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New Delhi, Feb 10 (PTI) SSP Chowrasia finally banished the gremlins and stunned a star-studded field to walk away with the Indian Masters title as the Delhi Golf Club witnessed a new star here today.
Son of a greenkeeper at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, SSP -- monikered 'Chipputtsia' for his magical short game -- signed off with a blemish-free final round of 67 and his aggregate of 279 was enough to make him only the third Indian -- after Arjun Atwal and Jeev Milkha Singh -- with an European Tour title against his name.
Thus, an Indian went on to win what was the first European tour event in the country.
"This is definitely the biggest title of my career. I did not have any inkling before the tournament that the title would be mine," said the beaming golfer.
"As I played the last three-four holes, I knew I had the title in my grasp and all I needed was to stay calm, which I did.
"Now that I have won it, I would play both in Asia and Europe before attaining my ultimate goal to play in the USPGA Tour," he said.
Chowrasia pocketed USD 416,660 for his exploits and finally laid his fingers on a prestigious title after finishing second in the Indian Open in 1999 and 2006.
Damien McGrane (281) of Ireland finished second after his final round of 70, two shots ahead of Jose Manuel Lara, who shot 72 today.
Digvijay Singh (70) and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin (74) shared fourth spot at 284. PTI
Lee hopes CA-BCCI sponsor conflict would end
Melbourne, Feb 10 (PTI) Fast bowler Brett Lee has expressed confidence that his board and BCCI would reach an agreement to allow the Australian cricketers play in the cash-rich Indian Premier League.
"If the opportunity comes up, then great, the IPL poses a brilliant opportunity for Australian and other world cricketers to go out there and play in the Twenty20 form," Lee was quoted as saying by 'Sunday Telegraph'.
"I'm sure it's going to all work out and people will be very happy with the outcome," Lee said.
Indian board and Cricket Australia were locked on a sponsorship dispute that threatens to deny Aussie cricketers to play in the Twenty20 competition which starts on April 18.
CA does not want its players to endorse IPL sponsors which would compete with its own sponsors as the league would be telecast in Australia.
Ricky Ponting has laughed off his board's position, saying since there was no protection of CA's sponsors when Australian cricketers play in English County championship, there could not be such condition in case of IPL which he said should be treated as a domestic tournament of India.
Andrew Symonds had also criticised his board for coming in the way of cricketers' joining the IPL, saying CA's position that Australians cannot play for teams whose sponsors are competitors of Cricket Australia sponsors was unreasonable. PTI
Ishant responded well to getting new ball, says Dhoni
Melbourne, Feb 10 (PTI) Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said young fast bowler Ishant Sharma's impressive performance in the Test series was the reason behind throwing the new ball to him, a strategy which resulted in the five-wicket win over Australia in the triseries one-dayer here today.
A delighted Dhoni was satisfied that the Delhi speedster rose to the occasion and grabbed the chance with both hands.
"He was the pick of the bowlers in the Test series. He was impressive, so I gave the new ball to him and he responded well," Dhoni said after the match.
"The pitch was on the slower side. So we thought to use Irfan (Pathan) later and he was good in the middle overs," Dhoni added.
Dhoni, who played a crucial knock of 17 not out and stitched a 58-run match winning partnership with Rohit Sharma (39 not out), said that after losing five wickets for 102 they waited for the part-time bowlers to come on.
"We were waiting for the part-timers to come. The kind of conditions we were in, we thought our chance would come and we should wait for the right moment," he said.
Dhoni said the improving outfields in India was the reason behind the rising fielding standard of his side.
"When I was 19 or 20, the grounds were not up to the mark. But now they are better. It is making a difference and the fielding standard has gone up," he said.
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting blamed his team's uncharacteristically poor batting for the defeat.
"Our batting was poor. There was good pace and bounce and India bowled pretty well," he said. PTI
46 killed in Sri Lanka
T V Sriram
Colombo, Feb 10 (PTI) At least 42 LTTE militants and four security personnel were killed in fresh bloodletting in the embattled northern Sri Lanka.
