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India look to fourtify lead
Bagan begin I-League campaign today
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Eves set up Australia clash
Sachin excited about Indian Grand Prix
Sachin Tendulkar
Delhi duo lift titles
Birsa Munda, BRC enter final
Hope against dope
Women kabaddi players pass Nada test"
Sanga, Jayawardene earn Lanka a draw
Rudolph back in South African Test squad
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India look to fourtify lead
Sunil Narula Tribune News Service Mumbai, October 22 The Indians have fielded an unchanged side for the first three ODI’s and things would have been the same had the injury to Umesh Yadav not happened in the last game at Mohali.
Now for the fourth match of this series India will perforce have to make at least one change to their side. Logically, Umesh’s place in the team should go to Varun Aaron who has waited long enough on the sidelines. But you never really can tell with Dhoni. He might just give Rahul Sharma his debut. Or, he might even rest R Ashwin. Whatever, one change is imminent. That doesn’t alter things a great deal. Ajinkya Rahane and Parthiv Patel will once again open the batting and this will be one hell of a proud moment for Rahane with this being his home ground and all that sort of thing. Rahane spoke to mediapersons here this morning and he seemed like a well-grounded kid. He understands perfectly well that once Sehwag and Sachin are back he will have to make way for them and he was not too hassled about that bit. “I’m not thinking that far ahead. I’m only thinking about the next two ODI’s and the T20 in Kolkata,” said the 23-year-old Mumbai batsman when he was reminded about the impending return of the two big stars to the side in the days ahead. Ravindra Jadeja has already done enough in the series for people to start writing and saying (perhaps a little prematurely) that the search for the elusive all-rounder has ended with the emergence of this player (remember they said the same about Irfan Pathan as well). Jadeja has surely performed well in all three departments of the game but he will be the first one to admit that sterner tests lie ahead against stronger ODI teams. And this one is surely not the strongest, at least on the strength of the evidence that we have so far. Virat Kohli is another player who has caught everyone’s attention with his aggressive and consistent performances. He is also adding another facet to his game with his part-time (but effective) bowling. Dhoni has made finishing games look easy (remember he couldn’t do that in England recently). But in this series he has looked an entirely different player - always in control, so to speak. From the England camp it was the turn of Jonathan Trott to speak to the media today and he conceded straightaway that India had been playing the better cricket. “I really don’t know if they are taking it as revenge but they are the ones who are playing better. Our fielding has not been at its best and we haven’t executed well,” said Trott, almost kind of stating the obvious. It’s England’s problem and probably they know best but they would have realised by now that they need to give a chance to some of the players who are just hitting the nets and not doing much else. The pitch here doesn’t look hard and fast like the one back in Mohali. For starters, it doesn’t have any greenish touch to it - more of the brown muddy type. But with the stadium being very close to the sea, the breeze from that part does have a role to play some time in the match. But that’s just a minor side-issue and shouldn’t bother the English team too much - because they already have a lot else on their plate to worry about. They would do well to remember that in this game you don’t always have to be the overall better side to win. You just have to be the better side on THAT DAY.
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Bagan begin I-League campaign today
Kolkata, October 22 From their early Federation Cup exit followed by the drama surrounding former coach Steve Darby's sacking, Mohun Bagan had a nightmarish start to the season. After the resignation of the English coach, who was appointed with much fanfare, the club brought in Subrata Bhattacharya as technical director to work in tandem with his one-time foe Prasanta Banerjee. Even after Darby's resignation, the club and the coach engaged in a war of words when the most prestigious football tournament of the country is knocking at the door. Odafa Onyeka Okolie, the most expensive player in Indian football, will carry the hopes of Bagan fans on his shoulders as Brazilian veteran Jose Barreto will spearhead the challenge. However, it remains to be seen how long Bagan's association with Subrata Bhattacharya lasts as the club is known to change coaches after a jolt, as was seen with Karim Bencherifa, Stanley Rozario among others. Mohun Bagan will be hugely dependent on Odafa, while Barreto will have to recreate his old magic to bring back the glorious days. The I-League started today and will go on till April 2012 end. Fourteen teams are participating in the League, comprising 182 matches across 26 rounds. — PTI
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Perth, October 22 With a draw against the hosts yesterday and full points against Malaysia on the opening day, India did enough to book a final berth in the three-nation event. They will now face Australia in the summit clash. The experienced Jasjeet Handa put India ahead in the fourth minute, her first goal in three matches, but the team allowed the Malaysians to claw back later in the game. India ended up conceding a penalty corner just 10 seconds before the hooter went off and Rahma Othman Siti converted it for Malaysia to earn her team its first point in the four-day competition. India will again play Australia today in a repeat league match, the result of which is of no consequence after this match. Indian men out
