Ruchika case verdict on May 25

Chandigarh, May 20 (ANI): The Chandigarh Sessions Court on Thursday postponed the announcement of the verdict on the much awaited the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case to May 25 (Tuesday).

Additional District and Sessions Judge Gurbir Singh, who has completed the hearing on former Haryana Director General of Police SPS Rathore’s appeal against his conviction in the case, was scheduled to pronounce the verdict on Thursday.

On May 25, besides passing the verdict on Rathore’s plea, the court would also pass an order on the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) appeal seeking enhancement of sentence from six months to two years for Rathore.

A complaint made by Rathore against Ruchika’s family friend Anand Prakash for forging documents pertaining to the case is also expected to deliberated upon.

On December 21, 2009, Rathore was convicted for molesting Ruchika, a budding 14- year-old tennis player in 1990.

He was sentenced to serve six months’ rigorous imprisonment by the court.

Thereafter, Rathore had appealed against the sentence, the hearing of which started in February.

The hearings were adjourned following an attack on Rathore on February 8 by a Banaras-based youth.

Day-to-day proceedings of the case, which were held in-camera, resumed on May 3 and concluded on May 11.

Ruchika was allegedly molested by Rathore on August 12, 1990 at the Haryana Lawn Tennis Association office in Panchkula.

Unable to bear the harassment, Ruchika committed suicide three years later. (ANI)

Ruchika case: Chandigarh court to take up Rathore bail plea

Chandigarh, May 3 (ANI): The bail plea of former Haryana Police chief SPS Rathore, will come up before sessions court in Chandigarh on Monday.

Rathore was sentenced to six months in jail for molesting 16-year-old Ruchika Girhotra.

He had moved the plea against the sentence and his conviction.

Sixty-eight -year-old Rathore, a 1965 batch IPS officer, who retired in 2002, was awarded the sentence by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on December 22, 2009, for molesting Ruchika, a budding tennis player, in 1990.

Ruchika committed suicide three years later on December 28, 1993, and died the following day.

Subsequently Rathore was booked in two other criminal cases after Ruchika”s father Subhash Chander Girhotra and his son Ashu filed two fresh complaints against Rathore accusing him of attempt to murder, wrongful confinement and forging of the post-mortem report of the victim.

In April, Rathore returned his Police Medal, almost three weeks after he was ordered by the Centre to do so. (ANI)

New blow for tennis star by a UK court

London, Apr 30 (ANI): Tennis player Briton Robert Dee, who had filed a legal action against a British newspaper after it described him as the “world”s worst player”, has lost his case.

Twenty-three-year-old Dee argued that the article was ”offensive” and could blight his potential future career as a tennis coach.

“The newspaper argued that its article was not defamatory when read together with another piece in the same edition. The judge in the High Court agreed with the newspaper,” reports Sky News.

The Daily Telegraph maintained it was justified in publishing the story because the articles were not defamatory and true.

“The claimant is a professional player who did indeed lose 54 consecutive matches in tournaments on the international professional circuit during which he did not win one set,” the newspaper said.

“His losses were in tournaments which are under the jurisdiction of the ITF (International Tennis Federation) and the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals); they are world ranking tournaments and attract world ranking points. His record of consecutive losses was the world record equalling worst-ever run of consecutive losses on the international professional circuit,” it added.

The Judge concluded that Dee could not be justified in his complaint and the facts justified the comment.

Briton Robert Dee, now based in La Manga, took action against the Daily Telegraph over an article written in April 2008. (ANI)

Kiwi women’s cricket captain rated among world’s hottest female athletes

Auckland, Apr 27(ANI): New Zealand women’s cricket captain Aimee Watkins has been rated among the world’s 64 hottest female athletes alongside American skier Lindsay Vonn, Aussie swimmer Stephanie Rice and Czech tennis player Nicole Vaidisova.

Watkins admitted the ratings by Yahoo!Xtra came as surprise, as she does not consider herself as one of the world’s sexiest sportswomen.

“I didn’t know anything about it. I’ve seen it now,” Stuff.co.nz quoted Watkins, as saying.

“Mum gave me a call and she was pretty excited and told me to go on and have a look. Since then I’ve had a bit of stick, but oh well. It’s all a bit foreign to me,” she added.

Meanwhile, talking about her team’s preparations for the Twenty20 World Cup, which starts in the West Indies on May 5, Watkins said the White Ferns are confident of a good show after a clean sweep of Australia in this year’s Twenty20 Rosebowl series.

“To beat Aussie 5-0, we’re pretty happy with our Twenty20 form and our plans. We’re pretty clear on what we need to do,” Watkins said.

