Stephanie Rice "bursts into tears" while announcing withdrawal from 2010 CWG

Published>Fri, Aug 20 10 12:18 PM

Sydney, Aug 20 (ANI): A teary triple Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice on Friday announced her withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games due to a shoulder injury.

Swimming star Rice has been battling an inflamed right shoulder since winning three gold medals at the Beijing Olympics and had hoped to compete in at least three events in the current Pan Pacific Championships in California before heading for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October.

"Obviously it is a huge disappointment for me, I would have loved to have been there because Commonwealth Games comes around once every four years," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Rice, as saying.

"I have to think of the bigger picture, which is the Olympics to be held in London in 2012," she added.

Rice had originally planned to swim in seven events at the PanPacs Swimming Championship, but had scaled down her schedule back to three because of her shoulder problem.

On Wednesday she swam her first race, the 50-metres butterfly, but failed to make the final. Later in the day, she made the painful decision to opt for arthroscopic surgery rather than competing in the Commonwealth Games.

Rice will undergo an operation soon and then embark on 12 weeks of rehabilitation.

"They have told me rehab is 12 weeks. I guess four weeks out of the water if surgery goes well. I will do cross-training to maintain my fitness while out of the pool," she said. (ANI)

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Butt clears way for Younis'' comeback

Fri, Aug 20 10 12:08 PM

Karachi, Aug 20 (PTI) After Mohammad Yousuf, former captain Younis Khan may join the Pakistan team in England after cricket board (PCB) chairman Ejaz Butt has cleared the way for the senior batsman''s return to the national side. According to sources in the selection committee, Butt has finally given his nod to consider Younis for the final Test against England at Lords and the subsequent one-day series that follows. "The board and selectors should be making an official announcement in next few days about Younis Khan. But if the tour selection committee and selectors in Pakistan agree then he might be flown to England to join the team for the fourth and final Test," one source said. He said Butt had given clearance to Younis after coming under increasing pressure from all quarters as to why the former captain was not being sent to England despite his excellent track record there. Another former skipper Yousuf was also called out of retirement earlier this month to join the team in England on the instructions of the PCB chief. Yousuf appeared in his first Test since February when he took the ground in the ongoing third match against England at the Oval. He also scored a solid 58 to justify his selection in the national team. Both Yousuf and Younis were banned for indefinite periods by PCB in March for indiscipline after the shambolic tour to Australia. Younis appealed against his ban but Yousuf decided to retire from international cricket in protest against the ban. Ironically, while Younis was ignored for selection despite the PCB appellate tribunal lifting his ban in June, Yousuf was called out of retirement to join the team after Pakistan lost the first two Tests to England. Butt had insisted that Younis would have to first apologise for the remarks he and his lawyer made against the board during the hearing which the right-hander simply refused to do. "Butt has changed his stance on Younis after the involvement of other parties and he is now keen to see Younis joining the team in England. The selectors have also been told to get in touch with the former captain," the source said. PTI Cor SSC

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India lose 0-1 to Portuguese club side

Fri, Aug 20 10 11:52 AM

Lisbon, Aug 20 (PTI) India football team went down 0-1 to Portuguese second division side Clube Desportivo de Mafra in their second practice match of the week at the Mafra ground here. Mafra striker Bonifacio scored the only goal of the match in the 52nd minute yesterday, to hand India only their second defeat in the two-month-long training-cum-competition tour of Portugal. Against Marfa, India coach Bob Houghton rested almost all the players who were part of the starting eleven in their convincing 3-1 win over Uniao Desportiva da Serra on Wednesday. India started off with Arindam Bhattacharya in the goal with Deepak Mondal as the right wing back. Mahesh Gawli and Govind Singh took guard of the heart of the defence, while N Mohanraj was given the responsibility of the left flank. The midfield comprised of Steven Dias (on the right), Climax Lawrence and Baldeep Singh (centre) and James Singh (left wing half) while Houghton fielded two new strikers in Mohammed Rafi and Sushil Kumar Singh. Determined not to give an edge, both the teams took a cautious approach which resulted in a goalless opening half. However, after the breather the visitors were taken aback by their opponents as Bonifacio found the back of Indian net in the 52nd minute. India had earlier defeated another second division side Uniao Desportiva da Serra 3-1 on Wednesday with striker Sunil Chettri scoring a double in the match.

