Chakvetadze ousted at Family Circle Cup

CHARLESTON (South Carolina), Apr 16: Third-seeded Russian Anna Chakvetadze was sent crashing out of the Family Circle Cup after being upset in the second round by unseeded Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 1-6, 6-2.

Surprising defeats during the past two months have become common for Chakvetadze, who is just 4-5 since her title run at Paris in February.

Three of those defeats have been to players ranked 66th or lower, including this loss to the 86th-ranked Cirstea.

Fifth-seeded American Serena Williams avoided the upset bug and ran her winning streak to 12 matches after recording a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Argentina’s Gisela Dulko in their second-round clash yesterday.

This is the 26-year-old’s first tournament since capturing the 30th championship of her career at the Sony Ericsson Open in Florida earlier this month.

Her best effort here came in 2005 when she lost to Justine Henin in the final. However, Williams’ last two appearances at this clay court tournament in 2004 and 2007 have ended in the early rounds due to injury.

Sixth-seeded Marion Bartoli hopes to turnaround a dismal season when she faces Casey Dellacqua.

One of the top eight seeds to receive a first-round bye, the 11th-ranked Frenchwoman is just 5-8 this year and has lost her first match in five of eight events entered.

In one of 10 first-round matches yesterday, American wild card Bethanie Mattek advanced to book a matchup with No. 2 Maria Sharapova, who claimed her first claycourt title at Amelia Island on Sunday.

Defending champion Jelena Jankovic is the top seed and opens play today against American qualifier Alexandra Stevenson. (AGENCIES)

3rd ODI abandoned, West Indies clinch series

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Apr 16: Persistent rain stopped the third and final one-day cricket international between West Indies and Sri Lanka with the match evenly poised.

The home team was 81 for two off 18.2 overs, chasing Sri Lanka’s 257 for eight off 50, when showers swept across Beausejour stadium and caused the abandonment of the match and a no result yesterday.

West Indies sealed the three-match series 2-0 following victories last Thursday and Saturday in Trinidad.

Opener Sewnarine Chattergoon topscored for West Indies with 46.

Mahela Udawatte and Tillakaratne Dilshan hit half centuries to lead Sri Lanka’s effort.

Opener Udawatte topscored with 73 off 121 balls to help contain an early wobble.

Dilshan powered the late charge with 64 off 54 deliveries as West Indies conceded 78 runs off the last nine overs.

Chamara Kapugedara (40) and Kaushalya Weeraratne (41) supported well.

Captain Chris Gayle led the home side with two for 41 off 10 overs before he tumbled in the field and limped off with a suspected groin strain.

Daren Powell took two for 50 on his 30th birthday while Dwayne Bravo claimed two for 67.

West Indies began strongly after Gayle won his third straight toss and again inserted the Sri Lankans.

The visitors slumped to 44-3 after 12 overs with the seasoned trio of Kumar Sangakkara 1), captain Mahela Jayawardene (17) and Chamara Silva (6) back in the pavilion.

Sangakkara, promoted to open, gave Powell a birthday gift from his first delivery as he chipped to short extra cover off the leading edge.

Powell’s fine day continued when he hauled in a magnificent leaping catch at short fine leg to dismiss Jayawardene of Bravo.

The Jamaican added the wicket of Silva, caught down the legside by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, to put his side on top.

But Udawatte an Kapugedara restored the innings with a stand of 84 for the fourth wicket.

The 21-year-old Udawatte, in his first international series, completed his maiden half century off 87 balls.

Kapugedara hit two fours off 52 balls before Gayle claimed a simple return catch to halt the partnership.

Gayle added the wicket of Udawatte as Sri Lanka slipped to 172-5 in the 40th over. The left-hander slammed five fours and a six off 121 balls before a slick legside stumping by Ramdin ended is knock.

Dilshan and Weeraratne applied an excellent finish to the innings as they added 79 off 56 balls for the sixth wicket.

Dilshan cracked three fours and a six and ran swiftly between the wickets before he holed out in the penultimate over.

Weeraratne fell in the final over after cracking a four and two big legside sixes.

West Indies began with a volley of strokes from Chattergoon and Runak Morton.

