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Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Foxes declare Hoggard interest
LONDON: Leicestershire are hoping to hold talks with former England bowler Matthew Hoggard after his Yorkshire career came to an acrimonious end on Monday. Hoggard, 32, was released by Yorkshire after 15 years at Headingley, sparking a bitter exchange between player and club, with the seamer declaring himself hurt by the news. Leicestershire have become the first county side to formally declare an interest in the 2005 Ashes hero. “We haven’t spoken to him yet but we do want to talk to him,” said Foxes chief executive David Smith.“He is a player I have asked our head coach Tim Boon to try and speak to.”
Oram retires from Tests
WELLINGTON: Injury-plagued New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram announced on Tuesday he is retiring from Test cricket in a bid to prolong his career in the shorter forms of the game. The 31-year-old, forced out of the recent Champions Trophy one-day tournament with a hamstring injury, said he would continue to be available for One-day Internationals and Twenty20 cricket. Oram, who made his Test debut in 2002, scored 1,780 runs in 33 matches at an average of 36.32, including five centuries. He took 60 wickets at 33.05, taking over from Chris Cairns as New Zealand’s top all-rounder. His international one-day batting average is a more modest 24.40, and he has taken 132 wickets at 30.99 in 132 matches. Oram had put off a decision about his career in spite of a spate of injuries over the past year.
Winning start for Wozniacki
OSAKA: Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark launched her campaign in style by beating Japan’s Ayumi Morita 6-4, 6-1 in the first round of the Japan Open women’s tennis tournament on Tuesday. Former champion Jill Craybas of the US edged past four-time champion Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. Marion Bartoli of France outclassed Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan 6-3, 7-5. In other action, Taiwan’s Chang Kai-chen defeated Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 7-5, 6-1. Japan’s Kurumi Nara earned a place against Bartoli by beating Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-2, while Samantha Stosur of Australia beat Alexandra Panova of Russia 6-2, 6-4.
‘Barrichello signs with Williams’
SAO PAULO: Brazilian Formula One driver Rubens Barrichello has signed for Williams and will leave current stable Brawn GP at the end of the current season, Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper reported on Monday. Barrichello, currently on a reputed two million dollars annual salary, “has already signed a contract with Williams for the 2010 season with a mutual option to extend for another year”, the paper said. Williams will pay him “some four times more” plus win bonuses, the report added. Barrichello is duelling with British stablemate Jenson Button for the championship as the season enters its final stretch with just Brazil and Abu Dhabi to come. He has 71 points to Button’s 85. Folha said that German Nico Hulkenberg would be Barrichello’s teammate next season.
Del Potro on standby for Kooyong Classic
MELBOURNE: US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro has been named as an alternate player for the Kooyong Classic exhibition tournament here in January, organisers said on Tuesday. Argentina’s Del Potro, 21, is on standby to play if world number one Roger Federer does not take up the eighth and final place in the draw for the January 13-16 warm-up tournament ahead of the Australian Open, organisers said. “If Roger decides against playing at Kooyong, or another player withdraws before the tournament, Juan Martin will step into the field,” tournament director Colin Stubs said. “I am delighted that such strong back-up plans have been put in place.” Other confirmed signings for the Kooyong Classic are Novak Djokovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Fernando Verdasco, Robin Soderling, Fernando Gonzalez, Tommy Haas and Marcos Baghdatis.
Federer, Nadal to begin next season at Abu Dhabi
DUBAI: Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal will begin the 2010 season in Abu Dhabi by playing in a six-man, $250,000 winner-takes-all exhibition tournament, local media reported on Tuesday.Swiss world number one Federer and his Spanish rival have confirmed they will be taking part in the event, which starts on December 31, Dubai’s Gulf News quoted organisers as saying. Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Russian Nikolay Davydenko, Spain’s Fernando Verdasco and Swede Robin Soderling will also take part. British world number three Andy Murray, who defeated Nadal in the inaugural event this year, has decided to skip the event, organisers added. Murray is currently nursing a wrist injury and has withdrawn from this week’s Shanghai Masters.
Al-Jazeera buys rights for Euro 2012 and 2016
NYON, Switzerland: Broadcaster Al-Jazeera on Tuesday bought the rights to screen the European Championship in 2012 and 2016. The multimedia deal with UEFA covers Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia in North Africa, plus countries across the Middle East. The value was not disclosed. “Al-Jazeera Sport is a reliable partner whose high production standards will help promote football in the region,” UEFA said in a statement. UEFA and the Qatar-based broadcaster have partnered on the past two European tournaments and the Champions League through 2012. The Euro 2012-16 deal allows Al-Jazeera to screen live matches on pay channels and delayed coverage on free channels. It can also broadcast to Internet and mobile phone users.
Jones to miss Durban Cup leg
SYDNEY: Australia’s eight-time Olympic medallist Leisel Jones will miss this week’s opening leg of the FINA World Cup in Durban because of a virus, Swimming Australia said on Tuesday. The 100-metres breaststroke short course world record holder was due to fly to South Africa on Tuesday with the Australian team for the first of five meets for this year’s World Cup series. But she will instead stay home in a bid to be fit for the second meet of the World Cup series in Moscow on November 6, officials said.
Punjab CC win tourney
By our correspondent
KARACHI: Punjab Cricket Club won the inaugural Abdul Majid Memorial Cricket Tournament 2009 by overpowering United Gymkhana by 28 runs in the final here at the Pak Star Malir Ground the other day. Batting first, Punjab CC amassed 174 runs for the loss of four wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Rashid Hussain was their topscorer with 60 with the help of a six and 11 fours. Taslim Baloch (35) and Ashfaq Ahmed (25) were their other leading scorers. Left-arm spinner Malik Murtaza grabbed six wickets for 23 runs to limit United Gymkhana to 146 for eight in 20 overs despite fine knocks from Fazle Azeem (30), Faisal Iqbal (25) and Mohammad Faisal (22).
Ronaldo to be in shape for 2010
RIO DE JANEIRO: Corinthians physical trainer promised on Monday that he will have the overweighted Ronaldo ready for a great 2010 season. Ronaldo recently received his third yellow card in the October 10 victory over Gremio in which he scored a goal and assisted another. As a result, the player will have a 15-daybreak in which he will focus on bettering his physical condition. “Last week, Ronaldo had a great week. He had three days in which we worked specifically on his conditioning. We recognize that he remains overweight,” said Vlamir Cruz.
Real ban C-Ron from qualifier
MADRID: Real Madrid have forbidden their Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo from going to watch Wednesday’s final World Cup qualifier against Malta, Spanish media reported on Monday. Ronaldo is out of the game with an ankle injury and Real are reported as insisting he does not travel to Guimaraes, according to TVE television and sports daily AS. Real are already upset that Ronaldo is set to be out for a month after he aggravated an existing ankle problem in Saturday’s win over Hungary, during which he hobbled off. He suffered the original problem in the Champions League win over Marseille.
Totti considers Italy return
ROME: AS Roma forward Francesco Totti says he would consider returning to Italy’s national team for the World Cup. Hobbled by injuries in recent years, the 33-year-old Totti retired from international play after Italy won the 2006 World Cup. But he told Tuesday’s Gazzetta dello Sport: “It depends on coach (Marcello Lippi’s) choices and my condition. I owe (Lippi) a lot.” Struggling in attack lately, Italy is in desperate need of a player with Totti’s all-around skills. The AS Roma captain has scored nine goals in 53 appearances for Italy. He has six goals through Roma’s first seven games in Serie A.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
