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October 9 - Promotion and relegation will be introduced for first time during this season's Sevens World SeriesA new promotion and relegation system is to be introduced for this season's HSBC Seven World Series, which starts in the Gold Coast this week, it has been announced by the International Rugby Board (IRB).

From this weekend's first round, which is due to take place on October 12 and 13, a two-stage promotion and relegation process comes into effect.

It will see promotion to core team status for the 2014-2015 campaign decided at round seven of this season's competition, the Hong Kong Sevens in March, where 12 regional qualifiers will battle for the one promotion place on offer, in a separate competition to the main sevens event.

Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, France, Kenya, New Zealand, Portugal, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, United States and Wales are the nations who currently hold core status.

At the final round in London, in March of next year, the bottom ranked of these sides at the end of the competition, will lose its core status for the following season thus being effectively relegated and will have to take part in regional qualifying tournaments in order to regain its position.

The changes to the format are in part, influenced by the inclusion of rugby sevens onto the Olympic programme for Rio 2016, and is an attempt by the IRB to develop more opportunities and create a fairer, merit-based system for a wider range of countries to take part in top level sevens rugby.

"We are now well into our first four-year Olympic cycle for rugby sevens and it is important that the opportunity exists for all nations to progress to Series core team status if they are good enough," said IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset.

"This new system guarantees that a new nation will be rewarded with that opportunity in the 2014-2015 Series.

"It also provides even more excitement for the fans attending these thrilling events, or following on television and online around the world."

Earlier this year, the IRB revealed that global viewing figures for the 2012-2013 HSBC Rugby Sevens World Series rose by five per cent from last year, with a record 4,504 hours of total airtime across 149 territories, with 38 broadcasters airing coverage to an estimated 390 million homes.

"Each year the HSBC Sevens World Series gets even more competitive with more countries emerging as potential cup winners at each tournament," said Giles Morgan, global head of sponsorship and events at HSBC Holdings plc.

"It is exciting for fans and players alike and all contributes to the growth of the sport around the world."

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A leading Jamaican track and field coach, Glen Mills has lashed out at sections of the international community for what he says is unfair targeting of the island.

Jamaica’s anti-doping programme has been subjected to intense international scrutiny lately, particularly following a damning report written by former Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) Executive Director Renée Anne Shirley.

“They target Jamaica because of its success. There is no doubt about it... ,” declared Mills in an interview with the Gleaner.

“The Jamaican anti-doping programme is, by comparison, fairly new. Most countries performing at our level have been well advanced in their anti-doping programmes in terms of years of experience and expertise.”

Shirley’s report, among other things, accused the local powers of not being serious enough about anti-doping after six Jamaicans, including star athletes Veronica Campbell-Brown, Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson, tested positive for banned substances.

JADCO was formally established in 2008 after the passage of the Anti-Doping in Sport Act.

“I believe that the criticism is somewhat harsh in that based on the fact that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) came here and did an evaluation of the programme and gave it a thumbs up, and that was as early as last year, I am a bit surprised that Jamaica, a couple months later, is being seen as a country that is not developing or enforcing a good anti-doping programme,” said Mills, who conditions sprint stars Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Warren Weir.

“Why? Nobody wants to see Jamaica continue its dominance of sprinting at the world level. And the international media--again, one has to question the balance of their reporting. I have read some terrible articles written about Jamaica. I have read some terrible articles trying to insinuate that Usain Bolt’s success is false because of all of this.”

Mills also criticised the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), which he blames for not doing enough to defend the image of the island.

He also accused the Jamaican Government of dragging its feet in the anti-doping efforts.

“The Government is lagging behind; whether it is a financial reason or whatever, but they need to do a lot more. They could even set up what I would call a helpline where an athlete can call in and ask about a medication and receive advice if there is any danger or get it tested,” Mills advised.

“I also feel that the JAAA has not done a good job in managing the whole thing and defending Jamaica’s image. Too often they have been silent and dormant, as if they are afraid to come out and defend Jamaica’s image.”

More than 16 Jamaicans have tested positive for banned substances since 2008.

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The Archery World Youth Championships takes place in Wuxi , China from the 13th -20th October . With five hundred plus competitors and over two hundred accompanying coaches and officials this promises to be a highlight tournament of World Archery showcasing the youth that will develop into the next generation of World and Olympic champions. The Trinidad & Tobago Target Archery Federation is proud to be able to send our rising star in the recurve division, Mr. Jean -Luc Espinet accompanied by his father and coach Mr. Gilbert Espinet. Jean-Luc is a member of Points Archery club who currently resides and trains in the US . He will join archers from the USA, Great Britain, China, Japan, Australia, Indonesia to name just a few of the sixty five countries that will be represented.
We wish Jean-Luc good luck and ask that the public support our venture into new horizons. Our team leaves today, October 9th to journey to China.
Follow Jean-Luc's progress on the World Archery web site www.archery.org and the Trinidad& Tobago Target Archery Federation's web site at www.ttarchery.com.

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There’s something about Emile Abraham that makes him a favourite with fans and opponents alike.

And in his hometown of Tobago, the 39-year-old cyclist might as well be king of the road.

On Saturday during the Tobago International Cycling Classic (TICC), Abraham rode a very smart race despite suffering a first-lap crash that left his leg bleeding. He re-entered the contest after a free lap, and took full advantage of home conditions to make a challenge for the stage victory.

He sat back and settled into the main peloton as riders tried, and failed, to build an insurmountable lead ahead of the rest of the field. Even as his team dwindled, until he was left with just one rider to support his victory bid, the US-based veteran kept pedaling on.

He picked his spot with ten of the 60 laps left, and opened out a 40-metre gap on the field before he was reeled back in, but with his knowledge of Scarborough’s Market Square circuit, Abraham made his move on the final lap that any other day would have seen him standing atop the podium. But the move, and perhaps the crash, cost him in the end as he was edged by no more than an inch as he crossed the finish line, Dominican Republic rider Rafael Meran squeezing by on the outside of the home favourite. Abraham admitted after that that he missed that reserve energy needed to finish.

Even more telling, after what would have been a big disappointment, were the reactions after the race. Fans cheered him on like he had won; competitors one by one reached in to shake his hand; there were hugs aplenty as the cyclist re-emerged to collect his prize. Meran too was thoroughly impressed by the older rider’s ability.

