tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72586887383131356182024-02-07T02:18:31.112-08:00SPORTS FANATIQUESPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-15138591680501869232013-12-20T04:26:00.002-08:002013-12-20T04:26:18.690-08:00JIRONI THE KING!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMJdDroGSAyq1ZKWjCPCft5mqSsgV3xhinjX4u0fU0rbOXLq_RCdyk4LBKZQ2dNkIFSevBti1hO9FSsMyTliCDUBGhyGDhptawySWhec-Lvu89TG1ViriPS7xQ9IWClHWtXFhZ2Ywe-2A/s1600/jironi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMJdDroGSAyq1ZKWjCPCft5mqSsgV3xhinjX4u0fU0rbOXLq_RCdyk4LBKZQ2dNkIFSevBti1hO9FSsMyTliCDUBGhyGDhptawySWhec-Lvu89TG1ViriPS7xQ9IWClHWtXFhZ2Ywe-2A/s320/jironi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
CONGRATULATION TO MOHD JIRONI RIDUAN FOR THE TWO GOLD MEDALS IN 2013 SEA GAMES!!!SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-22926209045694698022013-12-19T10:02:00.003-08:002013-12-19T10:02:42.715-08:00BLOGRRR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMikZklWGXvCWVd4c73FD0zEMTqxF8wSNSWgiy1y8lhf0PPiXadLy8CB6LT88TRShiBm62Wvz9e-kmkanZTp-HPTVrULwZ-E7iIQw2HDStflwrpwbQnqbuNQVFexiTTvUJso1iaNsjwRC/s1600/20131214_141825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMikZklWGXvCWVd4c73FD0zEMTqxF8wSNSWgiy1y8lhf0PPiXadLy8CB6LT88TRShiBm62Wvz9e-kmkanZTp-HPTVrULwZ-E7iIQw2HDStflwrpwbQnqbuNQVFexiTTvUJso1iaNsjwRC/s320/20131214_141825.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-39288394237954004862013-03-14T21:18:00.002-07:002013-03-14T21:18:16.160-07:00INDIAN WELLS 2013INDIAN WELLS (California): The women's quarter-finals at Indian Wells
ended with a whimper on Thursday as defending champion Victoria
Azarenka and seventh seed Sam Stosur both pulled out with injuries.<br />
Azarenka's
bid to become the first woman since Martina Navratilova in 1990-91 to
retain her title in the California desert crashed to a halt as the world
No. 2 from Belarus withdrew before her clash with Caroline Wozniacki
with tendinitis and inflammation in her right foot and ankle.<br />
Stosur,
a former US Open champion, pulled out with a right calf injury,
granting fourth seed Angelique Kerber of Germany a walkover.<br />
"I
think the situation is very strange for the tournament," Kerber said.
"It's not great. I think everybody would like to play and win of course.
Caroline now has the same situation, so I think we are both ready for
Friday's match."<br />
The other women's semi was set on Wednesday,
with second-seeded Maria Sharapova setting up a meeting with fellow
Russian Maria Kirilenko.<br />
Sharapova won Indian Wells in 2006 and was runner-up to Azarenka last year. She's in the semi-finals for the sixth time.<br />
Kirilenko,
who upset third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in the fourth round and
fifth-seeded former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the quarters,
reached the final four for the first time in 10 appearances here.<br />
Both
Azarenka and Stosur withdrew after trying to warm up for their matches.
Now both are just hoping to be fit for the hard court tournament in
Miami that starts next week.<br />
"I'll talk to the physios and the
doctors and work out a good plan for how many days off I need to take
off and go from there," said Stosur, who said she "felt something go" in
her calf in the last game of her fourth-round win over Mona Barthel on
Tuesday.<br />
"It's all a bit up in the air at the moment because I've
never been through this type of injury before, so it's a matter of wait
and see, talking to the people who know and reassessing each day," she
said. Azarenka was in much the same boat.<br />
"That's frustrating for me as a player, not knowing," she said over the uncertainty of her expected recovery time.<br />
"Sometimes
you think, OK, well, I rest three days and I'm going to be fine with
it. But when you don't know the healing process it's a little bit
frustrating."<br />
Azarenka is unbeaten on the court in 2013, a 17-0 run that includes an Australian Open triumph and a title in Doha.<br />
But
this is the second time she has surrendered a walkover. She withdrew
before her scheduled semi-final against Serena Williams in Brisbane with
an infected toe. - AFP SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-37980092819897121162012-09-30T04:23:00.001-07:002012-09-30T04:23:23.964-07:00TENNIS MALAYSIAN OPEN 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IaW2dpsk8rlAzD43X7lFzIKVQsEkah2J5J4xzQh5sdh8d-SMfQaiBnWv1l38byRx5rh1CbPex71aD262n5ZVnOqEuN8DbDGdlgcHryeLeS3Rox1OzvjdIAlCH73u8dOhMIvqseOYo6qH/s1600/20120930_143207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IaW2dpsk8rlAzD43X7lFzIKVQsEkah2J5J4xzQh5sdh8d-SMfQaiBnWv1l38byRx5rh1CbPex71aD262n5ZVnOqEuN8DbDGdlgcHryeLeS3Rox1OzvjdIAlCH73u8dOhMIvqseOYo6qH/s320/20120930_143207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2SKVqHBZJIkIUHDWC-4f0eYDL-mGCkJihakJZEmOk-W6ZKf1wH3OalBg6BmBp8JrH83WRBMwv7_ngCLQCMYIzFP6kDIcuWp0UGKNHNTdRkt1pdhW8USGpCFWujO1jCBK5nI-PdJ-421y/s1600/20120930_143048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2SKVqHBZJIkIUHDWC-4f0eYDL-mGCkJihakJZEmOk-W6ZKf1wH3OalBg6BmBp8JrH83WRBMwv7_ngCLQCMYIzFP6kDIcuWp0UGKNHNTdRkt1pdhW8USGpCFWujO1jCBK5nI-PdJ-421y/s320/20120930_143048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04NF58RcjfjyZWMFMMxtQwbBMDA2HA7fSISrT2tRITzlde1OSRMpexlengl-PxYHQuy2KLECWhyphenhyphenLPANHAOniX6CkSPgmWxkTOLWOjF2NV-mRGPfyg3IQP84bU9zZ1GTOWlcpVwOCrX9um/s1600/20120930_143020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04NF58RcjfjyZWMFMMxtQwbBMDA2HA7fSISrT2tRITzlde1OSRMpexlengl-PxYHQuy2KLECWhyphenhyphenLPANHAOniX6CkSPgmWxkTOLWOjF2NV-mRGPfyg3IQP84bU9zZ1GTOWlcpVwOCrX9um/s320/20120930_143020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDucBJgZref-XNok5_lwqPx6_Vekj8qKI0m6swrkdTDZo79RlFcp0Vo0TnAbqiDreLzdVhdS0Fk9_QJkWoOsEll3ZS0CzsntmBunqbX2DjT3eXOIRvPIf4sSFl97taMy7cUlw6oiOF0k6/s1600/20120930_143618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDucBJgZref-XNok5_lwqPx6_Vekj8qKI0m6swrkdTDZo79RlFcp0Vo0TnAbqiDreLzdVhdS0Fk9_QJkWoOsEll3ZS0CzsntmBunqbX2DjT3eXOIRvPIf4sSFl97taMy7cUlw6oiOF0k6/s320/20120930_143618.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-43427763946587577482012-03-15T18:17:00.000-07:002012-03-15T18:17:29.564-07:00MANCHESTER UNITED BUNDLED OUT(Reuters) – Manchester United and Manchester City were bundled out of the Europa League by less glamorous opponents on Thursday as their wretched continental seasons ended in last-16 defeat.<br />
<br />
Both had parachuted into the second-tier competition after group-stage exits from the elite Champions League and both boasted much bigger resources than their conquerors. But the manner of the exits could not have been more different.<br />
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_15464" style="width: 610px;"><a href="http://football.thestar.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/latestManchesterCity600_1603.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-15464" height="340px" src="http://football.thestar.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/latestManchesterCity600_1603.jpg" title="Manchester United's Wayne Rooney shoots to score during their Europa League soccer match against Athletic Bilbao in Bilbao" width="600px" /></a> <div class="wp-caption-text">Manchester United's Wayne Rooney shoots to score during their Europa League soccer match against Athletic Bilbao in Bilbao. - REUTERS</div></div>City clawed their way back from 2-0 down on the night to win 3-2 against visiting Sporting Lisbon but went out on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate result.<br />
<br />
United were outclassed in both legs by Athletic Bilbao, losing 2-1 on the night in Spain and 5-3 overall.<br />
Two down at halftime at Eastlands, City staged a breathtaking rally with two goals by Sergio Aguero and a Mario Balotelli penalty to stand on the verge of a remarkable comeback.<br />
<br />
A fairytale ending was millimetres away when goalkeeper Joe Hart’s header whizzed just wide in the last minute of stoppage time.<br />
<br />
There was no such passion on show by an apathetic United who were undone by a stunning first-half volley from Fernando Llorente and a deflected strike from Oscar de Marcos.<br />
United forward Wayne Rooney scored a superb 80th-minute consolation goal but the damage was already done as the enthusiasm and talent of La Liga’s seventh-placed side proved too much for the English Premier League champions.<br />
<br />
“I don’t think we can complain,” United manager Alex Ferguson told Channel Five television. “There are always lessons in every football match whether you win or lose.”<br />
<br />
Sporting and Bilbao are joined in the last eight by Valencia, who drew 1-1 at PSV Eindhoven to go through 5-3 overall, and Hanover 96 who beat Standard Liege 4-0 for a 6-2 aggregate win.<br />
<br />
AZ Alkmaar also progressed despite going down to 10 men after two minutes when Nick Viergever was sent off and falling two goals behind in the first quarter of an hour at Udinese.<br />
<br />
The Dutch side eventually lost 2-1 but squeezed through 3-2 on aggregate.<br />
Three La Liga sides advanced with Atletico Madrid joining Bilbao and Valencia in the next round after a 3-0 win at Besiktas gave them a 6-1 aggregate triumph.<br />
<br />
Schalke 04 also made the quarter-finals having overhauled a first-leg deficit to beat Twente Enschede 4-1 on the night and 4-2 overall.<br />
<br />
Metalist Kharkiv of Ukraine progressed on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate result against Olympiakos Piraeus.SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-81955516410989861372012-03-14T18:09:00.000-07:002012-03-14T18:09:29.573-07:00INDIAN WELLS ATP 2012INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Fifth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer was ousted from the Indian Wells ATP tournament on Tuesday as Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer both moved into the fourth round.<br />
