The battle for semifinals begins from tomorrow

Published Wed, May 05 10 11:54 AM

Barbados, May 5 (PTI) India will have to battle it out with three World Champions to seal one of the two semifinal slots from their cluster when the Super Eights stage begins at the Kensington Oval from tomorrow. India have been drawn along with West Indies, Sri Lanka and Australia, who by far look the best equipped all-round team capable of claiming the coveted trophy. England, who squeaked into the Super Eights following a washout against Ireland, will play South Africa, New Zealand and most likely Pakistan in the other cluster. Defending champions Pakistan will hope that Australia will crush Bangladesh in their last group match so that they can enter the second round of the championship, which offers a winners purse of USD 8,00,000. Six days into the championship, the wheat has been separated from the chaff. The world''s best eight teams will battle for supremacy here on, striving to make the semifinals, slated for May 13 and 14 at St Lucia. The final is scheduled for May 16 in the land of the legendary three Ws Weekes, Walcott and Worrel. India did magnificently well in the group games, trouncing debutants Afghanistan and South Africa by big margins but their biggest challenge begins now. It is a do-or -die from now for Dhoni''s men, who need to win two of their matches to ensure that they extend their stay in the enchantingly beautiful islands. India play an exotically talented Australia on May 7, and then run into Chris Gayle''s West Indies on May 9. They need to win one of these two games, as they have the comfort of playing a relatively weaker opponent in Sri Lanka on July 11 in St Lucia. Dhoni might have tried different combinations in the group matches, but he would have to have his best man on the park if he aspires to get the better off Australia and West Indies. Forget their batting reserves, Australia''s pace battery wears a mean and lethal look. Dirk Nannes, Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson back their pace and verve with line and length. As such, it would be difficult to score off the foursome. It would be critical that Gautam Gambhir, who had a hit at the nets yesterday, recovers completely from his fever-driven fatigue, accentuated by a stomach bug, which had forced him out of the game against South Africa. More PTI JH AT

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Schumacher must win over the critics

Published>Wed, May 05 10 11:38 AM

After having failed to make much of an impact on his return to F1 post-retirement, Michael Schumacher needs to prove his critics wrong.

If the jury is still out on Michael Schumacher's Formula One comeback with Mercedes, then the next two weekends of racing in Spain and Monaco may make a verdict easier to reach.

The seven-times world champion, returning at the age of 41 and after three years in retirement, has been outqualified and beaten in the first four races of the season by young fellow German Nico Rosberg.

In Australia in March the former Ferrari ace struggled to get past Toro Rosso's 20-year-old Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari, who was racing at the Melbourne track for the first time, and ended up 10th.

After Schumacher retired in Malaysia and then just scraped a point in China with another 10th-place finish, some commentators were ready to write him off even if others refused to rush to judgement.

People are going to say he's past it now, which he probably is, declared former great Stirling Moss, now in his 80s and convalescing after a fall down a lift shaft at home, after the last race in Shanghai.

Schumacher will be using a different chassis in Barcelona this weekend, the one he had in pre-season testing, and the car's wheelbase has been extended to allow for better weight distribution.

The German has probably put in more miles at the Spanish circuit than anywhere else over the years and won there six times, including four in a row from 2001 to 2004, during his golden years with Ferrari and Benetton.

He has also won five times at Monaco, which follows immediately after Spain. If he fails to shine there against his team mate, with a car tailored to his requirements, the questions will become even more pointed.

HAVING PROBLEMS

After Monaco, we'll know how his form really is, Red Bull's Australian driver Mark Webber told the BBC last week. He'll feel a bit more at home at Barcelona and Monaco.

They're the sort of places, particularly Monaco, where you just plug Michael in and off he goes. If he's not going to be doing that this year, you can say he might be having problems coming to grips with the car.

Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn, who was Schumacher's technical director at Ferrari when the German won five titles in a row and most of his 91 race victories, remains convinced that the car and tyres are the main problems.

He's trying to find his references and is trying to work out how to approach things, the Briton told Reuters in an interview after returning from China.

Undoubtedly these tyres are a bit different to what he's used to and maybe, with the car and the tyres, it's not towards the way he likes to have a car, which is very responsive and very sharp.

We haven't been able to provide him with that yet. To remove any doubt, we are going to run a different car in Barcelona, a different chassis. As always in these circumstances you get rid of the variables.

Brawn said before the season started that he saw the same old Schumacher, determined and remarkably fit, and that is still the case even if the competition is intense.

Our step forward in Barcelona will be bigger than you can make at each race during the flyaways (long-haul races) but it would not be realistic to expect us to suddenly be competing right at the front, cautioned Schumacher on his personal website (www.michael-schumacher.de).

I am hoping for a better race in Barcelona than I had in China and of course I would not mind having had better results so far.

However the good news is that after three years away, I am feeling extremely motivated. So I am clearly ready to take this challenge.

FAT LADY

The team's own post-race analysis showed that the veteran was getting closer and closer to 24-year-old Rosberg in performance. China, the track that brought Schumacher his last win in 2006, may have been just a blip.

By lengthening the wheelbase of the Mercedes, the team should be able to hand Schumacher a car that allows him to show off his talent while also giving Rosberg more flexibility.

The concern however remains that in the past, and particularly when he was in his early years in F1 and shortly after his move to a then under-performing Ferrari, Schumacher's great attribute was his ability to drive around problems and make a poor car look good.

It could be that Rosberg has excelled in taking the Mercedes to two successive podium finishes, but it could also be that the car is not that bad either. In which case, the problem is Schumacher.

Retired triple champion Jackie Stewart, who worried before the season started about how Schumacher would handle adversity after enjoying top billing at Ferrari, said he still had faith in the German rekindling the old fires.

The fat lady is a long way from singing, he told reporters at Silverstone last week.

You are going to see (Red Bull's Sebastian) Vettel winning races, the same from Webber, the same from Schumacher when he gets his new car built around him.

I don't think he will win world championships but I do think he will be on podiums and I think he could win a race this year, added the Scot.

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Lorgat happy with crowd response at T20 World Cup

Published Wed, May 05 10 11:22 AM

Barbados, May 5 (PTI) Though the crowds have not come in droves to fill up the stands, ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat is content with the response of local fans in embracing the T20 World Cup. Lorgat admitted that the ICC had learnt from its mistake of not allowing the local fans to bring their musical instruments into the stands during the ICC World Cup 2007. "We understood what we needed to do bring the people back to the grounds. It is showing now. When the local supporters are allowed to do what they are familiar with, it makes a difference. We have seen it at Guyana and St Lucia," Lorgat told PTI "I must admit that the support of the locals has been great. They have come with their drums and trumpets and have had fun. I am very satisfied and pleased with the way things have unfolded in the Caribbean," he added. Evidently, there has been a party atmosphere at the venues, where intoxicating slam-bang cricket and Caribbean music have jelled to a nicety and kept the crowds on their feet. "Some of the cricket has been fantastic. The opening games were very good. The Super Eights should make the competition more stiff and engrossing," said Logat, en route to St Kitts for kick starting the women''s T20 World Cup. He was happy that women''s cricket had begun to get recognition. "Women''s cricket is the fastest growing sector for us (ICC). Last year''s T20 WC was a great success. I would say that women''s cricket has taken off from there. The standards are improving as well," said the ICC chief honcho. Lorgat said the ICC had invested well in women''s cricket. "We have integrated women''s cricket as part of our system. Things are going according to our plans." He said that the T20 format is good for women''s cricket and world cricket. "No doubt they (women) play the other formats as well, but by just getting the opportunity to play alongside the men in the T20 World Cup has given the sport a real boost and enhanced its profile." PTI JH AT

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An Indian team at FIFA World Cup!

Published>Wed, May 05 10 11:16 AM

Kolkata, May 5 -- If all of them travel, there could be an India XI at the World Cup finals in South Africa next month. One that will be part of the 33rd team without which no World Cup is complete, the volunteers. Eleven Indians are among the 15000 volunteers for football's quadrennial showpiece, which is going to Africa for the first time. This was confirmed to HT by a spokesperson of the 2010 World Cup Organising Committee. One of the volunteers is connected with East Bengal. Gopal Ghosh, 45, joined the 90-year-old club last week as General Manager, Operations. "To say that this is a dream-come-true would be an understatement," said the former deputy manager of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Ghosh will be at Soccer City in Johannesburg, which hosts the opener between South Africa and Mexico on June 11, the final one month later and six more games including a round of 16 tie and a quarter-final. He will assist with administrative support, one of the 15 functional areas for which volunteers were sought. In an e-mail to HT, the FIFA Media team said responsibilities for volunteers in the administration section include supporting venue coordinators, assisting departments such as broadcasting and finance, among other things. Volunteers, said Ghosh, will have to arrange their passage to South Africa, but will be paid a stipend of 100 rand (Rs 600) for each working day. They will also receive 120 rand (Rs 710) daily for meals and refreshments while on duty. Before they start though, there is a 677-page manual to go through. Ghosh plans to go "six-seven days" before the start and will be released from responsibilities "in the middle of July". Applications for volunteers opened on July 20, 2009. By the time they closed, on August 31, 2009, FIFA, according to the OC spokesperson, received 67,999 entries. To be eligible, candidates needed to be above 18 as of March 2010 have good English language skills.