“When I saw Emile take the last corner, I told myself I have to be ahead at the last corner, because I know he is a very good sprinter.”

Abraham’s successes seem to have been built on his attitude towards others, and to his craft. As the Tobago-born rider put it: “I got determination man. I never give up. I’m a diehard, you know. Every day is another day. You can’t let bad things bring you down. You’ve got to think positive, you always got to think you’re going to come back, you always got to keep sticking at it.”

He is also quick to acknowledge everyone who stops to greet him or waves from distance, and Abraham says he is proud of that Tobago love.

“I love my people, my people love me,” he explained. “They feel the energy, they feel the love, and I was born here, I grew up here, this is my place, this is my people, and I’m really happy when they come out and support. It gives me the extra motivation.”

He hailed as “fabulous” the support from his family in the US, as well as his parents and relatives in Tobago, which he says keeps him on the bicycle.

But as the Pan American Games silver medalist (Rio de Janeiro, 2007), in the twilight of his career, recognises, all good things must come to an end.

“It’s getting closer and closer. Every year I keep pushing on, I’m director of Sportif and manager of team Predator Carbon Repair in the USA,” he noted.

“So I run the team and I’m working toward management. But I’m still racing and still performing, so I’m going to keep it going maybe another year or two until my legs can’t go anymore.”

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...Blake and Williams lose final Group match

SIMON BLAKE and Daneil Williams failed to reach the knockout phase of the eighth leg of the NORCECA (North, Central America and the Caribbean) Beach Volleyball Circuit last weekend in San Diego, USA.

Needing to beat the United States A team of Tri Bourne and John Hayden on Saturday to finish second in Group H and earn a place in the quarter-finals, the Trinidad and Tobago players went under 21-12, 21-7.

Williams and Blake had defeated Luis Coto and Manuel Serrano of Honduras 21-16, 21-17 the day before, but were beaten by 21-10, 21-14 by Theo Brunner and Nick Lucena, the United States B pair.

Lucena and Brunner also whipped Bourne and Hayden 21-15, 21-15 on Friday, but needed three sets to edge their fellow Americans 21-19, 17-21, 15-13 when they squared off again for the title on Sunday.

Blake and Williams are T&T’s busiest players in this year’s circuit, as they have participated in six of the eight legs.

After they failed to reach the quarters in the opening leg during the third weekend of March in the Cayman Islands, the “Toco Boys” made it last eight the following weekend in Dominican Republic and ended up seventh.

Their best effort came three weeks later when they placed fifth in Guatemala in the third leg, but they struggled with high altitude in Mexico and finished down the field in the following leg in early June. Williams and Blake missed the next two stages and only returned two weeks ago when they placed ninth in Puerto Rico.

T&T is expected to be represented in the ninth leg, which serves off in St Lucia on Friday.

The penultimate leg will take place in Costa Rica next month, and the circuit will conclude the following weekend in Trinidad.

Williams and Fabian Whitfield had secured this country’s only NORCECA medal when they picked up bronze in the Trinidad leg at the end of October last year in Toco.

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Trinidad and Tobago senior national team goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams is appealing for public support for Trinidad and Tobago defender Akeem Adams, who had his left leg amputated In Hungary on Monday night.

On behalf of the national men’s senior team, Williams called on members of the public to show support for the ailing Adams by coming out for next Tuesday’s friendly International against New Zealand at Hasely Crawford Stadium. The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has pledged a portion of funds collected from purchases for the $125 section towards the “Heart of the Warrior” fund in support of the player, while “Heart of a Warrior” T-shirt priced at $100 are available at all Native Spirit stores.

Yesterday, Adams Hungarian club Ferencvárosi Torna Club announced that the 22-year-old player left-footed defender went through a fourth operation on Monday night, resulting in the loss of his lower left-leg.

“Akeem Adams, 22-year-old player of Ferencvárosi Torna Club, went through a life saving surgery this night, during which his lower left limb has been amputated due to the mortification of limb muscles,” Ferencvárosi Torna Club said. “This unfortunate event is the consequence of the player’s massive heart attack suffered one and a half week ago and the complication arised due to the collapse of his circulation. This surgery prevented the immediate threat to life. The surgery was successful, the circulation of Akeem Adams is stabilised but his condition is still dangerous, life threatening,” Ferencvárosi Torna Club revealed on its website.

Adam’s condition was said to have worsened because of necrosis in the limb as a resulted of his artificial heart not efficiently getting blood to his extremities. Adams was fitted with the mechanical device just under a week ago to stabilise his life. But, he has not since stabilised sufficiently to undergo a further heart surgery.

Williams, is specially touched by Adams’ condition, having played alongside the defender during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in 2011, and also has a significant connection with Adams’ club Ferencvarosi, having been a member of the club in 2008.

“This is much more than just a football match on Tuesday,” Williams told TTFA Media. “It’s significant in many ways because we’re all putting our shirts, as players on the field of play and as supporters in the stands in support of one of our brothers who continues to fight for his life.”

“Akeem played with us in World Cup qualifiers, he represented this country at two FIFA youth World Cups and he’s been a terrific guy on and off the field. I remember when I got the news that he signed in Hungary I was encouraged because I spent some time at that same club and I know they would have been impressed by him.”

Meanwhile, orthopedic surgeon, Dr Mario John, the medical doctor attached to the Trinidad and Tobago National Under 17 team in 2007, of which Akeem Adams was a member, believes that the player’s unfortunate position must serve as a wake up call to the local sports medicine community. John worked with the T&T Under-17s during the CONCACAF qualifiers in Jamaica and subsequently at the FIFA Under 17 World Cup in South Korea. He has called on T&T to formalise a national sports medicine program with a policy of an “access to all” through our health care system.

“It’s extremely unfortunate what has happened to Akeem. Having known him from his days as a member of the national Under-17s, he was an extremely personable and affable young man. What stands out most is his humility,” John said. “I am not one hundred per cent on the specifics, but cardiovascular tissues is something the sports medicine community should pay close attention to. FIFA is making strides in highlighting conditions in athletes but more could always be done in terms of prevention and bringing awareness to athletes and public alike.”

