Observer & Busness 3 Mar 2012 - Oman Daily Observer

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MANCHESTER — Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has recovered from a throat infection in time to spearhead the attack for the trip to Tottenham Hotspur that manager Alex Ferguson has branded their most important game of the season so far. The Premier League champions, who trail leaders Manchester City by two points, head to third-placed Spurs tomorrow thinking only of their own title challenge rather than the fact they can almost certainly destroy Tottenham's with a victory. Their bid to maintain an excellent record against the north London side, whose last victory over United was in May 2001, will be boosted by the return of top scorer Rooney who missed their last two games through illness. "We realise...how important it is on Sunday to maintain our challenge, we're not interested in anyone else's challenge, but to maintain our challenge we need to win on Sunday," Ferguson told a news conference. "It's the most important game for us so far now. "If you look at the rest of the season, you would certainly say it's building up to what could turn out to be the decider with City (at Eastlands in April) but this is our hardest away game (before that), no doubt. Hopefully we can navigate it." Defender Chris Smalling is doubtful after a clash of heads on England duty midweek, while midfielders Tom Cleverley and Antonio Valencia are ruled out with foot and hamstring injuries. "Rooney's fit, he's trained all week which is good news," Ferguson said. "Smalling — there's no concussion but it is quite a nasty cut, whether we can patch it up I'm not quite sure. It's something we'll need to tread carefully with. We'll see what he's like tomorrow." Striker Michael Owen, who has been out for more than three months with a thigh injury, has returned to training. "Hopefully the lad has a bit of luck, he's not had much at all," Ferguson said. "When he has an injury it's always a long-term one but hopefully he's back for the rest of the season which will help us." 'STRANGE GAME' Ferguson singled out midfielder Michael Carrick's recent contributions as being key at an important part of the season and was hoping for more of the same from a player whose publicity- 18 SPORT OMAN DAILY Observer SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012 Rooney returns to lead Man United attack at Tottenham Hotspur MANCHESTER — Manchester City's strikers could be the trump card that ends the club's 44-year wait for the English league title as their leading trio are in form at just the right time in the season, manager Roberto Mancini said yesterday. A goal each from Sergio Ageuro, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli secured a 3-0 win over Blackburn Rovers last weekend, with the Premier League leaders finding themselves in the ideal situation of having all their main forwards scoring with ease. With those three having scored 39 of the club's 67 league goals this season, City are either going to find it hard to bring back last term's top scorer Carlos Tevez when he is match-fit or will be even more potent when the Argentine returns. Mancini said Tevez, who has been training to regain fitness after an unauthorised three-month absence from the club following a fall-out both parties want to put behind them, was still at least a couple of weeks away from first-team action. "We know that Carlos is a top striker but in this moment he needs to train," the Italian manager told a news conference. "It's important that in this moment all our strikers score goals, are in good form, this is very important because it is two months to the end (of the season) and it's important to have all the strikers ready." Apart from the fitness of Tevez and the reception the Argentine can except to receive from the fans who feel betrayed by their former captain, the only concern hanging over City's prolific strike-force is the volatile temperament of Balotelli. GOOD BEHAVIOUR The Italian was dropped by national coach Cesare Pran- delli for the midweek friendly with the US after serving a four-match domestic ban and told that unless he stopped getting into disciplinary trouble he could miss out on Euro 2012. Mancini backed Prandelli's stance over the striker, whose spells of brilliance have often been overshadowed by offfield antics or on-field rushes of blood to the head. "It's his (Prandelli's) decision. I think that could be shyness was "refreshing". "He always does better in the second half of the season," the Scot said. "I know he disagrees with me on this but I feel the second half of the season sees him at his best and he's doing that at the moment, he's doing very well so it's pleasing." United head to White Hart Lane to face a team still reeling from last weekend's 5-2 thumping by bitter rivals Arsenal which came after Spurs had established a two-goal lead. The north London side are eight points behind United, who have 61 points from 26 games, and 10 adrift of City, and defeat by Ferguson's men would probably leave them with too much ground to make up for a realistic title tilt. With Spurs on the rebound, Ferguson knows his side face a tough game and refused to read too much into the Arsenal defeat. "It was a strange game, I think derby games can be like that, you can't predict