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Agassi, Ginepri scrape into semifinals
Mahesh-Hantuchova win title |
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Pierce, Dementieva enter semis
India urgently need genuine allrounder
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Ebrahim props up Zimbabwe Board XI
JCT Football Academy win
Women float professional golf association
Punjab Police cagers win
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Agassi, Ginepri scrape into semifinals
New York, September 8 In a quarterfinal match that had some 20,000 fans cheering as though it was a partisan Davis Cup final, the 35-year-old Agassi came back from two sets down to beat Blake 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6, claiming the fifth-set tie-breaker 8-6. “I could not have had more fun losing,” Blake said to seventh seed Agassi, the eight-time Grand Slam champion, who Blake said was a role model for him. The crowd exhorted, implored and roared at both players between nearly every serve, causing the umpire to quieten the stadium. During changeovers as the final set headed toward a tie-breaker, the Arthur Ashe Stadium audience gave both players standing ovations, and the chant of “Andre, Andre” grew and echoed around the court. “I generally do not have a whole lot of fun from losing, but this was incredible,” said Blake, aged 25. “He is admired everywhere he goes. If I was in the stands, I would be cheering for him too.” Blake had won the hearts of many fans with his bold run at the Open, capping off an inspirational comeback from setbacks last year that included a broken neck, a rare ailment that partially paralysed his face and the death of his father to cancer. “I fought my heart out, did everything I could,” said Blake. “He played a little too good. Champions make those when they go for broke in the fifth set. The match lived up to the billing. I am happy for the game of tennis,” said Blake. Said Agassi, “There are a few moments on a tennis court that are that special.” “It is 1:15 in the morning and 20,000 people are still here. There is nothing like it. Tennis won tonight.” Earlier, unseeded Robby Ginepri and eighth seed Guillermo Coria of Argentina were both battered and bleary after a five-set slugfest yesterday, that lifted the American to his first Grand Slam semifinal. “I am just dead right now,’’ Ginepri said on court after his 4-6, 6-1, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 quarterfinal win, that was his third successive five-set triumph. “I do not know how I got through that match.” “I am a little foggy, a little dizzy,” the 46th-ranked Ginepri added. Like two boxers weary and spent after a rough contest, the players traded advantages in a see-saw fifth set, swinging wildly at times and connecting with brilliant combinations on other points. “I am pretty beat up,” said Ginepri. “This match was rough. He made a lot of balls. We were both running each other side to side.” Ginepri’s win ensured an all-American semifinal. He would play Agassi for a place in the finals. — Reuters
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Mahesh-Hantuchova win title
New York, September 8 Hantuchova captured her second major mixed doubles crown of the year after triumphing at the French Open with Fabrice Santoro. It was the second Grand Slam title of the year for Bhupathi, too, as he won at Wimbledon with Mary Pierce. The unseeded pair broke Srebotnik and Zimonjic once to win the first set and twice in the second to clinch victory. “It feels great,” Hantuchova said. “This was the last one I was missing and finally I got it, thanks to an unbelievable partner on my side. I'm so happy right now.” “We had a lot of fun,” Bhupathi said. “We saved a match point in the first round and after that she told me we’re probably going to win it now.” Earlier, Bhupathi and Hantuchova upstaged sixth-seeded American pair of Corina Morariu and Mike Bryan 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 to storm into the final. Pitted against the American pair, the unseeded Bhupathi and Hantuchova found the going tough, but managed to break the opponents once in the first set to stretch it to tie-breaker. Better serve clinched the issue in their favour as they pocketed the set in 47 minutes. Trailing by a set, the Americans tried everything for a comeback and broke the Indo-Slovak pair twice, but a series of unforced errors and double faults bogged them down and they were broken thrice. The Indian’s exceptionally good serve sealed the fate of the match. The Indo-Slovak pair fired six aces, compared to one by their opponents. They managed to cut down on unforced errors in the second set. Bhupathi and Hantuchova took 93 minutes to wrap up the match. Meanwhile, the challenge of Indian boys at the US Open ended with Rupesh Roy going down fighting to his American opponent Matt Bruch 6-3, 4-6, 3-6 in the second round of the boys singles. — Reuters, UNI
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Pierce, Dementieva enter semis
New York, September 8 Pierce, a surprise conqueror of French Open champion Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne in round four, displayed new-found serenity in thrashing third seed and friend Amelie Mauresmo 6-4, 6-1 yesterday. The calm demeanour of Pierce against fellow Frenchwoman Mauresmo was in stark contrast to the frailty she has often displayed during a topsy turvy career. ‘’It is amazing, I am 30 and this is my 17th year on the tour. There are still firsts for me and that is pretty exciting,’’ beamed the 12th seed. Pierce won the last of her two Grand Slam titles in 2000, but a new approach to her mental and physical conditioning had helped her to rediscover her best form this year and she had yet to drop a set at Flushing Meadows. Later, world number one Lindsay Davenport’s hopes of a second US Open title ended in dramatic fashion as she was beaten 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 by Russian sixth seed Elena Dementieva. Second seed Davenport had a match point in the final set tie-breaker, but Dementieva saved it before winning 8-6 to set up a semifinal match against 12th seed Pierce. A lethargic Davenport was broken four times as Dementieva ripped through the first set in 27 minutes, with her own serve, which had yielded 50 double faults in her opening four matches, holding up well. Davenport looked rattled, but as the match progressed, Dementieva’s double faults began to creep in and the 1998 champion bounced back to level the match. Dementieva, runner-up last year, served for the match at 6-5 in the third set, but Davenport broke back and then held a match point at 6-5 in the tie-breaker, only to see the Russian reel off three straight points to clinch victory. — Reuters
