S P O R T S

Carl Hooper slams double century

Georgetown (Guyana), April 12 Skipper Carl Hooper prospered with an unbeaten double-century and produced a record 293 runs for the fifth-wicket with Shivnaraine Chanderpaul as West Indies piled up a mammoth 454 for 5 at tea for the second day of the first Test against India here today.
Javagal Srinath (C, back to camera) is congratulated by teammates after getting his first wicket when Chris Gayle was caught for 12 during the first Test match between India and the West Indies at the Bourda Cricket Ground in Georgetown, Guyana, on Thursday. — AP/PTI photo

Lanka beat Pak
Sharjah, April 12
Sri Lanka held their nerve under pressure to score a thrilling nine-run win over Pakistan in the Sharjah Cup here today. Chasing Sri Lanka’s 239 for six, Pakistan appeared headed for victory when they were left with just 19 off the last 18 deliveries with five wickets in hand.

Wessels slams Ford, Pollock
Johannesburg, April 12
Former South African skipper Kepler Wessels has come down heavily on Shaun Pollock and coach Graham Ford saying they were “not strong enough” for their posts.

Flavia Christina Kurtz V. de Carvalho, the sixth child recognised by Brazilian soccer legend Pele, gestures during an interview at her home in Sao Paulo in this April 10, 2002, photo. Soccer legend Pele has acknowledged that he is the father of Flavia Carvalho, 32, conceived during a brief affair between games in 1968, and he has been supporting her.
— Reuters

Kaif sets up maiden tour win
Pretoria, April 12
An aggressive and scintillating knock of 76 by Mohammed Kaif helped India “A” defeat South African President’s X1 by seven wickets in a one-day tour match here today.

Tiger Woods and his girlfriend, Elin Nordegren, attend the Golf Writers Association of America awards dinner in Augusta, Ga., on Wednesday, where Woods was honoured. — AP/PTI Vijay Singh of Fiji hits from a sand trap to the second green during the second round play in the 2002 Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club on Friday. — Reuters

Ten PSEB players face axe
Patiala, April 11
The Punjab State Electricity Board, in a dramatic decision has terminated the services of 10 of its top players within the past one week. 

Punjab Police in last four
Bangalore, April 12
Defending champions Punjab Police pounded Railways 5-2 for their fourth win in pool “A” to enter the semifinals of the second All-India Raghavendra Itigi Memorial Hockey Championship for the U and I Champions Trophy here today.

Lewis vows to end Tyson’s career
East Rutherford (New Jersey), April 12
Britain’s WBC and IBF heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis vows to end the boxing career of American Mike Tyson as he prepares to fly to a US mountain resort to begin training for the June 8 title fight in Memphis, Tennessee.

Venus advances; Pierce bows out
Amelia Island (USA), April 12
Top-seeded Venus Williams pulled through with a hard-fought 6-4 7-6 (7/5) victory in her third-round match against Anastasia Myskina of Russia last night at the rain-plagued $585,000 WTA tournament.

Sai to clash with Isha in final
Nagpur, April 12
National grass court champion Sai Jayalakshmi kept her reputation intact advancing to the final against Isha Lakhani in the $5000 ITF Women’s Tennis Championship here tomorrow.

Canadian student Sarah Ravn, 23, from East Vancouver shadowboxes in front of a mirror at a Bangkok kickboxing gym on Friday. Ravn, who has taken time off studying general sciences at the University of British Columbia to travel through Thailand and Southeast Asia, took up the sport just months ago in Vancouver and says that while she is not an aggressive-natured person, she enjoys the fighting sport which has its origins in ancient Thailand. Muay Thai, the traditional name for kickboxing, is being taught by locals at several gyms in Bangkok catering to foreign travellers, who can learn the martial art for about US$7 an hour. — Reuters

Vedpathak bags silver
New Delhi, April 12
India’s top woman shooter Anjali Vedpathak clinched the silver medal in the air rifle event in the ISSF World Cup Shooting Championships at Sydney today.

Carl Hooper slams double century

Gerogetown, April 12
Skipper Carl Hooper prospered with an unbeaten double-century and produced a record 293 runs for the fifth-wicket with Shivnaraine Chanderpaul as West Indies piled up a mammoth 454 for 5 at tea for the second day of the first Test against India here today.

