I am now playing with vengeance: Jwala

NEW DELHI: Threatened with a ban by the administrators and labelled an enfant terrible by her detractors, ace shuttler Jwala Gutta says such has been the "hurt and pain" of the last six months that she has not been able celebrate her bronze medal at the recent Asian Badminton Championships to the fullest.

India's best doubles player, Jwala had to endure a bitter legal battle with the Badminton Association of India after its disciplinary committee recommended a life ban on her for allegedly delaying a match between Krrish Delhi Smashers and Banga Beats in the Indian Badminton League last year.

The 30-year-old Hyderabadi, who has brought many laurels to the country in her over-a-decade-long career, said the bronze medal at the Asian Badminton Championship has healed some of the pain that she went through last year.

"This medal is sort of revenge for me. I am now playing with vengeance. There is a lot of hurt and pain. If I would not have had to go through the trauma of what happened six months back, I would have enjoyed this medal win with more calmness," Jwala said.

"What happened to me was completely unnecessary. Why should a sportsperson go through it? I didn't demand money for my achievement, I demanded respect and acknowledgement. But there has been nothing. Why doubles is discriminated?" the feisty player asked.

"Frankly, I don't understand why I have to prove myself again and again. I have achieved enough and I am proud of my achievements. I won medals at Commonwealth Games, World Championship, I represented India in Olympics. Even the bronze at ABC is a first for Indian badminton. There is still no one in the team to replace me and Ashwini.

"We have achieved all that without support. But even today we have to struggle for sponsorship," she added.

A Commonwealth Games gold, a bronze at 2011 World Championship and qualifying for London Olympics, Jwala has achieved it all but despite her accomplishments, she has found herself at the receiving end of BAI's ire time and again.

The 14-time national champion has once again answered her critics with her performance and buoyed by her feat at the ABC, Jwala is now targetting a medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

"Playing the next Olympics is my main aim. I started playing again after the break only because I want to win a medal at Rio Olympics," Jwala said.

"Qualifying for the London Olympics in two events was a very big achievement for me. Now, I want to try and win a Olympic medal, I will give my last shot. I don't want to have any regrets. I want to end my career with an Olympic medal."

Asked about rankings, Jwala said: "I focus more on matches and performance and don't want to calculate much. But I think a place inside the top 15 by this year end would be good.

"I hardly played six tournaments after coming back and after the ABC performance, our ranking will improve further, which is a good sign. I am stronger now.

"Mentally, I think I am stronger. After all the nonsense that happened, I'm able to block myself under pressure and moreover I am playing just one event, women's doubles. So I am more relaxed," added Jwala, who is looking to focus on her strengths.

Her women's doubles partner, Ashwini Ponnappa too is upbeat about their latest achievement and said it has come at the right moment for the duo.

"It has been a great confidence-booster for us. It is important that we keep playing as many tournaments as possible and I am sure we will get better with time. We have played well in ABC. We are headed in the right direction," Ashwini said.

Asked about areas that the two need to improve on, she said: "I think we need to be more consistent. That is our focus and personally for me, I need to add more variety in my game. It is important to vary the game to break the rhythm of opponents in match situation."

"We will be playing a few tournaments in June but before that it is all about Uber Cup now. It is the biggest tournament in India and the focus is to do well for India at the Uber Cup," she added.

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SAI sets up new format to assess coaches

NEW DELHI: In order to bring in more accountability and effectiveness in sports coaching, SAI has introduced a new format for Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR) of coaches working with it.

Under this new format, all the coaches will be assessed by the Sports Authority of India on various parameters.

"Coaches shall be assessed with regard to the initiatives taken by them to introduce and use sports sciences/sports medicine/preparation of nutrition charts with respect to the trainees," SAI said in a release.

"Their work will also be assessed with regard to formulation of short-term/long-term plans for the sportspersons and use of ethical motivational techniques. The functional competency of the coaches shall be assessed with regard to their initiatives, resourcefulness and dependability as also their ability in talent scouting.

"The research and development efforts of the coaches with regard to carrying out any research work or writing any book or contribution to any articles in the sports journals shall also be looked into," the release further added.

In order to ensure the safety of the athletes, SAI said the coaches will be held accountable for following proper procedures.

"The coaches shall also be assessed with regard to their following proper safety procedures while imparting training."

To make sure that the APAR also helps SAI to design and execute programmes for growth of coaches, coaches will be asked about the areas in which they feel there is a need to upgrade their skills for their current assignment as well as their future career.

Meanwhile, SAI has also decided to amend the Recruitment Rules (RRs) of coaches whereby the certification/accreditation levels from the international sports federations of the sporting discipline concerned could be made a mandatory condition for promotions.

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Ayrton Senna: A man who really cared

LONDON: Ayrton Senna da Silva: is his legacy to be recalled in statistics or memories? Numbers on a page or emotions stirred? Sporting supremacy -- or rare humanity?

The stories of his on-track talent, the utter determination and all-consuming passion are well chronicled. Indeed, 161 Grands Prix, 64 pole positions and 87 front row starts reflect all that. To cap it all off 42 Grands Prix victories and three world titles - in 1988, 1990 and 1991.

His fierce rivalry with McLaren-Honda team-mate Alain Prost, concern for drivers' safety and the humility that was so visible with children and ordinary motor racing fans confirm the passion and personality of a man whose death 20 years ago, in 1994, will be remembered again, and so vividly, on May 1.

That afternoon, at Imola, capped a tragic, black weekend at the San Marino Grand Prix, where he started his final race from pole position.

Saturday's qualifying had brought the brutal death of Austrian Roland Ratzenberger, a shock that sent a shudder of apprehension and misery through an overcrowded paddock.

Friday had seen Senna rush to the bedside of his protege Rubens Barrichello, then only 21 and in his second season of Formula One, after he had survived a massive airborne crash during afternoon practice. It was the first huge shock. And Sunday delivered more.

But in this anniversary year, as Honda prepare their comeback, it is Senna the man that many, including this correspondent, will remember: the smiles, jokes and kindnesses that were a part of his unique charisma along with the intensity and single-minded passion.

Memory can play tricks on us, but not when so many remember the same things at the same place.

In a rush at the Hungaroring in 1987, he stopped to answer a question with a serious frown. In Lotus overalls, he smiled and then ran on to catch lost time.

Later that year, at Monza, he shuffled shyly in slanting late-summer sunshine as he stood with Prost at a McLaren announcement to confirm the formation of a dream team - Prost and Senna, McLaren and Honda.

In Paris, where the sport's ruling body celebrated 500 Grands Prix, he agreed to sign, for my son, a menu printed for the occasion. 'Joshua? How do you spell that?' he asked after mistaking the name for George, more common in English at the time. He duly signed and remembered.

And then after another championship season was over, passions spent, in Adelaide. Inside the David Jones department store, descending by floors, I walked into a scene to behold - Senna, who had been at the centre of a stormy season, contemplating a pile of stacked trunks in the luggage area.

"Hey, you again!' he grinned. "I don't always agree with you. But I respect what you write and your opinion, your view." A warm handshake and even warmer smile followed. "So, how is J-o-s-h-u-a?"

The memory endorsed the warmth of this man's heart. "What are you doing? What do you want all these trunks for?' he was asked.

To answer, he produced a piece of paper on which was a list of names and shoe sizes. It was a very long list, including the identity of at least 75 people who worked for him, in his organisation to help the poor and underprivileged people of Sao Paulo.

"I need these big cases,' he explained. "To pack the shoes for my people, I come here myself and choose the shoes. They are put in them and then we send them back to Brazil. Everyone has a pair chosen by me."

He smiled again. Not at his own satisfaction, but at the prospect of delighting a compatriot on the other side of the world.

It was a simple story of Senna's way of living, an insight into the man and a memory that has helped construct a lasting legacy of his individuality. He cared.

And that is why at other times and other places, he was seen to boil with rage, pour forth with profanities, take risks that others could not understand or drive with such sublime sensitivity and speed that he appeared untouchable and unequalled.

Consumed by passion in racing, he embodied that spirit which the greatest champions have always articulated for motor sport. Consumed by compassion, in other parts of his life, he is still remembered by some of us for that most important quality. Senna cared.

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I am now playing with vengeance: Jwala

NEW DELHI: Threatened with a ban by the administrators and labelled an enfant terrible by her detractors, ace shuttler Jwala Gutta says such has been the "hurt and pain" of the last six months that she has not been able celebrate her bronze medal at the recent Asian Badminton Championships to the fullest.

India's best doubles player, Jwala had to endure a bitter legal battle with the Badminton Association of India after its disciplinary committee recommended a life ban on her for allegedly delaying a match between Krrish Delhi Smashers and Banga Beats in the Indian Badminton League last year.

The 30-year-old Hyderabadi, who has brought many laurels to the country in her over-a-decade-long career, said the bronze medal at the Asian Badminton Championship has healed some of the pain that she went through last year.

"This medal is sort of revenge for me. I am now playing with vengeance. There is a lot of hurt and pain. If I would not have had to go through the trauma of what happened six months back, I would have enjoyed this medal win with more calmness," Jwala said.

"What happened to me was completely unnecessary. Why should a sportsperson go through it? I didn't demand money for my achievement, I demanded respect and acknowledgement. But there has been nothing. Why doubles is discriminated?" the feisty player asked.

"Frankly, I don't understand why I have to prove myself again and again. I have achieved enough and I am proud of my achievements. I won medals at Commonwealth Games, World Championship, I represented India in Olympics. Even the bronze at ABC is a first for Indian badminton. There is still no one in the team to replace me and Ashwini.

"We have achieved all that without support. But even today we have to struggle for sponsorship," she added.

A Commonwealth Games gold, a bronze at 2011 World Championship and qualifying for London Olympics, Jwala has achieved it all but despite her accomplishments, she has found herself at the receiving end of BAI's ire time and again.

The 14-time national champion has once again answered her critics with her performance and buoyed by her feat at the ABC, Jwala is now targetting a medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

"Playing the next Olympics is my main aim. I started playing again after the break only because I want to win a medal at Rio Olympics," Jwala said.

