ANALYSIS - LeBron signing adds heat to Miami team, sponsors

Published>Sat, Jul 10 10 02:57 AM

Basketball superstar LeBron James' move to the Miami Heat has turned the team's sponsors and broadcast partners into big winners.

Heat owner Mickey Arison, chief executive of cruise line giant Carnival Corp, must be smiling as demand for tickets and sponsorships will skyrocket, while ad rates will soar for national and local TV partners, analysts said.

James' announcement on Thursday that he planned to join fellow all-stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh made the Heat the instant odds-on favorite to win the next NBA title with many Las Vegas bookmakers.

"They are now going to be the glamour team of the NBA," said Marc Ganis, president of consulting firm Sportscorp Ltd.

"Sponsors are going to want to be a part of it, their tickets are going to be incredibly valuable, especially the better seats, and every single game is going to be an event and a happening in Miami this season," he added.

James' announcement during a one-hour prime-time show on Walt Disney Co's ESPN sports network scored an overnight TV rating in 56 top markets of 7.3, the highest rating for any program that night, according to Nielsen. A ratings point is a percentage of U.S. television households that watched the program.

The Heat will remain popular for national and local TV partners, including ESPN, ABC and TNT, and ad rates for its games could rise 10 percent or more nationally and as much as 25 percent locally, analysts said.

"Miami's going to be like the second home team for a lot of basketball fans because they're going to be on so much," said Brad Adgate, senior vice president at ad buyer Horizon Media.

Attendance also will be strong as the team's ticket hotline rang off the hook in the run-up to the LeBron announcement.

"The sale of premium seats and season tickets over the last couple of weeks has been extremely brisk, peaking in a new intensity the last couple of days," Eric Woolworth, the Heat's president of business operations, said in a statement. "As a result, we have sold out of our currently available season ticket inventory."

A RED SOX ANALOGY

Capping season ticket sales is a smart move to stoke demand, said Bill Sutton, a former NBA vice president of marketing who is now a professor at the University of Central Florida's DeVos Sports Business Program.

"I have two words for you: Fenway Park," he said of the small, always-packed home field of the Boston Red Sox baseball team. "Make sure demand far outstrips supply and you'll have a good, sustainable business."

Demand in the secondary market is surging too. Heat season tickets in the resale market averaged $8,250 on Friday from $3,240 before LeBron's announcement, according to FanSnap.

"For the Heat, the value of tickets and sponsorships should rise at least 40 percent now that the walking, talking, free throw-shooting stimulus plan has joined South Florida," said Rick Horrow, a sports lecturer at Harvard Law School.

The widespread attention has sponsors happy.

"With LeBron now a part of the Heat, it will take our return on investment into another orbit," Billy Sanez, director of promotions for American Airlines, said in an email. The company is the title sponsor for the Heat's home arena.

However, any new sponsors will probably pay as much as 30 percent more to align with the Heat, said Jim Andrews, senior vice president with IEG, a unit of advertising company WPP Plc that tracks such spending.

The excitement surrounding the Heat also may prove a boon for the NBA, which generated almost $500 million in sponsorship revenue during the 2009-2010 season, Andrews said.

Arison also has to be happy as LeBron's signing makes his team one of the NBA's most valuable, worth as much as $600 million, Ganis said. Forbes magazine in December estimated the Heat's value at $364 million.

Where there are winners, however, there must be losers. James' former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, will lose value, while Madison Square Garden Inc, which owns the New York Knicks, another failed suitor, saw its shares fall 4.6 percent on Friday.

Other pro sports teams in south Florida, including the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers, Major League Baseball's Florida Marlins and National Football League's Miami Dolphins, could lose sponsors to the Heat, analysts said.

"No question, the newly constituted Miami Heat are going to suck the oxygen out of the Miami market," Ganis said.

James, who earns about $50 million a year through salary and endorsements, may have the greatest risk in abandoning his hometown Cavaliers, analysts said. However, win two or three titles and his global brand name is secure.

"What matters most at the end of the day is winning championships," said Doug Shabelman, president of Burns Entertainment, which matches companies with celebrities for endorsements.

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Ex-cop held for murder of Brazil soccer star's girlfriend

Published>Sat, Jul 10 10 02:17 AM

Sao Paulo, July 10 (IANS/EFE) A former police officer was arrested in connection with an alleged plot to kill a former mistress of Brazilian soccer star Bruno Fernandes.

The accused was held in Belo Horizonte city. Fernandes plotted to kill his girlfriend after she claimed he fathered her child, the authorities said Friday.

Police inspector Edson Moreira told a press conference that Samudio's (girlfriend) death 'is materially proved' even though the body has not been found.

Seven people, including Fernandes and his wife Dayane Souza, were arrested for kidnapping, murdering and hiding the body of the model, as well as for abducting her four-month-old baby.

The infant was found safe by police two weeks ago in the care of Souza's friends and is now with his maternal grandfather.

Fernandes, the goalkeeper and captain of Brazil's most popular club Flamengo, had been watched by police for three weeks, ever since it was reported that his girlfriend disappeared after filing a paternity suit against him. Meanwhile, Flamengo has suspended the footballer.

--IANS/EFE

snb

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Golden boot chasers will go hell for leather

Published>Sat, Jul 10 10 01:37 AM

Germany and Uruguay are both talking up the honour of finishing third in the World Cup but it is the battle to be first in the goalscorers' list that seems to be the chief attraction of Saturday's playoff.

Four players in the game are in with a fighting chance of taking the Golden Boot with one of them, Germany's Miroslav Klose, also needing one goal to match Brazilian Ronaldo as the joint all-time top scorer with 15.

Klose is currently on four, as is fellow striker Thomas Mueller, back in contention after being suspended for the semi-final defeat by Spain.

Uruguay's Diego Forlan also has four to his name with Luis Suarez, back too after being suspended for the semis, on three.

Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder and Spain striker David Villa each have five and can add to their tallies in Sunday's final.

Klose won the Golden Boot in 2006 with five goals having also scored five in 2002 but his chances of topping the all-time list have been hit by a bout of flu that has laid low several German players as well as coach Joachim Loew.

Loew skipped Germany's news conference at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium -- sparsely attended in comparison with the heaving throng hanging on every word before their previous two matches -- with assistant Hansi Flick standing in.

'SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT'

"Miroslav Klose is very close to breaking the World Cup record but he is struggling with illness at the present time," Flick said.

"There has been significant improvement but we have not got 100 percent certainty."

Flick said that, should Germany be awarded a penalty, then the usual taker, Bastian Schweinsteiger, would probably take it but added: "If he wants to give it, if Miri thinks he's going to hit it home, we'll see."

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, while insisting the battle for third place was the main issue, was also drawn into the goalscoring debate.

"It's possible for Klose to score but I don't want him to," he said.

"He's a very strong player with a lot of experience, and when he was sent off and suspended that was when Germany had problems.

"He is one of the great all-time players of the World Cup."

In the 1994 third/fourth playoff Bulgaria tried so hard to feed Hristo Stoichkov chances to secure sole ownership of the Golden Boot he shared with Oleg Salenko that they forgot about the rest of the match and were thrashed 4-0 by Sweden.

Tabarez said his side would not fall into the same trap.

Forlan, who has been the model of an unselfish team player throughout the tournament, went off in the closing stages of the 3-2 semi-final defeat by Netherlands but though Tabarez said he would start Saturday's game he said there would be no focus on individual honours.

"He's fine, he will play but he's not going for the Golden Boot," he said. "It's a collective sport and he's the first to say it's about the team.

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Playoff for third place no sideshow for Uruguay

Published>Sat, Jul 10 10 01:17 AM

Uruguay will be gunning to beat Germany on Saturday knowing success in the third-place playoff game would mark their best performance at the World Cup finals since they lifted the golden trophy 60 years ago.

The match on the eve of the final seldom sees much enthusiasm from defeated and disappointed players but it has significance for Uruguay and coach Oscar Tabarez said on Friday his players were just as motivated as for their other games.

"It would be history," he said. "We have in front of us a marvellous opponent. Before the (semi-final) match against Spain they (Germany) were the best team of the tournament and this is very motivating for us. It'll be difficult but not impossible."

Uruguay's surprise run to the last four was a stunning achievement given their rocky qualifying road to South Africa.

The twice World Cup winners were the last team to clinch a place at the tournament having survived an exhausting 20-match campaign that included a playoff against Costa Rica.

