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Monday,
October 14, 2002, Chandigarh, India 
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Eves run
to another gold
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Gold for North Korea, Thailand
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Experts comments: Pritamrani Siwach Hidayat moves
into final
Advani to honour Asiad winners
Blunders in field still continuing Jr national carrom from today Gautam
Mandora spins Punjab to victory Inter-college basketball
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Eves run to another gold
Busan, October 13 The women’s relay team clinched a gold medal in the 4x400 m while high jumper Bobby Aloysius and the men’s 4X400 m relay team won silver. Discus thrower Anil Kumar also chipped in with a bronze on a fruitful day for the athletes to take their tally to 17 -seven gold, six silver and four bronze - in the 14th Asian Games. However, India found itself in danger of being stripped of a gold and a bronze medal after distance runner Sunita Rani tested
positive for banned substance Nandrolone. The women’s 4x400 m relay team comprising Jincy Philipes, Manjeet Kaur, Soma Biswas and K M Beenamol stole the limelight by claiming the gold with a timing of 3:30.84 sec. The 26-year-old Bobby Aloysius, who had won the bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, secured the silver here by clearing a height of 1.88m though it was short of her personal best of 1.90m. Kazakhstan’s Marina Korzhova was also given a silver medal for having cleared 1.88m along with Aloysius in the same number of attempts. The men’s 4x400m relay team comprising P Ramachandran, Manoj Lal, Satbir Singh and Bhupendra Singh also brought cheers for the country by scooping up the silver medal with a timing of 3:04.22 sec. The Saudi Arabian team won the gold with a timing of 3:02.47sec. Anil Kumar grabbed the bronze medal in the men’s discus throw event by achieving a distance of 59.81 m though he was expected to do better. The gold medal in the event was claimed by China’s Tao Wu with an effort of 60.76 m while Iran’s Abbas Samimi had to be content with the silver with 59.81 m. Anju Bobby George, who had won a gold medal in the women’s long jump event on the opening day of the athletic competitions, was distinctly unlucky not to add one more medal to her collection as she finished fourth in the women’s triple jump event. Anju and Kazakhstan’s Tatyana Bocharova tied in 13.26m but the Kazakh was adjudged the bronze medal winner. China’s Qiuyan Huan got the gold medal with a new Asian Games record of 14.28m, eclipsing the previous record of 14.27m established by compatriot Ren Riupeng. The Indian girl achieved her best jump in the very first attempt but could not improve upon it in subsequent attempts. She was in the third position till the sixth attempt stage before Bocharova equalled her in the last attempt. The Indians were a trifle disappointing in the 4x100m relays with the men’s and women’s teams finishing in the fourth and fifth position, respectively. The men’s team comprising Sanjay Ghosh, Piyush Kumar, Anand Menezes and Anil Kumar were far from impressive finishing with a timing of 39.36 sec while the Thailand team of Reenchai Seeharwong, Vissanu Sophanich, Ekkachai Janthana and Sittichai Suwonprateep collected the gold medal with a new Asian Games record timing of 38.82 sec. The women’s team consisting of Jayalakshmi, Vinita Tripathi, Anuradha Biswal and Saraswati Saha finished the race with a timing of 44.74 sec, well behind the first four finishers.
PTI |
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Denies taking banned drug Busan, October 13 According to India’s Chef-de-Mission Jagdish Tytler, Rani told the Olympic Council of Asia medical panel last night that she had not taken any banned drug. However, she said she had been taking ‘Liv52’ every day for the past seven to eight months. The panel took into consideration Rani’s statement and fixed October 25 for the second test of her urine sample. “We demanded that the test should be done in Bangkok and not Seoul. But the rule book was shown to us which said the second test should be done at the same place where the first has been done,” Tytler said. He said they also demanded that a different set of personnel conduct the second test which was also agreed to. “It was agreed that three people, including the athlete, could be present during the second test on October 25,” Tytler said. Weightlifter Satheesha Rai, who tested positive in the Commonwealth Games and was stripped of his medals, had also tested positive for nandrolone which is a masking drug.
