‘Yuvi should resume training in 10 weeks’

‘Yuvi is lion hearted, you will see him roar once again’

New Delhi,Feb 06(PTI & Agency): India ’s World Cup-winning cricket star Yuvraj Singh should be able to resume training in May after undergoing chemotherapy for a cancerous tumour in the United States , his doctor said on Monday. Nitesh Rohatgi, a senior Delhi-based oncologist who has been treating the 30-year-old all-rounder, said he was confident he would recover from the malignant tumour located between his lungs. “It is curable with the help of therapy and will not hinder Yuvraj’s career in the long-term,” Rohatgi, a consultant of medical oncology at a New Delhi hospital, told reporters.

“I must stress it is not lung cancer. It is located between the two lungs, rather than in the lungs. It’s a rare disease, but something which can be cured.” Rohatgi said the cricketer would recover from the rare condition which is called mediastinal seminoma. “I am confident he will be cured and return to cricket like before,” said Rohatgi, adding that Yuvraj will be able to start active training by May. Yuvraj on Wednesday starts the third week of a nine-week chemotherapy treatment in the United States and will be able to do light training as he improves, the doctor said.

Left-handed Yuvraj played a key role in India ’s World Cup triumph last April, scoring 362 runs and taking 15 wickets with his spin bowling to win with the player-of-the-tournament award. But his family said in November that the all-rounder had been battling a golf ball-sized non-malignant lung tumour which first affected him during the tournament.

Yuvraj, who has not played competitive cricket since taking part in two of three home Tests against the West Indies in November, has so far scored 8,051 runs in 274 one-dayers and 1,775 runs in 37 Tests. MeanwhileYuvraj Singh’s father Yograj Singh on Monday lamented that his son’s treatment was delayed a bit, and said a more cautious approach would have helped the cricketer who is suffering from a malignant tumor which is located in space between the two lungs.

Yograj also profusely thanked the BCCI mandarins for stepping in at the right time which helped prevent further damage. He also said that the dashing left-hander had not taken seriously his advice to get himself medically checked two years back. “I don’t want to blame anyone, but I feel that things could have been different today if he had paid heed to my advise two years back when he was playing in a T20 match at Mohali. He played a match-winning innings, in which after hitting a six he came running towards Suresh Raina and could be seen coughing badly,” Yograj recalled how the early signs of his son’s illness were not picked up seriously.   Struggling to hold back his tears, the former Test cricketer said he had then advised Yuvraj to get a thorough medical check up done, but he had brushed aside the suggestion. “But I knew that something was wrong. Six months back a Delhi based doctor Pawandeep Kohli who saw the laboratory reports of Yuvraj advised me that he should be taken to the US for treatment, but somehow things got delayed,” Yograj said. Speaking at his residence, Yograj said he wants to thank BCCI president, N Srinivasan and other top officials of the Board, who have suggested Yuvraj to undergo a thorough check up by their doctor.

“As a father, my future generations will always remain indebted to the BCCI who took a strong stand asking Yuvi to get a thorough medical check-up done. Otherwise, who knows with no fitness issue before the tour, Yuvi may have been playing in Australia further worsening his condition,” he said. Yuvraj is considered more close to his mother Shabnam Singh, who lives in Gurgaon and is currently with his son who is receiving treatment in the United States . Yograj lives separately in Chandigarh .

Yograj said that part of the problem which his son going through was “genetic”. “My grandfather had it, my father too had it and although few people know, I too have this problem. But I have been regularly taking medicines for this and keeping myself under regular medical check up because I know this is running in the family.

“Till the age of 19, Yuvi was with me (after that he has been living with his mother), during which I used to regularly get his blood, urine, stool and other tests done. Even Yuvi used to feel that why I was doing this futile exercise,” he recalled. Yograj also said that he feels the doctors, who treated his son in India did their best. He said that it could have taken 12-13 years for the tumour to grow and regular medical check up would have been of help. Trying to put up a brave face, Yograj said he had spoken to his son, who was in good spirits. “He is responding well to the treatment and God willing we should see him back in action very soon,” he said. The illness of Yuvraj has also resulted in strong bonding  between him and his father more than ever before.

