Doping cases will not affect India's performance in CWG: Bhanot

Published>Sat, Sep 04 10 12:27 PM

New Delhi, Sep 4 (ANI): Lalit Bhanot, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC), has said that doping incidents will not affect India's performance in the upcoming mega-event, after four Indian wrestlers were ruled out of the 2010 Games, failing to pass the doping test.

"It's not a good thing what has happened, but as far as in terms of performance if you speak about the medals, I don't think it will bring any impact on the medal winning. The sportspersons are themselves responsible and not the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) or any other governing federation," told Bhanot to reporters on Friday.

"The Sports Authority of India or any other federation cannot be with them for 24 hours, and to monitor of what they eat, when they move out, is difficult. Therefore, the person who is found guilty is himself responsible," he added.

Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi reassured that they are all out to ensure that the games would be dope free and the athletes found guilty would be suspended.

"We want the Commonwealth Games to be dope free and we are going to be very strict about it. Those who are found guilty will be suspended," said Kalmadi.

Four wrestlers, who were part of the Commonwealth Games squad, have tested positive and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) provisionally suspended them on Thursday.

This came barely a week after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) bailed out the weightlifters by giving an interest-free loan to the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) to pay off fines due to doping sanctions.he wrestlers tested positive for a banned substance called Methylhexanamine. The tests were part of routine random testing by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in the run-up to the Games.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) suspended freestyle wrestlers Sumit (74 kg), Mausam Khatri (96 kg), Gursharanpreet Kaur (72 kg) and Tomar (120 kg), who were to participate in the Games.

National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) collected their samples during the team selection trials held on August 8.

The wrestlers were undergoing training at camps in Sonepat and Patiala.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games, which kicks off on October 3 is India's biggest sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games.

India is expecting about two million tourists in New Delhi for the Games, as well as about 10,000 athletes from 71 teams representing 54 Commonwealth member states. (ANI)

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Tiger Woods 'smiled and posed for pic right after divorce'

Published>Sat, Sep 04 10 12:23 PM

Washington, Sep 04 (ANI): Disgraced golfer Tiger woods reportedly smiled and posed for a photo when he left the courtroom after divorce from ex-wife Elin Nordegren.

Woods' divorce from Nordegren was finalized at Bay County Circuit Court in Panama City, Florida last month.

The golfer didn't say one word to ex-wife on the divorce day.

According to TMZ, Woods was "nice" even after signing away roughly 100 million dollars to ex-wife. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Indian golfers miss cut at European Masters

Sat, Sep 04 10 11:57 AM

Crans Montana (Switzerland), Sep 4 (PTI) The Indian challenge in the Omega European Masters ended after the six golfers in fray missed the cut with largely disappointing second-round cards here. Shiv Kapur was the only Indian who managed to break par with a two-under 69 but that was just not enough to fetch him a place inside the cut-line which came at one-under 141. Kapur finished two strokes below the cut-line at one-over 143 after striking four birdies against a couple of bogeys yesterday. Jeev Milkha Singh signed off with an identical total but after returning a disappointing second round of two-over 73. The seasoned Chandigarh-pro had a brilliant front-nine studded with four birdies against just a lone bogey. But he blew away his chances of remaining in fray for weekend action by by dropping two bogeys and a double bogey in the back-nine. Further down was Delhi-golfer Jyoti Randhawa, who carded a three-over 74 to finish with a total of 144 along with Gaganjeet Bhullar. Bhullar turned in a topsy-turvy 71 which included six birdies but was marred by two bogeys and an equal number of double bogeys. C Muniyappa was five-over 147 overall after a 76 in the second round. SSP Chowrasia, who has been struggling with his famous short game that has earned him the nickname ''Chip-Putt-Sia'', lay right at the bottom after failing to find a single birdie in the second round. The Kolkata-pro stumbled to eight bogeys and a double bogey for an 81 yesterday which left his overall score at 12-over 154. At the top, Spaniard Angel Miguel Jimenez took a three-stroke lead with a total of 14-under 128 after carding a blemish-free 10-under 61, which was studded with six birdies and a couple of eagles.

Source: Published>

Pak diplomats embarrassed by ''loose cannon'' Hasan

Sat, Sep 04 10 11:27 AM

London, Sep 4 (PTI) Pakistan''s High Commissioner to Britain Wajid Shamsul Hasan has been branded a "loose cannon" by the diplomats of his own country for his outbursts against the International Cricket Council in the ''spot-fixing'' scandal. Hasan has claimed that the suspended trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir, who allegedly took money from a bookie to bowl no balls during the Lord''s Test against England, have been framed and the entire scandal is a conspiracy to alienate Pakistan cricket. Hasan has also insinuated that the ICC''s Indian President Sharad Pawar may have had a hand in getting the three players suspended. But diplomats at the Pakistani legation in Belgravia are less then amused by his stunning remarks with one of them saying that he felt "depressed" by Hasan''s statements to the media. "I suppose it is quite funny for outsiders, but the rest of us find it embarrassing. Anyway, it''ll backfire, I have my own contacts among journalists and I am told they (the News of the World) will produce more things on Sunday," a diplomat was quoted as saying by ''The Independent''. The unnamed diplomat said Hasan''s claims have not just caused embarrassment, they have created a sense of anger against Pakistan. "We had a great chance here to show that we were taking this matter extremely seriously and would root out any corruption. Instead we took a position we couldn''t sustain, ended giving contradictory statements, lost out anyway and made a lot of our friends in the cricketing world angry." "We are trying to get him off the TV screens, but there''s no stopping him." Officials close to Hasan said the criticism has come from "his detractors connected to the Pakistani secret service, the ISI, and the military." But a diplomat rejected this saying, "What on earth has all this to do with cricket? The only military thing here is that we have a loose cannon in our hands." PTI PM

Source: Published>

Tiger Woods' 'mistress' Rachel Uchitel purchases $2m NY apartment

Published>Sat, Sep 04 10 11:07 AM

London, Sep 04 (ANI): Tiger Woods' alleged mistress Rachel Uchitel has apparently purchased a 2-million-dollar Park Avenue apartment in New York City.

The apartment includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a fireplace and 'white glove' service at the doorman building, reports the Daily Mail.

According to TMZ, while the asking price for the unit was listed at 2 million dollars, Uchitel managed to get a 'pretty sweet deal.'

The website has maintained that Uchitel, 35, received a 10-million-dollar pay-off from Woods in return for a confidentiality agreement after she was on the brink of a giving a 'Gloria Allred' style press conference revealing details of their relationship.

Even the infamously snooty neighbors and Park Avenue homeowner's association haven't objected to Uchitel's purchase as one source called the buying process 'pretty easy.' (ANI)

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Pakistan trio released without charge

Sat, Sep 04 10 10:37 AM

London, Sep 4 (PTI) The tainted Pakistani trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir, which is at the centre of a ''spot-fixing'' scandal'' that has rocked world cricket, was released without charge after being questioned by the Scotland Yard here. Officers of the Scotland Yard questioned Test captain Butt and pace bowlers Aamir and Asif, who were suspended by the International Cricket Council yesterday and charged with offences under its anti-corruption code for "alleged irregular behaviour" during last week''s Lord''s Test. Elizabeth Robertson, the lawyer for the three players said, "Mohammad Aamir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt have been questioned under caution by the Metropolitan Police and released without charge." "They voluntarily attended Kilburn police station to answer questions relating to allegations published in the News of the World. "At no time were they placed under arrest, they were free to leave at any time and they have answered all of the questions that were put to them and have been released without charge or conditions," she added. She said the Pakistan Cricket Board and the three players would continue to cooperate fully with the Metropolitan Police and the ICC investigation and they "look forward to a timely and satisfactory outcome." Aamir, Asif and Butt were named in a sting operation by tabloid ''The News of the World'' which showed a bookie Mazhar Majeed boasting about how the three conspired to bowl deliberate no-balls in the Lord''s Test against England after being paid by him.

