Jyoti Randhawa wins Thailand Open

NEW DELHI: Scuba diving in Phi-Phi island was the ideal preparation for a composed Jyoti Randhawa as he crowned the season’s fine performances with a two-stroke triumph at the $500,000 Thailand Open on Sunday.

While SSP Chowrasia’s challenge fell apart as his swing got awry on the final day, and Wales’ Rhys Davies threatened, the resurgent Indian kept his nerves in the rain to capture his eight Asian Tour title. A flawless five-under 65 and a tournament total of 17-under 263 at the Laguna Phuket Golf Club earned him a cheque of $79,250 (approx Rs 41 lakh).

"I knew when I made the birdie on the 15th that I would win but I had to keep the emotions in check," an elated Randhawa told TOI from Phuket. "Experience teaches that you have to finish the job."

Last season, he was burdened by a lack of motivation for not playing up to expectations but now, that distinct swagger and the trademark late surges are back. While the adventurer has rediscovered the spirit - "I need to chill out a bit" - he has perhaps realised that the trick is not to tweak.

"Last year, I was struggling with swing changes. I tried to alter a lot of things that I didn’t need to. I am more of a body player and I tried to use my hands too much that created inconsistency. I want to play golf my way and that’s the best way of doing it," the 36-year-old elaborated.

A tied second finish at the Malaysian Masters and a tied 7th at the Indonesia Open ushered good tidings. "My form has been pretty good and I had this feeling that I would win but then, on the second day, I was tied thirty-something," he recounted.

But Randhawa charged into contention with a remarkable 62 on the penultimate day and pulled one stroke clear of the other overnight leaders, Chowrasia and Davies, after shooting three birdies in the opening five holes of the final round on Sunday. He sustained his intensity on the back nine with further birdies on the 12th and 15th.

"I thought I could shoot some low numbers and I finally did," added the 2002 Asian No. 1. After the Thai high, Randhawa returns to India in search of more glory on home soil at the SAIL Open starting on March 18 and then after a three-week break, it will be back to the European Tour.

Goals for the season? I'll take it as it comes, he reiterated his old-and-gold mantra. And right now, kayaking is on top of the agenda.

Excellent week for Indians:

The tournament proved to be eventful for Indians. Overnight joint leader SSP Chowrasia, who began the day’s proceedings with an eagle only to fade away with a one-under final-day score, finished tied fourth. But young guns Gaganjeet Bhullar and Himmat Rai were tied 10th at 10-under while Anirban Lahiri was a stroke behind, tied 19th with a final day six-under 64.

It was a little too late for Indian-born Swede Daniel Chopra, who carded in a seven-under 63, to finish tied sixth while it was too early in the case of opening round leader Digvijay Singh, whose subsequent overpar rounds sunk him to the bottom of the barrel as he finished with a total of eight-over.

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Jyoti-Randhawa-wins-Thailand-Open/articleshow/4241299.cms

China sweep All England championships

BIRMINGHAM: China became the first nation ever to win all five titles in the open era at the All-England championships when Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng wr apped up the men's doubles 21-17, 21-15 against Korea's Han Sang Hoon and Hwang Ji Man.

China had won all five in a world championship before, but that was in Beijing back in 1987, and this, in European conditions, was a far tougher task. It was also the first clean sweep in the open or amateur eras since 1948.

The success which really made it possible was that of Wang Yihan, the young unseeded player from Shanghai, who beat Tine Rasmussen, the top-seeded titleholder from Denmark, 21-19, 21-23, 21-11, and became the first to win the women's singles at only the second attempt.

And the success which attracted the most attention was the repeat of the Olympic men's singles final, in which Lin Dan again beat Lee Chong Wei, the world number one from Malaysia, in straight games, though this was a closer match than the one at the Games.

The Chinese star beat the ambitious, hard-working Malaysian 21-19, 21-12 after beginning rather patchily, then grabbing his first important chance, and accelerating away impressively towards the end.

Asked how or why he won, Lin said: "It wasn't tactical or anything - we are both good players. It was more psychological. I was focused and calm.

