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Hockey team promised Rs 1 cr if they win World Cup
Punjab set to host national hockey meet
Agassi defies age, Baghdatis to win thriller
Greece stun US, face Spain in final
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Yuvraj Singh eyes a golf ball during a practice session at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore on Friday. — AFP
photo
I am good enough to play for India, says Sourav
Gibbs, Boje agree to play in India
Eves on top
Randhawa soars to tied 7th
Inter-district police meet ends
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Hockey team promised Rs 1 cr if they win World Cup
New Delhi, September 1 The Premier Hockey League (PHL), an initiative of Indian Hockey Federation(IHF) and ESPN Star Sports, today announced a cash reward of Rs 1 crore to the Indian team if they win the World Cup. Even if they fail to get the top prize, they can still be richer by Rs 50 lakh or Rs 25 lakh if they finish second or third, respectively. This promise of a huge cash incentive is to spur the Indian boys to do well in the World Cup, as India have not won the title after Ajitpal Singh’s men brought home the cup form Kuala Lumpur in 1975 for their one and only title triumph. IHF president K. P. S. Gill termed the promise of the cash award as a major step in bringing Indian hockey back to its glory days. “It is a big day for Indian hockey. The Premier Hockey League has achieved all that it has promised till date, and I am confident that it will continue to do so in future as well,” he said. Gill said the Indian team, under the dynamic coaching of former Indian captain Vasudevan Bhaskaran, “has gelled well and has shown improved performance”. He said the rewards announced by the
PHL will inspire the team to give their best shot at the Hockey World Cup in Germany. “The hockey world is very competitive. There is not much gap in the top teams of the world. The introduction of a video analyst will help the Indian team to
strategies in a better way,” Gill elaborated. The IHF president noted that the
PHL will also “take care of the rehabilitation cost of Sandeep Singh, including his physiotherapy abroad, so that the drag flicker resumes duty for the Indian team as soon as possible”. Gill admitted that the absence of Sandeep will be “felt” by the team, but hastened to add that “the boys have put behind the incident of Sandeep’s injury and are more focussed.” IHF secretary K. Jyothikumaran said Raghunath, the young drag-flicker from Karnataka, will most probably be the replacement for Sandeep Singh in the World Cup. He said Raghunath, after playing in the South Asian Games in Colombo, reached Germany yesterday and will play friendly match against Japan before a final decision is made on Sandeep’s replacement from among Raghunath, Jugraj Singha
and Bikramjeet Singh. Jyothikumaran said the PHL announcement of the Rs 1 crore cash bonanza has been “well received by the players and the coaches”. The IHF president, noting that the World Cup team under Bhaskaran was on the right track, took some of the former players to task for finding fault with everything the IHF was doing to “gain cheap publicity”. “Some four or five players find it (IHF bashing) an easy way to get publicity,” he said. Gill also blamed the media for giving space to these chest-beaters and for always finding faults with the IHF through “negative journalism”. He said the chances of the Indian team in the World Cup will depend on their performance in the opening match against Germany as India are in a tough group and a win against the hosts would give them a head start.
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Punjab set to host national hockey meet
Chandigarh, September 1 Though the Indian Hockey Federation is yet to make a formal announcement declaring Punjab as the host state for the 2006 championship, all preliminaries have been worked out. “We will host the championship,” declared Mr S. S. Virk, President, Punjab Hockey Association (PHA), after he held a meeting with the Secretary of the Association, Mr Hardip Singh Dhillon, and Director of Sports, Mr Pargat Singh, here today. The Secretary of the IHF, Mr K. Jothikumaran, who was in Chandigarh and Punjab some days ago, had also held meetings with Mr Virk and the President of the Chandigarh Hockey Association, Mr Chandersekhar. “We will make a formal announcement within three four days,” Mr Jothikumaran told The Tribune over the telephone this afternoon saying that the dates of the championship and other formalities have to be settled before hand. “We would like this championship to conclude by October 22 as the All-India Inter-University Hockey Championship is to be held from October 28 to November 5. The Nehru Hockey Championship starts on November 14. As such, it would be ideal to hold the tournament in October,” Mr Jothikumaran said. The last time Punjab played host to the National Hockey Championship was in 1981 in Jalandhar. Incidentally, the last time Punjab won the National Championship was in Meerut in 1982. “We plan to organise the championship preferably at four venues dividing the participating teams in eight pools,” says Mr Hardip Dhillon. “We have synthetic surfaces at Guru Nanak Dev University (Amritsar), Surjit Hockey Stadium (Jalandhar), Punjab Agricultural University (Ludhiana) and Namdhari Vidayak Jatha (Bhaini Sahib). We will use all these four venues to hold the pool matches.” The PHA proposes to hold the four quarter-finals at Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Bhaini Sahib, semi-finals at Ludhiana and Amritsar and final at Jalandhar. “We have the infrastructure ready,” says Mr Pargat Singh. In the last National Championship held at Hyderabad in 2005, besides 40 affiliated units, four teams from amongst associate members had participated. A separate tournament was held in Delhi for all the teams of all the 12 associate members and four top teams qualified for the Hyderabad championship. “In all 52 teams had participated in the last national championship,” adds Mr Jyothikumaran. After the World Cup in Monchengladbach in Germany, India has Asian Games in Doha in December this year.
