New Delhi to host 2009 Asian Table Tennis Championship

NEW DELHI, Sep 19 (UNI): Another feather was added in New Delhi'scap after it won the bid to host the the 2009 Asian Table TennisChampionship after 15 years, amid an angry walk-out by rivalQatar from a meeting held today in Yangzhou, China.

The Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU) gave the nod in favour of New Delhi after 22 out of 24 member nations voted in favour of the Indian capital ahead of Doha.

Interestingly, seeing the majority vote in favour of New Delhi the Qatar representatives stormed out of the meeting, only to return back later.

"New Delhi has won the bid to host the 2009 Asian Table Tennis Championsip defeating Doha Qatar," Table Tennis Federation of India, secretary Moolchand Chouhan told UNI from Yangzhou, China.

"It will provide us the opportunity to test our facilities before the 2010 Commonwealth Games," he added.

India last hosted the championship way back in 1992.

Meanwhile, though ATTU president Li Furong admitted that most of voters were on New Delhi's side, but he did not disclose the result of the voting.

He also admitted that it came as a right decision in favour of India as Qatar has hosted a number of major sports event in the last couple of years.

"Qatar has held a lot of major sports events including the 2004 World Table Tennis Championships and the 2006 Asian Games, while India has been away from major table tennis events for 15 years," he said.

Meanwhile, TTFI secretary Mr Chouhan said that India won the bid by a majority as 22 out of 24 member nations were in New Delhi's side.

"22 member nations voted for New Delhi (India).

Only two Arab countries voted in Doha's favour," he informed.

"We are definitely delighted to host the 2009 Asian Championship.

"World's top players will be participating in the championship which will also provide us the opportunity to test our players as well as our facilities prior to the Commonwealth Games," he added.

Kerala maintains supremacy in senior athletics BHOPAL, Sep 19 (UNI): Kerala maintained its supremacy in the 47th senior national athletics underway here by topping the medal tally netting nine medals including four gold so far.

Jharkhand remained on second spot with three gold and three silver, while host Madhya Pradesh could win only a bronze till date.

On the third day of the four-day championship today, West Bengal's Bala Devi won gold in the 20 Km walk for women clocking one minute 49 minute and 13.19 seconds, while Manipur's W Lamanganbi Devi(2::01:47.85) came second and her team mate Bemcha Devi (2::02:42.42) stood third.

In javelin throw (women), Sanjo Devi of Himachal Pradesh lifted gold scaling 43.65 metre, while Haryana's Sonu(42.72 metre)and team mate Alpesh Kumar (41.86 metre) bagged silver and bronze respectively.

About 600 athletes are participating in the four-day championship to net 132 medals in 44 events.

Of this, only 45 medals were presented so far.

Besides Kerala and Jharkhand, Haryana, Delhi, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand have so far won one gold each.

Nehru Cup triumph sees India re-enter top 150 in FIFA chart NEW DELHI, Sep 19 (UNI): The Nehru Cup triumph India's rare successat the international level in decades, has propelled India fiveplaces up to 145th in the latest FIFA rankings issued today.

India thus returned to top 150 after 10 months, having last ranked at 148th in the Novemeber 2006 FIFA chart.

India, which jumped 11 places to 151st last month midway during the Nehru Cup, gained 127 points from their last league match win over Kyrgyzstan and collected 224 points from the final triumph over more fancied Syria.

Interestingly, India now lie just one place below Lebanon -- which lost nine places -- whom it will face on October 8 and 25 in the home and return legs of 2010 World Cup Qualifiers first round.

In the rankings among Asian nations also, India moved up two places to 24th and lie in between Lebanon and eastern neighbours Myanmar.

Meanwhile, world champions Italy returned to the top of the chart after leaping above last month leaders Brazil and Argentina.

The Italians benefited from a 2-1 away win over Ukraine in a qualifying match for next year's European Championship and also picked up points for a 0-0 home draw with France.

Brazil enjoyed three wins out of three over Algeria, the United States and Mexico but still dropped from top spot to third place, since the matches were friendlies carrying less rankings points than Italy's games.

Germany, Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, England and Croatia completed the top 10 in descending order.

Among the Asians, Japan (34th) moved up seven places to retain the top slot, followed by Iran (40th), Australia (48th), South Korea (50th) abnd Saudi Arabia (51st).

Sri Lanka too good for Bangladesh JOHANNESBURG, Sep 18 (Reuters): Sri Lanka restricted Bangladesh to 83 all out to win their Twenty20 World Cup Super Eights match by 64 runs in Johannesburg.

Chasing 148 for victory, Bangladesh's batsmen froze on a sluggish pitch and were swept away in 15.5 overs in the Group F match yesterday.

Dilhara Fernando took two for 21 in a fast and furious display with the new ball and Chaminda Vaas two for 14 in four tight overs for Sri Lanka.

Aftab Ahmed and Shakib al-Hasan were joint top-scorers for Bangladesh with 18 runs apiece but the rest of the batting order were exposed for a lack of skills under pressure.

Slow left-armer Sanath Jayasuriya picked up the last two wickets as he joined the attack in the 14th over.

Bangladesh had earlier called on their quartet of slow bowlers to frustrate Sri Lanka and limit them to 147 for five in their 20 overs.

Sri Lanka, sent in to bat, struggled throughout their innings to score at more than a run-a-ball and lost regular wickets hitting out rashly.

Jayasuriya, the leading run-scorer in the tournament thus far, cut his first delivery, from paceman Mashrafe Mortaza, straight to deep point.

Seamer Syed Rasel bowled a brilliant opening spell in which he conceded just nine runs in three overs, including a maiden, and he dismissed Upul Tharanga (23) when wicketkeeper Mushfiqir Rahim, standing up to the stumps, caught a bottom-edged pull between his legs.

Kumar Sangakkara, bowled by off-spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah for 20, and Mahela Jayawardene, bowled by left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak for 30, also played themselves in before getting out.

Jehan Mubarak stroked 31 not out off 19 balls in the closing overs to boost Sri Lanka's total.

Mahmudullah was the best of the Bangladesh bowlers, conceding just 19 runs in his four overs.

Sri Lanka will play Australia in Cape Town tomorrow to decide which of the two teams will make the semi-finals from their group, Pakistan being sure of their place.