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| Friday,
April 20, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Baboor storms into
semifinals
Donald strikes early
blows Political polarisation plays the spoilsport Baroda dismissed for
243 Pak overwhelming favourites |
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Islam, Omar lift
Bangladesh Walsh announces
retirement Rushmi, Dea Sumantri in final Bayern beat Manchester United 2-1 Kumble’s wife gets custody of
child
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Baboor storms into
semifinals New Delhi, April 19 Olympian and second seed Chetan Baboor kept Indian hopes alive, when he vanquished seventh seed Alex Perry (England) in straight games to storm into the semifinals. Chetan took over 40 minutes to knock out Perry 21-18, 21-9, 21-7 to make his second straight semifinal entry into this category. Chetan is the bronze medallist in the previous edition of the game held in Singapore. Defending champion Mathew Syed (England) outplayed former Indian national champion S. Raman 21-7, 21-6, 21-8 in the first quarterfinals. But it was third time unlucky for Chetan Baboor and S. Raman who failed in their endeavour of a hat-trick of men’s doubles titles. Baboor and Raman lost to the English pair of Terry Young and Alex Perry 21-10, 22-24, 18-21 in the final. On the sixth day of the competition, Ghatak fell victim to Li Jia Wei of Singapore, who is ranked 23rd in the world. The trend of play showed Ghatak could do little against her fancied opponent who played a superior game to completely overshadow Ghatak in three games. Li Wei won the first two games 21-14, 21-14. In the third game Li Wei was more ruthless, outclassing the Indian girl 21-10. Similarly, Mouma Das of India went down to world’s 82nd ranked player from Malaysia, Yao Lin Jing, in straight games.The Malaysian girl won 21-10, 21-11, 21-12. Two Indian players — S. Raman and Chetan P. Baboor — entered the last eight in the men’s singles event here this evening. However, the casualty list showed one Indian — Soumyadeep Roy, who lost to Li Aaron of New Zealand 13-21, 8-21, 18-21. In the first men’s pre-quarterfinal, Chetan took on Cai Xiao Li of Singapore. The two played a completely offensive close-to-table game in which one saw short serves followed by forehand drives. The contest saw a number of rallies. After 5-5, Chetan took the lead, 10-6 first, then 12-8 and 15-10. But slowly and steadily Li bridged the gap and caught up with Chetan at 19. However, Chetan kept his cool and finished the game off the first match point (21-19). In the second game Cai Li kept a slight upper hand initially but Chetan with brilliant play caught up with Li at 11 and then 14. But Li again moved ahead after 15-15 and won the second game at 21-17. The struggle spilled on to the third game where the score moved from 5-5 to 7-7. But playing steady, Chetan led 17-13 and 19-14. He ultimately won at 21-16. With 2-1 up in the match, Chetan did not waste much time in the fourth and led 9-4 and then 11-7. Though Cai Li levelled the score (11-11), yet Chetan’s superiority was never in doubt. He again moved ahead 19-16 and booked the berth in the last eight by winning the fourth game at 21-17. Strangely, the S. Raman-Peter Jackson match also followed the same pattern, from the Indian point of view. That is, in this contest too, Raman won the first game, lost the second but won the third and fourth games. Yet it must be said to the credit of Jackson of New Zealand that he matched the fancied Indian player stroke for stroke in the first game and the score moved as it often moved in such circumstances. Deadlock after deadlock. However, from 13-13, Raman with his down the line and crosscourt drives, established the supermacy and led 18-14. From this stage he did not look back and won the first game 21-16. In the second, from 4-4, it was Jackson who had the upper hand. He led 9-7 and then increased the lead to 14-10. No matter how hard he tried, Raman failed to match Jackson who won the game 21-13. The fight entered the third game in which Jackson led a number of times. He led 13-9, 16-12 and 17-15. But Raman with his aggressive play allowed no respite to Jackson and continued harassing him. The result was that Raman caught up with Jackson at 17. Once Raman came out of the deficit, he refused to give any further leeway to the New Zealander. At deuce (20-20), Raman forced the game point and hit off a winner, 22-20, to go 2-1 up in the match. In the fourth game, Raman was always in the lead after 5 all. He led 8-5, 10-8 and 15-9. Leading 19-11 further, Raman closed the contest at 21-13. As for Soumyadeep Roy, after losing first two games, he led 18-15 in the third. Yet he surrendered the lead and lost to Li Aaron at 18-21. In that case the current national champion needs to work on his temperament. India could draw satisfaction from the fact that their pair, Chetan Baboor and S. Raman managed to enter the men’s doubles semifinals. The Indian pair beat A. Sau and S. Saka of Nigeria 21-13, 21-19. |
