbean from April 30 to May 16.

India is in Group C along with South Africa and qualifiers Afghanistan in the league phase of the tournament.

They play their first match on May 1 against Afghanistan. (ANI)

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