Clarke wants to continue as Australia T20 skipper

Published Thu, May 20 10 11:56 AM

Melbourne, May 20 (PTI) His leadership qualities have come under the scanner in the World T20 in the West Indies, but Michael Clarke said he was enjoying every bit of the responsibility and wants to continue as Australia''s Twenty20 captain. "No doubt (I want to continue), I''m disappointed we couldn''t win the World T20, win the final, but I''ve really enjoyed the opportunity," Clarke said yesterday after returning home following Australia''s loss to England in the World T20 final in the Caribbean. "I''ve loved playing with the guys, I''ve had a lot of support from people back at home, the people who came and watched the games in the West Indies, and family and friends, so it''s been great and I''m enjoying it (the captaincy)," he said. Clarke''s future as Twenty20 skipper is likely to be decided over the next week as the selectors sit to name the Australian squads for the tour of England, where they will play Tests, one day matches and Twenty20 games against Pakistan and the hosts. He also has the backing of Test captain Ricky Ponting, who feels Clarke is the future of Australian cricket. However, it is not Clarke''s captaincy that has been a matter of concern but his poor run with the bat. The right-hander himself admitted that it was high time he reinvent his aggressive attitude. "Who knows? Maybe I need a little bit of that back," said Clarke of his youthful approach. "Everybody has a different role in our team though and that is one thing that players certainly are aware of, and you need to do your role to the best of your ability. For me my role is not the same as Dave Warner or Shane Watson," Clarke was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press, a news agency here. "I always want to perform, I always want to score runs, it doesn''t matter what form of the game I''m playing, but like I said in this game, sometimes you can''t always make those runs," he added.

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US hopes to hit for six with historic T20 match

Published>Thu, May 20 10 11:22 AM

Sri Lanka and New Zealand will stage the first cricket matches on US soil between two ICC full members this weekend, a move officials hope will launch a US boom for the sport.

"The historic event will provide great exposure," USA Cricket Association president Gladstone Dainty said. "We're very excited about the potential impact of this series for the growth and development of cricket in the United States."

Saturday and Sunday afternoon matches will be staged at Lauderhill's Central Broward Regional Park, the only ICC-approved venue in the United States.

The 20,000-capacity facility, which must still upgrade lighting to ICC standards in order to host night events, tried in vain to land a match ahead of the 2007 West Indies Cricket

World Cup.

But with an India property developer sponsoring the Pearls Cup T20 matches and Indian Premier League officials talking about staging US events as early as 2011, the US breakthrough could be only a hint of greater things to come.

"We'll be meeting with potential investors and event developers to keep building our momentum," USA Cricket chief executive Don Lockerbie said.

"Interest is already high and this is very encouraging.

"To grow the game of cricket in the USA, we need to have the best teams in the world play in our country. We want to demonstrate to the American public just how exciting the T20 format is."

More than 15 million people in the United States follow cricket and ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat has said he sees "vast potential for the growth of the sport in the USA."

"It's massive now in the US," New Zealand's Jacob Oram said. "There are a lot of cricket fans from India and Pakistan in this area, a lot from the Caribbean. If they can tap into this market, it will get bigger and bigger."

Plans for a US T20 league failed in the 1990s but USA Cricket hopes to organise a US T20 league as quickly as 2012.

"Given the door to cricket has been opened to investment through the sale of Indian Premier League franchises, this model is a logical step to raising the capital required to take cricket in the US to another level," said New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan.

"The structure proposed is a wonderful opportunity for someone to get in on the ground floor, particularly given the rowing level of interest in the US cricket market."

For now, Sri Lanka and New Zealand will settle for a bit of cricket history in a land where baseball is the national pastime, basketball and American football rule and cricket is seldom found on the sport pages or telecasts.

"Our team and nation is honored to be one of the first two ICC Full Members to be involved in this historic series," said Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Nishantha Ranatunga.

"The Blackcaps are tremendously excited about the opportunity of launching international cricket in the United States," Vaughan said. "We're looking at ways of helping USA Cricket grow professionally and at the grassroots."

The Blackcaps visited baseball's Florida Marlins to see how life is for their US counterparts, using gloves to snag baseballs while the Marlins declined the chance to field cricket balls with their bare hands.

"They were telling me how they break fingers and hands all the time," said Florida's Hanley Ramirez, a shortstop from the Dominican Republic. "I told them, 'Maybe in the future you should think about wearing gloves."

Ramirez took the chance to don cricket pads and helmet and grabbed a cricket bat to swipe at a few bowled balls.

Bouncing one into the stands, he asked, "Is that a double?"

Then he saw another problem. "Where do I run?" he asked.

Clearly USA Cricket has some work to do. But cricketers are ready for the effort.

"The Blackcaps are really excited," captain Daniel Vettori said. "We know the series against Sri Lanka will be a great advertisement for international cricket to US fans."

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Somdev in final qualifying round

Published Thu, May 20 10 10:22 AM

Paris, May 19 -- Somdev Devvarman is on the brink of making it to the French Open main draw after he breezed into the final qualifying round on Wednesday after beating New Zealand's Daniel King-Turner 6-1, 6-2.

Meanwhile, Prakash Amritraj went down to Brazilian Joano Souza in the first round on Tuesday. Souza overcame a set deficit to shut the door on Amirtraj with a 4-6, 6-2, 8-6 win.

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I don't want to live in a bubble

Published>Thu, May 20 10 10:16 AM

New Delhi, May 19 -- He comes up with new Twitter updates on an everyday basis and posts pictures of car parades and pit garages, social dinners with teammates and gatherings. He wanted to be a racing driver even as a four-year-old kid, when his mother would click pictures of him reading Autocar, his favourite magazine (he keeps the picture on his Blackberry phone as a memory). He is India's sole representative at motor sport's highest stage, Formula One. Karun Chandhok talks of life inside and outside the paddock, his favourite driver, and much more. Excerpts: How frustrating is it to be stuck at the back of the grid? Hispania Racing Team (HRT) is a small outfit with limited resources. So we have very low expectations. It is frustrating to be a backmarker, but we just have to do what we can and make the best use of the car available. How has your run in F1 been so far? It's been enjoyable, though busy. Since the season started, I have slept in my own bed for maybe just 10 days! We have engineering meetings three times a day, plus training and working with the team takes up a lot of time. We had a delayed start. The car wasn't ready when we reached Bahrain and yet we made it to the grid. But my aim is very different from that of the team's. I have to do the best job I can with the car and establish myself at this level. I am hoping to be here in Delhi for the race next year. But it was a very special moment when I saw the HRT car with my name on it for the first time. It made me believe that I was a Formula One driver finally. It was two weeks before I was officially announced as an HRT driver. So it was hard containing my enthusiasm. Only my parents and some friends knew about it. Even my grandparents were unaware. Do you think the Indian GP is on course for 2011? From what I know, everything is progressing smoothly and the track is actually ahead of schedule. I will visit the track at Noida along with the developers. Hermen Tilke, the track designer, is very happy with its progress. What's with the constant Twitter updates? Coming from a country like India where motor sport is relatively young, I see myself as an ambassador for the sport. I tweet a lot, post pictures of car parades and what the pit garage looks like, post videos on YouTube. It helps the fans get an insight into things they can't generally watch on television. As a F1 driver, it is easy to live inside a bubble. I stay in the public eye, and it helps if the fans can also see me as a normal guy. Any upgrades to make the HRT more competitive?

