Kuznetsova wears French Open women’s singles crown

PARIS, June 6: Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Dinara Safina 6-4, 6-2 in an all-Russian final of the French Open on Saturday to take away her second Grand Slam title.

It was a comprehensive win for the 23-year-old seventh seed who lost in the final here in 2006 to Justine Henin two years after she stunned the world of tennis by winning the US Open as a 19-year-old.

For Safina it was a crushing way to end a two-week-long campaign geared at securing a first Grand Slam title and proving that she is a worthy of the world number one spot.

It was the second straight year she has lost in the final here going down in straight sets to Ana Ivanovic of Serbia last year and her second successive Grand Slam final defeat having lost to Serena Williams in Melbourne this year.

“It was so many years since I won a Grand Slam and I thought it would never happen again,” Kuznetsova said.

20 teams to fight for Junior Hockey World Cup from tomorrow

Singapore, June 6 (PTI) Twenty countries drawn in four different pools will vie for top honours in the two-week long men's Junior Hockey World Cup beginning simultaneously at the Taman Daya stadium here and Johor Bahru, Malaysia tomorrow.

India, who won the title in 2001, are drawn in Pool D alongwith the Netherlands, Poland, New Zealand and co-hosts Singapore.

Captained by promising drag-flicker Diwakar Ram, India have had a good outing in the last three editions of the quadrennial event, being silver medalists in 1997 at Milton Keynes, UK, champions at Hobart eight years ago, and reaching the semi-finals at Rotterdam four years back.

In the last edition, the Indians lost to Spain in the bronze medal playoff match and had to be satisfied with the fourth position.

However, this time around the Indians are strong contenders for the title and have already made their intentions clear in the two practice matches they played before the tournament. PTI

Biography of Rafael Nadal

Nicknamed "Rafa", Rafael Nadal has took the tennis world by storm over the past 5 years as he has made his way on the professional tennis circuit to number 2 in the world with a staggering clay-court winning streak of 60 consecutive matches.

He was born June 3rd 1986 in Manacor, Mallorca to Sebastián and Ana María. He has great sporting heritage as his Uncle is former F.C. Barcelona footballer Miguel Ángel Nadal. Between 1986 and 2001 (the year in which he turned pro at only age 15) he developed a brilliant all round game playing left-handed despite being naturally right-handed.

His rise since then has been a quick and exhilarating one. In 2002, he won his first ATP match at Majorca at the age of 15, defeating Ramon Delgado to become the ninth player in the Open Era to win an ATP match before his 16th birthday. One year later in 2003 he became the second-youngest player to be ranked among the world's top 100 singles players and earned ATP Newcomer of the Year. At his Wimbledon debut, at only age 16, he became the youngest player to reach the 3rd round since 16-year-old Boris Becker in 1984 and in July 2003 he reached the Spanish championships where he lost to Lopez.

He continued to improve in 2004 and by 2005 had climbed the world rankings to number 5. This made him the youngest player to make it into the Top 10 since Andrei Medvedev in 1993. During this season he won two ATP Masters Series events in Monte Carlo and Rome and managed an astonishing winning streak of 25 consecutive matches.

Among his other historical achievements he became the fourth-youngest Roland Garros champion in the Open Era defeating Argentina's Mariano Puerta in the final, the seventh player to win a Grand Slam in his first appearance at the event and the first teenager to win a Grand Slam since Pete Sampras won the 1990 US Open at age 19.

Biodata Roger Federer

Biodata Roger Federer

Name :Roger Federer

Birth Date :August8, 1981

Birth Place : Basel, Switzerland

Height : ''6'1"

Weight : 84 kg

Eyes : brown

Hair Color : Dark-Brown

Natinality : Swides

Play: Right handed(singel-handed back hand)
Profession : Long tenis

Former Idols : boris becker, stefan edberg

Hobbies : sports(Golf, Skiing, Soccer), Friends, Playstation, music, Playing Cards

Food : Tomatoes & Mozzarella di Buffa, Gnocchi & Gorgonzola, sausage & cheese-salad

Colours : Blue, Red, White

Defiant Federer keeps Paris dream alive

PARIS: World number two Roger Federer kept his dream of a maiden French Open title alive when he battled past Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin del Po tro 3-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in a nail-biting semi-final on Friday.

