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Australian Open: Day 5
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More grass, bounce to greet India in Adelaide
Saxena hits a double as Rajasthan crawl
Vijay strikes gold at Asian C’ships
Matters of the mind
NADA team visits national athletics meet
Doping in school games raises concern
Delhi Marathon gets top ranking
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Australian Open: Day 5
Melbourne, January 20 Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki reached the fourth round without dropping a set as she clings to the number one ranking, while Victoria Azarenka did not let a late display of petulance interrupt her progress. With the 6'10" (208 cm) Karlovic hammering down serves and constantly coming forward, blocking the court with his outsized frame, Federer faced an awkward task. But at set point down in the first set tie-break and scrambling to a drop shot, he did not flinch and gamely aimed a vertical lob over the Croatian beanpole, who could only parry it into his own court. Federer, combating the fastest serve in the game with his unerring backhand, took his first set point then conjured the match's first break to take the second set and sauntered through the third to clinch it 7-6 (8/6), 7-5, 6-3. "I knew it could come down to a few (points) here and there and obviously you need a bit of luck," he smiled. "I definitely got a bit fortunate and I started to play better as the match went on." Earlier, Nadal bludgeoned his way into the fourth round with a straight-sets win over Slovakia's Lukas Lacko — but he denied he was having it easy at the year's opening major. Nadal came into the tournament jaded and troubled by injuries, but he has given no such signs on the court so far. After a hard-fought opening against Lacko, the 2009 champion raced away with it 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. "Nothing is easy. Everything is difficult. Every match you have your problems," he said. "First set was 6-2, but I had to fight for it. It was a tough one. But I played solid all the match, so that's why I won." Wozniacki won 6-2, 6-2 against Monica Niculescu as she aims for her first major title and defends her top ranking from Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova, who could all be crowned number one at the end of this event. The Dane, boosted by mental tips from her golf major-winning boyfriend, Rory McIlroy, took charge early against the Romanian and suffered her only lapse at 5-1 in the second set, when she was broken, before quickly recovering. "Whatever happens, happens," Wozniacki said of the number one ranking. "I've proven myself for the last two years. I've finished number one twice in a row. For me, the most important thing is to keep improving. If I do that, I know I can play at a very high level." Azarenka's temper flared when she wanted to contest a call on match point against Germany's Mona Barthel — but she had run out of Hawk-Eye challenges, prompting a brief display of histrionics and opprobrium from the crowd. After sealing it 6-2, 6-4 to stay unbeaten this year, the Belarusian third seed said she needed the extra emotion to get over the line. "I had to get a little bit, not angry like in a bad way, just a little bit get my emotions going to finish the match. Because I had a few chances but I didn't convert them," she said." And Andy Roddick was left to rue the latest in a series of late-career injuries which forced him to pull out of his veterans' battle against Lleyton Hewitt in Thursday's night match. "You know, your sensible mind says to have a sense of perspective. You still have it pretty good," he said. "The competitor in you feels terrible." — AFP |
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More grass, bounce to greet India in Adelaide
Adelaide, January 20 "There would be more grass and there would be more bounce. In many ways it would be similar to last time," said curator Damien Hough. The "last time" Hough referred to was the Test against England two years ago when the visitors won by an innings and 71 runs. Batting first, Australia made 245 runs to which England replied with 610 runs. From then on, there was no escaping for Australia in the second innings. "There would be something for the fast bowlers on the opening day," said Hough. "Then it would be good for batting on day two and three and variable bounce would come into picture on the final two days," he added. Though Australia is chasing a 4-0 scoreline, Hough stressed there was no pressure on him to prepare a designer pitch to suit the home team. "I haven't heard from anyone. I am not affected by the scoreline. My aim is to make as good a pitch as possible." Hough said the extra grass cover is provided due to the hot conditions prevailing in Adelaide. "There could be weather disturbance on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. But the temperature is 36-37 degree leading up to the Test. We have ensured the grass cover doesn't let it happen," he said. — PTI