In fierce clashes at Periyapatrichurichchan in Northern Vavuniya, troops killed 15 tiger rebels yesterday, the military said today.
Three soldiers also laid their lives in the confrontation while seven others sustained injuries, it said.
As many as four militants were killed in clashes by the troops in Chettikulam, Ittikandal and Naedunkandal In North-western Mannar yesterday, the army said.
One soldier was killed in Adampan in North-eastern Sri Lanka yesterday, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.
Separately, in Kokkuthuduvai in North-eastern Welioya, troops killed three LTTE cadres in a clash yesterday, it said.
Over 1,000 rebels have died since the government decided to end a six-year-old tattered ceasefire from Jan 16.
At Kovilmode and Navatkulam area in Northern Wanni, security personnel killed three rebels yesterday, the Defence Ministry said.
In another incident six militants were killed in three separate incidents in Vavuniya on Saturday, the MCNS said.
Separate confrontations that took place in Periyapantrichurichchan and Umayaratuvarankulam areas in Vavuniya left three militants dead, it said.
At Muhalame in Jaffna peninsula, troops killed five militants in a clash yesterday, the MCNS said adding three other militants were killed in separate attacks in Nagarkovil and Muhamale last evening. PTI
Obama wins caucuses in Nebraska, Washington and Louisiana
Washington, Feb 10 (PTI) Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama's momentum-driven campaign shows no signs of slowing down as he trounced party rival Hillary Clinton in the caucuses of Nebraska, Washington and Louisiana in the race for the nomination for the White House.
Obama, aiming to become the first black US President in history, garnered roughly twice the votes received by Hillary in Nebraska and Washington, which have 24 and 78 delegates respectively who will go to the Democratic National Convention to elect the party's nominee for the Presidential election.
Obama also won comfortabily in Louisiana, which has 56 delegates. With one-thirds of precincts counted, Obama has gained 53 per cent of the vote, compard to 38 per cent for Hillary, who is also seeking to script history by becoming the first woman president of the US, reports said.
The wins in Nebraska and Washington means that Senator Obama has won nine out of the ten Democratic caucuses with the exception of Nevada.
The final delegate count is still being tallied after tonight's showdown but as of Friday, Senator Clinton has a total of 1,055 delegates as opposed to Obama's 998. A total of 2,025 is required to win the democratic nomination.
All eyes are on the "Beltway Primaries", where Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC will have their political event next Tuesday where 175 delegates are at stake.
On March 4, Clinton and Obama will have their major showdown in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont where 370 delegates are at stake. PTI
Obama scores 3-state win; Huckabee outpaces McCain
Washington, Feb 10 (PTI) Democrat Barack Obama, locked in a marathon battle with Hillary Clinton for the US Presidential nomination, trounced the former first lady in the contests of Nebraska, Louisiana, Washington state and Virgin Islands as Republican Mike Huckabee snatched two victories causing an embarrassment to front-runner John McCain.
Obama, aiming to become the first black US President in history, garnered roughly twice the votes received by Clinton in Nebraska, Washington and Louisiana, which have 24, 78 and 56 delegates respectively who will go to the Democratic National Convention to elect the party's nominee for the Presidential polls.
46-year-old Obama, the first-time Senator from Illinois, Swept Washington state and Nebraska with 68 per cent of the vote while in Louisiana, he had 53 per cent vote with 74 per cent of precincts reporting. He also scored a huge victory in Virgin Islands with the winning margin of nearly 90 per cent.
"People want to turn the page. They want to write a new chapter in American history. And today the voters from the west coast to the Gulf coast to the heart of America stood up to say yes, we can," Obama told a cheering crowd of party supporters. "We won in Louisiana. We won in Nebraska. We won in Washington state. We won north, we won south, we won in between." The final delegate count is still being tallied after last night's showdown but as of Friday, New York Senator Clinton, bidding to create history by becoming the first woman President, has a total of 1,055 delegates as opposed to Illinois Senator Obama's 998. A total of 2,025 is required to win the Democratic nomination.
