Gallant Indians lose by solitary goal

BANGKOK, Dec 3 (PTI) — Twice champions India played their hearts out and matched a youthful Japan on numerous occasions before going down by a solitary second-half goal in their opening group ‘C’ preliminary football league outing in the Asian Games today.

Playing with good understanding and stitching their own moves through the impressive striker Baichung Bhutia upfront, India held their superior rivals goalless in the first half before Kenji Fukinda struck the winner for Japan in the 55th minute of the absorbing contest at the main stadium in Trang.

India, returning to Asian Games after 12 years and with modest ambitions, played far better than expected with a well functioning defence managing to thwart the speedy Japanese forwards on many occasions.

Japan, one of the strong contenders for the title after their country’s impressive run in reaching the World Cup finals in France, could not dominate the way they did while thrashing Nepal, the other team in the group, by a huge 5-0 margin in their opening clash on November 30.

The Japanese side comprising of under-21 players posted their second straight win in the three-team group to top the pool and move into the next round while India can look forward to beating Nepal when they clash in the final group ‘C’ match on December 5 at the same venue, over 700 km south of Bangkok.

India were given little chance of putting up a fight after they lost 0-4 to a depleted Uzbekistan in Calcutta in their final warm-up tie, but coach Sayed Nayeemuddin’s tactics of tightening the defence with the midfielders falling back in support helped India hold their rivals at bay.

Captain I.M. Vijayan mostly played in a midfield role and the skilful Bhutia sparkled with his dribbles and body feints which saw two Japanese defenders earn the yellow card for clumsy fouls on him.

India started with first choice goalkeeper Hemanta Dora, after the latter was not certain to even make the trip as he was nursing a knee injury, and the diminutive Dora came up with assured collections in the first half.

India, who held a 3-3 head to head record against Japan going into the match, looked like they would take a point off the match.

Nayeemuddin replaced the diminutive midfielder Amit Ghosh with the tall medio Venkatesh which had a good effect on the game. He combined well with Carlton Chapman, coming up with fine distribution playing to the right, and the overlapping left wingback K.V. Dhanesh.

The Indian stoppers Jiju Jacob and Debjit Ghosh were assured in their tackles to dispossess with Franky Baretto also quickly falling well back to effect clearances.

But Japan went ahead in the 55th minute through a quick move down the right, Kenji K. Fukinda shaking off his marker by darting in to meet a header on to his path and beating Dora with a first time left-footer.

Unlike previous occasions, the Indians did not lose heart and came up with their own attacking moves to keep the Japan custodian Minami engaged.

India, who last played in the Asian Games in 1986 and were reluctantly cleared at "no cost to government" basis going by their world ranking of around 120, also had their moments.

Bhutia almost equalled twice, on the first occasion Basudeb Mondal split two defenders on the leftwing and centred, but the Indian striker was just beaten to the ball by the advancing Minami.

Vijayan, playing a withdrawn role, then played a sharp one-two with Bhutia, but his final try into the box was neither directed straight to the goal nor fed into the path of Bhutia with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Bhutia almost paved the way for a goal when Japanese defender Miyamoto fouled him to the right of the penalty box, but Vijayan’s freekick went well over the bar.

Close to time, Mondal, Chapman and Bhutia came up with a speedy move down the right, but Mondal’s angular effort sailed wide.

The last time India met Japan was in the 1970 Bangkok Games when they beat them to claim the bronze after losing to them in the preliminary stage.

Shock defeat for South Korea

BANGKOK, Dec 3 (Reuters) — World Cup finalists South Korea were beaten on a day that saw Turkmenistan, China and the United Arab Emirates qualify for the second round of the Asian Games soccer tournament yesterday.

It was a miserable day for the Koreas, with the North eliminated and the South, one of the competition’s favourites, turning a 2-0 lead into defeat after conceding an own goal and receiving the first red card of the tournament.

A hat-trick by Eintracht Frankfurt striker Yang Chen helped China to a 4-1 win over Cambodia. They qualified with the maximum six points having beaten Lebanon by the same score on Monday.

North Korea went down 4-1 in a penalty shootout to the UAE after six goals had been shared in the 90 minutes. With only two teams in the group after Brunei pulled out of the tournament late last month, they were eliminated.

