Fellaini eyes title triumph with United

Manchester United new-boy Marouane Fellaini has set his sights on winning the Premier League title following his £27 million ($42 million, 32 million euros) move to Old Trafford.

Fellaini joined United from Everton just before the transfer window closed on Monday and the Belgium midfielder can't wait to get started with the champions.

The 25-year-old, reunited with his former Everton boss David Moyes at Old Trafford, is United's only major signing since the end of last season, while the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal all spent big money improving their squads.

But, after helping Belgium to a 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Scotland in Glasgow on Friday, Fellaini insisted United are more than capable of retaining the title.

"It is a big step for me," he said. "But I have played five years in England, I know the league and I know the players so I don't think I will have a problem with this move.

"Of course I look forward to it, I am playing with big players so I need to work hard for my place.

"To win a trophy with Manchester United and play a lot of games, that is important.

"I watched the game (against Liverpool) and in the second half the team played very well and had a lot of chances but couldn't score, but football is like this.

"It will be tough, every year is tough for the big teams but I think Manchester United has the quality to win the championship so I look forward to this."

Fellaini, set to make his United debut against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford next Saturday, admitted his transfer and Belgium's victory at Hampden Park made it a "great week" as his country took a massive step towards qualifying for the World Cup finals in Brazil next years.

"When I started the campaign with Everton I looked forward to the transfer so in the end I was happy," he said.

"I was a little bit nervous on Monday but in the end I have my transfer and I have won with Belgium so I am happy.

"It wasn't my best game but we won and it was a good game for us. "We scored in the first half and dominated the game and that was important."

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Vettel storms to Italian Grand Prix pole

MONZA (Italy): Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel seized pole position for the Italian Grand Prix and left his title rivals trailing with Red Bull locking out the front row in qualifying on Saturday.

Australian Mark Webber will line up alongside on the front row for his last race in Europe while Germany's Nico Hulkenberg sprung a huge surprise by grabbing third place on the grid for Ferrari-powered Sauber.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, Vettel's closest title rival with a 46 point gap to make up, qualified fifth and behind Brazilian teammate Felipe Massa with Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo watching.

Lewis Hamilton, last year's winner for McLaren who had entered the weekend chasing a fifth successive pole, failed to make the top 10 and starts 12th for Mercedes.

The pole was the 40th of Vettel's F1 career and came at a track that Red Bull principal Christian Horner said only last month was something of an Achilles heel for the team along with Belgium.

However, Vettel won in Belgium and the 26-year-old German took his first Formula One victory at Monza in 2008 for Toro Rosso while also winning for Red Bull in 2011.

"This weekend, the car was fantastic. We had a really strong pace yesterday and we were able to take that into qualifying today," he told reporters.

"In the end, it's a bit of a surprise to have both cars on front row at a place where historically we've had bad years. This year it seems to work well and hopefully we'll have a good race tomorrow."

Hamilton was left shaking his head.

"I just drove like an idiot. That's the worst I've driven for a long, long time. I'm sorry to the team," he told reporters.

"I just didn't drive well. There's not really much more to say. I was quick in Q1 (the first phase) and then I don't know. I'll do whatever I can from where I am but it's going to be tough," added the 2008 champion.

Hulkenberg, who has been seen as a possible replacement for Massa at Ferrari at the end of the season, did his chances no harm with a sensational performance for his struggling Swiss team.

The German seemed as surprised as anyone.

"I didn't expect it, especially after a very difficult Friday. The guys have done a fantastic job to turn the car around," he said.

Massa, who has not won a race since 2008, made clear he would be no hindrance to Alonso on Sunday.

"He's fighting for the championship, I'm not fighting, I'll do whatever is important for the team," said the Brazilian.

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We've to avoid IBL burn out, says Saina

BANGALORE: Considering the grand success of the inaugural IBL that has put a halo around Indian badminton, ace shuttler Saina Nehwal says the franchise-based meet should be held in such a way from next year onward that players don't miss out on any other major tournament due to burnout.

