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India lose Vijay, Dravid early
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Doctor’s letter adds to controversy
AIU off-target on archery selection
Aspiring coaches test their skills at CGA
‘HI creators are behind bars’
Former Indian hockey coach Joaquim Carvalho
Rugby 7s tournament in Srinagar
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3rd test: day 3 India lose Vijay, Dravid early India 102 for 2 at Lunch on Day 3, Harbhajan joins 400-wicket club, Turbanator 11th on all-time wicket-takers list, Laxman, Mukund steady India, WIndies fold up for 204 in 1st innings
Roseau (Dominica), July 8 Earlier, Harbhajan Singh achieved his 400th Test wicket while Ishant Sharma grabbed a five-for as India bundled out West Indies for 204. At stumps, India were eight for no loss, with Abhinav Mukund and Murali Vijay batting on six and one, respectively. India now trail by 196 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the first innings. Only 49.2 overs were bowled on the second day, leading to a loss of a total of ninety-seven overs in the last two days. Even as the officials seemed optimistic despite a sharp shower interrupting play in the post-tea session, the light was deemed too poor for umpires to resume play. The poor weather apart, the facilities at the Windsor Park could be termed primitive as carts were used to scoop the water from the covers. The drainage facility is quite good but it proved to be of little use as water from cover-sheets took a long time to be removed. Earlier, Harbhajan became the third Indian and 11th overall to reach the landmark, while Ishant continued from where he had left off on day 1, as the duo hastened the West Indies' collapse. Just as the West Indian innings folded up, a slight drizzle again brought the covers on, and an early tea was taken. West Indies were in the middle of a revival of sorts when the gritty Harbhajan claimed two quick wickets. Though Harbhajan achieved a milestone, the wrecker in chief was once again Ishant, who claimed five for 77 in yet another inspirational display of fast bowling. Resuming at an overnight 75 for three, West Indies lost two of their most experienced batsmen in a rain-curtailed opening session. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (23) and Marlon Samuels (9) fell to Munaf Patel and Praveen Kumar even as Darren Bravo (50) and Calrton Baugh (60) stood firm. But the hosts, 128 for five at lunch, began the afternoon session with a flurry of shots, to entertain the sparse crowd. Baugh was the aggressor as he flexed his arms to good effect, and no less than 37 runs came from the first four overs. Baugh survived a caught-behind appeal off Munaf Patel but then decided to cut loose, crashing Ishant for three fours in one over. He first produced a back cut, steered the next one over slips, and then crashed one past the extra cover boundary. He didn't hold himself back against Munaf either, managing two fours past the slip cordons. Meanwhile Bravo, unbeaten on 41 at break, completed his half century when he flicked Ishant to square leg for a single. Bravo, though, departed to Ishant in dramatic fashion after he had put on 59 runs for the sixth wicket with Baugh. In a tense Sharma over, he first edged a delivery to slips, where Rahul Dravid caught it, but promptly indicated he wasn't sure if he had caught cleanly. The replays proved that Dravid hadn't caught it cleanly but Bravo made little use of it, departing in the same over when he inside edged a catch to Mahendra Singh Dhoni. — PTI Scoreboard West Indies 1st innings 204 India 1st innings Mukund batting 52 Vijay c Baugh b Edwards 5 Dravid b Sammy 5 Laxman batting 30 Extras (b 4, lb 1, w 2, nb 3) 10 Total (2 wkts; Lunch) 102 Bowling: Edwards 9-1-22-1, Sammy 13-4-18-1, Bishoo 12-0-38-0, Edwards 4-0-19-0.
