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

Yuvraj punishes Sri Lanka with hundred

Colombo: Explosive half-centuries from Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag put India in a commanding position in the third one-dayer against Sri Lanka at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Electing to bat, India lost the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar early to another poor umpiring decision, before Gautam Gambhir was run out after a straight hit from Virender Sehwag ricocheted off Dilhara Fernando's hand onto the stumps.

Sehwag and Yuvraj, however, were in a brutal mood as the duo carted the Sri Lankan bowlers all around the park. India decided to take the batting powerplay in the initial overs and it turned out to be a good decision.

India retained the same eleven from the second ODI as captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat in the third one-dayer in Colombo on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka, who trail the five-match series 0-2, must win to keep the series alive. Captain Mahela Jayawardene made one change to his side, bringing in Dilhara Fernando in place of Thilan Thushara.

Teams:
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando.

Soruce: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/yuvraj-punishes-sri-lanka-with-hundred/37943-13.html

Not Greg Chappell, 'others' behind my sacking: Ganguly

Kolkata: Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly feels that Greg Chappell could have been "poisoned" against him and believes the former Australian coach played a very limited role in his ouster from the national team in 2005.

"It is a possibility that others poisoned him against me. There were others in the board and the selection committee who influenced him. I don't think Greg's role in that episode was more than 15 per cent," said Ganguly, whose spat with the Aussie cricketing legend made international headlines for long in 2005.

The left-hander conceded that he was very dejected for one and half months. "I was very upset. When one finds that he is wronged, obviously he gets more angry."

Asked why he never spoke out on the episode all these years, the cricketer said, "My bat and ball did all the talking."

"Greg lost his job as coach, while I staged a comeback under Rahul Dravid and fulfilled a personal goal - playing 100 Tests."

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/not-greg-chappell-others-behind-my-sacking-ganguly/37934-13.html

Clarke gets clear ECB run for second term

London: Businessman Jonathan Marland withdrew on Monday from the election to become chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), giving incumbent Giles Clarke a free run for a second term in office.

In the two weeks since announcing his candidacy Marland, 52, became frustrated by the failure of several of the 18 first-class counties, who with MCC make up the electorate, to meet with him.

Now the member of the British House of Lords, who was the treasurer of Britain's main opposition Conservative Party from 2003 to 2007, has decided to pull out as he believes he has no chance of gaining the 10 votes out of 19 he would have needed for victory.

"It is now clear to me that I will on this occasion be unable to obtain a majority of the votes required and, faced with the continued refusal of several counties even to meet with me, it is with disappointment that I am announcing my withdrawal from the election for the chairmanship of the ECB," Marland said.

Former Somerset chairman Clarke, who became the head of English cricket's governing body in September 2007, had always been keen to serve a second two-year term in office when his current spell expires on March 31.

He now seems assured of being voted in again in next week's ballot.Nevertheless there was, and still remains, a degree of unhappiness within English cricket at the way the ECB was being run under Clarke's leadership.

This intensified following the sacking last month of England coach Peter Moores after a clash with Kevin Pietersen which cost the star batsman his post as England captain.

Soruce: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/clarke-gets-clear-ecb-run-for-second-term/37938-13.html

Jeev nominated for 'Johnnie Walker Asian Golfer of the Year'

NEW DELHI: Jeev Milkha Singh's stellar show last season earned him a nomination for the 'Johnnie Walker Asian Golfer of the Year' Award to be given a way on February 21 in Perth.

Jeev rose to a career-high 35th in the international rankings after bagging four titles last year and becoming the first player in Asian Tour's history to surpass the $1 million mark in a single season.

The others in contention for the 'Asian Golfer of the Year' award are Thais Prayad Marksaeng and Thongchai Jaidee and Chinese-Taipei's Lin Wen-tang, Jhonnie Walker said in a statement.

Marksaeng secured three victories on the Japan Tour, including the prestigious the Dunlop Phoenix tournament, and secured an invite to the US Masters.

Jaidee had two end-of-season victories which saw him equal Thaworn Wiratchant's record of 10 Asian Tour victories.

