Nirupama completes sprint double

Karnataka's Nirupama Sunderraj completed the sprint double for the second year in a row as the 26th National junior athletics championships wound to a close at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Saturday.

After her victory in the 100m on Thursday, the 18-year-old swept the field aside on Saturday to win the under-20 girls' 200m dash, setting a new meet record in the process. Her time of 24.28s was well inside Maria James' 24.83 from five years ago. Sunderraj also ran a spectacular anchor leg in the 4x100m relay, overtaking two runners to help the Karnataka team finish with a silver.

Kerala, meanwhile, took the overall championship with a tally of 28 gold, 19 silver, and 23 bronze medals. Haryana (18-28-10), and Maharashtra (17-9-3) finished second and third, condemning Tamil Nadu (16-14-16) to fourth place.

Triple jumper Arpinder Singh also had a memorable outing, leaping 16.45m to break Renjith Maheshwary's six-year-old under-20 boys' record of 16.06, on a day when seven other National records fell. Maharashtra's Shraddha Ghule was responsible for one of those, turning in an excellent performance in the under-20 girls' long jump to add to her triple jump gold from Friday. Ghule managed 6.30m, improving over Ruta Patkar's mark of 6.25.

The results (winners only):

Boys: U-20: 200m: Manish (Har) 21.85s; 400m hurdles: Ramashankar Bharati (Mah) 53.46; 800m: Jinson Johnson 1:52.49; 3000m steeplechase:Jiyalal Bind (MP) 9:30.85; Triple jump: Arpinder Singh (Pun) 16.45m, NR (Old: Renjith Maheshwary, 16.06); Shot put: Gurwant Singh (Pun) 17.37m;4x100m relay: Kerala 41.64. Best athlete: Arpinder Singh (Pun) 1096.

U-18: 200m: Prateek Ninave (Mah) 22.22s; 400m hurdles: Durgesh Kumar Pal (Mah) 51.74, NMR (Old: Shejil Verghese 53.14); 3000m: Inderjeet (UP) 8:25.91, NR (Old: Indrajeet Patel, 8:27.31); Pole Vault: Parmender Patel (UP) 4.70m, NR (Old: Parmender Patel 4.30); Hammer: Ali Ahmed (UP) 64.34m;Shot put: Surender singh (Har) 16.98; Javelin: Manoj Yadav (UP) 71.96, NR (Old: Rohit Kumar 71.52). Best athlete: K. Prem Kumar (TN) 1096.

U-16: 200m: Kamberdeep Singh (Pun) 22.33s, NR (Old: Jatin Jain 23.03);High jump: Ajay (Har) 1.91m. Best athlete: Shuvhendu Mishra (UP) 931.

U-14: Long jump: Ashaful Mondal (WB) 6.62m, NR (Old: P. Anburaja 6.33).Best athlete: Shakti Solanki (Del) 982.

Girls: U-20: 200m: Nirupama Sunderraj (Kar) 24.28s, NMR (Old: Maria James 24.83); 400m hurdles: Anju Rani (Har) 1:02.56; 800m: Anju (Har) 2:13.81; Long jump: Shraddha Ghule (Mah) 6.30m, NR (Old: Ruta Patkar 6.25); Discus: Parmila (Har) 49.10m, NMR (Old: M.R. Saroj 48.74); 4x100m relay: Kerala 48.38. Best athlete: Nirupama Sunderraj (Kar) 1038.

U-18: 200m: C. Rengitha (Ker) 24.79s, NMR (Old: Chitra Soman 25.00);400m hurdles: R. Anu (Ker) 1:02.65, NR (Old: Geetha Roby 1:03.43);3000m: Sahanara Kalam (WB) 10:29.53. Best athlete: R. Anu (Ker) 999.

U-16: 200m: Ruma Sarkar (WB) 25.42s; High jump: P. Merlin (Ker) 1.56m.Best athlete: Duttee Chand (Ori) 1026.

U-14: Best athlete: Rochelle Macfarlane (TN) 949.

Clijsters is WTA Player of the Year

Kim Clijsters of Belgium has been voted the woman tennis Player of the Year for the second time in her career, governing body WTA announced on Wednesday.

Clijsters, who first earned the accolade in 2005 and came out of retirement last year, won five trophies 2010, highlighted by a third US Open title.

“It’s really nice to win the Player of the Year award just one year after making a comeback and while I didn’t think it would come so quickly, I am thrilled with the news,” Clijsters said.

Compatriot Justine Henin, also back in action from a two-year hiatus, was named Comeback Player of the Year and Czech Wimbledon semifinalist Petra Kvitova took the Newcomer of the Year award. The doubles award went to Gisela Dulko of Argentina and Italian Flavia Pennetta. The winners are determined in a poll by the global tennis media.

Dhoni is the most exciting cricketer in the world: Musharaff

Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharaff is in awe of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and rates the current India skipper as the most exciting and entertaining cricketer in world cricket.

?Though Sachin Tendulkar is the world?s most consistent cricketer, Dhoni is the most entertaining and exciting? Musharaff said in an interview to News 24.

