 |
|
| Thursday,
July 12, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
|
Beijing has edge on other
cities
‘Plethora
of evidence against Jadeja’ UCB asks
ICC to enact laws on drugs |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Saurav Ganguly writes Ganguly's
security tightened
Kumble returns to
competitive cricket India maintain
unbeaten record Anand opens
against Morozevich Indian boxers bag
two bronze Olympic
‘athletes are pill junkies’ |
|
Beijing has edge on other
cities
Moscow, July 11 Istanbul and Osaka were given less than glowing reports by an International Olympic Committee evaluation commission in May and have been virtually ruled out of the race, which climaxes with Friday’s vote. While complaining that the ban on visits to candidate cities put them at a disadvantage, they are still publicly clinging to hopes of pulling off a major upset. “Have you ever seen an athlete entering a competition with the attitude that he’s going to lose?” said Istanbul bid director-general Yalcin Aksoy. “That’s not sport.” “We’re here to compete and I’m optimistic,” declared Aksoy, his words drowned out by the crush of journalists around smiling Beijing bid officials and by Canadian athletes united in aloud chorus of “Toronto, Toronto” at the IOC conference centre. Even Turkey’s weightlifting triple gold medallist Naim Suleymanoglu, nicknamed Pocket Hercules, went unnoticed by the photographers. In a nearby booth, Japanese officials tried in vain to attract attention to their campaign claims that Osaka would provide a sporting paradise and a worry-free games. The IOC evaluation commission — all-important since visits to bid cities were banned in the wake of the Salt Lake City bribery scandal — cited serious financial problems with the Istanbul and Osaka bids, as well as concerns about traffic congestion. “Because of the policy not to visit, I wonder whether IOC members truly understand the strengths of Osaka,” said Mayor Takafumi Isomura. Istanbul’s Aksoy also criticised the fact that IOC’s 122 members had to rely on the findings of a “dry evaluation report” rather than being able to experience each city in person. “It implies distrust in the IOC members. I would have felt very bad if I was an IOC member,” he said. Concern that the ban on city visits, meant to stamp out potential for corruption, puts lesser known ones at a disadvantage is shared by Toronto. The Canadian city is expected to compete with the French capital for second place behind Beijing. The IOC evaluation commission said all three would be able to stage an “excellent” event, but the world’s most populous nation is expected to triumph for political, sentimental and marketing reasons. Asked whether Toronto’s campaign would have been helped by personal visits from IOC members, bid leader John Bitove replied: “Without question.” “Everyone’s been to Paris, and a lot of people have been to Beijing. The fact that we are Canadian means that we have to work harder,” he said. With some 150 athletes actively involved in the campaign, Toronto has billed itself as the “bid of sport and athletes, not politics,” offering competitors a fine waterfront site next to the city centre with minimum travel. The French capital is relying on its natural charm and beauty to capture hearts and votes. With the clock ticking away to the final decision, Paris campaign leaders shrugged off suggestions that Beijing was gaining ground. “We don’t mind if we are the favourites or not,” said Paris 2008 director-general Noel de Saint Pulgent. “We think we have a real chance. We’re serene because we did what we had to do.”
AP |
|
‘Plethora of evidence against Jadeja’ New Delhi, July 11 “There were plethora of evidence against him, some of them oral, on the basis of which action was taken,” counsel for Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) K.K. Venugopal told Justice Mukul Mudgal while replying to Jadeja’s civil writ petition challenging the imposition of ban on him. Questioning the very maintainability of the petition, the BCCI counsel said no Remedy through civil writ under Article 226 lies against the board as it was not a statutory body. Nor is it performing any function of the state, he said. “The BCCI is an independent body constituted under the Societies Registration Act and if the petitioner (Jadeja) feels aggrieved for any of its action, or breach of contract, he can file a suit for damage as no case for violation of fundamental rights under Article 226 of the Constitution can be made out against the board,” he said. Venugopal said the High Court while hearing a civil writ by former cricketer Mohinder Amarnath a few years ago against the BCCI, had ruled that the board is not a statutory body. Amarnath had later withdrawn his petition, he said. Jadeja’s counsel P.P. Malhotra alleged that the BCCI’s action against his client was “mala fide” as it was based on the CBI report, which neither recommended any action against the players nor had specified any offence against them. “The CBI report itself stated that no offence is made out against the players under the IPC, Malhotra said. The BCCI counsel said the government in an affidavit filed before a bench headed by Chief Justice, hearing a PIL seeking probe into the functioning of the BCCI, had also said that the board was not a statutory body.
