India to try and continue its good run at home

Tue, Nov 30 10 01:22 PM

Abhishek Hore Jaipur, Nov 30 (PTI) Young Virat Kohli will be the cynosure of all eyes as a new-look India seek to continue the team''s dominating run at home in the current calendar when they take on New Zealand in the second cricket one-dayer here tomorrow. In the absence of the creme de la creme of Indian cricket, the dashing right-hander from Delhi gave enough indication of why he is the one to look for in future with a match-winning century in the opening match in Guwahati. With regular stars such as skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh being rested for the first two one-dayers, Kohli stole the limelight with a fine hundred that paved the way for India''s 40-run win in the series opener. The young Kohli, going through a dream run having scored two back-to-back tons in Ranji Trophy apart from his second successive ODI century, would be keen to bat the way he has been doing of late at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium tomorrow. India have a good record at this venue winning six out of 10 matches, the last being a humdinger against South Africa in February when the hosts won by one run. India have lost just one match -- against South Africa on February 27 -- in the two series it has played at home in 2010. India won the series against the Proteas 2-1 and pipped Australia 1-0 in the rain-hit series in October. Going into the second one-dayer against the Kiwis, what would also keep the momentum in India''s favour, is that both Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum are still doubtful starters for tomorrow''s match. The New Zealand skipper is suffering from a sore back, after shouldering the bulk of bowling responsibilities in the three-match Test series, and Mclluum is also down with a similar condition. Runs from Yuvraj Singh''s blade in the first match were also a welcome sight for the Indian camp. The southpaw, who was recently demoted to contract B by the BCCI, was not at his flamboyant best but still managed to score 42 valuable runs, often employing the sweep against the slow bowlers to good effect. Stand-in captain Gautam Gambhir, coming on the back of a decent Test series, looked solid as long as he was there at the crease in the first match. And, with this being the last home series before the upcoming World Cup, the left-hander would be keen to spend as much time in the middle as possible. More PTI AH AT MRM

Source: Published>

Barcelona tear dismal Real Madrid apart

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 12:38 PM

Madrid, Nov 30 (DPA) Barcelona cruised to the top of the Spanish Liga in sumptous style by thrashing historic rivals Real Madrid 5-0 in a delighted Camp Nou.

David Villa scored twice Monday for the Catalans, who are now two points above second-placed Real.

Barca's other goals were put away by Xavi, Pedro and super-sub Jeffren. Real had Spain defender Sergio Ramos sent off at the end.

It was the biggest thrashing suffered by Real in Barcelona since 1994 and is their first defeat under new coach Jose Mourinho. Barcahave beaten the whites in all five Clasicos since Pep Guardiola was appointed coach in 2008.

Guardiola maintained his habitual humility, saying that 'it was not an easy match,' that he had 'not expected' such a clear result - and that 'Real Madrid are an impressive team.'

He added that 'only time will tell just how good this team (Barcelona) really is. Tonight we played very well indeed.'

Two-goal hero Villa said: 'This is a very important triumph. We wanted to get above them (in the table) and we have achieved that. One cannot ask for more than this.

'We were the better team,' Villa added, 'and we enjoyed playing to our style. Madrid looked uncomfortable because we overran them in midfield.'

The Spain striker finished by saying: 'We are now two points above them. We have to continue working, we are only in November. We have an advantage, but we have to carry on winning.'

Real coach Mourinho, for his part, said: 'One team played at their maximum level and the other team played badly. This is a defeat, but not a humiliation.

'Last week we had one point more than them and now we have two points less. I have always said that Barca is the finished product and that we still have a long way to go.'

Mourinho finished, saying: 'We have to show character now. When you win titles you can cry for joy but when you concede five (goals) you have to leave with the desire to train, play again and win.'

Mourinho's tactic of playing with an advanced defence dramatically back-fired on him, as time and again Xavi and Andres Iniesta played through-balls for Villa, Pedro and Lionel Messi to run onto.

Indeed, the result would have been even more embarrassing for the Portuguese coach had it not been for Messi uncharacteristically wasting several clear chances.

Real midfielder Xabi Alonso, meanwhile, said: 'They were better than us in everything. We cannot be pleased with this performance and result. But there are many matches left and nothing has finished.'

Barca dominated from start to finish, enjoying almost 70 per cent possession. After just six minutes, Messi hit Iker Casillas' far post with a clever curling shot.

The capacity crowd did not have to wait long for the first goal. In the 10th minute Iniesta exquisitely played Xavi through. The veteran playmaker scuffed his first shot but then calmly chipped Casillas to make it 1-0.

Eight minutes later, with the Camp Nou on fire, Villa took a pass from Xavi down the left and skipped past Sergio Ramos. His centre was fumbled by Casillas, allowing Pedro to make it 2-0 from close range.

It was men against boys from then on, with Mourinho's young team looking hopelessly out of its depth. The white cause was not helped by Gonzalo Higuain's missing out due to a back injury. This left Cristiano Ronaldo alone in attack and the Portuguese striker looked nervous and overawed by the occasion.

Barca started the second half as they had started the first - with speed, precision and penetration. Villa scored two similar goals within the space of three minutes by finishing calmly after after being played through by Messi on both occasions.

For once, Messi was the provider instead of the finisher.

The elegant hosts then eased up, as if not wanted to humiliate Real. But in injury time Jeffren made it 5-0 by turning in a centre from fellow substitute Bojan.

The fifth goal caused Ramos to lose his discipline and he was sent off for an awful, needless foul on Messi.

Source: Web Search

Former England ace Butt to make Hong Kong debut

Tue, Nov 30 10 12:26 PM

Former Manchester United and England midfielder Nicky Butt will pull on a red shirt once more on Tuesday night -- this time for South China in Hong Kong.

The 35-year-old said he would decide "within the next couple of days" whether to stay on into the new year and help South China in their AFC Cup campaign.

"This is what I was looking for -- something new and exciting," said Butt, who retired when he left Newcastle United at the end of May.

"I have played 18 seasons in the Premiership and having done that, I wanted a new challenge," he told the South China Morning Post.

South China's chairman Steven Lo Kit-sing said he was thrilled to have Butt turn out, and that he hoped the former international bring the crowds to his club.

"He has come and we hope he will be with us for a long time," he told reporters.

"It's not a gamble. We will be playing three games at home (in the AFC Cup) next year and if we draw a capacity crowd of 40,000 at the Hong Kong Stadium we can expect to break even.

"An average ticket for a game is HK$60 ($7.726) and, if we have a full house, we should get ticket revenue of around HK$2

million per game, which is enough to cover his costs.

"I don't know why other clubs don't follow suit and get players who can hopefully take them into the big leagues."

Butt and South China face TSW Pegasus in the Hong Kong First Division on Tuesday night. ($1 = 7.766 Hong Kong Dollars) (Writing by Ossian Shine in Singapore, Editing by Peter Rutherford. To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Source: Published>

Curator promises "traditional Adelaide Oval pitch" for second Ashes Test

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 12:08 PM

Sydney, Nov 30(ANI): Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough has promised a "traditional pitch" for the second Ashes Test between Australia and England starting on Friday.

"Like all curators, I want to make sure I produce a good pitch for the players and for the cricket fans, and that we can get a result here," Fox Sports quoted Hough, as saying.

"It will be a traditional Adelaide Oval pitch," he added.

Hough also predicts that it would be another run-fest for the first three days, before wear and tear produce an unpredictable pitch on the last two days.

"My aim is to have a bit in it on day one for the quicks and then it should settle down for the batsmen on days two and three," Hough said.

"By days four and five, we should see some of the natural characteristics of the pitch come through, which will probably see it crack and open up for the spinners," he added.

The second Test will be the first at the redeveloped Adelaide Oval, with a new members grandstand. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Tendulkar is today''s Bradman, says Lara

Tue, Nov 30 10 11:52 AM

Dubai, Nov 30 (PTI) Saluting the longevity of Sachin Tendulkar, West Indies great Brian Lara has described the Indian batting legend as the ''Don Bradman'' of modern era but refused to the compare the icons of different eras. Lara, himself a legendary left-handed batsman from the Caribbean, said what astonishes him the most about Tendulkar is his longevity. "I don''t think there is any race. Both are great players. Tendulkar has shown the world what he is capable of and his longevity in the game is something to be really appreciated," Lara said. "The time he will spend in the game, records are going to tumble. The fact that someone can be there from the age of 16 and still at the age of 37 perform brilliantly is something that I cherish more than anything else," he said. The West Indies player is of the opinion that Australian great Don Bradman, who ended his career with an incredible Test average of 99.96, and Tendulkar should not be compared as they played and flourished in different eras. "He is our period''s Don Bradman. Forget the difference in averages with Bradman but whoever I have spoken to who have seen very old players in action, they believe that he [Bradman] would not have averaged 99 in today''s cricket. "So I believe that Sachin is our period''s Bradman," Lara, who visited Dubai for a jewelry brand endorsement, told Gulf News. Lara said he has just got back into cricket by playing three games in a Twenty20 tournament in Zimbabwe. He also denied reports that he is becoming Zimbabwean coach but said he will be helping them in the batting department. He said he is fanatical about golf these days and spend time on the course. "I love the game and have been working hard to bring my handicap down to five. I would love to get it a bit more lower. I spent a lot of time today at the Ernie Els Golf Course," he said.

