Colombo, July 29
Sachin Tendulkar slammed a monumental 203 and Suresh Raina notched up his maiden century as India surpassed Sri Lanka’s mammoth first innings total with a solid batting display in the second cricket Test which seemed headed for a tame draw here today.

Tendulkar gave ample display of his class and stamina by anchoring the innings brilliantly as the visitors cruised to 669 for nine at close on the penultimate day in response to Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 642 for four declared.

Debutant Raina, who came into the team as a replacement for the indisposed Yuvraj Singh, made the most of the opportunity by scoring 120, while captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (76) was the other notable performer for the Indians.

Ishant Sharma (10) and last man Pragyan Ojha (0) were at the crease at stumps with India having a slender lead of 27 runs. With just one day left and the track at the Sinhalese Sports ground still playing easy, it is almost certain that the match will end in a draw. In case of a draw, India will maintain their status as the number one Test team in the ICC rankings.

It was Tendulkar again who stole the spotlight on the penultimate day’s play as he notched up his fifth double century and featured in a 256-run partnership for the fifth wicket with debutant Raina which proved to be the backbone of India’s resistance. The champion batsman was a picture of concentration as he steered India to safety with a masterly knock which spanned almost four sessions. Overnight 382 for four, India needed 61 more runs to avoid the follow at the start of play today and it did not seem to be much a problem with Tendulkar and Raina batting confidently. — PTI 

Scoreboard

SL (1st Innings): 642-4 decl

India (1st Innings):

(Overnight 382/4)

Vijay lbw b Mendis 58

Sehwag st P Jayawardene

b Randiv 99

Dravid lbw b Randiv 3

Tendulkar c P Jayawardene

b Dilshan 202

Laxman lbw Mendis 29

Raina c Sangakkara

b Mendis 120

Dhoni c & b Dilshan 76

Harbhajan c S’karab Dilshan 0

Mithun b Mendis 41

Ishant batting 10

Ojha batting 0

Extras (b-9, lb-5, w-4, nb-12) 30

Total (9 wkts, 198 overs) 669

Bowling: Prasad 19-1-96-0, Fernando 31-1-116-0, Mathews 9-1-24-0, Randiv 64-14-212-2, Mendis 54-7-157-4, Dilshan 21-4-50-3.

Colombo, July 29
The Umpire Decision Review System may have its share of supporters but Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar today gave a thumbs down to UDRS, saying he was not fully convinced with the controversial referral system. Tendulkar said instead of UDRS, he was more in favour of the usage of new ‘Hot-Spot’ technology, which is an infra-red imaging system used in cricket to determine whether the ball has struck the batsman, bat or pad.

“I am not fully convinced with the referral system (UDRS). When I was here last time I was not convinced with many decisions. I did not feel comfortable, it was an experiement which I felt,” Tendulkar told reporters here after notching up his fifth double hundred in Tests.

“I would rather go with the Hot Spot because that establishes the contact between the bat and the bowl. That it is far better system according to me. The Hot Spot is much better,” he said.

The UDRS has recently got some supporters in Australian captain Ricky Ponting, Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan and former ICC umpire Rudi Koertzen, who called for the use of the system in every Test match.

Tendulkar said he had no qualms of not scoring a triple hundred yet in his career because he never played cricket for record.

“People look at records but I don’t. Whenever it (triple hundred) has to come, it will come. It is never too late. I will keep trying, but that is not the end of the world for me. There are many more things in cricket and that is where the focus is. It’s not on records,” he said. — PTI 

Chandigarh, July 29
Eyeing on gold medal in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games (CWG) in October, Indian boxing numero uno Vijender Kumar says he has been toiling hard to achieve the target.

Vijender, who was in the city to attend a private function at Chandigarh Press Club, said, “Since the Games have only knockout rounds, you can not afford even a single defeat. We (the boxers) are working hard in the training camp at NIS, Patiala. I am satisfied with my training part and fitness level. So I am eyeing on gold medal.”

The ace boxer, who could participate in the National Boxing Championship held recently due to his wrist injury, maintained that he was fully fit and raring to go. The Olympian bronze medallist Vijender, who is also one among the six brand ambassadors of CWG-2010, held that playing the role of ambassador was challenging, but for him winning gold medal for the country was more important than any other thing.

