London, June 22
Russia’s Maria Sharapova gathered her poise after a poor start to claim a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Ukrainian qualifier Viktoriya Kutuzova and a place in the second round at Wimbledon on Monday.

Sharapova, ranked 60th in the world but given a special seeding of 24, slumped to a quick 4-1 deficit in the opening set but saved a set point and bounced back to seal the opener. Kutuzova, the world number 79, pushed Sharapova hard in their first tour meeting but the Russian prevailed on her first match point when the Ukrainian netted a forehand. Sharapova, the 2004 winner, will face Argentina’s Gisela Dulko for a place in the third round.

In another match, Sania Mirza tamed world number 51 Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 to advance to the second round of the ladies singles event of the Wimbledon championships here today. Sania will next face the winner of an all Romanina match between Edina Gallovits and Sorana Cirster.

With this win, Sania, ranked 78, has now taken a 3-0 lead over Germany’s Groenfeld, whom she beat in 2004 and 2005. After taking the first set comfortably Sania faced some fire in the second set as the German put up a detrermined fight, not throwing in the towel.

Sania had her chances right from the start but Groenfeld did not let the Indian cash in on those. Sania earned three breakpoints in the first game by hitting some good winners but the German hung on.

Groenefeld then broke Sania in the next game, using drop shots very effectively and held her own to take a 3-0 lead. Sensing danger, Sania then stepped on the gas and broke back Groenfeld but only to drop her own serve in the sixth game to squander the opportunity to draw parity.

The Indian then saved two set points in the eighth game but unforced errors dented her chances and she eventually lost the set. The Indian, however, made a brillaint start to the do-or-die third set by breaking her rival in the very first game and won four of the first five games to take a 4-1 lead. The next three games went with serve and the Indian wrapped up the set and match in style.

Five-time champion Roger Federer overcame an early hiccup to book a place in the second round at Wimbledon with a 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 win over Taiwan’s Lu Yen-hsun.

Swiss Federer, accorded the honour of opening proceedings on Centre Court in the absence of champion Rafael Nadal through injury, went an early break down against the only Asian player in the men’s draw but soon made amends.

Federer, who sported a white military-style jacket for his latest fashion statement when he took to court, broke serve for a second time in the 12th game to take the opening set and won the next two to wrap up victory in an hour and 45 minutes. The Swiss world number two will face Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez for a place in round three. — Agencies 

The Marylebone Cricket Club, founders of the game, delivered a snub to Lalit Modi, chairman of the proposed Twenty20 Champions League, by turning down his request to hold a draw for this tournament at Lord’s cricket ground (which the MCC own) on Tuesday 23 June.

Clare Skinner, media manager of MCC said: “With the International Cricket Council conference and two major matches taking place in the week it was logistically not possible to hold the draw.”

Modi announced at press conference in Johannesburg on 24 May that the draw for the T20 Champions League would be held at Lord’s. He thereafter issued formal invitations to media to attend. Then, last Friday, the event was abruptly cancelled without assigning any reason for this.

Clearly, Modi made his announcement and sent out invitations without obtaining a confirmation about the arrangement from the MCC. His success with the IPL notwithstanding, this was not the first time he had made a public statement without a firm basis to do so.

The T20 Champions League has been ill-fated. It was first proclaimed by Modi that this would take place on September-October of last year. He said this, not realising that such a competition could not be held during a “cooling off period” after the then scheduled ICC Champions Trophy.

So, the championship was re-scheduled to December 2008; but was again postponed after the terrorist attack in Mumbai. It is now slated to take place next October. The T20 Champions League is co-owned by Cricket Australia, Cricket South Africa and the Board of Control for Cricket in India and plans to invite 12 domestic sides, including Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore from the IPL to take part. 

London, June 22
Reflecting their failed title defence, not a single Indian cricketer made it to International Cricket Council’s special team of the Twenty20 World Cup for men announced today. The ICC special women’s team, however, included Indian pacer Rumeli Dhar in it.

A five-member panel picked the 11-member men’s team, led by Pakistan captain Younus Khan. The team, including 12th man Lasith Maligna, contained four players from Pakistan, three each from South Africa and Sri Lanka and two from the West Indies.

The women’s team, led by England skipper Charlotte Edwards, included five players from the winner England, four from beaten finalist New Zealand and one each from Australia, India and Sri Lanka.

Both teams include the respective players of the tournament, Tillakarante Dilshan of Sri Lanka and England’s Claire Taylor. The men’s team was chosen by a select group of experts, including former England pacer Jonathan Agnew, cricketer-turned-commentator Ian Bishop, Twenty20 World Cup Tournament Director Steve Elworthy, ICC Match Referee Alan Hurst and Indian journalist Sharda Ugra.

The women’s team was selected by ICC Match Referee Chris Broad, former England captain Clare Connor, Steve Elworthy, commentator Alison Mitchell and journalist Jenny Roesler.

Teams (in batting order): Men: 1. Chris Gayle (West Indies), 2. Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka), 3. Jacques Kallis, (South Africa), 4. AB de Villiers (South Africa), 5. Younus Khan (Pakistan, captain), 6. Dwayne Bravo (West Indies), 7. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), 8. Kamran Akmal (Pakistan, wicketkeeper), 9. Wayne Parnell (South Africa), 10. Umar Gul (Pakistan), 11. Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka); 12th man: Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)

Women: 1. Shelley Nitschke (Australia), 2. Charlotte Edwards (England, captain), 3. Claire Taylor (England), 4. Aimee Watkins (New Zealand), 5. Sarah Taylor (England, wicketkeeper), 6. Suzi Bates (New Zealand), 7. Lucy Doolan (New Zealand), 8. Rumeli Dhar (India), 9. Laura Marsh (England), 10. Holly Colvin (England), 11. Sian Ruck (New Zealand); 12th player: Eshani Kaushalya (Sri Lanka). — PTI 

Johannesburg, June 22
The United States turned Group B upside down at the Confederations Cup, moving from last place to a spot in the semifinals ahead of both Italy and Egypt. The Americans beat African champion Egypt 3-0 in Rustenburg yesterday to overtake both the Egyptians and the Italians, who lost to Group B winner Brazil 3-0, in the standings.

