Boon, Cox or Hughes face sack following Chappell's CA full-time selector appointment

Published>Tue, Oct 26 10 12:08 PM

Melbourne, Oct 26(ANI): One of Australia's cricket selectors -David Boon, Jamie Cox or Merv Hughes - will reportedly be sacked after a Cricket Australia (CA) board meeting in Melbourne on Friday.

The need to give the marching orders to one of the selectors has arisen because of Greg Chappell's recent appointment as the country's first full-time selector, increasing the panel from four to five.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Boon and Cox are under the most pressure because some board members are unhappy with the conflict of interest that surrounds both men.

Cox is South Australia's high-performance manager, while Boon holds an executive role with Tasmanian cricket.

Hughes has also been criticized for running overseas tour group operations while working as touring selector.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch would play a major role in dismissing one of his panel members, as he would make a recommendation to the 14 CA Directors. (ANI)

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Ponting has ''few more doubts'' about Sydney Test now

Tue, Oct 26 10 11:58 AM

Melbourne, Oct 26 (PTI) Australian captain Ricky Ponting''s doubts about the genuineness of his team''s win in the Sydney Test against Pakistan are mounting amid reports that the ICC knew of suspected match fixer Mazhar Majeed''s activities during the game. The game had been investigated and cleared of any match-fixing by the ICC a few months ago but Majeed claimed that the result was indeed manipulated during a sting operation carried out by a British tabloid. And the latest report about ICC knowing about Majeed''s activities but choosing not to issue a warning during the match has only added to the suspicions surrounding it. "I probably have a few more doubts now that there have been some allegations made about some of the finer points and littler things that happened during that Sydney Test match," Ponting told ''ABC'' channel. "The one thing I''m very protective of though is the performance that we put up that day ... touch wood the Sydney Test match is not one that has anything untoward happening out of it because I really feel that coming off the ground that day, that''s one of the proudest moments of my career," he added. But Cricket Australia chairman James Sutherland said he still firmly believes that the match, which the Aussies won after a stunning Pakistani collapse, was clean. "That''s scuttlebutt that is to be proven. I trust that is the subject now of a proper investigation by the ICC and we can get to the bottom of that, because if there is any truth to that then that''s obviously something of great concern to cricket fans and cricket administrators all over the world," Sutherland said.

Source: Published>

Woods liked three-way sex with women, claims mistress Loredana Jolie

Published>Tue, Oct 26 10 11:48 AM

New York, Oct 26 (ANI): Tiger Woods' mistress Loredana Jolie has opened up about her sex relationship with the golfer in her new book, 'The Real Diary: Lessons from the Good Time Girl to Champion.'

The first tell-all from one of Woods' many bedroom conquests claims the "largely endowed" golfer liked three-way sex with women, fantasized about men and was stuck in a marriage to an uncaring gold digger.

"He liked to watch girl-on-girl, and the girls would occasionally join us," the New York Post quoted her as writing.

"I would make him fantasize."

"I would ask him what if I had another guy here with me while he was there with me. It kind of turned him on a little.

The gossip memoir goes on sale next month, ahead of the first anniversary of the Thanksgiving SUV crash that blew the lid off Woods' sexy shenanigans.

Woods, she gushes, was a sex machine with a heart of gold.

"As a love and sexual partner he is largely endowed and safe sex with him was definitely champion status."

"When I was having my relationship with Tiger. I was like on the seventh cloud especially from a sexual perspective," she raves, apparently confusing Cloud 9 with seventh heaven.

"There is at least no doubt about the fact that Tiger was awesome in bed."

Jolie, baptized Loredana Ferriolo, also reveals that Tiger "loved kissing" and "always used to convince me to send him sexy text messages and picture messages," and she suggests that sometimes a second woman would join them in bed.

"Men like to watch girls on girls," she writes. She also hints at a dark side.

"Tiger was kind of addicted to pills, I saw him taking sleeping pills and painkillers. He had a severe sleeping disorder and he could not sleep at night," she says.

And the 27-year-old Bronx-born escort, eviscerated Elin Nordegren, Woods ex-wife and mother of his kids - blaming her for Woods serial cheating.

"Obviously they didn't have such a close relationship because if I was in his house where the hell was she?".

"If I had my husband, I would make sure I know [who] was coming to my house. At that point I started realizing it was more a less [sic] financial reasons why they were married-she was in it for the money," she added. (ANI)

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Flower bans England WAGs for first two Ashes Tests

Published>Tue, Oct 26 10 11:44 AM

London, Oct 26(ANI): England coach Andy Flower has barred his players from seeing their wives and girlfriends (WAGs) for the first five weeks of the tour to Australia.

The first Test is on November 25, but the squad will not be allowed to see their families until after the second Test in Perth, scheduled to finish on December 7.

"We need that period at the start of the tour with no families present. It is important to get together and focus fully on the game," the Daily Mail quoted Flower, as saying.

It is a big change from recent England tours, but Flower is heeding the lessons of the disastrous 5-0 whitewash four years ago when several players had families present for much of the tour.

Flower also told the 16-man squad to travel to Australia with 'no fear' while insisting that warm-up matches will be taken dead seriously.

The first of the five Ashes Tests will be held at The Gabba in Brisbane from November 25 to 29.

It will be followed by Tests in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

The tour also has two Twenty20 clashes and a seven-match ODI series. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

ICC not to investigate Sydney Test: Lorgat

Tue, Oct 26 10 11:26 AM

Melbourne, Oct 26 (PTI) The International Cricket Council will not re-investigate the Sydney Test between Australia and Pakistan despite being confronted with reports that it knew of suspected match fixer Mazhar Majeed''s "activities" during the game. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the governing body did not have "sufficient evidence" to warn the Australian authorities about Majeed''s activities during the January series. Australia won the Sydney Test after Pakistan suffered a dramatic collapse and committed several fielding errors. In a sting operation conducted by a British tabloid a some weeks ago, Majeed was shown boasting that the match had been fixed. But Lorgat insisted that the ICC will not launch a re-investigation unless "credible evidence comes forward." "We''ve kept it open, we concluded in the end it was a dysfunctional team," he told ''ABC'' channel. Asked whether the ICC should have issued an advisory when it came to know of Majeed''s presence in Sydney, Lorgat said, "these are leads that we have to follow through and be quite confident before we make allegations and it was the subject of an ongoing investigation and we weren''t in a position to make any allegations." "We were not satisfied of the extent of his activities and we needed to be quite confident before we levelled any accusations," he said.

Source: Published>

Ponting says will target 'England weak links' Cook, KP during Ashes

Published>Tue, Oct 26 10 11:08 AM

London, Oct. 26 (ANI): Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has said that he will target England batsmen Kevin Pietersen and Alistair Cook during the forthcoming Ashes series, as he sees them as the weak link in that line-up.

Speaking on Fox Sports program Inside Cricket, Ponting said: "There's been a few other cracks opening up in their batting which is interesting right at the moment."

"(Alastair) Cook is a battling away a little bit and (Kevin) Pietersen not having made a hundred for 12 months. If they come to Australia in that sort of form as well, then they will be under more pressure than ever in their careers before," he added.

Cook averaged just 24.66 against Australia last English summer and needed a second-innings century against Pakistan this August to secure his place on the plane to Australia.