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With feet on the ground, Harbhajan sets sights high New Delhi, April 19 Only weeks ago, he devastated the mighty Australians with 32 wickets from three Tests and won widespread acclaim even in Australia where he was nicknamed ‘Turbanator’, a reference to his turban and the killer instinct with which he terminated the Aussie batsmen’s innings. The 21-year-old middle-class boy from Jalandhar is basking in his new-found glory after all the problems he has had two years back with his bowling action. He is now recognised on the streets, people shake his hands and ask for his autograph. “It is all God’s grace”, says the spinner humbly. But has not the sudden success made him heady? “Definitely not. If God has given me success, he will give me the strength to cope with it,” he told PTI in an interview. Harbhajan’s Sights are set high. “The immediate target is to win an away series. In the long run I would like to take 300 Test wickets and even more in one-dayers,” he says. He needs 247 wickets to reach his Test target and at least 278 for what he wants to achieve in one-day internationals. He certainly oozes with confidence! He knows he has to work hard for this. He took a week’s break after the Australian series and is now putting in nearly seven hours a day to improve his physical fitness and bowling skills. Is he now working on any special delivery? “Yes, I am trying to develop a ball which would land with a slower speed. The batsman is on the crease for a long time and has judged the bowlers well. The attempt would be to subtly alter the speed and the length and surprise him. I am working hard on this,” reveals the bowler. Then he discloses an interesting nugget — it was the master batsman Sachin Tendulkar who taught him the art of moving a relatively new ball away from the right-hand batsman, almost like an out-swinger without changing the action. Tendulkar, a useful bowler in his own right with both off and leg spin, had taught him this delivery at the nets, says Harbhajan, adding, “at first it was difficult but now I am able to deliver this ball”. And what about batting? Has the master-blaster given him tips on batting as well? “I have started to take batting seriously now and working hard on it. I had been successful with the bat in Ranji and Duleep trophies. Also, I know India needs more allrounders in its squad and the way I am trying I think I will become an all-rounder soon,” says Harbhajan, who scored the two precious runs which gave India the Test series and followed it up with 46 runs in Visakhapatnam one-dayer. Bowling of course is the priority for Harbhajan as he sits glued to the TV set to observe world-class spinners and also his idols Saqlain Mushtaq and Muthiah Muralitharan bowl whenever there is a match being telecast. However, Harbhajan refuses to get overawed by either. “They are very experienced and owe their success entirely to their depth of experience. Even I bowl the same kind of deliveries at them and I have taken wickets on those balls both in Tests as well as one-dayers.” If he does not shower praise on others too easily, he is also very self-critical. He watches the video recordings of his own bowling closely and a number of times to pick out the mistakes and then tries to rectify those. Learning from mistakes has been a part of growing up for this youngster who admits being short-tempered as a child. “As a child I threw tantrums at the slightest pretext - not being able to eat ‘golgappas’ or buy a balloon from the street pedlar would be reasons enough for me to get angry. I used to crib for every little thing and if my wish was not fulfilled, i would get wild.” Harbhajan now has matured a lot, especially he says, after his father’s death. “After my daddy passed away, I realised I had to shoulder enormous responsibilities. Now I hardly get angry at all”. Not even when a batsman hits him for a six? “Not angry exactly. But yes I am greatly agitated. I resolve to get rid of the batsman as soon as possible.” Harbhajan’s aggression paid off certainly during the recent Australian series, having managed to trouble almost the entire Aussie batting line-up, except as he says Mathew Hayden. “I found Hayden a tough nut to crack because his reach on the crease is immense. He reaches the ball going out of the off-stump and even drives them with ease. He was in great form. Besides Hayden, it was my heartiest wish to bowl Steve Waugh out.” But sometimes this very aggression lands the bowler in trouble as in October last year when he walked out of the training camp. “Whatever happened I think was just a bad dream — a nightmare. I would just like to forget all about it but not before realising that what I did was a mistake and I must not repeat such a mistake in future.” To have overcome a bad patch and get selected in the playing eleven against Australia in Mumbai for the first Test was something he could not have asked more for. “It was the