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| Saturday, July 29, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Inter-state
athletic meet from today |
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Konguvel’s win salvages pride Sasikiran
causes a flutter Gimelstob stuns Philippoussis |
 Justin Gimelstob from Livingston, N.J., reacts after upsetting Mark Philippoussis of Australia, 3-6, 7-6(7-5), 7-6(7-3), during the second round of Mercedes-Benz Cup on Thursday in Los Angeles. — AP/PTI |
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McEnroe secures berth in semis SA gear up for better show
BCCI allots
eleven matches to Haryana Trials for Special Olympics HP framing
new sports policy ‘Children of Asia’
games in Russia
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Paraguay hold Bolivia LA PAZ, July 28 (AP) — The Bolivian and Paraguayan teams tied 0-0 in a defensive game played in this Andean city during the sixth round of the World Cup qualifying matches. Bolivia were badly in need of a victory to resurrect their failing World Cup qualifying campaign. But Paraguay were able to control Bolivian advances with a strong defensive play. With this tie, Paraguay are now in fourth place in the World Cup qualifying games in the region, behind Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. After this game, Bolivia are next to last in points with little chance of qualifying for the second round. With Bolivia’s victory against Chile last week, Bolivia still had a chance to advance in the qualifying games. They needed, however, to win against Paraguay. Bolivia played without captain Erwin “Platini” Sanchez, who was suspended for seven games after a confrontation with a Peruvian arbiter in a previous game. One of the obstacles the Paraguayan team faced was the thin air of the Andean capital’s 3,600-metre altitude. Many of the Bolivian players, however, come from the Bolivian tropical lowlands and faced the same problems with the altitude. |
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Inter-state athletic meet from today CHENNAI, July 28 (PTI) — The three-day inter-state athletic meet, featuring the country’s premier athletes beginning here tomorrow, promises to serve up a sumptuous fare with the athletes making a last-ditch effort to qualify for the Asian Track and Field meet in Jakarta soon. All the top guns in Indian athletics are expected for the meet being hosted by the Tamil Nadu Amateur Athletic Association (TAAA) under the auspices of the Amateur Athletic Federation of India. “All states are taking part in this meet with Goa participating for the first time. Kerala has sent a big contingent, about 60 members, while Bihar is sending two teams (A and B),” W I Davaram, TAAA president, told reporters here. Top athletes camping at the SAI centre in Bangalore would be taking part, but Sunita Rani, who has already qualified for the Olympics in the 1500 metres, will be absent as she is suffering from a thigh strain. Sunita Rani ran the 1500 metres in 4:08.1 at the Federation Cup in Bangalore in August last year (qualifying mark for Olympics is 4:08.00). Others who have already qualified for the Asian championships and Sydney Olympics, and are expected to take part include Shakti Singh (shot put), Anil Kumar (100 m), K M Beena Mol (400 m), Neelam J Singh (discus) and Rachita Mistry (100 m). Shakti Singh bettered the Asian mark at the second circuit meet at Bangalore on July 5 in shot put with a 20.60 m throw (qualifying mark for Olympics 19.70m). Anil Kumar ran 100m in 10.21 second at the same meet (Olympic qualifying mark 10.27), Beena Mol (400m, 52.08 sec at Lucknow Federation Cup in March), Neelam (discus, 61.37 M Nagercoil meet, Olympic qualifying mark 61.00) and Rachita (100m, 11.26 sec at second meet in Bangalore, Olympic mark 11.40) all look in top form and would hope to better their performance. The men’s 100 m will be hotly contested by Anil Kumar and Rajeev Balakrishnan, who has come down from the USA to stake his claim in the Indian team for the Asian meet. All the winners will be subjected to dope testing. The records set at the earlier circuit meets this month at Bangalore and Nagercoil will also be subject to ratification by the AAFI. “All facilities for dope testing have been made at the meet. Even random testing would be done,” Davaram said. Chennai is hosting a big event after five years, the last one being the South Asian Federation Games in 1995. |