The New Zealand women’s team fly out on Thursday. (ANI)

Andy Murray looking to make a comeback in the Rome Masters

Barcelona, Apr 27 (ANI): Out of form tennis player Andy Murray is upbeat about his chances at the Rome Masters.

After two back-to-back defeats in major tournaments, the former world no.2 slipped to no.5. Undaunted by his poor performances, the Scottish tennis player is looking ahead. He has been training around the clock for his match with world no.47, Italian Andreas Seppi.

“My confidence isn”t as high as it was at the start of the year but I”ve just had two bad tournaments, that”s all it is.” The Sun quoted Murray as saying.

The tennis star is completely focussed on his upcoming match “Getting through my first match is my goal here in Rome and we”ll take it from there.” says Murray. (ANI)

I don’t worry what critics say: Murray

London, Apr 26 (ANI): Britain’s No.1 tennis player Andy Murray has hit out at his critics by saying that he doesn’t care about what they say.

He has lost his past three matches, and admitted that he played ‘rubbish’ in Monte Carlo last month, The Sun reports.

The Scot, who this week plays in the Rome Masters, said: “I don’t worry about what everyone else says and writes – I don’t care.”

“I don’t think there’s a problem. It’s based on one match where mentally I didn’t show up,” Murray said.

“I’ve seen better players than me struggle worse than I am at the moment.

“It depends what it does to you. For me it’s made me want to practise harder – and that’s good,” he added. (ANI)

Shaquille O’Neal happiest celeb on Twitter

London, April 21 (ANI): A study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh Business school has found that American basketball player Shaquille O’Neal is the happiest celebrity on Twitter.

The study examined tweets sent out by 13 celebrities.

Researchers used a computer program to find the word patterns of the tweets to figure out the inherent emotions and calculate the relative happiness, reports The Scotsman.

O’Neal topped the chart, followed by cyclist Lance Armstrong and TV presenter Jonathan Ross.

Following the top three positions were comedian John Cleese while tennis player Andy Murray and comedian Russell Brand shared the fifth spot.

Rapper Snoop Dogg was the least happy celeb, according to the report. (ANI)

Firdous Ashiq Awan meets Meira Kumar

New Delhi, Apr 21 (ANI): Visiting Pakistan Minister for Population Welfare Firdous Ashiq Awan met Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar here on Tuesday.

Pakistan”s High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik accompanied Awan.

Both leaders reportedly discussed a wide range of bilateral issues.

Earlier, Awan said that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani should hold interaction at the upcoming South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit.

“I cannot predict this, but I am sure as per their agenda it should be one of the most convenient programme that they should interact more and more. Not a photogenic meeting, it should be some agenda-oriented meeting,” she added.

The SAARC summit will be held in Bhutan on April 28 and 29.

Awan, who is on a five-day visit to India, also said Indian tennis player Sania Mirza and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik would be declared as brand ambassadors of Pakistan”s Population Welfare Ministry. (ANI)

Regional political party protests against Sania Mirza’s marriage with Shoaib Malik

Coimbatore, Mar. 31 (ANI): Activists of a regional political party in Coimbatore on Wednesday held a protest against the much-speculated marriage of Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza with Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik.

The marriage was announced on Tuesday and will take place in April.

The protestors condemned Mirza”s decision to marry a Pakistani cricketer and raised slogans against her, the Central Government and the Andhra Pradesh Government.

They demanded the tennis player be deported from the country. They also demanded the federal government to take back all the awards given to her.

“There have been reports that Sania Mirza will marry Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, which the Hindu Makkal Katchi, regional Hindu political outfit strongly condemns,” said Senthil Kumar, an activist of Hindu Makkal Katchi.

“Because we feel that the cricket player basically belongs to a country, which aids and abets terrorism against India. It is still to handover the Mumbai attack accused to India. Moreover, this is an insult to 100 crore Indian people and Muslims living in India,” he added.

“We also demand that the highest awards such as Padma Shri should be taken back from her immediately and we want to deport her from India.”

The 23-year-old tennis player was the first Indian to win a WTA tour event in 2005 and reached her highest world ranking of 27 two years ago although she has since slipped to the 92nd spot.

Malik, 28, has been fighting a 12-month ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board for poor performance and indiscipline. (ANI)

Ex-Formula One star Coultard urges Hamilton to quickly hire new manager

London, Mar.31 (ANI): BBC racing circuit pundit and former F1 star David Coulthard has urged 2008 Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton to quickly hire a new manager in the wake of his arrest in Victoria, Australia for violating driving laws.

Hamilton was stopped after performing a wheel-spin for fans in his Mercedes, which was then impounded.

He has just ditched his dad Anthony as his manager, but Coulthard reckons he needs someone on hand to deal with any sticky situations.