“Yuvi is lion hearted. He is a sher (lion). You will see him roar once again (on the field),” said his father. Yuvraj had played a stellar role in India ’s ODI World Cup triumph last year. The 30-year-old left-hander has been in the US since last month, where he is undergoing chemotherapy to recover from the malignant tumor.

 Sports minister Ajay Maken has promised government help to cricketer Yuvraj Singh, who is undergoing chemotherapy in the United States to recover from lung cancer. “Wish Yuvraj a speedy recovery! Asking officials to find the quantum and nature of help required. Government should & will help him,” Maken tweeted.

Controversial win for Salgaocar

Goa, Feb 06: Salgaocar Sports Club pip Prayag United SC 1-0 to win their 19th round encounter of the I-League played at the PJN stadium, Goa , on Monday. The defending champions held on to their lead provided by Chidi Edeh in the 26th minute, while the visitors were left disappointed after Josimar da Silva Martins was denied a penalty under controversial circumstances. Luciano Sobrosa and Yusif Yakubu made their way back in the starting line-up for Salgaocar and United SC respectively, however the former was without playmaker Tomba Singh.

Both keepers did well in the opening exchange of chances as Salgaocar’s Karanjit Singh did well to claw away James Singh’s closely taken corner kicks, while United SC ’s Abhijit Mondal got his hands behind Ryuji Sueoka’s header in the 19th minute. In the 25th minute, Prayag defender Arnab Mondal did well to dispossess Sueoka in the box after the Japanese was played in by Chidi, but it was until the next minute that Salgaocar surged ahead.

Edeh Chidi rose above at least three purple shirts before getting a powerful header bang on target off Randeep Singh’s free-kick in the 26th minute. The Nigerian could have doubled the tally just two minutes later, when he unleashed another shot on target, but Mondal stood strong in front of his goal. Few minutes later, the Prayag custodian pulled out an amazing reflex left hand save to deny Chidi’s headed from as near as three yards inside the box.

The second half saw Sanjoy Sen’s side with a clear intent of scoring goals as Josimar got on the end of the best chance created by Prayag in the 48th minute. Yakubu stitched the move for the Brazilian who fired a firm right footer from inside the box, but Salgaocar keeper Karanjit Singh was equally good to make the save.

Yusif Yakubu then tried his luck with a surprise shot on goal from around the 30 yards mark, in the 52nd minute, which Karanjit tipped over. Rocus Lamare made his presence felt with a long range effort in the 57th minute, while an overcrowded Salgaocar defense dealth with a number of Prayag set-pieces at the other end.

That was before Francis Fernandes sent his shot high of the target, although the Salgaocar striker had the option to play square to Chidi who was waiting in an open space. Josimar squandered another wanting oppotunity for Prayag when he sent his header wide, while Karanjit Singh blocked James Singh’s shot from right inside the block hole.

Controversy followed in the 69th minute, when referee Denny Jacob denied United SC ’s Josimar a penalty when the Brazilian was brought down inside the box by Karanjit Singh as Salgaocar defender Luciano Sobrosa waited for the keeper to pick Yakubu’s pass.

 However, the match carried on and Abhijit Mondal had to save yet another header on target send in by Chidi in the 73rd minute. Prayag didn’t give up hope as Josimar’s header didn’t miss by much after being played in by an accurate cross from the right by James Singh. Salgaocar also wasted a couple of chances and in the 82nd minute, Gilbert Oliveira who caught on the wrong foot after getting past Abhijit Mondal for a second, allowing the Prayag keeper to snatch the ball.

As a result of Churchill’s loss against Mumbai FC in the other match, Salgaocar have now moved fourth on the table, while Prayag United SC remain sixth with 32 points. Sporting Clube de Goa defeated Chirag United Kerala 3-0 in an I-League round 19 encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi .

Dinda puts East on brink of final

Central Zone bat out South

New Delhi & Chennai,  Feb 06: East Zone are all but through to the finals of the Duleep Trophy as Ashok Dinda‘s fiery spell ensured an all-important first-innings lead of 28 runs against North Zone on the penultimate day, at the Feroz Shah Kotla. The India hopeful had career-best figures of eight for 123 to show for his efforts as North were all out for 287 in reply to East‘s first-innings score of 315. At stumps, East Zone were 120 for one with their lead swelling to 148. East Zone have never won the title and will be in the first final of the tournament since the 2005-06 season.