them too much," said Ferguson, whose side had a derby nightmare of their own earlier this season when they were hammered 6-1 by City at Old Trafford. "They are still in the FA Cup...so they've got a great season still on a promise really." — Reuters Mancini sees City forwards as key to title hopes LONDON — The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has backed a Fifa investigation into Bahrain's 10-0 World Cup qualifying win over Indonesia in midweek, although General Secretary Alex Soosay later said he was confident nothing would come of it. The mauling in Manama raised suspicion because Bahrain needed a huge turnaround to have any chance of reaching the fourth round of regional 2014 qualifiers. Bahrain had to beat Indonesia, hope Qatar lost to Iran and also make up a nine-goal difference on the 2022 World Cup hosts. Fifa's security department has launched a routine probe, which the AFC said yesterday it supported and would "co-operate closely with". Soosay later issued a second statement expressing his belief that the suspicions of foul play were groundless. "I have read the media reports about suspicions of match-fixing," he said. "But I am confident that none of our teams are involved in this. Bahrain were the better team both tactically and technically. "Moreover I have gone through the official reports of the AFC match commissioner and the match referee and they indicate nothing." Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan — Asia vice-president on the Fifa Executive Committee — was keen to stress that while match-fixing should not be taken lightly, it was not just an issue for his region. "It has to be taken very seriously regardless of what region it is played in. It is a world issue, not just simply in the Asian region," he told reporters in London. "We need to put as much resources as we can into this aspect of football and support those who are dealing with it in Fifa. "The important thing is that if there are suspicions you have to investigate it. "It might just be a coincidence, however there might be something behind it. Regardless, it can happen in any country in the world." Bahrain's 10-goal rout almost sent them through but Qatar advanced after an 86th-minute goal gave them a 2-2 draw and the point they needed in Tehran to clinch second place in Group 'E'. INDONESIA LOW Indonesia, already eliminated, fielded a inexperienced side of mostly uncapped under-23 players after they were blocked by the country's federation from selecting their regular squad because they mostly play in the breakaway Indonesian Super League. The size of defeat marked a new low for Indonesian soccer, already torn apart by internal strife and political wrangling. Indonesia finished bottom of Group 'E' with no points, conceding 26 goals and scoring just three, the worst record of the 20 teams in the third round of Asian qualifying. "We apologise to the people of Indonesia," Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) secretary-general Tri Goestoro said in a statement. "The PSSI tried to pick the best players and aimed for the best results for the last match. But Bahrain was clearly playing better and defeated us." correct because we know that Mario is a top player but he should improve his behaviour," Mancini said. "For the national team it is important because when you go to play the European (championship) and you play only three or four or five games, you should have good behaviour. But Mario is the best Italian striker, this is sure, 100 per cent." City will fancy their chances of another free-scoring display today when they host one of the league's leakiest defences in second-from-bottom Bolton Wanderers, who have let in just over two goals a game on average this season. Victory would put City five points clear at the top for at least 24 hours as second-placed Manchester United do not play until tomorrow when they face a difficult trip to third-placed Tottenham Hotspur. City, aiming for a first English league title since 1968, have 63 points from 26 games, while champions United are on 61 and Spurs have 53. Asia backs Fifa probe into 10-0 Bahrain rout MADRID — Barcelona must live without the inspirational presence of Lionel Messi when they tackle Sporting Gijon today as the Argentine superstar serves his first La Liga suspension. Messi was booked in last weekend's 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid, his fifth yellow card of the campaign. His absence will be a huge blow to Barcelona, who trail Real Madrid by 10 points in the title race, as his value was shown in midweek when he smashed a wonderful hat-trick in Argentina's 3-1 friendly win in Switzerland. Real Madrid, who face Espanyol tomorrow, also have their own worries with the club facing more speculation over the future of coach Jose Mourinho. The colourful Portuguese was spotted in London in midweek, fuelling rumours of a return to the English Premier League next season. While some media reports say the trip was to purchase a property in the British capital, Spanish newspaper Marca claimed this is for Mourinho's own investment purposes and not a signal that he will be coaching in London next season. Espanyol will provide another stern test of Madrid's dominance in La Liga. Currently sitting eighth, just two points from a Champions League place, the Barcelona-based