Athletics coaching camp begins today
NEW DELHI, Aug 2 — The second national athletics coaching camp for juniors would be held simultaneously at three centres from August 3 to 16, the Amateur Athletic Federation of India (AAFI) announced yesterday.
Madhav Sund rewrites record
KHANNA, Aug 2 — Three Punjab state meet records tumbled in the Ludhiana District Sub-Junior and Junior Aquatic Championship for boys and girls at the A.S. Model Senior Secondary School swimming pool here today.
Godrej CC win by 65 runs
CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — Fine batting by Kailash Sanwal who scored 51 runs enabled Godrej Cricket Club trounce Royal Cricket Club, Ambala, by 65 runs in the second Youth Club Cricket Tournament at Indus Valley near Dera Bassi today.
IAF rout HSEB in opener
CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — Indian Air Force, Delhi, made a flying start in the North Zone Kalyani Black Label Federation Cup Football Tournament routing Haryana State Electricity Board 4-1 at the Sector 17 football stadium here today.
Adam's 99 fails to halt Surrey march
LONDON, Aug 2 — A brave unbeaten 99 by Sussex's new captain Chris Adams at The Oval was not enough to prevent Surrey moving closer to their first county championship title for 27 years.

England drop Croft

Denilson not keen to be star

Tennis trials

Mendis to lead Lanka seniors

India 'A' itinerary rescheduled

Lewis apologises

PABA meeting

Bathany CC triumph

Mohota, Humpy shocked

Bosnian award for Kasparov

Penny Heyns sets world record

NEW YORK, Aug 2 (Reuters) — Double Olympic champion Penny Heyns set a world 50m breaststroke record en route to winning the 100m at the Goodwill Games yesterday but was then unable to claim a $ 50,000 bonus.

South African Heyns, swimming for the world team against the USA, clocked 30.95 sec at the 50m mark bettering the previous best of 31.58 set by East German Silke Horner 10 years ago.

Last January, the world governing body Fina approved world records in the 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke and 50m butterfly. Previously they had been recognised as world bests.

Heyns, though, found to her chagrin that she was ineligible for the $ 50,000 bonus awarded for world records at the games because the 50m breaststroke was not one of the listed events.

"All I know is there was no fine print," said Heyns. "It said a world record equals $ 50,000 so I went for the record. It would have been nice if I was eligible for it."

Goodwill Games officials hastily conferred and later issued a statement saying they would award Heyns $ 10,000.

"Bonus money for swimming world records set during the Goodwill Games are for officially contested events on our sports menu", the statement said.

"This does not diminish in any way her superlative effort with that in mind. The Goodwill Games will award Penny Heyns $ 10,000 bonus for her record-setting performance, pending ratification by Fina.

Less than half an hour after breaking the record, Heyns was in the pool again to win the 200m breaststroke in two 2:26.73 sec as the world team over-powered China 86-35.

The USA, led by five times Olympic champion Jenny Thompson and Cristina Teuscher, swept the first six events of the evening and captured 10 of 14 races overall to beat Germany 78-44 and win the gold medal.

At Madison Square garden, Italian Paolo Vidoz provided the upset on the final evening of boxing finals by outpointing the hulking Cuban super-heavyweight Alexis Rubalcaba 9-3.

Vidoz, an unlikely looking figure in a multi-coloured strip with voluminous shorts, kept his hands high and caught Rubalcaba with counter-punches as the Cuban began to tire.

Rubalcaba’s performance so angered the Cuban corner that he was slapped on his face before coming out for the fifth and final round, all to no avail.

Cuba won six gold medals overall but there was plenty of encouragement for the young US team as in featherweight Teuance Shepherd and light-welterweight Ricardo Williams both won their bouts.

Williams, in particular, looked an outstanding prospect at the age of 17, showing maturity beyond his years in an elegant display against compatriot Ebo Elder.

Former US President Jimmy Carter made a trip to watch boxing after witnessing Olympic silver medallist Michelle Kwan overcome a fall to win the women’s figure skating gold.

Kwan quickly recovered from a fall on a triple loop to win a popular victory before a crowd of 10,558 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

"I felt great up to the loop and the fall shook me up," admitted the US national champion.

Kwan received 5.8s and 5.7s from the seven judges for technical scores and near-perfect 5.9s across the board for artistic presentation.

She was pleased with her victory, but the highlight of 1998 for Kwan is neither the Goodwill Games win nor her silver medal at the Nagano Olympics.

"The crowd here at the Goodwill Games was great, but my memory of this year will be that I skated my heart out at the nationals," she said of her sensational performance in Philadelphia in January that wrested the national crown from Tara Lipinski.

Despite falling three times, Russia’s Maria Butyrskaya took the silver.

Angelika Krylova and Oleg Ovsiannikov of Russia easily captured ice dancing gold with a scintillating performance to Bizet’s Carmen that earned two perfect 6.0s from the judges.

(AP) adds: Kerri Pottharst and Pauline Manser of Australia upset second-seeded Americans Holly McPeak and Lisa Arce 12-11, 11-12, 12-6 to reach the women’s beach Volleyball Final at the Goodwill Games.