SHOW YOUR

SUPPORT


Fans can show their support for ailing “Soca Warrior” Adams through purchasing the Akeem Adams “Heart of a Warrior” T-shirt, priced at $100 and now available at all Native Spirit stores. Proceeds from tickets sales will also go towards the Akeem Adams “Heart of a Warrior” Foundation from purchases for the $125 section, while there will be collection points at the stadium for patrons wanting to contribute to the fund. Tickets for the upcoming friendly international against New Zealand are also available from this evening at Kenny’s Sports Centre nationwide, All Out Sports Bar, Law 5 Sports Bar (Chaguanas), More Vino (Woodbrook and San Fernando), Fan Club Movietowne Pos and Gulf City and Tobago FA Offices, Fairfield Complex, Tobago. Proceeds from this game will go towards the Akeem Adams fund.

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The United Nations (UN) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have a shared commitment to promote a culture of non violence and peace through sport. The T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) is just as keen as the UN and the IOC to advocate, promote and facilitate peace and non violence through sport.

Balancing the competing and at times contradictory demands of high performance, sport for all and the use of sport as a tool to address social needs can be overwhelming for national sport organisations faced with resource limitations and constraints.

There are six global activities that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) devote their time, resources and energy:

Sport for All, Development through Sport, Women and Sport, Education through Sport, Peace through Sport as well as Sport and Environment. It’s not always or only about elite and high performance sport. Olympic and other multi-sport games and the focus on the podium is not the be all and end all of what the Olympic movement is about.

Information available on both the IOC and UN Web sites highlight an historic decision, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly made on August 23, when by consensus an International Day of Sport for Development and Peace was approved.

The Day will be celebrated each year on April 6, by UN member states and other stakeholders.

The IOC and the UN both have a long-standing commitment to using sport as a tool for social change, and have worked together on a wide range of projects, including the organisation of a joint biennial International Forum on Sport for Peace and Development.

The former IOC President Jacques Rogge in his address to the General Assembly after the important decision had been taken said:

“The true worth of sport is determined not by words on paper, but by how sport is practised. Stripped of its values, sport is combat by another name.

“Sport with values is a gateway to cultural understanding, education, health and economic and social development. We have seen the true worth of sport and physical activity many times.

“It helps young people learn the value of self-discipline and goal-setting. It builds self-confidence. It defies gender stereotypes.

“It provides an alternative to conflict and delinquency. It can bring hope and a sense of purpose to refugees, impoverished communities and other people in need. It helps keep young people in school, it brings health.”

The IOC encourages the use of sport as a tool for human development, in particular among young people.

The UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace defined sport, for the purposes of development, as “all forms of physical activity that contribute to physical fitness, mental well-being and social interaction, such as play, recreation, organised or competitive sport, and indigenous sports and games.”

This definition has since then been accepted by many proponents of Sport for Development and Peace.

According to the Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group sport is seen to have the most benefits in:

Individual development

Health promotion and disease prevention

Promotion of gender equality

Social integration and the development of social capital

Peace building and conflict prevention/resolution

Post-disaster/trauma relief and normalisation of life

Economic development

Communication and social mobilisation.

Sport has historically played an important role in all societies, be it in the form of competitive sport, physical activity or play.

In light of the high crime rate and the increasing incidents of violence in the school population here in T&T sport needs to play a greater part in the efforts to address crime and violence.

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With a bonus-point 67-14 win in the bag for defending league champion GNC Gatorade Harvard over Royalians in the penultimate fixture in the T&T Rugby Football Union’s (TTRFU) Toyota Championship Division, all eyes will be on the upcoming Bruno Browne fixture, which may determine a return to champions’ status for 2011 champion Caribs RFC.

While Caribs was on a bye on Saturday, Harvard needed a win to stay in the hunt for the league title, and did so with the five-point win while put it a point behind Caribs heading into the final day of the league season.

Harvard opened a 29-7 half-time lead, playing at home at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, courtesy of a pair of tries from both Joseph Quashie and Claudius Butts. Only two of the four tries were converted by Ryan Hinckson.

Royalians, already 17-0 down before the first half-hour pulled a try back from James Phillip, which was converted by Felician Guerra.

The second-half, which was another one-sided affair, saw Harvard on target with a further six tries, half of which were converted by Hinckson.

Butts added a third try, while Cloyd London, Wayne Kelly, Vallon Adams all added one try each. Rowell Gordon also added a pair of tries in the second half.

Just before the end, Royalians softened the blow with a try from Samuel, which was once again converted by Guerra. The match was played simultaneously with Stag Trinidad Northern’s 19-0, four point win over Rainbow.

Northern is already out of the running for the league title, but remains with glory to play for when it comes up against Caribs in the highly-anticipated annual Bruno Browne derby match, which is both a cup and league fixture.

The match takes place on Saturday at the Queen’s Park Oval, from 4 pm.

To win the league title outright, Caribs will need to win with a bonus point, which is secured when a team scores four or more tries in a victory. Caribs, which remains a point above Harvard can lift the title, even if it does not win with a bonus point, due to its superior “goal-difference”, which stands at 208, 52 points more than Harvard. Therefore, if Caribs wins but does not secure a bonus point, and Harvard takes a massive win with a bonus point, which see its overtake Caribs on goal-difference then the champion will defend its title,

A draw for Caribs and Northern, and a win for Harvard will also see Harvard win the championship.

The reverse fixture in the first round between Northern and Caribs ended in a 15-15 stalemate.

Harvard, meanwhile, took a bonus point, default 28-0 win over Rainbow in the first leg. Rainbow sits bottom of the standings without a win for the season.

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Volunteers for next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will be known as the Clyde-siders, it was announced today.

The title will be given to 15,000 people who are giving their time and support for the Games, out of a total of 50,811 who applied for the role.

The name "Clyde-siders" was chosen by the Glasgow 2014 frontrunners, the pre-Games volunteers who conducted all of the volunteer interviews.

The announcement comes as the first group of successful applicants learn what role they will play at the Games.

These first offers are going out to people for those roles where all interviews have been completed.

Glasgow 2014 does urge all applicants to be patient however as interviews will continue until December.

Among the first Cylde-siders to be appointed are Emma Blore, 23, from Dumfries and Galloway, and Katherine Spoors, 31, from Newcastle.

Blore has been assigned to Commonwealth Games Association relations at the Athletes' Village.

"I live in a tiny village In Dumfries and Galloway called Mossdale and what I'm looking forward to most in Glasgow is the atmosphere," she said.

"At London 2012, I volunteered as part of the athlete's services team based in Glasgow looking after the men's football teams and their delegations and everyone I met was really friendly.

