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Djokovic sails into quarters
Sahara retains Team India sponsorship
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SAI not reimbursing shooters’ bills
After SAD’s kabaddi craze, SGPC has cricket on its mind
Germany eyeing semis spot, says Lahm
Star track
Legends
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Serena beats Peer World number one Serena Williams lost the first seven points against Shahar Peer before starting up the engine and racing past the Israeli 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals on Monday. The American immediately dropped her serve on Centre Court as Peer made a strong start but the 18th seed was left gasping for air as Williams blasted her way in under half an hour. Henin’s run ends Justine Henin's hopes of a fifth French Open title vanished with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 fourth-round defeat by Australian seventh seed Sam Stosur on Monday. Henin, a four-time champion returning to the game after a 20-month stint in retirement, looked set to canter through after sealing the opening set in 32 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Melzer's dream goes on Jurgen Melzer's French Open dream continued on Monday when the Austrian reached the quarter-finals of the claycourt grand slam with a 7-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over Russian qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili. Nadal in quarters Rafael Nadal snuffed out the threat of Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci on Monday, winning 6-2, 7-5, 6-4. Nadal, whose four-year domination at Roland Garros was ended exactly a year ago by Robin Soderling, was pushed hard by the 22-year-old after dominating the first set. Almagro through Almagro pummelled fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco into submission to set up a quarter-final showdown with Rafael Nadal. Almagro blasted away from the baseline with his sledgehammer forehand, advancing 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Paes-Black advance Leander Paes and his partner Cara Black advanced to the quarterfinals of the French Open mixed doubles event after a hard-fought victory in super tie-breaker over Su-Wei Hsieh and Bruno Soares here today. The Indo-Zimbabwe won 7-5, 2-6, 1-0 (10/8). — Agencies
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Sahara retains Team India sponsorship
“Sahara India Financial Corporation has been awarded the Indian team (Seniors) Title Sponsorship Rights, for the period 1 July 2010 to 31 December 2013,” BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement. “The BCCI will be paid Rs. 3.34 crore per Test/ODI/T20 International during this period,” the statement added. Locked in a two-way battle with Bharti Airtel, Sahara's bid was way above the Rs 2.89 crore per match offer made by the telecom giant. The amount offered by Sahara could earn BCCI anything between Rs 481 crore to Rs 558 crore in the next three years depending on the number of matches India plays. Sahara’s original contract with the BCCI expired last year after the company spent Rs 400 crore over a four-year period for team sponsorship. They came to the BCCI's rescue when no bids were received for the team sponsorship six months ago and continued their support for the period. Their renewed contract was to expire next month. Under the existing contract, Sahara was paying Rs 1.9 crore per Test, Rs 2.08 crore per ODI and and Rs 1.56 crore per Twenty20 International, the BCCI said. The two were the only firms left in the fray, although four others including electronic giants Videocon, had also purchased the bid form. Sahara and Airtel submitted the requisite security deposit of Rs 50 crore along with the form at the end of deadline while the other firms excused themselves from the race due to the steep base price of Rs 2.5 crore per match. The Cricket Board had published a tender notice calling for bids for the Indian men's team, women's team, India A squad and the under 19 squad and the deadline to submit security deposit ended yesterday.
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SAI not reimbursing shooters’ bills
Gurdaspur, May 31 National Sports Federation’s were patting their backs when the government announced that a whopping Rs 678 crore would be spent on the preparations of Indian teams for the CWG. However, the same Federations, including the NRAI, are now in an embarrassing situation because payments for training their respective teams are not flowing from SAI. The country’s shot gun shooters, from whom much is expected, have yet to be paid their boarding and lodging expenses by SAI. Till yet, five national camps have been held at the Dr Karni Singh shooting range and private ranges at Patiala and Noida, with the shooters themselves paying up. The 30 core group shot gun shooters engaged in the events of trap, double trap and skeet events, have been egging NRAI officials to reimburse their expenses. The NRAI on its part is passing the buck by stating that SAI is the agency which has to make the payments. Under SAI rules, shooters were to be given Rs 450 towards food expenses and Rs 1, 000 towards their stay in hotels. The NRAI had made it clear to the marksmen that they can pay from their pockets and the payments would later be reimbursed by SAI. However, SAI on its part has been refusing payments on flimsy grounds by claiming that shooters were allowed a maximum of Rs 1, 000 towards their hotel charges but they were staying in hotels which cost Rs 1, 800 per room per day. While NRAI president Baljeet Singh Sethi could not be contacted as he is away to USA, a livid NRAI secretary Rajiv Bhatia claimed that even if his shooters were staying in rooms at Rs 1, 800 per day, SAI should come up with Rs 1, 000 as agreed earlier. “Whenever we pass on boarding and lodging bills to SAI, absolutely baseless objections are raised. This is proving to be detrimental to the interests of the shooters. We can not run with a begging bowl after SAI officials. They should pay whatever they have to under the rules and the rest of the payment will be made by us. Shooters disclose that it is impossible for them to find decent hotel rooms in Delhi or Noida at Rs 1, 000 per day. That is the reason why they put up in rooms at Rs 1, 800 per day. A top shooter, preferring anonymity, disclosed, “SAI thinks of getting 30 to 35 medals. But the manner in which we are being treated shows how disrespectful SAI has been to us.” |