Wen-tang, on the other hand, enjoyed his finest year as a professional, winning two titles and finishing second on the Order of Merit.

Past Asian Golfer of the Year awardees include Thailand's Boonchu Ruangkit in 1995, Kyi Hla Han, the Chairman of the Asian Tour, in 1998, Korea's KJ Choi (2002 and 2007).

For the 'Asian Rising Star of the Year' award, Japan's Ryo Ishikawa, the 17-year-old who has been invited to Augusta Masters after becoming the youngest golfer to reach the top-100 in international rankings, faces competition from three others.

Koreans Noh Seung-yul and Bae Sang-moon and Malaysia's Ben Leong are the other contenders for the award.

The winners of the awards would be voted by a panel of judges from The European, Asian and Australasian Tours and Johnnie Walker.

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Jeev_nominated_for_Johnnie_Walker_award/articleshow/4069757.cms

Troubles galore in Delhi soccer

NEW DELHI: From allowing unregistered players to permitting alleged Tibetan footballers turning out for a club, Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) has al ready been hit hard by controversies.

The association got another blow to their already battered image, when a couple of clubs, which also included Tarun Sangha and Indian Nationals, protested against fielding an assistant referee Kamal Rakshit in a Super League match which pitted Sangha against Ahbab on Sunday. The match ended goalless.

Rakshit, the clubs claimed, is a goalkeeper coach with Hindustan Club and he shouldn't have got any postings in Super League. His presence on the lines possibly denied Sangha a goal and a win against Ahbab.

"While the referee allowed the goal, Rakshit disallowed it though it wasn't even called for an off-side," explained Tarun Sangha coach Anadi Barua.

Interestingly, referees' board secretary Joginder Singh was unavailable for comment because he is in Udaipur to 'officiate' in an event. It wasn't clear why he left his duty and officiating elsewhere when DSA has persuaded All India Football Federation (AIFF) not to assign any Delhi referees for I-League till the local league is over.

Meanwhile, the association was unable to decide on the fate of seven Tibetan footballers who allegedly turned out for Royal Rangers on Friday. The club claimed the players hold valid Indian passports but they haven't replied to DSA's showcause notice yet.

ND Heroes beat Rangers
Defending champions ND Heroes defeated Royal Rangers 1-0 in Super League while last year's runners-up Indian Nationals were held to a goalless draw by Simla Youngs.

Soruce: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Troubles_galore_in_Delhi_soccer/articleshow/4067218.cms

Chelsea appeal against Lampard red card

LONDON: Chelsea have appealed against the red card shown to midfielder Frank Lampard in Sunday's 2-0 Premier League defeat by Liverpool, England's Football Association said on Monday.

England international Lampard faces a three-match ban after being sent off on the hour mark by referee Mike Riley for a tackle on Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso with the score at 0-0.

The FA confirmed on its website (www.thefa.com) that a regulatory commission would hear the appeal on Tuesday.

"I only ask that the referee and the men from the FA look at the video," Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari told the club's website (www.chelseafc.com).

Chelsea's Portuguese defender Jose Bosingwa may also face an FA inquiry, despite apologising on Monday for stamping on Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun in the dying minutes of Sunday's defeat, an act which went unpunished by Riley.

"I apologise for what I did and it was never my intention to hurt him. I know it was wrong and I apologise," Bosingwa told the club website.

"Bosingwa was not correct. He made a mistake and maybe he has punishment (to come)," Scolari added.

"But if Bosingwa has a punishment ... maybe they change Lampard's red card and maybe he plays the next games."

Sunday's defeat left Chelsea in third place, three points behind Liverpool and five behind leaders Manchester United, who also have a game in hand.

Soruce: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/eplarticleshow/4066694.cms

Sania Mirza focused on recovery

BANGALORE: For Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza it's treatment after the triumph. Forced out of India's Fed Cup campaign in Perth with a torn abdominal muscle, the 22-year-old will focus on recovery and rehabilitation this week.

Sania, who along with Mahesh Bhupathi won the Australian Open mixed doubles crown in Melbourne on Sunday, returned home to a huge media reception.

