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blockbuster final
‘I’m just that girl with the racket and a dream’
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At 40, Leander picks his 14th grand slam Leander Paes (R) of India and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic with the trophy after winning the US Open men's doubles title on Sunday. — AFP
Vettel forges ahead with Italian GP win
Wrestling pips baseball, squash to the Olympic post
Uthappa, Unmukt shine in India’s win against Kiwis
India face Maldives in SAFF semifinals
Let ad hoc body run the show, says Gill
Clarke century scripts big win for Australia
TOKYO to host 2020 Olympics
Japanese PM Shinzo Abe (3-R) celebrates with his delegation after IOC president Jacques Rogge announced the Japanese capital to be the winner of the bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. — AFP
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blockbuster final
New York, September 8
Top seed Djokovic sealed his berth first by overtaking gutsy ninth seed Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland in a heart-pounding 2-6 7-6(4) 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over four hours. Nadal conserved his energy, dismissing eighth-seeded Richard Gasquet 6-4 7-6(1) 6-2 to improve his career record to 11-0 against the Frenchman and his 2013 hardcourt record to 21-0. The Spaniard, winner of 12 grand slam titles, won his only U.S. Open crown in 2010 against Djokovic, who claimed his Flushing Meadows title the following year against Nadal. Last year Djokovic was runnerup to Briton Andy Murray. “Last year I didn't have the chance to play on this court,” said Nadal, who was sidelined seven months due to a knee injury. “To have the chance to play in the final Monday is just a dream for me. It has been two amazing weeks for me.”
TOUGH FINAL Djokovic and Nadal are the most familiar of rivals and will be playing against each other for a tour record 37th time. Nadal leads their series 21-15. “Novak is an amazing competitor,” said the reigning French Open champion. “His results say he is probably one of the best players I have ever seen. He's a great champion and will be a tough final for me, but I hope to be ready for that.” While Nadal took apart Gasquet in his semi-final, Djokovic got off to a slow start against an inspired Wawrinka and relied on his stamina to wear down the Swiss. The tumultuous match included a warning for courtside coaching from Djokovic's box, the mangling of a racket by a frustrated Wawrinka and a medical timeout for the Swiss for a strained thigh muscle.
It reached a crescendo at 1-1 in the fifth set on Wawrinka's serve. The combatants locked into a marathon duel that lasted 21 minutes and featured a series of fierce rallies and brilliant shot-making. Wawrinka fought off five break points among 12 deuces before closing out the game on the 30th point with a service winner, and players earned warm ovations for their desire and skill. “These matches are what we live for, what we practise for,” Djokovic said after reaching his fourth successive U.S. Open final. “All the credit to (Wawrinka) for being so aggressive and playing so well.” HERCULEAN EFFORT Djokovic said he had to regroup after that epic game. “Twenty-one minutes. Wow,” said the Serb. “I was thinking whoever wins this game is going to win the match. I told myself I was going to have to fight again.” The Herculean effort seemed to sap the last bit of energy from Wawrinka, who had earlier left the court for treatment of a thigh strain during the changeover when trailing 4-1 in the fourth set. Djokovic held serve, then broke Wawrinka in the next game for a 3-2 lead and served out to win another classic encounter between the pair following their five-set struggle in the fourth round of the Australian Open, where the Serb closed out the decisive set 12-10. — Reuters
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‘I’m just that girl with the racket and a dream’
New York, September 8
The 31-year-old American's domination has probably never been greater as she faces Victoria Azarenka in the final of the US Open here today. With 16 Grand Slam singles titles to her name, the question now is whether Williams can become the most successful female player of the Open era. The record for Grand Slam singles titles is held by Steffi Graf, who won 22. Chris Evert, who is tied in second place alongside Martina Navratilova with 18, believes that Williams has time on her side, given that she has always played fewer tournaments than most and has had lengthy periods away from the game while recovering from injury. Williams, nevertheless, insists that she is not motivated by records. “I never really want to focus on the numbers,” she said. “I started playing tennis not to be the greatest but just because I had a racket and a dream. “Now people are talking about what I could achieve, but I'm just not there yet. To me people like Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf are the ultimate icons in the history of women's tennis. I'm just that girl with the racket and a dream. I'm just playing for that.” If there is anyone who can stop Williams' assault on history it could be the woman who will face her today for the second US Open final in a row. While the world No 3, Maria Sharapova, who missed this tournament because of a shoulder injury, has lost her last 13 matches to Williams, Azarenka has turned around a similar record. Having previously lost nine matches in a row against Williams, the world No 2 has won two of their last three meetings. After those victories in the finals in Doha and Cincinnati this year, Azarenka (left) believes she has a real chance of beating her in the first US Open final for 10 years to feature the world's top two players. The 24-year-old from Belarus, who has won two Australian Opens, went desperately close last year, having served for the title and getting within two points of victory before Williams won the deciding set 7-5. — The Independent