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Konguvel’s win salvages pride BIEL, July 28 (PTI) — Indian International Master Konguvel salvaged some cheer for the Indian camp when he beat Mueller to record the sole Indian victory as his compatriots’ fine run was halted after they ran into tough opponents in the fourth round of the Biel Open Chess Tournament here. IM T S Ravi and S Kidambi had to settle for draws while the more fancied R B Ramesh and V Saravanan lost their games from fairly comfortable positions. Grandmaster Sturva recorded his fourth successive win to shoot into the sole lead with four points. Playing with black pieces, Konguvel replied with the Sicilian defence to the Akopian variation opening of Mueller. After withstanding his opponents’ initial assault he exchanged the queens and won a pawn. He advanced his ‘D’ pawn to the sixth rank when his opponent resigned on the 45th move. International Master-(elect) T S Ravi repeated yesterday’s result with a quick draw against GM Cvitan. Ravi played the Akopian variation of the Sicilian and allowed Cvitan to obtain comfortable equality. The players agreed for a peaceful result after 18 moves. Young S Kidambi was also involved in a drawn encounter with IM Pikula. Kidambi played the Caro-Kann variation with black pieces and landed into slight difficulty after facing a new move from his
opponent in the opening. But Pikula missed a strong continuation in the middlegame and allowed Kidambi to exchange the queens to enter into an opposite-coloured Bishop endgame where the players agreed to draw after 28 moves. Both Kidambi and T S Ravi move to 2.5 points. Ramesh got a solid advantage from the opening of Sicilian Najdorf against GM Rashkovsky and won a pawn in the middlegame. But a mistake allowed his opponent to exchange the queens and create a dangerous passed pawn on the kingside. The Indian did not counter his opponent’s plan properly and lost the game in 50 moves in a double rook ending. Ramesh has 2.5 points from four rounds. Sarvanan played a theoretical novelty from the black side of the Kings Indian Gligoric Variation against GM Huzman. He seemed to obtain a comfortable position with good control over the black squares when Huzman complicated things and got Sarvanan’s queen for two rooks. He then went on to win the game in 41 moves that left Sarvanan with 2 points. Results: Mueller (1.5) lost to IM Konguvel (2.5), IM Ramesh (2.5) lost to GM Rashkovsky (3.5), GM Huzman (3.0) beat IM Sarvanan (2.0), IM Pikula (2.5) drew with Kidambi (2.5), T S Ravi (2.5) drew with GM Cvitan (2.5). |
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Sasikiran causes a flutter HYDERABAD, July 28 (UNI) — India’s grandmaster K. Sasikiran caused a major flutter when he defeated top seed GM Evgeny Vladimirov of Kazakistan in the final round of the Wipro’s International G.M Chess Championship, which concluded at hotel Taj Residency here today. With this important victory Sasikiran got 3rd place with 6.5 points and Russian GM Alexander Fominyh the second rank with 7.5 points by defeating tailender, Wipro’s Aarthie. Women GM-elect Viji fought her way up and held seasoned IM D.V. Prasad and tied with Wipro’s P. Hari Krishna for 4-5 places with six points each. Hari Krishna drew with Ganguly. “Koya’s system” introduced in FIDE by Mr P T Umer Koya for resolving ties in round robin event was applied here to determine the placings, however the prices were shared equally. The most important and tough game of the day was played by India’s young GM Sasikiran, who scored a thumping victory over top seed Vladimirov in just 27 moves. Playing black, Sasi in the queen gambit accepted variation played tactically and outwitted Vladimirov who was off colour today. Viji-Prasad’s game in Kings Indian attack was a close affair that ended in a draw after 26 moves. Viji wasted two moves in the opening stage and showed later in analysis that Prasad missed “d5” which could give him slight plus. With this draw Viji tied for 4-5 place with Hari Krishna. Fominyh-Aarthie’s game in Kings Indian defence was a one-sided affair. |
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Gimelstob stuns Philippoussis LOS ANGELES, July 28 (AP) — Justin Gimelstob upset second-seeded Mark Philippoussis 3-6 7-6 (7/5) 7-6 (7/3) last night in a sloppy matchup of hard servers in the Mercedes-Benz Cup. Gimelstob, a former National Collegiate Athletic Association doubles champion at UCLA, likes to call the Los Angeles Tennis Center his home. He proved an inhospitable host by stunning Andre Agassi in 1997 and Patrick Rafter in 1998 in night matches. Philippoussis became his latest victim after a two-hour, 15-minute struggle. Gimelstob served 15 aces to 13 by Philippoussis, but committed 10 double faults to one for the Australian. Both players sprayed shots all over the court, and neither managed a service break in the final set. Gimelstob won on the second match point with his second consecutive smash, giving him his first career win over Philippoussis in three meetings. Gimelstob will play Paul Goldstein in the quarterfinals. Other matches feature Frenchmen Lionel Roux and No. 8 Arnaud Clement, no. 5 Wayne Ferreira of South Africa and No. 4 Michael Chang, and No. 6 Jan-Michael Gambill against Jason Stoltenberg of Australia. Gambill is used to having the biggest serve on court. Unless he’s playing Laurence Tieleman. Tieleman boomed 16 aces — twice as many as Gambill — and had