"Playing in a long tournament like the Indian Badminton League, players of course will get a little tired. We need to manage time or whatever, but this will happen slowly.

"From next year of course myself and IBL organisers will find a way so that we don't get tired and are able to play in all tournaments," Saina told reporters after the launch of Yonex-Sunrise Store on Saturday.

What followed the much-hyped Indian Badminton League, held from August 14 to 31, was pull-outs by quite a few players, including Saina, from world-level tournaments due to exhaustion.

The shuttle queen from Hyderabad is skipping the upcoming China Masters and Japan Open Super Series in order to regain her energy before the European circuit.

She, though, will compete in the Denmark Open, according to national coach Pullela Gopichand.

Few other shuttlers who had competed in the IBL also pulled of the Japan open, besides missing the Chinese Taipei Grand Prix Gold.

Saina said it was important for shuttlers to play in the IBL to make badminton popular in India.

"In fact we have been playing in many tournaments, but we weren't noticed as it was done during the IBL. People know many shuttlers because of IBL. This will only help badminton grow in India," Saina, who guided Hyderabad Hotshots to inaugural title, said.

Replying to a query, the London Olympics bronze medallist and a winner of a host of major international tournaments said she was happy with the IBL's comparison to the popular Indian Premier League (IPL).

"I am really, really happy with the way it went off and I am sure it will get more popular in future. Right now people want to compare IBL with IPL, but I think it is too early to do so," she said.

Former badminton champion Prakash Padukone said IBL has opened a new chapter in the sport's history, but hoped organisational matters could be improved in future.

"As far as coverage was concerned it was very well received and crowd support too was very good," he said.

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We've to avoid IBL burnout, says Saina

BANGALORE: Considering the grand success of the inaugural IBL that has put a halo around Indian badminton, ace shuttler Saina Nehwal says the franchise-based meet should be held in such a way from next year onward that players don't miss out on any other major tournament due to burnout.

"Playing in a long tournament like the Indian Badminton League, players of course will get a little tired. We need to manage time or whatever, but this will happen slowly.

"From next year of course myself and IBL organisers will find a way so that we don't get tired and are able to play in all tournaments," Saina told reporters after the launch of Yonex-Sunrise Store on Saturday.

What followed the much-hyped Indian Badminton League, held from August 14 to 31, was pull-outs by quite a few players, including Saina, from world-level tournaments due to exhaustion.

The shuttle queen from Hyderabad is skipping the upcoming China Masters and Japan Open Super Series in order to regain her energy before the European circuit.

She, though, will compete in the Denmark Open, according to national coach Pullela Gopichand.

Few other shuttlers who had competed in the IBL also pulled of the Japan open, besides missing the Chinese Taipei Grand Prix Gold.

Saina said it was important for shuttlers to play in the IBL to make badminton popular in India.

"In fact we have been playing in many tournaments, but we weren't noticed as it was done during the IBL. People know many shuttlers because of IBL. This will only help badminton grow in India," Saina, who guided Hyderabad Hotshots to inaugural title, said.

Replying to a query, the London Olympics bronze medallist and a winner of a host of major international tournaments said she was happy with the IBL's comparison to the popular Indian Premier League (IPL).

"I am really, really happy with the way it went off and I am sure it will get more popular in future. Right now people want to compare IBL with IPL, but I think it is too early to do so," she said.

Former badminton champion Prakash Padukone said IBL has opened a new chapter in the sport's history, but hoped organisational matters could be improved in future.

"As far as coverage was concerned it was very well received and crowd support too was very good," he said.

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India's refusal costs PCB $1.6 million

KARACHI: India's refusal to play a bilateral series has incurred the Pakistan Cricket Board a loss of atleast $1.6 million.

According to the budgetary documents, the PCB has to repay an amount of $1.6 million to the Dubai-based broadcaster, Taj Entertainment Network since there was no bilateral series with India in their last agreement.

"India has not agreed to tour Pakistan or even play against us at a neutral venue since the Mumbai attacks and this is costing the PCB big revenues," a PCB official said.

