Everton manager Moyes says Beckham 'just needs to call' for him to be hired

Published>Sat, Nov 27 10 01:22 PM

London, Nov 27(ANI): Everton manager David Moyes has said that he would like to sign David Beckham on a short-term loan from Los Angeles Galaxy during the midwinter transfer window.

Beckham, who is a close friend of Everton captain Phil Neville, has spent the last two Major League Soccer off-seasons (between January and March) on loan at Milan.

"If David wanted to come back to the Premier League he would only need to phone me or Phil and we would be here for him. He knows how to get hold of Phil and he knows how to get hold of me," the Telegraph quoted Moyes, as saying.

"We would have to look into it financially, but if he came and said to me I would like to come and play I would have to go to the chairman and ask if we could do it, if we think we can make it work by selling enough shirts," he added.

The 35-year-old is also a former teammate of Moyes after playing with the Scot while on loan at Preston in 1995.

"I worked with him at Preston. We played in the same team and I made him look good. I made his bad crosses OK. I think I scored from one of his corners by making his bad passes look good," Moyes said. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Australia 481 v England 260 - first Ashes test - innings

Sat, Nov 27 10 01:16 PM

Australia were 481 all out in reply to England's 260 in the final session of the third day of the first Ashes test at the Gabba on Saturday.

Score: Australia 481 (M. Hussey 195, B. Haddin 136, S. Katich 50; S. Finn 6-125) v England 260 (I. Bell 76, A. Cook 67; P. Siddle 6-54)

Source: Published>

100 riders to take part in National Supercross Championship

Sat, Nov 27 10 01:08 PM

Kolhapur, Nov 27 (PTI) The fifth round of the MRF National Supercross Championship 2010, the biggest off-road two-wheeler racing event in India, will be held here tomorrow. About 100 riders from all over the country are expected to take part in the event, to be held at Mohite''s Racing Academy in this southwestern Maharashtra city. The meet will be organised by Sportstrek, Pune, in association with the Mohite''s Racing Academy. The first four rounds were held in Bangalore, Coimbatore, Jaipur and Vadodara. The names to watch out for are C S Santosh (TVS Racing), who is leading the championship with 137 points in the most prestigious foreign open class, closely followed by C D Jinan, a private rider from Kerala (116 points). The participants will be fighting for honours in seven categories: foreign open, novice, locals, private experts, private foreign open and two classes of Indian experts. PTI COR RSY AH

Source: Published>

Oz experience 'massive learning curve' for me: Finn

Published>Sat, Nov 27 10 12:38 PM

Brisbane, Nov 27(ANI): England fast bowler Steven Finn has termed his first taste of cricket in Australia as a "massive learning curve".

The 21-year-old, who made his Test debut against Bangladesh, has been plunged into the Ashes after just eight Tests in less than a year.

"For me it's a massive learning curve, having never bowled in Australia before," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Finn, as saying.

"But, in saying that, no matter where you are in the world, it's important that you adapt to conditions as quickly as possible and realize the right place to bowl, and then make the most of it," he added.

Finn has shown no nerves in the ongoing first Test at the Gabba despite the pressure of playing in front of 35,000 people.

He has picked up four Australian wickets so far, including the wicket of Michael Hussey, who scored 195 to swing the momentum in the hosts' favour. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Indian hockey stars return from Asian Games with bronze

Published>Sat, Nov 27 10 12:16 PM

New Delhi, Nov.27 (ANI): The Indian hockey team arrived in New Delhi on Friday after bagging a bronze medal in the XVIth Asian Games being held in Guangzhou, China.

The women's hockey team, which failed to get a medal at the event, also arrived on Friday.

The Indian men's hockey team defeated four time Asian Games champion South Korea 1-0 and won a bronze. The team lost to Malaysia in the semi-finals.

Skipper Rajpal Singh expressed satisfaction with the team result.

"We went to win the tournament because the team was in full rhythm, but due to one unlucky match we could not qualify for the final. But the overall performance of the team was very good, so we are happy," said Singh.

India's performance in the Asian Games has given the country hope about achieving a good medal haul at the London Olympics in 2012. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Indian-origin doctor removes cancer from coach Flower's eye

Published>Sat, Nov 27 10 11:46 AM

Brisbane, Nov.27 (ANI): England cricket team coach Andy Flower missed the second day's play of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba as he was in hospital being operated by an Indian-origin doctor for the removal of a melanoma, a type of skin cancer, from close to his right eye.

Dr. Shobhan Manoharan, said that Flower owed his life to the team's security officer Reg Dickason, who took him to her skin clinic in Brisbane this week.

Flower is due to miss the third day's play of the Test to recuperate. He will return to the team for day four. Richard Halsall, the fielding coach, is in temporary charge of the squad.

Dr. Manoharan said the cancerous growth just beneath Flower's right eye had been developing at some speed, and would have caused potentially fatal complications within months.

"Melanomas are, pound for pound, the most serious cancers out there," Dr Manoharan told Telegraph Sport.

"The dangerous - or level two - part of this one was only 0.3 millimetres thick, which is not life-threatening in itself. But the history of the case suggests that it has been evolving quickly, and was on its way to becoming a much more serious problem," she added.

Flower visited the clinic only after prompting from Dickason, a Brisbane native who had previously arranged a check-up on his own sun-damaged skin.

As the England team's bodyguard and chief security adviser, Dickason is responsible for Flower's safety on tour.

Dr. Manoharan works at the Westside Dermatology Group in Brisbane, a practice that promises to arrange check-ups within 48 hours. Dickason had his appointment on Monday, and Flower was then given a biopsy on Wednesday before undergoing surgery yesterday.

Dr. Manoharan has recommended that the rest of the England squad should come in for check-ups and warned that other players and coaches could be at risk. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Indian cricketers gear up for ODI series against Kiwis in Guwahati

Published>Sat, Nov 27 10 11:22 AM

Guwahati (Assam), Nov.27 (ANI): The Indian cricket team had a practice session at the stadium here ahead of the first of five one-day international series against New Zealand.

The first match between the two sides will take place on Sunday.

The New Zealand team is here, and is expected to have a practice session today.

Opener Gautam Gambhir will lead the Indian team in the first two one-day internationals. The second one-day international will take place in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Security arrangements in and around the stadium have been beefed up ahead of the match.

P. C. Saloi, Senior Superintendent of Police, Guwahati, said: "We have four layers of security to prevent persons from entering the field." (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Bopanna-Qureshi pair receives Humanitarian Award

Sat, Nov 27 10 10:52 AM

London, Nov 27 (PTI) Their message of ''Stop War Start Tennis'' fetched Indian Davis Cupper Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani partner Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Of The Year award during the ATP World Tour Finals here. The two players have been playing with the message of ''Stop War Start Tennis'' for quite some time on the Tour and in Grand Slams. They rose to prominence by reaching the final of US Open where they ended runners-up to the legendary Mike and Bob Bryan. While Qureshi has received this award in the past as well when he teamed up with Israel''s Amir Hadad in 2002, it''s a first for Bopanna. "It''s a great feeling to be here and presented with this award from our peers and the ATP. I would like to thank my family, friends and Aisam. It''s been an emotional and unbelievable year for us. I want to applaud the courage and determination of the people in India. I hope this award brings reassurance of peace back home," Bopanna said. Qureshi said,"It''s a great feeling and I''d like to thank the ATP for giving us this platform to spread the message of peace throughout the world. For me, it is an unbelievably proud moment." "To be on the same list as Andre Agassi, Stefan Edberg and Nelson Mandela is a terrific honour. We have had a great year and given a positive message about peace through our partnership and off the court. I am very happy to have won with my best friend on tour," he added.

Source: Published>

Garnett carries Celtics to win over Raptors

Sat, Nov 27 10 10:16 AM

Kevin Garnett powered the Boston Celtics to a 110-101 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday and held their slim lead atop the NBA's Eastern Conference.

