Nadia named the Queen!
Nadia Comaneci, the first gymnast to receive the perfect mark of 10 at the Olympics, has been named as her sport’s world-record woman by the World Records Academy.
The Romanian dominated the gymnastics competition at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. “I fell really honoured to be named the queen of gymnastics,” she said.

India draw with Odivelas FC
Abhishek Yadav struck late to help Indian senior football team draw 1-1 with the second division side Odivelas FC in their opening practice match in Lisbon, Portugal, on Thursday, reports PTI from New Delhi.
Indians were trailing 0-1 at the half time, but Yadav equalised after teams changed sides.
The Indians are on exposure-cum-training trip of Portugal where, they will play Recreativo Agueda in their second outing on Sunday.
Hoggard may miss second Test
England’s Matthew Hoggard faces a fitness battle to play in the second Test against India after back trouble ruled him out of the opening match at Lord’s on Thursday, reports Reuters from London.
The right-arm seamer suffered a back spasm in practice on Tuesday, ruling him out of the first Test.
“Matthew Hoggard underwent an MRI scan yesterday which revealed irritation in a disc in his back,” a statement on the England and Wales Cricket Board website said.
“His rehabilitation will be closely monitored over the next five days and he will be re-assessed by ECB medical staff on Monday.” The second Test starts next Friday at Trent Bridge.
Pak no to Woolmer tie
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has ruled out playing a Twenty20 match against India to raise funds for the Bob Woolmer academy in Cape Town due to the congested fixture schedule, reports Reuters from Karachi.
Woolmer's widow Gill has written to both Indian and Pakistan boards asking them to play a fund-raiser for his dream project.
"We got a letter asking us to play a Twenty20 match with India for the academy. But this seems unlikely in the near future," PCB spokesman Ehsan Malik said on Thursday.
The board, however, will help in other ways to establish the academy and has been in constant touch with Gill Woolmer.
Smith to lead South Africa
Hosts South Africa announced a provisional 30-member squad for the inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Cup in September, reports PTI from Durban.
Graeme Smith has been named as captain while Jacques Kallis was chosen as vice-captain of the side.
Provisional Squad: Graeme Smith (C), Jacques Kallis(V-C), Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Hashim Amla, Loots Bosman, Gulam Bodi, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB De Villiers, J P Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Paul Harris, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Neil McKenzie, Albie Morkel, Mornh Morkel, Andre Nel, Justin Ontong, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Roger Telemachus, Alfonso Thomas, Thandi Tshabalala, Johan van der Wath and Mornh van Wyk.
Indian Open from September 4
About 300 shuttlers from 40 countries will take part in the $150,000 Yonex-Sunrise Indian Open badminton to be held in Hyderabad from September 4 to 9, reports UNI.
Talking to mediapersons, former All England champion Prakash Padukone said, ‘’This is part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic qualifying event. Our players Chetan Anand, Anup Sridhar and Saina Nehwal should utilise this opportunity to climb up the world ranking.’’
Barrichello, Button to stay
Honda will continue in 2008 with an unchanged line-up of Briton Jenson Button and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, the Formula One team said on Thursday, reports Reuters from Nuerburgring.

Bopanna enters quarterfinals
Rohan Bopanna came back from the brink of defeat to post a three-set win and reach the singles quarterfinals of the USD 25,000 ATP Challenger men’s tennis event in Manchester on Thursday, reports PTI.
Bopanna saved two match points at 4-5 in the decider on his way to a thrilling 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6) victory against Dominik Meffert of Germany in the second round.
The 27-year-old had lost at the same stage the last time he played in the event in 2005.
Earlier, the wiry lad beat home contender Lee Childs 6-4 7-6 (4) in the first round.
Farbrace named in SL staff
Sri Lanka has picked Paul Farbrace, a coaching director at English county side Kent, as its new assistant coach, a top Sri Lanka Cricket official said, reports AFP from Colombo.
“We have picked Paul as the assistant coach and his appointment will be ratified this Friday,” Kangadaran Mathivanan, the secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket, told AFP.
Farbrace, 40, has also served as the coach of the England women’s team and the under-19 men’s team.
Clean sweep will lift India
A clean sweep in the three-match series against Michael Vaughan’s England would not only mark India’s rare overseas series triumph but also propel the side to the second spot in the LG ICC Test Championship ladder, reports PTI from Dubai.
Currently on 102 rating points, Dravid’s team can gain nine points to 111 and leapfrog South Africa, Sri Lanka and England, with the latter dropping from 115 to 108 with a clean sweep.
Barca’s role for Milito
Barcelona are hoping Argentina centre-back Gabriel Milito will be a role model for the squad after he completed his move from Real Zaragoza on Thursday, reports Reuters from Madrid.
The 26-year-old passed a medical and put pen to paper on a four-year contract in a deal that could rise to 20.5 million euros ($28.29 million).
“We hope he continues to demonstrate the commitment and leadership that he has shown in his career until now. Barca need players with his type of character,” Barcelona's sports director Txiki Begiristain said.