Hockey gods and bobs make it Canada's day

Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 01:26 PM

The Canadian men restored order in their Olympic ice hockey house and headed to the semi-finals after a 7-3 rout of Russia on Wednesday, a day of redemption and medal manna from heaven for the host nation.

In a country where hockey is religion, Canadians rejoiced to be back on the medal track in Winter Games venue Vancouver where maple leaf-clad fans poured into the streets three days after a demoralising loss to the Americans.

"We actually had doubts, about the game with Russia, but they won, and how," said Mindy Mahil, a fan perched on a fountain waving a large red-and-white flag.

Canada's happiness was compounded minutes later as two of the women's bobsleigh teams took the top two medals, the gold going to Kaillie Humphries in a thrilling final that saw a highly rated German team flip over on the fast ice track.

With a gold that takes Canada to the top of the medal table alongside the United States and Germany, two silvers, a bronze and the big hockey win, Wednesday was Canada's day.

Day 12 of the Winter Games had its notable losers too.

South Korea were disqualified while they were celebrating what they thought was their victory in women's short track 3,000 metres relay.

The gold went to China, while the Koreans' cheers turned to tears and they rushed past reporters without stopping to explain what referees deemed a push in the relay exchange.

It was also a disappointing day for top American skier Lindsey Vonn, the downhill gold medallist who crashed out on a fog-enveloped giant slalom and broke her little finger.

The giant slalom second leg fell prey to poor weather and will run instead on Thursday morning, with no Vonn and little hope for team mate and defending champion Julia Mancuso.

In a different type of skiing, Australia's Lydia Lassila flew and spun her way to Olympic gold in women's freestyle aerials, cleanly landing two of the hardest jumps of the day.

"Ever since I started this sport, I wanted to jump like a man," said Lassila, when asked why she tried such a difficult jump on her first effort.

'STILL OUR GAME'

For all of Canada's medal stash, no Olympic honour is more coveted than the gold one in men's hockey.

"You want to do well because you're proud and because you think hockey is Canada's game," said Canada coach Mike Babcock after Wednesday's win.

"Now it's pretty obvious it's the world's game but we still think it's ours and I'm a bit of a redneck so I like to think it's ours.

After losing to the United States in the final round of preliminary matches on Sunday, Babcock told the nation the team had chosen to take a "longer route" to get where they wanted to be. And so far, he was right, and it has been pretty scenic.

Forced to play an extra match to qualify for the quarter-finals, Canada dispatched Germany 8-2 on Tuesday. Twenty four hours later, they lined up for a mouthwatering clash with Russia and dominated from start to finish.

Canada will face Slovakia, who knocked out 2006 Turin gold medallist Sweden in a 4-3 thriller.

The United States was the first team to reach the semi-finals when they beat Switzerland 2-0 on Wednesday, both goals coming from Zach Parise. The Americans will face Finland for a place in the final.

FALLING IN THE FOG

Heavy fog at Whistler mountain forced the postponement of the women's giant slalom until Thursday morning. Austrian Elisabeth Goergl was leading France's Taina Barioz by 0.02 seconds.

Vonn's fall wreaked havoc on Mancuso, who was forced to stop her run with Vonn still on the course and make a new run later in worse snow conditions.

The two-time silver medallist at these Games finished back in 18th place and left the course in tears.

"I know that she is mad and probably frustrated and probably mad at me but I can't help that I fell," Vonn said.

"I wanted to finish, I was having a great run and wish I could have come down and not have her be flagged and that is absolutely not what I wanted."

Merchandisers had been cashing in on her appeal by selling t-shirts and baseball caps with Vonn-Couver emblazoned on them, but she has failed to live up to the hype.

She defied a painful shin injury to win gold in the women's downhill and a bronze in the super-G, but blew her chances of adding to her medal haul by falling in her two other events.

Despite the broken pinkie, Vonn is expected to race in the final women's Alpine event, the slalom scheduled for Friday.

As the Games enter the final stretch, two athletes accumulated their second gold medal. Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic won the women's 5,000 metres speedskating gold while Marcus Hellner led Sweden to a surprise victory in the men's cross country relay.

Source: Web Search

Hopes rest on man who beat the bullet

Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 01:21 PM

New Delhi, Feb. 25 -- When it comes to the World Cup, drag flicker Sandeep Singh does not have fond memories. The young penalty corner specialist missed the last edition at Monchengladbach in 2006 due to a freak accident just before the team's departure to Germany. Sandeep was travelling by train from Chandigarh to join the team in Delhi when the gun of a CRPF soldier, sitting behind him, went off accidentally and the bullet hit him on the back. The injury meant he was not able to play his first World Cup. Four years later, Sandeep is a vital cog in India's plans at the 12th edition, starting at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium on Sunday. As the team's main drag flicker, a lot depends on Sandeep's performance, as penalty corners are the main mode of scoring in modern hockey. Though Diwakar Ram and Dhananjay Mahadik can also take the short corners, Sandeep will be the main man. India have thought out several strategies for penalty corners, including indirect drills, and will be using them in case things don't work out with Sandeep's flicks. So, what should Sandeep do in order to fulfil the team's aspirations? For a start, he has to be in top shape as he is also one of the three fullbacks. Consistency with the flicks is a must because wasted opportunities can be the difference between victory and defeat. "Nowadays, penalty corners are a main scoring weapon and teams that utilise their chances do well. Sandeep will be the key for India when it comes to PCs," said Jugraj Singh, a former India drag flicker whose career with the national team ended when he got injured in a road accident. Sandeep is more-or-less in a similar position. He has comeback successfully from the injury that kept him out of the Champions Challenge I at Salta and a lot is expected of him. "He will have to work with the goalkeeper to perfect his art, strengthen his flicks and be more consistent," said Jorge Lombi, former Argentine legend and now the assistant coach of that team.

