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| Tuesday, January 25, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Capriati’s climb back to top
Serena, Hewitt crash out |
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Jeev tied at 37th position
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Do-or-die tie for India today ADELAIDE, Jan 24 (PTI) — Having received a fresh lease of life thanks to World Cup champions Australia, India will have a final chance to redeem themselves after the tour Down Under has gone totally awry when they meet Pakistan in a crucial one-day cricket triseries clash here tomorrow. After four straight defeats, India go into the final phase with an uphill task of having to win all of them if they are to make the best of three finals at the cost of their arch rivals from the sub-continent. After sealing a spot for themselves in the final clash, Australia did India a big favour when they beat Pakistan yesterday in Melbourne, but Sachin Tendulkar’s team will have to play positively to turn the tide in their favour. A disjointed India, who failed to click as a team with their top batsmen faltering at crucial moments, have a very tough target to achieve — win two day-nighters each against Pakistan and Australia in a space of six days. Tomorrow’s venue is a sorry reminder of India’s 285-run first Test defeat last month to Australia, and it would take great effort to put that loss behind and get on with the game considering it as knock-out encounter. Australia have ensured their place in the three-match finals with 10 points from six ties, Pakistan, with six points, need a single win to join the hosts leaving India far behind. After coming good against Pakistan in Hobart, Tendulkar and Ganguly will open the innings in the make-or-break tie at Adelaide Oval with coach Kapil Dev saying “there is no point in breaking good association”. Tendulkar made a strokeful 93 off 101 balls while Ganguly came up with impressive 43 as the two realised 99 runs for the first wicket. But, their main worry is the second-line batsman who have failed to live to expectations. Kapil Dev’s logic leaves the playing eleven pretty much same as a Hobart even though a useful off-spinner and low order bat Nikhil Chopra would hope to get a chance to perform. But with Adelaide pitch having a bit of juice in it. A third medium-pacer becomes a logical option and Debashish Mohanty can very much hope to be in the final eleven. Though Mohanty was smashed around for few runs by Pakistan at Hobart, he bowled a good opening spell when he troubled the Pak batsmen and had couple of chances and also claimed two wickets making him sure starter tomorrow. Jacob Martin, despite his failure, is likely to retain his position in the middle order, which has time and again flopped during the series with Robin Singh being the only exception. With rains pouring continuously in Adelaide today and weathermen predicting few more showers tomorrow, the Indians had their nets indoors this afternoon. Tendulkar, frustrated at his team’s inept display so far, was under no illusion about the gravity of the task at hand. “It’s going to be very, very difficult to play and win four matches in six days,” he said. But it’s a situation we have created ourselves, and now it’s our job to get out of it,” The Indian skipper, who rested yesterday, was the first to bat today with all the frontline bowlers bowling at him. Tendulkar looked all committed to reverse the losing trend. He even had Kapil Dev bowl at him, who at 41, looked more than a match to a few of India’s frontline pace bowlers. With his control and movement, Kapil Dev managed to beat Tendulkar’s bat and rap him on the pads a few times. Pakistan, who arrived here this afternoon, are also unlikely to make any changes in their line-up. Despite the loss against Australia yesterday, Pakistan captain Wasim Akram exhuded confidence in his batsmen. “They are gradually returning to form,” he said. India: Sachin Tendulkar (capt), Saurav Ganguly, V V S Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Jacob Martin, Robin Singh , Samir Dighe, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Debashish Mohanty. Pakistan: Wasim Akram (capt), Saeed Anwar, Ijaj Ahmed, Inzaman-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Abdur Razzaq, Moin Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq, Azhar Mahmood, Shoiab Akhtar. Umpires: Darrell Hair
and Simon Taufel. Team inexperienced, says Sachin ADELAIDE, Jan 24 (PTI) — On the eve of winless India’s decisive match against Pakistan in the triangular one-day cricket series here, skipper Sachin Tendulkar today said inexperience was to blame for his team’s disastrous showing in Australia so far. The current Indian side was the “most inexperienced” he had played with during his decade-long international career, Tendulkar said as he sought to offer a different perspective on the Indians’ performance — nine losses in 11 matches played, including a 3-0 Test series defeat. “Look at the
line-up, especially in the batting,” said Tendulkar.
