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TuesDAY 19•04•2016
SportS
THE MORUNG EXPRESS
Barca's margin for error runs out after losing run
BARCELONA, ApRiL 18 (REutERs): Barcelona’s players returned from the international break at the start of April confident of achieving an unprecedented second straight treble. Little more than a fortnight later, they have been knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid and seen their nine-point lead at the top of La Liga eliminated. Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Valencia was Barca's third in a row for the first time since 2003, when they finished sixth in the standings and empty handed. Barcelona still lead the way due to a superior head-to-head record over Atletico, and they also have the upper hand over thirdplaced Real Madrid who are one point behind. If they win their five remaining league games, two at the Nou Camp and three away, Barca will retain the league and they could also clinch a domestic double by beating Sevilla in the King’s Cup final on May 22. Coach Luis Enrique tried to remain positive after the shock defeat by Valencia, a team they had thrashed 7-0 in a King’s Cup semi-final game just two months earlier.
Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres (R) and Granada's Jean Sylvain Babin in action. (REUTERS)
“We still depend on ourselves. Our margin for error has run out and we are aware of the challenge,” he told a news conference. “We’ve got a marvellous challenge, if we win the five games remaining we will be champions. “I played for Barca for eight years, this is my second as a coach and I have never seen the supporters get behind the team as they did tonight.” Defender Gerard Pique also gave an optimistic
message, saying the team had played better against Valencia than in losses to Atletico, Real Sociedad and Real Madrid. “We can’t be worried at all when you look at the way we are playing at the moment. We deserved a lot more but we leave here with our heads held high,” he told reporters. “If we play like this we’ll win the league, I’m convinced of that. “Although it’s a step backwards, playing this
well will help the team mentally. We’ve recovered the sensations from a month ago.” Torres scores as Atletico move level with Barca Atletico Madrid eased to a 3-0 home win over struggling Granada to provisionally move level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona on Sunday after Fernando Torres grabbed his fourth goal in as many games. Spain international
Koke opened the scoring after 15 minutes and then teed up Torres for the second in the 59th, while substitute Angel Correa rounded off the victory in the 83rd. Atletico are second on 76 points, level with Luis Enrique’s Barca who host Valencia later on Sunday. Atletico, boosted by a 2-0 win over Barca on Wednesday which put them into the Champions League semi-finals, started brightly with Koke blazing over the bar moments after kick-off. The midfielder proved more accurate minutes later, pouncing on a loose ball after Torres’s effort was blocked and drilling a shot into the net. Granada winger Ruben Rochina hit the post later in the half before Torres eased Atletico’s nerves by notching the second, latching onto a threaded pass by Koke to lift the ball over goalkeeper Andres Fernandez and into the far corner. Argentine forward Correa came on to replace Atletico’s top scorer Antoine Griezmann and made the most of his cameo appearance by racing onto a pass from Saul Niguez down the left and tucking the ball into the far bottom corner.
Second Bishop Abraham Memorial Volleyball Tournament DimApuR, ApRiL 18 (mExN): The 2nd Bishop Abraham Memorial Volleyball Tournament which is organised by the Nagaland Catholic Youth Movement (NCYM) and Tournament Organising Committee under the Diocese of Kohima, Nagaland is scheduled to be held from April 22 to 24 at St. Joseph’s Hr. Sec. School, Chumukedima with Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Nagaland as the Chief Patron. The organisers have informed that a total of 51 participating teams (both male & female) have been registered for the tournament from catholic parishes/centres across the State.
