Derby frenzy over, Bagan shift focus
Two days after thrashing East Bengal, Mohun Bagan are on a higher perch — literally.
Through greenery greener than the jersey they wear, they have travelled past clusters of human habitation quaintly named Byrinhat, Nongpoh and passed the massive Umiam lake hemmed by a row of mountains on one side and dense vegetation on the other to reach Shillong where Lajong FC lie in wait.
It’s a world away from the steaming, heaving cauldron of emotions that the Yuba Bharati Krirangan was on Sunday. And forget talking about it in the way Kolkata just can’t seem to stop, forget the open palm or the five-finger salute that Mohun Bagan supporters haven’t had enough of; the Meghalaya capital seemed untouched by both the hurrah and the humiliation of the derby. One that has devoured a coach, stained reputations and catapulted Edeh Chidi into immortality.
It is just as well, Ishfaq Ahmed said. In a city whose cool breeze and mild sunshine reminded him of home, the midfielder from Kashmir said, “it is possible that we would have got carried away by the frenzy Kolkata is caught up in.”
Karim Bencherifa took it from there. “Ideally, I would have liked the boys to have enjoyed the moment. After all, having made history, the players deserve to enjoy. They would have loved to be in the middle of the buzz. But that is only if we had 10 days off before the next game.
“Given how the schedule is and that we would have had to play on Thursday, I would rather we did it outside Kolkata and in a place like this. There are no distractions here and although among themselves the players are still talking about the game, the focus ahs already shifted to Thursday’s tie against Lajong FC,” the Mohun Bagan coach said.
As pre-paid connections don’t work in the Northeast, even the mobile phone isn’t a distraction for most in the squad. It is almost like being in what is called concentracao in Brazil and Argentina where before big games players are put up by clubs in one residential area or hotel and cut off from the rest of the world.
“And we can keep the buzz going by getting three points from here,” Bencherifa said.
Wigan Athletic footballer Marlon King ‘broke woman’s nose in club’
A Premier League footballer punched a female student in the face and broke her nose after groping her bottom at a nightclub, a jury was told yesterday. Marlon King, 29, a Wigan Athletic striker, was said to have become angry after the woman rejected his advances, and told her: “Don’t you know who I am? I’m a millionaire. You’re not even in my league.”
When she pushed him away he hit her, leaving her with a broken nose, split lip and blood pouring down her dress, jurors were told.
Roger Daniells-Smith, for the prosecution, told Southwark Crown Court that the attack was “completely gratuitous”.
The 20-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been celebrating a friend’s birthday at the Soho Revue Bar in the West End of London last December when the argument started.
Shortly before 3am, Mr King, a married father of three, walked over to the party of about 20 women and began touching the woman’s bottom, it was claimed.
“That touching was sexual. It was neither welcomed nor consensual,” Mr Daniells-Smith said. “He couldn’t have thought that she would welcome that — he was a total stranger to her. This was deliberate and sexual.”
Giving evidence, the woman said: “I felt someone grab my left buttock. I turned around because I was quite disgusted and shocked. There was a man standing towards the bar, smirking at me in a suggestive way. I said quite firmly, ‘Don’t touch me, it’s not nice.”
Adding that Mr King had “definitely not” accidentally brushed up against her, she said that he then began touching two other women in her group before one of them said “hands off”. It was then, Mr Daniells-Smith said, that he asked: “Don’t you know who I am? I’m a millionaire.” The woman replied: “I don’t care who you are, take your millionaire self away from our table.”
The prosecution claims Mr King grabbed the woman’s wrist before punching her in the face causing a broken nose, black eye and split lip.
Mr King, from Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, denies sexual assault and actual bodily harm. Mr Daniells-Smith said he claimed that the woman was mistaken about the identity of the attacker.
The trial continues.
Somdev out but Sania, Leander and Mahesh advance
A profligate Somdev Devvarman squandered chances galore to crash out of US Open singles even as Sania Mirza advanced in the women’s doubles and mixed doubles events here at Fushing Meadows.
Somdev, who was trailing by two sets, staged a dramatic comeback by blanking 23rd seed German Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third set but eventually lost his second round encounter 3-6 4-6 6-0 2-6 after a close to three-hour battle last night.
With Somdev’s defeat, Indian challenge ended in the singles events. Sania is already out of singles after suffering one of the worst defeats of her career in the second round against Italian friend Flavia Pennetta.
