Tendulkar puts Zimbabwe to sword
SHARJAH, Nov 13 — Sachin Tendulkar pulverised Zimbabwe by smashing his 21st one-day century to propel India to title victory with a ridiculously easy 10-wicket verdict in the Coca Cola Cup triangular cricket tournament here tonight.
Fans burst crackers after India's win
(Chandigarh page)

Blueprint for Asian Test series ready
CHANDIGARH, Nov 13 — With the governments of both India and Pakistan yet to give the go-ahead to the proposed tour of India by the Pakistan cricket team early next year, the Asian Cricket Council has already drawn up a plan to host an Asian Test series involving India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in case the proposed tour by the Pakistan team fails to come about.

STOCKHOLM : Leander Paes (centre) and Mahesh Bhupathi in action during their Stockholm Open tournament second round match against South Africa's Wayne Ferreira and Marc Goellner (right) of Germany, on Thursday. Bhupathi and Paes won the match 6-2, 6-4 — AP/PTI

Chinese cagers pip Qatar,
retain title
Calcutta, Nov 13 — Defending champions China kept their reputation intact with a hard-fought 59-45 victory over Qatar to retain the title for the second consecutive year in the 15th Asian Junior Men’s Basketball Championship at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here today.

Tendulkar puts Zimbabwe to sword

SHARJAH, Nov 13 (PTI) — Sachin Tendulkar pulverised Zimbabwe by smashing his 21st one-day century to propel India to title victory with a ridiculously easy 10-wicket verdict in the Coca Cola Cup triangular cricket tournament here tonight.

Tendulkar set the Sharjah stadium alight by tearing into the attack with paceman Henry Olonga the prime target and hit up a spectacular unbeaten 124 as India coasted to 197 for none in just 30 overs after the bowlers had restricted the Africans to a modest 196 for nine on Mohd Azharuddin putting them in.

The world’s best batsman, who fell victim during Olonga’s four wicket burst in the final league match, vented his fury on the bowler and then on leg-spinner Paul Strang and raced to his century off only 71 deliveries, which contained just 38 strokes and was studded with five mighty sixes and 10 fours.

Left-hander Saurav Ganguly played the ideal foil, calmed down the master who was clearly pumped up, and picked up pace towards the final stages to remain unbeaten on 63 (90 b, 4 x 4 3 x 6). Tendulkar nursed his innings well in the last stages still played only 92 balls for his 124 which had six sparkling sixes and 12 fours.

Tendulkar and Ganguly reiterated their status as the world’s best one-day opening pair with their eighth century stand. Tendulkar looked well set to overhaul Azharuddin’s Indian record for the fastest hundred (62 balls) after blazing to his 50 in just 28 balls (5 x 4, 4 x 6) but slowed down in his 90s perhaps unaware that the record was for the asking.

Tendulkar, who celebrated his 200th innings in great style and regaled the packed stadium as he had done against Australia in April here, not only claimed the ‘Man of the Match’ and ‘Man of the Series’ accolades but also bagged the awards for most sixes (eight) and fastest fifty (28 balls).

The 25-year-old who enlivened the tournament with an unbeaten 118 against Zimbabwe and ended it in an explosive manner also was presented Rs 10 lakh by Coca Cola for the "21st century" he heralded much in advance.

Both openers were determined to give a solid start after the fiasco on Wednesday which saw Zimbabwe defend their modest total. The runs kept coming and India were 38 in the seventh over.

But Tendulkar, who had warmed up with a four besides a six over third man to dictate terms against Olonga in the fourth over, simply exploded in the ninth over by smashing the bowler through cover and carting him over long-off for a six before square driving him to the point fence.

Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell introduced leg spinner Paul Strang, but the rampaging batsman hit him for a four and two sixes to the straight fence to reach his fifty in just 28 balls.

Tendulkar, however, was providential to survive the very next ball — on 53 in the total of 76 in the 10th over — when he mistimed a massive heave, but the over-eager Strang and wicketkeeper Andy Flower converged to catch the skier but only managed to collide and drop the catch at short midwicket to the chagrin of their teammates.

Tendulkar looked all set to overhaul Azhar’s record for the fastest one-day hundred by an Indian, but slowed down in the 90s before bringing up his century with a single off Andy Whittal.

Ganguly, till then a quiet spectator to the grand batting of his partner, took over even as Tendulkar seemed to be mildly restrained by a strain in his left thigh, which needed attention from the doctor Ravinder Chadha.

The elegant left-hander, who has been struggling a bit here, turned his attention by cracking fast bowler Heath Streak to the straight fence for two boundaries and then hit two huge sixes off Grant Flower’s left-arm slow deliveries in the 21st over.

Both landed on the roof of the stadium and with the win in sight, he lofted the bowler once again over the same spot for his third six.

Earlier, pace spearhead Javagal Srinath (3/40) led the attack as Indian bowlers dominated the Zimbabwe batsmen and reduced them to 81 for six, leg-spinner Anil Kumble joining the act by claiming two wickets off successive balls to pile on the misery.

However, Paul Strang revealed his utility by top-scoring with 46 (91 b, 3 x 4) and raised 58 runs for the eighth wicket with Eddo Brandes (33 - 46 b, 2 x 4, 1 x 6) to give the innings some respectability before Tendulkar bowled the aggressive Brandes and ensured Zimbabwe did not cross the 200-run mark.

Scoreboard:

Zimbabwe:

Campbell c Ganguly b Agarkar 2

G. Flower c Agarkar b Srinath 18

Johnson c and b Chopra 34

Goodwin lbw b Srinath 2

A. Flower b Kumble 19

Wishart c Tendulkar b Joshi 18

Streak lbw b Srinath 0

Strang lbw b Srinath 46

Brandes b Tendulkar 33

Whittal not out 10

Olonga not out 0

Extras (lb-7, w-4, nb-3): 14

Total (for 9 wkts, in 50 overs): 196

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-36, 3-44, 4-77, 5-81, 6-81, 7-116, 8-174, 9-194.

Bowling: Srinath 10-1-40-3, Agarkar 10-1-36-1, Kumble 10-1-29-2, Chopra 7-0-32-1, Joshi 9-1-36-1, Tendulkar 4-0-16-1.

India:
Ganguly not out 63

Sachin Tendulkar not out 124 Extras (lb-2, w-6, nb-2) 10

Total (in 30 overs) 197

Bowling: Eddo Brandes 2-0-9-0, Henry Olonga 6-0-50-0, Neil Johnson 4-0-18-0, Paul Strang 5-0-45-0, Heath Streak 4-0-17-0, Andy Whittall 6-0-28-0, Grant Flower 3-0-28-0.

Blueprint for Asian Test series ready
By Abhijit Chatterjee
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 13 — With the governments of both India and Pakistan yet to give the go-ahead to the proposed tour of India by the Pakistan cricket team early next year, the Asian Cricket Council has already drawn up a plan to host an Asian Test series involving India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in case the proposed tour by the Pakistan team fails to come about.

The President of the International Cricket Council, Mr Jagmohan Dalmia, who also heads the Asian body, is very keen to hold a World Cup for Test cricket. His only impediment is the format of the tournament and the time it will take to go through a tournament of such magnitude. Therefore, if the Asian experiment is a success he would be able to push the idea at the International Cricket Council.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India is very keen that the proposed tour by the Pakistan team comes about. The Pakistani team is scheduled to play three Test matches and five one-day internationals during the seven-week tour scheduled to commence on January 21 next.

Calcutta, Chennai and Bangalore are expected to host the Test matches while the one-day internationals are to be played at Mohali, Visakapatnam, Goa, Jamshedpur and Jaipur. The threat of the Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackaray that the Pakistanis would not be allowed to play in Mumbai is probably the reason why Mumbai would not get an opportunity to see the Pakistanis in action in that metropolis.

The Programmes and Fixtures Committee of the board is scheduled to meet next week at Mumbai to finalise the detailed tour schedule of the Pakistanis. As per practice the visiting team has to approve of the venues as also the travel arrangements before the itinerary is made public.

However, if the tour of India by the Pakistan team does not come about the Asian Cricket Council is very keen to host the Asian Test series during the same period. With the availability of India and Pakistan already assured, only the availability of Sri Lanka will have to be ensured if the series is to be played.

The programme finalised during the last meeting of the Asian Cricket Council, held in Dhaka during the nine-nation Mini World Cup , it was decided that the three teams will play each other on home and away basis, with the top two teams meeting in the final.

As per the schedule India will play Pakistan at Chennai while the India versus Sri Lanka Test will be played at Mumbai. Similarly, India will play their away matches at Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Lahore (Pakistan). Pakistan and Sri Lanka also will play their matches on a similar pattern. Interestingly, the Dhaka meeting agreed that the final of the tournament would be played at the Eden Garden, Calcutta, no matter which teams qualifies for the final.

Pakistan last played Test cricket in India during the 1986-87 season when their team, led by Imran Khan, clinched the five-Test series by winning the match at Bangalore. Pakistan twice cancelled their tour to India in 1993 and 1994 . However, the Pakistan team did visit India during the 1996 World Cup, first during the inauguration ceremony at Calcutta and then in the quarterfinal stage of the tournament where they lost to India at Bangalore.

Given the relations between the two countries it would need a lot of diplomacy on the part of Mr Raj Singh Dungarpur, President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India , and his Pakistani counterpart, Mr Khalid Mehmood, who have already discussed the modalities of the tour when they met at Dhaka during the Mini World Cup.

Chinese cagers pip Qatar, retain title

Calcutta, Nov 13 (PTI) — Defending champions China kept their reputation intact with a hard-fought 59-45 victory over Qatar to retain the title for the second consecutive year in the 15th Asian Junior Men’s Basketball Championship at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here today.

The Chinese hoopsters played their hearts out against their spirited opponents who tended to be a bit too defensive in a low-scoring summit showdown which saw some brilliant blocking and snatching by both the teams.

Leading by a narrow 26-21 margin at the half time, the Chinese cagers found the baskets difficult to come by as their rivals gave very few liberties in their own zone in a rather slow-paced encounter.

China claimed their sixth title to jointly share the honour with the Philippines.

The three top teams in the 15-team championship — China, Qatar and Japan — have qualified for the sixth world junior championship to be held in Portugal from July 15 to 25 next year.

The fleet-footed Liu Wei gave ample proof of his shooting abilities to garner 25 points for his team which seemed to get much support from the sizeable crowd at the stadium.

Zhou Xinzin, Li Dongliang and Wang Han were the other notable contributors for China with eight points each.

Qatar, who finished runners-up in the last edition of the championship in Malaysia in 1996, relied on defensive play to check the Chinese loopsters who were equally adept with close and outside shooting.

Though they managed to keep the Chinese in check in the first session, a number of fouls towards the later stages of the game allowed their rivals to extend their lead.

The Qatari players could not get their act together under the basket and won points with difficulty.

Ali Saleh, Hashan Zaldan and B Ahkurari were the top scorers for Qatar with 10 points each while the livewire, Koftein Mansoud, chipped in with eight points, including a three-pointer.

