West Indies ‘A’ win by 89 runs

BANGALORE, Dec 1 (PTI) — S. Ramesh’s superb century and his 194-run stand for the first wicket with Devang Gandhi (83) went in vain as West Windies ‘A’ led by captain Ian Bishop (4/46) beat India by 89 runs on the final day of the first ‘Test’ here today.

Set a target of 395 to win in the second innings, India ‘A’, overnight 108 for no wicket were all out for 305. Ramesh and Gandhi added 86 runs more before Gandhi was run out in the post lunch session. At tea, India ‘A’ were comfortably placed at 245 for three with Ramesh unbeaten on 114.

But the post tea session saw a dramatic collapse with three wickets falling in the space of four balls and the match drifted in Windies favour. The last five wickets added only 12 runs.

S. Ramesh made 138 (442 m, 257 b, 14x4, 1x6) before he was brilliantly caught by wicket-keeper Courtney Browne off Tuckett.

Courtney Browne had a good day taking five catches.

Bishop (4/46), Collins ( 2/65) and Tuckett (3/58) were the wreckers-in-chief. Opening medium pacer Collins missed a hat-trick. He claimed Mazumdar and M.S.K. Prasad in the 89th over.

Apart from the Ramesh-Gandhi opening partnership, the other highlight of the India ‘A’ innings was 46-run partnership for the third wicket between Ramesh and skipper Kanitkar (30).

West Indies ‘A’ (first innings): 228

India ‘A’ (first innings): 103

West Indies ‘A’ (second innings): 269

India ‘A’ (second innings): (overnight 108 for no loss)

Devang Gandhi run out 83, S. Ramesh c C. Browne b C. Tuckett 138, A. Khurasia c R. Smith b C. Tuckett 05, H. Kanitkar lbw b I. Bishop 30, R. Gavaskar c Browne b I. Bishop 13, A. Mazumdar c C. Browne b I. Bishop 9, M.S.K. Prasad c C. Browne b P. Collins 0, N. Chopra c C. Browne b C. Tuckett 2, D. Ganesh c Campbel b I. Bishop 10, R. Sanghvi b I. Bishop 0, Robin Singh (jr) not out 01.

Extras (lb 2, nb 10, w 2): 14

Total all out (in 101 overs): 305

Fall of wkts: 1-194, 2-199, 3-245, 4-292, 5-292, 6-292, 7-292, 8-299, 9-304.

Bowling: P. Collins 17-3-65-2; I. Bishop 20-2-46-4; C. Tuckett 21-4-58-3; N.McGarrel 14-0-58-0; C. Gayle 29-2-76-0.

Strikers find a paradise

BANGKOK, Dec 1 (AFP) — The Asian Games Football Tournament is rapidly turning into a strikers’ paradise and a goalkeepers’ nightmare.

Kuwaiti strike duo Jassem-al-Houwaidi and Farj Laheeb soared to the top of the goal-scoring charts with four goals apiece in a 11-0 victory over Mongolia today.

In a desperate bid to keep the marauding Kuwaiti attack at bay, Mongolia even went through two goalkeepers.

After only two days of football, 34 goals have been scored — producing an average of nearly five goals a match.

Japan’s forward line joined in today’s goalfeast, putting five past minnows Nepal. Tajikistan got three against the Maldives and Iran managed two in their opening match against Kazakhstan.

Kuwait’s next opponents, Uzbekistan, were given plenty to think about as they watched the Gulf Cup winners brush away Nepal.

Al Houwaidi, top scorer with nine goals in five games at last month’s Gulf Cup, continued his hot streak with two strikes inside the last five minutes to underline the destruction of the Nepal defence while Lajeeb scored his fourth two minutes from time to complete the biggest rout of the tournament so far.

North reduced to 160 for 5

MUMBAI, Dec 1 (PTI) — South Zone’s left-arm medium pacer H. Ram Kishen grabbed three wickets to reduce North Zone to 160 for five at close on the opening day of the five-day Duleep Trophy quarter-final at the Wankhede Stadium here today.

