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| Friday, February
9, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Paes to launch India’s
campaign today Both teams have even chance: Ganguly
Kasprowicz named in
squad |
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Lanka continue winning
spree Lara keen to
redeem himself
Captain’s knock by Khadkikar
Becker admits fathering
child Punjab spikers rout
MP Gopi Chand donates prize
money
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Paes to launch India’s campaign today LANG FANG (China), Feb 8 (PTI) — India will once again look to Leander Paes to perform magic while his ‘buddy’ Mahesh Bhupathi was ruled out of singles play in the Asia-Oceania Davis Cup zone-I rubber here tomorrow. India number one Paes will open the campaign in the first round tie against Chinese number two Wang Yu and former national grasscourt champion Syed Fazaluddin will play the second singles against the hosts’ top player Zhang Yu. Still nursing shoulder strain he sustained during the Australian Open last month, Bhupathi ruled himself out of the singles and will concentrate only on Saturday’s doubles match. Bhupathi will pair with Paes in the crucial doubles against the Chinese pair of Yang Jingzhu and Xu Ran. In the reverse singles on Sunday, Paes will clash with Zhang Yu while Fazaluddin is to meet Wang Yu in the fifth and final rubber, according to the draw made here today. India’s non-playing captain Ramesh Krishnan was happy with the draw as Paes would play the first singles. “I am happy with the draw as Paes would play first,” Krishnan told PTI. “I am confident we will be able to outplay the Chinese side in both singles tomorrow”. The non-playing captain said the Indian players had got somewhat adjusted to the cold and sub-zero temperatures in Lang Fang city here, about 70 km from Beijing. Paes, said he wanted to play the first game and the draw turned out to be what he yearned for. “I am fully fit and I hope to do well,” Paes said. The Chinese non-playing captain, Wang Fu Zhang said his team had been preparing for this tournament for the past two months. “Though the Indian side may have good players, we are confident of winning here,” Wang said. While China are nursing hopes of a miracle from their average players, on paper India look too strong with Paes back in the team after a gap of 10 months. Paes last played for the country in April 2000 when India defeated South Korea 4-1 in New Delhi. Bhupathi was then recuperating from the shoulder surgery he underwent in November 1999. India played Sweden in July last year in the World group play-off and were soundly beaten 0-5 with Paes out of action due to wrist injury he sustained in the mixed-doubles event at the French Open. Bhupathi, Harsh Mankad and Fazaluddin formed the Indian team to Bastad, Sweden. Paes and Bhupathi, however, are playing together in the Davis Cup after a gap of nearly two years and it should ring welcome bells for India. India had thrashed China 5-0 when the two teams last met in the Davis Cup championship, in April 1999. In a team competition, India beat China 2-1 in the Asia Cup Tennis Championship in New Delhi with Bhupathi leading from the front. Yu Zhang, who had taken away a point winning a singles match against Mankad, will look to repeat the same performance against Fazaluddin tomorrow. |
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Amritraj UN’s peace messenger UNITED NATIONS, Feb 8 (PTI) — India’s tennis ambassador and one of the best known commentators of the game, Vijay Amritraj, has been selected by the United Nations as its messenger of peace to help spread the message of world harmony. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will introduce Amritraj at a brief ceremony organised at UN headquarters here. Amritraj is the eighth member to join the select group which also includes boxing legend Muhammad Ali. The tennis ace is now widely known as an active participant in various charitable works including creating awareness about AIDS. Considered as one of the top tennis players in the world, Amritraj competed in national and international tournaments for 17 years. He represented India in Davis Cup championships for 20 years. Since 1992, he has been anchoring Wimbledon and other major tournaments for Star TV which reaches more than 60 countries. |