turning point of my career. This series was definitely the big one for me. I knew i had to perform to my potential in this series and prove myself.” He put aside his initial euphoria at being selected and tried to stick his best foot forward during the Chennai camp. “As I worked hard, I got support from captain Saurav Ganguly, coach John Wright, Anil (Kumble) Bhai and Sachin. Their support helped me grow in confidence. Then the series finally was for everyone to see.” What he missed greatly among the applause and the record of a hat-trick, taken during the second Test at Kolkata, was the presence of his father. “I succeeded in realising his cherished dream — it hurts that he was not there to see all this for himself”. But the consolation was he had his mother and siblings — five of them — all girls, to share his joy with. If someone was not happy with his success, it could be Adam Gilchrist — the man who owed his ouster so many times to the lanky bowler during the entire series. Harbhajan, however, ruled down this possibility, saying “Gilchrist came to me after one match and appreciated my efforts. Shane Warne, Steve Waugh.... they all commended my performance.” What about all those reports in the media of sledging and heated exchange of words on field? “I cared the least about anything other than the game going on the field. I did not bother myself at all with petty matters. I remained lost in my own world.” So while the rest were busy fighting a mental warfare, Harbhajan was at peace with himself as he improvised his bowling technique and conjured tricks to send the batsmen packing. In the process, he shut up the big-mouthed Australian media who had scoffed this bowler off as a laundry-boy when he was on a tour of that country in 1999. “I do not know why some paper referred to me as a laundry boy. Perhaps they did not know that they was no question of washing the laundry of my team-mates as we were put in single
accommodation rooms and moreover the laundry was provided to us free of cost.” A case of mix-up of facts or mistaken identities? Harbhajan never bothered to ask them and rightly so as he gave them a dose of their own medicine by tearing apart the so-called invincibles. Success may have gone to the heads of other players but definitely not to Harbhajan’s. “I am the same simple middle-class boy from Jalandhar. Nothing has changed in me, basically because I have gone through some bad patches in life — I know life is a great leveller. I have just made a beginning... I have a long way to go,” says Harbhajan in his characteristic unassuming style. Not many know that Harbhajan takes a keen interest in his ancestral business — a factory which churns out ball-bearings and valves. “My daddy looked after the factory with great passion. So I make it a point to devote some time at least to it. The factory is a constant reminder of my father,” says Harbhajan while trying unsuccessfully to hide his emotions. It has been one long way for the only son of the family as he graduated from playing cricket on rough terraces to the silken grass of Eden Gardens. “There are tasks to be accomplished on the home-front as well. I have to marry off my two sisters as three are already married. It’s a big responsibility.” It certainly is for a boy who has just entered his twenties and with so much else to be worried about — like keeping up to the expectations of more than a billion people everytime he sets feet on a playing ground. Ask him about his own marriage and he shrugs off the topic shyly but not before he adds mischieviously “I am already married to cricket”
PTI Kingston (Jamaica), April 19 New cap Leon Garrick was out to the first ball of the match as the West Indies made the worst possible start after winning the toss. Shivarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle were also out as the West Indies embarked on a mission to restore pride after South Africa took a winning 2-0 lead in the series by winning the fourth Test in Antigua earlier this month. Garrick was not in the original 13-man squad named by the West Indies selectors on Tuesday but was called up yesterday in place of fellow Jamaican Wavell Hinds. He received his cap from veteran Courtney Walsh in a ceremony on the field before the start of play but barely had a chance to savour the moment as he cut the first ball he received from Donald straight to South African captain Shaun Pollock at gully. Walsh (38) told the Kingston newspaper, The Gleaner, that his 132nd Test would definitely be his last. It had been expected that Walsh, who has taken a world record 513 Test wickets, would retire but he had not formally announced a decision. West Indies (1st innings): Garrick c Pollock b Donald 0 Gayle c Kemp b Donald 25 Chanderpaul c Boucher b Kallis 7 Lara batting 7 Samuels batting 3 Extras (b4, lb5, w2) 11 Total (for 3 wkts, 29 overs) 53 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-21, 3-50. Bowling: Donald 8-3-10-2, Pollock 6-2-9-0, Kallis 7-3-8-1, Kemp 6-1-15-0, Adams 2-1-2-0.
