Asian golf uncovers new star in Noh

Singapore: Asian golf uncovered a new star in 2010 with teen sensation Noh Seung-Yul winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit race as a battle between rival tours raged on.

Noh became the youngest player ever to top the money list after bursting onto the scene by winning the European Tour co-sanctioned Malaysian Open in March, while China's Liang Wenchong won the OneAsia Tour merit crown.

"I was happy to win the Malaysian Open this year. It allowed me to compete in Europe, the US and also the three Majors," said the 19-year-old.

"It started from my win in Malaysia. The event was good for me," added Noh, rookie of the year in 2008.

Australia's Marcus Fraser, who won the Ballantines Championship in South Korea in April, came second in the merit standings and said the Tour was fortunate to have a player of Noh's calibre.

"Everyone knew it was going to happen. Noh Seung-Yul was always going to fly away with the Order of Merit title," he said.

"He's a great player. The Asian Tour is lucky to have him on the money list."

In an open year, the only golfer to win more than once on the Asian Tour was Japan's Tetsuji Hiratsuka (Myanamar Open and Queens Cup) while Siddikur became the first Bangladeshi to lift a trophy by claiming the Brunei Open.

Ian Poulter claimed the Hong Kong Open title while Adam Scott scored an unprecedented third victory at the Singapore Open.

The Asian Tour, meanwhile, set a new landmark by co-hosting a US PGA Tour event for the first time, with American Ben Crane holing a pressure-packed birdie at the last to lift the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic by a stroke.

"With such tremendous growth for golf in the region, the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic provided an exciting presence for the PGA Tour in Malaysia and Southeast Asia," said PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem.

A new 12-year television and production and global distribution deal was struck by the Asian Tour which players expect will attract more sponsors.

Three-time Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee, by far the most successful golfer in the region, said the agreement would reap benefits.

"It could be really big for the Asian Tour," he said.

But undercurrents continued to run, with the Asian Tour and OneAsia Tour remaining at loggerheads.

OneAsia, which has brought together tours from China, South Korea and Australia, hosted 10 events, branching out into India and Thailand.

It plans at least 13 in 2011 while the Asian Tour has announced a provisional 25-tournament schedule.

To counter any exodus, the Asian Tour rigorously enforced regulations that players who do compete on OneAsia without prior permission were fined 5,000 US dollars, with the threat of suspension hanging over them.

Few made the jump.

It was a sometimes rocky year for OneAsia which narrowly averted a boycott by South Korean players in April.

They cited discontent at the number of places available to Koreans at the Maekyung Open, the SK Telecom Open and the Korea Open but the issue was resolved when they were given reassurances.

Liang has been a firm supporter of OneAsia and topped their money list.

"I am very happy and honoured. This is something that China supports and that gives me even more pride to take this trophy home," he said.

"This win will be encouraging for the development of golf back at home."

In a sign that more battles lie ahead, Asian Tour chief Kyi Hla Han said in September that two tours could not realistically exist in the same region.

"I don't think it is fair for the players to have to chose and when we had our federation meetings at the Masters and the Open, people pretty much understood and acknowledged that there is not room for two tours," he said.

Henry to renounce his World Cup bonus

Paris: Thierry Henry confirmed Thursday he would be renouncing his World Cup bonus following France’s disastrous display in South Africa.

Earlier this week it emerged that Henry and Nicolas Anelka, whose expulsion from the France camp led to the infamous training strike, were the only two players who had yet to formally reject the payment available to them.

On Wednesday French sports minister Chantal Jouanno announced that both players “were in the process” of signing the necessary paperwork.

Henry, in an interview in sports daily L’Equipe, confirmed: “It was only on Tuesday that my agent received an e-mail from the FFF (the French Football Federation). In order to sign a document you have to be aware of it first. It will be signed and approved.”

The former France captain added: “In view of how we performed in South Africa I find it more than normal that we forfeit our bonuses.”

Henry, France’s all-time leading scorer, played a substitute’s role at the World Cup and is now playing in the United States with the New York Red Bulls.

Anelka has said he plans to give his bonus to help the amateur game.

Sahaj Grover holds Sipke in Groningen International chess

Groningen: International Master and Grandmaster norm holder Sahaj Grover held third seed Ernst Sipke to an easy draw in the second round of Groningen International open chess tournament here.

After a fine win in the first round, this turned out to be a good effort by Grover especially in the light of the fact that he had black pieces against Sipke, who is rated over 150 points than the Indian.

Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta was lucky for the second day running as he salvaged a lost position against International Master Robin Van Kampen of Holland.

Amongst the other Indians in the fray, Shiven Khosla scored an impressive victory over Thomas Willemze of Holland while Ashwin Jayaram met his nemesis in Grandmaster Dejan Bojkov of Bulgaria.

At the top of the table, seven players share the lead with a perfect score including defending champion Illya Nyzhnyk of Ukraine and Vahe Baghdarsyan of Armenia.

Sharing the eighth spot, amongst others are Abhijeet, Grover and Khosla on 1.5 points each while Ashwin has one point from his two games with seven rounds still to come in this strong open.

