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Australian Open: Day 3
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TN face Rajasthan in Ranji final
Tendulkar is the only in-form Indian batsman: Warner
VVS quashes retirement talk
Govt expects 5 wrestlers at 2012 Olympics
Olympic quotas elude Indian shooters
DSA to hold trials
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Australian Open: Day 3
Melbourne, January 18 Nadal beat German veteran Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in a 2 1/2-hour match, declaring that the twisted tendon in the heavily taped knee was not a concern. Just before Federer was due on Hisense Arena, the Swiss found out that his scheduled opponent, Germany's Andreas Beck, had a back injury and had to withdraw. Top-seeded Novak Djokovic and fourth-seeded Andy Murray, the threats from the other side of the draw, play their second-rounders tomorrow. Two of the women's title contenders, defending champion Kim Clijsters and No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, both won their second-round matches today on their way to a potential quarterfinal meeting. French Open champion Li Na also advanced, defeating Olivia Rogowska of Australia 6-2, 6-2. She could meet Clijsters in the fourth round in a rematch of last year's final at Melbourne Park. Clijsters needed only 47 minutes to beat Stephanie Foretz Gacon of France 6-0, 6-1 and Wozniacki defeated Anna Tatishvili of Georgia 6-1, 7-6 (4). Clijsters said she doesn't give a lot of thought to who she'll face down the road of any tournament. "That's something that I definitely learned since I was younger ... the media people always start to talk about the future, quarterfinal, semifinal, a tough third, fourth round coming up before the tournament even starts," the Belgian veteran said. "I don't like to waste my energy on those kind of thoughts." Elsewhere on the women's side, 10th-seeded Francesca Schiavone was eliminated 6-4, 6-3 by fellow Italian Romina Oprandi and No. 16 Peng Shuai of China lost 6-2, 6-4 to Iveta Benesova of Czech Republic. Former No. 1-ranked Jelena Jankovic beat Chang Kai-chen of Taiwan 6-4, 6-2. Eighth-ranked Mardy Fish became the first top 10 player on the men's side to lose, falling 7-6 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (6) to Colombia's Alejandro Falla. Number 7 Tomas Berdych beat Olivier Rochus of Belgium 6-1, 6-0, 7-6 (4) and 2009 U S Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, No. 18 Feliciano Lopez and No. 30 Kevin Anderson also advanced. Qualifier Lukas Lacko of Slovakia beat American Donald Young 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to earn a match against Nadal. Young's countryman Sam Querrey played Australian teenager Bernard Tomic to kick off the night program at Rod Laver. Another American, 16th-seeded John Isner, won a four-hour, 41-minute marathon, including a 99-minute last set, over former Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian. Isner had 43 aces in his 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 10-8 win.
— AP |
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TN face Rajasthan in Ranji final
Chennai, January 18 Tamil Nadu would be playing their third final in the past 10 seasons and would aim to get over the habit of stumbling in the summit clash after doing all the hard work in the league stages. The slow pace and low bounce of the Chepauk pitch would be of some assistance to the hosts but Rajasthan's pace battery would also be excited at the sight of it. The defending champions surprised many by winning the title last season and are serious contenders to retain the trophy under Hrishikesh Kanitkar's leadership. "It is amazing. I am out of words. Two years ago we were in the bottom of the Plate League and now we are in our second straight final," Rajasthan coach Amit Asawa has stated. Interestingly, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan had clashed in the semifinals last season and the hosts would be aiming for revenge this time around. "My men are right on the track," said Tamil Nadu captain Laxmipathy Balaji. Besides topping Group-B with 20 points, Tamil Nadu's semifinal win over 39-time champions Mumbai exemplified their consistency this year. Tamil Nadu's steady performance in the league phase is in stark contrast to Rajasthan dropping points in their first five matches and then managing to avoid elimination only because of other teams' failure. But to their credit, Rajasthan have shown character in drawing a couple of games after following on during the league stage. On paper, Tamil Nadu features players who have gone on to represent India as well. Abhinav Mukund, Murali Vijay, Subramaniam Badrinath and Dinesh Karthik have made a name for themselves in India colours. Balaji too has led by example and his incisive opening spell in the semifinal against Mumbai had helped the hosts make the final grade. "This season has been phenomenal as we had to fight for runs and wickets in almost each of the matches. We have several India players and middle order batsman," Balaji said. "We have a strong and balanced bowling attack and supported by our batsmen, we will play to our potential to clinch the trophy at home. Rajasthan is a capable side but we will approach it like any other match," he added. Tamil Nadu would be looking towards its in-form top order batsmen to pile up the runs. The balance in their bowling attack can be be assessed by the fact that seamers Jagannathan Kaushik (24), Lakshmipathy Balaji (23) and Vijaykumar Yo Mahesh (20), and spinner Aushik Srinivas (20) have had equal share of success in the run up to the final. As for Rajasthan, its middle-order batsman Robin Bist amassed 841 runs in eight matches with four centuries but his poor form in their last two matches is a worry for Kanitkar.
