Grand treble by Australia
By Amardeep Bhattal
THREE world titles in two days! Sounds incredible but it’s true. Australia made sporting history on June 19 and 20 by emerging winners in the cricket World Cup at Lord’s, the men’s Champions Trophy in Hockey at Brisbane and the women’s edition of the championship at the same venue a day prior to the triumph in England.

Ignored by State Govt
By Ashwani Dutta
A Padam SHREE awardee who has brought laurel in weightlifting not only to Yamunanagar but also to the country has been ignored by the State Government.

Sport Mail

Highlights of 1999 World Cup
By Pervez Qaiser

The following are some of the highlights of the just concluded seventh World Cup in England —

**Australia defeated Pakistan by eight wickets at Lord’s to win the World Cup for the second time after 1987. Australia now joins the West Indies as the second team to win the World Cup on two occasion.

**Australia also became the second team after Sri Lanka to win the World Cup batting second in the final.

**Australian Steve Waugh equalled Pakistani Javed Miandad’s record of most matches in World Cup. Javed Miandad played 33 matches in the first six World Cups while Steve Waugh appeared in 33 matches in four World Cups from 1987. The final match was Waugh’s 33rd in World Cup.

**Australian Shane Warne and New Zealander Geoff Allott set a new record of highest number of wickets in a single World Cup. Both bowlers took 20 wickets each. India’s Roger Binny ( in 1983), Australian Craig McDermott (in 1987) and Wasim Akram of Pakistan (in 1992) shared the previous record with 18 wickets apiece.

**Sachin Tendulkar of India became the third and Australian Mrak Waugh the fourth batsman to score 1000 runs in the World Cup. Sachin Tendulkar achieved this feat in the fourth super six match against Pakistan at Manchester on June 8 while Mark Waugh reached this milestone in the final against Pakistan at Lord’s on June 20.

**Mohammed Azharuddin became the first player in the history of one day international to score 9000 runs. He achieved this feat during his 26 run knock against England at Edgbaston on May 29. It was the 294th innings of his 320th match. In the same match Azharuddin also became the first fielder to take 150 catches. Alec Stewart’s catch off Mohanty was his 150th in 320 one-day international matches.

** Saqlain Mushtaq set a new record of completing the fastest 200 wickets in terms of matches when he took his 200th wicket against South Africa at Trent Bridge on June 5 in his 104th one day international match . Jacques Kallis was his 200th victim. South African Allan Donald who took his 200th wicket in his 117th match against Zimbabwe at Chelmsford on May 25, held the previous record. Donald broke Waqar Younis record by one match. Pakistani Waqar Younis had achieved his target in 118 matches in the 1996 World Cup.

Shane Warne also completed his 200 wickets in one-day internationals when he took Moin Khan’s wicket in the final at Lord’s. It was his 125th oneday international match. He is the second Australian and 11th bowler in the history of one day internationals to do so.

**Sachin Tendulkar became the fourth batsman after Indian Mohammed Azharuddin, West Indian Desmond Haynes and Sri Lankan Aravinda de Silva to score 8000 runs in one-day internationals. He achieved this feat during his 45 run knock against Pakistan at Old Trafford, Manchester, on June 8. It was the 210th innings of his 217th one day international match.

**Pakistan’s Saqlain Mushtaq became the second bowler to claim a hat trick in a World Cup match. He achieved this feat by dismissing Zimbabwean Henry Olonga, Adam Huckle and Mpumelelo Mbangwa in the first three balls of his seventh over at The Oval on June 11. India’s Chetan Sharma was the first bowler to perform a hat-trick in World Cup match. Saqlain’s hat trick was the 13th in one-day internationals. It was his second hat-trick in one dayers. He recorded his first hat-trick against the same team at Peshawar in 1996-97. Saqlain is the second bowler to achieve two ha-tricks in one dayers after his skipper Wasim Akram.

**The second semi final match between Australia and South Africa at Edgbaston on June 17 ended in a tie. It was the first tie match in World Cup and 15th in one-day internationals.

**Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly added 318 runs for the second wicket against Sri Lanka at Taunton on May 26, which was the first ever partnership over 300 runs in World Cup as well as in one-day internationals. The 276 runs unfinished partnership for the fourth wicket between Mohammed Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja against Zimbabwe at Cuttack on April 9, 1998, was the previous best partnership in one day internationals.

**India recorded their highest ever total in World Cup as well as in one-day internationals by scoring 373 for six in 50 overs against Sri Lanka at Taunton on May 26. India’s previous highest in World Cup as well as in one dayers was 329 for two in 50 overs against Kenya at Bristol on may 23.

**Scotland became the 15th team to play in World Cup and 16th to appear in one dayers. The match against Australia at Worcester was Scotland’s first in World Cup as well as in one dayers.

**Bangladesh became the 16th team to play in the World Cup. The match against New Zealand at Chelmsford on May 17 was Bangladesh’s first in World Cup. It was their 31st match in one day internationals.

**Bangladesh recorded their first victory in their third World Cup match by beating Scotland by 22 runs. It was Bangladesh’s only second victory in one-day internationals.

** The 161 run partnership for the sixth wicket between Maurce Odumbe and Alpesh Vadher against Sri Lanka at Southampton on may 30, was the best in World Cup as well as in one day internationals. The previous highest partnership for the sixth wicket was the 154 run partnership between Richie Richardson and Jeoff Dujon against Pakistan and Sharjah on October 21, 1991.

Arjuna Ranatunga became the third player after Javed Miandad and Imran Khan (both Pakistani) to play in five or more World Cups.

**Saeed Anwar and Wajahattullah Wasti added 194 runs for the first wicket against New Zealand in the first semi fianal at Old Trafford, manchester on June 16 to set up a new record of this wicket in World Cup. South African pair of Gary Kirsten and Andrew Hudson held the previous record. They put on 186 runs against Holland at Rawalpindi in the 1996 World Cup.

**Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid added 225 runs for the unfinished third wicket against Kenya at Bristol on May 23 which was the best partnership for this wicket in World Cup as well as in one dayers. Pakistani Saeed Anwar and Ijaz Ahmed held the previous record of 230 runs against India at Dhaka on January 19, 1998, in one-day internationals.

**Nayan Mongia (India) vs Zimbabwe at Leicester on May 16 and Ridley Jacobs (West Indies) v New Zealand at Southampton on May 24 equalled the World Cup as well as one day international record of most dismissals in an innings by dismissing five batsmen behind the wicket. Jimmy Adams (West Indies) v Kenya at Pune in 1996, Rashid Latif (Pakistan) v New Zealand at Lahore in 1996 and Syed Kirmani (India) v Zimbabwe at Leicester in 1983 achieved the same before this World Cup.

West Indian Ridley Jacobs became the seventh and Neil Johnson eighth batsman in the World Cup to carry his bat through the complete innings. Both batsmen achieved this feat against Australia. Jacobs performed the same at Old Trafford on May 30 while Johnson did it at Lord’s on June 9.

Graham Thorpe (England) v Sri Lanka at Lord’s on May 14 Nathan Astle (New Zealand) v Australia at Cardiff on May 20 Ian Philip (Scotland) v Bangladesh at Edinburgh on May 24 Ricky Ponting (Australia) v Bangladesh at Chester-le-Street on May 27, Stuart Walliams (West Indies) v Scotland at Leicester on May 27, and Andrew Whittall (Zimbabwe) v South Africa at Chelmsford on May 29, equalled the World Cup record of most catches in a match by holding three catches.

** Pakistan’s Wasim Akram set the new record of highest number of wickets in the World Cup. He has taken 43 wickets in 32 matches in the World Cup so far. Another Pakistani, Imran Khan, held the previous record. Imran took 34 wickets in 28 World Cup matches.