<div class="story_image center"><img alt="" src="http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2012/3/15/sports/2012-03-14T070053Z_1_CBRE82D0JHK00_RTROPTP_2_TENNIS-INDIAN.JPG" /><span class="caption">Roger Federer of Switzerland give a thumbs up to the crowd after defeating Milos Raonic of Canada in their match at the Indian Wells ATP tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, March 13, 2012. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok</span></div><br />
Ferrer was upset 6-4 6-3 by Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin, Nadal swept past fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers 6-1 6-4 and Federer survived an early storm from Milos Raonic before completing a 6-7 6-2 6-4 victory.<br />
<br />
A winner of three titles this year, Ferrer had lost only once in 20 ATP matches this season before struggling badly on his second serve as he was outplayed by the 51st-ranked Istomin.<br />
<br />
"I didn't play a good match even though I don't want to take credit from him," the Spaniard Tweeted in his native language. "He was the better player today and played very well, a fair winner."<br />
<br />
Claycourt specialist Ferrer, a former world number four, had won titles in Auckland, Buenos Aires and Acapulco this year.<br />
<br />
Second seed Nadal, Indian Wells champion in 2007 and 2009, dominated Granollers with his superb baseline game but lost a bit of momentum in the second set before triumphing in one hour, 25 minutes with an ace on his fifth match point.<br />
<br />
"I played well. It was a comfortable first set," Nadal said. "I didn't play my best in the second. I had a few mistakes, especially for the backhand, and then I was in a little bit trouble. But I am happy that I finished the match well."<br />
<br />
Federer was stunned by Raonic's power serving in the opening set but delivered a master class in the next two before wrapping up the win in just over two hours when the towering Canadian netted a forehand.<br />
The Swiss, who had never previously played the 21-year-old, will next face Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci, who benefited from a walkover when Russian Nikolay Davydenko withdrew due to illness.<br />
FEDERER PRAISE<br />
<br />
"I was impressed (by Raonic)," triple champion Federer said. "He played great and made it hard for me by winning that first set tiebreaker.<br />
<br />
"He kept himself in the match till the very end, and obviously put a lot of pressure on me. I think the longer I stayed out there the better I started feeling."<br />
<br />
Big-serving Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina survived a shaky second set to beat Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco 6-2 7-6 in the first match of the day on the stadium court.<br />
Del Potro, who won his first grand slam title at the 2009 U.S. Open, breezed through his opening set in 39 minutes before struggling against his opponent's fluent ground strokes.<br />
<br />
The six-foot six-inch (1.98m) Argentine saved four set points on his own serve in a marathon 10th game, and two more in the tiebreak, before sealing victory when a Verdasco backhand flew long.<br />
Del Potro clenched his fists in delight before making a sign of the cross on his chest and looking skywards in relief as the stadium court crowd erupted in applause.<br />
<br />
"I am still very nervous from that moment when Fernando played much better than me in the second set," the 23-year-old said. "Verdasco is a really difficult opponent, especially in the early rounds of the big tournaments.<br />
<br />
"He's very, very tough and very dangerous. Sometimes you are lucky to win these kinds of matches."<br />
Sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France battled back to beat Czech Radek Stepanek 6-7 6-3 6-2 while Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov scraped past Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-4 5-7 6-4.SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-82994195314744372462012-03-13T20:15:00.000-07:002012-03-13T20:15:19.377-07:00CAN TIGER WOOD WIN?MIAMI: Tiger Woods said on Monday that he has suffered only a mild strain of his left Achilles tendon and that he is hopeful of playing in the US PGA Arnold Palmer Invitational next week as planned.<br />
<br />
Woods withdrew from the World Golf Championships event at Doral on Sunday after hitting his tee shot on the 12th hole, complaining of a tightness in his left Achilles tendon, the same one he hurt at last year’s Masters tournament.<br />
<br />
After a physician examined Woods on Monday, the former World No. 1 reported the progress on his Twitter microblogging website.<br />
<div class="story_image center" style="width: 244px;"><img alt="" height="367px" src="http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2012/3/14/sports/s_pg54tiger.jpg" width="230px" /> <span class="caption">In pain: Tiger Woods grimaces after hitting off the 12th tee during the final round of the Cadillac Championship golf tournament on Sunday. He withdrew from the tournament after that and was driven away in a cart. — AP</span> </div><br />
“Got good news from doc tonight. Only mild strain of left Achilles,” Woods posted on Twitter.<br />
“Can resume hitting balls late in week and hopeful for next week.”<br />
<br />
Woods had planned to play next week’s PGA event at Bay Hill as his final tuneup for the year’s first Major, the Masters, which tees off on April 5 at Augusta National Golf Club.<br />
<br />
The latest injury scare for Woods has the golf world wondering if the 14-time Major champion will ever win again, much less challenge the all-time record of 18 Major titles won by Jack Nicklaus.<br />
<br />
The former World No. 1 has not won an official event on any Tour since the Australian Masters on Nov 15, 2009, just before the revelations of a secret sex life that led to his divorce from wife Elin Nordegren.<br />
For the fourth time in five years, Woods faces a major setback to his season, having battled through a left knee injury in 2008 to win the US Open, knee and tendon pain last year and the aftermath to his sex scandal in 2010.<br />
<br />
Woods has undergone four operations on his left knee, including reconstructive surgery after he limped through a playoff to win the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines, his most recent Major triumph.<br />
The biggest concern about the timing of the latest health scare for Woods is that he risks missing the Masters, the one major Woods has never missed since his 1995 debut as an amateur.<br />
<br />
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, the reigning US Open champion and a solid favourite at the Masters with or without Woods in the field, hopes to see Woods among the pine trees at Augusta.<br />
“It’s probably just precautionary but I really hope he’s ready for the Masters,” McIlroy said on Sunday.<br />
“It’s a shame because he looked like he was coming out this year swinging it really well, playing good, getting himself into contention.<br />
<br />
“Tiger Woods has been the face of golf for the last 15 years. Feeling like he’s coming back to his best, or something near his best, it’s great for the game. He can spark an interest in the game that no one else can.” – AFP <br />
<br />
SOURCE : <a href="http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2012/3/14/sports/10909912&sec=sports">Thestar</a>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-72037269853580698762012-03-13T20:09:00.001-07:002012-03-13T20:11:07.563-07:00ALL ENGLAND FINAL 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAifXFkAg0pur2eXiUOpL344vFPM6t3W_M9hH9SppIaZCvJq3geXdsP7iD8CmEZDzmxTyIf6gxA2NgyYXykb5LJ9LIcn19IZRg2xHRQfhdLStFQF9o-ySjwEbZX6_2NCtuuVeJP-rbF-Q/s1600/badders_2165058b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="199px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAifXFkAg0pur2eXiUOpL344vFPM6t3W_M9hH9SppIaZCvJq3geXdsP7iD8CmEZDzmxTyIf6gxA2NgyYXykb5LJ9LIcn19IZRg2xHRQfhdLStFQF9o-ySjwEbZX6_2NCtuuVeJP-rbF-Q/s320/badders_2165058b.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>Chinese pin-up Lin Dan won his fifth All England men's singles title on Sunday against Lee Chong Wei, but only after his chief rival from Malaysia was forced to retire with a shoulder injury in Birmingham.<br />
<br />
<div class="firstPar">There was to be no record, no congratulatory phone call from the Malaysian prime minister. Chinese pin-up Lin Dan won his fifth All England men's singles title on Sunday against Lee Chong Wei, but only after his chief rival from Malaysia was forced to retire with a shoulder injury in Birmingham. </div><div class="secondPar"><br />
Lin had said before the final that he didn't care who won the showdown everyone was hoping for. But the world and Olympic champion clearly showed compassion when the world No 1 offered his hand when 21-19 and 6-2 down in the second game. </div><div class="thirdPar">Before Chong Wei's injury - he played with his right shoulder heavily strapped - the Malaysian Datuk was perhaps slight favourite for a third successive All England title, a feat no men's singles player had achieved since Rudy Hartono, the Indonesian master of 38 years ago.</div><div class="fourthPar">At least there were glimpses during their brief 31-minute foray as to why these two are considered the best in their discipline by some considerable distance. </div><div class="fifthPar">Both defend with remarkable agility - which the packed Birmingham crowd had earlier witnessed to superb effect in a men's doubles thriller - while their speed and net play made sure of a 28th meeting. Lin has now prevailed in 19 of those encounters. <br />
<br />
<div class="body">Despite their obvious ferocity on court, a unique bond exists between these two players off it, summed up when the two swapped shirts "on the spur of the moment" over the net, to the delight of the 8,000 inside the National Indoor Arena. <br />
<br />
"We know each other very well," said a jubilant Lin. "We have been playing together since we were juniors. He has made my career more successful. <br />
<br />
"We are both reaching the end of our careers and the game is not always about winning and losing. It's something more important." <br />
