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India ‘a’ tour
to South Africa
Virat on Arjuna: Happiest moment yet!
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Indian badminton
league
Athletics World Championships
High on performance but low on facilities
Award will motivate me to do even better: Sodhi
Give Khel Ratna to both Sodhi and Poonia: Sushil
Poonia ready to share the award
Angry Afridi demands cut to ‘obscene’ movie
‘Interesting to see the rise of Sindhu, Ratchanok’
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to South Africa India pass final test with A grade Karthik, Dhawan’s half-centuries anchor India to a decent total before bowlers stifle the Australian chase
Pretoria, August 14 Opting to bat on a placid strip, India could manage only 243 in 49.2 overs with Shikhar Dhawan (65) and Dinesh Karthik (73) being the notable contributors. The Indian bowlers, who had been woefully out of sorts in the tournament, then managed to bowl out the Aussies for 193 in 46.3 overs to guide the team to victory at the LC de Villiers Oval. It was India’s fifth ‘A’ tournament victory since the concept was introduced in 1994. The ‘law of averages’ finally caught up with the Australians in a final that turned out to be an anti-climax of sorts with the Indians successfully avenging their twin defeats at the round robin league stage. Speedster Mohammed Shami (2/30) dealt initial blows to Australia ‘A’ and the likes of Shahbaz Nadeem (3/34 in 10 overs), Perveez Rasool (1/30 in 10 overs), Ishwar Chand Pandey (1/47 in 8 overs), Suresh Raina (1/33 in 10 overs) kept the Aussie batsmen under tight leash. Shami started by cleaning up rival skipper Aaron Finch (20) who went for a wild slog after hitting the bowler for a big six in an earlier over. Left-hander Shaun Marsh (11), who has had a fine tournament, was Shami’s second victim as he hit a length ball straight to Indian captain Cheteshwar Pujara at mid-on. Glenn Maxwell (12) started with a six and four but was sent back by part-time off-spinner Raina, who opened the bowling alongside Shami. Maxwell tried to slog him past mid-wicket but was holed out to Pujara as Australia were reduced to 50 for three. It soon became 53 for five when left-hander Nick Maddinson edged one to Raina at first slip off Pandey’s bowling and Mitchell Marsh failed to beat a Rohit Sharma throw as ‘keeper Wriddhiman Saha whipped off the bails in a flash. — PTI Scoreboard India A Australia A
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Virat on Arjuna: Happiest moment yet!
New Delhi, August 14 The 24-year-old, who led India to a 5-0 clean-sweep against Zimbabwe recently, was the only cricketer in the list of 15 picked by the awards selection committee yesterday. “Really happy to get the Arjuna award. Happiest moment yet. Thank you everyone for the wishes. :),” tweeted the youngster. Meanwhile, Kohli also received congratulatory messages on his twitter with senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh being among the first send in their wishes. “@imVkohli you deserve it Cheeku. May u get many more awards. Rab rakha,” said Harbhajan. Kohli has been a fast-rising star on the Indian cricket horizon, having already made 1175 runs in 18 Tests at an average of 41.96, including four hundreds and six fifties. His ODI record is as good as Test, having scored 4575 runs in 113 matches at an average of 49.72. He has 15 hundreds and 24 half-centuries in this format.
