 |
|
|
Tendulkar begins batting practice
Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan
among Punjab Ranji probables
New SA coach promises tough
time for players
Ashraful spares Bangladesh blushes
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
India continue winning streak in chess
Punjab, Karnataka enter quarters
Rajesh, Lakshmi lead in jr chess
N. Rly claim kabaddi title
|
|
Tendulkar begins batting practice
Mumbai, October 19 Tendulkar, who missed the first two Tests due to an elbow injury, came to the MIG ground in sub-urban Bandra near his residence at about 6 am and had some batting practice. Though the ace batsman declined to comment anything, sources close to him said “he is doing quite well.” Tendulkar was yesterday named in the 15-member squad for the third Test and cricket board secretary S K Nair said the player could make it to the side for the Nagpur match as he was well on the road to recovery. Captain Sourav Ganguly was also optimistic about Tendulkar’s chances of taking the field in the Nagpur match. Other sources said the ace batsman, 30 runs shy of completing 9,500 Test runs, bowled a bit and also indulged in some fielding drills at the MIG Club ground which is situated very close to where he grew up as a young boy. The master batsman is launching his new business venture, a sportscafe — Sachin’s — at suburban Mulund in north Mumbai, today. He is a partner in a classy restaurant — Tendulkar’s — which is situated at a stone’s throw away from Mumbai’s famous landmark, Gateway of India. SYDNEY: With new X-ray reports revealing he is recuperating well, injured Australia captain Ricky Ponting hopes to be back in the squad before his side takes on hosts India in the last Test beginning in Mumbai on November 3. Cricket Australia (CA) medical adviser Dr Trefor James said examination by Sydney specialist, Mr Ian Hargreaves, had confirmed that Ponting's broken thumb had shown significant improvement over the last few days. ''Ricky's thumb has improved considerably since his last examination. His grip is a lot stronger than what it was, and whilst he will fall a few days short of being right for the third Test, we are hopeful that he will be fit for the final Test of the series,'' a CA release quoted him as saying. ''We will monitor his progress in India in the lead-up to the fourth Test before making a final decision,'' said Dr James. Meanwhile, Ponting himself said he was encouraged by the latest diagnosis. ''Obviously I'm not certain to play, but I have a lot more strength and movement in my hand, and I'm certainly hopeful to be right for the fourth Test in Mumbai,'' he said. ''I should be ok to start hitting balls by the end of this week, and will continue to work on it when I join the squad later this week. ''It's exciting to be given the green light to re-join the squad, and I'm looking forward to getting back over there as soon as possible,'' Ponting said.
— PTI, UNI |
|
Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan among Punjab Ranji probables
Chandigarh, October 19 The probables were selected by the PCA selection committee, consisting of former Pakistan captain and manager-cum-coach of Punjab Ranji team Intikhab Alam, Chaman Lal Malhotra, chairman, Desh Prem Azad, Bhupinder Singh and other selectors. Among the probables are Dinesh Mongia, leading international players Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh and a number of talented junior internationals including Ravneet Rickey, VRV Singh, Amit Uniyal and Gaurav Gupta. Announcing the probables, PCA secretary MP Pandove said the selected probables would undergo a coaching camp-cum-practice from October 21 under the supervision of Alam at the PCA Stadium. Those invited to the camp are: Ravneet Ricky, Munish Sharma, Binwant Singh, Dinesh Mongia, Gaurav Gupta, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Pankaj Dharmani, Yuvraj Singh, Ankur Kakar, Gagandeep Singh, VRV Singh, Vineet Sharma, Amit Uniyal, Love Ablish, Navdeep Singh, Vipul Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Rajesh Sharma, Sandeep Sawal, Ashish Sehgal, Sarabjeet Ladha and Chandan Madaan.