They will face top-seeded Shelda Bede and Adriana Behar of Brazil, who lived up to their ranking with a 12-5, 12-7 semifinal win over Laura Bruschini and Annamaria Solazzi of Italy.

It was a huge win for Pottharst and Manser yesterday, who are playing their first year together, and their second over a US team on home sand. They beat Karolyn Kirby and Liz Masakayan in the opening game of pool play.

Agassi, Henman to meet in final

LOS ANGELES, Aug 2 (Reuters) — Rising British star Tim Henman will take on a resurgent Andre Agassi in tonight’s Mercedes-Benz Cup final after each posted impressive straight sets semifinal victories last night.

Second seed Henman bounced Frenchman Guillaume Raoux 7-5 6-3 in the night match after the fifth-seeded Agassi put himself in position to claim his second title in as many weeks with a 6-0 7-6 victory over former UCLA star Justin Gimelstob.

"I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be great," the 12th-ranked Henman said of his upcoming clash with Agassi.

"If you want to play someone in the final, I don’t think there’s probably a more exciting opponent to play than Andre Agassi."

Agassi is riding a 10-match winning streak after claiming his third title of the year last week in Washington. But he has no intention of taking the Briton lightly.

"Ever since Wimbledon, he’s elevated his game to another level," Agassi said of Henman. "But I’m just going to come out here tomorrow, bring my brand of tennis and hope that gets the job done."

Henman played effective serve-and-volley tennis, which produced eight aces in the 79-minute contest.

"This is probably the best match I’ve played this week," Henman said.

Henman fell behind 3-1 after dropping serve in the third game but he battled back, putting the set back on serve two games later with a break of his own.

After grabbing a 6-5 lead, Henman broke again for the set when Raoux smacked a forehand long.

"He’s hitting the ball very solid from the baseline," Henman said of Raoux. "But I hung in there, I kept making him play a lot of balls and got the break back. I started to put the presssure on him."

In the second set, Henman rode a lone service break in the fourth game to victory. He served out the match, producing a pair of service winners that were clocked in excess of 130 mph.

Agassi’s first set, in which he allowed Gimelstob a mere 11 points and did not lose a game, was a prime example of his return to form after a miserable 1997 season in which he dropped out of the world’s top 100.

"I’m feeling pretty confident, no question, but I’m also respectful of what it requires to continue that tennis," said the three-time Grand Slam title holder whose ranking is back up to 13th in the world.

"I’m earning the victories. I’m working and establishing my game out there. I’m proving to be the better player out there and that’s what’s required. I have to do it again tomorrow."

Gimelstob, who was coming off an upset of top seed Patrick Rafter, gave Agassi a more competitive second set, taking it to a tie-break. But the fifth seed never looked in danger of going to a third set as he dominated the decider 7-2.

Modified ICC laws from Sept 1

HYDERABAD, Aug 2 (PTI) — Sweeping changes in the laws of cricket initiated by the International Cricket Council (ICC), will come into force from September 1.

The changes suggested by the ICC’s cricket committee were ratified by the ICC umpires committee and has been accepted by the board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The ICC umpires conference, held at Lord’s last month, dealt with changes suggested by the cricket committee to standard playing conditions on an initial three year experiment basis.

Various aspects such as hours of play, extra time, use of lights, fielders leaving the ground, mode of delivery, penalty, ball lost or becoming unfit for play, negative bowling outside the leg stump, unfair play, batsmen damaging the pitch and restrictions on field placements were discussed.

V. K. Ramaswamy, Indian umpire on the ICC panel who was one of the delegates, said these recommendations would curb negative attitude of playing teams and give more powers to umpire to take stern action against playing teams and players in future.

One of the important decisions was to take stern action on the suspect action of bowlers, Ramaswamy said.

If it is a clear case of suspect action, the umpire after only one warning may remove him from bowling if he continues to bowl with a suspect action and if it is a marginal case, it should be brought to the notice of match observer or referee for the respective national board’s to take further action in this regard, the ICC umpire added.

Ramaswamy said the ICC cricket committee had also decided that light meters must be available and used by umpires in all international matches. It is the responsibility of each board to supply light meters to all domestic umpires standing in international matches on home soil.

One additional light meter, identical to those issued to the domestic umpires should be given to the ICC referee when he arrives in the country. The referee will retain the light meter throughout the tour and pass it to the incoming national grid panel (NGP) umpire for each of the Tests, Ramaswamy said.

If once law 3.8 has been applied and the batsmen have accepted the offer to leave the field because of bad light, the umpires immediately take a reading at the pitch.

Pointing the light meter at the sight screens or in any other direction as the umpires deem fit and once they have agreed on the reading it should be noted and used as a benchmark reading for the reminder of stoppage.

When the reading subsequently goes above the benchmark measurement, umpires consider the brightness sufficient for play to resume, the ICC umpire said.

In case of any change of ball sought after 110 overs, only replacement with a new ball should be allowed.