“We hope to win at least three four gold medals at the Games,” said the world number one boxer in 75 kg category, while adding that the main challenge would be by the boxers from UK, Australia and South Africa. On the recent controversies, including the alleged sexual misconduct by hockey officials, Vijender said, “Our national game hockey has been undergoing the bad phase. What can I say? I think that the players should only focus on their performance.”

On the issue of delay in preparing the sports infrastructure for the CWG, Vijender said, “I hope that everything would be put in place before the D-day. While organising the Asian Games, the same thing had happened.”

When asked about non-participation of several star athletes like Usain Bolt from Jamaica in the CWG, Vijender said he was not aware about that.

New Delhi, July 29
Indian paddlers are gearing up for next month’s China Open and Olympian Achanta Sharath Kamal feels the exposure trip will hold them in good stead in this year's Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

“Training in China is always a good experience. It helps the players a lot. In China we get the opportunity to play against a number of quality players which improve our skills,” world number 76 Sharath said. “We have trained in China on three occasions in the last few months and that will certainly help us in the Commonwealth Games. The trips will also help us in the Asian Games to be held in Guanzhou, China in November,” he added.

The Commonwealth Games will be held here from October 3-14 after which the focus will shift to the 16th Asian Games scheduled for November 12-27 in Guangzhou, China. And keeping the two sporting megaevents in mind, the Indian paddlers will first participate in the China Open starting August 12 after which they will undergo a month-long training programme in Zhending.

Sharath also said his performance had improved a lot after undergoing trainings in China. “My performance also improved a lot in the recent past. For example, the training seasons have improved my speed and that have played important role in my recent success,” said the CWG defending champion.

Of late, the lanky paddler has been in stupendous form. He first won the US Open title at Michigan earlier this month before creating history by becoming the first Indian to win an ITTF Pro Tour singles title when he clinched the Egypt Open in Cairo. — PTI 

New Delhi, July 29
Just two days after his doomsday prophecy for Commonwealth Games 2010 evoked furious response from his bête-noire-Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi-former Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today pledged not to speak a word about the Games, but only till October 15.

Aiyar revealed he had been asked to keep mum on the issue, but did not say who has told him to do so. “Now that everybody is talking about it, I think, now I do not need to say anything more and I have promised that I will keep my mouth shut because somebody asked me to do so as they will successfully organise Commonwealth Games. Now, I will open my mouth on October 15,” he said outside Parliament.

Really speaking, there are no prizes for guessing who that “somebody” is. However, Aiyar denied that party high command had passed a gag order against him. “High Command has not told me anything. This is my own decision that when my views on the issue are being heard in all households, then what is the need to issue more statements,” he said. The fact that after the Games are over there will be a thorough post-mortem on recent happenings has been confirmed by Congress spokesman Abhishek Sighvi. Terming Aiyar’s allegations “very serious”, Singhvi said they should be investigated and whosoever is found guilt taken action against. “This we assure,” he said.

Meanwhile, taking a dig at Kalmadi for calling him “anti-national”, Aiyar said: “Whoever has said this, his talks are a matter of jest”. Maintaining that his criticism of the Games was nothing new, the senior Congress leader wondered why there was a “hue and cry” on the issue two days back.

New Delhi, July 29
An inspection by the Central Vigilance Commission has found serious discrepancies like award of works at higher rates to bidders, poor quality of construction and grant of work to ineligible agencies in different Commonwealth Games-related construction works being carried out by various departments here.

According to an assessment report prepared by CVC’s Chief Technical Examination Wing, large-scale procedural violations, including corruption, have been noticed in a total of 14 projects. Five of them are being done by Public Works Department (PWD), two each by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and one by RITES, a Government of India Enterprise, the report said.

The CTE Wing has made the assessment of construction projects following complaint of alleged corruption in them. “We have found corruption and other procedural irregularities in many Games-related construction projects. After thorough examination, we have written a letter to all concerned agencies to submit a detailed report,” a senior CVC official said.

