Mumbai, October 4: Rubbishing reports that Sachin Tendulkar has been asked by the BCCI to retire after his 200th Test, the Board's Secretary Sanjay Patel on Thursday said it was the senior batsman's prerogative to decide on his future.

"That is absolutely absurd and rubbish. Let me tell you, it will be the prerogative of Mr Sachin Tendulkar. Board has not talked or asked him to resign (retire) and the Board is never going to do it because he is such a great player," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel told reporters in Mumbai.

Patel was reacting to media reports that quite a few Board members were of the opinion that the record-setting batsman was past his prime and chould be told to call it a day after he completes his landmark 200th Test appearance, against the visiting West Indies next month.

The Windies are to play two Tests and three ODIs during their visit and the 40-year-old Tendulkar has played 198 Tests.

"We appreciate the concern (from media) about this. But I ask my good media friends, please refrain (from speculating) and from going (ahead reporting) with such wrong details," Patel said.

The BCCI Secretary put the onus entirely on Tendulkar and the five-man selection panel about his cricketing future.

"It is entirely upto Sachin Tendulkar and selectors. The selectors should (choose to) pick him and Sachin Tendulkar should be ready to play.

"Board is very happy with whatever (decision) Sachin Tendulkar is taking of his own free will," Patel elaborated. 

Buenos Aires, September 11: Thomas Bach achieved a long-held dream on Tuesday as he was elected to the most powerful position in sport, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The 59-year-old German -- the first Olympic gold medallist to become president -- won in the second round of voting by his fellow IOC members to beat his five male rivals bidding to succeed Jacques Rogge, who stepped down after 12 years in charge.

Bach, gold medallist with the West German team in the team foil event in the 1976 Olympics, had been the frontrunner throughout the campaign and had for years been seen as the man most likely to replace Rogge.

"I know what the enromous responsibilites are of being IOC president but I am very happy," he said after the announcement, which saw him break into a broad smile.

"You my friends and colleagues have placed in me an overwhelming sign of trust. I also have enormous respect for my fellow candidates and I will work with you," Bach said.

"I will put into practise what my motto was during the campaign: 'unity in diversity'."

Bach, a lawyer by profession, is the ultimate insider having been a member since 1991 and has been vice-president three times while also heading up the Judicial Commission.

He has also been one of the leaders in fighting doping, calling for athletes to be suspended for four years instead of the two-year ban in place at the moment.

It had not been all plain sailing for Bach during the campaign with German media in particular posing questions about his ability to be president.

Bach, who has fond memories of Buenos Aires as he and his team-mates came from 7-1 down to win the world foil title in 1975, looked to be in the eye of the storm in August.

An academic report -- commissioned by him -- was released alleging that, like their then East German neighbours, West Germany too had indulged in systematic doping of their athletes.

Bach dismissed the claims that he should have known more about what was going on and then set up an inquiry headed by a retired judge.

He had said in August that even in his time as an athlete he had never witnessed doping firsthand.

"You heard things and read some stories in the newspapers, that something was going on in different sports," he said.

An unflattering documentary on German television failed to turn up anything that could seriously damage him, while his relations with increasingly influential Kuwaiti IOC member Sheikh Ahmed al-Sabah also seemed to leave him unharmed.

The front page of one Argentinian newspaper last week had a cartoon of Sabah, wearing a t-shirt with Bach's face on it, grinning and with his thumb raised, while rival Denis Oswald went public and slammed him for his business links with Kuwait.

However, it made little impact and Oswald, like his fellow candidates, were no match for the machine behind Bach.

All were high quality candidates. Puerto Rican banker and philanthropist Richard Carrion would have brought charisma, lacking in Rogge's 12 years, to the job as well as financial know how -- it was he who negotiated a record broadcasting deal with NBC for exclusive American rights up to the 2020 Games.

However, IOC members hold great store by a sporting background and the 60-year-old's lack of that counted against him.

Ng Ser Miang and Wu Ching-Kuo represented Asia's hopes of becoming the first president from the continent but while both are well regarded, with Wu having done remarkable work for boxing especially, they failed to convince in their campaigns.

Sergey Bubka's exploits as an athlete stood out in terms of sporting achievement and he would have been the youngest ever president but unlike his time as a pole vaulter his campaign never got off the ground.

New York, September 11: Rafael Nadal claimed his second US Open title and 13th Grand Slam crown when he defeated world number one Novak Djokovic, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a lung-busting final.

Nadal, 27, added the 2013 trophy to his 2010 triumph, when he completed a career Grand Slam, and capped a year that has seen him claim 10 titles and stretch his season record to 60 wins and just three losses.

Monday's win also earned him a total of USD 3.6 million, which takes his career earnings through the USD 60 million mark, and also edged him closer to Roger Federer's record of 17 majors and put him one behind Pete Sampras.

In the pair's record-setting 37th meeting, world number two Nadal, who only returned to the tour in February following a seven-month injury layoff, took his lead over Djokovic to 22-15 as he added the US Open crown to the eighth French Open he claimed in June.

"It's very emotional. All my team knows what this means to me," said Nadal, who now has 60 career titles and only returned to the sport in February after a seven-month injury absence. "Novak always brings my game to the limit. He is an amazing player. He will go down as one of the greatest in the sport."

For Djokovic, playing in a fourth successive final in New York, it was a devastating defeat in a year which started with a fourth Australian Open title but was followed by a semi-final loss at the French Open to Nadal and a Wimbledon final mauling by Andy Murray.

For the neutrals, it was a memorable contest which showcased thrilling athleticism, delicate touch and exhausting, brutal rallies, one of which was fought out over 54 strokes. Djokovic lost 11 of the last 13 games with his challenge fatally undermined by 53 unforced errors.

"I would have loved to win. But it was obvious that in the important moments he played better tennis, and that's why he deserved to win. I congratulate him, and I move on," said Djokovic.

"I had my momentum from midway second set to the end of the third where I was supposed to use the opportunities that were presented to me, and I didn't do it. I didn't deserve to win."

Nadal, in his 18th major final, was comfortably the more settled player in the opening stages, finding pin-point accuracy while Djokovic was sluggish and heavy-footed.

Nadal, who missed the 2012 tournament, sensed the Serb's uneasiness and broke for a 2-1 lead, mastering the occasion as well as the tricky breeze.

Even the technology was on the Spaniard's side as a successful challenge on triple break point gave him a double break for 5-2.

With a host of show-business glitterati looking on -- including Sean Connery, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake -- Nadal claimed the first set with ease after 42 minutes.

The omens were looking good for the Spaniard, who had only lost three out of 154 career Grand Slam matches when winning the first set.

But 26-year-old Djokovic stormed out of his slumbers and broke for 4-2 in the second set after a 54-shot rally, Nadal dumping an approach into the net.

It was only the second time Nadal had dropped serve in the tournament and the setback fired him into an immediate response, hitting back at 3-4, before Djokovic broke again for 5-3 on a modest 28-shot exchange.

This time, the world number one backed up it up to level the final, taking the 58-minute set with a down the line winner.

