Colombo, August 5
India’s middle and late order batsmen came up with gritty contributions as the visitors eked out a slender 11-run first innings lead and scalped two quick Sri Lankan wickets to gain a slight upper hand in the third and final cricket Test here today. VVS Laxman (56), Suresh Raina (62), Abhimanyu Mithun (46) and Amit Mishra (40) were the notable performers as India folded up for 436 in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings total of 425. India then returned to remove both the Sri Lankan openers Thilakaratne Dilshan (13) and Tharanga Paranavitana (16) to leave the hosts at 45 for two in 16 overs. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara (12) and night watchman Suraj Randiv were at the crease at close of play on the third day.

Earlier, India lost Virender Sehwag (109) and Sachin Tendulkar (41) in the pre-lunch session but it was the dogged resistence from their tailenders that was largely responsible for the first innings lead. With two days left for the match at the P Sara Oval expected to aid the bowlers, the match appears to be heading for a thrilling finish.

India, trailing the three-match series 0-1, desperately need to win the match to level the series but have the disadvantage of having to bat last on the wearing track. Earlier resuming at 180 for two, India consolidated their position with Sehwag completed his century in style with a four off pacer Lasith Malinga before being dismissed after nine runs.

Sehwag, who consumed 105 balls in his knock of 109 with the help of 19 fours, fell to Malinga caught by Suraj Randiv at mid-off. However, the visitors suffered the first blow when Sachin Tendulkar was out for 41 in the first over of the day.

Tendulkar, who became the most-capped Test cricketer in the match, flashed his bat on an away going delivery off Malinga without much foot movement to be easily taken behind the stumps by Prasanna Jayawardene. Laxman and Raina then took some time to settle down on a sporting P Sara Oval pitch before steadying the visitors' innings to 282 for four at lunch. — PTI 

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka (1st innings): 425

India (1st innings):

Vijay c Mendis b Malinga 14

Sehwag c Welegedara

b Randiv 109

Dravid lbw Mathews 23

Tendulkar c J’rdene

b Malinga 41

Laxman cMahela b Mendis 56

Raina c S’kkara b Mendis 62

Dhoni c J’rdene b Malinga 15

Mithun c Mahela b Randiv 46

Mishra c Dilshan b Randiv 40

Ishant c P’vitana b Randiv 8

Ojha not out 1

Extras (b-6, lb-6, w-1, nb-8) 21

Total (all out, 106.1 overs) 436

Bowling: Malinga 30-3-119-3, Welegedara 15-0-88-0, Mendis 30-4-109-2, Mathews 4-0-13-1, Randiv 25.1-6-80-4, Dilshan 2-0-15-0.

Sri Lanka (2nd innings):

P’vitana c Dhoni b Sehwag 16

Dilshan c Vijay b Sehwag 13

Sangakkara not out 12

Randiv not out 0

Extras (lb-1, w-2, nb-1) 4

Total (two wickets, 16 overs) 45

Bowling: Mithun 3-0-12-0, Ishant 4-1-9-0, Ojha 5-0-12-0, Sehwag 4-0-11-2. 

New Delhi, August 5
Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal's name for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the country's highest sports honour, was approved by the government which today announced the list of all the Arjuna and other award winners for the year 2010. Apart from a medal and citation, Saina will receive a cash prize of Rs 7.5 lakh. She will be conferred the honour by President Pratibha Patil at a function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29.

The entire list of award winners had already come out in the media on July 30, the day the selection committee finalised the names and submitted it to the Sports Ministry which then gives its approval. Former Indian hockey skipper Sandeep Singh and woman cricket captain Jhulan Goswami were among the 15 sportspersons announced by the government for the Arjuna Award for their outstanding achievements during the last one year.

Pugilist Dinesh Kumar, swimmer Rehan Poncha, world's second youngest Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi and Olympian wrestler Rajiv Tomar also figured in the list of Arjuna awardees. The names of the award winners were recommended by the National Sports Awards (Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna and Dhyan Chand) Selection Committee headed by P T Usha when it met in the capital late last month.

Dronacharya Award, the top recognition for coaches in the country, will be conferred on five including L Ibomcha Singh (boxing), Ajay Kumar Bansal (hockey) and Subhash B Aggarwal (billiards and snooker), a Sports Ministry release said.