Sandeep would need to improve his conversion rate and be more consistent. "A good strategy for penalty corner conversion is vital as PCs are very important in modern hockey," said Jugraj.

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Security on mind, teams focus on task

Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 01:15 PM

New Delhi, Feb. 25 -- The sub-continent can be a tough frontier to conquer. Like the weather, the spectators can be a revelation but the international teams, gathered in the Capital for the Hero Honda FIH World Cup, are up for the test. "Playing in India is a challenge but the players are confident of performing well," said 23-year-old Marvin Harper of South Africa during an interaction in a city hotel. The forward from Durban, who occasionally essays the role of a mid-fielder, said the players had received guidelines from the cricket team, engaged in a one-day series here, at a "management level". "We have received security advice from the cricket board," he said. Florian Fuchs of Germany shared the concern but said there were more important things to worry about. "India and Pakistan are the local teams and have the home advantage. However, we have a week to get accustomed to the ground conditions," said the 18-year-old striker. Fuchs said Germany's strength lay in its youthful side and they would look to give the hosts a tough fight, if the two teams meet. India are in Pool B, which includes Pakistan, and favourites the Netherlands. Dutch goalkeeper Guus Vogels differed with Fuchs and said conditions would not be a big factor. "Our preparations were hampered because the grounds at home are frozen. We went to South Africa to prepare, played two matches against Pakistan in Doha, Qatar and in Spain. The conditions here are different but we have experienced players who can overcome them."

Striker Ibarra, who made his debut in 2005, said Argentina would have to play as a unit to make a mark.

Source: Web Search

200 reasons to say thank you

Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 01:06 PM

New Delhi, Feb. 25 -- It's never a good idea to try and speak for a whole nation. But on Wednesday, it was a risk worth taking. To Sachin Tendulkar, on whom more words have been written than any other cricketer, including Sir Don Bradman, two words will suffice: "Thank you." Over the last two decades and more, the numbers have piled up, sometimes beyond comprehension. He owns every record worth keeping, but the ODI double-hundred, a threshold never crossed in 2962 matches, is something you will all remember, because it's not something expected. It's not an incremental achievement, not another Test hundred or ODI run that just stretches his dominance. It was an effort that sealed a series win and reaffirmed India's dominance. This double hundred is something new from Sachin, something fresh for a country of adoring and massively demanding fans. That he can still produce performances that make you sit up and take notice is a tribute to the longevity of his appeal. For the best part, Indians are envious of Tendulkar: of the money he has earned, the cars he drives, the stories of him shopping for furniture in Europe, the picture in every second hoarding. The question that isn't asked quite so often, is just how much Tendulkar has done for India. Remember the curly-haired cherub - there's really no other word for it - who got hit in the face on his first tour of Pakistan as a 16-year-old, back in 1989, but refused to leave the batting crease? Or perhaps the Desert Storm series, in Sharjah in 1998, where he attacked Australia's bowlers so relentlessly that the bullies were left begging umpires for ridiculous lbw decisions? Or the World Cup in South Africa when he dismissed Shoaib Akhtar from his presence with such authority that the issue was settled well before the winning runs were hit? A couple of years ago, Tendulkar also brought the tennis elbow, an affliction common to the sport its named after but not so well known in cricket, to the attention of the Indian populace. During that time, he made a rare personal admission. "What brought tears to my eyes was the fact that my son Arjun wanted to play with me, wanted me to carry him, but I had to tell him to be careful, because of the elbow," he said. Coming from anyone else, it would have sounded cheesy, corny almost. But Tendulkar has given, and continues to give so much to Indian cricket, that it touched a chord with every father, and some prospective ones. On the day, it was fitting that Mahendra Singh Dhoni was brutalising bowlers at the other end. The bruiser from Ranchi has often been offered as a posterboy for the small towns, the very opposite of Tendulkar, who learned his cricket at Shivaji Park, the one-time cradle of Indian cricket. At a time when all the talk was about phasing out the seniors, Dhoni rose to prominence and eventually assumed the captaincy. Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble moved on, and in Dhoni's watch Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have flourished. In the mad scramble of celebrating New India, Dhoni never forgot those who have driven India's rise to the top.