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Clinical Advani storms into final

Published>Wed, May 05 10 11:08 AM

Mumbai, May 5 -- Top seed Pankaj Avani will meet PSPB teammate Sourav Kothari in the final of the Rs 3.10-lakh Nahar-MIG All- India Invitational Snooker Championship. In today's semifinals, Advani, won 5-0 over Kamal Chawla of the Railways. Advani won 81-16, 75-18, 64-53, 54-17, 52-45. Gurbaaz takes lead

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England qualify for Super Eight following washout

Published Wed, May 05 10 10:56 AM

Providence (Guyana), May 5 (PTI) England progressed to the Super Eight stage of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup after their Group D match against Ireland was washed out on Tuesday. As the match ended without any result, both the teams got one point each but England qualified for the next stage due to their superior net run-rate. Both England, who have a net run-rate of -0.452, and Ireland''s (-3.500) had lost to hosts West Indies before coming into this rubber. The game was abandoned as heavy rains forced suspension of play before the mandatory five overs could be bowled in the second innings to declare a result applying Duckworth-Lewis method. Chasing 121 to win, Ireland were 14 for one in 3.3 overs when heavy rains lashed the ground for the second time. Sent in to bat, England were off to a dismal start but Eoin Morgan''s determined 37-ball 45 helped them post a modest 120 for eight. Morgan, who struck five fours, found good support from Luke Wright (20 off 24). The duo came together when the team was struggling at 49 for four and added 41 runs for the fifth wicket to repair the innings. Rain halted the match soon after Ireland began its reply. They were four for no loss in 1.2 overs when the match was halted due to heavy downpour. The proceedings resumed after almost half-an-hour but Ireland had added only 10 runs in 13 balls that heavens opened up again. Ireland lost opener Paul Stirling (0) off Ryan Sidebottom in the second over. Earlier, Ireland bowlers exploited the conditions well and made life tough for English batsmen, with Boyd Rankin (2/25) and Kevin O''Brien (2/22) scalping two wickets each. More PTI DB AT

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Bob has lot of options, India don't: Bhutia

Published>Wed, May 05 10 10:06 AM

Kolkata, May 5 -- By simply saying 'we need him', Bhaichung Bhutia gave the most ringing endorsement of national Bob Houghton. "Let me put it this way. Coaching India doesn't help Bob's CV. He has a lot of options. But India will find it difficult to get another coach with such a standing. I hope this is resolved at the earliest and we continue to have him as coach," India captain, told HT on Tuesday. He was reacting to reports of Houghton wanting to step down. The AIFF has said Houghton, on contract till January 31, 2010, continues as coach but a clearer picture will emerge after the executive committee meeting on Friday. Now at home in Cape Town, Houghton, it was learnt, has spoken to AIFF president Praful Patel and will wait till the meeting before taking a decision. "India should utilise his expertise, execute his ideas," Bhutia said. "Remember, Bob's not saying or doing this for his own good." Told that one of Houghton's reported grouse is his inability to get things done, Bhutia said: "Well, we must ask ourselves a few hard questions. We must ask whether we should continue preserving the history and tradition of our football or do things his way. "It'll be a hard decision but we must ask whether we should continue in the way we have and keep declining or try something new. For instance, we need to ask now whether top players should continue playing local leagues like it is now."

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England score 120/8 against Ireland

Published>Wed, May 05 10 01:46 AM

Guyana, May 5 (IANS) Ireland restricted England to 120 for eight in a Group D match of the World Twenty20 at the Providence Stadium here.

Put in, England lost wickets at regular intervals before Eoin Morgan (45) and Luke Wright (20) steadied the innings with a 41-run stand for the fifth wicket. But after Boyd Rankins broke the partnership, dismissing Wright, England again against lost quick wickets in the final overs.

Rankins took two wickets giving away 25 runs while Kevin O'Brien also got two wickets for 22 runs.

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Rain stops England-Ireland match

Published Wed, May 05 10 01:42 AM

Providence (Guyana), May 4 (PTI) Replying to England''s 120 for eight, Ireland were four for no loss in 1.2 overs when rain stopped the crucial Group D match of the Twenty20 World Cup here today. Captain William Porterfield (4 not out) and Paul Stirling (0 not out) were on the crease. England fast bowler Tim Bresnan gave away three runs in the first over and then Ryan Sidebottom was bowling the second over when the downpour started.

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England make 120/8 against Ireland

Published Wed, May 05 10 01:06 AM

Providence (Guyana), May 4 (PTI) Put into bat, England posted 120 for eight against Ireland in their crucial Twenty20 World Cup Group D match here today. Brief score: England: 120 for 8 in 20 overs (Eoin Morgan 45, Luke Wright 20; Boyd Rankin 2/25, Kevin O''Brien 2/22).

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Anand loses, World Ch''ship match tied at 4-4

Published Wed, May 05 10 12:36 AM

From Our Chess Correspondent Sofia (Bulgaria), May 4 (PTI) World champion Viswanathan Anand was in for a surprise by a resurgent Veselin Topalov who scored a remarkable victory with white pieces in the eighth match to square off the World Chess Championship 4-4 here today. Anand had been aptly surprised in the seventh game which was perhaps a prelude to things to come in the next. A loss in game one, two victories thereon in game two and four and after three successive draws, the world champion finds himself at a level scores in what is the most keenly contested world title in recent times. While in the seventh game Topalov came up with some brilliant display to keep Anand on the backfoot despite an extra piece, this time the day belonged to the Bulgarian entirely for a very bold show even as the critics felt that the Indian should have drawn without much ado. Playing the white side of a Slav defense yet again, Topalov appeared better prepared for the second day running. For once, Anand''s tactics of coming up with something new before his opponent did not materialise and this is probably an indication for the world champion to change gears. The two had been combating one line for past few days and today Anand came up with a new move on his 13th turn allowing Topalov to seize what appeared to be an insignificant advantage. The Bulgarian was quite happy to walk in to an endgame wherein he had chances and was playing for only two results - either a draw or, if Anand falters, a win. As it happened in the game, Anand in fact faltered when no one was sure what was happening. .

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Mourinho coy on future, blasts Roma over final

Published Wed, May 05 10 12:28 AM

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho said on Tuesday he was not certain to stay at the Champions League finalists next season as his team prepared for the first part of their assault on an unprecedented Italian treble.

Inter meet Serie A title rivals AS Roma in the Italian Cup final on Wednesday but with the outspoken Mourinho giving a rare domestic news conference, questions about his future flowed.

Asked if he would stay next term, he said: "I can't say it, in football you can never say a thing like that."

The Portuguese has a contract with Inter until 2012 but has consistently said he does not like Italian football, fuelling media speculation he could soon end up at Real Madrid or return to his beloved English Premier League.

Mourinho, who won the scudetto with Inter in his first season in charge last term, became so fed up with grillings from the Italian media and soccer authorities that he stopped doing non-Champions League news conferences two months ago.

The former Chelsea coach decided to waltz back to the stage on Tuesday, given that the Cup final was a special occasion, with his acid tongue in tow.

His main target was Roma president Rosella Sensi, who said Inter should be ashamed of their 2-0 victory at Lazio on Sunday where home fans cheered the goals because they want the league leaders to beat bitter rivals Roma to the title.

UNIQUE THING

"The lady may be president, a doctor, she may be born in a golden crib but she must give us respect," Mourinho barbed, before criticising the long-made decision to hold the Cup final in Roma's Stadio Olimpico home.

"They are lucky to play the Italian Cup final at home, a unique thing in the world because I don't know any other national cups which finish at the home of one of the finalists."

Inter, meeting Roma in the final for the fifth time in six years with two wins each, will be without injured centre back Lucio while influential playmaker Wesley Sneijder is doubtful.

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri, whose side can still win their first double if they beat Inter in the Cup and overhaul the Milan side's two-point lead with two games to go in Serie A, was in charitable mood by contrast.