A K Kutty (athletics) and Captain Chandrup (wrestling) will receive Dronacharya Award for their lifetime contributions.

The Arjuna and Dronacharya awardees will get statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs 5 lakh each, a Sports Ministry release said. World number two Saina has been in red-hot form in the last one year, during which she reached the semifinals of the All-England Super Series in March before winning three successive international titles in June. — PTI 

New Delhi, August 5
After training in the United States for more than two months, ace Indian swimmer Rehan Poncha now hopes to remain injury-free as he gears up for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games this year. Poncha said the exposure-cum-training trip to the University of Southern California, Los Angeles has brighten his medal prospects as he looks to finish in the top-5 bracket in the Commonwealth Games to be held from October 3-14.

“I want to be injury-free before the two big events -- Delhi Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in China. I have been training hard in the US for last four months and it has helped me a lot. I have improved my power output in the water and I am sure of performing well at those events," Poncha told PTI Bhasha from Los Angeles.

“My teammates are all world class swimmers and I have to work extremely hard. I have also been racing a lot here and also preparing for 200 fly and the individual medley events. Indians have a good chance to perform at Delhi CWG and Asian games. It is every sportsman's dream to win medals at international meets and I am no different. I hope to finish in Top-5," said Poncha, who is the proud owner of over 25 international medals.

Poncha, the 'medley man' of Indian swimming for the past decade, said he wants to perform his final practice sessions at the newly-built S P Mukherjee Complex in Delhi, venue for Swimming in Commonwealth Games. “I will be returning to India in the last week of September. Although I would like to do my final preparation in Los Angeles, but if it doesn't work out, then I would certainly like to swim in the new pool at Delhi. Mostly my last week of training will take place there to get used to the pool and surroundings. I would like to practice there for at least a week,” the Olympian said. On being chosen for this year's Arjuna Award, the 25-year-old Bangalorian said, "I am really happy and excited that I got it and that makes me feel like my efforts in the pool are paying rich dividends now. I knew my name had been nominated for the award. Getting it was definitely a possibility but not a certainty. It's a great honour to get it," he said. — PTI

Chandigarh, August 5
It is a little effort, which they claim, in the direction to create harmony between the two arch rivals — India and Pakistan through the tested medium, cricket. On the invitation of Punjab and Haryana Bar Council, a 33-member team of Pakistani lawyers from across the border today arrived in the city with the message of love, peace and harmony.

The advocates of both the country will meet in the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium, where they show their cricketing skills in two T-20 matches, scheduled to be held tomorrow and Saturday at 2.30 pm onwards.

“The objective of the organisation of two T-20 cricket matches is to spread the message that the people of both the countries want peace and love,” said Gurinder Pal Singh, chairman of Punjab and Haryana Bar Council.

As in both the countries, cricket is a religion as well as the most powerful medium to attract all attentions, we decided to invite legal fraternity of Pakistan to play cricket here, said Partap Singh, coordinator of the tournament.

The Pakistani squad comprises the lawyers of various parts of the neighbouring country. “The meeting will provide a chance not only to understand the legal system of each other but also the problems, difficulties, challenges and other aspects related to the legal fraternity of both the countries,” said Gurinder Pal Singh.

The Indian lawyers team: Sandeep Moudgil (skipper), Puneet Bali, Vineet Soni, Harit Sharma, Premjeet Singh Hundal( Chandigarh), Vikas Singh, Kuldeep Parihar (Delhi) Nirpender Singh, Ganesh Sethi (Punjab), Aditya Chaudhary (Supreme court-Delhi), Sunil Gaur (Andhra Pradesh ) Dinesh Tyagi, Zaheer Abbas, Harpreet Hundal (Haryana), Deepak (Madhya Pardesh), Vishvjit Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Pushpinderpal Singh and Kanwar Kailash Chauhan (Haryana).