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Sania wants to be number one
Hyderabad, September 8 “God willing, I will be world number one some day and be the first Indian woman to do a lot more things”, Sania, who returned to her home city after a creditable run at the US Open, said. The talented teenager, who would be leaving tomorrow to take part in the Bali Open and next play at the Sunfeast Open in Kolkata, refused to be drawn into a debate on her dress code following the reported objections raised by some religious leaders in the city. “I do not want to comment on the issue,” she said at a press conference here today, organised by her sponsor GVK Industries. The local media had quoted religious leaders insisting that Islam did not permit short dresses and any sport which required wearing skirts or shorts should be avoided by Sania was more willing to speak on her encounters in the USA. Asked whether she experienced any racial discrimination, she replied, “No one said that a girl from a Third World country is playing the fourth round of a Grand Slam. I never faced such a situation,” Sania, the first Indian to play in the fourth round of a Grand Slam, said. She enjoyed both the high-voltage matches with Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, though she was tense before playing Serena at the Dubai Open. “With Sharapova, I had no such problem and enjoyed every moment of the game,” she said. “Strokewise, we are at a par but, her service and some returns were good”, she said. When pointed out that her popularity ratings matched that of Sachin Tendulkar, Sania said she was flattered to hear that. “But honestly speaking, cricket is my favourite game and I am a fan of Tendulkar”, she said, adding that the India-New Zealand match was on her mind when she was playing in the USA. “I am not competing with cricket in popularity, but if Tennis is getting popular in the country, it is a welcome sign,” Sania, who was awarded Rs 20 lakh by the state government today for her remarkable performance in the USA, said. On her new coach John Farrington, she said the two really did not work together much as she was having an injury. However, she would continue to consult Bob Brett, the Italian coach, whenever time permitted. Sania was coping with her celebrity status, though it was difficult at times. “Wherever I go, I get noticed. My dress gets noticed. It is strange, but I am getting used to it,” she said.
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India urgently need genuine allrounder
DESPITE our overwhelming defeat of India in the tri-series final, we reckon Sourav Ganguly’s side can look forward to the next World Cup with hope. India remain a dangerous batting side, but they can do with an allrounder or two. At the moment, they have spinner-allrounders, which probably will not be such a bad thing when playing in the West Indies.
They have good part-time spinners in Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag and this will only be bolstered once Sachin Tendulkar returns to the fold. The conditions in the Caribbean will be similar to the pitch we faced in the tri-series final in Harare. But India still need a quality quick bowler, who can also be a genuine batsman at the number six spot. If you can have somebody like Chris Cairns and Jacob Oram, guys who are basically two cricketers in one, you will have a genuine advantage over others. On the other hand, we probably need to unearth bowlers like Tendulkar and Yuvraj. The present one-day season has just started to roll, but early indications suggest that along with Australia, England, South Africa and Pakistan are three other sides which have made advances. I genuinely feel that in the next World Cup, any of the top eight sides can lay hands on the trophy. We presently have a squad which, if it remains together and is injury free at the time of the World Cup, can work wonders. It will be wrong to say that a few of our guys can be getting along in years around 2007. You need youth as much as experience to cover all eventuality. Nathan Astle on Tuesday was a case in point. Australia, for example, also have a side where a lot of guys are over 30. But I must admit that there are a few in our side who feel the 2007 World Cup can well be their swan song. There is little denying that I want to be a part of the next World Cup. It is one of my ambitions, as it is to finish with at least 100 Test wickets and 150 in one-dayers. If I am injury free, there is a good chance I will do it. I realise, as everyone else does, that fast bowlers’ have a shorter career compared to a few other vocations in the game. But from the days since I got filled and stronger in my body, I have always wanted to bowl fast. I am sure a day will come when I will not be able to do it, but at the moment, it remains the high passion of my life. If I have to name one fast bowler from the modern era whom I admire, then it has to be Brett Lee. He bowls his deliveries at a good pace, can bowl outswingers and is aggressive without being abrasive. I have played against him, and watched him bowl and admire him hugely. My return to international cricket has been good and man of the series tags in both Tests and one-dayers is a good way to finish a tough tour. These are tough conditions for a fast bowler in Zimbabwe: it is very, very dry and after a workout, you feel sensation in your lungs. Whether in Tests or one-dayers, I try to bowl similar. I like to keep it simple, bowl in the channel and do not worry much about anything else. I have been trying to bowl slower balls on and off and it fetched me a couple of wickets in the tri-series. As we head home, we take delight in winning the tri-series, which is only our fourth series win away from home; some achievement this, even though we were always going to make the final. Still we look at beating India in the final as a big deal. We will like to keep on improving and be a real contender for the World Cup.
