Published>Sat, Jul 03 10 12:28 PM
Mumbai, July 2 -- Suresh Kumar clocked 31 minutes, 53.68 seconds to win the gold medal for India in the men's 10,000 metres at the 14th Asian Junior Athletics Championship at Hanoi on Friday. India has won two gold, a silver and a bronze at the meet's half-way stage.
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Published>Sat, Jul 03 10 12:22 PM
Lucknow, July 2 -- Hockey officials in Uttar Pradesh are sailing in two boats, creating confusion for players as well as fans. Paying no heed to Hockey India's warning to its affiliated units to not to participate in events being organised by the rival Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), officials of UP Hockey (UPH) have decided to field a team in the IHF-backed 63rd Senior National Hockey Championship, starting in Bhopal on Sunday. The UPH officials claim that as IHF has been revived after the Delhi High Court decision, its affiliated unit for the state, UP Hockey Association, too has come back into existence and they are supporting Gill and Co.
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Published Sat, Jul 03 10 11:52 AM
Paris, Jul 3 (PTI) Jyoti Randhawa rode on a flawless back nine to card a steady two-under 69 and rise to fifth spot but S S P Chowrasia fell by the wayside after turning in a disastrous 80 in the second round of the Alstom Open de France golf tournament here. Randhawa has a total of six-under 136, which is four strokes behind leader Alejandro Canizares (66) of Spain. Among other Indians, Jeev Milkha Singh and Shiv Kpaur also just about managed to make the cut for weekend action after carding identical 73s, which left left their totals at 143. It was another steady performance by Randhawa as he reeled off three birdies against a lone bogey, which came in the front nine. Jeev, on the other hand, has a rollercoaster day. The Chandigarh-pro found a couple of birdies against a bogey in the front nine but let it slip with a double bogey and a bogey in the back nine. Kapur had a similar topsy-turvy day. Although he sank in six birdies in all, the Delhi pro was undone by five bogeys and a double bogey.
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Published>Sat, Jul 03 10 11:36 AM
Melbourne, July 3 (ANI): Former Indian Test cricketer Kapil Dev has offered to go to Australia to bring back the ashes of an Indian immigrant who died in that country 63 years ago.
Dev is said to have been emotionally touched by the story of Pooran Singh who moved to Australia 111 years ago, but died wanting his ashes scattered in India's River Ganges.
Singh was cremated in June 1947 with his only relatives in India being notified of his death by telegram. With no one able to claim his remains in Australia and send them home to his family, Singh's ashes were held in limbo at a funeral home for over 63 years and counting.
"I was really really touched by the story," news.com.au quoted Dev as telling SBS Radio's Punjabi program on Thursday.
He's now offering to travel to Australia to pick up the remains himself and return them to India.
"I'm delighted to do that," he said.
Dev said he hopes the man's descendants can be tracked down too.
"If we can do that, you just feel happy and you feel proud if somebody's last wish can be fulfilled," he said.
Singh took the long boat ride to Australia at the age of 30 in 1899.
He then worked as a hawker for 47 years, selling goods in rural Australia from the back of his horse-drawn cart.
Upon his death in Warrnambool, west of Melbourne, in country Victoria, the funeral home respected his wish to be cremated.
Guyetts Funerals shipped his body by train to Melbourne's southeastern suburbs to the only crematorium in the entire state.
The Guyett family then held his remains in storage for the next six decades - the last three behind a commemorative plaque on a memorial wall to honour the man and his story.
Alice Guyett-Wood, who now runs the funeral home for her family, says Singh had made his River Ganges request himself and it was passed down to each generation that runs the funeral business.
"I don't know if anyone else has kept ashes as long as we have," she told SBS Radio.
Her family's decision to keep the ashes until his final wish could be granted was an easy one, she said.
Now that Dev has stepped in and offered to help, she's thrilled that the final chapter on the man's life can finally be written. (ANI)
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Published>Sat, Jul 03 10 10:36 AM
Hollywood socialite Paris Hilton was arrested after a World Cup match in South Africa on Friday on suspicion of marijuana possession but subsequently released without charge.
The 29-year old great-granddaughter of Hilton hotels founder Conrad Hilton and her friend Jennifer Rovero were taken into custody after the Brazil-Netherlands World Cup quarter-final game in the South African coastal city.
Rovero, who describes herself as a former Playboy playmate, model and actress on her website, was sentenced to a fine of 1,000 rand ($130) or 30 days in jail for smoking a marijuana joint. Her lawyer told the court she was in South Africa to cover the World Cup as a freelance photographer.
"They were together, but we didn't have a case against Hilton. The joint was in Rovero's possession, not Hilton's," the prosecutor told Reuters.
Hilton arrived at the special court hearing in the South African city of Port Elizabeth looking tense and wearing a beige sleeveless cardigan, boots and green trousers.
Her publicist issued a statement calling the arrest a misunderstanding.
"Paris Hilton was questioned today by police in South Africa on allegations of smoking marijuana," the statement read.
"However I can confirm that the incident was a complete misunderstanding and it was actually another person in the group who did it. The case has been dropped against Paris and no charges will be made."
South Africa set up 56 special courts to deal swiftly with cases involving visitors for the World Cup.
Hilton made world headlines in June 2007, when she was spent three weeks in a Los Angeles jail for violating her probation in an earlier reckless driving charge.
The wafer-thin blonde, who has worked as a model, singer, actress, fashion designer, reality TV star, has since adopted a lower public profile.
However she remains a staple on red carpets around the world for movie premieres, night-club openings, and as a celebrity endorser of products ranging from wine to clothing.
The celebrity heiress arrived in South Africa on Thursday, according to her posts on Twitter. After her release, she sent a post to reassure her fans that all was well:
"Hey guys, there's a lot of crazy rumors going around. Just want you all to know the truth. Everything is completely fine. I was not charged or arrested, cause I didn't do anything. I was assisting the police with the investigation and answering their questions. Everyone was super nice and friendly to me. I love South Africa! Such an amazing place, especially during The World Cup!"
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 10:08 PM
Port Elizabeth (South Africa), July 2 (DPA) The Netherlands came from behind to beat 10-man Brazil 2-1 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth Friday to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
Striker Robinho scored after 10 minutes and Brazil dominated the first half. But the Dutch were a different team after the break and a Felipe Melo own-goal on 53 minutes pulled them level.
Wesley Sneijder then headed in the winner before Felipe Melo was sent-off for stamping on Arjen Robben as favourites Brazil lost their cool and crashed out of the tournament.
It was the ninth straight win for the Netherlands who are unbeaten in 24 games and now play their semi-final in Cape Town Tuesday against either Uruguay or Ghana.
The captains Lucio and Giovanni van Bronckhorst read out statements condemning all forms of discrimination before the start of the game in line with FIFA's plan to step up its 'Say no to racism' campaign in the four quarter-finals.
But after that harmonious prelude battle commenced and the game was bad tempered and niggly throughout.
