Atletico meets Fulham in Wednesday's Europa League final without a title since 1996 but knows attempts to attack too vigorously will likely be exploited by an unheralded side that this season has beaten Shakhtar Donestsk, Juventus, Wolfsburg and Hamburg.
"They have excellent players," Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores said. "The physical aspect and strategy come together. We have to take some risk but not open ourselves to dead-ball situations. There are many reasons to be optimistic but we have to be careful.
"And we need to be courageous."
But Fulham may be going into the biggest match in its history without its leading scorer after Bobby Zamora sat out training Tuesday.
Zamora has an Achilles' problem and sat out Tuesday's afternoon training session. He could not be seen with the rest of the Fulham squad even though manager Roy Hodgson said he was confident that the striker would be able to play.
Ireland winger Damien Duff did train with his teammates at Hamburg Arena after recovering from a leg injury.
"Both players trained yesterday and that was very, very positive," Hodgson said. "I've been given no indication that they're suffering from a reaction so my hope is that they'll be available tomorrow."
Zamora's absence may have been to protect him against possible injury or to keep Atletico guessing about Fulham's likely lineup.
But speaking ahead of the session, the usually straightforward Hodgson had said he was hoping Zamora would train normally.
Zamora, who has scored eight times to help Fulham to a first European final, has not played since the 2-1 semifinal win over Hamburg on April 29, when Duff was also hurt.
If he does not recover sufficiently to play, Zamora could be replaced in attack by Erik Nevland, who will be playing his last match before returning to former club Viking Stavanger at the end of the season.
Fulham's midfield options are richer, with Clint Dempsey, Duff, Dickson Etuhu, Simon Davies and Zoltan Gera all vying for spots on the team.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
sport
GROS ISLET: England knocked New Zealand out of the World Twenty20 with a three-wicket Super Eight victory here on Monday, a result that ensured defending champions Pakistan also qualify for the semi-finals.
England proved there was more to their batting than Kevin Pietersen. Eoin Morgan starred with 40 after England, chasing 150 to win, had slumped to 66-4.
Together with Luke Wright (24) the former Ireland left-hander swung the game back England’s way in a stand of 52 in just more than six overs.
Morgan got out just before the finish but man-of-the-match Tim Bresnan, unbeaten on 23 after taking 1-20, ended the contest with five balls to spare when he pulled Kyle Mills for a boundary. Group E winners England, already through to the semi-finals before this last group match even started, after defending champions Pakistan beat South Africa earlier in the day, ended the Super Eight with a perfect played three won three record.
“It’s crucial that you keep the momentum going and stay in winning ways,” said England captain Paul Collingwood. “There’s areas to improve on again, but I’m absolutely delighted in how we’ve gone. A lot of credit goes to the bowlers.”
England’s victory also meant Pakistan went through to the semi-finals as group runners-up after edging New Zealand on superior run-rate.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori blamed repeated batting failures for his side’s exit. “There were a number of factors (in losing this match), 150 was competitive but about 10 below par,” Vettori said. “We did well to fight back but Morgan and Wright’s stand took it away from us. We could have bowled better. We just haven’t been able to put enough runs on the board.”
England had won their previous matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka
on the back of Pietersen fifties. But they had to do without their star batsman after Pietersen, who expects to be back for the semi-finals, was given temporary leave to attend the birth of his first child.
England made a rousing start to their run chase with Craig Kieswetter, like Pietersen and Michael Lumb born in South Africa, launching Nathan McCullum’s off-spin for a four and a huge six in successive balls as 13 runs came off the first over. But England then lost Kieswetter when the wicketkeeper struck Kyle Mills hard but straight to Nathan McCullum at cover-point.
Lumb drove the express pace of Shane Bond for a huge six and twice swept left-arm spinner Vettori for four. Ravi Bopara, Pietersen’s stand-in, made just nine before he was well caught in the covers by Ross Taylor off all-rounder Scott Styris. The 60-2 became 60-3 when Lumb was trapped leg before wicket for 32, made off 21 balls with a six and four fours, after he missed a sweep against Vettori.
England’s collapse continued to 66-4 when Collingwood was deceived by a Styris slower ball and
clipped straight to Brendon McCullum at midwicket. However, Morgan struck an amazing one-handed six off Styris and Wright struck a couple of boundaries off fast bowler Ian Butler. Morgan’s 34-ball innings ended
when he pulled Bond and Vettori took a fine diving catch but it was too little too late for New Zealand.
Earlier, Ross Taylor top-scored for New Zealand with 44 runs and put on 62 for the fourth wicket with Styris, who scored 31, after the Black Caps slumped to 65-3.
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sport
KATHMANDU: HTC Corporation — a global designer of smartphones — today introduced the HTC HD mini, an HTC Sense-based Windows Phone focused on delivering the popular experience of the HTC HD2 in a more compact design.
