Sandeep, Khushbir set national records

PUNE: Walkers Sandeep Kumar and Khushbir Kaur made it a memorable day for Indian athletics by setting national records in the men's 50 km and the women's 20 km events respectively at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Taicang, China, on Saturday.

Sandeep clocked 3 hours 56 minutes 22 seconds, improving on the previous mark of Basant Bahadur Rana's 3:56:48 set at the London Olympics in 2012.

The national champion, with back to back titles in 2013 (Patiala) and 2014 (Kochi), was a trifle slow off the blocks and was placed 30th after the 5 km mark. His timing of 23 minutes 28 seconds at that stage was 20 seconds behind compatriot Surinder Singh.

But the 27-year-old switched gears after the 32 km milestone as he went past his teammate.

With five kilometres to go, he moved into 22nd position, but fell back one place at the finish.

Three other Indians were among the total 60 competitors of whom 48 finished.

Manish Singh (32nd with 4:02:08) and Surinder Singh (37th with 4:09:17) returned their personal best while former national junior champion Maniram Patel came 43rd (4:17:03).

The first three Indian finishers scored 92 points that placed India seventh among the participating teams. Colombia also scored an identical 92 points but were ranked sixth for better finish average, thus denying the Indian team a prize money of $3,000.

Russia's Mikhail Ryzhov, a silver medalist from the Moscow Worlds in 2013, triumphed with a world leading performance of the year in 3:39:05 to take home the winner's cheque of $30,000. His teammate Ivan Noskov was second at 3:39:38 while Australian Jared Tallent completed the podium in 3:42:48.

In the evening, Asian bronze medalist Kaur surprised the fans as she was among the top six walkers during the first quarter of the race. However, the 20-year-old from Punjab could sustain the intensity and began to drop down the rungs. Yet, her 35th position in 1:31:40 was still her best time and another national record.

With a world leading 1:26:31 Anisya Kirdyapkina climbed on the top spot and brought Russia a second gold of the day.

Local girl Hong Liu who challenged the leader most of the race finished 27 seconds behind for the silver while Elmira Alembekova brought the other medal for Russia in 1:27:02.

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Kevin Pietersen expresses love for Chelsea

NEW DELHI: Former England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen expressed his love for Premier League club Chelsea FC on Sunday, and said he is friends with Chelsea stalwarts Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and John Terry.

"Chelsea is my team. I am good friends with many players in Chelsea, including Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and John Terry. I live in Chelsea and train there too. I also underwent rehabilitation in Chelsea when I had my Achilles tendon injury," Pietersen said on Sunday.

The 33-year-old was at the Ambedkar Stadium here to announce the names of two children who will be the Adidas FIFA Fairplay Flag Bearers. Six children, four to be selected from other cities, will head to Sao Paulo to see a World Cup pre-quarterfinal match.

With Chelsea currently third in the Premier League standings with 78 points, Pietersen said clinching the title this year will be difficult for them. Manchester City and Liverpool are first and second, both on 80 points, and with only two rounds of matches to go, the club from Manchester look to be the favourites.

"It is going to be difficult for Chelsea. With Manchester City winning 3-2 against Everton last night, they lead the standings and are favourites for the title. But Chelsea have already said they are targeting the title next year. You can't win every year," added Pietersen with a smile.

The Delhi Daredevils captain also lauded Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

"He is outstanding as a manager. He makes the players play their best in the position they are put in and makes them the best in the world too. He takes the pressure off the players," concluded the tall Englishman.

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Defeats create doubts for worried Nadal

MADRID: World number one Rafael Nadal admitted shock defeats to David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro in recent weeks have shaken his confidence as he looks to defend his Madrid Masters title this week.

The 13-time Grand Slam champion has appeared almost unbeatable once he hits the red clay of Europe in recent years, but comes into Madrid having lost at the Monte Carlo Masters for only the third time in his career and for the first time at the Barcelona Open since 2003.

"Losing always creates doubts, anyone who tells you the opposite is lying," he said on Sunday.

"There is no benefit in losing. The easiest thing is to keep winning because everything comes naturally without thinking.

"When you lose you think more about where to move on the court, where to hit the ball, but that is what has happened and as I have said various times you cannot win in Monte Carlo or Barcelona 12 times.

"To lose twice in the quarterfinals is normal. Perhaps what has been abnormal is what has happened in recent years."

Nadal could even lose out on top spot in the rankings this week should he lose before the quarterfinals and Novak Djokovic win the title for a second time.