Pietersen, who has been a thorn in Australia's side since his debut in 2005, has also been struggling for runs.

The South African born batsman has averaged just 36.90 since the start of the 2009 Ashes series and has not made a Test hundred since March last year. (ANI)

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Unreal, extraordinary to be named with Bradman: Tendulkar

Tue, Oct 26 10 10:56 AM

New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) The only current cricketer to be named in ESPNcricinfo''s all-time World XI, Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar says he finds it "unreal and extraordinary" to be placed alongside legends such as Don Bradman with whom he would have loved to play. Tendulkar is the only Indian in the team which features four Australians, three West Indians, two Englishmen and a Pakistani. "It would have been great to play in this dream team, to walk out with Bradman after lunch, or build a partnership with Viv Richards, and talk to Sobers about cricket," Tendulkar told ESPNcricinfo. "Just playing and having a conversation with them about cricket. I would have liked to have asked (Jack) Hobbs and (Len) Hutton what it was like to play on uncovered wickets, who were the best bowlers they had faced, and of course, the mental aspect of the game," the 37-year-old, who has been in international cricket for over two decades, added. Tendulkar said he is glad that he played with or watched live nearly 60 per cent of the selected side. "I played with Malcolm Marshall in county cricket, I played against Viv Richards in an exhibition game, and Lillee bowled to me at the nets at the MRF Pace Academy, when I was 15," he said. "It was such a thrill. I remember I called my brother and said to him that Dennis Lillee had bowled to me. So to now find myself in this company is unreal. I first met him when I was 12. Pace legend Wasim Akram, the only Pakistani to have made the elite XI, said it was one of his biggest achievements to be named in the star-studded line-up. "I never thought I would play for Pakistan, let alone be picked for an all-time World XI like this. It is a very special thing, to be picked by these judges and even more of an honour to be in the same team as guys like Sir Don Bradman, Sir Viv Richards, Sir Garry Sobers, Sachin and the others," he said. "A lot of people ask me who was the best bowler I ever saw. Imran was great, no doubt, very hardworking and shrewd. Dennis Lillee I never really saw, but people tell you obviously about how good he was. But when I rate a bowler, I look at how he did around the world, on different pitches in England, the subcontinent and Australia, and Malcolm Marshall, I feel, was the best of the lot," he added. Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, who currently plays in the Indian Premier League, said, "to be one of only four Australian players to be chosen is an absolute honour, although I do think there were several other wicketkeepers, like Rod Marsh, Ian Healy, Mark Boucher or Alan Knott, who could have easily been picked ahead of me in this team." PTI PM

Source: Published>

Man City owner Sheikh Mansour takes investment in club past half-billion pound mark

Published>Tue, Oct 26 10 10:08 AM

London, Oct. 26 (ANI): Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan's investment in the club has gone past the half billion pound mark after he injected an additional 80 million pounds into it.

Since buying City in 2009, he has invested over 573 million pounds, The Guardian reports.

According to documents released to Companies House last Monday, Mansour purchased 37,547,169 new shares in the Eastlands club on September 30, each costing him 2.12 million pounds.

It amounted to 79.6 million pounds of fresh investment.

The sum is small change for the Abu Dhabi billionaire, but it raises fresh questions about City's capacity to meet new regulations coming in to force from next season.

UEFA's financial fair-play rules require that no club should make an aggregate loss of more than ?45m (about 39 million pounds) over the three seasons from 2011-12, or it will face being excluded from European competition.

City is taking steps now apparently in an attempt not to fall foul. (ANI)

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Ponting, Watson, Haddin back for Lanka ODI series

Tue, Oct 26 10 09:58 AM

Melbourne, Oct 26 (PTI) Skipper Ricky Ponting and all-rounder Shane Watson returned from a short break along with fit-again wicketkeeper Brad Haddin in the 15-member Australian cricket squad announced today for the ODI series against Sri Lanka next month. "The selection of this One-day squad marks the start of a very important summer of One-day cricket for the Australian side as it continues its preparation for the ICC Cricket World Cup in the Indian subcontinent," NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said in a statement. "The squad sees the return of Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson after missing the Indian One-day series and also the return of Brad Haddin from injury," he said. The return of the trio, however, shut the door on the explosive David Warner and Callum Ferguson, who were part of the squad for the just-concluded ODI series against India but did not get a game after two of the three matches were washed out. Australia lost the series 0-1. "Unfortunately this has meant that both David Warner and Callum Ferguson who were in India with for the One-day series have not been selected. This makes way for the return of several of our key batsmen," Hilditch said. "It is a pity neither player got an opportunity in India due to the weather, but both players will return to interstate cricket and look to score plenty of runs and press for selection during the summer," he added. On the bowling front, Mitchell Johnson returns to lead the attack after being given a break. "We have several key fast bowlers out of the side at present with injury, but this does create a great opportunity for several or our young fast bowlers in Mitchell Starc, John Hastings and Clint McKay to continue to gain experience on the international stage. .

Source: Published>

Man U to offer Roo type mega bucks deal to left-back Evra

Published>Tue, Oct 26 10 09:38 AM

London, Oct. 26 (ANI): Manchester United has said that it could offer left-back striker Patrice Evra a Wayne Rooney type megabucks contract.

According to The Sun, the Manchester United management is considering a proposal to raise Evra's pay from 70,000-pounds a week to 100,000 pounds a week in a new four-year agreement.

That will set the club back by a further amount of 20-million-pounds, on top of Rooney's 65-million-pound five-year bonanza.

It will also allow manager Alex Ferguson to send a message to big-spending rivals Manchester City that it will not be out-muscled as far as pay stakes are concerned.

Left-back Evra, 29, has a contract that runs until June 2012. The new deal will tie the French captain to Old Trafford until he is 33.

It puts the boot in on Barcelona and Real Madrid, who had both previously shown an interest in taking him to La Liga. (ANI)

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Tripura home away from home on domestic circuit

Published>Tue, Oct 26 10 05:56 AM

Tripura U-22 batsman Gaurav Bhatia was accorded a warm welcome from Delhi players who had once, as his team-mates, shared stints of various selection camps with him. Until making it to the Tripura U-22 side this year, Bhatia was just another Delhiite who would struggle in the selection camps but never earned a chance to represent the state. Although he couldn't spend much time in the center against his hometown team, the experience of sharing the same stage was worth cherishing.

"Coming back to Delhi is nice. The players in the Delhi team are friends and I love playing against them. Though, I am on the other side now, the competition makes you perform better," says the 18-year-old wicket-keeper-cum-batsman. More than the harsh times he suffered in Delhi, it was his consistency in the local circuit that showed him the right path. He realised that getting a chance to showcase his talent was more important than continuing to struggle for Delhi. "At least I am getting a chance to play the Col CK Nayadu trophy. I can play under-22 cricket for three more years and this will help me explore the game better. If I perform better, maybe I could make it to the Ranji side," he adds.

Bhatia isn't the only outstation player who has made Tripura his base, as Amit Gavande of Mumbai is also enjoying his third year with the state team. The lean and lanky fast bowler has so far garnered 11 scalps in three matches. He too shares a similar mindset as Bhatia's but his aim this year is to get recognised as a first class cricketer. "I have played my cricket in Mumbai but I hardly got to play there. Tripura on the other hand gave me chance to play. I am performing well since the last three years and I am hoping for a Ranji call up," says Gavande.