"I want everyone who visits to feel right at home in Glasgow and hope to experience a great camaraderie with the other volunteers and staff."

Spoors said: "I went to the London 2012 football as a spectator and was struck by how friendly the volunteers were at the venue and that really stayed with me.

"As soon as the volunteer applications opened back in January 2013 I knew I wanted to be a part of the Commonwealth Games experience and help the beautiful city of Glasgow put on an amazing show.

"I'll be working as part of spectator services so I will be making sure everyone who attends the games has a brilliant and unforgettable time."

Lord Smith, the Glasgow 2014 chairman, spoke of his appreciation for the thousands of volunteers who showed their desire to help at the Games.

"Glasgow 2014 fully appreciates the time and commitment shown by all candidates who were selected for interview for what is Scotland's largest ever peacetime recruitment drive," he said.

"I am confident those selected will enjoy what is a fantastic opportunity to become a part of the Games and will help to deliver its success.

"The Clyde-siders, as our volunteers are to be known, will be the friendly faces of the Games, the first point of contact for many people, and are bound to inject their personalities into the event."

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October 7 - Bill Sweeney, head of business development at Puma, was today named as the new chief executive of the British Olympic Association (BOA).

He replaces Andy Hunt, who left the BOA in February in the wake of Sebastian Coe's appointment as the new chairman.

The 55-year-old Sweeney has been involved in the sportswear market for more than 25 years, having previously also worked with Adidas, which included the German company's support of Team GB for Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

Under Sweeney's leadership, the business unit grew significantly from 2004 to 2010.

He also re-negotiated the agreement that led to Stella McCartney being named creative director for Team GB for London 2012, which resulted in record-breaking sales of Team GB licensed apparel prior to and during the Games.

Sweeney joined Puma in November 2010 and was responsible for designing and directing the company's business strategy for London 2012, including the commercial programmes with Usain Bolt.

He also directed Puma's marketing activities in support of the 34th America's Cup and Oracle Racing Team USA across all global regions.

Sweeney, a Briton, is currently based in the United States but will return to London in the middle of next month to take up his new role.

He will be responsible for directing the day-to-day activities of the BOA, including overseeing preparations for Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016, the inaugural European Games in 2015, and the many other international, multi-sport events in which Team GB will compete.

The appointment of Sweeney, who will lead a staff of 50 professionals, follows a three-month search process led by global executive search firm Odgers Berndtson.

"We had a number of outstanding candidates who put themselves forward for our chief executive position," said Coe.

"Bill's business and sport experience, and his impressive record in developing global sports brands, makes him the right choice for this role.

"Bill has worked in the Olympic environment and he understands the needs of athletes who compete at the highest levels of international sport.

"Through his leadership positions at Adidas, he has a clear understanding of Team GB and our values.

"Importantly, Bill knows how to build brands, reach consumers and generate the revenues that are necessary to support our operations.

"We are delighted to welcome Bill to his new role at the British Olympic Association and look forward to the contributions he will make in support of Team GB and the wider British Olympic family."

Sweeney, who played rugby for Aberdeenshire and Roslyn Park, is looking forward to the challenge, he claimed.

"It is a privilege to have the opportunity to work with the dedicated team at the British Olympic Association in making certain the United Kingdom's finest athletes have the resources and support they need to excel on the international stage," he said.

"With managerial experience across Europe, the US and Asia with some of the sports industry's leading brands, I look forward to working with all our partners and stakeholders to ensure we have the best-prepared, best-supported teams competing at their highest levels in the Summer, Winter, European and Youth Olympic Games.

"Having had experience overseeing programmes to meet the equipment needs of Olympic athletes, and developing business initiatives at both the Beijing and London Olympic Games, I look forward to building on the excitement and momentum created by the outstanding performance of Team GB at London 2012."

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LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) The IOC says it set a Dec. 1 deadline for Pakistan to show that its Olympic committee and sports federations are being run without interference from the national government.
Pakistan has been facing possible suspension from the Olympic movement under IOC rules which guarantee the independence of elected sports officials.
A meeting at IOC headquarters was called to address "allegations that parallel bodies have been established" to rival officially recognized sports federations.
The IOC says government authorities pledged that they "will cooperate and refrain from any undue intervention."
The IOC says it "hopes that mutual understanding and a productive relationship can now be established."

Her Majesty The Queen will launch the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace next week (Wednesday, 9 October) at a public ceremony featuring Scotland’s greatest-ever Commonwealth and Olympic athletes, Allan Wells MBE and Sir Chris Hoy MBE.

The ceremony will be attended by Commonwealth and Games dignitaries and broadcast live on BBC One. Sprint legend Allan Wells, winner of two Commonwealth Golds and the 100m Olympic sprint title at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, will be the first athlete to receive the Baton from The Queen and start it on its historic journey round the 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth, calling the 4,500 athletes to Glasgow for the Games.

Participants in the event will include HRH Prince Imran, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), Lord Smith of Kelvin, Chairman of the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee and honorary batonbearers including successful and up-and-coming Scottish athletes and young people who have played a key role in the Glasgow 2014 story.

One of the honorary batonbearers taking part in the ceremony is Monica Dzodzi, an inspirational youth leader from a UNICEF project in Malawi, who is set to represent the young people of the Commonwealth and the ambitions of Glasgow, Scotland, the CGF and international charity partner UNICEF to deliver legacy and positive impact through sport both at home and internationally.

Sir Chris Hoy, six-time Gold Olympian, double Commonwealth Gold medallist, and UNICEF UK Ambassador, will be the Baton’s special escort as it make the processional journey down the Mall, accompanied by pipers to the ceremony itself.

The Queen’s Baton Relay is the world’s most engaging relay, a unique tradition of the Games that unites the two billion citizens of the Commonwealth in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace. The Queen’s Baton Relay is a unique and dynamic opportunity for Glasgow and Scotland to connect with all of nations and territories of the Commonwealth, sharing the excitement and opportunities of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games as well as our culture, creativity and enterprise.

Flags from the 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth will be carried by children chosen by UNICEF UK, the world’s leading children’s organisation and international charity partner of the Games.

This is the first formal moment for the Baton, a unique object specially-designed for Glasgow 2014 in Scotland. The titanium, wood and granite creation symbolises Glasgow and Scotland’s culture, history and innovation by combining leading-edge technology with traditional skills and craft. The Queen will place her message within it after which it become the Baton’s the visual core, illuminated but unreadable until the Opening Ceremony.