It has been accepted by the BCCI with the change that it will be mandatory to replace the old ball after 100 overs with a new ball in domestic matches, he added.

The cricket committee has also decided that a fielder will no longer be allowed to change positions after the batsman has taken his stance. And if he does so, the umpire will call a "dead ball" under law 42-unfair play.

If a beamer is bowled, the umpire should start taking action under law 42 and the bowler will be removed from bowling if he bowls a second beamer, Ramaswamy said.

In the event of a batsman damaging the pitch the umpire shall follow the procedures of caution and if it proves ineffective he shall intervene signalling dead ball as soon as he considers there is no immediate chance of a dismissal, disallow any runs, return the batsmen to their original ends and order change of shoes in domestic matches.

A mark will be placed at a 45 degree angle from the line of stumps as a guideline for the positioning of the leg gully fielder.

Davenport sails into final

PALO ALTO, (California), Aug 2 (Reuters) — Third seed Venus Williams unleashed a devastating display of serving prowess to power her way past second seed Monica Seles last night and set up an all-American final against top seed Lindsay Davenport at the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford University. The 18-year-old Williams disposed of Seles 6-3 6-4 with a 70-minute show of youth, athleticism and tenacity. Davenport turned in an inspired performance of her own to take care of another former world number one in fourth seed Steffi Graf 6-4 6-7 (7-4) 6-3 as the German star struggled with a case of severe leg cramps in the latter stages of the match. Williams belted 12 aces and numerous service winners to every corner of the box, ripping slice serves into the deuce court that Seles could barely wave at, launching rockets down-the-middle and hooking kick serves into Seles’s body.

“I’ve never played someone as tall as her,” Seles said of the 6-foot-3 (1.90 m) Williams. “She mixed up her serve really well. I was really impressed.”

Seles, a nine-time Grand Slam champion who owns one of the finest returns of serve in the women’s game, said there was little she could do to counter Williams missiles.

“Against someone like Venus who’s hitting serves at 120, 125 mph, even males could have a hard time returning those,” Seles said.

“I was consistently serving well the whole time,” Williams said. “Some games I hit two aces, Other games I hit at least one. I have to continue this trend.”

Venus Williams said younger sister Serena’s victory over Seles last year helped inspire her.

“Serena had a win against her first so that paved the way for me.”

Davenport said that even though the recently injury-plagued Graf has been able to play just six events so far this year, she considered it an important victory.

“I thought she was playing pretty well, it was a great win,” Davenport said.

Graf said she began to cramp in both legs at 3-3 of the third set and had nothing left at the end.

“I didn’t know how to move anymore,” Graf said of the crippling cramps.

Graf forced the third set by taking a hotly-contested second-set tie-break that featured a rare display of anger from the usually composed superstar. She loudly disputed the chair umpire’s overrule of a backhand that appeared to touch the baseline and would have put Graf up 4-1, but it did not seem to affect her play after that.

Graf had her chances to seize the advantage in the third set before the leg cramps got the better of her, but she was not on top of her game and Davenport was up to the challenge.

Graf had a break point at 2-2 but pushed a forehand slice into the net, and had two more break points at 3-3, only to miss a backhand and then watch Davenport slam an ace.

“I haven’t had any tough three-set matches in more than a year and it showed,” Graf said.

Ntini boosts chances of comeback

CHELMSFORD, Aug 2 (Reuters) — South African seamer Makhaya Ntini had enough time to press his claims for a Test return as South Africa reduced Essex to 102 for three before rain washed out the second day of a three-day game.

Replying to the tourists' 406 for five declared, the home side resumed on 13 without loss yesterday and faced just 30 overs before wet summer weather struck again to deny South Africa practice before the fifth and deciding Test starting on Thursday.

Shaun Pollock made the initial breakthrough to remove Ian Flanagan (6) via a Jacques Kallis slip catch. Ntini then made an immediate impact with a rapid delivery which nipped back to flatten Darren Robinson's off stump for 17.

Although the Xhosa fast bowler continued to look hostile and dangerous, it was veteran off spinner Pat Symcox who claimed the third wicket with a low full toss which Ronnie Irani (33) drove back to the bowler for a low catch.

Ntini played in the drawn third Test at Old Trafford before losing his place with a bruised heel for the eight-wicket defeat at Trent Bridge. He is evidently fit and the traditional seamer-friendly conditions at Headingley might see him return.

Opener Gerhardus Liebenberg, who has mustered just 32 runs in three Tests so far, probably earned himself a reprieve for the last Test with his carefully compiled 96 on the first day.

Symcox, who turned 38 last April, has not played a Test since he famously scored a century against Pakistan batting at number 10 in February this year. But he now appears to have moved ahead of left arm wrist spinner Paul Adams in the pecking order for the Test side.

The role of third seamer appears to be a straight battle between Ntini and Steve Elworthy who replaced him for the fourth Test although South African coach Bob Woolmer has not ruled out the possibility of playing an all-seam attack.

"We will see how the wicket looks when we get to Leeds. If an all-seam attack is the appropriate choice then Brian McMillan will obviously come into the reckoning," Woolmer said yesterday.

