Sania rises in WTA rankings

NEW DELHI, Apr 14: Ailing with wrist pain, Sania Mirza climbed to the 30th spot in the latest WTA rankings issued today even though the Indian star is out of action for the last one month.

Sania, now has 917 points while her doubles ranking too showed improvement as she moved to 19th position with 1830 points.

Meanwhile, Indian veterans Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi remained static in their ATP doubles’ rankings.

Paes held his 24th spot while his Davis Cup partner Bhupathi was at 13th place.

Putting their past differences behind, both Paes and Bhupathi put up a spirited performance in the doubles match against Japan’s Satoshi Iwabuchi and Takao Suzuki to lead 3-0 in the tournament.

Paes and Bhupathi, who have won three Grand Slams together, were seen in action after a gap of almost two years.

The last time they played together was in Doha Asia Games in 2006, but their win against the Japanese duo in the Davis Cup sealed a place for India in the September’s world play-off. (UNI)

Vikram Kumar S/o Ved Parkash Sharma and Meera Sharma, who has been awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph D) in Botany by the University of Jammu. He worked on the topic " Studies on Diversity of Spermatophytes of Parnai Watershed, Poonch" under the supervision of Prof Shashi Kant.

Mumbai Franchisee hoping for solution to IPL-media row

MUMBAI, Apr 14: Expressing concern over row over the stiff conditions for media accreditation for coverage of the Indian Premier League matches, the Mumbai Indians team officials today expressed optimism that a solution would be found.

"It’s not a matter for us to say anything on it. It does cause some concern, but there have been some minor roadblocks which had been handled well by the ipl authorities and we are confident that they will handle this too," said R Balachandran, Director of the team promoters indiawin sports, at a media conference here today.

The IPL authorities, headed by its Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi, have held discussions with the media representatives to resolve the dispute amicably, but a mutually agreeable solution has remained elusive. (PTI)

Sharapova wins first claycourt title

AMELIA ISLAND (Florida), Apr 14: Top seed Maria Sharapova won her first claycourt title by defeating Dominika Cibulkova 7-6 (9/7), 6-3 in the final of the 600,000 WTA Amelia Island tournament.

The Australian Open champ Sharapova dispatched Cibulkova in just under two hours yesterday for her third title of the year and 19th of her career.

It was the first championship on clay for the 20-year-old Sharapova, who had been 0-3 in previous showings.

Despite being a heavy favourite at the tier II event, Sharapova was challenged on the green clay here by Cibulkova before earning 95,500 dollars for the win.

The Russian beauty was well rested as she walked over in Saturday’s semi-finals against American Lindsay Davenport, who could not play due to an illness. (AGENCIES)

Aircel to sponsor Chennai Super Kings

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 14: Aircel, one of the leading service telecom service providers has announced to sponsor Chennai Super Kings in the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament.

The Chennai Super Kings team will be led by India’s Twenty20 and ODI Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and will be coached by Kepler Wessels, former South African captain.

Announcing the decision, Gurdeep Singh, Chief Operation Officer, Aircel Cellular Limited Said "Cricket is a platform that transcends all ages and socio economic groups-and this spirit reflects our brand and its usage.

Aircel’s decision to associated with IPL is part of the company’s larger strategy to enhance its brand visibility pan India as Aircel enters into its next phase of growth in the country post the allocation of additional spectrum by the Department of Telecom, Government of India for 13 new circles across India.

As the team sponsors for Chennai Super Kings, Aircel gets branding rights on the players uniform including their shirts and hats during the DLF IPL Championship.

Bhawana, Ashish clinch men, women titles

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 14: North Zone champion Bhawana Sharma and Master Ashish Kapoor bagged top honours in men and women categories respectively in the 8th Jammu District Sport Climbing championship concluded at MNDP School, R S Pura.

National champion Shivani Raj Kaith clinched Youth-B girls title while Lovish Choudhary and Princy Choudhary emerged winners in sub junior boys and girls sections respectively.

In Youth-B boys category, Anoop Gupta and Reshav Kharotra finished first and second respectively followed by Sandeep Kapoor and Raipur Gujran who had to be content with joint third spot.

Anil Choudhary, Principal, MNDP School was the chief guest on the occasion.

Dr C K Khajuria, Shamsher Singh, Rahul Sharma, Sanjeev Gupta, Charu Nagar ,Sumit Khajuria and Ram Khajuria were also present.