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After SAD’s kabaddi craze, SGPC has cricket on its mind
Ludhiana, May 31 The cheque was issued by assistant secretary SGPC following the order of SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar. The insiders revealed that the money has been given as an award to the cricket coach as the latter used to teach the game to the grandson of SGPC chief. It has not been for the first time the SGPC has funded cricket teams. The SGPC had earlier sponsored the tour of blind cricket team to Pakistan few years ago. When asked coach Amrik Singh, who is running Nursery of Cricket, Center For Excellence, admitted that he has received a cheque. Clearing speculation he said that money had been given for the coaching of players belonging to economically weaker section. Currently 40 players are honing their cricketing skills in the academy. The coach said many players were from economically weaker sections and could not fund their game. “Makkar visited the ground and promised financial support to these cricketers and he has kept his promise,” said the Coach. |
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Germany eyeing semis spot, says Lahm
Christian Traesch also dropped out of the 27-man squad after starting keeper Rene Adler and midfielder Simon Rolfes were ruled out. “The team cannot be allowed to be influenced by these injuries,” Lahm, named as captain only last week, told reporters at their training base in northern Italy. “The big aim is the semi-finals but you first have to deal with the group stage. We want to get into the semis and the team does indeed dream of more than that,” he said. LONDON: England's unimpressive 2-1 win over Japan in Sunday's final World Cup warm-up answered few questions but there was at least general agreement on which players are likely to be axed from Fabio Capello's squad. England needed two own goals to beat Japan in a lacklustre match in Graz, Austria that resembled a training exercise but Capello is focused on the real business. Uruguay squad named
Montevideo: Uruguay on Sunday announced final 23 members of their football World Cup squad travelling to South Africa in June. The team members are: Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera, Juan Castillo and M Silva. Defenders: D Lugano, D Godín, A Scotti, J Fucile, M Caceres, M Victorino, M Pereira. Midfielders: W Gargano, EA Ríos, Sebastian Eguren, Diego Perez, Alvaro Pereira, Ignacio Gonzalez, Nicolas Lodeiro, Alvaro Fernandez. Forwards: SuArez, Forlan, Abreu, Cavani, Fernandez. Kewell in fitness race
JOHANNESBURG: Australia forward Harry Kewell is winning his race to be fit for the Socceroos' opening World Cup game on June 13, coach Pim Verbeek said on Monday. The Galatasaray forward did not train with the squad in their morning session but looks set to be included in Verbeek’s final squad of 23 which will be announced after a warm-up game against Denmark on Tuesday.
— Agencies |
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In September 2008, Rooney became the youngest player in league history to make 200 appearances and, while he has been accused of failing to control his temper, remains one of the most important players in the side for club and country. Strengths: Powerful and strong on the ball, Rooney's ability to pick a pass, shoot from distance and unselfishly work for the team is unparalleled in world football. Weaknesses: Suffers when the red mist descends and has a propensity to lose his cool in key games. Style: Powerful, hard-working, passionate, an unselfish superstar. Quotes: “Kaká, Ronaldo and Messi are the best three in the world at the moment and I think Wayne can get to that level if he keeps making progress.” Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, September 2009. Trivia: Rooney has “Just Enough Education To Perform” tattooed on his right forearm. The line is the title of an album by his favourite band, The Stereophonics.
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Zinedine Yazid Zidane
In 2004, Forbes magazine named him the 42nd-highest paid athlete in the world, with earnings of US$15.8 million a year. |
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Unlucky seven wait Capello’s call
England’s star turn, Wayne Rooney is viewed as one of the best players in the world. The Manchester United striker has been firmly in the spotlight since breaking into the England side aged 17 and has the potential to stay at the top of the game for years to come.
Born June 23, 1972, in Marseille, France, Zidane is a retired French World Cup-winning footballer of Algerian descent. Widely regarded as one of the game’s all-time greats, Zidane played for club teams in France, Italy and Spain, and was a member of the French national team. His career accomplishments include helping France win the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, in addition to winning the 2002 UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid. One of only two three-time FIFA World Player of the Year winners, the other being Ronaldo, Zidane also won the Ballon d’Or in 1998. He retired from professional football after scoring and being sent off in the final of the 2006 World Cup.
London: