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Ganguly ‘twisted’ Chappell’s statement
BCCI to discuss spat after tour
Yousuf Youhana embraces Islam
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India are underdogs: Paes
Four-year-old boy completes 58-km run
Four records tumble at swimming meet
Ludhiana, Jalandhar lifters share honours
Atray matches washed out
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Ganguly ‘twisted’ Chappell’s statement
Harare, September 18 The source also said it was “disgraceful” on the part of the Indian captain to have “manipulated public opinion” as he, and a few of his men within the team, had been resisting coming out of their comfort zones and conform to the parameters of physical, mental and technical excellence which Chappell and Co. had been insisting upon. It is learnt that all through the present tour, Ganguly had been seeking reassurance from Chappell by presenting his statistics of the past couple of years and comparing these with others like Rahul Dravid to stress that he still could serve the team as batsman and captain. However, Chappell has been stating that those figures do not take into account the opposition, the run of play and the manner in which these runs have been scored. The source claimed that Chappell’s only insistence had been to find the 15 men who are India’s best bet for the 2007 World Cup and he could not care less if it was a Ganguly, Dravid or Sehwag who were not able to cope up with the demands. Chappell’s stance is simple. A cricketer has the option to select himself among the 15 for the next World Cup or be out of it, said the source. It is learnt that Ganguly is “way down” in the parameters set out by Chappell on physical and mental fitness and he believes he can’t have two different set of rules. Ganguly has also not endeared himself to the coach by walking out from the batting crease during the warm-up game at Mutare on this tour as soon as the second new ball was taken. Ganguly had then complained of strain in his elbow. However, he then resisted submitting himself to any medical check-up, stating that he was just “fine”. Mohammad Kaif, the batsman who was left out of the team for the first Test, was “shattered that ‘his Dada’ did not speak a word to him for the first two days of the Test or offered any consolation,” claimed the source. “Chappell is a great admirer of what Ganguly has done for India but feels there comes a moment when everyone’s time is up. It happened to Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and there is no disgrace if it is a similar situation with Ganguly. “Ganguly has helped Indian cricket turn a new leaf but it is now up to him to decide whether he really wants to take Indian cricket forward or let it regress. He has to decide if an individual or a team is important.” Chappell feels if the parameters are not adhered to and exceptions are made, it would be too late down the six months’ time, said the source. A few others in the team, said to be close to Ganguly, have also resisted coming out of their comfort zones. It is learnt that Ashish Nehra started suggesting that he had pain in his back just before the Test series began at which point the coach advised him to leave for home. Nehra went away suggesting he would seek experts’ advice in South Africa but instead went to England, said the source. “Nehra basically wants to reserve himself for one-dayers and is not willing to take the workload required for Test matches,” he said. “Zaheer Khan is also not up to the mark and during the first Test in a few of his spells, his deliveries hardly reached the wicketkeeper.” It would appear now that the knives are out to get Chappell as so far he has not received any phone call from any BCCI official to hear his side of the story. A soft target could be Chappell’s assistant Ian Frazer, who has absolutely been marvellous with the boys but is on tenuous grounds because he has not been offered a contract by the Board yet. If Frazer goes, Chappell’s plans will come crashing down for it is he who implements Chappell’s ideas. It is also learnt that Chappell has already identified 18 players who could do duty for India in the next World Cup. Also, there have been many Indian cricketers who in recent weeks have expressed gratitude over the help Chappell has offered. Irfan Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, M.S. Dhoni, Mohammad Kaif and Harbhajan Singh have all said they have benefited immensely in the past two months. The source claimed that Chappell felt Dhoni was the next superstar of international cricket. “He has no doubt that Dhoni is exceptional, and is the next Gilchrist of world cricket,” the source said, adding that there was even an attempt after the tri-series to retain him for the Test squad.
— PTI |
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BCCI to discuss spat after tour
Thiruvananthapuram, September 18 “BCCI President Ranbir Singh Mahendra will take a suitable decision to deal with the matter, which will be initiated immediately after the completion of the Zimbabwe tour,” Nair told PTI. Meanwhile, BCCI’s annual general body meeting would be held in Kolkata on September 22 and 23. The agenda for the meeting includes election of new office-bearers, adoption of Secretary’s report, presentation of accounts and consideration of reports of various committees and sub-committees.
