Amazed Clarke says 'neutral' Edgbaston just as partisan' as venue in Pak

Published>Tue, Jul 06 10 12:07 PM

Birmingham, July 6 (ANI): Australia T20 skipper Michael Clarke was shell shocked by the overwhelming support for Pakistan during the first T20 international, which the Kangaroos lost by 23 runs, at Edgbaston here.

Clarke said he was amazed to see the support that Pakistan received at this 'neutral' ground, adding that the atmosphere was pretty much similar to what it would have been in Pakistan with fans blowing horns, chanting slogans and waving flags.

"It was full of Pakistan supporters. I think it's great for Pakistan cricket, I think it's really encouraging we are still getting the chance to play against them and the support Pakistan received has been fantastic. Hopefully, a few more Aussies will turn out on Tuesday (today)," The News quoted Clarke, as saying.

Australia were to play the T20 and two Test match series against Pakistan in Pakistan, but the tour was shifted to England after Cricket Australia (CA) refused to send the team due to precarious security conditions.

The huge number of Pakistani fans got their money worth with their team defeating the Australians in the first T20 game.

This was Pakistan's first win against Australia in 13 matches in all formats.

Batting first, Pakistan put up a challenging score of 167 for eight in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to a spectacular 31 ball 64 run innings from 20 year old middle order batsman Umar Akmal.

Umar' s blitz included seven fours and three sixes.

Replying to Pakistan's competitive total, Australia failed to repeat its World T20 semi-final success against the same squad and was bowled out for 144.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took three wickets for 26 runs and was ably supported by 18-year-old left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Aamer, who finished with three for 27.

Shoaib Akhtar proved to be the costliest bowler for the green shirts giving away 34 runs in the just the two overs he bowled. (ANI)

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Speculation rife on Dhonis' honeymoon spot

Published>Tue, Jul 06 10 11:57 AM

With speculation rife about the place Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his bride Sakshi would visit for their honeymoon, the player's family today chose to keep mum.

"Please don't ask me anything...ask Dhoni...I will throw a party for you," said Dhoni's brother-in-law Goutam Gupta when asked where Dhoni and Sakshi would be heading for after yesterday's hush-hush wedding in Uttarakhand.

With a battery of cameramen and reporters chasing the family members including Dhoni's father Pan Singh, mother, sister and brother for bites, they refused to comment to a volley of questions.

Singh asked cameramen to clear the space as securitymen escorted the family members to their vehicles at the airport here.

"I will convey your congratulations to him," Gupta said before leaving.

Dhoni's another close friend said the Team India captain might stay here for a day or two before going to Sri Lanka, where India will play a three-Test series commencing from July 18 at Galle.

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Maradona urged to stay on the job

Published>Tue, Jul 06 10 11:51 AM

One of Diego Maradona's assistants wants him to stay, and a top Argentine football official said the job is his despite the team's devastating 4-0 loss against Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals.

"Knowing Diego, it is difficult for me to think he wants to step down after failing in his objective to win the Cup," assistant coach Alejandro Mancuso said in a radio interview on Monday. "We can't throw away all the good work we've done."

Mancuso added that the coaching staff also wanted Maradona to continue.

Maradona has not made his plans clear following Argentina's second straight loss to Germany in a World Cup quarter-final on Saturday, but talked of "the end of a cycle" when the squad returned home from South Africa.

Cronica newspaper on Monday quoted Maradona as saying, "I gave all I had. Now I want to enjoy my family. Don't worry, I'm not depressed."

Argentine Football Association senior official Luis Segura said Maradona's contract has a clause that triggers an automatic extension through to the Copa America, which Argentina hosts next year.

"The one who will have to decide to continue or not is Maradona," Segura said in an interview.

Argentina President Cristina Fernandez offered encouragement while speaking on Monday in Buenos Aires.

"Bear up Maradona, the team and also bear up Argentina," Fernandez said. "No Argentine has ever given so much joy on the field as Diego Armando Maradona."

Fernandez also invited the team to the Casa Rosada, which is vaguely equivalent to the White House in the United States.

"We are proud of what they did and we are finished crying because we've begun to prepare for 2014," she said.

Maradona will have to make his decision known in a meeting with AFA president Julio Grondona, who appointed Maradona to the job in October 2008. Grondona is reported to be in South Africa and it is not clear when the meeting will take place.

Maradona's spell with the national team has been up and down.

Argentina struggled to qualify for the World Cup, absorbing embarrassing losses against Bolivia (6-1) and Brazil (3-1). But the team seemed on course in South Africa for a third World Cup title after group-stage wins against Nigeria, South Korea and Greece.

It defeated Mexico 3-1 in the round of 16, leading Maradona to boast about the team's scoring prowess. Then came the humiliating loss on Saturday to Germany, which again led many to question Maradona's tactical knowledge.

Though 20,000 fans greeted the team's arrival on Sunday, an on-line poll by the newspaper Clarin showed 63.1 percent wanted Maradona to quit. Other polls showed similar results.

The last major title for Argentina was the Copa America in 1993. The team won the World Cup in 1978 and '86.

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Speculation rife on Dhonis' honeymoon spot

Published>Tue, Jul 06 10 11:47 AM

With speculation rife about the place Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his bride Sakshi would visit for their honeymoon, the player's family today chose to keep mum.

"Please don't ask me anything...ask Dhoni...I will throw a party for you," said Dhoni's brother-in-law Goutam Gupta when asked where Dhoni and Sakshi would be heading for after yesterday's hush-hush wedding in Uttarakhand.

With a battery of cameramen and reporters chasing the family members including Dhoni's father Pan Singh, mother, sister and brother for bites, they refused to comment to a volley of questions.

Singh asked cameramen to clear the space as securitymen escorted the family members to their vehicles at the airport here.

"I will convey your congratulations to him," Gupta said before leaving.

Dhoni's another close friend said the Team India captain might stay here for a day or two before going to Sri Lanka, where India will play a three-Test series commencing from July 18 at Galle.

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Nigeria stay in FIFA fold

Published>Tue, Jul 06 10 11:17 AM

Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan has dropped a threat to suspend the national football team from playing because of its poor World Cup showing, a person with knowledge of the situation has told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the official announcement had not yet been made on Monday.

FIFA did not immediately confirm the development, but has set a deadline for the Nigerian government to withdraw the threat by 6 p.m. local time. FIFA also intended to suspend Nigeria from world football if the threat wasn't revoked because its rules forbid governments to interfere in football's affairs.

A presidential spokesman announced last Wednesday that President Jonathan wanted the Super Eagles team suspended for two years to allow Nigerian football to be restructured, after it left the World Cup with just one point from three matches.

Earlier on Monday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said at a news conference that football's governing body has taken "all adequate steps" to resolve the dispute. "We do hope that everything comes back to normal," Blatter said.

FIFA dispatched Nigeria's most senior football official - Amos Adamu, a member of its 24-man ruling executive - to mediate with the government.

A FIFA suspension would have stopped Nigerian club teams, referees and officials from taking part in international football. Nigeria is due to send a women's under-20 team to its World Cup, which kicks off next week in Germany.

The dispute between Nigeria and FIFA flared last week after the national team returned from South Africa. Nigeria earned a 2-2 draw with South Korea in its final game. It lost to Argentina 1-0 in its Group B opener and fell to Greece 2-1 in a game that turned on the first-half dismissal of midfielder Sani Kaita.

The suspension threat by Nigeria's government also followed corruption allegations that plagued the team before the World Cup. Presidential spokesman Ima Niboro said last Wednesday that all funds directed toward the Nigeria Football Federation would be examined and "all those found wanting will be sanctioned."

FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot could not confirm on Monday if Nigeria's federation had yet been paid any of the $8 million prize money it is due from FIFA for taking part in the World Cup.

On Sunday, the federation fired its president and vice president in an effort to convince the Nigerian state president to drop the suspension threat.

Nigeria has previously drawn the ire of international football authorities. In January 1996, the Confederation of African Football suspended Nigeria from two African Cup of Nation tournaments after military dictator Sani Abacha withdrew the squad from playing. Nigeria had won the 1994 competition. At the time, Abacha claimed he pulled the team from the Johannesburg-hosted tournament out of security concerns.

