BHUBANESWAR MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012 | 15 Sports

Blanc resigns Dix misses Olympic bus Cummins ruled out Rufus stolen French football coach Laurent Blanc has left his job after refus- American sprinter Walter Dix, third in the 100 and 200 metres Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins was ruled out of the Game, set and snatched! ‘Rufus’, the hawk, who patrolled ing an extension to his contract, which expired Sunday, the at the 2008 Olympics and second in both events at last year’s remainder of the one-day series against England Sunday after the skies to scare pigeons away at the Wimbledon tennis French Football Federation (FFF) informed. France lost 0-2 to World Championships, failed to qualify for either event at the suffering a side strain in the opening match at Lord’s Friday championships has been stolen. Police said the ‘American reigning Euro and World Champions Spain in the Euro 2012 London Olympics. Dix withdrew from the 200m heat Friday last last. Australia team doctor John Orchard said in a statement Harris Hawk’, named Rufus, was stolen together with its quarterfinal, but Blanc said afterwards that France could have at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials in Washington after released in London: “Pat sustained an abdominal muscle cage and handling glove sometime Saturday night. The mat- beaten the Spanish team. Blanc mulled over a two-year con- injuring his left leg in the 100m finals held June 24 in which he strain on his left side during the first ODI at Lord’s. Whilst he ter was reported to the police in London Sunday. Rufus had tract offer before refusing, the Federation said Sunday. “Within finished last with a timing of 10.95s His pull out in the 200m was able to complete his 10 overs, he was sore after the game an important job to carry out in all the five Championships the period provided for reflection, Laurent Blanc contacted the means he will miss both events at the London Olympics. The and was scanned, the results of which have revealed a medi- he had attended. He kept away pigeons by his presence President of the FFF, Noel Le Graet, to indicate his decision not 2004 Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin also scratched um grade side-strain. This will keep him out of the remainder patrolling the skies between 5.30 am and 9.30 am every to seek the renewal of his contract as national team coach,” from the 200m at the US trials after securing his London berth of the England tour. His return to will be decided in due morning. A spokesman of the tennis tournament said that the Federation said in a website statement. Federation Chief in the 100m. Wallace Spearmon, who was disqualified from a course, based on follow-up examinations in Australia.” The 19- one of Rufus’s ‘pals’, Hector, has been drafted in to patrol Graet had expressed a desire to retain Blanc as coach. Blanc, bronze medal spot at the 2008 Olympics for a race-lane viola- year-old Cummins took one for 53 in his first match against the skies. Avian celebrity Rufus is something of a 46, succeeded Raymond Domenech after France’s disastrous tion, had the fastest qualifying time in the 200m at 20.17 sec- England. Cricket Australia (CA) said Cummins would leave Wimbledon fixture with his own Facebook page and Twitter 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He then proceeded to lead onds. “It is disappointing,” Dix stated. ‘More so because I have England for Australia Monday. CA’s National Selection Panel account with 257 followers, the BBC reported. Owner and France to Euro 2012 with a lengthy unbeaten run that ended shown that I can challenge the best in the world. I don’t think I added that no replacement bowler would join the squad as handler Imogen Davies said: “It’s hard to get your head after 23 games with a 0-2 group game defeat to Sweden. will ever run in Olympics again,” he added. there are plenty of options available with the present side. around. We just want to know whether he’s okay.”