The 58-year-old declined to discuss the Lazio controversy and played down his rivalry with Mourinho, who followed him as Chelsea coach and once labelled the Roman "a 70-year-old".

"My relationship with Mourinho is good, I admire him both as a coach and person, he's doing extremely well in Italian football as well, so really he deserves everything he's getting," Ranieri said.

He reckoned the match was "50/50" but acknowledged the fact the game was being played in Roma's Stadio Olimpico home could boost his players.

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Ireland elect to field against England

Published>Tue, May 04 10 11:56 PM

Guyana, May 4 (IANS) Ireland captain William Porterfield won the toss and elected to field against England in a Group D match of World Twenty20 here Tuesday.

Teams

England: Paul Collingwood (captain), Michael Lumb, Craig Kieswetter (wicket-keeper), Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, Luke Wright, Michael Yardy, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom.

Ireland: William Porterfield (captain), Paul Stirling, Niall O'Brien (wicket-keeper), Alex Cusack, Kevin O'Brien, Gary Wilson, John Mooney, Trent Johnston, Andre Botha, Boyd Rankin, George Dockrell.

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Valencia's Miguel contrite after running down two women

Published Tue, May 04 10 11:46 PM

Valencia and Portugal defender Miguel has apologised after hitting two female senior citizens in his car on Tuesday.

"I am very worried about both of them and I hope to hear news of them soon and that it's nothing serious," Miguel said on Valencia's website (www.valenciacf.com).

"I am sorry from the bottom of my heart, it was an incident I could not avoid," added the World Cup-bound defender. "The most important thing is that they recover well."

The women were aged 68 and 74 and Miguel knocked them down on a zebra crossing in his Bentley before crashing into another car, El Pais daily and other Spanish media reported, citing unidentified local officials.

The women had been taken to hospital for tests, the officials added.

"I want to send them a hug and also their family," Miguel said. "I hope I can contact them between today and tomorrow and find out how they are."

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Porterfield wins toss, Ireland to bowl against England

Published Tue, May 04 10 11:26 PM

Providence (Guyana), May 4 (PTI) Ireland captain William Porterfield won the toss and elected to bowl against England in their crucial Twenty20 World Cup Group D match here today. Teams: England: Paul Collingwood (capt), Michael Lumb, Craig Kieswetter, Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, Luke Wright, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Michael Yardy, Ryan Sidebottom. Ireland: William Porterfield (capt), Paul Stirling, Niall O''Brien, Alex Cusack, Kevin O''Brien, Trent Johnston, Gary Wilson, John Mooney, Andre Botha, George Dockrell, Boyd Rankin.

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Argentine-born Barrios included in Paraguay 30-man squad

Published Tue, May 04 10 11:06 PM

Borussia Dortmund's prolific Argentine-born goalscorer Lucas Barrios, who obtained Paraguayan nationality last month, was included on Tuesday in Paraguay's 30-man provisional World Cup squad.

Barrios, born in Buenos Aires to a Paraguayan mother, was picked to reinforce a forward section deprived of key striker Salvador Cabanas, recovering from being shot in the head in a Mexico City bar argument in January.

The 25-year-old Barrios, with 18 goals in the Bundesliga this season, is not the only Argentine-born player on the list named by coach Gerardo Martino, also an Argentine.

Midfielders Jonathan Santana of VfL Wolfsburg and Nestor Ortigoza, who plays for Argentinos Juniors in the country of his birth, are also naturalised Paraguayans.

"It's clear there's no discussion about his (Barrios's) footballing qualities. The days we're going to spend together will be good for him to get to know the rest of the lads and get into the group," Martino said.

"On the basis of what we see we'll take a final decision," he told a news conference regarding Barrios's chances of making it into Paraguay's definitive squad of 23 at the end of May.

Paraguay will prepare for the South Africa finals at a training camp in Evian les Bains in France and play several warm-up games in Europe from the second half of May to early June.

They meet holders Italy, Slovakia and New Zealand in group F at the finals starting on June 11.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Real Valladolid), Aldo Bobadilla (Independiente Medellin), Diego Barreto (Cerro Porteno)

Defenders: Denis Caniza (Leon), Paulo Da Silva (Sunderland), Claudio Morel (Boca Juniors), Julio Cesar Caceres (Atletico Mineiro), Carlos Bonet, Julio Manzur (both Olimpia), Dario Veron (Pumas UNAM), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo), Antolin Alcaraz (Club Bruges), Marcos Caceres (Racing Club)

Midfielders: Edgar Barreto (Atalanta), Cristian Riveros (Cruz Azul), Osvaldo Martinez (Monterrey), Jonathan Santana (VfL Wolfsburg), Victor Caceres (Libertad), Enrique Vera (LDU Quito), Sergio Aquino (Libertad), Eduardo Ledesma (Lanus), Nestor Ortigoza (Argentinos Juniors)

Forwards: Marcelo Estigarribia, Jorge Achucarro (both Newell's Old Boys), Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City), Nelson Haedo Valdez, Lucas Barrios (both Borussia Dortmund), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica), Edgar Benitez (Pachuca), Rodolfo Gamarra (Libertad)

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New Zealand beat Zimbabwe to make Super Eight

Published>Tue, May 04 10 10:56 PM

Guyana, May 4 (IANS) New Zealand defeated Zimbabwe by seven runs, via the Duckworth-Lewis method, at the Providence Stadium here Tuesday and qualified for the Super Eight stage as toppers from Group B in the World Twenty20.

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NZ beat Zimbabwe by 7 runs via DuckworthLewis method

Published Tue, May 04 10 10:52 PM

Providence (Guyana), May 4 (PTI) New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by seven runs via DuckworthLewis method in their rain-interrupted Twenty20 World Cup Group B match here today. Brief score: Zimbabwe: 84 all out in 15.1 overs (Tatenda Taibu 21, Hamilton Masakadza 20; Nathan McCullum 3/16, Scott Styris 3/5). New Zealand: 36 for 1 in 8.1 overs (Brendon McCullum 22 not out).

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Team India arrive in Barbados

Published Tue, May 04 10 10:26 PM

Bridgetown (Barbados), May 4 (PTI) Indian team, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, today arrived here with their sights firmly set on the Super Eight stage after authoritative performance in the first phase of Twenty20 World Cup ensured they had two wins under the belt. The team, which easily brushed aside both Afghanistan and South Africa, face sterner tests when they play second placed team of Group B, possibly Sri Lanka, on May 6 at Kensington Oval. After their arrival, Indian think tank gave the players a chance to recharge their batteries by scheduling an optional practice session. Gautam Gambhir, who is recovering from a stomach bug, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina and Vinay Kumar made most of the light training session under the supervision of coach Gary Kirsten. Karthik has played one match in this tournament in place of Gambhir and Pathan could not make the most of being sent in to bat at number five against South Africa, scoring 11 during his seven-ball stay at the crease. India''s campaign here will unfold on a Kensington Oval pitch that is expected to offer more pace and bounce than the surface at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia. With a three-day gap, India have an opportunity of pacing their preparations appropriately and building up the momentum. PTI JH DB

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Del Potro has wrist surgery, rest of season in doubt

Published>Tue, May 04 10 10:06 PM

Argentine Juan Martin del Potro's chances of making the French Open and Wimbledon look doomed and even the defence of his U.S. Open crown is in doubt after undergoing surgery to a troublesome wrist on Tuesday.

The world number five has decided to try to resolve a nagging right wrist problem that has troubled him since before his fourth-round exit at the Australian Open in January.

Del Potro announced his operation in a letter released to the Argentine media, and said his recovery would be 'prolonged' but he could not set a fixed time on it.

"The recovery time is prolonged but it depends on many factors that can't be measured today," he wrote.

He said a specialist was carrying out the surgery in Rochester, Minnesota.

"All this year I've been wanting to avoid surgery with different treatments but evidently the injury is more serious," he added.

The rangy 21-year-old with a thunderously flat forehand stormed to a maiden grand slam title at the U.S. Open in September, coming from two sets to one down against Roger Federer in the final. The 2010 U.S. Open starts Aug 30.

Argentina's hopes of reaching a third Davis Cup final since 2006 will also diminish with Del Potro's absence from their quarter-final in Russia in July. The Russians beat Argentina in the 2006 final in Moscow.

There had been growing speculation in Argentine media, fuelled by a lack of news out of the player's camp in his home town of Tandil, that Del Potro's absence from the ATP Tour since January was partially down to a fear of the big stage.

Del Potro's letter was also aimed at answering those "false and malicious stories about my state of mind and physical condition.

