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June 10, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Kuerten in sight of
third title Hingis in danger of being written off? Phadke rallies to win
Aussies
cruise to 7-wicket win Foreign coaches to help Lanka
Gade reaches
final Barua ambushes Sasikiran Harkamal upsets top seed Tiwari Skating camp in full swing Kapil to turn golf professional Sukhwinder
retained as chief coach till Asiad
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3rd Grand Slam title for Paes-Bhupathi Paris, June 9 The unseeded Indian duo, winners here in 1999, made a stunning comeback from 2-5 down in the first set to take it in the tie-breaker at 7-6 (7/5). After the teams had exchanged a break each, a break in the eighth game was enough to give the Indians a 6-3 victory in the second set for the title. This is the third Grand Slam title for the Indian duo who had won the French Open and Wimbledon in 1999, the year they also reached the final of the other two Grand Slams and finished as year-end world number one. Following a rift which saw their heart-breaking separation, Paes and Bhupathi had played with different partners here last year with disastrous results. The pair reunited just ahead of the US Open last year and played at the Sydney Olympics too but the magic needed time to rebuild. Their first major win after coming together was at the Japan Open in November. They made an early exit at the Australian Open this year losing in first round. However, the French Open was a venue dear to both. Bhupathi had become the first Indian to win a Grand Slam when he partnered Rika Hiraki of Japan for the mixed doubles title here in 1998. The following year he triumphed again, this time in the men’s doubles partnering Paes who captured his first Grand Slam. In the second set, Bhupathi was broken in the third game but the Indians broke back in the next to tie the score at 2-2. Another break in the eighth game gave the Indians a vital 5-3 lead. The Indians were 30-40 down in the ninth game with Paes serving for the match but the Indians won the next two points to earn a match-point. Vizner then netted Paes’ serve to give the Indians the fabulous victory. Paes and Bhupathi picked up the winners’ purse of $ 213,210 while the Czech pair had to be content with $ 106,605.
PTI |
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Capriati makes it two in a row Paris, June 9 It was the closest of calls for the 25-year-old hot favourite as she struggled with her nerves and her game throughout as Clijsters, who turned 18 yesterday, belied her years to put up a brave fight that brought her to within two points of the title. Capriati clinched the championship after a 2hrs 21mins marathon when she broke Clijsters in the 21st game of the set and in the next game grabbed the title with a forehand blast on her second match point. It was her third attempt to serve out for the match after she failed at 7-6 and at 10-9. Capriati hugged Clijsters and then went over for more embraces from her watching father and brother. “I am so thrilled, so happy. I just stuck in there and stayed tough. I tried to play every ball and just stay in there. I don’t know how I did it. I just can’t believe it. I am on a roll,” she said. The win puts 25-year-old Capriati half-way to achieving the vaunted Grand Slam of women’s tennis following her upset win over Martina Hingis in the Australian Open in
January. There remains Wimbledon and the US Open, where she has in the past reached the semi-finals, to ensure her place among the greats of the sport alongside Steffi Graf, the last player to win all four Grand Slam events in 1988. For the 18-year-old Clijsters there was the consolation of reaching her first Grand Slam final, a career-best seventh place in the world rankings and the knowledge that she has her best years ahead of her. The Belgian player had lost in the first round here last year in her only other Roland Garros appearance and her lack of a track record on clay meant although she was seeded she was not listed among the favourites for the title. But an early slaughter of seeds in her bottom half of the draw cleared the way for a run through to the semi-finals where she came back from a set down 2-4 and 15-40 to defeat another Belgian teenager Justine Henin. The opening exchanges were nervy, Capriati getting things underway with a double fault followed by four unforced errors from Clijsters. The Belgian saved four break points in a crucial second game which seemed to settle her and unhinge the more experienced of the two finalists. Capriati looked tense and anxious, arguing with the umpire and the net cord judge as she dropped her next serve to 15, Clijsters ramming a big forehand down the line. The Belgian, seeing that Capriati was flustered, grabbed her chance to reel off four games in a row, clinching the set in 29 minutes on her third set point when the American hit a forehand
wide. Capriati started to get her game together at the start of the second and broke for a 2-0 lead, but she was pinned back again by Clijsters who levelled at 2-2. But the American again bounced back to break in the fifth game, Clijsters driving a forehand long and then held on to serve for the set 6-4, with Clijsters hitting two forehands wide as her confidence began to crumble. The match was on a knife-edge and Capriati broke first in the deciding set concluding with two smashes at the net. But the febrility of her play let her down again in the following game with three more unforced errors to allow Clijsters to level. Thereafter it was a survival of the fittest both physically and mentally as the games went with serve and both players came within two points of the match. Capriati served for the match at 7-6, but allowed nerves to get the better of her again as Clijsters broke back. Again she served at 10-9 only to fail again. But at 11-10 she moved to two match points, missed the first, but on the second blasted a majestic forehand past a lunging Clijsters for the title. Capriati was the first American to win here since Chris Evert in 1986.
