• Kathuria to lead
• Police meet

• PSEB overall champs
• Lehal wins Aug golf round

Pete Sampras, Agassi stretched

NEW YORK, Sept 4 (AFP) — Defending champions Martina Hingis and Pat Rafter won with ease, world number one Pete Sampras struggled a little, Andre Agassi and 1997 runner-up Greg Rusedski struggled a lot.

But all advanced to the third round of the U.S Open with victories yesterday, continuing an adherance to form that has seen only one major seed — Australian Open champion Petr Korda — bounced from the event.

Four-time US Open winner Sampras moved a step closer to matching Roy Emerson’s career record 12 Grand Slam singles titles by ousting American compatriot Paul Goldstein 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 6-3 6-3.

Sampras served 23 aces to win in two hours and eight minutes in a match postponed from Wednesday by rain and played in the second stadium, the first outer-court match for Sampras here since 1992.

"It wasn’t a great day for me," Sampras said. "It was one of those days you find a way to win. I was struggling a little bit. I wasn’t really at my best."

Swiss world number one Hingis dispatched 21st-ranked Iva Majoli 7-6 (7-4) 6-0, in a rematch of the 1997 French Open final won by the Croatian to deny Hingis a Grand Slam sweep.

Hingis has won five titles this year, including the Australian Open, but none since the Italian Open in early May. She overcame early jitters to win another rained-out match.

Australia’s Rafter, showing few ill effects from a five-set opening victory over Morocco’s Hicham Arazi, trounched 104th-ranked Argentinian Hernan Gumy 6-4 6-1 6-2.

But look out Rafter. Your reign as U.S. Open champion will next be tested by an 188th-ranked South African qualifier who has already toppled one 1997 Grand Slam champion from the tournament.

David Nainkin, ranked 188th in the world, stunned 1997 French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil 2-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 here yesterday to reach his first third round match in eight ATP appearances this year.

The native of Cape Town is far from awed by the prospect of facing Rafter, having already beaten him 6-4 6-4 in an Australian junior tournament final.

Nainkin, who has levelled his 1998 ATP record at 6-6, opened with a 6-7 (3/7) 6-0 6-4 6-4 triumph over another qualifier, American Mark Merklein.

Kuerten saw trouble, despite 17 aces. He made 59 of his 71 unforced errors in the last three sets and surrendered seven break point chances in the third set plus five more in the fourth, losing two in each set.

Britain’s Rusedski rallied past Czech Bohdan Ulihrach 4-6 6-3 4-6 6-2 7-5, his second five-set triumph in a row. He saved one match point after having rescued two earlier against South Africa’s Wayne Ferreira.

Eighth-seed Agassi outlasted France’s 45th-ranked Guillaume Raoux 6-3 6-2 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 6-1. The American stayed on course for a possible quarterfinal meeting with Sampras despite squandering the fourth set due to his anger over his mistakes in the tie-breaker.

"It was certainly a wakeup call for me to be up two sets, not close it out and be in a three-hour battle," Agassi said. "It’s only going to help me. I don’t mind. It wasn’t a tremendously fatiguing match."

Wimbledon finalist Goran Ivanisevic, whose 91-39 Grand Slam record makes him the winningest Slam player to never win a Slam title, advanced by beating American Todd Martin 1-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 6-3.

The 14th-seeded Croatian next plays Dutchman Paul Haarhuis, whose 7-3 career record against Ivanisevic includes winning their past five matches in a row.

Teen stars Anna Kournikova and Venus Williams advanced easily. The Russian ousted Czech Radka Bobkova 6-3 6-4, while Williams needed only 57 minutes to oust Luxembourg’s 137th-ranked Anna Kremer 6-1 6-3.

Second seed Lindsay Davenport ousted American Compatriot Lori McNeil 6-1 6-1 while French Open champion Arantxa Sanchez Vicario beat Colombia’s Fabiola Zuluga 6-3 6-2.

AP adds: India’s Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi entered the second round of the US Open doubles beating Fernando Meligeni (Brazil) and Mariano Puerta (Argentina) in straight sets.

