Federer and Wawrinka puts Swiss in control of Davis Cup semi

REUTERS

GENEVA: Roger Federer overcame some tough early resistance from Simone Bolelli and Stanislas Wawrinka eased past Fabio Fognini as Switzerland raced 2-0 ahead in their Davis Cup semi-final against Italy in Geneva on Friday.

Federer, bidding to add to his substantial collection of honours by steering the Alpine nation to a first Davis Cup triumph, delighted a capacity crowd in the Palexpo Arena with a 7-6(5) 6-4 6-4 victory.

"Margins were small in the first set," Federer said. "In the second set I was finally able to get the break and that broke the deadlock for me a little bit. I was able to play with the lead which is always easier.

"It was quite frustrating at times when the court is pretty quick. We didn't think it was going to be this fast but when you do serve well you really do feel the benefit."

Seventy-sixth ranked Bolelli, who was surprisingly selected for singles duty ahead of Andreas Seppi by virtue of having fewer previous defeats against the 17-times grand slam champion, stuck to his task impressively on the blue indoor court.

He saved two set points in the opening tiebreak but fired a backhand wide on Federer's third, to the relief of his 33-year-old opponent who was far from his fluent best.

World number three Federer finally secured the first service break of the match in the seventh game of the second set and cruised on to the 36th singles victory of his Davis Cup career.

DOMINANT WAWRINKA

Australian Open champion Wawrinka made light work of world number 17 Fognini and despatched the Italian 6-2 6-3 6-2 in one hour 30 minutes.

After struggling to rediscover the early-season form that won him the Australian Open title, Wawrinka has spoken of his desire to win the Davis Cup and he showed his intent by firing 16 aces and 37 winners past Fognini.

The fiery Swiss snatched an early break in the opening set before racing into a 4-1 lead as Fognini had no answer to the world number four's clean hitting.

More crisp and punchy strokes followed over the next two sets as Wawrinka ensured Switzerland took a 2-0 lead into Saturday's doubles.

Switzerland have reached the final once, losing to the U.S. in 1992, while Italy got there in 1998, going down to Sweden

Javier Hernandez promises to give his all at Real Madrid

Madrid: Real Madrid striker Javier Hernandez is delighted to be able to continue his career at what he considers to be the best club in the world.

Hernandez's situation changed from being a likely substitute at Manchester United for the coming season when he was loaned to Real Madrid at the end of the transfer window.

Hernandez is likely to be a backup for Karim Benzema, who is first choice striker, and speaking on Spanish TV early Wednesday morning, he was delighted with the chance.

Real Madrid striker Javier Hernandez is delighted to be able to continue his career at what he considers to be the best club in the world. (Getty Images)

"It's no pressure to be compared with Benzema and I know people will try to draw us as rivals, but that happened with Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie at Manchester United. There is no pressure as I have always been competitive," said Hernandez.

"There is no excuse in a club such as Real Madrid as your performances put you in your place. If you have big dreams you have to work hard to be at the level at the club. You can't just show you are a professional, you have to do it and show it to not disappoint those who show confidence in you," he added, saying that "playing for Real Madrid is the first miracle that has come true in my life."

Hernandez insisted that he backed Cristiano Ronaldo in the debate over whether the Portuguese striker is the best player in the world ahead of Lionel Messi and said he was an admirer of Fernando Torres and former Madrid striker, Raul Gonzalez.

Finally he gave a vote of confidence to under-fire Real Madrid goalkeeper, Iker Casillas.

"He has done everything as a keeper and he is mentally very strong," he concluded.

PCA chief apologises for his comments on Moeen Ali abuse

London: The chief of England's Professional Cricketers' Association Angus Porter has profusely apologised for his comments that England cricketer Moeen Ali should have taken the abuse from the Indian fans during the one-off T20 International as a "compliment".

In an interview on Tuesday with the Press Association, Porter said that it was better for Moeen that he "rather be booed than ignored".

"There is an element of taking it as a compliment. You are more likely to boo someone when you think they are someone to be feared. Take it as as a positive, you'd rather be booed than ignored," Porter was quoted as saying by PA.

PCA chief Porter has profusely apologised for his comments that Moeen Ali should have taken the abuse from the Indian fans during the one-off T20 International as a "compliment". (Getty Images)

However after being criticized from all quarters, Porter retracted from his earlier statement with an apology.

"I made a mistake by suggesting racism does not matter and I do condemn it unreservedly. I started by saying that in the interview but I also tried to play down the situation because Moeen does not want it to become a major issue. But in trying to play it down I succeeded in doing the reverse and I am sorry." Porter was quoted as saying by the 'Daily Telegraph'.

"It is very important that I make it clear that racist behaviour is condemned unequivocally and I am happy to say that. I think it is a fact of life for professional sports people that they will get abuse from people in the crowd who have paid their money and enjoy being anonymous in a crowd rather than on the playing field," he was quoted as saying in a statement.

According to the report in the newspaper, Moeen has told the PCA that he wants to forget the issue and move on in order not to make the situation worse if he plays against India in the future.

But his father Munir told the website ESPN Cricinfo he thought the booing was racist and based on Moeen being a Muslim.

"The whole family was looking forward to it and we thought he would receive a warm welcome. Instead, he was abused from the start. He was abused because he is a Muslim and because of his Pakistan heritage. That is disgraceful," he said.