South Korea had looked to be well on their way to victory in their opening match after Choi Yong-Soo put them ahead with two minutes gone and added another in the 42nd minute.

But things started to go wrong when they conceded an own goal after an hour and then Lee Byoung-Keun was shown the red card for a second bookable offence.

Turkmenistan equalised in the 85th minute, Agaev Muslim volleying into the roof of the net, and Igor Koslov added to the Koreans’ misery with a winner a minute from time.

Group E apart, the top two teams in each group qualify for round two.

Hong Kong’s 5-0 defeat by Thailand meant they were eliminated. They had lost 6-0 to Oman in their opening game.

Thailand put pre-tournament worries behind them with two goals in the opening eight minutes. Krisada Piandit and Worawooth Srimaka were the marksmen.

Kiatisuk Senamuang scored the third and fifth goals after 22 and 85 minutes, respectively, and Tawan Sripan struck the fourth in the 73rd minute.

The Thais are striving to restore their reputation battered by a punch-up that forced the abandonment of a warm-up match with Qatar last month and an international ban that followed a farcical match with Indonesia in September which both sides tried to avoid winning.

Two more athletes for Asiad

NEW DELHI, Dec 3 (PTI) — Javelin throwers Satvir Singh and Jagdish Kumar were both given tickets to the Bangkok Asian Games after the Athletics Selection Committee yesterday decided to take both despite Satvir failing to reach his personal best in the trials.

The Amatuer Athletic Federation of India (AAFI) named a final list of 13 men and 15 women athletics team for the Games after the Selection Committee and coaches held consultation yesterday.

Woman javelin thrower Gurmeet Kaur had on Tuesday set a national record to achieve the qualifying mark at the trials to help marginal cases make the grade.

Male javelin hope Satvir Singh, who finished third and short of the target of 78.00 metre, was, however, included in the team along with Jagdish Kumar Bishnoi.

The team:

Men:
400m — Paramjit Singh, Jata Shankar; 1500m — Bahadur Prasad; 5000m - Bahadur Prasad, Gulab Chand; 10000m — Gulab Chand; 4x400m relay — Paramjit Singh, Jata Shankar, P. Ramchandran Lijo David, Dinesh Rawat.

Shot put — Shakti Singh, Bahadur Prasad; Discus — Anil Kumar, Ajit Badhuria; Javelin — Satvir Singh, Jagdish Kumar Bishnoi.

Women:
100m — PT Usha, Rachita Mistry; 200m — PT Usha, Vanita Tripathi; 400m — PT Usha, Rosa Kutty; 800m — Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, Rosa Kutty.

1500m — Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, Sunita Rani

5000m — Sunita Rani

4x100m relay — PT Usha, Rachita Mistry, EB Shyla, V Jayalakshmi, Vanita Tripathi, Saraswati Dey (reserve).

4x400m relay — PT Usha, Jyotirmoyee Sikder, Rosa Kutty, KM Beenamol, Jincey Philips

Long Jump — Lekha Thomas

Triple Jump — Lekha Thomas

Discus — Neelam J Singh, Swaranjeet Kaur

Javelin — Gurmeet Kaur.

Nirupama bows out in quarterfinal

NEW DELHI, Dec 3 (PTI) — India number one Nirupama Vaidyanathan crashed out to German Miriam Schnitzer in a quarter-final tie as the hosts’ challenge in the $ 75,000 WTA women’s challenger ended at the DLTA courts here today.

Nirupama, who rallied from a set down to make the quarter-final grade yesterday, lacked fighting spirit and made several unforced errors to lose 0-6 4-6 to fourth seed German.

Schnitzer, who is having one of her best run during this season, snatched the initiative early on breaking Nirupama thrice before closing out the first set on her serve.

The Indian, who is all set to represent the country in the Bangkok Asian Games, fought well in the second, but one service break was all that her opponent needed to move into the semifinals.

Schnitzer will play Italian Tithiana Garbin for a place in the final tomorrow. The sixth seeded Garbin beat American Jolene Watanabe 3-6 7-5 6-1 in a hotly contested tie.

Japan’s Rika Hiraki became the only unseeded player to reach the last four stage when she outclassed Tina Krizan of Slovenia 6-1 6-4 in the first quarter-final match of the day.

