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Sri lanka’s Tour Of India
CWG 2010
B’ ball Nationals return to Punjab with big prize money
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Federation Cup
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Yuvraj ruled out of ODI series
New Delhi, December 22 Yuvraj had sustained the injury during the second Twenty20 International against Sri Lanka in Mohali where the left-hander starred both with the bat and the ball to script India’s series-levelling win. The injury was serious enough to keep Yuvraj out of the first two ODIs, with Virat Kohli substituting him in the playing XI. The Punjab batsman played his only match yesterday, scoring 23 off 40 balls as India won the match by seven wickets to go 2-1 up in the five-match series. Kolkata hosts the fourth India-Sri Lanka ODI on December 24, followed by the final match in Delhi on December 27. Karthik visits Puri temple
BHUBANESWAR: Wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik visited Lord Jagannath temple at Puri while Sri Lanka players did some shopping in the city on Tuesday, a day after India’s win against the visitors in the third ODI in Cuttack. Clad in a black T-shirt and a blue jeans, Karthik arrived at the 12th century shrine at about 9.20 am where he spent about an hour. “Karthik is a religious young man. He sought blessings of the Lord”, said a priest attending him at the temple. After reaching Puri, Karthik along with team’s physio Nitin Patel visited the beach. From there the Tamil Nadu captain went to the temple, while Patel remained at the beach, the police said. Karthik, who was drafted into the side after a two-match ban on skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, made an unbeaten 36 and extended a fine support to Sachin Tendulkar (96 not out) to see India through for a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. The Lankans who went on shopping included Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera and Thilan Kandamby went on shopping in the city. Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh left for Kolkata this morning, while the rest of the team would leave in the evening for the 4th ODI on Thursday, an Orissa Cricket Association spokesman said. CUTTACK: Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara blamed his batsmen for the seven-wicket loss and said they need to understand their responsibilities of converting a good start into a big total. “I think it was just poor batting. We were 165 for one after 22 overs and after that we just lost our way. We were going in with a batsman short and the specialists had to step up and perform the job. I think it was some good bowling and bad batting that did us in,” Sangakkara said. He praised Indian stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag for leading the home team beautifully in the absence of regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. “I think he captained really well. He kept his cool on the field and his no-nonsense approach to batting was good for India.” KOLKATA: The experience of playing three Deodhar Trophy matches at the Barabati Stadium earlier this year came in handy for all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja who produced a career-best four-wicket haul to help India spank Sri Lanka in the third one-dayer. “Barabati is proving to be a lucky ground for me. Earlier this year I played really well during three games. I knew I was successful here. I was confident so I just carried with the momentum,” Jadeja said. “I was a little under pressure as Upul Tharanga was well set and they were going great guns. Virubhai (Sehwag) just told me ‘apne andaz se bowl karna, idea laga kar bowl karna’ (bowl naturally and intelligently),” said Jadeja.
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Organising Committee gets Rs 1,620 crore
MS Unnikrishnan Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 22 In its latest decision, the Government has sanctioned Rs 1,620 crore for the Organising Committee, which would be spent mainly for administrative purpose. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr M.S.Gill has assured that the “stadiums would be completed in time for the Commonwealth Games”. Though the Government, through the Sports Ministry, is spending a fortune on the Games infrastructure, it is also spending huge sums in other areas of the Games preparation as well. An additional Rs 678 crore have been sanctioned for the “comprehensive training and coaching” of 1126 core athletes in 17 sports disciplines, who are being trained by 166 Indian and 26 foreign coaches. And at the personal initiative of Dr Gill, the athletes are also being paid a pocket allowance of upto $ 25 per day per player and other members of the Indian contingents for participation in major international sports events, in the run-up to the Games. The Ministry has also approved assistance amounting Rs 7.41 crore from the National Sports Development Fund for the training of sportspersons, infrastructure development, procurement of sports equipment etc. The scheme of special cash awards to winners of medals in international sports events and their coaches have been streamlined to ensure timely release of the cash awards. The Sports Ministry, after Dr Gill took charge, has also sanctioned crores for laying of synthetic hockey turfs at Jalandhar (Rs 3.35 crore), Sundergarh (Rs 2.90 crore) and Kolkata (Rs 2.50 crore) and athletic turfs at Patiala and Taran Taran (Rs 4.93 crore). Dr Gill has also sanctioned the appointment of 100 coaches on contract basis by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to fill a large number of vacancies existing for a long time. This will enable the better training of the Commonwealth Games probables, as well as strengthen the SAI training programme. Rs 15 crore have been earmarked for community sports facilities in the National Capital Region of Delhi as part of “Legacy Plan” under the Commonwealth Games. The fund would be utilised for creation and upgradation of sports infrastructure in various schools, colleges and sports complexes in and around Delhi. Rs 5 crore have been sanctioned for the current financial year of 2009-2010 to provide fianncial assistance to 50018 Youth Sports Clubs -100 clubs in each district - across the country for purchase of sports equipment and conducting village Games.
