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India reach World Group playoff
Sania fit to play in French Open
Mohun Bagan hold JCT goal-less
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Dempo edge past Fransa
Shoaib not in squad for West Indies tour
Ernie Els extends lead; Jeev tied sixth
Nitin Kirtane completes grand double
Harinder loses in semis
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India reach World Group playoff
Jaipur, April 30 The former world number one pair, with three Grand Slam titles under their belt, looked flat throughout and laboured their way to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win against Murad Inoyatov and Denis Istomin to put India through to the World Group playoff in September. Luckily for Paes and Bhupathi, estranged friends, the Uzbek pair struggled to come to terms with the grass courts and never really posed a serious challenge to them. The visitors had the upper hand when they pounced on Bhupathi’s serve in the fourth game of the second set, when the Indians seemed to relax and take the foot off the accelerator. But Paes and Bhupathi quickly broke back and although the third set saw Inoyatov and Istomin come up with some solid serving and booming returns, their experienced rivals stepped on the gas at the right time to seal the issue. “Certainly we did not play our best tennis, just adequate enough to come through,” Paes said after the match. “The opponents were not that highly experienced and when we went into the match, we did not have in mind of playing any fancy, but solid tennis,” he said. The victory meant Paes equalled Brazilian Tomas Koch’s record of 74 wins to be joint eighth in the all-time Davis Cup list. But he was still four singles wins behind Ramanathan Krishnan, who had a 50-19 win-loss record among the Indians. Paes said he would definitely have his personal milestone in mind when he would decide the combination for the reverse singles tomorrow. “Harsh (Mankad) is ready to play,” he said of the dilemma he was in. “Of course it (the record) is in mind. The captain has a responsibility to the team, but it also my own prerogative to rewrite history books.” he said. The Indians got an early break when an erratic-serving Istomin served four double faults, including three on the trot, in the second game. Paes’ serve came under pressure in the sixth game, when he was forced to save three break points, before the first set was taken in 29 minutes. But with the sun coming out in full, the surface played true and the bounce more reliable than it had been on the first day. That helped Istomin to play his forehands from the baseline and the Uzbek came up with some good returns as the Uzbeks kept pace with the Indians in the second set. Inoyatov dropped serve in the third game with a double fault, but Bhupathi’s tentative serving and net play meant the visitors were immediately back on level scores. Istomin saved two break points in the fifth game before Paes and Bhupathi mustered that much inspiration to raise their game a notch to find a break in the seventh game to go up 4-3. It was only in the decider that Inoyatov and Istomin put up a semblance of a fight, the latter once again saving three break points. The Indians were still looking like dead men walking, playing mostly from muscle memory. But sheer experience and the knowledge of having been the number one helped them force three more break points in the ninth game, and Bhupathi closed it out with a stunning return winner. Bhupathi then comfortably served out the match, finishing it off with an ace. India now had a fair chance of playing their playoff ties at home as they were due to play one of the eight World Group first-round losers. Out of the eight losers, India would play either at home against one of the five losers or away against any of the two teams. If they would play the eighth team, the venue would be decided by toss.
— PTI |
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Sania fit to play in French Open
Hyderabad, April 30 Talking to UNI, Sania’s father Imran Mirza said doctors at the Apollo Hospitals here had cleared her to participate in the Grand Slam event after conducting medical examinations, including bone marrow test. “She is meeting the doctors again to seek their advice on precautions for the big event’’, he said. Sania had earlier met Indian cricket team physio John Gloster, who suggested her to mail him the medical reports and promised to get the opinion of the doctors at the Australian Institute of Sports. “Gloster also advised her to take couple of weeks rest’’ Imran added. Dr K.J. Reddy — the orthopeadic specialist at the corporate Apollo Hospitals — who is treating Sania is also confident that she would be able to play her normal game with some precautions. On his advice, Sania has started her practice for the forthcoming Grand Slam event.