Obama's latest victories were a setback to Clinton, 60, as the Super Tuesday contests last week had failed to produce a clear front-runner for Democrats. PTI
25 killed, more than 30 injured in blast in Pak poll rally
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Feb 9 (PTI) At least 25 people were killed and over 30 injured in a suicide attack on an election rally in northwestern Pakistan today, sparking fears about the security of politicians on the campaign trail ahead of the February 18 general election.
The blast occurred at a rally at Nakai near Charsadda town that was being addressed by senior Awami National Party (ANP) leader Afrasiab Khattak, who escaped without injury.
North West Frontier Province Health Minister Kamal Shah said 25 people were killed. Police officials said over 30 people were injured, several of them critically.
Federal Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz Khan said, "I have been told that most probably it was a suicide attack." The blast sparked panic at the rally and people ran helter-skelter to flee from the venue. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, where the condition of seven persons was described as critical.
ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan said the blast was part of a conspiracy to postpone the elections.
No group claimed responsibility for the blast, which occurred as political parties resumed their campaigning for the parliamentary polls after the end of a 40-day period of mourning for former premier Benazir Bhutto.
Bhutto was assassinated after addressing an election rally at Rawalpindi on December 27. The violence that followed her killing forced the Election Commission to defer the polls from January 8 to February 18. PTI
Yahoo may reject Microsoft offer: Reports
Silicon Valley, Feb 10 (PTI) Internet major Yahoo Inc is likely to turn down the Microsoft Corp's USD 44.6 billion takeover offer, the media here has reported quoting an unnamed source.
The world's biggest software maker Microsoft had made the unsolicited offer to pay 44.6 billion dollar in cash and stock to buy Yahoo on February 1. It is pursuing Yahoo to take on the world's most popular search engine Google.
The 'San Francisco Chronicle' quoting an unnamed source said the decision will be formally delivered in a letter to Microsoft on Monday.
Yahoo's 10-member board, which met on Friday to discuss the week-old proposal, determined that the USD 31-per-share was too low, the source told the San Francisco Chronicle on condition of anonymity.
Yahoo is also concerned about the risk of regulators blocking the deal because of the large market share the combined companies would have, the paper said.
"To me, it seems like a rejection of the Microsoft offer at its current price, not a rejection of Microsoft," the daily quoted Sandeep Aggarwal, an analyst with Oppenheimer & Co, as saying.
Representatives for Yahoo and Microsoft declined to comment on the developments, it added.
Microsoft has held out the possibility that it could undertake a hostile merger attempt if Yahoo's board rejected the offer, the daily has reported. But it might require Microsoft to unseat some of Yahoo's board members, the report noted.
The Yahoo board is expected to meet again this week. PTI
BHEL bags Rs 3,390-cr order for setting power stations in UP
New Delhi, Feb 10 (PTI) State-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd has won a Rs 3,390-crore order for setting up of two units of 500 MW each at Anpara thermal power station in Uttar Pradesh.
The order, placed on BHEL by Uttar Pradesh Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd, is to be completed by 2011-12, a company press release said here.
BHEL has already commissioned over 10,000 MW of power generating sets in the state, which include thermal, gas-based, nuclear and hydro units of various ratings.
For UPRVUNL, BHEL is also executing orders for setting up two units of 250 MW each at Parichha thermal power station extension and Harduaganj thermal power station.
Its scope of work in the present contract envisages design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning of Boiler Turbine Generator Package along with associated auxiliaries, Balance of Plant and Civil Works.
BHEL has fully established state-of-the-art technology for manufacture of thermal sets up to 600 MW rating and has the capability to manufacture sets up to 1,000 MW rating. So far, orders for 64 numbers of 500 MW rating sets and 1 number of 600 MW rating set have been won, of which 33 have been commissioned.
"Having demonstrated its track record in successfully establishing new technologies to serve the nation's power sector, BHEL is now poised to introduce 800 MW thermal sets with supercritical parameters.