Paes and Bhupathi, seeded fourth in the tournament, won the match 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) here on Thursday.

Mahesh Bhupathi, paired with Mirjana Lucic of Croatia later and, defeated the pair of Anke Huber (Germany) and Joshua Eagle (Australia) in the first round of the mixed doubles.

Bhupathi and Lucic, seeded fifth in the tournament, stormed into the second round by winning 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 here yesterday.

Churchill Brothers face uphill task

SILIGURI, Sep 4 (UNI)— Churchill Brothers (Goa), who are building their team from scratch, face a tough task as they take on formidable East Bengal in the first semifinal of the KBL Federation Cup at the Kanchenjunga Stadium here tomorrow.

So far the men from Goa have had it easy in the tourney defeating Lungsning Club (7-0) in the pre-quarters and BSF (2-1) in the last eight stage. But tomorrow’s tie will be their acid test against a much higher-rated team.

East Bengal on their way to the last four stage beat Joy Durga Club of Cuttack (3-1) and Vasco (5-0). A win tomorrow will also bring them the record of five final appearances on-the-trot in the Federation Cup.

Going by past records, the Calcutta club is no giant for the Goan side— having met each other four times in the last two years with each winning once— but, the fall of Churchill since and the steady performance of the red-and-gold brigade will keep the latter head and shoulders ahead.

And the Bengal boys know this well. "The team is in excellent condition. There is no reason why we should not win," said coach Manoranjan Bhattacharya. But he also guarded against complacency. "My boys are playing well. But at such a stage in the tournament, every match is important. But I am not going to concentrate on any of the rival players alone."

As usual Bhaichung Bhutia will shoulder the burden of the attack for Bengal though Dipendu Biswas is now the cynosure of all eyes with a renewed hunger for goals. But, the good news for the team is that they have hit on a right combination in the mid-field and the defence. Ranjan Dey and Shankar Lal Chakraborty are expected to deliver the goods in the defence.

Churchill will depend heavily on Somatai Saiza, who played for East Bengal in the last season, to exploit the weak points of the rivals. Somatai will join Ansari to spearhead his team’s attack.

On the other hand coach Bhattacharya said if it did not rain tomorrow, Dipendu would take the field with Bhaichung otherwise Raman Vijayan would partner the Sikkimese striker. The team may have some problems as the coach would have to decide between a short Arpan Dey and an unpredictable Bibhas Saha.

The last time East Bengal played here, they had won comfortably against Tribhuvan Club of Nepal in the away match of the Asian Cup Winners Cup. Though not exactly at home, East Bengal will enjoy the crowd support as was evident in a practice match that the team played here yesterday against a local club.

That it has been raining here for the last two months and the ground is soft will go to the advantage of Manoranjan’s boys though the Goan outfit is also accustomed to playing in rains. What will work to the disadvantage of the Goan club is the soft and slippery nature of the soil which is an unknown thing to them.

The winner of tomorrow’s match will play the winner of Mohun Bagan-Mohammedan Sporting tie in the final slated for September 13 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Calcutta. The second semifinal is also scheduled to be played there on September 6.

Basad maintains lead

BANGALORE, Sept 4 (PTI) — Calcutta’s Basad Ali maintained his lead in the course and is one stroke ahead of the day’s best card holder Feroz Ali who finished three-under 69 on the third day of the Wills Southern India Open Golf Tournament at the Karanataka Golf Course here today.

Basad’s aggregate reads four-under 169 and there are two others contenders on line, Feroz Ali and Kanpur’s Shivaprakash tied with 170.

There were three players for the fourth place with two-under 171 — Arjun Singh, first day’s leader Jyothi Randhawa and Dinesh Raghuvanshi.

Feroz started off with ease and played for par until sixth, the magical touch working from the seventh hole with a birdie and a long putt on par-4 the tenth. The double digit clicked while he went on to make birdie on 11, 12, 13, 15, 16 before he returned the day’s best card three-under 69.

Feroz has to blame himself for finishing the last hole with a bogie or else he would have been tied up with the leader.