— UNI |
|
New SA coach promises tough time for players
Durban, October 19 ''I'm the type of guy that, if the players expect soft drinks, will make sure there are none,'' Jennings told Afrikaans-language newspaper Rapport on Sunday. ''They will go to a tap and get on their knee and drink water until they realise that it is an honour to play for South Africa.'' ''I think there are a few players in the team who need a good kick up the backside,'' Jennings added. But some fear that Jennings's abrasive style could backfire on a team that features Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher, who hold 241 Test caps between them. Ray White, a former president of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB), is worried about the impact Jennings might have on the ethos of South African cricket. ''Jennings has a reputation for being a hard man, and I'm sure he will take his own brand of cricket management into the UCB,'' White told Reuters from Johannesburg. ''But cricket seems to be moving more towards the spirit of the game, and Jennings's appointment is almost swimming against the tide of playing cricket according to the spirit of the game. ''I wonder how popular he will make the South African team while he is in charge.'' South African sport tasted international disapproval last year after revelations about a military-style boot camp at which players preparing for the rugby World Cup were made to sit naked in a pit and in a freezing lake. The news contributed to the downfall of coach Rudolph Straeuli who resigned in December, following South Africa's quarter-final loss to New Zealand in the World Cup. Jennings (50) was appointed to shake up the cricket team after Eric Simons resigned in the wake of a poor run of results. South Africa have slipped from second to sixth place in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Test rankings and from second to eighth on the one-day list. They have won only one of their last five Tests and have lost 12 of their last 15 one-day internationals. Jennings told Rapport the team was lacking in several areas. ''For me to succeed five things need to be reintroduced to the team; passion, respect, image, discipline and enjoyment,'' he was quoted as saying. Critics say Jennings has the wrong approach for an international coach and built his reputation by being put in charge of young players who had to do as they were told. Jennings, a flashy wicketkeeper for Transvaal and Northern Transvaal during South Africa's isolation from international cricket under apartheid in the 1970s and 1980s, made his name as a coach when he guided minnows Easterns to the first-class Supersport Series title for the first time in their history in 2002-03.
— Reuters |
|
Ashraful spares Bangladesh blushes
Dhaka, October 19 Khaled Mashud, leading in the absence of injured captain Habibul Bashar, was on 12 with Manjural Rana on 16. Bangladesh lost three wickets in the opening seven overs against a disciplined New Zealand pace attack before Ashraful steadied the innings with a 115-run stand for the fourth wicket with Rajen Saleh (41). Fast bowler Jacob Oram did the early damage, claiming two quick wickets in his lively opening spell to put the hosts in trouble. Left-arm seamer James Franklin also chipped in one wicket to finish the day with two for 23. Ashraful and Saleh then batted sensibly against both pace and spin to deny the tourists success for more than three hours. Saleh fell in the closing overs of the afternoon session, slashing Franklin to gully where Oram held a splendid catch. He struck one six and five fours. Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori struck twice in the closing session to end a Bangladeshi fightback, removing Ashraful and Alok Kapali. He was the most difficult bowler to get away, conceding just 26 runs off 29 economical overs. Ashraful kept the New Zealand attack at bay before losing his patience and wicket. He attempted a big shot off Vettori, only to be caught by Nathan Astle in the deep. "It was a bad decision to go for such a shot," said Ashraful. "I just tried to play my natural game. I just wanted to stay at the crease. I think a score of 250 will be good on this slow pitch." Ashraful was the most aggressive batsman, reaching his fifth Test half-century with a six over square-leg off spinner Paul Wiseman. He hit three sixes and eight fours. New Zealand dominated the morning session as Oram struck twice and Franklin once. The hosts could score only 38 in 29 overs in the first two hours of play. Their problems began in the first over when Oram had opener Hannan Sarkar caught by skipper Stephen Fleming at first slip with his third delivery, one that moved away after pitching on the off-stump. Franklin then bowled Javed Omar, who inside-edged an attempted yorker on to his stumps. Nafis Iqbal made a forgettable Test debut when he edged Oram to wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum after contributing just one run. Ashraful and Saleh then propped up the innings with their timely century stand. Scoreboard Bangladesh (1st innings): Sarkar c Fleming b Oram 0 Omar b Franklin 1 Iqbal c McCullum b Oram 1 Saleh c Oram b Franklin 41 Ashraful c Astle b Vettori 67 Kapali c McCullum b Vettori 14 Mashud batting 12 Rana batting 16 Extras
(lb-7, nb-5, w-1) 13 Total (6 wkts, 90 overs) 165 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-5, 3-5, 4-120, 5-124, 6-136 Bowling:
Oram 18-7-27-2, Franklin 13-5-25-2, Styris 2-1-4-0, Butler 12-3-34-0, Vettori 29-15-26-2, Wiseman 16-5-42-0.