The Swiss, playing in his 20th consecutive grand slam semi-final, was one set from defeat when he turned on the style to set up a final with Swede Robin Soderling, who ushered out four times champion Rafael Nadal in the fourth round.

"I am a bit lucky but I fought," said Federer, who will on Sunday equal Ivan Lendl's record of 19 grand slam final appearances.

"I have an outstanding record against him (Soderling) but he played a fantastic match against (Fernando) Gonzalez," he added after the Swede earlier won in five sets against the Chilean.

"He (Soderling) has a lot of credit since he is the one who knocked out Rafa, who was the man to beat in this tournament," added the 13-times grand slam champion, who has beaten the Swede in all their nine previous encounters.

Federer, looking to equal Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles, got off to a miserable start as Del Potro relied on his big serve and punishing forehand to dictate the play.

Backed by a 15,000 capacity Centre Court crowd, he prevailed after three hours 29 minutes on his second match point to book his place in a fourth consecutive final on the Paris clay.

Federer had started confidently, moving Del Potro around the court and setting up two break chances in the second and fourth games.

The Argentine saved them with an ace and a service winner before taking control of the match, stepping into the court to dominate the points.

He broke for 3-2 when Federer netted a forehand and the same error from the Swiss in the ninth game gave Del Potro the first set after 38 minutes.

The 20-year-old Argentine had never taken a set from Federer in five previous matches.

The Swiss forced a tiebreak in the second after all games went with serve and that is when he showed glimpses of his brilliant best.

He won the tiebreak 7-2 when Del Potro sent a forehand long, triggering a prolonged roar from the crowd.

It failed to unsettle the towering Argentine, who broke in the first game of the third set and continued to look comfortable on his service games.

At 15-15 in the seventh game, it looked like Federer was warming Del Potro up at the net, simply feeding the Argentine with the ball instead of finding a passing shot.

Del Potro won the game when Federer sent a chipped forehand long. As the clock ticked past the two-hour mark, the Argentine bagged the set, his Swiss opponent firing a forehand wide.

Federer then started to mix up his game with sliced shots and was rewarded for his tactical change when the Argentine dropped serve in the fourth game of the fourth set by firing a forehand long to the delight of the partisan fans.

He broke again in the sixth game, following up on serve to send the contest into an unpredictable decider.

With his teeth now sinking firmly into his prey, Federer stole his opponent's serve in the first game of the fifth set as Del Potro's game continued to crumble.

The Argentine briefly regained his poise in time to break back for 3-3, only to drop serve again with a double fault.

Federer could sense victory and kept his composure. Del Potro saved one match point on his own serve but was helpless on the second when Federer followed a big first serve with a forehand winner to end the match.

Source:TOI

Prakash Amritraj enters ATP quarters

NOTTINGHAM: India's Prakash Amritraj registered a fighting win over seventh-seeded Australian Davis Cupper Chris Guccione to storm into the quarter-f
inals of 42,500 euros Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Challenger.

Prakash played two tie-breakers before winning 7-6(5), 7-6(4) at the grass courts on Thursday. He next plays British qualifier Joshua Goodall.

Meanwhile, Rohan Bopanna retired from his second round match against Ukranian Sergie Bubka while leading 5-4.6-1, 6-1

Soruce:TOI

Jeev tied 19th at Celtic Manor Wales Open

New Port (Wales), June 5 (PTI) A hole-in-one on the 13th was the highlight of Jeev Milkha Singh's card as the Indian brought home a two-under 69 to lie tied 19 after the opening round of the Celtic Manor Wales Open here.

Among other Indians in fray, Jyoti Randhawa turned in one-over 72 to be tied 62, while Shiv Kapur carded two-over 73 to languish at tied 87.

On a rollercoaster day, Jeev sank as many as three birdies and a hole-in-one against three bogeys at the Celtic Manor Resort for a strong start to his campaign.

Jeev had a poor start when he stumbled on a bogey in the second hole and although he made amends with a birdie at the eighth, a ninth hole bogey had him one-over at the turn.

On resumption, the Chandigarh golfer hit another birdie-bogey patch at the 11th and 12th hole before he fired a hole-in-one on the par-three 13th and followed it up with a birdie at the 15th to end the day on a positive note.

