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Holland pip Spain, in final
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Indian team in Bangladesh amidst heavy security
Under-fire Paul pleads innocence
Royal zing marks Indo-Pak Punjab polo
Stage set for hockey contest
Face-to-Face
Mixed luck for Indian cyclists
Pak players visit Roza Sharif
Profile of the Day Mohd Basheer Bhola
Indo-Pak Punjab Games Diary
Sidelights
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Lahore, December 8 The ace drag-flicker, coming to the match just one goal short of erasing Australian Mark Hagger's Champions Trophy record of 32 goals, slammed home from a penalty stroke in the 67th minute as Pakistan won the thrilling encounter at the National Stadium here. The margin of defeat may appear thin but Pakistan was obviously a much better side in the contest and could have won by a much bigger score had they converted even half of the chances that came their way. Saqlain Muhammed's 32nd minute strike was neutralised by India through Sandeep Singh in the 58th minute, but Abbas put the finishing touch to the match by scoring at a time when it looked like the game was heading for a draw. It was the star player's fifth goal in the tournament. Goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza was the saving grace for the Indians by coming up with a fine performance under the bar but his attempts were not enough as India crashed to their third defeat from four matches. The loss also seriously affected India's chances of playing for the 3-4 places as Pakistan took themselves a step closer for a berth in the final. Pakistan played better in the first half as they tested the Indian defence a number of times. The Indians, though made a few inroads but never got a chance to probe Salman Akbar as most of the moves fizzled out inside the circle or just outside it. Rehan Butt, struggling to get back into his goal scoring form, was the first to have a go at the Indian post as early as in the sixth minute but his reverse flick went over bar much to the disappointment of the home supporters. Backed by thousands in the stands, the Pakistanis made further moves - most of them led by winger Shabbir Ahmed from the left, but they failed to capitalise on them mainly due to some good show by goalkeeper D'Souza, defender Dilip Tirkey and a few poor finishing. Pakistan, who had paid through their nose in the match against Holland yesterday for squandering a number of scoring opportunities, failed to make much amends with Rehan Butt and Shabbir Ahmed being the main culprit. With the large crowd, probably the biggest in the competition so far, getting restless with Pakistan failing time and again to take the lead, Saqlain Muhammed slammed home. Exploiting a little space inside the Indian circle, Saqlain, who got a cross from the right, slammed home as the crowd erupted to celebrate the first goal by the home side. Pakistan's attacking approach earned them a couple of penalty corners in the first half but Sohail Abbas, coming to the match just one goal short of erasing Mark Haggers' Champions Trophy record of 32 goals, failed to put them in. On both the occasions, D'Souza charged out to foil Pakistan's attempts with superb saves. D'Souza who seemed to have found a way out to counter Abbas' deadly drag-flicks, cautioned for charging out too early when the Pakistanis were getting ready to take the penalty corners. But that failed to dampen his spirit as he continued to show tremendous reflexes throughout the game. After staying on the back foot for long, India tried to break the shackles by coming up with some good moves but they lacked the sting to go past the Pakistani defence. Pakistan went to the break with a 1-0 lead but resumed with more teeth to their attack which was evident in the very first minute of the second half. A long run followed by a cross into the circle gave Pakistan the perfect chance to swell the lead, but Shakeel Abbasi failed to put the ball in. Soon after Rehan got a chance to give Pakistan a firm grip on the match, but the beleaguered forward, who had only D'Souza to beat, hit the ball wide. India must consider themselves lucky enough not to concede any more goals for the most part of the match for directionless attempts by the rival strikers, but they must thank their captain Dilip Tirkey and D'Souza for putting up a strong defence. Sandeep Singh's equaliser from India's first penalty corner enlivened the proceedings as the huge crowd cheered their team to go for the kill. Pakistan came close to take the lead when they got a couple of penalty corners more in the 59th minute, but their attempt from a variation did not work while Abbas hit the other wide. The last few minutes saw a lot of drama as Pakistan won a penalty stroke which was converted by Abbas to make the record his own and even though India tried hard to level the score they could not. The visitors won a penalty corner just four minutes before the hooter but Sandeep's drag flick could not beat the goalkeeper. — PTI
