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Sunday,
July 7, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Dravid puts India in final
Serena claims Wimbledon crown |
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Nalbandian creates history Hewitt hopes to end Aussie heartache
Henman’s dream not over Sorenstam among leaders American stars shine in Paris Golden League
Swimming probables Asian Games: kabaddi on synthetic turf
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Dravid puts India in final Birmingham, July 6 Dravid came out with flying colours as he led India to 188 with 11 balls to spare after the bowlers had done a splendid job in restricting the Sri Lankans to 187 in 48.1 overs. The defeat was the fourth in a row for the Sri Lankans who are now knocked out of the tournament. India have won three of their four matches with the fourth against England being abandoned due to rain. India made a complete mess of what should have been an easy run-chase when they were reduced to 59 for four in the 20th over with both Sachin Tendulkar and skipper Sourav Ganguly among the dismissed batsmen. But Dravid and Yuvraj Singh, who had shared a match- winning partnership against England at Lord’s, were engaged in another fruitful partnership of 91 runs for the fifth wicket which anchored India to safety. Unlike at Lord’s none of the two remained to see India through, Yuvraj Singh getting out for 37 and Dravid for 64 when just nine runs were needed for victory. Mohammad Kaif and Ajit Agarkar, both unbeaten on seven, then took the team past the Sri Lankan score. Highly disciplined Indian bowlers skittled out Sri Lanka for 187. Led by the left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra, the Indians dominated throughout and bowled out the opposition in 48.2 overs. Only Marvan Atapattu, who top-scored with 50, and Mahela Jayawardene resisted the Indian attack for some time. The duo added 84 runs for the third wicket, the only substantial partnership of the innings. Nehra bowled outstandingly well, finishing with two wickets for 28 runs. He conceded just 15 runs in the first nine overs, before three fours by Chaminda Vaas in the tenth spoiled the excellent figures somewhat. Nehra was complemented well by Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar and Anil Kumble, all of whom took two wickets each. The Lankan innings was never allowed to settle down and the Indians put the batsmen in pressure right from the start. With the pitch offering a bit of help under cloudy conditions, pacemen Nehra and Zaheer Khan were able to swing the ball both ways and trouble the batsmen. The flamboyant opening pair of Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana found the going extremely tough against the swinging ball and survived a number of close calls. Sri Lanka: Jayasuriya b Nehra 22 Kaluwitharana c Dravid Atapattu b Kumble 50 Jayawardene c Nehra Gunawardene c Y. Singh Arnold run out (Y. Singh) 13 Samaraweera c Sehwag Chandana c Nehra b Agarkar 4 Vaas c Ganguly b Khan 26 Wickramasinghe run out Fernando not out 2 Extras
(b-4 lb-4 nb-4 w-2) 14 Total (all out, 48.2 overs) 187 FoW: 1-33 2-41 3-125 4-129 5-146 6-150 7-153 8-182 9-185. Bowling: Nehra 10-2-28-2, Khan 8.2-0-36-2 (nb-1 w-1), Agarkar 9-1-31-2, Ganguly 6-0-30-0 (nb-3), Tendulkar 5-0-18-0, Kumble 10-0-36-2 (w-1). India: Sehwag b Vaas 0 Ganguly c Kaluwitharana Mongia c Jayasuriya Tendulkar c Atapattu Dravid run out 64 Yuvraj c Chandana Kaif not out 7 Agarkar not out 7 Extras:
(lb-3, w-17, nb-5) 25 Total: ( 6 wkts, 48.1 overs) 188 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-30, 3-33, 4-59, 5-150, 6-179. Bowling: Vaas 10-1-26-2, Fernando 10-0-22-2, Wickramasinghe 9-0-47-1, Chandana 6.1-0-32-0, Samaraweera 10-1-35-0, Jayasuriya 3-0-23-0.
PTI
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Kirtley
ruled out of series
London, July 6 The Sussex paceman suffered a dislocation in his right hand when he tried to catch Jeremy Snape off his own bowling in the
nets. Kirtley has played in all of England’s four triangular series matches against India and Sri Lanka. Kirtley was forced to remodel his action after being reported to the International Cricket Council (ICC) during October’s tour to Zimbabwe. England are not expected to call up a replacement to the squad.
