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India in Sri Lanka
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Pakistan reduced to 90 for 6
SC to HI: Hold polls, but don’t implement result
Notice of motion to Hockey India
Khel Ratna for Saina Nehwal
Arjuna Award
Brunei Open: Bhullar, Lahiri tied 15th
IOA to amend constitution
India win 6-2 in practice match
Green Games, clean Games
BCCI Working Committee to meet today
Santosh Trophy
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India in Sri Lanka
Colombo, July 30 With little interest left on a dreary last day, the Indians scored a mammoth 707 all out in the first innings, recording their second-highest total ever largely due to a dogged resistance by the last wicket pair of Ishant Sharma (27) and Pragyan Ojha (17). The hosts then scored 129 for three in their second innings before both captains decided to call off play, bringing an end to a dull Test completely dominated by the bastmen with just 17 wickets falling. The drawn result meant that India retained their number one position in the ICC’s Test rankings as the hosts needed to win the match to dislodge the visitors from top of the table. The third and final Test will begin at the P Sara Oval here from August 3 with the hosts leading the series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Galle by ten wickets. The track at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground, which came in from much flak, hardly gave any assistance to the bowlers which made life extremely easy for the batsmen as was evident with as two double centuries and three centuries being scored. Resuming at 669 for nine, Sharma and Ojha almost survived the opening session of the final day as India’s first innings folded for 707 about 15 minutes from the break. India bettered its highest total abroad by two runs as they had made 705 against Australia in Sydney in 2004. It was also India’s second highest total, the highest being 726 for 9 declared against the same opponents in Mumbai last year. Sharma and Ojha shared the longest tenth-wicket partnership for India in terms of balls faced by number 10 and 11 batsmen as they resisted for 174 balls. They bettered their own mark of 92 balls at Galle during the first Test. Paceman Dilhara Fernando ended Sri Lanka’s agonising wait when he had Sharma caught at gully by Kumar Sangakkara. Sharma’s 27 runs came off 117 balls with the help of a boundary, while Ojha consumed 92 balls for his unbeaten 17 and helped himself with one boundary. Ojha survived a couple of leg before appeals from Ajantha Mendis and took a sharp blow on the helmet off Dammika Prasad in his defiant knock. Sharma played with confidence and straight bat until he played an uppish cut off Fernando and found Sangakkara at gully. Sri Lanka, who trailed by 65 runs, lost Tharanga Paranavitana (34), Tillakaratne Dilshan (14) and Mahela Jayawardene (5) in the post lunch session. Abhimanyu Mithun drew first blood by having Dilshan caught at short mid-wicket and then Laxman caught Paranavitana in the slip cordon off Harbhajan Singh.
— PTI Scoreboard SL (1st innings): 642/4 decl India (1st innings): 707 SL (2nd innings): Paranavitana c Laxman b Harbhajan 34 Dilshan c Ishant b Mithun 14 Sangakkara not out 30 Mahela lbw b Sehwag 5 Samaraweera not out 0 Extras: (lb-8, nb-7) 15 Total (3 wkts, 32 overs) 98 Bowling: Mithun 6-1-17-1, Ishant 4-0-31-0, Sehwag 7-1-15-1, Harbhajan 9-0-24-1, Ojha 6-4-3-0.
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Dhoni slams lifeless SSC pitch
Colombo, July 30 Sri Lanka piled up 642 declared before India replied in similar fashion to post 707 on the board in a rather disappointing track that offered nothing to the bowlers. “If not for the fast bowlers, at least for the spinners we can make Test cricket interesting. It doesn’t have to be bouncy. In this game, it was all about batsmen and bowlers were just getting wacked all over the park,” Dhoni said. Dhoni’s opposite number Kumar Sangakkara too felt the bowlers were made to work very hard by the pitch. “It was not easy, like MS said it was hard work for bowlers, but I am very impressed with our bowling. We were always trying to attack and gave India a tough time,” said the Lankan captain. Dhoni said he never thought of making the proceedings any interesting by declaring while still trailing by 100-odd runs. “If the opponent scores 600 odd runs, I think we did well in the way we responded but we should have scored 50 more runs. At the end of the day I am quite happy. For the first time in the series, we bowled second with a lot of wear and tear and the bowlers performed well. “We were 100 odd runs behind and had we allowed the Lankans to bat they would have got 300 plus and they could have gone for an outright win. We also thought of giving our bowlers some rest,” he said. Sangakkara, meanwhile, hoped the next match would be more interesting but said his team would not think about the number one Test ranking which would go the hosts’ way if they win the series 2-0, having already clinched the opening match. “There is a bit of a way to go before that. We have to concentrate on playing well. Work on our fielding. A half chance on a track like this is tough and we have to grab such chances,” he said.
