Sports & Games
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PTT THAILAND OPEN 2009 : TROICKI STUNS TSONGA TO SET UP FINAL CLASH AGAINST SIMON
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Viktor Troicki of Serbia stunned top-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a sensational three-set match, 1-6 6-2 6-3, and advanced to the final round of the PTT Thailand Open on Saturday.
Hard-hitting Troicki, seeded fourth, stormed back from a set deficit and dominated the second and the third sets against crowd favorite Tsonga. The 23-year-old Serbian managed to break his more highly fancied opponent twice in each of the last two sets before wrapping up the match.

"It's great to beat top 10 players. I think I played better today even though I didn't have a chance in the first set," the Serbian #2 said. "I used my chances. I'm really happy and satisfied that I won today." World #32 Troicki, who lost in the second round last year is eyeing his first ATP title in his third appearance in Bangkok.
"I'm looking forward to the final. I hope it's gonna be fun. I'm gonna play good. I'm gonna try for my first title," he added.
The French #1 Tsonga failed to defend his title in Bangkok and said playing Davis Cup the previous week and the traveling worn him out. "I didn't have enough energy. It was difficult and I was tired," Tsonga said.
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By Rajesh Kumar, Section Sports & Games
Posted on Sun Oct 04, 2009 at 01:27:00 AM EST
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Nadal pulls out of Thailand Open because of injury
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BANGKOK - Top-seeded Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the Thailand Open due to an abdominal injury that his doctor said will require at least two weeks of rest.
An ultrasound found that Nadal had an "acute rupture of his right abdominal muscle" that will require physiotherapy, rest and medication for "two to three weeks," the chief doctor of the Spanish Tennis Federation said in a statement released by tournament organizers on Monday.
The Thailand Open runs from Sept. 26-Oct. 4.
Nadal has expressed his disappointment for the cancellation and being unable to take a planned pre-tournament vacation to the Thai island of Krabi, the statement added.
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By Rajesh Kumar, Section Sports & Games
Posted on Mon Sep 21, 2009 at 10:29:13 AM EST
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Joy for Yang but Asia struggles to keep the cream
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BEIJING (Reuters) - Yang Yong-eun's trailblazing major championship triumph -- the first for an Asian man -- has been universally welcomed by golf bodies around the region as a boost to the growth of the game and a spur to other players.
Most agree that the Sunday's PGA Championship victory can also only make Asia, already the world's fastest growing golf market, more attractive to sponsorship even if it does make the South Korean less likely to play regularly on the continent.
"This is a fantastic win not only for Yang but also for golf in Asia," said Asian Tour chief Kyi Hla Han. "This win has once again underlined the growing strength of the game in Asia."
While the impact on youngsters taking up the game may be limited to Yang's native country, rising Japanese talent Ryo Ishikawa said it would make a difference to how Asian players were perceived.
"His victory has changed people's view of Asian golfers," the 17-year-old said. "I haven't suddenly thought I can win a major just because he did. But it will give us all added motivation to try to be in contention at the big tournaments."
Ishikawa is the leading light of the Japanese Tour but the likelihood is that if he is to fulfill his potential, he will abandon his national tour for Europe or the U.S., as Yang did.
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By Rajesh Kumar, Section Sports & Games
Posted on Wed Aug 19, 2009 at 03:37:29 AM EST
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Federer win breaks Sampras record
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Roger Federer became the greatest player in Grand Slam history as he beat Andy Roddick in five dramatic sets for a sixth Wimbledon and 15th major title.
The Swiss won 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 16-14 to surpass Sampras's 14 Grand Slam wins and regain the title he lost to Rafael Nadal last year.
And Sampras was back at Wimbledon for the first time since 2002 to watch from the Royal Box as Federer made history.
Federer, 27, will now return to the top of the world rankings ahead of Nadal.
But he had to dig deep against an in-form Roddick, who had four points for a two-set lead and then battled back to force an epic fifth set as the match became the longest men's singles final ever in terms of games played.
Federer, who claimed a first French Open title last month, has now won Wimbledon six times, the US Open five times, the Australian Open three times and Roland Garros once.
