Weary Kuerten
falls to O’Brien
TORONTO, Aug 5 — American Alex O’Brien went from lucky loser to first-round winner when he upset 12th-seeded former French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten at the Canadian open yesterday.

Maldini still sore
at being sacked
CARNAGO, Italy, Aug 5 — Paolo Maldini has admitted his father, Cesare, has still not overcome his disappointment at being sacked as Italy’s national soccer coach.

Jain appointed president

Masters b’minton

Coaching camp begins

Punjab TT meet at Khanna

Panchkula swimming

Bhandari jumps into lead

Donald fined, given one-match ban

Acid test for series honours begins today

LEEDS, Aug 5 (AP) — The battleground and the combatants are predetermined but the result is no foregone conclusion.

For the England and South Africa cricket teams, a much-needed series victory is at stake as they battle for the honours in the fifth and final cricket Test at Headingley starting tomorrow.

England, on a high after its series levelling eight-wicket win, is eyeing its first five-Test series win since 1986-87.

For South Africa, a series win in England would be its most prized accomplishment since returning to international cricket.

"It will be important for us to go away from England with a series win. It’s a very big series for us. The first prize is to win the Tests," South African captain Hansie Cronje said today.

South Africa is yet to win a major series since being readmitted to Test fold in 1992. The Proteas did look the dominant team in this series before surrendering a 1-0 upper hand after losing the Fourth Test by eight wickets at Trent Bridge.

The visitors won the second Test at Lord’s by 10 wickets, and narrowly missed out on another win at Old Trafford when England’s last pair thwarted them.

"Every Test is massive even if you are 3-0 up," Cronje said. It’s all to play for in this one. And we don’t mind that situation at all."

South Africa, is considering its options for the crucial match whether to play five seamers. It might end being a toss up between two veterans, off-spinner Pat Symcox or all-rounder Brian McMillan.

Another possible change could be McMillan for Gehardus Liebenberg to open the batting with Gary Kirsten, which would enable the Proteas to play Symcox at the expense of medium paceman Steve Elworthy.

Headingley, traditionally is a seamer-friendly surface, hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for England. It has only won two Tests at the ground in the last 10 years, while losing six times in the same period.

The last decade has not been a good win for English cricket in terms of winning.

England has failed to win a series over a major Test nation since Mike Gatting’s team won the Ashes 2-1 in Australia in 1986-87.

Since that Ashes victory, England has played both Australia and the West Indies in four series and Pakistan and South Africa twice each.

England has not won a five-Test series on home soil since beating Allan Border’s Australia 3-1 in 1985.

If Alec Stewart’s side can pull off a win at Headingley, it will be the first time an England side has come from behind to win a series since David Gower’s side won 2-1 in India in 1984-85.

England has retained an unchanged 12 and it is most likely that left-arm seamer Alan Mullally will form part of a four-pronged pace attack.

The last time England fielded an all pace attack, it was trounced by an innings and 148 runs by Australia in 1993.

Weary Kuerten falls to O’Brien

TORONTO, Aug 5 (Reuters) — American Alex O’Brien went from lucky loser to first-round winner when he upset 12th-seeded former French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten at the Canadian open yesterday.

O’Brien, who failed to get through qualifying but was added to the main draw when Sweden’s Thomas Enqvist withdrew, took advantage of the Brazilian’s fatigue to post 6-3 7-6 victory.

Kuerten, runner-up in this event a year ago in Montreal, was feeling the effects of playing three European clay court events over the past four weeks.

O’Brien used an aggressive serve-and-volley attack to send the 24th-ranked Kuerten packing.

A disappointed Kuerten said his participation next week in Cincinnati was now in doubt. "Seeing that I’m really tired, maybe I’ll go back home."

Ninth seed Albert Costa, who also has been toiling on European clay, looked surprisingly fresh in turning back Australian Jason Stoltenberg 7-5, 6-4.