"Qualifying for the London Olympics in two events was a very big achievement for me. Now, I want to try and win a Olympic medal, I will give my last shot. I don't want to have any regrets. I want to end my career with an Olympic medal."

Asked about rankings, Jwala said: "I focus more on matches and performance and don't want to calculate much. But I think a place inside the top 15 by this year end would be good.

"I hardly played six tournaments after coming back and after the ABC performance, our ranking will improve further, which is a good sign. I am stronger now.

"Mentally, I think I am stronger. After all the nonsense that happened, I'm able to block myself under pressure and moreover I am playing just one event, women's doubles. So I am more relaxed," added Jwala, who is looking to focus on her strengths.

Her women's doubles partner, Ashwini Ponnappa too is upbeat about their latest achievement and said it has come at the right moment for the duo.

"It has been a great confidence-booster for us. It is important that we keep playing as many tournaments as possible and I am sure we will get better with time. We have played well in ABC. We are headed in the right direction," Ashwini said.

Asked about areas that the two need to improve on, she said: "I think we need to be more consistent. That is our focus and personally for me, I need to add more variety in my game. It is important to vary the game to break the rhythm of opponents in match situation."

"We will be playing a few tournaments in June but before that it is all about Uber Cup now. It is the biggest tournament in India and the focus is to do well for India at the Uber Cup," she added.

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'India is an important market for F1'

NEW DELHI: Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone on Wednesday promised the return of Indian Grand Prix in 2015 provided the race promoters, Jaypee Group, fulfill the financial requirements of the existing five-year contract.

Ecclestone said from his London office that he is expecting a meeting with the Jaypee officials soon to sort out the contractual matters which has put the future of the race in doubt after it was dropped from the 2014 calendar.

"It is all very clear. They just need to come here (London) and sort out the existing contract. Though the race promoters have not said when they will come over, we are constantly talking and they look very eager to get the race back. I am also confident that all financial issues will be sorted out and India will be back on the calendar," said Ecclestone, making it amply clear that India's rigid tax and bureaucratic set-up were not the only hurdles facing the race.

Jaypee Sports International CEO Sameer Gaur had earlier said that he would meet Ecclestone in April to work towards getting the race back next year.

Though no Jaypee official was available for a comment on Wednesday, the meeting between Formula One Management and owners of Buddh International Circuit is likely to be held post the outcome of the general election on May 16. Gaur had also said last month that he expected more support from the next government at the centre.

The history shows it is tough for a race to return on ever-crowded calendar but Ecclestone said he will "make space" for India after the important issues are resolved.

"As I have said in the past, India is an important market for Formula One. I really want to see the race return," said the 83-year-old.

The F1 Czar had also made it clear earlier that Jaypee will have to give financial guarantees for the remaining two races of the contract.

Most of the F1 races around the world are backed by the government that pays huge sums to the Formula One Management as hosting fees. Jaypee, as a private entity, pays around $40 million annually to host the race.

The conversation with Ecclestone soon veered towards his ongoing bribery trial in Germany where he has denied bribing $45 million to jailed German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky for selling a stake of the Formula One empire to a company he favoured, in 2006.

"I know there is a lot of talk going on (regarding the case) but I should be fine by the end of the trial," said the British magnate, whose 40-year reign over Formula 1 could come to an end if he is found guilty.

Asked whether it is tough for him manage the sport amid his trial, Ecclestone replied, "I am not sharing my work with anyone so far. Two days a week I am busy with the court work and the rest of it is enough for my F1 commitments."

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Messi seeks ultimate prize with WC win

BUENOS AIRES: After a spectacular haul of trophies with Barcelona, Lionel Messi has a chance to lead Argentina to glory on the World Cup stage and build on his reputation as one of the all-time greats.

The four-times World Player of the Year has won a glittering array of club silverware and has established himself as one of the finest footballers to grace the game, but some believe he must win the World Cup before he can be hailed as a true great.

Many others believe, at the age of 26 - he turns 27 during the tournament on June 24 - he already has.

Messi is inevitably compared with Diego Maradona, who inspired the nation to victory at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, and will travel to Brazil with considerable expectation on his shoulders.

A lot will depend on how well he copes with the pressure and with his shrugs off an out-of-character indifferent spell towards the end of the Spanish season.

At Barcelona he was a carefree youngster who came through the youth ranks earning plenty of praise but it never went to his head. He enjoyed playing football, that was his outlet to express himself and his confidence on the pitch was in marked contrast to his generally shy personality.

Whether there were millions watching around the world, it didn't seem to matter to him as he was self-absorbed in outwitting the opposition with his trickery.

Now in his mid-twenties and a father to an infant son, he carries the responsibility of being the talisman for Barcelona and he is at a club where the fans worship him for what he has already delivered.

It is different story for the Albiceleste. During a fruitful qualifying campaign, when he netted 10 goals, Argentines warmed to him but still Messi has to measure up to Maradona.

The former Argentina captain and coach is an idol in his native country as many identify with him, the boy who emerged from the slums and restored national pride, notably with the two goals that knocked out England in the quarterfinals in Mexico in 1986.

Messi will never have that connection with the fans, having been brought up in Spain after clubs back home allowed him to slip through their fingers.

It was the Catalan side that put their faith in him as a 13-year-old and paid for him to have the growth hormone treatment that he needed to realise his full potential.

LOOKING GOOD

Coach Alejandro Sabella has built his side around Messi to a far greater extent than his predecessors and now at the peak of his career this could well be his best chance to emulate Maradona and bring the World Cup home.

An attack-minded Argentina generally play with Messi alongside close friend Sergio Aguero in attack and Barca team mate Javier Mascherano controlling play in the middle.

"The team is looking good and we are getting on well together but in a World Cup anything can happen, it is very difficult," Messi said in the bulld-up to the finals.

"The games at the World Cup are totally different. First of all the atmosphere is not like anything else. While the Champions League is great, the World Cup is special."

Messi is hoping to be 100 percent fit in Brazil having had a difficult 2013 due to a series of hamstring injuries.

He spent a couple of months on the sidelines before returning in January and this could work in Argentina's favour as he may arrive fresher than other players.

"Apart from the obvious down side, it was good for me physically to have a two month break," Messi said.

"I was very relaxed working at the Argentine FA facilities. Then after that I went home to Rosario and worked hard there as well, so everything was good.

"To be home with friends and family, just to be there after so much time, is good for me."

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Januzaj gets chance to prove credentials

BRUSSELS: Manchester United's teenager winger Adnan Januzaj, who recently announced he would represent Belgium at international level, has been given a chance to prove his World Cup credentials by national coach Marc Wilmots.

Januzaj will be among a group of 26 or 27 players who take part in a pre-World Cup training camp, from which the final squad of 23 for the June 12 to July 13 tournament in Brazil will emerge.

"The truth will come from the pitch. He'll have to win his place like everyone," Wilmots told Le Soir newspaper.

"What is sure is that the boy has a very interesting profile in the absence of (injured) Christian Benteke: it is not well known but as a reserve for MU he often played No. 9. His versatility is an advantage," said Wilmots.

The 19-year-old -- who has been at United since he was 16 and has made several eye-catching performances this season -- could have played for Albania, Turkey, Kosovo, Serbia or even England.

Januzaj is of Kosovar descent but was born in Belgium and came through the Anderlecht academy before leaving for England.

He became much sought-after by national sides after making his mark for United, one of the few positives in what has been a woeful season for the outgoing English champions and which saw manager David Moyes sacked.

It will be Belgium's first appearance in the World Cup since 2002.

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Is Rooney still the world-class talisman?

LONDON: More than a decade after he made his England debut as a fearless and prodigiously talented teenaged tearaway, it is still hard to find a consensus on Wayne Rooney's value to his country.

Is he the world-class talisman upon whom several England managers - as well as thousands of travelling fans - have invested their hopes of overdue success?

Is he merely a good player whose intermittent brilliance exposes the mediocrity of many his international team mates?

Or is he the English enigma - perhaps even underachiever - who has caused so much frustration at major tournaments?

What is clear is, that at the age of 28 and with 89 caps and 38 goals behind him, Rooney owes England a big World Cup in Brazil.

The Liverpool-born striker might have won Premier League and Champions League titles since joining Manchester United from Everton in 2004, but his England career has no obvious mark of distinction.

He is even waiting for his first World Cup goal.

In Germany in 2006, Rooney had only just overcome a foot injury and was evidently lacking in match fitness when his temper boiled over and he was sent off for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho as England went out on penalties to Portugal in the quarterfinals.

"Don't kill him," Sven-Goran Eriksson told the media afterwards, as expectation and disappointment collided.

ANOTHER INJURY

In South Africa in 2010, the frustration of life with England - and another pre-tournament injury - again got to the forward. At the end of England's stultifying 0-0 group-stage draw with Algeria, Rooney said into a TV camera as he walked off: "Nice to see your own fans booing you." He later apologised for "any offence caused".

Rooney couldn't take part in England's first two matches at Euro 2012 because he was suspended after being red carded during the final qualifier against Montenegro. He returned to score the winner against Ukraine but could not lift his team mates in the quarterfinal with Italy which ended with another penalty shootout defeat.

"Rooney only plays well in Manchester," was former England coach Fabio Capello's damning assessment.

Even the one tournament that Rooney has graced - the 2004 European Championship - has become strangely tainted over the years by the subsequent feeling of unfulfilled potential.

So after he has covered his pale-white face in factor-50, which Rooney will turn up beneath the Brazilian winter sun in June?

Sadly, for England supporters, it is impossible to predict with any degree of confidence.

This time last year, Rooney was about to embark on a summer of uncertainty as his Old Trafford future lay in the balance. Most observers suspected that Rooney, whose relationship with Alex Ferguson was said to be beyond repair, would seek a new challenge at Chelsea.

However, Ferguson's short-lived successor, David Moyes, stood firm and Rooney stayed, even signing a new contract worth a reported 300,000 pounds a week in February.

This season Rooney has performed capably in a struggling United side, scoring a stunning goal from near the halfway line against West Ham, taking the captain's armband in the absence of Nemanja Vidic, and generally appearing committed and positive in the midst of his club's travails.

