Colombo, August 29
It turned out to be a meek surrender by India. Though the match was inconsequential India having won the one-day series, Indians disgraced themselves in the last outing of the five-match series, going down by whopping 124 runs.

Batting first, Sri Lanka recovered in time to post a modest 228-run target for India. Chasing this total, India batting came a cropper. Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara first jolted the innings with a four-wicket burst. Then Ajantha Mendis continued to be the mystery bowler, finishing with a flattering haul of four wickets in just 4.3 overs as India from 70 for three at one stage slumped to 103 all out.

Rookie opener Virat Kohli with 31 runs was the highest scorer from the side as only Gambhir (11), Yuvraj (17) and Raina (10) could reach double figures as Sri Lanka salvaged pride with a consolation win in the last match to make it 3-2 in India’s favour.

An unbroken seventh wicket partnership of 94 from 78 balls between Jehan Mubarak and Thilan Thushara set India a target of 228 to chase under lights.

The pair revived the Sri Lankan innings, which had slumped to 133 for six after 37 overs, to reach 227 from their 50 overs without further loss.

India hold an unbeatable 3-1 lead after winning the fourth match.

Mubarak finished on 47 not out from 55 balls with three fours. Thushara, who is enjoying a good series with both bat and ball, was unbeaten on 54, his maiden one-day fifty from 46 balls with six fours.

Sri Lanka got off to a poor start after Mahela Jayawardene had won his first toss of the series and decided to bat first.

They lost Sanath Jayasuriya in the second over for one when he top-edged a short ball from Zaheer Khan to third man.

A 77-run stand between Malinda Warnapura and Mahela Udawatte restored the innings before Irfan Pathan made a double strike in his second over by dismissing both batsmen within two runs of each other.

Warnapura played a poor shot and was caught at cover for 30 and Udawatte, who had been stroking the ball well with six fours, was trapped lbw for 43 when he shuffled across his stumps.

The Sri Lankan innings lost momentum as Kumar Sangakkara's dismal form continued and he edged a catch to slip for one.

Jayawardene (12) and Kapugedera (26) were dismissed by left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha who bowled a fine line and length to finish with two for 28 off 10 overs including four maidens.

Scoreboard
Sri Lanka

Jayasuriya c Ojha b Zaheer 1

Warnapura c Gambhir b Pathan 30

Udawatte lbw Pathan 43

Sangakkara c Gambhir b RP Singh 1

M. Jayawardene c Yuvraj b Ojha 12

Kapugedera c RP Singh b Ojha 26

Mubarak not out 47

Thushara not out 54

Extras (lb-6, w-6, nb-1) 13

Total (6 wkts, 50 overs) 227

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-78, 3-80, 4-82, 5-104, 6-133

Bowling: Munaf 7-1-20-0, Zaheer 10-1-49-1, RP Singh 8-0-54-1, Irfan Pathan 10-0-52-2, Ojha 10-4-28-2, Rohit Sharma 2-0-7-0, Yuvraj 3-0-11-0.

India

Kohli lbw Kulasekara 31

Gambhir c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 11

Yuvraj b Mendis 17

Raina c Fernando b Kulasekara 10

Rohit Sharma lbw Kulasekara 3

Dhoni b Fernando 1

I. Pathan c Warnapura b Mendis 7

Zaheer lbw Mendis 3

RP Singh c Jayawardene b Fernando 4

Ojha c Kulasekara b Mendis 5

Munaf not out 4

Extras (b-1, lb-2, w-4) 7

Total (all out; 26.3 overs) 103

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-45, 3-70, 4-76, 5-79, 6-85, 7-90, 8-91, 9-95

Bowling: Kulasekara 9-2-40-4, Thushara 6-0-26-0, Fernando 7-1-24-2, Mendis 4.3-2-10-4

Player of the match: N. Kulasekara

Player of the series: MS Dhoni 

New Delhi, August 29
President Pratibha Patil presented the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya, Dhyan Chand and Tenzing Norgay sports awards at a function at the Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan here this evening.

The distinguished gathering included Vice-President Dr Hamid Ansari, sports minister Dr M.S. Gill, former Olympians Ajitpal Singh and Pargat Singh and cricketer Chetan Chauhan.