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Kuerten in sight of
third title Paris, June 9 Of course that self same form book can
often be turned on its head — as Kuerten is keenly aware, having
arrived here ranked 66 in the world to thrash former champion Sergi
Bruguera in the 1997 final, launching the ‘Guga’ legend. This time Kuerten, having already seen off chief pretender Juan Carlos Ferrero in the semis, has to break Spanish hearts once more and oust the wily Alex Corretja, who at 27 benefits from six years more experience and guile compared with his fallen compatriot. Corretja
may not have posted anything like the form that Kuerten has across the
season to date — but his patient, unruffled approach could prove an
advantage in the heat of battle. The Spaniard, as much a claycourt
specialist as Kuerten but without the flamboyance, has based his
entire year on one goal — winning his first Grand Slam title at
Roland Garros. He took the best part of two months off at the start
of the year and then headed for European clay — only to find his
form had, temporarily as it has turned out, deserted him. Asked when
his confidence had returned Corretja grinned after despatching
Grosjean to make it 15 sets won on a roll and said: “about two hours
ago!” But he insisted that on the latest evidence he had little to
complain about. “I didn’t drop a set since the first day so I’m
probably playing even better than I imagined.” A Rome Masters
Series quarter-final defeat in straight sets at Kuerten’s hands was
the best Corretja could manage in warm-up events, but that hasn’t
lulled the Brazilian into a false sense of security as he goes for his
third French crown. “I think it could happen - or not. It’s what
happens on the day,” said the 24-year-old Kuerten, whose
loose-limbed, gangling style is in stark contrast to the immaculate
Corretja. “You’ve got to wake up (feeling) perfect. It’s good
if you feel a little tense the night before.” Kuerten had not
looked infallible by any means — at least until he handed out a
lesson to Ferrero — as he had dropped four sets on the way to the
semis. He started off with straight set wins over Argentines Guillermo Coria and Agustin Calleri, but Moroccan Karim Alami took one set off him and then US qualifier Michael Russell had a match-point against him before the Brazilian woke up just in time to the danger. Russian
seventh seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov was the sacrificial lamb in the
quarters — as he had been both in 1997 and last year — in a
four-setter which saw Kuerten begin to find his range. AFP |
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Hingis in danger of being written off? Paris, June 9 The world No 1 member one’s painful defeat by Jennifer Capriati in Thursday’s French Open semifinal again exposed her weaknesses and, with a strong group of pretenders massing behind her, she may find it difficult to add to her five Grand Slam titles. While at tour level, Hingis continues to dominate the women’s game - last year’s nine titles were more than any other player - she has failed to win her last nine Grand Slam tournaments. Since securing the 1999 Australian Open title, stronger, faster and fitter opponents, namely Venus and Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Mary Pierce and Capriati, have shared the major silverware, leaving Hingis knocking in frustration on a slammed door. In 1997, she won three Grand Slams, losing only in Paris, and the French Open remains the only one of the four missing from her collection. But since that golden year pickings have been meagre for the player who trails only Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert in total number of weeks spent as world No 1. Coming into Paris, Hingis had topped the rankings for 192 weeks, but her tally of five Grand Slams is way short of the 18 amassed by Evert and Narvratilova and even further behind Graf’s 22. Despite her protestations to the contrary, there must now be real doubts about whether Hingis will win another Grand Slam, the manner of her loss to Capriati magnifying the shortcomings in her game. Four years ago, her pinpoint groundstrokes sought out every corner of the court, leaving her opponents weary and defeated. Now they appear quaint and almost in slow motion compared to the rockets leaving the rackets of the Williams sisters, Pierce, and the rejuvenated Capriati. Her frail physique is dwarfed by more muscular opponents and whether she can revive her career at this level is looking increasingly unlikely. “I’ve shown in the past that I’m able to win this tournament,’’ Hingis said after losing to Capriati for the second successive Grand Slam, the American having beaten her in the Australian Open final by the same emphatic 6-4, 6-3 scoreline. “It’s not that I missed a chance to win here, it’s just a loss. The only thing I can do is learn and improve until I get better and get another chance.’’ That chance may never come. Hingis for the first time has conceded that despite her top ranking she is not the best player in the world. “I think I could say Jennifer,’’ she said through gritted teeth when asked who was the best. “I mean, she’s proved it. She won in Australia, she beat me there, she’s beaten the sisters, here she’s made the final again. “Right now I’d say she is the hottest player on the tour. “There’s nothing I can do now. I just have to let it go and hope to do better at Wimbledon. I don’t want to talk about it anymore, I just want to move on.’’ Wimbledon, however, is unlikely to prove to be the happy hunting ground Hingis so craves, even though she won the title there in 1997. The slick surface, which usually suits the more powerful players, is more likely simply to expose the widening cracks in her game once again.
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Phadke rallies to win Mumbai, June 9 The match which lasted one hour and 45 minutes saw fortunes fluctuate every minute but Sonal’s big match temperament held her in good stead in the end. Samrita, playing her first ITF final in the senior section, served well and looked in good nick in the first set. She broke Sonal Phadke in the ninth game and held her serve to win the first set 6-4. Local girl, Sonal, suddenly increased the pace of the game in the second set and started serving deep to wrong foot her opponent on more than one occasion. Sonal broke Samrita in the fourth and sixth games of the second set to win 6-2 and level scores. In the final set Samrita fought well but failed to win the important points when it really mattered while her rival grew in confidence every minute.
PTI |
Flower brothers keep Indians at bay Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), June 9 Having conceded a 145-run first innings lead to the Indians, who scored 318 in reply to the hosts’ 173, Zimbabwe were in deep trouble at 134 for five before the Flower brothers came together in a 101-run sixth-wicket stand that not only brought their team back into the game but also frustrated the Indian bowlers who could manage just four wickets today. India started off well, dismissing night watchman Brian Murphy at his overnight score of 10 with the addition of just seven runs to yesterday’s total of 79 for three. They had another major breakthrough when Ashish Nehra removed Stuart Carlisle, who was associated in a gritty 48-run stand with Andy Flower, just before the lunch break for 52. But then the Flower brothers took charge in a defiant partnership that not only wiped out the first innings deficit but also consolidated on the gains to ensure that a good target was in place for the Indians to chase. Andy was finally out for 83 in the final session but Grant remained unbeaten on 67 when the day’s play came to an end. The visitors’ woes were compounded when Nehra was ruled out of bowling for the remainder of the innings after being warned for damaging the pitch in his followthrough for the third time. Zaheer Khan too was warned for the same offence twice and another warning would have rendered him useless. After two warnings each to both of them, Nehra and Zaheer were clearly not at their best with getting off of the pitch after delivering the ball being on their minds. But that could not take away the heroics of the Flower brothers who came together at a very difficult time and took the wind out of the Indian bowlers with their intelligent batting. Unlike the first innings when he was in a blistering mood, Andy Flower was far more composed today aware of the enormity of the task ahead of him. He concentrated on stealing singles and twos and running quickly between the wickets which not only kept the scoreboard moving at a brisk rate but also unnerved the
Indian bowlers and fielders. His brother Grant started hesitantly and took a lot of time to open his account but grew in confidence once his innings progressed. He hit Javagal Srinath for two sweetly timed similar off-drives each of which fetched him three runs and settled down to play the role of a sheet-anchor to perfection. SCOREBOARD Zimbabwe (1st innings): 173 India (1st innings): 318 Zimbabwe (2nd innings): Ebrahim c Dravid b Srinath 0 G. Whittall c Ramesh b Srinath 20 Carlisle c Laxman b Nehra 52 Campbell c Das b Harbhajan 16 Murphy c Das b Khan 10 A Flower c Ramesh b Nehra 83 G Flower batting 67 Streak lbw b Khan 14 Blignaut batting 11 Extras (b-1, lb-17, nb-10, w-2): 30 Total: (for 7 wkts, 115 overs) 303 Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-34, 3-63, 4-86, 5-134, 6-235, 7-273. Bowling: Srinath 27.2-7-70-2, Nehra 26.4-4-77-2, Harbhajan Singh 35-8-73-1, Khan 19-4-39-2, Tendulkar 6-0-23-0, Ganguly 1-0-3-0.