At the break, Hooper was batting on 203 while Junior Murray was still to open his account.

In the two sessions of play, India could only get the wicket of Chanderpaul shortly before tea when Zaheer Khan trapped him leg before for 140 (290b, 370m, 23x4).

Hooper and Chanderpaul sent the Indian bowlers on a leather hunt this morning during the record partnership that saw the West Indian skipper get his first double-century in test cricket.

At lunch, the hosts were 361 for 4 and added 93 runs in second session in 28 overs.

Just when the Indians seemed to have given up all hopes for a breakthrough, the left-handed Chanderpaul misjudged a short in-swinger from left-arm seamer Zaheer at the total of 450.

Hooper, however, was going great guns at the other end and reached his double-century with a lofted boundary off Sarandeep Singh to the mid-wicket to move from 199 to 203.

Play was slightly delayed after lunch as covers were brought in due to showers.

The Indian bowlers toiled in vain during the first session, which saw the two Windies hitting them all around the carpet at the Bourda ground for 91 runs in 25 overs after the hosts resumed at the overnight score of 270 for 4, which included a century(108) by Hooper.

As play began this morning, Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly persisted with his seamers Srinath and Zaheer Khan and later Sanjay Bangar with the second new ball barely a few overs old.

It was only much later that he introduced leg spinner Anil Kumble but by then the two batsmen had settled down too well to feel any discomfort.

Chanderpaul had a reprieve off Kumble when he was at 94 as the thick edge went between the keeper Deep Dasgupta and VVS Laxman at first slip.

Off the very next ball he hit the bowler to midwicket for three runs to complete his thrid test century (100, 176b, 18x4), second on his home ground.

Surprisingly, off-spinner Sarandeep Singh came who came in for injured Harbhajan was brought into attack by Ganguly only a few minutes before lunch, denying the bowler any time to turn the tide.

The Indian attack looked very pedestrian and the bowlers hardly tried any variety to pose any problems for the two batsmen at a stage when Indians desparately needed a breakthrough.

Hooper who survived two chances yesterday, was at his blazing best as he also completed 1,000 runs as captain in 13 Tests.

Yesterday morning Srinath had given India a perfect start, using the friendly morning conditions on a wicket known to slow down as the match progresses.

His first spell saw Windies tottering at 44 for 3, with Brian Lara getting out for duck. However a 113-run stand for the fourth wicket between Hooper and Ramnaresh Sarwan (53) wrested the initiative from India.

India sorely missed the services of ace off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was ruled out due to a shoulder injury he sustained in a warm-up match on last Sunday.

Scoreboard

West Indies (first innings): (overnight 270-4)

Gayle c Dasgupta b Srinath 12

Williams lbw b Srinath 13

Sarwan c Khan b Singh 53

Lara c Dasgupta b Srinath 0

Hooper not out 203

Chanderpaul lbw b Khan 140

Murray not out 0

Extras: 33 (b-1 lb-4 nb-25 w-3)

Total: (5 wkts, 143 overs): 454

Fall of wickets: 1/20, 2/37, 3/44, 4/157, 5/450.

Bowling: Srinath 29-7-79-3, Khan 29-8-92-1, Bangar 23-5-60-0, Kumble 36-6-118-0, Ganguly 2-1-2-0, S.Singh 21-5-80-1, Tendulkar 3-0-18-0. UNI

Lanka beat Pak

Sharjah, April 12
Sri Lanka held their nerve under pressure to score a thrilling nine-run win over Pakistan in the Sharjah Cup here today.

Chasing Sri Lanka’s 239 for six, Pakistan appeared headed for victory when they were left with just 19 off the last 18 deliveries with five wickets in hand.

But seamers Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa allowed the sixth-wicket pair of Wasim Akram and Rashid Latif only nine runs in the last three overs to restrict Pakistan to 230 for five.

Sri Lanka, who have eight points from three matches, will advance to next Wednesday’s final if they defeat New Zealand in their last league match on Sunday.

Pakistan, left with four points, must defeat the Kiwis on Monday to stay in contention for the final.

Sri Lanka’s hero was Upul Chandana, who hit a career-best 64 and then provided two valuable breaks in the field to set up his team’s win.

