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India defeat South Africa
Paes-Zimonjic in second round
Champions Trophy gets
tax exemption |
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BCCI chief condoles Sunil Dutt’s death Liverpool are European champions
Big victory for DFA Jalandhar
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India defeat South Africa
Kuala Lumpur, May 26 The scoreline of the match, which never rose to great heights, was blank at the end of the first session. The Indian midfield was found sorely wanting, with only veteran Ignace Tirkey making a token impact, after Inderjit Chadha, used as a linkman by coach Rajinder Singh Jr, was injured in the early stages. Rookies Davinder Pal Singh and Jaswinder messed up some easy trappings and were constantly sidestepped and bodydodged by their rivals, thus adding further pressure on skipper Dilip Tirkey. The Indian attackline, comprising Sandeep Michael, Deepak Thakur, Arjun Halappa and Prabhjot Singh, rarely moved in tandem, making heavy weather of a few chances that came their way in the striking circle. At times, it appeared if there was a gameplane at all, as the tendency appeared to be overdribble and holding on to the ball for long time and invariably losing the ball to the South Africans. India were lucky to get away with this individualistic pattern as Halappa, Thakur and Prabhjot missed their scoring chances with regularity. However, Indian goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan played his heart out, denying the opponents to score with some fine saves. The only time he faltered was when the equaliser came off a rebound, but it was a scorcher which would have beaten the best in the business. India took the lead in the 47th minute from their second penalty corner as Aiyappa dragflicked low to the right of goalkeeper Chris Hibbert. His earlier attempt was warded off as the ball rose
towards the roof of the net. But the Indian joy was shortlived as the Proteas shot back three minutes later from their third penalty corner. This was again a set piece, with full back Justin King’s wristy flicks read perfectly by Chauhan. However, the clearance went to Clyde Abrahams, whose reverse hit went home like a bullet to make the teams level. Both sides thereafter missed a few opportunities as the Indians went into a crowded defence. This tactic nearly proved suicidal as the South African strikers nearly took the lead as their attempts by Emile Smith and Eric Rose Innes were well anticipated by Dilip Tirkey. With two minutes from the long whistle, South Africa were awarded their fourth penalty corner after Harpal Singh could not make a clean clear. But they could not convert this chance into a goal, with the cross bar coming to India’s aid. India, however, had the last say as they forced a last-minute penalty corner when Prabhjot rallied to take the ball in the rivals’ circle, but was tackled roughly by defender Ken Forbes. Aiyappa made no mistake again as he neatly penetrated the ball with clinical precision past the hapless South African defence to give India victory. In other matches, Pakistan defeated New Zealand 2-1 and Australia got the better of Malaysia 3-1.
— PTI |
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Sharapova in third round
Paris, May 26 After a shaky first round, in which she was stretched to three sets by compatriot Evgenia Linetskaya, the Russian second seed upped her level to beat fellow 18-year-old Rezai 6-3, 6-2 on centre court. Rezai, ranked 242 places behind the world number two, had a simple game plan: to pelt the ball as hard as she could and go for winners. It served her well in the opening exchanges as she streaked into a 3-1 lead, but Sharapova kept her cool to reel in the Frenchwoman. “She had nothing to lose, and she was just going for her shots. Some balls were just too good,” Sharapova said. “But I finally started feeling a good rhythm out there and began playing better,” she said. The Russian said she had twisted her ankle early in the match, which distracted her, but it had not been a problem. The Wimbledon champion would next face compatriot Anna Chakvetadze. Moscow-born Frenchwoman Tatiana Golovin soon restored some home pride, the 17th seed thrashing Antonella Serra Zanetti 6-0, 6-1 to advance. Sharapova and Golovin were joined in the third round by former world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne, who refused to let a sore back sidetrack her as she beat Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain 6-1, 6-4. The 2003 champion made her comeback to the tour two months ago after spending six months out recovering from a viral illness. Although she had emerged as one of the favourites after capturing three successive titles, concerns about her fitness were again raised when the 10th seed called the trainer for her back