Real Madrid win Supercup

Real Madrid won the Spanish Supercup for the first time since 2003 with a 4-2 win at home over Valencia with goals by Ruud van Nistelrooy, Sergio Ramos, Ruben de la Red and Gonzalo Higuian.The Spanish champions headed into the return leg of the tournament — which is contested each year between the league champions and the winners of the King’s Cup — with a 3-2 deficit.Valencia midfielder David Silva, who helped Spain to win Euro 2008, opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with an accurate shot that slipped in the left side of the net as Real keeper Iker Casillas looked on helplessly. Real striker van Nistelrooy equalised four minutes into the second half with a penalty kick that slid past the right side of Valencia goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand. The Spanish champions were awarded the penalty due to a goal-line incident involving Valencia defender Raul Albiol.Real Madrid took the lead in the 77th minute with a confusing and contested goal by defender Sergio Ramos from close range. De la Reg scored in the 85th minute from 35-yard with Higuain adding the club’s fourth goal three minutes later. Morientes managed to score a second for Valencia in the dying minutes of the match following a pass from David Villa.Players and observed a minute of silence before the start of the match as a mark of respect for the 154 people who died after a Spanair jet crashed on Wednesday at Madrid airport shortly after takeoff.Real coach Bernd Schuster was without a number of players. Midfielder Wesley Sneijder, defender Fabio Cannavaro, striker Javier Saviola and defenders Michel Salgado and Christoph Metzelder missed the match due to injury. Argentine midfielder Fernando Gago and Brazilian defender Marcelo were absent due to their participation at the Olympics in China for their national squads.

Curtain down as China top medal tally

The Beijing Olympics, played out against a background of political intrigue and featuring 16 days of compelling and controversial action, drew to a spectacular close today.International Olympic Committee chief Jacques Rogge described the Games as “truly exceptional” in a lavish closing ceremony at the Bird’s Nest stadium which culminated in the handing over of the Olympic flag to Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, which will host the 2012 edition. Former England football skipper, David Beckham booted a ball off the top of a London bus before the Olympic flame was extinguished.The Games saw China depose the United States as the new sports superpower but the final day started with Kenyan Samuel Wansiru relishing the heat to record an historic first Olympic marathon for the African nation.Zou Shiming won China’s first ever boxing gold and his country’s 50th gold of the Games when he claimed the light-flyweight title. At the end of the 16 days of competition and 302 events, China had 51 gold medals, 15 more than the United States on 36, with Russia winning 23 and Great Britain 19. It is the first time China have won the gold medal count, although in total medals the US have 110 to China’s 100.Wansiru, striding to Kenya’s first marathon success, celebrated in the hot sun as he broke the 24-year-old Games record while those around him wilted. Kenya may have won according to the script but the principal actors were different as the outstanding Martin Lel, a triple London marathon winner, faded to fifth and it was half-marathon specialist Wansiru who pulled through. Wansiru won in 2:06:32, ahead of Jaouad Gharib of Morocco (2:07:16) and Tsegay Kebede of Ethiopia (2:10:00).There was success for Mongolia in the bantamweight final when Badar-Uugan Enkhbat won their first ever boxing gold beating Cuba’s highly fancied Yankiel Leon 15-5. It was a miserable Games for traditional ring titans Cuba and the United States. Cuba failed to get a gold despite eight of their boxers reaching the semi-finals, while for the first time no USA boxer made the finals and they ended with a solitary boxing bronze.The United States beat defending champions Spain in men’s basketball as expected but the match was closer than the final 118-107 scoreline suggested. The United States picked up further gold beating Brazil 3-1 in the men’s volleyball final.Earlier, Rogge said that overall “the IOC was extremely pleased” with the Games. “More than 40 world records were set, more than 100 Olympic records, and of course we had the two icons of the Games, Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt.”For China, the investment of more than $40 billion on the Games reaped handsome rewards. They not only topped the gold medal count, but a near flawless organisation meant the controversies that marred the build-up largely slipped into the background.Phelps, with his unprecedented eight gold medals and seven world records, and Bolt, the fastest man on earth winning three gold medals with three world records, were the headline stories.