Source: Web Search

Modi takes on Aussies via tweets

Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 12:49 PM

Mumbai, Feb. 25 -- IPL chairman Lalit Modi has been been at loggerheads with Australia skipper Ricky Ponting over the Australians' participation in IPL's third edition starting March 12. But the clash has not put a full stop to Ponting IPL future prospects. It was reported by Australian media that Ponting, whose contract was terminated by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), had a clash with high profile freelance cricketers during the Australian Cricketers' Association meeting about IPL participation in the wake of security concerns. A source confirmed Ponting had an argument with Shane Warne, Rajasthan Royals' skipper-coach, which led to a disagreement between players. On Wednesday, Modi took on Ponting and the cricketers' association via his tweets. "(I've) been told Ricky Ponting is pressuring players not to come. Maybe it's due to the fact he was dropped from KKR," he tweeted. But this does not mean Modi will deny a place in next year's planned auction to Ponting, who hasn't appeared in an IPL tie after his four appearances in the inaugural edition. "We will decide when it is time to decide," Modi told HT. Reiterating IPL's stand of not recognising any players' association, Modi also blasted the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA).

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Lee knew his time in Tests was over after England won the Ashes

Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 12:45 PM

Sydney, Feb.25 (ANI): Australian pace bowler Brett Lee knew that a part of his career was over last August as England paraded around The Oval with the Ashes.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Lee, as saying: " To not play a part in that series was really hard on me. I probably knew after that fifth Test match that the time was right to leave. I had to draw a line in the sand and part with Test cricket.

"Before the Ashes, the way that I trained, the way I got physically prepared for that series, it's the best shape I've ever been in my life. I suppose it's why I'm excited about the future as well, because it was only last year. I knew I can do it, I got back to bowling speeds I was really happy with, I was taking wickets, the ball was swinging, but also there's that fine line," he added.

He further said: "Do I put everything on the line and play three months of Test cricket and never play cricket for Australia again ... or do I give away Test cricket in order to play a few more years for Australia?"

The 33-year-old pacer will now attempt to choreograph his exit from internationals altogether by fighting his way back into the Australian one-day team for next February's World Cup in India.

"If I can be there at the 2011 World Cup, if I could achieve that goal, I would be more than happy to walk away," he said.

Few, certainly Lee, could have guessed that his last appearance in the baggy green would have been the Boxing Day Test of 2008, during which he broke down with a foot injury. He managed to overcome that injury in time for the Ashes tour but after stunning form in the tour game he succumbed to a side strain that kept him out of the first three Tests.

Lee's priority now is three-year-old son Preston.

"I don't want to be away from home for 11 months of the year any more, I've done it for 14 years now," he said.

"I've got a young boy, Preston, and he's the most important thing to me in the whole wide world. And I don't want to be away from him for six months, I won't be, I promised myself, I promised him."

Lee did contemplate quitting the sport entirely but said he still harbours "burning ambition".

After 310 wickets from 76 Tests, Lee sits fourth on the all-time list of Australian bowlers.

He must now hope selectors do not consign him to the stands for the World Twenty20 in May or the World Cup next year. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Capello counts Rooney among world's top three footballers

Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 12:39 PM

London, Feb. 25 (ANI): England coach Fabio Capello has rated Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney as one of the three best players in the world, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

"Rooney, Messi together with Cristiano Ronaldo are the young players anyone would want in their team. Wayne is extraordinary. He has talent and a desire to learn. Ferguson has taught him such a lot, I've only had to refine him," The Sun quoted Capello, as saying.

The Italian insists that he has done that by telling the 28-goal striker to concentrate on playing in the penalty area more.

"Ronaldo's departure from Manchester has made Rooney more responsible and he is much more involved now," he said.

But Rooney's sensational form has still not ended the repeated calls for his United team-mate Michael Owen to be recalled.

That clearly irritates Capello.

"There is one they want me to select, Owen, given that he is the best England goalscorer of all times. But I cannot select him if he does not play," he said.

As Capello's prepares for the World Cup finals, he believes the size of the foreign legion in English football is a problematic area.

"In the Premier League there are only 38 percent English players but 67 percent in Italy and 63 percent in Spain," he said. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

GREATEST

Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 12:21 PM

First in the world to score a double century in one-dayers

Sachin's magical knock comes off amere 147 balls

Tendulkar in a league of his own after cracking first- ever 200 in ODIs

SACHIN Tendulkar treated the packed Captain Roop Singh Stadium to one of the most daring displays of strokeplay in the history of One-Day International cricket as the Master Blaster slammed an unbeaten 200 against South Africa here on Wednesday.

Since the time Pakistan?s Saeed Anwar scored an energy-sapping 194 against India in June 1997 at the Independence Cup in Chennai, cricket fans have been waiting to see if anyone could scale the 200-mark. Charles Coventry of Zimbabwe equalled Anwar's record with a 194 not out against Bangladesh in Bulawayo last year.

But then, it had to be Tendulkar who was going to score the historic 200 in an ODI. At a time when people feel that T20 cricket is what sends the pulse racing, Tendulkar uncorked the champagne stuff against the hapless Proteas on a flat track, smashing 25 boundaries and three sixes.

