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Cold bug continues to dog
India
Sri Lanka register big victory
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Wimbledon sees red over knickers
Anand displays his class
DSA fines errant clubs
School gets tougher for Chinese kids
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Cold bug continues to dog
India
Belfast, June 28 While the Kerala bowler will sit out for the second successive game, there is also a question mark on the availability of Gautam Gambhir who is down with fever. “Sreesanth has not recovered as yet and will miss tomorrow’s game,” Indian captain Rahul Dravid said. The Indians, however, have something to cheer about with wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has sat out all the matches so far, expected to take the field in the crucial match tomorrow. The team management will take a final decision on Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar, another victim of the flu bug, on the morning of the match, which India has to win to keep themselves afloat in the three-match series. Dravid admitted that Agarkar and Dhoni could be a bit rusty as they had been out of action for a week. “It would be better if they had some practice but it has been raining heavily here,” he said. Dravid is looking for an improvement in both departments of the game over what was on display on Sunday. “We could have batted better at the death and could have bowled better in the middle overs,” he said. The Karnataka batsman, however, said that only a captain’s knock from Jacques Kallis denied the Indians a victory. “Against top teams and top players we have to get the key players out. We just couldn’t get that one wicket we needed (Kallis).” Dravid said the lack of a third seamer also proved a disadvantage. “We probably missed an extra seamer in the last game. I thought we gave away too many runs in the first 20 overs during the powerplays. We didn’t have a third seamer and had to bowl Sourav Ganguly. Hopefully, we’ll have the right balance for tomorrow’s game,” the skipper said. Meanwhile, Ranadeb Bose and Ishant Sharma, called up as cover for the unfit pacemen, have reached Belfast but the Delhi bowler has lost his kit. Efforts are on to find a pair of bowling shoes for him but it is not easy to find one of right size. Meanwhile, South Africa are likely to include fast bowler Dale Steyn and off-spinner Thandi Tshabalala to add variety in their attack. Though both Steyn and Tshabalala are down with mild flu, they are expected to be fit for the game. Vernon Philander and another pacer are likely to be left out of the playing XI. “In the first game, our attack was fairly predictable in the middle overs,” said South African coach Micky Arthur. — PTI
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Sri Lanka register big victory
Colombo, June 28 Both bowlers finished with four wickets each as Bangladesh, resuming their second innings at 233-5, were shot out for 254 within 30 minutes of the start of the fourth day's play at the Sinhalese Sports Club. It was Sri Lanka's biggest victory over Bangladesh, surpassing the innings and 196-run win at the P. Sara stadium here in 2002. It was Bagladesh's 41st defeat in 47 matches since they gained Test status in 2000 with a lone win coming against struggling Zimbabwe. Five games have been drawn. Fast bowler Malinga took three of the last five wickets and off-spinner Muralitharan claimed the other two as Sri Lanka made short work of Bangladesh on the fourth morning. The 35-year-old's career tally stands at 683, just 25 away from equalling retired Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne's world record of 708 wickets. The second Test starts at the P. Sara stadium in the Sri Lankan capital on Tuesday. Scoreboard
Bangladesh (1st innings) 89 Sri Lanka (1st innings) 577-6 decl Bangladesh (2nd innings) Omar lbw Malinga 62 Nafees c&b Murali 38 Saleh c P. Jayawardene b Dilshan 51 Bashar c P. Jayawardene b Vaas 17 Ashraful c Vaas b Murali 37 Hasan c Warnapura b Malinga 8 Mashud b Maliga 1 Mortaza lbw Murali 9 Rafique b Malinga 0 Hossain st P. Jayawardene b Murali 1 Razzak not out 0 Extras (b-2, lb-10, nb-17, w-1) 30 Total
(all out, 87.1 over) 254 Fall of wickets: 1-86, 2-126, 3-160, 4-227, 5-231, 6-238, 7-250, 8-252, 9-253. Bowling: Vaas 12-3-36-1, Malinga 17-2-80-4, Murali 36.1-12-87-4, Fernando 15-5-28-0, Dilshan 7-3-11-1.