Life isn't most comfortable for Gavande since he has to travel back to Mumbai since he is employed by Future Group. After the season ends, he is scheduled to play the Times Shield tournament. "My company grants me leave for as much period as I need. Since the Tripura league starts in December, I will fly back to Mumbai to play good cricket," says Gavande, who picked up two wickets on the opening day of the U-22 match against Delhi.

For years the level of cricket in Tripura has stagnated since the team has failed to leave a mark in any forms of the game. But both players who have had enough of quality cricket back in their hometowns, believe there has been a turn for the better. They believe that infrastructural changes that have been incorporated have made Tripura jump a level higher.

"Earlier facilities were lacking in the state but now we have good grounds, good coaches who have a lot of experience, the players have been improving but this cannot give immediate results. The value of time has to be respected which can change the face of Tripura," explains Bhatia. Their last encounter against Haryana saw them losing by thirty runs.

Though their figures against Delhi weren't that convincing as they were bundled out for a paltry 75, still they held their ground as they finished the day scalping six Delhi wickets. Amit Das contributed 31 runs but four wickets apiece by Pawan Suyal and Vikas Mishra meant that Delhi had a chance to bat before lunch.

For Delhi, the start didn't go according to plans as they lost opener Anshul Gupta claimed by Amit Gavande. Karan Rai too struggled with scoring as an in-swinger by Gavande left Rai indecisive before he got castled away. Opener Abhishek Kapoor too made a well-crafted 39. Later Rahul Yadav and Vartik Tihara steadied the ship as they both batted in tandem. Rahul too departed in a similar fashion when the ball made inroads through the rough and knocked of the middle stump. Vartik too didn't last long and fell at cover. Delhi were 175/6 at the end of Day One with a lead of 100 runs.

Brief scores: Tripura Ist innings 75 all out in 30.2 overs (A Das 31, V Mishra 4/10, P Suyal 4/31); Delhi Ist Innings 175 for 6 in 57 overs (R Yadav 42, A Kapoor 39, V Tihara 37, A Gavande 2/31, A Chakaraborty 2/28, S Mujumder 2/59)

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'Raina was with agent in Sri Lanka, she has no bookie links'

Published>Tue, Oct 26 10 05:52 AM

The woman with whom Suresh Raina was spotted at the Indian team hotel during the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka is his agent, Ritika Sajdeh, a manager with Cornerstone Sports and Entertainment Private Limited (CSE). Bunty Sajdeh, CSE's chief operating officer and a cousin of Ritika's said neither his firm nor its employees, including Ritika, had any link with illegal punters or bookies.

London's Sunday Times claimed that the ICC was probing why the Indian cricket board had failed to react to a Sri Lanka Cricket report that the batsman had been seen with a woman linked to an associate of a bookie when India were in Sri Lanka in July-August. Both BCCI and SLC have rubbished the charge.

Ritika has been managing Raina's portfolio, and was in Sri Lanka to brief him on the nitty-gritty of his endorsement deals. She has also been handling his media commitments, as the 23-year-old batsmen prefers that requests for interviews are routed through his agent.

This was not the first time that Raina had been spotted in her company, but Bunty Sajdeh, who is also a close friend of Yuvraj Singh's, insisted there was no reason for eyebrows to be raised.

'We're not linked'

"It is absurd and untrue for anyone to say that Ritika or Cornerstone have any links with bookies. The BCCI has already clarified that. We also manage Bollywood actors, including Neil Nitin Mukesh and Sonakshi Sinha," Bunty Sajdeh told The Indian Express on Monday.

Raina is one of seven sportsmen with CSE, an event and talent management company that Bunty formed in May 2008. The others are Raina's India teammates Yuvraj, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik, tennis player Sania Mirza and rising racing star Armaan Ibrahim.

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Muster, 43, gets lucky break in Vienna Open comeback

Tue, Oct 26 10 03:58 AM

Former world number one Thomas Muster, 43, returning to the ATP circuit after an 11-year absence, enjoyed a lucky break when first-round opponent Ernests Gulbis pulled out of the Vienna Open on Monday.

The Latvian, seeded fifth and ranked 24th in the world, was replaced by Muster's fellow Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer, a lucky loser ranked 157th.

The two Austrians will meet on Tuesday. Organisers said Gulbis withdrew for personal reasons.

Muster, French Open champion in 1995, was given a wildcard for the tournament.

Ranked 974th, former iron-man Muster began his comeback earlier this year in the lower-level Challenger Tour and has managed one win in seven outings, against Borut Puc in Slovenia last month.

The ATP said the Austrian would become the first 40-plus to compete in the main draw of an ATP tournament since Jimmy Connors played in Atlanta in 1996, also at 43.

"I'm looking forward to it enormously," Muster told local media. "I want to inspire the crowd with my fitness and fighting spirit.

"I'm fighting like in the good old times and I will give everything in front of the fans in Vienna."

Source: Published>

Forgotten man Oddo helps Milan climb to second

Published>Tue, Oct 26 10 03:36 AM

Forgotten man Massimo Oddo, only playing because of a raft of injuries, set up both goals to send AC Milan up to second in Serie A after an action-packed 2-1 win at 10-man Napoli in heavy rain on Monday.

The Rossoneri, who had not won at the intimidating San Paolo for almost 13 years and were booed with almost their every touch, moved above Inter Milan and two points behind leaders Lazio after goals from Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Sixth-placed Napoli had a host of chances and the excellent Ezequiel Lavezzi pulled one back with 12 minutes to go, somehow flicking the ball in off the bar despite being almost flat on the ground.

The ambitious home side, hoping to break into the top four this term, were ultimately undone by being reduced to 10 men just before halftime when Michele Pazienza handled the ball for a second time to pick up a second booking.

The midfielder turned around and marched off without any protest but Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri, whose designer suit was completely drenched by the downpour, shook his head in disbelief on the touchline.

Milan left back Luca Antonini had his head in his hands for different reasons after 10 minutes when he was involved in a sickening clash with Napoli's Christian Maggio and had to be carried off the field with a neck brace as a precaution.

ON-FIELD BRAWL

The visitors were already without injured defenders Thiago Silva, Gianluca Zambrotta, Marek Jankulovski and Ignazio Abate -- as well as Ronaldinho -- so 2006 World Cup winner Oddo was called off the bench despite hardly ever featuring these days.

The right back made the most of his chance by performing a neat one-two with Ronaldinho's stand-in Robinho, who sidefooted the ball into the corner from just inside the area after 22 minutes.

Oddo's 73rd-minute cross was then headed in by an unmarked Ibrahimovic, who later limped off with a knock but still managed to get involved in an on-field brawl from the bench.

The off-colour Swede and strike partner Alexandre Pato had other efforts for Milan, chastened by a 2-0 defeat at Real Madrid last week but increasingly looking like major challengers for the scudetto for the first time since winning it in 2004.

"It was a difficult match, we defended well and it's a very important three points for us," Robinho told Sky TV.