Two months short of his 37th birthday, the Mumbaikar, who says he wants to give up playing ODI cricket after the 2011 World Cup, treated the audience to audacious and authentic strokes which one gets to see once in a lifetime. Tendulkar paced his knock wonderfully.

Till the 40th over, he went hammer and tongs at the South African attack. Once he had reached the 190s, it was captain MS Dhoni who then started scoring briskly. History was made in the 50th over. Off the third ball, Tendulkar pushed a Charl Langeveldt delivery towards point and traversed the distance of 22 yards to the non-striker's end which saw fans erupt with joy inside the stadium.

Tendulkar took off his helmet and raised his bat while looking skywards. It was as if he was having a short conversation with his late father Ramesh Tendulkar, who he treats as his role model. The South Africans, who were at the receiving end all along, rushed to congratulate the champion even as Dhoni hugged the star batsman.

It all began on a warm Wednesday afternoon when Tendulkar struck his first boundary off Wayne Parnell in the second over of the day. After losing opening partner Virender Sehwag early, Tendulkar took it upon himself to keep the tempo of the innings up. He brought up his half-century off 36 balls and his 46th ODI ton off 90.

He then took the South African bowlers to the cleaners, helping India smash 63 off the 30 balls of the batting powerplay, reaching his 150 off just 118 balls.

Generations of cricket lovers have witnessed the Master Blaster?s 20 years in international cricket. From the watershed moment against New Zealand in March 1994 when he first opened the batting and scored a quickfire 82, to his twin tons against the Australians in Sharjah in 1998, through the swashbuckling 98 against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup to the heart- breaking 175 in a losing cause against Australia in Hyderabad last year ? each knock is etched in the minds of the millions of cricket fans.

The last few months have certainly seen Tendulkar return to a level of batting which had dissipated after a spate of career-threatening injuries to his elbow, back and toe in the last decade.

With critics complaining that Tendulkar has forgotten the art of demolition, one would have expected his successor ? Sehwag ? to achieve the feat of becoming the first batsman to score 200 runs in a single innings in ODIs. In fact, Sehwag often expressed his desire to become the first batsman to score 200 runs in ODIs. But on Wednesday, Tendulkar once again showed why he is the man who Sir Donald Bradman considered closest to his own style of batting.

Chief curator Ajay Sahasrabuddhe was elated that the Captain Roop Singh Stadium was the venue for the historic moment.

"No words can describe my feeling.

I had told you on the eve of the match that god- willing, this match would witness Tendulkar?s best ODI knock till date.

And that is exactly what has happened.

I can?t believe that my words have actually come true."

"I might have prepared a batting paradise, but it was the genius of Tendulkar alone who made this innings possible. Having prepared the pitch, even I am now a part of this historic event," Sahasrabuddhe told MAIL TODAY . The crowd which had come expecting to see India win was mesmerised by the innings.

"We had come expecting to see India seal the series in Gwalior itself and maintain their impressive record at this venue, but this was truly unexpected and out of the world. These things can never be planned and I am sure that even a great like Tendulkar would have never planned for such an innings," said Rohan, a spectator. Shane Warne had famously admitted that he had nightmares after Tendulkar's 'Desert Storm' in Sharjah. One wonders if the South Africans would even manage to sleep anytime soon.

baidurjo.bhose@mailtoday.in

I'd like to dedicate this double hundred to the people of India for standing behind me for the last 20 years, come what may

It was only when I crossed 175 and realised that it was still the 42nd over, I felt I have an opportunity (to score 200). So I decided to take singles and give strike to Dhoni

I don?t play for records, I play the game because I enjoy it and I still have the passion for it. I didn't start playing cricket to break records

No record is unbreakable and I think if anyone can break this record now, it will only be an Indian.

Source: Web Search

Headline>GREATEST

Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 12:15 PM

First in the world to score a double century in one-dayers

Sachin's magical knock comes off amere 147 balls

Tendulkar in a league of his own after cracking first- ever 200 in ODIs

SACHIN Tendulkar treated the packed Captain Roop Singh Stadium to one of the most daring displays of strokeplay in the history of One-Day International cricket as the Master Blaster slammed an unbeaten 200 against South Africa here on Wednesday.

Since the time Pakistan?s Saeed Anwar scored an energy-sapping 194 against India in June 1997 at the Independence Cup in Chennai, cricket fans have been waiting to see if anyone could scale the 200-mark. Charles Coventry of Zimbabwe equalled Anwar's record with a 194 not out against Bangladesh in Bulawayo last year.

But then, it had to be Tendulkar who was going to score the historic 200 in an ODI. At a time when people feel that T20 cricket is what sends the pulse racing, Tendulkar uncorked the champagne stuff against the hapless Proteas on a flat track, smashing 25 boundaries and three sixes.

Two months short of his 37th birthday, the Mumbaikar, who says he wants to give up playing ODI cricket after the 2011 World Cup, treated the audience to audacious and authentic strokes which one gets to see once in a lifetime. Tendulkar paced his knock wonderfully.

