London, Sept.19 (ANI): Arsenal and England's latest football star, Theo Walcott, says he is enjoying the fact that he has become the No.1 target of his rivals.

On Wednesday, Walcott received brutal treatment at the hands of Dynamo Kiev skipper Andriy Nesmachniy. He was battered so much that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger claimed that Nesmachniy deserved three red cards.

"The referee should have sent off the left-back three times at least during the game."

Now it seems likely the country's new football hero will come in for some close attention again at Bolton tomorrow.

Walcott, on the other hand, said: "It's a nice feeling when a defender is scared of you straightaway. It always puts a smile on your face and you think you're going to win the battle. But you have to get at him. I got kicked a few times in Kiev, but I got up and got on with it."

Walcott, 19, featured for England in Barcelona against Andorra before his historic performance in Zagreb, when he bagged a brilliant hat-trick in the 4-1 victory over Croatia nine days ago.

Then came a 4-0 win at Bolton, a difficult trip to Kiev and, tomorrow's trip to Bolton - his fifth away game in 14 days.

Walcott said: "It's been a very tough few days with a lot of travelling - Andorra, Croatia, Blackburn, Kiev and now Bolton. But it's been really good because I really just want to play, that's the main thing." (ANI)

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Mumbai, Sept 19 (ANI): Sachin Tendulkar is confident that the racism row that marred India's tour of Australia in January will not cast its shadow again on next month's test series.

"I don't think there is any friction between us," Tendulkar said on the sidelines of a function here last evening.

"As far as Indian team is concerned, I would like to speak on behalf of Indian team, we would want to be competitive, but play in the right spirit. I am very sure that the Australians would want to do the same thing," he added.

Tendulkar, who returns from his latest injury layoff in a premier domestic game next week, played down talk that the tourists were a weak unit.

"It's going to be extremely well fought series and in the right spirit. All the spectators get to watch some terrific cricket being played because I have no doubt in my mind that it's going to be a close series people would love it," said Tendulkar.

India threatened to pull out of the series in Australia after spinner Harbhajan Singh was initially found guilty of racially abusing all-rounder Andrew Symonds in the acrimonious second test in Sydney.

A standoff between the teams ended after the charge was downgraded on appeal to using abusive language and the bowler let off with a fine. Australia won the series 2-1.

Australia will arrive this month in India ahead for the four-match series, which begins on October 9 with the first test in Bangalore.

In the touring squad named last week, Symonds was omitted after missing a compulsory team meeting to go fishing.

Australia named uncapped leg-spinner Bryce McGain, who could make his test debut at the age of 36, and offspinner Jason Krejza in the squad to replace retired Stuart MacGill. (ANI)

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London, Sept.19 (ANI): Manchester United's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that he is ready to deal with the intimidatory tactics of key football rival Chelsea.

"I know that the attempts to intimidate me on the pitch will start again immediately. But everyone finds sooner or later that it is difficult to make me lose my rag. I'll be booted again but I will not kick out when it happens. I'm tough and, again, it's all just part of the spectacle. I'll do my damage as usual by paying them all back with my goals," The Sun quoted Ronaldo, as saying.

Manchester United and Chelsea face off against each other on Sunday.

United have only won once in six games this season - but Ronaldo is refusing to press the panic button.

He said: "There's no problem at all with our form. Last year we started like this, look how we ended up!"

Ronaldo tried to quit United in the summer in a world record transfer to Real Madrid.

It turned many United fans against him and there was initially a muted response to his appearance on the bench.

But after a poor opening hour in the first Champions League group game against the Yellow Submarines from Villarreal, the 75,000 inside Old Trafford realized how much they needed him.

For the first time since Moscow, the chant of 'Viva Ronaldo' went up and he was given a deafening welcome when he came on in the 62nd minute.

Ronaldo's arrival almost broke the deadlock in the goalless game. He injected pace into United's team, narrowly missed with a header and set up Carlos Tevez and Jonny Evans with good chances.

But Ronaldo hit 42 goals last season and United need more of the same.

Their only win this season came with a single goal from Fletcher at Portsmouth. United will go nine points behind their biggest title rivals if they lose at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. (ANI)

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Perth (Australia), Sept.19 (ANI): Perth Police have charged a 24-year-old sports coach with sex offences against a 12-year-old girl.

Child Protection Squad detectives revealed to the Sydney Morning Herald that at least three alleged incidents occurred at a youth club and at the victim's home over a three-month period.

They say the victim was taking part in sporting events at a Perth venue where the man was engaged as a coach.

The 24-year-old was charged on Wednesday with intent to expose a child under 13 to indecent matter, five counts of indecent dealing with a child under 13, and 14 counts of sexual penetration of a child under 13.

He will appear in the Perth Magistrates Court next Monday. (ANI)

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