काँकडभिट्टा, भाद्र २९ - गभर्नर्स गोल्डकप उपाधि रक्ष्ाा गर्न सिक्किम निस्केको नबिल थ्री-स्टार सोमबार उपकारी कामका लागि झापामा रोकिनेछ । सिक्किममा हुने सर्वाधिक ठूलो फुटबल प्रतियोगिताको डिफेन्डिङ च्याम्पियनसामु एकातर्फ प्रतियोगिता तयारीको राम्राे अवसर हुनेछ भने अर्कोतर्फ झापा फुटबल संघले सुरु गरेको खेलाडी कल्याणकोषमा महत्त्वपूर्ण योगदान पुर्याउने अवसर हुनेछ ।
सोमबार काँकडभिट्टा फुटबल मैदानमा थ्री-स्टार र झापा-११ उत्रनेछन् । त्यस खेलको आयोजनाबाट उठेको रकम झापा जिल्लाका फुटबल खेलाडीको लक्ष्ाित कल्याणकोषमा राखिनेछ । 'लामो समययता काँकडभिट्टा माथिल्लोस्तरको फुटबलमा र्फकंदै
छ । यसबाट यहाँका फुटबलप्रेमीले विशिष्ट फुटबल हेर्ने अवसर पाउनेछन् । त्यसबाहेक कोष स्थापना गर्न पनि मदत पुग्नेछ,' राखेपका वरिष्ठ फुटबल प्रशिक्षक भगिरथी आलेले भने ।
झापा जिल्ला फुटबल संघका अध्यक्ष्ा जेके गुरुङ मैत्रीपूर्ण फुटबललाई कोष निर्माणको अर्को खुडकलो मान्छन् । 'कुनै स्थितिमा हामीसँग घाइते खेलाडीका लागि फस्ट एडको उपचार सामग्री पनि हुन्न । यस्तोमा कोष खडा गरेर सबै झापाली फुटबल खेलाडीलाई सहयोग गर्नु हाम्रो उद्देश्य हो,' गुरुङले भने, 'यो उपकारी काममा सबै क्ष्ाेत्रको सहयोग रहनेछ ।'
थ्री-स्टार अध्यक्ष ललितकृष्ण श्रेष्ठ पनि मैत्रीपूर्ण खेलका लागि उत्साहित छन् । 'राम्रो कामका लागि सहयोग गर्न पाएकोमा खुसी छौं । यो अवसरले झापाली फुटबलप्रेमीलाई थ्री-स्टार क्लब, यसका खेलाडी र यसको शैलीबारे पनि जानकारी पाउने अवसर जुटाएको छ ।'
Showing posts with label Sports News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports News. Show all posts
September 15, 2009
August 1, 2009
Phelps sets world record, beats Cavic in 100 fly
ROME – Michael Phelps beat Milorad Cavic again. No doubt about it. With a defiant performance in a supposedly inferior suit, Phelps stayed close over the outward lap and rallied on the return to become the first swimmer to break 50 seconds in the 100-meter butterfly, beating the Serbian with a time of 49.82.
Cavic also broke 50 seconds, but 49.95 only got him a silver — and plenty of words to eat. He wasn't nearly as close as last year's Beijing Olympics, when Phelps famously won by one-hundredth of a second and Cavic always maintained that he actually touched first.
"That satisfied me a little bit," Phelps quipped with that crooked grin of his. "I set it up perfectly."
When Phelps saw his time at the Foro Italico, he hopped up on the lane rope separating him and Cavic, threw up his arms and let out a scream toward his mom and sister in the stands.
Showing as much emotion as he ever has, Phelps also slapped the water and tugged at his Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit — no doubt in reference to Cavic offering to get Phelps one of those supposedly faster polyurethane suits so he wouldn't have any excuses.
No need, Milorad.
Phelps did just fine with his own attire.
"It doesn't matter what suit you wear," Phelps said. "It matters how you train."
The two rivals finally shook hands, but that was about it.
Nothing more needed to be said.
"He congratulated me and kind of smiled a bit, but I have a feeling that our battle is going to go back and forth for a while," Phelps said.
Cavic did say one thing to Phelps: "You're the man."
"He just looked at me and smiled," Cavic said. "He knows it."
In one of the most memorable events of the Beijing Olympics, Phelps pulled out an improbable victory on his final half-stroke to beat Cavic by the narrowest possible margin. Without that win, Phelps would not have broken Mark Spitz's record with eight gold medals in a single games.
Cavic has stewed over the loss ever since, believing he touched first but didn't put as much pressure on the touchpad as Phelps, who ad-libbed an extra lunge and crashed into the wall much harder. Even though all electronic and photographic evidence shows Phelps won, Cavic repeated his claims when he got to Rome.