In contrast, Randhawa's card included a couple of bogeys on the fifth and 17th holes with the lone birdie at the 13.

Shiv Kapur was even-par after his front nine before he ran into trouble and his back nine included two birdies, as many bogeys and the 12th hole double bogey.

At the top, Thomas Bjorn blasted a five-under 66 to share the lead with England's Nick Dougherty, Scotland's Alan McLean and South African David Frost after the first round here. PTI

Olympians back formation of Hockey India

NEW DELHI: Formation of Hockey India seemed to have polarised the fraternity with the Olympian trio of Ajit Pal Singh, Zafar Iqbal and Jagbir Singh on Friday backing the body, saying it was the only way to ensure 2010 World Cup stays in India.

A day after Joaquim Carvalho, Gavin Perreira and Gurbux Singh criticised the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for setting up Hockey India without consulting the states, Ajit Pal, Zafar and Jagbir saw logic behind the move, calling it a step in the right direction.

Ajit Pal said the IOA had to form Hockey India since it was under pressure from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to form a unified body comprising men and women's units or else lose next year's World as well as the nation's participation right in FIH events.

"In my opinion, Indian hockey had to start from somewhere. I'm happy IOA formed Hockey India to save the World Cup. The FIH has threatened to isolate India and under these circumstances, they had no options," Ajit Pal said.

He also oozed confidence that Hockey India's seven-member governing council would declare elections within the stipulated six months time and by then, all disputes would die down.

"Wait six months and see what exactly happens," he said.

Ajit Pal, who led the 1975 World Cup winning squad, also cast aspersions on the intentions of the state associations opposing the move.

"What were the state associations doing when hockey was gasping for breath? We never get any feedback states and now they are feeling left out," he wondered.

Member of India's last Olympic gold medal winning side, Zafar Iqbal also felt the state associations were sulking unnecessarily since they would become Hockey India members when elections are held.

"Hockey India is a step in the right direction. The IOA have put it in place of an ad-hoc body which didn't have any power. Now Hockey India can take right decisions and the FIH has Hockey India to deal with," said Zafar, a former captain and a member of the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal winning side.

"If the state associations think IOA would contine to run the show, they are mistaken. Ultimately, after the elections, the final say would be of the states," he explained.

"I don't think the IOA would like to run hockey when it has other important things to worry about, especially the 2010 Commonwelath Games," he added.

Former India coach Jagbir Singh too backed the body and said it was a welcome step.

"As a player I welcome the decision of forming Hockey India because by doing so the IOA saved the next year's World Cup," he said.

Source:TOI

Bhupathi-Knowles out of French Open doubles

Paris, Jun 1 (PTI) Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of Bahamas bowed out in the pre-quarterfinals of the mens doubles event at French Open here, losing in a tough three-setter against unseeded Jose Acasuso of Argentina and Fernando Gonzalez of Chile.

The fourth seeded Indo-Bahamian pair toiled hard on the court for an hour and 56 minutes against the surprise package of Acasuso and Gonzalez before eventually losing the gruesome third round encounter 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

Interestingly, there was nothing much to differentiate between the two pairs apart from the total number of points won. While Bhupathi-Knowles won 96 points in the entire match, their opponents scored a perfect 100.

With this loss, Bhupathi's campaign in this year's French Open came to a disappointing end as partnering Sania Mirza, he had already crashed out of the mixed doubles event, losing in the first round in straight sets against French-Israeli duo of Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram. PTI

Sania gets engaged; rules out early retirement

New Delhi, May 29: Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza has got engaged to a Hyderabad-based businessman but her family has ruled out an immediate wedding or early retirement for the star.

The 22-year-old, who is the most successful woman tennis player of the country, will continue playing the game and her father Imran Mirza said it will take a while before the two families decide on when the wedding would take place.

“This is to confirm that Sania Mirza is engaged to Mr. Muhammad Sohrab Mirza, whose family hails from the city of Hyderabad. Although not related, the two families have had friendly ties for several decades. However, the wedding is not expected to take place for a while,” Imran Mirza said.

