Tait wants to be fastest bowler

Australian speed machine Shaun Tait aims at claiming the world record for highest bowling speed, held by Pakistani paceman Shoaib Akhtar, on the bouncy WACA wicket in the third cricket Test against India.

Tait has come closer to Akhtar’s mark of 161.3-km per hour by bowling 160-kmph last year. “I’d like to have a crack at Shoaib’s record,” Tait said.

Zubin, Neha emerge champs

Zubin Kumar and Neha Aggarwal claimed the men’s and women’s crowns respectively in the North Zone National-ranking table tennis championship on Wednesday, reports PTI from New Delhi.

Zubin beat Anriban Nandi 9-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-13, 11-9, 11-6 in the men’s final, while Neha pipped Mouma Das 11-7, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 10-12, 12-14, 11-9.

Hockey stars stage protest

Several former and present international and National players and hockey lovers on Wednesday took out a rally protesting the allegations made by Orissa Hockey Association secretary Pratap Satpathy against ex-India captain Dilip Tirkey, reports PTI from Rourkela.

Subrata quits as East Bengal coach

Under attack following East Bengal’s poor showing in the ongoing I-League, Subrata Bhattacharya resigned on Wednesday as the club’s soccer coach, with Monoranjan Bhattacharya tipped to take over the reins, reports PTI from Kolkata.

Szabo named ambassador

Long distance runner Gabriela Szabo of Romania was on Wednesday named as the brand ambassador for the Mumbai Marathon, be held on Sunday, reports PTI from Mumbai.

Doha to bid for 2016 Olympics

Doha unveiled its bid for the 2016 Olympics on Wednesday, proposing to hold the games in October to avoid Qatar’s searing summer temperatures, reports AP from Dubai.

Le Monde asked to pay damages

French newspaper Le Monde and one of its journalists were handed a court order in Madrid on Tuesday to pay 300,000 euros in damages to Barcelona Football Club after the paper published a defamatory article on alleged doping practises at the Catalan club.

Le Monde and journalist Stephane Mandar have also been ordered to publish the court’s decision in both the newspaper and its internet site, Barcelona Football Club added, saying Le Monde has also been told to correct the information in the way demanded by Barcelona Football Xlub in December 2006.

Buemi named test driver

Switzerland's Sebastien Buemi will be Red Bull’s test and reserve driver this season, the Formula One team confirmed on Wednesday, reports Reuters from Jerez, Spain.

Red Bull’s regular drivers are Australian Mark Webber and Briton David Coulthard.