— PTI |
Sunfeast Open promises riveting tennis
Kolkata, September 18 Billed as one of South Asia’s biggest sporting spectacles on the strength
of its prize money and the star-studded line-up, the tournament brings to India
its second event in the WTA circuit after the Hyderabad Open. The teenager’s aggression and fiery forehand, combined with her fancy T-shirts and style statements, have made the Hyderabadi the craze among tennis fans in the country, and it would not come as a surprise if Kolkatans turn out in large numbers to watch her in action. Sania, who has had a fairy-tale climb up the ranking ladder this year to reach a commendable 34th spot, would be keen to pocket her second WTA title and pick up valuable points to continue the fast-forward march towards the top. The tournament affords Sania, who faces a yet-to-be-decided qualifier in the first round, a chance to give a befitting reply to critics who have consistently dubbed her as inconsistent — a tag reinforced by the unexpected first-round loss to an unheralded Elena Bychkova at Bali days after her fine showing at the US Open, where she created history by making it to the fourth round. However, Sania has rubbished the “inconsistency” label with the same aggression which she displays on the court. “I think people should start facing reality, they should start accepting the fact that I am going to lose some matches,” said the third seed. The overbearing security presence, complete with machine-gun-toting commandos and sophisticated gadgets around Sania and at the venue is threatening to take the fun out of the meet. The organisers have pleaded helplessness as the state government and the city police are not willing to take any chances regarding Sania’s security. As far as the draw in concerned, the route for Sania till the semifinal stage looks rather easy as she would be taking on much lower-ranked opponents. If she does make it to the last four, she could run into second seed Likhovtseva. But she might find herself up against the formidable seventh seeded Croat Karolina Sprem in the quarters. Despite now having slipped to 85 in WTA ranking, Sprem is known for her giant-killing acts and could prove to be a tough customer on her day. There are two other Indians in the fray — Uberoi sisters Shikha and Neha — and another US citizen of Indian origin — Sunitha Rao — in the main draw. While the elder sibling Shikha has a rather easy opener against Ryoko Fuda of Japan (185), wild-card entrant Neha (248) takes on the higher-ranked Sunitha (161). The latter has been a lucky entrant in the main draw after German Marlene Weingartner pulled out at the last moment. The two Uberois and Rao would be looking forward to collect some points from this tier III WTA event and advance in the WTA ranking. For Shikha, who has failed to live up to her early promise when millions of Indians expected her to become the first Indian woman to make it to the top 100, it is a chance to reclaim some of the spotlight which she has lost so overwhelmingly to Sania. The top-seeded Myskina, former world number two and last year’s French Open winner, would be keen to end her title drought in 2005 with a victory here. The Russian begins her campaign against the 125th-ranked Romanian Edina Gallovits. The tournament gives her a golden chance to take her career WTA titles to 10 and move towards regaining her position among the world’s top 10. Other entrants among the world’s top 100 are Italians Maria Elena Camerin (72) and Antonella Sera Zanetti, Spaniard Laura Pous Tio (80), Japan’s Rika Fujiwara (93), Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand (94), Austria’s Sybille Bammer (97) and Emmanuelle Gagliardi of Switzerland. In the doubles, Sania would be partnered by world’s number one doubles player Virginia Ruani Pascual of Spain and the pair appears the hot favourite for the title.