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Marsh, Reeve to coach Sahara Pune Warriors

Published>Tue, Jul 06 10 04:47 AM

The much talked about Sahara Pune Warriors have opted for foreign cricketers of the yesteryears as their coaches. While Geoff Marsh, former Australian opener and coach of the Australian team which lifted the World Cup in 1999 will be the head coach of the team, former England all-rounder Dermot Reeva has been appointed as assistant coach of the Sahara Pune Warriors, the Pune franchise of the IPL.

The announcement was done by Subrata Roy, chairman of the Sahara India in the presence of both Geoff Marsh and Dermot Reeva at Lucknow.

When asked why no Indian cricketers were included as coaches, Subrata Roy explained, "We did consider eight names, including two Indians, but in the interest of the team we selected the best names available in terms of the cricketing background, their achievements as coaches, etc."

Regarding his plans for the composition of the team and the possibility of junior cricketers from UP featuring in the list, Roy said that UP has produced some very good players and there are many talented juniors here too. "We will be having above 35 players. Definitely UP talent will get priority."

He said that the role of the Sahara Pune Warriors will not be limited to just IPL but the players and coaches will be visiting different countries where there is craze for the cricket so that the team can contribute throughout the world in the promotion of the game.

Regarding his desire to have legendry cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar in the team, he said, " Definitely, we want some reputed cricketers in the team. But things can only happen as per rules of the event. As such we have proposed strongly to the BCCI that we would like to have a level playing field. We want an open auction to take place so that all teams are strong and a good competition takes place."

He reiterated that Sahara went for Pune because in UP, "Kanpur was the only choice and many players feel that it is troublesome to reach the city after a long drive. The infrastructure there is also not up to the mark. As far as Lucknow is concerned, we do not have a right stadium here. The Pune stadium has a 58,000 capacity."

"We are happy to know that UP government has decided to built a good stadium in Lucknow. We have also taken the papers for the same. After the stadium comes up, we would love to have action in Lucknow also," he added.

He accepted that cricket does bring India and Pakistan together emotionally but said the participation of Pak players in the IPL does not depend on him.

Speaking on the occasion Geoff Marsh said that as a team coach he would do his best to bring the best cricketers of the word together and make them gel. "Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist have shown that coaches and captains have a major role to play in the IPL."

Marsh said that in a lighter vein that like his famous partnerships with David Boon as a batsman, he is looking for a successful combination with Dermot Reeve in coaching now. IPL seems to be a family affair for Geoff now. In the IPL, Geoff's elder son Shaun Marsh played for Kings XI Punjab while younger son Mitchell Marsh made an impression for Deccan Chargers.

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Van Marwijk wants Uruguay's passion in Dutch team

Published>Tue, Jul 06 10 03:17 AM

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk believes Uruguay's passionate approach should serve as an example for his team when the sides meet on Tuesday in the first World Cup semi-final at the Green Point Stadium.

Van Marwijk revealed on Monday that before one of the first Dutch matches of this campaign he had used the South Americans as an example of how to play matches at this level.

"If you see their passion it could serve as an example for us," the coach told a news conference.

"You always have to go on your own strength and stay close to your own football culture but there are always things you can learn from other teams."

The coach added that reaching the semi-final at a World Cup is already a great achievement for a small country like the Netherlands but that they are not satisfied yet.

The Dutch have been on a mission since Van Marwijk took over from Marco van Basten in July 2008 to win the World Cup and their key player on the pitch so far at this tournament is without doubt Dirk Kuyt.

Kuyt featured during the qualification campaign as a central striker, started the first three matches on the right flank but moved to the left to make way for Arjen Robben.

"I saw in some article that (former Liverpool manager Rafael) Benitez once said that when he writes his lineup, Kuyt is the first name he puts down," said van Marwijk.

"For me that is the same, he had a poor spell when Liverpool also struggled last season but for us Dirk is so important.

"With his enthusiasm and effort he often gives the right signal in a match and it also is infectious."

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Maradona 'chapter' over as coach - report

Published>Tue, Jul 06 10 02:57 AM

Argentina coach Diego Maradona told a local newspaper on Monday his "chapter had ended," although the country's local football association and a close friend told Reuters he had not resigned.

"It's done, my chapter has ended," Cronica newspaper quoted Maradona as saying, two days after Germany's resounding 4-0 win over Argentina. "I gave everything I had."

A spokesman for the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said Maradona had not officially resigned and that AFA President Julio Grondona would meet with Maradona after the World Cup had finished.

A close friend of Maradona's told Reuters: "I still can't confirm it, (the resignation) is something that's being discussed."

The friend said Maradona's decision would be announced during a press conference but he did not say when.

"Diego is at home with his family thinking this over," he said.

On Monday, Maradona's assistant and former international team mate Alejandro Mancuso said he believed Maradona would continue as Argentina's coach.

"Knowing Diego it's hard to think that he'd step down after not reaching the goal of winning the World Cup," Mancuso told local radio. "We can't dismiss all the good things he's done."

STUNNING LOSS

Maradona returned to Buenos Aires along with the rest of the national team on Sunday, a day after Germany trounced Argentina to advance to the World Cup's semi-finals.

Argentines still suffering from their team's stunning loss debated whether Maradona should remain coach of the national squad.

In online polls conducted by the country's main newspapers, most respondents say Maradona should quit.

But Maradona, who rose from a slum to win the 1986 World Cup and took over the team as coach in 2008, still has plenty of supporters. Thousands of fans greeted the national team at the airport on Sunday, chanting Maradona's name.

"For me Maradona is great," said Enrique Gonzalez, 40. "He had a lot of experience playing in World Cups. What he didn't know about coaching he had in mystique and courage, so he was the best coach for us."

Others though, said Maradona, who had only two brief coaching stints before the national squad, clearly lacked the credentials.

"He's the best player but he wasn't prepared as a coach," said Jose Parra, 40, a factory worker.

Maradona has an agreement with the AFA until 2011 when Argentina will host the Copa America.

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Akmal inspires Pakistan to revenge win over Australia

Published Tue, Jul 06 10 01:57 AM

Pakistan avenged their heart-breaking defeat in this year's World Twenty20 semi-final to beat Australia by 23 runs in the first T20 international in Birmingham on Monday.

Umar Akmal's sparkling 64 from 31 balls lifted the Pakistanis to a competitive total of 167 for eight and excellent bowling from Mohammad Aamer and Umar Gul strangled Australia, who slumped to 144 all out in the 19th over.

Pakistan struggled with the bat after winning the toss and stumbled to 47 for four.

However, Akmal settled immediately and struck three huge sixes and seven fours to change the momentum of the match.

Pakistan looked on course for a large total but the return of Shaun Tait to the Australian attack held them back.

The fast bowler bowled Abdul Razzaq (7) with the first ball of his spell and deceived Akmal with a superb slower delivery as Pakistan struggled in the closing overs.

Australia's reply started badly when the consistent Shane Watson was trapped lbw by Aamer second ball and captain Michael Clarke fell for five.

David Warner and David Hussey added 52 for third wicket but both fell in quick succession and Cameron White and Michael Hussey, whose extraordinary innings lifted the Australians to an unlikely win in the World Twenty20 semi-final in St Lucia, also failed to build on solid starts.

Aamer completed figures of three for 27, Gul two for 13 and Ajmal three for 26 as Pakistan clinically dismantled the Australian tail.

The second and final match of the Twenty20 series takes place on Tuesday before the teams meet in two tests in England.

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Uruguay can win but won't stay at the top - Tabarez

Published>Tue, Jul 06 10 01:37 AM

Uruguay can win a third World Cup even if they cannot regain a permanent place back at the top table of soccer, coach Oscar Tabarez said on Monday.

"It would be utopian to think of Uruguay's permanence at the summit ... but we can believe in circumstantial results," Tabarez said on the eve of Uruguay's semi-final against Netherlands in Cape Town (1830 GMT).

"I think the World Cups are quite full of (surprise) results that people don't expect and which today continue to cause astonishment," he told a news conference.