PTI |
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Gold for North Korea, Thailand Busan, October 13 Ham drafted off Japan’s Hiromi Ominami for much of the race but broke away at the 32 km mark and held the lead, finishing in two hours, 33 minutes and 34 seconds on the second-to-last day of the athletics meet. Japan’s Harumi Hiroyama also passed Ominami in the final kilometres, crossing the line in 2:34.44 for the silver. Ominami held on for the bronze with a time of 2:37.43. As Ham entered Busan’s main stadium, a crowd of North Korean cheerleaders dressed in white sweatsuits erupted in applause and waved red and blue scarves. Ham didn’t wave to the crowd or show any emotion or signs of fatigue as she ran gracefully around the red tartan track. After finishing, she smiled and waved to the North Korean fans, and one of her coaches gave the tiny runner a bear hug. South Korean photographers and TV crews got into shoving matches with burly North Korean officials in red track suits who restricted access to the runner. Like other North Korean athletes at the games, Ham said that the president of her reclusive, communist nation inspired her to win. “When I was leaving North Korea, the great leader Kim Jong il told me that I would be ready for the gold medal,” she said during a brief news conference. “When I was passing the 32 km mark, I was thinking that the great leader Kim Jong il was looking at me and I was able to finish the race well,” Ham said. Also today, Thailand’s men’s 400 metres relay broke a 24-year gold medal drought for their country on the Asian Games track. The team - Reanchai Seeharwong, Vissanu Sophanich, Ekkachai Janthana and Sittichai Suwonprateep - finished in 38.82 seconds. Japan got the silver in 38.90 and China the bronze in 38.90. Thailand’s last gold medals in athletics were won at the Asian Games in Bangkok in 1978. “We’re overjoyed,” sprinter Seeharwong said. “I thought we could beat Japan. We were able to exchange the baton easily.” Japan’s star sprinter Nobuharu Asaharu said: “We expected China, not Thailand. Thailand was a surprise.” Japan had problems during baton changes between the second and third runners, and the third and fourth. Second runner Shingo Suetsugu also suffered a leg cramp. “We have had a long season and these games are right at the end of the season. So maybe we are a bit tired,” Asaharu said. Glancing over at the Thai winners, he added: “Not all athletes, though.” In the women’s high jump, Tatiana Efimenko of Kyrgyzstan won the gold, clearing the 1.90-metre mark. Bobby Aloysius of India got the silver with 1.88 metres and Marina Korzhova the bronze with 1.88. China won the women’s 400 metres relay with a time of 4.84 seconds. Thailand got the silver with 44.25 and Uzbekistan the bronze in 44.32. Sri Lanka withdrew its women’s 400 metres relay team from the race because champion sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe and another runner were injured. Jayasinghe said she pulled her hamstring and would have to rest for six weeks. Jayasinghe, who won the Asian Games gold in the 100 m, said she hoped to also take first in the 200 m and the relay race. “I feel really sad but next time. I still have next time,” she said.
