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IHF poll held amid high drama
Davenport advances, Myskina upset
Sania’s match today
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Lara recalled
Hariharan warms up for Test debut
Rain ruins Pathan’s county debut
Anand draws, finishes second
Atwal finishes tied 39th
Maurice Greene shocked in 100m
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IHF poll held amid high drama
Kolkata, May 23 At the end of a marathon five-and-half-hour annual general meeting K.P.S. Gill looked confident of another term as he addressed the press, stating that elections were held in free and fair manner. He also said it was held in a very friendly manner, where a new resolution was adopted regarding the election, amending the IHF constitution. Asked whether after 12 years in office, did he feel he had it in him to continue, he said, ‘’I can still play hockey.’’ The day began with a high-pitched drama when the elections got cancelled after contender Batra objected to the ballot papers, citing anomalies. The Batra lobby claimed that the ballot papers had dots pointing towards incumbent President Gill’s name. Presiding officer Gurbux Singh and IOA observers Narendra Sharma and Asoke Ghosh upheld the objection and a fresh poll was ordered. This was after the Batra camp objected to Gill’s validity as a candidate as there was a case pending in his name. It was overruled and Gill’s name was admitted, proposed by Keshab Mohanta of Assam and seconded by Kartar Singh of Mumbai. Then came the objection, alleging that Batra had proposed his own name as the candidate. But that was resolved when Jagjit Singh Jagga proposed his name and Dr Gurdeep Singh seconded it. This three-man lobby of Batra, Jagga and Dr Singh proposed and seconded each other’s names for different posts, spicing up the otherwise bland annual general meeting. NEW DELHI: Failing to file an affidavit, the government on Monday groped for words in the Delhi High Court, saying that the file reportedly containing the order of then Sports Minister Uma Bharti on the guidelines for sports bodies and federations was not yet found. An agitated Additional Solicitor-General, P. P. Malhotra, appearing before Justice Geeta Mittal, said, ‘’Today is a holiday. But Sports Ministry staff are in the office, looking for the file.’’ Buying some more time, probably giving chance for the IHF to hold its election in Kolkata, Mr Malhotra said the evidence produced by the petitioner could not be the part of the file containing the order. ‘’Somebody came to the office and left the paper at the counter,’’ he told the Judge. The court had asked the ASG to file an affidavit on the complaint of the petitioner, Narinder Batra, that the government, in its affidavit, suppressed that Ms Bharti had reverted her order on a subsequent date.
— UNI |
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Davenport advances, Myskina upset
Paris, May 23 However, Anastasia Myskina, the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam crown, became the first French Open champion to be beaten in the first round, suffering a 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 defeat to doughty Spaniard Maria Sanchez Lorenzo. Drained by concerns over her mother’s health, the Russian’s heart simply was not in the match and despite mustering a modicum of resistance in the second set, she handed her 109th-ranked opponent the match with her 69th unforced error. Swiss world number one Federer left 264th-ranked Dudi Sela stunned on a battle-scarred centre court, crushing the Israeli qualifier 6-1, 6-4, 6-0 to reach the second round. “I’ve prepared well for this,” the irrepressible Swiss smiled. “A good win. I am ready to stay here for a while... if I can do well here, if I can win it, it will be great for me... for my place in history.” For Sela it was an 89-minute lesson he will want to consign to history. Davenport will also be happy to put her performance behind her, the women’s top seed struggling to an unconvincing 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Slovenia’s Katarina Srebotnik. The 28-year-old Davenport, whose best result in Paris was a semifinal appearance in 1998, needs a good show here to hold her world number one ranking from Russian Maria Sharapova. If Davenport can shake her Parisian lethargy, she could face Belgian Kim Clijsters in the fourth round and on the basis of today’s showing, the number one seed could be heading home. Clijsters, twice a runner-up here, was in blistering form as she thrashed American qualifier Meilen Tu 6-1, 6-0. Meanwhile, Spain’s Rafael Nadal looked equally impressive in battering Germany’s Lars Burgsmueller 6-1, 7-6, 6-1. The 18-year-old pre-tournament favourite is bidding to become the first man since Mats Wilander 23 years ago to win the French Open on his debut. Other results: Men’s singles: Sebastien Grosjean (France) b Juan Monaco (Argentina) 7-5, 6-3, 6-1; Florent Serra (France) b Andrei