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Village girl Seema 'shoots' to fame

Published>Thu, May 20 10 10:08 AM

New Delhi, May 19 -- Seema Tomar doesn't really fit into the mould of an archetypal shotgun shooter. Quite unlike her outgoing and flaunt-your-attitude team-mates, Seema is reticent to the point that she hardly interacts at the range and silently goes about her task of shooting down clay pigeon targets. On Wednesday, she became the first lady shotgun shooter from the country to clinch a medal at the ISSF World Cup in Dorset (Britain). She shot an 88/100 to 'trap' silver behind Daniela Del Din of San Marino and pushed the seasoned Maria Volkova of Russia to third spot. Seema, who hails from a small village in Uttar Pradesh, shot a superb 70/75 in the three qualification rounds and was in contention for gold, but missed seven birds in the final round of 25 to notch 18 points for an aggregate of 88, four behind the gold-medallist who finished on 92. Speaking to HT after her triumph, Seema said, "I'm very happy that for all the harassment the organisers put us through, this medal is a slap on their face." The Indian shooters were harassed by the organisers and it was after the coaches lodged a formal protest with the Indian High Commission in Britain that the issue was resolved and the organisers had to tender an apology. Coming from a family where her mother wields the sickle and father tills land, the inspiration to do well came when a small makeshift range was opened in village Johri in Baghpat district. "We just had one pistol in the range donated by Rahul Gandhi and some 30-40 children used to practice with that. Then, I moved to air rifle. But I always had a fascination for the big guns. Thanks to my good scores in air rifle, I was appointed a division clerk at the Infantry School (Corps of Signals) in 2004. "Without the Army's support, I couldn't have come this far as shotgun is a prohibitively expensive sport. Despite having a bagful of medals in the National Championships, Asian Clay events in Jaipur, Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Bangkok, one medal was missing from my cupboard -- the World Cup. I'm happy I've achieved it." "My inspiration to shoot came from my mother, who despite being 60 then - now 73 - bagged several medals at the district and state level. And all this while tending to eight children," said Seema. "I have just one grudge against my employers. They do not support me enough financially as I am in the civil staff. Army personnel winning medals earn promotions and prize-money, but I am left high and dry," she said. Another Indian, Shreyasi Singh, daughter of National Rifle Association of India president, Digvijay Singh, finished a miserable 38th out of 42 shooters with 59 points. Results:

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Tendulkar stands by battered friend in hour of need

Published>Thu, May 20 10 09:38 AM

Ahmedabad, May 20 -- The god of cricket has yet again played god, this time for a friend. "He (Sachin) is a true friend who came to my help when I needed it most," said Dalbir Singh (37) after undergoing a hip replacement surgery on Wednesday, Tendulkar. Dalbir had played with the Little Master at the under-15 and under-17 level. Dalbir, who played for Gujarat and represented West Zone with Tendulkar till 2001, met with a road accident in 2002 that left him with severe head injuries. A prolonged dose of steroids resulted in avascular necrosis (loss of blood supply to the hip bone), which rendered him immobile. "If not for Sachin, I do not know what would have happened to me. There was no chance of an operation," Singh told HT after being operated upon at the Shalby Hospitals here. Coming to know of his friend's deteriorating condition, Tendulkar swung into action. "Sachin sent a message a few days back, telling us to contact specialist doctors in Ahmedabad and said he would bear the cost," said Sukhbir Kaur, Dalbir's sister. That assurance came again when Tendulkar met his friend after the surgery. "He hugged me and told me that he would take care of everything. I am very happy," said Dalbir. The former cricketer will require another surgery after three months to replace the right hip. The two surgeries will cost about Rs six lakh and Tendulker will give the sum to the hospital. Police say Dalbir was rescued from his Gandhinagar home last month, where his second wife kept him under house arrest. Dalbir said he would like to forget the past and get on with life. Despite a career-damaging accident and two bitter marriages, the humour is still intact.

Dalbir also wrote a letter to Tendulkar in which he said his son, Arjun, would surpass him in the sport. "Tkera beta tera baap niklega," said Dalbir.

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No-one happier to see Nadal firing for Paris than Federer

Published>Thu, May 20 10 09:26 AM

Rafa Nadal used to mess with his head, ruffle his feathers and on occasions even make him cry, but no-one will be happier to see the Mallorcan rekindle his love affair with Roland Garros more than Roger Federer.

When the French Open begins on Sunday the men's drawsheet will have a familiar look with Swiss world number one Federer and his claycourt nemesis separated by 126 other players -- six wins each away from an eighth grand slam final clash.

Twelve months ago Nadal's lock on Roland Garros was cracked by Sweden's Robin Soderling in a stunning fourth-round loss and Federer slid through the door to claim the elusive major he craved.

It completed his career slam and as the Swiss marched on to claim a record breaking 15th major at Wimbledon a few weeks later, Nadal watched from afar in Spain, the tendonitis in his knees casting doubts over his career and his off-court harmony shattered by his parents split.

Suddenly a classic rivalry that had elevated men's tennis to supreme new heights looked in jeopardy.

Nadal's aura faded to such an extent that after returning in Montreal he failed to win a title for the rest of the year and when he was outgunned by Briton Andy Murray in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open this year many thought his swashbuckling days were behind him at the age of 23.

Thankfully, talk of his demise was greatly exaggerated and the reassuring feel of red dust under his feet has re-ignited Nadal's engines and after dropping just 14 games on his way to a sixth successive Monte Carlo title last month the world knew that Rafa was back.

INCREDIBLE STUFF

Not that Federer, who will arrive in Paris as top seed but without a title since the Australian Open, ever doubted it.

"I expected him to come back strong, for me he was never gone," Federer said last week in Madrid before they met in a final for the first time in more than a year -- Nadal's victory taking him past Andre Agassi's record of 17 Masters titles.

"I knew that once the French and once the claycourt season came around he was would be very hard to beat. He has come up with some incredible stuff recently. He's Rafa Nadal after all."

Whereas many of his 13 previous defeats against Nadal gnawed away at Federer's ego, the Swiss was sanguine after losing in the Spanish capital, clearly pleased to have his sparring partner on the other side of the net again.

Federer needs the challenge of a fit and firing Nadal and while last year's French Open title confirmed him as the greatest all-round player to wield a racket, he would have loved to have won it by beating the Spaniard.

Nadal, who will have plenty of Spanish company, not least the dangerous David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco, could hardly be in better shape as he arrives in Paris looking to reclaim the Coupe de Mousquetaires.

The 23-year-old's hat-trick of claycourt titles at Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid was unprecedented and he still looks to have plenty in the tank.

His serve is much improved this season and his backhand is now being hit flatter and harder while the forehand is still the spitting, snarling beast that it always was.

Nadal, however, is not one to big himself up, playing down his favourite's tag last week.

"I don't think I am," he said. "I'm very happy with what has happened up to now, I've got back to my best level and that's the important thing. Who knows what will happen in a week and a half or two weeks, there is more than one contender, there are many contenders."

Few of those look capable of stopping him.

World number three Novak Djokovic has lost twice to Verdasco in the run-up, number four Murray has suffered an alarming dip since losing to Federer in the Australian Open final and France's main hope, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, has struggled during the European claycourt swing.

Injuries have already bitten into the men's draw with Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro and Russian Nikolay Davydenko both sidelined. Parisian clay has many pitfalls but few would bet against anything other than a return to business as usual for the world's top two players.

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Dutch must look to the past and the future

Published>Thu, May 20 10 08:26 AM

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk needs to learn lessons from his predecessor's troubles when he takes his side to South Africa.

Marco van Basten twice steered the Netherlands through tough group phases, at the 2006 World Cup and the 2008 European championship, only to see them fall in the first knockout round.

In 2006, the Netherlands qualified second in their group behind Argentina but were then knocked out by Portugal in a bad-tempered match.

Two years later, in the European event, they brushed aside World Cup finalists Italy and France to finish top of their group but fell to Guus Hiddink's Russia in Basel.

Van Marwijk took over after the disappointing 2008 campaign and brought his team through qualifying with eight straight wins, and he knows he must keep his team sharp and in form with one eye on the knockout stage.

Mental strength was important too, Van Marwijk said, with the team needing to have more belief in their abilities.

"I have tried...to drill a stronger self-belief into the players but it is a process," the coach said earlier this year.

This time, the Dutch will face Denmark, Cameroon and Japan in Group E. The lack of strong resistance in a qualifying group featuring Iceland, Scotland, Macedonia and Norway gave Van Marwijk little idea about the possibilities of his side.

With a team bursting with big names, the Dutch, runners-up in 1974 and 1978, should be one of the strongest sides in the world.

Van Marwijk is spoilt for choice in attack where Arjen Robben, Dirk Kuyt, Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Robin van Persie will vie for places.

Hopes that Ruud van Nistelrooy might return from international retirement vanished when Van Marwijk said there was not enough time for the striker to regain fitness after a knee injury.

The coach has former internationals Phillip Cocu and Frank de Boer -- who both have experience of the World Cup semi-finals -- as his assistants and plans to stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation that Van Basten put in place.

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Hermit North Korea braces for World Cup glare

Published>Thu, May 20 10 08:06 AM

On the few occasions reclusive North Korea makes its way before the world, it is usually facing sanctions for rattling regional security and not cheers in packed soccer stadiums.

