Guangzhou, November 12
Two years after the spectacular success of Beijing Olympics, China dazzled the world once again by unveiling the 16th Asian Games with a spell-binding opening ceremony in which water was the overwhelming theme and athletes were ushered in a unique boat parade on Pearl River.

A drummer performs at the opening ceremony. — AFP

The theme was water and the main part of the ceremony was held at Hai Xinsha, an island located on China's third longest river, which is the life-giver to the southern part of the world's most populous nation.

The four-and-a-half-hour ceremony started with trademark fireworks and the 37,000 capacity crowd was up on its feet when 1320 artists from the city's oldest kung fu school descended with giant LED screens in the backdrop.

Macau women’s shuttlers pull out

China moved a step closer to the women's Asian Games team badminton gold medal on Friday before a shuttlecock was hit when first round opponents Macau pulled out. The Chinese were set to play their opening match tomorrow but have received a walkover.

Macau withdrew after it was found that several players did not comply with the regulations that require an athlete representing a country to meet the minimum three-year residency status, officials said. The players were not named. China is relying on its quartet of Wang Xin, Jiang Yanjiao, Wang Shixian and Lu Lan in the singles department here. Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli along with Cheng Shu and Zhao Yunlei are expected to spearheard their women's doubles assault.

OCA chief happy

The organizers of 16th Asian Games have been given a thumbs up from the chief of Olympic Council of Asia. OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said he "is happy and honored" to be in the City of Flowers and predicted Ghangzhou would be one of the best Asian Games.

"We have been working hard, shoulder to shoulder, with our friends and colleagues in the organizing committee ... just to prepare a good environment to start our Asian Games," Al-Sabah said after an OCA executive board meeting Friday, hours before the opening ceremony. — Agencies

Guangzhou, November 12
Led by Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra and Commonwealth Games hero Gagan Narang, Indian shooters would look to carry forward their stupendous CWG form into the Asian Games as the competition begin here tomorrow. Indian shooters had set the shooting range set on fire at CWG by wining 14 golds but the road would not be that smooth here as the field comprises some really tough customers. But shooters are expected to win the first medals for the country tomorrow in the Games, the biggest multi-discipline sporting event after Olympics.

Hyderabad, November 12
Lanky southpaw Tim MicIntosh cracked his second Test century (102, 10x4,1x6) as New Zealand won a good toss and scored 258 for 4 at close of play against India at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here today. The Indian bowlers were made to toil as McIntosh was involved in three fruitful partnerships to take the visitors to a comfort zone after losing the wicket of Bredon MuCullum cheaply.

Sreeshant struck early to remove the crafty Bredon McCullum for 4 with the visitors losing the first wicket for just four runs. MicIntosh, helped by a lucky escape, stayed put to shore up the Kiwi total to safety. He was involved in a 147-run second-wicket partnership with Martin Guptili, 55-run third wicket stand with Ross Taylor and 37-run fourth-wicket partnership with Jesse Ryder before being bowled by Zaheer Khan with the second new ball in the 88.2nd over. The new ball was taken in the 86.1 over, but before that McIntosh had driven Harbhajan Singh for a straight single to reach his second century, though his desire to better his earlier Test knock of 136 remained unfulfilled. But Zaheer gave him no escape route this time around, as McIntosh played on, to bow out just a few minutes before close of play.

McIntosh had survived a chance when he almost carried to the backward point off Zaheer Khan trying to square drive, and Cheteshar Pujara, substituting for Sreeshant, dived to his right, but the ball bounced ahead of him.

McIntosh found an able foil in Martin Guptil as they slowly, but steadily, grafted runs to foil the designs of Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth first, and then spinners Harbhajan and Pragyan Ojha, though Zaheer, who could not make much of an impact initiallly, had the last laugh.

