Monday, September 28, 1998
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S P O R T | Monday, September 28, 1998 |
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Ganguly helps India win
series BULAWAYO, Sept 27 — Saurav Ganguly slammed his fifth one-day century and skipper Mohd Azharuddin weighed in with a typically breezy 72 as India defeated Zimbabwe by eight wickets to clinch the Hero Honda Cup Series with a match to spare at the Queen’s Club ground here today. |
 Sachin Tendulkar square cuts a shot on his way to scoring 127 runs not out in the first One Day International against Zimbabwe held in Buluwayo.— AP/PTI |
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Glowing tributes to 'Flo-Jo' |
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Ganguly helps India win series BULAWAYO, Sept 27 (PTI) — Saurav Ganguly slammed his fifth one-day century and skipper Mohd Azharuddin weighed in with a typically breezy 72 as India defeated Zimbabwe by eight wickets to clinch the Hero Honda Cup Series with a match to spare at the Queen’s Club ground here today. The left-handed opener cracked an unbeaten 107 as he and Azharuddin made up for Sachin Tendulkar’s (29) relatively cheap dismissal with a match-winning second-wicket stand of 153 to inspire India to 236 for two wickets in 41.5 overs in reply to Zimbabwe’s 235 for 7 made in the allotted 45 overs. The 2-0 series win was India’s fifth success in seven one-day tournaments or series this year. The third and final tie will be played in Harare on September 30. The left-handed Ganguly found the right occasion to touch top form, after struggling in the Sahara Cup series against Pakistan in Toronto, in the company of Azharuddin (72 - 81 b, 4 x 4, 1 x 6) and was present to bring up the winning runs with Ajay Jadeja (not out 17). Azharuddin’s luck with the toss continued and he promptly inducted Zimbabwe on a track sporting wet patches after overnight rain delayed start of play by over an hour and the match was reduced to 45 overs a side. After Tendulkar had set up India’s identical eight-wicket win in the opening tie yesterday, it was his opening partner’s turn today to star in the win and claim the ‘Man of the Match’ award. Tendulkar began the chase in whirlwind fashion as his 29 came off only 21 balls and was packed with four boundaries and a six. Off the very second ball he faced, he punched paceman Heath Streak through the covers and then smashed recalled medium-paced John Rennie for three fours and a swatted six over midwicket. But Ganguly took over once Tendulkar steered Muleleki Nkala to Craig Wishart at point which gave the 17-year-old debutant medium-pacer a wicket off only his second delivery in international cricket. Till then a silent onlooker to the rampaging Tendulkar, Ganguly came to life with cover driven fours off Rennie and Streak and launched into Nkala with gusto. Two cover drives and a lofted four between midwicket and square leg stood out. A predetermined jump down the wicket to send off-break bowler Andy Whittal for a six over long on by Ganguly helped India reach the 100-run mark. Azharuddin, promoting himself ahead of Rahul Dravid, hit two fours early on and then neatly kept working the ball away for singles to keep the score moving steadily. He raised his 50 off only 61 balls with two fours and celebrated it with a straight six off Whittal. Azharuddin departed with India well in sight of their second easy victory, hitting a full toss from his counterpart Alistair Campbell to Craig Wishart at deep midwicket which ended his 163-ball stand with Ganguly. But that proved only a minor hiccup and the Indian win came without further loss of wickets. Earlier, Campbell played a captain’s knock and also completed 2000 runs in one-day cricket in his 82nd match. His 125-run stand with Goodwin came off only 156 deliveries, but the latter skied a return catch to pace spearhead Javagal Srinath (2/35) as India reclaimed hold over the innings. The left-handed Campbell uppishly drove leg-spinner Anil Kumble (2/49), who had emerged only the second Indian to claim 200 one-day victims yesterday, for Ganguly’s to take the catch at long-off. The rest of the innings failed to show any purpose with contributions by Andy Flower (25), Craig Evans (17) and Paul Strang (18 n.o.) could still not help them cross the 250-run mark and present India with a tougher chase. India:
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Henman prevails over Paes NOTTINGHAM, Sept 27 (PTI) — Tim Henman doused the fight of a tired Leander Paes in straight sets to clinch the first reverse singles and pull Britain back into the elite world group by ensuring an unassailable 3-1 lead over India in their world group play-off tie here today. Henman, the top-ranked Briton, got better as the match progressed against a limping and error-prone Paes to carve out a 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) victory in a match lasting two hours and five minutes to enable Britain regain their place in the elite 16-team world group after a gap of six years. Paes, who played a scintillating match before losing to world number 11 Greg Rusedski in the opening singles and then brought India back into reckoning by