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Nepali players celebrate after scoring a goal against Kuwait during the AFC U-16 Championship played at the Muangthong Stadium in Thailand on Tuesday. Photographer : Courtesy: givemegoal.com -

AFC U-16 Championship: Nepal take on Kuwait today

Courtesy: GoalNepal

Nepal Under-16 football team members jog during a training session in Bangkok on Monday, on the eve of their AFC U-16 Championship Group ‘C’ match against Kuwait.

KATHMANDU: Nepal will play against Kuwait in their second Group ‘C’ match of the AFC U-16 Championship on Tuesday at the Muangthong Stadium in Bangkok.

Nepal shared points with defending champions Uzbekistan, while Kuwait faced a 3-0 defeat at the hands of North Korea in Sunday’s matches. A victory against Kuwait will put Nepal in a strong position and Nepal coach Bal Gopal Maharjan was not in mood to let the opportunity slip from his hands.

“The team showed great fighting spirit against Uzbekistan and I am sure these players will put in their best efforts tomorrow,” said Maharjan, whose side has received a boost as skipper Bimal Gharti Magar will be available for the match against Kuwait. The star striker was suspended for the first match as he had picked up two yellow cards during the Qualifiers held in Kathmandu last year.

“He is our star player. His return to the squad has definitely boosted the morale of the team. With Magar being in the starting lineup, we will have a good attacking set against Kuwait,” Maharjan said, whose team badly missed the services of the striker in the opening encounter.

Maharjan said Nepal would not underestimate Kuwait and go rampantly. “Kuwait are a strong team, they played really well against North Korea,” he said. “We will have to be aware of them and we will have to play really hard against them,” said Maharjan, adding “Like the previous match, we will plan our strategy according to the situation of the game,” he said

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PYTHON EATS COBRA

The jungle life  cannot be expected to be free and secured. Threats from the wild beast make the jungle life very hard to survive.

In the video Python and cobra are battling for their lives. It is certain that these are the venomous but still the war has waged. 

The Pythonidae are commonly known simply as pythons. The word has come from the Greek word python, and they are a family of non-venomous snakes found in Africa, Asia and Australia.

Among its members are some of the largest snakes in the world.The pythons are said to be non venomous but still cannot be said as powerless. They catch their prey by squeezing them until the beating of heart does not stop. So far, eight genera and 26 species are currently recognized till now.

These are the predators that can remain motionless in a camouflaged position and they strike on the prey after they find one. They will not attack human beings unless provoked.

However the females are very much aggressive and so there are also the reports which show that the human beings were once more common in South and Southeast Asia. In the same, the cobras are also venomous snakes in the earth.

They can reach 18 feet (5.5 meters) in length and they are the longest of all poisonous snakes. In the video, it is also shown that the cobra and python both of them fight with each other in such a way that they wanted to win the battle.

Winning the battle means that each of them wants to live. But in each of the game, it is a truth that there are two aspects of every matter. Hence, the cobra has to accept that he has lost the war waged and so it is a tragic death of the cobra and a victory for the python.

Watch The Video.

PREEYA JOSHI

NAME: Preeya Joshi
Height: 5′ 4″

Home Town: Pokhara

Wardrobe: Inception Clothing Store & Silverline Fashion

Make up: Drishti Bijukchhe Bhujel

Location: Himalayan Dhindo

Photographer: Sooraz Shresth

               

BHUWAN KC ATTEND HIS SON'S WEDDING CEREMONY IN USA

Evergreen Actor, Bhuwan KC has arrived to attend his son’s wedding ceremony in USA.

In this case, he has visited to USA so that
he can attend in his son’s wedding ceremony and bless newly married son and daughter. In so far,

The family members celebrating the reception function where his son appeared with his newly married bride. With the
blend of so many hit Hindi numbers and English songs, the newly couples danced and enjoyed the program.

Program has projected the Evergreen Actor’s son who is recently married. The newly couple are blessed for their happy married conjugal life. Thus in the program,
Bhuwan KC speaks a few words says about the reception program.

He has thanked to those people who have come in USA from many parts of World so that they can bless the newly married
couple, Bibek KC and Natasha KC. Thus he has thanked his relatives and friends who have given their best wishes.

He says that his son has grown too old that he has become Hero and now he is
old enough to get married too.

He has not thought that the time passes so early.
-Dc nepal

DAVID TEARFUL APOLOGY WITH SUPPORTERS

World Cup semifinal to Germany, 7-1The sustainability of the Brazilian mega captain David luija  tearful apology with supporters.

World Cup star striker lost due to injury
Neymar and regular captain Brazil Thiago Silva in the absence of World Cup final dividend Luija  team had taken responsibility.

However, many expect the disgraceful 7-1 defeat against David gave the tearful mega, luija  BCAA is now being viral. International Vannier Luiz BCAA Pottier 'smelly evil' BCAA dramatically.

He draped the Brazilian language, apologized Dumbs - All the Brazilian people and supporter Sorry injuries.
I dreamed to see the smile on the face
Before that, all the Brazilian smile
See how important it was to find, that I
Well know.

Work around interview she was weeping. Crying Luijale said - 'they were far subtle, they Were well prepared and they played well.

It is great for us, but the evil day That day, we learn many things. 

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Caesar recently
Unacceptable, he said All players Thanks to all the supporters, saying he sought forgiveness.