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Cricket back on the ground |
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Four wrestlers caught for doping
Rajpal hopes for gold at
CWG
Azarenka collapses on court
WC: Indian eves lose to Australia
‘Delay is the way India prepares’
Liuzzi: Vettel accident cost us dear
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Cricket back on the ground
New Delhi, September 2 Since the Australian duo of Shane Warne and Mark Waugh admitted in 1998 to passing information to an Indian bookmaker during a 1994 tournament, cricket has seldom had a financial scandal without an Indian connection. The latest spot-fixing scandal, in which Pakistan bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir are alleged to have bowled three deliberate no-balls by arrangement, continued the trend. Arrested by British police on suspicion of defrauding bookmakers, Mazhar Majeed claimed he dealt with an Indian party. Two Australian cricketers also said they were approached by an Indian bookie in England last year. Lawyer Rahul Mehra, who has fought numerous legal battles against cricket and other sports bodies in India seeking transparency in their functions, is not surprised. "The Indians bet on the weather, crops and even smaller and trivial things. Cricket is a religion here and India is the financial hub. So, it's hardly a surprise that an India-Pakistan ODI draws bets worth $20 million," Mehra told Reuters."The only thing is that here betting is not legal which is why there is little government control over the industry." Legal gambling in India is confined to horse-racing while casinos are allowed only in a couple of states. Illegal syndicates are thriving, however, and Indian media estimates put the amount bet on last year's Indian Premier League (IPL) at $427 million. A Delhi trial court judge Tuesday said gambling on cricket should be legalised to prevent the spoils being spent on criminal activity and to generate revenue for the government. Former India cricket chief Inderjit Bindra has long been a supporter of legalisation for similar reasons and to help fight against match-fixing. "If betting is legalised, it will be in the interest of the government as not only will it eliminate match-fixing but also earn states revenue in crores (tens of millions)," Bindra, now an adviser at the International Cricket Council (ICC), said two years ago. "My personal view is that if you want anything to be regulated, it has to be legalised," he had said. The cost to the image of cricket from the involvement of Indian bookmakers in the manipulation of results has been huge. The game suffered arguably its biggest crisis since the Bodyline series of the 1930s when Delhi Police released the transcript of former South African captain Hansie Cronje's conversation with an Indian bookie in 2000. Subsequently, three international captains — Cronje, Salim Malik of Pakistan and India's Mohammad Azharuddin — received life bans, while a host of players were fined. In the same year, Sri Lankan cricketers revealed being approached by Indian bookies during their 1992 tour of Australia, suggesting the rot had started much earlier than thought. In 2004, former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming said he had been approached by an Indian sports promoter, while in 2008 West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels was banned for two years for passing information to an Indian bookie. Columnist Ashok Malik, who comments on politics and the business of sport, does not subscribe to the view that legalising betting would end the problem."People should not confuse illegal betting with spot-fixing. Spot-fixing is as much a possibility even in a legalised betting industry," he said. "It's not legality, the problem starts when bookies try to get prior knowledge of events and are ready to share their profit with the cricketers to fix incidents." "Having a legalised betting industry is not the solution.It's like owning a hotel fulfilling all the legal criteria and then running a prostitution racket there." — Reuters Nothing proven yet: Azhar
New Delhi: Former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin Thursday said the 'spot-fixing' charges against Pakistani cricketers were just allegations at this stage and until proven the players should not be held guilty. "Right now these are just allegations. The investigation is on and nothing has been proved (against Pakistani players) as yet. Anyone can say anything but at the end of the day law will take its time," Azharuddin told reporters here. Asked if the alleged players should face life ban if found guilty, the cricketer-turned politician said, "It’s for the board (PCB) and International Cricket Council |
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Four wrestlers caught for doping
