S P O R T	Thursday, July 23, 1998
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Indian eves bag 4x100 relay gold FUKUOKA (Japan), July 22 — India finally struck gold in the women’s 4 x 100 m relay and Gulab Chand (5000 m), Neelam J. Singh (women’s discus) and the women’s longer relay quartet snatched silver medals on the final day of the 12th Asian Athletic Championships at the Hakata No-Mori Stadium today. The Indian quartet of Saraswati Dey, Rachita Mistry, E.B. Shyla with P.T. Usha as the anchor chased the Chinese runners, who finished ahead but were disqualified for cutting lanes... Gopichand, Popat champions BANGALORE, July 22 — National champions P. Gopichand and Aparna Popat today lifted the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively in the BPL All India ...

Italy prepares to welcome Zoff ROME, July 22 — Italy was today preparing to welcome Dino Zoff, the legendary captain of their 1982 World Cup-winning side, as the new coach of the national soccer team following the departure of Cesare Maldini... Spice Girl defends Beckham LONDON, July 22 — David Beckham may be keeping a low profile as the backlash continues over his sending-off at the World Cup, but his Spice Girl fiancee is speaking up in his defence... Maurice Greene proves he is fastest UNIONDALE (New York), July 22 — Michael Johnson showed he’s still the boss. Maurice Greene left Donovan Bailey almost speechless. And one of track’s most enduring stars showed he might at last be finished. It was some night of track at the Goodwill Games...

Hick, Mullally back in favour NOTTINGHAM, , July 22 — England have brought in five new players for the fourth Test against South Africa at Trent Bridge starting tomorrow a desperate bid to level the five-Test series... Ronaldo continues to haunt media RIO DE JANEIRO, July 22 — Nine days after Brazil’s loss to France in the World Cup finals, speculation about what happened to star forward Ronaldo continued to be a hot topic in the Brazilian press yesterday... Sub-junior hockey in city from July 25 CHANDIGARH, July 22 — The Sports Authority of India (SAI) will organise the second Independence Gold Cup Sub-Junior Hockey Tournament for boys under-14 at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here from July 25 to August 1... Rebel outplays Anand NAPLES, July 22 — Rebel, the pentium-powered Dutch chess programme, outclassed world number two human Viswanathan Anand 4.5-1.5 in rapid chess games of the eight-match exhibition tie in Ischia Islands near here last night... Susanthika cleared of drug charges Mahanama's omission questioned Jeev 1st Indian in top 10 on European Tour Schoolboy cricketers for Lanka