“I would like to state that the news appearing in certain sections of the media about the two maternal grandmothers having fixed the liaison is baseless. It has also been wrongly projected that Sania is contemplating early retirement from tennis. These reports are absolutely untrue,” he said.

Sania’s career has been marred by injuries and countless controversies but despite the off-court woes, she has been the lone flag-bearer of Indian women’s tennis internationally.

Sania was the first Indian to win a WTA singles title and earlier this year added an elusive Grand Slam title to her kitty when she combined with Mahesh Bhupathi to win the mixed doubles event at the Australian Open.
Sania is currently in Paris playing the French Open. (PTI)

Team India leaves for England to defend World T20 crown

Mumbai, May 29: Despite fitness concerns over pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and the players’ fatigue factor looming large, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was today optimistic about India retaining the World T20 Championship in England.

“We have a very balanced side, very strong in batting. We bat right down to 8 or 9. This is not to say we lack in bowling. We have a strong bowling attack too,” he told a press conference here before departing with teammates for London by an afternoon flight.

“We have some outstanding talents in our team and we need to focus on playing to our potential without worrying about the result. We have to give 100 per cent and hopefully we can defend the title,” he said about the team’s prospects in the tournament starting June 5.

Dhoni said the team’s most experienced pacer Zaheer Khan was less than fully fit and hoped the injured left-arm bowler would be available for the holders lung-opener against Bangladesh on June 6 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

Winning start for Sania-Chia; Bopanna bows out

Paris, May 27: Sania Mirza and Chia-Jung Chuang of Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) sailed into the doubles second round of French Open with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Ipek Senoglu of Turkey and Yanina Wickmayer of Belarus at Roland Garros here on Wednesday.

Rohan Bopanna and Jonathan Elrich of Israel, however, lost a tough first-round encounter to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain and Sergio Roitman of Argentina 4-6, 6-7 (10).

Sania and Chuang, seeded 14th, faced tough resistance in the first set that lasted 50 minutes. They converted all three break points that came their way while Ipek and Yanina wasted the same number of chances of breaking back.

Sania and Chuang raised their game in the second set, breaking their opponents twice and not conceding any break points, as they wrapped it up in just 24 minutes.

They will next face the winner of the match between Ukraine’s Viktoriya Kutuzova and Aravane Rezai of France and Polish pair of Agnieszka Radwanska and Urszula Radwanska.
Sania has bowed out of the singles competition, going down to Kazakhstan’s Galina Voskoboeva in the first round Tuesday. (IANS)

Modi hints at two IPL tournaments per year

Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman and commissioner, has hinted that the T20 tournament could be held twice a year, once in India and a shorter version overseas.

"The IPL will be based in India, but the second season (of a year) we are planning gives us the chance to see if a market exists and we are seriously looking at what we can do with it," he told the Daily Telegraph.

He said he had been encouraged by the response from fans in South Africa, where the IPL was shifted for the 2009 season due to concerns over security as the competition clashed with general elections in India.

"We have turned the challenges and adversities in moving to South Africa into an opportunity," he said. "It is the fans who determine if you are successful or not and they have come out in force here. It has shown that the tournament can be in any region, in any country. This opens up many different opportunities for us."

The USA, where the ICC has advised cricket officials to install an IPL-style Twenty20 league, is one of the countries Modi considers a potential host. "America throws up challenges but the format we have developed works," he said. "Apart from watching great cricket they have an enjoyable evening out. That will work anywhere."

"Before this tournament we did not know if we could do it. But we do know now. We have to satisfy an appetite across the world and build a fan base across the world. "

There have already been several demands for a window in the official calendar to accommodate the IPL, and the rise of Twenty20 is set to continue with the launch of tournaments in England, and another tournament involving players from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

© Cricbuzz

Nadal poised to claim French Open history

PARIS: Rafael Nadal believes his game is almost perfect as he targets an historic fifth successive French Open title.


The 22-year-old world number one, whose incredible Roland Garros record stands at 28 wins from 28 matches, has already written off losing his 33-match claycourt streak to old rival Roger Federer in Madrid last week.

He believes a combination of a draining four-hour semi-final victory over Novak Djokovic and the high altitude of the Spanish capital conspired against him.

"I am very happy with my claycourt season. I won in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and made the final in Madrid. It's almost perfect," said Nadal, the top seed.