— UNI |
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Mohun Bagan hold JCT goal-less
Ludhiana, April 30 In the edge-of-the-seat contest, Mohun Bagan, under the watchful eyes of shrewd strategist Amal Datta, rallied superbly to keep the marauding JCT forwards in check. Nigerian stopper back Ajibade Babalade and Eduwardo Chacon smothered wave after wave of JCT attacks in gallant rearguard action while medio Noel Wilson and Brazilian striker Roberto Mendis Silva led the counter-offensive intelligently. JCT, who dominated the proceedings for long durations, went all out to subdue the rivals but a goal eluded them till the end. With today's draw, JCT's tally has gone up to 27 points while Mohun Bagan now have 19 points. A sizeable Saturday crowd got its money's worth as the crucial encounter picked up momentum. Mohun Bagan, struggling to field a fighting combination in the absence of several key players, including Asim Biswas, Joe Paul Ancheri, and Rennedy Singh, even fielded teenagers like Jerry Zirsingma, a recruit from the Tata Football Academy, but it was international Noel Wilson, formerly of Goa's Churchill Brothers, and Brazilian Roberto Mendis Silva who inspired the midfield and attack. JCT, who were eyeing full points, commenced the proceedings in whirlwind fashion with new recruit Sakatar Singh sending a lob over a defender in the opening minute itself but the ball sailed over the bar. Soon after Sukhjinder volleyed a cross from the left after wing back Daljit had centred but he too missed the mark. A free kick awarded to JCT following a foul by Eduardo on the edge of the box again went waste as the short pass was intercepted by a Bagan defender. Mohun Bagan made the first serious move in the 22nd minute when Noel Wilson found a wide gap in the JCT defence. However, his long ranger was collected by Mansuru Mohammed under the JCT bar. Shortly before half time, JCT's Manjit Singh, incidentally declared man of the match, dodged a defender but his angular piledriver from the edge of the box missed the far post before going over the goal-line. The battle resumed with ferocity in the second half and JCT brought in the diminutive Baldeep Singh in place of right winger Jaswinder. In the 52nd minute, JCT had a good chance when they earned a free kick following a dangerous tackle by Mohun Bagan stopper back Babalade on the top of the box. Sukhjinder's lob beat the wall of defenders and found Harvinder on the clear. The JCT forward, with his back to the goal, attempted a reverse volley but unluckily the ball missed the target. Mohun Bagan also had a good chance in the 71st minute when a glancing header by Noel Wilson off a cross from the left saw the ball going over the goal-line. A faulty clearance by JCT stopper back Julius Akepele was sought to be capitalised by Bagan's Sunil Chetrri but he fumbled in shooting. With the minutes ticking away, JCT brought in Hardip Gill to bolster the attack but the match-winner remained elusive. With today's tie, JCT have completed their home engagements. They will now travel to Goa for their remaining two away matches against Churchill Brothers and Salgaocar while Mohun Bagan will play two home matches in Kolkata. |
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Dempo edge past Fransa
Margao, April 30 Dempo dominated the first half and took the lead in the 20th minute after initial resistance from Fransa when Clifford Miranda uncorked a fierce carpet drive that found the far post. RC Prakash, Ranty Martins and Clifford Miranda combined well upfront as they harried the rival defence and Fransa goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey had to make saves off Prakash’s attempt twice at the goal mouth and once from Riston Rodrigues. Prakash increased the lead in the dying minutes of the first half when he tapped home a low cross from Martins. Fransa, who could not test rival goalkeeper Satish Kumar seriously in the first half, pulled one back in the dying minutes when substitute Biju Kumar scored off a cross by Benjamin Ansa after man of the match Satish made a brillant save off Joseph Igor. Dempo moved to the second spot in the league standings behind Sporting Clube De Goa with 41 points from 19 matches, while Fransa remained in fifth place with 29 points from 20 matches.
