Sports In Daily Newspapers

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NZ to host Champions Trophy hockey now

Lausanne: Shifted out of India due to the dispute related to hockey's governance in the country, the high-profile Champions Trophy will now be held in Auckland, New Zealand from December 3 to 11.

"New Zealand, ranked number seven in the world, will replace India in the Champions Trophy. India was originally allotted a place in the Champions Trophy as the host, but has now been extended an invitation to play as the top-seeded team at the Champions Challenge in November in South Africa," the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said in a statement.

The Champions Trophy was initially alloted to India but the tussle between Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation over who would govern the sport cost the country the hosting rights of the event.
Source: IBN

 

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F1 runs into legendary Indian red tape!

New Delhi: Even though McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh played down fears that a tax wrangle could jeopardise next month`s inaugural Indian Formula One Grand Prix, the circuit ran into the single most daunting roadblock – the customs department.

With the F1 race slated to take place just a few weeks from now, the organisers of the event are struggling to come to a compromise with the Indian customs department over the issue of the payment of 100% duties to the government for bringing in expensive racing equipment on Indian soil.

Although the government has said that the amount (estimated to be over 600 crores) would be returned once the event is over and the equipment is taken back after a nominal deduction of just 2%, the organisers Jaypee Sports India, say that arranging for that kind of money on such a short notice when they have to dedicate their energies to the culmination of a successful event is very tough.

JPSI has urged the Indian government to adopt a Singapore-style arrangement wherein a ‘custom bonded area’ is declared that enables the teams to fly-in their equipment into the country and directly take it to the circuit and return it via a same channel, thus eliminating the need to pay customs.

This is particularly tough to agree upon by the government as it classifies F1 racing as a form of entertainment and not as a sport whereas ironically, the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India has been given the status of a national sports federation.
Source:Zee News

 

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Inter Milan, AS Roma settle for goalless draw

Rome: Inter Milan and AS Roma settled for a goalless draw which gave them their first point each of the Serie A season at the San Siro on Saturday in a game which avoided plunging either side into further crisis.

Although Inter halted their spiral of three defeats in three games, including a humiliating home loss to outsiders Trabzonspor in the Champions League midweek, they rarely threatened Roma who have also had a mediocre start to the season.

Roma, beaten at home by Cagliari in the opening match and already out of the Europa League, failed to transform their possession into goals as Inter created more chances.

AS Roma coach Luis Enrique said he was satisfied with his team`s progression.

"The most important thing is to have shown character with the pressure we were under even if the result could have been better," he said.
Source:Zee News

 

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I am running against the clock says Brazil coach Menezes

Rio de Janeiro: Brazil coach Mano Menezes has admitted that he faces a race against time to turn his side into genuine contenders to win the 2014 World Cup on home soil.

"We have to acknowledge that Brazil are not playing the best football in the world just now and that is the way it has been for some time now," Menezes said in an interview with the magazine Veja, in which he also admitted that Germany have set the example to follow.

"The Germans started a gradual process of renovation that has seen them improve over a number of years, and it is about time Brazil did the same thing," he continued.

"I am running against the clock, but there is still time to create a winning team."

Quarter-finalists at the recent Copa America, Brazil will not be involved in the long South American qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup finals because they qualify directly as hosts.

On Wednesday, the Selecao drew 0-0 with Argentina in a game that saw both sides feature line-ups comprised entirely of home-based players.
Source:Zee News