Source: Published>

Deepinder Hooda wants sports university in Haryana

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 11:38 AM

Chandigarh, Nov 30 (IANS) Buoyed by the success of Haryana's medal-winning sportspersons in the recent Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, parliamentarian Deepender Singh Hooda now wants the central government to sanction a sports university for the state.

Hooda, who represents Rohtak and is the son of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said in a statement here that the university would be helpful in making the future of sportspersons brighter.

Hooda said he would place the demand in parliament and also before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Haryana chief minister has already announced the setting up of sports academies in various districts.

Hooda Jr said the state government had created a favourable atmosphere for sports. He added that no talented player in the state would have to make any compromise in pursuing sports due to his economic condition.

'Haryana players have again brought glory to the state and the country by exhibiting their sterling performance in the recently concluded Asian Games, after the Commonwealth Games,' he said.

In the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, Haryana players claimed 37 out of the 101 medals won by India. Out of the 38 gold medals won, 21 came from Haryana players.

Several players from Haryana have made it big in events like boxing, wrestling, discus throw, athletics, shooting, badminton, kabaddi and others.

In the Asian Games at Guangzhou, Haryana players bagged five gold medals and 10 others.

Their success has brought them the moolah as well.

Haryana players winning gold, silver and bronze medals in the Asian Games will be given cash rewards of Rs.25 lakh, Rs.15 lakh and Rs.10 lakh each respectively.

Commonwealth Games medal winners were given a cash reward of Rs.15 lakh, Rs.10 lakh and Rs.700,000 each for gold, silver and bronze medals respectively. They also got cars ranging from Rs.350,000 to Rs.800,000, mobile phones and up to 101 kg of desi ghee.

Haryana has over 350 sports stadiums in villages, blocks and towns.

Bhiwani district has emerged as a prominent nursery in boxing, producing boxers of international fame like Vijender Singh, who won a bronze medal in Beijing Olympics and gold medal in the Asian Games, Dinesh Kumar and Akhil Kumar.

The small town of Shahbad, 60 km from here, has produced nearly 40 international women hockey players in a short span of 10 years.

The Haryana government has plans to set up a wrestling academy at Rohtak and a kabaddi academy at Jind.

Source: Web Search

Miandad game to be batting consultant of Pak cricket team

Tue, Nov 30 10 11:22 AM

Karachi, Nov 30 (PTI) Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad today said he cannot take up the job of a full-time batting coach with the national cricket team but is ready to work as a batting consultant. Miandad, who returned from China after witnessing the cricket tournament as cricket ambassador of the Pakistan government, said he was always ready to help the team. "I have never refused in the past to do anything that can prove beneficial to Pakistan team. The same is the situation now if the board wants me to work as batting consultant I am available for this assignment," Miandad said. The former captain who is director-general of cricket in the Pakistan Board done the coach duty thrice in the past, the last time being in 2003-2004. "At the moment due to my other commitments I am not in a position to work in any fulltime capacity with the team but I am there to help the players as batting consultant," Miandad said. He said that in the past also he had worked for a short time with the players in the national camp. "This time also I will do my best to help them out and fine-tune the batsmen keeping in mind the conditions they will most likely encounter in the tour to New Zealand," he said. Miandad felt that there was plenty of batting experience and talent in the national team but it just needed to work in the right direction and more consistently. "I think I can help them out with my experience and I know where the fine tuning is required," he said. Miandad said that keeping in mind that the World Cup was few months away it was necessary for the batsmen to start hitting form consistently. The former skipper made it clear he had no intention of interfering in the domain of the chief coach or management and would focus on his work as batting consultant. He also lauded the organisation of the first cricket event in the Asian Games. "I remain confident China will soon come up as a strong cricketing nation because the interest in the sport is there and one could see that everyone in China was happy to see their team playing for the first time in such a major cricket event." He said with time and more technical and coaching expertise, Chinese players would improve and they had the backing of their government to go far ahead.

Source: Published>

CBI raids premises of OC officials Bhanot, Verma

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 10:36 AM

New Delhi, Nov 30 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Tuesday raided the homes and offices of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) Secretary General Lalit Bhanot and Director General V.K. Verma.

The raids against the two top aides of OC Chairman Suresh Kalmadi are on at 11 places in various parts of the capital, a top source in the CBI told IANS. Further details are awaited.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) last month questioned Verma for his alleged role in the financial irregularities in the Queen's Baton Relay in London in 2009.

Three other aides of Kalmadi -- T.S. Darbari, Sanjay Mohindroo and M. Jayachandran -- are already under custody for their alleged involvement in the Queen's Baton Relay scam.

The OC is understood to have paid AM Films - a sister concern of AM Car - over 450,000 pounds for services during the Queen's Baton Relay function in London in October 2009 without following proper tendering procedures and paper work.

Kalmadi had Monday claimed he had not committed any offence and was ready to answer all CBI questions.

'I welcome the investigations (into the financial irregularities in the Commonwealth Games). I will give a statement in parliament and I have met Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and she said whenever the house runs I can make the statement,' Kalmadi said.

Source: Web Search

CWG, Asiad inspire girls to take up sports

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 10:22 AM

Varanasi, November 30 (ANI): Young girls in Uttar Pradesh have been inspired by the recent Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, wherein the women athletes displayed remarkable performances.The young enthusiasts are undergoing the regimen of tough practice at the temple city of Varanasi to carve out a career in sports. Nilu Mishra, a former national athlete, is training these female aspirants. These girls have come out of the rural homes to get better training facilities hoping not only to represent India, but even win medals for the country.

Source: Web Search

NBA - Miami's 'Big Three' click and Heat scorch Wizards

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 10:08 AM

Finally, the 'Big Three' made big contributions and the Miami Heat crushed the Washington Wizards 105-94 on Monday with LeBron James scoring 30 points and Dwyane Wade adding 26.

With Chris Bosh, the third member of the Heat's leading trio, chipping in with 20 points, it was the kind of night Heat fans had hoped for after the franchise's free agency coup.

Miami entered Monday's game having lost four of their last five games and with pressure mounting on coach Erik Spoelstra amid speculation the players were unhappy with his methods.

"It is so easy for everyone to push the panic button right now. Panic is probably at an all-time high on the outside. It cannot be on the inside with us," Spoelstra said before the Heat improved to 10-8.

The Heat's lackluster start to the season prompted talk that team president Pat Riley, who won his fifth NBA title as a coach in 2006 with Miami, would take over if Spoelstra could not get the team's season back on track.

But Spoelstra said he was not losing any sleep worrying about his position.

"My job is to prepare this team and to get us ready for the games and continue to help us get better. That keeps my days full, and my nights." said the third-year coach.

After signing James and Chris Bosh and securing the return of Wade, the Heat were expected to challenge the Boston Celtics for dominance in the East and battle the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA title.

But under intense media scrutiny, the Heat have failed to click as a team and Saturday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks included an incident where James bumped into Spoelstra as he walked to the team bench during a timeout.

The incident became an instant YouTube hit and prompted plenty of media speculation, but Spoelstra and James dismissed it as nothing more than an accident.

"It was really nothing," said Spoelstra. "Incidental contact ... it wasn't intentional or anything."

James met with Spoelstra before Monday's game and the NBA's two-time league MVP shot down reports of a rift.

"If I have something to say to Coach Spo, I'm going to go to Coach Spo. If he has something to say to me, which he's done, he's going to come to me," said James.

"It is nothing I'll take behind his back. I've never done that, I will not do that."

On court it was business as planned against a Wizards team that dropped to 0-8 on the road this season.

Miami led 52-44 at halftime and the only signs of tension came at the end of the third quarter when the Wizards' Hilton Armstrong and Miami's Juwan Howard were ejected.

Source: Web Search

Media heaps blame on "clueless" Aussies

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 09:46 AM

Blame, not credit, was the bitter medicine required after England saved the first Ashes test at the Gabba with a record-breaking second innings, Australia's media decreed on Tuesday.

Led by Alastair Cook's unbeaten 235, England batted through two days to rescue a dire position and take a morale boosting draw on Monday at a venue where Australia traditionally puts tourists to the sword.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting was once again the whipping boy of a media more used to trumpeting winners and champions than explaining why their team had failed to take more than one wicket in two days of cricket.

"Ashes humiliation - Ponting lets Gabba test slip away," read the front page of the Australian, while Brisbane's Courier-Mail splashed the word "Clueless" over an unflattering picture of the Australia skipper.