The competition was organised by the Mountaineering Association of J&K.

Final Results:

Men: Ashish Kapoor (1st), Raman Kumar (2nd) and Ramneet (3rd).

Women: Bhawana Sharma (1st), Shivati Koul (2nd) and Arti Sharma (3rd).

Youth-B (boys): Anoop Kumar (1st), Reshav Kharotra (2nd) and Sandeep Kumar (3rd).

Youth-B (girls): Shivani Raj Kaith (1st), Harjot Kour (2nd) and Anjali Adhikari (3rd).

Sub Junior Boys: Lovish Choudhary (1st), Taj Parvesh Singh (2nd) and Gagandeep Singh (3rd).

Sub Junior Girls: Princy Choudhary (1st), Vinay Preet Kour (2nd) and Jasdeep Kour (3rd).

SCC, SACC, RCC register wins

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 14: SCC, SACC and RCC registered wins today in the ongoing Rajive Sumair Memorial cricket tournament being played at Deva Ground, Sua.

In the first match, SCC got the better of SSCC.

SSCC won the toss and opted to bat first. They accumulated 109 runs in the allotted overs.

Kuldeep was the top scorer with 23 runs. For SCC, Proveen was the pick of the bowlers with three scalps followed by Mintu and Rajesh who grabbed two wickets apiece.

SCC overhauled the target in just 10 overs. Sanjay (30) and Rahul (25) were the main contributors.

Proveen was adjudged man of the match.

In the second match, SACC prevailed over MR-XI by 5 wickets. Batting first, MR-XI posted 112 runs. SACC chased the target in 19 overs with Sanam top scored with 33. He was also declared man of the match.

In the third match, RCC overwhelmed WCC by 1 wicket in an eventful contest.

WCC made 104 runs in 20 overs. RCC romped home in 19 overs losing nine wickets in the process.

Deepu and Amit played fine knocks of 22 and 24 runs respectively. Deepu was declared man of the match.

Rohit Memorial Cricket Tournament
SCC, UCC enter final

Excelsior Sports Corespondent

JAMMU, Apr 14: Surinder Cricket Club (SCC) and Unique Cricket Club (UCC) have secured a berth in the finals of the ongoing Rohit Dogra Memorial Cricket Tournament being played at MAM College Grounds.

The semifinals were played today. In the first semifinal, Surinder Cricket Club subdued Super Star Cricket Club by 14 runs.

Surinder Cricket Club won the toss and opted to bat first. They piled up 112 in 19.2 overs.

Shashi (24), Raju Verma (23) and Mintoo (15) were the main contributors.

For Super Star Cricket Club, Ajay Verma was the most successful bowler with four wickets while Rakesh and Deepak took two and one wicket respectively.

In reply, Super Star Cricket Club could manage 98/8 in their allotted quota of overs.

Monu and Manoj played gutsy knocks of 36 and 16 runs respectively but that wasn’t enough.

For Surinder Cricket Club, Raju Verma and Manoj shared two wickets each.

Raju Verma was declared man of the match.

The umpires in the match were Ajay Raina and Sadiq Hussain Malik. The scorer was Gokul Verma.

In the second match, Unique Cricket Club (UCC) thrashed JKP XI by 6 wickets.

Batting first, JKP XI bowled out for 108 in 19.1 overs. Atul Sharma was the top scorer with 21 runs while Naresh and Danny chipped in with 18 and 16 runs respectively.

For UCC, Deeraj grabbed three wickets whereas Rakesh Bhan and Ashu took two wickets each.

Chasing 113 to win, UCC took 16.1 overs to overhaul the target with six wickets intact.

Ashu Bajaj played a match winning knock of 44 runs studded with 3 boundaries and four hits for the maximum.

Sheetal and Deeraj also made a useful contribution of 16 runs each. Rajesh Gill was the pick of the bowlers for JKP XI with three wickets.

Ashu Bajaj was adjudged man of the match. The match was officiated by Sanjay Raina and Vinod Koul.

The scorer was Gokul Verma.

Pakistan outlast Bangladesh for win

LAHORE, Apr 14: Pakistan rode on brilliant hundreds by openers Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal to outlast Bangladesh by 23 runs and win the third day-night international at the Gaddafi Stadium here.