Gambill scrambling in the first set before the American settled down for a 7-6 (7/2) 6-2 victory. “I didn’t know he could serve that well,” said Gambill, who broke the Belgian twice in the second set. “He kept serving aces and I was bewildered a little bit.” Gambill and Clement are the lone seeds remaining in the top half of a draw decimated by the withdrawals of eight players and the default of No. 3 Marcelo Rios. “I know who I’m going to play next and that’s all I care about,” Gambill said. “If I win, I’ll look at the draw again.” In other matches, Goldstein defeated Alex O’Brien 6-4 6-2 in a pairing of former Stanford players and Stoltenberg beat Goichi Motomura of Japan 6-1 6-2. Motomura had benefited from the default of Rios in the first set of their first-round match on Wednesday night. Rios, who got tossed for verbally abusing the chair umpire, was fined $5,000 by the ATP Tour yesterday in addition to losing his $3,500 in prize money and free hotel room. |
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McEnroe secures berth in semis CHICAGO, July 28 (AP) — John McEnroe beat Tim Wilkison 7-5 6-1 last night, securing a spot in the semifinals of the Nuveen Champions Tournament. McEnroe, perhaps known for his temper as much as his tennis, became upset with line judges early and often. He took out his frustrations with several tantrums against the officials, the crowd and his tennis racquet. Leading 2-1 in the first set, McEnroe became enraged at a baseline judge, flinging his racquet at the official from about 50 feet away. The judge was untouched, but the chair umpire hit McEnroe with a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct. McEnroe taunted judges by pointing or staring at the point where he felt a ball had hit and the judges had erred. He also slammed his racquet to the ground several times, seemingly mad at himself. McEnroe blamed his behaviour on mental fatigue. “I’ve been in a lot of places the last couple months,” he said. “The timing of these events is not the greatest, but I come here to win.” With the match tied 4-4 in the first, McEnroe received another conduct penalty and had a point taken for delaying the match. McEnroe then asked for the match referee to sit near the chair umpire, and was obliged. The crowd of about 2,500 was squarely on McEnroe’s side to begin the match, but the repeated outbursts turned many against him. McEnroe confronted several fans verbally, but later claimed it was all part of his act. The fans “confront me and I confront them,” McEnroe said. “It brings up the intensity level.” McEnroe’s patience seemed most tried when he purposefully double-faulted the first game of the second set, hitting four straight serves completely out of the temporary tennis stadium in Grant Park. But the 41-year-old settled down and won the final six games to take the match and advance to tomorrow’s semifinals. “When all seemed terrible, when I double faulted on purpose, and I was really on the edge, I was able to pull it together and play some of my best,” McEnroe said. In other singles matches, Mansour Bahrami beat Mikael Pernfors 6-3 6-1, and Mats Wilander beat John Lloyd 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 10-7 champions tiebreaker. Wilander also assured himself a spot in the semis of the round-robin tournament. |
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SA gear up for better show COLOMBO, July 28 (AFP) — Nantie Hayward, South Africa’s quickest bowler since Allan Donald, said his team was moving into top gear for the remainder of the three-Test series against Sri Lanka. South Africa lost the first Test by an innings and 15 runs at Galle, but more than the inability of their batsmen to encounter the off-spin of Muttiah Muralitharan, it was their bowling that was blamed. “All the guys are getting on top of their game from pre-season. It is quite difficult for anyone to come and bowl from ball one and put it on the right area,” said Hayward. The 23-year-old heir apparent to Donald’s throne bowled himself into contention for a place in the team for the second Test, starting at Kandy on Sunday with a match bag of seven wickets for 76 in the two-day warm-up match against a Board XI which ended yesterday. South African coach Graham Ford, disappointed by his bowlers in the Galle Test where Sri Lanka ran up a total of 522, was extremely happy with Hayward’s performance. “He’s worked at his bowling in the last few days. With days of hard work he should be able to bowl a great deal more overs,” said Ford. “So often South Africa have relied on very good bowling and fielding performances to keep them in the Tests. I was very disappointed by the way they bowled at Galle,” he said. Hayward is expected to replace Makhaya Nitini in the only change South Africa are expected to make. Apart from their bowling, the South Africans have been taking lessons from two of their top order batsmen Darryl Cullinan and Jonty Rhodes on how to play