CRICKET

Indian Premier League 2013

In the final match of Indian Premier League 2013, Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians defeated Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs to lift the title for the very first time at Eden Gardens on 26 May 2013. Mumbai Indians decided to bat first and scored 148 runs for nine in 20 overs. On the other hand, in a chase of 148 runs, the Chennai Super Kings managed to score just 125 runs for nine in 20 overs. This was the first IPL trophy for Mumbai Indians. Earlier they had lost in the finals to the Chennai Super Kings in 2010.
Chennai Super Kings, now have lost three times in the final, i.e., in the year 2008, 2012 and 2013. In the final match between MI and CSK on 26 May 2013, MS Dhoni was highest individual scorer of the match (63 not out for 45 balls).

Previous IPL Winners

• IPL Season 1: Rajasthan Royals

• IPL Season 2: Deccan Chargers

• IPL Season 3: Chennai Super Kings

• IPL Season 4: Chennai Super Kings

• IPL Season 5: Kolkata Knight Riders

• IPL Season 6: Mumbai Indians

Sreesanth Arrested for Spot-Fixing

Indian fast bowler, S. Sreesanth and his two team mates from Rajasthan Royals namely Ajit Chadila and Ankeet Chavan were arrested by Delhi Police on 16 May 2013 on charges of Spot Fixing in Indian Premier League (IPL). The three cricketers were arrested from Mumbai and will be brought to Delhi for being produced in a Court. Apart from the three cricketers the police also arrested seven bookies. Both the cricketers and the bookies are charged under two sections of Indian Penal Code, Section 420 (cheating) and Section 120B (criminal consp-iracy). The arrests made were a part of the investigations being conducted by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police over months on alleged Spot Fixing in the cash rich – IPL.

Spot Fixing

Spot Fixing is an illegal activity in a sport, in which any part of the game may be an over or a ball is fixed between the player and the bookies. Under this, the player agrees to play in accordance to the agreement made before the game with the bookies, so that they can bet upon the same. Although betting on any sport is illegal in India.

Sachin Tendulkar Announced Retirement

Sachin Tendulkar announced retirement from Twenty20 cricket format on 26 May 2013, immediately after Mumbai Indians beat Chennai Super Kings to lift the title of Pepsi Indian Premier League 2013 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This means that IPL Season 6 was the last IPL season played by Sachin Tendulkar.

Some Important Facts

• Sachin Tendulkar was the captain of Mumbai Indians team in 2010.

• He has represented this franchise in 86 matches in all and finished with 2529 runs. These runs include one century and 14 half-centuries.

• Sachin Tendulkar played the last game for Mumbai against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Wankhede Stadium on 13 May 2013. He was injured thereafter.

• Twenty20 cricket is the second format from which he announced his retirement. Earlier in December 2012, he had announced retirement from the One-Day Internationals.

• He also has the unbroken record of 15837 test runs as well as 18426 ODI runs.

Chris Gayle Hit Fastest-Ever Century

Chris Gayle, the West Indies opener, hit the fastest ever century in the history of cricket by reaching 100 in merely 30 balls during Royal Challengers Bangalore-Pune Warriors IPL match on 23 April 2013. Gayle scored a total run of 175 runs in merely 66 balls, which included 17 sixes and 13 boundaries.

This was also his fourth century in the IPL career. With Gayle’s performance, the total score Royal Challengers Bangalore was 263 for five, which is one of the highest total in this format of the game. Previously, the highest total in this format was 260 by Sri Lanka. Jamaican Chris Gayle also became the highest-ever individual scorer in a T20 game, beating Kolkata Knight Riders’ Brendon McCullum who had hit 158 off 73 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi holds the record of fastest century in ODI (37 balls) and Viv Richards is the record-holders for fastest century (56 balls) in the Test cricket history.