Source: Published>

PCB might sue ICC if tainted trio found innocent

Sat, Sep 04 10 10:27 AM

Karachi, Sep 4 (PTI) Miffed with the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit''s handling of the ''spot-fixing'' scandal involving Salman Butt Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir, the Pakistan Cricket Board might sue the ACSU if the players are found innocent. The PCB''s senior legal advisor Talib Rizvi told PTI that if the players were eventually found innocent, then the PCB would consider taking legal action against the ICC and other bodies involved in making the allegations and conducting the inquiry against the players. "I just want to be clear the PCB will consider legal action against the ICC and other bodies if our players are found innocent because we feel the ICC has bypassed some of its own procedures in suspending the players and and overall in this case," Rizvi said. He also emphasised that at the moment there was no criminal investigation going on against the three players. "It is just a preliminary inquiry and nothing more. They are being questioned. No investigations have been held," he added. Rizvi, who also represented the PCB in the appellate tribunal during the hearing of the appeals of players against their bans and fines this year, claimed that so far the ICC had not shown any evidence against the three players. "Even today at the press conference the ICC and ACSU were asked about the evidence or charges against our players but they gave no details. So we want to know the reasons for suspending the players." Talib''s son, Tafazzul Rizvi is also in London as the board''s legal advisor and is closely involved in the ongoing inquiry by the Scotland Yard. He accompanied the three players yesterday to the Kilburn police station where they were summoned for detailed questioning. Sources close to the PCB said that until now even Tafazzul Rizvi had not been given any concrete evidence on basis of which the ICC decided to suspend Butt, Asif and Aamir. Talib said it was too early to say when the inquiry would end or when Scotland Yard would give a detailed report. "We just feel that the suspension of our players is a bit harsh in the circumstances," he added.

Source: Published>

Record China loss triggers cyber-rage

Sat, Sep 04 10 09:57 AM

China's basketball coach Bob Donewald Jr. has shrugged off stinging criticism after a record 87-40 loss to hosts Turkey at the world championships.

The American insisted he was correct to rest his starters with China already guaranteed a place in the knockout stage despite a lop-sided defeat which triggered a wave of cyber-rage.

"I do not care. These boys can go to Istanbul (for the knockout stage). That's the most important thing," said Donewald, who has been savaged in Chinese Internet chatrooms.

"It's a learning process. Scores do not mean anything. It's more important that the young players come out and play more games and fight hard."

China's 13 points in the first half and 40 were both embarrassing record lows for the country in international competition.

One furious fan wrote on leading portal sina.com.cn: "We advance to the next round in the most humiliating way."

Another slammed Donewald on sohu.com.

"He does not know China's culture," the poster wrote. "The CBA should terminate his contract right now.

"We showed a lack of sportsmanship to field such a team. It's disrespectful to the Turkish players."

Donewald was unrepentant after his team advanced despite a 1-4 record.

"It's important that our starters have a rest," he insisted. "So I made the decision to have all the young boys on the court throughout the game. It was a great experience for them.

"Our young boys made lots of mistakes but that's something young guys must get through. That's something they will never forget."

China take on Lithuania on Tuesday when Donewald will bring back Yi Jianlian, Wang Zhizhi and guard Liu Wei, although Yi has been struggling with an inflamed Achilles tendon.

"We have had doctors evaluate his injury and we will know the result in the next one or two days," said Donewald.

Source: Published>

Advantage Federer heading into third round

Published>Sat, Sep 04 10 08:37 AM

As a five-time winner of the U.S. Open, Roger Federer knows what it takes to win at Flushing Meadows and the Swiss master expects that knowledge will carry him a long way towards a sixth title.

Federer is the only player left in the men's draw who has won the championship before, just one of the many advantages he holds over his rivals.

"It's definitely an advantage," Federer said. "But again, I'm not at match point serving for it, so still a lot of hard work to do."

Federer's will meet his next opponent, Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu, on Saturday in Arthur Ashe Stadium with a spot in the final 16 on the line. They have played each other four times before, with Federer victorious each time.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic, who lost the 2007 U.S. Open final to Federer but is lurking as one of his biggest dangers this year, is also playing on the centre court on Saturday, but may have more to contend with than just his opponent.

The American James Blake is not only a former top-10 player but a real crowd favourite in New York and Djokovic is bracing for a real struggle.

"James always plays well here. He knows how it feels like to play on a big stage in important matches," Djokovic said. "He's a very aggressive player and I have no doubt that he's going to have that mindset when we step on the court."

American teenage wildcard recipient Beatrice Capra will make her first appearance on Arthur Ashe stadium against Russia's former champion Maria Sharapova.

It looms as a mismatch of huge proportions but Sharapova remains wary about Capra, if for no other reason that she hardly knows a thing about her.

"I know that she's American and she's 18, I believe," Sharapova said. "And she's in the third round of the Open. So that says a lot."

If Sharapova survives, she could face Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki in a mouthwatering fourth-round clash.

Wozniacki, the women's top seed, will next play Taiwan's Chan Yung-Jan in Louis Armstrong Stadium after winning her two previous matches on centre court with ridiculous ease.

Her second-round match lasted just 47 minutes and she is in great form after winning three tournaments last month but refusing to even think about Sharapova.

"If I was gonna say, 'the quarter-finals I'm gonna play this girl and the finals I'm playing this girl', I mean, you never know what's gonna happen," Wozniacki said.

"It's tennis and you need to fight for every match."

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Williams puts on stylish show as Serena looks on

Published>Sat, Sep 04 10 08:17 AM

A stylish Venus Williams gave a commanding performance with little sister Serena looking on as she trounced qualifier Mandy Minella of Luxembourg to reach the fourth round of the U.S. Open on Friday.

Third-seeded Williams needed two service games to find her bearings and then raced to a 6-2 6-1 win as the 185th-ranked Minella managed to win just a single game on serve.

The first five games of the Arthur Ashe Stadium match produced service breaks before Williams took charge.

Minella, 24, finally held serve after seven deuces in the fifth game of the second set, celebrating with a fist pump to cheers from the centre court crowd.

Williams won with style, wearing a sparkling, short black dress with revealing cut-outs in the back. Not to be outdone, world number one Serena Williams, sidelined with a foot injury, wore a red dress in the player's box that earned her approval from her older sister.

"Serena is looking rather sexy tonight," said Venus, a seven-time grand slam winner who designs her own outfits. "She looks lovely in red."

Williams, 30, has worn three different dresses for her first three matches at Flushing Meadows and was asked about her fashion outlook should she carry on to the finals.

"Seven is a lot of dresses," Venus said. "That would be an honor to wear seven dresses all the way through."

Williams, who has two U.S. titles and five Wimbledon crowns, will next play 16th seed Shahar Peer of Israel, who beat Flavia Pennetta of Italy, the 19th seed, 6-4 6-4.

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Dutch beat Australia with Paumen triple

Sat, Sep 04 10 07:17 AM

Maartje Paumen scored her second hat-trick of the women's hockey World Cup as favourites Netherlands beat Australia 4-1 in Pool A on Friday.

All three of Paumen's goals came from penalty corners as she took her tournament tally to seven and the Dutch their total to 18 in three matches.

Paumen scored early on and Nicole Arnold equalised in the 21st minute but Paumen put the Dutch ahead again on the stroke of halftime. She scored her third in the 40th minute and Minke Smeets rounded off the win.

The Dutch lead Pool A with a maximum nine points, the same number as Germany, who beat the tournament's whipping girls, India, 4-1. India have conceded 17 goals in their three matches.

India's 15-year-old wonder Rani Pampal, who has scored four of their five goals, hit a first half equaliser that had her team briefly on level terms but the Germans soon pulled away.

Japan and New Zealand were looking for their first points when they met in the last of a day of six matches after Thursday's play was rained out.

Hosts Argentina, the Champions Trophy winners who are favourites to meet the Dutch in the final, crushed Spain 4-0 in Pool B with two goals from Noel Barrionuevo.

Argentina also have nine points, two more than England in second place in the pool.

England had to fight back from a 14-second goal by Kim Jong-eun to draw 1-1 with South Korea, Helen Richardson equalising when she dribbled through the defence to tap in.

China recovered from two surprise defeats to beat South Africa 4-1 and maintain slim hopes of a semi-final berth.

Source: Published>

Day, Johnson lead as wayward Woods struggles

Published>Sat, Sep 04 10 06:57 AM

Australia's Jason Day and American Zach Johnson shot eight-under 63s to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the $7.5 million Deutsche Bank Championship on Friday, but Tiger Woods faces an uphill battle to stay in the tournament.

The world number one recovered from a dreadful start to shoot a one-over 72 and finish ahead of only five players in the 99-man field at Boston TPC, the second instalment in the lucrative lucrative FedExCup playoff series.

