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Netherlands beat India
Chennai Diary
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PHL gets new features
Makhaya Ntini of South Africa in action during the first Test against Australia in Perth on Friday. — AFP
photo
Delhi HC allows BCCI to invite fresh telecast bids
POA elections not being held on time
Indian cyclists end medal drought
Athletics meet results
Lyallpur Khalsa win
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Netherlands beat India
Chennai, December 16 Though the Netherlands won the game 2-1, but it was India which won the praise and sympathy of the crowd in what was perhaps the best performance of the home team in the tournament so far. Friday’s matches Spain 3 Germany 2 Netherlands 2 India 1 Pakistan 3 Australia 3 A draw would have been inconsequential to India’s standing in the tournament but it would have been a great solace to a completely transformed team, which after losing 1-4 to Australia not only matched their more fancied opponents but would have ended victorious but for missed chances. Credit must go to the Indian goalkeeper Bharat Chhettri who stood like a rock and executed half a dozen brilliant saves. Umpiring in the match was not as it should have been at this level of hockey. In the 37th minute, for example, the umpire had to change his decision three times. In the first instance, he awarded a penalty corner which he had to reverse in consultation with his colleague. Seconds later, he awarded a corner which was then changed to a free hit. And in the last minute, he awarded a penalty corner to the Netherlands as a lesson to Indians for hitting the ball after the whistle. In the 60th minute, he had shown yellow card to Harpal Singh for an offence which may have been penalised with a green card. Had the game been drawn, the Netherlands could have lost the chance to play the Sunday’s final as earlier Spain had beaten Germany 3-2 in yet another absorbing game. Spain with nine points waited breathlessly for the India-Netherlands game to end. But the things did not go the way the defending champions wanted it to go. Today was perhaps the first time when India excelled not only in markmanship but also gave a brilliant display of short and crisp passes with forwards working like a well oiled machine. Supported by an agile and alert deep defence, they time and again threatened their opponents by trying to wrest the initiative in the beginning. Had Prabhjot Singh taken his chances on sitters from close positions, first of Adam Sinclair’s (21st minute) and then again in the second half (41st minute), things would have been different. Scorers: India: Sandeep Singh (66th minute). Netherlands: Roderick Weusthof (51st), Taeka Taekema (70th). |
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Chennai
Diary
I have an emotional attachment with Indian hockey. I am ready to move to India with my family provided the Indian Hockey Federation
(IHF) is ready to give me a free hand in planning and training Indian team,” says Richard
Charlesworth.
Richard Charlesworth, who played 227 games for Australia during a 16-year international career, of which 130 games were as captain of the team, is currently Director of High Performance of New Zealand
cricket. Newzealand’s High Performance Centre (HPC) is one of the game’s most obvious examples of the commitment to lift achievement levels and consistency in cricket, says
Charlesworth. Much of the thinking that has marked the innovative cricket New Zealand has played in recent years has emanated from the HPC where intensive research and analysis is carried out to assist in the development of game plans. Specialist coaches for the national sides, at all levels, are based at the centre. A doctor, first class cricketer, and Member of Parliament, this hockey genius represented Australia in four Olympics and four World Cups. Of all the highlights of his career, none stands out as much as his wonderful effort at the 1986 World Cup in London, where he captained his team, nicknamed Charlie’s Angels, to Australia’s only World Cup victory. Richard was the leading goal scorer of the tournament, and was voted as the Player of the Tournament. After his playing career, Charlesworth had a very successful stint as the coach of the Australian women’s hockey team. The Hockeyroos under Charlesworth shattered the Holland-Germany duopoly in women’s hockey, which had shared between them the first seven World Cups from 1974
(Mandelieu, France) to 1990 (Sydney, Australia). Charlesworth coached the Hockeyroos to two Olympic golds (1996, 2000), two World Cup titles (1994, 1998), five consecutive Champions Trophy titles and the Commonwealth Games title (1998) in a seven-year stint. “My attachment with the Indian hockey is from my childhood. If hockey is played in Australia today, it is all because of India. “Many Anglo-Indians migrated to Australia after Partition of India in 1947. The Pearce brothers, Eric, Julian, Mel and Gordon Pearce, migrated from Lucknow to Perth after independence, and have all represented Australia in the Olympics. Eric played in 1956, ‘60 and ‘64, Gordon played in 1956 and ‘60, Mel played in 1956, and Julian played in 1960 and ‘64. Eric’s daughter Colleen continued the tradition, representing Australia in the women’s competition in the 1984 Los Angeles Games,” recalls Charlesworth revealing that an officer from Mumbai police, who migrated to Australia, coached the Australian team that won a medal in the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games. “It was this coach who always believed that Australia could beat India and in 1976, we beat both India and Pakistan but lost the final,” says