"I think I played quite well. There were a couple of times in the first set where I didn't handle the situation the best I could and let him have an advantage. But I kept my form and managed to play well."

For a while in the first game Lin faltered unexpectedly. From leads of 8-2, 10-6, and 16-12 he began to make errors, not all of them forced, allowing Lee to nudge his way up to 19-17.

When he reached game point at 20-19, the rally was over in a flash, Lin serving accurately and following it up with a smash which got through immediately.

That increased the pressure on the Olympic silver medalist, who had been only too aware he had lost eight of their nine previous meetings.

And from 14-12 Lin went through to the finish in one magnificent run of seven points.

At the end, while shaking hands across the net, he pushed his face close to Lee's to show his comradeship, but when he really wanted to win Lin showed another side of himself -explosive, dynamic, and very professional.

Wang's win was victory for a good temperament, a good all-round game, and fresher, lighter movement.

"I didn't have any pressure," said Wang, who had looked relaxed most of the time except the end of the second game. "I just really tried to play what I know - and it's nice to be able to do it that way.

"We both played well in the first two games, but in the third I think I was physically stronger and fitter."

Rasmussen said: "I started playing again - after a heel injury - only three days before the tournament, so I am very satisfied with reaching the final. Of course when you get there you always want more.

"I could feel it wasn't going in the right direction, even when I was winning, because the matches were going on too long. But before the tournament I would have guessed I would fall over on the court."

Earlier He Hanbin and Yu Yang had won the mixed doubles, and Zhang Yawen and Zhao Tingting the women's doubles.

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/China-sweep-All-England-championships/articleshow/4245149.cms

Pakistan can still co-host the 2011 World Cup: Butt

LONDON: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt said on Sunday his country could host an international team in the next six to nine months and
will still co-host the 2011 World Cup.

Butt was speaking by telephone on BBC's Five Live Sportsweek programme about the militant attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore on Tuesday in which seven people were killed and six members of the Sri Lankan team injured.

"I would expect teams will tour here again as soon as possible. I would give it six to nine months to get things organised," he said.

"I would want us to get security to a level that would be a guarantee from my government that no such incident like this could happen again, or I will not invite anybody.

"Once I have this assurance I may then invite people to come in Pakistan. But this can happen anywhere. I cannot give that guarantee, but my government can. If they cannot then we will not have cricket in Pakistan at all. I definitely think that we will stage part of the World Cup in 2011."

Butt said he disagreed with match referee Chris Broad who said there had not been enough security to protect players and officials. Former England batsman Broad was travelling in the officials' bus behind the Sri Lanka team.

"I totally disagree with Chris Broad, he is overdoing it. And it is wrong if they (the International Cricket Council) are siding with one man's opinion. I have told them that this opinion is totally wrong," Butt said.

Soruce:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pak_will_still_co-host_the_WC_Butt__/articleshow/4241897.cms

PCB lodges complaint against Chris Broad

NEW DELHI: Let down by severe criticism on security lapses Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday logged an official complaint with ICC against its match referee Chris Broad who witnessed the ill fated terror attack on the Lankan team last week.

A furiated PCB official said, "Instead of public outcry he (Chris Broad) should have written to ICC."

"He has breeched the ICC Code of Conduct", the official added.

We have mentioned all the points in our complaint letter which was dispatched to the ICC headquarters on Monday afternoon said another PCB official.

Earlier, Pakistan cricket chief Ejaz Butt accused match official Chris Broad of lying about poor security during the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore last week.

"That a gentleman of his stature is saying this is unfortunate," Butt, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), told a news conference.

Seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach were also wounded.

Broad, travelling behind in a bus whose driver was killed, had raised security concerns before the tour to Pakistan but said the protection he had been promised was not provided.

"There was not a sign of a policeman anywhere. They had clearly gone, left the scene and left us to be sitting ducks," he had said.

Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/PCB_lodges_complaint_against_Chris_Broad/articleshow/4246300.cms