Sport in brief

India's top venues to host T20 Champions League

CRICKET: MUMBAI, Sept 27, 2008 - India's three leading cricket centres, Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai, will host the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League in December, organisers said on Thursday.

The six-million dollar tournament, featuring eight T20 club sides from India, Australia, South Africa, England and Pakistan, will be held from December 3-10, League chairman Lalit Modi told reporters here.

Modi, who organised the hugely successful Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 competition earlier this year, said the match schedule will be announced later.

But he confirmed Mumbai as the venue of the final on December 10.

The eight teams are IPL finalists Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings, Western Australia and Victoria (Australia), Titans and Dolphins (South Africa), Middlesex (England) and the winners of Pakistan's Twenty20 League to be held next month.

The teams will be divided into two groups for a preliminary league, with the top two advancing to the semi-finals.

"I believe we have a concept that will inspire and motivate the future generations of club, state and county cricketers, while accelerating the development of the game globally," said Modi.

"I am confident that this will be a true global event, the scale of which the cricketing world has not seen outside of the World Cups."AFP

Race on for Europe Ryder Cup captaincy

By Allan KELLY

GOLF:LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, Sept 27, 2008; - Europe’s vanquished Ryder Cup team retreated from Kentucky on Monday with the debate already heating up over who should replace Nick Faldo as captain for Celtic Manor, Wales in 2010.

Shortly after his side had relinquished the trophy after a six-year tenure by losing 16.5-11.5 to Paul Azinger’s United States, Faldo gave every indication that he had no intention of having another go at one of the toughest jobs in golf.

“I believe it was a one-stop shot as they would say,” he said.

That opened the door for several candidates notably his right-hand man at Valhalla, Jose Maria Olazabal, who is the early bookies favourite for the post.

The 42-year-old Spaniard, who is hugely popular and has top-class Ryder Cup pedigree as a player, is currently battling back from a year plagued by injury and fatigue.

But he still harbours hopes of regaining full fitness and being able to win back his position as a player in the side.

“I am still hoping that I will be recovered completely from what I am going through,” he said.

“If that’s the case I want to be playing. That’s where I’m at at the moment.

“Only time will tell how quickly I recover and how well I can play again, but if I’m asked for a decision later this year that might be a little early.”

In Olazabal’s favour however is that European Ryder Cup officials are not expected to formally discuss the future of the captaincy until a meeting in Dubai in January.

Due to the fact that the next edition of the cup will be held in Wales, there could be a groundswell of support behind Ian Woosnam, the victorious captain two years ago in Ireland.

Woosnam has given no indication of whether or not he is interested in a second stint as skipper.

Other possibles are Scotland’s Sandy Lyle and Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn while most observers believe it comes too early for the likes of Scot Colin Montgomerie and Paul McGinley of Ireland.

The embattled Faldo meanwhile was given a round of support from an unlikely direction in the shape of Azinger with whom he has had an intense rivalry dating back to the 1987 British Open at Muirfield.

Azinger - a hero

Azinger, who has been hailed a hero in the United States for master-minding the campaign to win back the cup, said it was unfair to heap all the blame for Europe’s defeat on the shoulders of Faldo.

Chameka Madurawe wins Sydney Shuttle ‘double’

BADMINTON: 16-year-old Chameka Madurawe won both under-17 and 19 girls singles events at the Sydney Junior Open Badminton Championship held last weekend at the Sydney Olympic Park Badminton Stadium, conducted by the Sydney Badminton Association of New South Wales, Australia.

Madurawe beat several New South Wales state junior champion players on her way to become the champion.

Chameka, a champion shuttler from Mahamaya Girls College, Kandy represented the Sri Lanka Junior and Senior National Badminton Teams in 2007-2008 and is presently in Australia.

She is the younger daughter of Shantha Madurawe, National Training Commissioner, Sri Lanka Scout Association and Mrs. Sujeewa Madurawe of Kandy.

Shamali Wickramasinghe - star athlete

ATHLETICS: Anne Shamali Wickramasinghe, a student of Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena, an outstanding athlete has brought honour to the school from primary grades. During the years 2006 to 2008 she has been in the news for her outstanding performance.

She has participated in the following sports events and done well: Western Province (2007 Colours), SAAF Games selections, Junior Nationals, All Island Meet, Senior Championship, Women’s Championship, 34 National Sports Festival - Beliatta, Sir John Tarbet Senior Championship.