South’s skipper and former Test star Venkatapathi Raju won the toss in the morning and put North in to bat first on a wicket which had very little bounce.

North’s opening batsmen Jitender Singh (35), riding his luck after being dropped thrice, and Test discard Vikram Rathore (26) gave a slow but steady start, putting on 56 runs before India’s limited overs specialist Robin Singh clean bowled Rathore.

The 27-year-old Andhra new-ball bowler Ram Kishen got into the act picking three wickets in his first two overs of his second spell by sending back Jitender Singh, Pankaj Dharmani and Virendra Shewag in quick succession.

Jitender was dropped even before he had opened his account when S. Sharath at third slip spilled an easy chance of pacer Narender Pal Singh.

With his score on two, Jitender was again dropped by Sujith Somasunder at second slip and Vijay Bhardwaj at forward short-leg off Ram Kishen in the same over.

North Zone were reduced to 113 for five before Rajiv Nayyar (batting on 42) and Vijay Dahiya (batting 26) steadied the rocking boat.

Brief scores: North Zone 160 for five (V. Rahore 26, J. Singh 35, R. Nayyar 42 batting, V. Dahiya 26 batting, M.Ram Kishen 3/39).

Ram Kishen, who had taken 19 wickets from three Ranji Trophy matches this season, bowled a fine line and length and troubled all the batsmen with his swinging deliveries.

He first had Jitender trying to flick him only to be caught by Bhardwaj at forward short leg, then he had right handed Dharmani slashing at an away swinger only to be caught by wicket-keeper Somashekar Shiraguppi.

He also had his third victim, Shewag in similar fashion. Both Dharmani and Shewag fell without scoring.

Among the spinners, former Test left arm spinner Venkatpathi Raju bowled economically conceding just 25 runs off his 22 overs which put brakes on North batsmen. He bowled Mithun Manhas with an arm ball for 19.

Nayyar and Dahiya, who had a Duleep Trophy hundred last year, added 47 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket off 25.2 overs in 99 minutes and the North batsmen have scored just 160 runs in 364 minutes.

Leg spinner Ananthapadmanabhan too bowled well but was not among the wickets while left arm spinner S. Sriram sent down just three overs conceding nine runs.

Robin Singh bowled 16 overs for North’s skipper Rathore’s scalp conceding 30 runs.

North Zone (first innings): J. Singh c Bhardwaj b Ram Kishen 35 V. Rathore b R. Singh 26 R. Nayyar (batting) 42 P. Dharmani c Shiraguppi b Ram Kishen 0 V. Shewag c Shiraguppi b Ram Kishen 0 M. Manhas b V. Raju 19 v Dahiya (batting) 26. Extras (b-4, lb-4, nb-4) 12.

Total (for 5 wkts off 91 overs) 160. Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-77, 3-77, 4-77, 5-113.

Bowling: Narender Pal Singh 17-11-13-0, H. Ram Kishen 14-3-39-3, Robin Singh 16-5-30-1, V. Raju 22-11-25-1, Ananthapadmanabhan 19-7-36-0, S. Sriram 3-1-9-0.

India face reverses on second day

NEW DELHI, Dec 1 (PTI) — India suffered reverses on the second day of the WTA Women’s Challenger when national champion Uzma Khan and local lass Shruti Dhavan were knocked out in the first round at the DTA courts here today.

Uzma Khan, playing after an eight-week long study break, lost for the first time this year, but not before giving a glimmer of hope when she fought back from 2-5 down in the second set, eventually losing it in the tie-breaker.

Uzma was beaten 6-3 7-6 (7/4) by the seventh seed Amanda Hopmans of the Netherlands who will now meet another Indian, qualifier Manisha Malhotra in the second round.

Wild card entrant Shruti Dhawan had nothing much to offer and lost 2-6 2-6 to Tomoe Hotta of Japan earlier in the day.

