Ancelotti: Clubs must tame ultras like Real Madrid & Barcelona

The Italian feels that La Liga has to address the influence and role of hardcore supporters following the death of a 43-year-old man on Sunday.

Carlo Ancelotti believes Spain's other top clubs must follow the example set by Real Madrid and Barcelonain dealing with ultras in order the solve the country's hooliganism problem.

A 43-year-old man lost his life following violent clashes between four groups of rival supporters before Atletico Madrid's La Liga meeting with Deportivo on Sunday.

The incident has sent the Spanish game into a state of shock and Ancelotti says that the onus is now on the clubs to take a hard-line stance on hooliganism, as England's football authorities did in the 1980s and 1990s.

The Italian coach also feels that La Liga's finest have to take on the ultras in the same manner that Madrid and Barca have done in recent years.

"It is important condemn violence in football," the Italian told reporters on Monday.

"Real Madrid are a good example of improving the situation with the ultras. Just like Barcelona before them."

Ancelotti also referenced Lionel Messi being struck with a bottle during Barcelona's clash with Valencia at Mestalla later in the day, while calling for a complete culture change within Spanish football to follow England's lead of eliminating hooliganism.

"In England, there is no violence or insults," he claimed, exaggerating somewhat. "Here, 15 days ago a guy insulted me for the whole game.

"And [referencing Messi] bottles thrown on the field or whatever other violence there is."

Meanwhile, Ancelotti revealed that he intends to rest several star players for Tuesday's Copa del Rey clash with Cornella the Santiago Bernabeu, including top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.

"You will see a competitive Madrid tomorrow," he stated. "Alvaro Medran, Sami Khedira and Asier Illarramendi will play in the starting line-up.

"Jese Rodriguez will return from injury for a few minutes in the second half but Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos will be rested."

The reigning Copa del Rey champions, on a club-record 16-game winning streak, have a 4-1 aggregate lead over Cornella.

Champions Trophy Hockey: Dutch Skipper Excited to Take on Hosts India

Netherlands will play India in the opening match of Champions Trophy on December 6.

Netherlands' men's hockey team (in orange) are currently ranked second in the world.

© AFP

Bhubaneswar: The Netherlands hockey team skipper Robert van der Horst Sunday said that his team is excited to play against India in the Champions Trophy starting December 6 at the Kalinga Stadium here.

"Initially, our focus is on the pool matches, where we play Argentina, India and Germany, as all of them are strong contenders. We are looking forward to our game against India. Matches against Argentina and Germany are also going to be tough games," the 30-year-old said. (Also read: 'Inexperienced' Aussies ready to defend title)

"We try to win in every tournament that we play and in this tournament we are looking forward to competing with the several top class teams," Robert, who has played in 222 international matches, added.

Dutch chief coach Max Caldas revealed his team's strategy for the eight-nation tournament.

"Our hockey is always about attacking and scoring lot of goals - something we as a team are good at. This time we are focussing on our defence because I believe we need to be very tight in that department."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Promises Sports University for Manipur

Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes sports is the fulcrum of economic activity and several allied disciplines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Guwahati.

© PTI

Imphal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said a sports university will be opened in Manipur.

The prime minister, speaking at the concluding function of the Manipur Sangai festival, said sports was the fulcrum of tremendous economic activity and several allied disciplines such as nutrition and physiotherapy could boost employment prospects for the youth of Manipur.

"We decided that there will be a sports university in Manipur. Manipur has a big contribution in making India proud on the world stage," Modi said.

"Sports is in the DNA in this land. There is sports and sportsman spirit both in Manipur," he said, also making an impassioned plea to free the youth of the state from the menace of drugs.

"I feel very sad when I hear that youth are taking to drugs. It is up to us... our future generations can't be ruined. This path is harmful," Modi said.

"The youth of this state, that has the potential to inspire the entire nation through excellence in sports, should not fall prey to drugs."

The government has already asked the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) to asses the level of drug abuse in the state.

The prime minister also said that youth from Manipur will be recruited in Delhi Police.

"Youth from northeast would be recruited in Delhi Police. World should know how youth from northeast can police Delhi."

The prime minister also referred to the requests made by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh for improving infrastructure such as roads and hospitals, and said he was happy that the chief minister looked to the central government for delivering infrastructure.

"The chief minister was talking about a lot of issues. I was feeling very happy. At least the chief minister is confident that this government will do something," Modi said.

He said Rs.60,000 crore had been earmarked in the union budget this year for infrastructure in the northeast, and added that he would look into each request and see what could be done about them.

The prime minister is on a three-day tour of the northeastern states which began Saturday.

Sindhu's Macau Open Win Delights Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Sindhu successfully defended her Macau Open Grand Prix Gold women's singles title, beating South Korean Kim Hyo Min in straight games at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion in Macau

© PTI

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday expressed happiness on woman shuttler P.V Sindhu's victory at the Macau Open.

"I am delighted to hear about P.V. Sindhu's victory at the Macau Open. Her accomplishments make our entire nation very proud," Modi in a statement.

