Antigua, June 14
West Indies bowlers produced a clinical performance after Kieron Pollard and Lendl Simmons laid the foundation with fluent fifties, as they crushed India by 103 runs in the fourth One-day International, here today.

Sent into bat after Suresh Raina won the toss, Pollard top-scored with a typically aggressive 70 off 72 balls while opener Simmons notched up a fluent 67 off 78 deliveries, to lift the hosts to 249 for eight, their highest total of the series, after the Indian bowlers had them in a spot of bother at 89 for four.

In reply, India crumbled in the face of some disciplined work from the host bowlers, especially Anthony Martins and Andre Russell, who shared seven wickets between them to bundle out the visitors for 146 in 39 overs.

The victory not only broke a sequence of three successive defeats but also restored some pride for the hosts. India made three changes to the squad bringing in Ravichandran Aswin, Manoj Tiwary and Ishant Sharma.

Tiwary, playing in place of Shikhar Dhawan, failed to capitalise on the opportunity edging Darren Sammy to Carlton Baugh, but Parthiv Patel picked up a few useful boundaries to set it up for India.

However, after getting his eye in, Patel drove one uppishly for Sammy to complete a fine left-handed catch off his own bowling. So was the case with Virat Kohli (22 off 33 balls), who got out, courtesy a smart piece of work by Baugh off the bowling of leg-spinner Martin.

As far as Subramaniam Badrinath was concerned, he looked out of sorts from the word go and the West Indian bowlers, especially Russell, troubled him with the short stuffs, before the all-rounder had the Chennai batsman caught behind.

Though the top order was the back in the pavilion with not much on the board, there was still hope for India as long as the in-form Rohit Sharma and skipper Suresh Raina were at the crease.

But Martin had other ideas as he lured Raina with a fuller length delivery which the batsman hit straight to Pollard at midwicket. Yusuf Pathan, who has the reputation of throwing away his wicket, lived upto the billing by playing an unnecessary shot against Simmons that could not clear long off.

When Sharma top-edged a Martin delivery to give Darren Bravo a simple catch in the circle, it was as good as over for India. Russell added to his kitty by dismissing Kumar who gave a simple catch to Sammy.

Ashwin crossed the double figures but the rest of the batting folded up all too easily for the hosts to earn a consolation win. Earlier, despite some early setbacks, Simmons looked in total command at the other end, finding the fence with ease.

After his dismissal, Pollard took over and in the company of Carlton Baugh, did the repair work with a solid half-century partnership at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

But just when the hosts threatened to pile up a huge score, Pollard went for an expansive shot against Ravichandran Ashwin that found Ishant at long-off. The lanky Ishant gave India a perfect start, removing Danza Hyatt as early as in the second over of the match. Kumar then had the experienced Ramnaresh Sarwan caught at point by Sharma. — PTI

Ludhiana, June 14
The sleepy village of Jarkhar, 25 km from the city, which plunges into darkness after sunset, will now glow with the bright light of the hockey stadium that could well be termed as a much-needed breath of fresh air for the national game.

Jarkhar has become the first village in the state to have a floodlit astro-turf hockey stadium and it hosted its first encounters under these light, yesterday. These lights were designed by Prof. Kushdeep Singh and Prof. Arvind Dinga of the Guru Nanak Engineering College and the funds were provided by Manpreet Ayali, chairman, Zila Parishad.

Giving details of the project, Paramjit Singh Neetu, president of Mata Sahib Kaur Sports Stadium at Jarkhar, said the floodlights have been installed to attract children towards the sport and help budding players to hone their skills. He said the work was completed in a month and nearly Rs 5 lakh were spent on the project.

Two exhibition matches were organised to mark the occasion, which received an encouraging response as the residents of the village thronged the stadium to witness the encounters. According to electrician Rupinder Singh, nearly 22 floodlights have been installed in the stadium.

Narinder Pal Singh, chairman of Mata Sahib Kaur Sports Stadium, said this year’s games scheduled from December 15 to 18 would also be hosted under floodlights. Also, the rest of the matches of Olympian Pirthipal Singh Sports Festival would be hosted under lights.

In the last four years, the Jarkhar stadium has undergone a total transition. First, the members of the stadium started a hockey academy. Then a hostel was constructed for hockey players and astro-turf soon replaced grass. Even the State Government and Sports Department had shown a special interest towards this stadium.

