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South Asian Games
First one-dayer
washed out
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SLC may seek
compensation
Wright’s remarks
‘pure guess work’: Dravid
Chappell ‘in race’
for Aussie coach
Rain hampers Pak
progress
Johl stays in title
hunt
Anand avenges defeat
Pak squad
for hockey World Cup Vij finishes poor seventh
Punjab Police edge
out JCT FA
Mittarpal receives
best coach award
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Swimmers rule the pool
Sri Lanka’s Mayaumi Raheen got the better of Tejaswini to earn the first gold for the host nation, setting a new South Asian Games record in the process. In a tight finish, Poncha clocked 4:05:94 seconds to claim gold while Hawaldar, who was breathing down his neck, timed 4:05:98 to get the silver. Pakistan’s Mehbob Ali took the bronze with a timing of 4:25:30. In the women’s 100m breaststroke, Mayumi clocked 1:15:84 to better the 1999 SAF record held by India’s Shiba Wadia. Tejaswani timed 1:18:91 for the silver while the bronze went to Mahsuja Khatoum (1:20:19) of Bangladesh. In men’s 200-metre breaststroke, Arjun Jayprakash clocked 2:27:12 seconds to claim the gold while compatriot Sandeep Sejwal (2:27:12) had to contend with silver. Bangladesh’s Nafiz Niaz Ali won the bronze with a timing of 2:27:43 seconds. In women’s 50 metre freestyle India’s Lekha Kamat won gold with a timing of 27.70 seconds. Sri Lanka’s Mayaumi Raheen took the silver clocking 28.87 while the bronze went to Rubab Reza (29.18 s) of Pakistan. In men’s 50-metre butterfly, Virdhabal Khade added another gold to India’s tally with a timing of 25.97 seconds. The silver was bagged by Bangladesh’s Jewel Ahmed (26.60s). Milinda de Silva won the bronze finishing the race with a time of 26.89 secs. In women’s 200-meter butterfly, India’s Pooja Alva won gold with a timing of 2:24:82 seconds while compatriot Madhavi Giri claimed the silver, clocking 2:26:07 seconds. Sri Lanka’s Miniruwami Samarakoon (2:40:81) took the bronze. In the last aquatics event of the day, India (8:7:56 sec) won gold in 800-metre freestyle relay while Pakistan (8:18:82 sec) took the silver. The bronze went to Sri Lanka (8:23:26 sec). Football
team in semis
India secured a place in the semifinals of the football competition at the 10th South Asian Games after a hard-fought victory over Bangladesh here on Saturday. India won 2-1. First half goals by Sushil Kumar Singh and Branco Vincent Cardozo put India in a comfortable position. Even though Bangladesh pulled one back in the second half, India managed to hold on to the lead. India, who fielded a under-20 side in the tournament to prepare it for the Asian Youth Championship in Bangalore starting October 29, have seen their campaign here get off to a stuttering start with draws against Afghanistan and Nepal. India will now have four days to prepare for their semifinal clash on August 24. If they win the semis clash, they will fight for the gold on August 26. Rowers
make clean sweep
S. Bajrangal Takhar grabbed a double as India made a clean sweep of the rowing events today in the 10th South Asian Games bagging all the four gold medals on offer here. In
the men’s four coxless event, the team of B. Manoj Augustine,
Gurdarshan Singh, Sukhjeet Singh and S. Krishnan pipped their Pakistani
rivals to win the gold with a timing of 06:19.17. Sri Lanka bagged the
bronze. In men’s single scull, Bajrangal Takhar, competing in the
fourth lane, clocked 01;03.22 in 500m, 03:25.94 in 1000m, 05:21.47 for
an overall result of 07:24.64 to bag the gold. Pakistan’s S.
