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Sunday,
August 4, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Indian eves make history Aussies take bronze Rana continues golden run Indian wrestlers
keep hopes alive With 5 gold, Thorpe on threshold of
immortality
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New Zealand stun
Pak 7-1 in hockey
Rains spoil India’s preparation ‘Tendulkar’s strokeplay was breathtaking’ Kapil not to take up coaching again TRIBUNE INVESTIGATION Ronaldo, Pele hit out at Scolari
Constantine happy with India’s show Raid de Himalaya in Oct Punjab taekwondo players excel
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Indian
eves make history
Manchester, August 3 The 3-2 victory came via the golden goal when the livewire forward Mamata Kharab struck in the dying moments of the first half of extra-time after both sides were locked 2-2 in regulation time. This was the second golden goal victory for the Indians in this competition after their dramatic 4-3 victory against South Africa in the play-off for the semi-finals. This match too had its share of drama as the golden goal, off a penalty corner, was initially disallowed by referee Ashton Lucy of Australia on the grounds that it was scored after the hooter for the end of the first half of extra time went off. But the decision was changed after discussions between the two field umpires who ruled that the ball had not gone out of the circle after the penalty corner was taken and according to rules play was still on even after the end of time. Though England dominated the initial stages of the first half, India shot into the lead against the run of play when Mamata Kharab scored off a penalty corner in the 21st minute. Sita Gossain made it 2-0 nine minutes later. England fought back in the dying moments of the first half and reduced the margin just a minute before the breather through a controversial field goal by skipper Sarah Blanks. Aussies take bronze
Australia had some consolation for losing their women's hockey semi-final and title with a convincing 4-3 victory over Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand in the bronze medal match at the Commonwealth Games today. In a strangely lifeless encounter Australia did not employ their usual pacey game but generally played sound controlled hockey. Carmel Bakurski gave Australia the lead on seven minutes after a good break by Julie Towers. Within two minutes, Amanda Christie equalised following up a shot by Jaimee
Provan. PTI, Reuters |
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Rana continues golden run Manchester, August 3 The 25-year-old Rana gave another stunning display of marksmanship to accumulate 583 points to re-write the Games record in the men’s 25 m centre fire pistol event and boost India’s shooting tally to 12 gold, seven silver and two bronze medals. Rana, who was far from impressive in the recent World Shooting Championship in Lahti (Finland), has made amends in these Games with a consistent show to provide the bulk of the golds in the Indian medal chest. Anjali (Ved Pathak) Bhagwat was the other star performer securing four gold medals. Barring Rana, the other Indian shooters in the fray today failed to make much of an impact with Mahaveer Singh, Kuheli Gangulee, Meena Kumari, Sushma Rana and Shweta Chaudhary, failing to make it to the medal podium by a long way. Displaying superb skill and concentration, Rana shot 290 points in precision and 293 in rapid to prevail over his fancied Australian opponent Bruce Quick (579 pts). Mahaveer Singh seemed totally off colour as he took the 10th position in the event with a score of 570. He scored 287 in precision and 283 in rapid. Sushma Rana and Shweta Choudhary did not live upto expectations in the women’s 25 m pistol event. While Shweta took the sixth position with a score of 664, Sushma finished 8th with a total of 661.9 points. Australia’s Lalita Yauhleuskaya claimed the gold in the event. In the women’s 50 m rifle prone event, the two Indian markswomen Meena Kumari and Kuheli Gangulee were a trifle disappointing. Meena Kumari took the 16th place with a total of 575 points while Kuheli Gangulee fared even more badly by finishing 22nd with a score of 565. The gold medal in the event went to Australia’s Kim Frazer who accumulated 588 points while South Africa’s Esmari VanReenen had to be content with the silver despite managing an identical score. Juliet Etherington of New Zealand took home the bronze medal with 585 points.
PTI
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Indian wrestlers
keep hopes alive Manchester, August 3 In the up to 66 kg category semi-final, Ramesh Kumar Prevailed over Nigeria’s Fred Jessey to set up a title clash with Canada’s Neal Ewers who beat Ricardo Aryan of New Zealand. The other Indian grappler Anuj Kumar won his bout against Jatinder Singh of England convincingly in the upto 84 kg category for a place in the final. Anuj Kumar will meet Canadian Ugoalah, who beat Sinivie Boltic in the other semi-final. In a second round match in the men’s up to 60 kg category, Shokinder Tomar defeated Namibia’s Rudolf Vaessler to move to the next round.