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Political polarisation plays the spoilsport New Delhi, April 19 When IOA president Suresh Kalmadi hosted a reception in honour of International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Juan Antonio Samaranch at his residence recently, the guest list was an interesting amalgam of sports administrators and political personalities, though two notable absentees were Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Uma Bharati and Archery Association of India (AAI) president Vijay Kumar Malhotra, both from the BJP. Interestingly, however, former Delhi Chief Minister and BJP member of Parliament from outer Delhi, Sahib Singh Verma was present at the function, though he does not represent any major national federation. Similarly, at the IOA Executive Council meeting at the National Stadium here yesterday, eyebrows were raised when former president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jagmohan Dalmia walked into attend the meeting, as he does not represent any Olympic discipline, but Malhotra, a Member of Parliament from South Delhi, was once again conspicuous by his absence, though one of the items listed in the agenda was a subject close to his heart - the inclusion of sports in the Concurrent List in the proposed National Sports Policy. Like so many other federation heads, Malhotra too is learnt to be a staunch opponent of inclusion of sports in the Concurrent List, as he feels, like so many others, that it’s not the government’s business to get involved in the running of sports, as it’s the federations’ job. Yet, the president of the AAI chose to keep away from the IOA meeting, forcing observers to read between the lines, as they see a method in the whole madness. Malhotra had supported the government move to “defer” the games, though Kalmadi made it very clear that “nobody is authorised to speak on behalf of the IOA”. Malhotra is learnt to be in the running for the Sports Minister’s job, but with Parliament in a limbo, following the Tehelka expose, there is no sign of the Prime Minister effecting a ministerial reshuffle in the near future. Both Kalmadi and Malhotra were reportedly keen to get the Afro-Asian Games Organising Committee chairman’s job, which was eventually ‘taken away’ by the Sports Minister, with the formation of a Steering Committee, though it’s another matter that the Steering Committee never really took off. But the government’s direction to the IOA to “defer” the games came as a “bolt from the blue” jolt to even IOA president Kalmadi, though he was not at all amused to share the co-chairmen’s job with Malhotra. Ms Uma Bharati’s precedessor in the Sports Ministry, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, had given a cetegorical assurance to the Afro-Asian Games Council meetings both in New Delhi and Rio de Janerio, of the government’s firm commitment to hold the Games. “There is no going back on it”, asserted Kalmadi. He said he had even made the sacrifice of stepping down as the chairman of the organising committee, though according to an Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) letter “I was the chairman of the organising committee”. The IOA chief said following Dhindsa’s assurance of holding the Games on schedule, the international federations adjusted their calendar, to prepare for the Afro-Asiad. “Team preparations are on in various countries”, elaborated Kalmadi. He said there was no valid reason to “defer” the games. “What’s the problem? Where’s the problem?”, Kalmadi wanted to know. But the Government is giving out no reasons for seeking the postponement of the games, though the issue has now come down to a plain Congress vs BJP tussle, but not all BJP politicos, heading various federations, are supporting the government move. The IOA president was confident of hosting the games as scheduled as no new infrastructure was required for the games. The athletes and officials would be accommodated in hotels, for which tentative bookings have already been made. Moreover, the Afro-Asiad is more of a Friendship Games than a competitive one for winning medals, and if India miss out this opportunity, the country will not get another opportunity to host an international meet of this magnitude for the next 10 years. “It’s a question of national prestige”, Kalmadi warned. OCA secretary-general Randhir Singh, who is also the secretary-general of the IOA, said the Afro-Asiad has been “approved by 96 countries, two Olympic councils (Asia and Africa), eight international federations, and their counterparts in Asia and Africa. This is not something that can be changed overnight”. Randhir said “the president of the IOA (Kalmadi) has taken a very bold stand” in insisting that the games be held as scheduled earlier. “We stand by our commitment (to hold the games), and there’s no question of a compromise”, asserted Randhir. But the last word on the issue is with the Prime Minister, whose decision, after a combined meeting with the IOA delegation, Ms Uma Bharati and Mr Dhindsa, will make or mar the fate of the games. |