Djokovic broke to love in the opening game of the third and had a point for a double break in the third before Nadal clung on to avoid dropping serve for the fourth game in a row.

The world number two then capitalized on a sloppy Djokovic service game to level at 3-3, but the twists and turns became a tumble for Nadal, who slipped to the floor in the ninth game.

Unruffled, he saved three break points to sneak ahead 5-4 and then unleashed a deep forehand which Djokovic could only slap long as Nadal went into a two sets to one lead.

The momentum was back with Nadal, who fought off two break points in the opening game of the fourth set and broke a tiring Djokovic with a heat-seeker of a forehand.

He backed it up for 3-0 and repeated it against a broken-spirited Djokovic for 5-1. Victory was Nadal's after three hours and 21 minutes when Djokovic buried a return in the net.

The triumph also meant that 34 of the last 35 Grand Slam finals have been won by the 'big four' of Nadal, Djokovic, Federer and Murray.

Buenos Aires, September 8:Tokyo won the right to host the Olympic Games for the second time, overcoming fears about radiation from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant to land the 2020 edition of the world's biggest sporting event.

Members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Buenos Aires chose the Japanese capital, which previously hosted the Games in 1964, over Istanbul, after Madrid was dramatically eliminated following a first-round tie with the Turkish city yesterday.

Crowds gathered in Tokyo broke into wild cheers, despite the result coming in the early hours of the morning nearly a dozen time zones away, television pictures showed.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had earlier flown in to the Argentine capital from the G20 summit in St Petersburg, Russia, to reassure nervous members about the safety of the nuclear plant some 220 kilometres (140 miles) from the city and fears about the leaking of contaminated water.

He told delegates that the situation was "under control", adding: "It has never done or will do any damage to Tokyo."

Fukushima operator the Tokyo Electric Power Co also played down fears of a possible spread of radiation in a separate message.

Concerns over Fukushima -- seriously damaged in the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people -- had dogged the bid in the final days but Abe successfully allayed IOC members' fears.

The final result was 60 votes for Tokyo against 36 for Istanbul, said the IOC.

Tokyo -- third in the vote for the 2016 Games won by Rio de Janeiro -- had been the frontrunners originally, as they promised a safe and financially secure Games in what they termed "uncertain times".

The decision means it will be the fourth time that Japan plays host to the Olympics, having also organised hosted winter Games in Nagano (1998) and Sapporo (1972).

Asia will also see successive Olympics, as the South Korean resort of Pyeongchang is hosting the 2018 winter edition.

Madrid had looked to be the city with the momentum coming into the final week after an outstanding presentation to IOC members in Lausanne in July -- and were hoping that like Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 race, they could go on to win.

But it was not enough, even with 28 of the 35 venues built and all the infrastructure in place plus a positive assessment by the IOC Evaluation Commission -- the only IOC members allowed to visit the bid cities - over their relatively low budget.

Doubts about Spain's recession-hit economy persisted to the end and not even some more upbeat news on the issue recently and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's pledges that financing would not pose problems convinced enough members that they could deliver.

Istanbul had been hoping Turkey would become the first predominantly Muslim country to host the quadrennial sporting extravaganza.

But despite a passionate and dynamic campaign trading on bridging two continents and two cultures as well as an evocative "wake up in Asia compete in Europe" slogan, their bid was hampered in June.

Several IOC members were unimpressed by the heavy-handed way that the Ankara government handled anti-government protests that escalated from opposition to the redevelopment of an Istanbul park.

There was also nervousness surrounding the fallout from the bloody civil war in neighbouring Syria.

Prime Miniser Abe said in his presentation that the Olympics were part of his DNA, having experienced them for the first time at a young age.

"I was at the opening ceremony in Tokyo in 1964 and saw several thousand doves all released into the clear blue sky and coming together to make the Olympic rings," he said.

He also cited his experience meeting one of the children on a trip to visit survivors of the earthquake and tsunami and said sport had a key role in society to aid recovery.

"I met with one boy in the affected area, he was holding a cherished football, given to him by a footballer from overseas who had visited the area," said Abe.

"That ball was not just a football to him, it represented his hope for the future. "Today under the blue sky of Fukushima there are young boys playing football and looking into the future and not the past."

New York September 5:
Merciless Rafael Nadal crushed Spanish compatriot Tommy Robredo, the shock conqueror of Roger Federer, 6-0 6-2 6-2 to reach a fifth US Open semi-final.

The 12-time Grand Slam title winner will face Richard Gasquet for a place in Monday's final after the French eighth seed clinched a rollercoaster 6-3 6-1 4-6 2-6 6-3 win over David Ferrer, the Spanish fourth seed.

World number two Nadal, the 2010 champion, took his hardcourt streak this year to 20-0 and his match record to an astonishing 58-3 with nine titles since his return in February after a seven-month injury layoff.

In a ruthless one hour, 40 minute demolition of Robredo, who had knocked out five-time champion Federer in the fourth round, the 27-year-old French Open champion took his perfect run of unbroken service games to 67 at the tournament on Wednesday.

He romped through the first set in just 22 minutes, allowing Robredo only five points, and was 2-0 up in the second before the 31-year-old got on the board.

Another break in the seventh game helped Nadal on his way to a two-set lead and breaks in the fifth and seventh games of the third helped put Robredo out of his misery.

It was the shortest US Open quarter-final since 1988, when Ivan Lendl beat Derrick Rostagno.

Nadal finished with 28 winners to Robredo's 10 and didn't give up a single break point as the world number two claimed an eighth win in eight meetings against his countryman, who has only won one set during that one-sided series.

"I am very happy to be in the semi-finals. I think I played my best tennis of this US Open. It's good to feel better with every match," said Nadal.

Gasquet, 27, whose only previous appearance in the last four at a major was at Wimbledon in 2007, is the first Frenchman to get to the semi-finals in New York since Cedric Pioline in 1999.

The victory was only his second in 10 meetings with Ferrer, a series which had also seen him claim just two sets out of 20.

Next up is Nadal, against whom he has lost all 10 meetings as a professional, although he did beat the great Spaniard in their junior days.

"I beat him when I was 13 in a junior tournament in Tarbes in France. Rafa is a good friend of mine so it'll be great to play him," said Gasquet.

Nadal said he remembered that 1999 defeat.

"I lost 6-4 in the the third set. It was a great match and was one of my first international tournaments. It was like the World Cup of junior tennis," he said.

"Richard played amazing that day -- it was a great battle for me."

Gasquet had fought out the longest match of the tournament to see off Milos Raonic in the fourth round but showed no ill effects from that four-hour, 40-minute slugfest as he raced through the first two sets against Ferrer.

His majestic one-handed backhand was working overtime as Ferrer, a semi-finalist in 2007 and 2010, struggled.

But the 31-year-old Spaniard summoned up his trademark pugnacious instincts to claw his way back before Gasquet recovered with a crucial break in the sixth game of the decider when Ferrer double-faulted.

He took the match courtesy of a swinging forehand winner.

In a tight contest, Gasquet finished with 52 winners to Ferrer's 40 with the Frenchman collecting just five points more.

