• Fifa to Pump $400,000 Into India
• Jeeva Milkha Singh Wins China Open
• I Rank Dravid Alongside Gavaskar, Tendulkar
• Paes-Bhupathi Duo Keeps India in Front
• Narang on Top of the World
• Yuvi Shines in Goa Sun
• Raina Powers India to 4-Wkt Victory

• Dhoni Ranked Second
• Team India Signs Off With a Flourish
• Paes to India's Rescue Again
• Team India Scales a New High
• Olympic Berth Primary Target for Jung
• Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand Joined The ELO 2800 Club in the latest FIDE Ratings.

All-India Football Federation is in line to receive a bounty of upto $400,000 from Fifa for setting up four regional training centres in different parts of the country." The centres in the four corners of India would be used to train promising youngsters in the finer points of the game as well as referees and coaches to ensure that the standard of football improves in the country," an AIFF spokesperson said. The AIFF is presently in the process of identifying the locations for these proposed centres and it has written to the various state associations to gauge their interest in this regard. "The proposed locations should have a proper stadium and other infrastructure which could be augmented to world class status with the help of the Fifa grant," the spokesperson said.

Courtesy: The Statesman, April 23, 2006

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Indian wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's dazzling display with the bat has catapulted him to the second spot -next only to Ricky Ponting-while after drubbing England 5-1 in the recent home series, India has reached the third place in the latest LG ICC one-day international rankings. Dhoni began the series in fifth position, but 177 runs at an average of 59, including a 96 at Jamshedpur, has pushed him up the list and he is now just seven rating points behind Australia's Ponting. India's triumph saw it leapfrog New Zealand and Pakistan in the championship table and it is now just three rating points behind second-placed South Africa. And if India can win both its upcoming one-dayers against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, it will reduce that margin to just one point. Australia is 13 points clear of South Africa at the top of the table. Third place is India's highest position since the table was launched. In April 2005, it was in the eighth spot. Dhoni is one of four Indians in the top 20 batsmen. Yuvraj Singh is ninth, Rahul Dravid is 11th and Sachin Tendulkar is 18th. Virender Sehwag, who scored 78 runs in five innings during the series against England, has dropped seven places and is now 28th. Harbhajan Singh, the leading wicket-taker in the one-day series, is up six places to seventh, while further down that list, S. Sreesanth, who took six for 55 in Indore, has moved up 32 places to be joint 66th.

Courtesy: The Hindu, April 17,2006

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On Sunday in Beijing, Jeev Milkha finally found his version of the lost swing. Seven years after first losing it, somewhere on some godforsaken fairway, some back-of-beyond golf course, or maybe, in his mind. Seven years is a long time. And on Sunday, fighting off Chinese souvenir hunters in hyperactive mode, watching them dive for his ball even before he had finished playing, a calm, Buddha-like Jeev felt like he was finally approaching the end of a journey. An often long, lonely one that demanded crazy hours of soul-searching right through. For seven years, through a host of Sundays that carried false promise, he always swore he could see it. The final outpost. Maybe, the lost swing? He was forever close to finding it. Only, it wasn't happening. This time, he told Team Jeev, which all these years has effectively usually comprised just one man, himself: "You can call off the search now." "Nothing means more," the man told TOI from Shanghai, where he had just landed, a quick flight out of the scene of his deliverance, well in time to prepare for the BMW Masters this week. The voice was a breathless ring. "I am going to have a nice Indian meal, catch a movie on the DVD and then sleep. I need to celebrate this, but hey, you can call me whenever you want. I'll be up..." he said, bothering little that he was mixing up all his plans by the minute. He was past caring, because he was repeating, again and none of it for effect, "This one means so much." Seven years can make men out of boys, and mice out of men. It can, like in the movie, make Richard Sherman go all crazy for The Girl upstairs. To use the cliche to its death, Jeev quietly bore the itch. Once in a while, he would allow himself to wallow, but just that wee bit. For the smart, affable Sikh, letting his guard slip was not part of the package. But he too was human. And it hurt. The smoothening of the edges then, that time does to your psyche, came to the fore on Sunday. More men have won bigger golfing trophies, most notably those for whom Jeev was this young, not-so-distant-in-the-past achieving idol. Then why is there this outpouring of adulation, an instant identification with a triumph in faraway China in sport, understood by the milling masses as an elitist indulgence? Why is Jeev Milkha's Volvo China Open win having the same effect almost usually reserved for team sports in India? To render the issue ridiculously simple, some sportsmen, like the favourite grandson or nephew, are luckier. And it is not too bad a thing. For how much the wonderfully-talented Atwals and Randhawas and more recently, the scaringly-prodigious Shiv Kapur go on to achieve-and here's willing they do, week in, week out-there will always be a soft corner for Jeev. Maybe it is his lineage, a hugely romantic one, of an ageless, almost mythical Olympian athlete for a father. Maybe. But even if that has too obvious a ring to it, it could just be the man and a sport which he chose to pursue, when not many of a similar background were doing it or appearing to, and showed he was pretty good at it. Today, after years of living out of suitcases, having only a portable DVD player for company, and when all that only seemed piling was his movie collection and self-doubt, Jeev suddenly has the luxury of choice. With the title win here - an European-Asian Tour co-sanctioned event - he can play in Europe till 2008. The same applies for the Asian Tour.

Courtesy: The Times of India, April 17,2006

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It was a last over verdict but without any of the thrills and frills usually associated with such a finish. The rise of youth was evident in India's victory over England in the final contest of the seven-match TVS Cup series. Robin Uthappa's flawless innings was preceded by an inspiring six-wicket haul by `Man of the Match' S. Sreesanth as India won by seven wickets at the MPCA Stadium here on Saturday. England, playing without Andrew Flintoff, lacked teeth in its attack while India gained immensely from its new opening pair of debutant Uthappa and Rahul Dravid, who responded to the situation - chasing 289 to win - with a 166-run partnership. Their dismissal raised only false hopes for England, as `Man of the Series' Yuvraj Singh and the ever-improving Suresh Raina, with his third fifty of the series, finished the contest in style without any further alarms by putting on 115 runs as India clinched the series 5-1. England's complacency gave Sreesanth a flattering haul of six wickets that should go a long way in boosting his confidence. It was a pleasant coincidence that Dravid and Uthappa went to the same school-St. Joseph's-at different times and there was a striking similarity in the manner in which they built the Indian chase. India had decided to rest out-of-form opener Virender Sehwag and Mohammad Kaif. "I couldn't believe it," was Uthappa's response when he had first heard the news of his selection. On Saturday afternoon, he convinced everyone, including himself, that he had a future in this team that recognises honest efforts. The only time Uthappa slackened, he paid for it dearly. His amble to finish the second run cost him the wicket. He was casual in grounding his bat and it showed the 20-year-old in poor light. Yuvraj, with his authoritative batting, made sure that England did not come back into the contest. The left-hander made three fifties and a century in the series. His innings was crucial as the Indian batting put up a collective performance to sign off on a positive note after having started the series on a tentative note at Delhi a fortnight ago. Earlier, Kevin Pietersen had put the Indian attack to the sword with some clinical hitting. It was a pitch that tested the bowlers' character and the only one to escape the wrath of the Englishmen were the spinners - Ramesh Powar and Yuvraj, both surprisingly under-bowled. Pietersen savaged the Indian bowling and exposed the limitations of R.P. Singh and V.R.V. Singh but the England innings lost momentum in the middle overs. England was all out for 288, with Sreesanth picking up the last two wickets off successive balls in the final over.

Courtesy: The Hindu, April 16, 2006

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Guwahati was bad news. So was Faridabad for blows of the other kind. In Delhi, in the first half, crowd simmered in unrest as Indians collapsed. 'Four years ago against the West Indies, stone-pelting from the stands was a norm. One-day matches in India are showing up a dangerous pattern. Most of these matches are in far-flung venues. Big time cricket comes to town once in three years as was the case in Guwahati. If there is no action, the fans also end up worrying about the waste of a ticket. Indian cricket authorities need to regulate its policy on refund and security. They also can't ignore the sub-standard pitches. A captain is also the public face of the team. I have thus evinced a keen interest in Dravid's public stance on issues and men. Most of the time he hams or is being repetitive. He defends his men and opposition, and there is never a harsh word for a pitch or a curator. He is nearly always politically correct and nearly always boring. I wonder if a frenzied media has shaped his approach for he can be lucid and thoughtful in private. Still, it is dangerous to show as if he would rather not have them around. As a cricketer, one learns to accept that not everything written about you is nice. But you still need to cope and accommodate and can't get hot under the collar. Dravid needs to sound more honest in his appraisals. It could be the final frontier of his all-winning persona. As a batsman, he is in the mould of a Steve Waugh or an Allan Border. These men might miss the flair of a Virender Sehwag or a Brian Lara, but once they sink their teeth, they don't let go easily. Once set, they can only be removed by exceptional methods. They move up and down the order with fluidity and grace, the reserves of energy and focus is exceptional. Once they get in, they make it count - just recall his double centuries. Dravid by his conduct has shown that it's the pursuit of excellence, and not fame or money, which has driven him all along these years. Now that he is India's captain till the next World Cup, my unsolicited advice is he shouldn't ignore his batting. The demands will hang on his time like a pall of dark forebodings. It could stop him from working on his batting; it could force him to seek short-cuts. It never works. He has to keep working on his game. Dravid is still the work of art in progress.

