Vettel's fourth F1 title is fast approaching

MONZA: The Formula One championship has said farewell to Europe for another year with two big questions being posed as the glamour sport sets its sights on races in Asia, the Middle East and Americas.

The first - as the mechanics packed up and the trucks left Monza on Sunday night - was when and where, rather than whether, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel will wrap up his inevitable fourth successive title.

The second concerns Ferrari's 2014 line-up, and the chances of Kimi Raikkonen joining Fernando Alonso in a potentially explosive partnership, and looks likely to be answered within a matter of days.

The paddock chatter after the Italian Grand Prix was that Ferrari's most recent world champion, currently with Lotus, had agreed a sensational return to the team with which he won the title in 2007.

There was no word from Ferrari, whose president Luca di Montezemolo said on Saturday that the team would decide its drivers immediately after the race weekend and after talking to Brazilian Felipe Massa, whose place is at risk.

Massa, fourth on Sunday, is out of contract and has not won since 2008 while Raikkonen took this year's season-opener in Australia and had racked up a record 27 successive scoring finishes before Belgium in July.

Montezemolo did not rule out Raikkonen, who left Ferrari in 2009 after being paid off to make way for Alonso, when asked whether he would have him back.

"What happened in the past with Kimi? we won a world championship," he replied.

"First of all, Kimi is a good driver. For us it was a big satisfaction to win with him the first championship with the new team without (seven times champion) Michael (Schumacher), without Ross (Brawn)".

Lotus want Raikkonen to stay but must wait for Ferrari.

"In the end if he wants to go to Ferrari he will go to Ferrari, and that's it," Lotus team principal Eric Boullier told reporters.

"Kimi is in a position where he is being chased by most of the paddock, and he will decide."

VETTEL QUESTION

The Vettel question comes down to simple mathematics, with the German now 53 points clear of second placed Alonso with seven races, worth a total of 175 points, still to be won.

The 26-year-old has won half of the races this season and, ominously for his rivals, the last two in Belgium and Italy were supposed to be his weakest - with team principal Christian Horner going so far as to call them Red Bull's "Achilles heel".

The next four are Singapore, South Korea, Japan and India and Vettel won all of them last year.

The German's closest rivals had no illusions about their scant chances.

Lewis Hamilton's immediate response after finishing ninth in the race for Mercedes was to declare his championship challenge over, although he then had a rethink and vowed to keep fighting even if the odds were stacked against him.

"I basically need to win every race, which is the tallest order ever, but I can do nothing but try," said the 2008 champion, who is now third overall but a massive 81 points behind the leader.

"I wish it was a closer battle at the front. It's a shame it is like it is."

Alonso said it would take a lot of luck for him to overhaul the Red Bull.

"I think we need to be realistic about the championship now there's a very big gap. We don't have enough races and probably we don't have the speed right now to win some consecutive races and hope to reduce the gap just by pace," said the Spaniard.

"We need to be lucky and we need to have some DNFs (retirements) from Sebastian or something to win the championship. With the races left and the points disadvantage, it's hard."

Asked whether it was all over, Horner refused to tempt fate and repeated a familiar mantra.

"The championship is not yours until nobody can score more points than you," he said. "So we are going to continue the approach that we've always taken which is focus one race at a time and try to get the best out of each weekend.

"It's been a big weekend for us here... for Sebastian to extend his lead in the drivers' championship and for the team to extend its lead in the constructors' championship is obviously massively positive for us. But there's still some way to go."

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Ajit Chandila, two others granted bail

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Monday granted bail to Rajasthan Royals's player Ajit Chandila and two others in connection with a spot-fixing case that took place during the sixth edition of the Indian premier League (IPL).

The right-arm spinner was granted bail after his advocate alleged that confessional statements of the arrested accused have been recorded "forcibly" and Chandila was forced to take names of others in his statement.

The court has said there are some "missing links" in the prosecution case. It also dismissed the bail pleas of five other accused arrested in connection with the case.

