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Asia Cup next target, says Sandeep
‘Give Harendra charge till Olympics’
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Sania-Chuang clinch MPS title
It is her eighth career doubles title and her first in more than a year Florida, April 13 Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza lifted her first WTA title of the year, teaming up with Chinese Taipei's Chia-Jung Chuang to clinch the women's doubles trophy at the $ 220,000 MPS Group Championships here.
KXIP favorites to win title: Yuvraj
Cabrera wins Green Jacket after playoff
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Asia Cup next target, says Sandeep New Delhi, April 13 The Indian team contingent, including coach in-charge Harendra Singh, were received at Indira Gandhi International Airport here by officials and a few well-wishers. IOA-appointed ad-hoc committee member AK Mattoo and ad-hoc selection panel chairman Ajit Pal Singh were there at the airport to receive the team members. India regained the Azlan Shah Cup after 13 years after beating Malaysia 2-1 in the final in Ipoh yesterday. Captain Sandeep Singh said the team's next target was to do well in the Asia Cup next month. "It was a good performance by the team. Even before going for the tournament we knew we had a good team and we were confident. The next target is Asia Cup," he said. Praising SV Sunil, who stayed back with the team despite his father's demise, Sandeep said, "Sunil is a true soldier. Even in that situation he wanted to stay back. We dedicate the win to his father." Harendra expressed satisfaction with the victory but said the boys will have to improve if they want to do well in other tournaments. "It was satisfying (to win the Cup) but we need to improve a lot. We would sort out the problems in the camp before the next assignment," he said. The team touched down at the airport at around 2200 hrs. Senior player Dilip Tirkey, who became the most capped international player during the Azlan Shah Cup, said he would want to carry as long as possible and help the team win more tournaments. "As a senior player there was always pressure to perform. My aim would be to keep playing as long as possible and help the team," said the former captain. Team manager Dhanraj Pillay said the country can do well under Indian coaches. "We can do well under Indian coaches. I don't think we need foreign coaches. Indian coaches are better, they have produced great players," he said. — PTI
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‘Give Harendra charge till Olympics’
Bhaskaran, who was the coach of Indian team that finished at a disappointing 11th spot in the 2006 World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany, was of the view that Harendra should be handed over complete control of the side till the 2012 London Olympics. "The win is the result of positive thinking of coach-in-charge Harendra. He should be given time to prove himself till the 2012 London Olympics instead of bringing in Jose Brasa. I have been saying since long that a foreign coach is not very necessary to produce good results," Vasudevan told PTI. Bhaskaran's remark came a day after Sandeep Singh-led India men's team defeated hosts Malaysia 3-1 in the final yesterday to clinch their fourth Azlan Shah title since 1995. Bhaskaran, who was the captain of the gold medal-winning 1980 Moscow Olympics side, felt that coaches should be appointed on a long-term basis to give them ample time to produce results. "Ric Charlesworth asked for 10 years, I also think that coaches should be given more time. That's what happened with me and now Harendra should also be given the same duration," he said. "We need young and modern coaches to produce good results. Harendra has worked with me as an assistant and I know he always think positively." he added. Spaniard Brasa is tipped to become the next head coach of Indian hockey team, a post which is vacant since Charlesworth's sudden resignation in July. The Indian Olympic Association-appointed ad-hoc committee, running the affairs of the game in the country, has already given a final proposal to Brasa and is expecting to finalise his appointment within a month. Interestingly, Harendra, himself had been advocating the need for an overseas coach and many a times insisted that he will have no problem in working with Brasa. However, Bhaskaran, thinks differently and feels bringing in a new coach before important international assignments like next year's Delhi Commonwealth Games, World Cup and next month's Asia Cup, would only hamper the team's preparation. "Recruiting new coach before 2010 Commonwealth Games, World Cup or the Asia Cup will have a negative impact on team's performance. A new coach takes at least two years to put everything in order and hence, such a step will be bad for Indian hockey," he viewed. "It will be wise to create a pool of 40-50 probables before the three tournaments rather than creating hue and cry over a foreign coach," he added. The Arjuna Awardee hockey veteran, also heaped praise on skipper Sandeep, who was adjudged Player of the Tournament for his sterling display in the event. "It's a welcome win. It's not an easy task to beat teams like Pakistan and Malaysia. I am quite impressed with the performance of experienced drag-flicker Sandeep. His penalty corner conversion is a pleasant thing to watch. "I hope, India will figure among top eight in world ranking by the next year," he said.