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Agassi defies age, Baghdatis to win thriller
New York, September 1 The eight-time major title winner overcame an ailing back and advancing years to beat eighth seeded Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5 yesterday and reach the third round of the US
Open.
The 36-year-old Agassi’s pre-match treatment for his crippling back included a painful cortisone shot that reduced the inflammation long enough to allow him to play Thursday’s 3hrs 48mins marathon and put retirement on hold for another day. This has to rank up there as one of Agassi’s grittiest performances in two decades of US Open matches. He took a two set lead then stumbled in the middle two before pulling it out in the fifth set. Playing in front of a boisterous crowd of 23,712 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the Las Vegas showman gave them what they asked for. Many came thinking they were going to see a last look at the legend and left wanting more. They will get that when Agassi faces Germany’s Benjamin Becker in the third round on Saturday. Baghdatis, who looked nervous at the outset, had injury problems of his own. The 21-year-old Cypriot hurt his left wrist in the eighth game of the first set when he skidded for a low shot. The doctor was back in the fifth set to treat him for leg cramps, which had him hobbling around the court like a wounded animal. Agassi, bad back in all, was especially potent from the baseline, wearing Baghdatis down with a good variety of shots and smattering of thundering forehands and backhands. Agassi is bidding for another storied run to the final, as he did last year before falling to Roger Federer. Most of the women favourites won in under 70 minutes but no one was quicker than three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport who crushed Jelena Kostanic 6-0, 6-0 in just 40 minutes. Justine Henin-Hardenne, Maria Sharapova, Amelie Mauresmo and 2004 US Open finalists Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova also reached the third round with easy victories over weak opponents. The only exception was eighth seed Martina Hingis who fell 6-2, 6-4, to 112th ranked Virginie Razzano of France in the opening night match. Reigning French Open champion Henin-Hardenne also romped with a 6-1, 6-2 thrashing of 17-year-old American Vania King in 63 minutes. The women’s field is wide open this year after defending champion Kim Clijsters was forced to pull out with a left wrist injury. Henin-Hardenne, France’s Mauresmo, Sharapova, American Davenport and Dementieva are all a threat for the title. Seven-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams rallied to win a grudge match against 17th seeded Daniela Hantuchova 7-5, 6-3. Russian beauty Sharapova wasted little time despatching France’s Emilie Loit, 6-0, 6-1. The 2004 Wimbledon champion advances to the round of 16 where she will face compatriot Elena Likhovtseva, who beat Australian veteran Nicole Pratt 6-3, 6-2. Top seed Mauresmo made short work of American Meghann Shaughnessy winning in straight sets 6-4, 6-3. Results (seedings in parentheses): Singles: Men (second round): Tommy Robredo (6) (Spa) d Lee Hyung-taik (Korea) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1; Fernando Verdasco (22) (Spa) d Thiago Alves (Bra) 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-1; Rafael Nadal (2) (Spa) d Luis Horna (Peru) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2; Richard Gasquet (25) (Fra) d Gilles Simon (Fra) 6-0, 6-2, 6-3; David Ferrer (11) (Spa) d Justin Gimelstob (USA) 6-2, 6-4, 6-1, Lleyton Hewitt (15) (Aus) d Jan Hernych (Czech) 6-4, 6-2, 6-2; Wesley Moodie (SA) Gael Monfils (27) (Fra) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4); Novak Djokovic (20) (Ser) d Mardy Fish (USA) 7-6 (5), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (3); Benjamin Becker (Ger) d Sebastien Grosjean (30) (Fra) 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-2. Women (second round): Lindsay Davenport (10) (USA) d Elena Kostanic (Cro) 6-0, 6-0; Svetlana Kuznetsova (6) (Rus) d Lauren Albanese (USA) 6-1, 6-1; Jelena Jankovic (19) (Ser) d Kirsten Flipkens (Bel) 6-2, 6-3; Marion Bartoli (26) (Fra) d Varvara Lepchenko (Uzbk) 6-1, 6-2; Maria Kirilenko (20) (Rus) d Severine Bremond, (Fra) 6-2, 6-3; Anastassia Rodionova (Rus) d Zheng Jie (29) (Chn) 7-5, 6-3; Shahar Peer (21) (Isr) d Martina Muller (Ger) 6-1, 5-7, 6-2; Patty Schnyder (7) (Sui) d Sofia Arvidsson (Swe) 6-3, 7-5; Anna Chakvetadze (23) (Rus) d Alona Bondarenko (Ukr) 7-6 (6), 6-0; Elena Dementieva (4) (Rus) d Emma Laine (Fin) 6-4, 6-0; Dinara Safina (12) (Rus) d Yuliana Fedak (Ukr) 6-3, 6-4; Ai Sugiyama (28) (Jap) d Tathiana Garbin (Ita) 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-2; Nadia Petrova (5) (Rus) d Virginia Ruano Pascual (Spa) 6-1, 6-1; Vera Zvonareva (33) (Rus) d Jill Craybas (USA) 6-3, 7-5; Serena Williams (USA) d Daniela Hantuchova (17) (Slov) 7-5, 6-3. — AFP