Police had filed a 6,000-page chargesheet against 39 persons, out of whom 21 are out on bail, nine are in jail and remaining nine are absconding. 40th accused Chandresh Jain was arrested after filing of the chargesheet in the case.

Chandila was arrested along with two other cricketers S Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan of Rajasthan Royals along with 26 others in the case.

The police had in its chargesheet said that Dawood and Chhota Shakeel, who have been "controlling the fixing and betting market" in cricket in India, were behind the IPL spot-fixing.

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Paes: Making Indians proud since 1991

For people who have not yet watched a certain Indian tennis player in action, it can be said without a shadow of a doubt that they have missed out on witnessing one of the greatest tennis ambassadors to have ever graced the court.

It can be said with utmost certainty that they have missed out on seeing a person who in the true word is an epitome of patriotism.

And above all, it can be said with paramount inevitability that they have missed out on witnessing the never-say-die attitude of a true fighter who is always willing to give his 100% even when his body does not allow him to. Behold Leander Paes.

It's not often that the sporting fraternity gets to comprehend such a player. The world has indeed seen its share of tennis legends, but when a phenomenon called Leander Paes walks out, every Indian in the world can stand tall with their heads held up high to cheer a player who has sacrificed his entire life just for the sake of the game.

He has indeed given his all and there isn't an iota of doubt in the minds of fans about Leander's willpower, dedication and commitment towards his country.

He's had his share of ups and downs though. Let's face it; things don't come easy for a sportsperson. Just because someone wants something it does not mean that it will be handed to them on a platter.

One needs to work hard for it and that's exactly what Leander has been doing. Ever since Leander stepped on to the tennis circuit, he's been a name to look out for.

Paes substantiated his claim to be looked upon as a dominant force in the tennis community when he became the World No. 1 in junior rankings at the age of 18 by winning the Junior US Open and Wimbledon titles.

This was followed by probably his greatest achievement ever when he clinched the bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, losing to eventual gold medallist Andre Agassi in the semis. Paes has hardly looked back since then and for the sake of tennis in India, let's hope he doesn't ever.

When Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek won the US Open men's doubles title on Sunday, Paes became only the second tennis player in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam at the age of 40.

Incidentally the first person to have achieved that feat was Martina Navratilova, who did that partnering Paes in 2003 at the Australian Open.

Even though it was Navratilova's moment, the fact that Leander was involved in the proceedings was again a truly proud moment for every Indian on this planet.

Leander's US Open triumph was his third at the Flushing Meadows. To many, it was just another feather in his cap. To his fans, it was his eighth doubles and fourteenth overall major title.

But to Leander himself, it was an achievement like no other. Not because the win would set him amongst tennis's all-time greats and the finest that India has ever produced, but it was simply the fact that he had emulated Navratilova from whom he draws inspiration.

He had proved to the world that "age" is indeed just an impediment that needs to be tackled in the mind. And most importantly, he had proved to his critics that his policy of portraying undying allegiance towards tennis is what matters the most to him.

It is Leander's ruthless desire to win that has helped him overcome things in life that many people shy away from. In 2003 when he was suspected to have a brain tumor, which later turned out to be Neurocysticercosis (parasitic disease of the nervous system), it was this same ruthless desire to win that helped him bounce back.

And in 2012 when the whole AITA-Olympics controversy broke out, he never compromised with this principle of always keeping his country before his personal needs or betterment.

Leander Paes is probably India's greatest tennis player till date. There have been arguments in the past and there will definitely be heated debates in the future.

But what all Indians can agree in unison is that even though a day will come when he will walk off into the sunset to end his glorious career, his legacy will be something that will live on and be cherished by fans not just in India but across the globe.

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IOC wants Lance to hand back medal

BUENOS AIRES: The IOC wants Lance Armstrong to hand back his Olympic medal.

IOC vice president Thomas Bach says Armstrong and the US Olympic Committee had been asked to return the bronze medal that the American won at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life from elite sports. The IOC also stripped him of his bronze medal.

