India in SAFF semis despite loss to Nepal

KATHMANDU: Defending champions India dished out yet another lacklustre performance to go down 1-2 against hosts Nepal but still managed to sail through to the semifinals of the SAFF Football Championships on Thursday.

The six-time champions were clearly the inferior side in their last Group A match at a packed Dasarath Stadium and they were lucky to make it to the last four stage after Pakistan beat Bangladesh 2-1 in another simultaneous match.

For Nepal, who were cheered by a vociferous home crowd, Anil Gurung and Jumanu Rai scored in the 70th and 81st minutes while Syed Rahim Nabi pulled one back for India in the stoppage time (92nd minute) with an impressive side volley.

India and Pakistan ended on four points behind Group A toppers Nepal -- who garnered seven points from two wins and one draw -- but Wim Koevermans' men qualified for the semifinals as group runners-up having beaten Pakistan in the head-to-head encounter.

A lucky India had beaten Pakistan 1-0 in their campaign opener thanks to an own goal by their rival skipper before escaping with a 1-1 draw against Bangladesh with captain Sunil Chhetri scoring an injury time equaliser.

According to tournament rules, if two teams are on equal points in the group stage, head-to-head result will first decide which team will go through to the next stage and goal difference rule comes to play only after this. In case of India, since they have beaten Pakistan earlier, there is no need to look at goal difference.

In the semifinals, India will play the Group A winners which will be decided after Friday's match between Maldives and Afghanistan, who are on six points each after winning both their earlier matches.

Thursday's result was the only second win for Nepal against India in 12 matches in all-time head-to-head contest, according to FIFA records. The earlier win by Nepal was through penalty shootout in the 1993 SAF Games in Dhaka after the two sides were locked 2-2 after regulation and extra time.

The Indian defence was time and again tested by the likes of Gurung and Rai as Arnab Mondal, N Mohanraj and Nirmal Chhetri were chasing shadows most of the times.

The first goal was a result of set-piece movement that sent the Indian defence in a disarray. In the 70th minute, Sandeep Rai floated a cross-field ball and in the melee, Indian custodian Subrata Paul charged out.

Biraj Maharajan beat his marker Mondal to head the delivery which hit the horizontal and Gurung, lurking around, just tapped home to give his team 1-0 lead.

The Indian defenders, especially Nirmal, couldn't match up to the speed of left-winger from Nepal, Rabin Shreshta who set up the second goal in the 81st minute.

He overlapped down the wide left beating Nirmal and then kept a low cross which saw Jumanu evade Mondal to place an accurate angular left footer that went into the far corner of the net after beating Paul.

India, however, pulled one back at the stroke of final whistle when Jewel Raja Shiekh hoodwinked one of the Nepalese sidebacks with an outside dodge and essayed a centre which saw Nabi find the net with an airborne side volley.

India were, however, dealt a telling blow as skipper Chhetri, who is having a horrible tournament, will remain suspended for the semi-final after picking up his second yellow card on the day. Robin Singh is expected to start in place of Chhetri in the last four clash.

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'Sad that IOA didn't modify constitution'

NEW DELHI: Sports minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday backed International Olympic Committee's decision to stick to its stand on the chargesheet clause and urged the IOA to incorporate the required amendments in its constitution so that the interest of country's sportspersons does not suffer.

The IOC on Thursday clearly told the Indian Olympic Association to adopt the chargesheet clause in its constitution in order to ensure good governance.

"There are certain issues IOC is insisting on. One of the major ones is ethics and good governance. So, I hope better sense prevails and the IOA incorporate some of the changes, which the IOC has suggested," said the minister.

"I don't think there should be a problem in incorporating these changes because it is a part of the Olympic Charter. It is nothing new that the IOC is saying," he added.

Jitendra termed IOA's reluctance to amend its constitution in accordance with the IOC's suggestion as "sad" and asked the association to give preference to the interest of the sportspersons.

"It is sad that the IOA did not modify their constitution as per the international guidelines, international benchmark or as per the Olympic Charter.

"I would like to request the IOA to consider the modifications in their constitution, keeping in mind the interest of the sportspersons and not some individuals' interests. It is very very unfortunate that some individuals' interests took precedence over nation and the sportspersons," he said.

The minister, however, insisted that there should be an alternative solution so that the country's sportspersons do not suffer.

"The IOC has a no tolerance on ethics (violation). The Government of India has the same stand as the IOC on ethics and good governance. We are in sync with the IOC.

"In the past also we have requested and again we are going to request to the IOC that there should have an alternative method in which the sportspersons of the country can contest under the Indian flag," said Jitendra.