The pair added 54 for the first wicket in 8.1 overs before both departed to even the contest.

Morton (17) edged a drive to wicketkeeper Sangakkara, who then snared Chattergoon standing up to Chaminda Vaas.

Chattergoon smashed six fours and a six in 46 off 53 balls.

Ramnaresh Sarwan (13 not out) and Marlon Samuels (3 not out) were unbeaten when the weather had the final say. (AGENCIES)

Tendulkar pulls out of Olympic torch relay run

MUMBAI, Apr 16: The troubled Olympic torch relay run in the capital tomorrow suffered yet another jolt with Sachin Tendulkar today pulling out of the event though on medical grounds.

The master batsman has been advised by his IPL team physio A Ijaz not to take part in the run in view of his groin injury, sources close to Mumbai Indians team said.

The physio told Tendulkar to skip in the event, they said.

Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi, however, said he has not received any information in this regard.

"IOA has not received any communication from Tendulkar withdrawing from the torch relay run. He told me a few days back that he will be arriving in Delhi on April 17 morning. I have not received any communication to the contrary...We have to wait and see," Kalmadi said.

IOA general secretary Randhir Singh was also not aware of Tendulkar pulling out of the event.

The names of the runners in the relay run and other details will be announced later in the day, IOA sources said.

National football captain Baichung Bhutia and India’s first IPS officer Kiran Bedi had earlier pulled out of the event. While Bhutia decided to skip the event in support of the Tibetan cause, Bedi had cited "scuffing" security arrangement for her move.

Yesterday, bollywood actor Soha Ali Khan had pulled out of the torch relay saying she has prior engagements tomorrow. (PTI)

Woods undergoes knee surgery

LOS ANGELES, Apr 16: Tiger Woods, who is fresh off a second-place finish at the 2008 Masters, will miss at least four weeks of the PGA tour after undergoing surgery on his left knee.

"I made the decision to deal with the pain and schedule the surgery for after the Masters," said Woods.

"The upside is that I have been through this process before and know how to handle it. I look forward to working through the rehabilitation process and getting back to action as quickly as I can."

Woods, who has had problems with his left knee previously, underwent arthroscopic surgery yesterday in Park City, Utah.

This marks the third time Woods has had surgery on the knee. The first surgery was 14 years ago when he had a benign tumour and the second in December, 2002 where doctors performed the first arthroscopic surgery.

Woods hopes to recover in time to compete in the US Open at San Diego, June 12-15.

Doctors said yesterday they found the problem, were able to repair it and the recovery will take four to six weeks.

"Tiger has been experiencing pain in his knee since the middle of last year, and when he had it looked at by his doctors, arthroscopic surgery was recommended," said Woods’ agent mark steinberg.

"Cartilage damage was found during the procedure, which Dr. (Tom) Rosenberg was able to correct. Tiger has played through the pain in the past, but knew it would be better for him to have the procedure done as early as possible."

Woods has claimed 13 major championships in his career, the last of which came when he successfully defended his title at the 2007 PGA championship. (AGENCIES)

Urdu Deptt beats English Deptt

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 16: Urdu Department got the better of English Department by 2-1 sets today in the ongoing Inter Department Volleyball tournament being played at Jammu University Campus.

Urdu Department started off in a brilliant fashion by winning the first set by 25-15.

English Department got their act together in the second set and won by a thin margin of 27-25.

In the final set, Urdu Department spikers had the last laugh who unleashed powerful smashes to rattle the rival’s defense.

The final set score was 15-8. Kamar Bhat was the star performer for the winner team.

Earlier, Sociology Department got walkover Psychology Department and Law Department got walkover Chemistry Department.

The match was officiated by Mulkh Raj, Madhuri Jamwal and Rajan Tah.

ICC sends letter to BCCI over Kanpur track

MUMBAI, Apr 16: After match referee Roshan Mahanama gave a thumbs-down to the Kanpur dustbowl where India tamed South Africa within three days, the International Cricket Council has shot off a letter to the BCCI seeking an explanation.

Mahanama was less than impressed after the third and final test in Kanpur’s green park stadium ended inside three days with the hosts cantering to an eight-wicket win that also helped them level the three-match series.