— PTI |
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Sania-Chuang clinch MPS title
Florida, April 13 The unseeded duo stunned the top seeded Czech-American combine of Kveta Peschke and Lisa Raymond 6-3 4-6 10-7 in a gruelling one and a half hour battle to nocth up their first title together. "This was our second tournament together, so we have had a lot more match practice together. Kveta and Lisa have been playing for a long time and they're really experienced, and we're really happy to have beaten them," an elated Sania said after the win that made her and Chuang richer by $ 11,000. For Sania, it was also her eighth career doubles title and her first in more than a year. The Indian last won a doubles title in August 2007 with Italian Mara Santangelo at the New Haven hard-court event in USA. "We just played the big points better at the end, I think that was the difference," said Sania. In an intriguing battle, Sania and Chuang tested their fancied rivals from the very start, earning as many as seven break points in the opening set. The unseeded duo converted three of the seven breaks it got and saved four of the six breaks it faced to go one-up in the marathon match. The second set was equally hard-fought but Peschke and Raymond converted a crucial break point to equalise. However, in the nerve-wracking super tie-breaker, it was Sania and Chuang who kept their cool to seal the issue. The win continues a successful return from injury for Sania. The Hyderabadi, who had been laid low by a wrist injury for most part of the year gone by, earlier won the Australian Open mixed doubles title with Mahesh Bhupathi in January.
— PTI |
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Wax replica leaves Sachin dazed
Mumbai, April 13 Terming it a great honour and reflection of his contribution to Indian cricket that his wax figure would be adorning Madame Tussauds iconic museum, Tendulkar gushed about the attention to details that has gone into producing it. "It's something special. I have never reacted to anything like this in my life. It's difficult to express in words what is very close to something identical. I'm glad it does not breath. The detailing is so much," the champion batsman said after unveiling his own wax replica. "It is a great honour to be there at the Tussauds. I know I am the first sportsperson of the country to be there. I think it is an appreciation and a reflection of my contribution to Indian cricket," he said. Tendulkar said he was spellbound after seeing the statue which will be inaugurated at the Tussauds on April 24, his birthday. "(My son) Arjun wanted to take down the bat and start playing but I told him not to get very close. It's fabulous, fantastic," he said in awe. Tendulkar explained that the wax statue was prepared with the pose that he adopted -- with his bat in the right hand, his left holding the helmet and both hands raised skywards -- after surpassing West Indian great Brian Lara as the world's most run-getter in Tests at Mohali against Australia last year. "That was my pose after I crossed the record," he pointed out. The ace batsman also said he was very proud to be the first Indian sportsperson so honoured by the iconic wax museum and it did not matter at which place his life-like figure is placed at Madame Tussauds later this month, but said he would be busy when it's done playing in IPL in South Africa. "I'm proud to be the first Indian sportsman to be honoured thus. It does not matter where I'm placed. It's a huge honour to be part of the wax museum. The fact that it will be there itself is a great honour. There are so many great personalities there including Indians," he said. "I would not be able to go there (for the occasion) as I would be busy playing the IPL in South Africa. But I will go there after the IPL (gets over)," Tendulkar said. The champion batsman said due to his busy schedule he was unable to go to Madame Tussauds after his first visit to London as a 15-year-old member of the Star Cricket Club managed by former Rajasthan pacer Kailash Gattani. "But my family members have seen it," he said. Tendulkar said his wax replica at Madame Tussauds would be among the birthday gifts he would be cherishing the most in his life. "I have got many birthday gifts that I have cherished. They include birthday greetings from my children and the moments I have spent with my family and friends. On April 24, 1998 we defeated Australia in Sharjah and we won the tournament (Sharjah Cup) which is another birthday gift I cherish," he said. Asked if he felt authorities at Tussauds should have done it earlier, Tendulkar said, "I am not the person to decide whether my statue should have been one or two year before or this year. I am happy that I will be there now. It is a happy moment. "Such offers are rare and don't come often in one's life," he added. After refusing to be drawn into anything unrelated to the function, Tendulkar revealed at the fag end of the interaction with the media a bit about his future plans when asked whether any of his dreams have remained unfulfilled. "For every cricketer it's a dream to win the World Cup. As a youngster this was my dream. I want to win the World Cup for my country," said the champion batsman in, perhaps, his first clear-cut indication that he wants to continue playing till the 2011 World Cup to be held in the sub-continent.