The Indian men's hockey team's hopes of reaching the final went up in smoke after Australia handed it a 4-1 drubbing in their last league match of the Lanco International Super Series 9s here today. India will now face Pakistan for the bronze medal tomorrow. By winning all its matches, Australia entered the finals majestically and will battle it out against New Zealand for the top honours tomorrow. India needed a win today to make it to the final but fell short in all departments of the game. Australia set the pace early on and went on a scoring spree, while India could reply only once through Sardar Singh. With just a draw and two loses, India finished last in the four-nation event, while with two draws, Pakistan came third. — PTI |
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Sachin excited about Indian Grand Prix
New Delhi, October 22 "I am excited about the Indian Grand Prix F1 race. I will support the Force India team. I have friends like Michael Schumacher, but I will support Force India because that is the Indian team and country comes first," Tendulkar said. Tendulkar, who is passionate about fast cars, has been invited by Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone himself to grace the Indian Grand Prix at Greater Noida on October 30. "I was passionate about cars from a young age. As I grew up, my passion for fast cars has grown," he said. On asking which car fascinated him the most as a child, Sachin said, "When I was young, I saw Fiat, Ambassador, at the most Contessa or Standard 2000. But my brother and others would discuss about Pala car. So, the car I love to drive was Pala," he told UTV-Bloomberg. Tendulkar witnessed his first F1 Grand Prix at Silverstone in England while he was on the 2002 tour to England and met German legend Michael Schumacher the evening before the race day. In fact, it was Schumacher who presented him with the keys of the Ferrari car which Tendulkar sold to a businessman from Surat, recently. Red Bull gearing up
Red Bull drivers have started the preparation for the inaugural Indian GP through simulator. “We're expecting the track to have the second highest average speed of the season after Monza. That means that we'll be completing a lap at an average speed of 235 km/h, so there should be plenty of good opportunities to overtake. I'm really looking forward to India. I always do when we drive on a new track," youngest double champion Sebastian Vettel said. — PTI |
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Delhi duo lift titles
New Delhi, October 22 While Karan, who was broken in the very first game of the match, came back strongly to beat second seeded Fatehdeep Singh 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, Simran overpowered her Delhi city-mate Tarannum Handa 7-5, 6-0 at the RK Khanna Tennis Complex. Andhra girl Pranjala Yadlapalli benefited from an ankle injury to Nayanika Reddy and won the under-14 girls’ singles final 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 while Dhruv Pal lifted the title in the boys category with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 win over top seed Sachin Kumar. In the last match of the day, Karan was pushed on the back foot right at the start as Fatehdeep surged to a 4-2 lead before the Delhi lad got his acts together and staged a solid fight back with some powerful stroke play from the baseline. Karan broke Punjab’s Fatehdeep in the eighth game to negate the lead and from there on the two held on to their serves before Karan took the tie-breaker 7-5. Karan then broke Fatehdeep early in the second set and held on to the lead before winning the two-hour contest.
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Birsa Munda, BRC enterfinal
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, October 22 Birsa Munda boys displayed good skill and thwarted any attempts by the Jalandhar boys to score. Their solid display returned rewards when they took the lead in the 7th minute with Amandeep Ekka sounding the board off a penalty corner (1-0). In the 35th minute, Jalandhar hit back with a goal by Love Preet Singh (1-1). At half time both teams were level at 1-1 The second half of the game saw the Rourkela side virtually seal the fate of Jalandhar boys as Joshep Toppo socred in the 58th minute, which turned out to be the winner (2-1).
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Hope against dope
Rurka Kalan, October 22 In Punjab, a State that has seen drug abuse rise alarmingly among its youth, football is hoping to hold its own through the Edu-Football League that begins on October 23 in Rurka Kalan. The programme that was the basis behind the league was developed by Youth Football Club, Rurka Kalan, and has now spread its hold among many more villages in the region. YFC, which recongnised the importance of football in fighting drug menace in the region, are hoping now that this league will further push their cause. “In the beginning, we were not too sure of how much of a success would this league be, but as the response of all teams involved, and all sponsors shows, we are on track to starting a revolution. I just want these kids to realize how much value can football add to their lives. Also, when their energies will be channelized in the right direction, they will stay away from drugs and lead a clean and healthy life,” feels YFC president Gurmangal Das. The league aims to involve around 500 children in the first phase with 10 teams in A-League (13-15 years) and 20 more teams in the B-League (10-12 years). Matches, alongside workshops, will be held on Saturdays and Sundays. The aim of the league is not just the development of the game but also of the individual. The location for matches and workshops will be in various villages - Rurka Kalan, Bilga, Bundala, Jandiala, Sarhali, Shankar and Aloona Tola Khanna. The real focus will be on providing the right guidance to underprivileged children and help them understand the nitty-gritty of things through football and its application in daily life. Canada-based Parmar Sports Training Inc. is the footballing partner of the league with many corporate houses coming forward in support as well. It is also expecting appearances by Indian football stalwarts Baichung Bhutia, Anwar and Sunil Chhetri. The organisers of the league will also provide certain facilities to the participating kids, like scientific coaching (five times a week), sports kit and equipment of up to Rs, 15,000 per head, life skill workshops, educational material and also stipend to some children.
