Scam-tainted Suresh Kalmadi was today ousted as the President of the Asian Athletics Association after he lost his re-election bid to Qatar's powerful rival Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad in a tight contest, bringing an end to the veteran administrator's 13-year reign at the helm.
     Kalmadi, who was jailed and later released on bail for his alleged role in the Commonwealth Games scam, lost 18-20 in the presidential elections held on the second and final day of the AAA Congress at a five-star hotel.
     All the 45 member countries of the AAA voted through secret ballot in the presence of international parent body IAAF chief Lamine Diack. There were seven invalid votes. Each country has one vote in the election.
     Kalmadi, a former Indian Olympic Association President, will also lose his membership of the IAAF Council which he has been holding since 2001 as he is no longer an area representative from the continental body.
     Today's defeat also marked the end of 69-year-old Congress ...

Kalmadi ousted from AAA, loses Presidential election

PTI Automatic

West Indies stand-in skipper Keiron Pollard lauded his team's character after the tense one-wicket win over India in a tri-nation ODI series match here, saying it was a refreshing change from the not so distant past when the side would have "capitulated completely".
     "At the end, we got over the line and that's what matters," Pollard, who was standing in for an injured Dwayne Bravo, told reporters after the match in which West Indies made heavy weather of a 230-run chase.
     "In the recent past, West Indies teams would have capitulated completely, so it shows we have a bit of fight and character in this side," he said.
     Pollard said the Caribbean team should take pride in its fighting spirit and make attacking cricket a habit.
     "We are West Indian cricketers. We attack. If we get into our shell, we get out. That's how we play cricket and it has worked for us. At the end of the day you have to back yourself," he said.
     "We have to be happy for victories. We cannot say 

Past Windies team would have capitulated: Pollard

Star Sports today announced a special week-long series - Champions Ka Champion - in celebration of India's spectacular victory at the ICC Champions Trophy last month.
     Starting today at 8 pm on Star Cricket, each episode will focus on Indian stars and their thoughts on this feat.
     The series will culminate on India captain M S Dhoni's birthday on July 5 with a special episode on the skipper himself and his journey as a leader over the years.
     The first show will be anchored by cricketer-turned-analyst, Navjot Singh Sidhu, wherein he would take viewers through a fascinating voyage of how India went from strength to strength during an unbeaten run in the event.
     This will be followed by episodes containing exclusive chat-ups with Shikhar Dhawan (July 2) and Dinesh Karthik (July 3).
     The fourth episode will carry interviews with other Team India stars like Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Virat Kohli, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma followed ..

Star Sports to broadcast special series on India's CT triumph

Sports Authority of India's (SAI) decision to restrict the Indian entries in the 22nd Deaflympics due to lack of funds has hit many players who have been robbed of an opportunity to represent the country at the quadrennial event starting in Sofia, Bulgaria from July 22.
     One such case is Parul Gupta, a tennis player with hearing disability, who is on the verge of missing out the games.
     "My daughter played eight nationals. She is playing tennis for the last ten years and her only aim is to represent country in an international event, but now it is shattered. She has decided not to play in future," Avinash Gupta, Parul's father said here.
     "My daughter practiced a whole year for this competition but at the eleventh hour she was dropped," a dejected father said.
     Sixteen-year-old Parul, who is deaf by birth, had won a silver medal in under-17 events of School Games Federation of India (SGFI) in 2012. At the National Deaf Games earlier this year, she got first position in 

Deaf lawn tennis player cries foul over SAI's decision

Scam-tainted Suresh Kalmadi was today ousted as President of the Asian Athletics Association, losing the re-election bid to Qatar's Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad on the opening day of the continental body's two-day Congress here.
     Kalmadi, who is out on bail after spending 10 months in jail for his alleged involvement in the Commonwealth Games scam, lost 18-20 while seeking re-election to a post he has held for 13 years.
     Al Hamad is the Qatar Athletics Federation President and is also senior vice-president of the Asian body.
     The biennial Congress, before the July 3-7 Asian Athletics Championships, at a five-star hotel here is being attended by IAAF President Lamine Diack, besides some top officials from the AAA and the world body.
     The Congress, which is the governing body of the association, consists of a Council and not more than two delegates from each member of the AAA. However, each member country has only one vote in the elections.
     The Athletics Federation of ...

