Azarenka thrashes Sharapova to win China Open B EIJING —World number one Victor Azarenka thrashed second seed Maria Sharapova of Russia in straight sets to win the $4.8 million China Open. The Belarusian dispatched Sharapova, ranked number two in the world, 6-3, 6-1, in the final of the Beijing tournament — the last Premier Mandatory event of the women’s calendar. Azarenka collected the winner’s prize of $848,000 and became the first player ever to win two Premier Mandatory tournaments in one year. Azarenka, 23, sped to a 4-0 lead in the first set against the French Open champion, breaking her opponent’s serve twice and holding her own on both occasions. Sharapova, 25, won her first game in the fifth, before Australian Open champion Azarenka continued her 100 percent service game in the sixth. The Russian responded by upping her serving and return shots, winning two games in a row, but it was too
little too late as Azarenka broke Sharapova in the final game to win the set 6-3 in 43 minutes. Azarenka continued her momentum into the second set, again winning the first four games with ease. The tennis star from Belarus then came from behind to hold her serve in a lengthy fifth game to make it 5-0 before Sharapova scraped a game, following an 18-shot rally. With Azarenka serving for the match Sharapova had two break points at advantage but the Russian was unable to convert. Azarenka then squandered a match point before finally taking the game and set to record a big win. It was Azarenka’s first China Open title in four attempts and her fifth tournament triumph of the season. “I’m really happy to have a good result because I’ve been coming here the last four years,” Azarenka said, praising the “incredible atmosphere” inside the capital’s
Sindh swimming opens from 20th
POA & General Secretary Tug of War Federation damage sports
K ARACHI —Two-day 51st edition of Sindh Open and Junior Swimming Championship for boys and men will be held at Karachi Gymkhana pool from October 20, Sindh Swimming Association (SSA) announced on Monday. Champion Swimmer Sindh Mazhar Naqvi will be star attraction as he won as many as eight golds and three silver medals in last year’s event. Besides in Sindh, Mazhar was also making his mark at the national level by grabbing a silver medal in 200 meter free-style of the national championship. “As many as 30 team including clubs and institutions will be taking part in the event,” Secretary SSA Muhammad Ali Shishmahal said. Besides Mazhar Naqvi and his younger brother Mustafa Naqvi, Hamza Khalid, Hamza Hameed, Zayan Sardar, Khawaja Amin, Javed Taqi, Meer Shah, Shahmir, Sheryar, Saad Amin, Amir Motiwala, Mustafa Arees, Hasan Paracha are major contenders for the titles. The event will be contested in 8, 10, 12, 14,16 years age group and Open events in freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly, Individual medley and Freestyle and Medley relays. Last date of entry is October 12. Entry forms are available from Karachi Gymkhana.—APP
National Tennis Stadium. “I think I started the match really well, and I felt like I was doing the right things to make sure that I didn’t let Maria play her game as she likes always to be in control and dominate,” Azarenka added. “Of course it wasn’t possible for me to do that every single point, but for the most part I was trying to keep up with her rhythm, and when I had the chance, just to try to step it up, be in control myself to take that opportunity to move forward.” Sharapova was full of praise for her opponent. “Victoria played an amazing match today,” she said. “She did many things better than I did. “There’s a reason she is number one in the world right now. “I felt like when I had the chance, I was just making errors in situations where I had opportunities to get back in the set or the match,” she added. “I would miss second serves, which against some-
body who is number one in the world you can’t really do.” Both finalists had made it to the last two without dropping a set and Azarenka is now 7-4 to the good against Sharapova in head-to-heads. It was the sixth time the two had met in the final of a tournament and the fourth time this year. Azarenka has now won five and lost only one of their title deciders. The China Open is one of four compulsory events, ranking behind only the Grand Slams and end-of-season WTA Championships in prestige. Azarenka won the Indian Wells, a compulsory event, in March. Sharapova, a fourtime Grand Slam winner, is yet to win a Premier Mandatory tournament. Victoria Azarenka of Belarus kisses her trophy af- BEIJING: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus with the winner’s trophy after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia during ter winning the women’s the final of the China Open. singles final against Maria Sharapova of Russia at the China Open tennis tournament. Azarenka won 6-3, 61.—AP