“Nobody has had any decent experience of playing on
bouncy pitches. Even V.V.S. Laxman is a new man in the
team. And he is batting at number three — supposedly
the most important position in a line-up.” |
Capriati’s climb back to top MELBOURNE, Jan 24 (Reuters) — The last time Jennifer Capriati was a quarterfinalist at the Australian Open was a long time ago — almost a different lifetime. It was 1993 and she was 16 years old, proud owner of an Olympic gold medal and famous for being the youngest prize money millionaire in tennis. And although Capriati lost 7-5, 6-2 to Germany’s Steffi Graf, few expected her to have to wait long for a Grand Slam title. Yesterday, later that year, came her sudden fall from grace, humiliating arrests for shoplifting and marijuana possession, and a long, painful climb back up the rankings. This time around, Capriati is older, wiser and fitter. Today, the 23-year-old beat Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 to confirm her return to the top ranks of women’s tennis. “First of all I’m older and I am just a lot stronger physically, in better shape Capriati said. I think also i just have more variety now.” “I’m very excited. Finally I got past the fourth round mark there,” she added. “Now I’m in the quarters, and I feel confident.’’ “I think I’m just a lot stronger mentally, and I just really focus,’’ Capriati said of her new attitude. At 14, the New Yorker was the youngest woman to reach the semifinals at the French Open. Now she is an old-timer. Last year was her best season in six years. Although she had to beg reporters to stop hounding her about her sad teen years, she won two tournaments and began regularly to beat top players. After climbing from No 112 to No 21 in the rankings in seven months, she started this year by winning an exhibition match in Kong Kong where she beat world No 1 Martina Hingis. “I have just said to myself: ‘Okay, just give it your best from the beginning of the year and see what happens,” Capriati said. Schnyder, herself on the comeback after crumpling last year, said Capriati could go far at Melbourne Park if the third set of their duel was any sign. “She put a lot of pressure on me, played really hard and deep and made me run,” Schnyder said. “At the end she was really good and was hitting winners everywhere.” Capriati said it was her strongest match at the Open. “I think it’s the best I’ve played so far, especially in the third set,’’ the American said. She believed her game would rise to a tougher test in the quarter-finals, where she will play Ai Sugiyama of Japan. “If the level is
high, it automatically just raises my level and
that’s the way I have always been,’’ said
the American. |
‘Tyson victim of British media’ LONDON, Jan 24 (Reuters) — Boxing promoter Frank Warren hit out at media coverage of Mike Tyson’s controversial visit to Britain, saying the former heavyweight champion had been a “perfect gentleman” victimised by a malicious Press. Tyson, who arrived in London a week ago to prepare for his fight against British Champion Julius Francis in Manchester on Saturday, has attracted hordes of fans and howls of criticism over his rape and assault convictions in the USA. As Tyson toured a luxury car showroom near his posh London hotel yesterday, promoter Frank Warren said the boxer had been a “perfect gentleman” and accused the British media of waging a sleaze campaign that included sending prostitutes to his hotel. “A couple of those beggars put girls into the hotel to try to compromise Mike Tyson, trying to push girls towards him,” Warren told reporters. “He’s not interested in girls here, he’s working on business. He has a wife, he has children and it’s disgraceful that people try to create things by doing that.’’ The British Government allowed the bout to go ahead by bending immigration rules that would ordinarily have prevented someone with Tyson’s criminal record from entering the country. Women’s groups have been outraged and some newspapers have vilified Tyson as “Britain’s most disgraceful tourist’’. His invitation to tour
the House of Commons has been withdrawn after protests by
female MPs who questioned the idea of “rolling out
the red carpet” for a convicted rapist. |