while leading 5-0 in the first set. “I have had an injury in my back for a few weeks, so it is something I am having to deal with,” said the Belgian, who would next face Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain. “It is a slight sprain; because it is close to a nerve, it is painful. Probably not now, but I will eventually have to take a little rest,” she said. In the men’s section, Argentine eighth seed Guillermo Coria reached the third round after his Serbian opponent Novak Djokovic retired from their match with a foot injury. Coria, runner-up to compatriot Gaston Gaudio at Roland Garros last year, was leading 4-6, 6-2, 3-2 when a hobbling Djokovic quit. Other second round results: men’s singles: Igor Andreev (Russia) beat Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2; Paul-Henri Mathieu (France) beat Chris Guccione (Australia) 6-3, 6-4, 6-4; Mariano Puerta (Argentina) beat Kristof Vliegen (Belgium) 6-3, 7-5, 6-2; Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) beat Olivier Rochus (Belgium) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3; Juergen Melzer (Austria) beat Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(5); Guillermo Canas (Argentina) beat Albert Montanes (Spain) 6-1, 6-3, 6-4; Tommy Haas (Germany) beat Vince Spadea (USA) 6-4, 6-3 (retired). Women’s singles: Nadia Petrova (Russia) beat Severine Beltrame (France) 6-1, 6-3; Anna Chakvetadze (Russia) beat Klara Koukalova (Czech Republic) 6-4, 6-3; Shahar Peer (Israel) beat Kveta Peschke (Czech Republic) 6-1, 1-6, 6-4; Anabel Medina Garrigues (Spain) beat Magdalena Maleeva (Bulgaria) 6-3, 6-4; Ana Ivanovic (Serbia and Montenegro) beat Iveta Benesova (Czech Republic) 6-3, 6-1; Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Sofia Arvidsson (Sweden) 6-3, 6-4; Amelie Mauresmo (France) beat Alize Cornet (France) 6-0, 6-2; Nuria Llagostera Vives (Spain) beat Kristina Brandi (Puerto Rico) 7-6(2), 6-0; Tatiana Golovin (France) beat Antonella Serra Zanetti (Italy) 6-0, 6-1.
— Reuters |
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New Delhi, May 26 They would next meet French duo of Nicholas Devilder and Marc Gicquel, who beat Jordan Kerr of Australia and Sebastian Prieto of Argentina.
— PTI
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Champions
Trophy gets
tax exemption
New Delhi, May 26 The amendment to the Act would grant tax exemption to income of both residents and non-residents arising from any international sports event conducted in India. To avail of the tax exemption, the event would have to be approved by recognised international body responsible for regulating the relevant sport and having multinational participation, Finance Minister P Chidambaram told newspersons after the Cabinet meeting. A decision to provide tax exemption to international sports events would result in awarding of right to host the Champions Trophy, 2006, to India, but also subsequent international sports events. This will not only promote sports but will also result in revenue gain from various sources, specially tourism”, he said. The Board of Cricket for Control India (BCCI) had been pursuing the issue with the government for the last two years. The ICC had warned that it would award the event to some other nation in case tax exemption was not granted by May 31, 2005. BCCI President Ranbir Singh Mahendra and his predecessor Jagmohan Dalmiya had met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh twice during this month, ostensibly to discuss the issue. |
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BCCI
chief condoles Sunil Dutt’s death
Chandigarh, May 26 Mr Ranbir Singh, who had interacted on a number of occasions with Sunil Dutt after he had taken over as BCCI Chief, described the Union Sports Minister as a warm-hearted person with a pleasing personality, whose death would hit Indian sports. The BCCI Communication and Coordination Committee, that met in New Delhi, appreciated Sunil Dutt’s contribution to the betterment of sports in the country. |
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Liverpool are European champions
Istanbul, May 26 Extra time failed to separate the teams with the scores locked at 3-3 — this after Milan had led 3-0 — and Jerzy Dudek saved spot-kicks from Andriy Shevchenko and Andrea Pirlo to seal Liverpool’s fifth European triumph yesterday and complete the greatest comeback in the tournament’s history. Paolo Maldini, playing in his seventh final, gave Milan the lead after just 50 seconds before a double strike by Hernan Crespo appeared to have comfortably wrapped up the contest before half time. But Liverpool responded with courage and determination, erasing Milan’s superiority in a mesmerising six-minute spell after the restart with goals from Steven Gerrard, substitute Vladimir Smicer, on his farewell appearance for the club, and Xabi Alonso, the Spanish midfielder, following up after Nelson Dida saved his penalty. Milan’s crushing defeat left them without a trophy, having been pipped to the Italian league title by Juventus last Friday. Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez said Gerrard’s goal early in the second half, which made it 3-1, was the turning point. “Steve’s goal changed everything,” he said. “We started believing in ourselves and then when the second goal went in we could really feel our supporters getting behind us.” Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was dumbfounded as to how his team threw away a match that was practically in the bag. “It was a strange game, very strange. We had six minutes of madness that complicated things,” he said. “I thought after Liverpool pulled it back to 3-3 that there was only one team in it. We created lots of opportunities and did not take our chances. “We played a great final and we did not deserve to lose. The players ought to feel proud and although I am unhappy, we lost with honour.” Benitez sprung a major surprise by selecting Harry Kewell ahead of the vastly experienced German Dietmar Hamman in the midfield. Kewell, an Australian international, had struggled to hold a regular place this season due to injuries and loss of form. Crespo, whose goals put Manchester United out in the last 16, got the nod ahead of Filippo Inzaghi to partner Shevchenko upfront. Milan enjoyed the perfect start, taking the lead with less than a minute on the clock. Djimi Traore fouled Kaka wide on the right and Andrea Pirlo curled the resulting free kick into the box. The ball fell nicely for Maldini, whose right-footed shot into the ground flew over the outstretched fingertips of Dudek and into the top corner. The previous fastest goal in a European Cup final was scored by Enrique Mateos in the 1959 final for Real Madrid and was clocked at one minute, but there was no exact recording. Liverpool reacted positively, with two chances in quick succession. John Arne Riise’s powerful drive was charged down and seconds later, a Towering header by Sami Hyypia was smothered on the goal-line by Dida. Luis Garcia cleared Crespo’s header off the line with his chest before Kewell pulled up with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Smicer. Shevchenko had a goal ruled out for offside before Milan doubled their advantage in the 39th minute. Kaka’s beautifully chipped pass found Shevchenko pulling out to the right and his low cross to the back post was slotted home by Crespo. Worse was to follow for Liverpool as Crespo doubled his tally a minute from the interval, chasing Kaka’s exquisite 30-yard pass and clipping the ball past the advancing Dudek. Dudek pulled off a stunning save at full stretch to keep out Shevchenko’s 20-yard kick before the inspirational Gerrard gave his side a glimmer of hope, his flicked header from Riise’s left wing cross finding the far corner in the 54th minute. That glimmer shone brighter two minutes later as Smicer’s 25-yard piledriver screamed into the net off Dida’s despairing fingertips. The fightback was completed on the hour when Gennaro Gattuso fouled Gerrard to concede a penalty, and although Dida palmed away the Spaniard’s first effort he was powerless to stop the rebound. Crespo had a golden opportunity to restore Milan’s lead and claim a hat-trick 10 minutes from time, but rather than shoot after being put clear by Shevchenko, he unselfishly tried to tee up Kaka and the chance went abegging. Shevchenko almost nicked it for Milan three minutes from the dreaded penalty shootout, but an incredible double save from Dudek left the European Footballer of the Year with his head in his hands. The normally reliable Shevchenko, who scored the winning penalty against Juventus in 2003, then missed the decisive spot-kick in a gripping finale and Liverpool jumped for joy.
— AFP |
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Big victory for DFA Jalandhar Fatehgarh Sahib, May 26 The opening match was played between District Football Association Bathinda and DFA Sangrur. In this keenly contested match no goal was scored and the game was mostly confined to the midfield. The match was decided by the tie breaker, in which DFA Bathinda beat DFA Sangrur 4-2. The second match of the championship was a one-sided affair in which DFA Jalandhar beat DFA Mansa by 5-0. In the third match DFA Kapurthala beat DFA Ropar easily by 3-0. The last match of the championship was played between DFA Fatehgarh Sahib and DFA Muktsar. Being the home team Fatehgarh Sahib players got the benefit of the home crowd and ground. They played an attacking game but luck was not with them. They got many scoring chances but could not convert them. In the dying minutes, they conceded a goal and lost to DFA Muktsar by one goal.
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