BHUBANESWAR TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012 | 15 Sports SNIPPETS MADHURI AXED REAL ROUT FOR ESPANYOL eteran batsman Anjum Chopra will lead the Indian Vwomen's cricket team in the limited overs series Madrid, March 5: Cristiano towards their first league title in win over Real Sociedad in the against Australia, starting March 12 in Ahmedabad. Ronaldo takes personal tally to 30 Ronaldo took his league tally for four years as they climbed to Basque derby. Mithali Raj has been named as Anjum’s deputy. the season to 30 as leaders Real 67 points with 13 left to play. Markel Susaeta scored in each According to a BCCI statement released in Mumbai Madrid swept aside Espanyol “We’re very pleased,” half, the second a superb freekick Monday, a 15- member squad has been picked for the 5-0 at the Bernabeu to restore Argentina international Higuain struck into the top corner 10 min- first two one-day games. Orissa’s Madhuri Mehta, their 10-point advantage over told Spanish television. “There’s utes from time. who is presently touring with the Indian team in the Barcelona in La Liga. still a long way to go so it was The visitors from San Sebastian West Indies, has not found a place in the squad. The The Portuguese forward, last important for us to maintain were unlucky not to level at the squad: Anjum Chopra (captain), Mithali Raj (vice-cap- season’s European Golden Boot our points advantage.” beginning of the second half tain), Jhulan Goswami, Poonam Raut, Archana Das, S winner with 40 league goals, Sofiane Feghouli earned when a Carlos Vela shot ap- Subhalaxmi, Reema Malhotra, Rumeli Dhar, Ekta Bist, opened the scoring from Gonzalo Valencia a 1-0 victory at Granada, peared to cross the line before Gauhar Sultana, Sunitha Anand, Harmanpreet Kaur, Higuain’s layoff in the 23rd his side’s first road win in La Liga Gorka Iraizoz got to the ball. Mamta Kanojia, Sulakshana Naik and Nooshin-Al- minute, to take his total in all com- since November, to keep them Sixth-placed Levante with 35 Khadeer. petitions to 38. third in the standings with 43 points can reclaim fourth place Sami Khedira doubled the points. Home keeper Julio Cesar with a win at home to Real PSYCHOLOGICAL BOOST lead after playing a one-two made a hash of parrying the Betis Monday. eventy-two-year-old sports psychologist Dr Rudi with his German international Frenchman’s tame shot in the Basement side Real Zaragoza SWebster, who worked with World Cup winning team mate Mesut Ozil in the 32nd minute in a scrappy match kept alive their hopes of avoid- West Indies captain Clive Lloyd in the 1970’s, would 38th minute and Higuain buried littered with yellow cards. ing the drop with a 2-1 come- help Kolkata Knight Riders in the upcoming IPL season a third just after the re-start. Valencia’s second league win back win against Villarreal, 5 beginning on April 4. Announcing the appointment in Kaka set up the third, bagged of 2012 strengthened their hold thanks to goals from Luis Garcia Kolkata, KKR in a statement Monday said Dr Webster the fourth with a run and shot on third place ahead of Athletic and Abraham Minero in the last would be the mental skills coach and would play an off the post in the 66th, and Bilbao in fourth with 37. five minutes. important role in the team’s scheme of things. “We pulled back for Higuain to ham- Manchester United’s opponents The cash-strapped club, earned are delighted to welcome Dr Webster. I am sure he mer the fifth high into the net in the Europa League next week their first home win since will add to the strength and play an important role in in the 78th to take Jose moved into the Champions October and have 18 points, nine taking KKR to the next level of performance,” Venky Kaka had a great day scoring one goal and doing the spadework for others Sunday Mourinho’s team a step closer League places with a 2-0 home from safety. AGENCIES Mysore, CEO of the T20 outfit, said. The Grenada- based psychologist has also in the past worked with the West Indies, Sri Lanka and India, having helped Virender Sehwag during the tour of the Caribbean in 2006. He has also authored ‘Winning Ways: In Search McIlroy crowned the new king of golf of Your Best Performance’. Florida, March 5: Rory McIlroy to be able to go down the stretch it for a little longer,” the Irishman pressive playing,” said Woods. was proclaimed as golf ’s next truly with him a lot more,” said McIlroy stated with a sheepish grin. “That’s what you have to do. You TRAINING