Somdev, who won three qualifying matches to make it to the main draw, could convert only four of the 20 breakpoints against experienced Kohlschreiber, who had defeated Novak Djokovic in the French Open.
“Qualifying for the US Open was a great breakthrough for me and then to win a match and take a set off Philipp and have some chances against him will give me great confidence for the future,” he said after the match.
However in all other matches of the day, Indians came out triumphant.
Sania and her Italian partner Francesca Schiavone, seeded 14th, survived a scare from unseeded Ekaterina Dzehalevich of Belarus and Czech Renata Voracova before recording a 5-7 7-5 6-1 win to advance to the women’s doubles second round.
Later Sania teaming up with Candian Daniel Nestor outplayed Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan and Ashley Fisher of Australia 6-3 6-1 in the first round of the mixed doubles.
Defending champions Leander Paes and Cara Black of Zimbabwe overcame a fighting unseeded pair of Swiss Patty Schnyder and South Africa’s Wesley Moodie.
The second seeded Indo-Zimbawean pair tamed the unseeded opponents 6-4 3-6 11-9 in the first round of mixed doubles.
Third seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles cruised to the men’s doubles second round after scoring a comfortable 6-3 6-4 win over American James Cerretani and Lovro Zovko of Croatia.
Mirza, Devvarman charge into round two at US Open
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| Sania Mirza defeated Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 |
India’s Sania Mirza and Somdev Devvarman have already had a successful US Open only one day into the year’s last Grand Slam tournament thanks to impressive first-round triumphs for each on Monday.
In a historic double for their homeland, Mirza defeated Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, while qualifier Devvarman downed Portugal’s Frederico Gil 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the second round on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts.
“I’m really happy we have two players in the second round of a Grand Slam. Things are looking up,” Mirza said. “For a long time I was the only player in singles draws at the Grand Slams. It’s great Somdev is playing well.”
Mirza, who has struggled after a right wrist injury last year, went 1-5 in one 2009 stretch but fought through the pain and fear of a career-threatening injury to the Birmingham semi-finals in June and an important US Open victory.
“The toughest thing is to get that first win under your belt,” Mirza said. “Under the circumstances I’m just happy I can come through that match and get off to a good start.
“To me it has already been successful.”
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| Devvarman defeated Portugal’s Frederico Gil 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 |
Devvarman, a two time US college champion who reached the Chennai final in his hometown back in January, reached a Slam main draw for the first time in four tries with three qualifying wins, then made the most of his opportunity.
“I finally qualified for a Slam and won a match,” Devvarman said. “I really dug in there, didn’t get tight. I competed well. That’s what gets you through those tough ones – the way you compete.
“I don’t want to jinx myself but I feel good about where I am. I’ve had a couple of quality wins. It gives me a lot of confidence and belief that I can come out and compete with anyone. My game is up there with the rest.”
Devvarman, ranked 162nd, will next face Philipp Kohlschreiber, the German 23rd seed who beat Italy’s Andreas Seppi 6-0, 6-4, 6-4.
Mirza, ranked 74th, faces a tough second-round test against Italian 10th seed Flavia Pennetta. But she sent 65th-rated Govortsova packing and in some ways has never been better.
“I’m happy with the way I’m playing,” Mirza said. “Physically I’ve never been fitter in terms of the way I’m moving on the court and playing in matches.
“I came up with the big shot that I needed to have. I have that big weapon when I need to use it.”
Mirza, 24, is finally over her injury and ready to make a run at her career high ranking of 27th from 2007.
I’m at that stage where I’m ready to go up again and go into the new year with confidence,” Mirza said. “The major wrist problem is finally gone. It’s about trying to stay as injury-free as possible.
“It was hurting me on basically every shot, even picking up a fork at one point. You don’t realize how much you miss playing tennis until you think you might not be able to play again. That made me really grow as a person.
“I appreciate it more being on a tennis court now.”
Mirza is engaged to Sorab Mirza, their already-shared last name a happy coincidence – “I always tell him that’s the only reason I’m marrying him,” Mirza joked – but no wedding date has been set.
“We’re not in a hurry,” she said.
Devvarman, 24, was three points from qualifying when rain hit and forced him to return 21 hours later to achieve his first Slam draw.
“I had some matches coming into today and I think that helped,” Devvarman said. “I put in some really good training. Fitness is the strength of my game. Hopefully I will keep that going.”
After one year of adapting to the pro ranks, Devvarman said the worst of those times is behind him.
“It has been an emotional roller coaster for me,” he said. “You are dealing with a lot of adversity but it makes you better. You keep fighting.”