New Delhi, June 14
The Sports Ministry today accepted Indian Hockey Federation's request to grant it one week's time to spell out their position on government's proposal to merge with Hockey India.

The Sports Ministry had on Saturday served the two federations a two-day ultimatum to either merge into a unified national body or face stern action.

Sport Minister Ajay Maken said HI has accepted the 10-point proposal while IHF has sought another week's time.

"Last Saturday Sport Ministry had called both HI and IHF and offered a 10-point truce and I am happy to say that HI have agreed to all the points," Maken told reporters.

"IHF have also commended the ministry for the effort but asked for a week's time so that they can speak to all the members and we are giving IHF the one week time.

"We are hopeful that IHF will agree to all the points. We are waiting for their response in writing, after that we will see what we do," he added. Earlier in the day, the IHF had claimed that the government's power-sharing formula was "tilted towards HI".

"It is a great effort on the part of the ministry but after going through the proposal we have found that it is not at all balanced. The proposal is not in the interest of IHF.

It is tilted towards HI," IHF secretary Ashok Mathur said.

However, Maken said both IHF and HI have been given equal rights in the proposal. "HI is the body recognised by the FIH and IOA and also the merger of the women and men's body have not taken place. So as far as govt guidelines are considered they are on a weak wicket. In totality if you look, we are giving IHF a chance by this merger," Maken said. — PTI

New Delhi, June 14
Indian pace spearhead Zaheer Khan considers the two years with Greg Chappell as national coach the worst of his decade-long career as the controversial Australian made him feel unwanted in the team.

Zaheer said he and other senior players were constantly worried about their place in the side and were unable to perform during that tumultuous period between 2005 and 2007.

"It was as if you've been framed. It was like 'we don't want you in the team. It's not about performance, we don't like your attitude, you're stopping the growth of cricket in the Indian team'. I felt it personally because I was dropped straight after the Sri Lanka tour, even though I had not performed badly," Zaheer said.

"I was fortunate enough to go to South Africa to represent the Asia XI (in the Afro-Asia Cup). I got about nine wickets and I was recalled for the next series. In that phase it was always a struggle. When you're fighting within the team, when you have a war to fight in your own camp, it is always difficult to win," he said.

Chappell took over as India coach in May 2005 but his tenure was marred by serious differences between him and senior players, including Sachin Tendulkar. He also had a public spat with the then captain, Sourav Ganguly, who was dropped from the team but later recalled.

At the end of his tenure, following India's first round exit from the 2007 World Cup, Chappell decided not to seek an extension of his contract. — PTI

Rurka Kalan, June 14
Talking of Indian football isn’t always fun, and it gets a little more bizarre when the discussion is about women’s football. While the men have been able to find some recognition, even if nothing path-breaking, the women have just not found their feet.

But like everything big, if a change is to be brought about, it has to start from the grassroots. That is just what is happening as Youth Football Club (YFC), Rurka Kalan, conducted a special camp for girls from May 16 to June 6.

The camp began with 30 participants on Day 1, but increased to 53 after just one week. But realising the dreams of so many girls has been possible only because of the hard work and dedication of another girl.

Ish Jhaj, a 23-year old, is not only a soccer player but also a coach to many young girls at the Royal City Youth Soccer Club in Canada. YFC conducted the football camp for girls with the help of Jhaj, who is a

recent graduate in Kinesiology from the Simon Fraser University, Burnaby in British Columbia. She has been playing soccer since she was five, and has recently taken to coaching.

Her experience at YFC has definitely left a lasting impression on her. “I was a little skeptical to start with. I had no idea how people would take to my ideas and how would the locals warm up to my philosophy about the game. But I must admit I have been thoroughly surprised. The entire project has surpassed all my expectations and I feel extremely thrilled to have been a part of something like this.

Honestly, it’s been a dream come true to have been able to do this programme, and to have done it so well,” she says. Jhaj says she was very nervous about coming to Punjab and start the project because of gender inequality and other issues. But she soon realised that the going was getting better. “The girls are very

dedicated and quick learners. The support I received from YFC Rurka Kalan is unbelievable and I am very thankful for their continued efforts in trying to promote football in the country.”

Although YFC has been predominantly a boys’ academy, they do realise that the social impact of the game will actually come into full effect only when it is able to cut across sexes.

Jhaj started the non-profit organisation called ‘Shooting for Hope’ after being inspired by her parents, who always encouraged her participation in sports. Shooting for Hope has the vision of giving young girls from rural communities a chance to enhance their lives through soccer.

