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Saina off to winning start
Saina Nehwal returns a shot against Russia’s Anastasia Prokopenko on Wednesday. — AFP
Pak beat Lanka in T20
IPL feast awaits ex-‘rebels’
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Baljit undergoes successful eye surgery in Alabama
Chennai, August 12 
Indian hockey goalkeeper Baljit Singh's surgery to repair his damaged right eye has been successfully completed at a private hospital in Alabama, USA. Baljit has been kept in recovery room for two days after the
two-hour operation which took place between 2000hrs and 2200hrs local time (0630hrs to 0830 hrs
IST).
Battle for England
The Big guns
Welham, Modern and DPS win honours
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Saina off to winning start
Hyderabad, August 12 The 20-year-old, who was laid low by chicken pox just a few days before the championship, outplayed her rival 21-10 21-17 in 27 minutes in the women's singles second round. The local favourite faces Bulgarian Petya Nedelcheva tomorrow. Among other Indians, men's doubles pair of Akshay Dewalkar and Jishnu Sanyal squandered a position of strength to go down 21-17 13-21 18-21 against 16th seed Vitalij Durkin and Alexandr Nikolaenko of Russia in 40 minutes. Meanwhile, top seed Mi Zhou of Hong Kong beat Kiwi Michelle Chan Ky 21-11 21-15, while men's number one seed Chong Wei Lee beat Ola Fagbemi of Nigeria 21-11 21-14. Mercurial world number four Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia defeated Mathieu Lo Ying Ping 21-17 21-15 in another men's singles encounter. Sixth seed Saina, who got a bye in the first round, started aggressively and opened up a 12-8 lead in little time. Leading 16-8 after that, Saina smashed five straight points to pocket the first game easily. However, she struggled a bit in the next game as a change of ends led to slower drift for her. In a battle of nerves, the two rivals went neck and neck from 5-5 to 14-14 but after a see-saw battle, it was the Hyderabadi who had the last laugh. “In the first game, the drift was fast so I played a more attacking game and hit more smashes. She couldn't pick up those but in the same game I was on the other side, so knowing the wind I involved her in some long rallies,” Saina told reporters. “I have played her for the first time but yesterday I saw her play. She has some good drives. I was confident about my game and I am happy that I started on the right note,” she added. The world number six Indian also asserted she was completely fit. “I am fit and I didn't feel too tired. She was an okay player but tomorrow I play a much tougher opponent, my fitness will be tested,” she said. About the ubiquitous crowd which cheered her every move, Saina said she was hoping for the spectator-count to go up with every match. “It wasn’t very different. I wasn’t tense but I think it's good for the game that so many people are cheering the players. It has been a very good support and I hope more crowds will turn up tomorrow,” she said.
— PTI |
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Pak beat Lanka in T20
Colombo, August 12 Sri Lanka, cheered on by capacity crowd, stayed in contention until skipper Kumar Sangakkara was bowled by off spinner Saeed Ajmal for 38 from 31 balls. The fall of Sangakkara triggered a middle-order collapse as the run rate rocketed, the hosts losing four wickets for 15 runs before being bowled out for 120 in 18.1 overs. Ajmal was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers, claiming three for 18 from his four overs. Fast bowler Naved ul Hasan also shone for the world Twenty20 champions, taking three for 19 from his 3.1 overs. Opener Imran Nazir survived an early let-off as Lasith Malinga dropped a regulation catch before blazing 40.
