KHI 19-03-2012_Layout 1 3/19/2012 2:37 AM Page 21
Monday, 19 March, 2012
sports 21
Wind, rain nor Rafa can stop Federer in desert
wAtCH it Live ESPN Sports Center 07:30PM
India win blind series against Pakistan LAHORE stAff RepoRt
INDIAN WeLLS: federer returns a forehand to Nadal of Spain during the semi-final match at the AtP tennis. reuTerS INDIAN WELLS Afp
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He forehand thundered, the backhand sizzled, the Swiss timing was back as Roger Federer steamrolled his way past Rafael Nadal and into the indian Wells final. Federer's blistering form this year shows no sign of slowing down as he goes for his third straight ATP title and the fourth of his career in the California desert in Sunday's final against 11th seeded John isner. The 30-year-old Swiss superstar renewed his rivalry with Spanish lefty Nadal on Saturday, hammering his sixth ace on the final point of the rain-disrupted match to close out Nadal 6-3, 6-4. "i guess i had a no-lose mentality," said Federer, who said he has been battling a virus all week. "i've not felt great this week. i didn't expect myself to play so well tonight, and this is sometimes when you can pull off the biggest wins of your career." One of the sport's great rivalries was on display between 16-time Grand Slam winner Federer and reigning French Open champ Nadal. it is always entertaining and full of surprises when the two tennis giants meet and this time was no different. The start of the match was delayed for three and a half hours by rain, and there was a brief rain delay at match point. "Obviously conditions were tough today, and against one of my greatest rivals, it's always nice if you come out on top," Federer said. "i'm very happy with my game and happy that my body is holding up and mentally i'm still fresh, which is very surprising." Federer had a few extra
minutes to think about what turned out to be his final ace after officials called the two off the court as he served for the match. He returned a few moments later and hammered the final nail in the coffin -- a 125 mph sizzler. This was not the first time Federer has had to collect his thoughts during an unexpected delay in a match against Nadal. "it just actually did happen against Rafa at the Australian Open," Federer said of his four set semifinal loss to Nadal in melbourne. "There were fireworks and i came back and couldn't play anymore. "it was like unbelievable. Fireworks and rain are not the same thing, but it was an interruption, even though i didn't think of that too much. "it was tough but at the end, once match point was over, everything was short-lived. "it was one of those great moments that me and Rafa shared again after having already had so many great matches against each other." Despite the defeat, Nadal still has the career edge over Federer having won 18 times, including four of the last six. Federer has beaten Nadal 10 times. "i tried. i fought until the last ball," Nadal said. "i lost against a player who played better than me this afternoon." On Sunday, Federer is facing isner, who leads the tournament in aces. isner beat him last month in four sets in a Davis Cup first round tie in Switzerland and also pushed Federer to four sets at the 2007 US Open. "i know how difficult it's going to be tomorrow," Federer said. "John is playing great tennis at the moment. it's great and exciting for American tennis, and i'm happy it's happening in the finals, this rematch for me."
india won the blind ODi series when it beat Pakistan blind cricket team in the third and last match at Chennai. Playing at the SPiC YmCA Chennai, india won the toss and decided to field. Pakistan started well but couldn’t capitalize and were bowled out on just 232 runs in 32nd over. muhammad Akram and Arslan made 44 runs each while Waqas, Jameel and Fayyaz made 30, 21 and 18 runs respectively. Ketan Patel (Totally Blind) took five wickets and Hitesh claimed 2 wickets. india in reply chased the small total with ease in 28th overs for the loss of one wicket. Parkash remained unbeaten on 110 runs and Ajay Reddy made 37 runs. india won by nine wickets and Parkash was named the man of the match. Pakistan has lost the first series after winning the seven consecutive ODi series. Pakistan team will return home on march 19.