Courtesy: Indian Express, April 11, 2006

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Leander Paes, two sets up in the fifth and decisive reverse singles against Aqeel Khan, turned around a script that had gone bizarre after an attack of cramps in the third. The Indian captain played through pain, held his nerve and game together somehow for two more sets before riding a wave of public support to fashion a thrilling victory in the decider. India won 3-2 after being stretched beyond the limit in the BNP-Paribas Asia/Oceania Group I play-offs at the Brabourne stadium on Sunday. "I'm proud to be an Indian today," he said, wrapping the tricolour around the shoulders. Prakash Amritraj, consumed by stage fright in the first reverse singles against a rampaging Aisam Qureshi, recovered a little of poise under extreme pressure but not enough to prevent Pakistan draw level 2-2. Leander stepped in to face the heat, in place of Rohan Bopanna, and humidity-induced cramps resulted in an embarrassing situation when he could neither continue playing the usual fluent game nor concede to injury. "I was aware Leander would fight it out in the fifth, where his experience helped. When your rival is struggling with cramps, it is the player opposite who faces the biggest problem keeping his game together. I was hasty and ended up making mistakes," said the 1416th-ranked Pakistan player, who will carry this scar for the rest of his life. Except for a disputed line call ruling in the second set tie-breaker going against him, the Pakistan player might well have been a sparring partner. Mobility reduced to almost zero due to cramps, the former went through the motions till the decider. The shocked fans, dismayed at the lack of effort from their hero known for do-or-die approach, kept up a tireless chant. Buoyed by the energy and noise level in the stands, a charged up Leander responded with a bouquet of winners.

Courtesy: The Hindu, April 10, 2006

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Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, in keeping with their elite status in doubles, steamrollered a scratch Pakistan combination of Jalil Khan and Asim Shafiq to keep India's nose in front at close on day two of the BNP-Paribas Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I playoff. The victory put India 2-1 up and also set the stage for a super Sunday when the reverse singles will be played. The Indian duo won 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 in 103 minutes, giving plenty of opportunities for young fans packing the Brabourne Stadium to shout themselves hoarse. Leander spent quality time on court, in the company of long-time partner Mahesh, to fine-tune various aspects of his game in anticipation of the reverse singles. The doubles win was special for Lee and Hesh. "This was the 19th Davis Cup doubles win under our belt, a world record in this competition. We are playing together for the 10th year," said Leander, noting the milestones lining the victory path. Though the two no longer team up professionally, in Davis Cup and other international events, their hearts beat as one for India. Leander's agility and anticipation came to the fore in the third set. when the show came to an end, the audience stood up to applaud. But Leander's body language suggested that the job was not over yet.

Courtesy: The Hindu, April 09, 2006

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India set the record for most consecutive successful ODI chases (15) and equalled its best one-day winning streak of eight matches as it defeated England by four wickets at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Thursday to clinch the seven-match series 4-0. Clive Lloyd's West Indies had held the record of 14 consecutive successful chases, a feat it accomplished in mid 1980s. India had previously won eight ODIs on the trot in 1985 and during the 2003 World Cup. England was dismissed for 237 after Andrew Flintoff elected to bat. Kevin Pietersen top-scored with 77 (82b, 6x4, 2x6), while Yuvraj Singh picked up the crucial wickets of Paul Collingwood and Flintoff. India reached the target in 47.2 overs after skipper Rahul Dravid laid the platform with 65 and added 76 for the second wicket with Irfan Pathan, who chipped in with 46. Yuvraj made 48 and put on 72 for the fifth wicket with Suresh Raina to steer India to within 14 runs of victory before being dismissed. Yuvraj's all-round effort won him his second successive Man of the Match award.

