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Beijing, August 7
Argentina’s Lionel Messi, cleared to play in the Olympics after striking a late deal with his club Barcelona, celebrated by scoring the opener and creating the winner as the South Americans beat Ivory Coast 2-1 on Thursday.

Messi’s participation in the Games had been in serious doubt after Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Wednesday that Barcelona was not obliged to release him for the tournament.

But after a deal was struck over insurance cover for potential injury and a commitment that the forward would not play in international friendlies for one year, Messi took the field in Shanghai. After a lively start from Ivory Coast, who played with plenty of pace and ambition, Argentina went close through forward Sergio Aguero who had a shot saved in the seventh minute and then blasted wide from a promising position 20 minutes later.

Ivory Coast forward Salaman Kalou had an effort disallowed for offside but Argentina were growing in confidence and fluency and after Riquelme had gone close with a free-kick, Messi found the breakthrough.

Riquelme threaded a superb pass into the path of Messi who showed great composure as he effortlessly slotted home. The Africans fought back though after the break when Sekou Cisse rose superbly at the back post and his firm header flashed past Oscar Ustari to make it 1-1.

Messi, lively throughout, set up Aguero for a shot on goal that was ruled out for offside in the 65th and then with four minutes of normal time remaining he produced the inspiration for the winner.

Jinking in from the left, Messi fired in a low, diagonal drive which was parried out into the path of substitute Lautaro Acosta who slotted into the unguarded goal to ensure Argentina move top of Group A. Rivals Australia and Serbia drew 1-1 earlier on Wednesday. — Reuters

Shenyang, August 7
Hosts China needed a late equaliser to snatch a 1-1 draw with rank outsiders New Zealand in the Olympic soccer tournament on Thursday. Former gold medallists and fellow Africans Nigeria and Cameroon were also involved in stalemates against the Netherlands and South Korea respectively.

Nigeria drew 0-0 with the Netherlands in Group B and Cameroon were held 1-1 by South Korea in Group D. Despite having Steven Old sent off for a second bookable offence in the 39th minute, New Zealand stunned a packed crowd at the Shenyang Olympic stadium when Jeremy Brockie scored eight minutes after the restart of their Group C game.

China, keen to avoid more embarrassment after recently being knocked out of the World Cup qualifiers, salvaged a point when substitute Dong Fangzhuo headed in at the near post with two minutes to play. Georges Mandjeck scored in the 81st minute to give Cameroon, winners in Sydney in 2000, a point after Park Chu Young's goal had put South Korea ahead in the 68th minute in Group D.

Earlier, Italy and the United States made winning starts to their campaigns while Australia and Serbia drew 1-1. Sebastian Giovinco gave Italy the lead in the 41st minute of their Group D match against Honduras. Just four minutes later they doubled their advantage through a Giuseppe Rossi penalty.

Italy put the game well beyond the reach of the Hondurans when Robert Acquafresca was brought down by keeper Kevin Hernandez and rose to convert the penalty and make it 3-0. In Group B, the United States were in charge for much of their game against Japan but it was only a strike from Stuart Holden, two minutes after the break, that secured them a winning start.

Marshell Wynne powered down the right flank and put in a low cross which Holden struck straight at Shusaku Nishikawa but the Japan keeper poorly let the ball under his body. Ruben Zadkovich put Australia ahead against Serbia in the 69th minute but the lead lasted just nine minutes before Rajkovic’s equaliser. — Reuters

Beijing, August 7
China has everything in place to stage an Olympic Games that will change the world’s perception of the country, International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Jacques Rogge said on the eve of the opening ceremony.

“We are extremely eager to get the Games going. It is kind of an expectation an athlete has before competing,” he said. “We have prepared for seven years and done everything needed. You long for the competition.” Rogge reiterated that he had faith in China’s organisers despite criticism of the country’s human rights record and other sensitive issues.

China plans to showcase itself on a grand scale in the August 8-24 Games which bring together around 11,000 athletes from 205 countries in 28 sports, with 302 gold medals to be won. “The Games differ in terms of identity. This will change the perception of China. The Games will help the world to understand China better and perhaps help China to understand the world better,” said Rogge.

