Make Time For Sports.
LINUS FERNANDES
IPL scenarios under the scanner: Interesting possibilities!
With the IPL imbroglio boiling over and culminating in the expulsion of two teams, Kings XI and Rajasthan Royals, let’s take a quick look at the scenarios that could unfold:
1> The two franchise owners could go to court thus staying the auction of players in Jan 2011. This could have the effect of jeopardising or at the least delaying IPL 4 with two possibilities arising: one that the teams are reinstated and thus IPL 4 goes on as scheduled , with some last-minute patch-ups and glitches.
The other is that the BCCI move is upheld and Raj Kundra and Preity Zinta sustain losses on their investments. The fans of Rajasthan Royals and Punjab XI are left feeling disgruntled and the other franchisee owners are left holding their queasy tummies in the sickening realization that the BCCI is a law unto itself and business motivations can take a backseat.
The IPL Witch-Hunt: BCCI knocks out Kings XI and Royals
The IPL witch-hunt is truly on!
The scrapping of two franchises Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals, the 2008 champions, has been swift and clinical.
The BCCI terminated their contracts making it clear that irregularities were not to be tolerated any more. If this signals a move to a more professional setup, the move is welcome.
But if it is seen as another move to further isolate Modi and his supporters, it will be just another instance of intense politicking and jockeying for power in the richest sports body in the country.
The Kochi franchise lives on – for now. It has a ten-day reprieve. And with the reduction in the number of franchises, the Pune and Kerala-based franchises may be profitable sooner than later.
More thoughts on the Mohali cracker!
To put it succinctly: India won a match they should have lost. Australia lost a game they should have won.
Neither team deserved to lose and it was a great advertisement for Test cricket. That’s what Test cricket is all about. It’s not over until it’s truly over!
The difference was that man VVS Laxman, who reserves his best for the kangaroos.
The Aussies kept digging into their marsupial pockets for ways to counter the Hyderabadi’s merry march to victory but there were just no tricks up their sleeves.
Ricky Ponting, unlike his predecessor, Steve Waugh, seems to ,more often than not, let the game drift and that was to be the case once more when the Aussies, by rights, should have gone in for the kayo.
No discredit to the fighting qualities exhibited by Laxman, Sharma and Ojha but Ponting needs a new thinking cap and soon!
In the end, it was yet another famous victory for the No. 1 Test team and Dhoni must thank his stars that he can call upon players of the calibre of Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman to do yeoman service without throwing any starry tantrums.
The Fifth Slam: India Opens Her Heart To Top-Flight Tennis
The year is 2011. It is the august month of August.
The India Open is being launched with much fanfare.
The India Open is now officially the fifth Grand Slam tournament , the latest jewel in the ATP and WTA calendars.
In the wake of the unprecedented success of the Commonwealth Games 2010 in New Delhi, this tournament has been given hallmark status.
India have thumbed their nose at the Chinese and have cornered a Grand Slam tournament.
This Slam has its unique challenges. The courts are mud and uncovered.
Play continues in the rain. Come rain or shine, play will continue.
India’s Davis Cup hopes dented by unkind draw, Serbia loom large
Image via Wikipedia
India’s chances of progressing further in the Davis Cup World Group were dealt a severe blow by an unkind draw.
India have to contend with top seeds Serbia in the first round to be played in the first week of March, next year.
The Serbs have Djokovic, Tipsarevic , Troicki and Ninad Zemonjic in their ranks.
The Indians can count on Paes and Bhupathi to win their doubles rubber but the other two points will have to come from Bopanna and Somdev Devvarman.
Somdev is capable of springing a surprise but the dice are heavily loaded in the Serbians’ favour.
World Group For Davis Cup 2011 – Part 2
This is the second and final instalment detailing the World Group at the Davis Cup.
Eight unseeded teams are pitted against the top eight teams.
The teams at the lower end of the spectrum, for the 2011 edition , in alphabetical order, are :
Austria, Belgium, Chile, Germany, India, Kazakhstan, Romania and Sweden.
What do these teams have to offer?
Can they cause any major upsets?
A peek at the teams and their crusaders!
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World Group For Davis Cup 2011 – Part 1
The draw for next year’s Davis Cup is scheduled to take place in Brussels on the 22nd of September, 2010.
Sixteen nations play the World Group of the Davis Cup every year, eight seeded and the other eight unseeded.
The two finalists of the previous year’s edition help form the two halves of the draw.
A quick look at the eight top teams in the World Group for Davis Cup 2011.
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A Comeback Lesson In Serve And Volley
Aided by the sultry Chennai weather, the Indian Davis Cup team scripted a famous come-from-behind victory at Chennai, outplaying Brazil in both the singles matches on Sunday, the 19th of September, 2010.
This time though, the victory was achieved in a thoroughly professional manner with the entire team carrying its weight.
Rohan Bopanna and Somdev Devvarman had their say. They have reassured Indian tennis fans that the country’s Davis Cup hopes are in secure hands for the foreseeable future.
Bellucci caved in to cramps and dehydration in the morning after just a set and a half. Somdev Devvarman was left feeling a little bemused but why look a gift horse in the mouth?
2010 US Open:Captioning The Captured!
Highlights from the 2010 US Open. Some from the sidelines, some from the action. Capturing the moods , captioning the moods!
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The only time Nadal appears vulnerable on court is when he’s prone! Unfortunately, for his opponents, he’s prone after the fact! Nadal celebrates on court on beating Novak Djokovic. |
Tennis, boxing, cricket and wrestling: Indian sport makes waves
India take on Brazil on Friday the 17th of September , 2010 at Chennai on hard-courts in the Davis Cup World Group playoffs.
The first day’s play features two singles matches : Thomas Bellucci versus Rohan Bopanna & Somdev Devverman versus Ricardo Mello.
Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi take on Bruno Soares and Marcelo Melo on Saturday in a crucial doubles encounter.
The reverse singles will be played on Sunday.
Suffice to say, at least two singles matches will need to be clinched for India to progress to the next round.
The weight of Indian expectations rest on Somdev’s shoulders. Bopanna is not favoured to win either of his singles.
Can Somdev pull it off? The Indian tennis fraternity certainly hope so.
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Make Time For Sports. 