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Put nation above individual interests: Sports Minister
Watson wakes up a little
late in the day
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Hope fans give it to Broad in Oz and he goes home crying: Lehmann
‘Subramanian’s contribution has been ignored’
I’m speaking up against injustice done to me: Poonia
Sports giant Nike sues Virat for breach of contract
Juniors happy in heat, tough contests at Forest Hills
Shooting to get a boost in Punjab
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Put nation above individual interests: Sports Minister
New Delhi, August 21 “The Government of India has been urging the IOC and the IOA to sort out their differences through negotiations so that the suspension of the IOA by the IOC may be revoked”, he said here today. Jitendra Singh said it was the aspiration of every sportsperson to compete under the national flag “and the greatest disservice that one can do to sports is to deny a deserving sportsperson the honour of competing under the national flag”. He said as the Sports Minister, and as a sportsperson, it was his foremost task to ensure that the Indian sportspersons compete under the Indian flag. “Our collective dream is to ensure that we listen, multiple times to the Indian national anthem at Rio 2016 (Olympic Games) when India wins gold medals”, Jitendra Singh added. He said as a former medal-winning sportsperson (shooter), he fully understood the pain and hard work that was required to excel in sports. He urged all the stakeholders to bury the hatchet and resolve the differences between the IOA and the IOC without “individual interests coming in the way of national interest, and the good of sports”. “At the same time, the Government places highest emphasis on the standards of ethics and good governance as per the Olympic Charter”, he suggested. Jitendra Singh said apart from the age and tenure restrictions imposed by the Sports Code, the Government also supported the efforts of the IOC to strengthen the ethical standards in the IOA, through a clause which stipulates that persons standing for elections as office-bearers of the IOA were free from criminal charges. “The clause is in line with what the Government has itself proposed in the draft Sports Bill-2013”, the Sports Minister noted. The Minister hoped that a solution to the IOA-IOC stand-off would be found during the IOA General Body Meeting to be held here on August 25 (in which an IOC representative will also be present).
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Watson wakes up a little
late in the day
London, August 21 Watson was batting on 150 and Steven Smith was on 33, and the two had added 86 runs for the fourth wicket at the time of going to press. Earlier, at tea, Australia were 183, after England had put up a fight-back. Watson was struck on the head by a Stuart Broad bouncer before reaching his third Test hundred as England recovered well from a chastening morning during which Watson launched a fierce assault on rookie bowlers Chris Woakes and Simon Kerrigan. Graeme Swann dismissed Chris Rogers for 23 and James Anderson bowled Michael Clarke for seven to become England's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests. But Watson, badly dropped on 104, had reached 121 at tea. Australia captain Clarke won the toss and had no hesitation in choosing to bat under clear blue skies on a wicket which traditionally offers little help to bowlers. England made a breakthrough with the total on 11 when Anderson drew David Warner into a loose drive and the opener, on six, edged a regulation catch to wicketkeeper Matt Prior. Anderson and Broad bowled tight opening spells but there was precious little movement in the air or off the seam and captain Alastair Cook soon turned to off-spinner Swann. Rogers played out three successive maidens from Swann but runs flowed more freely at the other end, Watson hitting Woakes for three fours in an over as the all-rounder struggled to find a good length on his debut. Watson pulled Woakes powerfully for another boundary and danced down the pitch to lift Swann over long-on for six before reaching his half-century with a single from Kerrigan's first ball in Test cricket. The left-arm spinner was a surprise inclusion in the England side and Watson greeted him with a withering attack, smashing 28 runs off his first two overs.— Reuters Scoreboard Australia 1st innings Rogers c Trott b Swann 23 Warner c Prior b Anderson 6 Watson batting 150 Clarke b Anderson 7 Smith batting 33 Extras: (lb 6, nb 5) 11 Total (3 wkts; 70 overs) 230 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-118, 3-144 Bowling Anderson 11-3-21-2 Broad 15-3-51-0 Swann 27-4-65-1 Woakes 12-3-47-0 Kerrigan 5-0-40-0
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Hope fans give it to Broad in Oz and he goes home crying: Lehmann