Bach says there was no legal dispute involved.

Bach says "what we are lacking - sadly but I hope we can still come to the result - is just getting back the medal. But legally the case for the IOC is closed."

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India enter SAFF final with 1-0 victory

KATHMANDU: Young stopper Arnab Mondal scored his maiden international goal as defending champions India beat Maldives 1-0 to enter the final of the SAFF Football Championship for the ninth time on Monday.

The win, which Wim Koevermans' boys achieved without their skipper Sunil Chhetri, meant that India made it to their fifth successive final in the tournament and will meet Afghanistan in the final on Wednesday.

Mondal, the lad from Kolkata's Behala region, was a bundle of nerves throughout the match but turned out to be an unlikely hero in the end with a delightful strike.

The winner came in the 85th minute when Mehtab Hossain's corner from the right flank was neatly headed down by Syed Rahim Nabi and Mondal, who had joined the attack, struck a powerful angular right-footer that crashed into the net.

The final whistle saw some ugly scenes as Maldives substitute Ali Umar attacked referee Idham Mohammed and was red-carded after the match. But it did not stop there as a group of Maldives players attacked one of the organisers and police personnel were called to intervene as things looked like getting out of hand.

Maldives' striker Ali Ashfaq was tied down for most part of the match with India employing zonal marking with makeshift captain Gourmangi Singh giving a good account of himself. Maldives created a bit of pressure from set-piece movements giving some anxious moments to Indian custodian Subrata Paul.

In the second minute, Maldives got a free-kick and Mohammed Sifan's low delivery which evaded the wall saw Paul fumble trying to gather it on the bounce but forward Mohammed Umair's shot went straight to the goalie.

Another anxious moment came in the 27th minute when Ashfaq's left-footed inswinging free-kick was nicely parried away by Paul.

It was a goalless first half but India played with some intent unlike their horrible show against Nepal. Jeje Lalpeklhua, operating from wide left, tried to make inroads while Arata Izumi, in central midfield, worked tirelessly helping in build ups and acting as a snatcher also.

Playing with a single striker in Robin Singh meant that he was mostly left alone upfront as Indians could not penetrate in the opposition's 18-yard box too many times.

The Indian team's strategy of employing rough tactics against opposition dangerman Ashfaq worked partially as he did not get enough room to manoeuvre.

The Indians had a nice build up in the 42nd minute with Francis Fernandes delivering a defence splitting pass to Robin Singh who in turn kept it for Arata. The Japanese-born Indian set up a sitter for Mehtab Hossain who was, however, way off the target.

The Indians started with lot more purpose in the second half as Francis dodged past two defenders but his feeble shot did not pose any problem for the Maldives goalkeeper.

Maldives tried to hit back on the counter in the 55th minute with Ashfaq penetrating through the left but Gouramangi timed his sliding tackle to perfection to avert danger. In between there were a couple of cracks at the Indian goal but Paul was equal to the task.

In the 72nd minute, it was a narrow escape for India as Nirmal Chhetri's defensive error saw Ashfaq entering the box and Paul coming out of his charge. The Maldives striker fell down demanding a penalty but Jordanian referee Idham Mohammed turned it down.

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Sebastian Vettel wins Italian Grand Prix

MONZA: ​Sebastian Vettel extended his lead in the drivers' world championship to more than 50 points when he drove to a polished victory for Red Bull in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix.

Grand Prix Results | Drivers' Standings | Constructors' Standings

The 26-year-old German, series leader and defending triple world champion, survived a torrid start and gearbox problems as he dominated an intriguing 53-laps race.

Vettel came home 5.4 seconds clear of Fernando Alonso, as the Ferrari driver thrilled the tifosi with a battling chase in pursuit ahead of third-placed Australian Mark Webber in the second Red Bull and Brazilian Felipe Massa, fourth in the second Ferrari.