"The integration of HTC Sense and Windows Phone on HD mini and HD2 gives customers an additional choice for an advanced Windows Mobile phone that is sleek, well crafted and easy to use," said Jack Tong, vice president of HTC Asia.
The HTC HD mini sports a high degree of usability along with its own unique and beautiful design. The strong design ethos continues under the battery cover where a bright yellow internal structure, offers an unexpected surprise when the phone is opened.
The HTC HD mini utilises HTC Sense, a user experience focused on putting people at the centre by making the phone work in a more simple and natural way. This experience revolves around three fundamental principles that were developed by observing and listening to how people live and communicate.
Like the HTC HD2, the HTC HD mini continues the same focus on people-centric communication with complete Outlook integration. It helps you stay close to the important friends and colleagues in your life by providing a single contact view that displays individual communication snapshots of your conversations regardless of whether it was a call, text, status update or email.
HTC HD mini includes capacitive touch for viewing, zooming and resizing websites, Microsoft® Office files, PDF documents and pictures with just a pinch of your fingers. Leveraging its 3G broadband connectivity, it also offers personal Wi-Fi anywhere for your computer or other devices. Marketplace for Mobile.
The new HTC HD mini will be available from
early May at all authorised resellers at a suggested retail price of Rs 38,888. Standard retail HTC HD mini package will come with a 2GB microSD™ card.
sport
KATHMANDU: Asian Life Insurance started its share trading from today in the Nepse.
On the first day, the insurance company saw 60-unit of its shares being traded within the range of Rs 337 Rs 364 per unit making a total trading amount to Rs 21,010 through six transactions.
However, insurance companies sub group gained only 0.39 points to close at 554.32 points today.
Propelled by al the sub-groups the Nepse also gained 4.06 per cent or 17.52 points to close today's trading at 449.08 points. The sensitive index has also registered a rise of 4.58 points to 111.02 points.
None of the subgroups lost today. The biggest gainer of the day was the others sub group that surged by 30.54 points to 563.97 points. Similarly, strong profit in the third quarter pushed commercial banks sub-group by 18.58 points to 412.98 points from the opening 394.4 points.
The highest gainer of the day was Nabil Bank that saw Rs 95 per unit rise in its share , followed by Standard Chartered Bank at Rs 89, Nepal Investment Bank at Rs 54 and Everest Bank at Rs 51 per unit, respectively.
Hydropower sub-group also recorded a gain of 18.9 points as Chilime Hydropower and Arun Valley Hydropower gained Rs 40 and Rs 20 per unit shares.
Development banks sub group gained 8.67 points to close at 440.22 points and finance companies sub group gained 7.68 points to 419.67 points.
The market saw a total turnover of Rs 34.849 million through 726 transactions of 118,060-unit of shares.
sport
KATHMANDU: Asian Life Insurance started its share trading from today in the Nepse.
On the first day, the insurance company saw 60-unit of its shares being traded within the range of Rs 337 Rs 364 per unit making a total trading amount to Rs 21,010 through six transactions.
However, insurance companies sub group gained only 0.39 points to close at 554.32 points today.
Propelled by al the sub-groups the Nepse also gained 4.06 per cent or 17.52 points to close today's trading at 449.08 points. The sensitive index has also registered a rise of 4.58 points to 111.02 points.
None of the subgroups lost today. The biggest gainer of the day was the others sub group that surged by 30.54 points to 563.97 points. Similarly, strong profit in the third quarter pushed commercial banks sub-group by 18.58 points to 412.98 points from the opening 394.4 points.
The highest gainer of the day was Nabil Bank that saw Rs 95 per unit rise in its share , followed by Standard Chartered Bank at Rs 89, Nepal Investment Bank at Rs 54 and Everest Bank at Rs 51 per unit, respectively.
Hydropower sub-group also recorded a gain of 18.9 points as Chilime Hydropower and Arun Valley Hydropower gained Rs 40 and Rs 20 per unit shares.
Development banks sub group gained 8.67 points to close at 440.22 points and finance companies sub group gained 7.68 points to 419.67 points.
The market saw a total turnover of Rs 34.849 million through 726 transactions of 118,060-unit of shares.
sport
GROS ISLET: Australia and Sri Lanka both qualified for the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 after Australia beat the West Indies by six wickets in a Super Eight match here on Tuesday, a result that knocked the hosts out of the tournament.
Group E winners England will face Sri Lanka, the Group F runners-up at the Beausejour Stadium here on Thursday. Meanwhile, Group F winners Australia will play Group E runners-up and defending champions Pakistan at the same ground here on Friday. The final takes place at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Sunday.
Australia knocked defeated hosts the West Indies by six wickets. West Indies, in a match they had to win by 24 runs to reach the semi-finals were bowled out for just 105 at the Beausejour Stadium. Australia, in reply, lost two wickets on 31 but Brad Haddin (42) saw Australia to the verge of victory before he got out with two runs needed to West Indies captain Chris Gayle. The occasional off-spinner then ended the match with a ball that went for five wides. Australia, who finished on 109-4, won with 22 balls to spare.
