Critics Wrote Me Off: Kashyap
New Delhi: After launching the new season with an emphatic title win at the just-concluded Syed Modi International tournament, India's top shuttler Parupalli Kashyap said he needed this victory to silence his critics. The 2012 champion, Kashyap clinched his second men's singles title at the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold on Sunday after beating World No 5 K Srikanth 23-21, 23-21. "I am very happy to win this. I thought I needed to do well. Srikanth has been doing so well in the last year and suddenly he rose to World No. 4 and everyone was counting me off. While the title gave him a lot of happiness, Kashyap ended up suffering a muscle tear in his abdomen. "My abs was injured during the match. There is a mild tear in my abdomen, I don't know how bad it is right now.
S Korea beat Iraq 2-0, enter final
Sydney: Two-time champion South Korea defeated Iraq 2-0 to qualify for its first Asian Cup final in nearly 30 years at Sydney's Olympic Stadium on Monday. lee Jeong—hyeop's header in the first half and Kim Young-gwon's long-range strike just after halftime lifted South Korea to its first continental final since 1988 and within a victory of its first Asian Cup title since 1960. The 2007 champions Iraq, led by talismanic striker Younis Mahmoud, struggled for opportunities against South Korea's solid defense that has not conceded a goal in all five games played at the tournament — a span of 480 minutes, including the extra time period against Uzbekistan in the quarterfinal. South Korea will next play the winner of Tuesday's second semifinal between host team Australia and UAE.
Juan Roman Riquelme RETIRES
Buenos Aires: Juan Roman Riquelme, who made 51 appearances for Argentina's national team and also played in Spain for Villarreal and Barcelona, has announced his retirement. The 36-year-old Riquelme, who returned to Argentina in 2008 to join his former team Boca Juniors, played primarily as an attacking midfielder and scored 17 goals for the national team. A great passer and long-range shooter, he played in the 2006 World Cup in Germany and led Argentina to gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In his career with Boca, the "Xeneize" — as the team is known — won 11 titles including three Copa libertadores titles, the top club trophy in latin America.
Uefa lacks Courage: Sepp
Nyon (Switzerland): FIFA President Sepp Blatter has goaded UEFA by saying it lacks courage to field an election candidate against him. Blatter tells CNN that opposition to him is led by UEFA but "they don't have the courage to come in" the election fight. The interview aired on Monday, hours before UEFA President Michel Platini chaired an executive committee meeting that will discuss Europe's strategy in the FIFA presidential election. Potential candidates must meet on Thursday deadline to be nominated by five of FIFA's 209 member federations. Blatter seeks a fifth presidential term in the May 29 ballot. Platini opted out of the contest last August but has encouraged FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan to stand. UEFA says Platini will not attend its news conference scheduled later on Monday.
Player Dies After Getting Hit
Karachi: In another tragic incident on the field, 18-year-old Zeeshan Mohammed died after being struck in the chest by the cricket ball. Doctors at the Orangi Town general hospital said that 1Mohammed died from a heart seizure after he was struck by the cricket ball during a club match in Orangi town on Sunday. The incident comes few months after Australian batsman, Phil Hughes died in a hospital after being hit on the head by a short pitched ball during a Sheffield Shield match by pacer Sean Abbot.
Madrid present Silva to fans
Madrid: Real Madrid has presented its latest signing, Brazilian lucas Silva, to hundreds of cheering fans at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. The 21-year-old midfielder had early Monday passed a medical exam and signed a contract through June 2020 before acknowledging the applause and saying Madrid had impressed him. "I felt butterflies in my stomach as I stepped on the field," he said. "I stood in front of all the titles, the cups won, and felt emotional." At the presentation press conference, club director Emilio Butragueno said he was aware that FIFA had asked the Spanish football federation for official documents relating to the transfers of minors to Madrid over the past five years. Butragueno said, "We are in agreement with FIFA in this matter," adding that Madrid was calm and collaborating.
Dempo, Goa look For First Win
Margao: Dempo FC and Sporting Clube de Goa will be looking to post their first win in the Hero I-league match when the two clash with each other at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, here on Tuesday. With Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey, defender Haroon Amiri and midfielder Romeo Fernades nursing injuries, Dempo have found it hard to score goals. They have drawn both their games so far in the tournament, playing against Bengaluru FC and Bharat FC, despite dominating in those matches. The team will hope that the new signing Portuguese defender Minguel Garcia can give more strength to defense, which is shaky.