The outstanding Robinho made a bright start and thought he had put Brazil ahead when he converted Dani Alves' cross but the Barcelona player had been in an offside position before he supplied the assist.
Robinho had the ball in the net again on 10 minutes and this time there was no flag and Brazil were in front.
Melo played the pass of the World Cup through the middle of the Dutch defence. Robinho ran on to it, unmarked, and buried a low first-time shot past Maarten Stekelenburg in the Netherlands goal.
Defenders were nowhere to be seen as Robinho wandered through and it was Robben, of all people, trying to track the forward's run.
The Dutch tried to respond immediately and Dirk Kuyt forced a corner with a shot that Julio Cesar had to turn around his right post.
The Netherlands should then have had defender John Heitinga sent off as he blatantly tripped Luis Fabiano to stop the defender running on to another defence-splitting pass. Heitinga was booked and Alves sent the free-kick wide.
Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura should then have booked Gilberto Silva as he
up-ended Robben as the ill-feeling continued.
Sneijder was trying to inspire the Dutch but Brazil continued to look dangerous and Robinho crossed for Kaka whose curling shot was brilliantly tuned over by Stekelenburg.
Inter Milan midfielder Sneijder tested Julio Cesar with a free-kick from distance but Robben's first-half nightmare continued.
He was kicked by Michael Bastos, who was booked, and then wasted the Netherland's last attack of the half when he received the ball in space but ran into a crowd of defenders.
Maicon almost made it two before half-time with a shot into the side netting but the Netherlands came out revived in the second period and were level on 53 minutes.
Bastos was lucky to not pick up his second yellow for a foul on Robben and when the free-kick was pulled back to Sneijder his long floated ball into the box was completely misjudged by Julio Cesar going in off of the top of defender Melo's head.
Kaka then shot wide for the five-times champions but it was now the Netherlands in the ascendancy and on 68 minutes they were ahead.
Man of the Match Sneijder was lucky not to be credited with the first goal and there was no doubt that the second was his.
Robben swung over the corner, Kuyt flicked the ball on at the near post and Sneijder headed in for his third goal of the tournament.
Melo then stamped on Robben and was a shown the red card as Brazil, who had targeted the Dutch winger throughout, completely lost their composure.
The 10-man tournament favourites pressed and after Stekelenburg made a complete mess of a Maicon corner Kuyt had to save his keeper with a diving clearance.
Kuyt could have calmed Dutch nerves at the other end but after going past Maicon and Lucio, he allowed Juan to get back and make the clearance.
It did not matter as the Netherlands held on for a famous comeback and a well-deserved victory.
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 09:58 PM
Port Elizabeth (South Africa), July 2 (DPA) The Netherlands came from behind to beat 10-man Brazil 2-1 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth Friday and reach the World Cup semi-finals.
Striker Robinho scored after 10 minutes and Brazil dominated the first half. But the Dutch were a different team after the break and a Felipe Melo own-goal on 53 minutes pulled them level.
Wesley Sneijder headed in the winner and Felipe Melo was sent-off for stamping on Arjen Robben as favourites Brazil lost their cool and crashed out of the tournament.
It was the ninth straight win for the Netherlands who are unbeaten in 24 games and now play their semi-final in Cape Town Tuesday against either Uruguay or Ghana.
Source: Web Search
Published Fri, Jul 02 10 09:38 PM
Real Madrid have signed Spain point guard Sergio Rodriguez from the New York Knicks on a three-year contract, the Spanish club said on Friday.
The 24-year-old has been in the NBA for the last four years, turning out for the Portland Trailblazers, the Sacramento Kings and just recently the Knicks.
He won gold with Spain at the world championship in 2006 and returns to the Spanish capital where he started his career with Real's city rivals Estudiantes.
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 09:08 PM
Chandigarh, July 2 (ANI): The Commonwealth Express, an exhibition train highlighting various aspects of the 2010 Commonwealth Games arrived here on Friday.
The special train is an initiative to promote the Commonwealth Games, which would be hosted in New Delhi.
The train has 11 coaches, five devoted to showcasing the country's sporting history and the laurels won by various sportsperson, while the other six coaches exhibit India's achievements in information technology (IT).
"Not just sport lovers, but those who are not much into sports will feel like taking up some sort of sports. This exhibition is very nice," said Anju, a badminton coach.
Flagged off from New Delhi on June 24, the train is scheduled to make over 50 stops all over India, before returning to the national capital on October 2, just before the Games.
"This exhibition is very good. It gives information about all games, their history, which all stadiums will host the Commonwealth Games," said Shivam, a student.
The Commonwealth Games 2010, to be held from October 3 to 14, will be India's biggest sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi. (ANI)
Source: Web Search
Published Fri, Jul 02 10 08:58 PM
Ghana team for Friday's World Cup quarter-final match against Uruguay at Soccer City.
Ghana: 22-Richard Kingson; 4-John Pantsil, 5-John Mensah, 15-Isaac Vorsah, 2-Hans Sarpei; 6-Anthony Annan, 23-Kevin-Prince Boateng, 7-Samuel Inkoom, 11-Sulley Muntari; 21-Kwadwo Asamoah, 3-Asamoah Gyan.
Follow all matches live at http://live.reuters.com/Event/World_Cup_2010
Source: Web Search
Published Fri, Jul 02 10 08:38 PM
Tomas Berdych became the first Czech to reach the men's final at Wimbledon since Ivan Lendl in 1987 after a 6-3 7-6 6-3 victory over Serbia's Novak Djokovic on Friday.
The 12th seed reached his first grand slam final with a murderous display of hitting from the back of the court against the third seed, who received a code violation for racket abuse after a show of frustration when losing the second set.
Berdych took the opener in 33 minutes with a single break and served for the second at 6-5, but Djokovic revived his chances with a break of his own to take it to a tiebreak.
Djokovic's hopes of a comeback were effectively dashed when he double-faulted to lose the tiebreak 11-9 after Berdych had let slip a 6-2 lead.
The Czech will play Spain's Rafa Nadal or Briton Andy Murray in Sunday's final.
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Published Fri, Jul 02 10 08:18 PM
Six stage wins last year and four in 2008 are no guarantees that Mark Cavendish will deliver as much in this Tour de France, yet the Briton promised he would try his best.
"Every time you start a race you want to win. I want to win as many stages as possible, I would love to win 21 stages if that was possible", said the Team Columbia sprinter on Friday.
The Manxman, who is also going for the green jersey he narrowly lost to Norway's Thor Hushovd last year, can count on the support of his team mates with Austrian Bernhard Eisel and Australia's Mark Renshaw as his best aides in mass sprints.
"Of course the green jersey is our big goal as well," added Cavendish, who knows that his team will not be entirely dedicated to his cause.
With Australia's Mick Rogers as the team's leader for the overall classification alongside German Tony Martin, who can also bid for the best young rider's white jersey, Team Columbia have more than one goal in the Tour starting on Saturday.