Two Indian pairs also lost in the first round on the opening day of the doubles event which left only three Indians in the fray.

India number one Nirupma Vaidyanathan, Manisha Malhotra and Sai Jayalakshmi have made it to the second round while Nirupama is partnering Manisha in doubles tournament.

Fifth seed Tina Krizan of Slovenia struggled early on before downing Hiroko Mochizuki (Japan) 6-4 6-2 to set up a second round match against Britain’s Abigail Tordoff.

Krizan, who made many unforced errors sending easy forehand returns wide, kept on arguing with herself before losing her temper and disputed a line-call when the ball was very much in.

Krizan, raced to a 5-2 lead in the second set and then broke Mochizuki in the eighth, after the game went to deuce five times, to seal her victory.   

Uzma, who missed the ITF satellite circuit after winning national championship here in Delhi, was a bit rusty but her groundstrokes were spectacular. She found hard to keep her service games - invariably going into deuce.

"I played badly, but she didn’t play that well though," Uzma commented after the match against Hopmans, who is ranked 154 on the WTA computer.

Uzma has not entered for the doubles event, but plans to practice before the Indian contingent leaves for Bangkok Asian Games.

Aita has made all arrangements to send six women players to the Thai capital despite government clearing only three.

Uzma netted a backhand return dropping her fifth game and was again broken in the seventh to lose the first set 3-6.

In the second, she trailed 5-2 before staging an amazing recovery to level the scores 5-5 and went ahead on serve breaking the seventh seed in the 11th for a 6-5 lead.

Serving to save the match, Uzma netted easy returns to trail 0-40 before losing the game as the set went into tie-breaker.

Hopmans, who looked tired playing in bright sunshine, won the tie-breaker 7-4 to end Uzma’s comeback hopes.

In other matches, fourth seed Miriam Schnitzer (Germany) sailed through to the round of 16 beating qualifier Riai Otakeyama (Japan) 6-3 6-0, while Eva Krejcova (Czech Republic) defeated German Fruzsinan Siklosi 6-4 6-1.

Carolina Jagienak (France), 6-2 4-6 6-3 winner over Shinobu Asagoe (Japan), Italian Tirhiana Garbin, who beat Thai woman Benjamas Sangaram 6-3 6-0, were also through to the second round.

Indian shooters aim for impressive haul

NEW DELHI Dec, 1 (PTI) — Indian shooters led by pistol ace Jaspal Rana have trained their sights on garnering a clutch of medals in a discipline where the country has pinned a lot of hopes at the Bangkok Asian Games.

The 23-year-old Rana, whose exploits have raised the profile of shooting of late, will hope to retain the gold medal he won in his pet centrefire pistol as a teenager in the Last Games at Hiroshima. Shooting will be held from December 7 to 13.

Rana’s contribution stood out in India’s sparse haul of only four gold medals overall in Japan, but Delhi crackshot will be aiming higher after retaining the centrefire pistol gold at the September Commonwealth Games where he finished with two gold and silver medals each.

India this time can look forward to more pickings from the range if performance at the Kuala Lumpur Games is anything to go by. A 16-member squad returned with four gold, two silver and bronze each from the Commonwealth Games.

Trap shooter Mansher Singh with his young partner Manavjit Singh claimed the pairs gold and Roopa Unnikrishnan showed her mettle by marking out the sport rifle prone gold with a games record to boot.

In Bangkok, India have entered 14 men and five women in eight events where medal prospects are held high. There are no entries in the men’s rifle and women’s pistol events where Indians have time and again fared miserably.

Rana will figure in the standard pistol and air pistol events apart from the centrefire event and will be the key factor in the team events also.

Ashok Pandit, the 45-year-old veteran from Mumbai, will have the rare honour, like P.T. Usha, of representing India in his fifth consecutive Asian Games. "I am looking for my first individual medal which has somehow eluded me," Pandit, who will compete in standard and centrefire events said.