Clint Dempsey headed in the deciding goal in the 71st minute, eight minutes after Michael Bradley gave the Americans hope with a goal in the 63rd. Charlie Davies also scored, sending a shot from point-blank range into the net off the hand of Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary in the 21st.

“Big surprise, but we know we are capable of this,” United States forward Landon Donovan said. The United States, which advanced on goals scored, nearly had another in the 53rd when Hani Said blocked a shot from Jozy Altidore on the goal line first with his thigh and then with his arm. Appeals for a penalty went unheeded.

South Africa managed to advance to the semifinals on Saturday despite losing to Group A winner Spain 2-0 because Iraq was a held to a 0-0 draw by New Zealand. The final is set for next Sunday in Johannesburg. — AP

“It seems the run of bad luck is finally behind us”, was the common refrain all over the country as ecstatic crowds of all ages and hue burst onto roads and streets late at night that earlier were presenting a deserted look while the people withdrew to their homes or restaurants and remained glued to the TV screens throughout the match.

They celebrated in style, fireworks cracked, danced on drum beats, sang and and chanted slogans, car horns honked and flags were waved as tens of thousands swarmed the major avenues in every cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Multan, Quetta, Hyderbad and Faisalabad.

The spontaneous carnival atmosphere persisted till early hours of Monday morning as revellers danced and sang with unbounded joy.

“Younus Khan’s boys have done the nation proud by their magnificent work,” another Khan and former skipper Imran Khan summed up the National mood. “This victory is uplifting coming after the Swat tragedy and an unending series of setbacks in every field for past some years”.

“We will win against terrorists just as we did at Lord’s,” former information minister Sherry Rehman said while speaking in the National Assembly that unanimously approved a resolution Monday lauding the team’s triumph. National leadership including President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and former premier premier Nawaz Sharif greeted Younus Khan and his boys on telephone.

The President announced cash reward of one million each for Younus and Afridi and half a million for other members of the team. Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said Zardari was happy that the Pakistani cricketers gave this gift to the nation on the occasion of 56th birth anniversary of his slain spouse Benazir Bhutto.

Crowds gathered at the homes of their heroes. In Karachi they pulled Shahid Afridi’s family out in the street who then fired shots in the air to celebrate the win. “I am proud of my son who has performed so well to give me and the nation this wonderful gift on the Father’s Day,” Afridi’s father said in visible excitement. 

BRIEFLY

Armaan finishes sixth
NEW DELHI: Armaan Ebrahim of Red Rooster Racing finished a creditable sixth in Race 2 of Formula 2 Championship in Brno, Czech Republic. Starting at 17th on the grid, Armaan made good use of his boost to overtake a number of cars before finishing sixth. — PTI

Ricky Ponting plays with a Rugby ball during a practice session in England on Monday. — AFP

My late dad advices me: Woods
NEW YORK: Tiger Woods has revealed that he hears his late father speak to him while playing golf. Woods says that whenever he has trouble playing the game, he concentrates with the help of his father, who died in 2006. “My dad’s advice to me was to simplify. Even today, when I’m struggling with my game, I can still hear him say,” he said. — ANI

Owen to leave Magpies
LONDON: Former European Footballer of the Year Michael Owen said on Monday he would leave relegated Newcastle United within weeks. “I’m still a Newcastle United player but only for a matter of weeks,” Owen told Sky Sports. “It remains to be seen where I am going to go. There are plenty of clubs that would interest me,” the former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker added. — Reuters

Bayern sign Pranjic
BERLIN: Bayern Munich have completed the signing of Croatia midfielder Danijel Pranjic from SC Heerenveen, the German club said on Monday. Pranjic, 27, has won 22 caps for his country and played in last year's European championship. He scored 16 goals in 30 matches for his Dutch club last season. “Pranjic is a versatile player who was high on the wish list of our new coach Louis van Gaal,” Bayern general director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. — Reuters

Espanyol sign Sahar
MADRID: Espanyol have signed 19-year-old Israel forward Ben Sahar from Chelsea on a four-year deal, the Spanish club said on Monday. Sahar has been on loan most recently at Dutch side Graafschap Doetinchem. — Reuters

Murray’s granny jinx
LONDON: While Andy Murray is hoping to bring home the Wimbledon trophy, her mother has said that she won't be taking his granny along to watch him play because she’s a jinx. Murray’s mum Judy thinks that Andy, 22, may lose his chances of winning if her mother, Shirley Erskine, 73, cheers from the sidelines. This is because Murray lost the last three times his grandmother was watching him play.— ANI

‘Spend heavy for Ribery’
LONDON: Manchester United should use as much of the £80 million they received for ace striker Cristiano Ronaldo to replace him with French star Franck Ribery. Former France and Chelsea icon Marcel Desailly, at same time insisted that Ribery was not the right man to go to Stamford Bridge. — ANI

Symmo fulfills his rugby dream
MELBOURNE: Troubled all rounder Andrew Symonds, whose Cricket Australia contract was ripped for breaking team rules, has started playing for Wynnum-Manly rugby league club to fulfill a dream. Symonds, after withdrawal of his contract, is now free to play sports deemed too risky for his physical wellbeing when he was a CA contracted player. — ANI