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SA a litmus test for Fletcher
Duncan Fletcher will need to draw on all his experience to help struggling Virat Kohli and others to come to terms with South African wickets and attack.
— File photo
500 athletes failed dope tests in India in the last 5 years
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Ashes
Warner hammered an aggressive hundred to put Australia in a commanding position in the third Test on Sunday. —
Reuters
Jr hockey world cup
The Germans are thrilled after beating France in the final and retaining the World Cup in New Delhi on Sunday. — Manas Ranjan
Lahiri ends with a 73, good for 4
cheers
Anirban Lahiri in action in the fourth round. Asian Tour
Tsegay spoils Kenyan party as Africa rules Delhi roads
FIH chief wants more spectators in future events
Punjab pushed to the wall by Karnataka
Lee and Li win Superseries titles
Denmark’s Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl are ecstatic after winning the women’s doubles title, beating China’s Ma Jin and Tang Jinhua 21-19, 21-12. AFP
Injured Broad not ruling anything out
Neymar nets 2, Real held
Danny on target and all is Welbeck with Man U
Manchester United’s Danny Welbeck (L) scores his second goal against Aston Villa during their English Premier League soccer match at Villa Park in Birmingham on Sunday. Reuters
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SA a litmus test for Fletcher
Johannesburg, December 15 The last Test India played on foreign soil was in January 2012, against Australia at Sydney. It was the last game in a long run of defeats away from home (England followed by Australia). There are not many coaches in world cricket who would survive a 0-8 blanking in overseas conditions but Fletcher did somehow. And now, it is easy to see why the team stands up for him. He is a father figure to these youngsters in the absence of senior, highly experienced players. “Communication is very easy at the moment with youngsters in the side. Fletcher is obviously a go-to man. I can always go and speak to him about what he feels about my batting or whatever problems I am facing,” said Cheteshwar Pujara ahead of his team`s practice sessions in Benoni. It can be said that the transition phase of Indian cricket is nearly over. It has been a painful process since that 0-8 defeat. India lost 2-1 to England at home in 2011-12, an embarrassing loss that one, but recovered thereafter to beat Australia 4-0. On either side of those contests, they defeated New Zealand and West Indies, victories that were never in any real doubt. If these 12 Tests in the past one year or so can be counted as progress, it is because of the young energy that has come into the eleven, and given the Indian team a new shape altogether. Considering where they were placed in their individual capacities a year back, it can be said that it was an integral part of this transitional process. At this juncture however, Fletcher needs to step in. “No failure can be pinpointed upon the support staff,” said Ashwin. “The team has to accept the failure as a lot rather than saying the coach has not had a great record. We’ve not had a great record. We had poor tours of Australia and England but he (Fletcher) has always been on the mark in terms of arranging practice and what guys want, going to them, talking to them. He has wanted to make a difference.” It shows in the way Fletcher prepares the players for practice and then leads them through. At Benoni, on Friday when the two-day practice game was abandoned due to a wet outfield, Fletcher stood for two hours behind the nets as India’s first-choice batsmen took strike one by one. They faced a barrage of short stuff from Zaheer and Umesh Yadav. It was interesting to note the little chat Pujara had with the coach after his stint, following which he was shipped off to the nets’ area to take more throw-downs. The problem herein is that this Test series result could be seen as a double-edged sword. A loss will be regarded as just another step in the learning curve of a young team who are playing outside the sub-continent after a long time. When you add the coach to this context though, with him steering the ship since 2011 World Cup, this is no longer a team in the making. This ought to be considered a near-finished product, achieved over two years, and one that will represent India in the many years to come. For this is Fletcher`s biggest test yet, of what he has been doing behind the scenes for so long a period, a marker of what he has been able to create in the long time he has been afforded at the helm of this Indian team.