winning the doubles yesterday with Mahesh Bhupathi, looked visibly worn out by the strain and could not raise his game once the first set tie-breaker slipped away from him. India, who regained their world group place last in 1995 with a superb 3-2 win over Croatia at home inspired by Paes’s Cup heroics, will now have to come through the Asian Zone qualifiers while Britain regain the spot they lost when India thrashed them 4-1 in Delhi in 1992 to consign them to the zonals since then. Indian hopes hinged on Paes, ranked 88 in the world, to pull off yet another Davis Cup escape act for India and thus apply pressure on the hosts ahead of Mahesh Bhupathi’s last reverse singles rubber against Greg Rusedski. The 25-year-old Paes kept the fight intact in the first set which went on serve, though he often limped on the courts and appeared fatigued and weary from the gruelling two matches he had played. Paes produced his best tennis in the first set by matching the 24-year-old Henman with brilliant volleys and typical quicksilver touch at the net. But unlike the doubles yesterday, Henman’s luck held in the tie-break as he wrapped it up comfortably at 7-3. The loss of the tiebreak seemed to take the fight out of Paes as he began fading away very fast. Henman, getting better with each stroke, took complete charge of the match as he wrapped up the second set 6-2. Paes, who was limping and also struggled to maintain his foothold on the dangerously wet synthetic court returned too many times into the net and could not show the court movement to reach Henman’s sharp returns. The Briton, coming off a good season, broke Paes in the second and fourth games to win the second set in just 45 minutes. Henman was fired up and came up with powerful serves, excellent volleying and passing shots in the third. But Paes produced a second wind to fightback in the set to force a tie-break. The Indian broke Henman in the third game, clinching it with a sizzling forehand crosscourt shot, to go up 2-1, but the Briton struck back by promptly breaking back Paes to go up 3-2. The keenly fought tie-break saw Paes go up 4-3, but Henman levelled it 4-all by twice reaching what looked like certain winners after Paes had played delectable drop shots. Paes again held a slender 5-4 lead, but Henman did not offer any more points as he wrapped up the tie-break 7-5 after two excellent rallies. "Six years ago it was India which put us out. Ironically it is by beating India we are back where we should be," commented Henman after ensuring nine-time winners Britain’s return to the world group. But he paid rich compliments to Paes. "I haven’t played a tie-breaker with such rallies before. One moment Paes was limping and serving at half pace and the next moment you find him diving and sliding to come up with skilled returns," he said. Henman said winning the first set made all the difference. "Normally it is Davis Cup which brings the best out of Indian tennis players and I am happy that it has done the same for us,’ he added. The result left the second reverse singles between Mahesh Bhupathi and Greg Rusedski an inconsequential affair.
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Monica Seles captures Princess Cup TOKYO, Sept 27 (Reuters) — A tired Monica Seles won a tough three-set victory over Arantxa Sanchez Vicario today to capture her third straight Princess Cup Championship. Seles of the USA rallied from dropping the first set to take the match 4-6 6-3 6-4. Seles and Spaniard Sanchez Vicario played their trademark games with Seles smashing away from the baseline to Sanchez Vicario, who brilliantly counter-attacked the slower Seles. "I am very tired after this match," Seles said, adding the victory was "pure luck". "A couple of shots went my way when it could have gone either way," she said. "I love to play at the Princess Cup. I always play some of my best tennis of the year," Seles said. The American jumped to an early lead in the first set by winning the second, third and fourth games by scoring 11 straight points and taking a 3-1 lead. However, Sanchez Vicario captured the next three games, breaking the service game of Seles twice. In the seventh game, Sanchez Vicario rallied from a 40-15 deficit to break serve. The game was highlighted by an incredible return of a Seles blast from the net that a perfectly positioned Sanchez Vicario hit for a winner with a flick of her racket. In the second set, Seles broke Sanchez Vicario in a tough second game and rode out the early lead to take the set. Seles again jumped to an early lead in the third set. Carried by the momentum of two aces from deuce that gave her the second game, Seles broke Sanchez Vicario in the third game. Sanchez Vicario evened the breaks in the sixth game, rallying from a 40-0 deficit. Seles had a chance to take the game, but at 40-30, she missed an easy smash and sent the game to deuce. As the championship drew nearer, Seles did not miss the smashes. In the 10th and final game, Seles moved to a 30-0 lead on two straight smashes and on championship point, she went to the net to send a winner past Sanchez Vicario. Seles avenged a loss against Sanchez Vicario earlier this year in the championship match at the French Open.