Sampras was the last man to set a new mark in Grand Slams when he beat Pat Rafter in an emotional final at Wimbledon in 2000, and the American chose to return to the All England Club for the first time since 2002 to witness Federer's achievement.
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By Rajesh Kumar, Section Sports & Games
Posted on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 10:44:09 AM EST
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Serena shocked to stay number two
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World number two Serena Williams questioned the ranking system after winning Wimbledon to hold three of the four Grand Slam titles.
The 27-year-old beat her sister Venus 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 in the final, and then called the ranking system "shocking".
"I think if you hold three Grand Slam titles, maybe you should be number one, but not on the WTA Tour, obviously.
"My motivation is maybe just to win another Grand Slam and stay number two, I guess."
Serena remains behind Russia's Dinara Safina in the rankings despite being the reigning US Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon champion.
Safina, in contrast, has yet to win one of the sport's four major titles and was thrashed 6-0 6-1 by Venus in the Wimbledon semi-finals on Friday.
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By Rajesh Kumar, Section Sports & Games
Posted on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 10:38:56 AM EST
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SOMJIT WINS GOLD, MANUS GETS SILVER
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BEIJING: Somjit Jongjohor of Thailand won the first boxing gold medal of the Olympics on Saturday, beating Cuba`s Andris Laffita 8-2 to claim the flyweight title.
Somjit achieved his gold medal but the sometime playboy who promised to clean up his act, did become good again, but Manus 'only' scored a silver.
The 33-year-old former world champion was fighting in his last Olympics. He used his experience for a surprisingly easy win over Laffita, the 30-year-old in his first games for the Cuban team.
Somjit feared his time had passed after he lost to Cuba's Yuriorkis Gamboa early in the Athens Games four years ago.
The 33 year-old who won a 2007 world championship silver medal, hoped to add an Olympic gold to the world title he won back in 2003, with this Olympics definitely his last chance, as he will be too old for the next Olympics in London in 2012.
"Several times I wanted to give up," he said after beating Laffita.
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By Rajesh Kumar, Section Sports & Games
Posted on Sat Aug 23, 2008 at 10:25:05 PM EST
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THAI BOXERS CRUISE INTO FINAL ROUND OF BEIJING BOXING
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Two Thai boxers - Somjit Jongjohor and Manus Boonjumnong- were poised to make history at Beijing Olympic Games - Somjit could win his first gold medal while Manus is aiming for two gold medals in two consecutive Olympic Games, after they both won in the semi-final round on Friday.
In-form Somjit outclassed Vincenzo Picardi of Italy 7-1 on points in the flyweight 51 kg division.
Somjit also met Picardi once in the semis of last year's World Championships in Chicago in US, where he beat the Italian into the final round and eventually secured the silver medal. The 2007 world championship silver-medallist, 33, will meet Andris Laffita in the Beijing Olympics final on Saturday, after the Cuban's last-gasp 9-8 semi-final win against Georgy Balakshin of Russia.
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By Rajesh Kumar, Section Sports & Games
Posted on Sat Aug 23, 2008 at 10:20:51 PM EST
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Phelps swims into history, wins 8 Olympic golds
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Beijing: Michael Phelps swam to a record-breaking eighth gold in a single Games on Sunday to end a stunning week of achievement in the Olympic pool.
The Baltimore Bullet won the 4x100 meter medley relay with Team USA to become the first athlete in Olympic history to win eight gold medals in one edition of the Games.
Phelps has overtaken the previous record of seven Gold medals set by Mark Spitz at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
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By Rajesh Kumar, Section Sports & Games
Posted on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 08:39:24 PM EST
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India pin medal hopes on Kumar trio
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BEIJING (Reuters) - Indian hopes of a first Olympic boxing medal were high on Saturday, with three fighters reaching the quarterfinals. The trio, coincidentally all called Kumar, a common name in India, will secure at least bronze if they win their next bouts.
Light-flyweight Jitender Kumar reached the last eight on Saturday by outpointing Uzbek Tulashboy Doniyorov 13-6 and middleweight Vijender Kumar followed him through with a 13-3 points win over Thailand's Angkhan Chomphuphuang.
