National champion Amittrajit Ghosh, driving a Mitsubishi Cedia, with co-driver Ashwin Naik scrambled into lead after front-running Arjun Rao and his navigator Satish Rajagopal conceded lead following a broken drive shaft to drop to overall sixth on the opening day of AVT Premium South India Rally, here today.
     On a day of hot and furious action in the first round of the FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship, 2011 champion Gaurav Gill and his partner Musa Sherif of team Mahindra Adventure in a Mahindra XUV 500, topped the time charts with a blistering one hour, 13 minutes, 22.2 seconds as against Ghosh's 01:16:00.7.
     While the SUV category made its debut in Indian rallying, so did Volkswagen Polo with Sirish Chandran (Nikhil Pai) leading in the 1600cc class, ahead of Byram Godrej (Prjajwal Pai), driving a Maruti Baleno, in second place with Rao in third after docking road penalty of two minutes, 20 seconds for late check-out from service at the end of the day.
     It was ...

Ghosh surges into lead; Gill quickest

PTI Automatic

Not just the top shuttlers like Saina Nehwal and P Kashyap, but others at the juniors and sub-junior levels are also doing well in the international circuit, which says a lot about the future of the game in India, chief national coach Pullela Gopichand said here today.
     "If you look at the performances of our players in the last few years, there have been very good performances. The notable one is of course the medal at the London Olympics (won by Saina). But we also won two gold, a silver and a bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi for the first time. We also won medals in the world championships," said Gopichand.
     "Not only that, we got medals in the world juniors and Asian junior and sub-juniors events. These medals we got for the first time. We also got a silver at the youth Olympics," he told reporters here.
     The coach further said that the youngsters have started reaching the semifinals of the world junior championships more often in the recent times.
     "In ...

Juniors shuttlers doing well: Gopichand

East Bengal's I-League aspirations received a big blow when Air India struck through Henry Ezeh in the dying minutes for a 1-1 draw in their round 21 fixture here today.
     Leading 1-0 after Edeh Chidi's 60th minute strike, the last year's runners up got the shocker in the 90 + 1st minute when Henry outran East Bengal defender Uga Okpara before firing past goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh.
     East Bengal dropped to 41 points, two points behind leaders Churchill Brothers, who have played a match less than the former.
     Credit should also be given to Air India's Sukhwinder Singh who stood tall under the bar, thwarting four chances.
	East Bengal had some fine raids in the first-half with Chidi leading from the front, but Sukhwinder ensured that the first 45 minutes remained goalless.
	Chidi had a fine shot outside the box in the 22nd minute, but Sukhwinder saved it.
     East Bengal finally tasted success when Chidi well trapped an Andrew Barisic low cross before scoring a ...

Air India hold East Bengal

Opener Murali Vijay today said that the ongoing fourth Test match against Australia is "evenly poised and can go either way" but expressed confidence of chasing down any target set by the opponents.
     "It is interesting. The match is evenly poised right now. It can go either way. It will be crucial as to how many runs the tail-enders score," Vijay, who made 57 in India's day end score of 266 for eight today, said.
     Asked what will be an achievable fourth innings target, Vijay replied, "Whatever target they set will be chased. No two ways about it."
     Vijay criticised the track in a veiled manner, stating that it was difficult to judge the speed of the deliveries.
     "The wicket is getting slower and lower. The cracks are getting wider and it is really difficult to judge the speed of the deliveries," he said.
     The opener, however, revealed that the pitch prepared by Venkat Sundaram is certainly not conducive for good batting.
     "It's a wicket where scoring runs is ...

Whatever target Aussies set will be chased: Vijay

Relegation-wary Mohun Bagan may miss the services of ace striker Odafa Okolie in their round 21 I-League fixture against Pailan Arrows here tomorrow.
     The Nigerian is recovering from a bout of fever and defender Ibor Khongjee, too, is down with the same ailment. The team will also miss defender Nirmal Chhetri who is suspended with four bookings.
     "It is a long league and there is always a possibility of missing some players. It is a team game and we will put our best for a win," Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa said.
     Despite the shortcomings, the Moroccan was confident they would come up from the relegation zone.
     "We are under pressure to perform being at the bottom of the standings. But I am confident the team will be able to save relegation," he said of the team lying on the bottom of the table with six points from 15 matches.
     Arrows, who are currently 10th in the league standings with 19 points from as many matches, however are keen to give Mohun Bagan a ...