However, he seems uncertain about his best position, dropping increasingly deep in his desperation to get United's misfiring attack moving but also expected to be in the box to finish things off. He even takes corners when most fans would want him on the end of them.

His commitment can never be doubted, however and there have been suggestions that England coach Roy Hodgson could ask Rooney to become captain if Steven Gerrard retires after Brazil, a recognition of his maturity and inspirational never-say-die attitude,

Yet dark clouds have been gathering, too.

Against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg, he played with what was described as a chipped bone in his toe. Moyes even admitted afterwards that his leading forward was having trouble "striking the ball". Rooney was ineffective and United went out.

Moyes of course was out of United himself by the end of the month, sacked after less than a season in the job. As a result, Rooney's career is about to enter another new phase.

Naturally, England have cause for concern when Rooney is injured before a major tournament. He has often taken time to regain full fitness, and a World Cup finals is not the arena in which to play your way back into form.

Hodgson's dilemma is whether to stake everything on his number 10 and in February he made a direct appeal to him to show the world what he can do at the finals.

"It is time for him to explode at the World Cup, to show the world what we know in England -- that he is a world class performer," the manager said.

Gerrard, who has been with Rooney all the way in an England shirt, is also convinced of his class and has been for a long time.

After Rooney's impressive full debut against Australia when he became the youngest player ever to represent his country aged 17 in February 2003, the Liverpool midfielder gushed: "I have never seen a full debut before as good as that.

"He was so full of confidence. He's got good vision, he's big, he's strong, he can hold the ball up, he can change pace, he's clever for his age and he can score goals."

And Rooney can still do all of those things. He has consistently led England's World Cup qualifying campaigns, and is only 11 goals short of Bobby Charlton's all-time mark of 49 in a white jersey.

The question, still, is whether he can do them against the best defences on the biggest stage of all.

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'Giggs can be Man United's Guardiola'

LONDON: Manchester United interim manager Ryan Giggs has the potential to replicate Pep Guardiola's success as coach of Barcelona, according to goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard.

"It might sound pretty rash and naive, but, in my opinion, we are dealing with a new Guardiola," Lindegaard told BBC Sport on Tuesday.

"What we have seen in the first week has been more than convincing. The similarities with Sir Alex Ferguson are striking and it is evident that Ryan Giggs has learned from one of history's most respected football managers."

Giggs, United's record appearance-maker, was placed in temporary charge of the United first team last week after David Moyes was sacked just 10 months into a six-year contract as the successor to Ferguson.

In his first game at the helm, Giggs oversaw a 4-0 victory at home to Norwich City, and Lindegaard says that the 40-year-old midfielder made an immediate impression on his one-time team-mates.

"Some would question whether you can go from being a team-mate one day to a manager the next. Normally I would have reservations as well, but, in the case of Giggs, it is different," the Dane added.

"His latest speech, before the team went onto the pitch for the Norwich game, made my hairs stand on end in a way that I have only ever experienced from Sir Alex Ferguson: 'Do not disappoint the fans!'"

Giggs is reportedly not in contention to succeed Moyes on a permanent basis at United, with Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal and Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said to be among the front-runners for the post.

Now the coach of Bayern Munich, Guardiola made his name as a player with Barcelona before becoming coach in 2008. He led the club to 14 titles before stepping down two years ago.

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Wimbledon seedings boost for Murray

LONDON: Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will be among the top seeds at this year's tournament despite having slipped down the ATP world ranking to eighth, organisers announced on Tuesday.

"We have a surfaced-based seeding system here at Wimbledon," All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) chairman Philip Brook told a press conference at the tournament venue in south London.

"So we take the ranking points of each player, and add to that the ranking points they hypothetically received last year on grass, and we add to that 75 percent of the best-performing tournament in the previous year.

"So to put it into context for Andy Murray, as winner of Queen's last year and winner here last year, and a finalist here in 2012, there will be a significant impact on him.

"There will also be quite a significant impact on (Roger) Federer and (Novak) Djokovic. There will be some adjustment."

Organisers also defended a move to increase the prize money for first-round losers by nearly 15 percent to £27,000 ($45,400, 32,900 euros).

Total prize money has gone up 10.8 percent to £25 million, with the winners of the men's and women's singles finals each in line to take home £1.76 million, compared to £1.6 million in 2013.

"I slightly take issue with the notion that players will turn up and lose," said AELTC chief executive Richard Lewis.

"I have to make the point that the players have worked hard to get there. Either they have have got into the championships through their ranking, so that's 12 months of play before, or there are some wild cards.

"So to portray it as £27,000 for turning up and doing nothing, I don't think that's valid."

Lewis also said that there were no plans to make alterations to any of the courts, despite a number of leading players having complained that they were too slippery during last year's tournament.

"I think in hindsight that was more of an anecdotal problem over a couple of days, and only one or two players took issue with it," he said.

"Wimbledon is played on a natural surface and of course the conditions change over the duration of the tournament. So we don't feel there are any issues to address on that."

Wimbledon this year runs from June 23 to July 6.

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Pep banking on 'angry Ribery' to pip Real

MUNICH: Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is counting on Frenchman Franck Ribery's anger to power them past Real Madrid in their Champions League semifinal second leg on Tuesday despite the winger's recent slump in form.

Ribery had a sparkling season until Bayern clinched the Bundesliga title with seven games to spare.

The team has since looked like a pale shadow of its former scintillating self that broke record after record en route to the league title with Ribery having lost his spark down the left wing as Bayern notched just two wins in their last five league games.

"Franck Ribery is extremely important for this club, for the team," Guardiola told reporters on Monday ahead of the second leg following their 1-0 defeat in Madrid last week.

"He was playing angry against Bremen (in Bayern's 5-2 win on Saturday). Franck needs this aggression, he needs to play angry.

"He keeps fighting and that is why fans love him. He is one of the best players in Bayern history, he has always performed at the highest level and we need the best Ribery."

Bayern were again unconvincing for much of the game against Bremen before an explosive second half saw them charge past their opponents with Ribery also on target.

Guardiola, in his first season in charge, is looking to lead Bayern to an unprecedented back-to-back Champions League win and should they make the final they would equal Juventus' record of having reached three consecutive finals in this competition (1996-98).

They will, however, need to score against a team that last week successfully managed to keep the Bayern attack under complete control despite the Germans' overwhelming possession.

"I cannot imagine that (Real coach) Carlo Ancelotti will set up his team in such a way as to just keep the result," said the Spaniard. "That would be difficult to maintain. Obviously it is clear what we need to do. We need to score more than one goal."

"Real are a quick team so we always have to be positioned well when we lose possession. The best is to keep them a long way away from our goal."

Guardiola refused to speculate on the participation or not of Real's Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, with the former twice on target in Saturday's 4-0 win over Ossasuna following a minor knee injury and the Welshman missing that game with a flu.

"To me it makes no difference whether Real have Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale available," he said.

Ribery's teammate Arjen Robben said they would not be surprised again by a defensive Real formation.

"Real are coming here with a lot of confidence but they also know that nothing is for free here," Robben told reporters.

"It will not be easy for them. We have to play quickly forward and score but we have to be careful of their counter attacks. We were a bit surprised by how defensive they were in the first leg."

"We are still hungry and we want to make history and reach the final," he said.

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Anirban Lahiri's win catapults him to 67

NEW DELHI: Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri's incredible victory at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters catapulted him from 102 to a career-high of 67 in the Official World Golf Rankings on Monday.

Rankings

Lahiri, who is now also the Asian Tour No. 1, had achieved his previous best ranking of 99, in March this year.

Anirban, the highest ranked Indian in the world at the moment, has also become the second-highest ranked Asian player after Thongchai Jaidee who is at 49.

Besides Jeev Milkha Singh, no other Indian golfer has been ranked higher than 67. Jeev had achieved his career-best ranking of 29 back in 2009.

Among the other two Indians who had previously broken into the top-100, Jyoti Randhawa went as high as 70 while Gaganjeet Bhullar reached a career-high of 85.

At present, Shiv Kapur at 154 is next best ranked Indian in the world followed by Gaganjeet Bhullar at 173.

Here's a look at some of the other records established post Lahiri's latest triumph:

Lahiri's 15th career title and fourth international win· Lahiri's first international-level title triumph outside India·

The 60th win by an Indian at the international level· It was the 46th title triumph by an Indian on the Asian circuit.

Lahiri's four international titles now place him fifth on the list of Indians with most international wins (Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Arjun Atwal and Gaganjeet Bhullar have won more international titles)·

Lahiri became the 10th Indian to win a title outside India·

It is the fourth year in succession that Anirban has won an international event.

Indians now have two international titles in 2014, both on the Asian Tour (Rashid Khan had won the SAIL-SBI Open in March).

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Amid despair, Atletico is hope in Madrid

MADRID: For Spain's working class suffering through what feels like never-ending economic recession, Atletico Madrid's stunning season offers an uplifting example of beating the odds, with the Spanish title and Champions League final both within its reach.

The club rooted in blue-collar Madrid is looking down on rich neighbor Real Madrid and defending champion Barcelona from atop the Spanish league standings for the first time in 18 years. It beat Valencia 1-0 on Sunday to move six points clear of Real Madrid.

Win two of its last three games, and Atletico is champion for the first time since 1996. Spain was a more optimistic place the last time it lifted the league trophy, with an economy heading for boom times before the more recent bust and now record unemployment.

Part of Atletico's appeal is that it has achieved so much with a squad worth a fraction of Madrid and Barcelona's collections of more famous stars. Neutrals across the country are in Atletico's corner, hopeful that Diego Simeone's team can break the monotony of a duopoly that has strangled the Spanish league since Valencia was the last team apart from Barcelona or Madrid to win the championship a decade ago.

"This is Atletico Madrid and that's what we're about: work, work, work, heart. We never give up," Simeone said during the Champions League quarterfinal series triumph over Barcelona. "The people of Atletico Madrid are no doubt proud of how we have competed."

Atletico and "the people" are intertwined, with the club's Vicente Calderon Stadium built over an unattractive highway in the middle of the industrial but revitalizing Arguanzela neighborhood, south of the Spanish capital's world-renowned museums and tourist attractions.