"I'm used to playing further forward but it's fine behind the frontmen too," added Robinho who netted his second league goal of the season after being slow to settle since his August move from Manchester City.

Milan, bidding to stop Inter claiming a sixth straight league title, host old rivals Juventus on Saturday.

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IOC stalls decision on Winter Games additions

Published>Tue, Oct 26 10 02:56 AM

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has delayed until next year a decision on adding new events, including women's ski jumping, to the Winter Games.

The IOC's executive board (EB) was expected to ratify the addition of women's ski jumping, which has been campaigning for years, at a meeting in Acapulco on Monday but said it wanted more time although it was "looking favourably at the inclusion".

The board said the final decision would now be made in April, after the next round of world championships, and the verdict would be made solely by IOC president Jacques Rogge.

"Before taking a final decision the EB said it would like to consider the outcome of the respective world championships which will take place during the winter season in 2011," the IOC said.

"The EB has empowered the IOC president to take the final decision on its behalf."

The board said the other events up for consideration were: ski halfpipe (men and women), ski slopestyle (men and women), snowboard slopestyle (men and women), biathlon mixed team relay, figure skating team event and luge team relay.

"The IOC Olympic Program Commission analysed all the requests put forward by the International Sports Federations, based on established criteria, and submitted its findings to the EB," the IOC said.

"The key positive factors included whether the changes would increase universality, gender equity and youth appeal, and in general add value to the Games.

"Other considerations included the cost of infrastructure and the impact on the overall quota and the number of events," added the IOC.

SOCHI GAMES

Any new events that are included next year will automatically be added to the schedule for the next Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in 2014.

The board also agreed all of the events that were on the programme in Vancouver this year, including freestyle ski cross, which was a provisional sport, would remain on the schedule.

Ski jumping has been an Olympic sport since 1924 but is one of the few events in the Winter or Summer Games that does not allow both men and women to compete.

A group of female ski jumpers took action against the IOC but a Canadian judge dismissed their bid to compete in Vancouver on legal grounds despite agreeing they were being discriminated against.

"We consider it a win. We're excited about it," Deedee Corradini, president of Women's Ski Jumping USA, told reporters after Monday's announcement.

"We're taking this very positively. I think the fact president Jacques Rogge is going to personally make the decision as opposed to the EB after the world championships is good."

American Lindsay Van, who won the inaugural women's ski jumping world championship last year and was among the skiers who took the IOC to court, also welcomed the development but said she would have preferred a definitive answer.

"It's just another delay," she said. "For us as athletes it doesn't change anything. We're going to get up tomorrow and train.

"I think we are waiting for a yes or no decision ... I have to think positively. They didn't say no so we're headed in the right direction."

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Maldonado to test with Williams in Abu Dhabi

Tue, Oct 26 10 02:38 AM

The Williams Formula One team fuelled speculation that Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado could drive for them next season by announcing on Monday they would give him a test in Abu Dhabi next month.

Williams added that Finland's Valtteri Bottas would remain as their official test driver in 2011.

Maldonado, winner of the title in the GP2 feeder series this season, has been linked to a full race drive with Williams in media reports.

Williams said in a statement that the 25-year-old, who is backed by Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, would join British Formula Two champion Dean Stoneman at a post-season test aimed at young drivers on Nov 16/17.

The team have yet to confirm their 2011 driver lineup, with co-owner Patrick Head saying in South Korea at the weekend that commercial factors would be considered before a decision was made.

Williams are losing major sponsors RBS at the end of the season.

The former champions' current drivers are experienced Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, 38, and German rookie Nico Hulkenberg.

Source: Published>

Red and yellow galore after brawl in Bulgarian derby

Tue, Oct 26 10 02:18 AM

The Bulgarian league match between champions Litex Lovech and leaders Levski Sofia on Monday was interrupted for more than five minutes due to an onfield brawl involving almost every player.

Referee Stanislav Todorov showed two red and five yellow cards to calm the first-half situation in a highly-anticipated match that quickly generated into a festival of bad behaviour.

Litex defender Plamen Nikolov and Levski's Macedonian midfielder Darko Tasevski were the players sent off.

Levski's Veselin Minev was hit by a plastic bottle thrown from the stands but was able to continue playing. He was among the five players who were booked.

Levski took the lead after 11 minutes thanks to French striker Garra Dembele's 14th league goal this season while Hristo Yanev equalised after half an hour from a free kick.

The teams were drawing 1-1 with about 15 minutes to go in the second half.

Source: Published>

Manassero joins McIlroy and Ishikawa as elite young gun

Published>Tue, Oct 26 10 01:36 AM

Seventeen-year-old Matteo Manassero's remarkable four-shot win at the Castello Masters allowed him to claim a proud place alongside Rory McIlroy and Ryo Ishikawa in a trio of young golfing tyros.

The sport has had its share of shocks this year -- with rank outsiders Graeme McDowell and Louis Oosthuizen winning the U.S. Open and British Open respectively -- but perhaps the least surprising 'surprise' was Italian Manassero's breakthrough win on Sunday.

The teenager eclipsed New Zealander Danny Lee, who was 18 when he lifted the Johnnie Walker Classic title in Australia last year, by becoming the youngest winner on the European Tour.

Manassero's sparkling talents have been well-known in golf's inner circle since he was hailed by the great Tom Watson at the 2009 British Open.

"I was very impressed with him," five-times British Open champion Watson said after partnering Manassero at Turnberry.

"In fact I told him on the way down the 18th hole, 'Don't change anything, just keep enjoying the game and you will get there.

"He is a beautiful putter but he is also a great striker of the ball. He knows how to hit the ball and he put the ball in play all the time," added Watson.

McIlroy and Ishikawa also know how to keep on golf's straight and narrow.

The 21-year-old from Northern Ireland has shot to number nine in the world after a string of brilliant performances, notably his four-shot win over a top-class field at the Quail Hollow Championship in North Carolina in May.

Ishikawa has also taken the golfing world by storm.

MAGICAL 58

The 19-year-old Japanese has already recorded eight career victories and fired a magical 12-under-par 58 on the way to winning the Crowns tournament in Nagoya in May.

Watson was not the only one impressed by Manassero's display at Turnberry, the teenager compiling consistent rounds of 71-70-72-69 to finish 13th in the third major of 2009.

The good-looking Italian with the ever-present smile carried on in the same vein at this year's U.S. Masters.

Manassero thrilled the galleries, especially the young females, by becoming the youngest player to make the cut at the opening major of the season.

"When I played alongside Tom Watson in the Open it was the best experience I'd ever had -- until now," he said after winning in Spain on Sunday.

It was not simply Manassero's ball-striking that made Watson sit up and take notice at Turnberry.

"He has a passion for the game, that's what I look for in a young golfer," said the American.

"Technique can be added if necessary but if they don't have that passion then I am concerned. Matteo has it."

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Double Olympic gold medallist Holmes dies at 51

Tue, Oct 26 10 01:18 AM

Former Olympic rowing champion Andy Holmes, who won gold medals with Steve Redgrave at the 1984 and 1988 Games, died aged 51 on Sunday, British Rowing announced on Monday.

Holmes was taken ill last week with what media reports said was suspected to be a case of the rare bacterial disease leptospirosis, also called Weil's disease.