Uruguay, having won the first World Cup as hosts in Montevideo in 1930, caused a huge shock by upsetting Brazil in the 1950 decider, the so-called Maracanazo, for their second title.

The Uruguayans have struggled internationally since, their best placing coming in the semi-finals in Mexico in 1970. They have only reached four of the last 10 World Cups.

"(At the draw) when we landed our (difficult) group, they were saying prayers for us," Tabarez said.

"We're at a party to which we were not invited ... but we have the right to stay. It depends on us," former school teacher Tabarez, known as El Maestro, said.

He said the world had changed since Uruguay's heyday in the first half of the last century when they also won the Olympic title twice, in 1924 and 1928.

As a small nation of little more than three million people, the handicaps had become too great.

"The difference between the first and third worlds is much greater now ... Luckily, good players keep appearing (in Uruguay) but not in big numbers. In other countries they have more players than we have inhabitants.

"(But) if we hadn't had dreams up to now, and still had them, we wouldn't have got here," he said.

"We're conscious we haven't played great football but I don't think it's just down to luck."

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Bulgarian striker Bojinov seals permanent Parma switch

Published Tue, Jul 06 10 01:17 AM

Bulgaria striker Valeri Bojinov, who joined Parma on loan from Manchester City last year, will sign a permanent deal to keep him at the Serie A club until 2015, the player said on Monday.

"Everything is clear now," Bojinov told Bulgarian Ring TV. "The two clubs reached an agreement, I also agreed personal terms and I'll only add my signature when I return to Parma next Monday.

"I wanted to stay with Parma and I've made it clear to Man City too," added the former Fiorentina and Juventus striker who scored eight goals in 30 matches for Parma last season.

"I grew up in Italy, I feel like Italian and I'm very pleased that I'll continue playing there," said the 24-year-old.

Bojinov joined City from Fiorentina in 2007 for 5.75 million pounds ($8.7 million) but his contribution was limited by injuries.

Bojinov, capped 29 times by Bulgaria, said he turned down an offer to play in the Champions League with Spanish club Sevilla.

"It always looks tempting to play in the Champions League and Sevilla said they're searching for Luis Fabiano's replacement," Bojinov said.

"But at this stage I'm really happy to be a Parma player and and in two or three years I could play in the Champions League too."

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Maradona says his 'chapter' over as coach - report

Published>Tue, Jul 06 10 12:57 AM

Argentina coach Diego Maradona told a local newspaper on Monday his "chapter had ended," although the country's local football association and a close friend told Reuters he had not resigned.

"It's done, my chapter has ended," Cronica newspaper quoted Maradona as saying, two days after Germany's resounding 4-0 win over Argentina. "I gave everything I had."

A spokesman for the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said Maradona had not officially resigned and that AFA President Julio Grondona would meet with Maradona after the World Cup had finished.

A close friend of Maradona's told Reuters: "I still can't confirm it, (the resignation) is something that's being discussed."

The friend said Maradona's decision would be announced during a press conference but he did not say when.

Maradona returned to Buenos Aires along with the rest of the national team on Sunday, a day after Germany trounced Argentina 4-0 to advance to the World Cup's semi-finals.

Source: Web Search

Westwood doubtful for British Open

Published>Tue, Jul 06 10 12:37 AM

World number three Lee Westwood is struggling to be fit for next week's 150th anniversary British Open at St Andrews.

The 37-year-old Briton pulled out of this week's JP McManus two-day pro-am in Ireland after being hampered by a swollen right calf and ankle at the French Open in Paris which finished on Sunday.

"He's got a slight tear in the muscle close to his calf in his right leg and he's been told by his doctor to have complete rest this week," said Martin Hardy, a spokesman for Westwood's management team.

"He was going to go to St Andrews for a practice round on Thursday but he has now cancelled that and will be going there next Monday. Lee is hopeful (of playing) but they just have to monitor the injury and see how it progresses over the next week."

Westwood has six times finished in the top five at a major championship without achieving a breakthrough victory.

His most recent near-miss came when he was runner-up to Phil Mickelson in the U.S. Masters in April.

The British Open starts on July 15.

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Nigeria reverses ban at last minute

Published>Tue, Jul 06 10 12:21 AM

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday reversed a ban on the national soccer team taking part in international matches, hours before a threatened suspension by world soccer's governing body FIFA.

"The ban has been reversed. The reversal was due to pleading by many Nigerians," a source in the Nigerian presidency said, asking not to be named.

Jonathan last week suspended the team from international competitions for two years following an embarrassing performance in the World Cup. The Super Eagles were knocked out in the first round after failing to win a game.

FIFA had given Nigeria until Monday evening to change its decision and escape being barred from all FIFA-related activities.

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) on Sunday fired its top two officials and offered an "unreserved apology" for the team's dismal performance in a last-minute bid to reverse Jonathan's directive.

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Coe wants vuvuzela-free Games in London

Published>Tue, Jul 06 10 12:19 AM

Sebastian Coe wants a vuvuzela-free London Olympics in 2012, the Games chief said on Monday.

The plastic horns have provided the soundtrack to soccer's World Cup in South Africa but were banned from the Wimbledon tennis and Coe does not want the one-pitched drone causing headaches for athletes and fans when the Games start.

"I'm a libertarian on these issues but Olympic sport is very particular and you wouldn't want anything to trespass on that extraordinary theatre that takes place in the five or six minutes before the 100 metres final," he told Reuters.

"It is the silence and expectation that defines that moment and it's very clear most Olympic sports demand very different approaches from spectators," added Coe after showing International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge inside London's 80,000-seater stadium.

Coe, who helped Rogge fix the 2,012th seat in the stadium that is on course to be completed by the end of the year, said he hoped the passion shown by football fans in South Africa would also be a feature of the London Olympics.

"I didn't go to the World Cup but from what I'm hearing it has been very well organised," he said. "They have had noisy, passionate stadiums and I'm sure in our country where sport is very important we will have the same."

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F1 title battle about to boil over, says Hill

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 11:37 PM

The Formula One title battle between Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton could boil over in Sunday's British Grand Prix, former world champion and fellow Briton Damon Hill said on Monday.

Britain's two world champions are one-two in the standings for leaders McLaren after winning two races each this season.

Hamilton, the 2008 champion, leads current title holder Button by six points at the halfway point.

"Jenson will not be letting Lewis get away with anything," said 1996 world champion Hill before giving reporters a tyre-squealing, stomach-clenching ride around the new Silverstone circuit.

"Between the two British drivers in possibly the best car, you are going to have a very close and fascinating battle which is great for everyone.

"It's just been on simmer at the moment. It's going to start to boil over," added Hill, a winner at Silverstone in 1994. "This could be the start of the rest of the season."

Five drivers have led the standings after nine of the 19 races, with the battle for the title still wide open and everything to play for.

"The preliminaries are over and from now on the clock is definitely ticking," said Hill, president of the British Racing Drivers' Club that owns Silverstone.

"If you're not in the frame now, you are going to be watching it slip out of your fingers. And they are warmed up, they know their position in the whole thing and there's only room for one guy to go through."

BIG MISTAKE

Hill, who won his crown with Williams, said he was delighted with Button's performance after former champions and critics alike had warned him that he was making a big mistake in leaving Brawn to join what was seen as Hamilton's team.

He added that he would not be surprised to see him become the first Briton to win back-to-back titles.

"He's obviously got enormous talent," he said of the 30-year-old who has yet to stand on his home podium in more than a decade in Formula One.

"He's someone who seems to be really relishing having made the right decision and being in the right place against everyone else's better judgment.

"He's proved everyone wrong I think by going to McLaren. He's shown that he is quality in depth as a driver and also mature."

Hill said Button had also been good for his team, who were sometimes seen in the past as grey and overly controlling under the leadership of Ron Dennis, who handed over last year to Martin Whitmarsh.

"His attitude to the sport, his personality has added something to McLaren," said the Briton. "I think McLaren need someone like Jenson, someone who is a litle bit laid back but seriously competitive.

"I think that's good for them."