"It's always a difficult balance to find in a team between the sprinters and the GC (general classification) riders. But we have a great team of friends and I'm confident," said Rogers.
Cavendish had a troublesome start to the season, suffering a dental infection before he was kicked out of the Tour de Romandie for a two-fingered salute and penalised for dangerous sprinting in the Tour of Switzerland.
"I'm here to ride the Tour, not look back on the past," he said.
Despite a tough Tour finale with gruelling climbs in the Pyrenees, Cavendish trusts his team to help him make it all the way to Paris.
"My preparation this season was around the mountains more than sprints. Last year at the same stage of the season I'd had 15 sprints while I had only six this year," he said.
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 07:58 PM
Laurent Blanc was officially appointed France coach on Friday with the mission to restore the team's pride after their disastrous World Cup performance.
The 44-year-old, a prominent member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning squad, replaces Raymond Domenech, whose contract ended with France's group stage exit from the 2010 finals.
Blanc's task will be to qualify the team for the 2012 European Championship finals in Poland and Ukraine and help them make a fresh start after the World Cup debacle.
The former defender, who coached Girondins Bordeaux to the 2009 Ligue 1 title, was appointed during a council meeting of the French Football Federation (FFF) in Paris.
FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes formally handed in his resignation at the meeting, having said on Monday he would quit after the federation was blamed for the way it handled a player revolt in South Africa.
"I have decided to resign because it is my duty," Escalettes told a news conference on Friday. "I accept my share of responsibility."
Domenech's six-year tenure ended in shame when France left the World Cup with a point and a goal after a scandal involving players' boycotting a training session in support of striker Nicolas Anelka, who was sent home for insulting the coach.
"Raymond Domenech has humbly admitted that he had made mistakes and so have I," said Escalettes, who had faced criticism for leaving the controversial Domenech in charge after the side's Euro 2008 flop when they crashed out in the first round following two defeats and a draw.
FELT HUMILIATED
The 75-year-old Escalettes and Domenech's lack of authority were exposed when they failed to convince the players they should train at their base in Knysna, Western Cape.
"It was my responsibility to make the players get out of the coach and train and I failed," Escalettes said.
"I felt humiliated. I am ashamed and I present my apologies to all those who loved and believed in that France team and to the whole world."
A caretaker FFF president will be named at a council meeting on July 23 and will stay in charge until an election is organised later this year.
France have plenty of rebuilding to do after the team looked lost on the pitch in South Africa and tarnished their reputation with bickering and scandals off it.
"All my life I tried to give another image than the one I am leaving and I feel sad," Escalettes said. "My successor will have to draw the conclusions from what happened to make sure it never happens again."
MORE RESPECTED
A prolific player both at international and club levels, Blanc has already enjoyed success in his coaching career with Bordeaux.
Nicknamed "The President" for his calm authority in his playing days, he will initially be more respected than the controversial Domenech, if only for his far more impressive resume.
"I believe in Laurent Blanc and in the team he will come up with," Escalettes said.
The debate on who should run the France team is not over with a growing discrepancy between the FFF, in charge of amateur soccer and the national side, and the French Football League (LFP), responsible for professional soccer.
"The only dignified and responsible attitude would be for the members of the federal council (of the FFF) to resign collectively," LFP president Frederic Thiriez, also an FFF vice-president, told reporters just before Friday's meeting.
That did not happen on Friday but internal squabbling looks set to continue, with those responsible for professional soccer asking for more say in the governance of the national team.
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 07:38 PM
Beijing, July 2 (IANS) China's Adili Wuxor broke a tightrope-walking world record Friday at the National Stadium in Beijing.
Adili, known as 'the Prince of Tightrope Walking', walked on a tightrope for a total of 198 hours and 23 minutes in 60 days beginning May 3, setting a Guinness World Record for the longest period of tightrope-walking, Xinhua quoted a spokesman of the stadium as saying.
Adili had lived in a 9-square-metre cabin on the roof of the stadium during the past 60 days, spending several hours per day walking the tightrope.
The rope hung above the stadium was 60 metres high and three centimetres in diameter.
'It is the biggest challenge ever in my tightrope-walking career. I want to dedicate my success to my country,' said Adili, who was born to a Uygur family in Xinjiang.
Tightrope walking, or 'Dawazi' in Uygur, is a traditional sport for Uygurs, with a history of nearly 2,000 years.
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 07:26 PM
Johannesburg, July 2 (IANS) Legendary footballer Gerd Mueller feels that the ethnic diversity in the German team has played a role in transforming it into a winning outfit and it should be preserved.
Mueller, who holds the German record of 68 goals from 62 internationals, said the talented youngsters in the squad belonging to different backgrounds have gelled well here as a unit during the ongoing Football World Cup.
'We all should be proud of this team. In fact, we should try to preserve this young squad for the future. The guys are extremely talented,' said Mueller, who won the Golden Boot award in the 1970 World Cup.
The German team's eclectic mix of nationalities has also impressed Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
'Sport is a fantastic instrument of social integration,' Rogge said.
Germany's team is one of the youngest squads in the World Cup and eleven of its 23 players have foreign backgrounds. These players have their origins in nine different countries.
Football is a popular sport among Germany's working class and a route to earn great riches. Right from their childhood, youngsters from ethnically-diverse, humble backgrounds try to work their way up the ladder in the sport.
Two members of this team, Serdar Tasci and Mesut Oezil, were born to Turkish parents. Coach Joachim Loew describes Oezil as 'a gift to German football'.
Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose and Piotr Trochowski were born in Poland, but moved to Germany at an early age.
Youngster Marko Marin was born in war-ravaged Bosnia-Herzegovina, but his parents moved to Frankfurt when he was two and when the time came to represent the national team, he went for the German passport.
Mario Gomez was born in the German town Baden-Wuerttemberg to a Spanish father.
Germany's in form striker Cacau, nicknamed Helmut, was born in Brazil's Sao Paulo province, and started playing in German lower-league football ten years ago. He extended his contract with Bundesliga champion club Stuttgart in 2007 until 2013. It was only last year that Cacau became a German citizen.
Dennis Aogo's father is Nigerian while Jerome Boateng, was born in Berlin to a Ghanaian father. Boateng's half-brother Kevin Prince Boateng was born in Berlin and represented the German Under-21 team but preferred to play for Ghana in the World Cup.
Sami Khedira, a replacement after captain Michael Ballack was ruled out with an injury, has a Tunisian father. Ballack was born in East Germany.
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Published Fri, Jul 02 10 07:08 PM
Chandigarh, July 2 (PTI) Haryana government has made an offer to the ace badminton player Saina Nehwal, who recently won a hat-trick of international titles, the job of deputy superintendent of police (DSP). Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has made this offer in a letter written to Saina. Hooda had written that Haryana had been rewarding outstanding sportspersons who had made a mark at national and international level and had appointed them directly at the level of DSP. In view of this, the state government was offering her to join the state police force as DSP, Hooda said in his letter. The chief minister congratulated Saina for her exceptional success in international badminton. He remarked that it was indeed a marvelous feat by Saina to win her third Super Series title and said she was truly an inspiration for the youth of the country.