<br />
Some will now see Chong Wei's defeat as another psychological dagger ahead of an anticipated Olympic final date later this summer.<br />
<br />
Chong Wei, who lost out to his rival in a thrilling World Championships final at Wembley last summer, has had the measure of his opponent in recent months on the world tour. Lin, though, wins the pivotal matches when it matters. <br />
<br />
Odds are that Chong Wei will retire after the Olympics. The Malaysian will now make sure of a full recovery before a final tilt at the biggest accolode. <br />
<br />
Source: <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9137227/All-England-Badminton-2012-Malaysian-Lee-Chong-Weis-record-bid-thwarted-by-injury-as-Lin-Dan-wins-fifth-title.html">telegraph</a></div></div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-14836859591876851832012-02-11T03:01:00.000-08:002012-02-11T03:01:38.483-08:00ASIAN CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tinkering with the schedule at the last minute dented Malaysia’s hopes of grabbing at least another gold in the elite ranks of the Asian Cycling Championships at the Cheras Velodrome yesterday.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Melbourne-based track cyclists Azizulhasni Awang and Fatehah Mustapa could not turn on the speed they needed to put up a strong challenge in the men’s and women’s sprint finals respectively due to a lack of proper warm-up and had to settle for silver medals.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Malaysian cyclists were caught off-guard by the organisers’ move to hold all the prize-giving ceremonies for all finals only after all the day’s competitions had been completed.</div><div class="story_image center" style="background-color: white; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 414px;"><img alt="" height="295" src="http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2012/2/11/sports/s_pg55fatehah.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="400" /><span class="caption" style="clear: both; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold;"><b>Sporting act:</b> Malaysia’s Fatehah Mustapa (right) congratulating Hong Kong’s Lee Wai Sze for winning the women’s elite sprint gold Friday.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">So the track competition started in the morning as the organisers wanted to wrap everything up before 1pm.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Azizul, who impressed by beating Guangzhou Asian Games sprint gold medallist Zhang Lei in the semi-finals on Thursday, did not perform to his best ability against Japan’s Kazunari Watabane in the final.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fatehah failed to match the powerful Lee Wai Sze of Hong Kong, who went on to grab her second gold medal after winning the 500m time trial on Thursday.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Azizul, who last won the sprint title at the Asian meet in 2009, felt he could have done better if he had more time to warm up.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“I beat Zhang Lei yesterday and I thought to myself this morning, there was a good chance of me regaining the sprint gold medal,” he said.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“But I arrived in the morning and found out that we had to do the sprint immediately after the points race for the juniors had finished.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“I did not warm up properly while my rival had already warmed up as he did the team sprint for Japan earlier.”</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Kazunari raced in the Japan team sprint trio who were beaten by China to the gold earlier in the morning.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“The schedule has been changing since the first day and I’m unhappy that I could not give my best for the country, the fans and also my family members who came to see me race on homeground after so long.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“But as a professional athlete, I have to acccept the outcome.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“My performance is not bad as I made the sprint final and I’ll see what I can do for the keirin next,” said Azizul, who only returned to action in November after a long lay-off due to a horrific calf injury suffered in the World Cup in Manchester last February.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fatehah, making her first ever appearance in the sprint final, said her legs were heavy but admitted Wai Sze was the better cyclist.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“But I am very frustrated I did not get to put up a stronger fight.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“The organisers are not professional for changing the schedule just like that. How do they expect us to win medals for the country under this situation?” said Fatehah, who has a chance to make amends in the keirin starting today.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Source :<a href="http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2012/2/11/sports/10717201&sec=sports">Thestar</a></div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-56994570935929641132012-01-26T23:02:00.000-08:002012-01-26T23:02:20.517-08:00AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2012 - WOMAN FINAL<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">FORMER champion Maria Sharapova and Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka will fight for the Australian Open title and the number one ranking after winning nerve–wracking semi–finals.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Russia’s Sharapova gained sweet revenge for her Wimbledon final defeat to Petra Kvitova, after Azarenka survived a second–set collapse against defending champion Kim Clijsters to reach her first Major title match.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“I felt like my hand is about 200kg and my body is about 1,000kg,” Azarenka said, wiping away tears.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Everything is shaking but that feeling when you finally win is such a relief. I can’t believe it’s over – I just want to cry.”</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Both semi–finals were closely fought and impossible to predict, and each went to three tense sets with Sharapova winning 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 and Azarenka beating Clijsters 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Australian Open has heralded a shake–up in women’s tennis with Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki set to drop from world number one to four, and with Clijsters now following long–dominant Serena Williams out of the tournament.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Azarenka can now claim Belarus’ first ever Grand Slam title in tomorrow’s final, while resurgent Sharapova gets another shot at breaking a four–year Major drought since her previous Melbourne win in 2008.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Third seed Azarenka, 22, wept on court after she upset four–time Major champion Clijsters to go one step better than her previous Grand Slam best of reaching the semi-finals at last year’s Wimbledon.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She has often faltered on the big stage, most noticeably at the 2010 Australian Open when she led eventual champion Williams before imploding. But she stood firm yesterday to hold off Clijsters’ strong revival.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Before, I think you all thought I was a mental case but I was just young and emotional,” she said. “But I’m really glad the way I fought. That’s the thing I’m most proud of, I fought for every ball.”</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In the second semi-final, a rematch of last year’s Wimbledon decider, Kvitova and Sharapova threw everything at each other for almost two–and–a–quarter hours on Rod Laver Arena.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sharapova dominated the first set and Kvitova the second, with the pair evenly matched in the third until Kvitova faltered at 4-5 to lose her serve and send Sharapova through to the final.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“I felt like in the third set she always had the advantage because I was always down on my serve,” said Sharapova, adding: “And I just thought you have got to go for it.”</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Both the finalists have faced criticism over their loud on–court shrieking this week, with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announcing plans aimed at curbing the trend. – AFP</div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-17026710789478498312012-01-26T23:00:00.001-08:002012-01-26T23:00:56.394-08:00AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2012<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">SPAIN’S Rafael Nadal extended his mastery over Roger Federer when he came from a set down to win a gripping Australian Open semi-final.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In a rematch of the 2009 final, Federer opened like a train yesterday but he was gradually reeled in by the tenacious Nadal to suffer his fifth straight Grand Slam defeat to his great rival 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“For me it’s a dream to be back in the final,” said a smiling Nadal.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“It’s a real honour to play against Roger, it was a fantastic match. It’s fantastic to have one player in front of you who doesn’t make mistakes, having a totally complete game.”</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Nadal will now face either defending champion Novak Djokovic or fourth seed Andy Murray, who play today, as he looks for his second Australian Open crown and his 11th Grand Slam title.