Tendulkar, Raina help India take lead
Colombo, July 29 : Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar smashed his fifth double hundred and Suresh
Raina scored a century on debut as India took a slim 27-run first innings lead at the end of fourth
day's play in the second cricket Test here Thursday.
Tendulkar made 203 and Raina 120 as India were 669 for nine in the first innings, in reply to Sri
Lanka's 642 for four declared, when the stumps were drawn at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground.
Ishant Sharma was batting on 10 and Pragyan Ojha was yet to open his account at close.
Resuming at the overnight score of 382 for four, India started cautiously as they needed 61 more
runs to avoid the follow on.
The first four came from Tendulkar's bat as he pushed debutant off spinner Suraj Randiv through
the cover boundary and then Raina smacked the lanky bowler for a huge six over long off.
Tendulkar and Raina put on 256 runs for the fifth wicket as India avoided the ignominy of a second
successive follow-on.
The 23-year-old Raina hit two sixes and 12 fours in his 228-ball knock and got to his century with
a fluent off-drive off seamer Dammika Prasad that went for a four. Mendis picked up Raina with
Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara taking a good catch at short-midwicket shortly after lunch.
The 37-year-old Tendulkar endured hot and humid weather for his marathon innings that was
studded with 23 boundaries and a six. Tendulkar reached his 200, in his 168th Test, with a flick off
Ajantha Mendis for two runs. It was Tendulkar's first double hundred in six years.
Tendulkar also equalled West Indian Brian Lara's record of 19 scores of 150-plus. Australian
legend Don Bradman did it on 18 occasions.
Prasad rattled Tendulkar with a short-pitched delivery that hit the batting maestro's helmet and
raced to the boundary. Part-time spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan got rid of Tendulkar soon after tea as
wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene took a bat-pad catch by moving quickly to the silly point
area. Dilshan also dismissed Harbhajan Singh in the same over.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (76) then joined in the run feast and added 95 runs for the
sixth wicket with Tendulkar and 51 for the eighth with Abhimanyu Mithun (41). Dilshan took a
good return catch off his own bowling to remove Dhoni.
Mendis finished the day with four wickets conceding 157 runs from his 54 overs, while Dilshan
picked up three wickets for 50 runs.
Somdev crashes out of ATP Farmers Classic
New Delhi, July 29 : India's ace tennis player Somdev Devvarman crashed out in the second round
of the ATP Farmers Classic tournament being held in Los Angeles.
According to information received here, Somdev, world No.103, suffered a 6-7(9), 2-6 defeat at
the hands of Serbian Janko Tipsarevic Wednesday.
Tipsarevic had earlier defeated the top ranked Indian at the Chennai Open in January 2010.
The second round loss will fetch 32 ATP points for the Indian, including the 12 points he earned in
the qualifiers.
The points collected here are likely to push Somdev into the pool of top 100 players in the world,
when the latest ATP rankings come out Monday.
Somdev will become the first Indian in eleven years to break into the top 100 of the world
rankings. Leander Paes achieved the same feat in 1999.
India can win 5 boxing gold medals in CWG: Vijender
Chandigarh, July 29 : Beijing Olympics bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh Thursday expressed
satisfaction over his preparations for the October Commonwealth Games (CWG) in New Delhi
and said that India has the potential to win five gold medals in boxing there.
"In the last Commonwealth Games, we had won one gold medal in boxing but this time we can
easily win five gold medals. I am totally fit and my preparations are going on in full swing.
Everything is in place and we are getting full support from the government," Singh told reporters
here.
The 24-year-old Singh was also selected as a brand ambassador for the CWG 2010 by the
organising committee.
"It is not important for me to become the brand ambassador. My focus is on performing well and to
win a medal for the country. I am just hoping for the best. I am competing in the 75-kg category
and looking forward to break some records," Singh, who hails from Haryana's Bhiwani district,
said.
Tendulkar gets his fifth double ton after six years
Colombo, July 29 : Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar scored his fifth double century, after six
years, to lead India's fightback in the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports
Club ground here Thursday.
Tendulkar, who is the all-time leading scorer in Test cricket with over 13,742 runs, scored 203 in
347 balls, and his innings was studded with 23 fours and a six.
Tendulkar is third in the list to have most double centuries and it will be tough for him to surpass
either the nine made by West Indies batsman Brian Lara or the twelve made by Australian legend
Donald Bradman.
With 19 innings of more than 150-plus knock, Tendulkar now shares a world record with West
Indian, Brian Lara.
Tendulkar also holds the record of most Test centuries (48) and also the record for most centuries
on foreign soil (27).
With his 203, Tendulkar has now 1,900 runs against Sri Lanka and out of those 1,060 were on Sri
Lankan soil.
Abbas overlooked for Pakistan's CWG and Asian Games squads
Karachi, July 29 : Pakistan’s hockey selectors Thursday ignored veteran drag-flick ace Sohail
Abbas for the preliminary squad for this year’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi and Asian Games
in Guangzhou, China.
