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Injury-hit
India go down to Malaysia Juniors
rout China 10-0
Shoaib was not
injured: PCB ‘Doosra’ can earn Murali a ban: ICC |
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Amateur Harinder fires 66 in Hero Golf Punjab Sports Department selects players for academies
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Injury-hit India go down to Malaysia Sydney, April 21 The match, played at the Hombush Olympic Park, saw Malaysia romping home with three second half goals through Jiwa Mohan (38th) and Muhammed Amin Rahim (40th, 67th). India, who had won their tie against the same side in the first-leg of the tournament held in Canberra, were today bogged down by injuries to three key players — striker Prabhjot Singh, mid-fielder Viren Rasquinha and defender Kanwalpreet Singh. India offered a semblance of fight in the first half, hardly giving any chance to their opponents to score and went to the half time 0-0. But three minutes into the second half, Jiwa Mohan struck for winners which was followed by a penalty corner conversion by Muhammad Amin Rahim. Rahim sealed the fate of the match in the dying minutes when he again sounded the board from a penalty corner. “Our greatest worry has been injuries facing our players. With only three months to go for the Olympics, it is a cause of concern to have Rasquinha, Prabhjot and Kanwalpreet all suffering muscle injuries. The challenge has been to play with all juniors and win the games,” a disappointed Indian coach Rajinder Singh told PTI after the match. Rajinder, however, tried to draw solace from the fact that the tournaments were giving vital exposure to the players ahead of the Athens Games. “Playing in Canberra and in Sydney has been very beneficial as it has given our players the opportunity to practice on very speedy and bumpy grounds,” he said. “It has also given us a yardstick to judge where we stand and we are working and improving on our weaker areas.” India, who were the finalists in Canberra, will play hosts Australia tomorrow.
— PTI |
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Juniors rout China 10-0 Karachi, April 21 Sandeep Singh hit the board with immaculate conversions of short corners in the 12th, 25th and 42nd minute as India vie for one of the three places up for grab in next year’s Junior World Cup in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. Michael netted field goals in the ninth, 49th and 69th minutes as India completely dominated the full duration of the match. India won the world junior title in Hobart, Australia, in 2001 and are one of the three favourites alongside hosts Pakistan and South Korea to win the event. Tushar Khandekar started the goal spree as early in the seventh minute before Sandeep hit two and Michael one to take the tally to 4-0. The Indians reached the half time with a fifth goal through Hari Parsad as China looked helpless against their fast moving opponents. Girish Pimpale and Michael netted two goals each and Sandeep one in the second half to complete the rout. China had secured a come-from-behind 2-2 draw against Bangladesh on the opening day of the competition yesterday. The 10-nation Asia Cup serves as the regional qualifying rounds for the Junior World Cup. “It’s nice to score 10 in your first match and I am happy at Sandeep’s penalty corner conversion,” said India coach Harendra Singh in his post match comments. “Sandeep got four penalty corners and conversion of three is a good ratio,” said the coach. India, pitted to meet either Pakistan or defending Asian junior champions South Korea in the semifinals, take on Sri Lanka in their second match tomorrow. They then meet Sri Lanka on Saturday and clash against the second best team in the group, Malaysia on Sunday. Pakistan thumped minnows Singapore 9-0 yesterday.
