• MCM College
  eves finish second
• Trophies presented
• Inter-college cross
  country results

• Ghei snatches lead
  from Arjun Singh
• School games put off
• Indians shine at
  taekwondo meet
  

Karnataka swimmers reign supreme
From Anil Datt

LUDHIANA, Sept 23 — As expected, Karnataka swimmers kept their reputation intact and retained teams titles in the boys as well as girls section of the 15th Sub-Junior and 25th Junior National Aquatics Championship which concluded at the Municipal Corporation Swimming pool here today.

In the girls' section (group I) Chitra K. of Karnataka secured 41 points to emerge the best swimmer while Richa Misra of Delhi collected 73 points to earn this honour in group II.

In the boys group II section, Mario Johnson of Karnataka garnered 53 points to be adjudged the best swimmer and in group I, Elvis Ali Hazarika of Assam won this distinction with 56 points.

In 50 m free style (girls II), Karnataka's renowned swimmer Reshma Millet etched a name for herself and the state by setting the new meet record of 0.27.93 sec to improve upon the old record of 0.28.65 sec set another Karnataka girl Nisha Muillet in 1996. The silver medallist Sindoor Thakkar of Maharashtra (0.28.58) also bettered the previous record. Richa Mishra of Delhi clocked 0.29.67 sec to take the bronze.

Another national meet record tumbled in 100 m, breaststroke (boys II) when L. Shyam Singh of Manipur clocked 1.14.27 sec to erase the earlier record of 1.14.61 sec which stood in the name of Abhijit K. of Karnataka since 1994.

In 100 m butterfly (boys I), Elvis Ali Hazarika of Assam clocked 1.00.09 to equal the 11-years-old record of Gaurav Kapoor (Maharashtra), Suresh Reddy of Karnataka with 1.03.03 pocketed the silver medal while Sunil Model of Bengal (1.03.42) had to be content with the bronze.

The Chief Minister, Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who was supposed to preside over the prize distribution function, today failed to turn up. Mr Kanwaljeet Singh, Finance Minister, Punjab, gave away prizes to the winners on the concluding day.

The results:

100 m back stroke (boy II): Mario Johnson (Kar-1.05.58)1, Bharath Kongovi (Kar-1.05.68) 2, Akbar Ali Mir (Bengal-1.07.00) 3.

100 m back stroke (girls II): Richa Mishra (Delhi-1.12.00) 1, Reshma Millet (Kar-1.13.60) 2, Sindoor Thakkar (Mah-1.17.16) 3.

100 m butterfly (boys I): Elvis Ali Hazarika (Asam-1.00.09) 1, Shreesh Reddy (Kar-1.03.03) 2,Sunil Hondal (Bengal-1.03.42) 3.

100 m butterfly (girls I): Pooja Reddy (Maha-1.10.55) 1, Divya Bajaj (Kar-1.11.68)2, M. Usha (Kerala-1.11.85) 3.

100 m breast stroke (boys II): L. Shyam Singh (Manipur-1.14.27) 1, Sandeep Verma (Maha-1.14.80) 2, Puneet Rana (Punjab-1.15.72) 3.

100 m breast stroke (girls II): Richa Misra (DI-1.24.86) 1, Shi Yen Shu (Mah-1.25.71) 2, Archana Bhushan (Kar-1.25.74)3.

50 m free style (boys I): Elvis Ali Hazarika (Assam-0.25.41) 1, Raji Kumar (Kar-0.25.96) 2, Mohit Choudhary (DI-0.26.33) 3.

50 m free style (girls I): Merina Thomas (Kar-0.29.40) 1, Srikalpa Murali (Kar-0.29.60) 2, Charu Misra (DI-0.29.66) 3.

50 m free style (boys II): Akbar Ali Mir (Bengal-0.26.44) 1, Siddharth Reddy (Kar-0.26.56) 2, Rahul Batra (Kar-0.27.16) 3.

50 m free style (girls II): Reshma Millet (Kar-0.27.93 NR) 1, Sindoor Thakkar (Mah-0.28.58) 2, Richa Misra (DI-0.29.67) 3.

4X 100 m med relay (boys I): Karnataka-4.27.99, 1. Bengal-4.35.11, 2, Kerala 4.36.63, 3.

4X100 m med relay (girls I): Kerala-4.59.14, 1, Karnataka-5.00.37, 2. Bengal-5.19.49, 3.

Waterpolo:

Boys: Maharashtra 1, Kerala 2, Bengal 3.