Till the 40th over, he went hammer and tongs at the South African attack. Once he had reached the 190s, it was captain MS Dhoni who then started scoring briskly. History was made in the 50th over. Off the third ball, Tendulkar pushed a Charl Langeveldt delivery towards point and traversed the distance of 22 yards to the non-striker's end which saw fans erupt with joy inside the stadium.

Tendulkar took off his helmet and raised his bat while looking skywards. It was as if he was having a short conversation with his late father Ramesh Tendulkar, who he treats as his role model. The South Africans, who were at the receiving end all along, rushed to congratulate the champion even as Dhoni hugged the star batsman.

It all began on a warm Wednesday afternoon when Tendulkar struck his first boundary off Wayne Parnell in the second over of the day. After losing opening partner Virender Sehwag early, Tendulkar took it upon himself to keep the tempo of the innings up. He brought up his half-century off 36 balls and his 46th ODI ton off 90.

He then took the South African bowlers to the cleaners, helping India smash 63 off the 30 balls of the batting powerplay, reaching his 150 off just 118 balls.

Generations of cricket lovers have witnessed the Master Blaster?s 20 years in international cricket. From the watershed moment against New Zealand in March 1994 when he first opened the batting and scored a quickfire 82, to his twin tons against the Australians in Sharjah in 1998, through the swashbuckling 98 against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup to the heart- breaking 175 in a losing cause against Australia in Hyderabad last year ? each knock is etched in the minds of the millions of cricket fans.

The last few months have certainly seen Tendulkar return to a level of batting which had dissipated after a spate of career-threatening injuries to his elbow, back and toe in the last decade.

With critics complaining that Tendulkar has forgotten the art of demolition, one would have expected his successor ? Sehwag ? to achieve the feat of becoming the first batsman to score 200 runs in a single innings in ODIs. In fact, Sehwag often expressed his desire to become the first batsman to score 200 runs in ODIs. But on Wednesday, Tendulkar once again showed why he is the man who Sir Donald Bradman considered closest to his own style of batting.

Chief curator Ajay Sahasrabuddhe was elated that the Captain Roop Singh Stadium was the venue for the historic moment.

"No words can describe my feeling.

I had told you on the eve of the match that god- willing, this match would witness Tendulkar?s best ODI knock till date.

And that is exactly what has happened.

I can?t believe that my words have actually come true."

"I might have prepared a batting paradise, but it was the genius of Tendulkar alone who made this innings possible. Having prepared the pitch, even I am now a part of this historic event," Sahasrabuddhe told MAIL TODAY . The crowd which had come expecting to see India win was mesmerised by the innings.

"We had come expecting to see India seal the series in Gwalior itself and maintain their impressive record at this venue, but this was truly unexpected and out of the world. These things can never be planned and I am sure that even a great like Tendulkar would have never planned for such an innings," said Rohan, a spectator. Shane Warne had famously admitted that he had nightmares after Tendulkar's 'Desert Storm' in Sharjah. One wonders if the South Africans would even manage to sleep anytime soon.

baidurjo.bhose@mailtoday.in

I'd like to dedicate this double hundred to the people of India for standing behind me for the last 20 years, come what may

It was only when I crossed 175 and realised that it was still the 42nd over, I felt I have an opportunity (to score 200). So I decided to take singles and give strike to Dhoni

I don?t play for records, I play the game because I enjoy it and I still have the passion for it. I didn't start playing cricket to break records

No record is unbreakable and I think if anyone can break this record now, it will only be an Indian.

Source: Web Search

British media praise ''mighty'' Tendulkar

Published Thu, Feb 25 10 11:55 AM

London, Feb 25 (PTI) Sachin Tendulkar''s stupendous feat of becoming the first cricketer to score a double century in one-dayer was today hailed by the British media, which described the little master as the "finest batsman" ever. "Tendulkar underlined his sensational class with a double century in Gwalior. To have reached such a landmark, with a single in the final over, only serves to underline his class and add to the legacy that already surrounds arguably the finest batsman to have played the game," BBC Sports said. "His innings, the 46th one-day century of his career, was typified by wristy strokes, trademark boundary shots and, above all, stamina as he batted through the entire innings," the report read. Meanwhile, The Times tried to anticipate whether the Indian can complete a century of centuries in international cricket by the end of this year. "All kneel down and praise whatever god you fancy for the mighty Sachin Tendulkar. This could just be turning into the greatest year of his international career, more than 20 years after it began," the report said. "Tendulkar now has 93 hundreds in international cricket - 47 in Tests and 46 in ODIs - which is 25 more than the next best man, Ricky Ponting. At the age of 36 and in such great form, he could reach 100 hundreds by the end of the year," it added. (More) PTI DB MRM SHN

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Manavjit shoots his best to clinch gold

Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 11:19 AM

It was a golden day for India as world champion Manavjit Singh Sandhu stunned all competitors to grab the gold in the men's trap individual event at the Commonwealth Shooting Championships at the Dr Karni Singh Ranges on Wednesday.

India won the gold in all three events to stay atop the medals tally after the sixth day of the championships.