Banned PAK HOLD INDIA players get I-T clean chit New , July 1: The Income Tax department has given a TO A TIE clean chit to the five banned do- collapse dash Unmukt’s efforts mestic cricketers, who were involved in the IPL spot-fixing the last over, India lost skip- Aparajith fell in the 37th over fiasco, from any financial mis- per (121, and from then started India’s conduct or receiving kickbacks 150b, 11x4) in the fourth troubles as none of the other in order to fix matches. An in- ball before Rush Kalaria batsmen got going. vestigation by the I-T depart- slammed Ehsan Adil through Akshdeep Nath (23) in as- ment in the financial transac- the off-side for a four to level sociation with skipper Chand tions of the five revealed this. the scores. The right-hander, took India closer to the target, The five players - T P however, chipped the very putting on 33 runs for the fourth Sudhindra, Shalabh Srivastava, next ball straight to the mid- , but his dismissal in the Mohnish Mishra, Amit Yadav off, much to the dismay of the 45th over opened the flood- and Abhinav Bali were also 2000-odd people present at gates as the team lost five wick- questioned by the I-T sleuths the ground. ets for just 35 to let go a win- at their special unit office in the India started off sedately ning opportunity. national capital after a TV chan- Pugilist Vijender Singh feels that training at Dublin will help the boxers a lot in London losing opener Manan Vohra Earlier, Pakistan rode on a nel aired the sting operation. in the fifth over before Chand brilliant 134 (124b, 13x4, 3x6) According to sources privy and Baba Aparajith (90, 86b, from opener Sami Aslam to to the development, the de- 12x4) put together a partner- pile up challenging total on the partment is expected to submit ‘Dublin trip useful’ ship of 175 runs to put their board. For India Kalaraia (5/37) a report in this regard soon side in a commanding position. bowled very well. PTI and would also inform the , July 1: He was not much difference it could make train twice a day in Dublin. Sports Ministry. The Ministry quite sure if training abroad to our preparations,” Vijender In the morning, we practiced Scoreboard had asked the Department of before Olympics would help stated on his return to India among ourselves while in the PAKISTAN (UNDER-19): Sami Aslam b Kalaria 134, Babar Azam r o Revenue under the Finance much but after spending a fort- Sunday. “It made a huge dif- evening we used to spar with 10, Imam-ul-Haq c Patel b Aparajith 10, Umar Waheed lbw b Vikas Ministry and the I-T to probe night preparing in Ireland, ference as we got acclimatised other teams which had come Mishra 48, Mohammad Nawaz b Sandeep Sharma 13, Saad Ali c alleged financial irregularities London-bound Vijender Singh to European conditions. It is bit- there. I think we have come back Nath b Kalaria 23, Ehsan Adil c Patel b Kalaria 7, Salman Afridi c in the cash-rich IPL also. said Sunday that the experi- ing cold there and extreme hot a stronger bunch and it would Patel b Kalaria 12, Azizullah c b Kalaria 5, Zia-ul-Haq n The I-T sleuths also con- ence has done a world of good here. So, now when we go to show in our results in London o 1, Akhtar Waheed n o 0, Extras: (b-1, lb-2, w-10, nb -6) 19, ducted a scan on the bank ac- to the Indian boxers ahead of London, we won’t exactly be this time around.” Total: (for nine in 50 overs) 282. counts, investments and other the mega-event this month. shocked by the weather. It National coach Sandhu said Fall: 1-33, 2-62, 3-162, 4-190, 5-252, 6-252, 7-270, 8-281, 9-281. financial earning avenues of Vijender (75kg), Shiva Thapa would be easy to adapt,” the purpose of the trip was ac- : Sandeep Sharma 10-0-56-1, Rush Kalaria 10-1-37-5, Baba these five cricketers and their close (56kg), L Devendro Singh Vijender added. climatisation and it has been Aparajith 10-0-49-1, Mohsin Sayyed 9-0-63-0, Vikas Mishra 8-0-42-1, relatives, in order to probe if any (49kg), Manoj Kumar (64kg), The Indian boxers are in the fulfilled. “The boys had a great Unmukt Chand 2-0-22-0, Akshdeep Nath 1-0-10-0. kickbacks were illegally received Sangwan (81kg) and Jai country for just 10 days before time because they had the best Skipper Unmukt Chand scored a brilliant century PTI PHOTO INDIA (UNDER-19): Manan Vohra c Azizullah b Zia-ul-Haq by them to fix IPL games. Bhagwan (60kg) were the ones they pack off for London, where of training facilities and also got 11, Unmukt c Azizullah b Adil 121, Aparajith c Zia-ul-Haq b Nawaz “They are clean, at least, on who trained in Dublin under the they will train before heading a