Lama claims national chess championship

Surbir Lama claimed the 15th National Rating Chess Tournament after winning the ninth and final round against Balram Napit on Saturday.Napit had one point lead going into the final round and he only needed a draw over Lama to win. But Lama, who has never lost to Napit in their previous meetings, kept his nerves to win the deciding round played under Swiss League system. This was the first national title for Lama in 13 years.The win in the final round meant both Lama and Napit were tied on 7.5 points but Lama won the championship on better progressive points. “This is the greatest achievement in my sports career,” said jubilant Lama. Lama have represented Nepal at the 2004 Chess Olympiad in Spain and 15th Asian Games in Doha.Sujendra Prasad Shrestha finished third after beating former national championKeshav Shrestha. Sujendra Prasad also had 7.5 points but he was placed third due to weaker progressive points than the top two players.Likewise, Bhagwati Prasad Sharma came fourth as he overcame Binod Gyawali in the final round. Manish Hamal, Rajendra Bajracharya, Uttam Raj Thapa, Badri Lal Nepali, Bilam Lal Shrestha and Prem Krishna Maharjan ended up fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth respectively.

Bista ready to play

Nepali taekwondo star Deepak Bista is gearing up to fight against a tough opponent, Saei Hadi of Iran in the welterweight category first-round bout at the Beijing Olympic Games on Thursday.“The physical training is over and now I am preparing myself mentally for the match,” Bista told The Himalayan Times in a telephonic conversation from Olympic Village in Beijing. “I will play with full confidence and try my best,” said Bista.Asked about the game plan against the Athens Olympics gold medallist and Sydney Olympics bronze winner, Bista said he would initially adopt defensive strategy. “He (Hadi) is an aggressive player and there is no point going offensive against such a player. I will follow the instruction of my coach (Kwon Hyouk Joung) as we might have to change the strategy after each round,” said Bista, the three-time South Asian Games gold medallist and two-time Asian Games silver medallist.Bista, however, added that he might switch to offensive play if the situation demands him to do so. “Hadi is a class player. But that does not mean I have to worry about the bout. Anyone can beat anyone in taekwondo and I am also capable of beating anyone,” said Bista. “My coach has asked me to play my natural game and use the tactics I have learnt during the training,” he said.Bista, only the second player in Nepal’s sports history to qualify for the Olympics after SanginaBaidya, also a taekwondo player, was confident of winning a medal for the country. “The country and the people have expected a lot from me as I have won many medals in the past and I will try my best not to let them down,” he said. “I will play confidently and if the luck is on my part tomorrow, I will win a medal for the country,” he said.

Zaheer sets up Indian victory

Mahendra Singh Dhoni capped Zaheer Khan’s devastating spell with a crucial 39 as India posted a tense three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second one-day international today.Zaheer ran through the top order in his opening spell to finish with 4-21 as India bundled Sri Lanka out for a meagre 142. He was brilliantly backed by paceman Praveen Kumar (3-34).But India skipped a few heartbeats before achieving the modest target with more than 10 overs to spare to level the five-match series 1-1. They were wobbling at 75-5 after Thilan Thushara and Nuwan Kulasekara shared four wickets, but skipper Dhoni and debutant Subramaniam Badrinath (27 not out) held their nerve under pressure. When Dhoni inside-edged paceman Dilhara Fernando’s delivery on to his stumps, his team were just eight runs short of the win with four wickets in hand.Unorthodox Sri Lankan spinner Mendis yet again made the Indian batsmen struggle for runs, getting the big wicket of Yuvraj Singh before finishing with 2-22. Yuvraj (20) was trapped leg-before to leave his team wobbling at 52-3.India appeared to have squandered the advantage given by Zaheer when they lost makeshift opener Irfan Pathan and Suresh Raina in Kulasekara’s opening spell and then Virat Kohli (37) and Rohit Sharma in Thushara’s one over. Dhoni and Badrinath then added 60 for the sixth wicket which proved vital in a low-scoring game.Sri Lanka were earlier in danger of falling to their lowest-ever total of 96 against India when they were reduced to 44-6, but Thushara (44) and Kulasekara (25) rallied their side with a 74-run stand.The third match of the series will be played in Colombo on Sunday.

Terry named captain

John Terry has retained the England captaincy with manager Fabio Capello preferring to keep faith with the Chelsea defender over Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand. Terry, 27, had been the skipper during the Steve McClaren era after David Beckham quit following the 2006 World Cup, but his position had been in doubt when Capello took charge. “I think everybody realises it means the world to me, to retain the armband,” said Terry. The Chelsea skipper, who has won 44 England caps, begins his second stint as captain in Wednesday’s friendly against the Czech Republic at Wembley. The World Cup qualifiers begin in September with ties against Andorra and Croatia.

