Sports News

Bhajji worry for hosts ahead of Mohali Test

2010-09-30T19:58:00.001-07:00

MOHALI: Ahead of the first Test between Indiaand Australia, the hosts are facing the disturbing prospect of losing their best spinner Harbhajan Singh to injury. And if that happens, India's bowling attack going into the match at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium will be undoubtedly weakened.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni wasn't ready to provide a definite answer on the spinner's availability. "We'll decide in the morning," was all he said, going on instead to explain why injuries happen and why they're part and parcel of the sport.

Harbhajan's impressive record of 79 wickets from 14 Tests against the Aussies, though, makes him India's best strike bowler and losing him will come as a big blow.

Harbhajan's fitness aside, India look all set to take on their famed rivals. This is also the first time Australia start behind India in the Test rankings ahead of an important series.

It was just recently that former captain Sourav Ganguly noted how if all is right with India's batting, retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in this two-Test series shouldn't be a problem. The Indian batting lineup has worn a settled look for years, and Suresh Raina replacing Ganguly in this Test will be the only change from the team of 2008 that faced Australia at this very venue. That is, if Harbhajan is fit to play.

In case he fails to regain full fitness, the Indian spin attack will comprise of Pragyan Ojha and Amit Mishra because there's little chance that Dhoni will look to play three seamers.

"Harbhajan has been our main spinner since Anil Kumble and our attack revolves around him. So missing him will be a big blow. But you can't control injuries. We are hoping that he will be available for selection, but if he can't recover fully, we will have to make use of the available resources," Dhoni added.

Apart from Harbhajan, pacer Zaheer Khan is also coming back from an injury layoff and it will be interesting to see how he manages in a five-day game.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, who has a superb overall average of 54.66, will be eager to better his Test record in India, where he has scored only 438 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 20.85, with only one century.

"I've never mastered batting in Indian conditions and would like to improve my record here," Ponting said, adding, "But there were some positive signs during the 2008 tour, during which I scored my maiden century. Hopefully I will have a good series."

Australia have a relatively raw fast-bowling attack, with only Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watsonhaving had the experience of bowling in Test matches in India prior to this series.

Messi receives Golden Boot as top European scorer

2010-09-30T19:57:00.005-07:00

BARCELONA: Lionel Messi was presented with the Golden Boot award on Thursday for being the top scorer across the domestic leagues in Europe last season.

The Argentina forward received the prize for having accumulated 34 goals to help Barcelonaretain its Spanish league title.

"All awards are special, but it is thanks to the help of my teammates that I have won," Messi said. "I just try to play well and do the things as best I can for my team and my coach."

Messi now joins Marco van Basten, Ronaldo and Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to have won all three major individual awards: the Golden Boot, FIFA World Player of the Year and the Golden Ball, given to the European footballer of the year.

Chelsea forward Didier Drogba and Udinese striker Antonio di Natale were tied for second place with 29 goals each.

The prize comes after a lackluster Messi had failed to score a single goal at the World Cup in South Africa. Even so, former Argentina coach Diego Maradona said on Wednesday that Messi deserved the award and hoped he would "win many more."

Messi is the second Barcelona player to be honored by European Sports Magazine. Ronaldo earned the club's first Golden Boot by also scoring 34 goals, in the 1996-97 season.

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol applauded Messi's ability and character.

"He is the best in the world, but he is humble. He improves everyday," Puyol said before the awards ceremony. "He is the best player in the world and he demonstrated that he deserves this award."

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez scored 35 goals last season for Ajax in the Netherlands, but failed to win due to the points system that compensates for the degree of difficulty posed by the major European leagues (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish).

So far this season, Messi has scored two goals in three games in the Spanish league.

Queens' baton reaches Delhi

2010-09-30T19:57:00.003-07:00

NEW DELHI: The Queen's Baton Relay for theCommonwealth Games reached Delhi on Thursday as over 5,500 athletes and officials of the expected 7,000 for the event beginning October 3 focused their attention on training.

The Baton entered the host city from Haryana after travelling through 71 participating countries and all the Indian states and union territories. Over the next two days it will be taken through Delhi before entering the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the venue of the opening ceremony.

Among those to arrive at the Village was the entire 52-strong Australian swimming team which had stayed back in Malaysia over concerns about the security situation in India.

The team entered the Village late Wednesday and head coach Leigh Nugent said he was happy that all members had travelled to India.

Though facilities at the Village and the venues are coming in for praise from the athletes and officials after weeks of being slammed, the issue continued to rankle Kalmadi who Thursday said he was not only ready for a probe but wanted it to get to the truth.

"I am ready for any inquiry, post the Games. In fact, an inquiry must be held, to get to the bottom of the truth," he said addressing the inaugural session of the two-day 'FICCI TURF 2010', the second Global Sports Summit - international Convention on the Business of Sports. The summit organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries, began in Delhi Thursday.

"All the infrastructure that has been put up is world class; the Games village is the finest anywhere. All the athletes that have arrived to date have moved in to the village and all the Commonwealth countries are participating in CWG 2010," Kalmadi said.

Apparently referring to criticism that the sporting facilities would be a waste of money after the Games end Oct 14, Kalmadi acknowledged "the challenge, post the Games, would be to utilize optimally the infrastructure that has been created."

Suspended Pak players left to fight ICC on their own

2010-09-30T19:57:00.001-07:00

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not providing any financial assistance to the three suspended players in their legal battle against theInternational Cricket Council (ICC).

"The three have hired lawyers who are representing the players in their effort to get the suspensions removed and their names cleared in the spot-fixing allegations," a PCB source said.

Mohammad Asif will be represented by a British lawyer, Elizabeth Robertson, while Salman Butt's lawyers are Khalid Ranjha and Aftab Gul.

"Mohammad Aamer's case is being fought by Shahid Karim who also represented Asif in his doping suspension case two years ago," the source said.

Butt had earlier approached Pakistan's top lawyer and a former Federal Minister, Aitzaz Ahsan to represent him but they couldn't settle on a fee.

"Since the players have been told they have to pay the lawyers themselves, Butt couldn't afford Ahsan's fee," the source said.

Karim said that his client (Aamer) is yet file a detailed reply to the ICC notice sent to him explaining the suspension.

"We had asked for an extension from the ICC to file the detailed reply and they have given us time until October 5. We are in the process of filing an appeal against the provisional suspension and also against the allegations made against Aamer," Karim said.

The lawyer said that the ICC had, in its notice, said that Aamer had bowled two no-balls on purpose in the fourth Test against England at Lord's, which amounted to fixing and betting under ICC's Anti-Corruption Code of Conduct.

"We will file two appeals to the ICC, one against the suspension and one against the allegations," Karim said.

Butt has already filed an appeal against his suspension while a board official said that Asif's reply would be filed directly in London to the ICC.

Nadal breezes into Thailand Open quarters

2010-09-30T19:56:00.001-07:00

NONTHABURI (Thailand): Rafael Nadal finally got on with his main business in Thailand - playing tennis - and dispatched Belgian qualifier Ruben Bemelmans 6-1, 6-4 on Thursday in his first match since winning the US Open.

Making his Thailand Open debut after a first-round bye, top-ranked Nadal wasn't troubled. He lost only eight points on serve.

Nadal has been treated like a royal since he arrived in Thailand nine days ago, receiving a hero's welcome from government and sports officials when he landed in Bangkok.

He holidayed in the beach town of Hua Hin, where he took part in a religious ceremony with Buddhist monks and planted a tree in King Bhumibol Adulyadej's campaign against global warming.

Back in Bangkok he delayed a visit with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Parliament so he could practice.

He showed no rust more than two weeks after completing the career Grand Slam in New York.

In Friday's quarterfinals, Nadal will meet either another Belgian, Olivier Rochus, who spoiled Juan Martin del Potro's comeback, or Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan.

Second-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain, who accepted a wild card to play in Thailand, crashed out in his opening match in the second round after Benjamin Becker of Germany beat him 6-4, 6-4.

A sluggish Verdasco quickly fell behind 4-0. He rallied back but the more disciplined Becker won the set 6-4.

Verdasco dropped the ninth game of the second on a double fault, and Becker served well to set up match point at 40-30, closing it out with an impressive volley.

"It was tough. I was practicing well but the match was different. He played yesterday one match and got more rhythm," Verdasco said. "He played better than me. He adapted better than me, he served well and didn't make many unforced errors. He deserved the victory more than me."

Earlier, seventh-seeded Viktor Troicki of Serbia - last year's finalist - also was ousted by Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 7-6 (4), 6-2.

Sehwag remains second in ICC Test rankings

2010-08-22T22:52:00.007-07:00

DUBAI: Dashing opener Virender Sehwag is the highest-ranked Indian batsman at the second spot in the latest ICC Test rankings issued on Sunday.

ICC Test Batting Rankings
ICC Test Bowling Rankings
ICC Test All-Rounder Rankings

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara leads the batting table with Michael Clarke of Australia on the third spot.

In the bowling list, Pakistan's fast bowler Mohammad Amir has rocketed to a career-best 17th after playing a leading role in his side's four-wicket victory over England in The Oval Test which concluded on Saturday.

Man of the match Amir took 1-49 and 5-52 in the Test and was awarded with a jump of 14 places in the rankings, which puts him just behind Paul Harris of South Africa and makes him the thirdPakistan fast bowler in the top 20.

For England, off-spinner Graeme Swann has moved up one place to regain his second position on the bowling chart.

Swann, who had match figures of 7-118, had first climbed to second position in March this year after the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

In the Rankings for batsmen, Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf, Umar Akmal and Azhar Ali, and England's Alastair Cook and Matt Prior all rose up the rankings.

Yousuf, who scored 56 and 33, has climbed two places to 14th position with India's Gautam Gambhir firmly within his sights. Umar has jumped six places to share 41st position with Australia's Phillip Hughes and Azhar has vaulted 28 places to 55th spot.

There is no change in the top five of the Reliance Mobile ICC Player rankings for Test all-rounders with Jacques Kallis of South Africa leading the field.

Meanwhile, England's four-wicket defeat has ended its chances of moving ahead of fourth-placed Australia in the ICC Test Championship.

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2010-08-22T22:52:00.005-07:00

DAMBULLA: India's cricketers are not known for upholding high standards of professionalism when it comes to media commitments. But even going by the usual, what transpired at the Rangiri International Stadium after one of their worst ODI defeats would constitute as peculiar.

The team kept the media waiting for one-and-a-half hours at the mandatory post-match press conference, opting instead for a game of soccer, although it is compulsory for either the captain or any other team member to turn up for a briefing after the presentation ceremony which follows a match.

Counterpart Sangakkara had finished his bit and frantic calls from Sri Lanka Cricket's (SLC) media manager, who conducts the post-match proceedings, were treated dismissively. India's shambolic performance ensured the match got over at 7.15 pm, and eventually Dhoni turned up at 8.45 pm, ten minutes after the international print media had got tired of waiting and walked out.

Sangakkara, incidentally, came in at 7.42 pm, immediately after the presentation.

In between, everyone from the ICC to the BCCI was contacted. Indian team manager Ranjeeb Biswal, who was also playing soccer as a goalkeeper, told media persons over phone at about 8.20 pm: "We have time till 10.15 pm (when the match was supposed to be over officially). Dhoni will be there in five minutes."

An ICC spokesman clarified: "In ICC events, it is compulsory for the losing captain to turn up for these briefings first, immediately after the presentation ceremony. In other series, it's an agreement between the host board and the participating board."

Hassled SLC members clarified there was an understanding that the post-match briefing would be got over within half-an-hour of the presentation, adding: "Dhoni said he wanted to play soccer, so we sent Sangakkara. There are no hard and fast rules, and it's more a reflection of the team's attitude," said an SLC member.

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2010-08-22T22:52:00.003-07:00

Sri Lankan Thissara Perera (second right) celebrates with his teammates after he dismissed unseen Indian Ishant Sharma during the fifth ODI of the tri-series in Dambulla. (AFP Photo)

DAMBULLA (Sri Lanka): A spineless India crashed to their biggest ODI defeat in terms of balls remaining as Sri Lanka stormed into the final of the tri-series with a resounding eight wicket victory on Sunday.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

Thisara Perera produced a devastating spell of seam bowling to record his maiden five-wicket haul and play a big role in Sri Lanka's comprehensive victory.

The 21-year-old Perera (5/28) ripped through the Indian middle order with a fine exhibition of swing bowling to skittle out the visitors for a paltry 103 in just 33.4 overs, their third lowest total against the Sri Lankans, in what turned out to be a totally lop-sided contest.

The fired-up Sri Lankans rattled up the required runs of 104 in just 15.1 overs to gain a bonus point and become the first team to move into the final.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (35) and Mahela Jayawardene (33) virtually toyed with the Indian bowlers as they plundered runs at will to set up the chase brilliantly.

Paceman Ishant Sharma dismissed both the openers Dilshan and Jayawardene in two consecutive deliveries but it came too late in the day as the islanders overhauled the target with 209 balls to spare.

Till now, India's biggest defeat in terms of balls remaining was 174 against Australia at Sydney in 1981. In that match, India had scored 63 and Australia responded with 64 for one.

It was an abject surrender by the lacklustre Indians who were outplayed in all departments of the game.

The hosts completed their league engagements with 11 points and India will have to now win their last match against New Zealand on Wednesday to secure a berth in the final. New Zealand have seven points and India five points.

Pacemen Lasith Malinga (2/21) and Nuwan Kulasekara (2/31) also chipped in with wickets to compound India's misery on a day when nothing seemed to go right for Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men.

Only Yuvraj Singh provided a semblance of resistance with a gritty 38 as the the Indian batsmen succumbed tamely on what appeared to be a spongy two-paced track at the Rangiri Dambulla International stadium.

Yuvraj was a victim of a dubious leg before decision and there were a couple of dodgy decisions during the Indian innings but that was no excuse for the pathetic display.

After the furore of the no-ball incident in the past few days, the Sri Lankans seemed all charged up for the must-win game and Dhoni's decision to bat first after winning the toss completely backfired.

The Indians never really recovered from a poor start as wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals with the hosts exploiting the overcast conditions well.

Paceman Kulasekara struck the first blow by getting rid of dangerman Virender Sehwag, who was stranded on 99 in the last match after Suraj Randiv deliberately bowled a no- ball to spark off a major controversy.

Sehwag was trapped leg before wicket to Kulasekara's sharp inswinger and umpire Kumar Dharmasena had no hesitation in giving him out. The Indian opener was not too happy with the decision as he walked back to the pavillion.

Dinesh Karthik, who has struggled to find form right through the series, was the next man to be dismissed with Kulasekara doing the damage again.

Karthik edged the ball to captain and wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara who was standing close to the stumps to prevent the batsman from walking down and negating the swing.

With India struggling at 26 for two, Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh tried to steady the innings by playing cautiously against the Sri Lankan speedsters who bowled a disciplined line and length.

Rohit Sharma, who has also been struggling to find form, could not hang around for long, asAngelo Mathews plotted his dismissal with a gem of an inswinger which trapped the batsman plumb in front of the wicket.

Soon Suresh Raina joined him in the pavilion as he fell prey to Perera and the Indians were in the doldrums at a precarious 61 for four in the 18th over.

Perera struck again a few overs later by removing Dhoni who edged the ball to Sangakkara behind the stumps. The ball held its line enough to get the edge and Sangakkara made no mistake.

Perera then removed Ravindra Jadeja for a nine-ball duck and dismissed Praveen Kumar in the very first ball with Tharanga latching on to a simple catch at mid-off.