"I played a great match at the start despite the wind in the stadium. But David is a great fighter and I was a little tired after a big match with Raonic," said Gasquet.

"I got the break in the final set and it's an amazing feeling to be in the semi-finals. I have played a lot of five sets in my career but I still needed to play big to get the victory."

Ferrer admitted his sluggish start contributed to his eventual downfall.

"Richard played a very good game with his backhand, and was serving very good in important moments," he said.

"I tried to do my best. I fought until the last ball."

The two remaining quarter-finals will be played on today when top seed Novak Djokovic, the 2011 champion who has not dropped a set so far, takes on Russian 21st seed Mikhail Youzhny, a two-time semi-finalist.

Defending champion Andy Murray, the third seed, meets Stanislas Wawrkinka, the ninth-seeded Swiss.

Laishram Bombayla Devi aims the target.

New Delhi, August 26: Indian women's recurve team upset the South Korean team on Sunday, to win gold medal in the World Cup Archery (Stage IV) at Wroclaw, Poland for their second successive gold after Medellin meet.

Deepika, Laishram Bombayla Devi and Rimil Buriuly stunned world champions Koreans 219-215 in a thrilling final as Indian archery team returned with the solitary gold from the last leg of the World Cup.

Korean team had finished third in Shanghai, first in Antalya, and did not compete in Medellin Stage as the team of Yun Ok-Hee, Ki Bo Bae, and Joo Hyun Jung never scored below 222 points in thei
r three elimination matches, against the United States, Italy and Russia.

Winners in Stage III at Medellin, the Indian team started as a dark horse as they had a poor 5-2 win-loss record against the Koreans.

Under windy conditions, both teams started out with unusual 7s as they were locked (163-each) after the third end.

With six arrows to go, a poor 6 by Ki Bo Bae let down the Olympic champions as the Indian trio shot three perfect 10s to wrap the issue 219-215.

Deepika concluded the four World Stages with two golds (Medellin, Wroclaw) and two silvers (both Shanghai) and one bronze (Medellin). Deepika had returned empty-handed from Stage 2 in Antalya.

Based on her performances in the four World Stages, Deepika finished inside top seven to qualify for the World Cup Finals to be held on 21st and 22nd September in Paris.

Deepika thus qualified for the Finals for second year in a row. In her maiden appearance in Tokyo last year, Deepika had returned with a silver.

Based on their rankings after four stages of the World Cup, top seven archers in men's and women's sections make the cut for the Finals, while the hosts country (France) get a quota berth.

Dola Banerjee is the only Indian to have won a gold in the 2007 World Finals.

Ipoh, August 25: Young striker Mandeep Singh netted a hat-trick as India blanked minnows Oman 8-0 to start their 9th Asia Cup Hockey Championship campaign on a perfect note at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh, Malaysia on Saturday.

The Indian team indulged in 'Goal Fest' as they scored four apiece on either side of the break.

For the winners, Mandeep (4th minute, 40th, 44th) struck thrice, while Ramandeep (17th), V R Raghunath (28th), Rupinderpal Singh (34th), Malak Singh (47th) and S K Uthappa (69th) sounded the board once.

Knowing fully well that winning the Asia Cup would guarantee a place in next year's World Cup at The Hague, Netherlands, the Indians meant business from the onset and concentrated mainly on building formations.

The Indians were expected to control the proceedings against Oman and they did exactly that as the play was mostly centred around the Oman half.

After starting on a rather casual note, the Indians soon tightened up their grip over Oman and mounted continuous raids.

In the opening half, majority of India's build ups came from the right flank with Ramandeep Singh and Malak Singh combining well.

But penalty corner conversion still seems to be a worry for India as they utilised just two out of the six that came their way in the entire duration of 70 minutes.

The Indians earned their first penalty corner as early as in the third minute but Rupinderpal's flick was saved by Oman goalkeeper Al Noufali Fahad Khamis Salmeen. But an opportunistic Mandeep scored from the resultant rebound to give India a 1-0 lead.

India doubled their lead in the 17th minute through an unmarked Ramandeep who scored after receiving a Malak assist from the right flank.

India earned a penalty in the 28th minute when Nithin Thimmaiah was brought down inside the Oman circle and V R Raghunath made no mistake from the spot to make the scoreline 3-0 in favour of the Indians.

India could have scored another in the next minute but Rupinder's reverse hit from inside the 'D' was saved by the Oman custodian.

Just a minute from the breather, India increased their lead through Rupinder who converted the team's fifth penalty corner with a high flick that crashed on to the top right of the Oman goal.

It was no different after the change of ends as India continued their domination over Oman.

It took India just five minutes into the second half to find the back of the net, Mandeep scored his second goal of the day with a perfect reverse flick after being fed by a cross from Chinglensana Singh.

Mandeep was again at the thick of things as four minutes later he scored histhird goal of the day after receiving a pass from Ramandeep.

Three minutes later, it was Malaks turn to register his name in the score-sheet after Dharamvir intial shot was saved by the Oman goalkeeper.

A diving Uthappa rounded off the tally a minute from the hooter by tapping home Malak's cross from the right flank.

After a rest day on Sunday, India will play title holders Korea in the second Pool B match on August 26.

New York, August 22: Russian world number three Maria Sharapova has pulled out of the US Open because of a right shoulder injury, tournament organizers have announced.

On the eve of the draw for the year's final Grand Slam event that begins Monday on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts, US Open tournament director David Brewer announced the withdrawal.

"Maria has informed us that she will be unable to compete at the US Open this year due to a right shoulder bursitis and has withdrawn from the tournament," he said on Wednesday.

"We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to her return to New York next year."

As a result, Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska moves into the third seed in the women's singles draw and other seeds will move up one place, with Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova advancing into the 32nd spot.

Sharapova's only match since a second-round defeat at Wimbledon in late June was a loss in her opening match in last week's WTA event at Cincinnati to American Sloane Stephens.

That was followed by a split with Jimmy Connors, who had been her coach for less than three weeks. Sharapova had been nursing a hip injury after Wimbledon.

Mumbai, August 20: Hyderabad Hotshots, spearheaded by Indian badminton icon Saina Nehwal, brought down the high flying, unbeaten Pune Pistons in impressive style with a comprehensive 4-1 victory in the Indian Badminton League at the NSCI courts in Mumbai last night.

The thumping victory also powered the Hotshots to the top of the league table with 11 points to their credit while leaving Pistons in second place with 9.
Saina provided the early spark to the Hotshots campaign against the league toppers by clinching the high quality women's singles clash against her long-time German rival Juliane Schenk in a battle between two of the world's top five players.

Egged on by the partisan crowd chanting "Saina Saina", the Indian world no 4 downed world no 3 Schenk 17-21 21-19 11-6 in 59 minutes after her compatriot and teammate Ajay Jayram shocked Vietnamese rival Tien Minh Nguyen, world no 5, 21-19 21-8 in the opening men's singles encounter in just 40 minutes.