Basad had to be content with finishing the day with one-over 73, he had two bogies on fifth and 18 and didn't have a single birdie during his journey.

Caddie turned pro, Shivaprakash of Kanpur after playing a steady knock returned one-under card for the third successive day. A birdie on the par-3 fourth hole was superb where he putted from 30 feet.

Gaurav Ghei’s start and finish was with a double bogie. He was also out of the bounds on the way to 10th and ended up with a bogie but despite all this drama he finished with level par and with aggregate of 175.

Results (after 44 holes): Professionals: 169-Basad Ali (61+34+74); 170 Feroz Ali (62+39+69), 170-Shiv Prakash (61+38+71); 171 Jyothi Randhawa (59+40+72), 171 Arjun Singh (62+38+71), 171 Dinesh Raghuvanshi (59+40+72); 172 Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (63+36+73), 172 Yusuf Ali (63+38+71), 172 Gast Ram (62+38+72); 173 Uttam Singh Mundy (62+39+72), 173 Ali Sher (63+39+71).

Amateurs: 174-Rahul Ganapathy (64+39+71); 182-Tarun Sardesai (62+42+78); 185-Gaurav Dewan (71+40+74).

C'wealth Games fight for survival

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (AP) Jonah Lomu vs. David Campese. Curtly Ambrose vs. Sachin Tendulkar.

Commonwealth Games fans will see clashes such as these for the first time as the sports meet of a long lost empire fights for relevance in a packed calendar.

Facing a decline in interest and competition from grand prix, world cups and world championships, Commonwealth Games organisers needed something new to spice up their event and this year’s host provided the answer.

When the 1998 Games open on September 11 in Kuala Lumpur, they will welcome six new sports to the programme, a move which has inflated the number of participants from 3,200 four years ago to 6,000.

Limited overs cricket, sevens rugby, men’s and women’s field hockey, netball, squash, and tenpin bowling are on the schedule in Malaysia.

"The future of the Commonwealth Games was threatened if it stayed the same size because it has a difficult time competing with a crowded sports calendar," Australian Commonwealth Games association general manager Perry Crosswhite said. "There was a need for the games to be able to compete on a world scale and not get swallowed up at the end of the day.’’

When Malaysia lodged its initial bid, against Australian city Adelaide, both were based on a 10-sport programme but the Malaysians have embraced the expansion of the Commonwealth Games to a point far outstripping the Commonwealth’s spiritual leader, England.

While the all blacks giant winger Lomu will play alongside the world’s most exciting fullback Christian Cullen for New Zealand’s rugby team, and Australia’s record try-scorer Campese leads out an inexperienced outfit, the English have thrown up a side devoid of stars.

England’s decision to miss cricket altogether has been called an "absolute disgrace" by former Australian Test captain Ian Chappell.

England’s players decided not to go because they will not be paid, while in contrast the Australians are looking forward to getting out of their fishbowl and getting into the athletes village.

"Kicking back with (Olympic swimming champion) Kieren Perkins," is how Australian paceman Mike Kasprowicz pictures it.

So while the Games will benefit from the new sports, the sportsmen and women will benefit in return.

Players from all Test countries except England will play in the 16-team cricket competition.

Squash is another event featuring the world’s best in a sport dominated by Commonwealth players. Scotland’s Peter Nicol is gold medal favourite in the men’s draw, based on his world no.1 ranking, while it is uncertain if Jansher Khan will turn up because of private problems in Malaysia.

Australians Michelle Martin and Sarah Fitz-Gerald are seeded to contest the women’s final while national coach Geoff Hunt believes the sport’s arrival at the Games is crucial for its continuing popularity.

Australia also has the world’s no. 1 netball team, which has won 73 of its past 75 Tests and is considered an unbeatable gold medal favourite.

Even tenpin bowling, seen as a good way to occupy the ten-year-olds on a rare rainy day down under, has entered the newspapers. Australian Cara Honeychurch is the world amateur champion and the leading player in Australia, man or woman.

Australia won a record 87 gold medals four years ago in Victoria, 47 ahead of its nearest rival Canada, and the new sports are likely to help widen the gap rather than narrow it.