Indian eves bag 4x100 relay gold FUKUOKA (Japan), July 22 (PTI) — India finally struck gold in the women’s 4 x 100 m relay and Gulab Chand (5000 m), Neelam J. Singh (women’s discus) and the women’s longer relay quartet snatched silver medals on the final day of the 12th Asian Athletic Championships at the Hakata No-Mori Stadium today. The Indian quartet of Saraswati Dey, Rachita Mistry, E.B. Shyla with P.T. Usha as the anchor chased the Chinese runners, who finished ahead but were disqualified for cutting lanes. "It was a pleasant surprise as we were only expecting a bronze," the elated runners said after clocking 44.43 seconds to break the national mark of 44.81 set by Shyla, K. Saramma, Rachita Mistry and Usha in the 1994 Hiroshima Asiad and equalled at Chennai this month by today’s winning foursome. Usha completed a memorable return to the Asian scene by capturing a gold and silver with the relay teams and two bronze medals — once again equalling her national record but pushed to bronze in the 200 m — as India tallied one gold, three silver and eight bronze medals in a major improvement from the 1995 haul of 1-1-4. Usha had a poor start and although she closed in on eventual silver medallist Huang Mei, she had to be content with her second individual bronze after the 400 m. Usha, as in the heats, clocked 23.27 seconds to equal her national mark. China’s Yan Jiankui completed a 100-200 double winning at 23.00 sec to tie Susantika Jayasinghe’s (sr) 1995 meet mark. Koji Ito of Japan in the men’s 200 m and Mubarak Al-Nubi Faraj of Qatar in the men’s 400 m hurdles were the two to upset the Chinese march to a clean sweep of all the events in the evening. The Chinese won the women’s 400 m hurdles and 200 m, men’s 800 m and women’s 10000, winning a total of 26 golds. Japan stood second with six golds. Gulab Chand, the Asian junior 5000 m gold medallist six years ago living in the shadows of Bahadur Prasad, finally proved his class at the senior stage when he finished second in the 5000 m after a great race involving six runners bunched together till the last lap. Gulab Chand took the lead with 200 m to go but had to contend with the double Asian Games gold medallist Toshinari Takaoka (13:54.34) of Japan, who beat him to silver. Gulab returned a personal best of 13:55.40 to become only the third Indian to run under 14 minutes. Neelam J. Singh bagged India’s first silver medal in the women’s discus while compatriot Ajit Bhaduria claimed a bronze in the men’s event. Neelam, who was leading with a throw of 56.36 after two rounds when heavy rain forced the organisers to stop the competition yesterday, reached 56.81 metres after the athletes assembled this morning to complete the backlog of events. Neelam’s compatriot, Swaranjit Kaur finished fourth with a distance of 52.18. Bhaduria sent the discus to 55.46 m to take the third place to win the seventh bronze medal for India in the meet while shot put-bronze medallist Shakti Singh finished two rungs below with 54.36. China’s Yu Xin bagged the gold in women’s discus for her attempt of 57.47 metres. Compatriot and Asian champion Xiao Yanling, who fouled five times this morning, took the bronze for her last evening’s effort of 53.32 m. Asian record holder Li Shaoji of China won the men’s discus gold for his throw of 60.28 metres while Dashdendev Mahashiri, who won Mongolia’s first medal in the meet, followed with an attempt of 57.M metres. Asian record holder Ren Ruiping of China, who has never lost to an Asian athlete, set a new championship record of 14.11m in the women’s triple jump to take the gold. Taiwan’s Wang Wang Kuo-Huei on 13.30m and Japan’s Maho Hahaoka with 13.24m took the silver and bronze respectively, in the men’s triple jump. Ren’s compatriot Zhou Zhongge dashed South Korean Lee Jin-Taek’s hopes of a fourth men’s high jump gold, taking gold with 2.30. Lee could only manage 2.27 for the silver and was followed by Loo Kum Zee Loo of Malaysia with a best height of 2.23 m. In the new women’s pole vault competition, Peng Xiaoming of China cleared 4.00m for the gold, Japan’s Masumi Ono took silver with 3.80m and Chie Miyoshi won bronze at 3.70m. The following are the results on the fourth and final day: Men: 200 metres: 1. Koji Ito (Jpn) 20.70 sec 2. Han Chaoming (Chn) 20.77 3. Gennady Chernovol (Kaz) 20.92 800 metres: 1. Cheng Bing (Chn) 1:47.71 2. Abdul Rahman Abdullah (Qat) 1:47.74 3. Mahmoud Al Khairat (Syr) 1:48.16 5000 m: 1. Toshinari Takaoka (Jpn) 13:54.34 2. Gulab Chand (Ind) 13:55.40 3. Ahmad Ibrahim Hashim (Qat) 13:58.35 9. Harish Tiwari (Ind) 14:18.12. 400 m hurdles: 1. Mubarak Al-Nubifaraj (Qat) 48.71 sec (NMR - old 49.10) 2. Hideaki Kawamura (Jpn) 49.39 3. Kazuhiko Yamazaki (Jpn) 49.81 high jump: 1. Zhou Zhongge (Chn) 2.30 m 2. Lee Jin-Taek (Kor) 2.27 3. Loo Kum Zee Loo (Mas) 2.23 discus throw: 1. Li Shaojie (Chn) 60.28 m 2. Dashdendev Mahashiri (Mgl) 57.00 3. Ajit Badhuria (Ind) 55.46 5. Shakti Singh (Ind) 54.36. 4 x 100 m relay: 1. China (Zhou Wei, Lin Wei, Yin Hanzhao, Han Chaoming) 39.03 sec (NMR - old 39.20) 2. Japan (Hiroyasu Tsuchie, Tatsuo Sugimoto, Kenji Kunishige, Koji Ito) 39.30 3. Qatar (Jassim Abdul Rahim, Hamad Mubarak Al-Dosari, Suleiman Jama Yousuf, Saad Muftah Al-Kuwari) 39.43 6. India (Anand Menezes, Amit Khanna, Vikram Singh, Rajeev Balakrishnan) 40.24. 4 x 400 metres: 1. Japan (Kenji Tabata, Jun Osakada, Shunji Karube, Masayoshi Kan) 3:02.51 (NMR - 3:05.22) 2. Korea (Kim Jae-Da, Shon Ju-Il, Kim Ho, Kim Yong-Hwan) 3:04.44 3. Sri Lanka (Rohan Pradeep Kumara, Vellasamy Ratnakumar, Rana Wimalae, Sugath Tillakaratne) 3:05.79 4. India (Jata Shankar, P. Ramachandran, Lijo David Thottan, Paramjit Singh) 3:06.09. Javelin: 1. Zhang Lianbiao (Chn) 77.61 m 2. Li Rongxiang (Chn) 77.48 3. Mikio Tamura (Jpn) 75.71 Women 200 m: 1. Yan Jiankui (Chn) 23.00 sec 2. Huang Mei (Chn) 23.21 3. P. T Usha (Ind) 23.27 10000 m: 1. Liu Shixiang (Chn) 32:28.49 2. Chiemi Takahashi (Jpn) 32:32.99 3. Aki Fujikawa (Jpn) 32:48.05 400 m hurdles: 1. Li Rui (Chn) 55.80 sec (NMR - old 56.14) 2. Natalya Torshina (Kaz) 56.34 3. Hsu Pei-Chin (Tpe) 57.09 triple jump: 1. Ren Ruiping (Chn) 14.11 m (NMR - old 14.05 2. Wang Kuo-Huei (Tpe) 13.30 3. Maho Hanaoka (Jpn) 13.24 pole vault: 1. Peng Xiaoming (Chn) 4.00 m 2. Masumi Ono (Jpn) 3.80 3. Chie Miyoshi (Jpn) 3.70 discus throw: 1. Yu Xin (Chn) 57.47 m 2. Neelam J. Singh (Ind) 56.81 3. Xiao Yanling (Chn) 53.32 4. Swaranjit Kaur (Ind) 52.18. Heptathlon: 1. Ding Ying (Chn) 5846 points 2. Svetlana Kazanina (Kaz) 5779 3. Ma Chun-Ping (Tpe) 5489 4. G. G. Prameela (Ind) 5316 4 x 100 m relay: 1. India (Saraswati Dey, Rachita Mistry, E. B Shyla, P. T. Usha) 44.43 sec. 2. Japan (Kaori Yoshida, Yuka Fujii, Asami Nagashima, Motoka Arai) 44.45 sec. 3. Thailand (Savitree Srichure, Supavadee Khawpeag, Reawadee Watanasin, Naparut Suajongprue) 44.85 sec. 4 x 400 m relay: 1. China (Huang Mei, Liu Jing, Li Rui, Chen Yuxiang) 3 min 33:48 sec. 2. India (M. K. Asha, Rosa Kutty, Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, P. T. Usha) 3:34.04. 3. Japan (Sachiko Kiso, Kazue Kakinuma, Sakie Nobuoka, Satomi Kasashima) 3:35.71. Final Medals table (Country, gold, silver, bronze, total): China 26 13 3 42 Japan 6 17 14 37 Qatar 3 1 2 6 Kzakhstan 2 4 5 11 Sri Lanka 2 0 2 4 India 1 3 8 12 South Korea 1 2 1 4 Saudi Arabia 1 0 0 1 Uzbekistan 1 0 0 1 Malaysia 0 1 2 3 Taipei 0 1 2 3 Mangolia 0 1 0 1 Iran 0 0 1 1 Krygizstan 0 0 1 1 Syria 0 0 1 1 Thailand 0 0 1 1