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Lahore, December 8 Holland, winners of the last two editions of the event, prevailed over Spain who came up with a relentless attack but failed to find the back of the net more than a couple of times. The win, their fourth from as many matches, took the Dutch to the top of the table with 12 points while Spain remained on nine from as many matches. In Sundays final, Holland would face either Spain or Pakistan. The hosts, currently at third place with six points, are playing India later today and Spain tomorrow. As was in the match against Pakistan yesterday, Holland were on the backfoot for most part of the match but the difference was that they scored whenever they got a chance, where as their rivals faltered more often. In the first 10 minutes itself, Spain, starting with a different game plan, had a couple of clear opportunities but first Alex Fabregas and then Pau Quemada failed to put the ball in. “The strategy was to give the best shot in the first few minutes and go for the kill straightaway. It looked like working as we forced them make changes in their tactics with Jeroen Delmee going back to center defence. But then we failed to convert the chances,” Spanish coach Maurits Hendriks said after the match. Although Spain dominated the proceedings, it was Holland who took the lead against run of play with Karel Klaver scoring with a field goal in the 15th minute and Geert Jan Derikx following up with a penalty corner conversion three minutes later. “Spain had the control but we are lucky to score the goals. Goalkeeper (Guus Vogels) stood good in the face of some good Spanish attack,” Holland captain Jeroen Delmee said. After several failed attempts, Spain finally reduced the margin at the stroke of half time when Santiago Freixa slammed home with a stunning effort — a revere flick that gave Vogels no chance at all. Spain, who played their best games in the second half in their earlier three matches, troubled the Holland defence after the break but lacked the finishing touches to level the score. Klaver struck in the 45th minute to add to the pressure on the Spaniards who though threatened to bounce back through Quemada failed to draw parity. Spain were left with no chance but to suffer their first defeat of the tournament when Klaver struck his third goal just a minute before close. Germany, NZ split points
An experimental German side came from behind to hold New Zealand 1-1 in a league match of the Champions Trophy hockey tournament here today. The world champions, playing with a young and inexperienced side, struck through Jan Marco Montag in the 44th minute to neutralise New Zealand's lead which the team from Down Under had taken in the first half. Phillip Burrows gave New Zealand the lead in the 26th minute by converting from a penalty corner.
— PTI |
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Indian team in Bangladesh amidst heavy security
Dhaka, December 8 The team’s arrival was delayed by a day following the threat which had cast a shadow of uncertainty on the tour but the Indian Government’s partial go-ahead has paved the way for the first Test to get underway on Friday. The team was received by the Bangladesh Cricket Board officials while waiting journalists were kept at a distance at the Zia International Airport which was under heavy security alert. Soon after landing, the Indian team was driven by bus with police escorts to the Sonargaon Hotel in central Dhaka. Captain Ganguly said the team was focussed on the game and was not concerned about the security. “We are not concerned with the security and we are here to play,” Ganguly told reporters here. Asked if the threat would have any influence on the tour, he said “why? No, it will not have any influence.” “We are here to play well and we are not taking Bangladesh lightly,” he said. India is scheduled to play two Test matches and three one-day internationals during their 22-day tour. Besides thousands of police, elite Rapid Action Battalion and other security agencies would ensure a “fool-proof” security for the visitors, officials said. Tight security was in place at the airport, hotel and