Zee News : India National

Mary wants solution to IOA suspension

Sports

Dec 162012

Mary wants solution to IOA suspension Kolkata: Deeply upset with the IOC`s suspension of the Indian Olympic Association, London Games bronze medalist MC Mary Kom today appealed to the top bosses to find a way out to save sportpersons careers.

“We would be grateful if the higher authorties find a solution as soon as possible. I don`t want to suffer. We want to play with free mind to get more medals,” the five-time world World Boxing champion said here today.

“I am not a politician, I am a sportsperson. But we all are very upset. We can`t continue our career. If we can`t fight in the international meets, then what`s the use to be a player?

“With this (impasse), our training suffers. My boxing federation supports me but I don`t know what is going on. So I am focussing only on training and competition, giving our best to earn medals for the country. If they remove ban, we would be really grateful,” the 29-year-old mother of twins added.

The diminutive boxer, who won the bronze in 51kg category, said she does not have any competition right now.

“But in 2013, there is Asian Championship in May and some small meets for the youngsters.”

New to the 51kg weight category, Mary hoped her pet category of 48kg is introduced in the next Olympics Rio.

“I will have to discuss with the coaches. I hope 48kg is introduced in Rio 2016. Then I`ll try to give gold.”

Asked about being made one the national icons of the Election Commission, the Manipuri Olympian said: “It`s really a big honour. In politics, we want good person, good support.”

Asked on the fate of the upcoming MC Mary Kom Boxing Academy, she said, “I am hoping for something positive this Christmas, if it is successful then a lot of young talents will get to train in the academy.”

PTI

China claims all titles at junior World TT Ch`ship

Sports

Dec 162012

China claims all titles at junior World TT Ch`ship Hyderabad: China completed a clean sweep of titles at the Volkswagen 2012 World Junior Table Tennis Championships after winning the girls and boys trophies, here on Sunday.

Earlier in the week they had won both the boys? and girls? team titles.

German Petrissa Solja, the only non-Chinese, lost her semifinal match to Chinese top seed Zhu Yuling in the morning who finished the day by rolling over Gu Yuting 4-0 for the girls crown.

The speed with which she disposed of her opponent is only half of the story. Her superior technique and never-say-die attitude tell the rest.

With equal felicity, she won several winners both off her back and forehands and was never in any sort of trouble after going 2-0 up.

Soon after Fan Zhendong overcame a two-game deficit to beat Lin Gaoyuan 4-2 (10-12, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4) to claim the boys singles title.

Earlier, he had claimed the mixed doubles title too.

Fan took his time to size up his left-handed opponent and it cost him the first two games. Once Fan had things in his grip, it became easy as he went on to take the next four without much ado.

Lin made a few service errors along the way and in the ultimate analysis proved dear, the organizers said in a release.

Second-seeded pair of Fan Zhendong and Liu Gaoyang made a surprising recovery to beat the top-seeded compatriots Lin Gaoyuan and Gu Ruochen 4-3 (11-6, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8) to take gold in the boys doubles.

Gu Yuting and Zhu Yuling downed Gu Ruochen and Liu Gaoyang 4-3 for girls double gold and the mixed doubles gold went to Fan Zhendong and Liu Gaoyang who beat the Lin Gaoyuan and Gu Ruochen combine 4-3.

Earlier, things became clear which side of the balance is becoming heavier.

Germany’s Petrissa Solja, who excelled throughout, could not match the Chinese top seed Zhu Yuling as the latter won in straight sets.

In the other semifinals, Gu Yuting defeated Gu Ruochen in the all-Chinese semifinal 4-1.

In a way, the semifinals ended along expected lines with the top two seeds entering the final.

Petrissa was straightaway into attack and went 6-3 up with her top spin play off back and forehands doing the tricks.

However, Zhu getting into her grove to level 6-6 but at 10-8 Petrissa held the advantage but her opponent saved two game points.