PTI |
|
UCB asks ICC to enact laws on drugs Johannesburg, July 11 The UCBSA’s medical committee chairman, Tim Noakes, told the daily Sportday here that the ICC had “dragged its heels for years” on the issue of drugs. He said he had sent the ICC proposals five years ago, suggesting ways for the introduction of “coherent drugs legislation.” “But nothing has ever been done about it. There is complacency, an attitude of ‘it can’t happen to us’. There is also a belief that the drugs on the Olympic banned list are not necessarily appropriate to cricket and cannot be used as a guide,” Noakes said. Noakes was reacting to allegations by former South African national wicketkeeper Ray Jennings that players had used drugs. Several former players supported him. The outspoken Jennings is now facing disciplinary action by the UCBSA after he allegedly repeated the allegations at a radio station. On Tuesday, Jennings said he had merely indicated that cricket authorities have no idea about what substances are permissible for use by cricketers. In 80 per cent of the cases, substances such as cough syrups and ‘flu medication are taken by cricketers in good faith, but have an impact on their performance. Noakes said if there were proper education and a clearly defined set of rules, ignorance would be eliminated. He said members of the 2003 World Cup committee who are concerned about the implications of drug use had approached him.
IANS |
|
Saurav Ganguly writes The journey from Zimbabwe back home was certainly not the best one I’ve made in my five years of international cricket. It is not a great feeling to know that you have not crossed the final hurdle after being by far the best side of the tournament. To be a successful side it’s not just playing good cricket that’s important. The ability to finish off on a winning note is as crucial. It’s not been a tour of disappointment, and if one analyses probably we’ve had more success than failures. India has won eight out of their last 10 games on oversees tour, and that is not the worst success rate in cricket right now. It’s very easy to let your shoulders droop after losing the final, especially when you return home to find more criticism than praise. This is a natural phenomenon which comes out of the expectations raised in the minds of the fans and people back home with the quality of cricket a side has played to reach the final hurdle. The outcry is understandable and legitimate, but the squad picked for the tour has to be careful. It’s very easy to drop the confidence level but let’s not make that mistake. Remember we have more wins than losses and the difference between the two is a lot. We have to carry this winning streak forward and think about crossing the bridge when we reach there. We have an important tour of Sri Lanka in a week’s time and we are a good side. A side which has more wins than losses in the last 10 months. It’s important that we look at the positive that emerged out of the tour in Zimbabwe and proceed to Colombo as a confident unit. The side picked for the one-dayers in Sri Lanka is probably the best we could have picked. The absence of Sachin is a loss but he will be available for the finals and the game immediately before that - often the most important game in a triseries. Amay Khurasia is a good one-day batsman and a matchwinner when he scores runs. Yuvraj Singh is also a good addition because he is a high-quality player and an outstanding fielder. The Sri Lankans will be a tough unit at home, especially in the one-dayers, and we will have to play well to beat them. The conditions will be hot and the wickets should be good. The seamers will have to be patient and tough both mentally and physically. It’s not easy to go on a long tour especially when you have just had a week’s break after the tour of Zimbabwe. But this is going to be a test of our character and our will to succeed. We have to remember that this is our job and we have to do it day in and day out, even when it becomes hard and demanding. Before I finish I would like to mention Harvinder and Dinesh Mongia. It is disappointing to miss a tour and one’s mind starts ticking. But they should remember they are good players and very much on the minds of the selectors. They just need to keep playing and wait for their opportunity, which is not very far away.