the Bangabandhu National Stadium. Also, shops at the stadium will remain shut on the day matches are held. “The Indians are now fully satisfied with the security measures for the Indian players,” Mohammad Omar Farook, a top official at Bangladesh Home Ministry, told reporters today. The clearance for the tour came last evening after the security experts, led by Inspector-General of Police for VIP Security Yashovardhan Azad, submitted its report to the government on the security arrangements in Dhaka. The security delegation will also visit Chittagong, the other venue, to make an assessment of the threat perception there before clearing that segment. The Indian delegation has suggested some changes which were readily accepted by Bangladesh. A militant outfit, identifying as “Harkat-ul Zihadi”, threatened to kill the Indian players if they came to Bangladesh but the authorities here dismissed the threat as a hoax and said the tour would be safe. Bangladeshi newspapers also welcomed the decision and ticket counters opened today across the city. — PTI Live telecast New Delhi: ESPN will provide live telecast of the first Test between India and Bangladesh to be played at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka from December 10 to 14. Bangladesh have lost 29 of the 32 Tests they have played and they start as underdogs in the series against India. — OSR
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Sydney, December 8 Gilchrist clobbered 60 off 48 balls and Lehmann with a spirited 52 ensured the Australian total reached what looked an unassailable 261 for seven. But the Kiwis went down fighting for their total of 244 off 47.1 overs. The result levelled the best-of-three series and took it to a decider at the Gabba in Brisbane on Friday. The Australians, who relinquished a flying start in Melbourne to lose the opening game by four wickets on Sunday, had the Kiwis on the ropes but the Black Caps refused to give in with a record ninth-wicket stand of 70 between Kyle Mills and Daniel Vettori. Even when Vettori was run out with New Zealand 25 runs short Chris Harris came out to bat with an injured shoulder and a runner to keep the Kiwis in with a chance. Mills smacked four sixes and a four in a defiant unbeaten 44 off 26 balls to give the Kiwis an outside hope of an incredible come-from-behind win before Harris was bowled by Glenn McGrath for four. It was New Zealand’s just fourth defeat in 24 ODIs this year. Gilchrist earlier gave the Australians a rip-roaring start with an 86-run opening stand with Matthew Hayden (43) at around seven runs an over. But the Kiwis pegged back the home side with 4-8 in the middle of the innings. Scoreboard Australia: Gilchrist c Astle b Styris 60 Hayden run out 43 Ponting c Fleming b Mills 32 Martyn lbw b Mills 5 Lehmann run out 52 Symonds lbw b Vettori 0 Clarke c McCullum b Cairns 6 Hogg not out 41 Lee not out 10 Extras: (lb2, w2, nb8) 12 Total: (7 wkts, 50 overs) 261 Fall of wickets: 1-86, 2-140, 3-147, 4-148, 5-148, 6-161, 7-235 Bowling: Mills 10-0-49-2, Oram 10-0-77-0, Cairns 10-0-60-1, Styris 10-0-37-1, Vettori 10-1-36-1. New Zealand: Fleming lbw b Hogg 34 Astle c Gilchrist b Lee 11 Sinclair c Hayden b Gillespie 17 Styris lbw b Symonds 5 Marshall b Lee 9 Oram lbw b Hogg 2 Cairns c McGrath b Gillespie 50 McCullum lbw b Hogg 21 Vettori run out 33 Mills not out 44 Harris b McGrath 4 Extras: (lb5, w6, nb3) 14 Total: (all out in 47.1 overs) 244 Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-63, 3-68, 4-78, 5-84, 6-86, 7-154, 8-166, 9-236, 10-244 Bowling: McGrath 7.1-0-27-1, Lee 9-0-48-2, Gillespie 10-1-41-2, Symonds 10-1-47-1, Hogg 8-0-45-3, Lehmann 3-0-31-0. — AFP
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Saurashtra grab lead against J&K
Rajkot, December 7 Shah’s responsible knock of 160 and useful contributions from tail enders enabled Saurashtra to take the vital first innings lead and open its account. Scoreboard J&K (Ist innings): (overnight 363 for 5) Saurashtra (Ist innings): (Overnight 363 for 5) Chauhan b Nabi 0 Jogiyani c Arshad b Nabi 15 Kotak b Mahajan 64 Bhatt c Khajuria b Mahajan 75 Shah st Arshad b Jagtar 160 Rathod c Nabi b Khajuria 21 Dhruv c Kanvaljet b Khajuria 80 Vegda c Bhatt b Nabi 21 Jobanputra c Hardeep b Dar 82 Maniar c Hardeep b M Dar 49 Thanki not out 10 Extras (b-5,lb-5,w-9) 19 Total for all out in 181.1 overs 596 FoW: 1-0, 2-17, 3-125, 4-186, 5-245, 6-409, 7-432, 8-448, 9-577. Bowling: A Nabi 40-7-137-3, S Beigh 22-5-74-0, S Khajuria 36-10-136-2, D Mahajan 30-10-61-2, Hardeep Singh 11-1-37-0, Jagtar Singh 31-3-93-1, Kanvaljeet Singh 4-0-23-0, M M Dar 7.1-1-25-2.