club have their own objectives. "I won there with Seville and I think we can do it again. It was a nice feeling, very intense and difficult but I think we can repeat that if we stick to our game," said midfielder Koffi Romaric. "We want the points for our own goals, not to do Barca a favour." Portuguese international Fabio Coentrao joined Madrid's injury list when he pulled up with a muscle problem in his country's friendly with Poland on Wednesday. He will be out for three weeks and joins Angel Di Maria and Karim Benzema, both also out for PSSI national team co-ordinator Bob Hippy criticised Lebanese referee Andre El Haddad for awarding Bahrain four penalties and sending off goalkeeper Samsidar in the second minute. "Before the game, I heard rumours saying Bahrain would win big and it happened," said Hippy. "How could the referee give so many penalties for Bahrain? He killed us." Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng demanded the PSSI end the infighting, which almost resulted in a Fifa ban last year. "That is what we get if the officials keep fighting with each other," he said. "They should put national football's interests first. They need to end the bickering right away. We've become the victims of the league's dualism." — Reuters Arsene Wenger considers official complaint against Belgian FA LONDON — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is considering lodging a formal complaint with the Belgian FA, saying they "forced" defender Thomas Vermaelen to play in the friendly against Greece on Wednesday even though he was injured. The normally diplomatic and urbane Frenchman was uncharacteristically forthright when asked if the centre-half, who has come through a series of injuries, would be fit for today's Premier League match at Liverpool. Wenger said the defender was doubtful and added: "It looks like Belgium has made a decision which I still do not understand and we will look to see if we can put a complaint in." Speaking to reporters at the club's training ground, he continued: "Firstly they forced the player to travel, then they forced him to play 90 minutes after being injured and had a centre-back on the bench who similar periods with muscular injuries. Although Madrid can welcome back Turkish stars Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop into their ranks they will have to do without the services of central defender Pepe who is suspended. Barca's opponents Sporting Gijon are six points from safety in La Liga's penultimate position but have turned a corner since ex-Spain manager Javier Clemente has taken over. Two draws in two games under the new coach have halted a sequence of one win in seven for the north coast club. With only 14 games to go Barca Blatter ‘would die’ rather than see another Cup blunder BAGSHOT, England — Fifa President Sepp Blatter has said he "would die" if he saw another World Cup blunder such as Frank Lampard's disallowed goal for England against Germany in South Africa in 2010. Blatter, in England for this weekend's meeting of the game's law-making body — the International Football Association Board, told reporters it was now time to "move forward" and embrace the goal-line technology he was once so opposed to. IFAB, which comprises four Fifa representatives and the four British nations, will consider a report on the latest tests of goalline technology with a final decision expected to be taken after the European Championship final in Kiev on July 2. Blatter has said he wants technology in place by the 2014 World Cup in Brazil although UEFA President Michel Platini and Franz Beckenbauer, head of Fifa's Football Taskforce 2014, are both opposed to it. Speaking as he arrived, Blatter said: "We don't want a repeat of the last World Cup. "I think I can convince the IFAB board that we must go forward with technology, we cannot afford to just wait and see what happens. "Platini doesn't want it but I wouldn't be again in a World Cup and witness another situation like that — I would die." Among the other issues on this weekend's agenda are the possibility of a fourth substitute during extra time and whether IFAB will overturn its ban on Muslim women players wearing headscarves. The hijab was banned on safety grounds in 2007 but Prince Ali of Jordan, Asia's vice-president on the Fifa executive committee, will present IFAB with a specially-designed Dutch headscarf that has velcro fastenings and opens immediately if pulled. did not play at all, in a friendly game knowing they do not even go to the European Championship. "For me, that is difficult to understand." Wenger also said Robin van Persie was a doubt for today's game after he played for the opening 45 minutes for the Netherlands against England at Wembley on Wednesday. Van Persie has been in outstanding form for Arsenal, scoring 29 times this season, but nursed a groin injury throughout the week. "The friendlies are becoming more and more difficult to accept for everybody," Wenger said. "I was always in favour of using the players for official games and I never asked any player not to go 100 per cent for his country when it is a qualifier or a big competition, but the friendlies are becoming more and more difficult, especially in this period." Arsenal, like most of the Giggs loses damages claim against The Sun LONDON — A damages claim lodged by Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs against The Sun newspaper was dismissed by a High Court judge in London yesterday. Giggs claimed the Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid "misused" private information and argued that he was entitled to claim damages for distress and breach of a right to privacy enshrined in human rights legislation. But lawyers for The Sun argued that Giggs' claim — made after the newspaper published an article about a relationship with reality television star Imogen Thomas — was "dead in the water". Hugh Tomlinson, acting for Giggs, argued at a hearing last month that The Sun misused private information in the article, in which the Wales international was not identified. The lawyer said Giggs was claiming damages for the republication of information in other newspapers and on the Internet which had generated "a large media storm", and his claim should go to trial. Tomlinson said the point of the claim was to "provide effective protection" for Giggs' right to privacy as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. But Richard Spearman, a lawyer for The Sun's publisher News Group Newspapers, said the article reported Thomas' relationship with a Premier League player and did not identify Giggs. The paper had therefore behaved "properly" and was not to blame for what happened after the article appeared. can't afford to drop any more points in their pursuit of Madrid, with a home fixture to come against the leaders in late April. One player who will be looking for a good performance against Sporting is Pedro Rodriguez, who was left out of Spain's squad for the 5-0 victory over Venezuela in midweek. "All players want to go to Euro 2012, I hope I can too but it is going to be difficult, they played great the other day but we'll see what happens," he said. "To win the league is tough because 10 points is a big gap, but we are not going to give up." One player who could be going IFAB will also review the so-called "triple sanction" rule which Fifa now believes is unfair in punishing an offending player too harshly if he denies an opponent a goal-scoring opportunity. At the moment he faces conceding a penalty, receiving a red card and then a suspension. Fifa is proposing that a red card should only be automatic outside the penalty area and that if a spot-kick is awarded then the referee should only dismiss the offending player for "denying an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by holding or an offence committed from behind inside his own penalty area when he has no opportunity to play the ball". The International Board, formed in 1886, predates the foundation of Fifa by 18 years and is the game's ultimate lawmaking authority. Any law or rule changes need a 75 per cent majority to be accepted. — Reuters leading European clubs, have a tough schedule between now and the end of season in May and Wenger said the calendar makes it "impossible" to get the best out of players for both club and country. "For us it is vital we do not lose the players now. If you go into a period like that with players already touched (by injury) you have more chances to lose the players," he said. "The Holland manager (Bert van Marwijk) hasn't spoken to me, but he knew Robin was injured because he said despite his groin problem, he will play him, it is the same with the Belgium manager (Georges Leekens). "We are the only team in the world who had that schedule so it is very difficult to understand that our players had to go injured to Greece and play 90 minutes for Belgium. That's frankly not defendable. It is disrespectful to the players as well as me." — Reuters FA will wait to appoint next England manager LONDON — The FA will put off naming a permanent England manager until close to the end of the season, general secretary Alex Horne told reporters yesterday. He said the FA had drawn up a shortlist of candidates to fill the role which opened up when Fabio Capello resigned last month, but would not make an imminent appointment to avoid disrupting the clubs' campaigns. "We've got a list. It's a back-end-of-the-season decision for us," Alex Horne said. "We recognise that a lot of the managers on the list are employed and we don't want to interrupt anyone's season.” — Reuters Superstar Messi ban a huge blow to Barcelona as they tackle Sporting Gijon to Euro 2012 is Valencia forward Roberto Soldado who grabbed a hat-trick in Spain's victory on his return for 'La Roja'. His side sit third and visit Granada tomorrow while the battle behind them for fourth position and a Champions League berth is hotting up. Seven clubs are separated by three points with fourth placed Levante entertaining Betis on Monday and Athletic Bilbao, currently fifth, facing a Basque derby against Real Sociedad tomorrow. Sevilla and Atletico Madrid are both three points behind Levante and meet today in a showdown neither team can afford to lose. — AFP