He also tried to get into Phelps' head, saying it was the American's own fault for sticking with a Speedo suit that isn't as fast as polyurethane models such as the Arena X-Glide, which Cavic wears.
The Serbian offered to get Phelps an X-Glide "within the hour," or buy him another of the rubberized suits out of his own pocket. Cavic said he would really prefer to race Phelps wearing nothing but briefs, so everyone would know who the best man is without any help from the suits.
Phelps said he would do his talking in the pool.
"He loves the big races, loves the energy," said his coach, Bob Bowman. "He sort of thrives on that, while some other swimmers don't."
Phelps set his second world record of the fastest meet in history and got back the mark Cavic snatched away a night earlier with a time of 51.01 in the semifinals.
Phelps also won his fourth gold medal of the championships, to go along with that silver he grudgingly accepted after losing to Germany's Paul Biedermann in the 200 free. Phelps has one event left — the 400 medley relay Sunday night, assuming the U.S. doesn't mess up in the morning prelims. The Americans will be a heavy favorite in that one, as always.
Three other world records were set Saturday, bringing the total to 39 with one day left at the final meet for high-tech bodysuits.
Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe took down her own mark in the 200 backstroke, winning in 2 minutes, 4.81 seconds. Russia's Anastasia Zueva also went under Coventry's old mark of 2:05.24, but 2:04.94 was only good enough for the silver. American Elizabeth Beisel claimed bronze.
China claimed the record in the women's 400-meter medley relay. Li Zhesi finished it off in 3:52.19 to beat the mark set by Australia (3:52.69) at the Beijing Olympics. The Aussies also went under the old mark, settling for silver in 3:52.58. Germany took the bronze.
The winning team also included Zhao Jing, Chen Huijia and Jiao Liuyang.
In a semifinal heat of a non-Olympic event, Britain's Liam Tancock set a world record of 24.08 in the 50 backstroke, eclipsing the mark of 24.33 held by American Randall Bal. Junya Koga of Japan also went under the previous record time to win the second heat at 24.29. The final is Sunday night.
Cesar Cielo of Brazil completed a sweep of the freestyle sprints with the 50-meter title. Cielo added to his title in the 100 with a one-lap time of 21.08 to hold off world-record holder Fred Bousquet (21.21) and fellow Frenchman Amaury Leveaux (21.25).
Managing to win world titles without world records: Australia's Marieke Guehrer in the women's 50 fly and Lotte Friis of Denmark in the women's 800 freestyle. Olympic champion and 800 world-record holder Rebecca Adlington finished fourth.
After switching suits, going from Speedo to Jaked, 42-year-old American Dara Torres barely managed to qualify for the final of the 50 free. She was eighth fastest in the semifinals, claiming the final spot in Sunday's race but not giving herself much chance to duplicate her silver-medal showing at Beijing, where she lost to Germany's Britta Steffen by one-hundredth of a second.
Phelps' last individual event in Rome was a classic tortoise-versus-hare matchup, with Cavic knowing he would need a big lead at the turn, and Phelps fully aware he would have to be close enough to pull it out with his typically strong finish.
The day didn't start well for Phelps. At the warmup pool, he collided with Australian teenager Cate Campbell and broke his goggles.
"We were all a little freaked out," Phelps said. "I was kind of blurry in my left eye a little bit. But it ended up going away. I tried to really just get that out of my head."
Bowman asked if he wanted to drop out.
No way.
The two rivals entered the deck with all the hype of a heavyweight fight. Cavic played right along — patting his heart, crossing himself twice and staring down Phelps as they waited to step up on the blocks. The American was facing Cavic but just looked right past him, as it he wasn't a factor.
"We face each other, but I don't look that way. I look up in the crowd," Phelps said. Still, "it's literally like a straight showdown. It's like boxers coming face to face for a weigh in. I think that's kind of cool for the sport. I think it sort of brings more excitement."
Then, they were off. Cavic knew he was in trouble when Phelps was right on his shoulder as they kicked away from the far wall, just 0.77 separating them.
"I was pretty sure I was going to be ahead at the first turn," said Cavic, who wanted to be at least a second ahead. "When I saw him right there, uh oh."
Phelps appeared to be sneaking underwater glances in Cavic's direction all the way back, then finished in one last swoop of his arms. Bare-chested teammate Ryan Lochte, watching from the sunny side of the stands, kept screaming, "Come on!" Mom Debbie Phelps looked as though she could barely breathe as she watched the finish.
"I felt so good coming off the wall," Phelps said. "My kick off the wall felt really, really good. I saw the splash out of my left eye from his lane coming over, and I saw him getting closer and closer, and I heard the crowd getting louder and louder. I figured it was going to come down to the touch again."