After shooting perfect 25 in all three qualifying rounds on Tuesday, Manavjit made a stunning start scoring 25 and 24 in the fourth and the fifth rounds respectively. The final round saw tough competition.

Manavjit was moving far ahead as others kept missing the birds.

As the pressure was building up on the contenders, Manavjit kept his focus on the targets and brought another 22 points in the final to make a total score of 146 and claimed the top honours along with his personal best score and the meet record.

Manavjit missed some birds at 144 and another at 145 but he shot the final bird to reach 146.

Reacting after his victory, Manavjit said, ''This is my personal best score. This is the first competition of the year for me. So, it is a nice feeling to start well. The crowd was very supporting and that instilled confidence in me.'' ''Generally the final round takes place in the evening but today it happened in the afternoon. The visibility was fantastic but it became cloudy and the light was a bit little less and brown,? he said.

Indian team's performance also impressed Manavjit. He said, ''It is good that we are winning so many gold medals here.Actually, we all wanted to win here and that is what kept everyone inspired.'' Asked about the newly- constructed Dr Karni Singh Ranges, Manavjit said, ''This is a world class venue. There are so many benefits when you have such facilities. More young shooters can use them and perform better for the country. I would like to thank the government for the infrastructure they have managed to put up.'' England's Aaron Heading was second with 143 points while Adam Vella of Australia registered 142 to win the bronze.

India dominated completely in the 25metre centre fire pistol men's individual event as Vijay Kumar, Mahender Singh and Viraj Singh clinched the top awards.

Vijay combined 286 and 294 in first and second stage to aggregate 580 in total to walk away with the gold. Mahender and Viraj won the silver and bronze.

In the 10m air rifle women's individual competition, Neha Sapte outdid Bangladeshi Sharmin Akhter Ratna and bagged the gold. Neha, appearing for her Class XII exams this year, got into rhythm after losing some crucial points and scored 101.1 in the final. Her qualification score was 395 as she got 99 each in all four rounds.

Neha said she suffered some balancing problems. ''I had some balancing problems initially but I corrected them.'' Ratna and Australia's Robyn Van Nus grabbed the silver and bronze.

Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Championships president Graeme Hudson announced on Wednesday that the badges will be counted in the total medals tally. ''Badges will be counted as medals. We noticed that the media is not counting the badges in the total medals tally so we decided to explain why the badges should be included in the list. That's how it works everywhere in the world,'' he said.

Reproduced From Mail Today. Copyright 2010. MTNPL. All rights reserved.

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Tendulkar rewrites history as India beat SA; lift ODI series

Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 11:05 AM

Gwalior, Feb. 24 -- Unbelievable, magical, miraculous. One can go on using adjectives, but nothing can come close to describing what Sachin Tendulkar pulled off at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium on Wednesday. Simply put, he became the first batsman to breach the 200-run barrier in ODIs with arguably the best knock played in this format. While the innings gave spectators their fondest memories to take home from a cricket stadium, South Africa were so overwhelmed that they capitulated to a massive 153-run defeat to lose the three-match series. In fact, the plot was lost when Tendulkar's double powered India to a mammoth 401. It was then a matter of completing the formalities and South Africa fell for 248. That a Sachin-special was in store became evident when he caressed Wayne Parnell to the cover boundary and then to the mid-wicket fence in the second over. What followed is now part of cricketing folklore. Scoring a double hundred in an ODI is extraordinary, but more than the number, the way Tendulkar got the runs stay etched in the mind. Such was the class that it could be used as a batting manual for aspiring youngsters. The first part of the innings was largely about caressing the ball through the gaps and the second was about raw power and ferocity. To begin with, Tendulkar toyed with Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell, caressing them through the point-to-extra cover region on the off side and mid-wicket on the on side. Such was the precision that hardly any shot went to the fielders. After the field spread out and left-arm spinner Roelef van der Merwe was pressed into service, Tendulkar executed the inside-out stroke to loft him over extra cover. When the burly South African fired the ball onto his pads, it invited a delicate flick to the fine leg boundary. Once the hundred was reached, the booming straight drives and other big shots started to flow like an unstoppable torrent. Almost every ball flew out of the ground, leaving the bowlers staring helplessly. Once Tendulkar had zoomed past 150, the crowd egged him on to go for the double. And the master himself wasn't in a mood to miss out. He reached the milestone in the final over with a single, sparking off hysterical scenes in the stands. It had taken him 147 balls, 25 boundaries and three sixes to achieve the feat.

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Inter edge Chelsea 2-1 after thrilling first leg

Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 10:35 AM

Inter Milan battled to a 2-1 win over an impressive Chelsea to hold a slight advantage after their Champions League last-16 first leg at the San Siro on Wednesday.

Home striker Diego Milito netted on three minutes when he easily turned John Terry and fired in at the near post from six metres, prompting little reaction from Inter's former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho who had promised not to celebrate.

The Londoners dominated a thrilling game for long spells and Salomon Kalou deservedly equalised on 51 minutes with a 20-metre shot before Esteban Cambiasso soon put the hosts back ahead after his first shot was blocked.

