Hong Kong, November 19
Stunning back nine efforts boosted Indian duo Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa to a creditable tied third finish at the UBS Hong Kong golf tournament here today. The impressive finish also helped Jeev seal the coveted top place in the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

The winner was Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara (69) who pipped Filipino rookie Juvic Pagunsan (68) by one shot to win his maiden European Tour title.

Lara clinched the title at 15-under-par 265 as he took advantage of a two-shot swing on 16th, where the Filipino youngster bogeyed and Lara birdied. Pagunsan, who led by a shot till 16th tee, ended at 14-under as Lara went on to win his first title since turning professional in 1997.

Jeev and Randhawa produced four-under 66 each and ended at 12-under.

Apart from sealing the Asian Tour Order of Merit, the tied-third finish fetched Jeev, who led the Asian Tour Money List since his win in Volvo China Open, just over $103,338. It took his total to $573,442 and gave him an unassailable lead of just under $206,000 over second placed Prom Meesawat ($365,771).

Pagunsan assured himself of the Rookie of the Year title as he moved to seventh place on the UBS Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Jeev is the third Indian after Randhawa (2002) and Arjun Atwal (2003) to achieve Asian Order of Merit.

“It feels great to top the Money List. After more than 10 years on Asian Tour, I feel great to have finally accomplished this. I certainly did have this in mind when I came here and even though I came close to the title, I am happy that I managed to seal the Merit List here with one more event still to go,” said an elated Jeev.

Multan, November 19
The West Indies halted Pakistan’s run spree by dismissing in-form Mohammad Yousuf in the closing stages of the first day of the second Test at Multan stadium here today.

Yousuf miscued a drive off spinner Chris Gayle and was caught by Brian Lara for 56 to leave Pakistan on 263-4 at stumps. Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was unbeaten on 31 with Shoaib Malik not out on four.

The home team, one up in the series, were progressing well after opener Imran Farhat (74) and Younis Khan (56) joined Yousuf in free run-scoring as Pakistan looked set for a big first innings score, before Gayle struck.

With just three overs to go before stumps, Yousuf’s dismissal brought some consolation for the tourists’ bowlers who struggled on a flat pitch after Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat.

Yousuf was once again lucky as he was dropped on 45 by Daren Ganga off a miscued drive to fast bowler Jerome Taylor.

Ganga dropped Yousuf off the same bowler on 43 in the first Test when the batsman went on to make 192.

Yousuf capitalised on the crucial miss by reaching his 26th half-century in the next over which included three fours and a six off left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed, but fell six runs later.

He added an invaluable 87 runs for the third wicket with Younis.

Taylor, who finished with 2-61, had his tail up after he dismissed Younis soon after tea. Younis failed to get an uppish shot over the gully and was caught by Runako Morton.

Younis and Yousuf built on a sound start of 83 by Farhat and Mohammad Hafeez (36).

Taylor, who picked 4-115 in the first Test, provided the breakthrough when he forced an edge off Hafeez’s bat to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin.

Pakistan reached 109-1 at lunch with Farhat notching up his ninth half-century.

Heavy rain delayed the resumption of play after lunch by 12 minutes but once players returned to the middle the tourists removed Farhat for 74.

Farhat, who hit 10 boundaries during his 177-minute knock, edged Dwayne Bravo to slip where Lara held a regulation catch.

Middle-order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul overcame a stomach disorder and is playing his 100th Test.

Chanderpaul became the eighth West Indian and 42nd cricketer in the world to play 100 or more Tests.

Courtney Walsh (132), Lara (130), Vivian Richards (121), Desmond Haynes (116), Clive Lloyd (110), Gordon Greenidge (108) and Carl Hooper (102) were the others who have played more than 100 Tests for the West Indies.

Scoreboard

Pakistan (1st innings)

Hafeez c Ramdin b Taylor 36

Farhat c Lara b Bravo 74

Younis c Morton b Taylor 56

Yousuf c Lara b Gayle 56

Inzamam not out 31

Malik not out 4

Extras (b-1, lb-3, nb-2) 6

Total (4 wkts, 91 overs) 263

FoW: 1-83, 2-125, 3-212, 4-250.