Yuvraj, who returned to the team after being laid low by a mild dengue, was the only batsmen who seemed comfortable in the middle as wickets kept falling at the other end.

Running out of partners, the stylish left hander picked up Perera for special treatment clobbering him for a boundary and a six to take India close to the hundred-run mark.

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2010-08-22T22:52:00.001-07:00

LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board(ECB) is planning to ban English cricketers from social networking sites such as Twitter andFacebook while on national duty.

"England's cricketers are facing a ban from social networking websites Twitter and Facebook," a 'Daily Mail' report said on Sunday.

England players such as Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Kevin Pietersen and Steven Finn have been very active on social networking site Twitter.com and share nearly 150,000 followers among them.

Although the cricketers consider it as a harmless diversion, this of-field activity has not gone down well with the team management, which fears that the players may slip dressing room secrets to the public.

"The England management, supported by captain Andrew Strauss, seem determined to write a clause in the new ECB contracts for 2010-11 banning players from tweeting while on England duty," the report said.

The England team management was left red-faced when former under-19 captain Azeem Rafiq was found guilty of injudicious messaging after he called coach John Abrahams a 'useless ******' in one of his tweets on being axed from the side against Sri Lanka.

He was soon fined and banned for one month from all cricket.

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2010-08-22T22:51:00.004-07:00

LONDON: A tournament for declaring the world's best team in Test cricket may finally become reality. The International cricket Council will decide on a two-yearly tournament-like world Test championship - as opposed to the current rolling format - at a meeting of chief executives of cricket boards at Cape Town next month.

England in the summer of 2013 is among the leading candidates to host the inaugural competition.

ICC spokesperson Colin Gibson said more details would be revealed after the mid-September meeting. If the championship is held in England, the final will be at Lord's.

The world Test championship is intended to breathe new life into the traditional format and maintain it as the ultimate battle for supremacy. But its marketing and the quantum of prize money, which needs to be much higher than in a World Cup or World Twenty20, will be crucial to attract public and players' interest.

How high a Test championship can be pitched will depend on revenues derived by ICC from broadcasting and commercial partners. A source said cricket bosses are looking at Tata Motors'Jaguar - now experiencing record sales - as a potential partner. This UK-based Indian-owned company has been sponsoring TV coverage of this season's Test cricket in England on Sky Sport.

A five-member committee, which includes BCCI secretary N Srinivasan, will submit its recommendation next month to the chief executives, who are then expected to arrive at their choices.

The matter will, therefore, have to be ratified by the ICC's board, before it's cast in stone. The committee is said to have debated whether the top four teams or the top eight teams should constitute the actual play-off. Martin Crowe, former New Zealand captain, has publicly favoured the latter, although he is not a member of the empowered committee.

Either way, there will be a cut-off point several months before the actual contest to determine the final participants. There is a possibility that up to six days will be allotted to a world Test championship match to ensure an outcome in the final and knock-out phase.

At present, India lead the Test rankings, with South Africa second, Sri Lanka third and Australiafourth.

Federer beats Fish for Cincinnati title

2010-08-22T22:51:00.002-07:00

MASON: Roger Federer ended his mini-vacation with another Masters title, winning the Cincinnati championship by beating Mardy Fish 6-7 (5), 7-6 (1), 6-4 in the final on Sunday.

A well-rested Federer was barely on the court all week because his opponents got hurt and his game was so good.

For the first time, the world's second-ranked player was pushed to the limit. Fish kept it as close as could be, dropping the final set after the match's only service break.

Federer ended a streak of three straight losses in tournament finals, winning his first Masters event since Cincinnati last year. His 63rd career title tied Bjorn Borg for fifth place in the Open Era. Pete Sampras is fourth at 64, and Jimmy Connors holds the record with 109.

It took him 2 hours, 40 minutes to close it out -- an eternity compared to how the rest of the week had gone.

Credit Fish for making him sweat one out. The American had surgery on his left knee last September, then set about rebuilding his body. He changed his diet, lost 30 pounds and gained a lot of speed on the court.

This Fish can fly. His agility allowed him to extend points and keep up with Federer, who was clearly fresher. Federer lost to Andy Murray in the title match at Toronto last Sunday, came to town and got a mini-break. He was on court for only 28 minutes in his opening match before Denis Istomin hurt his ankle. Federer didn't even have to leave the locker room to advance a day later. Philipp Kohlschreiber dropped out because of a sore shoulder.

Federer sailed through his next two matches, winning each in two tidy sets. Fish provided his first real test.

The 28-year-old American is on the best stretch of his career, going 17-2 since July with titles atNewport and Atlanta. He'd won five in a row against top-10 opponents, gaining confidence with each upset.

Three games into the title match, Federer knew this one wouldn't be easy.

With Fish serving, the third game dragged on for 13 minutes -- nearly half as long as Federer's opening match -- and 24 points. Fish fought off a pair of break points before holding serve with an ace.

Fish's serve had been at its best all week. He'd served 70 aces and had won 85 percent of the points off his first serve, the best in the tournament. He struggled with it early but hung in there, extending the opening set to the place where he's been best -- a tiebreaker.

Fish is 18-5 in tiebreakers this season, showing a lot of confidence when it comes down to a few pressure points. Federer got up 5-4 in the tiebreaker and was serving the next two points with a chance to close it out.

Instead, Fish hit an overhead winner and Federer dumped a backhand into the net. Fish then finished it off with a 126 mph serve.

It was the first set that Federer lost during his brief week on court. It lasted 70 minutes -- as long as Federer's semifinal match on Saturday night.

The second set was even tighter, with Federer fighting off the only break point. He was more aggressive in this tiebreaker, coming to the net to take control, then closing it out with a 122 mph ace.

Federer got the only service break of the match to go ahead 5-4 in the final set.

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2010-08-22T22:51:00.000-07:00

For long, boxers from India were dismissed simply as street-fighters equipped with haymakers, who led with one's chin and left the ring with a mouse on their face.

Boxing: CWG Medals won by India

With the 2002 gold at the Manchester Commonwealth Games along with a silver and a bronze, India made an attempt to erase the tag of being slow learners of the 'Sweet Science.' But that was not to be. They fell flat on their face again with sub-par performances over the next couple of years including the exit of four boxers in the first round at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

While that was a punch in the gut, the Athens Olympics is still regarded as the rite of passage and 2004 the watershed year in the annals of Indian boxing. The Indians took the beating to heart and learnt a lesson: the usual upper-cuts and hooks gave way to long-range boxing and computer-friendly punches.

"I noticed in Athens that there was no shortage of hard work. We were not fighting clever, that's all," said PK Murlidharan Raja, secretary of IBF, adding, "A judge can get suspended for giving wrong decisions. Therefore, all judges mostly give points on clear straight single punches. Cuban boxers learnt about it early. We were still hooking and swinging wildly to score points."

There was a meeting right after the Athens disaster where 30-odd coaches from across India met and argued on the urgent need to teach their wards the art of straight punches. They even introduced a system at the sub-junior tournaments whereby boxers could be penalized for using the upper-cut and the hook. This helped in fast-tracking the learning process for the junior as well as at the senior level. The result was immediate. Few months later in 2006, pugilists produced their best-ever show by winning the Commonwealth Boxing Championships highlighted by a four-gold haul. They followed it up with five medals at the Melbourne CWG. But the biggest of them all was the corker from Vijender at the Beijing Olympics.

Thus, this time at the Delhi Games, the hosts will field an upbeat and raring-to-go bunch which will target more than five medals from 10 weight categories.

The task, though, is exacting. For one, since most of Indian boxers in the probables list are right-handed as opposed to participants of other countries, who are either ambidextrous or southpaws. When a right-handed boxer charges a leftie, he has to manipulate his technique altogether otherwise he keeps hitting the opposition's guard and scores no points. Secondly, nowadays boxers try to take an early lead and close their guards thereafter. It's essential to know how to pierce it. Indians have trained with these two motives for the last two years. The Games will give them the yield.

Indians boxers have been backed by good preparation, a luxury for most Indian sportspersons. Besides, in combat sports, the horde of madly cheering fans can make champions out of lesser mortals. Vijender, Suronjoy, Nanao & Co. will have plenty of crowd support. They now have to pull the punches.

NUMBER GAME
Core Probables 44
Coaches 07
Foreign Coach 01
Supporting Staff 04
Number of camps/Days 10/552 Days
International Exposure Trips 15
Medals expectations 6 to 7

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2010-08-22T22:50:00.001-07:00

Atwal becomes first Indian to win on PGA Tour

See photo

GREENSBORO: Arjun Atwal won the Wyndham Championship by one stroke Sunday, becoming the first Monday qualifier to win on the PGA Tour in 24 years.

Atwal, who led or shared the lead after each of the first three rounds, shot a 67 in the final round. He finished at 20-under 260 and earned $918,000.

He's the first Indian-born player to win on tour and the first to win both the qualifier and the tournament that follows since Fred Wadsworth at the 1986 Southern Open.

David Toms (64) was 19 under. John Mallinger and Michael Sim both shot 62s and were joined by John Rollins (65) and Justin Leonard (65) at 18 under.

For a few dizzying moments late in a low-scoring day, seven players shared the lead at 18 under.

Atwal, who carried a three-stroke lead into the final round, was at 19 under for most of the day but bogeyed the par-3 No. 12 a few minutes before Lucas Glover bogeyed 14 and Toms, Rollins and Leonard all birdied No. 16.

Atwal reclaimed the lead with a birdie on No. 14, Leonard birdied No. 17 and Toms birdied No. 18 to join them at 19 under. Leonard dropped back a stroke after running into trouble on 18, while Atwal still had three holes to play -- giving him more than enough chances to settle things himself.

Atwal made his move on the par-3 No. 16, plopping his tee shot 6 feet from the flagstick and sinking his birdie putt to move to 20 under. He followed that with consecutive pars, sinking a 7-foot putt on No. 18 before dropping his putter and extending his arms upward in jubilation after closing out his first tour victory.

Glover (67) finished at 17 under, and Webb Simpson (63), Chris Riley (64), Scott Piercy (68) and second-round co-leader Brandt Snedeker (69) were one stroke behind him.

Atwal, who has won on the European, Asian and Nationwide tours, certainly has been through plenty during the past few years.

The player perhaps best known for his practice rounds with Tiger Woods is ineligible for the playoffs and lost his tour card last month because he was too low on the money list when his minor medical exemption ran out. That came after he returned too soon following weightlifting injuries to both shoulders.

Three years ago, a driver trying to race him down an Orlando street died in a crash. Atwal was cleared of any wrongdoing, although the yearlong investigation took an emotional toll.

Glover made five consecutive birdies, sinking four putts from 14 feet or beyond during that stretch, to catch Atwal, then briefly claimed the lead for himself with a birdie on No. 9 that put him at 20 under. That didn't last long: He sent his drive on No. 10 into the rough and three-putted for bogey, and slipped out of contention after he was 3 over on the back nine.

The Wyndham marked the last chance for players to pick up points for the playoffs that begin next week in New Jersey.

Michael Letzig, who arrived at Sedgefield at No. 125 on the points list, finished 14 under to solidify his spot in The Barclays.

"The goal is to give myself another tournament to play,'' he said. "I'm in, so (I'll) see what happens."

Pressure doesn't affect me: Saina Nehwal

2010-08-22T22:49:00.001-07:00

HYDERABAD: It is redemption time for Saina Nehwal as the World Badminton Championshipskick off in Paris on Monday. A few weeks back, she was the toast of the nation after achieving a rare hat-trick of titles.

The country celebrated the dominance of an Indian shuttler after a long time and she was justly rewarded with the Rajiv Khel Ratna.

As Saina gears up to perform on the biggest stage of the world, the expectations of Indian fans are sky high. If she manages to hang on to her red hot form, the world number two has it in her to grab the top honours.

Ever confident about her chances, Saina made light about the pressure of expectations. "It's natural that people expect me to win the title. But I am not thinking about it now. My focus is the on the first match I play on Tuesday. I never let pressure affect me. As long as you focus on the match you play there would be no pressure. I agree it is very tough but I am not worried because I am well prepared," Saina said.

The Hyderabadi girl will face Hsiao Huan Chen of Chinese Taipei in her first match on Tuesday. Though Saina enjoys a 2-0 record over Hsiao, she believes the latter is capable of causing an upset.

"I found her to be a very tough player. I struggled a lot to beat her and I know she'll be determined to avenge the loss. At this stage there's very little to separate between the players and we need to give the best always," Saina said.

Saina faces a major hurdle in the quarters against world No. 6 Shixian Wang of China. Though Saina never faced her in big events, Shixian is a player who had defeated even world No. 1 Wang Yihan. "I know she's a great player and that match will be as good as a final. If I can beat her I stand a good chance in the tournament," Saina said.

India's top men's singles player Chetan Anand opens against Yong Zhao Ashton Chen of Singapore. Ranked 15th in the world Anand should easily get past 107th ranked Chen. Anand can easily make it to the third round.

Apart from the mixed doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Valiyaveetil Diju, the other Indian doubles teams don't hold much promise. Jwala and Diju,
who reached the quarters at the Worlds last year are capable of going all the way this time.

Whoever breaks my records should be an Indian: Tendulkar

2010-08-03T00:08:00.001-07:00

COLOMBO: Sachin Tendulkar has looked a driven man throughout this tour. He has trained intensely, played aggressive mentor to the juniors after the defeat in Galle, scored his fifth double-hundred to help India avoid possible defeat at the SSC, and is now going to get his 169th Test cap: the most ever, past Steve Waugh's formidable record.

Most men conquer a milestone and sap, but Tendulkar's greatness is that he has conquered so many and yet retained a meticulous, student-like approach to the game's processes.

Even after so many years of top-flight cricket, he is still the perfectionist, still finicky about getting the little things right. He has even asked for the sightscreen at one end of the P Sara Oval to be increased in height, because he was finding it difficult to sight the angled deliveries from taller bowlers. A lesser batsman would have thought twice before complaining. Coming from Tendulkar, the groundsmen have no option but to quickly comply.

On match eve, a philosophic Tendulkar suddenly indulged a desire to speak, leading to an impromptu chat under a blazing sun. It was a rare occasion when Tendulkar played life coach.Excerpts:

On whether anybody can break his records: Records are meant to be broken. All I can say is, whoever breaks my records should be an Indian.

On the journey: It has gone by quicker than I expected. You just need to enjoy it, it's a cycle. You are not always on top. The simple formula I have followed is, whenever I have gone through phases, I have worked harder. I try and spend all my energy in something I want to get better at.

On his preparations: I'm not saying cricket is simple, but everything around it, if you keep simple, it becomes relatively easy. I have used the huge support I have had over the years as a factor to motivate me, to go out and live up to the expectations I have of myself. For that, the pre-match preparation is extremely important. My preparation was always there. I'm really proud of that. Results are not in your hands, the way you prepare is. In that department, I have not failed.

On playing the most Tests: Obviously you need an x number of years, an x number of Tests. It has taken me 20-plus years and I'm really pleased. In the last few years we've played a reasonable amount of Test cricket. At one stage, in the early 1990s, we hardly got any Tests.

On how he has managed to retain the intensity: Over the years the love for cricket has remained the same. If at all, it has only increased with time. Passion also kept increasing. Whether it is a match or practice, I still enjoy it. I don't take it as a burden. It is God's gift that my life's passion is also my work. I enjoy every moment. I got a chance 20 years ago, and since then I've been living a dream.