However, the Spaniard is hoping the energy of the home crowd will provoke a return to form.

"I feel a bit better and I am desperate to play in this tournament because it is always special for me. The energy this tournament gives me is a bit different and hopefully you will see that on court."

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray also returns to action in the Spanish capital this week after nearly a month off following Great Britain's Davis Cup defeat to Italy.

The Scot has spent the time away from competitive action practising in Valencia and for a few days at Roland Garros ahead of the French Open later this month.

And the world number eight is hoping a good run in Madrid and next week in Rome will help secure a boost in the rankings ahead of the French Open and the defence of his Wimbledon crown.

"The most important thing now is that I show it on the court and at the major events. That's what I train for.

"Whether I can get back into the top four is something we'll obviously to have wait and see what happens over the next sort of six or seven months."

Murray is currently without a coach after his two-year partnership with Ivan Lendl came to an end in March. However, he is hopeful of making a decision on Lendl's successor before the start of the grasscourt season.

"I don't want to go into any names because that would cause me a lot of stress and questions over the next week or so, but it's something I did start to think about a lot the last couple of weeks.

"Hopefully I'm getting closer to making a decision in the next month or so."

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Klizan stuns Fognini for Munich title

BERLIN: Qualifier Martin Klizan pulled off a shock victory over top-seed Fabio Fognini in Sunday's final of the Munich ATP tournament to claim only the second title of his career.

The Slovakian, ranked 111th in the world, recovered from losing the first set to claim a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 win which denied Fognini, ranked 13th in the world, his third straight title in Germany having won last season's Hamburg and Stuttgart tournaments.

The 24-year-old Klizan, whose only previous ATP tournament win was in St Petersburg in 2012, deserved his clay-court title having beaten Russian third-seed Mikhail Youzhny in the second round, then seen off defending champion and second-seed Tommy Haas in Saturday's semifinal.

The final was a low-key affair with Klizan suffering from abdominal pains and writhing in pain at each change while Italy's Fognini had to be treated in the third set.

After losing the first set, Klizan regained his composure to race into a 4-1 lead in the second, then dominated the third to go 3-0 up before Fognini pulled two games back, but the Slovakian held his service to take the title.

Klizan picks up the winners cheque of 77,315 euros ($107,243) and a brand-new sports car.

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Arsenal stroll to victory over West Brom

LONDON: Arsenal celebrated their Champions League qualification as Olivier Giroud secured a 1-0 win against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

EPL: Results | Points Table | Top scorers

Arsene Wenger's side booked their place in Europe's elite club competition without kicking a ball when fifth placed Everton were beaten 3-2 by Manchester City on Saturday.

And 24 hours later, Giroud's first half header maintained the feel-good factor at the Emirates Stadium and capped a stroll in the sunshine for the Gunners, who were rarely troubled en route to a fourth successive victory.

After looking in severe danger of missing out on the Champions League for the first time in 17 years following their defeat at Everton last month, there was a palpable sense of relief in north London that Arsenal had wrapped up fourth place with two games to spare.

Albion never threatened to spoil the party, but Pepe Mel's team remain four points above the relegation zone and their safety will be guaranteed if third bottom Norwich lost either of their final two matches against Chelsea and Arsenal.

With influential midfielder Aaron Ramsey sidelined by a thigh injury and Arsenal's Champions League mission already complete, it would have been no surprise to see the Gunners go through the motions.

But the incentive of nailing down places in the team for the FA Cup final against Hull on May 17 ensured there was sufficient spark to Arsenal's play and they quickly forced Albion onto the back foot.

The Gunners threatened in the opening moments when Lukas Podolski fired wide of the near post from Giroud's flick.

Albion couldn't cope with the speed and precision of Arsenal's attacks and Mesut Ozil slalomed into the penalty area before setting up Santi Cazorla for a powerful shot that deflected over.

Arsenal's pressure was rewarded from the resulting Cazorla corner in the 14th minute as France striker Giroud, showing greater desire than his Albion markers, made a thrusting run to the near-post where he directed a close-range header past Ben Foster.

Giroud's 22nd goal of the season should have acted as a wake-up call for lethargic Albion, but instead another defensive error, this time from Diego Lugano, almost led to a second goal.

Mathieu Flamini seized on the loose ball and with Giroud lurking with intent in the six-yard box it was only Foster's smart save with his legs that averted the danger.

At least Albion defender Craig Dawson was willing to put his body on the line to keep the Gunners at bay and he gamely blocked Flamini's strike in a particularly sensitive area just below his midriff.