London, August 21 Broad admitted edging a ball from spinner Ashton Agar that was caught by Michael Clarke, via wicketkeeper Brad Haddin's gloves, during the first test at Trent Bridge, but did not walk after umpire Aleem Dar gave him not out. Australia had already used up all their reviews so were unable to challenge. “Certainly our players haven't forgotten, they're calling him everything under the sun as they go past,” Lehmann told Australia's Triple M radio station on Wednesday ahead of the start of the fifth test. “I hope the Australian public are the same because that was just blatant cheating. I don't advocate walking but when you hit it to first slip it's pretty hard. “From my point of view I just hope the Australian public give it to him right from the word go for the whole summer and I hope he cries and he goes home.” The England Cricket Board were not available for comment. The standard of umpiring has come under fire throughout the series, which England lead 3-0, as well as the reliability of the decision review system. — Reuters |
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‘Subramanian’s contribution has been ignored’
Patiala, August 21 Subramanian, who passed away at the age of 75 on May 22 this year, was one of the most experienced and outstanding basketball coaches of India since 1968. During his 45-year coaching career, Subramanian had coached, trained and prepared 27 players who went on to represent India at the international level. At present, 12 of his trainees are in the Indian teams of various age groups. In the Asian Basketball Championship at Wuhan in 2011, six out of the 12 members of the Indian team were his trainees - a new record in Indian basketball. He also trained Kiranjit Kaur, who won the gold medal at the Asian Beach Games in China last year. Moreover, he toured with the Indian contingent to various countries and won plaudits. Yet, he has not been given the Dronacharya Award, the highest honour a coach can aspire for in the country. His daughter, Dr Indira Bali, is very unhappy over this. She said that in spite of his vast experience as a coach, researcher and administrator, his being ignored for the Dronacharya Award is surprising and very painful. "His contribution to the field of basketball in India for the last five decades or so is immense and his loss cannot be expressed in words," she rued. "RS Gill, the former Punjab DGP and President of BFI and PBA, had recommended his name for the Dronacharya Award for lifetime achievement in 2013. His name was actually finalised and almost put down in the minutes to be awarded this year, but unfortunately there was a discussion and comparison with him and the wrestling and athletics coaches who were also being considered." "Last year also his name was considered but dropped at the last moment, whereas around eight awards were given then. How can anyone compare individual sports with team games?" she said. She said that her father, who worked hard in coaching even after his retirement in 1998, until the last days of his life when he was taken ill, catapulted Indian basketball to the international level for the last 10 years, from 2003 to 2013. "Very few have the dedication and passion to work like this but if the government continues to ignore coaches of his standing, I honestly doubt the very credentials of this award," she said. "I recently saw that Sports Minister Jitendra Singh, very rightly, recommended the name of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand for the Bharat Ratna," she added. "The case of Dr. Subramanian is similar. Those who are alive and still working get another chance to contribute and maybe stake a claim for recognition the next time, but the person who has died will not get another chance…,” she said.
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I’m speaking up against injustice done to me: Poonia
New Delhi, August 21 “I want to clarify that I was not doing any lobbying. Wrong has been done to me, and I was only raising my voice against that. That can't be called lobbying. It's wrong,” Poonia said. The athlete's reaction came after ace shooter and Khel Ratna selection panel member Anjali Bhagwat revealed that Poonia had called her to lobby for the top honour just a day before the committee met. “Firstly, I want to say that if I indeed had to lobby then Sports Minister is from Rajasthan and so am I. If I was to indulge in lobbying, I could have done it before the list was announced. “I have faith in my performance and I don't have to indulge in lobbying. In 2003, when K M Beenamol and Anjali Bhagwat won the Khel Ratna, did Bhagwat indulge in lobbying?,” she asked. Poonia also said she was not politicising the award. “I am not politicising the award. As I had said earlier, if I was to politicise, I could have done it before the list was announced.. World champion shooter Ronjan Sodhi's name was recommended for the Khel Ratna award last week, sparking a controversy with some members of the panel questioning the process of his selection. It was learnt that Sodhi's name was not there when the majority of members decided to vote for the Khel Ratna awardee. “The voting has been between me and (London Paralympics silver medallist) H N Girisha, and not Sodhi. I got 8-3 votes in favour of me. And after one hour if you do re-vote what does that mean? After you win, the award is taken away from you. Is that lobbying?,” a miffed Poonia asked. A selection panel member had said that Poonia and H N Girisha were shortlisted for voting by 11 out of 12 selection panel members and Sodhi's name was not considered initially. The Ministry today clearly indicated that there would not be any change in the original list of awardees. — PTI