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Glowing tributes to 'Flo-Jo' LAKE FOREST(Calif.), Sept 27 (Reuters) — While the rest of the world mourned the death of the "world’s fastest woman," thousands gathered to celebrate Florence Griffith Joyner the wife, mother and friend. In a three-hour funeral service yesterday that was at time tearful, funny and uplifting, the Olympic gold medallist known worldwide as "Flo-Jo," was remembered as a woman of deep faith who value her friends and family above fame and bright lights. Many in the crowd of about 2,000 mourners at Saddleback Valley Church in suburban Orange County sobbed in their seats, shouted encouragement to the speakers or sang along with the often boisterous choir from Joyner’s Baptist Church. "Flo-Jo is now called to run a different race," said Rev. John Nix-McReynolds during a passionate eulogy. "Not a race in time, but a race in eternity." Nix-McReynolds recalled how Griffith Joyner rose from humble beginnings as one of 11 children growing up in the housing projects of Watts to become a world-class sprinter and Olympic champion. Griffith Joyner, who died on Monday at her home in Orange County of what the police and family members called a heart seizure, starred at the University of California, Los Angeles, and won a silver medal in the 1984 Los Angeles games. But Flo Jo earned her name as the "world’s fastest woman" at the 1988 games in Seoul, Korea, when she became the first American woman to claim four medals in one year, winning three gold and one silver. She also set world record times in the 100 and 200 metre races - records which still stand a decade later - and grabbed attention for her flashy, one-legged track outfits and long, colourfully painted fingernails. "We knew when she came into this world that she was a special one," said her brother, Weldon Tipps. "Whenever something happened in the world, all we caught was a glance of Florence." Griffith Joyner’s husband, Al Joyner, choked back sobs as he remembered his wife as "one of the world’s greatest mothers who read the Bible daily and loved her family unconditionally. Holding their 7-year-old daughter, Mary Ruth, in his arms and speaking to Griffith Joyner’s flower-bedecked coffin, Joyner promised his late wife that he would dedicate himself to "keep walking with God, because that’s the only way I’m going to see you again. Griffith Joyner’s brother-in-law and longtime coach, Bob Kersee, called his most famous pupil "a warrior and a dreamer" who worked harder and longer than any athlete he had ever met. And Kersee lashed out at "poison pens" in the U.S. Media for reporting persistent speculation that Griffith Joyner used performance-enhancing steroids. "She stopped by here to tell you that all those jealous, venomous words can’t harm me no more," he said. "Those tarnishing, backbiting poisonous lies of unsensitive reporters can’t hurt her no more".
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Italy, Sweden reach final showdown PARIS, Sept 27 (AFP) — Italy reached a title showdown with defending champions Sweden in the Davis Cup when they took an unbeatable 3-0 lead over the USA in Milwaukee yesterday. Italy clinched the vital third rubber when Andrea Gaudenzi and Diego Nargiso held off a furious comeback by Todd Martin and Justin Gimelstob to score a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 2-6, 6-3 win. It was the first time the US, without "unavailable" top players Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Michael Chang, had been beaten at home in the competition in 11 years and 19 ties. "Certainly to lose at home is very disappointing," US captain Tom Gullikson admitted. The defeat will put Gullikson, who became captain in 1994, under increased pressure to quit. Former world number-one John Mcenroe has already made it clear he would like the job. Italy’s win, their third over the Americans in 10 meetings, looked very much on the cards from the moment they won both the opening singles on Friday. But they had to steady frayed nerves yesterday when they failed to convert two match points and squandered a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 5-4 lead. "The players played very, very good matches and they fight a lot," said Italian captain Paolo Bertolucci. "We knew without Sampras and Agassi, it is another team. But it’s still the US team — so we are very, very happy," Bertolucci said. Gullikson entered the semi-finals undermanned after Sampras, Agassi and Michael Chang made it clear they would not compete. And although former world number one Jim Courier, the hero of the Americans’ opening-round victory over Russia, stepped into the breach, he was relegated to the sidelines because of his lack of match fitness after months of inactivity due to a "dead arm." Gullikson gambled by bringing in newcomer Jan-Michael Gambill to join Martin for the singles but both were beaten. The USA, who have won a record 31 Davis Cup titles, were last beaten on American soil by Germany in the relegation round in 1987. After losing in the semi-finals for the last two years, Italy will be appearing in their sixth Davis Cup final. Their only triumph in the event came in 1976 when they defeated Chile 4-1 in Santiago. Sweden reached their 12th final when Jonas Bjorkman and Nickolas Kulti overwhelmed Javier Sanchez and Julian Alonso 6-2 6-2, 6-2 in yesterday’s doubles. "No country could beat Sweden on this court," said Spanish coach Manuel Santana, who played on the only two Spanish teams ever to reach Davis Cup finals (1965 and 1967). In the world group qualifying matches, Australia, France, the Czech Republic, Brazil, Russia and the Netherlands all took unassailable 3-0 leads. But Britain were kept waiting by India in Nottingham. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, ranked third in the world doubles rankings, kept alive the visitors’ hopes by beating Tim Henman and Neil Broad 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). France ensured captain Yannick Noah would go out on a high note by racing home against Israel with Guillaume Raoux and Jerome Golmard beating Noam Behr and Eyral Erlich 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. The French pair, partnering each other for the first time in swirling wind, needed one hour 39 minutes to capture the decisive third point of the tie and take the pressure off ahead of today’s reverse singles. Cedrine Pioline and Guillaume Raoux had laid the foundations for the win by seeing off Amir Hadad and Harel Levi in Friday’s opening singles. Noah will step down as team skipper after the tie with Guy Forget the favourite to succeed him. Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde clinched Australia’s qualifying tie with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7-4) in the doubles against Uzbekistan. The Woodies took just over two hours to wrap up the rubber against the Uzbek pair of Oleg Ogorodov and Dmitri Tomashevic.
