Saina targets Japan Open

MUMBAI, Sep 8: Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal is upbeat about the Japan Open Super Series badminton tournament later this month and said she is targeting to break the top five ranking bracket by this year end.
The 19-year-old Hyderabadi couldn’t participate in the China Masters after missing the deadline for admission of entries but the world number eight said she is now targeting the Japan Open.
“I am training hard for the ($200,000) Japan Open. I am fully fit now,” said the 19-year-old Saina on the sidelines of a book release function on Tuesday. (PTI)

Dhoni fails

RANCHI, Sep 8: He has redefined success in Indian cricket but Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s college results had ‘fail’ written against his name on Tuesday due to a “clerical error”.
Despite marking him ‘absent’ way back in July, Dhoni was shown to have ‘failed’ the B Com part I exams before the authorities of his St Xavier’s College removed the list from the college notice board.

“It was a clerical error. The list has been removed immediately. When he did not give examination how can he fail?” the Principal, Nicholas Tete, said. Dhoni’s course is of five years and he can complete the semesters during that period, he added.
On July 11, the Controller of Examination, AK Sinha, had said that Dhoni’s result would be shown as ‘absent’ because the cricketer missed both his semesters. After completing his schooling from the DAV school nearly a decade ago, Dhoni took admission to the college last year to complete graduation. He is entitled for flexi-attendance due to his busy international cricketing schedule. (PTI)

Vijender in World boxing quarter-finals

NEW DELHI: Olympic bronze medallist and middle weight (75kg) top seed Vijender Singh moved into quarter-finals of the World Boxing Championships after beating Steve Rolls of Canada 4-2 in Milan.

Vijender made into the pre-quarters of the event by outscoring Kazakhstan’s Belgibayev Azamat with a convincing margin of 14-8.

Round one of the pre-quarters ended with the Canadian ahead by 1-0. Although Vijender had managed to land a couple of lusty blows on the target, they did not find favour with the judges. In round two, Vijender capitalised on his hieght advantage and better arm span to score two straight left and right combination punches, to move ahead and finish at 2-1.

The Indiancorner was clearly agitated as they felt that atleast two more legitimate scoring blows delivered by Vijender should have got judges nod.

In round three, Steve Rolls closed the lead to 3-2 before Vijender who was continuously cheered by his Indian supporters, was able to increase the lead to 4-2.

With the seconds ticking away, Vijender intelligently kept the Canadian at arms length by great footwork and sharp jabs.

Vijender Singh now meets Derevyanchenko Sergiy of Ukraine who defeated Killici Adem of Turkey in the other pre quarter-finals match.

In any case this is one of the best performance by Indian boxers at the World Championships in recent times.

In the last World Championships held at Chicago in 2007, Anthresh Lakra (57kg) was the lone Indian to reach the quarter-finals. Thus, the performance of Vijender Singh (75kg) and Dinesh Kumar (81kg) in this World Championship is a record by itself.

TOI

Rafael Nadal storms into US Open quarter-finals

NEW YORK:

NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal assured a jump past Britain's Andy Murray back into the world number two ranking by advancing to the US Open quarter-finals More Pictures on Tuesday while the Scotsman crashed out in humbling fashion.

Spanish third seed Rafael Nadal, trying to complete a career Grand Slam, advanced to the US Open quarter-finals on Tuesday by defeating French 13th seed Gael Monfils 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-1, 6-3.

Nadal, who clinched a return to second in the world rankings with the triumph, will play for a spot in the semi-finals against Chilean 11th seed Fernando Gonzalez, whom he has beaten in six of nine previous matches.

Also Read: Man arrested after running on court to kiss Nadal

"He's a very good player," Nadal said. "Unbelievable forehands. If I don't play my best it's going to be impossible."

Nadal showed no sign of pain after a two-month layoff with knee tendinitis, calling his knees "very good", or from a right abdominal muscle injury that was treated during his third-round victory on Sunday over countryman Nicolas Almagro.

"I had a few problems but I am in the quarter-finals here for the third time and I'm very happy," Nadal said. "I'm just trying to enjoy my comeback. It's a big result for me. It's much better than what I expected."

A spectator, camera in hand, ran onto the court moments after the match and was able to reach Nadal and give congratulations before security guards pulled him away. Nearly as shocking as the surprise intruder was Murray's fourth-round exit, the second seed never looking on form as Croatian 16th seed Marin Cilic reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 victory.

Monfils broke Nadal in the fourth game of the match and served for the first set at 5-3 but was broken in five points, the last on a netted forehand.

In the tie-break, Monfils won five of the last six points, two on aces and the last when left-hander Nadal pushed a forehand wide.