Further, the organisers have also informed that there will be an awareness program on adverse effects of tobacco and alcohol and disaster management in collaboration with the Department of Health & Family Welfare and the Nagaland State Disaster management Authority respectively during the tournament. The opening ceremony shall be graced by T. R. Zeliang, Chief Minister as the chief guest on April 23 at 9.00 am while Elias T. Lotha, President, Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN) shall grace the closing ceremony as Guest of Honour on April
ANKFA members awarded National Referee Certificate
No loyalty to team, it's loyalty to money now: Waugh BERLiN, ApRiL 18 (pti): The "loyalty to money" which Twenty20 leagues around the world are promoting has made it impossible for any country to strike the perfect balance between all three formats of cricket, says former Australian captain Steve Waugh. Waugh, however, feels India, Australia and England are closest to getting the equilibrium right. Worried about the impact that Twenty20 cricket is having on the game, Waugh said the incentive on offer in T20 leagues has led to a decline in loyalty towards national duty. "I think Australia is the
closest when it comes to striking a balance, India has the potential and England is also coming up nicely...I think it's impossible to strike a perfect balance given that there are three different teams. It's not realistic. I don't think there would ever be one world no.1 in all three formats of the game," Waugh said in an interaction with the Indian media at the Laureus World Sports Awards. "Somebody like Brendon McCullum retired from Test cricket even though I feel he still had three-four years in him. He is just working for superannuation right now, for
his family, which is alright. Overall I feel there is no loyalty to the team, there is loyalty to money now. I don't blame the players but it's tough on the fans," Waugh said. His sentiments were echoed by former England captain Ian Botham, who said Twenty20 should be kept at the "bottom of the shelf". "Test cricket is number one because it ebbs and flows beautifully but there is shelf life for every format. And I feel Twenty20 should be at the bottom of the shelf. People are saying it was a great World Twenty20 final last month. I say
S. African 'Blade Runner' Pistorius faces June sentencing for murder
Oscar Pistorius speaks to a member of his legal team before appearing for a postponement of his sentencing hearing at the High Court in Pretoria, South Africa on 18 April. (REUTERS)
pREtORiA, ApRiL 18 (REutERs): Disgraced Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius will be sentenced in June for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, after his original conviction was upgraded from the lesser charge of manslaughter. Pistorius, 29, known as "Blade Runner" for the carbon fibre prosthetic blades he used to race, faces a minimum 15-year jail sentence and cannot appeal after the country's top court ruled in March that he had exhausted all his legal options. Dressed in a black suit, he showed no signs of emotion during the brief court appearance and spoke on his cellphone as he left the court. He denies killing Steenkamp, saying he mistook her for an intruder at his home. "The matter is postponed to the 13th of June 2016, High Court Judge Au-
brey Ledwaba said of the final sentencing. "It will be heard until the 17th of June 2016." Outside the court, a group of people in white tshirts gathered in support of Pistorius holding placards. Pistorius initially received a five-year sentence for "culpable homicide", South Africa's equivalent of manslaughter. He was released from prison last October after almost a year behind bars and allowed to serve out his term under house arrest on his uncle's property in a wealthy suburb of Pretoria. But in December, the Supreme Court upgraded the conviction on appeal to murder. He was allowed to stay at his uncle's pending the final decisions on appeals and sentencing. The runner, whose lower legs were amputated when he was a baby and
went on to become a global sporting hero, has lost millions of dollars in endorsements and sponsorships. He reached the pinnacle of his fame in London 2012 when he became the first double amputee to run in the Olympics, reaching the 400-metres semi-finals. Pistorius' family spokeswoman Anneliese Burgess declined to comment on media reports that the athlete had been hospitalised over the weekend. "I have spoken to the family and they don't want to talk about it. They see it as a private matter and won't be commenting," Burgess told Reuters. Steenkamp's parents did not attend the hearing. The case has prompted a fierce debate in a country beset by high levels of violent crime. Some rights groups had said the white track star got preferential treatment.
it was a great last four balls, the rest of the final was a drag. I think it was a pretty poor final," Botham said. West Indies beat England in a last-over thriller in the World T20 final with Carlos Brathwaite smacking Ben Stokes for four consecutive sixes. Botham said the way things are going, Twenty20 is in the danger of becoming a lottery. "That's a real threat. T20 could become a lottery because cricket is much more than just 20 overs. Crowds like it but then crowds like Test cricket too. In England every big Test series is sold out, it's the same in Aus-
tralia, South Africa or New Zealand" he said. "I think players have to remind people of how important Test cricket is. Players have the obligation to look after Test cricket," Botham added. Waugh said West Indies is a prime example of how T20 can affect the growth of other formats. "There is a danger and we all know that. Look at West Indies. The incentive to play T20 cricket is so much more than Test cricket," he said. Talking of Australia, Waugh said Steven Smith's men deserved their early ouster from last month's World T20.
24 at 2.00pm. Therefore, the organisers have invited everyone, especially the patrons & donors of the tournament, heads of catholic parishes/centres/institutions, catholic officers & public leaders, executives of CAN, NCWA, various Catholic Tribal unions/ associations, and parish CYAs to come & grace the occasion. For further information, contact; Rev. Fr. Sojan Puthankudy, NCYM Director-9402988263; Dr. Seyiekhrietuo John, Tournament Convenor-9436010783; Regina Razousinuo NCYM President-7085190036.
Bendangakum and Waluniba (seated, L-R) are seen here with Grandmasters M.Sarat Singh and Ramananda Singh along with S.Kishan Singh, general secretary of Indian Kung Fu federation after receiving their National Referee certificates.
mOkOkChuNg, ApRiL 18 (mExN): Two senior members of the All Nagaland Kung Fu Association (ANKFA) were awarded National Referee Certificate by the Indian Kung Fu Federation during its 3rd National Judges, Referees and Coaches Seminar held at Imphal, Manipur on 13-15 April, 2016. Bendangakum and Waluniba were awarded the National Referee certifi-
cates and they will be officiating in all senior and junior categories during the ensuing 14th National Championships of the Indian Kung Fu Federation to be held on 8-10 May 2016 at Shevgaon, Maharashtra. Bendangakum and Waluniba were also conferred with the grades 2nd Dan Black Belt and Black Belt respectively in the martial art of Kung Fu during the same semi-
nar at Imphal. They were examined and adjudged by Grandmasters M.Sarat Singh and Ramananda Singh and S.Kishan Singh, general secretary of Indian Kung Fu federation. Meanwhile, ANKFA through its general secretary Temsuyanger conveyed congratulations to Bendangakum and Waluniba on their remarkable success.