In a statement on its website (www.britishrowing.org), British Rowing said it was announcing his "tragic and untimely death with great sorrow".

Holmes won gold at Los Angeles in 1984 in the coxed four with Redgrave, Martin Cross, Richard Budgett and Adrian Ellison.

Four years later in Seoul he won gold in the pair, again with Redgrave, and bronze in the coxed pair, steered by Pat Sweeney.

Leptospirosis can be caught through contact with river or lake water. It contains the urine of infected animals and is notorious amongst watersports athletes.

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Serie A strike threat back on after talks stall

Tue, Oct 26 10 12:38 AM

The threat of a Serie A players' strike was revived on Monday when the footballers' union said talks with the league had broken down.

A weekend strike was called in September with the union angry with Serie A plans for a new collective contract which would force players to accept transfers or a place outside the first team squad if they were no longer wanted by clubs.

The strike was postponed after talks began again but the union has now walked out, after previously saying negotiations would go on until the end of November.

"An agreement with Serie A is a long way off," players' union chief Sergio Campana said in a statement. "There has not been a single step forward since September.

"Now we will talk with the players and decide together what to do. We need the soccer federation's intervention."

The September strike was called off in part because the union generally lacked public sympathy given the vast sums of money top players earn during a time of global economic hardship.

"A players' strike would be unjustified and grotesque," Serie A president Maurizio Beretta told reporters.

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Real's Mourinho invokes Tony Soprano

Published>Mon, Oct 25 10 10:56 PM

Jose Mourinho has invoked an expression common to fictional New Jersey Mafia boss Tony Soprano to remind his players of the importance of Tuesday's King's Cup last 32 first leg against lowly Real Murcia.

Under Mourinho's predecessor, Manuel Pellegrini, Real were humiliated 4-0 by Alcorcon, another third-tier side, in the same fixture last season and failed to turn the tie around at the Bernabeu to slump to an astonishing 4-1 aggregate loss.

Mourinho said after Real's 6-1 La Liga thrashing of Racing Santander on Saturday he would give Mesut Ozil, Xabi Alonso and Ricardo Carvalho a few days off but planned to field the in-form Cristiano Ronaldo, who has netted eight goals in his last three league outings, and out-of-favour France striker Karim Benzema.

"If last year's situation (at Alcorcon) repeats itself, I will cross those who play off my list because they will be dead to me," the flamboyant Mourinho told a news conference, invoking the main character in the hit U.S. TV series "The Sopranos".

"Benzema will start and so will Ronaldo. It is a very important game to me," he added.

Real, whose match in Murcia kicks off at 1800 GMT, have not won the King's Cup since 1993, while arch rivals Barcelona's last triumph came in 2009 when they won an unprecedented treble of Champions League and domestic league and Cup.

Pep Guardiola's side have a short hop by helicopter to north Africa to the autonomous Spanish city of Ceuta where they take on the local side in their 6,500-capacity Alfonso Murube stadium on Tuesday (2000).

Guardiola left World Player of the Year Lionel Messi and most of his Spanish World Cup winners, including goalkeeper Victor Valdes, defender Gerard Pique, midfielder Andres Iniesta and striker David Villa, out of his 16-man squad for the trip, instead calling up several players from the youth squad.

Spain midfielder Xavi, who missed Saturday's 2-0 La Liga win at Real Zaragoza, is still shaking off an Achilles problem and central defender Gabriel Milito is unlikely to have recovered in time from a thigh strain.

Guardiola told a news conference on Monday he needed players with fresh legs.

"Those who are coming with us know the lower divisions and how hard it is to play at those stadiums," he added.

In other first legs, holders Sevilla face Real Union (third tier) on Wednesday (1800).

There are two ties featuring clubs from the top flight as Hercules take on Malaga and Real Mallorca play Sporting Gijon, both on Wednesday.

The return legs are in the second week of November.

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Injured Spartak defender Parshyvlyuk out for rest of year

Mon, Oct 25 10 10:18 PM

Spartak Moscow defender Sergei Parshyvlyuk will be out for the rest of the year with a knee injury, the Russian Premier League side said on Monday.

"Medical test showed that Sergei had injured his right knee and must undergo surgery in Germany in the next few days," Spartak said on their website (www.spartak.com).

The 21-year-old Russian international suffered the injury in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Sibir Novosibirsk.

The Muscovites are fourth in the domestic championship with six games left in the March-November season and host league leaders Zenit St Petersburg on Wednesday.

Spartak hope Brazilian playmaker Alex, who has been out for 10 days with a thigh injury, will recover in time for their Champions League clash against Chelsea in London on Nov. 3.

The Russians, who are second in Group F and trail the English champions by three points, also face French champions Olympique Marseille on Nov. 23 and Slovakia's Zilina on Dec. 8.

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Varanasi to host World Bodybuilding Championship

Mon, Oct 25 10 09:58 PM

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) Contenders from 60 countries will vie for top honours when Men''s World Bodybuilding Championship takes place at Varanasi from October 28-November 1. Amit Swami, general secretary of the Indian Bodybuilding Federation (IBBF), today announced that the championship will take place under the supervision of Datuk Paul Chua, secretary general of World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation. Meanwhile, Swami also informed that IBBF has submitted entries of national bodybuilding team to the Indian Olympic Association for participation in the second Asian Beach Games. The Asian Beach Games will be held from December 8-14 in Muscat, Oman, a release said. Following members will represent India in Muscat: Daljit Singh, Lekh Raj Gouran, Dumyant Singh, Mukesh Thakur, Hardeep Singh Malhi, Rahul Bisth.

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Bikram, Rameshwari in India''s cycling squad for Asian Games

Mon, Oct 25 10 09:52 PM

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) O Bikram Singh and Ch Rameshwori Devi will lead the Indian charge in men''s and women''s section respectively when a 15-member cycling squad take part in the cycling competition in next month''s Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou, China. The Cycling Federation of India (CFI) today picked the squad for the November 12-27 mega-event. The Indian squad includes nine men and six woman cyclists. Besides Bikram, who had claimed a bronze in the Asian Cup earlier this year, the Indian hopes will also lie on Amrit Singh, Vinod Malik and Atul Kumar. Among the Indian eves, Mahita Mohan is expected to spring a few surprises. India''s foreign coach Grahm Seers and head coach Chayan Choudhary, along with woman trainer Ruma Chatopahya, will accompany the riders during the Games. Training camp for the cyclists will commence here from October 27. Earlier, a 27-member Indian squad had failed to make any impact in the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games here. The squad: Men: O Bikram Singh, Dayala Ram Saran, Satbir Singh, Sombir, Vinod Malik, Atul Kumar, Amrit Singh, Prince HS Hylen, Rajender Bishoni; Women: Ch Rameshwori Devi, Y Sunita Devi, Pana Chowdury, Rejani V, Mahita Mohan, Suchitra Devi. Coaches: Grahm Seers, Chayan Choudary, Ruma Chatopahya. PTI DB KHS

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IPL governing council to meet on Wednesday to decide on Kochi

Mon, Oct 25 10 09:38 PM

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) The Governing Council of the Indian Premier League will meet in Nagpur, on Wednesday, to discuss the future of the Kochi franchise. "The Governing Council will meet on Wednesday," BCCI president Shashank Manohar who is also the member of the governing council told PTI today. Will a final decision on Kochi be taken? "That we can''t say. We have a meeting that''s it," Manohar''s reply was precise. The Governing Council gave Kochi franchise 10 days time to sort out the differences between the members of the Consortium failing which they will face stern action. It may be recalled that top brass of Kochi franchise had submitted their reply on the last day thereby meeting the deadline.