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Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 06:58 PM
Mumbai, July 2 (IANS) A Special General Meeting (SGM) Saturday of the Indian cricket board will discuss in detail the replies by the suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi to notices issued to him.
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary N. Srinivasan has rejected Modi's voluminous replies to the show-cause notices as 'unsatisfactory' and referred the matter to the disciplinary committee.
The SGM is expected to 'ratify the action of Srinivasan,' and the development has drawn flak from the Modi camp.
Modi had asked Srinivasan and BCCI president Shashank Manohar to recuse themselves from the proceedings, having levelled a series of counter-charges against the two.
Manohar, therefore, pulled himself out of the three-member disciplinary panel, which now includes new IPL chairman Chirayu Amin and Arun Jaitley as the other two members.
One among the agenda for the meeting would be to re-constitute the disciplinary panel for holding the enquiry against Modi.
It is understood that BCCI has called the SGM to sack Modi. The SGM would require a three-fourths majority to expel a board official. Srinivasan, however, said the BCCI will give Modi a fair trial and follow all the procedures.
'The general body is going to meet and there are two agendas. One is to rectify the action of the secretary in referring this to the disciplinary committee. In that case, we would re-constitute the disciplinary committee in which (BCCI president) Mr. Shashank Manohar recused himself,' Srinivasan had told a television channel.
'The general body is going to decide whether my action in referring it to the disciplinary committee is approved or not approved. If they approve, then the second part comes, in which the disciplinary committee would be re-constituted. Then they would have to hold a hearing and follow due process and then their report would again come to general body,' he said.
The BCCI members have been provided with copies of Modi's reply to three showcause notices.
Modi's counsel Mehmood Abdi said they are watching the developments and would take 'appropriate action at an appropriate time'.
Modi had been charged on several counts ranging from financial irregularities to bid- rigging as chairman of the cash-rich IPL.
Modi, who was backed by BCCI vice president Farooq Abdullah and Bangalore Royal Challengers owner Vijay Mallya when the IPL controversy surfaced, would find the going tough as his support base has quickly waned.
Abdullah, after the meeting of IPL governing council meeting last month, said the IPL board has found that Modi was involved in major irregularities. Mallya, on his part, looked the other way when asked about Modi during the IPL owners meeting with BCCI and said they will have to think beyond him.
Source: Web Search
Published Fri, Jul 02 10 06:52 PM
London, July 2 (PTI) Sharad Pawar had no objection to John Howard''s nomination as ICC Vice President but the support for the former Australian Premier started diminishing in the last week which led to his rejection, former ICC chief David Morgan said today. It has been widely perceived that India was instrumental in Asian bloc''s rejection of Howard''s candidature. However, Morgan, who was replaced by Pawar as the ICC President yesterday, insisted that Pawar had actually backed Howard''s nomination. "There had been a significant shift downwards in the level of support - that is a shift of support away from John Howard in the last week," Morgan said. "They went through a rigorous process to choose between two excellent candidates and I am disappointed that I was unable to push that nomination through. "The new president (Pawar) and I had supported the nomination but unfortunately I was unable to see it through," Morgan said. Howard''s candidacy for the ICC vice-president''s post meted with strong opposition from the Afro-Asian bloc, which eventually forced the ICC Executive Board to reject his name. The rejection, however, angered Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket, who had nominated Howard, and Morgan said the two boards were justified in their sharp reaction. "There''s been no clear indication of what objections there were and that is disappointing in many ways to Australia and New Zealand," Morgan was quoted as saying by ''Cricinfo''. Morgan feels this controversy may adversely affect the system of putting forward a candidate on rotation basis. "The rotational system was used for the first time this time. There is a commitment to retain it but I have my doubts that it will stand," he said. As per the present system, candidates are nominated by a pair of regionally-aligned nations on rotational basis. Howard was Australia and New Zealand''s choice, while Pakistan and Bangladesh are next in line to put forward a nomination, followed by a candidate from India and Sri Lanka, England and West Indies and South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 06:18 PM
Ghana carried the hopes of a continent in Africa's first World Cup on Friday while Brazil's coach Dunga said their quarter-final with the Netherlands could be one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament.
While all of Africa got behind the Black Stars for their attempt to be the first Africans to reach the semi-finals when they face Uruguay on Friday, FIFA threatened to sanction Nigeria for political interference.
Jerome Valcke, secretary general of soccer's governing body, said Nigeria would be suspended from world soccer if President Goodluck Jonathan did not reverse his withdrawal of the team from international competition because of its dismal World Cup performance.
Speaking in a local radio interview, Valcke gave Nigeria a deadline of 1600 GMT on Monday to comply.
The sanction would mean the blocking of FIFA funds and the banning of all Nigerian teams, including club sides, from international tournaments.
FIFA had already warned the French government to keep out of soccer after parliament launched an inquiry into the 2006 runner-up's ignominious early exit here.
A survey in the Netherlands, which has never won the trophy despite its admired style of free-flowing soccer, said 40 percent of all workers would take the day off, or a half-day, to watch the afternoon match in Port Elizabeth.
"They are always difficult and beautiful games," said Dunga of the match. He captained the five-times World Cup winners to victory over the same opponents in the 1994 and 1998 tournaments.
AFRICAN MOOD
Reflecting a mood across the continent, South African newspapers had headlines backing Ghana's attempt to beat the previous best performance by an African team. "Africa Unite, Black Stars carry continent's dream", said the Sowetan.
The Ghana Football Association said it had received a message of support from Nelson Mandela, Africa's most revered statesman. "We join everybody else on the continent and in the diaspora in wishing you success," Mandela said.
The provincial government of Gauteng, around Johannesburg, South Africa's business hub, has taken out newspaper advertisements and put up posters backing Ghana.
Striker Asamoah Gyan said they could make history.
"We have an opportunity to do something never done before... we have no doubt we have all the African support."
The first two quarter-finals restart the World Cup action after a two-day lull.
The Netherlands' four-out-of-four wins in South Africa have been solid rather than spectacular. Yet with attacking talent like Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie and Rafael van der Vaart, they pose a real threat to the Brazilians.
"We play our better games against teams that want to play football as well," winger Ryan Babel said.
Dunga has also complained about previous over-defensive opponents and echoed Babel's sentiments. "When you have teams like this, it's always good," he said.
For all their legendary strike power, Brazil have also become masters in defence under Dunga.
Despite criticism at home for abandoning flair, Dunga appears to have found a winning formula of impregnable, European-style defence combined with the lightning-fast counter-attack capacity of Robinho, Kaka and Luis Fabiano.