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B’ ball Nationals return to Punjab with big prize money
Chandigarh, December 22 Ludhiana played host to the national Championship for the first time in 1951 when matches were played on the mud courts. It again played host to this prestigious championship in 1981, 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2004. Besides, Ludhiana also held the 1971 and 1979 Pre-Asian Basketball Championships. The industrial town has come a full circle - from mud courts to Maplewood floor in an exclusive indoor basketball stadium. Railways, currently defending champions both in men and women’s sections, have retained their top seeding and placed in-group of their respective sections. Sponsored by Pearls, the championship has attracted 25 men and 22 women teams. All these teams have been divided into six groups. Each team in groups A and B in both men and women sections will play for level one competitions. Teams in the remaining four groups will compete in level two competitions. In the men’s section, top 10 teams divided in two groups will fight against each other for top honours while in the womens’ section, only top eight teams divided in two groups will challenge each other for supremacy. According to Teja Singh Dhaliwal, Secretary, Punjab Basketball Association, in all 113 matches will be played in eight days on league-cum-knock out basis. Country’s top 650 players, accompanied by 100 officials, will start reaching Ludhiana early next week. Matches will be supervised by as many as 100 technical officials. One major feature of the Championship this time will be use of imported Maple Wood floor in the indoor stadium with two courts. Besides, there will be two outdoor courts also. Electronic gadgets, including game clock, 24 seconds device and electronic scoreboard will be other major attractions of the championship. Railways, Services, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have been placed in elite group A while the hosts Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttarkhand, Karnataka and Delhi are in group B in the men’s section. In the women’s section, Railways, Chattisgarh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh are in group A while Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are in group B of the competition.
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Pune FC stun Dempo
Guwahati, December 22 Dempo coach Armando Colaco could rue a goal by striker Sunil Chhetri disallowed in the 72nd minute but the Goan side, who have several India players and top foreign recruits were kept at bay by the Pune side throughout the game. The Goan side, considered one of the favourites to win the country’s premier league-cum-knock-out tournament, will now find it difficult to qualify for the semifinals. They play Shillong Lajong on Thursday and Air India on Sunday. After the barren first half, Dempo were the more attacking side while Pune FC relied mainly on counter attacks. The last 15 minutes saw three goals with Dempo drawing the first blood in the 75th minute through Clifford Miranda who chested down a Valeriano Rebello cross from the right and tapped the ball home past a diving Subrata Paul. In another match of the day, Shillong Lajong and Air India played out a 2-2 draw in an evenly contested thrilling Group D match. Seikhohao Tuboi (5th) and Daniel Bedemi (47th) scored for Lajong while Khelemba Singh (41st) and Kailash Patil (53rd) found the target for Air India. Both sides played an open and attacking game and the sizeable crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here were treated with some entertaining football with four goals. Salgaocar held on to an early goal by their Guinean import Mandjou Keita to beat JCT by a solitary goal in their opening match. — PTI
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Messi FIFA World Player of Year
London, December 22 Ronaldo’s 40-yard strike against Porto in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg last season clinched a 3-2 aggregate win for Manchester United. The Sun quoted the Real Madrid star as saying, “The truth is I didn’t expect to win anything tonight. But, for me, it’s an honour to win an award. This is a very good moment for me.” England and Chelsea captain John Terry was named in FIFA’s Team of the Year. He was one of five Premier League stars to make the line-up, the others being Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra. Terry said, “For all of us, to be voted for by your fellow professionals and your peers is an exceptional honour.” Lady Elsie Robson received FIFA’s Fair Play award given posthumously to ex-England boss Sir Bobby Robson, who lost his battle with cancer this year. Lionel Messi became the first Argentine to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award on Monday. The accolade came after the playmaker won four major titles with Barcelona - the Champions League, the Club World Cup, La Liga and the King’s Cup. “This finishes a magnificent year for Barcelona, my team mates and for me,” said Messi after receiving the trophy from UEFA president and former France international Michel Platini. The other players on the shortlist were last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Portugal, former winner Kaka and Messi’s Barcelona team mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Messi was leading scorer in the Champions League, scoring nine goals including one in the 2-0 win over Manchester United in the final. He also notched the extra-time winner in the Club World Cup final against Estudiantes on Saturday. The award, introduced in 1991, is voted by the coaches and captains of the national teams. — Agencies
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Star batsman Yuvraj Singh was today ruled out of India’s last two one day international matches against Sri Lanka because of his finger injury. “Due to the finger injury sustained earlier, Yuvraj Singh has been advised rest and therefore he will not play in the fourth and fifth ODI matches against Sri Lanka,” BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.
timely completion of the competition venues, but the Government has certainly not cut corner in loosening its purse strings to fund the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
