De La Hoya insists Brit boxer Khan can join him in Hall of Fame

May 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 11 (ANI): Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya has said that British boxer Amir Khan is so good that he reminds him of a special boxer himself.

De La Hoya, who is Khan’s promoter in America, stages the British boxer’s second defence of his WBA world light-welterweight title against Paulie Malignaggi at the Theatre in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

De La Hoya won Olympic gold in 1992 followed by 10 world titles in six different weight classes, defeating 17 world champions, The Sun reports.

Khan took silver at the Athens Olympics and will be making only the second defence of his title. But De La Hoya insists the kid from Bolton can join him in the Hall of Fame.

“When I look into Amir’s eyes I can see something of myself in there. We were around the same age when we won our Olympic medals. When I saw Amir fight in Athens, I saw everything that a good fighter is supposed to have – talent of course, the speed, the power and especially the passion,” De La Hoya said.

“Those are the attributes that helped me to become who I am in the sport of boxing. It really is a privilege for me to guide Amir Khan”s career into something special for the future.

“Not too many fighters can win multiple championships in multiple divisions. Amir Khan has the ability to become a super-champion, a legend. And that”s what really attracted me to him. He has that it factor. Talent, passion, the looks and the charisma,” De La Hoya added. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

China Olympic judo champion Tong banned for two years

May 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Chinese Olympic judo champion Tong Wen has been banned for two years and stripped of her world title after failing a doping test at the world championships in the Netherlands last year.

Tong, who claimed the women’s 78kg title at the 2008 Beijing Games and won a fourth world championship at Rotterdam, had tested positive for banned substance Clenbuterol, Chinese state media reported late on Saturday.

The International Judo Federation issued the ban at a council meeting in Tunis on Friday, Xinhua news agency said, citing a Chinese judo official.

Ma Wenguang, the director of China’s weightlifting, wrestling and judo administration centre, told Xinhua the sport’s governing body “would seriously deal with it”.

The International Judo Federation was unavailable for comment.

Clenbuterol is often used to treat breathing disorders, rising blood pressure and for oxygen transportation.

“(It) can boost muscle, like an anabolic steroid,” Zhao Jian, deputy director of the China Anti-Doping Agency, told Xinhua.

“We had tested Tong last year before she went to the Netherlands but found nothing at that moment,” he added.

Tong, China’s most successful judoka, won three world titles in the 78kg class between 2005-2009 and one in the open category in 2003.

(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne, Editing by Greg Stutchbury; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Button favourite to win McLaren battle against Hamilton: Sir Jackie Stewart

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Apr 30(ANI): Former Scottish Formula One legend Sir Jackie Stewart believes that reigning champion Jenson Button is the favourite to beat Lewis Hamilton at McLaren and potentially become the first Briton to claim back-to-back world titles.

Stewart had earlier said that Button had entered a “lion’s den” by choosing to join McLaren, a team that brought Hamilton through the ranks of world motorsport and made him Formula One’s youngest ever world champion in 2008.

However, after two wins in his first four races for the team, Stewart admits he was wrong about Button’s move.

“It is working much better than I think anyone could have expected,” The Telegraph quoted Stewart, as saying.

“I did say that Jenson would be walking into the lion’s den. What he has proved is that he can handle that den very well. That is not to say that he is better than Lewis or vice-versa, but Jenson is in that zone at the moment where he is making the right decisions at the right time.”

“I think if he keeps driving the way he is I would have to say he is the favourite of the two,” he added.

Stewart further said that there does not seem to be any fireworks between Button and Hamilton, as anticipated before the start of the season.

“The drivers themselves seem to get on very well together. There is a good communication there,” Stewart said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Schumacher will be on the top by Malaysian leg of F1: Niki Lauda

March 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Mar 23 (ANI): Seven times Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, who returned from retirement recently, will shake off a bit more rustiness in Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix before fully regaining his brilliance the following weekend in Malaysia, said Austrian legend Niki Lauda.

The Austrian legend took two years out before returning to win the third of his three world titles, albeit not until the third year of his comeback.

Lauda is not concerned that seven-time champ Schumacher was out qualified and outraced by Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg at the opening Grand Prix in Bahrain.