— PTI |
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Sehwag set for match of lifetime New Delhi, April 21 For the 25-year-old, who was featured on the cover of Time magazine last year and was the Man of the Series in the just-concluded series in Pakistan, marriage with Aarti, a public relations student, is the culmination of a four-year courtship. Sehwag has already broken many records — and now hearts — with the news of his marriage. He was the only batsman to cross the 400-run aggregate in the just-concluded three-Test series to finish with an average of 109.50. The wedding will take place at 9 Ashoka Road, which happens to be the official residence of Law Minister Arun Jaitley, who is also President of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). Only invited guests would be allowed to enter the stretch from the hotel Le Meridian to the Man Singh Road intersection on the Ashoka Road. They will have to bring their invitation cards to be allowed to enter this stretch of Ashoka Road, on which the Bharatiya Janata Party’s national office is also located. According to sources, the media will be kept at bay because Sehwag is reportedly not too keen on interacting with them on this occasion. Some of Sehwag’s relatives wanted to invite the media also, but he did not agree. However, he might agree to photographers’ clicking him with Aarti after the ceremony. The reception party, thrown by Collage Marketing director Latika Khaneja, who also happens to be Sehwag’s marketing manager, will be held at Kamal Mahal in hotel Maurya Sheraton. Hundreds of guests, including all those who have played alongside Sehwag in the Delhi, North Zone and India teams, have been invited in addition to a few journalists. Sehwag is the third Indian cricketer in the past one year to have hit a purple patch just before tying the nuptial knot, but his success rate is the best of the three. While Rahul Dravid scored lots of runs at the 2003 World Cup in February-March, VVS Laxman came into his own on the tour of Australia late last year. Sehwag chose the historic tour of Pakistan to make history with his brilliant 309 in the first Test at Multan, which India won by an innings and 52 runs for their first-ever Test victory in Pakistan. The opening batsman scored 438 runs in the Test series at 109.50 — the only player on either side to touch the 400-run mark. That Sehwag is lucky was again proved when India’s scheduled tour of Bangladesh, which was to begin in May, was cancelled. Now he will not have to miss any international matches as he and Aarti go for a long honeymoon in Europe.
— IANS |
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Shoaib was not injured: PCB New Delhi, April 21 An MRI on Shoaib after he had hurt his wrist on his follow-through while bowling on the second day of the Test had showed that there was no bruising, Mr Khan told BBC World’s Hard Talk programme today. The bowler, who lost his balance while bowling to Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly on the second day of the Test and pushed his left hand to the ground to prevent from falling on the pitch, left the field complaining of pain in the hand and then refused to come back to bowl on the third day. However, he surprised everyone when he came on to bat on the fourth day of the match and hit some lusty blows even as he had clarified that the imbalance while bowling had resulted in a back injury on the right side. Mr Khan said the doctor who had examined Shoaib had said there was ‘’no bruising, the side was alright and he had an injury to his wrist.’’ The PCB chairman said he had ordered a medical inquiry in what was a ‘’very serious matter’’.
— UNI |
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‘Doosra’ can earn Murali a ban: ICC London, April 21 In a statement here yesterday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has stated that if a bowler was reported for a second time within 12 months of the first report, ICC would convene a hearing of the Bowling Review Group which could ban the player for 12 months if his action was found illegal. ICC, however, clarified that the Lankan board had not forwarded them a copy of the report prepared by the University of Western Australia on the bowler’s controversial actions, especially the mysterious doosra delivery that turns away from the right handers. In the statement, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said the existing regulations governing the degree to which a spin bowler could straighten his arm or “level of tolerance” remained in place and would be enforced. “The current levels of tolerance reflect the reality that most bowlers straighten their arm to some degree when bowling,” he said. “These current levels of tolerance are based on expert advice that suggests beyond a certain level, bowlers will gain an unfair advantage. In the case of spin bowlers, the allowable level of straightening is five degrees.” “As recently as last September at its meeting of board Chief Executives in India, the ICC reviewed these levels and all countries were in agreement that the current standards should remain in place,” he said. “It is these universally agreed levels of tolerance that were applied in the three previous cases already dealt with over the past 12 months and it is these levels which will continue to be applied in relation to any bowlers reported with a potentially flawed action,” he added.