England selectors David Graveney, Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting were to select the England squad via a telephone link-up last night although all indications are that the team which won in Nottingham will be unchanged.

Ticket sales at Headingley have risen dramatically with England facing the possibility of their first five-Test series win since the Ashes tour of Australia in 1986-87.

Athletics coaching camp begins today

NEW DELHI, Aug 2 (PTI) — The second national athletics coaching camp for juniors would be held simultaneously at three centres from August 3 to 16, the Amateur Athletic Federation of India (AAFI) announced yesterday.

The AAFI has shortlisted athletes and coaches for the camps to be held at SAI eastern centre, Calcutta, NIS centre, Patiala and SAI centre in Shilaroo, an AAFI press note said.

Athletes participating in sprints, jumps and hurdles will train at the Patiala camp while Shilaroo will play host to middle and long distance runners, walkers, long and triple jump participants.

All the athletes and coaches have been directed to attend the camp, the note added.

Athletes selected for NIS, Patiala/Shilaroo camps:

Junior boys: 100m/200m: Amirt Kumar (UP), Senthil Kumar (TN), Arshad Hussain (AP), Vikas Prashar (HP).

400m: Jipson Jackob (Ker), Mohd Sahid Afradi (Del), Ajir Raika (Guj), Robin P.J. (Ker), Vijay Kurmar (AP), Regi Augustine (Ker),

800m/1500m: Baiju Marandi (RSCB), Sohan Singh (MP), Amandeep Singh (Pun), Anand Kumar (Har), Bino K.M. (Ker), K. Binoy Thomas (Ker), Parmik Singh (Chd), B.V. Manju Nath (Kar), Surinder Singh (Del), Rajesh Kurmar (Ker), Satpal Singh (Del).

5000m/10,000m: Aman Saini (HP), Shashi Prakash (UP), Joy Kumar (Mani), Mervyn Fernandes (Mah), Mangat Ram (Pun), Bali Ram Disle (Mah),

Hurdles: Gurpreet Singh (Pun), Thalib (Ker), Nilinjin Hazari (WB), Shiv Pratap Singh (Raj).

Long jump/triple jump:

Tripple jump: Satish Kumar (Del), P. Shankar (AP), Bennet K. Raja (AP), Gurmeet Singh (Pun), Parveen Kumar (Ker), Mukesh Kumar (Bih), Sunil Kumar (Del).

High jump: Juby Thomas (Ker), Sanjay Kumar (Har), Sunil Kumar (UP).

Walk: K. Devanand (Har), Gurdev Singh (Pun), Vijay Gehlot (UP), Manbir (Har).

Decathlon/heptathlon: Rajesh Kumar (Har), Vishal Singh (Mah) Dinesh Thapa (MP), Manoj C.M. (Ker).

Junior girls:

100m/200m: Mandeep Kaur (Pun), Kopa Mudra Roy (WB), G. Bindu (Kar), Kalaivany (Pondi).

400m: Geetha S. (AP), Sutapa Das (WB), Renjini Ravindran (Ker), Savita (RSCB), Amandeep Kaur (RSCB).

800m/1500m: Maheshwari (Kar), Beji Mol (Ker), Deepa Roy (WB), L. Manjula (Kar).

3000m/5000m: Renuka Hegde (Kar), Radha Nani (Mani), Madhuri G (Mah), Vinita (HP), Geeta (HP), Swathi Gurnale (Mah).

Hurdles: Dipti Vaidya (Mah), Shilpa (Kar), Sharanjit Kaur (Pun), Palwinder Kaur (Pun).

Long jump: Kalpana Das (RSCB), Supriya Kulkarni (Mah), Rita Sarkar (WB), Reena Thomas (Ker), Jetty C. Joseph (Ker).

High jump: Lucy Deshmukh (RSCB), Sushmita Sinha (WB).

Heptathlon: Ashikbeevi T.H. (Ker), Chetna Kumari (Bih).

5000m walk: Rajdeep (Pun), Anju Kumari Sharma (WB).

Junior men:

Hurdles: Sahib Singh (Pun), R Mahamuni (Mah).

Long jump: Sanjay Kumar Rai (RSCB), Rafiqul Islam (WB), Triple jump: Anil Kumar (Ker), Vinod P.J. (Ker).

Junior women: Long jump: Jibimol Abraham (RSCB), Sapna D’Souza (Mah). Heptathlon: Soma Biswas (RSCB), Shashi Kalavoor (Kar). Walk: Paramjit Kaur (RSCB), Simmi Mathew.

(To be held at SAI, Eastern Centre, Calcutta)

Junior men: 200m/400m: Ajay Kashyap (UP), Saroj K Lakra (Ori), Sri Kumar (Ker), Rajpal (Har), Sanjay Dey (WB), Regi Augistine (Ker).

800m/1500m: Rajesh Kumar (Har), Ram Murti Yadav (RSCB), Tej Karan (MP).

5000m/10,000m: Hari Raju GS (RSCB/Bih), Mahesh Yadav (RSCB).

