Daily Excelsior.........sports

Tendulkar might tour Australia one more time

ADELAIDE, Jan 24: Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is confident that his career is far from over and hinted that the master could well return for another tour down under.

Tendulkar said he will continue to play cricket till he’s enjoying the game and at the moment has not thought about quitting the game.

"I don’t want to say too much about this being the end because I don’t know whether it’s going to be my last Test in Australia," he said adding "we will see."

"I don’t want to think about whether I have two, three or even four years left."

"To be honest, I have not thought about it. Basically, I just want to go out and enjoy the game."

In his 407 ODIs, Tendulkar has scored 15,962 runs. The little master will have an added motivation to cross 16,000 runs in the One-Day series against Australia and Sri Lanka that follows the ongoing Test series.

While other senior players including Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly have been left out from the One-Day squad, Tendulkar has retained his place.

But Tendulkar, 34, looks unfased by the ommission of seniors and is more focussed on his own cricket.

He seemed satisfied with the way he is playing at the moment and said he has always relished playing in Australia.

However, he was hopeful that India will come out good in the last Test at Adelaide which is expected to be his last Test on the Australian soil.

"Australia is a fantastic place to play cricket," Tendulkar said.

"I have always enjoyed playing here as people understand the sport. It is competitive and a great challenge. I love it."

But he added that no team can be complacent against Australia as they will come hard after being beaten at Perth.

"We know that Ricky Ponting’s team will come hard at us.

"They have always done that in the past. We don’t want to take anything for granted," he said. (UNI)

Sharapova, Ivanovic take contrasting routes to final

MELBOURNE, Jan 24: Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic will meet in the Australian Open final after contrasting victories in their semi-finals today.

Russian Sharapova, seeded fifth, demolished Serb Jelena Jankovic 6-3 6-1, while Serbian fourth seed Ivanovic recovered from a first-set whitewash to oust Daniela Hantuchova 0-6 6-3 6-4.

Ivanovic won just nine points in the first set and trailed 6-0 2-0 before pulling things around.

"If it wasn’t for you guys I would be booking my flight home," she told the crowd.

Men’s second seed Rafael Nadal faces unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the first men’s semi-final in the night match. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic clash in the second semi tomorrow

Sharapova followed on from her quarter-final thrashing of world number one Justine Henin with a devastating display against third seed Jankovic.

Pounding groundstrokes into the corners and blasting serves down, she never allowed the Serb to settle on rod Laver Arena.

The roof of the court was closed to keep the Melbourne showers out and Sharapova’s shots boomed throughout the arena.

Jankovic, struggling with a lower back injury, was unable to keep up or even compete as she was left watching shots fly past her.

"I wanted to withdraw, but it was not fair for the crowd. It’s a semi-final, so I played how much I could to finish the match," Jankovic said.

"I thought that Maria played very, very well, and anyway, she deserved to win. But I couldn’t really give a match."

For Sharapova there is unfinished business in Melbourne after last year’s final defeat.

"From the beginning of the tournament, you want to go a step further than you’ve done in the past. That’s always your goal, and your mantra going into a tournament," the Russian told reporters.

"In a grand slam where I’ve had good success but some tough endings as well, I still believe at the end of the day I’ll always have more opportunities."

Ivanovic had looked finished when her Slovak opponent swept through the first set and broke early in the second.

Seemingly frozen with nerves, the fourth seed kept pounding away at her groundstrokes, however, and finally they began to pay off as Hantuchova’s standard slipped.

She reeled her opponent in and finally sealed what had seemed an unlikely victory in two hours 10 minutes.(REUTERS)