Earlier, Sri Lanka beat India by five-wicket in a last ball thriller. Chamara Kapugedera's six off the final ball saw Sri Lanka to a dramatic win after man-of-the-match Angelo Mathews and captain Kumar Sangakkara both made 46 to revive the innings after a top-order collapse. With three needed off the last ball, Kapugedera carved Nehra over cover for six to finish on 37 not out.
sport
TOKYO: Japan and Kashima Antlers defender Atsuto Uchida is set to join German powerhouse Schalke 04 after the World Cup finals starting in South Africa next month, press reports said Thursday.
The two clubs will work out details of his contract after the J-League goes into a World Cup break on May 17, the reports said.
"It won't take long until the deal is finalised," Kashima's director of technical development, Mitsuru Suzuki, told Kyodo News. The club's public relations official, Hiroki Koshini, could not confirm the reports.
Uchida, a 22-year-old right back, helped Kashima clinch a third straight J-League title in the last March-December season. He has scored one goal in 31 matches for Japan since his international debut in January 2008.
Japan coach Takeshi Okada has picked Uchida as one of seven defenders in his final 23-men World Cup squad.
Schalke 04 finished runners-up to Bayern Munich in the just ended Bundesliga season.
The swift-footed defender joined Kashima in 2006 after graduating from high school. His current contract with Kashima will expire in June 2013.
The two clubs will work out details of his contract after the J-League goes into a World Cup break on May 17, the reports said.
"It won't take long until the deal is finalised," Kashima's director of technical development, Mitsuru Suzuki, told Kyodo News. The club's public relations official, Hiroki Koshini, could not confirm the reports.
Uchida, a 22-year-old right back, helped Kashima clinch a third straight J-League title in the last March-December season. He has scored one goal in 31 matches for Japan since his international debut in January 2008.
Japan coach Takeshi Okada has picked Uchida as one of seven defenders in his final 23-men World Cup squad.
Schalke 04 finished runners-up to Bayern Munich in the just ended Bundesliga season.
The swift-footed defender joined Kashima in 2006 after graduating from high school. His current contract with Kashima will expire in June 2013.
sport
ROME: AC Milan president and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sprang to the defence of his former coach Leonardo after the Brazilian received an angry reception at the San Siro.
Inter Milan coach Leonardo was roundly jeered by Milan fans at Saturday night's derby, won by 3-0 by Milan, for his supposed treachery in switching city colours this season.
A huge banner was unveiled at one end of the stadium depicting Leonardo as the historical Judas Iscariot in a parody of the famous Last Supper frescoe painted by Leonardo Da Vinci and housed in the city's Santa Maria delle Grazie church.
But Berlusconi, who is involved in defence trials against accusations of fraud, corruption and paying for sex with underage prostitutes, insisted that he is a better man than the club's fans and defended his former coach.
He even took no offence at claims Leonardo had described him as a narcissist.
"He's right, I am a narcissist," he said on Sunday. "You can't talk about unfaithfulness," added the 75-year-old, who is accused of hosting orgies with underage prostitutes at one of his Milan homes and whose last wife Veronica Lario left him over his playboy antics.
"It's the professionalism of football and you can't use this term to describe a player, an official or a coach who moves from one team to another," he said.
And when asked why the fans didn't see things from his point of view, the under fire Prime Minister added: "Not everyone is as good a person as me."
Inter Milan coach Leonardo was roundly jeered by Milan fans at Saturday night's derby, won by 3-0 by Milan, for his supposed treachery in switching city colours this season.
A huge banner was unveiled at one end of the stadium depicting Leonardo as the historical Judas Iscariot in a parody of the famous Last Supper frescoe painted by Leonardo Da Vinci and housed in the city's Santa Maria delle Grazie church.
But Berlusconi, who is involved in defence trials against accusations of fraud, corruption and paying for sex with underage prostitutes, insisted that he is a better man than the club's fans and defended his former coach.
He even took no offence at claims Leonardo had described him as a narcissist.
"He's right, I am a narcissist," he said on Sunday. "You can't talk about unfaithfulness," added the 75-year-old, who is accused of hosting orgies with underage prostitutes at one of his Milan homes and whose last wife Veronica Lario left him over his playboy antics.
"It's the professionalism of football and you can't use this term to describe a player, an official or a coach who moves from one team to another," he said.
And when asked why the fans didn't see things from his point of view, the under fire Prime Minister added: "Not everyone is as good a person as me."
sport
NEW DELHI: India plotted a new era of cricket domination on Sunday after their stunning World Cup success confirmed their status as the sport's only superpower.
The comfortable six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Mumbai, India's first world title since 1983, was also being viewed as a reflection of the country's growing commercial and political muscle.
"In the last three to four years India has done well in shooting, badminton, tennis, hockey and football," said winning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
"We are growing as a sporting nation. But cricket is special because of the infrastructure.