REVENGE MISSION

Uruguay have played in the third-place playoff twice, losing both times, and Tabarez is keen to avenge their 1-0 defeat by Germany in 1970 in Mexico when Uruguay dominated the match.

"It was a special game. I hope we can play as well as then and hope we have better luck than they did, as it was one of the most unfair results in a football match ever," he said.

Their other third-place loss was to Austria in 1954.

In-form Uruguay marksman Diego Forlan has recovered from an injury sustained in the 3-2 semi-final defeat by Netherlands, Tabarez said, giving him a chance to win the Golden Boot.

Forlan has four goals and trails joint-top scorers David Villa of Spain and Wesley Sneijder of Netherlands by just one.

However, three other candidates will also be chasing the prize on Saturday, with Germany's Thomas Mueller and Miroslav Klose also standing on four goals.

Klose might be the hungrier of the trio as two goals would also take him past former Brazil forward Ronaldo and make the 32-year-old German the record scorer at World Cups.

Tabarez said Forlan's priority would a victory for the team, not his own shot at winning the Golden Boot.

"He's not playing for that," he said. "It's a collective sport and he's the first to say it's about the team."

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We've nailed World Cup, now for the Olympics

Published>Sat, Jul 10 10 12:57 AM

South Africa is basking in the glory of successfully staging the first World Cup on African soil but the country's thoughts have already shifted to another top sports event: the Olympic Games.

With rumours spreading fast that the coastal city of Durban is seriously considering bidding for the 2020 summer Olympics, South Africa may be gearing up for a battle that is much harder to win than the right to stage a World Cup.

The Olympics are the biggest multi-sports event in the world and while the World Cup may test a country's operational strength with several cities involved in the staging of the matches, the Olympics, held in one city alone, can sap its energy and drain its financial resources.

It is the equivalent of staging 28 world championships with the top athletes of each sport, simultaneously, within just a few miles of each other.

"The World Cup is one of the two great sporting events in the world along with the Olympics, and I am quite certain that every member of the International Olympic Committee has been looking at the matches from South Africa and seen the enthusiasm and the excitement," IOC Executive Board member Craig Reedie told Reuters this week.

"I would suspect they would not be surprised at all if a bid came from the South African Olympic Committee for a future Games, be it 2020 or 2024 ... I think the decision to go south of the equator for the first time would be a natural encouragement for South Africa," he said.

GOVERNMENT BACKING

It is not only the IOC that is expecting South Africa to bid for the summer Olympics.

South Africa President Jacob Zuma told Reuters at the start of the World Cup in June the tournament had whet the country's appetite for major sports events.

"We have got the facilities. Those who take decisions have seen how South Africa is. I'm sure we could do it," Zuma said.

"I will put it on the agenda because it is important to bring people from all over the world here."

Cape Town was the first South African city to bid for the Olympics but was trounced in the vote for the 2004 Games which were awarded to Athens.

Durban, which markets itself as Africa's sports capital, has expressed an interest in hosting the Games and built their new World Cup stadium with enough space to add an athletics track.

But the problems of a South African city's bid for 2020 should not be underestimated.

NEW CONTINENT

Brazil's Rio de Janeiro became the first South American city to be awarded the Games for 2016. It is doubtful the IOC would go to another new continent, with all the risks that come with it, immediately after those Games.

The United States, the IOC's biggest revenue territory, could launch another bid after failing to bring the 2016 Games to Chicago. The last North American city to host the summer Olympics was Atlanta in 1996.

Europe has also increased its chances to see the Games return on their turf after Rio with the time zone on the continent more preferable to major European broadcasters.

South African sports officials will be able to test the waters of such a potential bid when the IOC meets in Durban next year to elect the winning bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The momentum, however, for a South African bid is clearly there, with even IOC President Jacques Rogge offering some veiled encouragement.

"I would love to have a credible African candidate for the next Games to be chosen, namely those of 2020," he said recently.

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Lemaitre first white man to run sub-10 secs for 100m

Published Fri, Jul 09 10 11:57 PM

France's Christophe Lemaitre became the first white man to run the 100 metres in under 10 seconds when he clocked 9.98 on Friday, the French athletics federation said.

Lemaitre, 20, set his time during the French championships in Valence, southern France.

"He is the first white man to run the 100 metres in less than 10 seconds," Jean-Philippe Manzelle, French athletics Federation press officer, told Reuters.

The former French record had been set by Ronald Pognon at 9.98secs in 2005.

Jamaican Usain Bolt is the world record holder with 9.58secs.

American Jim Hines became the first man to run the 100 metres in less than 10 seconds in 1968.

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Spain play with a Dutch stamp, says Van Marwijk

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 11:37 PM

Spain have taken a leaf out of the Dutch textbook of "total football" in reaching Sunday's World Cup final at Soccer City, according to Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk on Friday.

Van Marwijk said Spain's style of play was mainly based on the successful tactics of Barcelona which had been created over the decades through the influence of such great Dutch coaches as Rinus Michels, Johan Cruyff and Louis van Gaal.

"Spain is largely influenced by Barcelona, with six or seven players, and Barcelona still has a big Dutch stamp with coaches like Cruyff and Michels," Van Marwijk told reporters.

"So that is a big compliment for Dutch football."

Van Marwijk said European champions Spain had adopted a very similar "total football" style to the Netherlands -- but possibly did it better.

"Everyone looks how Spain play when they possess the ball, but if you see how the whole team, including the offensive line, puts pressure on their opponent when they lose the ball, it is clear that that is one of their strongest points," he added.

"But that is also something we try to do."

So far the Dutch have won all six matches this campaign, while their opponents made a false start as they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Switzerland in their Group H opener.

But after that Spain got back on track and registered five straight wins to clinch their spot in the final.

Van Marwijk, who said he disregarded talk that Spain were favourites, added that Vicente del Bosque's team had shown more consistency than his side so far in the tournament despite the Swiss reverse.

"We won six straight, had some phases of playing good football but also were sloppy in finishing some well executed attacks to finish matches, while Spain have been less sloppy in that aspect," he added.

"Over the last few years I have really enjoyed watching them and we will respect them but we do not fear them.

"We will play our own game."

The term "total football" was first coined in the early 1970s to describe the way the then Dutch side defended and attacked as an entire team, with each player with the exception of the keeper able to switch roles at any time.

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Spain and Dutch vie to fill space in trophy cabinet

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 10:37 PM

World Cup finalists Spain and the Netherlands have produced some of the greatest moments, classiest club sides and top players in soccer's history but somehow the biggest prize in the sport has always eluded them.

One country, though, will celebrate their first World Cup triumph at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Sunday bringing an end to generations of frustration.

The disappointment has been most acute for the Netherlands, who unlike Spain, have twice been agonisingly close to the top trophy.

The 1970s Dutch team are, arguably along with the 1954 Hungarian runners-up, the greatest team not to win a World Cup.

In 1974 the Dutch reached the final for the first time with a team coached by Rinus Michels and featuring magnificent talents such as Johan Neeskens, Johnny Rep and three-times European Footballer of the Year Johan Cruyff.

With a revolutionary approach to the game, dubbed 'Total Football', the Dutch sparkled as they beat Argentina 4-0 and Brazil 2-0 in their second round group.

But despite taking the lead with a second-minute penalty, the Dutch were defeated 2-1 by hosts West Germany in Munich in the final.

Four years later, with several players, including Cruyff, refusing to take part, it was again the hosts that stood between the Netherlands and glory -- this time in Argentina.

GOLDEN GENERATION

After Mario Kempes had put Argentina in front in the 38th minute, the Dutch took the game into extra-time with an equaliser from Dick Nanninga eight minutes from the end of normal time.

The Argentines scored twice in extra-time to set off a ticker-tape celebration in Buenos Aires and the golden generation were left without a trophy.

It was not until 10 years later, with a side inspired by Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten, that the Dutch finally won a major tournament with their victory over the Soviet Union in the final of the European Championship.

In the World Cup two years later, though, the Netherlands reached the last 16 despite finishing third in the group stage, they reached the quarter-finals in 1994 and lost in the 1998 semi-finals after a penalty shootout with Brazil.

Spain's soccer successes have almost exclusively been at the club level with 12 European Cup titles from clubs Real Madrid (9) and Barcelona (3).

Both the grand old clubs of La Liga have enjoyed much of their success thanks to the contributions of foreign players (including Cruyff at Barcelona) but Real's magnificent era in the early 1960's did translate into a European Championship win in 1964.