— PTI |
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Pakistan reduced to 90 for 6
Nottingham, July 30 Pakistan trailed by 264 runs at the break and needed 65 to avoid the follow-on, in front of a sold-out crowd that had witnessed 12 wickets for 113 runs in a pulsating day where ball dominated bat. England had earlier lost their last six wickets for 17 runs but still were able to post a competitive first-innings total of 354 as Mohammad Asif claimed five for 77 after some accurate out-swing bowling. Eoin Morgan made 130 and Paul Collingwood 82. Pakistan, seeking to avenge their 3-0 series loss in England in 2006, started badly by losing their captain and most dependable batsman Salman Butt before lunch, caught behind for one.
— Reuters Scoreboard England (1st innings) (overnight 331-4)
Strauss c Kamran b Aamer 45 Cook c Farhat b Aamer 8 Trott lbw Aamer 38 Pietersen b Asif 9 Collingwood lbw Asif 82 Morgan lbw Asif 130 Prior run out 6 Swann lbw Asif 2 Broad b Gul 3 Anderson lbw Asif 0 Finn not out 0 Extras: (b-5, lb-14, w-5, nb-7) 31 Total (all out; 104.1 overs) 354 Bowling: Aamer 24-7-41-3, Asif 27-9-77-5, Gul 18.1-5-61-1, Kaneria 21-0-100-0, Malik 11-2-39-0, Ali 1-0-9-0, Amin 1-0-3-0, Farhat 1-0-5-0. Pakistan (1st innings): Farhat b Anderson 19 Butt c Prior b Anderson 1 Azhar c Prior b Anderson 14 Amin c Swann b Finn 2 Umar c Swann b Finn 4 Malik not out 26 Kamran c Collingwood b Finn 0 Aamer not out 22 Extras: (b-1, lb-1) 2 Total: (6 wickets; 35 overs) 90 Bowling: Anderson 13-6-21-3, Broad 13-3-43-0, Finn 7-2-12-3, Swann 2-1-12-0. |
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SC to HI: Hold polls, but don’t implement result
New Delhi, July 30 “We grant liberty to the petitioner to conduct its own elections, but the result of the same is not be implemented till the petitions are considered and decided by this court” and the HCs, a Bench comprising Justices Altamas Kabir and AK Patnaik ruled. Hockey India had scheduled the elections for July 28 to meet the July 31 deadline set by the FIH, but these were stayed by the Bombay HC on a petition filed by a Maharashtra hockey unit and by the Delhi HC on a plea by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF). Acknowledging the need for deciding the disputes early in view of the coming Commonwealth Games and other international events, the SC directed the two HCs to hear and dispose of the cases “expeditiously”. The SC Bench would take up Hockey India’s petition for final disposal on August 19. “Having regard to the participation of the Indian hockey teams, both men and women, in the international sports arena as well as in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, this SLP and the other petitions in Bombay and Delhi High Courts may be heard and disposed of expeditiously,” the Bench said in its order, passed after senior counsel Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for HI, mentioned the matter seeking early hearing. The Bench also issued notice to IHF, the Centre and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The IOA informed the court that it was taking a neutral stand in the matter. Nevertheless, its counsel Indu Malhotra said HI was the only body recognised by the FIH and unless the HI elections were held, India would be out of all international hockey tournaments. The IHF said it had not sought a stay on the HI elections. However, HI had obtained affiliation from the FIH through misrepresentation of facts. HI had come into being on May 20, 2009 while the affiliation had been granted in 2008. Also, HI was not recognised by the Central government. Rohtagi contended that there was an attempt to “jeopardise” HI’s affiliation with FIH and thereby its status as a national hockey body. Earlier, IHF had been de-affiliated by the FIH, he said. Setting aside the operation of the HCs’ stay orders, the apex court clarified that it was also not ignoring the “wider ramifications of the entire matter”. |
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Notice of motion to Hockey India Chandigarh, July 30 In the petition, the association has sought the quashing of the minutes of meeting dated November 30, 2009, whereby Hockey India has “illegally and arbitrarily” granted affiliation to Hockey Haryana. Describing it as “illegal and arbitrarily formed body”, the petitioner alleged its formation was “in utter violation of the instructions issued by the Union of India.