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Saxena hits a double as Rajasthan crawl
Chennai, January 20 After scoring 221 for no loss on the first day, Rajasthan batsmen didn't display any positive intent to up the ante as they added only 183 runs in 90 overs sent down today. Saxena, who became the second Rajasthan batsman after Hanumant Singh to score a double century in the final was unbeaten on 207. But he has already consumed a whopping 555 balls during which he hit 25 boundaries and a six. Giving him company was tournament's top-scorer Robin Bist who also played an excruciatingly slow knock of 16 off 74 deiveries. The batsmen dismissed today were Aakash Chopra (94, 307 balls, 10x4) and skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar (67, 146 balls, 7x4). With ball starting to keep low, a total in excess of 550 may be prove to be a daunting one for Tamil Nadu although they have a formidable batting line-up. The slow approach of Rajasthan batsmen however have raised doubts whether their bowlers would get enough time to take 10 Tamil Nadu wickets on such an unresponsive pitch. In case Tamil Nadu bats more than 30 overs and their innings is not completed then result will be decided on run-rate. For eg, Rajasthan till now have scored their runs in 180 overs at a rate of 2.24. If Tamil Nadu bats more than 30 overs and their innings is not completed, they would need to score runs at an asking rate of 2.25. — PTI
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Vijay strikes gold at Asian C’ships
Doha, January 20 The Army man, who has already won a quota place for India in the Rapid Fire category, shot a score of 572/600 to tie for the lead with Yongde Jin of China. However, Kumar's tally of 17 inner tens to Jin's 15 helped him bag the gold. Kumar started with a score of 98 in the first series of 150 seconds for 10 shots. His scores dipped in the 20-second and the 10-second series and he reached the halfway mark at 284, two points behind the Chinese who tallied 286. Vijay performed better in the second series with a tally of 288. Jin was in the lead but then had a disastrous score of 93 in the final 10-second series which saw him finish alongside Vijay. The bronze was won by Tomohiro Kida of Japan, who shot 568. But the other two Indian shooters in fray put up a disappointing show and were nowhere in contention for a podium finish. Samresh Jung shot 552 to finish 16th, while Mahavir Singh finished 24th with a score of 542. Those low scores ended India's hopes of a team medal as well. They finished fifth after a combined score of 1666/1800. The gold was won by China with a total of 1695 while Thailand surprised everyone by clinching the silver with a tally of 1683 points. — PTI
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Matters of the mind
Chandigarh, January 20 This is something ace Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra found out first hand, on way to his first Gold at the Asian Shooting Championship in Doha on January 13. Bindra fought not just reigning Asian Games gold medalist Zhu Qinan of China, but also a bout of flu as he finished off the final round with a tally of 701.1. Now while shooting might not be the most physically demanding sport, but it is one where you can get put off by the slightest of movements, sounds or a minutely stiff trigger. So then how did Abhinav manage to keep his composure in a situation where lifting the gun had been cumbersome for him? The answers are all with Amit Bhattacharjee, Abhinav’s mental trainer. “Firstly, Abhinav is somebody who knows how to fight for the pride of the nation. In Doha, he was running really high fever, a stage called hyperthermia. His system was not at all stable. But despite that, pulling out never crossed our minds. “We resorted to a unique programme of bio-mechanics and mental training. Under this system we worked on the following: 1) Work on the most important muscles. Physical postures (one thing at a time) and mental postures (setting priorities). We also use techniques like mental calisthenics to increase endurance and mental gymnastics (visualization). 2) We work on food for stability. Fiber is part of the food that is not digested easily. It helps the intestines to stay healthy. “We gave him a lot of fiber, along with a combination of fatty foods that stay in the stomach longer, before the match. 3) Due to weakness, the body tends to fall forward while holding the gun, therefore, we gave him a medial arc support of about 1cm, to help in stability. 