The hermit North is set for a rare moment in the global spotlight as its team are back in the World Cup finals for the first time since their only appearance 44 years ago, perhaps hoping for another run as magical as the 1966 one that earned the pariah state a bit of sympathy and support.

While the North has the chance to win fans and change minds in the outside world about its rogue status with what it does on the pitch in South Africa, analysts said the World Cup appearance would do little to change the ways of Pyongyang.

The impoverished North relishes playing the role of David where its global sporting victories are attributed to the teachings of its pudgy leader Kim Jong-il and failures blamed on the Goliaths of the world trying to stifle its "Dear Leader".

Its state media said of qualifying for the finals: "(The) stirring events prove once again that the experienced and tested leadership of General Secretary Kim Jong-il and his great patriotic devotion are the source of all victories, miracles and inexhaustible strength."

Unlike most of the Soviet satellites formed in the Cold War, North Korea has not used victories on the playing field to validate what they argued was a superior political system.

Instead, the North uses sport to inspire its masses, treats its victorious athletes as heroes and reminds those who compete overseas that their families, friends and associates at home will be punished if they step out of line or defect.

NEWS CONFERENCES

North Korea, which hardly ever allows its people or officials to speak abroad, will be required to have its players and coaches appear for news conferences in South Africa. In qualifying matches, the group have been reticent about the sport, respectful of opponents and tight-lipped on politics.

A few of the North's biggest names play abroad in professional leagues in Japan, South Korea and Russia and have a much better understanding of the global game than the 1966 team did.

Soccer is the biggest sport in the country and the North makes exceptions about banning broadcasts from the capitalist world by showing matches from Europe and Latin America on its state television.

"The news broadcasts would tell us a soccer match would be shown later. They were all videotaped but we had no idea of the results because that information was not available to us," said a 19-year-old man who recently defected to the South and asked not to be named to protect his relatives left in the North.

Broadcasts of the matches have become a political football between North and South Korea. South Korea usually acquires rights to the matches for the peninsula and has in the past picked up the tab for broadcasts in the North as a humanitarian gesture. This time around, it plans to charge Pyongyang after its neighbour appears to have ratcheted up political tension.

Feeling between the rivals turned even worse after the South suspected the North of being behind a deadly attack on one of its warships in March.

QUIET STREETS

Pyongyang has not yet said if it will pay the money sought by the South's broadcaster, which is likely to be around $135,000.

Even though the public could put up with depravation and poverty, they would not stand to be in the dark on football, experts and defectors said, which put pressure on leader Kim.

"They love the game. International TV comes on on Sundays. The streets are quiet at the best of times but they are even quieter when the football comes on," said Nick Bonner who helped to produce the documentary on the 1966 North Korean soccer team called "The Game of Their Lives."

That team pulled off one of the greatest World Cup upsets with a victory over Italy that helped them to qualify for the knockout stage while earning the North Koreans an enthusiastic following that put aside politics to cheer them on.

"When you have the rest of the world not on your side, you have even more to show. The lads in '66 had an enormous impact," Bonner said.

The North Koreans are going to South Africa as one of the longest shots, with a team who are still a mystery and a relentless style of play devoid of theatrics.

"They are going to be bounced around on that pitch but everyone supports the underdog. I think you can split politics from sport here," Bonner said.

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Factbox on the Netherlands

Published Thu, May 20 10 07:46 AM

REUTERS - Factbox on the Netherlands who are competing in Group E at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa:

Colours: Orange shirts, black shorts and orange socks

Nickname: Orange

Previous World Cup appearances: 8: 1934, 1938, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2006

Best World Cup performance: runners-up in 1974 and 1978

Coach: Bert van Marwijk

Most capped player: Edwin van der Sar 130

Top goalscorer: Patrick Kluivert 40

Talking points:

The position of central striker is the most discussed matter in the Dutch team. In Dirk Kuyt and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Van Marwijk has two obvious choices, though Huntelaar has not played regularly this season despite a move from Real Madrid to AC Milan, while Kuyt fills in the right wing at his club, Liverpool. However, Robin van Persie has also made clear that he wants to act as central striker, though he may be more useful as winger or playmaker.

Player to watch:

It would be easy to name Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder or Van Persie, but Van Marwijk's son-in-law Mark van Bommel might be the natural playing captain for the Dutch. The 32-year-old defensive midfielder has shown outstanding class during Bayern Munich's treble-chasing season, becoming the club's first foreign captain to lift the Bundesliga trophy.

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Inter and Bayern chase treble in final of wonder

Published>Thu, May 20 10 07:26 AM

Saturday's Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan is so much more than just one game of soccer with a myriad of intertwined storylines promising an intriguing night whatever happens on the field.

The first final to be played on a Saturday brings together two teams gunning for trebles and is crucial to whether Germany or Italy have four Champions League qualifying berths from 2011.

The future of Inter's larger-than-life coach Jose Mourinho, who learnt part of his trade under Bayern boss Louis van Gaal when they were at Barcelona, will also be decided after the game with the Portuguese tempted to quit for Real Madrid.

If he does leave after taking 1964 and 1965 winners Inter to their first final since 1972, it will be because of his hatred of the Italian press and soccer establishment rather than any problems he has with the club or his beloved players.

"I love everybody. From the first to the last they give everything. They are great the way they have survived this incredible season playing a match every three days," Mourinho told Reuters.

The irony of the final being played in Real's Bernabeu stadium will not have been lost on the savvy Mourinho, who will take two or three days after the game to mull his options whether or not Inter complete an unprecedented Italian treble.

Van Gaal's future appears to be more clear cut after the Dutchman said he would stay even if Bayern seal a treble, reversing a decision he took some months ago.

"A defeat can happen in the final... but it would be unbelievable if you won the treble with a new team and a new coach in the first season,." Van Gaal told Reuters.

BIG EARS

Many German football fans are viciously envious of the four-times winners but most will be rooting for them on Saturday given a win for Bayern or a draw after 120 minutes would mean four Bundesliga clubs will enter the Champions League pots for the 2011/12 season at the expense of one Italian team.

Under UEFA's coefficient rules, Inter need to win without penalties to keep the status quo of Serie A having four Champions League slots, one a qualifying round berth.

The match itself is struggling to avoid becoming a side issue with neutrals moaning that a Bayern v Inter final is one of the most boring they could have imagined.

Both coaches have hit back, saying their sides can put on a great show despite their tough-tackling traits.

Some flair will be missing, though, given Bayern winger Franck Ribery and Inter's stylish midfielder Thiago Motta are suspended after being dismissed in the semi-finals.

Apart from Ribery, Van Gaal has a full squad to chose from with Hamit Altintop the likely replacement for the Frenchman while Mourinho's only variable is whether to play 4-3-1-2 or a 4-2-3-1 with Goran Pandev or Mario Balotelli on the wing.

Bayern's Mark van Bommel will clash with fellow tough guy Esteban Cambiasso in midfield with the Dutch captain eager for a second Champions League winners' medal after clinching the title with Barcelona four years ago.

"This team has grown together and everything works," Van Bommel told Reuters, donning an expensive watch given to him by the Catalan club after their victory in 2006.

"We will be ready and we should not change a thing from what we have been doing because we want to win this thing with the big ears (the trophy)."

Probable lineups:

Bayern Munich: 22-Hans-Joerg Butt; 21-Philipp Lahm, 5-Daniel van Buyten, 6-Martin Demichelis, 26-Diego Contento; 8-Hamit Altintop, 17-Mark van Bommel, 31-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 10-Arjen Robben; 11-Ivica Olic, 25-Thomas Mueller.

Inter Milan: 12-Julio Cesar; 13-Maicon, 25-Walter Samuel, 6-Lucio, 4-Javier Zanetti; 19-Esteban Cambiasso, 5-Dejan Stankovic; 10-Wesley Sneijder; 9-Samuel Eto'o, 22-Diego Milito, 27-Goran Pandev

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Advocaat follows in Hiddink's footsteps again

Published>Thu, May 20 10 06:46 AM

It was almost inevitable for Dutchman Dick Advocaat to become Russia's national team coach, given the way that his career has long been intertwined with that of compatriot Guus Hiddink.

This week, the 62-year-old Advocaat replaced Hiddink, signing a four-year contract with the Russian FA (RFU).

Hiddink, 63, led the Russians to the Euro 2008 semi-finals but opted out of renewing his contract after failing to guide the team to this year's World Cup finals.