Girls: Kerala 1, Maharashtra 2, Bengal 3.

Team championship:

Boys (group I): Karnataka 122 points, Group II: Karnataka 135 points, Girls (group I) Karnataka 143 points, (groups II) Karnataka 109 points.

Drug talk surrounds Flo Jo's death

LOS ANGELES, Sept 23 (AFP) — An exact cause for the death of Florence Griffith Joyner might be weeks away as tests continue following an autopsy on the 1988 Olympic sprint champion and world record holder.

Griffith Joyner was found dead at her home on Monday in suburban Mission Viejo, having died in her sleep of what was described as a heart seizure similar to one she suffered two years ago.

"It could take a few days or a few weeks," said Orange county Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant, Hector Rivera, who said paramedics had determined her death was due to natural causes.

Authorities await results from laboratories on toxicology tests and other examinations before making a judgement. But that has not stopped some from raising the spectre of performance-enhancing drugs as a cause.

Griffith Joyner denied the claims and never failed a drug test. But she retired in the February of 1989, four months after random drug testing was instituted.

With her death and prior heart ailments, many are willing to believe that she damaged her body using performance enhancing drugs and paid the ultimate price for her moment of glory.

But Bob Kersee, a coach and husband of Joyner’s sister-in-law Jackie Joyner, dubbed the drug talk as a fabrication of the media. "The only reason why anything is surfacing is due to sensationalising by the media," Kersee said. "It has never been proven by anyone that Florence has used performance enhancing drugs. She took every drug test and passed them all".

Griffth Joyner set world records at decade ago at 100 and 200 meters that are still on the books in addition to winning the 1988 Olympic title at both distances. Before and after her astonishing Olympic games and qualifying runs. She was more than one-third of a second off her peak times.

Craig Masback, USA Track and Field executive director, said Griffith Joyner’s glory came at the same time Ben Johnson was caught for doping in the Seoul Olympic men’s 100 m final.

"Her success ushered in an age of cynicism in track and field where people could not accept performances for what they were and were always looking for another explanation," he said.

Her world record of 10.49 seconds at the 1988 US Olympic trials in Indianapolis was criticised as wind-aided after a gauge showed no wind while nearby triple jumpers were boosted by strong gusts.

But Griffith Joyner, also known for flamboyant track outfits and long fingernails, also had two other sub-10.70 runs and a 200-metre world record of 21.34 seconds to win at Seoul.

"She accomplished amazing things on the tracks as well as off it," her sister-in-law, Heptathlon world record holder Jackie Joyner Kersee said yesterday. "Florence was a woman of substance."

"If she did something maybe now is the time for it to come out to help the next generation." said Evelyn Ashford, winner of four Olympic gold medals and a silver, and a two-time 100 metres world record holder.

While Carl Lewis was among those praising Griffith Joyner, he said in 1990 that "the common belief on the track circuit was that she used drugs".

Brazil’s Joaquium Cruz, the 1984 Olympic 800 meters winner, said of Griffith Joyner’s 1988 success: "In 1984, you could see an extremely feminine person, but today she looks more like a man than a woman".

She faced direct accusations from former teammate Darrell Robinson, a 400 m runner, in a 1989 paid interview with a German Magazine. Robinson said Griffith Joyner took human growth hormone and steroids.

Robinson claimed Griffith Joyner asked him to buy growth hormones for her and paid him $ 2,000 in $ 100 bills. Human growth hormone can promote muscle mass and is undetectable.

Griffith Joyner called Robinson "a compulsive, crazy, lying lunatic", and again denied taking drugs.

"It doesn’t matter whether she was innocent or not. Even in death she is being questioned", said Charles Yesalis, a professor of health at Penn State University and expert on performance-boosting drugs.

There have been a number of cases of sudden death by heart attack or stroke among steroid users’, he said. "I’ve reached a tentative Judgment that there is a link between steroid use and heart disease".

Monica Seles advances to quarterfinals

TOKYO, Sept 23 (AFP) — Thai tennis ace Tamarine Tanasugarn survived a tough battle against Henrieta Nagyova of Slovakia to become the first player to make the quarterfinals of the Princess Cup tennis tournament today.

The 24-year-old Tanasugarn, faced an array of lightning serves and aggressive returns from the Slovakian, and three times came back from a service game down to score a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory.

Tanasugarn was down 1-2 in the first set, 0-2 and 2-4 in the second set, but each time she broke back.

