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Thread: Sports News And Tidbits

  1. #61
    Senior Member Veteran Hubber Sanguine Sridhar's Avatar
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  3. #62
    Moderator Diamond Hubber littlemaster1982's Avatar
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    Champions Trophy postponed until October 2009

    The ICC has postponed the Champions Trophy, which was due to begin in Pakistan in 19 days' time, to October 2009, after five of the eight participating nations confirmed during a teleconference on Sunday that they would not send their teams for the event due to security concerns.

    South Africa had on Saturday pulled out of the tournament, which was originally scheduled to be held from Sept 12-28 in Karachi and Lahore, and the ICC was informed on Sunday that Australia, England, New Zealand and West Indies, too, would not be participating.

    The ICC will now meet in September to finalise a window for the tournament in 2009 and, while Pakistan will be given "first preference" to host it, a decision on the venue may be taken only after a security assessment of the country is done around February, after the India tour.

    Sources who attended the ICC's teleconference said there was the option of the tournament being relocated to Sri Lanka, the official alternate venue, but India and Pakistan remained adamant against a change.

    India, the sources said, were not willing to sacrifice Pakistan. The Sri Lankans too didn't press their case, as they supported the Pakistan view that a venue change could not be made on security grounds. The meeting was held in an amicable atmosphere because most of the issues had been thrashed out among the members beforehand, rendering the final discussions a mere formality.

    "There was unanimity in the decision to postpone the event until October next year," David Morgan, the ICC president, told Sky Sports. "India is very influential but so is Giles Clarke (ECB chief executive), Australia, New Zealand - they all bring their influence to bear.

    "The vote was totally in favour of the postponement until October next year. And India were quite influential in persuading some other nations that that was the right course of action."

    The ICC have appeased Pakistan, at least for the time being, in choosing not to cancel the competition entirely but postponing it until October next year. Morgan, though, was insistent that "appeasement was not part of the meeting at all".

    "The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have been extremely reasonable about the whole subject, (it has been very clear) they have worked jolly hard to try to give comfort to the member boards, and the eight teams that are touring, that it would be safe and secure," Morgan said. "Unfortunately, five of the participating nations found it impossible to send their team to Pakistan because of safety concerns."

    Though the postponement means there will be a rare 33 days without international cricket this year, the schedule for 2009 promises to be every bit as packed - besides, the next edition of the Champions Trophy is coming up in 2010. "Every cricketing year is a busy one," Morgan said. "We're more aware of it in the UK because of the Ashes, the World Twenty20 and the one-day series against Australia, but it is no busier a year than any other.

    "There will certainly be more security assessments. We're going to meet around the table in 3 or 4 weeks in Dubai to discuss the mechanisms of the postponement. There are numerous things to be discussed and we're planning on meeting in the middle of September to discuss the consequences of the decision."

    Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, added: "Every one of our members wishes to ensure the ICC Champions Trophy is a world-class event and the prospect of relocating it at short notice in order to make sure it was played this year would not allow that criterion to be fulfilled."

    Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB's chief operating officer, said that postponing the tournament was the only option in light of boycott threats. "Cricket is not going to die here, it's just that we are going through a difficult phase," Naghmi said. "We would have lost the hosting rights had the Champions Trophy been relocated [to Sri Lanka].

    "With four of the eight teams threatening to pull out, "it made little sense to organize a four-team competition," he said.

    Giles Clarke, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), said his board supported the ICC decision and had last week "explained their reservations and security concerns about staging the tournament in the aftermath of the resignation of the Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf last Monday."
    Cricinfo

  4. #63
    Veteran Hubber wrap07's Avatar
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    newindpress..

    Under-recognised boxers search greener pastures


    31 Aug 2008 03:53:00 PM IST

    If there’s magic in boxing, it’s the magic of fighting battles beyond endurance, beyond cracked ribs, ruptured kidneys and detached retinas. It’s the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you. So philosophised Eddie ‘Scrap Iron’ Dupris (played by Morgan Freeman) in the Oscar-winning Million Dollar Baby.

