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Happy to win bronze: Sindhu
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Ratchanok outplayed Sindhu totally, says coach Gopichand
Hotspot inventors want bat coverings
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My signature in land deal is forged: Shanbhag
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world
championshiPS Guangzhou, August 10 World number 12 Sindhu, playing in her maiden World Championships, had notched up stunning victories against two Chinese players in the run-up to the semifinals but she failed to out it cross Ratchanok, going down 10-21, 13-21 in a 36-minute women's singles match. Ratchanok mixed her strokes well and moved smoothly across the court. Sindhu, on the other hand, committed too many unforced errors allowing her opponent to move into the interval at 11-4 in the opening game. Ratchanok used her deceptive shots to flummox Sindhu, who struggled in anticipation. The Indian failed to gauge the Thai girl's game and also ended up hitting the shuttle wide and out to allow Ratchanok to move to 19-10. Ratchanok then moved to a 10-point lead with a straight baseline smash and with Sindhu hitting out again, the Thai had the upper-hand after the opening game. Sindhu struggled with her strokes in the second game too as her returns were buried into the net and she also made some judgemental errors as Ratchanok opened up a 8-1 lead early on. A few points at the net saw Sindhu make it 5-10 but another unforced error by the Indian took Ratchanok to 11-5 at the break. Ratchanok was accurate and played some sensational strokes to leave Sindhu without any answer. Sindhu tried to match Ratchanok in the rallies but the Thai girl was always a step ahead with her wide array of strokes. Lin Dan in final The super showdown between Malaysian Lee Chong Wei and China’s Lin Dan is on. On Saturday, Chong Wei came through a titanic battle against Du Pengyu with a 20-22, 21-12, 21-15 win. — Agencies Results Men's singles semis: Lin Dan bt Tien Minh Nguyen 21-17, 21-15; Career Highlights
Bronze, World C’ship-2013 Praise from all quarters I played with Sindhu in this year's Sudirman Cup and she forced me to a decider. Sindhu has speed, height and reach so she is able to cover the whole court quickly. The Indian women's singles players are quite young and on the rise. They are in a position to challenge us. These youngsters have gained experience from national events by playing with experienced players and have progressed day by day. China’s Yihan Wang, world No. 5 It isn't as if she is just suddenly beating Chinese players. My coaches and I did a lot of research on her as preparation. She has long legs and arms and that makes her difficult to deal. World No. 8 Shixian Wang of China Sindhu is okay with fast-paced and attacking game of the Chinese. If Sindhu wants to succeed against Ratchanok, she needs to cope with the Thai girl's tricky and deceptive badminton. Vimal Kumar, former India shuttler
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Happy to win bronze: Sindhu
Guangzhou, August 10 “Actually the World Championship draw was really tough for me because all the good players were there and I knew I had to play really well. I had to play Wang Yihan and Shixian Wang, but I didn't think that I will go on to lose. "I was coming from an injury and missed two tournaments, so I just wanted to give my best, my 100%," she added. Talking about the semifinal match, Sindhu said: "It was tough. She played really well and there were plenty of errors from my side. I want to come back stronger and next time I want to be better," she said. Sindhu, who committed a lot of unforced errors, however, didn't want to blame the drift for her failure. “The drift was there but I don't want to complain because it is common for all. It is there for them too. It is all in the game and how you play that is what matters at the end of the day," said the girl from Hyderabad. “I just followed what Gopi sir had asked me to do. We had gone with a game plan and I am happy I could execute that," she said. Asked how she will deal with the burden of expectations following her bronze medal-winning feat, Sindhu said, “There is nothing like pressure. I hope to go beyond the expectations," she said.