Woods, currently ranked 65th in the FedExCup standings, needs to finish in the top 70 after the Deutsche Bank Championship to advance to the third round of the series at next week's BMW Championship at Cog Hill outside of Chicago.

"I just didn't have it today," he told reporters. "I wasn't really doing what I was supposed to be doing swing-wise and wasn't releasing the putter blade. It was a bad day all around.

"I'm obviously going to have to shoot something pretty good tomorrow."

After crashing to four-over after six holes, Woods salvaged his round amid intermittent afternoon drizzle coming from the outer bands of Hurricane Earl, but conditions were by no means difficult with just a light breeze wafting across the course.

Woods has yet to win this season but had appeared to have found some form after finishing a respectable 12th at the Barclays tournament, days after announcing his divorce from Swedish wife Elin.

Co-leaders Day and Johnson enjoyed playing together in dry morning conditions and notched a combined 23-under with Ryan Palmer in their threesome.

"We kind of fed off each other," said Day, who compiled 10 birdies. "Coming into this event, I felt very confident with my swing and I just had to work on a few things with my short game.

"The first couple of days I got here, I tried to square my putting up a little bit and that worked out great. Everything kind of clicked."

Johnson added: "If you get off to a good start, it breeds momentum. We all birdied the first hole and it fed into the remainder of the day.

"I probably didn't hit it quite as well as those guys (but) I hit it fine and I putted beautifully."

Johnson and Day lead a clutch of golfers on 64, including Palmer, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy and Australia's Geoff Ogilvy.

McIlroy stormed up the leaderboard late with an eagle at the par-five 18th, after landing a sublime five-wood approach 25 feet from the hole and sinking the putt.

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'Pink is the navy blue of India'

Published>Sat, Sep 04 10 06:09 AM

When legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland declared "pink is the navy blue of India", she meant people in India wear bright colours. It's something the designers of the formal team uniform for next month's Commonwealth Games in Delhi have taken to heart. The uniforms, designed by an Australian corporate wardrobe supplier were unveiled in Melbourne and feature bright yellow, orange, blue and green highlight pieces worn with light grey suiting. For the competition uniforms, designers stuck with the traditional green and gold combination. "I think it's going to be pretty flattering and the boys are going to be pretty happy with orange," said swimming champion Leisel Jones, who wore a grey three-quarter sleeve suit jacket that tied at the waist.

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American Isner wary of U.S. Open's twists and turns

Published>Sat, Sep 04 10 05:57 AM

An innocuous twist of the ankle could yet derail American John Isner's U.S. Open dreams.

The big-hitting American fired down 24 aces on his way to a 6-3 3-6 7-6 6-4 victory over Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland on Friday to reach the third round of the tournament.

But there were times during the match when Isner grimaced, still feeling the effects of turning his ankle trying to hit a jumping return off a serve into his body from David Nalbandian in Cincinnati.

The number 18 seed said the injury itself is not an issue but that missing 10 days of training because of it has derailed his ambitions at Flushing Meadows.

"Yeah, it's definitely been tough - I started feeling it in the third set of my first match," said Isner. "Throughout the whole match today I was feeling it. I don't feel like I had the pop on my shots that I normally do. So, yeah, I'm struggling a bit physically but I feel like I'm getting stronger."

Isner cut a concerned figure when he dropped the second set but recovered from that momentary lapse to see off the world number 63 in a little under three hours.

The 25-year-old now faces Mikhail Youzhny in the third round with expectations high from the home crowd as one of just four Americans left in the men's draw, not that Isner is feeling the pressure.

"I don't feel the weight of it at all," said Isner. "My second year on tour, I kind of felt that pressure. A lot of great things were expected of me, and I regressed in 2008.

"But now I'm more mature, and I've obviously played a lot of matches. I don't feel any added pressure to do well because I'm American. I'm not putting any extra pressure on myself."

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Klose efficient as ever to crush Belgian hopes

Published>Sat, Sep 04 10 05:37 AM

Miroslav Klose said this week he was aiming to play in the next World Cup aged 36 but he showed his focus is still very much on more immediate targets with a typically lethal finish as Germany beat Belgium 1-0 in their opening Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday.

Belgium's Daniel Van Buyten, playing against many Bayern Munich teammates, lost the ball in his own penalty area early in the second half, allowing Germany's Thomas Mueller to feed an unmarked Klose and the reliable German marksman made no mistake.

The drilled strike earned a 53rd international goal for Klose, who has scored 14 of them in his three World Cup finals leaving him one shy of Brazilian Ronaldo's record.

Yet Germany, perhaps still shaking off post-World Cup stiffness after their third-place finish, were slow to shine and came off second best for large stretches of the first half.

For many of the German players it was their first match for their country since their 1-0 loss in South Africa to eventual winners Spain. Germany put out a largely second-string side for their 2-2 friendly draw with Denmark last month.

'GIVES CONFIDENCE'

German coach Joachim Loew said the players had only returned to training four weeks ago.

"It took some time to get into our rhythm... after the World Cup was difficult. The players weren't so fresh. But after this match against Belgium I saw the team was hungry and that gives me confidence for the future," he said.

Early on, the young Belgian side refused to sit back and twice forced German keeper Manuel Neuer to save shots from 17-year-old striker Romelu Lukaku and Moussa Dembele.

However, the World Cup semi-finalists dominated after the break and effectively closed down the game after Klose's goal.

Belgium's coach Georges Leekens and his players smarted at the loss, many saying a draw might have been a fairer result.

"The Germans settled it with a gift from us," Leekens said. "They were more professional. We still have something to learn."

However, he said he was encouraged by the passion of his team, with nine of the starters 24 years or younger. Loew was also complimentary about the hosts.

"It is important to win away in Belgium. I think other teams will drop points here," he said.

Belgium, known to their fans as the Red Devils, have now lost eight straight matches against Germany and West Germany since a 0-0 draw in 1982, with their last victory in 1954.

Germany host Azerbaijan on Tuesday. Belgium, who have not qualified for a major championship since the 2002 World Cup, travel to Turkey, who lead group A after a 3-0 opening win over Kazakhstan.

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Schiavone replicates Federer trick shot on way to last 16

Sat, Sep 04 10 05:17 AM

French Open champion Francesca Schiavone replicated Roger Federer's stunning between-the-legs shot during her 6-1 7-5 third round victory over Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine at the U.S. Open on Friday.

The Italian sixth seed produced her own magical moment in the second set as she rallied from 4-1 down to reach the last 16 at Flushing Meadows for the fifth time in nine years.

Bondarenko, who ended Melanie Oudin's U.S. Open in round two, won their most recent match but the Italian breezed through the first set in 33 minutes.

Schiavone's next opponent is Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the 20th seed.

Source: Published>

Nothing is going our way, says France coach Blanc

Published>Sat, Sep 04 10 04:57 AM

New coach Laurent Blanc bemoaned France's lack of punch up front after they slumped to a 1-0 home defeat by Belarus in Euro 2012 qualifying on Friday.

"We cannot say we have players who know how to score goals," Blanc told reporters after the Group D match.

"We know we have the players to keep the ball but we don't have the players able to make the difference in the last 25 metres."

Blanc, who took over from Raymond Domenech after a woeful France were knocked out of the World Cup in the first round in June, acknowledged the players were at a low ebb.

"It is a difficult time, nothing is going our way and we have to fight this," he said.

"It is hard to see positive things when you lose. Even if you like your team, they have to score and they did not."

To add to his problems Blanc is expected to be without forwards Louis Saha and Loic Remy for Tuesday's qualifier in Bosnia.

"I will have to make tough choices because we lost Loic and Louis (tonight)," said Blanc. "Remy's injury seems serious, he felt violent pain in his groin.

"Louis felt sharp pain in his calf (after coming on as a second-half substitute). Both players are very doubtful."

Belarus coach Bernd Stange was delighted with his team's surprise win but also spared a thought for Blanc.

"It was a great start, an excellent start for Belarus," said Stange after Sergei Kislyak's 86th-minute goal sank Les Bleus.

"I think about Laurent Blanc and I know from my experience it is very difficult to build a national team in a matter of weeks."

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Saturday's order of play at the U.S. Open

Sat, Sep 04 10 04:37 AM

Saturday's order of play on the show courts on day six of the U.S. Open (prefix denotes seeding):

ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM (Play begins 1500GMT)

4-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) v 31-Kaia Kanepi (Estonia)

14-Maria Sharapova (Russia) v Beatrice Capra (U.S.)