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At 40, Leander picks his 14th grand slam New York, September 8 It was third US Open title for 40-year-old Paes and the previous two had also come with Czech partners. In 2006, the Indian won with Martin Damm and in 2009 with Lukas Dlouhy. Last year at the US Open, Paes had ended runner-up with Stepanek, losing to Bryan brothers. Now Paes has 14 major titles in his cupboard, including six mixed doubles trophies. Stepanek has two Grand Slam titles, both with Paes. It was one of the most lop-sided US Open title match as Peya and Soares failed to put up a fight. They had no clue whatsoever on how to counter the rampaging Indo-Czech combine. slam success
( Doubles) Mixed Doubles Peya also required a medical timeout for a back problem in the second set while trailing 1-3. Peya was in pain but did not give up and even went on to hold his serve in that game. Paes hit a forehand winner to earn the championship point and then hit a backhand volley to seal the trophy win. Paes and Stepanek 23 winners to eight of their rivals. They won 66 points while Peya and Soares 40. Paes acknowledged Stepanek’s resilience as he came back well from a back surgery early this year. Peya and Soares struggled to hold serve and too many unforced errors only made the job tough for them. In contrast, whatever Paes and Stepanek did, yielded them desired result. Yet again Stepanek’s serve and Paes’ net play was superb. — PTI
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Vettel forges ahead with Italian GP win
Monza (Italy), Septemper 8
The triple champion, who celebrated his 32nd career win and third at Monza to boos from Ferrari fans, led from pole position with the possibility of rain — which never came — looking more of a threat than his rivals. Alonso finished runner-up — 5.4 seconds behind — with Red Bull’s Mark Webber, who is leaving Formula One at the end of the season, taking third place in his final grand prix on European soil to deny Ferrari’s Felipe Massa a place on the podium. It was Webber’s first appearance on the Monza podium. Vettel now has 222 points to Alonso’s 169, with Lewis Hamilton — last year’s Italian GP winner who finished ninth for Mercedes at the fastest circuit on the calendar — on 141 with seven races remaining. “Fantastic race,” said Vettel in a podium interview with former Ferrari champion John Surtees, to boos and whistles from the massed ranks of Ferrari faithful who flooded the pit straight with their red flags and shirts. “But you can hear the difference when you don’t win here in a red suit,” added the German, who had to manage a tyre problem in his first stint and mechanical worries in the closing laps. “We had problems with the gearboxes at the end, but I was OK because I had a good cushion and it was a fantastic win.” Vettel took the first victory of his F1 career at Monza for Toro Rosso, an Italian team, and Sunday’s reception was far less enthusiastic with Alonso left in no doubt that he was the crowd’s hero. “Second place is good, to have this podium ceremony which is the most spectacular podium of the year. Hopefully we’ll come back next year and have first place,” said the Spaniard. — Reuters Results 2. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari +00:05.467 3. Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull - Renault 00:06.350
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Wrestling pips baseball, squash to the Olympic post
Buenos Aires, Septemper 8 Wrestling, which featured in the ancient Olympics and in every modern Games apart from 1900, had been surprisingly taken off the Games in February as the IOC looked to refresh its sports programme. “I want to offer my sincere gratitude to each member of the International Olympic Committee that voted to save Olympic wrestling today,” a delighted international wrestling federation (FILA) president Nenad Lalovic told reporters seconds after the vote. He had taken over in February after their Olympic exit and has been credited with bringing the sport back into contention after wrestling made a shortlist of candidate sports in May. “With this vote, you have shown that the steps we have taken to improve our sport have made a difference. I assure each of you that our modernization will not stop now. We will continue to strive to be the best partner to the Olympic Movement that we can be.” Sunday's result marks a sensational turnaround for the sport which overhauled its rules, administration, gender equity and operations following its shock exclusion. Wrestling, which had received glowing support from IOC members who were stunned by the Executive Board decision in February, after its changes, won an outright majority of votes in the first round. The sport got 49 of 95 votes, with baseball/softball earning 24 and squash landing 22 votes from the IOC members.— Reuters When wrestlers did India proud World Championships
Sushil Kumar gold (2010); Bishamber Singh silver (1967); Udey Chand bronze (1961); Ramesh Kumar bronze (2009); Babita Kumari bronze (2012); Geeta Phogat bronze (2012); Alka Tomar bronze (2006) Reactions
There was a sword hanging over wrestlers’ future. Now that has been cleared. It’s a great thing for the future of the sport in our country.