"I have a program charted out for me. Also I've spoken and worked with Shyamal Vallabhjee (fitness trainer). There are a few things I need to do. First of all, I need to rest it for a couple of days. I also plan to go to Delhi to meet Jatin Chaudhari," she said.

Vallabhjee, who has been helping Sania with her fitness , said the Indian ace will be back at her best in a couple of weeks. "She's torn a muscle and she has been in some pain. We've chalked out a program for her and she should be on her way soon."

There was, however, little time for celebration for Sania, following her maiden Grand Slam triumph. "I've not had time for anything. After the final we had to rush to the airport and then our phones were going crazy," the Hyderabadi said. "When we reached Bombay, we had a small celebratory lunch at a friend's house."

Soruce: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sania_Mirza_focused_on_recovery/articleshow/4067227.cms

Sania-Bhupathi enter final of Australian Open

MELBOURNE: Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi overcame a sluggish start to sail into the Australian Open mixed doubles final for the second consecutive year as they beat Czechs Iveta Benesova and Lukas Dlouhy in straight sets on Friday.

The Indian pair thrashed the Czechs in straight set of 6-4, 6-1 to reach the final stage of the tournament in Melbourne.

Sania and Bhupathi, who were runner-up at the Melbourne Park last year, trailed 1-3 in the opening set before storming back to seal the issue in 54 minutes.

In the summit clash, they will take on the unseeded French-Israeli combine of Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram, who stunned seventh seeded Spaniards Anabel Medina Garrigues and Tommy Robredo 7-6 (9/7) 6-4.

It was hardly the kind of start Sania and Bhupathi, who have dropped just one set en route to the semis, would have wanted as Benesova and Dlouhy broke them in the opening game to race to a 1-3 lead.

However, the Indians got their act together soon after and broke back twice to take the first set in 32 minutes.

Sania and Bhupathi continued their dominance in the second set and broke their rivals thrice.

Such was their hold over the proceedings that the Indians did not face a single break point in the second set, which they wrapped up in a mere 22 minutes.

The win makes it a double delight for Bhupathi, who along with Bahamas' Mark Knowles, has also made the men's doubles finals to be played tomorrow.

Bhupathi has six mixed doubles Grand Slam titles under his belt with different partners.

His last mixed doubles Grand Slam was incidentally the Australian Open in 2006 when he had partnered Swiss Martina Hingis. Sania, however, would be aiming for her maiden Slam title.

Soruce: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4051787.cms

Sania-Bhupathi enter final of Australian Open

MELBOURNE: Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi overcame a sluggish start to sail into the Australian Open mixed doubles final for the second consecutive year as they beat Czechs Iveta Benesova and Lukas Dlouhy in straight sets on Friday.

The Indians, who were runner-up at the Melbourne Park last year, trailed 1-3 in the opening set before storming back to seal the issue in 54 minutes.

In the summit clash, they will take on the unseeded French-Israeli combine of Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram, who stunned seventh seeded Spaniards Anabel Medina Garrigues and Tommy Robredo 7-6 (9/7) 6-4.

It was hardly the kind of start Sania and Bhupathi, who have dropped just one set en route to the semis, would have wanted as Benesova and Dlouhy broke them in the opening game to race to a 1-3 lead.

However, the Indians got their act together soon after and broke back twice to take the first set in 32 minutes.

Sania and Bhupathi continued their dominance in the second set and broke their rivals thrice.

Such was their hold over the proceedings that the Indians did not face a single break point in the second set, which they wrapped up in a mere 22 minutes.

The win makes it a double delight for Bhupathi, who along with Bahamas' Mark Knowles, has also made the men's doubles finals to be played tomorrow.

Bhupathi has six mixed doubles Grand Slam titles under his belt with different partners.

His last mixed doubles Grand Slam was incidentally the Australian Open in 2006 when he had partnered Swiss Martina Hingis. Sania, however, would be aiming for her maiden Slam title.

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4051787.cms

Indian hockey squad named for Punjab Gold Cup

CHANDIGARH: Selectors on Thursday announced an 18-member Indian hockey team for the inaugural four-nation Punjab Gold Cup tournament to be played from Saturday.

