Nadal wins Monte Carlo Masters

Nadal wins Monte Carlo Masters

MONTE CARLO, April 18: World number three Rafael Nadal won the Monte Carlo Masters for a record sixth consecutive time with a 6-0 6-1 drubbing of fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the final on Sunday.

Nadal, who had not claimed an ATP title in the past 11 months, won his 32nd straight match in the glitzy principality with yet another stunning display of claycourt tennis.

Four-times French Open champion Nadal raced through the opening set as Verdasco, playing in his first Masters final, proved unable to live with him. (Agencies)

Abhinav Bindra shoots out at the India International Sports Summit

Bindra sprung to life when he donned the role of the keynote speaker on the topic: Winning 20 Gold Medals in 2020.

India’s lone Olympic gold medallist spoke with a burning passion, was sharp, displayed a clinical thought process and spoke his mind.abhinav_bindra

“We have been too content for too long. When we don’t excel at the highest level we fall back on our lofty ideals. Now the time has come to play to win at all costs,” he said.

Bindra juxtaposed Martina Navratilova’s lines to further highlight the underlying lack of killer instinct among the sporting community in the country. “Whoever said ‘It’s not whether you win or lose that counts,’ probably lost.”

The sharpshooter wasn’t going to mince his words. “Our current group of elite athletes won’t fetch us any medals in 2020. We don’t have a plan for the next two years,” Bindra added, wondering whether there was any vision beyond this year’s Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi in October.

Bindra said his 10-metre air rifle gold at the Beijing Olympics was the culmination of nearly two decades of hard work, training and sacrifice.

“Athletes and champions cannot be groomed overnight. We must go and look for talent and make investments. We need to talent scout from the sub-junior age-group. The level of domestic competition also needs to be improved else our athletes will be found out of depth at the international level,” Bindra said.

The ace shooter also believes that no emotion or sentiment should be attached and favouritism shouldn’t come to the fore when teams are picked to represent the country at the junior or senior levels.

“There should be no room for non-performers. Sports associations and federations should rid themselves of regional biases and sycophancy.”

Eight-time world billiards champion Geet Sethi, who is also a driving force behind the Olympic Gold Quest, said: “India has consolidated its position. Now it the time to take the graph higher. In 1996 Leander Paes won the bronze in tennis and Karnam Malleshwari won a bronze in weightlifting in 2000.

“We did better when shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won silver in 2004.

“We went a step ahead with Bindra’s gold and the two bronze medals from Vijender Singh (boxing) and Sushil Kumar (wrestling) at Beijing. “Winning 20 gold medals in 2020 is not a pipedream if we can provide world-class infrastructure, training and sustained support to our best athletes.”

Talking on the sidelines of the summit, Bindra, when asked what continues to motivate him, said, “Olympic gold is an ultimate dream but now I have to challenge new limits. But even if I don’t do well now, I’ll die as a gold medallist.”

On India’s chances in shooting at the CWG, Bindra said, “we have done really well in the past at the CWG. I see no reason why we can’t win medals again this year. I am sure we will win more than one medal in the next Olympics in shooting alone.”

Bindra also revealed that the recent shooting selection controversy, which first saw him being excluded from the core group of the CWG, was an incentive to excel.

“It was a motivational factor for me to do well. I had in mind that I have to perform to prove them wrong. But I was never really concerned about it. Luckily I’ve been shooting well and I tried to use that criticism positively.”

Chhetri set to make official debut

Chhetri set to make official debut

NEW DELHI, April 13: Sunil Chhetri is all set to become the first Indian to play for a Major League Soccer side when he makes his official debut for Kansas City Wizards in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifier match against Colorado Rapids.

Chhetri is expected to play against the Rapids at the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus early morning on Wednesday (IST) after KC Wizards made official announcement that he has been added to the 24-man roster.

The diminutive Indian did not play in Wizards’ second MLS match against the Rapids on April 10 as he did not have his clearance papers from the United States Soccer Federation and the MLS.

Chhetri was pleased to see his name on the roster and said, “I’m very excited to be able to appear with the team. We have a good squad and I’m going to give my best to help us on the field.” (PTI)

Chhetri set to make official debut

Chhetri set to make official debut

NEW DELHI, April 13: Sunil Chhetri is all set to become the first Indian to play for a Major League Soccer side when he makes his official debut for Kansas City Wizards in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifier match against Colorado Rapids.

Chhetri is expected to play against the Rapids at the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus early morning on Wednesday (IST) after KC Wizards made official announcement that he has been added to the 24-man roster.

The diminutive Indian did not play in Wizards’ second MLS match against the Rapids on April 10 as he did not have his clearance papers from the United States Soccer Federation and the MLS.

Chhetri was pleased to see his name on the roster and said, “I’m very excited to be able to appear with the team. We have a good squad and I’m going to give my best to help us on the field.” (PTI)

Somdev touches career-best ranking

Somdev touches career-best ranking

New Delhi, April 12: India’s Somdev Devvarman continues to prosper on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour and has risen to a career-high ranking of 110 on its charts here on Monday. Somdev, who came close to knocking out former World No.1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in the second round of the US men's Clay Court Championship, has improved upon his previous best of 116 last week. Somdev, who shot into prominence at the university of Virginia, winning back-to-back US collegiate singles titles in 2007-8, was largely instrumental in taking India into the Davis Cup World Group this year, though they lost to Russia in the first round. US-based Indian Prakash Amritraj climbed two places to 198. In the men’s doubles ranking, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi remain unchanged at sixth and seventh position. (IANS)

Drogba keeps Chelsea on course

Drogba keeps Chelsea on course

LONDON, April 11: Didier Drogba sent holders Chelsea on their way to a 3-0 win over top flight rivals Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday.