It was not until two years ago, though, that Spain was able to add a second European title and on the world stage they have under-performed badly.

The Spaniards hosted the 1982 finals but disappointingly went out in the second group stage and it was not until Javier Clemente's teams in the 1990s that La Roja really threatened to make an impression.

In the U.S in 1994, Clemente's side reached the quarter-final stage where they lost to Italy and four years later in France there was great optimism surrounding a team that included Real's prolific striker Raul and the exciting Luis Enrique.

But Spanish hopes suffered a major letdown with an exit in the group stage after a defeat to Nigeria, just a draw with Paraguay, and a solitary win against Bulgaria.

Now though, with what is widely acknowledged as their best ever team, Spain have a chance to become just the third team to be reigning European and world champions at the same time.

Only West Germany (1972, 1974) and France (1998, 2000) have held the double-title previously.

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Dhoni conferred MCC honorary membership

Published Fri, Jul 09 10 10:27 PM

Chennai, Jul 9 (PTI) Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today recalled memories of his long association with the city and his Test debut here as he accepted the honorary membership conferred on him by the 164-year old Madras Cricket Club for his contribution to the game in the country. "I am extremely happy and privileged to be a member of this historic age-old club, which has an history of supporting games and sport. I cherish happy memories of this venue (Chepauk) where I made my Test debut in 2005," Dhoni said after being conferred the honorary membership at the Chepauk stadium complex. "I am privileged to be amongst many stalwarts who have shone in Indian sports, including cricket," added Dhoni, who was accompanied by his wife Sakshi Singh Rawat whom he married at a resort near Dehradun on Sunday. Dhoni joined a select list of sportspersons who have been conferred the MCC honorary membership which include Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Viswanathan Anand and Chennai-born former England captain Nasser Hussain. Dhoni would leave for Colombo tomorrow from here to join the other members of the Indian team which is to play a three-Test series against Sri Lanka and a tri-series, also involving New Zealand. The other team members left for Colombo this afternoon. Dhoni was also felicitated by Chennai Super Kings for leading the side to IPL III title. Accepting the felicitations by MCC President TG Thyagarajan and CSK owner N Srinivasan, the wicket-keeper batsman credited the title-winning feat to the support he received from Chennai fans and cricketers from Tamil Nadu. "Support that the Super Kings received from its fans was noteworthy besides the stupendous individual performances for the team cause by Tamil Nadu players in the team," Dhoni said. "The achievements of CSK was due to the excellent leadership and management skills of Dhoni," Srinivasan said. L Balaji, Hemang Badani and R Ashwin were among CSK players who attended the function.

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Cavendish wins Tour de France sixth stage

Published Fri, Jul 09 10 10:17 PM

Briton Mark Cavendish won the sixth stage of the Tour de France, a 227.5-km ride from Montargis on Friday.

American Tyler Farrar was second and Italy's Alessandro Petacchi finished third.

Swiss Fabian Cancellara retained the overall leader's yellow jersey.

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Nalbandian returns to tennis with Davis Cup win

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 09:47 PM

Moscow, July 9 (DPA) Argentine David Nalbandian made a successful comeback to tennis after three months away as he beat Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6) to give his nation a 1-0 lead Friday in their Davis Cup World Group quarterfinal.

Mikhail Youzhny was trying to put the hosts back on level-pegging indoors in the capital as he faced Leonardo Mayer, playing later Friday for an Argentine side missing Juan del Potro and Juan Monaco through fitness problems

Nalbandian underwent hip surgery in spring 2009, but then had to face hamstring and abdominal muscle problems. He last played on the ATP in April at Monte Carlo.

The 28-year-old is due to play all three days of the weekend tie for Argentina, continuing with Saturday's doubles

Davydenko missed three months with a broken right wrist.

The victory give Nalbandian a third win from four meetings with the Russian on the Davis Cup stage. The win was the 30th in Davis Cup for the Argentine, sparkplug of the nation which has lost three tournament finals, including in 2006 to Russia.

Russia has not been defeated at home since losing to the United States in 1995.

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Madras Cricket Club felicitates Dhoni

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 09:37 PM

Chennai, July 9 (IANS) Newly-wed India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his wife Sakshi were the centre of attraction at a felicitation organised by the Madras Cricket Club to honour Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for winning this year's Indian Premier League (IPL).

Dhoni was offered the honorary membership of the club, one of India's oldest and which was formed in 1846.

Dhoni thus joined the likes of Indian cricketing greats like Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar, to name a few, who have been bestowed with the honorary membership of the club.

'I have some happy memories of Chennai despite the heat and humidity of the city. I made my Test debut here in 2005 and then came back as captain of Chennai Super Kings,' Dhoni said.

'One of the things that went our way in this IPL was the contribution of local players,' Dhoni said in presence of CSK players Ravichandran Ashwin, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Subramaniam Badrinath and Hemang Badani, who were presented with momentos.

'I hope we do not disappoint the CSK fans and will give our best to retain the IPL trophy,' he said.

N.Srinivisan, BCCI secretary and owner of CSK, was full of praise for Dhoni's leadership and management skills.

'We could win this trophy because of the great comeback we made in the second half of the tournament.'

CSK had won only two of their opening seven matches, before turning the corner.

Sakshi, whose marriage with Dhoni at Dehradun was a closely guarded affair, was the cynosure of the big gathering even as media hustled to get a close up view of the star couple.

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No umpire review system in India-Lanka Test series

Published Fri, Jul 09 10 09:27 PM

New Delhi, Jul 9 (PTI) The controversial umpire Decision Review System will not be used in the India-Sri Lanka Test series starting on July 18 as the BCCI was not in favour of it, according to a Sri Lanka Cricket official. SLC Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said since India does not want the DRS, it will not be used in the three-match Test series. "The decision at the ICC meeting was that both the teams should agree with having the DRS system. When we checked with India, they were not happy to have it," Ranatunga told ''Cricinfo''. Asked if the absence of DRS would be a disadvantage for Sri Lanka, Ranatunga said, "Definitely it will be a disadvantage. Not only for Sri Lanka, it''s a disadvantage for India as well. It''s a disadvantage for all the players." In its recent annual conference, the ICC had said that the host country would determine whether to use DRS in home Test series following consultation with the visiting country. The DRS was used during India''s tour of Sri Lanka in 2008 and that became a point of controversy, including a contentious Virender Sehwag dismissal. Sri Lanka made 11 successful reviews in their 2-1 series win, as opposed to India''s one. In Sri Lanka''s return tour of India, the DRS was not used and captain Kumar Sangakkara, whose side lost the series 0-2, was not happy with that. India haven''t been involved in any series which used DRS since the series Sri Lanka in 2008.

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Bollettieri to pick young talent in India

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 09:07 PM

New Delhi, July 9 (IANS) Well-known American coach Nick Bollettieri will arrive in India Saturday to select tennis players for the IMG-Reliance scholarship programme.

Assisted by the All India Tennis Association (AITA), which is conducting the trial clinic Sunday and Monday, Bollettieri is likely to select 12-15 players from the top 30-40 national juniors in the under-12 and under-14 age categories.

Bollettieri has worked with many world-class champions, including Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Monica Seles, and Mary Pierce and Maria Sharapova.

India's new tennis sensation Yuki Bhmabri has also honed his skills at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy.

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Indian eves go down to Malaysia in Asian Youth Netball

Published Fri, Jul 09 10 08:37 PM

New Delhi, Jul 9 (PTI) Indian eves went down fighting to title favourites Malaysia 36-59 in the semifinal of seventh Asian Youth Netball Championship at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex here today. Malaysia now take on the winners of the second semifinal between Sri Lanka and Singapore in the summit-clash of the tournament, which is also a test event for the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games. The final will be played tomorrow. The Indians fought hard but could not match the spirited display of the Malaysians, who clinched the match 7-14, 8-12, 9-17, 12-16. The hosts now play the losers of the second semifinal in the third-fourth place playoff. Earlier, Hong Kong registered a narrow 58-57 victory over Thailand in a thrilling group match.

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Sri Lanka-bound Harbhajan made to wait at Chennai airport

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 08:27 PM

Chennai, July 9 (IANS) Sri Lanka-bound cricketer Harbhajan Singh had to wait outside the departure hall of the Anna International Airport here as he could not produce a valid ticket.

The off-spinner arrived in the city from Mumbai in the morning and was received by a representative of the hotel where other members of the Indian team were staying overnight.