Muhammad Akram had to be content with the silver with an effort of
07:39.42. Sri Lanka’s S. Sena Fonsenka picked the bronze. Bajrangal Takhar then paired with B. Sunil Kumar in the double scull to finish on the top of the podium with an overall timing of 06:43.57. Pakistan’s
B. Maqbool Ali and S. Ali Hassan bagged the silver at 07:02.66 while Sri
Lanka’s B. Kamal Chandana and H.M. Amaradasa got the bronze. The men’s
coxless pair event saw India’s B Dharmesh Sangwan and S Joshi win the
gold at 06:49.24. Pakistan and Sri lankan rowers bagged the silver and
bronze respectively. Paddlers
thrash Bangladesh
Indian men paddlers outclassed Bangladesh 3-0 in their opening match of the South Asian Games here on Saturday at St Thomas indoor stadium. India rested their top paddlers Achanta Sharath Kamal and Soumyadeep Roy in the first tie of the team event and fielded young Pathik Mehta and Ranbir Das, who after suffering a first game loss, bounced back to win the next three games. National champion Shubhajit Saha faced no such problem and he breezed past Mostafa Billa 11-3, 11-2, 11-4. Pathik prevailed over Mahabub Billa 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 in the first tie. Das started with a 2-11 loss to Nasimul Hasan Kochi, but raised his game to win the next three 11-7, 11-6, 11-3 and clinch the issue. In
other matches, Pakistan thrashed Maldives 3-0 while Sri Lanka mauled
Bhutan 3-0. — PTI
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First one-dayer
washed out
Colombo, August 19 The match was to be resumed after being suspended last evening, but overnight and morning showers made sure no play was possible at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground. Even yesterday, only 22 balls were bowled after the start was delayed by four-and-a-half hours due to wet ground conditions caused by persistent rains the previous night. Play was stopped due to bad light with India 11 for no loss after electing to bat, and soon the thick clouds hanging over the ground burst open and left the ground flooded. The umpires and the organisers had hoped for a delayed start today, but the heavens literally poured cold water on their hopes with another sharp spell that left the groundsmen with an improbable task on their hands. However, minutes after the match was called off, the sun broke through the clouds. The officials would be praying that the weather holds good and allow the second match, scheduled to be played at the same ground tomorrow. It has been a jinxed series to the say the least. What was supposed to be a triseries was reduced to a three-match bilateral affair after South Africa cried off the tour after a bomb exploded less than 2km from their hotel on Monday, the day of the series opener. The Indians have seen more of the rain and gun-wielding security personnel than action on the field. One of their two warm-up matches was cancelled due to wet weather and apart from a couple of practice sessions, their visit has been restricted to evening meals at their favourite restaurants. At least the hosts and the South Africans played two Tests, before the latter returned home. With most players confining themselves to their hotel rooms, journalists were left approaching one another for bytes. Questions
have also been raised about Sri Lanka Cricket’s decision to hold all
matches in Colombo, which experiences rains from the south-west monsoon
at this time of the year. Four of the tri-series matches were supposed to be held in down south Dambulla that escapes the monsoon rains. But some rumblings in the SLC saw the matches shifted to the capital city. The
Dambulla stadium was built when Thilanga Sumpathipala was the president
of the cricket board. The current ruling faction of the SLC did not want
their adversary to benefit from the series in anyway and had no qualms
in redrawing the itinerary barely a month before the start of the
series. — PTI
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SLC may seek
compensation
Colombo, August 19 The tri-series matches would have to be replayed as it fell under the ICC Future Tours Programme. As per the ICC regulations, the matter would go to the ICC Disputes Resolution Committee
(DRC) only if the two boards failed to arrive at a consensus. The DRC
verdict could see South Africa being fined heavily. Reports here said
the SLC would claim for compensation since it did not foresee the
tri-series being rescheduled in the near future because of the cramped
schedule. — PTI
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Wright’s remarks
‘pure guess work’: Dravid
New Delhi, August 19 Wright, in his
recently published book ‘Indian Summers’, went public saying that
Sachin Tendulkar felt “let down” when Dravid, who was the stand-in
captain during that Test, declared the innings leaving the little master
stranded on 194. Though the two senior players or the team did not make an issue out of it, the timing of the declaration was widely debated across the world. “I
haven’t read his book. There is nothing I need to worry about and
explain. The two people most involved in the event, Sachin (Tendulkar)