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The 25-year-old strengthened his spell-binding hold on the otherwise masterful Swiss, who has won only two of their 10 Grand Slam meetings, both at Wimbledon, and none since 2007.</div><div class="story_image center" style="float: none; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 414px;"><img alt="" height="299" src="http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2012/1/27/sports/s_pg52nadalwin.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="400" /><span class="caption" style="clear: both; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold;"><b>Sheer joy:</b> Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates after booking his place in the Australian Open final in Melbourne. –EPA</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Three years ago, Federer wept openly when Nadal won their epic, five–set Melbourne final. And on a chilly Melbourne night there was no revenge for the 16–time slam winner, who now extends a two–year Major drought.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Federer produced flawless tennis at the start of the match but his game unravelled when put under pressure by Nadal and he finished with 63 unforced errors.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Unleashing his full arsenal, four–time Australian Open champion Federer held serve to love and broke the Spaniard at his first opportunity with a devastating crosscourt backhand with Nadal struggling to gain a foothold.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Nadal broke back but third seed Federer raised his game again after his mid–set wobble and he took the tiebreak when Nadal went long.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The players swapped service breaks at the start of the second set but the turning point came when Nadal held off a Federer break point in the fifth game and then broke the Swiss in the very next game to move ahead 4-2.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The match was suspended for 10 minutes for Australia Day fireworks with Nadal leading 5-2 and when play resumed, Federer badly lost his focus, losing 11 consecutive points on top of straight three points he lost before the break.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Nadal, 25, levelled the match at one set apiece, took the first game of set three to love and held three break points after two consecutive Federer double faults, only for the misfiring Swiss to claw himself out of the hole.</div><div class="story_image center" style="float: none; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 364px;"><img alt="" height="231" src="http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2012/1/27/sports/s_pg52rogerlost.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="350" /><span class="caption" style="clear: both; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold;"><b>Hard work:</b> Roger Federer of Switzerland wiping his face during the semi-final against Rafael Nadal. –Reuters</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Federer, 30, battled hard to break Nadal in game seven of the third set but the Spaniard broke back immediately to level things up and Nadal went on to take the tiebreak on his sixth set point.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A tense fourth set went with serve with Nadal looking stronger mentally, continuing to chase down balls from seemingly impossible situations.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He saved a break point from Federer in the eighth game and broke the Swiss in the following game.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">But the Spaniard still had to fight hard to serve out for victory, saving two Federer break points, including an astonishing retrieval onto the baseline which the Swiss then wafted wide.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Federer, seeking his first Grand Slam win in two years, had not dropped a set until yesterday’s semi-final but Nadal, who now leads their overall series 18-9, once again proved he has the edge on the biggest stage.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The match was their 10th Grand Slam encounter, putting them equal with Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe for most matches played at Majors. – AFP</div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-86745160607290258832011-11-13T21:08:00.000-08:002011-11-13T21:08:56.694-08:00Roger Federer beats Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win his first Paris Masters<img alt="Roger Federer" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/columnists/2011/11/13/1321201475272/Roger-Federer-007.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Roger Federer beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 7-6 on Sunday to win the Paris Masters for the first time and clinch the 69th title of his career. The winner of 16 majors had never reached the final of this event but gave the sixth-seeded Frenchman little chance after saving two break points in his opening service game.</div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"I've been waiting for this for a long time," Federer said. "I'm really happy to have finally made it."</div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Federer's 18th Masters title puts him one ahead of Andre Agassi and one behind the all-time leader, Rafael Nadal. The 30-year-old from Switzerland is on a 12-match unbeaten run after winning the Swiss Indoors in Basel last week.</div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tsonga improved his serve in the second set but Federer was too strong in the tie‑break, taking victory on his third match point when Tsonga's return landed out. Tsonga won the tournament in 2008 but was let down by too many unforced errors on his forehand as he tried to find a way to pressure Federer in their sixth meeting this year. "I just wish I could have competed more," said Tsonga, who beat Federer in the quarter‑finals at Wimbledon but lost at the same stage to the Swiss at the US Open. Overall, Federer now leads Tsonga 6-3.</div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Federer took 80 minutes to beat Tomas Berdych in straight sets in the semi-finals on Saturday whereas Tsonga laboured for three hours and saved three match points before getting the better of the unseeded American John Isner.</div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Federer's sharpness showed as he attacked Tsonga's weak second serve in the first set. He opened up a 4-0 lead after Tsonga, remonstrating with himself over too many loose forehands, served a double fault. The opening set lasted 30 minutes, Federer clinching it with a whipped forehand winner into the open court.</div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tsonga had to raise his game in the second set or risk a thrashing and he dug out a cross‑court winning forehand in the fourth game to set up break point. With Federer on second serve, Tsonga missed his chance when his hurried forehand went out. With Federer's seemingly impregnable serve dipping for the first time in the match, the Frenchman missed another opportunity at 30-40 in the eighth game when he sent a forehand long.</div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Federer hardly had to dig deep but he did thrill the crowd with one moment of brilliance in the next game. A closely contested rally saw Tsonga send Federer scampering to the back of the court to retrieve a lob. Federer waited for the ball to sit up, spun round and hit a devastating backhand pass.</div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tsonga looked nervous in the tie‑break, hitting a forehand long and a backhand into the net – either side of Federer's forehand winner and service winner – to trail 0-4. Federer raced to 6-1 and, though Tsonga saved two match points with a neat drop shot and a service winner, it was a brief reprieve.</div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Having won the Swiss indoors and Paris Masters back to back, Federer heads to London in fine form for the eight-man ATP World Tour Finals in London.</div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Source: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/nov/13/roger-federer-wins-paris-masters-title">Guardian</a></div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-82132679623316355452011-11-10T02:22:00.000-08:002011-11-10T02:22:23.000-08:00MARIA SHARAPOVA<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">GOOD LUCK FOR NEXT SEASON 2012!!</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcIrMGfJBYzhPiWNonCTRCCJFer_dr7lARnOsEOth0z27IbCKpmVVOp0agpmSfHSlIBwylErDNzHOCudq0yUt4_5dRoTYengGJu4Ie-5y51zGb_PxOl0GTuRVwfRUdImC9n1xRn5e9g4q/s1600/Maria+Sharapova+Hot+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcIrMGfJBYzhPiWNonCTRCCJFer_dr7lARnOsEOth0z27IbCKpmVVOp0agpmSfHSlIBwylErDNzHOCudq0yUt4_5dRoTYengGJu4Ie-5y51zGb_PxOl0GTuRVwfRUdImC9n1xRn5e9g4q/s320/Maria+Sharapova+Hot+1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-51962210904870496222011-11-10T02:19:00.000-08:002011-11-10T02:19:32.997-08:00Rosberg signs new deal with Mercedes F1 team<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ABU DHABI, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Germany's Nico Rosberg has signed a new deal keeping him at Mercedes beyond the 2013 season, the Formula One team said on Thursday.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In a statement issued ahead of Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Mercedes added that seven-times champion Michael Schumacher, the most successful driver in the sport, would again be Rosberg's team mate next year.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The team said Rosberg, who joined from Williams in 2010, had agreed "a multi-year contract extension to include the 2013 season and beyond".</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Rosberg, the 26-year-old son of Finland's former champion Keke, has yet to win a race since his debut in 2006 but is highly regarded.