Shot put: Navpreet Singh (Pun), Madan Singh (Raj).

Javelin throw: Hari Om (Har), Pawan Kumar (Pun), Vinod Kumar (UP), Bikramjit Singh (Police).

Discus throw: Dharmender Kumar (Bih), Baljinder Singh (Pun Pol).

Junior women: 200m/400m: Leena Chavan (Mah), Sindhu PV (Ker), Sanga Mitra (Ori), Devender Kaur (RSCB).

800m/1500m: Vasudha More (RSCB), Sumitra Panda (Ori).

Junior boys: Shot put: Kulwinder Singh (Pb), Sukhchain Singh (Pun), Jaiveer Singh (Raj), Kuldip Mann (Del).

Discus throw: Suresh Kumar (Raj), Ishwar Singh (Raj), Harbhajan Singh (Pun), Sandeep Dagar (Del).

Javelin throw: Paramjit Singh (Del), Ranjit (Raj), Y Boge Singh (Mani), Fazal Ansari (Bih), Raj Kumar (Raj).

Hammer throw: Nirbhay Singh (UP), Desh Bandhu (Raj), Sombir (Har), Deepak Kumar (UP).

Junior girls:

Shot put & discus throw: Sandra D’Souza (Kar), Seema Antil (Har), Harwant Kaur (Pb).

Javelin throw: Poonam (Har).

Madhav Sund rewrites record
From Our Sports Reporter

KHANNA, Aug 2 — Three Punjab state meet records tumbled in the Ludhiana District Sub-Junior and Junior Aquatic Championship for boys and girls at the A.S. Model Senior Secondary School swimming pool here today.

In the boys section (category I) Madhav Sund, a student of S.D. Government College Ludhiana rewrote three Punjab state records. He clocked 1:09.12 secs to improve his own record of 1:09.80 sec in the 100m backstroke. In the 200m backstroke, Madhav took 2:32.87 sec to establish a new state meet record. The previous record of 2:34.12 sec also stood against Madvav's name.

In 100m butterfly strokes, he clocked 1:04.71 sec to create a new state meet record. The earlier record of 1:05.80 sec was set by Rajeev Nagpal of BSF in 1989.

In the girls section, Ludhiana eves Anisha Maheshwari of KVM School, Abhipsha Thakur and Bindiya Sareen both of Government College for Women hogged the limelight by emerging winners in their respective categories.

Results: 200m backstroke (Boys I) 1. Madhav Sund (Govt. College, Ldh) 2:32.87 sec 2. Sanat Gupta (KVM School, Ldh) 3:17.25 sec 3. Amarvir Singh (GNP School, Ldh) 4.38.41 sec. 200m backstroke (Girls I) 1. Abhipsha Thakur (Govt College, Ldh) 3:06.87 sec 2. Bindiya Sareen (Govt College, Ldh) 3:18.40 sec 3. Sukriti Khanna (DAV School, Ldh) 3:43.13 sec. 200m backstroke (Boys II) 1. Ajaypal Singh (DAV School, Ldh) 3:05.65 sec. 2. Anupam Gupta (KVM School, Ldh) 3:08.76 sec. 3. Navdeep Joshi (Sacred Heart School, Ldh) 3:29.09 sec. 200m backstroke (Girls II) 1. Monika Vaid (M.C. Club Ldh) 4:42.18 sec. 2. Radha (R.C. Model School Ldh) 6:04.19 sec.

200m Ind Medlay (Boys III) 1. Arvind Puri (Sacred Heart School, Ldh) 3:05.82 sec. 2. Jaskaran (Sacred Heart School Ldh) 3:29.91 sec. 3. Rohan Kapoor (M.C. Club) 3:38.84 sec. 200m Ind Medlay (Girls III) 1. Anisha Maheshwari (KVM School Ldh) 3:07.17 sec. 2. Sukhmandeep (GNPS School) 3:09.19 sec.

100m freestyle (Boys III) 1. Arvind Puri (Sacred Heart School) 1:13.91 sec Tejkaran (Sacred Heart School Ldh) 1:40.09 sec. 100m backstroke (Boys I) 1. Madhav Sund (Govt College Ldh) 1:09.12 sec. 2. Sanat Gupta (KVM School) 1:24.50 sec. 3. Deepak Jhetley (A.S. Model School, Khanna) 1:29.22 sec.

Godrej CC win by 65 runs
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — Fine batting by Kailash Sanwal who scored 51 runs enabled Godrej Cricket Club trounce Royal Cricket Club, Ambala, by 65 runs in the second Youth Club Cricket Tournament at Indus Valley near Dera Bassi today.

On a wicket which was not aiding strokeplay, Kailash kept his cool and patiently waited for the loose ball. His knock included three boundaries and two huge sixes over mid-wicket. The team scored a modest total of 127 runs in the allotted 25 overs.