Source: Web Search

Collina to oversee Ukrainian referee shake-up

Published Mon, Jul 05 10 11:17 PM

Italian Pierluigi Collina, who refereed the 2002 World Cup final between Brazil and Germany, has signed a two-year contract to re-organise refereeing in Ukraine which had been plagued by scandals and poor decisions.

"Mr Collina will concentrate on the re-organisation and supervising of the refereeing system in Ukraine," Ukrainian Football Federation chief Hryhiroy Surkis was quoted as saying on the federation's website (ffu.org.ua) on Monday.

Collina, 50, a distinctive figure with his bald head and intense stare, said on Sunday he had accepted a similar offer from the European governing body UEFA.

A Ukrainian football federation official told Reuters that Collina would combine his job in Ukraine with his new UEFA role.

Soccer in Ukraine, a co-host of the 2012 European championships, has been beset by a series of scandals ranging from match-fixing allegations to dubious refereeing decisions.

This year, Ukrainian premier league president Victor Danilova asked UEFA President Michel Platini to send a commission to help clean up the game.

Source: Web Search

Nigeria reverses ban ahead of FIFA deadline - source

Published Mon, Jul 05 10 10:37 PM

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday reversed a ban on the national soccer team taking part in international matches hours before a threatened suspension by world soccer's governing body FIFA.

"The ban has been reversed," a source in the Nigerian presidency said, asking not to be named.

Source: Web Search

Dhoni and Sakshi yet to arrive Ranchi, family members return

Published Mon, Jul 05 10 10:21 PM

Ranchi, Jul 5 (PTI) Hundreds of fans today gathered near Mahendra Singh Dhoni''s house to have a glimpse of their idol and his newly-wed wife only to go back disappointed as the Indian captain had not returned home yet though his family members have come back from Dehradun after his low-key marriage there. Since morning, fans from in and around Ranchi and far off districts of Jharkhand had been gathering near Dhoni''s Harmu Road residence after they heard the news that the newly-wed couple had left Dehradun after their marriage last night. Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar told PTI-Bhasha that there was no information on Dhoni and his newly-wed wife Sakshi reaching the city. We don''t have any information of Dhoni''s arrival, Kumar said. One among the disappointed fans was Dhoni''s neighbour Ritu, who had been waiting for him since morning. "I have been waiting to see the newly-wed couple and I have been going in front of Dhoni''s house again and again since morning," said Ritu. Meanwhile, Dhoni''s family members today returned home but they refused to speak to the posse of waiting media. "Please don''t ask me anything...ask Dhoni...I will throw a party for you," said Dhoni''s brother-in-law Goutam Gupta when asked where Dhoni and Sakshi would be heading for after yesterday''s hush-hush wedding in Dehradun. With a battery of cameramen and reporters chasing the family members including Dhoni''s father Pan Singh, mother, sister and brother for bites, they refused to comment to a volley of questions. Pan Singh even asked the cameramen to give way as securitymen escorted the family members to their vehicles at the airport here. "I will convey your congratulations to him," Gupta said politely. Dhoni''s another close friend said the Team India captain might stay here for a day or two before leaving for Sri Lanka, where India will play a three-Test series commencing from July 18 at Galle.

Source: Web Search

Commonwealth Express reaches Haridwar

Published Mon, Jul 05 10 09:51 PM

Haridwar, Jul 5 (PTI) Commonwealth Express, the train carrying information about various sports and players, today got a huge response from people on its arrival to the holy town here. The Commonwealth Express, which would remain stationed at platform no 9, was visited by hundreds of people mostly school children. The train would stay in Haridwar for three days. The project Director of Commonwealth Express Kamran Akmal said that the information about various sports and the players associated with them along with the history is attracting the people to visit the train. During its 101-day long journey the train would go to 20 big railway stations of the country.

Source: Web Search

Dhoni's parents, relatives return to Ranchi after wedding

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 09:37 PM

Ranchi, July 5 (IANS) Hundreds of fans of M.S. Dhoni were waiting eagerly at Ranchi airport Monday to receive the cricket captain and his newly-wed wife, but were disappointed when the star did not arrive.

However, the parents and relatives of Dhoni returned to the state capital in the evening after attending the cricket star's marriage that took place in Dehradun Sunday.

The parents of Dhoni did not speak to mediapersons and even entered their houses from the rear side to avoid the fans.

Dhoni wed his fiancee Sakshi Rawat in a very private wedding in Dehradun.

Dhoni is likely to arrive in Ranchi Tuesday.

Source: Web Search

Loew's Germany take cosmopolitan road to success

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 09:17 PM

Germany coach Joachim Loew has tried to fuse his country's famed work-rate with English pace, Spanish fluidity and Italian defending to create a new, winning style for his team, he said on Monday.

Germany play Spain in the World Cup semi-final in Durban on Wednesday and Loew acknowledged he had combined several styles to find the right mix in his cosmopolitan, multi-ethnic team.

"I've seen a lot of international football, I have soaked it all up and taken away many aspects," he told reporters.

"In England the tempo is incredible and something to be emulated. In Spain, there is the free-flowing style, technique and skill and you can see that's something that is second nature to them, even to their youth teams," he said.

"In Spain the game is not just played or worked (at) but celebrated. It impresses me how easy it looks even though, of course, it isn't easy at all. I like combination passing football and that is what I work towards," he said.

"Italy won the World Cup in 2006 with perfect defensive play but the game has moved on in the last four years. The teams in the final four have solid defences but you have to have a more than that, a more versatile style of play," he said.

Impressively, Germany have combined a miserly defence which has conceded just twice in five games, with a flowing midfield and free-scoring attack that has scored 13 goals, including eight in the last two games against England and Argentina.

RADICAL CHANGES

Loew said it was difficult to compare his side with German teams of the past given radical changes in the way the game is now played.

"I don't like all these comparisons. Supposedly the European Championship-winning team of 1972 was the best German team ever and they certainly played a fantastic, flowing football.

"But athleticism is playing an even greater role than in the past and football, as a game, has changed fundamentally.

"As well as the old German virtues of hard work and willpower, I wanted us to become a team who can easily hold their own and we have players who are technically gifted as well as physically capable," he said.

Loew said the transformation of Germany's approach to the game was a gradual evolution.

"It's thanks to a process. It didn't come overnight, rather over several years.

"Passion, willpower and commitment are the basic preconditions to survive in international football these days but we worked hard to develop free-flowing football," he said.

The 50-year-old Loew said he had also been determined to instil German players with more than just an ability to carry out a gameplan.

"We look to impose ourselves by playing means as well as physical means. It hasn't been easy because there's precious little time for a coach with his national team but I told them: 'You mustn't just administer, you must find creative solutions'".

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World Cup: Visitors to South Africa rise 25 percent

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 09:07 PM

Johannesburg, July 5 (DPA) More than 1 million foreigners have visited South Africa during the World Cup month of June, up 25 percent from the same month last year, according to government figures out Monday.

However, the increase - of around 200,000 in absolute terms - is still well short of World Cup organizers' expectations.

South Africa had initially forecast 450,000 World Cup tourists, but the global economic slowdown, combined with a fear of crime in South Africa, convinced many football fans to sit the tournament out.

World Cup organizing committee spokesman Rich Mkhondo said it could safely be assumed that the 25 per cent increase was the result of the country hosting football's most important tournament.

And Mkhondo said the hosts were still hopeful of reaching their target by the final on Sunday.

'We are confident that we will surpass the number of 450,000 that we initially predicted.' he said.

With many commentators talking up a Germany-Netherlands final, these were the two countries where Mkhondo expected fans to hop on planes to South Africa this week.

The final takes place Sunday, July 11, in Johannesburg.

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FIFA, France Football combine for best footballer award

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 08:57 PM

Johannesburg, July 5 (DPA) World football governing body FIFA and the magazine France Football will jointly award the Golden Ball for the best footballer in the world, FIFA president Joseph Blatter said Monday.

'The winner is football because as of January of next year we will have one single trophy for the best player in the world,' Blatter told a press conference in Johannesburg.

The award - which will be called FIFA Ballon d'Or - will be presented for the first time on January 10, 2011.

Until now, two awards for the Footballer of the Year have been handed out each year, with FIFA handing out silverware since 1991 and France Football since 1956.