—AFP |
|
India continue winning streak in chess
Mallorca, October 19 India’s Super Grand Master and the highest ranked player at the Chess Olympiad, Vishwanathan Anand, yesterday drew his game against Grand Master Alexander Onischuk of USA. Against his opponent’s Queen Pawn opening, Anand went for Queen’s Indian Defence and developed his game from the queen side. Onischuck sacrificed his C pawn to hold the centre. Anand returned the pawn and after exchange of queens at move 24 both players agreed for a draw. Besides Anand, P. Harikrishna, Abhijit Kunte and Sandipan Chanda were in action yesterday. Harikrishna thrashed his opponent in a beautiful display of chess. He played very well right from the beginning, though he almost committed a blunder when he was winning. But Shabalov somehow did not realise that and failed to capitalised on Harikrishna’s mistake and paid dearly for that. Abhijit Kunte came out with flying colors winning his second big game out of the three he played so far. Though he went for a complicated opening, yet he consolidated his pieces and fought like a gladiator before finding tactical complications and winning the game. India lost their first game when GM Sandipan Chanda, despite having a good game, lost to his opponent in time pressure. Round three leader Ukraine beat Russia 2.5-1.5 with Vassily Ivanchuk winning his game against Alexender Morozevich. Former world champions Ruslan Ponomario and Alexander Khalifman drew their respective games. Meanwhile, Indian women proved their depth defeating Holland 2-1. Playing on the top board, former world junior champion Koneru Humpy defeated Peng Zhaoqin in a tough game. Humpy, playing with black, went for King’s Indian defence and had a very complicated game. She took a lot of time in the middle game and finally won the rook against knight. Both players fought valiantly but Humpy prevailed over her opponent and finally won the game. On other boards, Indian IM S. Vijayalakshmi and WGM Donnavalli Harika drew their games to take the Indian score to two out of three.
— UNI |
|
Punjab, Karnataka enter quarters
New Delhi, October 19 Punjab scored a record 15 goals, without reply, from three cluster matches to make a smooth sailing into the quarters. They had beaten Chhattisgarh 5-0 and Tripura 7-0 in the other cluster matches. Karnataka became the fourth team to qualify for the quarterfinal league when they swamped Rajasthan 7-0 in a Cluster VI match at the Model Town Stadium. Sikkim and Railways were the first two teams to qualify for the quarterfinal league yesterday. Hosts Delhi also brightened their chances for a quarterfinal berth when they rallied to beat Assam 3-1 in their last Cluster II match at the Nehru Stadium. Gujarat edged past Madhya Pradesh 1-0 to stake their claim for a quarterfinal slot from the same cluster as both Delhi and Gujarat are now on six points each from two wins. However, Delhi are ahead on goal difference, having scored nine and conceded two goals as against Gujarat’s record of two goals in favour and six against. The position in the cluster will become clear only after the match between Madhya Pradesh and Assam tomorrow. Punjab had been assured of a quarterfinal place, going into the match against Meghalaya. Understandably, they took things lightly, and got into their scoring act only in the second half. Though even a draw would have ensured their passage into the quarterfinal league, they decided to make it emphatic, by giving a neat drubbing to Meghalaya. Gurjit Singh opened Punjab’s account two minutes into the second half, and three minutes later, Gurpreet Singh slotted home the second goal. Manjeet Singh rounded off the tally in the 80th minute. Punjab, along with the toppers of Cluster VIII, will join last year’s semifinalists Goa in Group D for the quarterfinal league. Karnataka also emulated Punjab’s