Desperate to regain the title after a long gap, Qatar reduced the margin to 41-35 at one stage but several fouls in the later stages allowed the Chinese to wriggle out from a tight situation and eventually carve out a comfortable win.

Ao Ming of China was adjudged the most valuable player while Fumio Muryama of Japan got an award for scoring the maximum number of three-pointers in the championship. The best playmaker award went to Yuta Tabuse of Japan.

Steffi Graf in last eight

VILLANDVA (Pennsylvania), Nov 13 (AP) — Monica Seles and Natalie Tauziat, seeded fifth and sixth, and unseeded Steffi Graf advanced to the quarterfinals with victories yesterday in the Advanta Championships.

One seed fell, as No. 7 Patty Schnyder of Switzerland lost to qualifier Amy Frazier 6-3, 6-1.

After easily winning the first set, Seles defeated Japan’s Ai Sugiyama 6-3, 7-5. Seles fell behind 4-1 in the second set but rallied to 6-5. Seles used a cross-court return to win the first point of the final game, then swung her powerful backhands to secure three consecutive points.

Seles moves on to face doubles partner Natasha Zvereva of Belgium in the next round. In the evening session, Seles and Zvereva combined to beat top-seeded Lindsay Davenport and Corina Moraiu 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 in doubles.

Graf beat Russia’s Elena Likhovtseva 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4. Graf dropped a first set that featured eight break points, then dominated the second.

Likhovtseva cut a 5-2 deficit to 5-4 in the third set after winning eight of nine points, but Graf closed with three service points and clinched it on Likhovtseva’s double fault.

With the victory and Seles’ defeat of Sugiyama, Graf was ensured the 16th and last spot in the Chase Championships singles field. Sugiyama could have qualified by reaching the Advanta finals.

Tauziat improved her lifetime record against Lisa Raymond to 5-0 in a 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) victory.

Also in doubles, Raymond, from nearby Wayne, Pennsylvania, and Australian Rennae Stubbs defeated Lori Mcneil and Kimberly PO 6-2, 6-1 to move to the semifinals.

"Susanthika still facing ban"

COLOMBO, Nov 13 (AFP) — Top Sri Lankan sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe was at the centre of an Asian Games drug dispute today after a Chinese athletics official claimed she was still banned and could not compete at the event.

Jayasinghe, who won the silver medal in the women’s 200m at last year’s world championships but also been at the centre of drug accusations, said she knew nothing of the latest threat to her career.

Shang Xiutang, vice director of Chinese Athletics Centre, said yesterday the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) had not lifted a suspension imposed on Jayasinghe after she failed a random drug test in April.

The Sri Lankan athletics authorities said in August a suspension imposed after the test had been lifted. Jayasinghe qualified for next month’s Bangkok Asian Games with a time of 11.28 sec in the 100 metres at the national championships on November 1.

Shang, who has just returned to Beijing from an IAAF secretary-general meeting, said the IAAF had received an appeal from the Sri Lankan Athletics Association over Jayasinghe, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported.

The appeal will be handed over to the discipline committee on November 30 but Shang said there was little possibility the IAAF could release Jayasinghe for the Asian Games which start on December 6.

However, Jayasinghe said she had already signed the entry papers to participate in Bangkok and was confident of winning the 200m gold.

"I don’t know what this Chinese official is talking about," Jayasinghe said. "I am fully cleared of any wrong doing and if the ban on me has not been lifted, then I should be the first to know."

When Sri Lanka’s sports authorities announced the suspension had been lifted by the IAAF, they said Jayasinghe had to undergo tests for banned steroids every three months.

She began training in July when a three-member panel appointed here on the request of the IAAF cleared her on a 2-1 vote.

Jayasinghe made her name at the world championships in Athens, where she won the silver medal with a time of 22.39 sec, becoming Sri Lanka’s first medal winner.

Roshan, Jagmandar set meet records

HYDERABAD, Nov 13 (PTI) — K.R. Roshan of South Zone and Jagmandar Singh of West Zone created two new meet records in the boys’ under-20 high jump and boys’ under-16 shot put events, respectively, of the 10th Junior Inter-Zonal Athletic Championship here yesterday.

Nineteen-year-old Roshan of Kerala cleared 2.08 metres in high jump to wipe off the old record in the name of Sunil Kumar Azad of 2.06 metres in 1996.

Sunil Singh of North Zone and Zulfikar Haque of East Zone both cleared 1.95 metres.

Jagmandar had no competition at all as he heaved the shot to 15.06 metres, breaking the earlier record set by Sawant of West Zone (14.42 m) in 1997.

Vijay Singh of North Zone and Akash Singh of West Zone claimed silver and bronze medals in the boys under-16 shot put event.

Results:

Boys under-20:

10-km walk: 1.Kuldeep (NZ) 50:42.0 secs; 2. Mukesh Kumar (EZ); 3. A K Rajesh (SZ).

High jump: 1. K R Roshan (SZ) 2.08 mts (NMR); 2. Sunil Singh (NZ) 1.95; 2. Zulfikar Haque (EZ) 1.95 (both second place).

5000 mts: 1. Aman Saini (EZ) 15:12.6 secs; 2. O Pari Meitei (EZ); 3. Arvind Shah (WZ).

110-mt hurdles: 1. P Sentil Kumar (SZ) 15.2 secs; 2. Shivraj Navle (WZ); 3. Brameswar Nath (WZ).

400 mts: Shiv Pratap (WZ) 50.47 mts; 2. Shamsher (EZ); 3. Ajay Kumar (SZ).

