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Indian footballers look to bounce back after 1-9 loss

DUBAI - The Indian football team will look for a much improved performance and would like to erase the painful memories of the last match when they take on UAE in an international friendly on Thursday at Al Wasl Stadium, Dubai, at 6.45pm.

After being humiliated by Kuwait in Sharjah on Sunday with a 9-1 thrashing, Indian football sunk to its lowest depths in several decades and the boys would look to boost their morale as they had also lost 0-2 to Asian champions Iraq on November 11.

The Indians, who were preparing in the UAE for the January 7-29 AFC Asian Cup in Doha, were completely outplayed by the West Asians who pumped in three goals in the opening half and went on to score six more in the second session. Al Qadsia striker Bader Al Mutawa struck four times (25^th, 55^th, 66^th and 90^th) while Yousef Naser Al Sulaiman (20^th), Jarah Al Ataiqi (29^th, penalty), Fahad Al Enezi (51^st), Khaled Khalaf (56^th) Hammad Naif Al Enezi (75^th) scored once each as the Kuwaitis scored goals almost at will at the Al-Wahda Stadium. Mohammed Rafi netted a consolation goal for India in the 69^th minute.

They now take on UAE in their final international friendly, entry for which will be free for spectators.

At the Asia Cp India is in the toughest group along with Australia, Bahrain and Korea Republic. The UAE team are also preparing for the Asia Cup and for the GCC cup to be played in Yemen from 20 November. UAE are grouped with Iraq, DPR Korea and Iran. At the Asia Cup, India play Australia on 10 January, Bahrain on 14 January and Korea Republic on 18 January. The UAE play DPR Korea on 11 January, Iraq on 15 January and Iran on 19 January 2011. The Semi finals are scheduled for 25 January and the Final is scheduled for 29 January 2011.

Abu Dhabi to host Laureus Awards function on Feb 7

DUBAI - The Laureus World Sports Awards, the premier honours event in the international sporting calendar, will be staged on February 7 at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi.

The announcement was made at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin by Dr Edwin Moses, Laureus Academy chairman, Anders Sundt Jensen, executive director of Laureus, and Guy Sanan, chief executive officer of Laureus.

The Laureus World Sports Awards, which was founded by its patrons Daimler and Richemont, is returning to Abu Dhabi thanks to the support of Aabar Investments PJSC, who will once again be host partner for the event, which will be broadcast to a worldwide TV audience

Khadem Al Qubaisi, chairman of Aabar Investments PJS, said he was looking forward to the event. “The Laureus World Sports Awards is a unique event. It was magnificent, a great success for Abu Dhabi when it was held here last March. The whole event was really superb. We will certainly try to do something special when we bring the Awards back next year,” he said.

The Laureus Awards ceremony provides a high-profile focus as stars of 
the sporting world come together to salute the finest sportsmen and sportswomen of the year. The winners are selected by the ultimate sports jury - the 46 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, the living legends of sport honouring the greatest athletes of today.

Double Olympic champion Edwin Moses was looking forward to the Abu Dhabi trip. “I am delighted that the Laureus World Sports Awards is to be staged once again in Abu Dhabi. Our visit to the United Arab Emirates last year was unforgettable and produced a most memorable awards ceremony. This is an exciting city with a growing reputation in the sporting world and I am very happy that Laureus can be part of that. The welcome we received last year was warm and we look forward to returning to Abu Dhabi to celebrate another memorable year of sport,” he said.

Also present with Edwin Moses in Berlin for the announcement were Laureus Academy members Marcus Allen, Kapil Dev, Emerson Fittipaldi, Sean Fitzpatrick, Dawn Fraser, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Kip Keino, Franz Klammer, Alexey Nemov, Morné du Plessis, Hugo Porta, Mark Spitz, Daley Thompson and Steve Waugh, who were all attending the Laureus Academy Forum taking place in the German capital. Also present was world heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, who is a member of the Laureus Friends and Ambassadors programme.

Last year double Oscar-winning Hollywood star Kevin Spacey hosted a glittering Awards Ceremony attended by leading sportsmen and women from around the world.

Also in the audience at a packed auditorium at the Emirates Palace were Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow, British film stars Hugh Grant and Clive Owen, and American actors Kyle MacLachlan and Michelle Rodriguez.