New Delhi, December 10
South Korea scored two goals in two minutes to force a 3-3 draw with India, knocking India out of the Junior World Cup here tonight. India needed an outright win to qualify, but the draw meant that the Koreans went through to the quarters instead on goal-difference.

South Korea captain scored a hat-trick of goals, the last two coming in the 58th and 60th minute, which neutralised India's 3-1 lead.

For India, Gurjinder Singh scored twice off penalty-corners while the third goal was scored by off a deflection by Mandeep Singh.

India had started stronger, earning a penalty-corner in the third minute, but it was saved by the Korean defence. India earned another penalty-corner in the 12th minutes, but Gurjinder Singh missed the opportunity.

South Korea went ahead when, off a penalty-corner, You Seungju sent the ball in and India trailed 0-1 after 17 minutes. The Indians needed to score at least two to win, but when they pressed into the attack, they were being easily foiled by the Koreans.

India got three penalty-corners in five minutes towards the end of the first-half, and this changed the complexion of the match. The first was taken by Prabhdeep Singh, whose powerful shot was barely wide of the target.

The second, in the 33rd minute, brought India the equaliser when Gurjinder slammed the ball in to make it 1-1. Then, just as the hooter sounded, India earned another penalty corner. Imran pushed the ball, and Gurjinder struck another powerful shot, to the left of the goalkeeper, and India were 2-1 ahead.

The Koreans came out attacking in the second half, the ball was in India's half for long spells, and the Indians had to defend with tenacity. India were awarded a penalty-corner after the TV referral in the 44th minute, and Gurjinder's shot was deflected out by the Korean goalkeeper.

India scored the third goal a minute later when Ramandeep and Satbir Singh made a fine move, and Mandeep was in the right position to deflect the ball in. 

A disappointed India coach Greg Clark rued that his wards “gave away” the match. “Definitely, we gave it away when you are 3-1 up. I don't think Korea played that well. We gave them lot of soft turnovers. We could have controlled the game a bit more,” a visibly disappointed Clark said. “We turned the ball over too cheaply. We did not take our chances when they came and we paid the price for it.” The Indians were also guilty of wasting too many scoring opportunities and Clark conceded that a lot of work needs to be done in the forward line. “Yeah, together with the technical skill of finishing there also comes the mental ability to keep your mind clear and calm. So that's certainly an area we need to work on,” he said. “I think we made a lot of interceptions in the first half. But I think we rushed the ball on quite a few occasions.” 

Results

Germany bt Egypt 6-0

Belgium draw with Pakistan 2-2

 Malaysia bt England 4-2

South Korea draw with India 3-3 

CENTURION, December 10
Having conceded the ODI series with humiliating back-to-back defeats, India will aim to salvage some pride by winning the third one-dayer against South Africa here tomorrow, in order to gain confidence ahead of the two-Test series.

It will be redemption time for MS Dhoni's men at the Super Sport Park after two embarrassing losses which also exposed the famed batting line-up's inability to cope with pace and bounce.

India suffered a 141-run rout in the first ODI at Wanderers and then another 136-run defeat in the second ODI at Kingsmead. A contest that started with questions about the visitors' bowling line-up has turned into an uncomfortable one about their young batting order.

That aptly describes India's journey from Johannesburg to Durban, and back. In the first ODI, a poor bowling performance was enough to absolve the batsmen of not standing up to some superb South African bowling.

In the second ODI, those excuses vaporized, given that the pitch was considerably slower. Yet the results were alarmingly similar.

While the 359-run chase was never on, 281 was a more probable target. Dale Steyn's opening spell in both the ODIs left India in the lurch, and by the time he finished his first five overs on each occasion, the contests were as good as over.

It highlights the fire in Steyn's belly at the moment, and his desire to do well against a batting line-up that until now was riding high on confidence and self-belief. That bit has now been wiped off by some sensational fast bowling. It also reflects on how top-heavy this Indian batting has become. Ahead of the series, it was a celebratory fact that Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, each of them had a thousand runs in ODIs this calendar year.