Garnett had a season high 26 points and added 11 rebounds to give the Celtics their third straight win since dropping a game to the Raptors last week.

The Celtics, who never trailed in the game, scored on their first seven possessions and opened a 19-5 lead. Toronto battled back to within a point during the second quarter but Boston pulled away in the third quarter.

Rajon Rondo, back in the lineup after missing three games with a hamstring injury, had four points and 14 assists as the Celtics (12-4) maintained a half-game lead over the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference.

The loss is the Raptors' (6-10) first in five games.

Source: Published>

Hussey and Haddin stand firm to give Australia advantage

Published>Sat, Nov 27 10 10:12 AM

Mike Hussey scored a battling 124 not out and Brad Haddin a superb 79 not out to give Australia a first innings lead of 69 over England at lunch on the third day of the first Ashes test on Saturday.

The pair frustrated England's toiling bowlers on a sunny morning at the Gabba and had put on 186 for the fifth wicket at the end of an extended session to leave Australia on 329-5 in response to the tourists' 260.

Lefthander Hussey, who had said Saturday's first session could be pivotal in a tight match, rode his luck early on against England's pace attack as he crept run by run towards his 12th test century.

Wicketkeeper Haddin, who had resumed on 25, stifled his attacking instincts but still scored more freely than his partner to achieve his sixth test 50 with a cover drive for four.

It was not long, though, before Hussey brought up his 12th test century with his 16th boundary of the innings, sparking wild celebrations from another packed house at the Gabba.

Hussey, who had been under pressure for his place in the team before the test, pumped his fists then raised his arms in the air as he took the ovation before embracing Haddin in the middle of the wicket.

Resuming on 81, Hussey had added just one run to his overnight total when he was given out lbw to James Anderson but a review of the TV pictures showed the ball had pitched outside leg stump and umpire Aleem Dar's decision was overturned.

Soon afterwards, the 35-year-old was giving thanks that England had already used the two umpire reviews they are allowed in each innings when Dar ignored another loud shout for lbw from Anderson.

Television replays showed he would have been given out had an appeal been available and used by England.

England's luck did not improve when Paul Collingwood came on to bowl later in the morning when Alastair Cook got his finger tips to a looping shot from Haddin but failed to hold the catch.

Saturday's opening session was extended to 2-? hours after play was abandoned early because of bad light and rain on Friday.

Source: Web Search

Garnett carries Celtics to win over Raptors

Sat, Nov 27 10 10:06 AM

Kevin Garnett powered the Boston Celtics to a 110-101 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday and held their slim lead atop the NBA's Eastern Conference.

Garnett had a season high 26 points and added 11 rebounds to give the Celtics their third straight win since dropping a game to the Raptors last week.

The Celtics, who never trailed in the game, scored on their first seven possessions and opened a 19-5 lead. Toronto battled back to within a point during the second quarter but Boston pulled away in the third quarter.

Rajon Rondo, back in the lineup after missing three games with a hamstring injury, had four points and 14 assists as the Celtics (12-4) maintained a half-game lead over the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference.

The loss is the Raptors' (6-10) first in five games.

Source: Published>

Hussey and Haddin stand firm to give Australia advantage

Published>Sat, Nov 27 10 08:26 AM

Mike Hussey scored a battling 124 not out and Brad Haddin a superb 79 not out to give Australia a first innings lead of 69 over England at lunch on the third day of the first Ashes test on Saturday.

The pair frustrated England's toiling bowlers on a sunny morning at the Gabba and had put on 186 for the fifth wicket at the end of an extended session to leave Australia on 329-5 in response to the tourists' 260.

Lefthander Hussey, who had said Saturday's first session could be pivotal in a tight match, rode his luck early on against England's pace attack as he crept run by run towards his 12th test century.

Wicketkeeper Haddin, who had resumed on 25, stifled his attacking instincts but still scored more freely than his partner to achieve his sixth test 50 with a cover drive for four.

It was not long, though, before Hussey brought up his 12th test century with his 16th boundary of the innings, sparking wild celebrations from another packed house at the Gabba.

Hussey, who had been under pressure for his place in the team before the test, pumped his fists then raised his arms in the air as he took the ovation before embracing Haddin in the middle of the wicket.

Resuming on 81, Hussey had added just one run to his overnight total when he was given out lbw to James Anderson but a review of the TV pictures showed the ball had pitched outside leg stump and umpire Aleem Dar's decision was overturned.

Soon afterwards, the 35-year-old was giving thanks that England had already used the two umpire reviews they are allowed in each innings when Dar ignored another loud shout for lbw from Anderson.

Television replays showed he would have been given out had an appeal been available and used by England.

England's luck did not improve when Paul Collingwood came on to bowl later in the morning when Alastair Cook got his finger tips to a looping shot from Haddin but failed to hold the catch.

Saturday's opening session was extended to 2-? hours after play was abandoned early because of bad light and rain on Friday.

Source: Web Search

Hussey makes a century to edge Australia ahead

Published>Sat, Nov 27 10 07:46 AM

Mike Hussey hit a superb battling century to give Australia the edge on the third morning of the first Ashes test against England on Saturday.

The 35-year-old brought up his 12th test century with a drive through the covers for his 16th boundary soon after Australia had passed England's first innings total of 260 with five wickets in hand.

The lefthander was ably supported by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who stifled his attacking instincts against England's new ball attack to reach his sixth test 50 with a cover drive for four.

The pair embraced in the middle of the wicket after Hussey reached the century mark in 277 minutes off 197 deliveries.

Hussey had added just one run to his overnight total when he was given out lbw to James Anderson but a review of the TV pictures showed the ball had pitched outside leg stump and umpire Aleem Dar's decision was overturned.

He was fortunate that England had already used the two umpire reviews they are allowed in each innings soon afterwards when Dar ignored another loud shout for lbw from Anderson.

Television replays showed he would have been given out had an appeal been available and used by England.

Source: Web Search

BBC documentary will not harm England bid, says Cameron

Published>Sat, Nov 27 10 06:46 AM

British Prime Minister David Cameron believes the BBC's probe into FIFA's affairs will not affect England's 2018 World Cup bid although he said he was frustrated at the timing of the Panorama documentary.

The investigation into alleged corruption within soccer's world governing body will be broadcast on Nov. 29 just three days before FIFA delegates vote in Zurich to decide the host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

"I've obviously spoken about these issues with FIFA delegates," Cameron told the BBC's Football Focus programme.

"What I'd say is that this is a free country, we have a free media.

"Is it frustrating that Panorama is doing this programme a few days before (the vote)? Of course it is but it's a free country and you have to roll with that. I think FIFA will understand that."

England are competing against Russia and joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Netherlands/Belgium to hold the 2018 tournament.

TIMES ALLEGATIONS

The leader of the English bid Andy Anson has accused the state-funded broadcaster of being unpatriotic and of undermining the country's hopes of hosting the tournament.

The documentary follows allegations made in Britain's Sunday Times newspaper last month that two members of FIFA's executive committee were prepared to sell their votes for cash.

Reynald Temarii of Tahiti was subsequently banned for one year and fined after FIFA's ethics committee found him guilty of violating rules on general conduct and loyalty while Nigeria's Amos Adamu was banned for three years and fined for corruption.

Four other FIFA officials were also banned and fined.

England were joint top in FIFA's technical evaluation for the 2018 finals along with Spain/Portugal and Cameron stressed the positive aspects of his country's bid.

"The world watches English football, the world comes and plays its football in England and so bringing the World Cup to England is such a natural step," he said.

"Now, we've got a real fight on our hands in Zurich but I'm looking forward to it because I think we've got a great case to make."