Harbhajan was escorted to the adjoining international departure terminal, but was not allowed entry as he could not produce a valid ticket.

The security personnel advised Harbhajan to visit the airport manager, who too pointed out that as per rules, he could not admit anyone inside the terminal without a valid entry document.

Harbhajan opted to wait outside and sit in the visitors' lounge until the Indian team, travelling on a group ticket, arrived from the nearby hotel after 45 minutes before boarding the noon flight to Colombo.

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Senna will drive again for HRT after Silverstone

Published Fri, Jul 09 10 08:17 PM

Brazilian Bruno Senna will drive for Hispania (HRT) in the remaining races of the Formula One season after this weekend's British Grand Prix, his Spanish-based team said on Friday.

HRT said, a day after suddenly dropping Senna, that they had decided to give their Japanese reserve Sakon Yamamoto an opportunity this weekend on his 28th birthday.

"The team wants to confirm that Bruno Senna has all the support of the Spanish team, that he remains one of the Hispania Racing HRT F1 team's official drivers and that he will be continuing to drive in the remaining races," it added.

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First venue operation team of the Games set up at Talkatora

Published Fri, Jul 09 10 07:53 PM

New Delhi, Jul 9 (PTI) The first venue operation team of the Commonwealth Games was set up today at the Talkatora Boxing stadium where the 57th Men''s National Boxing Championships begins tomorrow. The team, to be headed by IPS M S Upadhye, will have 80 members from OC along with 500 volunteers. Talking to reporters on the setting up of the first venue operation team of the Games, Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi reiterated that India will deliver the best-ever Games. "Every venue has been outstanding. We have the best Games Village which is better than Beijing. Now we are in the final stages of preparation. There is still lot of work to be done, no doubt but we will deliver the best Games," Kalmadi told reporters here. "We have learnt a lot from the Test events, they were a big boon for us. The megaevent will also prepare an Indian team for future Games to be hosted by the country," he said. Various other operation teams will be shifted to their respective stadium soon, Kalmadi said.

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Modest Del Bosque quietly making his voice heard

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 07:17 PM

Vicente del Bosque promised continuity when he succeeded Luis Aragones after the triumph of Euro 2008 and has delivered spectacularly on that ambitious pledge.

Under the mild-mannered, avuncular 59-year-old, Spain have swept to 30 wins in 32 matches, including a perfect 10 victories during their World Cup qualifying campaign.

While Aragones favoured a brasher style and provoked his players to inspire them, Del Bosque is more of a kindly father figure, quietly coaxing the best out of his hugely talented squad and successfully fostering a harmonious atmosphere.

The only blots on his record are a 2-0 defeat by the United States at last year's Confederations Cup and the 1-0 reverse to Switzerland in their opening Group H match in South Africa.

Despite the shock of that setback, he refused to tinker with the European champions' fast-flowing, possession-based playing style, triumphantly leading the Spanish into a World Cup final for the first time.

The son of a railway worker father, Salamanca-born Del Bosque is admired for his honesty, discipline, strong work ethic and serenity and is gracious both in victory and defeat.

He reads widely over the media coverage of Spain's performances, is publicly respectful of others' opinions, however they are expressed, and willing to take on board criticism and consider changing tactics where needed.

"I learn more from Vicente than he learns from me," Spain's sporting director Fernando Hierro, who played under Del Bosque at La Liga giants Real Madrid, told reporters at the team's training base in Potchefstroom last month.

"For me he is like an encyclopaedia," Hierro added.

A Real man through and through, Del Bosque has not let allegiance to his former club, whom he coached to two Champions League and two league titles, colour his attitude to the national side.

He has proved equally capable of getting the best from Real players such as captain Iker Casillas, right back Sergio Ramos and midfielder Xabi Alonso as from key squad members like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol, who play for Real's arch rivals Barcelona.

His decision to select seven Barca players in his starting 11 for the semi-final against Germany, compared to three from Real, was proof that he is ready to cast aside any allegiance he may have to his former club for the good of the national side.

The 1-0 defeat of Germany in their last-four clash in Durban on Wednesday was particularly special for Del Bosque, falling during the important Spanish festival of San Fermin.

"During the day I was thinking a lot about my (deceased) father and brother, who both had the name Fermin," he said on Thursday in an internet chat.

"I remembered those closest to me, my family, who were suffering back in Madrid."

Source: Web Search

Sergio out to fulfill his father's dream

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 07:07 PM

Potchefstroom (South Africa), July 9 (IANS) The Busquets family in Barcelona is planning a big celebration Sunday as their son Sergio is hours away from fulfilling his father Carles' dream of representing Spain in a World Cup football final.

Carles, a goalkeeper with Barcelona in the 1990s, never got a chance to play for Spain. But his 21-year-old son has gone far ahead and is a confirmed starter against the Netherlands in Sunday's final at Johannesburg's Soccer City Stadium.

In 2009, Sergio, followed his father's footsteps and featured in Barcelona's 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the Champions League final. In the process, Carles and Sergio became only the third father and son duo to have represented the same team in winning Europe's top club competition, Carles having won the title in 1992.

They joined the select father-son league of Manuel Sanchis Martinez and Manuel Sanchis Hontiyuelo (Real Madrid) and Cesare and Paolo Maldini (A.C. Milan).

In South Africa, Sergio, who anchors the midfield, is not a bit player for Spain. He has played all but 27 minutes of the competition for La Furia Roja.

Sergio knows that expectations are high from him. After all, he was picked ahead of Marcos Senna who played a crucial role as a holding midfielder during Spain's Euro 2008 triumph.

Sergio has vowed not to let his coach Vincent del Bosque and his father down.

'It feels good to know that people are expecting something for me. Expectations create a sense of responsibility and I am ready for that. I have to fulfill my father's dream and end up on the winning side Sunday,' Busquets told IANS at the team's training base in Potchefstroom University.

But Sergio knows it would be a tall task for Spain to beat the Netherlands.

'We are worried about (Wesley) Sneijder. He is an excellent player, we are studying how we can stop him,' he said.

At the club level, Sergio is being compared to the likes of Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez.

'I am glad that people compare me with such great players. But it is of no use, until and unless I play well. I know the challenges I have to face and it is going to be the biggest moment of my career,' he said.

A great deal of criticism was hurled at Sergio when he was playing for Barcelona.

But here in South Africa, del Bosque has shown faith in the youngster and he was proved right as Sergio excelled in the semi-final against Germany. Of the players who have featured in more than three World Cup matches, only four have a better pass completion rate than Sergio.

Against the Netherlands, one should not expect Sergio to be a match-winner, but his workman like approach can make a difference for the Spaniards.

Source: Web Search

Zaheer''s absence a golden opportunity for youngsters: Kirmani

Published Fri, Jul 09 10 06:53 PM

Kolkata, Jul 9 (PTI) Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan''s absence from the India-Sri Lanka Test series is a golden opportunity for the youngsters, including Karnataka fast bowler Abhimanyu Mithun, to prove their mettle in the highest level, feels former stumper Syed Kirmani. "I think, Zaheer''s absence will be a good opportunity for the youngsters to fill the gap. It''s a motivating factor for them," Kirmani, a member of the 1983 World Cup winning team, said here today. Kirmani made it clear that he has no doubt about Mithun''s potential but reminded that all will depend on performance. "Mithun has tremendous potential. He has it in him to go all the way up. But all depends on how he conducts," said Kirmani, also the Chairman of Karnataka''s state selection panel. Zaheer has been ruled out of the series due to a shoulder injury. On the three-match series, the 60-year-old said, "It all depends on the individual form of the players. It will be a keenly-contested series for sure and the key would be consistency." The first of the three Tests begins at Galle on July 18. Disappointed with the performance of young cricketers in Zimbabwe, Kirmani said they should take a lesson from iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar. "The youngsters should take the classic example of Sachin Tendulkar, the greatest cricketer in the world at this moment. He is full of discipline, the youngsters should emulate him," Kirmani said. Kirmani also praised Bengal wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. "He is in the team (for the Sri Lanka series), obviously the second best at the moment. But let''s not be pessimistic about Dhoni or anybody in the team. We hope our full strength team to perform always. "Saha should consider himself very lucky. He should make use of his opportunity. I hope that he get a chance to perform at the highest level," he said. On the retirement of world''s leading wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan, who is to quit after the first Test, Kirmani said, "His words for Harbhajan Singh are really encouraging." "Records are meant to be broken. There will always be somebody who will go past you. Even Sir Donald Bradman''s (highest century) record was broken by (Sunil) Gavaskar and later Sachin Tendulkar surpassed him. Only time will say it all," he added. Muralitharan recently said among the current crop of slow bowlers, only Harbhajan can match his record of scalping nearly 800 Test wickets. Brand ambassador of Widex Hi-definition Hearing, Kirmani was in the city to distribute hearing aids to the differently-abled children.