Chandana ran out opener Imran Nazir with a direct hit from point to break a 72-run partnership for the second wicket with Yousuf Youhana.

The leg-spinner then grabbed a difficult return catch to dismiss main threat Inzamam-ul Haq (37) and end a 85-run stand with top-scorer Younis Khan (45).

Akram returned unbeaten on 36 off 29 balls and Latif was on 11 not out, but the pair faltered when it mattered most.

Sri Lanka:

Jayasuriya b Waqar Younis 23

Kaluwitharana c Latif b Waqar Younis 7

Sangakkara c Latif b Wasim Akram 5

Jayawardene c Latif b Wasim Akram 1

Atapattu not out 77

Arnold c Nazir b Afridi 41

Chandana b Akhtar 64

Extras: (b-1 lb-6 w-4 nb-10) 21

Total: (for 6 wkts,50 overs) 239

Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-40, 3-40, 4-41, 5-132, 6-239.

Bowling: Wasim Akram 10-3-30-2, Waqar Younis 9-0-49-2, Shoaib Akhtar 9-1-51-1), Abdur Razzaq 6-0-34-0, Saqlain Mushtaq 10-0-40-0, Shahid Afridi 6-0-28-1.

Pakistan

Nazir run out 34

Afridi c Muralitharan b Zoysa 0

Youhana lbw b Buddhika 38

Haq c and b Chandana 37

Khan run out 45

Akram not out 36

Latif not out 11

Extras (lb-13, w-8, nb-8) 29

Total (for 5 wkts, 50 overs) 230

FoW: 1-0, 2-72, 3-87, 4-172, 5-185

Bowling: Vaas 9-1-25-0, Zoysa 8-1-30-1, Buddhika 10-0-38-1, Muralitharan 10-0-29-0, Chandana 6-1-42-1, Jayasuriya 7-0-53-0. AFP

Wessels slams Ford, Pollock

Johannesburg, April 12
Former South African skipper Kepler Wessels has come down heavily on Shaun Pollock and coach Graham Ford saying they were “not strong enough” for their posts.

“They (Pollock and Ford) are not strong enough as a team,” said Wessels. “Pollock is a phlegmatic person, but does not have enough control over the senior players.

“Ford is also not a heavyweight. You need a strong captain to support Ford or a strong coach to couple Pollock,” Wessels said in the wake of South Africa’s recent string of defeats at the hands of world champions Australia.

Wessels said Pollock was the main victim of his own policy of voluntary fitness in the South African team. “One can clearly see the difference in Pollock’s upper body. A few years ago, his upper body was firm and muscled. Now it is slack and he bowls slower than before.

“Pollock is now on his way to Warwickshire. And, when he returns, he’ll probably be bowling at 119 kilometres per hour instead of 129kmph.”

Wessels was also critical of Lance Klusener and Jacques Kallis who he said were “not bowling effectively”.

“Klusener is not fit at all and is another victim of Pollock’s fitness policy”, he said.

“Kallis is bowling much slower than he used to because his left leg is not stiff and straight enough at the point of delivery. Because of this technical error, he has also lost the ability to bowl out-swingers and is pitching his deliveries short.” PTI

Kaif sets up maiden tour win

Pretoria, April 12
An aggressive and scintillating knock of 76 by Mohammed Kaif helped India “A” defeat South African President’s X1 by seven wickets in a one-day tour match here today.

This was the first victory of the tour for the Indians since their arrival more than six weeks ago, having lost both their ‘Test’ matches.

They have another one-day tour match against a country district side before playing two limited-over matches against South Africa “A” in Johannesburg next week.

Chasing a target of 183, the visitors cruised to victory inside 35 overs with Kaif smashing 12 boundaries on the way to his half-century.

Earlier, SA President’s XI were restricted for a paltry 182 for seven after skipper Jacob Martin had won the toss and invited the hosts to bat.

Right-arm seamer L Balaji was the wrecker in chief with a haul of three wickets for 46 runs while Rakesh Patel, Amit Bhandari, Murali Kartik and Mohammed Kaif claimed a wicket each. The visitors fully justified their captain’s decision to bowl first, reducing the opponents to 117 for 7 in 32 overs.

