CBSE chess competition in New Delhi

Fri, Oct 22 10 05:21 PM

New Delhi, Oct 22 (PTI) Students from around 70 schools will participate in a three-day CBSE North Zone I Chess Competition, which was inaugurated here today. The young players will compete in three categories -- Under-19, Under-16 and Under-14. CBSE Chairman Vineet Joshi was the Chief Guest at the inauguration ceremony at K R Mangalam World School. Grand Master Sriram Jha was also present on the occasion. Out of all the participating schools, 50 are from Delhi and NCR. "Competitions like these give the game its required impetus and publicity and also develop a healthy competition and team spirit among the students," a press release said. PTI AT CMi

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Windies cricket has never been in a more gloomier state: Richards

Published>Fri, Oct 22 10 05:07 PM

Antigua (West Indies), Oct.22 (ANI): The West Indies will head for Sri Lanka and are hoping to improve their miserable Test ranking of seventh out of nine, but according to former skipper Sir Vivian Richards, West Indian cricket has never been in a gloomier state.

"For too long they have been comfortable with mediocrity. And, when you're comfortable with mediocrity, the next stage is that you're working hard even to be mediocre. One problem is that the West Indies board don't want to involve individuals who had success in West Indian cricket," Fox Sports quoted Richards, as saying.

When asked whether he was referring to himself?, he said: "Yeah, such as me. The establishment seems a little insecure. They think I'm being critical, but actually I'm being positive. I'm offering my help. Because you know, cricket doesn't change. The technology changes, but cricket is still just about a bat and a ball."

"I don't know why the board won't turn to blokes who know what winning is all about. Because it's not just about talent, it's about attitude. Look at Liverpool [FC]. The talent is there, but the attitude is wrong," he adds.

The West Indian cricketing talent, he reckons, is there too.

"It's no different from my time. Darren Sammy [the new captain] is a talented cricketer. Nobody can say that Chris Gayle isn't talented, and Jerome Taylor... but it's about the execution of that talent. I see batsmen backing away while the bowler is running up, leaving the lumber yard exposed. They should learn to move at the last second, while keeping the head as still as possible. I can help with that," Richards said. (ANI)

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England's secret 'simulated' Ashes weapon no recipe for 'real stage' success : Nielsen

Published>Fri, Oct 22 10 04:37 PM

Sydney, Oct 22(ANI): Australian coach Tim Nielsen reckons that the England team's new secret weapon for preparing for the upcoming Ashes series, the ProBatter, may create as many problems as it solves.

The ProBatter, a true-to-life bowling simulator, was made for baseball, but has been adapted for the Ashes.

The system includes a video component that permits a batsman to observe the life-size image of an actual bowler running in and delivering a ball, which is thrown through the video screen by a computer controlled module.

"The baseball thing has the ability, because you can get right behind the catcher, to get the vision almost like a batter's. Cricket's a little bit different because that's our hardest challenge - to find the perfect perspective from a batsman's point of view, so that's the biggest challenge," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Nielsen, as saying.

"I noticed on the footage you have the video with the ball being released and then the ball came out (of the machine as well), so it was confusing. It is going to have its benefits, but it's going to be a tool rather than a fixer of all issues," he added.

Nielsen further said that the search to replicate match scenarios had reached an extreme with the technology, but questioned its value compared to the challenges of a Test.

"As we know, you can practice against that stuff as much as you like, but you can't replicate the feeling of success or failure or fear of failure and the crowd," Nielsen said.

"In 2005 they had Merlin (bowling machine) and that was the big answer to Shane Warne and he still took 40 wickets," he added. (ANI)

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RP Singh keeps UP in hunt

Fri, Oct 22 10 04:23 PM

Jaipur, Oct 22 (PTI) Deadly bowling by Indian medium pacer R P Singh (5 for 8) helped Uttar Pradesh prevail over Railways by 10 runs and remain in the hunt in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Central Zone Twenty20 league here at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Chasing a target of 166, Railways could reach 155 for nine in their allotted 20 overs. R P Singh produced the second best spell in the competition as returned with figures of 4-1-8-5 to help his team register its first victory after two successive defeats in the tournament. According to the BCCI and RCA statistician O P Sharma, R P Singh''s figures are second best in Indian T20 cricket. The best being five wickets for six runs by Mihir Diwakar of Jharkhand at Dhanbad against Tripura in 2009. The best figures in International T20 cricket are of Umar Gul of Pakistan, who took 5 for 6 against New Zealand in 2009 at the Oval. Brief score: Uttar Pradesh: 165 for 5 in 20 overs (Tanmay Srivastava 40, Rohit Prakash Srivastava 36, Ravikant Shukla 36; Karan Sharma 1/6, Sanjay Bangar 1/22, Murali Kartik 1/15). Railways: 155 for 9 in 20 overs (Shreyas Khanolkar 61, J P Yadav 30; R P Singh 5/8).

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Wayne Rooney gets death threat

Published>Fri, Oct 22 10 04:17 PM

Wayne Rooney's unhappiness with Manchester United led to extreme reactions from fans.

A group of 40 Manchester United supporters, many wearing balaclavas and hooded tops, have warned the club's striker Wayne Rooney against any move to arch rivals Manchester City.

According to the Guardian, the group had gathered outside Rooney's house in Prestbury, Cheshire, with a banner reading "If you join City you're dead".

The incident occurred a couple of hours after United released a statement confirming that they had spent the day discussing Rooney's future.

"We are aware there is intense public and media interest on the club at the moment. I can confirm a number of meetings have taken place, including with the player's representative," United Chief Executive David Gill said.