Source: Web Search

Best security to athletes, tourists during Games: Dikshit

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 06:37 PM

New Delhi, July 9 (IANS) The thousands of visitors, including athletes and tourists, during the October Commonwealth Games will be provided with the best security, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said Friday.

Speaking at a seminar 'From Commonwealth Games to Olympics' here, she also exhorted the people to showcase Delhi's rich culture during the Oct 3-14 Games, when around 100,000 visitors are expected to throng the city.

'We seek more and more people's cooperation from across the country for the successful conduct of the Games,' she added.

Commenting on the preparations for the Games in the wake of the monsoon's arrival, she said: 'We have already done a lot of work and at the same time we are aware of the rains. There would be no problem in timely completion of the projects.'

'We have to face many obstacles and overcome those obstacles. The people from every part of the country can be a part of this game. Also, if people from all walks of life - painters, theatre artists or volunteers - contribute then we will say with full confidence that we will certainly do it,' she said.

To a question about the maintenance of the infrastructure coming up for the Games, Dikshit said the responsibility lies with the sports ministry and also it can be used for training programmes for the budding athletes.

As to whether Delhi was ready to host Olympics, she noted that the city's potential to host any big event would be 'more visible' after the successful completion of the mega-event, which will have the participation of 71 countries.

Source: Web Search

Murali named vice captain, Malinga in Test squad against India

Published Fri, Jul 09 10 06:23 PM

Colombo, Jul 9 (PTI) Sri Lanka today named retiring spinner Muttiah Muralitharan as the vice captain and brought back seamer Lasith Malinga for the first Test against India starting on July 18 at Galle. Muralitharan will be Kumar Sangakkara''s deputy in the Galle Test before he quits the longer version of the game. The selectors also brought back the pace duo of Malinga and Dilhara Fernando, naming them in the 16-member squad, which includes uncapped batsman Lahiru Thirimanne. The 26-year-old Malinga has played 28 Tests so far, the last being against England in December 2007. On the other hand, 30-year-old Fernando, a veteran of 33 Tests, is making a comeback since the tour of Pakistan last year. Sri Lanka squad: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Muttiah Muralitharan (vice-captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranawithana, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Anjelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardena, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando, Dhammika Prasad, Suraj Randiv, Thilina Kandamby, Chanaka Welagedara and Lahiru Thirimanna.

Source: Web Search

Germany's Oracle Octopus says Spain will win World Cup 2010

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 05:53 PM

Berlin (Germany), July 9 (ANI): Germany's oracle octopus Paul has predicted Spain as the winner of this year's FIFA World Cup.

In a live television broadcast watched across the world, Paul placed himself on a container carrying the Spanish flag, as opposed to one containing the Dutch flag.

The two-year-old celebrity octopus has accurately picked the outcome of all six of Germany's World Cup matches so far, took just three minutes to decide who the winner would be.

On Friday, Paul also tipped Germany to beat Uruguay in the World Cup match for third place.

Paul's selections have become top news across the world. After he accurately picked Spain to beat Germany in the semi-final, some Germans called for his public roasting. Newspapers and websites were filled with suggestions on how to cook and eat him. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

CA briefs its directors on Howard''s nomination rejection

Published Fri, Jul 09 10 05:37 PM

Melbourne, Jul 9 (PTI) Cricket Australia Chairman Jack Clarke today briefed its directors on the rejection of John Howard''s bid for the ICC vice-President''s post and said the future course of action would be decided only after consulting New Zealand Cricket (NZC). CA will work closely with NZC in the coming weeks for a joint assessment of the next steps on their joint nomination process, a CA statement said. Clarke said today''s Board teleconference had been the first opportunity to bring the CA directors together for a detailed debriefing on the developments. The name of former Australian Prime Minister Howard, a joint nomination of CA and NZC for the ICC post, was recently rejected by the Afro-Asian block, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lankan and Bangladesh. During today''s meeting it was briefed that the CA and NZC had been totally united throughout an exhaustive process which had identified Howard as the best candidate for the role, the statement added. Howard''s name was also backed by England at an ICC meet in Singapore. The ICC has asked Australia and New Zealand to find another candidate and submit his name to the governing body by August 31.

Source: Web Search

Netherlands has the belief to lift World Cup: De Boer

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 05:17 PM

Johannesburg, July 9 (IANS) Former Dutch captain turned assistant coach Frank de Boer feels the present Netherlands team has the belief to lift the World Cup, something that was unseen in the past.

De Boer, who represented the Netherlands in the 1994 and the 1998 World Cups, said the past teams were content to make the semifinals and never focused on winning the title.

'There is a big difference between this team and those in the past. I have played in two World Cups and we never believed in ourselves. We never had the focus and were always happy to make the semifinals, because we were never the favourites,' de Boer told IANS.

He said in the 1998 World Cup in France, where they finished fourth, the Netherlands had one of the finest team in Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Kluivert, Phillip Cocu, Edwin van der Sar, his brother Ronald and himself, but they never believed in themselves.

'But this team is different, they have the confidence to win. If you believe in yourself, you can make the difference. Cocu (assistant coach), I and coach Bert van Marjwik have worked to make the guys believe that they can become the world champions,' the former Barcelona defender said.

'Initially, many players didn't believe they can do it. But for the last two years, every single person in the team has worked hard to instill the belief in the players that they can beat any opposition in the world. It was a process that we started from day one and it is a compliment to everybody in the support staff that we are now in the final.'

De Boer said it is this self-belief that made the difference when they defeated tournament favourites Brazil in the quarterfinal in Port Elizabeth.

'This team is very stable. Even if we don't play our best, we win or we draw. We don't lose the match. We have been unbeaten in 25 games. This self-belief made the difference when we defeated Brazil. We were a goal down and then came back strongly to finish off the match,' he said.

De Boer said the team has some magical players who can turn tide in their favour.

'We have players like Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt, Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben who can do something out of nothing. This is the quality of the team. We have showed in this tournament that we can even win without giving our best. But we have to play better to be World Champions,' he said.

Asked whether his successful stint with the national team will prompt him to look to coach a different club or a country, de Boer said: 'Not yet. I have to be more experienced before I can even think about it. I have three beautiful daughters and a wife and I am settling down in Holland.'

Source: Web Search

Gill has changed: Ashok Kumar

Published Fri, Jul 09 10 04:53 PM

Bhopal, July 9 -- Olympian Ashok Kumar had raised his voice against Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) president KPS Gill after the cash-for-selection scandal in 2008 and general mismanagement, which resulted in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) suspending the IHF and installing Hockey India in its place. But despite a bitter experience, he is back in the IHF fold. On Thursday he spoke to HT on the sidelines of the 63rd Senior National Men's Hockey Championship. On why he leave the ad hoc body despite being a selector? I had joined Hockey India as I thought it would improve things. But it turned out to be worse than IHF. HI officials just want to enjoy power and prevent real hockey lovers from working for the game. On FIH's role in Indian Hockey? I don't think there was any need for a unified body. FIH is not clear in using its rules - if there has to be a democratically elected unified body, then why is FIH not insisting for such a body in Pakistan? FIH people know that India is the biggest hub for sponsorship, and they mint money here. That's the reason why it granted World Cup to India despite knowing the problems in Indian hockey. On having a bad experience with IHF and KPS Gill and coming back with them? I accept that both IHF and Gill were responsible for the declining of Indian hockey. I had high hopes from him, but he didn't live up to the expectations. However, now I feel Gill has changed especially after the revival of IHF through a court order.

He needs to take some tough decisions. He should listen to the right people. My first suggestion to him would be that IHF should ensure there is adequate infrastructure like astro turfs in pockets where hockey is popular and can grow.

Source: Web Search

Octopus Paul tips Spain for title, Germany for third

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 04:37 PM

Oberhausen (Germany), July 9 (DPA) Spanish fans had reason to celebrate Friday after Paul the Octopus predicted that Spain will beat the Netherlands to win their first World Cup title Sunday.

