Schumacher overcomes lung infection: report
Berlin: Formula One legend Michael Schumacher, lying in a coma in a French hospital since a December skiing accident, has overcome a lung infection, German daily Bild reported on Friday. The newspaper had reported two days earlier that Schumacher had contracted pneumonia last week, but it said Friday that the infection in fact had happened earlier and "this week no longer spells an acute danger". "Therefore Schumi has already won the fight against pneumonia," said the top-selling daily, using the popular nickname for the 45-year-old German racing driver. Schumacher has been in intensive care in Grenoble University Hospital since his December 29 accident in the Alpine resort of Meribel in which he hit his head against a rock in an impact strong enough to crack his helmet. After surgery to reduce bleeding and bruising he was placed in a medically induced coma and his body temperature lowered to reduce the risk of further damage. Schumacher's spokesman said on January 30 that the drugs used to keep him in a coma were being reduced with a view to bringing him back to consciousness.
Pre-WC tournament is a must: Robert Baan
New Delhi: AIFF technical director Robert Bann has stressed on the need to organise a pre World Cup tournament in 2016 involving countries from Asia, Africa, Europe and South America as part of preparation for hosting the U-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017. This is part of Baan's presentation on how India should best prepare for its maiden stint in the U-17 FIFA World Cup. Similarly, the World Cup team should also travel to different parts of the World for exposure trips."Players need to adapt to different cultures, different playing styles. Also you need International Tournaments every year leading up to a Pre World Cup tournament in the country involving all the top nations," Baan said. The views were expressed in the two-day FICCI GOAl 2014 Indian Football Summit which ended here. Baan also laid stress on having more and more competitions for the U-17 World Cup team. "Good Coach Education and training is not sufficient. You need to have regular Competitions at that age-group which is preparing for the World Cup. That is very important."
Sri lanka sweep T20 series in Bangladesh
Chittagong: Sri lanka beat Bangladesh for a second straight thrilling win on the last ball to sweep their Twenty20 series 2-0 at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here. Thisara Perera was in the middle at the end of both victories which retained for Sri lanka the No. 1 ranking in T20s. Perera and Sachitra Senanayeke held their nerve in the last over to score the required nine runs for Sri lanka to win by three wickets, 123-7 after bowling out Bangladesh for 120 with a ball to spare. On Wednesday, Perera caught and bowled Anamul Haque off the last ball when Bangladesh needed two runs to win. When Sri lanka needed two win today, Senanayake hit the winning boundary behind square leg off the last ball by fast bowler Farhad Reza. Senanayake finished on 12 not out, and Perera, who scored two runs in the over, was unbeaten on 35 off 28 balls, with three boundaries.