In the second set tie-breaker she squandered three match points with backhand errors, before hitting a sizzling backhand winner down the line to finish off the match.

In the quarterfinals, Tanasugarn will take on American Amy Frazier, who defeated rising Croatian star Mirjana Lucic yesterday and then went on to beat third seed Amanda Coetzer of South Afirca 0-6 6-3 6-2.

"I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I hope that I play my best tennis," said Tanasugarn, who will play her fourth quarterfinal match of the year with losing all the previous three so far.

In the first round action, seventh seed Anke Huber of Germany quashed the challenge from Naoko Kijimuta of Japan 6-3 3-6 6-0.

Later, Defending champion Monica Seles sent a tearful Naoko Sawamatsu into retirement with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 defeat at the Princess Cup, adds Reuters.

The win put the second seed into the quarter finals of the tournament but it brought down the curtain on Sawamatsu's career which started in 1990 and contained four WTA titles.

Sawamatsu, ranked 14 in the world in 1995, says she is giving up professional tennis because she has lost her desire to compete.

But she fought to the last against Seles who commended Sawamatsu for pushing her so hard. "She just went after every ball and it's always tough to play a player like that."

Sawamatsu said she felt honoured to play her final match against Seles "because of the immense respect I have for her as a player and a person". Seles also beat Kimiko Date in her "sayonara" match in 1996.

Sawamatsu was overcome with emotion on the final point of the match. "When I heard the chair umpire say I was down 40-0 it just hit me that this was the end. Then the tears just started to flow," Sawamatsu said.

Seles will face Julie Halard-Decugis of France in the quarter finals. The unseeded French woman beat Mary Joe Fernandez of the USA 6-1 6-3.

Russian Anna Kournikoya, seeded five, was supers in her singles debut in Japan with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Adriana Gersi of the Czech Republic in a first round match.

Grand Slam Cup
MUNICH (Reuters): World number one Pete Sampras and US Open champion Patrick Rafter have both pulled out of next week’s lucrative Grand Slam Cup, organisers said on Wednesday.

Also missing from the $ 6.7 million event, which brings together the best performers from the year’s four Grand Slams, will be French Open champion Carlos Moya of Spain, the world number five.

The highest-ranked player in the men’s draw will be world number three Marcelo Rios of Chile. Five of the world’s top 10 players will be in Munich, among them number eight Andre Agassi who had a dismal Grand Slam season but was given a wild card.

The absence of Sampras and Rafter will help shift attention to the women’s competition where world number one Martina Hingis and American Lindsay Davenport, who beat the 17-year-old Swiss in the US Open final, are the favourites.

It is the first time women have taken part in the Grand Slam Cup.

Draw for the tournament starting next Tuesday.

Paris Open
PARIS: The elite of men’s tennis, headed by world number one Pete Sampras, will take part in the Paris Open in November, organisers said today.

All top 15 world ranked players have entered the November 2 to 10 tournament.

US Open champion Patrick Rafter of Australia and Chile’s Marcelo Rios, number one for a brief spell earlier this year, will be among the favourites looking to topple title holder Sampras in the prestigious indoor tournament at Bercy.

The only player currently in the top 20 who will be absent is 17th-ranked Spaniard Alberto Berasategui.

Also missing are former French Open champions Thomas Muster and Gustavo Kuerten.

Germany’s Boris Becker, who has won the tournament three times, has been granted one of the four wild cards.

Heroes' welcome for Rana, Jitender

NEW DELHI, Sept 23 (PTI) — Pistol ace Jaspal Rana and young middleweight pugilist Jitender Kumar were the cynosure of all eyes as they led the final batch of the Indian contingent back home from the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.

Euphoric fans beat drums, blew trumpets and provided both Rana, who led the medal challenge by harvesting two gold medals and a silver, and Kumar, who clinched a boxing silver after a gap of 24 years, true heroes’ welcome.

Weightlifters Arumugham Pandian, Dharmaraj Wilson, who hoisted two gold and three silver medals between them in the 56 kg class, and Satish Rai, who withstood growing fatigue to clinch one gold and two silver in the 77 kg class, also gained attention, but in their typically quiet and unassuming way.

The shooters, lifters and boxers along with officials landed at the Indira Gandhi Airport this evening to a grand welcome as winners of the biggest chunk of medals which enabled India claim seven gold, 10 silver and eight bronze.

Roopa Unnikrishnan, the woman’s free rifle prone gold winner, was absent while the hockey teams had arrived last night and the badminton contingent, which won two silver and two bronze medals in India’s first such effort since the late Syed Modi’s men’s singles gold at the 1982 Brisbane Games, landed in Chennai last night.

