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Hamilton on pole in Sepang
McLaren-Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton powers his car during the quailfying session of Formula One's Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit on Saturday. Hamilton took pole position, followed by teammate Jenson Button and Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher. — AFP
Afridi roughs up fan at airport
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Pakistan are no more unpredictable: Misbah
Proteas build solid total
KXIP launch new logo
Shiva storms into finals, Vikas settles for bronze
Indian lifters shine
North Zone win JK Bose tourney
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Hamilton on pole in Sepang
Sepang, March 24 McLaren have now led in qualifying for the first two races after Hamilton also led a one-two last week in Australia, before finishing the Grand Prix third behind team-mate Button and current world champion Sebastian Vettel. But in an indication of the tiny margins separating Formula One’s best teams this year, the top eight drivers were separated by only four-tenths of a second on a steamy afternoon at the Sepang circuit. Red Bull’s Mark Webber was fourth fastest and Kimi Raikkonen was fifth, but the 2007 world champion was penalised five places for a gearbox change - promoting sixth-placed Vettel one spot on the starting grid. Lotus driver Romain Grosjean, Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso and Sauber’s Mexican pilot Sergio Perez will occupy the next slots, with Raikkonen dropping to 10th. “It’s been a good weekend so far. It’s been a tough day with the changing weather conditions and the temperatures climbing,” said Hamilton. “We made some changes to the car but we still managed to do some good times.” As forecast rains held off, Red Bull’s Webber nabbed the top time in the dying seconds of the first 20-minute qualifying segment, in which Ferrari’s Massa flirted with elimination before recovering to scrape through. And in Q2, seven-time world champion Schumacher left it until his very last lap before climbing from 11th to fourth. Raikkonen was quickest but there was no top-10 shoot-out for the embattled Massa, who wound up 12th. In a thrilling Q3, Raikkonen, Button and Hamilton outpaced each other in quick succession at the top of the standings and with two minutes remaining, Schumacher’s challenge fell agonisingly short of the front row. Schumacher said his Mercedes team had squeezed every ounce of performance from their car, whose innovative ‘W-duct’ rear wing has been a source of technical controversy.
— AFP Meanwhile, Narain Karthikeyan finally made it to the grid, qualifying in the 24th position, just behind teammate Pedro de la Rosa. Both the Hispania drivers had missed out on last week's season-opening race at Melbourne due to not coming within the 107 percent time of the fastest time. Karthikeyan clocked 1 min 43.655 and Rosa 1:42.914. |
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Afridi roughs up fan at airport
Karachi, March 24 Afridi, who was adjudged Man of the Match in the Asia Cup final against Bangladesh that Pakistan won by just two runs, insisted that he had lot of love and respect for his fans and always tried to be pleasant with them. “But when my daughter who was waiting for me near my car got pushed by fans trying to get near me I lost my temper,” he said. Afridi’s brother Mushtaq insisted that the man involved in the incident was not a fan. “I wouldn’t describe him as a fan Shahid can never think of hurting a fan,” he said. The popular allrounder was caught on camera attacking a fan by pushing and slapping him at the Karachi airport soon after his arrival from Dhaka after winning the Asia Cup title. Minutes after he had spoken to the media waiting for him at the airport, where a large number of fans had gathered to welcome their heroes, Geo News and other channels flashed footage of a visibly angry Afridi attacking a fan dressed in a blue T-shirt and pushing him to the ground.
— PTI |
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Pakistan are no more unpredictable: Misbah
Lahore, March 24 “We are an improving side and I think by winning the Asia Cup we have also shed this tag of being an unpredictable side,” he said. Misbah, himself a senior batsman who has now been leading Pakistan in all three formats of the game since Shahid Afridi was sacked as ODI captain last year in May, said he was satisfied with the performance of his team in the Asia Cup. “Except for that one loss to India where their batsmen really played outstandingly we did well as a team and we performed as a unit which is very satisfying,” he added. Misbah who has been under fire for his captaincy and batting in recent months admitted that it was difficult to digest harsh criticism after every defeat. “It is not easy to forget the criticism but we are learning to take it in our strides and show our worth by our performances,” he said. There have been calls for Misbah to be removed as captain of the ODI and T20 sides and to induct more new players for these formats of the sport. But Misbah said he was enjoying leading the side in any format of the game and the Asia Cup victory was a big boost for him and his team. "It was a hard fought final and I thought Bangladesh played well throughout the competition. They were deserving finalists," he said. Misbah said that he was satisfied to see everyone in the team was pulling his weight at crucial times which had helped Pakistan cricket lift its stocks. He pointed out that in the last one-and-a-half years Pakistan had been consistent in Test matches beating New Zealand, Sri Lanka and England and drawing series against South Africa and West Indies.
