India beat Pakistan in hockey final

India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 4-2 via penalty shootout in a nerve-wrecking final to clinch the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament.

The high-voltage summit clash was marred by Pakistan coach's unwarranted action of constantly abusing Indian players from the roof of the stadium. Whenever there was an infringement from the Indian side, he used the 'F' word liberally. And whenever the umpires blew against India, he hollered 'Thank You'.

Rajpal Singh, Danish Mujtaba, Yuvraj Walmiki and Sarvanjit Singh scored for India in the penalty shootout while Muhammad Rizwan and Waseem Ahmed sounded the board for Pakistan after both the sides were locked goalless in the normal and extra time.

India started the shootout on a wrong note when Pakistan goalkeeper Imran Shah saved the shot from Gurwinder Singh Chandi. Sreejesh then came to the fore with a save off Haseem Abdul Khan. It was then Mujtaba's turn and he neatly sent the ball past Shah to give India 1-0 lead.

Pakistan equalised when Rizwan scored but Indian captain Rajpal slotted the ball home to give his side 2-1 up. Then came the crucial save by Sreejesh as he stopped Shafqat Rasool from scoring, advancing and taking the shot on the pads.

Yuvraj made it 3-1 and the Pakistan veteran Waseem cut the scores to 3-2 but Sarvanjit's conversion past Shah ensured India ran out champions.

Earlier in the match, both India and Pakistan had ample opportunities to finish off the match in regulation time.

Pakistan earned seven penalty corners to India's one but they failed to beat the Indian defence and the goalkeeper Sreejesh.

Asian Games champions Pakistan were initially more attacking pushing the Indian defence back. Shakeel Abassi made some fine runs into the Indian striking circle but V Raghunath stood out with his tackling and clearances.

The Indian forwards had a couple of counter-attacks which the Pakistan defence managed to clear. It was a tense match with a few skirmishes between the players. SV Sunil was the first to be shown the green card for a rough tackle.

Pakistan had their first penalty corner in the 14th minute which Sreejesh charged out and saved. India was losing the ball consistently in the midfield. The players were hasty and failed to keep the ball to ensure the passes went right.

In the 29th minute, India had their first penalty corner but Ignace Tirkey failed to trap properly and thus wasting the opportunity.

Pakistan had a bunch of penalty corners in the second half and they were to blame themselves for letting the match drift to the shoot-out. They could not score off the 41st, 47th and 48th minute penalty corners.

With 14 minutes of regulation time left, India got a golden chance with Mujtaba having only Pakistan goalkeeper in front but could not place the ball in and shot wide. In the 60th and 62nd minutes, Pakistan again wasted three penalty corners.

India could have clinched the issue in the 65th minute but Yuvraj shot out from a handshaking distance.

After a tense struggle in 15 minutes of extra time, it finally came down to the shootout in which Sreejesh carried his good form and ensured India return champions.

Indian coach Michael Nobbs was almost in tears and said, "This is a great win. Both teams played well and had enough chances. But it is fantastic to see a young Indian side win such a prestigious tournament."

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Vettel not taking title for granted

Sebastian Vettel is still refusing to believe he has this season's Formula One world title in the bag.

With seven races remaining it appears inconceivable Vettel will be caught in his quest for back-to-back world championships.
Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber remains his closest challenger at 92 points adrift - with 175 available - whilst rivals Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton are all over 100 down.
Vettel has no intention of taking his seemingly unassailable lead for granted, even refusing a bet with a journalist who suggested his current points total of 259 would not be surpassed by any of the quartet in the chasing pack.
"If you ask all the other drivers I'm sure they would like to swap places with me," said Vettel, who finished second quickest overall in practice on Friday ahead of Sunday's Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
"I know we are in a good position, but there is a possibility I could be caught. The championship is still open.
"So we need to keep our focus, pay attention to every small detail and make sure we always get the best out of ourselves and the car for every single race.
"If there is a chance to win then of course we have to go for it. If it is out of reach, then it would be stupid to do so.
"From a championship point of view we are in a strong position and we have been working very hard and made few mistakes so far.
"We deserve to be in this position, but it doesn't guarantee it will all be fine at the next races.
"The example of last year is a very good one because we saw how quickly things could change.
"Before this race last year people said Fernando was out of the championship, but then he won here and in Singapore, and going into the last race he was the leader.
"Obviously it looks a little different this year, but you have to be aware of how quickly things can change."
Vettel's position this season in in stark contrast to that of last year when he led the championship for the first time only after he won the final race, and with it the title, in Abu Dhabi.
On this occasion the 24-year-old has been in the lead from day one, swapping his role of hunter in 2010 to hunted in 2011.
"I naturally prefer the position I am in now," added Vettel.
"Obviously when you are doing the hunting then you have to deliver the results otherwise there is the threat the guys ahead will edge away from you.
"This year it's different, but as well know the most important time to be leading the championship is the after the last race which we did last year, and that's really what we are after this year."