"Madrid was a different tournament. The court was fast, the balls were flying and I didn't play that well."

Adding to his confidence is the knowledge that he has beaten Federer in the last three finals at Roland Garros.

Federer, who is one title short of matching Pete Sampras's all-time mark of 14 majors, needs a French Open to become only the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam.

But he's travelled this road before. Two years ago, Federer ended Nadal's 81-match winning streak on clay at Hamburg to instill fresh confidence of finally cracking the French code, but he was to be denied once the duo resumed hostilities in Paris.

On the evidence of the 2008 tournament, where Nadal didn't drop a set in seven matches and Federer won just four games in a brutally one-sided final, the Swiss star again looks doomed.

But Federer refuses to concede defeat, believing that his win in Madrid, which was his 58th title, but first of 2009, could represent another launchpad.

"He has never lost in Paris so obviously his confidence is very high, but I think we have seen that if you play Rafa the right way there are chances," said the 27-year-old, world number two.

"In Madrid it was important that I played well when I had to which I wasn't doing before because there was something lacking in my game, just a lack of practice maybe."

Sunday's meeting in Madrid was the pair's 20th career clash with Nadal holding the upper hand 13-7 overall, and 9-2 on clay.

Their rivalry is one of sports' most compelling with Nadal having dethroned Federer as Wimbledon champion in an epic final in 2008 before the Spaniard reduced the Swiss to a tearful wreck after victory in Australia this year in another five-set thriller.

In the unlikely event of the June 7 final not being a repeat of the last three, Djokovic, who had three match points against Nadal in his Madrid semi-final, would be the most likely beneficiary.

But the big-hearted Serbian, who turned 22 on Friday, has lost all nine claycourt meetings with Nadal, including four in 2009 - in Davis Cup, Monte-Carlo, Rome and then in Spain.

Djokovic has reached the semi-finals in Paris for the last two years, losing to Nadal on each occasion without claiming a set.

"It's not that easy. I probably played one of the best matches of my life against him (in Madrid), but he made some unbelievable shots to win those points which he did - again," sighed the Serbian.

Britain's Andy Murray has lost both his claycourt meetings with Nadal and despite holding a 6-2 advantage over Federer, the two have never met on clay.

In two visits to the French Open, Murray has yet to get beyond the third round.

But he is confident he can make a deep run into the event.

"Against the real clay-courters that play a lot of top spin, you can almost try and make it a hardcourt match by playing a little bit flatter and coming to the net and bit an shortening the points," said Murray.

Nadal faces a qualifier in his first match before a possible third round clash with Australian former world number one Lleyton Hewitt.

Federer opens against Spain's Alberto Montanes with old American rival Andy Roddick seeded to face him in the last eight.

Third seeded Murray renews his fierce rivalry with Argentinians when he meets Juan Ignacio Chela, while fourth seed Djokovic faces experienced Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador.

If the seeding works to plan, then Nadal would face Murray in the semi-finals while Djokovic would take on Federer.

Source:TOI

Bangalore plot Hayden's downfall for 2nd semi-final

JOHANNESBURG: There can be few sights more intimidating in cricket than Matthew Hayden walking in to face the new ball. If the left-hander is on a song, there might as well be a blast.


That thought alone will keep Royal Challengers on their toes when the second semi-final of the IPL begins at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday. Hayden, wearing his Orange Cap and carrying the willow that looks like a toy in a truck-puller’s hand, will keep playing on the opposition’s mind.


Royal Challengers called for an emergency meeting on Friday that had all players in a huddle in a small conference room at hotel Sandton Sun for close to an hour. Whatever their personal work, the players had been asked to keep it aside until the all-important meeting was over. Captain Anil Kumble, coach Ray Jennings, Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis walked in first, followed by the rest who were still celebrating Manish Pandey’s ton on Thursday.

There was an important issue to be discussed and it remained no secret once the meeting ended. All the players walked out of the conference room except for Praveen Kumar, B Akhil, Roelof van der Merwve, Kumble and Kallis. They had an extended half an hour discussion amongst themselves.