Serena, Hewitt crash out MELBOURNE, Jan 24 (Reuters) — US Open champion Serena Williams became the biggest name so far to tumble out of the Australian Open as Morocco made another piece of Grand Slam history today. Williams was beaten 6-3, 6-3 by Russian Elena Likhovtseva in the fourth round, while experienced Spaniard Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario won an engrossing match against sixth seed Barbara Schett to ignite the women’s draw. Sanchez-Vicario produced one of the best fightbacks of her long career to down Austrian Schett 1-6, 6-0, 7-5 and reach the quarterfinals for the 34th time in 49 Grand Slam appearances. Younes el Aynaoui added spice to the men’s draw when he became the second Moroccan into the quarter-finals with a marathon five-set win over Frenchman Arnaud Clement. El Aynaoui took the match 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 10-8 to join his countryman Hicham Arazi in the quarters — the first time two Moroccans have made the final eight of a Grand Slam. Local interest slumped when Australian teenager Lleyton Hewitt was beaten 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 by 12th seed Magnus Norman of Sweden to end a run of 13 consecutive wins this year. Williams on reputation should have reached the quarterfinals with ease but was in trouble from the start on show court one. The18-year-old’s game fell apart completely against Likhovtseva, who has never made it past the fourth round in 24 previous Grand Slams. The American, who made the third round last year, came into the 2000 Open without playing any warm-up events and said she had recovered from a back strain which saw her struggle past Australian Nicole Prat in three sets in the first round. “I lost because I did’nt play well and she did, Williams said. “I couldn’t make any shots, it was everything”. Likhovtseva capitalised on the American’s weaknesses with whipping forehands and pinpoint service returns. The 24-year-old Russian will face former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez in the quarterfinals after the Spaniard trounced American Kristina Brandi 6-1, 6-1. Sanchez-Vicario, the 13th seed, looked on her way to a comprehensive defeat after quickly losing the first set. But the Spaniard, beaten easily by Schett in the second round at Melbourne last year, came alive in the second set and put in motion an absorbing baseline battle. The 28-year-old from Barcelona found her range and confidence and dropped only one point on serve during an astounding second set that saw regular rallies of over 20 shots. The pair traded four successive breaks of serve until Sanchez-Vicario gained a crucial advantage in the 11th game and served out the match in just under two hours. Hewitt’s golden summer, which started with successive titles in Adelaide and Sydney, was ended by a Swedish opponent at the top of his form. The pony-tailed Australian said he felt a little flat against Norman, who matched Hewitt for aggression and bettered him for shot selection in a centre court streetfight. “Norman will play
fourth seed Nicolas Kiefer after the German earlier
scored a comfortable 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over South African
Wayne Ferreira. |
Lankans beat Pak,enter final GALLE, Jan 24 (PTI) — Sri Lanka rode on superb bowling and brilliant fielding to rally from the brink of defeat to oust strong contenders Pakistan by 10 runs and storm into the final of the Youth (under-19) Cricket World Cup here today. The hosts came roaring back after being shot out for a modest 219 to bundle out Pakistan, coasting along at 124-3 at one time, for 209 in their allotted 50 overs to set up a summit clash with the winner of the second semi-final between India and Australia to be played at Colombo tomorrow. Medium-pacers Prabath Nissanka, Akilanka Ganegama and spinners Muthumadalige Pushpakumara and K. Lokuarachchi struck at regular intervals to claim two wickets each as Pakistan failed to press home the advantage gained via a 96-run fourth wicket stand between skipper Hasan Raza (44) and Faisal Iqbal (53). After decent bowling by Irfan Fazil (2/29) and Yasir Arafat (2/37) and some atrocious running between the wickets -five of their batsmen were run out — saw them failing to capitalise on making first use of a good batting track, Nissanka (2/35) and Ganegama (2/24) brought the hosts back by claiming three early wickets. Nissanka, who started
with a no ball, struck with the fourth ball of the
opening over when he had Imran Nazir (4) caught by
Ganegama at deep midwicket. The lanky Ganegama then
trapped the other opener Taufeeq Umer (0) and Imran
Farhat (4) lbw to reduce Pakistan to 28-3. We are very confident: Binny COLOMBO, Jan 24 (PTI) — Roger Binny today said the Indian team packed with all-rounders had the talent and depth to clinch the world youth (under-19) cricket championship title. The former India all-rounder, happy after India made it to the semifinal by topping their super league by inflicting the first defeat on hosts Sri Lanka, said his boys held a very good chance to down Australia and make it to the final. Rating India’s chances of winning the cup very high, Binny told PTI here the Indian team, which has remained unbeaten so far, has played very well and will continue with the good work. “They played well
