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| SPORTS TRIBUNE |
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Eves
conquer Asia, again
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As two English giants, Manchester United and Chelsea, meet in the Champions League final, a rich footballing experience is on offer. The final will also decide if United get their double or Chelsea their revenge, writes Vaibhav Sharma When
Ryan Giggs scored the winner at the JJB, the veteran scripted the perfect tale of
triumph for his one and only club, Manchester United.
Meanwhile, away in London, Chelsea had the wind knocked out of their sales as Bolton had managed to score and equalise, thereby helping crown United champions by two points.
Sir Alex has seen many ups and downs in his more than illustrious career, from a treble, to seasons without silverware, but the Mancunia have never given up their belief. Fergie braved Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles as well as the Special One’s cash-rich buys. His team this year brushed aside outfits like Roma and the mighty Barcelona on their way to the final and have every reason to believe that this is their year. It has to be the culmnination of all the hardwork and magic that they have displayed throughout the season. A Champions League winners medal has eluded many greats, but this United outfit have a rare chance of moulding their part in greatness. History lies in front of them, and is for the making, the only obstacle is a London-based club, who have perhaps have an even stronger Moscow connection. All in all the first all-English final of the Champions League is bound to break the monotony of Italian and Spanish clubs pipping their English counterparts in Europe’s elite competition in the last decade. Although, on current form, United start as favourites for lifitng the trophy, they definitely kow better than underestimating Chelsea’s potential. This might be the begining of a new era of footballing might for the EPL, which is looking all set to add on-the-field superiority to its vast financial muscle.
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Asha Rawat’s
magnificent 97 helped India beat hosts Sri Lanka, to lift the women’s cricket Asia Cup for the fourth successive time at the Welagedara Stadium in Kurunegala. It was the fourth successive time that the two teams clashed in the final with India having emerged victorious on all four occasions. Electing to bat first after winning the toss, India was helped by a good batting performance by Asha Rawat, who fell short of a well-deserved century, and captain Mithali Raj, who scored a gritty 66 to post a formidable target of 261. However, the Indian bowlers made sure that the Sri Lankan batting line up could not even make a match out of it. The hosts were finally bundled out for a paltry 83 inside the 37th over, with Pujare Seema and Neetu David picking up three wickets each. India started poorly as opener Jaya Sharma failed to open her account and departed in the second over. Rawat then combined well with Kavita Jain to stitch the innings before the latter was out with the score at 75. Mithali then joined Rawat and both of them added a massive partnership to bat the opposition out of the game. Rawat’s 114-ball knock was studded with 12 fours and a six while her skipper hit six fours in her 72-ball essay. The team’s achievement earned them accolades from the Indian President Pratibha Patil who congratulated the Indian women cricket team and their skipper Mithali Raj on winning the Asia Cup. The President was elated at the team’s top performance in the championship for the fourth consecutive year, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesman said. Meanwhile, BCCI President Sharad Pawar also congratulated the team and also announced a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh for each of the 15 members. “I congratulate the women’s cricket team for winning the Asia Cup,” he said in a media statement.
— Agencies
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IN THE NEWS When the IPL auctions had concluded, everyone was bemused at the team from Jaipur and with their ‘ordinary looking’ squad. Shane Warne was appointed the captain and he became the only non-Indian player to lead an IPL team. Warne was believed to be way past his prime and his captaincy skills were untested at the international-level. After starting the League in losing fashion, the Royals bounced back in true style. Warne, who has found new enthusiasm and is cherishing his stint in the sub-continent, has brilliantly captained his men. The stand out performers for the Royals have been the so-called fringe players, whom no one took seriously. Shane Watson, Yusuf Pathan and Swapnil Asnodkar are all talented youngsters who have blossomed at the apt time, adding immensely to the IPL bandwagon. Then there are others like Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Salunkhe and Mohammad Kaif who have made good of their chances. Not to be forgotten are foreign players like Sohail Tanveer, who ran through the Chennai Super Kings’ batting line up to achieve a world record of the best bowling figures in t20 history. With a semi-final berth almost assured, the Royals will be looking to make the most of their remaining matches and also use some players who have been left out till now. And going by the reputation their unknown players have built, we are up for some very exciting times, courtesy the Rajasthan Royals.
— Agencies |
Avram Grant, the unassuming Israeli was a direct Roman Abramovich appointment at Chelsea. Only he can say what it was like to have worked under the constant and ever-looming shadow of English footbal’s most colourful manager in recent times, Jose Mourinho. Grant initially got a lot of flak from the press, the fans and even his own players. Some people even raised questions on his qualifications. But gradually he became the best thing to have happened to a club being dubbed as a billionare’s toy team. He has achieved what Mourinho could never reach; a Champions League final. After seeing their boogey team Liverpool of in a sensational semi-final, Grant will be quietly confident of outwitting english footballs grand old man to do perform, not just a turnaround, but also a miracle in his first year at the helm. 