Ludhiana school hockey league from Sept 5

Gurdishpal manager of hockey team

National grasscourt tennis in Calcutta

Legal notice for drug tests

BCCI decision on team likely today

NEW DELHI, Aug 18 (PTI) — The Indian cricket team's participation in next month's Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games will be the vital decision that will be taken at the two-day working committee meeting of the BCCI to be held here from tomorrow.

The crucial meeting will debate recommendations made by the rules and revisions committee meeting on August 11 in Calcutta on several changes in rules, with possibility of reduction of the present five-man national selection committee into a three-member panel also coming up high.

It will also decide upon the punishment to Tamil Nadu stumper Reuben Paul, who has been named as the culprit in the pitch tampering fiasco during the Delhi-Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy super league tie in Chennai.

With BCCI and IOA crossing swords over the composition of the team for Commonwealth Games and the national apex sports body insisting that only the 'best team' would be permitted to travel, the working committee has a task on hand.

The board, which had originally announced that teams for both the Kuala Lumpur campaign and the Indo-Pakistan Sahara Cup series in Toronto — dates of which are clashing and have resulted in the present imbroglio — will be named on September 4 is now expected to decide on the team for Malaysia.

The issue is far from being settled with BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele and his IOA counterpart Randhir Singh trading charges and the board seeking clarifications on several points and refusing to go under the IOA banner.

With the deadline for submission of names to Sukom (the Malaysian organisers) having passed on August 11, the working committee's decision and the composition that is finalised would dictate whether an Indian team is eventually fielded at the Kuala Lumpur games, where cricket makes its debut.

The long standing suggestion that the senior selection panel be cut down to three members is reported to have been endorsed by the rules revision committee which met in Calcutta on August 11.

The final decision will be made only at the board AGM when it announces a new selection committee as the current team's term expires in September.

The pitch tampering issue will figure prominently. Both Tamil Nadu and Delhi were barred from the remainer of the national championship following the fiasco. Delhi skipper Ajay Sharma has also been named for not continuing with the game after the incident on the fourth day, But Reuben Paul is expected to get the stiffer punishment.

Jaywant Lele, when contacted, described the meeting as 'routine'.

BCCI accounts will be considered for being eventually put up before the AGM.

Pat Symcox props up S. Africa

BIRMINGHAM (England), Aug 18 (Reuters) — Powerful hitting by veteran off-spinner Pat Symcox kept alive South Africa’s hopes of beating England today to reach the triangular tournament final.

Symcox, batting at number eight, smashed four sixes in an innings of 51 from 39 balls to lift South Africa from 172 for six in the 40th over to 244 for seven at the end of their quota of 50 overs.

South Africa, having lost their opening game to Sri Lanka, must win this last round-robin match at Edgbaston to have any chance of qualifying for Thursday’s final at Lord’s.

They made a poor start and were 25 for two before Daryll Cullinan, promoted to number three, overcame an especially difficult batting surface to hammer 70 from 73 balls.

He struck eight fours and a six before Darren Gough swung a yorker through his defences to remove his leg stump.

Captain Hansie Cronje, though, reflected the problems facing the batsmen on a moist pitch offering lavish seam movement with an awkward and untypically slow 31 from 68 balls with just two fours.

Gough, who removed openers Gary Kirsten and Mike Rindel within his first four overs, finished with three for 43 but left arm seamer Alan Mullally was just as impressive, and more economical, with two for 33 in nine overs.

England are facing two targets when their reply gets under way. They need 245 to win the match but just 198 in order to make certain of reaching the final.

Scoreboard
South Africa
Kirsten c Stewart b Gough 7
Rindel lbw b Gough 10
Cullinan b Gough 70
Rhodes c Stewart b Mullally 15
Cronje lbw b Croft 31
Kallis b Austin 19
Pollock not out 22
Symcox b Mullally 51
Boucher not out 3
Extras: (LB-9, W-5, NB-2) 16
Total: (for seven 50 over) 244
Fall of wickets: 1-20-, 2-25, 3-73, 4-140, 5-160, 6-172, 7-241.
Bowling: Gough 10-1-43-3 (2w), Martin 9-0-47-0, (2nb), Austin 10-0-41-1, Mullally 9-0-33-2, (3w). Hollioake 2-0-22-0, Croft 10-0-49-1.