But late middle order batsman J.M. Morekl (50 no) revived the President’s XI innings them with an unbroken 63-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Z.A. Ibrahim (12).

Brief scores:

South Africa President’s XI 182 for 7 in 50 overs (L.L. Bosman 38, J.A. Morkel 50 no; Balaji 3-46) lost to India ‘A’ 183 for three (M. Kaif 76, G. Gambhir 30, J. Martin 21 no). PTI

West Zone lift Duleep Trophy for 18th time

Kolkata, April 12
West Zone got five points on the basis of their first innings lead having bowled out East Zone for a meagre 162 to lift the Duleep Trophy for the 18th time today after topping the league table with 26 points in the tie that ended in a draw at the Eden Gardens here today.

East Zone, who got three points from the drawn encounter, take the second spot with 17 points.

The four-day tie that was marked by dull batting for the first two days and an extremely truncated third day, came alive today as the West Zone bowlers bowled with pace and fire to bundle out. East Zone for a mere 162 runs. West Zone had earlier posted a mamoth total of 529 for six declared.

West, in their second innings, scored 47 for the loss of four wickets when both the captains agreed to end the match after five mandatory overs.

Under an overcast and windy condition the Eden pitch came alive with the ball doing its bit both in air and of the pitch. At times Irfan was unplayable as his sharp inswingers and short pitched stuff kept the home team’s batsmen on tenterhooks.

The first to go was Devang Gandhi, who after a breathless stay at the stumps for some 30-odd minutes, was caught plumb in front by Pathan for seven.

P Das, who retired hurt last night, came at the fall of the first wicket, but did not last long. Das (12), R R Parida (8) and captain Sanjay Raul (0) returned to the pavillion with East Zone on 30 for four. Irfan Pathan was the wrecker-in-chief who grew in confidence and stature with every ball thet beat the bat.

Such poor was the application of the East Zone batsmen that seven of their men failed to cross the single figure mark with S Lahiri and Mark Ingty along with Raul failing to open their accounts.

Scoreboard

West Zone (Ist innings): 529 for 6 decl

East Zone: (Ist Innings): Parag Das c Aphale b I Pathan 12, Devang Gandhi lbw I Pathan 7, R R Parida c Modi b I Pathan 8, S Raul c Mozumdar b I Pathan 0, S Das c Pathan b Power 18, R Kumar c Pathan b Power 5, Z Zuffri c and b Power 44, L R Shukla c Modi b Power 48, S Lahari c Aphale b Power U Chatterjee not out 19, M Ingty c Agarkar b Power 0.

Extras: 1 (b-1, lb-0, w-0, nb-0).

Total: 162 in 58 overs FOW: 1-8, 2-26, 3-27, 4-30, 5-51, 6-51, 7-115, 8-117, 9-160.

Bowling: Agarkar 9-3-14-0, Pathan 16-3-43-4, Bahutule 20-5-69-0, Power 13-4-35-6.

West Zone: (2nd Innings): N Modi c Parida b Raul 19, H Godbole c sub T Chandra b Lahiri 27, S Kotak not out 0, Aphale c R Kumar b Raul 0, I Pathan b Lahiri 1, A Mozumdar not out 0.

Extras: 0.

Total: 47 for 4 in 26 overs. FOW: 1-46, 2-46, 3-46, 4-47.

Bowling: Ingty 5-2-5-0, Shukla 3-1-8-0, Lahiri 10-4-22-2, Raul 8-2-12-2. UNI

Central pull off thrilling win

Jaipur, April 12
Central Zone finally opened their account in Duleep Trophy, albeit in style, pulling off a two-wicket victory over South Zone on the fourth and final day here today.

The thrilling victory scripted by Central Zone despite conceding a first innings lead, pushed South Zone to the third spot in the competition. Central, who lost their last three matches, had just pride to play for and they did not let go of this opportunity and bagged eight points.

Set a competitive target of 250, Central Zone batsmen were up to the task with opener Jyoti Yadav topscoring with 69 and Gagan Khoda (38), J.P. Yadav (25) and Rohit Jhalani (27 not out) making handsome contributions.

Central romped home in 63.2 overs while losing eight wickets in the process.