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Doctor’s letter adds to controversy
Patiala, July 8 The letter, written in 2002 to the authorities, further says that National athletes were asked to get medicines from outside due to a shortage within the institute. The letter, written to the Director-General, Sports Authority of India (SAI) by former Medical Officer at NIS, Dr. Sajib Kumar Nandi, seeks an inquiry into corruption at NIS and states that on October 27, 1999, he (Nandi) was asked to collect urine samples of women weightlifters for a dope test without filling any forms as the then Executive Director (ED) allegedly wanted to send the samples without a cover note. The letter further states, “on many occasions National and international athletes were asked to procure medicines from outside at their own expense and were reimbursed afterwards”. A senior coach told The Tribune that if this matter was solved in 2002, the problems would not have been so big today. "Now the ministry wants a probe and to set its house in order. The Government officials need to answer as to why no action was initiated since 2002 after these allegations emerged," he added. The letter importantly raises the issue of doping which has recently brought shame to Indian sports and reads, “a huge amount of banned substances were recovered from different hostels inside NIS in the month of June 2001 and on June 27, following pressure from the then ED, the medicines were taken outside Yadavindra hostel and burnt. Afterwards the ED demanded that I should submit a written declaration that no banned drugs were found.” Nandi was subsequently removed from his post after he became a whistle blower and his entry was banned from NIS after he made numerous complaints to the SAI headquarters in New Delhi. “I am yet to get answers from the authorities and there needs to be a serious probe into this whole matter, as many influential persons are involved,” Nandi told The Tribune. "I know I am fighting the system, but it would continue." The letter says that doping and outside supplements have existed for past over a decade and these issues were brushed under the carpet and never highlighted. “If it was written in 2002, that means that strict action is needed since nine years after the allegations, the same issue has brought shame to Indian sports. If the authorities concerned had solved it then, Indian sports would be shining now,” said a senior SAI official. “No coach is allowed by rules to give medicines or supplements from outside to any of his athlete or trainee till the official doctor prescribes the same,” claimed National boxing coach G.S. Sandhu. “I have never done it and still my trainees have bagged medals,” he added. Doping Shame
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AIU off-target on archery selection
Patiala, July 8 AIU had assigned the preparatory camp to Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, where it began from July 7. AIU has selected 16 players for this camp but interestingly, four of them are from the Indian round, an event played in only in India. They hence are ineligible for the camp. These players are Mohan Lal from MD University, Rohtak, Sanjay Rai from SGBA, Amravati, Kirti Sharda from SGBA, Amravati and Anuradha Patil from Solapur University. There are three types of archery — Indian, Compound and Recurve — out of which Indian archery is held in India alone. It is a part of the all-India inter-university championships and junior and senior national championships, as the equipment is cheaper compared to Recurve and Compound. But it is not included in any international competition. While AIU claims to have set up an expert panel to select the candidates, they seem to be unaware of this widely-known fact. AIU Secretary-General Beena Shah, chairperson of the selection committee, tried stated that she was not an expert and asked this reporter to talk to Dr. Gurdeep Singh, who is Under-Secretary, Sports, AIU.
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Aspiring coaches test their skills at CGA
Chandigarh, July 8 But for the last one week, 48 golfers from across the country have converged on this range in a bid to clear the test that will enable them to become a coach at some club, range or resort in the country. This on-going coaching course has made the range busier than usual. The week-long course at the range here (that houses the National Golf Academy of India) is being conducted by two Grade ‘A’ coaches — city-based Jesse Grewal and Indrajit Bhalotia from Kolkata. Another Grade ‘A’ coach from Chandigarh, Mahesh Kumar, is assisting these two. At the conclusion of this course, they will conduct an exam for these 48 aspiring teaching professionals and decide how many of them are eligible to become Class ‘D’ coaches (the first step in golf coaching). “Any golfer with a handicap of seven or below can appear in this exam,” Grewal explains. “We conduct their Playing Ability (PAP) Test and then give them practical and classroom lessons. After the course they are tested on all aspects of the game and they have to secure at least 50 per cent marks to pass this test and become a coach.” Golf is catching on as a sport and means of relaxation and the course is also a place to interact and network. Almost as a logical corollary, the demand for coaches is also on the rise. “This week-long course has cost me around Rs 20,000 and I really think it’s worth it,” says Vijay D’Silva. “Already, I have learnt so many new things here. I work on the mini golf course at a 5-star resort in Goa. If I clear the exam here, that will help me improve my profile and earn me more back at the resort.” Another golfer who has come to attend this course from Pune feels the same. “If I’m a qualified Class ‘D’ coach, it will help me earn around Rs 15,000 per month back at the Poona Golf Club,’ he says. “The aim of the course is to have a standard teaching procedure,” says Bhalotia. “More often than not, when a player is not getting it right he doesn’t know who to consult. Now we are training golf professionals who will impart this training back at their respective courses.” “The fact that 48 golfers have come to attend this course is proof that golf is really growing in our part of the world,” adds Grewal. “There’s a need to have standard teaching procedure and that is what we are trying to do here. Tomorrow is the final test and you can see they are all nervous.” Four ladies are also part of the course, having come from places as far away as Mumbai and Kolkata (one of them is city-based golfer Saaniya Sharma, who is now trying her hand at coaching). “There are a lot of girls back in Kolkata who are taking up golf and if I can pass this test I will go back and help them,” says the lady from Kolkata. There are a lot of ways to reach the hole on the green from the tee. But there’s only one way to improve your score — that’s to get a little better each day. This is what these teaching professionals will help everyday golfers achieve. If they themselves pass the test, that is.