Muralitharan. Cullinan top scored in the first innings with an unbeaten 114 and Rhodes was top scorer in the second innings with 63 not out. “Muralitharan is a fine bowler with an awesome record. But that doesn’t mean you’ve got to sit down and cry. You’ve got to go and work out your own gameplan against him,” said South African captain Shaun Pollock. The Sri Lankan spin maestro took a match bag of 13 wickets for 171 runs to take his career tally to an awesome 278 wickets from 55 Tests. Sri Lanka, with their tails up after recording their maiden Test victory over South Africa, are also expected to make one change. They have brought batsman Tillekeratne Dilshan into the 16 member squad. Dilshan top scored for the Board XI in both innings with 37 and 53 (not out). He is most likely to replace either fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa or off-spinner Kumar Dharmasena. |
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Stars line up for tributes to Marshall LONDON, July 28 (AFP) — The Honourable Artillery Company ground, an oasis of green in the city of London, is a long way from the St Michael district of Barbados, where Malcolm Marshall grew up. However, it was fitting that a venue which has been hosting cricket matches since 1744, should stage a match here yesterday in memory of someone whose place in cricket history is assured. Marshall, 41, one of the greatest fast bowlers cricket has known, died last year from cancer. All proceeds from this match were going into a trust fund for Marshall’s seven-year-old son Mali by his wife Connie. However, this decision had proved controversial and no provision had been made to give Marshall’s other two children, born to different mothers, any of the proceeds. Wrangling over money was the last thing on the mind of a goodly crowd that would have shamed the lowly attendance of many a County Championship match. Mind you, unlike most first-class cricket in England, the teams were composed of some of the best cricketers the world has seen during the past 20 years, including many of the present day game’s biggest stars such as Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath, Pakistan allrounder Wasim Akram and West Indies batsman Brian Lara. When McGrath volunteered his services he was told by the organiser “I’ve already got 46 players. Make me the 47th,” was McGrath’s response. Also on show were two of the Wisden Crickters’ Almanack Five Cricketers of the Century, West Indies batting great Viv Richards and Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, currently plying his trade here for Hampshire. They all respectfully observed a minute’s silence after a lone bugler had played the ‘Last Post’. For many in the crowd it must have been a case of ‘all our yesterdays’ as they watched the likes of former West Indies’ pacemen Michael Holding and Joel Garner mark out their runs, just two of a host of great Caribbean players making up the Malcolm Marshall XI. The deliveries may have been a touch slower than in their pomp, wicketkeeper Deryck (sic) Murray’s beard a little greyer, but their was no mistaking their distinctive actions as they hit the crease. Colin Croft, a feared West Indies fast bowler of the late 1970s and early 80s, who played alongside Marshall, wasn’t playing himself but still turned up to pay tribute to his late team-mate. “Malcolm was effervescent. He was one of the best performers I’ve ever seen. He always performed. He may not have been the tallest, but his arm action was quicker than most. He swung the ball and made it move a bit more than the rest of us.” Former Lancashire, Durham and England opening batsman Graeme Fowler had numerous confrontations against Marshall. “He was one of the most awkward bowlers for me. He always seemed to hit me on the forearm. “It was good to play against someone who knew what he was doing. If you got runs against him then you knew you had played well.” Mike Gatting once had his nose broken in a Test match by a Marshall delivery although that was not the impression that lingered. “He was the best I played against,” said the ex-England captain. “I just wish I captained him more (Gatting was Marshall’s skipper in the 1987 MCC Bicentenary match). “He was unbelieveable on a flat wicket with nothing in it and caused all sorts of problems. He was a great bowler who wanted to bowl all day and you can’t ask for more.” On a sunny day the crowd enjoyed themselves as did Allan Lamb the South-African born England batsman of the 1980s and early 90s striking some forceful boundaries. Admittedly some of the bowling wasn’t too taxing and this was possibly the first match where the public address announcer requested a female streaker in order to raise money. Needless to say, one bold young lady duly appeared, spectacles and not much else. There were other treats for the crowd in the batting of Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes and Richards himself, each one producing strokes that turned the clock back to their heyday at the top of the West Indies batting order. “It’s a great day for a great man,” said his widow Connie. “It’s a real sunny Malcolm Marshall day. It’s a great honour to see how many wonderful cricketers have turned out.” No one here doubted that was an honour that was fully deserved. |