The team, led by drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, will include Arjun Halappa and Ignace Tirkey. Midfielder Sardar Singh, who was also on the injury list with both these players, has not been included due to a hand injury.

The team was announced at the Sector 42 hockey stadium by selection committee chairman Ajit Pal Singh. Other selectors, Zafar Iqbal, Ashok Kumar and Dhanraj Pillay and coach in-charge Harendra Singh, were also present.

Besides India, Olympics champion Germany, European champion Holland and New Zealand are also participating in the tournament. The 10-day event is organised by the Punjab government.

All teams have arrived for the tournament.

Team:

Goalkeepers: Baljit Singh, Adrian D'Souza.

Fullbacks: Dilip Tirkey, Sandeep Singh, Raghu Nath.

Midfielders: Gurbaj Singh, VS Vinay, Vikram Pillay, Prabhod Tirkey, Ignace Tirkey.

Forwards: Deepak Thakur, Prabhjot Singh, Shivedra Singh, Rajpal Singh, Arjun Halappa, Tushar Khandekar, S.V. Sunil, Bharat Chhikara.

Stand-bye: Bharat Chetri, Ajitesh Roy, Sardar Singh, Sarwanjit Singh, Hari Prashad, Ravi Paul.

Officials: Harindra Singh (coach incharge), Ramandeep Singh (coach), Romeo James (coach), Mithai M.V. (trainer), Shrikant (physio) and Ashok Kumar (technical manager).

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indian_hockey_squad_named_for_Punjab_Gold_Cup/articleshow/4048928.cms

Coventry City not interested in Chhetri anymore

KOLKATA: English Championship club Coventry City will not pursue their interest with Indian striker Sunil Chhetri, the club's manager Chris Coleman r evealed on Thursday.

Praising the East Bengal striker for his popularity in India, Coleman however said they cannot pursue their interest with Chhetri as he does not fit into their scheme of things.

"A lot was made of him coming over and I think he is going to go around a few clubs. He has had a few days with us but that is it," said Coleman.

"I understand he has a big reputation in India and he is a very nice young man but we won't be following up our initial interest," he was quoted.

It may be noted Chhetri was given a wide coverage in English media after he landed in Coventry for a weeklong trial.

After his first training session with the Sky Blues, he received a warm welcome by the Coventry players and the coaching staff.

"I am really optimistic and I am looking forward to the week. I just want to give 100 per cent. (Bhaichung) Bhutia has been an inspiration both on and off the field," Chhetri had said then.

"After him the flow of players has slowed down so hopefully more can start coming over to England. It would mean a lot to me and to players from India," he had said.

In fact, the national captain was also optimistic about Chhetri's chances.

Having had a stint with Bury FC, Bhutia had said, "I hope things work out for Sunil. It would interest youngsters in looking beyond India and ultimately if they manage it, they can contribute immensely to the national team set up."

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Coventry_City_not_interested_in_Chhetri_anymore/articleshow/4048749.cms