Hiraki upstaged better ranked Krizan with the "bookstyle" double-handed forehand returns and remarkable placings, which the Slovenian found hard to reach.

The Japanese will meet seventh seed Amanda Hopmans of the Netherlands in the second semifinal.

Hiraki, who came to the limelight after winning French open mixed doubles title with India’s Mahesh Bhupathi, also made it to the semifinals of doubles tournament.

Hiraki partnering Louise Fleming of Australia sailed past Japanese duo of Shiho Hisamatsu and Madoka Kuki 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Nirupma’s biggest problem was her on-court movement while Schnitzer, who already had one win over the Indian on her home ground, sent down some blistering forehand returns to win crucial points.

Nirupma dropped her serve in the first game of the opening set after saving two breakpoints but then on Schnitzer took control of the match.

The German, who was very vocal on court, disputed several close line-calls while Nirupma who found nothing was going in her way, also exchanged words with chair umpire indicating that her opponent was wasting time when she was ready to serve.

In the second set, games went with the serves till the sixth when Schnitzer approached net often winning points on volleys as Nirupma trailed 15-40.

The Indian won two points to take the game to deuce but Schnitzer snatched initiative with a blistering forehand winner, and as Nirupma’s return touched netcord falling into her own court. The German walked away with the break she needed. She served out the set for a place in the semifinals when Nirupma’s down the line return went long.

Rika Hiraki continued with her fairytale run on Indian soil by crushing fifth seed Slovenian Krizan 6-1 6-4.

Krizan, who possesses perfect body for a tennis player, should have had no problems in dominating the proceedings but "doll-lookalike" Hiraki covered the court splendidly and exact placings won the match for her.

Her semifinal opponent will be Dutchwoman Hopmans, 6-3 6-2 winner over Lorna Woodforde of Britain. Woodforde yesterday defeated India’s Sai Jayalakshmi in second round.

India to bank on spinners

CHENNAI, Dec 3 (UNI) — If you can’t beat them with your own speed and inconsistent batting, do it with your more potent slow weapon.

India "A," smarting under the defeat they suffered at the hands of the touring West Indies "A" in the first Test at Bangalore, are hoping to square the series by taking on the Caribbeans with spin in the second and the final Test match, beginning at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here, from tomorrow.

Both India "A" cricket manager Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who is upset with his middle order batsmen’s poor show in the Bangalore Test and captain Hrishikesh Kanitkar are confident that they would beat the Windies and square the series.

"We are ironing out the mistakes our middle-order batsmen had committed in the first Test", Srikkanth said, as he put the team through a grinding session at the nets. A reticent Hrishikesh said his team would remain focussed though it had virtually thrown away what appeared to be an easy win in the first Test.

Even though, Mumbai medium pacer and India senior discard Abey Kuruvilla replacing Robin Singh (Jr) would be expected to lend sharpness to India "A"’s pace attack, the bald wicket with very little grass on it says it all. That spin would be the weapon Hrishikesh and his bunch would be deploying in their bid to make Ian Bishop and his men eat humble pie.

Asked if India "A" would rely on spin as the Chepauk wicket is known to favour the spinners, Srikkanth non-commitally said: "Let me see. In any case, we have a much better spin attack."

But the Windies are unfazed, if coach Roger Harper is to be believed. He agreed that the Chepauk wicket has an history of having favoured spin. However, he answered in the affirmative when asked if his spinners could make a match of it if the wicket helps spin early in the four-day Test.

"We are focussed on our task of trying to move ahead and win the series", he said confidently.

He said the Bangalore win was possible because his players did not wilt under pressure brought on by the splendid batting of Sadagopan Ramesh, the Chennai left hander and Devang Gandhi and secondly his own lower order coming good in the second innings.

The West Indies would, however, again be looking to a good start from openers Sherwin Campbell and Adrian Griffith and solidity from Wavel Hinds, Christopher Gayle and Richar Smith.

And if spin is to decide the outcome, left-armer Neil McGarrel would be under severe pressure to prove his mettle again.

Srikkanth put the India "A" team through a hard stint at the nets especially to counter the short ball, as he put it. He asked his bowlers to bowl from 19 yards.

