 |
|
| SPORTS TRIBUNE |
|
Sachin Tendulkar’s return is likely to be the talking point
of the tournament
Big-game hunter IN THE NEWS
|
|
|
|
Open challenge The annual “selection test” for Indian cricketers, the Challenger series, is here again. At stake is a place in the Indian team for the home series against Sri Lanka and South Africa. India Seniors, led by Sourav Ganguly, are pitted against VVS Laxman-led India A and Dinesh Mongia’s India B. Ganguly is a doubtful starter due to an elbow injury. Missing the series might prove to be a blessing in disguise for the beleaguered skipper, as he is under pressure not only to regain his batting form — despite the century in Zimbabwe — but also to lead the seniors to victory. If he plays, and fails on both fronts, the selectors would get a good reason to remove him from captaincy. While the “big boys” would be desperate to cement their place in the team, the up-and-coming players have a great chance to make it to the big league. There are several promising players to watch out for, such as Tamil Nadu allrounder Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan (surprisingly in the India Seniors team), Punjab pacer VRV Singh (India A) and India Under-19 skipper Ravi Kant Shukla (India B). Among the “discarded” ones, Dinesh Mongia will try to claw his way back into the side. Despite a fruitful stint in English county cricket, Mongia was overlooked for the tours of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Hopefully, he will be able to impress the selectors this time. The cynosure of all eyes will undoubtedly be Sachin Tendulkar, who is making a much-awaited comeback after a long injury layoff. He couldn’t have asked for a better (re)launch pad. The Challenger arena has been a happy hunting ground for Tendulkar. In the inaugural edition, back in 1994-95 at Kolkata, he led the seniors to victory, scoring half centuries in all three matches. In the 1996-97 competition at Mohali, he hit two centuries, including a superb 113 in the final, which was enough to snuff out the challenge of India B. The tournament promises to be an exciting affair, in spite of the absence of Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag, who are busy playing in the Super Series Down Under, and Anil Kumble and Ashish Nehra, who have been rested. History is on the side of the seniors, but India A have sometimes upset their applecart. Ten Challenger tournaments have been played so far, with the seniors winning six times and India A coming up trumps on four occasions. (India B got to lay their hands on the trophy only once, when they shared it with India A during the rain-marred 1998-99 series). The Challenger series has been the ideal platform for young cricketers to give top players a run for their money. Utpal Chatterjee, playing for India A in the 1994-95 event, made his way into the national squad for the Asia Cup by dint of his impressive performances. However, he did not last long and was chucked out of the team soon. VVS Laxman and Mohammad Kaif got the selectors’ nod thanks to their showing in this domestic tri-series. Murali Kartik, Sarandeep Singh, Hemang Badani and S. Sriram have also made their presence felt in the tournament. Some fresh faces are also likely to emerge in the 11th edition of the series, starting at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on October 10. The big question is: which of the old ones would they replace in the team? |
||
|
Spellbound He played his last Test in 2002 and was seen last in the ODI squad more than a year ago. Jettisoned by Team India, Sanjay Bangar has been knocking on the selectors’ door with his performance with the willow and the cherry but that proving inadequate, the allrounder has changed the spelling of his name to Sunjoy, hoping for better days. After leading Railways to their second Irani Trophy title, the gutsy allrounder was clearly embarrassed when asked to reveal the story behind the sudden change in spelling. “It was my wife who suggested I should use this new spelling from now on, and coming from her, I can’t ignore that. She said it would do good to my career,” Bangar said with a shy smile. Asked whether the change had paid off, Bangar said, “I went for the new spelling last month and now led my team to victory in the Irani Trophy today. And you are asking whether it worked?” A reticent yet determined player who gives his 100 per cent on the field, Bangar, however, was reluctant to comment on his chances of staging a comeback and book a berth in the national team. “To be honest, I’m not thinking about that. I’m doing whatever I can. I want to have a long season this time and score maybe 1,000 runs, besides a handful of wickets. I cherish and value playing first-class cricket and it has been an excellent experience leading the Railways team,” said the player known for his never-say-die attitude and cool exterior. More at ease talking about his team, Bangar said he expected a few of his team-mates to get the national call. “I think JP Yadav, who was part of the Indian ODI team in Zimbabwe, Murali Kartik and Harvinder Singh might get the nod for the national team. That’s why we are grooming a number of youngsters and it would be exciting to see how they prove their mettle,” he said.