Kumble knows that stopping Hayden alone will be the key to Royal Challengers making their way to the final. If they can get the belligerent left-hander early, the option of applying pressure on the rest of the line-up will be better than having him out there in the middle. Of course, Suresh Raina and Mahendra Singh Dhoni have been in equally good form, S Badrinath has been impressive and is fit after a slight niggle, Jacob Oram is still waiting to explode and Albie Morkel’s return from injury can make things tougher. But Hayden still remains the key.

"He is dangerous and we all know what he’s capable of doing. He’s the tournament’s highest scorer. If we can get him early, fine,’’ says Jennings.

In seven out of 11 innings, Hayden has given Team Chennai the right kind of start. His strike rate has been consistent at around 140. He has accumulated five fifties and an individual best of 89, so far, adding to the team’s top-order muscle. If Chennai can once again afford to flex that, Royal Challengers will have a lot of work. Dhoni’s best bet to follow-up on the start given by Hayden is Raina, the tournament’s second best batsman after the giant Aussie. At 414 runs, Raina has been the mainstay in Chennai’s middle-order and should be no less a worry for the Challengers.

However, it was interesting to hear Jennings bring Hayden’s name into the discussion whenever the topic of Chennai’s batting came up. Be it mind games or simply a lurking fear, Challengers do know that he’s a bigger threat than anyone else.

Source:TOI

Beckham launches England's World Cup bid

LONDON: David Beckham launched England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup by insisting no other country can match their passion for the globe's biggest sporting event.

England midfielder Beckham was at Wembley on Monday as the English Football Association began their attempt to convince FIFA, the world game's governing body, that they should stage the four-yearly tournament.

England hosted their only World Cup in 1966 when Sir Alf Ramsey's team won the event, but the nation's appetite for football is so strong that Beckham believes it is only right the competition should finally return 52 years after that historic victory.

"To have the World Cup in your own country is the dream of any player. I know first hand the passion of our fans and they would provide an incredible atmosphere at every game," said former England captain Beckham, who holds the record for most appearances by an England outfield player.

"There's no bigger support than our fans. There are full stadiums everywhere. Some of the biggest players in the world, (Zinedine) Zidane and Ronaldo, ask me what it's like to play in England. They love that passion.

"The passion doesn't just stop at Premier League level. It's from the grass-roots and the amateur leagues right through every league.

"When we stage big competitions it shows around the country how excited people get. Our country is renowed for getting excited by big events. I don't think any country in the world can compete with us for that.

"A World Cup in England would inspire a generation of younger players and capture the imagination of everyone."

Beckham was joined at the English national stadium by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, current England team-mate Wayne Rooney, as well as Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst, who both played in the 1966 World Cup final victory over West Germany.

Manchester United striker Rooney said: "I know how much the crowd can lift you here and how much the country would get behind us. It would be a dream come true for any England player.

"Hopefully I'll still be playing at that time. I'll be 32 but you look at some of the players at Manchester United like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. They are the perfect example to me to keep myself fit."

England, who failed to win the race to stage the 2006 World Cup, face competition from Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Russia, the United States and joint bids from Belgium and the Netherlands and Portugal and Spain.

FIFA's 24-man executive committee will deliver their verdict in December 2010 and the FA's bid leaders are well aware that they must win over delegates in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and Asia.

FA chairman Lord Triesman said: "Our job in the next 19 months is clear; we need to put together the strongest bid possible. We believe that England can stage a wonderful event," Triesman said.

"We are determined that England 2018 will assist the development of football globally and meet FIFA's aspirations that the World Cup leaves a legacy of positive change."

England has already secured the 2012 Olympic Games and British Prime Minister Brown is keen to land another prestigious event.

"This Government is fully committed to this bid," Brown said. "It would be an absolute privilege to host this fantastic sporting event and I know this country, with its first-class stadiums and tremendous passion for football, would host an incredible tournament.

"It's fitting that we are launching the bid in England, the home of football, and at Wembley - the greatest stadium in the world."

Prince William, President of the English FA, added: "Hosting the World Cup would give the whole nation the opportunity to demonstrate our generous hospitality to teams and fans from all over the world."

Soruce:TOI

Bhutia decides to leave Mohun Bagan

KOLKATA: Baichung Bhutia on Monday served a quit notice on Mohun Bagan after the club officials questioned his commitment to the team.