His message to the new generation: It's important to dream, and to chase your dreams. Be sincere and honest. Dreams do come true.

Mount 169

Tendulkar will create history, once again, when he walks out play the third Test against Lanka on Tuesday - It will be would be his 169th Test, more than anyone has played. Here's the list of players with most Test appearances (top 15)

Sachin Tendulkar 168 (1989-present)

Steve Waugh 168 (1985-2004)

Alan Border 156 (1978-1994)

Ricky Ponting 146 (1995-present)

Shane Warne 145 (1992-2007)

Rahul Dravid 141 (1996-present)

Jacques Kallis 140 (1995-present)

Mark Boucher 134 (1997-present)

M Muralitharan 133 (1992-2010)

Alec Stewart 133 (1990-2003)

Anil Kumble 132 (1990-2008)

Courtney Walsh 132 (1984-2001)

Kapil Dev 131 (1978-1994)

Brian Lara 131 (1990-2006)

Mark Waugh 128 (1991-2002)

Besides 168 Tests, Tendulkar has also played 442 ODIs, 103 first class matches, 87 List A ties (limited overs first class games) and 41 T20 matches (including one T20 international)

Tendulkar made his first class debut on December 11, 1988, scoring a 100 vs Gujarat to become youngest Indian to score century on first class debut

Tendulkar has missed 14 Tests during his long career

Suresh Raina, India's latest Test debutant, was not even three when Tendulkar made his debut, against Pakistan on November 15, 1989

With just one more hundred, Tendulkar will become the first to post 10 tons against Lanka, and the first to record 10 or more against two nations. Tendulkar already has 10 centuries against Australia

Tendulkar becomes most-capped Test player

2010-08-03T00:07:00.005-07:00

COLOMBO: Milestone man Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday became the most-capped Test cricketer in the world after taking field for his 169th match, the third and final of the ongoing series against Sri Lanka.

Leading Test appearances | In Pics: Sachin Tendulkar's double centuries

The 37-year-old champion batsman, who holds almost every batting record, overtook retired former Australian captain Steve Waugh with whom he was tied at 168 matches after the second Test at SSC.

Tendulkar, who has been around for two decades now, has also played 442 one-day internationals, just a couple of matches less than Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya's record of 444.

Tendulkar has scored 13,742 runs in 168 Tests at an average of 56.08, notching up 48 hundreds and 55 half-centuries in the process.

He has 17,598 runs, including 46 centuries, in his 442 one-dayers. The Mumbaikar also holds the distinction of being the first batsman to score a double hundred in ODIs.

But despite these astonishing feats, Tendulkar remains hungry for more runs and after getting his fifth Test double hundred in the second Test against Sri Lanka, the diminutive batsman urged critics to stop talking about his age.

Sport ministry issues show cause notice to Hockey India and IHF

2010-08-03T00:07:00.003-07:00

NEW DELHI: In a new twist to the drama surrounding the national game, sports ministry sought clarifications from both Hockey India and Indian Hockey Federation on how they propose to meet the governments' guidelines to run the sport in the country.

The sports ministry on Monday issued show-cause notices to both HI and IHF, asking the two bodies to clarify as to how they meet the guidelines of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the government.

In its show-cause notice to HI, the ministry asked it to explain before Thursday's election as to why the government should not de-recognise it in the wake of the federation's declaration before Delhi High Court that it is a private body.

While in another notice to IHF, the ministry gave the KPS Gill-led body 14 days time to explain as to how it proposes to meet the FIH as well as government's guidelines if it wishes to run the sport in the country.

In the notice issued to HI president Vidya Stokes and secretary general Narinder Batra, joint-secretary in the ministry Injeti Srinivas said if the national federation fails to provide a satisfactory answer before its polls, the government's provisional recognition to HI will be automatically withdrawn.

"The Ministry of Sports (MoYAS) has carefully studied the orders passed by the Delhi High Courts and the Supreme Court of India and has noted that HI is holding its elections as a private body on the basis of its own set of rules and bye-laws," Srinivas said in the notice.

"In view of the private body status of the HI being accepted by the Honourable Supreme Court, you are hereby called upon to explain before the date of elections as to why the provisional recognition granted to HI by the MoYAS, shall not be withdrawn with immediate effect," the notice said.

"Failure to furnish a satisfactory reply within the time limit stated above will automatically result in withdrawal of recognition to HI as a National Sports Federation for hockey in India," it added.

The notice also states that HI had accepted before the Delhi High Court that it was not contesting with erstwhile Indian Hockey Federation to run the sport in the country.

"The HI has declared itself to be a private body before the Delhi High Court and that it was not contesting the status of IHF as the sole NSF for hockey in India," it said.

Meanwhile, in a separate notice to IHF president KPS Gill, the ministry said, "In view of the Delhi High Court order it has become incumbent upon the MoYAS to seek the co-operation of IHF and others in finding the way out of the present impasse in the management of hockey in India.

"In view of the above, you are called upon to explain within 14 days as to how you propose to meet the requirements of FIH of having a unified body for both men and women at the national level so as to obtain FIH's membership and be able to discharge all the responsibilities of a recognised NSF, including representing India in international competition recognised by FIH," the notice read.

"You are also called upon to confirm your acceptance to comply with the government guidelines for recognition of NSFs, including the latest order regarding the limits on age and tenure of office bearers. In the event of not responding to this notice within the time limit, it shall be deemed that you have nothing to state on this matter," the notice added.

Incidentally, the much-awaited HI elections were postponed for the fourth time on July 28 after the Delhi and Bombay High Courts stayed the poll process.

While the Delhi High Court had stayed the polls following the failure of the Central government to clarify its legal position regarding HI and IHF, the Bombay High Court did the same on a petition filed by the Maharashtra Hockey Association.

HI, however, moved the Supreme Court against the orders and managed to vacate the stays on July 30 and obtain a green signal from the apex court to hold its elections.

Armed with the Supreme Court ruling, HI also announced that it will hold its elections, on Thursday.

The FIH had threatened to bar India from participating in international tournaments, including women World Cup in Rosario, Argentina later this month, if a democratically elected federation was not put in place by July 31.

Delhi Games in crisis as clock runs down

2010-08-03T00:07:00.001-07:00

NEW DELHI: The Commonwealth Games in New Delhi have been plunged into crisis just two months before the opening ceremony by allegations of corruption, shoddy workmanship and delays in handing over venues.

Monday should have witnessed the final handover -- already twice delayed -- of the venues to the event directors, but four are still under construction and others are the focus of a row over sub-standard work.

The Games, which India had hoped would be a showcase for its emergence as a global economic power, are scheduled to begin on October 3.

The charges of rampant corruption and concerns over the ballooning cost have drowned out increasingly desperate-sounding assurances from top Indian officials, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, that preparations are on track.

An Indian anti-corruption body last week reported it had found a host of problems with construction work, including use of poor quality materials and dubious contracts.

The chief technical examiner from the Central Vigilance Commission inspected 15 sites around the national capital and found a number of irregularities and suspect practices by contractors and public bodies.

The Times of India said all construction quality certificates inspected so far had turned out to be fake or "suspect."

Indian media also reported that the British government had raised questions about suspect sums being transferred from the organising committee to a British-based firm.

The reports prompted the chairman of the Games organising committee, Suresh Kalmadi, to address a hurried press conference where he slammed the media for conducting a "prejudiced campaign".

"I wish to state that we have nothing to hide and I stand before you with clear conscience and complete conviction," Kalmadi said.

"We believe in total transparency. The campaign is very demoralising for athletes and officials who have been working day and night for many years now to make the Games a success.

"The need of the hour is to get on with the Games and be united to make this happen. Let not corruption be the only highlight. There are many positive things to write and talk about."

Media coverage has become increasingly negative as the games approach.

The India Today news magazine dubbed the event the "Shame Games" while a recent editorial in The Times of India said it was "in danger of becoming an exhibition of ineptitude and incompetence."

The event involving 71 nations is already the costliest Commonwealth Games in history, with an infrastructure and organising budget of two billion dollars. Unofficial estimates say the cost will be at least three times that amount.

The desperate race to get everything finished in time has been hampered by heavy monsoon rains that have turned worksites across the city into mudbaths and even flooded some of the main venues.

Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper said Monday he was concerned about the Central Vigilance Commission's report and made it clear that the organisers would refuse to take over suspect venues.

"We will not accept the handover of any venue if appropriate documents are not there attesting that the venues are fit for the purpose," Hooper said.

Opposition parties have seized on the corruption allegations to condemn the government's handling of preparations for the Games.

Police had to use water cannon on Monday to disperse opposition activists who marched to parliament with banners bearing slogans including: "Is it Commonwealth Games or the Loot of the Common Man?"

Other Commonwealth nations have expressed concerns about the situation, although Perry Crosswhite, the chief executive of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association, said he suspected political motives at play.

"It looks like the parties and the government there are having a go at each other and no doubt everybody has got their little axe to grind," Crosswhite said on Monday.

"These things tend to happen before these types of events -- the blame game happens.

300 will come if it has to: Tendulkar

2010-07-30T02:28:00.004-07:00

COLOMBO: Great disappointments are common for great achievers, but Sachin Tendulkar had prepared for the long haul.

In Pics: Sachin Tendulkar's double centuries

He had an ice bath after the third day's play, went to bed by 8.30, woke up very early on Thursday and got on with his stretching exercises. At the end of the day, he had a fifth double century to show for his efforts at a crunch time for India.

"It's a bit demanding on the body," he simply said, "I almost stayed four days on the field."

If Tendulkar was disappointed at having missed out on a golden opportunity to get into the 300-club, he didn't show it. "I don't like to count the number of runs I score," he simply said. "I have always just gone out and played. People look at records. Whenever it (the 300) comes, it will come. If it has to come, it will come. We were able to put our heads together and contribute something reasonable here.

"Patience was very important. It was an important innings. It was tough to resist the temptation to play big shots on this wicket. I controlled all the temptations well, so I am happy. It was a tricky time, and a big partnership was needed. To be out there for so long, it's a good effort. We had to kill time."

He was equally diplomatic when asked if holding on to the No.1 rank had motivated him. "We are here to play good cricket. It's not that we want to change the No.1 rank, but if we play good cricket the rankings will take care of themselves. It's important to focus on the process."

Surprisingly, even the batsman in Tendulkar couldn't help taking potshots at this SSC pitch, saying, "There wasn't enough help for the bowlers."

Probably for the first time, he also said he was pleased with how the phases in his batting had evolved over the years. Some of his most crucial knocks have come in recent times, and on Thursday he went past Don Bradman's tally of 18 knocks above 150.

Sehwag had quipped how it was difficult to make out who was the debutant, Tendulkar or Suresh Raina, and Tendulkar seems to have got the philosophy right. "It's not just cricket, life has phases," he said.

"There's not much change, the approach is the same, but sometimes the method changes. If you're prepared to learn, you can grasp a lot of things. The important thing is to keep learning. There are a lot of things still left to achieve."

Sachin’s double tons:

Runs	Against	Year	Place
202	Sri Lanka	July 2010	Colombo
248*	Bangladesh	December 2004	Dhaka
241	Australia	January 2004	Sydney
201	Zimbabwe	November 2001	Nagpur
217	New Zealand	October 1999	Ahemdabad

Sachin Tendulkar slams fifth Test double hundred

2010-07-30T02:28:00.003-07:00

Sachin slams fifth double century in Test cricket

See photo

NEW DELHI: Milestone man Sachin Tendulkar re-wrote the record books on Thursday, hammering the fifth double Test century to add another feather to his well-adorned cap.

Sachin’s Profile | Sachin Tendulkar closing in on 100 tons | In Pics: Sachin slams 5th double ton |In Pics: Sachin's double centuries

As the crowd erupted with unbridled joy, Tendulkar, tired but composed, took off his helmet, looked skyward, closed his eyes to offer a silent prayer.

The greatest accumulator of runs in the history of cricket, Tendulkar possesses nearly all major batting record even though he insisted he never chased milestones.

Most Test centuries (top five)
Player	Matches	Innings	Runs	HS	Ave.	100	50

Sachin Tendulkar	168*	274	13647	248*	55.93	48	55
Ricky Ponting	146	247	12026	257	54.66	39	52
Jacques Kallis	140	237	11126	189*	55.07	35	53
Sunil Gavaskar	125	214	10122	236*	51.12	34	45
Brian Lara	131	232	11953	400*	52.88	34	48

Over the past 12 months, though, Sachin has once again opened up a yawning gap between himself and all his contemporaries, and ensured that if at all any comparisons have to be made, they should be with another Australian - Don Bradman, who was famously reminded of himself when watching Sachin bat.

Earlier on Thursday, India, replying to Sri Lanka's mammoth 642/4 declared, carried their overnight total of 382/4 to 477 without further loss by lunch on the fourth day at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Tendulkar and Raina, who came together on Wednesday afternoon with India struggling at 241-4, have so far added 236 runs for the fifth wicket on a pitch still favouring stroke-making.

Left-hander Raina went to lunch unbeaten on 112, becoming the ninth Indian to score a century in his first Test, while Tendulkar was on a masterly 152 not out.

Tendulkar, the world's leading run-getter, equalled West Indian Brian Lara's record of 19 scores of 150-plus. Australian legend Don Bradman did it on 18 occasions.

Sachin’s double tons:

Runs	Against	Year	Place
202	Sri Lanka	July 2010	Colombo
248*	Bangladesh	December 2004	Dhaka
241	Australia	January 2004	Sydney
201	Zimbabwe	November 2001	Nagpur
217	New Zealand	October 1999	Ahemdabad

Saina Nehwal to get Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award

2010-07-30T02:28:00.001-07:00

Saina Nehwal to get Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award

See photo

NEW DELHI: Ace Indian shuttler and world number two Saina Nehwal has been chosen for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award by the panel headed by sprinter queen P T Usha on Friday.

"I am ecstatic", Saina said, reacting to the surprised inclusion. "I will work hard to bring more laurels for India"

Saina's coach Pullela Gopichand also expressed happiness and hoped Saina can continue her good work for the country. "This is just a beginning she will bring more laurels. I am happy that she has got that award which aspired to", said the former All England champion and national coach.

Saina made a meteoric rise following her back-to-back title triumphs, three in three weeks, this year.

Saina's next engagement will be in the World badminton Championship in Paris next month, before playing the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

Last year Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna was awarded to Olympic bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh, wrestler Sushil Kumar and four-time world champion woman pugilist M.C. Mary Kom.

Saina Nehwal, who became world number 2 on July 15 this year, was the first Indian girl to reach the singles quarterfinals at the Olympics and the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships.

Saina Nehwal made history on June 21, 2009, becoming the first Indian to win a Super Series tournament, by clinching the Indonesia Open with a stunning victory over higher-ranked Chinese Wang Lin in Jakarta.

CA declines to make fresh nomination, to support Kiwi Isaac

2010-07-30T02:27:00.004-07:00

MELBOURNE: Refusing to nominate a candidate other than rejected John Howard, Cricket Australia on Friday decided to support New Zealand Cricket Chairman Alan Isaac for the post of ICC vice president.

An angry CA said it believed former Prime Minister Howard was the best candidate for them so instead of making a fresh nomination they would support Isaac, whose name has been proposed by the New Zealand Board.

Both the boards were asked by the ICC to re-nominate a person by July 31 after Howard's nomination was blocked by influential Afro-Asian bloc at its Executive Board meeting in Singapore.

