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Lanka’s Tour of India
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Doping strikes CWG camp
Raring to play for India again: Gony
Gambhir tests negative for swine flu
Punjab sports policy soon
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Lanka’s Tour of India
India had lost the first game of the two-match series at Nagpur. In the second T20 game at the PCA Stadium here today, Sri Lanka put up a total which required the hosts to enact the highest-ever chase if they were to level the series and share the trophy. India did exactly that, courtesy local lad Yuvraj Singh who played a stellar role in today’s win. He first troubled the hosts’ batsmen scalping three wickets conceding just 23 runs and then played a gem of an innings on his 28th birthday as India emerged with their reputation unscathed. It was Virender Sehwag, who made a bold statement with his trademark batting which saw him notch up 36-ball 64 as the hosts began pursuit of 207-run target. Still a long way to go when the opener was out, Yuvraj just toyed with the rival bowling attack. He scored a scintillating 20-ball fifty and the unleashed a mighty blow on the first ball of the last over that went soaring for a six as India romped to a six-wicket victory with five balls to spare. After Sri Lanka posted a challenging total after choosing to bat first, India began the chase in right earnest. Though Gautam Gambhir was not as fluent as he was at Nagpur, he struck around, giving valuable support to Sehwag. The senior pro was in full flow, opening his account with a lusty six of seamer Weeraratna. There was no stopping the Delhi opener thereafter. He was in full cry playing his powerful strokes to all parts of the ground. His inside-out strokes off seamers which raced to the fence were a treat to watch. By the time he was consumed by Lasith Malinga, he had contributed 64 studded with seven fours and three mighty sixes and the score was past the 100-run mark. Skipper Dhoni, who arrived at the fall of Gambhir’s wickets kept chipping in with runs without any fuss. But it was Yuvraj who provided the impetus to the innings. First to suffer was Weeraratne who was taken for 20 runs in the 14th over, which included two effortless sixes. After a relatively quiet 15th over, Yuvraj again exploded in the 16th over and the bowler to suffer was Kulasekara. The left-handed batsman clobbered the bowler with two lusty hits which sailed over the long-on and long-off boundaries and two spanking fours as the over produced 22 runs with the batsman completing his fifth T20 fifty in 20 balls. The fall of Suresh Raina, who was run out, did not have an impact as the Dinesh Kartik and Yuvraj kept their cool as India sailed home easily. Sri Lanka’s innings was built around contributions from skipper Sangakkara, Jayasinghe and veteran Sanath Jayasuriya. Sangakkara and Jayasuriya were involved in the 81-run stand for the second wicket after the early fall of Dilshan. The Sri Lanka prospered from the shoddy fielding by the hosts as the players grounded as many as five chances. Jayasinghe was the biggest beneficiary having been dropped thrice, while Sangakkara and Angalo Mathews each were dropped once. Sangakkara was again in fine nick scoring a well-deserved half century. Jayasuriya showed that he still had some fire left in him scoring 28-ball 38. But it was innovative Mathews knock (13-ball 26) who threatened to put it beyond the Indians. Yuvraj Singh was given Man of the Match, while Kumara Sangakkara was the Man of the Series. Scoreboard Sri Lanka India |
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Doping strikes CWG camp
Bathinda, December 12 In a sensational development that is sure to send shock waves among the athletic fraternity, NADA has caught 4 top athletes, including three national champions, for using IOC banned drugs. The three national champs in their respective events are hammer thrower Madhu Kumar, javelin thrower Om Narayan and women’s hammer thrower Sukanya Mishra. It is pertinent to mention both Om Narayan and Sukanya Mishra had represented the country in the prestigious 18th Asian Athletic Championships which was held at Guangzhou (China) last month. The fourth athlete to have tested positive is hammer thrower Shankar Poonia who is attached with the Centre of Excellence (CoE) at NIS Patiala. The CoE is a Sports Authority of India (SAI) run scheme at the NIS. The three tainted champions are part of the National camp being held at NIS in preparation for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games. As news about the three athletes flunking their dope tests leaked, athletic officials went into a state of shock and disbelief. Disclosed a top athlete, “We are totally clueless about what is happening. Till yet the preparations were going on smoothly but now it is turmoil all around. We have nobody to look up to for guidance.” A senior athletic coach remarked, “Om was one of the most talented athletes in the camp. At the Asian meet in Guangzhou, Om hurled the javelin to 75.36 metres, which was also his personal best. Similarly Sukanya Mishra also gave a polished performance at Guangzhou when she stood a respectable 6th in the hammer throw event.” It is pertinent to mention here that Om was crowned the National champion during the senior national championship held at Bhopal in October this year. Likewise, Sukanya Mishra and Madhu Kumar were crowned national champions in their respective events at the Bhopal Nationals. An eerie silence prevailed at the NIS with top coaches attached with the camp refusing to speak. Preferring anonymity, a camp coach disclosed. “The Athletic Federation of India (AFI) officials can not just sweep this incident under the carpet. Some responsibility should be fixed and athletes given severe punishment so that others do not follow in their foot steps.”