I am very happy. It is a victory for the sport. Wrestling holds a special place for India in Olympics. No game has given us four individual medal in Olympics. —
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NZ a tour
Visakhapatnam, September 8 Uthappa (103) shared a 178-run opening wicket stand with captain Unmukt Chand (94) to shut the game on New Zealand who were all out for 257 in 49.4 overs after electing to bat. the home team chased down the target with 5.5 overs to spare as Uthappa and Chand produced a scintillating exhibition of strokeplay at Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium. Uthappa, who was dropped on 93, struck eight fours and five sixes from 114 balls, while Chand’s 88-ball innings was studded with nine fours and six sixes. Aditya Tare was the other notable contributor with a 42-ball unbeaten 37. Chand and Uthappa scored at a decent pace, reaching 48 for no loss by the end of the 10th over before they stepped up the gas. The duo took 15 and 16 runs in the 21st and 23rd overs bowled by the India-born leg-spinner Inderbir Singh Sodhi as India were 141 for no loss at halfway mark. Chand was out on the last ball of the 30th over — his pull-shot failed to beat Tom Latham at mid wicket. Uthappa continued in the same punishing mood after Chand’s dismissal, as he plundered 17 runs in the next over with the help of two sixes and a four. He reached to his century in style with a six off Adam Milne in the 37th over. Brief scores New Zealand: 257 in 49.4 overs (Mitchell 51, Devcich 48; Kulkarni 3/38, R Sharma 3/45); India: 261/4 in 44.1 overs (Uthappa 103, Chand 94; Milne 3/43) — PTI
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India face Maldives in SAFF semifinals
Kathmandu, September 8 The six-time champions have always been overwhelming favourites in the South Asian region but the current side coached by Wim Koevermans has performed way below par in the tournament so far having won by a solitary goal against Pakistan, followed by a 1-1 draw against Bangladesh and a humiliating 1-2 defeat to Nepal in their final group league encounter. If their poor show wasn't enough, the absence of skipper Sunil Chhetri due to double booking means that the striking options are even more limited for the Dutch coach who will be forced to field Robin Singh from the start with a horribly out-of-touch Jeje Lalpeklhua. Whether Koevermans sticks to his one striker formula of playing with a 4-5-1 formation or he changes to a more familiar 4-4-2 by pushing Robin alongside Jeje can decide the course of the match. It will probably be the first time that Maldives are the form team with their skipper Ali Ashfaq having pumping in 10 goals in two matches, including a double hat-trick against Lanka and 4 against Bhutan. Compared to Maldives, India have scored three goals in three matches including an one own-goal by Pakistan skipper Samar Ishaq, while Chhetri's precision free-kick against Bangladesh and Nabi's acrobatic side-volley versus Nepal have both come during the dying moments of the respective matches. — PTI
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Let ad hoc body run the show, says Gill
New Delhi, September 8 “Take a panel of athletes and capable administrators, use their expertise and knowledge, and these people would be able to run Indian sports well, till the IOA suspension is revoked,” noted Gill. “The earlier this issue is resolved, the better it would be for Indian sports, the county and the sportspersons,” Gill said here today. He said the “obstinacy” of some persons for “personal gains” was jeopardizing Indian sports. He said it is time the suspension of the IOA was revoked at the earliest, by accepting the IOC’s suggestion of keeping out charge-framed officials from holding posts in the IOA. Gill said he, along with IHF secretary Ashok Mathur and Haryana Olympic Association president P.V. Rathee tried to raise our voice against the “authoritarian” manner in which the requisition IOA Special Generalbody Meeting was held in Delhi on August 25. “But our voice was stifled as it was a fight between three against 200 odd members. The IOA recorded the event to show it to the IOC bosses in a bid to prove that the decisions taken at the meeting regarding amendments to the IOA constitution were unanimous.”