He said the issue was not only repaying Ten Sports but also of the fact that any series against India would generate around $60 to 70 million for the PCB at any given time.

"We went to a play a short series against India in India last December without any financial benefits because we wanted to take the first step towards resumption of bilateral cricketing ties. We were keen to convince the BCCI to atleast give us a home series at a neutral venue but that has not materialised so far," he said.

The PCB's four year contract with Ten sports ended in June this year and in the four year cycle there was no series with India even though under the ICC's Future Tours Programme (FTP), the PCB and Ten Sports had an agreement for a home series against India in Pakistan or at a neutral venue.

Since the TV rights agreement has ended, the broadcasters are now demanding repayment of a substantial amount which has been utilised by the PCB.

The document further reveals that the PCB was reminded about this big sum when they asked Ten Sports for a late payment surcharge of $38,267 for the Pakistan-Australia series, which was played in 2012, as they received the payment after a considerable delay.

Interestingly, the PCB is also facing problems clearing other payments due to limited powers of the caretaker chairman, Najam Sethi and because of a court ruling.

"This has led to a situation where the PCB has also not been able to clear some other payments like an amount of $25,000 per month to Haroon Lorgat when he was hired as consultant for the Pakistan Super League earlier this year," one source said.

He said that former chairman, Zaka Ashraf had approved the appointment of Lorgat but never gave an approval in writing for the disbursement of payment to him.

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Wrestling will come out stronger: Sushil

NEW DELHI: Two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar today exuded confidence over reinclusion of wrestling in the Olympic movement and said the sport would come out stronger after the IOC's Executive Board backs it in their meeting in Buenos Aires on September 8.

"The International wrestling body (FILA) has made all the necessary changes that the IOC wanted. I see no reason why wrestling would not make a comeback. I think wrestling would come out even more stronger after it gets the backing of the IOC members. The ancient sport has done a lot to garner support of fans for its bid to be in the 2020 Olympics," Sushil told reporters.

The Executive Board in its 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina will vote on the candidature of an additional sport for the 2020 Olympics programme out of three disciplines -- wrestling, squash and a combined bid of baseball and softball.

At a program organised here to rally support ahead of the crucial meeting, former Arjuna awardee Jagroop Pehelwan and his daughter Neha Rathi, who was recently conferred with the same honour, were also present to voice their support.

"I think there are many factors that will work in our favour. The increased participation of women in the governing body of FILA, increasing weight categories for women at Olympics besides making rules spectator friendly are some of the major changes that will sail us through this tough time," said Neha.

"Wrestling is a national sport in many countries and it has a wide fan following. India has been doing well in the sport. It will be a massive set back for the upcoming wrestlers. I hope everything goes in our favour," Jagroop said.

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Guardiola is a 'spineless coward': Zlatan

NEW DELHI: In his new autobiography, charismatic Sweden and Paris Saint Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has attacked his ex-Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola by calling the Spaniard a "spineless coward".

According to Guardian website, Ibrahimovic, who began his distinguished football career with Dutch giants Ajax, wrote in his book how Guardiola always looked to avoid any confrontation and did not react to the striker's slur after Barcelona were knocked out the Champions League by the hands of Inter Milan in 2010.

Zlatan said in his biography: "I yelled at him (Guardiola) and worse than that I added 'You can go to hell!' I completely lost it, and you might have expected Guardiola to say a few words in response, but he's a spineless coward. He just picked up the metal box, like a little caretaker, and then left, never to mention it again, not a word."

Ibrahimovic further added that during his time with the La Liga giants he was never at ease and always felt like a misfit, which in turn affected his performance at the club and international level.

"Everyone did as they were told. I didn't fit in, not at all. I just enjoyed the opportunity and didn't confirm their prejudices. So I started to adapt and blend in. I became way too nice. It was mental. I said what I thought people wanted me to say. It was completely messed up. I drove the club's Audi and stood there and nodded my head. I hardly even yelled at my teammates any more. I was boring. Zlatan was no longer Zlatan."