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Korea bag Asian
b’ball title MUMBAI, July 28 (PTI) — Underdogs Korea shocked six times winners China 129-92 in the final of the Asian Junior (under-18) Basketball Championship for men at Kuala Lumpur today. The winners led 60-54 at half-time. China were banking on their height advantage, especially with the seven footer and tallest player in the tournament, Zheng Dong Tang, in their ranks. However, Korean stars Sung Yon Bang and Hak Seop Kim had other ideas and never let Tnak come anywhere near the ball. Their shooting, too, was high class and Hak Seop Kim snatched the match away from the Chines when he got three pointers in a row soon after the half time. Once the Koreans increased the lead there was no looking back for them and they went on to topple the defending champs who were seeking a record seventh title. |
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Ottey may run in 100m at Sydney KINGSTON (Jamaica), July 28 (AFP) — Jamaican athletics star Merlene Ottey missed out on an automatic 100 metres berth at the Sydney Olympics, but might yet make her farewell run in the event in place of compatriot Beverly McDonald. Ottey’s fourth-place showing ensured her a trip to Australia as part of the Jamaican 4x100 metres relay. But Adrian Wallace, President of the Jamaican Athletic Association, said she might replace 100 metres runner-up McDonald in the event. “Traditionally, McDonald runs only the 200 metres,” Wallace said. “She hasn’t said anything yet, but there is the possibility she might only run the 200 metres at the Olympics. She finished in top three in the 100 metres at the trials last year and she only ran the 200 metres at the world championships.” Delloreen Ennis-London produced a record-equalling performance in the women’s 100 metres hurdles final, winning in 12.52 seconds to match the national mark set by Michelle Freeman, who settled for second in 12.57. “Michelle (Freeman) got out early and I had to get after her but I maintained my composure and kept on going. I knew it was going to be tough but I am in good condition,” said Ennis-London, whose personal best was 12.71. The men’s 110 metres hurdles went to Robert Foster who won in 13.59 from Matthew 14.04 and Dwayne Robinson 14.07. World championships 200 metres silver medallist McDonald and Christopher Williams both made up for near misses in the 100 metres. McDonald won the women’s title for the third straight year clocking in 22.70. |
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Anti-hooligan law passed LONDON, July 28 (DPA) — The British Parliament passed emergency measures to counter football hooliganism by English fans yesterday, despite reservations regarding the implications for civil liberties. The Football (Disorder) Bill looks set to become law during August ahead of International Games in September and after it was rushed through the lower and upper Houses in response to violence by England fans in Charleroi and Brussels during the Euro 2000 tournament last month. The new law allows the police to prevent known and suspected hooligans from travelling to matches abroad, irrespective of whether they have previous convictions. The Labour Government smoothed the measure’s passage by accepting a “sunset clause” inserted by the Upper House which restricted the lifetime of the legislation to two years. The Bill was rushed through Parliament in two weeks ahead of pending international matches and the parliamentary summer recess. |
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Sydney countdown—25 Don Bradman’s elimination sparks debate AUSTRALIA'S cricket fans are up in arms because Sir Donald Bradman has been eliminated from the “race” to light the Olympic Flame at Homebush Stadium on September 15. Chances of the legendary cricketer lighting the flame were all but squashed when Sydney’s Olympic Minister Michael Knight announced that only an Olympian would have the right to light the flame. Nearly every Australian sportsperson has already run with the torch in their community, but that won’t rule them out of the main gig unless they are not Olympians. Former Australian cricket captain Kim Hughes probably spoke on behalf a lot of Australians when he said yesterday: “Sir Donald is by far the most recognised Australian of all time”. He said the Olympic organisers were clearly not in touch with reality as proven by the many mess ups that have occurred in the lead up to the Games. “I mean even if your thinking is that an Olympian will light the flame, why announce to the public that Don Bradman will not light it? I thought