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Easy win for Chandigarh XI CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — A fighting-fit Chandigarh XI chalked out a facile 4-1 win over Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Jalandhar, while Shivalik Club got the better of Ropar Hawks by a 4-2 margin on the second day of the 28th All-India Gurmit Memorial Hockey Tournament at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here today. In the first match, Shivalik Club, maintaining their winning spree, stormed the Ropar Hawks territory at the very outset and took the lead in the second minute through an opportunistic strike by Rajpal Singh whose field goal caught the rival defence unawares. However, thereafter, Shivalik Club could not achieve much despite constant pressure and had to wait till the 32nd minute to consolidate the the lead when Sarabjeet Singh converted a penalty corner to make it 2-0. On changing ends, Ropar Hawks tried to come back into the game and succeeded in their endeavour to some extent when Deepak found the target through a field goal in the 45th minute to reduce the margin. However, Shivalik Club once again widened the difference three minutes later when the promising Lakhwinder capitalised on a fine pass and sounded the boards making it 3-1 in favour of his team. Rajpal struck once again in the 52nd minute,, converting a penalty stroke to make it 4-1. With hardly two minutes remaining, Ropar Hawks managed to reduce the deficit to 2-4 when Jaswant Singh succeeded in deflecting the ball into the goalmouth following a counter-attack. The second match was dominated by the energetic Chandigarh XI lads throughout the stipulated 70 minutes of play, So much was their control over the proceedings that the seasoned Army outfit, once regarded as a force to reckon with in Indian hockey, could hardly initiate any worthwhile move. Down by four goals at the breather, EME found the going tough even in the second half but the Army men managed to pull one back in the dying minutes to salvage some prestige. Chandigarh XI commenced the precedings on a promising note by forging ahead in the ninth minute through outside-right Vikram Saini who made full use of a pass by inside-left Navdeep Singh. In the 17th minute, Chandigarh XI increased the lead to 2-0 when inside-right Inderjeet Singh dived headlong to tap the ball home following a combined move by Navdeep and skipper Surjit Singh. In the 24th minute, the hard-working Navdeep of Chandigarh XI found the target following a goalmouth scramble to make it 3-0. The fourth goal for the winners came three minutes before lemon time when Inderjeet's pass to Jasmeet caught the EME defence off guard and Jasmeet wasted no time in hitting into an empty goal. In the second half, EME made some moves through inside-right Kerketta, inside-lelft W. Lakra and centre-forward Avtar Singh but the Chandigarh XI defence proved impregnable. It was only towards the end that EME succeeded in reducing the margin through centre-forward Appachu who deflected home a hit by Kerketta (1-4). Umpire Rajinder Gandhi and DS Bhandari had to show the green card to left-back Bhupinder Singh and centre-half WD Dhan of EME for rough tactics. Tomorrow's fixtures: Signals V Assam Rifles — 12 p.m. IAF v FCI — 1.30 p.m Customs v Faridkot XI — 3 p.m.