New Delhi, September 2 Rajiv Tomar was recently conferred the Arjuna Award while Alka Tomar was bronze medal winner in the Asian Championship held here in May. "The wrestlers from Commonwealth Games team have tested positive for Methyl Hexa Neamine as per the report received from NADA," a statement from Wrestling Federation of India President G S Mander said. "Narsingh Pancham Yadav (74kg), Anil Mann (96kg), Praveen (120kg) — all men's freestyle — and woman wrestler Anshu Tomar (72kg) have been named as replacement," Mander said. Meanwhile, shot putter Saurabh Vij and Akash Antil also flunked dope tests conducted by the NADA last month, Athletics Federation of India said Thursday. — PTI |
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Rajpal hopes for gold at
CWG
Chandigarh, September 2 The team has been preparing for the big challenge in the ongoing preparatory camp, getting underway at Pune these days. Indian men’s hockey team has never been to the podium since the game’s 1998 entry to the Commonwealth Games, while their women counterparts have been there twice - winning gold at the Manchester CWG-2002 and silver at Melbourne CWG-2006. Rajpal was of the view that where playing in front of the home crowd would be an advantage, pressure of putting up top class show would also be there for every Indian sportsperson, participating in the Games. Rajpal would represent the country in the Games as a skipper for the first time. The skipper felt that in the Games, the Indian team would have an edge over the mighty Australian team, which otherwise is a major threat in the host team’s way to the podium. “We had defeated Australians by 5-2 in Azlan Shah in May this year. The win is surely a morale booster for us,” said Rajpal. But in the same breath, he cautioned that the fact should not lead the members of the team to over-confident. “They have defeated us in World Cup, held at New Delhi this year before conceding defeat at our hands in Azlan Shah. So we could not afford to take the things lightly,” said Rajpal. When asked about the grey areas of team, which needed to be worked out before taking on the big challenge, Rajpal said, “The camp is on and we are working on our weaknesses.” The team is an ideal blend of young and experienced players and is capable of winning the yellow metal, summed up Rajpal. The hockey competitions will begin on October 4 at Dhyan Chand National Stadium. Indian men’s hockey CWG record: 1998 at Kuala Lumpur: finished fourth 2002 at Manchester: didn’t take part 2006 at Melbourne: finished sixth Group Opponents in CWG-2010 at New Delhi: Australia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Scotland. |
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New York, September 2 The 10th-seeded Azarenka rolled over to rest her head on her arm, and a trainer rushed over. She eventually was helped into a wheelchair, her yellow visor askew atop her head, then taken to a hospital, where tests showed she had a mild concussion. As a record-breaking summer suffocates New York, the temperature on the courts at Flushing Meadows topped 100 F (38C). American qualifier Ryan Harrison's 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4 victory over 15th-seeded Ivan Ljubicic, and unseeded Michael Llodra's 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-4 upset of Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych. Winners included No. 4-seeded Andy Murray, the 2008 runner-up; No. 12 Mikhail Youzhny; No. 14 Nicolas Almagro; and No. 20 Sam Querrey, who beat NCAA singles champion Bradley Klahn 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. At night, Clijsters reached the third round by beating 201st-ranked qualifier Sally Peers of Australia 6-2, 6-1. Venus Williams beat Rebecca Marino of Canada before pulling out a 7-6 (3), 6-3 win. — AP Bhupathi-Mirnyi advance
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WC: Indian eves lose to Australia
Rosario (Argentina), September 2 For India, Rampal continued her impressive showing upfront, scoring in the 17th and 62nd minute while Ritu Rani (42nd) managed the other goal. The Surinder Kaur-led India are still without points in the tournament after suffering two defeats out of as many matches and will take on Germany in their next pool match on Friday, while the Australians will be up against title holders the Netherlands. Unlike their tournament opener which they lost 1-7 against defending champions Netherlands, India came out more organised against the Aussies. However, extreme cold conditions had a telling effect on the game in the initial stages as both the teams looked scrappy and were guilty of giving away possession easily. But slowly and steadily Australia got into their groove and started to control the proceedings which resulted in the opening goal of the match. The