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Atwal becomes first Indian to win on PGA Tour

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sachin slams fifth double century in Test cricket

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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

Saina Nehwal to get Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award

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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.