"It's the working man's team," Atletico captain Gabi Fernandez said in a magazine interview. "We're changing the story through our commitment to giving people what they want: A team they can feel proud of, that win or lose they'll say, 'Damn, this is my Atletico."'

Atletico was founded in 1903 by Basque students setting up a Madrid branch of the Athletic Bilbao club. Its standout qualities of passion, hard work and self-belief have over the years been canceled out by dramatic collapses, disorganization and disappointment.

Names such as Luis Aragones, Hugo Sanchez, Fernando Torres, Christian Vieri and Diego Forlan made their marks on the club. But so, too, did construction magnate Jesus Gil, the former president who was embroiled in embezzlement charges and jailed after one of his buildings collapsed, killing 58 people.

The club owes the Spanish government millions in back taxes. It also has endured six seasons in the second division, most recently from 2000-02.

The club's flare for dramatics is partly what makes Atletico's story so human. Despite its ups and downs, it has always succeeded in winning trophies. And since the return of former player Simeone, it is taking on and often beating Europe's elite.

Simeone played for the last championship-winning team. The Argentine coach has instilled defensive discipline in a squad that was prone to late collapses. Creative midfielders Koke and Arda Turan provide for striker Diego Costa, who already has 35 goals this season.

The past four seasons have seen Atletico win five trophies, including a pair of Europa League titles - one trophy more than Real Madrid over that same period. Ending a 17-year wait, Atletico also finally beat its crosstown rival last May, in the Copa del Rey final.

Atletico is on the verge of a place in the Champions League final after reaching the semifinals of Europe's top competition for the first time since 1974, with everything to play for on Wednesday at Chelsea in the second leg following a scoreless draw in the first leg.

Not bad for a team nicknamed "Los Colchoneros" - "mattress makers" - with its red and white strip resembling a traditional pattern for Spanish bedding.

"If we win it's because we've deserved it, not because we have some 'galacticos,"' Gabi told Panenka Magazine, referring to Madrid's history of breaking transfer records to sign players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham or Gareth Bale.

"When I was young and was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up I didn't say a football player but a football player for Atleti. I'm living the dream of all of our fans, which is nothing less than to be playing for the team you love."

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Bangalore to host India-Serbia playoff tie

NEW DELHI: Bangalore will host India's Davis Cup World Group playoff tie against Serbia from September 12 to 14.

"In consultation with the captain and players of the team, AITA has decided to hold the next Davis Cup World Group Qualifying tie against Serbia in Bengaluru. This tie will be held from 12th to 14th September 2014," said All India Tennis Association (AITA) secretary general Bharat Oza in a statement on Monday.

The winning nation will qualify for the World Group in 2015 while the losing country will contest in the Zone Groups.

India qualified for the playoff when they beat South Korea 3-1 at Busan in second round of Group I Asia/Oceania in the first week of April.

The 2013 finalists will travel to India looking to continue their seven-year-long presence in the World Group. Serbia has made the quarterfinals or better every year since 2010. For India, this tie represents a chance to return to the Davis Cup's top table.

Serbia will undoubtedly present a greater challenge for India. The 2010 champions may have suffered a loss to Switzerland in the World Group first round this year but their form in recent years has seen them become a force to be reckoned with.

Serbia hold a 2-1 head-to-head over India in Davis Cup.

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Barca back Alves in racist banana taunt

BARCELONA: Barcelona have defended Dani Alves for his response to a racist taunt and teammate Neymar posted a photo of himself with a peeled banana on the internet in support.

Alves, who is black, was about to take a corner in Sunday's 3-2 win at Villarreal when a banana was thrown at him. The Brazil international picked it up, peeled it and ate some of it before throwing the rest aside.

After the match, Alves said humor was the best way to combat racism in sport.

"Barcelona wishes to express its complete support and solidarity with our first team player Dani Alves, following the insults he was subject to from a section of the crowd at El Madrigal on Sunday," the Spanish league champions said on Monday in a statement. "Barcelona urges all clubs to continue fighting against the blight on the game which any kind of aggression against a sportsperson on the basis of their race represents."

Neymar posted a photo of himself on Instagram holding a peeled banana alongside his son, who was holding a doll that resembled a banana, with the hashtag message "we are all monkeys."

Besides Neymar, fellow Brazil teammates Hulk and Fred also lent support via their social media accounts.

Argentina striker Sergio Aguero and Brazil women's striker Marta both posed for photos while biting into bananas, while former Brazil international Roberto Carlos also posted an internet photo of himself with the fruit.

"We have suffered this in Spain for some time," Alves said on Sunday. "You have to take it with a dose of humor. We aren't going to change things easily. If you don't give it importance, they don't achieve their objective."

The match referee included the 75th-minute incident in his match report, so Villarreal could face a fine.

Alves has often been subjected to racist taunts and called fighting racism "a lost war" in January 2013 after segments of Real Madrid's fans abused him with monkey chants during a match. Madrid defender Marcelo, who is also Brazilian, was also recently greeted with monkey chants by a section of Atletico Madrid fans this season.

Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o was convinced not to walk off at Zaragoza in 2006 after fans berated the Cameroon striker with racist chants. Two years earlier, Spain fans at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium infamously greeted England's black players with monkey chants during an international friendly match.

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Anirban Lahiri wins Indonesian Masters

JAKARTA: Anirban Lahiri holed a sensational 20-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to grab his fourth Asian Tour title and the first outside India at the CIMB Indonesian Masters on Sunday.

Lahiri, who will get married next month, fought back from a double bogey on 13th as he leapfrogged from second to go past the clubhouse leader, Baek Seuk-Hyun of Korea (65), who finished at 16-under.

Lahiri (68) finished at 17-under after rounds of 70, 69, 64 and 68 and was one shot clear of Baek and Cameron Smith (70).

Lahiri, ranked 102 in World rankings at the start of the week should move inside top-75 when the rankings are released on Monday. He is currently the top Indian in world rankings. He will also move to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit. It was Lahiri's fourth win and he has now won each year since 2011 and the only Indians with more Asian Tour wins than him are Jyoti Randhawa (8), Arjun Atwal (7), Jeev Milkha Singh (6) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (5).

It has been a series of consistent performances from Lahiri, who was tied eighth at SAIL-SBI Open and then tied 10th at Maybank Malaysian Open. He also won two points for Team Asia last month at the inaugural EurAsia Cup, including a singles win over World top-30 player Victor Dubuisson of France.

Making it a great outing for Indian golf were SSP Chowrasia (68), who was in contention for a brief while before ending tied fifth at 14-under and Rashid Khan (71), who won his maiden Asian Tour title last month at SAIL-SBI Open, had a topsy-turvy day with five birdies and four bogeys and finished tied ninth at 13-under.

Jyoti Randhawa (70) was also looking at a long shot as he found five birdies in a space of six holes between fifth and 10th, but then three bogeys between 11th and 14th ended his hopes and he finished in a tie for 13th.

Rahil Gangjee (70) was tied 22nd and Arjun Atwal, who had one eagle on 18th and a birdie on sixth ended tied 39th.

Starting the day at second place, Lahiri moved into the lead with three birdies in a row from second to fourth and despite a bogey on fifth, he sank another birdie on 12th to stay in lead.

But Baek, who started the day with five birdies in a row, and Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei looked like pulling the rug from under Lahiri's feet.

Just as Lin dropped out of contention with two bogeys and a double between 14th and 17th, Lahiri's playing partner and overnight leader rookie Cameron Smith from Australia fought his way back from a disastrous front nine of three-over 39 with four birdies between 11th and 16th.

He joined Lahiri at 15-under in second place as Baek went to the putting green to get ready for a play-off after closing at 16-under.

Both Smith and Lahiri were on the green in two and had long eagle putts. Smith missed his putt and got a birdie, while Lahiri found the cup from 20 feet to leave Baek and Smith stranded at 16-under as the Indian jumped ahead to 17-under.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat (68) was fourth, while veteran Thongchai Jaidee (64) had nine birdies against one bogey to tie for fifth with Chowrasia (68), Jazz Janewattananond (67) and Lin Wen-tang (68) at 14-under.

A double-bogey six on 13 after a lengthy three-hour rain delay saw Lahiri ride out a tense finish as a host of marquee players from the Asian Tour were wrestling for the lead then.

"I had an awkward lie on 13. During the rain delay I was just thinking that I have to get up and down there. I got a bad break there but I know Lin Wen-tang dropped a shot as well. Unfortunately I got a double bogey there but I am glad I came back strong," said Lahiri.

With Baek holding the clubhouse lead at 16-under, Lahiri knew he had to produce a superlative effort on 18 to get the outright win.

"My mind was blank when I prepared for the last putt on 18. All I told myself was I had to get it into the hole. When I was walking up to the greens, I was actually thinking if I need to prepare for a playoff tomorrow morning," said Lahiri.

Lahiri screamed in delight when he watched his 20-ft eagle putt sink into the hole for a winning total of 17-under-par 271.

"It's really great to get my first win outside of India. I have missed out on it for a long time and I am so glad I managed to do it today. I need the world ranking points so I am really happy I can win this week," said Lahiri.

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Mahesh made 2012 Olympics sad: Paes

NEW DELHI: He might be in seventh heaven after receiving the prestigious Padma Bhushan honour, but tennis ace Leander Paes is still rankled by the selection furore prior to the 2012 Olympics and holds Mahesh Bhupathi responsible for making the Games a "real sad" outing for him.

The build-up to the London Games was marred by a selection row as players resorted to bickering. A can of worms opened up when Rohan Bopanna refused to partner Paes in the event, insisting on teaming up with Bhupathi.

"Mahesh was the reason the last Olympics in London was a real sad one for me. Not only did they not give me a chance to get a medal, India lost an opportunity to get a medal. That's something that's gone down in history," Paes said.

Asked if there is a possibility of pairing up with his former partner Bhupathi in future, the answer from the 14-time Grand Slam winner in doubles was an emphatic no.