A 25-man provisional squad was named by the national selection committee for a series of training
camps ahead of the two major events.
The seasoned defender, who holds the record for the highest number of goals in international
hockey, apparently paid the price for skipping a training camp earlier this summer.
However, Pakistan’s chief selector Hanif Khan tried to make it clear that Sohail’s omission had
nothing to do with his decision to skip the training camp.
"We haven’t selected Sohail Abbas because we don’t need him any more," said Hanif, an
Olympian. Hanif stressed that Pakistan has a number of youngsters capable enough to fill in for
Sohail.
Satisfied with CWG preprations: PM
New Delhi, July 29 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday said he has reviewed the
Commonwealth Games preprations and is "satisfied" with the progress.
"I have reviewed the situation with the cabinet secretary and I am satifsfied that all nececessary
preprations are in place and will be in place," Manmohan Singh said at the joint press conference
with visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron.
"I am looking forward to a sccessful Commonwealth Games," he said when asked about allegations
of corruption on completing the venues and whether India would be able to meet the deadlines. The
Games are scheduled for Oct 3-14.
India juniors win medals at World Karate Championship
New Delhi, July 29 : The Indian junior team bagged three medals in the recently concluded Karate
World Championship in Buenos Aires held July 24-25.
The Indian team won two gold medals and a bronze in the individual events and and three silver
and as many bronze in the team category. S. Sharan and Jyothi Krithika won gold medals for the
country. The other medal winners were Prasanna Kumar, Ganesh Ram and Mani Shankar in the
team event.
Coach S. Kothandan and all the athletes hail from Chennai. It was the first time that Indian juniors
participated in a world championship.
Maradona hits back, says he was cheated and lied to
Buenos Aires, July 29 : Diego Maradona broke his silence Thursday, a day after he was sacked as
Argentina's national coach, saying he was betrayed and lied to.
In a scathing attack, he said that the chief of the Argentine football association (AFA), Julio
Grondona, and co-coach Carlos Bilardo lied to him and cheated him. He made a brief statement to
journalists here.
The AFA announced late Tuesday that Maradona's contract as national coach would not be
renewed.
AFA spokesman Cherquis Bialo announced the coach's departure after talks Monday between
Maradona and Grondona failed to produce an extension for a contract that expires on Saturday.
The AFA could not accept the conditions that Maradona had set before he would sign a contract
extension to remain at the helm of the national team through the 2014 World Cup in neighbouring
Brazil, Bialo said.
A legendary striker who led Argentina to a world championship in 1986, the 49-year-old
Maradona coached a team that struggled to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Colombo, July 29 : Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar smashed his fifth double hundred and Suresh
Raina scored a century on debut as India took a slim 27-run first innings lead at the end of fourth
day's play in the second cricket Test here Thursday.
Tendulkar made 203 and Raina 120 as India were 669 for nine in the first innings, in reply to Sri
Lanka's 642 for four declared, when the stumps were drawn at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground.
Ishant Sharma was batting on 10 and Pragyan Ojha was yet to open his account at close.
Resuming at the overnight score of 382 for four, India started cautiously as they needed 61 more
runs to avoid the follow on.
The first four came from Tendulkar's bat as he pushed debutant off spinner Suraj Randiv through
the cover boundary and then Raina smacked the lanky bowler for a huge six over long off.
Tendulkar and Raina put on 256 runs for the fifth wicket as India avoided the ignominy of a second
successive follow-on.
The 23-year-old Raina hit two sixes and 12 fours in his 228-ball knock and got to his century with
a fluent off-drive off seamer Dammika Prasad that went for a four. Mendis picked up Raina with
Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara taking a good catch at short-midwicket shortly after lunch.
The 37-year-old Tendulkar endured hot and humid weather for his marathon innings that was
studded with 23 boundaries and a six. Tendulkar reached his 200, in his 168th Test, with a flick off
Ajantha Mendis for two runs. It was Tendulkar's first double hundred in six years.
Tendulkar also equalled West Indian Brian Lara's record of 19 scores of 150-plus. Australian
legend Don Bradman did it on 18 occasions.
Prasad rattled Tendulkar with a short-pitched delivery that hit the batting maestro's helmet and
raced to the boundary. Part-time spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan got rid of Tendulkar soon after tea as
wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene took a bat-pad catch by moving quickly to the silly point
area. Dilshan also dismissed Harbhajan Singh in the same over.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (76) then joined in the run feast and added 95 runs for the
sixth wicket with Tendulkar and 51 for the eighth with Abhimanyu Mithun (41). Dilshan took a
good return catch off his own bowling to remove Dhoni.
Mendis finished the day with four wickets conceding 157 runs from his 54 overs, while Dilshan
picked up three wickets for 50 runs.
Somdev crashes out of ATP Farmers Classic
New Delhi, July 29 : India's ace tennis player Somdev Devvarman crashed out in the second round
of the ATP Farmers Classic tournament being held in Los Angeles.
According to information received here, Somdev, world No.103, suffered a 6-7(9), 2-6 defeat at
the hands of Serbian Janko Tipsarevic Wednesday.