"It all started with the 1983 win. Then two big players, Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar, came on the scene, followed by Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid.
"It is due to them we are getting a lot of money and respect. We are trying to pass it on to the next generation."
Dhoni, the son of a steel factory worker, is a multi-millionaire thanks to a career which has seen him become the first man to captain a World Cup and World Twenty20 winning side.
His team are also top of the world Test match rankings.
Throughout the six-week tournament, he was a regular on match-day TV commercials, endorsing everything from ceiling fans to mobile phones to high-end property.
But there will be little rest for his in-demand champions.
India have a packed upcoming programme, including tours of the West Indies, England and Australia before the year is out, as well as home internationals.
sport
LONDON: Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick as Manchester United seized control of the Premier League title race with a 4-2 victory over West Ham while rivals Arsenal slipped up against Blackburn.
United’s come-from-behind victory against the Hammers gave Sir Alex Ferguson’s side a seven-point lead at the top as Arsenal’s dismal run continued with a 0-0 draw against Blackburn at the Emirates.
West Ham had looked to be on course for a deserved victory after two early penalties from Mark Noble fired the Londoners into a 2-0 lead at Upton Park. But Rooney spearheaded a dramatic United transformation in the second half with a hat-trick. Javier Hernandez grabbed United’s fourth.
Third placed Chelsea saw their hopes dashed as they were held 1-1 at Stoke. Jon Walters fired Stoke ahead on eight minutes, surging past David Luiz near halfway before firing home. But Chelsea got back on level terms just after the half hour mark, with Didier Drogba powering in a diving header.
United’s come-from-behind victory against the Hammers gave Sir Alex Ferguson’s side a seven-point lead at the top as Arsenal’s dismal run continued with a 0-0 draw against Blackburn at the Emirates.
West Ham had looked to be on course for a deserved victory after two early penalties from Mark Noble fired the Londoners into a 2-0 lead at Upton Park. But Rooney spearheaded a dramatic United transformation in the second half with a hat-trick. Javier Hernandez grabbed United’s fourth.
Third placed Chelsea saw their hopes dashed as they were held 1-1 at Stoke. Jon Walters fired Stoke ahead on eight minutes, surging past David Luiz near halfway before firing home. But Chelsea got back on level terms just after the half hour mark, with Didier Drogba powering in a diving header.
sport
KATHMANDU: The Surya Nepal Masters — the biggest and only international professional event of Nepal — has been co-sanctioned by the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).
The 18th edition of the tournament, sponsored by Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd under its Corporate Social Responsibility iniative — Surya Nepal Khelparyatan — is slated for April 13-17 at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club.
The event is aimed at promoting Nepal as a golf destination and enhancing golfing talents to the international standard, said Surya Nepal in a press release. “The highlight of this year’s Masters is that the flagship event is being co-sanctioned by the PGTI in partnership,” added the release.
The co-sanction means the top players under the PGTI will strengthen the field of the prestigious event — one of the 12 to be organised by the Nepal PGA under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour in the 2011-12 season. Surya Nepal has already signed the annual sponsorship deal of 11.2 million with the Nepal PGA for the next three years.
The Surya Nepal has increased the cash purse to four million rupees this year from last year’s three million. “It is a huge platform for the Nepali players and they will earn an opportunity to play alongside world class players,” said Nepal PGA President Rabindra Man Shrestha. “The increment in prize money and the strengthened field will ultimately help Nepali golf grow in long term,” he added.
“Apart from this, the PGTI has agreed to provide direct entry to the Nepali pros who win the Surya Nepal Masters,” informed Shrestha.
The Surya Nepal Masters will feature two parts — Pro-Am and main event. The event will tee off with the Pro-Am event, sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, on April 13, while the main event will be played over 72 holes from April 14-17. The Masters field will include top 30 pros and 10 amateurs of Nepal and top 70 PGTI Order of Merit pros.
The 18th edition of the tournament, sponsored by Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd under its Corporate Social Responsibility iniative — Surya Nepal Khelparyatan — is slated for April 13-17 at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club.
The event is aimed at promoting Nepal as a golf destination and enhancing golfing talents to the international standard, said Surya Nepal in a press release. “The highlight of this year’s Masters is that the flagship event is being co-sanctioned by the PGTI in partnership,” added the release.
The co-sanction means the top players under the PGTI will strengthen the field of the prestigious event — one of the 12 to be organised by the Nepal PGA under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour in the 2011-12 season. Surya Nepal has already signed the annual sponsorship deal of 11.2 million with the Nepal PGA for the next three years.
The Surya Nepal has increased the cash purse to four million rupees this year from last year’s three million. “It is a huge platform for the Nepali players and they will earn an opportunity to play alongside world class players,” said Nepal PGA President Rabindra Man Shrestha. “The increment in prize money and the strengthened field will ultimately help Nepali golf grow in long term,” he added.
“Apart from this, the PGTI has agreed to provide direct entry to the Nepali pros who win the Surya Nepal Masters,” informed Shrestha.
