Australian sailing team quits Olympic bid
Australia s highest-ranked female match-racing sailors have decided they won t compete at the Olympics.
Former world champion skipper Nicky Souter teamed with Katie Spithill sister of America s Cup sailor James Spithill and Jessica Eastwell in September. They finished fifth at the world championships in Perth in December, ensuring Australia qualified for London in that event.
The trio issued a statement on Friday announcing their decision, citing lack of preparation.
“we do not believe the new combination can develop its obvious potential sufficiently in the short time remaining.”
The London Olympics will be the first to feature match racing in which two teams compete against each other in six-meter Elliott keelboats over a short course.
Famed boxing trainer Angelo Dundee dies
Famed boxing trainer Angelo Dundee, who helped guide the careers of legendary fighters Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, died at age 90 on Wednesday in Florida.
Dundee was considered one of the greatest trainers in the history of boxing, known as a master motivator as a cornerman during some of the biggest fights the sport has ever seen.
Dundee s work spanned six decades and he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994, cementing his legacy as an invaluable asset to some of the most decorated boxers of all time.
“Angelo died surrounded by family and friends,” his family said in a statement. “He was very happy that he got to celebrate Ali s birthday earlier this year and also that he got to go to the (Hall of Fame).
“He still had much to do, but led a full and extraordinary life.”
Dundee, noted for his knack for motivating and challenging the best of boxers, passed away at his home in Tampa, Florida.
While working with Ali for the majority of the boxing great s career, Dundee trained 15 world champions in total, including Leonard and George Foreman.
One of the more indelible memories of Dundee s career came in 1981 when he loudly exhorted Leonard in the late stages of a world championship unification fight against Thomas Hearns.
After famously telling the fighter, “You re blowing it, son,” Leonard came back out to register a thrilling knockout after having been dominated in preceding rounds.
“He saved Ray Leonard in the Hearns fight. He saved Ali (against Joe Frazier) in Manila,” longstanding boxing promoter Bob Arum told Reuters, having worked with Dundee countless times over the years.
“To motivate (a fighter) takes a special skill and there aren t many people that can do it. In the (more than 45 years) I ve been in boxing, he is the greatest cornerman by far of anyone that I ve ever witnessed.”
“Ali was this unbelievable figure, and a guy who symbolized an entire era of American culture and was idolised around the world,” Arum added. “And through all those times, the person at his side was Dundee. For that, he will always be remembered.”
Afghan boxing girls aim for 2012 Olympic gold
Women in Afghanistan have been fighting for more rights at home and in society since the Taliban was toppled a decade ago.
Shabnam, 19, and her sister Sadaf Rahimi, 18, are taking the fight more literally than most of their peers, throwing punches in a ring as members of their country s first team of female boxers.
They practice inside a spartan gym with broken mirrors, flaking paint, four punching bags, and a concrete floor padded with faded pink and green mats. Some girls even wear face masks to keep away the dust coming up from the floor.
But they seem oblivious to their modest surroundings as they follow the whistle changes of a rigorous training routine.
“I hope to promote my boxing career and approach the highest level. I wish to be able to win the gold medal in the 2012 London Olympics,” said Sadaf, slightly out of breath from punching the bag.
Female boxing is still relatively unusual in most countries, but especially in Afghanistan, where many girls and women still face a struggle to secure an education or work, and activists say violence and abuse at home is common.
Three times a week, the girls come to practise at the Ghazi stadium, once used for public punishment by the Taliban, the hardline Islamists who ruled the country from 1996 to 2001.
Women were stoned for adultery there and despite an expensive revamp, its gory past sometimes spooks the athletes.
Under the Taliban, all sports for women were banned. They still have far fewer opportunities for exercise than men.
Many in this conservative society still consider fighting taboo for women, and the girls deal with serious threats.
“My family has been threatened several times because we three sisters are in the boxing club, they asked my family why the three girls from one family are boxing. Boxing is a hard and difficult sport even for men that is why people are surprised and our family was threatened because of our choice,” said Sadaf.
Boxing Day Test: England rout Australia for 98
England tour of Australia, 4th Test: Australia v England at Melbourne
Australia 98
England 157/0 (47.0 ov)
England lead by 59 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the 1st innings
It was meant to be Boxing Day, not Boxing Australia Around the Ears Day. Within three sessions of complete England dominance at the MCG, they moved to within touching distance of retaining the Ashes by dismissing Australia for 98 and passing their total with no wickets down, leaving Ricky Ponting requiring a late Christmas miracle to avoid leading Australia to three Ashes series failures.
Chris Tremlett and James Anderson collected four wickets each, backing up Andrew Strauss’s decision to send the hosts in, before Strauss and Alastair Cook showed that with discipline, batting wasn’t that hard on a pitch with a little juice in it. The day could not possibly have gone better for England, who finished at 0 for 157 with Strauss on 64, Cook on 80, a hefty first-innings advantage in prospect and a 2-1 series lead on the horizon.