Anand held, Parimarjan in second spot WIJK AAN ZEE (The Netherlands), Jan 24: World champion Viswanathan Anand was held to a draw by Hungarian Peter Leko in premier group ‘A’ while Parimarjan Negi scored an important victory over Dennis Rujigrok of Holland to jump to joint second spot in the ‘C’ group at the Corus International Chess Tournaments here. Playing white for the second last time in the category-20 event, things did not go Anand’s way as Leko was up to the task in the Ruy Lopez close favoured by the Indian ace. Parimarjan was a class act, coasting to an easy victory against Rujigrok. The win helped the 14-year-old to take his personal tally to 6.5 points out of a possible 10 and he is now just half a point adrift of tournament leader Fabiano Caruana from Italy who went down to Li Shilong of China. The Dutch duo of Dmitry Reinderman and Friso Nijboer also share second place with just three rounds remaining in the tournament. Anand remained in joint third spot after drawing with Leko and thus inching up to 5.5 points. The high point of the day was Norwegian Magnus Carlsen’s remarkable recovery against local favourite Loek Van Wely. It was a completely lost position for Carlsen when disaster struck Van Wely in the mutual time scramble. The position first became a draw and later the Dutchman blundered again to give the point oin a platter. Carlsen thus regained sole lead with 6.5 points as most of the games in this section ended in draws. Levon Aronian of Armenia is now in second spot with 6 points in his kitty. A pack of five players Michael Adams of England, Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan, as well as Anand, are still in reckoning for top honours on 5.5 points each. In the ‘B’ group being played simultaneously, P Harikrishna slipped to joint fifth spot after drawing with Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia. GM Koneru Humpy also signed peace with Yifan Hou of China. Grandmaster Sergei Movsesian of Slovakia strengthened his position atop the tables in this section with an easy victory over Jan Smeets of Holland. Movsesian is now on 7.5 points, a full point clear of Nigel Short of England and Etienne Bacrot of France. Holding fourth spot here is Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia while Harikrishna follows next along with Erwin L’Ami of Holland. Anand could not get anything worthwhile with white pieces against Leko. When the closed position after the opening opened up a bit, it paved the way for Leko to exchange a couple of minor pieces and a thematic central breakthrough ensured a perfect balance for the Hungarian. The peace was signed in a mere 19 moves. Harikrishna survived a few anxious moments before signing peace with Sargissian. It was an Italian game wherein the Indian got a better position in the middle game. However, exchanges at regular intervals forced the game in to an endgame where Sargissian won a pawn and pressed hard for the victory. It took a lot of effort on Harikrishna’s part to salvage a draw after 62 moves. Humpy was also a bit lucky in surviving against Yifan from a Ruy Lopez opening where the former played black. Getting into groove in the middle game, Yifan won a pawn but her technique did not come good in the endgame. Parimarjan’s victory was the easiest so far as Rujigrok proved no match for the wily Indian. For the record, it was a Rosslimo Sicilian in which Parimarjan, white, won the opponent’s queen for only two minor pieces and romped home in just 31 moves.(PTI)