In fact, the opening gave Anand the vital victory in the last game of the world championship match against Topalov earlier this year and expectedly, Sipke did not fall in to any of the long-analysed variations.

The Dutchman chose a side line, got nothing in the middle game that ensued and played it safe when Grover exerted queen side pressure. The clock said it all, the Indian sub-junior champion had used very little of his allotted time when the game was drawn vide repetition of moves.

Abhijeet Gupta is clearly struggling with his form here. Playing black against Kampen, it was a French defense that Abhijeet employed for the first time and faced one of the topical variations. It was in the middle game that Abhijeet misplayed and lost the second pawn.

To make matters worse for the Indian, the queens also had been traded and the position was completely lost.

However, Abhijeet decided to put up the best resistance and the tactic paid off. Kampen first gave back one of the pawns and although the position remained much better for him, there were already many complications. Abhijeet finished the game by exchanging a couple of pawns and reached a drawn endgame.

Khosla was impressive in his triumph over Willemze. The Indian played the Sicilian Classical with black pieces and gave up a pawn early for the Bishop pair. Slow improvement and some passive play by Willemze gave Khosla easy access to act against pawn weaknesses on the king side and he gobbled a couple of them to ensure the full point.

Ashwin blitzed out the opening moves against Bojkov but felt the heat as the German appeared better prepared. Ashwin lost a rook for knight and never recovered.

Nadal beats Federer to square charity series

Madrid: Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-1 on Wednesday to square a two-match exhibition series for charity between the world's top-ranked tennis players.

Nadal sealed the win with a powerfully angled forehand crosscourt shot in front of a capacity crowd at Caja Magica sports arena that included many of Spain's leading dignitaries.

Nadal says Federer's "gesture to play a game here to raise funds for needy people is incredibly generous."

Federer responded by saying it is wonderful that Nadal supports charities "at such a young age."

Federer beat Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday in the opening match in Zurich, Switzerland.

South Africa prepared for Indian backlash: Smith

Durban: South Africa are prepared for India's experienced line-up to fight back strongly in the Boxing Day test after their crushing defeat at Centurion, captain Graeme Smith said on Thursday.

South Africa cruised to victory by an innings and 25 runs in the first test of the three-match series after India crumbled to 136 all out on day one in the face of testing Proteas pace bowling.

It ain't India without a collapse

"After what happened in the first test I expect them to be better, especially from a batting perspective, as they will know what to expect," Smith told a news conference before the match starting on Sunday.

"India are an experienced team and I expect them to come out fighting in the next test and I expect them to use their experience to bounce back. We can't afford to take anything for granted in terms of how we expect them to go," he added.

While Smith expects the number-one ranked test team in the world to present a stiffer challenge at Kingsmead, he said his own charges would draw a lot of heart from how they had performed in the first test.

"When you win by an innings and 25 runs you do take a lot of positives out of the game and a lot of confidence. From our perspective we have taken a few big steps forward in the series and India have probably got a few doubts," he said.

South Africa do not have an impressive recent record in Durban having lost their last two matches at Kingsmead by significant margins.

India vs South Africa

In last year's Boxing Day test they were trounced by England by an innings and Australia won by a convincing margin of 175 runs.

Smith said that while he was aware of South Africa's woes at Kingsmead he was confident that his team had put those performances behind them.

"Our last two matches here have not been our best performances and all round we haven't played that well here but it's up to us to put that right," he said.

"We have had a good chat about how we want to play in Durban and the things we can use to our advantage. We have a lot of guys in the team who know the wicket and understand how it plays," Smith added.

Ponting works hard for Boxing Day Test

Australia are confident that their captain Ricky Ponting will be fit for the Boxing Day Test.

Ponting took part in a light fielding practice session on Thursday morning, but is yet to test his broken finger with a bat in his hand.

But he said just the day after fracturing a bone in his left little finger during his team's Ashes series-levelling victory in Perth that he expected to be recovered in time to face England again at the MCG.

Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin on Thursday provided no reason to believe there had been a rethink.

"He's going to have a bat soon - and with a bit of luck, all will go as per plan," said Haddin.

"At this stage the finger is recovering well. The signs are all good at this stage," he assured.

Ponting inspires Australia

Brad Haddin feels Ricky Ponting must play the fourth Test as his resolve despite a broken finger will inspire the side.

The pressure may have been piling up on Ponting, but wicket-keeper Haddin believes Ponting played a crucial role in the team's confidence-boosting win in Perth last week to level the series 1-1.

"He's our leader and we get a lot of inspiration from him," Haddin was quoted as saying in the Herald Sun.

"You just have to see the turnaround we had from Adelaide to Perth to see the effect he has on the cricket team, it's very important that he plays," felt Haddin.

"He's going to have a bat on Friday and with a bit of luck, everything will go as per our plan. At this stage, the finger is recovering well and he'll recover well in time for Boxing Day.

Ponting trained hard at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday. Uncapped New South Wales (NSW) batsman Usman Khawaja is on standby for Ponting. The fourth Test begins Sunday.