"Cricket Australia's Board has today re-affirmed that former Australian Prime Minister John Howard is the best candidate available for nomination for the position of Vice President of the ICC and has decided it will not consider suggesting any other names for the role," a CA statement said.

"New Zealand Cricket has proposed its chairman, eminent businessman and corporate governance practitioner, Alan Isaac, for the role and CA will now support that nomination," the statement added.

The CA said its board is disappointed and most concerned by the ICC Executive Board's lack of support of Howard's nomination and regards it as completely unacceptable that no reason has been provided as to why he has not been accepted.

"We still have been given no official reason why a strongly-credentialed candidate of Howard's qualification's, skill and stature was not supported," CA Chairman Jack Clarke said.

"Our Directors were today very strongly of the view that Howard continues to be the best candidate CA could nominate. We are not prepared to suggest another candidate.

"Accordingly, we are pleased to support New Zealand Cricket's suggestion that Alan Isaac be nominated for the role," he added.

Howard, who describes himself as a 'cricket tragic', apparently paid the price for his political policies as six of the 10 voting nations refused to support his candidature.

He openly criticised the Robert Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe during his reign as Prime Minister and also earned the ire of Sri Lanka cricket by calling their off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan a 'chucker'.

Sorry for skipping CWG: Bolt to India

2010-07-30T02:27:00.003-07:00

JAIPUR: Usain Bolt on Thursday apologised to Indian fans for his decision to skip the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. In an exclusive interview to TOI, world's best sprinter, and perhaps the greatest ever, also hoped that he would one day be able to make up for it.

"Sorry that I can't make it this time. Hope to see you in the future," Bolt said in a message to the Indian fans, in reply to a query from TOI.
Bolt, who holds the world record in 100m as well as 200m, was expected to be part of the Jamaican squad for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games set to be held in October.

His name was also included in the initial list of the Jamaican squad. However, his agent made it clear some days ago that Bolt would give Delhi Games a skip.

Bolt said in his latest interview to TOI on Thursday: "It would have been nice as I haven't competed in the Commonwealth Games before but the timing was wrong for me."

Excerpts from the interview:

What is the current status of your Achilles tendon injury?

It is much better now, almost healed. It is not bothering me at all at the moment and should be perfectly fine soon.

You weren't very happy with your recent race in Paris GP. Which aspect bothered you?

Actually I was quite happy with the fact that I had won it. However, I found that my strength was down due to missed training and that was a matter of concern. But then I am now trying to catch up and I hope by my next race, I would have corrected that.

Justin Gatlin is set to return next month. What do you expect from him?

To tell you the truth, I have no idea as I do not know how he has been training.

The Commonwealth Games in New Delhi was never in your focus, yet is there any disappointment in missing it?

It would have been really nice as I haven't competed in the Commonwealth Games before but the timing was all wrong for me as I need to get ready for the World Championships in 2011 and Olympic Games in 2012. Those two events are very important and all athletes focus on them. It is crucial that we remain in peak shape for them.

Was there any pressure on you to participate in the Commonwealth Games?

No, I wouldn't say there was any pressure. In fact, I wasn't thinking about it. It was up to my coach to make the decision based on what is best for my career. I am sure he made the right decision.

Indian fans are very disappointed that you won't be coming.

I am really sorry that I can't make it this time. As I said, it would have been really nice and I do hope to see you in the future.

What timings are you looking at before the season gets over?

I am confirmed in 3 races as of now - Stockholm, Zurich and Brussels. There will be good competition in all these races and I do hope to have some good timings.

Are you satisfied with the way the season has shaped up so far?

Yes, I think so. My aim before the season was to go through it unbeaten and so far I have managed to keep it that way. It has been good.

You are likely to face Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell in Stockholm. How important is that race?

It will be a good race. It will be the first time this year that all three of us will run together in the same race. The competition will be good and each one of us will be tested.

You are a passionate follower of cricket. How would you compare Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara?

They each bring different styles to the game and each are masters of their specific craft. They have helped to keep cricket popular, especially in their respective regions.

Would you be willing to visit India for some competition at a later date?

Absolutely. I do hope I get to visit India one day in the near future.

BCCI accuses Modi of delaying tactics

2010-07-30T02:27:00.001-07:00

MUMBAI: "These are all delaying tactics," said a senior BCCI official minutes after the disciplinary committee's second hearing in the Lalit Modi case concluded in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The official was clearly at pains when he said: "They just want this to go on for as long as possible and delay the proceedings which are imminent."

He was referring to the arguments that went on for close to four hours between the disciplinary committee members and the legal experts representing Modi.

In the end, another date - August 1 - was set for the hearing to resume. As reported by TOI, Modi was not present at the hearing but has given his consent to being available through a video conference at the next hearing.

Modi's constituted attorney Mehmood M Abdi, accompanied by lawyers Venkatesh Dhond and SS Hora, sat facing the disciplinary committee members Chirayu Amin, Arun Jaitley and Jyotiraditya Scindia and the meeting that began around 6.30 pm went on almost till 10 pm.

Once the hearing began, Modi's lawyers stuck to the same point that they've been making ever since the committee was set up, that an independent inquiry panel should be reconstituted.

On Tuesday, they only concentrated on Jaitley's presence in the committee, leaving Amin aside and said that the BCCI vice president, also a senior BJP leader, has already voiced his opinion against Modi in the IPL governing council meeting.

"They (Modi's lawyers) argued that since Jaitley has already spoken in the negative about Modi, he could have bias against them and therefore should seek recusal," a source in the know of developments, told TOI.

Interestingly, BCCI secretary N Srinivasan - who is not a member of the disciplinary committee - was also present in the room, an issue that the Modi camp is likely to raise in the next hearing, given their argument since the beginning that Srinivasan holds a bias against Modi.

Modi to be absent again in BCCI disciplinary meet

2010-07-26T22:07:00.001-07:00

NEW DELHI: The BCCI's disciplinary committee meets on Tuesday to continue its probe into alleged financial irregularities by suspended IPL chief Lalit Modi, who would once again skip the proceedings.

Modi will be represented by his lawyers who are seeking the recusal of Chirayu Amin and Arun Jaitley from the disciplinary panel.

The three-member disciplinary panel, comprising Amin, Jaitley and Jyotiraditya Scindia, last met on July 16 and allowed Modi to be represented by his lawyers.

The exception was made after Modi's second counsel Venkatesh Dhond explained that the charges against the administrator were of a serious nature and complex legal issues were involved, particularly in relation to interpretation of contract documents.

The BCCI, too, has been allowed to send only its lawyers for the hearing.

Modi has been pressing for the recusal of Jaitley, a BCCI vice-President, and Amin, the interim IPL chief, contending that being Board office-bearers they would be biased against him during the proceedings.

However, he suffered a setback when the Bombay High Court rejected his petition for the reconstitution of the panel.

Later, Modi asked the disciplinary committee to provide him with minutes of meetings of the special general body of the board and the IPL governing council held after his suspension.

In an application to the disciplinary committee, Modi has also asked for a copy of the amended broadcast agreement between the board and Sony-MSM, they said.

"We have asked for some documents. These are crucial to the proceedings which are already underway as the disciplinary committee and the jurisdiction of the disciplinary committee flows from these documents," Modi's legal counsel Mehmood Abdi said.

"It is essential for us to have access to these documents since the contents we've asked will have far-reaching implications for us. BCCI should provide us these documents as the same have implications on the co-issue of recusal, which the disciplinary committee is scheduled to finally decide at its meeting on July 27, 2010 in Delhi," he added.

At tomorrow's meeting, Modi's lawyers are also expected to tell the panel when he would be available in person to attend the proceedings.

Defiant Diego Maradona wants to keep coaching Argentina

2010-07-26T22:06:00.003-07:00

BUENOS AIRES: Diego Maradona said he wanted to continue coaching Argentina's national soccer team but only if he could keep absolute control over the choice of his assistants.

Maradona was due to meet the head of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Julio Grondona, on Monday to determine whether he would stay on after Argentina suffered a bruising 4-0 loss to Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals.

"I want to continue. Whether I stay will be decided in the meeting I'll have with Grondona..., and the outcome of that will depend on what he wants and whether he accepts what I ask of him," Maradona told Argentine television on Sunday in his first comments to local reporters since the World Cup defeat.

"Continuing means taking charge and with the people I want," Maradona said, alluding to local media reports that the AFA would ask him to replace some members of his coaching team.

"There's no way I'll continue as coach of the national team if they want to take (Alejandro) Mancuso or (Hector) Enrique away from me...or if they want to impose someone or other on me."

Maradona gained world fame as a player in the 1980s but he has had a patchy performance as coach of Argentina.

He defended his team's performance in the World Cup, despite the painful exit from the tournament in South Africa earlier this month.

"We didn't deserve to finish that way, we had done good work," he said.

Gill to inaugurate Nehru stadium on Tuesday

2010-07-26T22:06:00.001-07:00

NEW DELHI: After several missed deadlines, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main venue for the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games, is finally ready to be inaugurated by Sports Minister MS Gill on Tuesday.

Constructed during the 1982 Asian Games, the remodelling of the stadium started in January 2008 and was supposed to be complete early this year but the Rs 961 crore project got delayed umpteen times because of the construction of a tunnel.

The 150m tunnel, which connected the two ends of the stadium, is for the performers to enter into the ground during the opening and closing ceremonies.

The competitive venue for athletics, weightlifting and Lawn tennis, Nehru stadium spans over an area of 4,04,686 sqm and the oval shaped building has fabrication and erection of high strength steel work as per international standard.

The three independent structures of the main stadium building are the lower tier, main building and supporting structure for PTFE membrane roof.

The entire building is earthquake resistant and has two tier seating capacity for 60,000 spectator.

The Field of Play is divided into Competition, Training and Warm up area. The competition area is a 400x9 lane synthetic warm-up track with 10 sprint lane of Class-I certification.

The training area boasts of a synthetic track with nine sprint lane of Class-II certification, while the Warm-up for throwing and final warm-up synthetic track in side the main stadium.

Kaushik threatens to move court to clear name in sex scandal

2010-07-26T22:05:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI: Former coach MK Kaushik on Monday threatened to take legal action against Hockey India, accusing the sports body of trying to put him in the dock in the sexual harassment case through manipulation.

Kaushik, who is at the centre of the unsavoury episode, questioned Hockey India's authority to recommend police and government action against him and objected to HI holding that Ranjitha Devi's complaints against him were "credible" without verifying the allegations.

He said since the five-member inquiry committee's report had only factual matters and no recommendations, HI could not recommend action against him.

"I object to Hockey India deciding not to use my services and recommending Delhi Police to take action against me. The inquiry committee had not at all given any recommendations and how can HI do this," he told reporters at a hurriedly-convened press conference.

"I object to HI secretary general Narinder Batra saying that Ranjitha Devi's written reply were credible and had specific charges. The report itself said there were no verification of the allegations. So it is contradictory, on one hand you are saying that her version was credible and at the same time they are not proved. How can it be possible?" he asked.

"I am saying again that all these charges against me are baseless and fabricated. I have sent a reply to the letter sent by HI to the sports ministry recommending action on me," he said while presenting his lawyers Mandira Mitra and Praveen Aggarwal to the media.

Mitra said his client will see the situation for a while and if necessary will go to court.

"It is premature to say whether we will go to court or not. If necessary we will go to court but first we are replying to the letter sent by Hockey India to the government. We have given this reply to HI interim president Vidya Stokes," she said.

In his letter submitted to HI president, Kaushik accused the federation of conspiring to malign him in the sport fraternity.

"... the management of Hockey India is conspiring against me to malign my stature in the sports fraternity and the society in general. Further, it shows that Hockey India is conducting this whole affair with a bias against me and concluding that I am guilty and as such this against the principal of natural justice," he said.

Kaushik also accused Batra of releasing the letter to the media on Saturday and said the general secretary was "grossly abusing his power".

"I would like to record my protest at the gross abuse of power committed by the incumbent secretary general Narinder Batra, who is seeking re-election for the same post in the upcoming elections, in releasing the contents of the letter along with documents to the media prior to its receipt by me," he said in his reply.

Kaushik said the letter is highly manipulative and demanded Hockey India to withdraw it.

"The tone and tenor of this statement makes it clear that the management of Hockey India is acting in a vindictive manner.

"I demand Hockey India to withdraw this statement with immediate effect as it shows malafide intention and the presence of a larger conspiracy against me," he said in his letter.

Kaushik also said that he would not have used videographer Basavraj with the women's team had he known he would indulge in unwanted activities.

"SAI has three videographers, Rajinder had been attached at Patiala, the second Nehal had gone for his family marriage so we had to use Basavraj's services. He was not my priority," he said.

"Moreover there is no connection between Basavraj taking pictures (of prostitutes) and I am being punished. Why am I being dragged into it?" he asked.

Earlier in the day, Sports Ministry decided to launch its own probe into the allegations of sexual harassment against Kaushik by handing the task to its internal committee.

Sachin Tendulkar deserves World Cup win: Morrison

2010-07-16T00:11:00.000-07:00

AUCKLAND: Sachin Tendulkar deserves a World Cup victory under his belt but to realise this dream the batting icon needs players like Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni to fire in 2011 home event, says former Kiwi fast bowler Danny Morrison.

"Sachin Tendulkar, the master, deserves to have some sort of winners' medal hanging round his neck but it's not all about him. Cricket is a tough game and it's also about whether Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni can deliver for India. Can they do it for Sachin?," Morrison said at an ICC audio-cricket show.

The cricketer-turned-commentator also feels that India will be strong contenders to lift the World Cup.

"I think India has the best opportunity to lift the World Cup this time round. It has to be good for them playing on home turf. It adds pressure but that's part of hosting.

"You feel that India want something special to happen and this year I think you've got to go with the India team to emulate the 1983 side led by Kapil Dev," said Morrison, who claimed 126 ODI wickets and 160 in Tests.

India will co-host the 2011 edition along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in February-March.

No tailor-made pitch for Muralitharan at Galle

2010-07-16T00:09:00.000-07:00

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has planned a COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has planned a grand farewell for Muttiah Muralitharan, who will play his swansong Test against India from Sunday, but will not prepare a tailor-made pitch to assist the spin wizard.

He is just eight wickets shy of touching the magical 800-wicket and SLC officials say Murali does not need a pitch suiting his style as he can strike on any pitch.

Curtains will fall on a dazzling international career which saw Murali becoming highest wicket-taker in Tests well as in one-dayers.

The cricket authorities have invited all former Test skippers to witness the Test and have even formulated a special Muralitharan farewell committee to organise the show.

"We are planning to give him a good send-off and we will ensure that the event is memorable," SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said.

Murali is capable of striking in any pitch, Ranatunga said when asked if a pitch assisting Murali will be laid.

SLC will organise a brief event before the commencement of the first Test and a grand felicitation at the end of the match.

According to officials, the 38 year old bowler will be welcomed by the local bands from Galle District when he will enter the stadium on the first day.

All former chairmen and secretaries of the board have been invited to witness the farewell Test match and the Galle cricket ground is being spruced up for the occasion.

2010 Commonwealth Games: Cautiously Optimistic

2010-07-16T00:08:00.001-07:00

It exceeded expectations. We had set out to achieve a reality check, to properly understand what lies ahead with just 80 plus days to go before India plays host to the biggest ever sports event on our soil.