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Baroda dismissed for 243
Baroda, April 19 Railways lost opening batsman Amit Pagnis with the total on 17. However, T.P. Singh and vice-captain Sanjay Bangar batted with responsibility and their unbroken 74-run second wicket partnership saw to it that they finished the day on a satisfactory note. Baroda captain Jacob Martin made many bowling changes but in vain as both T.P. Singh and Bangar rose to the occasion by hitting the loose balls to the fence. With the exception of Rakesh Patel who scalped Pagnis, the rest of the bowlers failed to impress. Earlier, Connor Williams, Tushar Arothe and Ajit Bhoite struck half centuaries to help host Baroda, who won the toss and elected to bat, reach a 243 runs. Williams hit 65 runs which included seven fours. The fourth wicket partnership of 70 runs between Williams and Arothe and seventh wicket partnership of 69 between Bhoite and Rakesh Patel were the highlights of Baroda innings. Railways fast bowlers Harvinder Singh (4/59) and Bangar (3/55) bowled a fine line and length and struck telling blows at regular intervals to leave the hosts struggling at 110 for four at lunch and 220 for seven at tea. Railways conceded 24 runs as extras which also helped Baroda’s cause. Kulamani Parida was the other successful bowler taking two wickets for 36 runs. Baroda must break the partnership of Bangar and T.P. Singh, who look to be in good nick, early tomorrow to wrest the initiative from Railways. National selection committee chairman Chandu Borde was present as the team for the upcoming Zimbabwe tour is to be announced on April 23. Baroda (Ist innings): Parab c Sharma b Harvinder 00 Williams c Goud b Parida 65 Mongia c Khanolkar b Bangar 04 Martin c Sharma b Harvinder 00 Arothe c Khanolkar b Harvinder 52 Jadhav lbw b Parida 10 Bhoite b Bangar 57 Patel c Karthik b Bangar 16 Buch not out 10 Khan c Wankhede b Harvinder 5 Pathan run out 0 Extras: (21 nb, three b) 24 Total (all out in 64.1 overs): 243 Fall of wickets: 1/0, 2/20, 3/30, 4/107, 5/149, 6/150, 7/219, 8/238, 9/243. Bowling: Harvinder 20-5-59-4; Bangar 12.1-2-55-3; Karthik 12-2-70-0; Parida 16-5-36-2; T Singh 4-0-20-0. Railways (Ist innings): Pagnis b Patel 7 Bangar batting 21 Tejinder batting 60 Extras: (3 nb) 3 Total (for one in 23 overs): 91 Bowling: Z Khan 8-2-26-0; R Patel 9-0-29-1; I Pathan 2-0-25-0; V Buch 4-2-11-0. UNI, PTI |
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Pak overwhelming favourites Sharjah, April 19 With four league wins in a row, Pakistan are the overwhelming favourites against their struggling rivals who lost three games, including an embarrassing defeat by outsiders New Zealand on Tuesday. Waqar, however, cautioned his team against taking victory for granted in the day-night final before an expected full house at the Sharjah cricket stadium. “What happened in the league does not count, one-day cricket is all about playing well in those seven hours,” Waqar said. “We are very confident about the final, but Sri Lanka are a good side and will fancy their chances. We have to be on our toes all the time.” The tournament has thrown up so many surprises over the last two weeks that predicting the winner of the $50,000 title will be foolhardy. Full-strength Sri Lankans began as the favourites following their 3-0 whitewash of England in the one-day series at home. Pakistan, on the other hand, were in turmoil after a dismal tour of New Zealand in which they drew the Test series 1-1 and lost the one-dayers 3-2. Pakistan came to Sharjah without a coach, a new captain and missing the services of top stars like Wasim Akram, Moin Khan, Azhar Mahmood and Shoaib Akhtar. But riding on the experience of Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul Haq and Waqar, the Pakistanis used their favourite hunting ground to regroup and return to winning in style. New Zealander Matthew Sinclair may have been the top scorer of the league with 304 runs, but Anwar and Inzamam have been more effective in shaping Pakistan’s four convincing wins.