Indian ODI team cricket captain and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee Mahendra Singh Dhoni is presently leading the Indian team in the ODI series against Sri Lanka in Lanka, and therefore, could not be present to receive the award, the highest sporting honour of the country.

His award was collected by his father Pan Singh Dhoni. Dhoni's mother was also present, but both refused to say anything to the media.

"Leave us alone," they said and rushed off as soon as the awards function was over without attending the customary tea party hosted by the President.

The only other cricketer to receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award was Sachin Tendulkar in 1998.

Others who missed the presentation ceremony were chess queen Harika Dronavalli, who is playing abroad, and golfer Arjun Atwal. While Harika's award was collected by her sister, Atwal's trophy was received by his father.

Hockey star Probhjot Singh said though the Arjuna Award had come to him a bit too late, after playing in the international circuit for over a decade, it was better late than never.

"I am happy", he said smiling. But he wished that it was better had the award come after playing in the Beijing Olympics, for which India had failed to qualify.

Among the total number of 23 award winners, there were only five women - Tombi Devi (judo), Avneet Kaur Sidhu (shooting), Alka Tomar (wrestling), Chitra K Soman (athletics) and Harika Dronavalli (chess). All were Arjuna Award winners.

Punjabi University vice-chancellor Jaspal Singh received the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy for the best sports university in the country.

Following are the award winners: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna: Mahender Singh Dhoni (cricket). The award carries a prize money of Rs 5 lakh.

Dronacharya Award (cash prize Rs 3 lakh): Sanjeev Kumar Singh (archery), Jagdish Singh (boxing), G.E. Sridharan (volleyball) and Jagminder Singh (wrestling).

Arjuna Award (cash prize Rs 3 lakh): Chitra Soman (athletics), Anup Sridhar (badminton), Johnson Varghese (boxing), Harika Dronavalli (chess), Arjun Atwal (golf), Probhjot Singh (hockey), Tombi Devi (judo), Bajranglal Takhar (rowing), Avneet Kaur Sidhu (shooting), Alka Tomar (wrestling) and Farman Basha (powerlifting, disabled).

Dhyan Chand Award: Hakam Singh (athletics), Mukhbain Singh (hockey) and Gian Singh (wrestling).

Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award: Neel Chand, Mohinder Singh, Tushar Kanti Rath and Captain M.S.Kohli.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy: Punjabi University, Patiala. The university received Rs 10 lakh.

New Delhi, August 29
National football coach Bob Houghton, who guided India to AFC Challenge Cup victory, has expressed his keenness to continue at the helm of affairs for a second tenure to take the country to a higher level in Asian football.

The win in the AFC Challenge Cup had earned India and a berth in the 2011 Asian Cup after 24 years.

On Tuesday, All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi had told PTI that Houghton's current contract, which expires in June next year, will be extended at least till 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Doha and the coach reciprocated by setting new goals for Indian football.

"Qualifying for the Asian Cup is only our first goal, and next we'll see about booking a place at the 2018 World Cup. My contract expires at the end of this year (season), but both the AIFF and I are keen to extend it.

"I'm aiming to develop a new generation that will make India proud in Asian competition in the years to come," Houghton told official FIFA website.

Though it is not known whether Houghton was talking after Dasmunshi's decision to give him a second tenure, the 60-year-old Englishman is happy that his two-year stay as coach has brought a sea-change in the football fortunes of the country.

"I'm very satisfied with the team's performance, and their success has sparked a lot of excitement and passion for football across the country. Football in India has also made a giant leap forward at club level also," the former China and Uzbekistan coach said.

"I've had two very happy years with India. During this period, the team played 23 games and we've only lost three. In the process, we won the Nehru Cup in 2007, as well as the Challenge Cup.

"We have a relatively stable first eleven now. Quite a few young talents have broken into the senior side, while the experienced players also have key roles to play," said Houghton, who took over as India coach in June 2006.

The consistent progress that Indian players have made in the two years has impressed the globe-trotting Houghton and he now strongly recommends them to move to Europe to play club football there, which has proved such an important path to improvement for many other Asian nations, including China.

