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[God Father]

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Daily Updates

November 12, 2012

Indian hockey team beats Australia 2-0 to begin Sultan of Johor Cup campaign with a win

The Indian junior hockey team registered a 2-0 victory over Australia in their opening game of the second Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia today.

Sukhmanjit Singh and Amon Mirash Tirkey scored for India.

After a goalless first half, India started the second half in a higher tempo. They scored their first goal through a penalty corner convertion by Sukhmanjit in the 49th minute.

Australia then tried hard to score the equaliser but Indian goalkeeper, Sushant Tirkey, who was awarded the Man of the Match, denied them.

Amon Mirash Tirkey then made it 2-0 with a well taken penalty corner a minute from time.

India next take on Germany in their second match on Monday.

[God Father]

Casey Stoner finishes third at Valencia, quits Moto GP

Casey Stoner quit MotoGP after finishing on the podium at third place in Valencia. He rode for Repsol Honda racing team. He finished third in the overall championship standings.

Stoner, who suffered an ankle injury earlier in the season, arrived at Valencia well aware that it would be his final MotoGP race having announced his retirement in May 2012.

However, the weather gods did not make his last outing easy as the riders faced the conundrum of wet or slick tyres at the start of the 30-lap race as a small dry line had already appeared.

"Considering everything that happened we're very happy with a podium," he said.

"We used up all our weather luck at Phillip Island I think. This weekend the weather has been terrible and I've been riding tense in the damp and wet. I just didn't want to take any risks of crashing and damaging my ankle again so I was very cautious and this isn't how I like to ride."

"Even with the choice of going with the wets, not the slick tyres at the beginning of the race, I took the easy option which really isn't me."

"When I saw the slicks had a big advantage, we came in and changed bikes and went back out and pushed as hard as we could, without taking unnecessary risks. In the end we were able to chase down Alvaro and take the last spot on the podium in our last race."

The 27-year-old, who took the time to thank Honda and his supporters, is now looking forward to some down time with his family.

"I'm not an emotional person, but I was just trying to soak everything in on the slowdown lap."

"It's a little strange not to be involved with testing for next year now, but it's also a big weight off my shoulders. I can take a bit of time to enjoy life and it's something that I'm really looking forward to."

"My team are like my second family, we've been through a lot of ups and downs together and it's going to be difficult not to see them every week though."

"I'm sorry for them and for everyone who has supported me for so long but this is the way it is and it's time to say goodbye. Thank you to all the people who have supported us over the years and all our sponsors, and to everyone in the Repsol Honda Team."

In the wake of the race the Aussie, with two World titles and 45 grand prix victories, was nominated as MotoGP legend, only the 20th ever.

[God Father]

Sporting an infectious smile, Maria Sharapova shows her mystique and taste for dosa during India visit

Maria Sharapova - the name has oomph and glamour attached to it. When the four-time grand slam champion showed up in New Delhi Sunday there was that unmistaken mystique in the tennis majesty.

The six-foot-two World No.2 Russian expectedly turned heads when she walked in with an air of elegance. It's her first visit to the one-billion-plus nation where, she herself admitted, she has countless fans. She didn't forget to talk of the dosa (pancake made from the batter of rice and black lentils) she had and how nice it tasted.

"It feels amazing to be here. It has taken me so long to get to India. I have tremendous amount of fans in this country and it feels great to get such a warm welcome. It has been a remarkable year for me and now I have a nice little break which has allowed me to come here," said Sharapova, who looked stunning wearing a blazer and a black skirt.

The 25-year-old, here to announce her partnership with UK-based real estate company Homestead, sported an infectious smile throughout the interaction even though the lensmen could not get to focus enough of capturing the blonde beauty.

"Well, it is just the hair and make-up you know. I don't wake up looking like this," quipped Sharapova when a scribe called her pretty.

Here only for a day, Sharapova said food and culture was something she would take back from India.

"I arrived last night and asked the chef what should I try of the Indian food. I had a dosa which tasted really nice. I wanted to have this great Indian experience. There is so much energy in the city, I have been in some quiet areas recently, resting. I really like the culture and people. You all have been really welcoming."

Asked she is looking at films and modelling as career options after tennis, the highest-paid women athlete said: "I really have no time for anything other than tennis now."

Sharapova promised to return to India soon and visit the Taj Mahal.

"This time it won't be possible (Agra visit). But as Christmas is round the corner, I would love to go to the market and get some souvenirs. I am sure my friends are going to expect something," she signed off.