Discus throw: 1. Ishwar Singh (WZ) 46.54 mts; 2. Dinesh Kumar (NZ); 3. S Thakur (WZ).

4 x 100-mt relay: 1. South Zone (42.8 secs); 2. East Zone.

Boys under-18:

10-km walk: 1. Vijay Gahlot (NZ) 45:53.4 secs; 2. K Sriram (SZ); 3. Pradeep (NZ).

110-mt hurdles: 1. K Shyam Sundar (SZ) 15.1 sec: 2. Kunal Rai Choudary (WZ); 3. Parthsarathi Pohi (EZ).

Triple jump: 1. Kunal Rai Choudary (WZ) 14.07 mts; 2. Ignesh (WZ); 3. R Bala Subramanyam (SZ).

400 mts: 1. T S Parimesh (SZ) 50.7 sec; 2. Ajit Rayaka (WZ) 3. Ajitbishya (EZ).

5000 mts: 1. O Parimeitei (EZ) 15:25.2 secs: 2. Ajeet Kumar (NZ) 15:46.7; 3. Ravi Parjapathi (EZ).

4 x 100-mt relay: 1. South Zone 44.48 secs; 2. North Zone, 3. East Zone.

Boys under-16:

Shot put: 1. Jagmander Singh (WZ) 15.06 mts; 2. Ram Vijay Singh (NZ); 3. Akash Singh (WZ).

100 mts: 1. Sunil Kumar (NZ) 11.2 secs; 2. A Agarwal (WZ) 3. Sunil Kumar Singh (NZ).

4 x 100 mts relay: 1. South Zone 44.79 secs; 2. East Zone; 3. West Zone.

Girls (under-20):

5 km walk: 1. Bala Devi (EZ) 26:01.4 secs, 2. Sulochana Barik, 3. A Shalini.

Discus throw: 1. Saroj (NZ) 47.88 mts, 2. Parwatisethi, 3. Bhanu Priya.

400 mts: 1. Sangamitra Lanka (EZ) 59.0 secs, 2. Rajni, 3. Bintaj Khatoon.

Girls (under-18):

5 km walk: 1. Ashamol Verghese (SZ) 30:47.6 secs, 2. L Asharani Den, 3. Ansu Kumari Sharma.

100 mts: 1. S Geeta (SZ) 12.28 sec, 2. K Kalaivani, 3. Mansi Ketkar.

3000 mts: 1. Swati Gomule (EZ) 10:42.9, 2. De Subhada, 3. Pooja Pawar.

Shot put: 1. Priti Shivagude (WZ) 10.56 mts, 2. Asha Bisht 3. Tiya Das.

4 x 100-mt relay: 1. South Zone (50.21 secs), 2. West Zone, 3. East Zone.

Girls (under-16):

400 mts: 1. Aboni-e-Kujur (EZ) 1:00.65 secs, 2. Chitra Soman, 3. Sujate Samanta.

100 mts: 1. Lupa Mudrey (EZ) 12.87 sec, 2. Chitra K Soman, 3. T Vithira.

800 mts: 1. G Laxmi (SZ) 2.:21.7 sec, 2. Kamelesh Baghel, 3. Arti Nair.

100 m hurdles: 1.PBS Madavi (SZ) 15.60 sec, 2. Arvinda Rathwa, 3. Ritu Chowdhary.

Discus throw: 1. G Subha (SZ) 32.34 mts, 2. Y Tobop Devi, 3. Milli Sinha.

PSB, BSF to clash in final
From Amardeep Bhattal
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Nov 13 — Five-time champions Punjab and Sind Bank will clash with Border Security Force in the final of the 15th Indian Oil Surjit Memorial Hockey Tournament at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium here tomorrow.

In the semifinals today, BSF edged out a fighting Indian Airlines by a solitary first-half goal while Punjab and Sind Bank ousted defending champions Punjab Police 7-6 via tie breaker after the two teams shared four goals in the stipulated period. BSF, winners of the Beighton Cup this year, have been finalists of the tournament thrice previously while Punjab and Sind Bank have made it to the final for the eighth time. Both Punjab and Sind Bank and BSF last met in the final in 1989.

The tussle between Punjab Police and Punjab and Sind Bank turned out to be an absorbing affair with the cops calling the shots early on. However, the bankmen rallied strongly to draw even after being in arrears twice and eventually overpowered the cops through the tie breaker after 15 minutes of extra time also failed to break the deadlock.

Though defeated, the cops under the watchful eyes of Surjit Singh Grewal deserve full credit for the marvellous fightback. Playing without their key players, including Daljeet Singh Dhillon, Olympians Baljit Dhillon and Ramandeep Singh and promising forward Gursewak Singh all of whom have been summoned for national duty. Punjab Police relied heavily on Olympian Harpreet, skipper Sarabjeet, outside-left Harinder and inside-right Baljeet Bhullar for carrying out the attacks. Olympian Jagdev and right back Manpreet also played a pivotal role in the defence as usual, keeping the bankmen at bay through some gallant rearguard actions.

Opinder rallies to beat Neeraj

CHANDIGARH, Nov 13 — Parul (Del), Yogita (Pb.) and Geeta Aggarwal (Ch) had to face a stiff competition to enter the semifinals in women's Section of the IV Tara Chand Memorial Cash Prize Invitation Badminton Championship being held in the Community Centre, Sector 7, Panchkula.

M.P. Dogra and Varinder Mehta, Vikas Jain and P.C. Tiwari, Ram Lakhan & Mahesh Garg from Panchkula sailed into the semifinal in the masters' above 35 category.