— PTI |
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Smith, De Villiers hit centuries
St John’s, April 30 The visitors, batting first after winning the toss yesterday, raced to 214 without loss off 48.5 overs before the day’s fourth rain interruption ended play. West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul used seven bowlers, but the home team did not take advantage of their best chances to separate the pair. Wavell Hinds could have given the West Indies a lift in the day’s second over, but his under-arm return from cover missed with Smith a foot short of his ground after a mix-up with de Villiers. It was the last realistic opportunity during the morning session as de Villiers brought up his half century off 51 balls just before South Africa reached lunch at 114 without loss. Persistent afternoon rain reduced the second session to just 3.1 overs, but Smith used the short stint in the middle to pass his 50 off 79 deliveries. He should have been run out the ball before the third rain interval delayed play for nearly three hours. Another mix-up with his partner supplied Brian Lara with the chance, but his return to the bowler’s end was dropped by Narsingh Deonarine, with the batsman well short of his crease. That was the last chance for the West Indies, as the South African domination continued in the final session once the rain stopped. Smith, who failed to match de Villiers for fluency early on, began to assert himself and added boundaries to all parts of the small ground. He achieved his century with his 16th boundary, a straight on-drive off Chris Gayle’s off-spin, off 141 balls. It was his fifth century in eight matches against the West Indies, and followed scores of 148 in the second Test in Trinidad and 104 last week in Barbados. Scoreboard South Africa (1st Innings) De Villiers batting 103 Graeme Smith batting 106 Extras:
(w-1, nb-4) 5 Total: (no loss in 48.5 overs) 214 Bowling:
Powell 9-0-48-0, Best 9-2-37-0, Washington 11.5-2-37-0, Bravo 3-0-16-0, Gayle 7-1-35-0, Hinds 1-0-12-0, Deonarine 8-1-29-0.
— AP |
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Shoaib not in squad for West Indies tour
Karachi, April 30 Selectors also left out unfit paceman Mohammad Sami and included another seamer Shabbir Ahmed in the squad, which was finalised last evening. The list of players was submitted to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan, who would announce the squad after getting clearance from an ad hoc committee, a PCB spokesman said. The ad hoc committee, as per the PCB constitution, had the powers to make changes in the team. The selectors also dropped Mohammad Hafeez, who toured India earlier this month as a one-day specialist. He was replaced by Yasir Hameed, who was dropped after the Bangalore Test for the six-match one-day series. The Pakistan team was selected basically for the one-day matches to be played on May 18 at St Vincent and for St Lucia’s double-header on May 21 and 22. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to put up Shoaib Malik’s disciplinary case before its high- powered ad hoc committee which meets at the cricket headquarters in Lahore on Monday. The inquiry committee has submitted its findings and the disciplinary committee will take appropriate disciplinary action on Monday that will be put up before the ad hoc committee for approval, a PCB spokesman said today. Likely squad: Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Younis Khan, Yasir Hameed, Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi, Yousuf Youhana, Asim Kamal, Moin Khan, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Shabbir Ahmed, Shahid Nazir, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Shoaib Malik, Arshad Khan and Danish Kaneria.
— PTI |
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India beat Pak in blind cricket
New Delhi, April 30 Put into bat, India scored a daunting 323 for 7 in their alloted 35 overs thanks to half centuries by Srikhar Naik (92) and Asish Negi (51) and the cameos by Boya and Ketan Patel (30 in 26 balls). With the visitors needing to score at a rate of above nine runs per over, Mohammad Fayyaz (74 in 65 balls) and Adnan Ahmad (56 not out in 40 balls) kept Pakistan in the hunt but Boya and Dinesh Kumar (2/48) ensured that they were far short from the target. The visitors ended at 257 for six.
— PTI |
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Arjun Atwal in sole lead after two rounds
Avondale (Louisiana), April 30 The 32-year-old is the first Indian to play on the PGA Tour and he added another first by holding outright lead for the first time here. The two-time winner on the European Tour International Schedule overcame winds, which went up to 25 mphat one stage. While Henry posted a second straight 67 to be 10-under, Chris
DiMarco, who shared overnight lead with Atwal, returned eight-under par 71 to be tied third with Tim Clark (69). Atwal began sedately with five pars before finding two birdies on sixth and seventh, but he dropped a shot on ninth and turned in one-under. It was on the back nine, when the winds went up, that he sparkled and birdies started falling. He birdied the 10th, 14th and 15th before bogeying the 16th and then picked his last birdie on the 18th. Five of his six birdies were from inside eight feet. On the par-3 14th, he chipped in from more than 50 feet from a greenside bunker for a great birdie. Daniel Chopra brought in a two-under 70 and was tied at 21st with three-under 141 after two days. Chopra had four birdies, three of them on the front nine. Defending champion Vijay Singh, followed an opening 67 with a 71 and was in a three-way tie for sixth place at six-under. He was five strokes behind Atwal. Atwal, who lost a playoff at Bellsouth earlier this month, was once again very good in adverse conditions. Putting was the key to his excellent round, as he took just 24 to go through the round and that with his 23 putts in first round was the best for the tournament so far. He did not hit too well as he managed only 56 per cent greens in regulation, but his putting more than made up. Atwal, who struggled last year in his rookie year and managed only to keep a conditional card after finishing 143rd in the Money List, had made the cut in each of his five starts this season, including a tied second at BellSouth as his best. Atwal, who had eight birdies in his first round had another six in second round. All of his birdies in the second round came over the final 13 holes of competition, including four on the back nine. He birdied consecutive holes on both the front nine, sixth and seventh, and on the back nine at 13th and 14th. So far in the tournament, Atwal stood at six-under on both the par-4 holes and the par-5 holes. Five of his second-round birdies came on either a par 4 or par 5. Henry, who was among the late starters in the second round, was not bothered by the windy conditions and found the course to his
liking. DiMarco had an inconsistent round, that included an eagle, four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey. At 10-under heading to the par-5 18th, DiMarco hit his tee shot into the water to the right of the fairway and scrambled to make a double-bogey
seven. DiMarco made bogey at numbers 6, 9, and 15, but made eagle at the par-5 seventh and had three birdies on the back nine.
— PTI |
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Ernie Els extends lead; Jeev tied sixth
Shanghai, April 30 South African Ernie Els, looking to add a third title from Asia this year, carded a round of four-under 68 to stretch his lead to five shots after 54 holes with a total of 19-under 197 at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club. Jeev opened the day with two birdies and moved to fourth at one stage. He dropped a shot at fifth and then birdied the ninth to turn in two-under. He had one birdie and one bogey in the back nine. Jyoti Randhawa brought in his best card of the week with a five-under 67, which saw him rise from the cut line after two rounds to tied 20th. He had one birdie on the front nine on the eighth, and then on the back nine, he had five birdies, including three in a row from 13th to 15th, before dropping one on the 16th. He closed with a birdie to card 67. Rahil Gangjee, the third Indian in the weekend rounds, brought in a one-over 73 for a total of one-over 217 for three days. He was tied 68th. Jeev remained the best hope for an Asian push, as the Indian brought the form that saw him in sixth position on both the Asian and Japan money lists to Shanghai. With a two-under 70 today, he was tied for sixth, and believed that attacking play would be the key tomorrow. For Els, the man known as the ‘Big Easy’, it was a day of mixed fortunes after yesterday’s stunning 62. He set the ball rolling with a birdie at the first, before two more front-nine birdies were offset with bogeys at four and nine. The trend continued early on the run home, before birdies at 13th, 14th and 18th allowed him to post his 68. Way behind Els was Simon Wakefield of England, who was in second five shots behind, with Thomas Bjorn in outright third, two more shots behind. Jean-Francois Lucquin was another shot back in fourth and Korea-born New Zealander Eddie Lee was fifth on his own at 10-under 206.
— PTI |
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Nitin Kirtane completes grand double
Pune, April 30 Kirtane defeated top seed Aditya Madkekar 6-1, 6-3 in the men’s single final in almost clinical fashion and later teamed up with Purav Raja of Mumbai to crush local challengers Gautam Samarth and Siddharth Patil 6-2, 6-3 to win the doubles title. Kirtane avenged the defeat he had suffered at the hands of Madkekar in the All-India Inter-Railways Tennis Championship at Delhi. Madkekar was able to hold his serve only once before Kirtane went on to wrap the first set 6-1. In the second set, despite Madkekar raising the level of his game, Nitin never wavered either in his strategy or play and went on to break his rival’s serve in the fifth and seventh games to wrap up the serve and the match. Later Kirtane teamed up with Raja to end the good run of local challengers Patil and Samarth and pick up 12 AITA points.
— PTI |
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Harinder loses in semis
New Delhi, April 30 Mundy got over citymate Rafick Ali in another exciting semifinal 3-2. In the first semifinal, Sanjay went two-down after the fifth hole. However, a second shot into the bushes by Harinder gave Sanjay a sigh of relief as he won the sixth hole by par and thus made the score one-up. The next hole, which Sanjay won by par, levelled the scores at all-square before the turn.
— UNI |
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