and me, are very clear about what it was all about,” Dravid said. “We
have discussed it and put it well behind us a long, long time ago. We
continue to share a healthy respect and friendship. We are the only two
people who actually know what we discussed, and so anyone else’s view
on what happened can only be pure guesswork,” Dravid was quoted as
saying in Outlook magazine. Dravid admitted it was indeed tough and frustrating to take decisions like dropping senior players like V.V.S Laxman and Anil Kumble out of one-day squad but said he had learnt to take it in his stride. “You
have to make some difficult decisions as a captain. It is not always
easy. It sort of comes with the job. I have been around for a while,
including as vice-captain. I have seen tough decisions being made by
others as well”, Dravid said. Dravid said the India media gets carried away about the toss and team compositions. “There
is a tendency in India to get a bit carried away with things like the
toss, who’s playing in the XI, what’s the nature of the pitch. These
things happen even before the first ball is bowled,” he said. About
Steve Waugh’s observations in his book that one feels alienated from
the boys after his elevation as captain, Dravid said it was possible. “It
can happen. A little subconsciously. As a captain you have a lot more
responsibilities and a lot more things on your mind. Perhaps the boys
want to make you feel comfortable and give you a little more space and
some distance.” But he praised vice-captain Virender Sehwag for proving to be a good link between him and other players. “Viru
has been really good. I have enjoyed his role as vice-captain. Along
with senior players like Kumble, Sachin, Laxman, Harbhajan, Yuvi, Ajit
and Kaif, he has always given me some very good feedback. I like his
thinking, and his approach is really very important to me.” The
Bangalorean said coach Greg Chappell has helped him cope with the
frustrations. — PTI
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Chappell ‘in race’ for Aussie coach
Melbourne/Mumbai, August 19 Chappell,
who was appointed India’s coach in May 2005, is contracted with the
BCCI till the end of the World Cup. The question of whether the contract
would be extended will be decided later. That Chappell was a strong candidate to take over from current Australian coach John Buchanan was revealed by Cricket Australia Director and former captain Allan Border. “John
(Buchanan) has decided that after the World Cup he is going to be moving
on. Therefore we need an Australian coach. It’s a tough job,” Border
said. “Tom Moody, Tim Nielsen, Greg Chappell is in the mix, Dav
Whatmore is now coaching Bangladesh and he was a long-term coach at Sri
Lanka as well. We’ve got a lot of good candidates for a tough job,”
he was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph today. The newspaper
report also said that Chappell’s contract “will not be renewed by
mutual agreement with the BCCI”. The BCCI, however, dismissed the
report as “incorrect” and said it would take a decision of renewing
Chappell’s contract after the World Cup. “That is incorrect. There
has been no such mutual agreement. We will decide over the issue
(whether to continue with Chappell as coach) after the World Cup. He’s
been contracted to be the Indian coach till the end of the tournament,”
BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah told PTI today. Chappell, currently in
Colombo for a cricket series against Sri Lanka, has said he had neither
been approached by Cricket Australia for the job nor has he been told by
the BCCI that his contract would not be extended. — PTI
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Rain hampers Pak
progress
London, August 19 Yousuf, 115 overnight, had edged up to 121 not out at the Oval, leaving most of the scoring to his captain, who was unbeaten on 27. Only 11.5 overs were possible in the session after more than an hour was lost to rain. England have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series. They were bowled out for 173 on the first day. Inzamam contributed two sumptuous back-foot boundaries, the first off Matthew Hoggard and the second off the struggling Steve Harmison, in the five overs available before the players were forced off for the first time. On his return he quickly added two more fours off Harmison. Harmison and Hoggard, however, the only two bowlers used, tightened up their lines just before lunch. More rain, however, ended play a few minutes early. Scoreboard
England (1st innings) 173 Pakistan (1st innings) Hafeez c Strauss b Hoggard 95 Farhat c Trescothick b Hoggard 91 Younis c Read b Mahmood 9 Yousuf not out 121 Inzamam not out 27 Extras
(lb-8, nb-7, w-11) 26 Total (3 wkts, 93.5 overs) 369 Fall
of wickets: 1-70, 2-148, 3-325. Bowling: Hoggard 28-2-92-2,
Harmison 20.5-2-97-0, Mahmood 18-2-74-1, Panesar 19-3-60-0, Collingwood
6-0-29-0, Pietersen 2-0-9-0. — Reuters
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Lebanon make winning
start