Later, the Malaysian world no 2 pair of V Shem Goh and Wah Lim Khah subdued the challenge of India's seasoned pair Sanave Thomas and Rupesh Kumar 21-19 and 21-16 to give the Hotshots a winning lead in the best of five clash, their second victory in three ties, thus ensuring the Pistons' first defeat in as many encounters.

Thailand's S Tanongsak, a semi finalist at the All-England made it 4-0 for the Hotshots with a straight-game victory over Pistons' Saurabh Varma. The left hander won 21-19 21-18 in the second men's singles match.

Pistons got a consolation victory as well as one point from the tie when their mixed doubles combination of Joaquim Fischer Nielsen and Ashwini Ponnappa downed Hotshots' pair of V Shem Goh and Pradnya Gadre 21-11 21-14.

New Delhi, August 15: Doubles specialist Ashwini Ponnappa guided Pune Pistons to a thrilling 3-2 victory against hosts Krrish Delhi Smashers in the opening match of the Indian Badminton League (IBL) which kicked off with a short but colourful opening ceremony at the Siri Fort Sports Complex, New Delhi on Wednesday .

After a vibrant half-an-hour opening ceremony, India rising shuttler B Sai Praneeth and World
number seven Tien Ming Nguyen from Vietnam set the ball rolling for the competition as they clashed in the men's singles match.

Gaint-killer Praneeth earned the first blood for Delhi as he notched up a stunning 21-16 21-20 victory over Tien Minh but the hosts lost the lead when Pune's Julaine Schenk of Germany notched up an easy 21-15 21-6 over Nichaon Jindapon of Thailand in the second game and brought back the Pistons at 1-1.

However, as expected world number two Malaysian combo of Kien Keat Koo and Boon Heong Tan gave Delhi Smashers the lead once again when they sent packing the Indian pair of Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas 21-13 21-16 in the men's doubles match.

World number 36 Sourabh Verma then eked out a thrilling 21-16 19-21 11-5 victory over H S Prannoy, ranked 46, in the second men's singles to brought Pune Pistons back into the hunt, making it 2-2.

In the decider, former women doubles combination of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, who won Indias second bronze in 2011 World Championship, then took the court but as rivals, representing their respective franchises Delhi and Pune.

It turned out to be an exciting clash but it was Ashwini and Joachim Fischer Nielsen who held their nerves to surpass Jwala and Kien Keat Koo 21-19 16-21 11-3 in a hard-fought battle for supremacy.

With the help of this victory, Pune notched up a 3-2 win over Delhi and grabbed crucial four points (3 + one bonus point) and Delhi had to settle with two points.

IMPHAL, August 12: Felicitating the four players who were part of the Junior Women Hockey World Cup Bronze winning Indian team, state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today handed over cheques of Rs 2 Lakh each to the four.

The four players include team captain Pukhrambam Sushila Chanu, daughter of P Shyamsunder Singh of Thangmeiband Hijam Dewan Leikai and her team mates Mayengbam Lily Chanu, daughter of M Naba Singh of Singjamei Wangma Kshetri Leikai; Ningombam Sanarik Chanu, daughter of N Hemchandra Meitei of Khongman Mayai Leikai Zone –IV and Thokchom Pinky Devi daughter of (L) Th Manglemba Singh of Koirou Thongju Part-II.

The simple function was held at the CM’s office chamber today and was attended by parliamentary secretary Mairenbam Prithviraj Singh along with other officials.

The CM expressed his hope that the money would be of help for the girls in buying their sports equipment.

Addressing the girls’ complaint that the felicitation could have been much more fulfilling if only their coach and Olympian Thoiba was also invited, the CM said when contacted, Thoiba had informed that he was in Jiribam and could not attend the same.

In reply to another call from the girls that there are several young hockey players in the state and it would be better for them if the government could allow them entry into the Khuman Lampak hockey stadium and be allowed to practice even if on holidays including Sundays, the CM replied he would look into the issue.

Clarifying on the delayed government reception of the four star hockey players, the CM said that the government is aware of the laurels brought by the talented players but there have been certain lapses in communication between the players’ association and the government side on the present issue.

The CM further expressed his happiness and pride over the achievement of the hockey players.

Guangzhou, August 12: Thai teenager Ratchanok Intanon took the women's singles title at the badminton world championships in Guangzhou on Sunday, beating Olympic champion Li Xuerui 22-20, 18-21, 21-14 in a massive upset.

Ratchanok, 18, becomes the first ever Thai player to win gold at the world championships after defeating 22-year-old top seed Li, who was gunning for her first world title.

The three-game thriller was a battle of technical skill and stamina, with Ratchanok pushing a more experienced Li around the court with a sophisticated repertoire of shots.

Ratchanok came back from 19-12 down in the first game to clinch it by two points, with a grim-faced Li fighting back to take the second.

But the supremely relaxed Thai looked physically and mentally stronger in the final game, holding on to a lead as Li threw everything at her.

At the end of the match Ratchanok dropped to her knees in tears on court before bowing to an applauding stadium.

A smiling Ratchanok, who still has braces on her teeth, said she would meet Thailand's Queen Sirikit on Monday, which is a national holiday to mark the queen's birthday and Mother's Day.

"I am going to bring my victory to the queen and to my mother and godmother as a gift," Ratchanok said.

"Before this match I didn't have confidence when I was competing against the top players, but after today I will.

"Li was not playing like herself. I felt really relaxed and I think she was nervous. I have played her five times and she has won four, so it was amazing that I beat her today."

It was a fairytale moment in a career that started when she was five years old and her parents were working in a dessert factory, taking Ratchanok with them each day.

Ratchanok and other children were sent to a badminton academy by the factory owner, who felt it was dangerous for them to be there.

The teenager supports her family through her badminton career.

"Being the champion has been my dream," she said. "At the end of the match all the tough moments from all the years came into my mind and I thought, 'Finally, I got it.'"

Speaking after the match a deflated Li said she had found it hard to concentrate.

"It wasn't being the top seed that affected my mindset -- I think I was just too eager to win.
"We prepared thoroughly for the match, but it was hard to implement the plan. When I tried to execute my strategies, I would make errors.

"My opponent played very well and seemed very relaxed, which put a lot of pressure on me."

Reigning women's doubles champions Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang had started the day well for China, taking the title with a 21-14, 18-21, 21-8 win against Koreans Eom Hye-Won and Jang Ye-Na.

With Li then beaten by Ratchanok, home fans were looking to energetic Chinese mixed doubles pair Xu Chen and Ma Jin to take the next gold.

But it wasn't to be as third-ranked Indonesian duo Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir fought back from behind in the third game to defeat the top seeds 21-13, 16-21, 22-20 in a nailbiting finish.

Natsir becomes the only mixed doubles player ever to have won three world championship gold medals.

Indonesia were celebrating again after men's doubles pair Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan beat Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen of Denmark in two sets 21-13, 23-21.

Guangzhou, August 9: The elusive World Championship medal once again slipped through Saina Nehwal's fingers as the Indian ace suffered a straight-game defeat against Korean Yeon Ju Bae in the quarterfinals of the prestigious event in Guangzhou, China on Friday.

