The other three on whom the axe has fallen are chess grandmaster K. Sasikiran, rower Inder Pal Singh and yachstmen Nitin Mongia. These six sportspersons were among the 21 persons whose names were recommended for the highest sports awards of the country.

Because of government pressure the Award Committee had to prune the list to adhere to the guidelines which stipulates that 16 sportspersons including one disabled be given the annual Arjuna award and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna be given to one sports discipline.

The lucky 16 who survived the axe and will receive the award on August 29 are Anwar Sultan (shooting); Mantoo Ghosh (table tennis); T. Muthu (weightlifting); Palvinder Cheema (wrestling), IM Vijayan (football); Anju George (athlete); Shiv Kapur (golf); Gagan Ajit Singh (hockey); V. Ravikant Reddy (volleyball); Mohammad Ali Qamar (boxing); Ram Mehar Singh (kabaddi), Sujit Maan (wrestling), Virender Sehwag (cricket); Mamta Kharab (hockey) and Ramesh Tikaram (disabled athlete).

"We have pruned down the first priority list to 16. We have considered all applications on merit and have not rejected any cases on grounds of late submission of entries,” top official sources told UNI here today.

"We have made the recommendations on a priority basis. We have not struck off any names. In the Arjuna award category, we have put 15 names in the first list and six in the rest,’’ the sources said. The prestigious Dronacharya award will be conferred to three instead of five coaches originally recommended. Those receiving the award would be Dharam Singh Mann (hockey), Ram Kumar (basketball) and Om Prakash (volleyball), the sources added.

The rest of the two — Charles Cornilius (hockey) and Smita Yadav (rowing) — can also be considered if the sports ministry thinks so.

The panel had decided in favour of the Asian Games double gold medallist K.M. Beenamol getting the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna while dropping the Commonwealth Games triple gold medallist Anjali Bhagwat as a contender for the highest award.

"In Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna category, K.M. Beenamol is our first choice and if the government thinks to give the award jointly then Bhagwat will get the prize," the sources revealed.

The reconvened panel yesterday met again to submit its pruned list of nominees to the Sports Ministry for the award but was tight-lipped refusing to divulge the names.

The committee had suggested to the government to increase the number of awardees to accommodate “deserving candidates’’ and had nominated 21 sportspersons for the Arjuna Awards and athlete K.M. Beenamol and shooter Anjali Bhagwat for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2002.

But the government had last week rejected the proposal saying it will not deviate from its old policies while selecting sportspersons for the honour. The Sports Ministry also made it clear that it was for the committee to prune the list before submitting it for final approval. — UNI

"I had a wonderful 2002. I was ranked number one in the world and bagged four Commonwealth gold medals, a silver in the World Cup and in the Asian Games. If this performance is not enough then I cannot say (what determines the winner)," Anjali told PTI.

Anjali said she was disappointed initially but now she had realised that winning the Khel Ratna was not her "ultimate goal".

"I have also become used to such disappointments now," said Anjali, who is the only woman shooter to have qualified for the Athens Olympics next year.

"Last year too I was recommended for the Khel Ratna by my association. But the award went to (shooter) Abhinav Bindra who made an individual application.

Asked if her preparations for Olympics will be affected by this controversy, Anjali said: "I am not bothered. I do not give importance to petty things".

On reports that the committee had decided to award Beenamol because Anjali could always bag the honour next year, she said: "I don't know. 'Shayad agle saal koi aur Beenamol paida ho jaaye (maybe another Beenamol will crop up next year)."

The Arjuns Awards have been shrouded in controversy ever since the committee, chaired by former footballer P.K. Banerjee, recommended more names for the 2002-03 awards than stipulated and the matter became worse after the list was leaked to the media.

Even as speculation abounded with contradictory reports in the newspapers and television channels, the committee reconvened here yesterday to prune the list as per the government guidelines.

The committee, which had originally shortlisted Anjali alongwith K.M. Beenamol for the award, decided to recommend the name of the Asian Games gold medallist athlete for the country's highest sport award after the meeting.

Beenamol was chosen because she was the original choice, was one of the justifications given by a member of a committee.