Not really. Unlike Beijing, where Phelps trailed to the last possible split-second before getting ahead of a gliding Cavic, the American was clearly ahead at this finish.
He didn't even hear what Cavic had to say when it was over. The Serbian hung on the lane rope, as if wanting to make peace, but Phelps was too busy celebrating.
"I was very, very strong toward the end," Cavic said. "But Michael Phelps is Michael Phelps and he does what he does — and he did."
No doubt about it.
Cavic also broke 50 seconds, but 49.95 only got him a silver — and plenty of words to eat. He wasn't nearly as close as last year's Beijing Olympics, when Phelps famously won by one-hundredth of a second and Cavic always maintained that he actually touched first.
"That satisfied me a little bit," Phelps quipped with that crooked grin of his. "I set it up perfectly."
When Phelps saw his time at the Foro Italico, he hopped up on the lane rope separating him and Cavic, threw up his arms and let out a scream toward his mom and sister in the stands.
Showing as much emotion as he ever has, Phelps also slapped the water and tugged at his Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit — no doubt in reference to Cavic offering to get Phelps one of those supposedly faster polyurethane suits so he wouldn't have any excuses.
No need, Milorad.
Phelps did just fine with his own attire.
"It doesn't matter what suit you wear," Phelps said. "It matters how you train."
The two rivals finally shook hands, but that was about it.
Nothing more needed to be said.
"He congratulated me and kind of smiled a bit, but I have a feeling that our battle is going to go back and forth for a while," Phelps said.
Cavic did say one thing to Phelps: "You're the man."
"He just looked at me and smiled," Cavic said. "He knows it."
In one of the most memorable events of the Beijing Olympics, Phelps pulled out an improbable victory on his final half-stroke to beat Cavic by the narrowest possible margin. Without that win, Phelps would not have broken Mark Spitz's record with eight gold medals in a single games.
Cavic has stewed over the loss ever since, believing he touched first but didn't put as much pressure on the touchpad as Phelps, who ad-libbed an extra lunge and crashed into the wall much harder. Even though all electronic and photographic evidence shows Phelps won, Cavic repeated his claims when he got to Rome.
He also tried to get into Phelps' head, saying it was the American's own fault for sticking with a Speedo suit that isn't as fast as polyurethane models such as the Arena X-Glide, which Cavic wears.
The Serbian offered to get Phelps an X-Glide "within the hour," or buy him another of the rubberized suits out of his own pocket. Cavic said he would really prefer to race Phelps wearing nothing but briefs, so everyone would know who the best man is without any help from the suits.
Phelps said he would do his talking in the pool.
"He loves the big races, loves the energy," said his coach, Bob Bowman. "He sort of thrives on that, while some other swimmers don't."
Phelps set his second world record of the fastest meet in history and got back the mark Cavic snatched away a night earlier with a time of 51.01 in the semifinals.
Phelps also won his fourth gold medal of the championships, to go along with that silver he grudgingly accepted after losing to Germany's Paul Biedermann in the 200 free. Phelps has one event left — the 400 medley relay Sunday night, assuming the U.S. doesn't mess up in the morning prelims. The Americans will be a heavy favorite in that one, as always.
Three other world records were set Saturday, bringing the total to 39 with one day left at the final meet for high-tech bodysuits.
Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe took down her own mark in the 200 backstroke, winning in 2 minutes, 4.81 seconds. Russia's Anastasia Zueva also went under Coventry's old mark of 2:05.24, but 2:04.94 was only good enough for the silver. American Elizabeth Beisel claimed bronze.
China claimed the record in the women's 400-meter medley relay. Li Zhesi finished it off in 3:52.19 to beat the mark set by Australia (3:52.69) at the Beijing Olympics. The Aussies also went under the old mark, settling for silver in 3:52.58. Germany took the bronze.
The winning team also included Zhao Jing, Chen Huijia and Jiao Liuyang.
In a semifinal heat of a non-Olympic event, Britain's Liam Tancock set a world record of 24.08 in the 50 backstroke, eclipsing the mark of 24.33 held by American Randall Bal. Junya Koga of Japan also went under the previous record time to win the second heat at 24.29. The final is Sunday night.
Cesar Cielo of Brazil completed a sweep of the freestyle sprints with the 50-meter title. Cielo added to his title in the 100 with a one-lap time of 21.08 to hold off world-record holder Fred Bousquet (21.21) and fellow Frenchman Amaury Leveaux (21.25).
Managing to win world titles without world records: Australia's Marieke Guehrer in the women's 50 fly and Lotte Friis of Denmark in the women's 800 freestyle. Olympic champion and 800 world-record holder Rebecca Adlington finished fourth.
