India beat France 4-3 in the keenly-contested first hockey Test

Paris: Ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh nonstop his red-hot form and struck twice as India beaten France 4-3 in the keenly-contested first hockey Test at the National Institute of Sport and Expert Performance (INSEP) in Paris. India strike goals through Sandeep, who changed two penalty corners in the 12th and 65th minute, Tushar Khandker (5th) and captain Rajpal Singh (69th), at the same time as Fredric Soyez scored a hat trick (6th, 51st and 68th) for France in the first game of the three-match series on Sunday.High on confidence after their 2-0 series win over Belgium in the last week, the Indians began forcefully and nearly took the lead in the third minute but for Dharamvir Singh, who fumbled inside the circle.

Overnight rains delays second day's start at Galle

An overnight rain delayed to start of the second day first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka here today. Heavy rains lashed Galle last night and made the entire ground outfield wet, which was more than enough for a delayed start for the second day.Even though there were no rains in the morning, wet outfield forced the covers to stay on at the Galle Stadium and according to the curator Jayananda Warnaweera, play can begin only after lunch. The opening day's play on Sunday was also delayed by 30 minutes due to wet ground.

The opening day's play in which only 68 overs were bowled, Sri Lanka were in a comfortable position at 256/2 with Tharanga Paranavitana unbeaten on 110 and Captain Kumar Sangakkara (103. In India bowlers anle to taken Abhimanyu Mithun (1/41) and Virender Sehwag (1/23) managing wickets.

Salman Butt named as a new Pakistan Test captain

Salman Butt has been named Pakistan's new Test captain for the remaining 4 Test matches against England after Shahid Afridi ruled himself out for the Headingley game citing a side strain. Afridi said, I worked out in the gym in the morning and I don't feel comfortable at all and I will not play the next Test. Salman Butt will take over as Pakistan captain after Shahid Afridi's retirement from Test cricket.Kamran Akmal will be selected a new vice captain. Afridi announced his decision on Friday, after Pakistan's 150-run loss to Australia at Lord's.

He will be lead the side in the second Test against Australia in Leeds and the following four Tests against England.

Argentina Give offer to Maradona new 4-year deal as a Coach

The Argentine Football Association declares it will offer Maradona a new four-year agreement that would keep him in charge of the national team through the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.The Spokesman for the association Ernesto Cherquis Bialo, told the media, Wednesday that AFA President Julio Grondona meet next week with Maradona to talk about the offer.This is the strongest indication that Maradona is likely to maintain as the coach. It comes two weeks later than Argentina was knocked out of the World Cup in a crushing 4-0 quarterfinals loss to Germany. Maradona has said small since then, keeping to himself in his home in suburban Buenos Aires.

Pakistan Need 440 to Win against Australia

First Test,3rd Day, Lord’s: Pakistan completed day three of the opening Test against Australia on 114/1 in their second innings having been set a target of 440. Pakistan must fabricate the best chase in the Test history to win its series-opening match against Australia at Lord's.The fourth-innings target blown up to 440 after Australia's 10th batsman Ben Hilfenhaus belived his unimpressive record at first-class level to finished unbeaten on 56, his maiden half-century. Tasmanian was part of the 52-run last-wicket partnership with Doug Bollinger, whose score of 21 was a personal best.

DAY-3 SESSION-3

Australia 253 (Katich 80) & 334 (Katich 83, Hilfenhaus 56no)

Pakistan 148 (Watson 5-40) & 114-1 (Salman But 58no)

MSDhoni's 42million USD!

A staggering Rs 210 crore (USD 42 million) approval contract puts skipper Dhoni ahead of even Tendulkar’s record. If popularity has a say in the luck one rakes in, this is the biggest example. And the figures prove that. According to Forbes, Dhoni was the world’s maximum paid cricketer last year, he earning USD 10 million, surpassing Sachin’s USD 8 million earnings. And now, when the just-married cricketer has signed a three-year-deal with Rhiti Sports managing. He was breaking his record of the Rs180 crore three-year-deal with sports management compact, Iconix.

Oh! God! Is that too much?

Is this is too much of an speculation for a cricketer. while Sachin signed an Rs 100 crore deal, many predicted the company’s impoverishment. But still now, what happened later was well, history. “When Sachin signed a 100 crore contract, people never even talked in terms of crores, they talk only in lakhs. Dhoni has so far come very closest to Sachin in this context. So now a days, when there are thousands of crores occupied in cricket, and the betting world deals in around Rs 5-6,000 crore, Rs 200 crore isn’t that big, really.

2010 FIFA World Cup :Adidas Golden Awards

ADIDAS GOLDEN BALL:DIEGO FORLAN

Diego Forlan has been named in the Best Player at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Uruguay striker topped the poll of accredited media representatives ahead of the Netherlands Wesley Sneijder and Spain hitman David Villa. The 31-year-old Forlan hit the starring role in his country’s heroic act at the FIFA World Cup finals.
ADIDAS GOLDEN BOOT: THOMAS MUELLER


Thomas Muller’s begining goal for Germany against Uruguay in the third-place play-off makes enough to earn the Bayern Munich starlet the adidas Golden Boot. Muller finished on five goals at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, but claimed the top scorer thanks to no fewer than three assists, leaving him hit of Spain marksman David Villa and Dutch hitman Wesley Sneijder, both of as on five goals but with only one assist apiece.

ADIDAS GOLDEN CLOVES: CLOVE:IKER CASILLAS

The Spain Goal keeper has conceded just two goals at the South Africa 2010. Under struss after La Roja opened up with a shock hit to Switzerland, Casillas has since performed and acts his critics with a string of superb displays that have proved crucial to his Spain’s progress to a Final they have long dreamed about.