JKMSA declares team for Shimla Challenge Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Motor Sports Association (JKMSA) today declared its two-wheeler team which would participate in the ‘Shimla Motor Cycle Racing Challenge’ beginning from January 27 at Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. Those included in the team were Pardeep Majotra, Shyam Sharma and Sanjay Sharma. Majotra will took part in below 133 cc, 130 cc and 260 cc categories while Shyam and Sanjay will participate in 130 cc to 260 cc two-stroke and four-stroke categories. However, in a function organized here, the president of the association Dy SP Ranjit Singh has wished the team good luck for the event. Vikram Singh Rathore (general secretary), Raj Kumar, Pritam Singh, Davinder Singh and other officials were also present on the occasion. Final matches held in District Carrom Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 24:In the ongoing ‘District Jammu Carrom Championship’ being held at SOS Gole Gujral Jammu, the finals of different categories in both boys and girls section were played today. The results of the today’s final matches remained as: Sub Junior (Girls): Sonali Pandita 1st and Manpreet Kour 2nd. Sub Junior (Boys): Ashutosh Raina 1st and Navleen Singh 2nd. Junior (Girls): Mehak 1st and Anita 2nd. Junior (Boys): Akhil 1st and Monis Ayub 2nd. Seniors: Rahil Abrol 1st and Sahil Koul 2nd. The event was organized by J&K Carrom Association and sponsored by J&K State Sports Council. Meanwhile, the prize distribution of the event will be held on January 25. Inter-Collegiate Volleyball Men C’Ship PG Deptt advances into final Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 24: The PG Department team of University of Jammu (JU) today advanced into the final of ‘Inter-Collegiate Volleyball Men Championship’, which is being held at the University Ground. In the semi-final match played today between the teams of PG Deptt and Govt Degree College Kathua, the former registered a straight three set victory over the latter. Anil Sharma, Vishal Sharma and Kamran Butt did the trick for PG Deptt with their powerful smashes against the blockers of GDC Kathua. The game which was evenly poised in the first set at the score of 18-18 suddenly went into the way of PG Deptt, as the score quickly changed to 25-22. However, PG Deptt team moved ahead in the next sets comfortably, as the final score read as 25-22, 25-20 and 25-19. Roshan Lal from the losing team tried his best to avoid the inevitable with some beautiful smashes but his efforts were went into vain. With this win, PG Deptt has now entered into the final of the championship. The officials of the match were Shashi Sharma, Mulkh Raj and Madhuri Jamwal. YSCC thrashes ACC in one-off cricket match Excelsior Sports Correspondent DODA, Jan 24: In a one-off cricket match played between Young Star Cricket Club (YSCC) Doda and Amir Cricket Club (ACC) Doda at Sports Stadium Ghat in Doda, the former thrashed the latter by 26 runs here today. Winning the toss and elected to bat first, YSCC batsmen set a target of 102 for their opponents in 20 overs. Nasir Ali top scored with 16 runs while Manzoor Bhat contributed 12 runs for his team. Manzoor Bandey and Rashid from the bowling side took three and two wickets to contain YSCC batsmen. Chasing the easy looking target, ACC batsmen could manage only 75 runs in the stipulated 20 overs thereby losing the match to YSCC by 26 runs. Asrar and Nasir were the notable contributors with eight and ten runs respectively. YSCC bowlers, Asif Ali and Asif Qazi took four and three wickets respectively to scramble the opponent’s run chase. Later, Asif Ali was declared as the Man of the Match for his magnificent four wicket haul. The umpires of the match were Liaqut and Yasir.
T-20 final postponed to February 3 Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 24: The final match of Twenty 20 Cricket Tournament, which was earlier scheduled to be played on January 26 has been postponed to February 3. The change in the schedule has been made by the organizers due to some unavoidable circumstances. Meanwhile, no change has been made in the venue of the match. Pakistan rules out swapping or shifting Australia series HYDERABAD, PAKISTAN, Jan 24: Pakistan’s Cricket Board chairman says there is ‘’no question’’ that the country will host the upcoming Test and One-Day International series with Australia, despite reports of a possible switch. Australia are scheduled to tour Pakistan in March and April for the first time in 10 years but the series of three Tests and five One-Day Internationals is under threat after Cricket Australia and several players expressed security concerns. "Pakistan Cricket Board has only one position on this tour and that is Australia will play as per their commitment in March-April of 2008," PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf told reporters today. Australian media has reported that there was a chance the tours would be swapped between the two countries. In yesterday’s Sydney Morning Herald, a report said a Pakistan board member had raised the possibility of swapping tours so Australia could host the matches in March, then tour Pakistan in November 2009. Ashraf, however, dismissed the suggestion. "There is no question of a neutral venue and there is no question of us going to Australia at this time," he said. "We are scheduled to tour Australia in 2009 and we will keep our commitment and we expect them to do that as well. Ashraf said he would visit Dubai to attend a meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and would hold talks with his Australian counterpart. Both countries are yet to agree on an itinerary and CA has said it would be sending a delegation to Pakistan next month to review the security situation in the country after elections, the build-up to which has been marred by violence, including the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto last month. "I will convince the Australian Cricket bosses that cricket and sports remains unaffected by terrorist activities in Pakistan," Ashraf said. Australia were due to play in Pakistan in 2002 but after the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States in 2001, the series was played at neutral venues Nairobi, Colombo and Sharjah.(UNI)