A day earlier, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that Barcelona, as well as the German clubs Schalke and Werder Bremen could recall their Brazilian players, Rafinha and Diego respectively, from the Games. Both also played as Brazil snatched a late 1-0 win over Belgium.

The ruling prompted an angry response from football supremo Joseph Blatter, who pleaded to the clubs to let them stay in China. So did Rogge, who said: "I plea along with Joseph Blatter to leave the players in China and let them live their dream. Football is very important.

We are keen to have the best possible players at the tournament." Although ready to host the Games, China is walking a thin line between full control by the communist government and openness demanded by the international community and the IOC whose values could be dented by too many restrictions.

But Rogge said: "The position of the IOC is very clear: Wherever in a country people are they have to respect the laws of that country.” Thursday, China's organisers had to issue a public apology in the media centre when opening ceremony restrictions in the form of an extra sticker on the accreditation badge were also - wrongly - demanded Thursday on entering the media centre.

Reporters were as furious as last week when it took several days to get the Chinese to at least partly live up to their promise of unrestricted internet access for the Olympic media. US President George W. Bush was the most prominent visitor to arrive Thursday as more than 80 heads of state and other dignitaries are to attend the grand opening in the National Stadium Friday.

Chinese President Hu Jintao will be working overtime officially opening the Games and meeting with Bush, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and others.

The celebration will see basketball star Yao Ming as flag-bearer for the Chinese team while China and Sudan could be embarrassed when the US team follows the Stars and Stripes held by Sudan-born refugee Lopez Lomong. The Swiss flag will be carried by Roger Federer on his 27th birthday and Federer hopes to get tennis gold.

“To win the US Open or the Olympics would certainly save it (the season)," said Federer. The 120th IOC Session ended Thursday with elections for seats in the powerful IOC executive board. The 1984 400m hurdles gold medallist Nawal El Moutawakel of Morocco was the first woman from the Muslim world to join the EB. Others included former Namibian sprinter Frankie Fredericks, who is the athletes' representative. — DPA

On the eve of the opening of the Beijing Olympics, it is tempting sometimes to be negative about what is supposedly the world’s most prestigious and honourable sporting festival. One does not have to look too far to discover.

Who could not survey the catalogue of top Olympians over the past two decades, from Ben Johnson to Marion Jones, who have been caught taking performance-enhancing drugs, and not feel depressed? There is also plenty to object to in the tone of national chauvinism that swirls around the Games. This year, the battle between China and America to top the medal tables has been talked up endlessly. Britain, we are told, wants fourth place in the London 2012 Games. In this moral universe, all that seems to matter is the number of medallions handed out. Sportsmanship goes by the board. The maxim of the founder of the modern games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, appears to have been turned on its head. What matters is not the taking part, but the winning.

Some take exception to the bloated nature of the Games. What else, other than a desire to maximise television and sponsorship revenues, could explain the decision by the International Olympic Committee to include the fabulously wealthy pursuits of football and tennis in the roster of Olympic sports? The likes of Rafael Nadal and Lionel Messi, who are in Beijing, would not regard an Olympic gold medal as anything other than a minor bauble in the grand scheme of their careers. So why should the rest of us care? There are parochial explanations for a lack of enthusiasm too. From a British perspective, the days of the great dramatic rivalries between the likes of Seb Coe and Steve Ovett are receding into the distance. What is there left to get excited about?

There is an element of truth in all of these criticisms. But it is important not to lose sight of what the Games, at their best, can still be about. If there are grounds for despair, there are ample reasons for hope too. To grasp that, it is necessary to remember what marks the Olympics out from other international sporting events. What makes the Games unique is the forum they provide for smaller sports, the pursuits that lack mass appeal. — By arrangement with The Independent

Beijing, August 7
After surrendering the silverware, aura and much more to Rafael Nadal in Wimbledon, Roger Federer simply cannot afford to lose focus here and the world number one today said he would not stay in the Olympic Village to avoid the constant attention from other athletes.

Tired of requests from athletes to pose with them or scribble on their autograph book, the tennis icon said enough is enough and he is moving out of the village.

"It's impossible really, there are so many athletes asking for photos and so on. It is not ideal to prepare," Federer, who turns 27 tomorrow, told reporters here today.

"I'll go down once in a while to see other Swiss athletes," added the Swiss star, who would surrender the world number one spot to Nadal later this month.

