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Six Indians in Asian All Stars XI
Record books don’t lie, van Zyl reminds India
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ICC launches Think Wise initiative
Beer meets up with teammates for first time
Jeev to cut down on tournaments next year
Arsenal play Manchester United in battle for EPL top spot
Chelsea held by Spurs
Atwal nominated for Asian Tour’s ‘Special Achievement Award’
Barca keep Real in slipstream
Tarapore slams sailing body
Strengthening hockey’s roots
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Six Indians in Asian All Stars XI
New Delhi, December 13 The top goal-scorer in the Asiad, drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, captain Rajpal Singh, midfielders Arjun Halappa and Gurbaj Singh, feature in the men's team while defender Joydeep Kaur and 16-year-old striker Rani have made the cut among women. The teams: Men: Goalkeepers: Kumar Subramaniam and Salman Akbar (Pakistan); defenders: Md Razie (Malaysia), Sandeep Singh and Gurbaj Singh (India) and Hui Huiren (China). Midfielders: Yeo Woon Kon and Lee Nam Youg Korea), Tsuvouchi Kazuhiro and Ozawa Kazuyuki (Japan), Arjun Halappa (India) and Rashid Muhammad (Pakistan); forwards: Rajpal Singh (India), Seo Jongho (Korea), Jang Jong Hyun (Korea), Tenku Abdul Rahid Jalil (Malaysia), Rehan Butt (Pakistan) and Na Yubo (China). Women: Goalkeepers: Zhang Yimeng (China), Lee Seon OK (Korea); defenders: Ma Yibo and Li Shuang (China), Joydeep Kaur (India), Mayumi Ono (Japan), Irina Dobrioglo (Kazakhstan), Ratnaporn Shangpranam (Thailand); midfielders: Song Quingling (China), Park Seonmi and Kim Darae (Korea), Yukari Yamamoto (Japan) and Nadia Abdul Rehman (Malaysia); forwards: Zhao Yudiao and Fu Baorong (China), Park Mi Hyun (Korea), Rani (India) and Kaori Chiba (Japan). Senior players back Dhanraj to be coach
Indian men's hockey team is without a coach since last month's Guangzhou Asian Games, where they won a bronze. While national coach Harendra Singh has resigned immediately after India lost to Malaysia in the semi-finals of the Guangzhou Games, chief coach Jose Brasa's contract has expired and is unlikely to renewed. With the position up for grabs, Dhanraj has recently thrown his hat in the ring by expressing his desire to be the coach, which got impetus from the players. "Dhanraj has been the role model for all of us. We have grown up seeing him playing. He knows the requirement of Indian players better then anybody else," ace midfielder Arjun Halappa said.
— PTI |
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Record books don’t lie, van Zyl reminds India
"We don't pay much attention to what the Indian goals are in the series, but rather concentrate on what is ahead of us," Van Zyl was quoted as saying by 'Sport24.com'. "They are an experienced team with much depth regarding their batting and bowling, but the record books never lie," he added. Not to be outdone by van Zyl, Kirsten said the Indians have become a different side in the past couple of years. "If you look at our performances and results over the past two years you can understand why we are the number one team," said Kirsten. But as van Zyl pointed out, the record books indeed don't paint an impressive picture for India. On four previous tours, the Indians could not win a series and have won only once in 12 Tests -- their only triumph coming in 2006 in Johannesburg. — PTI
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ICC launches Think Wise initiative
New Delhi, December 13 The school tournaments will be held in Mumbai (Dec. 14-15), Nagpur (Dec. 14-15), Mohali (Dec. 14-15), Kolkata (Dec. 14-15), Ahmedabad (Dec. 17-18), Delhi (Dec. 17-18), Chennai (Dec. 17-18) and Bengaluru (Dec. 17-18). In addition, young adults will receive HIV education and awareness sessions both at school and during the tournaments as part of the Think Wise initiative, a joint partnership between the ICC, UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Global Media AIDS Initiative that has been running since 2003. The initiative aims to raise awareness around HIV prevention and eliminate discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS. These awareness sessions will be supported by Stumpy, the official mascot of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, who will interact with participants and distribute official memorabilia. According to an ICC release, Think Wise champion Virender Sehwag said: "I am very excited about playing in the ICC Cricket World Cup next year and it is great to see that young people across the country are getting involved in the tournament as well. “I know that I was inspired to play the game when I watched the World Cup when I was younger and hopefully some of the players taking part in the schools tournaments may go on to play for India at a future event." The focus for the Think Wise campaign for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will be 'Get the Facts, Protect Yourself'. The campaign will encourage young people to be informed, take appropriate action to prevent HIV infection and stand together against stigma and discrimination often facing people living with HIV and AIDS. Schools and community programmes are also being delivered in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
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Beer meets up with teammates for first time
Perth, December 13