?Once I praised his hair style. Now he has gone for a shorter haircut, but he is still exciting to watch,? Musharaff added.

The former Pakistan president also praised the Indian cricket team for its consistent showings over the past few years.

?Though I am pained to see the state of Pakistan cricket, I am really impressed with the way Indian cricket is progressing. I must say you do have great players at your disposal,? he said.

Musharaff, while voicing his concerns about the state of affairs in Pakistan cricket, said, ?the team is down and it is unfortunate that on an everyday basis, some new controversy crops up involving the team.?

Djokovic may partner Zimonjic in Davis Cup final doubles

Novak Djokovic may partner Nenad Zimonjic, the world’s number three doubles player, in Saturday’s Davis Cup final doubles match with France instead of Viktor Troicki as originally planned, local media reported.

The countries are tied at 1-1 after the first day of the five-match final.

Gael Monfils defeated Serb Janko Tipsarevic in the opening match.

but Djokovic triumphed over Gilles Simon to level the score.

Djokovic “saves Serbia” and “keeps the dream open”, headlines in Belgrade newspapers Blic and Press said Saturday.

The daily Politika estimates that, “realistically,” the overall winner will be decided in Saturday’ doubles.

The two singles of the final on Sunday will close the final, pitting Djokovic against Monfils and the second rackets of either team.

France has won the Davis Cup nine times, while Serbia never made it to the finals before. The Balkan team however never lost a match in the heated atmosphere of the 17,000-seat Arena, newspapers point out.

Baek stays a stroke ahead; Jaini and Mukesh joint third

It turned out to be one rollercoaster ride that Baek Seuk-Hyun was unlikely to forget in a hurry.

The plump and heavy 20-year-old Korean made light of the sudden downswing in his fortunes on the back-nine and provided a dramatic twist at the end of the third round to snatch back his overnight one-stroke lead in the $1.25 million Hero Honda Indian Open golf championship.

Watched by a growing Saturday crowd at the Delhi Golf Club course, Baek fired four birdies on the last five holes to sign off, in style, a highly eventful card of four-under 68 for a tally of 10-under 206.

On a day when Manav Jaini (71) and Mukesh Kumar (70) took turns to be among the joint leaders but were tied third, overnight co-leader England's Simon Griffiths faded away following a poor 78.

As things stand, Baek leads Sweden's Rikard Karlberg by a shot following a final-hole birdie. Jaini and Mukesh, along with Australia's Unho Park and South Africa's Jbe Kruger are four strokes off the leader. It appears to be anybody's race, with the final day holding prospects of an exciting finish.

Jaini and Mukesh, after looking good on the front-nine, faltered on the home-nine. Jaini. Together at six-under, the duo will be in the same group on the final day.

Improved show

The day also saw Ashok Kumar, Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa come up with improved performances to share the 12th spot. At four-under, the trio will be required to make a stupendous charge in order to be in contention for the title on Sunday.

Baek, who picked up a shot on the front-nine to move to seven-under, went two strokes ahead of the field for the first time with a stunning ‘eagle' on the 11th hole, where he holed out from 152 yards after a firmly struck pitching wedge.

Soon thereafter, the script appeared to go terribly wrong for Baek. A bogey on the 12th followed a double-bogey on the 13th at a time when Jaini, playing a group ahead, birdied the 14th to join Karlberg and Kruger in the lead at seven-under.

Unfazed, Baek responded with birdies on the 14th and 15th to claw back into joint lead. In the meantime, Jaini and Kruger fell back. Baek continued his relentless run with a 45-foot birdie on the 17th and broke away from co-leader Karlberg with a short birdie on the 18th.

“I'll just play my game and not look around (on Sunday). I just want to enjoy my game. Go for birdies and hit some good shots,” said Baek when asked about his approach on the final day.

Karlberg, after bogeys on the third and fourth holes, collected six birdies, including three from the last five holes to stay among the front-runners.

Kruger, who fired an “eagle” on either side of the turn, was one of the joint leaders when he came on the 18th tee. However, the South African “duffed” his approach shot to just 20 yards and then missed a long par-putt to tumble to the joint third spot.

The scores (Indians unless specified): Baek Seuk-Hyun (Kor) (68, 70, 68) 206; Rikard Karlsberg (Swe) (70, 69, 68) 207; Manav Jaini (70, 69, 71), Mukesh Kumar (70, 70, 70), Unho Park (Aus) (72, 68, 70) and Jbe Kruger (RSA) (68, 73, 69) 210.