FIFA and the magazine must still agree on which criteria the winner will be named.

FIFA's victor was selected by the coaches and captains of national teams, while the French Football award was decided by journalists.

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Body of chess champion Fischer exhumed in Iceland

Published Mon, Jul 05 10 08:37 PM

The body of former chess champion Bobby Fischer, who died in Iceland two years ago, has been exhumed to provide forensic evidence in a paternity suit, the police said on Monday.

Iceland's Supreme Court ruled in favour of the exhumation in mid-June, overturning the decision of a lower court to deny an earlier request.

In its ruling, the top court said tissue samples were needed to determine the paternity of Jinky Young, the Filipina daughter of Fischer's former lover. Young provided a DNA sample last year during a trip to Iceland.

"This (exhumation) was performed this morning in accordance with the order from the Supreme Court," said Olafur Helgi Kjartansson, chief of police in the southwestern town of Selfoss, where the chess champion was buried.

Fischer, who spent his last years as a fugitive from U.S. authorities because he defied international sanctions against the former Yugoslavia, spent time in the Philippines and Japan before moving to Iceland, where he was offered citizenship in the mid-2000s.

The former child prodigy became the United States' only world chess champion by defeating Soviet masters, but refused to defend his title and relinquished it to the Soviet champion Anatoly Karpov in 1975.

His estate, estimated at around $2 million, has been the subject of a long-running inheritance dispute involving claims by a former wife, two nephews and the U.S. tax authorities.

Fischer died in Reykjavik at the age of 64 after an unspecified illness and was buried near the town of Selfoss, about 60 km (40 miles) east of Reykjavik, in 2008.

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Germany gunning for Spain even without Mueller

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 08:27 PM

Erasmia, July 5 (DPA) Coach Joachim Loew remains confident that Germany can prevail against Spain in Wednesday's semifinal clash in Durban despite the absence of the suspended Thomas Mueller.

The 20-year-old has been a revelation so far in South Africa, scoring four goals in five matches, but will have to sit out the game against the European champions after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament in the 4-0 drubbing of Argentina.

'When I see the players I have to choose from as replacements then I have a good feeling about it,' Loew told a press conference Monday in Erasmia.

'I trust that (Piotr) Trochowski, Cacau, or Toni Kroos will fulfil the role to my satisfaction.'

Brazil-born Cacau is the Germany coach's only major fitness concern as VfB Stuttgart teammate Sami Khedira looks well on the road to recovery from a thigh muscle injury sustained against Argentina.

'It looks at the moment that all players will be fit with the exception of Cacau, who had a slight problems in training yesterday. We will have to wait and see if he is available for selection,' Loew revealed.

Khedira also missed training Sunday, but Loew said the prognosis for the 23-year-old midfielder was much better.

'We expect that he will take part in training later, but maybe on his own,' he said.

The 50-year-old played down the hype surrounding his young team following impressive wins against England and Argentina, stating that the German squad was keeping its feet firmly on the ground.

'The mood is good but not euphoric. The team had a measured response to the Argentina match and is now focused on the game against Spain,' he said.

Spain emerged victorious the last time the two sides met in the Euro 2008 final. But Loew said there was no thirst for revenge among his players.

'There is no talk of revenge in our minds,' the German coach said.

'We lost the game in 2008 because Spain were far and away the best team during the whole tournament. But the situation is different this time. We've been stronger in this tournament than we were in 2008, so we have just cause to think we can win.'

Despite his optimism, Loew felt Spain should still be considered favourites because of their achievements in winning the European championship and coming through World Cup qualification with a 100-per-cent record.

'They have been so consistent in the last two to three years and won all the important games,' he said. 'They rarely make mistakes, defensively or in attack.'

However, he believed Germany have grown stronger since being outclassed by Spain in the Ernst Happel stadium two years ago.

'We have spent years developing the playing capacity of our footballers. It was an important part of our plan that we be able to dominate a game through our playing ability,' he explained.

'We realised the need to be always dangerous when going forward and to possess the creativity needed to win games.'

Football has developed hugely in the last four years, said Loew, pointing to the fact that fellow semi-finalists Spain, the Netherlands and Uruguay are all offensively minded teams.

Source: Web Search

German young guns lead world football's gen-next

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 07:47 PM

Pretoria, July 5 (DPA) Germany's Mesut Oezil and Thomas Mueller are leading the charge of youngsters who are making a name for themselves at the 2010 World Cup.

But Dutch defender Gregory van der Weil and Uruguay's Nicolas Lodeiro also deserve special mention as a new generation of stars playing for the four sides still in contention for the title.

The emergence of Oezil, who is 21, and Mueller, who is 20, has come at a time when there were real concerns about the quality of young players coming through in Germany.

Bayern Munich ace Mueller first gave notice of his huge potentials during last season's UEFA Champions League as his club made it all the way to the final. It was his first full season in the Bayern Munich first team and he ended up scoring 19 times in 52 appearances.

He has continued on this rich vein of form at the World Cup, netting four goals so far, including a brace against England and the opening goal that paved the way for Germany's 4-0 demolition of Argentina in the quarter-finals.

Mueller is a fast, composed and technically gifted attacking midfielder or second striker who scores and creates goals.

Such is his rising profile that he will be sorely missed in Wednesday's semi-final against Spain in Durban due to a suspension.

'Obviously this will be a blow for us given the goal threat that Thomas has been here,' said Germany coach Joachim Loew.

Oezil, who plays for Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, may not have scored as many goals as his Bayern team-mate. But there is no disputing the fact that the young playmaker has been just as influential.

In the much-anticipated quarter-final clash against England, he created one of Mueller's goals and peppered the defence of the Three Lions again and again.

Oezil's dribbling skills, ability to pick out his team-mates and vision are assets to this young and promising German side.

Other young players who have impressed in what the great Franz Beckenbauer has described as a 'perfect' Germany team are Stuttgart midfielder Sami Khedira and Manchester City-bound defender Jerome Boateng.

Oezil, Boateng and Khedira were all part of the great German Under-21 team that won the European Championships last summer.

Even though neither van der Wiel and Lodeiro will feature when the Netherlands take on Uruguay in the other semi-final on Tuesday in Cape Town, they have also proved their mettle at the showpiece event of world football.

Van der Wiel will serve out a one-match suspension following his booking in his team's victory over Brazil, while promising Uruguay midfielder Lodeiro has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament on account of a fractured bone in his right foot.

The 22-year-old van der Wiel is a more recent product of the renowned Ajax youth system. He is an attacking right back known for his quick dashes down the flank. This year, he was awarded the Johan Cruyff Award for 'Young Player of the Year' in the Netherlands.

He has posted a decent shift at South Africa 2010 after he made his full international debut. He is widely regarded as a successor to one of the Dutch greats, Michael Reiziger.

Van der Wiel's fellow team-mate at Ajax Amsterdam, Lodeiro, on the other hand, is a left-footed young attacking midfielder tipped as the hottest prospect in Uruguay.

Early last year, he emerged as the top star of the South American U-20 Championship, made his senior international in a World Cup play-off against Costa Rica and signed for Dutch giants Ajax.

The 21-year-old Lodeiro will miss his biggest match yet, but on the strength of what he has so far displayed, there will be many more such games to come for the former Nacional star.

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Developing Germany can beat stagnating Spain: Schweinsteiger

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 07:37 PM

Erasmia (South Africa), July 5 (DPA) Germany have improved significantly from the side that lost the Euro 2008 final to Spain and are now capable of turning the tables when the two sides meet in Wednesday's World Cup semifinal in Durban, says Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Joachim Loew drafted inexperienced youngsters such as Thomas Mueller, Sami Khedira, Mesut Oezil and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into his squad for South Africa and has been richly rewarded as Germany swept England and Argentina aside on their way to the last four.

'There are other faces on the pitch this time, younger players who have come in and gained experienced during this tournament,' Schweinsteiger said Monday at a press conference in Erasmia.

'Spain haven't changed that much. Sergio Busquets has replaced Marcos Senna but otherwise they are pretty much the same team as two years ago.'