The figure of corruption could be to the tune of Rs 20 crore, the official said. The CVC has asked Chief Vigilance Officers to re-examine all the tenders and procurement process related to the projects.

According to the report, “Almost all organisations executing works for Commonwealth Games have considered inadmissible factors to jack-up the reasonable price to justify award of work at quoted rates citing urgent or emergent circumstances. Despite higher rates, poor site management and delays and quality compromises have been observed.”

Pointing out deviation in works done by PWD, the Commission said, “Overall justification amount was highly inflated by various methods in order to mislead the higher authorities to facilitate award of tender at very high rates. An additional Rs 3.68 crore (approximate calculation) was wrongly added in the justification for transportation charges while the same were covered in over heads charges adopted in justification. Moreover, no transportation charges were actually incurred as labour camps were situated at the project site itself.”

The PWD has carried out works, including construction of flyover at Naraina T-Point, Ring Road, elevated road over Barapulla Nallah and upgradation of street lighting at various zones. As many as 12 of the 15 samples of concrete cubes collected from construction works being done by NDMC failed to meet requirement of strength. — PTI 

Patiala, July 29
In order to ensure that the weightlifting campers have not taken any banned substance, Weightlifting Federation of India (WFI) took an initiative, following which a special three member team of the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) conducted a surprise visit at the Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NIS) Patiala and collected samples of weightlifting campers.

Presently, as many as 17 men weightlifting campers and 16 women campers are there at the NIS training for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held in India in the month of October. What took the campers by surprise was that the NADA team took the urine samples of the campers. Preferring anonymity, one of the campers told that in wake of the recent controversy, they were not expecting any such move by the NADA.

The chief national coach Harnam Singh has however confirmed that the samples were taken from total of 33 weightlifters and the results would be sent to the WFI. Notably, Weightlifting has been in the news, after WFI suspended chief coach Ramesh Malhotra a week back, who was attached with the women campers.

Though Malhotra had denied the allegations but he was suspended on charges of alleged sexual harassment of young women weightlifters. Meanwhile, as per information gathered by The Tribune, the sources at NIS stated that three member team included local officials. 

BRIEFLY

Somdev out of Farmers Classic
Los Angeles: Somdev Devvarman suffered a second successive defeat against Serbia’s Janko Tipsaveric to crash out of the ATP Farmers Classic here. The Indian qualifier fought hard but lost 6-7 (9) 2-6 to his sixth seed and world number 46 rival Tipsaveric in the second round of the $619,500 hard court event. — PTI

Bilardo betrayed me: Maradona
Buenos Aires: Diego Maradona said he was betrayed as Argentina coach by national team director Carlos Bilardo and lied to by Julio Grondona, the president of the Argentine Football Association. “Grondona, in South Africa, said he was very happy with my work and wanted me to continue. But back in Argentina, things started to change.” — AP

Tevez dating ‘Ugly Duckling’
London: Ace striker Carlos Tevez is dating one of the stars of Ugly Betty’s Argentinean version. Actress Brenda Asnicar, 18, has wowed Argentina with her role in Patito Feo, which means Ugly Duckling. Tevez took her on holiday after Argentina lost in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in South Africa. — ANI

Beckham to decide on Hammers
London: England midfielder David Beckham has promised to inform West Ham soon whether he will play for them or not. West Ham is once again in the hunt to bring David Beckham to Upton Park. The LA Galaxy midfielder hopes to make his comeback from an Achilles injury in the next few weeks then return to Europe in January. — ANI

Gunasekara passes away
Colombo: Indian and Sri Lankan cricketers paid tribute to former All Ceylon Cricketer Conroy Ievers Gunasekara, better known as CI Gunasekara, who passed away on Thursday. He was 90. Gunasekara played first-class cricket prior to Sri Lanka being granted Test status. — ANI

Queen’s Baton in Mizoram
Aizawl: Aizawl welcomed the torch of the Commonwealth Games 2010 known as the Queen’s Baton on Thursday. The torch was received at the Lengpui airport near here by Zoliana Royte, secretary-general of the Mizoram Olympic Association. The baton will stay overnight here and would be taken to Kolkata on Friday. — PTI