The country is favourite to win the men’s and women’s field hockey events, although the men are notoriously poor at claiming titles they are favoured for.
The decision to expand can also be linked to television rights. More athletes in more exciting team sports helps extract more money from the broadcasters which means more for the hosts.

Australian rights holders paid about $ 600,000 to show the 1990 Games in Auckland. Kuala Lumpur has cost the same outlet $ 15 million and the ratings are expected to be far higher than the Atlanta Olympics. That’s because Australians love watching Australians win gold, and watching Campo take on Lomu.

Top Pak team selected for Sahara Cup

ISLAMABAD, Sept 4 (PTI) — Pakistan yesterday announced its best national side for the five-match Sahara Cup cricket series against India and despatched a second string team for the cricket competition in the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially announced the 14-member team led by opener Aamir Sohail which would take on a depleted Indian side following the Indian cricket board’s decision to split its national side for the two events to be held simultaneously.

The PCB confirmed the recall of the veteran batsman Salim Malik, who had been out of the team for more than one year and also included brilliant off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq in place of speedster Waqar Younis, who is yet to recover from elbow injury.

Veteran of many battles, Javed Maindad, is the coach of the team and has been given the authority by the board to play, if required.

The team had been picked by the three national selectors a few days ago, but had not included Saqlain in the squad due to his preoccupation with the English county cricket. The selectors, however, had named Younis in the 14-member squad.

The PCB has received an assurance from Saqlain’s county team Surrey that he will be released on September 13 and will join the team in Toronto next day for the remaining four matches of the series which begins on September 12.

Malik, a veteran of 268 one-day internationals makes a comeback to the Pakistani team after last playing in the Sahara Cup last year, which India won 4-1. He had been dropped from the team following controversy over match-fixing and betting.

Malik had been in tremendous form lately and had hit the highest runs in the domestic limited overs season.

The PCB thus made only one change in the team finalised by the selectors including off-spinner Mustaq in place of Younis, who failed to pass the fitness test due to an injured elbow.

The PCB also announced a 14-member second string side for the Commonwealth Games under the captainship of opening batsman, Saleem Elahi. The team has left for Kuala Lumpur.

Team for Sahara Cup: Aamir Sohail (capt), Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Salim Malik, Yousuf Youhana, Ijaz Ahmed, Azhar Mahmood, Shahid Afridi, Mustaq Ahmed, Aquib Javed, Abdul Razzaq, Muhammad Zahid, Moin Khan and Saqlain Mustaq.

Team for Commonwealth Games: Salim Elahi (capt), Salman Huda, Akhtar Sarfaraz, Taimur Khan, Kashif Ahmed, Wajatullah, Asif Mahmood, Azhar Shafiq, Muhammad Javed, Javeed Qadeer, Muhammad Hussain, Arshad Khan, Shahid Nazir and Shoaib Akhtar.

Why IOA wants "best" team?
By Abhijit Chatterjee
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 4 — While the national selectors of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have done a very competent job of selecting two teams of "equal strength" for the Commonwealth Games at Kuala Lumpur and the five-match series for the Sahara Cup against Pakistan at Toronto later this month, it seems their action has not pleased the powers that be in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). One must remember that the BCCI is committed to play at Toronto for five years. This will be the third edition of the Sahara Cup and, therefore, there was no other option for the board but to select two "national squads".

In any case why is the IOA President Suresh Kalmadi harping that the Olympic body had "gone one step backward" in accepting the cricket squad. Since when has the IOA dictated to the federations on the composition of teams for Asian, Commonwealth and Olympic Games ? So why tell the BCCI that India must send the "best" team for the Commonwealth Games ? Is it because the IOA feels that cricket is probably one sport which can possibly fetch a medal for India? Why has the IOA never complained about the composition of other teams be it athletics, hockey or even wrestling.

The real reason why the senior functionaries of the IOA are piqued is the fact that the BCCI functions within itself and is flush with funds to carry out its own activities unlike most national sports federations in the country. Why can't the other national sports federations take a leaf from the BCCI's book and learn how to market their respective games instead of the IOA waging a meaningless war of words with the cricket body.