Yawning cracks and uneven bounce made life difficult for the batsmen on the track, prompting Mahanama to submit an unflattering report to the ICC.

Reacting to Mahanama’s report, ICC sent a letter to the BCCI, seeking an explanation.

"A letter has been sent to the BCCI. The process was initiated by match referee Roshan Mahanama and ICC sent a letter to the BCCI after getting his report. We are awaiting a reply," ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said here today.

BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty, however, sought to downplay the event and refused to call it a notice from the ICC.

"It’s a normal process where the match referee submits a pitch report to the ICC at the end of the match, a copy of which is also given to the board", he said.

"This is not the first time that a match ended in three days. Definitely there were suggestions for some corrective measures but I don’t think it was a notice to the BCCI," Shetty said.

Though BCCI officials sought to downplay the letter and said it was a routine affair, Mahanama’s observation has initiated a standard process which requires the BCCI to reply within 14 days.

After a match, the match referee has to give his assessment of the track and if he finds it unfit or sub-standard, ICC takes note of that and seeks an explanation from the host board.

If BCCI’s explanation fails to convince the icc, the governing body can even ban Kanpur from hosting international matches, which is the extreme punishment. (PTI)

Federer begins clay court season with a win

ESTORIL (Portugal), Apr 16: Roger Federer made a solid start to his clay-court season, relying on the counsel of provisional coach Jose Higueras to advance into the second round of the Estoril.

The Swiss top seed, seeking his first title of a slow-starting season, overcame gritty Belgian opponent Olivier Rochus, Belgium, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 yesterday.

"Getting through a match like this is good, especially being down a set," said the winner, who next plays Victor Hanescu of Romania.

"I had to come back and fight, but the reward was great. I played well towards the end," said the Swiss, who lamented throwing out chances in the first set, double-faulting away a break point against Rochus.

"I played well towards the end. This is a bit of a relief," confessed the Estoril debutant, playing here due to spring scheduling in anticipation of the Beijing Olympics.

"I was under a lot of pressure yesterday, at the end especially."

Federer is playing a non-Masters ATP spring clay event for the first time since winning the Munich title in 2003.

He is guided this week under a temporary arrangement with Spain’s past clay master higueras, former coach of Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Michael Chang the latter two French Open champions.

Federer is keen to correct an historic imbalance in his current season. It’s the first time since 2000 that he’s gone first three months of a season without a trophy.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion is currently embroiled in his second-longest trophy dry spell (five events) since late 2002 and early 2003 when he went seven tournaments without a title.

The satisfied Swiss finished his afternoon in two hours with a 17th ace.

Rochus, who counts federer as a friend after the pair grew up on court together a decade and a half ago, said he may be facing surgery on his right shoulder for inflammation.

"It was bothering me, but i served good," said the Belgian ranked 141.

"But Roger started making less errors and lifted his game.

"I knew when I trailed 5-2 in the second set that it would be tough. I’ve known Roger for 14 years, it’s always an honour to play against him."

Federer lost the first set but quickly got a grip on his game, guided by the coach he hooked up with only a few days ago under an arrangement being trialled this week but with scope for extension through the clay season and possibly beyond.

Second seed and former champion Nikolay Davydenko was untroubled after arriving from a Davis Cup win in Moscow, dispatching Austrian Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-1 to ease into the second round.

Davydenko won the 2003 title, played the final two years ago but has also exited three times in the first round at the Estadio Nacional.

Portugal’s Rui Machado surprised ailing third seed Ivo Karlovic, advancing to a surprise win as the Croatian with trailing 6-4, 1-0 with a knee injury.

In women’s play, top-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta defeated Yvonne Meusburger 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 while number two Maria Kirilenko faced a battle before stopping Swiss teenager Sandra Vogele 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 6-1. (AGENCIES)

England players will play in IPL in future: Vaughan

LONDON, Apr 16: The England Cricket Board may be against releasing its centrally contracted players for the cash-rich Indian Premier KLague, but skipper Michael Vaughan feels it is only a matter of time before they join the best players from other countries in the Twenty20 competition.

