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Saina in quarters, Kashyap loses
Sporting takes U-turn, decides to carry on
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Experience in England will help India in Oz tour, says VVS Laxman
‘ICC 20 years too late to act on chucking’
Never wanted to leave midway: Samuels
Despite Gauti’s ton, North trail Central
Sharapova wins at last, but too late
Murray in Valencia semis, improves London chances
ISL probes allegation of assault on Pires
Serbia get walkover against Albania, three points docked
Stellar Lamela produces goal of the season, word of
Suarez to return in clasico, says Barca coach
Worried sponsors pile pressure on Windies Security plan in place for Lanka players
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Saina in quarters, Kashyap loses
Paris, October 24 The Scottish girl matched the class and quality of the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist to take a 7-5 lead in the first game before Saina, finalist here in 2012, remained strong to win the first game 21-19. In the second game, the 24-year-old India played aggressively to win the game 21-16. In the quarterfinals, Saina faces an uphill task of going past the Chinese World No.2 Shixian Wang. Saina leads Wang 5-4 in head-to-head record.
Meanwhile, Parupalli Kashyap’s surge was halted by fifth-seeded Chinese shuttler Zhengming Wang in quarters. Kashyap, who had upset World No.4 Kenichi Tago of Japan, worked hard against Wang but finally went down 21-15 13-21 21-13 in one hour and five minutes.
Kashyap looked in good nick after he overcame China’s Houwei Tian in a tough second-round game yesterday but the Hyderabad star could not match up to Wang’s play in the long battle.
Kashyap defeated World No.3 Jan O Jorgensen in the quarterfinal of Denmark Open last week and also upset World No.4 Kenichi Tago 21-11, 21-18 in the first round here. Jwala-Ashwini lose
It was curtains for the women’s doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, who was thrashed 6-21, 8-21 in 23 minutes by the Chinese pair of Wang Xiaoli and Yu Wang.
Also going out were men’s doubles team of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar and men’s singles shuttler Kidambi Srikanth. While the Chopra-Dewalkar pairing lost 15-21, 21-19, 15-21 to the Chinese Taipei pair of Lee Mu Sheng and Tsai Hsin Chia, Srikanth lost 20-22, 14-21 to Hans-Kristian
Vittinghus.
The Indo-Russian mixed double duo lost to seventh-seeded Chinese pair of Lu Kai and Huang Yaqiong 21-8, 18-21, 21-9. — Agencies
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Sporting takes U-turn, decides to carry on
Kolkata, October 24 “After the wide media coverage (of our shutdown), we've started getting sponsors now. Talks are on and things have started looking bright,” Mohammedan Sporting president Sultan Ahmed said. The Durand Cup reigning champions would compete in the tournament with the quarterfinal league beginning in Goa on October 28, said Ahmed, an MP. “We'll play in all tournaments and will go to Goa to defend our title in the Durand Cup. We’ll also take part in the second division I-League, the Kalinga Cup and the IFA Shield,” he said. He condemned reports by a section of the media suggesting that the heritage club was being disbanded. “Nothing of such happened and it appeared in a bad taste. Things were not good so we had decided not to compete in the upcoming season. But now we have many sponsors coming in,” Ahmed said. He further said the club would resume their practice at the East Bengal ground on Saturday as their own club ground was not properly maintained with overgrown grass and bushes. “We hope to get our ground ready by February and also start fulfilling the club licencing criteria,” Ahmed said. The club, meanwhile, made Jameel Manzar the working president on health grounds, while cricket secretary Moin Bin Maksud was given the extra responsibility of the club's general secretary at its executive committee meeting on Friday. — Agencies Lexical problem
Mohammedan Sporting has a lexical problem. Since the Prophet’s name is attached to the club, they cannot accept sponsorship from liquor brands that support two of Kolkata’s biggest clubs, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. Other backers aren’t forthcoming. Clubs like Mohammedan Sporting depend on membership and ticket sales, simply they cannot survive and compete. |
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Experience in England will help India in Oz tour, says VVS Laxman