For Australia, it was up there with the opening day at Headingley against Pakistan this year, in terms of disastrous cricketing dates. Back then they chose to bat and managed only 88, but this time there was one slight difference – their dismal performance will probably cost them the Ashes. Not since 1936 had they scored a lower Ashes total at home, and that was in the days of uncovered pitches. It took Tremlett, Anderson and Tim Bresnan less than two sessions to run through the order as they hit consistent lines and kept the runs tight. They also exposed Australia’s team-wide inability to handle seam movement and swing, which is no great revelation but could not be ignored in front of 84,345 fans on the biggest day in the Australian cricket calendar. Every batsman fell to an edge caught behind the wicket, six to the wicketkeeper Matt Prior, two to slips and two to gully. Too many men played with hard hands away from their bodies, and they struggled to work out which deliveries to leave and which ones to play. The questions that the batting coach Justin Langer must consider surround not only technique, but also judgment. England picked up four wickets before the first break and in one particularly impressive patch they collected 3 for 0, as Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson all failed to make solid contact with the face of the bat. A rain delay had extended lunch by nearly an hour, but even that wasn’t enough to help the Australians survive until the scheduled tea break. But England’s bowlers certainly earned their wickets, especially the early strikes. Shane Watson was dropped twice on 0, as Paul Collingwood at slip and Kevin Pietersen at gully denied Anderson an early breakthrough. It was a sign of things to come, and Watson had only made 5 when he was surprised by sharp bounce from Tremlett and fended a loopy catch to Pietersen. Soon afterwards, Phillip Hughes (16) tried to cover-drive and edged to gully to hand Bresnan his first Ashes wicket, and without further addition to the score the Australians also lost Ricky Ponting. Again it was the rising ball from Tremlett that did the job, and this one nipped away significantly off the pitch, so much so that Ponting, on 10, did well to even get bat on ball as his edge flew to second slip. Australia’s recent saviour, Michael Hussey, joined the procession in the last over before lunch, when Anderson produced a pearler that moved away from Hussey and found a thin edge through to Prior. Then came the rain, an early and prolonged lunch, and after the break the dismissals got a bit softer, as Australia’s middle order failed to exercise due caution. The hosts want Steven Smith in the side for his energy and all-round talent, but as a Test No. 6 his technique needs a lot of work, and all it took was a probing delivery outside off stump from Anderson to draw an edge behind when Smith had 6. The top scorer Michael Clarke, who made 20, also wafted outside off at a ball he could have left, and edged behind off Anderson. And 5 for 77 soon became 8 for 77 when Haddin drove at Bresnan and gave Strauss a catch at first slip, before Johnson tickled a catch to Prior off Anderson. A few late runs came via Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle before Tremlett finished off the tail to finish with 4 for 26, a much deserved return after he was the best of the bowlers early, extracting bounce from a pitch expected to be as stodgy as leftover Christmas pudding. By the time Australia bowled, it looked like any spice in the pudding had lost its kick. In reality, they just didn’t bowl well enough, while Cook and Strauss defended solidly and left the right balls, also ticking the score along by chasing the bad deliveries, like an uppish cut to the vacant third-man area from Cook when he was given width. That Strauss and Cook both registered half-centuries before stumps was the perfect finale for the visitors, and Cook was already within sight of his third hundred of the series. Australia’s four-man pace attack had little impact – Michael Beer was made 12th man again – and by the close, Smith had tossed up a few overs of unthreatening legbreaks, including one that was slog-swept almost for six by Cook. Smith wasn’t born last time England won the Ashes in Australia, in 1986-87. He’s about to see it happen first-hand.
Gambhir Hand Injury May Ruled Him Out From 2nd Test Match
Indian opener G Gambhir got hand injury. He was hit with a ball on his left hand and got swallow left hand. 2nd test match is starting from tomorrow and his inclusion in the match is doubted. He batted a lot in the rest days and worked hard on his batting but before the Boxing Day he had an injury on the left hand.
His hand swollen a lot and he was having his hand in the ice box all the day. M Vijay will be the natural replace for him and he will get a chance to play in the 2nd test match. M Vijay practices a lot before the match day and he is looking to have good start of the 2nd test match against South Africa. India wins the series against Australia 2-0 buy the well placed 139 runs from M Vijay.
He has average of 42.41 in eight test matches. He is called in for a short notice but it is hoped that he will perform his duty well and will provide his team an excellent start. Second test match will start from 26th December and India is trailing by 1-0. There are two test matches left in the series.
CWG Day 2: Pakistan fails to clinch any medal
Pakistan failed to win a single medal on second day of Common Wealth Games in New Dehli, however, Hockey and Boxing Teams have won their initial matches. Tennis players including Aisamul Haq have also lost their matches.
Pakistan beat Scotland 3-0 in their first match of the field hockey contest in Commonwealth Games on Tuesday. Shakeel Abbasi opened the scoring for Pakistan in the 20th minute before ace forward Rehann Butt slammed a goal from the top of the circle 10 minutes from half-time at a near-empty Major Dhyan Chand stadium. Muhammad Imran made it 3-0 when he converted the first of the four penalty corners that Pakistan earned in the match in the 43rd minute.
Pakistani Boxer Haroon Shahid Iqbal Khan won his first international bout by registering a victory in Commonwealth Games.
