Short Corner 8212; Chandigarh

Was Ronaldo poisoned?Was he poisoned ? Or was it nothing more than a row with the girlfriend ? Maybe it was both. Either way, conspiracy ...

Was Ronaldo poisoned?
Was he poisoned ? Or was it nothing more than a row with the girlfriend ? Maybe it was both. Either way, conspiracy theorists are having a field day in Brazil over the mystery8217; of Ronaldo8217;s poor performance in the World Cup final, pointing their fingers at anything apart from simple human fallibility. Following the Brazilian striker8217;s own revelation in a television interview that he suffered quot;convulsionsquot; prior to Sunday8217;s final, the national press here have gone into speculative overdrive.

Sasikiran shines
International Master Krishnan Sasikiran of India drew an exciting game against Grandmaster Alexey Kuzmin of Russia on the top board game in the ninth and final round of the International Chess championship in Benasque Spain on Wednesday, finishing fifth in the final standings. The draw cost Kuzmin the title, but Sasi picked up the award for the best junior of the event by scoring 7.5 points.

Ratti stuns Abhin
Eighth seed Sachin Ratti upset compatriot and third seed Abhin Shyam Gupta to set up a semi-final clash with second seed Malaysian Lee Tsuen Seng in the men8217;s singles of the Indian Oil Servo Asian Satellite second leg badminton tournament in Chennai on Wednesday.

Athletes cleared
A 45-member Indian athletic squad, including 32 athletes, was cleared by the government for the XII Asian Track and Field meet at Fukuoka July 19 8211; 22. The contingent comprising 16 men and women athletes each, seven coaches, one doctor, four officials and a masseur for the first time in Russian Gennadi Kossarev, will leave in Delhi on Thursday night via Tokyo, Amateur Athletic Federation of India secretary, Lalit K Bhanot, said.

Pakistan coach
Former Pakistan Test captain Javed Miandad today said he was willing to work as coach to the national team. 8220;The board wanted my availability and I have conveyed to them that I am ready to take the post and will serve the country to the best of my abilities,8221; Miandad told AFP.

Balbir quits
Women hockey team chief coach Balbir singh today announced his decision to quit his post. 8220;The players are not not being well treated or well paid, I tried to help them but was frustrated in my attempts,8221; said the former Olympian. 8220;I have decided to quit because women8217;s hockey federation is not prepared to listen to my pleas that players should be given their dues,8221; he said.