Ever since Sergei Fursenko was elected the RFU's chief in February, he had made no secret of his desire to hire Advocaat as the country's coach.

Fursenko, a former executive at Russian energy giant Gazprom and a close friend of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, has known the Dutchman since their days together at Zenit St Petersburg.

As Zenit president, Fursenko hired Advocaat in 2006 and the following year the Dutchman steered the club to their first national title in nearly a quarter of a century, becoming the first foreign coach to achieve such a feat.

In 2008, he led them to victory in the UEFA Cup.

Now Advocaat, who resigned as Belgium coach last month, can expect a hefty pay rise and could earn as much as seven million euros ($10 million) a year, to match Hiddink's salary.

While former RFU chief Vitaly Mutko relied on Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich to pay Hiddink's wages, Fursenko can count on Gazprom, the world's largest gas company, to step in with the cash for Advocaat's services.

MAIN REASON

Although Advocaat admitted money had played a role in his decision to take the job, he said soccer was the main reason for his move.

"Russian soccer is of a higher level than Belgian soccer. It matches the level I am used to working at," the man dubbed the Little General told Dutch media.

Advocaat had been considered a frontrunner to land the Russia job in 2006 before Hiddink, backed by Abramovich, was selected instead.

While Advocaat, a strict disciplinarian, may lack Hiddink's charm and charisma away from the pitch, he has been just as successful.

Soon after joining Zenit, Advocaat made it clear what kind of legacy he wanted to leave behind.

"I want to win trophies for this club. That would be the best legacy I could have of myself here," he told Reuters at the time. True to his word, he became the most successful coach in the history of the St Petersburg side.

Despite all his achievements with Zenit, Advocaat's new appointment received a mixed reaction in Russia.

While many said he was the best choice to succeed Hiddink, others argued that Russia should not have hired a man who had previously reneged on his contract.

Former long-time RFU chief Vyacheslav Koloskov has even called Advocaat "persona non grata" in Russian football.

"I would not shake his hand if I see him," Koloskov said.

RUSSIAN ADVENTURE

In 2007, Advocaat agreed to coach Australia's national team before turning his back on the Socceroos and staying put in St Petersburg after Zenit bosses gave him a new contract.

Angry Australian officials called on the sport's world governing body FIFA to punish Advocaat but the matter was settled out of court.

The coaching careers of the two middle-aged Dutchmen have been closely linked since Hiddink took over from Advocaat as the Netherlands boss after the 1994 World Cup.

"Actually, I recommended Hiddink to succeed me as the Dutch coach after the 1994 World Cup," Advocaat told Reuters in 2006.

Hiddink led his native country to the World Cup semi-finals in 1998 before repeating the feat with World Cup co-hosts South Korea four years later.

He also steered outsiders Australia to the World Cup second round in 2006 before taking the Russia job.

Meanwhile, Advocaat returned to coach the Netherlands in 2002, guiding them to the semi-finals of Euro 2004 and after a brief stint as coach of the United Arab Emirates he tried to emulate Hiddink as South Korea boss in September 2005.

After South Korea failed to progress beyond the group stage at the 2006 World Cup, Advocaat took the Zenit post.

Both men have also coached Dutch club PSV Eindhoven at various stages.

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Rome is Italy's candidate for 2020 Olympic bid

Published>Thu, May 20 10 06:26 AM

Rome, May 20 (IANS) Rome has beat Venice to became Italy's official candidate for the 2020 summer Olympic Games.

The decision was taken by the Italian Olympic Committee, following a voting procedure that granted the candidature to the national capital, after Rome got 68 out of 70 votes, Xinhua reported Thursday citing a statement from Rome's City Hall.

'Rome has a greater logistic, infrastructural and organisational backbone than Venice,' the committee said in a statement.

Venice's Olympic project had to start from scrap, while Rome had the advantage of having pre-existing structures built when the city hosted the 1960 Olympics. This experience guaranteed that Rome will respect building deadlines, it said.

Venice was also penalised by the fact that several sport venues would have to be built on the islands facing the city, thus reachable solely by boat.

'To organise the Olympics and upgrade the existing sport infrastructure, we only need 1.5 billion euro of public funds. The rest will be financed by private sponsors and firms,' Gianni Alemanno, mayor of Rome, was quoted as saying.

Other cities that are bidding for the 2020 games are Tokyo, Istanbul, Lima and Durban. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will announce the winner in Buenos Aires in 2013.

Source: Web Search

Sevilla strike early and late to lift King's Cup

Published Thu, May 20 10 05:46 AM

Sevilla claimed their second King's Cup triumph in four years when Diego Capel's early strike and a late breakaway goal from Jesus Navas fired them to a 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

In a bad-tempered match at a rowdy Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona, winger Capel pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area in the fifth minute and smashed a left-foot shot past David De Gea.

Atletico forwards Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero went close to equalising before Navas skipped past several lunging tackles, took the ball round De Gea and finished into the empty net in the 91st minute.

It was a fifth domestic cup success for the Andalucian club, winners in 2007, and ended their season on a high after they finished fourth in La Liga and qualified for the Champions League.

Atletico, who have won the cup nine times, were denied a second trophy of the campaign after last week's 2-1 victory over Fulham in the Europa League final.

Sevilla coach Antonio Alvarez dedicated the cup win to the fans and defender Antonio Puerta, who died in 2007 after collapsing during a La Liga match.

"Antonio Puerta was with us tonight," Alvarez said in a television interview.

"You couldn't tell that our fans were in the minority and they helped us as if it were our own stadium," he added.

"All these people who have travelled more than 1,000 kilometres to get here on a work day. It's incredible."

PARTY MOOD

On a balmy evening in the Catalan capital, the match kicked off after enthusiastic singing along to the wordless Spanish national anthem, in contrast to last year's final between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao when it was roundly booed.

In the festive atmosphere, many Sevilla fans were sporting sombreros in homage to club president Jose Maria del Nido and vast swathes of the giant arena were decorated in the red and white of Atletico.

The party mood in the crowd failed to rub off on the teams and the match boiled over with around 20 minutes left when a crunching tackle by Luis Perea on Capel prompted pushing and shoving between players and staff next to the technical areas.

Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores and Alvarez had a heated exchange before match officials restored calm.

Atletico pressed forward desperately as the clock ticked down, leaving holes at the back that Navas was able to exploit to kill the game off.

The last time Barca's Nou Camp stadium hosted a cup final was in 1970, during the Francisco Franco dictatorship when the competition was called the "Copa del Generalisimo".

Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-1 to win the trophy and Franco was in the stadium to present the cup to Real captain Gento.

This time it was the Prince of Asturias who handed over the trophy to an ecstatic Sevilla captain Andres Palop.

"It was an emotional match and we could have equalised right up until the last minute," Sanchez Flores said in a television interview. "But Sevilla won the game and they have to be congratulated."

Source: Web Search

Kim demonstrates eagerness to play in Ryder Cup

Published>Thu, May 20 10 04:26 AM

Anthony Kim is so keen to play for the United States in October's Ryder Cup that he replied almost immediately to a recent text message from captain Corey Pavin inquiring about his fitness.

Kim, who is second on the U.S. points standings behind Phil Mickelson, withdrew from the Players Championship two weeks ago to undergo surgery on a badly injured left thumb.

"I texted him and asked him to let me know what's going on with the thumb and keep me current," Pavin told reporters on Wednesday on the eve of the HP Byron Nelson Championship.

"I guess he took me literally because he called me about an hour after his surgery and we talked for a little while. I just want him to get better and I told him I was glad he made a bunch of points before he went in for surgery.

"He said that was his plan, to play as good as he could and try to get up there so that he could take that time off and come back and be ready to play.

"I think it's a good plan, but he has to come back and I'll have to assess how he's playing, and he has to assess how he's playing as well.

"I'll see how his thumb is doing and how his rehabilitation is coming along, but he could be a very important part of the team.

"He's a very prototypical Ryder Cup-type player. He loves to compete, he loves the one-on-one competition, he likes match play, head-to-head, whatever you want to call it. He loves that atmosphere. That's the type of guy you want to have on the Ryder Cup team."

Kim, who turns 25 in exactly one month, is expected to miss next month's U.S. Open and also the British Open in July, but should recover in time for the Ryder Cup.

He made a successful Ryder Cup debut two years ago, posting two wins, one halve and one loss in his four matches as the Americans beat Europe for the first time since 1999.