Gopichand, Popat champions BANGALORE, July 22 (PTI) — National champions P. Gopichand and Aparna Popat today lifted the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively in the BPL All India Open Badminton tournament here. In the men’s final, an all-IOC affair, Gopichand took only 26 minutes to demolish Nikhil Kanetkar 15-7, 15-9 while local favourite Popat too had an easy time against Neelima Choudhary of Andhra Pradesh, whom she tamed 11-1 11-5 in the women’s singles. The left-handed Kanetkar lapsed into errors and the experienced Gopichand quickly seized the initiative. From three-all in the first game, the national champion rattled off six points in a row, to make it 9-3. He won the game at 15-7. In the second, a fired-up Gopichand raced to a 13-7 lead in the one-sided encounter and thereafter allowed Kanetkar just two more points before taking the winner’s cheque of Rs 45,000. Kanetkar had to be content with the runners-up prize of Rs 20,000. Gopichand, who returned from a long layoff following a knee injury, said he felt "perfectly okay". "The doctor has certified me fit. After a week’s rest I will start practising", he said and added that he would not be however, participating in the Singapore Open. Popat displaying devastating form, blew Choudhary off the court. The AP girl, who had shown the former national champion Manjusha Kanwar the door in the semifinals, had absolutely no answer to the fare dished out by the national champion. Popat raced to a 8-0 lead and conceded just one point before shutting out the game at 11-1. In the decider, Choudhary pulled up her socks and gained a few points but could hardly pose any threat to the top seed who won the game 11-5 and the championship. Popat said later, after collecting the winner’s purse of Rs 30,000, "Neelima was slow today. I did not except such an easy win."