Chelsea keeper Petr Cech was carried off on a stretcher in the second half with a calf injury but Carlo Ancelotti, who spent eight years at the San Siro as AC Milan coach, will be confident of turning the tie around in the second leg on March 16.

"It was a high-level Champions League game," Mourinho told ITV Sport. "I said to my players, 'they are not better than us, they are different to us'.

"Chelsea and Inter can both play better. This is the Champions League, it is difficult to fully express yourself because of the pressure."

Just like rivals AC Milan in their defeat by Manchester United on the same pitch last week, Serie A champions Inter got off to a good start.

CECH BEATEN

Thiago Motta threaded the ball forward and Samuel Eto'o miscontrolled it before strike partner Milito confirmed his excellent form this season by cutting in from the left and beating Cech at the near post.

Chelsea's heads failed to drop despite the vast roar from the Inter crowd and they were soon troubling keeper Julio Cesar, playing despite being shaken in a car crash early this week.

A Michael Ballack piledriver forced the Brazilian into his best save and Didier Drogba rattled the bar with a vicious free kick.

Kalou, included on the left with Florent Malouda employed at left back, then had a strong shout for a penalty turned down on the stroke of halftime after a challenge by Walter Samuel five metres out.

The Ivorian had his reward after 51 minutes when Julio Cesar failed to stop his curling shot through a crowd of players.

Argentine Cambiasso then grabbed the winner, blasting in at the second attempt from the edge of the box.

"I think on the balance of play, possession, the shots we had, we were the stronger team," said Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.

"We knew they like to soak up pressure and they got the early goal which made it easier for them but we've got an away goal and with a performance like that in London we've got a great chance."

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'Red is the colour for sportsmen, advertisers'

Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 10:15 AM

Toronto, Feb 25 (ANS) Wearing red at top international sporting events like the Olympics benefits an athlete, says a new study.

In fast-paced sports such as races and skating a referee's perceptions of motion are subconsciously affected by the colour the athlete is wearing, says the study at York University here.

'All things being equal between two figure skaters - including their actual speed on the ice - the judges will perceive a skater in red is moving with greater speed than a skater in blue, and may reward the skater in red with higher marks,' said Mazyar Fallah, study author and assistant professor at the School of Kinesiology and Health Science in the university.

The study may also be important for other fields such as advertising, in which capturing attention is paramount, and in designing human-computer interfaces that are effective, he said.

During their study on visual processing, Fallah and co-author Illia Tchernikov found that people's eyes more quickly follow a red target on a computer screen than a green, yellow, or especially a blue target, a university statement said Wednesday.

'In sports, the outcome of a competition is supposed to depend on the abilities of the players, rather than the colours they are wearing,' said Fallah.

'However, our research shows it may make sense to wear red in a sport such as figure skating, in which you want to be perceived as quick. In contrast, it may be best to wear another colour in a sport in which a referee is handing out penalties,' he said.

Fallah said their research has implications for many sports, including figure skating and gymnastics, in which speed may be perceived by a judge rather than measured in milliseconds.

The research was based on five participants, with each completing about 1,000 tests.

During the tests, each participant focussed on targets on the screen and all produced the same colour hierarchy - choosing red targets first, followed by green, yellow and blue.

Fallah said this suggests that the colour hierarchy is ingrained in the human mind, either because of evolution - red is the colour of blood, whereas blue is the colour of the sky - or as a result of experience, as red stop signs and traffic signals indicate danger.

The study has been published in the journal Public Library of Science.

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Canada bounce back to send Russians packing

Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 10:05 AM

The Canadian men restored order in their Olympic ice hockey house on Wednesday and headed to the semi-finals after a 7-3 rout of Russia that eased the pain of a demoralising loss to the Americans.

Hockey-crazed Canadians celebrated the redeem team across the Winter Games host nation, but especially in Olympic venue Vancouver where Maple leaf-clad fans went wild in the stadium and on the streets.

Canada's happiness was compounded minutes later as two of the women's bobsleigh teams took the top two medals, the gold going to Kaillie Humphries in a thrilling final that saw a highly rated German team crash in the last of four runs.

With a gold that takes Canada to the top of the gold medal table alongside the United States and Germany, two silvers, a bronze and a big hockey win, Wednesday was already Canada's day.

Germany, the U.S. and Canada have seven golds apiece.

Day 12 of the Winter Games had its notable losers too, most notably American skier Lindsey Vonn, who crashed out on a fog-enveloped giant slalom and broke her little finger.

Vonn's fall wreaked havoc on team mate Julia Mancuso, who was forced to stop her run with Vonn still on the course. She made a poor second attempt that puts her back in the pack for the second leg of the race, postponed by fog until Thursday.

As the Games enter the final stretch, two athletes accumulated their second gold medal. Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic won the women's 5,000 metres speedskating gold while Marcus Hellner led Sweden to a surprise victory in the men's cross country relay.

China won the women's 3000 metre relay short track gold medal after South Korea was disqualified. Canada were promoted to the silver and the U.S. took bronze.

It was the ice on the hockey rink, however, that ruled the day in these parts.