"I have spoken to the IOC president and have urged the IOC to think about the Indian sportspersons," he added.

Jitendra made it clear that the Government would continue to do everything in its power to safeguard the interest of the athletes.

"Sports Ministry have had various meetings with the IOC, IOA and other stakeholders in the past. I tried everything in my power to see the national interest and interest of the sportspersons," he insisted.

The IOA has been in exile since last December when the IOC's executive board suspended India after Lalit Bhanot, who is facing corruption charges linked to the scandal-hit New Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010, was elected secretary-general of the IOA.

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India in SAFF semis despite loss to Nepal

KATHMANDU: Defending champions India dished out yet another lacklustre performance to go down 1-2 against hosts Nepal but still managed to sail through to the semifinals of the SAFF Football Championships on Thursday.

The six-time champions were clearly the inferior side in their last Group A match at a packed Dasarath Stadium and they were lucky to make it to the last four stage after Pakistan beat Bangladesh 2-1 in another simultaneous match.

For Nepal, who were cheered by a vociferous home crowd, Anil Gurung and Jumanu Rai scored in the 70th and 81st minutes while Syed Rahim Nabi pulled one back for India in the stoppage time (92nd minute) with an impressive side volley.

India and Pakistan ended on four points behind Group A toppers Nepal -- who garnered seven points from two wins and one draw -- but Wim Koevermans' men qualified for the semifinals as group runners-up having beaten Pakistan in the head-to-head encounter.

A lucky India had beaten Pakistan 1-0 in their campaign opener thanks to an own goal by their rival skipper before escaping with a 1-1 draw against Bangladesh with captain Sunil Chhetri scoring an injury time equaliser.

According to tournament rules, if two teams are on equal points in the group stage, head-to-head result will first decide which team will go through to the next stage and goal difference rule comes to play only after this. In case of India, since they have beaten Pakistan earlier, there is no need to look at goal difference.

In the semifinals, India will play the Group A winners which will be decided after Friday's match between Maldives and Afghanistan, who are on six points each after winning both their earlier matches.

Thursday's result was the only second win for Nepal against India in 12 matches in all-time head-to-head contest, according to FIFA records. The earlier win by Nepal was through penalty shootout in the 1993 SAF Games in Dhaka after the two sides were locked 2-2 after regulation and extra time.

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Robin praises David Moyes's methods

Manchester United striker Robin van Persie hailed new manager David Moyes' style, nixing rumours about his unhappiness over coaching methods at Old Trafford.

"It's wonderful to work with new manager David Moyes," Van Persie told the Dutch popular daily broadsheet De Telegraaf.

Moyes "has his own ways and means and that suits me", said the Dutch skipper, who is currently on duty for the Oranje back in the Netherlands.

"He has his own style and I am happy with it," Van Persie added. Moyes -- shortly after taking the reins from Alex Ferguson at one of the world's most famous football clubs in July -- hailed the mercurial Van Persie and said he hoped the striker would have as big an impact in the new English Premier League season as he did in his spectacular debut for Manchester United the year before.

Van Persie was a huge hit at Old Trafford last season after switching from Arsenal and was the Golden Boot winner in England's top flight, banging in a total of 30 goals in 48 appearances.

But reports have surfaced over Van Persie's apparent unhappiness with Moyes' methods, saying he was yet to be convinced by the former Everton boss.

Van Persie however swiftly dispelled reports on Thursday. "He (Moyes) takes care of his own training, knows what he's doing, prepares us really well ahead of our next opponents.

"It keeps us sharp, which is good, because the previous season's title has made us hungry for more," he said.

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England out to avoid Ashes hangover

England are out to avoid a repeat of previous post-Ashes slumps when they play Australia in a best of five one-day international series starting on Friday at Headingley, captain Eoin Morgan said.

The hosts have won six of their last nine home one-day series and crushed the Australians 4-0 last year but they lost the last two post-Ashes series, in 2009 and 2010-11.

England comfortably beat Ireland in a warm-up match on Tuesday with Morgan scoring an unbeaten century against the country of his birth.

"We've talked about it in previous series before and this series is no different, we need to turn up, produce our skills, at crucial times we need to stand up and be counted," he told reporters on Thursday.

"I think everybody is aware of the responsibility that's on their shoulders and what is expected."

England rested Alastair Cook, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann following the 3-0 Ashes win, but batsman Kevin Pietersen has been selected despite recent knee problems.

Morgan said the hard-hitting right-hander could open the innings, adding that his presence was crucial in a dressing room full of inexperienced players at international level.

"Kev offers a hell of a lot as a senior player and as a batsman," Morgan said.