South Zone had made 241 in their first innings and had taken a 48-run lead by bundling out Central for 193.

South appeared to be in good position at close of play yesterday reaching 99 for two in their second essay. But when they resumed their knock today, they appeared a different side as they slumped to 201 for nine with injured Vinay Kumar unable to bat. Sridhar Sriram, first innings centurion, was again the topscorer with 76.

For Central, Jyoti Yadav took three while K. Parida and R. Kanwat took two wickets each.

Central Zone were left with a sporting victory target of 250 runs in 66 overs which included 15 mandatory overs.

Later despite a five-wicket haul, second in the match by Suresh Kumar, Central reached their target in 63.2 overs.

Central started their run chase positively with Jyoti Yadav and Khoda keeping the scoreboard ticking with some sweetly timed boundaries.

Central were well on victory course reaching 83 for no loss in 17.2 overs when Khoda (38) was caught plumb in front off Suresh Kumar.

New batsman J.P. Yadav (25) played his part and added 43 runs with the well-set Jyoti Yadav. J.P. Yadav’s knock was cut short when the experienced Venkatesh Prasad had him caught by wicket keeper M.S.K. Prasad.

Yere Goud (18) could not stay for long and when Jyoti Yadav was also out a run later, Central were reduced to 157 for four in 34.5 overs.

Meanwhile, Jyoti Yadav reached his half century in 89 minutes off 59 balls with the help of six boundries. Central lost few more quick wickets when D Bundela (14), Paresh Sutane (16) and Rahul Kanwat (11) were dismissed leaving their team tottering at 207 for seven.

The fate of match hung in balance at that juncture but a useful 37-run eigth wicket partnership between Harvinder Singh (20) and wicketkeeper Rohit Jhalani (27 not out) sealed the fate of South Zone.

The duo pushed and prodded against some accurate bowling by Venkatesh Prasad and Suresh Kumar. Harvinder fell when he leaned forward to drive dragging his left foot out of the crease and was stumped by M.S.K. Prasad off Suresh Kumar.

But Jhalani heaved Suresh Kumar over midwicket to relieve the pressure and snatched a thrilling win for his team by scampering to a bat pad single.

Earlier, South Zone resumed their second innings at their overnight score of 99 for two and in their effort to add some quick runs today, lost crucial wickets.

Sriram, overnight 57, went on to score a neatly compiled 76 runs but he failed to find support in other South batsmen as the team’s innings folded up at 201 for nine. An injured Vinay Kumar did not come out to bat.

Later a disappointed South Zone skipper said, “It was a good match. Our bowlers bowled well but we lost because we had given too many runs in first 15 overs”.

Scoreboard

South Zone (Ist inning) 241

Central Zone (Ist inning) 193 South Zone (2nd inning) (overnight 99 for 2): S.Sriram b Parida, 76, M.S.K. Prasad run out 6, Nand Kishore lbw Kanwat 19, A.Yadav c Khoda b Kanwat 15, V. Bharadwaj c Parida b Jyoti 32, S. Sharath c Jhalani b Jyoti 11, H.Watekar c Jhalani b Parida 5, D.Ganesh run out 0, Suresh not out 7, V. Prasad c Parida b Jyoti 11, V. Kumar did not bat. Extras (bye 10, lb 6, nb 2, w 1) 19. Total (all out in 43.4 overs) 201. Fow:- 1-8, 2-85, 3-111, 4-149, 5-169, 6-183, 7-183, 8-184, 9-201. Bowling: S.Pandey: 3- 0- 17- 0, Harvinder Singh : 3- 0- 17- 0, K. Parida: 19- 2- 75- 2, Rahul Kanwat: 13- 1- 55- 2, Gagan Khoda: 2- 0- 13- 0, Jyoti Yadav : 3.4- 0- 11- 3.