"As you will understand, this is not a happy moment in my life. But I'm used to fighting adversity and I have the strength to carry this through."

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Nicole retains Asian C''ship title for seventh time

Published Tue, May 04 10 09:56 PM

Chennai, May 4 (PTI) World number one women squash player Nicol David of Malaysia defeated Hong Kong''s Rebecca Chiu of 11-6 11-7 11-7 in the summit clash here today to retain her Asian Championship title for the seventh time. It was double celebrations for Malaysia as Mohd Azlan Iskander defended the men''s title, after Amir Atlas Khan of Pakistan conceded the final match due to a leg pain while he trailing 11-8 11-4 3-0. The title also saw Nicol retain her world number one status for the 46th month in succession. Nicol dedicated the title to her family. "My family has been supporting me ever since I took to the game and I dedicate this title to my them," she said. "But Chiu was a strong opponent having been in the circuit for long. I had to bring in changes in my game to beat her. I never wanted to give her enough room to manoeuvre. "Title wins in championship like this always help in keeping the momentum ahead of the World Open," Nicol added. Meanwhile, a disappointed Atlas Khan said, "I have been experiencing this problem for over six months and back home the doctors were giving different opinions. Next month, I am going to meet a doctor in Germany. I hope to become much fitter before the Commonwealth Games." .

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Torres in doubt for Spain's World Cup opener

Published Tue, May 04 10 09:48 PM

Spain striker Fernando Torres could miss his team's World Cup opener against Switzerland after undergoing knee surgery, Liverpool's medical department said on Tuesday.

Torres suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during the Europa League match against Benfica last month, ruling him out of Liverpool's run-in, and the club said their priority was to make sure their leading striker was fully fit for next season.

Spain, among the World Cup favourites, face Switzerland in their first match on June 16.

"You can't be absolutely certain of anything but at this stage, if he continues to progress the way he is, he should be fit to play at some stage during the World Cup," Peter Brukner, Liverpool's head of sports medicine and science, told the club's website (www.liverpoolfc.tv).

"Whether he'll be fit for the first game or not is uncertain. We're anxious not to hurry him along too much because we want the long-term benefit, but we're aware he's got the short-term goal of playing in the World Cup."

Torres, who has scored 23 goals in 72 internationals, said last month he was confident of being fit for the start of the tournament in South Africa after undergoing surgery in Barcelona.

"He's certainly tremendously committed to his rehab, as are the staff here. If anyone can recover from an injury, he can," Brukner said.

"Hopefully, we can get a compromise between those two where he plays in the World Cup and he's fit and well for Liverpool next season."

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque also has concerns over midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta who are recovering from injuries.

Replacing Torres would be a tall order, with Fenerbahce's Daniel Guiza a possible option along with Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente and Sevilla's Alvaro Negredo.

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Rain stops play in T20 World Cup

Published Tue, May 04 10 09:22 PM

Providence (Guyana), May 4 (PTI) Rain stopped play in the last Group B match of the Twenty20 World Cup between New Zealand and Zimbabwe here today. Chasing 85 for a win, New Zealand were 36 for one in 8.1 overs when rain interrupted play. Opener Brendon McCullum was on 22 and Martin Guptill (6) was giving him company at the crease.

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Zimbabwe all out for 84 against New Zealand

Published>Tue, May 04 10 09:08 PM

Guyana, May 4 (IANS) Zimbabwe were all out for 84 against New Zealand in a Group D match of World Twenty20 here Tuesday.

Zimbabwe folded up in 15.1 overs with Tatenda Taibu top scoring with 21 runs.

Nathan McCullum and Scot Styris took three wickets each for New Zealand.

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Sri Lanka barred its cricketers from meeting Dalai Lama

Published Tue, May 04 10 08:22 PM

T V Sriram Colombo, May 4 (PTI) Not to annoy China, Sri Lanka had asked its cricket players not to meet Tibet''s exiled spiritual leader Dalai Lama during their visit to India to play the IPL tournament, a top official said today. "We had been given instructions by the (Sri Lankan) government to tell the Sri Lankan players to avoid meeting the Dalai Lama (in India)," the cricket official told PTI here. Many of the Sri Lankan players were members of the various IPL teams. Sri Lankan cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara and former skipper Mahela Jayawardene were asked not to join their IPL teammates of Kings XI Punjab, who paid a courtesy call on Dalai last month in Dharamshala, the official said. Dharamshala is the seat of the Tibetan government in exile. Sangakkara was the captain of the Kings XI Punjab in the just concluded IPL meet. Sri Lanka, a Buddhist nation maintains close ties with Beijing which has been supporting the Colombo in its development programmes. China is also a major aid provider to Sri Lanka. China is opposed to countries which allow visits by the Dalai Lama. It sees him as a separatist working for the Tibetan independence. The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India in 1959.

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South Africa turn to Barbados with hope

Published>Tue, May 04 10 07:48 PM

Barbados, May 4 (IANS) South Africa is hoping the bouncy tracks at Kensington Oval will revive their chances in the World Twenty20 as they prepare to take on minnows Afghanistan in a must-win Group A match here Wednesday.

The Proteas were humbled by India by 14 runs on the low and slow surface at St. Lucia where their bowling attack conceded 186 runs. But they feel Barbados should suit their five-pronged pace attack.

Against India, the lack of spinners turned the heat on South Africa. Roelof van der Merwe was the lone tweaker in the side unlike last year when Van der Merwe and Johan Botha outspun India at Trent Bridge.

South African bowling coach Vincent Barnes believes a return to Barbados, where they played their two warm-up games, will reignite the team's campaign in the tournament.

'I spent the whole day (Saturday) at the venue and spin hardly was a factor and it showed in all four games played there that the seamers took most of the wickets,' Barnes said. 'Barbados is a different venue where there is much more bounce, which will suit our attack, both spinners and fast bowlers.'

The Kensington Oval track has the reputation of more bounce and carry, especially with the new ball, before slowing down as a match runs its course.

South Africa will look to exploit these conditions, especially as Afghanistan were exposed in their inability to handle short balls against India.

Indian left-armer Ashish Nehra tested the Afghanistan batsmen with plenty of short pitched deliveries and picked up three wickets.

The Afghanistan team, however, won hearts with their zeal for the game and they did manage to put a decent total against the Indians. Their opener Noor Ali and Asghar Stanikzai played quality innings to stabilise the Afghanistan innings while the bowlers too put up a decent show in what was their first international outing against a major cricketing nation.

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New Zealand decide to field against Zimbabwe

Published>Tue, May 04 10 07:28 PM

Guyana, May 4 (IANS) New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and elected to field against Zimbabwe in their Group B World Twenty20 match here Tuesday.

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Commonwealth Queen's baton to reach India June 25

Published>Tue, May 04 10 06:36 PM

New Delhi, May 4 (IANS) After travelling through 71 countries, the Queen's baton will reach India June 25 ahead of the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games. The relay will be the longest ever in the history of the games.

The Queen's baton is currently in the world's smallest island nation of Nauru in the South Pacific Ocean on day 188 Tuesday of the relay, which was flagged off by Queen Elizabeth II from Buckingham Palace Oct 29, 2009.

From the Pacific islands, the baton will travel to Australia and New Zealand, before making landfall on the Asian continent at Singapore.

The specially-designed baton, made of light-weight aluminium and plated with gold, will wind its way through Asia, before reaching India from Pakistan June 25.

When it finally touches Indian soil, the baton would have travelled through 71 nations and territories for a total of 340 days covering 190,000 kilometres.

Within the country, the baton will travel another 20,000 kilometres, which will be a serpentine journey through 28 states and seven union territories before ending at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Oct 3.

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Japan World Cup bid to focus on 2022

Published Tue, May 04 10 06:26 PM

Japan will concentrate on bidding for the 2022 World Cup after being told the 2018 tournament will go to Europe, the country's soccer chief said on Tuesday.

Japan Football Association (JFA) president Motoaki Inukai said he had been advised by FIFA boss Sepp Blatter to focus on taking the 2022 finals to Asia.

"The atmosphere was that they want to bring the 2018 tournament back to Europe," Inukai told reporters on his return to Japan.

"It will be a cut-throat battle (for 2022) and it will require an awful lot of leg-work."

Inukai will make a formal announcement after a bid committee meeting on May 11.

"President Blatter told us European countries would be involved in a fight to host the 2018 World Cup and it would be wiser to aim for 2022," Inukai said after a visit to FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Monday.

Japan will face competition in Asia for the 2022 World Cup from South Korea, with whom they co-hosted the 2002 finals, and Qatar.