—PTI |
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India are underdogs: Paes
New Delhi, September 18 Leander’s mind is now preoccupied with finding the perfect combination for the tie, particularly in the singles, taking it granted that he and Mahesh Bhupathi would be pairing up in the doubles. Leander is highly impressed with the progress made by Prakash Amritraj, but cannot make up his mind about the second singles player. Harsh Mankad and Rohan Bopanna have not really lived up to his expectations. Harsh, who has played in over 10 Davis Cup ties, will be joining the team this evening after expressing some reservations about being the “fifth” member of the team. Leander stepped in to clear his doubts and paved the way for Harsh joining the team. But Leander seems not much impressed with fourth member Rohan Bopanna’s game. The Indian captain, who flew in from Bangalore this morning, headed straight to the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) facility to have a strenuous workout with Prakash, Rohan and coach Nandan Bal. Bhupathi, presently busy with the WTA Tour event in Kolkata, is expected to join the squad tomorrow, and the training sessions will get into full blast a day later. Leander wants to share his experiences with the younger players for the larger cause of Team India, though he gets just a week to do that before every cup tie. “It is a continuous process”, he points out, conceding that “there is no greater joy than playing for the country”. Leander demonstrated to Prakash Amritraj how to bring his arm down while serving to get that perfect rhythm. And Bopanna was given a tutorial on his backhand returns. Leander seemed not at all happy with the languorous pace at which Bopanna was effecting his backhand returns. The captain wanted him to hit his backhand with a quick flourish and volley with sharp reflexes. He demonstrated how to do it, and then sent down some stiff serves for Bopanna to return. But he sprayed them all over, getting it right only a few times. The captain concedes that playing Sweden is not like playing some Asian teams like China or Uzbekistan. Leander had given Prakash and Harsh the breaks to come good against China (Delhi) and Uzbekistan (Jaipur), and both did well, but in varying styles. But the captain would not take such a gamble against Sweden, unless he is fully satisfied with the quality of players he would be fielding in the singles. On current form and fitness, it is almost certain that Prakash would feature as one of the two singles players. |
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Four-year-old boy completes 58-km run
Bhubaneswar, September 18 The boy, his trainer claimed, had just completed a distance of 58 km running all the way. Hardly four years of age, Budhia Singh, however, didn’t appear to fathom what the fuss was about. Budhia’s trainer Biranchi Das said the child, who has been displaying enormous stamina, had traversed the distance from the Jagannath temple at Puri to Bhubaneswar in over seven hours. “The boy, who lives in a slum in the Goutam Nagar area of the city, has the rare potential to become a marathon runner and compete in a future Olympics if properly guided,” said Das, secretary of the Orissa State Judo Association. Everyday Budhia used to regularly cover 30 km on the Cuttack-Puri NH-201 but today he extended it up to 58 km, from the grand road at Puri to the Judo Association campus here, Das said. Das is leaving no stone unturned to make him an athlete of substance and has also prepared a road map in this regard. “I wish to see that he finds a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the youngest marathon runner”, he said. The coach and his trainee board a bus early morning to reach their destination from where Budhia returns to Bhubaneswar running all the way, with Das cycling Budhia’s father Krushna Singh, a beggar, died a few months ago. His mother has been struggling to maintain a family of five, including three daughters and the young boy. Das, who is the president of the Kalingaputra Basti Basinda Association, intervened to take Budhia under his wings and kept the boy with him along with 20 other poor boys on the judo association campus here.
— PTI |
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Four records tumble at swimming meet