The India captain called on the club's finance secretary Debashish Dutta and sought a release with immediate effect. The striker still has a year left in his two-year contract with the club.

"I no longer have any desire to play for Mohun Bagan after all that has happened. It's good, both for me and the club, to part ways in a peaceful way," Baichung said on Monday, on the sidelines of the team's practice session for the AFC Cup match against Al Karamah.

Mohun Bagan had on last Thursday slapped a showcause notice on Baichung, accusing him of remaining not "fully committed" to their I-League cause and skipping practice sessions repeatedly to shoot for a dance programme (Jhalak Dikhla Ja).

"It is evident that your focus has shifted from football and it has now become your secondary interest," club secretary Anjan Mitra had stated in the letter.

Baichung, however, didn't reply to the letter and instead, decided to take it on the chin, seeing in it an attempt to make him the "scapegoat" for Bagan's I-League failure.

"After playing for 17-18 years, I don't need to prove my commitment. From Day I, the club was aware of my schedules for the dance programme. I had been absent from practice only on Saturdays but never missed a match (in the I-League).

"It is there for everybody to see how I fared in the (I-League) matches against Chirag United, Dempo and Vasco at home. It's just that we had a bad game against Mahindra (in the final round).

However, when we learnt at half-time that Churchill were leading (against Mohammedan Sporting), we lost motivation in the second half," the Mohun Bagan captain admitted.

"But I'm extremely disappointed with this attempt to make me the scapegoat. It's an internal matter and the club should not have made the letter public. I've been humiliated and now, I feel no urge to play for the green and maroons," a visibly peeved Baichung thundered before leaving the ground.

Soruce:TOI

England win second Test by an innings and 83 runs

CHESTER-LE-STREET (England): James Anderson took nine wickets in a Test for only the second time in his career as England crushed the West Indies by an innings and 83 runs to win the second Test at the Riverside on Monday.

Victory, in their last Test before the start of July's Ashes series, meant England took the two-match series 2-0 after a thumping 10-wicket win at Lord's and saw them regain the Wisden Trophy they'd lost in the Caribbean this year.

The West Indies, following on, were bowled out for 176 in their second innings, having made 310 first time around after England had piled up 569 for six declared.

The tourists were 167 for eight at lunch on having lost five wickets in the session in total.

And after the break the match lasted just three overs.

Star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul fell for 46 when he edged man-of-the-match Anderson through to Paul Collingwood, who took his first Test catch as a wicket-keeper having taken the gloves on Sunday after Matt Prior sustained a finger injury.

And Tim Bresnan, who before lunch had taken his first two wickets in Tests, ended the match when he had Fidel Edwards caught at fine leg by substitute fielder Karl Turner, who was appearing in front of his home crowd.

Anderson, who took four for 38 in this innings, had match figures of nine for 125 - his second-best in Tests after his nine for 98 against New Zealand at Trent Bridge last year.

Bresnan had an innings return of three for 45 in 14 overs.

West Indies, who resumed Monday on 115 for three, lost five wickets in the first session

Anderson, the only other bowler used alongside Bresnan on Monday, added three more wickets before lunch to his first innings haul of five for 87, including left-hander Suliemann Benn whom he bowled for nought off the final ball of the session.

After a pair of rain breaks saw nearly half an hour lost, the West Indies lost three wickets for five runs in 15 balls with Bresnan, in his second Test, taking two for none in three balls.

Lendl Simmons was out for 10 when he guided Anderson straight to substitute fielder Scott Borthwick at point to leave the West Indies 141 for four.

And they had added just one run when seamer Bresnan, who'd seen some chances missed off his bowling, took his first Test wicket with Nash clipping him straight to square leg where Durham's Borthwick took his second catch.

Bresnan, who along with Graham Onions made his debut in England's 10-wicket first Test win at Lord's this month, then reduced West Indies to 146 for six.

Denesh Ramdin, who made a first innings fifty, exited for nought when he edged a genuine outswinger from the 24-year-old Yorkshireman to Anderson at third slip before Anderson himself bowled Jerome Taylor.

England had been in charge here from the start with opener Alastair Cook's Test-best 160 the centrepiece of their total.