He said Abey Kuruvilla would be replacing Robin Singh (Jr), who has, himself taken the place of all rounder Ajit Agarkar in the New Zealand bound Indian senior team.

The teams:

West Indies "A" (from): Ian Bishop (capt), Sherwin Campbell (vice-capt), Reon King, Carl Tuckett, Rawl Lewis, Pedro Collins, Richard Smith, Wayne Philip, Neil McGarrel, Adrian Griffiths, Wavel Hands, Keith Semple, Courtney Browne, Ramnareswh Sarwan and Chris Gayle.

India "A" (from): Hrishikesh Kanitkar (capt), S. Ramesh, Debang Gandhi, Rohan Gavaskar, Amol Mazumdar, Wasim Jaffer, Amay Khurasia, M.S.K. Prasad, Rahul Sanghvi, Abey Kuruvilla, Nikhil Chopra, Obaid Kamal, Dodda Ganesh and Sanjay Raul.

Cricket squad leaves for New Zealand

MUMBAI, Dec 3 (PTI) — The 15-member Indian team led by Mohammed Azharuddin left here today by an early morning flight to Hong Kong en route to New Zealand with high hopes of recording the all-too-rare Test series win abroad.

Among those to depart was Delhi paceman Robin Singh (Jr), a late replacement for the injured Mumbai speedster Ajit Agarkar who was ruled out of the tour at the eleventh hour after the conclusion of the conditioning camp here because of a stress fracture in his left leg.

Both skipper Azharuddin and team coach Anshuman Gaekwad see the tour as a good opportunity for notching up a Test series win and rectify India’s poor Test record overseas, the latest being the loss in the one-off Test to hosts Zimbabwe.

India have not won a Test abroad, let alone a series, since 1993 when they got the better of hosts Sri Lanka and it was 12 years ago - in 1986 - that the country won a series outside the sub-continent which indicates the extent of India’s lack of success in Tests overseas.

Test world record-makers Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar were still around when India notched up a convincing 2-0 test series win in England. Both have since moved away from the spotlight.

The enormity of the task facing Azhar and his men is evident considering it was 30 years ago that Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi led the country to a series win (3-1) in New Zealand — incidentally India’s first-ever overseas triumph.

India are banking on the batting genius of Sachin Tendulkar, the world's most destructive batsman, and the pace of Javagal Srinath, in the main, with good support from other key members like veteran Navjot Singh Sidhu, skipper Azharuddin, Saurav Ganguly and Anil Kumble for the triumph.

The loss of Agarkar, who has carved a niche in the short time he has been in the team and given hopes of a Kapil Dev in the making, is a big blow the team has to overcome for he and Srinath would have formed a fine new-ball partnership followed by the seaming abilities of Venkatesh Prasad.

The team has had a useful training stint in Mumbai, even playing on grassy pitches to get adjusted to the conditions they expect to encounter in Kiwiland.

Azar and Gaekwad are hoping the team members get adjusted to conditions very quickly — easier said than done going by past experience — in order to present a formidable front to New Zealand in the opening Test at Dunedin commencing on December 18.

The team has the advantage of two four-day warm-up ties at Napier and Wellington to get their act together before the commencement of the three-Test series.

This is India's sixth tour to New Zealand to play Test cricket and they have won only four out of 14 tests while losing four with the others ending in draws.

India drew the one-off Test at Hamilton in 1994 after losing the three-Test series in 1981 and 1990 by identical 0-1 margins. In 1976 India had drawn the three-Test series 1-1.

The Indians are to play the Tests at Dunedin, Wellington and Hamilton before engaging the Kiwis in the five one-day international series from January 9.

The board has said the national selectors may make some changes to the squad prior to the one-day internationals.

The team: Mohd Azharuddin (capt.) Ajay Jadeja (vice-capt.) Navjot Singh Sidhu, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Nayan Mongia, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Debashish Mohanty, Anil Kumble, Sunil Joshi, Harbhajan Singh and Robin Singh Jr.

The itinerary

Dec 7-10: v Central Districts at Napier

Dec 12-15: v Wellington at Wellington

Dec 18-22: first Test at Dunedin

Dec 26-30: second Test at Wellington

Jan 2-6: Third Test at Hamilton

Jan 9: first one-day international at Auckland

Jan 12: second one-day international at Hamilton

Jan 14: third one-day international at Napier (day/night)

Jan 16: fourth one-day international at Christchurch (d/n)

Jan 18: fifth one-day international at Wellington

Reserve days for ODI: Jan 10, 13, 15, 17 and 19.

