CommonWealthGames Countries wish India luck

CommonWealthGames Countries wish India luck

Commonwealth countries have expressed confidence that the CWG, which kick start from October 3 in India will be a success.

"We wish India and the Games Federation all possible success and our support," Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary-General said, adding, "They will go ahead. They will honour the athletes who have invested so much energy into their participation."

"For thousands of athletes, the Commonwealth Games are an inspiration and an aspiration," Sharma said, noting that the Games had set a standard friendship that have earned them the label of "Friendly Games."

"And they will be a celebration of the diversity and opportunity on which the Commonwealth is founded," he added

"Work has progressed far enough now and we're ready to start moving in to the Village," said Scott Stevenson, Director of Sport, Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC).

"All the necessary maintenance and cleaning of rooms have been done to accommodate our team and additional support staff," Stevenson said.

"We've heard reports but we'd like to see for ourselves.

We're going in without expectations and what we see is what we get," said another player.

"There's a fair bit of pressure, but we're pretty confident," she said.

Ler Mais

Chappel says Sehwag, Zaheer hold key to India's Test series win against Australia

Chappel says Sehwag, Zaheer hold key to India's Test series win against Australia

Former Australia cricketer Ian Chappell reckons that Indian opening batsman Virender Sehwag holds the key to M.S. Dhoni's team winning the two-Test series against Australia.

"If Sehwag successfully launches a couple of his blitz attacks against the new ball, not only will it be difficult for Australia to recover, it'll also be an enormous boost to the batsmen who follow," Chappell wrote in an article for the Daily Times.

"Any planned Australian bumper barrage will be short-lived if Sehwag is splattering balls against the advertising hoardings," he added.

Sehwag had given confident starts to India in the 2008 Test series against the Australians, blasting 351 runs at a strike rate of 82.39.

He also believes that the Indian batting line-up is not a "greenhorn batting line-up", as they have the capability to handle whatever the opposing fast bowlers deliver.

"This promises to be a fascinating series, not just because it pits two intense rivals against one another, but because there's also the heightened anticipation caused by uncertainty," Chappell said.

The former Australian captain further said that India's chances of winning the series would also hinge on fast bowler Zaheer Khan.

"If Zaheer can regularly break through with the new ball, then it makes the rest of the attack so much more effective. If, on the other hand, he struggles, and Katich and Watson give Australia strong starts, it will put a huge strain on the rest of the Indian bowlers," Chappell said.

"It will also increase the likelihood of Australia's middle order firing, and if they post big totals, this in turn will make their bowling line-up more potent," he added.

Australia's tour of India includes two Test matches, and three ODIs.

The first Test will be played Mohali form October 1-5, while the second Test will be played in Bangalore from October 9-13.

Ler Mais

ACL Twenty20 Finals Chennai Super Kings v Warriors photo galary

ACL Twenty20 Finals Chennai Super Kings v Warriors photo galary

Ler Mais

Chennai Super Kings crowned CLT20 champs

Chennai Super Kings crowned CLT20 champs

Chennai Super Kings are the crowned champions of the Airtel Champions League Twenty20 after beating Warriors by 8 wickets in the final.

Muttiah Muralitharan (three for 16) and Ravichandran Ashwin (two for 16) starred with the ball to restrict the home side a mediocre 128 for seven, with only home captain Davy Jacobs (34) making any meaningful contribution.

Murali Vijay (58) and Michael Hussey (51) then hit half-centuries in a 103-run partnership to hand the Indian Premier League champions the title of best Twenty20 club in world cricket.

After winning the toss, the Warriors made a powerful start putting on 39 for the first wicket, which the out-of-form Ashwell Prince contributed just six towards before he played on from Doug Bollinger.

Jacobs, who found the boundary eight times in his 21-ball stay, fell shortly after when he was trapped leg before wicket while trying to reverse sweep Ashwin, the leading wicket-taker in the competition, leaving his side at 45 for two in the sixth over.

Colin Ingram and Justin Kreusch then found the going tough against the slower bowlers, reaching the halfway stage at 66, and the loss of the former for 16 further hampered their progress.