Petit, Overmars star in Arsenal win

LONDON, Aug 18 (Reuters) — Arsenal began the defence of their English premier league title with a 2-1 home win over promoted Nottingham Forest yesterday.

Midfielder Emmanuel Petit, who five weeks ago had scored France’s third goal in the World Cup final, headed the opener early in the second half and Dutch winger Marc Overmars got the second 10 minutes from time after Forest had briefly been level through Geoff Thomas.

Forest, without the strike force of Kevin Campbell and Pierre Van Hooijdonk who fired them to the first division title last season, battled hard but looked destined for a long, tough season.

Arsenal took a while to settle and in the first half only went close once, when Nicolas Anelka hit a post.

Forest’s 39-year-old keeper Dave Beasant dealt comfortably with everything else the Londoners tried.

Forest, already without injured defender Colin Cooper, were further handicapped when they lost their central defender Jon-Olav with a pulled hamstring just before halftime.

But they could have gone ahead in the 49th minute when Thierry Bonalair picked out Thomas but the former England midfielder miscued his shot.

Arsenal immediately broke and sent Anelka clear but the Frenchman’s shot missed by inches.

But the highbury full house did not have to wait long to celebrate the champions’ first goal of the season.

Dennis Bergkamp swung in a 58th minute free kick from the right, Tony Adams thumped a header against the bar and Petit reacted well to head the rebound into an unguarded net.

Adams was the villain in the 77th minute when he missed his tackle on Thomas, allowing him all the time he needed to curl in the equaliser past David Seaman.

However, it took only three minutes for Arsenal to regain the lead when Marc Overmars burst from his own half and bored down on Beasant. The veteran keeper did well to stop the Dutchman’s shot but could only watch as Overmars hooked in the rebound.

Arsenal are joint favourites for the title with Manchester United, who drew 2-2 at home to Leicester on Saturday.

PU inter-college swimming in Sept
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Aug 18 — The Department of Sports, Panjab University, has finalised the fixtures for 1998-99.

The Panjab University Inter-College Swimming and Water-Polo Championship for men and women will be held on the university campus in the first fortnight of September.

Panjab University will host the All-India Inter-University Swimming Diving (for men) and Water-Polo Championship in October. The North Zone Inter-University Badminton Championship for men and women will be held at the university gymnasium hall here from October 17 to 24.

The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has also allotted the All-India Inter-University Judo Championship for men and women to Panjab University. It will be held from January 22 to 26 next year.

The Panjab University inter-college fixtures are (men's section) badminton — second fortnight of September; cross-country, kho-kho, kabaddi (national style), volleyball, hockey, table tennis, football — first fortnight of October; wrestling second fortnight of October; basketball, handball, relay races, decathlon, walk and half marathon and cycling — first fortnight of November; gymnastics, boxing, cricket — second fortnight of November.

The athletics competition will be held in the second fortnight of November or in the first fortnight of December; weightlifting, best physique, powerlifting, softball — first fortnight of December; judo — second fortnight of December; squash racket, tennis, rowing, yoga — first fortnight of January and kabaddi (Punjab style) — second fortnight of January.

Women's section: Football — first fortnight of September; badminton — second fortnight of September; kho-kho, table tennis, basketball, volleyball — first fortnight of October; handball, relay races, hepathlon, walk and half marathon — first fortnight of November.

Gymnastics, cricket — second fortnight of November, athletics — second fortnight of November; weightlifting, tennis, softball — first fortnight of December; judo, hockey — second fortnight of December, rowing and yoga — first fortnight of January, 1999.

Sumeet lifts singles title
From Our Sports Reporter

JALANDHAR, Aug 18 — Sumeet Kalra caused an upset when she outplayed top seed Sandhya Yadav in the District Badminton Championships at Raizada Hans Raj Stadium here today.

Second seed Sumeet Kalra won the girls singles under-19 title by defeating the top seed in two straight games 11-9, 11-3.

Antoher upset was witnessed in the boys' singles under-19 section when second seed Ramanjit Singh went down to fourth seed Rohit Kapoor in three games 9-15, 15-2, 15-7.