"The Asian standards will definitely be much higher than that of Commonwealth Games. Korea, Japan, China and Kazakhstan are very strong and we have to do our best. Still we have medal chances in all three pistol events," national coach Sunny Thomas said after the final training camp at the Tuglakabad range wound up on November 28.

India will enter a team in the double trap for the first time, but their hopes will lie on trap where 32-year-old Mansher Singh teams up with 21-year-olds Manavjit Singh and Zorawar Singh.

Under the tutelege of Italian coach Marcello Dradi, the trap shooters had training in Italy. Mansher and Manavjit are confident of winning the pairs gold in Kuala Lumpur with Manavjit coming a creditable fifth in the individual event.

Zorawar Singh, has been the most consistent among the trio and also won the trials against Anwar Sultan logging 117 out of 125 to clinch the third spot in the team.

In the July Barcelona world championship, Zorawar, then still a junior but not entered in the category after his coach Dradi ‘forgot’ to send in the entry, shot (118/125) two points better than Mansher Singh and one better than the junior gold medallist in coming 15th.

The trap shooters will have the advantage of knowing the range well, having been to the pre-Asian event in August. "The background is not uniform as there are lot of flats with people moving about and clothes hanging from houses," said Mansher Singh, but felt that would not be a drawback.

Indian shooters have had a number of exposure trips and have received quality ammunition in the last couple of years with SAI and government according priority to the sport. Apart from Dradi, Tibor Gonczol, 63-year-old Hungary-born Australian has helped the pistol shooters, Rana in particular, a lot.

In 1994, India won the centrefire individual gold through Rana and the team bronze through Rana, Pandit and S.M. Marwah.

India may not stand much chance in double trap and skeet. "All three - Moraad Ali Khan, R.V.S. Rathore and Gaurav Sondhi are shooting 130-135 out of 150 which won medals last time, but the opposition this time is not known," Thomas said.

Roopa Unnikrishnan (26) has delayed taking up a job in New York to focus on Asian Games after scoring 590 out of 600 to win the sport rifle (prone) gold at Kuala Lumpur. "She is the best medal hope and she is shooting well," Thomas said.

Tibor Gonczol was happy with Rana’s form. "I don’t want to put pressure on him. He is maturing in more ways than one. But he has to think beyond the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he will be focussing on rapidfire and air pistol," he said.

"The attitude of Indian shooters has improved a lot and they are willing to work. Gradually we will start reaping the benefits, though success can’t always be measured in medals," he added.

Hockey title for Kila Raipur boys
From Anil Datt

LUDHIANA, Dec 1 — In a nerve-wrecking final, Government Senior Secondary School, Kila Raipur, outwitted Shivalik Public School, Chandigarh, by a wafer-thin 2-1 margin to lift the trophy in the sixth Harbans Singh Pannu Memorial Hockey Tournament organised by the Aryan Hockey Club at the Guru Nanak Stadium here today.

Exhibiting great mobility and depth in attack, Kila Raipur lads went into an early lead when centre-forward Harvinder Singh found the target in the seventh minute.

Full credit to Kila Raipur wingers and forwards who moved with lightning speed. The Kila Raipur outfit consolidated their lead in the 16th minute when full back Raminder Singh successfully converted a penalty corner (2-0).

Trailing 2-0, Shivalik Public School made repeated attacks but could not cut through the well organised defence of the rivals.

A few seconds before the lemon break, the Chandigarh boys weaved a good move which resulted in a penalty corner. Inside-right Lakhwinder Singh hit a sizzler and found the target (2-1). The second half was a mediocre affair as both the teams indulged in aimless hitting and hardly made any worthwhile move. The Kila Raipur boys maintained their 2-1 lead till the final whistle.

Earlier, in the match for the third and fourth positions, Sports School, Jalandhar, beat Surjeet Academy, Jalandhar 4-3. The match was decided through sudden death as the two teams were tied 3-3 in regulation time.