BARCELONA — Lotus driver Romain Grosjean set the fastest time in Formula One testing for the second successive day yesterday, clocking a best lap of one minute and 22.614 seconds. Grosjean's French compatriot Jean- Eric Vergne, who had topped the time charts with 1min 23.614 in the Toro Rosso in the morning session, finished the day as second overall fatest. World champion Sebastian Vettel, in the Red Bull, was third, ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. Testing continues until Sunday ahead of the first race of the 2012 Formula One season in Melbourne, Australia, on March 18. Another former world champion Lewis Hamilton was down in ninth 19 SPORT OMAN DAILY Observer SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012 Murray downs Djokovic, awaits Federer in final Dubai — Record-setting Roger Federer stormed back from 0-5 down in the second-set tie-breaker to overhaul Juan Del Potro 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6) and book a place in his seventh final at the Dubai Open yesterday. The Swiss who has won the event four times will face off for the 72nd trophy of his career in his 102nd ATP final when he plays Andy Murray after the Scot stunned world No 1 Novak Djokovic 6-2, 7 to give the Serb his first defeat of 2012. Federer, who trails Murray 6-8 in their head-to-head, did not face his rival in 2011, winning their last match in November, 2010 at the Tour finals. "This is a nice opportunity to try and win another title ," said Federer, who claimed his last Dubai honour in 2007. "I'm looking forward to the match, it should be a great matchup." The Swiss ace calmly recovered after trailing Argentine Del Potro 5-0 in the tiebreaker after winning the opening set in nearly an hour through a decider. Federer, champion last month over Del Potro in the Rotterdam final and at the Australian Open, worked his stylish game to perfection as he levelled form 2-6 to six-all the breaker before Del Potro T20 league expected in US next year NEW YORK — A professional Twenty20 cricket league is scheduled to start in the United States next year, the chief executive of Cricket Holdings America LLC (CHALLC) Keith Wyness said yesterday. Wyness, a former chief executive of English Premier League Everton and Scottish Premier League Aberdeen, is responsible for a business plan including the sale of Twenty20 franchises for a professional league. CHALLC is a joint venture between New Zealand Cricket and the United States of America Cricket Association for the develop- ment of cricket within the United States. "At present we are looking at a target date of starting games in the summer of 2013," Wyness said in a statement released by CHALLC. "We will certainly have lead-up events through 2012. "Without a doubt Twenty20 is the format that is going to achieve most visibility and penetration in the USA — that is what we expect to happen. "However, we will also be supporting other forms of the game if there is a need and desire as we move forward." — Reuters Casey to make comeback in Miami next week LONDON — Former world No 3 Paul Casey will make his comeback at the WGC- Cadillac Championship in Miami next week after a snowboarding accident late last year forced him to miss the start of the season. The 11-time European Tour winner had a mediocre 2011 season due mainly to a foot injury and he is itching to get back to competitive golf. "I'm now looking forward to getting out there and playing again because I've really missed it," the 34-year-old Briton told the tour's website ROGER Federer of Switzerland hits a return to Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina during their semifinal match at the Dubai Open yesterday. PICTURE RIGHT: Andy Murray of Britain hits a return to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their semifinal. — Reuters (www.europeantour.com) yesterday. "I had to build up a bit more stamina and a bit more endurance which is why I had to miss the WGC-Accenture Match Play last week," added Casey. "But the good thing is I'm not missing any of the majors and I'll be going into the US Masters fresher than I've ever been before," he said, referring to next month's Augusta tournament. Casey, now ranked 25th in the world, is still chasing the first major victory of his career. — Reuters netted backhand to yield a match point. That was all it took for Federer to drive home the victory in a shade under two hours. 19 Omanis to vie for honours at Abu Dhabi triathlon meet ABU DHABI — Inspirational Omani athletes will today conquer the streets and waters of Abu Dhabi for the GCC’s biggest mass participation endurance event as the $250,000 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon gets underway on one of the sport’s most picturesque courses. Oman has 19 athletes competing in today’s Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority-organised event, which boasts a record breaking 1,855 triathletes from 62 countries including more than 50 of the sport’s top elite athletes, the strongest line-up in the event’s three-year history. The prestigious event, which sees a 27 per cent participant increase from the GCC from the 2011 event, starts in the beautiful turquoise waters of the Abu Dhabi Corniche, biking up to the famous Yas Marina Circuit, home to the Etihad Airways Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and then ending with a run back on the sweeping shores of the Corniche. “I’m thrilled to be in Abu Dhabi racing alongside some of the world’s best triathletes in a beautiful environment and OMANI CHALLENGE: Sulaiman al Alawi and Sulaiyam al Alawi climate,” said Omani triathlete Suleiman al Alawi. “The gruelling event is one of the highlights on the international triathlon calendar and I’m