Source: Web Search

Mainz beat Nuremberg to cut Dortmund's lead

Published>Sat, Nov 27 10 06:06 AM

Second-placed Mainz enjoyed a 3-0 win over Nuremberg on Friday to cut Borussia Dortmund's lead at the top of the Bundesliga to four points.

Goals from Andre Schuerrle, Nikolce Noveski and Sami Allagui moved Mainz on to 30 points from 14 games, with Dortmund hosting bottom team Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday.

After losing three matches in a row, surprise package Mainz have now won their last two league games to regain the momentum they built up after winning a record-equalling seven games at the start of the season.

"It was clear this would not be an easy game and that is the way it turned out," said Mainz coach Thomas Tuchel on a freezing evening with the pitch covered in a thin layer of snow.

"But we stayed patient and compact, although the 3-0 does not really reflect the game and it is a bit too high," said the league's youngest manager at 37.

DEFENCE NAPPING

Mainz did not have many chances in an evenly balanced first half but they caught Nuremberg's defence napping when Schuerrle tapped in from close range in the 27th minute for the lead.

The visitors almost levelled three minutes after the restart when Ilkay Gundogan thundered a drive just over the bar.

However, soon after Christian Fuchs again turned provider, the Austrian whipping a low free kick from the left into the box for Noveski to slide home from close range to grab his first goal of the season in the 54th.

Nuremberg went close again when Jense Hegeler's header hit the bar in the 72nd before Mainz sealed the win as Allagui was picked out by goalkeeper Christian Wetklo.

The substitute clipped the ball over a defender and then chipped visiting keeper Raphael Schaefer for his third goal in two games four minutes from time.

Nuremberg have now lost three games in a row to drop to 10th on 18 points and, with a tough schedule until the winter break against Dortmund, Hoffenheim and Hanover, they could lose even more ground after a good start to the season.

On Saturday, third-placed Bayer Leverkusen, on 25 points, travel to fifth-placed Hoffenheim while struggling champions Bayern Munich, in eighth, host Eintracht Frankfurt.

Source: Web Search

New York cabbies face new "professional" dress code

Sat, Nov 27 10 04:06 AM

New York City's cabdrivers will be subject to a new dress code, the Taxi and Limousine Commission said on Friday.

The regulations will instructing cabbies to "present a professional appearance," said David Yassky, TLC commissioner.

An older dress code for taxi drivers has been on the books since 1987, when complaints about bedraggled and badly groomed drivers prompted the TLC to ban certain clothing, such as sleeveless shirts, short shorts and open-toed shoes.

Those rules were later relaxed and are rarely enforced.

The TLC head said the new rule is designed to be easier to follow.

"It will also have the positive effect of reminding drivers that, in a customer service-oriented industry, there are professional standards that have to be met," Lassky said.

The new rule gives no definition of what constitutes a professional appearance.

Representatives of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, which represents some 11,000 taxi drivers, were not available for comment.

The new rule is to be discussed at a public hearing in December.

Source: Published>

Russia defends 2014 Games from "interfering" Georgians

Published>Sat, Nov 27 10 01:46 AM

The Georgian government's plea to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to move the 2014 Winter Olympics from Sochi was not acceptable and represented meddling, a key Russian official said on Friday.

"It is completely unacceptable for politicians or governments to interfere with the business of the Olympic movement," Alexander Zhukov, the head of Russia's Olympic Committee, said at the sidelines of a meeting of European Olympic Committees in Belgrade.

Russia fought a brief war with Georgia in 2008 that resulted in the rebel regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia breaking way from Georgia. Russia recognises the independence of both regions unlike the rest of the the international community.

Tensions between Russia and Georgia have remained high since the war and last week Georgia asked the IOC to reconsider holding the Games in Sochi, which is just outside Abkhazia.

Zhukov said such a move "goes against the spirit of the Olympic charter which is above politics," and that Sochi was democratically chosen as the venue for the Winter Olympics.

GOOD RELATIONS

"Russia has good sporting relations with Georgia and we will suport their bid to host the 2015 European Youth Olympic Festival, a decision which is due to be announced tomorrow (Saturday)," he said.

"We will not support the statement of the (Georgian) goverment but we will support the Olympic Committee of Georgia."

The Northern Caucasus region is also a flashpoint where Islamic insurgents want to carve out a separate state, and last week a bomb exploded on a railway line in the Sochi area.

In May, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered tighter security at the 2014 Winter Games. Zhukov said the security of the event remains the key priority of the organisers.

"The investigation of this case is underway and... the safety of all visitors is of vital importance for our security services," said Zhukov, also the deputy prime minister for social affairs.

He said Russia's Olympic Committee is building "a new strategy" to improve on the country's performance at the 2010 Games in Vancouver where they won just three gold medals, their lowest ever tally.

"We are going to win in Sochi," he said.

Source: Web Search

Berdych says umpire was scared of Nadal

Published>Sat, Nov 27 10 01:06 AM

Rafael Nadal roared into the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals on Friday with a 7-6 6-1 defeat of Czech Tomas Berdych who later accused the Spaniard of intimidating the umpire.

A sensational first set boiled over in the 12th game when world number one Nadal became involved in a heated debate with Brazilian chair official Carlos Bernardes after a controversial Hawkeye challenge.

With Berdych fighting to stay alive in the eight-man event, he challenged an overrule at 15-15 on Nadal's serve and the resulting Hawkeye review shown on the O2 Arena's huge screens confirmed his backhand had clipped the baseline.

Bernardes awarded the crucial point to Berdych even though Nadal said he had stopped playing when he heard the umpire incorrectly call the Czech's backhand out.

Nadal was enraged and even walked off the court behind the umpire's chair to talk to the tournament supervisor Tom Barnes before eventually returning to the court and holding serve.

"It just shows how the referee is probably scared of him and just let him talk with him too long," world number six Berdych, whose chances of reaching the semis on his debut at the tournament vanished, told reporters.

"I was waiting while he was talking for like three minutes. He was like sitting there and he's not going to play, stuff like that. It's not the mistake of Rafa. It's the mistake of the referee. He just needed to show him that it's not like he can do whatever he wants on the court."

Nadal was clearly still furious and took his frustration out on the unfortunate Berdych whose level dropped significantly in the tiebreak which he lost 7-3.

CLIPPED BASELINE

Afterwards Nadal offered a slightly different version of events, refuting Berdych's suggestion that he had raised his arm during the point indicating he wanted to challenge the Czech's backhand which was later shown to have clipped the baseline.

"I didn't challenge," Nadal, who will play Britain's Andy Murray on Saturday, told reporters. "(The umpire) called the ball out. Maybe I stopped a little bit because the ball was really close. To stop the point you have to say stop."

Nadal said the incident may have affected Berdych.

"This point doesn't change a lot (for me), " he said. "Finally I was lucky. I won that game. I think I was still playing the same level before that point and after that point.

"But maybe Tomas goes down a little bit in the second set and I was feeling better and better."

Nadal's win meant he remained undefeated in Group A and he is now just two wins from claiming his first title at the year-ender and a $1.6 million jackpot.

However, he warned that facing Murray would be tough.

"If you talk to the specialists of tennis, everybody can say the conditions are a little bit easier for Andy than for me here," the nine-times grand slam champion said.

"The court is a little bit easier for him than for me. But the only thing that really matters is what happens tomorrow."

Nadal beat Murray in the Wimbledon semi-finals this year and holds an 8-4 career lead over the Scot although he did lose when they last played in Toronto this year.

Source: Web Search

Bangladesh crush Afghan dream, China march on

Published>Sat, Nov 27 10 12:28 AM

Bangladesh cricketers dashed Afghan dreams of taking home a first Asian Games gold medal to their war-torn country, while Chinese athletes burst with pride after smashing their own Games record.

Teenager Shabbir Rahaman Roman belted two sixes in a swashbuckling 33 not out as Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by five wickets with just three balls to spare to claim the Twenty20 title.

