Germany, the Netherlands and Korea have a realistic chance

Published>Mon, Mar 08 10 07:33 PM

New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) Defending champions Germany take on New Zealand while three-time winners the Netherlands clash with Korea in two key games that will decide the semi-finalists from Pool A at at the Hockey World Cup here Tuesday.

After Germany's 2-2 draw Sunday with European arch-rivals the Netherlands at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Pool A has opened up again. Germany, Asian champions Korea and the Netherlands are now all in fray for the two semi-final spots from the group.

Mathematically, New Zealand also have an outside chance, but they have to defeat Germany by a nine-goal margin and then hope the Netherlands either beat or draw with Korea in the second game.

After four games, pool toppers the Netherlands are on 10 points, while second placed Germany have two less.

Korea closely follow the top two with seven points, and New Zealand have collected half a dozen.

In the day's first match, if Germany beat the Black Sticks, they automatically qualify for the last four. If they finish with a draw, Germany can make the cut for the last four if Korea fail to beat the Dutch in the later match.

If Germany, eyeing a hat-trick of World Cup titles, lose they can get into the semis only if the Netherlands beat Korea.

Head to head, Germany are far ahead. They have triumphed in all four World Cup clashes with New Zealand. The two sides last met in the 2008 Beijing Olympics where Germany won 3-1.

After being held 2-2 by Korea in their opener, Germany came back strongly to vanquish Canada 6-0 and pipped Argentina 4-3, before the drawn game opposite the Netherlands.

The Germans have brought an inexperienced side, with the promising 18-year-old Florian Fuchs the leading scorer with three field goals.

New Zealand, eighth in world rankings, have queered the pitch for making semi-finals by going down 0-1 to tournament's lowest-rated team Argentina Sunday.

The Netherlands, on the other hand, need a draw or can afford to even lose by a solitary-goal-margin against the Asian Games gold medallists Korea to qualify for the semi-finals, if the Germans beat the Black Sticks.

The Dutch, who have impressed with their fluent game and a tight defence, will automatically qualify for the semis if Germany fail to beat New Zealand. The Dutch, led by the veteran gamemaker Teun de Nooijer, have conceded only three goals in the compeition so far, with Guus Vogels being outstanding under the bar.

Korea, who finished fourth in the last two editions of the tournament, can go into the pre-summit round if they beat the Netherlands by a two-goal margin and Germany beat New Zealand.

If the Germans finish with a draw against New Zealand, the Asian champions would need to win their match Tuesday to sail through.

Again, if Germany lose, Korea would need at least a draw against the Dutch to make it to the pre-title round. World Cup history favours the Netherlands, who have won three of their four Cup games with Korea.

In contrast, Korea have beaten the Netherlands in their last three competitive encounters, all in Champions Trophy competition.

Canada play Argentina in an inconsequential game to wrap up Pool engagements Tuesday.

While Argentina have three points, Canada is the only side without a point in the competition.

Source: Web Search

Germany, the Netherlands and Korea have a realistic chance

Published>Mon, Mar 08 10 07:37 PM

New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) Defending champions Germany take on New Zealand while three-time winners the Netherlands clash with Korea in two key games that will decide the semi-finalists from Pool A at at the Hockey World Cup here Tuesday.

After Germany's 2-2 draw Sunday with European arch-rivals the Netherlands at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Pool A has opened up again. Germany, Asian champions Korea and the Netherlands are now all in fray for the two semi-final spots from the group.

Mathematically, New Zealand also have an outside chance, but they have to defeat Germany by a nine-goal margin and then hope the Netherlands either beat or draw with Korea in the second game.

After four games, pool toppers the Netherlands are on 10 points, while second placed Germany have two less.

Korea closely follow the top two with seven points, and New Zealand have collected half a dozen.

In the day's first match, if Germany beat the Black Sticks, they automatically qualify for the last four. If they finish with a draw, Germany can make the cut for the last four if Korea fail to beat the Dutch in the later match.

If Germany, eyeing a hat-trick of World Cup titles, lose they can get into the semis only if the Netherlands beat Korea.

Head to head, Germany are far ahead. They have triumphed in all four World Cup clashes with New Zealand. The two sides last met in the 2008 Beijing Olympics where Germany won 3-1.

After being held 2-2 by Korea in their opener, Germany came back strongly to vanquish Canada 6-0 and pipped Argentina 4-3, before the drawn game opposite the Netherlands.

The Germans have brought an inexperienced side, with the promising 18-year-old Florian Fuchs the leading scorer with three field goals.

New Zealand, eighth in world rankings, have queered the pitch for making semi-finals by going down 0-1 to tournament's lowest-rated team Argentina Sunday.

The Netherlands, on the other hand, need a draw or can afford to even lose by a solitary-goal-margin against the Asian Games gold medallists Korea to qualify for the semi-finals, if the Germans beat the Black Sticks.

The Dutch, who have impressed with their fluent game and a tight defence, will automatically qualify for the semis if Germany fail to beat New Zealand. The Dutch, led by the veteran gamemaker Teun de Nooijer, have conceded only three goals in the compeition so far, with Guus Vogels being outstanding under the bar.

Korea, who finished fourth in the last two editions of the tournament, can go into the pre-summit round if they beat the Netherlands by a two-goal margin and Germany beat New Zealand.

If the Germans finish with a draw against New Zealand, the Asian champions would need to win their match Tuesday to sail through.

Again, if Germany lose, Korea would need at least a draw against the Dutch to make it to the pre-title round. World Cup history favours the Netherlands, who have won three of their four Cup games with Korea.

In contrast, Korea have beaten the Netherlands in their last three competitive encounters, all in Champions Trophy competition.

