Sania Mirza Makes it to Final in CW Games
Indian tennis star Sania Mirza makes it to the finals of Womens Singles in the on going common wealth games in New Delhi, continuing her success journey.On the 5th day of the mega event, Sania Mirza defeated Australian player Olivia Ragusa to reach the final. The score remained 1-6, 6-4 and 6-4. Indian tennis queen would again face an Australian in the final match. Before this success, Sania was able to make through to the semi-final of Womens doubles. Whereas she was defeated in the final four of the mixed doubles.
Asia Cup flop ”a warning bell”
KARACHI: Former Pakistan cricket greats said Sunday Pakistan”s failure to reach the final of the Asia Cup was “a warning bell” for problems that needed urgent attention before next year”s World Cup.
“Pakistan did play well in both the matches but the fact is that we are still number three, behind Sri Lanka and India, which is a warning bell for next year”s World Cup,” former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas told AFP.
The four-nation Asia Cup, being played in the Sri Lankan resort of Dambullah, is seen as a build-up for next year”s World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Arch-rival India beat Pakistan by three wickets on Saturday, qualifying for the June 24 final against Sri Lanka and leaving runners-up Pakistan and Bangladesh to contest a league match on Monday.
Abbas said the results showed that Pakistan was performing poorly.
“Against India our batting did well, but bowling and fielding were not up to the mark,” said Abbas.
Pakistan also failed to reach the final of the 2008 Asia Cup, when the tournament was held in their own country.
Abbas said there were “too many coaches” in the Pakistan camp, which he found “hard to understand,” referring to head coach Waqar Younis, assistant coach Aqib Javed and batting-fielding coach Ijaz Ahmed.
“Too many coaches are spoiling the broth,” Abbas said.
Former chief selector Iqbal Qasim, who resigned in February after Pakistan”s winless tour of Australia, said Pakistan had to confront its problems before next year”s World Cup.
“Fielding is our main problem, which again failed us on Saturday,” said Qasim, a former left-arm spinner. “We also need to know when to utilise our batting powerplay, which is being spoiled every time.”
Qasim said fast-rising batsman Umar Akmal and paceman Mohammad Amir needed guidance to turn their huge talent into better performances.
“Umar is creating panic when he comes on to bat,” which led to run-outs for his batting partners which he survived, Qasim said.
“It”s a big problem which needs to sorted out.”
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi will lead the team on the tour of England starting next week.
Pakistan will play two Twenty20 and two Tests against Australia and four Tests, two Twenty20 and five one-day matches against England.
bayern
April 22, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Beckenbauer hopes for Hamburg dream final
Having seen FC Bayern München take a big step towards a European final, Franz Beckenbauer hopes that another former club, Hamburger SV, can achieve more of the same tonight. Franz Beckenbauer may be an FC Bayern München man to the core but the German football great has a soft spot for Hamburger SV – and says it would be “a dream” for them to reach this season’s UEFA Europa League final on home soil.
‘Der Kaiser’ spent two years with HSV after moving back to Germany from New York Cosmos and helped them win the 1981/82 Bundesliga in his final campaign before a valedictory season with the Cosmos.
Hence he is hoping Bruno Labbadia’s charges can achieve their goal of participating in the inaugural UEFA Europa League final at their own Hamburg Arena on 12 May. “HSV are one of the best teams we have in Germany,” Beckenbauer told UEFA.com at last month’s UEFA Congress in Tel Aviv.
“Fate has decreed that the final of the Europa League will take place in Hamburg, and it would be a dream if HSV could reach the final. It is possible – of course it is possible, the draw has made it possible – but it will definitely be very difficult.”
Beckenbauer is now honorary president of Bayern and watched his side defeat Olympique Lyonnais 1-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final last night. A similar result against Fulham FC tonight would also put HSV in the box seat ahead of next week’s return match in London.
ga lottery
April 21, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
The jackpot for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing climbed to $166 million after no players matched all six numbers in Tuesday night’s game. Meanwhile, the top prize for tonight’s Powerball multi-state lottery is a whopping $252 million.The numbers in Tuesday night’s Mega Million lottery were 5, 8, 10, 34 and 42, and the “Mega Ball” was 25.
There were also no $250,000 second-prize winners in Georgia, although 12 players in other states matched the first five numbers but not the Mega Ball.
The Powerball jackpot has been steadily growing since March 13, when Sandra McNeil of Morristown, N.J., won a $211.7 million top prize.
According to a Georgia Lottery Corp. spokeswoman, a single winner matching all six numbers in tonight’s Powerball drawing would have the choice of $252 million paid over 29 years, or a single payment of approximately $121 million.
fiat chrysler
April 21, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Italian car maker Fiat has reported further losses despite the recent recovery in the car market.
