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SA Tour of India
Man U humble Arsenal
‘Young rivals inspire me’
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‘Cleanse sports management’
A saucy book on golf
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India begin favourites: Smith
Nagpur, February 1 “But we have also done well in the past in the subcontinent and would try to play better cricket and beat them. We have been doing well in the last two years and we hope to bring that confidence in this series. India are currently the number one Test team but we hope to take away that status from them in this series,” said the left-hander. Smith said his teammates have fair idea about the conditions awaiting for them in the Test series starting here on Sunday. “The conditions here will also not be easy. There will be low bounce, pitch will turn more and would assist reverse swing. But we also have quality batsmen in our team and it would be a good challenge,” he said. Even though spin remains India’s traditional strength, Smith said his team would not lag far behind in the slow bowling department. “We also have a good spin attack in JP Duminy and Paul Harris. The players have been together for quite sometime now and the results are reflecting in their positive mindset. It is a great opportunity for us knowing that not many teams have tasted series victory in India,” the Protea skipper added. The South African team will play Board President XI in a two-day warm-up match starting here tomorrow and Smith said the game comes as an opportunity for his side to acclimatise with the tricky Indian conditions ahead of the Test series. “We are excited to play the series and we have five days to go. The two-day match will be important as it would be an opportunity to jam and acclimatise ourselves, make our brain work in the right way,” Smith said. No DRS for Test series
MUMBAI: The controversial Decision Review System would not be in use for the India-South Africa Test rubber commencing February 6 in Nagpur. “No, it would not be used,” a BCCI source said about the absence of the DRS that has come under the scanner often whenever it had been used. The second and last Test is scheduled at Kolkata from February 14. This is the fifth successive home Test rubber that the Review System, by which a batting side or fielding side can challenge the on-field umpires’ decision, is not being implemented in India. The DRS was not in use for the three-match rubber held late last year in India against Sri Lanka, which was criticised by visiting team captain Kumar Sangakkara, and it was also absent during the two-Test rubber in Bangladesh. The only occasion the system was used in a series involving India was in Sri Lanka in July-August, 2008. It was also not used during the tours to India by Australia later that year and by England in 2009-end. The DRS was, however, used this summer in Australia, in Test rubbers the home team fought against the West Indies and Pakistan. The DRS, often praised by ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat for minimising wrong umpiring decisions, was also used when South Africa hosted England in a four-match Test rubber held prior to the Proteas’ arrival in India. —
PTI |
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Man U humble Arsenal
London, February 1 Park Ji-sung got the third seven minutes after the interval and Arsenal had only the minor consolation of Thomas Vermaelen’s deflected volley 10 minutes from time. “We delivered a completely off-the-mark performance and that’s why we were well beaten," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “We gave them too much room, we were naive and that’s why we have to stick together and produce a much better performance next Sunday when we go to Chelsea.” Chelsea, who won 2-1 with a late goal at Burnley on Saturday, top the standings on 54 points, one ahead of United and five clear of Arsenal. Chelsea have a game in hand on both rivals and play it against Hull City in midweek. Arsenal went into the United match full of confidence after a 10-game unbeaten run and both sides showed total commitment to attack. Arsenal’s Andrei Arshavin escaped three times down the left but finished poorly on each occasion while Nani looked highly dangerous down the United right. It was the Portuguese winger who made the breakthrough with a brilliant piece of trickery to get past three Arsenal defenders and when he hoisted over a deep cross, Almunia, trying to turn it over the bar, only flapped it into the net. —
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‘Young rivals inspire me’
Melbourne, February 1
He also extended his own record for consecutive Grand Slam semifinals to a staggering 23.
Only a year or so after his star appeared on the wane as he struggled to beat Spaniard Rafael Nadal, Federer is again in a league of his own at the top of world tennis.