Can we realistically continue to dream that CWG 2010 will be the best Commonwealth Games ever, a statement that has become synonymous with the chairman of the Organizing Committee, Suresh Kalmadi, or is it finally beginning to sound hollow with time fast catching up on us and substantial work still remaining underdone?

We wanted to restore the pride of place to the athlete, the ultimate stakeholder of the games, and also explore what the lasting legacies of the mega event will be like? Can we finally say that the games are a prudent investment that will leave infrastructure that will serve as well into the future or will the tax payer lament the use of his money in ways unacceptable as the games descend on us? All of this and more was achieved while also allowing us the opportunity to get together on one platform the best assemblage of persons to talk on the games from across the country.

The inaugural plenary panel, including Sheila Dikshit, chief minister of Delhi, Suresh Kalmadi, chairman CWG 2010, Abhijit Sarkar, head, corporate communications, Sahara India Pariwar, S. Sridhar, CMD, Central Bank, Rina Ray, MD, Delhi Tourism and V.K. Karthika, publisher and chief editor, Harper Collins, India helped set the stage.

While Suresh Kalmadi and Sheila Dikshit offered an objective update on the state of preparedness, Rina Ray articulated plans for 'empowering every tourist', from abroad and also from within the country, who visit Delhi during the games.

All speakers agreed on the need for community integration and emphasized upon the huge opportunity that Delhi 2010 offered in its wake. While Karthika suggested that much more could be done, the chief minister and the chairman of the CWG outlined the complexities involved in staging the games of this nature and urged for more patience and understanding. "We are moving with a definite plan to raise hype. We don't want to start too early wherein the hype can get diffused", suggested Dikshit. "It will all start with 60 days to go".

Kalmadi was his usual buoyant self, "I am convinced it will be a great games and it will set the stage for the evolution of a sports culture in India", he asserted. With Karthika and Sarkar at their provocative best, the packed Stein Auditorium at the India Habitat Center enjoyed every moment of the one and a half hour discussion.

Cameras clicked quick and fast when the panelists were joined by Arindam Sengupta, executive editor of the Times of India, to launch the Times Commonwealth Guide and when Roop Kishore Maheshwari, chairman of Imagesbazaare.com, the event's primary supporter, offered mementos to the speakers.

He was accompanied by his son Sandeep, whose contribution was essential in making sure that the audience enjoyed a truly engaging morning. With questions hurled at the speakers from almost all corners of the auditorium, the end of the panel on account of time constraints left the audience asking for more, a pleasant departure from the existing norm at conferences of this nature.

This was followed by a stimulating discussion on "Commonwealth 2010 as Investment" chaired by Paromita Chatterjee of ET Now. M.J. Akbar did not let the intensity dip and B.S. Lalli, chairman of Prasar Bharti, articulated the challenges that lay ahead for the host broadcaster.

With Manish Kumar offering an insider's view, the intensity not for once was lost, a fact proved by a packed Steyn auditorium enjoying the deliberations.

The post lunch panel saw the coming together of some of the best corporate brains, men and women, who deliberated on issues of 'legacy' that the games are expected to leave behind.

This panel, chaired by Latika Khaneja, saw Ram Tamara, Abhijit Sarkar, Navroz Dhondy, Sandeep Maheswari and the Joint DG of the CWG OC, T.S. Darbari, emphasize on the singular importance of a positive legacy that CWG 2010 can, if organized well, will leave behind.

Discussions veered on issues of tangible and intangible legacy and Khaneja, in her inimitable style, got the audience into the discussion to ensure the panel was entertaining and stimulating.

The day's last panel began with a reality check. All of the panelists, members of the sports media fraternity and sportsmen who have represented India at the world stage, emphasized the overpowering presence of the market and the TRP's. Cricket, it was repeatedly emphasized, garners eyeballs and despite efforts to promote and market other sports, we remain a nation that only follows stars.

At the same time Ayaz Memon, Charu Sharma, Akash Chopra, Deep Dasgupta and Hakimuddin Habibullah hoped that a successful CWG 2010 will ensure that Olympic sports get their rightful place in the Indian sporting pantheon. The panel highlighted the need for sport for all and emphasized the role of sport in promoting development and peace.

These concerns, going beyond the confines of the sports field, are key concepts enshrined in the legacy document for CWG 2010. All of the panelists drew attention to the close connection between sport and nationalism, a linkage that can only become stronger with a significant number of podium finishes at CWG 2010.

At the end of the day, Gautam Sen, one of the key movers of the summit, summed up the proceedings.

World number two and counting

2010-07-16T00:07:00.002-07:00

HYDERABAD: Continuing her meteoric rise in world badminton, Saina Nehwal zoomed to No. 2 spot in the world rankings released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Thursday.

The grand treble she achieved last month, winning the Indian Grand Prix, Singapore and Indonesian Super Series, had catapulted her to the third spot on June 24 and as China’s Wang Xin lost 3,400 points in the last week, the Indian ace moved one rung up to be second.

Thrilled at the phenomenal achievement, Saina said that the rise in rankings reminds her of the responsibility to do well for the country. "I am feeling thrilled. I can’t believe that I am world No. 2. I know it’s all because of the three consecutive victories last month. But I am a little bit tense now. I know there will be a lot of expectations. It’s a great responsibility, though," Saina said.

Admitting that staying at the top will be a tough task, the 20-year-old said that she is determined to work hard and win more tournaments. "I know it’s very tough to stay on top. But if I continue to work hard and stay fit I can stay there," Saina said.

At the start of the season, Saina’s target was to break into the top-5 by the yearend, but the sudden escalation has helped her set new targets for the year. "My plan was to play very few tournaments and reach the top-5 by the end of the year but I am pleasantly surprised to have breached that mark so soon. Now I want to win the World Championship and become the No. 1 at the same time. Hope, I can do that next month," she said.

Saina may have to wait a little longer to achieve the top rank. Even if she wins the World Championship, Saina may not get the top rank unless reigning world No.1 Wang Yihan fails to reach the final. Saina needs to better Wang by a round at the World Championships to be held in Paris from August 23 to 29.

The Hyderabadi girl, who is training hard for the World Championships, said that she’s confident of doing well in Paris. "I feel it’s a great honour to enter the World Championship as No.2 and I am keen on giving my best there. I have about one month to train and I think that is good enough to gear up for a big tournament," she said.

Her coach Pullela Gopichand said that the new ranking will give Saina a great deal of confidence. "It’s a great achievement which will enhance her confidence. I am confident that she has the ability to stay there," Gopi said.

Magical McIlroy seizes Open lead in record fashion

2010-07-16T00:07:00.001-07:00

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland: Rory McIlroy matched the lowest round in major golf history on Thursday, firing a nine-under par 63 to seize a three-stroke lead early in the first round of the British Open.

In Pics: British Open

The 21-year-old from Northern Ireland took full advantage of ideal wind-less conditions on the Old Course for the lowest first round in British Open history to outplay Tiger Woods and John Daly, who won Open titles at golf's birthplace.

McIlroy became only the eighth player in British Open history to fire a 63, just the second at St. Andrews after Paul Broadhurst in 1990's third round.

US fan favourite Daly, who won at St. Andrews in 1995, and Scotsman Andrew Coltart were in the clubhouse on 66 with top-ranked Woods, the 2000 and 2005 Open champion at the Old Course, and Sean O'Hair on the course at six-under.

On a links layout where he has never shot in the 70s, McIlroy fired the first 63 in a British Open since Nick Faldo and Payne Stewart in the last round at Royal St. George's in 1993 and the first in a major since Tiger Woods in the second round of the 2007 PGA Championship at Southern Hills.

Ninth-ranked McIlroy, who won last year at Dubai and in May at Quail Hollow, shared third at last year's PGA Championship and while he missed the cut at this year's Masters and US Open, he served notice in round one he can contend.

McIlroy eagled the par-4 ninth, began the inward nine with three birdies in a row, added a 12-foot birdie at the par-5 14th to move atop the leaderboard.

He missed a five-foot birdie putt at 17, what would have been only the second birdie of the day at the famed Road Hole, but sank a four-footer for birdie at the 18th to complete his historic round.

Daly fired four birdies in a row and set himself up as a people's choice to hoist the Claret Jug just as Tom Watson did last year and Greg Norman had in 2008, although both of them failed in the end.

"I've learned a lot. I've never run from my mistakes," Daly said. "I have been the man you are supposed to be when you screw up and I've screwed up an awful lot. It's how you come back that matters."

Turning back the clock for a third major title would be a stunning feat by Daly, whose struggles with weight, women and alcohol have made him a fan favourite but taken a toll on his game.

"It would be the most gratifying victory I could ever have," Daly said. "I would appreciate it more than any tournament I have won."

Daly, whose other major title came at the 1991 PGA Championship, has not won since 2004 and his status has been reduced to taking US PGA Tour sponsor exemptions. He is ranked 455th and has only once cracked the top 55 on the US tour this year.

The long-driving 44-year-old American opened and closed the front nine with back-to-back birdies and birdied the par-5 fifth as well to make the turn in 31 over the legendary links in the event's 150th anniversary edition.

Daly sank a 10-footer for birdie at the 10th and birdied the par-3 11th before lipping out a five-footer at the 12th to end his birdie streak and begin a set of birdie near-misses that denied him an even better round.

He took a bogey at 17 and another lip-out for birdie at 18 left him only level with his best prior round of 2010 from May's first round at Colonial.

"It was just a great solid ball-striking day," Daly said. "I hit some putts on the back side I thought were in and they just trickled away for me."

Daly, who beat Italy's Costantino Rocca in a four-hole playoff 15 years ago at St. Andrews, wore a pink shirt and light blue vest with purple and green pants, a shock-style fashion that has been a recent trademark.

"It's my good-luck start pants," Daly said.

If anyone was going to have a somewhat redemptive triumph this week, the money literally was on Woods, a betting favourite despite being winless since a five-month hiatus caused by a sex scandal that shattered his iconic image.

Woods, paired with England's Justin Rose and Colombian Camilo Villegas, was greeted with polite applause, similar to his receptions at the year's earlier majors, where he shared fourth each time.

World number one Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the record 18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus, seeks a fourth British Open title after having won at St. Andrews in 2000 and 2005 and at Royal Liverpool in 2006.

Woods sank a 25-foot birdie putt at nine to reach three-under, then birdied three holes in a row starting at the par-4 12th to move into contention.

The winner over some of the most hallowed ground in sport will take home 850,000 pounds (one million Euros) and have his name engraved on the Auld Claret Jug trophy alongside some of golf's greatest legends.

Robinho mulls Manchester City return

2010-06-13T23:02:00.005-07:00

LONDON: Brazil forward Robinho has revealed that he has not ruled out a return to Manchester City after the World Cup.

Robinho, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Santos, has been heavily linked with a permanent move away from Eastlands this summer.

However, quoted in the Daily Star Sunday, Robinho said: "I honestly don't know what will happen at City. We will just see what happens over the summer but I haven't ruled out a return.

"First things first. The only thing on my mind now is helping the Brazilian team to win the World Cup.

"But I thought Manchester City were a good choice for me. I understood the reactions when I joined them. People thought I was going for the money but if it was then I would have gone to Dubai or an Arabic country.

"But I wanted to play in the Premier League and I was happy to join a club with big ambitions.

"They have the money and ambition to make it into the top four in England. And, believe me, next season City will. Maybe I'll be there to help them.

"When I moved to City a lot of Brazilians did not really know much about the club and they thought it was a step down.

"But I'm now thinking that people think it was the right decision for me."

Signed from Real Madrid in 2008 for a British transfer record of 32.5 million pounds, Robinho failed to make a major impression on English football.

Robinho is however keeping his options open and could also consider a return to former club Real Madrid.

"I was not satisfied with the way they (Madrid) treated me in the end," the 26-year-old said. "I was very disappointed in how they talked about me like I was some kind of merchandise or currency.

"It would take some convincing to get me to return but I don't have any problems with the people running Real Madrid now."

Barcelona elect new chairman: Television

2010-06-13T23:02:00.003-07:00

BARCELONA: Barcelona's former vice chairman Sandro Rosell was Sunday elected to replace his one-time adversary Joan Laporta as the boss of the Spanish champions, Catalan television said.

Rosell, a former Nike executive who was behind Brazilian Ronaldinho's move to Barcelona in 2003, won 62 percent of the vote by club members, beating three other candidates to become chairman of the Catalan giants, TV3 reported, quoting exit polls.

However, Rosell said he would wait for the official result, expected later in the evening, before claiming victory.

"We have to wait, we must be very careful," he said shortly after the voting ended at 9:00pm (1900 GMT). "It would be very exciting, but we have to wait."

Laporta, 47, was ineligible to stand for election again after holding the post since 2003.

Rosell was on the club's board between 2003 and 2005 during Laporta's first term.

He quit as vice chairman in 2005 because he was disillusioned with the way the club was being run, accusing it of lacking "independence, transparency and democracy".

"The problem is Laporta, he has a problem with himself. The project of this group of youths has gotten lost in recent years," he said at the time.

If confirmed in the post, Rosell will have urgent issues to attend to such as getting coach Pep Guardiola to agree to a contract extension and fulfilling the desire of fans to bring midfielder Cesc Fabregas back from Arsenal.

Under Laporta's guidance Barcelona won the Champions League twice - in 2006 and 2009 - and the Spanish league four times - in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010 - making it the most successful period in the club's history.

Laporta said in January that he was considering creating a political party to seek independence for Spain's Catalonia region.

Barcelona's outgoing vice-president Jaume Ferrer was the only one of the four candidates in the race who had the backing of Laporta.

We played great, but the ball just refused to go in: Maradona

2010-06-13T23:02:00.001-07:00

JOHANNESBURG: On Saturday, Diego Maradona made a return to the World Cup. This is familiar territory for him. He entered the post-game press conference chomping on an apple.

As he heard one of those questions that he's heard a million times before, even though this is different because he is manager and all, he took a huge bite of the fruit.

It was vintage Maradona. Suddenly he remembered he's the manager - he took the field in a suit, actually not recognizable at first - and not wanting to be seen as impolite, instinctively covered his mouth as the question carried on.

Immediately, it became the talking point of the World Cup till Robert Green, England's goalkeeper stole that with his sharp goal-letting against the US later. "I think we played really well," said Maradona. "The ball just refused to go in. It was incredible. And credit to the Nigerian goalkeeper for his performance. If we had won by two-three goals, you would have said we had a great match. I think we couldn't show on the scoreboard what we did on the pitch. That's football," he said.

Argentina have swept South Africa with their opening show against much-respected Nigeria. The second of the half-dozen African teams here who began their campaign were scared off the park by a hypnotic Messi and mates. It was as if the Argentines went Boo! and Nigeria scampered away, with Vincent Enyeama hanging on since the ball belonged to him. It is all still taking some sinking in.

"I fear no one. Never did unless I am wearing a mask. This game is about wins, losses and draws. It isn't about fear," he said about his World Cup debut. After Saturday, everything seems like falling into place.

Argentine journalists later spoke of how complete and hungry Messi seemed both in body and intent. "It was a potent sign," they felt.

Maradona admitted it was a plan to let the boy loose from Game One onwards, to allow him a feel of the ball. "Football's worth watching if he has the ball," he said, adding, "Taking the ball away from him is like taking chocolate from a kid."

Brazil are still to kick off their World Cup, and so are Spain and while England's performance drew the tournament's sniggers, it is Argentina they are raving about.

On Sunday, radio show hosts spoke of how the throb and noise of the Argentinian drums had actually drowned the vuvuzela. The host country had no problems in admitting that they had been upstaged.