‘‘I am happy with the medals and my performance. But now I have to focus on the Asian Games. I can’t be too euphoric as the gold I won (in centrefire pistol individual and pairs) is not an olympic event. But hard training has paid dividends,’’ said a jubilant Rana who was mobbed by friends and well-wishers on arrival.

The 23-year-old Rana said he would train in Australia with his coach Tibor Goncalces ahead of the Bangkok Asiad but simply laughed away questions about his plans to migrate Down Under saying he was happy with things as they were.

Veteran Ashok Pandit, the 1990 centrefire pistol gold medallist who partnered Rana for the pairs gold, declared "no more lazing around. Asian Games is extremely stiff and I’ll will be going all out to peak in December".

The 44-year-old Mumbai-based shooter said Canada and South Africa were major revelations as hitherto India had to contend only with Australia and England.

"It was sweeter beating the European champion (Ian Peel of England) and Michael Diamond (Olympic and world) in winning the gold," said a jubilant Manavjit Singh, the 21-year-old who played a major role with seasoned Mansher Singh to clinch the men’s trap pairs gold to begin India’s medal hunt in earnest.

On finishing fifth in the individual event, he said he did not get any score for his last shot on a technicality and missed out on bronze standard by a lone point.

A beaming Jitender Kumar was happy to become the first Indian in 24 years to reach the final of the Games. "The competition was tough. I was stiff after the semifinal. I took an upper cut from John Pearce (gold medallist from England) from which I could not recover in the final."

The 27-year-old Satish Rai, the Mumbai-based bank officer who hoisted a gold and two silvers, was still unhappy. "My aim was to make a clean sweep. But I felt a bit giddy after the snatch (where he took gold) as I was on antibiotics after a stomach upset before leaving. Arumugham Pandian and Dharmaraj Wilson were happy to bring back laurels.

Tennis, eves soccer not for Asian Games?
From Our Sports Reporter

PATIALA, Sept 23 — With the curtain coming down on the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, the focus has now shifted to the Asian Games scheduled to be held in Bangkok in December. Several national sports federations whose disciplines have not been included for the Asian Games have started hectic lobbying and are applying pressure on the IOA and the sports ministry in a bid to include their disciplines.

The sports ministry in consultation with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has already drawn up a list of 16 disciplines (out of a maximum of 38) for participation in the Asian Games with the notable omissions being lawn tennis, football (women) and windsurfing event in yatching.

The most glaring omission is that of tennis in which India won a medal in the 1994 Hiroshima Asiad and now going by the form of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi the Indians could have struck gold in both the singles and doubles. Incidentally, it was in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics that Leander had won a bronze, the only medal that India had won in the Olympics.

Sources reveal that the body governing women's football is also lobbying hard, reason being that India gave a creditable performance in the Asian football championships held in China recently, where it had entered the semifinal.

In yatching, the Indians will be competing in the 'enterprise', 'laser', 'ok dinghy' and 'optimist' class while no entry has been sent in the windsurfing event. The YAI, in all probability, will ask the IOA for an entry in the windsurfing event keeping in view the performance of Derrick Menezes who became the first Indian to win the 'masters on design class' even in the world windsurfing championships held recently in France.

Previously also the IOA was subjected to last-minute pressure tactics by federations. The IOA will be exercising greater restraint as it has to foot the entire bill of the Indian contingent this time.

Holyfield keen on fighting Lewis

NEW YORK, Sept 23 (AFP) — The World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield said he wants to fight Lennox Lewis but hedged his bets on a Mike Tyson rematch.

Serving as a television commentator on fights yesterday, Holyfield said he wants to face British World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion Lewis, saying, "I’m looking forward to fighting him. He’s a wanted man."

Promoter Don King used the "wanted" line to describe Lewis but has not signed a deal that could pay Holyfield $ 20 million for such a unification showdown.

Tyson must undergo psychiatric evaluation before a Nevada athletic commission panel will decide upon ending the banishment it imposed upon him last year for biting Holyfield’s ears in a title fight.

Holyfield, with two victories already over the former champion, said he would fight Tyson again if Tyson can claim a heavyweight title.

"If he becomes a champion again, I guess I will have to," Holyfield said. "If not, we will see".

Reuters: American Shane Mosely retained his International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight title on Wednesday when the referee stopped the fight against challenger Eduardo Morales of Argentina with 54 seconds left in the fifth round.