In men's singles, top seed Ranjit Singh compelled Ramanjit Kalra to concede the match even after he lost the first game 13-15, 11-6. Second seed Gagandeep Ratti also exhausted his rival which resulted in Kamaljit losing the match after winning the first game. Third seed Jaideep Kohli defeated former Punjab champion Ram Lakhan 15-8, 15-5. Fourth seed Rohan Kapoor beat Neeraj Bansal 15-12, 4-2 (conceded)

Results:

Girls singles under-19 (final): Sumeet Kalra b Sandhya Yadav 11-9, 11-3. Girls' singles under-16 (final) Madhuri Yadav b Heena Kapoor 11-3, 11-0. Boys' doubles under-13 (final) Sahil and Varun b Harsimran and Vipul 15-12, 15-6. Boys' singles under-19 (semi-final) Rohan Kapoor b Karandeep Kohli 15-5, 15-10. Rohit Kapoor b Ramanjit Singh 9-15, 15-2, 15-7. Boys' singles under-16 (semi-finals). Rohit Kapoor b Raj Kumar 15-2, 15-2. Ramnik Singh b Sahil Arora 15-7, 15-8.

Boys' singles under-13 (semifinals): Varun Arora b Shiraj Mishra 15-3, 15-0. Sahil Arora b Vipul Arora 15-9, 15-1.

Women's singles:- Sumeet Kalra b Sheel Bhagat 11-2, 11-4. Sandhya Yadav b Nimrata Singh 11-6, 9-11, 11-8.

Men's singles (quarterfinals): Jaideep Kohli b Ram Lakhan 15-8, 15-5. Rohan Kapoor b Neeraj Bansal 15-12, 4-2 (conceded) Ranjit Singh b Ramanjit Singh 14-17, 11-6 (conceded) Gagandeep b Kamaljit Singh 13-15, 15-12 (conceded).

Kournikova cruises into 2nd round

MONTREAL, Aug 18 (Reuters) — Russian Anna Kournikova advanced to the second round of the $ 926.250 Canadian Open yesterday with a 6-4 6-2 win over France’s Alexandra Fusai.

The 17-year-old 15th seed was playing for the first time since spraining her right thumb two months ago at the pre-Wimbledon tournament at Eastbourne.

The Canadian Open’s top eight seeds have first-round byes, and the highest seeded player in action yesterday, 10th-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland was upset 6-4 6-3 by qualifier Florencia Labat of Argentina.

Wimbledon runner-up, 11th-seeded Nathalie Tauziat of France, overcame a slow start to beat Sandra Cacic of the USA 4-6 6-4 6-2 and 12th-seeded Dominique Van Roost of Belgium had few problems outhitting Canadian Jana Nejedly 6-4 6-2.

Japan’s Ai Sugiyama, seeded 16th, saved two sets points in the second set on her way to a 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 victory over French qualifier Nathalie Dechy.

A year ago, the 64th-ranked Dechy upset American Venus Williams in the first round when the tournament was held in Toronto.

Williams was scheduled to play in the event but withdrew last Friday with a knee injury.

The tournament features eight of the top 10 players. Missing are second-ranked Lindsay Davenport of the USA and the fifth-ranked Williams.

Kournikova had a few false starts before she was finally able to start playing again about 10 days ago. "Now, it’s perfectly fine," she said after beating the 40th-ranked Fusai.

Kournikova’s last match was an exciting 6-7 6-3 6-4 victory over Steffi Graf in the quarter-finals in Eastbourne. She fell during that match and injured her thumb but was able to continue playing. The next day, the thumb prevented her from playing the semi-finals.

"I still have the feel, as you saw on the court today (Monday)," Kournikova said of her form. "It’s just a matter of playing a few matches and getting some confidence."

Schnyder was disappointed with her play against Labat, a 27-year-old lefthander who reached the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open in Montreal two years ago.

"I was down 1-5 in the first set and then came back to 4-5, 0-40 on her serve," said the 10th-ranked Schnyder. "But she won that game and after that it was tough for me."

Pak XI register 141-run victory

DOHA, Aug 18 (UNI, PTI) — A Pakistani XI led by Rashid Latif beat an Indian side captained by Mohammed Azharuddin by 141 runs in the third and final engagement of a series of three exhibition matches in the Gulf here last night.