Women's karate fighter Feng Lanlan needed only a single blow to fell her Japanese opponent in the 68kg kumite class -- a result that gave China a record 184th gold at a single Asiad.

"Yesterday I was reading the news and they were talking about China winning the 184th gold medal, but I never expected it would be me," said the 26-year-old Asian champion.

"I feel so lucky, this is beyond expectation."

China finished with 197 gold medals, 14 more than their 1990 haul and 122 more than second-placed South Korea. Five titles will be decided on Saturday before the closing ceremony.

While China were celebrating their record haul, Bangladesh were equally elated by winning their first ever Asiad title.

Afghanistan's band of refugee camp-raised players had already achieved hero status at home after humbling a second-string Pakistan side in the semi-final.

If the gold could have been won on good-will alone, Afghanistan would have been runaway winners but Bangladesh were not in a charitable mood and they smashed the ball around the ground in the final overs to reach the winning target of 119.

"We played like tigers today," the green-eyed and wiry Rahaman Roman told Reuters after flaying the attack in the penultimate over. "This is the happiest day of my life."

The small contingent of Afghan fans echoed their players' sentiments, disappointed but proud of their achievement.

"The world knows us for fighting, bombs and bullets but we want to (tell) the world that we are not these things only," said Abdul Khan, waving his country's tri-colour flag.

Pakistan's players had wept bitter tears after their semi-final loss but restored some pride by winning the bronze with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in cricket's debut at the Games.

Pakistan's coach brought a second-string team but rapped India for not sending one at all.

"God knows why they are not here. Someone should have added pressure on them," coach Mohd Sadique said.

China's 100m champion Lao Yi led his team to their first 4x100m relay gold in 20 years on the penultimate night of the track and field, while India rail worker Preeja Sreedharan looked forward to better times ahead when she added a silver to her thrilling 10,000m gold on the athletics' opening night.

"India Railway Sports Promotion Board will promote my position and our government will give me a praise. So it can improve my standard of living," she said.

For Japan's double Olympic champion and eight-times world champion wrestler Saori Yoshida, it was a case of been-there-done-that as she defeated China's Zhang Lan to clinch her third consecutive women's freestyle 55kg title.

"I still get excited every time I win," she insisted after a 120th straight victory.

Yu Miyamoto saved Japan's blushes by winning the women's 61kg karate gold. Taiwan's Hsia Wen-huang was earlier disqualified from the men's 60kg class for leaving Afghan opponent Amiri Sayed Mohammad bloody-nosed but Iran's Samira Malekipour profited from a team mate's injury.

Malekipour flew from Iran to replace Pegah Zangenehkarkooti after the national champion sustained a head injury after falling from an electric cart at the athletes' village.

Malekipour hit the tatami running, beating Indonesia's Yulanda Asmuruf for the medal.

"There was not even enough time for her to get her things together," Iran team official Fathollah Khozani said.

China's men's basketball team nearly caused an injury to ageing warhorse Wang Zhizhi when they heaped their gold medals around the 31-year-old ex-NBA player's neck following their 77-71 triumph over Iran.

"It was very heavy ... I hope I can play at the 2012 Olympics, but it depends on my skill and condition," he said.

China's Olympic boxing champion Zou Shiming defended his 46-49kg boxing title with a win over Kazakh Birzhan Zhakypov, but Thailand's Tassamalee Thongjan may have had the greater joy after earning a bonus 100,000 yuan ($15,000) from her government for taking silver in the women's 57-60kg division.

"My father is ill but I didn't have the money for his medical treatment. I am very happy now that I can take my father to a hospital," she said.

Source: Web Search

Smith to recover in time for 1st Test against India: CSA

Fri, Nov 26 10 10:52 PM

Johannesburg, Nov 26 (PTI) In a boost to the South African team, their team doctor today said that captain Graeme Smith will recover in time from his hand injury for the home Test series against India starting on December 16. Cricket South Africa Medical Committee Chairman Dr Shuaib Manjra said Smith is expected to be fully fit for the series after being examined by a hand surgeon on the CSA Medical Panel today. "We have been given the assurance that Graeme''s injury is healing within expectation and we are confident that he will make a full recovery and be available for the entire series against India," Dr Manjra said in a statement. Manjra said CSA''s medical team will continue with Smith''s rehabilitation and his condition will be reviewed again in two weeks'' time. He said the expectation is Smith "will begin training with the team when they reconvene on December 12". Smith had fractured the little finger of his left hand during the recently completed series against Pakistan and he had been advised rest from two to three weeks. There was concern that Smith might require surgery. Smith sustained the injury when he was hit by a Shoaib Akhtar bouncer in the first ODI against Pakistan last month, and aggravated it by playing in the last two ODIs of the same series and the two-Test series in the UAE. He has now had five separate hand injuries in the past two-and-a-half years. South Africa host India for three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 International match. The Test series is billed as a contest between the world''s top two teams, with India number one in Test rankings and South Africa at two. The first of the three Tests begins at Centurion on December 16.

Source: Published>

Asif in London to consult lawyer for ICC hearing

Fri, Nov 26 10 10:36 PM

Karachi, Nov 26 (PTI) Pakistan''s suspended pace bowler Muhammad Asif has reached London to hold consultations with his lawyer ahead of the full hearing of the International Cricket Council code of conduct commission in January. Asif was provisionally suspended by the ICC along with Salman Butt and Muhammad Aamir on September 2 for violations of ICC anti-corruption code of conduct and bringing the game into disrepute while Scotland Yard is also investigating allegations about the trio''s involvement in spot-fixing. Sources said that Asif had been summoned to London by his lawyer Elizabeth Robertson in connection with the full hearing scheduled from January 6 to 11. "Since he didn''t appeal against the provisional suspension, his lawyer is concentrating fully on the upcoming hearing which will deal with the players violations of the ICC ACU code of conduct," the source said. He said Asif would remain in London for a week where if required Scotland Yard might also further question him in connection with their ongoing investigations into the spot-fixing allegations. Butt and Aamir had lodged appeals against their suspensions which were rejected by the ICC appeals tribunal last month in Dubai. "The hearing is significant since it will decide the future of the players," the source said.

Source: Published>

Asif consults lawyer ahead of ICC code of conduct commission

Fri, Nov 26 10 10:06 PM

Karachi, Nov 26 (PTI) Pakistan''s suspended pace bowler, Muhammad Asif has reached London to hold consultations with his lawyer ahead of the full hearing of the International Cricket Council code of conduct commission in January. Asif was provisionally suspended by the ICC alongwith teammates, Salman Butt and Muhammad Aamir on September 2 for violations of the ICC anti-corruption code of conduct and bringing the game into disrepute while Scotland Yard is investigating allegations about the trio''s involvement in spot-fixing during fourth Test against England at the Lord''s in late August. Sources said that Asif had been summoned to London by his lawyer, Elizabeth Robertson in connection with the full hearing. "Since he didn''t appeal against the provisional suspension, his lawyer is concentrating fully on the upcoming hearing which will deal with the players violations of the ICC ACSU code of conduct," the source said. He said Asif would remain in London for a week where if required Scotland Yard might also further question him in connection with their ongoing investigations into the spot-fixing allegations. Butt and Aamir had lodged appeals against their suspensions which were rejected by the ICC appeals tribunal last month in Dubai. Rumours have been strong that the ICC ACSU may succeed in getting inside information from amongst the trio on the whole issue which could have a big impact on the full hearing scheduled from January 6 to 11. "The hearing is significant since it will decide the future of the players," the source noted.