AFP
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Serena claims Wimbledon crown
London, July 6 The 20-year-old Serena, the second seed, claimed her third Grand Slam title with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win in 78 minutes over 22-year-old Venus, who had been bidding to become just the third women in the Open Era to win three successive Wimbledon titles. Less than a month after lifting her first French Open title against Venus at Roland Garros, Serena reaffirmed her status as the new world number one which she takes from Venus on Monday. Serena, the 1999 US Open champion, is now just one Grand Slam win from joining the ranks of just eight women tennis greats who have won on all surfaces. Venus won the first round when she successfully defended her US Open title last year, but has since been struggling to keep up with the pace of Serena, who dad Richard had always predicted would emerge as the better player. Serena had made no secret of her determination to become a member of the All-England club. She came out gunning for victory earning the first break of the match following an untimely double by Venus in the third game. But then the younger sister double faulted at break point to allow Venus to draw level again 2-2 in the next game. A costly double fault in the fifth game handed Serena a break point once again which she converted when Venus hit into the net. But Venus hit back coming from 30-love down in the ninth game when Serena was serving for the set, forcing errors from her younger sister to break back drawing level 5-5. A frustated Serena slammed down her racket as Venus shifted the momentum back holding her serve to love. Serena replied in just the same fashion forcing a tie-break which she won 7-4 on her second set point which surprisingly umpire Jane Harvey had called a let, but neither player heard. Serena kept the pressure up in the second set breaking in the sixth game, but a worried-looking Venus put up a fight and broke back straight away to trail 4-3. Serena broke again, stealing her nerve serving for the title to love and taking the title on her first match point. AFP
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Nalbandian creates history
London, July 6 The 28th seeded Nalbandian, playing in his first-ever grass court event, has also set a record by becoming the first man to reach the final on his debut. The 20-year-old’s reward is a final clash with world number one and top seed Lleyton Hewitt of Australia who had eased past Britain’s Tim Henman in his semi-final 7-5 6-1 7-5. Yesterday, Malisse had suffered anxiety-related heart palpitations early in the match but rallied from two-sets down to keep his hopes alive of being the first Belgian man in a Grand Slam final. After play had been suspended because of bad light, the semi-final had effectively become a one-set shoot-out today and it was Malisse who showed first breaking to lead 2-1 before playing a weak service game to love as Nalbandian hit back to level 2-2 and then held to lead 3-2. But from then on, it was all straightforward for Nalbandian against a lethargic Malisse as he broke twice again to take the final set 6-2 and the match. For many, the result proved to be a fitting end to a semi-final which had been dogged by controversy when it began yesterday as the pony-tailed 21-year-old Malisse had twice needed treatment for an anxiety attack. First, he needed courtside treatment during the first set and then disappeared into the locker room at the end of that set which he lost on a tie-break. He called his doctor in Belgium, returned after 10 minutes away and then slipped to 4-2 down in the second set when the rains arrived allowing the player to recover. “It was stress and my heart was beating very quickly,” said Malisse who knocked out fifth seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Britain’s Greg Rusedski and 1996 champion Richard Krajicek to reach the last four. “I got lucky with the rain break. My heart calmed down and I felt fine. I just got a little bit tense.” Nalbandian was clearly angry about Malisse’s extended absence after he had gained control of the match by winning the first set. The rules at a Grand Slam event state that treatment is only allowed for three minutes - but those three minutes do not start until after the assessment is complete. Malisse was treated for palpitations 18 months ago but doctors could find nothing physically wrong with him. “Malisse was breathless, dizzy and generally unwell,” said tournament doctor Peter Tudor-Miles. AFP
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Hewitt hopes to end Aussie heartache