The ECB has barred its centrally-contracted players from taking part in the lucrative league saying it clashes with the domestic county season.

But Vaughan feels the top England players will eventually end up playing in the IPL.

"We are naive to think england players aren’t going to end up in the IPL. England players will end up in the ipl, whether it is next year or the year after," he said.

Vaughan’s England team-mate Kevin Pietersen has already described ECB’s decision as "ridiculous" but his skipper today supported him.

"(Twenty20) is a fantastic game to play, with massive crowds, and I think all players around the world love playing in it," Vaughan told BBC Sport.

The money on offer would also be a big pull for players, Vaughan felt.

"And also the money being thrown at players (by the IPL) — people are naive if they don’t think players are even going to think about it and potentially go and play in it."

The England players will be keeping an eye on how the league unfolds in its inaugural edition.

"It’s a really exciting prospect to see how it’s going to look. Everyone is waiting to see what kind of game’s going to come across from the TV," he said.

Contrary to some concerns, Vaughan felt the IPL matches will not lack in intensity and more such initiatives will come up in the future.

"Is it going to have passion? I think it’s going to have to with the amount of money that’s being thrown at it.

"I’m sure there will be even more leagues set up around the world because Twenty20 is here to stay."

Pietersen is enamoured by the IPL, but was adamant he will not turn his back on England.

"One of the thing that frustrates the England players is that we’re the only country that are missing out," he said.

"Everybody wants to be involved in something so exciting — you don’t want to lag behind. But "I’m committed to England. I’ve got a lot more goals and ambitions to play for England," he added. (PTI)

Olympic torch relay gets underway in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Apr 16: Amidst unprecedented security arrangements to ward off any anti-China protest and militant threat, the Pakistani leg of the Olympic torch relay kicked off here today at a colourful ceremony attended by President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani.

The Olympic flame, contained in a lantern, was escorted to the Jinnah stadium sports complex by members of the President’s bodyguard riding horses as policemen and paramilitary Pakistan rangers personnel stood guard outside.

The ceremony began with a performance by the Pakistan army band and a reading from the Quran.

After being taken around the stadium by volunteers, the lantern was used to light the torch, which was then handed over to Musharraf and Gillani, who participated in the event together keeping aside their political differences.

As colourful balloons were released into the overcast sky over the stadium, the two leaders handed over the flame to the first runner former hockey player Samiullah Khan who represented the country in the 1970s and 1980s and was nicknamed "the flying horse".

Official sources said special security arrangements were made in Islamabad in view of protests by human rights activists in London, Paris and San Francisco against China’s crackdown in Tibet as well as the fear of militant attacks.

Pakistan has witnessed a deadly wave of suicide attacks and blasts since last year that have killed over 1000 people.

Thousands of security personnel were deployed to protect the Olympic torch that touched down in Islamabad shortly after midnight last night on the first part of its journey through south Asia.

Roads leading to the Jinnah stadium were blocked and security within the sports complex was entrusted to the army. Pakistan also provided air cover to the torch with army helicopters hovering above the venue.

Pakistan made the tight security arrangements to ensure that the relay was not disrupted in any way in view of its traditional close ties with China.

Musharraf, who returned late last night from a state visit to China, personally gave an assurance that Pakistan would take care that the torch relay was not infiltrated "by some elements who are bent on disrupting our understanding and great relationship".

Pakistan Olympics Association chief Syed Arif Hasan welcomed the 70-member delegation accompanying the flame when it arrived at Islamabad airport in a chartered aircraft from Oman. The plane was painted with the themes of the 2008 Beijing Olympics "journey of harmony" and "light the passion".

Jiang Xiaoyu, Executive Vice President of the Beijing Olympics organising committee, is accompanying the flame.

This is the first time since 1964 that the Olympic torch has passed through Pakistan. The flame will remain in the country for about 22 hours before being taken to India.

About 65 athletes and personalities including hockey gold medallist Hassan Sardar, former world squash champion Jahangir Khan, Najma Vohra, who won a gold medal at last year’s special Olympics, Dawn media group CEO Hameed Haroon, the music band strings comprising Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia and model and actress Vaneeza Ahmad are participating in the torch relay.