— PTI |
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Royal zing marks Indo-Pak Punjab polo Patiala, December 8 Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and his wife Preneet Kaur along with their family members were present in full force at the polo match and subsequent tent pegging, trick riding and dog show held at the same site. Capt Amarinder Singh's brother Raja Malvinder Singh, his son - Raninder Singh, daughter -in- law Rishma, son - in - law Gurpal Singh and daughter Jai Inder were all present on the stands along with him. Other high-profile visitors from his family included Capt Amarinder Singh's cousin and International Olympic Association Member Raja Randhir Singh. Punjab Governor Lieut-Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd) and a number of senior officers from the Army were also present on the occasion. There were horses in great numbers on the ground with Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman Lieut-Gen T. S. Shergill (retd) coordinating with the Army authorities to get a large number of reserve ponies for the match. Even the President's body guard sent a contingent of horses for the match. These horses would be used for the first polo season in the city with the Army Championship and the Patiala Cup scheduled to be held in the city starting this week itself. The match saw the Indian team dominating the proceedings for most of the period even though the Pak team got very close once after it reduced the lead to only one point. However, one man made the difference as far as the match was concerned for the Indian Punjab team. The man was Dhruvpal Godara who put in a scintillating performance by scoring eight goals. The Indian team ended the match with score reading 12 -8. Other highlights included falls taken by Simran Shergill and Kublai Alam. However, both survived them to play on. The other attractions of the day included a tent pegging and trick riding contest by a contingent from the 61st Cavalry. The cavalry men put up a spirited display indulging in tent pegging and lifting up three successive pieces of cloth spread over a little distance from each other. A trick riding display was also undertaken with a rider pinning a peg even as a man stood over it pretending that he had not seen the horseman hurtling towards him. The dog show was a treat for the children who had come to the new polo ground. The dogs, all of them labradors, exhibited a number of obedience exercises. They also went around an obstacle course and repeated it the second time around after the obstacles were lighted up with fire. At the end of the dog show, General Rodrigues presented the trophy to Indian Punjab captain Dhruvpal Godara besides mementos to all the participants. Before the start of the polo match, para gliders from the Army presented a colourful para gliding show. |
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Punjab (India) win in polo
Patiala, December 8 The players and spectators were euphoric as the sport of the maharajas made its debut in all its splendour here this afternoon. The guests fought every inch before finally going down. In the first four chukkers of the six-chukker match, the visitors played their hearts out, but could end up only as gallant losers. Pepped up by some lively and witty commentary by Col Rupy Brar, the knowledgeable crowd, lapped up every moment of the contest and clapped and cheered every move of both teams. The match started with a lot of drama as six paratroopers landed on the ground, with the first one to land having the games flag attached to his parachute. The visitors enjoyed a two-goal advantage in the beginning, but this was soon nullified in the first chukker itself, when Dhruv Pal Godara blasted in a 60-yard penalty and soon followed it up with a stinging shot executed from under the neck of his pony. By the end of the second chukker, the hosts had gone up 4-3 due to superb display of polo skills by D.P.Godara, a five-handicap player. Had their been a man-of-the-match award, Godara would have been the top contender, keeping in view the tremendous skills he displayed in controlling the ball and the pony. Arseden Najeeb and Ahmed Tiwana played their hearts out in the third chukker, which saw Pakistan Punjab levelling the score at 5-5. A minor tragedy was averted when Simran Shergill, while trying to negotiate the ball at the bend, slipped off his horse and slid. He did not require any medical aid and soon was back in action on another pony. Shergill looked out of depths towards the end of the match. At the end of the fifth chukker, Pakistan Punjab enjoyed a slender two-goal lead, but soon Indian Punjab, through the efforts of Navdeep Sandhu and D.P. Godara, took the score to 10-8. It was in this period that Pakistan Punjab, particularly Shah Shamyl Alam and Qubuila Alam, looked out of depths, enabling the hosts to close out the match 12-8.
