Narain confident of giving his best

For the first time in his debut Formula One season, Narain Karthikeyan actually sounds confident. And it’s not the fourth-place in the controversial US Grand Prix that’s given him this feeling but the venue of this weekend’s race: Magny-Cours, of which both he and Jordan have fond memories.

For Jordan, the French Grand Prix is where it won its last GP, through the efforts of Heinz-Harald Frentzen in 1999. And though Frentzen had vast experience, no one, Narain points out, expected him to win. “It was a combination of teamwork and strategy, apart from the German’s grit”, Narain told this website’s newspaper.

While Jordan has a happy history at the circuit, Magny-Cours was where Narain secured the first major win of his career during last year’s Nissan World Series. That race saw him lead from start to finish but, in the second race later that day, he managed fourth place.

The circuit, a combination of slow corners and tight hairpins, usually tests drivers to the limit. Narain, though, says it suits his style of driving. “Though the World Series is very different to F1″, he says, “I’m hoping to exploit my knowledge of the track. I’ve always found a good balance and rhythm here and enjoy driving on it.”

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Day of healing for Venus on Centre Court

She took just a moment between the victory and the handshake, a moment strictly for herself. Bending over with clenched fists, Venus Williams celebrated her glorious resurrection.

Through to the Wimbledon final with her 7-6 (2), 6-1 triumph over defending champion Maria Sharapova, Venus deserved that moment. This was a highly significant development in women’s tennis, the return of a champion and a message to everyone on tour.

About a half-hour later on Court 1, Lindsay Davenport faced just enough of a puzzle to have it end without resolution. Just four points from winning, Davenport had to scurry off in a drizzle with a 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 5-3 lead over Amelie Mauresmo, who was serving at 15-love. It was 7:30 p.m. and the rain didn’t let up, forcing both players to return this afternoon and join the men’s semifinalists on the program.

Thursday was supposed to be a Centre Court doubleheader, but a four-hour rain delay pushed things well into the afternoon. It was determined that Davenport and Mauresmo would move to Court 1, with Centre left to the heavyweights. Despite the lopsided appearance of the score, Williams and Sharapova did not disappoint. (more…)

Australia beat Bangladesh

Australia beat Bangladesh by six wickets ahead of the triangular series final against England on Saturday.Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, found his form in the nick of time today to help his team avoid further embarrassment against Bangladesh and put them in good heart for this weekend’s NatWest Series final against England.

Ponting’s first 50 in this triangular tournament set his side on course for a six-wicket win at Canterbury - and probably settled his own nerves too after a sequence of only 62 runs in four previous limited-overs international innings this summer. (more…)