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India
in Sri Lanka We lost wickets to bad shots: Sehwag
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clash and crash
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Harassment cases must be reviewed in totality: Akhil
Bedi a controversy monger, ordinary bowler: Murali
Paraplegic boy wins badminton c’ship
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India
in Sri Lanka
Tendulkar (108 not out) showed great character and temperament to score his first century on Sri Lankan soil in 11 years as he anchored the innings brilliantly to steer the visitors to 382 for for four at close on the third day, still needing 61 runs to avoid the follow on. Virender Sehwag missed his century by just one run while debutant Suresh Raina was the other notable performer with a sparkling unbeaten 66. It was a much-improved display by the Indians who made sure that there was no repeat of Galle where the famed batting order had succumbed rather tamely. Raina was giving Tendulkar company at stumps on a day which saw 287 runs being scored and four wickets falling at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground. India’s first objective will be to avoid the follow and then come as close as possible to Sri Lanka's mammoth first innings total of 642 for four declared. If India carry on in the same way tomorrow, a draw appears to be the only result possible as the track has shown no signs of breaking up. After Sehwag provided the early fireworks, it was champion batsman Tendulkar who stole the spotlight with a fine exhibition of strokeplay and application to save the blushes for India who were in a spot of bother at one stage. Tendulkar made the most of a dropped chance when he was on 29, wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene spilling a simple catch off Dilhara Fernando. But that was the only blemish from the star batsman as he gradually opened up to unleash a flurry of strokes. The champion batsmen had last scored a century in Sri Lanka in 1999 at the same venue. Resuming at the overnight score of 95 for no loss in response to Sri Lanka’s mammoth 642 for four declared, the Indians got off to a solid start with Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay putting on a 165-run opening partnership. But the scrip changed dramatically just half an hour before the lunch break with the visitors losing Sehwag (99) Vijay (58) and Rahul Dravid (3) in quick succession with debutant off-spinner Suraj Randiv striking twice. Sehwag, who resumed at overnight 64, looked set for a big innings but missed out on his 21st Test century by attempting a reckless shot. — PTI Scoreboard
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We lost wickets to bad shots: Sehwag
Colombo, July 28 The Delhi marauder though said he is not disappointed on missing a hundred. "I think we played bad shots, If you look at my shot. And that VVS Laxman decision was perhaps doubtful. When we were bowling, the Sri Lankan batsmen were not making any mistake. That is why they score 640 runs in the first innings. It is not the spinner's (quality) but it is the batsmen's mistake. So hopefully we will not make the same mistakes in the coming innings," he said after day's play. "I was disappointed today not because I got out on 99 but it would have been good for us if we had remained one or two (wickets) down," he added. On being asked, if he had read the ball before going for the shot, Sehwag replied," Yes, I knew the ball to which I got out was a doosra. But I went for the shot." Sehwag said even after his dismissal he was sure someone would get a big score for the side's cause. "I was not really worried. The wicket is so good to bat on. So I knew someone will make a big one. I was expecting centuries from Sachin and Laxman. But unfortunately Laxman got out. "And full praise to Suresh Raina. He batted really well for his 50 and I am hoping he will complete his century tomorrow. If we play well we can avoid the follow on and can bat the whole day," he said. Although bowlers are struggling to get wickets on a good batting track at SSC, Sehwag was still hoping for a result in this match. "It is difficult to say that but I think result will come. It doesn't matter who wins or who loses. I think the result will come. There are some crack opening up and I am hoping the result will come. "It is always like that. In the sub-continent you will get a wicket like that. The first two days good for batting, third day little bit spin fourth and fifth day the spinner will get more help and it is difficult to bat on 4th evening or 5th day," he opined. — PTI
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Washington, July 28 “Diego shut himself off to any change. Diego has all the right to do what he wants. But so does the AFA,” said executive committee member Luis Segura on Argentine television. The federation had offered Maradona a four-year contract through the 2014 World Cup, but Maradona said he would do so only if his entire staff remained. That was unacceptable to AFA president Julio Grondona. He had asked for several assistants to be replaced, including Maradona’s close friend Alejandro Mancuso. The federation said its executive committee unanimously decided to not keep Mardona, The Washington Post reported. AFA spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo called the decision “very painful”, but said there was no way to solve the impasse. “The president said there was a significant difference between what the AFA wanted to achieve and Maradona’s aspirations for the future. There was a wide gap, and it was impossible to narrow it,” Cherquis Bialo said. Bialo said there might be a role in the future for Maradona. Youth team manager Sergio Batista was appointed interim coach for the August 11 exhibition match at Ireland, followed by a September 7 home exhibition match against world champion Spain. — ANI
