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Kent determined to hold back Ford |
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Ex-cricketer commits suicide
Hockey team leaves for Germany
Mansher books Olympic berth
Vijender settles for silver
Ghei, Gurbaaz finish tied 22nd
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Paris, June 10 The Spaniard’s 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory emulated the great Bjorn Borg’s record of three Roland Garros titles in a row. It also shattered Federer’s hopes of capturing a first French Open and become only the third man after Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) to hold all four Grand Slam crowns at the same time. The win also preserved the 21-year-old Nadal’s perfect record of never losing in the tournament in his three visits. He has now won all 21 of his matches including beating the world number one in the final here in 2006. Despite being the first player to take a set off the champion at this year’s tournament, Federer was left to regret squandering 10 break points in the crucial first set which he lost and a huge 60 unforced errors in the match. “I feel sorry for Roger,” said Nadal. “He is such a good person and a great champion. I’m happy to win here again but I need to keep working to get even better.” Federer, who has now lost to Nadal three years in a row here, said it had been another tough afternoon. “It’s a shame, but I think I came closer to winning last year. This year I was always behind and it was never easy,” said Federer. “It’s not the last time I will play here and I will try all I can to win next year.” As Court Philippe Chatrier basked in sweltering temperatures of 28 degrees, it was Federer, pushing the Spanish left-hander out wide, who sniffed an early chance in the first set but Nadal snuffed out two break points in the fourth game. Nadal saved five more break points in a marathon sixth game which featured a 21-stroke rally. The crushing failure to hammer home the advantage weighed heavily on the Swiss as he was immediately broken to love in the next game as Nadal nipped 4-3 in front, a sloppy backhand into the net sealing the top seed’s fate. Federer wasted another golden opportunity in the eighth game. This time three more break points went begging as Nadal came back from 0-40 to lead 5-3. The Spaniard went to set point in the ninth game which he converted in style with a screaming winner which left Federer, whose game had rapidly unravelled, scrambling after 51 minutes on court. The Swiss wasted another break point, his 11th, in the seventh game of the second set, but he finally broke through to lead when Nadal could only bury a tricky backhand return into the foot of the net. Federer, with the majority of the 20,000 crowd willing him on to victory, valiantly fought off three break points to establish a 5-3 lead before he then failed to convert four set points on the Nadal serve in the ninth game. But he levelled the tie by taking the second set 6-4 after a further 55 minutes when Nadal went long with a forehand. It was the first set the world number two had dropped at this year’s tournament. Nadal broke to lead 2-0 in the third set and defended splendidly from the baseline in the fifth game to go to 4-1. Federer saved a set point in the eighth game but his opponent claimed the the set 6-3 with another power-packed forehand after 2hr 26min of action. Nadal sealed his third title after 3hr 10min when Federer hit a weary forehand long. — AFP
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Kent determined to hold back Ford London, June 10 The club is even determined to keep hold of its director of cricket if the official statement is to be believed. Should they fail to convince him to stay, they are likely to demand compensation from the BCCI before they agree to release him. Ford, whose contract with the Spitfires runs till September, 2008, is set to have crunch talks with the county. BCCI treasurer N. Srinivasan told reporters yesterday at Chennai that Ford would intimate the BCCI before its Working Committee meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday as to when he would be able to join the team. A statement on the Kent Club official website read: “Following reports suggesting that Kent director of cricket Graham Ford has been offered and has accepted the role of coach of the Indian side, Kent County Cricket Club can confirm that Ford is returning to the UK and will be at Tunbridge Wells for Kent’s penultimate group match in the Friends Provident Trophy against Hampshire. “The focus for Graham and the Kent team is very much on winning a match that would see the Spitfires edge a step closer to a home semifinal in the Friends Provident Trophy. Discussions with Ford will take place after the match..” BCCI, players to meet today Bangalore: Four seniors of the Indian team, including captain Rahul Dravid and Sachin
Tendulkar, would meet a three-member committee of the BCCI here tomorrow to sort out the player contracts issue. “The meeting of the three-member contracts committee of the BCCI with four senior players of their choice will take place tomorrow afternoon,” BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah told
PTI. Shah said the committee consisted of BCCI vice-president Shashank Manohar, treasurer N. Srinivasan and former president I.S. Bindra. The BCCI had, prior to the tour of Bangladesh last month, appointed Manohar and Srinivasan to hold discussions with the players but Bindra was included later.