In addition, the company is shoring up its capability for higher rating Hydro sets and advanced class Gas Turbines to cater to upcoming market requirements," the release said. PTI
Suncity to invest Rs 1,800 cr on a realty project in Jaipur
New Delhi, Feb 10 (PTI) The national capital-based realty firm Suncity Projects is planning to invest about Rs 1,800 crore to develop a property in Jaipur, which would comprise a shopping mall, a hotel and an office complex.
The project 'Jewel of India' would be developed over 20- acre of land having 4 million sq ft of developable area.
"We are coming up with a big project in Jaipur where we will develop a world-class retail destination along with a five-star hotel and an office complex, all in one building," company's Chairman L N Goel told PTI.
Goel said the investment in the project is estimated at Rs 1,800 crore over the next 30 months. It would be funded through bank loans and internal accruals.
The land has been provided by an industrialist M P Jaipuria, who is also a partner in this project, Goel said, adding that the construction work is expected to start soon.
About 2 million sq ft space have been kept aside for retail, while 3 lakh sq ft each have been kept for hotel and office space. The hotel would have 250 rooms.
Targeting the tourists, particularly those who would stay in the hotel, Suncity plans to develop a 'Jaipur Haat' in the project where traditional items of the state would be available. The haat would be spread over two lakh sq ft area.
There would also be a six-screen multiplex by Fun Cinema to meet the entertainment needs.
The company has already signed brands like Lifestyle, Westside, Pantaloon and Shoppers' Stop for its shopping mall.
Suncity Projects, which is promoted by the Essel Group, Action Group and Odeon Builders, has three shopping malls in Delhi and has executed a township and a group housing projects in Gurgaon. PTI
FM may ask banks to raise credit, lower interest rates
New Delhi, Feb 10 (PTI) With economic growth likely to slow down to 8.7 per cent this fiscal, public sector bank heads are expected to come under pressure from Finance Minister P Chidambaram when he meets them on Tuesday to raise lending to the manufacturing sector and cut interest rates.
"Some public sector banks have already reduced interest rates, but other banks should also bring down interest rates considering there is ample liquidity in the system and deposit rates have come down," official sources said.
They said the meeting is likely to focus on "banks' role to meet Budget targets, their performance apart from credit quality and delivery to the target sectors".
The meeting assumes significance as it comes on the heels of the Reserve Bank maintaining status quo in key rates.
The Finance Minister, who met RBI Governor Y V Reddy on Saturday, is believed to have discussed measures to moderate the possible rise in capital inflows besides steps to raise credit to the productive sectors and for consumer goods to ensure better GDP figures in the fourth quarter.
According to advance estimates by Central Statistical Organisation, manufacturing output growth is expected to slow down to 9.4 per cent this fiscal against 12 per cent in FY'07.
Among other industrial activities, construction is likely to grow by 9.6 per cent against 12 per cent last fiscal.
These issues are also likely to be raised in the meeting with bank heads. PTI
Rushdie is an inspiration for all of us, says Indra Sinha
Wasfia Jalali
New Delhi, Feb 10 (PTI) The recent surge in fundamentalism and intolerance towards artists and writers has raised many a voice of concern among writers in India and abroad.
Author Indra Sinha, whose novel 'Animal's People' was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for 2007 is the latest to speak out against the assault on artists and the curbing of freedom of expression in the world in general and India in particular.
In India recently to attend the Jaipur Literature festival, Sinha, who has been named among the top ten British copywriters of all time, says the rise of fundamentalism and its resultant impact on artists and writers was a cause of worry to him.
"Since 9-11 this is happening all over the world. Since 9-11, governments have seized the opportunity of cracking down on freedom of expressions, which is disheartening" he says.
It was however, in the context of India that he sees this trend as the biggest cause of worry, in the light of some recent incidences in the country.
"I am particularly worried about this trend in context of India. It is really horrifying to hear about writers and painters being hounded", he says in an apparent reference to author Taslima Nasreen and painter M F Hussain.
"These extremist reactions are the result of bloody minded ignorance nurtured in political quarters. If this goes on, India would soon become a land of morons", he adds. PTI
Life is cruel and unfair to me: Katrina
Sabi Hussain
New Delhi, Feb 10 (PTI) Bollywood starlet Katrina Kaif feels that life has been cruel and unfair to her as despite delivering one hit after the other, she still couldn't get nominated in the best actress category in award functions.