hoping to perform strongly as one of the Omani competitors!” Abu Dhabi’s 223km ‘long course’ boasts a 3km swim, a 200km cycle and 20km closing run is the same distances as the world class elite while newcomers can choose to "I played well but I knew I would have to against Juan Martin," said Federer, winner of four of the last six ATP events he has played. in his McLaren, but was adamant that the team had collected crucial information. "Today was all about testing set-up. It was a good day: we learned quite a lot and improved a few things. We didn't get a lot of mileage, as we had a lot of downtime in between changes," said Hamilton. "Our car feels better set-up wise, we still haven't added the new aero package, so I think we'll get a better picture of what the car will be like in Australia over the next two days. But I definitely feel like we have a competitive car. "This year's winter testing has been way better than last year. I've not had any problems, we've ironed out a lot of issues and I feel very comfortable. I'm LONDON — Olympic organisers will meet betting industry representatives this month to finalise measures to prevent illegal gambling at London 2012, with plans for a drop-in zone to offer advice to athletes in the Olympic Village during the Games. International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge said last year that illegal betting is as big a threat to the integrity of sports as doping. British company Betfair, which operates the world's largest betting exchange, has agreed to share information with the IOC on potentially suspect gambling at this year's Olympics. London organisers will meet representatives of the IOC, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson, the Gambling Commission and betting companies on March 20, a Betfair executive told reporters yesterday. "The idea is to make sure that we all know who we are, the system of contact during the Olympics and what will happen if there are any issues. Ninety per cent of the ground work is already there," Betfair's public affairs manager Susannah Gill said in an interview. Among the measures being considered by the IOC's head of ethics Paquerette Zappelli is setting up an area in a prominent location within the Olympic Village where athletes get advice on gambling regulations. "It will be a kind of education zone, a place where they can go and get information," said Gill. Betting is prohibited for athletes taking part in the Games under a code of ethics running for a month from the opening of the Olympic Village on July 16. The ban applies to other delegation members including coaches, team officials and referees. Gill said she believed the world of sport was beginning to address the issue of illegal betting having previously been slow to realise the severity of the threat it poses. "I think with doping, sports have got their heads around that and are dealing with the issue. I think betting is some- "There was not much between us in this match. "It was very close, I got some of the luck and came through." Del Porto, who missed 2010 with wrist Grosjean fastest in Barcelona LOTUS Formula One driver Romain Grosjean of Switzerland takes a curve during a training session at Circuit de Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, yesterday. — Reuters tackle the ‘short’ course at half the length, with a 1.5km swim, a 100km cycle and a 10km run. The sprint course offers a 750m swim, a 50km bike and 5km run. Both the short and sprint distance also offer the option of a relay entry, encouraging like-minded friends, families and colleagues to take up the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon challenge. fit and ready for Melbourne." Times: 1 Romain Grosjean (FRA/ Lotus-Renault) 1:22.614 (124 laps), 2 Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/Toro Rosso- Ferrari) 1:23.126 (45), 3 Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull-Renault) 1:23.361 (85), 4 Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari) 1:23.447 (125), 5 Heikko Kovalainen (FIN/Caterham-Renault) 1:23.828 (104), 6 Kamui Kobayashi (JPN/Sauber-Ferrari) 1:23.836 (77), 7 Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Force India-Mercedes) 1:23.893 (36), 8 Michael Schumacher (GER/Mercedes-AMG) 1:23.978 (79), 9 Lewis Hamilton (GBR/ McLaren-Mercedes) 1:24.111 (65), 10 Bruno Senna (BRA/Williams-Renault) 1:24.925 (48), 11 Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams-Renault) 1:25.801 (20). Organisers step up efforts to stop illegal gambling thing which has cropped up which they hadn't given as much thought to, particularly the world of online gambling which is fair enough as the industry is only a decade old," Gill said. Betfair, which has eight analysts monitoring betting patterns on its exchange, has struck similar agreements to share information with soccer's governing body Fifa, the International Cricket Council and the English Football Association. The threat posed by sports betting corruption came to the fore last year when three Pakistani cricketers were jailed after being found guilty of taking bribes to fix parts of a Test match against England in London in 2010. Despite the efforts of the gaming industry to combat fixing, everyone involved in sport recognises that the main threat lies in unregulated betting in Asia. "The unregulated market, the