PTI |
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Qamar bags gold, Pun silver Manchester, August 3 Despite
taking a standing count in the last round, Qamar wiped off a
five-point deficit to emerge victorious by a narrow 27-25 margin.
However, there was heartbreak for Som Bahadur Pun in the final of
57kg category when he was outclassed by Hyder Ali of Pakistan by a
huge 10-28 margin. Qamar, a quarter-finalist at the world
championships last year, was trailing 9-14 after the second round and
17-22 after the third round in which Langley took a standing count
after receiving a powerful blow from the Indian. However, he made an
amazing comeback in the last round, outscoring his rival 10-3 to bag
the country's 24th gold in this 17th edition of the Games. PTI
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With 5 gold, Thorpe on threshold of immortality
Manchester, August 3 The magnificent seven may never happen, but Thorpe did become the first man to sweep the 100m, 200m, and 400m freestyles at one Games - improving his 400m world record to 3:40.08 in the process. "I didn’t know that hadn’t been done before," said Thorpe, who has made a habit of doing the never before done in the pool. But he had barely accepted his medal, and hugged fellow medallists Ashley Callus and Ryk Neethling for the cameras when he had to swim the first semifinal of the 100m backstroke. Thorpe won that, too, clocking 56.49sec. But he was the fourth-fastest qualifier for the final, as world champion Matt Welsh won the second semifinal in 55.91, with Alexander Lim of Malaysia finishing second in 56.11 and Scotland’s Gregor Tait third in 56.32. "The purpose was just to get through to the final," Thorpe said. Welsh, on the other hand, was trying to position himself for advantage, and he made it clear he has plenty in reserve. The backstroke, a recent addition to Thorpe’s competitive schedule, is reckoned to be the biggest stumbling block to his goal of winning an unprecedented seven gold medals at these Games. The freestyle, however, appeared to be his to win, and he did so without fuss. Callus earned the silver in 49.45 and Neethling took bronze in 49.71. With two freestyle relay golds, Thorpe has surpassed the four gold medals he won in his Commonwealth Games debut in 1998. However, Thorpe wasn’t the only swimmer with a packed schedule yesterday. South African Natalie du Toit, testing the waters in disability swimming after losing her left leg at the knee in a road accident 18 months ago, won her second gold of the Games in the women’s 100m freestyle for disabled swimmers, then turned around and competed in the women’s 800m freestyle final. The 18-year-old had nabbed the last spot in the final against able-bodied rivals, and she finished last in the race. But the swimmer, who was a promising newcomer when she represented South Africa at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, achieved her aim of proving she could compete on equal terms. England’s Rebecca Cooke won the 800m in 8min 28.54sec, ahead of Amanda Pascoe in 8:34.19 and Jamaican Janelle Atkinson in 8:36.23. Australian Petria Thomas wrote her name in the Commonwealth Games history books, too, becoming just the second swimmer, and the first woman, to win the same event at three consecutive Games with her victory in the 100m butterfly. Thomas matched the feat of Michael Wenden, who won the 100m freestyle in 1966, 1970 and 1974. Thomas, whose three world titles last year included both the 100m and 200m butterfly, had already won the 50m butterfly in Manchester and picked up bronze in the 200m freestyle and silver in the 4x200m free relay. She won in 58.57sec, with Mandy Loots of South Africa second in 59.68 and Canada’s Jennifer Button third in 1:00.22. Justin Norris earned his second gold of the Games with a storming finish past Brian Johns in the 400m individual medley. He trailed slightly going into the final freestyle leg and didn’t wrest control from Canada’s Johns until the final 25m. He won in 4min 16.95sec, with Johns winning silver in 4:17.41 and England’s Adrian Turner winning bronze in 4:18.75. AFP
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New Zealand stun Pak 7-1 in hockey
Manchester, August 3 Australia defeated South Africa 3-1 in their semifinal, having also beaten them in the group round. The World Cup silver medallists should go into tomorrow’s final with confidence having beaten New Zealand 6-1 in the first men’s match of the Games. Australia coach Barry Dancer said New Zealand would make the game very difficult for his side. “They showed how well they can play in the first 40 minutes of the first game with us and again today. We should learn after today’s game with South Africa to value the ball more,” Dancer said. New Zealand’s first win over Pakistan was also the first time they had scored more than three goals against the former champions. Pakistan, who had not conceded a goal before the semifinal, found themselves a goal down in 50 seconds. A move started in New Zealand’s half was finished off by Umesh Parag, who jinked past the last Pakistan defender and rifled in a head high shot. Reuters