The inclusion of players like Sachin Tendulkar, Ajay Jadeja , Anil Kumble and Robin Singh (Sr) in the Kuala Lumpur-bound team gives the national squad a fair chance against teams like Australia, which will be at full strength unlike any other teams.While Pakistan, like India, will be fielding their main team at Toronto, others like the West Indies will be divided among the various countries constituting the West Indies.This is one of the reasons why the International Cricket Council has not granted international status to the matches to be played at Kuala Lumpur.

The "offshore" cricket contest at Toronto is conducted by the International Management Group, a rival to WorldTel, another international company vigorously marketing the game not only in India but worldwide. And it must be remembered that Sachin Tendulkar has signed a multi-crore deal with WorldTel. So in a way the powers that be in World Tel will be happy that Sachin Tendulkar will be playing in the Commonwealth Games and not at Toronto.

For players like Sachin Tendulkar and Ajay Jadeja, playing in the Commonwealth Games will be a totally different cup of tea.Playing in a tournament without logos on clothing and possibly also on the equipment will be a brand new experience for them.

One thing Suresh Kalmadi said at his press conference in New Delhi yesterday is that the cricket team will be entitled to rewards from the government in case they win a medal. But the more important thing which the board should have clarified when the 14 for Kuala Lumpur was selected is who and how will the loss of approximately Rs 5 lakh each which players like Sachin, Ajay Jadeja, Anil Kumble and Robin Singh (Sr), all certainties for the Toronto tournament in case the dates had not clashed with the dates of the Commonwealth Games , will suffer be made up. While the "Olympic spirit" promotes amateurism, cricketers all over the world are professionals and that is where the "conflict of interest" creeps in. There are very few players like Leander Paes who are willing to give up their pound of flesh to turn out for the country .

Cricket should never have been included in the Commonwealth Games. But given the keen interest of the President of the International Cricket Council, Mr Jagmohan Dalmia, to take the game to all corners of the globe it is quite likely that he gave his nod for the inclusion of the discipline in Kuala Kumpur, just to satisfy his own ego.

Bhusaai, Yusuf enter finals

CHENNAI, Sept 4 (UNI) — Unseeded Devinder Singh Bhusaai of Gujarat upset second seed Vikrant Sane, the former champion,while Karnataka’s Shareen Yusuf upstaged sixth seeded Preeti Rao of Tamil Nadu to enter the finals of the boys and girls under-14 singles, events respectively, in the Nutrine Sub-Junior National Tennis Championship at the SAF Games Stadium here today.

However, it was all easy for Maharashtra’s Megha Vakharia who continued to be unstoppable. Megha, who has also made it to the last four stage in the under-16 singles, entered the final of the under-14 event dropping just four games in the second set in which she faultered momentarily against Andhra Pradesh’s Sania Mirza. Megha won 6-0, 6-4.

The talented Devinder stretched the more experienced Vikrant to three sets and came up triumphs 6-3, 6-7 (7-4), 6-3. It was only in the second set which went to the tie break that Vikrant came into his own breaking back whenever Devinder snatched the lead. In the tie break Devinder faultered.

In the first and third sets, Devinder dominated hitting the ball more accurately.In the first and third sets Vikrant only managed to draw level 1-1 and 2-2 and went down tamely.

Bangalore girl, Shareen Yusuf, who is in her last year in the under-14 age group, continued her toppling game in the wake of her win against the top seed Isha yesterday.

Today, she took in her stride with her attacking game, sixth seed Preeti Rao in three sets losing the second as the latter found her touch which , however, deserted her again in the third.

Preeti was level 1-1 and 2-2 in the first set but that was all she could muster. But in the second set Preeti down by a game, drew level 1-1 and held serve to be up 4-2 and 5-2 before winning.

But Shareen, a fast mover on the court turned the tables on Preeti again to wrap up the match. She was down 1-2 after the first three games. But broke back to be up 3-1 and 5-2 and romped home.

