Thursday 5th February, 2009 13

terrific feeling,” she said. “We only hope our achievements will inspire many more youngsters to aim big,” she added. “Yuki Bhambri (winner of junior boys singles title in the Australian Open), is the biggest potential we have,” I have realised a she said. Sania hoped that Yuki would success- fully negotiate the transition phase from juniors to seniors. “I know how great a feeling it is to win even a junior Grand Slam title, having myself won the girls doubles in dream – Sania Wimbledon. I wish him all the best,” HYDERABAD: she said. have realised one of my dreams. Sania repeated But another remains to be ful- that singles play “Ifilled — winning a singles title continued to be her in a Grand Slam tournament,” said priority and play- Sania Mirza who created history by ing doubles is only becoming the first Indian woman to win a bonus. “Mahesh a Grand Slam tennis title. The 22-year- and I complement old had won the mixed doubles partner- each other. I feel ing Mahesh Bhupathi at the Australian that he is one of Open on Sunday. the best doubles “Right now, I will be taking a week’s players in the world rest because of a tear in my abdominal and he is very muscle before beginning preparations encouraging — for the Thailand and the Dubai Opens,” always telling me she said at a media briefing here on that he is there to Tuesday. help me realise my “This Grand Slam title should be goals,” she said. judged in the backdrop of the six-month long break I had before coming into the On Brand Sania circuit only last December,” she added. Sania said that it Sania explained that she never com- is not her problem mented that she is not keen to play at whether her brand home. “I feel it is a great honour to play value would be in front of my home crowd. enhanced after her Unfortunately, there not many opportu- Australian Open per- nities right now,” she said. formance. “I would like to be seen as Feeling bad Sania the tennis She also expressed regret at being player and not as a forced to miss the forthcoming Fed Cup brand ambassador. because of the latest injury. “It is the Those things are biggest honour to play for your country. taken care of by my But unfortunately this injury came up. manager,” she My body held up pretty well during the quipped. Grand Slam but I am not yet ready for a “I could not have long, demanding schedule,” she com- asked for a better mented. start to the year 2009. “Obviously from the Indian perspec- But my focus now tive, this Australian Open was one of the will shift even more best — considering that Mahesh also towards singles com- entered the men’s doubles final. We have Sania Mirza petitions in Grand created our own identity at the Grand Slam tournaments,” Slam and things are looking very bright observed. moments after we won the mixed dou- Sania concluded. for Indian tennis right now,” she “There was some disbelief for a few bles title. But at the end of it all, it was a (The Hindu) Victorious Afghan cricket Choose Hayden’s replacement now team welcomed home - Ponting by Heidi Vogt aptain once in a while. And it is a joy for chance to give some much-needed believes the Australian KABUL (AP) - Afghans cheered all of Afghanistan’s people. And so joy to the people of Afghanistan, Cselectors should make a and danced at Kabul airport I congratulate everyone,” said play- where the Taliban insurgency is decision now on who will replace Tuesday as they welcomed back the er Asti Gul Abed. more likely to command headlines at the top of national cricket team after a victo- Cricket is still not a common than sports. the order. ry which left their side one step sport in Afghanistan and most of “We want to get through to the The Australian squad for the away from the 2011 World Cup and the team’s members learned the second stage of the competition three-Test tour of South Africa provided a rare moment to cele- game abroad, many in neighboring and try and get in the top four, as will be named on Thursday, with brate in a country crippled by war. Pakistan. There is one national that would be a real gift for the boom youngster Phillip Hughes Though the small parade sur- cricket academy in the capital, but Afghan people,” wicketkeeper and the leading con- rounding the players had to wind the Afghan players have done much Karim Khan said in a statement tenders to fill the opening vacan- through concrete security barriers, of their recent training in released by the International cy and partner . the joyous crowd of more than 200 Pakistan. Cricket Council. The selectors could pick both people clapped and threw confetti, Teenagers in Kabul are more “It would be amazing to come Hughes and Jaques in a squad and hoisted a few of the players up likely to follow soccer or wrestling. from the refugee camps and play numbering either 14 or 15 play- on their shoulders. The players Nadir Khan Katawazi, a parliamen- cricket with the big nations and try ers and make the call after the donned pink and silver garlands. tarian from southeastern Paktika and beat a test-playing country. only first-class warm-up game in Afghanistan won the World province, said he was the only gov- That would be the greatest achieve- Potchefstrom from February 20- Cricket League Division 3 tourna- ernment official present to greet ment of our lives.” 22. ment in Buenos Aires, Argentina the team. For the final qualifiers in South But Ponting would rather the on Saturday, earning the team a Still, the crowd reveled in the Africa, which run from April 1-19, decision was taken now, allowing spot in the final qualifying tourna- trophy held high by the players. Afghanistan will be in Group B the other batsman to remain in ment in South Africa in April. Turbaned men played traditional along with Kenya, Netherlands, Australia and play out the “This kind of joy only comes drums and flutes, and some exul- Bermuda, UAE and Denmark. remainder of the Sheffield Shield tant fans opened Uganda, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, season. up their winter Oman and Namibia are in Group A. It’s a tough call as both NSW coats to dance. The top four teams from the openers have legitimate claims Players have competition advance to the to replace the retired Hayden. described the World Cup. Twenty-year-old Hughes victory compiled an impressive double as their of 151 and 82 in the recent Sheffield Shield win over Tasmania, while Jaques, 29, made a century in his most recent Test before being side- lined by injury. “I don’t reckon (the selec- tors) will pick two openers (in addition to Simon Katich),” Ponting said on Tuesday, the day after he tied with vice- Michael Clarke for the . “I think they should make their mind up now and pick who- ever they think is going to be the best selection for South Africa and possibly for the Ashes tour as well. “Phillip (Hughes) has done absolutely everything in his power to give himself the best chance to be picked. “His record for New South Afghanistan’s cricket team captain Norooz Mangal is carried on the shoulders of supporters as he is celebrated with con- Wales in the last couple of years fetti after arriving at Kabul international airport, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009. Afghanistan advanced to the final qual- has been outstanding.” ifying tournament in South Africa in April for the 2011 World Cup. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq) (The Age)