London, July 6 From 1960 to 1971, Australian legends Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Roy Emerson and Neale Fraser dominated the men’s singles here with those 10 titles but in the last 30 years only Pat Cash, in 1987, has managed to add to the nation’s glories. Now the brash and controversial 21-year-old Hewitt, who became the youngest ever world number one last year and is the reigning US Open champion, hopes to restore Australian pride at the most prestigious of the Grand Slams by adding the Wimbledon title to the 15 championships he has already secured in his young career. To achieve that dream, he will have to get past either Argentina’s David Nalbandian or Xavier Malisse of Belgium who failed to complete their semi-final in the gloom of court one yesterday when they were locked at two sets all - 7-6 (7/2) 6-4 1-6 2-6. Hewitt is also being spurred on by fellow Aussie Pat Rafter who was runner-up here for the last two years losing memorable finals against Pete Sampras in 2000, and Goran Ivanisevic in 2001. “I spoke to Pat and he wished me all the best and said that the whole of Australia is behind me,” said top-seed Hewitt after his impressive 7-5 6-1 7-5 defeat of Britain’s fourth seed Tim Henman in the semi-final. “That’s a great feeling to have because there’s been such a great Australian tradition at Wimbledon and it’s fantastic that I’ve been able to carry that through this year just as Pat has done in the last few years. “Reaching the final here hasn’t yet sunk in, but it is an incredible feeling to see all those champions up on the board who have lifted the trophy here. It’s what every Australian kid dreams about from the time they pick up a racquet.” “They dream of being in this situation and for me to have done it at 21, it’s just incredible.” His destruction of Henman, widely tipped to end Britain’s 66 year wait for a men’s title here, was breathtaking as he hit 33 winners to the Briton’s 14 and just nine unforced errors to his opponent’s 30. Hewitt said he had never thought about reaching the final here having only ever made it to the round of 16 last year, his best performance in four previous attempts. “I had never got beyond the second week here so I hadn’t even thought about winning but that prospect comes into your mind more when you are only one match away. Before that, I didn’t want to get too far ahead of myself.” Although he wouldn’t admit it, he knows that he has the upper hand over both Malisse and Nalbandian. He beat the Argentine in their only meeting on clay at Barcelona this year and has 2-0 record over Malisse with a straight sets win on grass at Queen’s Club in 2001, and a three set triumph on clay at Delray Beach in 1999.
AFP
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Henman’s dream not over
London, July 6 “Losing doesn’t get easier, but I can look back on the last two weeks and know that I gave it my best shot. I couldn’t have tried any harder and that’s good enough with me,” said the 27-year-old after losing to Australian top seed Lleyton Hewitt 7-5 6-1 7-5 yesterday, his fourth semi-final defeat here in the last five years. “I’m sure to others that it won’t be good enough, but I don’t think that should detract from the way I feel about it. “If I had come off the court today and said: ‘Oh, I didn’t try’ then that’s when you would certainly have to ask some questions about yourself. But that’s never the case.” Henman was completely outclassed by the 21-year-old Hewitt who sprinted around centre court firing backhand and forehand winners from the most acute of angles. When Henman advanced to his favourite net position, Hewitt simply lobbed him and he did that time after time. The statistics made sorry reading for Henman — 30 unforced errors to Hewitt’s nine and just 14 winners to 33. Furthermore, he converted just two points from a meagre haul of five. “I’ve got to improve, it’s as simple as that. The better player won today, no question. But it’s not through lack of effort, my game just wasn’t good enough.” “I certainly tried different tactics, different variations. The bottom line is that he’s the best player and it’s my job to go away and keep improving my game.” AFP
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Sorenstam among leaders Hutchinson, July 6 Swede Sorenstam shot a one-under-par 69 yesterday to move alongside American pair Inkster (72) and Diaz (72) on 139. Michele Redman of the USA and Australian Shani Waugh were one stroke off the pace on 140, with American Jill McGill on her own on 141. Australia’s Michelle Ellis and Jenna Daniels of the USA were on 142 but Webb, bidding for an historic third successive victory in the $ 3 million event, crashed out. The Australian failed to make a birdie in her second-round 73 and missed the cut by three shots on 152, 12 over par, at the Prairie Dunes Country Club. “I didn’t play too badly today but yesterday just took such a huge chunk out of my confidence,’’ said Webb, 27, referring to her nine-over-par 79 on Thursday. “I’m still at a loss as to say what went wrong but my swing just seemed to disappear overnight,’’ said Webb, who lost the world No 1 ranking to Sorenstam last year. Sorenstam, the US Women’s Open champion in 1995 and 1996, has won seven times worldwide this year, including her last two outings. The 31-year-old Swede’s 69 was one of just four sub-70 scores on a day of howling winds, but she said she had yet to find her best form. “I was disappointed with my putting and I left a few (shots) out there,’’ said Sorenstam. “Overall I’m happy, and it’s fine for the first two days. But I know I can get better, and I hope it’s going to happen over the weekend.’’ Sorenstam picked up four birdies between the first and seventh holes, but also dropped strokes at the par-four third, ninth and 13th. Inkster, 42, who shared the lead overnight with Diaz and Waugh, drew on all her experience to claw her way back from a difficult start. But she ended poorly with dropped shots at the final two holes. “It was so tough,’’ said the 1999 champion, who dropped three shots in the first four holes before rallying with three birdies. “This course really drains you.’’ Diaz has broken through with two wins on the LPGA Tour this year and also made her mark in the majors in 2001, finishing second to Webb in the LPGA Championship and tying for third at the British Open. “I do enjoy the big events,’’ said the 27-year-old American. “Today you just had to accept the good with the bad, but there’s still an awful lot of golf to be played out there.’’ South Korea’s Pak Se Ri, winner of last month’s LPGA Championship, just made the cut after adding a 75 to her opening 74. Reuters
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American stars shine in Paris Golden League
Paris, July 6 In wet and chilly conditions, Jones completed the second stage of her assault on the summer circuit in 10.89 seconds cutting her previous best time by a hundredth of a second. “She ran like a storm,” admitted France’s Muriel Hurtis, who won both the 100 and 200 metres at the European Cup two weeks ago but finished fourth in 11.15 seconds. Jamaican Tayna Lawrence was second in 11.04 and Chryste Gaynes of the USA wsn third in 11.06. Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj also ran like a storm, winning the 1.500 metres in three minutes 29.96 seconds, a new season’s best time. “I’m very proud of this performance particularly as we had to race in the rain,” the three-times world champion and world record holder said. Another season’s best was set by Britain’s Olympic triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards who posted 17.75 metres at his fourth attempt, 15 cm better than Sweden Christian Olsson who was in the lead after three jumps. “I have a real competitor with Olsson,” said Edwards who holds the world record of 18.29 metres. “Sometimes, I like it, sometimes, I don’t but at one point I was questioning my ability to win with the weather as it was.” After suffering two defeats in as many days last week by Britain’s Dwain Chambers in Oslo, the first leg of the Golden League, and at an international meeting in Sheffield, Greene was back to his flamboyant self in a Stade de France packed by 35.000 spectators. “I feel well rested and I came here to make a show, Greene said at the end of the race,” the Olympic and World champion said. “I feel good and I’m ready to start performing again. I’m not at my top but it will come.” Chambers had withdrawn from the Paris meeting saying he wanted to rest a shoulder injury. Greene won the race in a time of 9.99 seconds ahead of compatriot Bernard Williams (10.03) and Britain’s Mark Lewis-Francis (10.04). Tim Montgomery, who promised at the beginning of the season to beat Greene’s world record of 9.79 seconds, finished a disappointing fourth in 10.08. Triple world hurdles champion Gail Devers showed she was still a force at 35 as she won the 100 metres hurdles in 12.56 seconds, equaling her own best performance of the season. She outran fellow-American Anjanette Kirkland and Jamaican Brigitte Forster. Olympic champion Anicer Garcia of Cuba won the men’s 110 metres hurdles in 13.14 ahead of American Terence Trammel (13.28) and Yoel Hernandez also from Cuba (13.42). Britain’s Colin Jackson had to content with fourth place in 13.44. But one of the surprises of the evening came from a 19-year-old Australian Jana Pittman who defeated Olympic champion Deon Hemmings of Jamaica in 54.58 seconds. Hemmings was second in 54.64. There was drama in the pole vault. Jean Galfione, a favourite of the French crowd since he became Olympic champion in 1996, withdrew at the last minute. He was replaced by Romain Mesnil, who won the event with a vault of 5.65 metres pipping Aleksandr Averbukh of Israel by 10 cm. Mesnil’s victory was the first by a French athlete in a Golden League meeting. Reuters
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Swimming
