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Davis Cup |
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Bhullar leads after third round
India run into Chinese wall
Fielding must improve: Dhoni
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Davis Cup
Johannesburg, September 19 India were trailing 3-6, 6-3, 0-4 when Bhupathi and his partner Rohan Bopanna opted out of the contest, which means that tomorrow's reverse singles will decide which team will enter the World Group. Friday's victories by Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna had put India in driver's seat and they were hoping to wrap up the tie today itself. India still leads the tie 2-1 and need one more win out of two reverse singles, to be played at Ellis Park arena. Somdev will lock horns with South Africa's number one player Rik de Voest and Bopanna will clash against Izak Van der Merwe in the match between the number two players. India last played in the World Group in 1998 when they lost 1-4 to Italy. The doubles rubber was heading for an exciting finish as India and South Africa were locked in an intense battle. Both the teams gauged each other initially before applying any strategy and he first seven games of the match went with serve. Coetzee's scintillating play at the net made a big difference. His lightening reflexes and agility was a treat to watch as the diminutive South African complimented well the big serving Moodie Coetzee set up the first break of the match when he fired a quick volley winner and followed it up by a down the line winner, earning two breakpoints for his team. Bhupathi served big to save first but could not stop Moodie to convert the second. Up by a break, Moodie served out the set without any fuss. Bhupathi was at his best when he hit a return off Moodie over the head of Coetzee, almost like a lob, for a winner and then hit a zooming return winner to earn two breakpoints for India in the second game of the second set. They could not convert any and then Bopanna survived a scare of break in the fifth game, saving a chance. Thanks to Bhupathi's excellence, India earned two more chances in the seventh game and this time they did not falter and Bopanna drew parity by holding the next game. Bopanna, who had been serving well, committed a costly volley error despite on top of the point and the resultant break handed South Africa 2-0 lead in the third set which became 4-0 when Bhupathi double faulted and retired. — PTI
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Bhullar leads after third round
Gurgaon, September 19 Bhullar (68, 68, and 69) took a while before he could come into his own on day three. He was one over after six holes, having missed a short putt for par on the fifth. He then picked up three birdies on the seventh, ninth and 11th to turn on the heat on Randhawa, who had grabbed the lead by then. The Kapurthala lad made bogey on the 12th but came roaring back with great approach shots on the 13th and 15th to produce two invaluable birdies. While on the 13th his lob wedge approach came up six feet short of the cup, on the 15th he had a similar result with his approach shot from the right rough. He closed with a bogey-birdie on the last two holes to snatch the lead from Randhawa. To skip Haryana Open Gaganjeet Bhullar will miss out on the Haryana Open PGTI event at Panchkula to be back on the Asian Tour for the $15 lakh Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open next week. The 21-year-old Kapurthala lad, who is sixth on the Asian Tour order of merit is in good form and the current top-ranked Asian Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee is skipping the event. Fighting for the top spot will also be third-ranked Jyoti Randhawa of India and American Anthony Kang, who will return to Asian soil for the first time since late April and has committed to play in the remaining events on the Asian Tour Schedule to boost his merit hopes. Although Bhullar is way down the ladder occupying the sixth slot with earnings of $ 2,06,926, he is showing great form. The Korean-born Kang has earned $3,84,763 and Jyoti Randhawa’s earnings touch $2,68,074. All of them are far behind Thongchai who has earnings of $ 8.70,517. |
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JP Atray Tournament
Chandigarh, September 19 Right arm medium pacer Swapnil Hazare bowled a devastating spell of 8.1 overs conceding 34 runs for 6 wickets. The freshly laid green top of GMSS 26 left the batsman stranded and at times fishing outside the off stump resulting in the new ball pair of Avishkar Salvi & Swapnil Hazare having the sway over them. The dominance was halted for a while by Avik Chaudhary (28) and Sayan Mandal (19) who stitched a partnership of 45 runs for the 7th wicket when Avik was trapped in front by an in dipper of Avishkar Salvi. Chasing the modest total, BPCL’s top order batsman Omkar Khanvilkar (5), Uday Kaul(2), Vineet Indulkar (1)and Vinayak Mane (14) were back in pavilion with the teams total reading measly 35 for 4 in 11.1 overs. Then started a rescue act by Shitanshu Kotak 29 n.o. and Anup Revankar 39 of 52 balls. The duo took the score from 35 to 104 thus adding 69 runs for the 5th wicket before Anup Revendkar was clean bowled by Kundu for 39. In the second match, played at DAV School sector 8 All India Electricity Board (AIEB) won by 107 runs. Winning the toss, Air India captain Shafiqe Khan opted to field. AIEB were well served by Abishek Jhunjhunwala 32 off 44 balls, Manoj Tiwary 23 off 28 balls and Amol Majumdar 22 off 24 balls and their innings in the latter stage was bolstered by a quick fire unbeaten knock of 52 off 62 balls by Ankur Jund.
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Sehwag comes closest to me: Sachin
New Delhi, September 19 “I am always excited to play cricket. Twenty years ago, it was a similar kind of excitement and today also, it’s the same.” He said it had been a fantastic journey. “I thoroughly enjoyed it and every moment has been a memorable one. Playing for India means the world to me. I grew u dreaming about playing for India and I am living my dream.”