— PTI |
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Ratchanok outplayed Sindhu totally, says coach Gopichand
“Also Sindhu made lot of errors today. With this game Sindhu could not have won the match,” he said analyzing the defeat. In a match lasting barely half-an-hour, the difference between two players was quite obvious World No.3 Intanon hit 12 winners in the first game, while off-colour Sindhu hit just three. The Thai girl had hit seven while the Indian could not come up with one toward the end of the second game. Clearly showing Ratchanok knew what she had to do to keep the giant slayer under check. “Sindhu failed to get off to a good start, something she had been doing consisitently in the tournament. Ratchanok deceptions were exceptional. Sindhu was trifle slow today and could not control the shuttle, resulting in unforced error,” Gopichand said from Guangzhou. Ratchanok gathered most of her points with the forehand smash and entangled the taller Sindhu in the net play. She did not allow Sindhu to hit backcourt smashes, he added. The Indian coach was of the view that there is still a lot of scope in Sindhu’s improvement. However, he was happy with India’s overall performance. “Kashyap played bravely. Sindhu is going to improve with time. In next two-three years you will see her winning big tournaments, the 39- year-old predicted. Ratchanok and Sindhu, both 18-year’s of age,
have been seeing each other progress since their junior days. While Sindhu reached the quarters of the World Junior Championships in 2010 and won a gold in Asian Under-19 championships, Ratchanok is a 3-time World Junior Champion Ratchanok Intanon. “Normally it is Indians who are from a poor background but Intanon comes from a very poor background, His father is a fisherman and has brought up with great hardships since her childhood, a former India junior coach, who has seen her take part in various junior international championships, said. Gopichand said, “It would be interesting to see how both face each other in the coming years. I hope Sindhu gets better than her.” Sindhu’s semifinal appearance in the World Badminton Championship, 2013 will also get her points in the international ranking and she is likely to spring up two to three ranks above her present 12 position in the near future. “She is aiming to make a permanent place in top 10 by the end of this year,” the coach said. |
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world championships
Moscow, August 10 In Daegu two years ago, Jeilan nipped in at the line to deny Farah a first world title but this time he was left watching the Briton’s heels as Farah pulled away to win in 27:21.71. The Ethiopian had to settle for silver in 27:22.23 and Kenya’s Paul Tanui took third in 27:22.61. Hot favourite Farah, competing in his first race over the distance since winning gold at the London Games, looked calm and collected throughout the final on a sultry evening at the Luzhniki stadium. Knowing he could outsprint the opposition, Farah was happy to settle into the pack for most of the race, leaving the Kenyans and Ethiopians to set the pace before making his move on the penultimate lap. The 30-year-old, who plans to defend his 5,000 metres title, moved to the front and began to wind up the pace but there was still a leading group of six at the bell. Farah kicked again and was followed by Jeilan but coming down the home straight the Ethiopian knew he was beaten. Kiplagat first woman to retain marathon title
Earlier, Kenyan Edna Kiplagat defied hot and humid conditions and a brave front-running display from Italian Valeria Straneo to become the first woman to retain the world marathon title. Kiplagat, 33, won the first gold of the Moscow world championships after taking control of the race, winning in 2:25:44. The smooth-striding Kiplagat stalked Straneo, 37, until the 40-kilometre mark after the two other leading protagonists — Japan’s Kayoko Fukushi and Ethiopian Meselech Melkamu dropped off the pace. Straneo, who underwent surgery in 2010 to have her spleen and gall bladder removed, was unable to keep tabs on the leader in the shade of the Olympic Park and took silver in 2:25:58. Fukushi secured bronze in 2:27:45. Kiplagat’s victory made up for a disappointing Olympics last year when she was suffering with flu and finished 20th. Defending champion Hardee out of decathlon Double defending champion Trey Hardee was dumped out of the decathlon, as he no-heighted in a dramatic high-jump competition. Hardee, who triumphed in Berlin and Daegu and took Olympic silver last year, was looking off the pace and went into the high jump, the fourth discipline, in fifth place. With a personal best of 1.99 metres it is among his weaker events but it was still a shock to see him fail three times at 1.90. Fellow American and Olympic champion Ashton Eaton led after three events but managed only 1.99 to slip back to third. His 20-year-old compatriot Gunnar Nixon, who earlier posted a personal best long jump of 7.80 metres, had the best clearance with 2.14 to take the overall lead on 3,611 points. Germany’s Michael Schrader was second on 3,501 with Eaton 3,495. Bolt eases into 100m semis Usain Bolt ignored the false-start distraction by his nearest rival and eased down the straight in 10.07 seconds to earn his passage to the 100 metres semifinals on Sunday. — Reuters