— PTI |
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Warne gives Australia the upper hand London, September 8 The leg spinner induced a string of errors from the home batsmen to leave England on 319 for seven at the Oval today, completing figures of five for 118 from 34 overs to raise his tally to 33 wickets in the series. Strauss recorded his seventh Test century and his second of the series, putting on 82 with Marcus Trescothick for the first wicket and 143 with allrounder Andrew Flintoff, who made 72, for the fifth. England, having beefed up their batting at the expense of their bowling, opted to bat on a perfect strip and looked well-placed before Warne produced a 38-ball burst either side of lunch to take four wickets for 16. Strauss’ chanceless innings was intelligent, in stark contrast to some of the shot selection of his team-mates. His tactics were clear from the start, sacrificing his favourite square cut to kick Warne away off the front pad while cashing in on the other bowlers. The Oval is a high-scoring ground and the best batting deck among England’s Test venues. Having won the toss, England would have been looking to top 500 first time out. At 82 without loss, they looked on course. At 131 for four early in the second session, though, English hopes looked horribly over-inflated. The home team, having opted for an extra batsman in Paul Collingwood to replace injured fast bowler Simon Jones, were desperate to set the agenda. Glenn McGrath, who passed a late fitness test on an injured elbow, bowled four overs for four runs but was then hammered for four boundaries off 10 balls. Strauss unfurled a square drive to the boundary, then drove the next wide of mid-on. Marcus Trescothick joined in with a pull and a drive past the bowler. Brett Lee, too, was leaking boundaries, conceding five off four overs. Fast bowler Shaun Tait, in his second Test, replaced him and was sent back to the outfield after two overs costing 15 runs. Ricky Ponting was thus forced to turn to Warne after a mere 13 overs and the wickets soon came. Trescothick, having looked ominously comfortable in compiling 43 including eight fours, dabbed without conviction and edged to slip, Matthew Hayden taking a fine ankle-height catch. Vaughan hit two boundaries off Warne but the England captain lazily clipped a catch straight to mid-wicket and Ian Bell departed for a duck, lbw as he pushed forward. Three wickets had gone for 22. At 115 for three at lunch, England were kicking themselves. At 131 for four, they probably felt like kicking Kevin Pietersen, who played across a gentle leg spinner from his county colleague and was bowled for 14. England lead the series 2-1. Australia can retain the Ashes with a victory at The Oval. Scoreboard England (1st innings) Trescothick c Hayden b Warne 43 Strauss c Katich b Warne 129 Vaughan c Clarke b Warne 11 Bell lbw Warne 0 Pietersen b Warne 14 Flintoff c Warne b McGrath 72 Collingwood lbw Tait 7 G. Jones not out 21 Giles not out 5 Extras (b-4, lb-6, nb-7) 17 Total (7 wickets, 88 overs) 319 Fall of wickets: 1-82, 2-102, 3-104, 4-131, 5-274, 6-289, 7-297. Bowling: McGrath 19-5-48-1, Lee 17-3-68-0, Tait 15-1-61-1, Warne 34-4-118-5, Katich 3-0-14-0. — Reuters
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Ebrahim props up Zimbabwe Board XI Mutare, September 8 The middle-order batsman staked his claim for a berth in the opening Test with a battling 159 after they were reduced to 91 for six in the warm-up tie at the Mutare Sports Club ground here today. Ebrahim, who was ignored for the Test series against New Zealand because of a string of poor scores, made 159, facing 251 balls hitting 28 boundaries and a six. The diminutive batsman walked in at 16 for 2 and bailed the hosts out of a tight spot with a 94-run sixth-wicket stand with Sean Williams, who made only 10. Later, he had an entertaining unbeaten 80-run stand with Keith Dabengwa, who finished the day scoring an unbeaten 40. The match had serious overtones both for the hosts and the Indian side even though there was a bit of tomfoolery as 12 players represented the Indians and 13 were accepted from the Zimbabwean side. It effectively ruled it out as a first-class game and remained just a warm-up tie for the two sides. Zimbabwe Board XI top order failed to put up a good partnership losing quick wickets and were struggling at 71 for 5 at one stage. Indian medium pacers were frustrated by the slowness of the track and Zaheer Khan, who joined the team for the Test matches, came in for some harsh treatment, giving away 107 runs in 20 overs but picked two top-order wickets. Zaheer, along with Laxmipathy Balaji, got the bulk of the day’s overs, as did Anil Kumble who was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets. — PTI