He insisted the 41-year-old German produced a “perfect performance” even though many expected him to be a winner straight away, The Sun reports.

Lauda said: “You can hardly start any better. He ran very little over the winter due to test restrictions, then got into a modified car he had never driven before. So it was simply impossible for him to clock a qualification lap at the push of a button.”

“I suppose he needs about three races to get back up to the same level he was at. When you take all that into account, he did a superb qualification lap, even compared to Nico who was only three-tenths faster.

“My guess is that in Kuala Lumpur he will have regained the ability to switch on for a fast lap that every driver has to have,” Lauda added. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kookaburras urged to be bold

March 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Australia coach Ric Charlesworth has told the Kookaburras to throw caution to the wind if they are to avenge history and beat Germany in the final of the men’s hockey World Cup.

The Kookaburras will play their nemesis of recent years in New Delhi at the weekend after beating The Netherlands 2-1 in their semi-final, while Germany’s 4-1 win over England means it could become the first nation to claim a hat-trick of world titles.

Germany’s victories in the 2002 and 2006 finals both came at the hands of the Kookaburras, who led in both deciders but have not won the World Cup since 1986.

Charlesworth, who played in that tournament 24 years ago, was pleased with the win over the Dutch, but says the Kookaburras have to be at their best if they are to beat Germany, which is also the reigning Olympic champion.

He says the Kookaburras are not burdened by recent history, as only five members of the current squad took part in the 2006 defeat in Monchengladbach.

“Those experiences from the past are important and sometimes they’re part of the motivation,” he said.

“The stories they [the senior players] tell are worth knowing, but we’ve been looking over the past six months at all sorts of important matches from past Olympics and past World Cups and everything that’s necessary for this game.”

The Kookaburras can at least draw plenty from the sides’ most recent clash, when Australia rallied from 3-1 down to beat Germany 5-3 in the Champions Trophy final three months ago in Melbourne.

Charlesworth is confident the Kookaburras have the game to repeat that win, although he warned against playing into Germany’s hands by not showing any adventure.

“Your defence has to be sound but you can’t just play defensive,” he said.

“Our way of playing inspires a different approach and I believe if we play to the best of our ability then we’re a big chance.

“That [win last year] gives us some belief that we can match them … we have to take the game on, that’s important.

“We have to play our way. One thing about them is they’re unchanging about the way they play.”

Germany and the Kookaburras are the world’s highest-ranked teams and topped their respective pools before the semi-finals.

- AAP

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Billiards champ Advani returns home after winning IBSF title

September 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Bangalore, Sep 8 (ANI): World Billiards champion Pankaj Advani arrived here on Tuesday morning after pulling off a surprise win over nine-time winner Mike Russell in the final of the world championships in Leeds, UK.

On Sunday night, the 24-year-old Advani scripted a brilliant 2030-1253 win over Russell to win his maiden World Professional Billiards title at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds.

Former champions hailed Pankaj’s feat of becoming the second Indian cueist to clinch the world professional billiards crown in its 139-year history.

Advani has become the second Indian after Geet Sethi, to win the coveted title

After the win Pankaj said that the win is yet to sink in.

With this triumph, Advani has ensured that he has won all major billiards world titles. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Stephanie Rice named World’s Sexiest Sportswoman

May 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, May 03 (ANI): Swimming sensation Stephanie Rice has been named the sexiest sportswoman in the world.

Rice came in at No.30 in FHM magazine’s 100 sexiest women in the world in 2009, pipping Serbian tennis starlet Ana Ivanovic (32) for sport’s top spot.

The men’s mag says Rice has ‘a body honed to perfection’, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Soccer and cricket star Ellyse Perry was placed at No.82 by the magazine’s readers, and Jelena Dokic at 93.

Rice is the best-known swimmer in the world without a personal swimwear sponsor, and would be in a winning position during the world championships in July.

The International Swimming Federation’s newly formed commission assembles in Lausanne next week to decide which hi-tech swimsuits will be legal for the world titles in Rome, after an influx of new brands and new technology destabilised the sport in the past year.

On the advice of her coach Michael Bohl, Rice deliberately refrained from taking the money on offer from the manufacturers to an athlete of her stature.