Lord Smith of Kelvin, Glasgow 2014 Chairman, said:

“The Queen’s Baton Relay is a great tradition of the Commonwealth Games and a wonderful opportunity for Glasgow and Scotland to share our culture and heritage with the citizens of the Commonwealth. The launch event at Buckingham Palace marks a real milestone moment for Glasgow 2014 as the QBR builds momentum towards Glasgow and Scotland’s moment on the global stage. The QBR has the power to create memorable moments none more so than seeing the UK’s greatest Olympian Sir Chris Hoy and Scotland’s most successful Commonwealth athlete Allan Wells taking part in the ceremony which will see the baton off on its epic journey.”

CGF President, HRH Prince Imran, said:

“Everyone loves the Queen’s Baton Relay, especially children. It brings with it a little of the excitement of the Games, and the unique magic of the Queen’s message. The Glasgow 2014 baton is a particularly fine design, one which reflects the wonderful creativity of the Scottish people and the natural beauty of Scotland. Wherever it goes it will also provide an excuse for a cracking ceilidh!”

First Minister, Alex Salmond, said:

“The start of the Queen’s Baton Relay, with two of Scotland greatest ever athletes, is another step towards what will be a momentous year for Scotland. 2014 promises the greatest ever Games, and the Relay will provide a fantastic celebration of sport and culture across the Commonwealth, with Glasgow and Scotland at its heart.”

Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said:

“The beginning of the Queen’s Baton Relay is a very exciting time for us all and a reminder of the worldwide scale of the Commonwealth Games.  The Queen’s Baton Relay will visit countries representing almost a third of the global population, forming a countdown to the Games coming to Glasgow in 2014.  Its journey will put Glasgow on the world stage and further build the excitement over the next ten months before we welcome the biggest sporting event that has ever taken place in the city.  I look forward to the Queen’s Baton coming to Glasgow next summer.”

Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland said:

“The Queen’s Baton Relay is a hugely important part of the Commonwealth Games and we are proud to have six athletes from our past, present and future teams involved as the Baton leaves Buckingham Palace and begins its journey around the Commonwealth.

“The Baton will reach out and touch communities around the Commonwealth, and we look forward to welcoming it back to Scotland next year as we approach our final countdown to what will be a truly unforgettable Games. We hope the public in Scotland will be truly inspired by it and get behind Team Scotland at the Games.”  

Olympic and Commonwealth legend Allan Wells, MBE said:

“As the final runner of the Queen’s Baton Relay at the last Commonwealth Games on Scottish soil in Edinburgh in 1986, the baton and what it symbolises is incredibly special for me. It is a real honour for me to now be named as the first batonbearer for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.  To be invited to take part in the ceremony at Buckingham Palace and begin the baton’s epic journey around the Commonwealth is a personal highlight for me and I look forward to following the journey of the baton until its return at the Opening Ceremony next July.”

UK’s greatest Olympian and UNICEF UK Ambassador, Sir Chris Hoy, said:

“I am so proud to be taking part in launching the Baton. It brings together three of my life’s passions – sport, Scotland and making a difference for children. What could be more important than UNICEF and the Glasgow 2014 Games coming together to use the immense power of sport to transform children’s lives around the Commonwealth, including at home in Scotland? The Baton beginning its journey around the Commonwealth supported by young people will be a great day - and one that I hope will signal change in a great many lives.”

The Baton returns to Scotland next Thursday (10 October) where, in Stirling, the Scottish route and details of the recruitment of 4,500 Scottish Baton bearers will be revealed.

Later that day the Baton departs Scotland for Delhi – host city of the 2010 Commonwealth Games – from where it will visit EVERY nation and territory of the Commonwealth, before travelling the length and breadth of Scotland on the way to its final destination – the Opening Ceremony.

Over 248 days and 198,000km the Baton visit all the nations and territories of the Commonwealth and be the first Baton ever to visit Rwanda. The international journey of the Baton will be captured by global adventurer Mark Beaumont who will report for The One Show, BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio Scotland, along with BBC News outlets, and online.

Note to Editors

1.    The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving 71 teams of athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years. Glasgow 2014 will be the 20th Commonwealth Games and will be held from 23 July to 3 August. It will feature 17 sports in 11 days of competition with 261 medal events on show. The Games will play host to 4500 athletes and sell 1,000,000 tickets with the event aided by an army of up to 15,000 local volunteers. Glasgow 2014 Ltd is the official name for the Organising Committee tasked with delivering the Games in partnership with the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and Commonwealth Games Scotland.

2.    The first Queen’s Baton Relay was staged for the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff and has been the curtain raiser to the Games ever since.

3.    The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay Baton has been designed by award-winning 4c Design, a key contributor to Glasgow’s vibrant creative sector. Established in 2002 by two design graduates of The Glasgow School of Art, William Mitchell (Product Design) and Robin Smith (Product Design Engineering), it comprises expert designers, engineers and model-makers.

4.    Emirates, an Official Partner of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, is the Official Airline of the Queen’s Baton Relay.

5.    Glasgow 2014’s other official partner level sponsors are Longines, SSE, Virgin Media and BP. For more information on Glasgow 2014’s full sponsor family, please visit http://www.glasgow2014.com/games/our-sponsors

6.    Glasgow 2014, the Commonwealth Games Federation and UNICEF are working together in an exciting partnership that will transform the lives of children in Scotland and throughout the Commonwealth. Using the power of sport and culture this unique partnership aims to inspire, enable and empower the children of the Commonwealth to be the best they can be.

7.    To follow the baton visit www.glasgow2014.com/batonrelay

8.    For further information please contact Janette Harkess, Head of Media on Janette.harkess@Glasgow2014.com, 030 2014 0140 or 07502 344 400, Kate McCheyne, PR Manager, on kate.mccheyne@Glasgow2014.com, 030 2014 0176 or 07557 565 423, Stephanie Todd Senior Press Officer on Stephanie.todd@Glasgow2014.com or on 030 2014 0611 or 07739 737 207.

October 6 - FIFA President Sepp Blatter is aiming to join forces with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to urge the Brazilian Government to do its utmost to ensure the country's new doping control facility is operational, and duly accredited, before next year's World Cup, insidethegames has learnt.