Central Zone (2nd inning): Jyoti Yadav c M.S.K. Prasad b D. Ganesh 69, G. Khoda lbw Suresh Kumar 38, J.P. Yadav c M.S.K. Prasad b V. Prasad 25, Yere Goud b Suresh 18, D. Bundela st.M.S.K. Prasad b Suresh 14, P. Suthane c sub. R. Barrington b Suresh 16, R. Kanwat b D. Ganesh 11, R. Jhalani not out 27, Harvinder Singh st. M.S.K. Prasad b Suresh 20, S. Pandey not out 0. Extras (bye 6, lb 3, nb 2, w 1) 12. Total (for 8 wickets in 63.2 overs) 250. Fow:-1-83, 2-126, 3-156, 4-157, 5-190, 6-201, 7-207, 8-244, Bowling:- Venkatesh Prasad: 14-2-36-1, Doda Ganesh: 12-2-47-2, Suresh Kumar : 24.2-3-95-5, V. Bharadwaj: 3-0-20-0, H. Watekar 6-0-29-0, S. Sriram : 4-1-14-0. PTI

Blank gradation certificates!
Probe ordered against Joint Director, Sports
Abhijit Chatterjee
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 11
The Department of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Punjab, has instituted an enquiry against Mrs Chanchal Surjit Singh, Joint Director in the department, following a complaint lodged by the Director of the Department, Mr Kartar Singh. The complaint was addressed to the Secretary of the department. It is learnt that Mr Rammurty Goel, Deputy Secretary in the Department of Sports, will conduct the enquiry. However, according to sources the enquiry is yet to begin.

It has been alleged that Mrs Chanchal Surjit Singh had taken 10 blank gradation certificates from the office of the Directorate of Sports on December 10, 2001, and had also asked the dealing hand in the office of the Director of Sports to keep 10 despatch numbers blank on two days — December 10 and 18, 2001 — in the register where records of despatch of gradation certificates are kept. Along with the Director of Sports, Mrs Chanchal Surjit Singh is a member of the gradation committee at the headquarters of the department at Chandigarh.

On the basis of gradation certificates issued by the Sports Directorate, sports persons — both boys and girls — seek admission to various educational and technical institutions against seats reserved for them and also get government jobs against reserved quota meant for sports persons. Under the policy of the state government, 3 per cent of jobs as well as seats in technical institutions are currently reserved for sports persons.

The enquiry has been instituted on a formal complaint lodged by Mr Kartar Singh, a former international wrestler, who took over as Director, Sports, on February 5 last. On February 28, he forwarded a letter to the Secretary of the department which listed the irregularities allegedly committed by Mrs Chanchal Surjit Singh. Together with his formal complaint, Mr Kartar Singh has forwarded proof of the allegations made by him in the letter.

Mrs Chanchal Surjit Singh, however, denies the allegation. Speaking to TNS on Thursday she said all blank gradation certificates were accounted for. She said the department was very careful while handling blank gradation certificates. In any case, she said, very limited number of certificates were printed at one time. to minimise their misuse. She said charges of misuse of gradation certificates were nothing but a vindictive action by the Director since she has challenged his appointment in court.

She disclosed that ever since she has moved a petition in court, she had been left with no work and was just attending office with nothing to do.

Mr Kartar Singh’s letter to the Secretary of the department has also listed a number of other irregularities. He has alleged that the Joint Director had made false TA/DA claims for travel, which she never undertook. In his complaint he said the Joint Director had claimed TA/DA for a trip from Chandigarh to Gurdaspur and Jalandhar and back to Chandigarh on March 26, 2001, whereas, actually she had never undertaken the tour. Instead she had gone to Dehradun via Poanta Sahib on March 25, 2001.

Ten PSEB players face axe
Ravi Dhaliwal

Patiala, April 11
The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), in a dramatic decision has terminated the services of 10 of its top players within the past one week. The authorities, on April 9, sacked five players, who were contracted to play for the board in various tournaments for a period of five years. The reason cited by the management was that certain players remained either absent from duty or were not performing according to the expectations of the management.

On the same day, vide a different office order, five more players, many of them who had done well at both the national and international level have been served a one-month notice prior to terminating their contracts.

There is no such clause in the contract of these players that their services can be terminated by giving a one-month notice and most of the officers contacted by this reporter on this issue remained tightlipped.

Prominent among those players who have been served the notice are tennis player Tushar Sharma, who captained the Punjab team in the 31st National Games and has performed well for the board in the inter-board tournaments.

