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Aircel Chennai Open goes hi-tech, launches exclusive mobile app

Sports

Dec 172012

Chennai: Apart from promising enthusiasts the hottest tennis action and a fantastic line up of the best players in the world, the 18th edition of the Aircel Chennai Open is all set to charm fans as it takes advantage of the latest mobile technology and goes hi-tech in 2013. The organisers of India and South Asia’s only ATP World Tour today announced the launch of an exclusive new mobile application for fans called “Aircel Chennai Open”. Launched in partnership with leading mobile consulting and development firm Hakuna Matata Solutions Pvt. Ltd, the app will give users an opportunity to enjoy all the action at the touch of a button.

Live matches, scores, draws, players list, and the latest tournament news will now be available on the go for the first time in the event’s history. The android based application can be downloaded now from the Android app store and the iOS application for the iPhone will be available on iTunes shortly.

While the rules of tennis have not changed much over the years, technological enhancements geared towards spectators and players have introduced a completely new level of excitement and competitiveness in the game. The mobile application is one such advancement when it comes to the 18th edition of the Aircel Chennai Open 2013.

Nandha Kumar Sundararaj, Hakuna Matata Solutions Pvt. Ltd said, “As one of India’s leading mobile consulting and development firms, we have been building successful mobile products across sectors for clients in India and abroad. It has been a pleasure to take a sporting event like the Aircel Chennai Open 2013 mobile. Indian tennis fans will now get an exciting opportunity to follow all the action and carry the experience wherever they go.”

Commenting about the initative, Ashu Jindal, COO, IMG Reliance said, “With the launch this mobile application, the year’s Aircel Chennai Open is taking a leading position in the digital space. This, along with a number of additional digital initiatives, highlights our focus on improving the fan experience and engagement. For the first time in the tournament’s history fans around the world will have details of the activities at the Aircel Chennai Open at their fingertips. We are certain the fans will benefit immensely.”

The 18th edition of Aircel Chennai Open has one of the strongest playing fields ever featuring an impressive line-up of tennis players including top 20 players Tomas Berdych, Janko Tipsarevic, Marin Cilic and Stanislas Wawrinka among others. Both Indian and International participants will compete for the coveted title.

By Indian Sports News Network

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MS Dhoni blames poor batting for series defeat

Sports

Dec 172012

Nagpur: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni blamed the team’s batting performance for the series loss against England. The fourth and the final Test at Nagpur ended in a draw and England won the series 2-1.

India won the first Test at Ahmedabad, but then lost two consecutive Tests at Mumbai and Kolkata to take the winning lead.

“England were the better team and deserved to win the series. We struggled in the batting department but their spinners were right on the mark. I think James Anderson was the main difference between the two teams,” Dhoni said.

On the Nagpur pitch he said, “If you got your head down it was hard to take wickets. I think it got better, coming on to the bat and easier to play strokes. It was hard to bat on in the final session of day three and early in day four but got better after that.”

On the positives that the team can take out from the series, Dhoni said, “We tried a few combinations that didn’t really work, we had some part-timers but we needed someone like Jadeja to keep the lid on the batsmen. Pujara’s batting was a positive and Gambhir got back in the runs. We can take a lot of positives from the series.”

James Anderson who was adjudged the man of the match for his tremendous spell of bowling said, “People come over here and think the spinners are going to get all the wickets but I wanted to show seamers have a job to do as well.”

“Reverse swing played a key part and we executed our plans well. The beauty of bowling short spells means you can give it your all and then get a rest. It’s been amazing,” Anderson added.

Alastair Cook who was brilliant throughout the series and won the man of the series award said that it was a special day and a special tour for the team.

“After Ahmedabad, the heavy defeat, it’s been a fantastic response. In my first series as captain, I couldn’t have asked for more, it’s a very proud moment. Our bowlers have been brilliant and all the batsmen contributed. It’s always nice when it goes well, can’t praise the team and the squad enough,” Cook said.

By Indian Sports News Network

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alastair cook
james anderson
mahendra singh dhoni

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Tata Open: RMV Gurusaidutt, PC Thulasi emerge champions

Sports

Dec 172012

Mumbai: PC Thulasi defeated Febby Angguni of Indonesia 21-15, 21-13 in the finals to win Tata Open 2012 in the women’s singles category. RMV Gurusaidutt won the men’s title after defeating B Sai Praneeth in the finals.

No. 5 seed Thulasi won the title in 2010 and this was his first title this year. She outplayed her opponenet in the match that lasted for 56 minutes.

In the men’s category Gurusaidutt overcame Praneeth 21-19, 21-12 in a match that lasted for 40 minutes.

Results:

Final: Singles:

Men: 2-RMV Gurusaidutt (IND) bt 4-B Sai Praneeth (IND)21-19 21-12

Women: 5-PC Thulasi (IND) bt Febby Angguni (INA) 21-15 21-13

By Indian Sports News Network

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pc thulasi
rmv gurusaidutt

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England on course of historic series win against India

Sports

Dec 162012

Nagpur: Some resolute batting by Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell in the last session of the day four of the fourth Test has inched them close to a historic series win here at the Jamtha Stadium today.