— PTI |
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Gibbs slams ton as SA beat Aussies
Port Elizabeth (South Africa), April 13 Herschelle Gibbs made an emotional return to form as he and AB de Villiers thrashed Australia's bowling. Gibbs hit 110 as South Africa made 317 for six after being sent in to bat on a slow pitch. Gibbs and De Villiers (84) put on 136 off 123 balls for the third wicket in a partnership filled with sparkling strokes. Gibbs hit two sixes and nine fours in a 116-ball innings, while De Villiers was in dazzling form, making his runs off 74 deliveries. Chasing the imposing total, Australia were bundled out for 256 in 45.5 overs.
— AFP Scoreboard South Africa: Smith c Haddin b Hopes 20 H Gibbs c Clarke b Bracken 110 Kallis c Ferguson b Harwood 17 A de Villiers c Ferguson b Johnson 84 A Morkel b Johnson 4 Boucher not out 29 Duminy c M Hussey b Harwood 40 Extras (lb-7, w-6): 13 Total (6 wkts, 50 overs): 317 Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-87, 3-223, 4-240, 5-252, 6-317 Bowling: Bracken 10-0-64-1, Johnson 10-0-59-2, Hopes 10-0-57-1, Harwood 10-0-57-2, Hauritz 7-0-51-0, Clarke 3-0-22-0. Australia: Haddin c Parnell b Botha 78 Clarke b Van der Merwe 50 Ponting c Morkel b Steyn 53 Ferguson st Boucher b Van der Merwe 3 M. Hussey lbw b Van der Merwe 2 D. Hussey c & b Steyn 20 Hopes c Gibbs b Parnell 31 Johnson b Morkel 5 Hauritz b Steyn 3 Bracken not out 0 Harwood b Steyn 0 Extras (lb-4, w-7): 11 Total (all out; 45.5 overs): 256 Fall of wickets: 1-129 2-137 3-145 4-151 5-188 6-226 7-245 8-255 9-256 10-256 Bowling: Steyn 7.5-1-44-4, Parnell 9-0-64-1, Kallis 4-0-25-0, Morkel 5-0-25-1, Botha 10-0-48-1, Van der Merwe 10-0-46-3.
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KXIP favorites to win title: Yuvraj
"We have a good team for this season. We have good batting line-up with players like Shaun Marsh, (Kumar) Sangakkara and (Mahela) Jayawardene. One thing we missed a good pacer Sreesanth but we have enough bowling options," the left-hand batsman said after launching his own merchandise with a brand called "Yuvi" here today. Admitting that his performance was not so good during the New Zealand tour, the stylish left hander said he was not happy with his performance but was confident to do well in the coming matches. "I could have done better but could not. I will try to make amends in the coming matches. Besides I will try to play a good captaincy role in South Africa which is my favorite place," the flamboyant middle-order batsman said. Refusing to comment on Kolkata Knight Riders' multiple-captain theory, Yuvraj said, "Every team has own rule and I do not want to comment on this. But we have no such plans."
— PTI |
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Cabrera wins Green Jacket after playoff
Augusta, Georgia, April 13 The 2007 U.S. Open champion edged out Americans Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell at Augusta National as he clinched his second PGA Tour title with a par four at the second extra hole. After hitting his approach to 12 feet at the 10th, the 39-year-old Cabrera calmly two-putted before raising his right arm in celebration. Perry, 48, bidding to become golf's oldest major winner, overshot the green with his approach at the 10th and was unable to save par after chipping back 18 feet past the cup. Campbell, like Perry seeking his first major triumph, dropped out when he bogeyed the first extra hole after hitting his approach into a bunker at the par-four 18th. World number one and four-times winner Tiger Woods had to settle for a share of sixth place at eight under after bogeying the last two holes for a 68. One of the longest hitters in the game, Cabrera held a share of the third-round lead with Perry and briefly edged a stroke in front by sinking a three-foot birdie putt at the par-four third. His progress then stalled with bogeys at the fourth, fifth and 10th before he rallied over the last eight holes.
— Reuters |
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New Delhi, April 13
Mumbai, April 13