Ibrahimovic, who was signed by Barcelona for a staggering 57 million pounds in 2009, joined Serie A outfit AC Milan the following season on loan before cementing his move to the Italian giants in 2011 for whom he scored 42 goals in 61 appearances.

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SA, India look for scheduling solution

JOHANNESBURG: An under-fire Haroon Lorgat will be desperate to solve the impasse regarding India's year-end tour of South Africa when he meets BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel at the Chief Executives' Meet at the ICC Headquarters in Dubai on September 16 and 17.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) is worried about incurring huge losses if BCCI has its way about playing a curtailed series of two Tests and three ODIs instead of originally scheduled three Tests, seven ODIs and two T20 Internationals.

In response to the recent reports, Lorgat said:"There has rightly been concern about reports of a shortened tour by India but I am looking forward to meeting Sanjay (Patel) so that we can work out the best possible schedule under the present circumstances."

The Afrikaans daily 'Beeld' earlier this week quoted reliable sources as saying that CSA stands to lose about R300 million (Rand) in total if the India tour is shortened, particularly from TV broadcast rights.

"The meeting has been agreed after several conversations between the two over the past few days as they work towards resolving scheduling issues around the end-of-year tour to South Africa by India," CSA said in a statement.

As custodians, we have a responsibility to act in the best interests of the game and all our stakeholders.

"It is clear to me that both our Boards are committed to working together to ensure the wonderful relationship we have had for the past 22 years is strengthened.

"As South Africans, we will always be grateful to the Indian Government for the leading role they played in first enforcing the sports boycott during the dark years of apartheid and later, together with the BCCI, facilitating our return to the world family of cricket nations.

"While we would not want to disappoint our fans and stakeholders and keep them abreast of developments, we have to follow official communication protocols in dealing with this matter, so we ask for patience and support as we engage our counterparts at the BCCI," added Lorgat to appease growing anger among fans about a lack of information on the situation from CSA.

Lorgat thanked the fans as well as the sponsors for their support during difficult times.

"We are truly heartened by the messages of support from fans and commercial partners and wish to express our sincere thanks and appreciation for their understanding."

CSA announced earlier this year that India would tour for three tests, seven ODI's and two T20 matches between 18 November and 25 January.

Although there had not been any denial or confirmation of this from the BCCI since then, the parent body announced on Monday that the West Indies would tour India in early November and India would go to New Zealand for two tests and three ODIs in January.

That would effectively cut into the South African plan and shorten the visit, with insiders saying that India wants only three ODIs along with couple of Tests and T20 Internationals.

The shortened tour appears to be confirmed by New Zealand's announcement on Monday that the first ODI against India would be on January 19, which would have been the final day of the third and last Test between the Proteas and India at the Wanderers on the CSA agenda.

The tour would have included master blaster Sachin Tendulkar's 200th test.

Lorgat last week reaffirmed that he was keen to go to India to resolve the impasse which according to reports has led to bad blood between CSA and BCCI.

BCCI chief N Srinivasan is reportedly still angry that CSA appointed Lorgat to the position despite India's dissatisfaction.

The feud between the two allegedly stems from Lorgat's tenure as ICC chief executive, where he stood firm against opposition by India to ICC plans regarding DRS and implementation of Woolf Committee recommendations.

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IOC sets deadline for IOA to clean house

NEW DELHI: Hardening its stand against the IOA, the International Olympic Committee has asked the Indian body to sack "charge-framed" officials through constitutional amendments by October 31 and conduct fresh elections by December 15 to return to the Olympic fold.

Giving its "conclusions and decisions" on the IOA's Executive General Meeting held here last month, the IOC said the key provision of barring individuals, against whom charges have been framed in court, was ignored by the Indian body.

"The IOC is well aware of the difference in the Indian legal system between charge-sheeted persons and charge-framed persons and has never requested that the clause initially proposed applies for charge-sheeted persons. Therefore it is reiterated that the initial wording is aimed to apply for anyone charge-framed by a court in India," the IOC Director General Christophe de Kepper said in a letter to the IOA.