Muralitharan then struck a double blow in the 14th over removing the dangerous Mark Boucher (five) and Kreusch (17).

Craig Thyssen (25) tried to lift the Warriors, but the two spinners were difficult to get away as they kept the victory target down to a below-par 129.

In reply Vijay, who surpassed Jacobs during his stay to end as the top-run getter in the tournament, and Hussey were calm, yet convincing, in their approach.

They took seven overs to reach 50, before the India opener raised his 50 from 47 balls.

The century stand followed in the 15th over, before his wicket fell followed by that of Suresh Raina (two).

But Hussey and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (17 not out) guided their side over the line.

Ler Mais

Simon rolls to Metz success

Simon rolls to Metz success

Gilles Simon secured the Open de Moselle in Metz with a comfortable straight-sets win in the final.

The Frenchman savoured victory on home turf after easily seeing off the challenge of German qualifier Mischa Zverev 6-3 6-2 in just 67 minutes.

World number 41 Simon has suffered a disrupted season with a knee injury affecting his form and ranking, but his first title since the Bangkok trophy last October is set to lift him up the rankings.

Simon claimed the sole break of serve in the opening set in the sixth game before holding the rest of the way.

Zverev, at 155 the lowest ranked player to reach an ATP final this season, enjoyed a 2-0 career record against Simon coming into the match but never looked like extending that sequence as the Frenchman took charge.

Trailing 2-1 in the second set, Simon turned the screw to win five straight games and complete a one-sided victory.

Ler Mais

Doubts hover over Korean GP

Doubts hover over Korean GP

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone expressed his doubts that the Korean Grand Prix will go ahead.

"It's not good," said Ecclestone, speaking in Singapore. "It should have been inspected maybe six weeks ago, which it was, but it wasn't passed.

"We normally have a 90-day check before a race and now we are sort of putting this off. It's quite dangerous what we've done actually.

"I mean, it's a case of 'do we cancel the race or not?' They say it is all going to be okay, so we hope they are right."

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has expressed his concerns regarding the race, in particular as it would be detrimental to his drivers' chances of winning the title.

Following today's grand prix in which Jenson Button finished fourth and Lewis Hamilton retired for the second successive race, the duo are now 20 and 25 points behind championship leader Mark Webber.

"We would like 100 points and four races, but from what we hear there are a lot of concerns," said Whitmarsh.

"Bernie and the Koreans will work on that, and we will concentrate on going to Suzuka and maximising the points."

"I had a chat with him (Ecclestone) earlier, and he now seems pretty confident.

"We were there a few weeks ago and they were well on course with it, so we're pretty confident."

Ler Mais

Pique urges Torres to leave Liverpool

Pique urges Torres to leave Liverpool

Gerard Pique claims Fernando Torres will be embarrassed having to play in the Europa League for Liverpool.

"I spoke with him before he committed to Liverpool and he told me he wanted to win things with Liverpool - but if the club didn't invest and show real intent, he would be forced to leave.

"It's really embarrassing for Nando to play in a team of that quality.

"You would not see Messi or Rooney playing in the Europa League - so there is no reason why Nando should be playing there.

"Along with David Villa, he is the best striker in the world.

"He needs to be winning things domestically like he does with Spain."

"Liverpool have shown already this season they are not capable of winning things - and that's it for him now," said Pique.

"Liverpool are really testing Nando's loyalty. For the last two seasons they have promised him they will challenge.

"They haven't delivered on it at all. The ownership of the club looks completely unstable. It doesn't look like the manager or the players have any faith in the club.

"There can be no questions when Nando leaves in the summer. Players of less quality would have left last summer.

"But he is a decent guy and believed it when they told him they would invest. I am not just saying this because I want him to join Barcelona.

"The truth is I don't know if he will. It might be Chelsea, it might be Real Madrid, it might be Barcelona.

"But I know he wants to join a club where he can win league titles and European Cups. I would love us to sign Nando in the summer."

Ler Mais