"Then I met a couple last night when I came in and the rest this morning and enjoyed the training session," he added. The 26-year-old further said that he planned to follow captain Ricky Ponting's first advice. "He congratulated me and said 'look forward to the week', so that's what I'm doing," Beer said. Beer is the 10th spin bowler and the most unusual to be selected since the retirement of leg-spin legend Shane Warne nearly four years ago. Australia is currently 0-1 down in the five-match series after losing the second Test in Adelaide by an innings and 71 runs. — ANI
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Jeev to cut down on tournaments next year
New Delhi, December 13 Laid low by a shoulder injury in the first half of the year, Jeev had to withdraw halfway through the Casio World Open on the Japan Golf Tour in November after sustaining a back injury. Hampered by pain which he said was the worst he had ever experienced in his career, Jeev missed the Indian Open in the first week of this month after being advised three weeks of complete bed rest by the
doctors. Jeev, who will turn 39 on Wednesday, said he has learnt his lesson, albeit the hard way, and has to play less tournaments next year. "I know at this age I can't take the same risk I used to take five years back. I have learnt it the hard way. I would be cutting down on my tournaments next year. The priority would be to stay fit and get a personal trainer who can tour with me," Jeev said.
— PTI |
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Arsenal play Manchester United in battle for EPL top spot
London, December 13 "It's a big game for us. We know we have to convince people we can do well in the big games. We know as well, looking at the championship, it's an important place to win points." "Many people are sceptical about our results. But I want my team to go to Manchester and play knowing it will have an influence on the championship. It's more psychological for the rest of the season," he added. Arsenal, without a Premier League triumph since 2004, has seen repeated championship bids fizzle out after being overpowered by the might of Chelsea and Manchester United. 'Invincibles' won't happen: Ferguson
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has ruled out the possibility of his club emulating Arsenal's '2004 Invincibles' by winning this year's Premier League title without losing a match. If United wins Monday's clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford, they can replace Arsene Wenger's side at the top of the table and stretch their unbeaten run to 16 games. However, Ferguson believes that this season's unpredictability would make it impossible to match Arsenal's team of 2004. "The time Arsenal did it they had 12 draws. It was a great achievement, but in this league you cannot think for a minute you will go through undefeated," he added. Ferguson also hit back at Wenger's accusation that United played 'anti-football' in their last meeting. "Don't be deceived by the view that the Gunners play pretty football, but can be kicked out of games. Other managers tell me that the present Arsenal side is the most physical since the days of Martin Keown," the United manager said. "There is an edge through their team that accounts for their presence as challengers. They are not the lilywhites portrayed by some," he added.
— ANI |
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London, December 13 Roman Pavlyuchenko had put the home side ahead in the 15th minute but Drogba, who entered the game at halftime, equalized midway through the second half when he latched onto a bouncing ball in the area and smashed a shot at goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who fumbled it over the line yesterday. In the second minute of added time, Gomes then barged Ramires over in the area following a flick on by Drogba. Instead of putting the resulting penalty to the goalkeeper's right - as he had done for his four previous kicks - Drogba hit it the other way and Gomes made a comfortable save to stretch Chelsea's run without a win to five league matches. Chelsea still moved level on points with third-place Manchester United, but United can leapfrog Manchester City and provisional leader Arsenal if it beats the Gunners on Monday. "We fully deserved to win the game," Chelsea captain John Terry said. "We dominated them. That's more like the Chelsea we all know." But Chelsea has now lost three and drawn two of its last five matches at White Hart Lane. Also yesterday, Stuart Holden scored with two minutes left to help Bolton overcome its fourth red card of the season and beat Blackburn 2-1. Stephen Hunt scored to give Wolverhampton Wanderers a 1-0 win over Birmingham that boosts its attempt to avoid relegation. Chelsea enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges at White Hart Lane until Pavlyuchenko took a pass inside the area from fellow striker Jermain Defoe and pushed it laterally past two defenders with his first touch before scoring with a firm shot low past goalkeeper Petr Cech at his near post. Nicolas Anelka had an equalizer ruled out for offside just before halftime and Gomes made two good second-half saves before his mistake gave Drogba his eighth league goal of the season. — AP
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Atwal nominated for Asian Tour’s ‘Special Achievement Award’