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Raring to play for India again: Gony
Chandigarh, December 12 He caught everybody’s eye through strong performances in the Indian Premier League 1, where he was Chennai Super Kings’ leading wicket-taker and the fourth highest overall, but the second IPL edition unexpectedly ended on the lower side in supposedly helping South African conditions. With an impressive 30 wicket haul already to his name in the current Ranji season, the 6’4’’ fast bowler has once again strengthened his case before the selectors. Q: You have been among the leading wicket-takers in the ongoing Ranji season this year. How do you view your progress for the remaining season. A: I just want to take more and more wickets and keep the hunger alive. To perform with both bat and bowl every time for my team is my duty and I always try hard to fulfil it. Q: Wearing the Indian cap is any sportsman’s dream. How do you plan to regain your spot in the national side?
Q: IPL proved to be a launch pad for you. How do you thing youngsters should approach it? A: It is a great opportunity for a newcomer to make his presence felt. Setting a goal for yourself while defining your utility in the team always help. A player must know what exactly the team wants from him, only then he can justify his place. Q: IPL 3 is coming up in March next year. How do you approach it? A: Playing alongside the biggest names in the game in the previous two editions was a great learning curve for me. The experience will hold me in good stead in future for sure. I want to repeat my IPL1 perfomance this time around and help CSK win the edition. Q: Playing under Dhoni must have been special? A: He is a great leader who knows how to get the best out of you. Playing alongside him teaches you how to respond to different situations. Staying calm in a tense moment is what you can learn from him anytime. Q: Any thoughts about the Indian bowling attack? A: We have a potent pace bowling attack in Zaheer, Nehra and Ishant who can trouble any batsman anywhere. With them around, youngsters like Dinda, Tyagi should grab their chances and perform to cement their places. Q: How do you see your fitness level? A: Fitness is the key and I follow a strict training regimen to keep myself fit all time. I have lost a lot of weight in last two months which has helped me a lot. Q: Which player do you take inspiration from? A: I have known Harbhajan from my initial days and he ahs been of immense help. He always motivates me to do better. The way he has served the nation through his hard-work is something that inspires me. Q: Punjab is almost through to the quarter-final stage in the Ranji Trophy this year. The bowling triple of you, Love and Bansal have been creited for the team’s success. How do you view Punjab’s chances in the next level? A: We have done well to be where we are. Though, we need a draw against Railways in the next match to go to the next level, we are confident of doing well against them. Love and Bansal have been among wickets throughout and their hard work is for all to see.
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Gambhir tests negative for swine flu
Chandigarh, December 12 Gambhir was quarantined in his hotel room in the morning and his throat and nasal swab samples were sent for tests. The team’s video analyst, Dhananjay, was also quarantined while manager Mayank Parekh was admitted in a private hospital with flu symptoms. Both Dhananjay and Parekh have tested negative. “Test reports of Dhananjay and Parekh have also come negative. Except Sreesanth, no player from India or Lanka has exhibited flu like symptoms,” Walia added. |
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Punjab sports policy soon
Chandigarh, December 12 Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal today had detail deliberations with veteran sports personalities, sports administrators, senior officers of the sports department on the proposed draft of sports policy and various suggestions received all over the country after the draft sports policy was put on website. Badal said Punjab has lagged behind in sports partially due to lack of focus, thin spread of precious resources and mal-administration of various sports bodies headed by non professionals. He said sports policy would identify 10 national games in which state has prospects of winning medals. |
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India’s charge to chase down biggest score in T20
Mohali, December 12
A: Staying out of action teaches you a great deal. I have worked harder on my bowling and batting. Rest is all up to the selectors to decide. I am rearing to play for India again.