Pavel (Romania) 6-2, 6-2, 6-3; Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) b Paradorn Srichaphan (Thailand) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1; Robin Vik (Czech Republic) b Kevin Kim (USA) 6-4, 7-6(6), 7-5; Carlos Moya (Spain) b Alberto Martin (Spain) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2; Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) b Jeff Morrison (USA) 6-3, 6-2, 6-4; Mario Ancic (Croatia) b Marcos Daniel (Brazil) 6-2, 6-1, 7-6(4); Xavier Malisse (Belgium) b Mardy Fish (USA) 6-2, 6-1, 6-1. Women’s singles: Karolina Sprem (Croatia) b Maria Elena Camerin (Italy) 6-4, 6-2; Arantxa Parra Santonja (Spain) b Shenay Perry (USA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; Elena Likhovtseva (Russia) b Yuliana Fedak (Ukraine) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4; Sesil Karatantcheva (Bulgaria) b Alyona Bondarenko (Ukraine) 4-6, 7-5, 6-4; Shinobu Asagoe (Japan) b Julia Schruff (Germany) 7-5, 6-2; Shuai Peng (China) b Mailyne Andrieux (France) 6-0, 6-1; Virginie Razzano (France) b Dinara Safina (Russia) 6-3, 6-3; Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) b Michaella Krajicek (Netherlands) 6-3, 6-1; Catalina Castano (Colombia) b Denisa Chladkova (Czech Republic) 6-1, 6-2; Ludmila Cervanova (Slovakia) b Aiko Nakamura (Japan) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1; Jelena Kostanic (Croatia) b Tamarine Tanasugarn (Thailand) 6-0, 6-1; Mary Pierce (France) b Vera Douchevina (Russia) 6-2, 7-5; Marta Domachowska (Poland) b Stephanie Cohen-Aloro (France) 6-3, 6-3; Elena Dementieva (Russia) b Barbora Strycova (Czech Republic) 6-3, 6-3; Akiko Morigami (Japan) b Angela Haynes (USA) 7-5, 6-4.
— Reuters |
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Sania’s match today
Chandigarh, May 23 NEW DELHI: Tennis ace Sania Mirza received a huge boost ahead of her French |
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Pakistan make clean sweep
Gros Islet (St Lucia), May 23 Having set West Indies a record 304 to win from 50 overs, the Pakistanis dismissed their hosts for 281 in 49.3 overs, despite Chris Gayle hitting his 11th one-day hundred. Abdul Razzaq was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers, with four wickets for 45 runs from 6.3 overs, and gained good support from Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, with three for 48 from nine overs, and Shoaib Malik, who took two for 41 from eight overs. Consistent batting from their top-order batsmen helped the visitors post a record 303 for six from their allocated 50 overs after being sent in to bat. Bazid Khan, a replacement for injured regular Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, and one of three changes to the visitors’ line-up for the match, hit four boundaries in the top score of 66 from 97 balls. Shahid Afridi got things going for the visitors with six fours and a couple of sixes in 56 from 30 balls, and Yousuf Youhana kept them going with five fours in 50 from 63 balls. Corey Collymore and Ian Bradshaw collected two wickets each to be the most successful West Indies bowlers, who conceded the highest one-day innings total in six matches at the Beausejour Stadium. Gayle, who hit 13 boundaries in 124 from 137 balls, gave West Indies a circumspect start along with fellow left-hander Wavell Hinds. They shared 90 for the first wicket before Hinds was caught behind when he under-edged a cross-batted stroke at a delivery from Shabbir Ahmed in the 16th over. Two overs later, West Indies suffered a major setback, when Ramnaresh Sarwan was caught at short extra cover off Razzaq for four to leave West Indies 96 for two. West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul added 75 for the third wicket with Gayle to put his side back on track, but he was caught at wide long-off for 33 off Malik at a crucial stage in the 32nd over. Runako Morton played more confidently and added 49 for the fourth wicket with Gayle, who drove Afridi through cover for a single to reach his landmark. Scoreboard Pakistan: Hameed c Browne b Collins 41 Afridi c Bravo b Collymore 56 Bazid b Collymore 66 Youhana c Morton b Hinds 50 Younis c Morton b Bradshaw 40 Razzaq c Browne b Bradshaw 18 Akmal not out 24 Naved not out 0 Extras: (lb-5, w-3) 8 Total: (6 wkts, 50 overs) 303 FoW:
1-87, 2-107, 3-203, 4-251, 5-274, 6-285 Bowling: Collins 10-0-49-1, Bradshaw 10-1-78-1, Collymore 10-0-51-2, Bravo 6-0-43-0, Gayle 10-0-54-0, Hinds 4-0-23-1. West Indies: Gayle c Younis b Shabbir 124 Hinds c Akmal b Razzaq 35 Sarwan c Younis b Razzaq 4 Chanderpaul c Shabbir b Malik 33 Morton c Shabbir b Malik 27 Smith lbw Razzaq 0 Bravo b Naved 16 Browne b Naved 11 Bradshaw c Naved b Razzaq 13 Collins lbw Naved 0 Collymore not out 0 Extras: (lb-4, w-8, nb-6) 18 Total:
(all out in 49.3 overs) 281 FoW: 1-90, 2-96, 3-171, 4-220, 5-225, 6-250, 7-263, 8-277, 9-279 Bowling:
Naved 9-1-48-3, Shabbir 10-1-64-1, Arshad 10-0-44-0, Razzaq 6.3-0-45-4, Afridi 6-0-35-0, Malik 8-0-41-2.