The torch relay has so far visited Istanbul, St Petersburg, London, Paris, San Francisco, Buenos Aires Dar-es-Salam and Muscat. The flame will eventually make its way to Beijing, where the Olympics games will be held during August 8-24. (PTI)

Beijing Olympics torch inspired by ‘lucky’ clouds

NEW DELHI, Apr 16: The environment-friendly Beijing Olympics torch, which arrives here tomorrow amid unprecedented security, is inspired by auspicious clouds and a scroll.

The red and silver torch resembles an ancient chinese scroll and features "lucky cloud", incorporating traditional as well as modern elements.

According to the Chinese mythology, deities fly on lucky clouds or auspicious clouds. Chinese people expect the auspicious clouds to bring blessings and harmony.

The combination of the Olympic flame and torch is one of the most well known and strongest symbols of the Olympic movement, heralding not just the arrival of the games but also spreading a message of peace or "ekecheiria", as the Greeks call it, to the world, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said recently.

The aluminium-made torch is 72 centimetres tall and weighs 985 grams.

Scheduled to scale Mount Everest sometime in May, the torch is designed to withstand extremely low pressure, low temperatures and strong winds.

The light yellow flame can burn for over 15 minutes and will be fuelled by propane, a relatively clean energy source.

The flame for the XXIX Olympiad was handed over to Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organising Committee of the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG), at a traditional ceremony held in the Panathenian stadium in Greece amid anti-China protests.

Crossing five continents, 21 cities around the globe, the torch relay will cover 137,000 kilometres in 130 days before the flame finally arrives at the national stadium in Beijing on Aug 8, 2008 for the opening ceremony. (PTI)

Sportspersons should be given top priority: P T Usha

KOZHIKODE, Apr 16: Maintaining that sportspersons should be given top priority in the Olympic torch relay run in New Delhi tomorrow, former sprint queen P T Usha today said people from other walks of life should also join in the event to bring glory to the Olympic movement.

"No doubt, sportspersons should be considered first to run in the relay but the Olympic movement itself will be complete only if people from all walks of life participate in it," she told here before emplaning for Delhi to run in the relay.

Asked if she agreed with the new Sports Minister M S Gill that politicians and film stars be excluded from the event, the former Olympian said "since the Olympic movement symbolises peace, there should be no opposition to inviting others".

"Let there not be any issue if others have the right to hog the limelight in the event as the Olympic movement is itself for global peace," Usha said.

"Any responsible individual can carry the torch, which is the symbol for unity and there is nothing wrong in inviting other celebrities after giving prominence to sportspersons," she said.

Reacting to Gill’s opposition to inviting politicians and film stars for the torch relay, IOA president Suresh Kalmadi had yesterday said that International Olympic Council guidelines encouraged the participation of citizens from all walks of life in the event. (PTI)

Sridhar, Chetan crash out of Asian
Badminton Championship

NEW DELHI, Apr 16: Top Indian shuttlers Anup Sridhar and Chetan Anand crashed out of the men’s singles event of the Asian championship with straight-game defeats in the first round at Johor Bahru in Malaysia today.

Highest-ranked Indian, Sridhar, who recovered from an injury recently, gave little opposition to seventh seeded Sung Hwan Park of Korea to lose 9-21, 13-21 and bow out of the tournament.

Chetan, who was the losing finalist in the India Open Grand Prix last month, lost his first round match 19-21, 24-26 to Hiroyuki Endo of Japan in a 47-minute close contest.

The loss virtually ended world number 47 Chetan’s chances of making it to the Beijing Olympics as it is the final qualifying event of quadrennial mega event.

Sridhar though still has a chance of making it to Beijing as he is ranked 24th in the world and top 38 in the May 1 rankings list get automatic qualification.

Anand Pawar was also no match to 10th seed Simon Santoso of Indonesia losing 16-21, 9-21 in 34 minutes.

P Kashyap, however, saved the day for the Indians and he came from behind to score a 11-21, 21-17, 21-10 victory over Chinese Yi Lu in a tough 50-minute contest.

Kashyap now faces a tough task in the second round as he is pitted against third seed Chinese Chunlai Bao in the second round. (PTI)