The Surya Nepal Masters will feature two parts — Pro-Am and main event. The event will tee off with the Pro-Am event, sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, on April 13, while the main event will be played over 72 holes from April 14-17. The Masters field will include top 30 pros and 10 amateurs of Nepal and top 70 PGTI Order of Merit pros.
sport
KATHMANDU: The Surya Nepal Masters — the biggest and only international professional event of Nepal — has been co-sanctioned by the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).
The 18th edition of the tournament, sponsored by Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd under its Corporate Social Responsibility iniative — Surya Nepal Khelparyatan — is slated for April 13-17 at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club.
The event is aimed at promoting Nepal as a golf destination and enhancing golfing talents to the international standard, said Surya Nepal in a press release. “The highlight of this year’s Masters is that the flagship event is being co-sanctioned by the PGTI in partnership,” added the release.
The co-sanction means the top players under the PGTI will strengthen the field of the prestigious event — one of the 12 to be organised by the Nepal PGA under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour in the 2011-12 season. Surya Nepal has already signed the annual sponsorship deal of 11.2 million with the Nepal PGA for the next three years.
The Surya Nepal has increased the cash purse to four million rupees this year from last year’s three million. “It is a huge platform for the Nepali players and they will earn an opportunity to play alongside world class players,” said Nepal PGA President Rabindra Man Shrestha. “The increment in prize money and the strengthened field will ultimately help Nepali golf grow in long term,” he added.
“Apart from this, the PGTI has agreed to provide direct entry to the Nepali pros who win the Surya Nepal Masters,” informed Shrestha.
The Surya Nepal Masters will feature two parts — Pro-Am and main event. The event will tee off with the Pro-Am event, sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, on April 13, while the main event will be played over 72 holes from April 14-17. The Masters field will include top 30 pros and 10 amateurs of Nepal and top 70 PGTI Order of Merit pros.
The 18th edition of the tournament, sponsored by Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd under its Corporate Social Responsibility iniative — Surya Nepal Khelparyatan — is slated for April 13-17 at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club.
The event is aimed at promoting Nepal as a golf destination and enhancing golfing talents to the international standard, said Surya Nepal in a press release. “The highlight of this year’s Masters is that the flagship event is being co-sanctioned by the PGTI in partnership,” added the release.
The co-sanction means the top players under the PGTI will strengthen the field of the prestigious event — one of the 12 to be organised by the Nepal PGA under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour in the 2011-12 season. Surya Nepal has already signed the annual sponsorship deal of 11.2 million with the Nepal PGA for the next three years.
The Surya Nepal has increased the cash purse to four million rupees this year from last year’s three million. “It is a huge platform for the Nepali players and they will earn an opportunity to play alongside world class players,” said Nepal PGA President Rabindra Man Shrestha. “The increment in prize money and the strengthened field will ultimately help Nepali golf grow in long term,” he added.
“Apart from this, the PGTI has agreed to provide direct entry to the Nepali pros who win the Surya Nepal Masters,” informed Shrestha.
The Surya Nepal Masters will feature two parts — Pro-Am and main event. The event will tee off with the Pro-Am event, sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, on April 13, while the main event will be played over 72 holes from April 14-17. The Masters field will include top 30 pros and 10 amateurs of Nepal and top 70 PGTI Order of Merit pros.
sport
Meet Ngima Sherpa. Nepalese by birth, with family in Tibet, he now has a wine named for him, Ngima's Cuvee. Last night Ngima (pronounced knee-ma) was at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in San Francisco for the launch of this wine. "I am happy; it's a great honor," he says. Tasting it for the first time tonight, a 2009 Hirsch Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast, he likes it. "It's great, very nice finish; I'm very happy."
Nicole Kosta is the Wine Director at the Mandarin. When Hirsch Vineyards asked her if she'd want to create a custom blend, "I was like, are you kidding me? of course!" The 50 cases of the 2008 Pinot went to the Mandarin Hotel and were sold only in the hotel's bar and restaurant.
Sommeliers at other Mandarin Oriental properties in the US "caught wind of this wine and wanted to be a part of it." Nicole invited them to join her in blending the 2009 vintage. The night before going to Hirsch, the somms had dinner at Meritage Restaurant in Sonoma, where they met Ngima for the first time. They had no idea he'd been up Everest more than a dozen times. "He was just taking care of us, and he just gave us this amazing, gracious service. He's very humble but spot on and pristine, which is how we approach service at the Mandarin Oriental. We also saw Ngima's passion for wine."
They did get around to talking about his expeditions on Mt. Everest. He's never reached the Everest summit, but has come close, at 28,000 feet (Mt. Everest is just over 29,000 feet). "Ngima told us about the time he took a bottle of Hanzell Vineyards wine up the mountain, and he took a photo of it there. I wanted an experience like that," says Nicole. "He was very inspiring."