Source: Published>

Vijender provides golden finish to Indian boxing campaign

Fri, Nov 26 10 09:52 PM

S S Ramaswamy Guangzhou, Nov 26 (PTI) Indian boxing''s poster boy Vijender Singh pummeled two-time world champion Abbos Atoev into submission with a commanding 7-0 triumph in 75kg to give the country''s campaign in the Asian Games a golden finish here today. The dashing Beijing Olympic Games bronze-medal winner Vijender destroyed the Ubzek boxer and later said his next aim is to win gold in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. But two other Indian boxers -- Santosh Kumar in the 64 kg category and Manpreet Singh in the 91 kg category -- lost in the finals and settled for silver medals. Santosh was mercilessly thrashed by Kazhakstan''s Daniyar Yeleussinov 0-16 while Manpreet Singh lost tamely to Mohammed Ghossoun of Syria 1-8. India finished their boxing campaign with their best-ever haul of nine medals (two gold, four silver and four bronze), including two in the women''s competition that made its debut here. The other gold medal came from Vikas Krishan in the 60kg class. After his comprehensive victory over his Uzbek opponent, 25-year-old Bhiwani boxer, Vijender said he thoroughly enjoyed the thrashing of one of the top fighters in amateur boxing and that his next goal was the Olympic gold. "My next goal is to win the Olympic gold in 2012. I felt hungry for the title and enjoyed beating the world champion," said Vijender who had ended up with a disappointing bronze medal in last month''s Commonwealth Games in Delhi. He also avenged his defeat to the same Uzbek rival at last year''s World Championship in Italy in which he won a bronze. The loss against Atoev in Italy still rankled him but today he carried too much weight in his punches and the Uzbek the Indian too hot to handle. He was cheered all the way during his bout at the Foshan Stadium by a small bunch of Indian supporters that included India''s ambassador to China S Jaishankar. After his triumph, Vijender kneeled down in the middle of the ring with his arms raised in victory. .

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China blank India to gain 5th place in men''s volleyball

Fri, Nov 26 10 09:36 PM

S S Ramaswamy Guangzhou, Nov 26 (PTI) India were routed 3-0 by hosts China in the 5-6 placing match in the Asian Games men''s volleyball at the Zhongda Gymnasium here today. China won the one-sided match 25-18, 25-17, 25-18 with their players dominating the match with aces and tricky serves that troubled the Indian team. China wasted no time in taking control of the first set which set the tone. Hard hit ''kills'' from Yuan Zhi and Bian Hongmin easily got past the Indian back-row defence. With China controlling the net play, India tried to negate this aspect and this led to big spaces in mid-court which the Chinese took advantage of. The match was decided by another winning shot by Shen Qiong. Indian coach G Sridharan said that his team''s net blocks did not work well. "Our blocks were not good in this match. China did very well in defence and they worked together very well," he said. Sridharan was not satisfied with his team''s show though they had stunned a top-ranked team like Japan. "We came here to win a medal. But we lost to Thailand last Sunday and that put us out of medal reckoning. We have to wait for the next Asian Games to get a medal," he said. "What we did today was better than what we did in earlier matches," said China''s spiker Bian Hongmin. China lost to Japan and Iran and Hongmin said this had affected the team''s morale. "After encouragement from our coaches, it got better," he said.

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Miandad likely to become Pakistan batting coach again

Fri, Nov 26 10 09:26 PM

Karachi, Nov 26 (PTI) Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad may soon become the batting coach of the national cricket team, sources said today. Sources in the PCB said Chairman Ijaz Butt has taken a decision in this regard on the direction of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also patron of the Board. "They (Butt and Miandad) apparently had a meeting in China where both had gone for different reasons last week. Miandad discussed cricket affairs with the PCB chief including the recent performance of the team," the source said. The source said that Miandad, who himself had expressed interest in coaching, will start working with the players at the national training camp in Lahore from December 7 for the New Zealand tour. "If need arises Miandad might even travel with the team to New Zealand," he added. Although both the stalwarts have not seen eye to eye while working together in the board but the source said they were told by the President to work together for the betterment of Pakistan cricket. "Butt has been told to make proper utilization of Miandad''s experience by giving him more responsibilities," the source said. Miandad had also worked for a short stint as batting consultant with the Pakistani players last year before the Champions Trophy but was not given a permanent role in the team by the PCB chief. The former captain has been a coach of the national team on three separate terms. Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam, however, when contacted said he had no idea about Miandad helping out as batting coach. "To be honest I don''t know anything about this but perhaps the Chairman may have something in his mind," he said. Many former players and critics have called for the appointment a fulltime batting coach with the national team given the tendency of the Pakistani batsmen to self-destruct in recent series. Wasim Bari a senior official of the board had also confirmed that the PCB was negotiating with some foreigners for this position but Butt shot down the idea at a press conference.

Source: Published>

Asian Games: Four golds take India's tally to 14

Published>Fri, Nov 26 10 09:16 PM

Guangzhou, Nov 26 (IANS) Four golds in athletics, boxing and kabaddi came India's way on the penultimate day of the Asian Games Friday to take the country's tally to 14. With three silvers and four bronzes also in the kitty Friday, India's overall medal tally rose to 64, bettering the 57 medals that had been won at the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games.

With 17 silvers and 33 bronzes also adding to the tally, it was India's best performance at the Games, leaving behind the 53 medals (10-17-26) that were won at the 2006 Doha Games.

The women's 4X400 metres relay quartet of Manjeet Kaur, Sini Jose, Ashwini Chidananda and Mandeep Kaur, boxer Vijender Singh and the men's and women's kabaddi teams won golds Friday.

Preeja Sreedharan and Kavita Raut won the silver and bronze in the women's 5000 metres, while boxers Manpreet Singh and Santhosh Kumar Virothu claimed a silver apiece.

The athletes did the country proud, coming second only to China with 11 medals (5-2-4). Against this, China had 34 medals (12-14-8).

This was all the more remarkable considering that India had won a lone athletics gold, three silvers and four bronzes (11) at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, where the country finished with 53 medals (10-17-26).

While boxing brought in nine medals (2-3-4) the shooters and wrestlers only flattered to deceive. Indian wrestlers had won only two bronzes at Doha.

The relay quartet, which had won the gold in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, came on top here clocking 3:29.02 seconds.

Kazakhstan (Marina Maslyonko, Viktoriya Yalovtseva, Margarita Matsko, Olga Tereshkova) got the silver in 3:30.03 and China (Zhihui Zheng, Xiaoyin Tang, Lian Chen, Jingwen Chen) the bronze in 3:30.89.

The victory gave India its fifth gold in athletics. The women's relay team had given India its only athletics gold at the 2006 Doha Games.

India's Preeja Sreedharan and Kavita Raut won the silver and bronze in the women's 5000 metres.

Preeja recorded her personal best timing of 15:15.89 seconds and Kavita also had a personal best timing of 15:16.54. Preeja and Kavita had won the gold and silver in the women's 10,000m.

Vijender Singh clinched the gold in the men's 75kg category Friday to cap a stupendous performance by the Indian boxers at the Asian Games.

Vijender, who was left bitter after finishing with the bronze in the New Delhi Commonwealth Games, blanked World champion Abbos Atoev of Uzbekistan 7-0 in a lopsided bout. It was sweet revenge for the World No.1 Indian, who had lost to the Uzbek in the quarterfinals of the World Championship earlier this year.

However, the other two Indian boxers -- Santhosh Kumar Virothu and Manpreet Singh -- who took the ring for gold medals bouts had to content with silvers.

Santhosh was pummelled 1-16 in the 64kg final by Daniyar Yeleussinov of Kazakhstan while Manpreet was thrashed 1-8 by Mohammad Ghossoun of Syria in the 91kg category.

The men's kabaddi team won the gold for the sixth consecutive time at the Asian Games.

India beat Iran 37-20 and maintained their winning streak in the sport since its introduction in 1990.

Earlier, Indian women's kabaddi team won its maiden Asian Games gold medal, defeating Thailand 28-14 in the final.

The Indian men's team won a bronze in chess.