[God Father]

MS Dhoni launches his FIM Superbike Championship team, names it 'Mahi'

Captain of the Indian cricket team, Mahendra Singh Dhoni , launched his FIM Superbike Championship team at a grand event in Mumbai on Wednesday. Among celebrities spotted at the do were actors Tabu, Nagarjuna and his wife Amala, besides Indian star skipper Virat Kohli who seemed to be in a sporty mood.

Tabu cut a different picture from her normally reclusive self and was seen happily posing for photo-ops for the media lenspersons. She was seen in a designer blue short dress while Virat, playing the charmer that he always is, looked dapper in casuals. This event was mainly meant to announce the new name of Dhoni 's team.

Dhoni's wife Sakshi and Bollywood actress Tabu

It was changed from MSD R-N Racing Team India to Mahi Racing Team India. Also, there was an announcement of the addition of two new members to the team. Dhoni has roped in Turkish world champion biker Kenan Sofouglu and French former world champion Fabien Foret for Team Mahi.

Mahi Racing Team India will soon start preparing for the World Superbike Championship to be held in India in March 2013. Dhoni's love for hot wheels is well known. Along with his close buddy, Bollywood actor John Abraham, Dhoni is known to drive off on powerbikes whenever time permits.

While John could not make it to Wednesday's event owing to prior commitments, sources said that Dhoni has invited Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan to officially unveil his bike racing team in a glittering event to be held in Mumbai soon. Friend John is expected to be present at the gala event, too.

[King Of All]

Nice work
If updated daily, then i will make this thread sticky.
All the beat
+7 added

[God Father]

Bhupathi-Bopanna end runners-up at World Tour finale

History slipped out of the hands of Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna as the Indian pair lost the summit clash of the ATP World Tour finale to Spanish pair of Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez, here on Tuesday.

The fifth seed Indian pair, making its debut as a pair at the elite event, lost the title clash 5-7 6-3 3-10 to the sixth seeded combine in one hour and 30 minutes.

No Indian pair has ever won the year-end finale although Leander Paes and Bhupathi reached the finals thrice together.

Now it's the fifth time that Bhupathi has ended runners-up at the event, where world's top-8 teams compete for the championship. With Paes he ended runner-up in 1997, 1999 and 2000 and with Max Mirnyi in 2010.

Bhupathi and Bopanna had beaten Paes and his Czech partner in the semifinals. They end the 2012 season and their partnership with two titles -- Dubai and the Paris Masters.

Bhupathi will partner Daniel Nestor in the next season while Bopanna is yet to confirm his teammate for the next season.

Granollers and Lopez became the second Spanish team to win the season-ending championships. The only other Spanish duo to win the championship are Juan Gisbert Sr and Manuel Orantes in 1975 at Stockholm.

The Spaniards took a 2-1 lead in the first set, after Granollers hit three successive forehands at Bopanna, who hit a backhand volley into the net on the deciding point.

However, Lopez was broken in the next game. At 5-5, Bhupathi mis-placed two serves to fall to 0/30. The 38-year-old Bhupathi made two further backhand volley errors, off Granollers forehands.

Serving for the set, Lopez faced sudden death deuce and break point, but Granollers intercepted a backhand volley to clinch the first set in 43 minutes.

[God Father]

Govt takes fresh steps to bring back Lalit Modi from UK

Government of India has initiated fresh steps to bring back former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi , facing charges of financial irregularities in the conduct of the T-20 cricket tournament, from the UK where he has been staying for nearly two years.

The finance ministry, sources said, has written to the External Affairs Ministry pointing out that Modi continues to stay in the UK for a long time even though his passport has been revoked. The matter is, however, sub-judice.

It has asked the foreign ministry to take the help of British authorities to get Modi back to India.

The request by the Finance Ministry, they said, has been made on the plea of the Enforcement Directorate which is probing the role of Modi in the alleged financial irregularities in the conduct of various editions of the T-20 tournament.

Asked about the developments, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said his ministry and the finance ministry would be on the same page in the matter. He, however, added that he is not aware of the details of the issue.

"I have no idea. If they (finance ministry) would have written to me, we would obviously look at it. You know this issue is essentially territorial. If someone's decision is taken here and the person is in India, it has one kind of implication.

"If somebody is beyond our territory, we have to go through diplomatic channels. Whatever necessary needs to be done, we'll look at it. I mean, there can't be two different minds between us and the finance ministry, you can be sure of that," Khurshid told reporters.

When contacted, Modi's General Counsel and Constituted Attorney Mehmood M Abdi said that he is not aware of any such move by the finance ministry.

Abdi added that "though its an inter-ministerial correspondence to which I have no access, and therefore in absence of full details I cannot comment yet as reported by a section of media. If it is true then it's very unfortunate."