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Both teams have even chance: Ganguly CHENNAI, Feb 8 (PTI) — “The Australians are on a winning streak but it is going to be a different ball game in the coming series, as both teams have an even chance of winning”, a confident India captain Saurav Ganguly said today. “It is true they are on a high for the last 12 months winning 15 Tests in a row. But it’s going to be a different ball game when they come here. We have also been playing well for the last over six months with these young boys”, he told reporters after the end of the second day practice session. Ganguly said he was not worried about the Aussies’ strength and weaknesses. “We are going to play according to our strength. Test or one-day cricket is more of a mind game than anything else. It is going to be a good series. Both the teams have an even chance of winning the series”. Asked if the series was going to be a mentally-demanding one, he said: “The Australians have won 11 games at home beating the West Indies squarely, defeating India and Pakistan. They also won against Zimbabwe and New Zealand on away tours. But when they tourned here in 1996 and 1998, they had lost the series. And, this is going to be in the back of their minds”. On the absence of Anil Kumble, considered a match winner in home conditions, he said: “None can fill the gap that has been created due to his injury. He has taken 600 international wickets and you cannot have a Kumble overnight. We will miss him but we have got some youngsters who could be moulded for the future. We are yet to decide who is good among these youngsters.” On Aussie paceman Brett Lee not visiting India due to injury, Ganguly said: “We are not bothered about who is in the Australian team. We are all here to be together and work hard to prepare ourselves for winning matches.” On Australian captain Steve Waugh’s allegations that the Indian cricket management had asked for “turning wickets”, Ganguly said: “We have not give any instructions regarding this to any curator. The fact is that I will know the type of wicket that is going to be given to us only after playing on it.” He explained that he had not read Steve Waugh’s remarks but wondered how he could make such comments from Australia “as to what is happening in India.” On India’s traditional banking on spinners and whether he would be dependent on pace attack, Ganguly reiterated that India should play to its strength. “Let us see, how the boys shape at the end of the camp and whether they are in good form. It is too early to come out with predictions as we have almost three more weeks for the first Test to start in Mumbai (on February 27),” he said. On working with coach John Wright and the difference in the conduct of the camp to previous ones, Ganguly said: “He has been with us for the last two months and I cannot pass any judgement on camps as I am here only for the last 24 hours. It is a long way to go. Neither of us can pass judgements on either of us at this early stage.” “We are not looking at only the Australian series. We are concentrating on one full year of international cricket. Wright has been of immense help to us”, Ganguly said. Wright also said they were working together and enjoying their respective roles. “Any leader must enjoy his role. Ganguly seems to be enjoying his captaincy and he is batting well too. It is a great sign being in the role of a captain and doing well with the bat, which is difficult,” he said. |
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Kasprowicz named in squad MELBOURNE, Feb 8 (Reuters) — Australia included forgotten swing bowler Michael Kasprowicz today in their 14-man squad to play a three-Test series in India starting later this month. Kasprowicz has played only one first-class game for Queensland this summer after recovering from shoulder surgery. He replaces fast bowler Brett Lee who has an elbow injury. Lee, 24, the fastest bowler in international cricket and boasting 42 wickets from seven Tests, had only recently returned to the Australian side after missing three of the five Tests against West Indies with a back injury. Kasprowicz pushed himself to exhaustion on Australia’s previous tour of India in 1998, taking five for 28 in the home side’s second innings as Australia won the third Test in losing the series 2-1. Kasprowicz, who turns 29 on Saturday, has taken 45 wickets in 16 Tests at average of 34.68 runs. Australia had been due to announce their squad on Tuesday but Lee injured his right elbow while throwing from the outfield in a match on Sunday night against Zimbabwe in Perth, requiring surgery and a quick revision of selection strategies for the gruelling tour of the subcontinent. Kasprowicz will share the fast bowling duties with Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming, who missed the Test series against West Indies this summer with neck and finger injuries, and Jason Gillespie, who this week passed a fitness test for a hamstring injury. Australia chose champion leg-spinner Shane Warne and the versatile Colin Miller as their slow bowlers, leaving out the unlucky Stuart MacGill who had a successful Test series against West Indies while Warne recovered from a finger injury. Captain Steve Waugh said last month after the fifth Test that the Indian series was the biggest challenge facing his all-conquering team. Australia have won a world record 15 consecutive Tests including a 5-nil sweep of West Indies in Australia this summer but have not won a Test series in India since 1969. “The West Indies series was an important series but the Indian series will be the big one and the one we’ll be judged on,” Waugh told a news conference. Australia are due to fly to India on February 13. The first Test against India starts on February 27 in Bombay after two warm-up matches. Five one-dayers will follow the three tests. Squad: Australia: Steve Waugh (captain), Adam Gilchrist (vice-captain), Damien Fleming, Jason Gillespie, Matthew Hayden, Michael Kasprowicz, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Colin Miller, Ricky Ponting, Michael Slater, Shane Warne, Mark Waugh. |