On a more general Ryder Cup note, Pavin said he expected the Celtic Manor course in Wales to be set up for accuracy rather than power.

"It's going to be set up more U.S. Open-ish," he continued. "I think the rough is going to be long and thick. It's going to be very important to drive the ball straight there. I don't think length is going to be a huge factor.

"The golf course is more of a tactical course, I would say, than a course you can overpower. But as captain I want to have a good mix of players on my team. I want to be able to mix and match guys together. The eight guys that make the team are going to impact my four picks."

Pavin was speaking at the Four Seasons TPC, where he will be part of a 156-man field playing for a $6.5 million purse.

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Sevilla beat Atletico 2-0 to win King's Cup

Published Thu, May 20 10 03:26 AM

Sevilla claimed their second King's Cup triumph in four years when Diego Capel's early strike set them up for a 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

In a bad-tempered match a rowdy Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona, winger Capel pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area in the fifth minute and smashed a left-foot shot past David De Gea.

Winger Jesus Navas scored the second goal in stoppage time.

Source: Web Search

Corp affairs ministry may probe Preity's IPL company

Published>Thu, May 20 10 02:48 AM

In the first-of-its-kind action against any IPL team, the corporate affairs ministry is mulling a thorough investigation into the ownership pattern and sources of funding of the Preity Zinta-Ness Wadia promoted KPH Dream Cricket Pvt Ltd, which owns the Kings XI Punjab team. The move follows preliminary findings that the company has defaulted on tax payments and flouted norms for transfer of shares.

The investigation has been recommended by the registrar of companies (RoC), Chandigarh under Section 235 of the Companies Act, 1956. The RoC has the right to conduct a detailed scan of a company's books of accounts, a power that has seldom been used.

The RoC, in a letter to the ministry dated May 12, a copy of which is with FE, has clearly outlined that the company has not regularly deposited undisputed statutory dues of Income Tax and professional tax with the appropriate authorities under RBI's Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or issue of security by a person resident outside India) Regulations 2000.

"In respect of undisputed statutory dues of Income Tax and professional tax, the same have not been regularly deposited with the appropriate authorities and there has been serious delay in a large number of cases," the RoC letter stated.The RoC has also found violation of the Franchisee Agreement of IPL, which prohibits any transfer of shares during the first three years of the term of the agreement. In the examination of the KPH Dream Cricket's books, RoC found that on May 8, 2008, a little-known entity called Acee Enterprises had transferred about 9,500 shares to Windy Investment Pvt Ltd and Dabur Investment Corporation Ltd.

Based on these findings, the RoC declared: "It is therefore, recommended that an inspection under Section 209A of the Companies Act, 1956 or an investigation under Section 235 of the Companies Act 1956 may be ordered by the ministry to know the real ownership of the company and sources of funds invested in the company."

Sangram Patnaik, managing partner of the Delhi-based law firm Patnaik & Associates said that in only one out of hundred cases does the ministry order an investigation. "Investigation is ordered in the rarest of rare cases...say one in a hundred cases," he said.

Meanwhile, RoC Pune has found responses from Rendezvous Sports World which successfully bid for the Kochi IPL team unsatisfactory. It has sought ministry approval to seek more details from the company. The list includes: a certified copy of the Memorandum of Association/Articles of Association, whether any MoU/agreement has been signed for the issuance of sweat equity and duly signed by a statutory auditor, details of payment made by the company to the consortium and the details of the share transfer.

Following the spat between the former minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor and now suspended IPL commissioner, Lalit Modi over Tharoor's friend Sunanda Pushkar's sweat equity stake in the Kochi IPL, corporate affairs ministry had directed the RoC to conduct a detailed probe of the promoter companies of the IPL teams. RoC had written to all the franchisees last month seeking a list of details that ranged from ownership patterns of the company to sources of funds.

Source: Web Search

Maradona names Argentina's 23-man World Cup squad

Published Thu, May 20 10 02:06 AM

Argentina coach Diego Maradona named the following 23-man squad on Wednesday for the World Cup finals in South Africa:

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon)

Defenders: Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes de La Plata), Nicolas Burdisso (AS Roma), Ariel Garce (Colon)

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle United), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes de La Plata), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors)

Source: Web Search

London not so cute with mascots Wenlock and Mandeville

Published>Thu, May 20 10 01:46 AM

Moulded from steel left over from the last girder on the Olympic stadium, London's 2012 mascots are neither cuddly nor cute but organisers say the gleaming one-eyed metallic forms will strike a chord with children.

As the covers were removed by two pupils in front of wide-eyed classmates and LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe at an east London school a mere javelin throw from the heart of the Games, Wenlock and Mandeville were introduced to the world.

It was the culmination of an 18-month project to come up with an enduring image for the Games and a merchandising gimmick to keep the cash tills ringing as 2012 targets 16 millions pounds ($22.80 million) in revenue from Games memorabilia.

While modern and slightly obscure, the Games Organising Committee (LOCOG) says the mascots recognise Britain's Olympic heritage.

Wenlock is named after the village of Much Wenlock where Pierre de Coubertin visited in 1890 and his idea for a modern Olympics was born. Mandeville is called after the Stoke Mandeville Hospital where the Paralympic movement began shortly after World War II.

Asked to describe exactly what his creations were, designer Grant Hunter of London-based firm Iris, said they were "magical beings" that would become "multi-dimensional" mascots aimed at capturing the imagination of children across the world.

A group of invited journalists were given a sneak preview of an animated film based on a story by award-winning children's author Michael Morpurgo who was commissioned by London 2012.

It showed the two steel nuggets being sculpted by the grandfather and how they spring to life in the hands of two children before morphing into various sporting poses.

The film was screened by the BBC's One Show later on Wednesday, the official launch of the mascots 2012 chiefs hope will rank favourably alongside the likes of Moscow's Misha, Barcelona's Cubist-inspired Cobi and Atlanta's unpopular Izzy.

Rather hard to describe, Wenlock and Mandeville both have one large eye, representing a camera lens so they can record what they see, cannot speak, do not smile and have features borrowed from London's iconic taxis.

"The mascot will help us engage with children which is what I believe passionately in," London organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe told Reuters as human-sized versions of the mascots danced in the school playground.

"The message we were getting was that children didn't want fluffy toys, they didn't want them to be human but they did want them rooted in an interesting story. By linking young people to the values of sport, Wenlock and Mandeville will help inspire kids to strive to be the best they can be."

After the furore over their controversial logo in 2007, a project that cost 400,000 pounds and was initially met with scorn before proving popular, London 2012 organisers are confident that the choice of mascots will hit the spot.

The budget was just "a few thousand" according to a LOCOG official.

"These guys will tell a story about the Olympics Games and really fit with our whole philosophy of the Games," LOCOG chief executive Paul Deighton said, adding that some of the rejected designs included pigeons and Big Ben with legs sticking out.

To appeal to a generation of children brought up with electronic gizmos, Wenlock and Mandeville look as though they are related to computer game character Sonic the Hedgehog and will even have their own place on Facebook and Twitter.

Source: Web Search

CORRECTED - Algeria coach calls sanctions on Egypt inadequate

Published>Thu, May 20 10 01:26 AM

Algeria coach Rabah Saadane criticised on Wednesday what he described as the inadequate punishment handed out to Egypt after an attack on his team's bus before November's World Cup qualifier in Cairo.

Egypt were fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($88,160) for incidents before and after their match at home to the Algerians on November 14. They were ordered to play their first two matches in the 2014 World Cup qualifying tournament at least 100 kms outside Cairo.

Saadane, whose team are training in Switzerland ahead of the 2010 World Cup, told Reuters the punishment was not adequate considering the degree of violence his team had suffered.

"Sincerely, we have to respect it because it's FIFA's decision, I'm not sure it really reflects what we went through and the damage to the bus for example," he said in an interview before a training session.

"Certainly it's not satisfactory, but now that we're in the World Cup, it's over, it doesn't matter."

Four members of the Algerian delegation, including three players, were injured in the attack.

Egypt won 2-0 to leave both teams level on points, goal difference and goals scored at the top of African Group C. Algeria won a playoff in Khartoum 1-0.

FIFA said the Egyptians had failed to put in place proper security measures and also found them guilty of overcrowding at the Cairo International Stadium and detaining the Algerian bus for over 45 minutes after the end.

