lara arrives but to a deserted Eden
Kolkata: It was an irony of sorts for West Indies great Brian lara who arrived Saturday morning to grace the last two days of the India-West Indies first Test but only to find that both teams had packed up with the match folding inside three days. “I always thought we (the Windies) would fight back. It’s really disappointing to see the way they collapsed. Never thought it would get over by the third day,” lara said after his arrival. Here on an invitation from the Cricket Association of Bengal, lara was to felicitate Tendulkar in his last outing at the Eden but Mohammad Shami had other plans. Disappointed not to see Tendulkar in action, lara said, “Hope the match lasts for five days in Mumbai and I would see Tendulkar bat for one last time,” he added.
Saina nehwal aims at top five rank
New Delhi: Saina Nehwal will aim to make a return to the top five of the world rankings by clinching the women’s singles title at the China Open Super Series Premier which will be held in Shanghai from November 12-17. Saina, who will open her campaign against a qualifier, has been troubled by injuries this year. She is currently ranked seventh in the latest list released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). However, Saina will have her task cut out as she will probably face defending champion and top seed li Xuerei of China if she does manage to reach the quarterfinals. Unseeded Arundhati Pantawane, the other Indian in the women’s singles, will face another unseeded opponent in Eriko Hirose of Japan. In men’s singles, unseeded Parupalli Kashyap will face eighth seed Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand in his campaign opener. Unseeded Ajay Jayaram will be up against one of the qualifiers in his first match.
lehmann hopeful of Watson fitness
Sydney: Australian coach Darren lehmann said on Saturday he is confident Shane Watson will be fit to play in the Ashes series opener against England later this month. The experienced all-rounder was cleared this week of a serious left hamstring injury he picked up during Australia’s recent tour of India, raising concerns that he could miss the Test opener at Brisbane starting on November 21. But lehmann said Watson was making good progress and was in line to play at the Gabba. “The reports from our medical team on Shane’s recovery from injury are pleasing,” lehmann said in a Cricket Australia statement. “He is making good progress and responding well to treatment. If that continues, we have confidence that he will be fit for the first Test.” lehmann said Watson would miss New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield game with Queensland this week.
Sanam, Divij-Raja bow out
New Delhi: Sanam Singh lost to Peter Polanski for the second time in two months and crashed out of the ATP Knoxville Challenger event in the United States. The diminutive Indian lost 3-6, 3-6 to his Canadian rival. in the quarter-finals of the USD 50,000 hard court event. Sanam had lost to Polansky in the ITF Futures final in Canada in September this season. At Challenger level, Sanam has not gone beyond quarter-finals this calender year. At Binghamton event in the US, Sanam had lost to Bradley Klahn. Meanwhile, at the Ortisei Challenger in Italy, the top seeded Indian pair of Divij Sharan and Purav Raja bowed out after semifinal defeat. They lost 6-7 (3), 2-6 to fourth seeded German team of Christopher Kas and Tim Puetz.
Wodeyar and Brijesh in KSCA polls
Bangalore: The scion of the Mysore royal family, Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, and former India batsman Brijesh Patel on Saturday announced that they will contest the Karnataka State Cricket Association elections for the posts of President and Secretary respectively. “Myself and Brijesh have joined hands to contest the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) elections scheduled next month,” Wodeyar told reporters here. Former India captain Anil Kumble and his ex-teammate Javagal Srinath have decided not to seek re-election and consented to support whoever gets elected.
BCCI issues tender for sponsorship
New Delhi: Nine months after a bitter split with long-time sponsors Sahara, the BCCI today invited tenders for the sponsorship rights of the Indian team for all the Board, ICC and Asian Cricket Council events from January 2014 to March 2017. Sahara India Parivar had in February withdrawn its sponsorship of the national cricket team and ownership of the Pune Warriors IPl franchise due to differences with the Board. “The BCCI has published an ITT (Invitation To Tender) for Team Sponsorship Rights covering BCCI Events, ICC Events and ACC Events, for the period 1st January 2014 to 31st March 2017,” Board secretary Sanjay Patel said in a statement.
Arsenal take on United today
london: Manchester United and Arsenal will resume their historic rivalry at Old Trafford on Sunday with the london club holding the whip hand for the first time in several years. The two teams have enjoyed many memorable tussles during the EPl era, but it is usually United who have come out on top, and particularly when playing on home turf. Arsenal have not won at United in seven years and manager Arsene Wenger has enjoyed victory on only fur of the 22 occasions that his side have visited the home of the 20-time English champions. The period between 1997 and 2005 bore witness to several titanic encounters, but although Arsenal claimed three league titles and four FA Cups during that period, they have not lifted any silverware since edging United in 2005 FA Cup final.
Guangzhou lift Asian cl title
Guangzhou: Guangzhou Evergrande became the first Chinese team since 1990 to win the Asian Champions league by drawing 1-1 with FC Seoul in the second leg of the final on Saturday, claiming the title on away goals after the first game in South Korea ended 2-2. The victory makes Guangzhou’s Italian coach Marcello lippi the first coach to win the Champions leagues of Asia and Europe, following his 1996 success with Juventus. At a sold-out Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou, Brazilian striker Elkeson put the host ahead after 58 minutes, after the home team had controlled much of the game. Dejan Damjanovic equalized for Seoul just four minutes later but the visitors couldn’t find a winner which sparked massive celebrations.
Nigeria beat Mexico in U17 WC final
Abu Dhabi: Nigeria beat Mexico 3-0 in the Under-17 World Cup final on Friday to win the tournament for a record fourth time. Nigeria went ahead in the ninth minute through Erick Aguirre’s own goal before Kelechi Iheanacho doubled the lead in the 56th. Nigeria captain Musa Muhammed scored from a free kick in the 81st minute to complete the victory as the country surpassed Brazil’s three titles at the U17 level. Earlier, Sweden clinched third place after beating Argentina 4-1, thanks to Valmir Berisha’s hat trick.