Gameplan |
|
Ganguly's security tightened Kolkata The threat to Ganguly, star batsman Sachin Tendulkar and hockey international Dhanraj Pillay came to light after the Mumbai police recently arrested members of Lashkar-e-Toiba. DCP (Crime) of Mumbai Police Pradeep Sawant had said on July 6 that the interrogation of LeT militants had revealed that the group had prepared a list of persons to be kidnapped to secure certain political benefits. Ganguly, who returned to Kolkata on Sunday evening after the Zimbabwe tour, has been virtually confined to his home in South Kolkata, constantly under guard by armed security personnel. Mobile armed security personnel also shadow the car of the cricketer, who has been advised by the police to restrict his movements in the metropolis.
PTI |
|
Kumble returns to
competitive cricket Bangalore, July 11 “I felt good. I was not apprehensive going into the game. It was nice to go out there into the middle and start bowling in a match again. I am quite happy with the way things went”,
Kumble, who has been recuperating from right shoulder surgery since January last, said today. The 29-year-old leg-spinner has been studiously following the rehabilitation programme suggested by shoulder specialist Mark Fergusson of South Africa.
UNI |
|
India maintain unbeaten record Milton Keynes, (England) July 11 A spirited Japan shot into the lead in the seventh minute through Naoya Iwadate exploiting India’s sloppy work in the defence. Indians playing at a fast pace weaved intricate patterns with limited success for long periods but when they shifted gears they presented plenty of problems for the Japanese defence. Daljit Dhillon brought up the equaliser in the 18th minute and the two teams went for the break tied 1-1. The match came alive mid-way through the second half with five goals coming in 15 minutes. Makoto Karuo put Japan back into the lead before India scored twice within a couple of minutes through Prabjoth Singh, their most exciting forward and Daljit Singh to shoot into the lead 3-2 for the first time in the match. But the lead was short lived as Japan pulled back to 3-3 through Taya Fukuoka in the very next minute only for Prabjoth to put through the 20-year-old Gagan Ajit away for India’s winning goal. France and Scotland were the other two teams in the festival. India now travel to Edinburgh for next week’s World Cup qualifiers where they are considered favourites to finish on top.
PTI |
|
Anand opens against Morozevich Dortmund, July 11 Having beaten Braingames world champion GM Vladimir Kramnik of Russia in the just concluded Mainz Chess Classic, Anand is on an all time high and should he continue with his ominous form here, he will be a runaway winner - experts feel. The strongest ever tournament to be held in Germany will feature six leading grandmasters of the world, including Anand, fighting in the category-xi field and the event will reach its culmination on July 22. The others in the fray are Kramnik, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, Peter Leko of Hungary and Michael Adams of England. The event will be a classical one and will be played on an all-play-all basis where every participant will play against his opponents twice to ensure even breaks in colours. After playing once against each other, the players will have to play the return games with reverse colours. The greater onus will be on Kramnik as he will be vying for his sixth title this time. The king of Dortmund, as Kramnik is often referred to, will, however face a stiff challenge from Anand who downed him in at Mainz.