On a warm, if overcast, afternoon, Vettel proved both his sublime talent and fighting spirit -- both Red Bull men were told to nurse their cars home -- to reel off his sixth win of the season.

It was also the 32nd of his career, equaling Alonso's total on the list of winners. It was Vettel's third win at Monza -- and greeted by loud booing from the tifosi who flooded across the circuit during a dramatic podium ceremony.

"It was a fantastic race, but you can hear the difference when you don't win here in a red suit," said Vettel, who claimed his maiden victory for the Italian-owned Toro Rosso team in the rain-hit 2008 race.

"But this means you have done well and beaten the red men! It was a great team effort today. The race was terrific for both of us as we had problems with the gearboxes at the end, but I was ok because I had a good cushion. It is a fantastic win."

His brilliance, however, was matched on the day by that of Briton Lewis Hamilton, who started 12th, lost the use of his team radio and suffered a slow puncture, but he fought back twice to finish ninth.

"A nightmare weekend," he said before conceding that he felt it was virtually impossible for him now to fight for the title.

"Fantastic Seb! You've won the Italian Grand Prix again," said Red Bull team chief Christian Horner. "A brilliant drive..."

Vettel replied with his characteristic scream and added: "Very good boys, very good race. Sorry for the lock up into the first corner, made the first stint a bit tricky."

German Nico Hulkenberg, who had qualified a stunning third in his Ferrari-powered Sauber, came home an excellent fifth to endorse his claims as a possible successor to Massa next season.

"I can't say I am not interested in this -- it's a 'no brainer' and we just have to wait and see what decision is taken," he said.

Compatriot Nico Rosberg finished sixth in the leading Mercedes ahead of Red Bull-bound Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Toro Rosso and Frenchman Romain Grosjean of Lotus.

Hamilton did his utmost to pass Grosjean on the final lap but in the end had to settle for ninth ahead of Briton Jenson Button of McLaren, who this weekend celebrated their 50th anniversary as an F1 team.

In the title race, with seven 'flyaway' races outside Europe remaining, Vettel leads with 222 points ahead of Alonso on 169 and Hamilton on 141.

Horner added: "The races we are meant to be weak at, we keep winning. It has been a fantastic weekend -- to win at an historic track like Monza is amazing."

Hamilton, who had reeled off four straight poles to mount a title challenge before coming to Italy, admitted: "It is a nightmare weekend for me. It's a real shame, but these kinds of things happen. It has been a good year, we're just going to keep pushing."

Alonso, who took photos of the crowd from the podium, said: "Second place is good and to have this podium ceremony which is the most spectacular podium of the year.

"Hopefully we'll come back next year and have first place. Every time I am here this podium and this experience is more and more special."

Webber, who collected his first trophy from an Italian race, said: "It was a good battle with Alonso, but a great team result."

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Allow Arjun to enjoy his cricket: Sachin

MUMBAI: Playing the role of a protective father, senior India batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday asked the media to leave his "cricket mad" son Arjun alone and allow him to play the game without any pressure.

Tendulkar, who was felicitated by the Sports Journalists' Association of Mumbai for scoring 100 international centuries, said that he wanted his 14-year-old son to have his own identity and not be compared with him.

"My son has played a match today. First club match, an official match. He is passionate, he is madly in love with cricket. But the other things that go around the cricketer and not just the on-field activity but whatever he gets to hear or gets to read or the way it gets projected, I would appreciate if everyone allows him to be himself and to have his own identity and enjoy his cricket above all," Tendulkar said.

"Since I am here and the entire sports journalists' fraternity is sitting over here, I am going to be a protective father. When I started playing cricket, though my father was a professor and was in literary field, at no stage I had this pressure from anyone who said you are playing cricket but how about following your father's footsteps," he said.

"At no stage of my life, there were comparisons. He (Arjun) started his career, so it is a humble request if he can live his life like a normal 14-year-old, without thinking about anything else except falling in love with this sport," he added.

Tendulkar, who became the first player to score 100 tons in international cricket, was conferred with a special award.