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Tiwary named Bengal Ranji captain

Mon, Oct 25 10 09:22 PM

Kolkata, Oct 25 (PTI) Bengal selectors today passed the Ranji captaincy baton to stylish batsman Manoj Tiwary who led the state to four straight wins in the zonal leg of the Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy Twenty20 tournament. Skipper for the last two seasons, Laxmi Ratan Shukla has also been named in the 15-member side to play against Delhi in their season opener from November 1-4. Tiwary, 24, who has featured in an ODI against Australia, had a brilliant run in the East Zone leg of the T20 tournament in Cuttack. "He did well in the T20 and he is talented. We have decided to name him the skipper for the season," chairman of Bengal selection committee Sambaran Banerjee told PTI. He further said allrounder Shukla is a key member of the side. "I am sure he will be burden-free after captaincy was taken from him. We want to keep him pressure-free... He is an integral member of our set-up." Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was not available for selection. "Ganguly will not play the first two matches, we will see afterwards," Banerjee said. The squad has two new faces in opening batsman Avishek Chowdhury and medium pacer Mohammad Sami Ahmed. The Squad Manoj Tiwary (c), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Arindam Das, Sreevats Goswami, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, Anustup Majumder, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Iresh Saxena, Sourashish Lahiri, Ranadeb Bose, Ashok Dinda, Mohammad Sami Ahmed, Shiv Sagar Singh, Arindam Ghosh, Avishek Chowdhury. Coach: W V Raman, Manager: Naresh Ojha.

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Villa lose captain Petrov for at least two months

Mon, Oct 25 10 09:18 PM

Aston Villa captain Stilian Petrov will be out for at least two months after the midfielder injured his knee in Saturday's Premier League defeat at Sunderland.

"Unfortunately I think we have lost Stilian Petrov for maybe at least two months," Villa manager Gerard Houllier told the club's website (www.avfc.co.uk) on Monday.

"We will see if he needs an operation or not -- we will know that by the middle of the week."

The Bulgarian international picked up the injury in the first half of Saturday's 1-0 defeat, which left Villa in 10th place after nine matches.

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Harbhajan eager to celebrate Sachin''s 50th Test century

Mon, Oct 25 10 08:52 PM

Kolkata, Oct 25 (PTI) Sachin Tendulkar is one hundred away from achieving an incredible milestone of scoring 50 Test centuries and India spinner Harbhajan Singh is eagerly waiting for the historic moment. The upcoming three-Test series against New Zealand will give Tendulkar ample opportunities to get to the magical mark and Harbhajan is hoping the Mumbai batting icon will touch the mark in the first Test at Ahmedabad. "It''s going to be the biggest achievement to notch century number 50 in Tests. I am looking forward to the part of the celebration. Hope he gets it at Motera," the Indian spin wizard said. "He has a lot of milestones to his name. But this is going to be the biggest. Hats off to him. He has shown us that nothing is impossible," Harbhajan said. India play a three-Test, five-ODI series against New Zealand beginning with Motera match from November 4-8. Harbhajan also termed a media report in London''s ''Sunday Times'' as rubbish for claiming that ICC''s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ASCU) was probing into Suresh Raina''s involvement with a woman allegedly linked to bookies. "This is all rubbish. Hum cricket ke liye jaan de dete hain. (We don''t even care for our lives while playing cricket) It''s very sad to hear all this. These are all rubbish," Harbhajan said. The star-off spinner also said he has happy memories with Kolkata and is looking forward to play in the World Cup early next year. "The Eden is really special to me, there is no match here till the World Cup. I am really looking forward to play here," he said.

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Allen Iverson set to join Turkey's Besiktas

Mon, Oct 25 10 08:38 PM

Allen Iverson, one of the NBA's most prolific scorers, is set to sign for Turkey's Besiktas on a two-year contract, a club spokesman said on Monday.

Iverson, 35 played 10 seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers between 1996-2006, winning the league MVP award in 2001, before rejoining the team in 2009.

In March 2010 he announced he would miss the remainder of the season for personal reasons.

Turkey's state run-news agency Anatolian said the contract was worth an annual $2 million. The club declined official comment.

"Iverson wants to come and play for Besiktas," club board member Seref Yalcin told Anatolian.

"I will go to the United States on Friday and talk to him face to face... I think we'll have an official deal after this meeting," he added.

Turkey hosted this year's basketball World Championships and lost to the United States in the final 81-64.

Besiktas fans have already prepared a Turkish chant to welcome Iverson, the supporters' association said.

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Dhoni, Harbhajan bat for Suresh Raina

Mon, Oct 25 10 08:22 PM

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today firmly backed teammate Suresh Raina terming the reports of the young middle-order batsman being linked with an associate of a bookie as "baseless." "I think it is baseless," was Dhoni''s curt reply to reporters when they sought his reaction on the story published by a British daily which said that Raina was seen in Sri Lanka with a woman, who is a close associate of a known bookmaker. When prodded further, the skipper said,"Whether it''s the Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC), the BCCI, ACSU or the ICC, each and everyone has already given their reaction in this regard." Another of Raina''s senior teammate Harbhajan Singh also came out strongly in support of Raina stating that BCCI has already cleared the issue. "BCCI has cleared every aspect regarding this issue," Harbhajan said today. Yesterday, it was reported that Raina was seen with the the lady at a Sri Lankan Hotel and the footages were recorded on the CCTV of the hotel. According to that newspaper, the SLC rather than contacting the ICC''s ACSU went to BCCI. The BCCI secretary N Srinivasan, for whose frachise Chennai Super Kings Raina plays in the IPL, instructed the SLC not to proceed further.

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Nadal stays well on top of men's tennis rankings

Published>Mon, Oct 25 10 08:08 PM

Berlin, Oct 25 (DPA) Rafael Nadal continues to hold a clear lead in a largely unchanged top 10 in the men's tennis rankings released by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Monday.

The Spaniard is unchanged on 11,880 points, with former number one Roger Federer, who last week regained second spot, improving slightly to 7,495.

In the only movement in the leading 10, Andy Roddick of the United States gains a place to ninth, with Russia's Mikhail Youzhny slipping down one to 10th.

