SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI


THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
S P O R T S

Kings look for shining Knights
Shane Bond during a pratice session at PCA Stadium in Mohali on Friday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu Face Kolkata in crunch home game today
Mohali, March 26
In the words of former US president Winston Churchill, “Attitude is that one small thing that makes a big difference”.


Shane Bond during a pratice session at PCA Stadium in Mohali on Friday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Vinay lone new face; Chawla makes comeback
Mumbai, March 26
Karnataka speedster R Vinay Kumar was today rewarded for his consistent performance in domestic cricket while leg-spinner Piyush Chawla staged a surprise comeback into India’s 15-member squad for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies.

IOC not to tolerate govt interference in NOCs
New Delhi, March 26
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) took a tough stand on government’s meddling in the autonomy of the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) as it felt that a government’s role should be that of a facilitator and not a confrontationist as the aim was to work in close co-ordination and co-operation with the NOCs for the fostering of sports.


Bret Lee during practice session at the Sector 16 stadium in Chandigarh on Friday.
Bret Lee during practice session at the Sector 16 stadium in Chandigarh on Friday. 
Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

EARLIER STORIES

Super Sachin downs Super Kings
March 26, 2010
Royals outshine Kings
March 25, 2010
Kings ready for Royal rumble
March 24, 2010
Mumbai down KKR, go top
March 23, 2010
Symmo bullies Dardevils
March 22, 2010
Royals record first win
March 21, 2010
Hayden blows Daredevils away
March 20, 2010
No Gautam,Delhi worried
March 19, 2010
Kings of the ring
March 18, 2010

Force India cars make mark, gearbox problem for Karun
Adrian Sutil (L) and Vitantonio Liuzzi Melbourne, March 26
Force India cars figured in top 10 in both the segments ahead of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix but India’s lone F1 driver Karun Chandhok could complete only 20 laps before a gearbox problem ended his run in the free practice sessions today. On a day marred by frequent red flags and intermittent rain, Force India’s Vitantonio Liuzzi (1:28.192) clocked the 10th fastest time of the morning session, just ahead of teammate and race driver Paul di Resta (1:28.537), who was behind the wheel of VJM03 in place of test driver Adrian Sutil.

Adrian Sutil (L) and Vitantonio Liuzzi

World Cup Kabaddi
To avoid doping issues, fresh kabaddi trials today
Ludhiana, March 26
The decision of the sports department of conducting fresh Kabaddi trials tomorrow for the prestigious Kabaddi World Cup, in which Rs 1 crore prize money is at stake, has raised many eyebrows.

 


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Kings look for shining Knights
Face Kolkata in crunch home game today
Vaibhav Sharma
Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 26
In the words of former US president Winston Churchill, “Attitude is that one small thing that makes a big difference”. So when the jaded-looking Kings XI Punjab take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the PCA stadium in Mohali on Saturday, they will be looking for that ‘big’ difference.

Speaking to the media Kings XI captain Kumar Sangakkara said, “We have to show that we have what it takes to win. We have to fight hard and hope for the best.” While praising the likes of Manvinder Bisla, the Sri Lankan said for local boy Yuvraj Singh, “it was time to show what he is really made of.”

The team has looked in a state of collective chaos and to make the semis from here will be some challenge. They had started as favourites against the Rajasthan Royals, but the tale had a nasty twist to it.

So the favourites tag would be one they will steer clear from for tomorrow’s game. The Knight Riders have not been the most consistent side either. After beginning with two wins, they too seem to have lost the way.

The two teams, just as was the case against Rajasthan Royals, are the bottom two. And while there still are quite a few matches to go, the sooner you are away from the bottom, the better it is.

Kings will be looking to Yuvraj, who has been patchy in his form. There is obviously the question why they didn’t play Lee and Marsh in the last game, but dropping someone like Jayawardene, Theron or the in-form Ravi Bopara cannot be an easy call for captain Sangakkara.

But the team clearly needs a fresh outlook to make a fist of this game. For the Knight Riders, Chris Gayle is in, but barely made a difference in the last game. They would need Angelo Matthews, Brad Hodge and Manoj Tiwary to get going. Speaking to the media KKR coach Dav Whatmore said “We know what is to be done. We will clearly be looking at our batsmen to get more runs.”

Chasing or not, the batsmen have to make the difference as both captains look for added punches, as the Kings and the Knights start to fight their way up the points table.