**Moin Khan of Pakistan set record of highest number of dismissals by a keeper in the World Cup. Moin Khan dismissed 29 batsmen behind the wicket in 20 World Cup matches.Wasim Bari who dismissed 22 batsmen behind the wicket in 14 matches held the previous record.

**Mohammed Azharuddin bettered Imran Khan’s record captaining in the highest number of matches in the World Cup. India’s match against New Zealand at Trent Bridge on June 12 was Azhar’s 23 as captain in the World Cup. Imran Khan led Pakistan in 22 World Cup matches.

**Steve Waugh’s catch of Akram in the final at Lord’s on June 20, has taken his tally to 14 to become the fielder with most catches in World Cup. Anil Kumble held the previous record with 13 catches to his credit. Kumble set this record during seventh World Cup.

Grand treble by Australia
By Amardeep Bhattal

THREE world titles in two days! Sounds incredible but it’s true. Australia made sporting history on June 19 and 20 by emerging winners in the cricket World Cup at Lord’s, the men’s Champions Trophy in Hockey at Brisbane and the women’s edition of the championship at the same venue a day prior to the triumph in England. Though essentially team efforts, three players stood out in the historic Aussie wins — the steel-nerved Shane Warne, who wrecked Pakistan with superb bowling in the World Cup final, dashing forward Stephen Davies, who sent the Koreans packing with a spectacular brace in the men’s Champions Trophy final, and Katrina Powell, who emulated Davis’ feat in the women’s final. Although for the women it was the fifth consecutive title in the history of the Champions Trophy, the cricketers lifted the World Cup only for the second time after the maiden title win in 1987. Similarly, the men’s hockey team lifted the prestigious title for the seventh time. The last time Australia won the men’s Champions Trophy was way back in 1993 at Kuala Lumpur.

Although the Australians had an impressive run in all three world championships, it were the cricketers who made headlines with gritty fightbacks. At times they snatched victories from the jaws of defeat. Who can forget the cricket World Cup semifinal between Australia and South Africa. With defeat staring them in the face after having set a modest target of 213, Steve Waugh and his boys kept their nerves till the very end, eventually pulling off one of the most sensational victories in cricketing history. Leg spin wizard Shane Warne left the South Africans gasping with a four-wicket haul. Ultimately, the Aussies managed to check Lance Klusener whose heroic effort almost edged them out of the race for the title.

Australia, after a poor start, virtually rose from the dead to claim the World Cup. They entered the Super Six without any point to their credit. But players like Steve Waugh, his brother Mark, and Shane Warne not only fetched full points for their side in the Super Six but also booked their team’s berth in the final where they humbled formidable Pakistan by eight wickets in a hopelessly one-sided tie.

In the Champions Trophy for men, Australia emerged deserving winners after beating South Korea 3-1 in the final at Brisbane on the same day when Steve Waugh led the cricket team to victory at Lord’s. Dashing forward Stephen Davies enhanced his reputation as an attacker with a decisive brace. The other scorer for Australia was Troy Elder.

In a field of six teams, including South Korea, Spain, the Netherlands, Pakistan and England,Australia finished on top in the preliminary rounds having won three matches and drawing one. The only match which Australia lost was against Pakistan by a narrow 1-2 margin.

Title contenders Pakistan were doubly unlucky both at the cricket World Cup and in the Champions Trophy. While in the cricket World Cup, Australia cut short their dream of bagging the second title, in the Champions Trophy, England defeated Pakistan in the play-off for placing in the next edition of the championship thus ejecting Shahnaz Sheikh’s boys from the prestigious meet for the first time in two decades. World champions the Netherlands were relegated to the third place after they managed to beat Spain in the play-off for the bronze.

The Australian women also held a complete sway over the proceedings in the Champions Trophy. In a field of six teams, including the Netherlands, Germany, Argentina, New Zealand and Kora, the Australian eves finished on top of the preliminary stage by collecting 13 points from four victories and one draw. In fact Australia were the only unbeaten team in the tournament and they maintained their clean slate till the end. In the final against the Netherlands, Katrina Powell was the star performer. After putting her side in the lead in the opening minute itself, Katrina slammed in the match winner midway through the second half to rattle the strong Dutch side. The other scorer for Australia was Bianca Langham.