The company said it made a loss of 25m euros (£21.7m; $33.4m) for the first quarter of the year.
Meanwhile its US subsidiary Chrysler lost a further $197m (£128m) – adding to the massive $3.8bn it lost following bankruptcy last year.
Fiat is due to outline a new five-year business plan later, outlining closer integration with Chrysler.
Despite the losses, Fiat said its sales – which include trucks and farming equipment alongside cars – were up nearly 15% on the same period last year.
Car sales alone saw a 22% increase, thanks in part to the continuing impact of Europe’s car scrappage schemes.
But Fiat said it expected to be hit hard by the winding up of such schemes.
The end of the German scrappage scheme has already seen sales drop 73%, it said.
Fiat’s chief executive Sergio Marchionne also sought to sound optimistic over the prospects for Chrysler despite the heavy losses.
He pointed out that Chrysler actually made a profit of $143m for the first quarter, if tax and one-off costs were disregarded.
The US-brand was also seeing increased revenues, he said.
Rivals profit
There was better news for rival European car firm Volkswagen, however, which reported profits of 473m euros for the first three months of 2010 – nearly double the profits recorded a year earlier.
VW said sales of its cars – which include the Seat and Audi brands – rose 19%.
Meanwhile French car maker Peugeot Citroen said its sales jumped 27.5% in the first quarter, and said it hoped to see a positive impact on profits.
But the company said it still expected the European car market to decline by 9% this year.
gloucester county times
April 21, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Gloucester Catholic High School boys tennis player Rollie Malfitano had a motto going into the Gloucester County Times Tournament no company.
The axiom was born from Malfitano talking to former Washington Township standout and three-time Gloucester County champion Will Haight and letting Haight know he’d be getting no company in the three-time Times Tourney winners club.
“I was talking to Will, who I grew up playing tennis with and watched, and I told him, ÔNo company,’” Malfitano said. “That was my motto going in.”
Malfitano’s motto proved useful as the senior defeated two-time defending Times Tournament champion A.J. Moore of Williamstown, 1-6, 6-0, 6-2.
In addition to being crowned Gloucester County champion, the win was also special for Malfitano because it was his first against Moore.
“I’ve played him tons before and he’s a great champion, a great player and a great sport. You have to give him a lot of credit,” Malfitano said. “I had never beat him, I was 0-7 against him.”
After dropping the first set in about 10 minutes, some words from Gloucester Catholic teammate Andrew Hansen helped Malfitano.
“Andrew told me after the first set, ÔThis is your last chance. Don’t finish your Times Tournament career tense and nervous. Relax and have fun,’” Malfitano said. “Right then I turned it on and I wouldn’t be half the player I was if Andrew wasn’t on my team.
“I have to give credit to my coaches Bob Fisicaro, Andrew, Tony Sidoti, Joe DeRose for coaching me up (Sunday). A lot of credit to (Fisicaro) who helped me develop a game plan for the entire tournament.”
Malfitano used a combination of high, top-spin shots and kick serves to keep opponents deep on the baseline.
He defeated Kingsway’s Ryan Locke (7-5, 6-4) in the semifinals while Moore downed Clearview’s Andrew Weiss ( 7-5, 6-0) to reach the final. Malfitano was down 5-4 and 4-2 in each set before rallying to win.
source nj
Pennetta, Suarez through to final in Marbella
MARBELLA: Second seed Flavia Pennetta needed less than an hour to crush fellow Italian Sara Errani 6-1 6-1 on Saturday and claim a place in the final of the Andalucia Open clay court tournament.
Pennetta faces Carla Suarez Navarro on Sunday after the Spanish eighth seed beat fifth-seeded compatriot Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 2-6 6-3 6-2 to reach the final for a second straight year.
“I think Sara was more tense than normal but she”s young and plays well and will have many more chances to beat me,” world number 16 Pennetta said of her 22-year-old friend Errani.
“Matches against friends are very difficult, especially mentally,” she told a news conference.
Pennetta has played Suarez Navarro, who lost to Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in last year”s final, twice previously with each player winning once.
Ind Vs Sa Live Score
KOLKATA:Ind Vs Sa Live Score, India Vs South Africa, South Africa were bowled out for 296 in their first innings on the second morning of the second and final test against India at the Eden Gardens on Monday.
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South Africa’s last wicket pair of Morne Morkel (11 not out) and Wayne Parnell (12) put on another 30 runs in four overs before left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan struck after the tourists resumed on 266-9.
Zaheer dismissed Parnell lbw with the new ball to finish with four for 90 after triggering a stunning collapse on the opening day in which the tourists lost seven wickets in the final session.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh finished with three for 64 after playing a key role in India’s fightback after debutant Alviro Petersen (100) and in-form Hashim Amla (114) hit centuries to give South Africa a solid start.
India must square the series to hold on to the number one ranking.
