Jeev tied third after round 3 in Tokyo

Jeev Milkha Singh carded a modest two-under 68 to slip down to the tied third spot but being just one stroke off the pace, the Indian remained in contention for the title after the penultimate round of the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup on Saturday.

The seasoned Indian pro has a total of eight-under 202, just a stroke behind the leading duo of Prayad Marksaeng (63) and Toshinori Muto (66).

Starting off on a steady not, Jeev parred the first five holes before hitting a stunning eagle on the sixth, which was followed by a birdie the very next hole.

But a bogey on the ninth meant that he made the turn two-under.

The Chandigarh-golfer played out a subdued back-nine and picked up a birdie against a bogey to finish two-under for the day.

Jeev shares the third spot with locals Taichi Teshima (65) and Ryo Ishikowa (66).

Hola! Kolkata greets football legend Maradona

Kolkata: Yes, Diego Maradona arrived at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose airport, Kolkata on Friday.
The Argentinean legend was greeted by a number of fans who stood on both sides of the road as he drove from the airport to the hotel.
When Goal.com learnt about Maradona coming to India, it dismissed it as some speculation or what the English call ‘papertalk’. Thereafter, it came to light that a celebrity management group and a Member of Parliament (MP) were behind this trip.
Ever since the news of Maradona’s arrival in India broke, there has been a frenzy and everyone has been waiting for the Argentina coach to arrive.
For last few days, most papers in the City of Joy were solely focused on Maradona. Sadly, though not much attention was given to the Federation Cup.
Everyday, people were treated to news such as Mohun Bagan to felicitate Maradona, the Rs100 tickets have been sold, XYZ would meet Maradona and what not. I must say that the PR agencies have done a good job.
Then you had MP Shamik Lahiri making new revelations each day as to what he talked about with Maradona! He even conveyed the media when Maradona uttered the hardest word ‘sorry’ to Jorge Valdano for not releasing the ball to score the ‘Greatest Goal of the Century!’
Everyday, there was some meeting and organisation to put up the 48 year old. The hotels were changed and the security was upped. Two helicopters have been fetched for his travel to Maheshtala where he will inaugurate the Indian Football School (IFS).
Then there were doubts as to whether he would come especially after the Mumbai terror when almost all the embassies asked their citizens not to visit India for some time. There were enquiries from Maradona’s entourage as to whether it was safe to travel.
An official from the celebrity management group, who were involved in the organisation was quoted saying, “I said there was nothing to worry about. This (terrorism) is an internal problem, which is happening on an off in the country for the past 20 years. There’s nothing to worry about.
"After all, the state government is in-charge of his (Maradona's) security, what is there to worry about. Kolkata is very much safe city, with no history of terror attacks.”
Wow! While the whole of Indian intelligence agencies are mulling over a foreign hand in the terror plots, this gentleman very amicable puts it as an ‘internal problem!’ Maradona’s arrival has allayed all such fears.
Media from all across the nation has headed to Kolkata to catch a glimpse and in the hope of getting an one-on-one exclusive interview.
In such cosmetic press conferences, seldom does one get an honest remark especially on controversial topics.
When Bayern Munich came to Kolkata earlier this year, in one of the media interaction sessions, Mark Van Bommel was asked about his unsporting gesture with hand in the crook of the elbow incident in the Champions League match with Real Madrid in 2007.
The Dutchman was unhappy about this and stated that he would like to talk about something else.
An exhibition match between the Chief Minister’s XI and the Foreign Minister’s XI has been organised at the Salt Lake Stadium by the state government while the Federation Cup is being played at the Barasat Stadium!
The two sides will be captained by Bhaichung Bhutia and Dulal Biswas. Bhaichung’s side would be coached by Mohun Bagan’s Karim Bencherifa and East Bengal’s Stanley Rosario while Dulal’s team shall be guided by Mohammedan Sporting’s Shabbir Ali and Chirag United’s Subrata Bhattacharya.
One question which we expect Maradona to be asked, especially after the exhibition match, would be about Indian football and his opinion on that!
Opinions are formed only after having credible knowledge and analysis of the same. In football, first impression isn’t the last one as the game is very unpredictable!
For now, let’s greet the Legend! We are not sure whether Maradona will utter some words in Hindi or Bengali but for those who want a personal interaction with the star, please have some Spanish lessons. I would help you start.
Bienvenido Maradona! (Welcome Maradona!)