BUCKETS OF SCORN

"Has Australian cricket really fallen this far? Is the national team really this bad?" Malcolm Conn, who would usually be emptying buckets of scorn over the tourists by this stage of the series, wrote in the Australian.

"Not since Allan Border desperately tried to hold together a rabble gutted by South African rebel tours in the mid-1980s has Australian cricket performed so poorly.

"Anyone who had the misfortune of watching Australia's sad-sack effort in the field yesterday could only worry that we're plumbing those depths again."

It was against Border's weakened team that England last won the Ashes on Australian soil in 1986-87 but since then the contests have not even been close.

Australia's fast bowlers, in particular the wicketless Mitchell Johnson, as well as fielding and even the Gabba pitch all took a hammering too.

The Gabba enjoyed packed houses on the first three days but poor turnouts on the last two saw the home fans outnumbered and outshouted by England's travelling "Barmy Army".

"I forgot where I was for a moment out there today it was like being back at the Oval or something," said Ponting, who was roundly booed by the English fans as he took the field to help bat out the match on Monday afternoon.

"(But) I think 130,000 people or so turned out to watch the match over the five days and that just goes to show where test cricket is at the moment in Australia."

Low turnouts for later days of test matches are not that unusual when the match looks destined for a draw and when they coincide with working days, but the availability of tickets for Friday's first day of the Adelaide test will be of more concern.

Source: Web Search

Tourists could help Mallorca, shareholder says

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 08:06 AM

Utz Claassen well remembers the day his interest in Real Mallorca was first piqued, a fascination that led this month to the German businessman and management professor buying 10 percent of the Spanish club.

"The first time I saw something really, really exciting in football here was about 10 years ago when I saw a very, very young and unknown striker called Samuel Eto'o," Claassen told Reuters in an interview.

"I said to my wife: 'I have never seen a striker of that quality'," he added of the Cameroon forward, who went on to star in Champions League triumphs for Barcelona and Inter Milan.

"So let's say since that day I have observed quite carefully what's happening here," added Claassen, who first spent a holiday on the Balearic island popular with his compatriots more than 30 years ago.

Claassen, a former president of Bundesliga side Hanover 96, has served on the boards of a slew of leading German firms, including utility Energie Baden-Wuerttemberg, and written a best-selling business book.

He now wants to use his expertise to help Mallorca to boost revenue by exploiting the millions of tourists from Germany, Britain and beyond who visit the Mediterranean island each year.

Real Mallorca have suffered from the financial problems afflicting many La Liga clubs in recent years and the Hanover-born 47-year-old will present a plan to the board on Dec. 20 that he hopes will allow them to tap Mallorca's thriving tourist industry.

"I believe that Real Mallorca offers a tremendous opportunity, not only on the sports side but also on the branding and marketing side," he said.

"On the sports side I am very, very optimistic about what they can do.

"On the financial side, I believe that in earlier years the potential of a football club was defined by its surroundings.

"Today we live in a world of bits and bytes and air transportation and logistical interconnection and people can travel by plane for 50 euros ($66) across Europe.

"Mallorca has millions and millions of tourists each year and, behind London, has probably the best logistical connections to any large city in Europe.

"From almost anywhere you can be in one, two or three hours on the island. So I think there is a great, great potential to establish a pan-European brand with a regional tradition and heritage."

UPSET WINS

Under coach Michael Laudrup, a former Danish international who played for Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid, Mallorca have exceeded expectations this season with a squad of young and relatively cheap players.

With 13 of 38 matches played, they are sixth in the standings, have claimed upset wins against Valencia and Sevilla and are the only club to have taken points off La Liga giants Real and Barca.

Claassen, who counts tennis world number one and Mallorca native Rafa Nadal among his fellow shareholders, said his business plan aimed to create a presence for the club in the larger European markets such as Germany and Britain.

It would focus on developing distribution channels for merchandise and on forging cooperation with other clubs, as well as airline and tour operators.

After the cash problems of recent years, which led to UEFA excluding the club from this season's Europa League, there will also be a strong emphasis on sound financial management.

"From now into the foreseeable and long-term future we never want to fall back into a policy of spending more than we take in in revenue," Claassen said.

"At the end of the day financial stability is always the basis of long-term sporting success."

SPORTING GOALS

Mallorca's exclusion from the Europa League and the promotion of Villarreal in their place denied the club a lucrative continental campaign and Claassen said he did not understand UEFA's decision.

"Generally UEFA is right in trying to ensure that football not only provides fascinating sport but we also have financial stability," he said.

"But in the specific case of Mallorca I have not understood UEFA's arguments and I personally have doubts that the same criteria and conditions have been applied over time and across different clubs.

"Mallorca is far from being the club with the highest debt in Europe. If UEFA were to apply the same conditions and criteria to everybody then I believe quite a number of other clubs in the past and present could and would have been excluded."

Claassen does not have a full-time role within the club but said he contributed something more or less every day.

He declined to set any sporting goals for Laudrup.

"The impression that I have -- and this is what I really like -- is that game after game they go for as much as possible without putting unnecessary pressure on the team," he said.

"On balance what the team has achieved so far this season is far more than could have been expected. Where they stand at the moment and what they have within reach is, I think, very promising."

Source: Web Search

Mourinho defiant despite 5-0 drubbing at Barca

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 06:48 AM

A defiant Jose Mourinho brushed off Real Madrid's crushing 5-0 defeat at arch rivals Barcelona on Monday, saying there were plenty of matches left in the season and the championship would still go down to the wire.

The flamboyant Portuguese, a former assistant coach at Barca who later managed Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan before being poached by Real, suffered his worst defeat in a league match at the hands of the La Liga champions but said it was "by no means a humiliation".

"It's easy to digest because it's a defeat in which there was no chance of winning," he told a news conference at Barca's Nou Camp stadium.

"One team played to their potential tonight and the other played very badly," he added. "The championship will be very close to the end."

Mourinho had got off to a flying start in the Spanish capital in his bid to end Barca's two-year reign as domestic champions and restore Real's fortunes in the Champions League.

His expensively-assembled side were undefeated in all competitions before Monday but have now slipped two points behind leaders Barca with 13 of 38 matches played.

Mourinho, who has failed to win at the Nou Camp in six attempts, said the Barca team was "the finished article" and "the result of many years of work" and reiterated that it will take time to mould the Real squad into an effective unit.

"The result today does not reflect the difference between the two teams," he said.

"Obviously I am sad because nobody likes losing and least of all by that score.

"I hope it doesn't affect the players psychologically and I told them exactly that, that the championship does not end today and who knows we might be back at this stadium again this season (in the Champions League)."

BAD JOB

He urged his players to "show character" and pick themselves up for Saturday's La Liga match at home to Valencia.

"When you lose by four or five goals you don't need to go out and cry but go out with a desire to train, to work and to win the next match.

"I have no need to be concerned about my team, who have played fantastically up to now.

"Today they did a very bad job and on Saturday they have to return to winning ways.

"There is nothing more to be done today but from tomorrow a great deal."

Source: Web Search

Barca conjure up rout of Real

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 05:48 AM

Barcelona conjured up a magical performance that rolled back the years to Johan Cruyff's "Dream Team" of the 1990s to crush arch-rivals Real Madrid 5-0 and move two points clear at the top of La Liga on Monday.

In a festival atmosphere at their rain-lashed Nou Camp stadium, the Barca players entertained their ecstatic fans with a breathtaking display of free-flowing football that left Real's array of expensive talent chasing the ball for long periods.

Watched by millions around the world, it was the Catalan club's most emphatic victory in Spain's "Clasico" since Cruyff's all-conquering side, featuring current coach Pep Guardiola, thrashed Real 5-0 in the 1993-94 season.

It also put a severe dent in Real's resurgence under new coach Jose Mourinho, a former assistant at Barca who had led his side into the match undefeated in all competitions.

Xavi and Pedro struck early to put Barca 2-0 up before David Villa scored in the 55th and 58th minutes to raise the noise levels to a deafening pitch.

Substitute Jeffren added a fifth in stoppage time and Real defender Sergio Ramos was sent off for a badly-timed challenge on Lionel Messi at the death.

Barca have 34 points from 13 of 38 matches, with Real on 32 and Villarreal in third on 27.

"Today Barca were far superior and enjoyed playing in its own style," Spain striker Villa said in a television interview.

"Madrid did not feel at ease and did not know how to, or could not I think, dominate the midfield which is the strength of our team," he added.

"We are two points clear, very happy, but we have to continue working as we are only in November and we need to carry on winning."

SLICK SURFACE

The eagerly-anticipated clash between the world's two richest clubs was seen as a first genuine test of Real's resurgence under Portuguese Mourinho.

Featuring 13 players from Spain's World Cup-winning squad, eight from Barca and five from Real, it also pitted Barca's Argentina forward Messi against the man he succeeded as World Player of the Year, Real's Cristiano Ronaldo.

