The Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) has decided to appoint Venkatpathi Raju as new coach for the Ranji Trophy side for the coming season of 2008-09.

At present, Raju is working as a selector for team India (south zone). His tenure of selector is due to end this month. His availability for OCA will be known only after the BCCI AGM on September 27-28.

Speaking on this Raju said, “If I don't get an extension, I'll be happy to take over the coaching of Orissa. So we have to wait till September 27.”

The left arm spinner has played 28 tests and 53 ODI’s for team India. He last featured against Australia in 2001 at Eden Gardens.

Twenty-eight years ago, Terry Fox, in order to raise money for cancer research, undertook the ‘Marathon of Hope’ that saw him run / walk across Canada.

ESPN-STAR Sports has bagged the exclusive rights to telecast the 20-20 Champions League matches for the next 10 years at a whopping US $ 1 billion.

The channel will telecast all the seasons until 2017. The inaugural season will be started from December 3 to 10 this year. The other contenders were Abu Dhabi Sports Club and DIC.

Pankaj Advani again proved himself the best player. He again got doubles in a hard-fought match. Advani defeated Devendra Joshi to win the IBSF World Billiards championsh at the Karnataka State Billiards Association Hall on Wednesday.

This was a hat-trick for Advani, He won the title in 2005 and again in Singapore.

Advani started with a 217 on his very second visit to the table and achieved 327 on his seventh. Joshi gained 1120 points after the first session and gave a stiff competition, but the strategic planning of Advani helped him to clinch the victory at last.

On Sunday night, Serena Williams jumped with joy after ousting Jelena Jankovic with a straight-set win over 6-4, 7-5, in a thrilling match full of spectacular strokes and momentum swings. This was William’s third U.S. Open championship and ninth Grand Slam title.

In the final four games, Williams was simply inexorable managing a straight-set win over Jankovic.

Leading Billiard player, Pankaj Advani has won the ONGC-IBSF World Billiards Points Format Championship. He defeated veteran Geet Sethi in the very interesting mach held in Banglore. All the members of the Karnataka State Billiards Association and his fans expressed pleasure on his winning.

He defeated Geet Sethi by posting a 150-90, 151-0, 150-24, 150-0, 86-150, 150-72, 150-12 triumph in the final round.