After switching suits, going from Speedo to Jaked, 42-year-old American Dara Torres barely managed to qualify for the final of the 50 free. She was eighth fastest in the semifinals, claiming the final spot in Sunday's race but not giving herself much chance to duplicate her silver-medal showing at Beijing, where she lost to Germany's Britta Steffen by one-hundredth of a second.
Phelps' last individual event in Rome was a classic tortoise-versus-hare matchup, with Cavic knowing he would need a big lead at the turn, and Phelps fully aware he would have to be close enough to pull it out with his typically strong finish.
The day didn't start well for Phelps. At the warmup pool, he collided with Australian teenager Cate Campbell and broke his goggles.
"We were all a little freaked out," Phelps said. "I was kind of blurry in my left eye a little bit. But it ended up going away. I tried to really just get that out of my head."
Bowman asked if he wanted to drop out.
No way.
The two rivals entered the deck with all the hype of a heavyweight fight. Cavic played right along — patting his heart, crossing himself twice and staring down Phelps as they waited to step up on the blocks. The American was facing Cavic but just looked right past him, as it he wasn't a factor.
"We face each other, but I don't look that way. I look up in the crowd," Phelps said. Still, "it's literally like a straight showdown. It's like boxers coming face to face for a weigh in. I think that's kind of cool for the sport. I think it sort of brings more excitement."
Then, they were off. Cavic knew he was in trouble when Phelps was right on his shoulder as they kicked away from the far wall, just 0.77 separating them.
"I was pretty sure I was going to be ahead at the first turn," said Cavic, who wanted to be at least a second ahead. "When I saw him right there, uh oh."
Phelps appeared to be sneaking underwater glances in Cavic's direction all the way back, then finished in one last swoop of his arms. Bare-chested teammate Ryan Lochte, watching from the sunny side of the stands, kept screaming, "Come on!" Mom Debbie Phelps looked as though she could barely breathe as she watched the finish.
"I felt so good coming off the wall," Phelps said. "My kick off the wall felt really, really good. I saw the splash out of my left eye from his lane coming over, and I saw him getting closer and closer, and I heard the crowd getting louder and louder. I figured it was going to come down to the touch again."
Not really. Unlike Beijing, where Phelps trailed to the last possible split-second before getting ahead of a gliding Cavic, the American was clearly ahead at this finish.
He didn't even hear what Cavic had to say when it was over. The Serbian hung on the lane rope, as if wanting to make peace, but Phelps was too busy celebrating.
"I was very, very strong toward the end," Cavic said. "But Michael Phelps is Michael Phelps and he does what he does — and he did."
No doubt about it.
July 29, 2009
Phelps breaks own record to retain title
Rome: Michael Phelps returned to the winner’s circle yesterday with a world record-setting triumph in the men’s 200m butterfly at the swimming World Championships.
The 14-time Olympic gold medallist suffered a shock defeat in the 200m free on Tuesday, when Germany’s Paul Biedermann took both his world title and world record.
But Phelps responded in the fly, leading from start to finish and winning in 1min 51.51sec.
That improved on the world record of 1:52.03 that he set in winning Olympic gold in Beijing on August 13, 2008, part of his unprecedented eight-gold haul in China.
The 24-year-old American, who had seemed non-plussed by his first defeat in world and Olympic competition since 2005, knew just what to do after the victory, raising both arms in celebration as he stood on the deck to acknowledge the cheers of the crowd.
Japan’s Takeshi Matsuda was lying second to Phelps until the final lap, when he was overtaken by Poland’s Pawel Korzeniowski. Korzeniowski snatched the silver in 1:53.23 and Matsuda settled for bronze in 1:53.32.
Italy’s Federica Pellegrini smashed her own world record to win the women’s 200 metres freestyle yesterday and complete a golden double at the swimming world championships.
The 20-year-old Olympic champion powered away from her rivals in the second half of the race to win with a time of one minute 52.98 seconds, beating the mark of 1:53.67 she set in Tuesday’s semis and sending the home crowd into raptures.
Allison Schmitt of the United States was almost two seconds behind in second place and her compatriot Dana Vollmer took the bronze medal.
“I cried today before the start of the race because I felt tired,” said a visibly emotional Pellegrini, who also lowered her own world best when charging to victory in the 400 freestyle on Sunday.
“But I have to say I surprised myself. I thought I do one hundredth of a second less than yesterday.” Van Der Burgh also notched his second world record in as many days with his triumph in the 50m breaststroke in 26.67. He had set the previous record of 26.74 in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
The women’s 50m backstroke semi-finals saw the world record fall twice in the blink of an eye.