Replying to this total, the Ambala team was up against some fine swing bowling by Haryana Ranji player Vineet Jain. He swung the ball both ways and captured two wickets in one over. He was ably supported by medium pacer Naresh Dhingra who conceded just 13 runs in his five-over spell and left arm spinner Munish Arora who beat the batsmen in flight to get them stumped. The Ambala team was bundled out for a paltry 62 runs.

Brief scores: Godrej CC 127 for 8 in 25 overs (Kailash Sanwal 51, Sanjay Sabharwal 19, R.P. Singh 19, Vaneet Chawla 18, Varinder Bhatia 3 for 22, Maninder 2 for 16). Royal CC: Ambala 62 all out (Ravinder 27, Naresh Dhingra 2 for 13, Munish Arora 2 for 14, Jaswant Rai 2 for 10).

In another match, Youth Cricket Club, Dera Bassi, defeated Sawraj Engines Limited by seven wickets.

Brief scores: SEL XI 79 all out (Ashwani 21, Chand 5 for 17, Inderjit Saini 2 for 20). Youth Cricket Club, Dera Bassi 82 for 3 in 14.1 overs (Kamal 23, Inderjit Saini 21, Munish Worrel 18 n.o.).

In the last match, Life Insurance Corporation routed Friends Cricket Club by 83 runs.

Brief scores: LIC XI 146 for 8 in 25 overs (Dinesh 40, Lalit 29, Aakash Salhotra 26, Anil 5 for 18). Friends CC 63 all out in 17.2 overs (Rakesh 18, Amardeep Singh 15, Madan Lal 2 for 2, Lalit 2 for 17).

IAF rout HSEB in opener
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — Indian Air Force, Delhi, made a flying start in the North Zone Kalyani Black Label Federation Cup Football Tournament routing Haryana State Electricity Board 4-1 at the Sector 17 football stadium here today.

The winners led by a solitary goal at half time.

The opening encounter of the championship saw the airmen holding a distinct edge. However, they had to wait till the 44th minute for taking the lead after which there was no looking back.

The match remained a listless affair with neither side initiating intelligent moves initially. Indian Air Force did get a couple of good chances in the first half but poor marksmanship let them down.

The Air Force team held complete sway over the proceedings but the first serious attempt was made in the 20th minute when Abadath Hossen's powerful volley from a difficult angle sailed over.

The Haryana powermen gradually started coming into the game and carried out forays into the IAF territory mainly through skipper Sanjay Sharma and Mahipal Singh.

After a couple of unsuccessful attempts, IAF forged ahead a minute before the breather when Jayant Das, capitalising on a cross from Dinachandran, despatched a powerful right footer which beat HSEB custodian Kulwant Singh hands down. Kulwant did attempt a save by diving to his left but the ball entered the far corner much to the dismay of the Haryana powermen.

On changing ends, HSEB, managed to restore parity in the 50th minute following a Mahipal-Sanjay move. Mahipal put Sanjay Sharma in possession and the latter beat goalkeeper B. Negi, who had advanced, with a gentle lob to put his side on even terms. However, that was all they could achieve. Thereafter, the airmen attacked with vengeance pumping in three more goals.

In the 59th minute, right stopper Adhikari raced into the HSEB territory and gave a quick pass to Abadath Hossen. Abadath cut through the defence and with only the goalkeeper at his mercy scored with ease to put his side ahead 2-1. In the 79th minute, Adhikari again put right winger Gossen in possession and the latter's angular shot gave the HSEB custodian absolutely no chance.

Shortly thereafter, Rajashekharan of IAF missed a golden opportunity when he found himself in a one-to-one situation with the goalkeeper. However, goalkeeper Kulwant Singh managed to check him in time by rushing forward.

In the dying seconds, T.N. Dey of IAF attempted a shot but unluckily the ball struck the goal-post and bounced back into play. But Rajashekharan lurking in danger zone did not let the opportunity go waste and shot past the hapless HSEB custodian to send the powermen packing.

Earlier, Mr A.S. Bains, president of the Chandigarh Football Association, introduced the teams to Mr Rajan Kashyap, Finance Secretary, Punjab, who was the chief guest.

Tomorrow's fixture: PSEB v Himalayan Tigers — 4 p.m.

Adam's 99 fails to halt Surrey march

LONDON, Aug 2 (Reuters) — A brave unbeaten 99 by Sussex's new captain Chris Adams at The Oval was not enough to prevent Surrey moving closer to their first county championship title for 27 years.

Adams was left stranded just short of a century as Sussex slid to 170 all out and defeat by an innings and 69 runs yesterday.

Off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq picked up four more wickets to add to his career-best seven for 30 in the first innings.

Surrey's maximum 24-point haul extended their lead at top of the table to 42 points over second-placed Gloucestershire who are not playing in the current round of matches.

West Indies captain Brian Lara failed again for Warwickshire, whose supporters are growing increasingly disenchanted with his contribution as batsman and captain this season.

After hitting three fours in four balls against Glamorgan he was caught at backward short leg for 15, lowering his championship average to only just over 22.

With the lost to rain for the second successive day, it looked as though Lara would have to use his negotiating skills to try to contrive a result with his opposite number Matthew Maynard.