LAHORE—Zafar Abbass Lak IG Motorway Police & President Tug of War said that Pakistan Olympic Association and General Secretary Tug of War Federation are damaging the sports through conspiracy in Pakistan. Addressing a press conference at Lahore Press Club, he said President Pakistan Olympic Association Arif Hassan, President Volley Ball Association Ch. Muhammad Yaqub, President Base Ball Association Shaukat Javed and General Secretary Tug of War Federation Rana Muhammad Jamil are holding their offices against the decision of Apex Supreme Court of Pakistan, as SC has already ordered that no office bearer can hold his office for more than two times, whereas they are holding three times their offices. The Supreme Court has announced a decision in a case vide appeals Nos 368 to 370 of 2011 in which Pakistan Sports Board was Appellant decided that no office bearer of sports federation/association can hold his office beyond two terms. The President Tug of War Federation voiced in favour of this decision and asked those who are holding their offices for more than two terms but instead to follow the decision of the SC, they starting politics and conspiracies which is affecting
Ahsan Raza receives Aleem Dar Trophy
LAHORE—Director General, Pakistan Cricket Board, Javed Miandad presented “Aleem Dar Trophy” of the best umpire of the year to national umpire, Ahsan Raza here on Monday. PCB’s elite panel umpire, Ahsan also received a cash award of Rs 100,000 as an encouragement for his best performance as an umpire in the domestic cricket circuit. Aleem Dar Trophy will be presented to Best Umpire of the Year, every year after the completion of Domestic Cricket Season. “It is good step taken by PCB to introduce Aleem Dar Trophy to acknowledge the services of national umpires and we believe the umpires will be feeling motivated and will put in more hard work to further improve their performance by judging the domestic cricket matches in a more professional way,” said Miandad. Ahsan expressed his gratitude to PCB and vowed to lift the level of his umpiring with the passage of time.—APP
LAHORE: Zafar Abbass Lak, IG Motorway addressing a press conference. the sports activities and play- upto December, 2013 but the ers in Pakistan. General Secretary Tug of War He further said the per- Federation Rana Muhammad formance of Pakistani play- Jamil with the connivance of ers in last Olympic games re- President Pakistan Olympic main unsatisfactory due to Association issued a letter the poor performance of dated 27-9-2012 regarding Olympic association. holding of new elections ofAll above office bearers fice bearers except General are considering their office Secretary. as personal assets and are He said The Civil Judge 1st paying no attention towards Class Islamabad Mr. Rasool promotion of sports and Bakhsh Mirjat issued tempopromotion of international rary injunctions against these players. illegal elections and in favour He further said he was of President Tug of War Fedelected as President in De- eration Zafar Abbas Lak on I SLAMABAD —The National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Tencember, 2009 for 4 years i.e. 04.10.2012.—APP nis Championship will roll into action from October 15 here at Pakistan Tennis Federation Complex Tennis him. nessed the thrilling match. Courts. P E S H A W A R — D F A Monday. Top seeds players of all Mansoor Khan, CoordiChairman District FootAlthough it was expected Charsadda shocked Mardan White by 3-0 in a one-sided nator Right to Play Peshawar ball Association Mardan Ali that Mardan White would categories have confirmed affair of the ongoing 3rd was the chief guest on this Gohar, former international easily won the match against their participation in the Khyber Pakistan Right to occasion. Before the start of footballer Haji Zahid Khan, DFA Charsadda yet all such event, including the female Play Inter-District Football the match the players of DFA team officials, players and prediction proved otherwise players, a spokesman of PaChampionship being played Charsadda and Mardan large number of spectators when DFA Charsadda elimi- kistan Tennis Federation said. at Younis Stadium Mardan on White were introduced to were also present and wit- nated Mardan White. Pakistan number one Saba DFA Mardan Red was also eliminated from the Aziz and other female players Sara Mansoor, Iman Qureshi Championship earlier on. DFA Charsadda opened and Mahvish Chishtie will the account in the 13 minute feature in the event. In boys category M. when Owais Khan netted a fine goal through his force- Abid, Usman Rafique and M. ful kick from the 25-yard dis- Mudassar among others tance. It was forceful kick would also be seen in action that did not give much time in the week long event. Organizers have anto Mardan White goalkeeper Haris Khan to stop. nounced to add a special catDFA Charsadda after tak- egory for journalists in this ing lead, got the position of tournament to experience the ball, by making some fine their skills and understand attacking moves as result it the game in its true spirit. Meanwhile, Subh-e-Nau was DFA Charsadda scored another goal through left has also decided to hold an winger Munawar Khan on exclusive ladies tennis tournament after this event to the field attempt. Mardan White, who have provide female players more an edge of the cheering spec- chances to practice. Shahida Kausar Farooq, tators, failed to click in both the first and second session Chairperson Subh-e-Nau and thus lost the match said in a statement that there against DFA Charsadda. DFA were very little chances for Charsadda after taking 2-0 female players to polish their lead at the half-time, scored skills. Keeping its traditions another goal in the 57th alive, Subh-e-Nau has deISLAMABAD: Players of Balochistan United and Islamabad struggling for the ball minute through Ihsan Ullah, cided to hold this back to during a tie of National Women Football Championship at Sports Coplex. back event for ladies.—APP the inner striker.—APP