IPL team owners enraged after BCCI cuts ties with IMGIPL team owners enraged after BCCI cuts ties with IMG
High-profile owners of team franchises in the Indian Premier League have reacted furiously to the Indian cricket board’s decision to snap ties with event management company IMG, reports said on Monday.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday terminated its contract with the International Management Group, which helped it launch the lucrative Twenty20 league in 2008.
Business tycoon Mukesh Ambani and Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, both owners of IPL franchisees, have shot off angry letters to the BCCI.
“I am personally shocked at the unilateral decision of doing away with the services of IMG,” the Times of India quoted Ambani, who owns the Mumbai Indians team, as saying in his letter.
“It is also worrying to me that such a significant decision in relation to IPL has been taken without even so much as consulting the franchises.
“I strongly believe that this decision, if taken forward, will destroy substantial value for all the stakeholders, especially the franchises and dilute the success of IPL in the coming years.”
Kolkata Knight Riders owner Khan said IMG had been “an integral part of the tournament management and its success so far” and questioned the logic of the board in ending the deal.
The BCCI had entered into a preliminary agreement with IMG in 2008 to promote and manage IPL’s affairs. IMG was to be paid 10 per cent of the tournament’s gross revenue as commission.
But the board felt the amount was “disproportionate to services rendered”.
Eduardo facing two-match ban if Uefa charge him with diving
Uefa came under mounting pressure yesterday to take disciplinary action against Eduardo da Silva after the Arsenal striker’s alleged dive to win a penalty in Wednesday’s second leg of the Champions League play-off against Celtic. Gordon Smith, the chief executive of the Scottish FA (SFA), echoed the calls of several Celtic players for the Croatia international to be banned and Michel Platini, the Uefa president, confirmed that a suspension was possible.
Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has defended Eduardo, who has not made any public comment.
Uefa disciplinary officials are reviewing the incident before deciding whether Eduardo will be charged with diving. There is a precedent for action to be taken. European football’s governing body suspended Saulius Mikoliunas, the former Heart of Midlothian midfield player, for two matches after video evidence was used to show that he dived in a European Championship qualifying match between Lithuania and Scotland, and the SFA handed a two-match ban to Kyle Lafferty this month for feigning injury in a game between Rangers and Aberdeen at the end of last season.
Under Smith, the SFA has taken a strong line against simulation and will support Celtic all the way if they choose to take the matter farther.
“Eduardo is a terrific player who has battled back from a serious injury to resume playing at the highest level,” Smith said. “However, on Wednesday he showed disrespect to the game by his actions in winning a penalty against Celtic.
“Since I came into this post I have raised the issue of simulation time and time again — both in Scotland and with Fifa and Uefa. I don’t think that I have received enough support in my efforts to eradicate what I believe to be one of the most serious threats to the integrity of football.
“Last night showed exactly why we must take this issue seriously. Everything that can be done to stamp it out must be done — starting right now.”
Smith believes that such incidents increase the need for the use of video replays to help referees, but Uefa and Fifa are opposed to it so such a change is unlikely. “I see no reason why we cannot use technology to assist referees, particularly in live games,” Smith said. “I know that some people say that TV evidence would damage the flow of a game, but the proposal that I put forward to both Fifa and Uefa, whereby football would adopt a similar approach to tennis in offering a set number of challenges, can work.
“We need a serious debate on these issues. Everyone in football has a responsibility to set the right example to our youngsters. We can talk all we want about Fair Play campaigns, but taking action would be a much more powerful deterrent and would send the right message to players everywhere.”
Platini’s solution is to employ two additional assistant referees, known as Auxiliary Assistant Referees (AARs), who would be stationed behind each goal and help with decisions relating to the goalline, set-pieces and action in the penalty area. AARs will be used on a trial basis in this season’s Europa League and if the experiment is successful it could be extended to the Champions League next season, then the 2012 European Championship.
“There are disciplinary procedures at Uefa and a decision could be taken to suspend the player,” Platini said. “Scotland often starts these procedures. Last time it was against a Lithuanian player and the general secretary of Uefa, David Taylor, is Scottish.
“You know what I think? One day players will give up simulation. For many years players have been able to cheat because they know the referee will not see them. I’ve been saying this for 30 years, ten of them since I joined the executive committee. That’s why it’s a good idea to have five referees.
“Players only cheat because they know the referee cannot see them. Having more referees would reduce shirt-pulling, simulation and improve the quality of refereeing.”
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