It was the latest twist to a long-running soccer feud between the two nations, which stretches back to a World Cup qualifier 20 years ago in Cairo, when Egypt won 1-0 to guarantee a place at the 1990 finals in Italy.

Players clashed on the field after the game and the Egyptian team doctor was partially blinded.

Egypt then threatened to pull out of the following year's African Nations Cup in Algeria. They eventually sent a B team and lost all three group games.

Saadane said it was up to the Egyptians to end the tension.

"I think it's up to the Egyptian political leaders," he said. "They're the ones who have created all this controversy, I think they should make an effort, to apologise to Algeria."

But he was optimistic differences could be put aside.

"Football is there to bring people together, not war. I think that through football we can reconciliate, maybe it's just a question of time."

Source: Web Search

London 2012 Olympics mascots unveiled

Published>Thu, May 20 10 01:06 AM

London, May 20 (IANS) Organisers of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Wednesday unveiled the one-eyed mascots - Wenlock and Mandeville - saying they will be a big hit among children and young people.

The two animations were created from two drops of steel from a factory in Bolton, and have a single central eye, explained as a camera lens.

Wenlock is named after the Shropshire town of Much Wenlock where, in the 19th century, the Wenlock Games became one of the inspirations for the modern Olympic movement, while Mandeville's name is derived from Stoke Mandeville, in Buckinghamshire, home to Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Daily Mail reported.

In the 1940s, Dr Ludwig Guttman came to the hospital to set up a new spinal unit to help former soldiers suffering from spinal cord injuries.

The London 2012 Olympics organisers introduced the mascots Wednesday, and predicted they will be a big hit with children and help inspire young people to get involved in Olympic sports.

Kids don't want cuddly toys as mascots and prefer 'something they can interact with and something with a good story behind it', organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

Source: Web Search

Algeria coach calls sanctions on Egypt inadequate

Published>Thu, May 20 10 12:28 AM

Algeria coach Rabah Saadane criticised on Wednesday what he described as the inadequate punishment handed out to Egypt after an attack on his team's bus before November's World Cup qualifier in Cairo.

Egypt were fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($88,160) for incidents before and after their match at home to the Algerians on November 14. They were ordered to play their first two matches in the 2014 World Cup qualifying tournament at least 100 kms outside Cairo.

Saadane, whose team are training in Switzerland ahead of the 2010 World Cup, told Reuters the punishment was not adequate considering the degree of violence his team had suffered.

"Sincerely, we have to respect it because it's FIFA's decision, I'm not sure it really reflects what we went through and the damage to the bus for example," he said in an interview before a training session.

"Certainly it's not satisfactory, but now that we're in the World Cup, it's over, it doesn't matter."

Four members of the Algerian delegation, including three players, were injured in the attack.

Egypt won 2-0 to leave both teams level on points, goal difference and goals scored at the top of African Group C. Algeria won a playoff in Khartoum 1-0.

FIFA said the Egyptians had failed to put in place proper security measures and also found them guilty of overcrowding at the Cairo International Stadium and detaining the Algerian bus for over 45 minutes after the end.

It was the latest twist to a long-running soccer feud between the two nations, which stretches back to a World Cup qualifier 20 years ago in Cairo, when Egypt won 1-0 to guarantee a place at the 1990 finals in Italy.

Players clashed on the field after the game and the Egyptian team doctor was partially blinded.

Egypt then threatened to pull out of the following year's African Nations Cup in Algeria. They eventually sent a B team and lost all three group games.

Saadane said it was up to the Egyptians to end the tension.

"I think it's up to the Egyptian political leaders," he said. "They're the ones who have created all this controversy, I think they should make an effort, to ask for an apology from Algeria."

But he was optimistic differences could be put aside.

"Football is there to bring people together, not war. I think that through football we can reconciliate, maybe it's just a question of time."

Source: Web Search

Somdev in third round of French Open qualifiers

Published>Thu, May 20 10 12:10 AM

Paris, May 19 (IANS) India's Somdev Devvarman moved into the third round of French Open qualifiers with a straight set demolition of Daneil King-Turner of New Zealand here Wednesday.

The sixth-seeded Indian outclassed Daniel 6-1, 6-2 in an hour and 12 minutes.

Somdev converted four of his nine break points while Daniel failed to convert any of his six break point opportunities.

The Indian will next take on France's Adrian Mannarino, who got the better of Ramon Delgado of Paraguay 6-2, 7-6 (3).

Source: Web Search

Coe confident of 2018 bid after chat with Blatter

Published>Thu, May 20 10 12:06 AM

London 2012 Olympic organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe is confident no lasting damage has been done to England's 2018 World Cup bid despite the resignation of FA chairman David Triesman on Sunday.

Coe, who is on the board of England's World Cup bid team, told Reuters on Wednesday he had talked to FIFA president Sepp Blatter after Triesman's secretly taped conversation with a former colleague in which he spoke of a conspiracy between rival bidders Spain and Russia to bribe referees.

"I had a chat with Sepp Blatter and it was a very friendly and lengthy conversation," Coe said as he prepared to launch the London 2012 mascots.

"We know each other very well and it was very open chat. His clear inference was 'go on telling our story, talk about the qualities of the bid, the eminence of the venues and why we are doing it'.

"The impression I get from him is that we will be judged on those things."

England's bid leaders have taken damage limitation measures since Triesman's comments and Coe, a skilled sports administrator and formerly part of FIFA's ethics committee, has assumed a more high-profile role.

FIFA has ordered an investigation into Triesman's comments and there have been fears in England that the bid could have been badly damaged.

"We needed to resolve the situation as quickly as we could and go on driving the bid forward," Coe said. "We haven't become a bad bid over one news cycle. The fundamentals are solidly in place and nobody is doubting that.

"There is rarely anything that is so serious that you are permanently derailed or so great that you jump across the line in one fell swoop.

"It's all hands to the pump now and what we do in the last six months."

England faces competitiion from the joint Spain/Portugal bid, Russia and Belgium/Netherlands, Australia and the United States. The vote takes place in December.

Source: Web Search

FACTBOX - Five facts about new Juventus coach Del Neri

Published Wed, May 19 10 11:48 PM

REUTERS - Five facts about new Juventus coach Luigi Del Neri, who left Sampdoria on Monday despite leading the Genoa-based club to the Champions League preliminaries with a fourth place finish in Serie A.

* Born Aug. 23 1950 in Aquileia near Udine in the far north east of Italy, Del Neri has managed 16 clubs.

* One of Italian football's most recognisable characters thanks to his distinctive spectacles, moustache and prominent chin.

* Holds the rare distinction of being fired from two coaching jobs before taking charge of teams in a competitive game. He left Empoli and then Champions League holders Porto before their seasons' began.

* Best known for performing the "Chievo miracle", joining the small Verona side in 2000 before guiding them up to Serie A and securing a UEFA Cup spot.

* Sacked by AS Roma after just five months in 2005 after a series of poor results during a tumultuous period in the club's history.

Source: Web Search

Bhutia conferred honorary life membership of PFPA

Published Wed, May 19 10 11:22 PM

Kolkata, May 19 (PTI) India captain Bhaichung Bhutia has been conferred honorary life membership from the Portugal Football Players'' Association thus joining an all time great list of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Nuno Gomes among others. Football Players'' Association of India secretary Sumit Mukherjee today confirmed the development and said he had received a letter from the PFPA. "The letter says, ''We are honoured to give Bhaichung Bhutia the lifetime membership.'' I forwarded it to Bhutia a little while ago," Mukherjee said. Bhutia, by the way, is the president of the FPAI. "It''s a huge achievement and an honour for Indian football as a whole. Besides, PFPA, a big organisation that it is, has also promised to help in further development of the game here if necessary." The Indian ace has earlier got international fame when he turned out for a side led by Zinedine Zidane in an exhibition tie organised back in January by the United Nations (for the benefit of Haiti earthquake victims). The match was organised against Benfica All Stars team in the Stadium of Light in Lisbon. A couple of years ago as well, Bhutia had featured in the Goal4Africa charity match at the Allianz Arena, home of Bayern Munich, scoring twice for the Clearance Seedorf-led team. PTI TAP ATK

Source: Web Search

Bhutia is honorary member of Portugese players' association

Published>Wed, May 19 10 11:08 PM

Kolkata, May 19 (IANS) Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia has been given honorary life membership of the Portugal Football Players' Association.