probables Ludhiana, July 6 According to Mr Balraj Sharma, vice-president, SFI, Harpreet Bhullar of Ferozepore in the girls section was selected after winning a silver medal in the 50 m breast stroke event during the 29th Junior National Aquatic Championship held at Chennai last month. Rajevender Singh of Sangrur was the member of the Punjab waterpolo team which finished fourth at Chennai. Satnam Singh, coach from Punjab Police will accompany the Indian waterpolo team. The waterpolo team will attend a coaching camp at Patiala from July 10 to 19 while the camp for the swimming team will be held in New Delhi. The names of the campers (swimmers) are: (boys)- Varun Divgikar, Mandar Divse, Arjun Murlidharan and Kapil Nalang of Maharashtra; Ashwini Kumar B H, Rehan Poncha and Aniket D’Souza of Karnataka; Gairik Bardhan and Umapada Naskar of West Bengal; Harpreet Bhullar of Punjab; Pulah Shah of Gujarat and V Arum of Tamil Nadu. Girls — Komal Athare and Avani Sawant of Maharashtra; Shikha Tandon, Ambika N S Iyengar and V Shivaranjani and Mrudula D. of Karnataka; Saba Sait and Mrudula Rajiv of Tamil Nadu; Kritika Pande and Sajani Patel of Gujarat. Coaches: K V Sharma of SAI, Delhi, Wilson Cherian of RSPB, Brij Kant of SCB and P Mohan Reddy of Maharashtra. Waterpolo probables (boys) — Shashank Pilankar, Saurabh Dhere, Amit Gore and Gaurav Palshikar of Maharashtra; M S Jeeth Mohan and A Chandra Babu of Kerala; Shankar Naskar, Sribas Sarkar and Supratik Mondal of West Bengal; Kiyamba Singh, Rohini Singh and Ning Thingamba Singh of Manipur; Hemant Kumar, Pranay Prakash and Mithun D M of Karnataka; Rajvender Singh of Punjab and Gaurav Rathore of Madhya Pradesh. Coaches: P V Pillei of Kerala, Ibmecha Singh of Manipur, Achinta Majumdar of West Bengal and Satnam Singh of Punjab Police. |
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Asian Games: kabaddi on synthetic turf
Pune, July 6 This decision has also been taken to attract the European nations and other countries to participate in the game and make the competition that much more keener. AKF Technical Director Prasad Rao while talking to a new Marathi sports magazine “Sakal Krida Vishwa’’ to be launched tomorrow in Pune expressed satisfaction over the synthetic surface. The surface gave the necessary grip to the players even while playing barefooted, Mr Rao said. He, however, clarified that the shoes to be used for kabaddi would be manufactured by a Japan-based company, which also manufactures the synthetic surface for taekwondo. After the experimental tournament in Malaysia, which was won by India, Mr Rao visited Busan to advance the technical expertise to the organisers. The tournament held in Malaysia saw eight teams taking part. The players said they could play kabbadi on this surface without any hassle or fear of injuries. UNI
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Women’s cricket
crying for funds New Delhi, July 6 “We don’t have a permanent
sponsor. And we lack money for promotion of women’s cricket in India”, she said here before the team’s departure to Mumbai en route to London early today for a 45-day long England tour. During the tour, India will play in a triangular series against England and world champions New Zealand besides a two-match Test series against the hosts.
PTI
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Indian colts to tour England London, July 6 Besides, the Test matches, the Indians will also play three one-dayers against the hosts. The side’s campaign will begin on July 19 when they play a three-day match against the ECB Schools which will be followed by another three-day match against the Development of Excellence XI. The second Test at Southampton will start on August 7 and the final Test at Northampton on August 13. India team will wind up their tour with three one-day internationals to be played on August 27 (Bristol), August 29 (Taunton) and August 30 (Taunton).
PTI
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Bill Clinton for golf tourney Stockholm, July 6 |
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Gursharan
Singh as Asiad umpire Chandigarh, July 6 Gursharan Singh is the only Indian umpire, who has been selected for this prestigious event. He has also umpired matches around the world in all the big events including the Thomas Cup, the Uber Cup, the World Championships, Grand Prix finals etc. |
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Not content with deposing older sister Venus as world number one, Serena Williams spoilt the top seed’s dreams of a Wimbledon hat-trick at the All-England Club
today. The Serena, the second seed, claimed her third Grand Slam title with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win over
Venus, who had been bidding to become just the third women in the Open Era to win three successive Wimbledon titles.