fair idea of the conditions in Kuala Lumpur, July 1: Indian both countries were declared 90, Vijay Zol c Akhtar Waheed b Zia-ul-Haq 11, Akashdeep c the illegal gratification and watchful eyes of national coach to the Games Village in the Europe. Now they are better colts lost wickets in a heap to- joint winners at the Kinrara Azizullah b Nawaz 23, Sanju Samson b Nawaz 6, c Zia-ul- money front,” sources said. Gurbax Singh Sandhu, while last week of the month for the prepared for London,” stated wards the end of the innings Academy Oval, here Sunday. Haq b Adil 2, Kalaria c Zia-ul-Haq b Adil 6, Mohsin Sayyed n o 0, The BCCI had Saturday Vikas Krishan (69kg) stayed July 17 to August 12 event. Sandhu. “We had competitive and lost a glorious opportunity Pakistan and India both ended Extras: (lb -2, w-9, nb -1) 12, slapped a life ban on pacer TP back to give his college exams. Talking about the training bouts as well but there were no of winning the final of the U- on identical scores of 282. Total: (for eight wickets in 50 overs) 282. Sudhindra and handed lighter “I was not sure how it would schedule followed in the Irish winners or losers as that creates Fall: 1-20, 2-195, 3-214, 4-247, 5-255, 6-268, 7-278, 8-282. 19 Asia Cup final against Pakistan lost nine wickets while Bowling: Zia-ul-Haq 10-0-53-2, Azizullah 9-1-56-0, Akhtar Waheed punishments to the other four help us. I thought training in capital of Dublin, the bronze unnecessary pressure. So over- Pakistan. The match finally India lost eight. 10-0-50-0, Adil 10-0-68-3, Nawaz 10-0-45-3, Babar Azam 1-0-8-0. other players exposed in the TV Patiala would be better. But medal winner in Beijing four all it was a good trip before the ended in a thrilling tie and Required to get seven off sting operation. PTI after going there, I realised how years ago said, “We used to Olympic battle,” he added. PTI Gayle, Pollard India sweep hockey series Kanoute joins New Delhi, July 1: India over- Raghunath’s opening goal from destroy Kiwis came a defensive France 4-0 to a defelcted penalty corner strike. China exodus make a clean sweep in the two- Sandeep then scored a penalty Lauderhill (Florida), July 1: four sixes in one over towards match friendly Test series in Paris corner goal in each half before London, July 1: China’s grow- deal with Beijing ‘The Chris Gayle slammed an un- the end as West Indies reached Saturday ahead of next month’s Danish deflected a cross late in ing popularity as the preferred Independent’ reported Sunday. beaten 85 (52b, 7x4, 5x6) and their highest total. London Olympics. India had the second half from Yuvraj destination for ageing former Malian Kanoute spent seven lashed an un- New Zealand’s reply was led earlier defeated France 8-2 in Walmiki to round off the tally. English Premier League (EPL) successful years in Spain after beaten 63 (29b 5x4, 5x6) as by opener Rob Nicol, who the series opener in Ville Friday. India rested skipper Bharat players shows no sign of slow- plying his trade at English West Indies overcame New struck five fours in 32 off 33 Ace drag-flicker Sandeep Chetri, forward ing with striker Frederic Kanoute clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Zealand by 56 runs in the first balls. However, they were un- Singh converted two penalty and rookies Nitin and Somanna. completing a move to Beijing West Ham United. Beijing of two Twenty20 internationals lucky as skipper Ross Taylor and corners in each half for the Hence Indian chief coach Michael Guoan, the Chinese Super Guoan is currently third in in Florida. The West Indies Ronni Hira had to retire hurt Indians, while VR Raghunath Nobbs fielded a different combi- League side informed. the Chinese Super League. scored 209 for 2 in 20 overs with injuries. and were the converted two penalty corners against France nation upfront – SV Sunil, Tushar The Beijing club said in a The transfer adds to the Saturday as Gayle and Pollard There were two direct hit other goal-getters for the visi- Khandker and – brief statement Saturday that ever growing list of big for- added 108 off 47 balls. They then run outs, from West Indian tors in Le Touquet, according Indian team than usual. to the blue turf which, despite than they did in the first game. the 2007 African Footballer of eign signings made by Chinese dismissed the Kiwis for 153 in skipper Darren Sammy and new to information received here. The team coped well with being in use for a while now, was The Indian team will have a rest the Year had completed his clubs in recent times. Among 18.3 overs at the Central Broward cap Samuel Badree, and brief flur- With