The Bayern Munich midfielder said he still had 'huge respect' for Vicente Del Bosque's side considering their achievements in recent years but wasn't overawed in any way.

'Xavi, (Andres) Iniesta but also Xabi Alonso and (Gerard) Pique are great players but we still have a chance against them,' he said.

'They are the decisive players for Spain because without them (David) Villa and (Fernando) Torres won't get the service needed to score goals.'

Spain were 'clearly the better team' two years ago in Vienna even though the match only ended 1-0 at the Ernst Happel stadium, Schweinsteiger admitted.

'On paper Spain are still the better team but I think we have shown in our last two games that we can beat teams that appear the better ones on paper,' he said.

'For me, Spain are the best team in the world. It will be tough just like it was against England and Argentina but I've a lot of faith in this team because we've seen what we can do if we all pull together.'

Schweinsteiger has been a revelation for Germany since Loew moved him into his preferred central midfield role following Michael Ballack's withdrawal from the squad before the tournament began through injury.

'The biggest change in my game is that finally I can play in my favourite position,' he explained.

'Louis van Gaal gave me the chance to play there at Bayern Munich and it went very well. Now it is going well with the national team but that is only because of the help I have received from the whole team.'

The 25-year-old's performances have seen him being tipped as the player of the tournament and Schweinsteiger has even been touted as Germany's answer to David Beckham, something the player said was a creation of the media.

'I don't have any plans to become that type of person,' he said.

'Speculation doesn't interest me or being player of the tournament. I only care about the game against Spain.'

Source: Web Search

Supreme Court against CAG scrutiny of BCCI accounts

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 07:27 PM

New Delhi, July 5 (IANS) The Supreme Court Monday dismissed a petition seeking thorough scrutiny of the accounts of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the past 10 years by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

During the hearing, a bench of Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia, Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Justice Swatanter Kumar asked counsel Manjusha Wadhwa, appearing for petitioner Alok Varshney, if the accounts of the BCCI were not being audited as per the provisions of The Companies Act.

The court rejected the plea when Wadhwa said the accounts should be audited by the CAG for the transparent functioning of the cricket body.

The petitioner sought an inquiry into the financial matters of the cricket body saying that the malpractices started when the BCCI gave the international telecast rights of the India team's matches for a huge amount.

He also sought the resignation of all MPs and legislators who were associated with the BCCI in some way or the other. The petitioner said that this was necessary to facilitate fair investigation into the affairs of the cricket's apex body.

The petitioner said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which looked into match-fixing and betting in 2003, had suggested investigations into the involvement of betting mafias with the BCCI.

Besides this, the petitioner suggested that the game should be managed by 'reputed and responsible' ex-cricketers in a transparent and professional manner that was beyond the shadow of political influences.

The petitioner also pleaded for enactment of legislation to curb match-fixing.

The court, however, dismissed all the pleas without assigning any reasons.

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No trophy, no party for Germany's Schweinsteiger

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 07:17 PM

Hundreds of thousands of German fans will be waiting for their World Cup team's return to Berlin and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger does not want to head to the capital again without a trophy.

Germany face European champions Spain in Wednesday's semi-final in Durban hoping to improve on their 2006 exit at the same stage when they hosted the tournament and a defeat by the Spaniards in the Euro 2008 final in Vienna.

Supporters in Germany have been gathering in huge numbers at 'Fan Fests' to show their mass support for the team and -- as in 2006 and 2008 -- the players are expected to show up at the Brandenburg Gate after the finals in South Africa to thank them.

"Going back to Berlin to celebrate in front of hundreds of thousands was special. In 2006 we finished third and in 2008 we were second so it is clear that something is missing and we hope to fill that gap," said Schweinsteiger.

"I don't want to go back there with nothing to show -- I've done that twice already," he said.

The Germans were outclassed in the European Championship final two years ago but Schweinsteiger believes that while Spain remain the top European team, Germany have closed the gap.

"Losing a final always causes frustration and disappointment but Spain were definitely the better team," he said.

"Even though they only won 1-0 they had lots of chances and to be honest after the 70th minute we might as well have called it a day because we had no way to respond."

BETTER CHANCE

"If you look at it on paper there is no doubt they are the better side but maybe now we have a better chance," he added.

"Now we have fresh faces and different characters -- an unencumbered state of mind. Spain have not changed so much. Sergio Busquets in for Marcos Senna is maybe the only real change whereas we have many, many newcomers.

"Spain haven't really dazzled in the way that their fans might have hoped but they have still been winning. We need another tactical masterpiece," said Schweinsteiger.

He played a key part in the 4-1 hammering of England in the last 16 and the 4-0 quarter-final win over Argentina and said those victories show what Germany are capable of.

"In the past two games we have shown that we can beat teams that are better than us on paper. We are dying to eliminate another of the biggest guns of international football," said the midfielder.

Schweinsteiger has been transformed from an underachieving left winger into a central playmaker this season for Bayern Munich and has also thrived in that role in Germany coach Joachim Loew's system.

"The biggest change for me on a personal level is that at last I'm able to play in my favourite position. (Coach) Louis van Gaal at Bayern gave me that chance and the results have been good at club and national level," he said.

Source: Web Search

CWG participating countries briefed on organisation, security

Published Mon, Jul 05 10 07:09 PM

New Delhi, Jul 5 (PTI) Nine High Commissioners and senior representatives of 27 nations participating in the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games were today apprised of several organisational aspects, including ticketing and security, of the CWG at a special briefing here. The High Commissioners who attended the session included those of South Africa and Malaysia, while Australia, England and New Zealand were represented by their respective Deputy High Commissioners at the Headquarters of the Games'' Organising Committee. OC Chairman Suresh Kalmadi presided over the two hour session during which visual presentations were made on different aspects of the organisation of the Games. "It was a nice session during which we have gave them idea about different aspects of the Games and have assured them again that the Delhi event will be truly a world class experience," Kalmadi told PTI after the meet, which was the first such interaction between the OC and the HCs of the participating countries. "The Commonwealth Games'' Coordination Commission has expressed satisfaction about the infrastructure and all the officials who attended the meet today are also happy. Among other infrastructures, we will have the best Games Village for the event," Kalmadi added. Kalmadi, also president of Indian Olympic Association, said the OC was planning more such interactions in the run-up to the Games. "Yes, we would like to hold more such sessions in the coming days before the Games," he said. "We have got information about different subjects of the Games. The plans are certainly impressive and we hope that Delhi will see a very successful Commonwealth Games," said a Zambian official on the sidelines of the meeting.

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'Animal' Nadal can eat up U.S. Open - McEnroe

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 06:37 PM

So impressed by Rafa Nadal's second Wimbledon triumph on Sunday, John McEnroe has described the Spaniard as an 'animal' who should complete his career grand slam of the majors at the U.S. Open later this year.

His straight-sets win over Czech 12th seed Tomas Berdych at the All England Club on Sunday was Nadal's eighth grand slam title win, and even though the world number one has never reached the final at Flushing Meadow he is clearly the man to beat in New York, said McEnroe.

"Nadal wants to win the U.S. Open so badly," McEnroe told the ATP Champions Tour website (www.atpchampionstour.com). "It'd be hard not to pick him at this time even though he's never won it.

"The guy's just an animal; he's mentally and physically incredible and he can definitely do it if he's in this shape. The conditions in New York don't suit Nadal so well and he needs to make his body hold up.

"So I think after Wimbledon he is going to take some time off and get his knees recovered and then maybe not play too many matches before the Open."

After missing the defence of his title last year, Nadal's Wimbledon win catapulted him well clear at the top of the new rankings published on Monday with Roger Federer slipping out of the top two for the first time since 2003.

But the Swiss maestro's days of winning grand slams are by no means over, according to McEnroe.

"Federer's done so amazingly well that anything but a win is almost considered a bad tournament," said the seven-times grand slam winner.

"But he's won the Australian Open and been in two other quarters at majors this year, and almost any other player would love that.

"It's inevitable at some stage, when you've won 16 and you've broken every record that maybe you lose that will at certain times.

"I think Federer is going to win a couple more majors but you won't see him dominate the way he has before. He's a great enough talent and he has enough pride that he'll figure out a way to get a couple more slams."