India salvage position with Tendulkar’s 39th ton ADELAIDE, Jan 24: Sachin Tendulkar hit a strokeful 39th Test century to hold the Indian innings together and steer the visitors to a decent 309 for five at close on a pulsating opening day of the crucial fourth and final cricket Test against Australia here today. The 34-year-old champion batsman, probably making his last test appearance on Australian soil, gave glimpses of his vintage form by slamming an unbeaten 124 to help the team recover from a few early blows. Virender Sehwag (63) and the stylish VVS Laxman squandered promising starts but Tendulkar gave a stunning exhibition of strokeplay to keep alive his side’s hopes of squaring the four-match series 2-2. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (6) was giving Tendulkar company at stumps on the opening day which saw both teams more or less sharing the honours on a good batting track at the Adelaide Oval. Tendulkar, who had just 122 runs at an average of 20.33 in his three previous visits to the Adelaide Oval, made amends for his past failures with his scintillating effort. The visitors opted to go into the match with a five-pronged bowling attack by dropping struggling opener Wasim Jaffer and bringing back spinner Harbhajan Singh. The masterly century from one of the greatest batsmen of all time has so far spanned 281 minutes and Tendulkar has hit 10 fours and three sixes from 172 balls of vigil. He walked in to bat just before lunch and stayed put for the rest of the day, providing the glue which India sorely needed after its other batsmen failed to come to the party. Unbeaten on nought at lunch, Tendulkar soon showed his intent by thumping Brett Lee down the ground and smacking Johnson for three fours in one over. He took a particular liking for Brad Hogg and repeatedly came down the track to hit him in deep corners of the ground, including a slog-sweep for a six over midwicket. Unfortunately, Tendulkar did not receive much support from the other end for most of the day except Laxman. The Hyderabadi stylist batted well but he also did not make the most of a reprieve when he was let off on 37 by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist behind the stumps off the irrepressible Brett Lee. Tendulkar completed his century in style in the final session, slamming left-arm spinner Michael Clarke for a six and a four off successive balls to raise his arms in triumph. The Mumbai batsman never let his concentration waver even when batsmen at the other end were making a hash of a good setting. Sehwag, Dravid, Ganguly and Laxman wasted a good opportunity on a flat deck as India looked for the runs which would give them the edge in this decider. India showed their intent by fielding five frontline bowlers, including two spinners, and all appeared to be running their way when openers Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan put on 34 runs for the first wicket in seven-odd overs. India then batted with strange ineptitude and provided wickets to Australia all through the day. Mitchell Johnson broke through twice in the first session when he had Pathan and Dravid edging catches behind in the slip cordon. Johnson bowled a long spell of nine overs at a stretch and was more impressive than he has ever been in the present series. India lost two more wickets in the middle session as Sehwag tried to cut a delivery too close to his body while Sourav Ganguly was dismayed to be ruled out by a delivery which he tried to sweep from the stumps. India, 89 for 2 at lunch, added 98 runs in the second session and no less than 120 in the final session of 33 overs. The figures do not quite reflect the hostility with which Lee bowled throughout the day, picking up two wickets for 62 runs and taking his haul of scalps in the series to 21. His spoils included the wicket of VVS Laxman who was startled by a bouncer, took his eyes off and the delivery flicked his gloves on way to the wicketkeeper. SCORE BOARD India 1st Innings: Sehwag c Hayden b Lee 63 Pathan c Gilchrist b Johnson 9 Dravid c Ponting b Johnson 18 Sachin Tendulkar not out 124 Sourav Ganguly lbw b Hogg 7 VVS Laxmanc Gilchrist b Lee 51 Dhoni not out 6 Extras: (b-8, nb-7, wd-1, lb-15) 31 Total: (for five wickets in 86 overs) 309 Fall of Wickets: 1-34, 2-82, 3-122, 4-156, 5-282. Bowling: Brett Lee 22-3-62-2, Mitchell Johnson 25-4-72-2, Stuart Clark 16-4-48-0, Brad Hogg 18-2-78-1, Michael Clarke 5-0-26-0. (PTI)
Hogg wants Tendulkar’s wicket ADELAIDE, Jan 24: Brad Hogg has made Sourav Ganguly his bunny by dismissing him four times in the current series, but he is eager to take Sachin Tendulkar’s wicket tomorrow after the unbeaten centurion roughed him up on the first day of the fourth and final cricket Test. Hogg had Ganguly leg before today to put the skids under India but Tendulkar, along with VVS Laxman, engineered a recovery and the visitors finished the first day at 309 for five. "I have not got many test wickets but I have had him (Ganguly) on all occasions except one in this series when I have played," said Hogg, who was omitted for the third Test in Perth. But he did not hide the fact that he would like nothing better than to get Tendulkar on the morrow, after the master batsman held the Indian innings together with an unbeaten 124. "It has been fantastic playing against him (Tendulkar). Unfortunately, he roughed me up a bit today," the left-arm chinaman bowler said. Tendulkar took a special liking to Hogg’s bowling and repeatedly used his feet to cart the spinner to the boundary and over it, but Hogg was not disheartened by the harsh treatment. "Hopefully, I can get him tomorrow," he said after the day’s play. India has posted more than 300 runs on the first day and Hogg admitted the hosts had work to do. "We have to bat well to get ahead in the match." The wicket is expected to help spinners but Hogg felt that would happen only late in the game. "The pitch will start to take turn late on day four and five only," the Western Australian said. (PTI)