No sooner had Daniela Samulski of Germany lowered her own world mark with a time of 27.39 in the first semi, than Russian Anastasia Zueva one-upped her with a world record of 27.38 in the second semi-final. - AFP
July 21, 2009
महिला क्रिकेटरले तेस्रोमै चित्त बुझाए
काठमाडौं, उमेर समूहमा टेस्ट नखेल्ने राष्ट्रमध्ये अब्बल देखिएको नेपाली महिला क्रिकेटले सिनियर समूहमा राम्रो प्रदर्शन गर्न सकेन ।
तेस्रो अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सहभागिता जनाउन मलेसिया गएको नेपाली महिला क्रिकेटरको सपना पूरा भएन । एसीसी महिला २०-२० क्रिकेट च्याम्पियनसिपमा नेपाल तेस्रो स्थानमा सीमित भयो ।
नेपाली महिला क्रिकेटको इतिहास धेरै लामो छैन । सन् २००७ मा मलेसियामा सम्पन्न पहिलो सहभागितामा राष्ट्रिय टोली उपविजेता बनेको थियो । उमेर समूहमा नेपाली महिला क्रिकेटरले २००८ मा थाइल्यान्डमा आफूलाई अझ उत्कृष्ट सावित गर्दै यू-१९ उपाधि जितेका थिए । मलेसियामा तेस्रो स्थानमा सीमित नेपाली टिम आइतबार स्वदेश फर्केको छ ।
आफूले खेलेका सातमध्ये पाँच खेलमा जित हात पारेको नेपाली टिम उत्कृष्ट बलिङ देखाए पनि ब्याटिङमा कमजोर देखियो । 'हाम्रो मुख्य कमजोरी ब्याटिङ रह्यो,' नेपाली टोलीकी कप्तान रितु कनौजियाले बताइन्, 'सोचेजस्तो ब्याटिङ गर्न सकेनौं । आशा गरेका खेलाडी चल्न सकेनन् ।' उनले फिल्डिङमा पनि केही कमजोरी रहेको बताइन ।
पहिलोपल्ट राष्ट्रिय टोलीको नेतृत्व सम्हालेकी रितुले नीरा राजोपाध्याय, नेरी थापा र रोशनीबाट बढी आशा राखेको बताइन् । नीराबाहेक उनले आशा गरेका दुई खेलाडी ब्याटिङमा चल्न सकेनन् । तर पूर्वकप्तान नेरी भने बलिङमा चम्किन र प्रतियोगिताको उत्कृष्ट बलर बनिन् । लगातार चार खेलमा जित हात पारे पनि समूह चरणको अन्तिम खेलमा थाइल्यान्डसँग स्तरअनुरूप नेपालले बलिङ र ब्याटिङ गर्न सकेन । 'थाइल्यान्डमा हामी आफ्नै गल्तीले हारेका थियौं,' कप्तान रितुले भनिन्, 'त्यसमा फिल्डिङ पक्ष निकै कमजोर भयो ।' प्रशिक्षक प्रदीपराज पाण्डेले पनि ब्याटिङ र फिल्डिङ पक्ष कमजोर भएको दोहोर्याए । उनले हङकङ र थाइल्यान्डको स्तर माथि रहेको
बताए । 'दुवै टिम हाम्रो स्तरभन्दा माथि थिए,' उनले भने, 'हाम्रो ब्याटिङ राम्रो हुन सकेन । अब हामी राम्रो तयारीमा जुट्नुपर्छ ।'
नेपाली प्रारम्भिक ब्याट्सवुमन नीरा र माया रावतबाहेक अन्यले उल्लेख्य ब्याटिङ प्रदर्शन गरेनन् । समूह 'ए' को पहिलो खेलमा इरानलाई ६२ रनले पराजित गरेको नेपालले दोस्रो खेलमा सिंगापुरलाई बल आउटमा २-१ ले हराएको थियो । पहिलो खेलमा नीराले ३९ तथा मायाले २० रन बनाएका थिए । सिंगापुरविरुद्ध रुविना क्षेत्रीले उत्कृष्ट बलिङ पेस गरिन् । अन्तिम ओभरमा उनले ह्याटि्रकसहित ५ विकेट लिएपछि खेल बराबरी हुँदै बल आउटमा पुगेको थियो ।
कतारलाई ८ विकेटले हराउँदा पनि नेपाली बलर चम्के । नेपालका रेखा रावल र सोनु खड्काले ३/३ विकेट लिएका थिए । भुटानविरुद्ध नेरीले ५ विकेट लिएपछि नेपालले ८ विकेटको जित हात पार्दै नेपालले अन्तिम चारमा स्थान पक्का गरेको थियो । अन्तिम खेलमा नेपाल थाइल्यान्डसँग २३ रनले पराजित भएपछि समूह उपविजेता बन्यो ।
सेमिफाइनल पनि नेपालको लागि सुखद बनेन । प्रतियोगितामा लगातार दोस्रो हार बेहोर्ने क्रममा नेपाल हङकङसँग सात विकेटको पराजित हुँदै तेस्रो स्थानको लागि चीनसँग खेल्न बाध्य भयो । उक्त खेलमा नेरीले पुनः उत्कृष्ट बलिङ गर्दै ५ विकेट लिएपछि नेपाली टिमले ७३ रनको जित हात पार्यो । हङकङ फाइनलमा थाइल्यान्डलाई हराएर च्याम्पियन बन्यो ।