Mr Surinder Singh Sodhi, former Olympian and SSP, Nawanshahr, distributed the prizes. Col Raminder Singh, Director Sports, Punjab, was also present. Lakhwinder Singh of Shivalik Public School, Chandigarh, was adjudged the "player of the tournament". Players from the Mata Sahib Kaur School team (u-14) and Grewal Hockey Academy Kila Raipur (u-17) were felicitated at the concluding function.

HVPN win team championship
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — Mohammed Salim of PSEB lifted the men's singles title on concluding day of the 26th All India Inter-Electricity Board Badminton Tournament here at the Sector 42 indoor badminton hall today. M. Salim had to face stiff opposition from team-mate Ram Lakhan before winning the same at 15-6, 17-14. PSEB bagged the doubles title also when their pair of Chanderdeep Randhawa and Ram Lakhan were locked in a grim battle before winning against Surinder and Virender of HVPN at 7-15, 15-5 and 15-7. Mr Attar Singh Saini, Minister of State Power, Haryana, gave away the prizes.

Earlier, Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) emerged victorious in the team championship after a gap of three years. In the final, they toppled Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) by 3-0. MSEB reached the final for the first time. Virender Kumar gave HVPN a flying start with an easy singles victory over Pankaj Pathak of MSEB by 15-4, 15-2. Surinder Kumar, the brother of Virender, won the second match by winning his singles against Santosh More (MSEB) at 15-5, 15-0. In the deciding doubles, Surinder and Virinder did not let their opponents Pankaj and Raghuvanshi (MSEB) to settle down and beat them 15-5, 15-2. The HVPN team comprised Virinder Mehta (captain), Surinder Virender Gulshan, S. Lal and Mohan Lal. MSEB were represented by Pankaj, Santosh, Raghuvanshi, S. Deghpande and Niranjan.

Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board secured the third place by getting the better of Uttar Pradesh Electricity Board 3-1.

Semifinals: team championship:- HVPN beat MPSEB, 3-0. (Surinder b N. Subramanium 15-2, 15-4. Virender b NV Nathan, 15-3, 15-2. Doubles: Surinder and Virender beat R. Bhoyar and Gaikwad 15-4, 15-1.

Maharashtra State Electricity Board beat Uttar Pradesh Electricity Board 3-2. (Pankaj Pathak b Sanjay Mehrotra, 15-7, 15-4. S. Deshpande lost to Rajesh Chaudhary 11-15, 5-15. S. Raghuvanshi and P. Pathak lost to Sanjay and Rajesh 7-15, 15-2, 6-15. Santosh More b Anjum Ashraf, 15-8, 5-7. Niranjan and S. Deshpande b Anil Dhyani and A. Ashraf 15-8, 15-10.

Award promised for top sportsperson
From Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, Dec 1 — An Indian sportsperson winning the maximum laurels for himself and his country will be presented the 'most valued performance' award on his return from the Asian Games by the official sponsor of the Indian team, Samsung.

This was stated by Samsung's President (India) M S Yu. At the send-off dinner which was attended by participants and officials of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and sports federations last night.

"The award has been instituted to motivate the participants and team members," said Mr Yu.

The award will be decided by a panel of five Indian sports journalists covering the games from December 6.

Relaxed and confident PT Usha said she would do her best to bring glory to the country.

Participants of different disciplines also exuded confidence. A galaxy of former stars, including Ajitpal Singh, were also present.

The IOA chief, Mr Suresh Kalmadi, said all had so far gone in accordance with the plan and it was now up to the sportspersons to prove their mettle.

St Xavier’s, GNPS register wins
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — St Xavier's Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, Sanjay Public School, Sector 44, and Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, won their respective matches on the opening day of the Chandigarh Subjunior Football League (under-16) for the St Xavier's Trophy at the Sector 17 football stadium here today.

Mr Andrew J Gosain, chairman, St Xavier's Senior Secondary School, inaugurated the tournament.

In the first match, St Xavier's outplayed St Joseph's High School, Sector-9, four goals. Left striker Manoj (one) and Bhupinder (three) were the scorers.