Tainted Kalmadi loses AAA elections

Press Trust of India

Their unbeaten run brought to a halt, India would look to get over the disappointment of a narrow loss when they take on familiar sub-continental foes Sri Lanka in their second match of the tri-nation ODI series here tomorrow.
     The one-wicket loss to the West Indies yesterday ended India's nine-match winning streak during which they lifted the Champions trophy in London last month. India had won four Tests against Australia and five matches in the recent Champions Trophy on the trot.
     Tested by the conditions, the famed Indian batting struggled and even though the team's bowlers did a commendable job, the hosts managed to snatch a win by the thinnest of margins.
     The Indians also had to contend with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni not taking the field during the West Indian innings due to the cramps he suffered while batting.
     It is not clear whether Dhoni was merely dehydrated or was laid low by a hamstring injury. In case of a hamstring injury, Dhoni may not get enough .

India look to shake off opening disappointment, take on Lanka

Disappointed with the ICC's decision to not award any major event to Pakistan till 2023, national captain Misbah-ul-Haq blamed his team's recent slide on the lack of international cricket in the strife-torn country.
     "There is no doubt this team has suffered a lot because of no international cricket being played in Pakistan and to learn now that there are no international events until 2023 is very disappointing news for me," he said.
     Pakistan has not hosted any international cricket since the 2009 Lahore terror attack on the Sri Lankan team. The nation did not get any major event to host in the schedule finalised during the ICC Annual Conference in London last week.
     The team came a cropper at the recent Champions trophy in England but a defiant Misbah said his players cannot be written off after a couple of bad tournaments.
     The experienced batsman returned to Lahore from London late last night and told the media contingent at the airport that necessary changes would 

Pak not getting any ICC event till 2023 disappoints Misbah

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq has denied reports that he is in line to take over as the national team's batting coach after team's poor show in the recent Champions Trophy in England.
     "This time no one from the Pakistan Cricket Board has contacted me as yet regarding the batting coach position. Many people are asking me about this but I've had no contact from the PCB," he said.
     Inzamam was, last December, approached by the board to work as a batting consultant with the national team and even worked with the players before they went to India for a one-day series.
     "Inzamam was invited to travel with the team to India but declined as he had prior commitments with an Indian channel for the series. The board than asked him to accompany the team to South Africa," the source recalled.
     "Unfortunately the PCB and Inzamam couldn't reach an agreement so the former captain didn't travel to South Africa," he added.
     Inzamam said there was no doubt that the national 

Inzamam denies being offered Pak batting coach job

Confederations Cup finalists Brazil and Spain are gifting autographed commemorative shirts to ailing South African former president Nelson Mandela, FIFA president Sepp Blatter revealed ahead of Sunday's match in Rio.
     "To Mandela, a gift from Brazilian national team and wish you a good recover (sic)", read the inscription on the Brazil shirt which Blatter, flanked by Brazilian Football Confederation president Jose Maria Marin and Spanish counterpart Angel Maria Villar Llona, held aloft.
     Nobel peace laureate Mandela, who played a major role in the 2010 World Cup coming to South Africa - the first time the competition has been held on the African continent - is in critical condition in Pretoria where he was hospitalised on June 8 with a recurring lung infection.
     Earlier, Blatter, who presented the shirts to Tokyo Sexwale, representing the Nelson Mandela Foundation, issued a short tribute to the ailing former leader.
     "The strength of the world's most popular game which 

Brazil, Spain in shirts gift to Mandela

Brazil star Neymar won the accolade of best player at the Confederations Cup after his starring role in a competition which culminated in a 3-0 stroll over Spain.
     Neymar scored four goals, including one in the final yesterday, but his all-round play suggests he can live up the hype as potentially Brazil's greatest star since Pele.
     The silver ball award went to Andres Iniesta, who struggled in a Spanish midfield which never found its game in the final - the usually incisive Barcelona star and his teammates could not conjure their usual dominance and seemed to have left too much out on the turf in edging Italy on spotkicks in the semi-final.
     Brazil midfielder Paulinho, who headed a semi-final winner against Uruguay, landed the bronze ball.
     Fernando Torres netted another Spanish consolation prize as top scorer for the golden boot ahead of Brazilian duo Fred and Neymar.