Sreesanth was impressive in the morning, troubling the batsmen with his swing and slant, and but for a couple of spilled opportunities, India should have gained the upperhand in the first hour itself. But McIntosh and Guptill had other plans as they played with caution and a sense of purpose so as not to squander their decision to bat first after winning the toss. Sreesanth swung one to MuCullum, a short of length delivery which straightened up, and the batsman took an outer edge and keeper and skipper Mahender Dhoni cupped a neat catch at slip. Sreesanth almost got a second wicket in a similar fashion when Guptill walked into the pavilion but umpire Kumar Dharmasena had doubts about Sreesanth's delivery and he referred the matter to TV umpire Amiesh Saheba who no-balled the bowler for overstepping. Guptill gleefully walked back to the crease to join McIntosh and resume their belting of the bowling, though they were careful with their shots thereafter. Guptill also got a life off Harbhajan when Dhoni could not hold on to an edge, and the ball bounced wide of a lunging Laxman at second slip. Guptill was eventually trapped by Pragyan Ojha as he missed the off-stump line, trying to flick. McIntosh then forged a nice stand with Ross Taylor till the latter was held by Dhoni off Zaheer Khan for 24. He stayed at the wicket for 67 minutes and faced 53 balls, but gave a valuable stand to McIntosh to add some vital runs.

Scoreboard

New Zealand 1st innings:

McIntosh b Zaheer 102

McCullum c Dhoni b S’santh 4

Guptill lbw b Ojha 85

Taylor c Dhoni b Zaheer 24

Ryder not out 22

Hopkins not out 0

Extras: (b-1, lb-15, nb-4, w-1) 21

Total: (four wkts, 90 overs) 258

Bowling: Zaheer 18-7-41-2, Sreesanth 15-1-60-1, Harbhajan 27-6-66-0, Ojha 23-4-60-1, Raina 7-2-15-0.

Mohali, November 12
Punjab fought their way back into the Ranji Trophy Elite group tie against Karnataka at the PCA Stadium here today. Lead by a stroke-filled 52 from left-handed opener Ravi Inder Singh, and also an equally comfortable 53 by star batsman Yuvraj Singh, Punjab find themselves just 10 runs short of the Karnataka first innings score at 173 for 3.

The day started with Karnataka resuming at 346 for 6. Amit Kumar kept up his dogged approach and scored a well-accumulated 60. He was the last Karnataka batsman to be dismissed but that was not before he and the rest of the tail, had wagged for long enough to push their team score to a comfortable 426.

Punjab came out with a stiff 183 run lead in front of them. And on the very first ball of the day Kanwar got a reprieve as he was dropped in the second slip. He made good use of the life, and went on to anchor a 84-run opening stand along with Ravi Inder. But then last innings' 4-wicket hero Aravind made him play away from the body, only for Manish Pandey to latch on to a regulation slip cordon catch.

Ravi Inder was joined by Yuvraj and the two displayed a fine array of shots to keep pushing the score. Finally, Ravi Inder played a rash stroke just at the stroke of Tea and was caught behind, thereby becoming Abhimanyu Mithun's first victim of the current Ranji season. Punjab will look to get some solid performances tomorrow morning, especially with Yuvraj looking rock-solid on 52.

BRIEFLY

Kings XI moves HC
Mumbai: Kings XI Punjab, owned by a consortium led by actor Priety Zinta and industrialist Ness Wadia, has filed an arbitration petition in Bombay High Court challenging Cricket Board's decision to terminate their IPL franchise contract. The move of Kings XI comes close on the heels of Shilpa Shetty's Rajasthan Royals challenging a similar decision of the BCCI in the High Court. BCCI had recently terminated the franchisees of Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals on the ground that they had changed the shareholding pattern without informing the Board or IPL Governing Council. — PTI

India to host four FIH tourneys
Montreux: The successful conduct of the men's hockey World Cup earlier this year has earned rich dividends for India as the country will host as many as four major International Hockey Federation (FIH) events in the next three years. According to the tournament calendar for 2011-2014 released by the FIH after it's Executive Board meeting here last night, the honeymoon for Indian hockey lovers will start with 2011 men's Champions Trophy which will be held from November 26 to December 4. — PTI

Cuningham steals the show
Gurgaon: South African golfer Tandi Cuningham stole the show with the sizzling four-under 68 on a second day of the Hero Honda women's Indian Open golf tournament here on Friday. Overnight leader Laura Davies of England went wayward and ended up with a six-over 78, while European's number one Lee-Anne Pace of South Africa finished with a five-under 77 to keep their duel for the Henderson Money List title alive. — PTI

Jeev tied 7th in Singapore
Singapore: Ace Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh fired a scintillating seven-under 64 to lie tied seventh before darkness led to suspension of play in the second round of the USD six million Barclays Singapore here today. The 2008 Singapore Open winner, Jeev sank as many as eight birdies against a lone bogey to take his two-day total to eight-under 134 at the Tanjong course with 28 golfers yet to complete their round. — PTI