England, Australia, Russia, the United States and joint bidders Belgium/Netherlands and Spain/Portugal are in the hat for both 2018 and 2022.

FIFA will name the host countries for both tournaments in December.

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India lands in tough pool in women''s hockey World Cup

Published Tue, May 04 10 06:22 PM

New Delhi, May 4 (PTI) A stern test awaits India in the women''s hockey World Cup, to be held later this year, as they have been clubbed alongside Olympic and defending champions the Netherlands, Germany and Australia among others in Pool A. Japan and New Zealand are the two teams in India''s pool while Pool B consists of hosts Argentina, China, Spain, England, Korea and South Africa. The International Hockey Federation allocated the 12 teams into two pools of six teams each based upon the latest ABN AMRO World Rankings. The top two teams from each pool will proceed to the semifinals of the tournament to be held from August 29 to September 11 in Rosario, Argentina. Pools for BDO FIH World Cup women 2010: Pool A: The Netherlands, Germany, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, India. Pool B: Argentina, China, Spain, England, Korea, South Africa.

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Tenure regulations will have no bearing on CWG: Gill

Published>Tue, May 04 10 06:16 PM

Sports Minister M S Gill on Tuesday insisted that the new regulations limiting the tenures of National Sports Federations' office-bearers will have no impact on the Commonwealth Games later this year.

"We have made it clear that all office bearers (sports bodies) continue their work and as and when future elections come which are mainly in 2012, 2013 and 2014, these regulations will apply," Gill told reporters outside parliament.

"IOC says 12 years for the president, age limit of 70 and we said we will go with that. So now 12 years. But if somebody wants 12 into 30 and plus 40 I have nothing to say.

That's all we have done nothing more, nothing less," he said.

After the Sports Ministry came out with an order limiting the office terms of sports administrators, many including IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi and Judo federation chief Jagdish Tytler, both Congress MPs, have criticised the move.

"Its a free country and I welcome comment," Gill said.

Gill, maintained that he has just restored the previous order issued by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1974-75.

"Let me explain what we have precisely done. In the time of Mrs Indira Gandhi, 1974-75 these regulations were issued by the Education Sports Ministry limiting terms among other things for better management and promotion of sports in India. That was the fundamental objective.

"However, these had been set aside in a casual order in August 2002 by the then minister. We have restored the regulations of 74-75. I have made no new regulations of my own." Defending his decisions he said, "We have studied IOC regulations and we say let's stick with what IOC has done so that we are in tune with them.

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Tenure: IOA says Govt interference may lead to sanctions

Published>Tue, May 04 10 06:08 PM

The simmering row between the government and sports federation bosses over tenure limitations on Tuesday intensified with the IOA saying the Sports Ministry's attempt to erode their autonomy could lead to sanctions against the country.

Armed with letters of support from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the IOA went on the offensive and said sports bodies could not be subjected to interference and external pressure as per the Olympic Charter.

"Any restriction in the tenure of the office bearers and fixing age limit may amount to interference to the internal functioning of the National Olympic Committees. This may lead to violation of Olympic Charter and IOC Executive Board may hand sanctions, suspension or withdrawal of recognition of such NOCs," IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh told a press conference here.

"The issue of limiting tenure and fixing age limit of of office bearers of the NOCs shall not be decided or imposed by law of any government or external pressure but should be decided by the NOCs themselves. These should be the prerogative of the NOCs and decided by their executive committees or general assemblies," Randhir said, quoting a letter from the IOC.

The letter said that there was a need to have a good relationship between the NOCs and respective governments but that would not mean that the latter can interfere in the internal working of the sports bodies.

"There should be harmonious relationship between NOCs and their respective governments. But the autonomy of the NOCs is enshrined in the Olympic Charter and it is the balance between this autonomy and good relation with the governments that is important for the development of sport.

NOCs no doubt work under the government but they are also subject to Olympic Charter and the constitution of the international federations. The respective governments must understand that the NOCs can in no way be subject to interference or external pressure in the internal functioning of these organizations (NOCs)," the letter said.

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Tenure regulations will have no bearing on CWG: Gill

Published>Tue, May 04 10 05:48 PM

Sports Minister M S Gill on Tuesday insisted that the new regulations limiting the tenures of National Sports Federations' office-bearers will have no impact on the Commonwealth Games later this year.

"We have made it clear that all office bearers (sports bodies) continue their work and as and when future elections come which are mainly in 2012, 2013 and 2014, these regulations will apply," Gill told reporters outside parliament.

"IOC says 12 years for the president, age limit of 70 and we said we will go with that. So now 12 years. But if somebody wants 12 into 30 and plus 40 I have nothing to say.

That's all we have done nothing more, nothing less," he said.

After the Sports Ministry came out with an order limiting the office terms of sports administrators, many including IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi and Judo federation chief Jagdish Tytler, both Congress MPs, have criticised the move.

"Its a free country and I welcome comment," Gill said.

Gill, maintained that he has just restored the previous order issued by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1974-75.

"Let me explain what we have precisely done. In the time of Mrs Indira Gandhi, 1974-75 these regulations were issued by the Education Sports Ministry limiting terms among other things for better management and promotion of sports in India. That was the fundamental objective.

"However, these had been set aside in a casual order in August 2002 by the then minister. We have restored the regulations of 74-75. I have made no new regulations of my own." Defending his decisions he said, "We have studied IOC regulations and we say let's stick with what IOC has done so that we are in tune with them.

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Marriage hadn't changed Tiger's appetite for sex, says in-the-know journo

Published>Tue, May 04 10 05:38 PM

New York, May 4 (ANI): Tiger Woods would have long been exposed as a love rat, if only a People magazine reporter would have written about his philandering ways.

Steve Helling, who has now written a book, titled 'Tiger' on the ace golfer, said that he had a chance to expose Woods as a cheater long before his scandal broke in November 2009 - but chose not to.

"Over the years, I had heard rumours of Tiger's partying - drunken nights at the clubs, dirty dancing with other women, phone numbers slipped to pretty blonds - but I didn't follow up on the tips," the New York Daily News quoted Helling as saying in the tome.

And Helling concealed all this because he didn't want to be cut off from the golden golfer.

"Negative coverage of Tiger - or even positive coverage that wasn't approved and micromanaged - would often result in swift, permanent excommunication from the Tiger Woods camp. It was in everyone's best interest to sweep the rumours under the rug," he wrote.

And now that the cat is out of the bag, Helling is spilling the beans too.

"Marriage hadn't changed Tiger's appetite for sex, and he was always on the prowl for women," he said of Woods.

He claimed that Woods was apparently looking around as soon as he and Elin Nordegren said "I do" in 2004.

According to Helling, a television producer source said: "[Tiger] dated a lot of girls even after he was married to Elin. When he was filming some commercials at Universal Studios, he asked out a few girls, and this was after he was married. If they said no, he'd move on.'"

Helling insists that he wasn't the only one who ignored the whispers of Tiger's infidelities.

He claims that a club owner in Florida who saw Tiger "drinking and dancing with a woman who wasn't his wife" in 2006 called several weeklies with the story.

"No one returned his calls, and the one person he spoke with told him that they weren't interested in the story," said Helling.

And that's why Tiger stayed in bed with his mistresses - and out of the headlines - during his supposedly squeaky-clean 13 years in the public eye, which got shattered in the past months.

"It took 13 calculated years to meticulously shape his image. It took two weeks to destroy it," said Helling. (ANI)

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No changes of my own in adopting new regulations restricting officials' tenure: Gill

Published>Tue, May 04 10 05:22 PM

New Delhi, May 4 (ANI): Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports M S Gill on Tuesday said he has made no changes of his own in adopting the new regulations, which limit the tenure of sports administrators.

Gill said his ministry has only restored the regulation of the '1975 Indira Gandhi Government' and that he has made no changes of his own in the new regulation.

"In the time of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, 74-75, these regulations were issued by the education sports ministry limiting terms among other things for better management and promotion of sports in India, that is the fundamental objective," said Gill.

"These had been set-aside in a casual order in August 2002 by the then minister with no reasoning really and we have restored the regulations of 74-75. I have made no regulations of my own," he added.

Gill further said that his ministry has relaxed the norm in accordance with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regulations, to allow National Sports Federation (NSF) Presidents to continue for 12 years, instead of the eight suggested by the original 1975 guideline.

"We have done so because we have studied the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regulations, we have in fact softened these regulations. They said two terms and then a break. The International Olympic Committee says 12 years for the president total and an age limit of 70," said Gill.

"We said we would go with that. So now 12 years. But if somebody wants 12x30, 30x40, I have nothing to say on that," he added.