Mohun Bagan keen for win vs Arrows

Fresh from their IFA Shield triumph, United SC continued their winning momentum with a 1-0 victory over United Sikkim FC in a 21st round I-league fixture at the Paljor Stadium here today.
     Nigerian Ranty Martins made all the difference with his 25th minute strike in a match coach Eelco Schattorie rested key players like Calros Hernandez and Gourmangi Singh.
     United SC moved to fourth spot with 34 points from 21 matches, while the Bhiachung Bhutia-owned side remained in the relegation zone, lying on the 13th place with 12 points from 21 matches.
     The Kolkata club, which won the first leg with a collosal 10-1 margin, were not in their prime but Martins struck through a beautiful through ball from Kayne Vincent that caught United Sikkim defense napping.
     Martins calmly lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Rakshit Kumar to score the only goal of the match.
     The leading I-League scorer should have added another goal to his tally but he lashed his volley over the United ...

Ranty wins it for United SC

A second-half strike from Milagres Gonsalves saw Salgaocar FC beat Mumbai FC by a solitary goal in the 21st round of the I-League, played at the Duler Stadium here today.
     After a barren first half, Salgaocar scored the all- important goal in the 58th minute through Milagres Gonsalves.
     The win takes Salgaocar to 23 points from  21 matches while Mumbai FC remained on 26 points from 20 matches.
     Both the teams failed to live upto their billing and a good part of the action was restricted to midfield play.
     Salgaocar who had two of their players suspended in the last match, felt the absence of Josimar Silva as they lacked sharpness in their attack.
     They had more possession in the first half, had a couple of clear chances, but Obotola failed to direct his shots on target.
     The Mumbai FC came back strongly in the later part of the first session creating more openings, but the moves lacked the punch and hardly threatened the rival goal.
     Changing over, the ...

Salgaocar beat Mumbai FC by solitary goal

Injury-hit Dempo will have to tighten their defence if they are to beat Sporting Clube de Goa in their 21st round I-League match, to be played at the Duler Stadium here tomorrow.
     Dempo, who haven't played well of late that saw them slip to third place with 35 points from 19 matches, seven points behind leaders Churchill Brothers Sports club, will have to reshuffle their defence against Sporting, who are high on confidence after beating Salgaocar 3-1.
     Defenders Mahesh Gawli, Valerian Rebelo and Samir Naik, who are nursing injuries, will skip the match and coach Armando Colaco will have to replace them with their reserves Selwyn Fernandes and Prathamesh Maulingkar who has been taken on loan from Pailan Arrows.
     "It's a crucial match tomorrow and we need to win if we are to keep hopes of defending the title," stated Colaco.
     "There is nothing to worry as we have good bench strength and with our midfield and striker, force remains the same. We need to keep focus ...

Injury-hit Dempo take on upbeat Sporting

Jeev Milkha Singh gave himself an outside chance to make a bid for the Maybank Malaysian Open with a fine run of five-under through 11 holes in the third round of the tournament that has now been reduced to 54 holes.
     Six-time winner on Asian tour and Four-time winner on European Tour, Jeev charged from three-under through two rounds to eight under after just 11 holes in the third round.
     He was lying tied 10th but only three shots behind the leader, Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who was 11-under through two holes in the third round.
     Shiv Kapur, the only other Indian to make the cut when the second round was completed on Saturday, shot 71 in second round to make the cut and was then even par through seven holes in the third to get to one-under for 43 holes and tied 42nd.
     Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters winner, was at 10-under after two holes in the third round, while there seven players including Padraig Harrington and Wu Ashun at nine-under.
     Jeev had a ...

Outside chance for Jeev, lies three behind leader in Malaysia

Sparks flew thick and fast between Ravindra Jadeja and David Warner as the two players found themselves involved in an ugly spat during the second day's play of the fourth and final Test here today.
     It all started when Aussie pacer James Pattinson had a word with Jadeja, something that the India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni did not like.
     When Pattinson returned to bowl, Dhoni was warned by the umpire for running on the pitch.
     While a smiling Dhoni tried to settle the matter at his end, Warner, positioned at mid-on, looked the most animated and mumbled some profane words. Jadeja, at the non-striker's end, retorted by showing the handle of his bat.
     This further provoked the Australian opener and he complained to the umpire. The on-field umpires then called upon Jadeja and had a word with him.
     Both Dhoni and Australia's stand-in skipper Shane Watson were called in to soothe the fraying nerves but that did not seem to have deterred Warner and Jadeja from having ...