The world renowned octopus at Aquarium Sea Life in Oberhausen, Germany, also predicted Germany would overcome Uruguay in the battle for third place Saturday.

The psychic sea creature will be hoping to keep a perfect record for South Africa 2010, having already correctly predicted four Germany victories and two losses in the tournament.

Two glass cubes were baited with mussels and marked with flags of Spain and Netherlands. And Paul went directly to the Spanish tank and ate its mussel.

Half an hour earlier, the octopus chose the mussel in Germany's tank over the confines of those marked with the Uruguay flag.

Source: Web Search

Miandad slams Butt, says PCB ruining Younus'' career

Published Fri, Jul 09 10 04:23 PM

Karachi, Jul 9 (PTI) Power struggle in Pakistan Cricket Board shows no signs of abating with former captain Javed Miandad today lashing out at PCB chairman Ijaj Butt, alleging that the Board has lost all its prestige and is out to destroy the career of Younus Khan. Miandad, also the PCB director-general cricket, said in an interview that he was fed up with the prevailing situation in the board where Butt was running a one-man show. "How can I keep quiet when wrong decisions are being taken, when the board is bent upon wasting the career of a player like Younus Khan, when the Chairman listens to no one?" he asked. Miandad, a veteran of 124 Tests, didn''t attend Thursday''s governing council meeting, prompting Butt to pass some sarcastic remarks in the press conference. Miandad said he didn''t go to the meeting because of prior commitments and he had already informed the board about his intentions. "If no one informed Butt that I was not attending then the Chairman should question him," Miandad said. In Pakistan, the chief patron of the board, President Asif Zardari appoints the board Chairman and in Miandad''s case also the President is said to have backed him to be in the board. Relations between the board and Miandad deteriorated recently when the PCB asked Miandad to explain in writing some statements he gave after the announcement of the touring squad for England in which he criticised the selection policy. "I have already sent a four-page answer to the board and I have told them if something is not being done right in Pakistan cricket it is my duty to speak up because I was brought into the board to use my experience and do something constructive, which I am not being allowed to do," Miandad said. Miandad lashed out at a recent statement by the PCB legal adviser Tafazzul Risvi in which he said Younus would have to apologise to Butt first to be considered for national selection. Younus, despite having a ban lifted last month by the appeal''s tribunal of the board, was not picked for the England tour and Butt later said that since Younus and his lawyer had made disparaging remarks against the board his return was not imminent. "I don''t know why they want to destroy his career. What wrong has he committed that he should not be in the team and must first apologise to the Chairman?" Miandad asked.

Source: Web Search

Germany coach down with flu, four miss training

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 04:19 PM

Germany coach Joachim Loew was forced to skip training and stay in bed on Friday, a day before his team's third place playoff against Uruguay, after coming down with a flu virus, the team said.

Loew, whose future as Germany coach will be decided after the World Cup, will, however, travel to Port Elizabeth with the team for Saturday's match.

Captain Philipp Lahm, Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose and second choice keeper Tim Wiese were also missing from the training session at Atteridgeville near Pretoria, recovering from minor injuries.

Germany lost 1-0 to Spain in their semi-final on Wednesday and will play Uruguay, who were defeated 3-2 by Netherlands.

Source: Web Search

'South African World Cup games garnered record TV viewers'

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 04:07 PM

Johannesburg, July 9(ANI): Figures have revealed that the FIFA World Cup matches involving hosts South Africa had garnered the largest television audience for a sporting event in the country's history.

"From the perspective of TV audiences, the World Cup has been an unqualified success," Sport24 quoted Brett Hobbs, business unit head at SA media company Carat, as saying.

"The opening match between South Africa and Mexico, with a combined SABC 1/SuperSport 3 viewership of 7.7 million, attracted over 20 percent more viewers than the 6.2 million local viewers who watched South Africa playing Brazil in the 2009 Confederations Cup," he added.

Hobbs further said that prior to the World Cup, the 2009 Confederations Cup was by far the greatest sports broadcast event in the country's history.

"If we look at the Cricket T20 World Cup in 2007, which was hosted in SA, TV only managed to peak at about 2.7 million viewers. This was for the match between SA and India, and unfortunately we were knocked out of the tournament at that stage," said Hobbs.

"A far more important event, not only compared to the T20 World Cup, but for our country, was the IRB Rugby World Cup 2007, even though we did not host it. The first SA game generated a collective local audience of about 1.9 million viewers and this gained momentum, naturally based on the Springboks success, right through to the final, which achieved 4.4 million viewers," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

German football boss upbeat Loew will stay as coach

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 03:57 PM

Pretoria, July 9 (DPA) German football supremo Theo Zwanziger expressed optimism Friday that national team coach Joachim Loew would renew his contract after the World Cup football.

'There's no deal. But the chances are good because the coach knows that we're behind him,' Zwanziger, president of the German Football Association (DFB), told Germany's ARD television.

'We've had a great youth sector for years and excellent opportunities for the future. This is something that should interest an ambitious coach like him.'

The Bild daily reported that Loew, who was promoted from assistant after the 2006 World Cup when Juergen Klinsmann stepped down, would stay on until Euro 2012.

Loew has not talked about his future since contract talks broke down in February. But Zwanziger has said throughout the World Cup that he wants Loew to stay.

The young team, which has impressed so much in South Africa en route to to the semi-finals, also wants him to continue.

The DFB hopes for a final decision before the end of the month. The first post-World Cup game, a friendly with Denmark, is set for August 11. Euro 2012 qualifying starts in September.

A difficulty could arise from the staff around Loew, according to Bild. General manager Oliver Bierhoff has tied his future to Loew's, but if he stays on it would continue a difficult relationship he has with sports director Matthias Sammer.

Source: Web Search

Smith, Paine must not be overawed by Lord's debut: Katich

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 03:37 PM

London, July 9(ANI): Australian batsman Simon Katich has said that rookies Steve Smith and Tim Paine must not be overawed by the experience of making their Test debuts at Lord's next week.

Katich said that Smith and Paine were the type of players to thrive at the home of cricket in the opening Test against Pakistan, starting Tuesday.

"There is no doubt that it can be intimidating place to be at and it is a special place to play and hopefully the guys will lap it up and enjoy it more than anything," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Katich, as saying.

"Knowing what some of the young guys are like around the group, they are really enjoying being around the group and making the most of their experience," he added.

Meanwhile, he also questioned the merits of limited preparation time for the Test series.

"I honestly don't know why we are playing a two-day match, but there is obviously a reason for it. It must be a schedule, it is the first time that I have been on a tour where we haven't played at least a four-day match," Katich said.

"At least one if not two before a Test series. So, I am not sure, I have not asked anyone why," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Villa's journey from facing leg amputation as a kid to World Cup final!

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 03:27 PM

Cape Town, July 9(ANI): Spanish forward David Villa, who is on the verge of leading Spain to World Cup glory, had faced a right leg amputation as a four-year-old after a horrific break in his femur.

Villa suffered the accident while playing football, when a much older kid fell on his leg.

Doctors feared that they might have to amputate the leg, but miraculously, Villa escaped the worst.

However, he had to spend six months in plaster.

His father, Jose Manuel, a miner, said that after Villa recovered from the horrific accident, he used to spend two hours teaching his right-footed son to kick the ball with his left foot.

"When I came home from the mine we always spent two hours together. I would pass the ball to him and he would kick it with his left foot," The Sun quoted Manuel, as saying.

"I think for that reason he is now equally good with both feet," he added. alking about his father's contribution in his evolution as a world-class footballer, Villa said: "My dad would be there throwing me the ball over and over, making me kick it with my left leg when my right was in plaster after breaking it."

"I can barely remember a single training session when my dad wasn't there. I have never been alone on a football pitch," he added.

Spain will play Sunday's World Cup final against Netherlands at Johannesburg's Soccer City. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Australia can regain top Test ranking if they play to potential in next six months: Nielsen

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 03:23 PM

London, July 9(ANI): Australian coach Tim Nielsen has said that his team can reclaim the World No.1 Test ranking, if they play well in the next six months leading up to the Ashes series.

Australia is currently third with 119 rating points, behind India (124) and South Africa (120).

During the six-month period, Australia are scheduled to play Pakistan in England, India in India, and then bid to regain the Ashes on home soil.

"That gives us a great opportunity and if we are playing well enough in the Ashes, it will give us the opportunity to regain the No.1 position," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Nielsen, as saying.

