Sharad Pawar denies involvement in IPL bids

Published>Fri, Jun 04 10 01:38 PM

New Delhi, June 4 (ANI): Former BCCI President and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Friday dismissed reports of his family's involvement in the bid for Indian Premier League (IPL) franchisees.

He rubbished a newspaper report linking his family to the IPL bid.

Talking to reporters here, Pawar said: "Neither I nor my family is involved with any IPL team or with the bidding process."

"Whatever has been reported in the newspaper today was reported two months back also. At that time also I explained my position, which remains the same now. Neither me nor my family has direct or indirect involvement in any IPL team or in the bidding process," he added.

Commenting on the report that his family holds shares in the Pune-based construction company City Corporation which made an unsuccessful bid for a franchise in March, Pawar claimed that the MD of the company, Anirudhha Deshpande, had made the bid in his individual capacity.e also reiterated that the IPL is clean and that there is nothing murky about the ownership patterns and financial transactions in the league.

"The government agencies are inquiring and anyone who has done anything wrong, will be punished," he added. (ANI)

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Downpour may ensure good show

Published>Fri, Jun 04 10 01:28 PM

Bangalore, June 4 -- A torrential downpour had athletes scurrying towards the shelter of the Kanteerava Stadium on Thursday. They had just enough time to go through their daily rituals - warm-ups and stretchings - when the heavens opened and stalled their evening practice. As the track got soaked in puddles of water, the mercury dipped and it remained cool and pleasant all day long. With temperatures expected to remain in the mid-20s for the next couple of days, a better show can be expected from some of the top Asian athletes who are competing in the Asian Grand Prix Series II. Though more than 200 athletes have converged from all over Asia - India leading the charge with 78 athletes - what was disheartening was the postponement of the Indian Grand Prix by a day because of lack of entries in Pune, the scene of the first Indian GP. Strangely, even some track officials were unaware of the late development. According to them, the federation took the decision late on Wednesday after assessing the first Pune Grand Prix on May 31. In Pune, around 60 athletes participated in the one-day event, whereas the Asian Grand Prix-I held a day later, saw more than 200 entries. The Karnataka Athletic Association officials are now awaiting the Athletic Federation of India's nod for holding the Indian GP alongside the Asian Grand Prix Series-II and the Asian Grand Prix Open on June 5.

An official said that the decision to reschedule the Indian GP was taken to "get some competitive edge". "We want our athletes to perform and their Asian counterparts will help them do that," said the official.

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Little Zizou hopes to shine bright

Published>Fri, Jun 04 10 01:08 PM

India, June 4 -- It isn't every day that young footballers get touted to be the next Zidane. Starry-eyed Yoann Gourcuff, presently at Bordeaux, has repeatedly been compared to the French legend, due to his playmaking abilities as an attacking midfielder. The 23-year-old began his career at FC Lorient, managed by his father at the time. After a professional move to Stade Rennais in 2001, Gourcuff was picked up AC Milan in 2006 but had minimal playing time with 36 appearances over two years, partly because of Kaka's presence in midfield. Gourcuff thenmoved back to France on loan for the 2008-09 season. His one-year stint at Bordeaux allowed Gourcuff to assert himself as an effective playmaker and goal-scorer. In May 2009, it was announced that Bordeaux had permanently signed him. Gourcuff was awarded the Ligue 1 Player of the Year in December 2009, prior to which he had received an international call-up in August 2008. His single goal for the Les Bleus came in a WC qualifier against Romania. Manager Raymond Domenech later named in the final 23-man squad. Now linked with a move to Arsenal, Gourcuff remains a tantalising prospect. Whether he will make the move to London will become clearer in the days leading up to the 2010-11 season.

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Leander sets the pace with Dlouhy

Published>Fri, Jun 04 10 12:58 PM

Mumbai, June 4 -- Leander Paes and his Czech partner Lukas Dlouhy are just one step away from winning back-to-back French Open men's doubles titles after they stormed into the final with a straight-set victory over Julian Knowle and Andy Ram.

The third-seeded Indo-Czech duo defeated their 10th seeded opponents 6-4, 6-2 in a lop-sided semifinal match that lasted 75 minutes at Roland Garros.

"Today was an easy day in office. Things came together for us. Lukas is playing unbelievable now. We didn't come into this tournament with a great time on clay (2nd round losses at Barcelona and Monte Carlo with a quarters and semis in Rome and Madrid). But now we have our rhythm going just right," said Paes.