AFP Islam, Omar lift Bangladesh Bulawayo, April 19 The tourists had lost the toss and were sent in to bat. Mohammed Sharif was left alone at the crease on nought after Mushfiqur Rafique was dismissed in the final over. The best of Bangladesh’s batting came from Islam and debutant opener Javed Omar, who hit 62. The pair shared 84 runs for the third wicket after Bangladesh had slumped to 30 for two in the 14th over. For Zimbabwe, debutant fast bowler Andy Blignaut had a memorable day with figures of four for 72, a catch in the slips and a run out. Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak’s decision to bowl was prompted by a well-grassed pitch. However, fast bowler Streak himself was the main reason for Zimbabwe not making earlier inroads into the Bangladesh batting order as he bowled wide of the wicket and failed to make the batsmen play often enough. Scoreboard Bangladesh (Ist innings): Javed Omar c Ebrahim b Murphy 62 M. Hossain c Whittall b Blignaut 16 H. Bashar c Murphy b Blignaut 0 A. Islam c A.Flower b Blignaut 84 Akram Khan run out 21 N. Rahman c Blignaut b Watambwa 22 K. Mashud c A.Flower b Streak 30 M. Rahman c Streak b Blignaut 4 Hasibul Hussain lbw b Streak 1 Mohammed Sharif not out 0 Extras (lb-1 w-6 nb-9) 16 Total (for nine wickets) 256 Fall of wickets: 1/26, 2/30, 3/114, 4/149, 5/194, 6/226, 7/253, 8/256, 9/256. Bowling:
Streak 20-6-47-2 (6w), Blignaut 22.2-5-72-4, Watambwa 17-4-38-1 (4nb), Nkala 13-2-45-0 (5nb), Murphy 17-2-53-1.
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Walsh announces retirement Kingston (Jamaica), April 19 Walsh (38) who has taken a world record 513 Test wickets, had been widely expected to retire after the current series but did not make an announcement until the eve of the Test when he told The Gleaner newspaper: “Yes, I’ve decided to call it a day. This is definitely it for now.” He said he may continue to play cricket. “I’m still enjoying competition and I may continue doing that but not at this high level.” Walsh said he hoped to stay involved in the game after he finished playing. “I got a lot out of cricket and I want to be able to make contributions in whatever way I can towards the development of the sport and to the youngsters.” Despite being the oldest player on either side, Walsh was the leading wicket-taker going into the final Test of the series against South Africa, who lead the series 2-0, with 19 at an average of 20.95. Walsh began his Test career in Perth, Australia, in 1984. His debut came in the middle of a record West Indian winning streak of 11 Test matches and an unmatched period of domination for the Caribbean team.