"As a senior player he leads by example and with the confidence he goes about his business, people rub off on that and that's crucial," he added.

"When I first came into the team he was one of the most senior players and he was a guy you could turn too and ask questions and have no hesitation turning too for a positive option. In that regard he is fantastic to have in the squad."

Australia have dropped batsman David Warner for the series and fast bowler Mitchell Starc has been ruled out with a sore back.

However, despite back problems of his own, captain Michael Clarke said he gave no thought to resting himself ahead of the next Ashes series starting in November.

"It was a no-brainer for me if I wanted to stay here and play the one-dayers," Clarke said.

"I want to play every game I can for Australia.

"I'll prepare today, as I have done over the past few days, like I would if it was the first test of the Ashes. It's just as important to me.

"I think it's important I'm here with the team and performing and leading from the front."

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Lalit Modi set to get life ban by BCCI

NEW DELHI: The BCCI in all likelihood will impose a life ban on former IPL commissioner and its vice-president Lalit Modi at a Special General Meeting (SGM) to be convened in Chennai on September 25.

A senior BCCI official has informed that the contents of the exhaustive report filed by disciplinary committee comprising of Jyotiraditya Scindia and Arun Jaitley was discussed at the Working Committee meeting in Kolkata on Sunday.

"The committee's report has suggested imposing a life ban on Lalit Modi. To decide on his fate, a special general body meeting has been summoned in Chennai on September 25 to decide on the issue. As of now, the life ban looks imminent," the official said.

To impose a life ban on Modi, the BCCI will need a two-third majority at the SGM, which means a minimum of 21 members will have to vote in favour of the ban.

Modi was the IPL chairman-cum-commissioner during the first three editions but was suspended immediately after the closing ceremony in 2010, on charges of financial irregularities in running of the league as well as improper practices during auction of two new teams before the third edition.

During the suspension, a three-member disciplinary committee comprising of political heavyweights Scindia and Jaitley along with president Srinivasan was formed. But Srinivasan recused himself and the erstwhile IPL chairman Chirayu Amin was made a member. But subsequently Amin also recused himself and it became a two-member committee.

However by the time, Jaitley, who looked after the legal part and Scindia, who looked on the charges of impropreity, submitted an exhaustive 400-page report, Srinivasan had stepped aside from discharging his functions.

If the Supreme Court hearing on September 11 turns out to be a favourable one, Srinivasan will be chairing the SGM.

"The SGM on September 25 will also serve a dual purpose-- it will be a dress rehearsal for the AGM on September 29. The equations will become clear that day," the official added.

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India set to trim South Africa tour

India's reluctance to undertake a full tour of South Africa from November appears to have dashed the hosts' hopes of cashing in on the popularity of the reigning world champions.

South Africa released in July a proposed 12-match schedule for a tour by India, including three Tests, seven one-day internationals (ODIs) and two Twenty20 (T20) matches.

But India have belatedly invited the West Indies to tour in November and also brought forward the start of a January visit to New Zealand, greatly reducing the time available for matches in South Africa.

Although India were the first country to accept a visit by South Africa when apartheid crumbled two decades ago, current cricket links appear frosty.

Indian officials had run-ins with South African Haroon Lorgat when he was chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC) over various issues.

And his recent appointment to a similar position with Cricket South Africa (CSA) did nothing to thaw relations.

"We have not had any communication from the BCCI about our tour or their West Indies series," Lorgat said Monday.

"Until we speak to BCCI officials we will refrain from commenting on this."

The South Africans planned an Indian tour that started with a T20 match at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on November 19 and ended with a Test from January 15 at the same venue.

Reports from India suggest the schedule could be almost halved to seven matches -- two Tests, three ODIs and two T20 games.

Indian officials were unhappy when South Africa released the 12-match itinerary, calling it a "unilateral" action lacking their consent.

"Our priority is to look after the interests of our players and the board," a BCCI ( Board of Control for Cricket in India) official said after a weekend meeting in Kolkata.

"Such a long tour was not viable from either perspective. We need to space out tours so that cricketers get much-needed breaks between them."

The addition of the West Indies means the 200th Test appearance by Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar could be against them in either his native Mumbai or Kolkata, and not in Cape Town against the Proteas.

India are the 'cash cow' for South African cricket with several million people linked to the sub-continent living in the republic, and most follow the sport.

South Africa are the top-ranked Test team in the world and India the top-ranked one-day international side.

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Jose concedes defeat in Rooney pursuit

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he has abandoned his attempts to prise England striker Wayne Rooney from Premier League rivals Manchester United.