Vijay Deep toyed with Satvinder (Hr.) in the men's quarterfinals beating him by 15-2, 15-2.

Neeraj Bansal (Pb.) gave a good challenge to Opinder (NR) in the men's singles first game but lately in the two games, Opinder proved his seeding and won the match by 16-17, 15-5, 15-8.

The results:
Pre-quarterfinal:

Men single: Opinder Singh (Rly) b Dilpreet (Pb) 15-7, 15-7, Neeraj Bansal (Pb) b Gagan Ratti (Pb) 15-6, 17-16. Sunil Pandey (Rly) b Vivek Sharma (Chd) 15-10, 15-10, Vijay Deep (Pb) b Satvind (Hry) 15-2, 15-2, Harish Chander (Pb) b Vikas Mahajan (Chd) 10-15, 15-7, 15-7, Rajat Johal (Chd) b Salim (Pb) 15-13, 7-15, 15-6, Ram Lakhan (Pb) b Surinder (Hry) 15-5, 15-9, Ashish Sharma (Chd) b Manish Kapoor (HP).

Master's doubles (q-final): M.P. Dogra and Varinder Mehta (Chd) b Sunil and Parveen (Pb) 15-6, 15-4, Vikas Jain and P.C. Tiwari b Mehal Chand and Sharma 15-13, 15-7, Ram Lakh and Mahesh Garg b Dr Jindal and Dr Bhardwaj 15-7, 15-1, Jitender Mahajan and Anil Mittal b Gulshan and Jatinder 15-2, 15-6.

Girls singles under 16 years (quarterfinals): Shehnaz (Pb) b Navita (HP) 11-1, 11-0, Roma (Har) b Nidhi (Har) 11-1, 11-1, Vidhu b Gauri 11-9, 11-5, Arti Varma (Pb) gets w/o Mala Gaha (Chd).

Women singles: (quarterfinal): Parul (Del) b Preetika (Har) 9-11, 11-3, 11-2. Yogita (Pb) b Karishma Singh (Del) 13-11, 5-11, 13-12, Geeta Agarwal (Chd) b Nazma (Pb) 5-11, 13-11, 13-11.

Boys Doubles under 16 years (quarterfinals): Arvind and Umesh (Hr) b Vipin and Nishant (Pb) 15-4, 15-4. Dilpreet and Ramnik (Pb) b Piyush and Vikrant (Hry) 15-7, 15-2. Amit and Anuj (Hry) b Iqbal and Ashok (Pb) 15-8, 15-5. Karan and Varun (Hry) b Jaskaran and Sahil (Pb) 15-4, 15-5.

Men's singles: (q-final): Opinder (Pb) Neeraj Bansal (Pb) 16-17, 15-5, 15-8.

Ashu Dani, Harbhajan share honours

NEW DELHI, Nov 13 (PTI) — Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh spun his magic claiming five 67 as Punjab reduced Delhi to 299 for eight despite a fighting 140 by opener Ashu Dani on the opening day of their North Zone Ranji Trophy tie at the Ferozeshah Kotla Grounds here today.

Electing to bat, Delhi were going strong to be 212 for four wickets at tea before teenager Harbhajan, who by then had taken two wickets, struck thrice to wreck the middle order.

After Delhi lost opener Rajneesh Chopra (9), Dani and Mithun Manhas built up the innings taking the score to 97 when Harbhajan Singh scalped his first victim, foxing Manhas (22) with a quicker delivery as he went for a big hit, and wicketkeeper Harminder Jhugnu stumped him out.

While Dani held one end up, wickets kept falling at regular intervals at the other end as Punjab dominated the final session by claiming five wickets.

Virender Sehwag played a good knock making 48 runs before Harbhajan Singh came up with another quicker delivery that dislodged his stumps.

Dani hit a magnificent century making 140 runs off 207 balls which included 20 boundaries and one six to give some respect to Delhi’s innings. Dani was caught in the covers by skipper Vikram Rathore off left-arm spinner Navdeep Singh.

SCOREBOARD

Delhi (1st innings): Rajneesh Chopra c D. Mongia b Harvinder 9, Ashu Dani c Rathore b Navdeep 140, Mithun Manhas st Harminder b Harbhajan 22, Ashok Malhotra c Harminder b Reetinder 30, Vijay Dahiya c Mongia b Harbhajan 2, Virender Sehwag b Harbhajan 48, Sandeep Angurala lbw b Harbhajan 18, Rahul Sanghvi batting 9, Ashish Nehra c Dharmani b Harbhajan 3. Extras (B4, LB6, W2) 18. Total (for eight wkts in 89.4 overs) 299.

Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-97, 3-153, 4-170, 5-250, 6-281, 7-286, 8-299.

Bowling: Harvinder Singh 17-3-63-1, Bharat Bhushan 9-0-28-0, Sandeep Sharma 9-0-46-0, Harbhajan Singh 24.4-3-67-5, Navdeep Singh 19-7-56-1, Reetinder Sodhi 10-1-29-1, Dinesh Mongia 1-1-0-0.

Ogorodov, Kutsenko in title clash

CALCUTTA, Nov 13 (PTI) — Top seed Oleg Ogorodov overcame some anxious moments before beating India’s Syed Fazaluddin to set up a title clash with fellow Uzbek and second seed Vadim Kutsenko in the ITF Futures tennis circuit meet today.

Ogorodov raised the standard of his game in the nick of time for a hard-fought 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 win over Fazaluddin in over an hour at the South Club here.

Second seed Vadim Kutsenko also struggled in the initial stages before warding off the challenge of wildcard Vinod Sridhar of India with a 7-6, 6-1 scoreline.

