Srikkanth to quit as chief selector

Posted: Wednesday, September 14, 2011
New Delhi: Chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth may step down after he completes this three-year term this month, sources have told CNN-IBN.

Srikkanth has told the Board of Control for Cricket in India that he is happy to exit after the completion of the term. The BCCI, however, will take a final call on whether they should give him a one-year extension.

Former India all-rounder and south zone selector Roger Binny is the frontrunner to replace Srikkanth.

The chief selector has been under the scanner and under pressure to quit after India's disastrous Test tour to England where India were whitewashed 0-4. However, it should be remembered that India's ascendency to the No. 1 Test spot and the 2011 World Cup win came during Srikkanth's tenure.

Dominant Bolt wins world 200m crown

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DAEGU (South Korea): Usain Bolt destroyed the field on Saturday to win world 200m gold, running the fourth fastest time in history and earning redemption in South Korea after his shock 100m disqualification.

Bolt was slowest out of the blocks but quickly opened up a commanding lead, casting a single look at silver medallist Walter Dix on his outside as he came out of the bend before he drove for home.

Teeth clenched and eyes on the clock, Bolt flew down the home stretch, desperate to prove his doubters wrong and underline his position as the greatest sprinter on the planet. He clocked a world lead of 19.40sec.

Only Bolt, twice, and American track legend Michael Johnson have run faster.

Dix crossed the line in 19.70sec with European champion Christophe Lemaitre of France timing 19.80 as a fourth runner, Norway's Jaysuma Saidy Ndure, also went under 20sec.

The Jamaican Olympic champion and defending world champion was his usual playful self in the moments before he settled, smoothing down his eyebrows and putting his fingers to his lips, motioning for the crowd to be quiet.

But amid tangible tension in Daegu, the starter's gun signalled a dramatic change in mood as a determined Bolt pulled out all the stops.

"I feel great. I'm still the best," said Bolt, who wrapped himself in the Jamaican flag after his win, blowing kisses to the crowd and soaking up the praise.

"There wasn't really a point to prove," added the 25-year-old. "I came here and did what I had to do. There wasn't really big pressure at the start. I was a bit nervous but I always am. All I had to do was sit and wait at the start.

"I decided 'why not come out and run as hard as possible'? I ran a good corner and I could have run much faster. Without a doubt I can keep on delivering. I made a mistake in the 100m but I would have won it."

Bolt, the unchallenged star of world sprinting in recent years and the biggest name in athletics, was disqualified from the 100m final on Sunday after a false start.

The Jamaican was distraught after his catastrophic mistake, ripping off his singlet and holding his head in disbelief before leaving the track as team-mate Yohan Blake powered to gold.

But it was a different story on the penultimate night of action in Daegu.

"I am very happy and proud to have won here today. After the false start on Sunday I was extremely disappointed not to have given myself the chance to defend my 100m title," said Bolt.

"The 200m represented a great opportunity for me to put it behind me and move on, and I've been determined to do so all week. The crowd was wonderful here tonight and I really enjoyed the moment."

Dix said: "I wanted to bring the USA the gold but it wasn't to be and I had to console myself with silver. He was just too strong.

"He and Lemaitre both ran great races and I have a lot of work to do which I will do now when I go back home."

Lemaitre said: "I thought I had a chance. I saw Dix but I lost time on the bend. I said I have a chance of a medal and I said I must not let it slip. I said to myself I had the strength in my legs to run a good time."

After storming to the 100m and 200m sprint double in then-world record times at the 2008 Olympics, Bolt matched his feat the following year at the Berlin worlds, setting new marks of 9.58 and 19.19sec.

Bolt himself admitted he is not in world record form this year but his win in South Korea confirms his status as the most marketable sportsman on the planet - and firm favourite to retain his Olympic titles in London next year.

POONAM the girl who strips for team INDIA

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Serena Williams Fined $2,000 by U.S. Open

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Serena Williams argues with the chair umpire during her U.S. Open finals match against Samantha Stosur of Australia, September 11, 2011.

NEW YORK — Serena Williams was fined $2,000 by the U.S. Open on Monday for berating the chair umpire during the final.

Tournament referee Brian Earley issued his ruling a day after Williams was cited by chair umpire Eva Asderaki for a code violation for verbal abuse during a 6-2, 6-3 loss to Sam Stosur in the women's singles championship match at Flushing Meadows.

A statement issued by the U.S. Tennis Association said the fine "is consistent with similar offenses at Grand Slam events."

Williams earned $1.4 million at the U.S. Open: $900,000 for finishing as the runner-up, plus a $500,000 bonus for having come in first place in the U.S. Open Series standings, which take into account results at hard-court tuneup tournaments.

The USTA also said Grand Slam committee director Bill Babcock conducted his own review and determined "Williams' conduct, while verbally abusive, does not rise to the level of a major offense under the Grand Slam Code of Conduct."

That means Williams does not face further disciplinary action — which could have included a fine and suspension from a Grand Slam tournament — under the "probationary period" she was put under after yelling at and threatening a line judge after a foot-fault call at the end of her loss to Kim Clijsters in the 2009 U.S. Open semifinals.

On Sunday night against Stosur, Williams faced a break point while serving in the first game of the second set.

Williams ripped a forehand that she celebrated with her familiar yell of "Come on!" But Asderaki ruled that the scream came while Stosur was reaching for a backhand, so the point wasn't finished. Based on the hindrance rule, Asderaki awarded the point to Stosur, putting the Australian ahead 1-0 in that set.

That set Williams off on a series of insults directed at the official, a scene far less ugly than — yet reminiscent of — her tirade on the same court two years ago.

A sampling of what Williams said, prompting Asderaki to call the code violation:

• "You're out of control."

• "You're a hater, and you're just unattractive inside."

• "Really, don't even look at me."

Asked at her news conference Sunday night whether she regretted any of her words, the 13-time Grand Slam champion rolled her eyes and replied: "I don't even remember what I said. It was just so intense out there ... I guess I'll see it on YouTube."

In 2009, Williams' profanity-laced outburst at a line judge led to an immediate $10,000 fine from the U.S. Open and later a record $82,500 fine from Babcock. At the time, Babcock said that if Williams committed a "major offense" at a Grand Slam tournament in 2010 or 2011, her fine could be doubled and she would be barred from the following U.S. Open.

Andrew Symonds With His Off n On Girlfriend..Katie Johnson

Posted: Saturday, September 3, 2011