India who are 1-2 down in the series and desperately looking for a series levelling were at sea as the Trott-Bell safely put up a 67 run partnership for the fourth wicket to guide the visitors to 161-3 and have taken 165 runs lead.

Trott was unbeaten on 66 off 153 balls including nine boundaries while Bell was batting on 24 off 67 balls laced with four boundaries.

England started off well and even though they did not score freely, they put up great resistance. They went to lunch for 17-0.

But India had a good post lunch session and dismissed both the openers. Ravichandran Ashwin got the first breakthrough after he had the dangerous Alastair Cook caught behind. Compton and Trott then put up a good partnership for the second wicket.

But Compton’s (34) resistance was cut after Pragyan Ojha trapped him plumb in front of the stumps.

Pietersen fell soon after the tea and that was the last wicket to fall in the day.

Earlier India starting the day on 297-8, never showed any intent. They batted for one hour but could add only 29 runs to their overnight score before declaring their innings on 323-9. Pragyan Ojha was the only batsman to get out in the day so far after he played on Monty Panesar’s delivery onto his stumps.

James Anderson was the wrecker-in-chief for England and returned with figures of 4-81.

Brief scores:

England 330 and 161 for 3 (Trott 66*, Bell 24*) lead India 326 for 9 dec (Kohli 103, Dhoni 99, Anderson 4-81) by 165 runs

Tags:
ian bell
indian sports news
jonathan trott
pragyan ojha
ravichandran ashwin

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Former skipper Chettri remains unsold at HIL auction

Sports

Dec 162012

New Delhi: Former Indian skipper Bharat Chettri remained unsold at the Hockey India League’s auction here today.

The goalkeeper who was dropped from the team following India’s poor show at the London Olympics 2012 had a base price of $18,550 but did not find any buyer.

Meanwhile Sardar Singh became the costliest player in the league after he was brought for a whopping $78000 by the Delhi WaveRiders.

V R Raghunath was the second costliest player of the auction and was sold to Uttar Pradesh Wizards for a mammoth $76000 whose base price was kept at $13900.

Star drag-flicker Sandeep Singh who was one of the five marquee players was brought by Mumbai Magicians at his base price of $27800.

Custodian P R Sreejesh who had a base price of $13,900 was sold for $38000 to Mumbai Magicians.

By Indian Sports News Network

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bharat chettri
hockey india league
indian sports news
p r sreejesh
sandeep singh
sardar sigh
v r raghunath

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India declare first innings at 323-9, England 17-0 at lunch

Sports

Dec 162012

Nagpur: Openers Alastair Cook and Nick Compton safely saw off the first session of day three of the fourth Test at the Jamtha Stadium here today.

England were 17 for no loss at lunch with Cook on 1, while Compton was batting on 14.

Earlier India who started the day on 297-8 added 29 runs to their overnight score before declaring their innings on 323-9. Pragyan Ojha was the only batsman to get out in the day so far after he played on Monty Panesar’s delivery onto his stumps.

James Anderson was the wrecker-in-chief for England and returned with figures of 4-81.

By Indian Sports News Network

Tags:
alastair cook
indian sports news
james anderson
nick compton
pragyan ojha

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Ajmal will be the trump card for Pakistan against India, says Whatmore

Sports

Dec 152012

Pakistani coach Dav Whatmore feels that Saeed Ajmal will be their trump card for the tour of India later this month.

“Saeed Ajmal will always remain a trump card for us as we all know he’s a wonderful bowler,” Whatmore said. “He’s very much needed, and he will always remain a threat,” Whatore was quoted in a Mid-Day report.

The 35-year-old Ajmal is ranked No 1 in one-day internationals and Twenty20s, with 109 wickets in 71 ODIs and 69 wickets in 48 T20s.

Meanwhile, The Indian Express writes that Board of Cricket Control of India has accepted a request from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to postpone the Twenty20 International that was scheduled to be held at Ahmedabad on December 27 by a day.

The PCB wanted the match shifted because the fifth death anniversary of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto falls on that particular day. The match will now be played on December 28 and will have a 5 pm start.

A top BCCI official told The Indian Express that the match was being postponed by a day. “The PCB wrote to us that they want to postpone second T20 game as mark of respect to former prime minister Benazir Butto’s fifth death anniversary. The BCCI has agreed and we have no problem in postponing the match,” the BCCI official said.

Pakistan are scheduled to play two T20 games and three ODIs in the first bilateral series post the 2008 terror attack in Mumbai. Pakistan are scheduled to play first T20 International in Bangalore on December 25 before flying to Ahmedabad. India will take on Pakistan in first ODI in Chennai on December 30.

“We still have a two-day gap between T20 and first ODI, so there was no problem in shifting the game.” the BCCI official added.