Ludhiana, September 18 The first record was rewritten in the women's section when Gurbinder Kaur, a student of BA I, DAV College, Hoshiarpur, clocked 2.50.54 secs to set a new record in the 200 m backstroke. The earlier record was in the name of Ravneet Bhullar since 1992. Puneet Rana of Ropar who had won a silver medal in the Asian Aquatic Championship recently proved too good for his rivals and in the process, rewrote the meet record in the 200 m breaststroke. He took 2.30.67 secs to improve his own record of 2.37.01 secs set in 2002. Another meet record was established in the 200 m breaststroke event. Mankiran Kaur of Sangrur clocked 3.07.24 secs to put to shade the previous record of 3.09.85 secs set by Bindya Sareen of Ludhiana in 1993. Ramneet Kaur of Sangrur created a new record in th 200 m individual medlay. She clocked 2.53.97 secs to better the earlier record of 2.54.39 secs set by Ravneet Bhullar of Patiala in 1993. Results: Men: 200 m backstroke: Dalbir Singh of Punjab Police 1, Jeetinder Singh of Sangrur 2, Amarpal Singh of Ludhiana 3; 200 m breaststroke: Puneet Rana of Ropar 1, Harpreet Singh of Ferozepore 2, Jaswinder Singh of Amritsar 3; 200 m individual medley: Rajesh Punia of Punjab Police 1, Harpreet Singh of Ferozepore 2, Dinesh Rajoria of Punjab Police 3; 200 m freestyle: Rohit Jamba of Jalandhar 1, Gagan Matta of Ferozepore 2, Manjeet Singh of Punjab Police 3; 200 m butterfly: Chandeep Singh of Jalandhar 1, Harshit Narang of Patiala 2, Avneet Singh of Amritsar 3. Women: 200 m backstroke: Gurbinder Kaur of Hoshiarpur 1, Lajdeep Kaur of Patiala 2, Gagandeep Kaur of Jalandhar 3; 200 m breaststroke: Mankiran Kaur of Sangrur 1, Arpanjit Kaur of Sangrur 2, Sumati Mehta of Hoshiarpur 3; 200 m individual medley: Ramneet Kaur of Sangrur 1, Mankiran Kaur of Sangrur 2, Prabhjot Kaur of Ropar 3; 200 m freestyle: Gurbinder Kaur of Hoshiarpur 1, Ira Kailey of Patiala 2, Amanjot of Patiala 3; 200 butterfly: Ira Kailey of Patiala 1, Harsimran Kaur of Ropar 2, Chiranjeev of Ludhiana 3. |
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Ludhiana, Jalandhar lifters share honours
Ludhiana, September 18 Ludhiana lifters Balwinder Singh won top honours in the below-77 kg category. With an attempt of a total of 255 kg, he was well ahead of the others. Balwinder was followed by Gursharan Singh of Ferozepore who lifted 240 kg (total) while the third position was won by local lad Hitesh Sharma who lifted 232.5 kg (total). Another lad from Ludhiana, Baljit Singh, secured a gold in the below-85 kg category. Baljit’s attempt of 277.5 kg lift fetched him the gold while the second and third spots went to Harpreet Singh of Patiala (275 kg) and Gagandeep Singh of Amritsar (255 kg). Results: Below-56-kg Rahul Sharma of Jalandahr 1, Harpreet Singh of Ferozepore 2 and Jaskaran Singh of Amritsar 3; below-62 kg Ankur Sharma of Jalandhar 1, Gurpreet Singh of Ludhiana 2 and Deepak Sharma of Ludhiana 3; below-69 kg Munish Sharma of Ropar 1, Dinesh Kumar of Patiala 2 and Manjinder Singh of Amritsar 3; below-77 kg Balwinder Singh of Ludhiana 1, Gursharan Singh of Ferozepore 2 and Hitesh Sharma of Ludhiana 3; below-85 kg Baljit Singh of Ludhiana 1, Harpreet Singh of Patiala 2 and Gagandeep Singh of Amritsar 3; below-94 kg Dalvir Singh of Gurdaspur 1, Pawan Kumar of Ludhiana 2 and Jagdeep Singh of Gurdaspur 3. |
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Atray matches washed out
Chandigarh, September 18 Bishnoi Cricket Club, led by Kuldip Bishnoi, MP, and having under-19 World Cup captain Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Sidhana in their ranks, split three points with local outfit Minerva Cricket Academy. The second match at St John’s Sector 26, Chandigarh, between PCA Colts and ICL Cricket Academy, Chandigarh, was also called off without a ball being bowled. All-out efforts were being made to make both the Sector 16 stadium and the St John’s High School ground fit for tomorrow’s match. Tomorrow’s fixture: ICL Chandigarh vs Minerva Cricket Academy at St John’s School (9 am). |
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Ludhiana, Jalandhar eves to vie for title
Ludhiana, September 18 Today, in the men’s section, PSEB and Punjab Juniors played a ding-dong battle with the latter enjoying the lead for most of the time. However, the experienced cagers from PSEB managed to scrape past their rivals 76-65. Pawandeep and Snehpal Singh of PSEB contributed 29 and 16 points, respectively while Sumit and Aman scored 30 and 13 points for the losers. In the women’s section, Jalandhar recorded a comprehensive 40-26 victory over Kapurthala to keep their slate clean in the second leg of the league. |
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