The London Olympics bronze-medallist, a quarterfinalist in the last two editions as well, was erratic and could not hold her nerves as she went down rather tamely 21-23 9-21 in a 40-minute match at the Tianhe Indoor Stadium.

Kashyap, who was also playing at the adjacent court, played out of his skin but still could not get across world number three Du Pengyu of China. His gallant fight ended with a 21-16 20-22 15-21 loss in an energy-sapping contest which lasted one hour and 15 minutes.

Saina played an aggressive game in the opening match and opened up a 11-7 lead at the interval. Her baseline smashes got her a lot of points as the Indian was in control of the match.

However, Bae, who looked off-colour initially as she struggled with her strokes and reach, slowly narrowed down the lead and clawed back at 19-19. Saina was struggling with the drift as she lost a lot of points hitting wide. The Indian also faltered at the net.

From nowhere, Bae not only came into the contest but also exerted the pressure on the Indian and after a hard fight won the opening game when Saina's shuttle kissed the net and toppled outside the court.

Losing the opening game dented Saina's confidence as she failed to put any resistance to Bae strokes. Bae, on the other hand, was confidence personified as she played like a champion and decimated the Indian.

The left-handed Korean dominated the proceedings completely as after a 5-5 initial fight, she moved to the interval with a 11-6 lead. The Korean's strokes were powerful and drops deceptive as she reduced Saina to a bystander.

National coach Pullela Gopichand, who was also monitoring the Kashyap's match at the adjacent court, also could not lift Saina's spirits at the break as the Indian completely resigned in the final moments of the game.

Bae, on the other hand, held her nerves and wrapped up the match quickly to seal her place at the semifinals.

World number 17 Kashyap opened up a 8-5 lead but Du clawed back and moved into the break with a two-point cushion at 11-9. The Indian then grabbed four straight points to wrest the lead and though Du caught up at 13-13, Kashyap kept his nose ahead to pocket the first game.

In the second game, Du zoomed to a 7-0 lead but Kashyap played a steady game and slowly caught up with the Chinese at 16-16 and turned the tables at 19-17. The Indian also had a game point at 20-19 but Du held his nerve and roared back into the contest.

In the decider, Kashyap marched ahead with a 9-4 lead but Du caught up at 12-12 and then turned the tables as he grabbed a 15-12 lead. The Indian tried his best to claw back but Du didn't give any chance to Kashyap and sealed the match with some quick points.

Guangzhou, August 6: Shuttler Ajay Jayaram notched up a stunning victory over higher-ranked Wing Ki Wong of Hong Kong in the men's singles competition to start India's campaign at the 2013 BWF World Championships in Guangzhou (China).

The 25-year-old Indian, ranked 24th, mixed attack with defence and played a patient game to beat world number 12 Wong 22-20 17-21 21-15 in a 64-minute duel.
He will next take on Pablo Abian of Spain in the second round.

"It was a good match. I knew it won't be easy and I had to give everything. I tried to be patient as the shuttles were slow," Ajay said.

The Chennai-born shuttler played a dominating game and didn't allow Wong to get near him, racing away to 20-16 at the Tianhe Indoor Stadium. However, Wong was not ready to let it go as easily as he clawed back but Ajay had the last laugh.

"I started off well and maintained a good lead throughout the first game. I committed a few errors at 20-16 which helped him to draw level at 20-20. But I am happy I could squeeze past him with a couple of tight points," Ajay said.

However, in the second game, Ajay let go a 13-8 lead to allow Wong forge a comeback into the contest.

"In the second game, I was 13-8 up but he started playing more rallies and I lost my patience. I eventually lost my lead at 17. I was struggling with my fitness as I had recovered from viral fever a week back," he said.

Kashyap too wins

Parupalli Kashyap survived a scare in the opening round of the men's singles competition in the 2013 BWF World Championships.

However, world number 13 Kashyap had an unexpectedly tough encounter against 98th ranked Raul Must of Estonia. Raul troubled the Indian early in the match but ran out of steam as Kashyap managed a 19-21 21-14 21-9 win in 56 minutes.

But it was a bad day in office for India's doubles and mixed doubles pairs as they failed to cross the first hurdle.

While the combinations of Aparna Balan and Arun Vishnu lost to Chinese Taipei's Min Chun Liao and Hsiao Huan Chen 15-21 17-21 in the mixed doubles, Ashwini Ponnappa and Tarun Kona suffered a 18-21 21-12 19-21 defeat to Japan's Hirokatsu Hashimoto and Miyuki Maeda in the opening round.

In the women's doubles, Aparna and Siki Reddy N too lost in the opening round, going down to England's Lauren Smith and Gabrielle White 15-21 17-21 in 34 minutes.

In another match, Dane pair of Line Damkjaer Kruse and Marie Roepke ended the campaign of Pradnya Gadre and Ashwini Ponnappa with a 21-23 21-18 21-17 victory over the Indian pair in the women's doubles event.

Harare, August 4: Riding on leg-spinner Amit Mishra’s career-best six wicket haul, India on Saturday created history by recording their first-ever five-match ODI series whitewash on foreign soil as they thrashed Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the fifth and final cricket one-dayer.  

Mishra's fine effort of 6 for 48 saw India bowl out Zimbabwe for a paltry 163 in 39.5 overs after opting to bowl and the visitors then chased down the small target comfortably with 16 overs to spare at Queens Sports Club Bulawayo.

The leg-spinner also equalled the world record for most wickets in a bilateral ODI series. He took his series tally to 18, equalling the record held by compatriot Javagal Srinath.

India have recorded three 5-0 series wins at home in the past five years - whitewashing England twice and New Zealand once. But, this was their maiden whitewash win in a five-match series away from home.

Ajinkya Rahane, who was playing in his first match of the series, top-scored with a 66-ball 50, his third ODI fifty in his 17th match, with the help of four boundaries and a six.

He shared a crucial 71-run partnership for the third wicket with Ravindra Jadeja (not out 48 from 77 balls) to lay the foundation for the win.

Jadeja ended the contest in style by hitting a six as India reached 167 for three in 34 overs.
The victory target was too small for the rampaging Indians, who have recorded convincing wins over the home side in all the five matches.

The young Indian side under Virat Kohli, who had come here without a few top players, maintained their domination over the home side and ended the series in emphatic style.

This series victory also rectified their disappointing performance in this country in 2010 when they lost all their two matches in a tri-series.



Captain Virat Kohli, one of the Indian centurions in the series, dropped himself down and sent Rahane at number three as the target was small. His team-mates ensured that there was no need for their captain to come out and bat.

India's run chase though did not begin well with opener Cheteshwar Pujara dismissed in the fourth ball for a duck.

Playing in his second ODI of his career, Pujara was cleanbowled by Kyle Jarvis with a good length delivery just outside off which cut back to sneak through the gap between bat and pad before hitting the top of middle stump.

Pujara was out in a similar fashion in the previous game, his debut match, when he made 13.