— Reuters Scoreboard Pakistan: K Akmal b Kulasekara 0 (1) Nazir c Malinga b Thushara 40 (28) Malik b Malinga 14 (10) Afridi c Kulasekara b Thushara 50 (37) U Akmal c Sangakkara b Mathews 30 (20) Razzaq not out 25 (17) Misbah not out 5 (7) Extras (b 4, lb 2, w 2) 8 Total (5 wickets; 20 overs) 172 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-35, 3-59, 4-125, 5-139. Bowling: Kulasekara 4-0-37-1, Thushara 4-0-37-2, Malinga 4-0-28-1, Muralitharan 4-0-30-0, Mathews 3-0-25-1, Jayasuriya 1-0-9-0. Sri Lanka: Udawatte lbw b Naved 11 (8) Jayasuriya c U Akmal b Aamer 23 (17) Jayawardene c Razzaq b Iftikhar 12 (13) Sangakkara b Ajmal 38 (31) Kapugedera c Naved b Afridi 10 (15) Mathews run out 9 (9) Kandamby c Nazir b Ajmal 2 (3) Kulasekara b Naved 1 (3) Muralitharan c U Akmal b Ajmal 1 (4) Thushara b Naved 3 (6) Malinga not out 0 (1) Extras (lb 6, w 3, nb 1) 10 Total (all out; 18.1 overs) 120 Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-39, 3-71, 4-100, 5-106, 6-115, 7-115, 8-117, 9-119. Bowling: Aamer 3-0-22-1, Naved 3.1-0-19-3, Anjum 4-0-34-1, Ajmal 4-0-18-3, Afridi 4-0-21-1.
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IPL feast awaits ex-‘rebels’
Mumbai, August 12 A formal decision to clear the deck on ex-ICL players' participation in IPL-3, to be held in 12 venues from March 12 to April 25, is expected to be taken by the BCCI's all-powerful Working Committee here tomorrow. Yesterday, the cash-awash league's chairman Lalit Modi announced that players formerly linked to the rebel league floated by the Essel Group would be entitled to emoluments ranging from Rs 8 to 20 lakh in the IPL if they have not played any international matches. Saying a formal approval by the BCCI was awaited for these players to be seen in action in the IPL, Modi said all international players will, however, be sold in a players' auction as was the case with the other cricketers who were bought by the eight franchises over the last two years. A total of 79 cricketers earlier connected with the ICL have severed their ties with the rebel league and rejoined the BCCI fold. Among this lot are Rohan Gavaskar, Deep Dasgupta, Dinesh Mongia, Reetinder Sodhi, Hemang Badani, Sridharan Sriram and T Kumaran, who have all worn India colours in the past. There are several other cricketers who did well in first class and other forms of domestic cricket before joining the rebel league and then returned to the official fold. Prominent among these are Rakesh Patel, Ahishek Jhunjhunwala, Robin Morris, Tejinder Pal Singh, J P Yadav, Dheeraj Jadhav, Abu Nechim Ahmed, Love Ablish, Amit Uniyal, Stuart Binny, Ambati Rayudu, G Vignesh, Jesuraj and Salabh Srivastava. The franchises players' cap has been kept at USD seven million dollar for the coming season. But most of the teams have very little money left in their kitty to reach the top end on player spending. With so many new players available to be picked up, it would be a matter of interest to see how many of these ultimately would be grabbed by the franchises. The Working Committee will also deliberate on squeezing in the Deodhar Trophy Inter-Zonal One-day tournament and the T20 Super League for the Mushtaq Ali Trophy into an already crowded
programme.
— PTI
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Baljit undergoes successful eye surgery in Alabama
Chennai, August 12 “My operation was successful and I am kept in a recovery room for two-days,” he told PTI through an SMS. After doctors at the John Hopkins hospital in Baltimore - where the player had been admitted for his post-operative treatment - said they could not guarantee full vision, Baljit arrived in Alabama to consult renowned ophthalmologist Robert Morris. Dr Morris studied reports of both AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) and John Hopkins and decided to do the operation. Baljit is also hoping to be joined by his father there after his travel documents are sorted out. Baljit was injured in a freak incident when a golf ball, while practising in Pune, sneaked through his visor to damage his right eye. Baljit had to be airlifted to the capital where doctors at AIIMS conducted a marathon emergency surgery but could not promise full vision. The Sports Ministry then arranged his US trip. — PTI
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With the Premier League season kicking off on Saturday we look at the prospects of ALL top-flight clubs. PART 1 Contenders MANCHESTER CITY (10th) The arrivals of Roque Santa Cruz (18 million pounds), Carlos Tevez (25.5 million), Emmanuel Adebayor (25 million), Kolo Toure (16 million) and Gareth Barry (12 million) have raised expectations at City, who may now be the richest club in England with the advent of wealthy Arab owner Sheikh Masour bin Zayed al Nahyan but are still one of the biggest underachievers, having not won a major honour since 1976. Manager Mark Hughes' task is straightforward but far from simple -- break into the top four. Anything else will probably be deemed a failure. BLACKBURN ROVERS (15th) Sam
Allardyce stabilised Rovers after Paul Ince was sacked last season but
do not expect them to spend much of the season outside the bottom half.