Meeting last week in Zurich, FIFA's Executive Committee decided that Blatter should contact the IOC to determine whether a joint approach was feasible, before making FIFA's feelings known to Brazilian authorities.

This was after the world governing body's Medical Committee came to the view that FIFA would have little option but to send World Cup samples to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)- accredited laboratory in Lausanne if no Brazilian facility was available - a potentially costly and cumbersome exercise.

This is now Plan B if Blatter's overture fails to jolt the Brazilians sufficiently into action.

It was announced in March that the "new home" of the so-called LADETEC doping control and technological development support laboratory had started taking shape, with construction expected to be completed "during the first half of 2014".

This building, part of a complex of new venues belonging to the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), is being funded by the Brazilian Sports Ministry, which was said to have transferred 13.5 million Brazilian reals - around $7 million (£4.5 million/€5 million) - for this purpose in 2012.

Some 7,000 tests are expected to be conducted there during the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

FIFA's current predicament arises because WADA has revoked the accreditation held by the present UFRJ facility.

This decision is understood to have been taken after the lab failed a "blind" quality assessment test.

While there looks to be plenty of time for LADETEC to win back its WADA credential before the Olympics arrives in Brazil in 2016, this is most certainly not the case with the World Cup, which kicks off in Sao Paulo on June 12 - just eight months from now.

So FIFA may yet need to go the Lausanne route irrespective of the reaction to Blatter's new initiative.

FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke returns to Brazil this week for engagements in Porto Alegre, Cuiabá and Rio.

He is likely to face questions on FIFA's drug testing plans, and other issues confronting the tournament, at a media conference on Thursday (October 10).

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October 4 - A new office to coordinate policies among Ministries and agencies who are expected to be involved in preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics is to be set-up by the Japanese Government under Hakubun Shimomura, it was announced today.

The decision, a month after the Japanese capital was awarded the Games for the first time since 1964, was revealed by the Government's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga.

"We created the office to bring efforts by various agencies together to make the Olympics a success," said Suga.

The appointment of Himomura, 59, is no surprise as he had been serving as the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology since last December and had been an important member of the Tokyo 2020 in the closing stages of the campaign.

Himomura joined Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a special ceremony to mark the opening of the office, where officials from the Ministries of Education and Health will coordinate security arrangements and prepare facilities for the Olympics and Paralympics.

Takeo Hirata, a special adviser to the Cabinet, will head the office set up within the Cabinet Secretariat.

Hirata, 53, is a former general secretary and currently is the honorary vice president of the Japan Football Association.

He was closely involved in Japan's successful bid to host the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which they co-hosted with South Korea.

Hirata is also a professor at the Graduate School of Sports Sciences at Waseda University, an auditor of the Japan Association of Athletics Federations, chairperson of the Japan Society of Sports Industry and a member of the Board of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation.

Hirata, who also previously had a spell in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, had worked personally for Abe in the last month of Tokyo's successful campaign, advising him.

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Dr Ian Hypolite, the coach of Trinidad and Tobago’s men’s 400 metres hurdles world champion Jehue Gordon, has been named North America, Central America and the Caribbean (NACAC) Coach of the Year.
Hypolite was one of the T&T coaches at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, Russia, where 21-year-old Gordon struck gold in the one-lap hurdles. Hypolite has been coaching Gordon for the past nine years.
The Coach of the Year award is the second for T&T in as many years. In 2012, Cuban coach Ismael Lopez Mastrapa was named NACAC Coach of the Year. Lopez Mastrapa lives in T&T, and is the coach of Keshorn Walcott, T&T’s reigning Olympic men’s javelin champion.
Meanwhile, Puerto Rican Victor Lopez was elected president of the NACAC Track and Field Coaches Association (NACACTFCA) at the organisation’s 23rd Congress, in Curacao, on Saturday.
Lopez is also president of the NACAC Athletics Association (NACAC AA).

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Can a phenomenally successful and financially rewarding career in cricket’s shortest form compensate for a truncated Test experience? Is the question even relevant at a time when the T20 game is all the rage?
Sooner rather than later the assumption of the primacy of the sport’s five-day version will be altered as a recognition of the changing times in the game, where there is limited scope for emerging talent to blossom on the Test landscape, especially when that same talent is in even greater demand and can attract much more money in 20-over competitions all over the world.
In the immediate aftermath of the Champions League in India, where Kieron Pollard’s Mumbai Indians prevailed over Kevon Cooper’s Rajasthan Royals in the final in Delhi yesterday, we can look at the issue as it might be viewed by Sunil Narine, who reinforced his status as the best T20 bowler in the world in helping Trinidad and Tobago get to the semi-finals in their farewell appearance at the tournament.
Narine was simply outstanding at the CLT20, his tally of 11 wickets and economy rate of 4.30 being second only to Pravin Tambe, the 41-year-old wrist-spinner who has never even played a first-class match but was a match-winning revelation for the Royals in taking 12 wickets at an economy rate of 4.10. If it’s a case of the unheralded Indian being a surprise factor, the same cannot be said of the wily Trini, and that just makes his continued success all the more remarkable.
In an era of almost forensic television coverage, where every single delivery is analysed from an assortment of angles to an almost microscopic degree, it says a lot for the Arimian’s skill and versatility that he continues to bewilder the best batsmen in the world at T20 level. In the two years and nine months since he played his very first T20 match for Trinidad and Tobago against Hampshire in Barbados, he has hardly ever been taken to the cleaners.
More than a few were taken aback when the Kolkata Knight Riders splurged US$700,000 to get his signature ahead of the 2012 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, yet he repaid that faith immediately in helping KKR to their first IPL title while being named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Their failure to even make the playoffs in defence of the crown this year could not be attributed to Narine, who again excelled with the ball.
No surprise then that he has been signed by the Cape Cobras for South Africa’s T20 tournament next January which, by the way, rules him out of the national team for the Regional Super 50 event that will be hosted at the Queen’s Park Oval at around the same time. Add to that his commitments with the Big Bash in Australia and now as the franchise player for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), together with his duties for Kolkata in the two months of the IPL season, and it becomes apparent that his opportunities to progress as a Test cricketer are actually hampered by his success in the T20 game.
It might be the expected thing to sing the praises of Test cricket as the very pinnacle of the sport and the ultimate ambition of anyone who has ever taken up the game seriously, but given his brief and chequered experiences with the traditional version last year, would it really be at all surprising if the flame of desire to play Tests doesn’t burn as bright as it once did?
In five Tests, he has taken 15 wickets at an average