Pakistan government clears national hockey team's India visit

The Foreign Ministry has cleared the national hockey team's visit to India for a four-nation tournament to be played in Chandigarh and Jalandhar from January 31 next year, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) informed on Thursday.

PHF Secretary, Asif Bajwa told reporters that the Pakistan foreign ministry had given signal for the visit which was in doubt after tensions escalated between the two neighbouring countries following last weeks Mumbai terror attacks.

"Pakistan hockey team will be visiting India for a four-nation tourney starting next month," said Bajwa.Apart India and Pakistan .Germany and the Netherlands would also be participating in the double leg tournament.

Pakistan's visit was also in jeopardy after Indian government shunned their junior hockey team's tour last month due security fears.

The PHF later claimed that the cancellation of the five-match Test series between the junior sides has hit them hard financially as it lost close to Rs six million.Bajwa also said both the Indian and Pakistani hockey administrators have decided to conduct regular matches on a home-and-away basis for the next five years in the International Hockey Federation's congress in Los Angeles recently.

He said Pakistan will host a major eight-nation international tournament next year as a tribute to slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.However, he informed that the tournament will be held at a neutral venue due to security situation.

Shuttler Saina breaks into top 10, aims higher

New Delhi: Saina Nehwal has capped an incredible season by reaching the top 10 ranking in women's badminton singles.

The good news came on Friday morning and Saina woke up to find herself in an elite domain and world No. 10 is the highest ranking ever achieved by an Indian woman in world badminton.
For someone who targetted a top 25 finish at the beginning of the year, this is an achievement to cherish.

"I can see the happiness in my parent’s eyes and also Gopi Sir is very happy. I think the hard work and my focus and the way I played really helped me reach this level," an ecstatic Saina says.

The year 2008 has been a dream come true for the 18-year-old. It all turned around during Beijing Olympics where she stormed into the quarter-final of the women's singles event.
From then on there was no looking back as Saina eclipsed tennis star Sania Mirza.

A win at the Chinese Taipei Open and then back to back titles at the Commonwealth Youth Games and the World Juniors saw her climb the rankings.

"The way I started playing in May in the China Masters Super Series event, the first tournament where I reached the semi-finals, that day I thought you can do it Saina, You can be in top 10, you can beat top 10 players," she says.

But while it is time for her to celebrate, national coach Pullela Gopichand believes the best is yet to come.

"At this point of time I think target would be to get in right into the top 5 and that will happen if she gets in a few semi-final results and probably a couple of tournament victories," says Gopichand, who won the All-England Badminton Championship in 2001.

Breaking into the top 10 is one thing, staying there demands much more. Now there are new targets in sight for 2009 - the world championships in Hyderabad and the holy grail of badminton - the All-England championships.

Diego Maradona arrives in Kolkata

Saturday, December 6, 2008 (Kolkata)
"God of football" Diego Armando Maradona arrived on a two-day visit here early Saturday and was welcomed by thousands of Kolkatans who gave sleep a miss and lined the roads for a glimpse of the Argentinian.

People waved flags of India and Argentina, danced to the tune of foot-tapping Latin American music and raised slogans eulogising the football legend who touched down at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport at 1.25 am.

Kolkata, cricket crazy India's soccer crazy hub, saw passions run high as more than 50 thousand sports buffs assembled at the airport, and various street junctions leading to the hotel on the Eastern Metropolitan bypass where Maradona would put up.

It was a carnival atmosphere as the milling crowd held aloft cut-outs of the footballer, and carried posters.welcoming him in multiple languages - English, Hindi, Bengali and even Spanish. From old infirm men to children not yet in their teens, from able-bodied youth to bashful housewives - everyone seemed to have hit the streets.

"I have been waiting for more than an hour. I am a great fan of Maradona," said housewife Ratna Sen, who had travelled 25 km to be a part of the occasion.

The diminutive 1.65 m hero of Argentina's 1986 World Cup triumph was welcomed at the tarmac of the airport by West Bengal sports minister Subhas Chakraborty and the organisers with flowers.

"Maradona is a phenomenon. This is a momentous occasion. It's the raw passion for soccer which has brought so many people on the roads," said former India international footballer and Arjuna awardee Prasun Banerjee, waiting on a city street.