BOLTON WANDERERS (13th) Poor old Gary Megson. Having kept them
up in 2007-8 and guided them into the relative safety of low mid-table
last season, a significant proportion of fans still seem unhappy with
his appointment as coach. Zat Knight, signed from Aston Villa, will
bolster a defence that also includes Gary Cahill, a rugged stopper
tipped for an England call. EVERTON (5th) David Moyes performed
wonders with the Merseysiders last season, finishing as the best of the
rest in the league and reaching the FA Cup final despite operating on
limited funds. Midfield artist Mikel Arteta's return from a ruptured
cruciate ligament will be a huge boost. Expect another challenge for a
Europe. FULHAM (7th) The homely club on the banks of the Thames
were the surprise team of last season, culminating in a Europa League
place. The extra demands of Europe will be hard for Roy Hodgson's side
this season. HULL CITY (17th) Hull began their first season in
the top flight like an express train but ended it like a hot air balloon
struggling to avoid ditching in the ocean. They managed it, just,
despite winning just one of their last 22 games. Sun-tanned manager Phil
Brown needs a good start if Hull are not to become relegation
certainties. ASTON VILLA (6th) Villa faded badly in the second
half of last season after threatening to break the top-four monopoly and
with midfielder Gareth Barry sold to Manchester City their squad looks
short of depth. Winger Stewart Downing, when he recovers from injury,
will have to quickly justify the 12 million pounds ($20 million) Villa
splashed out to take him from Middlesbrough if they are not to revert to
mid-table.
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ARSENAL (4th)
CHELSEA (3rd)
(Last year’s position in brackets) LIVERPOOL (2nd)
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Welham, Modern and DPS win honours
Chandigarh, August 12 In the under 14 and under 17 boy’s categories Modern School, Delhi thrashed Rajkumar College, Rajkot and DPS RK Puram, Delhi 3-2 respectively. In another one sided match DPS RK Puram boys outplayed Doon School, Dehradun 3-0 in the in the under 19 category. With the team events concluding today the last day of the Tournament shall be devoted to Individual events. |
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Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal hardly showed any fatigue from a recent bout of chickenpox as she stormed into
pre-quarterfinals of World Badminton Championships with a straight- game victory over Russian Anastasia
Proko- penko here today.
Contenders
Four years without a trophy and with Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure departed to Manchester City, manager Arsene Wenger will need to weave his magic to keep the Gunners in the hunt for the title this season. Then again, Russian Andrei Arshavin looked the real deal after joining in January and if Eduardo and Cesc Fabregas stay fit they could be a lot closer than last season when their title challenge was over by Christmas.
Chelsea have been relatively frugal in the transfer market with Russian Yuri Zhirkov, a left-sided player who usually performs as an attacking midfielder but can also operate as a full-back, the only notable purchase. Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea's fifth manager in just under two years, will be relieved that captain John Terry and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba stayed put. He will need both of them at the top of their games if Chelsea are to break Manchester United's hold on the league title and finally land the Champions League.
Two decades on since they were last English champions, Liverpool finished just four points behind Manchester United last season after dropping too many points at home, with seven draws at Anfield proving costly. Still, they lost only two league games all season and despite financial restraints, Rafa Benitez has a strong squad that will challenge United again.