SA conditions not a problem for us: Rohit

Putting up a brave face, Rohit Sharma said the South African conditions were not a problem for his side's batsmen and the fault lay mainly in the lack of big partnerships, which he said has resulted in the visitors already losing the three-match series after back-to-back defeats. “Last game in Durban, the conditions were pretty much similar to what we get in India. There was a bit of bounce, but as a batsman you need to understand that you are playing in South Africa. It is really up to each individual how they tackle it, understand their game and adjust accordingly and know what shots to be played on these kind of pitches,” said Rohit at the match-eve press conference ahead of the third and final ODI on Wednesday. — PTI

Jacques Kallis rested

South Africa have decided to rest Jacques Kallis for the third match, but a decision to sit out Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel is yet to be taken. — PTI

SQUAD

 INDIA: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers (c), Jacques Kallis, David Miller, JP Duminy, Ryan McLaren, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

LIVE ON TEN CRICKET 5 PM

New Delhi, December 10
Clean Sports India (CSI) on Tuesday alleged that the IOA`s decision to amend its constitution to bar charge-framed persons from contesting its elections was a complete eyewash.

CSI president Ashwini Nachappa said the amended Constitution gives tainted officials an opportunity to return to their posts after securing clean chits from the body’s ethics commission.

“IOA is trying make IOC believe that they have followed the ultimatum of the IOC and the two tainted office bearers will be removed as a direct impact. However, by referring the case to the IOA’s very own Ethics commission that can give a clean chit to tainted members using the representation of peoples` act, it seems that this clause is ineffective," Nachappa, an Olympian, said.

The newly added clause said: “Where charges have been framed by any court in India, in respect of an offence which is of serious nature under IPC/Prevention of Corruption Act in which punishment of imprisonment of more than 2 years is prescribed then the member/office bearer/member of executive council of IOA will resign immediately, and if not, they will be provisionally suspended and will not be eligible to contest in elections and the case will be referred to IOA Ethics Commission for further guidance”.

Nachappa said the last sentence of the clause made it clear that IOA had no intention to clean up sports administration in the country.” ....It is quite clear that the current general body of the IOA is still standing by the tainted duo who may even decide to nominate proxy candidates for the next election,” she said. — PTI

kUALA LUMPUR, December 10
Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal has been clubbed with Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China in the same group after the BWF Super Series Finals draws were announced at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium here Tuesday.

Japan's Minatsu Mitani and Yeon Ju Bae of South Korea are the other players in Group B besides Saina, who is seeded second, and Xuerui. China's Shixian Wang, Thai Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, South Korean Ji Hyun Sung and Chinese Taipei`s Tzu Ying Tai are in Group A of the year-ending $500,000 showpiece event.

The top two from each group will progress to the semifinals. Saina has maintained the No.2 position in the Super Series rankings, enabling her to qualify for the Dec 11-15 tournament. — PTI

Adelaide, December 10
Darren Lehmann identified three priorities for Australian cricket when he was parachuted in as national coach after Mickey Arthur’s shock sacking on the eve of the summer Ashes campaign.

They were simple goals – to win, win and win.

The first two were ticked off when England were crushed at The Gabba and Adelaide Oval while the third could be achieved at The Waca in a week’s time. ehmann also promised that his team would play “aggressive cricket that entertains people but gets the job done on the field”. The emphasis was on aggression, particularly with ball and mouth in the traditional Australian manner, but it was a formula that has been followed with discipline, passion and absolute commitment to the letter in this series.

Lehmann’s fingerprints are all over Australia’s revival. England appear to be a team suffering shellshock against the muscle and menace of prime weapon Mitchell Johnson, but it is Lehmann’s influence, even more than the paceman’s potency, that has reversed the momentum from earlier in the year. The two, of course, are intricately linked. Far from the tense environment that existed in Arthur’s final days during the shambolic India tour, with players constricted by bureaucratic requirements and disillusioned by erratic selections, Lehmann has released the shackles binding his charges.

Beers are back in the changing rooms after play, albeit in moderation, while individuals are encouraged to express themselves in free and frank fashion. Michael Clarke and Shane Watson are not likely to be on each other’s Christmas card lists but their working relationship is as healthy as it has ever been.

Arthur may have been the right man at the wrong time, whose South African heritage saw him run foul of the baggy green cohort, who still wield enormous influence, through television commentary booths and board tables, in Australian cricket.

Nonetheless, Lehmann appears the right man at the right time, who has established a strong rapport with Clarke and found the right buttons to press to allow Johnson to combine relaxation and intense danger. Think of a big cat waiting for a meal to present itself and you have an idea of Johnson’s renewed state of mind.

Other players, like doughty opener Chris Rogers, were identified to fill specific roles under the previous regime but have maintained a niche under the new.