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Lanka continue winning spree HAMILTON, Feb 8 (AP) — new Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming reflected on another bizarre twist to his side’s losing streak when bad light killed off what he thought was a possible victory against Sri Lanka today. Sri Lanka needed the Duckworth-Lewis calculation system to secure a 4-0 series lead after the players were forced from the field due to poor light. Before the method was applied Sri Lanka needed 28 runs from 24 balls to reach their target of 183, but they eventually won by three runs when their innings ended at 155 for five. While Sri Lankan skipper Sanath Jayasuriya said his side always had their destiny under control, Fleming said only a handful of runs had been scored off the last five overs. “We were in with a chance if it went the distance,” said Fleming. “We had a lot of wicket-taking opportunities, we had to back ourselves in that position.” Fleming said it was the first time he had lost a light-affected match through the Duckworth-Lewis method and said it was a disappointing way to end a tense contest. The game was reduced to 35 overs a side after three-and-a-half-hour rain delay. Fleming said scheduling the game so late was a risk in Hamilton where no lighting facilities are available. Meanwhile, Fleming was happy with his form, describing his innings of 67 as a relief after he contributed just nine runs in three previous innings against the tourists. “It’s a start anyway,” he said. Scoreboard New Zealand: Parore c Kaluwitharana b Zoysa 0 Astle c Dharmasena b Gallage 7 Fleming c Zoysa b De Silva 67 Twose st Kaluwitharana 20 b Muralitharan McMillan st Kaluwitharana 19 b Muralitharan Vincent lbw b De Silva 0 Harris lbw b Zoysa 13 Oram c Muralitharan 24 b Dharmasena Vettori c Atapattu b Zoysa 13 Tuffey not out 0 Martin not out 1 Extras: (8lb, 6w, 4nb) 18 Total: (for 9 wickets in 35 overs)182 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-42, 3-85, 4-127, 5-128, 6-133, 7-166, 8-181, 9-181. Bowling: Indika Gallage 7-0-37-1, Nuwan Zoysa 5-2-27-3, Kumar Dharmasena 7-0-21-1, Muttiah Muralitharan 7-0-23-2, Dilhara Fernando 4-0-28-0, Aravinda de Silva 4-0-35-2, Sanath Jayasuriya 1-0-3-0. Sri Lanka: Jayasuriya c Martin b Astle 52 Kaluwitharana lbw b Astle 34 Sangakarra c Parore b Martin 20 Jayawardene not out 17 De Silva c Oram b Tuffey 10 Arnold c Parore b Tuffey 0 Dharmasena not out 5 Extras: (7 lb, 8w, 2nb) 17 Total: (for 5 wickets in 31 overs)155 Fall of wickets: 1-96, 2-97, 3-128, 4-144, 5-144. Bowling: Martin 7-1-33-1, Tuffey 7-0-36-2, Oram 2-0-19-0, Astle 5-0-22-2, Vettori 7-1-30-0, McMillan 2-0-6-0, Harris 1-0-2-0. |
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Lara keen to
redeem himself MELBOURNE, Feb 8 (AP) —Brian Lara said today he wanted to redeem himself in the eyes of West Indies cricket after admitting he had not lived up to expectation during recent series. Regarded by many as the most talented batsman in world cricket, Lara has battled injury, mixed form, waning motivation and the pressure of carrying a moderately performed team in the latter part of his career. “The amount of reliance that was placed on myself for the one-dayers and the Test series was something I didn’t live up to — it’s something that I relish but I didn’t live up to it,”
Lara said. “We’ve got a tough series coming up against South Africa at home. Hopefully, I can pay back the West Indies the amount of investment they’ve had. “I had three months to sort myself out, I didn’t have a great series in England, I didn’t have a good series here in Australia but it’s sport and hopefully I can pick up a bit.” ROHTAK, Feb 8 — A captain’s knock by Kashinath Khadkikar and his partnership of 98 runs for the seventh wicket with Mohammad Faiq enabled Rest of India (u-19) to gain the first innings lead over Haryana on the second day of the Chidambaram Trophy cricket tie at Maharaja Aggarsain Stadium here today. Starting their innings in reply to Haryana’s first innings total of 242, Rest of India lost Gaganinder Singh, who failed to open his account. He was adjudged leg before wicket at the team’s total of just one run. Naman Oza followed him with the scoreboard reading 49. The third wicket partnership of 99 runs between Deepak Chowguele and Y. Gnaeshwara Rao brought some stability to Rest of India’s innings. The pair batted together for 95 minutes and faced 148 balls. Deepak scored 66 off 120 balls in 166 minutes. He struck seven fours and one six whereas Rao’s innings of 43 comprised three sixes and two fours. With the addition of 18 runs, Rest of India lost four wickets to reach 166 for 6 as Monish Mishra and A.S.K. Verma left the scene without scoring any run. Scorebaord Haryana (Ist Innings): 242 Rest of India: (Ist innings) Naman Oza b. Gaurav Vashishta 32, Gaganinder Singh lbw Joginder Sharma 0, Deepak Choughele c Y.S. Singh b Amit Mishra 66, Y.G. Rao c Y.S. Singh b Amit Mishra 43, Kashinath Khadkikar batting 74, Monish Mishra c Deepak Joon b Ishan Ganda 0. A.S.K. Verma run out 0, Mohd. Faiq batting 38. Extras: (B-1, Lb-2, NB-8): 11 Total: for 6 wickets 264. Fall of wickets:
1-1, 2-49, 3-148, 4-149, 5-158, 6-166. Bowling: Nitin Aggarwal 12-2-40-0, Joginder Sharma 11-4-31-1, Y.S. Singh 3-0-9.0, Amit Mishra 26-4-87-2, Gaurav Vashishta 15-4-43-1, Deepak Joon 2-0-7-0, Ishan Ganda 20-6-43-1, Sumeet Sharma 1-0-1-0. |
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Pierce shocked; Mauresmo advances PARIS, Feb 8 (AFP) — Top seed Mary Pierce of France suffered a shock opening match defeat at the $ 565,000 Paris Indoor Open WTA Tournament here yesterday when she crashed to Anne Kremer of Luxembourg. The world number eight, playing in her first tournament in France since being crowned French Open champion last June, was the second seed to fall in two days after fifth-seeded compatriot Sandrine Testud’s exit on Tuesday. However, seventh seed Amy Frazier of the USA and France’s Amelie Mauresmo, eighth, remained on track advancing to the second round after winning their opening ties in straight sets earlier in the day. Pierce, who only made her return to competition last month after a four-month absence because of a shoulder injury, had been favourite following the withdrawal of American Serena Williams and received a first round bye. But the Cleveland-based player, who said prior to the match that playing in France motivated her, gave a less than inspired performance against Kremer, ranked 35, who needed just 64 minutes for a 6-3 6-3 score. “Anne played well during the match and at the important moments,” conceded Pierce. And Pierce, who underwent eye surgery in San Diego two weeks ago, said that problems with her vision and lack of light on court had contributed to her defeat. “It’s been two weeks and normally that should be OK. The right eye is ok, but the left eye is only average. I don’t think there was enough light. I asked monday if they could increase the light, but maybe it wasn’t possible.” Kremer got off to a flying start breaking Pierce’s opening serve. The 26-year-old Pierce broke back in the second, but Kremer broke serve a further three times to take the first set 6-3. Kremer, who won her first two WTA titles at the beginning and end of last year at Auckland and Pattaya, gave a strong display of power play rushing to a 3-0 lead in the second set, breaking serve twice to take the match 6-3. “I didn’t expect to beat a top 10 player in straight sets,” said Kremer, who beat German qualifier Andrea Glass 4-6 6-4 6-1 on Tuesday. “I had nothing to loose. The plan was to go out there and go for it by putting pressure on her from the first shot and it worked,” said Kremer, who will meet either Germany’s Anke Huber, the number six seed, or Romanian Ruxandra Dragomir, in the quarter-finals tomorrow. Pierce, winner here in 1998, is still in the running for the doubles title after she and partner Elena Likhovtseva of Russia beat Frazier and Caroline Vis of the Netherlands on Tuesday to advance to the second round. Meanwhile crowd-favourite Mauresmo, runner-up here in 1999, had little difficulty overcoming Russian Tatiana Panova 6-4 6-2 to advance to a second round meeting with Wimbledon quarter-finalist Magui Serna of Spain. “My game is beginning to adjust from Australia,” said world number 19 Mauresmo, semi-finalist last month in Sydney. “There was also a bit of tension because it was my first round. But that doesn’t worry me. I hope that with more matches I’ll be able to overcome the bad moments.” The 21-year-old Serna, ranked 33 in the world, needed just 67 minutes to overcome 1997 French Open champion Iva Majoli of Croatia 6-4 6-2. Earlier Frazier cruised into the second round after defeating Israel’s Anna Smashnova in straight sets 6-2 7-5 in 1hr 30min. The 28-year-old world number 18, next meets France’s Anne-Gaelle Sidot after she came from behind to defeat Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder 5-7 7-5 6-2. Frazier, winner of six WTA titles and making her debut at this tournament, said that she felt comfortable playing indoors. “I grew up playing indoors in Michigan so it’s not difficult. I’ve decided to do something different this year. I get into the habit of playing the same schedule and wanted to try something new.” France’s Nathalie Dechy next meets defending champion and compatriot Nathalie Tauziat, recipient of a first round bye and seeded number three, after she downed Croatian Silvija Talaja 6-2 6-2 in 70 minutes. |