"Allegations of ED are false and motivated by extraneous reasons and all show cause notices of ED have been replied by Modi. The replies are in public domain and are available on the website of Modi. The revocation of passport was also arbitrary," he said.

[God Father]

HRT could be sold 'within weeks'

Back-of-the-grid Formula 1 team HRT have been put up for sale by their Spanish owners.

Private equity firm Thesan Capital bought HRT last summer and this year moved it to new headquarters in Madrid.

A statement from HRT on Monday said Thesan was "in talks with a number of groups interested in buying the team".

It added that they hoped to conclude a sale "in the coming weeks and with it enable the team to continue progressing and become a reference in modern F1".

Spain's Pedro de la Rosa and India's Narain Karthikeyan are the current drivers for HRT, who made their F1 debut in 2010.

They are last in the constructors' championship with two races to go this season, and finished 11th out of 12 teams in both 2010 and 2011.

The statement continued: "We're very proud of the work done by the entire team and of the excellent sporting evolution achieved but the time has come for the team to continue growing with new financial backing.

"We're convinced that the sporting potential of the team is huge and that the presence of new investors can give it a big boost."

[God Father]

Djokovic claims ATP World title

Novak Djokovic put a firm stamp on his position as world number one with a stunning victory over Roger Federer in the ATP World Tour Finals.

The Serb won 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 to add the season-ending title to his Australian Open victory and top ranking.

He needed two hours and 14 minutes to take two sets in a match of dramatic swings in momentum.

It is the second time Djokovic has won the ATP finale, following his triumph in Shanghai four years ago.

"I was just trying to hang in there," said Djokovic.

"It's not the first time that Roger started so well against me. I've experienced before his aggression, really trying to put his mark on the match."

He added: "Whenever I needed to come up with some really good shots - really focus myself and get every ball back in the court - I did that, so I cannot be more thrilled than now."

Federer was attempting to become the first man since Ivan Lendl 25 years ago to win a hat-trick of season-ending championships, and his seventh overall.

"Maybe there's a bit of regret because I had the lead twice before him," the 31-year-old admitted in defeat.

"At the end of the day that doesn't matter, you have to get over the finish line in the set and then obviously the match. He was better at that today.

"What he does well - even in defence he stays somewhat offensive. That, I think, is what separates him from the rest a little bit."

Federer has made London's O2 Arena a second home in winning there for the last two years and, as ever, the Swiss did not lack for support.

The atmosphere might not have been cranked up at the start as it was in Sunday's semi-final against Andy Murray, but the Federer fans were in full voice as their man reeled off the first nine points.

Djokovic appeared nervous, fluffing a routine volley and firing long as he slipped, and there were ironic cheers when he finally got on the board in game three.

The winners were flowing from Federer but it was a case of brilliance against resilience as Djokovic dug in and weathered the storm by extending the rallies whenever possible.

Federer netted a forehand to give back the break in game five and the contest came alive.

Djokovic hit a brilliant cross-court forehand winner when tumbling to his right to move 5-4 ahead, but he failed to convert a set point on serve and Federer hit back to level at 5-5.

The heavy blows took a physical toll when Djokovic was knocked off his feet by a Federer effort and needed attention at the changeover, but the hour mark passed and the pair headed to a tie-break.

Djokovic took the initiative in it, but when Federer played a spectacular forehand winner, almost from behind him, he punched the air and brought the O2 crowd to its feet.

The only person apparently unaffected was Djokovic, who moments later clinched the set anyway with a forehand winner after a Federer error.

An eight-minute game at the start of the second set suggested there was still nothing between them, and when Djokovic succumbed on the fourth break point he smacked his racquet in anger on the blue court - another long battle loomed.

Federer resumed his early dominance, and when he saw off a break point at 4-3 with an ace he looked on course to force a decider.

Djokovic had recovered from worse positions against Murray and Juan Martin del Potro in the last week, however, and Federer helped him out when serving for the set at 40-15.

His forehand deserted him and two set points went begging as Djokovic, now peppering the baseline with his returns, reeled off four straight points to level.

Having been on the verge of levelling the match, Federer was now hanging on for dear life.

Djokovic battled through his own service game and a couple more loose shots from Federer, under pressure from the Serb's returns, offered up match point, seemingly from nowhere.

The final point was played out much like the match, with Federer taking control only for Djokovic to come up with the answer - a spectacular backhand down the line on the stretch.

It was a breathtaking shot on which to end the tennis year, and one that summed up why Djokovic remains number one among such star-studded company.

"It's the best way to finish a match, I guess, with a passing shot - one of my favourite shots," he concluded.

[hunterkabai]

nice news 23+10
pls update buddy i'm