Gill added that the new regulation has got nothing to do with the Commonwealth Games and that all office bearers should continue with their term until next elections.

"This has no impact on the Commonwealth Games. Nothing to do with them. We have also made it clear that all office bearers do their work, carry on their term as and when future elections come, which are mainly in 2012, 13 and so on and so forth," he noted.

The Sports Ministry released an order on Sunday according to which the maximum tenure of the President of a National Sports Federation shall be 12 years, with or without a break.

And for the secretary and the treasurer, the tenure shall not be more than two successive tenures of four years each, the order said.

However, the regulation has been opposed by many sports office bearers, who questioned its timing since it came barely five months before the 2010 Commonwealth Games. (ANI)

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'My defeats make more news than wins'

Published>Tue, May 04 10 04:38 PM

His feat of becoming a three-time Asian billiards champion going virtually unnoticed amid the IPL hype, ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani rued that his failures make more news than his triumphs.

"It's ironical that my losing makes more news than my winning nowdays. When I win it's like praises coming from all over places, but when I lose, it's like Oh! How come it happened. How did you lose? Very strange. You see very shocking reactions," Pankaj said.

"I don't know what to do in that situation. Whether to feel happy that people expect so much from me or to feel disappointed that my being so low profile has been taken for granted. To get noticed, you have to be in the news for the wrong reasons. I can't do that, and so my win is taken for granted," the world champion said.

A miffed Pankaj went on to criticise the IPL, saying that more then sports, it is a mix of business and entertainment.

"It's all about entertainment. Entertainment factor first than cricket. And people love all this," he said.

Pankaj, the youngest Asian to have won the IBSF titles for record a six times, said all the sports federations including Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI) should take a leaf out of BCCI's book on how to successfully promote and market their sports.

"Not on the similar lines like IPL, but something like that. It's a general comment that all the federations including BSFI should follow the example of BCCI and learn ways to promote and market their sports," he said.

"It's my personal view. To make cue sports more spectator friendly and increase its base, you need to get more and more people involved in this game. Like exhibition matches in shopping malls.

Basically, it's an indoor game, so organise a tournament in an open arena. You need to come out with something out of the box thinking, some radical ideas. And that's where federation must come in and think over it."

"Players' job is to perform. Do the country proud. People who governs the sport, they need to be more pro-active in marketing the game," said Pankaj, the only cueist to have won twin titles (point and time formats) at the IBSF World Billiards championships not once but twice.

Pankaj feels that it's high time the country starts appreciating heroes from other sports.

"In India, when you talk about sports, most of the parents are of the view that it's a waste of academic future.

This shows there lack of passion for sports.

"You have great sportspersons in every field where they have achieved everything they want. Huge bunch of achievers we have in India and that's inspirational," he said.

Expectations have always sat heavy on this young player's slim shoulders, but he's learnt to deal with them.

"I have reached a stage in my career where I don't have to prove anything to anyone. After winning seven world titles and five Asian titles, I really don't need to prove anything.

If last five years results are to go by, I think I have done my bit and achieved everything," he said.

"My next aim is to become India's best sportsperson. To achieve everything that a sportsperson wants to achieve in his career. I am the best in cue sports and I have no qualms admitting that and there is no suspicion about that."

On upcoming tournaments, Pankaj said, "I will be participating in Asian Snooker championship in May in Thailand, World billiards and snooker championship in August, September and then Asian Games in November in China."

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Man U will have only itself to blame for Premier League title loss: Van Der Sar

Published>Tue, May 04 10 04:22 PM

London, May 4 (ANI): Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has said that Manchester United will only have themselves to blame if they come up short in this season's title race.

United trail leaders Chelsea by a point going into the final day of the season, with Carlo Ancelotti's side clear favourites needing only to beat Wigan at home to be champions.

"You hope, but you don't really expect anything," said the Dutchman.

Van der Sar admitted he and his United team-mates did not expect any favours from Liverpool, with Fergie's men aiming to outstrip them by claiming a record 19th title.

"I think we expected it," added Van der Sar.

Van der Sar conceded United, who face Stoke at Old Trafford on Sunday, were not optimistic of Wigan denying Chelsea victory at Stamford Bridge to give them a glimmer of hope.

"You want to grab every little chance there is. You never know in football, of course, but it's going to be hard, difficult and unlikely. But never mind, we have to make sure we work until the end. It would have been nice if we were a point ahead," he said. (ANI)

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Hewitt blasts 'ridiculous' timing of Davis Cup clash

Published Tue, May 04 10 04:08 PM

The timing of Australia's Davis Cup tie with Japan so close to this month's French Open was described as 'ridiculous' by former world number one Lleyton Hewitt on Tuesday.

The Asia-Oceania second-round tie, which begins on clay in Brisbane on Friday, is sandwiched between traditional Roland Garros warm-up events, the ATP Masters in Rome and Madrid.

Hewitt, who suffered a second-round exit to Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in Rome last week as he continued his comeback from hip surgery, is due to be in Madrid the day after the Cup tie concludes.

"There is no doubt it is a nightmare schedule for all of us," 29-year-old Hewitt said in Brisbane on Tuesday.

"It's ridiculous to be playing this week firstly. The ITF (International Tennis Federation) really have got to have a good look at it.

"Because if you are expecting to play two Masters series for the ATP, and then come back and play a Davis Cup tie in between that - it takes a lot of effort."

With the Cup tie winner advancing to the September World Group playoffs, the world number 29 could face a major workout if Australian captain John Fitzgerald decides to deploy the two-time major winner in the doubles as well.

The French Open starts in Paris on May 23.

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Umar Gul blames 'dropped catches bane' for loss against Australia in World T20

Published>Tue, May 04 10 03:52 PM

Islamabad, May 4 (ANI): Injured Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul has held the team's poor fielding display responsible for the massive 34-run defeat against Australia in the ICC World T20 Championship.

Gul, who failed to recover on time from his shoulder injury and was omitted from the T20 squad for the coveted tournament at the very last moment, said Pakistani fielders dropped too many catches, which changed the result of the match.

"Catches win matches, and you simply cannot drop players of the calibre of Shane Watson and David Hussey. The catches that Misbah-ul-Haq and Salman Butt dropped hit Pakistan very hard," Gul said.

Hussey was dropped by Salman Butt near the long-off boundary on five. The drop cost Pakistan dearly as he went on to smash 53 off 29 deliveries, which included four sixes in a Mohammed Sami over.

Misbah-ul-Haq then dropped Watson at mid-wicket adding to Sami's woes. The Australian all-rounder went on to score 81 runs off 49.

"Both catches should have been taken and could have entirely changed the course of the match. On flat decks like the one in St Lucia, bowlers need the support of their fielders, but yesterday the support wasn't there. With Watson gone and Hussey back in the pavilion early, Pakistan could have applied some pressure on the Australians," PakPassion.net quoted Gul, as saying.

Gul, who is Pakistan's most successful T20 bowler, hailed captain Shahid Afridi's decision to open the bowling with spinner Mohammed Hafeez, but said the skipper lacked a "Plan B" when the move backfired.

"It was a plan that was clearly designed to stifle dangerous Aussie opening batsman David Warner, who is recognised as being more comfortable against pace, rather than spin. However when Hafeez started to get hit around, then the plan should have been altered straight away. But it seemed to me that there was no alternative plan," Gul said.

He also pointed out that Pakistani bowlers lacked variations, and were pretty predictable in the match.

"The pitch was slow and very good for batting. In those circumstances you have to vary your length, line and pace. I would have expected more bouncers, slow bouncers, quick bouncers, especially after Sami got rid of Warner to a short ball. I was surprised that we didnt see more shorter deliveries," Gul said. (ANI)

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I am hungry again, says France striker Benzema

Published Tue, May 04 10 03:46 PM

Karim Benzema has regained his motivation and is ready to help France's challenge at the World Cup, the Real Madrid forward said on Tuesday.

Last September, the former Olympique Lyon striker said he was not motivated to give his best when brought on as a substitute with 20 minutes to go in a World Cup qualifier against Romania.

With next month's World Cup finals looming, things have changed for Benzema, who has been struggling to settle in at Real Madrid since joining in an expensive move from Lyon during the close season.

"I want to do everything I can for the French team," Benzema told French sports daily L'Equipe. "I am ready for the challenge."

Benzema said he is now ready to play even just a few minutes per game as a substitute at the June 11-July 11 finals if need be.

"Sometimes, I should have shaken myself up a bit," he said.

"When I got there (at Real), I had the passion and I realise now that I lost it a bit. But it's back now.