Ngima grew up in the hospitality business, organizing, guiding and cooking on treks up the world's tallest mountain. He came to the United States in 1994, and friends in Sonoma talked him into staying. He started working at Meritage, and that's where he met Jean Arnold Sessions, president of Hanzell Vineyards. "She has a dream of trekking in Nepal, with me as her guide," says Ngima. Until that happens, they created a Himalayan experience at Hanzell, where Ngima leads groups up the steep hilly vineyards to the "summit." So his taking a bottle of Hanzell on an Everest climb makes total sense.
As the somms were at Hirsch blending the '09 Pinot, they needed a name for it. "We can call it this or call it that," says Nicole, "but I was just like, why don't we name it after Ngima, he is such an amazing person." In a call to Ngima to ask if it was okay to use his name, he said, "no problem."
ABIDJAN: Ivory Coast presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara has rejected U.N. charges that his forces were involved in a massacre of hundreds of civilians.
The United Nations mission in Ivory Coast (ONUCI) said on Saturday that traditional hunters known as Dozos fought alongside Ouattara's forces and took part in killing 330 people in the western town of Duekoue.
Troops loyal to Ouattara launched an offensive early this week to dislodge incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo who has refused to cede power after losing a U.N. certified election to Ouattara.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said on Saturday that at least 800 people were killed in intercommunal violence in Duekoue this week.
It is not clear whether the 330 counted by ONUCI is included in that figure.
LOS ANGELES: Vanessa Hudgens, 22, is unsure if she will ever have cosmetic surgery but already uses anti-ageing products in order to maintain a youthful appearance.
Vanessa Hudgens already uses anti-ageing products.
The 22-year-old actress is unsure whether she will undergo any cosmetic procedures in the future but is already taking care to maintain a youthful look.
She said: "Would I have surgery? I don't know. It would really depend. I'm already starting to use anti-ageing products.
"You might as well start sooner than later because products are really amazing these days."
The 'Sucker Punch' star admitted she thinks there is more pressure on women then men in Hollywood as they get older because grey-haired actors are seen as "sexy".
She said: "I think women still get the pressure more because when men age, it's sexy - they get to have their grey hair.
The U.N. said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke late on Saturday with Ouattara, who told him his forces were not involved in the Duekoue killings.
Guillaume Ngefa, the deputy head of the human rights division of the U.N.'s mission in Ivory Coast (UNOCI) speaking on France24 television, blamed 220 of the deaths on pro-Ouattara forces. He said the killings happened between Monday and Wednesday as pro-Ouattara troops advanced southward.
He said pro-Gbagbo militia fighters killed over 110.
"The government (Ouattara's) notes with regret that the allegations of the deputy chief of ONUCI human rights division are not supported by any evidence after its preliminary investigation," Ouattara's government said in a statement.
It also denied that Dozos were part of its forces.
OVER 1,300 DEATH
After swiftly taking control of swathes of the country, pro-Ouattara forces have met fierce resistance over the past three days.
Troops loyal to Gbagbo have held on to positions around the presidential palace in Abidjan, Gbagbo's residence and the state television.
In Paris, the French defense ministry said French troops have taken over Abidjan's airport and that France plans to send an additional 300 troops to Ivory Coast.
After a day and night of intense fighting, Abidjan was calm on Sunday morning with sporadic gunfire, Reuters reporters and residents said.
Heavy canon fire and shooting were heard overnight in the pro-Gbagbo neighborhood of Yopougon and also in Cocody, residents said.
The fighting has brought the number of people killed since the post-election violence began in November to over 1,300.
Catholic charity Caritas said in a statement that teams visiting Duekoue reported that a thousand people have been killed or "disappeared."
After going to the media with promises of streaking down the streets if and when the Men in Blue get the World Cup home, Poonam Pandey conveniently disappeared on Saturday. And even managed to switch off her cell phone.
Sources say the 20-year-old model was pestered by calls from people, either begging her to strip or threatening should she dare 'insult Indian culture'.
Pandey on Thursday had reiterated her promise to run in the buff if India brings the Cup back home.
Pandey tweeted: "3 days to go to Complete my Promise to INDIA :)", a few hours after India thrashed Pakistan by 29 runs in the semifinal held in Mohali, near Chandigarh.
Complying with a court order, an FIR was lodged against the Kingfisher model, on the charge of obscenity. She defended her case saying this would be her way of expressing support to Team India and that she wanted to go the 'extra mileage'. Freudian slip is it Poonam? After all the much-hyped stunt has just given her extra mileage without going the mile!
Nicole Kosta is the Wine Director at the Mandarin. When Hirsch Vineyards asked her if she'd want to create a custom blend, "I was like, are you kidding me? of course!" The 50 cases of the 2008 Pinot went to the Mandarin Hotel and were sold only in the hotel's bar and restaurant.