4) Also in the situation of an adrenaline rush the glands produce epinephrine, which increase the heart rate and blood flow. This causes instability and is extremely hazardous for a sport like shooting. “To counter this we use a Chinese meditation system called Tauli. It controls our mind and calms our senses. The bio-mechanical stretch/mediation work on the main sensor for body temperature, which lies in the hypothalamus. It monitors the temperature of the blood as it flows from the heart to the brain.” Dr. Bhattacharjee, who is often credited by Abhinav as the man behind his calm performance, further says all the work is being done with an eye on the London Olympics. “We are also working on mental muscles for each kind of thinking which we engage. Basically we are working on critical and verbal thinking. This increases mental co-ordination.” He says that they are extremely keen to chalk out the right track, learning from past experiences. “At the Athens Olympics, Abhinav was put off because of bad floor. We won’t let any such thing cause a problem this time around.” So how does a man who devotes all his time thinking and working about Abhinav’s gameplan, get any time for his own family? “It has been almost eight years that I took my family for a vacation. Although they understand, but still, I feel odd about it. Whatever sanctioned leaves I had were used up in my travels. But now, thankfully, due to Union sports minister Ajay Maken and Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, my sanctioned leave has been doubled. Surely, I plan to make use of it for my family, but only after Abhinav has done the nation proud again.”
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NADA team visits national athletics meet
Ludhiana, January 20 Dipash said the results would be out in a week. He said the report would be further handed over to the School Games Federation of India for taking necessary action against players found positive. Rupinder Singh Ravi, the organiser of the Games said the team arrived here last night and took the samples in the morning session. The team would conduct random test of athletes during the Meet. Sources said the team took the samples of boys and girls participating in long-jump, shot-put and discus-throw competition. Sources added that the NADA team visited the stadium following complaints that several players were taking performance enhancing drugs. The team officials of different states welcomed the move. Chako Joseph, manager of Kerala team said, “It is a very encouraging step. The visit of NADA officials will generate fear psychosis among athletes.” 100m winner flees on seeing NADA officials
An athlete fled from the stadium on seeing NADA officials during the third day of the 57th National Athletic Meet at Guru Nanak Stadium. Joban Singh from Amritsar, who won the 100m race and clocked the time of 10.6 sec fled the stadium when the NADA team approached him to give the urine sample. |
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Doping in school games raises concern
Patiala, January 20 Expressing shock over this situation, former chief coach of Indian women wrestling squad PR Sondhi while talking to The Tribune said it was a very disturbing trend. “These players are the future of our country and if they fall into the trap of doping, it would be harmful for the entire sports fraternity. Along with NADA, the coaches and organisers of school-level tournaments should ensure that they keep a strict vigil of over these youngsters. They have impressionable minds and can succumb to the peer pressure easily,” he added. Olympian Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, the first recipient of Arjuna Award in India, while talking to The Tribune said the players and coaches do not believe in intense training these days. “Their psyche is that if they do not consume performance enhancing drugs, they will never be able to excel in any sport”, he said, while adding that it was primarily the responsibility of the coaches to make sure that they keep a check that sportspersons are not taking any banned drug and also to motivate them not to indulge in any such unhealthy practice. Member of the governing body of NADA and former chairman of the IOA’s Medical and Anti-Doping Commission, Dr Manmohan Singh, said, “In my opinion, the coaches are not discharging their duty in a responsible manner. There is an urgent need to introduce knowledge about doping and its ill-effects in the school curriculum.”
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Delhi Marathon gets top ranking
New Delhi, January 20 The Road Running competitions were ranked in three different categories, based on combined ranking of the men's and women's races; men’s road running and women’s road running. The Airtel Delhi Half Marathon was adjudged No. 1 in the all the three categories. The Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2011, an IAAF Gold Label event, and also the world’s most prestigious half marathon held in November here, offered a purse of $210,000 and had attracted some of the world’s biggest names in distance running. Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa won the men’s overall title in 59.30 minutes, while the women’s title as won by Kenyan Lucy Kabuu in a time of 67.04 minutes. |
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Chandigarh, January 20