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Becker admits fathering child MUNICH, Feb 8 (DPA) — Boris Becker yesterday said he was indeed the father of 10-month-old Anna, daughter of Russian model Angela Ermakova, and declared that he would provide for the child. “I acknowledge this paternity. I take responsibility and will provide for little Anna,” said a statement issued in the 33-year-old German tennis icon’s name by his Munich media consultant. “Children are the most innocent beings in this world. I will do whatever I can to ensure that Anna’s future is that of a happy girl,” the statement added. Under German law, the 10-month-old child has the same inheritance rights to the Becker fortune as his sons Noah Gabriel, (7), and Elias Balthasar (1). They are living with their mother in Florida. Barbara Becker, 34, and her husband reached a rapid divorce settlement last month in a string of events which have thrust the tennis star into public glare. Last week Becker confirmed a fresh romance with pop rap singer Sabrina Setlur, daughter of an Indian banker and once voted Germany’s “most erotic woman”. In the latest statement, Becker said he was putting an end to paternity speculation over Anna following reports of a brief affair with Angela Ermakova in London during 1999 Wimbledon week. The 33-year-old Russian has claimed in a paternity suit before a British court that a single incidence of sexual contact with Becker had resulted in her pregnancy. In a clear attempt to give a definitive personal account of his much publicised love life, Becker gave a long interview that got title-page treatment in the latest issue of the respected German news magazine Der Spiegel. In it, Becker described the recent divorce from his wife of seven years as “the worst defeat I ever had to concede”, adding: “in this marriage I have lost.” The three-time Wimbledon winner added: “I would have never imagined that I might get divorced and that I would only see my children and the woman whom I once loved every two or three weeks.” |
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Punjab spikers rout MP NEW DELHI, Feb 8 (UNI) — Spearheaded by international Manoj Kumar and Suraj Prakash, Punjab routed Madhya Pradesh in straight sets to chalk out their third straight win while in Railways women spikers drubbed Delhi here today to become two team to qualify for the National Super League Volleyball. National champion Kerala recorded their first win in the senior national league as they thrashed lowly Chandigarh 3-0. In the four team women section, formidable railway had no difficulty in spiking host Delhi 3-0 for their second win. Three teams will qualify for the super league from the six teams in men section while from women section two teams will qualify. Punjab booked the berth on the third day of the tournament with a emphatic 25-20,25-15,25-19 victory over Madhya Pradesh. Punjab’s victory was made possible by some super spiking by Manoj Kumar, Suraj Prakash and Jagbir Singh. For Madhya Pradesh this was their first defeat in two matches. Kerala, who were upset by Karnataka yesterday bounced back in contention for a place in the super league drubbing Chandigarh 25-17, 25-19, 25-19. This was Chandigarh third defeat in as many outings and they are out of contention. However the organisers, Delhi Volleyball Association (DVA) are cut up with Kerala for not sending the team which won the national championship. DVA president Kuldip Vats said Kerala has openly flouted the rules of the national body. According to the rules any team qualified for the league can change three players from the side which participated in the nations. DVA alleged that Kerala has changed as many as six players from the side which won the nationals. The team also does not have internationals Tom Joseph, Raj Vinod and Anil. In the women section, Railway toyed with Delhi. Skipper Mini Elizabeth, Mithu Roy, Shiji Kurian and Vaishali played super game to enable their team to win 25-16, 25-11, 25-10.
Delhi have lost both their matches so far. |
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Gopi Chand donates prize money JAIPUR, Feb 8 (PTI) — World number six Pullela Gopi Chand, who won his fifth consecutive national badminton title here last night, has donated his prize money for the Gujarat earthquake victims. Gopi Chand may have won the title but he won the hearts of the people by announcing that he was donating his Rs 40,000 prize money for the victims of the earth quake. He contributed the amount to the Chief Minister’s relief fund. The spectators, who had come in large numbers to witness the men’s and women’s singles finals, gave an ovation to the champion. The badminton ace is the second sportsperson to contribute his mite for the earthquake victims. Young Indian shooter of immense potential, Abhinav Bindra, had earlier this week donated the entire prize money he had earned on the European circuit. |
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