Top seed Ogorodov broke local favourite Fazaluddin in the fourth and seventh game to lead 5-2 in the first set but the Calcuttan fought back brilliantly with some excellent tennis from then on.

Playing from the baseline, Fazaluddin came up with some superb returns and rallied to level the score 5-5 with the help of some measured backhand shots down the line.

With both players tied 6-6, the Uzbek kept his cool to outplay Fazaluddin 7-2.

The second set saw Fazaluddin play aggressively and race to a 4-1 lead but his fancied opponent put in that extra bit of effort to swing the game in his favour.

The local hero made a desperate attempt to wrest the initiative again but unforced errors at crucial moments helped Ogorodov to wrap up the second set 7-5.

The second semi-final between Sridhar and Kutsenko turned out to be quite exciting in the first set but the Uzbek was in total control in the second set to eventually carve out a relatively easy victory.

Sridhar raced to a 4-1 lead but Kutsenko used all his experience and wider array of shots to win the set 7-6 (7-1).

In the second set, Kutsenko broke Sridhar in the fourth and sixth games to win the match and set up a title clash with Ogorodov. The final will be played tomorrow.

Jyoti Randhawa keeps lead

BANGKOK, Nov 13 (UNI) — Indian professional Jyoti Randhawa fired yet another scorching round of six under par 66 to remain on top and led five other compatriots into the third round of the Thailand Pen Golf here today.

Randhawa who had fired a seven under par 65 round yesterday now has a two shot lead at the halfway stage.

The other Indians who made the cut which was applied at two over par 146, were Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal, Amritinder Singh, Amandeep Johl and Vivek Bhandari.

Gaurav Ghei and Kanwar Sekhon failed to make it to the third round for which 75 golfers qualified.

The 27-year-old Randhawa, currently enjoying the best form of his four year professional career, carded six birdies in another flawless display and leads on 13 under par from James Kingston of South Africa who hit the day's best with bogey free 64.

Jeev Milkha Singh, who yesterday had three under par 69 round, further improved his game and shot five under par 67 today to climb upto joint 5th slot with a total of eight under 136.

Chandigarh's Arjun Atwal along with citymate Amritinder Singh also had impressive second round. Atwal, who had a poor two over par 74 round yesterday, came up with a fantastic seven under par 65 second round to climb up to joint 16th place with an aggregate of five under 139. Amritinder shot four under 68 for a total of 139, he had one under par 71 opening round.

Amandeep Johl shot two over 74 but managed the cut with a total of 144. His opening round of two under 70 saved him and he was lying at joint 43rd slot.

Gaurav Ghei missed returned three over par 75 and missed the cut by a stroke as he totalled three over par 147. Ghei had par 72 first round.

Kanwar Sekhon continued with his dismal form and hit six over par 78 to aggregate ten over 154 (76,78) and ended joint 123.

Dipankar fashions JCT victory

SILIGURI, Nov 13 (PTI) — JCT defeated Singapore Club Jurong f c 2-1 in a group-A match of the Tata Tea 104th IFA Shield Football Tournament at the Kanchenjunga Stadium here today.

Dipankar scored both the goals for the winners after the Singapore team had opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Moorthy found the net after receiving the ball from a throw-in.

Thereafter JCT went on the offensive and drew level just before the lemon break when Dipankar beat the Jurong custodian with a volley from 20 yards after receiving a pass from Hardip.

JCT got the match-winner in the 52nd minute when Dipankar sent the ball home with a measured shot after a well-judged centre from Jasbir.

Play was stopped for four minutes when the Jurong players got into an argument with the referee over rough tackling. Immediately after this, Bharocha kicked Dipankar in the mid field.

JCT made some sharp attacks in the second half with Saravanan substituting Dipankar when only 15 minutes were left for the long whistle.

Jurong coach R Krishnan was unhappy with the refereeing and said his boys could not put up a good display as they had not got any practice in the new environment.

JCT will take on Tollygunj Agragami tomorrow.

Tailenders rescue Himachal

NEW DELHI, Nov 13 (PTI) — A brilliant 83-run last wicket stand by Arun Verma and Praveen Sharma helped Himachal Pradesh score 267 in their first innings against Services on the first day of their four-day Ranji Trophy cricket match here today.

Services bowlers Sanjay Sirsat and J P Pandey had reduced Himachal to 184 for nine before top scorer Arun Verma (81, 12x4) and Praveen Sharma (7, 1x4) dug in to help the visitors to a respectable score at the Harbaksh Stadium here.

Arun Verma got out caught by Sanjay Varma off M V Rao minutes before the scheduled close of play.

Earlier, after electing to bat, Himachal lost opener Ajay Mannu (3) with the total at 23. Nischal Gaur (65, 10x4) and captain Rajeev Nayyar (44, 5x4s) then put up 86 runs for the second wicket. Gaur was out lbw to Pandey.

Pandey and Sirsat ended with figures of 5 for 87 and 4 for 57, respectively, with Sirsat claiming the wickets of Jaswant Rai (14) and Rahul Panta (0) in one over.

SCOREBOARD
Himachal (1st innings): N. Gaur lbw J P Pandey 65, A. Mannu c Thomson b J P Pandey 3, R. Nayyar c N Singh b S Sirsat 44, V. Sharma c Chinmaya b Sirsat 12, S. Sharma lbw J P Pandey 16, Y. Singh c Chinmaya b J P Pandey 7, J Rai lbw b Sirsat 14, Arun Verma c S Varma b M V Rao 81, R. Patna c Thomson b Sirsat 0, S. Singh b J P Pandey 0, P. Sharma not out 7. Extras (B4, LB7, NB7) 18.