Harun, Shruti triumph
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Sept 4 — Harun of Bhiwani ousted Nitin of Yamunanagar by 9-15, 17-16, 15-6 in a well contested boys under 16 years singles in first round in the mini Haryana State Badminton Championship being held at the Sector 7 community centre, Panchkula, near here today.

In girls under 16 years singles, Shruti of Sonepat over-powered Priyanka of Yamunanagar by 8-11, 11-7 and 11-2.

All the seeded players moved into the next round without any difficulty.

The results are (boys under 13 years singles (first round) Sunny (Sonepat) b Saurabh (Y-Nagar) 15-9, 15-1, Shoban (Pkl) b Tarun Kapoor (Ambala) 15-0, 15-0, Yugal (Fbd) b Sidharth (Bhiwani) 15-7, 15-9, Neresh (Sonepat) b Anu Saini (Ambala) 15-1, 15-0, G. Verma (Jind) b Gaurav (Fbd) 15-13, 15-6, Gaurav Kapoor (Pkl) b Piyush (Rewari) 15-6, 15-2, Anshun (Pkl) b Vipan (Karnal) 15-0, 15-0, Ashish (Bhiwani) b Aman (Rewari) 15-0, 15-0, Aditya (Y-Nagar) b Lalit (Ktra) 15-3, 15-2, Ramesh (Sonepat) b Charian 15-3, 15-0, Shaal (Fbd) b Aulkit (Karnal) 15-9, 10-15, 15-9, Manoj (Bhiwani) b Anlot (Ambala) 15-0, 15-0, A. Kapoor (Ambala) b Vijay (15-7, 15-9) Sachin Garg (Pkl) b Sandeep (Y. Nagar) 15-0, 15-1, Sitanshu (Sonepat) b Harshit (Ambala) 15-4, 15-0, Aditya (Rewari) b Karan (Y. Nagar) 15-0, 15-3, Rahul Khera (Ktra) b Ankur (Fbd) 17-14, 15-1.

Results

Boys singles Under-16 years (First round): Sachin Garg (Pkl) b Sumit Narwal (Knl) 15/2, 15/1. Varun Sahoo (Pkl) b Nitin (Re.) w/o Karan Sahoo (Pkl) b Ankush Kalia (Kkr) 15/2 conceded Varinder (Hsr) b Nagesh (Ab) 15/6, 15/7. Nihunj (Fbd) b Nishant (Ab) 15/1, 15/2. Ram Karan (Snt) b Amarjeet (Knl) 15/0, 15/5. Sumit Kathuria (Fbd) b Karan (Kkr) 15/2, 15/1. Rohit (Bh) b Aditya Aggarwal (Pkl) 15/2, 15/11. Harun (Bh) b Nitin (Yngr.) 9/15, 17/16, 15/6. Amit Vashisht (Snt) b Piyush (Hsr) 15/0, 15/0. Nimish (Fbd) b Abhinav (Ab) 15/3, 15/11. Sumit Dahiya (Bh) b Rohit (Yngr) 15/1, 15/0. Umesh (Snt) b Sameer Chahal (Kkr) 15/0, 15/1. Dalip (Yngr) b Saurabh Vashisht (Kkr) 15/1, 15/8. Vinay Kant (Hsr) b Vikas Dalal (Knl) 15/9, 15/2. Pawan (Snt) b Anil Kumar (Bh) 15/4. 15/1. Piyush Aggarwal (Pkl) b Anuj Walia (Ab) 15/0, 15/0.

Ist Round (Boys U-16 yrs. Doubles): Rohit & Harun (Bh) b Piyush & Vikrant (Pkl) 15/5, 15/1. Ram Karan & Pawan (Snt) b Sameer & Rahul (Kkr) 15/3, 15/5. Dalip & Rohit (Yngr) b Aditya & Ankan (Pkl) 15/14, 15/5. Nihunj & Kajal (Fbd) b Sumit & Vikas (Knl) 15/5, 15/3. Nimish & Sumit (Fbd) b Abhinav & Vikrant (Ab) 6/15, 15/5, 15/12.