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He has had three podium finishes and scored 217 points since he joined Mercedes. This season he has scored five more points than Schumacher and is seventh overall with two races remaining.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"To win in a Silver Arrow (Mercedes) will be one of the highlights of my life so far," he said.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"I have every confidence that the team will provide me with a winning car and that we will be able to contribute to the fantastic racing heritage of the Silver Arrows."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Team boss Ross Brawn hailed the German as a driver who can win races and championships and said he had already achieved "results at the very limit of the technical capabilities of our current car."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"He has an excellent work ethic and, together with Michael, this gives us a driver pairing who consistently push the team to improve and progress," he added.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"We look forward to providing Nico with a car which will enable him to compete right at the front of the field and achieve his deserved first win in Formula One."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Before his long-term commitment to Mercedes, Rosberg had been one of the candidates tipped by the media as a possible replacement for Brazilian Felipe Massa at Ferrari after next season</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Source: <a href="http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2011/11/10/sports/20111110145505&sec=sports">Thestar</a></div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-70208807314433643472011-11-09T22:53:00.001-08:002011-11-09T22:53:32.782-08:00<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">JAKARTA: Three days ago, Izzaq Faris Ramlan was down with food poisoning but, yesterday, the lanky striker gave fancied Thailand the runs when he scored a late winner in Malaysia’s 2-1 triumph in their Group A football match at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan yesterday.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Skipper Baddrol Bakhtiar had put defending champions Malaysia ahead in the 25th minute but a stubborn 10-man Thailand drew level through substitute Natarid Thammroddodpon in the 76th.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Just when the game looked headed for a draw substitute Izzaq scored the winner from the top of the box beating Thai goalkeeper Weerawut Kayem in the 85th minute. It was just reward for a dominant display which should have seen Malaysia win by a bigger margin.</div><div class="story_image center" style="background-color: white; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 414px;"><img alt="" height="283" src="http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2011/11/10/seagames/s_80izzaq.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="400" /><span class="caption" style="clear: both; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold;">Malaysia’s Izzaq Faris Ramlan (R) celebrates with his team-mates Baddrol Bakhtiar and K. Gurusamy after scoring the winning goal in their Group A match at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. – EPA/ADI WEDA</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Their profligacy in front of goal spared Thailand a hiding. But it was the second time in consecutive Games that Malaysia had put the skids on Thailand’s title aspirations with a late goal.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Now, Malaysia have an edge in the battle for a semi-final berth from the Group of Death which also has Singapore, Cambodia and hosts Indonesia, while Thailand have a whole lot of running to do to keep up the chase.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“I thought I wouldn’t be playing because I was recovering from food poisoning. I feel much better now with the goal under my name and that too the winner against Thailand,” said Izzaq.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Thais saw their game plan go awry when coach Parapol Pongpanich used up all three substitutions by the 70th minute. He was reduced to 10 men when midfielder Sarach Yooyen was stretchered off in the 75th minute. Yet, the Thais scored the equaliser a minute later through Natarid.</div><div class="story_image center" style="background-color: white; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 414px;"><img alt="" height="332" src="http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2011/11/10/seagames/s_75syahrul.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="400" /><span class="caption" style="clear: both; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold;">Way off the mark: Malaysia striker Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim attempting a shot at goal against Thailand in a Group A match at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan yesterday. Malaysia won 2-1. — S.S. KANESAN / The Star</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">But Thailand could not hold off the relentless pressure applied by the Malaysians and their defence finally caved in for the second time when Izzaq found the net.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It was a more positive approach by the Malaysians compared to their insipid performance against Singapore, which ended in a goalless draw in the opening match on Monday.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">This time, they showed why they are the defending champions.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Coach Ong Kim Swee made four changes, opting for 19-year-old Mohd Nazmi Faiz and Mohd Irfan Fazail over seasoned campaigners K. Gurusamy and Abdul Shukur Jusoh in the engine room. There was certainly more spark in their offensive play as they attacked with panache.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Kim Swee also switched players around, pushing Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim up front with Baddrol, Mahalli Jasuli to right-back and Mohd Fandi Othman to left-midfield. Wan Zaharulnizam Wan Zakaria also came in for Ahmad Fakri Saarani in right midfield.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The new strategy worked well with the Malaysians having the Thais pegged for most of the game. It would have been a rout if only the Malaysians had kept their composure in front of goal. The wayward forwards missed half a dozen clear chances as Malaysia dominated their rivals.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A delighted Kim Swee said it should have been all over in the first-half.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“We should have been up by two or three goals but we put ourselves under unnecessary pressure when Thailand equalised in the second-half. In the end, my boys showed character and deserved the win.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“I must also say that 17-year-old Mohd Nazmi Faiz did well in midfield and played like a pro. He was taken off with a knock but we hope it is not a bad injury,” said Kim Swee.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Thai coach Parapol offered no excuse for their defeat and accepted that they had lost to a better team. However, he said that some of the players had been affected by the devastating floods in Thailand.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“The homes of some players, including skipper Ronnachai Rangsiyo, were hit by the floods in Bangkok. But this is no excuse for the way we lost the match,” said Parapol.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">MALAYSIA: Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Mahalii Jasuli, Mohd Fadhli Shas, Mohd Asraruddin Putra Omar, Mohd Irfan Fazail (Ahmad Fakri Saarani), Baddrol Bakhtiar, Mohd Fandi Othman, Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim, Wan Zaharulnizam Zakaria (Izzaq Faris Ramlan), Muhd Nazmi Faiz (K. Gurusamy), Mohd Muslim Ahmad.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">THAILAND: Weerawut Kayem, Adisak Krisom (Attapong Nooprom), Chalermsak Kaesooktae (Isarapong Lilakorn), Sarach Yooyen, Ronnachai Rangsiyo, Kroekrit Thawikan, Phonlawut Donchui (Natarid Thammroddodpon), Sutjarit Jantakol, Pokklaw A-Nan, Ukrit Wongmeena, Komkrit Cumsokcheak.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Source:<a href="http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2011/11/10/seagames/9875297&sec=seagames">Thestar</a></div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-84910947781202208282011-11-09T22:52:00.000-08:002011-11-09T22:52:05.161-08:00Djokovic hits bonus jackpot in Paris<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">PARIS, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic pocketed a $1.6-million bonus just for turning up on court before making light of shoulder pains to beat Croatian Ivan Dodig 6-4 6-3 in the Paris Masters second round on Wednesday.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">An ATP rule designed to entice top players to take part in the main events states that, as world number one, Djokovic is entitled to a $2-million bonus if he plays in all eight Masters tournaments.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The bonus drops to $1.6 million if he misses one - and to nothing if he misses two.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Having skipped the Shanghai Masters through injury, the Serbian suffered a recurrence of a shoulder problem in his semi-final defeat in Basel by Japan's Kei Nishikori last week.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Djokovic, who said he spent his time between Basel and Paris recovering from the injury, dismissed talk that he had turned up in Paris just to cash in the cheque.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"It was really somehow funny for me to see how people are coming up with that story...I even heard that I would get on the court and play a game just to get this money. This is ridiculous, " he told a news conference.