At 11-10 Zhu took lead for the first time and a fortunate edge saw her taking the first game.

The German tried her best to salvage but with her nerves settled, the Chinese had the measure of her rival.

Petrissa’s receiving was poor in the second yet she ran the Chinese close.

She was, however, unable to work her angles as well and Zhu?s consistency saw her through. Though the pattern continued in the two games, the Chinese always had the upper hand to complete the task.

Second-seeded Gu Yuting had a nervous start but overcame the early hiccups to go 1-0 up against Ruochen.

Lacking in experience somewhat, Ruochen was struggling against Yuting?s controlled aggression. Yet Ruochen?s consistency level was good and that is what won her the third game.

But that’s all she could do as Yuting’s percentage speed game kept improving and it had no answer from Ruochen.

PTI

Keen contest between Baroda and Tamil Nadu on Day 2

Sports

Dec 162012

Keen contest between Baroda and Tamil Nadu on Day 2 Vadodara: Young batsman Baba Aparajith and R Prasanna struck half-centuries as Tamil Nadu closed in on a first innings lead against Baroda in their Ranji Trophy Group B match, here today.

Tamil Nadu dismissed Baroda for 208 after removing the last batsman Mayur Vahora (47).

The visitors then ended the day at 166 for six, 43 runs behind Baroda`s total, with Prasanna batting at 60 and giving him company was J Kaushik (1).

Aparajith, who scored 62 before being stumped off Panchal, was the only batsman in the top-order to make an impact as other failed terribly.

His 62 came off 191 balls with the help of nine shots to the fence.

Pace duo of Mayur Vahora (3/23) and Sankalp Vohra (2/39) shared five wickets between them to unsettle the Tami, Nadu top-oder.

However, Prasanna and Aparajith batted with determination to rescue their side.

Prasanna has almost batted for four hours for his 60 runs, facing 165 balls and hitting 10 boundaries.

It will be interesting to see who takes the first innings lead since both the teams have equal chance to getting it.

Brief Scores:

Baroda 1st innings: 208 all out in 91.3 overs. (A Rayudu 54, M Vahora 47; Y Mahesh 5/26).

Tamil Nadu 1st innings: 166 for 6 in 82 overs (B Aparajith 62; R Prasanna 60 batting; M Vahora 3/23).

PTI

Virat Kohli and Jonathan Trott exchange words on day four

Sports

Dec 162012

Nagpur: Virat Kohli and Jonathan Trott were involved in a verbal duel during the fourth day of the final Test between India and England here on Saturday.

Trott, batting on 43 in England`s second innings total of 123 for three, tried to cut a short delivery from pacer Ishant Sharma which was taken behind by Mahendra Singh Dhoni who threw it up high in the air in delight only to see his claim and that of other team members rejected by umpire Kumar Dharmasena.

Following Dharmasena turning down the confident appeal, Kohli ran up to the batsman for an exchange of words after which square leg umpire Rod Tucker summoned Dhoni and spoke to him.

It was not clear from TV replays whether Trott had edged Sharma or not.

Earlier, Cook had stood his ground when he was declared out caught behind for 13 by Dharmasena and left the field reluctantly after his first twin-failure in this four-game series.

He was out for one in the first innings here.

PTI

First Published: Sunday, December 16, 2012, 17:31

England keep India`s desperate victory attempts at bay

Sports

Dec 162012

England keep India`s desperate victory attempts at bay Nagpur: A desperate India`s push for a series-levelling win was met with a dogged resistance from England who rode on Jonathan Trott`s gritty half-century to overcome a nervous phase as the fourth and final cricket Test seemed headed for a draw here on Sunday.

India batted for one hour in the morning before declaring their first innings at 326 for nine, four runs behind England, but could not make sufficient inroads as England reached 161 for three at close of an absorbing fourth day`s play.