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Aussies cruise to 7-wicket win Cardiff, June 9 Pakistan, opting to bat, recovered from a bad start to reach 257 before they were dismissed on the penultimate ball of their 50 overs. Leg-spinner Warne, who took three for 52, helped give Australia the early advantage by having Abdur Razzaq stumped with his first ball and then removed dangerman Inzamam-ul-Haq two balls later for a duck. Pakistan slumped to 85 for six before being rescued by a seventh-wicket partnership of 124 from 127 balls between Yousuf Youhana, who made 91 not out, and Rashid Latif, who made 66. But Youhana, who made 91 not out after being dropped on 10, and Latif (66) turned things round to set the world champions a stiff target. By the time the frontline of Glenn McGrath and Ian Harvey returned to the attack both batsmen had their eye in each posting a fifty. Australia, however, never looked in trouble despite losing Adam Gilchrist early to pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar. Ponting, looking in brilliant form, made 70 off 68 balls including 12 boundaries, and Mark Waugh made 47 as the two put on 92 from 88 balls for the second wicket. Captain Steve Waugh (54 not out) and Michael Bevan (56 not out) put on an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 116 as Australia reached the target in the 46th over. It was not a good day for pace bowlers, however. Australian pace bowler Brett Lee, recalled after elbow surgery, took an early wicket but conceded 85 off 10 overs. Shoaib, despite looking back to full pace, bowled five overs for 41 before going off for treatment after clutching his stomach. Pakistan, without the injured Wasim Akram on Saturday, won the first match of the event against England on Thursday. England host Australia on Sunday in Bristol in the third game. SCOREBOARD Pakistan: Anwar c Warne b Harvey 35 Afridi c M.Waugh b Lee 11 Razzaq st Gilchrist b Warne 9 Haq st Gilchrist b Warne 0 Youhana not out 91 Y Khan lbw b Harvey 13 Mahmood c Gilchrist b Warne 0 Latif run out 66 Younis c Warne b McGrath 14 Mushtaq run out 2 Akhtar c M.Waugh b McGrath 1 Extras (lb-3 w-6 nb-6) 15 Total (49.5 overs) 257 Fall of wickets: 1-14 2-44 3-45 4-65 5-83 6-85 7-209 8-241 9-254 Bowling: McGrath 9.5-2-22-2, Lee 10-1-85-1, Harvey 10-2-39-2, Warne 10-0-52-3, Martin 4-0-21-0, Symonds 4-0-23-0, Bevan 2-0-12-0. Australia: M.Waugh c Younis Khan b Razzaq 47 Gilchrist b Akhtar 13 Ponting c Razzaq b Saqlain 70 Bevan not out 57 S.Waugh not out 54 Extras (b-6 lb-2 w-3 nb-6): 17 Total (for 3 wkts, 45.4 overs) 258 Fall of wickets: 1-20 2-112 3-142 Bowling: Waqar Younis 7-0-41-0, Shoaib Akhtar 5-0-41-1, Azhar Mahmood 8-0-37-0, Abdur Razzaq 9-0-42-1, Saqlain Mushtaq 8.4-0-45-1, Shahid Afridi 8-0-44-0.