— PTI Virat will be tested in South Africa: Jennings
Ray Jennings knows Virat Kohli as well as anyone else. He has worked with the Indian as Royal Challengers Bangalore coach for a while now and knows his game inside out. “I know Virat is a very moody and confident player. So the most important thing for him right now is to get into that confident state of mind. To make sure he feels good about himself,” said Jennings, suggesting how Virat could wriggle out of a little hole he has found himself in South Africa. “It's going to be quite a difficult test for him,” Jennings said. “South Africa in South African conditions will try to exploit his weaknesses. When you look at Virat Kohli as a batsman, he's a superb player of spin. If there is any weakness, it's while facing fast bowling. He will definitely be tested in South Africa. He has to rise above that challenge in these conditions.” Asked if Kohli might have a problem with the short ball, Jennings said it was all about getting used to the pace and bounce of the short ball in South Africa. “The short ball in India is different to the short ball in South Africa,” he said. “The important thing is, Virat and all the Indian players need to come to terms with the short ball in South Africa. It's all depending on how long they spend on the wicket and get used to the pace.”
— Agencies |
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500 athletes failed dope tests in India in the last 5 years
New Delhi, December 15 A total of 500 athletes were found to have violated Anti Doping Rules from January 2009 till July 2013 by the country`s main anti-doping agency and a total of 423 athletes were slapped with sanctions by the Anti Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP). These findings were revealed by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in response to an RTI reply. Official figures by the anti-doping agency have come up with some shocking statistics. “NADA came into effect from January 2009. As a result of dope testing, a total of 500 athletes were found to have violated Anti Doping Rules till July 2013. A total of 423 athletes were imposed sanction by Anti Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP), with athletics topping the list,” said NADA in response to the RTI query. “Since NADA has come into effect from January 2009, total 14,684 dope samples were collected from January 2009 to July 2013. NADA has conducted 9898 dope tests during the last three years on athletes. Athletics tops the list with 113 doping rule violations followed by 92 in weightlifting,” said NADA. A report by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in August this year had revealed that India has the second highest number of dope cheats (43) in the world just behind Russia, 44 of whose athletes are on the suspended list. India was in fact on top until July but the number of suspended athletes
fell from 52 to 43 after the IAAF lifted nine suspensions. The other sports disciplines featuring high number of drug cheats include kabaddi (58), bodybuilding (51), powerlifting (42), wrestling (41), boxing (36) and judo (9). NADA said it has taken stringent measures against doping in various sports disciplines during the period of 2009-2012. “NADA has conducted numerous workshops, educational and awareness programmes about the prohibited substances and methods in sports across the country for sportspersons, young athletes, coaches and supporting staff. Through the year, NADA has conducted outreach programmes at various centres and over 8000 sportspersons, including supporting staff attended such programmes. “The technical officials of NADA are regularly visiting SAI Regional Centres and training camps and educate the athletes on doping in sports and harmful side effects of the dope substances by conducting lectures/seminars/workshops on regular basis with the help of dope control handbooks,” it said. The anti-doping watchdog further informed that it was co-ordinating with CBSE schools and School Games Federation of India, both at the national and regional levels, for programmes regarding anti-doping through sports events organised by the NSFs.
