Sports in the Limelight

The world is busy watching the Soccer World Cup. I am keeping up with the World Cup through internet and especially through Twitter. I would like to share a few interesting tweets on World Cup here:

            This World Cup is working out like WW2 - France have forfeited, the USA turned up late, and England are left to fight the Germans!

Another one: This WC we see the Rise of Asia, Dominance of South America & Fall of Europe. A new order is being set up.

New Zealand and Slovenia, though having a population of only a few million, have already shown their mettle. South Korea and Japan have moved to the round of 16. Italy and France, the two finalists of the last World Cup, have already been knocked out. And through the draw of the round of 16, we can tell that out of Argentina, England and Germany only one can reach the semis. This WC is turning out to be the most exciting in the recent history. Though Argentina, Brazil & Netherlands look strong at the moment, one game can change everything.

By the time this article gets published, we would already have a new World Champion. I am hoping for the one who has never won it. Let us all wait till 11^th July.

            The other thing that is hogging the Sports pages these days is Wimbledon. Federer and Nadal had nervous starts. A Federer – Nadal final would be an exciting affair. Williams sisters are going smoothly. Sania Mirza returned from the first round itself. And we have also seen the longest match (11 hours, 5 minutes) in tennis history. John Isner finally defeated Nicolas Mahut, scoring 70–68 in the fifth set. Let’s see how the rest of the grass tournament proceeds by.

The cricket fans of the Indian sub-continent were also glued to their TV sets watching the Asia Cup. India finally won it after a gap of 15 years. That too without Sachin, Sehwag and Yuvraj in the team. 2011 Cricket World Cup is near and we have big hopes with this team.

                        One great news for all Badminton fans is that Saina Nehwal after winning back-to-back titles, India Open Grand Prix and the Singapore Open Super Series in the last two weeks, has marched ahead of three Chinese players in the women's singles charts for her career-best ranking of World No. 3. 

In the news related to Basketball in India, sports and entertainment agency IMG and Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries have signed a 30-year deal with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) to develop the sport and its infrastructure, and possibly start a pro league in the next three to five years.

One of the major tournaments that will generate excitement in the near future is the Soccer Asia Cup 2011 in January. India is one of the participating teams. It is in Group C along with South Korea, Australia and Bahrain. So no big hope here.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games are between 3rd October and 14th October. Prestige of India as a host of a major sporting event is on stake. Pray that with all the negative news making the rounds, India comes out with flying colours as a warm and competent host.

            The 2010 FIBA World Championship, world basketball tournament for men's national teams, will be hosted by Turkey from August 28 to September 12, 2010. India here lost out in the qualifying round itself.

The 16th Asian Games will be held in Guangzhou, China from November 12 to November 27, 2010. In the last Asian Games, India won a total of 53 medals, including 10 golds. Hope this time, we increase our tally.

With other annual tournaments already in the 2010 Sports Calendar, we can not wish for more.

The FIFA World Cup 2010 shows how soccer's balance of power is changing

"Several of the traditional powers suffered ignominious defeats (Serbia 1, Germany 0 on Friday) or embarrassing draws considering the opposition. Italy, defending champions and number five in the FIFA rankings, tied 1-1 Sunday evening with New Zealand, FIFA-ranked 78. It was only the second point New Zealand had ever gained�at a World Cup, according to ESPN."

Read further...The FIFA World Cup 2010 shows how soccer's balance of power is changing

Sania and the Indian woman’s happily ever after myth

"A recent study found that in the US, the proportion of wives who earn more than their husbands risen more than five-fold since 1970. “In 1970, just 4% of American wives earned more than their husbands. That figure rose to 22% in 2007. Men are still the bigger earners in one in four marriages but with a far smaller proportion of wives not working, the income gap is smaller. Most married men did not have a working wife 40 years ago. Now they do,” the Guardian newspaper reports."

Read further...Sania and the Indian woman’s happily ever after myth

Bolt will not compete at Commonwealth Games

"Jamaican triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt will not compete in the New Delhi Commonwealth Games from Oct 3-14 because they are too late in the year, coach Glen Mills told Reuters on Saturday."

