Hantuchova wins Pattaya Open
Slovakia s third-seeded Daniela Hantuchova successfully defended her Pattaya Open title on Sunday, beating fourth seed Russian Maria Kirilenko in a marathon three hour 14-minute battle.
The three sets victory 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-3 was Hantuchova s fifth career title, and means the world number 20 is now unbeaten in 10 matches at the Thai resort, where her victory this year brings her $37,000.
“It feels great,” said Hantuchova. “I thought it was an incredible match. Maria was playing really well and we were fighting for every single point.
“Even though I lost the first set very closely I just kept going and didn t really look back and always just tried to focus on the next point. That was the key.”
Her Russian opponent and world number 26 Kirilenko was playing in her 10th career final, and hoping to win her first title since she beat Samantha Stosur in Seoul in 2008.
In a match contested largely from the baseline, Hantuchova struggled at first to find her rhythm and dropped her serve with a double-fault in the opening game.
In the second set, both players held break points, but it was Hantuchova who broke in the first and final games.
The final set began with both players dropping their serve to love.
Hantuchova then held off a break point at 1-1, failed to convert three break points for a 3-1 lead and another to lead 4-2, but safely served out the match after her opponent had produced her seventh double-fault.
“I m disappointed to lose in the final,” said Kirilenko. “But if I look back I almost lost the first match so I m trying take the positive things from the tournament.
“After the Australian Open I didn t play for nine days because I was injured, and today I was in the final so I think it s a good result still.”
Kerber upstages Bartoli to win Paris Open
Angelique Kerber of Germany won the WTA Paris Open on Sunday by defeating France s Marion Bartoli 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 6-3 in the final.
The world number 27, who conquered top seed Maria Sharapova in Friday s quarter-finals, became the first German champion at the event since Steffi Graf in 1995.
It was the 24-year-old s first win on the main WTA circuit, her previous best being a runner-up finish in Bogota in 2010.
Prior to coming to Paris, she had never beaten a top-10 player.
It was the first time in five attempts that the 27-year-old Bartoli, the second seed, had reached the final in her home tournament.
“It s incredible,” said Kerber. “I don t know what to say. The match was so tough but I fought on all the big points. It s been a fantastic week.”
Bartoli was in tears by the time of the post-match presentations.
“I pushed myself all the way but it was not enough,” she said after the 2hr 39min final.
SC allows Gilani to take his car inside courts premises
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was allowed to take his car inside Supreme Court premises when he arrives for hearing in contempt case today.
In an earlier development the apex court had barred Gilani from taking his car inside court’s premises.
Pakistan People’s Party’s secretary information Qmar Zaman Kaira moved an application in the court that security risks have increased due to hearing of missing persons case by the Supreme Court.
Interior Minister also wrote a letter to registrar of the Supreme Court, asking him to grant permission to prime minister to bring his car inside the Supreme Court building.
Lahore: CNG stations closed for 64 hours
According to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) load management plan, the CNG stations in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sahiwal and Multan regions will remain shut for 64 hours.
The CNG stations will remain closed from 6:00am today to 10:00pm on Wedneday. On the other hand, gas supply to textile industry in Lahore, Muridke and Sheikhupura regions has been resumed for two days.
PM indicted in contempt case, denies charges
A seven-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk and comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani, Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Athar Saeed heard the case.
Earlier, the Supreme Court indicted Gilani for not implementing the court orders.
PM Gilani arrived in the Supreme Court amid tight security arrangements.
Aitzaz Ahsan has informed the court that he needs time until February 24 for filing the answers to the charges against the Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
Earlier, the prime minister denied the charges after the charge sheet was read out to him. The PM said he has understood the charges and denies them.
Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk said that judges may not be available on February 24.
Karachi: abducted student’s body recovered
The Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) has arrested four accused. The victim Zaeem was son of slain DSP Nawaz Ranjha.
As per details, the victim was abducted on February 8 when Shahrah-e-Faisal police started conducting inquiry and succeeded in tracing mobile phone of abductors who were demanding Rs 20 million.
Later, the force raided near the Metrological Office and arrested three accused and recovered the body after hectic struggle of two hours.
According to police, Zaeem was conscious of the tactics and machinations of the accused; that is why they unscrupulously killed him.
Afghan forces kill two Pakistanis
Some two dozen Afghan security force officers crossed the border on Friday and kidnapped the two Pakistanis, taking them back into Afghanistan, secretary of tribal affairs Naseebullah Bazai told AFP.
“Two Pakistanis were taken away by Afghan forces and shot dead inside Afghanistan,” Bazai said, adding that the government had called an immediate meeting with the Afghan Consulate General in Quetta.
“We have demanded immediate return of bodies and we shall lodge a strong protest with Afghanistan on Monday,” he said and added that the foreign ministry had been alerted about the incident.
Local intelligence officials confirmed the incident.
The southwestern Baluchistan province, of which Quetta is the capital, borders Afghanistan and Iran and is rife with domestic insurgency as well as violence blamed on Taliban militants. –AFP
Faisalabad: SNGPL engineer to be released on bail
According to resources, Advisor for Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain held a dialogue with the plaintiff party and the Managing Director Sui Gas in which it was settled that the applicants of the case and the FIA officials would not contest the bail matter of arrested Engineer Shahid Shoukat in the court on Monday.
After acceptance of bail from the court, the gas employees in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would end their strike.
It is worthy of note that Engineer Shahid Shoukat had been arrested five days back over allegation of providing gas supply to a factory despite government ban.
‘Contempt proceedings against PM not enough’
Talking to the media at Sukkur Airport, Sindh Chief Minister said that candidates for the Senate polls would be selected in consultation with coalition partners.
The Prime Minister would appear before the Supreme Court to face the trial, he said.
Commenting on new face for the next prime minister, Sindh CM said that he was unconscious about it.
He said that the government was trying its best to discourage target-killings, adding that they are ready to face any challenge including flood.
He said that renovation of Sukkur Barrage is underway while the UK has been appealed to enhance its capacity to store water.
SC bars PM taking car inside court’s premises
Supreme Court has barred Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from taking his car inside the premises of the apex court during his arrival for hearing in contempt case on Monday.
The Supreme Court is all set to frame charges against the Prime Minister in contempt case tomorrow for not implementing the SC verdict on NRO despite several warnings.
The Prime Minister has been asked by the apex court to park his car in the parking area and then walk to the court room where proceedings are to take place.