Olympic gold medallists Argentina also made a smooth start but defending world champions Serbia & Montenegro fell victim to Nigeria in the first big upset. Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points as the USA produced an efficient 111-100 win over Puerto Rico in their Group D opener. Fellow co-captain LeBron James added 15 points as the tournament favourites recovered from a slow start. The USA finished an embarrassing sixth at the last world championship in Indianapolis in 2002 and took bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics. They won the last of their three world titles in 1994 and their last Olympic gold medal in Sydney six years ago. Lebanon’s
players were forced to endure an arduous bus journey through bombed-out
villages into Syria and Jordan to escape Israeli air strikes before
arriving in Japan. But they looked sharp in their opening Group A game with Venezuela, Fadi El Khatib pouring in 35 points in a convincing 82-72 victory. New
York Knicks guard Ime Udoka grabbed 18 points as Nigeria’s tenacious
defence and open-court speed brought a deserved 82-75 win over Serbia
& Montenegro in Group A. Argentina avoided an early slip-up against France, San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili hitting 22 points in a solid 80-70 win in the evening game in Group A. Olympic silver medallists Italy overcame a rampant Yao Ming in an 84-69 victory over China and Slovenia underlined their credentials as potential dark horses with a 96-79 win over Senegal in Group D. Yao scored 30 points but had little support while Gianluca Basile had 27 points to lead Italy. Meanwhile, Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Novitzki scored 27 points as Germany began with a comfortable 81-70 victory over hosts Japan in Group B. African champions Angola beat Panama 83-70 and Spain blew past New Zealand 86-70 in later games in Hiroshima. The
Australians upset Brazil 83-77 in Group C with C.J. Bruton scoring 16
points and Sam Mackinnon 15 for the winners. — Reuters
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Marion in dope soup
Raleigh (USA), August 19 The US
media reported the blood-boosting drug erythropoietin (EPO) had been
found in Jones’s urine sample. Under anti-doping protocols, an athlete is not considered to have committed a doping offence until his or her B sample has tested positive and the athlete has been afforded an arbitration hearing. Jones would face a minimum of a two-year ban if it is determined she has committed a doping offence. Neither the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) nor the US Olympic Committee (USOC) would comment. Jones’s
general counsel also would not discuss the matter. “It is
unfortunate that the integrity and the confidentiality of the testing
process may have been breached, but Marion Jones has always been clear,
she has never taken performance-enhancing substances, not now, not ever,”
Rich Nichols said in a statement to Reuters. “She is always prepared
to do whatever it takes to demonstrate that she has never taken
performance-enhancing substances.” He did not elaborate. The 30-year-old Jones has been under investigation by USADA in connection with the BALCO laboratory doping scandal although she had never failed a doping test. She withdrew suddenly from the Golden League meeting in Zurich on Friday and flew back to the USA for personal reasons, organisers said. Jones is the third high-profile American athlete to fail a doping test this year. Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin tested positive for testosterone at a relay meeting in April and cyclist Floyd Landis failed a test for testosterone at the Tour de France. Jones’s
former coach, Trevor Graham, is also under investigation by USADA and
the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). He is the
current coach of Gatlin. Jones won gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x400m relay at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney while being coached by Graham. She also won bronze medals there in the long jump and 4x100m relay. She has repeatedly denied taking performance-enhancing substances. However, the San Francisco Chronicle has reported her former husband, banned shot putter C J Hunter, told federal investigators he injected Jones with banned substances and saw her inject herself. Jones also previously was the partner of disgraced former 100m world record holder Tim Montgomery, who was banned for the sport for two years in connection with the BALCO scandal although never failing a doping test. After two years of poor performances following the birth of her son with Montgomery in 2003, she made a triumphant return this year. She won the US 100m championship in 11.10 seconds and was first in several races in Europe. She
has three of the five fastest times in the world this year with a best
of 10.91 seconds to rank second overall behind Jamaica’s Sherone
Simpson. — Reuters
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Johl stays in title
hunt