The Australian celebrations had a tinge of sadness as the Waugh twins lost their grandfather on the day of the historic triumphs. But both Steve and Mark kept their composure and joined in the celebrations back home while quietly mourning the loss of their dear ‘pop’ to whom they had always looked for inspiration.

Ignored by State Govt
By Ashwani Dutta

A Padam SHREE awardee who has brought laurel in weightlifting not only to Yamunanagar but also to the country has been ignored by the State Government.

Mrs K. Malleswari Tyagi who has won many special sports awards, including Padam Shree, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratan Award in 1996, Arjuna Award in 1994 and Shiromani Award in 1996, is sore over the stepmotherly treatment being given by the Haryana Government, especially by the Sports Department as well as the District Administration.

Mrs Tyagi, who got married to Mr Rajesh Tyagi, now settled in Shakti Nagar in Yamunanagar, is working as District Manager in Food Corporation of India. Currently, Mrs Tyagi has gone to the National Institute of Sports at Patiala to have preliminary training for the weightlifting World Cup to be held in November, 1999.

The Andhra Pradesh-born girl is living in a small house. She said that there was no complete infrastructure for her training in Yamunanagar. She lashed out at the District Administration for not even inviting her on Republic Day where the Governor of Haryana, Mr Mahabir Prasad, unfurled the national flag and held a ‘at home’ function later. She said that even the Haryana Sports Department had not recognised her services.

She disclosed that every month she receives a telephonic call from Mr Chander Babu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. She said that she was born in Andhra Pradesh but she was married in Haryana so why should not the Haryana Government adopt her as a daughter of the state.

Mrs Tyagi first win three gold medals in the Junior National Championship in 1990 and then she created a new record and was adjusted a best weightlifter by winning three gold medals in 1992.

She also won a gold medal in 1994 in the National Games. Earlier, in the 1992 Asian Championship she won three silver medals and in 1993 she won three bronze medals. In the 1995 Asian Championship she won three gold medals and in 1997 she won one gold medal and two silver medals. In the Asian meet in 1998, she also won three silver medals.

She also participated in the World Championships and secured the fifth position in 1991, third position in 1993 (with two bronze), first in 1994 (with two gold, one bronze), first in 1995 (with the gold medals), third in 1996 and the fifth position in 1997.

She said that in Haryana there was no sports academy and if the State Government helped her to open one she would offer her services. She would go all out for the project if she was provided land and equipment.

by K. R. Wadhwaney
Big-time golf comes to Asia

Tiger Woods, David Duval, Ernie Els and Lee Westwood are among the world’s leading golfers, who are likely to participate in some of the 25-tournament $ 10-million circuit, which will be known as the Asian PGA Davidoff Tour from next season.

A Ryder Cup style showdown between the leading players from the Asian PGA and Japan Tour as also world ranking points are other highlights of the next season circuit which takes off as Davidoff Tour. The Executive Director of the Asian PGA, Ramlan Harun, went on record saying that new sponsorship and the tee-off 2000 drive represented significant moves to help Asian professionals to find their bearing.

While established Indian stars like Jeev Milkha Singh, Gaurav Ghei may rub shoulders with stars of world in the Asian PGA, some renowned world personalities may take part in the competitions held in the region, including this country, under the banner of the Asian PGA.

The Asian PGA, formed in 1995, has been providing professional golfers with a framework to develop their talent, skill and also give them exposure. But, with the backing of Davidoff, the sky may be the limit for them. Some Indian golfers are likely to be beneficiaries from this new sponsorship.

“We are approaching the first tee of a new century, a new millennium, and an open fairway lies ahead”, said Ramlan Harun, adding: “The Asian PGA has grown steadily with majority of national opens under the one umbrella, and the drawing of the 21st century represents an appropriate time to expand further”.