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Clarke century scripts big win for Australia Manchester, September 8 Australia had set a challenging target of 316, driven by Clarke's 155-run partnership with George Bailey (82) against below-par bowling from England, who also struggled to get going with the bat and were bowled out for 227. — Reuters Brief scores: Australia 315 for 7 (Clarke 105, Bailey 82); beat England 227 (Buttler 75, McKay 3-47).
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TOKYO to host 2020 Olympics
Buenos Aires, September 8 Members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Buenos Aires chose the Japanese capital, which previously hosted the Games in 1964, over Istanbul, after Madrid was dramatically eliminated following a first-round tie with the Turkish city.Thousands of Japanese who gathered in Tokyo in the early hours of Sunday erupted in joy, making V for victory signs and shouting "banzai!" (hurrah!) and "Tokyo!" as the result was beamed live from the Argentine capital nearly a dozen time zones away. At the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, crowds shouted "arigato" (thank you) in unison, several television hosts and their guests were lost for words and in tears, while at the Komazawa Olympic Park —venue of several sports at the 1964 Games — golden tinsel rained down in celebration. “I have been waiting a long time for this feeling," bid chief Tsunekazu Takeda said in Buenos Aires. "The members of the IOC have seen that Tokyo is a safe pair of hands." Tokyo city governor Naoki Inose added that the Olympics would help Japan recover from the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami that claimed more than 18,000 lives and vowed no let up to create what he said would be "the best Games ever".Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had earlier flown to South America from the G20 summit in St Petersburg, Russia, to reassure nervous members about the safety of the nuclear plant some 220 kilometres (140 miles) from Tokyo amid fears about the leaking of contaminated water. He told delegates that the situation was “under control”, adding: “It has never done or will do any damage to Tokyo.” Concerns over Fukushima — seriously damaged by the quake and giant waves two-and-a-half years ago — had dogged the bid in the final days despite Tokyo's branding as a safe and sound city, but Abe successfully allayed IOC members' fears. The final result was 60 votes for Tokyo against 36 for Istanbul. Japanese networks broadcast the voting in special programmes screened through the early hours, while newspapers issued commemorative editions with jubilant banner headlines that were delivered free on the streets. — Agencies highlights * Madrid and Istanbul tied in the first round of voting, forcing a tie break among the 94 voters that ended with a narrow victory for the Turkish city. The final result was 60 votes for Tokyo against 36 for Istanbul. * South Korean resort of Pyeongchang is hosting the 2018 winter edition Cities mull over 2024 bid
Immediately the debate began about what the result means for the 2024 race to host the world's biggest sporting event. An Asian candidate or at least east Asian appears to be out of the question. However, the failure of Madrid and Istanbul opens up bidders from Europe - Paris and Rome have been mentioned - and the Middle East/Gulf region with Doha once again trying and on this occasion hoping for the first time they make the short list.There is also set to be an American candidacy, having gone away, licked their wounds and recovered from Chicago's humiliating last place for the 2016 Games. |
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The fourth seeded Indo-Czech pair demolished the second seeded Austria-Brazilian pair 6-1, 6-3 in one hour and 12 minutes at Arthur Ashe stadium. It was a perfect climax for Paes and
Stepanek, who came into the US Open with title in Winston Salem Open, as they won their second major title together, having won Australian Open last year.
Wrestling completed an unprecedented Olympic comeback on Sunday, reclaiming its spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after beating bids from rivals squash and baseball/softball in an International Olympic Committee vote.
Wrestling, which featured in the ancient Olympics and in every modern Games apart from 1900, had been surprisingly taken off the Games in February as the IOC looked to refresh its sports
programme.
Tokyo celebrated on Sunday after winning the right to host the Olympic Games for the second time, overcoming fears about radiation from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant to land the 2020 edition of the world's biggest sporting event.
