Wednesday, September 16, 2009

World Sports News

Fennell's worries would be addressed by October: Kalmadi

New Delhi:The beleaguered Organising Committee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games on Wednesday promised to sort out each and every concern raised by CGF President Michael Fennell and vowed to deliver the best Games ever. Organising Committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi described Fennell's stinging criticism of the capital's lethargic preparation for the event as a "wake up call" and said the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief would not have a problem when he returns next month for the CGF General Assembly in the city.

"Fennell's observation was a wake up call for us. We have this CGF General Assembly in October and by then, everything would be sorted out," Kalmadi told reporters today. The OC found itself in a spot of bother after Fennell's harsh letter to its Executive Board, warning that the Games was heading for "partial failure" and asked for a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Kalmadi did not think Fennell's seeking a meeting with the Prime Minister is effectively showing his lack of trust in the OC's capabilities.

"I don't think so. We have no problem with his meeting with the Prime Minister. Come October and everything would be fine by then. Fennell seeking a meeting with the Prime Minister is not an issue with us," he said.

Security and lack of foreign technical expertise are two major areas pointed out by Fennell but Kalmadi insisted that there was nothing to worry about.

"Fennell or no Fennell, we are conscious of our duty about security of the games. An Australian agency comes every two months to assess security and the Home Ministry is also looking at it. I can assure that there will be a foolproof security system during the Games.

It hurts when people suspect our intentions in losses: Younis

KARACHI: Pakistan would do its best to India in the upcoming Champions Trophy but in case of a defeat, skipper Younis Khan has pleaded that the
country accept the result sportingly and not suspect the intentions of the players.

"It really hurts us when people start to suspect our intentions. When false allegations are made while we are playing in a foreign land. It is disturbing for the team," Younis said at National stadium.

The Pakistan skipper said the players were still rattled by the allegations of match fixing that surfaced during the team's recent tour to Sri Lanka.

Younis said there was no doubt that India had a strong batting line-up and their strength had historically been to successfully chase down big targets.

"But as captain, I want to change this trend. I want our team to chase a target against India and win against India in an ICC event. I would like to be known as the captain who changed history," he said.

Pakistan plays its opening match against the West Indies on September 23.

Younis said he would love to win the Champions Trophy for late coach Bob Woolmer.

"His family is in South Africa and if we win the Champions Trophy I will definitely go with the team to his home and share our moments with his family. It would be a fitting tribute to Bob," Younis said.

Mohun Bagan down ONGC 5-1 in Durand Cup

NEW DELHI: Mohun Bagan unleashed an attacking brand of football to overwhelm Oil and Natural Gas Corporation 5-1 in their opening Group IIquarter-final league match of the 122nd ONGC Durand Cup on Wednesday.

Surkumar Singh (ninth and 90+2) and Nigerian Chidi Edeh (16th and 77th) struck twice while Jose Barretto (43rd) scored once for the Kolkata giants, while Chukwuma Udofia pulled one back for ONGC in the 82nd minute at the Ambedkar Stadium.

Mohun Bagan, who finished runners-up in the IFA Shield last week in Kolkata, now need just a draw against JCT in their last quarter-final league match on Friday to make it to the semi-final as Group II toppers.

ONGC, on the other hand, are out of the tournament as they had lost their opening match against JCT 0-1.

Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa experimented with India defender Surkumar in the first half by putting him in between the backline and mid-fielders instead of his usual right back position.

The Manipuri made several runs into the ONGC defence especially from the right and set up forwards Chidi and Barretto on a couple of occasions though he was brought back into his normal right back position in the second session.

It was Surkumar, who opened the account for Mohun Bagan as his feeble right footer bounced awkwardly and hit the net after kissing the right post as the ONGC goalkeeper failed to judge the ball.

Davis cup clash with India will be pretty even: SA coach

JOHANNESBURG: Doubles veteran Leander Paes' absence notwithstanding, the Davis Cup clash between India and South Africa this weekend will be "pretty even", South African coach John-Laffnie de Jager said on Wednesday.

"I foresee a very even contest which could be decided by a single match," De Jager said.

"I believe though that the Indians will be very nervous, because they know that they can beat us," De Jager said.

Paes, who clinched his 10th Grand Slam title at the US Open last week, will not participate in World Group play-off, scheduled from this Friday to Sunday, because of a right shoulder.

Indian captain SP Misra told 'Beeld' he was still expecting Paes to arrive here, while the other doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi is expected to land on Wednesday morning.