Bowling: Taylor 15-2-61-2, Collymore 16-5-23-0, Powell 12-2-50-0, Gayle 22-6-52-1, Bravo 14-5-30-1, Mohammed 11-1-39-0, Morton 1-0-4-0. — AFP

Kurukshetra, November 19
The four-day 21st Haryana State Games, organised by the Haryana Olympic Association, were inaugurated by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupender Singh Hooda during a colourful ceremony on the premises of Dronacharya Stadium here late this evening.

Over 5000 sportspersons from all over the state are participating in 27 disciplines.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Hooda said the state government would formulate a sports policy to promote the sports talent of the state, especially in the villages. As soon as this policy was framed, various schemes would be implemented for the sportspersons of Haryana so that they might earn a name for their state and the country.

The Chief Minister said the state government had given away prizes worth Rs 3 crore to sportspersons of Haryana besides increasing their diet money from Rs 50 to Rs 100. He also said that 119 stadia had been constructed in the rural areas of the state and many others were also being set up in other parts of the state.

In his welcome address, Mr Naveen Jindal, the local MP and the president of the Haryana Olympics Association, said the association would go all-out to promote the sports talent of Haryana. He said that cash awards and other facilities would be given to those players who would rreak various records.

The sportspersons will compete in archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cycling, chess, fencing, football, gymnastic, handball, hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, lawn tennis, judo, table tennis, volley ball, weight lifting, wrestling, swimming, tai-quando, roller skating, rifle shooting .

The Haryana Education and Sports Minister, Mr Phool Chand Mullana, Minister of State for Urban Development, Mrs Savitri Jindal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr Dharambir Singh, Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Dilloo Ram and Mr Ram Kishan, Mr Ramesh Gupta, Mr K.L. Sharma, Mr Anand Singh Dangi, Mr Tajender Singh Maan, Mr Dinesh Kaushik (all MLAs), Haryana DGP, Mr Ranjeev Singh Dalal, Haryana Additional DGP, Mr P.V. Rathee, Political Adviser to Chief Minsiter, Prof Virender, Media Advisor to Chief Minsiter, Mr Sunder Pal Singh, a number of noted sportspersons, coaches and others were present on the occasion.

Chandigarh, November 19
Golfers from all over the country are converging on the lush greens of the Chandigarh Golf Club to fight it out for the Samarvir Sahi Challenge Trophy to be held from November 21 to 25.

Samarvir, in whose memory the IGU-recognised tournament is held here every year, was snatched away by the jaws of death when he was shaping into one of the outstanding golfers of the city at the age of 25 in 1994.

Samarvir completed the foursome along with Chiranjeev Milkha Singh, Amandeep Johl and Harmeet Kahlon who ruled the greens in the 1980s. And standing out in the quartet was Samarvir, who had the longest drive. Today, Samarvir is no more, but the other three are all international golfers.

The late Samarvir’s father, Mr Gurpratap Singh Sahi, was at home when we visited the Sector 3 residence. “I am better known as Monty’s father than as the former Principal Secretary to the Punjab Government,” said Mr Sahi as he talked about Samarvir, who was affectionately called Monty by his near and dear ones.

The best golfer trophy given to Samarvir by the Albright College, Pennsylvania (USA), stood out on the table along with a picture of the golf team he represented in 1992.

His long drives saw him get the runner-up place in the sub-junior event in 1981. He also clinched the national junior golf runner-up spot when studying in Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram, Delhi.

He cleared the SAT exam and got admission to Albright College, Pennsylvania, in 1989. His golfing performance saw him clinch the “Most Outstanding Men’s Golf” Trophy in 1992.

Everything seemed to be going fine. He was selected as apprentice consultant in the World Bank. The contract was to be given to him on September 1, 1992. But on August 10, a nagging lump in the throat took him to a hospital. Dr Inderjeet Singh of the Washington Hospital examined him. The test result was disastrous. It was Hodgkins (lymphoma) - cancer of the lymphnodes.

Mr Sahi was attending a Raj Bhavan Independence Day function when he got the shocking news from Monty. He was a lonely man in that vast gathering. That night, the family decided to call Monty back to Chandigarh. They wanted to be with him as the doctors fought a losing battle.

Back in Chandigarh, he underwent radio therapy at the PGI from September to November, 1992. Signs of recovery were noticed. He went back to the golf course and clinched the pro-am trophy in 1993. But a month later, he again slipped and was put on chemotherapy.

The parents knew they were fighting a losing battle. But there was always a glimmer of hope. They flew with Monty to London where treatment began at the Hammersmith Hospital. Monty continued to slip despite a bone marrow transplant. The end came on November 20, 1994. A golf icon had been snatched away by death.