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Gilchrist toils to enter quarterfinal AHMEDABAD, Sept 27 (PTI) — World number three Peter Gilchrist of England rallied superbly, after trailing 560-732 at the end of the first session, to oust his countryman and 28th ranked Peter Sheehan 1470-1115 and enter the quarterfinal of the Florsheim World Professional Billiards Championship here today. In another third round match, world number one Mike Russell of England drubbed 12th ranked Nalin Patel of India 2119-685 after leading 1302-112 in the first session. In the late night second round matches yesterday, 10th ranked Ian Williams of England crushed 24th ranked B. Bhaskar of India 1037-619, after leading 492-247 in the first half, while eleventh ranked Subhash Agrawal pipped fellow Indian rival and 20th ranked Manoj Kothari 1223-1081 after trailing 567-601 in the first session. "Basically I am a slow starter. I always come from behind to score wins. Today, however, I was disappointed with my game and I hope I can perform better in the next a few matches", Gilchrist said after the match. "Peter Sheehan played well in the initial stages of the match, specially after getting a break of 250, but once I got a break of 69 in the 10th visit to the table and took a slender lead of 1107-999, I never looked back", he added. "After taking the lead I hardly gave him any opportunity to come up with big breaks after I missed. But when he missed I always got a lot of opportunities to come up with big breaks which was sheer bad luck for Peter", he said. "Once I took a good lead, with a few long and middle in-offs with just 15 minutes to go, I relaxed a bit and was not totally focussed as I knew time would run out on him", Gilchrist added. Sheehan told reporters: "He was in a prime position to win after leading for the most part of the match. He picked up his game a couple of notches and any way I was not expected to win against him." Sheehan, who hopes to improve his world ranking after his fine showing in the championship by losing in the pre-quarters, too agreed that there was a slight drift to one side of the table which made shot making difficult. Both Mukesh Rehani of India and Chris Shutt of England had complained about the drift yesterday. This was the second time the two Englishmen have met with Gilchrist winning both. Gilchrist will now take on the winner of the quarter-final between David Causier of England and Arun Agrawal of India. Mumbai cueist Arun was leading 688-618 at the half-way mark in his pre-quarter-final match while in another pre-quarter-finals India’s Ashok Shandilya was trailing Chris Shutt of England 480-732. Mike Russell told reporters in a post match press conference that he was not happy with his performance. "I played alright in the first session but the second was not satisfying. Patel is a good player but today he did not play his game", he added. Russell will play the winner of Shandilya-Shutt match in last eight stage. Russell had breaks of 151 (7th visit), 184 (13th), 149 (18th), 292 (24th), 198 (27th) and 125 unfinished in the 28th visit to the table in the first session for an average of 48.2 while in the second he could manage only three century breaks for an average of 38.9. However, his overall match average was a satisfying 44.1. Patel, who got the highest break of 310 (against Malik) so far in the championship, failed to get any century breaks. His highest being a 98 followed by a 65 and a 69. Gilchrist got breaks of 72, 93, 190 (unfinished) in the first session but played much better to notch-up breaks of 104, 63, 63, 100, 69, 80 and 87 in the second. Sheehan had breaks of 250, 98, 192, 130, 87, 96 before he ran out of time. Results (second round): Ian Williams (Eng) b B. Bhaskar (Ind) 1037 (89, 99, 95, 90, 72, 105, 88)-619 (56, 60, 77, 107). Subhash Agrawal (Ind) b Manoj Kothari (Ind) 1223 (88, 99 51, 73, 75)-1081 (54, 91, 89, 58, 81). (Third round): Mike Russell (Eng) b Nalin Patel (Ind) 2119 (151, 184, 149, 76, 292, 198, 175, 147, 120, 197, 75 unfinished)-685 (72, 80, 98, 65, 69). Peter Gilchrist (Eng) b Peter Sheehan (Eng) 1470 (72, 93, 218, 104, 63, 55, 63, 100, 69, 80, 87, 53)-1115 (250, 98, 192, 130, 87, 96).
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Bengal swimmers corner glory CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — Swimmers from Bengal cornered glory in the 3rd Special Olympics National Games at the Sector 14 Panjab University swimming pool on the third day today. In track and field, special athletes from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka continued to be above other participants as they won most of the medals at stake in a crowded track and field schedule. For North West Region, the hosts, success came in badminton and table tennis, both in boys and girls section. While Niti Singh, who took the oath on behalf of the participants on the opening day, ended with a double by winning both singles and doubles in group I, Prabhjot and Kirti Rattan held the limelight in boys section. In badminton also, Tejinder Singh, a local boy, won both his games. In basketball, North West region after defeating Andhra Pradesh 10-5 went down fighting to Orissa 3-8 in the boys section where Tamil Nadu and Kerala were poised for honours. Among foreign participants, swimmers from the Philippines won a couple of medals. The following are the