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Junior World TT C’ship: Curtains for India

Sports

Dec 152012

Hyderabad: Indian challenge at the ongoing Volkswagen 2012 World Junior Table Tennis Championships here on Saturday came to an end when Ayhika Mukerjee and Suthirtha Mukherjee exited in the pre-quarterfinals. Ayhika, proved to the best among the Indian lot, as she managed to take a game off her US opponent Zhang Lily, going down 11-9, 7-11, 6-11, 4-11, 7-11 while poor Suthirtha succumbed to the Chinese second seed Gu Yuting in straight sets.

Ayhika later admitted that her opponent was more experienced but she could have extended to one or two games more. “After winning the first game, I should have attacked more but Lily was too good with her backhand scorchers. She blocked well and her returns were too good,” said the 15-year-old Kolkatan.

But Suthirtha found herself pitted against a red hot Gu Yuting who is expected to reach the final here. Expectedly, Gu sent down a barrage of forehands and backhands straightaway unsettling the Indian. The pattern continued throughout the 25-minute match that the No. 2 seed won 11-2, 11-6, 11-3, 11-3.

Nevertheless, Suthirtha was happy about her performance here. “I got the right exposure here and I am happy about it. Playing against Gu was intriguing and it showed when I stood against an opponent of her calibre,” confessed Suthirtha.

In the boys section, two other seeds fell by the way in the morning when fifth and sixth seeded Asuka Sakai from Japan in the top half and Tristan Flore from France, respectively, bowed out in the round of 16. Sakai lost to unseeded Fan Shengpeng 1-4 while another unseeded Chinese Zu Chenhao blanked out Flore 4-0.

Fifth-seeded Solja Petrissa, who had beaten No. 1 seed Zhu Yuling in the team championships the other day, punctured the pride of China yet again, toppling fourth seed Liu Gayong 4-2 (6-11, 7-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8, 11-8) to earn her entry into the semifinals where she will tak on Zhu Yuling tomorrow. Thus Petrissa has stopped a clean sweep of medals by China.

In other quarterfinals, Zhu Yuling had her anxious moments before overcoming her Romanian opponent Bernadette Szocs 4-0 while No. 2 seed Gu Yuting accounted for No. 7 Ayuka Tanioka of Japan 4-0 and fourth seeded Gu Ruochen defeated Lily Zhang, No. 10 seed, by the same margin of 4-0. The other semifinal pits Gu Yuting against Gu Ruochen.

As for the other Chinese who made the semifinal grade, their matches turned out to be one-sided affairs, including the one against Japanese Ayuka Tanioka whose rhythm was upset by Gu Yuting right from the word go.

However, in the junior boys section, it will be all Chinese semifinals. Sixth seed Fan Shengpeng packed off No. 4 Simon Gauzy of France 4-3 in a thrilling quarterfinal match. The other quarterfinals did not generate the same kind of fervour with Fan Zhendong beating Yuto Muramatsu of Japan 4-1, Xu Chenhao demolishing Benedikt of Germany 4-0 and Lin Gaoyuan completing the against Japanese Yoshida Masaki with a 4-1 verdict.

By Indian Sports News Network

Tags:
ayhika mukherjee
indian sports news
suthirtha mukherjee
volkswagen 2012 world junior table tennis championships

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World Super Series Finals: Saina loses in semifinal

Sports

Dec 152012

Shenzhen: Indian star shuttler Saina Nehwal lost her semi-final clash against top seed and current Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China of the $500,000 BWF World Super Series Finals.

Saina lost 20-22 21-7 13-21 in the match that went for 50 minutes. Saina started the match well but the Chinese fought back hard to win the first game.

The London Olympic bronze medallist was at her best in the second game and she won the game convincingly to take the match into the decider.

In the last game Xuerui took control of the proceedings to emerge winner.

Earlier in the tournament after losing both her opening matches Saina was virtually knocked out of the tournament, but qualified for the last four after having lost less number of games in comparison to Swiss Tine Baun and Schenk, both of whom having won a match each.

The world number three Indian finished second in the group following Thai Ratchanok Itanon, who stayed unbeaten in the group stages.

Saina’s, seeded fourth in the tournament beat her German foe 21-7 21-18 in a match that lasted for 37 minutes.

By Indian Sports News Network

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bwf world super series finals
li xuerui
saina nehwal

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Dhoni, Kohli help India to 227/4 at tea on day three

Sports

Dec 152012

Nagpur: A brilliant partnership between Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli took India to 227/4 at tea on day three of the fourth Test being played at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur.

India started the afternoon session at 146/4 with Kohli on 46 and Dhoni on 31. Kohli soon went past the fifty run-mark as England took the new ball in the 81st over. Dhoni raised the tempo as soon as the new ball was taken and played some fabulous strokes to reach fifty.

Both batsmen played superbly and raised the rate of scoring to take the Indian score past two hundred. Soon the two had a partnership of 150 runs.

India at tea were trailing by 103 runs with Dhoni unbeaten on 75 and Kohli on 77.