The champions dominated from the start on a slick playing surface that favoured their swift passing game, with Real sitting back and looking to strike on the counter.

Messi curled a shot against the post in the sixth minute and after the home side went ahead four minutes later they never looked back.

Xavi was played in by Spain team mate Andres Iniesta and he lifted the ball neatly over Iker Casillas from close range.

The Spain midfielder was dictating the play and was instrumental in Barca's second in the 18th.

He sprayed the ball wide to Villa and Casillas could only palm his cross into the path of Pedro who gleefully sidefooted home.

Messi totally outshone Ronaldo and carved open the visitors' defence for both of Villa's goals as well as coming close to scoring several times in the second half.

Villa beat Casillas with a powerful angled shot for his first in the 55th and sped clear to add his second three minutes later, netting with the outside of his boot as his internatioal team mate rushed off his line.

Real barely threatened the goal of Victor Valdes and after Jeffren had made it five their dejected players trudged off to leave the Barca fans celebrating a fifth-straight "Clasico" win.

Mourinho, hired from Inter Milan to end Barca's two-year reign as Spanish champions, has now failed to win a match at the Nou Camp in six attempts, including three defeats and two draws with Chelsea and Inter.

"We weren't expecting it but there is a good deal of the season left and nothing has been decided," Real midfielder Xabi Alonso told reporters.

Source: Web Search

World Cup bidding lurches into final week

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 05:26 AM

The contest to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups lurched into its final week on Monday with more allegations of corruption against high-ranking FIFA officials and continuing uncertainty over the number of voters.

As delegates gathered for three days of hectic lobbying ahead of Thursday's vote, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) accused three members of FIFA's executive committee of taking bribes in the past and a fourth of planning the corrupt sale of 2010 World Cup tickets.

England, Russia, Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Netherlands are bidding for 2018 with United States, Japan, Australia, South Korea and Qatar the candidates for 2022.

FIFA's executive committee, which holds exclusive voting rights in the contest, has already lost two of its 24 members after they were suspended earlier this month for offering to sell their votes to undercover newspaper reporters from Britain's Sunday Times newspaper.

Tahiti's Reynald Temarii and Nigeria's Amos Adamu were banned for one and three years respectively, the former leaving the Oceania region unrepresented on the executive committee.

However, Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) acting president David Chung of Papua-New Guinea was flying to Switzerland in the hope of being allowed to vote on Thursday.

FIFA would not comment directly on the situation but issued a statement quoting its statues which indicated that Chung could vote only if Temarii dropped an appeal against his suspension and resigned.

FIFA's statues read: "Any member of the Executive Committee who no longer exercises his official function shall be immediately replaced by the confederations or associations which appointed him for the remaining period of office."

England's bid chief executive Andy Anson said he understood there would be 23 voters on Thursday, not 22.

"We are anticipating it will be 23 voters although the final decision hasn't been made," he told a media briefing. "I think there are some formalities to go through and we are waiting to hear officially that this is the case."

TELEVISION PROGRAMME

Anson added that England's hopes would probably be adversely affected by the airing of the BBC Panorama television programme on Monday which included more allegations against FIFA.

"Of course I'm disappointed with the timing and it's certainly not going to win any votes," he said.

Panorama, which also accused another FIFA executive of planning the corrupt sale of 2010 World Cup tickets, offered what it said was new evidence about the ruling body's appointment of International Sports and Leisure (ISL) as its marketing arm. ISL went bankrupt in 2001.

The programme said members Ricardo Teixeira of Brazil, hosts of the next World Cup, Confederation of African Football (CAF) chief Issa Hayatou and South American (CONMEBOL) head Nicolas Leoz took bribes from ISL to win the lucrative contract.

All have denied wrongdoing. Neither they nor FIFA were available on Monday for comment on the latest allegations based on what the BBC said was a confidential ISL document which detailed 175 secret payments between 1989 and 1999.

A fourth member of FIFA's executive committee, Jack Warner of Trinidad who is a vice-president, had attempted to break FIFA rules over the sale of 2010 World Cup tickets "but the deal subsequently fell through", according to the Panorama programme.

England's bid committee said the content of the Panorama programme was irrelevant to this week's decision.

"We stand by our previous position that the BBC's Panorama did nothing more than rake over a series of historical allegations none of which are relevant to the current bidding process," a bid spokesperson said. "It should be seen as an embarrassment to the BBC.

"The 2018 team are entirely focused on winning the bid for England."

Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International urged FIFA to postpone the votes and allow an outside investigation.

"The awarding of the 2018 and 2022 football World Cup...must be postponed until all light has been shed on the allegations published in the press," the body said.

"These have cast such discredit on FIFA's processes that a decision under these circumstances would only fan the controversy."

Source: Web Search

Barca masterclass humbles Real 5-0 in "Clasico"

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 05:06 AM

Barcelona produced a scintillating performance to crush arch-rivals Real Madrid 5-0 and move two points clear at the top of La Liga on Monday.

In a festival atmosphere at Barca's Nou Camp stadium, the home players entertained their fans with a breathtaking display of free-flowing football that left Real's array of expensive talent chasing the ball for long periods.

Xavi and Pedro struck early to put Barca 2-0 up before David Villa scored in the 55th and 58th minutes to raise the noise levels to a deafening pitch.

Substitute Jeffren added a fifth in stoppage time and Real defender Sergio Ramos was sent off for a badly-timed challenge on Lionel Messi at the deat.

Barca were stroking the ball around for fun by the end and the crushing nature of their victory in Spain's "Clasico" rolled back the years to Johan Cruyff's all-conquering "Dream Team" of the 1990s.

It also put a severe dent in Real's resurgence under new coach Jose Mourinho, a former assistant at Barca who had led his side into the match undefeated in all competitions.

"Today Barca were far superior and enjoyed playing in its own style," Villa said in a television interview.

"Madrid did not feel at ease and did not know how to, or could not I think, dominate the midfield which is the strength of our team," the Spain striker added.

"We are two points clear, very happy, but we have to continue working as we are only in November and we need to carry on winning."

Barca have 34 points from 13 of 38 matches, with Real on 32 and Villarreal in third on 27.

Source: Web Search

Villa double leads Barca to 5-0 rout of Real in 'Clasico'

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 04:06 AM

David Villa struck twice to lead Barcelona to a 5-0 rout of Real Madrid on Monday with a scintillating performance which put the champions two points clear of their arch-rivals at the top of La Liga.

In a festival atmosphere at Barca's Nou Camp stadium, the home players entertained their fans with a breathtaking display of free-flowing football that left Real's array of expensive talent chasing the ball for long periods.

Xavi and Pedro struck early to put Barca 2-0 up at the break before Villa scored in the 55th and 58th minutes to raise the noise levels to a deafening pitch and substitute Jeffren completed the rout in stoppage time. Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos was sent off just before the end.

Barca were stroking the ball around for fun by the end and their biggest win in the "Clasico" since they thumped Real 6-2 at the Bernabeu in their treble-winning 2008-09 season put a severe dent in Real's resurgence under new coach Jose Mourinho.

Barca have 34 points from 13 matches, with Real, who were unbeaten in all competitions before Monday, on 32 and Villarreal in third on 27.

Source: Web Search

GM to return to pro golf sponsorship

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 03:46 AM

General Motors Co will return to sponsoring professional golf after severing its ties with the sport during its 2009 financial crisis, the PGA Tour and GM officials said on Monday.

GM's luxury brand Cadillac will sponsor the World Golf Championship-Cadillac Championship at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa near Miami in March 2011.

It is the first in what is expected to be several professional golf tournaments that Cadillac will sponsor, said Cadillac marketing chief Don Butler and PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem at a news conference at Doral.

Finchem said the auto brand and the golf event are tied contractually until at least 2016, and that he expects the relationship to last beyond that.

A gradually recovering U.S. economy had led to the PGA 2011 tour being "virtually 100 percent sponsored," said Finchem. "We don't anticipate any issues this year" regarding lack of tour event sponsors.

Cadillac will be the flag bearer for GM when it comes to golf, overtaking Buick's primary spot for golf at the No. 1 U.S. automaker. A Buick spokeswoman said there were currently no plans for Buick to return to golf sponsorship. Buick will focus more on culinary and travel events, she said.

"The reason we (sponsor golf) ultimately is to sell cars," said Cadillac's Butler. "We reach the right audience. We reach it in the right way. It's all about the presence of ... the right kind of customer for us -- the affluent customer," said Butler.

Finchem, who said that the PGA will announce its 2011 tour schedule on Thursday, said the tour is now in "preliminary" talks with Cadillac about returning to Michigan, at an event near or in Detroit. He said it was too early to say if such an event could happen as soon as the 2012 tour.

The Florida event announced on Monday will be played on the TPC Blue Monster course, once the site of the Doral Open, a longtime annual PGA golf tournament location until 2006.