"Oh dear! life is so cruel and unfair to me. I have delivered so many hits and won accolades for my performances, but every time I failed to get nominated," says the actress.
Katrina, who was in the capital to launch a product, refrained herself from answering any queries related to her boyfriend Salman Khan.
"Please! I don't want to discuss anything related to Salman. It's very personal." She also described as rubbish reports that Salman slapped her in a coffee shop following a tiff between them.
"It's rubbish. Nothing of that sort happened. It's all created by you people." Katrina, who made her debut in 2003 with Kaizad Gustad's "Boom" had impressed cine goers with her bold performance in the movie.
Katrina since stepping into Bollywood has given number of hits like 'Welcome', 'Partner', 'Namastey London', 'Maine Pyar Kyon Kiya' in recent times.
She is upbeat about her soon to be released thriller 'Race', in which she is playing a role of lady love of Akshaye Khanna.
"It's a thriller in which my role is of a glamourous girl. I am playing the role of Akshaye's lady love with lot of shades attached to my character." The movie directed by famous director duo of Abbas-Mustan is slated to hit the screen in last week of February this year. PTI
Endangered Meghalaya caves to come alive this month
Rituraj borthakur
Shillong, Feb 10 (PTI) The mystic caves of Meghalaya will come alive this month when cavers and tour operators from across the globe would converge in the state in a renewed effort to preserve and promote these world famous subterranean passages.
"Well known personalities from the caving fraternity from Europe, tour operators from Nepal, Bangladesh and Thailand and industrialists of the state would interact to open the barriers of the immense tourism potential of the caves," says Brian D Kharpran, noted caver and secretary of the organizing committee of the 'Discovering Meghalaya, The Caving Experience'.
Besides expeditions to the caves, on the agenda of the campaign is a two-day hectic deliberation with various stakeholders from February 22 that would revolve round the safety and protection of the caves for their heritage importance, their intrinsic scientific value and their long-term economic benefit.
The renewed campaign comes in the backdrop of a PIL filed by the Meghalaya Adventurers Association in the Supreme Court seeking stringent steps to conserve the caves, especially preventing the cement manufacturing companies operating in the state from disturbing the ecological sites.
According to the PIL, the caves might remain only in history and not in geography due to the indiscriminate mining by cement companies "who seemed to have fudged all facts starting from environmental clearance to production capacity".
"Even as the case is pending in the apex court, there is a need to popularize the exploration of the caves and promote cave tourism," Kharpran, who has devoted his life to save the unique caves of the state, said. PTI
Small investors, down but not out
Anurag Sharma
New Delhi, Feb 10 (PTI) Contrary to common belief that the stock market crash last month would mean the end of the road for small investors, experts say the community, a minuscule 0.5 per cent of the investors is shattered but certainly not given up.
Such investors are still quite upbeat about gaining a good return from the market, they point out.
An investor will always remain an investor, no matter what the situation is, says Arun Kejriwal, Director, Kejriwal Research and Investment Services . "There is no fundamental change in the long term investment. But yes the last month crash has made the small investors a little bit cautious and the euphoria created till the second week of January about the market is surely not there, he adds.
"As the market was on a dream run and with 6-10 per cent profit everyday, people thought the stock market was the easiest way of making fast bucks. But this time the euphoria did not last long and the crash finally happened," he says adding that no matter sensex is at 14,000 or 20,000, there is always an investment opportunity." Supporting the viewpoint of Kejriwal, a senior manager of an investment company, says that market is still showing positive signs for the retail investors but there is a state of pain as retail investors have lost a big share of their profits and are left with no or little money to invest again.
"Small investors are witnessing nervous breakdown. And the aftereffect will last long. Even the long term investors are now playing carefully as asset value was almost cut down to 50 per cent last month," he adds.
According to reports, market meltdown last month led to an erosion of over Rs 800 crore in the total assets of the mutual fund industry by the end of January. But the condition began looking up in February. PTI
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