More than 5000 policemen, including the Rapid Action Force and crack commandos were deployed on the entire route of Maradona's convoy to prevent any breach of peace.

A couple of over-enthusiastic teenagers were seen climbing lamp posts near the airports to hoist Argentine flags, forcing the security personnel to step in and bring them down.

On Saturday morning, Maradona would begin his schedule by flying out in a helicopter to the facility of one of the sponsors before laying the foundation stone of the Maradona Indian Football School at Mahestala, 13 km south of the city.

Maradona, accompanied by his girlfriend Veronica, would also be felicitated at Maheshtala before returning to his hotel for a media meet that would be followed by the felicitation at the giant Salt Lake Stadium in the afternoon.

"It will be a programme worth remembering for years. Don't miss the start and the end," said Chakraborty.Maradona would kickstart a match between Foreign Minister's XI and Chief Minister's XI, where players turning out for various teams would take part. Among those seen in action would Bhaichung Bhutia and Jose Barreto

Later, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee would inaugurate the felicitation proper. Maradona would be showered with gifts, among which are golden replica of the stadium, and a left foot with a football.He would also go around the stadium in the bus, before the function concludes with a pyrotechnic display.

On Sunday, Maradona would visit Mother House, the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa. He would also call on former state chief minister and communist patriarch Jyoti Basu at his Salt Lake residence.

Maradona would conduct a soccer clinic at the Mohun Bagan ground later in the day, before wrapping up his visit with a charity dinner at the hotel. Five jerseys and footballs autographed by the soccer star would come under the hammer at the dinner, the proceeds of which would go to the IFS.

SC stays cases against Pawar & Co

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed all criminal proceedings initiated by the Calcutta High Court against Union Minister Sharad Pawar and five other BCCI officials in the Jagmohan Dalmiya expulsion case.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan stayed the proceedings on the applications moved by Pawar and five officials who contended that they were not heard by the High Court while passing the order.

Besides Pawar, others who were put on the dock were BCCI President Sashank Manohar, former secretary Niranjan Shah, Ratnakar Shetty (Chief Administrative Officer), N Srinivasan (Secretary) and Chirayu Amin, junior Cricket Committee Chairman.

The Calcutta High Court had on November 12 directed initiation of criminal proceedings against Manohar, former Board president Sharad Pawar and four officials for filing "false" affidavits in the Dalmiya expulsion case.

Dalmiya, a former BCCI chief, was expelled from the Board for alleged financial irregularities.

India-England series should go on: ICC

The International Cricket Council on Sunday said the two-Test series between India and England should be held as scheduled provided there was enough safety and security for the players and officials.

The world governing body of the game expressed 'shock' over the Mumbai terror strikes and also promised to address the security issue which was affecting the game worldwide.

"If safety and security allow then I would urge the England Test tour of India to go ahead and if it does so then representatives of the ICC will be there to show solidarity with the competing teams," ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.

"And if those Tests are played I would also urge supporters of the game to attend them as that will be the best way to send a message to those who seek to disrupt our way of life, that we will not be prevented from doing what we want or what we enjoy," Lorgat added.

Lorgat commiserated with India in the wake of the Mumbai mayhem which claimed nearly 200 lives but urged cricket playing nations not to let terror affect the game in any part of the world.

On behalf of the ICC, I would like to offer the condolences and sympathy of the entire cricket world to Mumbai and to India in the wake of the terrible events of the last few days."Sadly, terrorism appears increasingly to be a fact of life that we must endure.

What we as a cricket family must do is to try, wherever possible, to rise above it and show that those who wish to perpetrate evil cannot win," he said.

Lorgat said they will ponder over the issue of security at next week's Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) meeting of the ICC to be held in South Africa."At that meeting I intend to raise the question of how we can all come together to address the challenges that the issue of safety and security brings to our game.

"Cricket is a common thread that binds all ICC Members and we must seek to ensure those ties endure. By doing so we will ensure our strong sport will grow even stronger," added Lorgat.

ICC also pledged support to the India and England cricket boards to help game get back on track.I have today written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) pledging whatever support the ICC can offer to help ensure that, if appropriate, cricket goes ahead."I have also written to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) with a similar offer of support and solidarity," Lorgat said through the statement.