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Foreign coaches to help Lanka Colombo, June 9 The Sri Lankan Board’s Cricket committee member and former captain Sidath Wettimuny said Philpott would soon be here to have a look at the available bowling talent at the bowling clinic here. Former new ball bowler Romesh Ratnayake is currently handling the clinic intended for fast bowlers, but Philpott’s role would be to identify a suitable foil to Muralitharan, who has been the main strike bowler for the past few years, Wettimuny said. Philpott, who played eight Tests for Australia in 1965-66 as a leg break and googly bowler, will join a growing list of former overseas cricketers engaged in shoring up Sri Lankan cricket. South Africa’s best post-war batsman Barry Richards will be here in September and October as ‘batting coach’ for the national team, while Darryl Foster will also spend a fortnight here in September to help the Sri Lankan board establish a cricket academy. Richards was due here earlier than that, but with the domestic cricket season in full swing, to be followed by tours by the Pakistan ‘A’ and Indian teams, along with a triangular series involving Sri Lanka, New Zealand and India, his stint has been put off to September. Australian Dav Whatmore, who has shaped Sri Lanka’s bunch of cavalier cricketers into a fighting force, will continue to be in overall charge of the national team, and Richards’ role will be confined to holding some batting clinics. The induction of overseas technical help is part of several administrative measures the Sri Lankan board is planning to restore its image after being plagued by controversy over its administration. “We have been given the task of restoring Sri Lanka’s battered image,” said its interim committee chairman Vijay Malalasekera in an interaction with the media last night. On the administrative side, it has a group preparing the budget for the second half of the year beginning July, and is examining the accounts pertaining to the construction of the impressive, but controversial, international stadium at Dambulla. The stadium was built in record time during the term of the ousted board President Thilanga Sumathipala, and financial irregularities are now being alleged in the construction. Wettimuny, also a member of the interim committee, said work on laying new practice wickets at the Premadasa Stadium had commenced and would be ready in six months. Having fast, bouncy practice wickets have been a long felt need, and national teams at all levels will use them, he said.
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Laila wins in clash of daughters Oneida (Indian Nation), June 9 While the two fighters gave ample evidence of their inexperience, throwing wild, off-balance punches, they treated the crowd of about 6,500 to a display of guts and determination that did their famous fathers proud. Judge Don Ackerman scored the fight 75-75, Tommy Hicks made it 76-76 and Frankie Adams had Ali winning 79-73. Joe Frazier was ringside to watch his 39-year-old daughter, who fought like a Frazier, always moving forward, looking to get in close to land one of her looping left hooks. Showing her refusal to be intimidated, Frazier also hit Ali long after the bell sounded to end the fourth round. Muhammad Ali was in Brooklyn, Michigan, for a cameo appearance at a NASCAR event. His 23-year-old daughter had the stronger punches, especially on the inside. She, too, reminded ringsiders of Muhammad Ali when she held Frazier behind the head with her left hand and punched her in the head with the right. There were no knockdowns in the fight. Frazier had a swelling beneath her left eye and at the end she went back to her corner and kissed her father on the cheek.
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Gade reaches
final Seville, (Spain) June 9 The World Grand Prix champion was in no mood to disappoint his supporters, chanting ‘Peter, Peter....’ blazing his way to a 17-14 15-2 victory over Hong who had defeated All-England champion India’s P. Gopichand in the last eight. As the match progressed the world number two from Denmark, who has beaten his Chinese rival four times previously, played near-perfect badminton, humiliating Hong in the second game. The Dane’s strategy was simple: to keep the shuttle low and fast, never allowing the powerful Chinese the time to go on the offensive. Targetting the body mercilessly, he took a 4-1 lead, before Hong, whom Chinese chief coach Li Yongbo calls “a slow starter” began to adjust to Gade’s style of play. Much as he did against Gopichand in yesterday’s quarterfinal, the 21-year-old world number four attacked the net well, forcing the Dane to mix up his strategy.