— AFP
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Consistency is the key: Malik
Lahore, June 28 Malik, who succeeded Inzamam-ul-Haq as skipper, made it clear that consistency, rather than pressure, will have to be the priority for a team looking to shrug off the Caribbean debacle. Pakistan will play Scotland in Edinburgh on July 1 and then take on traditional rivals India in Glasgow on July 3. —
UNI
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India go down to Argentina Boom, June 28 Jorge Lombi (39th) and skipper Mario Nicolas Almada (60th) scored for Argentina while for India, who wasted as many as 12 penalty corners, had their only goal from Sandeep Singh that came through a penalty stroke in the 64th. India, thus, remain on six points after four matches while Argentina moved to nine with three wins and a defeat. India had more than their share of chances, but simply did not have the sharpness to capitalise on them. To make matters worse, a terrible defensive blunder late in the game presented Argentina with their second goal that effectively sealed the match in their favour. Ironically, Sandeep Singh spent more time on the bench and was not on hand for India’s first six penalty corners. When he did return to the field, he failed to score off the next six. The Indians all but outplayed Argentina in the first-half, though in terms of scoring opportunities, there were very few. However, it was more a tactical game that saw the Indians containing Argentina in their own half. Consequently, Argentina had to wait for opportunities to even make a move, leave alone penetrate into the Indian circle. The South American outfit did put together a couple of counter-attacks that fetched them a couple of penalty corners, but the Indian goal was not in any danger of falling. At the other end, the Indians made plenty of moves to keep Argentina under pressure. However, the old failings of faulty trapping and passing inside the 25-yard area and especially the striking circle denied the Indians success. Coach Joaquim Carvalho kept shuffling his forwards while leaving the deep defence and midfield virtually untouched with the exception of substituting Sandeep Singh. Thus, the Indians were able to sustain pace and pressure through the session. India did force three penalty corners, one of which was changed to a bully-off on the 25-yard line following protests by Argentine players. Umpire James Pilgrim (England) first awarded a penalty corner, but even as the Indians took position, he changed to a 16-yard hit leading to chaotic scenes on the field leading to a time-out. The other umpire, Chen Dekang (China) intervened and signaled a penalty corner, but Pilgrim stuck to his guns before ordering a bully-off. Thereafter, India received their third penalty corner and again with specialist Sandeep Singh still on the bench, Dilip Tirkey’s direct hit was easily saved as was the case with the first. With the time ticking by, India’s task appeared Herculean as Argentina struck again in the 60th minute through Almada. India forced two more penalty corners. Off the second, Sandeep’s drag-flick struck a defender on the foot leading to a penalty stroke. Sandeep converted to make it 2-1 with six minutes left.
— PTI
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London, June 28 Sania failed to light up the court and faced a 6-2, 6-2 drubbing to bow out of the competition, much to the disappointment of the numerous Indians, who voiced their support for the Hyderabad girl. Sania had beaten Petrova in their only previous meeting on the hard courts of San Diego in 2005, the breakthrough year for the Indian starlet, but the Russian repaid the compliment on the grass at the All-England Club with a dominating display. Sania will now have to concentrate on the ladies’ doubles where she partnering Sahar Peer of Israel. She will team up with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi in the mixed doubles. Meanwhile, Roger Federer completed an elegant half-century today to reach the third round of Wimbledon. The world number one’s bid to emulate Bjorn Borg’s five successive titles at the All-England Club gathered momentum when he won his 50th consecutive grasscourt match 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 against Argentine teenager Juan Martin Del Potro. While Federer’s progress was never in doubt, Marat Safin set up an intriguing showdown with the Swiss by reaching the third round of the grasscourt Grand Slam for only the third time. In the process he ruined Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi’s bid to become the first Pakistani to reach the third round here with a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 victory. Venus Williams geared up for a potential fourth round showdown with 2004 champion Maria Sharapova with a 6-2, 6-2 thrashing of Czech Hana Sromova. Serbian sensation and French Open runner-up Ana Ivanovic, seeded six, looked comfortable on grass to beat American Meilen Tu 6-4, 6-3. Tommy Robredo became the first big casualty in the men’s draw. The 11th-seeded Spaniard failed to last the distance against 36-year-old Australian Wayne Arthurs and fell 6-3, 7-6, 6-3. Paes-Damm win
Leander Paes and his Czech Republic partner Martin Damm today defeated Chris Haggard of South Africa and Marcin Matkowski of Poland in a stiff encounter to advance to the Wimbledon men’s doubles second round. The fifth seeded Indo-Czech pair edged past Haggard and Matkowski 7-6, 6-3, 7-5. — Agencies
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Sania may invite extremists’ ire
London, June 28 Sania, a Muslim, and Peer are close friends on the tour and played together at the 2005 Japan Open where they reached the semifinals. However, under pressure from militants furious over a Muslim and Jew playing together, the partnership broke up. “I always enjoyed playing with Sania,” said Peer. “But she asked if we could stop playing together last year because of pressures. I was pleasantly surprised when she suggested playing together at the French Open last month, but I had already promised to partner Dinara Safina. I’m really pleased to be with her again.” Sania is no stranger to controversy. A fatwa was once issued against her by extremists angry over the short skirts she wears on court. The teaming of Muslim and Jewish players has caused a Wimbledon row in the past too. In 2002, Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi was threatened with a suspension by his country’s tennis federation when he played in the men’s doubles here with Israel’s Amr Hadad.