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De Gea facing shock United axe

Young Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea could be dropped for Saturday's visit to Bolton if reports from England are to be believed.

De Gea arrived at Old Trafford earlier this summer for a reported fee of £18million, and was earmarked as the long-term successor to the retired Edwin van der Sar.
However, the 20-year-old has so far failed to impress in his first four games for the Red Devils, making a series of errors in consecutive games, although he did save a penalty from Robin van Persie in the match against Arsenal two weeks ago.
But with United's visit to Bolton looming, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is said to be considering dropping De Gea for the older Anders Lindegaard.
The Daily Mail, The Telegraph and The Sun all believe Ferguson is worried that the slightly-built De Gea will not be able to cope with the physical threat Bolton possess, something which Lindegaard could be better suited to handle, considering the Dane - at 27 - has had many more years to bulk up his physique.
Nonetheless, the experienced Ferguson is also aware that dropping De Gea might shatter the young custodian's confidence, and with their opening UEFA Champions League tie in the horizon, it is imperative for United that the manager handles this situation carefully.
Young United midfielder Tom Cleverley has also been tipped to be rested, ahead of next Wednesday's trip to Benfica.

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Nadal happy with US Open showing

Defending champion Rafael Nadal insists he will be content with his US Open campaign even if he loses to Andy Murray in the semi-finals.

The Spaniard looked far from a man contemplating the end of his run as he raced into the last four with a thumping 6-2 6-1 6-3 victory over an ailing Andy Roddick on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Nadal came into the tournament with question marks over his form after early exits in Montreal and Cincinnati leading up to the year's final grand slam, and the most pleasing thing for the 25-year-old is the improvement in his form.

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ESPNSTAR.com will be bringing all tennis fans LIVE coverage of the men's semi-finals tonight! Find out who emerges victorious from the Djokovic vs Federer clash! Or keep up to date as Nadal looks to book his spot in the final by beating Murray!
Coverage of the US Open men's semi-finals begins at 12am SGT and 9:30pm IST!

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He said: "If I lose tomorrow [Saturday], I am happy about my US Open. It wasn't an easy situation for me coming to this tournament after not having an easy summer.
"I am doing a lot of things much better than a few weeks ago. For me to win is important, but to feel myself very competitive and have the feeling that I can win is probably even more important.
"Because if you had that feeling that you can win, you don't win this week, maybe not next one, but at the end you will win."
Nadal has won 12 of his 16 meetings with Murray including the last four. It will be the third successive grand slam the pair have faced each other in the last four, with the man from Majorca triumphant at both the French Open and Wimbledon.
Murray feels hard courts present his best chance of defeating Nadal, and the world number two knows he will have a battle on his hands.
"If he's closer, he will beat me because on clay it was very close, and on grass it was a very close match," said Nadal, recalling their Wimbledon battle.
"He was beating me by one set, and I remember an important mistake with his forehand, it was an easy forehand to put him 15-40 at the beginning of the second set, so it was a really, really close match.
"He's a fantastic player on all the surfaces and it will be a very tough match for me and hopefully for him, too."
Both men will be playing their third match in as many days, but Nadal insisted that did not enter into his thinking as he thrashed Roddick with a relentlessly aggressive display.
The American hero, playing in front of first lady Michelle Obama, was on the back foot from the first game and was unable to respond as he felt the effects of his four-set win over fifth seed David Ferrer on Friday.
Nadal said: "I don't think about having a short match in the quarter-finals of a grand slam. I think about trying to win the match. I think I started the match really well with some very good points, a few very good passing shots.
"It is always a very hard match against him, and probably he was tired. That happens when the rain comes. I think I did well. I played a very good match I think."
Roddick came into the tournament with little tennis under his belt because of a stomach muscle injury and he ran out of steam, but he was proud of his efforts this fortnight.
The 2003 champion added: "From six weeks ago to a quarter-final and a top-five win, I don't know if I thought I would do that.
"Thankfully last week I was able to play matches to at least where I was feeling the ball. I think it was always going to be tough for me to play that many three-out-of-five-set matches on no training, pretty much just sitting around.
"But I felt like I did what I could from the injury. I feel like I gave myself every opportunity, and it was enough for a good result."