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HI elections adjourned sine die
New Delhi, July 28 The elections were scheduled to be held today, but now uncertainty looms large over the polls even as the International Hockey Federation (FIH) had given an ultimatum to Hockey India to hold the elections before July 31 or else face sanction. Forced to put off its polls for the fourth time, HI has decided to move the Supreme Court against the stay order, even as the FIH threatened to impose sanctions on India if elections were not held at the earliest. “We are moving the Supreme Court within two days against the stay order. There are court cases in almost every state, so we will ask the Honourable Supreme Court to take all cases and solve them at the earliest in the best interest of our national game,” HI lawyer Hitesh Jain said. The Delhi High Court had directed the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to withdraw the government’s observer for the Hockey India elections as it ruled that the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) was the sole representative body of the national game in the country as HI was a private body. Accordingly, the government yesterday withdrew its observer SK Mendiratta from the HI elections. The Delhi High Court had on May 21 set aside government’s decision to de-recognise the IHF and its disaffiliation by the Indian Olympic Association. But today, the Sports Ministry filed an application in the high court through joint secretary Injeti Srinivas asserting that the government had given recognition to both IHF and HI. Justice Muralidhar of the Delhi High Court, taking a serious view of the Ministry’s change of stance, said it was a breach of the court’s order despite the assurance given by the Ministry’s advocate yesterday, and directed the government to issue a fresh letter. But the government refused, insisting that it had recognised both IHF and HI, following which the court stayed the elections. Justice Muralidhar said there could be one recognised body for hockey and “this court is left with no option, but to stay the election process till further orders”. Justice Chopra then adjourned the HI elections sine die, till the court vacates the stay. Former Indian captain and Olympian Pargat Singh, who was contesting for the post of president, said: “It’s very unfortunate for the country and hockey will be the loser; no individual is going to lose anything”. FIH vice-president and observer for the elections Antonio Van Ondrasa was furious at the turn of events, saying it was very shameful and he did not come to the country to watch such a drama. He said the IHF was history for the FIH, as it had derecognised the Indian body 10 years ago, in 2000. He did not give a clear reply to a question whether the FIH would give another deadline to HI to complete the election process, as the July 31 deadline would not be met now. The FIH had threatened to deny India participation in the upcoming Women’s World Cup in August for which India have qualified, and all other international tournaments. When asked if India would be allowed to play in the World Cup, he said, “I cannot answer that question.” “Now we face the spectre of being denied permission to play in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi (October) and the Asian Games in China (November),” said a senior HI official. “The FIH’s objective is to help Indian hockey. We want India to come up in the game. You can hold the elections in the next five-six days, or seven-eight days...it’s not a question of a few days. Who knows whether this will go on forever…” wondered the FIH vice-president. He said the latest development was not good for the growth of Indian sports. “India has a lot of catching up to do in sports. We should not be going from court to court,” he noted. He asked the media and the well-wishers of Indian hockey “to give a wake-up call to the court”. “Let us put some pressure, otherwise, we are not going to achieve anything,” he added.
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Harassment cases must be reviewed in totality: Akhil
Patiala, July 28 One of the coaches on condition of anonymity said, “I don’t want to comment in both cases but what one cannot rule out the fact that tomorrow someone might as well come out and raise such false charges against them as well just because they were not selected in the Indian team or for any other reason. That will mark an end to our lifetime selfless service towards our country.” Commonwealth gold medalist boxer Akhil Kumar comes out openly to express his views in this issue. He said, “One needs to review these cases in totality. It should not be based on personal comments. The committee must review the characters and backgrounds of the coach and the player and try to find out the details of the allegations. Then they should give strict punishment to the defaulter. In case the coach is found guilty, he should not be suspended, but dismissed, so that he would not be able to serve anywhere else also. On the other hand if a player is found at fault, the Sports Ministry should impose a lifetime ban on the player. The rule should be same for everyone,” he added. Showing disappointment over ace pugilist Mary Kom’s statement that female coaches should be appointed for female players, he wondered about the example we were portraying in front of others. “Her statement would mean that it was a routine thing everywhere whereas the fact is that there are coaches who treat female players like their sisters and daughters as well. I don’t deny the occurrence of these things as they have always been happening. It’s just that now it has come to out. Therefore the ministry must frame strict guidelines for such cases. The most appropriate thing to do is to ensure that the person being appointed has good character,” he said.