AP |
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Experts comments: Pritamrani Siwach THE
best team should win the top honours. The Chinese who won the final, deserved the gold every bit of it. They were simply outstanding in all departments of the game especially in defence. In two meets against the defending champions Korea, they conceded just one goal. The Korean forwards, known for their all-round ability, could not pierce the tough and tactically superior Chinese’ rearguards. Their defence was just like the ‘China Wall’. This was Chinese’s maiden gold in six attempts at the Asian Games. At Bangkok in the last edition, we defeated them 2-1 with the winning goal coming from me. China have since made vast strides. The Korean trainer, who had been coaching them for the last couple of years, seemed to wield a magical wand. Chinese were simply a bundle of energy. They kept on out-running all their rivals. It’s always difficult to contain such a fit team for all the seventy minutes. Their slim frame and commando type physical training they undergo round the year are their mantra of success. Busan was one of the sadest moments of my life to see the other three teams on the podium after the final. Saddest because after our Commonwealth Games triumph, we just did not imagine this would happen to us. China won the Champions Trophy beating the very same teams that we beat at Manchester, so when you suddenly realise that there is a big difference between a team like China and us, it comes as a rude shock. But we have our lessons to be learnt from this tournament. These other Asian teams — China, South Korea and Japan have improved tremendously. The reason being more exposure and better coaching. If they lack in the flair for stickwork, they more than make up by sheer power and stamina. These countries play more international matches than us. There are various three or four-nation tournaments that they play and steel themselves up for bigger events like the Champions Trophy and Asian Games. On the other hand, we’ve played very few games against them even though we’ve played against European teams. Also, there coaches get to see more teams in action. China’s coach was there to see the World Cup qualifying matches when his team was not even playing. He was there to watch other teams in action. Is that something we can imagine in our country ? We’ve to be more professional to do well consistently in international events. We should also have more tournaments to play in and keep in touch with changing trends. Otherwise, the triumphs like at Manchester will be few and far between. Inspiration can’t always win you events. Hard work and methodical training can. Fitness is another aspect that we need to work on. Otherwise, the difference between other teams and ours will be too much to bridge. Modern hockey is more about power and stamina. The game is really fast and we have to compete with the best in these departments. As for our team, we looked stale on the field. Like I said, our forward-line was not a shadow of what it has been over the past few months. I’m not blaming others, even I struggled upfront. So how do you get goals ? What made China a better team than the rest was their better strategy, fitness and agility on the field. They played a real tight game and stuck to their plan. We lack in these aspects. I think it’s time for introspection and to work out a better calendar and training for our players. The Games went on without much of umpiring hassles unlike Manchester. However, it cannot be said for the final. The Japanese umpire did not appear to be convincing in her decisions. She consulted the other umpire before awarding the first goal to China and again a goal for China awarded though their defender Kang Fu failed to convert the stroke. In the umpire’s view, the goalkeeper moved before the stroke was taken. It’s difficult to say whether the goalie moved first or Kang Fu delayed her shot. A hard decision for the defending side to stomach. Otherwise, the umpiring has been steady. It’s first time in my long career we were considered title favourites. It seems we could not just cope up with this kind of pressure. We have not performed to our potential, even half. I will not dwell into the ‘why and how’ of it except that we have to live with this failure for our life time.
(Hockey Features) |
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Hidayat moves
into final Busan, October 13 Hidayat beat Shon 15-10, 15-7 to set up tomorrow’s gold medal match against another South Korean, Lee Hyun-Il, who outclassed reigning world champion H Hendrawan 15-3, 15-4 in the other semifinal. Top-seeded Zhou Mi made short work of world champion Gong Ruina 11-1, 11-1 to claim the women’s singes gold medal, while the South Korean pair of Kim Dong-moon and Ra Kyung-min won the mixed doubles title.