Guru Harkrishan School, Sector 40, got a walkover against St Stephen's School, Sector 45.

In another match, Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, beat Tribune Model School, Sector 29, 2-0. The Tribune school boys put up stiff resistance before conceding the goals. Right winger Sanbir and left-half Raghubir scored one goal each.

Sanjay Public School, Sector 44, beat St Soldier's School, Sector 29, by three goals, in a well contested match. St Soldier's conceded the first goal in the 10th minute when right striker Gaurav of Sanjay Public School scored in the 10th minute. He was followed by Naresh in the 20th minute who scored the second goal with a solo effort. After the lemon break Sanjeev scored the third goal for Sanjay Public School.

Match drawn

ROHTAK, Dec 1 (FOSR) — The North Zone Inter-State Vijay Merchant Trophy match played at Vishwakarma Stadium between Punjab and Haryana ended in a draw here today.

Punjab gained five points on the basis of the first innings lead whereas Haryana got three.

PPS Nabha riders excel

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 (TNS) — Punjab Public School, Nabha bagged the over all title in the All-India Public Schools Riding Championship which concluded at Nabha on November 29.

Kulbir Singh of PPS was adjusted the best rider in the competition. Lt-Gen Gurpreet Singh Brar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) was the chief guest. Col D.S. Khera, Headmaster, welcomed the chief guest.

The results: Dressage: (senior) Juvraj Singh (YPS, Mohali) 1, Kulbir Singh (PPS, Nabha) 2, (Junior) Darshan Singh (YPS, Mohali) 1, Manmeet Singh (PPS, Nabha) 2.

Show jumping: (Senior) Bimaljit Singh (PPS, Nabha) 1, Kulbir Singh (PPS, Nabha) 2, (Junior) Manmeet Singh (PPS, Nabha) 1, Jagtar Singh (PPS, Nabha) 2.

Tent pegging: Bimaljit Singh (PPS, Nabha) 1, Mandeep Singh (PPS, Nabha) 2.

Hoshiarpur triumph

PATIALA, Dec 1 (FOSR) — A final allround performance by Kuldeep Dhami (116 not out and 5 for 32) enabled Hoshiarpur to beat Ropar by 26 runs in the final of the Sushil Bali Cricket Tournament (under-14) played at the Dhruv Pandove Stadium here today.

Scores: Hoshiarpur 235 for 4 in 40 overs (Kuldeep Dhami 116 not out. Jasbir 55. Anubhar 24 Kanwardeep 2 for 40).

Ropar 209 all out in 37 overs (Deepak Sehgal 46, Kanwardeep 24, Dilraj Singh 27, Sandeep Singh 29, Kuldeep Dhami 5 for 32, Deepak Gatta 4 for 41).

DAV school win

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 (BOSR) — DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, won the under-14 cricket title in the UT Inter-School Cricket Tournament defeating Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, by 86 runs here today.

brief scores:- DAV-8: 153 for 4 in 20 overs. (Vishnu Arora 51, Kartik 33, Vikas 37, Aman 2 for 29, Sahil 2 for 27).

GMSS-5; 67 all out in 19.4 overs. (Rajneesh 5 for 6 runs, Kartik 2 for 16, Vikas 2 for 10).

UT school trials on Dec 5, 7

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 (TNS) — Trials to select the Chandigarh teams for the National School Games being organised at Jabalpur from December 15 to 20 will be held on December 5 and 7, according to Mr Prem Puri, Assistant Education Officer.

The schedule is as follows:

Football (boys under — 19) December 5 — football stadium Sector 17, 2.30 p.m.; Kho-kho (boys under — 19) December 5 — Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 23; 2.30 p.m.; Kabaddi (boys under — 17) December 5 — Government High School, Sector 22-C, 2.30 p.m.; Kho-kho (girls under — 19) December 7 — Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 23, 2.30 p.m.; Kabaddi (girls under — 17 December 7 — Government High School, Sector 22-C, 2.30 p.m.