ATP top 10 as of October 25 (previous ranking in parenthesis):

1. (1) Rafael Nadal, Spain, 11,880 points

2. (2) Roger Federer, Switzerland, 7,495

3. (3) Novak Djokovic, Serbia, 7,145

4. (4) Andy Murray, Britain, 6,125

5. (5) Robin Soderling, Sweden, 4,780

6. (6) Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic, 3,715

7 (7) Fernando Verdasco, Spain, 3,330

8. (8) David Ferrer, Spain, 3,325

9. (10) Andy Roddick, US, 3,260

10. (9) Mikhail Youzhny, Russia, 3,105

Source: Web Search

Delhi cruise to quaterfinals unbeaten

Mon, Oct 25 10 07:52 PM

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) Opener Chetan Sharma hit a breezy 65 and shared an unbeaten 77-run stand with his skipper Mithun Manhas (33) as Delhi crushed Services by nine wickets to enter the quarter-finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 tournament with a clean slate having won all their matches. Both Delhi and Services came into the match after thrilling wins yesterday but today''s contest was lop-sided. Delhi, already assued of a place in the knock-out stage, restricted Services to just 124 after opting to field and then cleared the target with three overs to spare. Kapil Yadav took three wickets for Delhi, including that of Services'' top scorer Irfan Khan (46). Ritesh Negi, who starred yestreday for Services in upset win against Punjab, showed his worth with bat again by scoring unbeaten 21 off 12 balls. However, Delhi bowlers were disciplined and never allowed Sevices to take off. Their reply was solid with Chetan and Puneet Bisht putting on 47 for the first wicket. Irfan broke the stand by having Bisht caught by Amrinder Singh but Chetan and Manhas drove Delhi home. Chetan''s 65 came off 53 balls with seven fours and a six while Manhas hit a- run-a-ball 33 with three shots to the fence. Services needed to win this contest to move to the knock-out stage from North Zone.

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Anand to meet Wang Yue in Pearl Spring Chess

Mon, Oct 25 10 07:48 PM

From Our Chess Correspondent Nanjing (China), Oct 25 (PTI) World Champion Viswanathan Anand will take on Wang Yue of China in the first round of the second half of Pearl Spring Chess tournament here. It was recuperation time for Anand after a fourth round loss against Etienne Bacrot of France and the Indian ace just played out a quick draw as white against Vugar Gashimov in the next round that was held ahead of the only rest day. The six-players double round-robin tournament has seen some fascinating performance especially from World Number one Magnus Carlsen of Norway who had lost more than 25 elo rating points coming to this tournament. The adage about class being permanent came true once again as Magnus has been savaging his opponents in style and is now in sole lead on 4 points out of a possible five. The tournament has also belonged to Bacrot who had a sedate start with a loss against Carlsen and a draw against Topalov in the first two rounds. However, the Frenchman has capped that start with three victories on the trot and is now just a half point adrift of Carlsen at the half way stage in this 2,50,000 Euros prize money tournament. Anand''s victory against Topalov, his world championship rival, will be remembered for a long time and so will be his disastrous blunder in against Bacrot in the next game from a drawn position. On 2.5 points, the World champion currently stands third and it will be a stern test for him if he wants to join the title race. Making matters tougher is the fact that the Indian is set to play three black games out of the remaining five and will have to strike with the less favourable colour to be in with a chance of catching up or be near to the leaderboard. Vugar Gashimov has lost one and drawn the remaining games to be fourth at this juncture while the form, or the lack of it, if Topalov continues to desert him. Topalov and Chinese Wang Yue share the fifth spot with just 1.5 points in their kitty. Pairings round 6: Wang Yue (Chn, 1.5) v/s V Anand (Ind, 2.5); Etienne Bacrot (Fra, 3.5) v/s Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 4); Vugar GAshimov (Aze, 2) v/s Veselin Topalov (Bul, 1.5). PTI Corr SHN

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Postal athletics meet to begin tomorrow

Mon, Oct 25 10 07:38 PM

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 25 (PTI) The three-day 25th all India postal athletics and cycling meet would begin at Karyavattom, near here tomorrow. Besides hosts Kerala, teams of postal circles from Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and the Army postal circle would participate in the meet being held at Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education (LNCPE). Kerala postal circle was hosting the meet for the fourth time, Shoba Koshy, Chief Post Master General, told reporters here today. About 200 athletes from the 14 circles would be taking part in events, including run, hurdles, long jump, high jump, pole vault, shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, hammer throw, 20km walk, decathlon, relay and cycling.

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Somdev achieves career high rank of 94

Published>Mon, Oct 25 10 07:18 PM

Rising singles star Somdev Devvarman gained two positions to career best 94 in the latest ATP ranking chart.

Somdev, who now has 568 points, failed to make the main draw of the ATP 250 event in Austria after losing the second round of the qualifiers.

In the WTA list, Sania Mirza gained a place to 166 in the singles chart with 356 points while she jumped three positions in the doubles to 64 with 1238 points.

Leander Paes (5), Mahesh Bhupathi (14) and Rohan Bopanna (16) remained static in the doubles chart.

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Suyal, Mishra shine for Delhi in C K Nayudu trophy

Mon, Oct 25 10 07:08 PM

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) Pawan Suyal (4 for 28) and Vikas Mishra (4 for 10) shone with the ball as Delhi bundled out Tripura for a paltry 75 on the first day of their under-22 Col C K Nayudu Trophy match. In reply, Delhi were comfortably placed at 173 for the loss of six wickets. Rahul Yadav compiled a neat 42, while Abhishek Kapoor and Vartik Tihara contributed 39 and 37 runs, respectively. Yadav''s knock was laced with four sweetly-timed boundaries, while Kapoor and Tihara smashed six boundaries each. Brief Scores: Tripura 1st innings: 75 all out in 32.1 overs (Amit Das 31; Pawan suyal 4\28, Vikas Mishra 4\10). Delhi 1st innings: 173 for 6 in 57 overs (Rahul yadav 42, Abhishek kapoor 39, Vartik Tihara 37; A D Gavande 2\31, Abhijit Chakaraborty 2\28, S J Majumder 2\59).

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'Lenin's death will leave a big void in compound archery'

Published>Mon, Oct 25 10 06:58 PM

New Delhi, Oct 25 (IANS) The tragic death of coach Cherukuri Lenin is a huge loss for the country's archers, feels Commonwealth Games medallists Rahul Banerjee and Jayanta Talukdar.

The 25-year-old Lenin died in a road accident near his hometown Vijaywada in wee hours of Sunday.

Though Rahul and Jayanta are recurve archers, they knew Lenin, a compound specialist, as a teammate.

Lenin later took to coaching with his father Cherukuri Satyanayana in Vijaywada and was also part of the Indian coaching staff during the Oct 3-14 Games. His students included upcoming archers from Andhra Pradesh and other parts of southern India.

Rahul, who won a individual gold and a team bronze in the Games, credited Lenin for the medals India got in the compound event. Compound archers Ritul Chatterjee and Chittiboma Jignes were both coached by Lenin and notched up silver medals in the Games.

'His death is a great loss for the new and the current lot of compound archers. It is because of him that we saw a lot of archers doing well from the southern part of our country,' Rahul told IANS.

Jayanta, who won two bronze medals in the Games, concurs.

'In a way, Lenin was looking after the archers of south India. He was giving training at the grassroot level and also to the established archers, something that is not done by other coaches. I wonder what will happen to the state of compound archery in India.'

Incidentally, Lenin's sister Volga also died in a road accident five years ago and father Satyanarayana set up an archery academy in her memory. Lenin was the head coach of Volga Archery Academy.

As an international archer, Lenin will be best remembered for the gold he won during the 2005 Asian Championships in New Delhi and a silver in the Asian Grand Prix the same year.