Unless Delhi lad Parvinder Awana can do something miraculous, the match as a contest is over, thanks to Dinda‘s lion-hearted effort on a not-so responsive pitch. Having taken a couple of wickets yesterday, Dinda‘s figures for the day were 19-2-61-6. Five of the six wickets today were taken from the pavilion end as he bowled into the breeze. He also became the only bowler this season to complete 50 wickets. He now has 52 scalps and will get another match to improve upon his current tally.

He bowled fast and whenever he pitched the ball up, it looked as if something is going to happen. Just like yesterday, things took a different turn the moment the second new ball was taken in the 81st over. North Zone were 210 for four after 80 overs then lost six wickets with an addition of 77 runs in 25 overs with Dinda taking five from the pavilion end.

Dinda‘s first victim in the morning was Paras Dogra (43) who couldn‘t check his drive and holed out to Nataraj Behera at mid-off. Mayank Sidhana (46) and Rajat Bhatia (45) took the score 211 but Dinda struck with second new ball. Sidhana edged one off Dinda to Saha behind stumps. Punit Bist (8) offered easiest of catches which Anushtup Majumdar at gully gleefully accepted.

 Naman Ojha and Robin Bist scored a century each as the Central Zone virtually sealed a place in the Duleep Trophy final by taking a mammoth 488-run lead against South Zone with just one day to go in their semifinal. Starting at a solid 127 for one, Central ended the day three at 378 for five in their second innings with Ojha and Bist scoring 104 runs each. Even if Central declared their innings in the morning, it will be an impossible task for South to chase such a huge total with just 90 overs, 15 mandatory, at their disposal on the last day on Tuesday. Ojha, who was 79 overnight, and Mohammed Kaif (43) started the proceedings for the visitors but the latter could add just two runs to his overnight total as he was scalped by Abhimanyu Mithun.

Ojha and Mohnish Mishra (33) added 44 runs for the third wicket before left-arm spinner KP Apanna broke the partnership by dismissing the opener. Ojha’s faced 149 balls and smashed 11 fours and five sixes in his innings. Bist came to the crease and played a gem of a knock for his side. In between Central lost Parvinder Singh (17). Bist, whose 104 came from 178 balls with 10 boundaries, and Bhuvneswar Kumar (59) played till the last ball of the day and added 160 runs for the sixth wicket. Kumar’s 59 came off 162 balls with the help of seven shots to the fence.

‘Let’s play Pathan and Tiwary’

Melbourne, Feb 06(PTI): India should draft all-rounder Irfan Pathan and Manoj Tiwary in the side for the next tri-series match even if it means dropping a spinner along with Suresh Raina, suggested former skipper Sourav Ganguly. India will play Sri Lanka on Wednesday after losing the fist match to Australia by 65 runs. India had rested Virender Sehwag and included two spinners in Ravichandran Ashwin and Rahul Sharma for the first match, a ploy with which Ganguly was hardly impressed.

“In the next game, India should play Irfan Pathan instead of a spinner, as that will add variety to their attack. Pathan is a left-hander who swings the ball well. Pathan is needed because India is playing too many spinners, whereas even in Sunday’s game, Vinay Kumar and the Australian pacemen made the most of the pitch,” Ganguly said.

Ganguly said Bengal batsman Tiwary deserved a place in the side in place of Raina. “I also wonder why Manoj Tiwary is not playing. Here is a man who scored a hundred in his last match against the West Indies under pressure, and on current form should play ahead of Suresh Raina who has looked suspect against the short stuff,” Ganguly wrote in his column for ‘Sydney Morning Herald’.

Ganguly also felt that Sehwag’s presence in the top-order was crucial to India . “ India also needs the injured Virender Sehwag back. Sachin Tendulkar had not played a one-day match for 10 months, and it’s not easy to accelerate from the word go. “Gautam Gambhir did get a good fifty in the last Twenty20 game, but hasn’t looked convincing as yet,” he said.

