Brazil Clinches U-20 World Cup
A hattrick from Oscar lifted Brazil to a 3-2 extra-time
triumph over Portugal in August 2011 in the final of the
Under-20 World Cup in Bogota, Colombia. After opening the
scoring in the fifth minute, Oscar struck a second half
equalizer that sent the match to extra-time after full-time
saw the teams deadlocked at 2-2.
Oscar got the winner in the 111th minute, lofting a ball
from the right that arched over Portugal keeper Mika and
gave Brazil a fifth under-20 World Cup title after their
runner-up finish two years ago. Although Brazil started the
favourites over a Portuguese team seeking a third under-20
crown, the match was tightly contested throughout.
Oscar broke through in the fifth with a free kick into the
corner that caught Mika napping. It was the first goal
surrendered by Portugal in the tournament.
Brazil’s equalizer came in the 78th minute when Mika blocked
a shot by Dudu, only for Oscar to turn and slot the ball
home. The result avenged the result of the 1991 final, when
Portugal beat Brazil on penalties. But ultimately Brazil
emerged winner.
Earlier Mexico beat France 3-1 in the third-place playoff.
TENNIS Murray Clinches Cincinnati Open Men’s Title
Britain’s Andy Murray won the Cincinnati Open on August 22,
2011 in Cincinnati. He defeated Serbia’s Novak Djokovic who
retired, injured. It was the just the second defeat this
year for Djokovic whose victories this year included the
Australian Open and Wimbledon Championships.
Murray was already in control and leading 6-4, 3-0 when
Djokovic, who had received treatment to his right shoulder
at the end of the first set, called it quits.
Somdev will Lead in Davis Cup
Somdev Devvarman will spearhead India’s singles challenge at
the Davis Cup World Group playoffs against Japan in Tokyo
from September 16-18. The four-member team announced by the
All India Tennis Association has Rohan Bopanna as the other
singles player. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will team
up for the doubles tie of the five-match rubber with SP
Misra as the non-playing captain, Karan Rastogi and Vishnu
Vardhan have been named reserves.
GOLF Australia Wins Nomura Cup
Australia won the Team Championship of the Asia-Pacific
Golf Championships for Nomura Cup in August 2011 in Denarau
(Fiji). Australia won this cup for a record ninth time with
a final round of 201 and a total of 840 while New Zealand
finished second at 861 with a final round of 209.
A brilliant performance by teenager Khalin Joshi helped the
Indian golf team to end a 18-year long medal drought with a
bronze in the team championships of the Asia-Pacific Golf
Championships for Nomura Cup.
Joshi was also tied for third in individual standings here.
The Indian team, which was lying third after three rounds at
the Denarau Golf Course maintained its position and finished
on the podium aggregating 211 in the fourth and final round
for a total of 865.
It may be added here that 2011 Nomura Cup is Australia’s
ninth win in the event since it first entered the
competition in 1983 and now lay claim to having won the most
number of Nomura Cup of any competing country.
CRICKET England Wins Test Match Series Against India
India’s nearly 20 months reign as world’s number one side in
test cricket formally came to an end when the ICC presented
the Test Championship Mace to the Andrew Strauss-led England
in recognition of their new status as the numero uno side in
the five days format on August 23, 2011 in London.
Strauss received the trophy after his team completed a 4-0
whitewash of India on the fifth day of the fourth and final
test.
Sachin Tendulkar fell nine runs short of his 100th
international hundred as India lost the final Test by an
innings and eight runs-and the series 4-0.
India made it to lunch without losing a wicket but
Tendulkar’s wicket was the second of seven to fall in the
second session for 21 runs.
Stranded on 99 hundreds since he hit 111 against South
Africa at the World Cup in March, the Little Master stood
distraught at the wicket after being given lbw to Tim
Bresnan - trudging off and taking with him India’s hopes of
saving the match.
Graeme Swann took six wickets as England comprehensively
beat the side it has deposed at the top of the rankings with
a seventh innings victory in 13 tests.
It is very sad to note that the Indian team which came into
the series as the World No. 1 Test side slipped to No. 3
position by the end of it.