Eto’o to stay at Barcelona

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, who had deemed Samuel Eto’o surplus when he was appointed in June, said on Tuesday that he is now counting on the Cameroon international for the upcoming season.The 27-year-old was one of three high-profile players — Portugal’s Deco and Brazil’s Ronaldinho being the other two — who Guardiola said he was not counting on shortly after the coach took over the job with Frank Rijkaard.

ब्राजिल समूह 'ई' मा अविजित रही नौ अंकका साथ क्वार्टरफाइनलमा

थिआगो नेभेसले गरेको दुई गोलको मद्दतमा ब्राजिलले आयोजक चीनलाई ३-० गोलअन्तरले पराजित गरेको छ । बेइजिङ ओलम्पिक खेलकुदअन्तर्गत बुधबार भएको समूह चरणको खेलमा ब्राजिलले सो जित हासिल गरेको हो । सो जितसँगै ब्राजिल समूह 'ई' मा अविजित रही नौ अंकका साथ क्वार्टरफाइनल प्रवेश गर्न सफल भएको छ । यद्यपि, बुधबारको खेलअघि नै टोली क्वार्टरफाइनल प्रवेश गरिसकेको थियो । पराजित चीन भने प्रतियोगिताबाट बाहिरिएको छ । ब्राजिलले अब शनिबार सेन्याङमा हुने क्वार्टरफाइनलमा क्यामरुनको सामना गर्नेछ । सो समूहबाट बेल्जियम पनि क्वार्टरफाइनल प्रवेश गरेको छ । बेल्जियमले न्युजिल्यान्डलाई १-० ले पराजित गरेको थियो । बेल्जियमले शनिबार नै हुने अर्को खेलमा इटालीको सामना गर्नेछ । यसैगरी, अर्को खेलमा अर्जेन्टिनाले सर्बियालाई २-० गोलअन्तरले हरायो र समूह 'ए' मा नौ अंकसहित शीर्ष स्थानमा रह्यो । सोही समूहको अर्को खेलमा आइभोरी कोस्टले अस्ट्रेलियालाई १-० ले हरायो ।

Nepal Beat Sri-Lanka

Already out of the tournament with two straight defeats, Nepal earned a consolation 3-0 win over Sri Lanka in the AFC Challenge Cup Group A match in Hyderabad on Monday. Santosh Sahukhala scored a brace and Ju Manu Rai added another. Myanmar and DPR Korea have already qualified for the semi-finals from the group. India and Tajikistan advanced to the last four from the other group. Sahukhala put Nepal ahead early in the 14th minute before Rai doubled the lead in the 54th minute. Sahukhala ensured his team's victory when he capitalised a free kick from Anjan KC in the 66th minute.

President Yadav Wishes Good Luck to Olympians

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav on Sunday wished good luck to the Nepali Olympians set to represent Nepal in the Beijing Olympics.At the farewell ceremony organised at the Presidential office, Dr Yadav said he was more than happy with the Nepal's participation in the Olympics. He also believed the Nepali players' would succeed in Beijing. "The event is of more importance for us as it is being held in China and I wish every success," he said."I believe the players, who will carry the national flag, will perform to their best with full enthusiasm," said Yadav. He also wished luck to the players to make the country proud by creating history in the Olympics. Yadav bade farewell to the players and the officials, who are leaving for Beijing on Monday.Minister for Education and Sports Pradeep Nepal believed the players will perform to their best at the Olympics. "I hope the players will create history by being successful in the Olympics," he said.Vice President of National Sports Council Sita Ram Maskey is the chef-de-mission of Nepal. President of Nepal Olympic Committee Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan, Member Secretary of National Sports Council Jeevan Ram Shrestha among others were also present on the occasion.Out of the eight players, who are representing Nepal in the 29th Olympic Games to be held in Beijing from August 8-24, weightlifting player Kamal Bahadur Adhikari and marathon runner Arjun Kumar Basnet were not present in the ceremony. The Armymen were were attending a programme organised by the Nepali Army at the Tribhuvan Army Officers' Club, where Chief of the Army Staff Rukmangat Katwal bade farewell to the players.Of the eight players, taekwondo ace Deepak Bista qualified for the Olympics becoming the second Nepali player to do so after Sangina Baidya, also a taekwondo player. Other seven, who received wild cards, are judoka Debu Thapa, shooter Fulmaya Kyapchhaki, lifter Adhikari, athlete Basnet, swimmer Karishma Karki and Prashiddha Jung Rana and short distance runner Chandra Kala Thapa.Elsewhere, National PABSON presented Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 each to the others seven players as announced earlier. The N-PABSON also gave away Rs 5,000 each to the coaches. President of N-PABSON Geeta Rana said the players need to remember four things while playing. "You should play for the sponsors, nation, upcoming players and for yourselves," said Rana, who is also the President of the Women's Commission at the NOC.Also, Nepal Taekwondo Association (NTA) announced the cash reward to Bista if he ends up winning medal in the Olympics. The NTA General Secretary Deep Raj Gurung announced awards of Rs 1.5 million, 1 million and Rs 500,000 for gold, silver and bronze medal respectively. The NTA provided Rs 10,000 each to Bista and coach Kwon Hyouk Joung.Taekwondo queen Sangina Baidya, the first Nepali player to qualify for the Olympics when she made it to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games through competition, and the NTA officials bade farewell to Bista.In a separate programme, Roots Fashion Pvt Ltd provided the players and coaches with the sports gears. Marketing Director of Roots Fashion Pvt Ltd Rajeev Shrestha among others handed over the adidas kits to the olympians and their coahes