Tripura celebrates Dipa's Olympic qualification
AgARtALA, ApRiL 18 (iANs): Cheer and joy gripped Tripura since early Monday after local girl Dipa Karmakar, scripting history, became the first Indian woman gymnast to qualify for the Olympics after putting up a strong show at the final qualifying and test event for the Rio Games. "We came to know the splendid news through television. Since yesterday (Sunday) our entire family was sitting in front of the TV set. One and all roared suddenly when Dipa's name was announced that she had qualified for the Olympics," Dipa's father Dulal Karmakar told IANS. "Our long cherished dream is fulfilled, as our daughter has been rewarded in the highest interna-
tional sports meet," Dipa's mother Gauri Karmakar said as tears of joy rolled down her cheeks. "Dipa was a little nervous when she was talked to us on Saturday over phone from Rio de Janeiro," she added. The 22-year-old, who is an Asian Championship bronze medallist, qualified in the artistic gymnastics event for the Rio Olympics after collecting 52.698 points in the test event. As soon as the good news spread through television sets, people -- sports lovers in particular -- converged on Dipa's home at Abhoynagar, on the outskirts of the capital city here, with bouquets and sweets. Congratulating Dipa and her coach Bisweswar
Nandi, Tripura's Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sahid Choudhury told IANS: "We are hopeful that Dipa would also get medals at the Rio Olympics. We are ready to extend necessary support to her." "Dipa's feat would surely encourage the Indian gymnasts, in general, and Tripura sports persons, in particular. She has brightened the Indian face in international sports arena," a cheerful minister said. Dulal Karmakar, an SAI (Sports Authority of India) coach in weightlifting, said: "She needs more technical and financial support to earn more skills in gymnastics to get new rewards and accolades." "We are very happy with our daughter's performance. Her recognition
was also because of her coach Bisweswar Nandi, who has worked very hard for her, and Dipa had done a lot according to his coaching," Karmakar added. "Tripura has young men and women who have enormous skills in gymnastics and they would be able to show their performance if they got appropriate support and encouragement," another Tripura gymnast -- and Arjuna awardee -Mantu Debnath said. Dipa, who is national champion for the past five years, is a physical instructor under Tripura's sports and youth affairs department. She was the first Indian woman who clinched a bronze medal in artistic gymnastics in the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Dipa is only the second Indian gymnast to have won a Commonwealth Games medal (2014). She finished fourth in the Asian Games in the same year and then won bronze at the Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Japan in 2015. A five-time national overall individual champion between 2010-2014, Karmakar was given the Arjuna Award last year. India's newest sports sensation started her career in gymnastics when she was barely six years old. The Election Commission has appointed this ace gymnast as Tripura state's election icon to popularise election-related matters and encourage participation of more people in the poll process.
Needed victory badly: Nadal after Monte Carlo Masters win
mONtE CARLO, ApRiL 18 (iANs): Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal, who claimed his ninth Monte Carlo Masters title with his victory over Frenchman Gael Monfils, said he "needed" the victory to "confirm my positive feelings" about competing this year. "I was waiting for such a victory. I think we have worked hard to regain positive feelings, feeling that we felt from beginning of the year, but we needed a victory to confirm," Nadal said in remarks after the final. He won 7-5, 5-7, 6-0 over Monfils in a match that lasted more than three hours here on Sunday, re-
ports Efe. It was Nadal's first tournament victory this year, having won just three tournaments in the previous year, and his first Masters title in two years. "Last year was a tough year," the fifthranked Nadal said. "The nerves that I had, I was anxious in the matches." The Spaniard added he was sure his anxiety would disappear after his victory in Monte Carlo. He said the title comes at the "perfect time" to coincide with the start of the clay court season. "Now I try to follow the same path of work and, if possible, results too. I think the victory comes at a per-
fect time of the season," he said. "Now I have three tournaments on clay that are important to me, two straight at home, in Barcelona and Madrid, then Rome. I hope to continue to do well," added Nadal. It was his ninth win in Monte Carlo, the same number of victories he has had at the French Open. Nadal is now on level with Serbian World No.1 Novak Djokovic, with both players counting a record-breaking 28 Masters titles each. "The statistics will be counted at the end of my career," said the 29-year-old player, in- Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with his trophy after winning sisting he hasn't reached his final tennis match against Gael Monfils of France at the that end yet. Monte Carlo Masters on 17 April. (REUTERS)