of 48.06, 12 of those wickets coming in the two Tests against New Zealand in Antigua and Jamaica. But having started his Test career with the unflattering figures of none for 70 off 15 overs in damp conditions against England in Birmingham seven weeks earlier, he then struggled for any sort of sustained effectiveness in two Tests in Bangladesh at the end of the year, when he took three for 148 off 32.3 overs in the first innings of the first Test in Dhaka and then went wicketless over the remaining three innings of the series, conceding 195 runs off 46 overs.
Interestingly, only one of those 46 overs was a maiden, suggesting that even though the Bangladeshis were very far from being the most accomplished batsmen in the world, they found it much easier to accumulate runs off him in the protracted variety of the game rather than in the condensed, high-pressure format of T20 where the onus is on the batsmen to keep the score moving along as quickly as possible.
This is not intended to make light of the ability to curb the scoring rate and take wickets in T20 cricket but merely to highlight how very different the two formats of the game are. Someone who can guarantee figures of none for 18 off four overs in every T20 match he plays would attract a million-dollar contract immediately. At Test level, those are the numbers you would expect from a part-timer, someone who just comes on to tie up an end while the real bowlers are taking a rest.
Maybe he’s bitterly disappointed at not being picked for the two Tests in India next month, or maybe not. Either way, it won’t be long again before Narine is back in the thick of things again for some team somewhere in the world in T20, where he can
really play himself.

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Soca star Kees Dieffenthaller gave the launch of the 10th annual UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon a bit of celebrity swag, two Fridays ago.
As the official spokesperson for this year’s race, Kees got things off to an exciting start from the word go by initiating a friendly rivalry between CNC3’s newscaster Golda Lee Bruce and radio talk show host and entertainer Jason “JW” Williams, who are both running the half-marathon on behalf of charities that they support.
Bruce and Williams are two of ten specially invited persons, dubbed “The 10”, who are aiming to win support for their charities by asking the public to give $10 (or more!) by texting to their special code. Dieffenthaller made the very first contribution to JW’s charity, Break the Silence, which raises awareness about child sexual abuse. This quickly prompted Minister of Sport Anil Roberts to contribute to Bruce’s charity, the Guardian’s Neediest Cases Fund.
The 10th edition of the University of the West Indies Sports and Physical Education Centre (UWI SPEC) Half-Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 27, and the university is pulling out all the stops to make it memorable. This year promises to be the biggest yet.
The presenting sponsor is again First Citizens, which has been a stalwart of support for the race over the last decade. The bank was represented at the media launch by Jason Julien, General Manager of First Citizens Investment Services. Sports Minister Anil Roberts delivered the feature address.
Fans and supporters can donate $10 or more to the charities by texting donations to the code assigned to each. The ten codes are available on the event’s website, http://sta.uwi.edu/spec/marathon and The UWI’s Facebook and Twitter pages. “Text to Pledge” is supported by Digicel.
Registration for the race is now open. Local runners aged 15-19 pay $50 each, while runners 20 and over pay $100 each. Payments can be made at any First Citizens branch. Registration ends at five p.m. on October 18, or once 1,010 persons have registered.
In the 2012 edition of the UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon, Kenyan-born American George Towett won the men’s race, and Trinidad and Tobago’s Tonya Nero was first among the women.

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Colombian Jaime Rodriguez saved the best for last, as he stole the show to bring the curtain down on the Tobago International Cycling Classic yesterday, coasting home to a big UCI Tour of Tobago win at the Scarborough Esplanade finish.
By the time the second rider, USA’s Michael Olheiser, pedalled across the line in Team Vita Malt colours to finish the UCI (International Cycling Union) sanctioned event, he was three minutes, 29 seconds behind Rodriguez.
The riders were hunting valuable ranking points, which will contribute towards their qualification for events such as world championships.
Home favourite Emile Abraham didn’t quite finish the course, as he returned to Scarborough in the Team Vita Malt vehicle, but he would have been happy to cheer on teammate Olheiser, who did well to finish second despite a nasty spill in the first half of a difficult, island-wide course.
Almost two minutes back from Olheiser was Calixto Bello (Team Cocos/USA), who was close to lifting the “Classic” title until a spill in Stage Four on Saturday. Up to then he was in the lead.
Fourth in was German Jonas Schmeiser (Team NSP), while his countryman Frederik Dombrowski (Matrix Racing Team) was fifth.
Dombrowski won the prize for being the first Under-23 finisher at the event, while William Guzman (Team Foundation/Dominican Republic) was the top Caribbean rider in 12th spot. Gevan Samuel was the first T&T cyclist to finish the race.
The race took riders from Scarborough along the western coast of Tobago, through Mount Irvine and Great Courland Bay, and down to Mason Hall. Northside Road brought cyclists back toward the North Coast and Castara Bay and Hermitage, before making the loop past Charlotteville down the East Coast.
Riders then headed along the south to Hillsborough Bay, before returning to Mason Hall, and then to the Scarborough Esplanade finish line.
Before the race began the weather looked threatening, with some showers blessing the island, but the hot sun popped out and followed the riders most of the way.
It was a competition until Rodriguez took on the first hill on the North Coast of Tobago.
Olheiser’s crash only cemented the Colombian’s advantage, and he would not relinquish it from there.
The day was made lively with lots of Tobago children participating in a fun ride. Eight young riders took home prizes of bikes, and none of the participants went home empty-handed.
It ended a long week of cycling that saw five days of exciting racing, as well as the introduction of mountain biking.
The first four days of racing--before yesterday’s UCI-sanctioned “Tour”—saw Rafael Meran (Dominican Republic) of Team Foundation emerge top rider, with 84 points. He was followed closely by Schmeiser (82 points), who finished second.
Bello (65) was third, with last year’s Classic champ Darren Matthews (Barbados; 59 points) fourth and Olheiser (57) fifth. Abraham (42), despite a number of spills, ended in eighth position.
Division II was won narrowly by German Georg Fechteipeter (Matrix; 19 points), who edged T&T’s Ronald Moses (Subway Slipstream; 18) by one point after the latter had a serious spill on the turn for home in Stage Four.
James Hadeed (Heatwave; 16), Kirk Hern (Slipstream; 16) and Urba Bourne (Southampton; 14), all T&T riders, were third to fifth, respectively.
And it was no surprise that unattached rider Mark London took Division III with a comfortable six-point lead. Tyler Cole (Rigtech Sonics), Sheldon Cockburn, Andreas Koch (Germany) and Jabari Whiteman (Southclaine) rounded out the top five, in that order.