Italy prepares to welcome Zoff ROME, July 22 (Reuters) — Italy was today preparing to welcome Dino Zoff, the legendary captain of their 1982 World Cup-winning side, as the new coach of the national soccer team following the departure of Cesare Maldini. Italian Soccer Federation President Luciano Nizzola was due to meet former goalkeeper Zoff, the most capped player in Italian soccer history, during the day to tie up a deal, according to Turin-based Tuttosport. The newspaper said 56-year-old Zoff, currently president of Rome-based Club Lazio, would sign a two-year contract with an option for two more years. A federation spokesman declined to comment on the report, which was echoed by other newspapers, saying only that an announcement was expected by Friday. Maldini took over less than two years ago but his days as coach were numbered after Italy’s lacklustre World Cup performance in which they crashed out to France in the quarter-finals. Italy almost did not make it to France at all, scraping through only after a two-match play-off. Once there, the 66-year-old father of captain Paolo Maldini was criticised for relying too heavily on dull, defensive tactics. Zoff enjoys an almost mythical status as the man who led Italy to victory in the 1982 World Cup in Spain. He was in Italy’s European championship-winning team in 1968, captained the side 59 times and was capped a record 112 times in all, playing his last match for Italy in 1983. Zoff coached Italy’s Olympic squad through an unbeaten qualifying campaign for the Seoul Games in 1988. He had a glittering career in Serie A as a player and coach at Juventus who won the UEFA Cup and Italian Cup under his guidance in 1990, and as coach of Lazio. Veteran Italy forward Roberto Baggio said he was delighted at the prospect of Zoff taking over. "I’m happy for Zoff, who I consider someone with a great deal of charisma," he said. But Christian Vieri, one of Italy’s brightest stars in France, said he was disappointed for Maldini, whom he had known when the former coach was in charge of Italy’s under-21 side. "I don’t think Maldini did anything wrong. We went out of the World Cup with our heads held high," he said. As part of the Maldini’s settlement, Nizzola said he would offer the former coach a still-to-be-defined role at the federation. But the bluntly-spoken Maldini was dismissive. "What as? Driver, maybe," he said.

Spice Girl defends Beckham LONDON, July 22 (AP) — David Beckham may be keeping a low profile as the backlash continues over his sending-off at the World Cup, but his Spice Girl fiancee is speaking up in his defence. Victoria Adams, better known as Posh Spice, told the Daily Mail newspaper yesterday that the midfield star made a mistake but should not take all blame for England’s World Cup exit. Beckham was given the red card for kicking an opponent during England’s second-round loss to Argentina, leaving his team one man short for 70 minutes before England ultimately lost in a penalty shootout. "I’m not going to defend him for what he did it was wrong," Adams said. "But there were other people in that competition who did wrong. He can’t take all the flak for the defeat." Beckham returned to England with the team after the World Cup but immediately flew to America to be with Adams, who was touring with the Spice Girls, and escape the media spotlight. In his absence, a hate campaign grew as fans blamed him for England’s exit from the World Cup. Since his return, Beckham has refused to come out publicly and manager at Manchester United. "I just think it’s sad that before he was playing, everyone wanted him to play, and now they want to hang him,’’ Adams said. Adams, who admitted she’s not the "football wife type" and doesn’t really know the rules of soccer, said Beckham was a very private person and a "modern man." She said she told Beckham, England’s highest paid soccer player last season, that he should be flattered fans were prepared to sit down and make 20,000 red cards referring to a plan by West Ham fans to taunt him with red cards at Manchester United’s first away game in the league next season. "We both know what it’s like to be in favour one minute and out the next," she said. Beckham and Adams share a home in Manchester and plan to marry next August.

Maurice Greene proves he is fastest UNIONDALE (New York), July 22 (AP) — Michael Johnson showed he’s still the boss. Maurice Greene left Donovan Bailey almost speechless. And one of track’s most enduring stars showed he might at last be finished. It was some night of track at the Goodwill Games. Johnson, the 1996 Olympic 200 and 400 champion, erased any thoughts that his career might be on a downslide, winning the 400 in a meet-record 43.76 seconds. Greene, who has been bad-mouthed by Bailey since winning last year’s 100m world championship, quieted the feisty Canadian by racing to victory in 9.96. Bailey, coming off a series of injuries and illnesses, appeared to shut down with 80m left and finished seventh at 10.30, far off his world record of 9.84. But amid those highlights, Sergei Bubka, the greatest pole-vaulter in history, gave more signs that the end of his career is near. The 34-year-old Ukrainian who has set the world record 35 times and is the only one to clear 20 feet (6 meters), no-heighted for the second time in three meets. On his final try at 18 feet, 8 1/4 inches (5.69), the 90-second time limit ran out and Bubka did not even make an attempt at the bar. Jeff Hartwig won the pole vault at 19-8 1/2 (6.01), breaking his American record by one-quarter inch (.64 cms). Greene and training partner Ato Boldon of Trinidad and Tobago, who finished second at 10.00, both stared down Bailey. There were a whole lot of mind games going on,’’ said Jon Drummond, the fourth-place finisher. Bailey took it lightly, smiling, then saying, "everyone’s taking this too seriously. It’s time to relax.’’  Once they got into the blocks, there was no relaxing. Greene blasted out quickly, established the lead and maintained it throughout, beating Boldon by one yard. I knew I had to capitalise on the start to win,’’ Greene said. Bailey offered no excuses. My preparation was exceptional,’’ he said. "I guess I lost my concentration out of the blocks. Then, I was down so bad maybe 10 or 15 meters I thought I’d just run through.’’ Greene summed up the outcome: I guess I’m the world’s fastest man. I’m just getting started.’’ Johnson’s time was the 12th-fastest in history. He holds nine of the best. And the fastest in the world since he ran 43.75 at Waco, Texas, on April 19, 1997. He broke from the blocks quickly, took a slight lead until the eight-man field reached the final stretch, then blazed to a six-yard record. Johnson’s future had been clouded by two losses in his three previous races, but after winning at Rome last week, he said he felt healthy for the first time in more than a year. The two races in Europe did me a lot of good,’’ Johnson said, before being presented the gold medal by heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. Tyree Washington, the runner-up in 44.43, said, I tried to come up at the end, but Michael was very strong. Michael ran a great race.’’ Jackie Joyner-Kersee, the 36-year-old world record-holder in the heptathlon who has not completed a multi-event since the 1996 Olympic trials, looked woefully out of shape at the start of her final heptathlon. The two-time Olympic gold medallist finished her first four events in second place with 3,833 points, 34 behind leader Dedee Nathan. It’s been difficult,’’ Joyner-Kersee said. "I’m trying to stay positive and execute. I’m a fighter.’’ The final three heptathlon events — the long jump, javelin and 800 — are on Tuesday. Noureddine Morceli, the world mile record-holder from Algeria, swept into the lead just before the final lap and beat Kenya’s William Tanui by six yards in 3:53.39, nine seconds slower than his record. Britain’s Jonathan Edwards, the world record-holder in the men’s triple, won at 57-11 (17.65), matching the second-best in the world this year. Olympic champion Kenny Harrison finished last at 54-2 3/4 (16.53). The gymnastics competition was marred by an injury to Lan Sang, a Chinese competitor in the women’s vault. Officials said Lan apparently injured her head or neck during a practice vault. She was carried off the floor of Nassau Coliseum on a stretcher and taken to Nassau county medical center for a cat scan of her neck and head, authorities said. Her condition was not known. Vanessa Atler, the U.S. National champion in the vault, added the Goodwill Games gold medal. Atler, the national all-round champion from Canyon Country, California scored 9.662 to win. In the men’s floor exercise, Alexei Nemov of Russia won the gold with a score of 9.725. American Jay Thornton took the silver with 9.550. Two other Americans won gymnastics medals — Elise Ray, silver in the women’s uneven bars and Yewki Tomita, Bronze in the pommel horse. Australia advanced to the medal round in basketball with an 82-64 victory over Lithuania. Andrew Gaze scored 26 points for the Aussies. Lithuania also advanced despite its first loss. In water polo, the USA lost twice by 10-5 scores to Spain. Italy upset Spain 6-5 on Tuesday on a fourth-period goal by Leonardo Sotanni. Russia earlier beat Italy 7-4. The USA will play for the bronze against Italy, which it beat on Monday.

Hick, Mullally back in favour NOTTINGHAM, , July 22 (Reuters) — England have brought in five new players for the fourth Test against South Africa at Trent Bridge starting tomorrow a desperate bid to level the five-Test series. South Africa, on the other hand, are likely to make only one change with all-rounder Shaun Pollock available after missing the last Test at Old Trafford due to a thigh injury. England, down 1-0, have been comprehensively outplayed in the last two Tests, prompting the selectors to call-up 20-year-old allrounder Andrew Flintoff for the first time. Back in favour are opener Mark Butcher, legspinner Ian Salisbury and leftarm seamer Alan Mullally. And for the umpteenth time Greame Hick is back after an extraordinary career in and out of the England team. The greatest interest surrounds the possible inclusion of the big-hitting Flintoff. After inspecting the wicket yesterday, England released offspinner Robert Croft from the 13-man squad increasing Flintoff’s chances of playing. "The selectors had a look at the wicket this morning and decided that Robert was surplus to requirements with Ian Salisbury in the squad," Graveney told reporters. Flintoff seems likely to bat at number seven and fill the role of fourth seamer with Angus Fraser and Mullally likely to be contesting the final place in the starting XI. Hick gets another chance to establish himself in the middle order against the side whom he has scored two of his four Test centuries. Graham Thorpe was unavailable because of his injured back but Surrey team mate Ben Hollioake, opener Nick Knight, spinner Ashley Giles and seamer Dean Headley have all been discarded. Pollock will be looking for history to repeat itself in one form or another at a venue where his family have fond memories. The last test between the two countries in Nottingham, in 1965, resulted in one of South Africa’s greatest victories on English shores. Graeme Pollock scored 125 and his brother Peter finished with match figures of 10 for 87 to seal a 94-run victory. Shaun Pollock, Peter’s son, is not only fit to resume his new-ball partnership with Allan Donald, but his ability as an allrounder is crucial to the balance of South Africa’s side in the absence of Lance Klusener, who is awaiting an ankle operation for tendinitis. Teams: England (from): Mike Atherton, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain, Alec Stewart (captain), Mark Ramprakash, Graeme Hick, Andrew Flintoff, Dominic Cork, Ian Salisbury, Darren Gough, Angus Fraser, Alan Mullally. South Africa (likely): Gary Kirsten, Gerhardus Liebenberg, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Hansie Cronje (captain), Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Allan Donald, Paul Adams, Makhaya Ntini.

Ronaldo continues to haunt media RIO DE JANEIRO, July 22 (AP) — Nine days after Brazil’s loss to France in the World Cup finals, speculation about what happened to star forward Ronaldo continued to be a hot topic in the Brazilian press yesterday. One day doctor Lidio (Toledo) is going have to reveal what really happened to Ronaldo,’’ Roberto Carlos told the "O Globo" newspaper. Roberto Carlos was Ronaldo’s room mate when he suffered a 30 to 40 second convulsion before the World Cup final. "I don’t know the name of what Ronaldo had. All I know is that it was serious, very serious,’’ "O Globo" quoted Roberto Carlos. He was chatting to him in their hotel room before the big match when Ronaldo stopped talking, went pale and started to sweat heavily, Roberto Carlos said. As the convulsions started, his arms went crooked and his hands looked deformed because of nervous tension. Other players say he foamed at the mouth and swallowed his tongue. In an interview with Brazilian newsweekly, Isto E, the team doctor Toledo said it would be necessary to do detailed tests’’ to find out what caused Ronaldo’s fit. He did not rule out the sudden illness being an epilepsy, saying it was possible that people without a history of epilepsy could suffer a one-time occurrence of it. But he denied claims that Ronaldo had an adverse reaction to an injection of painkiller, saying he would not have administered this prior to a game as it would have contravened anti-doping regulations. Over the weekend, Toledo was shown on TV Globo saying he gave Ronaldo a sedative before the game. On Monday, however, he said he had given the sedative only after the game

Sub-junior hockey in city from July 25 By Our Sports Reporter CHANDIGARH, July 22 — The Sports Authority of India (SAI) will organise the second Independence Gold Cup Sub-Junior Hockey Tournament for boys under-14 at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here from July 25 to August 1. Two top teams from each state are entitled to take part in the meet. Teams from the northern region, which comprises Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh have been invited. The winners and runners-up would participate at the national-level hockey tournament to be held in Delhi from August 6 to 14, according to Mr R.K. Gupta, Deputy Director, Netaji Subhas Northern Centre, Chandigarh. SAI will select 11 best promising players of the tournament. Each best player will get a cash award of Rs 1,000 while the best coach will be given an incentive of Rs 5,000. The winners would get a cash prize award of Rs 21,000 while the runners-up will receive a cash prize of Rs 11,000. Nearly 40 Punjab players are attending a hockey coaching camp at the Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium, Jalandhar in preparation for this tournament. The Chandigarh Sports Department will also hold a coaching camp for the city sub-junior players at the tournament venue to prepare two teams for this tournament. The matches will be played as per the Indian Hockey Federation rules. Boys below 14 years of age as on January 1, 1999 (born on or after 1.1.1985) are eligible to join the state teams. Mr Gupta said that board and lodging arrangements for the participating teams in the tournament would be borne by SAI. The technical conduct of the tournament will be managed by SAI with the assistance of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and state units.

Rebel outplays Anand NAPLES, July 22 (PTI) — Rebel, the pentium-powered Dutch chess programme, outclassed world number two human Viswanathan Anand 4.5-1.5 in rapid chess games of the eight-match exhibition tie in Ischia Islands near here last night. Grandmaster Anand, who otherwise is at ease with the machines, could not come to terms with astonishing speed with which Rebel made its moves in the first four blitz games (five minutes a side). The computer took a winning 3-0 lead and looked set to repeat its last year’s performance when it blew away Artur Yusupov of Germany to lead 4-0, but Anand salvaged some pride for himself when he showed better reflexes and quick eye to win the game. Anand, playing white, opted for English opening and for once, Rebel had to bow down to human intelligence in 33 moves as Anand out-calculated it to win two bishops for a rook and forced resignation. In the two semi-rapid games (15 minutes a side), Rebel was again on top. The machine made a brilliant 18th move to snatch advantage from Anand. Though the Indian had a rook and pawn for minor pieces, Anand had to work hard and wasted time for every moves and lost on time after 28 moves. In game six, Anand pushed hard for a win and was a pawn up when time ran out and he had to settle for a 42-move draw. Though, Rebel has taken winning lead in the eight-match series, the remaining two classical games (without time control) will decide who holds supremacy, man or the machine. Susanthika cleared of drug charges COLOMBO, July 22 (PTI) — Suspended Sri Lankan sprint queen Susanthika Jayasinghe has been cleared of doping charges by an inquiry panel appointed by the Sri Lanka Amateur Athletics Association (AAA). The world 200m silver medallist was cleared on a 2-1 majority decision by the three-member panel with two of them, both lawyers, ruling in her favour and the third Ravindra Fernando, a forensic expert, finding her guilty. "On totality of the evidence and material placed before us, we are of the view that the AAA has failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the alleged doping offence has been committed by Jayasinghe," the members said in a statement today. Meanwhile, the state radio quoted a committee member as saying that Jayasinghe, the first Sri Lankan athlete in 49 years to win a medal at the international level when she finished second in the World Athletics Championships at Athens last year, could now take part in international events. The AAA officials were not available for their comments but a top sports ministry official said that the inquiry committee had not submitted any report to the ministry. However, the International Amateur Athletic Federation, which suspended the sprinter following her urine samples testing positive for performance enhancing steroids, is yet to clear her of the charges.

Mahanama's omission questioned COLOMBO, July 22 — The omission of seasoned middle-order batsman Roshan Mahanama from the Sri Lankan team now touring England has raised much dust with President Chandrika Kumaratunga directing the sports ministry to find out the reasons. A senior ministry official told PTI that the Sri Lankan Cricket Board (BCCS) had submitted an elaborate explanation stating that Mahanama was dropped due to poor form and "faulty technique," the official said. The board also rejected the ministry’s suggestion that Mahanama be sent to England for training, he said. Mahanama had made a superb 44, the second highest score in Sri Lanka’s chase of India’s 307 in the Independence cup one-day tournament final on July 7. India won the match by a narrow six-run margin.

Jeev Ist Indian in top 10 on European Tour NEW DELHI, July 22 (PTI) — Jeev Milkha Singh became the first Indian to feature among the top 10 on the European Tour when he finished joint eighth in the National Car Rental English Open in early June, which also helped him pick up the Johnnie Walker Asian Golfer of the month award. The 26-year-old from Chandigarh, who finished just seven strokes behind the winner Lee Westwood of England logging 278 in the June 4 to 7 tournament at Marrior Hanbury Manor, has so far earned US $ 50,799.91 in prize money this year. Also contributing to his nomination as the player of the month was Jeev’s joint 22nd finish with Nick Price of Zimbabwe at the Deutsche Bank event in Hamburg, Germany at the beginning of June. His exploits at Hamburg made him the best Asian finisher in two events this month. Jeev, who had four sub-par rounds in the English Open including a remarkable five under-par 67 in the third round, is now ranked 59th on the Volvo Golf ranking. The other winners of the award this year include Thai Prayad Marksaeng (January), Taimur Hussain of Pakistan (March), Japanese golfer Satoshi Oide (May) and Frankie Monoza of Phillipines, who has won it twice — in February and April.

Schoolboy cricketers for Lanka Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 22 — An under-15 schoolboys cricket team will play matches in Sri Lanka coinciding with the country's golden jubilee celebrations subject to the approval of the SGFI's executive committee meeting to be held shortly. Giving this information to The Tribune, the Honorary Secretary of the School Games Federation of India, Mr B.D. Gandhi, said the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association had extended the invitation to the SGFI, which had accepted the offer subject to the approval of the executive committee meeting. Mr Gandhi said the tour would give an opportunity to budding players to rub shoulders with players at the international level. In 1996 an under-15 schoolboys cricket team went to England to participate in the Lombard World School Cricket Cup in which 10 countries participated. India won the inaugural World Cup by defeating Pakistan. Now in August an Indian school-cricket team is touring England on the invitation of the English Schools Cricket Association. The coaching camp for the team is being held at the PAU grounds in Ludhiana.

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