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JCT Football Academy win
Chandigarh, September 8 Having missed a couple of sitters in the initial stages, JCT academy found the match-winner in the 88th minute when Gurvinder managed to dodge two defenders before shooting into the corner of the net. Earlier, in the 25th minute, the Phagwara outfit missed an easy chance when off a flag kick by Palwinder, Sunil Kumar headed the ball out. Mahilpur FC also hit back through Balwant Singh, whose cross for Mandeep in the 43rd minute saw the latter aiming a powerful shot, but Gurpreet under the JCT academy bar effected a fine save. In the 55th minute, JCT academy’s Bawa Singh fed a measured pass to Hardeep, who was off target. Thereafter, Mahilpur FC missed two open chances . First, Dhiraj failed to capitalise on a pass by Satwinder in the 70th minute and then Sandeep missed a sitter much to the dismay of his team-mates. Yesterday, JCT Mills and Punjab Police split points with a goal-less draw at Jalandhar while PSEB and Mahilpur FC were also locked goal-less at Hoshiarpur a day earlier. Tomorrow, BSF meet PSEB at Jalandhar. The kick-off is at 4.30 pm. |
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Women float professional golf association
New Delhi, September 8 Veteran woman golfer Sita Rawly, who won her third national title at the age of 50-plus in 1979, and Anjani Desai, both Arjuna awardees, would be the patrons of the WGAI. The other office-bearers are: president: Satish Tandon; vice-president: Smriti Mehra; secretary general: Champika Sayal; joint secretary: Rohtas Singh; treasurer: V.S. Singh; members: Anupama Singh, Kavita Singh, Sunita Goenka and the PGAI. PGAI president Arvind Khanna, through a press note issued at the launch of the WGAI, said it was exciting news for Indian golf. The first major event to be hosted by the WGAI would be a Skins event, preceded by a pro-am, and a golf clinic at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon from October 21 to 23. The clinic would be held at the Army Golf Club in Delhi. Offering a prize money of $18,000, the tournament would be contested by India’s first and only Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour player Simi Mehra Guffin, President, Tour players of LPGA, Heather Daly Donofrio, Tour regular Hilary Lunke and 2004 Rookie of the Year Celeste Troche of Paraguay. The PGAI would allow 12 women professionals to participate concurrently in some select events on the men’s PGAI Tour. In March 2006, the WGAI would host the first-ever Women’s Professional Golf Championship.
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Punjab Police cagers win
Chandigarh, September 8 In the third and fourth quarters, Punjab Police played well and won the match. The score was 20-17 in the first quarter, 21-16 in second quarter, 15-8 in third quarter and in last quarter the score was 15-14 in favour of Punjab Police. In another match played in the morning, Jalandhar women registered their second victory against Gurdaspur women, having defeated Rest of Punjab women last night. In yet another match, BSF, Jalandhar, had as easy victory against Punjab junior men, winning 68-32. Jalandhar women defeated Gurdaspur 56-38. In men’s section, Punjab Police and Rest of Punjab topped the table with six points each, having won all three matches they had played so far. In the women’s section, Ludhiana and Jalandhar with four points each remained on top of the league table.
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Arjun Singh keeps Indian flag flying
Singapore, September 8 Arjun was cruising at two-under through 16 before he lost two shots in as many holes, finding the bunker on the par-three eighth and missing a 10-foot par putt on the ninth. Jyoti Randhawa finished with a three-over 74. Ashok Kumar brought in a creditable one-over 72 on a tough day, while Jeev Milkha Singh and Rahil Gangjee had to be satisfied with a 74 each. — PTI |
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New Delhi, September 8 Rubbishing speculation in a section of the Press that Rajinder was on his way out, IHF President K.P.S. Gill said there was no move at all to remove the coach. — PTI
Patiala, September 8 The girls who played for the Patiala team were Gurpreet Kaur Atli, Puja Sharma, Gurpreet Kaur Daggar, Moksha, Jasmine Kaur, Gagandeep Kaur, Robin Sharma, Lovdeep Kaur and Gurpreet Kaur. |
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