The 13th-ranked Spaniard, who picked up a title in Kitzbuhl, Austria, last Sunday, put an impressive 74 per cent of his first serves in play, compared to 49 per cent for Stoltenberg, a Canadian Open finalist in 1994.

A pair of seeded players who received first-round byes won their opening matches.

Fifth seed Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden downed Australian Scot Draper 7-6 6-3, and sixth-seeded Dutchman Richard Krajicek bounced South African qualifier David Nainkin 6-4, 6-4 to roll into the third round.

Top seed Pete Sampras is set to open with a second-round match tonight against Italian Gianluca Pozzi, a 7-6, 4-6, 6-2 winner over notoriously hot-headed American Jeff Tarango.

That match featured several outbursts from Tarango, who was incensed over a series of questionable line calls by Moroccan umpire Mohamad Lahyani.

Pozzi finally got so tired of Tarango’s whining that during a changeover midway through the third set he used an expletive and shouted at the American: "shut up and play tennis!"

Maldini still sore at being sacked

CARNAGO, Italy, Aug 5 (AFP) — Paolo Maldini has admitted his father, Cesare, has still not overcome his disappointment at being sacked as Italy’s national soccer coach.

Maldini senior was axed in the wake of Italy’s World Cup quarter-final defeat on penalties to hosts and eventual winners, France. But the 66-year-old remains disappointed with Italian federation President Luciano Nizzolas, who initially said Maldini would be in charge when Italy face Wales in next month’s first qualifier for Euro 2000.

Paolo, captain of the national side and ac Milan, said yesterday that he personally felt bitter and disappointed about the way Italy’s campaign ended early at France 98.

But referring to his father he added: "It was especially disappointing for him. His future was called into question after the World Cup in which we were unbeaten and were knocked out by the team who went on to win it."

Speaking at ac Milan’s training base here, Maldini said his father had yet to decide his next move, despite the offer of a desk job with Milan, the club he served as a player, captain and coach for 20 years, from 1954-74.

The former national chief was recently linked to Betis in the Spanish league. "He would have been happy to go there. But I don’t know why nothing came of it".

Whatever is in store for his father, Paolo Maldini will be at the helm when Italy meet the Welsh on September 5.

He considered ending his national career immediately after the World Cup exit, but yesterday, the 30-year-old said: "I have already said comments I made after that defeat was just the disappointment coming out, and that I’ve no intention of quitting".

Sahara Cup from September 12

NEW DELHI, Aug 5 (UNI) — Come September and the Cricket, Skating and Curling Club in Toronto, Canada, will come alive with the five-match Sahara Cup tournament between India and Pakistan, an annual event in the cricketing calendar since 1996.

Announcing the schedule for this year's edition of the championship, Mr U.K. Bose of Sahara India said the matches would be played on September 12, 13, 16, 19 and 20. September 21 has been kept as a reserve day.

Mr Bose said with both countries having won a championship each in the planned series of five, this year's tournament would have more excitement in the battle for cricketing supremacy between the two sides having the best of players in their fold.

Pakistan had won the inaugural Sahara Cup 3-2 by pulling off a sensational win in the last match while last year India emerged triumphant crushing their rivals 4-1, thanks to a superlative performance by Saurav Ganguly both with the bat and the ball.

Mr Ravi Krishnan, Director (Sales) of IMG-India, appreciated the partnership between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in conceiving and promoting the event.

Mr Sanjay Bahadur of Sahara India said the objective was not only to promote sports but also sportsmen. "We feel players need to be rewarded for their performance to motivate them to perform better year after year."

Explaining the Sahara player contest, which is based on a point-rating system giving due weightage to every department of the game, he said one point would be given for scoring 15 to 24 runs or taking a wicket or a catch or effecting a run-out by a fielder or the wicketkeeper. The wicketkeeper will, however, garner two points for a stumping. There will be special points for a double century, hat trick or world record.

Last year, the first three prizes were baggged by the Indians — Saurav Ganguly, Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja. Pakistan's Saqlain Mushtaq and Ijaz Ahmed received the fourth and fifth prizes, respectively.