Sachin said Virender Sehwag was the batsman who came closest to his batting style. “Even at home, people get confused as to who is batting because the attire was almost the same when he started wearing those leg-guards”. He said his own batting heroes have always been Sunil Gavaskar and Vivian Richards. “I have always felt that I should be a mixture of both. When it comes to attacking, I should be able to play shots like Richards. When it comes to concentration, mental determination and guts, I should be (like) Gavaskar.” The ace cricketer said Sir Don Bradman comparing his batting style with that of him “was a huge honour for me”. “He said he was extremely happy about Bradman's observation. “I was on top of the world. I didn’t know how to react. He said he spent an hour with Bradman on his 90th birthday “which is always going to be the highlight of my life”. Sachin said he had never said that he wanted to score 15000 runs. “When I achieved 10,000 runs, Sunil Gavaskar said to me that I should achieve 15,000. And that was what I was asked and I answered that if my hero tells me to do something, I have to put a big effort to do that. And that is where it ended. It was projected differently. I have never made such big statements. I would like to enjoy the game. And if that (15,000 runs) has to happen, it will happen.” He said he never consciously set out to create records. “If records are broken, it’s great. But what we look to do is go step by step towards achieving the target. The most important thing is the team’s interest and that’s what we all focus on. Sachin said among India's cricketing feats, “winning the 1983 World Cup was a huge thing. The victory in Australia in 1985 when Ravi Shastri becoming the champion of the champions played a huge role in motivating me”. Sachin said he felt good to be compared with great sports icons like Roger Federer (tennis) and Tiger Woods. “It feels good when your contributions are acknowledged”. He said he would want to hold the 2011 World Cup. “It’s not just my dream. It’s the entire nation’s dream. To win the World Cup is a huge achievement and as a cricketer, you want to do that for your nation. I would like to do that.”
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India run into Chinese wall
Chandigarh, September 19 China, predictably, cakewalked (107/49) to retain a clean slate in the 23 rd FIBA Asia Women Basketball Championships at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai. And the Indians continued with their bad run so far. Now it has become very important for the hosts to post wins against Japan and Thailand to remain in Level I. The Chinese seem to have done excellent homework on Geethu Anna Jose, who top-scored for India on Friday. Other results (Level I): Japan 94 (Yoshie Sakurada 17, Yuko Oga 13, Al Mitani 11) bt Thailand 60 (Naruemoi Banmoo 19, Juthamas Jantakan 16, Suksomwong 8). |
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Gambhir serious on Viru
Younis to undergo scan
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India's fate in the Davis Cup World Group play-off tie against South Africa is still hanging in balance as the visitors conceded the doubles rubber owing to Mahesh Bhupathi's injury here today.India were trailing 3-6, 6-3, 0-4 when Bhupathi and his partner Rohan Bopanna opted out of the contest, which means that tomorrow's reverse singles will decide which team will enter the World Group.
JP Atray Tournament
Johannesburg
: Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has told India to improve their fielding in this month's Champions Trophy. “I’m not saying we can't field but ... we will be asking everyone to raise their standards by 20 percent,” Dhoni said on Saturday. “Fielding can really contribute to your success. If you don’t give away those extra 10 to 15 runs, or you make it look like you have saved 20 to 30 runs in the field, it can give you a vital cushion.”Dhoni’s team can call on coach Gary Kirsten’s vast knowledge of local conditions in the 50-over tournament, the former batsman having played 185 one-dayers for South Africa. “It definitely helps that Gary played here all his life and has plenty of experience,” said the skipper.
When it comes to attacking, I should be able to play shots like Richards. When it comes to concentration, mental determination and guts, I should be (like) Gavaskar
Even at home, people get confused as to who is batting because the attire was almost the same when he started wearing those
leg-guards— On Sehwag
But he said his sporting hero had always been from outside cricket and “it has always been John McEnroe”. “I like his style and his aggression and he always expressed himself. I liked his mannerisms and there was something that caught my eye at the age of five or six when I started watching him. I was the only one who used to support McEnroe and the rest of the guys used to back Bjorn Borg. I also like Boris Becker, Pete Samparas and Roger Federer. I watch a lot of tennis. And also watch Formula One and Michael Schumacher.”
Johannesburg: Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has told India to improve their fielding in this month's Champions Trophy. “I’m not saying we can't field but ... we will be asking everyone to raise their standards by 20 percent,” Dhoni said on Saturday. “Fielding can really contribute to your success. If you don’t give away those extra 10 to 15 runs, or you make it look like you have saved 20 to 30 runs in the field, it can give you a vital cushion.”Dhoni’s team can call on coach Gary Kirsten’s vast knowledge of local conditions in the 50-over tournament, the former batsman having played 185 one-dayers for South Africa. “It definitely helps that Gary played here all his life and has plenty of experience,” said the skipper. 
JOHANNESBURG: Back in the national team after missing the tri-series in Sri Lanka, Gautam Gambhir said his opening partner Virender Sehwag’s absence will play in his mind but he would take the onus to anchor his team. “He is a legend of the game and surely you miss him. We have a tremendous rapport, both on and off the field,” said Gambhir about his Delhi team-mate who is recovering from a shoulder injury. 
KARACHI: Pakistan captain Younis Khan, who has picked up a finger injury during their warm-up match against Sri Lanka, will undergo a scan on Monday. Younis had sustained a hairline fracture in the index finger of his right hand during the warm-up match at Benoni last night and an X-ray will be done to ascertain seriousness of the
injury.
— Agencies 