Other Indians: Ashok Kumar (69, 73, 70), Arjun Atwal (73, 69, 70), Jyoti Randhawa (72, 71, 69) 212; Shiv Kapur (71, 73, 69) 213; Digvijay Singh (73, 73, 68) 214; Shamim Khan (69, 72, 74), Chirag Kumar (70, 73, 72), Sanjay Kumar (68, 76, 71), Gaurav Pratap Singh (70, 74, 71) 215; Himmat Rai (70, 75, 71), Vikrant Chopra (72, 73, 71), Ali Sher (71, 75, 70) 216; Firoz Ali (71, 71, 76), Ranjit Singh (69, 77, 72) 218; Vijay Kumar (72, 73, 74), Harendra Gupta (72, 74, 73) 219; Sujjan Singh (73, 72, 76), Arshdeep Tiwana (75, 73, 73), Vishal Singh (75, 73, 73) 221; Rashid Khan (72, 74, 76), Amardip Malik (74, 72, 76) 222 and Khalin Joshi (A) (76, 70, 84) 230.

Ferrari president Montezemolo looking ahead

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has set aside the disappointment of losing the world drivers’ championship in the season finale and is looking forward to the new season.

“I remember nothing from the last race in Abu Dhabi,” di Montezemolo was quoted as saying in the Monday edition of the Gazzetta dello Sport.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel snatched the championship in dramatic fashion as he won in Abu Dhabi, while Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who was leading the standings going into the race and would have won had he finished fourth or better, came only seventh.

“After twice losing the championship in the last race of the season, it is time again for a victory,” Montezemolo said, adding that it was the team’s goal to go into the first race of the new season with the best car in the field.

Alonso is also looking forward to the start of the new season. “I wish I could start the preparations already,” the two-time world champions said.

He said he believed Red Bull, as well as McLaren and Mercedes to be their biggest competitors for the title. “But we know what we need to do better for 2011.” His teammate Felipe Massa is also expecting a successful season.

“I want to win races and challenge for the world championship,” the Brazilian said.

India seals series with a thumping victory

A domineering nine-wicket win in the third ODI here at the Reliance stadium, achieved thanks to Zaheer Khan's new-ball swing and a second consecutive hundred from Gautam Gambhir, gave India series honours against New Zealand with two games still to play.

Chasing 225, India got home in under 40 overs, with Gambhir and Virat Kohli putting together another century stand, unbroken this time.

Gambhir said upon electing to field that he expected help for his seamers early on. Back in the team after recovering from a groin injury, Zaheer troubled the New Zealand top order with consistent swerve through the air.

He dismissed the returning Brendon McCullum, playing as a specialist opener, in his first over, caught at second slip hanging his bat outside off. He then struck Kane Williamson on his pads with a full-length boomerang that seemed to be heading stump-wards, but umpire Shahvir Tarapore ruled it not out.

Martin Guptill was getting into his stride, with pulls for four and six against Zaheer, when he was run-out, his slide beaten by a direct hit from Gambhir at mid-on.

Unyielding pressure

Zaheer, who then bowled successive maidens, was rewarded for his unyielding pressure with the wicket of Ross Taylor, caught behind off the inside edge. He then rapped Scott Styris on the pads with one that straightened from leg stump, only for Tarapore to turn him down again.

The first LBW of the day came at the other end, Williamson undone by an in-dipper from Munaf Patel.

R. Ashwin removed Styris in his third over, tempting him to flick an off-break on leg stump and whooping in delight as Yuvraj Singh, placed at leg slip for that specific stroke, wrapped his fingers around the ball.

Yusuf Pathan, coming on to a roar from his home crowd, struck twice in two overs, before James Franklin and Nathan McCullum came together for New Zealand's only real partnership.

Recovery stand

Against the spin of Yusuf and Ravindra Jadeja, they milked the deep fielders, and brought up their 50 partnership in 61 balls, reaching the landmark in the 41st over.

They took the batting powerplay three overs later. Ashwin came back and Franklin swept him for four. A similar stroke off the next ball took the left-hander from 49 to 50.

McCullum then reverse-swept Jadeja and slashed Ashwin for boundaries before Franklin swung Jadeja over the midwicket fence.

McCullum fell shortly after New Zealand reached 200, but had ensured by then that complete humiliation was avoided.

At Jaipur, the Kiwi seamers had given Gambhir too much width. Here, they overcompensated. Thrice in the first five overs, Gambhir glanced or flicked Mills for four. In between, he stepped out and slashed Mills over point for another boundary.

He didn't spare left-armer Andy McKay either, stroking him for three fours in three balls — two square drives sandwiching a flick behind square. Two overs later, he reached 50 with a single off Daniel Vettori. He had taken only 30 balls.

Vijay got into the spirit of things against Franklin, pulling and on-driving him from outside off stump. New Zealand held back the second powerplay, and the Indians relaxed.

Vettori ran out Vijay with a direct hit from mid-on soon after the opener had lifted him out of the ground, bringing together Gambhir and Kohli.

Ninth hundred

Whistles pierced the air as Gambhir entered the 90s. He slapped Scott Styris behind point to go from 91 to 95 and took one off the next ball. The crowd booed good-naturedly as he went to 99 with three singles, before raising a hysterical noise when he brought up his ninth ODI hundred with a single off his 88th delivery. Kohli grew rampant as India neared its target, whipping Franklin for four and lifting him over the long-on boundary in successive deliveries before hoisting McKay for another six to complete the job.