Unbeaten century by Rathore

MUMBAI, Dec 3 (PTI) — An unbeaten 102 off 204 balls by North Zone skipper Vikram Rathore and an unbeaten 149-run third wicket partnership with his deputy Pankaj Dharmani (batting 65 off 158 balls) helped his team finish 224 for two on the third day of the five-day Duleep Trophy quarter-final cricket tie against South Zone here today.

South, who were 192 for five overnight, managed to gain a slender 29-run first innings lead before their skipper and former Test star Venkatpathi Raju declared their innings at 254 for nine off 85.4 overs, one and half hour from start of play today. North had made 225 in their first innings.

Rathore, who hit 10 fours and a six so far, batted with confidence and along with Dharmani, who was very severe on leg spinner Ananthapadmanabhan hitting him for three sixes, has put North back in the game with still two days to go.

South have been handicapped by the absence of their allrounder Robin Singh who was hit on the face while trying to hook Harvinder Singh’s bouncer in the morning.

Robin Singh was taken to the hospital and needed two stitches on his upper lip, though, he was reported to be out of danger he did not take the field due to giddiness.

South’s bowling hero left arm pacer H. Ramkishen, who did not bat due to an injury on his right hand, removed opening batsman Jitender Singh even before North had opened their account.

However, Rajiv Nayyar, the next man in and Rathore dug in there and added 75 runs for the second wicket before Nayyar was caught in the first slip by Sujith Somasunder off Ramkishen for 43. Nayyar hit nine fours off 62 balls in a stay of 85 minutes at the wicket.

Dharmani, who was dropped when on 28 (team’s total 148 for two) by Somasunder at first slip off Raju, and Rathore then took control of the proceedings till draw of stumps.

South were reeling at 214 for eight at one stage in the morning and only a breezy 23 off 22 balls which included two fours and a six by tailender Narinder Pal Singh and a ninth wicket partnership of 36 runs with his skipper Raju (eight not out) helped them to take the crucial lead.

Off spinner Virendra Shewag (four for 32) was the most successful North bowler followed by the two new ball bowlers Harvinder (two for 45) and Amit Bhandari (two for 69).

Arvind Shetty, who scored a patient 59 yesterday was the highest scorer for the South with Robin Singh (30 off 65 balls including four fours and a six) and Somashekar Shiraguppi (26 off 92 balls with three fours) being other main contributors.

The North bowlers gave as many 36 runs as extras, second highest score after Shetty’s 59, which did not help the team’s cause.

Dingko finally gets the nod
From Our Sports Reporter

PATIALA, Dec 3 — In what comes as a pleasant surprise, ace boxer Dingko Singh has secured a berth in the Indian boxing squad schedule to participate in the Asian Games to be held at Bangkok from December 6 to 20.

Dingko along with three other pugilists Harpal Singh, Gurcharan Singh and Jitendera Singh accompanied by chief coach G.S. Sandhu and his assistant Cuban B.I. Fernandez left New Delhi for Bangkok last night by an Indian Airlines flight.

It was only after sustained lobbying by the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) that the IOA finally relented and agreed to send Dingko for the Asian Games in the bantam weight category. However, the boxer, unlike the rest of his team mates, has been cleared by the Union Sports Ministry on a "no cost to government" basis. It is not yet clear as to whether the IABF or the boxer himself will pay his expenses.

It was on October 25 that the IABF after selection trials had recommended the name of Dingko and three others to the IOA for the Asian Games. But suddenly the boxer, considered to be a medal prospect, found himself cold shoulders by the authorities when on November 28 the IOA announced the Indian contingent for the games with the name of Dingko not to be found in it. At that time Dingko was attending the pre-Asiad preparatory camp at Patiala. Sources reveal that Dingko's name was cleared yesterday barely hours before he was to board the flight only after the issue was taken up at the highest level in the Union Sports Ministry.