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Stage set for hockey contest
Jalandhar, December 8 Members of the Pakistan Punjab hockey team, led by Olympian Amir Saleem, who reached here this afternoon, practised at the stadium for about two hours. The Pakistan Punjab team will enter the grounds with two Olympians while the Indian Punjab team will have six. Talking to The Tribune, captain of the Pakistan Punjab team, Olympian Amir Saleem, said “It is like a homecoming to be in Jalandhar. We are fully prepared to score an impressive victory even as I will try to score a hat-trick.” Saleem, playing for City Hockey Club, Manchester, maintained that while in western countries, the players usually closely reviewed and adopted strategies to suit a particular day, in the subcontinent, players were still following the traditional format of the game. “In fact, we play defensive hockey as compared to European countries, which are perfect in offensive mode,” revealed Saleem, hailing from Sargodha district of Pakistan Punjab.
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Punjab (India) win 7 wrestling gold
Patiala, December 8 The Indians finished the wrestling competition with seven gold while the lone gold medal for Pakistan Punjab was won by Mohammad Ali. The results: 122 kg: Palwinder Cheema -1 (Indian Punjab), Bahsir Bhola -2 (Pakistan Punjab), Jasdeep Singh (Indian Punjab) -3; 86 kg; Amandeep Sondhi (Indian Punjab)-1, Usmaan Mazid (Pakistan Punjab)-2, Sukhraj Singh (Indian Punjab)-3; 76 kg: Mohammad Ali (Pakistan Punjab)-1 Hardeep Kumar (Pakistan Punjab)-2, Parshottam Lal (Indian Punjab)-3; 52 kg: Hari Kirshan (Indian Punjab)-1, Mohaamad Riaz (Pakistan Punjab)-2, Narpreet Singh (Pakistan Punjab) -3; 98 kg: Mohammad Umar (Pakistan Punjab)-1, Harvinder Singh (Indian Punjab)-2, Randhir Singh (Indian Punjab) -3; 68 kg: Gurbinder Singh (Indian Punjab)-1, Bhupinder Thakur (Indian Punjab)-2, Pappu (Pakistan Punjab)-3; 62 kg: Sukhchainjit Singh (Indian Punjab)-1, Dalbir Singh (Indian Punjab)-1, Mohammad Farooq (Pakistan Punjab)-2, Ghulam Haider (Pakistan Punjab)-3. |
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Wrestling row threatens friendship games
Patiala, December 8 As soon as local hero Palwinder Cheema, who also participated in the Athens Olympics this year, was declared the winner, Pakistani players and officials loudly protested against what they called an unfair decision of the jury. While Palwinder’s admirers mobbed and cheered him on the ring for his achievement, the Pakistani contingent protested vociferously and alleged that match chairman Raman Kumar and referee Pal Singh had colluded to deny Bhola valuable points. Bhola initially refused to accept the silver medal, but later softened his stand on the intervention of senior
officials. Later, in a unique show of solidarity, the Pakistani kabaddi players and officials threatened not to play the matches scheduled for December 10 and 11. A visibly upset Pakistan Kabaddi Association secretary Chaudhary Ijaz initially announced that they would boycott the matches as they did not expect fair play. “You invite us home and then mete out injustice,” he was heard saying soon after the bout ended. “Look at the kabaddi ground. They have removed all grass. My boys were hesitant to come here, but it was after a great deal of persuasion that I managed to bring them here. And look what they are doing,” said