PTI |
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Barua ambushes Sasikiran New Delhi, June 9 Barua, who only last month inflicted on Sasikiran his only defeat in the Asian Zonals at Colombo, played a game similar to the one they played in the island nation. The result kept Sasi pegged at 8.5 points from 11 rounds, while Barua now has 7 from 10 games. Ponnuswamy konguvel is placed second at eight points, while Abhijit Kunte has 7.5. Barua and Surya Sekhar Ganguly have 7 each. Each player has one bye in the event and Barua has already had his, while none of his major rivals Sasi, Konguvel, Kunte or Ganguly have had theirs. So, Barua has one game more than the others. Konguvel played his 4th successive draw. This one came against the local player Sriram Jha and it kept the 1995 champion in second place, half-a-point adrift of Sasi. Kunte, meanwhile, benefitted from a blunder from Shekhar Sahu and took his tally to 7.5. “This win (over Sasi) means that any of the four, Sasi, Konguvel, Kunte or myself can win the tournament,” said Barua after the victory over the top seed. Playing in the Sicilian-Scheveningen, Barua with white had a slight advantage early, but Sasi, hoping to neutralise it and get to a draw, offered the former truce after about 16 moves. “At that stage, I felt I had a slight edge, so I turned it down,” said Barua. later, Sasi did make attempts to achieve equality with a pawn sacrifice, but did not quite manage it as Barua built the pressure. “It was not necessary for him to sacrifice the pawn. He might have had drawing chances,” added Barua. But at the same time, he admitted that he very nearly blundered and threw away the game. “I wrote down a move and almost picked up the piece, when I realised it would lead to a mate in four or five. Thankfully I saw it in time,’’ said a smiling Barua, who endorsed the view that the new time controls had led to quite a few blunders in this tournament. “But then with FIDE having decided to adopt the new rules, we have to make adjustments.” Kunte beat Sahu in just 14 moves from a Catalan opening, where Sahu blundered and threw away the point. G.B. Prakash, who needs to get past 2,500 to get his grandmaster title, scored a good win against Atanu Lahiri from a King’s Indian defence. Veteran Pravin Thipsay played a 27-move draw with K. Murugan, while D.V. Prasad and Neeraj Mishra split a point in another game. V. Saravanan drew with Neeloptal Das in 22 moves from a sicilian game. The results S. Ganguly (7) drew with Nasir Wajih (2.5), Saptarishi Roy (4) drew with Harikrishna (5.5), Pravin Thipsay (4.5) drew with K. Murugan (3.5), Abhijit Kunte (7.5) beat Shekhar Sahu (5), V. Saravanan (2) drew with Neeloptal Das (3), Dibyendu Barua (7) beat K. Sasikiran (8.5), Sriram Jha (3.5), drew with P. Konguvel (8), G.B. Prakash (4.5) beat Atanu Lahiri (5.5), D.V. Prasad (6) drew with N.K. Mishra (6.5).
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Harkamal upsets top seed Tiwari Ludhiana, June 9 After three rounds Harkamal leads the championship with three points while Vikas Sharma, also of Ludhiana and Kanwarjit Singh of Jalandhar are joint second with 2.5 points. Harkamal opted for king pawn opening and top seed Tiwari replied with Sicilian defence. Trying to attack, Tiwari weakened his King side position and ultimately lost due to time pressure. In another important match, Vikas Sharma drew with Kanwarjit Singh. Sharma started with Ruy Lopez opening and pieces were regularly exchanged in the 25-move game which ultimately led to a knight ending with no result. The results: Arivinderpreet Singh (Ldh) b Harminder Singh (Ldh), Vinod Sharma (Moga) drew Jatinder Kapoor (Jal); Ravinder Aery (Phg) b Dr Tarsem Lal (Khanna); Vivek Asthir (Asr) b Shival Jethi (Jal) Manoj Merha (Asr) b Ved Parkash Sharma (Jal). |
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Skating camp in full swing Chandigarh, June 9 Mr Inderpal Singh, chief co-ordinator of the camp, said the camp, probables for which had been selected through selection trials earlier, was of preliminary nature. Twenty boys and as many girls had been selected after the trials who had been undergoing training for the Ekita meet and then for the subsequent 9th Asian Championship slated to be held in Chinese Taipei from September 30 to October 5. Mr Inderpal Singh, who remained secretary-general of the Roller Skating Federation of India for over two decades, was candid enough to concede that the aim of participation in the World Games was to enable the players to get vital exposure playing with the tougher opponents and no realistic chance existed for the team to win any medal. The experience