Neymar is golden for Brazil

Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon was the difference as the Azzurri took third place at the Confederations Cup after beating Uruguay 3-2 on penalties, the pair having been locked at 2-2 following extra time in Salvador.
     Although the eyes of 200 million Brazilians were fixed on an evening final between the hosts and world champions Spain, Italian and Uruguayan fans converged on the northern city yesterday for the bronze medal which Italy carried off after skipper Buffon saved spot-kicks from Diego Forlan, Martin Caceres and Walter Gargano.
     He promptly slammed critics back home who had wondered why he was not able to stop any of Spain's seven penalties in the semi-final.
     "These things only happen in Italy - people have a short memory there," raged Buffon after the 34-year-old turned in heroics to seal victory.
     "I showed my critics," he added. "Today was a tough match and I had a lot to do out there," added the veteran shot-stopper.
     Despite the early afternoon heat ..

Italy take bronze with shootout win over Uruguay

Brazil destroyed world and European champions Spain 3-0 to win a third straight Confederations Cup title with a dazzling display of football which left the Maracana Stadium in raptures here.
     The turbo-charged samba stars roared to victory yesterday with two goals from Fred and a stunning strike from Neymar, dominating a weary Spanish side whose strength was sapped after edging Italy on penalties in Thursday's semi-final.
     A miserable night for Spain also saw them miss a second half penalty when Sergio Ramos shot wide from the spot before Barcelona defender Gerard Pique was sent off for a professional foul on Neymar.
     Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said the result as the perfect fillip as he plots a course to an assault on next year's World Cup finals in Brazil.
     "People know a much tougher event is coming up (next year)," said Scolari. But he noted: "We can set out on the journey with a little more confidence."
     Spanish counterpart Vicente del Bosque meanwhile ..

Maracana magic as Brazil steamroller Spain

The Indian cricket team's nine-match winning run came to an end after the West Indies held nerve to snatch a thrilling one-wicket victory over Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men in their ODI tri-series preliminary match here.
     Chasing a modest target of 230, West Indies made heavy weather of the chase despite a sparkling knock of 97 by opener Johnson Charles but finally managed to register their second win in the tournament with 14 balls to spare.
     With nine points from two matches, West Indies are in with a bright chance of making it to the finals. It was sweet revenge for the hosts, who had lost to India in the course of their unbeaten Champions Trophy triumph.
     Kemar Roach (14 not out) got himself a perfect birthday present as he guided West Indies by keeping cool lower down the order. He flicked Umesh Yadav (3/43) towards square leg to bring up the victory in a match where fortune swung like a pendulum.
     The foundation of the victory was laid by opener Charles who faced ...

West Indies end India's winning streak in thriller

Stand-in captain Virat Kohli admitted that he missed the vast experience of Mahendra Singh Dhoni during pressure situation against West Indies as India lost a close encounter by one wicket in their first match of the Tri-Series.
     Dhoni, who suffered from cramps while batting didn't come out to field and it was Kohli who led the side.
     "There were times when you are under pressure and you miss him (Dhoni) because he remains calm under pressure," a disappointed Kohli admitted at the post-match presentation ceremony here today.
     Kohli assessed that there was marked change in the behaviour of the wicket when West Indies batted.
     "The way the wicket played in the second innings, the score wasn't enough, but it was completely different in the morning, it was damp, it became better for batting later on."
     Kohli praised his bowlers for keeping them in the game but considered that they were unlucky as a few edges didn't carry to the fielders.
     "We tried to take as many .

Under pressure, you tend to miss Dhoni, says Kohli

West Indies beat India by one wicket in a thrilling encounter at the Celkon Mobile Tri-Series here today.
     Chasing a target of 230, West Indies chased down the score in 47.4 overs with Johnson Charles scoring 97.
     Brief Scores: India 229/7 in 50 overs (Rohit Sharma 60, Suresh Raina 44, Kemar Roach 2/41, Sarren Sammy 2/41).
     West Indies 230/9 in 47.4 overs (Johnson Charles 97, Darren Bravo 55, Umesh Yadav 3/43). WI won by 1 wicket.

West Indies beat India by one-wicket

Kemar Roach got himself a perfect birthday present as he guided West Indies to a thrilling one-wicket victory over India in a nail-biting encounter of the Celkon Mobile Cup Tri-Series here today.
     Chasing a modest target of 230, West Indies made a heavy weather of the chase despite a sparkling knock of 97 by opener Johnson Charles but finally managed to register their second win in the tournament with 14 balls to spare.
     With nine points from two matches, West Indies are in with a bright chance of making it to the finals.
     Roach (14 no) kept his cool as he flicked Umesh Yadav (3/43) towards square leg to bring up the victory in a match where fortune swung like a pendulum.
     The foundation of the victiry was laid by opener Charles who faced 100 balls hitting eight boundaries and four huge sixes. He added 116 runs for the fourth wicket with Darren Bravo (55) and the victory didn't look out of sight.
     Credit to Indian bowlers who made a fantastic comeback as they got ..

