Schumacher still ‘in the wake-up phase'
Paris: Michael Schumacher's spokeswoman says he is "still in the wake-up phase" and that his medical situation is unchanged. More than two months after a ski crash left the Formula One champion hospitalized with severe head injuries, his agent Sabine Kehm said Friday that the process of pulling him from the medically induced coma is still taking place. Schumacher's family has released few details about his condition. Doctors operated to remove blood clots from his brain, but some were too deeply embedded. Neurologists not involved in his treatment say the chances of a full recovery for the 45-year-old are increasingly slim, given the coma's duration and the extent of his injuries.
Smith best Test captain ever: Kirsten
New Delhi: Graeme Smith has received an enormous compliment from former India coach Gary Kirsten, who called the just-retired South African legend the "best captain that has ever lived" in Test cricket. The South African called time on his international cricket career after a successful run that saw him being handed over national captaincy at 22, following the 2003 World Cup. Kirsten, under whom Kirsten played the final four Test series of his career, said, "Is he the greatest captain ever in Test match cricketIJ In my view he must be." "I don't think anyone had led as long. We know that. He has taken South Africa to great heights. The kind of success he has had, the kind of success he has taken South African cricket to, I would argue that he is the best captain that has ever lived," Kirsten was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.Com.
Root forced home with thumb injury
london: England batsman Joe Root was forced to return home from the West Indies with a broken thumb on Thursday, just 10 days out from the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. Root was hit on the glove while batting during England's 25-run victory over the West Indies in the third and final one-day international at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Wednesday. The 23-year-old's injury occured in just the third ball of his innings, but he went on to score 107 and help England clinch a 2-1 series victory. An X-ray has now revealed the full extent of the damage ahead of Sunday's first Twenty20 clash in Bridgetown and he will take no further part in the tour.
Elgar replaces Smith in contract list
Johannesburg: Cricket South Africa (CSA) has named Dean Elgar in the list of its contracted players, in place of the retired Test captain Graeme Smith. Smith, who was on the list of contracted players for 2014-15 season, retired from all forms of cricket after the third and final Test against Australia in Cape Town. The 26-year-old Elgar has played nine Tests and five ODIs for the Proteas. The overall list includes 17 players, with seven signed for two-year and the remaining 10 on one-year deals. Players on two-year contracts: AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn. Players on one-year contracts: Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan Mclaren, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Imran Tahir, lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Divij, Raja reach final of Kyoto Challenger
Kyoto (Japan): The top seeded Indian pair of Divij Sharan and Purav Raja reached their first final of the season together after overcoming a fighting combo of Toshihide Matsui and Danai Udomchoke in straight sets in the ATP Kyoto Challenger event, here on Friday. The Indians prevailed 7-6 (4) 7-5 over the Japanese-Thai pair in one hour and 24 minutes in the semifinals of the $40,000 event. They will fight it out with second seeds, Thailand's Sanchai Ratiwatana and New Zealand's Michael Venus, who outclassed third seeded Taipei pair of Hsien-Yin Peng and Tsung-Hua Yang 6-0 6-2 in just 41 minutes in the other semifinal. It will be left-handed Divij's second final of the season, having ended runner-up at Kolkata Challenger with compatriot Vishnu Vardhan.
Double bogey costs Gangjee dear
Chonburi (Thailand): Indian golfer Rahil Gangjee paid heavily for a double bogey on the back-nine as he missed out on a ticket to the prestigious British Open after finishing tied 15th in the the Asian Open Qualifying Series on Friday. Gangjee had moved to tied fourth after two birdies in the first seven holes on the second day but slipped out of contention after a double bogey in the back-nine left him with a card of even-par 72. All other Indians, including Anirban lahiri, and Asian stars likes liang Wen-Chong and Mardan Mamat also missed out.
Top amateurs line up for Delhi-NCR Cup
New Delhi: A field of 72 prominent amateur golfers, including 14 from overseas, will vye for top honours in 9th Delhi NCR Cup and Delhi State Championship, which will be held here from March 10-14. The tournament is being presented by Hero Cycles and Gannon Dunkerley & Co ltd. The Delhi NCR Cup, which is a brain child of Delhi Golf Society and has the blessings of the Indian Golf Union, stands tall on credibility for this is the ninth edition and some of the best professionals including the current No.1 Rashid Khan has been a former winner of this event. This year too, the tournament promises much excitement with the participation of five other countries — Spain, Portugal, Germany, Nepal and Sri lanka.
Advani wins 24th National title
lucknow: World champion Pankaj Advani (PSPB) won his sixth national snooker title with a commanding 6-3 win over Kamal Chawla of Railways in the 81st Manish National Snooker championship here on Friday. Chawla remained a spectator from his chair for larger period of the match as the Banaglore cueist Advani's natural prowess for cue sport, both in snooker and billiards, was proven yet again in the 'City of Nawabs'. PNS/Agencies