In the fourth over, Dhawan took 15 runs off Brian Vitori with three fours and hit the same bowler for a six and a four two overs later. But Dhawan was dropped in the same over when he was on 32 in the penultimate ball before the break which was taken after the Indians had faced six overs in their small chase.

The Indian opener tried to pull a Vitori delivery towards short fine leg only to top-edge it. But to the Indian's luck, he survived following a misunderstanding between the fine-leg fielder and his captain and wicket-kepeer Brendan Taylor.

The fine-leg fielder, who should have gone for the catch, left it for Taylor, who dived full length but did not get to it.

Dhawan, the other Indian centurion in the series, was out in the 11th off Jarvis, the best bowler for the home side today.

The Indian offered an edge to wicketkeeper Taylor as he attempted to push a good length delivery close to off stump. Dhawan, who had scored 116 in the second match, hit six fours and a six in his 38-ball innings.

Dhawan's departure saw the Indians slowing down a bit and they had the luxury to do so. Jarvis and Elton Chigumbura bowled an accurate line and length to deny Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja room to play shots.


Rahane, who survived being run out in the seventh over after a mix up with Dhawan, was out in the 28th over, bowled by a turning ball off part-timer Malcolm Waller. But by that time India were well on course for victory.

Jadeja lied low for some time before a flurry of boundaries, including a six and a four off Sean Williams in the 29th over, besides the six which ended the contest.

Earlier, Mishra notched up a career-best six-wicket haul as India dismissed Zimbabwe for 163.
Opting to bowl in chilly conditions, the Indians had the home team on the mat from the very first over. Sean Williams (51) was the only Zimbabwean batsman to put up a semblance of fight before the home team's innings folded in 39.5 overs.

Mishra was the top wicket-taker for the visiting side with six for 48 in 8.5 overs.

The collapse started pretty early for Zimbabwe with opener Vusi Sibanda (5) getting caught behind the stumps by Dinesh Karthik off Jaydev Unadkat in the fourth over.

His partner Hamilton Masakadza did stay for a while and raised hopes of anchoring the innings before Ravindra Jadeja rattled his stumps. Masakadza struck a 46-ball 32 which included four boundaries.

Next man in skipper, Brendan Taylor, departed without troubling the scorer but consumed 11 balls in the process. He was caught by Suresh Raina at second slip while trying to have a go at Mohit Sharma.

Zimbabwean batsmen's parade back to pavillion continued before Williams tried his bit to stage a fightback. In his 65-ball knock, Williams picked up six boundaries, giving his teammates a lesson in how to deal with the conditions.

But Mishra brought an end to Williams' stiff resistance when the batsman tried to sweep on one knee but ended up gloving it to the first slip.

Mishra had earlier taken the crucial wicket of all-rounder Elton Chigumbura (17) who failed to replicate his half-century performance from the previous match.

Kyle Jarvis (12 not out) and Natsai M'shangwe (16) did their bit to delay the inevitable but the Indians proved simply unstoppable.

Barcelona, July 30: Lithuanian breaststroke specialist Ruta Meilutyte on Monday became the first swimmer to break a world record at the 15th FINA World Championships as she won the 100 metres in one minute 04.35 seconds.

The time the 16-year-old Olympic champion swam in the semifinals in the Palau Sant Jordi pool in Barcelona on Monday was 0.10 of a second faster than American Jessica Hardy's record from 2009. Meilutyte had already broken the championship record in the heats.

There was disappointment for the strong US team in the medal races as it failed to pick up gold.

Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom and Australian Christian Sprenger won the women's and men's 100m breaststroke, while Brazilian Cesar Cielo continued his domination of the sprints with gold in the 50m butterfly.

The final gold medal of the day went to Katinka Hosszu in the women's 200m individual medley.

The Hungarian won in 2:07.92, with silver going to Australian Alicia Coutts, who had earlier also won silver in the 100m breaststroke.

China's Olympic champion Ye Shiwen surprisingly finished outside the medals as she came in fourth, more than a second behind Belmonte.

Cielo speeds away

In the 50m butterfly, Cielo showed that he continues to be the best sprinter in the world as he won in 23.01, beating American Eugene Godsoe from the United States by 23.05. Bronze went to France's Frederick Bousquet in 23.11.

In the two opening races Sjostrom and Springer came close to breaking world records, but fell just short.

Australian Sprenger was lying third at the turn in the 100m breaststroke, with leader Cameron van der Burgh well below the world record split, but as the South African fell behind on the final metres, Sprenger touched just before him.

The Australian won gold in 58.79, 0.18 seconds ahead of Olympic champion and world record holder van der Burgh.

In the women's 100m butterfly the 2009 champion Sjoestrom was lying second at the turn behind Dane Jeanette Ottesen Gray, whose time of 26.06 was 0.33 below the world record split.

Ottesen Gray faded on the second leg though and first had to allow Sjostrom, who finished in 56.53, Coutts, who took silver in 56.97 and bronze medal winner Dana Vollmer past.

The results:

Men: 100m breaststroke:

1. Christian Sprenger (Aus) 58.79s, 2. Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) 58.97, 3. Felipe Lima (Bra) 59.65

50m butterfly: 1. Cesar Cielo (Bra) 23.01, 2. Eugene Godsoe (USA) 23.05, 3. Frederick Bousquet (Fra) 23.11.

Women: 100m butterfly: 1. Sarah Sjoestroem (Swe) 56.53s, 2. Alicia Coutts (Aus) 56.97, 3. Dana Grant (USA) 57.24

200m Individual Medley: 1. Katinka Hosszu (Hun) 2:07.92 2. Alicia Coutts (Aus) 2:09.39 3. Mireia Belmonte (Esp) 2:09.45.

Romashina wins another gold in synchro swimming

Svetlana Romashina has won her third gold medal of the Barcelona world championships, winning the synchronized swimming solo.

Romashina easily took the top spot with 97.340 points, increasing her career haul to 13 world championship golds dating to 2005.

China’s Huang Xuechen won silver with 95.720, while Spain’s Ona Carbonell took bronze before the home crowd at the Palau Sant Jordi with 94.290.

Romashina added to her wins in the solo technical, where the top three were exactly the same, and the duet technical teaming with Svetlana Kolesnichenko.

Russia has won the first four synchronized events at these world championships and is heavily favored to duplicate its sweep of the golds in Shanghai two years ago.

China has taken three silver medals, while Spain has a silver and three bronzes.

Harare, July 29: A disciplined India once again notched up a convincing victory over Zimbabwe (by seven-wickets) in the third One-day International to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series in Harare on Sunday.

Amit Mishra scalped four wickets and skipper Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 88-ball 68 to emerge as star performers for India as they guided the visitors to their third straight victory in the series.

Mishra led a disciplined show by the bowlers as they dismissed Zimbabwe for a paltry 183 in just 46 overs after Kohli won the toss and decided to bowl.

The visitors overhauled the target in 35.3 overs, riding on Kohli's fifty and useful contributions from Shikhar Dhawan (35), Ambati Rayudu (33) and Suresh Raina (28 not out).

Kohli, who had scored a match-winning 115 in the first ODI, once again led from the front as he starred in three useful partnerships.