as a team. We have a well balanced side. We got good
all-rounders. |
Jeev tied at 37th position NEW DELHI, Jan 24 (UNI) — Jeev Milkha Singh struggled to find the fairways off the tee on the final day of the Mercedes Benz South African Open and finished tied for the 37th place with a four-day aggregate of four-under 284. According to information received here, the Chandigarh-based pro shot a two-over 74 yesterday. At the redesigned par-72 Randpark Club course in Johannesburg, Jeev missed as many as nine fairways with his tee shots and despite making five birdies, two double bogies and three bogies cost him a decent finish in the 992,000 Euro prize money tournament. A heavy afternoon downpour over Johannesburg, which caused suspension of play for nearly three hours on the final day, seemed to affect the concentration of the Indian ace. Jeev next travels to Australia to play the Heinken Classic and Greg Norman’s, made double bogies on the par-4 seventh and 16th holes. Jeev had put himself in contention for another top 10 finish (he finished 10th in South African PGA Championship, the first event of the year 2000) when he fired a three-under 69 on the third day to be six-under and in 17th place on Saturday. The tournament was won by Mathias Gronberg of Sweden who made a birdie on the final hole even as darkness descended on the course Gronberg shot back-to-back 67s over the weekend to aggregate 14-under 274. In tied second place were Nick Price of Zimbabwe, Ricardo Gonzales of Argentina and Darren Frichardt of South Africa at 13-under 275. Top draw Lee Westwood of England and Bernhard Langer of Germany were tied for 10th place at 11-under 277. Results (after 72
holes): 274 — Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 70+66+68+66,
Nick Price (72+69+67+67); 276 Tjaart Van Der Waal (SA)
71+70+69+66, Jean Francois Rema (Fra) 68+70+69+69, Ashley
Roestoff (SA) 69+69+69+69, Retief Goosen (SA)
68+71+68+69, John Mallor (Eng) 72+72+63+69; 277 —
Berhard Langer (Ger) 74+69+68+66, Greg Owen (Eng)
66+72+69+70, Lee Westwood (Eng) 69+68+72+68; t-37th: 284
— Jeev Milkha Singh 70+71+69+74. |
Anand battles to hold Kasparov WIJK AAN ZEE (Holland), Jan 24 (PTI) — Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand battled from an inferior position to hold world number one Gary Kasparov and maintain his joint second position after the seventh round of the Corus Super Grandmasters chess tournament here. Kasparov and his compatriot Vladimir Kramnik continued to lead the points table with five points each, a slender half point ahead of Anand. Playing with black, Anand employed the Nimzo Indian defence and was up against Russian Kasparov’s Fianchetto variation — the game featuring the same moves as those by GMs Tal Shaked and Kiril Georgiev in last year’s FIDE World Championship till the 18th move. On the 19th move, Kasparov deviated and played Rd2 instead of Re1. But Anand got into trouble with his 21st move, Bf3, when he decided to sacrifice a pawn. After winning the pawn Kasparov entered a Queen and Rook endgame where he had an outside passed pawn and seemed to have a clear advantage. However, the Russian played the ambitious 35.Rb7 weakening the black’s f6, after which Anand played brilliantly to draw the game in 56 moves. Interestingly, the game between Dutchman Loek van Wely and England’s Nigel short featured the same moves as the Anand-Kasparov encounter and both players realised they could follow the other match. Van Wely followed Kasparov’s 19.Rd2 move but Short countered with a solid 21.Rfc8 to steer the game towards a draw in 25 moves. Kramnik had to settle for a draw with Bosnian GM Predrag Nikolic after failing to make headway against the latter’s defence. Nikolic played the Queen’s gambit declined with black pieces and equalised comfortably. Kramnik tried to get a breakthrough with a central pawn thrust but the ensuing position was level. The peace treaty was signed after 21 moves. Armenia’s Sambat Lputian defeated Victor Korchnoi of Switzerland in the only decisive game of the day. Lputian faced the 5.Bf4 variation of the queen’s gambit declined with black pieces and equalised easily in the middle game. Korchnoi’s position began deteriorating near the first time control as he entered a Queen and Rook endgame. Lputian pocketed a pawn and then launched an attack on the king to score his second successive victory. The game between lone woman contestant Judit Polgar of Hungary and Jan Timman of the Netherlands ended in a draw after 31 moves of a Sojin Sicilian in which Polgar played with white pieces. Jeroen Piket (Ned) and Peter Leko (Hun) also drew their game after 46 moves of an open Ruy Lopez game. In the most interesting