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Khel Ratna for Saina Nehwal
National sports awards (Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna and Dhyan Chand) selection committee headed by PT Usha met here today and decided to bestow the Khel Ratna on Saina after considering her brilliant performance in the last one year. The world number two Indian has been in red-hot form in the last one year, where she reached the semifinals of the All England Super Series in March before winning three successive titles in June. “I am really happy. It’s unbelievable, a dream come true for me to get another within one year. National awards gives you a lot of motivation and it definitely has inspired me to achieve bigger glories for my country,” Saina said. “I have done well in the last two years and the three titles that I won recently have really boosted my confidence. I am now preparing for the World Championship and I hope to win the title,” she added. Saina was awarded the Arjuna Award last year and recently she was chosen as one of the six brand ambassador for the Commonwealth Games which will be held here from October 3-14. National coach and her mentor Pullela Gopichand also heaped praise on his protege and said it was the result of her hard work that she achieved the award. “Its really a great news. She deserves the award. She had a fantastic last two years and she has put a lot of hard work and the sort of believe she has on herself, I’m confident she will achieve much more in her career,” Gopichand said. Gopichand said next month’s World badminton Championship would be a test for Saina as it would decide if she can reach the numero uno status. “She is world number two now and the number one status will depend on her feat in the World Championship because, the other two important tournaments like Commonwealth Games and Asian Games unfortunately doesn’t count in ranking,” he said. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award was given jointly to the trio of Olympic bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh, wrestler Sushil Kumar and four-time World champion woman pugilist MC Mary Kom last year.
— PTI |
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Arjuna Award
The selection committee will now submit the names to the government which will formally announce the list in the next few days. Generally, the names submitted by the committee is approved but the Sports Ministry can make changes. Drag flicker Sandeep was in a red-hot form in India’s recent hockey tour of Europe, while seasoned pace-woman Jhulan is currently heading the bowling list of International Cricket Council’s ODI Women’s Rankings. Pugilist Dinesh, who entered the quarterfinal of the World Championships in Moscow last year, will defend the Commonwealth Games title when the Capital hosts the show-piece sporting event from October 3-14. Woman hockey player Jasjeet Kaur is also in the Arjuna Awards list. According to sources, national record holder in 400m hurdles Joseph Abraham and discus thrower Krishna Punia, who is also a Commonwealth Games medal prospect, were in the 15-strong list. The second youngest Grandmaster in the world, Parimarjan Negi and Olympian wrestler Rajiv Tomar figured in the list for the Award, which carries cash prize, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll. Swimmer Rehan Poncha, who would be India’s bet for a medal in Delhi Games, was also nominated for the honour. Footballers Sunil Chhetri, who is currently waiting for his Major League Soccer debut for the Kansas City Wizard in the United States, and Deepak Mondal were the two footballers in the list. In shooting, Sanjeev Rajput would receive the award. Other sportspersons who are tipped to get the award are spiker Kapil Dev, Kabbadi player Dinesh Kumar and para-Olympian Jagseer Singh. President Pratibha Patil will give away the awards at a function in Rashtrapathi Bhawan on August 29.
