Hope IOA dispute ends soon: Sports Min
Patiala: Sports Minister Jitendra Singh is hopeful that the dispute between International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Indian Olympic Association would be resolved during IOA’s General Body Meeting in New Delhi on December 8. Speaking to mediapersons during his visit to NIS, Patiala he hoped that “General Body meeting of IOA, scheduled for Sunday, may resolve the issue”. The IOC has called its meeting of executive board on December 10 and 11 at its headquarters in Lausanne and may de-recognise IOA if the Indian association fails to amend its constitution to ensure that charge-framed parsons are barred from contesting elections. The IOC has refused to compromise on ethics and has threatened that the already suspended IOA may be de-recognised if it does not fall in line. (PTI)
Kambli discharged from hospital
Mumbai: Former Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli, who had been admitted to Lilavati Hospital here after he suffered a heart attack, was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday. “Yes, he (Kambli) has been discharged,” hospital sources said. The 41-year-old cricketer was rushed to the hospital on November 29 accompanied by police personnel after he complained of chest pain while driving his car and had sought help. “Thank you for your good wishes and prayers. My health is a lot better now. I am back home,” Kambli said after being discharged from the hospital. Kambli had undergone angioplasty on two of his blocked arteries in July 2012. (PTI)
My best ever start to a season: Ronaldo
Madrid: Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo said that he is in the best form of his career after being awarded the Trofeo Alfredo di Stéfano by Spanish sports paper Diario Marca for being the best footballer in the 2013 La Liga. The fact that Ronaldo was given the award, voted by readers of the pro-Real Madrid newspaper, is no surprise but a fair reward for his incredible season in which he has not only led Portugal almost single handedly to the World Cup but has also netted 17 goals in the league. “I am in good form. I think this is the best start of a season that I have had in my career but I have always been in very good form in recent years,” said Ronaldo on Monday. Ronaldo’s side moved to within three points of league leaders FC Barcelona after the weekend’s round of matches and the striker is confident that Real could go from strength-to-strength. “I think we are looking very strong and are getting better bit-by-bit. We are strong, confident and want to carry on like that,” said the 28-year-old. “The formula to success is work, to keep your concentration in training and in matches. Work hard all time. We have to take everything at the right time. We are playing in order to try to win La Liga and the Champions League,” added Ronaldo. (IANS)
McCullum, Taylor tons put NZ on top
Dunedin: New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor tamed the toothless West Indies attack on the opening day of the first cricket Test on Tuesday, both scoring centuries as the home side reached an imposing 367 for three. At close of play McCullum was 109 not out off just 122 balls, with Taylor unbeaten on 103. Hamish Rutherford (62) and Peter Fulton (61) earlier chipped in with half centuries on a dispiriting day for the tourists. New Zealand lost the toss but quickly made the West Indies attack look ordinary despite a green-tinged wicket and cloud cover for much of the day. The cloud cleared at tea, when New Zealand were 194-3, and in the bright sunshine of the final session Taylor and McCullum produced a ruthless display of power batting. The senior batsmen added a further 173 runs in the final session, heaping more misery on the tired West Indies attack,ending the day with an unbeaten partnership worth 182. Captain McCullum, who made no secret of his wish to bowl first, was at his aggressive best, bringing up the 300 with a mighty six when he pulled Shannon Gabriel over square leg. The innings was a personal boost for McCullum, who has been suffering from a severe back injury that requires him to use painkillers to take the field. It was his seventh Test century and ended a slump that has affected his game since he notched a personal best of 225 against India three years ago. (AFP)