He added 40 with Dhawan for the second wicket, before forging a 64-run stand with Rayudu for the third wicket, while it was the unbeaten 56-run partnership off 32 balls with Raina which finally took India home.

Chasing 184 to win, openers Rohit Sharma (14) and Shikhar Dhawan (35) made a watchful start as pacers Brian Vitori and Michael Chinouya bowled in tandem.

Sharma's poor run with the bat in this series continued as he was the first batsman to be sent back to the pavilion when he fall to debutante Chinouya.

Sharma chased a widish length delivery from the pacer only to edge it wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor. The Mumbaikar had scored two fours in his 21 balls.

Dhawan, however, didn't allow Sharma's wicket to affect the run flow as he blasted Vitori over square leg for a four and then pulled him for another boundary in the same area in the seventh over.

First down batsman Virat Kohli took one over to get a feel of the wicket and then brought up his first boundary in the ninth over when he whipped Tendai Chatara across the deep backward square leg fence.

Dhawan then cut one across the cover in the same over to pick up easy runs. The left-handed batsman welcomed Prosper Utseya with a four through the leg side in the 12th over.

His stay was cut short by Chatara in the 15th over when trying to hit a length delivery off the front foot, Dhawan ended up hitting it straight to Sibanda at shortish cover.

Runs dried up after that as Kohli and new man Ambati Rayudu (33) tried to steady the ship, picking up ones and twos. In the 22nd over, Rayudu picked up a much-needed boundary when his thick edge off Utseya went flying past slip.

In the next over, Elton Chigumbura was introduced into the attack and Rayudu and Kohli hit him for two fours.

After the end of 29 overs, India took their batting powerplay but Rayudu lost his wicket when he chipped a pitched up delivery from Vitori straight to the bowler. His 54-ball innings had two fours.

In the 32nd over, Kohli sent Chinouya sailing over deep square leg for a boundary, while new man Suresh Raina too cleared the midwicket boundary in the next over.

Kohli brought up his fifty in the 34th over with a brilliant drive off the front foot, which bisected the mid off and extra cover before clearing the fence.

Three balls later, the India skipper danced down the wicket and smashed Chinouya over wide long off for the first six of Indian innings.

In the next over, Kohli and Raina picked up a couple of fours as India inched towards the win. It was Raina, who blasted a four off Chatara to bring up the final runs.

Earlier, Mishra took four for 47 to help India dismiss Zimbabwe for 183. Mohammed Shami (2/25), Jaydev Unadkat (1/24), Ravindra Jadeja (39) and R Vinay Kumar (1/32) were the other successful bowlers for India.

Sean Williams top-scored for Zimbabwe with 45 off 53 balls.

Leading 2-0 in the five-match series, Kohli's decision to bowl was vindicated as his pacers struck twice in the first two overs at the Harare Sports Club.

While R Vinay Kumar accounted for Vusi Sibanda even before the hosts could open their account, Shami sent back the other-wise reliable Sikander Raza when he had the opener caught behind by Dinesh Karthik.

Hamilton Masakadza (38) and skipper Brendan Taylor (23) added 65 runs for the third wicket to stabilise the innings before Jaydev Unadkat struck with the scoreboard reading 67 for three in the 16th over.

The Zimbabwean captain, who stood his ground after Shami leapt to his left from mid-off to pull off a catch, walked back after the third umpire upheld the on-field umpires' decision. Taylor hit three fours during his 44-ball knock.

Taylor's dismissal was the beginning of slide as Zimbabwe lost three more wickets quickly, with leg-spinner Mishra taking two of them off successive balls.

Coming in to bowl his first over of the match, Mishra tasted success immediately as Masakadza, trying to cut a short of length delivery, edged it to the keeper as the hosts lost their top four batsmen within the first 20 overs. The batsman struck five fours off 53 balls.

Malcolm Waller was out next ball as Mishra had the batsman trapped in front for a golden duck with a googly, leaving the Zimbabweans reeling at 80 for five in the 20th over.

Raindra Jadeja made it 89 for six as the slow left-arm spinner hit Elton Chigumbura on the pads with one that might have missed the leg stump because of the angle. PTI AH SHN
Williams then added 36 runs for the seventh wicket with Prosper Utseya (10), before the latter was snared by Shami.

Jadeja's flat throw from the square leg did Williams in as the batsman fell short short of the crease at the striker's end after battling it out for 79 minutes. Williams hit two fours and a six during his fighting knock.

Harare, July 27: Shikhar Dhawan capitalised on three reprieves to slam his third ODI century as India maintained their stranglehold over minnows Zimbabwe with a 58-run victory in the second cricket one-dayer in Harare.

Dhawan struck 116 as India recovered from early jolts to post a competitive 294 for eight and then restricted the hosts to 236 for nine to take a 2-0 series lead in the five-match series.

Put into bat, India were in a spot of bother at 65 for four at one stage before Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik (69) put on 167 runs for the fifth wicket to not only restore the innings but take them to a commanding total at the Harare Sports Club.

The Indians could have won the match by a much bigger margin but a defiant late-order resistance by Elton Chigumbara (46) and Prosper Utseya (52 not out) delayed the inevitable with the duo adding 88 runs for the seventh wicket to frustrate the tourists.

Opener Visu Sibanda (55) also provided a rollicking start to the Zimbabwean innings which somehow lost the momentum after his departure with five wickets falling within a span of 24 runs.

For India, Jaydev Unadkat was the pick of the bowlers with four for 41 while leg-spinner Amit Mishra accounted for two wickets.

The two teams will play the third match of the series at the same venue here on Sunday.

Zimbabwe lost opener Sikandar Raza (20) early into their run-chase as the Pakistan-born batsman, who had top-scored with 82 in the first one-dayer, went for an expensive pull-shot against Unadkat and was holed out in the deep.

Next man-in, Hamilton Masakadza and Sibanda chose to play a more patient game and rotated the strike cleverly before opening up against Vinay Kumar's medium-pace and Mishra's googlies.

Both hit Mishra early on in his spell for a six each while Kumar was pulled for two boundaries in the opening over and was taken for 16 runs in his return over in the second spell as the second-wicket partnership looked threatening on an eased out pitch.

Sibanda reached his individual fifty with a hit off Mishra over long-on for six and, in the process, also took his side's total past 100-run mark.

However, Zimbabwe could not hold onto their strong position for long as Sibanda once again failed to covert his innings into a big score after dominating the Indian bowlers with his powerful hits.

Sibanda, who had escaped with a missed stumping chance after running down the pitch to Mishra, threw away his wicket and fell to Unadkat in the 21st over.

His 57-ball 55 knock was laced with seven fours and two sixes.
Four balls later, Brendan Taylor (nought) ran himself out as from 109 for one, it became 109 for three for the hosts.

Zimbabwe's misery further compunded when Ravindra Jadeja had Sean Williams (5) trapped right in front of the stumps.

Next over saw the soft dismissal of Masakadza who ended up giving a simple catch to Mohammed Shami at short fine-leg going for a sweep shot.