— PTI |
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Oz running towards Ashes
Perth, December 15 The hosts reached stumps with Shane Watson, who had made 29 not out, and Steve Smith, unbeaten on five, at the crease and looking well on their way to a victory which would secure an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. England's hopes of keeping the series alive by avoiding defeat at the WACA had all but melted away in the fierce morning heat when they were skittled for 251 in their first innings. They plummeted even further when their best bowler Stuart Broad was taken to hospital at lunch for scans on an injured foot, which will prevent him from bowling for the remainder of the match even if he might bat again. “I don't think we could be in a better position, that's for sure,” said Chris Rogers, who shared an opening partnership of 157 with Warner. “Today was an amazing day. Probably as good a day as we've had in the Ashes so far.” Warner took full advantage and, revelling in the lack of pressure afforded him by another superb performance by his bowlers, bludgeoned his way to his fifth test century in 127 balls with 16 fours and one six. The 27-year-old brought up the milestone by cutting Graeme Swann for a boundary and celebrated with an extravagant leap into the air and a flurry of bat pointing towards the home dressing room. It was the opener's second hundred of the series and a sixth by an Australian batsman to none from the tourists, whose entire team have been outscored by Warner, Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin. England, a pale imitation of the side that won the home Ashes series 3-0 earlier this year, had their chances to stop his progress but wicketkeeper Matt Prior missed two stumping opportunities when the batsman was on 13 and 89. “The heat and being so far behind, it takes its toll,” said Rogers. “It's almost they realised perhaps that a victory is out of their grasp. From there you get defensive and someone like Davey is going to take advantage of that.” Brief scores: Australia 235-3 (Warner 112, Rogers 54) & 385 (Smith 111, Warner 60, Haddin 55; Broad 3-100) v England 251 (Cook 72; Harris 3-48, Siddle 3-36). — Reuters
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Germany pip gritty France for World Cup
New Delhi, December 15 It was a befitting end to the tournament as both Germany and France dished out splendid hockey, much to the delight of the sparse crowd present on a chilly night. Germany rode on five goals which came from the sticks of Wellen (2nd, 44th, 46th minutes), Jonas Gomoll (60th) and Christopher Ruhr (68th) to pocket their sixth world title, two in a row. For France, Gaspard Baumgarten (16th, 40th) scored both the goals. The summit clash between underdogs France and five-time champions was touted as a contest between David versus Goliath but it was not one as the French gave the Germans a run for their money, at least in the opening 35 minutes. Cheered by their ambassador Michael Steiner, the Germans got off to an early lead when Wellen capitalized on a defensive lapse to score a field goal in the second minute. But the Frenchmen were no mood to go down without a fight and proved to the fancied Germans that they were no pushovers. It was a neck and neck battle in the opening half as both the teams enjoyed nearly similar percentage of ball possession but France's attacks looked more threatening. France drew parity in the 16th minute, riding on a fine field goal from Baumgarten, who beat Victor Aly in the German goal with a fierce shot from top of the circle. Therafter, Germany earned two penalty corners but France defenders stood like a rock to go into the breather locked at 1-1. The match livened up after the change of ends as France surged ahead against the run of play when Baumgarten converted his side's first penalty corner to stun the Germans. The Germans, however, drew level four minutes later when an opportunist Wellen scored from a goal-mouth melee. Thereafter, Germany hit the top gear and scored three goals, with the last coming with just two minutes from the hooter, to kill the contest. Netherlands take third spot
Meanwhile, last edition's silver medalist Netherlands spanked Malaysia 7-2 to bag the bronze medal. Australia secured the fifth position by beating Belgium 3-2 in the penalty shoot-out after both the teams were locked at 2-2 at the end of regulation time. While Belgium took the sixth spot, New Zealand finished seventh following its 4-2 win over Korea in the seventh-eighth play-off match.
— PTI |
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Lahiri ends with a 73, good for 4
cheers
Chandigarh, December 15 Lahiri, who has one victory and three runner-up finishes this year, carded a solitary birdie on the par-five second hole and two bogeys on the eighth and 14th holes, resulting in a 73 today. “It was a disappointing round. I don’t think I was as focused as I needed to be on the greens. I missed a lot of putts, especially on the back nine. I could not get any momentum going. Anytime I hit a good shot, I would miss the putt. It was probably the worst round of golf in the last three tournaments but I am still happy with the way I played this week,” said
Lahiri, who was quite unhappy that he failed to convert such a good opportunity and put up a challenge for the title. “I just made one birdie and two bogeys today, and there are a lot of birdies to be made on this golf course. But it’s been a positive week for me, a great experience playing with Henrik and Rickie yesterday and Sergio today. To see how all the best in the world go about their business, tells you what you need to bring about in your own game. There’s a lot of work I need to do on my game but it’s been a good year,” he