"It is not something we talk much about, but if we worry about playing the cricket we can play, that will take care of the rest of it. So, over the next little while we have to make sure we get all of our squad players right and if we do that, we are a real chance," he added.

The Ricky Ponting led team will start their campaign with next week's opening Test against Pakistan at Lord's.

Pakistan have not defeated Australia in their past 15 Tests, their last success was a 74-run win in Sydney in November 1995. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Suarez's hand, Kingson's feet, sum up goalkeeping

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 03:17 PM

The standard of goalkeeping at the World Cup can be summed up by the fact that the most memorable save of the tournament was made by a centre forward.

Conversely, two of the best displays by a man wearing gloves came from Ghana's Richard Kingson, who made most of his saves with his feet.

The tournament was not a vintage one for goalkeepers, with few doing much to enhance their reputations and many doing the opposite as they struggled to deal with the unpredictable aerodynamics of the Jabulani ball.

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez's flying one-handed block of Dominic Adiyiah's diving header in the last minute of extra-time in their quarter-final against Ghana was an effort most keepers would have been proud of, but only a handful of saves by conventional custodians stand out in the memory.

Kingson's display in the that match and in the group phase was impressive, if a little unorthodox.

The man who spent last season as third-choice for Premier League side Wigan Athletic was always quick to see danger and used his legs to great effect.

There were some "normal" saves, however. It is hard to imagine the Netherlands coming back from 2-0 down against Brazil in their quarter-final but it looked certain to be the scoreline until Maarten Stekelenburg went full length to touch Kaka's curling shot around a post.

Fellow finalists Spain can also thank Iker Casillas for his penalty save against Paraguay.

MAJOR FACTOR

Fernando Muslera was a major factor in Uruguay conceding only two goals in five games before the semi-finals and Paraguay's Justo Villar recovered from a first-game flap that handed a goal to Italy to have a good tournament.

Germany's Manuel Neuer was unspectacular but went about his business with a calm certainty. While others flailed and shifted their weight prematurely while dealing with long range shots, he ensured that the many he faced, particularly against Argentina in the quarter-final, were safely swallowed up in his chest.

Others flattered to deceive. Nigeria's Vincent Enyeama was man of the match in their opener against Argentina but blundered horribly in the next game to set Greece on course for their 2-1 comeback win.

Eduardo was excellent for Portugal against Spain but will probably be unhappy with his parry of David Villa's shot back into the striker's path for the only goal of the game.

The first week of action featured a series of blunders, with England's Robert Green and Algeria's Faouzi Chaouchi both dropped after allowing tame shots to get past them and Australia's Mark Schwarzer and Alexandros Tzorvas of Greece also gifting goals.

Oddly, the ball was both villain and a boon for the keepers. Its unpredictable movement through the air, particularly its tendency to dip and swerve late, meant that any kind of block or parry was usually the order of the day.

Eyebrows were raised when Casillas was almost deceived by Cristiano Ronaldo's 30-metre free kick but in fact the big Spaniard had done well to ensure he was fully behind the ball, which swerved past his hands and hit his shoulder.

However, the fact that so few players were able to keep the ball below crossbar height from distance, particularly with free kicks, meant that all-too-often the keepers were not even tested.

Source: Web Search

Olympic and world 100m champion Fraser tests positive

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 02:57 PM

Olympic and world 100 metres champion Shelly-Ann Fraser has tested positive for a tooth painkiller she neglected to list on a doping form, the Jamaican told Reuters on Thursday.

She has been provisionally suspended by the IAAF pending a hearing, the sprinter said.

"I have nothing to hide," a defiant Fraser said after withdrawing from the Lausanne Diamond League meeting.

The positive test was triggered by her failure to list on a doping form at May's Shanghai Diamond League meeting a painkiller she was given by her coach for a three-day-old severe tooth pain, the 2008 Beijing gold medallist said.

"I will go home and have a hearing before my federation in Jamaica," she added. "I hope they will accept my explanation."

Both her agent and coach confirmed the sprinter's suspension.

IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said they were still waiting for the case to be concluded, but based on the explanation provided by Fraser and her agent they were "disappointed with her carelessness."

"Athletes must pay more attention to what they ingest as our rules are clear," he told Reuters in an email.

RUINED REPUTATION

Fraser, a role model for Jamaican youth, said she had mixed emotions about the positive.

"I take some responsibility because athletes are supposed to be responsible for what they take," she said.

"But I am upset because everybody is starting to assume I am taking drugs. My reputation is ruined somewhat."

Her coach, Stephen Francis, said the punishment for such a violation usually is a public warning.

"It is not a performance-enhancing substance nor a masking agent," the coach said.

Fraser was notified of the positive about three weeks ago and told on Thursday she had been provisionally suspended, her agent, Adrian Laidlaw, said in an interview.

Only her "A" sample has been tested, Fraser said. "There is no need to test (the "B" sample) because I don't appeal."

She said she had three teeth filled in Jamaica before flying to Shanghai and had sought help from medical and meeting officials for resulting pain.

When their medication did not ease the hurt, she had thought of withdrawing from the Shanghai race, she said. But Francis persuaded her to take a painkiller he was taking for kidney stones, Fraser said.

The medication eased the pain, Fraser said, but it caused her to feel weak and run slower than normal in the race.

Source: Web Search

Ashley Cole's glamour girl landed in two sex scandals while at a top school

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 02:23 PM

London, July (ANI): Elle Hartley, who is holidaying with England footballer Ashley Cole, landed in two sex scandals while at a top school.

The glamour girl, 20, sparked an uproar when she sent a video of pleasuring herself with a sex toy to boyfriend's mobile at the age of 15 - only to find it pinged around his pals.

On the second occasion, she provoked a police probe while at Sheffield School for Girls after being pictured flashing in a lads' mag when aged just 14.

Bosses at magazine Nuts issued an apology for publishing the nightclub cleavage shot after Elle's furious head teacher called cops.

"I'm ashamed about both incidents and have attempted to learn from my juvenile mistakes, " the Sun quoted Elle as saying.

The wannabe WAG also said she is "embarrassed" by the attention she has had since being pictured sunbathing in a skimpy bikini with pal Melissa Niak, 20, and Chelsea footballer Cole, 29.

"They're inseparable. Both girls know they've got stunning bodies and aren't shy of flaunting them," an ex-school pal added. (ANI)

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Boxing Nationals to kick off sans Vijender

Published Fri, Jul 09 10 02:07 PM

New Delhi, Jul 9 (PTI) Injured Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh will give it a miss for the third time in a row but the 57th Men''s National Boxing Championships will not be short of star power as a clutch of international medallists would vie for the top honours in the event, starting here tomorrow. Vijender hurt his right hand during a sparring session at the national camp in Patiala and will not take the ring at the Nationals for the third year in a row. Also missing from action would be Olympian Jitender Kumar (56kg) and former world youth champion Thokchom Nanao Singh (49kg), who too are nursing hand injuries. However, the tournament does have its share of stars with Commonwealth Games gold medallist Akhil Kumar (56kg), Asian champion Suranjoy Singh (52kg), Commonwealth champions Jai Bhagwan (60kg), Dinesh Kumar (81kg) and Paramjeet Samota (91kg) and South Asian Games gold medallist Chhote Lal Yadav highlighting the draw. To be held in Delhi after a gap of two years, the Championships will also give the boxers decent prize money. Every bout won in the preliminary stage would fetch boxers Rs 1,000 and the money would keep increasing as the stage gets tougher. The Indian Boxing Federation has made it mandatory for each one of the 44 core group boxers to participate in the event and exceptions would be made only for the medically unfit. The IBF has threatened to throw non-participants, who fail to give a satisfactory reason for their absence, out of the camp, making them ineligible for the trials for the Commonwealth Games. With the trials just a couple of months away, the Nationals give the not-so-established names a chance to impress the selection panel headed by Dronacharya awardee O P Bhardwaj. Several boxers have not found a place in their departmental teams but the IBF has insisted on their presence in the tournament by introducing a special entry provision. The boxers who fail to make their state or unit teams would be allowed to compete as individual IBF entries. The tournament, to be held at the newly-constructed Talkatora Stadium, is also a test event to check the dome-shaped arena''s preparedness for the Commonwealth Games scheduled from October 3 to 14 here.