Aussies took the lead in the 17th minute through their captain Blyth who scored her second goal of the tournament from open play. But India drew parity five minutes from the end of the first period through the 15-year-old Rampal who scored with a beautiful reverse stick shot. But Australia regained the lead at the stroke of halftime when Nelson slammed home the ball from a penalty corner. After the change of ends, India once again hit back through Ritu Rani's field goal in the 42nd minute. However, instead of stepping up the gas from there India conceded three goals in six minutes with Eastham, Arrold and Nelson, who scored her second, finding the target to give Australia a comfortable 5-2 lead. Eighth minutes from the hooter, Rampal reduced the margin with her second strike of the day before Liddelow's field goal sealed the match in Australia's favour. Meanwhile in other matches of the day, Netherlands mauled New Zealand 7-3 while Germany scrapped past Japan 2-1.— PTI
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‘Delay is the way India prepares’ Melbourne, September 2 But Moneghetti was full of optimism, saying there will be a unique spin to it and everything will be in order soon. "People ask me 'oh, they're way behind' -- that's the Indian way. Probably from a western culture they might be, but in India that is way they do things. "They're actually going fine from an Indian perspective, it's just internationally that we're all worried. It will have a quite unique spin on it and that will make it a really cultural experience," Moneghetti said. — PTI
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We should be excited for Games: Sushil
New Delhi, September 2 "Let's build a positive image and stop criticising each other. It's a matter of great pride that India is hosting such a big event after 1982 Asian Games. We should be happy and excited," Sushil said on the sidelines of the launch of Games' merchandise. A lot of corruption reports surfaced recently which led to Indian government intervening in the organisation of the mega event. A group of Empowered ministers and a team of bureaucrats was formed to oversee the preparations. The Haryana grappler is confident India will put up a impressive show at home. "We are confident of rich medal haul. We have trained really hard for the big event and hope to win a maximum of 21 medals in both men's and women's event. I am sure of at least 15 medals. It's the biggest event happening in the country and we are prepared for that. We will bring laurels for the country," said Sushil, who will compete in the free style 66-kg event. — PTI
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Liuzzi: Vettel accident cost us dear
Spa, September 2 "It's a shame, because without the accident with Sebastian Vettel, we could have finished eighth. When he ran over my front wing, it cost me a lot. Without the problem with Vettel we could easily have finished higher up," Liuzzi said. — PTI |
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The Pakistan spot-fixing scandal has once again shone the spotlight on illegal betting in the sub-continent and reopened the debate on the legalisation of gambling in India.
Indian hockey captain Rajpal wishes his boys to give the nation a Diwali gift by winning first-ever men’s hockey medal in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games at New Delhi this October. “Yes, this is my wish to win gold medal for the country in the Games. It would be a Diwali gift to the nation from us,” said ace forward and skipper Rajpal Singh while talking over phone from Pune.
Defending champion Kim Clijsters and two-time winner Venus Williams advanced to the third round at the U.S. Open in straight-sets wins that were overshadowed by a concussed Victoria Azarenka's collapse on the court.
Azarenka, a 21-year-old on the rise in the WTA rankings, paused about a half-hour into her second-round match against Argentina's Gisela
Dulko, then staggered, stumbled and collapsed to the court yesterday.
Force India had its best result of the season at the action-packed Belgian Grand Prix but Vitantonio Liuzzi says the team could have come out of the "crazy" race with much better result had Sebastian Vettel not damaged the nose of his car. The Vijay Mallaya owned F1 team pocketed 11 points with Adrian Sutil grabbing 10 of them and Liuzzi ending his point drought after four races.
New York: Fourth seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi overcame a late resistance from Arnaud Clement and Nicolas Mahut to advance to the second round winning 6-1, 6-4 in the opening round match, last night. Meanwhile, Rohan Bopanna and his Chinese partner Zi Yan bowed out of the mixed doubles event with a 2-6, 4-6 first round defeat against Rajeev Ram and Aravane Rezai of France. — PTI 
CWG: Saina, Chetan to lead India