International shuttler Chanderdeep Randhawa, who apart from captaining the Punjab state team in this year’s edition of the senior national badminton championships held at Lucknow and has also been instrumental in piloting PSEB to four successive title wins in the inter board tournaments also faces the axe. Chanderdeep was also a member of the Punjab team that took part in the National Games and contracted to play only as a badminton player. But the management made him play as a cricketer and a lawn tennis player in the inter board tournaments.

Last year’s Punjab state badminton champion Jaideep Singh, table tennis players Vikram Aditya, currently ranked No.1 in the state and Janak Raj, ranked No.3, are the other players who face the axe.

About 15 days ago a meeting was called by the board Secretary D.K. Tiwari to discuss the future of these players. It was decided to oust those players who were either absent or were not performing. However, the decision to terminate the services of the other players who were performing well in inter board and national level players was kept pending. Now the decision to terminate the services of the ‘performing players’ has come out like a bolt from the blue for them and all these players have decided to move the court.

Punjab Police in last four

Bangalore, April 12
Defending champions Punjab Police pounded Railways 5-2 for their fourth win in pool “A” to enter the semifinals of the second All-India Raghavendra Itigi Memorial Hockey Championship for the U and I Champions Trophy here today.

Earlier, Karnataka brightened their chances for a semifinal berth from pool “B” when they registered their third win downing a fighting Army XI by a solitary goal scored in the dying minutes by captain A.K. Kavin. Karnataka remainted unbeaten with 10 points having drawn their encounter against Punjab and Sind Bank. They take on Indian Airlines in their last encounter on April 14.

PSB registered their second win earlier when they beat IHF XI 2-1 in a match in which all the three goals came in the second half.

Punjab Police scored through captain Daljit Singh and Tejbir Singh (two each) and Baljit Singh Dhillon in a lopsided match, in which the reigning champions could not be reined in by the Railways. In the last 10 minutes, Railways managed two goals through Sunil Kumar and S. Barla to reduce the margin.

Karnataka should thank their mercurial custodian Bharat Chetri, who came up with a couple of superb saves in the match against the Armymen. The never-say-die Armymen troubled the young Karnataka side, which hitherto remained unbeaten. A brilliant goal just seconds before the final hooter by Kavin saw Karnataka record their third win.

Punjab and Sind Bank stayed in the reckoning for the semifinal with their win against IHF with the goals coming in the second half. Parminder Singh scored in the 43rd minute to put the team one up. But, the very next minute saw IHF levelling the score in a counter move with Edmon Karketa sounding the board. Ten minutes before regulation time PSB, scored the winner through B.S. Saini. UNI

Lewis vows to end Tyson’s career

East Rutherford (New Jersey), April 12
Britain’s WBC and IBF heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis vows to end the boxing career of American Mike Tyson as he prepares to fly to a US mountain resort to begin training for the June 8 title fight in Memphis, Tennessee.

“I look forward to vanquishing Mike Tyson from the sport of boxing,” said Lewis yesterday. “When I enter the ring to fight him, I will be in the best shape of my life.”

Lewis is expected to arrive this weekend to begin his training camp in the Pocono Mountains, 149 km east of New York.

For the past decade, Lewis has been travelling regularly to the mountain resort in the state of Pennsylvania to train.

Memphis was chosen to host the fight after the state of Nevada rejected Tyson’s application for a license as he had bitten Lewis on the leg prior to a January press conference.

Lewis was born in London but moved with his family at the age of 12 to Toronto, Canada.

Lewis, who once had attractive offers from colleges to play American football, won the 1988 Olympic title when he fought for Team Canada before returning to England.

The fiery pugilist, whose record stands at 49 victories with 43 knockouts, three defeats and two no-contests, had his license suspended after biting the ear of Evander Holyfield in their 1997 rematch, and again in 1999 when he hit Orlin Norris after the bell in a fight that resulted in a no-contest.

Since then, Tyson has won all four of his fights with three coming overseas. In his most recent bout, Tyson registered a seventh-round technical knockout over Brian Nielsen in Copenhagen, Denmark on October 13.

A former undisputed heavyweight champion, Tyson suffered his first loss on February 11, 1990, when he was knocked out in the 10th round by James “Buster” Douglas in one of the greatest upsets in boxing history.