2-Roger Federer (Switzerland) v Paul-Henri Mathieu (France)

Not before 2300GMT

3-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v James Blake (U.S.)

23-Maria Kirilenko (Russia) v 11-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia)

LOUIS ARMSTRONG STADIUM (Play begins 1500GMT)

5-Robin Soderling (Sweden) v Thiemo de Bakker (Netherlands)

Not before 1630GMT

1-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) v Chan Yung-Jan (Taiwan)

Arnaud Clement (France) v 19-Mardy Fish (U.S.)

7-Vera Zvonareva (Russia) v Alexandra Dulgheru (Romania)

GRANDSTAND COURT (Play begins 1500GMT)

17-Gael Monfils (France) v Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia)

15-Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) v Patty Schnyder (Switzerland)

13-Jurgen Melzer (Austria) v 22-Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain)

Source: Published>

New coach, same story as Belarus shock France

Published>Sat, Sep 04 10 04:21 AM

France learned the road to post-World Cup redemption will be long and hard as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Belarus on Friday, while Spain revelled in their status as world and European champions with an easy win over Liechtenstein.

England and Italy were able to make positive starts on their routes to recovery from disappointing World Cup displays, scoring contrasting wins in their first Euro 2012 qualifiers.

England played with the sort of skill and quick passing that completely eluded them in South Africa as they beat Bulgaria 4-0 at Wembley, Jermain Defoe netting a smartly taken hat-trick in the Group G clash.

Italy were almost embarrassed but were ultimately able to celebrate a 2-1 victory after coming from a goal down away to Estonia in Group C.

For France, though, there was only further misery, as a much changed team from the World Cup was cheered on to the pitch but roundly booed off it.

Laurent Blanc's first competitive match since replacing Raymond Domenech after a World Cup campaign that veered between farce and fiasco offered few positives for the French, as a late goal from Sergei Kislyak consigned them to a Group D defeat.

While Europe's first big night of competitive international action since the World Cup was a chance for atonement for the flops, it was a celebration for the three big success stories.

Spain led the way as two goals from Fernando Torres and one from World Cup hero David Villa -- who moved to within one goal of equalling Raul's scoring record for the country -- helped them brush past Liechtenstein in a Group I match in Vaduz.

David Silva was the other scorer in the opening match of the defence of the title Spain won in Austria and Switzerland in 2008.

The Netherlands, beaten by the Spanish in the Johannesburg final, saw off San Marino 5-0 in Group E with a hat-trick from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

SERIOUS OPPONENTS

Germany, who took third place at the World Cup, had a tougher night against more serious opponents in Group A but came through 1-0 against Belgium with a goal from the ever reliable Miroslav Klose.

In the night's other David and Goliath clash, Russia proved there is no room for sentiment when it comes to the business of qualifying, grabbing a workmanlike 2-0 win away to Andorra in Group B thanks to two goals from Pavel Pogrebnyak.

While Blanc was suffering the ignominy of defeat, new Italy coach Cesare Prandelli was able to celebrate -- but only after an almighty scare.

The hosts opened the scoring in the 31st minute when forward Sergei Zenjov struck after Italian keeper Salvatore Sirigu lost his grip on the wet ball.

The 2006 world champions just managed to halt their seven-game win drought thanks to second-half goals from Antonio Cassano and Leonardo Bonucci.

"It's a strong emotion," Prandelli told Rai TV after his first competitive game in charge.

"We had the right reaction and deserved to win. I said at halftime we had to continue doing the right things but with more speed. We made mistakes on nearly every dead ball we conceded.

"At the moment Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini are the two forwards who shine the most."

England's commanding win over Bulgaria will have come as a relief to another Italian coach in Fabio Capello, whose position was called into question after England's limp 4-1 exit to Germany in the World Cup second round.

Defoe's opening goal in the third minute set them on their way and while their form dipped after that they finished strongly. Defoe completed his hat-trick with goals in the 61st and 86th minutes, with Adam Johnson also finding the net.

Source: Web Search

Murray cruises through another straight sets Open in

Published>Sat, Sep 04 10 03:57 AM

Andy Murray, his confidence soaring with every shot, sailed through to the third round of the U.S. Open on Friday with a clinical 7-5 6-3 6-0 victory over unseeded Jamaican Dustin Brown.

The British world number four snatched a tight opening set with a single break of serve then ran away with the match as the dreadlocked Brown's game unravelled and his resistance faded inside Arthur Ashe stadium.

The unorthodox Jamaican, wearing a sleevless shirt and baggy shorts, provided Murray with some awkward moments in the opening set with his cavalier all-or-nothing approach, but was eventually outclassed when the Scotsman figured him out.

"I knew what to expect because I had spoken to few people, he's a shotmaker who tries to get the crowd on his side," Murray said in a courtside interview. "He has a whippy serve, it took me a bit of time to work out."

The defending women's champion Kim Clijsters recovered from a slow start to reel off 12 games in a row in her 6-3 6-0 third round win over Czech Petra Kvitova.

The Belgian struggled with her serve as the stifling heat of the previous days gave way to gusting winds and light rain but was still too good for Kvitova, who was seeded 27th.

Clijsters, who won the U.S. Open in 2005 and 2009, is yet to drop a set in the tournament this year and steadily improving aspects of her game.

"I think it's only a matter of a few little details I think in my game that I just want to improve," she said.

"I'm trying to achieve the perfect match but a match like today gives me more satisfaction because I beat a good player without even playing my best tennis."

Clijsters will play either Ana Ivanovic or Virginie Razzano in the round of 16 with Samantha Stosur or Elena Dementieva lurking in the quarter-finals.

Stosur, runner-up at the French Open in June and seeded fifth at Flushing Meadows, turned in an impressive display to defeat Italy's Sara Errani 6-2 6-3 in one hour 20 minutes.

The Australian came into the tournament under an injury cloud but is slowly building momentum and confidence.

"Once you get to this point, you never know what can happen," she said. "So if you keep playing well, you can find yourself in maybe the semis or finals. If I've been there once, I definitely want to try to be there again."

Dementieva, a finalist at the U.S. Open six years ago, booked her passage into the fourth round with a 7-5 6-2 victory over Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova with 7-5 6-2 win.

The Russian won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing but has never won a grand slam singles title.

"I don't put any pressure on myself. I have had a very successful career so far," she said. "I'm definitely looking for the big title, but I'm just trying to work on my game."

Source: Web Search

Murray outshines Jamaican to reach third round

Published>Sat, Sep 04 10 03:37 AM

Fourth-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dodged some rain drops and some sizzling serves before quickly reaching the third round by outshining Jamaican Dustin Brown 7-5 6-3 6-0 at the U.S. Open Friday.

Murray ended a briefly rain-delayed opening set against the 123rd-ranked Brown with the first service break coming against the big-swinging Jamaican in the 12th game. The Scot sailed through from there with the loss of just three more games.

"I never played against him before so the start of the match was very interesting," the 23-year-old Murray told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd after the 85-minute demolition.

"He went for his shots huge, serving big and hitting fun shots so I was glad to get off in straight sets."

A short rain delay sent Brown and Murray to the locker room at 2-1 in favor of Murray during the opening set in the first taste of some expected bad weather as Hurricane Earl advances up the U.S. eastern seaboard.

The 6-foot, 5-inch (1.96 metre) Brown, sporting the look of a beachcomber in a sleeveless white shirt, baggy shorts and dreadlocks flying, played a slam-bam style with five aces in the first set.

The games raced by on serve until the German-born Brown netted a running forehand to hand Murray the first set.

The quick-footed, go-for-broke Brown then began losing the range on his groundstrokes, spraying errors off both wings and having his occasional attempts at using drop shots as a change of pace punished by Murray for winners.

Eventually he was simply worn down by the skillful Murray, who unleashed 12 aces in the match and 32 winners.

"He's a shotmaker," Murray, a U.S. Open runner-up to Roger Federer two years ago, said about the Jamaican. "He's obviously fun to watch.

"He got great support today so it was a good atmosphere and I enjoyed it."

Murray will next meet either 25th seed Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland or 51st-ranked Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina.

"I'm going to have to keep playing better, but I served well today," said the Scot, aiming for his first slam title and first by a Briton since Fred Perry won the U.S. Open 74 years ago.