Cameroon and Senegal reached the quarter-finals in 1990 and 2002. To chart new territory, Ghana need to beat a mean-looking Uruguay side, who are one of an unprecedented four South American teams in the quarters.
"It is a match of destiny which places an onerous responsibility on the Black Stars," Ghana's former president John Kufuor told Reuters.
Uruguay also have history calling them.
"La Celeste" won the World Cup in 1930 and 1950 and would love to recapture those early glory days. Strike pair Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez's five goals between them so far would suggest the South Americans may have the upper hand.
President Jacob Zuma said the World Cup would inspire all Africans regardless of the result because it showed the continent was capable of managing a huge global event.
Zuma said in an interview with FIFA that the World Cup could be a stepping stone to a first Olympics on the continent.
The other two quarter-finals, on Saturday, pit Argentina against Germany and Paraguay v Spain.
FIFA said the captain of every quarter-finalist would read out a declaration condemning racism and any other form of discrimination in both soccer and society.
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 05:58 PM
New Greece coach Fernando Santos is looking forward to carrying on the good work of predecessor Otto Rehhagel and does not feel burdened by the weight of expectation following the German's success in the role.
The 55-year-old Portuguese national was officially presented to the media in Athens on Friday, a day after signing a two-year deal to succeed Rehhagel.
"The national team have had a great run over the last eight years and our goal is to continue this excellent work," the former PAOK Salonika coach told reporters. "One era has come full circle and another one is now starting for the team."
In 2001, the 71-year-old Rehhagel took charge of a team in disarray but quickly guided the side through its most successful ever period, culminating in a stunning Euro 2004 victory which earned him the title 'King Otto' among the Greek public.
Santos is undaunted by the prospect of following in Rehhagel's footsteps and is confident he can lead Greece to more triumphs.
"I am not anxious because of previous successes... actually it makes me feel good," the former FC Porto and Benfica coach said. "I will do everything possible to continue such success, so we have more motivation and enthusiasm to accomplish this."
Santos brings a wealth of experience of the Greek soccer scene with him, having coached some of the country's top clubs in AEK Athens, Panathinaikos and PAOK.
"I know the culture and people very well and the players know me, so this is good," Santos added.
"We will create a group of very strong and competitive players with some new elements different from my predecessor."
Santos's first match in charge will be a friendly against Serbia in Belgrade on Aug. 11 before the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign gets underway in September.
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 05:38 PM
With the India-Australia cricket series clashing with the Commonwealth Games in October, CWG Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi has sought Sports Minister MS Gill's help to convince the BCCI to reschedule the two-Test rubber.
In a letter to the Sports Minister on Thursday, Kalmadi requested Gill to talk to the BCCI officials and convince them to re-adjust the dates of the Test matches, which coincide with the October 3-14 Games.
As per the the itenirary released by the BCCI last month, Ricky Ponting's men will play two Tests and three one-day internationals in India between October 2 and 24, which clashes with the Commonwealth Games.
"I seek to write to your good offices to try and convince BCCI to reschedule the two Test matches between India and Australia, now slated to start on October 2 in Mohali and October 10 in Bangalore so that cricket matches do not clash with the Commonwealth Games," Kalmadi wrote in his letter to Gill.
"I am sure you will use your good offices to convince BCCI to reschedule the cricket series," he said.
"Our preparation to ensure that we host a successful Games are on home stretch and we are confident of delivering the best-ever Games," the OC chief added.
Kalmadi also said that a year ago, he had requested the then BCCI president Sharad Pawar not to schedule any cricket series on Indian soil during the Games.
"I need not stress the importance of not having any international cricket series in India during the Commonwealth Games," he said.
"I had written to Mr Sharad Pawar as early as on July 1, 2009, seeking due consideration by BCCI to ensure that it does not schedule any major cricket matches during the Commonwealth Games," Kalmadi added.
Australia will begin the month-long tour with a three-day practice match in Mohali from September 27-29.
The two Tests between India and Australia are scheduled to be hosted by Mohali (Oct 2-6) and Bangalore (Oct 10-14) , while the three one-dayers will be held in Kochi (Oct 19), Goa (Oct 22) and Visakhapatnam (Oct 24).
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Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 05:18 PM
Johannesburg, July 1 (ANI): German football skipper Phillip Lahm has said that England was cut down to size by his team, and therefore, cannot be considered one of the big guns of this year's FIFA World Cup tournament.
Lahm followed up the brutal dismantling of Fabio Capello's side in Bloemfontein last Sunday with a blunt assessment of where England stand in the world order as he looked ahead to tomorrow's showdown with Argentina. ull-back Lahm believes the test will be far more demanding than the one in the Free State Stadium which saw England demolished 4-1.
"We have to show we can finally beat a big team - someone like Argentina, Brazil or Spain," the Daily Express quoted Lahm, as saying.
"Definitely, these are bigger opponents than England," he added.(ANI)
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Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 05:08 PM
London, July 2 (ANI): Tennis fans have expressed anger over having to fork out a staggering 4,000-pounds for a ticket to watch Andy Murray in today's semi-final against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon.
Prices soared after the Brit beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinal on Wednesday, the Daily Mail reports.
Ticket agencies are being blamed for the massive rise as they cash in on Murray's winning streak in southwest London.
The Brits want to see the clash, and are being asked to pay 4,200-pounds for a ticket despite Centre Court tickets normally costing a mere 95 pounds.
If Murray beats Nadal, to make it through to the final on Sunday, tickets are expected to soar to a mega 6,000 pounds. (ANI)
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Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 04:52 PM
Mumbai,July 2(ANI): (ANI): Former BCCI chief Sharad Pawar returned to Mumbai on Friday after being elected President of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Singapore.
Pawar took over as the seventh President of the ICC for a two-year term, becoming the second Indian after Jagmohan Dalmiya to head the world cricket governing body.
"105 countries are playing cricket and their organizations have preferred India. I think it is a great honor to India, Indian players, and cricket from India," Pawar told the media
Reacting to the controversy over the failed candidature bid of former Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, for the Vice-President's post, Pawar said the majority was not in Howard's favour.
"The majority could not support him. Ultimately in any democratic organization, proposal must be supported by the majority. Majority was not in his favour," said Pawar.
Pawar also expressed the hope that cricketing ties between India and Pakistan could be resumed soon, as the dialogue process between the two nations has recently commenced.
"If the government gives us the permission, then the cricket matches between the two nations would start again. This would also help in improving the relations also," Pawar added. (ANI)
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Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 04:38 PM
London, July 2 (ANI): Scientists at Britain's Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) have warned that listening to sports commentary on the radio is as risky as drink driving.
According to the TRL study, reactions can be slowed by up to 20 per cent.
The report, according to The Telegraph, said: "To put this into context, this increase in distance travelled is 10 per cent further than the additional stopping distance when driving with a blood alcohol level at the UK legal limit (80mg/ml).
