Kuznetsova eases into French Open second round

Kuznetsova eases into French Open second round

PARIS, May 23: Defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova reeled off 11 of the last 12 games to move into the French Open second round with a 6-3, 6-1 win against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Kuznetsova arrived in Paris having won just one claycourt match this season and was in trouble early on against her 20-year-old opponent who made the quarter-finals last year.

Kuznetsova was 1-3 down as Cirstea, the world number 34 who just missed out on a seeding, quickly settled into her rhythm on a sweltering spring day in Paris.

But the Russian, who had won the pair’s only other clash in the second round of the 2008 US Open, rattled off the next five games to claim the opener after 38 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Somdev Devvarman qualifies for French Open

Somdev Devvarman qualifies for French Open

PARIS, May 21: Somdev Devvarman became the first Indian in 13 years to qualify for the men’s singles event of the French Open after scoring a 6-4, 6-1 win over Adrian Mannarino.

It took sixth seed Somdev one hour and 25 minutes to quell the challenge of his French rival in the third and final round and seal one of the 16 main draw spots up for grab.

Leander Paes was the last Indian to play in men’s singles event of the French Open in 1997 when he made the second round of the clay court Grand Slam.

This is for the second time that Somdev has qualified for the men’s singles of a Grand Slam tournament. He first played in a tennis Major at the US Open last year and had reached second round.

Shoaib opts spiritual treatment for knee pain

Shoaib opts spiritual treatment for knee pain

KARACHI, May 18: Eager to make a comeback to the national team, Pakistan’s controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has approached a spiritual healer for the treatment of his chronic knee pain, which could not be cured even after a major surgery in England last year. According to sources close to the bowler, Shoaib went to see a spiritual/faith healer in Karachi who specialises in treating people with orthopedic and muscular problems. A source said the healer has attributed the pain to a nerve being trapped inside the knee resulting in blockage of normal blood circulation. According to the source Shoaib had admitted taking injections regularly and medications to fight the pain. (PTI)

Webber wins Monaco Grand Prix

Webber wins Monaco Grand Prix

MONTE CARLO, May 16: Mark Webber leapt into serious contention for this year’s drivers’ world championship on Sunday when he drove to an imperious victory ahead of his precocious young teammate Sebastian Vettel in the Monaco Grand Prix. The 33-year-old Australian led from start to finish and made light of four interruptions for the introduction of the Safety Car on his way to a second comprehensive win in succession, having won equally impressively in Spain last weekend. It was the fourth win of his career, his second this year and he became the first Australian victor on the famous Mediterranean street circuit, bathed in more glamour than sunshine this time, since Jack Brabham won in 1959, on his way to the world title. It was also the Red Bull team’s third one-two triumph in succession and their fourth in six races this year, sufficient evidence to confirm with reasonable certainty that they have overcome their reliability problems - at least on slower circuits.(Agencies)

Beckham confirms offer of England coaching role

Beckham confirms offer of England coaching role

ZURICH, May 14: David Beckham has confirmed he is keen to accept England manager Fabio Capello’s invitation to join his coaching staff at the World Cup. Beckham has been ruled out of the tournament in South Africa after rupturing his Achilles tendon while playing for AC Milan in March, but Capello wants the 35-year-old midfielder to play his part on the sidelines instead. Capello and his assistant Franco Baldini have given Beckham the chance to work as an intermediary between manager and players, as well as assisting on the training ground. Beckham, speaking on Friday at the presentation of England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup, admitted he is hopeful his rehabilitation from the injury will have progressed far enough to allow him to make the trip to South Africa. “I’ve spoken to the manager and Franco Baldini and they have made it well aware that I have a role to play with the players and the team,” Beckham said. “We have not discussed specifics but I’m honoured that a manager of Fabio’s status feels I can be important. “I am hoping to travel with the team but obviously we’ll have to see how my therapy goes.” The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star is believed to have initially been concerned that his presence in the England camp could become a distraction. But Capello and Baldini have assured Beckham that he would be a valuable part of their bid to win the World Cup. Beckham is not expected to travel to England’s pre-World Cup training camp in Austria when the squad leaves on Monday, but he is set to be on the plane for South Africa on June 2. (Agencies)

WADA ‘whereabouts’ clause won’t create problem in World Cup: Shetty

WADA ‘whereabouts’ clause won’t create problem in World Cup: Shetty

MUMBAI, May 13: Stand off between cricket authorities and the World Anti-Doping Agency over the controversial “whereabouts” clause in the WADA Anti-Doping Code is unlikely to create any problem for the 2011 ICC World Cup, feels tournament director Ratnakar Shetty.