Nadal saved a break point and held in the opening game of the second set, then swatted a fiery forehand winner on his first break chance for a 4-2 edge.

Monfils broke back but then gave the game back by netting a forehand and Nadal held serve to claim the set, then broke to open the third when Monfils sent a forehand beyond the baseline, pressing his edge to seize momentum.

Nadal took another break in the fifth game when Monfils pushed a forehand wide and another on a double fault to win the 28-minute third set.

An error-gifted break in the fourth game put Nadal ahead. Monfils struck back to break in the next game but double-faulted away a break in the eighth game and Nadal held serve to win after two hours 45 minutes when Monfils netted a forehand, this 63rd and last unforced error.

Nadal is trying to become just the seventh man to complete the career Grand Slam, joining Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson as the only men to win each of the four major titles.

TOI

Paes-Black in US Open mixed doubles final

NEW DELHI: India's Leander Paes and Cara Black of Zimbabwe beat Su-Wei Hsieh and Kevin Ullyett to enter the US Open mixed doubles finals on Tuesday.


Leander Paes and Cara Black defeated Su-Wei Hsieh and Kevin Ullyett 6-2, 3-6, 10-5.

The Indo-Zimbabwean pair started off well as they clinched the first set 6-2 quite easily but their opponents bounced back to level the scores 1-1 by claiming the second set 6-3.

Paes-Black had to fight it out in the marathon final set, which went on for 15 games, to make their way into the finals as they sealed the set and the match 10-5 in their favour.

Earlier on Monday, Paes and Black had beaten Rennae Stubbs and Robert Lindstedt 7-5, 3-6 (10-6) to make it to the mixed doubles semi-finals.

TOI

ICC Champions Trophy 2009

Tue 22 12:30 South Africa v Sri Lanka, 1st Match, Group B, ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Centurion (D/N)

Wed 23 12:30 Pakistan v West Indies, 2nd Match, Group A, ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Johannesburg (D/N)

Thu 24 07:30 South Africa v New Zealand, 3rd Match, Group B, ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Centurion

Fri 25 12:30 England v Sri Lanka, 4th Match, Group B, ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Johannesburg (D/N)

Sat 26 07:30 Australia v West Indies, 5th Match, Group A, ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Johannesburg

Sat 26 12:30 India v Pakistan, 6th Match, Group A, ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Centurion (D/N)

Sun 27 07:30 New Zealand v Sri Lanka, 7th Match, Group B, ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Johannesburg

Sun 27 12:30 South Africa v England, 8th Match, Group B, ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Centurion (D/N)

Mon 28 12:30 Australia v India, 9th Match, Group A, ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Centurion (D/N)

Tue 29 12:30 England v New Zealand, 10th Match, Group B, ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Johannesburg (D/N)

Wed 30 07:30 Australia v Pakistan, 11th Match, Group A, ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Centurion

Wed 30 12:30 India v West Indies, 12th Match, Group A, ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Johannesburg (D/N)

October 2009
Fri 02 12:30 A1 v B2, 1st Semi-Final, ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Centurion (D/N)

Sat 03 12:30 B1 v A2, 2nd Semi-Final, ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Johannesburg (D/N)

Mon 05 12:30 Final, ICC Champions Trophy 2009 Centurion (D/N)

Champions Compaq Cup, 2009

Tue 08 09:00 Sri Lanka v New Zealand, 1st Match, Champions Compaq Cup, 2009
Sri Lanka won by 97 runs Colombo (D/N)

Fri 11 09:00 India v New Zealand, 2nd Match, Champions Compaq Cup, 2009 Colombo (D/N)

Sat 12 09:00 Sri Lanka v India, 3rd Match, Champions Compaq Cup, 2009 Colombo (D/N)

Mon 14 09:00 Final, Champions Compaq Cup, 2009 Colombo (D/N)

Antiguan Baptiste appointed Kenya coach

Former West Indies fast bowling all-rounder Eldine Baptiste has been appointed Kenya cricket coach on a two-year term until June 2011, the team announced on Wednesday.

The 49-year-old Baptiste, who played 10 Tests and 43 One Day Internationals for his country, becomes the second West Indian to take charge of the Kenya team after Roger Harper in 2006. He replaces South African Andy Kirsten whose contract expired in May.

"Eldine brings to the national team a wealth of cricketing experience having been a national player himself for West Indies, and in recent years after retirement from cricket has held several coaching positions," Cricket Kenya chief Tom Tikolo said.

"Most notable is that he was head coach of the Stanford 20/20 Super Star Series 2008, which went on to win the series and prize money of 20 million dollars," he added.

Eldine, who has also served as head coach of South African side Kwazulu Natal, joins Kenya when the national team is preparing for a tour of Zimbabwe later this month and South Africa in November.