— AFP |
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Lara recalled
Castries (St Lucia), May 23 Lara, the 36-year-old veteran of 115 Tests, was rested for the three-match one-day series that ended yesterday. Pakistan swept the rubber 3-0 for their first series triumph in 47 years of Caribbean tours. West Indies: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (captain), Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Dwayne Bravo, Courtney Browne, Corey Collymore, Daren Powell, Reon King, Ian Bradshaw, Fidel Edwards.
— AP |
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Hariharan warms up for Test debut
New Delhi, May 23 The 49-year-old is attending net practice sessions of the English and Bangladeshi teams with an aim to get to know the players and officials. “My preparations are going on in the right direction,” Hariharan said in an e-mail interview. Hariharan, who had got a promotion from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to officiate in the Test, was naturally excited about the match. Australia’s Daryl Harper would be the other on-field umpire for the Test. That Hariharan was keen to make an impact on his debut was evident when he asked the authorities to give him a local match to get acclimatised to English conditions and get his eye in. “I did one three-day game between Leicestershire and Derbyshire from May 18 to 20. It went off well,” Hariharan said. “Everyone connected with that match appreciated my umpiring and wished we well for the Test,” he said. Hariharan, who had officiated in 19 one-day internationals, said he was preparing for the match by doing a variety of exercises and studying the laws of the game. Hariharan, one of ICC’s international panel of umpires, who usually officiate in one-day internationals, is the first Indian umpire to officiate in a Test since Srinivas Venkataraghavan did so in January last year. Venkataraghavan, a former captain, had since retired. Hariharan was still not among the eight members of the ICC’s elite panel of umpires, but his good performances in one-day internationals had apparently won him the promotion to officiate in a Test on a trial basis. If Hariharan’s impresses ICC officials, he can hope to be elevated to ICC’s elite panel. At present, there is no Indian on this panel.
— IANS |
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Rain ruins Pathan’s county debut
London, May 23 Both sides got two points from the drawn match. The match was eventually abandoned with the home side on 40 for two from seven overs after being set a Duckworth-Lewis target of 87 in 13 overs. Irfan Pathan did not get the chance to bat and bowled two overs to concede seven runs. He also conceded two wide balls and went wicketless. Middlesex captain Ben Hutton won the toss and opted to bat. Owais Shah topscored with an unbeaten 50 as Middlesex made 95 for five from 21 overs. Soon rain took over and play could resume over three hours later. Gloucestershire was
initially set a Duckworth-Lewis target of 130 from 21 overs, but recurring rain drove the players off the field with Gloucestershire on 24 for one from four overs.
— UNI |
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Anand draws, finishes second
Sofia, May 23 Topalov, who was in devastating form in the second half of this category-20 double round-robin event, recorded his fourth win in five rounds to take his total points tally to 6.5. Anand tried hard to beat Polgar in a Sicilian Taimanov game, where the latter played black. Playing the most popular variation in the opening, Polgar could not quite equalise in the middle game, but her defence was quite good, especially when her pieces appeared to be a bit passive.