Courtesy: The Hindu, April 07, 2006

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A string of impressive performances have catapulted Gagan Narang to the top of the world rankings in the men's 10m air rifle category in the latest list announced by the International Shooting Sport Federation. Narang, who became the first Indian shooter to have qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics after winning the gold medal at a recent World Cup in China, jumped 18 rungs for his career-best placement in his pet event. The 22-year-old has had several podium finishes in the last few months including four gold medals with record scores in the recent Commonwealth Games at Melbourne. Narang's earlier best rank was eighth which he achieved last year. Olympic silver medalist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore maintained his sixth rank in the men's double trap event. Rathore won a gold and a silver medal at the Melbourne Games. The rankings are computed based on the performance score as well as the placing of the shooter in ISSF supervised championships and competitions.

Courtesy: The Times of India, April 05, 2006

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Commonwealth Games hero Samresh Jung has now set his eyes on the 2008 Beijing Olympics and aims to seal his quota berth before the end of this month. "The next opportunity for securing the spot will come in the World Cup in Brazil this month and I am looking forward to it," Jung said. "I am able to touch the required marks in training even now but need to do so when it really matters," he said. "Once I get the quota berth, I will be able to concentrate solely on my shooting." Jung captured five gold medals, along with a silver and a bronze, at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and was adjudged the best athlete in the 18th edition of the mega event. "There were two malfunctions of my gun and as a result, I could not fire and drew blanks on the scoresheet," Jung said. But the ace shooter still has not got a suitable replacement for the erring gun. "It will take about six months to get another gun. Till then, I will have to carry on with a borrowed one," the shooter said.

Courtesy: The Statesman, April 05, 2006

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Goans have a unique languid lifestyle that makes living in this part of the country a pleasure. Their parties, and the suds and samba, are part of their daily routine. So when cricket came calling, the quintessential town of Margao and the places around were all ready to give the sport its due. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Fatorda was hosting a one-day International after five long years, and Goans had never seen India win here. Therefore, when Yuvraj Singh batted the way he did and Suresh Raina played the perfect foil to help India win, the cheering inside the stadium was deafening. India, riding on Yuvraj's century and Raina's 61, went on to post a mammoth 294 in the third ODI of the series while England managed 245 in reply, losing by 49 runs. Had it not been for the entertaining crowd and Yuvraj's commendable innings, there was little to do on a typically humid afternoon. With ten fours and three sixes in the 76 deliveries he played, Yuvraj's shots were impeccable. His 142-run partnership with Suresh Raina lasted 20.1 overs. ''We've known him to be a free-flowing batsman and he's always tried and been that. His batting today was a good illustration of that,'' coach Greg Chappell said after the match. The left-hander, though, isn't feeling like he's on top of the world yet. Yuvraj is at present eying what lies ahead. ''The entire process,'' he says, ''is a build-up to 2007'' and that is what is the ultimate goal. ''A few good innings have come and maybe at the right time but it is more important to remain focused and continue with this,'' says Yuvraj.

Courtesy: The Indian Express, April 04, 2006

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Anand, who was knocking on the 2800 door for quite sometime, finally saw it happen at the Corus super Grandmasters tournament, which he won for a record fifth time in January. The Indian ace began the event with 2792 points and gained 11 points to breach the landmark, but missed the top rank by just one point. The top spot was vacant after the removal of world's top rated and now-retired Garry Kasparov's name from the active players' list. Kasparov had announced his retirement from professional chess at the Linares tournament last year while on top of the world rankings. However, since his inactive period surpassed one year, Kasparov's name was removed from the rating list.

Courtesy: The Hindu, April 03, 2006

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India found a new match winner in young Suresh Raina who slammed an unbeaten 81 after another top order batting collapse to steer India to a thrilling four-wicket victory over England in the second cricket one-dayer here on Friday. Chasing a target of 227 for victory, India were precariously placed at 92 for 5 when the 19-year-old left-hander turned the game on its head with his responsible knock on a turning track at the Nahar Singh Stadium. Raina, who showed a maturity beyond his years, found an able ally in Mahendra Singh Dhoni (38) as the duo put on a vital 118 runs for the sixth wicket to give India a 2-0 lead in the seven-match series. Irfan Pathan hit James Anderson for a boundary to bring about a memorable Indian victory, achieved with one full over to spare. The win, which brought the capacity 25,000 crowd on its feet, was India's 14th win on the trot while chasing which equalled the previous record of West Indies achieved between 1984 and '86. Raina cracked eight fours and a six in his 89-ball knock while Dhoni hit two fours in his 55-ball effort as India overhauled England's total of 226 all out in 49.5 overs comfortably in the end.

Courtesy: The Times of India, April 01, 2006

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