Warwickshire ended the day on 135 for four, still 180 behind on first innings.

Rain affected most of the other championship matches. The game between fourth-placed Lancashire and Leicestershire had its second blank day out of three.

Close of play scores on the third day of four-day English County Championship cricket matches yesterday.

At The Oval: Surrey beat Sussex by an innings and 69 runs. Sussex 125 (T. Peirce 54: Saqlain Mushtaq 7-30) and 170 (C. Adam 99 no: M. Bicknell 4-45. Saqlain Mushtaq 4-74). Surrey 364 (A. Stewart 96. A. Brown 94; J. Bates 5-100). Surrey 24 points, Sussex 4.

At Old Trafford: No play — rain, Leicestershire 218-7 (A. Habib 56) V. Lancashire.

At Edgbaston: Glamorgan 315 (A. Cottey 74, D. Thomas 64. S. James 53; G. Welch 4-94). Warwickshire 135-4 (N. Knight 52).

At Southampton: Durham 203 (A. Morris 4-30) and 288-9 (M. Speight 55 n.o. D. Boon 54, J. Morris 50). Hampshire 396 (R. Smith 134. A. Aymes 54).

At Derby: Kent 165 (P. Defreitas 5-55; K. Dean 4-52) and 104-5. Derbyshire 260 (R. Weston 97; D. Headley 5-64).

At Trent Bridge: Northamptonshire 346 (M. Loye 103. R. Montgomerie 54; P. Strang 4-92). Nottinghamshire 380-5 (P. Johnson 105, U. Afzaal 103 no G. Welton 55; P. Taylor 4-62).

At Worcester: Yorkshire 455-9 decl (D. Lehmann 200. M. Wood 94, A. McGrath 50). Worcestershire 201 and 19-2.

Bosnian award for Kasparov

SARAJEVO, Aug 2 (AFP) — Chess champion Gary Kasparov was decorated with Bosnia's silver Coat-of-Arms medal yesterday for his charity work for the country during its 1992-93 war.

"You knew what was going on when other, more important people either did not know, or pretended that they did not know," President Alija Izetbegovic said as he honoured the Russian chess master.

Expressing thanks, Kasparov said he supported Bosnia because he had one principle — that all victims of aggression have to be protected, regardless of their nationality."

In what he remembered as a "humanitarian act", Kasparov — official world chess champion in 1985 and 1987 — headed the Bosnian chess team in 1994 when it won the European Chess Championship in Lyon, France.

That same year he played with Sarajevo children in a big simultaneous match in the capital, then in the midst of a 43-month Serb seize.

England drop Croft

LONDON, Aug 2 (Reuters) — England left out off-spinner Robert Croft today in naming their 12 for the final Test against South Africa.

The match, starting at Headingley, Leeds, on Thursday, will decide the series currently level at 1-1.

There were no other changes from the squad for the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, where England won by eight wickets to set up the decider.

Croft had been one of 13 players originally selected for Trent Bridge but was released early to play for his county Glamorgan.

Leicestershire’s left-arm seamer Alan Mullally was 12th man on that occasion. Now the selectors must decide whether to play him instead of leg-spinner Ian Salisbury at a ground which traditionally does not favour spin.

Middlesex captain Mark Ramprakash is suffering from tonsillitis but is expected to be fit.

The team: Alec Stewart (captain), Michael Atherton, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain, Mark Ramprakash, Graeme Hick, Andrew Flintoff, Dominic Cork, Ian Salisbury, Darren Gough, Angus Fraser, Alan Mullally.

Denilson not keen to be star

SEVILLE (Spain), Aug 2 (Reuters) — Brazilian winger Denilson, the world’s most expensive player, is anxious to avoid being given star billing at his new club Real Betis.

The million man, who was paraded in front of 5,000 Betis fans at the club’s Seville Stadium late on Thursday, pledged to work hard for his new club in a career, he hopes, will start in a friendly against Extramadura.

"Betis deserve to be a championship-winning team and I’ve come to help the club and my team mates," he said.

"I know there’s a lot of responsibility on my shoulders and I’ll try to do what the world is expecting but for me the star is not Denilson, but Betis."

Denilson (20), who spent much of the time at the World Cup warming the substitutes’ bench, said he was "hungry for football" after his move from Sao Paulo.

That will be a decision for caretaker coach Rogelio Sosa following the surprise resignation of veteran boss Luis Aragones for "personal reasons" earlier in the week.

Club president Manuel Ruiz De Lopera said he hoped a new coach would be in place by Saturday but added that he was confident Denilson would be a success whoever took charge.

"Here we have the best left foot in the world," said a delighted Lopera. "This is a proud moment for everyone at the club."

Tennis trials
From Our Sports Reporter

AMRITSAR, Aug 2 — The All-India Tennis Association will hold a special coaching camp for promising tennis players. Trials for boys and girls under 16 years will take place at the Punjab state tennis complex, Ram Bagh gardens, here on August 10 at 3 p.m.

The players should bring their AITA registration cards.