In an unprecedented but related development the assistant coach of the boxing squad, Cuban Bi Fernandez along with four other foreign coaches, has voiced his concern over selection of sportspersons for the Asian Games. In a strongly worded letter addressed to the Union Sports Minister, Ms Uma Bharti Mr Fernandez and other foreign coaches have alleged that the Bangkok-bound Indian teams have been psychologically affected by the fear that any sportsperson could be axed at the last minute. The foreign coaches have said that "we have been trying our level best, for more than a year, to bring the Indian sportspersons upto medal winning performances. But we are surprised to observe how officials are literally destroying the results of our work". The two page letter was written on November 28 — the day two times national champion Dingko Singh was unceremoniously axed from the Indian team.

Initially, on October 25, six pugilists were selected by the IABF for the Asian Games. The number was whittled down to four midway during the preparatory camp at NIS here. Then on November 28, it was learnt that only three pugilists will fly to Bangkok, with the name of Dingko Singh being left out from the quarter. Now finally four boxers accompanied by two coaches have made it to Bangkok for the Games. The selection omission and re-selection of Dingko has brought to the surface various lucanae prevailing in the IOA, SAI and other agencies engaged in the selection of Indian teams for the Asian Games.

Golfers get warm reception
From Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, Dec 3 — Debutant women’s team as also men’s side were accorded warm reception by the Indian Golf Union (ladies and men’s sections) on the eve of their departure for Bangkok Asian Games starting on December 6.

The three-member women’s team is a fine blend of youth and experience. The IGU (ladies) convener Sarah Philip, while wishing girls all the best, said: "Our chances of winning a medal have never been better". Coached by Ajay Gupta, the team has undergone adequate preparation in technical, physical and psychological training, added Ms Philip.

Joint fourth in the last Queen Sirikit Cup at Mumbai, the team since then has performed well in other international competitions.

All three players, Nonita Lal Qureshi, Parneeta Garewal and Urvashi Sodhi, expressed optimism of performing superbly. Their coach Ajay Gupta also felt that the girls were capable of winning a medal if they did not get overawed by the big occasion. Anjali Chopra is the reserve.

The men’s team non-playing captain Lakshman Singh exuded the same confidence as Ms Philip. "Our team is capable of winning medals for the country", he said.

The men’s team: Harmit Kahlon, Amit Luthra, Digvijay Singh and Amit Dube.

The combined team leaves tomorrow evening for Calcutta. After spending a night there, they will take off for Bangkok.

The team will have two-day practice there. The competitions begin on December 10.

Police sports meet results
From Our Correspondent

FEROZEPORE, Dec 3 — The overall trophy in three-day 23rd Ferozepore range police sports and athletics meet which concluded at the local Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium today has been won for consecutive third year by Ferozepore district.

Main feature of the meet was that all the higher rank police officers took part in it. DIG Hardip Singh Dhillon played for Moga team in hockey match. In this well contested match Ferozepore beat Moga 2-1.

The following are the results.

Hockey: Ferozepore b Moga 2-1; kabaddi: Ferozepore b Moga 36-19; volleyball: Ferozepore b Mukstar 15-3, 15-5, 15-7; football: Mukstar b Ferozepore 3-1, cricket: Ferozepore b Muktsar; handball: Ferozepore b Muktsar.

Wrestling (54 kg): Harbhajan Singh (f'pore) Raj Singh (Muktsar) 2; 58 kg: Amrik Singh (F'pore) 1, Som Nath (F'pore) 2 69 kg: Dashrath (F'pore) 1, Jagir Chand (F'pore) 2, 76 kg: Jatinder Pal (Moga) 1, Bhupinder Singh (Muktsar) 2, 85 kg: Ravi Pal (F'pore) 1, Nem Pal (Muktsar) 2, 97 kg: Prem Chand (Muktsar) 1, C. Sawinder Pal (Muktsar) 2. Wrestling (free style): 54 kg: Dharam Pal (F'pore) 1, Romesh Kumar (Muktsar) 2, 58 kg: Som Nath (F'pore) 1, Jagdish Singh (Muktsar) 2, 63 kg: Narinder Singh (F'pore) 1, Romesh (Muktsar) 2, 69 kg: Amrik Singh (F'pore) 1, Raj Pal Singh (Muktsar) 2, 76 kg: Jagir Chand (F'pore) 1, Bhupinder Singh (Muktsar) 2, 85 kg: Birbal Singh) F'pore) 1, Jaswinder Singh (Muktsar) 2, 97 kg: Vijay Kumar (F'pore)1, Prem Chand (Muktsar) 2.