"It was windy so you just got to try and get on and off the court as quickly possible and I managed to do that in straight sets."

Source: Web Search

Farah pulls out of Commonwealth Games

Sat, Sep 04 10 03:17 AM

Britain's European 5,000 and 10,000 metres champion Mo Farah withdrew from next month's Delhi Commonwealth Games on Friday and said he will not race on the track again this year.

"I had a great 2010 season and my body is telling me that it is time to take a break from training and racing," Farah said in a statement.

"Over the past few weeks I have been getting a few niggles, nothing serious but enough to tell me to ease back. I was looking forward to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi but after the success I had this year I am happy to call it a season."

Farah, 27, Britain's brightest long distance prospect, also broke David Moorcroft's 28-year-old British 5,000 metres record last month.

He said he would now concentrate on next year's world championships in Daegu, South Korea, and the 2012 Olympics in his home city of London.

Source: Published>

Croatia hammer hapless Latvia 3-0

Sat, Sep 04 10 02:37 AM

Croatia marked their first competitive match in nine months with a 3-0 win over Latvia in their opening Group F Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday.

Mladen Petric fired Croatia, who failed to qualify for the World Cup finals in South Africa, ahead with a close range header two minutes before halftime.

Ivica Olic doubled the lead in the 51st minute with another header after pouncing on Petric's cross.

Croatia continued to dominate and Darijo Srna completed the the rout with a cracking shot from the edge of the box nine minutes from time.

Croatia host 2004 European champions Greece, who are favourites to top the group, in Zagreb on Tuesday.

Source: Published>

Serbia captain scores in 3-0 win over Faroe Islands

Sat, Sep 04 10 02:17 AM

Strikers Danko Lazovic and Nikola Zigic scored either side of a goal from captain Dejan Stankovic to give Serbia a 3-0 win over the Faroe Islands in their Euro 2012 opening Group C qualifier on Friday.

The game was played at almost walking pace with Lazovic giving Serbia a controversial 13th-minute lead when he steered the ball into an empty net after Milan Jovanovic appeared to have handled the ball into his path.

Stankovic added the second five minutes later, curling in a free kick from 20 metres for his 15th international goal in his 92nd appearance for his country.

Faroe striker Simun Samuelsen spurned a good chance to pull one back in the 75th minute, when he steered the ball wide from close range with the goal at his mercy.

The hosts also came close several minutes later when defender Johan Davidsen's cheeky back-heel flashed across the face of the goal.

Zigic rounded the goalkeeper and calmly slotted the ball home in injury time after Jovanovic had spurned a sitter for the visitors following a swift break.

Source: Published>

Jimenez riojas and rolls to leave Molinari trailing

Sat, Sep 04 10 12:57 AM

Miguel-Angel Jimenez, like the vintage wine he so adores, seems to get simply better with age and the young guns of the European Tour found themselves trailing the 46-year-old maestro again on Friday.

His 10-under-par 61, capped with two eagles, broke the course record on the switchback fairways of Crans-sur-Sierre and set up a mouth-watering weekend head-to-head with his Ryder Cup teammate, the bang in-form Italian Edoardo Molinari.

Jimenez, who has bagged a place in next month's European team for the fourth time, could even have broken the magical 60 barrier had he managed to add a couple more birdies to his six in the final three holes.

If the Spaniard is in the twilight of his career, clearly no one has remembered to tell the man himself who continues to carve his own jaunty trail on the European Tour with an ever-ready smile for the crowds, greying moustache and pony-tail.

To underline that Jimenez harks from a more carefree golfing era, he sparked up as usual with a huge Cuban cigar following a memorable round even by his astonishingly consistent standards.

"I was definitely thinking about the 59," Jimenez, puffing away on that fat cigar, told reporters afterwards.

"It was a beautiful day and a beautiful score. Tonight I shall enjoy a beautiful bottle of rioja, the same sort as I enjoyed last night."

So much for the early nights and harsh fitness regimes favoured by the thrusting young wannabes he faces week in week out among the game's elite.

TOO EXPERIENCED

Despite his three-stroke lead at 14 under par overall, Jimenez, dubbed the Mechanic because of a love of fancy cars, is far too experienced to consider that his 18th Tour victory is safely parked up in the garage just yet.

Molinari is playing the game with almost indecent ease following his victory under the gun for his Ryder Cup place at Gleneagles in the Johnnie Walker Championship last weekend.

The Italiani had set an 11-under target in the morning with a round of 65. His total was later matched by 17-year-old Italian compatriot Matteo Manessero, the first round leader, who posted a 67 to also lie second.

The pair from Italy are a shot clear of Finn Mikko Ilonen (67), whose only bogey of the day came at the last.

Jimenez outdid the 62 set by Argentine Eduardo Romero 10 years ago by a stroke and bettered his own 27-year career-best by a shot.

He peaked with a quite magnificent five-wood approach to just two feet on the long 15th for eagle on surely on the Tour's most scenic course which is perched on Swiss mountains and hosts World Cup ski races in the winter.

It was the shot of a player still very much at the top of his game. A snowflake could not have fallen here more gently.

Source: Published>

Pogrebnyak double gives Russia 2-0 win over Andorra

Sat, Sep 04 10 12:37 AM

Pavel Pogrebnyak scored twice as Russia opened their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with a low-key 2-0 win over Andorra in a Group B match on Friday.

Pogrebnyak fired the visitors ahead in the 14th minute, calmly slotting past Andorra keeper Josep Gomes from close range after a fine feed by Russia captain Andrei Arshavin.

The VfB Stuttgart striker added a second with a 65th-minute penalty after a foul on Russia substitute Alan Dzagoyev.

Russia beat Andorra 1-0 at the same stadium in November 2007 in their last Euro 2008 qualifier to clinch a place in the championship finals where they reached the semi-finals.

Source: Published>

Defending U.S. champion Clijsters overwhelms Kvitova

Published>Sat, Sep 04 10 12:19 AM

Kim Clijsters erased an early first-set deficit and put her hopes of defending her U.S. Open title back on track with a 6-3 6-0 win against Petra Kvitova on Friday that secured the Belgian a spot in the fourth round.

The second seed's hopes of extending her winning streak at Flushing Meadows to 17 matches took a dent when she dropped to a 3-0 deficit against her Czech opponent.

But Kvitova, who knocked out then number one seed Dinara Safina from last year's U.S. Open, lacked the consistency to pull off another major shock.

The left-hander failed to win a single game after her quick start as Clijsters rounded things off in the style by winning 12 straight games

Source: Web Search

Vidit and Anwesh emerge leaders

Sat, Sep 04 10 12:15 AM

Kolkata, Sep 2 (PTI) International Masters Vidit Gujarati and Anwesh Upadhayay ermerged joint leaders with four points each after round four of the Tea Board of India Chess For Youth Championship at Netaji Indoor Stadium here today. Playing white, former world U-14 boys'' champion Vidit got two extra pawns in a queen ending against former Asian Junior girls'' champion Mary Ann Gomes that earned him the full point. Anwesh, playing black against national women''s champion Kruttika Nadig, obtained two Lopez opening for a rook in a Ruy Lopez opening as she struggled to defend her weak pawns with the rook. Anwesh effectively combined his two minor pieces to force a win. FM Bitan Banerjee was held to a draw by Santu Mondal with the black pieces in a Slav defence. Both Bitan and Santu now jointly share the secnd spot along with GM Deep Sengupta on 3.5 points apiece. Top seed and past two year''s champion Sengupta, who survived a scare yesterday, won both his games today to remain in contention for the top slot. The surprise of day one, eight-year-old Mitrabha Guha, however, lost both his games to Kruttika and Sayan to remain on two points.

Source: Published>

Dementieva moves into final 16 at U.S. Open

Published>Fri, Sep 03 10 11:57 PM

Number 11 seed Elena Dementieva recovered from a first-set slump to continue her strong record against Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova with 7-5 6-2 win on Friday.

It was the 16th career meeting in a decade between the two and the Russian took her tally of wins against Hantuchova to 12 on Arthur Ashe Stadium and earned a spot in the fourth round.

After days of clear skies and intense heat, there were a few spots of rain as the match began.

Dementieva elected to receive serve and the move paid off as she moved into a 2-0 lead before her game temporarily fell apart.