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FIFA may compensate fans who missed World Cup semis

Published Fri, Jul 09 10 01:47 PM

Johannesburg, July 8 -- The ruling football body FIFA is looking into the case of hundreds of football fans who missed the World Cup semifinal between Spain and Germany in Durban Wednesday evening after their planes were turned back because of overcrowding on the tarmac. "It is a bit too early to make a statement because this happened only last night, but we're looking at the matter and may consider a compensation for genuine cases," said FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot. Wednesday night saw chaotic scenes at Durban's new King Shaka International airport, where charter planes carrying VIPs squatted the parking bays of scheduled carriers, causing several planeloads of fans to miss the game after being diverted back to Johannesburg. The charter planes were supposed to drop off their passengers at the new airport and then park at Durban's decommissioned old international airport, 60 kilometres away, for the duration of the game before returning to fetch their clients. Instead, some charter pilots refused to continue on to the old airport, meaning scheduled flights which had booked the landing bays couldn't land, according to Bongani Maseko, an official of South Africa's airports company.

"We have handled the traffic volumes extremely well and so are proud of the work we have done in this respect," said Craig.

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Indian team leaves for Sri Lanka, Dhoni to join Saturday

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 01:37 PM

Chennai, July 9 (ANI): The Indian team left on Friday for Sri Lanka to play three Tests and a tri-nation ODI series, starting July 18.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will join the team a day later as he is to receive an honorary membership of the Madras Cricket Club this evening.

Reserve stumper Wriddhiman Saha will fly directly to Sri Lanka from London.

After completing the Test assignment, India will play a tri-series, also involving New Zealand, from August 10. (ANI)

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Hussey, Ponting hit centuries to rescue Australia from warm-up embarrassment

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 01:17 PM

London, July 9(ANI): Australian batsman Mike Hussey and skipper Ricky Ponting rescued the Aussies from a potentially embarrassing outing against Derbyshire in their only warm-up game before next week's first Test against Pakistan at Lord's.

The visitors lost three early wickets and were reeling at 3-47 before centuries from the pair laid the foundations for a score of 436 all out.

Derbyshire fast bowler Atif Sheikh dismissed openers Shane Watson (five) and Simon Katich (22), while fellow pacer Mark Footitt bowled vice-captain Michael Clarke (one).

Hussey (132) and Ponting (112 retired) put on 210 for the fourth wicket.

Ponting looked in good nick during his stay, during which he cracked 14 fours and three sixes.

Steve Smith made a breezy 48 before his expected Test debut, while wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine (52 not out) played a measured hand ahead of his maiden appearance in the baggy green.

Meanwhile, Katich said that the Australians were keen to get another full day of action on Friday.

"Most of the guys had pretty good stints out there in the middle just getting used to facing red balls again. They have been facing white ones for the last month," Fox Sports quoted Katich, as saying.

"Hopefully tomorrow the weather will be good and we will be able to get a full day in the field and the bowlers will be able to be have a hit out as well," he added.

The match is Australia's only practice fixture before the Lord's Test starting on Tuesday. (ANI)

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BBC sacks Bleakley over romance with footie star Lampard

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 01:13 PM

London, July 9 (ANI): BBC One Show babe Christine Bleakley has been sensationally sacked by the company for romancing England football star Frank Lampard.

The presenter was supposed to return to The One Show sofa next week for her last two months at its helm, the Daily Star reports.

But the show's top brass have pulled the plug because they are unhappy with her new lifestyle as girlfriend of Chelsea and England star Frank Lampard, 32.

Her contract was supposed to end in September after she signed a four million pound deal to team up with ex-One Show partner Adrian Chiles, 43, on ITV1's revamped GMTV.

Insiders claim the Beeb were furious over Christine deciding to fly to South Africa for the World Cup and then jetting off on a holiday with Lampard, when key decisions were being made about the show in London. (ANI)

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Hussey, Ponting hit centuries to rescue Australia from warm-up embarrassment

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 01:07 PM

London, July 9(ANI): Australian batsman Mike Hussey and skipper Ricky Ponting rescued the Aussies from a potentially embarrassing outing against Derbyshire in their only warm-up game before next week's first Test against Pakistan at Lord's.

The visitors lost three early wickets and were reeling at 3-47 before centuries from the pair laid the foundations for a score of 436 all out.

Derbyshire fast bowler Atif Sheikh dismissed openers Shane Watson (five) and Simon Katich (22), while fellow pacer Mark Footitt bowled vice-captain Michael Clarke (one).

Hussey (132) and Ponting (112 retired) put on 210 for the fourth wicket.

Ponting looked in good nick during his stay, during which he cracked 14 fours and three sixes.

Steve Smith made a breezy 48 before his expected Test debut, while wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine (52 not out) played a measured hand ahead of his maiden appearance in the baggy green.

Meanwhile, Katich said that the Australians were keen to get another full day of action on Friday.

"Most of the guys had pretty good stints out there in the middle just getting used to facing red balls again. They have been facing white ones for the last month," Fox Sports quoted Katich, as saying.

"Hopefully tomorrow the weather will be good and we will be able to get a full day in the field and the bowlers will be able to be have a hit out as well," he added.

The match is Australia's only practice fixture before the Lord's Test starting on Tuesday. (ANI)

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Modi challenges his suspension, drags BCCI to court

Published Fri, Jul 09 10 12:53 PM

India, July 8 -- Suspended Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit Modi on Thursday moved the Bombay High Court against BCCI's decision to suspend him and prayed for quashing of the disciplinary proceedings of the Board against him.Special In his petition, moved through his constituted attorney Mehmood Abdi, Modi also prayed that the court appoint a mutually acceptable and independent person or panel to consider his replies to the three show-cause notices issued to him by the Board alleging various irregularities in the conduct of the T20 League. The suspension order was issued to Modi by the BCCI on April 25 following which he was slapped show-cause notices on April 26, May 6 and May 31. Modi has prayed for recall and withdrawal of the suspension order and further proceedings on the three notices.

The three members of the disciplinary panel reconstituted by BCCI through a Special General Meeting on July 3 are Chirayu Amin, the IPL's Interim Chairman, Arun Jaitley and Jyotiraditya Scindia.

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Alonso warns Spain to learn lessons from England's demise

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 12:47 PM

London, July 9 (ANI): Mid-fielder Xabi Alonso has warned Spain to learn lessons from England's World Cup demise and not be overconfident when taking on The Netherlands in Sunday's final.

Alonso pointed to England's calamitous last-16 performance against Germany in Bloemfontein as proof that an off day can see dreams come crashing down.

According to the Daily Express, Alonso believes Vicente del Bosque's side must maintain their standards as they look to lift the trophy for the first time.

"England had a very tough game and the expectations were very high. But one bad game and you are out. That is how it works in the World Cup, and that should be a warning to us on Sunday. We have been coping with the pressure quite well because we knew the expectations were quite high," Alonso said.

"The role of the favourite doesn't give you any help, you still have to justify it and show it out on the pitch. So far we have been playing well and now we have a very tough game in the final against Holland," he added. (ANI)

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Smith not 'nervous' over 'baggy green' debut at Lord's Test against Pakistan

Published>Fri, Jul 09 10 12:37 PM

London, July 9(ANI): Australian leg-spinner Steven Smith is set to make his Test debut in next week's opening Test against Pakistan at Lord's.

selected, he will enjoy the rare honour for an Australian of debuting at the home of cricket, and becoming the nation's first spinner to do so since Hugh Trumble in 1890.

Smith's parents and elder sister will be in London to watch him play his maiden Test, but he insists that the presence of his family "will be just fine".

"I'm not really the nervous type. It's just about going out there and you're there for a reason," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Smith, as saying.

The 21-year-old has spent some time at the MCG nets with his childhood idol Shane Warne, and said that he has provided him with some valuable insights on the mental side of the game.

"I've had a few talks with him about that sort of thing -working out batsmen and working out the batter's triggers, different wickets and the ways you need to adapt," Smith said.

"He's been outstanding for me. He's the best spin bowler that's ever walked on the earth. He's one of a kind and he's just a genius," he added.

Earlier, former Australia captain Steve Waugh had said that Smith has the potential to be the country's No.1 spinner, as he is one of the most promising cricketers to have come forward in the last 20 years.

"I think Steve Smith is one of the most promising cricketers we have seen in Australia in the past 20 years," Waugh had said.

"I think he could be the No.1 spinner. You have to give him a little bit of time, I mean leg-spin is a tough art. We have been really spoilt by Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill and people forget Stuart MacGill was a terrific spinner as well," he added.

The former captain had also praised him for the impact he made with both bat and ball in the ODI series against England. (ANI)

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