In the run-up to the London Games, both Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna refused to play with Paes and insisted on being paired together. In a damage control exercise, the All India Tennis Federation paired Bhupathi with Bopanna and to appease Paes, paired him with Sania Mirza for the mixed doubles.

AITA also nominated Paes, a bronze-medallist in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics men's singles event, and Vishnu Vardhan for the men's doubles event.

That bitter episode has left Paes even more motivated to play in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"The one real goal that I have is to get to the 2016 Olympics in Rio, which will be my seventh Summer Games. Rio is only two years away and it is a realistic target. I am in the top 10 in mens doubles and the last Grand Slam I won was six months away. So for me is to keep the fire burning and to achieve glory is the long-term goal in sight," Paes, who will be 42 by the time the Rio Games kick off, told 'DD News'.

The veteran said he was ready to play in the Davis Cup tie against Serbia if called by AITA.

"As far as I am concerned I am always ready to play for the nation. If the call comes that I am needed for the Serbian tie and if the role needed is that of a player, or that of a captain, I would put my best foot forward."

"The call has to come from AITA that I am needed and I would offer my best for India. AITA runs tennis in India and If they feel that my presence would make a difference, I am there to be with the team in the tie against Serbia at home," Paes said.

While receiving the award at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Paes said he missed his daughter Aiyana though he was delighted to have his parents by his side.

"Aiyana is a very special child and I missed her today. She could not make it today and it hurts me that she is not by my side."

Talking about his latest award, he said, "It is a very, very special award for me because getting respected by the people, being recognised by the people, getting the award from the president for 30 years of hard work is something that has been a long road. The journey that has its share of ups and downs but all through it I have put my best foot forward."

Paes dedicated the award to his parents, daughter, and to all the fans "who have stood by me thick and thin".

About the tennis league mooted by Bhupathi, he said, "The tennis calender is a packed calender and to now fit in another event like this League, which is planned over 2 to 3 weeks, is a very hard one.

"I am not so sure how many of the top players are coming. You have already seen Roger Federer has not signed in to play. Maria Sharapova and Li Na pulled out. A bunch of the top players in men have pulled out. It is a tough ask to get an IPL format in tennis in a calender that's already packed."

With the election season in full swing, he was asked if he is open to the idea of fighting elections.

"My whole life I have faced people. I have lived life in the fish bowl environment with my tennis. I am very clear about the way I conduct life and my profession. If the opportunity comes I am ready to face the people.

"I will face the people if the occasion arises with open arms on the transparent model I have lead my life. For me joining politics is an extension of setting the high standards that I have set on the tennis courts as an Indian and Human being. So if there is a knock I am not going to shy away from that."

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Obama condemns alleged racist remark

LOS ANGELES: President Barack Obama on Sunday joined leading US sports figures in condemning racist remarks allegedly made by the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, one of the NBA's top basketball teams.

The gossip website TMZ on Saturday posted an audio recording it says shows billionaire Clippers owner Donald Sterling telling his girlfriend to refrain from bringing black guests to see his team play.

Sterling, 80, was reportedly angry about a photograph that the woman, identified only as V. Stiviano, posted on the social media site Instagram with retired Los Angeles Lakers basketball legend Magic Johnson.

"It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you are associating with black people. Do you have to?" Sterling allegedly says in the nearly 10-minute recording.

"You can sleep with (black people). You can bring them in. You can do whatever you want. The little I ask is not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games."

Later in the audio, the woman identifies herself as "black and Mexican."

"In your lousy ... Instagrams you don't have to have yourself walking with black people," says the male voice.

Obama, the first African American president and a keen basketball player and fan, interrupted his diplomatic initiative in Asia to condemn "ignorant" and "incredibly offensive" racist remarks.

"I don't think I have to interpret those statements for you. They kind of speak for themselves," said the president, speaking in Malaysia.

"When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don't really have to do anything, you just let them talk."

Obama also made a wider point about racism in the United States, which he said is still wrestling with the legacy of slavery and segregation.

"We just have to be clear and steady in denouncing it, teaching our children differently but also (remain) hopeful that part of why some statements like this stand out so much is because there has been a shift in how we view ourselves," he said.

"The audio recording posted by TMZ is truly offensive and disturbing," said National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver, who promised to move "extraordinary quickly in our investigation" of the controversy.

Silver said the league plans to interview Sterling, the woman on the tape, and possibly have the probe wrapped up before the Clippers' next home game late Tuesday.

"There are broad powers in place under the NBA constitution and by-laws that include a range of sanctions. All those will be considered and will depend on the findings of our investigation," he said, adding however that Sterling was owed "due process."

The remarks do not reflect Sterling's opinions on race, Clippers president Andy Roeser said as he announced a team probe.

Roeser added that the woman identified as Stiviano "is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family alleging that she embezzled more than $1.8 million, who told Mr. Sterling that she would 'get even.'"

According to the Los Angeles Times, Stiviano is in her 20s and has been seen often at Sterling's side.

In a lawsuit filed last month, Sterling's wife claims that her husband gave Stiviano money and expensive cars, The Times reported.

The outrage from NBA stars was clear, loud and emphatic. "Magic" Johnson vowed on Twitter that he and his wife Cookie would never attend another Clippers' game as long as Sterling owns the team.

"LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling's comments about African Americans are a black eye for the NBA," Johnson wrote.

"No room for Donald Sterling in our league," Miami Heat superstar LeBron James said. "I can't imagine what's going on in his head."

"It's a damn shame but a sad reality that we have people like that in this world," Los Angeles Lakers star guard Kobe Bryant said.

"It upsets all of us. There's not one guy who is happy with this situation," said Clippers coach Glenn "Doc" Rivers, who is black, after a team meeting on the matter before a practice session.

Sterling has expressed racist views before, according to former Clipper standout Baron Davis.

"That's the way it is.. He is honest about what he believes in.. Been going on for a long time, Hats off 2 the Team.. 4 playin above it all," Davis wrote on Twitter.

African American rights activist Jesse Jackson called for fans to boycott Clippers' games.

"If we are just going from picking cotton balls to picking basketballs, then we are not making progress. It's about dignity," Jackson told ESPN.

Sterling was not available for comment. The Clippers lead the Golden State Warriors two games to one in a best-of-seven first-round playoff series that continues Sunday. Silver said Sterling has "agreed" not to attend Sunday's game in Oakland, California.

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Liverpool lose grip on title with defeat

LONDON: Chelsea remained in the hunt for a Premier League and Champions League double after a 2-0 win away at leaders Liverpool on Sunday.

EPL: Results | Points Table | Top scorers

Victory saw Jose Mourinho's men close to within two points of top spot in the Premier League with two games to play.

However, third-placed Manchester City will be just three points off the summit, with a game in hand on both Liverpool and Chelsea, if they win away to Crystal Palace later on Sunday.

Senegal striker Demba Ba put Chelsea ahead in first-half stoppage-time when a slip by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard allowed him to charge through and beat Reds goalkeeper Simon Mignolet in a one-on-one.

Chelsea put the result beyond doubt in added-on time at the end of the match when, with the hosts pressing for an equaliser, former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres led a counter-attack before squaring the ball to substitute Willian for a simple finish.

Chelsea face Atletico Madrid in the second leg of a Champions League semifinal at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday after a goalless initial encounter in Spain.

Earlier on Sunday, Sunderland climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone with a 4-0 win at home to 10-man fellow strugglers Cardiff.

Connor Wickham headed Sunderland, who kicked off bottom of the table, into a 26th-minute lead at the Stadium of Light but the match turned decisively in favour of the home side on the stroke of half-time.

Wickham burst clear and was bearing down on goal when his shirt was tugged by Cardiff centre-back Juan Cala, whose poor back-pass had let him in.

Phil Dowd played an advantage after Wickham stayed on his feet but, when that didn't lead to a goal, the referee blew for a penalty and sent off Cala.

Fabio Borini, as he'd done in Sunderland's shock win over Chelsea, scored from the spot.

Emanuele Giaccherini put the result beyond doubt by making it 3-0 in the 76th minute before Wickham headed in his second goal four minutes from time.

Sunderland's victory saw Gus Poyet's side move above Norwich, who dropped into the relegation zone on goal difference, with a game in hand on the teams around them at the foot of the table.

Defeat plunged Cardiff to the bottom, two points shy of safety with two games to play.

An elated Wickham told the BBC: "I'm over the moon. I can't ask for much more.

"We're out of the relegation zone and we'll keep fighting to stay there."

Saturday saw Ryan Giggs launch his reign as interim Manchester United following the sacking of David Moyes with a 4-0 thrashing of Norwich at Old Trafford, Wayne Rooney and substitute Juan Mata scoring two goals apiece.

Everton missed the chance to go above Arsenal in the race for fourth position, and a place in next season's Champions League, after two own-goals condemned them to a 2-0 loss at Southampton.

Arsenal will move four points in front of Everton with two games to play if they beat Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium on Monday.

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3-in-a-row for Sharapova in Stuttgart

STUTTGART: Maria Sharapova claimed a hat-trick of Stuttgart titles on Sunday after coming from behind to win a three-set battle royal with Ana Ivanovic in Sunday's final.

Having won the 2012 and 2013 titles here, the 27-year-old Sharapova was made to work hard for her 13th consecutive win on Stuttgart's clay-courts in the 51st final of her career before over-powering Ivanovic to claim a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory in just over two hours.

It is the Russian's first clay-court tournament in her build-up to the French Open, having lost to Serena Williams in last year's final.

Having been taken to three sets by the Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova in her first-round match, Russia's Sharapova had swept into the final with straight set wins over compatriot Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, top-seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, then Italian clay-court specialist Sara Errani in the semifinals.

But Ivanovic, the ninth seed, made the statuesque Russian dig deep and the 26-year-old wasted no time asserting herself over Sharapova, racing into a a 4-0 lead in the first set before the defending champion responded, but the Serbian held her serve to take the first set.

Having won her previous tournament in Monterrey, Mexico, last month, Ivanovic went 3-1 up in the second but the match's momentum turned against her when Sharapova broke her, then fought her way back to take the set.

Ivanovic had been chasing her first win over the Russian since the 2007 French Open semi-final, when Ivanovic went onto lose to Justine Henin in the final, but the Serbian ran out of steam and sixth seed Sharapova dominated the third set.