The Sun quoted Coulthard, as saying: “Having no manager is like a top tennis player having no coach. Lewis needs to appoint a replacement soon so he can concentrate on his day job.” (ANI)

Murray still plagued by Australian Open defeat

London, Mar 29(ANI): British tennis player Andy Murray has admitted that he is still suffering mentally from losing the Australian Open final to Roger Federer.

Murray’s confession came after he made a second round exit from the Sony Ericsson Open after losing to Mardy Fish 6-4, 6-4 in Miami. It followed his poor displays in Dubai and Indian Wells.

The 22-year-old was seeded fifth in the Australian Open and became the first British man to reach more than one Grand Slam final in 72 years, but lost to Federer in straight sets 6–3, 6–4, 7–6(11).

“No excuses – it’s down to me and getting my head right. The last three tournaments haven’t been good. Mentally on the court I”ve been really poor since Australia. That”s unacceptable,” The Mirror quoted Murray, as saying. (ANI)

Murray rejects Lloyd”s criticism for UK-Lithuania Davis Cup miss

London, Mar. 26 (ANI): Britain’s best tennis player Andy Murray has hit back at former Davis Cup captain John Lloyd for criticising him for missing the clash in Lithuania earlier this month.

The British No1 chose to sit out the tie following Britain”s relegation to Europe/Africa Zone Group II.

Lloyd questioned Murray”s commitment to Great Britain, but Murray said he had made the right decision.

“I can understand to a certain extent that everyone would like me to play in the Davis Cup because obviously we”ve got a better chance of winning. But the last tie I played in Davis Cup, I was injured. I played through the match when I was injured and it set me back probably double the amount of time that it would have done if I hadn”t played,” The Sun quoted Murray, as saying.

“No one talks about that side when you”re playing through matches when you”re hurt and it sets you back and then you drop ranking points,” Murray added.

“I don”t see John coming out and having a go at Roger Federer or Rafa Nadal or Andy Roddick or whoever, the guys that don”t play Davis Cup all of the time either. I think there needs to be a bit of perspective there that it”s not just me missing the Davis Cup tie,” Murray said. (ANI)

Brooklyn Decker suffers humiliation after losing bet to hubby Andy Roddick

New York, Mar 24 (ANI): Sports Illustrated cover model Brooklyn Decker is suffered humiliation after she lost a bet to her tennis player hubby Andy Roddick.

Decker, 22, revealed that after she lost a game of bowling to Roddick, 27, she was made to wear a very ridiculous outfit.

Both she and Kelly Stefanki, the wife of Roddick’s tennis coach, Larry, were dressed by their significant others, before heading out to dinner at a “fancy restaurant”.

“I had scuba gear and a sunshine headband [on],” the New York Daily News quoted her as writing on Twitter.

“The worst part is the boys applauded everywhere we went so that people would turn & stare,” she added. (ANI)

Giant killer Del Potro believes he is the biggest tennis star on the circuit

New York, Sep.16 (ANI): Argentine tennis player Juan Martin Del Potro still can’t believe he has won this US Open, but now believes he is the biggest new star in tennis.

“It’s my best sensation,” he said. “Since my childhood I have dreamed of this trophy. I have realised my dream. It is an incredible moment. It’s amazing match, amazing people. Everything is perfect. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week I will be believing in this. Now, I can’t believe it,” The Mirror quoted Del Potro, as saying.

The 6 ft 6in Argentine caused a massive upset by beating a fustered Roger Federer in five thrilling sets in the US Open final.

The world No.1, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, was seeking his sixth successive title after winning 40 consecutive matches at Flushing Meadows.

But he was simply battered into submission by the 20-yearold with a murderous forehand making his first appearance in a Grand Slam final. Despite a horrible start, Del Potro triumphed 3-6 7-6 (7/5) 4-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-2 in four hours and six minutes – the longest US Open final for 20 years. (ANI)

Priority is to win, I am never going to smile on court, says Murray

New York, Aug 29(ANI): British tennis player Andy Murray has said that during a match his main focus is on winning it, and he won’t crack a grin to impress his fans as he doesn’t care about anything else.

“I don’t go out of my way to ask the general public if they like me or not. That’s not really No.1 in my priorities,” The Mirror quoted Murray, as saying.

“I am never going to smile on the court. I don’t see the other top guys smiling and joking when they are playing. It is a serious business. Just like it is in other sports. Before or after you might joke around – I spend most of my time joking around – but when you step on the court, it is business,” he added.

The 22-year-old further displayed his qualities to become a top player and said that he likes to concentrate hard on his game and he extracts gratification it.

“I’ve got three hours to concentrate. To concentrate hard. So, that’s what I do. Is it still fun? That’s a good question. When you are training, it is hard work but you feel you can enjoy yourself. There’s no pressure,” Murray said.