While talking about the life-and-death struggle of his son, Mr Sahi kept his cool. But his eyes became moist as he talked about the phone call from Monty on Independence Day in 1992. That was the most depressing evening for the Sahis.

His playing colleagues led by Harmeet Kahlon announced the start of the Samarvir Sahi memorial tournament in 1996. But the Indian Golf Union recognition came four years later.

In fact, Mr Sahi came to know about the recognition while visiting the Munnar hill station in Kerala.The notice board at the Golf Club displayed a note saying that the Samarvir Sahi Tournament had been recognised by the IGU. He showed the notice to his wife, Ruby. Yes, recognition had come at last.

Today, the tournament is one of the leading tournaments on the Indian golf circuit.

New Delhi, November 19
Indian eves outpunched their opponents as Kalpana Choudhary and Nagasethi Usha recorded facile victories on the second day of the fourth World Women’s Boxing Championship at the Talkatora indoor stadium here today.

Kalpana, bronze medallist in the third World Championship in Russia last year, followed the coach’s instruction of being on the offensive from the first gong itself, but her strategy in the 48kg bout almost misfired as her opponent, Nadia Shehata of Egypt, logged two quick points in counter punches as the Indian girl trailed 0-2.

Kalpana then changed tack, and waited for the Egyptian girl to come charging at her with punches, and she exploited the chinks in her rival’s defence to land left-right punches and jabs to accumulate points at her sweet will, particularly in the second and third rounds to win by a massive margin of 24-7 points. She won the first round 5-4, but landed a series of solid punches on her opponent to widen the lead to 17-4 in the second not to look back.

Kalpana had competed in the 50kg in the last World Championship, but changed to the 48kg category in the recent Venus Boxing Cup at Vejle (Denmark) where she won a bronze.

Later, Usha, began tentatively, taking some hard knocks to trail 1-3, but then changed gear to corner Sandras Bizier of Canada in the 57kg bout to tie the score 5-5 in the first round.

But in the second round, the Indian girl overtook Sandra and ended the round on 12-8 points in her favour. In the decider, Usha opened up her lead to win the bout comfortably at 20-14.

However, another Indian girl, Ibocha Devi, despite her fightback in the second round, lost to Lucie Bertaud of France by 13-23 in the 60 kg. Obocha trailed 4-10 in the first round, but narrowed it to 11-18 in the second. She, however, lost steam in the third.

Ludhiana, November 19
Central Railway, Mumbai, blanked Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, 5-0 to advance into the semifinal of the 10th Mohinder Partap Singh Grewal Women’s Hockey Tournament being played at the Prithipal Singh Astroturf Stadium of Punjab Agricultural University here today.

The Mumbai outfit went ahead in the 31st minute through a field goal scored by Saritha. Three minutes later, Kanti Baa converted a penalty corner to increase the lead 2-0. After changing ends, Central Railway pumped in three more goals (43rd minute by Saritha, 52nd minute by Sadhana Singh and 68th minute by Ranjita Devi) to complete the tally.

Earlier, the pre-quarterfinal match played between Western Central Railway, Jabalpur, and the Ludhiana XI turned out to a mismatch as the former won 8-0.

Pravsini scored a hat-trick while Ranjitha Barla contributed two goals. Banu Priya, Mridula and Poonam scored one goal each. In another pre-quarter final match, Jharkhand XI got walkover as Delhi XI failed to turn up. — OSR

Chandigarh, November 19
Uttaranchal routed Himachal Pradesh 12-0 on the fourth day of the 43rd Junior National Football Championship (North Zone) at Malerkotla’s Zakir Hussain Stadium today.

In another match, Jammu and Kashmir prevailed over Delhi 4-2 after leading by one goal at the breather.

In a high scoring match, Himachal Pradesh fell into arrears through a self goal by Satish but thereafter the floodgates opened as Uttaranchal went on the rampage, pumping in goals at frequent intervals.

For the winners, Brajesh Kumar emerged as a hero with five goals while Shiv Shankar scored three. The other scorers were Pawan Tyagi, Ashish, and Ankit.

Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir who beat Delhi 4-2, owed their success to Taufiq Ahmed (17th,51st), Khalid Khayum (46th) and Rohit Kumar (47th). For Delhi, Kulbhushan scored both the goals in the 55th and 87th minutes.