AP |
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Advani to honour Asiad winners Chandigarh, October 13 Haryana Olympic Association
(HOA) president Abhey Singh Chautala, said here today that gold medal winners would be awarded with Rs 10
lakh, silver Rs 7 lakh and bronze Rs 5 lakh as per new sports policy of the state government. The medal winners included Shamsher Singh, Ramesh Kumar, Ram
Mehar, Neer Gulia, Jagdesh and Surender Singh (Kabaddi), Neelam J. Singh and Shakti Singh (athletics) and any other who would win medal in the ongoing Asian Games in
Busan. HOA general secretary M.S. Malik said as many as 2,500 police sportspersons from all over the country were likely to participate during the police games. The competitions in wrestling, judo, boxing and gymnastics would be conducted during the meet. |
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Blunders in field still continuing IT was to be a special Test. But it turned out to be the poorest since I returned to West Indies cricket. My 100th Test in maroon cap was anything but joyful. We are a young side and need time but it should no longer be an excuse. If West Indies team is to live up to its brilliant past, the present generation must take its share of responsibility. A few guys are in their early 20s and some of them have played 20-25 Tests. By now they need to show they are maturing. Our past two tours to the Indian sub-continent were ruinous in terms of results. We were drubbed by Pakistan at the neutral venue of Sharjah and then in Sri Lanka, despite Brian Lara’s brilliance, the score read 3-0. I remember in Sharjah one of the prime reasons for our disappointing turn was dropped catches. We let go no less than 21 catches in two Tests. By the evidence of Mumbai Test, the horrors in the field continue to be committed. Of the three catches dropped in India’s first innings, the one that escaped of Sachin Tendulkar didn’t prove costly. But Sehwag’s miss when he was in the 70s was terrible. A couple of catches we dropped in the field should have been held at any level of cricket. Theorists could point flaws in our coaching in domestic cricket or in the basics we teach youngsters but the coach (Roger Harper) or the captain could go only till a certain point. It is the cricketers who have to go out and perform in the middle. We haven’t had a big discussion on our defeat in Mumbai till now and the players were left to reflect on their own shortcomings. The good thing is that the chairman of selectors Sir Vivian Richards, is around. I am sure the message would soon be out that nobody can take his place for granted in the team. Just being on tour doesn’t mean cricketers could get away with poor performances time and again. If replacements are to be found, I am sure Viv would not mind taking the tough route. I was extremely successful when the Indians toured West Indies early this year but since then my returns have not been encouraging. There was not much to recommend when we were engaged in two home Tests against New Zealand and I also didn’t hit straps in the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka. My critics would point out to the false hook shot which ejected me from the middle, a similar stroke which shaped our defeat against the Indians at Port of Spain in April. I am not too worried though. If I feel the need to hook in the next Test to a certain delivery, you would find me going for it again. Zaheer built on my dismissal and picked up a few important wickets on the third afternoon. It left too huge a road to recovery to traverse for us. The left-arm paceman is bowling with confidence and seems to be carrying on his good form of Champions Trophy. Harbhajan picked up a big haul in the second innings and for two successive Tests against us, the off-spinner has done well. I have been told he complained about different balls in the West Indies which led to his inconsistent performance on the tour. But he only has to look at Muralitharan and Shane Warne to realise they are champion bowlers because they bowl in different conditions and with different balls without a dip in performance.
(PTI) |
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Jr national carrom from today Chandigarh, October 13 According to Mr Mahesh Sekhri, the organising secretary of the meet, the teams from 27 states, including the defending champion Maharashtra in the boys and Tamil Nadu in the girls section have confirmed their participation. As many as 20 teams had arrived by today. Sekhri said on the very first day, due to the heavy schedule of matches, 50 complete sets of carrom boards would be used. He said this time, a new event for below 21 years will be introduced on the directions of the AICF. The meet will be inaugurated tomorrow at 9.30 am by Mr Sarabjit Singh, IPS and President of the All-India Carrom Federation. |
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Gautam Mandora spins Punjab to victory Patiala, October 13 Brief scores: Punjab (Ist innings): 423 for 7 declared. J&K (Ist innings): 160 all out ( Abid Nabi 38 n.o; Gautam Mandora 5 for 32, Rajesh Kumar 3 for 44) J&K (2nd innings): 154 all out (Asif Jeelani 32, Vimarsh Kaw 26; Gautam Mandora 6 for 44, Rajesh Kumar 3 for 39). |
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Inter-college basketball Jalandhar, October 13 In the league matches Hans Raj Girls beat Hindu Kanya College Girls, Kapurtahala, and in last league match they beat B.B.K.D.A.V. College, Amritsar, 70-56. Hindu Kanya College, Kapurthala, finished runners-up while B.B.K.D.A.V. College finished third. |
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Medals tally
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INDIAN SPIKERS
FINISH FIFTH GOLD FOR S. KOREA |
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