Friendly in Sardinia abandoned after players' fights

Thu, Jul 29 10 01:56 AM

A pre-season friendly between Sardinia's Cagliari and Corsica's Bastia was abandoned after 75 minutes on Wednesday after players repeatedly fought each other, the Italian side said in a statement.

Serie A Cagliari were beating the French team 3-0 when the referee called a halt to the match in Sardinia between two of the top teams from the neighbouring islands.

Italy World Cup goalkeeper Federico Marchetti was left out of Cagliari's side after requesting a move.

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Woods to seek eighth victory at Firestone

Thu, Jul 29 10 12:58 AM

Tiger Woods, winless in his first seven PGA Tour starts this year, will defend his title at next week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, the world number one said on Wednesday.

Woods will return to the Aug. 5-8 tournament at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, an elite event he won for a record seventh time last year after a final round five-under-par 65 to win by four strokes.

"It's one of the best courses we play all year," Woods said in a statement posted on his website on Wednesday. (http://web.tigerwoods.com). "Everything is right in front of you."

Woods, coming off a tie for 23rd at the British Open earlier this month, will then launch his bid for a 15th major title at Whistling Straits the following week.

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F1 acts to reduce risk of wheels breaking loose

Wed, Jul 28 10 11:58 PM

Formula One will double the number of tethers on cars next season to reduce the danger from wheels bouncing away after crashes, McLaren engineering head Paddy Lowe said on Wednesday.

Lowe told reporters in a conference call ahead of Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix that the sport's technical working group had agreed to introduce a second tether connecting each wheel to the chassis.

"Wheel tethers are a great concern to us," he said.

"We had the tragic incident last year with Henry Surtees, and we also see wheels coming off F1 cars rather more often than we'd like and than the rules intended when tethers were introduced. They are working but they're not reliable enough."

Briton Surtees, son of former world champion John, died last July after being struck on the head by a bouncing tyre while competing in a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch.

There have been several incidents involving tyres breaking free in Formula One this season.

"What we found is that when they (the tethers) don't work they have been cut for some reason due to the nature of the accident," said Lowe.

"Our thinking is that if you put two tethers on each corner that are run independently...then we're going to drastically improve the probability that one or both tethers survive in an accident."

At present each tether must be able to withstand a minimum load of six tonnes.

Last year's Hungarian Grand Prix was overshadowed by Brazilian Felipe Massa's serious injury in qualifying, with the Ferrari driver hit on the head by a heavy spring that had fallen off compatriot Rubens Barrichello's Brawn and bounced down the track.

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Cal HC stays order against WBBA

Wed, Jul 28 10 11:22 PM

Kolkata, July 28 (PTI) In a relief for the West Bengal Badminton Association (WBBA), the Calcutta High Court today stayed an order by the Registrar of Firms, Societies and Non-Trading Corporations not to hold AGMs. The stay will enable the WBBA to hold AGMs for 2007-08 and 2008-09, originally scheduled for July 25, which could not be held due to scrutiny of accounts following detection of financial irregularities allegedly by the general secretary who was removed in August 2008. Justice Jayanta Kumar Biswas also directed Choten D Lama, the joint-secretary of department of commerce and industries, to be added as a party to the case and fixed August 5 for hearing the matter further. WBBA President Ushanath Banerjee told PTI: "We can now hold the pending AGMs and election after the committee members decide on a new date." The WBBA has 20 affiliated members of whom three opposed the holding of the two AGMs on the plea that it was not lawful and had approached the Registrar of Firms, Societies and Non-Trading Corporations. On July 26, the WBBA had moved the high court.

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India doesn't look like a number one team: Waugh

Published>Wed, Jul 28 10 11:08 PM

India is currently struggling against Sri Lanka and does not look like they are the number one Test team in the world, reckons former Australian skipper Steve Waugh.

"India are predominantly a batting side but their bowling is not strong enough. Of course they have a few injuries with Zaheer out of the team. But they are struggling against Sri Lanka and doesn't look like a number one side," Waugh said on the sidelines of a promotional event here.

Asked about the upcoming Australia's tour of India, Waugh said it would be tough series and can go either way.

"India always is a difficult team to beat at home. But they have a few bowling issues. Even Harbhajan Singh had a mixed year and has not been consistent. Well, of course he always gets pumped up against Australia. It would be a tough series," he said.