Ravi Bopara, who made 108 and helped Cook add 213 for the second wicket, was named man of the series after he also made a hundred at Lord's.

But how much England had gained ahead of the sterner challenge set to be presented by Australia, against a West Indies side only drafted in because of Sri Lankan players' Indian Premier League commitments and who did not take to early season English conditions, remained to be seen.

Soruce:TOI

Bangalore face must-win game against Delhi

JOHANNESBURG: An uphill task awaits Royal Challengers Bangalore when they take on formidable Delhi Daredevils in their do-or-die Indian Premier League match on Tuesday.


The Bangalore outfit, who are at the sixth spot in the table with 12 points from as many matches, has everything to play for as a loss would undoubtedly throw them out of the semifinal race.

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Delhi, on other hand, are sitting pretty at the top having already qualified for the semifinals with 18 points out of 12 matches and will be hoping to carry forward their winning momentum to the last four stage.

Besides the semifinal spot up for grabs, the match also provides Anil Kumble's men an opportunity to take revenge of their previous six-wicket loss against the Daredevils.

Although the Bangalore oufit are on a high after their last match win over second placed Chennai Super Kings, they would need something spectacular tomorrow to halt a consistent Delhi which boasts of innumerable match-winners.

AB de Villiers has been the pillar of Delhi batting, while Tilakaratne Dilshan and Dinesh Karthik provide the much neded fire power in the middle-order.

However, what remains a matter of concern for the Daredevils is the form of skipper Virender Sehwag and opener Gautam Gambhir.

Both Sehwag and Gambhir are still to fire in the tournament and the Delhi skipper expressed optimism of returning to form before the semifinals.

"I hope I will get runs in next couple of matches that we have to play before the semifinal. And if Gautam and I manage to find our form, that will be bonus for us," he had said.

With a rejuvenated Asish Nehra and Dirk Nannes up front, Delhi's bowling has been more than impressive.

Young Pradeep Sangwan has been consistent throughout picking up crucial wickets, while Amit Mishra provides the sting in Delhi's spin department.

In contrast, Bangalore does not have equal riches at their disposal and it would take quite an effort to upset Delhi.

Bangalore's top order has been pretty inconsistent with Jacques Kallis playing well in patches, while both Jesse Ryder and Robin Uthappa have been a big disappointment.

Overall, it has been a pretty slipshod display by their batters, but Ross Taylor's return to form would please Kumble, who would be expecting the Kiwi to come good again on Tuesday.

Although Bangalore's bowling has looked quite mundane, Kumble and Co. would take heart from the fact that they managed to restrict Chennai Super Kings to mere 129 in their last encounter.

And Kumble would be expecting a similar show from his bowlers against Delhi on Tuesday to brighten their winning chances.

Soruce:TOI

Shoaib Akhtar to miss Pakistan's T20 camp

Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said Wednesday he would skip the Twenty20 team's conditioning camp at a luxury holiday resort due to a skin problem.

"I have skin problems in the groin... a doctor advised me a week's rest, so I will miss the conditioning camp starting from Thursday," Akhtar told AFP.

The 33-year-old Akhtar was selected for Pakistan's 15-man squad despite question marks over his fitness. He played only four Twenty20 games last year owing to fitness and discipline problems.

When Akhtar returned in February this year, he was dropped from the team after getting just one wicket in the two one-day matches against Sri Lanka. He was later ruled out of the Test series against Sri Lanka because of knee problems. The series was abandoned after a deadly attack on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore.

Akhtar played four one-day matches in Pakistan's latest one-day series against Australia in United Arab Emirates, taking three wickets without completing 10 overs in any of the matches.

Pakistan's World Twenty20 squad will undergo fitness drills at the Pakistani hill resort of Bhurban before playing three practice matches ahead of the second World Twenty20 tournament starting in England from June 1.

Akhtar hoped he would be fit in time for the practice matches.

"I will be fit when the practice matches start and will play these matches. Playing Twenty20 is a great challenge and hopefully I will be up to it," said Akhtar.

The mercurial paceman was also included in the inaugural World Twenty20 squad held in South Africa in 2007 but was expelled two days before the event on disciplinary action for assaulting team-mate Mohammad Asif with a bat.

Soruce:Cricbuzz