Maldives set up semis clash with IndiaLast edition's runners-up Maldives lived up to their expectations to score a 3-2 win over Nepal in group B and set-up a semi-final clash with defending champions India in the SAFF football tournament in Margao today. Maldives, who needed a draw to qualify for semi-finals, drew first blood through Shah Ismail (2nd minute). Nepal restored parity in the 65th minute via Hari Khadka off a penalty.Arthi survivesIt took the loss of the first set and the first game of the second set for fourth seed Arthi Venkatraman to find her bearings in the first round match against Radha Devendrappa in the second leg of the Knockout ITF women's satellite tennis tournament at the KSLTA Stadium on Tuesday.Pakistanis confidentPakistan flew into England today as one of the favourites for the World Cup and with captain Wasim Akram insisting his teams chances will not be harmed by the match-fixing row. They arrived at Manchester airport 24 hours before a commission investigating the claims holds its final hearing in Lahore. But despite the disruption to his team's preparations Akram was quick to play down concerns of team morale being affected.Life-long ambitionWhen the opening match of the 1999 World Cup takes place at the Lord's between champions, Sri Lanka, and England on May 14 it will herald the start of 42 matches to be played at 21 different venues - from Cardiff, to Amsterdam, to Edinburgh and all the County grounds in England - with the final being staged at Lord's on June 20. Twelve countries will compete, all desperately keen to fulfill a life-long ambition.