The team comprising Krishnan Sasikiran, Surya Shekar Ganguly, G.N.Gopal and B.Adhiban defeated Iran (Ghaem Maghami Ehsan, Mahjoob Morteza, Toufighi Homayoon, Golizadeh Asghar) 3.5-0.5 in the ninth and last round to finish third.

China beat Philippines 3.5-0.5 in the last round to take the gold. The Philippines settled for the silver.

This is India's second medal in chess after Harika Dronavalli won a bronze in the women's individual round.

India got two bronze medals from the roller sports events.

Anup Kumar came third with 244.2 points in the men's single free skating long programme behind Japan's Shingo Nishiki (253.8) and Chia Chen Yeh of Chinese Taipei (248.4).

Anup and Avani Bharath Panchal clinched a third place finish with 222.0 in the pairs skating long programme.

China's Yawen Lin and Yunqin Tang (245.4) got the gold while Chinese Taipei's Tzu Hsia Weng and Li Hsin Chen (237.6) the silver.

Source: Web Search

Sukhbir congratules Punjab players Manjit and Mandeep

Fri, Nov 26 10 09:08 PM

Chandigarh, Nov 26 (PTI) Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today congratulated Manjit Kaur and Mandeep Kaur of Punjab for bringing honour to the country and the State by bagging gold in 4x400 relay race in the Asian Games. The Deputy Chief Minister also congratulated Indian kabbadi teams, both men and women, for clinching gold in Asian games. Badal said that specialised training arranged by Punjab government for Manjit Kaur and promotion of Kabaddi by organising World Cup in Punjab were instrumental in motivating the players that helped them to reach the zenith of their respective sport. Badal said that Punjab government would soon organise a function to felicitate commonwealth and Asian games winners and Punjab government was giving highest ever cash award to the player to motivate them.

Source: Published>

Airtel trophy unveiled

Fri, Nov 26 10 08:52 PM

Guwahati, Nov 26 (PTI) The Airtel trophy for the ODI series between India and New Zealand was today unveiled by the rival captains at a function ahead of the first match on Sunday. The glittering trophy was unveiled by Indian captain Gautam Gambhir and his New Zealand counterpart Daniel Vettori in presence of senior Airtel officials and Assam Cricket Association (ACA) secretary Bikash Baruah at the Landmark hotel where the host team are staying. The organisers wished the two teams goodluck and hoped that Sunday''s opening ODI to be played at the Jawarharlal Nehru stadium would be an exciting match. With the entire city put under a strict security blanket, the New Zealand team members who are staying at the Nakshatra hotel far away from the venue of the unveiling function, arrived late for the event. Even journalists and lensmen covering the ceremony had to face a tough time to convince the securitymen at the hotel that they were genuine invitees for the function.

Source: Published>

Asian Games kabaddi: Golden double for India

Published>Fri, Nov 26 10 08:36 PM

Guangzhou, Nov 26 (IANS) India completed a golden double by winning gold medals in the men's and women's kabaddi event at the Asian Games here Friday.

The men's team won its sixth consecutive gold medal since the introduction of the sport in 1990 and the women's team clinched its maiden Games gold at the Nansha Gymnasium. Women's kabaddi made its debut at the Asian Games.

India men beat Iran 37-20 and maintained their winning streak in the sport.

Earlier, Indian women's kabaddi team won its maiden Asian Games gold medal, defeating Thailand 28-14 in the final.

India were in complete control of the game right from the start and with aggressive tackling took a 17-7 lead at the halfway stage.

In the second half, the nimble footed Thai girls did their best for a comeback but the superior Indian team managed 11 points compared to Thailand's seven and won the match easily.

Source: Web Search

Mishra leads Delhi fightback in weather-hit Ranji clash

Fri, Nov 26 10 08:22 PM

Rajkot, Nov 26 (PTI) Delhi Spinner Vikas Mishra took four wickets after Saurashtra openers put on a tremendous partnership as the rain-hit Ranji Trophy Super League match is heading for a draw. Hosts Saurashtra were 231 for six at stumps on day three after Delhi skipper won the toss and opted to field at Khandheri Cricket Stadium here. Jaydev Shah (43) and Kamlesh Makwana (6) were at the crease when stumps were drawn for the day. The first two days of the contest were lost due to rain and poor playing conditions. Chirag Pathak (58) and Bhushan Chauhan (58) shared a 104-run stand to give Saurashtra a tremendous start but the hosts lost the plot after the openers made their way back to pavilion. Pathak''s knock came in 95 balls while Chauhan''s was a quite slow innings as he took 151 balls for his 58 runs. Mishra drew the first blood by scalping Pathak and then accounted before prolific Cheteshwar Pujara (10), Sagar Jogiyani (6) and Pratik Mehta (0). The host side failed to build on the good start given to them by Pathak and Chauhan and kept losing the wickets at regular intrerval. Had it not been a patient knock by Shah, they would have been in more trouble. Shah was aggressive during his stay as he hit six fours and a six in his 70-ball unbeaten knock. Brief Scores: Saurashtra 231 for 6 in 75 overs. (Chirag Pathak 58, Bhushan Chauhan 58, Jaydev Shah bating 43; Vikas Mishra 4/33).

Source: Published>

Vijender knocks off historic 2nd Asiad boxing gold for India

Fri, Nov 26 10 08:16 PM

Guangzhou, Nov 26 (PTI) World number one Vijender Singh (75kg) clinched an unprecedented second boxing gold for India at the ongoing Asian Games while two others settled for silver to round off the best ever campaign by the country''s pugilists at the quadrennial mega-event, here today. It was sweet revenge for Olympic and World Championship bronze-medallist Vijender when he blanked reigning world champion Abbos Atoev of Uzbekistan 7-0 at the Foshan Gymnasium. Atoev had beaten the 25-year-old Indian at the World Championship semifinals last year but this time Vijender plugged the loopholes which led to that loss and emerged a clear winner. However, V Santhosh Kumar (64kg) and Manpreet Singh (91kg) settled for silver medals after losing in the finals. While Santhosh lost 1-16 to Kazakhstan''s Daniyar Yeleussinov in finals, Manpreet went down 1-8 to Mohammad Ghossoun of Syria to take India''s silver tally to three in boxing after Dinesh Kumar (81kg) had finished second yesterday. Indian boxers thus ended their campaign with two gold -- the first coming through Vikas Krishan (60kg) yesterday --, three silver and two bronze medals -- Suranjoy Singh (52kg) and Paramjeet Samota (+91kg). Santhosh opened the proceedings for India today and found himself on the backfoot from the very start. Too defensive and somewhat intimidated, the Indian could neither prevent his rival from connecting punches nor create any noteworthy attacking chance all through the bout and was thoroughly out-slugged. But Vijender wiped off the disappointment with a performance fitting the hype around him. The dashing six-footer crouched a bit and took full advantage of his long reach and taller height against Atoev, whom he had beaten in the Asian Championships last year. Hitting straight and clear, Vijender, who was a bronze-medallist at the 2006 Asian Games, defended stoutly, seldom letting Atoev to attack. But the ferocity of Vijender''s attacks was such that the Haryana-boxer, who had settled for a bronze at last month''s Commonwealth Games, had Atoev dazed with a telling left hook in the second round. The Uzbek, drained of his energy, struggled in the final three minutes and hardly managed to create any problem for the nimble-footed Vijender, for whom it was the year''s second international gold medal, after the Commonwealth Championships in March. But the day was to end disappointingly for the Indians as Manpreet proved no match for Ghossoun. The Army boxer''s movement was sluggish and that helped Ghossoun to strike at will all through the contest. Unable to launch any attack, Manpreet played defensive but he could not achieve much success in that either as Ghossoun penetrated his defence rather easily to strike clear straight blows. Nonetheless, it was a fantastic show by the country''s pugilists. India''s previous best was nine medals at the Seoul Asian Games in 1984 -- four silver and five bronze -- but given the two golds this time, the 2010 edition has proved to be the most successful so far for the country''s pugilists.