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Lochte shines on stellar night for U.S. at Pan Pacs

Published>Fri, Aug 20 10 11:44 AM

World champion Ryan Lochte of the United States delivered the performance of the evening to win the men's 400 metres individual medley at the Pan Pacific Championships on Thursday.

With Michael Phelps having failed to qualify for the final earlier in the day, Lochte swam under world record time for the first two legs of the energy-sapping race before surging home in four minutes, 7.59 seconds.

Compatriot Tyler Clary touched second in 4:09.55 with Brazil's Thiago Pereira third in 4:12.09 at the William Woolett Jr. Aquatics Center.

Lochte, who clinched the world title last year in Rome where Phelps notably skipped the event, began the race with a storming display over the butterfly and backstroke legs before falling off the pace in the breaststroke.

"I just went out fast and tried to hold on for dear life," the 26-year-old told reporters on a night when the United States won seven of 10 finals.

"I'm just going out there, having fun and racing. Whatever the outcome is, I'll take it."

World record holder Phelps failed to qualify from his heat earlier on Thursday after competing in the event for the first time since the 2008 Olympics.

Although the multiple Olympic gold medallist was fourth-fastest in the morning heats, he was beaten by Lochte and Tyler. Only two swimmers from each country were allowed to compete in the eight-man final.

American Nathan Adrian won a close battle for the men's 100 freestyle, powering to the finish in a Pan Pac record time of 48.15 seconds, while compatriot Rebecca Soni produced the third fastest time ever in the women's 100 breaststroke.

"You're putting every ounce of effort you have into that last bit," said Adrian, who was in fourth place at the turn before surging to the front to clock the world's fastest time this year.

Canada's Brent Hayden was second in 48.19 with Brazil's world record holder Cesar Cielo third in 48.48.

"I did a good job of swimming my own race and not letting what everybody else was doing affect me," added Adrian. "It was time for me to step up internationally."

SCRAPED THROUGH

World champion Cesar, who scraped through into the final in lane eight after other countries had reached their two-man limit, led after the first 50 before being overhauled.

"I wasn't thinking about medals," the Brazilian said. "I didn't feel I deserved to be in the final.

Soni held off Australian veteran Liesel Jones in the women's breaststroke with a Pan Pac record time of 1:04.93.

Triple Olympic gold medallist Jones, who put on a strong late surge, was second in 1:05.66 with fellow Australian Sarah Katsoulis third in 1:07.04.

"I couldn't have asked for it to go better," a smiling Soni said. "After the turn, I knew we were right together so I just tried to look in my own lane and sprint to the end."

Japan's quadruple gold medallist Kosuke Kitajima won the men's 100 breaststroke with a time of 59.35 seconds, having also dipped under one minute in the morning heats.

"It was great I was able to swim two races today in under one minute," Kitajima said through an interpreter. "I have been living in LA since last April so I am really happy to win here."

American Natalie Coughlin triumphed in the women's 100 freestyle for a third successive time at the Pan Pacs while Australia's Sophie Edington stormed to victory in the women's 50 backstroke in a meet record time of 27.83 seconds.

The United States capped a highly successful night by winning the men's and women's 4x200 freestyle relays, both of them with Pan Pac record times.

Phelps gave the men's team a healthy lead of 1.46 seconds after the opening leg and Lochte stormed home in the anchor leg to give the United States an overall winning time of 7:03.84.

"For that race, you always want to get in open water," said Phelps. "I got as much space for those guys as I could. I just wanted to separate myself.

"This is our relay team from 2008 and we have always swum well together."

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Wozniacki gets help from dad, Clijsters cruises

Published>Fri, Aug 20 10 11:18 AM

World number two Caroline Wozniacki needed a little advice from dad but Kim Clijsters needed help from no one as she raced into the quarter-finals of the Montreal Cup on Thursday with a 6-2 6-1 demolition of Kaia Kanepi.