— PTI |
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Pollard leads Windies to 42-run triumph
Gros Islet, March 24 In reply, Australia, who were dismissed for 252, never recovered from losing five wickets in making 112 by the 21st over despite skipper Shane Watson (28), Peter Forrest (24), George Bailey (25) and Mike Hussey (26) all getting decent starts. A sixth-wicket partnership of 67 between David Hussey and Matthew Wade kept Australia in the game. But when Wade holed out with an ugly slog off Pollard's medium pace from the last ball of the 34th over, after making a solid 16 to provide David Hussey with valuable support, the game was virtually up for Australia. Hussey was then clean-bowled by Kemar Roach for 57 off 54 balls, an innings which featured seven fours. His dismissal in the 39th over, with the score on 196 for seven, came just two balls after Brett Lee had been hurt when a wild Roach full toss clattered into his left hand. But Lee valiantly hit back by making a career-best 59, an exciting cameo which featured five fours and five sixes before he ran out of partners. — AFP Scoreboard West Indies Charles c Lee b Doherty 37 Barath c Wade b McKay 41 Samuels c Wade b Lee 11 Darren c David b Watson 25 Dwayne lbw b Doherty 0 Pollard c Mike b Lee 102 Russell c Bailey b Watson 34 Sammy not out 31 Baugh not out 0 Extras (lb 3, w 10) 13 Total (7 wkts; 50 ovrs) 294 Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-83, 3-106, 4-106, 5-146, 6-240, 7-278. Bowling: Lee 10-0-72-2, Hilfenhaus 10-1-43-0, McKay 10-1-57-1, Watson 10-0-55-2, Doherty 10-1-64-2. Australia Watson c Roach b Sammy 28 Warner c Narine b Darren 1 Forrest c Charles b Sammy 24 Bailey c Baugh b Russell 25 Mike c Baugh b Russell 26 David b Roach 57 Wade c Russell b Pollard 15 Lee c sub b Roach 59 McKay c Pollard b Darren 2 Doherty c Sammy b Narine 1 Hilfenhaus not out 0 Extras (lb 1, w 11, nb 2) 14 Total (all out; 46.3 ovrs) 252 Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-56, 3-62, 4-111, 5-112, 6-179, 7-196, 8-235, 9-250. Bowling: Roach 9.3-0-74-2, Darren 6-0-47-2, Narine 10-0-21-1, Sammy 9-0-42-2, Russell 7-0-34-2, Samuels 3-0-17-0, Pollard 2-0-16-1.
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Proteas build solid total
Wellington, March 24 The pair had put on 140 for the third wicket when bad light stopped play for the second consecutive day with only 79 of a possible 180 overs bowled in the first two days. South Africa were clearly intent on batting their way to an imposing total with the aim of dismissing New Zealand cheaply and enforcing the follow on.
— AFP |
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KXIP launch new logo
The shield signifies the strength of character and fortitude of the conqueror - the qualities entrenched in each player of KXIP, said a press release from the franchise. "This new look logo is more vibrant, contemporary and user friendly. It embodies the essence of the ethos that Kings XI Punjab stands for," said Col Arvinder Singh, COO, Kings XI Punjab.
— TNS |
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Shiva storms into finals, Vikas settles for bronze
New Delhi, March 24 Shiva, who has been picked in the team for next month's Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Kazakhstan, defeated Czech Republic's Patrik Velky 9-5. Shiva will now face Vittorio Jahyn Parrinnelo of Italy in the summit clash. Vikas, on the other hand, lost to Cuba's Despaigne Arisnoide 9-14. "Both the boxers fought well but unfortunately Vikas lost. Shiva has been in good form ever since he came on the senior level last year and he showed why he is considered a promising talent. He was sharp as usual with his reflexes and has a solid defence," coach Jagdeep Hooda, who is with the team, told PTI from Usti nad Labem. Shiva grabbed a 3-1 lead in the opening round before consolidating it to 7-3 in the next three minutes. The final round was tied at 2-2 but the Indian had enough overall cushion to emerge triumphant. Vikas, on the other hand, was tied 2-2 in the opening round against his rival but the Cuban eventually sneaked ahead in the next couple of rounds. The rest of the Indians have
already bowed out of the competition. The Olympic-bound duo of Jai Bhagwan (60kg) and Manoj Kumar (64kg) and Sumit Sangwan (81kg), who will represent India in the Asia Olympic qualifiers, lost in the first round itself. The women drew a blank with Asian Games bronze medallist Kavita Goyat (75kg), Van Lal Duati (51kg) and Preeti Beniwal (60kg) losing in the first round of their competition. The tournament, being organised by Czech Boxing Association, features over 130 boxers.
— PTI |
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Indian lifters shine
Patiala, March 24 Notably, India has fielded 10 weightlifters comprising of 6 Men and 4 women athletes for this championship. All athletes won medals during 1st SAF Championships at Nepalgunj, Nepal. The team is arriving back on 25th March 2012 morning via Lucknow. The podium raisers are: Men: 1. D. Senthamizh Selvan (62 kg) - 113+140= 253 kg (Gold Medal), 2. S. Sathish Kumar (77 kg) - 128+161=289 kg (Gold Medal), 3. Ajaydeep Sarang (77 kg) - 122+158=280 kg (Bronze Medal); 4. Jasvant Singh (85 kg) - 126+150=276 kg (Gold Medal); 5. V.A. Christopher (105 kg) - 145+180=325 kg (Gold Medal), 6. Himanshu Kumar Chang (+105 kg) - 146+179=325 kg (Gold Medal). Women: 1. Tikina Gopal (53 kg) - 68+85=153 kg (Gold Medal); 2. Minati Sethi (58 kg) - 70+92=162 kg (Gold Medal); 3. Seeta Jena (63 kg) - 69+102=171 kg (Gold Medal), 4. Rajwant Kaur (63 kg) - 74+97=171 kg (Silver Medal) stood 2nd due to heavier body weight than Seeta Jena. |
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North Zone win JK Bose tourney
Chandigarh, March 24 Though North Zone lost to West Zone in their last league match by 29 runs on Saturday, their run rate of 1.344 was good enough to fetch them the championship crown. Defending champions West Zone with a run rate of 0.766 finished second, while East Zone, which defeated West Zone in other league match of the day, at the Judged Ground finished joint third. North Zone, who were the runners-up last year, won the championship crown after a long gap of eight years. |
Dempo win
3-0
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Lewis Hamilton seized pole position on Saturday in a breath-takingly close qualifying session for the Malaysian Grand Prix, as McLaren maintained their dominance of the new Formula One season.
“It’s good for us as a team to be on the front row again,” Button said. “You want it to be the other way round as well but Lewis did a great lap at the start of Q3. We edged closer but couldn't quite get there.”
New Delhi, March 24