Albion's tepid efforts to close down the hosts allowed to Arsenal dominate possession and their lone striker Saido Berahino had only one sight of goal, a ferocious effort from the edge of the area which fizzed just over.

That was a rare moment of concern for Arsenal and Cazorla almost doubled their lead moments later, but Foster plunged low to his right to keep out the Spaniard's goalbound strike.

Wenger's side lacked their first half verve and almost paid the price when Morgan Amalfitano burst through, only for Per Mertesacker to make a last-ditch challenge.

Dawson went close to equalising with a header from a corner and Amalfitano brought a fine save from Wojciech Szczesny, but it was Arsenal who had the best chance of a soporific second half when Podolski scuffed his shot onto a post.

With the points in the bag, the celebratory mood continued after the final whistle as Arsenal's players marked their final home game of the season with a lap of honour featuring chants from fans for French right-back Bacary Sagna to ignore reported interest from Manchester City and sign a new contract.

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West Ham ensure survival with victory

LONDON: West Ham United secured their Premier League status after stemming a run of four straight defeats with a 2-0 win at home to 10-man Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

EPL: Results | Points Table | Top scorere

The early dismissal of Spurs centre back Younes Kaboul gave West Ham control and they prevailed through a Harry Kane own goal and a Stewart Downing free kick, his first goal for the club.

Victory took West Ham to 40 points ahead of their trip to Manchester City on the season's final day and will relieve some of the pressure on manager Sam Allardyce, who has fallen out of favour with some of the club's fans.

Spurs, meanwhile, are now in danger of being pipped to sixth place, which brings with it a berth in next season's Europa League.

The defeat left Tim Sherwood's men six points above Manchester United, who have two games in hand and a vastly superior goal difference.

Bidding for a third consecutive win, Spurs made an encouraging start at Upton Park, with Kane almost embarrassing West Ham goalkeeper Adrian by charging down a clearance inside the first minute.

Emmanuel Adebayor then shot meekly at Adrian after being teed up by Christian Eriksen, but in the 25th minute the momentum tilted sharply in the hosts' favour.

Kaboul was sent off for clipping the heels of the fleeing Downing and although Hugo Lloris tipped over Andy Carroll's thunderous subsequent free-kick, West Ham took the lead from the corner that ensued.

Carroll leapt to meet Downing's cross at the back post with a downward header and in attempting to head the ball over the bar, Kane succeeded only in lifting it over Lloris and into the net.

Spurs manager Sherwood responded by introducing centre back Vlad Chiriches in place of Kane, but still West Ham came forward.

Lloris had to make a fine low save to touch a Matt Taylor drive around the post, but in the 44th minute West Ham doubled their lead.

Downing's 25-yard free-kick should have been blocked by the wall, but Adebayor and Paulinho inexplicably stepped apart, allowing the ball to pass between them and into the bottom right-hand corner.

Carroll drilled a volley wide in first-half injury time and it was only the astonishing reflexes of Lloris that kept the scoreline respectable in the second period.

After five minutes, the France international produced an impressive double save, parrying a spectacular overhead kick from Mohamed Diame and then kicking the ball away from Kevin Nolan, before Taylor steered the rebound wide.

Moments later he came to Spurs' rescue again, charging from his line to block with his knee after Nolan had seized on a Carroll knock-down.

Lloris was then obliged to save at his near post from Taylor, before opposite number Adrian got in on the act in stoppage time with a superb one-handed save to thwart marauding Spurs left back Danny Rose.

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Sterling breaks silence as Stiviano talks

LOS ANGELES: Donald Sterling, the embattled owner of the Los Angeles Clippers banned for life by the NBA after making racist comments, has broken his silence about the scandal.

Online magazine duJour reported Friday that Sterling said, "I wish I had just paid her off," referring to his girlfriend, identified only as V. Stiviano.

The 80-year-old billionaire was caught speaking with Stiviano and making racist comments on a recording made public last weekend.

The recording touched off a firestorm that led NBA commissioner Adam Silver to banish Sterling from the league for life.

On the recording, Sterling said he did not want Stiviano -- who describes herself as the magnate's "personal assistant" -- to bring black people to his game, and asked her not to post pictures of herself with African Americans on social media websites.

Stiviano spoke to the ABC News program "20/20" late Friday, saying she thought Sterling should apologize but whether or not he would, "Only God knows."

"I think he feels very alone, not truly supported by those around him. Tormented, emotionally traumatized," Stiviano said of Sterling.