The U.S. Open starts Aug 30.

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Federer third in rankings for first time since 2003

Published Mon, Jul 05 10 05:57 PM

Roger Federer slipped down one place to world number three on Monday, the first time the Swiss great has been ranked outside the top two since November 2003.

Federer, winner of a record 16 grand slams, suffered a shock quarter-final defeat to Czech Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon, won for the second time on Sunday by world number one Rafael Nadal.

Federer also lost at the same stage of the French Open in June, breaking a record sequence of 23 consecutive semi-final or better appearances in grand slams going back to Roland Garros in 2004.

Serbian Novak Djokovic, who reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon, is now world number two.

Federer was last at three in the world on Nov. 10 2003, since which time he has notched up 15 grand slam titles after opening his account at Wimbledon that year.

The 28-year-old first reached world number one on Feb. 2 2004, holding the position until August 2008 when Nadal climbed to the top.

Federer then reclaimed the top slot the following July after winning Wimbledon for the sixth time, but saw Nadal again oust him as world number one in June this year.

American Pete Sampras holds the record for time spent at number one with 286 weeks, just one more than Federer.

Source: Web Search

Ronaldo 'very happy' on becoming dad

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 05:07 PM

London, July 2 (ANI): Portuguese footie ace Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly "very happy" after becoming a father for the first time.

The former Manchester United player became a father on June 17, two days after Portugal played the Ivory Coast in the World Cup, a newspaper report in Portugal said.

His youngest sister, Katia Aveiro, who is currently in Vilamoura, in the Algarve, confirmed the birth to the Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias.

"He is very happy, of course, who wouldn't be happy to have children?" the Daily Express quoted her as saying.

She said the baby boy has dark eyes and hair like his father.

Aveiro told the newspaper that Ronaldo would make an official announcement after he had returned from Madrid, where he is dealing with professional matters.

However, she did not reveal the baby's name.

"The news is true, but he doesn't want to talk about it. It's his personal life and when he wants to, he will talk," she said.

According to reports, the baby's mother is believed to be American but her identity has not been revealed.

A statement posted on what is billed as Ronaldo's official Facebook page said: "It is with great joy and emotion that I inform I have recently become father to a baby boy. As agreed with the baby's mother, who prefers to have her identity kept confidential, my son will be under my exclusive guardianship." (ANI)

Source: Web Search

'Hitler's' Nazi salutes rile Argentine WC fans in New York "Hell's Kitchen" bar

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 04:22 PM

New York, July 5(ANI): A New York bar packed with Argentine fans watching the World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and Germany were shocked when a man walked in dressed up as former German dictator Adolf Hitler.

The man, Steve Staso, wore a taped-on moustache, a Nazi-like outfit and a swastika armband at Cafe Andalucia on Ninth Avenue.

The 55-year-old gave off Nazi salutes as he watched Germany beat Argentina 4-0.

His actions left some fans inside the cafe fuming, with one of them saying: 'Why are you doing this?' and he said it was funny."

"I said, 'Is genocide funny? Is history funny?' And he just, like, turned around and went to the other side of the bar. He realized something was wrong," The New York Post quoted the fan, as saying.

Another fan at the bar said that Staso was shouting "Deutschland!" and "Heil Hitler!"I told him to remove it. He said, 'It's America. I can do what I want'. I said, 'I am Jewish, and I find it offensive'," the fan said.

Later in the day, Staso defended his decision to dress up like Hitler, and said: "You don't tell people in Hell's Kitchen what to do. The point is to have fun. You can't have fun anymore?"

"I stayed the whole game. I didn't take off the costume on principal. I ordered a beer in German," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Jamia begins sports category admissions

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 04:18 PM

New Delhi, July 5 (IANS) The Jamia Millia Islamia University Monday began trial of aspiring candidates who have opted for admissions in various courses under the sports category.

The trial for boxing was conducted while that of cricket was postponed to July 12 due to heavy rains.

'Trials for athletics will be held July 6, for volleyball, shooting and football July 7, basketball, table tennis and hockey July 8, badminton, tennis and swimming July 9 and weightlifting and other games July 10,' university spokesperson Simi Malhotra said.

The final list of selected candidates will be declared July 21.

Source: Web Search

'Oasis' couldn't save Messi's Argentina from WC defeat

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 04:08 PM

London, July 5 (ANI): The Argentina football team can blame Lionel Messi and rock-band Oasis for their dismal 4-0 loss in the World Cup quarter-final.

Messi tried to psych up his teammates for their big match by playing Oasis before they lost to Germany.essi had the Manchester band's 1994 track 'Rock And Roll Star' blasted out on the team coach stereo on Saturday.

"He was really keen to hype up the team with this rousing anthem. Unfortunately it didn't produce the desired result," the Sun quoted a source as saying.

The South Americans were battered by Germany in South Africa.

Barcelona superstar Messi, 23, was introduced to Oasis's music by team-mate and Man City ace Carlos Tevez. (ANI)

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Boris Becker -- star born at Wimbledon 1985

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 03:58 PM

Berlin, July 5 (DPA) A slight nod and a brief smile - that is how Boris Becker in a television ad looks at the defining moment of his tennis career: the Wimbledon title in 1985.

Wednesday marks the 25th anniversary of the moment that changed his life forever and introduced average Germans to the sport.

'The victory was my personal lunar landing,' says Becker. 'On the one hand it appears like yesterday. On the other hand it seems like 100 years ago.'

Becker's triumph over South African Kevin Curren is one where in Germany the question 'where were you, when...' is appropriate.

The teenager had gripped a nation and 11 million Germans were glued to their televisions on that Sunday, July 7, when Becker stepped up for his second match point after double faulting on the first.

A service winner followed as Becker completed the 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 victory over Curren, who had been rated favourite after disposing of Stefan Edberg, holder John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors in the previous rounds.

The victory made Becker the first German Wimbledon champion, the first unseeded and the youngest in tournament history aged 17 years and 227 days.

His home town of Leimen became the centre of Germany and many recall how his father Karl-Heinz Becker was snapping away as Becker received the trophy and chatted with the Duchess and Duke of Kent.

'I always said the day was my second birthday because I became very famous and very rich through it. I had many advantages, but some disadvantages as well. Any kind of private life has been impossible since that day,' says Becker.

Girlfriends, the wedding with Barbara Becker, the birth of their two children, their divorce years later and an extramarital affair which gave him another daughter made the headlines just as a tax evasion case.

On court, Becker captivated Germans with two more Wimbledon titles, two at the Australian Open and one US Open, a brief reign as world number one and the first two of now three German Davis Cup titles.

Becker ignited the German tennis boom which also featured the even more successful Steffi Graf and his fierce rival Michael Stich.

Stich's victory over Becker in the 1991 and his success in their Hamburg final a few years later rate as some of Becker's most painful defeats. But they also won Olympic doubles gold together in 1992.

The tennis hype in Germany has long subsided, there are no new top star players and hardly any tournaments left in the country.

But when Germans tune to the rare tennis broadcasts these days, they can still hear the phrases 'Becker-fist' and 'Becker-leap' being used by the commentators.

Becker always called the Wimbledon centre court his 'living room.' He compiled an overall 71-12 record at the famous venue and featured in a total seven finals until his farewell 1999.

He still returns each year, now as a BBC pundit, and last week celebrated the 25th anniversary of his breakthrough with a party in a posh London club.

'I am not really a nostalgic person, but I do have to look back a little, maybe even sob a little,' he says.

Source: Web Search

Netherlands, Uruguay both fancy chances for World Cup semi-final win

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 03:52 PM

Cape Town, July 5(ANI): Netherlands may be heading into Tuesday's World Cup semi-final against Uruguay as the hot favourites to win, but with the 'giant-killing' nature of the game, anything can happen.

Under coach Bert Van Marwijk, Netherlands have picked up eight wins from eight games in qualifying, and have a 100 percent record from their five games in South Africa, which includes eliminating Brazil.

"I said to the Dutch Football Association two years ago that I was not going to this tournament just to take part in it. I'm a sportsman and if I go somewhere, I want to win," Sport24 quoted Van Marwijk, as saying.