Clijsters, back on center court about 15 hours after a testing three-set win over American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, shrugged off the quick turnaround to see off 34th-ranked Kanepi in 55 minutes.

Wozniacki, who lost to Clijsters in last year's U.S. Open final, followed the Belgian onto Stade Uniprix but had to battle stubborn Italian Flavia Pennetta for over two hours before clinching a 4-6 6-3 6-1 victory.

With Pennetta dictating play, Wozniacki called for her coach and father Piotr late in the second set.

After a lively and animated lecture, the Dane returned to the court to wrap up the set then roared through the third, breaking the 15th seeded Italian three times to close out the match.

"He just told me, 'you're playing great but she is too, hang in there and keep your concentration up and don't think you've won the set because she can come back'," Wozniacki told reporters.

Clijsters, who has racked up seven straight wins on North American hardcourts, sent a menacing message to those eyeing her U.S. Open crown with a ruthless performance against Kanepi.

The fifth seed charged out of the blocks in both sets, breaking Kanepi at the first opportunity to take 3-0 leads and never allowing the Estonian a chance to get into the match.

Clijsters has a 21-2 record on hardcourts this season, including her current 13-match winning streak that stretches back to a victory in Miami earlier this spring.

"It's always nice to win a tournament and gradually feel your level improve," said Clijsters, who arrived in Montreal riding the momentum from a victory in Cincinnati.

"When you're down and able to fight back and win matches like last night it's something that is extremely important."

DEMENTIEVA OUSTED

Australia Open semi-finalist Zheng Jie of China delivered the shock of the day ending Elena Dementieva's title defence with a gritty 7-6 6-4 win over the fourth-seeded Russian.

French Open champion and sixth seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy advanced with a 6-4 6-3 win over Russian Dinara Safina.

In a rematch of the San Diego final two weeks ago, Svetlana Kuznetsova, the first Russian woman to win the U.S. Open when she triumphed in 2004, looked to be hitting her stride at the right time battling past seventh seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-4 1-6 6-3.

Wimbledon finalist Vera Zvonareva also continued to find her touch on the hardcourts, the Russian eighth seed breezing into the last eight with a 6-3 6-3 win over Hungary's Agnes Szavay.

Tenth-seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus advanced with 6-3 6-3 win over ninth seed China's Li Na, while France's Marion Bartoli stormed into her third hardcourt quarter-final in four weeks with a 6-0 6-1 thrashing of Czech Iveta Benesova.

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AITA denies players threatening pullout

Fri, Aug 20 10 11:06 AM

New Delhi, Aug. 20 -- The All India Tennis Association dismissed media reports that the star quartet of Mahesh Bhupathi, Leander Paes, Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna has threatened to pull out of the Commonwealth Games due to non-clearance of Davis Cup dues and lack of financial assistance for preparations. According to reports in certain sections of the media, the players wrote to AITA Secretary General Anil Khanna that if their dues were not cleared by September, they will not play in the October 3 to 14 Delhi Games. The letter was reportedly signed by Bhupathi, Paes, Somdev and Bopanna. However, Khanna rubbished the claim. "No player has threatened to pull out of Commonwealth Games. This is all wrong information. There is no issue as far as Davis Cup is concerned. All the dues are cleared. Even the dues of the last tie against Russia have been paid," Khanna said. "Players actually have written specifically that they are satisfied by the Davis Cup arrangements. As far as the assistance for the CWG is concerned, we are in talks with the Sports Ministry and the issue will be resolved soon," he added.

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Akhil lashes out at coach, management

Fri, Aug 20 10 10:52 AM

Patiala, Aug. 20 -- Boxer Akhil Kumar, a medal hope in the Games, is frustrated with the apathetic attitude of the management towards its players and warns it can affect their performance in the mega event. "I am very disappointed with the indifferent attitude of our management. A few days back, I was down with viral fever and I brought it to the notice of our chief coach. But he advised me to take medicines from a private doctor," Akhil told the media.

Chief coach G.S. Sandhu said he will speak to Akhil. "There are many things not under our control but we have to manage. I will again talk to Akhil regarding this matter," a visibly disturbed Sandhu said.

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