thus gained, he said, would stand the team in good stead and enable the players perform better in the ensuing Asian Championship where the real objective was to be in the medal round. He revealed that the second camp would be organised sometimes in the end of July which would run up to the first week of August before the team embarks on the tough assignment in Japan. Though the final selection of the venue had not been made the camp could be allotted to Chandigarh. He said the states of Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal and the union territory of Chandigarh were very strong as far as roller hockey was concerned. In speed events the supremacy was being enjoyed by the southern states, while in the artistic events states like Maharashtra were reigning supreme. The team was expecting a tough challenge from countries like Hong Kong, Japan, China and North Korea. Macau also had a very strong team. Simultaneous camps in artistic and speed disciplines had been running at Vishakhapatnam and Nagpur, respectively. At present, India were placed 12th in group ‘B’. As per the rules top two teams from group ‘B’ qualify for group ‘A’, while two teams placed at the bottom of group ‘A’ are relegated to group ‘B’. John David, Haryana Sports Department roller hockey coach based at Faridabad, who is imparting training along with Harpreet Singh Kirti at the Sector 10 rink, stated that the morning three-hour session was devoted to stretching, body conditioning and personal skill development, while the evening session was meant for warming up followed by rigorous game practice. He said Arvind Choudhry, Anjum Ahmad, Rajesh Anand, Abhishek, Parikshit, Parminder and Gautam, among boys, were the prominent skaters who were expected to do well. The board and lodging arrangements of outstation players had been made at the Sector 42 sports complex as all the expenses, including travelling, was being borne by the Roller Skating Federation of India. |
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Kapil to turn golf professional Chandigarh, June 9 What about cricket? Commenting upon a reported statement of his that he would not have any link with cricket, Kapil said: “Whatever I am today is entirely due to this game”. Certain persons with vested interests were manipulating against him that is why he had lost interest in the game, he clarified. About his future role, he said he would do everything for the promotion of cricket, particularly in Haryana. Asked about his public interest litigation (PIL) against the Haryana Cricket Association, Kapil said: “Sorry I can’t comment, the matter is subjudice”. But he hastened to add that if given an opportunity he would do his best to improve the standard of the game in Haryana which had won the Ranji Trophy in 1991 under his captaincy . Kapil made these observations while playing a round of golf at the Chandigarh Golf Club yesterday afternoon. He was seen again at the Chandigarh Golf Range where floodlights were inaugurated in the evening. He executed a lovely drive which showed his class as a stroke-player. He could be seen with the President of the Chandigarh Golf Range, Mr D.P. Azad, under whose watchful eyes he had learnt the basics of cricket. The golf range was a beautiful sight. The greens came alive under the bright but soft lights. The newly opened restaurant and bar attracted a big crowd of invitees and members. The general secretary of the CGA, Mr C.S.R. Reddy, could also be seen mingling with the guests. Kapil was all praise for the CGA for bringing this facility to the city. ‘The floodlights were just wonderful,’ were his words. Earlier in the afternoon, Kapil played a round of golf with amateur champion Harmeet Kahlon, Ravinder Chadha and Karan Dube at the Chandigarh Golf Club. Kapil played three over. Harmeet two under and Dr Chadha four over. Kapil was all praise for the improvement in the fairways and greens at the Chandigarh Golf Club as also the new facilities like health club and driving range. |
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Sukhwinder
retained as chief coach till Asiad New Delhi, June 9 Though the All India Football Federation
(AIFF) Executive Committee, which met here today, agreed to renew
Sukhwinder’s contract till the Afro-Asian Games to be held in Delhi
in November this year, AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi and
secretary Alberto Colaso later disclosed that Sukhwinder’s services
will be utilised till the 2002 Asiad in Pusan. Mr Krishnaji Rao will
be the Technical Director, while former India custodian Brahmand
Shankwalker of Goa will be the Assistant coach-cum-goalkeeper-coach.