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Nishikori reaches Barcelona Open final

MADRID: Japan's Kei Nishikori reached his second ATP final of the season with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Latvian Ernests Gulbis at the Barcelona Open on Saturday.

Nishikori, playing for the first time on clay under new coach and former French Open champion Michael Chang, was dominant on serve throughout and never faced a break point on his way to sealing victory in one hour 25 minutes.

The world number 17 will face Spaniard Nicolas Almagro or Colombian Santiago Giraldo in Sunday's final after Almagro stunned Rafael Nadal 2-6, 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 in the quarterfinals on Friday.

World number one Nadal, an eight-time Barcelona champion, suffered his first defeat in the Catalan capital since 2003.

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United dismiss Van Gaal deal reports

LONDON: Manchester United have dismissed press reports in the Netherlands that the club had agreed a three-year deal with Louis van Gaal for him to replace the sacked David Moyes as coach.

Popular broadsheet De Telegraaf said Saturday that "the national coach (Van Gaal) late last (Friday) night reached a deal with the top British club," to take over as manager after the World Cup.

"The man who's the absolute number one to replace axed coach David Moyes will immediately take up the job when the Dutch Eleven is knocked out of the World Cup in Brazil," the paper added.

Van Gaal, 62, who has been on holiday at his villa in Portugal's Algarve "has been in talks with Ed Woodward, lawyer for club owners the Glazer brothers for a multi-year, multi-million contract," it said, without citing any sources.

But United, who have put veteran player Ryan Giggs in charge until the end of the season, quickly denied the reports.

"There is nothing to report. We have not signed a new manager. When we have something to report, we will announce it," a club spokesman said.

Any move for Van Gaal would now appear to run against the wishes of former manager Alex Ferguson, a club director who is still hugely influential.

The Scot, whose retirement teed up the appointment of Moyes - a decision he was a driving force behind - on Friday appeared to put his weight behind Giggs getting the job on a full-time basis.

"I think that he [Giggs] is the one man they should go to really,'' Ferguson said at a charity dinner, according to the Daily Telegraph.

"He's got 20-odd years of experience at Manchester United. I signed him as a kid at 13 years of age. He's gone through the gamut of emotions at the club - he's experienced all the highs and lows."

The Dutch press report said that included in the deal would be a 100 million euros ($138 million) fund in transfer fees to beef up United's flagging fortunes.

Van Gaal -- whose stylish way of football and no-nonsense attitude has earned him the nickname the "Iron Tulip", quickly emerged as a front-runner to take over the hot seat at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman brings with him a long list of successes including several Dutch titles with top club Ajax and unfashionable AZ Alkmaar, a Bundesliga crown with Bayern Munich and Spanish championship with Barcelona.

Van Gaal -- who has long said he wanted to move to British football after the World Cup -- has in the past also been linked a possible deal with Tottenham.

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Own goals derail Everton's Euro bid

LONDON: Everton suffered a huge blow in their quest for Champions League football after a pair of own-goals saw them lose 2-0 to Southampton at St Mary's on Saturday.

EPL: Results | Points Table | Topscorers

The loss meant Everton remained a point behind Arsenal, who currently occupy the fourth and final Champions League spot on offer to Premier League clubs, ahead of the Gunners' match at home to Newcastle on Monday.

But Everton manager Roberto Martinez insisted the Merseysiders, whose final two league games of the season are against title contenders Manchester City and FA Cup finalists Hull, had not given up on a Champions League place.

"Not at all, from our point of view it doesn't change at all," Martinez told BT Sport.

"We have had eight wins in 10 games, that's a phenomenal return and allows us to go into the next two games trying to get maximum points.

"Today was a real setback...but we'll be ready for next Saturday," the Spaniard added.

Everton, whose 2-0 victory over Manchester United last week led to their former manager David Moyes's sacking by the English champions, were behind as early as the first minute courtesy of a bizarre own-goal.

Antolin Alacaraz got in front of the player he was marking to somehow head a cross from Southampton's Rickie Lambert past Toffees goalkeeper Tim Howard.

And the visitors fell further behind on the south coast shortly after the half-hour mark when Seamus Coleman diverted Nathaniel Clyne's cross beyond Howard.

Victory saw the Saints remain eighth in the table. Saturday's other English top-flight fixtures will see Ryan Giggs oversee his first match as interim player-manager of Manchester United when the seventh-placed side face Norwich, just above the relegation zone, at Old Trafford.

Elsewhere, second-bottom Fulham are at home to Hull, Stoke play Tottenham, Swansea face Aston Villa and West Brom, still not certain of top-flight survival, welcome West Ham to The Hawthorns.

The race for the Premier League title will intensify on Sunday when leaders Liverpool face second-placed Chelsea, currently five points off top spot, at Anfield.

Third-placed Manchester City, six points off the summit but with four league games remaining compared to the top two's three apiece, are away to Crystal Palace.

At the other end of the table there is a classic relegation 'six-pointer' when bottom of the table Sunderland are at home to drop zone rivals Cardiff.

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Paes receives Padma Bhushan award

NEW DELHI: Indian tennis star Leander Paes was on Saturday conferred the Padma Bhushan, country's third highest civilian honour, by President Pranab Mukherjee at a private ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

The 40-year old, who aspires to represent the country at the Olympics for a historic seventh time in Rio Games, posted pre and after ceremony pics on his twitter page.

"Padma Bhushan...Thanks for the years of support everyone!!! The rest is still unwritten...Jai Hind!," he wrote on the micro-blogging site.

"Padma Bhushan Ceremony,Rashtrapati Bhavan! Nothing like family by my side. I miss my baby,Aiyana...," read his pre-ceremony tweet.

Paes was among the 11 Padma Bhushan awardees this year.

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Opposition grows to Beckham's stadium

MIAMI: David Beckham is facing a challenge as demanding as any goalkeeper he's ever faced: overcoming opposition to his plans for a Miami stadium to serve as home to his new team.

The English football icon announced plans for the state-of-the-art open-air stadium, to be located at the Port of Miami, amid much fanfare in March.

With a $250 million price tag, the stadium would have room for 25,000 fans and a view both of Miami's downtown skyline and of the ocean.

The new stadium would be home to the Major Soccer League (MLS) team that the former England, Manchester United and Real Madrid star aims to launch by 2017.

But the dapper Beckham, 38, has run into resistance that his Hollywood looks and stellar sports resume have failed to dazzle: an alliance of shipping companies, tourism officials and local residents.

The locals say traffic is already congested in the downtown port area, and fear that a stadium would create massive gridlock -- which tourism officials say would dissuade visitors from heading to Miami Beach.

In full-page ads in the Miami Herald newspaper a group known as the Miami Seaport Alliance, led by the Royal Caribbean cruise line, claims that the stadium would put at risk thousands of jobs and millions of dollars invested at the port.

The Port of Miami employs more than 207,000 people and is the second most important source of tax revenue for Miami-Dade county.

"We cannot support locating a stadium at PortMiami due to the risks it would pose to jobs, cruise and cargo operations, and the port's promising future," read one of the group's ads.

It reminded readers that millions of dollars have been invested in the port in preparation for the arrival of giant cargo ships that will reach Miami starting in 2015, once operations to broaden the Panama Canal have been completed.

"There has been definitely a misinformation campaign by the opposition," shot back Neisen Kasdin, a Miami attorney for The Beckham Group.

Kasdin told AFP that Port of Miami officials have said that the area where the stadium would be built is not appropriate for port activities.

The games, some 20 a year at the most, "are Saturday or Sunday evenings, or perhaps Wednesday evenings," said Kasdin. "So it is after all port operations have ceased and after rush hour."

"What Beckham wants and needs is a downtown stadium that is at or near the water," Kasdin said.

With no stadium, the MLS will not give Beckham a green light to his team, Kasdin said.

One key ally in the struggle is Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who has the last word because the Port of Miami is in his jurisdiction.

"To be honest there is nothing there, there is no deal breaker for the port site," Gimenez said in a recent local radio show.

Kasdin on Wednesday endured a tidal wave of criticism at a public meeting at the Miami Beach town hall.

Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine is a vocal opponent of the project, convinced that heavy traffic would create a massive traffic jam across the several bridges that link his community to Miami-Dade.

"I am feeling like I am being forced out of my city, the city I was born in," complained Ron Brenesky, a Miami Beach community activist at the event.

Brenesky and scores of his neighbors said they were convinced that traffic would get even worse than it currently is.

Football fans also showed up at the gathering to voice their support for the stadium.

Levine closed the raucous meeting by proposing to locate the stadium at Miami International Airport, a site with plenty of access for traffic and a long view.

Gimenez said that he will soon announce his decision, and Kasdin said he was optimistic about the outcome.

Beckham wants the stadium to be operational even before 2018, said Kasdin. "No one has yet identified a site that would work as well as the port site," Kasdin said.

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Bernie Ecclestone rejects bribery charges

MUNICH: Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone rejected accusations of bribery when he went on trial on Thursday in a case that could threaten his grip on the sport, telling a Munich court that a German banker who received a disputed $44 million payment didn't tell the truth.

Ecclestone said in a personal statement read out in German by his lawyers that he was "grateful" to be able to give his side of the story - though he told judges that he would answer questions from the Munich state court through his lawyers, rather than personally.

The 83-year-old Ecclestone is charged with bribery and incitement to breach of trust, and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The charges involve a $44 million payment to banker Gerhard Gribkowsky, who is serving an 8{-year sentence for taking the money.

Prosecutors allege the payment was meant to facilitate the sale of Munich-based bank Bayern LB's stake in Formula One to a buyer of Ecclestone's liking. Gribkowsky was in charge of selling that 47 percent stake in F1 in 2005.

Ecclestone testified during Gribkowsky's trial in 2011 and Gribkowsky is expected to be the main witness during Ecclestone's trial, which is scheduled to last until September 16.

Gribkowsky was found guilty of corruption, tax evasion and breach of trust in a trial led by the same judge who is hearing Ecclestone's case, Peter Noll.