Ist Round (Girls U-13 Singles): Amita (Bh) b Salma Begum (Ab) 11/0, 11/0. Monica (Snt) b Kanika (Ab) 11/0, 11/0. Monika (Bh) b Romi (Knl), 11/0, 11/0. Kannu (Pkl) b Priyanka (Knl), 11/0, 11/0. Richa (Yngr) b Sakshi (Ab) 11/0, 11/6. Chestha (Fbd), Chinthani (Ab) 11/0, 11/5. Meenu (Bh) Akanksha (Snp) 12/9, 11/1. Sheetal (Bh) b Puneet (Ab) 11/1, 11/1. Neha (Yngr) b Pallavi (Pkl) 11/3, 11/8. Purnima (Snt) b Chhaya (Knl) 11/0, 11/1.

Vietnam shock Thailand

HANOI, Sept 4 (DPA) — Vietnam did what many considered virtually impossible night by resoundingly beating regional powerhouse Thailand 3-0 in the semifinal of the Tiger Cup competition, which had earlier been hard hit by controversy.

A capacity-crowd of 25,000 packed into Hanoi stadium to witness what was easily the biggest-ever football match on Vietnamese soil.

The unprecedented victory last night puts the hosts into the final Saturday against Singapore, who earlier in the evening fought off a spirited comeback by Indonesia to prevail 2-1 in Ho Chi Minh city.

Hanoi erupted in a sea of red and yellow banners just minutes after the match, with tens of thousands of delirious Vietnamese packing the streets on their motorbikes, in the backs of trucks, and on the hoods of taxis.

Horns blared relentlessly as thousands of riders, some of them Buddhist monks in brown robes and banging drums, made their traditional laps around picturesque Hoan Kiem lake downtown.

Cricket camp ends

CHENNAI, Sept 4 (PTI) — The Indian cricketers today wound up their camp for a short return home and some of them will reassemble here on September 7 before leaving for Kuala Lumpur to participate in the Commonwealth Games.

The 15-day camp which started on August 21 for the 22 probables leading to the World Cup in England next year, ended with the players, coach Anshuman Gaekwad, consultant Bobby Simpson and physio Andrews Kokinos having a meeting at the M.A. Chidambaram stadium today. Team doctor Ravindra Chadda had left for home on September 1 itself.

The last day was confined to light work outs, exercises and running and catching practice. A few players, including captain Mohd Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar had ‘open net’ practice for 20 minutes each.

Hosts Tamil Nadu Cricket Association failed to make proper arrangements to keep away the large number of spectators and autograph hunters who thronged the entrance of the two dressings rooms and the dining hall, forcing the players and 62-year-old Bobby Simpson to literally run to their bus and return to the hotel.

This incident also created problems for reporters as they could not get to Gaekwad and Azharuddin for their comments on the conclusion of the camp. Efforts to contact them at the hotel also proved futile as they had already left for the airport.

Injured McGrath ruled out of Games

SYDNEY, Sept 4 (Reuters) — Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath will miss the Commonwealth Games cricket tournament in Malaysia starting next week after getting injured down in a practice match today.

The lanky paceman may also be in doubt for Australia’s tour of Pakistan beginning later this month after injuring his groin during the warm-up game against the Australian Cricket Academy

"I was starting to build up a bit of rhythm when all of a sudden I felt a pain in my right leg which is totally opposite to the other injuries I’ve had," McGrath said.

"If I’d had another week until the start of the Commonwealth Games I think I would have been alright but as it is I’ll have to take a rest."

McGrath has been struggling with a groin strain for most of the year. He missed Australia’s final Test against South Africa in January as well as their tours of New Zealand and India.

He was cleared to play at the games in Kuala Lumpur after successfully completing the Princess Diana benefit match at Lord’s in July.

His place in the side will be taken by Queensland paceman Andy Bichel.

Aquatic nationals from today

BANGALORE, Sep 4 (UNI) —Krnataka start hot favourites to retain the overall title with its women all set to rule the pool, while the Police and Railways will battle it out for honours in the men’s section in the 53rd National Aquatic Championship beginning here tomorrow.

