Mirpur, March 22
Pakistan held their nerve against a spirited Bangladesh side as they lifted the trophy by beating the hosts by 3 runs in the final of the Asia Cup cricket tournament, here tonight. Earlier, Bangladesh produced a fine bowling display before a late burst propelled Pakistan to 236 for nine.

After recording two upsets in the form India and Sri Lanka already in the event, giant-killers Bangladesh are in with a golden opportunity to create history by halting Pakistan within a reachable target.

Pakistan players celebrate after beating Bangladesh in the final of the Asia Cup at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday. Pakistan won the match and the trophy by beating Bangladesh by 2 runs. — AFP

But if not for some lacklustre bowling by Shahdat Hossain towards the end and useful contributions from Shahid Afridi (32) and wicket-keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed (46 not out), the target could have been much lower for Bangladesh.

Shahdat gave away 19 runs in the final over of the innings and was guilty of bowling two no-balls, which not only boosted Pakistan's score but also their confidence.

Young Sarfaraz top-scored for Pakistan with an unbeaten 46, while Shahid Afridi played a 22-ball 32-run cameo to wriggle Pakistan out of trouble.

Mohammad Hafeez (40), Umar Akmal (30) and Hammad Azam (30) all failed to capitalise on good starts.

For Bangaldesh, experienced pacer Mashrafe Mortaza (2/48)), and spin duo of Abdur Razak (2/26) and Shakib Al Hasan (2/39) scalped two wickets apiece, while Nazmul Hossain (1/36) and Mahmudullah (1/14) picked up one each. Shahdat conceded 63 runs off his nine overs.

Backed by a partisan home crowd, Bangladesh made a dream start to their maiden Asia Cup title quest by striking early blows after inviting Pakistan to bat. — PTI

New Delhi, March 22
"My critics haven't taught me my cricket," Sachin Tendulkar has said in a rebuttal to those who were calling for him to retire.

Sachin said: "The day he feels "a little less passion" when walking out to bat for India, I will give up the game" adding, "critics didn't need to tell me to do so."

Tendulkar said he had played cricket because he loved to do and there was nothing better than playing for India.

"I still get goosebumps as I stand with my teammates when the national anthem is on. I still feel the same passion when I pick up my bat and go out," he said in an interview carried in the latest issue of 'Open' magazine.

"They (critics) can question but none of them have answers to their own questions. None of them has been in my predicament and it is impossible for them to understand what I have been thinking and feeling," said Tendulkar, who scored the historic 100th international ton in the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh last week.

When asked whether the final hurdle of scoring the hundredth century was the most difficult, the veteran batsman said: "There is no doubt it was. The 100th hundred was the most difficult to get. I really don't know why but it was."

"May be because it turned into a national obsession. May be because I wasn't able to escape talk of the 100th hundred and it was affecting me at a subconscious level. May be God was trying me harder," he said.

Asked whether the thought of retiring from ODI cricket had crossed his mind after India won the World Cup last year, Tendulkar said such a thought had never occurred to him.

"A number of my friends have also asked me why I didn't retire from ODI cricket after winning the world cup, they may well be right. It would indeed have been a grand exit, emotions were running high and the timing could not have been better but to be honest such a thought never occurred to me," he said.

"There's Sir Donald Bradman and Sir Garfield Sobers, two of the greatest ever cricketers to have played the game. In my time, there have been Brian Lara, Shane Warne, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid. Each of them is a great player," Tendulkar said.

"The one thing my journey has taught me is that however good you are and however talented you are, you have to be ready to grind it out in times of difficulty. You must be prepared to work hard. Keep working hard. And harder.” — PTI

New Delhi, March 22
Only 31 sports persons, who exclude the 16-member men’s hockey team, have qualified for the London Olympics-2012, though a few more, particularly in athletics and tennis, are expected to make the cut by June. Among those who have already qualified, shooters head the list with 11, followed by athletes (8), archers (4), boxers (4) and swimmers (4).

The four swimmers - Virdhawal Khare (100m freestyle), Sandeep Sejwal (100m breaststroke), Aaron D’Souza (200m freestyle) and Saurabh Sangvekar (1500m freestyle) - have achieved only the “B” qualifying standard, which will be confirmed after the final qualifying competitions in June, when the International Swimming Federation (FINA) will pick the competitors with the best qualification timings in the “B” list. However, those who make the “A” qualifying cut, will gain a direct entry.