Nepal Lose The Bid

Nepal have ended their difficult journey in the final round qualifiers of the 2nd AFC Challenge Cup with a not-so-bad exit as they were successful to stop Asian Powerhouse DPR Korea 1-0 in the second match Saturday in Haidarabad, India.
Song Chol, despite his heroism all through, made only one chance find the net in 39th minute. Nepal recuperated to the shape time and again but alwaus failed to penetrate the Korean defence.
Though being the culprit for the blunder that awarded the lone goal, Nepal captain played inspirationally. Nepal again faced the same problem of weak midfield.
Nepal will play the last match, little for any meaning, against Sri Lanka on Monday.

च्यालेन्ज कपबाट नेपाल बाहिरियो

बलियो टोली उत्तरकोरियाबाट १-० गोलअन्तरले पराजित भएपछि एएफसी च्यालेन्ज कप फुटबल प्रतियोगिताबाट नेपाल बाहिरिएको छ । नेपालको सो पराजयपछि समूह 'बी'को अर्को टोली श्रीलंका पनि प्रतियोगिताबाट बाहिरियो । विजेता उत्तरकोरिया र म्यान्मार भने एएफसी च्यालेन्ज कप फुटबल प्रतियोगिताको सेमिफाइनलमा प्रवेश गरेका छन् । म्यान्मारले शनिबार भएको पहिलो खेलमा श्रीलंकालाई ३-१ गोलअन्तरले हराएको थियो । गत बिहीबार पहिलो खेलमा म्यान्मारसँग भोगेको पराजयलाई बिर्संदै हैदरावादको गाचीबोली रंगशालामा शनिबार बलियो टोली उत्तरकोरियालाई नेपालले कडा चुनौती भने दिएको थियो । पहिलो खेलभन्दा निकै आक्रामक र उत्कृष्ट खेल प्रदर्शन गरेको नेपालले खेललाई बराबरीमा रोक्न गरेको प्रयास सफल भने भएन । पहिलो खेलका सात खेलाडीलाई बेन्चमै राखी मैदानमा उत्रेको नेपाल उत्तरकोरियासामु चुनौतीका रूपमा प्रस्तुत भए पनि खेलको ३९औं मिनेटमा सोङ चोललाई रोक्न नसक्दा टोली प्रतियोगिताबाट बाहिरिएको हो । राकेश श्रेष्ठको गल्तीमा जोङ मिन हुले दिएको पासमा सोङ चोलले सो गोल गरेका थिए । खेलको ३४औं मिनेटमा पाएको पिmकिकलाई लोकबन्धु गुरुङले सशक्त प्रहार गरे पनि कोरियाली गोलरक्षकले जोगाएका थिए । त्यसको एक मिनेटपछि राकेश श्रेष्ठले गरेको पिmकिक प्रहारलाई पनि कोरियाली गोलरक्षक क्वान मिनले ड्राइभ गर्दै जोगाएका थिए । खेल दौरान जुमानु राई र युगलकिशोर राईले पहेंलो कार्ड पाएका थिए ।