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"I need more matches before (the ATP World Tour finals in) London. I think it's obvious that I'm still not (at the) top of my game. But I'm taking things quite slowly knowing that the form will improve each day that I play. "I believe in that. I have been working quite hard in the last couple of weeks after my injury, and I think things are going in the right direction." STRONG SERVE</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Djokovic, who has won three grand slams and five Masters titles this year, struggled at times against world number 39 Dodig, but served strongly throughout and took his chances when it mattered to book his place in the third round.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A break in the 10th game was enough to take the lead and another in the sixth game of the second helped him wrap it up.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Swiss Roger Federer, seeded three, barely broke sweat in a 6-2 6-3 dismissal of French wildcard Adrian Mannarino to reach the third round where he will face local favourite Richard Gasquet on Thursday.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Second seed Andy Murray started his campaign in ruthless fashion, beating France's Jeremy Chardy 6-2 6-4 to reach the third round.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">World number three Murray, who withdrew from the Basel tournament because of injury, had little difficulty with Chardy, setting up a meeting with 13th seed Andy Roddick in the next round.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Briton Murray completed a stunning hat-trick of titles in as many weeks on the Asian swing of the ATP tour after winning the Shanghai Masters on Oct. 16. He also won in Bangkok and Tokyo.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"I take a few weeks off and the first match is always a tough one, even if you've been winning a lot of matches," Murray told reporters.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"But always after taking a break things feel a little bit different.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Hopefully I can build on today's win. Maybe if I get through a couple of rounds, I'll feel that momentum."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Serbian Janko Tipsarevic kept alive his slim hopes of reaching the ATP World Tour finals when the 11th seed thrashed American Alex Bogomolov Jr. 6-1 6-0 to reach the third round.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Source:<a href="http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2011/11/10/sports/20111110080924&sec=sports">Thestar</a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, however, was ruled out of the London event when he lost 6-3 7-5 to Italian Andreas Seppi.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Murray, Federer and David Ferrer have qualified and four players are now vying for the three remaining spots after Mardy Fish's 6-1 6-2 win over German Florian Mayer ruled out Gael Monfils, who later lost to Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-4.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">American Fish, the seventh seed, is now only one win away from securing his London spot.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Frenchman Gilles Simon's chances also vanished into thin air when the 10th seed suffered a 6-3 6-0 drubbing by Argentine Juan Monaco in which he was booed by the crowd in the last game.</div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-19251001352309500672011-11-09T07:19:00.000-08:002011-11-09T07:19:08.854-08:00Tributes pour in as Frazier wins top billing at last<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">NEW YORK (Reuters): Joe Frazier had to wait until death to win rightful appreciation after a boxing career spent in the shadow of the magnificent Muhammad Ali, boxing historian Bert Sugar told Reuters.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"He never got his due," Sugar told Reuters Tuesday when asked about the former world heavyweight champion, who fought three epic bouts with Ali in the 1970s and died late Monday from liver cancer at age 67.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"People say Ali-Frazier, and the winner of that fight was Frazier," Sugar said about their first clash in March of 1971, a battle of undefeated heavyweights at Madison Square Garden that left both boxers hospitalised.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"This is the day for Joe Frazier, who has always been the second slot to Muhammad Ali, even when he won. Today is the day when he stands up as his own and he's Joe Frazier, period, paragraph, and he can stand up to anybody on his own."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Boxing promoter Bob Arum said the three bouts between the fighters stood as a hallmark in sport.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"He gave the world what had to be one of the most thrilling trilogies in any sport," he said about Frazier's bouts against Ali. "There was nothing like it in this country and in the world for the attention those fights received."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Ali returned after a three-year exile imposed after he refused induction for the Vietnam War due to his Muslim beliefs to face Frazier and the build-up was intense.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"I think the first, certainly was the biggest event I ever covered. It seemed like the world stopped in anticipation of it," HBO fight commentator Larry Merchant told Reuters in a phone interview from his California home.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"It was building up for several years, two heavyweight champions. Ali in exile.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"And then to have the fight and the drama exceed the highest expectations, was a once-in-a-half-century, thrilling event."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Merchant did not think Frazier was slighted by his association with Ali, but rather enhanced.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"Regardless of the fact that Ali was such a towering figure in his time, a worldwide figure, he brought out the best in Joe Frazier," said Merchant.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"Indeed Frazier was admired and respected widely and had the heavyweight stage to himself during Ali's exile... in boxing, nobody didn't love Joe Frazier and what he represented in his honesty, dedication and toughness as a champion.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"It was one extraordinary man against an ordinary Joe in terms of personalities and how they reached out to the world."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">BETTER FIGHTER</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Dave Anderson of the New York Times wrote that he considered Frazier a better fighter.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"I've always believed that, each at his best, Joe Frazier... was the better fighter," Anderson wrote in his column.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Ali won their Garden rematch by decision, setting up the "Thrilla in Manila" rubber bout in 1975. Ali won that rough bout, but Anderson said Frazier inflicted more punishment.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"The Thrilla in Manila in 1975 was awarded to Ali when Frazier's trainer, Eddie Futch, wouldn't let him answer the bell for the 15th round because he couldn't see the right hands coming out of his closed left eye," recalled Anderson.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"But Frazier soon talked freely in the interview area. When an exhausted Ali finally arrived, he described their epic in brutality as 'next to death.'</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"That evening, at a party in an old Filipino palace, Ali, his ribs battered, walked stiffly and sat stiffly, painfully offering a finger or two instead of shaking hands. At his hotel, Frazier sang and danced. Seeing them both, if you didn't know what had happened in the fight you had to think Frazier was the winner."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Said Sugar: "Had he stood up off his stool and gone to the centre of the ring, Ali would have collapsed. Ali has no legs, they have to almost drag him to the corner after the last round. He would have lost. That's one of the ironies."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Some diminish Frazier in historical terms because his career ebbed after his three epic fights against Ali.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"It is no surprise that after that night of greatness, he was never the same," Wally Matthews wrote for espn.com about Frazier's ferocious victory in their first fight.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"But to knock Frazier for being unable to match the greatest athletic performance ever seen at Madison Square Garden is like criticizing Michelangelo for being unable to sculpt another David."</div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-11309375139213261332011-11-09T07:17:00.000-08:002011-11-09T07:17:38.783-08:00MALAYSIA BEATS THAILAND 2-1<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYUrRAmaxVkTMM7HR9YOOu9ObRZzVRO0dY-r_JZ2jNAAc5IHgP7agSk6R5TzLQVwPo-X7IEjxm_g6FFUHqCzVu-pUZAsYVKBj80G2Yi8-DJr7Y1X5QHVl1cpR7EfmZrllctRCYiLRV01-/s1600/photo320111109203334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYUrRAmaxVkTMM7HR9YOOu9ObRZzVRO0dY-r_JZ2jNAAc5IHgP7agSk6R5TzLQVwPo-X7IEjxm_g6FFUHqCzVu-pUZAsYVKBj80G2Yi8-DJr7Y1X5QHVl1cpR7EfmZrllctRCYiLRV01-/s320/photo320111109203334.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">JAKARTA: Izzaq Faris Ramlan's late strike saw Malaysia walk out 2-1 winners against SEA Games favourite Thailand at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium here Wednesday night.