said. Gaganjeet Bhullar had yet another good week as he carded a top-ten finish with a total of ten-under-par, 278. Bhullar shot a two-under-par 70 in the final round, carding four birdies and two bogeys but it was good enough to ensure a tenth place finish alongside Australian Marcus Fraser and Thailand’s Thongchai
Jaidee. Chandigarh professional Sujjan Singh failed to achieve his objective of carding four sub-par rounds as he returned a card of three-over 75 today. He finished the week tied 30th at five-under 283. Chandigarh professional Jeev Milkha Singh had a good outing and was a stroke behind after he carded a three-under-par, 69 to finish tied 36th at a four-under 284. “I played well in spite of the fact that my shoulder is bothering me a lot. I now plan to get a cortisone shot to prepare for next season,” said
Jeev. |
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Tsegay spoils Kenyan party as Africa rules Delhi roads
New Delhi, December 15 Tsegay broke the previous record held by compatriot Deriba Merga (59:15) to come home three seconds faster in 59 minutes and 12 seconds. Kenyans Geoffrey Kipsang (59:30) and Wilson Kiprop (59:49) finished second and third, respectively, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Kenyan athletes swept the medals among the women with Florence finishing in one hour and eight minutes, ahead of Gladys Cherono by three seconds, while Lucy Kabuu was third (1:08.10). Tsegay, who ran the fastest marathon of 2012 in Ethiopia (58:47), bagged $7,500 for setting a new course record in addition to the $25,000 for winning. “The competition was good with very good athletes. The race was organised well and the weather was also perfect. This is my first time here and I am glad to have to won the race,” said Tsegay, who ran his first race in more than a year after recovering from an ankle injury.
“I lost my brother Elias on Friday. He was sick and I took him to the hospital back home on Tuesday before coming here. After his death I was in two minds, whether to run this race or go back,” said an emotional Kenyan. “But I thought, now that I am here, I will run the race.” In the women’s race, Florence was exhausted after her win and collapsed after crossing the finish line, vomiting immediately. “I was a bit slow today and not feeling well... I was supposed to come here Friday but reached yesterday. It wasn’t the right timing, reaching yesterday and then racing today,” said Florence. — IANS
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FIH chief wants more spectators in future events
New Delhi, December 15 “India has always been a good host but our only concern is the lack of spectators. We are not satisfied with this in the Junior Hockey World Cup and we have to find a solution. In future, the organisers have to be pro-active before the tournament, like free tickets can be distributed in schools and colleges. They can offer free cold drink or tea along with the ticket,” said Negre. He said it was necessary to popularise the game worldwide and for that raising the glamour quotient was a must. "We have to do something additional to attract people. It can be Bollywood stars, cheerleaders, fireworks, music, etc. We have to glamourise the game like IPL in cricket. Hockey India League is a right step in this direction,” he said. Negre also proposed to hold 2018 Senior Hockey World Cup matches in two different cities with semifinals and final in Delhi. “Delhi is the capital and hockey event is one among thousand other events (in other sports) while we have seen packed stadiums in smaller cities like Jallandhar or Ranchi,” he
said. — PTI |
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Punjab pushed to the wall by Karnataka
Hubli, December 15 Pandey stole the show with 161 as the hosts, who began on overnight score of 59 for two, reached a comfortable 367 for seven at close of the second day's play, in reply to Punjab's first innings total of 174. Lokesh Rahul was the other batting hero of the day as he hit a crucial 92, besides combining with Pandey to stabilise Karnataka's innings. With two wickets falling for just 40 runs yesterday, Pandey along with in-form Rahul added 149 runs for the third wicket to give Karnataka a chance to register an outright victory. Brief scores: Punjab: 174 all out; Karnataka: 367 for seven (Manish Pandey 161, Lokesh Rahul 92; Manpreet Gony 3/70). Sunny hits double ton Ahmedabad: Sunny Singh struck a double ton, while two other batsmen notched up centuries to enable Haryana declare at 573 for six on the second day of their match against Gujarat here today. Brief scores: Haryana: 573 for 6 decl (Sunny 201, Saini not out 106, Rana 102; Gujarat: 27 for one. — PTI
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Lee and Li win Superseries titles
Kuala Lumpur, December 15 “I am very happy because I have never won seven titles (in a year) before,” Lee said. “It would boost my spirit for the games next year.” In the women’s singles, Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying, who made to the finals in a grilling semifinal late Saturday, couldn’t stop China’s Li Xuerui from retaining the champion. Li sealed the match 21-8, 21-14, winning the only gold for China. Danish player Christinna Pedersen gave China a double blow Sunday as she and Kamilla Rytter Juhl beat Ma Jin/Tang Jinhua 21-19, 21-12 in the women’s doubles. Then Pedersen and Joachim Fischer Nielsen won the mixed doubles title against Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei. In the men’s doubles, world No. 1 Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan from Indonesia won the title by defeating South Korean pair Kim Ki Jung/Kim Sa Rang 21-14, 21-16.