ENDS great player after winning the after he tamed the Tiger. “It was al- McIlroy’s form of late has been aren’t going to win every time you ahara Force India wrapped up its winter test pro- Honda Classic and taking over as ways a dream mine to become the the definition of consistency. He tee it up but you can be consis- Sgramme with Nico Hulkenberg covering 101 laps in the world’s number one ranked world number one, the best player has finished out of the top five just tent, be close and be in the hunt and the VJM05 on the final day at Barcelona as the team player at the Palm Beach Garden in the world, whatever you want to once in the 10 ranked events prior that’s what he has done,” the for- finalised its preparations for the season-opening course Sunday. call it. Hopefully I can hold onto to the Honda. “That’s pretty im- mer world number one added. Australian Grand Prix. Hulkenberg’s fastest lap came Many had expected McIlroy to at 1:22.312 while covering a distance of 470kms. “We reach the top and the Northern- managed to fit a lot and hopefully when we have been Irishman fulfilled those prophesies through all the data we will have learned a lot, too. when he officially became the world The race weekend simulation was useful, but unfortu- number one, at just 22 years old. nately my race distance was cut short, so we will rely “He’s the real king deal,” said more on the data from Paul's run Sunday,” stated the Johnny Miller, a 25-time winner Port of Spain, March 5: West Indies cricketer German driver. “We were also busy trying all the tyre on the PGA Tour and now a re- Runako Morton was killed in a car crash here compounds to learn more about tyre management spected television commentator. Sunday night. and how to get the most from them. You always want Only Tiger Woods, who pro- The 33-year-old, one of the few cricketers to more time in the car, but I think we can be pleased duced the best final-round of his life emerge from the island of Nevis, lost control of with how our three tests have gone,” he added. The Sunday only to finish tied for sec- the car he was driving and hit a pole, according opening race of the 2012 season will be held on March ond behind McIlroy, had reached the to reports. He died on the spot. 18 in Melbourne. top spot at a younger age. Morton had played 15 Test matches, 56 One- McIlroy blew a four-stroke lead day internationals and seven Twenty20s for the ASIA CUP SPONSORS at last year’s Masters and was sud- West Indies since making his international debut denly under pressure again, with in 2002. He last played in February 2010 in a icromax Informatics Limited has bagged the title Woods on the prowl. But he showed Twenty20 against Australia in Sydney. Msponsorship for Asia Cup cricket tournament for much he had learnt from his Augusta Former West Indies Chris Gayle, under whom the second consecutive year. The Asia Cup will fea- meltdown, proving he has the nerves Morton played in the national team, tweeted: ture India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as they and maturity to match his ball strik- "We lost a True Warrior WI Cricketer Runako battle to emerge the winner of the tournament to be ing, holding off the best player of Morton-May is soul rest in peace! Our memo- played at Dhaka March 11 to 23. Nimbus Sport and his generation and setting the stage ries together Live On!-My Condolences to his Micromax has entered into an agreement and the for an epic rivalry. Family." West Indies player Carlos Brathwaite also event will be now titled as Micromax Asia Cup 2012. “I think it is great for golf. It offered his condolences. "RIP Runacko Morton. Announcing the sponsorship, Yannick Colaco, Chief creates a lot of interest and I’d love Rory McIlroy poses with the Honda Classic trophy at the Palm Beach Garden Sunday Gone but not forgotten," he tweeted. PTI Operating Officer, Nimbus Sport said, “Micromax is an exciting brand, close to the heart of youth, and one which is a good match to the dynamic and vibrant nature of this event.” Commenting on the association, Deepak Mehrotra, CEO, Micromax said, “We are proud Friends in semis to be associated with this game and are elated to con- Battle-ready Biplab ready for IPL Bhubaneswar, March 5: Friends & Friends tinue our patronage and support for the game.” defeated Orissa Police by a solitary goal to enter Bhubaneswar, March 5: It is a dream come the semifinal of the All Orissa Jadupur Club true for Orissa’s ODI skipper Biplab Samantray.