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Rains spoil India’s preparation Worcester (England), August 3 Rains, which washed off the entire first two day’s play, intervened twice today and decisively 25 minutes before the scheduled tea break when Worcestershire were 200 for six in reply to Indians’ 417 for eight declared. Only 54 overs were bowled in the day during which none of the Indian bowlers, except Harbhajan Singh, were able to make an impression. Harbhajan, who was left out for the first Test, bowled only 11 overs but his duel with Worcestershire captain Graeme Hick was the highlight of the day. Hick, a former England batsman who has an average of nearly 60 in county cricket, struggled against Harbhajan Singh who made him look like a novice of spin bowling with his intelligent variations. The off-spinner finally won the battle with a beautiful delivery that dipped and hurried off the pitch to catch Hick leg before wicket. Hick made 27. That duel was the only high point for an otherwise listless Indian attack which seemed out of sorts and lacking in rhythm. SCOREBOARD India (Ist innings): Jaffer c Pipe b Batty 43 Sehwag c Mason b Batty 42 Bangar c Pipe b Sheriyar 0 Tendulkar b Smith 169 Ganguly c Pipe b Sheriyar 24 Patel b Sheriyar 6 Dravid not out 53 Ratra lbw b Sheriyar 4 Agarkar c Hick b Ali 14 Singh not out 32 Extras: (b-10 lb-12 nb-8) 30 Total:
(for eight wickets, declared) 417 Fall of wickets: 1-99, 2-99, 3-99, 4-160, 5-168, 6-292, 7-327, 8-395. Bowling: Mason 20-8-32-0, Sheriyar 25-3-109-4 (nb-5), Ali 19-4-99-1 (nb-3), Batty 18-2-68-2, Rawnsley 13-1-42-0, Smith 10-2-45-1. Worcestershire (Ist Innings) Peters lbw Nehra 50 Anurag Singh c Sehwag Hick lbw b Harbhajan 27 Smith c Sehwag b Nehra 5 Solanki c Dravid b Agarkar 5 Batty batting 30 Pipe c Harbhajan b Ganguly 12 Kabir Ali batting 0 Extras
(b-4, lb-4, nb-17) 25 Total (for six wkts, 54 overs) 200 Fall of wickets: 1-84, 2-126, 3-136, 4-147, 5-163, 6-200. Bowling: Nehra 15-2-69-2, Agarkar 13-5-29-1, Bangar 10-1-37-0, Harbhajan 11-2-36-1, Ganguly 5-1-21-2.
PTI
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‘Tendulkar’s strokeplay was breathtaking’
Worcester (England), August 3 His captain Sourav Ganguly too wants “people to go a little easy” on the master batsman. Tendulkar hit a stupendous 169 against Worcestershire yesterday including over hundred runs in the final session and then made his point in a humble manner. “I think people are just over-reacting, I know what I am doing,” said Tendulkar as he made his way to the team’s coach bus wading his way through hundreds of spectators seeking his autograph. Tendulkar failed in both the innings of the Lord’s Test, scoring 18 and 16 runs, as India crashed to a 170-run defeat against England to be one-down in the four-Test series. “I am worried about what I need to do rather than worry about what people write about me,” said the maestro “I just want to go out and play my game.” Tendulkar said he understood the expectations were high where his performance was concerned but added “expectations are high because people write these things... People just worry.” Tendulkar mentioned his performance in recent matches, both in Tests and one-day internationals, to drive home his point. “In the last five or six Tests, I have scored over 400 runs. Even in the one-day championships, I have scored 350 runs so I am not bothered.” Tendulkar had a moderate series by his standards in the West Indies recently and even suffered the embarrassment of three ducks, including two in succession. He still scored 331 runs in five Tests at an average of 41.38 with one century and two fifties. He also played a winning role in the final one-day game, smashing 65 runs. In the NatWest triangular series in England, Tendulkar played several quality innings and made 337 runs at 56.16 with two centuries but failed to make a mark in the final. Tendulkar, having made his point, then talked about his innings yesterday which had a sizeable crowd in raptures and drew wide praise from bowler Alamgir Sheriyar whose left-arm pace was genuinely sharp and also moved considerably. “I wanted to spend some time in the middle. I think it is always important for a batsman to spend some time in the middle.” Tendulkar said the wicket helped seam bowling but his intention from the start was to hang around rather than worry too much about the runs he would score. “It was seaming around a bit but I wasn’t worried about how many runs I would score. “My intention was to spend more time in the middle and I am pretty happy I was able to achieve it,” he said. Tendulkar praised Sheriyar who took four wickets and showed a great heart in bowling long spells. “He bowled pretty sharp and he swung the ball as well.” Sheriyar himself was quite charmed by Tendulkar’s knock even though he took quite a bit of stick from the little master’s big blade, being hit for no less than nine fours in the final session. “Some of the shots he played after tea were just unbelievable,” Sheriyar said. “At times, you could do little but just laugh at it.” Ganguly too had words of praise for Tendulkar and said “it is time people go a little easy on the man”. “Tendulkar is Tendulkar,” said Ganguly. “He is only human and is expected to have an odd failure or two. Ganguly was also all praise for Tendulkar’s knock against Worcestershire. “He was simply superb. His strokeplay after tea was breathtaking. It was majestic.”