India, however, won the series 2-1, having won the first match in Dubai on August 14 and the second here on August 15.

Put into bat first, the Pakistanis piled up 262 in 42.3 overs and then bowled out the Indians for just 121 in 33.5 overs in the 45 overs a side match.

Pace bowler Aaqib Javed was the destroyer-in-chief, with five wickets for just 20 runs. Mohammed Hussein got two for 34 and Aamir Sohail and Saeed Anwar took one wicket each.

The highlights of the Pakistani innings were half-centuries by opener Shahid Afridi (54) and Inzamum-ul-Haq (50). Moin Khan made 43, Saeed Anwar 31, Aamir Sohail 27 and Azhar Mahmood 25.

Sachin Tendulkar took three wickets for 43 while V V S Laxman and Noel David got two victims each.

Wicket-keeper Saba Karim was the top-scorer for the Indians with 36, while skipper Azharuddin contributed 24. Openers Tendulkar (13) and Ajay Jadeja (15) and Robin Singh (15) were the only other Indian batsmen to cross into double figures.

Pakistani batsmen gave an improved display as Haq (50) found his form to consolidate on Afridi’s (54) and Moin Khan chipped in with 43 as the team raced to a decent score, despite being all out in 42.3 overs.

Sent into bat by the Indians, Afridi opening the innings with skipper Rashid Latif started in his usual flamboyant manner delighting the crowd with some lusty hitting.

But Latif (18) did not last long as he miscued a shot of Robin Singh and was well caught by Rahul Dravid in the eighth over.

Saeed Anwar who replaced him at the crease began in style lifting Venkatesh Prasad for a six.

Meanwhile, Afridi going great guns reached his 50 with a huge six off offspinner Noel David. His half century off just 37 balls was studded with four sixes and three fours.

But David exacted sweet revenge when he lured him for another big hit and this time the Pakistani opener falling for the bait ballooned a catch to Rahul Dravid, who almost floored the catch in a mix up with VVS Laxman who also ran for the ball.

Anwar, who gave Afridi good support, then took charge and despatched V Raju for a six over square leg and saw his side sailing past the 100-mark in the 14th over.

But he departed two overs later going in for a cheeky single off David and failing to beat a direct throw from Hrishikesh Kanitkar. His exit for 29 off 21 balls left Rashid XI at 105 for three.

Aamir Sohail celebrated his recall as the Pakistan national skipper, clouting two huge sixes of Raju in the 16th over.

Offspinner David got rid off him in the 21st over, luring him out of his crease and having him stumped by wicketkeeper Saba Karim. Pakistan were 145 for four at that stage.

It was then Haq’s turn to prop the innings further and he did it creditably hitting two sixes and taking Pakistan beyond the 200-mark in the 32nd over.

But as soon as he reached his fifty, he slashed at a Sachin Tendulkar delivery to give a catch to Prasad at long off and Pakistan were 205 for five.

Laxman then chipped in with the wicket of Basit Ali whom he had caught by Raju in his first over at 220 for six.

Moin Khan became Tendulkar’s second victim when he tried to sweep him but managed just to spoon a catch to square leg.

Tendulkar later proved costly as he yielded 18 runs in the 41st over. But the Indians wrapped up the innings soon after claiming Azhar Mehmood for 25 and Aqib Javed for two in the 43rd over.

Rashid Latif XI:
Afridi c Dravid b David 54, Latif c Dravid b Singh 18, Anwar run out 31, Inzamum c Prasad b Tendulkar 50, Sohail st Karim b David 27, Moin Khan c Kanitkar b Tendulkar 43, Basit Ali c Raju b Laxman 4, Azhar c Raju b Tendulkar 25, Mohammed c Singh b Laxman 0, Aaqib c Prasad b Dravid 3, Zahid not out 2. Extras (5w) 5.

Total (all out in 42.3 overs) 262.
Fall of wkts: 1/47, 2/97, 3/105, 4/145, 5/205, 6/220, 7/238, 8/240, 9/260.
Bowling: Prasad 6-0-33-0, Tendulkar 7.3-1-43-3, Singh 4-0-36-1, Raju 5-0-39-0, David 9-1-51-2, Kanitkar 6-0-34-0, Jadeja 1-0-10-0, Laxman 3-0-15-2, Dravid 1-0-1-1.