She denied being Sterling's "mistress" and said that she loved him "like a father figure."

"I'm with him in a state where I want to help him, urging him to come to his own rescue."

"I think Mr. Sterling is from a different generation than I am," she told ABC.

"I think he was brought up to believe these things ... segregation, whites and blacks."

But according to Stiviano, "through his actions he's shown that he's not a racist. He's shown to be a very generous and kind man."

Stiviano also said that there were "a number of other hours" of recordings "that the world doesn't know."

In March Sterling's wife Rochelle sued Stiviano, claiming that she has received millions of dollars in gifts from the billionaire that need to be returned.

Separately, ESPN and the New York Post reported that Sterling has prostate cancer.

In a related scandal, the Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP, the leading US African-American civil rights organization, received a new leader Friday after Leon Jenkins resigned Thursday following questions over his relationship with Sterling.

The disgraced billionaire was set to receive a humanitarian award from the NAACP -- an honour revoked in the wake of Sterling's racist comments.

"We will determine the shortcomings that enabled Donald Sterling to receive or be considered for any awards," interim president Lorraine Miller wrote in a message. "We will prevent this from happening again."

The NAACP is also returning a donation from Sterling. "We recognize the need for all our units to have the resources to serve their communities, but we must not allow that need to compromise our founding principles," Miller wrote.

Sterling, a real estate tycoon who bought the NBA team in 1981, is the longest-tenured owner in the league, but fellow team owners have started the process of stripping the team from him.

A 75 percent vote of the other 29 NBA owners is required to remove the team from Sterling, but the threat could push him to sell the team or take the NBA to court over the matter, potentially setting up a long legal battle.

Sterling, who bought the team for $12 million, could sell it for at least $600 million, with several celebrities and billionaires having already indicated an interest in owning the Clippers.

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Sania & Cara reach Portugal Open final

OEIRAS: Sania Mirza alongwith her doubles partner Cara Black stormed into the finals of the Portugal Open with a straight-set victory over third seeded American pair of Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond.

Continuing their fabulous run, the top seeded combo of Sania and Cara took an hour and 14 minutes to get the better of their American rivals, 6-4, 6-3 at the $250,000 clay court event.

First set saw the Indo-Zimbabwean pair struggle a bit, as they could convert only three of the eight breakpoints they got but they managed to held their nerves to finally win it.

In the second set, two decisive breaks of serve enabled Sania and Cara to wrap up the match comfortably in their favour.

They will now take on Eva Hrdinova and Valeria Solovyeva in the final.

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Haas crashes out to qualifier in semis

BERLIN: Title-holder Tommy Haas crashed out of the Munich ATP tournament semifinals on Saturday as the 36-year-old suffered a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Slovakian qualifier Martin Klizan.

In Sunday's final, the 24-year-old Klizan, ranked 111 in the world, will face either top seed Fabio Fognini of Italy or Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff, who meet in the other semifinal.

Haas, the defending champion and former world number two, had few answers, losing in just over an hour as he laboured in near-freezing temperatures and drizzle and missed the chance to reach the Munich final for the third time.

Having taken a six-week break before the Munich tournament after a shoulder injury, Haas was receiving daily treatment on his shoulder and hopes to compete in the ATP Madrid tournament next week.

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Sania-Cara clinch Portugal Open title

OEIRAS (Portugal): Sania Mirza and Cara Black won their first title of the season with a hard-fought 6-4, 6-3 win over Eva Hrdinova and Valeria Solovyeva in the final of the WTA Portugal Open on Saturday.

The top seeded Indo-Zimbabwean pair, playing their third finals of the season, was tested by the Czech-Russian team in summit clash, which lasted one hour and 18 minutes.

Before this, Sania and Cara had ended runners-up at Indian Wells in March and at Stuttgart event, last week.

Courtesy an early break, the top seeds raced to 3-1 lead in the opening set but Eva and Valeria raised their game by a few notches to not only break their rivals back but also snatched lead by the seventh game.

Stunned by the fightback of the Czech-Russian pair, Sania and Cara broke Eva and Valeria in the eight game to make it 4-4 and one more time in the 10th to pocket the first set.

After trading a break each, the two pairs were 3-3 in the second set. A double fault by Cara put the top seeds down a breakpoint but they saved it to be up 4-3.

They broke the fighting rivals in the next game and Sania served out the match in the ninth game.

Sania and Cara shared euro 9,919 as prize money and earned 280 ranking points each for the win.

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