Dr Ramesh of the Sports Authority of India will be the team doctor. Mr
Dasmunshi said the idea was to “continue with the senior team for a
long, sustainable period”. Dronacharaya awardee Syed Naeemuddin has been named as the coach of the Under-23 team, which will participate in the South Asian Federation Games in Islamabad, Pakistan from October 4 to 14. Mr Colaso informed that the International Football Federation (FIFA) had sanctioned $ 4,00,000 to the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) to initiate a Goal Project for setting up a comprehensive infrastructure for the AIFF, including a training centre and an AIFF House. He said the AIFF has requested all the state associations, the Delhi Government and the Urban Development Ministry to allot land for the said projects. Mr Dasmunshi said a National Football Policy has been formulated, which will be made public after eliciting the views of the member-associations. Mr
Colaso said the AIFF has received eight bids in response to its
advertisements in newspapers, inviting sponsorship bids. AIFF’s
contract with Doordarshan for telecasting rights ends on March 31,
2002. He said DD is also among the eight who have responded to the
AIFF’s call for fresh bids. A foreign firm is also in the fray and
some have bid both for the telecasting as well as tournament rights.
The bids will be taken up for finalisation within a few days, by a
committee, comprising, among others, the AIFF president and secretary,
and treasurer Vijay Mallaya. Mr Colaso said FC Kochin has been asked
to reply to a show cause notice regarding the I M Vijayan issue within
15 days. Vijayan, who played for Bangladesh club Mukti Joddha in their
national league, returned to FC Cochin, and played in the Indian
National League without obtaining a return transfer certificate.
Kolkata Club Tollygunge Aggragami brought this into the notice of the
AIFF, which then fined Vijayan Rs 50,000, pending a reply from FC
Kochin. Mr Colaso said Vijayan’s appeal to waive the fine “has not
been upheld” and the prize money of FC Kochin, to the tune of about
Rs 10 lakh, will be released only after the Club replies to AIFF’s
show cause notice. FC Kochin had finished fourth in the National
League, while Tollygunge could finish only a poor eighth. The AIFF has drawn up an elaborate soccer calendar, which includes a very heavy schedule for the senior team. India seniors will participate in a four-match engagement in England, after their campaign in the Merdeka Tournament from June 20 to 30. The team have also been invited to play in Oman, Myanmar and Singapore, but no decision has been taken about these invitations. A short camp will be held in Patiala from June 8 to 19, and the England tour, sponsored by Safire, will begin on July 24 with a match against Brentford FC. The other matches will be played against Nottingham Forest (July 28), Ley Ton Orient (July 31) and Walsull (August 3). The National Championship for the Santosh Trophy will be held in Nagpur from November 6 to 26, which, incidentally, will be clashing with the Afro Asian Games (November 3-11). The Federation Cup will be held either in Kerala or in Pondicherry from August 15 to 31. Twenty teams will participate in the Federation Cup. They are: East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Zee Churchill, FC Kochin, Vasco, Salgaocar, Mahindra United, MTA, JCT, ITI Bangalore, HAL Bangalore, Punjab Police, Air India, State Bank of Travancore, Dempo, Indian Bank, Sporting Club, Mohammedan Sporting, Tata Football Academy and BSF, Jalandhar. Mr Colaso said the National League, which commences in the first week of December, will have 30 days of break, in the second fortnight of January, to enable the Indian team to participate in the South Asian Football Federation Tournament in Dhaka (Bangladesh). It has also been decided to restructure the Second Division League. A tournament for the under-19 teams of the National Football League will be held in September/October, sponsored by the Indian Football Association (West Bengal). The
AIFF has also decided to give a cash incentive of Rs 50,000 each to
three former soccer internationals, who have fallen into indigent
days. They are Ratan Singh of Bengal, Abdul Karim of Andhra Pradesh
and T A Rehman of Kerala. A Delhi player, Abdul Sherif, an employee of
Punjab National Bank, will be given a cash incentive of Rs 25,000 for
his treatment. He had met with a serious road accident two years ago. |
INDIAN
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