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Women kabaddi players pass Nada test"
Patiala, October 22 He further informed that NADA has decided to take blood samples along with the urine samples to rid sports from this menace. Blood sampling is very crucial and it further ensures that anyone who indulges in doping cannot escape without punishment.
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Sanga, Jayawardene earn Lanka a draw
Abu Dhabi, October 22 Sangakkara scored 211 during a marathon near eleven-hour stay while Prasanna made 120, for his fourth century, as Sri Lanka piled on 483 to frustrate Pakistan on the fifth and final day at Abu Dhabi stadium. A cluster of wickets in the final session, with Umar Gul taking 4-64, left Pakistan with a target of 170 in a maximum 20 overs, but they called it quits on 21-1 after 10 overs. Sangakkara finally fell in the last over before tea, when he was trapped leg-before by the part-time leg-spinner Azhar Ali for his first wicket in Test cricket but not before he had frustrated Pakistan for almost two sessions. Sangakkara batted for 651 minutes, faced 431 deliveries and hit 18 boundaries during an epic knock. With just 25 overs remaining and the match heading towards a draw, Prasanna fell caught behind off paceman Aizaz Cheema but by that time he and Sangakkara had changed the course of the match. Sangakkara flicked Cheema to fine-leg for his 18th boundary to reach his double hundred after 604 minutes of defiant batting, punching the air in delight. Together with Prasanna, Sangakkara added 201 for the sixth wicket stand, erasing the previous best of 169 in Pakistan-Sri Lanka Tests for this wicket between Kamran Akmal and Yasir Arafat at Karachi two years ago. Sangakkara, 33, has also achieved a personal landmark by scoring a double hundred as he is now third behind Sir Donald Bradman (12) and West Indian Brian Lara (nine) in terms of scoring Test double hundreds. — AFP Brief Scores Sri Lanka 197 & 483; Pakistan 511/6d & 21/1 Match drawn
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Rudolph back in South African Test squad
Johannesburg, October 22 Selection convener Andrew Hudson said Rudolph would open the batting with captain Graeme Smith. "His experience and current form make him an asset to the Proteas and at the age of 30 he has plenty of good years of cricket ahead of him." Rudolph has played in 35 Tests but his most recent appearance was against Sri Lanka in 2006. He then lost his place and opted for a Kolpak contract with English county Yorkshire. Since returning to South Africa at the end of his contract Rudolph has been in prolific form. He was the leading scorer in the domestic four-day competition last season and has been in prolific form this season, hitting 568 runs in three matches at an average of 94.66 with a double century, a century and three fifties. Pakistan leg-spinner Tahir qualified for South Africa at the beginning of the year and was one of South Africa's outstanding bowlers at the 2011 Cricket World Cup. — AFP
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The all-important goal was scored in the 80th minute by Ranty Martins. The win is a shot in the arm for coach Armando Colaco, whose team had not got the right start in the season, losing to East Bengal in the Federation Cup. Dempo started well and had the first chance in the 13th minute, but a Clifford Miranda try from inside the box went straight to keeper Karanjit Singh. Minute later, Salgaocar's keeper Karanjit Singh came to his side's rescue when he punched the ball away from Climax Lawrence off a pass from Ranty. Miranda, who was the driving force on the flank, kept the rival defence on their toes even as Dempo forced three successive corners but to no avail. With both teams looking to settle for a draw, a sudden lack of concentration on the part of the Salgaocar midfield allowed Joaquim Abranches to lay a through pass to Ranty, keeping the rival defence napping. Ranty sent a firm ground shot t settle 1-0. East Bengal go down to Churchill Favourites East Bengal paid heavily for defensive lapses as they lost by a solitary goal to Churchill Brothers in their opening encounter. N D Opara scored the match-winner for Churchill Brothers at the 12th minute as last year's runners-up East Bengal returned goalless to lose the match, despite an improved performance in the second-half. — PTI
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Just because the Indian team has already won this ODI series doesn’t mean Dhoni & Co. are about to relax and take it easy. The team has another target in mind and that is winning this series 5-0.
The Indians have fielded an unchanged side for the first three ODI’s and things would have been the same had the injury to Umesh Yadav not happened in the last game at
Mohali.
Sachin Tendulkar is excited that the high-profile Formula One race is coming to the country with the inaugural Indian Grand Prix next week and said that he will support the Sahara Force India team.
"I am excited about the Indian Grand Prix F1 race. I will support the Force
India team. I have friends like Michael Schumacher, but I will support Force
India because that is the Indian team and country comes first," Tendulkar
said.
Sport is therapeutic in many ways. It can teach you how to channelise your energy, to keep fighting back and if the right values are inculcated at the right age, it teaches children the importance of taking care of your body and your mind.
Kumar Sangakkara hit his eighth double hundred while Prasanna Jayawardene notched up a fighting century to salvage a draw for Sri Lanka in the first Test against Pakistan here today.