DFA Charsadda shock Mardan in Right to Play Soccer
NBP Tennis C’ship to roll into action from 15th
Pakistan’s Ajmal lone entry in World T20 squad
Jayawardene named captain of ICC World T20 team
C OLOMBO —Outgoing Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene was named skipper of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) team of the World Twenty20 tournament on Monday, one day after his side were beaten in the final by a rampant West Indies. Jayawardene announced his decision to give up the captaincy after the hosts lost by 36 runs on Sunday, Sri Lanka’s fourth successive defeat in a World Cup final, in front of a disappointed full house at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. A five-member ICC panel selected three Sri Lankan players and two each from the new champions and Australia in the 11-man team, the governing body said in a statement. Chris Gayle and allrounder Shane Watson, the player of the tournament, were named openers while India’s Virat Kohli, Jayawardene, England’s Luke Wright and explosive West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels filled up the middleorder slots.
Young Australian seamer Mitchell Starc and limitedovers specialist Lasith Malinga were the two fast bowlers in the team, while experienced Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal and Ajantha Mendis of Sri Lanka were
nation without a representative in the team. Team: Chris Gayle (West Indies), Shane Watson (Australia), Virat Kohli (India), Mahela Jayawardena (Sri Lanka - captain), Luke Wright (England), Brendon
named as the two slow bowlers. Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum was selected as the wicketkeeper, while South Africa were the only major cricketing
McCullum (New Zealand), Marlon Samuels (West Indies), Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), Mitchell Starc (Australia), Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan), Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka).—APP
Jayawardene quits as Twenty20 captain COLOMBO—Mahela Jayawardene has resigned as Sri Lanka’s Twenty20 captain, soon after his team lost the final of the World Twenty20 against West Indies in Colombo. He said he will remain captain of the ODI and Test teams until at least the end of Sri Lanka’s tour of Australia in
January, and remains available for Twenty20 selection. “I had a chat to the selectors before this tournament started. I was going to step down from T20 captaincy after this World Cup,” Jayawardene said. “I personally feel that for Sri Lanka going forward we need a younger leader. It’s a great op-
portunity for somebody to start in that T20 format. I’ve spoken to the selectors and they were quite happy with that choice.” Vice Captain Angelo Mathews has been groomed for captaincy over the past 18 months, and is the obvious candidate to take the reins in the shortest format.—Online
Amir going through mixed feelings, will learn from Marlon Samuels, say his mentors BIPIN DANI OBSERVER CORRESPONDENT MUMBAI—At least the two period-banned international cricketers watched Marlon Samuels heroic innings on Sunday. Former Pakistani captain Salman Butt and pacer, Mohammad Amir were experts on Pakistani channel for the World Twenty 20. They were experts for all matches involving Pakistan team and Semifinals and Final. “Watching Samuels single handedly winning the ICC trophy for West Indies must be a great feeling of desire to be on the field for Pakistan. He must be going through mixed
feelings of remorse as well as excitement as he reflects on his past mistakes and future opportunities”, Maqbool “Max” Babri, the renowned psychologist, who on the request of the PCB, has been motivating Amir, said from Lahore. Interestingly, like Butt and Amir, the -year-old, Samuels was also banned for two years for the same offence. In 2007, the Indian police accused Samuels of giving out team information to a known bookie prior to the 1st ODI in Nagpur. The police claimed that they have taped telephone conversations between a bookie, Mukesh Kochchar, and Samuels. The transcript was later released to the ICC. The
International Cricket Council enforced a two-year ban on him for “receiving money, or benefit or other reward that could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute though the player had maintained his innocence. “I think Amir is doing great. He has certainly learnt his lessons and is aware how mistakes have already hurted him. He is now ready to bounce back whenever he is allowed to play. He is young and energetic. I am confidant that he will do wonders”, Babri signed off. Mohammad Amir ’s other mentor and coach, Asif Bajwa also expressed the same views.