With his fifth successful title defence, Mosely improved his record to 29-0, while Morales dropped to 26-1.

Sweden raring to go against Spain

STOCKHOLM, Sept 23 (AFP) — Six-time champion Sweden will be bringing Viking pride into this weekend’s Davis Cup world group semifinal against Spain.

While the USA-Italy tie across the Atlantic may have trouble drawing a crowd in Milwaukee, there will be no such problems at Stockholm’s temple of tennis, the Kungliga Tennishallen, traditional home of the game in the Swedish capital.

The hosts and last season’s defending champions come into the three-day tie with a full squad, three of whom reached the quarterfinals a fortnight ago at the US Open.

Swedish number one Jonas Bjorkman, Thomas Johansson and Magnus Larsson all played well at the Open to reach the final eight. Captain Carl-Axel Hageskog has brought in Nicklas Kulti for possible doubles duty.

Thomas Enqvist will not play due to an ankle injury he picked up over the summer.

Spain arrives with Carlos Moya, Alex Corretja, Julian Alonso and Javier Sanchez for the indoor hardcourt clash.

The visitors can take some heart in their nation’s win through Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Conchita Martinez last weekend in the Fed Cup final in Geneva over a team featuring Martina Hingis.

The 1997 Davis Cup champion Swedes are more than ready for their date with Spain indoors.

"It’s definitely going to help us to have a strong team, everyone is in good shape," said Bjorkman.

"We always seem to have good timing into Davis Cup matches. It is an advantage for Sweden to have three strong guys coming in with a lot of confidence."

Motivation will not be a problem: "We definitely feel Swedish and we definitely want to represent our country."

Sweden swept the USA 5-0 in last year’s final, which left Pete Sampras injured and vowing not to play the worldwide competition again as it interfered with his ATP tour schedule.

Bjorkman, who played more matches than any other player on the tour in 1997, finds that attitude hard to swallow. But there is a lot about American tennis which leaves Europeans bewildered.

"Comparing Sweden and the USA is big difference," said the 25-year-old. "We are a small country, we are really happy with all the success we have in different sports".

World number 13 Bjorkman can be expected to be given the lion’s share of work when singles begin on Friday. The national number one clinched the quarterfinal tie over Germany in July as he won the deciding reverse singles over Nicolas Kiefer in five sets.

The draw will be made tomorrow.

Games flame reaches city
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 23 — Intermittent showers notwithstanding, the Special Olympic games flame was accorded a warm reception on its arrival in the city here this afternoon. The flame, which was lit at Hyderabad, the venue of the second Special Olympics National Games in 1995, last week, travelled through Nagpur, Bhopal and New Delhi before arriving here for the third Special Olympics National Games to be held at Panjab University Campus from September 25 to 29.

The Mayor of Chandigarh, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, received the torch from a group of Special Olympics’ athletes from National Institute, Mental Health, Hyderabad. The first run with the torch was performed by none other than the "Flying Sikh Milkha Singh", badminton star Satish Bhatia, Olympian Tarlochan Singh Bawa and Dronacharya award winner Desh Prem Azad. Besides, 50 trainees of the Chandigarh Sports Department joined a group of local Special Olympics’ athletes in carrying the torch from The Tribune chowk to the Sector 14 Panjab University gymnasium hall where the Finance-cum-Sports Secretary, Dr G. Vajralingam, received the torch.

The Torch will be kept at the gymnasium hall until Friday morning when the Special Olympics National Games get underway after a formal opening ceremony.

More than 2,000 athletes and 600 officials are participating in the week-long event which is being jointly organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Chandigarh Administration, Special Olympics Organising Committee, Rotary Club and other non-government voluntary organisations. Besides participants from all states and union territories, teams from Nepal, Taiwan and the Philippines are also expected to participate in the Games.

According to Mrs Promila Chander Mohan, organising secretary of the games, rain not withstanding, all events will be organised. Alternate arrangements are being made to conduct the events at the available indoor stadia and halls in the city.

The organisers were hopeful that the weather would open up by the time the games are formally opened on Friday morning. The mascot of the games, fixed on a trolley, formed a part of the torch procession as the runners, braving intermittent showers, covered more than 12 km route to reach the university campus. A police band was in attendance.

Wadekar selection panel chief

CALCUTTA, Sept 23 — Former India captain Ajit Wadekar will be the new chairman of the national cricket selection committee.

