ATHLETICS
Golden girls of India get one-year ban
On December 23, 2011, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) handed over a one year ban on Ashwani Akkunji, Jauna Murmu, Mandeep Kaur, Priyanka Panwar, Sini Jose and Tina Mary Thomas for testing positive for banned drugs. The chief culprit, according to the findings, is Yuri Ogorodnik, the SAI-appointed Ukranian coach. He is said to have administered stimulant ginsing to the athletes, which was found to be contaminated with banned substances. The ban rules out the participation of the athletes in the 2012 Olympics
BADMINTON
World Super Series Finals
Wang Yihan won the title after defeating Saina Nahiwal of India. The tournament was held in Liuzhou, China.
CRICKET
Australia-India Test Series
Australia crushed India by 122 runs in the first Test, played at Melbourne. India, chasing a historically challenging 292 runs for victory, were bowled out for 169 runs.
South Africa-Sri Lanka Test Series
Sri Lanka took the final three wickets in four balls to complete a historic 208-run win over South Africa in the second Test played at Durban. It was Sri Lanka’s first win in South Africa on four Test tours and their first win of the previously bleak 2011.
Earlier, South Africa had won the first Test, played at Centurion, by an innings and 81 runs. South African bowler Vernon Philander finished with 10 wickets in only his third Test.
Australia-New Zealand Test Series
Doug Bracewell bowled New Zealand to a sensational seven-run victory over Australia in the second Test played at Hobart. This was the first win for the Kiwis against Australia since 1993 and the first win on Australian soil since 1985.
The two-Test series ended in a 1-1 draw. Australia had won the first Test at Melbourne by nine wickets.
India-West Indies ODI Series
India beat West Indies by 34 runs in the fifth and final ODI in Chennai to clinch the series 4-1.
Earlier, in the fourth ODI, played in Indore, Virendar Sehwag created history by scoring the highest-ever ODI score of 219, helping India win the match by 153 runs. Sehwag also became the world’s second cricketer to score a double century in ODIs after Sachin Tendulkar, who had scored an unbeaten 200 against South Africa in Gwalior in 2010. Sehwag is now India’s highest individual scorer in both Tests (319) and ODIs.
The third ODI at Ahmedabad was won by West Indies by 16 runs
FOOTBALL
SAFF Championship
India made a dramatic turnaround in the second half to quell the challenge of Afghanistan by four goals to nil to retain the SAFF Championship title.
GOLF
Women’s Indian Open
Swede Caroline Hedwall fired a final round 69 to triumph at the Hero Women’s Indian Open Golf championship.
HOCKEY
Champion’s Trophy
Reigning world champions Australia maintained its stranglehold on the Champion’s trophy with a 1-0 win over Spain, claiming a record fourth straight title. This was their 12th Champion’s trophy title overall.
LUGE
Shiva wins Asia Cup title
Shiva Keshavan has won the luge title in the Asia Cup with a new continental speed record. The 30-year-old Manali (Himachal Pradesh) resident is the first non-Japanese to win this title. The Championship was held at Nagano, Japan.
TENNIS
Davis Cup
Rafal Nadal mounted a thrilling comeback from a set down to beat Argentina’s Jaun Martin Del Patro and clinch for Spain its fifth Davis Cup title.
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