"I am hungry, even for five minutes, even for five seconds."

Benzema will know next Tuesday if he will make the trip to South Africa when coach Raymond Domenech unveils his 23-man squad for the World Cup, where France will take on the hosts, Mexico and Uruguay in Group A.

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D/L rule not fit for Twenty20: Collingwood

Published>Tue, May 04 10 03:38 PM

Guyana, May 4 (IANS) A furious England captain Paul Collingwood called for the overhauling of the Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) rain law in Twenty20 cricket after his team lost despite raising a match-winning total against the West Indies.

England put together one of their best batting displays in recent times to score an imposing 191 for five but lost the match as the D/L method put the game beyond their reach in the rain-interrupted second half.

Rain intervened after 2.2 overs with the West Indies at 30 for no loss. When play resumed, the target was reset to 60 from six overs as per the D/L method.

The home team had no trouble in knocking off 30 runs in the remaining 22 balls to move into the Super Eights. England now face a do-or-die battle against Ireland Wednesday.

'Ninety-five percent of the time you would defend 191,' said Collingwood.

'Unfortunately the Duckworth-Lewis had other ideas and brought the equation completely the other way and made it very difficult for us. There is a major problem with it in this format of the game. I've no problem with it in 50 overs but in this format it has to be revised.

'It's made me very frustrated tonight because I've come off the losing captain, but it's certainly got to be revised in this form,' Collingwood said.

The first match Monday between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe was also settled by D/L method. Zimbabwe was the unlucky team there as they were found 14 runs short via the D/L calculations.

Even West Indies Chris Gayle agreed with Collingwood. 'I would support what Collingwood said. I could have been in the same position as well. It's something that can be addressed. I am happy, but it's just unfortunate for England.'

Collingwood could not believe they were again at the receiving end of the D/L method after feeling the rain-heat at home nine month back in World Twenty20, also at the hands of the West Indies.

'I'm trying to take the emotion out of that defeat to be honest with you,' he said.

'It's the second time it's happened to us against West Indies, so it's very frustrating for the boys because we've played a near-perfect game and still lost.'

Gayle said they were prepared for the D/L method to decide the match and that's why went for runs right from the start.

'We knew that the weather was going to play a part, so the first five overs, obviously, can determine the game,' Gayle said.

'We decided to go out and see what we could get out of the first five overs. The target was actually 43, I think, at one stage and the adaption went in our favour. After the rain we knew we were most likely to win the game from there on.'

Only five overs constitues a rain-hit Twenty20 match and more often the team batting second benefits.

'I'm not a mathematician, I don't really know what the equation should be, but your backs are certainly against the wall when it's like that,' said Collingwood.

'I think that's what the equation is built around in the one-day format. Unfortunately there's probably not enough games,' Collingwood said.

England's debutant openers Michael Lumb (28) and Craig Kieswetter (26) gave England a good start before Eoin Morgan (55) and Luke Wright (45) capitalised on it and Collingwood is taking solace from their performance.

'For the two guys to make their debut and show the confidence they did, it put the opposition under a lot of pressure and I thought all the guys played perfectly. There was a lot of power there.'

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Tiger Woods' porn star ex demands apology from hotel over discrimination

Published>Tue, May 04 10 03:08 PM

New York, May 4 (ANI): Tiger Woods' porn star ex mistress Joslyn James has sent a letter to the luxury Ritz Carlton Hotel - asking for an apology and investigation into what she alleges was discrimination.

Her lawyer Gloria Allred has fired off a letter to the North Carolina hotel demanding they apologise to James after they cancelled her reservation.

James was set to stay there while she performed at a local strip club.

Upon arrival, James said, her entourage found the Ritz had abruptly cancelled her longstanding reservation, citing concerns about media attention.

But Allred alleges the reason for the cancellation might be because Tiger may have been staying at the same hotel.

"I was really shocked [by the cancellation]. It's not fair. They knew who I was when we made the reservation. Why all of a sudden did they get worried? If it's true Tiger was there, he's high-profile too, and he's just as guilty for doing something wrong, if not more guilty," the New York Daily News quoted James as saying.

"I'm not trying to put the blame I deserve on someone else. But I wasn't by myself [during her trysts with Tiger]. I wasn't breaking vows, he was. I wasn't lying to my fans, he was," she added.

Allred wants the hotel to conduct a 'thorough investigation' and make amends.

"We are appalled to think that you might have chosen to accommodate a rich, famous golfer who has admitted lying to his wife, his fans his business associates and others over a woman whose heart he has broken, and whose only fault is that she fell madly in love with Tiger Woods," Allred wrote in a letter to the hotel's manager.

"No guest or potential guest deserves to be treated in this thoughtless manner. We look forward to an appropriate remedy," Allred said. (ANI)

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Anand draws again, leads 4-3 overall

Published>Tue, May 04 10 02:52 PM

World champion Viswanathan Anand survived a scare from Veselin Topalov and settled for a draw in a hard-fought game of the seventh match of the World Chess Championship here.

Anand had to stave off a stiff challenge from Topalov, who prepared a brilliant new idea to combat the Indian ace in the Catalan opening yesterday.

The Game was evenly poised for a long time but Anand had to do most of the thinking in the first part of the game.

It was effectively the toughest game for Anand since the first game that he lost as Topalov came up with some remarkable manoeuvres to keep the Indian ace in check.

Topalov's gameplan was simple and at the same time effective after he sacrificed a piece early in the middle game only for a positional compensation.

The new idea was in fact astonishing as Anand found.

Up a piece and trying to find adequate compensation for his opponent, Anand could have felt more than once that he was winning but Topalov's moves kept him under check.

A just indication was the fact that around the 20th move, Anand had less than an hour on his clock to make the remaining 20 moves while Topalov had just consumed three minutes on his clock.

While to some it might have meant a defeat for Anand, the world champion, up against a new idea, was calm and composed and kept Topalov's pieces at bay to get a decent yet unenviable position.

Topalov tried many tricks but Anand always answered in the right fashion which made the experts of the game believe that Topalov's idea was great but it was probably only good enough for a draw.

It took the players 58 moves to reach the drawn result and it was by far the most exciting draw of the match so far.

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Buffon eyes England if he leaves Juve

Published Tue, May 04 10 02:48 PM

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has sparked a potential transfer scramble by saying he would seek a move to England if Juventus decide to sell him.

Juve are seventh in Serie A after a dreadful season and cashing in on the 32-year-old could help the Turin side rebuild for next season.

"If I had to go I think England could be the destination," Buffon told Italy's Sky TV on Tuesday.

"My wish to leave Juve is equal to the wish Juve have to let me go. Everything will be agreed with the club. At the moment there is nothing. My priority has always been Juventus. Let's see if we decide to continue together."

England's Manchester City tracked Buffon last year but he was quoted as saying they were not big enough to tempt him despite now being the richest club in the world.

Most other top English clubs have settled goalkeepers.

Media reports say Juventus want Rafael Benitez to replace interim coach Alberto Zaccheroni next season and Buffon praised the Liverpool coach despite his side suffering a similar campaign to Juve.

"His CV speaks for itself. He gives the impression of being a coach who can handle difficult situations, managerial situations," he said after denying Juve had to be rebuilt from scratch.

Buffon, still one of the top goalkeepers in the world despite recent injuries and Juve's poor campaign, was realistic about Italy's hopes of retaining the World Cup in South Africa in July.

"I don't think we have a big chance because we know how difficult it is to win a World Cup, but to repeat it is even harder," Buffon said, adding that Zaccheroni or Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli were the best candidates to succeed Italy coach Marcello Lippi.

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Pakistan must bring 'trump card' Asif back for T20 survival: Akram

Published>Tue, May 04 10 02:22 PM

Islamabad, May 4 (ANI): Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has raised questions over the team management's decision of not playing fast bowler Mohammed Asif in the game against Australia in the ICC World T20 Championship.

Akram said that Pakistan's team composition in the match, that the defending champions lost by 34 runs, was not right and he was amazed to find Asif missing from the final eleven.

"Pakistan's combination was not right. I do not know why Mohammed Asif is not playing. Mohammed Sami is a talented bowler and he did well against Bangladesh, but against the Kangaroos his length was not up to the mark and that's why he conceded so many runs. Asif has proved time and again his class and should be brought back without further ado," The Daily Times quoted Akram, as saying.

He said Pakistani bowlers gave away too many runs in the match, which gave the Kangaroos an advantage.

Akram, one of best fast bowler of his time, said he was also baffled by skipper Shahid Afridi's move to make part time bowlers like Mohammed Hafeez to bowl a full quota of four overs, which proved costly.