The swimmers are expected to produce their best with the championship being selection trials for the Asian Games at Bangkok. But coaches expressed doubts about many records being shattered as the swimmers had done their best in last year’s National Games when marks were rewritten too often. With the weather being cloudy and frequent rains in the city, the organisers are hoping that it would have no bearing on the performance. "It is an ideal weather for swimming nationals", many coaches said.

With all three boards—police, Services and Railways—having no women’s teams, Karnataka is sure to retain the title which it won in 1993 after being joint winners with the Railways in the previous year. The police will be settling its scores with the Railways having surrendered the title in Thiruvananthapuram nationals despite fielding top class swimmers.

Over 670 participants from 20 states and three boards would be battling out for 114 medals in swimming and 18 medals in diving besides trophies for individual championship in men and women and team and overall championships.

Sachin, 3 others for Toronto if India
fail to make semis

MUMBAI, Sept 4 (PTI) — Sachin Tendulkar will head for Toronto along with three other star cricketers from Kuala Lumpur if India fail to make it to the semifinals of the Commonwealth Games cricket tournament commencing on September 9.

Tendulkar, Ajay Jadeja, Anil Kumble and Robin Singh will leave for Canada to be available at least for the last two ties of India’s five-match series against arch-rivals Pakistan in case the Jadeja-led squad does not make it to the last four of the Kuala Lumpur event, according to sources in the BCCI today.

India is to play Pakistan in the Sahara series at Toronto on September 12, 13, 16, 19 and 20 with 22, 23 and 24 being set aside as reserve days.

The Ajay Jadeja-led Indian cricket team would clash with Antigua in their opening group ‘B’ encounter on September 9 in the inaugural Commonwealth Games.

The squad has been pooled together with Antigua, whose cricketers normally play under the West Indies banner in the international arena along with those of Barbados and Jamaica who are also in the fray, a full-strength Australia and minnows Canada.

Group ‘B’ toppers would progress to the semifinal against group ‘D’ winners on September 17.

Group ‘D’ comprises Kenya, below-strength Pakistan, full-strength New Zealand and Scotland.

Group ‘A’ is made up of World Cup champions Sri Lanka, also at full strength, hosts Malaysia, Jamaica and Zimbabwe while Barbados, Bangladesh, South Africa and Northern Ireland form group ‘C’.

Kathuria to lead
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Sept 4 — O.P. Kathuria will lead the six-member Haryana Civil Services tennis team in the All-India Civil Services Tennis Championship being held at Calcutta from September 8 to 13, according to a press note of the Haryana Sports Department.

Other members of the team are: O.P. Narang, Sunil Bajaj, J.S. Dhanda, M.S. Malik and Ajay Kadian.

Police meet

JALANDHAR (TNS): The Punjab Police will organise the 47th All-India Police Aquatic Meet and Cross Country Championship at PAP headquarter, Jalandhar Cantt, from September 25 to 29. Teams from different central police organisations and state police forces will take part.

PSEB overall champs
From Our Sports Reporter

PATIALA, Sept 4 — The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) won the All-India Inter-State Electricity Boards Basketball Tournament which concluded at Thiruvananthapuram recently. According to information received here, PSEB beat the Kerala SEB in the final 73-62 to clinch the title while the Tamil Nadu SEB stood third.

With this victory, the PSEB clinched the All-India Electricity Sports Control Boards General Trophy for the 18th successive time.

The PSEB collected 36 points, while second placed Tamil Nadu could notch up only 17 points. The PSEB won football, badminton, table tennis, hockey, basketball, athletics and wrestling championships while it stood third in the volleyball meet.

Lehal wins Aug golf round
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 4 — Sandy Lehal emerged the gross winner with a card of 73 in the Chandigarh Golf Club August monthly round competition. The runner-up was A.S. Bhaika with a plus-four card of 76. Prince Dhillon was third with a card of 81.

Col Harkirat Singh with a handicap of 13 was the net winner with a score of 82 in the above-50 category. He was followed by H.S. Aneja (net 85) and Virinder Malik (net 88).