The tourists are bidding for their first test series victory in India in almost a decade after taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series with an innings win in Nagpur.
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Ind Vs Sa Live Score was first posted on February 15, 2010 at 11:43 am.
Afghanistan Qualified For The 2010 Twenty20 World Cup
Afghanistan will contest a major cricket tournament for the first time after the country qualified for the 2010 Twenty20 World Cup.
The Afghans beat United Arab Emirates by four wickets in Saturday’s 20-over match to reach the final of a qualifying tournament. The battle-scarred nation will now play Ireland or the Netherlands, but Afghanistan’s place in the World Cup in the West Indies in May is already assured as both finalists qualify.
The UAE were restricted to 100-9 and Afghanistan opening batsman Noor Ali finished unbeaten on 38 as a victory total of 101 was clinched with three balls to spare.
Afghanistan’s ascent in world cricket has been rapid since gaining affiliate membership of the International Cricket Council in 2001.
Afghanistan Qualified For The 2010 Twenty20 World Cup was first posted on February 15, 2010 at 12:12 pm.
India vs South Africa 2nd Test live Streaming
Kolkata: India vs South Africa 2nd Test live Streaming, Putting behind their humiliating defeat in the Nagpur Test, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni expressed hope that the team will live up to their number one status in the Kolkata Test.
Talking to reporters on the eve of the Test match at Eden, Dhoni also said that the return of middle-order batsman VVS Laxman will boost the team’s chances of winning the second Test and equaling the two-match series.
Laxman had to sit out of the first Test because of injury.
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“Laxman’s return has helped boost the confidence of the team,” he said.
Dhoni also rubbished claims that the pitch at Kolkata has been altered to help the spinners.
A controversy erupted after India lost the first Test and BCCI reportedly sent an SOS to CAB for preparing a turning track for the second Test.
The Cricket Association of Bengal though said they have prepared a sporting track for the crucial game, the outcome of which will have a bearing on India`s status as number team.
Dhoni is of the view that a turning pitch could also be called a sporting track as it gives both bowlers and batsmen equal chances to excel.
“I think a big emphasis is being given on the sporting wicket. Nowhere it`s written that there should not be any grass for a sporting wicket or bounce for fast bowlers.”
“Sporting wicket according to me is where you challenge the batsmen and at the same time there is something for the batters. I think when there is a turning track it is challenging,” Dhoni said after team practice.
The India skipper also said that every country has a unique element to exploit and for India it was spin.
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“Every country specialises in something. When you go to South Africa you see bouncy and seam movement. You go New Zealand and you would see a lot of swing. And we are special because the ball turns and there is bounce for the spinners. Of course, skills are required to play spin,” he said.
On his assessment of the 22-yard-strip, Dhoni said it did not look to assist spin at least on the first two days and indicated that the hosts would go with a three-way pace attack with Raina making for a debut.
“There is a bit of grass on the wicket. I think the seamers will get a bit of help. There is no pavilion at one side so you can see a bit of breeze going across. I think there will be a bit of help for spinners later.”
“There is a possibility (three pacers and debut for Raina) but we will have to wait till tomorrow. If your batters are not performing and you go with five bowlers then your batting line-up becomes weak. We are always being comfortable with four bowlers.”
“It`s a tough call for us. It would have been easier to have a good all-rounder in your side but we don`t really have that luxury. We have to be very careful about that,” he said.
Dhoni said they will fight hard to square the series.
“It`s the challenges that make the life interesting. We are looking forward to coming back in the series and doing well. If it was so easy then it would not have been called International cricket. We are trying to level the series here,” he said.
On being asked if batting was India`s weak link, Dhoni said it is not fair to blame batsmen alone for the defeat in the first Test.
“We have not batted that well. You are expected to do well when there is reverse swing or facing the top bowlers of the world. It`s not about blaming just the batsmen or bowlers. It`s a team sport. You need bowlers who can take 20 wickets or batsmen who can score runs. I won`t see it`s our weak link.”
“It`s a matter of time. In cricket luck also plays a role. (Amit) Mishra had quite a few narrow misses. It`s a game of skill and a bit of luck,” Dhoni said.
The India captain also welcomed the inclusion of a fit-again VVS Laxman in the side.
“He is an important player of our batting line-up. It`s good to have him back in the side. He is one of those batsmen who rotate the strike and capable of getting the boundaries.”
Dhoni said toss played a crucial role in the first match in Nagpur where India suffered a humiliating loss by an innings and six runs.
“One thing really important was the toss (in Nagpur). As the day progressed, the wicket got slower and slower. The first day was the best day for batters. The pressure really mounted on us after that. Toss was a bit crucial.”
India vs South Africa 2nd Test live Streaming was first posted on February 14, 2010 at 12:15 pm.