India, Australia indulge in sledging at Kotla

Sahara Force India drivers were troubled by wet track due to rain as Adrian Sutil will begin tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix from eighth position while Paul Di Resta will start from as back as P15 on the grid, here.
     Sutil, who was fastest in Q1, had qualified ninth but was pushed up a place due to three-place grid penalty imposed on last week's winner Kimi Raikkonen, who had qualified seventh.
     Sutil made it to Q3 but his lap timings suffered due to wet conditions. His fastest lap came in 1:53.439 which was enough for just ninth place.
     The German is now praying for a dry race since he is not at all comfortable with intermediate tyres in slippery conditions.
     "It's a shame that the rain arrived for Q3 because our pace in the dry had been very strong. I'm still not totally confident with these tyres in the wet and the car was sliding around in the corners with too much oversteer.
     "I will hope for a dry race because we have a competitive car and I'm happy with the .

Sutil to begin Malaysian GP in 8th position, di Resta 15th

Somdev Devvarman set up his biggest match of the season, a pre-quarterfinal clash with world number one Novak Djokovic in the ATP Miami Masters, after scripting yet another come-from-behind win, here.
     The unseeded Indian overcame world number 80 Edouard Roger-Vasselin from France 4-6 6-4 7-5 in the second round.
     Somdev saved seven of the nine break chances he faced in the match and that proved crucial in his win.
     With this victory, Somdev levelled the head-to-head record 1-1 with Edouard. The last they played was in 2009 when the Frenchman had emerged winner on Rhodes, Greece.
     He now plays the six-time Grand Slam winner for a place in the quarter-finals. In his previous clashes with one of the greatest players of all time such as Rafael Nadal, Somdev had put up a good challenge.
     Earlier, Mahesh Bhupathi and Daniel Nestor advanced to the second round of the men's doubles event after a hard-fought victory over Richard Gasquet and Edouard.
     Bhupathi and ...

Somdev to play Djokovic in Miami Masters 3rd round

India were 266 for eight at stumps on the second day of the fourth and final cricket Test against Australia here today.
     Brief scores:
     Australia: 262 all out in 112.1 overs (Peter Siddle 51, Phil Hughes 45; Ravichandran Ashwin 5/57).
     India: 266 for eight in 68.1 overs (Murali Vijay 57, Cheteshwar Pujara 52; Nathan Lyon 5/94).

India 266/8 at stumps on Day 2

Sahara Force India drivers were troubled by wet track due to rain as Adrian Sutil qualified ninth while Paul Di Resta will start tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix from as back as P15 on the grid, here.
     Sutil, who was fastest in Q1, made it to Q3 but his lap timings suffered due to wet conditions. His fastest lap came in 1:53.439 which was enough for just ninth place.
     The German is now praying for a dry race since he is not at all comfortable with intermediate tyres in slippery conditions.
     "It's a shame that the rain arrived for Q3 because our pace in the dry had been very strong. I'm still not totally confident with these tyres in the wet and the car was sliding around in the corners with too much oversteer.
     "I will hope for a dry race because we have a competitive car and I'm happy with the balance. The target is to try and push to the front tomorrow with a good strategy and come away with points or maybe more," Sutil said.
     Di Resta, whose fastest lap in Q2 ...

Sutil to begin Malaysian GP in 9th position, di Resta 15th

Murali Vijay continued with his fine form against Australia as his impressive half century and a solid opening stand with Cheteshwar Pujara took India to 135 for two at tea on the second day of the fourth and final cricket Test against Australia here today.
     India are now 127 runs behind Australia's first innings score of 262.
     At the break, Vijay was batting on 54 in company of Sachin Tendulkar, who survived a few anxious moments including a strong leg before appeal to remain unbeaten on 12.
     Vijay has faced 114 balls so far hitting eight boundaries in the process.
     For Australia, the post-lunch session turned out to be a productive one with Nathan Lyon accounting for both Pujara (52) and Virat Kohli (1).
     The makeshift opening stand of Pujara (52) and Vijay yielded 108 runs in 25 overs.
     At the beginning of the innings, Pujara played a majestic backfoot cover drive off Pattinson after Vijay opened his account with a streaky boundary past the slip cordon.
     