    This is no longer the scenario in professional boxing. It is now the magic of money and fame that draws boxers. Underpaid and under-recognised as boxing is in India, many talented boxers have sought the dicey pastures of professional boxing in the USA and England.Gurcharan Singh,who is settled in California, is a classic example.

    After his agonising quarterfinal loss to Andri Fedtchouk at the 2000 Sydney Olympics,Gurcharan was left in the lurch

    Leading the final round 11-10, Gurcharan was only five seconds away from entering the semifinal and ensuring a bronze in the 81-kg category. But the Ukranian fought back and tied the bout 12-12.

    The jury resorted to countback and the scores of three judges were averaged after striking off the scores of the judges who gave the highest and lowest points and Andri won the bout 60-42.

    Only a lukewarm welcome awaited Gurcharan back home.His employers, Services,withdrew a promotion they had promised him while he waited for months to obtain a telephone connection to his house. Disgruntled, he embraced professional boxing in the USA and disappeared without a trace. It was only after a few months that his friends informed his employers and the media that Gurcharan was in the USA.

    Similar was 1994 World Cup bronze medallist Venkatesh Devarajan’s fate. According to Devarajan, the Indian Boxing Federation was indifferent to his needs and refused to send him to Cuba for a training stint despite his insistent pleas. So he vanished from the Atlanta Olympics camp and went to England. “Even after I had bagged a bronze in the World Cup, the government was reluctant to support me financially. To make ends meet, I pursued professional boxing in England for a few months,” recollecs Devarajan. Upset at developments, national boxing coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu blasted the attitude of the boxers

    “They are not only hurting themselves, but also betraying the country which spends so much money to train them. They don’t know what they are getting into.They have absolutely no idea about the demands of professional boxing.Mentally, they are not tough enough to deal with it,” is what he said

    Sandhu’s judgment was spot-on.For, only a few Indian pugilists like Dharmender Yadav and Gurcharan have flourished in this exceedingly competitive and demanding world of professional boxing. Gurcharan, especially, has been quite successful in his switch-over and has made a small fortune too. He has an enviable 18-0 record, including 10 knockouts, in the heavyweight segment this season.Managed by Dennis Hobson, he earns close to $20,000 a bout

    All the same,many talented boxers who have ventured into the professional circuit like Devender Thapa, Lakha Singh and Raj Kumar Sangwan have fallen by the wayside. “Professional boxing is an altogether different ball game.Amateur boxing is a bout while the latter is a fight. You need raw energy, power, stamina and mental toughness to succeed.Amateur boxing is more scientific; there are only four rounds and it is about getting points,” points out Olympian Devarajan

    Now that Indian boxers have excelled at the Beijing Olympics, the federation should promote boxing and support boxers in a better way

    Otherwise, more boxers will seek the rings of professional boxing. After all, money matters

  5. #64
    Senior Member Diamond Hubber directhit's Avatar
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    Symonds mulls quitting cricket
    http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2008/sep/01sym.htm

    Symonds told to seek psychological help
    http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2008/sep/02symonds.htm
    Till the full stop doesn't come, the sentence is not complete - MSD

  6. #65
    Veteran Hubber wrap07's Avatar
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    http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/15/stor...1556501900.htm

    Saina Nehwal scripts a historic win

    Principal Correspondent

    Becomes first Indian woman to win two GP singles titles

    DREAM COME TRUE: Saina Nehwal’s title win in Taiwan, close on the heels of her quarterfinal appearance at the Beijing Games, is further proof of her talent and augurs well for her future.


    HYDERABAD: Saina Nehwal, ranked World No. 14, became the first-ever Indian woman shuttler to win two Grand Prix singles titles when she won the $1,70,000 Yonex Chinese Taipei Grand Prix Gold badminton championship in Taiwan on Sunday, according to information received here.

    “It was one of my most memorable days. It is a dream come true for me. Coming so close to the quarterfinal appearance in the recent Beijing Olympics, it gives me extra pleasure,” said a delighted Saina in a chat with The Hindu from Taiwan immediately after recording a 21-8, 21-19 win in the final against Li Ya Lydia Cheah of Malaysia.