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Greece stun US, face Spain in final
Saitama, September 1 The European champions stunned the red-hot tournament favourites 101-95 to set up a gold medal showdown with Spain on Sunday. Spain edged out Olympic champions Argentina 75-74 in the day’s second semifinal to advance to the final for the first time in their history. However, their joy was tempered by the news that star player Pau Gasol could miss the final. The Memphis Grizzlies forward limped out late in the fourth quarter and Spain coach Pepu Hernandez said it was unlikely that he would play against Greece. Gasol watched the remaining moments with an ice pack strapped to his swollen left foot. Gasol and Jorge Garbajosa had 19 points apiece as Spain held off a late Argentine surge in a bruising Latin face-off. Spain led by seven midway through the fourth quarter but Argentina almost produced a stunning late comeback after two Luis Scola free throws tied the game at 74-74 with 21.9 seconds left. However, Jose Calderon made one of two from the foul line with 18.6 seconds remaining and Andres Nocioni missed from the corner just before the final buzzer as Spain squeezed home. “It’s the greatest result in the history of Spanish basketball,” said Spanish sports minister Jaime Lissavetzky. “The president has spoken to the players and management to offer his congratulations.” Greece also received the seal of approval from their government following their victory over the US. Guard Vassilis Spanoulis led the way with 22 points to prolong the Americans’ six-year world and Olympic title drought. The final buzzer sparked scenes of pandemonium as the unbeaten Greeks celebrated as if they had won the title already. “I already have one medal,” gushed Greek guard Theodoros Papaloukas. “But I want the gold one.” The U.S. suffered an astonishing second-quarter meltdown, blowing a 12-point lead with 6:15 left in the first half after a strong start. Greece outscored the US 24-9 from that point to take a 45-41 halftime lead and some explosive long-range shooting made it 77-65 through three quarters. Co-captains Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade led a US fightback but an off-balance three from Spanoulis with 1:58 put Greece back up by seven and effectively iced the game. “We showed basketball is not only dribbling and shooting,” said Greek coach Panagiotis Yannakis, who after the game received a phone call from Greece’s Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis. “At this moment we are very, very high.” The U.S. play Argentina in tomorrow’s bronze medal game. — Reuters
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Adopt flexible approach, Chappell tells players
Bangalore, September 1 Responding to a question on Irfan Pathan and Yuvraj Singh, two of the five players who attended the first phase of the “rolling camp”, Chappell said he was sure “they have been waiting to get their consistency as well. Everybody is looking for consistency. Everybody is looking to be able to play their role,” the former Australian captain said. “And the roles can change from time to time and from game to game and from opposition to opposition. So, it’s a matter of being able to be flexible and adjust to different conditions.” Then, he touched upon India’s next international outing: the tri-series in Malaysia later this month, also featuring Australia and the West Indies. “We don’t really know what we are going to be confronted with (in) Malaysia. But we expect the wicket to be, maybe on the slower side. But we have to wait and see. We have to be able to adjust when we arrive (in Malaysia),” Chappell said. The coach justified the short duration of the “rolling camp” and expressed satisfaction with the first phase of the camp, attended by Virender Sehwag, Ajit Agarkar, Mohammed Kaif, Irfan Pathan and Yuvraj Singh that concluded today. A fresh batch of players is set to take guard in the “rolling camp” tomorrow. He said three days were sufficient to work with the players. “I think, anything else (longer duration) would be overkill. It’s important to get quality not quantity. We have got the quality we have been looking for.” Chappell said he was very happy with the first camp. “I think we have achieved all of the things that we have set out to achieve. We have had a lot of time with each of the players. “We have been able to work on specific areas for each of the players, and we have been able to work on some specific simulations, if you like, of the sort of things that we expect to be confronted with over the next little while. “So, from my point of view and from the coaching point of view, we have achieved what we wanted to achieve. The feedback from players has been very positive. “They have got a lot from the camp. We are hopeful that the next two camps will go just as well.”