Shivlal Yadav of South Zone is the only other member to retain his place in the new committee which has as many as three newcomers. They are Madan Lal (North), Anil Deshpande (Central) and Ashok Malhotra (East), cricket board secretary Jaywant Lele told reporters after the opening day of the two day annual general meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) here today.

Anshuman Gaekwad will continue as coach of the Indian team till the end of the World Cup next year, that is till September, 1999, Lele said.

In stark difference to last year’s stormy AGM, the proceedings today were peaceful and smooth barring refusal to let the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association representative attend the meeting because of a court order. Karnataka also did not attend for similar reasons.

Raj Singh Dungarpur was re-elected board president while Lele will continue to be the secretary.

Kishore Rungta of Rajasthan will replace S K Nair of Kerala, who has completed his term of five years, as the new treasurer.

C K Khanna of Delhi and A N Singh of Bihar will be the new vice-presidents in place of HDA Drabu and Samiran Chakraborti. A C Muthaiah of Tamil Nadu, son of former bcci president M A Chidambaram, is the other new vice-president replacing N Venkata Rao of Andhra.

The bcci secretary announced that each member of the Indian cricket team that played in the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games will get Rs 1 lakh as tournament fee.

The administrative manager for the mini-World Cup at Dhaka will be Dr Kamala Kalita of Assam, while Niranjan Shah will be the manager for the Sharjah team and S D A Drabu for the New Zealand tour.

Though the manager for the Dhaka team was named, Lele said he had no knowledge whether the tournament will be held at Dhaka owing to the grave flood situation in Bangladesh and it was upto the ICC to take a decision in this regard.

The selectors for the junior team will be Hemant Kanitkar, S K Malhotra, Sashikant Khandekar, Rajinder Goel and Jimut Mohanty.

Krish Srikkanth will be coach of the junior team.

Nagaland and Manipur were granted affiliation to the BCCI.

The chairman of the senior tournament committee will be Manohar Joshi, while the representatives of Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Mumbai and Vidarbha will be the other members.

Sunil Gavaskar will head the technical sub-committee. The other members will be S C Nayyar, P K Narayanaswami, Kamal Das, Niranjan Shah, Hyder Ali and Ajit Wadekar.

The finance committee: S K Nair, K P Pawar, K Subramaniam, Samiran Chakraborti, Narhari Amin, Sudhir Dabir with Kishore Rungta as the convenor.

The umpire sub-committee will be headed by A N Singh. The other members are M P Pandove, Chetan Desai, Gautam Dasgupta, D N Dotiwala, Dr M K Bhargav with Jyoti Bajpai as the convenor, Lele said.

C K Khanna will be the chairman of the B C Roy Trophy sub-committee and the other members are Dr K K Kalita, prof R S Sethi, prof KV Pawar, Prof Alauddin. Gurdip Singh and Jyoti Bajpai will be the joint convenors.

The members of the tour and fixtures sub-committee: Kamal Morarka, C Nagraj, B B Das, A N Matey and Rakesh Agarwal.

The junior cricket committee: A. C. Muthiah, Prof Ruhi, M Ranga Reddy, Chitrak Mitra, Vikram Patel, Rajiv Shukla, Jyoti Bajpai (convenor).

Experience helped Pakistan win: Gaekwad

MUMBAI, Sept 23 (PTI) — Cricket coach Anshuman Gaekwad today said Pakistan won the Sahara Cup at Toronto as they had fielded a full strength squad compared to India which sent a young side.

"Our youngsters could not combine well and their lack of experience was quite evident while the Pakistanis showed there was no substitute for experience especially when you are playing your best team," Gaekwad told reporters here.

Adding to what skipper Mohammed Azharuddin had said at Sahar airport here last night, Gaekwad said "our fielding was not up to the mark and even our bowlers could not bowl to their potential. Our batting too let us down".

"The boundary line at Toronto was just 65 yards and Pakistan batsman took full advantage of it especially when our bowlers strayed a little bit, "he added, hoping that it was "just a temporary phase and the boys would get it over soon".

Regarding the forthcoming tour of Zimbabwe, Gaekwad, said it should be an interesting series especially for the youngsters as Zimbabwe will be in full strength.

"Youngsters like medium pacer Ajit Agarkar and off spinner Harbhajan Singh are bound to benefit from the tour as the conditions there would be totally different," he added.

The Indians, who will be leaving for Zimbabwe in the early hours today, will be playing three one-day games and a one-off Test match.