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The win will not only help restore the confidence of the players who had lost two valuable points in their opening match against Singapore after a goalless draw on Monday, it will also provide the right tonic to face the home team on Nov 17 after meeting Cambodia on Nov 13.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Malaysia, hoping to defend the gold won in Laos two years ago, however, had to wait until the 25th minute for the Midas touch of skipper Baddrol Bakhtiar.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Baddrol, who received a beautiful pass from left back Asraruddin Putra Omar, beat Thailand goalkeeper Ukrit Wongmeema for the opening goal but credit must go to goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat for stopping numerous goal-worthy attempts from the Thais, especially skipper Ronnachai Rangsiyo.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Stunned by the goal, Thailand increased their presence in the Malaysian half and managed to find the equaliser through substitute Natarid Thammroddodpon's strike in the 76th minute.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sensing a need for more bite upfront, coach Ong Kim Swee decided to throw his ace in the pack, Izzaq Faris, to replace Wan Zaharulnizam in the 80 minute and the move immediately paid dividends.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Four minutes later (84th minute) Izzaq Faris struck an unstoppable shot that not only beat the Thailand goalkeeper but ensured all three points for the Malaysian squad.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Team list: MALAYSIA: Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Mahali Jasuli, Mohd Fadhli Mohd Shas, Mohamad Muslim Ahmad, Mohd Asraruddin Putra Omar, Mohd Irfan Fazail (Ahmad Fakhri Saarani), Muhd Nazmi Faiz Mansor (K.Gurusamy), Mohamad Fandi Othman, Wan Zaharulnizam Wan Zakaria (Izzaq Faris Ramlan), Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim, Baddrol Bakhtiar.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">THAILAND: Ukrit Wongmeema, Weerawut Kayem, Chalermsak Kaewsooktae, Sutjarit Jantakol, Komkrit Cumsokcheak, Sarach Yooyen, Kroekrit Thawikan, Phonlawut Donchui (Natarid Thammroddodpon), Pokklaw A-Nan (Isarapong Lilakron), Adisak Krisorn, Ronnachai Rangsiyo. - Bernama</div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-68153171727782733052011-11-07T21:35:00.001-08:002011-11-07T21:35:30.585-08:00HALL OF FAME- NICOL DAVID<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyos8GgCS3PWKeUaoq_bZpcFzb3ZsMRDOBSA5CiBkqHCVhvLyNtNQS_qfTzinaXGfUwdrOpj0xqZlHzc-3pf6p3zO_jbE_EaBBaR3YpQD9JL0tqs9pu-JiuvjPF3AVbSrVN08lMk2b72Z/s1600/311914_10150444117511823_574541822_10371568_1292505323_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyos8GgCS3PWKeUaoq_bZpcFzb3ZsMRDOBSA5CiBkqHCVhvLyNtNQS_qfTzinaXGfUwdrOpj0xqZlHzc-3pf6p3zO_jbE_EaBBaR3YpQD9JL0tqs9pu-JiuvjPF3AVbSrVN08lMk2b72Z/s320/311914_10150444117511823_574541822_10371568_1292505323_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-58437201336622860052011-11-07T21:28:00.000-08:002011-11-07T21:28:06.204-08:00BADMINTON WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zJ05QjOEfr7XHHfOYZI3L6ixa7TL2MqRg-MULcAYPREyis5Kw5YVpd8f_Ptx8nob_p0-ftebGPYDZSFwXUUAil52OvVIdWxqJ_-uKTl0qIQz4wMB_SVk95fIRcuNDf2t3j6uvy6x2Z38/s1600/asian+junior+record.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zJ05QjOEfr7XHHfOYZI3L6ixa7TL2MqRg-MULcAYPREyis5Kw5YVpd8f_Ptx8nob_p0-ftebGPYDZSFwXUUAil52OvVIdWxqJ_-uKTl0qIQz4wMB_SVk95fIRcuNDf2t3j6uvy6x2Z38/s320/asian+junior+record.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-79400060290324667302011-11-07T21:10:00.000-08:002011-11-07T21:10:23.017-08:00Joe Frazier dies after fight with cancer<div id="knx_gsp_container"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="knx_gsp_main_table"><tbody>
<tr id="knx_gsp_search_bar"><td class="knx_gsp_search_label" id="knx_gsp_search_label"></td><td class="knx_gsp_options_menu" id="knx_gsp_options_menu"><br />
</td><td class="knx_gsp_search_box" id="knx_gsp_search_box"><br />
</td><td class="knx_gsp_separator" id="knx_gsp_separator"><br />
</td><td class="knx_gsp_section_button knx_gsp_section_button_selected knx_gsp_property_selected" id="knx_gsp_property" value="property"><br />
</td><td class="knx_gsp_section_button knx_gsp_section_button_unselected knx_gsp_motor" id="knx_gsp_motor" value="motor"><br />
</td><td class="knx_gsp_section_button knx_gsp_section_button_unselected knx_gsp_job" id="knx_gsp_job" value="job"><br />
</td><td class="knx_gsp_section_button knx_gsp_section_button_unselected knx_gsp_others" id="knx_gsp_others" value="others"><br />
</td><td class="knx_gsp_section_button" id="knx_gsp_extra" style="visibility: hidden;"><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="9" id="knx_gsp_expand_cell" style="display: none;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><h1 id="story_title">Joe Frazier dies after fight with cancer<br />
</h1><div id="story_content">WASHINGTON: Joe Frazier, the relentless slugger who became the heavyweight champion of the world and earned boxing immortality with three epic battles against Muhammad Ali, died Monday at age 67, his personal manager said.<br />
<div class="story_image center" style="width: 314px;"> <img alt="" height="232" src="http://thestar.com.my/archives/2011/11/8/sports/joefrazier.jpg" width="300" /> </div>"Smokin' Joe" Frazier, who was the first boxer to beat Ali, died in Philadelphia a month after being diagnosed with liver cancer. Leslie Wolff, Frazier's personal trainer, confirmed his death.<br />
Frazier won the Olympic heavyweight boxing gold medal for the United States in 1964 in Tokyo and held the world heavyweight boxing crown from 1970 to 1973.<br />
He is eternally linked with Ali thanks to their trilogy of fights in the 1970s, among the most famous in the history of the sport. Frazier won the first and Ali took the next two.<br />
While both fighters were American blacks and Olympic gold medallists, their personalities could not have been more different. Ali was a charismatic self-promoter. Frazier was a proud, no-nonsense man who dropped out of school at age 13.<br />
Frazier won the world heavyweight title in 1970, knocking out champion Jimmy Ellis, after Ali had been stripped of the championship in 1967 for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War due to his Muslim beliefs.<br />
Ali was reinstated in boxing and met Frazier on March 8, 1971 at New York's Madison Square Garden, in a bout billed as "The Fight of the Century." Frazier sent Ali to the canvas with a left hook in the 15th round. Ali got up but Frazier won by unanimous decision.<br />
The brutal encounter left both men hospitalized. Frazier later lost his title in 1973 to hard-hitting George Foreman.<br />
The second Ali-Frazier fight was on January 28, 1974, again at Madison Square Garden, with Ali winning a 12-round decision.<br />
Ali then beat Foreman to reclaim the championship. He defended it in the third Frazier fight on October 1, 1975, in an encounter in the Philippines known as "The Thrilla in Manila" -- one of the most famous sporting events of the 20th century.<br />
<br />
TECHNICAL KNOCKOUT<br />
The two punished each other for 14 rounds, then Frazier's trainer and cornerman Eddie Futch stopped the fight before the 15th round, while Frazier fumed in the ring corner, one of his eyes swollen shut. Frazier never forgave Futch for giving Ali a victory by technical knockout.<br />
The Ali-Frazier rivalry was waged not only in a boxing ring. Ali ridiculed Frazier as a "gorilla" and an "Uncle Tom," a deeply insulting term referring to a black who acts in a humiliatingly subservient way towards whites.<br />
For his part, Frazier insisted on calling his foe Cassius Clay, the birth name that Ali changed in 1964 for a Muslim name.<br />
Frazier remained bitter towards Ali for decades.<br />
"I am who I am, and yes, I whipped Ali all three times," Frazier told the New York Times in 2006.<br />
"Ali always said I would be nothing without him," Frazier said. "But who would he have been without me?"<br />
Frazier was born in segregated South Carolina in 1944, the youngest of 12 children. He said his uncle told him when he was a boy he would become the next Joe Louis, the celebrated black heavyweight champion of the 1930s and 1940s. Moving to Philadelphia, he aimed to make good on that prediction.<br />
Frazier amassed a career record of 32-4-1. He retired after a second loss to Foreman in 1976, then came out of retirement for a fight in 1981 before ending his career for good. His only losses were to Ali and Foreman.<br />
Ali became a beloved sports legend but Frazier was never embraced the same way. He also lost almost all of his money. He lived alone in an apartment above the gym where he trained young fighters in a run-down section of Philadelphia.<br />
Frazier in the 1980s managed the boxing career of his eldest son, Marvis, who was best known for devastating knockout losses to champions Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson. Frazier's daughter Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde entered women's boxing and fought Ali's daughter Laila, losing on a decision in 2001.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>FRAZIER FACT BOX</b><br />
* Born Jan. 12, 1944, in Beaufort, South Carolina. * Won the Olympic heavyweight boxing gold medal for the United States in 1964 in Tokyo. * Won the world heavyweight title in 1970 after knocking out champion Jimmy Ellis. * Hands Muhammad Ali the first defeat of his pro career on March 8, 1971, winning a 15-round bout at New York's Madison Square Garden billed as "The Fight of the Century." * Lost his title in 1973 to hard-hitting George Foreman. * Frazier loses second fight with Ali, again at Madison Square Garden, in a 12-round decision on Jan. 28, 1974. * In one of the most famous sporting events of the 20th century, Frazier lost to Ali in a brutal encounter in the Philippines known as "The Thrilla in Manila" on a technical knockout when trainer Eddie Futch would not allow Frazier to fight the 15th round. * Inducted into International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. * Frazier retired in 1976 before staging an unsuccessful return in 1981. * Career record of 32-4-1 with 27 knockouts.<br />