"When I coached China in 1998, they had no overseas-based players -- they simply didn't believe in themselves. But after the team's encouraging results, like the win over Japan in the EAFF Championship, some top players like Fan Zhiyi and Sun Jihai made high-profile transfers to European clubs.

"We have a host of talented players like Sunil Chhetri, who have the potential to earn a move to Europe," he said, singling out the 24-year-old striker, who scored a hat-trick against Tajikistan in the AFC Challenge Cup final.

"We must make the Indian people believe their players can make it," said Houghton whose coaching career has spanned 30 years and 10 different countries. — PTI 

Chandigarh, August 29
The Haryana Olympic Association (HOA) headed by Abhey Singh Chautala today condemned the alleged move of the Haryana government “to capture the duly elected body of HOA by issuing a clandestine order” of appointment of returning officer Justice G.C. Garg (retd) for conducting the HOA elections.

Criticising the move, M.S. Malik, IPS (retd) and secretary general, HOA, said that on the one side, the Haryana government was showing itself as the well-wisher of sports by announcing cash awards to the Beijing Olympians, while on the other, the government was indulging in “unconstitutional activities contrary to the spirit of Olympic movement/Charter by appointing the returning officer”.

The HOA elections were duly held at Sirsa on October 2, 2007, as per the constitution of HOA, where Abhey Singh Chautala was elected president. Other officer-bearers were elected unanimously for a further period of four years, Malik informed.

The IOA, the apex body running sports in the country, issued a certification that HOA, headed by Abhey Chautala as president, MS Malik, IPS (retd) as secretary general and Bhupender Singh as treasurer is affiliaited with the IOA, he informed. The alleged appointment of the returning officer was questioned by more than 30 affiliated sports units of the HOA, Malik said.

Malik wondered how elections of HOA can be held at this juncture when the term of the body was scheduled to expire in October 1, 2011. He alleged that the move was against the Olympic Charter.

New Delhi, August 29
Defending champions Churchill Brothers gave their campaign a flying start, outclassing Mumbai FC 3-1 while formidable Mahindra United thrashed a hapless Army XI 3-0 in the quarterfinals of the 121st Osian's Durand Cup here today.

Churchill stamped their authority all over the match with Odafa Oneyaka and Reisangmi Vashum running circles around the Mumbai FC defence.

The Goans could have gone ahead as early as the 10th minute when Kalu, who found himself unmarked inside the six-yard box, shot into the goalkeeper.

The Churchill forwards were putting their rival defence under constant pressure. Their efforts bore fruit when Onyeka scored in the 32nd minute. The sturdy Nigerian, after receiving a pass inside the penalty box, dodged past a defender and let fly. The ball deflected off another defender and landed in the net, catching goalkeeper Kalyan Choubey out of position.

The Goans consolidated their lead just a couple of minutes before the break with Onyeka again in the the thick of things. A pass from Kalu found him unmarked inside the box and the striker made no mistake.

The defending champions put the issue beyond doubt in the 71st minute with Onyeka again in the centre of the action. The Nigerian released a pass for Savio Monteiro whose shot hit the post. The ball rebounded back to Savio and the Goan made no mistake the second time. — UNI

New York, August 29
Ana Ivanovic was unceremoniously tossed out of the U.S. Open on Thursday by an obscure Frenchwoman who had never played a tour-level match before arriving at Flushing Meadows. 

Julie Coin set alight the Arthur Ashe Stadium court when she produced the match of her life to shatter the world number one's title hopes in the second round 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. 

hat she had never played a match on the WTA Tour, let alone at a grand slam, before this week failed to faze the 188th-ranked qualifier and she sealed the Serbian's fate after one hour 57 minutes of nerve-shredding drama. 

As Coin celebrated her moment of triumph by slamming a ball high into the stands and holding her arms aloft to lap up the applause from the hollering fans, a dejected Ivanovic was left to dwell on the worst showing by a women's top seed at the U.S. Open since 1966. 

Ivanovic would perhaps be best to wipe out memories of her 2008 New York jaunt but if she ever chooses to read up on it, it will make for grim reading. 

In two matches, she piled up an astonishing 74 unforced errors. 

Severine Bremond and Italy's Tathiana Garbin continued a day of upsets. Bremond secured a 7-5, 6-3 win over 20th seed Nicole Vaidisova and Garbin beat Hungarian 13th seed Agnes Szavay 5-7, 6-2, 6-3. 