Her previously clean, crisp shots from the back of the court evaporated as she over-reached for her big groundstrokes and Hantuchova raced away with five unanswered games.

Dementieva finally stopped the rot when facing three set points to move within two games of Hantuchova, who still looked on course to win the set.

But the rain returned, a little heavier this time, and the players were taken off court for a few minutes .

Hantuchova appeared to have lost her rhythm and conceded her break advantage with two consecutive double faults.

Dementieva, eyeing her chance, turned the screw with increasingly confident play from the back of the court to level the set before breaking her opponent again and comfortably serving out the set.

Both players seemed utterly incapable of holding serve as the second set opened with three consecutive breaks.

Dementieva was the first to hold but more because of Hantuchova's faltering play, which enabled her rival to round off the third-round contest with ease.

Source: Web Search

Vidit and Anwesh emerge leaders

Fri, Sep 03 10 11:07 PM

Kolkata, Sep 2 (PTI) International Masters Vidit Gujarati and Anwesh Upadhayay ermerged joint leaders with four points each after round four of the Tea Board of India Chess For Youth Championship at Netaji Indoor Stadium here today. Playing white, former world U-14 boys'' champion Vidit got two extra pawns in a queen ending against former Asian Junior girls'' champion Mary Ann Gomes that earned him the full point. Anwesh, playing black against national women''s champion Kruttika Nadig, obtained two Lopez opening for a rook in a Ruy Lopez opening as she struggled to defend her weak pawns with the rook. Anwesh effectively combined his two minor pieces to force a win. FM Bitan Banerjee was held to a draw by Santu Mondal with the black pieces in a Slav defence. Both Bitan and Santu now jointly share the secnd spot along with GM Deep Sengupta on 3.5 points apiece. Top seed and past two year''s champion Sengupta, who survived a scare yesterday, won both his games today to remain in contention for the top slot. The surprise of day one, eight-year-old Mitrabha Guha, however, lost both his games to Kruttika and Sayan to remain on two points.

Source: Published>

Chirag and EB win in CFL

Fri, Sep 03 10 10:51 PM

Kolkata, Sep 3 (PTI) Chirag United and East Bengal registered victories over their respective opponents in the Calcutta Football League (Premier Division) at Yuba Bharati Krirangan here today. In the first match of the day, Chirag had to struggle past BNR before Mohammad Rafiq provided the winner in the 78th minute through an Elija Junior pass. Chirag now have six points from two matches. In their CFL opener, Chirag had beaten Railway FC 2-0. East Bengal missed chances in galore before Orji Penn fired in a brace to give them a 2-0 win over West Bengal Police. The Nigerian medio opened his account in the 78th and 10 minutes later he completed the tally to give East Bengal their second successive win. Having thrashed Mohammadan AC 5-0 in their opener, East Bengal also have six points.

Source: Published>

Pakistan team manager taken to hospital

Fri, Sep 03 10 10:37 PM

London, Sept 3 (PTI) Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed suffered a minor face injury while getting off the team bus in Cardiff and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Saeed stumbled while getting off the bus, BBC reported. Scandal hit Pakistan are playing a practice game against Somerset ahead of the two-match Twenty20 series, starting Sunday. The spot-fixing allegations, made by a British tabloid, led to provisional suspension of three Pakistani players -- Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammad Aamer.

Source: Published>

The game will survive: Flower

Fri, Sep 03 10 10:27 PM

London, Sep 3 (PTI) Cricket''s image has been hit by the spot-fixing allegations against Pakistan players but the game will "survive", England coach Andy Flower said today. ICC, the World governing body of the game, for the first time suspended cricketers under its anti-corruption code last night after corruption allegations against Pakistan trio of Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammad Aamir. "It''s not great discussing these topics and nobody wants that sort of news on the front or back page. We''ve got to see the outcome of these investigations first, obviously it''s a not a very healthy position that we seem to be finding ourselves in right now," Flower said. "But the game will survive, there''s no doubt about that. It''s a great game, people love playing it, people love watching it and that''s why it will survive." Flower, a former Zimbabwe batsman, said playing cricket on the fourth day of the Lord''s Test after the cropping up of allegations was tough for his players. "I think the guys did find it very difficult. I thought some of our cricket during this Test series was outstanding, especially from the bowlers, and Trott and Broad had a very special partnership early in that game at Lord''s. "So to be faced with those changing circumstances was a bit of a challenge for the guys but I thought they held themselves very well. They didn''t get involved in any petty point-making and they made a point of carrying themselves in a dignified manner," he told Sky Sports News. More PTI AT

Source: Published>

Petacchi wins stage seven of Tour of Spain

Fri, Sep 03 10 10:17 PM

Italian Alessandro Petacchi won stage seven of the Tour of Spain on Friday.

Britain's Mark Cavendish finished second in the bunch sprint that decided the 187-km stage from Murcia to Orihuela, with Argentina's Juan Jose Haedo in third.

Belgian Philippe Gilbert retained the overall lead for a fifth successive day.

Source: Published>

Delhi Traffic Police issues road advisory in view of CWG

Published>Fri, Sep 03 10 09:57 PM

New Delhi, Sep 3 (ANI): Planning extensive restrictions a day prior to the commencement of the trials for special dedicated lanes for the 2010 Commonwealth Games 2010, the Delhi Traffic Police on Friday appealed to the citizens to adhere to the issued road restrictions to avoid traffic chaos and fines.

The trials for the dedicated lanes and diversions would commence from Saturday along certain roads leading to the venues of the mega event.

"We appeal to the citizens, that there are some roads where traffic problems might occur because one of their lanes is dedicated for the Commonwealth Games traffic. So, if generally these roads can be avoided then they should and use available alternate routes so as to face less inconvenience," said Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Ajay Chadha.

"We appeal to the citizens, that there are some roads where traffic problems might occur because one of their lanes is dedicated for the Commonwealth Games traffic. So, if generally these roads can be avoided then they should and use available alternate routes so as to face less inconvenience," he added, while advising Delhites to keep away from certain routes to avoid traffic congestions.

Chadha specified the names of the roads, where there might be more traffic problems.

"Most of the roads have three lanes, and if we have taken one lane so then also the traffic will run smoothly. However, roads like Sardar Patel, Panchsheel Marg, etc. are just two-lane roads, here the traffic chaos can be more," he said.

There are 36 reserved lanes stretching from the international airport to the Games Village and various other venues.

These lanes will be on the right side of the roads and earmarked by broad blue bands and Commonwealth Games logo.

Chadha further said that around 2000 traffic police personnel would be deployed all along the Games route.

"They would monitor and levy fines on those drivers straying into the CWG lanes from September 20 when the athletes start arriving. There will be zero tolerance during this period and we will be doing maximum prosecutions. We have already given our proposal for dedicated lanes; we will get the orders in other one or two days," said Chadha.

"The penalty for prohibition on Games lane will amount to rupees 2000 ($43). The lane will be declared under 115 Motor Vehicle Act, the violation for which is rupees 2000. The dedicated lane is part of the contract entered into by the host city and Commonwealth Games Federation," he added.

The lanes will be used for smooth movement of Games officials and sportspersons till October 16.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games, which kicks off on October 3, is India's biggest sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games.

India is expecting about two million tourists in New Delhi for the Games, as well as about 10,000 athletes from 71 teams representing 54 Commonwealth member states. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Robust doping control programme in place for Delhi CWG 2010

Published>Fri, Sep 03 10 09:51 PM

New Delhi, Sep.3 (ANI): The Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 Organising Committee with the support of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has made robust plans to ensure that Delhi 2010 Games are free from anti-doping rule violations. The programme enacted is a blend of deterrence, detection and education.

The CGF, which will be the Anti-Doping Organisation during the Games, has constituted a nine-member Medical Commission chaired by Dr. M. Jegathesan of Malaysia. The other eight members come from different Commonwealth nations including the host city representative to supervise doping control activities in the Games.

The CGF has approved a test distribution plan of 1500 doping control tests, 250 blood tests, 150 EPO tests and 150 Pre-Competition tests-the highest ever in any Commonwealth Games. According to TDP, athlete selection will be done randomly from among medallists. Target testing will also be done.

The participating athletes from 71 CGAs shall be subjected to unannounced doping control tests, anytime and anywhere during the period of the Games. The CGF has enacted anti-doping standard for Delhi 2010 and will be applicable to all athletes including para athletes.