— UNI |
||
|
Big-game hunter
There’s no resting on his laurels for Raja Randhir Singh, a distinguished sports administrator and currently the lone executive member from India in the International Olympic Committee. Having played a key role in India’s successful bid for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, he is determined to ensure that the 2014 Asian Games, too, come India’s way. It was Randhir Singh whose initiative led to the inception of the Afro-Asian Games, held for the first time in Hyderabad, 2003, and the Indo-Pakistan Punjab Games, organised last year in Patiala. Another brainchild of his is are the Indo-Bangladesh Bengal Games, which aim to bring together West Bengal and erstwhile East Bengal. Thanks to his efforts, India emerging as a prominent host of major international games. Recently, the Order of Merit Award was conferred upon him by the Olympic Council of Asia for his contribution to sports in Asia. Randhir, an Olympian in shooting, was honoured by the Association of National Olympic Committee earlier this year. He is also the recipient of the Arjuna Award, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award and a doctorate degree in sports from the Laxmi Bai College of Physical Education, Gwalior. To top it all, he is the Secretary-General of the Indian Olympic Association and the Vice-President of the Commonwealth Games Federation. “To bid successfully for any international games, strategic planning is needed, besides excellent relations with the who’s who of top sport bodies,” says Randhir Singh. With much modesty, he feels it is teamwork which eventually wins the day. India played host to the first Asian Games in 1951, which were organised with the initiative of his grand uncle Raja Yadavindra Singh. India got the 1982 Asian Games due to the intensive lobbying by Randhir Singh’s late father and former President of the Indian Olympic Association, Raja Bhalender Singh. The 1982 Asiad ushered in a new era for sports in India. Sports marketing, too, got a big boost. All eyes are again on New Delhi, which is gearing up to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Randhir is hopeful that the next five years would witness improvement in sports infrastructure, increase in funding for sportspersons, rise in sports revenue, etc. Thousands of athletes from over 70 Commonwealth nations would converge on Delhi in 2010 to take part in more than 15 disciplines. Can India host the Olympics in the next decade or so? Why not, asks Randhir. “Once we successfully host the Commonwealth Games and hopefully the 2014 Asian Games, India can make a concerted bid for the Olympics”. The bid for the 2016 Olympics can be made seven years earlier. In 2009, with the support of the Central Government, the IOA would make a bid to the IOC, says Randhir. He is confident that by the 2010 games, India would become a force to reckon with in sports. He cites the example of China, which was nowhere in sports about two decades ago, but with better infrastructure and funding, is today a threat to the USA. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China can top the medal tally, states Randhir. Following in China’s footsteps can do India a world of good, feels 59-year-old Randhir, who is committed to giving impetus to sports in India. |
||
|
IN THE
NEWS
The match was hailed as a victory in the fight for equality — but it was the players themselves who ended up fighting in the final of Pakistan’s first Women’s Football Championship. Last week’s title clash between Punjab and Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) descended into an ugly brawl after a solitary goal from a spot kick won the trophy for the Punjab team. WAPDA goalkeeper Azra Matloob stopped a penalty kick but Shekha Nazeer scored off the rebound. However, since Azra got injured, her team members became furious. Pictures of the resulting free-for-all — showing women from the two teams clawing at each others’ Islamically-correct outfits of trousers and long-sleeved shirts — were splashed all over local
newspapers. Again showing that punch-ups are not restricted to the men’s game, the players nearly came to blows again at the prize ceremony when they exchanged some
hot words. The Pakistan Football Federation initially played down the incident as a “football flare-up” but later imposed a ban on two footballers and their coach. WAPDA captain Munaza Nazeer, player Khalida Noor and their male coach Qasim Shah were banned for
two years. Munaza and Khalida became the first Pakistani sportswomen to face a ban in the country. “We want to set a precedent that indiscipline can never be tolerated,” said federation President Faisal Saleh Hayat, also a federal minister. The biggest fears of violence before the game had come from Islamic hardliners, who earlier this year caused a riot during a mini-marathon in Lahore because women were participating. To avoid any trouble, players in the football tournament were not allowed to wear shorts or T-shirts and male spectators were also banned. Despite the brawl in the final, the landmark event was by and large a success.
— AFP |
sm
Federer at his best Roger Federer, the Swiss top seed, proved his supremacy by beating Andre Agassi in the last Grand Slam of 2005 — the US Open. The result was a foregone conclusion. However, kudos to the 35-year old Agassi for his grit and determination due to which he reached the final. Winning one set against Federer was also an achievement for him. In contrast, the women’s final was a tame affair. Belgium’s Kim Clijsters easily beat France’s Mary Pierce in straight sets. Mahesh Bhupathi did India proud by bagging his ninth Grand Slam title, partnering Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia in mixed doubles. Sania Mirza’s entry into the fourth round was unprecedented in the history of Indian women’s tennis. — D.K. Aggarwala, Hoshiarpur Ganguly down,
not out In the editorial “Coach versus captain” (The Tribune, September 19), it has been aptly pointed out that nobody can take away the contribution that Sourav Ganguly has made to Indian cricket both as a batsman and as the most successful captain. His batting has deteriorated to a great extent but he is capable of regaining his lost touch. Coach Greg Chappell should have avoided asking Ganguly to step down. — Subhash C. Taneja, Rohtak II Apropos of the news item
“Sourav, Chappell stick to their guns”
(The Sunday Tribune, September 18), the stand-off between the captain and the coach was most unfortunate. The two have to work in tandem for achieving success. Ganguly should step down from captaincy and concentrate on his batting, letting someone else lead the team. His performance has reached its nadir. Just by scoring a century against Zimbabwe, one of the weakest teams in the world today, he can’t claim to have regained his lost touch. He will have to prove it against a tough opposition. Perhaps there is a suspicion in Ganguly’s mind that he may not keep his place in the team after giving up captaincy. — Tarsem S. Bumrah, Batala |