The number of incidents of hard breaking at the last minute almost doubled when motorists were listening to sports commentary.
The report added: "This suggests that the motorists were not paying enough attention to the road and had to make late decision to respond to the conditions and drivers on the road around them."
The researchers noted that most motorists did not recognise listening to sport as an equivalent distraction to arguing in the car or handling stress.
The study followed the reactions of 18 participants aged 25-45 (nine of whom were male and nine female). (ANI)
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 04:08 PM
London, July 2 (ANI): German coach Joachim Low has the backing of a crack team of number-crunchers in Cologne.
The German Football Federation (DfB) employ 62 top under-graduates to study every detail of the national team's rivals and they report to chief scout Urs Siegenthaler, reports The Sun.
He sifts through a huge volume of information, dubbed "the encyclopedia", - before briefing the team.
Compare that to the two VT operators England's six million-pound-a-year boss Capello uses for his preparation, and it is clear, that there is a gulf in class on the pitch.
Germany confessed they changed their tactics against England thanks to the information Siegenthaler gave them.
Skipper Philip Lahm revealed: "It was visible we changed our tactics a bit against England and were optimally prepared, that's why we won. We knew what to expect." DfB official said: "Our team of students is based in the German University of Sport in Cologne.
"The DfB has a small part of it where coaches get their qualifications on a year's course. Christian Ziege and Markus Babbel have just done theirs. There are students studying degrees to become sports administrators or club executives and we use them to study teams. Because of our connections with broadcasters, we get footage of all the games so we know everything about individual players and their teams," he added.
The revelations will heap more pressure on FA bigwigs who are deciding whether or not to keep Capello.
It also brings Capello's methods into question as, despite his huge salary, he appeared under-prepared throughout England's catastrophic campaign. (ANI)
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Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 03:48 PM
Karachi, July 2 (ANI): Despite suffering a side strain, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is raring to play in the last practice game against Northamptonshire on Saturday before the big series against Australia kicks off with the T20 international at Birmingham.
Talking to The News from London, Afridi said that he has carrying what he described as a 'minor injury' since last month's Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.
The slam-bang all rounder said that the doctors have diagnosed a small rupture in his side and advised him rest for a couple of days, because of which he would miss Friday's (today) practice match against Essex.
"I suffered from the side strain in Sri Lanka but continued to play by taking painkiller injections. I continued to feel the pain after arriving in England. It was particularly painful during the last practice game (against Kent in Canterbury),"Afridi said.
However, Afridi said he would definitely be playing in the match against Northamptonshire.
"I want to play the last practice match because after that there won't be any more opportunities to get ready for the Twenty20 games against Australia. It's a very important series and I want to give my best in it," he said.
Apart from Afridi, Pakistan are also hoping that their pace spearhead Umar Gul will be fully ready for the series against Australia.
Gul missed the ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean and the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka because of a shoulder injury, but is back in Pakistan's squad for the exhaustive tour of England.
Afridi also expressed the hope that Gul would get fit in time for the series against Australia.
"Gul is suffering from minor groin stiffness. He bowled a lot of overs in our match. But I'm confident that he would be okay soon," he said. (ANI)
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 03:22 PM
London, July 2 (ANI): The wife of a linesman, who wrongly disallowed Frank Lampard's goal against Germany, revealed yesterday that she instantly knew he had blundered.
Recalling her reaction, Sandra Perez Espinosa said that she burst into tears and yelled at her TV: "No, no, Mauricio, you're wrong!"
The Sun quoted Sandra, 34, as saying that her hubby, 38 - who arrived home in Montevideo, Uruguay, last night - had "hardly spoken" as he was so depressed.
She said: "The instant the ball went in, we knew it was a goal. I couldn't believe his decision. I felt so bad for him."
Espinosa ruled England star Lampard's strike did not cross the line - despite being in by at least a foot.
He was said to have put his head in his hands and groaned: "Oh, my God" after being shown the replay at half-time.
Sources from the National School of Referees in Uruguay yesterday said Espinosa and Larrionda - both dropped from the World Cup over the error - almost came to blows after the game.
Larrionda, 42 - who the sources say believed the ball crossed the line - asked Espinosa four times:
"Mauricio, are you completely sure it wasn't a goal?"
He is said to have replied each time: "The ball didn't enter the goal, I am sure of it."
The director of the referee school said: "Larrionda backed his linesman. But there is no chance of them working together again. Larrionda won't forgive him."
England ended up losing 4-1 in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on Sunday. (ANI)
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 03:08 PM
New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi has sought the help of Sports Minister M.S. Gill to 'convince' the Indian cricket board to reschedule the two Test matches at home against Australia as the dates clash with the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games.
'I write to seek your good offices to try and convince the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to reschedule the two Test matches between India and Australia so that it do not clash with the Commonwealth Games,' Kalmadi said in a statement Friday.
The first Test is scheduled in Mohali from Oct 2 while the second Test will take place in Bangalore (Oct 10).
'I had written to Sharad Pawar as early as in July 1, 2009 seeking due consideration by the BCCI to ensure that it does not schedule any major cricket series during the Commonwealth Games,' said the president of the Indian Olympic Association.
India will also play three one-dayers against Australia -- Kochi (Oct 19), Goa (Oct 22) and Visakhapatnam (Oct 24).
Source: Web Search
Published Fri, Jul 02 10 02:52 PM
Mumbai, Jul 2 (PTI) The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Jamtha is the front runner to host the third and final India-New Zealand Test match, which was originally allotted to the Mumbai Cricket Association, in November. "Nagpur is likely to host the Test match," sources in the BCCI said. The match is scheduled from November 20-24 and was allotted to MCA by the Board. But MCA backed off saying its Wankhede Stadium would not be in a position to host the match as it is currently undergoing renovation and would need to host a few first-class ties on its newly laid turf. If the Test match is allotted to the new VCA Stadium, a top class venue which has been praised by the International Cricket Council, it will be the sixth international fixture at this stadium in 24 months. The first fixture at this venue was the Test match between India and Australia in November 2008 while the last one was the India-South Africa Test played in February this year. The stadium has hosted two ODIs, one each against Australia and Sri Lanka, besides one T20 International against Sri Lanka in its short stint as an international venue. PTI SSR AMA PM
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Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 02:48 PM
London, July 2 (ANI): Coach Fabio Capello is urging the Football Association (FA) to give him the chance to 'put things right' with England.
According to The Sun, the Italian is convinced he can revitalise and re-energise the team for the Euro 2012 campaign.
A source close to Capello said: "For Fabio there is a real feeling of unfinished business with England. He wants to stay and put things right. It's not about the money - there are plenty of clubs out there who would pay him the six million pounds a year he gets with England."