Charlesworth. “I am not after a coaching assignment. It will be sad if India does not return to winning ways in hockey. If Pakistan offers me a job of coaching their team, I will frankly say no. I love India and want that it should be back to make to the last four of all major tournaments. Unfortunately it has not done so for the last 30 years,” he says. Richard Charlesworth maintains that he has no contact with the Indian Hockey Federation after he submitted his proposal some years ago. |
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PHL gets new features
Patiala, December 16 The IHF has introduced two major changes which have been brought about on the basis of the feedback gathered from the inaugural edition of the PHL-1, held at Hyderabad last year. The first change endorsed by the IHF is to have best of three finals in the Tier-1 championship instead of declaring the winner on the basis of the points won in the round robin league. Now the two teams, having the maximum number of points in the round robin stage, will slug it out in the best of three finals. In the Tier-2 championship, the team having the maximum number of points will be declared the winner as the best of three final rule has not been applied in The second major change envisaged by the IHF is to arm both the on-field umpires with mikes. This is in continuation of ESPN-Star Sports’ — the official producers and broadcasters of the PHL — policy of making the PHL one of the most attractive hockey leagues in the world. This feature, reveal IHF Earlier, the IHF has already announced the use of the third umpire which will come into play only if the on-field umpires want a second opinion. It will be used to adjudicate whether a ball in play has crossed the goal line. The third umpire will also come into play to adjudicate whether a penalty stroke can be given in case of a infringement inside the ‘D’ and to decide whether a ball has been legitimately deflected inside the goal by the attacker or not. The playing ‘quarters’ will be the same as they were in the Hyderabad edition. There will be four ‘quarters’ of 17 minutes and 30 seconds each and the team winning in the stipulated time will earn 3 points while the points will be divided in the ratio of 2:1 for team coming first and second in extra time. Meanwhile, the IHF has roped in Mauritis Hendricks, the present coach of the Spanish team doing duty in the ongoing Champions Trophy as its technical consultant for the
PHL, while the Kolkata-based firm, Leisure Sports Management, will be
co-ordinating all the on-field activities during the course of the Chandigarh tourney. |
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Ntini puts SA on top
Perth, December 16 Ntini removed the Australian openers Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer then added the scalps of Brad Hodge, Mike Hussey and Adam Gilchrist to complete his first five-wicket haul against the world champions. Ntini broke through in the second over of the day when Hayden skied a catch to Jacques Rudolph in the slips cordon for a duck but Ponting and Langer steadied the Australian innings with a second-wicket partnership of 111. Ponting struck 12 boundaries and Langer six to lay the foundations for a big total. But the South Africans hit back after lunch, wiping out the last nine Australian wickets for 147 runs. Langer was caught by Smith at mid-on and Ponting was trapped lbw by Pollock after passing England opener Marcus Trescothick as the world’s leading runscorer in 2005 and looking set for a hundred. Hussey and Hodge guided Australia through to tea with a 63-run stand before the batting collapsed again in the final session, with the last seven wickets tumbling for just 78 runs. Scoreboard Australia (1st innings) Langer c Smith b Ntini 37 Hayden c Rudolph b Ntini 0 Ponting lbw Pollock 71 Hodge c Boucher b Ntini 41 Hussey c Langeveldt b Ntini 23 Symonds b Nel 13 Gilchrist c Gibbs b Ntini 6 Warne lbw b Langeveldt 24 Lee not out 19 Bracken c Boucher b Nel 10 McGrath c Boucher b Nel 0 Extras
(b4, lb2, w2, nb6) 14 Total (all out in 75.2 overs) 258 Fall of wickets:
1-0, 2-111, 3-117, 4-180, 5-185, 6-199, 7-210, 8-243, 9-258. Bowling:
Pollock 19-6-46-1, Ntini 19-3-64-5, Langeveldt 17-1-100-1, Nel 17.2-3-29-3, J Kemp 3-0-13-0. South Africa (1st innings) De Villiers batting 14 Smith batting 18 Extras:
(nb-6 ) 6 Total (for no loss in 7 overs) 38 Bowling:
McGrath 4-0-18-0, Lee 2-0-15-0, Bracken
1-0-5-0. — AFP |
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Delhi HC allows BCCI to invite fresh telecast bids
New Delhi, December 16 A Division Bench of Justice M.K. Sharma and Justice R.C. Chopra vacated the stay on the tender process which was challenged by Zee Telefilms as being arbitrary and aimed at ousting Indian bidders. The permission was granted by the court after the BCCI filed an affidavit giving an undertaking about cancelling the earlier tender process and invite fresh bids. However, Zee Telefims has not withdrawn its petition and sought permission to respond to the BCCI’s affidavit. He also submitted that the fresh tender process should be subject to the final outcome of the petition filed by Zee Telefilms.