Source: Published>

India record their best-ever performance in Asian Games

Fri, Nov 26 10 08:08 PM

S S Ramaswamy Guangzhou, Nov 26 (PTI) India created history by recording their best-ever performance in Asian Games with 64 medals, including a record 14 gold, with star boxer Vijender Singh providing the icing on the cake by bringing the last yellow metal on the penultimate day here today. The men''s and women''s kabaddi teams expectedly maintained their supremacy by clinching the gold before the women''s 4x400m quartet and Vijender (75kg) bagged a yellow metal each on the most productive day for India in the mega-event. With the addition of 11 more medals today, India''s tally climbed to a record 14 gold, 17 silver and 33 bronze (total 64), the biggest ever haul in the Asian Games so far, to jump to the sixth place. India''s best medal haul till date was recorded in the 1982 Games in Delhi when they had won 13 gold, 19 silver and 25 bronze for an overall tally of 57. India had finished 10 in the last edition of the Games in Doha with a tally of 10-17-26. India have now completed their engagements in the Games and their final standing will depend after the completion of the six events -- men''s and women''s marathon, men''s and women''s doubles sepaktakraw finals and women''s volleyball final -- tomorrow. China leads the medal table with 197 gold, 117 silver and 98 bronze (total 412), followed by South Korea (74-63-91) and Japan (47-73-94) at second and third respectively. While the kabaddi teams did not sweat much to keep their reputation intact in rather lopsided finals, Vijender made amends for his bronze-finish in Commonwealth Games with a gold here while compatriots Santosh Kumar (64) and Manpreet Singh (91kg) settled for a silver each. The women''s 4x400m relay team also lived up to the expectations as they defended the gold they won in the 2006 Doha Asian Games. Long distance runners Preeja Sreedharan, who had earlier won a gold in women''s 10,000m race, and Kavita Raut had their moment of glory by winning the silver and bronze medals respectively in the women''s 5000m event. Rollersports fetched India a couple of unexpected bronze medals with Anup Kumar Yama bagging one in men''s single free skating before combining with Avani Panchal to finish third in the pairs skating event. The Indian men''s chess team also contributed a bronze. .

Source: Published>

Mumbai needs 201 runs to go past Assam''s challenge

Fri, Nov 26 10 07:52 PM

Mumbai, Nov 26 (PTI) An interesting battle for the first innings lead is on cards as hosts Mumbai trail visitors Assam by 201 runs with seven wickets in hand on the penultimate day of the Group-A Ranji Trophy Elite division match here today. Resuming at their overnight score of 81 for three, Assam were bowled out for 298. In reply, Mumbai scored 91 runs for the loss of three wickets in the remaining 31 overs with Sahil Kukreja (38) and Abhishek Nayar (18) at the crease when stumps were drawn for the day. With Rohit Sharma not playing in the match, and the in-form Omkar Gurav (2), Ajinkya Rahane (22) and Wasim Jaffer (4) back in the pavilion, much will depend on Kukreja and Nayar if Mumbai are to get three points tomorrow. Earlier, Assam began well with the overnight batsmen Dheeraj Jadhav and Tarjinder Singh adding 117 runs more before left-arm-spinner disturbed the timber of Singh. Singh faced 156 deliveries and hit nine boundaries in his knock of 74. However, after his dismissal, no batsman with the exception of Abu Nechim Ahmed, who scored a quickfire 39 of 46 balls with the help of five fours and one six, could occupy the crease for long and the visitors lost their last seven wickets for the addition of 100 runs. Jadhav, who was the eighth batsman out, top-scored for Assam with a patient 79 off 269 balls with the help of eight boundaries. .

Source: Published>

Asian Games: India's gold tally rises to 13

Published>Fri, Nov 26 10 07:36 PM

Guangzhou, Nov 26 (IANS) The women's 4X400 metres relay quartet and the men's and women's kabaddi teams won golds at the Asian Games here Friday to take the country's tally to 13. With a silver and four bronzes also coming India's way, the country's overall medal tally rose to 61, the highest after the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games.

India's 61 medals comprise 13 gold, 15 silver and 33 bronze. India had won 57 medals (13-19-25) at the 1982 Games.

The quartet of Manjeet Kaur, Sini Jose, Ashwini Chidananda and Mandeep Kaur, which won the gold in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, came on top here clocking 3:29.02 seconds.

Kazakhstan (Marina Maslyonko, Viktoriya Yalovtseva, Margarita Matsko, Olga Tereshkova) got the silver in 3:30.03 and China (Zhihui Zheng, Xiaoyin Tang, Lian Chen, Jingwen Chen) the bronze in 3:30.89.

Manjeet gave India a good start and Sini maintained the pace with a good run before handing the baton to Ashwini.

Ashwini, who won the gold in 400m hurdles, steamed ahead with rapid strides to break away from the pack and left Kazakh Margarita way behind.

It was left to Mandeep to give it a winning finish, but the tall Kazakh runner Olga came from behind to lead briefly. Seasoned Mandeep, however, had enough fuel to pull to outpace Olga in the last 50m.

The victory gave India its fifth gold in athletics, and 13th overall. The women's relay team had given India its only gold in athletics at the 2006 Doha Games.

India's Preeja Sreedharan and Kavita Raut won the silver and bronze in the women's 5000 metres.

Preeja recorded her personal best timing of 15:15.89 seconds and Kavita also had a personal best timing of 15:16.54. Preeja and Kavita had won the gold and silver in the women's 10,000m.

The men's kabaddi team won the gold for the sixth consecutive time at the Asian Games.

India beat Iran 37-20 and maintained their winning streak in the sport since its introduction in 1990.

Earlier, Indian women's kabaddi team won its maiden Asian Games gold medal, defeating Thailand 28-14 in the final.

The Indian men's team won a bronze in chess.

The team comprising Krishnan Sasikiran, Surya Shekar Ganguly, G.N.Gopal and B.Adhiban defeated Iran (Ghaem Maghami Ehsan, Mahjoob Morteza, Toufighi Homayoon, Golizadeh Asghar) 3.5-0.5 in the ninth and last round to finish third.

China beat Philippines 3.5-0.5 in the last round to take the gold. The Philippines settled for the silver.

This is India's second medal in chess after Harika Dronavalli won a bronze in the women's individual round.

India got two bronze medals from the roller sports events.

Anup Kumar came third with 244.2 points in the men's single free skating long programme behind Japan's Shingo Nishiki (253.8) and Chia Chen Yeh of Chinese Taipei (248.4).

Anup and Avani Bharath Panchal clinched a third place finish with 222.0 in the pairs skating long programme.

China's Yawen Lin and Yunqin Tang (245.4) got the gold while Chinese Taipei's Tzu Hsia Weng and Li Hsin Chen (237.6) the silver.

Woman wrestler Suman Kundu lost 0-3 to Mongolia's Nasanburm Ochirbat in the semifinals of the 63 kg freestyle category.

Suman, who defeated Thi Quyen Luong (3-1) of Vietnam and Nestan Kiiazova (3-1) of Kazakhstan in the earlier rounds, will now fight for the bronze.

In the 55 kg category, Geeta defeated Jieun Um of South Korea 3-1, but lost to North Korean Yon Hui Pak (1-3) in the quarterfinals.

Another Indian, Gursharan Kaur, crashed out in the opening round, going down to Guzel Manyurova of Kazakhstan 0-5 in the 72 kg category.

Source: Web Search

Asian Games boxing: Gold for Vijender, Santhosh settles for silver

Published>Fri, Nov 26 10 07:16 PM

Guangzhou, Nov 26 (IANS) India's Vijender Singh the clinched gold in the men's 75 kg boxing event with a convincing win at the Asian Games here Friday.