Sources close to Bhutia said the nimble-footed striker got the news of the honour Wednesday.

Bhutia would now share the stage with current and former greats of Portuguese soccer like Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Nuno Gomes.

Source: Web Search

South Africa police ready for any threat

Published Wed, May 19 10 10:48 PM

South African police will ensure the safety of all foreign visitors and teams participating in the World Cup finals, Deputy Police Minister Fikile Mbalula said on Wednesday.

Iraqi security forces arrested a Saudi al-Qaeda member who an official said on Monday was involved in a plot to attack the soccer showpiece June 11-July 11 tournament.

Mbalula would not say whether South African authorities had been aware of the threat but said police deal with such threats on a daily basis.

"We are ready for any eventuality," he told Talk Radio 702.

"We need cooperation from everybody to work with the law enforcement agencies. Police visibility will be of the highest order ... every player, everybody who'll be here will be protected."

Security and crime have been one of the biggest issues ahead of the World Cup because of South Africa's high rate of violent crimes -- it has 50 murders a day, almost the same rate as the United States with six times the population.

The safety pledege comes on the day the Dutch Foreign Affairs Ministry said it is preparing a "terror threat" warning for the tournament after learning of a plan to attack Dutch soccer fans or players.

A spokesman for the ministry said it had an updated concept for its travel advice for South Africa, which was due to be published soon, in response to the arrest made in Iraq.

"The travel advice now clearly states that Dutch interests abroad are vulnerable. It contains the word terror threat which was not in there before," said the spokesman.

Crime is among the factors blamed for lower-than-expected foreign bookings to attend the World Cup.

Source: Web Search

VIdarbha Cricket Assn fetes Umesh

Published Wed, May 19 10 10:28 PM

Nagpur, May 19 (PTI) The Vidarbha Cricket Association today felicitated Umesh Tilak Yadav, who has been included in the Indian squad for the ODI tri-series in Zimbabwe later this month. At a small function at VCA''s Civil Lines stadium, VCA president Sudhir Dabir presented him a cheque of Rs 10 lakh and a silver memento. VCA officials Prakash Dixit, Siraj Gimi, media official Rajan Nair and others were present on the occasion. Born on October 22, 1987, Umesh, son of a coal worker, has been selected for Indian team for ODI Tri-series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe commencing from May 28. Indian team will also be playing two T20 internationals on June 12 and 13 in Zimbabwe. He played seven IPL matches for Delhi Daredevils and took six wickets with an average of 30.66. He was earlier picked for the Indian team for the just concluded T20 World Cup in West Indies as replacement but missed the bus as he could not get visa on time. Umesh made debut in first class cricket vs Madhya Pradesh in November 2008 (4/72) and later played 11 first class matches and took 42 wickets (nine Ranji and two Duleep trophy). In 2008-09, he captured 26 wickets (21 Ranji and five Duleep) and in 2009-10, he got 16 wickets where his best figure was 6 for 40 vs Jharkhand.

Source: Web Search

U.S. tennis player Odesnik gets two-year drug ban

Published Wed, May 19 10 10:08 PM

American tennis player Wayne Odesnik was handed a two-year ban from competition by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on Wednesday for a doping violation.

Odesnik, 24, admitted to obtaining eight vials of human growth hormone in the United States in December 2009, and the substance was found in his luggage by customs officials before this year's Australian Open.

The world number 114 will be suspended from action until Dec. 28, 2011 and all results recorded since the drug find have been disqualified, the ITF said.

Source: Web Search

Bhutia conferred honorary life membership of PFPA

Published Wed, May 19 10 09:22 PM

Kolkata, May 19 (PTI) Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia has been conferred honorary life membership of Portugal Football Players'' Association thus joining a list of all time greats including Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Nuno Gomes. Football Players'' Association of India secretary Sumit Mukherjee today confirmed the honour bestowed on Bhutia and said he had received a letter from the PFPA. "The letter says, ''We are honoured to give Bhaichung Bhutia the lifetime membership.'' I forwarded it to Bhutia a little while ago," Mukherjee said. Bhutia is the president of Football Players Association of India. "It''s a huge achievement and an honour for Indian football as a whole. Besides, PFPA, a big organisation that it is, has also promised to help in further development of the game in India if necessary," Mukherjee added. The Indian captain has earlier got international fame when he turned out for a side led by Zinedine Zidane in an exhibition tie organised in January by the United Nations for the benefit of Haiti earthquake victims. The match was played against Benfica All Stars team in the Stadium of Light in Lisbon. A couple of years ago as well, Bhutia had featured in the Goal4Africa charity match at the Allianz Arena, home of Bayern Munich, scoring twice for the Clearance Seedorf-led team. PTI TAP RG PDS

Source: Web Search

Rajya Sabha members accuse Gill of misinforming IOC

Published>Wed, May 19 10 09:16 PM

New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) Contradicting claims made by Sports Minister M.S.Gill, Rajya Sabha members Wednesday said they never asked the ministry to limit the tenures of the office bearers of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the National Sports Federations (NSFs).

In a letter to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary-general Randhir Singh, four MPs from the upper house - Tarlochan Singh, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Bhubaneshwar Kalita and Birender Prasad Baishya - questioned Gill on his letter to the International Olympic Council (IOC), which reportedly said that Rajya Sabha members had asked the ministry to limit the age and tenure of sports officials.

'There was a discussion in the house on the budget demands of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on April 22, 2010. We would like to inform you that neither there was proposal or motion before the house nor was its approval sought to restrict either the age limit or tenure of office bearers and executive of the IOA or NSFs,' the letter said.

The MPs also said that as many as 21 members of the house took part in the discussion and a majority of members spoke against the controversies in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

'Only two (members) did mention that there may be some regulatory provisons for sports bodies. There was no mention against the IOA or any other particular NSFs. Even in his response to the discussions, the minister of sports made no mention of age limit or tenure of office-bearers of either IOA or NSF,' the letter said.

'In fact, he never dropped a hint of the ministry's plan to revive the 1975 guidelines. As members of the Rajya Sabha we are surprised that the minister of sports have wrongly informed the IOC,' the letter said.

Source: Web Search

CWG baton to arrive in Chandigarh on July 3

Published Wed, May 19 10 09:08 PM

Chandigarh, May 19 (PTI) The Commonwealth Games Baton will arrive in the city on July 3. A special programme will be arranged to receive the baton, an official release said here today. Special programmes and cultural activities will be arranged to receive the baton. Chandigarh''s Home Secretary Ram Niwas, in a meeting here today, took stock of the preparations to welcome the international and national sportspersons as well as the spectators and tourists from differentCWG baton to arrive in Chandigarh on July 3 Chandigarh, May 19 (PTI) The Commonwealth Games Baton will arrive in the city on July 3. A special programme will be arranged to receive the baton, an official release said here today. Special programmes and cultural activities will be arranged to receive the baton. Chandigarh''s Home Secretary Ram Niwas, in a meeting here today, took stock of the preparations to welcome the international and national sportspersons as well as the spectators and tourists from different countries, who would descend on the city when the baton arrives here. Niwas said like other major tourist destinations of India, Chandigarh too is expecting a large number of tourists during the Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held from October 4-13 in New Delhi.

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Pune FC to face Churchill for runner''s up place

Published Wed, May 19 10 08:22 PM

Pune, May 19 (PTI) With the I-League crown already in Dempo''s bag, hosts Pune FC will take on Churchill Brothers in a penultimate round match here tomorrow in what will be a battle to for the runners-up place. A victory over the visitors will mean that Pune FC will replace Churchill in the second place, which will be a credible achievement for the I-League debutants. The hosts, who thrashed Sporting Club de Goa 4-0 in their previous match, are currently placed joint third with Mahindra United, both the teams having scored 38 points. However, Pune FC, who have registered nine wins, have played 24 matches compared to Mahindra''s 25. Meanwhile, a victory for Churchill, who drew their last match with Mumbai FC, will ensure them a second place finish. The visitors have scored 39 points from 23 matches with the help of 10 wins and nine draws.

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Casey wants courses to be treated like listed buildings

Published>Wed, May 19 10 08:18 PM

Defending PGA champion Paul Casey has called for golf courses to be offered the same status as listed buildings to prevent too much change after the remodelling of Wentworth's iconic West Course.