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Ashes-2013 Chester-Le-Street, August 10 The gritty left-handed opener nudged and nurdled his way to 101 not out after a four-wicket burst from Stuart Broad had threatened to put England, bowled out without adding to their overnight total of 238 for nine, on top. Rogers, who turns 36 on Aug. 31, was given good support by Shane Watson (68) as the pair shared a stand of 129 for the fifth wicket on a tricky day for batting. It was Rogers, though, who took the plaudits by becoming the second oldest Australian to hit his first test ton. Arthur Richardson was 37 when he reached three figures against England at Leeds in 1926. Rogers, making only his fifth test appearance, needed a generous helping of good fortune at the Emirates Durham and also suffered several nervous moments in the 90s.Broad, who often blows hot and cold, was in mean and hungry mood and took advantage of overcast skies and a pitch offering extravagant seam movement to remove David Warner (three), Usman Khawaja (nought) and captain Michael Clarke (six). The day began with England's last man James Anderson being hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Jackson Bird. Later the same over Bird ended the innings by bowling Anderson for 16, leaving Tim Bresnan undefeated on 12. It did not take long for England to make inroads at the top of the Australian order.
— Reuters Scoreboard England 1st innings (Overnight 238/9) Bresnan not out 12 Broad c Warner b Harris 3 Swann c Lyon b Harris 13 Anderson b Bird 16 Extras: (b 5, lb 1, w 3, nb 6) 15 Total: (all out; 92 overs) 238 Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-107, 3-149, 4-153, 5-155, 6-189, 7-193, 8-197, 9-214 Bowling Harris 19-3-70-2 Bird 22-9-58-2 Watson 13-6-21-1 Siddle 18-6-41-1 Lyon 20-7-42-4 Australia 1st innings Rogers batting 101 Warner b Broad 3 Khawaja c Prior b Broad 0 Clarke c Cook b Broad 6 Smith c Prior b Bresnan 17 Watson c Prior b Broad 68 Haddin not out 12 Extras: (b 2, lb 11, nb 2) 15 Total: (5 wickets; 61 overs) 222 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-12, 3-49, 4-76 5-205 Bowling Anderson 20-7-54-0 Broad 20-6-48-4 Bresnan 16.4-3-60-1 Swann 15-5-37-0 Trott 3-0-10-0
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Hotspot inventors want bat coverings removed Chester-Le-Street, August 10 Hotspot uses infrared cameras to determine whether the ball has struck the batsman, bat or pad, with any contact supposed to show up as a bright spot on the image. "The type and thickness of the protective coating unquestionably affects the thermal signature of the Hotspot system," BBG Sports said on Saturday. "In layman's terms the protective coating definitely diminishes Hotspot marks. BBG Sports believes that in order to achieve optimum Hotspot results then the removal of protective coating from bat edges needs to occur." Former England captains Michael Vaughan and Alec Stewart described the statement as "embarrassing" and urged BBG Sports managing director Warren Brennan to go back to the drawing board with his system."I played in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s - bat tape and coatings have been around for 30 or 40 years so it's embarrassing for him to suggest it should be banned," Stewart said. “He has openly admitted there is a fault with his system. If you're a cricketer and you have a flaw in your technique you go back to the nets - I suggest he takes his technology back to the nets.” Vaughan doubted whether Hotspot could continue as an aid to test umpires. — Reuters
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My signature in land deal is forged: Shanbhag