"Before he got the job he was always puzzled as to why England failed so often when they had such good players. And then, when he got the job he was thrilled because the players were even better than he thought. Qualification was very good so spirits were high going out to South Africa. But that's when it all went wrong - the players seemed to freeze," the source added. (ANI)
Source: Web Search
Published Fri, Jul 02 10 02:42 PM
Johannesburg, July 2 -- Asamoah Gyan says Ghana are ready to become the first African side to make it to the semi-finals of a World Cup by beating Uruguay on Friday at Soccer City. "All the African continent are behind us and the whole of Ghana. We know how to soak up the pressure," Gyan said in Johannesburg on Thursday ahead of the quarter-final clash. "We have got an opportunity to put to the whole world what we are capable of doing by qualifying for the semi-finals." The Rennes player, who has scored three goals in four matches including the winner against the United States in the Round of 16, admitted it wouldn't be easy against the South Americans, citing Uruguayan strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez as the main threats. "I've watched Uruguay and they are good defensively and for me they have the best attack in this tournament. I'm talking about Suarez and Diego Forlan." Two years ago, Gyan was heavily criticised by Ghana fans for his performances at the Africa Cup of Nations but the striker said the world was now seeing his true ability. "I'm still young, I'm 24 years and I've a lot of things to do in soccer. Two years ago people didn't know if I was up to this level. For me, I'm not surprised what is happening at this World Cup," he said. "With the quality I am having, I will be going places because I am confident." Coach Milovan Rajevac, meanwhile, said he was delighted by the support Ghana have been receiving as the only African team left in the tournament but added that the Black Stars now had to do their jobs on the pitch. "We are the only African team left at this stage of the competition and I'm really proud of my players. I think the whole world has great respect for Ghana," he said. "The stakes are high. We want to reach the semi-finals. It's a big day for Ghana and the whole of Africa." Rajevac will be without Andre Ayew and Jonathan Mensah because of suspension while he will make a decision on "four or five" other players carrying injuries before the game, including Kevin-Prince Boateng and Isaac Vorsah. Boateng is struggling with a hamstring injury but the midfielder could recover in time while Vorsah is also in with a chance of making it against Uruguay after missing Ghana's last three games with a knee injury he picked up in the opening game against Serbia.
Source: Web Search
Published Fri, Jul 02 10 02:38 PM
Hamburg, July 1 -- The World Cup quarter-final in South Africa between Germany and Argentina on Saturday is a rematch of their last-eight clash in 2006, won by Germany on penalties. The Germans have never lost a World Cup shootout. This is perhaps as it should be since penalty shootouts in football are a German invention. The man credited with creating the penalty shootout 40 years ago is a former miner and football referee from Frankfurt named Karl Wald, who is now 94 years old. "I always had the feeling I was right," said Wald, who retired at 63. "It's the only way to get a true sporting result. Everything else wasn't really a solution." Until Wald came up with the idea of a shootout, matches still tied after extra time were mostly decided by flipping a coin or drawing lots. At least one victim of the old rules, German ex-national squad member Hannes Loehr, agrees with Wald absolutely. "It didn't have anything to do with football anymore - it was a lottery, pure and simple," recalled Loehr, referring to the legendary European Cup quarter-final in 1965 between his FC Cologne and Liverpool. Both of the home/away legs ended 0-0, and a playoff on neutral soil was knotted 2-2 after extra time. So the referee flipped a coin, which landed upright on the muddy pitch. A second flip gave the victory to Liverpool. Wald, who received his referee's licence in 1936 and officiated more than 1,000 matches in 40 years, met with resistance to his idea at first. Bavarian Football Association leaders nixed it when he put it forward in 1970. They agreed only after the majority of the association's delegates said that they were in favour. The German Football Association (DFB) followed suit soon afterward, then the European association UEFA, and finally, in 1976, by the world controlling body FIFA. The rest is history - and history yet to be made. The first major tournament to be decided on penalties was the 1976 European Championship, when Germany lost to Czechoslovakia. The first World Cup match that ended in a shootout was in 1982 in Spain, and again Germany were involved. This time the Germans won, beating France in the semi-final. Germany also won penalty shootouts in the 1990 World Cup in Italy and the 1996 European Championship, both times against England. The only time that a World Cup final has been decided by penalties was in 1994 in the United States, when Brazil outshot Italy.
Source: Web Search
Published Fri, Jul 02 10 02:22 PM
Melbourne, Jul 2 (PTI) Part of the African bloc that thwarted John Howard''s bid for the ICC vice-president''s post, Zimbabwe Cricket chief Peter Chingoka said the former Australian Prime Minister was rejected as he was not experienced enough for the job. Chingoka said it "goes without saying" that Australia and New Zealand have to put forth an experienced name and the candidate should be "somebody who''s come through hands-on in cricket". "No one has a problem with an Australian candidate, no one has a problem with a New Zealand candidate - if it''s an individual we can accept," Chingoka told ''The Age''. "There is a lot of talent in Australia and New Zealand. I could give you at least six names from Australia who have been on the Australian board or the board of the ICC who are very competent and would be immediately suitable, I can give you two or three names from New Zealand who would be immediately suitable," he added. Chingoka refuted suggestions that Howard was rejected because of his past criticism of the Robert Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe. "That is an excuse that has been used because of the denial of the reasons given (to Howard and the countries), because it''s a convenient excuse," he said. Asked whether Howard''s rejection would leave ICC a divided house -- that too on racial lines, Chingoka said, "If I stand against you in an election for an organisation one of us has to win and the other one has to live with it." PTI PM SSC
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Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 02:18 PM
London, July 2 (ANI): Former West Ham United defender Calum Davenport has been cleared of head butting and biting his sister in a drink-fuelled attack. He was also cleared of trying to throttle his sibling during a drunken row in which he allegedly branded her a "form of cancer".
According to The Sun, Davenport was accused of launching the ferocious attack on 28-year-old Cara after being told she was pregnant again.
The prosecution claimed during the trial at Luton Crown Court that on August 22 last year a furious row erupted over how Cara was going to be able to support her second child financially.
Davenport, 27, was accused of calling her a "whore" before allegedly grabbing her by the throat and bundling her to the ground.
Prosecutor Beverly Cripps claimed he then head-butted his seven-weeks pregnant sister and bit her cheek at her home in Bedford.
But today the former England under-21 international, who has also played for Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland, was found not guilty of actual bodily harm by the jury.
He stared straight ahead as the verdict was delivered after nearly eight hours of deliberations.