Kolkata, October 24 “I’m sure we’ll do well in Australia. The reason I believe this because they have got the talent and the potential. You have seen that in Lord's. It's unfortunate they did not do well after the match. It was one of the best victories Indian team had in overseas conditions,” Laxman said. “It's about converting them into win. At the same time England series would be a great learning experience for all the youngsters who played for the first time there,” he said. Blaming batsmen's collective failure as the reason for the debacle, Laxman said, “Our batsmen struggled in bowler-friendly wickets. We were losing the first four-five wickets within the one-hour mark. It's difficult to come back and save the game. We have to accept that our batsmen did not do well. But I'm sure the experience will only help them become better Test cricketers,” he said. Laxman said it was a welcome sign for the present crop of cricketers to score runs at good strike rates which gives spectators an opportunity to see result-oriented Tests. “With the influence of T20 and ODI, the cricket has changed. You are now aiming to score at least 3.5 or 4 runs an over. When I played 2.5-3 runs an over was considered good. What is important is the time they spend in the middle and the amount of impact knocks. If they get 100 runs in 80 balls, there's no problem in that. The quicker you score, the more opportunities the bowlers get to take wickets. I've always been a believer of getting hundreds especially at the domestic level,” he said. — Agenciess
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‘ICC 20 years too late to act on chucking’
New Delhi, October 24 “Twenty years too late! We have had a lot chuckers in the game. What the ICC are doing now is the way ahead. Get them to straight their arms or leave the game,” Holding said. “You comeback with a proper action and nobody can then prevent you from bowling. I am not calling any names though. There have been a lot of chuckers and what the ICC is doing now is the right thing,” said the the man, who had taken 249 wickets in 60 Test matches. But Holding is convinced that ICC is a powerless organisation and when asked if he would suggest some measures to the governing body, he replied in the negative. — Agencies
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Never wanted to leave midway: Samuels
Kingston, October 24
Samuels is the first player to speak out about the controversial decision taken by the players. The Jamaican said he was focussed all along on completing the tour and dealing with the contracts and pay issues afterwards, reports CMC. “Wavell Hinds cannot negotiate on behalf of me so I know that once I continued (to play) — I just needed to finish this tour and then I would have asked questions,” Samuels said in a radio interview on Power 104 FM. “The main thing first was West Indies cricket; that is why I remained focussed throughout everything.” Samuels was the only bright spot on the tour, smashing two superb centuries to finish the series with 254 runs from three innings. Off the field, Samuels said he stayed away from most of the players’ meetings. According to the 33-year-old, there were about eight meetings but he attended only two at which chief selector Clive Lloyd was present. “For most of those meetings (of the players), I was probably in my room ordering room service. I don't go to those meetings,” Samuels explained. “A lot of meetings were kept but I have no time for those meetings. My focus was just on playing some cricket.” Samuels, who was selected for the tour of India after missing out on Bangladesh's recent tour of the Caribbean, said he was prepared to play the remaining games. — Agencies
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Despite Gauti’s ton, North trail Central
Mohali, october 24 Central Zone had scored 538 in the first innings, North Zone tried its level-best but were bowled out for 457 even as Gambhir scored 167. Gambhir’s fourth-wicket partnership with Mandeep Singh (74) was the highlight of the innings as North saw some useful contributions from Yuvraj Singh (47), wicketkeeper-batsman Nitin Saini (56) and Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder Parvez Rasool (44). Another Delhi veteran, Virender Sehwag had already lost his wicket yesterday after a 22-ball 32 at the No.3 position. Gambhir, who batted for over five and a half hours, hit 18 boundaries but was finally scalped by Pankaj Singh’s new-ball partner Ishwar Pandey. Central bowler Kuldeep Yadav (3-94) was the destroyer-in-chief, as the upcoming chinaman bagged three wickets to break North’s momentum time and again. Kuldeep, who is making his first-class debut, accounted for the wickets of Yuvraj, Rishi Dhawan (7) and Saini. Pace spearhead Pankaj (2-77), Pandey (2-86) and leg-spinner Karn Sharma (2-67) also chipped in with useful strikes while skipper Piyush Chawla also picked a wicket. Central’s strong position, are all but through to the final, is courtesy Naman Ojha’s scintillating 217 on the second day’s play and Jalaj Saxena’s 110 on the opening day. North lost the momentum post a 140-run third-wicket partnership between Jalaj and Ojha. Brief Scores: North Zone 457 (Gambhir 167, Mandeep 74, Saini 56, Kuldeep 3/94) trail Central Zone 538 (Ojha 217, Saxena 110, Menaria 62) by 81 runs South Zone crush East, enter final