France opting to play the challenge, creating more on the bouncier side. day before travelling to the Spanish move but gave no details of the them are Didier Drogba and Regiona Park with spinner Sunil ries from Tim Southee (23) all 11 men behind its 25-yard openings in the striking circle pen- Though France packed its city of Santander tomorrow contract. Kanoute’s former Blackburn Rovers and Nigerian Narine claiming 3-34. and Jacob Oram (27), but West line for much of the time, it etrations than they usually do. defence, the Indian attack cre- (Monday). They will train for a club Sevilla said the 34-year- forward Yakubu Aiyegbeni Gayle and Johnson Charles Indies coasted home in the end. was a different experience for the Also, the Indians got used ated opportunities that led to fortnight in Santander. PTI old had agreed to a two-year and a few others. AGENCIES (24) put on a stand of 74 for Brief scores: West Indies 209 the second wicket before Charles for 2 (Chris Gayle 85 n o, top-edged Kane Williamson to Kieron Pollard 63 n o) beat backward point. Pollard launched New Zealand 153 in 18.3 overs his first ball for six and was in (Rob Nicol 32, Jacob Oram Poet Panenka legend lives on devastating mood throughout. 27, Sunil Narine 3/34, Darren Gayle lashed Bracewell for Sammy 1/13) by 56 runs. PTI Warsaw, July 1: Antonin “If I had to choose a lasting in myself and I wanted to try master the art of taking the Panenka was dubbed a poet by image from the tournament, again,” he added. penalty and therein lay his suc- a watching journalist when he I’d say Pirlo’s penalty,” said In fact Ramos isn’t alone in cess but also the seeds of an cheekily chipped his penalty Italian midfielder Daniele De having planned it ahead of the expanding waistline. down the middle to secure the Rossi after Italy beat England shootout because the ‘poet’ "As a result I ended up lying then Czechoslovakia the 1976 4-2 on penalties.“I’d not seen Panenka, now a portly 63, had awake at night thinking about European title at the expense of such a crazy shot as that since also pre-planned for such an how I could get the upper hand. West Germany. the days of Totti,” added De occasion and as he admitted, it “I eventually realised that the Whether Andrea Pirlo or Rossi, referring to his Roma had been years in the making goalkeeper always waits until Sergio Ramos were hoping also teammate Francesco Totti. and costly to both his wallet just before the last moment to to be dubbed ‘poets’ in their re- Ramos, who had no hesitation and then to his waistline. “I try and anticipate where the spective penalty shootouts here in taking one despite blasting over came up with the idea because ball is going and dives just be- at Euro 2012 is questionable the bar in the Champions League I used to practice penalties after fore it’s kicked so he can reach but both Italy and Spain were in- semifinal against Bayern Munich training at Bohemians with our the shot in time,” said Panenka. debted to them for slotting home last season, confessed that he goalkeeper Zdenek Hruska,” “I decided that it was prob- their ‘Panenka’ style penalties had planned his. “I’d planned he told Radio Prague in 2007. ably easier to score by feinting In both games the opposing it in advance, I won’t lie,” he “To make it interesting, we to shoot and then just gently tap- side had looked to have the told reporters after receiving used to wager a beer or a bar of ping the ball into the middle of upper hand when Italy’s the man of the match award chocolate on each penalty. the goal,” he added. Riccardo Montolivo and Spain’s against Portugal. Unfortunately, because he was “In this way the keeper had al- Xabi Alonso missed early on “After my last experience such a good keeper, I ended up ways dived by the time the ball but whether it was just coin- in penalties with Real Madrid losing money as he kept saving was kicked and had no chance of cidence or indeed a psycho- in the Champions League, more shots than I could score,” recovering in time to save the shot. File pix of Ramos about to take the spot-kick against Portugal logical blow as neither England people said I wasn’t ready for However, the determined I tried it out on the training nor Portugal succeed with a the responsibility of taking a Panenka spent many hours de- ground and it worked like a that I started getting a lot fat- beers and chocolates,” Paneka penalty after that. penalty. But I had confidence vising how he would come to charm. The only problem was ter because I won back all those further added. AGENCIES Pollard (L) and Gayle share a light moment during their stand