Ijaz. According to Tauqir Ahmed, the judge, the match chairman intervened illegally to caution Bhola at a crucial stage. “When the judge and referee are not in disagreement, the match chairman has no right to intervene. In fact, Bhola deserved two points when he was pushed out by Cheema,” he said. Bhola later told The Tribune that he did not allow his rival even a single technical point. “I deserved two more points,” he said, even as a host of spectators thronged the Pakistan camp to express solidarity. “Bhola certainly deserved to win,” said a spectator who had come all the way from Fatehgarh Sahib to witness the bout. Passions, however, cooled down after the Director, Sports, Punjab, and international wrestler Kartar Singh intervened. Bhola accepted the silver medal at the podium while Ijaz withdrew his boycott threat, saying “We have come here to play and win.” |
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Under-fire Paul pleads innocence
Kolkata, December 8 “AIFF’s disciplinary committee will hold a meeting after getting Pal’s explanation along with the reports of the referee and the match commissioner. Then a decision will be taken on the matter,” Indian Football Association secretary Subrata Dutta said today. Paul, who returned to the city along with his teammates last night, said “I never intended to hurt him but only went for the ball.” “I’m also feeling terribly shocked after his death,” he said but questioned the logic behind his suspension. What crime have I committed so as to face such punishment?” “If the AIFF punishes me, then no goalkeeper will have the courage to go for a 50:50 ball,” the Bagan goalie said. — PTI
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Abhinav shoots gold
Chandigarh, December 8 In Air Pistol event, Amanpreet, also of Punjab (India), shot 567/600 to emerge winner. However in 25 metre Standard Pistol event and 50 metres Rifle Prone event, Punjab (Pakistan) shooters dominated and won gold medal in both events. The Clay Pigeon event, Zorawar Sandhu of India led in Trap event with 69 ‘birds’ followed by Birendeep at 67. Munir Khan of Punjab (Pakistan) was at number three with 63 ‘birds’. Another Punjab (India) shooter Kanwar Dhillon had an impressive first round in trap event. In Skeet, Mohd Shafiq of Punjab (Pakistan) did well and lead at 71. The final results of Clay Pigeon event will be declared tomorrow after another set of rounds.
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Ranjit Singh awards from next year
Patiala, December 8 Addressing a press conference, Working Chairman of the Indo-Pak Punjab Games organising committee, Rana Gurmit Sodhi, said the Punjab Government would shortlist a list of 100 sportspersons who will be given these awards at two functions next year. Rana Gurmeet Sodhi disclosed that the three-member committee set up to look into the doping cases involving two Indian women cyclists will finalise its report by late today evening. However, he did not make it clear whether the report will be made public or not. Mr Idris Khawja urged both the Indian and Pakistan government to ease visa restrictions to enable more sportspersons to travel across the border. |
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A product of Pakistan’s kabaddi nursery
KAMALPUR village in Lyallpur district of Pakistan has earned a name for itself for its contribution to kabaddi. Located 7 km from Lyallpur, the village has produced several top kabaddi players. Among them is Ishtiaq Wahala, whose forefathers came from an identical Kamalpur village located in Amritsar’s Ajnala tehsil.