Mendis to lead Lanka seniors

NEW DELHI, Aug 2 (PTI) — Former captain Duleep Mendis will lead Sri Lanka in the five-match Freedom 50 Seniors Cricket Tournament against India.

The Lankan Seniors Cricket Association announced a 14-member squad led by Mendis in Colombo.

Sri Lanka, arriving in Delhi on August 24, would play a match here and two each at Agra and Amritsar in the tournament organised to mark the golden jubilee celebration of both the countries.

Team: Duleep Mendis (captain), Lalith Kaluperuma, Sidath Wettimuny, D.S. De Silva, Asantha De Mel, Romesh Ratnayake, Amal Silva, J.C. Gamage, Asoka De Silva, R. Medurasinghe, H. Devapriya, B. Kuruppu, Guy De Alwis, Don Arunasiri.

India 'A' itinerary rescheduled

DEVENTER, Aug 2 (PTI) — Inclement weather has forced rescheduling of India 'A' tour itinerary against Holland with first of the three one-day matches advanced by five days which will be played here tomorrow.

India 'A' were to play three one-dayers against Holland on August 8, 10 and 11, but following heavy showers, which had already wrecked three ties against Denmark, the organisers today decided to advance the first tie. The remaining matches will be played on the original dates, India 'A' coach Krisnamachari Srikkanth said.

The tourist’s will start their first three-day encounter against Holland on August 5 here, according to the revised schedule. Earlier, the first match was scheduled for August 4 to 6.

There has been no change in the dates of second three-day tie, which will be played from August 13 to 15 in Amsterdam. The capital city will also host the August 10 and 11 one-dayers.

The revised itinerary:

August 3: one-day tie, August 5 to 7: three-day match, August 10, 11: one day ties, August 13 to 15: three-day match.

Meanwhile, inclement weather continued to plague India 'A' cricket team’s Holland tour with both the one-day fixtures against Denmark called off due to heavy showers.

The first one-dayer yesterday was washed out and heavy showers later in the day forced the team managements to abandon today’s second tie also.

Lewis apologises

LONDON, Aug 2 (AFP) — Chris Lewis has issued a public apology after being fined for his verbal attack on the England selectors.

The controversial Leicentershire allrounder was punished for calling the selectors "full of X X X X" after he was left out of the 37-strong provisional World Cup squad.

In a statement, Lewis said: "I have been disciplined and fined by Leicestershire County Cricket Club for using a swear word during a Press conference. I deeply regret the use of this word."

After Leicestershire's Natwest Trophy quarter-final victory over Warwickshire on Tuesday, Lewis said the squad was not picked on "cricketing ability".

PABA meeting
From Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — The executive committee meeting of the Punjab Amateur Boxing Association will be held in the office of Mr A.S. Sohi, Vice-President, PABA, Bharkra main line division, BML Colony, Jail Road, Patiala, on August 3 at 11.30 a.m., according to Mr G.S. Sarao, Secretary, PABA.

Bathany CC triumph
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — A fine batting performance by Madan Pawar (37) and Ashok Berwa (26) enabled Bathany Cricket Club beat Videocon Cricket Club by two wickets and enter the semifinal of the ninth Bathany Cup Cricket Tournament here today.

Brief scores: Videocon CC 161 all out in 25 overs (Sumit Walia 40, Charanpreet 36, Sandeep Arora 14, Anil Johar 2 for 23, Ramesh Mehra 2 for 26).

Bathany CC: 162 for 8 in 25 overs (Madan Pawar 37, Rajinder 32, Bharat Lal 27, Ashok 26, Tilak Raj 19, Harminder Singh 3 for 24, Rohit 2 for 18).

Mohota, Humpy shocked

BIKANER, Aug 2 (PTI) — M. R. Venkatesh (6) beat his Tamil Nadu compatriot and overnight leader P. Mahesh Chandran (5.5) to snatch the lead while Aarthi Ramaswamy (6.5) maintained her top place among girls after the seventh round in the VIII National u-18 chess tournament here today.

It was a bad day for two world champions — former boys u-10 winner P. Harikrishna (AP) lost to S. Satyapragyan (Orissa) and current u-10 girls champion Koneru Humpy (AP-4) lost to A.A. Kulkarni (Mah-5).

Former world under-8 medallist Venkatesh scored a fine win over Mahesh Chandran, who was lying joint second with S Satyapragyan and T.V. Karthikeyan (TN) with 5-5 points each.

Aarthi Ramaswamy (TN) beat C.H. Kavitha (AP) to maintain her top position. J.E. Kavitha (TN) shocked the lone IWM in the fray Nisha Mohota (5) to climb to second with 5.5 points.

Venkatesh, playing black, adopted the Sicilian defence against Mahesh Chandran and after obtaining mobility in the centre, sacrificed an exchange on D3 for a kingside attack. This forced white to return an exchange on the 46th move and gave Venkatesh the winning advantage.

Harikrishna overlooked an attack and allowed Satyapragyan to place his knight of F5. Harikrishna, troubled by a king side attack lost a piece on 45th move and then the match.