The defense made clear that it will attack Gribkowsky's credibility, and Ecclestone said in his statement that the banker didn't tell the truth.

Ecclestone has said in the past that he was "shaken down."

In Thursday's statement, Ecclestone reiterated testimony he gave at Gribkowsky's trial that he gave the banker the money because he was worried Gribkowsky would falsely accuse of him of being in charge of a trust fund set up for the Formula One boss's former wife and their children - possibly incurring a huge British tax bill.

Ecclestone's lawyers also insisted anew that their client is innocent, saying in a written statement that "the alleged bribe has not occurred."

They argued that the indictment is based on statements by Gribkowsky that are "incorrect, misleading and incoherent."

"They do not take account of the real course of events in 2005 and 2006 regarding Formula 1 and the life of Mr. Ecclestone," the lawyers said, adding they would produce new documents at the trial to dispute Gribkowsky's statements.

Ecclestone has stepped down temporarily as a director of F1's holding company pending the outcome of the trial, though he continues to manage the sport's commercial operations on behalf of investment fund CVC Capital Partners, which has a controlling stake in the web of companies which run the commercial side of the sport.

Ecclestone, who built his powerbase in F1 starting in the 1970s, likely would be unable to remain in charge if convicted - even if he avoids a prison sentence.

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Sachin begins birthday by casting vote

MUMBAI: The cricket fraternity today took to Twitter to convey their wishes to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who started his 41st birthday by casting his vote in the general elections.

"I have voted, have you? A wonderful start to my birthday, as a responsible citizen of our great nation," Tendulkar wrote on his Twitter page.

Tendulkar had returned from the UAE, where IPL 7 is going on, according to sources close to him, and is celebrating his birthday with family and friends in the city.

Wishing the maestro, Indian batting's mainstay Virat Kohli said it was Tendulkar who inspired him to take up the game of cricket.

"Happy birthday to the man who inspired me to play this game. Happy birthday @sachin_rt paji! Legend forever," wrote Kohli on his Twitter handle.

India opener Rohit Sharma, who still shares the dressing room with Tendulkar as a part of the Mumbai Indians team in the Indian Premier League, Tweeted: "Happy birthday @sachin_rt wish you all the happiness. Really happy to still share the dressing room with you."

This is Tendulkar's first birthday after he quit all forms of cricket in November 2013 following his 200th and final Test at his home ground, Wankhede Stadium, against the West Indies.

The cricket icon is, however, still associated with the Mumbai Indians outfit as its team's mentor.

"Happy birthday to Sachin Paaji. May u have a peaceful and fun-filled life. God bless u," India discard Gautam Gambhir wrote.

Wishing his "God" happy birthday, Sreesanth said, "@sachin_rt Wishing my cricket God ..a very happy birthday..!!"

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan also wished Test and ODI cricket's highest scorer.

"Happy Birthday @sachin_rt .. Celebrate in style.....," he wrote.

In his message, Sri Lankan cricketer Russel Arnold prayed for Tendulkar's long life.

"Sachin Tendulkar turns 41 today... Happy Birthday... !!!! Have a good one and many more!!!," tweeted Arnold.

BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla also extended his wished to Tendulkar.

"May everyday bring something new and exciting for you. May this Birthday turn out to be as amazing as you .....," said Shukla.

Tendulkar hung up his boots after a glittering international career that saw him amass 15,921 runs in Tests, at an average of 53.78, and 18426 runs in 463 ODIs at an average of 44.83.

He had scored 100 centuries during his international with Test matches accounting for 51 of those, the most by any batsman in the world.

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Kei Nishikori into Barcelona quarters

MADRID: Japanese fourth seed Kei Nishikori eased into the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open on Thursday with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Kazakstan's Andrey Golubev.

Nishikori is making his first appearance of the season on clay in the Catalan capital and after struggling past Roberto Bautista Agut in three sets on Tuesday, he seemed more at ease as he equalled his best-ever run in Barcelona by reaching the last eight.

The world number 17 is likely to face a tougher task on Friday, though, when he faces either Marin Cilic or Tommy Robredo for a place in the semifinals.

Ninth seed Ernests Gulbis also secured his place in he quarters with a straight sets 7-5, 6-1 win over Albert Montanes.

The Latvian will face Russia's Teimuraz Gabashvili in the last eight after he continued his fine week after shocking second seed David Ferrer on Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Inigo Cervantes.

Top seed Rafael Nadal will be last on court on Thursday as he continues his quest for a ninth title in Barcelona when he faces Croatia's Ivan Dodig.

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Chhetri, Ashley in line for FPAI awards

KOLKATA: Bengaluru FC, who created history by winning the I-League on debut this season, dominated the shortlist for the Football Players' Association of India Awards 2014 to be held here on April 29.

Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood along with captain Sunil Chhetri and medio Lenny Rodrigues are among six nominees who have been shortlisted in five categories.

The shortlist of top five was done based on a voting by the players of the I-League clubs and the winners will be announced at the awards night.

The annual awards function will be preceded by a 5-a-side match between Mohun Bagan and FPAI Five which will be held at the Calcutta Parsee Club ground.

Voting is underway for the 'Fans Player of the Year' at their website: www.thefpai.net till April 27.

The shortlist

Coach: Thangboi Singto (Shillong Lajong FC), Derrick Pereira (Salgaocar SC), Ahsley Westwood (Bengaluru FC), Armando Colaco (East Bengal), Oscar Bruzon (Sporting Clube de Goa).

Young Player: Narayan Das (Dempo SC), Siam Hangal (BFC), Alesh Sawant (Churchill Brothers), Alwyn George (Dempo), Lalrindika Ralte (EB).

Foreign Player: Cornell Glenn (Lajong), Darryl Duffy (Salgaocar), Yusuf Yakubu (Mumbai FC), Douhou Pierre (Pune FC), John Johnson (BFC).

Indian Player: Sunil Chhetri and Lenny Rodrigues (both BFC); Gabriel Fernandes (Pune), Cavin Lobo (EB), Balwant Singh (Churchill).

Fans Player: Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar), Balwant Singh (Churchill), Boithang Haokip (Lajong), Yusa Katsumi (Mohun Bagan), Beikhokhei Beingaichho (BFC), Victorino Fernandes (Sporting Clube de Goa), Douhou Pierre (Pune), Arnab Mondal (EB).

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Sharapova reaches Stuttgart quarters

STUTTGART (Germany): Maria Sharapova reached the last eight of the Stuttgart WTA tournament on Thursday with a convincing 6-4, 6-3 win over fellow-Russian Anastasia Pavlychenkova.

It was in stark contrast to her struggles of the previous day when she needed three tie-breaks and almost three-and-a-half hours to defeat Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic in a first round tie.

Seeded sixth this year, Sharapova is aiming for a third straight title on the red clay of Stuttgart as the preparations for the French Open get fully underway.

The four-time Grand Slam champion looked solid enough on serve, with just five double-faults to eight by her opponent and she had Pavlychenkova under constant pressure with her booming returns.

Her opponent in the quarterfinals will be Polish top seed Agnieszka Radwanska who proved too good for Italan doubles specialist Roberta Vinci, winning 6-3, 6-2.

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Moyes understands fans 'frustration'

LONDON: David Moyes declared on Wednesday that he was "proud" to have managed Manchester United, but said that he understood the "frustration" that had led to his dismissal.

Moyes, 50, was sacked by United on Tuesday after a dismal 10-month tenure in which the reigning champions slumped to seventh place in the Premier League, denying them a place in next season's Champions League.

"During this period of transition, performances and results have not been what Manchester United and its fans are used to or expect, and I both understand and share their frustration," Moyes said in a statement released by the League Managers' Association (LMA).

"I have always believed that a manager never stops learning during his career, and I know I will take invaluable experience from my time as United's manager.

"I remain proud to have led the team to the quarter-finals of this year's Champions League and I remain grateful to Sir Alex Ferguson (his predecessor) for believing in my ability and giving me the chance to manage Manchester United."

The LMA, the trade union for managers working professionally in England, criticised United for the "unprofessional manner" in which Moyes was dismissed.

Chief executive Richard Bevan said the organisation was "very disappointed" that "extensive reports in the press" had announced Moyes's sacking before he "had been spoken to officially by the club".

Although reports about Moyes's departure first emerged in the British media on Monday afternoon, he did not learn of his fate until early on Tuesday morning.

Responding to Bevan's comments, United said that they had not acted irresponsibly.

"We do not accept that it was handled in an unprofessional manner," said a spokesperson.

"The decision was not taken until late Monday night and was communicated face-to-face first thing on Tuesday morning.

"When reports started emerging on internet news sites on Monday afternoon, no decision had been taken at that time."

Moyes added: "Taking charge after such a long period of continuous stability and success at the club was inevitably going to be a significant challenge, but it was one which I relished and never had a second thought about taking on.

"The scale of the manager's job at United is immense, but I have never stepped away from hard work and the same applies to my coaching staff. I thank them for their dedication and loyalty throughout the last season."

British newspaper reports on Wednesday claimed that Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has been identified as a potential candidate for the United job.

Several papers said that Ancelotti was being considered for the vacancy, along with Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal, who emerged as the early favourite for the post.

However, whereas Ancelotti, the former Chelsea manager, is less than a year into a three-year contract at Madrid, Van Gaal is scheduled to step down from his position with Holland after this year's World Cup in Brazil.

Van Gaal, 62, is currently on holiday in Portugal. Dutch tabloid Algemeen Dagblad reported that he was "maintaining radio silence".

Long-serving midfielder Ryan Giggs has been placed in interim charge of first-team affairs "until a permanent appointment can be made", United said.

The 40-year-old Welshman, who became a member of Moyes's coaching staff at the beginning of the season, is expected to address the media for the first time since taking up his new role on Friday.

Giggs will be assisted by Phil Neville and Chris Woods, both of whom kept their jobs on United's back-room staff despite having been brought in by Moyes, as well as youth-team coach and former team-mate Nicky Butt.

However, Steve Round and Jimmy Lumsden, who were also appointed by Moyes, have both been fired.

Another of Giggs's former team-mates, Paul Scholes, has also been drafted in to provide support.