The doping control will be operational from September 23 to October 14, 2010.

The OC, through its Doping Control Division, has trained more than 450 Doping Control Officials (DCOs) for Delhi 2010. The selection and the training of these officials have been conducted in accordance with International Standards of WADA. They have been selected from many streams including doctors, sports medicine experts, physiotherapists and physical education professors.

State-of-the-art Doping Control Stations will be available at all competition venues. A Dope Centre has been set up at the Games Village while the Command Centre will be at the Games Headquarters. Each venue will have a dedicated Doping Control, Team with a Doping Control Venue Manager, DCOs, Chaperone Coordinators and Chaperones.

"The OC has left everlasting legacy to the sports arena by setting up doping control facilities at all competition venues and training venues at par with international standards," said Dr. Munish Chander, Deputy Director General (Doping Control) of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee. "These facilities will be used solely for doping control purpose after the end of the Games. Proper doping control infrastructure will be in place with proper doping control equipment, training and education material and a trained workforce of doping control professionals."

CGF has also nominated five international DCOs from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Oman, Kazakhstan and Singapore, who will work closely with NDCOs. In addition, WADA has also deployed a team of independent observers to oversee the arrangements and execution. They will come out with a report on doping control report at the end of the Games.

A three-member Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) Committee under the chairmanship of Prof. Ken Fitch of Australia has been set up by CGF to manage Games-time TUEs.

Doping Control Officials have been trained at par with international standards for testing enacted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). They are certified to work as Doping Control Officers. The certification is valid for two years, after which they can undergo refresher training to continue their certification.

The Commonwealth Games was a great opportunity for the country to get World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accreditation for National Dope Testing Laboratory (NTDL), Delhi in August 2008. NDTL Delhi is one of the 34 labs around the globe and fully functional with able Scientists and update equipment to cater all requirements of Delhi 2010. It will be supported by 18 scientists from different WADA-accreditated laboratories.

The turnaround time for the urine sample results will be 24 to 48 hours. For blood tests it will be one to five days and for EPO tests it will be 72 hours to six days.

Samples will be transported from venues to the Doping Control Command Centre to NDTL everyday in two shipments by dedicated doping control staff in secured vehicles along with the required security personnel.

The agreement with NDTL MYAS for the analysis of doping control samples has been executed for the period of September 23 to October 14. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

ICC insists Pakistani cricketers have a case to answer

Published>Fri, Sep 03 10 09:47 PM

London, Sep 3 (IANS) The International Cricket Council (ICC) Friday said that Pakistani players Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Aamer have a case to answer and defended its decision to suspend the trio for alleged spot-fixing, insisting that there is no conspiracy against Pakistani cricket.

Pakistan's High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan attacked the ICC for suspending the trio, even as Scotland Yard questioned the three cricketers in the spot-fixing scandal.

Hasan accused the ICC of 'playing to the public gallery', and said the council had 'no business' taking action while the investigations were on.

ICC chief executive officer Haroon Lorgat rejected the charge at a press conference at Lord's.

'This particular incident with the three players is unrelated to the challenge that we've got in keeping Pakistan involved as a full member of the International Cricket Council. So I wouldn't want to link the two, and I certainly wouldn't subscribe to the view that there is some sort of conspiracy around Pakistan cricket,' he said.

Lorgat also refuted charges made by Hasan, who said that the ICC had assured the Pakistan High Commission that the trio would not be charged while the police investigation was underway.

Hasan's attack come after Test captain Butt and bowlers Asif and Aamer were charged by the ICC late Thursday night with multiple breaches of the ICC's anti-corruption rules and were suspended from all forms of the game with immediate effect.

'They (the ICC) have done the wrong thing. When there's a live police inquiry, this takes precedence over both the ICC, civil or regulatory investigations and any disciplinary investigations,' Hasan was quoted as saying by Radio 4's Today programme.

'To take action now is unhelpful, premature and unnecessary considering the players had already voluntarily withdrawn from playing. The ICC had no business to take this action. The ICC is just playing to the public gallery.'

Ronnie Flanagan, chairman of the ICC's anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU), meanwhile, said that the players had been suspended because they had 'a really arguable case to answer'.

'They have a really arguable case to answer in our disciplinary arena but that is not the same as coming, in any sense, to a finding of guilt on their behalf,' added Flanagan. 'Priority must be given to the criminal investigation.'

Flanagan said that the three players could face life bans if found guilty under Article 2 of the code.

'At the worst end of the scale, if guilt is found then the punishment can range right up to a life ban from the game. I am certain that this will not take weeks,' said Flanagan, Northern Ireland's former chief constable.

But Flanagan said that this case doesn't suggest that cricket is rife with corruption.

'I do not see this as the tip of an iceberg but I think it is something from which we must learn,' he stated.

Meanwhile, Hasan said that he had spoken to the three cricketers and had concluded that they were innocent.

The three cricketers also became the first players to be suspended under new ICC rules intended to protect the integrity of the game.

They could face even stiffer action as the result of the ongoing criminal inquiry, which will accelerate when the trio will be interviewed under caution by detectives from Scotland Yard.

On Thursday they protested their innocence for the first time since the scandal broke, but are currently being viewed as suspects in the alleged conspiracy. They are not expected to be arrested however, and have agreed to voluntarily attend the interviews with Scotland Yard investigators.

It was also reported that marked bank notes were allegedly discovered in police searches of Butt's hotel room and his locker at Lord's.

The ICC initially said it would not act until the police had interviewed the three players. But the decision to charge and suspend the players came after ACSU chief operating office Ravi Sawani held talks with officers from the Metropolitan Police Economic Crime Unit.

Source: Web Search

Mohammad Amir grilled by Scotland Yard

Fri, Sep 03 10 09:37 PM

London, Sep 3 (PTI) Teen Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir was the first to be grilled by Scotland yard detectives today after being provisionally suspended by the ICC. The 18-year-old Amir was interrogated at the Kilburn police station in north London and in the presence of his solicitor, about an alleged conspiracy to defraud bookmakers. The two other suspended players -- Test captain Salman Butt and paceman Mohammad Asif -- will also be questioned later in the day. They are being questioned over claims that no-balls were deliberately bowled during the fourth Test match at Lord''s on the instruction of alleged match-fixer, Mazhar Majeed, as part of an alleged spot-fixing scam. The 35-year-old Majeed was arrested and bailed earlier this week pending further inquiries by Scotland Yard. As the interrogation of the players was on, Haroon Lorgat, the ICC''s chief executive told newsmen at the Lord''s that the players were suspended because "we have got sufficient evidence" against them. The trio is provisionally suspended by the International Cricket council for "alleged irregular behaviour". ICC anti-corruption boss Sir Ronnie Flanagan said the players have "an arguable case to answer". "They (Butt, Asif and Amir) have a really arguable case to answer in our disciplinary arena but that is not the same as coming, in any sense, to a finding of guilt on their behalf," he said. "Priority must be given to the criminal investigation. He did not see this case as a sign that cricket is rife with corruption. I do not see this as the tip of an iceberg but I think it is something from which we must learn," he said. The trio has been charged under Article 2 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Players and Player Support personnel and in accordance with its provision, the players have been barred from playing until the case is concluded.

Source: Published>

Darpan and Ashwin keep hopes alive to secure a top 10 place

Fri, Sep 03 10 09:27 PM

Belgrade (Serbia), Sep 3 (PTI) Indian team kept their hopes alive of finding a place in the top 10 with Darpan and Ashwin securing 4.5 points each after the seventh round of the World Chess Championship for the blinds here. Rajesh Oza is at four points, while Udupa is still struggling with his form and remains on 2.5 points. Playing with white, Darpan had rather easy game due to his sound preparation. The game went on as per Darpan''s preparation till 23rd move and he forced Engl Heinz of Germany to resign in 26th moves. Ashwin continued his attacking play in this crucial round, in spite of slight weak position with tactical play. He out played his counter part D Bischoff of Germany in just 31 moves, a release said. Rajesh came across an unusual opening while playing against Dimov Daniel of MKD but he followed the basics, converted the advantage of extra pawn in to win in 48 moves. However, Udupa is playing well below his normal strength and is still to find his form. Today he made blunder against S Harnandan of Neatherland and handed over the victory to his opponent just in 11 moves. Next two rounds are crucial for India, they are already in verge to improve on their past performance and still has a chance to secure place in top 10 which is dream, provided they win the remaining matches.