it was supposed to be a secret who would light it. So by eliminating people you also takes away the secrecy of it all,” Kim Hughes said. He said if cricketers were not recognised as athletes, then what were Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh doing carrying the Olympic torch during its run around Australia. “And what about John Newcombe and Greg Norman, who ran with the torch in Sydney. Why were they given the torch? Because they are champion athletes. So what’s wrong with the Don lighting the flame? It is all about the spirit of sport because that’s what the Olympics are all about,” Kim Hughes said. Perhaps they should have a national referendum for this. Bets off The International Olympic Committee will try to ban athletes from betting on results at the Sydney Games, after warning yesterday of potential result-rigging. The IOC co-ordinator of the Sydney Games, Mr Jacques Rogge, said betting would “open the door to corruption”. “Betting on the results is opening the door to corruption and manipulation of the results, as we’ve clearly seen in cricket,” Dr Rogge the Belgium-based official said. “This is something for the (IOC) executive board to discuss. We will examine it. Athletes cannot be betting on the Olympic results.” The IOC executive board is to meet in Switzerland on Thursday night. Dr Rogge said the IOC could ban athletes from betting by inserting a new rule in the IOC charter, although this would be difficult so soon before the Games. An amendment to the charter would require a majority vote of the IOC’s 113 members when they gather in Sydney two days before the Games begin. The IOC charter bans athletes from taking performance-enhancing drugs but Dr Rogge said betting had not been expressly prohibited because it had never happened “in an open and organised way.” Dr Rogge said he had never heard of Olympic athletes betting on events. “We don’t have it in the rules because never in the history of the Olympics has this occurred,” he said. “I would say to athletes, ‘Please don’t start betting.’ It is not proper. This is tainting the whole reputation of the Olympics and sport in general. I think athletes should not bet on their performances or on the performances of others because betting is always a source of corruption. Look at the problems you have with cricket. Dr Rogge said he understood the concerns of Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates that the AOC could not legally enforce a betting ban on athletes. Mr Coates has said the AOC cannot force athletes to sign forms promising not to lay bets, because they are not employees. Police stations At least 36 police stations across Sydney and the rest of New South Wales will be closed from next Tuesday to free police for the Olympic Games. If that’s bad news for the locals, then there’s worse to come. In what could become one of the most dramatic restructures of the NSW Police Service, Police Commissioner, the man responsible for Olympic security, said he could not guarantee what would happen after the Olympics. Mr Ryan said: “There’s no guarantee in life about anything. I can’t guarantee anything. Police stations will revert to normal as far as possible after the Olympics.” Mr Ryan called a news conference to announce the changes and reassure the public that despite police resources being stretched during the Olympics, public safety and community policing would not be compromised. There is a concern that the Olympic Games security arrangements are being used as a Trojan horse to shut police stations for good. Half a million to leave Sydney More than half a million Sydneysiders plan to leave the city during the Olympic Games, with the richest the most likely to go elsewhere, a survey shows. The half a million Sydneysiders have booked tickets abroad, to the Gold Coast, to Melbourne, anywhere, just to get out of the host city and to take advantage of the unusual munificence of airlines. The survey found 14 per cent of Sydney’s four million residents would be leaving during the September 15 to October 1 event. Of those leaving, 55 per cent are going overseas, 28 per cent interstate or country NSW and one per cent still uncertain. The survey also found the desire to leave was proportionate to wealth. The higher the person’s income the greater his chance of leaving Sydney during the Games. But the survey found that 60 per cent of all Australians had a positive attitude towards the Games, thanks in part to the Olympic torch relay. Just over a quarter of respondents had a neutral opinion on the Olympics. New South Wales has the highest percentage of negative sentiment, with 19 per cent. Of the 86 per cent of Sydneysiders who will stay, a quarter said they were likely to have family and friends stay, with young men more likely to be the hosts. For those who won’t attend the Games, nearly 40 per cent said expense was reason, followed by other commitments, too busy and too crowded and just not interested.