Clarke twisted himself into circles with his explanation for Australia’s revival but he had no doubts that Johnson’s renaissance is an effect of the new environment rather than a cause. “It is very simple,” Clarke explained. “It is hard work. The boys’ preparation has been outstanding. It was all through England and has been the whole summer.”

— The Independent

Jaipur, December 10
Jaipur, December 10
Uncertainty over Lalit Modi contesting the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) elections later this month ended on Tuesday with his legal counsel Mehmood Abdi confirming that the former IPL commissioner will fight the polls. 

Abdi said that the former RCA President will fight for the top post once again, thereby throwing a gauntlet at the BCCI, who has banned him for life in all cricket matters in India.

“He is all set to fight the RCA elections, which would be held on December 19. He is willing to challenge the BCCI who has banned him for life,” Abdi, who is also the president of the Sri Ganganagar District Association, said. Abdi also insisted that there was no legal tangle and Modi was entitled to fight the elections.

“His name is already on the eligibility list as president of the Nagpur District Cricket Association and moreover Rajasthan is governed by the Sports Act 2005. The date for nominations is from December 14 to 16 and Modi would file his nomination in time," he said. Abdi, as the spokesman of Modi group, also clarified that the group has no reservation or aversion to certain individuals.

“Everybody whosoever is interested in the development of the cricket in Rajasthan is welcome to join and vote for Lalit Modi in the forthcoming RCA elections. We are confident of overwhelming support from district cricket associations.” Modi's loyalists met on Monday and claimed the presence of 19 district units. The shift in power in state has resulted in many of the C P Joshi loyalists deserting him. 

“Joshi had ignored cricket in Rajasthan. The game has taken a beating in the state. Joshi has not done anything for the game. I was hoping as a federal minister he (Joshi) would have done a lot but I am disappointed. We had worked very, very hard and it is about time we start getting our act together,” Modi had stated earlier.

Mansa, December 10
For the Pakistan women’s kabaddi team, the real fight was never in the arena against the opponents. The real fight started a month ago when this gutsy group came together to bust a sensitive male bastion in the conservative society of Pakistan.

Whatever their fate is in the 4th World Cup Kabaddi championship, they have already won the bigger fight: freedom to choose their career in Pakistan, where threats from Taliban and the shackles of the society stand in the way of empowerment.

A month back, 40 girls took it upon themselves to fight the orthodox perception in Pakistan that girls can't and shouldn't play kabaddi. Fourteen of those girls are now in India, playing in the World Cup. During its maiden entry into the tournament, this motley group of university students, athletes, weightlifters and basketball and handball players wants to leave a mark on the memory of sport lovers both in Punjab and the Punjab province in Pakistan, and prove that their fight to garner support for their choice of sport was worthwhile.

"We faced criticism but the supporters outnumbered the detractors. We had to address the concerns of the people in Pakistan. They argued that kabaddi – a contact sport – was for men. They also raised an objection to the outfit and argued that they wouldn't allow girls of their land to wear short clothes and play in front of huge crowds. We explained to them that we worried about our culture just as much as they did," said the captain, Madiha Latif.

"Our coach Ghulam Abbas Butt trained us for a month. We also watched videos of kabaddi matches online and learnt the tricks of the game. Pakistan men’s team also supported us a lot and taught us a lot about the game," the players said.

"All the players of the team belong to the Punjab province in Pakistan. Our language and attire are common. Being in Punjab, India, doesn't make us feel out of place," said the players.

Mansa :Pakistan women gave a fitting reply to all their detractors as they outclassed Mexico 49-24 to secure a semifinal spot in the 4th World Cup Kabaddi.

Both the teams got vociferous support at the packed Nehru Memorial Sports Stadium in Mansa. And the debutants Pakistan thrived in the support to win big and set up a semifinal clash against the experienced Indian women.

England men also secured a berth in the semifinals by beating Canada 44-36. England will play the favourites India in the semifinal on Wednesday.

In another match, US men’s team trampled Argentina 63-39 to enter the semifinals, where they will face Pakistan.

Earlier, Denmark men’s team started the proceedings for the day with a 56-44 win over Scotland. Denmark’s Emile Friz was the top scorer with 12 points. For Scotland, George Daniel and Laem Adam scored 10 points each.