— IANS |
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Injured Broad not ruling anything out
Perth, December 15 The 27-year-old paceman also hopes that “ice and elevation” over the next 10 days will enable him to play in the fourth test, which starts in Melbourne on Dec. 26. Australia might well have secured the return of the Ashes by then, having taken a 369-run lead on Sunday with two full days to bolster their advantage and bowl England out for a 3-0 series lead. Broad suffered the injury when he was dismissed lbw by a full Mitchell Johnson delivery that struck him on the right boot during an England collapse that all but ended their chance of winning the match. “It immediately hurt,” Broad told reporters. “So I came into the changing room and got some ice on it. “Obviously, I was desperate to get out there and bowl so I had to try it out in the nets. Normally with a bruise you get a bit of blood but when you get going the pain decreases. It actually increased quite a bit in the nets. “I wanted to go out and have a spell, but the doctor said I had to go for an x-ray. Something showed up on the x-ray but it was a bit inconclusive.”
— Reuters |
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Neymar nets 2, Real held
Madrid, December 15 Brazil forward Neymar scored with a first-half penalty and then put Barca back in front late on after Mateo Musacchio headed the visitors level early in the second period. The Catalan side are now on 43 points, three more than Atletico Madrid who host Valencia on Sunday, and five in front of rivals Real Madrid who fought back from two goals down to claim a draw after being reduced to 10 men in the 44th minute. Two first-half headers from Oriol Riera gave Osasuna the advantage but Isco pulled a goal back before the break and a Pepe header salvaged a draw a minute after the home side had Francisco Silva sent off in the 79th minute.
— Reuters |
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It’s nearly two years that India haven’t played a Test overseas and as they prepare to take on South Africa at the Wanderers on Wednesday, it will be a trial by fire for coach Duncan Fletcher, who has now come a long way from the team’s 0-8 result abroad.
Niklas Wellen slammed a brilliant hat-trick to guide defending champions Germany to their record sixth world title, beating unheralded France 5-2 in the summit clash of the Hero Junior Men's Hockey World Cup at the floodlit Major Dhyan Chand, here today.
Anirban Lahiri finished tied fourth at 13-under 275 at the $1 million Thailand Golf Championship, which was won by Spaniard Sergio Garcia in Chonburi today. The Indian professional carded the best finish amongst the Asians playing the tournament and earned
$38,200.
World top players Lee Chong Wei and Li Xuerui were crowned the winners at the Badminton World Federation Superseries Finals in the men’s and women’s categories after their comprehensive victories on Sunday.
Lee delivered a quick defeat to Indonesian Tommy Sugiarto 21-10, 21-12, winning his seventh Superseries title this year.
Robin van Persie, struck twice in three minutes for United who moved up one spot to eighth, 10 points behind leaders Arsenal. United, who had suffered successive home defeats by Everton and Newcastle United that followed away draws with Cardiff City and Tottenham Hotspur, had the points wrapped up after Tom Cleverley's goal on 52 minutes.
Nathan Dyer scored for Swansea City but suffered a suspected fractured right angle in the 1-1 draw at Norwich City.
— Reuters
Second placed Kipsang, who pocketed $18,000, had to overcome personal tragedy to take part in the competition.