The Pakistan team: Mumtaz Mustaffa ( Captain ) , Rana Mohhamad, Akram Khan, Sheikh Abdul Gafar, Mohd. Yaar Khan, Ahmer Hussain,Ijjaz Ahmed, Mohd. Jahid, Nawajish Ali Gujjar, Changez Ahmed Khan, Mohd. Javed Pavez,Naim Akhtar Gawah, Naurang Hayat Shahi, Rao Abdul Gaffar, Mohd. Mazhar Leela, Mohd. Akram Malik, Nadim Shahzad, Sardar Kurban Ali, Noor Samand Khan, Faryad Ali Choudhri.

Chandigarh, August 5
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has congratulated Amit Kumar, alias Bittu, of Pahladpur Kidauli village, district Sonepat, for winning a silver medal in 85 kg category of the Asian Sub Junior Wrestling Competition, which is going on at Bangkok. Hooda said he has brought laurels not only to his village, but also to the state and country as a whole.

Amit had qualified for the Asian Sub Junior Wrestling Competition by winning a gold medal in the National Level Wrestling Competition held at Nainital on June 28, 2010. Encouraged by the new sports policy of the Haryana government, Amit started his career as a wrestler from his native village under the supervision of Guru Randhir Singh. Two years ago, he joined Guru Hanuman Akhara, Delhi, after seeking his guru’s permission.

Petaling Jaya, August 5
The Seri Selangor Golf Club bared its fangs on a weather-disrupted day but Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri managed to turn in a creditable even-par 71 to remain inside the cutline during the yet-to-be-completed second round of the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters golf tournament here today. 

On a day when a major chunk of players could not complete their second rounds due to a lightning storm in the early afternoon, Lahiri was the lone Indian to be above the projected cut for weekend. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Woods wont commit!
New York: American World No. 1 golfer Tiger Woods has refused to commit himself to playing for the US in this year's Ryder Cup if selected by captain Corey Pavin. “I’m planning on playing my way into the team,” The Telegraph quoted Woods, as saying. With just two events left in the process that determines the eight automatic qualifiers for the US team, Woods is way behind in the race for the tournament to be held this year at Celtic Manor in Wales in October. — ANI

Kamran needs a break: Latif
Karachi: Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has advised wicket keeper Kamran Akmal to take a break from international cricket and work on his basics in order to prolong his career. “The problem with Kamran is that he is overweight for a keeper and also jaded. He is playing constant cricket and he needs to take a break and comeback afresh,” Latif said. The former wicket keeper said that Kamran has been struggling with his wicketkeeping over the last few series because of which his batting form has also dipped. — ANI

Asif urges for Morgan lesson
London: In form Pakistan pacer Mohammed Asif has urged his team's batsmen to take a lesson from England's Eoin Morgan, who showed great patience and skill to hit his maiden Test century in the first match of the four match series at Tent Bridge. “Morgan played excellently on the first day. He came in under pressure at 118 for four and just left the ball for one hour. Collingwood too took his time. Our batsmen also need to take their time and see off the good bowlers,” Asif said. — ANI

Swann happy at second slip
London: England off spinner Graeme Swann, who bowled just two overs in his team's 354-run victory over Pakistan in the first Test at Trent Bridge, is content with the quiet life on the field. He said: "I'm more than happy to stand at second slip and watch the fast bowlers perform like they did. I’m an inherently lazy person so, if I don't have to bowl very much, then great! Jimmy Anderson was exceptional last week. Now we need to make sure we're on fire again at Edgbaston,” The Sun quoted Swann, as saying. — ANI

‘Chelsea not ready for EPL’
London: Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has said his star players will not be fit for the big kick-off on August 14. The Premier League champions lost their third pre-season game in a row 2-1 to Hamburg. Ancelotti said his World Cup stars are struggling to be ready to face West Brom. “Some players are in good condition but others need more time. The 10 players that only came back to us on July 26 need to have another two weeks of work.” The Sun quoted him, as saying. — ANI

Bopanna-Qureshi in quarters
Washington: Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi advanced to doubles quarter-finals of the ATP Legg Mason classic tournament after a hard earned win over Martin Damm and Oliver Marach here. The Indo-Pak pair laboured to a 7-5 4-6 10-3 win over the Czech-Austrian combination in the first round of the $1,165,500 hard court event. However, Bopanna and Qureshi have a tough job at hand as they will take on second seed Americans Mike and Bob Bryan in the quarter-finals. — PTI