"The defending champions did not look prepared for the match, which is quite understandable as they have not played much cricket in the last couple of months or so. But Pakistan soon have to adapt to the challenges in the Caribbean," he said.

Akram also lauded India for its comfortable win against South Africa.

He also showered praise on left-hand batsman Suresh Raina, whose blitzkrieg knock of 101 of 60 balls helped India register a comprehensive win 14-run win against the Proteas.

"For me, he (Raina) is the best young batsman in the world. He did well in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and is keeping up the good work in the Caribbean," Akram said. (ANI)

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S Africa take on spirited Afghanistan

Published Tue, May 04 10 02:08 PM

Bridgetown (Barbados), May 4 (PTI) It will be David vs Goliath when title favourites South Africa take on spirited new entrants Afghanistan in their second and final Group C match for a Super Eight berth in the Twenty20 World Cup here tomorrow. They lost the opener against India but Afghanistan have shown the spark to be in the big league even though it would be too big an ask for them to upstage South Africa. The first Affiliate Member of the ICC to qualify for a senior ICC event, Afghanistan have earned much admiration already for the stunning rise to prominence. Led by Nowroz Mangal, a fan of Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar, they came to the mega event after winning the Qualifiers in United Arab Emirates, beating the more experienced Ireland in the final. Commentators are still trying to get used to the war-ravaged country''s cricketers, who are trying hard to make an impression. Their batsman Noor Ali found some recognition in the match against Indian after managing to pull off a half century in the lost game. Imposing all-rounder Mohammad Nabi has also impressed after his fine show in the run up to the World Cup. He was the leading wicket-taker in Qualifiers with 13 scalps at an average of 10.53. He also holds the distinction of being Afghanistan''s first batsman to hit an ODI fifty with 58 in their first match against Scotland last year. While Afghan cricketers need elaborate introduction, the South African boast of players who are established international stars. South Africa will have to have a really bad day in office to lose tomorrow. With in-form batsmen like Jacques Kallis, A B de Villiers and skipper Graeme Smith, the Proteas would look to get over the 14-run loss to India in their lung-opener. Smith is, however, guarded in his assessment of the unknown rivals. "Afghanistan are a potential banana skin because they are unknown but they have a lot of talented cricketers, they''ve overtaken all the others in the minnow division. It''s going to be nerve-wracking playing them," Smith had said at the start of the tournament. "... they have no fear and they have nothing to lose, which makes them dangerous," he added. And perhaps the fear of the unknown is the only fear the South African would have to overcome when they face the Afghans tomorrow.

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IPL fiasco: BCCI office bearers cannot take work home

Published>Tue, May 04 10 01:38 PM

Mumbai, May 4 (ANI): Embarrassing gaps in the IPL paper trail have prompted the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to ban its office bearers from taking key documents home with them.

BCCI president Shashank Manohar had last week been forced to admit that much key IPL paperwork was missing.

"It is just a precaution, we have learnt our lesson from the Modi episode," a BCCI official told the Indian Express.

Veteran administrator and onetime ICC boss Jagmohan Dalmiya, is leading the questioning of IPL finances.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, former Indian batsman Dilip Vengsarkar is believed to have questioned the limited role played by the state associations in the franchise-driven IPL.

The private ownership of each team has created an environment rich for exploitation, with Modi having until May 11 to adequately answer a string of BCCI accusations. (ANI)

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Football fans being offered World Cup bargains

Published>Tue, May 04 10 01:08 PM

London, May 4 (ANI): Football fans are being offered World Cup bargains as hotels continue to struggle to fill empty rooms ahead of the tournament, which begins in a little over a month's time.

According to The Daily Telegraph, hundreds of hotel owners in South Africa have reported a low uptake of accommodation and are desperately cutting prices in an attempt to get bookings before the 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off on 11 June.

Dozens of bed and breakfast and hotel proprietors now seem set to miss out on the massive cash windfall predicted when the country became the first African host nation to be awarded the tournament in 2004.

Many have spent thousands of pounds renovating their properties and are struggling to recoup the costs.

Analysts believe many tourists have been put off by fears of violent crime and the economic recession. (ANI)

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Brit Muslim boxer to take on Mayweather, Pacquiao in a year's time

Published>Tue, May 04 10 12:56 PM

London, May 4 (ANI): WBA World light welterweight champion Amir Khan has said that he will be ready to take on American legend Floyd Mayweather Junior and Philippine Manny Pacquiao in a year's time.

Khan, who defends his title against Paulie Malignaggi in New York on May 15, said it is only a matter of fine tuning his skills before he can take on the world's top two fighters.

The British boxer is willing to move up a division to fight undefeated Mayweather, who cruised to a unanimous points verdict over Sugar Shane Mosley in Las Vegas on Saturday night, The Sun reports.

"In 12 months from now, I will be ready for Manny and Floyd Mayweather Junior," Khan said.

Mayweather and Pacquiao were due to fight this year before rows over drug testing got in the way.

But Khan has no doubt the money-spinning bout will go ahead. "I know them both well and they both want to fight," he said.

"It's the promoters trying to sort out all the details that are holding it up. Who would win? That's a tough one but I'd say Manny. He's more aggressive and I think he'd take Mayweather into an uncomfortable zone where he hasn't been for a very long time," Khan said.

"Floyd likes to control a fight but so does Manny and he has a higher work rate. If things go well, I could end up fighting the winner. This game's all about timing. You have to know the best time to have these big fights. I want to catch these guys when they have come off their peak," he added. (ANI)

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Erin Andrews 'stalker' to serve sentence in Atlanta jail near her home

Published>Tue, May 04 10 12:52 PM

New York, May 4 (ANI): The man who was convicted of stalking ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews surrendered Monday at a federal prison in Atlanta-which is apparently his victim's home city.

Michael Barrett, 48, was originally assigned to a penitentiary in central California, but when he called the prison Saturday to confirm, he was told he was not on the list, a source said.

He was ordered to Atlanta at the last minute, the source said.

Andrews, who said she lives in fear of Barrett, resides in Atlanta's affluent suburb of Dunwoody.

"He absolutely did not choose to go to Atlanta. He has no friends or family there," the New York Daily News quoted a source as saying.

Barrett, a divorced insurance executive, was hoping for placement in Oregon or Wisconsin, within driving distance of relatives who might visit, said the source.

According to a prison official, he will get a review within the next 28 days, and can request a transfer, but might not be eligible for 18 months. (ANI)

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NBA - Celtics gatecrash LeBron's party to tie up series

Published Tue, May 04 10 12:46 PM

The Boston Celtics gatecrashed LeBron James's celebration party by tying up the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a resounding 104-86 road victory on Monday.

On the night James was presented with the league MVP trophy, the Celtics stole the spotlight with a big third-quarter run then survived a late rally to send the series back to Boston tied at 1-1.

Over in the Western Conference, the Phoenix Suns held off the San Antonio Spurs in a 111-102 home victory in the opener of their best-of-seven series lead.

In Cleveland, Rajon Rondo recorded 13 points and 19 assists, and Ray Allen had a team-high 22 points to allow Boston to rebound from a Game One defeat.

After controlling the early stages but fading late in the series opening loss Saturday, the Celtics turned the tables this with a 31-12 scoring advantage in the third quarter that put the visitors ahead by 23.

Cleveland created a few nervous moments by pulling within 10 in the fourth before being turned back.

"We were playing the clock instead of the game," Rondo told reporters of his team's blown lead.

"We got stagnant, we kept looking at the clock and we were hoping it would run out. It's important we come out in Game Three and do the things we did but close the game out."

ELBOW PROBLEMS

James finished with 24 points but was bothered by the nagging right elbow injury that appears to be tempering his aggressiveness.

James did not receive much help from his supporting cast as Mo Williams went 1-for-9 with four points and the Cavs shot just 40 percent from the field.

Boston, on the other hand, got complete balance as all five starters posted double-figures scoring.

Kevin Garnett put up 18 points and 10 rebounds while reserve Rasheed Wallace stepped up with 17 points after being called out by his coach for poor play following Game One.

In Arizona, Steve Nash had 33 and 10 assists while Jason Richardson put up 27, including a three-pointer with 1:23 left, to push the Suns lead up to eight.

The Spurs had earlier trimmed a 14-point deficit down to one with under five minutes to play but could not complete the comeback after trailing for most of the whole game.

Manu Ginobili had a team-high 27 while Tony Parker gave Phoenix problems with his speed and finished with 26.

"They really hurt us and we have to find a way to slow Parker and Ginobili in the next game," Richardson said.

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