— UNI, PTI
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Dhoni propels Asia to whitewash
Chennai, June 10 In reply to the Asian XI total of 331 for eight wickets, the African side fell 13-run short, finishing at 318 for seven in their allotted 50 overs. Like in the earlier two matches, the Africans neared the target, but could not surpass it. They failed to capitalise on a 117-run opening stand, though the sixth wicket pair of captain Justin Kemp (86) and Shaun Pollock (58 not out) came up with a superlative display, adding 122 runs in just 88 balls. Coming in at 159 for five after four quick wickets fell for the addition of 42 runs, these two South Africans turned the tide and kept the bowlers at bay with their quick-fire display. But once was clean bowled by Mohammed Rafique of Bangladesh in the 46th over, Pollock, the mainstay of the Africans, and Johan Botha were forced to take the back seat. The Africans required 22 runs in the last over but could muster just nine and surrendered the initiative. Besides Dhoni, who was adjudged man of the match, spinners Mohamed Rafique (4/65) and Harbhajan Singh (3/48) stole the limelight for the Asian XI. Facing an imposing asking run rate of 6.62, the Africans began on a solid note with openers A B de Villiers (70 off 63 balls, 7x4, 3x6) and Vusi Sibanda (45) getting into business straightaway. Villiers was more on strike and raced to his 50 off 48 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes. After the first wicket partnership between Villiers and Sibanda yielded 117 runs off 80 balls, Rafique provided the much-needed breakthrough and in fact was on the verge of a hat-trick. Rafique scalped Villiers and Boeta Dippenaar off successive deliveries in his third over but was denied the honours by Steve Tikolo, promoted in the order. Sibanda was the next to go, going for a big shot. He ended up being stumped by Dhoni off Rafique in the 23rd over as the African XI were down to 138/3. Earlier, coming in with his side struggling at 72 for five, Dhoni got into the groove and along with captain Jayawardene, launched a solid counter-attack and took little time to take control of the situation. Scoreboard
Asia XI Sehwag c Kemp b M. Morkel 8 Jayasuriya c Botha b Ongondo 13 Tharanga c De Villiers Yuvraj b Chigumbura 31 Yousuf c Dippenaar b Ongondo 2 Jayawardene c Botha Dhoni not out 139 Mortaza c M. Morkel Harbhajan b M. Morkel 4 Rafique not out 0 Extras (b-4, lb-2, nb-2, w-8) 16 Total
(8 wkts, 50 overs) 331 Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-30, 3-45, 4-51, 5-72, 6-290, 7-309, 8-315. Bowling: M. Morkel 10-0-50-3, Ongondo 10-2-35-3, Chigumbura 10-0-77-2, Kemp 2-0-9-0, Botha 10-1-49-0, Tikolo 4-0-59-0, Sibanda 2-0-24-0, De Villiers 2-0-22-0. Africa XI De Villiers c Mortaza b Rafique 70 Sibanda st Dhoni b Rafique 45 Dippenaar c Yuvraj b Rafique 0 Tikolo st Dhoni b Harbhajan 11 Kemp b Rafique 86 Boucher st Dhoni b Harbhajan 7 Pollock not out 58 Chugumbura b Harbhajan 4 Botha not out 18 Extras
(lb-9, w-9, nb-1) 19 Total (7 wkts, 50 overs) 318 Fall of wickets: 1-117, 2-117, 3-138, 4-149, 5-159, 6-281, 7-290. Bowling: Asif 10-1-62-0, Mortaza 9-1-51-0, Rafique 10-0-65-4, Jayasuriya 10-0-73-0, Harbhajan 10-0-48-3, Yuvraj 1-0-10-0.
— PTI
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Chanderpaul keeps Windies afloat Manchester, June 10 The tourists, set a record target of 455 to win, reached 301 for five at the close after England’s bowlers toiled on a sunny day. West Indies require a further 154 runs to win, while England need five wickets on the final day. Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 81 after batting for more than four hours and facing 176 deliveries. The gritty left-hander has so far added 52 with Denesh Ramdin (26) for the sixth wicket. Spinner Monty Panesar has taken three for 87. West Indies’ batsmen showed a great deal more resilience than in the previous match when they capitulated in both innings to suffer their heaviest defeat in test history. Coach David Moore then demanded more fight and better shot selection. England claimed the wickets of Chris Gayle, caught at second slip off Steve Harmison for 16, and Devon Smith, caught close in off Panesar for 42, before lunch. Runako Morton (54) was their solitary success of the afternoon session. Morton and Chanderpaul batted watchfully, especially against improved fast bowler Harmison, whose line was more disciplined than in recent displays. Their stand was worth 73 in 151 balls until Morton played no stroke to Panesar and was lbw. Dwayne Bravo was the fifth wicket after tea, caught off Panesar for 49, as West Indies continued to frustrate a home crowd hoping to see an early conclusion. First, though, Bravo created some controversy when on 24 as his edge to Paul Collingwood at gully -- celebrated as a wicket by England -- was adjudged to have hit the ground after umpire Billy Bowden consulted colleague Aleem Dar at square leg. England's fielders were visibly annoyed and captain Michael Vaughan appeared to question the umpire's decision. Chanderpaul, while on 18, survived a dropped catch off Harmison as Panesar, often ridiculed by spectators for his clumsy fielding, should have grasped the chance diving on from mid-on. Scoreboard England (1st innings) 370 West Indies (1st innings) 229 England (2nd innings) 313 West Indies (2nd innings) Gayle c Collingwood Ganga lbw Harmison 0 Smith c Cook b Panesar 42 Morton lbw Panesar 54 Chanderpaul not out 81 Bravo c Cook b Panesar 49 Ramdin not out 26 Extras (b-10, lb-12, w-8, nb-3) 33 Total
(5 wkts, 98 overs) 301 Fall of wickets:1-4, 2-35, 3-88, 4-161, 5-249. Bowling: Sidebottom 21-5-48-0, Harmison 22-6-70-2, Panesar 34-10-87-3, Plunkett 16-2-57-0, Pietersen 5-2-17-0.