West Indies beat India by one wicket in an exciting finish

Indian seamers struck thrice within first five overs as West Indies were struggling at 26 for three after 5 overs chasing a target of 230 in a Celkon Mobile Cup Tri-series match here today.
     Umesh Yadav removed opposition's best batsman Chris Gayle (11) and followed it up with wicket of Devon Smith (0) while Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled Marlon Samuels (1) to reduce West Indies to 26 for three.
     Gayle was dismissed as a delivery from Umesh rose awkwardly and it hit the upper portion of his bat. The resultant catch was taken by Suresh Raina stationed at short cover.
     In his next over, Yadav removed left-hander Smith with an inswinger while Samuels dragged one from Kumar back onto his stumps.
     Earlier, India reached 229 for seven, courtesy half-century from Rohit Sharma (60) and an useful contribution from Suresh Raina (44).

WI in trouble at 26 for three after 5 overs

Indian batsmen battled hard on a difficult track as they managed 229 for seven in stipulated 50 overs against West Indies in a Celkon Mobile Cup Tri-Series match here today.
     Rohit Sharma (60) scored a composed half-century while Suresh Raina contributed an useful 44 after the 'Men In Blue' were put into bat by West Indies' stand-in captain Kieron Pollard.
     Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni battled cramps that hampered his running between the wickets badly yet he carried on manfully to chip in with 27 off 34 balls before he was cleaned up by a Tino Best inswinger.
     There were two notable partnerships in the Indian innings ----  59 for the third wicket between Sharma and Dinesh Karthik and 58 for the fifth wicket between Raina and Dhoni.
     Indian batsmen could manage only 17 boundaries in all apart from three sixes. The mandatory batting Powerplay also yielded only 27 runs which was a testimony to the fact that the track wasn't conducive for ODI cricket.
      Sharma ...

India manage to score 229 for seven vs West Indies

His seventh place finish helped Sahara Force India gather eight valuable world championship points but driver Adrian Sutil was still left disappointed as he could not make it to the podium after running at the third position at one stage here.
     Sutil was running third after beginning the race from sixth position but lost his way in the last six laps as Mark Webber, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton all passed him.
     While Sutil picked up six points, Paul Di Resta fetched two more points after signing off at ninth places at the dramatic race, which was overshadowed by a dangerous spate of Pirelli tyre failures.
     "The start of the race was looking very good because we were always planning a two-stop strategy and I was up into fourth on lap one. It was a challenge to look after the tyres and keep them going, but the main problem for me was the second safety car because the cars around me chose to pit," Adrian said after the race.
     "I stayed out and was ...

It's disappointing to slip back so close to finish: Sutil

Mahi Racing Team India rider Kenan Sofuoglu finished at the top in the seventh leg of the 2013 World Supersport Championship, pipping leader Sam Lowes from previous race by three seconds.
      The defending world champion, who began the race in second spot after the qualification rounds held yesterday, overtook Lowes on the first turn itself and then maintained the lead throughout the race which was affected by an oil spill on the track.
     Till the spill, Sofuoglu had asserted his supremacy on the race with the fastest lap of 1.51.960 on the third lap to open up a big gap between him and Lowes.
     The race was red flagged with 14 laps to go when Prorace Honda rider Valentin Debise had an engine blow out and oil spilled on the track. The race was not immediately stopped but with two more incidents of slipping due to the oil spill forced the race stewards to bring out the red flag and bring an end to the race.
     Sofuoglu's victory also ended a four race winning sequence of ...

Mahi Racing Team's Sofuoglu finishes at top in Imola

Nico Rosberg survived great late pressure to claim his second win of the season in Sunday's thrilling and dramatic British Grand Prix.
     It was the Mercedes team's first victory in Britain since Stirling Moss won in 1955 and Rosberg's second in three races and third of his career and came just three days after he celebrated his 28th birthday.
     But the race was overshadowed by a dangerous spate of Pirelli tyre failures, including one that blew home hero Briton Lewis Hamilton's hopes of a home win in the other Mercedes car as he led from pole position.
     However, the 2008 world champion produced a remarkable drive to storm from last place - which is where he was when he resumed his race - to finish fourth.
     In all, four drivers were hit by tyre blowouts while championship leading defending triple world champion German Sebastian Vettel was forced to retire his Red Bull for the first time this year after inheriting the lead.
     Hamilton's tyre explosion was followed by ...

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