Sania inspires Indian win over Australia in Hopman Cup
Thursday, 3 January, 2008

Perth, Jan 1 (ANI): Indian tennis star Sania Mirza's inspiring performance led India to a scintillating victory over Australia at the ongoing Hopman Cup tournament.

Sania and Rohan Bopanna defeated sixth seeded Australian duo of Alicia Molik and Peter Luczak 6-2, 4-6, 13-11 in the match tie breaker of the mixed doubles.

By defeating Australia, seventh seed India has kept their record of never losing a mixed doubles at the Hopman Cup.

After the singles, both Australia and India were levelled at 1-1 with Sania having defeated World No. 8 Molik 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, and luczak winning against 267th ranked Bopanna 7-6, 6-3.

The mixed doubles match turned out to be the nail biting match with the third set going for a tiebreak.

'Anything can happen in a mixed doubles, especially with this third set tiebreak. I think it was a very entertaining match," The Australian quoted Sania, as saying in the post match press conference.

India could still make the decider of the one million dollar tournament, but need to emphatically win their tie against the Czech republic and see the US comprehensively beaten by Australia.

With this defeat, Australia's chance to reach the final of the tournament has become bleak as Molik-Luczak duo has to overcome US superstar Serena Williams and her partner Mardy Fish on Thursday. (ANI)

Labels: Sports

India, Pakistan fined for slow over-rate during Mohali ODI
Friday, 9 November, 2007

Mohali, Nov 9 (ANI): Indian and Pakistani teams were fined for slow over-rate during the second one-day international (ODI) match here on Thursday. ICC match referee Roshan Mahanama imposed the fines after both the teams were ruled to be one over short of their targets when time allowances were taken into consideration. In accordance with the ICC Code of Conduct regulations governing over-rate penalties, players are fined five per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.As such, rival captains Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Shoaib Malik have been fined 10 per cent of their match fee, while their players have each received five per cent fines. Mahanama spoke to both captains after the match and reminded them of their sides' obligations to complete their overs in the time allocated in the future. (ANI) -AJ

Labels: Sports

Selection committee to name India's new Test captain
Thursday, 8 November, 2007

Mohali, Nov 8 (ANI): The national selection committee will meet here later in the day to select India's new Test captain.

There are strong indications that the One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni may be handed the reins of the team in the longer version of the game as well.

It seems that Dhoni has now emerged as the frontrunner for the post after Sachin Tendulkar informed the cricket board that he was not keen on taking up the assignment.

The post of captain of the Indian Test cricket team has been vacant since Rahul Dravid quit the post two months ago.

Besides, the discussion will also hold on the issue of whether or not to recall Dravid, who was dropped for the first two matches against Pakistan owing to his loss of form against Australia.

The selectors, who are meeting during the second Indo-Pak ODI, will also announce team for the remaining three one-dayers against Pakistan.

The third ODI cricket match will be played between India and Pakistan at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on November 11. (ANI)
- AY

Labels: Sports

India provisionally awarded to host 2010 World Cup Hockey

Labels: Sports

Team India gear up for series against Pak
Saturday, 3 November, 2007

MP: Dhoni and his men are gearing up for the upcoming series against Pakistan with the Indian cricket team's 2 day camp begining on Friday at Eden Gardensin Kolkatta. The Indian cricketers arrived in the city and practised at the nets at the indoor facility at Eden since the ground was wet. The players were satisfied with the ground conditions. " There ewere no problems. We have no complaints, said skipper, Dhoni.  The 5 day match series will begin on November 5th with the first India-Pak ODI scheduled in Guwahati on Monday. Meanwhile security has been tightened in Guwahati ahead of the first ODI and Pakistan is playing for the first time there. Ctrackers are banned at the stadium premises and several other items including cell phones, cameras, food, bottles are banned inside the stadium.

Labels: Cricket, Sports

We must learn to appreciate uniqueness of each sport: President
Wednesday, 31 October, 2007

MP: New Delhi, Oct 30 (ANI): Expressing happiness over the achievements of Indian sportspersons and teams this year, President Pratibha Patil today emphasised the need for appreciating the unique qualities of each sport in the country.

Felicitating the national hockey, football and Tweny20 cricket teams for winning the Asia Cup, the Nehru Cup and the World Championship respectively at Rashtrapati Bhavan here, Patil said that we must ensure that valiant sportsmanship does not go unappreciated, be it from any sport.