OILFC maul Assam Police Blues in Premier League

By our Sports Reporter source: sentinel assam

GUWAHATI, Jan 28: A fine hattrick from foreign recruit Ezekiel forced Assam Police Blues to suffer a shocking defeat against Oil India Limited Football Club (OILFC) in the State Premier League Soccer Tournament match held at the Nehru Stadium on Wednesday. The Duliajan outfit blanked Assam Police Blues 6-0.The best four teams of the State are taking part in the main round of the premier league but nobody expected that there would so much differences between the two teams which are among the top four in the State. Even the coach of OILFC, Subrata Bhattacharjee, admitted after the match that the result was beyond expectation.The Nehru Stadium today probably witnessed a tsunami of a sort on the field. The initial stage of the match didn’t give any sign that OILFC is going to play some magical soccer in the match. But once Subrata made a few tactical changes in the team combination, OILFC became tough to handle and the side pumped in five goals in a span of just 13 minutes. There is no doubt that all departments of OILFC showed some gusty performance in today’s match. But the name of the two foreign recruits—Stephen and Ezekiel—should be taken separately as both were instrumental to give their team the big win. All six goals were scored by this two foreign recruits.It was Stephen who opened the flood gates for OILFC in the 32nd minute and later he added another two in the 35th and 81st minutes. Ezekiel got his hattrick scoring three consecutive goals in the 38th, 42nd and 45th minutes. Ezekiel’s second goal was the best one in the match as he outpaced two opponent defenders with sheer speed and placed the ball into the net.Talking to The Sentinel after the match, the coach of OILFC Subrata Bhattacharjee admitted that they were expecting a win in the match but never thought that the difference would be so big. “They are a good side but on the basis of assessment of our earlier performance we were optimistic that we would be able to win the game. But frankly speaking, we never thought the margin to be so big.” On the other hand, the coach of Assam Police Blues Tosen Bora was speechless during the post match briefing. In a brief interaction with the press he said, “I could say only one thing and that is we let the opponents pump in too many goals.”There would be no match on Thursday. On Friday ASEBSC will play against Assam Police Blues.

Serena marches into fourth Australian Open final

MELBOURNE: Serena Williams continued her love affair with Melbourne by easing to an emphatic 6-3, 6-4 victory over an in-form Elena Dementieva to advance to a fourth Australian Open final on Thursday.

Williams's victory under the closed roof of Rod Laver Arena ended the fourth seeded Russian's 15-game unbeaten streak in 2009 after Dementieva had earlier won titles at Auckland and Sydney.

The second seeded American, who had to battle back from a 0-3 deficit in the second set after comfortably taking the first, will be hoping to continue her flawless record in Australian Open finals following her three wins from as many appearances.

The 27-year-old Williams will meet another Russian in the title match, taking on the winner of Thursday's second semi-final between third seed Dinara Safina and seventh seed Vera Zvonareva.

"I am just really excited to be in the final, I don't care who I play," Williams said in a courtside interview. "I am just so happy to get this far all my work has paid off."

When asked how she would prepare for Saturday's final, she quipped: "Hopefully I will be playing a doubles final on Friday."

"Obviously I want to win doubles, I have the best partner," she added, referring to sister Venus before praising the crowd.

"You guys are so awesome, come back on Saturday and cheer for me please."

CLOSED ROOF

With Melbourne in the middle of a once-in-a-century heat wave and the air temperature above 40 degrees Celsius for a second successive day, organisers invoked the extreme heat policy at 1100 (0000 GMT) and the match began under the closed roof.

The opening two games lasted eight minutes apiece with both players earning break points as they slugged it out from the baseline.

Despite the nervous start, Williams had to wait until the eighth game to assert her authority, breaking Dementieva to earn an opportunity to serve for the first set.

The nine-times grand slam champion rattled through the game and sealed the first set in 44 minutes when Dementieva's audacious backhand drop shot landed narrowly wide.

The start of the second set was as tense as the opener, with the first game lasting a staggering 14 minutes as Williams fashioned a string of break points only for Dementieva to snatch the advantage back and eventually hold after six deuces.

The Russian then broke Williams and jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the world number two began another of her characteristic fightbacks.

She held to love, then broke Dementieva in the fifth game, despite suffering a heavy fall when she was wrong-footed by a forehand drive from the Russian.

Williams then held to level it at 3-3 before neither could hold serve, with Dementieva breaking once while Williams broke twice to give her the opportunity to serve for the match.

She managed two massive aces, the second of which prompted a frustrated squeal from Dementieva and set up match point, then sealed victory after she ran the Russian around and smashed an overhand into the open court.
Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Serena_marches_into_fourth_Open_final/articleshow/4045419.cms

Safina overpowers Zvonareva to set up Serena showdown

MELBOURNE: Dinara Safina overpowered her fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 7-6 on Thursday to join Serena Williams in the final of the Australian Open.

The combination of Safina's heavier shot-making and aggression proved too much for Zvonareva as the third seed closed out victory in one hour and 46 minutes under a closed roof at the Rod Laver Arena.

Safina won four games in a row to take the opening set after trailling 2-3 then broke Zvonareva's brittle serve to force the tiebreak after the seventh seed blew her chance to force a deciding third set.