"Rafa has done well this year but my focus is on this tournament," said Federer, who was not too keen to dwell on contemporary tennis' most intriguing rivalry.

Instead, Federer waxed eloquence on how Olympic is as important as Wimbledon for him.

"To represent my country is very important for me. Olympics ranks right up there with the Grand Slams. It would mean as much as a Wimbledon victory to win gold. 95 per cent of the top players are here and that shows we are very proud that tennis is part of the Olympics," Federer said.

"It's really a dream-come-true to be part of it, walking into the stadium at the opening ceremony. I am thrilled I get to carry the flag on my birthday and you can imagine what it means to me," he added.

Asked to choose between Olympic gold and a Grand Slam title to equal Pete Sampras' record 14, Federer said, "I want to win both. Right now I don't have to choose. I want to win the French Open, Olympic Games, other Grand Slams and try to break records."

Seeking to reduce the pressure of expectations on his shoulder, Federer said he would try his best but losing here would not mean end of all roads.

"I really hope to win gold here, otherwise at Wimbledon 2012," he said. — PTI

Beijing, August 7
Nine-times Olympic champion Carl Lewis has no doubts about the most treasured of his gold medals - the one stripped from drug cheat Ben Johnson.

The US track athlete and Johnson, a Jamaican-born Canadian sprinter, were among the best known sportsmen in the world in 1988 and intense rivals when they raced in the 100m at the Seoul Games where Johnson won in world record time.

But three days after beating Lewis, Johnson tested positive for the banned steroid stanozolol and was stripped of the gold medal that was awarded to Lewis.

“That medal is the one that proved I really did it right," Lewis told Reuters in an interview.

"That is the medal that talks to the kids in the world to say do the right thing, not the wrong thing, and stick to what you believe in. That is what that medal stands for me."

Lewis said his first gold medal, won at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, showed he had worked hard to get to this level while his last gold, won in 1996 in Atlanta, showed he had lasted the distance. Lewis, 47, retired from the sport in 1997. But the 1988 medal stands out for him.

Lewis, the defending Olympic champion, had not only lost his world title to Johnson in the previous year but had also alleged that Johnson was a drugs cheat. It turned out he was right. — Reuters

Beijing, August 7
A tough Olympic draw pitted Sania Mirza against her Czech nemesis Iveta Benesova in the first round and even if she clears this hurdle, greater danger awaits the Indian in the second round where former world number one Venus Williams is likely to cross swords with her.

The men's doubles pair of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, however, got a better deal with the 'Indian Express' duo kicking off their campaign against French pair of Gael Monfils and Gilles Simons on Sunday.

Unfortunately, Sania was not similarly lucky. In fact, clearing the first round hurdle in singles would prove a tough task for world number 60, who has been not in the best of her form of late.

Past records also provide no glimmer of hope as Sania's all three previous attempts to crack the Benesova code came to a zilch with the Czech, currently world number 56, having the last laugh on all three occasions incidentally all via three-setters.

The Sania-Benesova duel dates back to 2005 in Los Angeles where the Czech won it 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 and history was repeated next year at S'Hertogenbosch. This year, they met in Stockholm and though Sania seized early initiative by winning the first set, the Czech came back from behind to maintain a 3-0 lead in the head-to-head count.

But assuming Sania manages to pull it off this time, she is set to run into reigning Wimbledon champions Venus Williams in the next.

Venus faces Timea Bacsinszky in her first round but the unheralded Swiss stands no real chance against the illustrious seventh seed, who won the gold in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

In women's doubles, the makeshift pair of Sania and Sunitha Rao was handed a draw that makes their progress beyond the second round quite a doubt.

The Indians will have to be on their toes against the French pair of Tatiana Golovin and Pauline Parmentier and once they win that battle, they are likely to face top seeded Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova and Dinara Safina in the second round.

It would require well night a miracle for the obscure Italian duo of Mara Santangelo and Roberta Vinci to upset the Russian applecart in the opening round.

In men's doubles, India's best bet Paes and Bhupathi will meet the Gael-Gilles pair in the first round and going by rankings, the French pair should not prove much of a trouble for the Indians.