“I don’t foresee a problem. WADA has told ICC it’s their problem to get it resolved. BCCI (Indian cricket board) has expressed certain concerns only about the whereabouts clause, nothing more than that,” Shetty, who is also BCCI’s chief administrative officer, said in an exclusive interview.

“ICC, WADA officials and BCCI had a meeting three months back in Dubai. It went off very well where we made it very clear that India is not opposed to the dope test, it’s only about the whereabouts clause where 24 hours the sportsman has to file in the details. That could be resolved,” Shetty explained.

“We are seeking the support of other boards also. N Srinivasan (BCCI secretary) and Shashank Manohar (BCCI president) have been working with other cricket boards as well as with ICC to find an early solution to this problem.

Anand retains world chess title

Anand retains world chess title

Sofia, May 11: Viswanathan Anand held his nerve and focus way better than his opponent Veselin Topalov here on Tuesday to win the 12th and final game to retain his World Chess Championships title. The 40-year-old Indian beat local man from Bulgaria in the closing game with black pieces to emerge a 6.5-5.5 winner and seal his place as one of the dominant players of his era.

Anand first won the world title in 2000 and held it till 2002 when the chess world was still split. He became the undisputed World champion in 2007 and then retained the title in 2008 when he beat Vladimir Kramnik. This time around he beat Topalov to cement his place among one of the games’ all-time greats. Anand, who travelled more than 40 hours by road to reach the venue as flights in Europe were suspended due to the volcanic ash from Iceland, lost the first game. He, however, quickly hit back with wins in the second and third game.

India beat South Korea 3-2 in Azlan Shah

India beat South Korea 3-2 in Azlan Shah

Ipoh (Malaysia), May 9: Defending champions India quelled a late Korean surge to eke out a narrow 3-2 victory and stretch their unbeaten run in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament here today. The Indian scorers were Arjun Halappa (10th minute), Tushar Khandker (45th) and Shivendra Singh (60th), while Korea scored through two penalty corner strikes by Nam Hyun Woo in the 12th and 70th minutes.

India began aggressively mounting onslaughts with central midfielders Arjun Halappa and Vikas Pillay setting up wingers Mandip Antil and Tushar Khandker who penetrated and split the Korean defence. They earned the first penalty corner in the fifth minute after Halappa found the foot of Korean captain and sweeper Lee Nam Yong.

India beat Pakistan 4-2

India beat Pakistan 4-2

Ipoh (Malaysia), May 7: Defending champions India breathed life into their Azlan Shah hockey campaign with a resounding 4-2 win over arch rivals Pakistan here on Friday. India opened the scoring in the 26th minute through Sardar Singh to go 1-0 up at half time. Pakistan’s Muhammad Imran converted a penalty stroke to draw level in the 37th minute in the action-packed second half. India then scored thrice to take a decisive 4-1 lead with contributions from Mandeep Antil (47th), Gurbaj Singh (53rd) and Tushar Khandekar (56th minute). Pakistan pulled back one through Kasif Ali's drag-flick strike in the 66th minute but it was too little too late. It was an improved performance by India who wasted five penalty corners and struck in the dying moments to escape with a 1-1 draw against China in their first match. India, who defeated Pakistan in their last meeting at the hockey World Cup in New Delhi, had to win this match to give themselves a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. India seized the initiative and started making deep forays into the Pakistani half led by Arjun Hallapa who did not play the match against China on Thursday

Serena in quarters

Serena in quarters

ROME, May 5: World number one Serena Williams overcame a mid-match slump to defeat unseeded Andrea Petkovic in three sets at the Foro Italico on Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the Rome Open.

The Australian Open champion won 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 against the 49th ranked German but rarely looked to be at her best.

Serena is playing in her first tournament since winning in Melbourne in January but unlike her second round match on Tuesday when she started slowly, here she was out of the blocks quickly enough.

She broke Petkovic in the fifth game with a backhand winner down the line and then again in the seventh with a cross-court forehand winner. Petkovic had not been overawed by her illustrious opponent, though, and was matching her for winners while Serena was producing as many unforced errors as the 22-year-old. Things got interesting in the second set as Petkovic broke Williams in the fourth game and had three break points for a 5-1 lead in the favourite's next service game.