Rohtak: South Zone took just 40 minutes into the third morning to decimate East Zone by an innings and 118 runs en route their entry into Duleep Trophy final. East's second innings was terminated at 62 for nine with Wriddhiman Saha nursing a bruised thumb not coming out to bat. East's innings lasted a mere 8.3 overs on the third day morning after starting at 30 for four being asked to follow on on a seamer-friendly track at Bansi Lal Stadium. With only 23.4 overs in the second innings, East batted merely 70-odd overs across two innings. Brief Scores: South Zone: 264 (Uthappa 120, Shukla 4-40) bt East Zone 84 (Binny 4-24, Ojha 3-9) and 62 (Sharath 4-27, Binny 3-23) by an innings and 118 runs. — TNS |
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Dubai, October 24 Australia, resuming on their overnight score of 113 for no loss, lost four wickets in an extended morning session and as many before tea to trail Pakistan, who made 454 in their first innings, by 172 runs. Mitchell Johnson (22) and Steve O'Keefe (four) were the not out batsmen at the crease for Australia. Warner (133) got to his third consecutive test hundred — and fourth in the last six innings — with a cover driven boundary off debutant paceman Imran Khan. The stocky left-hander hit 11 boundaries and two huge sixes to celebrate the mark. He was bowled by a sharply turning ball from Yasir Shah on the third delivery after the lunch. Brief Scores: Pak: 454 and 38/0 lead Australia: 303 (Warner 133, Yasir 3-66) by 189 runs. — Agencies
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Sharapova wins at last, but too late
Singapore, October 24 The American was not involved in Friday’s final group matches but still emerged as the big winner after Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic both bowed out of the tournament despite winning their final matches. Sharapova, who needed to go on and win the season-ending event to overtake Williams at the top of the rankings, had to beat Poland’s Agnieska Radwanska in straight sets to reach the semis but blew her chance after a second set meltdown. She squandered three match points and a 5-2 lead to lose the second set in a tiebreak, and although the Russian recovered to win the match 7-5 6-7(4) 6-2, she failed to make it out of the round-robin stage of the elite eight-woman event. “It would’ve been very easy for me to get down on myself. I had so many chances being up, having match point, and just saying you know what? I’ve lost two matches,” said Sharapova. “It would have been so easy to just let it go but I didn’t. I got the job done. I know I’m not moving forward, but I’m proud of that effort and to finish the year off on this way.” Williams, who won two of her three group matches, faced another anxious wait before knowing whether she would play on the weekend. Ivanovic had the chance to leapfrog her in the group standings, but the Serbian needed to beat Simona Halep in straight sets. After coming from 5-2 behind to win the first set in dramatic fashion, Ivanovic had all the momentum but she was unable to finish off Halep in the second, and had to settle for a 7-6(7) 3-6 6-3 consolation victory. “It’s mixed emotions, obviously,” said Ivanovic. “I feel like it was such a great match, yet it’s such a low not to be able to qualify for the semifinals.” “It was a very tough match, she’s a great player and the first set was really hard. I had plenty of opportunities even at 2-5 down that I didn’t really take,” she added. “But I really tried to fight hard from that point on and it was amazing to turn it around. The second set was also a battle so to prevail in the end was amazing.” Williams will now play her good friend Caroline Wozniacki in the semis, in a rematch of last month’s US Open final, after the Dane romped to a 6-2 6-3 win over Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova. Wozniacki’s lopsided victory also gifted a place in the semis to Radwanska, who edged out Kvitova and Sharapova on a countback after the trio all finished with 1-2 win-loss records. Wozniacki was already assured of her place in the semis before her match with Kvitova even started but showed no mercy against the Czech as she chalked up another impressive victory. Like Wozniacki, Halep was already safely through to the semis before she took on Ivanovic and had nothing to lose. She faces Radwanska in the semis. Had the pint-sized Romanian lost her second set to Ivanovic, she would have knocked out Williams, but said the idea never entered her head after she hammered the two-time defending champion 6-0 6-2 earlier in the week. “I didn’t care,” she said. “I’m not afraid again to play against Serena.” — Reuters Sania-Black in semis