Butt hit a career-best 137-ball 132 while Akmal scored 81-ball 100 that laid the foundation for Pakistan’s 308-8 in 50 overs before the tourists gave the home team a scare by reaching 285-7 in 50 overs last night.

The victory gave Pakistan an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

"It was a hard fought win. We got a good start but credit to Bangladesh for restricting us by bowling well. They also batted well to give us a run for our money but I am happy that we won in the end," said captain Shoaib Malik.

Shakib Al Hasan raised Bangladesh’s hopes with a pugnacious 73-ball 75. But once he fell, it was curtains for the visitors with 59 runs required off the last four overs.

Bangladesh earlier threatened to upset when opener Tamim Iqbal (63) and Aftab Ahmed (42) cut loose during a 81-ball 90-run partnership for the second wicket after Bangladesh lost opener Shahriar Nafees without scoring.

Iqbal, who scored 60 at Faisalabad, hit eight boundaries during his 69-ball knock before his entertaining innings came to an end with a brilliant piece of fielding by Fawad Alam from deep point.

Going for a third run, Iqbal fell short of his crease.

Alam was again at his best when he ran out Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful (16) from covers. In between the fielding brilliance, Ahmed was caught behind off Malik.

Hasan and Mahmudullah Riad (24) added 59 for the fifth wicket as Bangladesh needed 103 off the last ten overs. Afridi (2-48) removed Ferhad Reza (13) and Hasan to finally end the tourists’ resistance.

It was Bangladesh’s highest total against Pakistan, eclipsing the 244-7 they made in Karachi in 2003.

Ashraful said his team gave away 30 runs too many.

"It was a very good game and a couple of runouts didn’t help our cause. We gave some 30 runs more but I am happy that we put up a good show," he said.

Earlier Butt and Akmal put the tourists’ attack to the sword.

Butt followed his 76 in Pakistan’s seven-wicket win in the second match at Faisalabad on Friday with his fifth one-day hundred, sharing a 151-run partnership with Akmal for the first wicket after Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat.

Butt and Akmal were in a punishing mood from the start as they shared an opening stand of 151 by he 24th over, hitting he bowlers to all corners of the park.

Akmal, who suvived a confident leg-bfore appeal against paceman Mashrafe Mortaza when on one, hit pacemen Shahadat Hossain and Rez for three boundaries each to enter the 90s.

The 26-year-old took a single of Mortaza to complete his hundred, but was bowled by Mahmudullah on the very next ball. He hit 16 boundaries and a six.

The 23-year-old Butt was steady, reaching his hundred off 106 balls with eleven boundaries and ensured Pakistan did not spoil a good start after losing Bazid Khan (two), Mohammad Yousuf (two) and Shahid Afridi (13) in quick succession.

Bazid, brought in as one of three changes to the Pakistan team, failed to make his ground after goig for a sharp single while Yousuf was stumped off left-arm spinner Hasan after playing eight deliveries. (AGENCIES)

Don’t crib about turners, learn to play on them: Warne

JAIPUR, Apr 14: Instead of cribbing about the turning tracks in India visiting teams should learn to play on them as there is nothing wrong in the host side’s insistence on having wickets that work to its advantage, feels Australian spin legend Shane Warne.

India drew the three-match Test series against South Africa 1-1 after winning the third match in Kanpur on a crumbling track that invited the Proteas’ ire.

But Warne, who is here to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Rajasthan Royals team, said visiting teams should come prepared for turners.

"I see nothing wrong in this. Every team visiting India expects such kind of wickets. Every team tries to take advantage of the home conditions and their strengths. I would love to have a spinning track right here if it suits Rajasthan Royals," Warne said here today.

"Don’t the Indians have to play on hard and bouncy wickets in Australia or South Africa? That is the whole fun in cricket. You have to play on different kind of surfaces and have to prove yourself on them. It is a great challenge," he added.

Warne, who will captain the Rajasthan Royals in IPL, said he was impressed by the young talent pool that India has.

"I am quite pleased with what I saw. We have a young talented bunch. They are dynamic and skill is there," he said.

"After being with the youngsters I am feeling young too. Opportunities create wonderful things. I am looking forward to pass on my knowledge to these youngsters. I hope that they learn few tricks," he added.

The tweaker, who bid adieu to his international career after last year’s Ashes series against England, said he was working on his fitness to get back in shape for the IPL.

"I bowl in nets while workout in camps of the state team. I am not in best of conditions but while bowling in nets I have been able to remove some of the cobwebs which might have developed while was away from top level cricket," he said.

