Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Sachin yet again

Colombo, Feb 3: For the third time in a row, Sachin Tendulkar was today done in by poor umpiring in the current one-day cricket series against Sri Lanka, being declared leg before wicket in yet another dubious decision.Tendulkar was declared leg-before in the first ODI in Dambulla when the ball was clearly pitched outside the leg stump, he fell LBW against in the second ODI when the ball was missing the leg stump and was again ruled leg-before by Sri Lankan umpire Gamini Silva today when the ball was going down the leg side by an even wider margin. The three umpiring errors have meant that Tendulkar has made scores of 5, 6 and 7 in the series so far.True to his character, Tendulkar has not shown any dissent although his disappointment was palpable.India’s coach Gary Kirsten was seen shaking his head in disbelief after watching television replays of Tendulkar’s dismissal in the dressing room. The champion batsman, who had been in excellent form in the recent series against Australia and England, suddenly finds himself going through a lean patch for no fault of his. (PTI)

Singh, Indu Bhagat winners in amateur golf

Singh, Indu Bhagat winners in amateur golf: The 31st All Assam Amateur Golf Championship from January 30- February 1 in the picturesque Digboi Golf Course was well attended by more than 180 golfers from Asom and neighbouring States. The overall winner was 19 year old Surya Vijay Singh with a final score of 4 under par. The overall lady winner was Indu Bhagat.In the ladies category the winners were Indu Bhagat, Ritamoni Hazarika, Dr Jyoti Bora, Pronita Sarmah and Rukshana Khan. The winners in the 19-30 category were Lt Col J Dhiya, Jishu Rakshit, Master A Kholi, Sumit Singh Bhamprah, H Bhattacharjee, HN Shah, Dr Mukul Dutta, and D Nicholus. In the 13-18 category the winners were Akid Zaman, Nipon Kachari, Pankaj Deka, Col N S Chawhan, K J Baruah, Satya S Saikia, D P Prasad, R Badoni, Manash Baruah, RV Singh, TU Ahmed, A Talukdar, S Agarwal, and M Takuldar. The winners in the 0-12 category were SV Singh, Utpal Deka, VK Singh, Anurag Neog, GK Goyari, Surajit Goswami, Haseem Ahmed, S M Hussain, Mridul Shyam, Roop Chakraborty, Sunil Phukan, Sq Ldr N Rana, Arvind Daga, Puna Borgohain, S N Chowdhary, and Sq Ldr N Bhandari. (Staff Correspondent, Dibrugarh)

India stun Germany in Punjab Gold Cup hockey


CHANDIGARH: After the 4-4 draw against the Netherlands on Sunday, India coach in-charge Harendra Singh had said that not earning a single penalty corner had cost them a win. On Tuesday, he was a happy man following India's 2-0 triumph over world and Olympic champions Germany in their final match of the first leg of the four-nation Punjab Gold Cup.

Reason: India earned two penalty corners in the match and scored in both.

However, the person whose stellar performance ensured that India go into the second leg with their morale high was man of the match Baljit Singh, who pulled off five stunning saves to fashion India's first victory over Germany after 2004.

The match started on a wrong note for India, as in-form striker Shivender Singh had to be stretchered off the field in the very first minute following a nasty collision with a German midfielder. However, the jolt didn't bog down the Indians, as they earned a penalty corner two minutes later.

After Rajpal Singh's push wasn't stopped cleanly, the ball went to an unmarked Dilip Tirkey — the highest capped player in the world — who hit a sizzling shot that beat German goalie Max Weinhold all ends up.

After conceding an early goal, the German squad pressed hard to restore parity and earned as many as seven penalty corners (7th, 14th, 15th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd, 34th). However, the man who rose to the occasion and denied the Germans from equalizing was India custodian Baljit Singh. The local lad came up with stunning saves to ensure India went into the breather keeping the lead intact.

With each of Baljit's saves cheered by a vociferous crowd, the Indians also staged couple of counter-attacks, but were denied by an alert German defence.

If Germany dominated the first half, it was the home side which took control of the proceedings after the breather. They came tantalizingly close to increasing the lead in the 49th minute when Vikram Pillay's rasping shot from the top of the striking zone missed the goal by a whisker. However, the orchestrated build-ups by Rajpal, Arjun Halppa and Vikram did yield result in the 53rd minute when India earned their second short corner.

After Weinhold blocked skipper Sandeep Singh's drag flick, an alert Prabhjot Singh sent home the rebound with a splendid reverse flick.

After having an ordinary first half, Vikram pulled up his socks and played superbly in the second. Besides playing a key role in the midfield, he also thwarted quite a few German attacks around the Indian striking zone.

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_stun_Germany_in_Punjab_Gold_Cup_hockey/articleshow/4071451.cms

Trust in Me" says Arsenal recruit Arshavin


LONDON: Arsenal's new signing Andrei Arshavin had a message for the Gunners' fans as he set off on his new career at the Emirates Stadium: "Trust in me and Arsenal."

Arshavin, who hopes to help bring silverware to the Arsenal sideboard after some barren years, also said it had been a "dream move" and told Sky television cameras he been a "Gooner," or Arsenal supporter, for some time.

Arsenal confirmed that the Russian playmaker had signed for the Premier League side on a "long-term" contract, believed to be three-and-a-half years.

The London club agreed a deal for the player with his former club, Zenit St Petersburg, just minutes before Monday's transfer deadline and had to wait until Tuesday for the move to be ratified by the Premier League.

Arsenal have not yet released information about Arshavin's fee, but it is believed to be around 15 million pounds.

The club have not won a major competition since they triumphed over Manchester United in the FA Cup final in 2005, one year after they went unbeaten to claim the Premier League title.

The 27-year-old is adamant that he has joined one of the best clubs in the world and is sure he can help add silverware to the Gunners trophy cabinet.