Vijender blanked Abbos Atoev of Uzbekistan 7-0 in a lopsided affair.

However, it was a disappointing show by another Indian boxer Santhosh Kumar Virothu, who was pummelled 1-16 in the men's 64 kg final by Daniyar Yeleussinov of Kazakhstan and ended up with a silver.

Source: Web Search

Afghanistan pipped to cricket gold by Bangladesh

Published>Fri, Nov 26 10 07:08 PM

Teenager Shabbir Rahaman Roman smashed two sixes in the penultimate over to help Bangladesh to a first Asian Games gold and dash Afghanistan's hopes of a fairytale finish in Friday's men's cricket final.

Chasing Afghanistan's 118, the 17-year-old's swashbuckling 33 not out swung the Twenty20 match in Bangladesh's favour and they won with three balls to spare, sparking wild celebrations as players rushed with billowing flags on to the ground and embraced.

"We played like tigers today," the green-eyed and wiry Rahaman Roman told Reuters. "This is the happiest day of my life," added the teenager.

The Afghan cricketers, mostly ethnic Pashtun from the country's southeast, were stonefaced after the loss.

"The Afghanistan people are maybe very sad," said Asghar Stanikzai, his team's top-scorer on the day with an unbeaten 38.

"The silver medal is not (a) big medal but it was a good fight."

With the country's expectations weighing heavily on Afghan shoulders to bring home a first Asian Games gold, their opening batsmen appeared nervous at the crease.

Kazi Shahadat Hossain's standout fast bowling unsettled the opening order and the first wicket went for just one run.

A great diving catch near the boundary by Nazmul Hossain dismissed vice captain Karim Khan Sadeq.

A gutsy innings by Stanikzai, however, spurred Afghanistan to a respectable 118 after a middle-order collapse threatened to leave the team with a paltry score.

The Bangladeshis, dressed in green, lost their first wicket in the third over when opener Nazim Uddin scooped a high shot into the hands of Samiullah Shinwarai.

SHOWED METTLE

The Afghans, who bowled and fielded aggressively, showed their mettle when Mohammed Mithun was run out in the eighth over with a superb throw from the outfield.

With the game poised on a knife edge, however, Rahaman Rohan stepped forward, surviving a close lbw call, before swatting two straight sixes into the pavilion, sparking wild cheers by green-clad Bangladeshi supporters and Chinese fans.

For the small contingent of Afghan supporters, some wearing skull caps, there was disappointment but also grace in defeat.

"The world knows us for fighting, bombs and bullets but we want to make sure to the world that we are not these things only," said Abdul Khan, waving a large green, red and black flag in the stands on a cool and sunny afternoon.

"We just need a chance. And definitely I can assure you that our next Olympics or Asian Games, we will go for gold again."

Cricket has become an increasingly popular sport in Afghanistan with a number of academies sprouting up across the wartorn and insurgency wracked land after the game was introduced by Pashtuns who learnt to play in Pakistan refugee camps during the Russian invasion in the 1980s.

In the bronze medal match, Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to restore some pride after they were beaten in the semi-finals by Afghanistan on Thursday.

Pakistan won gold in the women's competition with Bangladesh taking silver.

Source: Web Search

Asian Games: 4X400m relay women's team wins 13th gold for India

Published>Fri, Nov 26 10 06:52 PM

Guangzhou (China), Nov.26 (ANI): India secured a 13th gold medal at the XVIth Asian Games being held here when the women's 4X400m relay team of Manjeet Kaur, Sini Jose, Ashwini Akkunji and Mandeep Kaur clocked a winning time of three minutes 29.02 seconds.

Kazakhstan took silver (3:30.03) and China claimed bronze (3:30.89).

Earlier in the day, the men's and women's kabaddi teams clinched golds, helping India to its best-ever medals tally in an Asian Games.

With the addition of this gold, India's medal tally climbed to a record 13 gold, 15 silver and 33 bronze (total 61), the biggest ever haul in the Asian Games so far.

The previous best medals tally was at the Delhi Asian Games when the country won 13 gold, 19 silver and 25 bronze for an overall tally of 57.

With a few more gold medals expected in the second session, particularly from the boxers, India will be looking for a top-five finish in the Games.

India had finished tenth on the medals table in the last edition of the Games in Doha with a tally of 10-17-26. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Asian Games athletics: India win gold in women's 4x400m relay

Published>Fri, Nov 26 10 06:26 PM

Guangzhou, Nov 26 (IANS) The Indian women's 4x400m relay team, in a sensational burst, defended their gold medal in the Asian Games here Friday.

The victory gave India its fifth gold in athletics, and 13th overall. The women's relay team had given India its only gold in athletics at the 2006 Doha Games.

The quartet of Manjeet Kaur, Sini Jose, Ashwini Chidananda and Mandeep Kaur, which won the gold in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, came on top here clocking 3:29.02 seconds.

Kazakhstan (Marina Maslyonko, Viktoriya Yalovtseva, Margarita Matsko, Olga Tereshkova) got the silver in 3:30.03 and China (Zhihui Zheng, Xiaoyin Tang, Lian Chen, Jingwen Chen) the bronze in 3:30.89.

Manjeet gave India a good start and Sini maintained the pace with a good run before handing the baton to Ashwini.

Ashwini, who won the gold in 400m hurdles, steamed ahead with rapid strides to break away from the pack and left Kazakh Margarita way behind.

It was left to Mandeep to give it a winning finish, but the tall Kazakh runner Olga came from behind to lead briefly. Seasoned Mandeep, however, had enough fuel to pull to outpace Olga in the last 50m.

Source: Web Search

Indian women 4X400 relay team wins gold, Ashwini bags 2nd gold

Fri, Nov 26 10 06:18 PM

Guangzhou, Nov 26 (PTI) Indian women''s 4X400m relay quartet lived up to expectations by defending the gold medal won in 2006 with AC Ashwini anchoring the team to glory in the Asian Games here today. Running in the third leg, Ashwini, who earlier clinched the yellow metal in the 400m hurdles, gave the Indian team a huge lead over second-placed Kazakhstan for Mandeep Kaur to maintain it till the finishing line in 3min 29.02sec. In the first leg, India''s Manjeet Kaur was running second before Sini Jose gave a slender lead for Ashwini to take over. Kazakhstan took the silver in 3:30.03 while China claimed the bronze in 3:30.89. With the gold medal here, the Indian quartet have won their second gold in two months in a multi-sporting event, having won the title in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, though today''s effort was well below 3:27.77 in the CWG. In 2006 Asian Games, Satti Geetha, Pinki Parmanik, Chitra K Soman and Manjeet Kaur had won the gold in 3:32.95.

Source: Published>

Switzerland to snub Federer despite possible World Tour finals glory

Published>Fri, Nov 26 10 05:52 PM

London, Nov 26(ANI): Sixteen-time Grand Slam title winner Roger Federer is resigned to the fact that even if he finishes the season by winning the World Tour finals in London, he will not be the Swiss Sports Personality of the Year.

According to the Sun, the favourite to win the Swiss competition is Simon Ammann, a ski jumper who took two gold medals at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Talking about the award, Federer, who has been voted the top Swiss sportsman four times, said: "The other guy won two Olympic golds in ski-jumping. That's probably going to do the trick for him. That's my feeling anyway."

"All I can try is to have a good season myself. I've already won plenty of times. It has been nice to win," he added.

Federer, who defeated Robin Soderling 7-6, 6-3 to enter the semi-finals of the tournament, further said that he is now looking forward to win the Australian Open in January.

"Well, I think regardless if I win here or not, I'm one of the big contenders with Rafa and other guys trying to win the big tournaments. And finishing the season great in London would help me be ready for Australia next year," Federer said. (ANI)

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