game of the day, Alexander Morozevich of Russia countered
Englishman Michael Adams’ Tarrasch variation with
the French defence in a fierce contest before drawing in
64 moves. |
India overall champs FARIDABAD, JAN 24 — India were declared overall champions in the first Asian Junior Kabaddi Championship which concluded at Mewla Maharajpur village, near here, last evening. While Nepal secured the
second position, Sri Lanka came third. Indian boys won
all the matches in the three-day championship in which
100 players from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and
Nepal besides hosts India participated. Mr Mahabir
Prasad, Haryana Governor, gave the prizes. Badal Chaprana
of Faridabad and Jaspal Singh of Sonepat were declared
the best raider and best catcher, respectively. |
Can Kapil complete full
term? Chandigarh, Jan 24 — Will India’s cricket coach Kapil Dev be able to complete his full term of two years? This question assumes importance after India’s miserable show in Australia so far. After losing the three-match Test series against Australia 3-0, India have their backs to the wall after losing all four matches on the trot in the three-nation one-day series involving Australia, Pakistan and India.There are also reports from Australia that groupism has come to the fore in the touring squad. The most blatant example of the groupism in the squad is the way replacement wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia was treated when he was sent to Australia just prior to the Test series. Instead of telling the senior player that the “original” wicketkeeper MSK Prasad had recovered from his injury, Mongia was treated like an untouchable and sent back to India. He was also not considered for the one-day series and instead another wicketkeeper , Mumbai’s Sameer Dighe, said to be close to the Indian skipper, was sent to Australia. Also, pundits are not very happy the way the playing 11 for the one-day matches were picked up without taking the ground realities into considerations.Much of the blame for India’s miserable performance in Australia will be apportioned to Kapil. As it is there has been a lot of opposition to granting Kapil a two-year term as cricket coach, given the fact that all previous incumbents were given only one-year terms, although in most cases the period had been extended on a year-to-year basis. In spite of all his pronouncements that he has no animosity towards former skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, most followers of the game are of the view that it is because of Kapil and skipper Sachin Tendulkar that Azharuddin in not being recalled to the Indian squad even when the former skipper has not only proved his fitness (initially during the home matches after the World Cup it was given out that Azharuddin was not fully fit after he had undergone a shoulder operation in London) but also his form with a string of good scores in domestic tournaments.The reason for India’s debacle in Australia is said to be the high bounce of the Australian wickets. Much of the blame is being put on Kapil as prior to his appointment as cricket coach he was Chairman of the pitches committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, whose task it was to prepare “sporting” pitches both for domestic and international matches. But no effort was made to prepare sporting pitches even for domestic matches so that players could get used to play on bouncy wickets. Instead, pitches in India were doctored to suit India’s style of play for international matches, with not a word of protest coming either from Kapil Dev or other members of the committee. Prior to the departure of the team for Australia no effort was made to train on bouncy wickets. As a player who had toured Australia more than once, Kapil should have known that strips in Australia would be bouncy and Indian batsmen would find things difficult. But nothing was done to make the players , many of them touring Australia for the first time, aware of the conditions in Australia and the Indian team had to pay a very heavy price for this slip. Also, the way Kapil Dev
and the board Secretary, Mr J.Y. Lele, are trading
charges and countercharges is only adding to the problems
for the Indian coach. Once the team returns from
Australia there is every probability of Mr Lele himself
asks for Kapil’s head, putting the entire blame for
India’s defeat in Australia on Kapil, and given the
vote politics of the BCCI it is quite likely that Kapil
might well be made the scapegoat. In such a situation can