Graf sails through; Capriati ousted

CARLSBAD (California), Aug 5 (Reuters) — Four-time champion Steffi Graf remained perfect at the Toshiba Tennis Classic with a 6-2 6-2 first-round romp past Julie Halard-Decugis yesterday.

"I’m somebody who looks forward rather than backwards," said the 29-year-old German star. "But it’s a nice feeling to know I’ve never lost here before."

Graf, who has seen limited action due to injuries over the past two years, is concentrating on getting match tough as the season heads towards the US Open and a shot at her 22nd major title.

"I’m feeling better and better. My game is pretty solid right now and I’m getting used to playing matches."

Graf began just her seventh tournament of the year by breaking Halard-Decugis twice in each set of the 57-minute rout.

Current world number one Martina Hingis begins defence of the title she won here in Graf’s absence last year on Wednesday against Natasha Zvereva of Belarus.

Former teen prodigy Jennifer Capriati, who won here in 1991 and 1992, saw her latest comeback effort stalled in the first round again.

After being forced to come through qualifying to get into the main draw, Capriati was bounced 5-7 6-2 6-2 by Ai Sugiyama of Japan.

Eighth seed Nathalie Tauziat of France, who grabbed a share of the tennis world’s spotlight by reaching this year’s Wimbledon final, was extended before dispatching Shi-Ting Wang of Taiwan 7-5 3-6 6-1.

"I didn’t play a good match until the end," said the rusty Tauziat after her first match since finishing runner-up to Jana Novotna at Wimbledon a month ago.

Fifth-seeded former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez of Spain, who won this event in 1995, cruised to a 6-4 6-2 victory over American Kimberly Po.

But 10th-ranked seventh seed Irina Spirlea of Romania was surprised by South African Joannette Kruger 3-6 6-2 6-4.

"I stayed aggressive from beginning to end," said Kruger after claiming the first seeded scalp of the tournament.

Kapil holds Mishra responsible
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 5 — Former India captain Kapil Dev has taken upon himself to promote the game in Haryana. He has decided to organise a camp for up and coming players of the state at Gurgaon, one of the main centres of the game in the state. The total cost on the organisation of the camp will be met by Kapil Dev himself.

A couple of months ago Kapil Dev had said at a press conference in Chandigarh that he was not happy with the way the Haryana Cricket Association was functioning. Senior cricketers, both past and present, of the state and officials of the association were present at the press conference where Kapil Dev had announced that he would not participate in any activity of the Haryana Cricket Association . He had also announced that he would take up the matter with the President of the Haryana Cricket Association, who was then abroad.

Subsequently, Kapil Dev informed TNS by fax from New Delhi today, he has had three meetings with Mr S.K. Mishra, President of the Haryana Cricket Association. In the last two meetings the Secretary of the Haryana Cricket Association, Mr Ranbir Singh, was also present. Kapil Dev apprised Mr Mishra of the fact that not a single life member of the association had any cricket background. The star former allrounder also said that accounts, notices and minutes of meetings conducted by the association were not circulated among the members of the HCA.

"In spite of my repeated requests, no copy of the accounts for the last five years was provided to me or to other district cricket associations. A list of 62 members was provided but it is a pity that not even a single life member has a cricket background. Most of the life members are relatives or friends of the secretary and have not contributed anything in the promotion of the game in the state. It is surprising that these life members are having the right to vote at par with a vote of the district cricket association. I was provided with a copy of the constitution amended during the year 1997 but the original constitution was not given to me.

"The state secretary has very cleverly amended the constitution to suit his requirements. The life members can cast vote by proxy. Now 11 district members who were present in the last meeting confirmed that no notices, statement of accounts, minutes, etc, had been circulated for the last 10 years. Since no notice had been circulated to the district cricket associations for A.G.M. and executive meetings, therefore an amendment had been made that omission to give the notice, non-receipt of the notice, etc, shall not stall the proceedings.