<br />
Source : <a href="http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2011/11/8/sports/20111108123127&sec=sports">Thestar </a><br />
</div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-31209419196551075862011-11-07T20:49:00.000-08:002011-11-07T20:49:58.774-08:00OFFICIAL SONG SEA GAMES 26th 2011<a href="http://www.seagames2011.terbaru.asia/official-song-sea-games-26th-2011-indonesia.html">Official song-sea-games-26th-2011-indonesia</a>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-7422445051420155442011-11-07T20:43:00.000-08:002011-11-07T20:43:03.227-08:0026th SEA GAMES INDONESIA 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKikl3i9gIt1Wfax1ZoHXV4CVO8Nk1dfN5B2JdAEVemrpueNwrPVKOtCMyml7a1KYzj_RuW4FOv9nQqYPVqW9D-O9ED5GFyAS1FWKXdWneHSxgkuXyhY4srDduEkXLsSa2mj_uhjLALknC/s1600/Logo_SEAG_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKikl3i9gIt1Wfax1ZoHXV4CVO8Nk1dfN5B2JdAEVemrpueNwrPVKOtCMyml7a1KYzj_RuW4FOv9nQqYPVqW9D-O9ED5GFyAS1FWKXdWneHSxgkuXyhY4srDduEkXLsSa2mj_uhjLALknC/s320/Logo_SEAG_2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-26831602994990972682011-11-07T20:36:00.000-08:002011-11-07T20:37:48.398-08:00Roger Federer thrashing of Japan's Kei Nishikori to win a fifth Swiss Indoors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbPHLAVJ5AfqKkV3MHdIS00vmD7ZrWQuAHSTqu4xg_1V_KZ2CGE7TeGo8XgPx-kibNetF-HofPS0ggCbSPKKBmrlQ06UQ0h9Sp8gakhyphenhyphen9O7o1eT3aWKQMQsUhfhwKh2sECQk_nVjT3cC7/s1600/art-353-Roger-20Federer-20ld-20thin-200x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbPHLAVJ5AfqKkV3MHdIS00vmD7ZrWQuAHSTqu4xg_1V_KZ2CGE7TeGo8XgPx-kibNetF-HofPS0ggCbSPKKBmrlQ06UQ0h9Sp8gakhyphenhyphen9O7o1eT3aWKQMQsUhfhwKh2sECQk_nVjT3cC7/s320/art-353-Roger-20Federer-20ld-20thin-200x0.jpg" width="187" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQko3UpVwvEHCX1yEcpG7t-juXp9wrM28PlpIFumQhjt0PyCYllGM1O8SscbmN_xYJjjmQIF1sQ37j2iT3HFDLrraSj_RK6reNdmFlSt_dCIl5n70zT1-sKW6FK_8W2_WtaV0Q7_xZLCtK/s1600/roger-federer-298-basel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQko3UpVwvEHCX1yEcpG7t-juXp9wrM28PlpIFumQhjt0PyCYllGM1O8SscbmN_xYJjjmQIF1sQ37j2iT3HFDLrraSj_RK6reNdmFlSt_dCIl5n70zT1-sKW6FK_8W2_WtaV0Q7_xZLCtK/s320/roger-federer-298-basel.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><br />
BASEL, Switzerland: Roger Federer has emerged as the fittest of the tennis elite heading into Monday's start of the final regular event of a long ATP season, the Paris Masters. <br />
The 30-year-old world No.4, who has remained remarkably injury-free throughout a career that has yielded 16 grand slam titles, earned a 58th trophy with Sunday's 6-1, 6-3 thrashing of Japan's Kei Nishikori to win a fifth Swiss Indoors.<br />
''It's been a long time since I felt so good physically,'' Federer said.<br />
''I'm feeling ready and fit and fired up, that's how it's supposed to be. This is the last push of the season and I'm ready for it.''<br />
Federer aside, the top of the Paris field looks particularly vulnerable as another marathon season draws to a close, with next week and the year-end World Tour Finals still to come.<br />
World No.1 Novak Djokovic is doubtful for Paris after re-injuring his right shoulder in his semi-final loss in Basel to Nishikori. Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the Bercy indoor event, ostensibly on fitness grounds.<br />
World No.3 Andy Murray created a stir a week ago when asking for a Basel wildcard. But the Scot then said that an injury to a glute muscle sustained in his sleep left him as another question mark.<br />
Federer, by contrast, appears to be ready to go after another triumph at home. The Swiss leaves with a 29-1 record at his home event over the past six years after playing six straight finals. The tournament is the only non-grand slam tournament where he has won more than 40 matches.<br />
''It's been a great start to the autumn; I think my pause paid off,'' he said. ''I've got different priorities than some of the younger guys who are ranked around me.<br />
''I needed to take that time off. It was best for my mind, my body, my family and my fitness. There is a lot of tennis to be played until the end of the season and it will be packed in early 2012. I want to be a danger everywhere that I play.''<br />
Federer improved to 54-12 this season as he competed in his first final since losing to Nadal at Roland Garros in June.<br />
Federer nailed five aces and broke on four of 13 chances against Nishikori, who was playing his second final of the season after Houston in the spring. The Swiss saved the only break point he faced.<br />
<b>AFP </b><br />
<br />
<b>Source:<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/federer-laughs-last-as-games-elite-crumble-around-him-20111107-1n3ss.html">SMH</a> </b><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7258688738313135618.post-46480259499620785122011-11-07T20:26:00.000-08:002011-11-07T20:26:18.592-08:00World champion Nicol vows to keep on breaking recordsROTTERDAM: The past few days have been a dream for Nicol David and she has had more than her share of priceless moments.<br />
First, the squash legend from Penang, who has been based in Amsterdam since 2003, was inducted into her sport’s Hall of Fame on Saturday for her amazing accomplishments.<br />
A day later, the long reigning world No. 1 created history by winning a record sixth world title - the first woman to do so in the 35-year history of the championships.<br />
<div class="story_image center" style="width: 364px;"> <img alt="" height="217" src="http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2011/11/8/sports/s_pg55nicolann.jpg" width="350" /> <span class="caption">Moving forward: With the world title under her belt, Nicol David will now go for a record sixth Hong Kong Open title this month.</span> </div>Nicol has won all the major tournaments her sport has to offer and no other Malaysian athlete comes close to matching her achievements – 56 titles and still counting.<br />
What was really amazing is the way she played in the final, pummelling world No. 2 Jenny Duncalf of England into submission in straight sets - 11-2, 11-5, 11-0 - in just 29 minutes. Such was her domination that Duncalf simply surrendered.<br />
The 28-year-old Nicol, who has been the world No. 1 since August 2006, said that the win over Duncalf was the pinnacle of her professional career which began in 2000.<br />
“It was my best performance to date. I didn’t want anyone else, but me, to put their hands on the trophy,” she said.<br />
“Winning was great and the record means the world to me,” said Nicol, who surpassed the previous milestone of five titles she jointly held with her mentor, Australian Sarah FitzGerald.<br />
But far from being satisfied, Nicol is hungry for even more success and plans to play on for another five to seven years. That is bad news for her rivals.<br />
“I hope to stay injury-free and win many more tournaments. Perhaps even a few more world titles so that nobody can overhaul my record,” she said with a glint in her eye.<br />
Nicol’s 56 Wispa titles put her level with former world champion Michelle Martin of Australia. She now wants to beat FitzGerald’s record of 62 to seal her reputation as the best player in the history of the game.<br />
<div class="story_image center" style="width: 244px;"> <img alt="" height="395" src="http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2011/11/8/sports/s_nicol.jpg" width="230" /> </div>That should be a breeze if Nicol keeps playing like she did in Rotterdam. And given her insatiable appetite for records, it will be some time yet before the final chapter of the Nicol David legend is written.<br />
“Winning always feels good. But the pressure is mounting as there are several young players beginning to make their mark. The Egyptian girls have plenty of potential and are a real threat,” said Nicol.<br />
“I have to work two to three times harder to stay on top. I will continue training in Amsterdam under coach Liz Irving as it has been a highly successful arrangement.<br />
Nicol’s only regret is that she will not be able to add an Olympic gold medal to her impressive collection of trophies.<br />
“It’s a pity that the IOC (International Olympic Committee) have not deemed it fit to include squash in the Games,” lamented Nicol, who won the world junior title in 1999 and 2001.<br />
She has also won the World Games title twice - Duisburg, Germany, in 2005, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in 2009 - and bagged three British Open titles - in 2005, 2006 and 2008.<br />
Nicol is the first Malaysian to win the Commonwealth Games squash gold medal - at New Delhi last year - and has won eight Asian championships and three Asian Games -1998, 2006 and last year - gold medals.<br />
She has also won the Wispa’s Player of the Year award five times since 2006.<br />
That is a giddy list of achievements by any standard and Nicol is taking a well-deserved break after her Rotterdam high. She is going on a Roman holiday with her parents Desmond and Mary Ann.<br />
“My parents have never been to Rome and I need a rest after winning the world title,” said Nicol, whose next last assignment of the year is the Hong Kong Open starting on Nov 15.<br />
She will be gunning for another record in Hong Kong too – her sixth consecutive title.<br />
Nicol’s male counterpart, Nick Matthew also lived up to his top ranking in the world championships. Matthew beat Gregory Gaultier of France 6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 to win the crown for the second time on Sunday.<br />
<br />
Source : <a href="http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2011/11/8/sports/9855221&sec=sports">Thestar </a>SPORTS FANATIQUEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05025096978913707362noreply@blogger.com0