"I have been doing strengthening exercises and loosening out. I am anxious to have a go," he added.

On a lighter note, Warne said apart from IPL, bollywood was also an enticing option for the Australian cricketers. Aussie pace spearhead Brett Lee has already made some inroads into bollywood and Warne feels a couple of more are also capable of making a mark.

"There are few others like my fellow Australian Shane Watson who are good enough to excel in films," he quipped. (PTI)

USA join Russia, Argentina, Spain in semi-finals

PARIS, Apr 14: USA joined Russia, Argentina and Spain in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup on after Andy Roddick beat France’s Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 for a 3-1 winning lead.

Holders USA thanked their world number six Roddick for their semi-final berth after victory over Mathieu at Winston-Salem, north Carolina in 1hr 37min.

Mathieu had his serve broken five times and did not even manage to get a break point, such was the quality of Roddick’s serve on the fast surface.

On Friday, Roddick beat Michael Llodra 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) and James Blake beat Mathieu 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 after saving two match points.

France reduced the deficit on Saturday thanks to the surprising victory of Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra against twins Bob and Mike Bryan 6-7 (7/9), 7-5, 6-3, 6-4, who had lost only once in 15 Davis Cup matches till then.

France were handicapped in their first two singles when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had to pull out with a knee injury and Richard Gasquet was out of form and had a blister on his hand.

In the September 19 to 21 semi-final, the USA will travel to Spain who beat Germany 4-1 in Bremen.

Spain had already gone through thanks to victories by Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer in Friday’s singles and by Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco in Saturday’s doubles.

Spanish captain Emilio Sanchez had said before the USA’s victory: "we’d like to take on usa again, partly because we’ll be at home for that one. We gave it everything we had against them last year and it didn’t quite come off. We’ll be eager to have another go at them." (AGENCIES)

Ganguly breaks into top 20

DUBAI, Apr 14: Riding on his man of the match performance in Kanpur, Sourav Ganguly leapfrogged seven places to be 17th in the ICC rankings for test batsmen which made him the fifth Indian in the top 20 list.

In contrast, South African pace spearhead Dale Steyn, after the side’s defeat in the third and final test, conceded his top position in the bowling chart to Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan after the Proteas lost the test.

Ganguly scored 87 and 13 not out in a low-scoring match, which helped him gain seven places on the ladder and the left-hander now sits in 17th place.

Interestingly, however, no Indian batsman appears inside the top 10 positions.

Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman are the other Indian batsmen to appear in the top 20. Tendulkar, who missed the last two tests through injury, has dropped one place to 13th position while Dravid lies in 14th place, gaining one spot.

Sehwag, who became India’s top ranked player in 12th position after hitting a swashbuckling 319 in Chennai, drops to 15th while Laxman, who scored 50 in Kanpur, stays in 19th spot.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who captained India in Kanpur, has climbed four places and is now ranked 39th.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith has improved his ranking by two places and is now in 12th spot after knocks of 69 and 35 at Green Park.

However, Jacques Kallis, who surged to the top of batting chart after the series in Pakistan last year in October, continues his slide and is now fifth after dropping three places, while Ab De Villiers falls five places to 26th spot.

Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla and Neil McKenzie have held steady in 23rd, 28th and 33rd positions respectively.

Steyn, meanwhile, squandered the opportunity to go top of the table on his own, having been level with Muralitharan after the second test in Ahmedabad, and drops to second place in the ICC player rankings for test bowlers. He is, however, well ahead of his nearest rival, Australia’s Stuart Clark.

Anil Kumble, meanwhile, remains India’s highest ranked bowler despite dropping one place to seventh after missing the series-decider because of a groin injury, while left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan, who also missed the series through injury, remains the second highest ranked India bowler in 14th position - a place he shares with Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who won the player-of-the-series award for his 19 wickets, rose one place to 19th position in a congested lower half of the top 20, where just 13 ratings points separates him from 13th placed Andrew Flintoff of England.

Sehwag may have slipped in batting rankings but he has climbed eight places in the bowling list and now sits in 51st position, two places ahead of Ishant Sharma, who took five wickets in his only appearance in the series in Kanpur.

The two South Africa bowlers to make upward movements are left-arm spinner Paul Harris and fast bowler Morne Morkel who improve two and nine places respectively to 39th and 56th spots. (PTI)