 |
|
|
New Zealand's Barbara Kendall competes in the women's Mistral event at the Olympic Sailing venue during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, in this August 25, 2004 file photo. Juggling the different demands of life has become second nature to windsurfer Kendall as she prepares for her fifth Olympics. — Reuters photo
Pak board suspends Asif
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Asif deserves no mercy, say Pak greats
Indian team reaches Colombo
Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene (L) and his Indian counterpart Anil Kumble pose with a trophy at a press conference in Colombo on Tuesday at the launch of India’s tour of Sri Lanka. The teams will play three Test matches and five ODIs starting July 23. — AFP photo
Thai boxers exiled to avoid nightlife lure
‘India fielding over-age players’
In-form India face Pak in semis
|
|
Juggling way of life for Kendall
Wellington, July 15 A hard training schedule, international travel and the needs of her two young children have all been programmed into the three-times world champion's run-up to next month's Beijing Games. "It took me two months to work out what exactly I wanted to do for these last two months," Kendall, 40, told Reuters by telephone from Auckland. "Just juggling all the ideas and talking to the other girls to see who was going to be in China to train with and just working out all the little details. "I had to make sure all the little bits that worried me were taken care of and that I'd be happy with it and then I'll be fine (on the water). "There are a lot of logistics involved. You want to get it just right as well, because if you blow it, that's it." Kendall, Olympic champion in 1992, had just completed a 60-minute run around the hills of Auckland and was organising visas for herself and her husband Shayne ahead of a regatta at Qingdao, the venue for the Olympic sailing programme. She also had to arrange visas for her two children, Samantha and Aimee, who will join their parents for the last five days of the Games. "It's a bit of a complicated itinerary actually as we juggle children and comings and goings. And our sanity," the former dance school manager added, laughing. "It's like that a lot, just trying to work out what is best so you feel like you're being a mother, I couldn't just up and leave them. There is just no way I could do that. "It's too hard emotionally and so it's just juggling what is the most amount of time you want to leave them." Now that she was on her final preparations, Kendall said she could concentrate on adding to her impressive Olympic record. She won New Zealand's only gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games, following the example of her brother Anthony who was Olympic windsurfing champion in 1988. Barbara added a silver in Atlanta in 1996 and bronze at Sydney in 2000. She finished fifth in Athens. She has also won three world titles, with the 2002 win in Thailand coming just months after the birth of Samantha, and has been named New Zealand's sportswoman of the year three times. Despite Beijing being only weeks away, Kendall said she was not getting excited about competing. The length of the regatta at a Games meant she rarely did. "I don't think I have really been excited for the Olympics. You get the odd little excitement buzz and I get that now but really you're going into something that is quite intense. "If our regatta was like two days then you'd have a lot more adrenaline going but knowing that our regatta lasts for 10 days then it's going to be a real mental toughness to be able to stay within that focus or zone for 10 days. "That's never an exciting thought, knowing that you're going to be keeping yourself in a mental zone where you're stress (free) and calm but so focused that you're ready to go at the drop of a hat. "That's one of the hardest things in sailing." Conditions in Qingdao would be difficult, she said. "It's just not a windy spot. If we're lucky enough to have a typhoon come past then we'll have some great sailing. If it doesn't, there is going to be a lot of waiting around for a decent amount of wind. "It's such a tidal place that if we don't get enough wind then we could be fighting against the current." Kendall said she had been training specifically for the lighter conditions to try to get her weight down while retaining the strength needed to pump the sail in the conditions. "Everyone knows that it is going to be light conditions so that is what everyone is going to be working on. They're not my favourite conditions but I'm not too bad in it." No-one should write her off because of the conditions, however, she said. "Maybe they (other competitors) think I'm too old," she said laughing again. "They'll probably be thinking the winds are too light and that you have to be really fit and strong and that I'm too old and won't be able to recover, well, ha ha ha, guess what?" Kendall, who turns 41 on August 30, said she had not ruled out the possibility of competing in London in 2012. "I haven't written it off, no. I'm never going to say never because you just don't do that," she said. "But who knows? I'll be 44 or 45 and there won't be anyone that old. I'd like to but it depends on what happens." — Reuters |
|
Pak board suspends Asif
Lahore, July 15 Asif, who was also left out of the 30-member list of probables for the Champions Trophy, will not be allowed to take part or associate himself with any activity related with the PCB, the ICC or the ICC members until a final decision on his dope result is reached. "The PCB hereby suspends Mohammad Asif with immediate effect from participating in cricket including its organisation, administration and promotion conducted by or under the auspices of PCB, ICC or ICC members until final decision which includes appeal," PCB Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi told a press conference here. Naghmi said PCB has a zero tolerance towards doping and condemns any such practice in all forms and manifestations. "The PCB is WADA compliant and has a comprehensive Anti Doping Policy which extends to all cricketers under the jurisdiction of PCB," he said. He said that the PCB will offer any assistance asked by IPL Drug Tribunal and is under obligation to recognise and enforce any penalty pursuant to the Anti-Doping regulations of the ICC and its members. "We will also be closely associated with the proceedings of BCCI/IPL Drugs Tribunal as under schedule 2 item 9 of the ICC Anti Doping Code. PCB is entitled to attend the proceedings of the IPL Drug Tribunal as it has a legitimate interest in the outcome of the hearing," he said. —
PTI
Pins hopes on 'B' sample test
Pakistan's beleaguered pacer Mohammad Asif will seek a 'B' sample test after flunking a dope test during the Indian Premier League and has hired a top lawyer to prove his innocence.
