Tendulkar, Raina take India to 382/4
Colombo, July 28 (IANS) India were 382 for four in their first innings, in reply to Sri Lanka's 642 for four declared, at the end of the third days' play in the second cricket Test here Wednesday.

Sachin Tendulkar was batting on 108 and Suresh Raina at 66 when the stumps were drawn at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC).
... Read More

Lunch scoreboard: India vs. Sri Lanka, Day 3, Second Test
Colombo, July 28 (IANS) The following is the scoreboard at lunch on the third day of the second cricket Test match between India and Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club here Wednesday.

Sri Lanka 1st innings: 642 for four declared

India 1st innings (overnight 95 for no loss):

Murali Vijay lbw Mendis 58

Virender Sehwag st Prasanna b Randiv 99

Rahul Dravid lbw Randiv 3

Sachin Tendulkar batting 2

V.V.S.Laxman batting 0 ... Read More

Pakistan won't recall Abbas for Commonwealth Games
Karachi, July 28 (IANS) Sohail Abbas, Pakistan's record-breaking hockey player, will not feature in October's Commonwealth Games (CWG) in New Delhi as the country's hockey bosses have decided against including the veteran player in the national team.

A top Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) official said Wednesday that Abbas will not be invited for the preparatory camp for the Oct 3-14 Games because Pakistan doesn't need the short corner expert, who holds the record of scoring the ... Read More

Commonwealth Games linked to country's prestige: Congress leaders
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) A day after Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar slammed the Commonwealth Games, many of his party colleagues frowned at the remarks, saying the showpiece event involved the country's prestige and the focus should be on its success.

“There is no time to criticise and point fingers. India's prestige is involved. India's face should be saved. We should make all endeavours to make it (the Games) successful,� Congress MP Rajiv Shukla ... Read More

Game near, Delhi Police seeks to optimise manpower, resources
By Praveen Kumar

New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Many Delhi Police constables, cooks, drivers and cleaners often find themselves working in the homes of high-ranking officers. But they may soon be deployed on Commonwealth Games duty as the short-staffed force tries to optimise on its manpower and resources for the mega event.

It is also an open secret that cars for official purposes are frequently used for personal chores by officers and their families. These too are ... Read More

High Court raps centre for stand on Hockey India


New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Wednesday rapped the central government for not complying with its order on issuing a clarification that Hockey India (HI) is a private body.

It asked the government to file its reply within three weeks with its explanation on the issue. With this, the HI elections slated for Wednesday were adjourned.



On Tuesday, the court had asked the government and HI to issue a clarification by ... Read More

Spinners put India on backfoot
Colombo, July 28 (IANS) Debutant spinner Suraj Randiv picked up two wickets, including the prized scalp of Virender Sehwag, to reduce India to 173 for three in the first innings, in reply to Sri Lanka's 642 for four declared at lunch on the third day of the second cricket Test match here Wednesday.

Sehwag missed a deserving century by a run and his dismissal triggered a collapse as India lost three wickets in quick succession in ... Read More

Centenary celebrations of Mohun Bagan's historic IFA Shield win begin Thursday
Kolkata, July 28 (IANS) The centenary celebrations of Mohun Bagan's historic feat of becoming the first Indian team to win the IFA Shield in 1911 kicks off Thursday with the release of a first day cover by the postal department and conferring of the club's highest honour "Mohun Bagan Ratna" posthumously to ten of the 11 players who participated in the Shield final.

Sibdas Bhaduri, skipper of the side that defeated British army side East Yorkshire ... Read More

India doesn't deserve to be No.1 Test team: Steve Waugh
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Former Australian captain Steve Waugh feels that the Indian cricket team doesn't deserve to be the No.1 Test side in the world.

In the light of India's struggling performance in Sri Lanka, Waugh said: "India doesn't look like the No.1 side. The Indian team is struggling at the moment with their bowling and the team does not have the bowlers to take 20 wickets."

The 45-year-old legendary batsman said India are ... Read More

50-50 chance for Australia in Ashes: Steve Waugh
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Australian great Steve Waugh said Wednesday that both England and Australia have equal chance of winning the Ashes cricket series starting in November.

The former captain admitted that the Australian team has lost its aura of invincibility that it once had, but still the series against arch-rivals England will be evenly contested.

“Honestly, Australia are no more a dominant side in world cricket. There is still some (dominance) left for the ... Read More

Nice to find Commonwealth Games organisers so relaxed: Coe
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Legendary British athlete Sebastian Coe, chief of the 2012 London Olympic Games Organising Committee, remarked tongue in cheek that it was nice to find the Commonwealth Games organisers in a relaxed mood with the event round the corner.

Coe, who is part of the delegation with visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron, said with barely 64 days left for the Oct 3-14 Games, the organisers had a relaxed look ... Read More

Santosh Trophy: Mizoram stun Kerala 1-0
Kolkata, July 28 (IANS) Mizoram upset Kerala 1-0 to move into the quarterfinals of the 64th Santosh Trophy inter-state football competition here Wednesday.

Beikhokhei struck the winner in the 63rd minute by skillfully foxing two rival defenders and then played well with Lalhlimthra to finish off with a firm right footer that ended the campaign of five-time winners Kerala.

Kerala looked lacklustre as Mizoram dominated the show at the Salt Lake Stadium for the major part ... Read More

Tendulkar, Sehwag keep India's hopes alive
Colombo, July 28 (IANS) Sachin Tendulkar struck his 48th century and Virender Sehwag fell one short of his 21st to keep alive India's hopes of avoiding their second consecutive Test defeat against Sri Lanka after the end of the third day's play in the second cricket test here Wednesday.

Tendulkar was batting on 108 and test debutant Suresh Raina on 66 as India made 382 for four when the stumps were drawn at the Sinhalese Sports ... Read More

Bedi was an ordinary bowler: Muralitharan
Colombo, July 28 (IANS) Sri Lanka's legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan Wednesday hit back at his most vocal critic Bishan Singh Bedi for the first time, terming the former India captain an "ordinary" bowler.

Muralitharan, who retired from Test cricket earlier this month with a record 800 wickets, said Bedi had no right to comment on him.

"Bedi needs to look into the mirror. What he has done can be achieved by any ordinary bowler ... Read More

We can solve the hockey mess through talks: K.P.S. Gill
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) president K.P.S Gill said he was willing to talk to Hockey India (HI) and other stakeholders to resolve the hockey imbroglio.

The Delhi and Bombay high courts stayed the HI election Wednesday. It was the third time that the election was postponed. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has set July 31 the deadline to hold the election.

"There has to be a solution to all this. We ... Read More

Indians win three golds in Asian Grand Prix archery
The 16-member Indian archery contingent bagged three gold and four silver medals at the second Asian Grand Prix meet at Tehran, according to information received here.

The men’s recurve team of Tarundeep Rai, Muni Ram Tirkey and Kapil took the gold medal beating Iran 217-211 in the final. Punya Prabha, V. Pranitha and Reena Kumari finished best in the women’s recurve team final defeating Iran 198-194 in the final.

Compound archer L. Haridas Singh ... Read More