Total (all out in 90.5 overs) 267.

Fall of wickets: 1/23, 2/109, 3/128, 4/135, 5/151, 6/160, 7/172, 8/172, 9/184.

Bowling: M V Rao 17.5-0-61-1,

J P Pandey 28-7-87-5, A Sharma 8-1-22-0, C Sharma 9-3-29-0, S. Shirsat 26-7-57-4, P Maitrey 2-2-0-0.

Raminder re-elected PSA chief
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 13 — Col Raminder Singh, Director Sports, Punjab, was unanimously re-elected President of the Punjab Swimming Association (PSA) at the general house meeting of the association at Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana, yesterday.

Col Raminder Singh was given powers by the house to constitute the rest of the body of the association. Mr Balraj Sharma was retained Secretary-General of the association and Mr Gurbhagat Singh, District Sports Officer, Faridkot, was nominated as chairman of the selection committees for senior, junior/ sub junior and waterpolo teams. New posts of Chairman , Secretaries and Joint Secretaries were being created to utilise the services of senior / international players and officials connected with the game. Mr Apinder Singh Grewal, Mayor, Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, would take up the post of Chairman.

Col Raminder Singh said more representation and responsibilities would be given to players, organisers and coaches so that they could get involved in the development and promotion of the game. Water games, including swimming, was the weak area at the national level because of climatic conditions. To overcome these conditions the swimming pools of Sangrur and Jalandhar would be updated and an all-weather covered pool would be built at Ludhiana which could be used in the coming National Games of 2000 being conducted in Punjab.

He said the spadework to assess the requirements of infrastructure against the existing one had begun. Details would be discussed at a meeting of the POA and the Sports Department soon where a clear picture would emerge regarding all matters concerned with the coming National Games of the year 2000.

3rd successive title for Bishnoi 'B'

CHANDIGARH, Nov 13 (TNS) — Bishnoi 'B' Club won the title in the 10-overs-a-side cricket tournament for the third time in succession as they defeated Bishnoi 'A' Club by five runs in the IVth Nerolac 10-overs-a-side cash prize cricket tournament at the Sector 10 DAV College ground here today.

The Bishnoi 'B' team was aided by superb 35 off 19 balls including 2 sixes and 3 boundaries by Rajesh Patha. Balram Dangi slammed 24 off 15 balls. Rakesh Jolly claimed 2 wickets in the over he bowled. The Bishnoi 'B' team scored 96 runs in the stipulated 10 overs.

For Bishnoi 'A' team Kuldeep Bishnoi 31 (17 balls 2x6, 3x4) and Rakesh Jolly 14 (18 balls, 4x4) took the score to 62 runs in 6 overs. When they departed the team required 28 runs in the last 3 overs. Rajesh Patha bowled an excellent over claiming 3 wickets for 2 runs.

In the last over, the Bishnoi 'A' team required 15 runs but could manage just 12.

In the semi-finals played earlier today Bishnoi 'A' thrashed Nerolac XI by 42 runs while Bishnoi "B' routed Chetna Cricket Club by 5 wickets.

Brief scores: Bishnoi 'B' 96 for 7 in 10 overs (Rajesh Patha 35, Balram Dangi 24, Sushil 2 for 5, Rakesh Jolly 2 for 7, Vaneet Jain 2 for 4).

Bishoni 'A' 91 for 7 in 10 overs (Kuldeep Bishnoi 31, Rakesh Jolly 24, Arun Singla 21, Sushil 15 n.o. Rajesh Patha 3 for 2, Dheeraj 2 for 3).

Johnnie Walker Golf

NEW DELHI, Nov 13 (FOSR) — The Aravalli Club (Chandigarh) and Chandigarh Club were tied with 225 points in the Northern Region Johnnie Walker International Club Golf championship at the Delhi Club (DGC) Course here today.

The competition was played on the double peoria handicap system, an internationally accepted system, which provides golfers with varying handicap to compete against each.

Gaurav Kathuria, Sukhdev Singh and Subhasha Adlakha represented Aravalli, while Sandeep Sandhu, SPS Matharoo and Harkirat were the members of the Chandigarh team.

The inter-zone final is scheduled for Calcutta on December 5. The winning India team will then be invited to watch the British Open next year.

Big victory for Gumla school

NEW DELHI, Nov 13 (UNI) — Two Adivasi dominated teams-Birsamunda Vidyapitha, Rourkela and St.Ignatius High School Gumla - set up the title clash with contrasting victories in the 16th Nehru-ONGC Sub Junior Hockey Tournament here yesterday.

In the first semifinal Birsamunda Vidyapitha waged a grim battle to down B.A.V. Inter College, Meerut, by a solitary second half goal.

The all important goal came in the 44th minute through Bikas Topno. BAV muffed some good chances as their forwards failed to capitalise the opening near the goalmouth.

In the second semifinal, St.Ignatius handed a 8-0 thrashing to D.A.V. Shahbad. The winners led 2-0 in the first half.

St.Ignatius dominated the proceedings most of the time but in the first session D.A.V managed to keep their rivals at bay, conceding only two goals, but in the second session the Gumla team went on a blitzkrig pumping in six more goals to complete the rout.

Rooplal Xalxo (3), Theodar Baa (2) Sebian Jojo, Ignace Aind and Xavier Jojo (one each) scored for the winners.