The Ivory Coast striker broke the deadlock in the 68th minute before Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard completed the win with two late goals as Premier League leaders Chelsea remained on course for a domestic ‘Double’. Chelsea will now return to Wembley on May 15 where they will face the winners of Sunday’s second semi-final between fellow Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth. This was no routine victory but once Drogba had turned home John Terry’s shot on goal following a mistake by Villa defender Richard Dunne, the outcome was never in doubt. Malouda added a second in the 89th minute, connecting with Michael Ballack’s right wing cross and Lampard completed the scoring in added time by capping a fine run with a composed finish.

For Villa, defeat meant a second Wembley disappointment this season after their League Cup final defeat at the hands of Manchester United in February. Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti had warned his side they would face a very different Villa team to the one that capitulated so meekly at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago.

Relieved that Sachin won't play World T20: Bosman

Sachin Tendulkar not playing the World T20 is cause for relief for other teams.[© Getty]

South African opener Loots Bosman is relieved that Sachin Tendulkar won't be playing in the Twenty20 World Championships later this month but he feels even without the senior batsman India remains a very dangerous outfit.

Bosman has been honing his skills with coach Corrie van Zyl while most of his teammates play in the Indian Premier League.

The Proteas will take on India in their first match of the World Championship in St. Lucia, the West Indies on May 2 and Bosman said he and his teammates were happy to know that Tendulkar would not be playing in the Caribbean.

"But India still has a lot of very dangerous players that one has to keep in account," he told Afrikaans daily 'The Beeld'.

Bosman said is ready to take on the spinners if India decides to open with them in the event.

It will be Bosman's first Twenty20 World Cup after he missed the inaugural one at home in 2007 due to a back injury and the second in England last year because of a knee injury.

Bosman said he did not regret being one of only three South Africans, who were not playing in the IPL, as he might just have been injured again like captain Graeme Smith, Wayne Parnell and Justin Kemp.

© PTI

AATA releases new ranking list

AATA releases new ranking list

By our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, April 7: The All Assam Tennis Association (AATA) has released the new ranking list of the state players. Aloke Kumar Tripathy ranked number one in the mens section. The other players who ranked top in different categories are Parikshit Somani (Boys U-12), Priyana Kalita (Girls U-12), Tanvir Aman (Boys U-14), Amrita Nath (Girls U-14), Madhurya Dutta (Boys U-16), Manaswinee Hazarika (Girls U-16), Alok Kumar Tripathi (Boys U-18) and Marisha Dutta ( Girls U-18).

Jumbo is mascot for 2011 World Cup

Jumbo is mascot for 2011 World Cup

MUMBAI, April 5: “Appu”, the elephant was the mascot of the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi and almost two decades down the line, the pachyderm has been chosen to perform the same role at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 to be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The CWC mascot was unveiled at a function in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on April 2 and the World Cup organisers on Monday announced that cricket fans based in the host nations would be able to participate in a contest to name the mascot. The details pertaining to the consumer contest (address on which to send entries and deadline) will be intimated in due course, said Tournament Director Professor Ratnakar Shetty. (PTI)

Sutil fifth

Sutil fifth

Sepang, April 4: Force India’s point-scoring spree continued unabated as Adrian Sutil drove a flawless race, keeping 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton at bay, for a fifth place finish to earn 10 invaluable points from today’s Malaysian Grand Prix.

Teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi, who scored points in both the previous races this season, was less fortunate as the Italian retired on lap 12 with a suspected throttle problem.

Indian Formula One driver Karun Chandhok finished the race 15th, ahead of Hispania teammate Bruno Senna. After failing to score point in the first two races this year, Sutil started the race fourth on the grid and drove a faultless race to open his account.

Force India chairman Vijay Mallya said ideally both the cars should have scored points but he had no complaints. “Three races and three times in the points, I am absolutely delighted,” Mallya said.

“Adrian had a strong race, keeping a cool head under pressure when a charging Lewis Hamilton was right on his tail.

‘Thackeray’s comments on Sania cheap gimmick’

‘Thackeray’s comments on Sania cheap gimmick’

NEW DELHI, April 3: Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy Saturday termed as “cheap political gimmicks” Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray’s comments on Sania Mirza’s proposed marriage to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik.

“The comment of Bal Thackeray is highly symptomatic of his notorious tendency to lend a communal colour to every issue. The people of India, in the second decade of 21st century, are much too mature and sophisticated for such cheap political gimmicks,” Reddy said in a statement released here.

Calling it to be the personal decision of Sania Mirza, Reddy said: “It is unfortunate that the Shiv Sena leader, Bal Thackeray, has chosen to criticise the decision of Sania Mirza to marry a Pakistani cricketer on political grounds.”

Sania’s heart beats for Pakistani: Thackeray

Sania’s heart beats for Pakistani: Thackeray

MUMBAI, April 2: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, on Friday, flayed tennis star Sania Mirza for her decision to marry Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, saying “had Sania’s heart been Indian, it wouldn’t have beaten for a Pakistani.” “Henceforth, Sania will not remain an Indian. Had her heart been Indian, it wouldn’t have beaten for a Pakistani. If she wished to play for India, she should have chosen an Indian life partner,” 84-year-old Thackeray said in an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamna. “More than victories on tennis court, Sania became famous for her tight clothes, fashion and love affairs,” Thackeray alleged. “More than her play, people’s attention was on her mannerisms,” he claimed. The Shiv Sena supremo alleged that “for Shoaib, India is an enemy, not only in sports arena but also in the battlefield. “We have heard that Shoaib has many affairs in India and has promised many girls he will marry them,” he said. Thackeray also expressed surprise over the alacrity with which Sania’s family members were granted Pakistani visas. “Getting a Pakistani visa is tough even for a singer like Lata Mangeshkar,” he said.