— UNI |
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Maradona faces long spell in hospital Buenos Aires, April 21 Diego Maradona’s fight against drugs has been well-documented, ever since he was given a 15-month ban after testing positive for cocaine when he was at Napoli in 1991. In the last few months, it has been his apparently uncontrolled increase in weight which has shocked the football world. Maradona, who helped an otherwise unremarkable Argentina team win the 1986 World Cup, was rushed to a Buenos Aires clinic on Sunday, in a serious, feverish condition with breathing difficulties and a swollen heart. His condition was described as critical. Yesterday, Maradona’s family doctor Alfredo Cahe said the 43-year-old former Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell’s Old Boys player had improved slightly but still needed help breathing and faced a long spell in hospital. Cahe has denied widespread rumours that cocaine was responsible for his patient’s illness and asked for “respect” for Maradona and his family. But the scare is bound to raise questions over Maradona’s lifestyle and the success of the treatment he has been receiving in Cuba. Maradona has been living at La Pradero medical centre, to the west of the capital Havana, since 2000 where he has been going through a drugs rehabilitation programme. The move followed an earlier fright when he was taken to hospital in the Uruguayan resort of Punta del Este suffering from an irregular heartbeat. Although Maradona has been keeping out of the media spotlight in Cuba, reports have emerged that he has been indulging in a life of golf, champagne and Argentine-style barbecued meat. “He came to have dinner here almost every day, to eat his steak,” said Esteban Graveras, a chef at Maradona’s favourite “Parrillada” restaurant in Cuba, earlier this week. “He stayed until it was all over. He drank champagne but he didn’t dance,” added a doorman. On one night out in 2000 Maradona escaped unharmed from a car accident when he was involved in a collision with a bus. It was at another typical barbecue on Sunday — this time in his homeland — that Maradona felt ill and was rushed to hospital. Maradona had returned to Argentina for the first time in over one year last March to sort out personal problems. He first headed for a house in a country and since then has popped up in several television interviews, where he has been almost unintelligible, and at the Bombonera to watch his beloved Boca Juniors. Former Argentina doctor Ruben Dario Oliva said that the real problem was not Maradona’s health but the company he kept. “I remember Diego having a strong heart and I believe he will get out of this situation,” he told the daily newspaper Clarin. “In reality, the problem is deeper because he can’t differentiate between the people who want to help him and the ones who want to take advantage. As he doesn’t produce money like he used to, they’ve destroyed him”. Maradona’s former Argentina team mate Jose Basualdo agreed. “Diego is suffering the consequences of the people who surround him,” he said. “We, his friends, have not had an important role. He’s allowed in other people, which is what has brought him down.” “I wish him all the best.”
— Reuters |
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Amateur