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league Pune pull off stunning win Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 14 Ashwini and Fischer displayed amazing resilience despite their loss in the second game, to cruise to victory in the decider with effortless ease to put Pune Pistons on the first contest of the league. Sai Praneeth had set the ball rolling in the very first match of the league when he smashed his way to a 21-16, 21-20 victory over Tien Minh Nyugen of Vietnam in the men’s singles to give Delhi Smashers a winning start. But the plot quickly altered when Pune Pistons' prized catch, Juliane Schenk of Germany, who was bought for $90,000, toyed with Jindapon Nichan of Thailand 21-15, 21-16 in the women's singles to even the score. Delhi Smashers regained the lead when Boon Hoeng Tan and Kien Keat Koo of Malaysia beat Rupesh Kumar and Sanav Thomas 21-13,21-16 in the men’s doubles. The Malaysians, who fetched the highest price of $50,000 each from their base rate of $25,000, to become the costliest players for Smashers—much more valued than their icon player Jwala Gutta at $31,000—packed a punch too many, though the Pune pair tried to put up a game fight, to win comfortably. The No 2 ranked pair in the world had a mix of power and precision to explode on the court, to add muscle to Smashers’ campaign. But Saurabh Verma had other plans as he doused Samshers’ elation when he stunned 2010 Youth Olympics silver medallist H.S.Prannoy 21-16,19-21,11-5 in the second singles. Results
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Irishman Heffernan spoils Russian party
The 35-year-old wins 50km race walk to get Ireland first world gold in 18 years
Moscow, August 14
The Luzhniki stadium, as it has been on every morning of the world championships, was short on fans — in contrast to the previous evening when the stands rocked with appreciation after the Isinbayeva show. While the Russian enjoyed the cheers of a nation, the 35-year-old Heffernan had the one supporter who mattered most as he scooped Ireland’s first world gold in 18 years. “My wife is here with me and we are so happy,” he said with understatement after denying the hosts a clean sweep of the walks after they took gold in both 20km events earlier in the week. “I believed I could be the winner,” he added after a career of near medal misses. With no evening session on Wednesday as the nine-day championships take a breather, the walk and a handful of qualifying represented thin fare. Two long-jump champions at opposite ends of their careers experienced contrasting fortunes, with Briton’s Olympic winner Greg Rutherford failing to reach the final and ‘golden oldie’ Dwight Phillips continuing his dream of a last hurrah. Rutherford declared himself fit at the last minute for the championships after suffering a hamstring tear five weeks ago, but his best of 7.81 metres on Wednesday fell short. “I just didn’t have what it took out there today. Believe me, I gave everything,” the 26-year-old said. “My last training session, I had it two days ago and it felt fantastic.” American Phillips, 35, postponed his retirement for a year to try and become the first U.S. athlete to win five individual world championship titles in the same event. “Today my body felt great. Once you are in the final anything can happen,” Phillips, world champion in 2003, 2005, 2009 and 2011, said after a season’s best effort of 7.95. Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop and Silas Kiplagat battled it out for 1,500 metres gold and silver two years ago in Daegu, South Korea, and both eased into Friday’s semi-finals with heat wins. Kiprop is favourite to defend his title after clocking a stunning 3:27.72 in Monaco on July 19, putting him fourth on the all-time list, but he guarded against complacency. Ethiopia’s twice Olympic champion Meseret Defar set the fastest time in women’s 5,000 metres qualifying, winning the second and last heat in which 10 of the 11 starters all progressed to the final. — Reuters
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High on performance but low on facilities
Shahabad, August 14 What triggered off this mood swing was a cash award of a mere Rs 50,000 each by the Sports Ministry. Not only did it hurt everyone at the academy, it has also provoked them to voice a few other demands too. Topping the list is the construction of a hostel within the premises of the academy. Constriction had even begun sometime back but couldn’t go beyond a few stunted pillars. “We desperately need a hostel here. Without it, we are forced to take in talent just from nearby areas. And it’s not easy for even them to travel to the academy twice a day,” said coach Baldev Singh. Lack of medical facilities is another cause of concern amongst the girls. “Hockey is such an injury-prone game but we don’t have doctors or a physio. There’s no one around to help and guide us if we get injured. Once you get injured, you are pretty much on your own... That’s something really scary,” said a player not wishing to be identified. “In case someone gets injured, I tell them whatever I can from my experience but that can’t make up for expert advice,” said the coach. A more advanced gym and a bus to ferry the players to tournaments are another demands high on their list. “We play a lot of tournaments and hence have to travel a lot. So having our own bus will be a huge relief for us,” said another player. While the facilities available at the academy - astroturf, equipment and suitable diet -- should be enough for a regular academy, it’s simply inadequate for one that has produced close to 40 internationals in about 15 years. With such incredible results, the academy has earned the right to be heard. Their Demands