The Russian revealed the prospect of playing under manager Arsene Wenger was one of many reasons why he had his heart set on the move.

Arshavin had been linked with a move to Barcelona after he shot to fame following his outstanding performances during Euro 2008, but the Russian said he was happy to join the Gunners, thanks partly due to Wenger.

Arshavin told Arsenal TV: "I moved because I like the Arsenal style, Wenger as a coach and I like some of their players."

The club are thought to have been locked in negotiations with Zenit over the switch since the transfer window re-opened.

"I followed each game and from the moment when I met Arsene Wenger," he added. "He told me every time I talked to him, he said: 'I want you to come to Arsenal.' He had confidence in me."

When asked if he had a message to the Arsenal fans, the 2006 Russian Footballer of the Year answered: "Trust in me and Arsenal."

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/eplarticleshow/4073291.cms

Phelps could face criminal charges: Report


RALEIGH (North Carolina): Record-breaking Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps could face criminal charges following the publication of a photograph purpor tedly showing him smoking marijuana, The State newspaper of Columbia, South Carolina reported on Tuesday.

A South Carolina law enforcement official said he would charge Phelps if he could prove the US Olympian smoked marijuana in his county.

"This case is no different than any other case," Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott told The State.

Lott's comments come after a British newspaper published a photograph purportedly showing Phelps smoking marijuana at a party being held by students at the University of South Carolina in Columbia in November.

Columbia, the South Carolina state capital, is located in Richland County.

"This one might be a lot easier since we have photographs of someone using drugs and a partial confession. It's a relatively easy case once we can determine where the crime occurred."

Phelps apologised on Sunday after publication of the photograph by the News of the World, calling his behaviour "inappropriate."

Both the University of South Carolina and Columbia police departments have said they would not pursue charges against Phelps, The State said.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it accepted his apology and US officials said the news was disappointing but stressed that smoking marijuana out of competition was not an anti-doping matter.

Possession of marijuana is a misdemeanour in South Carolina, punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $570 fine, plus court costs, The State reported.

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Phelps_could_face_criminal_charges_Report/articleshow/4074308.cms

Not touring SA in best interest of Symo: CA

Melbourne: Cricket Australia on Wednesday justified its decision of not considering Andrew Symonds for the tour of Australia, saying that it was in the "best interest" of the controversial all-rounder.

"It is a tough stance but an appropriate stance in the circumstances," said CA chief executive James Sutherland.

"It can be looked at as a sanction but I would prefer to look at this as a decision in the best interests of Andrew Symonds as well. He will benefit from some concentrated counselling over this period before he goes on tour again with the Australian cricket team," he was quoted as saying in the local media.

Sutherland said the 33-year-old Symonds, who is undergoing rehabilitation, was in fact thankful to have escaped the sack, after his latest remarks to New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

Symonds was fined $4000 for describing McCullum as "a lump of sh.." during a radio interview with comedians Roy and HG, during which the cricketer sounded as if he had been drinking.

"Whilst he is disappointed that he is not able to be selected for the South Africa tour, he is at the same time grateful that he is still a contracted Cricket Australia player," Sutherland said.

The CA Chief Executive hinted that Symonds's career will go on the line again before the ODI series against Pakistan in April, around the time the next round of CA contracts is announced.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/not-touring-sa-in-best-interest-of-symo-ca/37972-13.html

Dhoni to be bestowed with Youth Icon award

Ranchi: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's alma mater St Xavier's College will confer its famous student with its first 'Youth Icon' award during the institute's three-day carnival begining on February 5.

"This will be the first-ever award being conferred to any student in the college's 49-year-old history to encourage all the students to show their prowess," college dean Jayant Sinha said here on Tuesday.

"We are trying to contact Dhoni's family to receive the award on his behalf," he said.

Dhoni is presently leading Team India against Sri Lanka in the one-day series.

Dhoni had last year enrolled himself in the college to complete his degree course in office management.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/dhoni-to-be-bestowed-with-youth-icon-award/37963-13.html

India to field reserves in search of record win

Colombo: Having clinched the five-match series by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead, India will try out some of their reserve players when they take on Sri Lanka in an inconsequential fourth one-dayer here on Thursday, seeking to notch up a record-breaking ninth consecutive win.

Although the visitors would ideally like to make a clean sweep of the series, giving an opportunity to the bench players will be their priority in the remaining two games.

Everything has gone well for Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men in the series and the team will be keen to keep the winning sequence going.

The Indian batting has been far superior than the home team and the bowling has also been quite disciplined to bring about the desired results.

Dhoni made it clear after Tuesday's win that giving reserve players a chance to prove themselves was more important than retaining the winning squad in pursuit of their record ninth straight ODI win.

"We are not looking at the record. Rather, we will give chance to players who didn't get a chance to play in the series so far," Dhoni said.

"We are 3-0 up and have already won the series. It gives us an opportunity to play those players. For us, this is the priority. The team is not looking at the record but giving chance to those players," he said.

India humiliated Sri Lanka with a 147-run win under floodlights at the R Premadasa stadium on Tuesday to seal the series. Sri Lanka, however, have only pride to play for in the remaining matches which are of mere academic interest now.

The home side, who are playing non-stop cricket for last five months, will be under pressure to regroup and rediscover their winning form.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene will have to ensure that his team executed the game plan well to win the next two matches and reclaim their confidence ahead of the busy season.

Jayawardene admitted his team was not up to the standard of Dhoni's India and there were some grey areas to be fixed, especially the bowling which was absolutely off the mark on Tuesday.

"There are certain areas we need to tighten up. Against a good opposition like India, certain things were not up to the standard," he said.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/india-to-field-reserves-in-search-of-record-win/37978-13.html