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Friday, March 19, 2010
Woods still a terrific golfer, says Obama
WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama Wednesday implicitly welcomed Tiger Woods’ announced return to the links next month, by calling him “a terrific golfer” during a television interview. After fielding weighty questions on domestic and international politics, Obama was told Fox News viewers were emailing to ask his view about Woods’s return to the golf circuit, five months after a sex scandal put his career on hold. “You know, I think that Tiger has acknowledged that he betrayed his family and that’s a personal issue that he has got to work out,” a diplomatic Obama said. “I hope they have worked it out, I’m sure he is going to still be a terrific golfer,” he added.
Wozniacki, Radwanska book semifinal clash
INDIAN WELLS, California: Second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki saw off the tenacious challenge of Zheng Jie Wednesday to book a semifinal showdown with good friend Agnieszka Radwanska at the BNP Paribas Open. Denmark’s Wozniacki stepped it up in the third set to beat Zheng 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, claiming her first victory over the Chinese player in three attempts. Radwanska, the fifth seed from Poland defeated fourth-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva 6-4, 6-3, denying Dementieva a shot at a third title of the season after her victories in Sydney and the Paris Indoors.
Sharapova, Davydenko out of Miami
MIAMI: Three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova will miss the Sony Ericsson Open, as will women’s world number two Dinara Safina and 2008 men’s champion Nikolay Davydenko, organisers said on Wednesday. Sharapova had been slated to play in Miami for the first time since 2007. But an MRI exam on the sore right elbow showed a bone bruise that is likely to sideline the Russian for three to six weeks. Safina remains sidelined by the back injury that forced her out of the Australian Open. Davydenko is out with a broken left wrist. He had played one match at Indian Wells and then pulled out after an MRI revealed a fractured wrist.
Evans not to race in Milan
PARIS: Reigning world champion Cadel Evans has been left off his BMC team’s roster for Saturday’s Milan-San Remo, the first one-day classic of the season. Evans, a two-time runner-up on the Tour de France, showed his early season form by finishing third overall on Sunday in Italy’s Tirreno-Adriatico stage race. However BMC will be led by Italian Alessandro Ballan, who preceded Evans as world champion in 2008, with American George Hincapie, Dutchman Karsten Kroon and German Marcus Burghardt expected to play key roles. At nearly 300km long, Milan-SanRemo is known as one of cycling’s five one-day ‘Monuments’ alongside the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Lombardy.
Whitaker free to compete in London
LONDON: British show-jumper Michael Whitaker has won an appeal against an Olympic doping ban and will be eligible to compete at the 2012 London Games. Whitaker received a four-month ban after his horse, Tackeray, failed a drug test at a competition at La Baule, France, in May 2009.
Imran Tahir leaves Titans
DURBAN: Legspinner Imran Tahir has left the Easterns Titans, the franchises board of directors has confirmed. His pending move to Durban will allow him to play for the Dolphins. Tahir was a member of the Titans squad that won the MTN Domestic Championship and SuperSport Series last season.
Gizri Youth win in football event
KARACHI: Gizri Youth and Sajidi Muhammadan put up fine shows in tie-break session to enter quarter-finals of the All Karachi Taj Muhammad Abbasi Memorial Football Tournament here on Thursday at the Korangi Green Stadium. Landhi’s Erfan Memorial Club turned out to be the luckless outfit as they fumbled a penalty kick during the penalty shoot-out they suffered 6-7 defeats at the hands of Gizri Youth. The Sajidi and Young Bilal clash also produced 0-0 scoreline and Sajidi won it on 3-1 in penalties.
SSB rewards Alysh medallists
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The Sindh Sports Board (SSB) have financially rewarded the outstanding performers of the recently concluded 3rd Asian Alysh Championship 2010 staged in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Sindh Sports Minister, Dr Mohammad Ali Shah, presented cash awards to the trio of Allah Dad Rahu, Mukhtiar Ali Almani and Pervez Ali Awan and their coach, Behram Khan Khaskheli, in a reception hosted in the honour of the returning Malhs here at the Karachi Gymkhana on Thursday.Allad Dad Rahu was handed over a cheque of Rs one lac for winning the gold medal while Mukhtiar Ali Almani, Pervez Ali Awan and Behram Khan Khaskheli received Rs 50,000 each.
‘Injury slowed Real adaptation’
MADRID: Kaka says the poor start to his first season with Real Madrid is partly due to a groin injury. Kaka says he arrived from AC Milan “with the groin problem and that slowed my process of adaptation.” The Brazil playmaker says the injury sapped his confidence and “you can’t do things you normally would be able to.” Kaka told Wednesday’s edition of sports daily AS that adapting to the Spanish city and club has also been part of the reason why he hasn’t been at his best since his $92 million transfer from the Serie A club last offseason. The 28-year-old Kaka has scored eight goals from 29 appearances. Madrid was eliminated from the Champions League in the first knockout round for the sixth straight year.
Shoaib allowed to play BCL
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has allowed all-rounder Shoaib Malik to take part in the Bangladesh cricket league (BCL). The Bangladesh cricket league will commence on March 26 in Sharjah. Sources said that the board’s stance was that Malik is not available for the national team due to a one-year ban and this is why he has been permitted to play league cricket. Earlier, PCB also allowed star batsman Mohammad Yousuf to participate in the Bangladesh league cricket.
Beckham returns to England
LONDON: David Beckham returned to England on Wednesday from Finland after having a surgery to repair his torn Achilles’ tendon.Beckham, left leg in a cast, arrived in London with his wife Victoria in a private jet. The Beckhams, who have yet to speak publicly since the injury, are expected to spend a few days at their home in England before returning to Los Angeles. Beckham was injured Sunday while playing for Italian club AC Milan and the 34-year-old midfielder had to see his World Cup dream dashed as he will be sidelined for about six months.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
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