Making their first appearance in the WTA Finals, Sania Mirza and Cara Black beat Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears to book their semifinals berth on Thursday. The pair, playing its last tournament together, was made to work hard by the US duo and came through 6-3 2-6 12-10. Sania will partner Chinese Taipei’s Su-Wei Hsieh from next year. Radwanska ‘owes’ Wozniacki
Agnieszka Radwanska has promised to take Caroline Wozniacki out on a shopping spree after the Dane saved her from making an early exit at the WTA Finals on Friday. Radwanska lost to Sharapova, but still had the chance to sneak in to the last four, only if Wozniacki beat Kvitova. For Wozniacki, the match carried little importance, having already qualified for the semis. But Radwanksa bumped into Wozniacki in the players’ tunnel before she walked on court, and reminded her friend she needed her to win. “We talked. When I saw her, she was already, ‘I know, I know’. She knew what was going on. She wasn’t surprised,” said Radwanska. “I think we just going to go shopping, but with my credit card.” Wozniacki later joked that she was hoping for an expensive gift from Radwanska. “I hope she’s going to keep her promise,” Wozniacki said. “She owes me a handbag. I think that’s what I’m going to go for.” |
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Murray in Valencia semis, improves London chances
Madrid, October 24 A wild card at the Spanish indoor hard court event, which he won in 2009, Murray is eighth in the race to secure a berth at the season-ending tournament in London. The Scot will play top-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer, who is also eyeing a place at the Tour finals, on Saturday for a place in Sunday’s showpiece. Ferrer, chasing a fourth Valencia trophy after triumphs in 2008, 2010 and 2012, swept past Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci 6-1 6-2. Murray is attempting to qualify for the Tour finals for a seventh consecutive year. Federer shrugs off slow start to reach quarters Basel: Roger Federer shrugged off dropping the first set against journeyman Denis Istomin on Thursday before hitting back to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and reach the Swiss Indoors quarterfinals. It was the top seed and five-time champion’s 53rd career win at his hometown event, the place where he got his start in the sport as a ballboy two decades ago. He now stands at a perfect 6-0 over world number 55 Istomin, who gave Federer plenty of trouble during their one-hour, 48-minute meeting. Federer’s win kept up the pressure on Novak Djokovic as the Swiss takes aim at a possible return to the year-end world No. 1 ranking currently held by the Serb. Federer completed his comeback with a sixth ace on match point to advance into a quarterfinal against either fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov, who beat Canadian Vasek Pospisil, a 2013 semifinalist, 6-2, 6-2. Canadian fourth seed Milos Raonic continued his winning tournament debut with 22 aces as he overcame American Donald Young 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7-2). Nadal withdraws from Paris Masters
London: Rafa Nadal has withdrawn from the Paris Masters ahead of the tournament’s start on Monday for “personal reasons”, the French Tennis Federation announced on Friday. Nadal warned last week that he could miss the end of the season because of appendicitis. — Agencies |
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ISL probes allegation of assault on Pires
Mumbai, October 24 Former Brazilian great Zico, the coach of FC Goa, said Pires told him about being hit by Atletico de Kolkata coach Antonio Lopez Habas in the tunnel when the teams left for the half-time break. “Both teams have written to the ISL and the incident has been referred to the regulatory commissioner,” an ISL spokesperson said. Cavin Lobo’s brace took the Kolkata franchise to a 2-1 win in the ill-tempered match, during which seven players were shown yellow cards, after Andre Santos had given the hosts the lead. “Pires said he was punched on the face by the Atletico coach and it is very shameful. I am telling you what my players told me and I didn’t see that myself but I don’t think that Pires will lie and say something that didn’t happen,” Zico said after the match. — Reuters
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Serbia get walkover against Albania, three points docked