feat to maintain an all-win record. Having already beaten Haryana 1-0 and Himachal Pradesh 4-0 in their other Cluster VI matches, they made mincemeat of Rajasthan at the Chhatrasal Stadium today. SK Dayanand scored the first and third goal, in the 20th and 36th minutes, respectively, while M. Satish Kumar slotted home the second goal in the 31st minute, as Karnataka led 3-0 at half time. On resumption, J. Murali inflicted two quick blows in the 55th and 60th minutes, while A. Xavier Vijay Kumar added the sixth goal in the 66th minute. M. Satish Kumar completed the tally in the 88th minute (7-0). Karnataka will join holders Manipur and qualifiers Sikkim in the Group B quarterfinal league. Delhi, who suffered a shock 0-1 defeat at the hands of Madhya Pradesh, were surprised by Assam when they forged ahead in the 11th minute through Birjabi Mushahary. But the hosts regrouped their forces to equalise through Sunil Chetri in the 33rd minute, who headed in a cross from Praveen Rawat. The duo worked wonders yet again, two minutes after resumption, to pull off the second goal, with Chetri giving the finishing touches (2-1). Faiz Alam’s long range shot sailed into the net to get Delhi’s third goal. In another match of the same cluster, Gujarat beat Madhya Pradesh 1-0. Arvind Choudhary scored the match-winner in the 69th minute. In an inconsequential Group V match at the Thyagaraj Nagar Stadium, Tripura beat Chhattisgarh 1-0. Swapan Rai scored the goal in the 75th minute. In another unimportant match, in Group VI, Haryana beat Himachal Pradesh. Vikram Singh scored two goals and Jagdeep Dhillon accounted for the third for Haryana. Pradeep Mankotly netted the consolation goal for Himachal Pradesh. Karnataka moved into the quarterfinal league from this group.
|
|
Delhi school win hockey tourney
Jalandhar, October 19 The game started on a very fast note. The Jalandhar team got an early setback when Sanjeev Kumar was shown the green card by the referee in the fifth minute. The Jalandhar team was, however, awarded a penalty corner in the sixth minute but to no avail. The Delhi team opened its account in the 10th minute through a field goal by Sandeep Antil. The Jalandhar team got eight penalty corners in the 13th, 14th, 16th 17th, 21st, 22nd, 30th and 31st minutes of the first half but failed to convert any of them. In the second half, the New Delhi boys adopted a defensive strategy. They thwarted attempts of the Jalandhar team to score an equaliser. The latter failed to convert seven penalty corners in this half. The Commissioner, Jalandhar division, Dr Sawarn Singh, gave away prizes to the winners and runners-up. In the match for the third place, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Ladowali Road, Jalandhar, defeated Luxmi Bai Senior Secondary School, Kurukshetra, 3-2. |
|
Rajesh, Lakshmi lead in jr chess
New Delhi, October 19 In a major upset, Sanjoy Singh of Manipur inflicted the second defeat on top seed SP Sethuraman of Tamil Nadu. Sanjoy, scheduled to play in Greece in two weeks’ time, handled the time pressure well, and came up trumps in a complicated position. Sharing the second position in the boys section with 6.0 points were Fenil Shah, Sanjoy Singh, S. Ravi Teja and Vishal Thakre. Lakshmi Sahiti inched closer to defeating G. Madanasri. Sahiti kept her clean record and needs draws from the remaining two rounds to clinch the title. |
|
N. Rly claim kabaddi title
Patiala, October 19 Central Railway, Mumbai, were placed second while Western Railway, Mumbai, came third. In the women’s section, Central Railway emerged the winners, followed by Eastern Railway, Kolkata, in second spot and South Central Railway, Secunderabad, in third place. The prizes were distributed by Mr A.K. Gupta, Chief Administrative Officer, Diesel Loco Modernisation Works. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