Bohl believes that she is now in the perfect position to respond to the changing conditions for the world titles. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Triple Olympic gold medallist Rice well placed in swimsuit wars

May 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, May 2 (ANI): Triple Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice is the best known swimmer in the world without a personal swimwear sponsor, and would be in a winning position during the world championships in July.

The International Swimming Federation’s newly formed commission assembles in Lausanne next week to decide which hi-tech swimsuits will be legal for the world titles in Rome, after an influx of new brands and new technology destabilised the sport in the past year.

On the advice of her coach Michael Bohl, Rice deliberately refrained from taking the money on offer from the manufacturers to an athlete of her stature.

Bohl believes that she is now in the perfect position to respond to the changing conditions for the world titles.

“I said all along that she didn’t want to pigeonhole herself because we don’t know what the rules will be,” The Australian quoted Bohl, as saying.

“I think Speedo and Arena are both very keen to sign her, but I think signing early would have been crazy. She probably won’t sign a deal now until after the world championships where they will decide what the rules are for 2010,” he added.

Rice tested a range of brands, including Arena, Adidas and Blue Seventy. She set both of her world records in Speedo’s LZR Racer at the Beijing Olympics and will consider all brands before deciding what she will wear in Rome. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hamilton wants to win two more F1 world titles

March 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Mar. 22 (ANI): British Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he is not just aiming one more world title, but two.

The next target on the remarkable 24-year-old’s agenda is to match the career haul of his idol Ayrton Senna and win the world drivers’ championship three times.

“People say, ‘Do you want to do what Michael Schumacher’s done?’, but I’ve always said since I was a kid that I would love to be an F1 driver, then be a world champion and then to do what Ayrton did, which is to win three world championships,” the Sunday Mirror Sport quoted him, as saying.

As the world champion Hamilton opens his defense in Australia, he also spills some beans about his secret aspirations.

“I look at Alain Prost and Sir Jackie Stewart. They are multiple world champions and one day I would like to have my name in that group. It would be very cool,” he said.

However, the title of his dream has been accompanied by wounding claims that he is arrogant.

“I never want to hear that kind of thing. Everyone makes mistakes and for sure there is maybe a point where I have come across as being arrogant so I will have to correct that,” he defended.

But he admitted the biggest fight on his agenda will surely come halfway around the world in seven days’ time.

Although hamilton has already prepared himself for the inevitability that he must one day lose the title, that agony will not match the torture of his near-miss by a single point as a rookie in 2007. (ANI)

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vettel ready to shine in 2009

March 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Hamburg – Sebastian Vettel certainly isn’t getting carried away by all the hype surrounding him ahead of the 2009 Formula One season.

The 21-year-old German had a stand-out 2008 with Toro Rosso, finishing seventh in the drivers’ world championship and becoming the youngest grand prix winner in the sport at the Italian GP in Monza.

Vettel’s performances saw Toro Rosso’s mother team Red Bull quickly move to sign him up for 2009 and led many commentators to say he is a world champion in the making.

“We should count ourselves fortunate that we have someone like him in Formula One,” said F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who sees many similarities between Vettel and German F1 legend Michael Schumacher, winner of a record seven world titles.

“The pair have two things in common: exceptional talent and an incredible work ethic,” said Ecclestone.

Vettel’s new team-mate Mark Webber, meanwhile, says he is delighted to be partnering one of F1′s up and coming stars.

“It’s great for the team. Red Bull did really well to hold on to him,” said the Australian.

While many commentators expect Vettel to once again show that he is world champion material, the man from Heppenheim is just concentrating on achieving his own personal goals.

“I don’t care what other other people expect of me, I know where I want to go,” he said.

Vettel has already had one spell at Red Bull while he has also had driving time with BMW-Sauber. In 2006 in Istanbul, Vettel caused a stir when he challenged the established names while testing for BMW at Friday practice ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix.

A year later, he became the youngest F1 driver in history to score points when he finished seventh in the US Grand Prix while driving as a replacement for Robert Kubica, who was deemed unfit following a heavy crash at the Canadian GP a week earlier.