PTI |
|
Thousands of Croats welcome Ivanisevic Split (Croatia), July 11 Smiling, and crying out of joy, the crowd shouted: “Goran, we love you!” One banner said: “You’re a genius,” and another suggested that Ivanisevic should be president. Once he mounted a stage, Ivanisevic began to talk: “I don’t know what to say,” and people cheered him wildly. “This is unforgettable,” he told the crowd. “I was everywhere, but this is amazing. We are the craziest people in the world!” The streets into and in this southern coastal city were jammed with people striving to get to the main square and cheer their favourite son. Others came by the sea, filling the port with white vessels. As Ivanisevic came to the stage, the crowd exploded into euphoria, following his cliffhanger Grand Slam victory over Australian Patrick Rafter in five sets on Monday. “Without you, I could never have done it,” the Croat star told them. Unlike in the quarterfinals, he said he would not take off his T-shirt, but off came his jeans which he threw into the crowd, followed by his shoes and his shawl. Eventually he did hand them his T-shirt and stayed for a moment only in his underpants. “I prayed to God to give me another chance. I prayed and cried so much that even he had mercy on me and he gave me this chance,” said Ivanisevic, commenting on his victory. At least some of the tens of thousands of Croats gathered here yesterday to welcome Ivanisevic home appeared grateful for the opportunity to redirect their nationalist fervor — from fury to joy. “Never mind about war crimes and indictments and suspects,” said 68-year-old Zdravko Hodic, bursting with excitement ahead of Ivanisevic’s arrival from Wimbledon. “Let’s concentrate on Goran.” The mood in the port city was starkly different the last time Split had hosted so many outsiders. About 100,000 people gathered in February in one of the largest demonstrations since 1991, when the country gained independence, to protest the government’s decision to prosecute a Croat general for alleged war crimes and to demand it step down. The government decided over the weekend to have two generals extradited to face the UN tribunal, a plan that led to fears of repeat demonstrations. Both Serbs and Croats were the victims of atrocities during the country’s war, sparked after minority Serbs took up arms to oppose the republic’s independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. But many Croats continue to believe that only Serbs are to blame. The government’s decision to comply with the UN court’s extradition demands brought dark warnings of resistance by nationalist leaders. But Ivanisevic’s triumph appeared to have channeled emotions away from confrontation and toward celebration. Croatian rock, pop and folk stars planned to pump up the atmosphere before Ivanisevic’s plane touched down. By early afternoon, thousands were already cramming the main city strip alongside the harbour, guzzling beer and other alcohol and parading in national colors of red white and blue. The noise generated by the exuberant crowd was punctuated by the piercing blare of car horns and the hiss of flares going off with an orange sparkle. Invited guests included other Croatian athletes of international fame, such as NBA basketball whiz Toni Kukoc and Italian Serie A soccer star, Zvonimir Boban. City officials also urged yacht owners and fishermen to decorate their vessels and escort Ivanisevic’s ferry to the city harbour from the airport. Congratulations even came from The Hague — nine Bosnian Croats, serving war-crimes related sentences handed down by the UN court hailed Ivanisevic in a joint message, thanking him for the “monumental success achieved for the Croatian homeland.”
AP |
|
Indian boxers bag two bronze Patiala, July 11 The first medal came India’s way when Dilbagh Singh in the welterweight category managed to make the last four grade before he lost to Ruslan Khairov of Azerbaijan. Dilbagh settled for the bronze. The second bronze came in farcical manner when Harpal Singh in the super-heavyweight category was knocked out in the opening round by Zokirov Lagigbek of Uzbekistan. However, since only four boxers took part in this weight category Harpal was awarded the bronze. In the bantam weight category Mohammad Ali Qamar gave a good account of himself when he beat Hamed Zafen of Kuwait in the first round. In the next round Harpal fought gallantly against Nopphadol Khoughchanna of Thailand and was locked 10-10 on points. However, in the countback the Indian lost 35-38. The other boxers who took part in the championships were Suresh Singh, Som Bahadur Pun, B.Ramanand, Suranjit Singh and Hardeep Singh, all of whom lost in the first round. |
|
Olympic ‘athletes are pill junkies’ Moscow, July 11 A study of more than 2,000 competitors at last year’s Summer Games in Sydney found each had taken an average of between six and seven legal medications in the previous three days. The most-medicated athlete told officials he was using 29 different pills and potions, according to Dr Patrick Schamasch, the IOC’s medical director. Even the average figure was enough to convince Schamasch that something was wrong. “That’s a huge number,” he said yesterday, the second day of weeklong IOC meetings. “That is a concern, that the athletes are consuming huge amounts of medications.” These are not anabolic steroids, stamina enhancers or even recreational drugs like marijuana. Instead, they are simple prescription or over-the-counter products anyone can take for what ails them. “These are all things — vitamins, anti-inflammatories, food supplements, all things,” Schamasch said.
AP |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