India reach 135 for two at tea

India were 135 for two at tea in reply to Australia's 262 all out in first innings on the second day of the fourth and final cricket Test here today.
     Brief scores:
     Australia: 262 all out in 112.1 overs (Phil Hughes 45, Peter Siddle 51; Ravichandran Ashwin 5/57).
     India: 135 for two in 38 overs (Murali Vijay batting 54; Cheteshwar Pujara 52; Nathan Lyon 2/32).

India 135/2 at tea in reply to Australia's 262

ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson has suggested that India's bad experience of the Decision Review System when it was first trialled might have played a part in BCCI's refusal to accept the controversial technology.
     Richardson said it could take a long time for the BCCI to accept DRS and former players like Anil Kumble, who is now ICC Cricket Committee chairman, can play a role in influencing the Indian Board.
     "They are a long way from saying 'it's a good idea'. I don't think it's necessarily only the administrators, say people like Anil Kumble for example. He's going to take some persuading," Richardson said.
     "He (Kumble) was captain of the India team when they first trialled it and the technology wasn't very good. The players weren't used to it so every time the Indians asked for a review it went against them," he told 'Test Match Special' radio programme of the BBC.
     "I think it was Sehwag or one of their star batsmen who was given out by mistake by ...

ICC does not expect BCCI to accept DRS soon

Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner, is set to inaugurate the 26th Australian Sikh Games to be held here on March 29.
     The India-origin runner, who is turning 102 on April 1, had recently announced his retirement after participating in the Hong Kong marathon.
     He said that he has decided to give up marathon because of health reasons but will continue to run for charity works.
     "I have quit marathons but I will continue to run. Running is my addiction and I am alive because of this activity," Singh said at a press conference here today.
     "I am growing old and losing weight," he said, giving reasons why he decided to quit.
     Singh is currently visiting the country for the first time and has been invited to participate in the opening ceremony of the Australian Sikh Games this year. He will be participating in a run tomorrow which has been organised for a charity for children. He is also going to be felicitated by the New South Wales Parliament next week.
   

Fauja to inaugurate Australian Sikh Games

An Indian Premier League type inter zonal all India cricket tournament for the physically challenged will be held here at three grounds on March 31 and April 1 as part of the silver jubilee celebrations of All India Cricket Association for the Physically Challenged.
	AICPC president and former India captain Ajit Wadekar said at a media conference here last night that six teams would take part in the LIC title-sponsored event representing five zones - south, west, east, central and north - plus the President's XI.
	Three gymkhana grounds - Police Gymkhana, P J Hindu Gymkhana and Islam Gymkhana - have been earmarked to hold the matches in the tournament which is to be inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.
	The seeds of holding cricket tournaments for the physically challenged germinated in Wadekar's mind after he was deeply touched by the enthusiasm with which his victorious 1971 squad that returned from England was greeted during its motorcade from airport to the 

IPL type inter-zonal cricket tourney for physically challenged

In-form Murali Vijay and stand-in opener Cheteshwar Pujara provided a solid start as India reached 59 for no loss at lunch on the second day of the fourth and final cricket Test against Australia here today.
     Pujara, who has been promoted up the order in place of an injured Shikhar Dhawan, hit three boundaries to kick-start the innings while Vijay also managed to hang around despite playing a few edgy strokes after Australia ended their first innings on 262.
     At the break, Pujara was batting on 28 while Vijay remained undefeated on 23 with four boundaries.
     Pujara played a majestic backfoot cover drive off pacer James Pattinson after Vijay opened his account with a streaky boundary past the slip cordon.
     Pattinson drifted one onto Pujara's pads and the batsman promptly got his second boundary. Then came the best shot of the morning session as Pujara hit left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson for a straight drive.
     The three boundaries gave Pujara confidence to get off the 

India reach 59/0 at lunch on Day 2

India were 59 for no loss at lunch in reply to Australia's 262 all out in first innings on the second day of the fourth and final cricket Test here today.
     Brief scores:
     Australia: 262 all out in 112.1 overs (Phil Hughes 45, Peter Siddle 51; Ravichandran Ashwin 5/57).
     India: 59 for loss in 14 overs (Murali Vijay batting 23; Cheteshwar Pujara batting 28).

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