The previous record holders of fastest centuries are as follows:

• 30 balls: Chris Gayle, Royal Challengers Bangalore vs. Pune Warriors, IPL, 23 April 2013

• 34 balls: Andrew Symonds, Kent vs. Middlesex, Twenty20 Cup, 2 July 2004

• 35 balls: Louis van der Westhuizen, Namibia v Kenya, unofficial T20 international, 7 November 2011

• 37 balls: Shahid Afridi, Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka, ODI, 4 October 1996

• 37 balls: Scott Styris, Sussex vs. Gloucs, Twenty20 Cup, 24 July 2012

• 37 balls: Yusuf Pathan, Rajasthan Royals vs. Mumbai Indians, IPL, 13 March 2010

TENNIS

CLTA signed a Deal with its Spanish Counterpart MTF

Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA) on 18 May 2013 signed a deal with its Spanish counterpart, Madrid Tennis Foundation (MTF) with the objective of improving the quality of the sport in the region.

The deal was signed for the next three years. Under the protocol, the training and coaching systems of CLTA will improve a lot. Top tennis coaches from Spain will visit CLTA regularly to upgrade the training facilities, help the coaches and teach latest skills to trainees. CLTA also has rural scheme CHART apart from Centre of Excellence.

ITALIAN OPEN

Men

Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federar in the final match played on 19 May 2013 to lift his seventh Italian Open title. He defeated Federar in straight sets 6-1, 6-3. The match was played on clay court. This was Nadal’s 20th victory against Federar. He has lost only 10 matches to Federar so far. It was Nadal’s fifth title since returning earlier this year from a seven-month layoff due to a left knee injury. Nadal collected 400 points from this victory which carried him into fourth position on the rankings ladder.

Women

Serena Williams on 19 May 2013 won her fourth consecutive tennis title after thrashing out the former world number one Victoria Azarenka 6-1 6-3 to take the Italian Open on the Rome Clay.

The world number one Serena Williams has not lost a single match since the Belarusian Azarenka defeated her in the Doha Final in February 2013. Before the Italy Open in 2013, Serena Williams won Miami, Charleston and Madrid Open. To win the 51st Career Title, Serena Williams broke serve of Azarenka three times in a one-sided first set and with this win, she also secured her career-best winning streak of 24 games.

Madrid Open 2013

In the Men’s Singles title clash of the Madrid Open played on 12 May 2013, World Number Five Nadal defeated Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. Spain’s Rafael Nadal has clinched his fifth title in seven tournaments since returning from a seven-month knee injury layoff.

In the Women’s Singles, World Number One Serena Williams of the United States bagged her 50th career Singles title. She beat Russian Maria Sharapova, 6-1, 6-4.

Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2013

German duo Sabine Lisicki and Mona Barthel won the women’s doubles title at the WTA Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart on 28 April 2013. The Germans defeated the in-form pair of Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sania Mirza 6-4, 7-5 in one and a half hours to claim their first title as a team. Mirza and Mattek-Sands have already won 2 titles in 2013 but couldn’t repeat the winning performance against the Germans who were playing in front of the home crowd.

Portugal Open 2013

Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka defeated Spain’s David Ferrer in the final match of ATP World Tour, Portugal Open 2013 title at Oeiras on 5 May 2013 by a 6-1, 6-4 margin. David Ferrer, inspite of the defeat, maintains a record of 7-4 against Stanislas Wawrinka. This is the fourth career title of Stanislas Wawrinka and also first since January 2011.

HOCKEY

Third Hockey India Senior Women National Championship

Haryana on 30 April 2013 defeated Railways 4-1 to win the third Hockey India Senior Women National Championship at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in the Guru Gobind Singh Sports College, Lucknow. Railways scored their opening goal through Amandeep Kaur in the 15th minute. Haryana scored through Udita (34th, 65th min) and Narinder (47th, 49th min) to win the match. Jharkhand defeated Punjab 2-1 to finish third in the championship. Jharkhand scored through Ebha Kerketta and Basanti Kachhap.

3rd Hockey India Junior Women National Championship

Haryana clinched the 3rd Hockey India Junior Women National Championship title in the final match on 1 May 2013 in Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi. Haryana registered a 2-1 victory over Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy. Jharkhand defeated Punjab 6-0 to claim the bronze medal. Madhya Pradesh opened their account with penalty corner in fourth minute by Shyama Tickadam. Haryana leveled this in 35th minute through penalty corner which was converted by Navneet Kaur. Jyoti Gupta’s scored the final goal in fifth minute of extra time which helped Haryana win the championship.

Two semi-final matches were played between Haryana and Jharkhand as well as Punjab and Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy on 30 April 2013. In the final, Haryana took over Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy.