S P O R T	Tuesday, July 21, 1998
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Usha, Gurmeet among 5 bronze winners FUKUOKA (Japan), July 20 — Veteran P.T. Usha returned to the Asian stage by winning one of the five bronze medals for India while male quartermiler Paramjit Singh almost eclipsed Milkha Singh's 38-year-old national 400 m mark in coming fifth in the 12th Asian athletic meet today... (Left) Li Yuxin of China crosses the finish line to win the women's 10-kilometre walk and (right) Wang Yinhang of China waves while crossing the finish line to win the men's 20-kilometre walk in the 12th Asian Athletic Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, on Monday. — AP/PTI Surrey edge out Middlesex LONDON, July 20 — Middlesex lost top spot in the English Sunday league when they were beaten by one run by Surrey at Guildford... Jones wins 100 m in 10.90 sec NEW YORK, July 20 — Marion Jones capped an excellent evening of sprinting at Goodwill Games yesterday by beating the fastest women’s 100 metres field ever assembled on the opening day of the 15-event competition...

Steffi Graf holds the trophy she received after winning the A&P Tennis Classic in Mahwah, N.J. on Sunday. Graf beat Amanda Coetzer 6-3, 6-3. AP/PTI Graf beats Coetzer, lifts title MAHWAH, July 20 — Steffi Graf took another step forward on the comeback trail yesterday when she scored an impressive straight-set victory... Sachin's Grace-like knock floors media LONDON, July 20 — The usually taciturn Michael Atherton gushed "I do not think even W.G. (Grace) would have played like Sachin", and the British media heaped encomiums after Sachin Tendulkar came up with yet another exhibition of his masterly batting at Lord’s on Saturday... Johnson aiming for no. 1 slot NEW YORK, July 20 — A relaxed Michael Johnson said his frustrating leg injuries are behind him and he is ready to be ranked no.1 in the world in the 400 m for the sixth consecutive season...

Vogts may recall Effenberg BONN, July 20 — Germany coach Berti Vogts is ready to consider recalling disgraced midfielder Stefan Effenberg to the national side... Beating Jones Ottey's target NEW YORK, July 20 — Still raging against the dying of the light, Merlene Ottey refused to concede the flame of women’s sprinting had passed to a new generation... Airlines rally to enter semifinals CHENNAI, July 20 — Indian Airlines, New Delhi, became the first team to enter the semifinals of the M.C.C. Murugappa All India Hockey Tournament Youth games boost Moscow Mayor's ambitions MOSCOW, July 20 — The crowd was bused in. Television stations were ordered to broadcast. The final soccer match provided a rousing victory for the home team... Guerrouj misses world record GATESHEAD, (England) July 20 — Morocco’s Hicham el Guerrouj missed out by less than half a second on setting a 2,000 metres world best in miserable conditions at an athletic meeting in northern England... Pele admits doing ‘a Ronaldo’ in 1970 RIO DE JANEIRO, July 20 — Brazilian legend Pele has admitted that he almost did ‘a Ronaldo’ when he suffered an attack of nerves before the 1970 World Cup final against Italy in Mexico city... Tribunal to decide De Boer's future LONDON, July 20— Holland’s unsettled World Cup star Ronald De Boer has said he is hoping to sign for Arsenal in time for the Charity Shield, the traditional curtain raiser of the English football season... Belgium, USA split reverse ties INDIANAPOLIS, July 20 — The USA ended a quarterfinal Davis Cup tie against Belgium yesterday with a 4-1 final result. TV role for Romario MADRID, July 20 — Left out of the defending champion’s squad, Romario suffered in silence as Brazil went down in the World Cup final to France on July 12... City Blue Club enter semis AMRITSAR, July 20 — A fine century by Jang Bahadur and 106 runs by Satpal Manga helped the City Blue Club beat King Fisher Club by 78 runs.. Mark O'Meara wins British Open crown SOUTHPORT, July 20 — Mark O’Meara struck a blow for the veterans with his record-breaking triumph in the British Open yesterday... Konguvel upsets Georgiev BALAGUER (Spain), July 20 — India’s former national ‘A’ champion Ponnaswamy Konguvel scored a sensational win over defending champion IM V. Georgiev of Bulgaria...

Usha, Gurmeet among 5 bronze winners FUKUOKA (Japan), July 20 (PTI) — Veteran P.T. Usha returned to the Asian stage by winning one of the five bronze medals for India while male quartermiler Paramjit Singh almost eclipsed Milkha Singh's 38-year-old national 400 m mark in coming fifth in the 12th Asian athletic meet today. Women javelin thrower Gurmeet Kaur snatched the first medal for India with her final try and accounted for the two national marks with high jumper Bobby Alloysius, whose 1.85 m (old mark 1.81 m) clearance could fetch only the fifth spot. Paramjit Singh ran an astonishing 45.95 seconds to emerge the first Indian to achieve sub-46 since the legendary Milkha Singh clocked 45.73 seconds in coming fourth at the 1960 Rome Olympics, indicating that it will not be long before he eclipsed Milkha's "eternal record." The 33-year old P.T.Usha almost turned back the clock at a stage she used to completely dominate, but faded in the final stages to be pushed to third at 52.55 seconds. Sri Lanka's Damayanti Darsha equalled the meet mark of 51.23 seconds in claiming gold while Svetlana Bodritskaya (Kazakh - 52.46) pipped Usha to silver. Gurmeet Kaur touched 55.35 m with a last-gasp hurl for bronze and Jyotimoyee Sikdar ran a gusty race despite not being prepared for the 1500 m and recorded her personal best of 4 minutes 14.32 secs to finish behind two Chinese rivals. Male thrower Shakti Singh beat the more fancied Bahadur Singh to fourth place, winning the shot put with a heave of 18.40 m while Gulab Chand landed a surprise 10000 m bronze by hanging on to favoured Japanese and Korean opponents in a slow and tactical race. Chinese Duo Zhou Wei (10.39 sec) and Yan Jiankui (11.39) claimed a double by emerging the fastest man and woman of the meet. It was emulated in the 400 m by Sugath Tillekeratne, who ran a world class 44.61 secs, to add to Darsha's victory. The nine golds in the men's section was spread evenly, but Chinese women were relentless by garnering four of the six golds settled on an absorbing day at Hakata No-Mori stadium. The Sri Lankans sent a message that the banned world 200 m silver medallist Susanthika Jayansighe was not the only outstanding talent back home. Darsha delayed the resurgence of Usha, who ran a brilliant 300 metres before lack of endurance let her down and Bodritskaya pipped her. Gulab Chand clocked 30:14.69 to finish behind winner Baek Seung-Do (Kor - 30:12.26) and Toshihiro Iwasa (Jpn -30:12.57) India's Harish Tiwari came fourth at 30.26.17. Shakti Singh, whose national mark is 19.02 m, took shot put bronze pushing Bahadur Singh (18.24 m) to fourth. In 400 m, the second Indian Lijo David Thottan trailed in eighth and last despite clocking 46.64 secs but with in-form Paramjit Singh can hope to attack the longer relay. Rajeev Balakrishnan and Amit Khanna finished sixth and eighth, respectively to go out in the men's 100 m semifinals. Rajeev clocked 10.54 sec in a faster race while Amit Khanna returned a disappointing 10.77 sec. Qatar's 1992 Olympic bronze medallist Mohd Sulaiman won a slow 1500 metres and Saudi Arabia's Saeed Al-Asmari took the 3000 m steeple-chase gold. "I think I did the right thing by running for a medal, not for the timing," said Gulab Chand after landing the third spot in the tight race. In the men’s 100 m, Rajeev Balakrishnan was expected to improve upon his 10.43 second national record set in Chennai. Running into a mild headwind in the second semifinal, he could only come in sixth at 10.54 seconds behind the fifth-placed Sri Lankan Chintaka De Zoysa (10.51). Liu Jing clocked 4 minutes 12.76 seconds in leading a Chinese one-two with Wang Chunmei, followed by Sikdar. The first five came under the old meet mark of 4:17.78 set by China’s Yan Wei at Manila in 1993. Bobby Alloysious improved significantly on her national mark by clearing 1.85 m in the women’s high jump, but Japan’s Miki Imai came up with 1.94 m to erase the 17-year-old meet mark of 1.93 set by Japan’s Hisayo Fukumitso at Tokyo in 1981. Japan’s Masaki Morinaga cleared 8.08 m to win the men’s long jump while Toru Yasui won the decathlon logging 7,439 points. On the opening day, Virender Punia finished a poor ninth in the men’s hammer throw after touching only 61.97 metres while GG Prameela, could not progress beyond her first try of 6.10 m to end up 10th in women’s long jump. Men: 100 m: 1. Zhou Wei (Chn) 10.39, 2. Watson Nyambek (Mas) 10.42, 3. Hiroyasu Tsuchie (Jpn) 10.44, 400 m: 1. Sugath Tillakaratne (Sri) 44.61 secs (NMR - Old 44.96 secs). 2. Masayoshi Kan (Jpn) 45.64, 3. Kenji Tabata (Jpn) 45.69, 5. Paramjit Singh (Ind) 45.95, 8. Lijo David Thottan (Ind) 46.64. 1500 m: 1. Mohd Ahmad Sulaiman (Qat) 3:43.70, 2. Kiyonari Shibata (Jpn) 3:44.38, 3. Cheng Bing (Chn) 3:44.92 10000 m: 1. Baek Seung-Do (Kor) 30:12.26, 2. Toshihiro Iwasa (Jpn) 30:12.57, 3. Gulab Chand (Ind) 30:14.69, 5. Harish Tiwari (Ind) 30:26.17 3000 steeplechase: 1. Saad S. Al-Asmari (Ksa) 8 min 31.14 sec. 2. Yasunori Uchitomi (Jpn) 8:33.40, 3. Hamid Sadjadihezaveh (Irn) 8:37.88, 20 km walk: 1. Li Zewen (Chn) one hour 27 min 58 sec., 2. Yoshimi Hara (Jpn) 1:28.16, 3. Valeriy Borissov (Kazak) 1:29.05. Long jump: 1. Masaki Morinaga (Jpn) 8.08 m, 2. Liu Hongning (Chn) 7.97, 3. Shigeru Tagawa (Jpn) 7.96, Shot put: 1. Bilal Saad Mubarak (Qat) 19.17 m (nmr - old 19.04), 2. Liu Hao (Chn) 18.86, 3. Shakti Singh (Ind) 18.40, 4. Bahadur Singh (Ind) 18.24. Decathlon: 1. Toru Yasui (Jpn) 7,439 points, 2. Tomokazu Sugama (Jpn) 7,347, 3. Ivan Yarkin (Kaz) 7,239. Women: 100 m: 1. Yan Jiankui (Chn) 11.39, 2. Cui Danfeng (Chn) 11.42, 3. Shanti Govindasamy (Mas) 11.60. 400 m: 1. Damayanti Darsha (Sri) 51.23 (emr), 2. Svetlana Bodritskaya (Kaz) 52.46, 3. P T Usha (Ind) 52.55. 1500 m: 1. Liu Jing (Chn) 4:12.76 (nmr - old 4:17.78), 2. Wang Chunmei (Chn) 4:13.45, 3. Jyotirmoyee Sikdar (Ind) 4:14.32. Javelin: 1. Li Lei (Chn) 60.10 m, 2. Harumi Yamamoto (Jpn) 55.41, 3. Gurmeet Kaur (Ind) 55.35. 10 km walk: 1. Li Yuxin (Chn) 46 minutes, 41 sec., 2. Rie Mitsumori (Jpn) 46:52, 3. Yuka Mitsumori (Jpn) 47:01. High jump: 1. Miki Imai (Jpn) 1.94 m (nmr - old 1.93), 2. Yoko Ota (Jpn) 1.91, 3. Jin Ling (Chn) 1.88, 4. Bobby Alloysius (Ind) 1.85.

Jones wins 100 m in 10.90 sec NEW YORK, July 20 (Reuters) — Marion Jones capped an excellent evening of sprinting at Goodwill Games yesterday by beating the fastest women’s 100 metres field ever assembled on the opening day of the 15-event competition. For the first time, each of the eight starters had earlier clocked under 11 seconds with Jones second fastest on all-time list followed by the ageless Jamaican Merlene Ottey. Jones showed no outward concern after initially false starting and went on to win in 10.90, her ninth straight win over 100 metres and her 19th at the 100, 200 and long jump. "It wasn’t the best race," the American world champion conceded. "But I’m happy to come here today and win. The false start didn’t really make a difference." Bryan Bronson, one of the handful of elite athletes who can stop Jones winning the golden league million dollar jackpot this year, clocked the seventh fastest time in history with 47.15 in the men’s 400 hurdles then Ato Boldon completed the men’s 200 in 20.15 against a slight head wind. American champion Bronson, who recorded the third fastest time ever at the US trials, said he thought he could better Kevin Young’s six-year-old world record. Boldon, who won the world title in Athens last year, exuded his usual confidence as he set his sights on Michael Johnson's world record. Boldon said he had felt extra pressure to win yesterday through the presence of a vocal section of New York’s Caribbean population at the modest Mitchel Athletic Complex on Long Island. In the women’s 400 metres hurdles, world record-holder Kim Batten hit the final hurdle and slipped to third behind two Jamaicans. Olympic champion Deon Hemmings won in 54.20 seconds with compatriot Debbie-Ann Parris second in 54.49. A larger and louder Puerto Rican contingent at Madison Square Garden cheered the defending champions to an 84-76 win over the USA after Puerto Rico had trailed by 19 points with 15 minutes to go. In the gymnastics competition, Russia’s world and European champion Svetlana Khorkina, who has been troubled by a sore back, fell during the floor exercise to lose her chance of taking the women’s overall title, which went to 16-year-old American Dominique Moceanu. AFP adds: Russians matched Americans with five overall gold medals, four in field events. Dmitri Shevchenko defended his goodwill discus title on a 64.82m toss. Sergei Makarov won the javelin at 84.11 m while Irina Korzhanenko, the 1998 world leader, won the shot put with a 19.95 effort. Reigning Olympic decathlon champion Dan O’Brien competed in his speciality for the first time since his 1996 Atlanta triumph but settled for second spot after day one, 45 points behind fellow American Chris Huffins. American Shana Williams won the long jump with a 6.93 effort, then thanked Marion Jones for not jumping. Jones who is eyeing a bid for five gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, did not want to strain herself.

Vogts may recall Effenberg BONN, July 20 (Reuters) — Germany coach Berti Vogts is ready to consider recalling disgraced midfielder Stefan Effenburg to the national side. Vogts, who received the backing of his bosses to continue as national coach on Saturday, told the Welt Am Sonntag' newspaper he was prepared to respond to the growing clamour for the return of the 29-year-old midfielder. Effenburg was banished from the national set-up after making an obscene gesture to fans at the 1994 World Cup. "If we can make the team stronger by including him then I would, in fact I must discuss it with him," Vogts told the newspaper. Earlier this month several leading coaches and former players called for Effenberg's rehabilitation, saying it was vital part of Germany's effort to revitalise the ageing side that was knocked out of the World Cup quarter-finals by Croatia. Vogts' remarks followed a so-called 'crisis meeting" with the German Soccer Federation (DFB) in Stuttgart which was called to analyse the World Cup performance and the future of the national side. On Saturday, the DFB presented a 10-point plan for the future development of German soccer, including their continuing support for Vogts as coach and the intention of DFB president Egidius Braun to stand for a further term in office. Vogts had come under public and media pressure to quit after Germany were defeated 3-0 by Croatia, a loss which provoked soul-searching among many Germans, who regard their team as a symbol of national pride. The DFB statement also called for better co-operation between the Bundesliga and the national team and for special attention to be paid to the fostering of youth talent. But the DFB initiative met with criticism from some of those involved in the game, who said it was disappointing and offered nothing really new. "It happened exactly as I suspected it would. Unfortunately there was no-one from the Bundesliga at the meeting. Instead all those present were the ones who had already had five weeks time in France to talk about it all," Bayern Munich manager Uli Honess told ARD television.

Surrey edge out Middlesex LONDON, July 20 (Reuters) — Middlesex lost top spot in the English Sunday league when they were beaten by one run by Surrey at Guildford. Replying to Surrey's 40-over total of 223 for nine yesterday, Middlesex appeared well placed for victory after Justin Langer's 60 and 40 by Keith Dutch. But England pace bowler Angus Fraser failed to score off the final ball of the match, giving Surrey their first league win of the summer. Stuart Law's fifth Sunday century enabled Essex, who had been level on 28 points with Middlesex and Warwickshire, to beat Kent by 30 runs at Southend. The Australian hit 126 out of Essex's 257 for seven Kent's 19-year-old opener Robert Key made 68 in Kent's reply but they were all out for 229 with seven balls remaining. Yorkshire lost six wickets for 12 runs after looking set for an easy victory over Nottinghamshire at Scarborough. Notts made 168 for seven, captain Paul Johnson hitting 88 not out, after rain reduced the game to 33 overs. Further showers reduced it to 21 overs. Opener Michael Vaughan was out for 57 when Yorkshire needed only 25 runs off six overs to reach their new target of 124. But a four-wicket haul from the medium pace of Paul Franks reduced Yorkshire to 120 for nine and gave Notts an unexpected win on faster run rate. Scores and results: At Cheltenham: Northamptonshire beat Gloucestershire by 72 runs. Northamtonshire 250 all out in 40 overs (M. Loye 92) Gloucestershire 178 all out in 34.5 overs (R. Dawson 75). Northamtonshire 4 points. At Guildford: Surrey beat Middlesex by 1 run. Surrey 223-9 in 40 overs (I. Ward 91, N. Shahid 58) Middlesex 222 all out in 40 overs (J. Langer 60). Surrey 4 points. At Scarborough (reduced to 33 overs): Nottinghamshire beat Yorkshire on faster run rate. Nottinghamshire 168-7 in 33 overs (P. Johnson 88 n.o.). Yorkshire 120-9 after 21 overs completed (M. Vaughan 57: P. Franks 4-21). Nottinghamshire 4 points. At Southend: Essex beat Kent by 30 runs. Essex 259-7 in 40 overs (S. Law 126, D. Law 50). Kent 229 all out in 38.5 overs (R.Key 68). Essex 4 points. At Taunton: Somerset beat Hampshire by 3 wickets. Hampshire 178-6 in 40 overs (J. Stephenson 77 n.o.). Somerset 181-7 in 39.4 overs (K. Parsons 55, P. Bowler 50). Somerset 4 points.

Sachin's Grace-like knock floors media LONDON, July 20 (PTI) — The usually taciturn Michael Atherton gushed "I do not think even W.G. (Grace) would have played like Sachin", and the British media heaped encomiums after Sachin Tendulkar came up with yet another exhibition of his masterly batting at Lord’s on Saturday. The Indian genius, who led his rest of the World side to an eventually easy win over the Atherton-led MCC with a rivetting 125, was accorded a standing ovation by the 30,000 strong tradition-bound gathering as he walked back after his first century at the Mecca of cricket. Tendulkar reiterated his status as the world’s best batsman and the Diana, Princess of Wales, memorial match on the 150th birth anniversary of the venerable W.G. Grace, father of modern cricket, turned into an occasion for paying the richest tributes to the young maestro. "Will they be staging a match on April 14, 2123, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar? It seemed a reasonable question to ask at Lord’s last night after the brilliant young Indian, who may lay claim to be the W.G. Grace of his day, had played a game quite different from that of the world’s next-best cricketers..." wrote Simon Wilde in the "Sunday Times". After blonde leg spinner Shane Warne compared Tendulkar to Don Bradman following his assault in the Aussie tour of India and Sharjah, Atherton and the British media equated him with Grace — the ultimate praise that can be expected from the English. Tendulkar was the theme for Richard Hobson of the "Times" too: "In the years ahead, when those who were at Lord’s recollect the events of Saturday, they will not think of Diana ... Or W.G. Grace, the contest staged as a tribute to both developed from lethargic beginnings into a celebration of the gifts of one man. "When Sachin Tendulkar had his eye set, everybody swung behind him. If the last comparable occasion, the MCC bicentenary Test of 1987, was elevated by Roger Harper’s run-out of Graham Gooch, then Tendulkar lifted this one with his whole innings. "It became as much an exhibition as the collection of paintings in the Lord’s museum commemorating the good doctor’s 150th birthday," the "Times" said. Superlatives were liberally used as Tendulkar audaciously went after the MCC attack that included Glenn McGrath, Allan Donald, Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble. "Such was his domination that Aravinda de Silva, an inch shorter than Tendulkar at 5ft 4in, was overshadowed by his partner despite playing delightfully for 82 from 79 balls, 50 of them in boundaries. But with Tendulkar in full cry, De Silva knew what a big crowd wanted and often handed him the strike at the first opportunity," the "Sunday Times" said. Tendulkar’s brilliance also overshadowed young Caribbean Shivnaraine Chanderpaul’s solid 127.

Johnson aiming for no. 1 slot NEW YORK, July 20 (Reuters) — A relaxed Michael Johnson said his frustrating leg injuries are behind him and he is ready to be ranked no.1 in the world in the 400 m for the sixth consecutive season. "My objective is to end the season ranked no.1 and to win the rest of my races this year. I feel confident I can do that," said Johnson, who had lost at both 200 and 400 at Rome last week. The sore hamstrings and Achilles problems in his left leg that cost him valuable training time and kept him out of the US championships in June have cleared up, Johnson, who will compete in the 400 m at the Goodwill Games tomorrow, said at a news conference yesterday. "I feel very confident that once I get caught up condition-wise, I feel certain I can get back down in the 43-second range," said the Olympic 200 and 400 gold medalist. But a hip alignment problem that led to the hamstring and Achilles problems still concerns Johnson’s long-time coach, Clyde Hart. "When the hips are out of line, everything else is out," Hart said. The problem, the result of Johnson’s left leg being shorter than his right, has affected the world 200 record holder for years. He even received treatment between the semifinals and his world-record 200 performance at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. "And last year at the world championships, his leg was swinging out. It was unbelievable." Hart said. "We found out when we came back to the States that leg had about one-third less strength and at third less reaction time. It was like running on a flat tire." Nevertheless, Johnson won the 400 m world championship. The problems continued this year, and only recently has a solution been found. "We have been able to do some special exercises and massages that are preventing that from happening," Hart said. "And we haven’t had that problem in almost a month." The help, from a team of doctors, has restored Johnson’s confidence and in his victory in Rome, in 44.40 seconds, "he looked like the vintage Michael Johnson," Hart said. And while the star runner is not in world-record shape, he still thinks about Butch Reynolds’ 1988 record of 43.29 sec. "The world record is something I hope to get before I retire," Johnson said. "I think I can run 42 seconds. In the next couple of years I hope to be there." His long-range plans are to defend at least one of his Olympic titles at Sydney. Beyond that, his plans are indefinite. "But the day I’m out there running, and I’m not running fast. And it’s not because of injuries. I will be in retirement," said the 30-year-old Johnson.

Graf beats Coetzer, lifts title MAHWAH, July 20 (Reuters) — Steffi Graf took another step forward on the comeback trail yesterday when she scored an impressive straight-set victory over Amanda Coetzer 6-3 6-3 and won the A&P Women’s Classic Tournament. It was Graf’s sixth title in the 21-year-old tournament, her most decisive final-round victory here since beating Nathalie Tauziat 6-0 6-1 in 1989. Coetzer is ranked eighth in the world to Graf’s 57. The 29-year-old Graf, who has won 103 titles in her 16-year professional career, had some problems with her backhand shots, but her potent forehand and serve gave her a big edge against Coetzer in the 75-minute match. "This tournament’s three matches were good preparation for the upcoming hard-court season," said Graf, who missed nine months recuperating from knee surgery before beginning her comeback in February. Graf’s performance against Coetzer was a big improvement over her three-set comeback victory in the semifinals against number two Fang Li, China’s top player. Coetzer, who has won only four of 14 matches against Graf, had won three of the last four, all in 1997. After Coetzer broke back in the second game of the second set to level at 1-1, Graf reeled off the next three games to take command. Coetzer held only once in her five service games in that set. Graf closed it out with a break at love in the final game. On the last point, she moved a second-serve delivery and ripped a patented forehand service return winner.

Beating Jones Ottey's target NEW YORK, July 20 (Reuters) — Still raging against the dying of the light, Merlene Ottey refused to concede the flame of women’s sprinting had passed to a new generation. Minutes after finishing more than three-tenths of a second behind Marion Jones in the Goodwill Games 100 metres, the 38-year-old Jamaican said she did not believe the American world champion was unbeatable. "I believe I can beat her," Ottey said, "My motivation this year is to beat her." Ottey, who first competed internationally 18 years ago at the height of the cold war, which motivated Ted Turner to create the Goodwill Games, would have been in a minority yesterday at the unpretentious Mitchel Athletic Complex on Long Island. Despite a false start, which Jones acknowledged with a rueful smile and a brief wave of her hand to the hushed audience waiting for the climax of the opening day of the games, she completed her ninth straight 100 win in 10.90 seconds. For the first time in the history of the sport, each of the eight competitors had previously clocked under 11 seconds for 100 with Jones the second fastest woman in history and Ottey the third. Jones was happy with the victory, disappointed with the time and determined to win today’s 200 metres before returning to Europe for a hectic season which will include the golden league final in Moscow and the World Cup in Johannesburg. "I came away with the victory and got the gold," Jones said, adding with a smile: "And the check." Jones was $ 41.250 better off after her victory which included prize money and a Goodwill Games record in a season which might make her an instant millionaire if she is the only athlete to win each of her events in the seven golden league meetings. She confirmed she would aim for five gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and indicated she might attempt the same target at next year’s Seville World Championships. "I’m interested in running the 4 x 400 relay," she said. "I might try in Seville." Jones chose not to long jump here, saving her energies for the two sprints. But she was still the first name on the lips of her compatriot Shana Williams, winner of the long jump earlier in the evening. "My biggest victory this year would be to beat Marion because she’s the only one jumping the furthest," Williams said. For Ottey, Jones appears to be the only motivation she needs to further extend a career which includes five Olympics and each of the six world championships. Asked if she was sick of fending questions about Jones, Ottey replied: "No. Beating Marion Jones is my target for the year."

Airlines rally to enter semifinals CHENNAI, July 20 (PTI) — Indian Airlines, New Delhi, became the first team to enter the semifinals of the M.C.C. Murugappa All India Hockey Tournament for the Independence Cup when they wiped out a two-goal deficit to beat Karnataka 3-2 in group ‘A’ last league match here at the Radhakrishnan Stadium today. In the other two matches, Food Corporation of India, Delhi, surprised the Indian Hockey Federation Colts XI 3-1, while Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and All India Customs and Central Excise settled for a one-all draw in an inconsequential match. In the match between Airlines and Karnataka, the former required just a draw to progress to the next stage but the Karnataka players not only shocked their rivals with a 10th-minute goal by Ronald Kiran but also increased the lead in the 19th minute through captain Samson Fernandez. Airlines with many internationals could not combine well, but once Karnataka showed lethargy, particularly the defence, Mohd Riaz, Sameer Dad and Mukesh Kumar played havoc. However, the three penalty corners that they could not yield the desired result. They fought so gallantly weaving patterns in the Karnataka circle and managed to reduce the margin in the 28th minute. Shakeel Ahmed passed to Mukesh Kumar and the latter sped down the right flank and crossed to Virendra Singh, who deflected the ball in. Crossing over, Airlines played to a pattern and both Kumar and Divendra Singh shuffled their positions whenever needed to put the Karnataka defence in disarray. They were so thrustful that they scored off a penalty corner through Atif Idris in the 41st minute. Karnataka were in full cry and did come up with a few forays, but their moves were thwarted at nick of time by Rajnish Mishra and Lazrus Barla, Airline defenders. Once, Subbiah also brought off a save off a penalty corner. Airlines’ swift counter-attack put them ahead of Karnataka in the 13th minute. Riaz collected the ball almost on the circle and passed to Kumar. After a few exchanges past the Karnataka defenders, Kumar centered to Altaf-Ur-Rehman in front of the goal mouth. With Karnataka goal keeper P.U. Bopanna charging out, Altaf moved to his side and was about to shoot but he was brought down by Shanmugam. Umpire Satinder Sharma had no hesitation in awarding a ‘stroke’ which was converted by Riaz. Airlines had a few more scoring chances, but Brojen Singh and Altaf hit wayward. Airlines’ two wins in the three-team group put them as leaders. Punjab with a win and loss and Karnataka two losses went out of the reckoning Airlines would await the group ‘D’ winners, in the semifinal slated for July 24. In group D, Tamil Nadu with two wins and a match against IHF Colts have better chances for qualification than the FCI, a win and a loss like IHF Colts. Bihar have lost two matches and play FCI tomorrow.

Youth games boost Moscow Mayor's ambitions MOSCOW, July 20 (Reuters) — The crowd was bused in. Television stations were ordered to broadcast. The final soccer match provided a rousing victory for the home team. The first World Youth Games proved a success of sorts but one that may have said more about the political ambitions of Moscow’s Mayor than the future of the teenage Olympic movement In a country where many workers have not been paid for months, Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has won a reputation as one of the few politicians who gets things done. The games, which closed yesterday evening with much pomp, was a typical example. Streets were repaved, grass planted and buildings repainted. The city was festooned with lights, posters and banners, bearing grandiose slogans such as "Moscow! capital of youth and sport! Moscow hosted young athletes aged from 11 to 17 from 139 countries. Concerts were held throughout the city and planes seeded rain clouds in a desperate attempt to control the weather. "Our slogan has been fulfilled. Moscow is indeed an open world for children," Luzhkov told reporters on Sunday. In spite of the hoopla and the Mayor’s hard sell, something about the games seemed to strike a sardonic chord among Russians more concerned with their country’s financial crisis than with an event which Luzhkov promised would be "remembered as a watershed in the history of sport". The TV-TSENTR network, controlled by the city government, gave the games blanket coverage. But all other networks, and most newspapers, virtually ignored them or relegated them to the end of the sporting news. The daily Noviye Izvestia lampooned the event with a front-page headline: "Olympic record: police win 20-1". It published a picture of hundreds of nearly 140,000 police officers protecting just 7,000 athletes, saying the massive police presence had "left our foreign guests in shock". Moscow’s 83,000-seat Luzhniki Stadium was packed for the opening and for the final ceremonies but tickets were not made available to the public. Most were given to sport clubs and summer camps who bused their enthusiastic fans in. The resulting spectacle might have seemed puzzling to a western observer: thousands of fans packed together in sections, wearing identical T-shirts and baseball caps, identifying them by colour as residents of this or that district of the city. Yet members of the crowd with memories of the Soviet era found the scene not unfamiliar. "I kept waiting for Brezhnev," said one journalist. Many matches took place in empty halls. The games were one of Luzhkov’s most ambitious projects yet. Asked just how much the city spent on them, his deputy Valery Shantsev said "About es" on children." Such evasive responses are not unusual in Moscow where no formal public account has been made of hundreds of millions of dollars spent on many of Luzhkov’s pet projects. The Mayor has rebuilt a 19th century cathedral, dug a three-storey underground mall near Red Square and hosted a lavish 850th birthday bash for the city last year. Luzhkov’s next headline-grabbing extravaganza is expected to be Russia’s presidential election in 2000. The capital’s financial clout should help make him one of the front-runners. For now, the future of the youth games — Luzhkov’s own idea - remains unclear. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not let Luzhkov use the title "Youth Olympics," although Moscow was allowed to display the five-ring Olympic symbol and to light a torch from the official Olympic flame in Athens. Luzhkov said the IOC promised to discuss making the youth games an official four-yearly Olympic event. If no other city can be found to host them in 2002, not to worry. "We’re ready to hold them again ourselves,"he said.

Guerrouj misses world record GATESHEAD, (England) July 20 (Reuters) — Morocco’s Hicham el Guerrouj missed out by less than half a second on setting a 2,000 metres world best in miserable conditions at an athletic meeting in northern England. The 23-year-old 1,500 metres world champion completed the five-lap race at gateshead in 4 minutes 48.36 seconds, just missing Noureddine Morceli’s world best of 4:47.88, set in Paris in July 1995. With heavy rain and strong winds blowing in off the north sea, El Guerrouj appeared on target to set a new world best going into the last lap, but he just failed in his third world record attempt in less than a week yesterday. "To run 4:48 in these conditions...That means that if the weather was good I would have done something unbelievable," El Guerrouj said. "I am not a machine. I cannot run a record every time. I just try to run as fast as I can. World records don’t come when you want them to. They come when God wants them to." On Tuesday, EL Guerrouj set a world best 3:26.00 in the 1,500 metres at a meeting in Rome. The Moroccan will now rest for 10 days before attempting to better his 1,500-metre record in Paris. Pele admits doing ‘a Ronaldo’ in 1970 RIO DE JANEIRO, July 20 (AFP) — Brazilian legend Pele has admitted that he almost did ‘a Ronaldo’ when he suffered an attack of nerves before the 1970 World Cup final against Italy in Mexico city. Referring to Ronaldo’s convulsive spasm just before the July 12 final against France, which almost resulted in his missing the 3-0 defeat, Pele said he had felt sick minutes before the Italy game but managed to recover his composure. "Just thinking about the fact that it was my last World Cup de munde and about how we had failed in England in 1966, I was crying my eyes out when the bus took us to the stadium. So what happened to Ronaldinho doesn’t surprise me," Pele told the journal Do Brasil. "I just couldn’t stop crying. When I got onto the pitch and saw all the Brazilian flags I said to myself: I am going to kill these Italians. Nobody in the world is going to take this one away from us." "And that day we won our third world title. And I started crying again - only this time tears of happiness." In that game, Pele headed a superb opener in what turned into a glorious 4-1 victory by the greatest team of all time. But, as he has done in the past, Pele cautioned that Ronaldo was being put under far too much pressure. "And in the end he just couldn’t fulfil his dream." He advised the young striker to put France 98 behind him and look forward to the new season at Inter Milan.

Tribunal to decide De Boer's future LONDON, July 20 (AFP)— Holland’s unsettled World Cup star Ronald De Boer has said he is hoping to sign for Arsenal in time for the Charity Shield, the traditional curtain raiser of the English football season. His hopes rest on the outcome of an independent tribunal which will rule whether De Boer and his twin brother Frank, who wants to join Barcelona, should be allowed to break their contracts with Ajak. If Ronald’s 16.5 million dollars switch to Arsenal can be completed quickly he will be in line to make his debut for the premiership champions and FA Cup holders against Mancehster United at Wembley on August 9. He has reaffirmed his commitment to the north Londoners, insisting: "I know exactly what the score is with Arsenal. I wouldn’t go into this if my future wasn’t guaranteed. "As for my brother Frank, it’s also clear that he wants to go to Barcelona. And we hope we’ll get our way," he told The Mail yesterday. Belgium, USA split reverse ties INDIANAPOLIS, July 20 (Reuters) — The USA ended a quarterfinal Davis Cup tie against Belgium yesterday with a 4-1 final result. As the USA had already clinched the Cup tie by winning the two singles matches on Friday and the doubles on Saturday, the last two matches yesterday were reduced to a best-of-three set format. This proved to be a blessing as on-court temperatures soared to over (43.3° c). American Todd Martin, substituting for Andre Agassi, scored a 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 win over Belgian Neophyte Xavier Malisse. Originally, Belgian team number on Filip Dewulf was to play this fourth match. But a decision was made to put in malisse, who was celebrating his 18th birthday yesterday. In the fifth rubber, American Jim Courier retired with an arm injury to give Chistophe van Grasse a 3-6 4-1 win and the Belgian’s one point in the quarterfinal tie. "I lost the dinner, but I won the dessert," said Van Grasse, talking about being able to put Belgium on the scoreboard. TV role for Romario MADRID, July 20 (AFP) — Left out of the defending champion’s squad, Romario suffered in silence as Brazil went down in the World Cup final to France on July 12. But instead of wowing fans on the field he’s set to star in a television series. Spanish media reports said yesterday. The 32-year-old, mainstay of the 1994 World champions and now starring for Flamengo, will have the leading role in ‘Globo’ Television’s Pecado Capital’ (capital sin) in which he will play a footballer who falls on hard times. He will earn around 35,000 dollars per appearance. City Blue Club enter semis From Our Sports Reporter AMRITSAR, July 20 — A fine century by Jang Bahadur and 106 runs by Satpal Manga helped the City Blue Club beat King Fisher Club by 78 runs and reach the semifinal against Sports Club in the district legue-cum-knock out tournament being played at Gandhi Ground, here yesterday. Bating first City Blue opener Jang Bahadur and Manga had a 200-run partnership. Jang Bahadur played well and completed his century fast. This was his second century of the meet. Brief scores: City Blue 258 for 4 (Jang Bahadur 100, Satpal Manga 106, and Gaggan S. Bobby 25. King-Fisher: 180 all out (only batsman Sagar 75, Gaggan Bobby 3 for 29, Karanbir 2 for 30, Satpal 2 for 22.

Mark O'Meara wins British Open crown SOUTHPORT, July 20 (Reuters) — Mark O’Meara struck a blow for the veterans with his record-breaking triumph in the British Open yesterday, his wisdom, guile and experience proving just too much for the young lions to overcome. But the pyrotechnics belonged to youth, unsurprisingly to the spectacular 22-year-old Tiger Woods and unexpectedly to 17-year-old Englishman Justin Rose. An amateur all week but a professional today. Woods was out of it until a birdie barrage on the closing holes, one at 15 followed by a 30-foot chip-in at 17 and a 30-foot putt at 18 to huge roars from the crowd, leaving him one shot shy of the playoff. If anything, the applause was even louder for Rose, the crowd’s favourite who set them alight through the last three rounds and capped an astoundingly mature performance with a 45-yard lobbed wedge shot into the final hole for a birdie and a share of fourth place. He turned professional yesterday, too late to collect his £ 76,667 (about Rs 46 lakh) of prize money but with the potential to earn millions from the game. O’Meara’s second major of the year after his US Masters success in April made him the oldest player to hold more than one Grand Slam title — his 41 years, six months and six days leaving him ahead of both Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan when they won multiple majors. Nicklaus was 40 when he won the US open and PGA in 1980, as was Hogan in 1953 when he won the Masters and US and British Opens. O’Meara’s victory in a four-hole playoff over Brian Watts came after they finished on level-par 280. The first time since Greg Norman at turnberry 1986 that the winner did not break par. Norman was also level par. O’Meara became the fourth successive American to take the title after John Daly, in 1995, Tom Lehman and Justin Leonard. Before 1995, Americans had won just one of the previous 11. "It is incredibly gratifying to know my name is on this trophy right here," O,Meara said with the Auld Claret Jug at his side, adding that he felt calm but nervous during the playoff. "You know there is a lot on the line and if you lose you’re going to be very disappointed. I didn’t want to be disappointed," he said. Watts, a 32-year-old American who has won 11 titles on the European tour, had never experienced such a pressure-cooker atmosphere as the open, in which he has finished far down the field twice and missed the cut the other three times he played. After taking the lead on the second day, he held his nerve and composure surprisingly well — right up until he missed a four-foot putt on the first playoff and never got back on equal terms as he lost by two shots.

Konguvel upsets Georgiev BALAGUER (Spain), July 20 (PTI) — India’s former national ‘A’ champion Ponnaswamy Konguvel scored a sensational win over defending champion IM V. Georgiev of Bulgaria to be half-a-point behind the leaders at the end of the fourth round of Balaguer International Open Chess Tournament here. Grandmaster Lev Psathis and IM Narcisso Dublan, with four points each, were leading the field with an clean slate from as many rounds. In the fourth round last night, Pshakis defeated Ranola Yves of Philippines while IM Dublan accounted for V. Saravanan (3), who made a mistake early in the English opening and lost a pawn. Playing white in Marcozy bind structure, Konguvel (3.5), who beat Sanchez Lopez in the previous round, maintained the balance in a Queenless middlegame against the highly-rated Bulgarian and later managed to pull off a victory when Georgiev tried too hard in an equal position. IM K. Sasikiran (2.5) tried too much against IM Mollov (3.5) of Bulgaria and lost unnecessarily in an equal knight and pawn ending. Neelotpal Das, Rahul Shetty and Sandipan Chanda accounted for their unrated opponents without much difficulty to reach three points apiece. Roktim Bandopadhyay (2.5) drew with Nontolin Torne while Surya Shekhar Ganguly (2) also lost.

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