Judo 50 kg: Satpaul Singh (F'pore) 1, Raj Singh (Muktsar) 2, 55 kg: Jagdish Singh (Muktsar) 1, Som Nath (F'pore) 2, 60 kg: Ramesh Kumar (Muktsar) 1, Charanjit Singh (Moga) 2, 65 kg: Narinder Singh (F'pore) 1, Raj Paul (Muktsar) 2, 70 kg: Raj Balwinder (Moga) 1, Amrik Singh (F'pore) 2, 78 kg: Jagir Chand (F'pore) 1, Nempal (Muktsar) 2.

Central Rly pip Salgaocar

MUMBAI, Dec 3 (PTI) — Goalkeeper Raghuveer Kanolkar’s splendid show helped Central Railway chug past Goa’s Champion Club Salgaocar 3-1 via penalty shoot-out into the final of the 98th Rovers Cup Football Tournament at Cooperage here today.

Kanolkar fisted out Alvito D’Cunha’s shot and then blocked Jules Alberto’s try from the spot in the shoot-out after both the teams failed to score in the 120 minutes of play, including extra-time.

Only new recruit Kenyan International William Inganga could find the target in the tie-breaker for Salgaocar, while earlier dependable Bruno Coutinho shot over the bar a penalty kick awarded to them in the second half of the match.

For Central Railway, all the four players, Sadanand Kakodkar, Pradeep Saha, Mario Rodrigues and Shanta Kumar, found the net to take their team to the all-Mumbai final against Bengal Mumbai Football Club (BMFC) on December 5.

The last time two local teams played in the Rovers Cup final was in 1993 when Mahindra and Mahindra beat Bank of India for the title.

Kanolkar was the hero so far in the tournament for the railway team, playing their first final after a semifinal loss to Mafatlal way back in the 60s.

He made at least half a dozen saves during the play today. Kanolkar’s superlative performance had helped his team hold the Iranian Sports Cultural Organisation of Dubai and then beat FC Kochin in the quarterfinal league to get entry into the semifinal.

Salgaocar had umpteen number of chances during the first 90 minutes and then in the extra-time including the second half penalty kick given to them after defended Kakodkar brought down substitute Jules Alberto inside the box.

Earlier, in the first half, Inganga made a dangerous run into the box and took a fierce shot, only to see the confident Kanolkar collecting it neatly.

Former India captain Coutinho was off colour. Besides missing the penalty, he hit a powerful free-kick and a few shots straight to the keeper and was replaced in the last part of the second half by Denis Cabral.

Railways soon got into the attack, but had to witness a dangerous counter-attack. Getting the ball inside the box, Jos Esteves chipped the ball over the custodian, who was standing well outside the box while trying to clear the ball.

Kakodkar in the meantime backed his keeper and chested the ball into the hands of Kanolkar.

In the second half, after 10 minutes of play, Coutinho shot over the bar off a back pass from Francis Coelho.

In between Central Railway too made a couple of moves. On one occasion Arif Ansari, so far having a wonderful tournament, dodged past a couple of defenders and passed to Arshad Ansari, but to see the ball going straight to the Salgaocar keeper Bharat Morje.

Sports journalist dead

MUMBAI, Dec 3 (PTI) — Veteran sports journalist and former treasurer of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), Sharad Kotnis, died here early today in sleep. He was 70.

He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

Kotnis, who had covered several international cricket assignments besides the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi and 1988 Seoul Olympics, combined his journalistic career and stint in MCA cricket administration side by side for nearly two decades.

Pawan crashes out

CHANDIGARH, Dec 3 (TNS) — Pawan Kapoor crashed out of Los Angles Satellite Championship yesterday to Hiratta Jose of Portugal.

Pawan playing second three set match was on stoppable in the opening set when he gave only one game to his Protughese opponent. He took the set at 6-1 in just 22 minutes. He lost second set with identical score.

In third final set both the players held their serves till 6-6. Than in the tie-break Pawan had a chance to win the match at 6-5 but he blew it and Jose wrapped up the match winning the tie break at 8-6.