There has also been concern in some circles that the Indian side will not have enough time to acclimatise to the conditions air before the match on Saturday.

But Misra said singles players Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna have had no problem so far and their training was going very well.

Seven minutes later, ONGC paid the price for keeping the ball inside their box for too long as Chidi shot home following a scramble inside the penalty area.

Two minutes before the breather, Barretto made amends for wasting a penalty in the 19th minute, by firing in a right footer after being nicely set up by a deflection from ONGC defender CS Saleel from a long kick by goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee.

The second half saw close contest between the two sides with ONGC making some raids in the Bagan citadel. Three minutes into the second session, J Lalsangjuala was clear at the left top edge of the box but he shot straight into the goalkeeper with Surkumar closing on him.

Mohun Bagan were denied another goal by the woodwork at the hour mark when a Chidi shot, after Barretto did all the spadework, came back to play after hitting the left upright.

Chidi though completed his double as he turned in a low right footer past the ONGC goalkeeper in the 77th minute, Surkumar completed the tally by firing in a 35-yard long ranger in the injury time.

Manchester City set to accept Emmanuel Adebayor's violent conduct ban

Manchester City are set to accept a three-match ban for violent conduct imposed on striker Emmanuel Adebayor for his alleged stamp on his former team-mate Robin van Persie in Saturday's Premier League victory over Arsenal.

But the club may request a separate hearing for a charge of improper conduct, brought to address Adebayor's goal celebration, in which he ran the length of the pitch to slide on his knees directly in front of the Arsenal fans. His actions prompted some visiting supporters to react by throwing objects towards the pitch, and Adebayor subsequently apologised to a steward who was injured when struck on the head by an object.

Greater Manchester police also became involved, and wrote to the FA to express their views on the incident. The FA announced yesterday that a special commission would be held to look into the celebration and its aftermath.

The FA issued both charges against Adebayor yesterday, and gave the club until 6pm this evening to mount their defence against the charge of violent conduct. After the Van Persie incident, the City manager Mark Hughes said: "Emmanuel strongly maintains that there was no malice intended in the challenge on Robin van Persie and apologised to him when he hugged him on leaving the field of play at the end of the game."

The statement issued by Van Persie hours after the match was in stark contrast to Hughes's comments, and railed against Adebayor's actions during the match.

City have until 30 September to respond to the lesser charge of improper conduct.

Federer has one more rival for top spot

NEW YORK — World number one Roger Federer began the US Open fortnight with a new top rival for his tennis throne in Andy Murray and ended the year's last Grand Slam with yet another formidable challenger.

Juan Martin Del Potro joined the No. 1 conversation with a shocking 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 victory over the Swiss star in Monday's US Open final, the 1.98 metre Argentine giant snapping Federer's five-year title run.

Del Potro, who turns 21 next week, jumped into fifth in the latest ATP rankings by winning his Grand Slam final debut.

Federer remained first despite the loss with Spain's injury-hampered Rafael Nadal moving back into second on the list past Murray, who stumbled badly in a fourth-round loss to Croatia's Marin Cilic, and Novak Djokovic placed fourth.

"I have very good players from me to the No. 1," Del Potro said. "For sure, Roger, Rafa, Murray, they are two or three steps more than me. I'm working hard every day hard to be like them.

"But if I play for many years in this level, then they are going to retire and I'm going to be much better."

Time is not all that is on the South American's side.

His formidable forehand and improved fitness caught the eye of 15-time Grand Slam winner Federer when he was forced to rally from two sets down to beat him in a French Open semi-final.

"Every month he was getting better," Federer said. "He was hitting his serves better, from the baseline he was getting more confident. He knows much more now what he needs to do on the tennis court.

"Whereas maybe in the beginning, because he's so tall, he needs to figure out his game, I think he did that in the last six months."

Del Potro sees himself as far from a finished product, but it's bad news for every rival if he can only get better.

"I have everything to learn," Del Potro said. "I want to be a good player in the future. I want to be like them. I'm very happy I'm on my way."

With Nadal nursing strained stomach muscles and already out two months with sore knees and Murray turning in a miserable showing to help clear Del Potro's path to the trophy, the door is open for the big man to climb up the rankings.

Del Potro had lost all six prior meetings with Federer, including a five-set thriller in the French Open semi-finals, but became the only man other than Nadal to defeat Federer in a Grand Slam final.

"I just go my way and try to improve every day my game," Del Potro said. "Of course I'm living much better than two years ago, maybe 12 months ago. But I'm in good shape. I'm physically feeling good with my tennis. That's important."

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