Each year, the World Golf Championship holds four elite tournaments which are just one rung down from the four majors that include the U.S. Masters and the British Open. WGC tourneys bring together the top 50 players in the world.

Three of the WGC events are staged in the United States, where they are fully fledged PGA Tour events, and the fourth is held in China, where it is officially sanctioned by the PGA Tour.

Butler mentioned the importance of reaching China's auto market, the world's largest, in connecting Cadillac with WGC.

Cadillac is also becoming a sponsor of the full four-event series of the WGC.

In August 2009, GM ended its sponsorship of two major Professional Golf Association tournaments, the Buick Invitational in California and the Buick Open in Michigan.

GM and Buick also dropped Tiger Woods as a pitchman in a cost-cutting move in November 2008.

GM marketing chief Joel Ewanick, hired from Hyundai Motor Co early this year, has said he wants to bring the automaker back as a sponsor for some of the high-profile events that it dropped during its financial crisis, including golf and football's Super Bowl.

GM returned as a listed company earlier this month with a $23 billion initial public offering of stock that paid back some of the U.S. government's investment in the company.

Source: Web Search

FIFA should postpone World Cup vote, watchdog says

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 03:06 AM

FIFA should postpone Thursday's vote to chose the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts and allow an independent investigation into corruption allegations, watchdog body Transparency International (TI) said on Monday.

"FIFA's integrity and credibility, already shaken in the past, have been badly tarnished and the reputational damage suffered by FIFA these last weeks is considerable," the anti-corruption organisation's Swiss chapter said in a statement.

"It threatens to extend to other sports associations and to the whole of Switzerland which is their home and whose citizens often have key positions in them."

FIFA suspended two executive committee members earlier this month following allegations of wrongdoing in the Sunday Times newspaper.

A British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) television programme on Monday accused three other FIFA executives of taking bribes.

TI, which issues a widely published and respected global league table of corruption, said: "The awarding of the 2018 and 2022 football World Cup, foreseen to take place on 2 December 2010, must be postponed until all light has been shed on the allegations published in the press.

"These have cast such discredit on FIFA's processes that a decision under these circumstances would only fan the controversy."

It said the internal investigation by FIFA's ethics committee, which resulted in the suspension of executive committee members Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii, was inadequate.

"An investigation must be conducted by an independent body in order to establish the facts.

"FIFA's ethics committee does not seem to present the required degree of independence; furthermore, the body conducting the investigation must have extensive investigative powers in order to be able to establish the whole truth."

FIFA were not immediately available to comment.

Source: Web Search

BBC makes new allegations against FIFA ex-co members

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 01:26 AM

An investigation by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) accused three FIFA executives of taking bribes in a programme to be aired on Monday, three days before the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups are decided.

The BBC's Panorama programme, which also accuses another FIFA executive of planning the corrupt sale of 2010 World Cup tickets, offered what it said was new evidence over the ruling body's appointment of International Sports and Leisure (ISL) as its marketing arm. ISL went bankrupt in 2001.

The programme said members Ricardo Teixeira of Brazil, hosts of the next World Cup, Confederation of African Football (CAF) chief Issa Hayatou and South American (CONMEBOL) head Nicolas Leoz took bribes from ISL to win the lucrative contract.

The trio are current members of the FIFA executive committee (ex-co) which will decide on Thursday which countries host the World Cups of 2018 and 2022.

All have denied any wrongdoing but neither they nor FIFA were available on Monday for comment on the latest allegations based on what the BBC said was a confidential ISL document which detailed 175 secret payments between 1989 and 1999.

Similar allegations were first made against them in a book by the presenter of Monday's programme, British investigative reporter Andrew Jennings.

COURT HEARING

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said in a statement issued by the BBC on Monday that no FIFA officials had been accused of any criminal offence during a 2008 inquiry and court hearing into the ISL collapse by Swiss authorities.

Blatter has recently criticised British media entrapment in claiming corruption within his organisation, although two members were suspended earlier this month following allegations of wrongdoing made by the Sunday Times.

A fourth member of FIFA's ex-co, Jack Warner of Trinidad who is a vice-president, had attempted to break FIFA rules over the sale of 2010 World Cup tickets "but the deal subsequently fell through", according to the Panorama programme.

Andy Anson, the head of the English bid to stage the 2018 World Cup, said earlier on Monday in Zurich that he feared the new Panorama allegations would damage their chances.

"Of course I'm disappointed with the timing and it's certainly not going to win any votes," Anson told reporters.

"We just have to see what happens tonight and move on. I won't be watching it, I've got other things to do."

England is bidding to stage the finals, for the second time, in 2018 against Russia, Spain and Portugal (one bid) and the Netherlands and Belgium (one bid).

FIFA will announce the winners, plus the hosts of the 2022 tournament, on Thursday at its headquarters in Zurich.

Source: Web Search

GM to return to pro golf sponsorship - sources

Tue, Nov 30 10 12:46 AM

General Motors Co will return to sponsoring professional golf after severing its ties with the sport during its 2009 financial crisis, sources with knowledge of the matter said on Monday.

GM's luxury brand Cadillac will sponsor a golf event at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa near Miami, the sources said.

The event will be played on the Blue Monster course at Doral, once the site of the Doral Open, a PGA golf tournament location until 2006.

An announcement of the pairing of GM and a World Golf Championship event will came later Monday, according to the sources, who were not authorized to speak about the deal before the announcement.

In August 2009, GM ended its sponsorship of two major Professional Golf Association tournaments, the Buick Invitational and the Buick Open.

GM also dropped Tiger Woods as a pitchman in a cost-cutting move in November 2008.

GM marketing chief Joel Ewanick, hired from Hyundai Motor Co early this year, has said he wants to bring the automaker back as a sponsor for some of the high-profile events that it dropped during its financial crisis, including golf and football's Super Bowl.

GM returned as a listed company earlier this month with a $23 billion initial public offering of stock that paid back some of the U.S. government's investment in the company.

Source: Published>

PCB committee submits report on Haider disappearance

Mon, Nov 29 10 10:52 PM

Karachi, Nov 29 (PTI) The committee appointed by the PCB to probe the sudden disappearance of Zulqarnain Haider from Pakistan team hotel in Dubai early this month today submitted its report even as the wicket-keeper''s wife claimed that she got threats from unknown persons in the last few days. Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement that it has received the report of the fact finding committee but would not comment any further on the matter. "The three member fact-finding Committee formed by the PCB to establish the facts surrounding the incident of Zulqarnain Haider''s disappearance from the Team Hotel in Dubai during the recent Pakistan vs South Africa series held a meeting at PCB headquarters today. The committee has finalized its report and submitted the same to PCB," the board said. "PCB has no further comments to make on this matter at this stage," it said. Sources said that the finding of the committee was not in favor of Haider and its main concern remained that why he did not contact the team management when he got threats. Haider''s wife, Iqra said she wants to leave the country and join her husband in London as she got threatening calls from unknown persons in the last few days. She said she was scared for the safety of herself and her children and has reported the matter to Liaquatabad police station on Sunday. "I don''t think the circumstances are right for me or my children to remain any longer in Pakistan," Iqra told ''Geo News''. "We are getting daily threatening calls, we are told that even my children are not safe. In these circumstances how can I even send them out to play or to school. I just want to get away and join my husband in London with our children," she said. Iqra said she started getting threatening calls soon after Haider posted a message on his facebook page in which he threatened to expose the corrupt in Pakistan cricket. Haider had written on his facebook page that he would expose people in five days time and sources close to him confirmed he was planning to hold a press conference on December 3 in which he could make some startling disclosures. Haider had claimed that he decided to flee the national team in Dubai during the series against South Africa in Dubai and seek asylum in London after getting threats from persons who wanted him to fix matches and warned him of dire consequences if he did not cooperate.

Source: Published>

South American roundup - Bolivia title outcome in balance

Published>Mon, Nov 29 10 10:46 PM

Oriente Petrolero celebrated winning the Bolivian Clausura championship but must wait for the result of an appeal over unpaid fines before discovering whether they will get their hands on the crown.

Apertura champions Wilstermann, who did so badly in the Clausura that their points average has consigned them to relegation, and Real Potosi raised complaints with the Bolivian Professional Football League over Petrolero's failure to pay fines for fielding players with faulty registrations, putting six of the champions' points in the balance.

Petrolero have appealed against the fines and given the snail's pace of such issues in Bolivia, there could be a repeat of the five years it took for The Strongest to be officially confirmed as 2005 champions in 2009.

Petrolero finished the Clausura with 40 points after their 1-1 draw with The Strongest at the weekend, four ahead of second-placed Bolivar, who lost 2-0 away to Blooming in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

Wilstermann, relegated for the first time, have qualified for the South American Libertadores Cup as Apertura winners but will play domestically in the semi-professional regional Cochabamba league next year as there is no national second division in Bolivia.