Lahore Shaheen beat chaudhary Sports LAHORE stAff RepoRt
Lahore Shaheen beat Chaudhary Sports by 5 wickets in the 14th National Veteran Senior Cricket Cup to qualify the zonal quarter-final. Playing at the Race Course Park Ground, Chaudhary Sports made 194/9 after 30 overs. Abid Sheikh 29, Babar Butt 26, irfan munawar 45, Naeem Butt 25 & muhammad Khan 25 runs. muhammad Javeed 3/31, Ghulam Hussain 2/48, muhammad Arif 1/25, Shaukat Ali Junior 1/26, muhammad Anees 1/26 & Shokat Ali Senior 1/23 wickets. in reply Lahore Shaheen 196/5 after 25.4 overs. muhammad Arshad 69, Rana Shahid 31, Shokat Ali Senior 30, Tepu Butt 24 & muhammad Javeed 15 runs not out. muhammad Khan 2/42, Khubaib Saeed 1/27 & Shafqat Chaudhary 1/27 wickets. masood Khan, muhammad Asif Umpire & Syed Najamul-saeed was the scorer.
Colours of spring mark Punjab Sports Festival closing LAHORE AsheR Butt
The start of the spring and its ever alluring fragrance and colours marked the closing of nearly two-month long Punjab Sports Festival 2012. Under the shadow of historic Badshahi masjid and centuries old Lahore Fort, the Sports Board Punjab arranged a colourful and cherishing ceremony to honour the players who won honours for their respective tehsils, districts, divisions, schools and colleges. All the winners of different sports were assembled at Hazoori Bagh especially decorated to lure the youth of the province towards sports. The mastermind behind the organization of this sports festival was none other than the son of Punjab Chief minister mian Shahbaz Sharif, and their PmL (N) federal leader mian Hamza, who as chairman of the organizing committee successfully held sporting activity throughout the province. The plus point of organizing this festival turned out to be the sports facilities the Punjab government had been able acquire from the illegal occupants and lured in around 500,000 people of different ages to sports. Hamza with the guidance of Usman Anwar, director general Sports Board Punjab and support of Rana mashood, deputy
LAHoRe: Mian Hamza Shahbaz Sharif with other officials watch the Sports festival closing ceremony. speaker Punjab assembly, had been able to organize a successful sports activity which is being seen the biggest in Asia in terms of participation and duration. “The loopholes that have been identified during the inaugural festival would surely be overcome next year,” said Usman Anwar. Rana mashood said that there were several issues that came by but the enormity of the event should not be forgotten. “The problems seen during this year’s events won’t be repeated next year and it would be more organised and well-planned,” he added. “Organising an event of such a capacity is not an easy aspect and in a short span of time we
have been able to hold it quite feasibly,” he maintained. The Sports Board to give glowing colours to the festival organized its closing ceremony in a carnival style and Punjab Chief minister mian Shahbaz Sharif presented the top performers cash with prizes worth millions. Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, who was the chairman organizing committee, Rana mashood, deputy speaker, Usman Anwar, Dg Sports Punjab, mPAs, mNAs, secretaries and government officials joined the organizing committee during the mega historical event. “The Punjab government provided the youth of the province a platform to excel in the field of sports. The youth is the real
LAHoRe: Performaers sho traditional dance during the closing ceremony. MurTaza aLI strength of the country and whenever there will be a revolution it would be the youth of the country that would bring positive change,” said Hamza in his address during the closing ceremony of the festival. Around 1600 winner athletes attended the ceremony and were awarded cash prizes and enjoyed the traditional festivity. As on the last day, Awais Ali of Faisalabad, Shafique of Kasur and Zahid iqbal of Lahore won the concluding 66 km cycle races and Fizza of Lahore finished the fun cycle race in 46:15 to be the winner while Sadaf of Faisalabad stood second and malaika of Gujranwala got third position whereas two spe-
cial persons Anam and Asma achieved fourth and fifth positions to win the 22 Km cycling race. in the 22 km male cycling race, Tariq secured first position covering the distance in 34:40, mohammed ibrahim got second while mohamad Azeem and mohammad Kashif were third and fourth. The prizes amounting Rs 50,000 for first position holders in 22 Km fun cycling race was awarded, Rs 40,000 for second, Rs 35,000 for third positions were announced for the winners while first 31 positions in 22 Km fun cycling and first 50 position holders in professional cycling race will be awarded the prizes amounting Rs 800,000.