He openly wept outside court as he hugged his dad, Curtis, mum Kim Stupple, and wife, Zoey. (ANI)
Source: Web Search
Published Fri, Jul 02 10 01:52 PM
London, Jul 2 (PTI) Australia have twice lost the Ashes under his captaincy and Ricky Ponting fears he might have to look for another job if the team fails to win back the coveted urn this November. "I''d probably be looking for a new job if we lose again," said Ponting. The Ashes would be preceded by a tour to India and followed by the 2011 ODI World Cup, making the next eight months the biggest of his career, said Ponting. "It doesn''t get any bigger than that and everything I do between now and April will be geared at getting the most out of myself and, most importantly, the group," he told the ''Daily Mail''. "If I''m able to do that I think there are some pretty special things on the horizon for this team," he said. Asked if the Ashes and the World Cup win would be a perfect send-off for him, the 35-year-old was non-committal and said he would continue playing as long as he can keep improving. "I don''t know if there''s ever a perfect time to go," said Ponting. "We''ll see. I''ve always said if I don''t feel I can play the way I want to or if I can''t improve any more then it will be time to look at what I''m doing. "But I''m definitely as motivated as ever and as hungry as I''ve ever been. And after scoring runs at the Oval I''m feeling more like my old self, too," said Ponting, who scored a 93-ball 92 in the fourth ODI against England. The right-hander said he was not under any pressure and was looking to do his best in the coming eight months. "I haven''t thought about any added pressure on me," he said. "I''m just thinking about being the best player I can be and having a significant impact on the Ashes series as a batsman and as a leader," he said.
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 01:22 PM
New Delhi, July 2 -- In the 1994 World Cup, Brazil eliminated Holland 3-2 in the quarterfinals, a free-kick by Branco. In the 1998 World Cup, Brazil eliminated us again, this time in the semifinal penalty shootout after Ronaldo and Kluivert had tied the game 1-1. There is no team like Brazil, that we Dutch admire, and which has caused us so much pain. Fate has put us together one more time, and coach Bert van Marwijk and his assistant De Boer must prepare a game plan to get a different result. Holland have won 12 straight games with a careful 4-2-3-1 formation. The advantage of this formation is that the holding midfielders become extra defenders and re-launch the forward line. Against strikers of the calibre of Robinho, Kaka and Luis Fabiano, Holland need this extra line of defence. Coach Dunga has the best defence with Bastos, Juan, Lucio and Maicon. In midfield, there is Gilberto Silva, Felipe Melo and Dani Alvez. Kaka, Luis Fabiano and Robinho supply the goals, but so can Maicon, Juan and the injured Elano. The wingers could be the key, as both Maicon and Bastos love to make runs and cross into the centre. Holland must catch them out of position. Also, if Robben and Sneijder have exceptional games we could win this one. Ghana and Uruguay have proved to be the two Cinderella stories of this World Cup. Coach Rajevac inherited an Essien-less team and inspired them to the quarterfinal with a good mix of the U-20 world champions and Rennes striker, Asamoah Gyan, and midfielders Appiah, Anan and Prince Boateng.
Suarez scored 49 goals in 49 games this year. No one else has that average. Ghana will have to find a defence that can stop them. It is not exactly watertight.
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 01:18 PM
Melbourne, July 2 (ANI): Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Peter Chingoka has justified his country's decision not to support the candidature of former Australian prime minister John Howard for the post of ICC vice-president, saying he was just not suitable.
Chingoka told The Age it "goes without saying" that whoever Australia and NZ choose in place of rejected nominee John Howard - if they decide to do so - must be "somebody who's come through hands-on in cricket".
He said the push for election of the former Australian prime minister was akin to "asking me to come and edit the Melbourne Age without any experience in the journalism industry".
"No one has a problem with an Australian candidate, no one has a problem with a New Zealand candidate - if it's an individual we can accept," Chingoka said.
"There is a lot of talent in Australia and New Zealand. I could give you at least six names from Australia who have been on the Australian board or the board of the ICC who are very competent and would be immediately suitable, I can give you two or three names from New Zealand who would be immediately suitable," he added.
While Howard, along with Cricket Australia and NZ Cricket, has complained about not knowing the basis of the widespread opposition, Chingoka said such reasons were "not palatable to some people, but reasons have been given".
He also quashed the suggestion his country's President Robert Mugabe, a target of significant public criticism from Howard while in office, had influenced his board's decision.
"That is an excuse that has been used because of the denial of the reasons given [to Howard and the countries], because it's a convenient excuse."
Chingoka predicted the operation of the ICC board would not be undermined by Howard's rejection.
The most obvious replacement for Howard as nominee, Sir John Anderson, would not comment yesterday. (ANI)
Source: Web Search
Published Fri, Jul 02 10 01:08 PM
Johannesburg, Jul 2 (PTI) FIFA is all set to use the World Cup quarter-final matches starting tomorrow to fight racism in the game and has called on fans worldwide to support its ''Say No to Racism'' campaign. "We are saying we want to make a clear statement to the billion of people around the world about football''s united stance against racism and all forms of discrimination and there is no better place to do this that in the World Cup," said Federico Addiech, head of FIFA''s social responsibility department. On the lines of the 2009 Confederation Cup, in all the four quarterfinal matches team captains will read a declaration to demonstrate a firm stance against racism not only in football but also in society. Both teams and the match officials will also pose jointly with a banner displaying the unequivocal ''Say No to Racism'' message as part of the official pre-match protocol. Addiech said, since 2001 FIFA had embarked on a strong campaign against racism in the world''s biggest sport and the results have been positive. "We are definitely seeing a lot of improvement there is a high level of maturity and tolerance among the players and everyone who is involved in football," he said while speaking at a FIFA discussion held yesterday which focuses on fighting racism and discrimination in sport.
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 12:48 PM
London, July 2 (ANI): Mobile texts and e-mails suggesting that England football captain Steven Gerrard had got his wife Alex Curran's 16-year-old sister pregnant, and therefore this was responsible for the team's early exit from the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, have turned out to be a hoax.
According to The Sun, the lies have been blown apart by one crucial fact - model Alex, 27, does not even have a sister.
The malicious scam blames England's poor showing on the team being torn apart by fall-out from the "affair". John Terry and other players were said to be furious "cheat" Gerrard had kept the captain's armband, while Terry lost it when he was revealed as a love rat this year.
Messages detailing the lies spread like wildfire since England's exit from the tournament on Sunday.
They claim the dressing room was so divided - with some aces backing Gerrard, 30, and others Terry, 29 - that they could not play together on the pitch.
But a source said last night: "The players can't believe such obvious absolute rubbish is being peddled so widely. There was no affair, so there could never have been a rift between the players about it. Anyone doing the slightest research can instantly see it could never be true."
"The whole story is a pack of lies without even a scintilla of truth, but it has spread so widely that some people are being taken in by it," the source added. (ANI)
Source: Web Search
Published>Fri, Jul 02 10 12:38 PM
Pakistan remains in isolation as an international cricket venue with the ICC deciding not to allot any event to the trouble-torn country until 2015.
The ICC yesterday announced its events and host countries until 2015 and Pakistan does not feature in the list at all although the ICC has awarded the next two World Twenty20 Cups to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2012 and 2014.
Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board said Chairman Ijaz Butt had shown interest that Pakistan should be given at least one ICC event after 2012 but the ICC members didn't respond positively.
"The 2013 Champions Trophy was on the minds of the PCB but apparently nothing has happened to convince the ICC that international teams can resume touring Pakistan by next year or in 2012," the source said.
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