UCI Tour of Tobago results
1. Jaime Ramirez (Team Cocos/Colombia) – 3:41:55.604 2. Michael Olheiser (Team Vita Malt/USA) – 3:45:24.311 3. Calixto Bello (Team Cocos/USA) – 3:47:21.373 4. Jonas Schmeiser (Team NSP/Germany) – 3:48:10.348 5. Frederik Dombrowski (Matrix Racing Team/Germany) – 3:48:25.810 6. Conor Mullervy (Team Vita Malt/USA) – 3:49:49.267 7. Andreas Keuser (Team Merida Donaueschinger/Germany) – 3:49:49.505 8. David Kessler (Team Rio Grande/USA) – 3:49:49.622 9. Daniel Bichlmann (Team Merida Donaueschinger/Germany) – 3:49:50.018 10. Patrick Ericsson (J Jensen-Ramirent) – 3:49:50.400

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A furious finish from Mumbai Indians’ middle-order propelled them to a monumental total before a chase-breaking over from Harbhajan Singh snuffed out the last of Rajasthan Royals’ spirit, driving Mumbai to their second major title of the year, as they won the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) final by 33 runs, yesterday.
The Royals bowlers had been disciplined in their first 12 overs, which only cost them less than seven an over, but a Rohit Sharma onslaught unseamed their resolve and the remaining batsmen took maximum toll on a waning attack. Glenn Maxwell provided the most frenzied death-over innings, mauling 37 from 14, but Sharma, Dinesh Karthik and even Harbhajan struck at over 200 to help plunder 120 runs from the last eight overs of the innings.
Eighteen-year old Sanju Samson was imperious in Royals’ response, and he led Ajinkya Rahane in a 109-run second-wicket stand that provided a fine base for the chase. But even as Rahane completed his fourth fifty on the trot, the Royals’ scoring slowed, and Harbhajan eventually sunk the opposition in a 17th over that claimed three wickets and cost only four.
Before that over Royals had needed 48 runs from four overs, and with seven wickets still remaining, a successful chase was conceivable, particularly as Rahane remained in the middle. But it was Rahane who made the first mistake, advancing to swat a full toss straight to deep midwicket, when it seemed he could quite easily have muscled it over the Feroz Shah Kotla’s short boundary. Two balls later Stuart Binny was undone by some extra bounce and had his leg stump removed, before Trinidad and Tobago’s Kevon Cooper missed the last ball and overbalanced, and a sharp Karthik did not miss the stumping chance.
The most disheartening sight of the match followed in the next over when, having demoted himself to No. 8, Rahul Dravid’s final act on a professional cricket field was having his leg stump flattened by a prosaic yorker from Nathan Coulter-Nile. Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar had fared little better, when he missed a Shane Watson inducker by a distance to have his own off stump uprooted.
Two days shy of his 42nd birthday, Pravin Tambe delivered another remarkable spell, and he might wonder how his teammates could have indulged the opposition so meekly when he had conceded only 19 from his four overs, while taking the two wickets that placed him atop the tournament wicket-takers’ list.
Halfway through Mumbai’s innings, Royals might have thought they would have to bowl poorly to concede 170. Barbadian Dwayne Smith had been effective at the top of the innings again, but by his standards, his 44 had come at a relatively humdrum pace--off 39 balls.
It was Rohit, though, who got low to wallop a Stuart Binny slower ball high into the night in the 13th over, that began the sequence that beat the wind out of Royals’ attack. Two more fours off Binny took the over-tally to 16, before Sharma shuffled around the crease and manipulated the field to score heavily in the next two overs as well.
He had some help from T&T’s Kieron Pollard as they punished Cooper’s errant lengths in the 16th over, which cost 20 and featured a monster pull and a towering slog over wide long-on. The breathless pace was only heightened when Maxwell arrived next over. He clipped his first ball to square leg for four, before sending the next ball--an almost identical delivery--into the stands on the leg side with a more powerful pick-up stroke.
A straight six, a glanced four and an improvised reverse-scoop over short third man followed, and with Karthik and later Harbhajan also going big at the other end, Mumbai, the reigning IPL champions, laid down a daunting challenge in the space of 20 minutes. Courageous though their reply was, Royals could not match them.

—Cricinfo

SCOREBOARD

Mumbai Indians Innings
D R Smith b P. Tambe 44
S R Tendulkar b Watson 15
A.T. Rayudu b P. Tambe 29
R Sharma c Faulkner b Shukla 33
K A Pollard b Faulkner 15
G.J. Maxwell run out 37
K.D. Karthik not out 15
H Singh not out 7 Extras: 1nb, 4w, 0b, 2lb 7
TOTAL: (For 6; 20.0 overs) 202
Did not bat: N.M. Coulter-Nile, R. Dhawan, P.P. Ojha
FOW: 35, 77, 104, 140, 152, 193
Bowing: J P Faulkner 4-0-46-1, S R Watson 3-0-30-1, R Shukla 4-0-49-1, K Cooper 4-0-40-0, P. Tambe 4- 0-19-2, S T R Binny 1-0-16-0

Rajasthan Royals Innings
M.D.K.J. Perera run out 8
A M Rahane c Smith b Singh 65
S.V. Samson c Singh b Ojha 60
S R Watson c Pollard b Singh 8
S T R Binny b Singh 10
D.H. Yagnik c Karthik b Pollard 6
K Cooper st Karthik b Singh 4
R.S. Dravid b N.M. Coulter-Nile 1
J P Faulkner c Smith b Pollard 2
R Shukla c Smith b Pollard 0
P. Tambe not out 0
Extras: 1nb, 1w, 0b, 3lb 5
TOTAL: (All out, 18.5 overs) 169
FOW: 8, 117, 137, 155, 155, 159, 163, 169, 169, 169
Bowling: G.J. Maxwell 1-0-10-0,R. Dhawan 3-0-34-0, H Singh 4-0-32-4, N.M. Coulter-Nile 3-0-3-3-1,P.P. Ojha 4-0-26-1,K A Pollard 3.5-0-31-3
Result: Mumbai Indians won by 33 runs

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