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Indian Oil in semis in Corporate trophy

Fri, Sep 03 10 09:17 PM

Chennai, Sep 3 (PTI) Indian Oil Corporation despite losing their third and final league match to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited by two runs, moved into the semifinal of the BCCI''s Corporate Trophy cricket tournament on better net run rate here today. With Tata Sports Club and IOC and BPCL winning a match each in the three team group, NRR rule was applied and Indian Oil with a plus 0.1402 to their credit ousted both BPCL (plus 0.0141) and Tata''s (minus 0.1025). As for today match, it was reduced from 50 over a side to 21 overs due to overnight rain and continuous drizzle in the morning. Put in to bat, BPCL mustered 134 for nine with Abhishek Nayar top scoring with 33. He put on 50 runs off 37 balls with Anup Ravandkar (17), while Manish Pandey (22) and Vinayak Mane (15) also made uselful contributions. Vikrant Yeligati (2/21), Rajesh Pawar (3/34) and Javed Khan (2/28) were the wicket takers. Indian Oil, which made 132 for seven, lost four wickets through run outs. Captain Wasim Jaffer (25), Ravikant Shukla (4750b, 3x4 and 1x6), Aditya Tare and Cheteswar Pujara were the ones run out. Indian batsman, Rohit Sharma chipped in with 37 off 38 balls (3x4, 2x6). Medium pacer, Avishkar Salvi claimed 2 for 27.

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Chirag and EB win in CFL

Fri, Sep 03 10 09:07 PM

Kolkata, Sept 3 (PTI) Chirag United and East Bengal registered victories over their respective opponents in the Calcutta Football League (Premier Division) matches at Yuba Bharati Krirangan here today. In the first match of the day, Chirag United had to struggle hard before Mohammad Rafiq provided the winner in the 78th minute through an Elija Junior pass to help his team beat BNR. Chirag thus have six points from two matches. In their CFL opener, Chirag had beaten Railway FC 2-0. East Bengal missed chances galore before Orji Penn fired twice to give them a 2-0 win over West Bengal Police. The Nigerian medio opened his account in the 78th and 10 minute later he completed the tally to give East Bengal their second successive win. Having thrashed Mohammadan AC 5-0 in their opener, East Bengal also have six points.

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Captaincy amidst spot-fixing furore is a big challenge: Afridi

Fri, Sep 03 10 08:51 PM

Karachi, Sep 3 (PTI) Shahid Afridi today said leading the side in the upcoming One-day series against England would be the biggest challenge of his career in the wake of spot-fixing allegations against the three of their top players. Afridi, who has played 27 Tests, 296 one-dayers and 35 T20 matches, also said that Pakistan was feeling the heat after the allegations surfaced. "It has not been easy for the players. But I think the team management took the right decision to release these players even before they were suspended. "Because not only were Salman (Butt), Aamir and Asif under pressure but the rest of the team was also feeling the heat of the allegations," he said. Afridi said the players were making an effort to avoid discussing the issue in training or in the dressing room and just focus on the cricket. "The players are avoiding talking about it because they know the best thing they can do right now is to focus on the coming matches and try to do well in them," he told Geo Super channel. "For me personally it is a big challenge to lead the team in the existing conditions but I have tried my best to relax the players and insist they just concentrate on cricket itself." The Pakistan Cricket Board announced two youngsters, batsman Asad Shafiq and left-arm pace bowler Muhammad Irfan as replacements for the one-day series following the suspension of the tainted trio. Afridi said he was consulted in the finalisation of the replacements. "I know they have lot of talent and it is a challenge for me to try to get this team to fight hard. Obviously we will miss the three but we have good back up talent and we have to manage with it in the coming matches," he said. Afridi said that he hoped that the three players would be eventually cleared of any wrong doing. "I feel sad at the current situation and I hope it turns out well for Pakistan cricket. But for the time being we just need to show the world we are a top cricket nation," he said. PTI Corr AT

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India name 27-member cycling squad for CWG

Published>Fri, Sep 03 10 08:47 PM

New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) The Cycle Federation of India (CFI) Friday announced a 27-member squad for the Commonwealth Games even as the cyclists are yet to receive their cycles for the Oct 3-14 event.

The Manipuri duo of Bikram Singh and Rameshwari Devi will respectively lead the Indian men's and women's challenge. Maniton Singh was the surprise omission from the squad even after he emerged as the fastest Indian in the Delhi Cyclothon international race Sunday.

The team of 27 was shortlisted from 38 probables after four trials were conducted in Patiala and Delhi over a period of two years.

Indian coach Chayan Chowdhury said: 'We have a new and a young team. We have got good exposure in the last three years. We had camps in and outside India and that should help us produce good results. I am expecting not more than 2 medals to be honest,' Chowdhury told IANS.

Forty-eight medals are at stake in 14 track events, (eight for men and six for women) and two road events (mass start and time trial).

The squad:

Men: Bikram Singh, Sombir, H.S. Prince, Amrit Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Rajender Bisnoi, C. Rajesh, Atul Kumar, Amandeep Singh, Harpreet Singh, Sarpreet Singh, Sandeep Malik, Dayala Ram Saran, Vinod Malik, Satbir Singh, Paramjit Singh, Hetraj Singh.

Women: Mahita Mohan, Rameshwari Devi, Rejini V, Y. Sunita Devi, Pana Chaudhary, Sayona, Suchitra Devi, Helen, Renu Bala Devi.

Coaches: Graham Seers (foreign coach), Chayan Chowdhury (head coach), Narender Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Ruma Chattopadhyay, Kiran Bala and Amandeep Singh.

--Indo--Asian News Service

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Shafiq, Irfan to replace 'tainted' trio in Pak ODI squad

Published>Fri, Sep 03 10 08:37 PM

Karachi, Sep 3 (ANI): Pakistan has called batsman Asad Shafiq and fast bowler Mohammad Irfan to replace the suspended Test skipper Salman Butt, fast bowlers Mohammad Amir, and Mohammad Asif.

Pakistan had dropped Butt, Asif and Aamir from the Twenty20 and one-day series against England under pressure from the ICC and the England Cricket Board.

The Pakistan cricket team is in the midst of a betting scam, where fast bowlers Aamir and Asif are alleged to have bowled pre-arranged no-balls in the Lord's Test against England.

"The PCB chairman (Ijaz Butt) approved the names of the two players on the request of the team management and selection committee," a PCB statement said on Friday.

"Both the players are currently playing with the Pakistan A team in Sri Lanka and will now join the senior team by next week," the Dawn quoted a Pakistan Cricket Board official, as saying.

Tall left arm pacer Irfan has yet to play for the senior team while batsman Shafiq made his one-day international debut in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in June.

Butt, Amir and Asif could face possible life bans after they were charged on Thursday under the International Cricket Council's (ICC) anti-corruption code. (ANI)

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No Indian cricketer ever approached by a bookie: Tendulkar

Published>Fri, Sep 03 10 08:17 PM

New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) Sachin Tendulkar, in a startling disclosure, said Thursday that in his 21 years of international career no bookie has ever approached an Indian cricketer. Tendulkar's statement comes as a big surprise as his second captain Mohammad Azharuddin was banned for life for match-fixing in 2000.

'No, in my 21 years of international cricket, I have never heard of any Indian player being approached by bookies,' said Tendulkar.

It was perhaps for the first time in all these years, that Tendulkar has spoken on match-fixing and also asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to thoroughly investigate the 'spot-fixing' scandal and punish the Pakistani players if found guilty.

Tendulkar feels the revelations made by the British tabloid The News of the World, if proven true, will bring disrepute to the game that has worked hard to clear itself from the stains of match-fixing scandals in 2000.

'ICC should make a thorough probe in the 'spot-fixing' scandal related stories and take appropriate action if the players are found guilty. If the allegations are true, they will certainly bring disrepute to the game,' said Tendulkar.

Tendulkar said he is not an expert to speak on the topic by sitting far away in India, but the incident has certainly disappointed him.

British tabloid News of the World, in a sting operation, revealed that bookie Mazhar Majeed, who was arrested and then released on bail, allegedly paid 150,000 pounds to Pakistani trio of Test skipper Salman Butt and pacers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer for bowling deliberate no balls at predetermined times during last week's Lord's cricket Test against England.

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