Sekhri manager of carrom team

CHANDIGARH, Nov 13 (TNS) — Mr Mahesh Sekhri, General Secretary of the Chandigarh Carrom Association, has been selected as manager of the Indian carrom team which is taking part in the second SAARC Carrom Championship to be held at Male ( Maldives ) from November 22.

AG Youngsters win

CHANDIGARH, Nov 13 (TNS) — A.G. Youngsters, Ropar, defeated S.D. College (B) by 126 runs in the 4th Gursagar Cricket Tournament at Gursagar Cricket Ground here today.

A.G. Youngsters, batting first scored 233 runs in stipulated 35 overs. Bunny (36), Deepak (42), Banty (31) and Jeeti and Bharat (23 runs each) contributed to the total of A.G. Youngsters. Surinder Singh captured 4 wickets, giving 42 runs.

In reply, S.D. College (B) were all out for 106 runs. Their openers Summet (24) and Mohinder (29) runs shared an opening partnership of 66 runs. No other batsman could reach double figures. Bunny and Kapil bowled well by taking 3 wickets each.

Seven medals for Punjab girls

CHANDIGARH, Nov 13 (BOSR) — Punjab Girls gymnasts gave a splendid performance at the just concluded Sub-Junior National Gymnastics championships, at Hyderabad, bagging two gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

Sukhbir J Kaur of Punjab gave her state two gold medals in uneven bars and balancing beam. She was declared the second best individual gymnast also.

Results: Team Championship Girls: West Bengal 1, Maharashtra 2, Punjab 3, Individual All Around Best gymnast; Trina Chatterjee (West Bengal) 1, Sukhbir Kaur (Punjab) & Jog Gauri - Maharashtra 2, Sukhbir Kaur (Punjab) 2, Trina (West Bengal) 2, Rohika (Punjab) 3.

Vaulting Horse; Safoora - (AP) 1, Geeta (Punjab) 2, Sukhbir Kaur - (Punjab) 3. Balancing Beam; Sukhbir Kaur (Punjab) 1, Chaitala (Maharashtra) 2, KN Devi-Manipur) 3.

Floor Exercises: Safoora 9AP) 1, Chitela - (Maharashtra) 2, Jog Gauri (Mah) 3.

School athletic results

PANCHKULA, Nov 13 (TNS) — "Rotaract School Fest '98" under the aegis of Rotaract Club of Panchkula began today with athletics competitions.

According to Mr Pankaj Chandgothia, president of the club hundreds of students drawn from various schools of Panchkula took part in the meet.

The results:

Girls: 100m Sub-Junior: Kriti (St. Soldier), 2 Rishleen (Satluj), 100m Junior-I Kamaljeet (Satluj), 2 Bhawana (Satluj), 100m Senior-I Hirdepreet (St. Soldier), 2 Kanu (Satluj), 200m Sub-Junior-I Kriti (St. Soldier), 2 Yati, 200m Junior-I Raman (Satluj), 2 Nidhi ((D.C. Model), 200m Senior-I Kanu Jain (Satluj), 2 Preeti (Satluj), 400m Sub-Junior-I Manisha (St. Soldier), 2 Kanchan (St. Soldier), 400m Junior-I Jyoti (D.C. Model), 2 Kamal (Satluj), 400m Senior-I Hirdepreet (St. Soldier), 2 Monica (St. Soldier), 800m Junior-I Raman (Satluj), 2 Komal (Satluj), 800m Senior-I Hirdepreet (St. Soldier), 2 Kanu (Satluj), 100x4 relay junior-I Satluj Public School, 2 D.C. Model, 100x4 relay senior-I St. Soldier Divine Public School, 2 Satluj Public School, Long Jump (Junior)-I Oshima (Bhavan Vidyalaya), 2 Richa (D.C. Model), Long Jump (Senior)-I Hirdepreet (St. Soldier), 2 Kanu Jain (Satluj).

Boys:
100m Sub-Junior: Jasbir (Satluj), 2 Pankaj (St. Soldier), 100m Junior-I Rahul (St. Soldier), 2 Rajinder (St. Soldier), 100m Senior-I Raghu (St. Soldier), 2 Satinder (Satluj), 400m Sub-Junior-I Pankaj (Moti Ram Arya), 2 Jasvir (Satluj), 400m Junior-I Rahul, 2 Harpreet, 800m Junior-I Ankit (St. Soldier), 2 Digvijay (Bhavan Vidyalaya), 1500m Senior-I Raminder (Satluj), 2 Sital (St. Soldier), Relay Race Senior-I St Soldier, 2 Satluj, Relay Junior-I Satluj, 2 Bhavan Vidyalaya, Long Jump Junior-I Jagdeep (Satluj), 2 Abhikant (Moti Ram Arya), Long Jump Senior-I Deepak (D.C. Model), 2 Rajdeep (Satluj).

Himanshu excels

CHANDIGARH, Nov 13 (TNS) — Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21-C, beat Sri Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa School-35 by 4 wickets in inter-school cricket tournament (16 yrs boys) today.

SGGSKS-35 batted first and scored a challenging score of 164 for 6 in 25 overs. Dharminder scored 46 in 45 balls and Naveen 42 in 53 balls.

In reply MMHS-21 lost some early wickets but Himanshu provided stability to the team by scoring 40 runs in 37 balls. He was supported by Shantanu (18) and Sandeep (14).

Brief Scores:

(SGGSKS-35: 164 for 6 in 25 overs (Dharminder 46, Naveen 42, Anchal 1 for 26, Naved 1 for 17). MMHS-21: 167 for 6 in 22 overs (Himanshu 40, Shantanu 18) Sandeep 14, Dharminder 2 for 27, Ajay 2 for 28).