PTI
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Kapil not to take up coaching again
Nagpur, August 3 “No no, not at all” said Kapil, while fielding questions in a ‘live’ interview on “Citi Cable”. This was his first engagement since he landed at the Sonegaon airport here this morning to kick off “Gully Cricket” in Nagpur at the behest of a premier movie, cricket and entertainment channel. Replying to questions from the public put to him by former pace bowler Prashant Vaidya, Kapil said he had had his time (coaching) and “I have enjoyed it” (coaching then). Kapil said he had not a chance given by the BCCI and had undertaken the job then. He, now felt, that the younger lot should undertake the job of coaching as it was a strenuous one. In lighter vein, he said “we are getting older.” Receiving phone calls directly in the studio, Kapil replied to a volley of questions on which team could win the 2003 cricket World Cup, the best of players the country had produce, the best allrounders of his playing days and who could be a good allrounder from the present crop of young players. On the 2002 World Cup, Kapil, who has been one of the most dedicated players, said, “If you ask me, I will be biased (in favour of the Indian team).” The current Indian team has the capacity to win the World Cup, observed Kapil, but put a rider saying “we have to play as a team. We can beat any top team on a given day”. However, being realistic, Kapil said the Australian team looked the best to retain the World Cup. Kapil, who served Indian cricket for long, still maintains that there is no alternative to hard work and that too, if one is to become an allrounder. When asked who could become a great allrounder from the present lot of young cricketers, Kapil said, Ajit Agarkar looked good. “He has the ability. However, it is still a long way before Ajit can become really a good allrounder”, adding that Ajit has to overcome certain cricketing weakneses. He also had a word of praise for the upcoming Zaheer Khan, who has had a good haul of wickets at the recently concluded NatWest triangular series in England. In fact, anyone can become an allrounder, he observed, and added that even batsmen, who can bowl, could become allrounders, but they must concentrate on their batting. UNI
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Impressive
show by U-19 lads
London, August 3
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TRIBUNE INVESTIGATION Chandigarh, August 3 This year’s competition was marred by charges and counter-charges of teams fielding overage players. One of the two teams that made it to the final, Sanjay Public School, had been barred by the Subroto Mukherjee Cup Football Committee for two years. Despite this two-year ban, the tournament committee revised the draw to include the banned team after the tournament had started on July 24. What prompted the Administration to revise its order ? The genuine under-14 players must have gone through trying times if the charges about overage players are proved right. Usually the players gain height after 14. As per the records with The Tribune, one of the boys is above 16 and the other above 15. And the records gathered are not from panchayats but from schools and the Punjab Education Department. Most of the boys who figure in the overage bracket are from Gurdaspur. All is not hunky-dory the way the tournament was conducted. Transparency was missing and two sets of rules were followed. To start with a team banned by the Subroto Mukherjee Cup Committee and also by the Education Department of the Administration was granted entry into the tournament after a couple of matches had been played. St Stephen’s School, which also runs a football academy, protested. That protest note remains unanswered. St Stephen’s played against Sanjay Public School and emerged winners. The victory celebrations had barely died down when the losers lodged a protest against one Stephen’s player being overage, giving photostate copies. The winners immediately pulled out their team and the Principal ordered an inquiry. A similar protest with photo-copies against a Sanjay Public School boy was ignored. A photo-copy of the Punjab Education Department Class V marksheet as also a School Leaving Certificate from Government Middle School gives his date of birth as 19-8-1988, The cut off date of birth for the Subroto Cup Football is 1-1-1989. Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, lodged a protest against the prestigious Sector 42 Government Model High School fielding overage players. Their protest was ignored and the two teams against whom charges of fielding overage players were levelled, were allowed to clash in the final. According to the school records at Government Middle School, Udhowal, the dates of birth of three of the Sector 42 GMHS players are 28-4-87 (Vikram Masih), 20-3-86 (Balwinder Singh) and 1-1-87 (Gulshan Kumar). Even now it is not too late. The Subroto Mukherjee Cup in Delhi is slated for September. A thorough screening of overage players must be done. Chandigarh has already had a taste of one of the teams being banned for two years. It is time for introspection. The Administrator’s love for the game is well known. In fact, Chandigarh has really gone up the ladder as far as football is concerned. But with teams allegedly fielding overage players it will bring a bad name to the City Beautiful. The genuine under-14 players feel cheated. They want a reconduct of the tournament. The ball is now in the