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Bedi a controversy monger, ordinary bowler: Murali
Colombo, July 28 Muralitharan, who retired last week after completing 800 Test wickets at Galle against India, made an uncharacteristic attack on Bedi, saying that he was just an ordinary bowler. Asked about the lack of world-class spinners in India, except for Harbhajan Singh, Muralitharan said Bedi was not in the league B S Chandrasekhar, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Erapalli Prasanna. “Bedi, I don’t think he does not even come to a contest on that. I saw some (of his) bowling of his playing days. In modern era, if he plays he will get hammered every ball, that is what will happen. So no comparison,” the world’s most successful spinner told PTI in an interview. “Prasanna is a good bowler. I have seen his bowling. Venkataraghavan is good. But Bedi does not come under it,” he said. Though without mentioning the constant criticism he got from Bedi, the affable Sri Lankan advised the former Indian captain to refrain from whipping up controversies. “He (Bedi) is also a controversial person. He has lot of controversies everywhere in the world. And he should think about himself first rather than talking about other people,” Muralitharan said. Asked about Bedi’s comments to ban the ‘doosra’ from international cricket, Muralitharan lampooned the Indian by saying that he has no variations in his bowling and was therefore critical of others. “He (Bedi) did not have any variation. He just bowled left arm spin and pitch did the variation for him. That is what he bowled,” he said. Muralitharan said Anil Kumble was the best spinner India has produced and records speak for themselves. “You forget the best spinner is Anil Kumble. Not Bedi or Venkataraghavan or any other. I think the best ever spinner produced (in India) is Kumble. No doubt about it and nobody can doubt it. Statistics-wise and on the basis of other things, he is far ahead than other guys”, he said. Murali indeed a
chucker: Bedi
New Delhi: At the receiving end of a scathing attack from Muttiah Muralitharan, his long-time detractor Bishen Singh Bedi today hit back at the retired Sri Lankan spin great by maintaining that he was indeed a "chucker" Bedi, an untiring critic of Muralitharan by repeatedly calling him a "chucker", found support from two other Indian spinners Erapalli Prasanna and Maninder Singh who said the Sri Lankan was given the licence by the ICC to bend his arm. In an uncharacterictic attack, Muralitharan described Bedi a controversy monger and an ordinary bowler who would have been thrashed by any batsman had he been playing in the modern era. Asked for his reaction to Murali's verbal volley, Bedi said, “I don’t want to react. Don’t want to comment. I don’t want to say anything to be honest. You know my views. I don’t want to stoop to his level. I don’t call Murali a chucker. He is a chucker.” Former Indian spinner Prasanna threw his weight behind his former teammate, saying Murali’s attack was “totally uncalled for”. “He (Murali) should have avoided it. Murali should have been little more mature. He just can’t make such loose comments that anybody could have achieved Bishen's feat. We all admire him for his achievements. He should have avoided making such comments”, Prasanna said. “The fact of the matter is that ICC bent its rules for Murali. With that, flexibility was allowed to him and most of the bowlers,” he said. “He doesn't fit into the slot of conventional bowler but fact of the matter is ICC bent the rules and permitted him. Therefore it’s ok”, he said.
— PTI |
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Paraplegic boy wins badminton c’ship
Abohar, July 28 Last year, Sanjeev, son of a Class IV employee, had also won a gold medal in the National Para Championship held at Bangalore. Sanjeev has been working as an inclusive education volunteer (IEV) with the Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan (SSA) at government primary school, Khuiansarwar. He was the only boy from Punjab to be selected for Sri Lanka Open 2010 Badminton Cup, which was held in April at Colombo, however he could not participate for reasons best known to the organisers. Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav and a social activist help him to meet the expenditure to participate in National Games. Sanjeev was also selected for World Cup Championship in Korea and German Championship, however, he could not arrange enough money to fund his trips. “It is always thrilling when you win prestigious championship and that, too, after facing odd circumstances and extreme poverty,” said Sanjeev while expressing his gratitude to those, who had come forward to extend him financial help in his ‘mission’.
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Biel (Switzerland), July 28 Luckless till now, Negi’s succumbed to his fourth loss in the category-17 tournament and as a result fell below the 2600 ELO rating mark for the first time this year. Howell elevated himself to the ninth spot on three points while Negi is now last on just two points. In the final round, Negi will meet top seed Grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France. It turned out to be another tough day in office for young Negi as he misplayed another promising position in the tournament. Playing the black side of a Sicilian Alapin, all was well in Negi’s position in the ensuing middle game and even after the exchange of queens, the experts preferred his position with black pieces. — PTI
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Colombo, July 28
Patiala, July 28
Sanjeev Kumar, a differently abled boy, hailing from Telupura village here, has made the state proud after emerging as a national champion in the doubles event of badminton in Fifth Handicapped Para Games Championship-2010 held at Bangalore from July 21 to July 23. Not only this,
Sanjeev, who braved many odds to arrange funds to participate in this prestigious championship organised by the Para Olympic Games Committee of India got second position in the singles event.
Colombo, July 28
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