तेस्रो अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सहभागिता जनाउन मलेसिया गएको नेपाली महिला क्रिकेटरको सपना पूरा भएन । एसीसी महिला २०-२० क्रिकेट च्याम्पियनसिपमा नेपाल तेस्रो स्थानमा सीमित भयो ।
नेपाली महिला क्रिकेटको इतिहास धेरै लामो छैन । सन् २००७ मा मलेसियामा सम्पन्न पहिलो सहभागितामा राष्ट्रिय टोली उपविजेता बनेको थियो । उमेर समूहमा नेपाली महिला क्रिकेटरले २००८ मा थाइल्यान्डमा आफूलाई अझ उत्कृष्ट सावित गर्दै यू-१९ उपाधि जितेका थिए । मलेसियामा तेस्रो स्थानमा सीमित नेपाली टिम आइतबार स्वदेश फर्केको छ ।
आफूले खेलेका सातमध्ये पाँच खेलमा जित हात पारेको नेपाली टिम उत्कृष्ट बलिङ देखाए पनि ब्याटिङमा कमजोर देखियो । 'हाम्रो मुख्य कमजोरी ब्याटिङ रह्यो,' नेपाली टोलीकी कप्तान रितु कनौजियाले बताइन्, 'सोचेजस्तो ब्याटिङ गर्न सकेनौं । आशा गरेका खेलाडी चल्न सकेनन् ।' उनले फिल्डिङमा पनि केही कमजोरी रहेको बताइन ।
पहिलोपल्ट राष्ट्रिय टोलीको नेतृत्व सम्हालेकी रितुले नीरा राजोपाध्याय, नेरी थापा र रोशनीबाट बढी आशा राखेको बताइन् । नीराबाहेक उनले आशा गरेका दुई खेलाडी ब्याटिङमा चल्न सकेनन् । तर पूर्वकप्तान नेरी भने बलिङमा चम्किन र प्रतियोगिताको उत्कृष्ट बलर बनिन् । लगातार चार खेलमा जित हात पारे पनि समूह चरणको अन्तिम खेलमा थाइल्यान्डसँग स्तरअनुरूप नेपालले बलिङ र ब्याटिङ गर्न सकेन । 'थाइल्यान्डमा हामी आफ्नै गल्तीले हारेका थियौं,' कप्तान रितुले भनिन्, 'त्यसमा फिल्डिङ पक्ष निकै कमजोर भयो ।' प्रशिक्षक प्रदीपराज पाण्डेले पनि ब्याटिङ र फिल्डिङ पक्ष कमजोर भएको दोहोर्याए । उनले हङकङ र थाइल्यान्डको स्तर माथि रहेको
बताए । 'दुवै टिम हाम्रो स्तरभन्दा माथि थिए,' उनले भने, 'हाम्रो ब्याटिङ राम्रो हुन सकेन । अब हामी राम्रो तयारीमा जुट्नुपर्छ ।'
नेपाली प्रारम्भिक ब्याट्सवुमन नीरा र माया रावतबाहेक अन्यले उल्लेख्य ब्याटिङ प्रदर्शन गरेनन् । समूह 'ए' को पहिलो खेलमा इरानलाई ६२ रनले पराजित गरेको नेपालले दोस्रो खेलमा सिंगापुरलाई बल आउटमा २-१ ले हराएको थियो । पहिलो खेलमा नीराले ३९ तथा मायाले २० रन बनाएका थिए । सिंगापुरविरुद्ध रुविना क्षेत्रीले उत्कृष्ट बलिङ पेस गरिन् । अन्तिम ओभरमा उनले ह्याटि्रकसहित ५ विकेट लिएपछि खेल बराबरी हुँदै बल आउटमा पुगेको थियो ।
कतारलाई ८ विकेटले हराउँदा पनि नेपाली बलर चम्के । नेपालका रेखा रावल र सोनु खड्काले ३/३ विकेट लिएका थिए । भुटानविरुद्ध नेरीले ५ विकेट लिएपछि नेपालले ८ विकेटको जित हात पार्दै नेपालले अन्तिम चारमा स्थान पक्का गरेको थियो । अन्तिम खेलमा नेपाल थाइल्यान्डसँग २३ रनले पराजित भएपछि समूह उपविजेता बन्यो ।
सेमिफाइनल पनि नेपालको लागि सुखद बनेन । प्रतियोगितामा लगातार दोस्रो हार बेहोर्ने क्रममा नेपाल हङकङसँग सात विकेटको पराजित हुँदै तेस्रो स्थानको लागि चीनसँग खेल्न बाध्य भयो । उक्त खेलमा नेरीले पुनः उत्कृष्ट बलिङ गर्दै ५ विकेट लिएपछि नेपाली टिमले ७३ रनको जित हात पार्यो । हङकङ फाइनलमा थाइल्यान्डलाई हराएर च्याम्पियन बन्यो ।
July 12, 2009
Sri Lanka on top as Pakistan hit new low
Colombo: Seamer Nuwan Kulasekera took a career-best 4-21 as Sri Lanka took early charge of the second cricket Test after bowling Pakistan out for a paltry 90 yesterday.