In hotel lobbies and restaurant, they offered a sympathetic hand to Nigerian fans the morning after. The Nigerians in turn, offered to support South Africa from now on. "Yes, we are friends now," offered the local. It indicated a lingering regional rivalry that could be forgotten for the sake of United Africa now.

For Maradona, it is an emotional return 16 years after he had to quit the world stage after testing positive for a banned substance at USA 94. "I went through a lot of emotions today. I met my grandchildren, my daughter and kissed her. I went to 2006 as a fan and to be at the World Cup as Argentina coach, is truly an incredible feeling. I thank everyone who supported me and thank them for remembering that I too once scored a few goals for Argentina."

Was it the footballer in the man still speaking? But, wasn't he a manager now, and all set to emulate Franz Beckenbauer (and Mario Zagallo) who won the World Cup both as a player and manager?

Maradona heard the question, regarded it. Like the fruit he chewed on it awhile, then rolled his eyes and said: "I don't think I look like Beckenbauer. Never will."

Then he smiled, didn't wink because he is manager and all. "We are two different people," he continued. "It's just that we won an important match today. We need to improve a lot to win the next six...."

Impressive Germans hammer Australia 4-0

2010-06-13T23:01:00.002-07:00

DURBAN (South Africa): Three-time champions Germany fired out a warning to World Cup challengers with a comprehensive 4-0 dismantling of Australia in their opening Group D match on Sunday.

The Germans totally dominated the Socceroos, with captain Philipp Lahm and rising stars Mesut Oezil and Thomas Mueller running Australian veterans Scott Chipperfield and Craig Moore ragged down the right wing.

Goals from Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose, Mueller and Brazil-born striker Cacau were just rewards for a team which also had a hatful of other scoring opportunities.

The victory leaves Germany atop of Group D, Ghana having beaten Serbia 1-0 in the day's other game.

Podolski opened the scoring in the ninth minute, the happy recipient of a text-book training ground move executed to clinical perfection.

After Oezil had played in Mueller, the Bayern Munich right winger cut the ball back across the face of the goal for Podolski to hammer home left-footed, with Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer getting a hand on it.

Klose, top scorer in the 2006 World Cup, made it 2-0 in the 27th minute with a well-taken goal - and his 11th in World Cup finals - rising between Australian captain Lucas Neill and Schwarzer to head powerfully home from a Lahm cross from the right.

The Socceroos then paid a heavy price for the dismissal of Tim Cahill, shown a straight red card in the 56th minute by Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez for a very clumsy challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Two goals in a matter of minutes from Mueller (67) and Cacau (70), on as a replacement for Klose, sealed Australia's dismal start to their third World Cup campaign.

Mueller, who started the season in Bayern Munich's reserves, looked like he'd overrun a Podolski through-ball it but he dragged it back and shot accurately past Schwarzer, in off the post.

With the Australian defence in disarray, Caucau then had a simple tuck-in from another inch-perfect pass into the box by the 21-year-old Oezil.

It was Australia who had the first real chance of the game, Lahm clearing a close-range effort by Richard Garcia in the fourth minute.

And for all their fine attacking instincts, Germany did at times look slow to close down at the back, allowing time and space for both Garcia and replacement Brett Holman to have shots on target.

Goalkeeping remains England's fragile link

2010-06-13T23:01:00.001-07:00

JOHANNESBURG: You don't prepare mentally for making great saves and playing the perfect game. You prepare for trauma. Great thoughts, remarkable composure and some defiance in the face of what has swiftly become the gaffe of the World Cup, Robert 'Greenhorn' Green's playground blooper on Saturday night against the US, has catapulted the West Ham goalkeeper into unwanted limelight.

And while everyone is swiftly drawing up lists of English goalkeeping howlers at major football events rating the Rustenburg riot as the worst, it has also reopened the debate that does the rounds each major football championship: Is England a victim of its own outdated intellectual arrogance?

From David Seaman to Paul Robinson to Green - stopping midway to help David 'Calamity' James fish the ball out of his net - England's tryst with goalkeeping blunders is only strengthening. As videos of the latest blooper are racing up the charts on the Net, Green is unruffled. "It won't affect me psychologically," he said later. "I'm 30, I'm a man, and you have hardships in life and prepare for them. At a younger point in my life it would have affected me more."

This could be just an honest mistake by a top-class goalkeeper (as the English would have us believe) at the highest level, but while clearly apart from Beckham and Rooney's metatarsals, goalkeeping remains the most fragile link in the England set-up, the goalkeepers alone cannot be blamed for England's ineptitude. Current skipper Steven Gerrard is famous for his suicidal backpasses, while Frank Lampard has missed so many penalties that they have stopped keeping count.

With Fabio Capello at the helm, Gerrard as skipper and Rooney at full tilt, there seemed a return to the old working class ethos for England this time. There was a sneaking feeling about them this time, but may be it is their hype which makes it believable, at play again.

Suddenly, there is growing discontent over Capello's methods, his decision of persisting with the out-of-depth Emile Heskey for one - and his perceived lack of control. Many are puzzled why he chose Green ahead of the veteran James, who on his day can swing between the sublime and the ridiculous. Green was James' understudy going into the World Cup.

Which team serious about winning takes along an injured superstar to stand in his best-cut suit in the dugout and ostensibly cheer on his mates? David Beckham has replaced the WAGs in the English scheme of things this time. Ronaldinho has been sacked, no one is shedding a tear anymore for Javier Zanetti. Their countrymen, like their teams have moved on. It is the hallmark of a team focussed on winning, which you cannot say with conviction about England.

2nd T20I: India beat Zimbabwe by 7 wickets

2010-06-13T23:00:00.003-07:00

HARARE: Skipper Suresh Raina led from the front with a blistering 72 as India signed off their Zimbabwe tour with a comprehensive seven-wicket win over the hosts in the second and final Twenty20 International on Sunday.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

Chasing 141, India made 144 for three in 18 overs at the Harare Sports Club ground with Raina dispatching Chris Mpofu to boundary for the winning runs.

Tatenda Taibu earlier top-scored with 45 and shared a 43-run stand for the fourth wicket with Charles Coventry (28 off 13) to steer Zimbabwe to 140 for five.

Raina stepped on to the field after the fall of Naman Ojha (10) in fifth over and stayed till the job was done.

Along with Murali Vijay (46), Raina shared a 79-run stand for the second wicket, which set up the second comfortable Indian win in as many days.

Raina's 44-ball knock had six fours and two sixes in it. After an ordinary show in the three-week tour, Vijay finally got some runs under his belt and the Chennai batsman would be relived after playing a good hand in the Indian win.

Vijay and skipper Suresh Raina batted with ease and were hardly troubled by the host bowlers.

Vijay missed out on his half-century when he attempted a big shot but off Chamu Chibhabha and his checked shot landed in the hands of Graeme Cremer in the 15th over.

Raina continued the good work and carried the team home just after losing another partner in Yusuf Pathan (4).

India's consecutive win, after a lacklustre show in the ODI tri-series, would do a world of good to the confidence of its youngsters just ahead of the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

Earlier, confident of chasing down whatever the hosts would put on board, Raina yet again invited the hosts to bat but despite having them in clutches they leaked too many runs in the second half to allow them a come back in the match.

While in the first 10 overs India conceded just 47 runs including a mere five boundaries, spinners struggled to keep the run flow in check and the last over cost India 93 runs.

The slow bowlers could not weave the same magic they had created in the first Twenty20 and leaked 95 runs in the 12 overs shared by Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra and R Ashwin.

Ashwin bled most runs as he ended up giving away 48 runs in his four overs.

Taibu, whose 45 came off 40 balls with just two fours, shaped the hosts innings well and along with Charles Coventry (28 off 13) rescued the side with a defiant 43-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Before that stand opener Brendan Taylor played a patient 33-ball 27 to help the side overcome the early jolts of losing Hamilton Masakadza (2) and Chamu Chibhabha (7).

Indian pacers, especially Ashok Dinda, were exceptional and did a tremendous job. The Bengal medium fast bowler gave away just 15 runs in his four-over quota and took two wickets.

Things were set beautifully for India but gritty batting by Taibu and Coventry made it a contest for the visitors.

Saina fights back to win India Open Grand Prix title

2010-06-13T23:00:00.001-07:00

CHENNAI: Top seed Saina Nehwal, looking a tad rusty following a long break, bounced back in style to beat Malaysia's Mew Choo Wong 20-22, 21-14, 21-12 in the women's final of the Yonex-Sunrise India Open Grand Prix badminton tournament on Sunday.

World No.6 Saina's victory compensated for the disappointing show by seventh seeded RMV Guru Sai Dutt who went down 13-21, 18-21, to unheralded Indonesian Yunus Alamsyah in the men's singles final, with the visitor clinching his first major international title.

Both the singles winners picked up 7,000 points that should see them move up the world rankings.

Saina, playing her first tournament in two months, was rather patchy as she blew a 20-18 lead in the first game, but kept her nerves to take the next two games, capitalising on a desperate Mew's errors.

It was not the best of matches and the conditions inside the hall were tricky. The raucous crowd that kept up a din even when a rally was in progress, irritating flies, and the sideways air drift due to air-conditioning, put a premium on concentration and judgment.

However, Saina took these irritants in her stride and after the initial tentative approach, changed her stance in the second game when she turned aggressive and maintained the momentum in the decider when she opened up a 10-point lead early on to seal the match.

"I was nervous at the start and committed too many errors. In the normal course, I should have won in two games, but this being my first tournament in two months, I was nervous. In the second and third games, I played aggressively," said Saina after the 56-minute match.

"I am happy winning the tournament and that too at home, and yes, it's a good preparation for the two Super Series events (Singapore and Indonesia) I am participating in this month. In fact, I am playing Mew in the first round at Singapore!" she added.

On her part, Mew admitted that Saina was just too good for her. "I have played her before and I tried my best, but today, she was too good for me, especially in the second and third games," Mew, ranked No.22, said through an interpreter.

In contrast, Sai Dutt hardly got going against the highly defensive Alamsyah, who benefitted largely on the mistakes committed by the 20-year old Indian rather than doing anything out of the ordinary.

Undoubtedly, Alamsyah is one of the better retrievers around, but there is little else in his game besides a fairly sharp smash that surprisingly he uses sparingly. Under the circumstances, Gurusaidutt needed to be patient and await a clear opening before going for the kill, something he failed to.

"I was anxious to finish off the rallies quickly and made mistakes. I will now have to work harder on my game and fitness to reach the next level," said Guru who is currently ranked 66 as against 125 of the Indonesian, who Saturday night took out top seeded Indian Chetan Anand.

Quite the best thing about Alamsyah was his creativity at the net, marked by wristy dribbles some of which sent Guru Sai Dutt the wrong way. The Indian would have been better off to keep Alamsyah in the backcourt rather than match him at the net.

In both the games, the 23-year old Alamsyah took early leads and then kept Guru Sai Dutt, playing in his maiden international final, under pressure that eventually cracked his defense wide open.

Algeria keeper hands Slovenia 1-0 win

2010-06-13T22:59:00.003-07:00

POLOKWANE, South Africa: A dreadful mistake by Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi handed Slovenia a 1-0 victory in their opening World Cup Group C match on Sunday.

Match in Pics

Chaouchi fumbled a harmless looking 79th minute shot from Slovenia captain Robert Koren, allowing the ball to squirt through his arms into the bottom left hand corner of his net.

Algeria had been reduced to 10 men when substitute Abdelkader Ghezzal was sent off in the 73rd for handball having already been booked. He was only on the pitch for 15 minutes.

It was Slovenia's first win at a World Cup after their only previous appearance, in 2002, ended in three defeats.

They top Group C with three points, two ahead of England and the United States, who drew 1-1 in Rustenburg on Saturday.

The Algerians had been marginally the better the side in a lacklustre encounter until then, with the bleach-blonde Hassan Yebda bossing their midfield.

But they created few chances with their best opening having come as early as the third minute through a Nadir Belhadj free kick which Samir Handanovic tipped over the bar.

At the other end, Slovenia created little of note until just before the break when a rasping left foot strike from midfielder Valter Birsa forced an acrobatic save from Chaouchi.

Both teams appeared to struggle with the high bouncing World Cup ball and time after time they over-hit their passes with the ball running harmlessly out of play.

England's draw with the U.S. in the group's opening match also contained a goalkeeping error, with England's Robert Green producing a howler to gift the Americans their equaliser.

Hewitt slays Federer to win Halle title

2010-06-13T22:59:00.001-07:00

HALLE: Lleyton Hewitt stunned longtime nemesis Roger Federer of Switzerland to lift the ATP grass-court Halle title on his first appearance on Sunday.

The eighth seeded Australian rallied from a set down to beat the five-time Halle champion and top seed Federer 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

Hewitt, the 2002 Wimbledon champion, ended a 15-match winless streak to the world number two stretching back to a Davis Cup match in September 2003 and moved closer to 100 grass-court match wins as he improved to a 98-23 lifetime mark on the surface.

The 28-year-old Federer had been looking for his 30th straight match win in Halle and his sixth title in his past six appearances.

He had not lost a match there since a semifinal defeat to Nicolas Kiefer in 2002 (he did not play in 2007, 2009) and had won 76 of his past 77 grass-court matches, with the only blemish being a five-set defeat to Rafael Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final.

"I had a bit more luck today," said the 29-year-old Australian, who sealed the match when the ball clipped the net on its way in and out of Federer's reach.

Six-time Wimbledon champion Federer, who only lost his number one status last Monday after going out in the quarterfinals of the French Open, had been bidding for his 16th straight victory over Hewitt in their 25th meeting.

"Any time you play Roger on a grass court you know you're in for a hell of a battle and I was lucky to get out of today's match," said Hewitt.

"I'm getting towards the end of my career and had a couple of surgeries, to know I can still compete at this level it's fantastic for me," said Hewitt, who lifted his first title since Houston last year.

Hewitt fought for every ball as he played an almost error-free game from the base line, forcing Federer onto the defensive with the Swiss player's service and forehand letting him down at key moments.

"That made it tough against him, particularly in the phases when he returned everything," said Federer. "He played fantastic and deserved to win."

India to test bench strength in Zimbabwe

2010-05-27T01:00:00.003-07:00

NEW DELHI: A second-string Indian team left for Zimbabwe to play a tri-series, hoping to convince the selectors they were ready for the big league.

The 15-man-squad, led by Suresh Raina, will play Sri Lanka and the hosts in a double-leg tri-series that opens in Bulawayo on Friday and ends with the final in Harare on June 9.

The selectors have rested eight top stars -- captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and Ashish Nehra -- from the tournament.

"With the senior players taking a break, this is a good time for the younger lot to make an impression and prove their worth," said Raina, 23, ahead of the team's departure.

"The seniors may be missing, but we still have a very good team that can win the tournament."

Four members of the touring squad -- fast bowlers Umesh Yadav and Pankaj Singh, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and batsman Naman Ojha -- have not played international cricket at the senior level.

India's tri-series squad:

Suresh Raina (capt), Murali Vijay, Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Vinay Kumar, Ashok Dinda, Pankaj Singh, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Naman Ojha.

Schedule:

May 28: India vs Zimbabwe, Bulawayo

May 30: India vs Sri Lanka, Bulawayo

June 1: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, Bulawayo

June 3: India vs Zimbabwe, Harare

June 5: India vs Sri Lanka, Harare

June 7: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, Harare

June 9: Final, Harare

Modi's "leak" to media irks Srinivasan

2010-05-27T01:00:00.001-07:00

NEW DELHI: BCCI secretary N Srinivasan kept mum on whether he would recuse from proceedings against Lalit Modi but lashed out at the suspended IPL commissioner for his "habit of leaking information" to the media.