Shortly afterwards, Vettel moved to Toro Rosso where the highpoint was securing the team’s first ever GP win at Monza. Now a new chapter begins at Red Bull.

“I hope that I continue to learn,” said Vettel of his expectations at the new team. “The people here have a lot of faith in me.”

Vettel has a two-year contract with the Austrian team financed by drinks manufacturing billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, who is aware his team will have to deliver a competitive package.

“If we aren’t in a position to give him a top-class car we certainly don’t want to block his way towards a world title,” said Mateschitz. (dpa)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Johnson’s gal Bratich seeking to make a karate comeback

March 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Cape Town (South Africa), Mar.18 (ANI): Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson’s girlfriend Jessica Bratich is keen to make a bid for world karate titles again.

The 27-year-old gave up the sport when she left Perth to be with Johnson in Queensland, but the pair moved back to the West Coast last year and she is ready for another assault on the world titles, reports news.com.au.

Bratich was the first Australian woman to win a medal at the karate world titles in more than a decade with a bronze in 2006, but hopes to go one better next year at the championships in Serbia.

While other wives and girlfriends have spent the time carrying shopping and baby bags.

Bratich has convinced Johnson that he can spend is time more fruitfully by holding a kick bag.

“This is the first time training with Mitch. The problem is that when we do it he seems to want to fight, he gets right into it,” Bratich said.

Bratich is aiming to compete in the Australian Open titles in April. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vonn clinches World Cup title with downhill triumph

March 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Are, Sweden – Lindsey Vonn of the United States clinched a second straight overall World Cup title in alpine skiing in style on Wednesday by winning a downhill ahead of German title rival Maria Riesch.

Vonn, 24, clocked 1 minute 42.49 seconds on the 2,638-metres Olympia course at the World Cup finals.

Riesch had 1:42.89 and Austrian veteran Renate Goetschl was third on the podium in 1:43.75 minutes.

Vonn has 1,688 points and, with a victory worth 100 points, can not be caught by Riesch (1,299) in the final three season races. She also dominated the downhill World Cup with a final tally of 502 points from Austrian Andrea Fischbacher (326).

Vonn won eight races this season for an overall tally of 21, making her the most successful US women’s skier. She also got downhill and super-g world titles last month in Val d’Isere, France.

The final men’s downhill was scheduled for later Wednesday, with Austrians Michael Walchhofer and Klaus Kroell vying for the discipline title. (dpa)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vonn clinches World Cup title with downhill triumph

March 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Are, Sweden – Lindsey Vonn of the United States clinched a second straight overall World Cup title in alpine skiing in style on Wednesday by winning a downhill ahead of German title rival Maria Riesch.

Vonn, 24, clocked 1 minute 42.49 seconds on the 2,638-metres Olympia course at the World Cup finals.

Riesch had 1:42.89 and Austrian veteran Renate Goetschl was third on the podium in 1:43.75 minutes.

Vonn has 1,688 points and, with a victory worth 100 points, can not be caught by Riesch (1,299) in the final three season races. She also dominated the downhill World Cup with a final tally of 502 points from Austrian Andrea Fischbacher (326).

Vonn won eight races this season for an overall tally of 21, making her the most successful US women’s skier. She also got downhill and super-g world titles last month in Val d’Isere, France.

The final men’s downhill was scheduled for later Wednesday, with Austrians Michael Walchhofer and Klaus Kroell vying for the discipline title. (dpa)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Stephanie Rice fed up of ‘party girl’ tag

February 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Feb 19 (ANI): Olympic golden girl Stephanie Rice is fed up of the party girl tag, and the agony is giving her an extra motivation for the upcoming championships.

The 20-year-old triple Olympic gold medallist now aims to put to rest the criticism she attracted with her performance at the world titles in Rome to be held in July.

“I haven’t been out basically since Christmas and New Year, but I continue to be called a party girl and it’s just gone too far now,” the Daily Telegraph quoted Rice as saying.

“When I first saw the headlines calling me wild and a party animal, I just thought it was a bit over the top. But for it to continue when I’m back training and competing is untrue and it’s got to the stage where enough is enough,” she added.

Rice has now resumed full-scale training and is geared up for next month’s world title trials in Sydney. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,