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‘HI creators are behind bars’
Chandigarh, July 8 If anyone understood the true impact of a nation with such pedigree in hockey missing out on even qualification, it was Carvalho. He trained many players into world-class talents as well, including the likes of Dhanraj Pillay and Prabhjot Singh. Carvalho speaks to The Tribune about various issues like the IHF-HI merger, Mike Knobbs and issues plaguing our national sport. The IHF-HI merger has been in the news for some time now. What are your views on it? I think the merger is absolutely necessary for the game to run smoothly. This rift between IHF and Hockey India has confused everyone involved with the game. There have been times when HI is threatened players with a ban for playing in any tournament outside their own purview. But do you see the merger materialising? I don’t really know, but the point is that there are people in HI who have no inclination towards developing the sport. There are people like Narinder Batra, who have created havoc in their home state — Jammu — and we expect them to understand and manage a bigger picture. These people have damaged the game and they continue to do so without being accountable. But what really has been the issue with Hockey India running the sport in the country? The main issue is there out in the open now. Most of the people who were behind the formation of Hockey India, are now behind bars. How do we trust an organisation that was founded by such people? What do you make of the appointment of Michael Knobbs as the new coach? Do you see sound reason behind his appointment? I have nothing against Knobbs, but with all due respect to him, he is not the remedy for Indian hockey’s woes. He was not the strongest contender, and it looks like his hiring was down to some compromise made by the authorities. But what about the reasoning that he is an Australian, and they play a similar style of hockey to India? That is not true. Anyone who has seen the game closely will tell you so. It is not about the formations, but about the players out there. What do you think of the current state of affairs of domestic hockey? It is in a shambles, frankly. We need to concentrate on the sub-junior and junior levels as well. But there is nothing on that level at all. The one hope is that with the World Series Hockey coming this year, the Indian players will get a chance to play with the best in the world. That might do the job of the tonic Indian hockey so desperately needs. I have nothing against Knobbs, but he is not the remedy for Indian hockey. He was not the strongest contender, and it looks like his hiring was down to some compromise — Carvalho on new coah Mike Knobbs
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Rugby 7s tournament in Srinagar
Srinagar, July 8 The tournament is organised by the J&K Rugby Association in collaboration with the J&K State Sports Council. As many as 30 teams across the State are participating in the event. About 550 players and officials in sub- junior, junior under -20, senior boys and girls, men’s and women’s categories would take part in 150 matches. Chib said the Kashmir is known world over for the winter sports. He said Snow Rugby is getting popularity among the younger generation, adding that international coaches are more inclined to train budding sportspersons in rugby in the State. Rugby would be recognised at State level, he added. Lauding the organisers, Chib asked to them to organise such events in rural areas to explore the hidden talent of the youth and enable them to participate at international and national levels. He asked private agencies to come forward and work for the promotion of sports activities in the State.
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Replying to the West Indies first innings score of 204, India had reached 102 for the loss of two wickets on the third day of the third Test at Windsor Park here today. At the lunch break, left-handed opener Abhinav Mukund was unbeaten with a well-compiled 52 and VVS Laxman was batting on 30. India lost the wickets of Murali Vijay and Rahul Dravid early on in the innings with both batsmen failing to reach double figures.
The pain of missing out on the 2008 Olympics still lingers in the mind of all hockey fans. The hurt went deep and scarred even the loyalists who took pride and found hope in the eight Olympic golds that India had won. The man at the helm of the Indian squad during those days was Joaquim
Carvalho, one of the top players of his time and a former Olympian too. If anyone understood the true impact of a nation with such pedigree in hockey missing out on even qualification, it was
Carvalho.
Kolkata:
Aus team meet over Katich axing