In a 14-page letter to BCCI president Shashank Manohar, Modi on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Srinivasan, saying the BCCI secretary should not be part of the panel adjudicating charges of financial irregularities against the suspended IPL commissioner.

Asked if he would stay away from the proceedings and oblige Modi, an annoyed Srinivasan said, "I'm afraid I cannot discuss these issues in the media.

"Mr Modi has this habit of leaking information and letters to selected press but I cannot comment on these issues," Srinivasan said over phone.

In his letter, Modi said Manohar too should stay away from the proceedings, since it would "tantamount to being a judge, witness and a potential co-notice" in the case.

Manohar, however, was not available for comments. Charged with allegations of bid-rigging and proxy investment, Modi first sent a staggering 15,000-page reply to the show cause notice served to him and he followed it up with another letter on Tuesday in which he targeted Manohar but came down more heavily on Srinivasan with a series of allegations including that of "match-fixing".

Modi, in fact, requested Manohar to serve a show cause notice to Srinivasan and also suspend him pending an investigation.

Modi alleged Srinivasan has grossly misused his power as BCCI secretary and said there was a clear case of "conflict of interests" since he was also owner of the Chennai Super Kings team in the IPL.

Modi said if allowed to be part of the panel deciding his fate, Srinivasan would have an axe to grind against him.

"This stems from the manner in which I have consistently frustrated and exposed his attempts at misusing his position as Honorary Secretary of the Board so as to confer a wrongful benefit to his team (Chennai Super Kings) at the cost and expense of other teams and the BCCI," Modi said.

Modi accused Srinivasan of trying to "fix" matches by hand-picking a panel of umpires to officiate Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) matches in the IPL.

"This constituted a clear attempt at umpire fixing/match fixing. Upon my coming to know this I objected to the same and removed them in the interest of the League," Modi said.

Srinivasan also pushed "tailor-made policies" to suit CSK's interest, Modi alleged.

According to Modi, Srinivasan ignored his objection and pushed for the proposal that would allow IPL teams retain seven players -- four Indians and three foreigners.

"The only reason for doing so was to ensure that Chennai Super Kings retained its players," Modi said.

The BCCI Secretary allowed a bank guaranty given by a broadcaster to lapse and tried to scuttle Mumbai Indians' signing of West Indian player Kieron Pollard, Modi alleged.

Srinivasan also altered auction rules, got backdated players' contract accepted and cancelled a player's contract to ensure that CSK retained their full purse of $2 million for players' auction, alleged Modi.

"I have consistently pointed out that the Honorary Secretary's wearing of two hats (administrator and team owner) had placed him in a clear conflict of interest position, which he had misused and exploited," Modi wrote.

"Since I have been opposed to this manner of functioning from the very inception, it is obvious that to protect his position, the Honorary Secretary has good reason not just to defame me but also to find me guilty of these imaginary wrongdoings alleged in the show cause notice," Modi added.

Real Madrid line up Mourinho as Pellegrini sacked

2010-05-27T00:59:00.005-07:00

MADRID: Real Madrid have sacked coach Manuel Pellegrini and will appoint Jose Mourinho to replace him once they have reached agreement with Inter Milan about ending his contract with the Serie A club.

"I am ready to admit to some mistakes but the hiring of Jose Mourinho, one of the world's best coaches, is an opportunity that this Real Madrid, which always fights for excellence, could not afford to miss," Real president Florentino Perez told a news conference on Wednesday.

"We are absolutely convinced that we need a fresh impulse and that a coach like Mourinho can be the person to take charge of the squad for the next few years," he added.

Pellegrini left Villarreal to join Real last June and become the cornerstone of Perez's big-money bid to bring trophies back to the Bernabeu. The construction magnate invested a quarter of a billion euros ($307 million) in players, including a record 94 million on Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

Pellegrini was charged with rebuilding the nine-times European champions and making them into a team capable of challenging Barcelona while entertaining a hugely demanding and impatient fan base.

But Real were dumped out of the Champions League by Olympique Lyon, humiliated by third-tier Alorcon in the King's Cup and ended the season three points behind La Liga champions Barca.

Portuguese Mourinho has made no secret of his wish to coach Real and will join the La Liga giants having led Inter to three major trophies last season, the Champions League and Italian league and cup double.

The former Porto and Chelsea coach said on Wednesday that it would be "impossible" for him to stay at Inter.

Roger Federer endures Falla, rain to reach French open third round

2010-05-27T00:59:00.003-07:00

PARIS: Top-ranked Roger Federer endured one tense set and two rain delays before eliminating Alejandro Falla of Colombia 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-4 in the second round of the French Open on Wednesday.

Federer lost serve just once against Falla, at 5-all in the opening set, but broke back and hit four winners in the tiebreaker. From there only rain could slow Federer - the match was stopped for 15 minutes in the second set and for an hour in the third.

Federer, who completed a career Grand Slam when he won at Roland Garros last year, is seeking his 17th major title.

No. 5-seeded Robin Soderling won 20 of the first 22 points and went on to beat unseeded American Taylor Dent 6-0, 6-1, 6-1. Soderling, who upset Rafael Nadal last year and then lost to Federer in the final, has lost seven games through two matches.

Other men's winners included No. 8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, No. 10 Marin Cilic and No. 11 Mikhail Youzhny before rain interrupted the day's play for a second time.

Venus Williams beat Arantxa Parra Santonja of Spain 6-2, 6-4, improving to a 14-2 win-loss record on clay in 2010. She's seeded second at Roland Garros behind younger sister Serena, who scouted from behind the baseline, sitting next to their father. The sisters could meet in the final.

In other women's play, No. 26 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia rallied past Varvara Lepchenko of the United States 4-6, 6-2, 6-0. Cibulkova, a semifinalist last year, faces Williams next.

"I'll continue to try to execute my game and not worry really a ton about what my opponent is doing," Williams said.

Two-time semifinalist Nadia Petrova, seeded 19th, beat Agnes Szavay of Hungary 6-1, 6-2.

For the day's opening match on center court, Williams again wore her lacy corset despite a brisk change in the weather, with mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the 60s F (high teens C). At her postmatch news conference, there were seven questions about her outfit.

"Lace has never been done before in tennis, and I've been wanting to do it for a long time," she said. "The illusion of just having bare skin is definitely for me a lot more beautiful."

Williams sent her flounce flying when she served. She went to deuce six times in her first service game before holding, then pulled away to take the set.

In the second set, both players held until the seventh game. Williams drew Parra Santonja into a moonball rally, then sprinted forward to slam a winner. That gave Williams a 4-3 lead, and she served out the victory, her 28th in 32 matches this year.

In 13 previous French Open appearances, Williams reached the semifinals only once - in 2002, when she lost to Serena in the final. But at 29 she's enjoying a career resurgence, and her record this year is the best on the women's tour.

Soderling remained on course for a Roland Garros rematch against Federer in the quarterfinals.

"I'm feeling good," Soderling said. "I won two matches pretty easy in straight sets, and I didn't have to run for many hours on court so far, so I feel fresh."

Tsonga, France's best title hope, defeated countryman Josselin Ouanna 6-0, 6-1, 6-4. Cilic swept Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2, and Youzhny rallied past Lukas Lacko of Slovakia 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.

Nadal back on centre stage, Verdasco may face crowd

2010-05-27T00:59:00.001-07:00

PARIS: Play on Court Philippe Chatrier will have a familiar feel on Thursday with Rafael Nadal and Justine Henin, holders of eight French Open singles crowns, bidding to move into the third round.

Nadal returns to the stadium where 12 months ago he suffered the only defeat of his Roland Garros career when he takes on Argentina's Horacio Zeballos in a match sure to be dominated by brutal baseline exchanges.

Henin, mobbed by eager children seeking autographs at Roland Garros on Wednesday, will hope her game is a little more fine-tuned after a rusty first round when she plays Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic.

Women's top seed Serena Williams, the 2002 champion, will be on Court Suzanne Lenglen where she takes on Germany's Julia Goerges for a place in the last 16.

Men's seeds Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick also feature on the venue's second principal court.

Spain's Fernando Verdasco may not receive the warmest of welcomes from the French crowd when he takes on home hope Florent Serra on the main court.

The seventh seed hurled profanities at the Nice crowd when losing the final to Richard Gasquet on Saturday. He later issued an apology but the Roland Garros spectators will be firmly behind his opponent.

With rain curtailing much of Wednesday's play, several matches will be carried over including British fourth seed Andy Murray's second-round clash with Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela.

India beat South Africa by 14 runs

2010-05-03T02:18:00.005-07:00

GROS ISLET (Saint Lucia): Suresh Raina became only the third man to make a Twenty20 International century as India beat South Africa by 14 runs at the Beausejour Stadium on Sunday.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

Victory, which saw India into the second round Super Eights after their seven-wicket win over Afghanistan on Saturday, was built on Raina's 101 out of a total of 186 for five.

Only West Indies' Chris Gayle and New Zealand's Brendon McCullum had previously made centuries at this level.

Raina had an escape on five when he was caught off a Morne Morkel no-ball.

It was an expensive error by the fast bowler, with left-hander Raina striking five sixes and nine fours in a blistering assault as he reached his century off 59 balls.

Together with Yuvraj Singh (37) he shared a stand of 88 in 10 overs after the pair came together with India 32 for two in the sixth over after they'd lost the toss.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith had promised his side would be flexible when it came to their openers but few foresaw the skipper dropping himself down to No 3.

Jacques Kallis, who opened in Smith's place, was nearly out for a second ball nought when a diving Yusuf Pathan at backward point just failed to hold on to a catch off the bowling of Harbhajan Singh.

Kallis, after the early loss of Loots Bosman, went on to complete a 45-ball fifty with three fours.

The experienced batsman then tried to keep South Africa on course by slog-sweeping Harbhajan for two successive sixes in the 15th over.

But a stand of 97 in 11 overs was ended when Smith was run out by Praveen Kumar's throw to wicketkeeper and India captain MS Dhoni.

Then 118 for two became 128 for three when Kallis fell on 73 after driving leg-spinner Piyush Chawla straight to Ravindra Jadeja in the deep.

South Africa though kept swinging and got the target down to 24 off the last over, bowled by Ashish Nehra and the left-arm quick conceded just nine.

India accelerated in the ninth over when Yuvraj swept spinner Roelof van der Merwe for the first six of the match and, two balls later, Raina lofted all-rounder Kallis high over wide long-on.

Both batsmen were severe on fast bowler Rory Kleinveldt, whose four overs cost 48 runs.

India took 25 runs off Kleinveldt's last over, the 18th, with Yusuf Pathan hitting the first ball for six and then taking a single.

Raina then struck three fours in a row, over long-on, through extra-cover and straight down the ground, before the batsman completed the over with a majestic six, struck off one knee and high over long-off.

Come the last over, Raina was on 95 and Dhoni was facing

But when he got on strike, for the third ball, Raina wasted little time in completing his hundred with a six over midwicket off Albie Morkel before getting out next ball.

This was only the 23-year-old Raina's 13th Twenty20 International and his score easily eclipsed his previous best of 61 not out against New Zealand in Christchurch last year.

Dhoni, whose side beat Afghanistan on Saturday, ended the innings with a six as India scored a mammoth 75 runs off the last five overs.

South Africa complete their group programme against Afghanistan in Barbados on May 5.

Watson stars as Australia beat Pakistan by 34 runs

2010-05-03T02:18:00.003-07:00

GROS ISLET: Shane Watson top-scored with 81 as Australia punished lax Pakistan fielding to win their opening World Twenty20 match by a convincing 34-run margin on Sunday.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

Man-of-the-match Watson's innings was the cornerstone of Australia's 191 all out, made after captain Michael Clarke won the toss.

But the all-rounder was dropped twice and Watson made defending champions Pakistan pay by striking four sixes and seven fours in his blistering 49-ball innings.

Together with David Hussey, he put on 98 in under nine overs for the third wicket.

Hussey dropped on 18 at long-off by Salman Butt, a relatively easy chance, went on to make 53 off 29 balls with five sixes and two fours.

Hussey was especially severe on seamer Mohammad Sami, striking him for 28 runs in the 16th over with the batsman striking four sixes, including three in a row.

Pakistan lost Kamran Akmal for nought to the first legitimate ball of their reply when he sliced Dirk Nannes to Steven Smith at short third man.

Salman Butt (15) miscued an attempted hook off fast bowler Shaun Tait and was caught by David Hussey before left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson's second ball proved too much for Mohammad Hafeez, who pulled straight to deep square leg.

Australia, holding their catches, had reduced Pakistan to 34 for three inside five overs and they never looked like recovering from such a start.

Tait then had the satisfaction of bowling Pakistan captain and hard-hitting batsman Shahid Afridi for 33 before finishing the match by bowling Saeed Ajmal off the last ball.

Misbah-ul-Haq top-scored for Pakistan with 41 but that was never going to be enough by itself.

Afridi had only inherited the Pakistan captaincy after the fall-out from the team's disastrous recent tour of Australia where they failed to win in three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20.

Earlier, David Hussey holed out off Ajmal and, three balls later, the off-spinner had Watson lbw.

There was an extraordinary end to the Australia innings with a five-wicket maiden during the last over from Mohammad Aamer.

Brad Haddin was caught off the over's first ball, Mitchell Johnson clean bowled off the second with both Michael Hussey and Steven Smith run out by direct hits from wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal as they tried to run byes.

Tait survived the fifth ball but was bowled off the last for nought.

Left-arm quick Aamer finished with three wickets for 23 runs, with Ajmal taking three for 34.

Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 21 runs in the first Group A match here on Saturday and both Pakistan and Australia will qualify for the second round of if the Aussies beat Bangladesh in Barbados on Wednesday.

Nadal matches Agassi record with Rome win

2010-05-03T02:18:00.001-07:00

ROME: Rafael Nadal, the world number three, won a record equalling 17th Masters title with a 7-5, 6-2 defeat of 13th-seeded Spanish compatriot David Ferrer at the Rome Masters 1000 at the Foro Italico on Sunday.

In a match that finished four and a half hours after it started due to two rain delays, clay court king Nadal was never troubled.

His victory matched the mark of 17 Masters wins set by Andre Agassi, although the American was 34 when he won the last of his while the Spaniard is still just 23.

Nadal clearly coped better than Ferrer, who was aiming for a first ever Masters title, with the rain as until the first break it was 4-4 and 40-15 to Ferrer on his own serve.

However, he won only three more games after the heavens opened and Nadal, who has dropped only one set on clay this year, proved that he is in great shape ahead of the French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year.

Two weeks ago he stormed to victory at the Monte Carlo Masters and here he was only troubled in his three-set epic against Latvia's Ernests Gulbis in the semi-finals.

It was his fifth win in Rome in the last six years.

Over the last six years he has won Monte Carlo six times, here and Barcelona five times and at Roland Garros will also be aiming for a fifth title.

The players were forced off by rain at 4-4 in the first set and when they came back out, Ferrer seemed to have lost focus.

He had already been under pressure on his serve before the break but at 5-5 he finally gave up a break after netting a forehand when facing his sixth break point of the set.

However, he almost broke straight back as he earned his first and only break point of the first set but he went long on a backhand return.