Berne, October 24 Serbia have also been ordered to play their next two home games in Group I behind closed doors, while both teams have been fined 100,000 euros following the chaotic scenes at the match in Belgrade, European soccer’s governing body added. Both FAs said they would appeal the decision. The match, played on Oct. 14 with no away fans permitted, was interrupted when a flag depicting so-called Greater Albania, an area covering all parts of the Balkans where ethnic Albanians live, was flown over the pitch by a remote-controlled drone. Serbian player Stefan Mitrovic eventually grabbed the flag, prompting an angry reaction from the Albania team. A brawl broke out after several Albanian players snatched the flag from Mitrovic and then had to run for cover into the tunnel as the invading home fans attacked them. Riot police moved in when about a dozen fans invaded the pitch and attacked the Albanian players, forcing them to retreat into the tunnel as flares were thrown from the terraces. Amid the confusion, Serbia captain Branislav Ivanovic said he and his team mates shielded their opponents while his opposite number Lorik Cana said that his team were attacked by the stewards inside the tunnel. — Reuters
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Stellar Lamela produces goal of the season, word of the day
London, October 24 The Argentine struck after 29 minutes of Tottenham Hotspur’s 5-1 Europa League win over Greek side Asteras Tripolis with one of the greatest goals ever seen at White Hart Lane, but which was almost imperceptible to the naked eye. With an act of sweet balance and flexibility he wrapped his left leg round the back of his right standing leg to arc his shot 20-metre into the net, leaving goalkeeper Tomas Kosicky rooted to the spot and everyone in the ground stunned. Many in the stadium, and a watching TV pundit, did not initially realise what Lamela had done to put Spurs 2-0 up, while coach Mauricio Pochettino had a face like thunder as it hit the net — though he later described it as “unbelievable” and probably the best goal he has ever seen. A reasonably common trick to send in a cross, a “rabona” for a long-range shot is a much rarer beast and very few goals have ever been scored using it. The term “rabona” is believed to have originated with Ricardo Infante after a game between Argentine teams Estudiantes and Rosario Central in 1948, when the football magazine El Grafico coined the phrase showing Infante, dressed up as a infant pupil — playing hooky or truant from school. Rabona in Spanish means to skip school.
The rabona is also a dance step used in the tango, said to have been named after the footballing move, but whatever the origin of its name, the shot stunned Lamela’s Spurs team mates as well as the crowd with fullback Jan Vertonghen pictured with his hands on his head in disbelief. The Belgian international tweeted afterwards: “Must be the best goal I’ve ever seen” while former Spurs striker Peter Crouch, now at Stoke City, tweeted: “Lamela’s goal for Spurs is the ultimate showboat. WOW !” Supporter Morris Keston, who first watched the team in the 1940s, tweeted: “In all my 70 years of watching Tottenham Hotspur I’ve never seen a goal quite like Lamela’s.” Lamela, who became Spurs’ record buy when he signed for £30 million from AS Roma last year, struggled through his first season, but this term has shown real glimpses of his undoubted skill. Thursday’s goals were only his second and third for the club and he could cap a memorable week by scoring his first in the Premier League against Newcastle United at White Hart Lane on Sunday. — Reuters |
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Suarez to return in clasico, says Barca coach
Barcelona, October 24 Suarez will play some part in the match at the Bernabeu, Luis Enrique told a news conference. “He will play some minutes,” added the former Spain midfielder, who will preside over his first clasico since taking over as Barca coach at the end of last season. “It is an important event for him and he will have some time on the pitch.” Real have Ramos back, but Bale sits it outReal Madrid will have their combative Spain centre back Sergio Ramos available but Wales winger Gareth Bale is out, coach Carlo Ancelotti said. Ramos, who has twice been sent off in recent clasicos, has shaken off a calf injury. However, Bale has not recovered sufficiently from a buttock muscle strain. — Reuters
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NorthEast United stun 9-man Mumbai 2-0
Mumbai, October 24 The home side, which had thrashed Pune City FC 5-0 in its previous match, failed to score a goal despite dominating the proceedings early in the match. The first half belonged to Mumbai City FC but the visitors came back in the second half with a superior performance as they scored two goals to win their first away match of the tournament. Zambia’s Kondwani Mtonga grabbed the opener in the 57th minute when he collected Koke’s pass to work past the lone defender Tiago Ribeiro and custodian Subrata Paul. NorthEast United FC doubled the lead in the injury time. James Keene, who came in for Koke in the 69th minute, set up Guilherme Felipe who just had to beat the goalkeeper.