Petrolero's Argentine-born coach Gustavo Quinteros, who played for Bolivia at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, is leaving the club to take charge of the national team and prepare them for the Copa America in Argentina in July.

CHILE

Universidad Catolica shares on the Santiago stock exchange rose as the team went three points clear in the Chilean championship with one match to go.

Shares in Cruzados SA, the company that administers the club, increased by nearly 23 percent in early trading on Monday following the 3-2 win away to Cobreloa.

"The rise is due solely to the result obtained at the weekend by the team," said analyst Jorge Tolosa. "It is (due to) expectations they will be champions ensuring important revenue in the (South American) Libertadores Cup (next year)."

Champions Colo Colo, who led for most of the season, allowed Catolica to pull away when they lost 2-1 away to O'Higgins virtually handing the title to the team coached by former Spain striker Juan Antonio Pizzi.

The defeat sparked rioting by Colo Colo fans who damaged seats in the stadium and fought with police, forcing the referee to end the match a minute early.

URUGUAY

Nacional extended their unbeaten run under coach Juan Ramon Carrasco with a 2-1 away win over leaders Defensor Sporting with one match to go.

Defensor Sporting are one point ahead of Nacional, who made a poor start to the season before appointing former midfielder Carrasco.

Champions Penarol, whose coach Manuel Keosseian quit last week, ended a run of four matches without a win by beating Central Espanol 3-2 with a Diego Alonso hat-trick and are two points off the pace.

Source: Web Search

Himachal govt. to give cash prize to CWG and Asiad medallists

Mon, Nov 29 10 09:36 PM

Dharamsala, Nov 29 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh will award cash prizes to the medal winners of Commonwealth Games and Asian Games at the statehood day function on January 25, next year, Chief Minister PK Dhumal said today. Dhumal said cash prize of Rs 10 lakh will be given to the gold medal winners while the silver and bronze medallists will be handed Rs 5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh respectively. Subedar Vijay Kumar, hailing from Hamirpur district, won three gold and one silver in different shooting events in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Samresh Jung, hailing from Sirmour district won one silver and one bronze in shooting. Meena Kumari of Bilaspur won one bronze in rifle shooting in the Commonwealth Games. Vijay Kumar had also won two bronze in the Asian Games in Guangzhou while Sonia Rai, hailing from Baijnath of Kangra district, won one silver in pistol shooting competition. Dhumal said that Subedar Vijay Kumar would get a cash prize of Rs 41 lakh (Rs 35 lakh for Commonwealth Games medals and Rs 6 lakh for two bronze in the Asiad).

Source: Published>

Sachin''s father-in-law to play National Bridge in city

Mon, Nov 29 10 09:22 PM

Kolkata, Nov 29 (PTI) The country''s top bridge players including Anand Mehta, father-in-law of star cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, will be seen in action at the Winter National Bridge championship to be held here next month, organising secretary of the tournament Arijit Guha said today. Besides Mehta, other noted players like Kamal Mukherjee, Subhas Gupta, Pritish Kusari, Manas Mukherjee, Kiran Nadar, B Prabhakar Rao and Rajesh Dalal would take part in the meet where players from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would also join. Addressing a press conference, Guha said about 1500 players would take part in the meet to be held at Netaji Indoor Stadium between December 10 and 17. Six events are on the cards: Ruia Gold and Ruia Silver team events, IMP Pairs, Holkar Pairs, categorized and mixed pairs. The tournament offers a total prize money of Rs four lakh beside trophies.

Source: Published>

Dravid, Laxman may have to lower base price to play in IPL

Mon, Nov 29 10 09:08 PM

Kushan Sarkar New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) They are the pillar of the Indian Test team but Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman may have to lower their base prices in order to keep the franchises interested for the upcoming fourth edition of Indian Premier League. Sources in the franchises said they would only be intersted in buying the two star batsmen if the duo lower their base price from Rs 92 lakh (USD 200,000) to the lower bracket of Rs 46 lakh (USD100,000). "Let''s get one thing clear. Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble''s IPL performance is pretty decent. So one can expect that Sourav who is an all-rounder can be bought for a decent price considering his base price of Rs 92 lakh. Also for KKR, buying him at a lower price from auction is a far more viable option than going for retention where he would cost USD 1.8 million," a senior KKR official told PTI today. Officials of a couple of more franchises also aired the same opinion. "Dravid and Laxman do not feature in the T20 or ODI teams. So the only place where they play is IPL. The first edition had a lot of novelty factor. But now the teams are more focussed on curtailing the budget and getting their economics right so now way one can expect a franchise to spend Rs 1 crore on Dravid or Laxman as they won''t be automatic choices in the playing XI," one of the officials of a western-India based franchise said. The last date for franchises to inform about the player retention is December 6 and as of now, only Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virender Sehwag are favourites to be retained.

Source: Published>

Jeev to miss Indian Open due to injury, advised 3-week rest

Mon, Nov 29 10 08:52 PM

New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) Ace Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh was today advised three weeks rest to recover from his back injury, forced him out of this week''s Hero Honda Indian Open here. Jeev has been advised three weeks of complete rest following a series of tests and MRI scans on his problematic lower back today. The Chandigarh golfer, who had to withdraw halfway through the Casio World Open on the Japan Golf Tour last week, said he was lucky the injury did not turn out to be as serious as he initially thought it would be. "I was actually feared the worst. There is a muscle tear around the L4 and L5, and there is a slight bulge in one of the discs which was pinching against a nerve and causing the intense pain," said Jeev. "The doctor has asked me to take complete rest for three weeks with intensive physiotherapy sessions. Hopefully, the disc will move back in place soon and there should not be any long-term damages. If all goes well over the next few days, I will be able to resume practicing in the New Year," he said. Jeev said he was disappointed at missing the Indian Open as he was looking to playing in India after a long time. "Unfortunately, the injury means I will have to pull out of the Hero Honda Indian Open. It''s a huge disappointment for me because I was looking forward to playing in India after a long gap, and also because I greatly admire what Hero Honda has done for Indian golf, as well as for me personally," said Jeev who has dropped to world number 157 in the injury-plagued season. "I wish the tournament all the best, and hope that the best man will win on Sunday." PTI PDS

Source: Published>

Barca, Real call for fair play before 'Clasico'

Published>Mon, Nov 29 10 08:46 PM

The presidents of Barcelona and Real Madrid made a joint appeal for fair play as the two arch rivals prepared to meet later on Monday in Spain's "Clasico" at Barca's Nou Camp stadium (2000 GMT).

Appearing at a news conference recorded by dozens of television cameras at the Catalan capital's tennis club, Sandro Rosell of Barca and Real's Florentino Perez said they hoped the match, which will be watched by millions around the world, would be a festival of soccer.

The pair, who preside over the world's two-richest clubs by income and ended the news conference with a hug, were speaking after a small group of radical Barca fans hurled missiles at the Real coach as it arrived at the team hotel late on Sunday.

A Real spokesman said one object, probably a stone, had struck a window near to where defenders Raul Albiol and Alvaro Arbeloa were seated. The window did not shatter and the players were unhurt.

"I hope that tonight we see a great spectacle and a lot of fair play," Rosell said, before urging the Barca fans to focus on supporting their team.

"We have to send a message to the whole world that two great rivals like Barca and Real Madrid must dedicate themselves to playing and showing that soccer does not divide but unite."

Perez, whose unbeaten side are a point ahead of second-placed Barca in the La Liga standings after 12 matches, added: "It's a day of celebration. Two of the best teams in the world meet today and it's a match that attracts all soccer fans around the world.

"We will respond accordingly, not only with fair play but also by playing good football as we are obliged to."

Rosell, who is set to experience his first "Clasico" since taking over from Joan Laporta as president, sought to play down the importance of the game to the title race.

"It won't be decisive by any means," he said. "Whoever wins tonight will not be champion as there is a lot of the season left and there are other teams, not just Barca and Real."

Source: Web Search

Woman referee Maria finally in AFC Elite Panel

Mon, Nov 29 10 08:38 PM

New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) Maria Rebello today became the second Indian women referee to make it to AFC Elite Panel after her name was approved by the continental body. Maria, who hails from Goa, had become the first Indian woman referee to officiate in the senior men''s National Championships tournament for the Santosh Trophy in July. An AFC official had flown down to Kolkata to watch the match and then recommended the 38-year-old former India international to the Elite Panel. The AFC Referees Committee in its meeting on November 22 approved Maria''s name and it was ratified by the AFC Executive Committee on November 24. Maria joins another Indian Pratap Singh in the AFC Elite Panel of Referees for 2011. Shaji Kurien and Dinesh Nair were included in the AFC Elite Assistant Referees while Arumughan Rowan and Chongtham Keilyani Chanu found place in the panels of Elite Fourth Official and Elite Women Assistant Referee. Kerala''s Bentla D''Coth was the first Indian woman to find a place in the AFC Elite Panel of Referees. She was in the panel from 2001 to 2010.