blackness of it to everyone is the issue. Regulation and transparency is the key," Gill said. — Reuters surgery, was pleased with his week. "In the end, he played better in the important moments. I was close, really close. "I missed easy balls, and you LONDON — Team principal Frank Williams signalled the end of an era yesterday with his decision to follow co-founder Patrick Head and step down from the board of the former Formula One world champions. Williams and Head, who left the board at the end of December after selling more than half of his shares, founded the team in 1977 and went on to oversee 113 grand prix wins, nine constructors' titles and seven drivers' crowns. "I turn 70 in April and I have decided to signal the next stage in the gradual but inevitable process of handing over the reins to the next generation by stepping down from the board at the end of this month," Williams said in a statement. "This is not as dramatic a move as it may appear," he cautioned, however. "I shall continue to work fulltime as team principal and I shall continue to attend all board meetings as observer." Williams, whose daughter Claire will join the board on April 1 as newlyappointed director of marketing and communications, will also remain as the majority shareholder in Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC. "It is no secret that Claire is my daughter but I am proud to say that she has fought hard to earn this LONDON — London Olympic organisers are asking gardeners to give British athletes some flower power this summer by planting flowers and vegetables in the national colours. Britons are proud gardeners, with annual flower shows attracting large numbers of entrants and fierce competition. Green-fingered residents are now being encouraged to grow red, white and blue flower beds to showcase Britain during this year's Games which begin on July 27. They are also being advised on how to plant the colours of the Olympic rings. LOCOG, the Games' organisers, has suggested a combination of colours and shapes, including pink dahlias, blue geraniums, yellow snapdragons, purple petunias and green carex. Residents are also being asked to plant golden marigolds in their window boxes and hanging baskets along the 12,800 kms can't miss those against Federer or the top guys. I made a good tournament, and I'm glad with my level at this moment." Murray charged through the opening set against Djokovic in half an hour, winning seven straight games at one point. Djokovic came to the court an undefeated 10-0 on the season after claiming the Australian Open for a second straight year and going through three Dubai matches in straight sets. Djokovic had won the last three editions in the emirate. "It's been a very successful tournament," said the Serb. "I still feel that this week, playing semi-finals is a good result, under the circumstances. "I lost to somebody that's a top player, top quality player. I move on. I take the best out of it and hope to play better next week." Murray gets his dream final as he faces Federer. "I like to play against the top, top guys, I like playing against Roger because it's a good opportunity for me. I haven't played him for a year." — dpa Frank Williams to leave board of F1 team appointment and of all the battles she has had to fight, the prejudices of her father were not the least challenging," said Williams. The British-based company has been listed since an initial public share offer in Frankfurt last March. The team, who will be using Renault engines this season, last won a race in 2004. Their current drivers are Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado and Brazilian Bruno Senna, nephew of the late triple champion Ayrton who died in a Williams in 1994. The team suffered their worst season last year, finishing ninth overall with just five points. Williams has already established a clear line of succession at the company, with chairman Adam Parr taking over much of the day-to-day running of the business. "If for whatever reason I couldn't come in to do my job, Adam would fill the gap," Williams, who has been a tetraplegic since 1986 after fracturing his spine in a car accident, told this month's edition of F1 Racing magazine. "He's not a racer but, in a way, that's probably an advantage in these distinctly commercial days. He's very good at making financial decisions and working out cost-to-benefit. And he can hold his own in the Formula One meetings." — Reuters Ready, steady, grow for London 2012 route of the Olympic torch relay. LOCOG Chairman Seb Coe said it was a chance for a 'nation of gardeners' to show their skills. "(We) are using London 2012 as an opportunity to get friends, family and neighbours together to brighten up their area and build on our proud gardening heritage," he said in a statement. However, all is not coming up smelling of roses. Some residents in a village along the road cycle race in Surrey, southern England, objected to LO- COG's advice. The chairman of Mickleham parish council, Richard Roberts-Miller, was reported in the media late last year as saying he was unimpressed with the "order from on high" on how he should be doing his garden. "Some people might wonder whether this should be high up the council's agenda," he was quoted as saying. — Reuters
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