The hosts needed quick wickets but the fourth day track at the VCA stadium did not show any signs of deterioration as England batted out the day without seeming to be under any major discomfort.

Trott (66) and Ian Bell (24) were batting at stumps, with England having an overall lead of 165 runs.

With just one day let in the game, a draw appears to be the likely result though all four outcomes — an Indian win, England win, tie and a draw — can still be possible.

India will need to dismiss England as quickly as possible tomorrow and score the required runs to entertain hopes of a series-levelling win. England will be quite content with a draw which would be enough to give them their first Test series triumph on Indian soil in 28 years. The David Gower-led England team had last won a series in 1984-85.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni kept shuffling his bowlers in a bid to break through the England innings but the English batsmen applied themselves well to keep the hosts at bay, much to the disappointment of a sizeable holiday crowd.

England were at a shaky 94 for three at one stage with captain Alastair Cook (13), Nick Compton (34) and Kevin Pietersen (6) back in the pavilion but Trott and Bell ensured that there were no further setbacks with a defiant 67-run partnership.

Trott was however a little lucky as a confident appeal for caught behind off Ishant Sharma was turned down by umpire Kumar Dharmasena, leading to some heated words being exchanged between Trott and Virat Kohli after the over.

Cook was controversially declared caught behind after making a painstaking 13 in 105 minutes, to Ravichandran Ashwin, while his opening partner Compton was given out leg before to Pragyan Ojha to leave England at 81 for two at tea.

The England skipper seemed to have clearly missed edging the ball to Dhoni, but was given out wrongly by Kumar Dharmasena for the second time in the match.

Replays also showed that Compton had been given out off an inside edge by Rod Tucker, though the ball was caught at slip by Virat Kohli at gully on the full.

Soon after tea debutant Ravindra Jadeja disturbed Pietersen`s off stump when the England batsman offered no stroke expecting the ball to turn away.

The visitors, clearly aiming to draw the match, added only 64 runs in 33.4 overs between lunch and tea after they were 17 for no loss in 13 overs at lunch. They were more attacking in the last session, scoring 80 in 32.2 overs.

Before their debatable ejections from the crease, both Cook and Compton were bent upon defending everything.

Runs came in a trickle though Cook was a bit fortunate.

A delicate leg glance off Ojha struck Cook`s counterpart Dhoni`s right pad and went in between lone slip Virender Sehwag`s legs for his first four.

In the same over, he tried to drive the left-arm spinner and missed the ball completely, but was lucky as it bounced over the stumps for four byes.

Cook`s deadpan defense was always fraught with danger as Ashwin made a ball turn across the face of his defensive forward stretch and earned a caught behind decision in India`s favour.

After Cook`s ouster, both Compton and Trott were also keen on defending rather than scoring runs, barring one occasion when a ball slipped out of Jadeja`s hand and was rolling wide when Trott hammered it for a `free` four. It was clearly against the spirit of the game.

PTI

First Published: Sunday, December 16, 2012, 17:21

Ranji Trophy 2012-13: Delhi concede slender 1st innings lead against Maharashtra

Sports

Dec 162012

Ranji Trophy 2012-13: Delhi concede slender 1st innings lead against Maharashtra New Delhi: Left-arm seamer Samad Fallah took five wickets as Maharashtra got a slender first innings lead of three runs against Delhi on an exciting second day of the Ranji Trophy Group A League encounter at the Roshanara Club ground here on Sunday.

In reply to Maharashtra`s first innings total of 196, Delhi were all out for 193 on a day when two hours were lost due to wet outfield and 54 overs were bowled.

Although Maharashtra got the first innings lead, it is of little consequence as two days are still left and there is every possibility of an outright result.

The visitors, however, owe their success to Fallah who made good use of the conditions to take five for 67. He got good support from fellow pacer Nikit Dhumal who grabbed three for 34.

Young left-hander Vaibhav Rawal fought hard for his 65 before he was the ninth batsman out, trying to play a pull shot of right-arm medium pacer Dhumal but was caught at the deep square leg boundary by Anupam Sanklecha.

He hit eight fours during his 281-minute knock in which he faced 157 balls. It was 182 for nine when Rawal was dismissed and the last few minutes of the Delhi innings was an exciting contest.

Delhi`s No 11 Pawan Suyal then hit Fallah for a six and four to bring his team within three runs of the opponent`s total.

However, Suyal played another aerial shot but was taken in the mid-wicket region by Kedar Jadhav which gave the visitors first-innings lead and more importantly a psychological edge going into the third day.

This was Fallah`s 10th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. The best partnership for Delhi was 59 for the fourth wicket between Mithun Manhas (28) and Rawal.

However, Manhas was trapped plumb in-front by Fallah with an incoming delivery while seasoned Rajat Bhatia got a rising delivery that hit his glove and was taken by wicketkeeper Rohit Motwani.

With Manhas and Bhatia out in quick succession, the writing was there on the cards. Maharashtra seamers made good use of the conditions and never let the Delhi batsmen dominate proceedings, something that paid off for them.

Maharashtra were three for no loss in the second innings and have a total lead of six runs.

Brief Scores:

Maharashtra: 196 & 3/0.

Delhi: 193 in 77 overs (Vaibhav Rawal 65, Mithun Manhas 28, Samad Fallah 5/67).

PTI

IOC tells international federations to examine India situation

Sports

Dec 162012

IOC tells international federations to examine India situation New Delhi: The International Olympic Committee has asked international sports federations to carefully examine the “complicated” situation in India in the wake of IOA`s suspension and take appropriate action to “protect the autonomy of the national federations” in the country.

In a huge embarrassment, the IOC suspended the Indian Olympic Association earlier this month because of government interference and its refusal to follow the Olympic Charter while holding elections.

The IOC`s decision has put a bar on the country`s Olympic participation.

Terming the situation of the Olympic Movement in India “very complicated” due to a combination of several factors such as government interference, legal actions before the local courts and lack of good governance in some cases, the IOC asked all the international federations to review the situation and take measures accordingly.

“We would recommend each IF to carefully examine the situation of its national federation in India in the light of the following criteria, in particular: Whether the national federation is affected by government interference in its internal operations (and the potential implications of the “Sports Code” and/or any other government regulations over the national federation),” the IOC wrote in its letter.

“Whether the national federation is in a position to exercise its activities in accordance with its own statutes, the IF regulations and the basic principles which govern the Olympic Movement,” the letter added.

“Whether the national federation complies with the basic requirements of good governance.”

The IOC said the international federations are open to take action based on the result of their investigation.

“Depending on the result of the investigation and the assessment made by each IF, (we would recommend) to consider any appropriate action or measure, if necessary, in order, in particular, to protect the autonomy of its national federation in India and/or to ensure that the national federation complies in all aspects with the IF`s requirements,” it wrote.

PTI

AIBA might act more against IABF if re-election not held soon

Sports

Dec 162012

AIBA might act more against IABF if re-election not held soon New Delhi: The International Boxing Association (AIBA) might be forced to initiate more action against the suspended Indian Federation if its old guard does not take charge soon and calls for a re-election, which is essential to get the provisional ban revoked.

Suspended due to the International Olympic Committee`s ban on the Indian Olympic Association and for “possible manipulation” in its September polls, the IABF has been told to hold a re-election and amend its constitution to make it compliant with the AIBA statute.

The world body has refused to communicate with the new office-bearers, insisting on dealing with the old guard, which had Abhay Singh Chautala as the President.

Given AIBA`s stance, Chautala, who became the nominated Chairman of the new federation in the September polls, will have to take charge as President and initiate the steps that are being insisted upon by AIBA.

But that could jeopardise his position as the President of the Indian Olympic Association where he entered the fray because of his IABF position.