— PTI
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I am good enough to play for India, says Sourav
New Delhi, September 1 Ganguly, who lost captaincy and his place in the team following his sensational spat with coach Greg Chappell, refused to pinpoint any particular person for his ouster but said there was obviously someone who did not want him in the team. “It is difficult for me to pinpoint any particular reason but the bottomline is that I am out of the team for whatever reasons and that's what matters. I have just played two games in the last 12 months for India,” Ganguly told
CNN-IBN in an interview. Asked if Chappell was the one to be blamed for his omission, he said, “see obviously when I am not a part of the team, somebody does not want you to be in the team and that could be anybody. It is very difficult to pinpoint any particular person. “I have seen that as a captain. Captain, coach, selectors, everybody is involved so its is very difficult to pinpoint any particular person. But obviously things did not fall together for a player to be picked.” On whether it hurts to be out of the team, the Bengal left-hander said, “it does, it does. Because I still feel I am good enough and that’s the way it is. There must be something wrong which has kept me out.”
— PTI
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Gibbs, Boje agree to play in India
Durban, September 1 Since 2000, the pair have declined to tour India over fears they may be detained in connection with police investigations into match-fixing. “Herschelle and Nicky have confirmed that they will go to India if selected and that they will cooperate fully with any interviews which the Indian police may wish to hold with them,” a Cricket South Africa (CSA) release quoted chief executive Gerald Majola as saying today. “The CSA will now put forward their names to the selection panel and support them in need, which we hope will assist in the investigation, in order to minimise any disruption to the team’s training and playing programme. Their lawyers will also be available to take appropriate steps to protect all of their rights.” The statement said the players’ lawyers would accompany them to India. Deependra Pathak, chief spokesman for the Delhi police, who registered the case in April, 2000, said in New Delhi that the police had not received any written communication on the development. Asked whether the two players would be questioned, Ranjit Narain, Joint Commissioner (Crime), said: “I can only say that the law will take its own course.” Six years ago, Gibbs was fined and suspended for six months after admitting he agreed to under-perform in a one-day international against India in exchange for money. The offer was relayed to him by then South African captain Hansie Cronje, who was subsequently banned from cricket for life. Boje’s name was mentioned in taped telephone conversations between Cronje and figures in cricket’s gambling
underworld. — Reuters
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Eves on top
London, September 1 A victory would ensure a series win for India as the first Test ended in a draw at Leicester early this month. Resuming at overnight 205 for two, England added 60 runs in the morning session but crucially lost four wickets in doing so and were only 57 ahead at the lunch interval. Brief Scores: India 1st innings: 307 all out (Anjum Chopra 98, Mithali Raj 65, L K Newton 4 for 61) England 1st innings: 99 all out in 51 overs (CM Edwards 26, Jhulan Goswami 5 for 33) England 2nd Innings: 305 all out (Charlotte Edwards 105, Atkins 68, Jhulan Goswami 5 for 45, Al Khader 3 for 58).
— UNI
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Randhawa soars to tied 7th
Johor Bahru (Malaysia), September 1 It was a dazzling show by former Asian Tour No. 1 Randhawa at the Pulai Springs Resort and with this show, the Indian brightened his chance of a top five finish here. South African Anton Haig is atop the table at 15-under 129.
— UNI |
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Inter-district police meet ends
Ambala, September 1 IG Ambala range S.S. Deswal gave away prizes to the winners. He said winners would participate in a range-level police meet. Saroj Saini of Yamunanagar was declared the best female athlete while Baldev Singh of Ambala was declared the best male athlete. Around 150 athletes from different districts in Ambala range participated in the meet. In volleyball and basketball, Kurukshetra were the winners. In kabaddi, Kaithal were the winners. In football, Ambala team emerged winner. In relay race (men), Ambala team emerged first, Yamunanagar second and Panchkula third. In relay race (women) Yamunanagar team stood first and Ambala second. In 200 m (men), Baldev Singh of Ambala stood first, Parvesh of Ambala was second while Rajesh of Kaithal was third.
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