Born in 1971 at Lyallpur, Ishtiaq is an employee of Wapda. They are four brothers and the youngest, Amar Wahala, is also a kabaddi player. Elder brother Ijaz is a Wapda employee while the eldest is a ‘Chaudhary’. Their father, Ishaq Wahala, was also a kabaddi player of Wapda. Ishtiaq, currently in Patiala to participate in the first Indo-Pak Punjab Games, did his FA from Government College, Lyallpur. As a student, he started taking keen interest in the sport and under coach Riaz Meana’s guidance, he polished his skills to be ranked among the best players of his country. “I have participated in six tours of India as well as tournaments in Canada. Victory and defeat have become an integral part of my life. However, our win against India at Islamabad’s Jinnah Stadium in 1998-99 remains etched in my memory,” Ishtiaq told The Tribune at the Raja Bhalindra Singh Sports Complex, the venue for the wrestling competitions of the ongoing Indo-Pak Punjab Games, here today. “It was a tough contest and among those witnessing the proceedings was deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The Indian team was led by Kulwinder Singh. When we won, the crowd was ecstatic. We were bodily lifted on shoulders. Cash awards flowed in abundance and the cherished moment became an unforgettable experience,” he revealed. Kamalpur village, according to Ishtiaq, initially did not have a kabaddi ground. However, in 1985, thanks to the efforts of the Deputy Commissioner, land was allotted and the ground was now a boon for the village. Pakistan’s kabaddi team comprises players mostly from
Kamalpur. — ASB |
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Mixed luck for Indian cyclists
Patiala, December 8 While the Pakistan Punjab men’s team, comprising Zulfikar Ali, Dilsher Ali and Shikhawat Ali won the gold clocking 1m 46 secs, the Indian women’s team, comprising Manpreet, Manjot and Nisha Rajput, secured the top position with a timing of 2.07 secs. In the 1 km sprint for men, Pakistan’s Zulfikar Ali clinched the gold, relegating India’s Pavittar Singh and Abhishek Rana to the second and third position, respectively. Gurpreet Kaur and Manpreet Kaur of India won the 1 km sprint for women while the bronze went to Ruhila Bano of Pakistan. The Indian trio of Pavittar Singh, Prabhjit Singh, and Hitraj Singh clinched the gold, silver and bronze, respectively, the 20 km point race. |
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Pak players visit Roza Sharif Fatehgarh Sahib, December 8 He said they were thankful to the Chief Ministers of both the Punjab ( Pakistan and India) for initiating a new step through sports to strengthen the relations. It was great beginning and we would continue it in India . They said that they had heard that Punjabis of India were known for their hospitality, but what they had experienced here many time more than it showering their everyone respected. Their visit had became memorable. They said the people of Pakistan don’t have much craze of visiting Europe as they had for India. People of both the countries wanted peace, love and frequent visits and the Government. should lift visa restrictions. All conflicts, disputes and enmity had been created by politicians on both sides, otherwise the “awam” wanted good relations. They said their forefathers belonged to India and they also wanted to visit their birthplaces, so Government of India should give them the visa to entire country. Pakistan players and officials were overjoyed
with the red carpet reception extended to them here.
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Profile of the Day
OLYMPIAN Mohammed Basheer Bhola, who lost to Olympian Palwinder Singh Cheema in the 122 kg wrestling bout today under controversial circumstances in the first Indo-Pak Punjab Games, is a product of the Khaiwala Akhara of Lahore, which is situated close to the Lahore Fort.
Born in 1972 at Lahore to Mr Rehmat Ali, Olympian Bhola has carved out a niche for himself in the sport. Although his father was not a sportsman, younger brother Arshad is emerging as a promising wrestler. Bhola showed keen interest in the sport at the tender age of 10. Continuous hard work paved his way to success and today, he is among the most respected sportsmen in Pakistan. Though feeling wronged, he accepted the silver medal in the true spirit of sportsmanship after losing to local hero Palwinder Cheema today. The jury’s decision drew vehement protests from the Pakistani contingent and many spectators also felt that Bhola had been wronged. In a career spanning over a decade-and-a-half, he has lost count of the number of medals and titles won in different championships. At the Atlanta Olympics, he succeeded in flooring an Australian in his opening bout, but an injury prevented him from making further progress. Mohammed Basheer Bhola also won the bronze in the Asian Wrestling Championship in China, besides the gold in the Commonwealth Games in Canada. He was also a gold medallist of the British Cup at Manchester. In the SAF Games, Bhola won three gold medals.