Results

Pakistan bt Mexico (W) 49-24

England bt Canada (M) 44-36

USA bt Argentina (M) 63-39

Denmark bt Scotland (M) 56-44

Today (Semis)

India vs England (M)

Pakistan vs USA (M)

India vs Pakistan (W)

Denmark vs New Zealand (W)

Time: 5 pm onwards at Bathinda

Barcelona, December 10
The key to Barcelona beating Celtic in Champions League Group C will be quick circulation of the ball in attack, the Spanish club's coach Tata Martino said on Tuesday.

The Catalan side need a point to finish top of Group H after they lost at Ajax in their last match and the pressure is on after they followed that up with defeat by Athletic Bilbao in La Liga. AC Milan are second on eight points and the Italians play Ajax who are point further back.

"It is very important for us to finish first and I don't think any games are easy," Martino said. "Every match has consequences and we need now to be precise and quick on the ball going forward. I imagine most of the game will be squeezed into 30 or 40 metres of the pitch. We need to be well organised as well so as not to be caught on the counter by Celtic who are capable of quick breaks."

Barca's form has been affected by injuries and Atletico Madrid have drawn level with them at the top of La Liga but while Lionel Messi, Victor Valdes and Dani Alves are still in the treatment room, the list of absentees is diminishing.

Xavi and Andres Iniesta have both been given the all-clear to face Celtic as has Cristian Tello but they will be without the suspended Cesc Fabregas. "There have been games where I have thought we have been close to the level I am looking for and others not. We need to have more consistency and then will play our best. The match against Ajax was a step back for us," said Martino.

Neymar again leads the attack against Celtic in the absence of Messi who will not be available until after Christmas. — Reuters

Gurdaspur, December 10
Karate exponent Komal Eknoor Singh, 15, is becoming a bit of a rage here in Gurdaspur.

After winning medals in meets in Thailand, the pony-tailed Komal, brimming with the youthful exuberance one normally associates with a girl her age, finally catapulted to fame by winning a gold medal in the Salanger Open Malaysian International meet held in Kuala Lumpur recently. She won in the 15-17 year age categor. Komal, a 10th standard student of Army Public School, belongs to a lower middle class family that barely had money to pay for her training. Her father works as a driver for the Gurdaspur Civil Hospital and her mother has retired from the BDPO office in nearby Kalanaur. Komal’s maternal aunt, Ajit Kaur, who lives in Nangal, noticed her talent and realised that there was nobody who could channel her raw potential. She started paying for her coaching classes.

“My coach, Sensei Gurwant Singh, helped me a lot. It is only due to his efforts that I have made a name for myself in karate,” said Komal, who also thanked her Principal, Laveena Rajput for going out of her way to help her.

Chandigarh, December 10
Chandigarh's Angad Cheema created headlines in Sri Lanka where he won his first PGTI title, the Dialog Enterprise International in Colombo recently. Cheema won the tournament, which was played according to a Modified Stableford format with a total of 66 points.

Angad, who has a 2013 PGTI Feeder Tour victory to his credit, moved up to third position on the Rolex Rankings after the win.

"My father advised me to go out and play good golf and not worry about the format. His advice helped me a great deal and this win has given me immense confidence for the future," said Angad. “It’s been a great rookie season for me so far as I’ve had three other top-5 finishes on the PGTI Tour as well as a win on the PGTI Feeder Tour.”

BRIEFLY

KSCA president Wodeyar dies after heart attack
Bangalore: Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar from the former royal family of Mysore and who was recently elected president of the Karnataka cricket association, died of a heart attack in Bangalore. Wodeyar, 60, had the heart attack at his home and efforts to revive him at hospital were not successful. He was a former Congress MP and also a fashion designer. Wodeyar played university level cricket and maintained his links with the game. He was elected president of the Karnataka Cricket Association last month.

Pak, Lanka tune up for World Twenty20
Dubai: Sri Lanka and Pakistan will use their two-match series in Dubai starting tomorrow to size each other up ahead of the World T20 in three months’ time. Pakistan are also aiming to topple Sri Lanka from the top of the standings by winning both matches.

Ruling on legality of WI bowlers due mid-Test
Wellington: The West Indies have appealed to the ICC not to rule on the legality of spinners Shane Shillingford and Marlon Samuels during the second Test against New Zealand starting tomorrow. A decision on the bowlers' actions is due on the third day of the Test, but West Indies coach Ottis Gibson said that would not be fair. — Agencies