Chelsea have had two bids for the 27-year-old rejected by United and after Monday's 0-0 draw between the sides, Mourinho said he would only wait "48 hours" for Rooney to make a decision on his future.

However, speaking after Chelsea's penalty shootout defeat by Bayern Munich in the European Super Cup in Prague on Friday, Mourinho admitted that Rooney would not be arriving at Stamford Bridge.

"For all parties, it's finished," he told Sky Sports. "One thing is to tell you through other people that you want, you want, you want very much, but at the end of the day...

"I feel everyone has the right to show his life, his future, and I respect that."

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o joined Chelsea on a one-year contract on Thursday and Mourinho said the former Barcelona and Inter Milan player would be his last new signing of the close season.

"It's the end. We have a good group," said the Portuguese. "Samuel will give us another kind of qualities in attack. He is an experienced player in a team that needs some experienced players."

Meanwhile, United manager David Moyes has challenged Rooney to put an unsettled close season behind him and focus on becoming an Old Trafford great.

Rooney is 52 goals behind Bobby Charlton's United scoring record of 249 and Moyes believes there is no reason why he cannot surpass that milestone.

"I'm really keen on getting him focused and on the goal sheet," said Moyes, whose side visit Liverpool on Sunday.

"There is a situation with Wayne where he could go on to emulate some of the greats at United with the goals he can score.

"I wouldn't say the heights of immortal people, but those like Sir Bobby Charlton are on as high a pedestal as anybody can get. We've set it down for him -- can you put yourself in this position?"

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Shooter Sodhi conferred Khel Ratna

NEW DELHI: Robbed of some sheen due to selection controversies this year, the National Sports Awards were presented today to the country's top athletes and coaches with shooter Ronjan Sodhi getting the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna -- the country's highest sporting honour -- while cricketer Virat Kohli was among the Arjuna awardees.

A loud applause greeted the ace shooter as he received the Khel Ratna award from President Pranab Mukherjee in the presence of a host of Ministers, dignitaries and sports celebrities.

But there was some drama just hours before the awards when long-jumper Renjith Maheshwary's Arjuna award was held back after reports emerged of him being a dope-tainted athlete.

Sodhi became the seventh shooter to be honoured with the prestigious award. Interestingly, it is for the third consecutive year that the Khel Ratna award has gone to a shooter.

Sodhi, who had a disastrous outing at the London Olympics last year, is a former world number one. He was a double trap gold-medallist at last year's Asian Games, besides being a silver-medallist at the Commonwealth Games.

Sodhi, who was the first Indian to win two back-to-back World Cup gold medals, collected the top honour which comprises a medal, citation and a cash prize of Rs 7.5 lakh each.

Another star attraction at the ceremony was cricketer Kohli, who was given a thunderous applause while receiving the Arjuna award.

However, rising badminton player PV Sindhu, who became the first Indian woman shuttler to clinch a bronze medal at the World Championships, could not be present at the function personally to take the award.

Besides Sindhu, this year's Arjuna awardees list featured a number of female sportspersons. World Championship bronze medallist Kavita Chahal, veteran squash player Joshna Chinappa, former hockey captain Saba Anjum, paddler Mouma Das, wrestler Neha Rathi and shooter Rajkumari Rathore and archer Chekrovolu Swuro, who was part of the silver medal-winning team in the 2011 World Cup.

But this year's awards were marred by controversies since the day the list was announced. Sodhi's selection for the Khel Ratna triggered a protest from shot-putter Krishna Poonia and paralympics silver-medallist long-jumper H S Girisha.

There were the usual protests by the some others who felt they deserved to be in the Arjuna awardees' list and if that was not enough, the Maheshwary scandal also struck the awards.

Maheshwary had won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games with a national record.

Rising golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar, chess player Abhijeet Gupta, billiards and snooker star Rupesh Shah, wrestler Dharmender Dalal and para-athlete Amit Kumar Saroha were also conferred the Arjuna award.

The choices were made by a selection committee headed by three-time billiards world champion Michael Ferreira and comprised noted sportspersons like Limba Ram, V Devarajan, Zafar Iqbal, Vandana Rao, Anjali Bhagwat, Indu Puri, Shakti Singh, Ravi Shastri, Kripa Shankar Patel and Surinder Khanna besides a few other bureaucrats.

Dronacharya Award, the top recognition for coaches in the country, was conferred on five including long-serving archery coach Purnima Mahato and women's hockey coach Narendra Singh Saini, wrestling coach Raj Singh, athletics coach KP Thomas and boxing coach Mahavir Singh.

Mahato started coaching in 1994 and among her wards is former world number one and Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Deepika Kumari.