Serena saved those, held and then broke back after Petkovic netted a forehand, a regular feature of her play.

However, the German of Serbian origin then stepped up her game and made two outright forehand winners and a backhand winner on break point to move ahead 5-3.

Serena had two chances to break back immediately but could not take either and she handed her opponent the set with a netted forehand. That seemed to focus her mind, though, and she romped through the final set with little fuss. (Agencies)

AIFF president in damage-control mode

AIFF president in damage-control mode

New Delhi, May 4: Realizing the seriousness of the controversy surrounding national coach Bob Houghton’s resignation, All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel has called the members of the executive committee for a crisis management meeting on Thursday.

In a bid to defuse the crisis, Patel will have an informal dinner meeting at his residence with all the committee members before the executive meets the next day (Friday).

Even as Patel started talking to senior AIFF officials, he maintained that Houghton has not resigned.

“The news about Houghton resigning as the football coach is not correct. I myself spoke to him last night in Cape Town. I think the only issue between the AIFF and the coach is that Houghton wants to know his future post-January 2011, when his contract comes to an end,” Patel, who is also the civil aviation minister, told reporters outside Parliament on Tuesday.

Patel said that there is no other issue between him and the federation.

“Bob continues to be our coach and I am sure the Indian team will play under his leadership in the Asian Cup in Doha in January. The news about the shoddy treatment meted out to him was incorrect,” Patel added.

Patel said that the executive committee will meet on Friday to discuss the issue.

“We are meeting on Friday where this issue will also be discussed. Once again, Houghton has not resigned,” Patel said.

Houghton resigned as India’s chief football coach on Monday following his differences with AIFF secretary general Alberto Colaco.

A top official in the AIFF told IANS that Patel has requested Houghton to reconsider his decision.

“But Patel will have some tough time in pacifying the executive committee members, who are angry with Colaco. Thanks to Colaco, Indian football is facing another crisis,” the source said.

The official said that differences between Houghton and Colaco reached the flash point when the secretary general during his visit to Malaysia for an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) meeting last month, met a top agent and asked him to look for a replacement for Houghton.

“Despite several differences, Houghton was willing to extend his contract after the mega-event and had even informed Colaco about it on April 5. But when Houghton heard that Colaco had asked the agent to look for a new coach, he was furious and resigned on Monday through an e-mail, giving a notice of three months,” the official said.

Speaking to IANS from Cape Town, Houghton said: “Yes, I have resigned. But it is a more complicated issue.” (IANS)

AIFF to renew Houghton’s contract

AIFF to renew Houghton’s contract

NEW DELHI, May 2: Faced with a resignation threat, All India Football Federation is set to renew national coach Bob Houghton's contract beyond Asian Cup in January next year.

Houghton had threatened to resign if his contract is not renewed till 2013, besides also demanding a hike of $10,000 per month after his current tenure ends in January 2011. The Englishman was apparently ticked off by the AIFF looking for a new coach after his current stint.

AIFF General Secretary Alberto Colaco said that with President Praful Patel's consent and consultation with some executive committee members, the federation has informed Houghton, through his manager, its willingness to renew the contract.

“Bob’s agent communicated to us Bob’s willingness to extend his contract. After consulting the AIFF President Praful Patel and some of the committee members we have written to the agent that we are willing to renew the contract,” Colaco said.

Houghton himself is incommunicado but sources who have been talking to him said it was a top AIFF official who told the English coach's agent that the national federation was looking for a coach after his contract ends in January next year. That ticked off Houghton who, through his agent, informed the AIFF that he would resign if his contract is not renewed till 2013 besides also demanding a pay hike of $10,000 per month, sources said.

“Houghton never said that he would not want to continue beyond Asian Cup in January 2011. He has some offers from other countries but that is in future, only after January 2011.

“He doesn't want to end up jobless after January given that AIFF was on a lookout for a new coach. If your employer is looking for another coach then naturally you will feel insecure,” the sources said.

The AIFF is a divided house and its executive committee meeting on May 7 could see some fireworks from pro and anti Houghton groups.

Those against Houghton feel that the Englishman, who reportedly is earning $2,40,000 per year as salary, has taken the chance of AIFF looking for a coach to his advantage and has inserted a term to increase his salary. “Houghton’s contract will be reviewed by the executive committee and if at all it is to be renewed some clauses will be added and it is upto him to accept or reject them,” an executive committee member said. (PTI)