Bantamweight Akhil Kumar had advanced on Friday, extending a brilliant run by upsetting Russian world champion Sergey Vodopyanov.
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By Rajesh Kumar, Section Sports & Games
Posted on Sat Aug 16, 2008 at 12:01:03 PM EST
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Hughes: I'm going nowhere
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Manchester City manager Mark Hughes on Tuesday night rubbished suggestions he could resign after less than three months at the club, claiming he remains happy with life at Eastlands.
Hughes was reported to be on the brink of quitting his new job due to worries over his control over transfers, and at a time when owner Thaksin Shinawatra's future appears unclear.
"There have been a lot of rumours flying around but I am not going
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anywhere and I don't anticipate going anywhere," said Hughes.
"There is a job to do here and I am looking forward to it."
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By Rajesh Kumar, Section Sports & Games
Posted on Wed Aug 13, 2008 at 12:15:10 AM EST
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Thailand wins women's 53kg weightlifting gold
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BEIJING -- Thai weightlifter Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon gave a fortune teller part of the cred
it for her Olympic gold medal Sunday.
Jaroenrattanatarakoon, who changed her name last year, won the women's 53-kilogram category with a total of 221 kilograms (486.2 pounds) and set an Olympic record in the clean and jerk.
South Korea's Yoon Jinhee finished in second place and Natassia Novikava of Belarus got the bronze.
The Thai lifter, who used to be known as Junpim Kuntatean, said a fortune teller told her to change her name last year to improve her luck, and it seems to have worked.
"I changed the name because I wanted to win the Olympic Games," Jaroenrattanatarakoon said. "I don't know if you believe in fortune tellers but she said that if I change my name I will win gold."
She was tied with Novikava after the snatch, but clinched the win with her first clean and jerk at 120 kgs (264 pounds), a weight than no one else was able to match.
After setting the Olympic record in her second attempt, she went for a world record clean and jerk in her third lift. But 126 kgs (277.2 pounds) was too much, and she gave up halfway through the lift, laughing.
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By Rajesh Kumar, Section Sports & Games
Posted on Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 02:23:15 AM EST
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Thaksin sets target
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Ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday that Manchester City may have to rely on the Intertoto Cup if they are to qualify for the Uefa Cup next season.
The Manchester City chairman is currently staying at the Radisson Edwardian hotel in Manchester where he met and had his photographs taken with a crowd of Thais yesterday.
Approximately 80 Thais are staying at the same hotel on an AIA-sponsored trip to watch tonight's clash between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford.
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By Rajesh Kumar, Section Sports & Games
Posted on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 10:05:42 PM EST
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Srichaphan eyes Davis Cup comeback
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- Paradorn Srichaphan is aiming to make his comeback in Thailand's Davis Cup match against Australia in April.
Paradorn, the first Asian men's player to be ranked in the top 10, has not played since March 2007 because of a right wrist injury. A winner of five ATP titles, he had surgery on Oct. 11.
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By Rajesh Kumar, Section Sports & Games
Posted on Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 01:36:02 AM EST
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Court case looms as proud Mirza bows out of Australian Open
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Sania Mirza bows out of the Australian Open facing a court case that in theory could see her jailed, but the Indian star says she has grown up over the past week and is determined to fight on.
The 21-year-old, a youth icon in her homeland, was knocked out in straight sets on Saturday evening by six-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, but said she took a lot of positives out of her progress.
She put up a credible battle against one of the biggest hitters and most experienced players in the game.
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By Rajesh Kumar, Section Sports & Games
Posted on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 09:43:34 PM EST
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Thailand to launch ASEAN Para Games
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Some 1,500 disabled athletes from the Association of the Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) countries will start competing at the 4th ASEAN Para Games on Sunday in Thailand's northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima.
The athletes from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Brunei and Timor Leste will flex their expertise in a myriad of sports.
Dubbed the biggest ever games for the disabled in southeast Asia, the event will be held at the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium sports complex in the main town of Nakhon Ratchasima province.
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By Rajesh Kumar, Section Sports & Games
Posted on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 09:38:53 PM EST
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