Saini, who is employed with the Sports Authority of India, has been in coaching for 17 years and four girls trained by him are in the senior national team while 10 are in the junior national squad.

Thomas, who is based in Kerala, has Olympian Anju Bobby George, sprinter Jincy Philips, and 800m double Asian Games gold-medallist Shiny Wilson among his long list of wards.

A little-known Mahavir Singh's name was endorsed by London Olympics bronze-medallist and five-time world champion woman boxer MC Mary Kom.

Raj Singh is the Wrestling Federation of India secretary general and has been a coach for nearly four decades.

The Arjuna and Dronacharya awardees got statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs 5 lakh each.

Dhyan Chand Award, given for the life-time contribution to sports development, was conferred on Jagraj Singh Mann (Athletics), Gundeep Kumar (Hockey), Vinod Kumar (Wrestling) and Sukhbir Singh Tokas (Para-Sports).

The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, a statuette and a citation.

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna: Ronjan Sodhi

Arjuna Award: Chekrovolu Swuro (Archery), P V Sindhu (Badminton), Kavita Chahal (Boxing), Rupesh Shah (Billiards & Snooker), Virat Kohli (Cricket), Abhijeet Gupta (Chess), Gagan Jeet Bhullar (Golf), Saba Anjum (Hockey), Rajkumari Rathore (Shooting), Joshna Chinnappa (Squash), Mouma Das (Table Tennis), Neha Rathi (Wrestling), Dharmender Dalal (Wrestling), Amit Kumar Saroha (Para Athletics).

Dronacharya Awards: Poornima Mahato (Archery), Mahavir Singh (Boxing), Narinder Singh Saini (Hockey), K P Thomas (Athletics), Raj Singh (Wrestling).

Dhyan Chand Awards: Mary D'souza Sequeira (Athletics), Syed Ali (Hockey), Anil Mann (Wrestling), Girraj Singh (Para Sports).

Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar: Community Sports Identification and Nurturing of Budding Young Talent (Dr UK Mishra, Founder and President, National Sports Academy, Allahabad), Financial Support for Sports Excellence (Services Sports Control Board), Establishment and Management of Sports Academies of Excellence (Pullela Gopichand Academy of Badminton, Hyderabad), Employment of Sportspersons and sports welfare measures (Petroleum Sports Promotion Board).

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Negredo helps nervy City edge past Hull

LONDON: Alvaro Negredo came off the bench and scored for the second Premier League game running as Manchester City edged promoted Hull City 2-0 on Saturday.

Points Table | Schedule & Results

Manuel Pellegrini's side were labouring in the sunshine at the Etihad Stadium and had to endure several nervous moments before the former Sevilla striker made the breakthrough 20 minutes into the second half.

A sumptuous last-minute free-kick from Yaya Toure settled matters, but after their shock 3-2 loss at Cardiff City last weekend, City once again showed plenty of room for improvement.

City made two changes to their starting XI, with fit-again Matija Nastasic replacing Javi Garcia in central defence and Aleksandar Kolarov coming in for Gael Clichy at left-back, while Danny Graham took the place of suspended striker Yannick Sagbo for Hull.

It was the visitors who made the brighter start, and Sone Aluko should have done better than drag the ball harmlessly wide of the right-hand post after breaking clear in the eighth minute.

Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor produced sharp saves to repel headers from Kolarov and Joleon Lescott, but there was another scare for the hosts when Danny Graham had a volley chalked off for offside.

City manager Pellegrini introduced new signing Negredo in place of the ineffective Edin Dzeko at half-time and the Spaniard almost made an immediate impact, only to completely miscue his header from David Silva's lofted pass.

Negredo would not be denied, however, and in the 65th minute he broke the deadlock with a firm downward header from Pablo Zabaleta's floated right-wing centre.

It had been an arduous afternoon for the 2012 champions, but Toure added a layer of sheen to the result by bending a 22-yard free-kick over the wall and in off the crossbar in the 90th minute.

Cardiff will look to build on last weekend's memorable 3-2 win over City later on Saturday when they welcome Everton to the Welsh capital, while Newcastle United go in search of a first win at home to Fulham.

Elsewhere, Southampton visit Norwich City, Stoke City travel to West Ham United, and the late game sees Crystal Palace tackle Sunderland at Selhurst Park.

Two of English football's most enduring fixtures take place on Sunday, with Manchester United manager David Moyes taking his side to Liverpool for the first time and Arsenal hosting Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby.

Chelsea and Aston Villa are not in action this weekend due to the London club's participation in the European Super Cup, which saw them beaten on penalties by Bayern Munich in Prague on Friday.

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