The All India Tennis Federation (AITA) had sent a shocker recently when its selection committee left out Mahesh Bhupathi from the Davis Cup team for the tie against Uzbekistan, to be held in April. But AITA secretary Anil Khanna had clarified that India would pick the best squad for the Olympics, and the last date for submitting the Olympic entries is April 2, though this deadline is only for submitting the number of entries, and the names of the players can be given till June. Khanna had also noted that the actual entries by name will be finalised only after June 11, when the ITF rankings will be out.

AITA hopes to get two entries in doubles and the final names will be decided depending on the rankings of Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna. Mahesh has been teaming up with Bopanna for the past few months, though the AITA is keen that Leander pairs up with the best second doubles player for the Olympics, be it Mahesh or Bopanna, and not the way Mahesh and Bopanna want.

The ITF rule states that a maximum of two men and two women, two mixed doubles teams from any country, may compete in the Olympics.

Among the medal winners in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, only shooting gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, has made the cut, while Sushil Kumar (wrestling) and Vijender Singh (boxing) have not yet qualified.

Those who have made the Olympic qualifying grade are: Archery: Laishram Bombayla Devi, Deepika Kumari and Chekrovolu Swuro (women recurve team who have secured the quota place, and Jayanta Talukdar, men’s individual recurve). Athletics: Vikas Gowda (discus), Gurmeet Singh (20km walk), Om Prakash Singh Karhana (shot put), Mayookha Johny (triple jump), Tintu Luka (800m), Krishna Poonia (discus throw), Ram Singh Yadav (marathon), Baljinder Singh (20km walk). Boxing: Manoj Kumar (64kg), Devendro Singh (49kg), Jai Bhagwan (60kg) and Vikas Krishan (69kg). Hockey: Men’s team (16 members). Shooting: Gagan Narang (10m air rifle), Abhinav Bindra (10m rifle), Joydeep Karmakar (50m rifle prone), Ronjan Sodhi (double trap), Vijay Kumar (25m rapid fire pistol), Sanjeev Rajput (50m rifle 3 position), Anuraj Singh (10 m air pistol), Rahi Sarnobat (25m pistol), Shagun Choudhary (trap shooting), Manavjit Singh Sandhu (trap), Heena Sidhu (10m air pistol). 

Liverpool, March 22
Thomas Vermaelen headed Arsenal into third place in the Premier League for the first time this season after a hard-fought 1-0 win at Everton on Wednesday.

Arsenal, who have now won six top-flight games in a row, leapfrogged Tottenham after Belgium defender Vermaelen struck in the eighth minute, while their north London rivals were held to a 1-1 draw by Stoke.

It was hardly vintage Arsenal and Everton will be upset Royston Drenthe's 'equaliser' was ruled out by a controversial off-side flag. But having trailed Tottenham for most of the season, Arsene Wenger's men have opened up a one-point cushion over their neighbours.

Arsenal had come from behind to secure victory in their previous four league outings but they didn't need to this time after Everton gifted their opponents an early lead. Robin van Persie is used to scoring goals rather than teeing them up, but the Netherlands striker's corner allowed Vermaelen to power a header. — AFP

Patiala, March 22
Putting up a remarkable show during the four-day trials that concluded at Kolkata today, two women archers of Punjabi University, Patiala, have made it to the Indian squad that will take part in the first two stages of World Cup-2012. University students Parveena and Lily Chanu have both been selected to represent India in the women’s compound event along with Gagandeep Kaur who is a former student of the same university and is currently working as a senior clerk with the sports department of Railways (DMW, Patiala).

Talking to The Tribune from Kolkata, the girls informed that while Parveena had bagged overall first place during trials, Gagandeep Kaur and Lily Chanu were second and third, respectively. Gagandeep Kaur informed that the first stage of the World Cup will be held at Shanghai, China, from April 10 to 15 whereas the second stage will be played at Turkey from May 1 to 5.

Delighted with their achievement, their coach Jiwanjot Singh said it was like a dream come true. “They have made the entire university proud. Till two years back, Punjab was nowhere in the scene as far as women archery was concerned but with Gagandeep Kaur making a place for herself in the team and winning bronze medal in the 2010 Commonwealth Games followed by a silver medal in the World Cup at USA, it opened new avenues for women here. Following her footsteps, now two more university girls Parveena and Lily, who basically hails from Manipur, have proved their worth which is a big achievement in itself.

Director Sports of the university Dr Rajkumar Sharma when contacted in this regard congratulated the coach and players on this achievement stating that he was proud of these girls. “The university has always provided best facilities to its players and would continue to do so in order to churn out more international players,’ he added.