"People might think that's arrogant, but we have proven we can beat Brazil, one of the best teams in the world. If that's a fact, we should dare to say this, we should go for it," he added.

However, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, who also steered the team to the Round of 16 in 1990, insists that his team cannot be written off.

"We are amongst the four best teams at this World Cup. This is something we would never have imagined before coming to South Africa. My players are very united. I don't know how far we can go in the tournament," Tabarez said.

"The Netherlands has some great players, but we cannot betray this group of players. If there is a glimmer of hope we must hang on. We will certainly not throw in the towel before playing that match. Holland will be very difficult, but not impossible," he added. (ANI)

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Million foreign visitors in South Africa during World Cup period

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 03:38 PM

Johannesburg, July 5(ANI): South African Home Affairs Department has said that the number of foreign visitors entering the country during the World Cup period has now risen to a million.

"This figure is expected to rise further as the World Cup enters the semi-finals and the final phases of the tournament," Sport24 quoted Ronnie Mamoepa, Home Affairs' spokesperson, as saying in a statement.

Mamoepa said that the Movement Control System (MCS), which was launched by Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has also enabled the country to monitor movements of persons entering the country.

The MCS recorded 1,020,321 foreigners visiting the country from June 1 to July 1, compared to 819,495 for the same period in 2009.

"During the same period South Africa's Advanced Passenger Processing System witnessed a total of 43 undesirables being prohibited from boarding airlines abroad to enter South Africa," Mamoepa added.

According to the MCS, top visitors in the country during the period were from Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Malalwi and Zambia.

They were followed by the United Kingdom, US, Germany, Australia, Brazil and Mexico. (ANI)

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Car trouble continues for Gill

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 03:18 PM

India, July 4 -- The big 'if' of machine matching human drive continued to haunt Gaurav Gill's challenge in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship. A broken gearbox early Sunday meant he finished a low 17th overall. That was a humungous 23 minutes and 43 seconds behind the winner Kiwi Hayden Paddon. After eight stages of Day One, Gill trailed Paddon by a minute and ten seconds. Such was the nature of his car's mechanical problems, that eight more stages left him nowhere in the reckoning. This is the second time in as many APRC rallies this year that there has been a disconnect between the ask and the car's ability to comply. Usually in such circumstances it would be possible to speculate if the driver is punishing the machine beyond its tolerance levels. Except that Team MRF has computerised feedback mapping each touch of brake, each nudge of gear and all nuances that illustrate the driver-car interface. The mechanics can't find any fault with his driving style. "The main gear shaft broke today. It's got nothing to do with the driver," said team engineer Lane Heenan. "I am beginning to feel I am jinxed. To compensate for lack of access to such cars in India, I push myself harder and follow the advise of more experienced people to the T," said Gill. "Then, this happens and I am left clueless and plain angry at my helplessness."

While Team MRF has protested as to why a wild card entry like Paddon, Gill is set to take away at least five for his second place on Saturday.

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Kirti Azad slams Lalu Prasad for ''ruining'' cricket in Bihar

Published Mon, Jul 05 10 03:08 PM

Darbhanga (Bihar), Jul 5 (PTI) Former Test cricketer Kirti Azad today attacked Bihar Cricket Association chief Lalu Prasad accusing him of ruining cricket in the state by running the BCA in an arbitrary manner. "Disbanding of the BCA and constitution of an ad-hoc committee to run the game in Bihar by Prasad was an example of the arbitrary manner that he has been running cricket administration," Azad, a BJP MP and president of BCA''s parallel body, Association for Bihar Cricket (ABC), told PTI. "What was the need for setting up an ad-hoc committee consisting of the same set of people who were the office bearers of the disbanded body?" asked the former allrounder. He alleged that the reason for disbanding the BCA could be to brush under the carpet some wrongdoings and financial irregularities by the members of the dissolved body. Cricketers from Bihar were staring at a bleak future and unable to draw the selectors'' attention as the BCA has failed to set up proper infrastructure for the game in the state, Azad said during a visit to his constituency. He urged the BCCI to grant recognition to the ABC being run by him to put in place a transparent system for running the game in Bihar and adequate infrastructure for budding talents.

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Malaysia's Fauzy gets regular Friday F1 slot

Published Mon, Jul 05 10 02:58 PM

Malaysian test driver Fairuz Fauzy will take part in four more Friday practice sessions for Lotus this season starting with Silverstone this week, the Formula One team said on Monday.

Fauzy tested for the grid newcomers in pre-season and also drove in free practice at his home Malaysian Grand Prix in April.

"He will be taking part in FP1 (first practice) at Silverstone, Hungary, Singapore and the season-closing Abu Dhabi races," Malaysian-owned Lotus said in a statement.

Fauzy will take over Italian Jarno Trulli's car for two sessions and Finn Heikki Kovalainen's for the others.

"I really can't wait to see how far we've moved forward since I was last out on track," said the reserve driver.

"To start out at Silverstone is going to be very special indeed. I live literally a few metres from the track, so I'll have a lot of friends, family and fans there to cheer me and the whole team on."

Team boss Tony Fernandes said Fauzy deserved his opportunity.

"He's done an excellent job for us whenever he's been out on track, and his enthusiasm and input throughout race weekends, whether he's in or out of the car, has made him a real asset to the whole team," he said.

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Tap-tap! Mizo bamboo dance for Games ceremony

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 02:48 PM

Aizawl, July 5 (IANS) The vivacious Mizo bamboo dance, which symbolises excellence and skills, will entertain spectators at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in the Indian capital.

'The state government has accepted the invitation from the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee to perform the Mizo traditional and colourful Cheraw dance at the inaugural ceremony in the national capital,' an official told IANS.

'Around 80 dancers, comprising men and women, will perform the bamboo dance, traditionally known as Cheraw dance, at the inaugural function at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi Oct 3,' he said.

The 19th edition of the Games will take place from Oct 3 to 14 in the national capital New Delhi.

This year the Cheraw made it to the Guineess Book of World Records as the the world's largest and longest dance ensemble.

'On March 12, 671 troupes consisting of 10,736 dancers participated in the mass dance congregation at the Assam Rifles ground in the heart of the capital Aizawl city to demonstrate the world's largest and longest dance ensemble,' said Jim K. Chozah, Mizoram information and public relations director.

He said a new world record was created with dancers performing the bamboo dance for hours in perfect rhythm.

The bamboo or the Cheraw dance is the harbinger of the Chapchar Kut festival of the Mizos, which marks the end of winter and the advent of summer.

The dance symbolises the excellence, strength, skills and aspirations of the people of Mizoram, a mountainous state of around one million people.

Cheraw is the most vibrant of Mizo dances. Men sitting face to face on the ground tap long pairs of horizontal and cross bamboo staves open and close in rhythmic beats, while girls in colourful Mizo costumes dance in and out between the beats of bamboo.

The bamboo poles produce a clicking sound that forms the rhythm of the dance.

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Murray eyes US Open to accomplish Grand Slam title dream

Published>Mon, Jul 05 10 02:28 PM

London, July 5(ANI): After his Wimbledon semi-final exit, British tennis ace Andy Murray will head off to America hoping that he can still make his dream of winning a Grand Slam title come true at the US Open.

Murray's 6-4, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 defeat to Spaniard Rafael Nadal on last Friday has ruthlessly postponed his dream of securing his second Grand Slam final, and a possible British men's Wimbledon winner.

"Now I need to go away and get myself fully prepared. I love the US Open and have done since I was a kid," The Daily Express quoted Murray, as saying.

"I love the city and I love the Championship. I have played well there in the past, and this time I hope I can win there," he added.

The 23-year-old further said that he is a huge admirer of Nadal, and insists that the Spaniard is the best thing that has happened to tennis.

"I play so much, but he's the only guy I really enjoy watching. I have a lot of respect for him, whenever I have beaten him the first thing I said to him was, 'Sorry'. There are things I can do better than Rafa, but there are things he does that no one in the world can do," Murray said.

"Against me he did play great, I know that because when I came off I didn't feel like I played terrible tennis," he added. (ANI)

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