The match also saw some bizarre moments as Mumbai could not send in a replacement for marquee player Frederik Ljungberg who pulled his hamstring in the 72nd minute as the home side had used all their substitutions by then, leaving them one man short. Making matters worse, Mumbai were reduced to nine when Czech defender Pavel Cmovs had to leave the field in the 75th minute after getting his second yellow card of the match. Mumbai now have just three points from two matches while NorthEast have added three points to their kitty, taking their tally to seven from four games. Dynamos eye maiden win as they face Chennaiyin New Delhi: An impressive show against table toppers Atletico de Kolkata boosting their morale, Delhi Dynamos take on another high-flying team Channaiyin FC in what promises to be a high-voltage clash here tomorrow. Dynamos began their ISL campaign with a goalless draw against Pune City FC and then held leaders Atletico de Kolkata 1-1 and they would be surely looking for their first win. Chennaiyin FC, coached by World Cup winning Italian Marco Materazzi, are at second spot in the points table and have also been an unbeaten in the tournament. — PTI Live on Star Sports, 7pm
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Worried sponsors pile pressure on Windies Bridgetown, october 24 Oliver McIntosh chief executive officer of Digicel Sportsmax, the pan-Caribbean sports television network, says he is worried about the forthcoming West Indies tour of South Africa and says the WICB needs to undergo serious changes. “We are due to broadcast West Indies tour of South Africa in December and January. We have invested a lot of money in the rights and in the talent. We have started marketing it, we have sponsors on board and if that doesn’t happen, you totally retract, you have to go back to sponsors and give back money,” he said. “We are worried. It does impact our audience. If West Indies cricket is no longer on, that is a big blow for us, a big blow,” he added. While in the past governments in the Caribbean have intervened in the various crises that have afflicted West Indies, McIntosh says that it is sponsors and other backers who need to start pushing the WICB to make major changes. “What has to happen in this case is that the private interests have to get involved and say, ‘Look, if I have a stake here, if you want me to stay involved and want me to continue to help funding the cricket, this is how it has to go’,” he said. Telecommunications company Digicel, which recently bought Sportsmax, is well established as the main backer of West Indies cricket and is likely to sit down with the WICB in the near future. “Like all cricket fans, we're disappointed when matches don’t happen,” Digicel said in a statement. “To be clear, our contract is with the WICB.? And it is with the WICB that we must have a discussion. As such, we will not be commenting for the time being.” — Agencies
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Security plan in place for Lanka players Bhubaneswar, october 24 “There is a specific threat perception on the Sri Lankan team. We are taking all steps to ensure a smooth ODI in the state,” said RP Sharma, Police commissioner. Mathews to lead Angelo Mathews will lead a 15-man Sri Lankan squad in the ODI series. Squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Kusal Janith Perera, T.M Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Ashan Priyanjan, Niroshan Dickwella, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dhammika Prasad, Lahiru Gamage, Chathuranga De Silva, Seekuge Prasanna, Suraj Randeev. — Agencies
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Mohali, october 24
With a little help from her rivals, Serena Williams secured a place in the last four of the WTA Finals on Friday and clinched the year-end number one ranking for the fourth time in her illustrious career.
Andy Murray collected more points to aid his World Tour finals qualification bid when he fought back from a set down to beat Kevin Anderson 6-7(3) 6-4 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the Valencia Open on Friday.
With one jaw-dropping moment of skill and dexterity Erik Lamela installed himself an early favourite to win FIFA’s goal of the year award — and at the same time ensured the term “rabona” became the overnight buzzword of soccer’s lexicon.