Aisamul Haq and Aqeel Khan have also lost their match.Wrestling team has also lost their matches.
Pakistani boxers leave for China
KARACHI: Four Pakistani boxers have left for China to take part in China Open Boxing Championship, which will be held in Chinese city of Guiyang.
More than 100 boxers of 40 countries will take part in the tournament. Muhammad Wasim, Naimatullah, Mir Waiz and Nisar Ahmad will represent Pakistan in different categories.
Pakistani coach Arshad Hussain said players’ performance depends upon draws of the tournament.
David Tua V/S Friday Ahunanya
David Tua vs Friday Ahunanya Video | David Tua vs Friday Video | David Tua Video | David Tua Fight Video | David Tua Next Fight Video
David Tua vs. Friday Ahunanya, Boxer David Tua will fight Nigerian Friday the 13th ‘Ahunanya Wednesday 31 March, at Trust Stadium, Waitakere, Auckland.
Ahunanya will be a challenge for Tuamanator David Tua number one boxer in New Zealand in the heavy weight division. His boxing record is satisfactory, and he will be a good match for number one boxer David Tua
Ahunanya is 39 years old with a good attitude in the boxing world. He has won 24 of 32 matches. His boxing style is good and he is worth watching in the ring. To see Friday Ahunanya vsDavid Tua fight live online in March, go online and get a registered account on the site watchboxing.net. When you have an account, you can specify the location anytime and anywhere you want.
David Tua’s 37 years old from New Zealand. He has won many titles and medals as an amateur player. He turned professional in 1992 and his first match was against Ron Hume, USA. He won the fight by knockout in the first round of 4 His last match was against Shane Cameron inNew Zealand.
The battle is arranged for the WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title and the WBO Oriental heavy weight title. Who will be champion? The struggle between Friday Ahunanya and David Tua is amazing! You should not miss a part of it! So to see Friday Ahunanya vs. David Tua fight live online in March, you just have to be an account holder of websitewatchboxing.net. Just click on the website and it will magically take you to the most amazing website ever!
Pakistan 44/1, Chasing 422 Target
MELBOURNE: Pakistan made 44/1 in their second innings in third session of the fourth day in Melbourne Test, losing the wicket of Imran Farhat 12 at 18.
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Earlier, Shane Watson made his maiden Test century as Australia set Pakistan 422 to win the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Watson compiled an unbeaten 120 on day four as Ricky Ponting called his men in on 8 for 225 following the dismissal of Nathan Hauritz for 8, stumped by Kamran Akmal off the bowling of spinner Saeed Ajmal.
Mitchell Johnson was the other man out after lunch, caught short of his ground by Mohammad Asif for 22.
The immediate period after lunch was all about Watson’s quest for a maiden Test century, having gone to the break on 98.
And having scratched around in the 90s for what seemed an eternity, it was typical that the runs for the milestone should come in dramatic fashion.
Facing a fired-up Mohammad Aamer, who had already claimed his maiden five-wicket haul, Watson on 99 threw the bat at a fuller delivery which went straight to Abdur Rauf at backward point.
But Pakistan’s traditionally woeful fielding has been front and centre this match and it came as no surprise when Abdur grassed a sitter which allowed Watson to streak through for his single.
Watson faced 186 balls to reach triple figures, having occupied the crease for close to five hours.
He became the first Australian of the summer to reach triple figures, with 20 half-centuries having been recorded in the four Tests played including this one.
Batting partner Johnson had earlier achieved his own significant milestone, reaching 22 to become only the fifth man in Test history to record 50 wickets and 500 runs for the calendar year.
Ian Botham, Kapil Dev and Richard Hadley all did it twice, while New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori managed the feat last year.
Aamer, just 17, finished with a Test-best 5 for 79 from 24 overs.
Pakistan 44/1, Chasing 422 Target was first posted on December 29, 2009 at 1:29 pm.
Boxing day history meaning of Boxing day
Boxing day history meaning of Boxing day updates :- 26th is Boxing Day. Boxing Day history tells us that it started during the Middle Ages in England. There are a few historians who believe it was to relieve the servants who had to work on Christmas Day.
The day-after-Christmas holiday is celebrated by most countries in the British Commonwealth, but in a “what-were-we-doing-again?” bout of amnesia, none of them are really sure what they’re celebrating, when it started, or why.
The best clue to Boxing Day’s origins can be found in the song, “Good King Wenceslas.” According to the Christmas carol, Wenceslas, who was Duke of Bohemia in the early 10th century, was surveying his land on St. Stephen’s Day — Dec. 26 — when he saw a poor man gathering wood in the middle of a snow storm. Moved, the king gathered up surplus food and wine and carried them through the blizzard to the peasant’s door. The alms-giving tradition has always been closely associated with the Christmas season — hence the canned food drives and Salvation Army Santas that pepper our neighborhoods during the winter — but King Wenceslas’s good deed came the day after Christmas, when the English poor received most of their charity.
Boxing day history meaning of Boxing day was first posted on December 26, 2009 at 10:56 pm.