Kapil stomach so much nonsense and continue as cricket
coach? It seems highly improbable. |
E. Bengal, M&M split points CALCUTTA, Jan 24 (PTI) — East Bengal squandered chances aplenty to finish goal-less with Mahindra and Mahindra in a drab fourth National Football League encounter here today. Mahindras, now in the third place after Churchill Brothers and Mohun Bagan, played a cautious game to deny three points to their rivals, whose chances of a resurgence in the high-profile league diminished further. The city outfit now have 11 points from 10 matches and occupy the ninth spot. The visitors, who have gleaned 17 points from 10 matches, missed the easiest chance of the day in the 13th minute when Mohammed Najib dribbled past two defenders and essayed a minus to Aqeel Ansari whose half volley went over. East Bengal, with strikers Bijen Singh and SK Sanjib failing to strike rhythm, looked disjointed near the rival box, particularly in the first half of the match at the Salt Lake Stadium. The red and yellow brigade upped the ante in the second half, playing possession football, but failed to make good the chances which came their way. FC Kochin down Dempo MARGO: FC kochin edged past lowly placed local club Dempo with the mercurial striker I m Vijayan scoring the only goal of the match in the National Football League at the Nehru Stadium here today. Dempo survived some anxious moments in the barren first half, but the goal finally fell in the 60th minute. Jo Paul Anchery from the middle relayed the ball to Tejinder Kumar on the right from where it came to the box for Vijayan who controlled the ball and beat the keeper Vikrant Sharma to the far end of the net. Kochin went offensive from the start forcing Dempo on the backfoot in the first half but failed to capitalise when they had the chances. Sharma had an excellent day under the bar denying Issac Tondo, Eugine Gray and Tejinder Kumar some certain looking chances. Defender Stanley Colaco also came to his team rescue making a goal line save off a Firosh header. Dempo too had a couple of chances, but Mohammed Reza failed to beat the rival keeper on both occasions. It was Kochin’s
third win and they now have 14 points. Dempo remain on
the 11th position, one ahead of BSF, with five points. |
JCT clash with ITI today BANGALORE, Jan 24 (PTI) — Confident local outfit Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) will take on JCT Phagwara in the National Football League here tomorrow. ITI have earned 10 points from nine matches played so far including their last drawn match against Dempo Sports Club, Goa. ITI captain Sunil Kumar has hurt his right eye but is sure of playing tomorrow’s match. However, the inclusion of Yusuf Mohamed, who missed the last match due to an ankle injury, is doubtful. The midfield is the strong point of ITI in tomorrow’s tie, if Candid and Nowshad Pari can hold the ball, play intelligently and join hands with strikers R.C. Prakasha and George Ekeh. If wing backs Kokan Singh and Jamal assist in attacking, the day is made for the locals. On the other hand, JCT
have 13 points from nine matches. They are also a well
balanced side but their star strikers Surjeet Singh and
Sukhjeet Singh are not playing due to injuries. |
Countdown begins to Kila Raipur
meet LUDHIANA, Jan 24 — The countdown to the 66th Kila Raipur Rural Sports Festival has begun. The mega event will be organised by the Grewal Sports Association from February 4 to 6,2000. Popularly known as the ‘Rural Olympics’ of India, the festival has been included in the national calendar of the Department of Tourism, Government of India. According to Sukhvir Singh Grewal, chief organiser of the festival invitations would also be extended to those countries who regularly organise such rural games in future. The festival can be categorised into three broad segments — rural games, modern games and display of the rich Punjabi culture. An exhibition of latest farm products and electronic goods and household items is also expected to draw the attention of the spectators. Outstanding
sportspersons will also be honoured. They include Arjuna
awardee Harmik Singh, MP Singh, Kartar Singh and Baljeet
Singh Dhillon. The evenings of all three days will be
devoted to entertainment. The North Zone Cultural Centre,
Patiala, will present a variety of programmes. |