Like Ivanovic, men's world number one Rafael Nadal faced a grand slam debutant. Unlike Ivanovic, though, Nadal emerged unscathed in a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 demolition of American qualifier Ryler DeHeart. 

Andy Murray narrowly avoided being stretched into a fifth set in his 6-4, 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 win over France's Michael Llodra, while ninth seed James Blake seemed set for a marathon encounter until his Belgian opponent Steve Darcis quit with a back injury. The American was leading 4-6, 6-3, 1-0. 

Jelena Jankovic came through another battle on Friday, edging past Zheng Jie 7-5, 7-5 to reach the fourth round. 

The Serbian, chasing her first grand slam title, scrambled into the last 16 after two hours nine minutes and will meet 14th seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus or Caroline Wozniacki, the Danish 21st seed. 

Having been pushed to three sets in the previous round, Jankovic again became embroiled in a tough encounter as Zheng matched her from the baseline. 

World number 37 Zheng saved four match points in a marathon 12th game of the second set which featured 11 deuces but Jankovic finally clinched victory when the Chinese netted a forehand. 

Women's singles third round result on Friday Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) beat Zheng Jie (China) 7-5, 7-5 

Men's singles second round results on Friday Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) beat Agustin Calleri (Argentina) 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(2) Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) beat Bobby Reynolds (U.S.) 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-4. — Reuters

BRIEFLY

New York
Bhupathi-Knowles advance: Mahesh Bhupathi and his partner Mark Knowles scored a comfortable straight sets win to advance to the second round of the US Open even as Rohan Bopanna and Pakistani teammate Aisam-ul-Haq-Qureshi bit the dust to crash out of the men's doubles event. Bhupathi and Knowles defeated the Swedish pair of Johan Brunstrom and Thomas Johansson 6-3, 6-4 in a little over one hour contest while Bopanna and Qureshi lost 5-7, 3-6 to the French pair of Marc Gicquel and Sebastien Grosjean in their opening match in one hour and 23 minutes on Thursday. Leander Paes has already reached the the second round along with his Czech partner Lukas Dlouhy. — PTI

New Delhi
No case pending against Jagdish: The government defended its decision to select boxing coach Jagdish Singh for the prestigious Dronacharya award, saying a high-level inquiry has found that the boxing coach had no criminal case pending against him. Jagdish was linked with the death of a boxer Sonu Chahal in a hostel in 2005 but nothing was proven and he has unanimously chosen by the selection committee for the honour owing to his contribution to the sport. — PTI

Perthshire
Kapur, Randhawa off to poor starts: Jyoti Randhawa's average card of one-over 74 had him tied 37th but compatriot Shiv Kapur's chances of making the cut look slim after the youngster opened with a seven-over 80 in the Johnnie Walker Championship here. Kapur was tied for the 134th spot and it would take nothing short of miracle for the Indian to remain in contention for weekend action at the Gleneagles. Randhawa's 74 included birdies on the first, ninth and 12th against bogeys on the second, fifth, 10th and 18th. Kapur, a 10th tee starter, sunk in birdies on the fourth and sixth after stumbling to bogeys on the 11th, 12th, 13th and first. The Delhi-pro also dropped double bogeys on the 15th and third. — PTI

Karachi
IPL postpones Asif's hearing: The Indian Premier League (IPL) officials have postponed the preliminary its drug inquiry tribunal hearing into the case of Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif but did not announce any fresh dates. The IPL had set the date of August 30 for the hearing but postponed it on the request of Asif and his lawyer Shahid Karim. "We have on Friday got a reply from IPL saying the hearing will not be held on August 30 and they will inform us of a date later on," Karim told PTI. A senior PCB official said the board will not interfere in the Asif case. — PTI

Guwahati
Hazarika swims 26 hours non-stop: Noted Assamese swimmer Elvis Ali Hazarika has set a record in the state by swimming for 26 hours at a stretch at the BP Chaliha swimming pool here and plans to swim the English Channel. Hazarika, who represented the country in several international meets, began swimming 2000 hrs on Wednesday and completed his feat at 2200 hrs on Thursday. — PTI