Azharuddin, when asked why the Indian fielding was not up to the mark despite the board appointing former Aussie skipper Bobby Simpson to improve the fielding standard, said "It will take some more time for the boys to show complete improvement on the field.

"We have gained a lot under Bobby Simpson and it will take some more time for the boys to show overall improvement as these cannot be done overnight," the skipper added.

Meanwhile, the airport authorities said Gaekwad's baggage was ripped open during the journey. However, they failed to confirm whether any items in the bag were missing.

Gaekwad was delayed at the airport for nearly two hours and the other members of the team had to leave for the hotel without him. Gaekwad joined them later at the hotel, it was reliably learnt.

Cricketers lacked seriousness, says Kalmadi

NEW DELHI, Sept 23 (UNI) — Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi today said the country should not send its cricket team for the Commonwealth Games in future.

In a sharp criticism of the performance of the Indian cricket team at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Kalmadi said: "There was no seriousness.’’ He was speaking to reporters at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here on arrival of the Indian contingent.

"The cricketers are professionals and have little interest in a medal event. Their hearts were in Toronto,’’ the IOA chief said in an oblique reference to the Sahara Cup against Pakistan which was played in Canada during the same time and the debacle in Kuala Lumpur of the Ajay Jadeja-led team which failed to qualify for the semifinals going down tamely to Australia.

"We should concentrate on Olympic events,’’ he stressed. "We have had enough of it,’’ he said expressing his disgust over the feud between the IOA and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the participation of the Indian team.

Asked whether cricket would continue to be there in the next Commonwealth Games, he said: "It is not clear as of now. The next games will be held in Manchester and England did not participate in cricket at the Kuala Lumpur Games.’’

It was only after sustained pressure from the IOA that the BCCI had selected two "equally strong teams’’ for the two events putting Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and Robin Singh besides Jadeja on the Malaysia-bound squad.

BCCI to avoid splitting team

CALCUTTA, Sept 23 (PTI) — Chastened by the disastrous performances of its two teams in the Commonwealth Games and the Sahara Cup, the cricket board has decided to avoid splitting the national team in future.

While briefing newsmen on the board’s annual general meeting here today, its secretary Jaywant Lele had to face a barrage of questions on the dismal performance by Indian cricket teams in the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games and the Sahara Cup at Toronto which were played simultaneously.

Replying to query, Lele said he was not aware that former India captain and newly-appointed chairman of the national selection committee, Ajit Wadekar, had blamed the poor showing in the Sahara Cup on the splitting of the team.

Lele said the Indian team will have a five-day camp at Delhi or Calcutta for the Dhaka mini-world cup, before leaving for the Bangladesh capital on October 24.

The Indian team will be selected for the tournament on October 18, he said.

Bangladesh skipper Akram Khan sacked

DHAKA, Sept 23 (PTI) — The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has summarily axed captain Akram Khan, who has been part of the national team for 12 years, from the squad for the Asian Cricket Council Tournament to be held in Kathmandu from October 3.

Aminul Islam Bulbul, the 30-year-old middle-order bat and long-time deputy of Akram Khan has been elevated and middle order bat Khaled Mahmud was named his deputy, BCB sources said today.

The executive committee of the BCB which met under its president Saber Hossain Chowdhury also decided to recall former West Indian opener Gordon Greenidge as coach replacing Gazi Ashraf Hossain lipu.

The exclusion of Akram Khan, for the first time since he made his debut at the 1986 Colombo Asia Cup, comes in the wake of the team’s disastrous show at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games where Bangladesh crashed to three defeats and suffered a humiliating 114-run thrashing against Northern Ireland.

Greenidge, who did not go to Malaysia after the BCB had removed him for making critical press statements, has promptly been asked to take over again.

When contacted Akram Khan expressed "utter surprise" at his omission though the most capped player who led the side to victory in the ICC Trophy at Kuala Lumpur said he himself was planning to relinquish captaincy.

Ghei snatches lead from Arjun Singh

MUMBAI, Sept 23 (PTI) — Delhi golfer Gaurav Ghei took over the lead from table topper and his citymate Arjun Singh after winning the Hindu Open at Chennai recently in the Mahindra Golf rankings.

Ghei, winner of Mahindra rankings in its inaugural year (1996-97), has collected 48-50 points and Rs 2.38 lakhs as prize money after three tournament on the 22-event (Rs 2 crore) PGA India Tour, a press note released here today said.