"It is also encouraging to note that our achievements in sports are multi-disciplinary and I hope that this will encourage us to promote all sports and not just a select few," she said.

Patil pointed out that the enthusiasm and participation of people is fundamental in the process of creating a culture of professional sports in the country.

"It is heartening to note what a successful year this has been for India in the field of sports! Our teams and sportspersons have delighted the nation with spectacular performances and victories that have made us all proud," she said.

She further said that India has a long tradition of sports and athletic activities, adding that "many indigenous games of our country are testament to the fact that we have always encouraged the friendly yet competitive spirit of sports."

Patil said that the importance of sports for a nation goes far beyond victories in the playing field, since the spirit of sportsmanship imbues several values, which are essential for a well-groomed citizen of the country.  

"Loyalty, courage, perseverance, teamwork and dedication are but a few of the many qualities which one may learn from sports and these qualities not only enable them to become good sportspersons but also better human beings. It is this socially constructive aspect of sports which is of paramount importance to a nation and in the light of the recent victories of our players, we can be certain that India remains committed in its encouragement of sports," she added.

The members of victorious hockey and cricket teams were present on the occasion. The men's football team could not attend the function, as they were involved in a World Cup qualifier in Goa.

They were represented by the President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Priya Ranjan Das Munshi. (ANI)

Labels: Sports

Thousands participate in Delhi Half Marathon
Sunday, 28 October, 2007

MP: New Delhi, Oct 28 (ANI): The Delhi Half Marathon organised here today saw the participation of over 28,000 people, including 7,000 professionals.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil flagged off the half marathon.

Rwanda's Diudone Disi and Ethiopian Deriba Alemu won in men's and women's categories respectively at the third Vodafone Delhi Half Marathon here on Sunday morning.

World number six Disi completed the 21-kilometer race in one hour and 43 seconds, while Alemu took little over one hour 10 minutes to win the race, ending the Kenyan dominance established during the last two editions of the half marathon.

Kenya's Isaac Macharia and world number three Wilson Kiprotich came second and third respectively in the men's race.

In women's category, another Ethiopian Atsede Habtambu came second (1:10:36), while Kenya's Alice Timbill finished third (1:10:40).

The event also saw other races like the senior citizens' run, wheelchair event and great Delhi run.

"The race was very good. It was not so steep, nor downhill and was very short. I could run more but it is okay. Everything was well organised," said Mike, a German, who participated in the wheelchair event.

Suresh Kalmadi, President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), also present at the event, said: "The Commonwealth Games are in 2010 and all these events are a build-up to it. The Commonwealth Games will not be in the stadium but outside the city and the people in the city will have to make the games great."

Last year's top Indian finisher Ram Singh Yadav once again finished the race earliest among Indian participants. He ended 16th with a time of one hour, six minutes and nine seconds.

Yadav said: "I am happy with my performance."

The total prize money of the event was 160,000 dollars. (ANI)

Labels: Sports

Wrestlers vent their anger on journalists in Ludhiana
Thursday, 25 October, 2007

MP: Ludhiana, Oct 25 (ANI): Wrestlers roughed up journalists here
today following an announcement that a wrestling championship slated
for October 28, 2007 in Ludhiana was cancelled.

They vented their ire, when the tournament got cancelled due to
last-minute hitches.

The Universal Wrestling Stars Inc. (UWSI), a company based in Canada,
had recently announced that it would be organising its international
wrestling championship 'India vs. Rest of the World - War of Legends'
at Patiala, in addition to the scheduled venues of Ludhiana and
Jalandhar.

The tickets for the championship, which was to be held at the Polo
Grounds on October 28, were priced at Rs 250, Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.

The USP of this Championship was that globally acclaimed Indian
wrestling stars like 'King of all Wrestlers' Tiger Jeet Singh, former
WWF and WWE wrestling superstar Tiger Ali Singh were to take on
wrestlers from all over the world including the invincible 'The
Giant', the uncontrollable Killer Pane, Mountain of a Man Yokozuna,
the Ultimate Fighting Champion Wolfgang, the 'King of the Old School'
Steve Corino, pure Muscleman Nikita and the "Stunning" Jerry Lynn.

Arrangements were made for their stay at the Hotel Park Plaza in Ludhiana. (ANI)

Labels: Sports

Dhoni, Harbhajan hopeful of good performance against Pakistan

MP: Ranchi/Ludhiana, Oct 25 (ANI): Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni
today sounded confident about a good performance in the forthcoming
home series against archrivals Pakistan.