Source: Published>

Bihar''s golden girl Smita Kumari felicitated

Mon, Nov 29 10 08:22 PM

Patna, Nov 29 (PTI) Smita Kumari, member of the gold medal winning women''s kabbadi team in the Asian Games, arrived here today to a tumultous reception. State Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary received her on arrival from New Delhi. Choudhary said that Smita had not only brought pride to India but also for people of Bihar. "We all feel proud of being a Bihari," Choudhary said, adding the state government would felicitate Smita soon and offer her a job. Smita is employed with the Indian Railways since 2008. Later, talking to PTI, Smita said she had fulfilled the promise she made before leaving for the Games. "And for me it was a great moment when we defeated Thailand in the final and I will always remember the day," she said. The women''s kabbadi team made history on its debut at the Asian Games, Smita said and noted that the contest was tough, especially against Iran and Bangladesh but the team effort led to accomplishing the task. She thanked the coach Mukesh Kumar and secretary of the state Kabaddi Association and Indian team manager Kumar Vijay for boosting the morale and offering encouragement that helped her entry into the national team. "I have dedicated my gold to all the Biharis whose blessings remain with me," the girl from Maranchi village in Bihar''s Patna district said. Indian kabaddi team manager for men and women, Kumar Vijay said, "We made history in the both sections as in the men''s section, we bagged the gold sixth time in a row, whereas in the women''s section we got the gold on debut." "Our fight for introducing Kabbadi in the Olympic games will continue," he said.

Source: Published>

Mills wants to win ODI series against India to "right the wrongs of" Bangladesh trip

Published>Mon, Nov 29 10 08:08 PM

Guwahati, Nov 29(ANI): New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Mills insists that Sunday's defeat in the first ODI against India was a chance lost for a Black Caps side seeking to make amends for last month's 4-0 drubbing by Bangladesh.

Put into bat first at the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati, India scored 276, while New Zealand were bowled out for 236.

Mills said that it was a game that had possibly got away from New Zealand.

"They got probably 35 to 40 runs more than they should have got. We let then get off to some decent partnerships at the top of the batting order, (though) they lost their last seven wickets for 50 runs," the New Zealand Herald quoted Mills, as saying.

Mills, who hit 32 off 28 balls in the match, further said that the Bangladesh tour had been an extremely disappointing trip and definitely the lowest point of his cricketing career.

"I have had a long time to think about that, and I really wanted to use this one-day series to right the wrongs of that trip. We are a far better side than we displayed and need to right those wrongs, but unfortunately we fell short in the three departments of batting, fielding and bowling," Mills said.

"And also definitely on my mind was the Pike River mining incident back home. A lot of people are mourning and you feel for the people and families involved in that terrible disaster. It was great opportunity on Sunday afternoon to put a smile back on the faces of people back home," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Sangakkara replaces Tendulkar as number one Test batsman

Published>Mon, Nov 29 10 07:36 PM

Dubai, Nov 29 (IANS) Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara Monday replaced India's Sachin Tendulkar to be the number one batsman in the International Cricket Council's Test rankings.

Sangakkara, who reached the top spot after scoring an impressive 150 runs against the West Indies in the ongoing home series, has 882 rating points in comparison to Tendulkar's 859. Dashing Indian opener Virender Sehwag is at third place with 850 points.

South Africans Jacques Kallis (806 pts) is at fourth place while AB de Villiers (793) has leapfrogged to 5th from 13th position after his innings of 287 not out against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

India's Zaheer Khan (743) has touched a career high ranking of three in the bowlers rankings.

Zaheer's rise can be attributed to his figures of 4-90 against New Zealand in the second Test match at Hyderabad.

Australia's hat-trick hero Peter Siddle (621) and England's Steven Finn (552) have also climbed the rankings at the conclusion of the first Ashes Test. Siddle has risen to 14th after claiming 6-144 in the first Test while ICC 'Young Player of the Year' Finn has broken into the top-20 in 19th place after his six-wicket-haul.

Speedster Dale Steyn (860) of South Africa and England's spinner Graeme Swann (831) are number one and two in the world.

There is no change in the rankings for Test all-rounders with Jacques Kallis still leading the field.

ICC Test Player Rankings

Batsmen

Rank

1 Kumar Sangakkara (SL)

2 Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)

3 Virender Sehwag (Ind)

4 Jacques Kallis (SA)

5 AB de Villiers (SA)

6 S. Chanderpaul (WI)

7 M Jayawardena (SL)

8 Jonathan Trott (Eng)

9 Graeme Smith (SA)

10 T. Samaraweera (SL)

Bowlers

1 Dale Steyn (SA)

2 Graeme Swann (Eng)

3 Zaheer Khan (Ind)

4 Mohammad Asif (Pak)

5 James Anderson (Eng)

All-rounders

1 Jacques Kallis (SA)

2 Daniel Vettori (NZ)

3 Shakib Al Hasan (Ban)

4 Stuart Broad (Eng)

5 Shane Watson (Aus)

Source: Web Search

Twenty20 Mahasangram begins

Mon, Nov 29 10 07:22 PM

Shimla, Nov 29 (PTI) Aiming to register itself in the Guinness Book of World Records for featuring most number of teams in a single cricket tournament, JP Twenty20 Mahasangram season II kicked off in five different towns with close to 1400 teams and around 20,000 players in action. Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association chief Anurag Thakur inaugurated the event at Kalpa, Kullu, Dharamshala, Bilaspur and Nadaun. The Rs 30 lakh tournament has a winner''s purse of Rs three lakh and will be played across 75 venues. Guinness Book of World Records have certified it as a big tournament and the certificate shall be given on completion only. "We started with 1300 teams but now we have 1400. I hope it will take cricket in every village of Himachal. A report of each player would be made and they will be given a chance for attending a camp and subsequently for Ranji if selected," Thakur said at the inauguration. Over 1,100 teams had participated in the inaugural edition.

Source: Published>

Woman referee Maria Rebello now in AFC Elite Panel

Published>Mon, Nov 29 10 07:06 PM

New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS) Goa's Maria Rebello, who became the first Indian woman referee to officiate in the senior men's National Championships tournament in July, has now been inducted in the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) Elite Panel of referees.

An elated Maria told IANS that she was excited at the prospect of officiating in the top women's competition in Asia.

For Maria, officiating in a Santosh Trophy match between Delhi and Madhya Pradesh at Kolkata in July proved a stepping stone. An AFC official had flown down to Kolkata to watch the match and then recommended the 38-year-old former India international to the Elite Panel.

'It is a great honour for me. I am grateful to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for giving me a chance to officiate in a Santosh Trophy match. There will be no added pressure on me and I am looking to reach the top as an Elite Panel referee,' she said.

Maria joins Pratap Singh in the panel. Maria is the second woman referee from India after Bentla D'Coth to find a place in the panel.

Source: Web Search

Bagan bt BNR 2-1, finish 2nd in CFL

Mon, Nov 29 10 06:52 PM

Kolkata, Nov 29 (PTI) Mohun Bagan ended their Sahara Kolkata football league campaign impressively defeating B N Railway by 3-1 at the Saltlake Stadium here today. Though Bagan have to remain content being runners-up in this league having lost their penultimate match 0-2 against their archrivals and champions East Bengal. Bagan finished with 40 points from 16 matches. They lost to Aryan and East Bengal and drew with Chirag United. BNR, having two more matches to play, have so far bagged 21 points from 14 outings and are now placed at the sixth spot in the league table. After a lacklustre display by both the sides for most part of the first half, Bagan drew first blood in the 41st minute when a Jayanta Sen shot off medio Jayanta Chakraborty went in hitting BNR defender Barun''s leg. Bagan found their rhythm after the goal and struck again a minute before the breather. Following a combined move, Bagan striker Chiddi ran down the left flank and sent a floater into the BNR goalmouth. Striker Jose Barreto, who moved up anticipating well, shot home neatly. The second half saw Bagan dominating all through but could not increase the lead because of poor finishing by the front liners. BNR, on the other hand, sparkled at the last moment and reduced the margin during injury time through striker Krishanu Banerjee who beat Bagan custodian Shilton Paul with a rasping drive off a nice pass by medio Jawal. The young and promising Krishanu was adjudged man of the match.

Source: Published>

Federer passion still fuelled by Rafa rivalry

Published>Mon, Nov 29 10 06:48 PM

When Rafael Nadal was invited by a tennis writer to pick out the defining moments of his 2010 season on Sunday his answer stretched on for several minutes.

The remarkably humble 24-year-old Spaniard could be excused some self-indulgence, however, because it has been quite a year.

Three grand slam titles, an unbeaten stretch on claycourts, and an iron-like grip on the world number one spot were definitely worth talking about.

Roger Federer, who beat Nadal to claim the ATP World Tour Finals for the fifth time with a show of force, described Nadal's season as one any player "could only dream of".

High praise indeed for a player with 16 grand slam titles and a suitcase full of tennis records.