Sommeliers at other Mandarin Oriental properties in the US "caught wind of this wine and wanted to be a part of it." Nicole invited them to join her in blending the 2009 vintage. The night before going to Hirsch, the somms had dinner at Meritage Restaurant in Sonoma, where they met Ngima for the first time. They had no idea he'd been up Everest more than a dozen times. "He was just taking care of us, and he just gave us this amazing, gracious service. He's very humble but spot on and pristine, which is how we approach service at the Mandarin Oriental. We also saw Ngima's passion for wine."
They did get around to talking about his expeditions on Mt. Everest. He's never reached the Everest summit, but has come close, at 28,000 feet (Mt. Everest is just over 29,000 feet). "Ngima told us about the time he took a bottle of Hanzell Vineyards wine up the mountain, and he took a photo of it there. I wanted an experience like that," says Nicole. "He was very inspiring."
Ngima grew up in the hospitality business, organizing, guiding and cooking on treks up the world's tallest mountain. He came to the United States in 1994, and friends in Sonoma talked him into staying. He started working at Meritage, and that's where he met Jean Arnold Sessions, president of Hanzell Vineyards. "She has a dream of trekking in Nepal, with me as her guide," says Ngima. Until that happens, they created a Himalayan experience at Hanzell, where Ngima leads groups up the steep hilly vineyards to the "summit." So his taking a bottle of Hanzell on an Everest climb makes total sense.
As the somms were at Hirsch blending the '09 Pinot, they needed a name for it. "We can call it this or call it that," says Nicole, "but I was just like, why don't we name it after Ngima, he is such an amazing person." In a call to Ngima to ask if it was okay to use his name, he said, "no problem."
ABIDJAN: Ivory Coast presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara has rejected U.N. charges that his forces were involved in a massacre of hundreds of civilians.
The United Nations mission in Ivory Coast (ONUCI) said on Saturday that traditional hunters known as Dozos fought alongside Ouattara's forces and took part in killing 330 people in the western town of Duekoue.
Troops loyal to Ouattara launched an offensive early this week to dislodge incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo who has refused to cede power after losing a U.N. certified election to Ouattara.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said on Saturday that at least 800 people were killed in intercommunal violence in Duekoue this week.
It is not clear whether the 330 counted by ONUCI is included in that figure.
LOS ANGELES: Vanessa Hudgens, 22, is unsure if she will ever have cosmetic surgery but already uses anti-ageing products in order to maintain a youthful appearance.
Vanessa Hudgens already uses anti-ageing products.
The 22-year-old actress is unsure whether she will undergo any cosmetic procedures in the future but is already taking care to maintain a youthful look.
She said: "Would I have surgery? I don't know. It would really depend. I'm already starting to use anti-ageing products.
"You might as well start sooner than later because products are really amazing these days."
The 'Sucker Punch' star admitted she thinks there is more pressure on women then men in Hollywood as they get older because grey-haired actors are seen as "sexy".
She said: "I think women still get the pressure more because when men age, it's sexy - they get to have their grey hair.
The U.N. said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke late on Saturday with Ouattara, who told him his forces were not involved in the Duekoue killings.
Guillaume Ngefa, the deputy head of the human rights division of the U.N.'s mission in Ivory Coast (UNOCI) speaking on France24 television, blamed 220 of the deaths on pro-Ouattara forces. He said the killings happened between Monday and Wednesday as pro-Ouattara troops advanced southward.
He said pro-Gbagbo militia fighters killed over 110.
"The government (Ouattara's) notes with regret that the allegations of the deputy chief of ONUCI human rights division are not supported by any evidence after its preliminary investigation," Ouattara's government said in a statement.
It also denied that Dozos were part of its forces.
OVER 1,300 DEATH
After swiftly taking control of swathes of the country, pro-Ouattara forces have met fierce resistance over the past three days.
Troops loyal to Gbagbo have held on to positions around the presidential palace in Abidjan, Gbagbo's residence and the state television.
In Paris, the French defense ministry said French troops have taken over Abidjan's airport and that France plans to send an additional 300 troops to Ivory Coast.
After a day and night of intense fighting, Abidjan was calm on Sunday morning with sporadic gunfire, Reuters reporters and residents said.
Heavy canon fire and shooting were heard overnight in the pro-Gbagbo neighborhood of Yopougon and also in Cocody, residents said.
The fighting has brought the number of people killed since the post-election violence began in November to over 1,300.
Catholic charity Caritas said in a statement that teams visiting Duekoue reported that a thousand people have been killed or "disappeared."
LALITPUR: Coach Graham Roberts today said Nepal’s opening match against Afghanistan on April 7 would be crucial in a bid to qualify for the AFC Challenge Cup finals.
Nepal will take on Afhanistan at the Dasharath Stadium in the Group D qualifiers where they will also face World Cup finalists North Korea and Sri Lanka. Addressing a press meet at the ANFA Complex, English coach Roberts said they were aiming to make a winning start on home soil.
“If we beat the Afghans, it will be easier for us to qualify for the finals. But if we lose then we will be under tremendous pressure to win the remaining matches,” he said. “I have watched the DVDs of Afghans playing against Bhutan in their play-off matches. They are physically strong, but we are ready to face them.”