— PMG |
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BCCI allots
eleven matches to Haryana ROHTAK, July 28 — Haryana will host 11 matches of different tournaments recognised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, including Haryana versus Delhi Ranji match this season. According to Mr Ranbir Singh Mahendera, Secretary, Haryana Cricket Association, besides Haryana-Delhi Ranji tie, Haryana will stage two league matches of newly-introduced under-22 tourney and three matches of under-14 league. Haryana lads will take on Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab at home in the under-19 Couch Behar tournament. Three Vijay Merchant ties (under 16) are also to be hosted by the HCA. According to information available here, the following is the schedule of this year’s matches to be held in North Zone. Ranji Trophy league: October 30 to November 2: Haryana v Jammu and Kashmir (to be held J&K), Punjab v Himachal Pradesh (HP), Delhi v Services (Delhi). November 5 to 8: Delhi v Haryana (Haryana), Punjab v J&K (Punjab), Himachal Pradesh v Services (Services). November 11 to 14: Haryana v Punjab (Punjab), Services v J&K (J&K), Himachal Pradesh v Delhi (Delhi). November 17 to 20: Punjab v Services (Services), Delhi v J&K (J&K), Himachal Pradesh v Haryana (HP). November 23 to 26: Punjab v Delhi (Delhi), Himachal Pradesh v J&K (J&K), Haryana v Services (Services). Ranji Trophy one-dayers: (All matches to be held at Delhi) December 1: Haryana v J&K, Punjab v Himachal Pradesh, Services v Delhi, December 3: Delhi v Haryana, Himachal Pradesh v J&K, Punjab v Services, December 5: Haryana v Services, Delhi v Himachal Pradesh, Punjab v J&K. December 7: Services v J&K, Haryana v Himachal Pradesh, Punjab v Delhi, December 9: Delhi v J&K, Himachal Pradesh v Services, Haryana v Punjab. Under-22 league: December 1 to 3: Haryana v Delhi (Haryana), Punjab v J&K (Punjab), December 6 to 8: Punjab v Himachal Pradesh (Punjab), J&K v Haryana (J&K), December 11 to 13: Himachal Pradesh v J&K (HP), Haryana v Punjab (Haryana), December 15 to 17: Delhi v Punjab (Delhi), December 16 to 18: Haryana v Himachal Pradesh (HP), December 19 to 21: J&K v Delhi (J&K), December 23 to 25: Delhi v Himachal Pradesh (Delhi). Coach Behar (u-19) tournament: October 10 to 12: Haryana v Delhi (Haryana), Punjab v J&K (Punjab), October 14 to 16: Punjab v Himachal Pradesh (Punjab), J&K v Haryana (J&K), October 18 to 20: Delhi v Himachal Pradesh (Delhi), October 22 to 24: Delhi v J&K (J&K), Haryana v Himachal Pradesh (Haryana), October 29 to 31: Himachal Pradesh v J&K (HP), Haryana v Punjab (Haryana), November 2 to 4: Delhi v Punjab. Vijay Merchant (u-16) tournament: November 23 to 25: Delhi v J&K (J&K), Punjab v Himachal Pradesh (Punjab), November 28 to 30: Punjab v J&K (Punjab), November 29 to December 1: Delhi v Haryana (Haryana), December 3 to 5: Haryana v J&K (Haryana), Delhi v Himachal Pradesh (HP), December 7 to 9: Haryana v Himachal Pradesh (HP), December 12 to 14: Himachal Pradesh v J&K (J&K), Punjab v Haryana (Haryana), December 16 to 18: Punjab v Delhi (Delhi). Under-14 league: October 21 to 23: Delhi v Haryana (Delhi), Punjab v J&K (Punjab), October 29 to 31: Punjab v Himachal Pradesh (Punjab), Haryana v J&K (Haryana), November 2 to 4: Punjab v Haryana (Haryana), Delhi v J&K (J&K), November 6 to 8: Punjab v Delhi (Delhi), Haryana v Himachal Pradesh (HP), November 10 to 12: Himachal Pradesh v Delhi (HP), November 14 to 16: Himachal Pradesh v J&K (J&K).  |
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Trials
for Special Olympics PATIALA The occasion was trials to select the North West Zone floor hockey team, scheduled to take part in the Special Olympics, India, to be held at Bangalore in the second week of August. The trials were organised by the local Navjivini School of Special Education, in which special children from seven schools from the region took part. The seven-member team was selected after a series of floor hockey matches were played at the local polo grounds basketball courts. Instead of a regular hockey stick, a
fiber glass open-ended stick was used. The ball was replaced with a puck, a small rubber device, with a hole in the middle so that the children could manage the puck through deft handling of the open-ended sticks. An interesting feature of the trials was that the coaches could be seen playing with the special children in an attempt to spot talented players. A total of 60 special players participated in the trials and there were 16 coaches to guide them. The seven-member team comprises Suresh
(Nahan), Kirti Rattan (Chandigarh) , Gurpreet (Chandigarh), Achru Gopal (Nabha), Dinesh
(Chandi Mandir, Panchkula), Kushwinder (Ludhiana) and Yogesh (Patiala). |
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HP framing