— Amardeep Bhattal |
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Indo-Pak Punjab Games Diary Amardeep Bhattal
THE cultural
programme of Sufi music featuring Hans Raj Hans and Pakistan’s Sher Miandad at the NIS, Patiala, last evening was appreciated by many. Hailing from Lyallpur, as Pakistan handball referee Dabeer Hussain revealed, the Pakistani singer kept the large gathering glued to their seats with his ‘qawali’ after Hans Raj Hans set the tone with his rendition of ‘Bhaj bhaj vardan mandir maseeteen, apne andar tun variya hi na’. An enthusiastic guest with a ‘kesri siropa’ around his neck unable to control himself went up to the stage and danced to his heart’s content. Some mistook him for a local politician, but he was Zahid, Pakistan team’s hockey manager, himself an international, having represented his country in prestigious meets like the Champions Trophy.
* * * Inadequate media facilities left some journalists frustrated yesterday. Pakistani journalists were held up in the queue to file their stories for hours. They also had to miss the cultural programme organised at the NIS later in the evening. * * * The hockey match between teams of the two Punjabs scheduled to be played at Jalandhar tomorrow has generated interest in sports circles here. Many enthusiasts of the game were observed discussing the chances of the host team in the tie to be played at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium. But as former national coach Balkishen Singh, speaking to a select group at the polo ground here today said, it all boiled down to availing of the chances, though penalty corners too mattered a lot in modern hockey now. * * * Indo-Pak sports meets have strengthened bonds of friendship between people of the two nations and none can vouch for it better than Malerkotla’s Arshad Ali Bakshi and Gujjranwala’s Mohammed Umar, an international. Arshad Ali, a former wrestler who participated in the nationals, met Umar during the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur Sahib in 1999 and ever since, the two had become good friends. Arshad came all the way from Malerkotla, where he is general secretary of the Mohammedan Wrestling Club, to meet and cheer his friend, who incidentally won the gold in the 98 kg category, beating India’s Harvinder Singh here.
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Five equestrian centres planned Jangveer Singh Tribune News Service Patiala, December 8 Capt Amarinder Singh said the centres would be opened at Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Patiala. He said one of these centres would provide training to women exclusively to enable them to exhibit their talent in this adventurous sport. The Chief Minister said efforts would also be made to popularise Polo amongst the new generation. He said at least two of the schools in the district — YPS, Patiala and PPS, Nabha, were providing training in equestrian sports and that efforts would be made to widen this net. Shuttle service opens
Indo Pak Games Working Chairman Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi inaugurated a shuttle bus service between the various stadia and the hostels where the visiting Pakistan-Punjab delegates are putting up. The shuttle service is being run at fixed timings to enable the sportspersons to travel to and from the stadia at their convenience.
Overtime shopping
The visiting Pakistan Punjab women sportspersons yesterday did what women are said to be best at — shopping. The girls and their managers were out shopping for most of the day. Most of the girls going for the shopping trip included athletes and others who did not have any event yesterday. The girls and their managers left for the shopping trip in the afternoon and only came back in the evening just before the cultural evening was to start. The girls went around the Adalat bazaar as well as the traditional ‘jutti’ and ‘parandi’ bazaars. They picked up a number of things with shopkeepers giving them hefty discounts in the “spirit of friendship”.
Creating
pologround
“Sara games ek passe, “Polo ek passe” — This statement made by Deputy Commissioner Tejveer Singh, is a pointer towards the work done by the administration and the Horticulture Department to create a new polo ground in three months. The Deputy Commissioner said more than 200 trucks of sand had to be offloaded in the 15 acre plots which has been converted into a polo ground. Mr Tejveer said after this grass was planted and was being maintained through an imported lawn mower to make the ground fit for international Polo.
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