The senior batsman remembered the first time he was felicitated by the association in 1987, and said the rickshaw ride at that time was quite comfortable.

"I can't forget the rickshaw ride. It was really comfortable in those days especially when you are carrying big kit bags and travelling by train and bus. That evening was a memorable one especially as Sunil Gavaskar had just retired from Test cricket and he was present there," he said.

Tendulkar advised the other award winners to have a positive mindset to excel in their respective fields.

"From my own experience and my own journey, I can tell you he is enjoying every moment. There will be some challenges along the way but embrace those challenges. Don't find short cuts. Continue to make the nation proud. They (sports journalists) play a huge role in making players and not supporting players. You give them a reason to support you. Their actions are always followed by your performances," Tendulkar said.

"To be able to perform consistently over the years, the mental frame of mind has to be positive at all times. You need positive energy flowing through your body, which will allow those free moments and bring out the best in you," he said.

He added that he was shy by nature and learnt to speak longer sentences to the questions asked by the media.

Other Winners:

Lifetime Achievement Award -- Marzban Patel (Hockey); Best Sportsman -- Aditya Mehta (Snooker); Best Sportswoman -- Rahi Sarnobat (Shooting); Best Junior Sportsman -- Mahesh Mangaonkar (Squash); Best Junior Sportswoman -- Tanvi Lad (Badminton); Best Sportsperson (Indian Games) -- Deepika Henry Joseph (Kabaddi); Cricketer of the Season (male) -- Abhishek Nayar; Cricketer of the Season (female) -- Punam Raut; Junior Cricketer of the Year -- Arman Jaffer; Best Team of the Season -- Mumbai Ranji Trophy Team.

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Sachin asks media not to hound his son

MUMBAI: Playing the role of a protective father, senior India batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday asked the media to leave his "cricket mad" son Arjun alone and allow him to play the game without any pressure.

Tendulkar, who was felicitated by the Sports Journalists' Association of Mumbai for scoring 100 international centuries, said that he wanted his 14-year-old son to have his own identity and not be compared with him.

"My son has played a match today. First club match, an official match. He is passionate, he is madly in love with cricket. But the other things that go around the cricketer and not just the on-field activity but whatever he gets to hear or gets to read or the way it gets projected, I would appreciate if everyone allows him to be himself and to have his own identity and enjoy his cricket above all," Tendulkar said.

"Since I am here and the entire sports journalists' fraternity is sitting over here, I am going to be a protective father. When I started playing cricket, though my father was a professor and was in literary field, at no stage I had this pressure from anyone who said you are playing cricket but how about following your father's footsteps," he said.

"At no stage of my life, there were comparisons. He (Arjun) started his career, so it is a humble request if he can live his life like a normal 14-year-old, without thinking about anything else except falling in love with this sport," he added.

Tendulkar, who became the first player to score 100 tons in international cricket, was conferred with a special award.

The senior batsman remembered the first time he was felicitated by the association in 1987, and said the rickshaw ride at that time was quite comfortable.

"I can't forget the rickshaw ride. It was really comfortable in those days especially when you are carrying big kit bags and travelling by train and bus. That evening was a memorable one especially as Sunil Gavaskar had just retired from Test cricket and he was present there," he said.

Tendulkar advised the other award winners to have a positive mindset to excel in their respective fields.

"From my own experience and my own journey, I can tell you he is enjoying every moment. There will be some challenges along the way but embrace those challenges. Don't find short cuts. Continue to make the nation proud. They (sports journalists) play a huge role in making players and not supporting players. You give them a reason to support you. Their actions are always followed by your performances," Tendulkar said.

"To be able to perform consistently over the years, the mental frame of mind has to be positive at all times. You need positive energy flowing through your body, which will allow those free moments and bring out the best in you," he said.

He added that he was shy by nature and learnt to speak longer sentences to the questions asked by the media.