Masakadza scored 47-ball 34 which had one six over the deep midwicket.
Malcolm Waller (2) fell for Mishra's deceptive googly as the dismissal left the run chase in tatters.

Chigumbara and Utseya waged a lonely battle and showed some resistance but their efforts did not prove enough in the end.

Earlier, the Zimbabweans spilled regulation catches and their wayward bowlers conceded 28 extras as India posted a daunting target.

Dhawan was dropped twice when on 14 and 70 and the Delhi-lad also benefited from a no-ball by Kyle Jarvis in the fifth over when he had added just three runs to his name.

The 27-year-old, however, hung on and hit his third ODI ton in his 17th match to save the Indians the blushes. He hit 11 fours and two sixes.

Karthik played his part with a composed 74-ball innings which was studded with six fours as the duo denied the Zimbabweans any success for 25.4 overs.

India ended their innings in style with tail-enders Vinay Kumar (27 not out) and Mohammed Shami (6 not out) scoring 23 from the last over with the help of three sixes and a four.

Captain Virat Kohli could only score 14 runs while the other opener Rohit Sharma (1), Ambati Rayudu (5), Suresh Raina (4) and Jadeja (15) were also out cheaply.

The Indian innings was marred by Kohli's face-off with on-field umpires after he was given out to a controversial catch in the seventh over.

He stood his ground even as Zimbabwe sought a review as the fielder -- Malcolm Waller -- was not sure whether he had caught the ball cleanly or not.

Kohli refused to leave even after the third umpire adjudged him out. He argued his case once again with the umpires who confirmed the decision.

Eventually, a visibly upset Kohli reluctantly walked back to the pavilion.
India suffered an early jolt with opener Rohit being dismissed in the second over as pacer Brian Vitori got his scalp in his first ball.

Dhawan was out when on three in the fifth over but survived as it turned out that Jarvis had bowled a no-ball.

Then he was dropped on 14 in the ninth over with captain Brendan Taylor spilling a regulation catch, the unfortunate bowler being Jarvis. India were 38 for two then.

Rayudu, who came in at the fall of Kohli, was also dropped in the 10th over when the batsman was on three as Vitori spilled a caught and bowled chance.

Rayudu ended his struggle as he went for a drive without moving his feet while Raina also continued with his poor form as he was caught behind by Taylor.

Dhawan and Karthik then played the rescue act with a solid stand. They kept the scoreboard ticking by taking singles and rotating strike in the middle overs.

India took the batting powerplay in the 33rd over and scored 85 runs from the 10 overs to go past 200 in the 40th over.

After both were out in quick succession in the 43rd and 44th overs respectively, the lower order ensured that India go near the 300-run mark.

Harare, July 26: An expectedly comfortable win to start with, the young Indian team under Virat Kohli would look to continue asserting its supremacy over minnows Zimbabwe when the two sides clash in the second one-dayer of the ongoing five-match series in Harare on Friday.

In a perfect start to the tour, India thrashed Zimbabwe by six wickets with Kohli leading from the front, scoring a hundred on Wednesday.
But the win was not without a few glitches with the inexperience of Indian bowlers exploited by a couple of Zimbabwean batsmen.

Sikander Raza nearly got a hundred while lower down the order Elton Chigumbura managed to torment the Indians for quite a while with a 34-ball 43 which included half a dozen boundaries.

In fact, India's lead pacer R Vinay Kumar ended up conceding at a rate more than six in his nine overs. But on the brighter side, the rest of the attack made up for his off day with spinner Amit Mishra picking up three wickets in his 10 overs.

The Zimbabwean batsmen did not exactly disgrace themselves and posted a decent total which was, however, no match to the sheer individual brilliance of Kohli.

Among others, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan had a bad day but they too should get some big scores in the series which has been described as being terribly lopsided despite India being a depleted team.

Another positive to emerge for India apart from Kohli's swashbuckling knock, was the half-century by debutant Ambati Rayudu.

A veteran of first-class cricket, Rayudu finally got his ODI break on Wednesday and delivered well with a calculated 63-run knock.

If he can continue in the same vein in the coming games, the 27-year-old's confidence would certainly head northwards.

It would be interesting to see whether the Indians stick to the same line-up or try out the likes of batsman Cheteshwar Pujara and spinner Parveez Rasool.

For the Zimbabweans, Raza and Chigumbura showed that application and patience can make the home team a lot more competitive than many would perceive it to be.

The home team played its full 50 overs, was not all out at the end of it all and did expose some chinks in the Indian bowling attack's armoury.

But their own bowling left a lot to be desired although it is difficult to control an on-song Kohli even for the best of attacks.

Prosper Utseya was the lone bowler to make an impact with two wickets in his 10 overs.

With a better understanding of conditions, the Zimbabwean bowlers would be expected to produce a better effort, the one in which they at least manage to create some unease for the Indians.

Teams (from):
India: Virat Kohli (capt.), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Cheteshwar Pujara, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Parveez Rasool, Shami Ahmed, R Vinay Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohit Sharma.

Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor (capt & wk), Sikandar Raza, Tendai Chatara, Michael Chinouya, Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Kyle Jarvis, Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Natsai M'shangwe, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams.

Match starts at 12.30 pm (IST).

Harare, July 25: Virat Kohli cracked a scintillating century as India thrashed minnows Zimbabwe by six wickets in the first cricket one-dayer to take a 1-0 lead in the five match series in Harare on Wednesday .

Chasing a modest victory target of 228, India rode on captain Kohli's 115 as they overhauled the target with 31 balls to spare in what turned out to be a lop-sided contest at the Harare Sports Club.

Kohli, who hit a spectacular century against West Indies while leading the side in the recently concluded Tri-Series, again led by example to notch up his 15th ODI hundred as he guided the team home after the early dismissals of the two openers.

Ambati Rayudu's much awaited international debut also turned out to be an impressive one as he struck a responsible unbeaten 63 off 83 balls and more importantly added 159 runs for the third wicket with his skipper.

This was after openers Shikhar Dhawan (17) and Rohit Sharma (20) were dismissed early.

On a seaming track, Kohli showed his class and temperament as he brought about his 100 off only 102 balls with 11 hits to the fence.

When he got a little bit of width outside the off-stump, he was quick to play the cover-drive while he rocked back to square cut offie spinner Prosper Utseya through the point region.

Rayudu proved to be the ideal foil as he didn't play any risky shots and was content in rotating the singles and giving bulk of the strike to his skipper.

The maturity was also evident after he completed his century scampering home for a single with a push towards cover region.

There was no exalted celebration after reaching the milestone just a quite acknowledgement of the applause.

He celebrated his landmark with a big six but was soon holed out in the deep off

Utseya's bowling but India by then were within sniffing distance of the target. His 115 came off 108 balls with 13 fours and a six.

Earlier, Zimbabwe scored 227 for seven riding on Pakistan-born opener Sikandar Raza's gutsy 82 and a 43-run cameo from Elton Chigumbura.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra made a successful return to limited overs cricket with figures of three for 43.

The next match will be played at the same venue on 26th July.