— PTI |
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POA elections not being held on time
Chandigarh, December 16 Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, former Union Sports of Minister, has been holding the post of POA President for the past 27 years. The President of the Punjab Rifle Shooting Association, Mr Gurbir Singh, says when a person of the stature of Mr Dhindsa was himself defying the Societies Act and holding on to the office of President without amending the POA constitution, how can the present team of POA office-bearers continue to hold office. The three-year term of the POA ended this January but the accounts were still being operated. As per the existing practice, if any amendment is to be made in the constitution of the POA, the consent of the general council members of the body is required. But during the past three years, not even a single general council meeting was convened by the Secretary General, alleged Mr Gurbir. In May, 2005, the executive council meeting of the POA was called, which on its own decided to hold the elections after a period of four years which is against the rules of the POA. K.S. Sidhu, Secretary-General, POA, however, said earlier also the POA elections were never conducted in time. He said this practice has being continuing for many years. But one of the sport administrators was critical of the IOA’s stand on the issue. “The IOA should have taken serious action against the POA for not holding its meeting once the deadline of October 14, 2005, given by it to hold a meeting and holding fresh elections, ended,” he said. “On October 14, the last day of the deadline set by the IOA, another executive council meeting was held in Jalandhar where in the agenda items, holding elections was never listed,” alleged Mr Gurbir. Meanwhile, Punjab has not seen any state games held under the banner of the POA during the past many years unlike the Haryana Olympic Association, which was organising state games every year. Even a small unit like the Chandigarh Olympic Association had recently hosted similar games in October this year. Mr Gurbir, who is also the President of the Netball Federation of India, suggested that either the POA can hold a general council meeting or order fresh elections if they were serious in promoting sports in Punjab. Mr Dhindsa was not available for his comments on the issue. The sources in the POA added that a similar situation had arisen in 1999, when the POA elections were not held and the decision was taken in the general council meeting to prolong the term of the then existing body to 2002. But this time, no general body meeting was held, and hence, the term of elected POA office-bearers has ended. Though the extended term of four years will also end on January 11, 2006, no notice of the elections has been issued so far. |
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Indian cyclists end medal drought
Ludhiana, December 16 With this medal drought for India ended after a gap of 12 years. It was in 1993 that an Indian rider Bitas had bagged a silver medal in the 3000 m individual pursuit event in the Asian Cycling Championship in Malaysia. In the 3-km team pursuit for the junior women, Indian quartet of Gurpreet Kaur, Tombisana H., Ishwarya V. and Neeta B. finished behind the South Korean team to bag the first medal in this edition of the meet. Pakistan team had to content with the bronze medal. Hosts won the second silver medal in the 3-km team pursuit for the elite women section too. South Korea lifted the gold medal. Only two teams competed in this event as third team from Chinese Taipei was not allowed by Mr J.S. Grewal, secretary, Cycling Federation of India, to take part in the final as one member of their squad was down with fever. Mr Grewal objected that four riders comprise a team which could take part in the team pursuit event, however, the Chief Commissaire, Ding Cruz, opined that three cyclists could take part in the event. In other events, China, Kazakhstan and Japan secured one gold medal each. South Korea with 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals continued to top the medals' tally, followed by China who won eight medals, including five gold. |
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Athletics meet results
Amritsar, December 16 Results: (men) 10,000 M - Angrej Singh, Sports College, Jalandhar, 33.53 sec, Sarbarinder Singh, St. Soldier, Jalandhar, 34:10 sec, Balwinder Singh, DAV, Jalandhar, 34:27. 200 M - Harpreet Singh, LKC, Jalandhar, 22:03 sec, Sukhpal Singh, DAV, Jalandhar 22:08 sec, Sandeep Kumar, LKC, Jalandhar 22:41 sec. Women: 5 km walk - Jyoti, HMV, Jalandhar, 28:03.06, Isha Rani, HMV, Jalandhar, 34:35.08, Varinder Kaur, BBKDAV (W), Amritsar 40:44.12; 1500 m - Rajwinder Kaur, HMV, Jalandhar, 5:13.28, Savita Kumari, BBKDAV (W), Amritsar, 5:18.66, Amanpreet Kaur, HMV, Jalandhar, 5:29.84; 100 m Hurdles - Harpreet Kaur, BBKDAV (W), Amritsar, 16:35, Preeti, HMV, Jalandhar, 17:90, Harpreet Kaur, BBKDAV (W), Amritsar, 19:34; 200 m - Mandeep Kaur, HMV, Jalandhar, 26:34, Rupinder Kaur, SN, Qadian, 26:99, Tejinder Kaur, HMV, Jalandhar, 28:00; 400 m Hurdles - Harpreet Kaur, BBKDAV (W), Amritsar, 1:07.6, Amandeep Kaur, BBKDAV (W), Amritsar, 1:08.32, Amandeep Kaur, HMV, Jalandhar, 1:09.53; hammer throw: Ramandeep Kaur, HMV, Jalandhar, 36.45, Pavneet Kaur, HMV, Jalandhar, 33.49, Champreet Kaur, BBKDAV (W), Amritsar, 29.13.
— OSR |
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Lyallpur Khalsa win
Chandigarh, December 16 As per information reaching here, in the match played between Lyallpur Pur Khalsa team and Raj Government School, the half-time score In the second match between Government Senior Secondary School, Gurgaon, and
Government School, Kurukshetra, the half-time score was 2-2. Pardeep scored three goals for the winners. |
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