Other Winners:

Lifetime Achievement Award -- Marzban Patel (Hockey); Best Sportsman -- Aditya Mehta (Snooker); Best Sportswoman -- Rahi Sarnobat (Shooting); Best Junior Sportsman -- Mahesh Mangaonkar (Squash); Best Junior Sportswoman -- Tanvi Lad (Badminton); Best Sportsperson (Indian Games) -- Deepika Henry Joseph (Kabaddi); Cricketer of the Season (male) -- Abhishek Nayar; Cricketer of the Season (female) -- Punam Raut; Junior Cricketer of the Year -- Arman Jaffer; Best Team of the Season -- Mumbai Ranji Trophy Team.

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Allow Arjun to enjoy his cricket: Sachin

MUMBAI: Playing the role of a protective father, senior India batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday asked the media to leave his "cricket mad" son Arjun alone and allow him to play the game without any pressure.

Tendulkar, who was felicitated by the Sports Journalists' Association of Mumbai for scoring 100 international centuries, said that he wanted his 14-year-old son to have his own identity and not be compared with him.

"My son has played a match today. First club match, an official match. He is passionate, he is madly in love with cricket. But the other things that go around the cricketer and not just the on-field activity but whatever he gets to hear or gets to read or the way it gets projected, I would appreciate if everyone allows him to be himself and to have his own identity and enjoy his cricket above all," Tendulkar said.

"Since I am here and the entire sports journalists' fraternity is sitting over here, I am going to be a protective father. When I started playing cricket, though my father was a professor and was in literary field, at no stage I had this pressure from anyone who said you are playing cricket but how about following your father's footsteps," he said.

"At no stage of my life, there were comparisons. He (Arjun) started his career, so it is a humble request if he can live his life like a normal 14-year-old, without thinking about anything else except falling in love with this sport," he added.

Tendulkar, who became the first player to score 100 tons in international cricket, was conferred with a special award.

The senior batsman remembered the first time he was felicitated by the association in 1987, and said the rickshaw ride at that time was quite comfortable.

"I can't forget the rickshaw ride. It was really comfortable in those days especially when you are carrying big kit bags and travelling by train and bus. That evening was a memorable one especially as Sunil Gavaskar had just retired from Test cricket and he was present there," he said.

Tendulkar advised the other award winners to have a positive mindset to excel in their respective fields.

"From my own experience and my own journey, I can tell you he is enjoying every moment. There will be some challenges along the way but embrace those challenges. Don't find short cuts. Continue to make the nation proud. They (sports journalists) play a huge role in making players and not supporting players. You give them a reason to support you. Their actions are always followed by your performances," Tendulkar said.

"To be able to perform consistently over the years, the mental frame of mind has to be positive at all times. You need positive energy flowing through your body, which will allow those free moments and bring out the best in you," he said.

He added that he was shy by nature and learnt to speak longer sentences to the questions asked by the media.

Other Winners:

Lifetime Achievement Award -- Marzban Patel (Hockey); Best Sportsman -- Aditya Mehta (Snooker); Best Sportswoman -- Rahi Sarnobat (Shooting); Best Junior Sportsman -- Mahesh Mangaonkar (Squash); Best Junior Sportswoman -- Tanvi Lad (Badminton); Best Sportsperson (Indian Games) -- Deepika Henry Joseph (Kabaddi); Cricketer of the Season (male) -- Abhishek Nayar; Cricketer of the Season (female) -- Punam Raut; Junior Cricketer of the Year -- Arman Jaffer; Best Team of the Season -- Mumbai Ranji Trophy Team.

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Wrestling regains its place on Oly roster

BUENOS AIRES: Wrestling won back its spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after beating bids from rivals squash and baseball/softball in an International Olympic Committee vote on Sunday.

Wrestling, which featured in the ancient Olympics and in every modern Games apart from 1900, had been surprisingly taken off the Games in February as the IOC looked to refresh its sports programme.

Sunday's result marks a sensational turnaround for the sport which overhauled its rules, administration, gender equity and operations following its shock exclusion.

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