— PTI |
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Tendulkar is the only in-form Indian batsman: Warner
"There might be a lot of people in their shed wondering how they're going to score runs," the 25-year-old, who struck a match-winning century in the third Test in Perth, was quoted as saying by the 'The Australian Associated Press'. "In my mind there is probably only one player (in form) and that's Sachin Tendulkar who looks like he's using a sight screen when he comes out to bat. "But the other players, they're all world-class players. You look at the amount of runs they've got in the top six in their careers. It's phenomenal. We are expecting them to show some aggression in this next Test," he said. Tendulkar has had a couple of half centuries during the series, which India trail 0-3, but he continues to chase an elusive 100th international hundred. In fact, India are a team in crisis after seven back-to-back Test losses on foreign soil and Warner said the Aussies would aim to make it eight in a row. "As Michael Clarke said the other day after the game (in Perth), celebrate your win but at the end of the day we want to try and beat the second team in the world four-nil," Warner said. "That's a massive thing for us at the moment. Our goal is to become number one again by the next Ashes in 2013. If we can keep working towards that, our goals will be achieved," he added. Warner, who had a verbal spat with Indian pacer Ishant Sharma during the Perth Test, said some banter is expected as players from both sides are passionate about representing their nations. "When you come to a series like Australia against India you're playing for your countries. The competition on the field is exactly what it is. We are all about playing for Australia, they are all about playing for India," Warner said. "There is always be going to be a bit of banter on the field and then off the field you're going to be mates. That's the way it should be. You've got to be warriors on the field and saints off it," he added.
— PTI |
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VVS quashes retirement talk
"When Laxman was approached by an Indian television journalist after the session, the 37-year-old insisted reports of his impending retirement were untrue," a report in 'The Age' said. Laxman is not alone among the Indian batsmen who have had little impact on the series, but the elegant stroke player has lacked freedom, failing to find other ways to score when the Australians blocked off his boundary areas. He has scored just 102 runs from the six innings he has played so far at an average of 17. His languid fielding and ongoing back problems, combined with his poor form, have prompted reports that he would be the first of India's ageing champions to retire, perhaps even before the Adelaide Test, starting January 24. Fletcher spent a significant amount of time in Laxman's net working on technical aspects of his batting, suggesting his tour is not finished. Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir has also defended Laxman, saying that no individual batsman should be blamed for the Indian team's debacle in Australia as it was a collective failure.
— PTI |
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Barca-Real Madrid to battle in King’s Cup
Madrid, January 18 Real host their arch-rivals for a King's Cup quarterfinal first leg (2100 GMT) having won 22 of their last 23 matches in all competitions, the one defeat being a 3-1 La Liga reverse at Barca's hands at the Bernabeu six weeks ago. Mourinho has managed only one victory over Barca in eight attempts since taking the job two years ago, Cristiano Ronaldo nodding an extra-time winner in a 1-0 triumph in last season's King's Cup final. Four defeats and three draws across four competitions make up the rest of the story but the coach goes into Wednesday's tie holding a five-point La Liga lead over the champions. Mourinho has made it clear the league is this season's priority and he would be able to write off a King's Cup slipup as irrelevant. However, the psychological impact of the 'clasico' tussles could play a big role in each team's campaign. "You'll have to ask the Madrid players if we have eaten into their morale," Barca midfielder Xavi told a news conference on Monday. "Winning or losing will have a big effect on a team's state of mind. The winner will receive a huge confidence boost." Spanish international Xavi responded to questions about Ronaldo, who has gone off the boil in recent games and received whistles from some sectors of the Bernabeu crowd since his below-par showing at last month's 'clasico'. The comparisons with Lionel Messi, crowned World Player of the Year for the third time last week, appear to weigh heavy on the Portuguese forward who has scored three times in 10 'clasicos' compared to the Argentine's seven strikes over the same period. "Messi always makes the difference. The Bernabeu seems to be to his liking. He always rises to the occasion and we expect him to do the same again," Xavi said.
— Reuters |
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Govt expects 5 wrestlers at 2012 Olympics
New Delhi, January 18 Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) secretary-general Raj Singh expressed hope that four-five wrestlers will qualify in the first of a series of review meetings held regarding the preparations for Olympics, convened by Sports Minister Ajay Maken. Maken enquired about problems faced by WFI in processing visas of the wrestlers and the support staff. |
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Olympic quotas elude Indian shooters
Doha, January 18 The women finished sixth in the 50m rifle 3 position event. The Indian trio in men's 25m rapid fire pistol shot identical total scores of 577. As far as individual rankings are concerned, Vijay, who was lying eighth with 286 at the end of first course yesterday, finished seventh, while Pemba ended on eighth position.
— PTI |
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DSA to hold trials
New Delhi, January 18 DSA secretary Syed Shaheen said players born between 1998 and 2000 will be eligible to take part in the trials.
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Adelaide, January 18
Adelaide, January 18