The winner of Saturday's final will receive an added bonus of taking over the world number one ranking from Serbia's Jelena Jankovic, who was knocked out in the fourth round at Melbourne Park this year.

"Since I was growing up it has been my dream one day to be number one," Safina said in a courtside interview.

"To play against Serena and to fight for the number one is just going to be unbelievable.

"I just hope it will be a good match that we can all enjoy and whoever wins, we'll shake hands at the end of the match and say 'well you deserve to be number one'."

Safina is also trying to complete a unique family double in Australia by emulating her older brother Marat Safin, who won the men's singles title in 2005.

"I watched my brother on TV winning this tournament and even when I watch it now I have tears in my eyes," Safina said.

"It is great that I can follow his footsteps because he was my idol and he is still my idol. That I'm doing as well as him is just amazing.

"It was his birthday two days ago, maybe I have earned some money to buy him a gift."

Safina had struggled throughout the tournament, surviving two match points in an extraordinary comeback to beat French teenager Alize Cornet in the fourth round, but was at her best against Zvonareva.

She still committed a whopping 42 unforced errors but there was no repeat of the lapses in concentration that plagued her in the early rounds.

Zvonareva, who had won all her previous matches in straight sets, made a nervous start to her maiden Grand Slam semi-final, double-faulting on the second point of the match to concede her opening service game to love.

The 24-year-old Muscovite steadied herself to comfortably hold her next service game then started attacking Safina's serve, which was starting to show signs of vulnerability.

Zvonareva broke back to level at 2-2 then held again to lead 3-2 before Safina seized control, cutting down on her errors and putting the pressure back on her opponent.

Safina, who has shed seven kilogram's in the last year and showed off her new figure in a canary yellow shirt and black skirt, reeled off the next four games to wrap up the opening set in 39 minutes off a Zvonareva backhand error.

Zvonareva, dressed in a more conservative all-white dress, broke Safina's serve in the fifth game of the second set but failed to capitalise on her advantage.

She dropped her next service game and her frustrations started to boil over when she disputed a line call with American chair umpire Lynn Welch then slapped the ball away in anger.

Zvonareva had the chance to force a third set when she broke in the 11th game but failed to hold and lost the tiebreak and the match on a crosscourt forehand winner from Safina.

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4046274.cms

Federer beats Roddick to reach Open final

MELBOURNE: Switzerland's Roger Federer blasted Andy Roddick off-court in another fearsome display to reach the Australian Open final and stay on cour se for a record-tying 14th Grand Slam title on Thursday.

The second seed absorbed Roddick's serve and dominated the rallies to take it 6-2, 7-5, 7-5, with arch-rival Rafael Nadal playing Fernando Verdasco in the all-Spanish second semi-final on Friday.

Federer, now in his 18th Grand Slam final, has not lost any of his three previous Australian Open title matches and continues his unbeaten record against Roddick in Major tournaments.

"Andy's been playing really playing well so I knew I had a tough match ahead of me," Federer said.

"I thought I played really well tonight because Andy played good too, so it was fun."

Nadal is hot favourite for his semi with Verdasco, raising the prospect of a mouth-watering sixth Grand Slam final between the world's top two players and long-time rivals.

"People sort of forgot about him leading up to the Australian Open," Federer said of Nadal.

"But he's showing why he's the best player in the world. I would love to play him in the final, that's for sure."

It was demoralising for Roddick, who came into the match revitalised by a change in coach but got off to an appalling start and argued with the chair umpire as the first set slipped past in 32 minutes.

Federer had the seventh seed on a string and he reeled off 12 straight points to take the second, breaking for 6-5 and serving out with grim precision for the two-set lead.

Roddick tangled again with the umpire when he swore loudly and received a code violation, and was left staggered when Federer dug himself out of trouble with a brilliant drop shot, lob and stop-volley to hold for 5-5.

The American was then guilty of a howler as he patted the ball to Federer's feet with the court begging, gifting the crucial break point which the Swiss converted with an unstoppable forehand before calmly serving out the win.