The good news, then, is that as one year ends and the pair snatch a couple of weeks of relaxation, arguably the two best players to stride a tennis court are both relishing the continuation of their rivalry next year after meeting just twice in the past 12 months.

Federer has ended the season like an express train and, at 29, his passion for the game he turns into art remains undimmed.

Nadal knows that, and just as in the days when John McEnroe fed off his rivalry with Bjorn Borg, the Mallorcan appears pleased that the man he respectfully calls the "best ever" is ready to battle him for the major honours.

While Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will continue to strive to close the gap, men's tennis needs Federer and Nadal firing on all cylinders in 2011.

ABSOLUTE HIGH

"I think tennis, the men's game, is at an absolute high right now," Federer, who trails Nadal 14-9 overall, told reporters. "There are lots of exciting matches and lots of respect.

"Also I think having had me and Rafa both make the career grand slam already at a young age I think is great for the game. We're obviously playing not only for ourselves and beating the other guys, but also for history."

The Swiss added: "I think there's a lot at stake always in all our matches we play in the future. I think that's wonderful.

"With Rafa having won three grand slams in a row it seems like not many can stop him...(and) when I'm on, (stopping me) is a hard thing to do."

RAMPANT SWISS

While Nadal clearly looked in need of a rest after losing 6-3 3-6 6-1 on Sunday to the rampant Swiss, it seemed Federer would be happy to carry on straight into next season.

"I'm very excited starting in Abu Dhabi and Qatar and gearing up for the new season," Federer, who will be defending the Australian Open in January, said.

"I'm sure I'm going to play well. That never guarantees success. But I'm sure that the confidence I took away from this tournament could help down the stretch.

"Beating fellow top 10 players could always have some mental play at some stage of the season."

Nadal, the youngest player to achieve a career grand slam, is a remarkably straightforward individual and, while appreciating what he has achieved, said he would get back to work in January and start all over again.

"I won't be thinking about defending 100,000 points or if I have to defend 1,000 points," he said, when asked if he felt that he would be the prey rather than the hunter next season.

"I start the season, I have zero points. For me, every day and every season starts new, and I'm gonna' work to be ready and be competitive to try to be in the top positions and to compete to keep winning titles.

"The pressure for me is the same. The goal is the same, try to play well, try to compete against everybody, and try to be in the final rounds."

Source: Web Search

U.S. biggest threat to World Cup bid, says Japan chief

Mon, Nov 29 10 06:28 PM

The United States pose the biggest threat to Japan's prospects of hosting the 2022 World Cup, according to the head of the Asian country's bid committee.

South Korea, Australia and Qatar are also vying for the hosting rights but Junji Ogura believes the real threat comes from the U.S.

"I'd say it would be America due to the capacity of the stadiums and the number of spectators over the course of the tournament. That would translate into income and income is what FIFA is hoping for," Ogura was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.

U.S. and Japan were deemed as a medium legal risk by FIFA in their bid evaluation report published earlier this month while Qatar, South Korea and Australia were judged as low.

Japan were praised when they co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with South Korea and Ogura is banking on cutting-edge technology, including 3D telecast of matches, to tilt the balance in his country's favour when FIFA's executive committee members vote in Switzerland on Thursday.

"We have placed our focus on a next generation World Cup I think the key will be how well we can explain our bid and how much will be understood."

Should Japan's bid succeed, spectators would be able to "hear the players breathing and feel their every heartbeat" in images captured by 200 high-definition cameras.

"Our cutting-edge technology is not fiction and hopefully we will be able to explain well that we can actually make it reality," said Ogura.

Source: Published>

Yousuf leaves Pak domestic team after fallout with captain Rana Naved

Published>Mon, Nov 29 10 05:22 PM

Lahore, Nov 29(ANI): Pakistani batsman Mohammad Yousuf has left his old domestic team, WAPDA, to join Lahore for the Quaid-e-Azam tournament after a fallout with captain Rana Naved.

According to the Daily Times, Rana had refused to play Yousuf in a match.

"The problem arose after Rana did not play Yousuf whose fitness was suspect, and could have had a negative impact on the team's performance," a source was quoted as saying.

The source claimed that Yousuf, who had to return home from Dubai without playing a Test against South Africa due to a groin injury, insisted that he was recovering and wanted to get back to playing for WAPDA.

"Basically Yousuf wanted an opportunity to play and prove to the selectors that he is fit and available for the New Zealand tour," the source said.

"Rana's contention was that Yousuf should spend time with the WAPDA team and train with them before the management could be satisfied that he was 100 percent fit to return to competitive cricket. Rana's concern was that playing an unfit player could ruin the team's chances of keeping their lead at the points table," the source added.

The source also said that after Yousuf was refused permission to play, he along with fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed decided to leave the team and play for Lahore.

The national selectors will analyze performances at the Quaid-e-Azam tounament while finalizing the squad for the tour of New Zealand, and to give a final shape to the preliminary squad for the 2011 World Cup. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Jeev pulls out of Indian Open

Mon, Nov 29 10 05:06 PM

New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) Jeev Milkha Singh''s season continues to be marred by injuries with a back problem today forcing him out of this week''s Hero Honda Indian Open at the Delhi Golf Club here. Jeev had earlier withdrawn midway through the Casio World Open on the Japan Golf Tour last week because of the same problem. The Chandigarh golfer has dropped to world No. 157 due to the injury-plagued season. "I have been playing with a slight shoulder injury for some time, aided with intensive physiotherapy sessions. Things were definitely looking better with both my physique, and my form," Jeev had stated after pullout last week. The Hero Honda Indian Open, which will be held at the Delhi Golf Course from December 2-5, is the joint richest event on the Asian Tour with a prize money of USD 1.25 million.

Source: Published>

US woman with Twitter name 'theashes' sick of cricket score requests!

Published>Mon, Nov 29 10 04:22 PM

Sydney, Nov 29 (ANI): An American mother with Twitter name @theashes is reportedly said to be irritated after being flooded with messages about the ongoing Ashes cricket series between Australia and England.

The woman, from Massachusetts, usually tweets about knitting and her toddler, but that has not stopped hundreds of people from sending her messages and asking for score updates, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

Cricket fans across England and Australia have turned to Twitter to share their thoughts on the Test series and have found @theashes on the social networking service.

At first she was amused by the sudden attention, but it quickly lost its novelty.

"I am not a cricket match. Stop mentioning me and check profiles before you send messages. It's really annoying," she tweeted.

As her frustration became evident, her messages were re-tweeted by hundreds more, prompting an irate response from her.

"I AM NOT A FREAKING CRICKET MATCH!!!" she tweeted again.

Once news of her frustration spread, cricket tweeters were urging others to follow @theashes for the latest Ashes updates.

She now has over 4,100 followers - up from a few hundred people before the Ashes series began. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

We were jittery about Asiad chances: Indian boxers

Mon, Nov 29 10 04:06 PM

New Delhi, Nov 29 (PTI) They have returned with an impressive haul of seven medals, including an unprecedented couple of golds, but Indian boxers were a "jittery" lot before the Asian Games due to "lack of practice and recovery time" in the build-up to the event. Indian boxers clinched two gold, three silver and two bronze medals at the Asiad. This was for the first time that Indian boxers pulled off two gold medals in the Games -- through Vijender Singh (75kg) and the 18-year-old sensation Vikas Krishan (60kg). Vikas and Vijender''s golds are also first Asiad boxing golds for India since the 1998 Games when Dingko Singh clinched the yellow metal. "Frankly, I was skeptical about what the results would be like. The gap between Commonwealth Games (October 3 to 14) and the Asian Games (November 12 to 27) was so less that we were hardly left with any time to practice and recover," said national coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu. "There were felicitation functions happening every second day because of our CWG medal haul of three gold and four bronze medals. That was affecting our practice schedule," added India''s Cuban coach B I Fernandes. The boxers were no less jittery but Vijender felt luck favoured the Indians. "Bas ho gaya ji (we just managed to do it). Everything worked to our advantage. The draws were ok and the scoring system suited us and most importantly our team fought with a lot of heart," he said. "We were worried that the hectic build-up might affect our performance but I am glad that we have delivered to expectations," added Suranjoy Singh (52kg), who is a tad disappointed for himself after having to settle for a bronze. Amandeep Singh (49kg), who won a bronze in both the Games, also felt boxers got very little time to rest and recover. "We can be proud of our performance given that we didn''t prepare much. Who knows, with more practice we could have done better," he said. Sandhu said what worked to the Indians'' advantage in the Games was the time they got to acclimatise to conditions in host city Guangzhou (China). "We reached there well in advance. Our boys got ample time to acclimatise and that really helped. In fact, it made a lot of difference," he said. Sandhu said the Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India have played a crucial role in supporting and shaping the team. "The ministry has been helpful and so has been SAI. Without their support, it would have been difficult to build this team," he said.

Source: Published>