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Pistorius: Paralympics to be huge

Double-amputee Oscar Pistorius thinks the world will become "addicted" to Paralympic sport when the Games come to London next year.

The Paralympics have come a long way since they were first held in Rome 51 years ago, but popularity, TV audiences and levels of interest are still way behind the competition's able-bodied equivalent.
Nevertheless, London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said on Wednesday that surveys suggest the Paralympics will be a sell-out, with a large number of the tickets expected to be snapped up when they go on sale on Friday.
The 100 metre, 200 metre, 400 metre and relay events Pistorius will race in will no doubt be the biggest sellers of the lot.
The 24-year-old South African has become an iconic figure in the Paralympic movement after clinching three gold medals in Beijing.
He has also been given the green light to compete in the Olympic Games after the IAAF decided the carbon fibre blades he uses do not give him an unfair advantage.
He thinks the world will become gripped by the competition and expects tickets to be snapped up quickly.
"The excitement will spread across the world when the Paralympics and the Olympics come here," Pistorius said.
"I have no doubt that the Paralympic tickets will get snapped up just as quickly as the Olympic tickets did."
The 'Blade Runner' also hopes next summer will herald a new-found respect among sports fans for the Paralympics - and give it the stage that it deserves.
"We are trying to change the inspirational aspect of it," he said.
"This is sport, it's dedication. Blood, sweat and tears are shed on a daily basis.
"People are going to witness that for the first time next year.
"We hope it will undergo a transition from Paralympic sport just being something that we think is inspirational to something that we get addicted to just like any other sport."
Pistorius looks set to compete in both the Paralympics and the Olympics next summer.
His participation in able-bodied competition has always been the source of contention despite the IAAF being happy that tests confirm his blades do not give him any advantage over his rivals.
He admits that controversy is unlikely to ever go away.
"It has been proven that the blades do not give me an advantage," he said.
"There will always be critics but at the same time I will have to take it with a pinch of salt because there is science to back up my claim."

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Federer fries Tsonga in three

Roger Federer avenged his Wimbledon defeat with a 6-4 6-3 6-3 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to set up a semi-final rematch with Novak Djokovic at the US Open.

Frenchman Tsonga had come from two sets down to beat Federer in the last eight at the All England Club, the only player to manage such a feat at a grand slam, but in truth a repeat never looked on the cards in the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