After losing to the United States in the final round of preliminary matches on Sunday, Canada's coach Mike Babcock told the nation the team had chosen to take a "longer route" to get where they wanted to be. And so far, he was right.

'MAD AT ME'

Forced to play an extra match to qualify for the quarter-finals, Canada dispatched Germany 8-2 on Tuesday. Twenty four hours later, they lined up for a mouthwatering clash with Russia and dominated from start to finish.

The U.S. was the first team to reach the semi-finals when they beat Switzerland 2-0 on Wednesday, both goals coming from Zach Parise.

The United States will face the winners of the Finland-Czech Republic quarter-final, while Canada will meet either Slovakia or Sweden, the defending gold medallists.

The semi-final teams will all be determined by Wednesday night.

Heavy fog at Whistler mountain forced the postponement of the women's giant slalom until Thursday morning. Austrian Elisabeth Goergl was leading France's Taina Barioz by 0.02 seconds.

Mancuso, the defending Olympic champion in giant slalom, finished her second attempt at the first run back in 18th place and left left the course in tears, unhappy at being stopped because of her team mate's fall.

"I know that she is mad and probably frustrated and probably mad at me but I can't help that I fell," Vonn said.

"I wanted to finish, I was having a great run and wish I could have come down and not have her be flagged and that is absolutely not what I wanted."

Merchandisers had been cashing in on her appeal by selling t-shirts and baseball caps with Vonn-Couver emblazoned on them, but she has failed to live up to the hype.

She defied a painful shin injury to win gold in the women's downhill and a bronze in the super-G, but blew her chances of adding to her medal haul by falling in her two other events.

Despite the broken pinkie, Vonn is expected to race in the final women's Alpine event, the slalom scheduled for Friday.

The slender Sablikova added the 5,000m gold to her 3,000 metres title and surprising bronze in the 1,500m, with a time of six minutes 50.91 seconds.

Hellner, who also won gold in the 30km individual pursuit, held off a storming final leg by Norway's Petter Northug to give Sweden a thrilling victory in the cross country relay.

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Latest medals table

Published Thu, Feb 25 10 09:46 AM

REUTERS - Olympic Games latest medals table on the 12th day of events in Vancouver on Wednesday.

Rank Country G S B Total

1. Germany 7 10 7 24

2. U.S. 7 9 12 28

3. Canada 7 6 2 15

4. Norway 6 6 6 18

5. Switzerland 6 0 2 8

6. South Korea 5 4 1 10

7. Austria 4 3 3 10

8. Sweden 4 2 2 8

9. China 4 1 1 6

10. Russia 3 4 6 13

11. Netherlands 3 1 2 6

12. France 2 3 5 10

13. Czech Republic 2 0 3 5

14. Slovakia 1 1 1 3

15. Australia 1 1 0 2

16. Britain 1 0 0 1

17. Poland 0 3 1 4

18. Latvia 0 2 0 2

19. Italy 0 1 3 4

20. Japan 0 1 2 3

21. Croatia 0 1 1 2

21=. Slovenia 0 1 1 2

21=. Belarus 0 1 1 2

24. Kazakhstan 0 1 0 1

24=. Finland 0 1 0 1

24=. Estonia 0 1 0 1

Total 63 64 62 189

G = Gold

S = Silver

B = Bronze

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Canada rout Russians, move to semis

Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 09:26 AM

Canada punched their ticket to the semi-finals of the Olympic men's ice hockey tournament by rolling over Russia with a 7-3 win on Wednesday, delivering a jolt of excitement felt right across the country.

Now safely through to the last four, Canada's goal has come into sharper focus with only the winner of the Sweden-Slovakia game standing in the way of playing for the gold that means more to the ice-hockey mad nation than any other on Feb. 28.

As Canada celebrated, their stunned rivals, tipped by many to return home with Russia's first gold medal since the breakup of the Soviet Union, were left to wonder how it all went wrong.

While the contest might not be remembered as one of the great classics in a rich rivalry that stretches back decades, it is one Canadians are not likely to soon forget.

The atmosphere inside a seething Canada Hockey Place could not have been more electric but apprehension also hung heavy in the air as the world's two top ranked teams and gold medal favourites prepared to take to the ice.

Plugging into the energy of a frenetic crowd, Canada set the tone for the rout with a furious first period that left the Russians feeling as if they had run into a buzz saw.

Ryan Getzlaf ignited the crowd when he opened the scoring just over two minutes into the first period after he slammed home a puck into a gapping Russian net.

Dan Boyle and Rick Nash then scored 46 seconds apart to shift the party atmosphere in the arena into high gear.

Dmitri Kalinin slowed the mauling when he counted Russia's first but Brenden Morrow answered to send the hosts into the first intermission with a 4-1 lead.

The Canadians kept their foot on the gas in the second with two quick goals from Corey Perry and Shea Weber to go up 6-1.

Perry would add another while Maxim Afinogenov and Sergei Gonchar scored to cut into the Canadian advantage but there would be no way back for the Russians, who will now hope National Hockey League will still be part of the Olympics when the 2014 Winter Games go to Sochi.

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