    For someone who after winning the 2006 Phillipines Open had a lacklustre showing in the international circuit till the creditable performance at the Beijing Olympics, Saina believes that this title should prove to her critics that her Olympics performance was no flash in the pan.
    Simple strategy


    Reflecting on her win on Sunday the 18-year-old said that she had a simple strategy for the final. “I was not too worried about the occasion. My strategy was to play to my potential and let things happen,” she said. “The first game was much easier. But, in the second game the familiar problem of drift because of blowers inside the stadium was there. That was the reason I had to struggle a bit and trailed 5-11, 10-15,” she added.

    “But importantly I moved into top gear when it mattered the most and that is most satisfying. The doubts over my ability to come up with big points should have been put to rest with this victory,” said Saina.

    The two-time National champion, having come of age thanks to the recent exposure trips and training stints abroad, feels that her quarterfinal win against Thai Porntip Buranaprasertsuk was decisive. “Though I was up against a player ranked World No. 42, given her potential to get the better of the best in the business, that victory lifted my confidence level and made me believe that I can win the title here,” said Saina.
    Great feeling


    “It is always a great feeling to be the first to win a title of this magnitude. And, I hope this will just be the beginning in my long pursuit to win an Olympic medal,” she said. She will now leave for Tokyo for the Japanese Open and then from there for the China Open championships.

    Pullela Gopi Chand said that it was a tough final and gave full credit to Saina. “This should be a major morale booster for her,” he said. “There is no doubt that she really playing in a different level. Maybe, the best phase of her career so far. All that she needs now is to remain focussed and just go out there and play her normal game.”

    A delighted Harvir Singh, who spoke to his daughter Saina immediately after her victory, felt vindicated about his belief in her.

    “I know how much struggle we had to undergo over the years. But, thankfully the results are coming in now which should only spur Saina to aim higher,” he said.

  7. #66
    Veteran Hubber wrap07's Avatar
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    http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/25/stor...2561721300.htm

    Kapil Dev begins a new innings


    NEW DELHI: Veteran cricketer Kapil Dev was decorated with the rank of honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army at a colourful ceremony at Army headquarters here on Wednesday. The honour was conferred on him by the Army Chief, General Deepak Kapoor.

    Speaking on the occasion, Kapil Dev said: “It is truly a proud moment for me. I will try to do my best in the second innings. Whatever instructions are given to me by my bosses I will try to fulfil them. It is the duty of every citizen to strengthen his or her country.” Kapil, who led the victorious World Cup cricket team in 1983, donned the army uniform as he is now part of the 150 Territorial Army (Infantry) battalion of the Punjab Regiment.

    While Kapil will not take part in the training of the Territorial Army, he will act as a “brand ambassador” for the armed forces.


  8. #67
    Senior Member Diamond Hubber directhit's Avatar
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    http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2008/sep/25kris.htm

    Srikkanth most certain to be head of selection committee
    Till the full stop doesn't come, the sentence is not complete - MSD

  9. #68
    Senior Member Veteran Hubber crajkumar_be's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by directhit
    http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2008/sep/25kris.htm

    Srikkanth most certain to be head of selection committee

    1. No more of his commentary
    2. Potentially good for Thamizhagam

  10. #69
    Senior Member Diamond Hubber directhit's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by crajkumar_be
    Quote Originally Posted by directhit
    http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2008/sep/25kris.htm

    Srikkanth most certain to be head of selection committee

    1. No more of his commentary
    2. Potentially good for Thamizhagam
    Till the full stop doesn't come, the sentence is not complete - MSD

  11. #70
    Senior Member Veteran Hubber Kalyasi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by directhit
    Quote Originally Posted by crajkumar_be
    Quote Originally Posted by directhit
    http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2008/sep/25kris.htm

    Srikkanth most certain to be head of selection committee

    1. No more of his commentary
    2. Potentially good for Thamizhagam
    em Chennai! yaam vaazhum pon Chennai!
    viral ayinthum theendamal vegamattom!
    thazhthalum sangathigal vizhthalum!
    thaai mannil sagamal sagamattom!! -- Saagum Varai CSK

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