Source: Web Search

+Kohinoor Wish+ claims the S Ramakrishnam Raju Memorial cup

Mon, Oct 25 10 06:22 PM

Hyderabad, Oct 25 (PTI) Prasad R trained +Kohinoor Wish+ ably ridden by A Imran K Claimed the Sri S Ramakrishnam Raju Memorial Cup (about) 1400 Metres for Category I horses on the concluding day of the 28-day Hyderabad Monsoon Races held here today. Trainers Prasad R and D Netto and jockeys A Imran K and Kiran Naidu scored a double each. Five first favourites obliged in a card of eight events. .

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Nicely maturing Bode sees future as a wine-maker

Published>Mon, Oct 25 10 06:18 PM

Olympic ski champion Bode Miller, who once confessed to racing with a hangover, is now thinking of a future steeped in the business of drinking.

The larger-than-life American has no immediate thoughts of quitting top level alpine racing -- he is having too much fun -- but said he planned a future as a professional wine-maker when he finally laid down his skis.

The 33-year-old super-combined Olympic champion bought land near his home town of Franconia, New Hampshire, with this project in mind and is still conducting studies to find out what sort of wine the land can produce.

"We still have quite a bit of time to make a decision and it will take many years for the vines to grow as well. It's a matter of patience," he said.

Patience was never the twice World Cup champion's main strength, another sign that he is coming of age after a career which has made him the best-known skier of his generation thanks to a style bordering on reckless and often outspoken statements.

There were none of the latter at the weekend as he concentrated on his new off-piste focus.

"We have hot summers but autumn is relatively short, meaning the vine will not benefit from as many sunny days as you get in California or Oregon who produce great wines," he said.

As a result, Miller wines will probably be sweeter wines similar to Austrian or Alsace whites.

'HAVE FUN'

Studying the land and the characteristics of a hillside -- with snow of it -- have been his trade for a long time and the man who has won 32 World Cup races in his career is hoping to add a couple to his record this season.

"I still have fun out there on the slopes so I didn't see any reason to stop," he told a media conference before the season opener in the Austrian resort of Soelden at the weekend, which was finally cancelled.

The American, who had been struggling in technical events lately, was in the top 15 after the first run.

The Miller nouveau owes a lot to the birth of his two-year-old daughter Dacey and his three 2010 Olympic medals -- gold, silver and bronze -- also helped silence critics at February's Vancouver Games.

Based in San Diego in the off-season, he bought a small yacht to cruise the Californian coastline with his daughter after the Olympics.

The American lives in a bus during the World Cup season in Europe and a ship when in California.

Source: Web Search

Rooney snubbed by away supporters at Stoke

Published>Mon, Oct 25 10 05:58 PM

London, Oct 25(ANI): Manchester United fans snubbed striker Wayne Rooney by refusing to sing his name during the club's Premier League match against Stoke City.

Rooney was the only name missing as the 3,500 away supporters sang about a host of other United legends, including George Best, Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Sun reports.

It was clearly their way to show disgust at the way the striker negotiated his new five-year contract.

Meawhile, Stoke City fans taunted their United rivals by singing: "Robbed by a Scouser, you're getting robbed by a Scouser."

They also chanted: "You're s**t, Rooney says you are."

Rooney missed the clash, won by United 2-1, due to an ankle injury.

In a dramatic change of events, Rooney - who wanted to leave United earlier this week - ended doubts over his future by signing a new five-year contract.

The striker, who was previously on 90,000 pounds per week, is now understood to be earning a basic salary in excess of 150,000 pounds per week.

He is now the highest-paid player at United, overtaking defender Rio Ferdinand. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

PCB was warned about shady players well in advance: Tauqir Zia

Published>Mon, Oct 25 10 05:52 PM

Karachi, Oct 25 (ANI): Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Tauqir Zia has revealed that the board was notified before the team's tour of England that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had noticed some irregularities in the SMS accounts of six or seven players.

Zia made these claims in an interview with an Australian radio channel, The News reported.

The PCB was informed well in time before Pakistan played against Australia and England in July and August this year, he said, indicating that the board should have been watchful during the England series, which ultimately saw three key Pakistani players being implicated in a spot-fixing scandal.

The ex-chief also claimed that he was once approached by a front man of bookies to select a player who was allegedly involved in match-rigging.

"I was a serving army officer and there's a gentleman who rings me up and says "so and so should be included in the team because he fixes matches and we get money," Zia said, talking about the incident.So I said you are threatening a man in uniform...you go to hell and that man is not going to be put in the team. And he never was included in the side," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Rooney's decision to stay massive boost to Man U's title chances: Terry

Published>Mon, Oct 25 10 05:08 PM

London, Oct 25(ANI): Chelsea defender John Terry believes that Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney's decision to stay back would be a massive boost to the club.

In a dramatic change of events, Rooney - who wanted to leave United earlier this week - performed an incredible U-turn over his future by signing a new five-year contract.

"I think Wayne staying will boost them and make it harder for us. On the back of what has happened United will probably go and spend in January and at the end of the season," the Sun quoted Terry, as saying.

Terry also thinks that Rooney's decision will make life difficult for the reigning Premier League champions

"The fact that clubs haven't been buying because of what's happened financially in the world has maybe helped Chelsea in the last few years. Wazza staying is massive for them," Terry said.

Rooney, who was previously on 90,000 pounds per week, is now understood to be earning a basic salary in excess of 150,000 pounds per week.

The 25-year-old is now the highest-paid player at United, overtaking defender Rio Ferdinand. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Gambhir, Ishant return to squad; no place for Yuvraj again

Mon, Oct 25 10 05:06 PM

Chennai, Oct 25 (PTI) Left handed opener Gautam Gambhir and paceman Ishant Sharma returned after injury lay-offs as the national selectors today announced a full strength 15-member Test squad for next month''s series against New Zealand. Gambhir and Ishant, who had to sit out of the second and final Test against Australia at Bangalore because of injury, have recovered sufficiently to be named in the squad, which has no new faces. While upcoming batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has been retained, two other youngsters Abhinav Mukund and Jaidev Unadkat have been left out of the team announced by the BCCI after a meeting of the selection committee here. Out-of-form Yuvraj Singh again failed to find favour in the Test squad, with the selectors opting for Suresh Raina and Pujara as the middle-order batsmen, both of whom have done reasonably well when provided with the opportunity. The team, to be captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has three fast bowlers in Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth and Ishant and three specialist spinners comprising Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha. The Indian batting order looks formidable as it has stars like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag, who have all been in fine nick in recent times. The return of Gambhir, who was laid low by a knee injury, means that opener Murali Vijay will have to sit out of the series commencing November 4 in Ahmadabad. "The team has performed extremely well against the Australians in both the Tests and One day series, particularly the Bangalore Test. Our junior players have gelled well in the middle-order with the seniors. Our bowlers have done a remarkable job. "Going by this, we have picked the team for all the three tests. I am confident that our players will continue their victory march," BCCI chief selector Kris Srikkanth told reporters here. "Our bench strength has come good and it was there for all to witness. This is a good sign for Indian cricket. Like it is said that the best player win, I must say let the best team (India) win," Srikkanth said adding the team for the one-day series will be picked later. Dhoni did not attend the meeting but he was consulted over phone by the five-member selection panel. (More) PTI RE SHN MRM

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