— PTI |
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Brunei Open: Bhullar, Lahiri tied 15th
Brunei, July 30 Bhullar and Lahiri have totals of five-under 137s. A 10th tee starter, Bhullar's hole-in-one on the par-three 14th hole helped him make the turn four-under after a flawless back-nine that also included one birdie. He let it slip slightly in the front nine bartering two birdies for an equal number of bogeys. “My round could have been better. I was hitting my approach shots pretty close and missed a few return putts. Apart from that, I had a good round and I’m looking forward to the weekend,” said the young golfer who was among the five Indians to make the cut at the event. Bhullar said he never thought he could pull off a hole-in-one after missing so many in the past few years. “My hole-in-one was my first ever in a professional tournament. I missed so many by a fraction in the past and it was an amazing feeling to finally get an ace! I had two hole-in-ones previously but never in a professional tournament,” he said. “I hit my five iron to 210 yards and my ball landed six feet short of the hole and rolled in. It was a tough hole and it was quite surprising. I couldn't imagine I had a hole-in-one. In the last few years I missed so many hole-in-ones and I had a mental block,” he added. Lahiri’s 67, meanwhile, was studded with six birdies against just a couple of bogeys. Among other Indians, Gurki Shergill (72) was four-under 134 overall which earned him a share of the 20th spot. C Muniyappa carded a second successive 70 to total two-under 140 and lie tied 37th. Himmat Rai followed him a stroke behind at tied 48th after carding a 68 today. The cut came at even-par 142 and the Indians who fell by the wayside included, Mandeo Pathania, who ended with a total of 145 despite turning in an improved 69. Amandeep Johl, Digvijay Singh, Rahil Gangjee and Baaz Mann were the others who failed to make the cut for weekend action.
— PTI |
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IOA to amend constitution
New Delhi, July 30 The IOC has directed the IOA to give voting rights to National Federations and debar the rights of state Olympic committees. The IOC also wants the IOA to conduct the polls with secret ballots to ensure free and fair polls. its communication, the IOC has asked the IOA to convene a General Assembly and adopt the recommendations, which pertain mainly to the composition of National Olympic Committees but does not mention the government’s guidelines on term limitation and cap on age for the office bearers. The move will surely give some sleepless nights to IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi, who called a hurriedly-arranged meeting of Sports Federations presidents to discuss the ramification of the proposed amendment. “Over the years, the IOA has practiced a structure where it gave two votes to the state Olympic committee to garner and create artificial majority for its elections. These votes are easily purchasable so as to affect good governance,” said an IOA official on condition of anonimity. The IOC has also asked the IOA to create a Court of Arbitration and form an Ethics Commission to go into complaints against all office bearers, including president. The Indian body has also been directed to constitute an Athletes Commission, comprising two members, who have the experience of playing in the last three Olympics. Presently, the IOA doesn’t have any athletes on board as demanded by the Olympic charter, either in the executive or the General Assembly. The IOC sprang into action after the government sent two officials, including its joint secretary Injeti Srinivas, to the headquarters at Lausanne to convince the governing body that its age-limitation guidelines do not impinge upon the autonomy of IOA.
— PTI |
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India win 6-2 in practice match
India made two changes in the starting XI which beat Desportivo das Caldas 4-1 in their first practice match with Subrata Pal making way for Subhasish Roy Choudhury while Clifford Miranda replaced injured Steven Dias. It was Desportivo Monsanto who took a surprise lead in the 17th minute, but Renedy Singh brought India back on track scoring from the spot three minutes later after one of the defenders of the local side handled the ball inside the box.
— PTI |
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Green Games, clean Games
New Delhi, July 30 Delhi will have the honour of hosting the first-ever Green Commonwealth Games as the Green Games campaign aims to encourage eco-friendly practices. The campaign, introduced by the Organising Committee in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is being conceptualised and executed with the help of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Chairman of the Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi said, “We are committed towards preserving and restoring environment by establishing low carbon benchmark for the Commonwealth Games, along with creating a sustainable legacy for Delhi, and the country to be a role model for the rest of the world”. He said over seven lakh saplings were being planted along the Queen’s Baton Relay route and in Delhi. “We are delighted to have the UNDP and the Ministry of Environment and Forests as our partners to make the Games a green success,” Kalmadi added. |
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BCCI Working Committee to meet today
Mumbai, July 30 Last year, the BCCI came to the rescue of the All India Football Federation to assist it in prepararing the Indian squad for the upcoming Asian Cup, for which the team has qualified after almost a quarter century, and granted AIFF Rs 25 crore for this specific purpose.
— PTI |
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Santosh Trophy
Kolkata, July 30 The winners and runners-up of the group will make the semi-final cut. In the first match of the day at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan here, 29 times champions Bengal came back from behind through a Jayanta Sen strike late into the second-half to hold Delhi 1-1.
— PTI |
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New Delhi, July 30
New Delhi, July 30
New Delhi, July 30