Canada play Argentina in an inconsequential game to wrap up Pool engagements Tuesday.

While Argentina have three points, Canada is the only side without a point in the competition.

Source: Web Search

Paramilitary to take over security of Games venues

Published Mon, Mar 08 10 07:23 PM

New Delhi, Mar 8 (PTI) Over 35 venues of the upcoming Commonwealth Games will come under the security blanket of the central paramilitary forces from April one. While the main venue-- Jawaharlal Nehru stadium-- which will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games will be guarded by the CISF, forces like CRPF, ITBP, SSB and NSG will deploy their personnel and commando units at different venues. Starting April 1, the venues for events and training of athletes will be taken over by the personnel of these forces. "The CISF will deploy 500 men from April 1 at different venues. Subsequently, 40 companies (4,000 personnel) and 300 commandos of the force will be deployed during the games," Director General Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) N R Das said at a press conference here. Similarly, the other forces and their commando units will be spread across different venues. Spelling out the security features in the run-up to the games, Das said the safety of the Delhi Metro will be bolstered by 1,600 additional men. "The Delhi Metro has 82 functional stations as of now. With the start of the games the number of operational stations would be 141," he said. Dedicated dog squads and Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), including women commandos, will also be deployed at the stations, Das added.

Source: Web Search

Paramilitary to take over security of Games venues

Published Mon, Mar 08 10 07:27 PM

New Delhi, Mar 8 (PTI) Over 35 venues of the upcoming Commonwealth Games will come under the security blanket of the central paramilitary forces from April one. While the main venue-- Jawaharlal Nehru stadium-- which will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games will be guarded by the CISF, forces like CRPF, ITBP, SSB and NSG will deploy their personnel and commando units at different venues. Starting April 1, the venues for events and training of athletes will be taken over by the personnel of these forces. "The CISF will deploy 500 men from April 1 at different venues. Subsequently, 40 companies (4,000 personnel) and 300 commandos of the force will be deployed during the games," Director General Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) N R Das said at a press conference here. Similarly, the other forces and their commando units will be spread across different venues. Spelling out the security features in the run-up to the games, Das said the safety of the Delhi Metro will be bolstered by 1,600 additional men. "The Delhi Metro has 82 functional stations as of now. With the start of the games the number of operational stations would be 141," he said. Dedicated dog squads and Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), including women commandos, will also be deployed at the stations, Das added.

Source: Web Search

Golf - World rankings

Published Mon, Mar 08 10 07:04 PM

REUTERS - World rankings on Monday (U.S. unless stated, last week's positions in brackets):

1. (1) Tiger Woods 12.14 average points

2. (2) Steve Stricker 7.91

3. (3) Phil Mickelson 7.28

4. (4) Lee Westwood (Britain) 6.83

5. (5) Ian Poulter (Britain) 6.22

6. (6) Paul Casey (Britain) 6.15

7. (7) Jim Furyk 5.16

8. (8) Martin Kaymer (Germany) 5.06

9. (9) Rory McIlroy (Britain) 4.88

10. (11) Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 4.72

11. (12) Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 4.68

12. (21) Camilo Villegas (Colombia) 4.68

13. (10) Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 4.66

14. (15) Kenny Perry 4.27

15. (14) Robert Allenby (Australia) 4.24

16. (13) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 4.21

17. (16) Retief Goosen (South Africa) 3.98

18. (20) Stewart Cink 3.94

19. (19) Sean O'Hair 3.93

20. (17) Ernie Els (South Africa) 3.89

Source: Web Search

Officials predict a golden finish

Published>Mon, Mar 08 10 06:17 PM

New Delhi, March 8 -- With the archery test event for the Commonwealth Games from Monday, India are expected to sweep gold in the tournament. It's not the players predicting it though, but top officials have sent out a strong message - perform or 'heads will roll'. Talking to HT, AAI vice-president P.N. Mukherjee said, "We want India to win the eight gold medals. Otherwise, heads will roll."

Dola Banerjee, India's top woman archer in the team and individual recurve, said that the job of winning had been made easier without the inclusion of some top countries. "Korea and China are not participating. So it'll be easier for us without them," she said. "But England, New Zealand, Australia and Canada have sent strong squads and they will challenge us," she said. Five teams took part in the morning practice on Sunday.

Source: Web Search

FA officials in tizzy after bugging of England's World Cup squad

Published>Mon, Mar 08 10 06:09 PM

London, Mar. 8 (ANI): England's World Cup squad was bugged as they discussed plans for the finals in South Africa this summer, the Daily Star reports.

A detailed six-hour tape is said to reveal players discussing money and coach Fabio Capello talking tactics.

FA bosses are likely to be stunned that spies were able to breach their tight security to listen in on key meetings with just weeks to go until the tournament starts.

The recordings could blow Capello's preparations apart if they are leaked to opposition coaches.

In the first section of the recording, millionaire players are said to be discussing how much they will be paid at the tournament and negotiating for huge win bonuses.

At some points the cheeky stars are even heard joking about sex scandals, it is claimed.

Senior squad members are believed to be among the voices heard at some points on the tape.

But in some of the most potentially damaging sections of the tape, Italian Capello is heard discussing tactics and team selections with staff for nearly three hours.

Insiders see the recording as a blatant attempt to try to sabotage England's chances this summer.

FA officials were last night said to be horrified by the hi-tech spy's attempts to sabotage England's World Cup hopes.

Insiders say manager Capello, 63, will be furious when he discovers details of his carefully prepared tactics have been leaked.

It could lead to detectors being used to sweep dressing rooms for bugs before England's matches in South Africa. (ANI)

Source: Web Search