In the second round, they would meet the winners of the Czech pair of Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek and the Brazilian duo of Marcelo Melon and Andrea Sa.

Incidentally, Stepanek had won an ATP title with Paes in 2004 and had also teamed up with Bhupathi subsequently. — PTI

Patiala, August 7
Is weightlifter Monika Devi, currently in the eye of a doping storm, really guilty of a doping violation or is it a plain goof up by the SAI lab authorities in New Delhi which has led to the lifters exit from the Beijing Olympics contingent?

The doping test conducted by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) laboratory on Monika Devi has thrown up two different results. Documents in possession with this correspondent reveal that SAI lifted urine samples of the lifter and two other woman lifters on June 6 and June 29 when the lifters were training at the Army Institute of Sports (AIS) in Pune.

The other lifters whose urine samples were picked along with Monika were Chayya Devi and Pujari Shailja. The SAI goof up starts here. On July 16, SAI comes out with a report, signed by R.K Naidu, director (Teams), SAI, and which is addressed to Sqn Leader B.K Gulati, secretary general of the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF). The findings of the report clearly state that ‘no banned substance’ has been found in Monika Devi’s samples. The samples of the lifter were checked under sample code 373659 and Laboratory Code (LC) number 2349 at SAI lab in New Delhi.

However, on August 6, just days before the departure of Monika Devi to Beijing, SAI came out with yet another report which stated that ‘adverse findings of use of endogenous steroid and its precursor’. Intriguingly, this report carries the same Sample Code and the same Laboratory Code which was mentioned in the July 16 report. In layman’s language this report means that Monika Devi’s body produced more testosterone due to the overuse of anabolic steroids.

Both the reports carry the signatures of the director (Teams), SAI, New Delhi.

Many claim that this goof up by SAI has led to Monika Devi’s exit from the Beijing-bound contingent.

Meanwhile, Santosh Kumar, husband of Monika, has claimed that the lifter was being framed by certain vested interests including officials of SAI, IWF and the Andhra Pradesh Weightlifting Association (APWA). He claimed that a particular official of SAI, who was hand in glove with some officials of the APWA, did not wish to see Monika in the Olympic contingent. He added that when Monika had been cleared in the July 16 report of SAI, how could she be found on dope for the same sample in the August 6 report? Santosh said that if the need arises, he would move court if Monika’s name was not cleared of the doping violations.

Colombo, August 7
Departing from a tradition of retaining a winning side, India will field Parthiv Patel and not Dinesh Karthik as wicketkeeper in the deciding the third and final Test against Sri Lanka, with the series currently level at 1-1. The latter’s work with the gloves has, unfortunately, been so worrying - not to mention his incomprehensively rash batting - there was no alternative to dropping him.

As for Sri Lanka, right arm fast-medium Dammika Prasad who was among the wickets in India’s only pre-series warm-up game, or Thilan Thushara, left-arm fast-medium, could replace Nuwan Kulasekara, while it’s a toss-up between a struggling Michael Vandort and Chamara Kapugedera, who can also bowl medium pace.

The pitch at the P. Saravanamuttu Oval, home of the 109-year-old local Tamil Union Cricket & Athletic Club, looks interesting. On Wednesday, it was full of grass. A day later, after a mower had clearly been on overdrive, only a green strip stump to stump remained, with the rest of the pitch quite brown.

But the wicket appears to be firmer than other Sri Lankan tracks; and could, therefore, be conducive to quicker bowling. The spinners may also be pleased with the prospect of greater bounce. It should also assist stroke-play.

If net practice is any evidence, Ishant Sharma beat the bat often; and Sachin Tendulkar middled the ball impressively. The rest went through the motions, barring Virender Sehwag, who didn’t exert himself with the willow after his purple patch in the previous Test. The Sri Lankans, though, are plotting to get him early.

While opener Malinda Warnapura has been fairly consistent, the Sri Lankan batting is somewhat reliant on captain Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. Thilan Samaraweera has also so far enjoyed a successful series.

But as Ishant Sharma proved in the second innings at Galle, his pace and bounce can be a little too hot for the home batsmen.

But the layer of grass on the surface could conspire with Chaminda Vaas’ medium paced cutters. It is an aspect the Indians need to be vigilant about, not to mention the dual jeopardy of Muttiah Muralitharan (a former captain of the Tamil Union) and Ajantha Mendis.