new sports policy HOSHIARPUR, July 28 — To promote the games among students, Himachal Government is framing a new sports policy. Sports experts in various games are being consulted in this regard. This was disclosed by Mr Parveen Sharma, State Minister for Sports, Himachal Pradesh while talking to mediapersons here today. He said that the policy would be framed within next month. Adventurous and water sports had become very popular in Himachal Pradesh. Mountaineering Institute of Manali having its branch at Dharamsala was imparting training in adventurous games like mountaineering, tracking, water sports, sykiing, ice skating and water raftting, etc. Mr Sharma said that Pong lake was now considered best in India for its climatic and wind conditions for water sports. Pong lake area was being developed to attract the tourists also. This lake had already been declared international wetland for its migratory birds. He said that three towers to watch migratory birds and water sports would soon be set up in the lake area. Later Mr Sharma inaugurated the first Northern India Boxing Championship for boys at indoor stadium here. Mr Iqbal Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman of the District Olympic Association, said that more than 125 boxers from UP, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Chandigarh and Punjab are participating in this championship. |
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‘Children of Asia’
games in Russia CHANDIGARH, July 28 — A contingent consisting of 116 boys and girls is participating in the ‘Children of Asia’ International Sports Games being held at Yakutsk (Russia) from August 4 to 13. Indian boys and girls are participating in athletics, basketball, boxing, gymnastics, judo, table tennis, volleyball and wrestling. The Indian contingent is leaving New Delhi on August 1. Mr P.S. Virk, Hony General Secretary, Gymnastics Federation of India, has been appointed chef-de-mission of the Indian contingent. |
Under-16 cricket tourney PATIALA In another match, Budha Dal Cricket Academy triumphed over NICS Academy by four wickets. Brief scores — NICS 117 all out in 28 overs (Bhupinder 26, Hardevinder Singh 24, Navjot 19, Kamalpreet 11, Vijay Veer 3 for 17, Vikrant Makkar 2 for 22, Yadvinder 2 for 27, John Rose 2 for 15); BDCA 121 for 6 in 23 overs
(Sumit Gupta 29, Daljeet Singh 19, Sukhdeep 14, Ankur Jund 2 for 9, Gurmeet Sahni 3 for 25).
Handball squad HISAR, July 28 — Hisar District Handball Association has selected 26 players, including an equal number of girls, to represent the district in the 29th Haryana State Handball Championship to be held here at HAU from August 2. The team members are: Women: Chanderkala, Pooja, Mukesh, Neetu, Krishna, Kiran, Ekta, Mamta, Meenakshi, Amarjeet, Ravina, Sumitra and Ravinder. Men: Surjit, Hardeep, Mandeep, Rajiv, Manoj, Deepak, Sudesh, Moti, Kuldeep, Manjit, Rajinder, Rajesh and Ram Niwas. Haryana h’ball
meet at Hisar HISAR, July 28 — The 29th Haryana State Handball Championship for men and women scheduled to be held here at Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) from August 1 to 3 will now be held at same venue from August 2 to 4, according to a Haryana State Handball Association spokesman here today. The championship to be organised in the memory of Sikhbir Singh, a former student of the university who laid down his life in the Kargil, will be inaugurated by Mr Abhey Singh Chautala, president of the Haryana Olympic association. Over 35 teams in both the categories are likely to take part in the three-day championship. Mrs Sudha Yadav, member of Parliament, wife of late Sukhbir Singh, will be the chief guest on the concluding day. Punjab gymnastics from today JALANDHAR, July 28 — The Jalandhar District Gymnastics Association is organising the Senior Punjab Gymnastics Champhionship for men and women at Raizada Hans Raj Stadium from July 29 to 30. As many as 200 players from all parts of Punjab and departments like Punjab Police and Border Security Force are likely to participate in this two-day championship. Competitions will be held for men and women. Besides handsome prizes, the organisers will provide free board and lodging to the players. The Punjab state gymnastics team for the forthcoming Senior National Gymnastics Championship to be held at Ambala will be selected during this championship. The selected players will also attend a coaching camp. Rs 50 lakh grant for
Astro-turf AMRITSAR, July 28 — The government of India has approved a grant of Rs 50 lakh for the laying of a new hockey Astro-turf at the Guru Nanak Dev University sports complex. Giving the details here the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr Harbhajan Singh Soch, said that the total cost of the turf was expected to be around Rs 1 crore. The remaining funds would be generated by the university itself. Dr Soch added that the university was in the process of constructing a modern gymnasium for its sportmen. The university plans to establish an ultra-modern trauma centre for sports medicine for which the UGC is being approached for providing the funds for this project. Punjab carrom meet in Aug CHANDIGARH, July 28 — The Fatehgarh Sahib District Carrom Association will host the Punjab State Open Carrom Championship under auspices of the Punjab State Carrom Association from August 18 to 20 at Rotary Bhawan, Sirhind, according to Mr Gurinder Singh, general secretary of the association. The competition will be held in subjunior (up to 14), junior (up to 18 years) and senior sections for both men and women. Entries close on August 16. |
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