"With this amendment the secretary, Haryana Cricket Association, had tried to overcome his act of omission in the past and has now ensured that he can continue with the undemocratic working in the future also," Kapil Dev said.

Similarly, Kapil Dev added, the "quorum for the general council has been amended in such a manner that only seven members in about a house of 90 can constitute the quorum."

Kapil Dev alleged in his fax message that it "appears that the President is hand-in- glove to all the misdoings of the Secretary". Despite his track record as an outstanding government official and a lover of sport "Mr Mishra's performance as head of the Haryana Cricket Association has been very poor. The less we talk about Mr Ranbir Singh the better."

Kapil Dev concluded by saying that if Mr Mishra and Mr Ranbir Singh do not take steps to bring about transparency in the functioning of the HCA "I shall be forced to knock other doors to seek justice not for myself but for all cricketers of the state."

JCT pip IAF, move into semis
By Amardeep Bhattal
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 5 — Former national league champions JCT Phagwara carved out an unimpressive solitary goal victory over a spirited Indian Air Force to move into the semifinals of the North Zone Kalyani Black Label Federation Cup Football Tournament at the Sector 17 football stadium here today.

The all-important goal was scored by skipper Jasbir Singh in the 30th minute. The winners will now take on Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Jammu and Kashmir in the first semifinal on August 7.

The uninspired show by the star Punjab outfit was partly due to the fact that the team has undergone a major overhaul after the second exodus last season. Many of those who were confined to the bench last season, including Bahadur Singh and Daljit Singh, were among the regulars today. Among the new recruits, the veteran right winger A. Saravanan, a former international having represented India in the SAF Games, was least impressive. The other new face from the Mecca of Indian football, Sanjay Majhi, who had mesmerised huge crowds at the Calcutta maidan while donning the red and golden jersey of East Bengal in the recent past, also could not do much as he was well marked by the IAF defence. Midfielder Hardip Singh (senior), who had captured the hearts of the crowds during Rovers Cup where he had emerged as the best player, also was not his usual self.

The only player who hogged the limelight was midfielder Hardip Singh (junior) who joined the ranks of the Phagwara outfit recently after a short stint with Punjab State Electricity Board. Playing as a withdrawn forward, Hardip moved up and down creating openings in tight situations. With a little more luck he could have netted a couple of goals.

Indian Air Force, other hand, displayed confidence in almost every department. Right half Dina Chandran, right winger R. Gossen, and striker Hossen posed a threat to the JCT citadel on more than one occasion. Goalkeeper A. Bando was also a picture of confidence, except for the 30th minute lapse when he moved out of charge to check the onrushing Jasbir.

JCT commenced the proceedings on a promising note with Hardip (junior) attempting a powerful volley from inside the box following a cross by Saravanan. However, the ball struck a rival defender and went out of play.

In the 18th minute, Saravanan again initiated a move, putting Hardip (junior) in possession. Hardip gave a quick pass to Jasbir on the left wing but the latter's feeble kick was easily saved by the IAF goalkeeper.

IAF counter-attacked through left half Jayanto Das who aimed a long ranger but it lacked power.

Midway through the first half, JCT's Hardip (senior) set up another move for Majni down the middle but Majhi's angular shot was slightly off the mark. Again Majhi, after making a neat interception, back-heeled to the onrushing Harjinder, also an international, but the latter missed the target.

In the 29th minute Hardip (senior), worked his way down the right flank and sent a high lob into the box for Jasbir whose header flew inches over the bar.

After a series of unsuccessful attempts, JCT eventually managed to break the deadlock in the 30th minute. Hardip (senior) utilised a gap in the IAF defence and put Jasbir through. Seeing Jasbir advancing menacingly, the IAF goalkeeper rushed forward to check him. However, Jasbir calmly lifted the ball over him and was delighted to see it rolling into an empty goal.