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Sports giant Nike sues Virat for breach of contract
Bangalore, August 21 Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh directed Kohli to maintain status quo for the next four weeks regarding endorsement deal signed with Nike and adjourned the case. In its suit filed on Tuesday, Nike claimed Kohli had breached the contract by disagreeing to continue as its brand ambassador till 2014. The five-year contract from 2008 was extendable by one year. According to reports, Nike had entered into a contract with Virat Kohli from 1 January 1, 2007 to 31 December 31, 2007. The deal was renewed for the period between 1 August 2008 and 31 July, 2013 for exclusive endorsement rights. Kohli was reportedly paid Rs.1.42 crore for the contract that carried a clause for extension for another year i.e. till 31 July, 2014 with certain conditions. Nike, in its suit, has pleaded with the court to restrain Kohli from entering into or negotiating any endorsement deal with any third party until the expiry of the deal, company counsel Aditya Sondhi said. — PTI Top ranked indian...
Virat Kohli is the highest-ranked Indian batsman at joint sixth but there is no Indian presence in the top-10 of the bowlers' list in the latest ICC Twenty20 rankings issued on Wednesday. At eighth, Suresh Raina is the second Indian batsman in the top-10. Off-spinner R Ashwin is the highest-ranked Indian bowler at 16th in the chart. |
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Kimi offers plenty to talk about
London, August 21 Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel may be well on his way to a fourth successive title, with four wins already and the second half of the season favouring him in the past, but Raikkonen's future has hogged the recent headlines. The Finn started the August break as a favourite to join Red Bull next year but now the chatter is about a different shade of red and a possible return to Ferrari if he does not stay with Lotus. Raikkonen, champion with Ferrari in 2007 before making way at the end of 2009 for Spain's Fernando Alonso and taking two years out of the sport, is being touted as a replacement for Brazilian Felipe Massa. The Finn's manager Steve Robertson has ruled out Red Bull and said Ferrari are an option, even if Maranello has remained tight-lipped, and whatever the reality, Spa is sure to give Raikkonen the stage to impress. Few have any doubt about what he can offer, with the 33-year-old second in the standings, 38 points behind Vettel and chasing a record 28th successive scoring finish. Spa, a layout steeped in history with the stomach-wrenching slingshot through Eau Rouge and the longest and one of the fastest laps on the calendar, has been good to Raikkonen over the years come rain or shine. The 'Iceman' has won there four times with McLaren and Ferrari and, after five second places this season following his season-opening victory in Australia, is gunning for another visit to the top step to boost his title challenge. "There are certain circuits where everything runs smoothly and then there are others where I have no luck at all," he said. "Of course we will do our very best to win this race. I have been on the top step of the podium a few times at Spa and I want to be there again." One of Raikkonen's memorable Spa wins was with McLaren in 2004 in what was that team's only victory of an otherwise barren year. His 2009 triumph for Ferrari was similarly face-saving as that team's sole success of the year. Until last year, when Raikkonen was third, he had either won or failed to finish every time he raced at Spa and he can still boast that he has been on the podium every time he has seen the chequered flag there. — Reuters Real's Xabi Alonso breaks bone in right foot
Madrid: Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has broken the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot during training, the nine-times European champions said on their official website on Wednesday. Local media reported that the Spain international, who was close to a return to action after surgery on a nagging groin injury in June, faces up to three months on the sidelines. The 31-year-old has been the lynchpin in Real's midfield since joining from Liverpool in 2009. Alonso is set to miss Spain's next World Cup qualifier away to Finland in September. — Reuters |
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Juniors happy in heat, tough contests at Forest Hills