He has battled personal problems since and did not fight from 1992-95 as he was serving a prison sentence in Indiana for rape. AFP 

Venus advances; Pierce bows out

Amelia Island (USA), April 12
Top-seeded Venus Williams pulled through with a hard-fought 6-4 7-6 (7/5) victory in her third-round match against Anastasia Myskina of Russia last night at the rain-plagued $585,000 WTA tournament.

“It definitely was a workout tonight,” said Williams, taking a 2-0 career lead over Myskina.

“She gets a lot of balls back and I wasn’t willing to move forward for the short balls.”

Frenchwoman Mary Pierce spent over seven hours waiting for the rain to stop to play her match before being ushered out of the tournament by third-seeded Jelena Dokic of Yugoslavia 6-2 6-0 in a scant 39 minutes.

Williams and her next opponent, Paola Suarez of Argentina, are the only two into the quarter-finals.

Suarez, who has never played Williams, dissected third-round opponent Jill Craybas of the USA 6-0 6-0 in 45-minutes.

Players who win early matches today that were held over from yesterday will also have to play quarter-final matches later in the day. AFP

Sai to clash with Isha in final

Nagpur, April 12
National grass court champion Sai Jayalakshmi kept her reputation intact advancing to the final against Isha Lakhani in the $5000 ITF Women’s Tennis Championship here tomorrow.

In the semi-finals today, Sai played a consistent game to outwit Liza Pereira 6-2 6-4 while Isha Lakhani beat Sonal Phadke 6-1 6-4.

The national champion after an easy first set found Liza forcing her way in the second set with some forceful shots on either flanks. She traded breaks on Sai’s service games but faltered in the decisive fifth game to lose the set and match.

However, the giant-killing spree of diminutive Isha continued when she scalped fourth seed Sonal Phadke. Serving craftly and placing deftly, Isha wrapped up the opening set 6-1 as a hesitant Sonal appeared restrained in her strokeplay.

Sonal made a bold bid in the second set but Isha proved wily enough to get the crucial breakthrough to romp home in the second semi-final. Meanwhile, Jayalakshmi is also in the line for the doubles title pairing with Radhika Tulpule. The duo will take on Samrita Sekar and Archana Venkatraman in the final. PTI 

Vedpathak bags silver

New Delhi, April 12
India’s top woman shooter Anjali Vedpathak clinched the silver medal in the air rifle event in the ISSF World Cup Shooting Championships at Sydney today. Anjali’s remarkable effort of 397/400 in the semifinals and 103.1 in the final was, however, overshadowed by Korean shooter Jeon Acna, who created a new world record with a perfect score of 400/400 to take the gold.

The bronze was won by Kurkova of the Czech Republic (397+101.6), according to a National Rifle Association of India press note here today.

Among the other Indians in fray, Pournima Gawhane finished eighth (394+101.4) while Suma Sirur (393), Meena (392) and Rajkumari (385) failed to impress.

In men’s trap event, Mansher Singh shot 72/75, Manavjit Singh 70 and Anwer Sultan 68. The remaining 50 birds in the event are to be shot tomorrow. PTI 

SPORTS BRIEFS

Inter Milan player Ronaldo, left, and Brett Emerton of Feyenoord fight for the ball during their second leg semi-final UEFA Cup soccer match at the Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on Thursday. — AP/PTI

ERIKSSON TO GAMBLE ON BECKHAM FITNESS
LONDON: England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson says he would be prepared to gamble on the fitness of captain David Beckham by taking him to the World Cup finals even if he was not fully fit. Beckham faces at least six weeks out with a broken foot bone and Eriksson told reporters on Friday: “Of course, I’m willing to take a chance. “It’s extremely important. He’s the captain, he’s one of the best footballers in the world today so of course if there’s a small chance that he can play we will take him with us.’’ Reuters

GOPICHAND TO PLAY
KANPUR: Star badminton players, including former All-England champion P Gopi Chand will participate in the first All-India Late Harichand Memorial Senior Major Ranking Prize Money Badminton championship beginning here from April 15. The five-day tournament carries a total prize money of Rs 4 lakh and all the matches will be telecast live by the Doordarshan Sports (DD-Sports) channel, tournament Organising Secretary Monica Bhonwal said. Former skipper Kapil Dev would be the chief guest in the tournament. UNI