The 2010 season comes to a climatic close with the staging of the USD 600,000 Black Mountain Masters which starts at the Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin on Thursday. Atwal, a former Asian Tour number one, played his way into the history books by emerging as the first Indian to win on the US PGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship in August. It was a welcome return to form for Atwal who had struggled with injuries over the years. He was also the first Monday qualifier to win a tournament in 24 years on the PGA Tour. — PTI
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Madrid, December 13 With just eight minutes gone David Villa gave them the lead by converting a Pedro Rodriguez cross and from there it only got worse for Sociedad. Barca added to their total when a fine passing movement culminated with an Andres Iniesta goal from a tight angle. Lionel Messi, at his tantalising best, then hit a brace and there was still time for substitute Bojan Krkic to hit a fifth, a minute from the end. "We are not aware of what these players are going to do. This normally may happen once or twice but it is happening all the time at the moment and we are privileged to be able to work with them," said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. Real gave a more workmanlike performance to overturn bottom club Zaragoza. With several players missing through injury and suspension, Real survived a wasted chance for the home side's Angel Lafita, before taking the lead when Mesut Ozil cut in from the right and beat the keeper. Either side of the break Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria scored to give Real a commanding advantage but Zaragoza never gave in. Gabi Fernandez pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after Nicolas Bertolo had been felled by Ricardo Carvalho. After the game Real coach Jose Mourinho was critical of the referee who showed yellow cards to Marcelo and Xabi Alonso, ruling them out of the next game against Sevilla. "I am not angry with Marcelo but I am about the situation. It is easy to give yellow cards to Real Madrid players and they are given out less to other teams. It seems that players from other teams can protest and at Real Madrid they can't," said Mourinho. — AFP
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Tarapore slams sailing body
Mumbai, December 13 "The coach the YAI appointed for the match racing team, David Atkinson, was a level three coach, below national rank in UK. Thank God, he did not accompany the team as he was hospitalised because a bad coach could have spoiled our chances," said Tarapore who had won a gold and three bronze medals in four previous Asian Games. "He was paid £5,500 a month, a sheer waste of tax payers' money. We had suggested to YAI the names of three or four other foreign coaches who would have come much cheaper. We also wanted the coach only for 30 days on a staggered basis," said Tarapore.
— PTI |
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Strengthening hockey’s roots
Bassi Pathana, December 13 But every problem has a solution, and all it takes is a little grit, vision and passion to start the rebuilding. Punjab has been the cradle of Indian hockey and now the cradle is widening its reach to allow more children to come into the fold. Located just around 40 kilometers from Chandigarh, Bassi Pathana is starting a revolution that holds the ability to revive the game, and its love among people. The Mehar Baba Charitable Trust, a non-profit organization that has been involved in the uplift of amenities in rural Punjab, has been running a hockey nursery, which undertakes a boys team as well as a girls team. The academy has a group of total 52 kids in the age group of 6 to 10 years. The academy provides all 52 kids with a complete hockey kit and also ensures their training at the grounds of a local school. The coaching work at the academy is taken care of by Jasbir Singh, Kamal Krishan Banda and Hans Raj Chhabra. The boys team is called the Major Dhayan Chand Brigade while the girls team is christened Rani Jhansi Brigade. The impact made by this setup came to light recently when a girl from the Rani Jhansi Brigade, Lakhvinder Kaur participated in and won the National Championship for Schools in Amristar. She was honoured by the academy and former India players Narinder Sodhi and Satinder Sharma were present to boost the morale of all the kids. Other prominent dignitaries to have visited the academy include Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and Director Sports, Punjab, and former Indian hockey captain Pargat Singh.
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New Delhi, December 13
London, December 13
Madrid, December 13
Bassi Pathana, December 13
Senior players have backed former captain Dhanraj Pillay to be the chief coach of the Indian men's hockey team, saying the mercurial forward's immense experience and knowledge can do wonders for the national side.
Johannesburg, December 13
Even India coach Gary Kirsten has declared that without a series win in South Africa, the visitors cannot regard themselves as the best Test side in the world.
"I got the flight from Brisbane with Shane Watson and Ryan Harris. So, that was good to meet them in the Qantas lounge in Brisbane," The Age quoted Beer, as saying.
"It won't happen again," The Daily Mail quoted Ferguson, as saying.
Kuala Lumpur, December 13
Johannesburg:
Chandigarh: