Malcolm surges to new record

ANNECY (France), July 30 (AFP) — Britain and the USA delivered two more stars on to the 100 metres stage as Christian Malcolm and Shakedia Jones won their respective finals at the Junior World Championship here yesterday.

Malcolm was the most impressive of the two, Jones having to fight hard for her win over compatriot Angela Williams, as he romped home in a championship beating time of 10.12 seconds, which is also the fastest time by a British sprinter this year, senior or junior.

"Am I the best sprinter in Britain? Well I’ve run against them and never beaten them ... Yet," the 19-year-old said.

Malcolm, who was second in the European Championships last year, prolonged the American gold medal drought in this event to 10 years as Amar Johnson, who briefly led, took silver in a personal best of 10.34, while Jamaican Dwight Thomas was third in 10.40.

Johnson, aiming to become first American gold medallist in the event since Andre Cason won in 1988, was not satisfied with his performance and was grudging in conceding defeat.

Malcolm, who was the fastest qualifier in each heat, was unfazed by a false start which resulted in some Greek tragedy by the hellenic athlete Athanassios Tsiouris, who protested his innocence.

Malcolm, whose cousin Kevin Williams is also an international sprinter, looked to be in trouble with Johnson’s electric start but then he recovered and his natural class saw him come through in great style.

Jones shocked Williams by taking the 100 metres world junior athletics crown with a time one hundredth of a second outside the games record.

Jones, primarily a 200-m specialist, stormed home in lane six to beat the diminutive Williams, who is the three time American 100 metres champion, in a time of 11.19 with her compatriot second in 11.27 second and 16-year-old Nigerian sensation Joan Uduak Ekah taking bronze in 11.29.

The 19-year-old Jones, who shared the top spot with Williams this year with 11.11, had looked unsteady in the heats but once into her stride she looked as if it was a younger version of her virtual namesake Marion Jones running.

France’s Celine Thelamon ran an outstanding race to post her second successive personal best but just missed out on the medals in fourth place.

Cuba’s Osleidis Memendez became only the fifth ever woman to defend her title when she took the javelin discipline with a throw of 68.17 metres, the second best throw in the world both at senior and junior level this year.

The 18-year-old spear chucker, who won the Mexico City grand prix earlier in the season, even had the luxury of not having to put in her last throw as Chinese girl Lilie Liang, who earlier this year became the youngest girl to throw over 60 metres at the age of 14, had no answer to the Cuban’s superior power and had to make do with silver.

Liang’s Chinese team-mate Jianhua Wei was third.

Germany’s Bianca Achilles showed she had no weakness in her namesake’s heel as she won the women’s hammer throw with a hurl of 61.79 metres.

Finland’s Sini Povry failed to add the world crown to her European one and had to settle for second, though she broke her national junior record with a mark of 61.76 while Maureen Griffin of the USA grabbed bronze with a hurl of 60.14.

The most disappointing performer was France’s Manuela Montebrum who could only finish fifth with a mark of 58.28 despite having come into the championships with a personal best of 62.79, which is good enough for her to go to Budapest this year for the European Championships.

Germany also captured the pole vault, though the winner Monika Gotz failed to break her junior world record of 4.31 metres.

The 17-year-old Gotz, who won with a vault of 4.20 metres, beat Mar Sanchez of Spain and Polish girl Monika Pyrek, who both vaulted national junior records of 4.10.

However, there was more disappointment for the home crowd as French national senior and junior Amandine Homo could finish only fifth.

India meet Aussies in C'wealth opener

NEW DELHI, July 30 (PTI) — India are in group ‘A’ along with Australia and New Zealand in the men’s hockey tournament of the 16th Commonwealth Games to be held in Kuala Lumpur from September 11 to 21.

Pakistan, England and Malaysia are among those placed in group ‘B’ of the competition. Twelve teams are divided into two groups for the sport which makes its debut in the games.

Hockey will begin on September 9 — two days ahead of the official inauguration with the final slated for September 20, according to the revised schedule received by the Indian Hockey Federation.

India, looking forward to picking up the pieces at a venue which landed them their only World Cup in 1975, open their campaign against the tough Australia (September 9) and then play South Africa (Sept 12), Wales (Sept 14), Trinidad and Tobago (Sept 16) and New Zealand (Sept 17).

The semifinals are scheduled for September 19.

Group ‘A’: India, Australia, South Africa, Wales, Trinidad and Tobago and New Zealand.

Group ‘B’: Pakistan, Kenya, Canada, Malaysia, Bangladesh and England.

Schedule of matches:

Sept 9: Malaysia vs Bangladesh, Pakistan vs Kenya, England vs Canada, Australia vs India.

Sept 10: Wales vs Trinidad and Tobago, New Zealand vs South Africa, Kenya vs Malaysia, Bangladesh vs England.

Sept 11: Rest day (opening ceremony).

Sept 12: Canada vs Pakistan, South Africa vs India, Trinidad and Tobago vs Australia, Wales vs New Zealand.

Sept 13: England vs Kenya, Canada vs Bangladesh, Pakistan vs Malaysia.

Sept 14: Australia vs South Africa, New Zealand vs Trinidad and Tobago, India vs Wales.

Sept 15: New Zealand vs Australia, Malaysia vs England, Bangladesh vs Pakistan, Kenya vs Canada.

Sept 16: Trinidad and Tobago vs India, Pakistan vs England, Wales vs South Africa, Kenya vs Bangladesh.

Sept 17: Canada vs Malaysia, Australia vs Wales, India vs New Zealand, South Africa vs Trinidad and Tobago.

Sept 18: Rest day.

Sept 19: Group 'A' winner vs group 'B' runner-up

Group B runner-up vs group A winner

Sept 20: Third place play-off.

Final.

Sang yearns to see Dicaprio

NEW YORK, July 30 (AP) — The Chinese gymnast paralysed at the Goodwill games has a titanic-size wish: a visit from heartthrob Leonardo Dicaprio.

If Dicaprio can’t make it, Celine Dion or the Spice girls also are high on Sang Lan’s wish-list.

Sang remained in a pediatric intensive care unit at the Nassau County Medical Centre yesterday. A bulletin board, adorned with Dicaprio’s picture and cards from hundreds of well-wishers, were on a wall near her bed.

"The 17-year-old, China’s 1997 national vault champion, is fascinated with American pop culture," says Shelley Lotenberg, spokeswoman for the Nassau County Medical Centre on Long Island.

"She told us she wanted to meet Leonardo."

Sang, who broke her neck last week during a warm-up vault at the Nassau Coliseum, underwent surgery on Saturday. She has no sensation from the chest down, and doctors say she probably never will walk again. Her toes moved during one examination, but her doctors discounted it as an involuntary twitch.

"She dreams of seeing Titanic." She was disappointed when told the movie wasn’t yet available on video Lotenberg is trying to get a copy from Paramount.

Dicaprio’s Los Angeles publicist, Cindy Guagenti, said she told him of Sang’s wish, and he was deciding exactly how he might respond. Lotenberg said later yesterday that the hospital had been contacted by "about a possible arrangement for a visit by Dicaprio."

Just in case the 23-year-old movie star were to appear at her bedside, the diminutive athlete has learned a few words of English, and can say, "Hi, how are you?"

Kim Jakwerth, Dion’s Los Angeles publicist, said she had left a message at the singer’s home in Florida and was waiting to hear from her. "I know Celine likes to do anything she can for people," Jakwerth said.

A representative for the Spice Girls, based in England, would not comment on the request.

Henman, Black move into last eight

LOS ANGELES, July 30 (AFP) — Second-seeded Briton Tim Henman outlasted an ill-tempered Jeff Tarango yesterday to reach the quarterfinals of the ATP Tour tournament here.

Henman, ranked 12th in the world and playing his first tournament since he reached the Wimbledon semifinals, downed Tarango 7-6 (8/6) 7-5 to advance to a quarterfinal match with seventh-seeded Byron Black of Zimbabwe.

After winning the first-set tie-breaker, Henman broke Tarango in the opening game of the second. But some inconsistencies crept in, and he dropped the next four games.

Henman clawed his way back with a break in the seventh game that narrowed the gap to 4-3.

Tarango’s infamous temper got the better of him when he sailed a forehand long on break point and he broke his racquet over his knee.

He threw the pieces in the stands and received a code violation warning.

In the next game, Tarango received a time violation warning which he hotly disputed to the jeers of the crowd.

Henman, unfazed, held his serve easily and went ahead 5-4 with a break in the ninth game.

"You’ve got to concentrate," Henman said of Tarango’s outbursts.

Tarango regrouped and broke back for 5-5, then dropped his serve to trail again.

This time, Tarango couldn’t get the break back and Henman wrapped up the match on his first match point when the American netted a service return.

In Black, Henman will face an opponent seeking revenge for a third round defeat at Wimbledon.

Black beat Gianluca Pozzi 6-3 6-2. He said he benefited from a history of success against the Italian.

Unseeded Guillaume Raoux of France, a semifinalist here last year, said his past success against his opponent also made the difference in a 7-6 (9/7) 6-7 (1/7) 7-6 (7/3) win over Denmark’s Kenneth Carlsen.

Raoux, who ousted third-seeded Croatian Goran Ivanisevic in the first round, had the only break chances in the entire two-hour, 47-minute match, but failed to convert either of the two.

Raoux, who claimed his sixth straight win over Carlsen, said it wasn’t that he found the Dane’s game so easy to cope with — his big left-handed serve provides plenty of problems.

In the quarterfinals, Raoux will play US qualifier Michael Joyce, who beat Armenian Sargis Sargsian 6-3 4-6, 6-2.

Mike Tyson loses cool at hearing

TRENTON, (New Jersey), July 30 (AP) — Mike Tyson lost his temper and cursed during a hearing before New Jersey state boxing regulators aimed at returning him to the ring after being banned from the sport for a year.

Tyson choked back tears during his testimony yesterday before the New Jersey Athletic Control Board, then turned angry under repeated questioning as to why he bit Evander Holyfield's ear.

Tyson then was supposed to read a closing statement, but he refused.

"I don't want to say it now, 'cause I'm angry," he said.

When his lawyer, Anthony Fusco jr., tried to calm him, Tyson then used an expletive.

"You know what I mean, man? Why do I got to go through this... all the time?"

"Relax, relax," Fusco said, putting his hand on Tyson shoulder.

Tyson was choked up as he spoke of biting Evander Holyfield on both ears in their June 28, 1997, title bout, but as his testimony neared an end, he grew frustrated with the questioning by Assistant Attorney-General Michael Haas, the second-ranking prosecutor in the state of New Jersey.

After Tyson's outburst, Fusco apologised to regulators, saying it showed Tyson's "frustration" with his absence from boxing.

"You're seeing a guy ripped apart," said Fusco.

The three-member panel will have 45 days to decide whether Tyson has "good character, honesty, integrity and responsibility", as required by state boxing law.

No immediate action was taken. The board adjourned and scheduled any executive session for August 6.

At a news conference later, Tyson denied losing his temper.

"I never lost my cool," he told reporters. "I was just expressing my hurt."

During his testimony, a repentant Tyson told the board he "just snapped" when he bit Holyfield in their title fight last year.

Tyson told the panel he was foggy from repeated head butts by Holyfield in the third round of their June 28, 1997, fight in Las Vegas.

"I just snapped. Nothing mattered anymore at that particular point," Tyson said, pausing to gather himself as his voice broke. "I'm sorry for what I did. I wish it never happened. It will haunt me for the rest of my life."

He told Haas that he doubts he is capable of doing it again. He said his personal life has been devastated by the incident.

The western state of Nevada revoked his license after the fight. The 32-year-old Tyson has not fought since.

The boxers testifying on Tyson's behalf said that in the heat of battle almost anything can happen in the ring, and that the fighter is not always conscious of his actions.

Former heavyweight contender Chuck Wepner said even Muhammad Ali was known to lose his composure in the ring.

Holding hands with his wife, Tyson was cheered as he arrived for the hearing. But there were also scattered boos and a half-dozen protesters from the New Jersey chapter of the National Organisation for Women, a feminist group, demonstrated outside.

AAFI names 55 probables for Asian Games

NEW DELHI, July 29 (PTI) — The Amateur Athletic Federation of India (AAFI) has decided against any exposure trip abroad in preparing the Indian squad for the December Bangkok Asiad.

A list of 55 probables, 31 men and 24 women, were yesterday named by the AAFI for the Asian Games camp to be held in the Sai centres in Patiala and Bangalore from August 3 to December 4.

Fifteen coaches, apart from the foreign trainers, would be in charge and an elaborate training and competition schedule has also been released.

AAFI Secretary Lalit K. Bhanot said the inter-state meet to be held in Jamshedpur from November 18 to 20 would also serve as the final selection trial.

The chief coach Bahadur Singh was happy with India's good showing at the Fukuoka Asian meet last week. India won a gold, three silver and eight bronze medals. Four national records were bettered and veteran P.T. Usha twice equalled her national 200 m mark of 23.27 seconds, set way back in 1989 at her peak.

"Some like Paramjit Singh and Bobby Aloysius have come up with excellent shows and we have done well in all track and speed events. Our presence was there," Bahadur Singh said comparing with the medal effort of 1-1-4 at Jakarta in 1995.

Paramjit Singh, who clocked 45.95 sec in coming fifth in 400 m, became only the second runner since the legendary Milkha Singh in the 1960 Rome Olympics final to run a sub 46-sec race. Distance runner Gulab Chand in grabbing a fine 5000 m silver became only the third Indian after Rajkumar and Bahadur Prasad to run below 14 minutes (13:55.40).

"Looks like Usha will be the same as she was in 1986. She looks definitely capable of doing it in Bangkok," Bahadur Singh said, adding that middle distance runner Jyotirmoyee Sikdar (800 m, 1500 m bronze) and Rosa Kutty would both improve their form.

The former Asian shot put champion, however, advocated the athletes following a sound training schedule at home instead of going for one-off competitions abroad.

"Training should not be spoiled. In domestic meets we (coaches) can always control performances. But abroad it will be meaningless unless one gave off the best. But this will not be useful as our only aim is to peak for Bangkok."

The AAFI has picked the Manipur National Games (Oct 4 — 14), fifth circuit meet in Mumbai (Oct 20), open nationals (Nov 3 to 5) and final trials for marathon and 50 km walk and the Jamshedpur Inter-State Meet (Nov 18 to 20).

But the National Games does not seem to figure very high on the agenda as officials fear it could affect the smooth training schedule. It is not fully certain whether the Games in Imphal will be held as schedule with reports from Manipur saying that construction work may not be completed on time.

Bahadur Singh’s concern, however, was that training should not be affected by the National Games. He felt India would be able to perform much better in Bangkok than at the 1994 Hiroshima Games if the Fukuoka showing was any indication.

List of campers for Asian Games at Patiala/Bangalore from August 3 to December 4, 1998.

Men:
100 m: Rajeev Balakrishnan (TN), Amit Khanna (FCI), Vikram Singh (Del), Anand Menezes (RSCB), Siddarth Basak (Mah).

400 m: Paramjit Singh (Pol), Lijo David Thottan (RSCB), P. Ramachandran (Ker), Jata Shankar (Pol), Manoj Lal K.G. (Ker), Prabhjot Singh (RSCB), Dinesh Rawat (Del).

5000 m/10000 m/3000 m steeple chase: Bahadur Prasad (RSCB), Gulab Chand (RSCB), Harish Tiwari (LIC), Shiva Nand (RSCB), Arun D’Souza (RSCB), B.S. Lone (RSCB), Avtar Singh (RSCB).

Shot put: Shakti Singh (RSCB), Bahadur Singh (Pol), Manjit Singh (Pol). Discus: Ajit Bhaduria (Tisco), Anil Kumar (Telco), Hridyanand (Pol). Javelin: Satbir Singh, Jagdish Vishnoi, Daljit Singh (all Pol). Hammer: Parmod Tiwari (UP), Virender Punia (RSCB), Shubdeep Singh (RSCB).

Women:
100 m/400 m: P.T. Usha, Rachita Mistry, Saraswati Dey (all RSCB), Vinita Tripathi (Del), V. Jayalakshmi (ib), Gincy Philip (Pol), Davinder Kaur (RSCB), Rosa Kutty (RSCB — 400/800 m), E.B. Shyla (FCI), Pandeshwari Devi, Jaisy Thomas (both RSCB).

800 m/1500 m: Jyotirmoy Sikdar, K.M. Beenamol (both RSCB).

Shot put: Amandeep Kaur (Pol), Harbans Kaur (RSCB), Harpreet Kaur (Pol). Discus: Neelam J. Singh (RSCB), Sugan Yadav (RSCB), Harjeet Kaur (RSCB), Swaranjit Kaur (Pol). Javelin: Gurmeet Kaur (LIC).

Campers at Bangalore: M.K. Asha (Can bk), Bobby Aloysius (TN), G.G. Prameela (RSCB).

Coaches:
Bahadur Singh (chief coach), Ken Bosen (Patiala), Hargobind Singh (RSCB), J.S. Bhatia (SAI, Lucknow), Harbans Singh (SAI), R.S. Bal (Pol), H.S. Shahid (Punj), Purushottam Rai (SAI), Harjeet Singh (SAI).

Kuldeep Singh (Pol), Yadvinder Singh (Del), M.S. Dhillon (SAI), Jaswant Singh (RSCB), T.P. Ouseph (Ker), Homiyar Mistry (RSCB), A. Anthony (ai).

Training-cum-competition programme (from Aug 3 — Dec 4): Throwers: Aug 3 — Oct 19 (camp at Patiala); Oct 21 to Nov 20 (camp at Calcutta); Nov 21 to Dec 4 (camp at Patiala).

Sprinters: Aug 3 to Sept 19 (camp at Patiala); Sept 20 to Oct 19 (camp at Delhi); Oct 21 to Nov 20 (camp at Calcutta); Nov 21 to Dec 4 (camp at Delhi).

Middle and long distance: Aug 3 to Sept 3 (camp at Patiala), Sept 5 to Oct 5 (camp at Ranikhet/Shilaroo), Oct 6 to 19 (camp at Delhi), Oct 21 to Nov 20 (camp at Calcutta), Nov 21 to Dec 4 (camp at Delhi).

Bangalore campers: Aug 3 to Oct 20 (camp at Bangalore); Oct 21 to Nov 20 (camp at Calcutta), Nov 21 to Dec 4 (camp at Delhi).

Competition schedule: National Games (Oct 4 to 14) — Imphal, 5th National Circuit Meet (Oct 20) — Mumbai. Open National Meet and final trials for marathon and 50 km walk (Nov 3 to 5) — Calcutta.

All-India Inter-State Meet (Nov 18 to 20) — Jamshedpur.

Next Indo-Pak hockey series in Feb

LAHORE, July 30 (UNI) — The next annual hockey series between India and Pakistan will be held in February-March next year.

The Pakistan and Indian hockey federations have decided to hold the home-and-away series every year after the successful series held in February. Pakistan had won the eight-match series held first in India and later in Pakistan.

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Mudassar Asghar said both federations were working out the details of the next rubber.

"Both federations have agreed to continue the successful exchange. It was an organisational and financial success," Mr Asghar told reporters.

He said Pakistan will make a fresh bid for staging the 2002 Junior World Cup. The second bid has become necessary after revision of format by the International Hockey Federation (IHF), hockey’s world governing body.

Last time’s runners-up Spain and South Africa are the other nations who are bidding for the World Cup.

According to the revised format, the IHF wants to increase the number of teams in the senior and junior versions of the World Cup from 12 to 16.

Mr Asghar said no schedule had been released by the Asian Hockey Association (AHA) for the senior division of the Asia Cup slated for next year. The AHA had earlier separated the Asia Cup into senior and first divisions.

Pakistan hockey team manager Zakauddin said the team will try something different in the coming tournaments, beginning with the Commonwealth Games in September.

"It is time to try something different. I assure the fans of our team a new and effective winning strategy for the Commonwealth Games," he said.

Zakauddin, who had coached the national team which won the 1982 World Cup and 1984 Olympics said, he will try new playing patterns to produce results. The team will now play the 2-4-4 formation, instead of the traditional 2-3-5.

The 3-4-3 formation will also be tried out to strengthen the defence, he said. The team is at present undergoing a rigorous training camp for the Commonwealth Games.

"Our players have the ability to adapt to new demands. We have to reduce the number of goals scored against us," Zakauddin said.

"What is important is to stop the goals behind and this can be done by strengthening the midfield and deep defence."

Mr Asghar said the astro turf at the national hockey stadium will be replaced at a cost of about $ 2,00,000. The Lahore turf is the world’s largest coliseum.

Wills Masters from Aug 5
From Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, July 30 — Except for Chiranjeev Milkha Singh and Amritinder Singh, all leading professionals will be seen in action in the four-day Wills Masters which begins at the Classic Golf Course (Gurgaon) on August 5.

If the weather holds out, India’s leading stars are all set to give off their best on the course which is in an ideal condition at present. The authorities have made several improvements in the course which, according to top golfers, is a challenging one.

Two absentees from the opener have more pressing engagements abroad. While Jeev is busy with the European circuit, Amritinder Singh will be engaged in playing at the Sabah Masters (Indonesia).

Following the conclusion of the main competition, which carries prize money of Rs.15 lakh, there will be a pro-am contest (August 9) in which amateur stars will rub shoulders with outstanding Indian professionals.

On the eve of the tournament on August 3, ITC’s Sanjiv Keshava will reveal the detailed programme of the Wills Sports Golf Tour.

Haryana 'A' oust Chandigarh 'B'
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, July 30 — Haryana "A" ousted Chandigarh "B" 8-0 in pool "A" and qualified for the semifinals in the second Independence Gold Cup Subjunior Regional Hockey Tournament for boys (under-14) at the Sector 42 hockey stadium here this evening.

Haryana "A" comprising boys from Shahbad Markanda took the lead through inside-left Damandeep who scored off a rebound.

Seven minutes later, Damandeep repeated scored his second goal.

At half time the score was 2-0 in favour of Haryana "A".

In the second half, both teams played with short passes. The Haryana boys got three more penalty corners but could not convert them. In the 48th minute Amritveer sent a powerful shot towards the goal and inside-left Damandeep provided the finishing touches to complete his hat-trick.

Five minutes later, Haryana's Amritveer Singh beat the Chandigarh goalkeeper Harpreet and rolled the ball into the goal to make it 4-0. In the 55th minute, Damandeep passed the ball to Meharban Singh who scored a fine goal. Three minutes later the inside-right made it 6-0. In the 61st minute, a penalty corner hit was blocked by rival goalkeeper Harpreet and right full back Kulwinder Singh pushed the ball into the net. Inside left Damandeep completed the tally when he scored his fourth goal.

In another match in pool "A", Punjab "A" ousted Chandigarh "A" by 6-0 and moved into the semis.

Punjab boys started attacking from the start. Inside-right Jarnail Singh scored a fine goal in the 43rd second. Less than one-and-half minute later he again scored with a solo effort.

In the 12th minute the centre-half scored a beautiful goal for Punjab while in the next two minutes, inside-right Jarnail Singh scored his third goal.

In the 30th minute, Harbinder Singh scored a goal while left full back Harpal Singh converted a penalty corner in the 32nd minute.

In the last match, Himachal Pradesh routed Haryana "B" by 4-1 after leading by 1-1 at the interval. Inside-left Pulkit Sharma scored a fine goal in the 22nd minute but Haryana level led the score in the next six minutes through Bharat.

In the second half, Himachal Pradesh scored three more goals through inside left Pulkit Sharma and inside-right Chetan.

Ludhiana swimming from Aug 1
From Our Sports Reporter

LUDHIANA, July 30 — The Ludhiana District Swimming Championship for subjunior and junior boys and girls will be held at A.S. Model School, Khanna, near here on August 1 and 2, according to Mr Balraj Sharma, general secretary, Ludhiana District Swimming Association.

Players born between 1980 and 1982 (U-17) 1983 and 1984 (U-14) 1985 to 1986 (U-12) 1987 to 1988 (U-10) can participate. Those born on or after January 1, 1989, will be eligible for the under-8 section.

The Ludhiana teams for the forthcoming Punjab state subjunior and junior swimming championship will be selected during this meet.

Punjab swimming from Aug 7
From Our Sports Reporter

LUDHIANA, July 30 — The 14th Sub Junior and 24th Punjab State Junior Swimming Championship for boys and girls in the age groups of 15 to 17 years, 13 to 14 years and 11 to 12 years will be held at the Nehru Stadium swimming pool, Ropar, from August 7 to 9, according to Col Raminder Singh, President, Punjab Swimming Association. Entries should be sent to Mr Balraj Sharma, Honorary General Secretary, PSA, at Ludhiana, up to August 1.

The swimmers selected during this championship will undergo training in two coaching camps being conducted at Ludhiana and Jalandhar by Sports Directorate, Punjab, from August 16 to 30 and September 2 to 16.

Usha, 4 others in team for World Cup

NEW DELHI, July 30 (PTI) — P. T. Usha heads a list of five Indian athletes selected to represent Asia in the IAAF World Cup to be held in Johannesburg from September 11 to 13.

The entire Indian women’s 4x100 m relay squad — Usha, Rachita Mistry, E.B. Shyla and Saraswati Dey — which struck gold with a national record effort of 44.43 secs at the Fukuoka Asian Championship earlier this month has been accorded the distinction to race at the World Cup.

Gulab Chand, who clocked a personal best of 13 mins 55.40 secs to land the 5000 m silver is also part of the squad picked by the Asian body on the basis of performances in Japan, Amateur Athletic Federation of India secretary Lalit Bhanot said here.

Usha, who will be making her first World Cup appearance after setting her national 400 m mark of 51.61 secs in the 1985 edition in Canberra, will also be part of the 4 x 400 m relay squad. On a comeback trail, the 33-year-old veteran won bronze medals in 200 m and 400 m and also anchored the Indian longer relay squad to silver at Fukuoka.

The team is scheduled to leave here on September 8, but it is doubtful if those selected, Usha in particular, will make the trip as it could upset the training programme charted out for the Asian Games.

AAFI had decided against fielding a squad at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games (September 11 to 21) on the ground that peaking for the meet would hurt Indian medal chances in Bangkok. On the other hand, athletes can take the World Cup lightly and as part of their training programme, Mr Bhanot said.

Sampdoria signs Ortega for $ 12m

BUENOS AIRES, July 30 (Reuters) — Italian Serie A club Sampdoria have signed Argentine playmaker Ariel Ortega from Valencia for $ 12 million, The Spanish Club’s vice-president Jaime Orti has said.

We finally reached a deal this afternoon with Sampdoria, who will pay $ 12 million, Orti told Argentine radio from Spain on Tuesday.

Orti said Ortega had agreed a five-year deal with Sampdoria.

A brilliant, creative dribbler, Ortega scored two goals in the World Cup and set up several others.

Youth basketball championship
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, July 30 — The Haryana State Youth Basketball Championship for boys and girls will be held at Yamunanagar from August 14 to 16, according to Mr Sajjan Kumar, Secretary of the Haryana State Basketball Association affiliated with the Haryana Olympic Association (HOA).

The players born on or after January 1, 1983, are eligible to participate. The players should bring with them their age proof certificates while reporting with their respective district team