"I have discussed the case with Mohammad Asif today and we have decided to exercise the option of asking for his sample 'B' to be also tested," Shahid
Karim, Asif’s lawyer said today. "Generally the odds may be against us but I think a few legal aspects of this case are in our favour and we can prove Asif's innocence," Karim said. Without elaborating what the legal aspects were, Karim said they were bright chances that there could have been technical and other errors while Asif's samples were collected during the IPL and he was asked to fill in the prescribed form supplied by the people who took the tests. Karim said the most positive aspect of the case was that when he met Asif, his morale was high and he was confident of being cleared of the positive dope test. "He has kept on pleading his innocence and I believe he might be the victim of some error," the lawyer said. —
PTI |
|
Asif deserves no mercy, say Pak greats
Karachi, July 15 "It is time the board stopped supporting players who are constantly bringing a bad name to the country. Only time will tell if he is innocent or not but there is no doubt that Asif has been responsible for spoiling the image of Pakistan cricket not once but a number of times," former captain, Javed Miandad said. The former great also blamed the cricket board for the constant tarnishing of Pakistan cricket internationally. "The players are responsible for their behaviour but at the same time the board has encouraged them to indulge in indiscipline by constantly ignoring their past acts and refusing to get tough with them," he added. Miandad, who appeared in 124 Tests, said that it had become a joke the way Pakistani players were getting involved in dope scandals. "In 2006 the board was soft on Shoaib Akhtar and Asif. Last month their reaction to Asif's detention in Dubai was shocking. So now if they are faced with another dope scandal they are equally to blame and should be sacked." Miandad said even a top team like Australia had not spared their best player, Shane Warne, when he tested positive before the 2003 World Cup. "I have constantly said no player is bigger than the game. That is why Australia are number one today. They didn't compromise on discipline. Unfortunately in Pakistan there has been constant compromise on discipline," Miandad rued. He called on President Pervez Musharraf who is chief patron of the board to make officials accountable and even now set wrongs right by announcing a new cricket set-up. Former captain Zaheer Abbas said Asif's positive test was sad news for Pakistan cricket as it was not the first time he had been linked to a doping scandal. "I just can not understand why Pakistan cricketers are using drugs. I think PCB management is unable to restrict its player on such issues that is why they're enjoying all liberties," he said. He called for strict action to be taken against Asif if he proved guilty. "But first we must also confirm what substance he used in the IPL and whether it was for some therapy treatment," he said. Moin Khan too was not so sympathetic towards Asif. "His behaviour shows irresponsibility because if you're a player and representing your country's national team then you're the ambassador of the country, so you should not do things which give bad name to the country," he said. "Its been happening constantly, I think the board should do something because it is not good for the country and of course for upcoming youngsters. So they have to take hard steps, they should ban such players or at least impose a big penalty on them," he added. Former captain and commentator Rameez Raja said Asif would have to reap what he had sowed. "I feel sorry that we could lose such a potentially good bowler. It is sad. But this latest doping scandal involving one of our players shows that perhaps the player have lost the respect and fear of the authorities," he said. "There has to be an understanding with the players which line they are not supposed to cross at any time. Unfortunately in recent times Pakistani players have been irresponsible and it has brought a bad name to the country." Rameez said that he feared for Asif's future as the bowler had tested positive during a WADA event. "I hope he is proven innocent but I fear for his future. It is a sorry state of affairs and it is reflecting in our performances," he lamented. — PTI
|
||
|
Colombo, July 15 The Indians will start their campaign with a three-day practice match against Sri Lanka Board XI from Friday. The squad: Anil Kumble (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, RP Singh, Munaf Patel and Pragyan Ojha.