The middle-distance runner won a gold each in 800m and 400m relay besides a silver in 400m in the Busan Asian Games last year. — PTI

“Champions Trophy is a crucial tournament and our showings there will throw light on how much we are prepared for the Olympics,” he told PTI hours before the team’s departure to Amstelveen, where India will play their first match against the defending champions Holland on August 16.

Besides India and the hosts, the tournament also features Pakistan, Australia, Argentina and Germany.

Rajinder Singh said the camp at Lucknow helped the players overcome their shortcomings and added he was confident of the team coming up with its best-ever performance in the Champions Trophy.

“We trained really hard and worked on various areas. We identified our weaknesses and devised strategies to do away with them.

“All the players are fully fit and ready for the challenge there. I am confident of India coming first or second in the competition,” he said.

India, who have never won a Champions Trophy title, came up with their best ever performance in 1982 in Amsterdam, Holland where they finished third.

Rajinder Singh said he was expecting a tough fight from all the sides in the competition even though Germany and Pakistan are unlikely to field their full-strength teams.

“Both are strong sides. Germany’s second team is also very good. As far as Pakistan is concerned they have a good side and absence of few players are unlikely to make any difference to their performance.”

While Germany decided to rest the senior players so that they can play in the next month’s European Nations Cup, the winner of which will qualify for the Athens Olympics, Pakistan are likely to miss the services of their four key players due to injuries.

“All the teams in the fray are the top six sides in the world. So it will be keen contest for the title,” he said.

Rajinder Singh said his side would take the tournament on a match by match basis and would put its best effort against every team.

“The first two matches — against Holland and Germany — are very crucial. But we are taking all our opponents very seriously. We will leave no stone unturned to come out successful.”

He also admitted that a good showing in the Champions Trophy could also do a world of good to the morale of the players before they start preparing for the Olympics qualifiers in March.

“The boys are really confident after the back-to-back title triumphs in Australia and Germany. But a medal-winning performance in Amstelveen will do wonders for them.”

The 18-member team includes:

Devesh Chauhan and Kamaldeep Singh (both goalkeepers) Dilip Tirkey, Jugrag Singh and Kanwalpreet Singh (all full backs) Ignace Tirkey, Viren Rasquinha, Vikram Pillay, Bimal Lakra, V S Vinay and Baljit Singh Saini( all half-backs)

Dhanraj Pillay (skipper), Baljit Singh Dhillon, Deedar Singh, Deepak Thakur, Tejbir Singh, Prabhjot Singh and Gagan Ajit Singh (all forwards). — PTI

“I have a realistic approach and reaching at the victory stand in the toughest event will be enough for me,’’ the coach was quoted as saying in a leading Pakistani daily yesterday.

Although there is lot of furore in the media around the world on Germany’s decision to field their second-string team in the six-nation event, Tahir said he was not aware of the development.

Pakistan are scheduled to leave today for Amstelveen to compete in the tournament starting from August 16 featuring the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, India and Argentina. The team also plays two Tests against the Dutch before the contest.

Tahir avoided disclosing the strategy for the two games against the Netherlands and added a victory would boost the morale of the team, but still it would not be a tonic which was needed for a miracle.

“No coach in the world could predict victory at any tournament,’’ he said.

Asked why he had not set the top position as target as was done by former manager/coach Shahnaz Sheikh, Tahir said he did not believe in making tall claims as it would do nothing except raise expectations of the nation.

Asked whether a drubbing like the one Pakistan received at the hands of New Zealand in the Commonwealth Games last year when they lost 7-1 could force the team to the fourth or fifth positions owing to his “realistic approach,” he replied: “There is a possibility it could happen.’’

Tahir said the return of three key players — Mohammad Nadeem, Sohail Abbas, and Waseem Ahmad, would boost the morale of his side, but at the same time the trio would be facing pressure as they had to prove their worth.

The three players missed June’s tour to Australia as they went to Germany to play in the league despite being asked by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to stay in the country for the training camp.

Nadeem was dropped for the tour Down Under although he returned in the middle of the season, while Sohail and Waseem were included in the squad after paying fines.

About the allegations levelled against him by axed defender Tariq Imran he said he should not be blamed for the selection of the team as he was not the sole authority for choosing the players.

Tariq, a PTCL player, has alleged that Tahir wanted to eliminate PTCL players from the team and now was promoting players from his own department, National Bank.