Parantap, Nandita cause upsets NEW DELHI, Jan 24 (PTI) — Rising star Parantap Chaturvedi caused a major upset when he defeated third seed Raymond Benc of Sweden while unseeded Nandita Chandrasekhar scalped Kazakh girl Aibika Kalsarieva in the ITF Junior Circuit Tennis Tournament here today. Chaturvedi survived a tough first set winning it in tie-breaker and then eased through to the second round with a 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 win in the boys section. Nandita was taken to the distance by the third seeded Kazakh girl before she scripted a 6-4 3-6 6-4 win over Aibika on an extremely good day for India on the first day. National hardcourt champion Sunil Kumar, who has made it to the Davis Cup team against Lebanon next month, comfortably beat Siddharth Sudhakar 6-0 6-3. The eighth seeded Indian will now take on Amanjot Singh in the 16-player second round which includes 12 Indians. Fourth seeded Shivang Mishra was the lone Indian casualty as he went down to Romanian Raian Luchici 4-6 2-6 while other seeded player surged ahead. Second seed Omar
Behroozian of United Arab Emirates cruised to a 6-1 6-2
win over Vipin Sirpaul and the fifth seed Karan Doctor
rallied to beat Harshit Sharma 4-6 6-2 6-1. |
Jagtar hockey begins today LUDHIANA, Jan 24 — Air-India XI, New Delhi, will take on Sports Authority of India, Patiala, in the inaugural match of the first All-India Jagtar Singh Memorial Hockey Tournament for junior boys at the Astro Turf hockey ground of Punjab Agriculture University here tomorrow. Ten top junior outfits of the country will take part in this tournament which will conclude on February 2. These teams have been divided into two pools. Pool ‘A’ consists of Air-India, New Delhi Sports Authority of India, Patiala, Shivalik Public School, Chandigarh Sports School, Jalandhar, and Combined Sports Hostels UP. Pool B comprises Mumbai Hockey Association XI, Grewal Sports Academy, Kila Raipur, Haryana XI, Dasmesh Academy, Ropar, and Punjab Hockdy Academy, Jalandhar. Matches will be played on league-cum-knockout basis. Pargat Singh, former India hockey captain, will inaugurate the tournament at 1 p.m. Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Union Minister and president, Punjab Olympic Association, will preside over the concluding day’s function. Tomorrow’s
fixtures: Air-India XI, New Delhi vs Sports Authority of
India, Patiala 1 p.m. Mumbai Hockey Association XI vs
Grewal Sports Academy, Kila Raipur 2.30 p.m. |
Nivia SC win soccer title JALANDHAR, Jan 24 — Nivia Sports Club defeated Khalsa College, Jalandhar, 4-2 and clinched the title in the District Football Championship which concluded here at Dashera ground. In the final, both teams played well. Sandeep Kumar of Nivia Club opened the account for his team in the 17th minute. For Lyallpur Khalsa College the equaliser came in the 23rd minute through Harjap singh. Both the teams were locked 1-1 at half time. In the second half Khalsa College team displayed better coordination in the opening minutes. It was Manoj Kumar of Nivia Club who scored the second goal for his team in the 50th minute. Nivia Club’s Jasbir Singh levelled the score in the 55th minute. The third goal for Nivia Sports Club was scored by Vinod Kumar “Kali” who made full use of a penalty kick in the 70th minute. The fourth goal for Nivia Club was scored by Sukhbir Singh in the dying minutes through a solo effort. In the end the tally was 4-2 in favour of Nivia Club. Mr Tej Prakash Singh,
former Transport Minister, Punjab, gave away the prizes
to the winners. |
Nigeria, Egypt score emphatic wins ACCRA, Jan 24 (Reuters) — African heavyweights South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt all won their opening matches at the Nations Cup, the former overcoming an early fright against unfancied Gabon. The Bafana Bafana fell behind to a first-half goal scored by 16-year-old Chiva star Nzighou, the youngest player ever to take part in the tournament, before hitting back to win 3-1 in group B with Shaun Bartlett scoring twice yesterday. Co-hosts Nigeria scored
an emphatic 4-2 win over Tunisia in Lagos, Augustin
Okocha and Victor Ikpeba scoring two apiece, while Egypt
began the defence of their crown with a comfortable 2-0
win over Zambia in group C. UT subjunior hockey team CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 — Gurtejpreet Singh will lead Chandigarh in the Subjunior National Hockey Championship being held at Nalgonda (AP) from January 28 to February 8. The team will leave for Nalgonda tomorrow. Chandigarh will play their first match on January 25. The following are the other team members: Maninder Singh, Brahmjot Singh, Kulbushan Sharma, Sandeep Singh, Virinder Singh, Mandeep Singh, Vikramjit Singh, Ravinderpal Singh Mann, Baltej Singh, Jatinder Singh, Damandeep Singh, Khushwant Singh, Amandeep Singh, Gaurav Sokhi and Sukhmit Sodhi. Kulwant Rai and Mohan
Singh will accompany the team as manager and coach
respectively, according to Mr S.N. Vohra, secretary,
Chandigarh Hockey Association. |
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