Sources have told PTI that AIBA might “suspend Chautala individually” if he does not take charge of the situation as the President of the old IABF.

The world body might end up working with the next rung of the old IABF hierarchy to conduct the re-elections under its supervision.

“He has to act as the President of the IABF, which AIBA recognises, and call a meeting of the house to set the ball rolling for the re-elections and constitutional amendments. If that does not happen then AIBA might have to suspend him and tell the other office-bearers to carry on with the process,” a source said.

The international body had recently relented to the extent of allowing Indian youth boxers to compete in a tournament in Azerbaijan but had barred any official from accompanying the team.

It has categorically refused to respond to the mails sent by current IABF Secretary General Rajesh Bhandari, insisting that it does not recognise him or any other office-bearer of the suspended body.

Already, the International Olympic Committee has urged all international federations to examine the situation in India and take necessary “action or measures” to “save the autonomy” of the federations in the country.

Calling the situation in India “complicated”, the IOC has told the international bodies, including AIBA, to examine “whether the national federation is in a position to exercise its activities in accordance with its own statutes, the IF regulations and the basic principles which govern the Olympic Movement.”

PTI

FDI will push country towards economic slavery: Baba Ramdev

News

Dec 152012

Lucknow: Firing a fresh salvo on Congress, Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Saturday alleged that the decision of Centre to allow FDI in multi-brand retail will ruin the future of country’s farmers and push India towards economic slavery.

“They are playing with the future of five crore retail traders, 25 crore people associated with them and around 75 crore farmers.

They are not even ashamed,” he alleged while speaking at a function here.

Alleging that FDI was brought under US pressure, Ramdev accused Congress of taking the country towards economic slavery.

“Earlier Congress used to give slogans that ‘Congress ka haath aam aadmi ke saath’, Now I say Congress ka haath Walmart ke saath, with foreign companies. They have no love for country and are taking it towards economic slavery,” he alleged.

“US expressed happiness the moment FDI came here. They will, because their people are sitting here,” he said.

He claimed voting in favour of FDI in both Houses of Parliament was not the victory of FDI, but “the victory of CBI”.

On the issue of black money, Ramdev said the huge sum lying in foreign banks can bridge country’s financial deficits if brought back to the country.

He also praised CAG Vinod Rai for “exposing scams”. On his future strategy, Ramdev said he will tell about it “when time comes”, and insisted that they are “fully prepared” to play an “important role”.

He urged people to ensure that not a single Congress candidate wins in Lok Sabha elections.

“This time vote where Baba says,” he said. On quota issue, Ramdev said time has come when emphasis should be given on representation instead of reservation.

PTI

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First Published: Saturday, December 15, 2012, 21:29

Rehman Malik, Sushma Swaraj discuss 26/11, Hindus in Pak

News

Dec 152012

New Delhi: Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday called on Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and the two leaders discussed the problems faced by Hindus living in Pakistan, the progress made in the 26/11 case and the controversy over the Babri mosque demolition.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Swaraj said she raised two main issues with Malik.

“I asked him about the slow pace of the investigation into the 26/11 case and the persecution of Hindus in Pakistan who are coming to India as refugees. On 26/11 Malik informed me that there is a difference between perception and reality. The challans have been presented and the delay is by the courts,” Swaraj said.

The BJP leader said Malik has asked the Pakistan ambassador to cooperate in handling cases of Hindus who are fleeing Pakistan.

She said Malik has invited her to Pakistan.

Swaraj maintained that during her conversation with Malik the latter told her he had not compared 26/11 with the Babri mosque demolition and that he has been misquoted.

The issue of Captain Saurabh Kalia, whose mutilated body was handed over by the Pakistani forces during the Kargil War, also came up for discussion between the two leaders.

Swaraj is understood to have asked Malik to ensure that those guilty of breaking the Vienna convention be brought to book.

PTI

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First Published: Saturday, December 15, 2012, 22:32

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