Read further...Bolt will not compete at Commonwealth Games

Nicolas Anelka joins disgraced hall of shame

"Pablo Larios: World Cup 1982
It was off field antics of the extra marital variety that resulted in Pablo Larios being dismissed. The revelation that the Frenchman was having an affair with the wife of team-mate Michel Platini rocked the French camp and Larios was given the axe."

Find out the complete list...Nicolas Anelka joins disgraced hall of shame

Formula One driver and constructor standings

Driver and constructor standings after

the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on Sunday.

Drivers

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1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren 109 points

2. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 106

3. Mark Webber (Australia) Red Bull 103

4. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari 94

5. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull 90

6. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes GP 74

7. Robert Kubica (Poland) Renault 73

8. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 67

9. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Mercedes GP 34

10. Adrian Sutil (Germany) Force India 23

11. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Italy) Force India 12

12. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Williams 7

13. Vitaly Petrov (Russia) Renault 6

14. Sebastien Buemi (Switzerland) Toro Rosso 5

15. Jaime Alguersuari (Spain) Toro Rosso 3

16. Kamui Kobayashi (Japan) Sauber 1

17. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Williams 1

18. Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) Sauber 0

19. Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) Lotus 0

20. Karun Chandhok (India) HRT 0

21. Lucas Di Grassi (Brazil) Virgin 0

22. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Lotus 0

23. Bruno Senna (Brazil) HRT 0

24. Timo Glock (Germany) Virgin 0

Constructors

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1. McLaren - Mercedes 215 points

2. RedBull - Renault 193

3. Ferrari 161

4. Mercedes 108

5. Renault 79

6. Force India - Mercedes 35

7. Toro Rosso - Ferrari 8

8. Williams - Cosworth 8

9. BMW Sauber - Ferrari 1

10. Lotus - Cosworth 0

11. HRT - Cosworth 0

12. Virgin - Cosworth 0

World Cup 2010 : Players on Twitter, Follow your Favorite Player

"Below is the list of players, their positions and Twitter Profiles"

List --> World Cup 2010 : Players on Twitter, Follow your Favorite Player

Football World Cup kicks off today in South Africa

"This is the World Cup, the biggest ever. Earth-shaking in its size, symbolism and significance. And not just in the numbers alone, but in the sense of a movement, of rebirth, and of pride. For centuries, Africa got the raw end of most deals. This is the one occasion, when it gives back - with a smile and a warm embrace."

Read further...Football World Cup kicks off today in South Africa

Cricket Australia considers new 40-over format

"Cricket Australia is considering introducing a completely new limited-overs format as soon as next season, in what could be another nail in the coffin of the 50-over game. The Australian has reported that the CA board will this week discuss a domestic tournament of 40-over games, with each team to bat for two innings of 20 overs."

Read further...Cricket Australia considers new 40-over format

Interesting facts and figures about WC 2010…

"Including the 2010 edition, a total of 76 teams will have taken part in the World Cup finals. This includes teams which either no longer exist or have undergone a transformation."

Read further...Interesting facts and figures…

Australia will be a tough nut to crack

"If they somehow get out of their group and England manage to do so from theirs, it could lead to a second-round Ashes showdown. Upton Park part 2, anyone?"

Read further...Australia will be a tough nut to crack

Messi on a mission

"'I don't think I've reached my peak yet,' he says, his appetite for success undiminished. 'My dream is to win the World Cup with Argentina and then to go and repeat what we've achieved at Barcelona, and to keep on going after that. My aim is to keep improving day by day. I want to keep on growing, I want to learn the things I don't know and to keep working on the things I do know so that I don't forget them.'"

Read further...Messi on a mission

How the African nations have fared so far

"Two days remain for the FIFA World Cup to be kicked-off for the first time on African soil. Here is a look at African nations' World Cup records:

The first match featuring an African team took place in 1934 (Italy) and was played between Egypt and Hungary."

Read further...How the African nations have fared so far

Better quality in the beautiful game

"Football is easily the most globalized sport, especially after the removal of all limits on foreign players playing in European club football. With the total commercialization of club football, as Milanovic puts it, “the introduction of labour mobility under the conditions of uneven concentration of financial power of the clubs will have increased concentration of club quality.”"

Read further...Better quality in the beautiful game