The Asian PGA, sixth member of the PGA Tours International Federation will also apply to host one of the World Golf Championships in one of the centres in Asia.

The Indian golfers will now have many opportunities to participate in tournaments abroad. Their progress will be fast if two paramount bodies, Professional Golfers Association of Indian (PGAI) and Indian Golf Union (IGU) wake up from their slumber and help players progress. There are many young pros who need proper exposure and an appropriate time and guidance. Most of the foreign coaches, who have had a chance to train our pros, have nothing but praise for the pupils.

There is no dearth of money in this country. There are sponsors available. If Indian corporates can invest bulk of about $ 900 million for the Last World Cricket Cup, they surely can invest for golf provided the game is judiciously marketed. The need of the hour is to engage a right person to market golf in this country.

Golden opportunity

Jeev Milkha Singh, Amritinder Singh, Amandeep Johl, Arjun Singh, Vivek Bhandari, Arjun Atwal, Feroz Ali and Jyoti Randhawa are eight pros who will vie for a berth in the British Open. The qualifying round will be played next month. Those, who know these pros well enough, are optimistic that at least four should be able to qualify if they play 75 per cent of their potential. “It is a matter of mind-set and playing calmly”, said a veteran coach.

The spots for qualifying are as many as 48 for golfers from Asia and other countries. There will be two rounds. The play will be on four different courses, some of which are difficult. But most of the Indian pros have played at different courses and they should be able to earn their berths provided they do not get overawed by the occasion. “If they display faith in themselves, they should be playing in the British Open”, said a senior Indian coach.

Juniors excel

Juniors players like Ashok Kumar and Shiv Kapur excelled recently in the Singapore Junior Championship. Many juniors have shown promise and also displayed their temperament. They should be groomed judiciously before they plunge into turning pro. What glitters is not necessarily gold. The pro life is rough and tough. It is more so far an Indian pro because value of a rupee is only one-fortythird of a dollar. The India young golfers have to first turn mentally tough before they turn pros. If they remain as sensitive as a gold ball is, they have no place into the top international circuit where only the fittest can survive. Talent is not enough. Mental sharpness is the key to success.

Sport Mail
Akram paid for over-confidence

The utterings of the over confident Wasim Akram were responsible for the defeat of Pakistan in the final of the World Cup. It was a hopelessly one-sided match ever played in cricketing history where the opponents failed to put up any resistance before being defeated. Before the start of the match, he termed, Steve Waugh’s men as “mentally and physically fatigued”. Such comments against a man known to be having nerves of steel were responsible for the debacle of Pakistan. After watching the highly surcharged second semifinal, cricket lovers were expecting a game of the same level in the final but it was very much disturbing to see Australia wrapping up the final in just 20.1 overs.

SUMAN SALHOTRA
Kapurthala

To Azhar

My question to India’s cricket captain Azharuddin is in the form of a couplet which runs as follows:- “Tu idhar udhar ki naa baat kar’ yeh bataa ki kafeele kyon lutte, mujhe rahjaano se garz nahin, teri rahbari ka sawaal hai”.

K.J.S AHLUWALIA
Kapurthala

Thrilling tie

The cricket World Cup semifinal between Australia and South Africa was an absolute thriller. It kept swinging either way right from the start till the end. When the Aussies set a target of 214 runs for the Proteas, it did not look enough. But as the South Africans were reduced to 61 for 4 due to superb bowling by Shane Warne the Australians started looking strong in the game. They looked more set to win. But a little later as Shaun Pollock smashed runs in one over of Shane Warne, the game again started drifting away from the Aussies. After Pollock was out the Aussies again started having the upper hand. In the end, Lance Klusener with his lethal strokeplay, almost drove his side to the doors of victory. South Africa just needed one run to win off five balls. But then the Aussie players converged on the batsmen within the 15-yard circle and ran Allan Donald out on the second ball of the last over and brought off an unbelievable finish. I have seen a number of such thrilling matches before, but this was certainly the best I have ever seen.

ISAAC DAVID
Jalandhar