Federer lost in the semis here last year and was beaten in the Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals by Nadal, who ended his record 237-week stint as world number one.

But he rescued his season by winning his fifth US Open title to move to 13 Grand Slam victories, one fewer than American great Pete Sampras.

Federer moves to 16-2 against Roddick, the former number one who won the 2003 US Open but has not reached a Grand Slam final since 2006.

He beat Andreas Seppi, Evgeny Korolev and 2005 champion Marat Safin in the early rounds before fighting back from two sets down against Tomas Berdych.

Federer then thrashed Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in the quarter-finals, winning 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 in his most comprehensive victory in the last eight of a Grand Slam.

Federer also reached the semi-finals at the previous five Australian Opens, winning in 2004, 2006 and 2007, and last failed to make the last eight in 2003.

He can join Roy Emerson, Andre Agassi, Jack Crawford and Ken Rosewall as the only men to have won four or more titles here.

Roddick won against Bjorn Rehnquist, Xavier Malisse, Fabrice Santoro and Tommy Robredo to reach the quarter-finals, when defending champion Novak Djokovic retired with cramp in intense heat.

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4047741.cms

Dementieva overpowers Suarez Navarro to reach semis

MELBOURNE: Russia's fourth seed Elena Dementieva overpowered Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-2, 6-2 in scorching heat on Wednesday to reach the Australian Open semi-finals for the first time.

Dementieva, 27, had never been past the fourth round of the Open in 10 previous attempts.

But she underlined why she was one of the pre-tournament favourites with her straight sets demolition of the unseeded Spaniard in temperatures reaching 39.5 degrees Celsius (103 F).

"There were a couple of hot days up in Sydney but it gets much hotter on the centre court so I'm glad to have won in two sets," she said.

Suarez Navarro caused one of the shocks of the tournament when she dumped Venus Williams in the second round, but she could not repeat that type of form against an opponent who remains unbeaten in three tournaments this year.

The Russian will now play either Serena Williams or Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semi-finals, keeping alive hopes of an all-Russian Grand Slam final for the first time in history.

Dinara Safina and Vera Zvonareva play the other semi-final on Thursday.

Suarez Navarro, 20, won the toss and chose to serve first, but she started nervously and was broken immediately by the fourth seed.

Dementieva then broke again in the third game and after 20 minutes the Russian had a 4-0 lead.

Suarez Navarro had her first game point of the match at 40-30 in the fifth and managed to hang on to get on the scoreboard.

That seemed to give her some confidence and she began to find the range with her ground strokes which had caused so much damage in her win over Williams.

She had break points in the next game, which lasted an incredible 19 minutes, but she couldn't convert and any chance of getting back into the set was gone.

The players then took a 10-minute heat break and when they came back on Dementieva broke Suarez Navarro to get the perfect start to the second set.

Suarez Navarro had three chances to break back in the next game but Dementieva unleashed some big serves to cancel them out and open up a 2-0 lead.

The Spaniard held her next serve but was broken again in the fifth game, Dementieva then holding on for a comfortable win in one hour, 35 minutes.

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4039885.cms

Perfect Rafa storms into Australian quarters

MELBOURNE: Top seed Rafael Nadal maintained his perfect record as breezed into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday.

Nadal, who is yet to drop a set, dominated the 2007 finalist 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to advance to a last-eight clash with France's Gilles Simon as he seeks his first hard-court Grand Slam win.

The Spaniard, capitalising on Gonzalez's four-hour marathon with Richard Gasquet, raced through the first two sets in less than 40 minutes each, pushing the 13th seed back to keep his giant forehand at bay.

Gonzalez mounted a brief revival in the third but Nadal hit back from 3-0 down and got the decisive break 4-3 with a forehand into the corner.

The Wimbledon and French Open champion, looking fit and revived after an extended off-season, is yet to be challenged here after easy wins against Christophe Rochus, Roko Karanusic and Tommy Haas.

Monday's victory also avenges his quarter-final loss two years ago to Gonzalez, whom he also beat in the Beijing Olympic final in August.