Chandigarh, August 21 The Forest Hills Golf and Country Club is fast emerging as the number one venue to promote junior golf and they are supporting the game from the grassroots level. The Captain, Gursimran Sethi, who was a leading junior golfer in his days, is committed to junior golf and his passion is evident in some of the ideas he has implemented — like permanent junior tees on every hole. "The management have been very supportive and they are committed to promoting junior golf in the region," says Gursimran. And the effort is bearing untold rewards as one sees young golfers from all walks of life taking up the game. A former caddie was amongst the proud parents as he watched his son compete in the recently held tournament. The tournament, which was sponsored by Jamna Auto Industries, consisted of five separate divisions to give everyone a fair chance. Anant Singh Ahlawat won Boys Division 1 with an aggregate of 147, carding 72 and 75 consecutively. Karandeep Bajaj was second with a total of 162 while Jaisaurav Bangar was third with a total of 166. In the Boys Division 2, Karandeep S Kochhar, who recently won the Independence Day Cup along with his partner at the Chandigarh Golf Club, finished ahead of his competitors with rounds of 71 and 75. Jaiveer Singh was second with a total of 156, while Jaswant Singh was third with a two-day score of 162. The Boys Division 3 was won by Inderpreeet Singh who had a total of 149 while Simarjit Chadha was second at 150 and Mivan Singh finished third at 152. Mandarins S Prashar won Division 4 with a total of 132 while brothers Brashwarpal and Bishmadpal Seerha finished second and third with identical totals of 145. There was a fifth Division too and Manjot Saini won with a total of 72 — they played nine holes on day one and nine holes in the second round. His brother Jujhar finished second with a total of 74 while Aditya finished in third place with a total of 75. "He played well and could have done better yesterday but I got a little late and he had to tee off without warming up," said Aditya's father who runs a confectionary shop and is supporting his son regardless of the expenses involved. A long drive competition was held after the competition following a display of long drives and trick shots by Dimpy Gill.
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Jwala sides with Hidayat, tears into Saina New Delhi, August 21 Hidayat, who is Saina's IBL teammate in Hyderabad Hotshots franchise, had complained of unfair treatment to foreign players by the league organisers. Hidayat was bought for $15,000 at his base price and the Indonesian felt he deserved much more. Saina, however, said Hidayat should realise that he was a retired player, a comment which did not amuse Jwala. “Taufik Hidayat is one of the greatest players....and I don't think u can dismiss his views just because he has “retired” from the game!!!!,” wrote Jwala, who plays for Delhi franchise in IBL, on her twitter page. “I don't know how anyone can talk about him in such manner......without giving him and his stature any respect...it's absolutely sad!!!!,” she said. Jwala did not name Saina in her series of tweets on the issue but in an apparent reference to the Hyderabadi, she said that she should understand Hidayat's concern. “No matter how big u have become in sport I think one should try and ustand what ur fellow players views r And work on it!!!,” she tweeted. “Nobody can take away his achievements....just because he's RETIRED!!!! He is and will always be one of the greatest badminton player!!!! “And again it's not about money....it's about RESPECT!!!!!” Hidayat had yesterday expressed unhappiness on the treatment he got from organisers during the auction, saying it was his first and last IBL as Indian players were given preference for high price than the foreign players. Saina, though, did not find anything wrong. “I think world number one (Lee Chong Wei) got the highest price (of $1,35,000). I don't think there is anything unfair about it. He (Hidayat) should accept it that he has retired now so you can't get the highest base price of course. It's a negative thing to speak like this. —PTI
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Shooting to get a boost in Punjab Chandigarh, August 21 An official spokesman said that the event will have a first prize of Rs 21,000, second prize of Rs 15,000 and third prize Rs 11,000. As many as 200 students representing 90 schools will participate. Renowned shooter Ronjan Sodhi would interact with the participants on the final day. The decision was taken after Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia was elected president of the PRSA. The spokesman added that world-class infrastructure would be created in Punjab and the PRSA would set up shooting ranges in Amritsar, Bathinda, Mohali and Ludhiana. — TNS
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Shane Watson's battling century had taken Australia to 230 for three in the third session on the first day of the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval here on Wednesday.
The controversy over the national sports awards in the country continues to simmer. The kin of the late Dr S.
Subramanian, one of India's most celebrated coaches, has expressed discontent with the Sports Ministry for ignoring the decades of service he put into basketball and not bestowing him with the Dronacharya Award yet again this year.