“It is just practising a sport I love playing. But when it comes to a tournament, it is all dependent on whether you are winning or not,” he added. (ANI)

Murray frustrated by “in your face” drug-tests, whereabouts clause

New York, Aug 29(ANI): British tennis player Andy Murray has expressed frustration over the ‘intrusive’ drug-testing protocol and said that the “in your face” way that these tests are done is annoying.

Murray further said that it has become even more annoying to let the World Anti-Doping Agency know where he will be for an hour of every day of the year.

“It was such a hassle. I don’t know what it’s like in other sports. I’m sure it’s tough for the athletics guys as well. I’d just like it to be a little bit more relaxed,” The Telegraph quoted Murray, as saying.

“I just think it’s a little bit in your face the whole thing. When you’ve finished your matches, a little bit more space would be nice,” he added.

The 22-year-old also said that the players are not provided space and their privacy is repeatedly invaded by the agency.

“After I lost at Wimbledon, I was obviously disappointed because it’s a grand slam, and within two minutes of getting off the court the guy was right there, standing next to me. And I just very politely said to him, “Can you give me a little bit of space please? I’d like to be on my own for five minutes’. And he’s like, ‘Yeah, yeah, sure’, and takes one step back,” Murray said.

He said that the tests waste their precious time, as the agency asks them to go through urine, as well as blood tests.

“So when he did that, I said, ‘Right I’m going to go do my test right now’, and I went downstairs, did my urine sample, took five or 10 minutes, and then they said that I had to go and do a blood test as well,” Murray said.

“I was like, ‘Right, that’s fine, let’s do it’. And they said, ‘Sorry, you can’t do the blood test now, as you’ve got to wait until 45 minutes, an hour, after your match before you do it’. So there are so many rules and things so if you do everything right, they will still keep you waiting,” he added. (ANI)

Scot crowned double Wimbledon Champion at 75!

London, Aug.19 (ANI): A Scot has been crowned a double Wimbledon champion at the age of 75.

Veteran tennis player Jimmy Wood has scooped more titles than Andy Murray in his long career. And now he’s trumped the young upstart once again by being crowned the British Veteran singles and doubles champ at the world famous venue, reports The Scotsman.

Wood, a grandfather from Aberdeen, said: “Tennis is a sport you can play from the cradle to the grave. As I’m getting older I’m getting slower. I wouldn’t be any match for a Federer or a Murray.

“But I’m still fit, and competitive. I’ll never retire. I want to pop my clogs on the tennis court.” (ANI)

Andy Murray’s life story to be turned into Hollywood flick

London, July 12 (ANI): Tennis ace Andy Murray’s life story is all set to be turned into a Hollywood movie.t least three major studios are in the run to grab the rights to the star’s life story for millions of pounds.

The rush for the rights began when studio bosses found out that the 22-year-old tennis player survived the Dunblane massacre.

Andy was just eight when Thomas Hamilton shot dead 16 pupils and a teacher at Dunblane Primary School on March 13, 1996, before killing himself in the gym.

Andy, who reached the Wimbledon semi-final last month, rarely speaks of the nightmare that unfolded before his eyes that day.

However, the Glasgow-born battler, who is now the world’s No. 3, might just reveal the story in return for millions of pounds.

A senior executive at Fox said his studio would “easily match” Andy’s career earnings of 4.7million pounds to acquire the film rights to his life story.

“This guy is an absolute inspiration,” the Daily Star quoted him as saying.

It is believed that Universal and Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks are also hoping to sign him up. (ANI)

Simona Halep has her 34DD bust reduced

London, Jul 10 (ANI): Romanian junior tennis player Simona Halep has had her 34DD bust reduced after they proved to be too much of a hindrance during matches.

Halep, 17, who has won many male fans in recent years, decided that her twin assets had to go, as she feared that they were stopping her from winning titles.

“It’s the weight that troubles me – my ability to react quickly, my breasts make me uncomfortable when I play as well,” the Sun quoted her as saying last month.

“I don’t like them in my everyday life either. I would have gone for surgery too, even if I hadn’t been a sportswoman,” she added.

According to Totalprosports.com, the tennis star has made a full recovery from the op, and started training again for future tournaments. (ANI)

Kournikova, Eglesias engaged?

London, July 7 (IANS) Tennis player turned model Anna Kournikova has sparked rumours that she has got engaged to Spanish singer beau Enrique Iglesias after she was spotted wearing a diamond band on her ring finger.
Kournikova, who has been dating Iglesias on and off for eight years, has been wearing a large diamond ring on her wedding finger, sparking rumours the couple are set to wed, reports contactmusic.com.

When a reporter asked her about the ring’s significance, she snapped: “I thought you were the good press”, and quickly put her hand behind her back.