"...the IOC does fully respect the principle that 'until proven guilty, one is innocent'. However, what is at stake is the reputation of the Olympic movement which must not be tarnished," it added.

The IOC then goes on to urge the IOA to act accordingly, setting deadlines for the requisite constitutional changes and the fresh elections.

"It is required that the suspended IOA includes the initial wording proposed by the IOC (or a very similar wording which would not dilute the meaning and the expected results and which would be submitted in advance to the IOC) with respect to both charge-framed and convicted individuals.

"This is pre-requisite for the IOC to approve the revised Constitution of the IOA. For that purpose, the suspended IOA should meet again in a General Assembly no later than October 31 and proceed with the required amendments," the IOC stated.

"Once this step in completed and the IOC can approve the new constitution of the IOA, the suspended IOA would be in a position to hold its Elective General Meeting as soon as possible thereafter and no later than December 15," it added.

The IOC also made it clear that the age and tenure restrictions proposed by it were applicable on not just the President, Secretary General and the Treasurer but also the entire Executive Council.

"Upon completion of the whole process...the IOC Executive Board would be in a position to consider lifting the suspension on the IOA," the IOC said.

"It is highly expected that the suspended IOA will act accordingly and seize this golden opportunity to show its readiness to implement the basic principles of good governance, ethics and integrity which must prevail within the Olympic movement," it added.

The IOC also said that it had the backing of the Association of national Olympic Committees and the Olympic Council of Asia.

Yesterday, the IOC rejected IOA's compromise formula on the chargesheet clause even as a defiant IOA stuck to its stand that Indian law would prevail on these matters, further jeopardising the country's chances of a quick return to the Olympic fold.

In its Special General Body Meeting last month, the IOA had come up with a compromise formula to IOC's directive to bar chargesheeted persons from contesting elections with the proposal that the sanction be applied only to those who are convicted and sentenced to a jail term of more than two years.

But the IOC stood firm on its earlier stand during its Executive Board (EB) meeting yesterday ahead of the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires and asked IOA to accept all demands in full before conducting elections.

India was suspended from the Olympic movement in December last year after the tainted Lalit Bhanot, who is facing corruption charges linked to the scandal-hit 2010 Commonwealth Games, was elected secretary-general of the IOA.

Sports Minister Jitendra Singh backed the IOC's decision and urged the IOA to incorporate the required amendments in its constitution so that the interest of country's sportspersons do not suffer.

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.

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Tendulkar will not quit so soon: Shastri

MUMBAI: There might be intense speculation over Sachin Tendulkar's imminent retirement, but his one-time India teammate Ravi Shastri feels the champion batsman is not quitting anytime soon and is hopeful that he would play at Lord's ground next year when the national team visits England.

"He (Tendulkar) will not quit the game so soon as you all keep saying. He would continue to play and you will see him at Lord's next year too," said the 51-year-old Shastri to a question after he delivered the Dilip Sardesai Memorial Lecture at the Bombay Gymkhana here today.

There have been suggestions that the 40-year-old Tendulkar, who is two shy of completing 200 Test appearances, would call it a day after reaching that landmark during the hastily arranged two-Test series against West Indies at home by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

But the words of Shastri, considered to be very close to Tendulkar, put to rest the speculation that the senior batsman, who has compiled an incredible 100 international centuries and has retired from ODIs, will quit the game altogether after playing his 200th Test at home.

The former all-rounder also put the blame on the communication gap between the respective cricket boards after the BCCI effectively cut short the Indian team's scheduled visit to South Africa later this year by pencilling in the short series at home against the West Indies.

"The problem was in communication but there will be some cricket played (by India) in South Africa," said the cricketer-turned-broadcaster, who was part of the triumphant Indian World Cup and World Championship winning squads in 1983 and 1985.

India were to tour South Africa from November, but with the series against the West Indies, comprising a warm-up three-day game followed by two Tests and three ODIs scheduled during that period, the team's visit to the rainbow nation is unlikely to begin until December.

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