“The 10-week long hard training and the fitness of the players have given me confidence of a better showing,” Roberts said. He said the team was looking forward to the tournament.
Roberts, who looked confident with his defenders led by skipper Sagar Thapa and Rohit Chand, said the defenceline would be the major weapon to beat any opponent. “We have world class players in Rohit and striker Anil Gurung but defense would be a major weapon for us,” he said.
However, Roberts complained of not getting enough practice matches. “We played a couple of matches with local clubs and two friendlies with Bhutan, but the case could have been different had we played with strong international teams,” said Roberts.
Nepal will take on Afhanistan at the Dasharath Stadium in the Group D qualifiers where they will also face World Cup finalists North Korea and Sri Lanka. Addressing a press meet at the ANFA Complex, English coach Roberts said they were aiming to make a winning start on home soil.
“If we beat the Afghans, it will be easier for us to qualify for the finals. But if we lose then we will be under tremendous pressure to win the remaining matches,” he said. “I have watched the DVDs of Afghans playing against Bhutan in their play-off matches. They are physically strong, but we are ready to face them.”
“The 10-week long hard training and the fitness of the players have given me confidence of a better showing,” Roberts said. He said the team was looking forward to the tournament.
Roberts, who looked confident with his defenders led by skipper Sagar Thapa and Rohit Chand, said the defenceline would be the major weapon to beat any opponent. “We have world class players in Rohit and striker Anil Gurung but defense would be a major weapon for us,” he said.
However, Roberts complained of not getting enough practice matches. “We played a couple of matches with local clubs and two friendlies with Bhutan, but the case could have been different had we played with strong international teams,” said Roberts.
LALITPUR: Image Channel and Manakamana Development Bank kicked-off their first Rupak Memorial Five-a-side Corporate Football Tournament campaign with victories here at the Jawalakhel Youth Club grounds today.
Aabesh Shrestha scored a hat-trick as Image Channel defeated G-Five Mobile 3-2 in the inaugural match. Dipesh Shrestha and Rabindra Poudel replied for G-Five. In another Group ‘A’ match, Manakamana Development Bank beat Surya Nepal 3-2 on goals from Shekhar Dahal, Ananta Khatiwoda and Saroj Neupane. Trishakti Rana scored both goals for Surya Nepal.
Civil Bank and Norling Restaurant won their respective Group ‘B’ matches. Civil hammered International Leasing and Finance Company 3-0 following a brace from Bhagwan Basnet, while Bikram Karki netted one for the losing side.
Bishal Giri struck twice as Norling beat Himalayan Bank 2-1. Rupak Karki replied for Himalayan Bank.
The Himalayan Times (THT) played a 1-1 stalemate with International Money Express in a Group ‘C’ match. Sunil Bhattarai scored for THT before Sanam Maharjan levelled the scores. Also, Bank of Asia defeated Global Bank 1-0 with Rajeev Shakya scoring the winner.
In Group D, Suresh Dhungana and Prajwol Prajapati scored twice as Ncell hammered Nepal Industrial and Commercial (NIC) Bank 4-1. Amit Man Shrestha scored the consolation goal for NIC. Amit Shrestha was the first player to be booked in the tournament. Earlier, former skipper of Nepali national team and former Inspector General of Police Achut Krishna Kharel inaugurated the tournament.
In case you're wondering where model Poonam Pandey is now that India has won the World Cup, read on!Aabesh Shrestha scored a hat-trick as Image Channel defeated G-Five Mobile 3-2 in the inaugural match. Dipesh Shrestha and Rabindra Poudel replied for G-Five. In another Group ‘A’ match, Manakamana Development Bank beat Surya Nepal 3-2 on goals from Shekhar Dahal, Ananta Khatiwoda and Saroj Neupane. Trishakti Rana scored both goals for Surya Nepal.
Civil Bank and Norling Restaurant won their respective Group ‘B’ matches. Civil hammered International Leasing and Finance Company 3-0 following a brace from Bhagwan Basnet, while Bikram Karki netted one for the losing side.
Bishal Giri struck twice as Norling beat Himalayan Bank 2-1. Rupak Karki replied for Himalayan Bank.
The Himalayan Times (THT) played a 1-1 stalemate with International Money Express in a Group ‘C’ match. Sunil Bhattarai scored for THT before Sanam Maharjan levelled the scores. Also, Bank of Asia defeated Global Bank 1-0 with Rajeev Shakya scoring the winner.
In Group D, Suresh Dhungana and Prajwol Prajapati scored twice as Ncell hammered Nepal Industrial and Commercial (NIC) Bank 4-1. Amit Man Shrestha scored the consolation goal for NIC. Amit Shrestha was the first player to be booked in the tournament. Earlier, former skipper of Nepali national team and former Inspector General of Police Achut Krishna Kharel inaugurated the tournament.
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