|
|
Thai boxers exiled to avoid nightlife lure
Bangkok, July 15 Taweep said he was concerned his fighters would be hassled by family and the media, and lured into Bangkok's myriad of clubs and bars because of their celebrity status. ''I'm keeping them in Vietnam right up until the Games because I worry about what they will do at home,'' Taweep told Reuters. ''They need to know they are not yet the best in the world and have to work hard for their medals.'' Thailand's previous medal-winning fighters, many of whom are former kickboxers from poor backgrounds, have achieved instant fame and earned reputations for their exuberant party lifestyles. Somluck Kamsing, who became the country's first ever Olympic champion in 1996, blew his chances of repeating the feat in Sydney by skipping training to work on his acting and singing career. — Reuters |
|
Jr Asia Cup
Hyderabad, July 15 Coaches of Singapore and Malaysian teams said they were stunned to see the so-far-unbeaten Indians fielding some "senior" players in the tournament here. The Indian team officials, have, however, strongly denied that any of their players were overaged. Chiow Chuan Lim, coach of Singapore and Muralidharan, coach of Malaysia, demanded that the Asian and International Hockey Federations evolve a scientific approach to eradicate the malpractice. "It is not only India, Pakistan and Bangladesh but even the Europeans have been fielding over-age players in FIH recognised tournaments for a long long time. We have been facing this problem even in junior World Cups," Lim fumed. "The FIH and all the continental federations have to address this problem and put in place a scientific approach to eradicate this," he said. An equally miffed Muralidharan said he would have pursued the matter more vigorously if he had some documentary proof in hand. "It has been happening for a couple of years. We cannot make a complaint but we have been requesting them to resolve this issue of teams fielding over-age players in FIH and AHC recognised tournaments. Our perception is that these players are over aged but we do not have written proof to challenge this," he rued. "For example, Sunil playing here was registered for the Azlan Shah tournament in May this year as a 25-year-old. This is what my players are also saying. If he was 25 in May this year how can he be 21 now?" Muralidharan asked. "But there is nothing we can do. It is very disappointing ... we are not playing on a level field. I think, this is the best platform for the FIH and the AHC officials to address this problem when they meet here this weekend." Muralidharan and Lim said India has at least six over-age players in their ranks. "There is a general feeling that a minimum of six players are overage. We never made any official complaint since we do not have any proof but our view is that we have been seeing some of the players for a long time at junior levels," Muralidharan alleged. "Perhaps one or two of such players can be roped in for both junior and senior level but not nine or 10. If a player is playing at the senior level for three or four years, it is surmised that they would have been playing at the junior level from the age of 16. Based on that, we feel that these players are over-age," he said. — PTI
|
|
In-form India face Pak in semis
Hyderabad, July 15 Japan will meet pool B topper South Korea in the second semi-final at the Gachibowli Stadium. India were hardly tested as they topped Pool A with three successive wins to send a warning to the opponents. They brushed aside Japan 2-0, tamed Malaysia 3-1 before pounding Singapore 6-0 - scoring 11 goals, conceding only one, in the process. Past records, however, would count for little when India lock horns with Pakistan, who finished second in Pool B. India's facile wins, however, could not gloss over poor penalty corner conversion, their perennial achilles' heel. They managed five penalty corners against Japan but converted just two and it was the same story against Malaysia as well. Against Singapore, India forced as many as 13 penalty corners but only three resulted in goals. — PTI |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Wellington, July 15
Lahore, July 15
Colombo, July 15
Two tourists run past the Olympic ‘Fuwa’ mascots as they race for their flight at the new International airport in Beijing on Tuesday. China vowed to step up security for the Beijing Olympics, warning of an unprecedented threat to the Games amid reports that two ‘terrorists’ were executed in the mainly Muslim far northwest. With up to 80 heads of state expected to attend the August 8 opening ceremony, China said it was faced with a "huge responsibility" to defend its own people, Olympic athletes and visiting dignitaries. —
AFP
Budapest, July 15