He has begun his first season as number one after ending a wait of more than three years by overtaking Roger Federer last year.

Nadal compiled one of the best seasons in tennis history in 2008, winning his fourth successive French Open and ending Federer's five-year Wimbledon reign in a classic final.

Including Olympic gold the 22-year-old claimed eight titles in all, more than any other player.

Soruce: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4032578.cms

India get tough draw for Men's Jr World Cup hockey

CHENNAI: India has been clubbed with Netherlands and New Zealand in Group-D in the Men's Junior World Cup hockey, scheduled to be held in Singapore a nd Johor Bahru in Malaysia from June 7-21.

Poland and Singapore are the other teams in Group-D, an International Hockey Federation (FIH) release said on Monday.

The 20 teams in the fray have been divided into four groups, with defending champions Argentina figuring in Group-A, the release said.

The draw for the BDO Women's Junior World Cup, which is scheduled in Boston, USA from August 3-16, would be released by the middle of next month, the release added.

Groupings:
Group-A: Argentina, Belgium, Egypt, Pakistan, Russia.
Group-B: Australia, Chile, Germany, Japan, South Africa.
Group-C: England, Korea, Malaysia, Spain, USA.
Group-D: India , Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore.

Soruce: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_get_tough_draw_for_Mens_Jr_World_Cup_hockey/articleshow/4033634.cms

Lifter Kunjarani to make comeback at 40, aims CWG gold

NEW DELHI: Having virtually disappeared from the scene after her gold-winning feat at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games three years ago, 40-year-old Kunjarani Devi now wants to defy age and trains her gun on defending her title in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

The pint-sized 48kg lifter has won all the gold medals in the Commonwealth Games in her weight category after women's weightlifting was first introduced in Manchester in 2002.

She won three gold in Manchester where one medal each was allotted for snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift, before winning the yellow metal in Melbourne where only the total lift carried a medal.

Kunjarani said she is confident she would gain top form in the 20 months left for the Commonwealth Games at home.

"I have started serious training since December last year. I want to defend my gold in the 2010 Commonwealth Games and stand on the victory podium before my home crowd," she said in an interview.

Kunjarani will be 42 when the Commonwealth Games is held in October next year in Delhi, but the Manipuri lifter said her body is still in good shape and she is lifting a good weight in training.

"I know myself that I still have the capability to win gold in Delhi next year. My body has not said no I should not be doing this. I am lifting the minimum necessary weight from where you can go for more. Otherwise I would not have thought of making a comeback," said the Delhi-based Rajiv Khel Ratna awardee.

"My career-best has been the 190kg in Athens Olympics. That is still the best among Commonwealth lifters. I won gold with 166kg in Melbourne and I am lifting not much less than that now," explained the CRPF Deputy Commandant.

Kunjarani, who was last in action in the All India Police Games in Jalandhar in October 2006, though is not taking part in the Senior Nationals starting in Pune from January 28 because of the one-year ban that has been imposed on Police.

Five of the Police lifters flunked dope tests in the All India Police Games in Haryana last year which attracted one-year ban from the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF).

"I am targeting National Games in Jharkhand (to be held in June) for my comeback to competition mode. After that there are many national and international events lined up before the Delhi Commonwealth Games," she said.

"I have to take part in some national competitions otherwise IWF may not allow me to take part in CWG. So I will take part in the National Games," she said.

Kunjarani said she was concentrating more on the Delhi Games and not thinking much of the Asian Games in China - to be held after the Commonwealth Games - where the competition is much tougher.

"I am not thinking much about the Asian Games. I will concentrate on winning gold in Commonwealth Games," she said.

Kunjarani also feels that Indian women would dominate the lifting event in 2010 CWG.

"Except for one or two categories (out of seven) we should dominate. It should be better than Melbourne," she said.

She spends at least four hours a day training, out of which she devoted two hours lifting barbells at the CRPF headquarters here.

"Morning is one-hour outdoor warm up and running and then another one hour lifting barbells. In the evening I have another light warm up and then lifting again," she said.

Soruce: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lifter_Kunjarani_to_make_comeback_at_40/articleshow/4033159.cms