— PTI |
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Atwal finishes tied 39th
Fort Worth (Texas), May 23 Atwal continued to be troubled by an injured knee in the fourth and final round at the par-70 Colonial Country Club, as he shot a three over 73 to slip in the final standings. Atwal’s three-over had three birdies, but he seemed to be finding the bogeys in pairs, as he dropped shots on second and third and then at seventh and eighth and again at 15th and 16th. His 73 saw him finish at three-under 277. The irony was that the Indian hit his drives longer than the third round, had fewer putts and found more fairways, but then he failed to find the greens in regulation. Daniel Chopra’s 69 comprised five birdies and four bogeys. He drove long, but was found wanting in terms of getting onto the fairways. He ended in the tied 57th place. Atwal won $ 23,520 and had now crossed $ 660,000 in earnings. Perry, who won the title, matched his own tournament record total despite a double bogey on the 17th. He finished at 19-under 261 and seven clear of second-placed Bill Mayfair. Perry earned $ 1.08 million for his win. He had also won the Colonial in 2003, the year Annika Sorenstam featured in it. Perry started the day with a seven-stroke lead, something that no PGA Tour player had ever lost in a final round. He made a birdie on the first and from then on he was on his way. He finished with the best 72-hole total on the PGA Tour this year, and the largest margin of victory. Phil Mickelson twice won by five strokes this season. Perry had just two bogeys in the tournament. He was the 10th golfer to have won the Colonial twice. Peter Lonard was among the three golfers tied for third at 269. David Toms (66), Joe Durant (66) and Lonard (69) were in the group a stroke behind Mayfair, at 11-under 269. Bernhard Langer (67) was among seven golfers tied for sixth at 10 under.
— PTI |
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Maurice Greene shocked in 100m
Carson (California), May 23 Greene finished fourth in a race won by fellow American Leonard Scott, who recorded an impressive 10.03 seconds running into a stiff headwind. “I guess I have got too much power,” said Greene yesterday, before adding that his blocks had slipped in both the second false start and the actual race. However, the 30-year-old American said the defeat did not represent a setback in his preparations for next month’s US national championships at the same venue. “I am prepared for the nationals. I am going to bring my own blocks and they are going to stick,” he told reporters. Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner won the men’s 400 metres in 44.53 seconds, with key rival and Olympic silver medallist Otis Harris trailing in last after appearing to be unsettled by a false start. “I felt great the whole race,” said the 22-year-old Wariner, adding that the hot sunshine did not bother him as he was used to similar conditions when training in Texas. Olympic gold medallist Veronica Campbell powered to victory in the women’s 100 metres in 10.96 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. The 23-year-old Jamaican won gold in the 200 metres in Athens, plus bronze in the 100 metres. “It was a very good race,” said Campbell. “This is a good thing, running 10.96 seconds at the end of May. I think my season is going well.” The Jamaican added that last year, she did not set her personal best of 10.91 seconds until the end of the season. Olympic champion Joanna Hayes won the women’s 100 metres hurdles in a time of 12.64 seconds, a world best mark for 2005. “Overall I am pretty pleased with it,” said the 28-year-old American. “Hopefully next time I will drop it under 60 (12.60 seconds).” Olympic silver medallist Bernard Lagat produced the fastest time by an American this year in winning the men’s 1500 metres. The 30-year-old Lagat, who won his Olympic medal for Kenya, became a US citizen just under two months ago. “It should not take long to break the American record,” said Lagat, who added that the citizenship switch had not been well received in Kenya. “It is a touchy subject there. But my reasons for wanting to become an American citizen are legitimate. It is not about money, but a question of my future, what I will do after my career.”
— Reuters |
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Patiala on top in U-19 cricket Patiala, May 23 Opting to bat, Minor Districts XI were bundled out for a paltry 116 with Rajwinder Singh playing a pivotal role claiming 5 for 24. In reply, the hosts started strongly with one drop batsman Amitoj Singh, who also scored fluently in the under-17 inter district league matches, ending the day with a breezy unbeaten 132. Brief scores: Minor Districts XI: 1st innings: 116 all out (Rohit Kumar 27, Karan 26, Gurbhej Singh 17, Rajwinder Singh 5 for 24, Navdeep Sandhu 3 for 41, Kunwar Raina 2 for 14) Patiala: 1st innings : 228 for 5 (Amitoj Singh 132 n.o, A.P Bains 44, Jagmeet Singh 1 for 27, Gurdeep Singh 1 for 19, Karan 1 for 26, Rahul Kumar 1 for 45).
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Chandhok forced
to retire Swimming
champs Football tourney U-19
cricket Athletics meet Punjab boys rout
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