The tourists, electing to bat on a wicket that provided early assistance to the seamers, slumped to their lowest total against Sri Lanka after being reduced to 19-4 by the seventh over of the match.
Sri Lanka ended the opening day at 164-3 in reply, leaving them well-placed to build on the 50-run win in the first Test at Galle last week that gave them the lead in the three-match series. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara led the way with an unbeaten 81 after adding 54 for the second wicket with Tharanga Paranavitana and 51 for the third with Mahela Jayawardene.
Sri Lanka’s left-arm fast bowler Thilan Thushara chipped in with two wickets and spinner Ajantha Mendis dismissed the last three batsmen as Pakistan were shot out in 36 overs 45 minutes after lunch.
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik was the lone batsman to defy the Sri Lankan bowlers at the P. Sara Oval, returning unbeaten on 39.
Pakistan caved in just as they had done in the second innings of the Galle Test where, needing 97 more to win on the fourth morning, they lost their last eight wickets for 46 runs.
Pakistan’s 117 at Galle was their lowest against Sri Lanka, but it took just one more innings to fall below that mark in a reckless display with the bat.
Eight batsmen failed to reach double figures, while debutant Fawad Alam was the second highest scorer after Malik with 16 in 81 minutes.
Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul Haq later denied the batsmen lacked temperament at the crease, but admitted such collapses “happen with Pakistan”.
“I don’t want to take the credit away from their bowlers, we all got out to good deliveries,” Misbah told reporters. “Kulasekera bowled really well. It was very difficult to play him with the ball seaming about. “These things happen with Pakistan. But we look forward to getting Sri Lanka out early tomorrow and (coming) back into the match.”
Kulasekera, 26, who leads the International Cricket Council’s rankings for one-day bowlers, showed he was equally adept at taking wickets in the traditional five-day format with a remarkable opening burst.
The right-arm seamer, who grabbed 4-71 at Galle, tore through the Pakistani top order in only his eighth Test with three wickets in 15 deliveries at the cost of just three runs.
Kulasekera said he was rewarded for sticking to the basics in helpful conditions. - AFP
The tourists, electing to bat on a wicket that provided early assistance to the seamers, slumped to their lowest total against Sri Lanka after being reduced to 19-4 by the seventh over of the match.
Sri Lanka ended the opening day at 164-3 in reply, leaving them well-placed to build on the 50-run win in the first Test at Galle last week that gave them the lead in the three-match series. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara led the way with an unbeaten 81 after adding 54 for the second wicket with Tharanga Paranavitana and 51 for the third with Mahela Jayawardene.
Sri Lanka’s left-arm fast bowler Thilan Thushara chipped in with two wickets and spinner Ajantha Mendis dismissed the last three batsmen as Pakistan were shot out in 36 overs 45 minutes after lunch.
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik was the lone batsman to defy the Sri Lankan bowlers at the P. Sara Oval, returning unbeaten on 39.
Pakistan caved in just as they had done in the second innings of the Galle Test where, needing 97 more to win on the fourth morning, they lost their last eight wickets for 46 runs.
Pakistan’s 117 at Galle was their lowest against Sri Lanka, but it took just one more innings to fall below that mark in a reckless display with the bat.
Eight batsmen failed to reach double figures, while debutant Fawad Alam was the second highest scorer after Malik with 16 in 81 minutes.
Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul Haq later denied the batsmen lacked temperament at the crease, but admitted such collapses “happen with Pakistan”.
“I don’t want to take the credit away from their bowlers, we all got out to good deliveries,” Misbah told reporters. “Kulasekera bowled really well. It was very difficult to play him with the ball seaming about. “These things happen with Pakistan. But we look forward to getting Sri Lanka out early tomorrow and (coming) back into the match.”