The former skipper also felt the retirement of so many quality players have stripped Australia off its' invincible aura and they no more have the same intimidating factor.

"They probably have lost their aura. Australia dominated world cricket from 1995 to 2005 but now they no more have the intimidating factor. They are not feared anymore," said Waugh,

"It happens when you lose so many good players in short time. It happened to West Indies, they dominated in the 70s and 80s. Now there are five teams like Australia, South Africa, England, India and Sri Lanka who are at even," Waugh added.

Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan retired recently and Waugh feels even though it would be difficult to emulate him, there is probably some talent waiting to emerge.

"It is difficult to have bowlers like Murali, Shane (Warne) and (Anil) Kumble, all in the same era. They took like 2000 wickets among them. But the game is always bigger than individuals and I believe there is some talent out their ready to pop up anytime," Waugh said.

"There are a couple of spinners who are doing well like Graeme Swann. He has been a steady bowler and last year has been most successful bowler. Harbhajan (Singh) has been good and plays well against Australia. Mendis is also an amazing bowler and he will surely come out of his bad patch," he said.

Waugh, who was here to conduct a school debate competition on 'Commercialisation of Sports', said the Indian Premier League poses a big threat for the youngsters of India.

"It (IPL) is always dangerous for Indian young players because straight away after bursting onto the scene they get endorsements and huge money. This can take away the focus and hunger from the youngsters.

"There is a big responsility on the managers and players to help them keep and maintain a balance or else they would regret 20 years down the line," he said.

Waugh also said he didn't have the time to get engaged in IPL as he was too busy with his other commitments.

"I was approached for the IPL but I could not have given 100 per cent as I am too busy with my charity programmes and business," he said.

Asked if he endorses day and night Tests, Waugh said, "It is better for a few countries. Even in India, the popularity is dwindling so if a few night Tests can help to bring the craze back then its good."

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No faults in 2010 Commonwealth Games stadiums: M S Gill

Published>Wed, Jul 28 10 10:38 PM

New Delhi, July 28 (ANI): Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports M S Gill on Wednesday said that there are no faults in the stadiums designed for the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG).

He complained the media had been wrongly depicting the preparations of the CWG, asserting that nine out of the 13 stadiums are ready for the upcoming event.

"The fact remains these stadiums have no faults, there is no leakage anywhere, and the architecture and engineering is the first time in India even the Public Works Department (PWD) has seen," said Gill.

Gill further said that he has been dedicated to his work since he resumed his office on April 6, 2008, and maintained that he would complete his part of work in time for the CWG.

"I made sure, which was necessary, that all requirements are fully funded in good time. I have seen in my life that projects like any kind in the country, often they linger, they languish, because funding is not there," said Gill.

"In this case, all the funding, whatever increases also, after checking by officers, were given by mid 2009," he added while speaking to the media after the Parliament session of the day.

Earlier in June, Gill had said that the infrastructure for the 2010 games is one of the finest in the world.

The Commonwealth Games 2010 will be held from October 3 to 14 in the national capital.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi is being touted as the biggest international sporting event to be hosted by India since the 1982 Delhi Asian Games.

Its success is being seen as the first step for India to bid for bigger events. (ANI)

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India's hopes on Gowda, Tintu Luka at Asian All-Star meet

Published>Wed, Jul 28 10 10:28 PM

New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) All eyes will be national discuss record holder Vikas Gowda when the Asian All-Star Athletics Meet starts here Thursday at the refurbished Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

The US-based Gowda has been hogging the limelight with his season's best of 63.22m, will India's hope for a gold medal.

In women's shot-put, India's hopes will be on national record holder Seema Antil, who has been struggling.

In women's long jump, India's hopes will be on M.A. Prajusha, Mayookha Johny and Reshmi Bose, who will be facing a tough fight from Uzbekistan's multi-event specialist Tatyana Konichsheva.

Sri Lanka's Asian champion Manjula Kumara Wijesekara will be the star to watch out for in the men's high jump. He will get some tough competition from Kazakhstan's Vitaliy Tsykunov and Asian Indoor Games winner and Doha Asian Games champion Jean-Claude Rabbath of Lebanon.

Indian middle distance star Tintu Luka, a student of the legendary P.T. Usha is a strong bet in the women's 800m. India's Sini Jose will also be among the top draws in the women's 400m.

Indian distance runners Kavita Raut and Preeja Sreedharan look formidable in the women's 5000m.

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