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Nadal through to last eight

Djokovic wins all-Serb encounter

Murray finally sees off Donald

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A rain interruption, the first of the day, briefly held up the third seed's charge but he did not allow Tsonga to take charge in the match and in the end it was a comfortable victory.
The players came out as scheduled but after only five games the rain returned to Flushing Meadows. It looked like they may have to come back on Saturday but eventually the sky cleared and the court was dried.
There had been enough time for Federer to break the Tsonga serve but he promptly gave away his advantage on the resumption. However, the 11th seed was broken again for 5-4 when he netted a volley and that was enough for Federer to take the first set.
Tsonga had also beaten the 16-time grand slam champion in their most recent meeting in Montreal last month but Federer was relentless in his attacking, not allowing his opponent to get into a rhythm on his huge groundstrokes.
In the second set the Swiss moved two breaks ahead but Tsonga responded by retrieving one immediately and at last he was pushing Federer. The 30-year-old stood firm, though, and another break gave him the set.
He would still have been wary, of course, given his Wimbledon experience, and Tsonga forced a break point in the fifth game of the third set - but he could not take it.
Federer was serving superbly, much to the frustration of his opponent, and once again it was Tsonga was cracked in the eighth game.
Three huge forehands took Federer to 15-40 but twice he missed his chance and on a third break point the Frenchman came up with an ace. But he followed up with a simple volley into the net and a double fault sealed his fate.
Federer's victory means he will play Djokovic in the last four for the second year in a row, with the Serb saving match points to triumph 12 months ago before losing in the final to Rafael Nadal.
Federer weighed into the debate about the scheduling at the US Open by calling on the tournament to play the first round over only two days and scrap 'Super Saturday', which sees the men's semi-finals and women's final played on the same day.
The backlog caused by rain has prompted organisers to put back the men's final to Monday for the fourth successive year, and Federer believes lessons should be learned.
Of the delayed final, the third seed said: "For me, I guess at the end of the day it wouldn't have mattered that much. But, out of fairness to the bottom half of the draw, I think it's definitely the right thing to do.
"The problem lies elsewhere, though. This is the fourth year in a row I think we're playing a Monday final. Might as well just make it a Monday final. Or you have to change up a few things.
"I think the three (day) first round is not working, and then the Super Saturday I just think is not feasible.
"I don't think TV should dictate just to have the finals on Sunday and the semis on Saturday and not have the true champion hold the trophy up. I just don't think that's the goal here."
Federer, the president of the ATP Player Council, believes the grand slams take advantage of their position outside the regular tour, adding: "We have much less leverage, and I find sometimes they abuse that situation just a tiny bit."
The 30-year-old conceded the Wimbledon match did cross his mind but felt it was his defeat by Tsonga in Montreal that was a bigger catalyst for tonight's result.
"There were little flashbacks," he said. "Today (Friday) I felt I took the right decisions out of the matches we had in Wimbledon, and especially in Montreal, where I was very unhappy with my game. I think the Montreal match was key for me winning this match."
Tsonga was disappointed with his own performance but believes Federer is very much a contender to win the title.
The Frenchman said: "Every time when he loses everybody says Roger is finished. But, for me, he's still the same player. He is very good. When the confidence is here for him, it's for everybody to play against him."

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Ronaldo: Ozil best of the Germans

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has praised team-mate Mesut Ozil, claiming he is the best German player at the moment.

Ozil first rose to prominence at the 2010 World Cup, where his outstanding performances helped Germany to a third-place finish in South Africa.
His vision and skill on the ball prompted Real to fork out a reported €15million last summer to procure his services from Werder Bremen, and he fitted in seamlessly at the Santiago Bernabeu, even keeping out Brazilian playmaker Kaka from the starting eleven.
And having been handed the number ten jersey for the new season, Ozil is expected to once again play a prominent role for Los Blancos, something Ronaldo is pleased about.
"Mesut is a great player and it is good fun to play alongside him," Ronaldo told Sport 1.
"He is currently the best German player."
Ozil is not the only German of Turkish ethnicity presently at the club, after Real signed former Borussia Dortmund playmaker Nuri Sahin earlier this summer for a fee of €10million.
And while Sahin is yet to make his Real debut after an injury-plagued pre-season, Ronaldo fully expects the Turkish international to make an impact for Los Blancos this term.
"I knew Sahin before he arrived here because there has been plenty of talk about his qualities.
"I hope he can be back soon and help the team."
Ronaldo also believes the impact players like Ozil and former Stuttgart midfielder Sami Khedira have made at Real is testament to the quality of German football, and rates the Bundesliga even higher than the Italian Serie A.
"The German league has always maintained a very high level.
"There are many good players who play in Germany.
"Apart from England and Spain, the German Bundesliga is certainly the strongest."
Following the international round of matches, Real resume their La Liga campaign against Getafe on Saturday, before kicking off their quest for the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday away to Dinamo Zagreb.

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