Speaking at an awards ceremony hosted in his honour following his
return to the state after winning the Twenty-20 World Cup last month,
Dhoni said the five-match one-day series starting November 6 would be
a tough one.

"A very important series is coming up against Pakistan…They are
important matches and quite a tough series. Hopefully we will play
well," Dhoni said.

Ace off-spinner Harbhajan Singh endorsed his captain's words, saying,
"Pakistan will be a very good series. They are coming after a long
time. We are looking forward to playing good cricket."

Dhoni received a car and rupees five lakhs as award for his skillful
captainship, which saw India lifting the T20 World Cup after defeating
Pakistan in the finals in South Africa.

India will play five one-day matches series against Pakistan starting
from November 6.

The first match will be played at the Nehru stadium in Guwahati. The
five one-dayers will be followed by three Test matches. (ANI)

Labels: Cricket, Sports

Rahul Gandhi takes time out to play a cricket match

Labels: Cricket, Sports

India's new aggression will be tested during Australia tour: Ponting
Wednesday, 24 October, 2007

Sydney, Oct.23 (ANI): The Indian cricket team that will tour Australia in December and January can expect to face a tough time from their opponents and the crowd, said Australian skipper Ricky Ponting.

Addressing a news conference here soon after the team's arrival from Mumbai, Ponting said Indian players had adopted a more confrontational attitude, and therefore, should expect to be paid back in the same coin.

A string of visiting teams and players have realised that maintaining the intensity during a long summer tour can be quite a challenge.

"They (the Indians) made it pretty clear right at the start of the series they were going to fight fire with fire, but for us, we know that's generally not the way they play their cricket," The Age quoted Ponting, as saying.

"We've got a lot of cricket against them in the next few months, so it will be interesting to see just how long that aggressive-natured cricket does last from them."

The Indians arrive in late December after a home series against Pakistan and have one three-day match in Australia, against Victoria, to prepare for the Boxing Day Test. By the end of January, they will have played four Tests before the caravan rolls into a triangular one-day series with Sri Lanka.

NSW leg spinner Stuart MacGill, desperate to fill Shane Warne's large void this summer, echoed Ponting's theme.

"It's always a danger if you're trying to become someone that you're not because you've got to concentrate on a whole lot of things out on the field, not just bowling," said MacGill.

"It's always easier when you've got a lot of support at home to ride your emotions. They only need to look around and know they've got a billion countrymen supporting them. I think you'll find it doesn't work for them if they're pretending," he added. (ANI)

Labels: Cricket, Sports

Players protest against militancy in Manipur

Imphal, Oct 22 (ANI): Upset with the constant extortion demands, sports officials and players want to root out nefarious elements from Manipur society. When Marykom of Manipur won the gold medal in the World Women's Boxing Championship in Delhi last year, she brought laurels for the country and Manipur in particular.

But the militants who claim to fight for Manipur's pride are actually killing the honour of the state by stifling the sports' authorities. These officials went on strike against the extortion demands served on them by an underground group. "We have told them that we don't have money. We are scarifying for our job only and for the achievement of our player. We are giving our effort to bring up our player to national and international level. Besides, they are demanding high amount," said, a sports official.

Sport stadiums and playgrounds, were empty. At a time, when the state players are preparing for next year's Asian games and Commonwealth Game, the sudden break in practice has been a big blow not only to the players but also for the state. "We are fighting for the future. We want to do some good for our state and for the country. We are practicing day and night. We don't have any option," said one of the players.

Another player added, "We have been affected a lot. Our daily playing session has been disturbed due to the demand by some groups." Last month, sports person and officials in Manipur also came out on the streets to protest against the harassment meted out by the underground groups. In the absence of large scale industries and adequate employment avenues, sports are the only area where talented youngsters find a living.

For Manipuris, sports are a means to socio economic upliftment, but the act as brakes on the ambitions and growth of the young generation. "If I don't pay the demand, I am not secure. As long as I pay the demand, I am secure," a player, said.

Manipur is a hub of sporting talents. Take any football club in the country and you will find five or six players who are Manipuris. The state today has the largest number of medal holders as the last two National games have proved. This strength in sports has come despite a lack of proper infrastructure. It's the sheer zest for the game and a desire to change their socio economic lives, that drive Manipuris but the underground groups want to put an end to this march to progress. (ANI)

Labels: Manipur, Sports

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