Triple major winner and local resident Ernie Els has masterminded extensive alterations meaning few of the 18 holes remain untouched on the leafy layout on the outskirts of London.

"I suggested to (R&A chief executive) Peter Dawson yesterday maybe we should introduce some kind of scheme along the lines of that which we have with historic buildings in this country," Casey told reporters on the eve of the PGA Championship.

"(For instance) Ernie's beautiful house by the 16th hole with the thatched roof and the (superb) plaster work. He owns it but that doesn't give him the right to paint it pink and put a tin roof on it.

"When you're an owner of a Grade II listed building it's much like you're the caretaker for the next generation... (similarly) if you're the owner of a golf course does it give you the right to make the changes you want?

"Is that in the best interests of that particular course or for golf in general?", added the world number eight.

The Briton went on to suggest the rule-making R&A could play a role in protecting venues.

"I think we need to keep courses in as good a condition as we can... but maybe (owners) need to go through a procedure to make sure these changes are in line," said the 32-year-old.

"Maybe that's something that would have to go through the R&A... along the lines of listing golf courses."

DIFFERENT TEST

Casey said the West Course, which now has a reduced par of 71 rather than 72, would represent a completely different test in the European Tour's flagship event this week.

"It's a course where I'm not sure my local knowledge means much any more," said the Englishman, who has a house at nearby Esher.

"I think it's going to be a very difficult challenge. I think the scores are going to be higher.

"I'm not getting emotional about what I think about the changes. For me this is just like a new venue and I'm trying to figure out a way to get around in the fewest possible shots."

Casey said the last thing he wanted was to criticise Els's changes.

"This was Ernie's vision of what he thought a modern West Course should look like and I'm not going to blast him or even praise him," said the Englishman.

"I'm just going to sit on the fence right now and worry about trying to get round in this tournament. I do have an opinion but this isn't the time or place to go into that."

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Sachin comes to aid of bed-ridden friend

Published Wed, May 19 10 08:08 PM

Ahmedabad, May 19 (PTI) Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has come to the rescue of his friend Dilbir Singh, who had been bed-ridden since a near fatal accident in 2002, by sponsoring his treatment. He also came to the city to meet him today after his successful hip-replacement surgery at Shelby Hospital. Tendulkar had played under-17 cricket with Singh and both are close friends, Singh''s sister Sukhbir Kaur said. "Dilbir has been suffering since his accident in 2002. But now with the hip-replacement his life would be normal again. I am very thankful to Sachin for all his help and support throughout these years," she said. Tendulkar was paying for Dilbir''s treatment, Kaur said, adding "I salute Sachin for his gesture of kindness." Dilbir''s mother Sukhdayal Kaur said she was relieved after the successful operation of her son. "This is all with god''s grace," she said. Medical Director of the hospital Pankaj Doshi said Dilbir was referred to them by Dr Ananth Joshi, who was earlier associated with the Indian Cricket Board. "Dr Joshi, after looking at Dilbir''s condition suggested hip replacement as the only solution and referred him to Dr J A Pachouri, one of the top most Hip replacement specialist in the country, who is working with us here," Doshi told PTI. "The operation took around four hours, during which the left hip was replaced. After 8-12 weeks the right hip would be replaced," Doshi said. He said Dilbir was in coma for nearly six months after his accident and was given steroids as a life saving measure. "The steroids had a side effect on his hip joints which were destroyed resulting in arthritic problems," Doshi said. "After the replacement of hips on both the sides, Dilbir would be able perform his routine work normally," he said. PTI PB PD VKV

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Shroff, Bisht lone Indians in ITF juniors semis

Published>Wed, May 19 10 07:48 PM

New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) Indian wildcard Kyra Shroff brushed aside Natasha Palha 6-3, 6-1 and Ronit Bisht dispatched Hong Kong's Justin To 6-2,6-2 to enter the girls' and boys' semifinals in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior Grade II tournament at the DLTA complex here Wednesday.

Shroff and Bisht are the only Indians in the fray.

Palha, who knocked off fifth-seeded Chinese Lin Zhu in the quarterfinals, was off-colour against Shroff and her mounting errors only made things difficult for her.

Shroff now plays second seed Chinese Ran Tian, who sent Japan's Miho Kowase packing 6-4, 6-4.

In the other girls' quarterfinals, China's Zhaoxuan Yang shocked top seed Japanese Eri Hozumi 7-6(5), 6-2 to set up a semi-final clash with fourth-seeded compatriot Zi Yang, who outclassed city girl Ratnika Batra 6-1, 6-0.

In the boys' section, seventh-seed Bisht is now up against second-seeded Chinese Chuhan Wang, who defeated India's Vinod Gowda 6-3, 6-0.

Top seed Liang-Chi Huang of Chinese Taipei breezed past India's Mansingh Athare 6-1, 6-1 and now faces China's third seed Bowen Ouyang, who defeated eighth-seeded Indian Vaidik Munshaw 6-3, 6-3.

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Indian women's hockey team held 2-2 by New Zealand

Published>Wed, May 19 10 07:28 PM

New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) The Indian women's hockey team were held 2-2 by New Zealand in their third Test Match at the Kett Capital Hockey Stadium in Napier Wednesday.

India led 2-1 at half time with goals from striker Saba Anjum (4th min) and Chanchan Thockchom (8th). The Black Sticks then got one back through a field goal to Stacey Brannigan, her first international goal, which she struck home from close range in the 27th minute.

India took the lead in the fourth minute after Anjum slammed in from a fast counter- attack and doubled the lead in the eighth minute when Chanchan deflected Subhadra Pradhan's penalty corner.

In the second half, New Zealand held the ball well and had a lot of possession but were unable to convert their chances until the 57th min when Stacey scored again with a diving deflection.

In the last 10 minutes, both the teams played at a high pace but were unable to break the deadlock.

Indian captain Surinder Kaur and Rani Rampal each had a good opportunity to score but the New Zealand defence foiled their attempts.

Indian goalkeeper Deepika Murty also made an important save in the final minute to deny the Black Sticks from securing their first win of the series.

India are leading 1-0 in the five-Test series having won the opener at Palmerston North, while the second Test was drawn. The final two matches of the series will be played in Wellington this weekend.

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Key England players may be rested, says coach Flower

Published>Wed, May 19 10 07:08 PM

London, May 19 (ANI): England cricket team coach Andy Flower has said that some key players may be rested in parts in preparation for this year's hectic international schedule.

The team's workload shows no signs of being reduced over the next year with England due to play Bangladesh, Pakistan and Australia in a series of ODIs, Tests and Twenty20 matches.

"We have a very busy 12 months ahead of us and we are going to have to rest players at various times," The Mirror quoted Flower, as saying at a press conference yesterday.

"In certain situations, it is possible that we will have to rest some players either for emotional reasons such as stress and sometimes it will be for strength and conditioning reasons. With ur schedule it will be hard to fit enough strength and conditioning in," he added. (ANI)

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Andhra CA official Rangaraju is manager for Zimbabwe

Published Wed, May 19 10 06:52 PM

Mumbai, May 19 (PTI) Andhra Cricket Association vice president G V K Rangaraju has been appointed as the manager of the Indian team on its upcoming visit to Zimbabwe, according to Cricket Board sources. "The team is to depart from Mumbai on late May 25 night," the sources said. In the absence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has been rested for the tour along with quite a few other regulars, Suresh Raina would lead the team. The squad would be involved in a triangular ODI series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from May 28 before playing two T20 Internationals against the hosts on June 12 and 13.

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Bhupathi, Bopanna in doubles quarters at Nice

Published>Wed, May 19 10 06:48 PM

Nice (France), May 19 (IANS) India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna advanced with their respective partners to the doubles quarterfinals of the 398,250 euros Open de Nice tennis here.

The top seeded pair of Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi defeated Briton Ross Hutchins and Jordan Kerr of Australia in the first round 6-1, 7-5 while Bopanna with Pakistan's Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi registered a fighting 7-5, 6-7(6), 10-4 win over Germany's Simon Greul and Rogier Wassen of the Netherlands Tuesday.

Bhupathi and Mirnyi next play Italians Andreas Seppi and Potito Starace, who overcame Philipp Max of Germany and Igor Zelenay of Slovakia 6-2, 6-7(1), 11-9.

Bopanna-Qureshi are up against Britons Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski who knocked out Sweden's Robert Lindstedt and Romanian Horia Tecau 6-1, 6-7(4), 11-9.

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