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Vinay lone new face; Chawla makes comeback

Mumbai, March 26
Karnataka speedster R Vinay Kumar was today rewarded for his consistent performance in domestic cricket while leg-spinner Piyush Chawla staged a surprise comeback into India’s 15-member squad for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies. The 26-year-old Vinay Kumar, who has been impressive in the ongoing IPL, was the only new face in the squad to be led by M S Dhoni.

M S Dhoni (C), V Sehwag (v-c), S Raina, Yuvraj, G Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, R Vinay Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla and Dinesh Karthik. — PTI
From Top (Left to right): M S Dhoni (C), V Sehwag (v-c), S Raina, Yuvraj, G Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, R Vinay Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla and Dinesh Karthik. — PTI

Barring Vinay’s inclusion and the recall of Uttar Pradesh leg-spinner Chawla, there were no major surprises in the squad announced by the BCCI secretary N Srinivasan after a selection panel meeting here. Pacers Ishant Sharma, S Sreesanth and RP Singh, who were in the provisional 30-member list, failed to figure in the squad while spinners Pragyan Ojha and Amit Mishra also missed the bus.

Virat Kohli was also left out of the squad for the event to be held in the Caribbean from April 30 to May 16. “We have selected the best team for the Twenty20 World Cup. We are happy with the performance of every member of the team. They have shown consistency,” chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth said after picking the squad.

“The Twenty20 World Cup is still one month away and we hope that this team will do well in the event,” he said. Srikkanth also said as of now there is no worry. “Everyone is hundred per cent fit and all the fitness certificates have been submitted to the Board. All the members are fit and fine,” he said.

The diminutive Chawla pipped Ojha and Mishra for the second spinner's berth in the squad which has Harbhajan Singh as the spin spearhead. Chawla returns to the Indian team after a gap of nearly two years, the 2008 Asia Cup in Pakistan being his last appearance.

Chawla, who plays for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL, has done a decent job with the ball so far, which prompted the selectors to include him in the squad. Gambhir has been included in the squad and will partner Virender Sehwag at the top of the order. — PTI

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IOC not to tolerate govt interference in NOCs
M.S.Unnikrishnan
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 26
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) took a tough stand on government’s meddling in the autonomy of the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) as it felt that a government’s role should be that of a facilitator and not a confrontationist as the aim was to work in close co-ordination and co-operation with the NOCs for the fostering of sports.

Speaking after a five-day first national seminar on Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP), relating to Olympism, that was attended by over 50 delegates from national and State Olympic Committees, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Sam Ramswamy said the “IOC would not take it lying down the autonomy being eroded by Governments. The Olympic Charter is very clear on this. The IOC recently suspended the National Olympic Committee of Kuwait after we found the Kuwaiti Government interfering in the affairs of the Kuwait Olympic Committee. In fact when FIFA (International Football Federation) found flagrant violations of the Olympic Charter by some Governments, it initiated sanctions against those countries”, said Ramswamy.

He said this in the context of the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports taking a strident stand against the National Sports Federations in the name of accountability. The general refrain in the five-day meeting by delegates from across the country and the IOC members was that the Government and the NSFs should work in co-operation, instead of colliding, which would only hamper the growth of sports.

IOC representatives Dr Deanna Binder and T S Ganda Sithole also stressed the need for autonomy of the National Olympic Committees. IOC member and secretary-general of the IOA Randhir Singh said good governance and transparency in whatever the NOCs and their affiliates were doing were pertinent.

“I believe with good governance, everything falls into place. We in the IOC always insist on working with the Governments but without affecting our autonomy”, Randhir Singh added. Delegate after delegate emphasised good governance, transparency, independence and autonomy as the keywords for the promotion and growth of sports across the world, which should be popularised through value education in schools.

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Force India cars make mark, gearbox problem for Karun

Melbourne, March 26
Force India cars figured in top 10 in both the segments ahead of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix but India’s lone F1 driver Karun Chandhok could complete only 20 laps before a gearbox problem ended his run in the free practice sessions today. On a day marred by frequent red flags and intermittent rain, Force India’s Vitantonio Liuzzi (1:28.192) clocked the 10th fastest time of the morning session, just ahead of teammate and race driver Paul di Resta (1:28.537), who was behind the wheel of VJM03 in place of test driver Adrian Sutil.

Sutil was back in charge in the rain-swept afternoon session and his best lap of (1:26.834) was seventh fastest, marginally ahead of Liuzzi’s 1:26.835. “The rain in the second session was not ideal, particularly as I had sat out the first session, but we did what we could and I think overall the findings were very positive,” Sutil later said.