“We have the PHF, selection committee and team manager. The coach cannot get his blue-eyed boys into the squad,’’ he argued and said Tariq in fact criticised the PHF not him.

Tahir said disciplinary action should be taken against forwards Sameer Hussain and Rehan Butt who were involved in an exchange of hot words during practice session in Karachi. — UNI

Ms Helen Cohen Alon, a 45-year-old divorcee and a mother of three, claimed Warne called her up “40 times” saying he “wanted me” and even sent text messages telling her he was lying in bed next to his wife Simone but thinking “naughty thoughts about me”.

The allegations of Ms Alon were reported by the Sunday Times, Johannesburg.

Warne, who was stripped of his vice captaincy after he admitted making dirty calls to a British nurse in August 2000, refused to respond to the charges made by Ms Alon but his manager and brother Jason did issue a terse statement denying the allegations.

“We regard the allegations of the South African woman as a personal issue between Shane, Simone and the relevant parties,” the statement released here said.

“This appears to be a blatant attempt by a person attempting to set up someone for personal gain — whether that be monetary or notoriety — and we will consult our legal people in this regard,” it said.

Ms Alon also calimed that she was offered Rand 200,000 ($42,000) by an associate of the Australian Test cricketer, currently serving a 12-month ban from international cricket for taking banned drugs, to keep quiet about the phone calls.

But, Ms Alon, described by the newspaper as a petite brunette, said she had gone public with her story because of mystery midnight phone calls she believed were being made because she had refused the gag offer.

She said she first met Warne on February 20 last year at a clothing store in the Johannesburg suburb where the Australian team was based in during its Test and one-day tour of South Africa.

“The moment he laid eyes on me, he was interested.... and asked me for my number. I gave it to him,” she said.

Ms Alon claimed she went on several dates with Warne and twice went to his hotel room, where they kissed “lightly”.

She said she did not have sex with Warne because he was married.

Ms Alon said she kept text messages from Warne, including one which read, “Where are you now... waiting for you, should I get dressed or stay naked, room 2011... Shane.”

The message, according to the Sunday Times, came from Warne’s mobile telephone number. However, doubts were raised over the authenticity of the claims of Ms Alon when an unidentified woman told the paper that a “skimpily-dressed” Ms Alon had spent her time at a party trying to attract the interest of an uninterested Australian team, including Warne.

Ms Alon’s former hairdresser, Clifford van der Westhuizen, also gave a statement to the paper questioning the sensational claims of Ms Alon.

Westhuizen was quoted as saying he was present when Warne met the woman. “He (Warne) did not look for it. She went to him and started all of this. He never said ‘Let’s go for supper.’ She said, ‘I want your number’.”

Mr Westhuizen also claimed Ms Alon later told him she was “going to leave him (Warne) and would blackmail him for R3 million ($625,000)”.

Ms Alon denied Mr Westhuizen’s charges to the Sunday Times, saying Mr Gavin Varejes, the Johannesburg associate of Warne, offered her money to keep quiet after hearing she wanted to sell her story in February this year. — PTI 

PUNJAB BADMINTON
SANGRUR: The Punjab state senior, junior and under-10 badminton championships will be conducted at Hans Raj Stadium, Jalandhar, from August 16 to 20, according to Mr Rajinder Kalsi, secretary, Punjab Badminson Association. The last date for receiving entries is August 12. Mr Kalsi informed that the junior and under-10 competitions would be conducted on the first two days while the seniors event would start on August 18. Punjab teams for the North Zone Inter-State Badminton Championships being held at Shimla next month will be selected on the basis of the performance in the state chamionships. — OSR

KHEL DIVAS
HAMIRPUR: The Hamirpur district athletic association has decided to observe the birthday of hockey wizard, Dhyan Chand as Khel Divas on August 29 at Hamirpur. A district level cross-country competition in all age groups will be organised on this occasion. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the association here today with Mr D.C. Sharma on chair. Mr Punkaj Bhaartiya, secretary of the association, read out the annual report of the association and gave details of the programmes to be organised during year 2003-04. The association formed a committee under the chairmanship of Mr Bhupinder Singh, the athletic coach, to search the hidden talent by visiting various schools and colleges and attending to various athletics competitions in the district. — OC