Subbaiah back in squad

BANGALORE, Aug 5 (PTI) — Dhanraj Pillay has been retained as captain of an almost unchanged Indian World Cup hockey team for the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia next month.

Defender Cheops d’Coasta (Mumbai) and forward Gagan Ajit Singh (Air India) will make their debut in the Commonwealth Games, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) president k.p.s. Gill announced here today.

Gill also announced the team for the four-nation tournament at Hamburg beginning from August 16. But, the captain was yet to be named.

Seasoned goalkeeper A.B. Subbaiah, who quit on being surprisingly omitted in May from the team for the Utrecht World Cup returns in the side for Commonwealth Games as expected.

Asked about Subbaiah announcing his retirement, Gill said: ‘"I have read only in papers and nothing has come to us in writing. He attended the camp and his name figures in the list."

Gill said chief coach M.K. Kaushik had been consulted throughout the selection procedure. He refused to comment about the ousted national coach Baskaran coming down heavily on players for the poor performance in the World Cup.

"We stand fifth in the Commonwealth Games and last time we finished close to New Zealand." He declined to predict India’s chances, saying ‘it will be a tough tournament.’

Asked why no new faces had been included in the team for the Commonwealth Games, he said: "a degree of disadvantage is there for the juniors and we intend to have an intermediate team for the four-nation tournament and give exposure to the juniors."

Kaushik and his assistants Ramesh Parameswaran and C.R. Kumar were not present at the press conference.

Team for Commonwealth Games: goalkeepers: A.B. Subbaiah (IA), Jude Menezes (Mumbai). Defenders: Dilip Tirkey, Lazarus Barla (both IA), Cheops d’Costa (Mumbai). Halfbacks: Baljit Singh Saini (Pun), Md. Riaz (IA), Ramandeep Singh (Pun), Thirumalavalavan (TN).

Forwards: Mukesh Kumar (IA), Sabu Varkey (Mumbai), Dhanraj Pillay (Mumbai), Sanjeev Kumar (Pun), Gagan Ajith Singh (AI), L. Prabhakaran (TN), Baljit Singh Dhillon (Pun). Standbyes: Ambuj Srivatsav (Railways), Rajender Singh (Central Excise), Shanmugam (Kar), Cyprian Aind (Services), Ravinder Singh (IA).

Team for four-nation tournament: (goalkeeper): Jagadish Ponnappa (IA), B.C. Poonacha (Central Excise). Defenders: Cornelius d’Costa (AI), Dinesh Nayak (TN), Anurag Raghuvanshi (AI Academy), Sukhbir Singh Gill, Rahul Singh (Central Excise), Nausheer Singh (Rlys), Radhakrishan (TN), Jagmohan Singh (Rlys), Bimal Lakra (Centre for Excellence).

Forwards: Virender Singh (IA), Kamal Horo (Services), Ajinder Pal Singh (Rls), Y.S. Rawat (IA), Baljit Singh Dhillon (Pb).

Nigeria target Gullit, Jansen

LAGOS, Aug 5 (Reuters) — Nigeria have put four Dutch coaches including Ruud Gullit and Wim Jansen, on a shortlist for the vacant job of national soccer coach, a team official has said.

"Ruud Gullit, Wim Jansen, Aad De Mos and Thys Libregts are among six coaches we have short-listed for the job, "Kasimawo Laloko, technical director of the Nigerian Football Association (NFA), told Reuters yesterday.

Laloko did not name the other two coaches.

The Nigerian coaching job has been vacant since the World Cup when the contract of former coach Bora Milutinovic, appointed in December to take Nigeria through the World Cup, ended in a second round defeat to Denmark.

Much was expected from the reigning Olympic champions at France 98, whose players were all with overseas clubs.

But they left the tournament in disarray — thrashed 4-1 by the Banes with the players and officials openly accusing one another of greed and lack of commitment.

Gullit has been out of coaching since February when he was sacked by English premier league club Chelsea while Jansen resigned from Celtic after winning the Scottish league title. He has since been linked to the Dutch national job.