“Everything seems to be working OK and we could get all the information we wanted today. I still have a good feeling about this weekend and I would like to better the result we had in Bahrain,” said the German. Liuzzi, who scored the team’s first points this season in Bahrain, was happy with the way his car behaved.

“The car was responding pretty well to the changes we made over the sessions. I was quite happy with the balance,” Liuzzi said. “In the first session there were the two red flags in quite quick succession and then the weather didn’t help in the second practice. Unfortunately then there was always traffic as there were people slowing down and backing off to try and get some space so I didn’t get a free lap. It was like people were on a Sunday drive in some places,” said the Italian.

Meanwhile, rookie Hispania driver Karun Chandhok finally got some mileage under his belt at the Albert Park before his afternoon session came to a premature end. Karun made 19 laps in the morning session and his best of 1:34.251 put him in the penultimate place, ahead of Virgin’s Timo Glock.

The Chennai lad had barely completed 100 meters when he had to stop with a gearbox problem. “We were ready straight away when the first session started and after a seven-lap run I achieved a best lap of 1m 36.259s. It was nice to do some useful laps again this morning, and a pity I had the gearbox problem in the second session,” Karun later said. McLaren, meanwhile, sent out an ominous warning with Lewis Hamilton (1:25.801) and Jenson Button (1:26.076) setting the fastest times in the second practice session. — PTI

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World Cup Kabaddi
To avoid doping issues, fresh kabaddi trials today
Mohit Khanna
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 26
The decision of the sports department of conducting fresh Kabaddi trials tomorrow for the prestigious Kabaddi World Cup, in which Rs 1 crore prize money is at stake, has raised many eyebrows.

The development took place in the wake of concerns raised by various associations about the possibility of conducting a doping-free World Cup starting April 5.

Sources in the sports department said 13 out of 29 participant selected following a trial allegedly tested positive in the doping test conducted by World Anti Doping Authority (WADA).

If the sources are to be believed then five players, including a famous international raider refused to undergo the test. In an immediate face-saving measure World Cup organisers are conducting fresh trials at PAU tomorrow.

Pargat Singh director Punjab Sport Department expressed ignorance about the doping fiasco. “I don’t know if any player was found positive or not. I was told that some of the elite players could not attend the trials because of busy schedule. So we have decided to conduct a fresh trial,” said Pargat and further added that chairman of the Anti- Doping committee Dr. Manmohan Singh would know about the development.

Sources said National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports carried an advertisement in The Tribune, after so many players were found positive for doping. The advertisement reads, "Youth of Punjab, we are proud of Punjab Kabaddi.

This is so long as there is no doping. Therefore wherever Kabaddi Tournament are held, NADA, will arrive to take urine samples. Understand this, and reject drugs.”

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 BRIEFLY

Eighth F1 title possible: Schumacher
MELBOURNE:
Seven time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher has said that he is aiming for his eighth title this season. “My expectation was to fight for the championship and I still think that this is possible. Can we win the championship this year? That is a tough question. It is a long year and I have been in much worse circumstances at the beginning of the year and still taken a championship. I am not feeling pessimistic at all.” — ANI
Venus Williams returns a shot to Sorana Cirstea during play at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida, on Thursday.
Venus Williams returns a shot to Sorana Cirstea during play at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida, on Thursday. — Reuters

Hamilton sorry for rash driving
LONDON:
McLaren’s former Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton apologised on Friday for “over-exuberant” driving after being stopped by police in Melbourne. “This evening, I was driving in an over-exuberant manner and, as a result, was stopped by the police,” Hamilton said in a McLaren statement. — Reuters

Chhetri signs for KC Wizards
NEW DELHI:
Sunil Chhetri on Friday became the first Indian footballer to join the United States Major League Soccer after he signed a formal contract with MLS side Kansas City Wizards at the club headquarters. His contract though is subject to his obtaining P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate, the MLS side said. -— PTI

Dempo to take on tricky JCT
MARGAO:
On a high after their impressive win against Churchill Brothers, Dempo will be looking to keep the momentum going when they clash with JCT in a 18th round match of I-League at Nehru Stadium here on Saturday. Dempo started their second phase with a narrow win over Mumbai FC but thereafter suffered twin defeats which put brake on their title race. — PTI

Saina to lead challenge
NEW DELHI:
World champion Lin Dan and 2004 Olympic gold medallist Taufik Hidayat will be among a host of star shuttlers who would be seen in action in the $150,000 Yonex Asian Badminton Championship to be held at the newly-built Siri Fort stadium here from April 12-18. World number six Saina Nehwal will spearhead the Indian challenge in the tournament. — PTI 

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