Sanya (China), August 19 Johl, who has had two top-three finishes this season, had a superb three-under front nine, but found his touch deserting him on his way back. But the Indian veteran held on for a one-over 37 and finished with a 70 that put him in tied sixth place at 10-under 206, five off the lead held by teenager Chinarat Phadsungil. The Thai prodigy carded a 68, despite a closing bogey, and stands at 15-under for a two-shot lead over Australian Unho Park (66) and 2005 Asian Tour No. 1 Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand (68). It was a mixed day for the Indians. While SSP Chowrasia rose from tied 34th to tied 19th with a four-under 68, Gaurav Ghei (70) slid from tied ninth to tied 13th. Harmeet Kahlon (73) dropped from tied ninth to tied 23rd, where he gave company to Rahil Gangjee (71) and Digvijay Singh (69) at five-under. Gangjee stayed at his overnight position, while Digvijay moved up from 34th to 23rd ensuring all six Indians were inside the top-25. Chopra
jumps to tied 12th
Medinah (USA): Daniel Chopra ensured a memorable week as he fired a superb five-under 67 to shoot up to tied 12th place midway through the US PGA Championships. The Swedish player of Indian origin who was even par for the first day is now five-under 139 for two days at the fourth and final Major of the year. Henrik
Stenson of Sweden, Luke Donald of England and Americans Billy Andrade
and Tim Herron, all on eight-under-par 136, made it a four-way tie for
the lead on the crowded leaderboard. — PTI
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Anand avenges defeat
Mainz, August 19 After a poor start that left him trailing Radjabov by a full point after the opening day of this eight-game match, the victory was a much-needed boost for Anand. After the fourth game of the match ended in a draw, the scores are now tied at 2-2. Grandmaster P. Harikrishna came up with another sparkling show winning five of his last six games in the Finet Chess 960 open chess tournament to be tied for fourth spot in this section with 8.5 points out of a possible 11. Harikrishna,
who had won the Cleric medical chess 960 junior champion match against
Arkadij Naiditsch of Germany earlier in the event, will now defend his
junior title next year against GM Andrei Volokitin of Ukraine who earned
the right to meet the champion after emerging as the best junior at the
Finet open. — PTI
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Pak squad for hockey World Cup Karachi, August 19 The squad was announced by Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Akhtarul Islam in Abbottabad after the trials. Centre-half Mohammad Saqlain, who could not lead the Pakistan team in the Champions Trophy in Terrassa because of serving a three-match ban slapped by the International Hockey Federation, was reappointed captain. Striker Rehan Butt was appointed vice-captain. World-record holder drag-flicker Sohail Abbas, who has scored 279 international goals, has been retained in the squad along with left-half Waseem Ahmed. The two players had come out of retirement last month and were part of the team that finished fifth in the Champions Trophy. Squad: Salman Akbar, Nasir Ahmed, Sohail Abbas, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ehsanullah, Ghzanfar Ali, Mohammad Imran, Adnan Maqsood, Mohammad Saqlain (capt), Waseem Ahmed, Dilawar Husain, Rehan Butt, Waqas Akbar, Shakeel Abbasi, Akhtar Ali, Mohammad Shabbir, Adnan Zakir and Mohammad Zubair. — PTI
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Beijing, August 19 The Delhi lad, who was the world junior leader in his event going into the final with an effort of 20.35m at the Junior Federation Cup in Chennai last year, could throw the six kg iron ball to a distance of only 19.75m in the final today. Estonia’s Marcus Hunt erased Vij’s mark setting a world junior record of 20.53m for the gold medal. Egypt’s Abdul El-Moaty Mostafa followed him with 20.14m. China’s Yanxiang Guo claimed the bronze medal with a throw of 19.97m. — PTI
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Punjab Police edge
out JCT FA
Chandigarh, August 19 A goal by Balraj
Singh saw JCT Football Academy taking the lead in the 14th minute but
Harpreet’s equaliser in the 27th minute brought Punjab Police back on
even terms. In the 51st minute Balraj once again struck for JCT FA but Punjab Police restored parity through Parminder Singh who found the target in the 74th minute. The match winner for Punjab Police came in the 80th minute when Harnek Singh capitalised on a fine move to slot home from close range (3-2).
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Mittarpal receives
best coach award
Patiala, August 19 The VC awarded a citation and Rs 21,000 to Mittarpal, who has been instrumental in leading Punjabi University to title wins in the All-India Inter-University cycling meets since 1994. Mittarpal, who at present is doing duty as coach with the Indian cycling team in the ongoing South Asian Games at Colombo, has produced many international cyclists. One of them, Hitraj Singh, was given the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award in July this year. Other prominent international cyclists produced by Mittarpal are Abhishek Rana, Harpreet Singh, Raninder Singh and Sarpreet Singh.
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Video
Colombo, August 19
Sapporo (Japan), August 19