Harinder fires 66 in Hero Golf Chandigarh, April 21 Four-time Tour leader Mukesh Kumar, Kolkata’s Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia and Bangalore’s C Muniyappa were tied for the second place one stroke behind the leader at five under 67. And just one stroke behind this trio was defending champion Harmeet Kahlon who tied with Kolkata’s Pritam Saikia at four-under 68. Harinder a native of Gorakhpur, UP, came to Chandigarh to study eight years ago to his brother who for a living sold vegetables on a run-down cart. Today, he is one-month short of his 20th birthday. Harinder’s round was flawless with six birdies dotting his card. The front-nine was peppered with birdies on the second, fifth, seventh and ninth, where he sank a 15-feet putt. On his return journey , Harinder birdied the 10th and 13th. There was a bit of pressure on me on the first hole but after the birdie on the second, I settled into a rhythm,’’ said India’s third ranked amateur, who has for the past two years won the amateur category in a tournament as prestigious as the Indian Open. ‘‘ I want to win this tournament not just among the amateurs but the professionals as well,’’ concluded Harinder. Mukesh Kumar had an error-free round, with birdies on the second, third, sixth, 13th and 18th. ‘‘I have been putting terribly for the past few months. Today though I returned a 67, my poor putting cost me the lead,’’ said Mukesh, who missed short birdie putts on the 15th and 16th. Chowrasia, another leading title contender, started off in grand style with a par followed by birdies on the second, fourth, fifth and sixth. ‘‘At four under after six holes, I couldn’t have asked for more but I three-putted for a bogey on the eighth,’’ said the diminutive golfer. His back nine saw him drop a shot on the 12th to slip to two-under at that stage. But a bridle on the very next hole brought back the confidence which translated into birdies on the last three holes of his round. Karnataka Golf Association-sponsored Muniyappa had birdies on the third , fifth, 11th, 12th and 13th. ‘‘I missed short birdie putts on the 14th, 16th and 17th said Muniyappa, who finished second at the Cosmo-INGF Open earlier this season. SCORES (after 18 holes):
Mukesh Kumar, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia and C Muniyappa 67; Harmeet Kahlon and Pritam Saikia 68; Randhir Ghotro 69; Amandeep Johl, Uttam Mundy, Gurbaaz Mann and Binod Pandey 70;
Amateurs: Harinder Gupta 66; Sagar Bhatia 74. |
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Punjab Sports Department selects players for academies Chandigarh, April 21 State Sports School, Jalandhar: Athletics (U-17):
Ajay Pal (Gurdaspur), Balkar Singh (Sangrur) Dewinder Singh (Gurdaspur), Ramandeep Singh (Ferozepore) Satbir Singh (Amritsar), Gurjant Singh (Moga), Harjinder Singh (Muktsar), Jasbir Singh (Ferozepore), Amrinder Gill (Mansa), Inderjit Singh (Amritsar), Gurdewinder Singh (Gurdaspur), Harshenaj Singh (Amritsar), Inderpal Singh (Amritsar) and Sukhjit Singh (Jalandhar). U-19:
Taranjit Singh (Jalandhar), Jai Ram (Ferosepur), Gurpreet Singh (Sangrur), Gurdev Singh (Kapurthala), Rashpal Singh (Amritsar), Dalbir Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib), Amandeep Singh (Ropar), Sourav Kamboz (Ferozepore), Kuldeep Singh (Ferozepore), Sukhwinder Singh (Amritsar), Amritpal Singh (Amritsar), Rajinder Singh (Hoshiarpur). Weightlifting:
Manpreet Singh (Gurdaspur), Vikas Kumar (Patiala), Rahul Sharma (Jalandhar), Ankur Sharma (Jalandhar), Harsharan Singh (Jalandhar), Harpinderjit Singh (Gurdaspur), Raman Kumar (Jalandhar), Gursharan Singh (Amritsar). Gymnastic (U-17):
Sandeep Kumar (Gurdaspur), Lakhjinder Singh (Gurdaspur), Satya Ram (Amritsar), Salinder Kumar (Sangrur), Karam Singh (Amritsar), Loved Kumar (jalandhar), Jatinder Kumar (Amritsar). U-19:
Sohan Singh (Amritsar), Jai Parkash (Sangrur), Yogesh Kumar (Amritsar), Paras Sital (Jalandhar), Ashwani (Jalandhar), Surinder Singh (Amritsar), Gurpinder Singh (Gurdaspur). Boxing:
Sunny Dasika (Jalandhar), Enterpreet Singh (Jalandhar), Saranbir Singh (Jalandhar), Amardeep Singh (Jalandhar), Deepak Ratta (Jalandhar), Sarabjit Singh Sharma (Ferozepore Cantt) Sahil Kanwar Mishra (Jalandhar). Handball:
Sunil Kumar (Bhatinda), Baldev Singh (Amritsar), Pardeep Singh (Ludhiana), Jagtar Singh (Bathinda), Varinder Pal (Chandigarh), Hakam Singh (Chandigarh), Ravinder Singh (Ropar), Vijay Kumar (Bathinda), Gurpreet Singh (Moga), Kuldeep Singh (Sangrur). Wrestling (U-17):
Balwinder Singh (Gurdaspur), Paramjit Singh (Ferozepore), Gurjant Singh (Ropar), Mohamad Arshad (Sangrur), Raman Kumar (Gurdaspur), Money (Gurdaspur), Salim (Gurdaspur). U-19:
Chander Partap (Hoshiarpur), Joga Singh (Amritsar), Dewinder Singh (Ropar), Kanwaljit Singh (Gurdaspur) Talwinder Singh (Gurdaspur), Manish Kumar (Jalandhar), Gagandep Singh (Ferozepore), Kirandeep Singh (Gurdaspur), Sukhjit Singh (Muktsar). Basketball (U-19):
Nishu (Kapurthala), Sunil Kumar (Ferozepore), Amritpal Singh (Kapurthala), Jatinder Kumar, Watanpreet, Kuldeep Singh, Raghuraj Singh, Harpreet Singh ( all Muktsar), Tarsem Singh (Jalandhar), Vipin Kumar (Jalandhar), Dapinder Singh (Ferozepore). Hockey:
Gurnam Singh (Jalandhar), Gurpartap Singh (Amritsar), Jashanpreet Singh (Amritsar), Amandeep Singh (Gurdaspur), Baljit Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib), Palwinder Singh (Amritsar), Ritish Singh (Gurdaspur), Amandeep Singh (Gurdaspur), Sarabdeep Khan (Moga), Ajmer Singh (Amritsar), Gagandeep Singh (Amritsar), Malwinder Singh (Patiala), Harwinderjit Singh (Patiala), Varinder Singh (Ropar). Volleyball (U-17):
Amarinder Singh (Gurdaspur), Navjeet Singh (Patiala), Inderbir Singh (Amritsar), Sunny Masih (Amritsar), Harsher Singh (Amritsar), Simarjit Singh (Amritsar), Gagandeep Singh (Amritsar), Amardeep Singh (Nawan Shahar), Jagroop Singh (Gurdaspur). U-19:
Manjit Singh (Nawanshahr), Gurpreet Singh (Gurdaspur), Mahavir Singh (Amritsar), Mandeep Singh (Amritsar), Jagmeet Singh (Faridkot), Heera Singh (Amritsar), Sukhbir Singh (Amritsar) Gagandeep Singh (Gurdaspur), Barana Lal Masih (Amritsar). Speed and scheme, Jalandhar: Athletics (U-17):
Parveen Kumar (Muktsar), Lakhbir Singh (Gurdaspur), Parminder Singh (Amritsar), Manish Sharma (Hoshiarpur), Amrik Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib). U-19:
Kapil Dev (Gurdaspur), Sher Singh (Gurdaspur), Kirpal Singh (Ferozepore), Shamsher Partap Singh, Gurwinder Singh Hardeep Singh Jatinder Singh, Satinder Singh, Talwinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Parminder Singh, Harpreet Singh. Sports wing, Sur Singh (Amritsar): Wrestling U-14:
Deepak Bhagat, Sudi (all Amritsar); U-17: Shamsher Singh (Amritsar), Amandeep Singh, Soura (Amritsar), Baljinder Singh, Mohinder Singh, Parampal Singh Gurbachan Singh, Harinder Singh, Manjinder Singh, Vikram Kumar, Pawan Kumar (all Amritsar). U-19:
Chamkaur Singh, Gurjit Singh, Sukhjit Singh, Pawan Kumar, Vikas Kumar, Gursewak Singh, Gurmukh Singh, Punjab Singh, Ravi Kumar, Manbir, Gurbir Singh ( all Amritsar). Olympian Surjit Hockey Academy, Jalandhar: Akashdeep Singh, Simranjit Singh (Gurdaspur), Amandeep Singh, Jaskaran Singh, Jagroop Singh, Paramjot Singh (all Amritsar), Gurinder Singh (Sangrur), Amandeep Singh, Prabhdeep Singh (all Amritsar), Jaswinder Singh (Ropar), Jagmeet Singh, Harinder Singh, Upinder Kumar (all Amritsar). The players admitted in sports wing will get free education for board and lodging and training. The players selected for the hockey academy will get free board and lodging education, medical and transports facilities. |
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New Delhi, April 21
Sri Lankan off-spinner Mutthiah Muralitharan might be banned for a year if he continues with his controversial doosra.
The ICC has stated yesterday that if a bowler was reported for a second
time within 12 months of the first report, ICC would convene a hearing
of the Bowling Review Group which could ban the player for 12 months if
his action was found illegal.