If Paes and Dlouhy win the final match against the second-seeded duo of Daniel Nestor of Canada and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia, it would be the fourth French Open men's doubles title for the Indian. Paes has already won the title in 1999 and 2001 (both with Mahesh Bhupathi) and then with Dlouhy in 2009.

With six men's doubles and five mixed doubles Grand Slam crowns, Paes will become the Indian with most Grand Slam triumphs with 12 titles. Just what has he been doing to stay relaxed with all the hectic rescheduling due to the rain breaks at this year's Open? "Watching movies. Saw Iron Man II and the new Robin Hood. The first week was very hectic but then that does help those with experience." Paes is wary of their opponents in the final. "We have had our ups and downs with this pair.

In fact they beat us in the Madrid semis but then we had beaten them in the semis here last year. That's the match we will be thinking about for our pre-match mental preparation. Lukas has got his strokes going now and I will anchor us on the net. It'll be an interesting contest, for sure."

As the second set progressed, Paes and Dlouhy did not show any complacency and won five games in a row by breaking their opponents in the first, third and fifth games to go 5-0 up in the second set. Knowle and Ram made a late comeback but Paes and Dlouhy won the second set 6-2 in 38 minutes to pocket the match comfortably.

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No member of my family involved in IPL bidding: Pawar

Published>Fri, Jun 04 10 12:48 PM

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar Friday said no member of his family was part of any Indian Premier League (IPL) team nor had they had taken part in the bidding process.

'No member of my family is involved in any IPL team or in the bidding process or has taken interest in bidding,' Pawar told reporters here following a media report that he and and his family held 16 percent stake in one of the bidders for the Pune IPL team.

Pawar said Anirudh Deshpande, managing director of City Corporation, a Pune-based company, had made the bid for the Pune team in his individual capacity.

'The company board had passed a resolution saying that the City Corportaion was not involved in the bid. Deshpande had participated in his individual capacity. The company had no connection with the bid. It is clear from the resolution,' Pawar, a former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said.

'The bid was not successful. The bid for Pune team was won by Sahara. The process was over,' he said.

Answering queries, he said government agencies were inquiring into IPL finances and 'anyone who has done wrong will face the consequences'.

'This has nothing to do with cricket or cricketers,' he said.

According to a media report, Pawar and his family owned about 16 percent shares in City Corporation, a Pune based construction company.

Pawar said Deshpande had planned to execute his bid by a different consortium comprising a Mumbai construction company, Maharashtra Cricket Association and others but it was not successful.

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Stosur red-hot favourite among bookies to lift French Open crown

Published>Fri, Jun 04 10 12:38 PM

Sydney, June 4(ANI): Australian tennis ace Samantha Stosur is a raging hot favourite with bookmakers to lift the French Open women's singles trophy despite having never reached a grand slam final before.

Stosur followed up her victories over four-time champion Justine Henin and World No. 1 Serena Williams with her best performance of the tournament, completely overwhelming Jelena Jankovic 6-1 6-2 in the semi-final.

She will now play Italy's Francesca Schiavone in what will be both women's maiden Grand Slam finals.

The 26-year-old was rated as high as a 51-dollar chance to win the title prior to the tournament, but she is now being rated by TAB Sportsbet at 1.16 dollars compared to Schiavone at 4.80 dollars.

SportingbetAustralia and Betfair are also offering skinny odds of around 1.20 dollars, with more support expected before Saturday's final.

"I would expect to see punters back Stosur to win in straight sets at 1.50 dollar after the way she dominated Jankovic," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Michael Sullivan, Sportingbet Australia Chief Executive, as saying. (ANI)

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Pawar denies family's involvement in IPL bid

Published>Fri, Jun 04 10 11:48 AM

New Delhi: Union minister Sharad Pawar today dismissed reports of his family's involvement in the City Corporation's failed bid for the Pune IPL team, saying the construction company's Managing Director made the attempt in his individual capacity.

Amid reports alleging Pawar family's shareholding in the company, which ultimately lost the bid to the Sahara Group, Pawar said, "I have stated earlier also that neither I nor any of my family members were involved in any IPL team or the bidding process and I reiterate that statement."

The Pawar family reportedly has a sizeable shareholding in the Pune-based company but the former BCCI President insisted that the company's Managing Director Aniruddha Deshpande was given permission by its Board of Directors to get involved in the bid in an individual capacity.

"We were not involved at all in the bidding process.

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