— AFP
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Wimbledon sees red over knickers
London, June 28 Tatiana Golovin had the Wimbledon referee reaching for his rulebook when she sought to appear on court wearing red underwear. Was she violating the “predominantly white” dress code laid down by the tournament that is such a stickler for sartorial etiquette? The fashion guardians of good taste at the world’s most genteel tennis tournament gave the French player the go-ahead after much discussion about hemlines and where they stopped and started. Explaining the decision, a Wimbledon spokesman said today: “They were cleared with the referee in advance by the player. On the basis that they are underwear, they do not have to conform to the predominantly white rule. “If they are above the hemline they are deemed to be underwear and not shorts.” The 19-year-old Golovin, who beat Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-Wei 5-7, 6-3, 8-6 on Wednesday, returned to the court on Thursday apparently unperturbed by the headlines her choice of underwear had prompted, and wearing red knickers again. Not many post-match news conferences at Wimbledon start with the question “Can I ask you about your knickers?” Unabashed, the Russian-born player had replied: “They say red is the colour that proves that you’re strong and you’re confident so I’m happy with my red knickers.” Strength and confidence were not enough on Thursday, however and Golovin lost 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 to Austrian Tamira Paszek. — Reuters
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Anand displays his class
Dortmund, June 28 The victory placed Anand in joint second spot with Evgeny Alekseev, half a point behind sole leader, world champion Vladimir Kramnik, who continued his awesome form to overwhelm Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen. Alekseev, the dark horse of the tournament, drew against Peter Leko, who has now drawn all his games and shares the fourth and fifth position with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. Mamedyarov also played out a draw, against Boris Gelfand. Anand was clearly looking for a win against Naiditsch and took some risks in the opening. Naiditsch could have obtained a strong position, but missed an opportunity to exchange bishops on the 23rd move. Anand won a pawn and the resulting endgame looked drawish despite his material advantage. With Anand having a rook, a knight and three pawns against Naiditsch's rook, bishop and two pawns, the position looked quite simplified. It was then that Anand stamped his class by conjuring a mating attack out of thin air. Anand caught his opponent's king in mating net with his rook and knight and Naiditsch resigned after losing his bishop on the 57th move. Sasikiran falters
Yalta: Krishnan Sasikiran missed winning chances in his double edged ninth round game against Sergey Karjakin and had to be content with a draw in the Aerosvit Open chess tournament here on Wednesday. Sasikiran once again featured in the most thrilling game of the round but could not convert his advantage due to severe time trouble. Things did not look rosy for Sasikiran in the early part of the game. Karjakin played the Semi-Slav defense and sacrificed a pawn on the 16th move when Sasikiran opted for an unusual variation in the opening. Karjakin obtained excellent compensation for the pawn and was in a superior position by move 20. Sasikiran reacted energetically and sacrificed an exchange to put an end to his opponent's initiative. Karjakin weakened his queenside pawns in the middlegame and allowed Sasikiran to make inroads. A fierce battle developed with both players fighting for the initiative. Sasikiran appeared to have gained a winning advantage but by then both players were short of time and the quality of play was far from satisfactory.
— PTI
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DSA fines errant clubs
New Delhi, June 28 The managing committee of the DSA, which met under the chairmanship of DSA president Subhash Chopra, has decided to fine prominent Delhi club Moonlight Rs 5000 for not participating in the league after attending the draw ceremony, New Delhi Heroes Rs 15,000 for walking out of the Super League after playing two matches, both of which they lost, complaining of “poor supervision” while Shastri Club were fined Rs 5,000 for skipping the Super League after completing their preliminary league matches. DSA secretary N.K. Bhatia said the managing committee also slapped a Rs 5,000 fine on N.D. Heroes player Sanjay Sidhu for assaulting a referee in the Super League match against Garhwal Heroes.
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School gets tougher for Chinese kids
Beijing, June 28 The Chinese government has launched an Olympic education programme on a scale that International Olympic Committee (IOC) chairman Jacques Rogge has described as “staggering.” Some 5,00,000 schools across the country have been called on to conduct “extensive” Olympic education among the country’s 400 million school-age children. It is part of China’s build-up for next year’s Beijing Games that involves far more than creating what experts say are the best Olympic facilities seen anywhere in the world. In addition, Beijing is putting itself through a makeover that entails tearing down and rebuilding vast tracks of city landscape, upgrading infrastructure and running a campaign to promote “civilised” conduct such as smiling and queuing up. Seven-year-old Lang Wangjiang is part of perhaps the most ambitious plan of all - to spread the Olympic message of peace and harmony to China’s next generation of citizens. Every week, Lang and his classmates, too young to remember the day in July, 2001, when Beijing won the right to host the Games, sit down and open their blue-and-white Olympic primers for a 40-minute study and discussion session.
— AFP
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