While Jhaj has returned to Canada, the camp goes on, taking forward a movement nobody would have believed possible. It has taken a lot of hard work, dedication and perseverance from the academy, from Jhaj and most of all, from the girls who have come out in numbers to show that they belong on the field. Guess this really is the stuff dreams are made of.

New Delhi, June 14
A survey conducted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has revealed that the preliminary draft of the proposed Sports Legislation Bill has fallen short of expectations of the national sports bodies and professionals "as it does little to address the problems dogging the overall development of sports".

In fact the general feeling is that the bill "might strengthen the stranglehold of the Government and threaten the independence of the National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the Indian Olympic Association".

However, the survey also showed that there was an imperative need to bring "transparency and accountability" in the functioning of the sports federations. While the respondents to the survey were unanimous on the need to bring accountability in NSFs, a staggering 93.9 per cent favoured bringing all the NSFs under the RTI scanner.

The survey was conducted in the North, Central and South Campus colleges of Delhi University, represented by heads of sports and physical departments in addition to top guns and senior officials of corporate companies having interest in sports.

A majority of the respondents felt that the bill should be made more comprehensive because in its present form, it just discusses regulation and overall sports development need to be discussed and a new bill should be enacted.

BRIEFLY

I'm back to playing my best tennis: Sania Mirza
New Delhi: After her showing in the first two Grand Slams of the year, India's Sania Mirza feels she is "blessed" to be fit again and playing her best tennis. "I feel blessed that I was able to come back from a career-threatening injury. I've had a wonderful half year in 2011 moving up more than 100 spots in singles and I've been fortunate to do well in doubles as well," Sania, who has jumped to the 58th place in the singles rankings, told IANS from London. "I have managed to play without a break for one full year. I think I am getting back to playing my best now after my latest comeback," Sania said in an interview. — IANS

Australia reinstate tri-series with India and Sri Lanka
Melbourne: After a four-year hiatus, Cricket Australia (CA) have reinstated the ODI tri-series with India and Sri Lanka in February in their summer schedule for the 2011-12 season. The tri-series was dumped earlier due to lack of interest in matches not featuring the host team. Now made part of the international schedule for the first time in four years, it will start February 5 with Brisbane and Adelaide hosting the finals, according to the schedule released Tuesday.The schedule also has six Tests against New Zealand and India, two Twenty20 internationals and at least 14 one-day matches in a triangular format.Australia will play two Test matches against New Zealand in Brisbane and Hobart and will take on India to kick-start the summer. India also return to Australia since their controversial series in 2007-08. — IANS

Hot weather soccer
Mandi: The Mandi District Football Association team fought gamely, shared two goals at half time with Delhi's BSES but conceded two late in second half to lose 1-3 in the All India Hot Weather Football Tournament yesterday. The Delhi team took the lead in the 16th minute throught striker Mahinder but five minutes later Hitender Thakur equalised following a cross from a right flank. Slighty superior in attack, BSES swung the game in their favour as Niraml Deep scored with an angular shot from the edge of the box. The margin was increased in the injury time, Kamal booting home in the crowded area. The Delhi team will meet Central Command for a place in the league round. — TNS

Tremlett can't understand why India opposes DRS
London: England pacer Chris Tremlett is bewildered by India's staunch opposition to the Decision Review System as he feels the innovation is "very accurate and fair" and should have been used in next month's Test series between the two sides. The BCCI has refused to accept the use of DRS, which allows teams to make two incorrect challenges to an on-field umpire's decision, in next month's Test series and Tremlett can't understand why as the ICC recommends its usage in all big matches. "I am a fan of the system. If the technology is there it should be used," Tremlett said. — PTI

Joe Cole’s marriage almost ended after baby's birth
London: Carly Cole, wife of England footballer Joe Cole has revealed that their marriage almost broke down after she had a baby, because they had to sleep in separate rooms.For almost a year, she slept for only three hours a night and Joe, 29, slept in the spare room to get rest before games after the birth of their daughter Ruby, now 14 months old. "Ruby became really challenging during the night... and it was ruining our personal life, the Daily Star quoted her as saying. The couple had finally got help from baby sleep expert, Alison Scott-Wright, who, according to Carly, saved their marriage. "One of the big worries was how the lack of sleep would affect Joe's fitness and performance," she added. — ANI