The post has a quick turnover rate as the country's impatient officials and soccer-mad fans demand nothing short of success. Coaches have a short shelf-life.

Exciting win for Kunte

KOSZALIN, (Poland), Aug 5 (PTI) — Former national ‘A’ champion Abhijit Kunte scored an attacking victory over Piotr Dobrowolski of Poland to close in on the leaders after the second round of the M.K. Cafe Cup International Chess Tournament here yesterday.

Kunte (1.5), who has an ELO rating of 2,505, sacrificed two pawns in the French defence advance variation and finished with a mating attack to earn full points.

Experienced gm Alexander Beliavsky with gm’s Hracek and Igor Khenkin were in joint lead with two points each.

IM P. Konguvel (1) continued his good showing with a draw against highly rated gm Lubomir Ftacnik of the Czech Republic. The former national A champion with white pieces played a positional variation against the Najdorf defence opted by Ftacnik. Konguvel earned a slightly better position before the Czech neutralised to ensure a draw.

IM d.v. Prasad was unlucky to lose to gm Slobodjan Roman of Germany. Playing black in a Sicilian defence closed variation, Prasad seemed to have a better position and won an exchange but lost on time in a sudden death finish.

The other Indian, Rahul Shetty, started his game in style by outsmarting IM Socko Bartosz of Poland from the black side of a Scotch game and won a pawn.

But Shetty played badly in a won ending and lost on time in the sudden death in a drawn situation.

Brief results: gm Sune Berg Hansen (1.5) drew gm Krasenkow (1.5), gm Alexander Beliavsky (2) beat gm Yuri Shulman (1), gm Haba Petr (1.5) drew gm s. Movsesian (1.5), gm Jaan Ehlvest (1.5) drew A. Berlovich (1.5), gm Neverov (1) lost to gm Hracek (2), gm Igor Khenkin (2) beat Urban Klaudiuz (1), Gritsak Orest (1.5) drew gm rozentalis (1.5).

Germans collect Rs 1.26 cr
for injured French cop

FRANKFURT, Aug 5 (AFP) — Germany has raised almost $ 300,000 (approx. Rs 1.26 crore) for the French gendarme beaten up by German hooligans during the World Cup.

The German television station ZDF has collected $ 2,22,000 with a further $ 56,000 being donated to the family of Daniel Navel by the German Football Federation (DFB).

Egidius Braun, DFB president, said here yesterday: "I would like to thank the numerous people who have shown, by giving donations big and small, that Germans condemn criminal acts of a small minority which has poured international discredit on the image of our country."

Nivel, a 42-year-old father of two, came out of the coma he has been in since the attack on Lens on June 21, yesterday.

Five suspects are being held in connection with the attack, one in France and four in Germany.

Gascoigne needs to be fitter : Hoddle

LONDON, Aug 5 (Reuters) — England manager Glenn Hoddle has said that Paul Gascoigne could still have an international future despite the fact he did not include him in a 29-man pre-European Championship qualifying training squad.

The gathering will take place immediately after the premier league season kicks off on August 15.

Hoddle said in a statement that the door was still open for Gascoigne, the 31-year-old Middlesbrough midfielder who was left out of the World Cup squad for France ’98.

He said Gascoigne needed to be fitter than ever before and his match form would be closely followed.

Arsenal and Liverpool players were omitted because of club engagements. Liverpool play Southampton on the August 16 and Arsenal are at home to Nottingham Forest the following day.

Hoddle wanted to get the squad together ahead of England’s opening Euro 2000 qualifying match against Sweden in September.

Jain appointed president
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Aug 5 — Mr Vijay Malhotra, President of the Archery Association of India has appointed Mr Satya Pal Jain, MP, president of the ad hoc committee of the Chandigarh Archery Association. Mr Ravinder Talwar has been made general secretary.

He further authorised both of them to sit together and nominate other office-bearers of the CAA. This arrangement would be replaced by regular elections within six months, he added.

Masters b’minton
From Our Sports Reporter

PATIALA, Aug 5 — The Patiala Masters Badminton Championships, in the age group of 35 years plus and 45 years plus in the men’s section will be held here at the Polo Grounds from August 14 to 16, according the Dr Naresh Raj, senior vice-president of the Patiala Masters Badminton Association.

Entries close with the honorary general secretary, National Furniture Emporium, Dharampura Bazar, latest by August 12.

Coaching camp begins
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Aug 5 — The coaching camp for 25 city probables (under-16) selected by the Chandigarh Cricket Association commenced at the Sector 8 DAV Senior Secondary School here today.

Dr Ravinder Chadha, doctor of the national cricket team spoke to the probables before inaugurating the 20-day coaching camp. Mr Surinder Singh, secretary of the Chandigarh Cricket Association and coach of the camp S.S. Bawa were also present.

Mr Surinder Singh said the campers would be given refreshment every day by the association.

Punjab TT meet at Khanna
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Aug 5 — The 11th Principal Nand Lal Kalra Memorial Punjab Ranking Table Tennis Championship will be held in the Narotam Hall at Hindi Putri Pathshala, Shiksha Marg, Khanna, from August 14 to 16, according to Mr Vijay Mohan Bhambri, Secretary of the Khanna TT Association.

All top ranking and prominent TT players of Punjab are expected to take part in the three-day championship. Entries closed on August 14 at 2 p.m. with Mr Bhambri, A.S. Senior Secondary School, Khanna or on telephone (30316, 20289).

The categories in which the events (all singles) will be held are cadets (under-12), sub-juniors (under-14), juniors (under-17), men and women.

Panchkula swimming
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Aug 5 — The second Panchkula District Swimming Championship will he held at the Sector 6 Gymkhana Club, Panchkula, on August 8 and 9, according to a press note of the District Swimming Association of Panchkula.

Entries close on August 7 and can be submitted to Mr Raj Singh, joint-secretary, DSA, House no 248, Sector-17, Panchkula, or on telephone (572259).

The association will also honour last year's four top district swimmers who had bagged the gold medals in the state swimming championship held in Delhi.

Bhandari jumps into lead
From Our Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Aug 5 — Vivek Bhandari, a player with a lot of promise and tenacity, displayed his form as he fired six under 66 in the opening round of the four-round Wills Masters at the Classic Golf Resort here today.

Gaurav Ghei, who participated in the British Open last year, and the round four strokes behind the leader, while Indrajit Bhalotia and Arjun Singh were tied at one under par 71.

Basad Ali, Vijay Kumar and Feroz Ali, all caddy-turned professionals, shot a par score of 72.

Bhandari dropped a stroke on the first hole but he regained his touch as he fired three birdies to be out in two under 34. On his back stretch, he was in his belligerent mood. He did nothing wrong and shot four under 32 to get the aggregate of six under.

"I am happy with my display and could have had even a better card", said Bhandari in his typical style. "I like the course and should perform well in the remaining three rounds", added Bhandari.

Ghei, who has yet to strike his form after previous season’s none too impressive display, consistent but not exactly at his peak form. Had he played his natural game, he might have fired a much better score than he did.

"I am finding my rhythm", said Ghei.

Donald fined, given one-match ban

LEEDS, (England), Aug 5 (AFP) — South African fast bowler Allan Donald was today fined £ 600 (about Rs 36,000) and given a one-match ban suspended for a year for his criticism of umpire Mervyn Kitchen’s handling of the fourth Test at Trent Bridge.

Donald was summoned to a meeting with Ahmed Ebrahim, the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) match referee for the fifth Test here at Headingley, and given his punishment after a 15-minute hearing.

Donald claimed Kitchen had made some shocking decisions and was playing with players’ career during the Nottingham Test, which England won by eight wickets to level the series.

Donald’s outburst was in clear breach of clause eight of the ICC’s code of conduct.