"It's great to see Paul Scholes here at the Aon Training Complex today, assisting Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville," United said in a message on the club's Twitter feed on Wednesday.

News of Moyes's departure met with a favourable reaction on the New York Stock Exchange, where United's shares rose six percent to their highest level since Ferguson's retirement last May.

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Carlo in frame for United job: Reports

LONDON: Manchester United began their search for a new manager on Wednesday, with newspaper reports claiming that Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has emerged as a candidate to succeed David Moyes.

Several British newspapers said that Ancelotti was being considered for the vacancy, along with Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal, who emerged as the early favourite for the post following Moyes's sacking on Tuesday.

However, whereas Ancelotti, the former Chelsea manager, is less than a year into a three-year contract at Madrid, Van Gaal is scheduled to step down from his position with Holland after this year's World Cup.

Van Gaal, 62, has expressed an interest in working in England and former Holland forward Bryan Roy, who worked under him at Ajax, believes that he would be a perfect fit at United.

"He has definitely still got the hunger," Roy, now a coach at Ajax, told the Daily Mirror.

"He will never turn down Manchester United, believe me. I think it's the job he really wants. And he will be a revelation at Manchester United."

Speaking shortly after news of Moyes's dismissal broke on Tuesday, Ancelotti expressed sympathy for the former Everton manager.

"I feel for David Moyes, but in general this is the life of a coach," said the 54-year-old Italian, whose side play Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals later on Wednesday.

"At times things don't go well and you are sacked. I'm sure David Moyes will look for, and find, another job."

Diego Simeone, the current Atletico Madrid coach, is another figure to have been linked with the vacancy at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, reports claim that former United manager Alex Ferguson will play an active role in the search for a new head coach, despite having been chiefly responsible for the decision to appoint Moyes.

Ferguson, who is now a United director, personally recommended Moyes to the club's board after announcing his retirement in May last year.

Moyes, 50, was sacked after a wretched debut campaign that saw defending champions United slump to seventh place in the Premier League table, denying them a place in next season's Champions League.

Long-serving midfielder Ryan Giggs has been placed in interim charge of first-team affairs "until a permanent appointment can be made", United said.

The 40-year-old Welshman, who became a member of Moyes's coaching staff at the beginning of the season, is expected to address the media for the first time since taking up his new role on Friday.

Giggs will be assisted by Phil Neville and Chris Woods, both of whom kept their jobs on United's back-room staff despite having been brought in by Moyes, as well as youth-team coach and former teammate Nicky Butt.

However, Steve Round and Jimmy Lumsden, who were also appointed by Moyes, have both been fired.

Another of Giggs's former teammates, Paul Scholes, has also been drafted in to provide support.

"It's great to see Paul Scholes here at the Aon Training Complex today, assisting Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville," United said in a message on the club's Twitter feed on Wednesday.

News of Moyes's departure met with a favourable reaction on the New York Stock Exchange, where United's shares rose six percent to their highest level since Ferguson's retirement.

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Scholes makes return to assist Giggs

LONDON: Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has been drafted in to assist the club's newly appointed interim manager Ryan Giggs, United revealed on Wednesday.

"It's great to see Paul Scholes here at the Aon Training Complex today, assisting Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville," United said on their official Twitter feed.

Giggs, 40, was placed in temporary charge of the first team on Tuesday after David Moyes was sacked as manager.

Nicky Butt and Phil Neville were already on United's back-room staff. Scholes briefly worked as a coach at the club after first retiring as a player in 2011.

Giggs, Neville, Scholes and Butt all graduated from the United youth team in the early 1990s and went on to play key roles in the success the club enjoyed under former manager Alex Ferguson.

Scholes, 39 came out of retirement to play under Ferguson last season, before ending his playing career for good at the end of the campaign.

Moyes reportedly tried to persuade Scholes to join his back-room staff at the start of the current season, but the former England international elected not to accept his offer.

Scholes made a total of 718 appearances for United, scoring 155 goals, and won 11 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, two Champions League titles and one Club World Cup during his time at the club.

Giggs will take charge of United for the first time on Saturday, when they host Norwich City in the first of their four remaining Premier League games.

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Sacked Moyes 'proud' of United tenure

LONDON: David Moyes declared on Wednesday that he was "proud" to have managed Manchester United, but said that he understood the "frustration" that had led to his dismissal.

Moyes, 50, was sacked by United on Tuesday after a dismal 10-month tenure in which the reigning champions slumped to seventh place in the Premier League, denying them a place in next season's Champions League.

"During this period of transition, performances and results have not been what Manchester United and its fans are used to or expect, and I both understand and share their frustration," Moyes said in a statement released by the League Managers' Association (LMA).

"I have always believed that a manager never stops learning during his career, and I know I will take invaluable experience from my time as United's manager.

"I remain proud to have led the team to the quarter-finals of this year's Champions League and I remain grateful to Sir Alex Ferguson (his predecessor) for believing in my ability and giving me the chance to manage Manchester United."

The LMA, the trade union for managers working professionally in England, criticised United for the "unprofessional manner" in which Moyes was dismissed.

Chief executive Richard Bevan said the organisation was "very disappointed" that "extensive reports in the press" had announced Moyes's sacking before he "had been spoken to officially by the club".

Although reports about Moyes's departure first emerged in the British media on Monday afternoon, he did not learn of his fate until early on Tuesday morning.

Responding to Bevan's comments, United said that they had not acted irresponsibly.

"We do not accept that it was handled in an unprofessional manner," said a spokesperson.

"The decision was not taken until late Monday night and was communicated face-to-face first thing on Tuesday morning.

"When reports started emerging on internet news sites on Monday afternoon, no decision had been taken at that time."

Moyes added: "Taking charge after such a long period of continuous stability and success at the club was inevitably going to be a significant challenge, but it was one which I relished and never had a second thought about taking on.

"The scale of the manager's job at United is immense, but I have never stepped away from hard work and the same applies to my coaching staff. I thank them for their dedication and loyalty throughout the last season."

British newspaper reports on Wednesday claimed that Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has been identified as a potential candidate for the United job.

Several papers said that Ancelotti was being considered for the vacancy, along with Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal, who emerged as the early favourite for the post.

However, whereas Ancelotti, the former Chelsea manager, is less than a year into a three-year contract at Madrid, Van Gaal is scheduled to step down from his position with Holland after this year's World Cup in Brazil.

Van Gaal, 62, is currently on holiday in Portugal. Dutch tabloid Algemeen Dagblad reported that he was "maintaining radio silence".

Long-serving midfielder Ryan Giggs has been placed in interim charge of first-team affairs "until a permanent appointment can be made", United said.

The 40-year-old Welshman, who became a member of Moyes's coaching staff at the beginning of the season, is expected to address the media for the first time since taking up his new role on Friday.

Giggs will be assisted by Phil Neville and Chris Woods, both of whom kept their jobs on United's back-room staff despite having been brought in by Moyes, as well as youth-team coach and former team-mate Nicky Butt.

However, Steve Round and Jimmy Lumsden, who were also appointed by Moyes, have both been fired.

Another of Giggs's former team-mates, Paul Scholes, has also been drafted in to provide support.

"It's great to see Paul Scholes here at the Aon Training Complex today, assisting Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville," United said in a message on the club's Twitter feed on Wednesday.

News of Moyes's departure met with a favourable reaction on the New York Stock Exchange, where United's shares rose six percent to their highest level since Ferguson's retirement last May.

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Ferrer knocked out of Barcelona Open

BARCELONA: Four-time finalist David Ferrer stumbled out in the second round of the Barcelona Open on Wednesday, the Spanish second seed losing 6-4, 6-2 to Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili.

The loss came five days after world number five Ferrer upset Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals at Monte Carlo, a career highlight for the winner.

Nadal was starting his bid for a ninth Barcelona title later against countryman Albert Ramos after a bye.

Waiting for the winner in the third round is Croatian Ivan Dodig, who hammered Spanish 13th seed Feliciano Lopez 6-1, 6-4.

Last season Ferrer lost at the same stage at the Club de Tenis, going out to Dmitry Tursunov after losing a quartet of finals to Nadal over the years in the Catalan capital.

The favoured Spaniard had beaten Gabashvili in both of their previous matches, both played on hardcourt.

Gabashvili won the opening set in 44 minutes with a break in the final game, when Ferrer hit the net trying to return a drive forehand off the Russian's racquet.

The Spaniard was able to convert on only one of six break points in the opener as his opponent successfully defended.

In the second, the challenger did not let up, breaking the unsteady Ferrer for 2-0 and finishing off the upset as he broke Ferrer to win it on a second match point, with the the Spaniard putting a forehand long into the corner.

Gabashvili, ranked 55th, is playing Barcelona for the eighth time and had never gotten past the second round. His win over Ferrer lifted his ATP record in 2014 to 4-7.

Ferrer went down in 80 minutes, converting only one of eight break point chances while losing his own serve four times and firing four double faults.

The victory was the best for Gabashvili since upsetting Andy Roddick in the Roland Garros third round four years ago.

Two Spaniards advanced, with sixth seed Nicolas Almagro beating Slovak Martin Klizan 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) and Albert Montanes defeating eighth seed Alexandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.

"It was a tough match, he gets a lot of balls back and makes life difficult," Montanes said. "I'm very pleased to have gotten through in straight sets.

"I'm playing well and my confidence is high, it's a good moment for me. The secret right now seems to be in good mental preparation."

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Nadal looks to put Monaco behind him

BARCELONA: Top-ranked Rafael Nadal gets an immediate chance to shake off his surprisingly early exit at the Monte Carlo Masters by going for his ninth Barcelona Open title this week.

The Spaniard is hoping to recover his clay-court form after a quarterfinal loss to David Ferrer in Monaco, where the eight-time champion made his earliest exit since 2003.

Nadal acknowledged that his confidence is shaken following the Australian Open final loss to Stanislas Wawrinka, and says his state of mind "is what it is."

Nadal said Monday that "I started the season OK except for some lack of confidence and competitiveness in important moments of certain matches."

He added that "I've faced adversities throughout my career, and this is just another one."

Nadal opens play later this week.

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