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Award will motivate me to do even better: Sodhi
New Delhi, August 14 “It is a great honour for me. The Khel Ratna is one award that every sportsperson dreams about,” Sodhi said after he was selected for India’s highest sports award. For the former World No. 1 it was the third attempt for the Khel Ratna and Sodhi feels he was good enough to have won it last year as well. Sodhi had a great 2011, winning a World Cup final gold, a silver and bronze from World Cups and was also the World No. 1. “I have been consistent for the past few years and this was my third attempt. I feel I was good enough to have won it last year too. But as long as you have the award in your kitty it should be a great feeling,” said Sodhi, who hails from Ferozepur in Punjab. “I hope this award will inspire the next generation of Indian shooters. “ — IANS
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Give Khel Ratna to both Sodhi and Poonia: Sushil
New Delhi, August 14 Sushil came up with the suggestion that Poonia and Sodhi be jointly conferred the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, as was the case last year when the award was jointly given to shooter Vijay Kumar and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt for their medal-winning efforts at the London Olympics. “The government should jointly confer the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award to two of our best athletes — Poonia and Sodhi. Both deserve the highest honour. Both are best in their respective field.” “Sodhi has won two back-to-back World Cup gold medals and has brought many laurels to the country. Poonia won a Commonwealth Games gold medal and finished sixth in the Olympics. So, in my view, both are deserving candidates and should be given the award,” he added. Sushil said Sodhi should have been honoured much earlier. “The award should have come his way much earlier. But it’s better late than never,” he said. — PTI
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Poonia ready to share the award
New Delhi, August 14 “Yes, I had gone to see the Sports Minister today and waited for him the entire day, but unfortunately could not meet him,” Poonia told PTI. Poonia first visited the Sports Ministry but since Singh was not available there, she went to the Defence Ministry but to no avail. Poonia, who has also submitted a letter to the Sports Ministry, said she was ready to share the honour with Sodhi. “I have no issue if Ronjan Sodhi is recommended for Khel Ratna but I should also be considered for the award. There were earlier instances where the award was given to more than one person. In any case, I am more deserving than him,” said the Commonwealth Games gold-medallist. “I am ready to share the award with Sodhi,” she added. — PTI
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Sharapova-Connors start with a defeat
Cincinnati, August 14 Victoria Azarenka also made a shaky return following a brief injury layoff but recovered to dispose of American qualifier Vania King 6-1 7-6(6) and reach the last 16. While it is too early to tell if Sharapova and Connors can produce the same kind of success Andy Murray has enjoyed since recruiting Ivan Lendl as his coach, the first step was far from a positive one. “Obviously I didn’t lose today because I didn’t implement what we were working on,” Sharapova told reporters. “The things that we’re working on ... are to improve with the game I have. “So, obviously, it’s tough to lose at this stage but just got to keep working hard and keep moving forward.” Stephens, ranked 17th in the world, was always going to be a tricky test for Sharapova and the loss likely had more to do with her seven-week injury layoff than the new coaching relationship with Connors, who oozed grit and determination to build a Hall of Fame career. On the sidelines with an injured left hip since a second round loss at Wimbledon, Sharapova moved effortlessly across the Cincinnati hardcourt but her play lacked sharpness, the Russian committing over 60 unforced errors and seven double faults. “I stopped being patient and I started making a lot more errors, errors that I shouldn’t make,” said Sharapova. Roger opens hardcourt season with win
Roger Federer got his delayed hardcourt season off to a positive start with straightforward 6-3 7-6 (7) win over Germany’s Phillip Kohlschreiber to ease into the third round. Struggling with a sore back, Federer did not play last week’s event in Montreal and has not tested himself on the North American hardcourt since Indian Wells in March. But the former world No.1 signaled that he is ready to challenge for an unprecedented sixth Cincinnati title and then perhaps a sixth U.S. Open to add to his grand slam collection. “It was important to play a clean match,” Federer said. “I had a few tough weeks, months behind me, I was happy to play a clean match.” —