Sindhu successfully defended her Macau Open Grand Prix Gold women's singles title, beating South Korean Kim Hyo Min in straight games at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion in Macau on Sunday.

India Have a Strong Chance to Win Champions Trophy: Skipper of Aussie Hockey Team

India begin their FIH Champions trophy campaign with a match against Germany on December 6.

The Indian hockey team practicing ahead of the FIH Champions Trophy.

© NDTV

Bhubaneswar: Australian hockey skipper Eddie Ockenden said that India can win the Champions Trophy starting December 6 here, if the Sardar Singh-led team continues to play like it did in the Asian Games and the recent Australian tour.

"India is a much improved team and they are playing well. When we played against them last month, they were really good and so they are the team we are looking at closely," Ockenden, who plays as a striker, said at the Kalinga Stadium.

"They are a very experienced team and if they continue playing in the same manner as they performed in the 17th Asian Games and the India tour of Australia, they have a strong chance to win this championship as well," Ockenden said.

The 27-year-old skipper said that his team is also shaping up well to defend the title, despite the absence of some star players.

"We have a good mix of experienced and semi-experienced players as well as a lot of youngsters in our team. We have been performing really well so far and in spite of some really experienced players not here with us, we are comfortable playing with this squad."

Australian chief coach Graham Reid said that their aim is to win the title for sixth time on the trot.

"We have won this championship five times in a row and the main aim this time would be to keep that going and take the number to six. But before that we have three really tough pool games, the quarter finals and then the semi-finals - a tough tournament altogether. All the teams here are fantastic and equally difficult and it is not going to be easy."

Former Frace Captain Yannick Noah Eyes Davis Cup Return

Yannick Noah said is ready to return as France captain, but only if all five of the country's top players ask him. He led France to the 1991 and 1996 Davis Cup titles.

From the left, France's Arnaud Clement, Julien Benneteau, Richard Gasquet, Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

© AP

Paris: Yannick Noah, who captained France to the 1991 and 1996 Davis Cup titles, is ready to return to the hot-seat, but only if all five of the country's top players ask him.

Noah, the last Frenchman to win a Grand Slam title when he triumphed on home ground at Roland Garros in 1983, said he would be interested in the Davis Cup job if he was wanted by the whole squad.

"If tomorrow I have the five players in front of me (Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet, Gael Monfils, Gilles Simon and Julien Benneteau) and they say 'Yann, let's go', that's cool," said Noah.

"But if there's just one who hesitates, it won't interest me. I wouldn't even want to talk about it."

France's current captain is Arnaud Clement but he was unable to deliver the Davis Cup earlier this monthwhen they were defeated by Switzerland in the final.

Anirban Lahiri Inches Closer to David Lipsky on Order of Merit

Anirban Lahiri pocketed USD 43,250 to trail Lipsky by about USD 118,256 while Thailand's Prom Meesawat lurks in third position following a top-10 result at Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club.

Anirban Lahiri, who led the King's Cup for the first three days, was disappointed not to win his third Asian Tour title this year. But with three tournaments remaining on the 2014 Asian Tour season, Lahiri still has a fighting chance to win the prestigious Order of Merit crown and break inside the top-50 in the world.

© NDTV

Singapore: Top Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri closed the gap on Asian Tour Order of Merit leader David Lipsky of the United States after finishing tied second at the King's Cup.

Lahiri pocketed USD 43,250 to trail Lipsky by about USD 118,256 while Thailand's Prom Meesawat lurks in third position following a top-10 result at Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club.

Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant, who won his 18th Asian Tour title at the King's Cup, moved up to seventh position on the Order of Merit with a season's haul of USD 268,882. He also won the Queen's Cup on home soil in June.

Lahiri, who led the King's Cup for the first three days, was disappointed not to win his third Asian Tour title this year. But with three tournaments remaining on the 2014 Asian Tour season, Lahiri still has a fighting chance to win the prestigious Order of Merit crown and break inside the top-50 in the world.

"It's a solid week all in all and I'm happy with the way I'm playing. I just got to pick myself up and win the BANK BRI Indonesia Open. I would have like to have won last week because I'm running out of tournaments," said Lahiri.

"I've to win at least one of these next three events to have a chance at winning the Order of Merit. I'm a little upset I didn't close it out as I led wire-to-wire. I guess Thaworn was the better player. I don't think I played poorly but it was just not good enough to close it out," added Lahiri, who is currently ranked 70th in the world.

Prom, who ended an eight-year title drought with a second Asian Tour victory at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship in Chinese Taipei in September, continued to enjoy his best season on the Asian Tour.

His current earnings of USD 526,171 is the highest amount he has earned in a single season since making his debut on the region's premier Tour in 2004. Prom will also feature in the USD 750,000 BANK BRI Indonesia Open this week.

The Asian Tour heads to the USD 750,000 BANK BRI Indonesia Open in Jakarta where the Asian Tour stars will continue their chase for honours at the Damai Indah Golf, Pantai Indah Kapuk Course from December 4 to 7.