Tipsarevic had earlier defeated the top ranked Indian at the Chennai Open in January 2010.
The second round loss will fetch 32 ATP points for the Indian, including the 12 points he earned in
the qualifiers.
The points collected here are likely to push Somdev into the pool of top 100 players in the world,
when the latest ATP rankings come out Monday.
Somdev will become the first Indian in eleven years to break into the top 100 of the world
rankings. Leander Paes achieved the same feat in 1999.
India can win 5 boxing gold medals in CWG: Vijender
Chandigarh, July 29 : Beijing Olympics bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh Thursday expressed
satisfaction over his preparations for the October Commonwealth Games (CWG) in New Delhi
and said that India has the potential to win five gold medals in boxing there.
"In the last Commonwealth Games, we had won one gold medal in boxing but this time we can
easily win five gold medals. I am totally fit and my preparations are going on in full swing.
Everything is in place and we are getting full support from the government," Singh told reporters
here.
The 24-year-old Singh was also selected as a brand ambassador for the CWG 2010 by the
organising committee.
"It is not important for me to become the brand ambassador. My focus is on performing well and to
win a medal for the country. I am just hoping for the best. I am competing in the 75-kg category
and looking forward to break some records," Singh, who hails from Haryana's Bhiwani district,
said.
Tendulkar gets his fifth double ton after six years
Colombo, July 29 : Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar scored his fifth double century, after six
years, to lead India's fightback in the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports
Club ground here Thursday.
Tendulkar, who is the all-time leading scorer in Test cricket with over 13,742 runs, scored 203 in
347 balls, and his innings was studded with 23 fours and a six.
Tendulkar is third in the list to have most double centuries and it will be tough for him to surpass
either the nine made by West Indies batsman Brian Lara or the twelve made by Australian legend
Donald Bradman.
With 19 innings of more than 150-plus knock, Tendulkar now shares a world record with West
Indian, Brian Lara.
Tendulkar also holds the record of most Test centuries (48) and also the record for most centuries
on foreign soil (27).
With his 203, Tendulkar has now 1,900 runs against Sri Lanka and out of those 1,060 were on Sri
Lankan soil.
Abbas overlooked for Pakistan's CWG and Asian Games squads
Karachi, July 29 : Pakistan’s hockey selectors Thursday ignored veteran drag-flick ace Sohail
Abbas for the preliminary squad for this year’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi and Asian Games
in Guangzhou, China.
A 25-man provisional squad was named by the national selection committee for a series of training
camps ahead of the two major events.
The seasoned defender, who holds the record for the highest number of goals in international
hockey, apparently paid the price for skipping a training camp earlier this summer.
However, Pakistan’s chief selector Hanif Khan tried to make it clear that Sohail’s omission had
nothing to do with his decision to skip the training camp.
"We haven’t selected Sohail Abbas because we don’t need him any more," said Hanif, an
Olympian. Hanif stressed that Pakistan has a number of youngsters capable enough to fill in for
Sohail.
Satisfied with CWG preprations: PM
New Delhi, July 29 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday said he has reviewed the
Commonwealth Games preprations and is "satisfied" with the progress.
"I have reviewed the situation with the cabinet secretary and I am satifsfied that all nececessary
preprations are in place and will be in place," Manmohan Singh said at the joint press conference
with visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron.
"I am looking forward to a sccessful Commonwealth Games," he said when asked about allegations
of corruption on completing the venues and whether India would be able to meet the deadlines. The
Games are scheduled for Oct 3-14.
India juniors win medals at World Karate Championship
New Delhi, July 29 : The Indian junior team bagged three medals in the recently concluded Karate
World Championship in Buenos Aires held July 24-25.
The Indian team won two gold medals and a bronze in the individual events and and three silver
and as many bronze in the team category. S. Sharan and Jyothi Krithika won gold medals for the
country. The other medal winners were Prasanna Kumar, Ganesh Ram and Mani Shankar in the
team event.
Coach S. Kothandan and all the athletes hail from Chennai. It was the first time that Indian juniors
participated in a world championship.
Maradona hits back, says he was cheated and lied to
Buenos Aires, July 29 : Diego Maradona broke his silence Thursday, a day after he was sacked as
Argentina's national coach, saying he was betrayed and lied to.
In a scathing attack, he said that the chief of the Argentine football association (AFA), Julio
Grondona, and co-coach Carlos Bilardo lied to him and cheated him. He made a brief statement to
journalists here.
The AFA announced late Tuesday that Maradona's contract as national coach would not be
renewed.
AFA spokesman Cherquis Bialo announced the coach's departure after talks Monday between
Maradona and Grondona failed to produce an extension for a contract that expires on Saturday.
The AFA could not accept the conditions that Maradona had set before he would sign a contract
extension to remain at the helm of the national team through the 2014 World Cup in neighbouring
Brazil, Bialo said.
A legendary striker who led Argentina to a world championship in 1986, the 49-year-old
Maradona coached a team that struggled to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.