"His immediate role will be to prepare and train the Kenya national team by defining and setting out the performance program for the team's training. He will be responsible for all direct coaching and management issues of the team," Tikolo said.

Soruce:Cricbuzz

White looking to bowl again

Australian batsman Cameron White has revealed he still harbours ambitions of resurrecting his stalled bowling career to improve his chances of being a permanent fixture in the national team.

White began his domestic and international careers as a spin bowler who could bat, but recently, his batting prowess has proved to be more destructive.

After batting in the middle order for the majority of his Australian career, the Victorian skipper has now been earmarked as a front-line batsman in the current one-day series against England.

Coming in at first drop in the first two matches in Australian captain Ricky Ponting's absence, White has had an immediate effect, hitting knocks of 53 (career-high) and 42 to be one of Australia's leading batsmen so far.

But, in 10 ODIs this calendar year, White has only been asked to roll his arm over on five occasions for a modest combined return of 3-68.

However, despite admitting to feeling as settled as ever at the international level in the No.3 slot, White said he has been working on his bowling in an attempt to once again be a strike bowler for both his state and country.

"I changed a few things," White told CATV regarding his bowling action.

"I felt as though I need to always keep improving at my bowling to help play more games for Australia and hopefully that can help me improve and become a better bowler."

"But at this stage I probably just need to work at it in the nets now and need to put it in a game now at some stage, whether that's at international level or hopefully get an opportunity to roll some overs out back with Victoria once I get a chance."

"I've shortened my run-up a little and just trying to get side on a little bit earlier and basically get side on at the point of delivery to give myself a better chance to bowl the ball and be a bit more accurate."

White, who has taken a total of 250 wickets for Australia and Victoria in all forms of the game, believes batting at No.3 is more stress-free than entering the fray with four or five wickets lost.

"Obviously you get to get in against a new ball, get a bit more time to set your innings up rather than if you're batting at seven or even a six at times," he said.

"You're basically trying to score at a run a ball and hit boundaries from then on in (when coming at No.7), so I really enjoy batting at three ... (it) just gives me a bit of time to play really correctly and set my innings up."

Meanwhile, White said he was excited by the prospect of the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League competition in October where he will captain the Bushrangers against the world's best domestic sides.

"For a lot of the guys it will be a new thing," he said. "First time in India so really looking forward to getting the team over there and hopefully we can get through the round games and who knows what happens from there."

One of Victoria's opponents in the preliminary stage will be the Delhi Daredevils - the IPL team which star Bushrangers Twenty20 bowler Dirk Nannes has decided to represent in the tournament.

However, White denies there'll be added spice when the two teams meet.

"Dirk's made his decision, he's going to play for Delhi, spoken to all his Victorian team-mates about why he's made that decision, so we're comfortable with that so we'll just move on from that," White said.

© Cricbuzz

Razzaq given clearance to join KKR

Pakistan Cricket Board

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) gave its go-ahead to all-rounder Abdul Razzaq to sign a contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the third edition of the IPL.

Razzaq had met Ejaz Butt to inform him about the offer he has received from the Shahrukh Khan-owned IPL franchise and seek his permission to play for KKR.

After the meeting the PCB chairman allowed the cricketer to join the Kolkata based team.

Razzaq, who quit the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) earlier this year, has made his comeback to the Pakistan side during the Twenty20 World Cup in England, this June and also played an ODI series against Sri Lanka last month.

The 29-year-old right-hander was all delighted to receive the PCB's permission to join the IPL.

"It is great news for me and I'm now looking forward to giving my best for the Knight Riders," Razzaq said.

© Cricbuzz

Kirsten backs Tendulkar's ODIs proposal

India's cricket coach Gary Kirsten today gave a thumbs up to Sachin Tendulkar's idea of splitting the one-dayers into four innings of 25 overs each to revive the format, saying the senior batsman's proposal should be given a thought.

"It is a good idea. I know it has been suggested before somewhere down the line," Kirsten told reporters.

Tendulkar had suggested that ODIs be split into four innings of 25 overs a side to negate the luck factor associated with winning the toss and bring some excitement to the format which is fighting for survival in the face of the Twenty20 storm.

Kirsten said the the option can be explored.

"I think what he is doing is that he is just opening it up to see the different options that could be brought about in the one-day game. A player of his stature, one should listen to him," he said.

Tendulkar had said he hit upon the idea during the 2002 Champions Trophy when India played two finals against Sri Lanka due to rain disruptions but no result could come forcing the organizers to declare the two sides joint winners.

"I thought 110 overs and no result, that's when I thought of this (splitting the match into four innings of 25 overs a side)," he had stated.

© PTI