Federer said the challengers to his dominance were continuously improving, but that it only inspired him to become a better player. “I feel like obviously I’m being pushed a great deal by the new generation coming up,” he said. “I always feel sort of tennis changes every five years. Because when I came on tour, matches were played very differently. It was more of a bluff game, guys serving well, but there was always a weakness you could go to.” “Today that doesn’t exist any more and I think that’s also thanks to guys like Murray. They’ve made me a better player, because I think this has been one of my finest performances in a long time, or maybe forever.” Despite his impressive start to the year, Federer said he wasn’t eyeing a possible calendar Grand Slam but instead would continue to simply try and win every tournament he plays in. “I won’t just put the entire calendar just around trying to win the calendar Grand Slam,” he said. “It’s something if it happens, it does and it’s great, but it’s not something that’s like my number one goal, not at all. It’s the same as I haven’t put a number on how many Grand Slams I want to try to win. Whatever happens happens.” Federer admitted he struggled with inconsistency early in his career - it took him 17 Grand Slams to win his first title - aid the secret to his success was a combination of talent and hard work. “There’s no secret behind it,” he said. “I mean, definitely a very talented player. I always knew I had something special, but I didn’t know it was like, you know, that crazy.” —
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‘Cleanse sports management’
Chandigarh, February 1 Revolt by hockey players, first by men and then by women players, does not paint the current sports management system well. Randhir has pleaded for transparency in sports management. Randhir Singh, who hails from the princely family of Patiala, is the only International Olympic Committee member from India. Patiala family is credited with playing a pioneer role in introducing and nurturing Olympic movement in the country from the pre-partition days. Randhir Singh’s father, Raja Bhalendra Singh, was one of longest serving presidents of the IOAand also remained an IOC member along with hockey doyen Ashwani Kumar. A great votary of the Olympic movement, Randhir’s two-page letter to all in the sports management of the country - office-bearers and executive council members of the IOA besides presidents and secretary of all National Sports Federations and State Olympic Association - comes at a time when Hockey, is mired in controversies. The Weightlifting Federation has serious problems over the doping cases . Even the Athletic Federation has some organisational problems after the death of Umrao Singh. Though the Federation has clarified and named a former sprinter as the officiating head, the Union Ministry of Sports has issued new guidelines. Just concluded elections of the Handball Federation is an example where a neutral Returning Officer was appointed to over see the process. Both the IOA and the Ministry of Sports also nominated independent observers to oversee the general house meeting where the report of the Returning Officer was ratified and election of Swaran Singh Channy was notified. “These elections have become a bone of contention. We must lay down a proper election process that is completely transparent,” he said. Randhir is also supportive of the idea that the system of seeding of national stars should be introduced. He also wants that former international players and Olympians should be closely associated not only with the selection of national teams but also the selection criteria should be laid down and circulated. “We must rise above petty politics and self-projection. Show the world that Indian Sports Administrators are transparent in their working and above all supportive of their sports persons. We do not need to invent the wheel, the Olympic charter is very clear on the role of the Olympic movement,” concludes Randhir Singh.
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A saucy book on golf
Chandigarh, February 1 His book “On In Four: One Day of Magic and Mayhem on the Golf course,” is not only about golf but also more about people who go around the courses masquerading as golfers. It is about fun and life - and the spirit that breathes in every lover of golf. Westland Ltd, East-West Books and the Tranquebar Press have published it. Four sassy septuagenarians, that are the centre-stage of this book, have a series of miss hits and miscues, each coloured by absurdly high philosophy, low choleric abuse, and tall tales of heroics. Says P Surendra Prasad,” this book is about golf yes, but it’s also about all that adds a lyrical quality to living. I hope, as you move through the chapters of On in Four, you can experience the thrill of a beautifully struck tee shot, hear the songs of the birds on the trees and share the joy of four friends living it up as they only can on the Golf Course.” P. Surendra Prasad besides his success in the corporate field also has the credit of holding the world record for the longest hole in one ever recorded on a Golf Course. After TISCO Prasad shifted to business where he set up two public limited companies. He also spent a number of years in politics working closely with the former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar. He had been the trustee secretary of the Bharat Yatra Trust and continues to be treasurer of Chandrashekhars’ party, the Samajwadi Janta Party. Russi Mody, who had been once employer of P. Surendra Prasad, reveals his mind saying that he often suspected that Prasad spent far more time on the golf course than was appropriate for a senior corporate executive with one of India’s biggest business houses, but had never definite proof of the same. But this book is all the confirmation I need,” comments Russi Mody. He says that the books gives access to the secret world of golf, of golfers and enchanting golf course of Delhi. The thrill of the game, the camaraderie of the players, the bitter competition during the round and ultimately, the unbreakable bond a golfer develops with his fellows come alive in the pages of this fascinating book,” concludes Mody. |
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Nagpur, February 1
Champions Manchester United delivered a devastating statement of Premier League title intent by beating rivals Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. United produced a superb attacking
display.
Swiss champion Roger Federer has put his evergreen form down to the rise of a new generation of young challengers such as his Australian Open final opponent Andy Murray. At the age of 28, Federer believes he played some of his best ever tennis at this year’s Australian Open on his way to a fourth title in Melbourne, and 16th Grand Slam overall.
Chandigarh, February 1