Administration's court. |
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Ronaldo, Pele hit
out at Scolari Rio De Janeiro, August 3 In an interview last week, Scolari said that he had repeatedly reprimanded Ronaldo during the World Cup campaign, describing the competition’s top scorer as a "spoilt player" who needed to be taught how to play for the team. Scolari had targeted Pele the week before, claiming he knew nothing about football and saying: "If you want to win a tournament, you have to listen to what Pele says and then do the opposite." Ronaldo, speaking during a visit to a Rio de Janeiro cancer hospital with his two-year-old-son Ronald, denied yesterday that he was spoilt. "I think he’s wrong," he said. "My son is spoilt but his father is not. I still think it’s more difficult for people to handle victories than to handle defeats." Ronaldo visited the hospital to donate some of the prize money he won at the World Cup.
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Constantine happy with India’s show
Ho Chi Minh City, August 3 Though the solitary point managed from the draw dented India’s chances of reaching the semi-final, Constantine said the outing will provide the players with the much-needed exposure. “After a great start from (Alex) Ambrose’s sharp centre, which resulted in an own goal, we totally dominated the game from start to finish. It was only two errors by our inexperienced goalkeeper which gave the point to Singapore,” Constantine said. “But that is what these games are for — to get experience,” he said. The Englishman was specially pleased by K Ajayan’s goal which restored parity for India in the 64th minute. “Ajayan scored the equaliser from a set play we had worked on in training. “All this is scant consolation as Singapore got what they wanted and that was a point. We will learn from this and look forward to taking on the Vietnam U-23 on Tuesday,” Constantine said. Singapore coach Visaji Rao also agreed that the Indian team was definitely the better side. “We were completely overrun and could not keep pace with the Indian team.” PTI
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Raid de Himalaya in Oct Chandigarh, August 3 The schedule: October 6: Pre-event scrutiny at Hotel Peterhoff, Shimla, October 7: Shimla-Gumma-Nogli-Bagipul-Ani-Jallori Pass-Manali, October 8: Manali-Keylong-Darcha-Sarchu-Pang-Tso Kar Camp, October 9: Tso Kar Camp-Mahe-Nyome-Loma Manle-Mahe TSO Kar Camp, October 10: TSO Kar Camp-Pang-Sarchu-Keylong-Manali, October 11: Post event scrutiny followed by prize distribution at Hotel Holiday Inn by Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh. The event is open for cars, motor-cycles and trucks and the national teams will all be present. Participants are expected from the UK and Sri Lanka also. The two-wheeler category will once again feature on the International Off-road Rallies Calendar of the FIM, Geneva. With emphasis on safety, the route has been reduced to about 1600 km. This will be easier on the vehicles, drivers and the support crew. The Kaza stage has been eliminated and instead a loop towards Hanlee has been included. This includes sandy flat lands and over-dried lake beds. This will make for safer driving but not necessarily easier driving. The governments of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh along with the Indian Army will be extending support.
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Punjab
taekwondo players excel Chandigarh, August 3 According to a press note of the Punjab Taekwondo Association, Neetu Bala of Jalandhar won gold in 35 to 38-kg weight category and Jaswinder Singh from Bathinda also won gold in 48 to 51-kg wt category. Snehdeep Singh (41 to 44 kg), Ankush Bhagat (23 to 25 kg) and Gurpreet Singh (73 and 78 kg) won silver medals. Vishal Arya (35 to 40 kg), Sukhwinder Guleria (21 to 23 kg) Amarpreet Singh (above 78 kg), Mamta (24 to 26 kg), Manu Bala (22 to 24 kg) and Sapna Gumber (18 to 20 kg) won bronze medals in their respective weight categories. |
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