— Reuters
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Ex-cricketer commits suicide
Kanpur, June 10 Subhas jumped from the top of the Krishna Tower building in the Civil Lines area yesterday and was taken to a private hospital, where he succumbed to injuries. Unemployment was cited as the reason which prompted Subhas, a talented cricketer, who toured Malaysia and UK as part of the Indian under-15 team, to kill himself. Subhas, who regularly practised in the Green Park Stadium, was staying with his mother in the house of his maternal uncle, while his father, diagnosed with a brain tumour, was living with his elder son in Kalayanpur area. Subhas had passed his intermediate examinations this year. Local cricketers condoled Subhas’ death and said the country lost a young and dynamic player.
— PTI
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Hockey team leaves for Germany
Bangalore, June 10 After training in Dusseldorf, the team would play three practice matches against club teams there. Chief coach Joaquim Carvalho said, “We will be in Germany for acclimatisation and the practice matches would help the players.” “The boys are all set and we have worked on our weak points. When we went for the Azlan Shah Cup, the players were not familar to me. Now we had two camps, there is a lot less load on me, whereas I was under a little pressure before the Azlan Shah Cup,” he said. The team would reach Boom on June 20 and would play their opener against New Zealand on June 24, Belgium on June 26, Argentina on June 28 and Japan on June 30. Meanwhile, second goalkeeper Baljit Singh, who was admitted to hospital with urinary infection on Friday, has recovered and will leave with the team. Before leaving to Germany, the players had a 15-day camp at the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Southern Centre, on the city outskirts. Team: Goalkeepers: Adrian D’Souza, Baljit Singh. Fullbacks: William Xalco, Sandeep Singh, Dilip Tirkey. Midfielders: Prabodh Tirkey (captain), Sunil Yadav, Gurbaaz, Bimal Lakra, Sardara Singh, Vikram Kranth. Forwards: Rajpal Singh, Bharath Chikkara, Roshan Minz, Tushar Khandekar, Shivender Singh, Prabhjot Singh, Damandeep Singh. Standbyes: Bharath Chetri, Raghunath, Ajitesh Rai, Yudhvir Singh, Sunil Kumar.
— UNI
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Mansher books Olympic berth
New Delhi, June 10 Mansher shot a total of 140, including a superb 122 in qualification with three perfect series of 25 and a below-par final round where he carded only 18 out of 25 yesterday. The Delhi-based shooter, who was tied with Abdulrahman Al Faihan of Kuwait and Masimo Fabbrizi of Italy, edged out the Kuwaiti in the tie-shoot for the quota place. According to the ISSF rules, one country can have only two Olympic berths in each event and India has got both places in trap with Manavjit Singh Sandhu winning the other quota place when he became the world champion in Zagreb, Croatia. Manavjit, who was competing in a major competition here after five months, finished eighth with a score of 120. He was tied with four more shooters for a place in the final round but the Indian was eliminated after missing his sixth target in the nerve-wrecking tie-shoot.
— PTI
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Vijender settles for silver
New Delhi, June 10 Vijender, the lone Indian to make it to the final, lost 3-14 to Elshod in the 75 kg category. India, which sent an 11-member team to compete in the tournament, finished with one silver and six bronze medals. Overall, it was a decent show by the Indians as seven of them managed to reach the semifinals. Four of them - Diwakar Prasad (57 kg), TT Singh (60 kg), Dinesh (81 kg) and Manpreet Singh (91 kg) were ousted at the quarterfinal stage. The bronze medallists included 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games gold medallist Akhil Kumar, who lost to local favourite Badar-Uugan Enkhbat on points in the semis of the 54 kg category
— PTI
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Ghei, Gurbaaz finish tied 22nd
Koh Samui, June 10 Korean stalwart Lee Sung secured his maiden triumph on the Asian Tour. Rahil Gangjee (73) and Digvijay Singh (72) finished four-over par 288 and tied for 35th, while Arjun Singh carded a 73 and ended with a total of seven-over 291 and in tied 46th place. Lee dedicated the win to his family, especially his brother and caddie Lee Sung-joo, as he walked away with the top prize of $47,550.
— PTI
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