WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! Adam Gilchrist kisses Matthew Hayden in the changing rooms after Australia won the ICC CWC final at the Kensington Oval on April 28 in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Adam Gilchrist lived up to his billing as the most dangerous batsman in the one-day game with a record 149 as Australia won an unprecedented third straight ICC CWC final on Saturday.

Australia triumphed by 53 runs over Sri Lanka on the Duckworth/Lewis method at Kensington Oval in a game ruined as a spectacle by the weather.

Gilchrist's innings, the highest in a final surpassing the 140 not out made by Australia captain Ricky Ponting against India in Johannesburg four years ago, was the centerpiece of the champions' 281 for four.

But the game ended in confusion with Australia thinking the final was finished due to bad light after 33 overs of the Sri Lankan innings, in a match reduced by rain to 38 a side, only for play to resume in pitch darkness on a ground without floodlights.

In all, Gilchrist, dropped on 31, faced just 104 balls with eight sixes and 13 fours as Australia set a daunting target in an innings reduced to 38 overs because of rain.

RONALDINHO

Barcelona star Ronaldinho moves to the top of the richest soccer player list, relegating David Beckham to second. Manchester United is the most valuable team in world soccer and Ronaldinho the highest-earning player, according to a survey by Forbes magazine.

The Premier League club is worth US$1.453 billion, according to the American business magazine.

Manchester United has only the fourth-highest annual revenue at $310 million, but is ranked first overall in financial value because of "superior growth prospects," Forbes said.

Amit in Australia

Open up with Mr. Amit Thapaliya in Australia.

-Fashion Nepal

ANANTA Pedalling BACKWARDS

Nepal is full of young achievers. However, only a handful of them have been recognized and their heroism sung of. Ananta Shrestha is one such winner who has not only performed a unique feat but even set a world record.

The world record for cycling backwards is held by Australia's Alan Pierce, who in 1985 cycled backwards for 100.09 km. But our own Ananta Shrestha has already cycled backwards covering a distance of 1028 km in 66 hrs 51 minutes in a period of 13 days on his Mechi-Mahakali tour to mark the World AIDS Day, 2003.

Shrestha rides his cycle sitting with his back to the handle bars and navigates his way turning his neck to look over his shoulder. "Initially turning my neck to look ahead wasa painful but I've gotten used to it," said this ace cyclist.

He started riding this way as he found it to be fun but when he found when he saw the large crowds that gathered every where he went, he thought why not do it for a cause. He decided to use this talent to make aware people about HIV/AIDS and for peace.

Encouraged by people's response to his Mechi-Mahakali tour, Ananta went again Mechi-Mahakali in Reverse Motorcyle (1138 km) on December 2005 (World Aids Day), And did three times around the valley to make aware people about HIV/AIDS.

He is making a plans to travel the globe by motorcycle his two-wheeler facing backward.

-Fashion Nepal