Arjun Singh has 43 points but his seasons earnings are Rs 2.98 lakh. Last year's winner, Vijay Kumar of Lucknow, was in the sixth spot with 28 points and has earned Rs 1.51 lakh so far.

The following is list of top 10 golfers:

A Gaurav Ghei (48.50 pts Rs 2.38 lakhs) 1, Arjun Singh (43.00 pts Rs 2.96) 2, Firoz Ali (41.50 Rs 1.86 lakhs)3, Shiv Prakash (37 Rs 1.58 lakh) 4, Basad Ali (35.50 Rs 1.42 lakhs)5, Vijay Kumar (28 Rs 1.51 lakhs) 6, Vivek Bhandari (19 Rs 1.66 lakhs) 7, Uttam Singh Mundy (17.50 Rs 58.000) 8, Ali Sher (16.50 Rs 60.000) 9, Rafiq Ali (14.50 Rs 60.000) 10.

MCM College eves finish second
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 23 — S.M.S. Karamjot College for Women, Miani (Hoshiarpur) won the Panjab University Kabaddi Women's Championship. MCM DAV College for Women, Chandigarh, and SGG Janta Girls College, Raekot (Ludhiana) secured second and third positions, respectively.

The results:

MCM DAV College for Women, Chd and SGG Janta Girls College, Raekot, played a draw with 36-36 points each. SMS K.College for Women, Miani, b MCM DAV College for Women, Chandigarh, 15-12 SMS K.College for Women, Miani, b SGG Janta Girls College, Raekot 42-26 MCM DAV College for Women, Chandigarh, b Dev Samaj College for Women, Ferozepore, 37-26 SMS K.College for Women, Miani, b Dev Samaj College for Women, Ferozepore 33-6 SGG Janta Girls College, Raekot, b Dev Samaj College for Women, Ferozepore 50-33.

School games put off
From Our Sports Reporter

PATIALA, Sept 23 — The Punjab state cricket (under-14) and volleyball (under-17) tournaments to be organised by the Punjab Education Department and scheduled to be held at the Polo Grounds here from September 26 to 29 have been postponed. Both these meets will now be held from October 7 to 10 at the same venue, according to Mr Gurmail Singh, Assistant Education Officer, Patiala.

Trophies presented
From Our Correspondent

ROPAR, Sept 23 — Mrs Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, M.P., Ropar (Reserve) Lok Sabha constituency, presented two trophies, to the winners of volleyball tournaments, played recently between the teams of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas of the state yesterday.

The trophies have been instituted in memory of an educationist late Ajmer Singh Sidhu, who worked for the promotion of education and sports.

In the boys section, the trophy was given to Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Masitan, Kapurthala district, while in the girls section the trophy was presented to Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Fatehpur Rajputan, in Patiala district.

It was also announced that the holders of these trophies for three consecutive years, would be entitled to retain the same permanently.

Indians shine at taekwondo meet

LUCKNOW, Sept 23 (UNI) — Teams from India and Italy have been awarded the best fighters trophy in the just-concluded second World Junior Taekwondo Championship at Istanbul.

Komal J. Jagtiani, secretary-general, Taekwondo Federation of India, said here yesterday that the Indian junior team took part in the world championship for the first time. The junior team displayed a fine show against their opponents, she added.

In the men’s section, Korea clinched the first position while Turkey and the USA stood second and third respectively. Korea also took the first place in the women’s section followed by China, Taipei and Turkey in the second and third positions.

About 60 countries had participated in the championship.

Inter-college cross country results

CHANDIGARH, Sept 23 — The results of the Panjab University Inter-College Cross Country (Men & Women) Competitions:

Men: S.G.G.S. Khalsa College, Mahilpur (50 points)1; GGS DAV Centenary College, Jalalabad (72), 2; B.A.M. Khalsa College, Garhshankar (133) 3; D.A.V. College, Chandigarh (140).

Individual:

Balwinder Singh (SGGS Khalsa College, Mahilpur)1, Puran Chand (GGS DAV Centenary College, Jalalabad)2 Daljeet Singh (GKSM Govt. College, Tanda Urmar)3.

Women: Ramgarhia Girls College, Ludhiana (21 points)1, GTB Kh College for Women, Dasuya (67)2, SGGS Khalsa College, Mahilpur (79)3, Guru Nanak Girls College, Ludhiana (84)4.

Individual: Amarjit Kaur, (Ramgarhia Girls College, Ludhiana )1, Amarjit Kaur (GTB Kh College for Women, Dasuya)2, Kavita (MCM DAV College for Women, Chd.)3.