The final score in favour of Jose was 1-6,6-1,7-6(6).

Badminton tourney from Dec 10

SANGRUR, Dec 3 (FOSR) — Arun Memorial Punjab State Major Ranking Badminton Championships for men and women will be held here from December 10 to 12, according to Mr Anirudh Tewari, Deputy Commissioner and chairman, organising committee. Mr Tewari informed that three tournaments have been started by Punjab Badminton Association from this year. All the top players of the state will take part in this championship.

Punjab team for participation in senior nationals will be selected on the basis of performance in these championships. The championship has been dedicated to a former Punjab player Arun Handa, who died at a young age.

Last date of receiving entries is December 5 and draw will be taken out on December 7 at PBA office at Jalandher.

SPS, St Xavier move into semifinal

CHANDIGARH, Dec 3 (BOSR) — Sanjay Public School, Sector 44, Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, St Xavier Senior Secondary School, Sector 44 and St Soldier International School, Sector 28 entered the semifinal of the Chandigarh Sub Junior Football League for St Xaviers Trophy at Sector 17 Football Stadium today.

In the first match, Sanjay Public School ousted Guru Harkrishan Public School, Sector 40 by a solitary goal scored by right winger Vikram in 45th minute of the game. The rival team could not match the speed of the Sanjay school boys who have topped the league table in group A and qualified for the semifinals.

St Soldiers School got a walk over from St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, who failed to turn up for the match.

St Joseph’s High School, Sector 9, and Tribune Model High School, Sector 29 played a goalless draw. In the last match of the day, Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, subdued St Xavier’s School, Sector 44 by four goals to nil. Sandeep Singh opened the account in 20th minute. He again scored in 30th minute making sole efforts. In the second half, left out Sanbir and Sandeep Singh struck again and scored the goals in 40th and 49th minutes of the match.

Mandeep to lead

PATIALA, Dec 3 (FOSR) — Mandeep Saini will lead the Punjabi University squad (men) slated to take part in the North Zone Inter University Hockey Tournament to be held at Meerut from December 7 to 16. The other members of the Team are: Harpreet Singh (senior), Sarav Raj Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Harpreet Singh (junior), Rajesh Sharma, Charanjit Singh, Deepak Sonkhla, Hardeep Singh, Satish Kumar, Jaswinder Singh, Roopinder Singh, Tejinder Singh, Sanjeev Rattan, Aman Deepak Jit Singh and Randhir Singh.

Gymnastics squad

CHANDIGARH, Dec 3 (BOSR) — Chandigarh Gymnastics Association has selected gymnasts to represent UT in the forthcoming XXXIXth Junior National Gymnastics Championship to be held at Calcutta from December 23 to 27.

The team: Boys: Jasdeep Singh, Deepak Uniyal. Girls (Artistic): Pinki, Seeta Rawat, Asha Bisht, Savitri, Rhythem Asprey. Rhythemic: Kamalpreet, Monica and Pradhleen.

Jr gymnastics

CHANDIGARH, Dec 3 (BOSR) — The Punjab Gymnastics Association will organise the Punjab State Junior Gymnastics Championships at Ludhiana on December 10 and 11, while the Senior State Championship is scheduled from January 9 to 11 next year at Gurdaspur, according to Mr P.S. Virk, Secretary of the association.

During these tournaments, the state junior and senior teams for participation in the 39th Junior National Gymnastics Championships to be held at Calcutta in December and the 40th Senior Gymnastics Championship to be held at Rajasthan next year will also be selected.

Rajesh adjudged best athlete

HISAR, Dec 3 (FOSR) — Dayanand College Hisar won the 36th Kurukshetra University Inter-College Athletic Championship which concluded at Kurukshetra University ground yesterday. M.L.N. College Yamunanagar finished second.

Rajash Punia of Dayanand College, Hisar, was adjudged the best athlete who won four gold and one silver in the meet. Rajesh was also declared the fastest boy of the meet equalling the previous 100 mtrs meet record of 10.9 seconds.

Rejesh Kumar and Rohtash of this college were also declared best and the second best decathlon winning gold and silver medal, respectively. The college team also won silver medals in 4x100 mtrs and 4x400 mts relay races.