results: 50m free style (16-21 years): Ritchel Vistal (Philippines 1, R. Mandal (Bengal) 2, Sanjukta Ghosh (Bengal) 3. Group II — Radhika Bhatia (Maha) 1, R. Babli (TN) 2, Banti Dass Bengal) 3 100 m free style (12-15 years) — N. Vidya (TN) 1, KP Jayshree (Bengal) 2, Sunaina Singh (NW Region) 3. 50 m (8-11 yrs): Deepa Pondicherry (Bengal) 1, Anupama Sarbar (Bengal) 2. 50 m Backstroke (12-15 yrs): KP Jayashree (Bengal) 1, Sanjukta Ghosh (Bengal) 2. 25 m free style (8-11 yrs): Anupama Sarkar (Bengal) 1, Deepa Pondicherry (Bengal) 2. 100 m free style (16-21 yrs): Sanjukta Ghosh 1, Kanchan Mandal (Bengal) 2, Bantu Dass (Bengal) 3. 200 m free style (12-15 yrs): N. Vidya 1, Sunaina Singh (NW Region) 2. 100 m Breast stroke (16-21 yrs): R. Babli (TN) 1, Richel Vistal (Philippines) 2. Men: 100 metres (12-15 years): D. Mandal (Bengal) 1, Neelu Baanerjee (Bengal) 2, Sandeep Chaudhary (MP) 3. (22 years and above): Deepak Bainik (Bengal) 1, Sandeep Gandhi (Maha) 2. 50 metres (16 to 21 years): Sanjay Mandal (Bengal) 1, A. Raja (TN) 2. 50 m Butterfly (16-21 years): A. Raja (TN) 1. Back Stroke (12-15 yrs): Niloy Banerjee (Bengal) 1, Neeraj Mitra (Karnataka) 2, Dilu Mandal (Bengal) 3. (16-21 yrs): Sanjay Mandal (Bengal) 1, Noordhin (TN) 2, Abhilash PJ (Kerala) 3. (22 yrs and above): Deepak Banik (Bengal) 1. 25 m free style (8-11 yrs): S. Ramesh (TN) 1. 100 m free style (16-21 yrs): Sanjay Mandal (Bengal) 1, PJ Abhilash Kerala) 2, L. Noordhin (TN) 3. 200 m (12015yrs): Sandeep Chaudhary (MP) 1, 50 m (22 yrs and above): Deepak Bainik 1, Sandeep Gandhi 2, S. Ramesh 3. 4x50 m relay Bengal 1, Maharashtra 2, T.N. 3. 50 m breast stroke (12-15 yrs): Nilesh Jambhle (Maha) 1. 100 m (16-21 yrs): L. Noordhin 1, Rishi Shahani (maha( 2. 100 m (12-15 yrs): Nilesh Jhamble 1. 50 m forecast stroke (22 forecast stroke (22 yrs and above): Sandeep Gandhi 1. Softball throw girls (8-11 years): P. Alaguvalli (TN), Swapna Joseph (Ker), Therasal (TN), R. Chitra (TN), Susanta Pandit (Ben), V. Anbumani (TN), Parimala (Kar) and C. Veera Lakshmi (TN). Boys (8-11 yrs): Vinod D. Chopra (Guj), Tejinder Singh (Bih), Khem Singh (Raj), Ramesh (TN), M.Dhingaram (TN), Maleen (Kar), Albert (TN), S. Rajesh (TN), Saameer (Mah), Mani. S. (TN), Vikram (MP), Radeesh Murali (Ker), Vinoth Kumar (TN), Satish Kumar J. (TN), Saminathan.K. (TN), Manicharaj M (TN), Davesh (TN), Shakeel (Raj), Alex Brilly (Ker), Anil Hussain (Ben), Honey Khanna (Del), Gulnaz (Ker), Pratap (Kar), Varadarjan (TN) and Rajesh Jena (Ori). Volleyball girls: Bengal 1, Maharashtra 2, Karnataka 3. Track and field Girls: 100 m (8-11 yrs): Therasal (TN), Dolly Aggarwal (Ben), Sulochana (Ori), Monica Rani (NWR), Sidnhu S. Behera (Ori), Bishwamitra Mishra (Ori), and Thuma Mishra (Ben). 200 m (girls 12-15 yrs): Shivani Khokhar (Del). Shot put (16-21 yrs): R. Bhaktir (Mah), T. K. Ajitha (Ker), Ashad Gatel (Guj) and Shiba Pillai (Ker).
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Probe panel invites Aussie players ISLAMABAD, Sept 27 (PTI) — The judicial probe into match-fixing allegations in Pakistan cricket has taken an interesting turn with the one-man commission deciding to invite some of the touring Australian team members besides former skipper Imran Khan amidst denial by leading Pakistani players that they were involved in any such act. Some of the current Pakistan team members facing charges, including Salim Malik, have strongly denied involvement in their deposition before the Justice Malik Muhammad Qayyum panel yesterday in Lahore, reports available here said. Malik, who was first accused by Australian trio of Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and Tim May of offering them bribes to throw away the Karachi Test during their 1994 tour, denied before the commission all such allegations and asserted that during his captaincy Pakistan won maximum matches at home and abroad. When asked why the Aussies had made such an accusation, Malik said their leading leg spinner Shane Warne could be nursing a grudge against him because he (Warne) had never been able to get him out. Malik’s deposition prompted the panel to invite some Aussie players, Mark Waugh in particular, to appear before it. A Reuter report from Karachi said the Australian team managers have asked their board (ACB) if players can appear before the commission next weekend. "We have approached the ACB who will get in touch with the Pakistan cricket authorities," manager Steve Bernard told Reuters here. Ali Sibtain Fazli, the Pakistan Cricket Board lawyer, had said Steve Bernard would be requested to allow his players to appear before the commission at its next hearing on October 3. Imran Khan and Wasim Akram, one of the three main accused (alongwith Malik and Ijaz Ahmed), are also scheduled to depose on October 3. Malik had reportedly deposed that he had never been involved in match-fixing or bribery but had conceded that the term "match-fixing"started in 1994, "but no solid proof of match-fixing by any player has come to surface so far". He rejected allegations that former PCB officials Arif Abbasi and Javed Burki had reprimanded him in the dressing room for match-fixing and alleged that "somebody in the team had been spreading rumours about match-fixing which does not exist in reality". Burki had earlier told the commission about allegations against Malik and that he had recommended to the PCB that he (Malik) should not be included in the team in future. Middle order bat Ijaz Ahmed had denied before the panel any involvement in match-fixing and said probably his name was being included because he was Malik’s brother-in-law. But Ijaz Ahmed was once warned by Justice Qayyum for making contradictory statements. An interim report of the PCB probe committee released recently had indicted Malik, Ijaz and Akram and recommended their non-inclusion in the Pakistan team in future. Rameez Raja, who led the Pakistan team in the 1997 Sahara Cup in Toronto, told the enquiry commission that he had no proof against any player and that he was never contacted for any match-fixing during his captaincy. Raja also denied he had submitted a report to the PCB about some irresponsible play by Salim Malik during last year’s Sahara Cup, which India won 4-1. Pace bowler Aaqib Javed also deposed that he had no personal knowledge of match-fixing incidents in the Pakistan team and claimed there was no proof for such match-fixing allegations. But Javed had disclosed that four of the team members, including fast bowler, Waqar Younis, had received luxury cars as gifts and that one of his friend, Khalid Javed, had once confided in him that he knew some secrets about match-fixing. The commission has directed Aaqib Javed to ask his friend to appear before the commission.