Kulasekera, 26, who leads the International Cricket Council’s rankings for one-day bowlers, showed he was equally adept at taking wickets in the traditional five-day format with a remarkable opening burst.
The right-arm seamer, who grabbed 4-71 at Galle, tore through the Pakistani top order in only his eighth Test with three wickets in 15 deliveries at the cost of just three runs.
Kulasekera said he was rewarded for sticking to the basics in helpful conditions. - AFP
England cling on for improbable draw
England tailenders James Anderson and Monty Panesar denied Australia victory in the first Ashes test with an heroic unbeaten last-wicket stand before an ecstatic capacity 16,000-strong crowd yesterday. Victory seemed assured for the Australians when Paul Collingwood was dismissed for 74 after five hours 43 minutes of dogged resistance with England still needing six to make Australia bat again and a minimum 11.3 overs remaining.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting put his faith in off-spinners Nathan Hauritz and Marcus North for the final overs after taking pace bowler Peter Siddle out of the attack.
Anderson (21 not out) and Panesar (seven not out), playing resolutely straight, defied the bowling with the former negotiating the final over from Hauritz to tumultuous applause.
“It was pretty frantic in the dressing room, we were trying to work out the timings,” England captain Andrew Strauss said.
“We were lucky to get out of it. We need to play better.”
Ponting said he would be happy to give away his man-of-the-match medal in exchange for one more wicket and 20 fewer England runs.
“We did pretty much everything right in the match after losing the toss so I’m very proud of the way my team performed.” he said.
“Obviously, was came up just a little bit short today but England battled hard to save the game.” The day began brightly for Australia when Ben Hilfenhaus, bustling in from the River End, captured the wicket Australia prized most by knocking over Kevin Pietersen’s off-stump in the fourth over of the day.
Pietersen, on eight, moved half forward and opted to leave alone a delivery he calculated would swing away. Instead it went straight on.
Hauritz took over from Hilfenhaus and immediately troubled Strauss and Collingwood with four fielders clustered close around the bat.
Strauss square-cut the first boundary of the day but was out off the next ball caught behind by Brad Haddin for 17 attempting a similar shot from a delivery which bounced a little higher.
Hauritz was gifted a second wicket when Matt Prior (14) made the elementary error of trying to cut an off-spinner which turned appreciably and succeeded only in guiding the ball to Michael Clarke at first slip.
Andrew Flintoff (26) and Collingwood added 57 in a fighting sixth-wicket partnership with the former playing a thumping drive to the cover boundary and a clip for four to long-on.
He was out edging Mitchell Johnson to second slip where Ponting took a smart, low catch.
Collingwood, taking no risks at all, reached 50 from 167 balls but lost Stuart Broad lbw for 17 to Hauritz 20 minutes before tea.
Graeme Swann rallied after the interval, playing one lovely drive to the extra-cover boundary off Hilfenhaus. He reached 31 from 81 minutes when he was lbw playing across a full delivery from the same bowler.- Reuters
Ashes draw drama
England’s James Anderson celebrating after staying in to salvage a draw during the first Ashes cricket test against Australia in Cardiff, Wales, yesterday. Anderson and Monty Panesar staged one of cricket’s great escapes as England clung on for the dramatic draw. England’s last-wicket duo batted together for 40 minutes to deny Ashes holders Australia what seemed a certain victory.
Book their ticket to Asian Games Nepali women finish third
KATHMANDU, July 11 - Nepal qualified for the Asian Games after defeating China by 73 runs in the third-place playoff of the ACC Women's T-20 Championship on Saturday.
Nepal's batters had failed miserably in the semi-final against Hong Kong but this time around they batted sensibly to set a target of 104 runs in the allotted 20 overs. Nary Thapa took four wickets to restrict China's run chase to 30 runs in 11 overs.
China started terribly losing their first wicket in the second over with just a run on the board. Chinese batsmen found it hard to find the mid of the bad as struggled to six run at the end of three overs.
Rekha Rawal took the first two wickets to reduce China to six for two wickets. Thapa, who was later adjudicated the man of the match, never let China back into the contest game. She wrecked the Chinese middle order apart with her four wickets for ten runs in her four-over spell.
Rawal grabbed two wickets while Rubina Chhetri took one for Nepal.
Earlier, openers Maya Rawat and Neera Rajopadhyay made 17 and 15 runs respectively to set a target of 104 runs for the loss of five wickets.
Ritu Kanoujiya added 15 runs while Rawal added eight. Mei Chun Hua, Zhou Haijie, Yu Miao and Hu Ting Ting shared a wicket a piece for China.
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