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Rushmi, Dea Sumantri in final Chandigarh, April 19 Dea Sumantri and Radhika Tulpule will meet Sai Jayalakshmy and Rushmi Chakarvorthy in the doubles final to be played tomorrow. The first singles semifinal played between 467-ranked Rushmi and 600-ranked Jyotsna was a thrilling affair. In the first set, both on occasions were neck and neck. Rushmi having a vast experience of playing at ITF meets, kept the NRI girl at low. Jyotsna led at 4-2 but score was equalised by Rushmi. It was Jyotsna again who with her fine serve surged ahead at 6-5. At this juncture, two backhand volleys which helped Rushmi make it 6-6. Finally, Rushmi won in the tie-breaker at 7-6 in a 50-minute marathon set. In the second set again Jyotsna gained a lead of 2-1. At this point there was no stopping Rushmi and she took four games in a row to emerge winner at 6-2 of the set and the match. In the second semifinal between Sumantri and Paterson the latter looked exhausted with her three consecutive wins during the past three days though she was at her best in the first set. She never let young Sumantri come back at any stage as the Indonesian lost the set at 4-6 in 42 minutes. In the second set Sumantri, playing for the first time in India in the senior section, varied her game quite intelligently. She just blasted Paterson who finally lost at 2-6 in just 35 minutes. Like the second set , third set was one sided which Sumantri won at 6-0 in 25 minutes to enter final. In the first doubles semifinal, Sai and Rushmi proved to be too good for Sheethal Goutham and Shalini Thakur and won in two sets at 6-2, 6-3. In other semifinal, D Sumantri and Radhika Tulpule had to struggle hard to overcome the stiff resistance posed by local girl Shruti Dhawan and Jyotsna Vashisht in straight sets at 6-4, 6-4. Results: semifinal singles: Dea Sumantri (Indonesia) b Karen Paterson (GBR) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0; Rushmi Chakarvorthy (Ind) b Jyotsna Vashisht (Ind) 7-6, 6-2. |
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Coach laments lack of
sponsors Chandigarh, April 19 Today Sumantri entered the final. Suharyadi said she was getting training from him for the past two years and only this year she entered the women’s fray. In Chandigarh, it was her first venture with seniors, as earlier she had taken part in several ITF juniors’ meet. This was sixth ITF meet for Dea but for the first time she has entered the final which was a big achievement, said her coach. Based at Jakarta and a national coach with the Lawn Tennis Association of Indonesia, Suharyadi said due to economic crisis in their country, less sponsors were coming forward. He said tennis was third most preferred in their country, the first two being badminton and football. He said a few players in women’s section were enjoying as low as 19th ranking in the world. He was quite hopeful that Sumantri now enjoying 779 ranking would be among the first 300 by the end of 2001. He said Sumantri remained off the seen for three months during last year and was not able to play in a few of the ITF tournaments.
Suharyadi said playing in India was most preferred by them due to weather conditions and he wanted Dea to improve her ranking by playing first in Asia. Only then she would go to take part in the ITF and other international meets in Europe and elsewhere. Sumantri said she was enjoying playing here and the next time she would go to Pune for another ITF meet. |
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Bayern beat Manchester United 2-1 Munich, April 19 Bayern beat Manchester United 2-1 at the Olympic Stadium to gain revenge for their 1999 final loss and Real’s 3-0 victory settled the score following their European Super Cup defeat last August. Giovane Elber’s close-range strike gave Munich an early lead before Mehmet Scholl’s low drive doubled Bayern’s advantage five minutes before half-time. Ryan Giggs’ delicate lob pulled one back for United just after half-time, but despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession in the
second period Ferguson’s side failed to score again, losing 3-1 on aggregate. Defending champions Real Madrid thrashed Galatasaray at the Santiago Bernabeu with striker Raul scoring two and Ivan Helguera earning the other to put the legendary Spanish club through at the expense of the Turks 5-3 on aggregate. Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said afterwards: “you can’t play for a draw against a team like Manchester and we decided to attack from the kick-off. We got the result we deserved even if Manchester never gave up.” United coach Sir Alex Ferguson blamed poor defending for his side’s exit from Europe’s elite competition. “I felt we contributed to their victory,” he said. “An early goal against us was the last thing we wanted, it was a real killer for us.”
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Kumble’s wife gets custody of
child New Delhi, April 19 The court reiterated the significant legal position while disposing of an appeal against a Karnataka High Court order giving custody for one year of her minor daughter to Ms Chetana K. Ramatheertha, wife of Test cricketer Anil Kumble. The high court had given custody to Ms Ramatheertha on an application from her against a Bangalore family court order granting custody of the minor child to her previous husband, Kumar Jahgirdar, a stock broker. A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice D.P. Mohapatra and Mr Justice Shivraj V. Patil while granting the custody of the child to the family court, said, “Suffice it to say that the high court does not appear to have considered the welfare of the minor child in its proper perspective”. “Therefore, the order and the directions issued by the high court should not influence the family court while deciding the custody of the child”, the Judges added. “The father of the child, appellant herein, will have the right to visit his daughter or take her out between 10 am to 8 pm on Saturday and Sunday every week. He may also keep the child with him overnight on a Saturday once a month with prior intimation to the mother of the child”, the judges said. |
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