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Asif admits guilt in spot-fixing scandal
Karachi, August 14 The 30-year-old, who kept denying any wrongdoing even after serving a jail term in England for corruption and was slapped with a minimum five-year ban from the sport by the International Cricket Council (ICC), came clean on Wednesday. “Today I admit what I did was wrong and I am ashamed for bringing disgrace to my family and my country. I apologise to the nation and the Pakistan Cricket Board,” Asif told reporters. Asif along with team mates Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir were found guilty of corruption by a British criminal court and were also banned from cricket by the ICC for spot fixing during a 2010 Lord’s test between Pakistan and England. While Amir and Butt had already admitted their involvement in the saga and agreed to undergo rehabilitation programmes, Asif chose Pakistan’s Independence Day to make his confession. “I feel sorry for what has happened. I don’t know what is going to happen now that I have admitted everything. But my conscience is clear now,” Asif said. “I have gone through a lot in the last few years but I brought it upon myself and I deserved the punishment I got.” Asif, who captured 106 wickets in 23 tests before his career derailed, said he wanted to make sure the next generation learnt from his mistakes. “I want to play a role now in at least warning the younger players off the pitfalls of corruption and fixing,” he said. “I want to tell them don’t step into the path of corruption.” — Reuters
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Angry Afridi demands cut to ‘obscene’ movie
Karachi, August 14 The big-hitting all-rounder had given his blessing to “Main Houn Afridi” (“I am Afridi”) but is now worried it may lead young viewers astray. The $1 million Pakistan-made movie tells the story of a young man who dreams of becoming as great a player as Afridi, and the trials he faces as he tries to follow in his hero’s footsteps. Afridi, who hails from Pakistan’s deeply conservative tribal district of Khyber on the Afghan border, was furious at a scene in which the hero hugs and kisses a girl in a nightclub. “I had given permission for the film with an aim to give kids some positive healthy entertainment, to divert their minds towards cricket and it should not have obscene things,” said Afridi. “I want to tell the people that the film is not related to my life.” Afridi, who shot to stardom in 1996 aged 16 when he hit a world record one-day international hundred off 37 balls, said he wanted the producer to cut the scene. “A lot of kids and families would go to watch the movie because of me and if they see things like that they will feel bad, so I hope they remove those scenes and run the film,” he said. — Agencies
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‘Interesting to see the rise of Sindhu, Ratchanok’
New Delhi: She could not be a part of the World Championships but veteran German woman shuttler Juliane Schenk feels proud that the process of breaching the Chinese wall, started by her and Saina Nehwal, is being taken forward by the likes of rising Indian star P V Sindhu and Thailand’s Ratchanok Inthanon. “...It is good to see in this world edition, so many players from different countries do well. I am not surprised to see Ratchanok claiming the gold. It is just interesting,” said Schenk when asked for her opinion on Sindhu, who won a bronze, and Inthanon’s exploits at the World Championship. “It makes me feel proud because me and Saina Nehwal started the process of pushing the Chinese,” added the German, who was runners up at the Indonesia Open, India Open and German Open this year.
A bronze-medallist at the previous edition in 2011, Schenk missed the World Championship in China due to a feud with German Badminton Association but she said it was a good decision considering the circumstances. “I didn’t play because of what happened with the Association. It was just a good decision for me. They gave me a dismissal and I have nothing more to expect from my country,” she said.
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Plea for govt takeover of IPL, HC seeks reply Adhiban, Sasikiran in second round
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India ‘A’ today clinched the cricket tri-series title with a comfortable 50-run victory over Australia ‘A’ in a low-scoring
final.
Elated at being recommended for the Arjuna award, star cricketer Virat Kohli said it counts among the happiest moments of his life.
The 24-year-old, who led India to a 5-0 clean-sweep against Zimbabwe recently, was the only cricketer in the list of 15 picked
by the awards selection committee yesterday.
Barely a week after five of its girls returned home after helping India win a historic bronze medal in the junior World Cup, the joy at the Shahabad Hockey Academy is fast turning into frustration.
What triggered off this mood swing was a cash award of a mere Rs 50,000 each by the Sports Ministry.
Indians failed to impress as Basanta Bahadur Rana finished 33rd with a season’s best time of 3:58:20, while Sandeep Kumar was disqualified.