United stage stunning fight back

London, Feb 06: Javier Hernandez scored a late equaliser as Manchester United staged a stunning three-goal comeback to claim a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side looked destined for defeat when a Jonny Evans own goal and strikes from Juan Mata and David Luiz put Chelsea three up by the 50th minute. But United were handed a route back into the game thanks to two controversial penalties, both converted by Wayne Rooney, before Mexican substitute Hernandez headed the equaliser with six minutes remaining.

The result left Ferguson ’s second-placed side two points behind Manchester City at the head of the Premier League table, but the manner in which they claimed a point meant they left west London in buoyant mood. For Chelsea, a draw felt like defeat, a feeling reflected in the boos that greeted the final whistle after they had conceded a three-goal lead for the first time since the inception of the Premier League in 1992. Andre Villas-Boas’s side now sit just one point ahead of fifth-placed Newcastle and face a testing challenge if they are to hold onto a top four place.

The build-up to the game had been dominated by the FA’s decision to strip Chelsea skipper John Terry of the England captaincy for a second time, but the way events unravelled quickly diverted attention back to the game. The FA acted after it became clear Terry will face trial on charges of racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand would be held in July after Euro 2012. Terry was missing with a knee injury but the fall-out continued with some home supporters booing Rio Ferdinand, Anton’s brother, whenever the Manchester United defender touched the ball. Terry’s absence paved the way for Gary Cahill to make his Chelsea debut following his £7 million transfer from Bolton alongside Luiz at the heart of the Blues defence.

And the centre back quickly found himself at the centre of controversy when his last-ditch challenge sent Danny Welbeck tumbling on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area with 11 minutes gone. Referee Howard Webb waved away claims for a penalty, just as had two minutes earlier when Ashley Young went down under a challenge from Jose Bosingwa. It was little wonder, then, that Ferguson was showing signs of frustration although for 36 minutes his side looked in control of the game and were creating the better chances.

The balance of the game swung, however, when Sturridge prised open the United defence, easily rounding Patrice Evra before delivering a hard, low cross from close to De Gea’s near post. De Gea stuck out a leg to block the cross but succeeded only in deflecting it against Evans and off his stomach into the goal. And any hopes United had of quickly getting back on level terms disappeared 30 seconds after the restart when Mata met Torres’s right wing cross with an unstoppable volley that flew past De Gea.

The visitors again contributed to their own downfall as Chelsea scored again five minutes later. Sturridge out-foxed Evra once again, this time drawing a foul from the United full back. From Mata’s resulting free-kick, Luiz headed goalwards and his effort deflected off Ferdinand and past De Gea. United looked dead and buried but Ferguson’s side were given a route back into the game in the 58th minute when Sturridge and Evra again clashed — this time in the Chelsea area — and Webb decided to award a spot-kick that was clinically converted by Rooney.

The introduction of Paul Scholes added to the sense the visitors could regain control of central midfield. And United scored again in the 68th minute when Webb decided in their favour after Welbeck tumbled over the out-stretched leg of Branislav Ivanovic. Welbeck seemed as though he was looking for the foul but that made no difference to Rooney, who converted his second penalty of the game. The comeback was complete in the 84th minute when Hernandez headed home from Giggs’ cross after Cech had parried Rooney’s powerful shot. There was still time for Chelsea to threaten a winner and de Gea made two superb saves to keep out Mata’s free-kick and Cahill’s drive.(Agency)

BCCI offers olive branch

New Delhi, Feb06(PTI): Stung by Sahara’s pullout as sponsor of Indian cricket team and owner of IPL franchise Pune Warriors, the BCCI on Monday took a more reconciliatory stand towards the aggrieved corporate giant, saying it was ready to sit across the table and sort out all the matters.

 Two days after Sahara’s shock decision to severe ties with the BCCI, its president N Srinivasan said that he was ready for a dialogue with the group to sort out the issues.

IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla also sought to diffuse the situation by saying that the authorities were open to discussions to resolve the contentious issues. “Most certainly, we are ready to meet and sort out the matters. We have no problems with that. We do appreciate what Sahara have done.

 They might have felt aggrieved and did not get what they wanted from the IPL. We had good relationships and so we should sort out the issues,” Srinivasan said.