In the absence of Gary Kirsten, who had to fly off to Cape Town to attend to his ailing mother, the onus has descended heavily on Anil Kumble, to whom the former “handed over the reins” before leaving. But with three former captains in Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid and bowling coach, Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach, Robin Singh in the unit, there is no dearth of experience to fall back on.

In 76 years, India have never come from behind to win a Test series abroad. But this achievement seems within India’s grasp if they can perform to potential. Kumble and conditioning coach, Paddy Upton, need to motivate their men to undertake the leap of faith.

Colombo is unique in that it boasts four Test centres, that, too, being utilised concurrently. Of these, the Oval is where Sri Lanka made their maiden appearance in Tests in 1982.

The Indian team’s coach meanders from the visitors’ seafront hotel through “Slave Island” (where indentured labour from Tamil Nadu, Malaysia and Africa stopped over en route to tea gardens in the hilly interior of the country) and some depressed areas of the city to reach the ground.

The venue, too, is in a state of slight disrepair. But it possesses a cricketing ambience, with an ivy-covered scoreboard and petite stands and grass banks for seating. It’s where India are now called upon to make history.

Mumbai, August 7
Selectors today rested paceman Ishant Sharma and sprang a surprise by bringing Virat Kohli into the 16-member squad for the five-match one-day cricket series against Sri Lanka beginning August 18.

Ishant would be replaced by Munaf Patel in the series against Sri Lanka but would return for the September 12-28 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, a 15-member squad for which was also announced here.

A refreshed Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who gave a miss to the Tests series underway in Sri Lanka, will lead the team which has been boosted by the return of Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan for the two series.

But Parthiv Patel and Munaf Patel would be missing the Champions Trophy while middle order batsman Robin Uthappa, struggling to find form for sometime now, has been dropped along with Piyush Chawla and Yusuf Pathan.

S Sreesanth, who has recuperated from a shoulder injury, however, failed to make the cut for either of the two series.

"Selectors have decided that Sreesanth will have to prove his match fitness by playing domestic cricket before being considered for selection," Shah said in a statement.

The 19-year-old Kohli had led the team to Under-19 World Cup glory earlier this year and also contributed 235 runs to the title win in Malaysia.

He grabbed attention during his stint for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh reclaimed his place in the side after serving out the five-match ODI ban imposed on him by the BCCI for slapping Sreesanth during the Indian Premier League.

Irfan Pathan was retained despite failing to make much impact in the recent times.

Tendulkar will return to the shorter version of the game after missing an away series against Bangladesh and the Asia Cup in Pakistan owing to a groin injury.

He, however, later recuperated to play in the later stages of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition at home.

Squads: For ODI series against Sri Lanka: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Yuvraj Singh (vice-captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Virat Kohli, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Irfan Pathan, Parthiv Patel, Munaf Patel.

For Champions Trophy: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Yuvraj Singh (vice-captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Virat Kohli, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma. — PTI

Hyderabad, August 7
Striker Sunil Chetri’s header helped hosts India defeat Myanmar by a solitary goal to move into the final of the AFC Challenge Cup football tournament played at GMC Balayogi stadium, here today.

Both the teams got several chances but could not utilise them, with wet ground conditions making it difficult for them. India’s star striker Baichung Bhutia was heavily marked by Myanmar defenders Win Moe and Maung Lwin Khin and was not allowed to make his moves in front of the goal mouth.

Finally, India broke the deadlock in the 81st minute with Sunil Chetri’s header off a pass from Steven Dias through a couple of players in front of the goal. India, after gaining a crucial 1-0 lead, kept the momentum and did not allow the opposition to score with all falling back to defend.

Initially, it was Myanmar which dominated the game and got a golden chance to take the lead in the 34th minute with striker Paing Yan’s powerful shot being cleared by Indian defender Anwar. Couple of minutes later, India too got a good chance but Myanmar defenders cleared Bhutia’s shot.

India, too, got an opportunity in the 40th minute when Myanmar goal keeper Aung Aung Oo coming out this time while Sunil Chetri’s shot went out far side. Immediately after the interval, India got a series of chances but ball could not move in the soggy ground due to heavy rains.