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Dhruv, Punam win CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — Dhruv from Karnal and Punam from Rohtak clinched the titles in under 10 years section, defeating Rohit Verma of Sirsa and Sonam of Rohtak, respectively, in the Raj Kumar Memorial Haryana State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament that started at DAV School, Sector 8, Panchkula, near here, today. Over 200 players from the state are participating in the tournament. The result: Girls: Semifinal: Sonam (Rohtak) b Staffi (Sirsa) 21-16, 18-21, 21-16. Poonam (Rohtak) b Meenakshi (Sirsa) 21-12, 21-14. Final: Poonam (Rohtak) b Sonam (Rohtak) 21-19, 21-12. Cadet boys singles: Hitesh (Sirsa) b Manpreet Singh (Panchkula) 21-8, 21-7, Rahul Dahiya (Rohtak) b Deepak (Yamuna Nagar) 21-18, 17-21, 24-22. Saurabh Yadav (Rwr) b Nishant (GGN) 21-14, 21-7. Sonam (Rht) b Pallavi (Srs) 21-5, 21-5. Rahul Batra (Pkl) b Preet Kamal 21-9, 21-12. Lanin (Rohtak) b Bharat (Y.N.) 21-21. 21-16. Rohit (Knl) b Rajat (Srs) 21-13, 21-3. Rahul (Bhn) b Kabir (Ggn) 21-13, 21-17. Seeding for the open
events: Women: 1 Rekha Sehgal
(Srs), 2 Monika (Srs), 3 Meenu (Srs). |
Top teams for Hamdard memorial
hockey CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — Thirteen top teams of the country, including Punjab Police, Border Security Force and Army Supply Corps, will participate in the second All-India Dr Sadhu Singh Hamdard Memorial Hockey Tournament to be played at Burlton Park, Jalandhar, from October 22, Mr Surinder Singh Sodhi, Organising secretary of the tournament, announced here today. Mr Surinder Singh, an Olympian and a former international, said that the final would be played on November 3. Other teams that have confirmed their participation are EME, CRPF, Rail Coach Factory, Bharat Petroleum, Punjab State Electricity Board and Nawanshahr XI. Mr Surinder Singh Sodhi is also the president of the Nawanshahr District Hockey Association. Mr Surinder Singh said that the organisers world give more than Rs 1 lakh in cash prizes. The winners of the tournament will get Rs 31,000 while the prize money for the runners-up team is Rs 21,000. Best Player of the tournament will get a cash award of Rs 10,000 while from league matches onward, a cash award of Rs 2,000 will be given to the Man of the Match after each game. Other all-India tournaments being organised in Jalandhar are All-India Surjit Singh Memorial Hockey Tournament (November) and Ramesh Memorial All-India Hockey Tournament (December).