"The outcome of those meetings will become clear in the near future. In the meantime fans are asked to be patient," he added.

Rooney had earlier confirmed that he is quitting Old Trafford, saying that he made his decision after failing to get any assurances about the club's future from Gill.

"I met with David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad. I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract," Rooney had said in a statement.?

"For me its all about winning trophies - as the club has always done under Sir Alex. Because of that I think the questions I was asking were justified," he added.

Rooney's statement came hours after United manager Sir Alex Ferguson suggested that the 24-year-old was putting money ahead of loyalty and trust.

The former Everton player, whose current deal expires in June 2012, is understood to be angling for a pay hike to 200,000 pounds a week.

The amount would make him the highest paid player in the Premier League.

According to reports, Rooney is considering his options, and has told team-mates that he would not baulk at a move to Manchester City.

It is also believed that the striker is keen to force the issue before the January transfer window.

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No hurdle too high for Kohli

Published>Fri, Oct 22 10 04:07 PM

Earlier this year in June, when Virat Kohli scored a 68 against Sri Lanka during the tri-series in Zimbabwe, he made history. Playing his 27th ODI, the 21-year-old reached 1000 runs. No Indian batsmen had reached the first big four-digit milestone so early in their career.

But the high was followed by a slump as Kohli had not one half-century in the next seven games. Suddenly the boy, who had made himself comfortable in the senior side within months of leading India to the under-19 World Cup, was dealing with his first big crisis of his young career. Even Kohli said that he was under immense pressure. "I am struggling to get runs. I had not scored too many runs in last six-seven matches. I was not hitting in the gaps," Kohli said before the second ODI against Australia.

But his match-winning knock of 118 during the run-chase on Wednesday meant the dark clouds had been cleared and once again Kohli was being seen as Indian cricket's 'next big thing'. Though critics have questioned Kohli's attitude when he has not been among runs, those who have followed his career closely have never doubted the potential of the aggressive young batsman.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra and Kohli's senior in the Delhi Ranji side believes that the youngster has it him to be an India regular. Chopra believes that Kohli's desire to do well at international level is so intense that it is tough to keep him out of the national team for long.

"He is more mature now and has understood his responsibility. Kohli has realised that if he is batting at No.3 then his chances of getting a big score is high. And for that he needs to be less reckless and more precise in his stroke selection," points Chopra.

Kohli's tendency to take the challenges head on makes him an exciting prospect for Indian cricket. Tough and demanding situations, like batting at No. 3 or leading an uphill chase, bring out the best in the batsman.

Praveen Amre, who was coach of the emerging team when Kohli caught the eye of national selectors, has seen this trait in the right-hander. "Once I asked him if he was willing to open, and he said yes without blinking an eye. Most middle-order batsmen are reluctant. He not only agreed but also slammed a hundred and we won the title in Australia. Even during training, he runs hard. You throw him a challenge and he will be ready for it," Amre said.

However, Chopra feels that the youngster's technique will be tested only once he plays abroad. "I will call him a fully matured cricketer once he starts doing better abroad," Chopra adds. Maybe, India's tour to South Africa later this year could provide that test for Kohli.

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Spain soccer roundup - Aguero returns to boost Atletico Madrid

Fri, Oct 22 10 03:59 PM

Brief news from La Liga ahead of this weekend's matches: (all times GMT):

* Fifth-placed Atletico Madrid visit second-placed Villarreal on Sunday (1900) in a clash between two sides expected to be competing for a top-four finish this season.

Striker Sergio Aguero returned after a month out injured and showed Atletico what they had been missing, coming off the bench to score one and set up another in their 3-0 Europa League win over Rosenborg on Thursday.

Aguero's return, and striker Diego Costa's fourth goal in five games, helps take the pressure off an out-of-sorts Diego Forlan.

* In-form Villarreal beat PAOK Salonika 1-0 in the Europa League on Thursday and have won six of their last seven matches in all competitions. They lie one point behind leaders Real Madrid, ahead of Barcelona and Valencia on goal difference.

* Unbeaten Real are at home to struggling Racing Santander on Saturday (1800) and will hope to have defender Sergio Ramos back in the side. He missed the midweek Champions League win over AC Milan with a knee problem.

"I don't know if they play better or worse than other Real teams, but it is clear they are the most balanced side of recent times," Racing coach and former Real technical director Miguel Angel Portugal told sports daily Marca on Friday.

* Barcelona will be without playmaker Xavi when they visit basement side Real Zaragoza on Saturday (1600). The midfielder is to continue having treatment on his troublesome Achilles tendons, the club said.

Xavi is likely to be replaced by Javier Mascherano. Goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who missed their Champions League win over FC Copenhagen with an illness, did not train on Thursday and Jose Manuel Pinto could deputise again.

* Valencia are set to have winger Joaquin back in contention after two weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury, in time for the visit of Real Mallorca on Saturday (2000).

* Espanyol striker Pablo Osvaldo has been banned for three matches following his red card last weekend for elbowing and subsequent abuse of the referee and gestures he made to the crowd in Mallorca.

The Barcelona-based club, who lie sixth, are at home to promoted Levante on Sunday (1500).

* Striker David Trezeguet has been banned for two matches after his red card against Villarreal and will miss promoted Hercules's trip to Almeria on Sunday (1500). He is the club's top scorer with four goals.

* Promoted Real Sociedad are at home to Deportivo Coruna on Monday (1900) without top scorer Raul Tamudo, who has cracked a bone in his forearm. Depor, 19th, have yet to win a game and are La Liga's lowest scorers with just three goals from seven games.

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