Nadal's deep hitting in the next point allowed him to come forward and bury a volley before another backhand error on the return from Ferrer allowed the world number three to seal the set.

Things looked ominous for Ferrer at the beginning of the second as he dropped to 15-40 on his serve but he dug deep to hold.

However on his very next game he dropped to 0-40 only to save all three before a forehand wide and a backhand long gave up the break.

Play was then immediately suspended for the second time and the players were off court for an hour and a half but when they came back Ferrer put up little resistance.

He held his first service game but then at 2-4 he gave up a break point with a double fault and then hit a wild forehand long to allow Nadal to serve for the title.

India's CWG boss, Suresh Kalmadi, told his time is up

2010-05-03T02:17:00.001-07:00

NEW DELHI: India's long-serving Olympic chief Suresh Kalmadi was on Monday given a government deadline to quit, prompting criticism exactly five months before the country hosts the Commonwealth Games.

The sports ministry ruled that heads of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and national sports federations cannot remain in their posts for more than 12 years or beyond the age of 70.

Kalmadi, the chief organiser of the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, has served as the IOA president for 14 years and turned 66 on Saturday.

But the ministry has allowed Kalmadi and other sports chiefs to complete their current tenures, ensuring there is no break in preparations for the Commonwealth Games.

Kalmadi, whose current term ends in 2012, declined to comment on the sports ministry's diktat, but other officials slammed the move.

"It is a ridiculous decision," said opposition lawmaker Vijay Kumar Malhotra, who has headed the country's archery federation for 31 years.

"It makes no sense. People have served in parliament for 30 years, many of our ministers are above 70, so why this rule only for sports officials?"

Sports Minister Manohar Singh Gill, a former chief election commissioner, defended the decision to limit sports chiefs' tenures.

"This order will serve the best interest of sportspersons of the country and it will give an impetus to transparent and professional management of Indian sports in the new century," Gill said in a statement.

Former stars, like athlete Milkha Singh, welcomed the regulations.

"It is a step in the right direction, it should have happened much earlier," said Singh. "It will lead to better people joining the federations and that can only be good for sports."

Politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen have often been accused of turning sports federations into their personal fiefdoms, holding on to their posts for years to remain in the spotlight.

Former sports minister Sukhdev Dhindsa has headed the cycling federation for 14 years; bureaucrat V.K. Verma has run the badminton association for 12 years and businessman B.S. Adityan has been volleyball chief for 12 years.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India, the richest sports body in the country, has a fixed tenure of three years for its president. The present incumbent Shashank Manohar is a lawyer.

Lankans in do-or-die situation against Zimbabwe

2010-05-03T02:16:00.000-07:00

GUYANA: With their campaign derailed by a shock loss to New Zealand, Sri Lanka face a battle of survival against a confident Zimbabwe in their second Group B match of the Twenty20 World Cup on Monday.

In their opening match, Sri Lanka had done most things right till the last over. The Islanders posted a good score on board and defended it well before Nathan McCullum stole the match with a six off Lasith Malinga in the final over.

That six of the second last ball has placed the Lankans in a do-or-die battle against Zimbabwe, who are coming into Monday's match after beating formidable Australia and defending champions Pakistan in their warm-up games.

Sri Lanka boasts of a very formidable batting line up with Mahela Jayawardene, who scored a 51-ball 81 against New Zealand, rock solid at the top and Dinesh Chandimal giving him good support in the last match.

But skipper Kumar Sangakkara has been battling with his form and it has continued till now in the World Cup.

Tillakaratne Dilshan is not the explosive self that he used to be until last year.

Sri Lanka wasted old war-horse Sanath Jayasuriya at number seven in the last match and Angelo Matthews, who performed well at the IPL, also flopped.

On the bowling front, spinners Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Chanaka Welegedara, Jayasuriya -- all have done a decent job on the slow wickets here.

Medium pacer Matthews has also chipped in with a wicket but Malinga's last match performance should be a cause of worry for the Lankans as the pacer went for 33 runs in 3.5 overs without a wicket.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, have been quite phenomenal in their warm-ups and would come into the match high on confidence.

Despite being short of experience, Zimbabwe have beaten two formidable teams, which shows there is hardly any scope of error in this format of the game.

For the African team, Elton Chigumbura have done the bulk of scoring, hitting a 35-ball 76 against Australia and an unbeaten 35-ball 49 against Pakistan.

Craig Ervine, Charles Coventry and opener Hamilton Masakadza have also contributed with the bat.

On the bowling front, Prosper Utseya have been the pick of the bowlers taking six wickets, while Chigumbura have also picked up three wickets against Pakistan.

Dhoni confident as India embark for World T20

2010-04-28T02:50:00.001-07:00

MUMBAI: Indian captain MS Dhoni's diplomatic skills were on display as he addressed the media prior to the team's departure to the West Indies for the ICC World T20, starting on April 30. After a hectic and draining IPL 3, both Dhoni and coach Gary Kirsten preferred put the fatigue factor on the backburner.

"Regrouping is no worry. Sometimes, we just have to respect the schedule and play with what is available. There is no point complaining. The IPL finished on the 25th and we have assembled a day later. We literally have one whole day of flying time with several connecting flights. Then we go there and have two or three days to practice. I think that's more than enough. We play together for almost 250 or 300 days in a year. Regrouping is not a concern," said Dhoni.

He must have chosen to embark upon the World T20 campaign scandal free. Interestingly, both the captain and coach's explosive "team was tired and didn't get time to regroup" comments, post the team's nightmarish campaign in last year's World T20 in England, hadn't pleased the BCCI.

In 2010, the Indian skipper has no such concerns. Even the lack of form of his biggest match-winner, Yuvraj Singh, isn't a problem for him.

"Yuvraj is a great player and is one of the biggest hitters in T20. He can also contribute with the ball. He has not scored too many runs in the IPL, but it's nothing to worry about because in T20, you are just five or 10 balls away from getting back into form."

The 28-year-old flashed his disarming smile. Was he thanking his lucky stars that everyone in his team is fit and there could be no repeat of the Sehwag and Zaheer episode in England? "As of now, we haven't received any medical report which says that any player is injured. I'm glad that nobody is injured," he said.

The IPL-winning captain is hoping that the winning touch stays with him till May 16. But for that, he will need some luck with the kind of wickets that are dished out. India will be hoping that the pitches afford turn so that Dhoni can employ the tactic of opening with spin, something that he did consistently and successfully in the IPL. Would he do the same in West Indies?

"It's definitely an option. We have a couple of players in Harbhajan Singh and Yusuf Pathan who have consistently bowled in the first six overs in the IPL. We also have very good part-timers in the team. Yusuf and Jadeja can be called specialist spinners. Hopefully, as the tournament progresses, the wickets will get slower," he stated.

IPL will get bigger without Lalit Modi: Shetty

2010-04-28T02:49:00.004-07:00

NEW DELHI: The success of the IPL was not because of Lalit Modi alone, according to a top BCCI official, who reckons the Twenty20 league will continue to flourish without the suspended commissioner as cricket sells itself in India.

The BCCI's chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty said that the Board has enough competent people to take the event forward.

"The IPL will continue to flourish. The success is not only because of Modi. BCCI will put up a good team to make IPL even more successful," Shetty said.

The high-flying Modi was suspended as the chairman and commissioner of the league after the final on Sunday because of alleged financial irregularities and rigging of bids.

Modi was charged on five counts, including irregularities in the bids of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab and in the broadcast and internet deals.

Modi's removal has raised apprehensions among the franchises many of whom openly backed the embattled former commissioner during the raging controversy.

"There is no need for the franchisees to be apprehensive. BCCI will ensure that IPL will be managed professionally. The BCCI president Shashank Manohar and interim chairman Chirayu Amin have already made it clear in this regard," Shetty said.

The scandal has tarnished the image of the BCCI to a great extent but Shetty said steps would be taken to protect the game and the Board's reputation.

"BCCI will take all steps required to protect the game and its own reputation. All these developments gave a bad name to the organisation but we will take all corrective steps," the chief administrative officer said.

Shetty, who has been given the responsibility of investigating all the missing documents related to bids and other IPL deals, said he would write to Modi to hand over all the original documents which are with him.

"We will officially write to Modi to hand over all the original documents held by him as they are the property of BCCI," he said.

Asked whether he felt the market value of IPL would go down due to the entire controversy and Modi's removal, he said, "IPL is a brand of its own and it is built around the game of cricket. It will grow further."

Shetty also vehemently denied that there was political pressure on the BCCI to take stern action against Modi after minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor's resignation.

"I can tell you that there was no political pressure on the BCCI. Not at all," he asserted.

He also came to the defense of IPL Governing Council which failed to keep a tab on Modi's alleged wrong-doings.

Asked how much blame the Governing Council should take for the entire fiasco, he said, "To be fair to the Governing Council, in most cases the papers came for ratification and Rajiv Shukla had written about this to Shashank Manohar."

On what prompted the council to appoint Chirayu Amin as the interim chairman of the league, the CAO said, "Chirayu Amin is an experienced cricket administrator, maintains a low profile and can handle the issues in IPL."

Shetty said that Modi's response to the show-cause notice would be placed in front of the disciplinary committee.

"The reply to show cause notice will be placed before the three-member disciplinary committee of BCCI," he said.

The Disciplinary Committee comprises of president Manohar and two vice-presidents -- Amin and Arun Jaitley. The disciplinary committee will then submit its report in the General Body Meeting.

On Modi's threat to expose some of the BCCI officials in the wake of the IPL furore, Shetty shot back, "He is free to do that."

On whether he considers IPL scandal the biggest crisis in Indian cricket, he said, "It's certainly not bigger than the match-fixing scandal."

Gulbis stuns Federer at ATP Rome Masters

2010-04-28T02:49:00.003-07:00

ROME: Latvia's unseeded Ernests Gulbis stunned an out-of-sorts world number one Roger Federer 2-6, 6-1, 7-5 to reach the third round of the ATP Rome Masters 1000 at the Foro Italico on Tuesday.

In a match littered with unforced errors -- Gulbis edged the top seed 39-38 on that score -- the Swiss maestro looked a shadow of his normal self as his game collapsed following a typically dominant opening set.

When the Wimbledon and French Open champion raced through the first set, breaking in the first and seventh games, there was no way of predicting what was to follow: steadily his game crumbled.

He gave up a break for 3-1 when he went wide with a forehand before in his next service game he missed a smash and netted a backhand to give up two break points before a wild forehand into the tramlines saw him fall 5-1 behind.

Gulbis sealed the set with an ace while Federer won only 10 percent of points on his second serve.

Another long forehand saw him broken in the fifth game of the deciding set and then Federer went wide with a backhand down the line to give up double match-point at 3-5 on his own serve.

Gulbis had a great chance to convert the second but went wildly long on the forehand.

In the next game Gulbis had four more match points on his serve but seemed to choke as he hit two double faults and went long off both flanks.

He then missed a smash and went wide with an inside out forehand to allow the world number one to break back.

But four more unforced errors from Federer saw Gulbis serve for the match for a second time and he made no mistake, courtesy of two more Federer unforced errors.

While both players made a flurry of mistakes, the big difference was in winners where Gulbis hit 33 to Federer's 20.

The defeat continued Federer's poor record here where he has reached the last four or better only three times in 10 attempts.

Earlier, world number two Novak Djokovic was barely stretched as he crushed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-1, 6-1.

Djokovic showed no signs of the service problems he'd suffered recently as he claimed victory in five seconds under the hour.

It was the 22-year-old Serbian's fourth win in four meetings with the Frenchman, one year his senior, who has yet to take a set off Djokovic.

And the second seed was quite happy to get this second round match out of the way quickly.

"The sooner you finish the happier you are. I've played in this tournament many times so you don't need many hours to get used to the court," he said.

"I've been here practising five or six days so I was already used to the courts and wanted to finish as quickly as possible."

Djokovic's return of serve was particularly impressive against a player known for his big serve.

"Always in your first match in a tournament you don't know what to expect, especially playing against a player with such a hard serve, it can be difficult but I was very focused right from the first moment," he said.

"I think (the return) was one of the keys today, I knew he was going to serve well so I needed to return well to be in control of the match."

The 2008 champion here and finalist last year is playing in only his second clay court event of the season having reached the semi-finals in Monte Carlo two weeks ago.

Here in three previous appearances he has never failed to make the quarter-finals.

Olic triple sees Bayern into Champions League final

2010-04-28T02:49:00.001-07:00

LYON: Ivica Olic netted a hat-trick as Bayern Munich defeated Lyon 3-0 on Tuesday to qualify for the Champions League final for the first time since they last won the competition in 2001.

The Croatia striker extended Bayern's 1-0 lead from last week's semi-final first leg in Munich in the first half and put the tie beyond Lyon's reach with a pair of strikes in the second period.

A jubilant Olic said: "It's incredible to win by this scoreline and to have scored three goals. This is perhaps the best match of my life, but above all it's a great overall performance by the team.

"We have to repeat this now in the final itself."

Lyon were bidding to reach their first ever European final but saw Michel Bastos and Bafetimbi Gomis spurn the best chances that came their way.

The hosts had captain Cris sent off midway through the second half after being shown two yellow cards in quick succession.

Bayern were missing France winger Franck Ribery after his dismissal in the first leg but they were barely troubled by a Lyon team that once again failed to muster a sustained attacking threat.

The German side, four-time champions, will meet the winners of Wednesday's other semi-final between Barcelona and Inter Milan in the final in Madrid on May 22.

Coach Louis van Gaal will be aiming to become just the third man to guide two different teams to Europe's top club honour, having tasted Champions League glory with Ajax in 1995.

After seeing his side outplayed in Munich, Lyon coach Claude Puel made his attacking intentions clear by naming wingers Bastos, Sidney Govou and Cesar Delgado in his line-up in support of Lisandro Lopez.

Bayern's injury problems meant Holger Badstuber had to move into the centre of defence, with 19-year-old Diego Contento taking his place at left-back, but it was the home defence that found itself under pressure first.

With barely two minutes on the clock, Olic robbed Cris wide on the right and centred for Thomas Mueller, but with only Hugo Lloris to beat he clipped his first-time shot narrowly wide from 10 yards.

Mueller then flashed a cross across goal before Bayern scored the night's first psychological blow when Mark van Bommel drew a foul from Maxime Gonalons that earned the youngster a booking and a suspension for the final.

The goal the Lyon fans dreaded arrived in the 26th minute when Robben's pass down the inside-left channel found Mueller, who teed up Olic to spin away from his marker and score.

The noise of the Bayern fans' drums replaced the roar of the home support and they grew even louder when Bastos spurned a superb chance for an equaliser by volleying wide from six yards.

Puel introduced Gomis at half-time and the former Saint Etienne striker sent a thumping volley high over the Bayern crossbar when a left-wing cross fell to him at the back post shortly after his introduction.

Bastian Schweinsteiger flashed an eye-catching half-volley narrowly over as Bayern looked to kill the game off, before Lloris produced a fine save to push away Robben's low curling effort.

Lyon's evening went from bad to worse shortly before the hour when Cris received his marching orders, picking up two yellow cards in the space of a minute for fouling Olic and then sarcastically applauding the referee's decision to book him.

The hosts responded with a stinging shot from Govou that Hans-Joerg Butt palmed away before Olic killed off any lingering hopes of a comeback by scampering onto Hamit Altintop's pass and beating Lloris with a crisp finish.

Olic secured possession of the matchball in the 77th minute when he nodded home Philipp Lahm's cross from the right.