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PUNCOM XI triumph CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — Punjab Ranji player Munish Arora's fine all round performance (51 & 2 for 22) enabled Punjab Communication Ltd (PUNCOM XI) to rout Chandigarh XI by 73 runs in the fifth J.P. Atray Memorial Cricket Tournament at the PCA Stadium, Mohali, here today. Krishan Mohan and Dhanraj Singh steadied the innings for PUNCOM XI after early loss of openers. Left arm spinner Girish Bhanot bowled exceptionally well. He first bowled Dhanraj Singh round his legs and later claimed Krishan Mohan trying to clear the fence who was caught at long on. Munish Arora in association with Obaid Kamaal and Kailash took the total form 133 to 209. His knock of 51 off 70 balls included just a single hit to the fence. PUNCOM XI scored a modest total of 209 runs in allotted 50 overs. The Chandigarh XI opened through Gurinder Singh and Rakesh Jolly. The team got off to a rousing start as they scored the 50 of the innings in 9.4 overs. Jolly was in full cry as he struck six boundaries in his knock of 41 runs which came off just 39 balls. In a dramatic turnaround they lost five wickets for the addition of just 19 runs. Left arm spinner Bharti Vij and off spinner Kailash Chander bowled well in tandem. Kailash took three wickets for 18 runs & Bharti Vij claimed the vital wicket of Rakesh Jolly. Munish Arora returned to wipe off the Chandigarh innings for a paltry 136 runs. Munish Arora was declared the Man of the Match. Tomorrow ONGC Delhi will play PCA Colts at 9.00 a.m.
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Jeev Milkha
Singh
finishes third CHANDIGARH, Sept 27 — Ace Indian professional golfer Jeev Milkha Singh, gave a creditable performance finishing third in the 12th Mercuries Cup Masters golf tournament which concluded at Taiwan today, according to information reaching here. Jeev was leading by one stroke on the third day. He carded seven under par to pocket $ 25000 for his efforts. Bonchu of Thailand and Hashigh Yu of Japan went for the playoff in which the former triumphed winning the title.
Asian TT tourney from today NEW DELHI, Sept 27 (PTI) — Both Indian men and women have been drawn in relatively easy group ‘G’ in the 14th Asian Table Tennis Championship which begins at Osaka, Japan, from tomorrow. The men’s team led by national champion Chetan Baboor has been drawn with Pakistan and Brunei while the eves spearheaded by M.S. Mythili will lock horns with Australia and Thailand. The top teams from each group will advance to the knockout quarter-finals. A total of 35 countries are in the fray. The 10-member Indian squad
comprises Chetan Baboor, former champions S. Raman and
Arup Basak, Soumyadeep Roy and Deepak Thukral in men
while Mythili, N.R. Indu, Mantu Ghosh, Kasturi
Chakravarthy and Poloumi Ghatak make up the women’s
team. |
Khalsa College Club annex v'ball
trophy PATIALA, Sept 27 — Khalsa College Club subdued Coaching Centre, Nabha, 15-7, 7-15, 15-6, 15-13 to annex the title in the Patiala District Volleyball Championships which concluded here today. Coaching Centre, Patiala, beat Physical Education College in straight sets 15-9, 15-11 to claim the third spot. In the women's section Physical Education College, Patiala, overcame a fighting Government College for girls 9-15, 15-11, 17-15, 15-13 to clinch the title. Coaching Centre, Patiala, downed Government High School, Mallewal (Nabha), 15-12, 15-8 to come third. Dalbir Singh in the men's section and Inderjeet Kaur in the women's section were declared the best spikers of the tournament in which 26 teams participated.
Akhilesh excels JALANDHAR, Sept 27 — Akhilesh Kumar of BSF broke his own previous national meet record in high board diving of the 47 All India Police Aquatic and Cross Country Championships 98 at PAP Swimming pool, here today. Akhilesh Kumar won the gold with 415-10 points while his previous record was 395.45. Silver medal went to Chandan Das of Punjab Police with 408.15, while T. Sukhija of CRPF had to remain satisfied with the bronze with logging 358.70 points. In 1500 metre free style
event Kailash Nath of CRPF won gold clocking 17.51.27.
Silver went to M. Satish Kumar of BSF with 18.20.26 where
as M.S. Shiber Paul of CISF got bronze with 18.28.12. |
Moeller ready to play for Germany BONN, Sept 27 (Reuters) — Veteran midfielder Andreas Moeller has said he will be available for selection under new Germany coach Erich Ribbeck. "I have explained to him that I am ready to play for the national team again," Moeller told daily Bild in an interview. The 31-year-old Borussia Dortmund player had said following a disappointing World Cup that he wanted to drop out of international football for a while. Moeller, who fell out with former coach Berti Vogts in France, said he had spoken with Ribbeck on Thursday. "I believe Ribbeck will treat me in a fair way," he told Bild, hinting his difficult relationship with Vogts had been the reason for his decision to stand down. Ribbeck was appointed earlier this month after Vogts resigned. Moeller has appeared 82 times for Germany. One of the most talented players in the Bundesliga, he has never quite lived up to expectations while on duty with the national team.
Punjab handball meet from today LUDHIANA, Sept 27 — Thirteen boys and 11 girls' teams have confirmed their participation in the Punjab State Handball Championship for junior boys and girls scheduled to be held at Bathinda from September 28 to 30, according to Mr S.S. Channy, President, Punjab Handball Association. The championship in the
boys' section from this year has been named after Labh
Singh, an international handball player who died in a
road accident recently. |
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