Mumbai, August 10 "I am devastated that my name has been dragged unnecessarily in this controversy. I want to put this on record that I have not signed any document on behalf of the BCCI in the purchase of 50 acres of land for National Cricket Academy from KIADB. I believe that any document that has my signature is a forged one," Shanbhag, a real estate agent, said over phone from Bangalore. Asked about his interest in the land deal, Shanbhag said, "My only association in this deal is that I own only 2 acres in the said 50 acres of land. Since I owned a small part in that land, I was requested by BCCI to help them out in procuring the land. That's it." He further added, "The money has been paid to KIADB by BCCI. I believe if BCCI approaches KIADB, they will get back the said amount. Where do I come into the picture when I haven't taken a single penny? My prestige is at stake. I want to clarify that I am not a fugitive. I am very much in Bangalore and contrary to reports in some quarters that I have run away with the money, it's completely false. I have documents to prove that I am completely innocent," said Shanbhag. The BCCI found itself in a soup over a Rs 50 crore land deal for its academy near
Bangalore. — PTI |
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Djoker, Nadal showdown in Rogers Cup
Montreal, August 10 Djokovic beat seventh-seeded Richard Gasquet of France 6-1, 6-2; and the fourth-seeded Rafael Nadal defeated Australian qualifier Marinko Matosevic 6-2, 6-4. Djokovic extended his Rogers Cup winning streak to 13 matches. A Djokovic-Nadal semifinal would normally be the feature act, but for success-starved home fans, it will be the clash of Canadian compatriots Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil that will take most attention. The tournament once called the Canadian Open was guaranteed to have its first home finalist since Robert Bedard in 1958. “It means a lot, not just to us, but to Canadian tennis,” Raonic said. “It’s an opportunity, a great, great moment. At the same time, it’s another tennis match. That doesn’t change.” Pospisil became the first Canadian since Mike Belkin in 1969 to reach the final four of the event when Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko retired due to illness. Pospisil led 3-0 in the first set when Davydenko stopped playing. Raonic rode the spirited support of the center court crowd for a 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-4 victory over Ernests Gulbis, the Latvian who knocked out second-seeded Andy Murray on Thursday.
— Agencies |
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Bayern, Dortmund win league openers with ease
Berlin, August 10 Defending champions Bayern Munich launched their season with a 3-1 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday. The weekend was also marked by controversy as Hoffenheim were denied a Kevin Volland goal in their 2-2 draw against Nuremberg despite replays showing that the ball crossed the line before bouncing out. The incident is bound to raise the issue of goal-line technology in Germany, which the country’s football federation has said it will not use until at least 2015. Gabon international Aubameyang put the visitors ahead with a diving header in the 24th minute and slotted home from the left midway through the second half. The 24-year-old completed his remarkable debut by picking up a superb Robert Lewandowski pass to round Augsburg goalkeeper Mohamed Amsif 11 minutes from time. Poland international Lewandowski, who had wanted to move to Bayern Munich but saw the transfer blocked by his club, got onto the scoresheet himself with an 86th minute penalty.
— Reuters |
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Dufner leads after a record equalling round
Rochester, August 10 Just hours after Webb Simpson thrilled the rain-soaked crowd with a 64, equalling the Oak Hill course record, Dufner went one better, becoming just the 24th player to shoot 63 at one of golf's four major events. His bogey-free round also shot the laid-back American to the top of the leaderboard with a two round total of nine-under 131, giving him a two shot advantage over Australia's Adam Scott (68) and the Americans Matt Kuchar (66) and Jim Furyk (68). Britain's US Open champion Justin Rose (66) and Swede Henrik Stenson (66) will start Saturday's third round one stoke further back at six-under. Tiger Woods, stuck in a five-year major-victory drought, was unable to work his way up the leaderboard, scrapping to a level par 70 to sit 10 strokes behind the leader. While the galleries were electrified by the 36-year-old's composed and masterful display, Dufner was typically blasé, showing not a hint of emotion when his approach at the second spun back into the cup for an eagle or when his approach to the 18th landed 12-feet from the hole. As Dufner walked onto the green sizing up the historic putt, the crowd fell quiet, then groaned when it slowly rolled to halt short of its target.
— Reuters |
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Chandigarh, August 10