Azharuddin XI:
Tendulkar c Khan b Hussein 13, Jadeja c Sohail b Javed 15, Laxman c Sohail b Javed 4, Karim c Anwar b Javed 36, Kanitkar c Zahid b Hussein 2, Azharuddin st Latif b Sohail 24, Dravid run out 2, Robin Singh b Anwar 15, Noel David c Latif b Javed 5, Prasad not out 1, Raju b Javed 0. Extras (1lb, 3w) 4.
Total (all out in 33.5 overs) 121.
Fall of wkts: 1/17, 2/31, 3/33, 4/37, 5/70, 6/77, 7/111, 8/119, 9/121.

Bowling: Aaqib Javed 8.5-1-20-5, Mohammed Hussain 7-1-34-2, Azhar Mahmood 5-0-18-0, Aamir Sohail 7-1-18-1, Shahid Afridi 2-0-12-0, Mohammed Zahid 3-0-17-0, Saeed Anwar 1-0-1-1.

Greater role for third umpires: Dalmiya

NEW DELHI, Aug 18 (PTI) — Yielding to demands for greater use of technology to reduce umpiring errors, the International Cricket Council has decided to allow the ground umpires to consult the third umpire on all dismissals except leg before wicket (lbw).

But lbw decisions, probably the most contentious of all, will remain the domain of the umpire at the wicket, at least for now, with ICC unwilling to make the game "too mechanical," ICC President Jagmohan Dalmiya told PTI here today.

The game will be played under a set of new rules with effect from September 1 which will reduce umpiring errors and address problems regarding playing conditions.

Demand for more use of technology has touched a high in the wake of glaring umpiring errors — by Pakistan’s Javed Akhtar in particular— during the just-ended test series between South Africa and England.

ICC also plans to impose life ban— against the current seven-year ban— on those found guilty of match-fixing, introduce guidelines for TV commentators and ensure uniformity in match referees’ decisions.

But ICC has no immediate plans to introduce mandatory drug testing. "We are not against it. But tests have their hazards too and ICC is not for introducing it for a fashion."

Denying ICC was reluctant to expand the role of third umpire, Dalmiya said from next month, the official will also decide on all catches "if the ground umpire is not sure whether it has been cleanly taken."

"Hitherto the third umpire decided on run-outs and stumpings and was consulted on line decisions like catches at the fence and, when in doubt, to clarify on fours and sixes".

Asked about allowing technology to enable third umpires decide on lbw, Dalmiya said "referring lbw decisions to the third umpire will drastically slow down the game. There is no mischief on anybody’s part or error to such an extent which requires technological support."

Taking away lbw decision-making from ground umpires will result in either his referring it to the third umpire very often or players demanding that they do so. "The ICC is liberal on technology use. But it should’nt become mechanical," he added.

Even technology developed in South Africa for lbw decisions had limitations as it sought to project straight lines, vertical and linear, which cannot fully reflect the way a cricket ball behaved, he said.

ICC constantly reviewed performance by umpires. "Captains of all the nine Test playing countries present at the captains’ meeting at the Lords were unanimous that quality of umpiring was improving," he said.

The ICC chief described match-fixing as a "heinous act" and said the world body was debating on introducing a life ban on players, administrators or umpires found guilty.

"But betting is a law and order problem. We can only forbid those connected with the game to keep away," he said.

A third umpire, from next month, can even have a quiet word if his counterpart on the field does not call overs promptly on fails to notice violation of field restrictions. "No balls and wides will be called by ground umpires," he added.

Dalmiya dubbed all periodical cricket ratings as "publicity stunts" and warned that "judging individuals in a team game can be deceptive."

ICC was examining the role of TV commentators. "There should be some kind of guidelines. Sometimes their comments are quite unfair," he said, pointing out that remarks made by them (mostly ex-cricketers) added extra pressure on umpires and vitiated the already tense atmosphere.

Dalmiya ruled out ICC introducing mandatory dope test, an issue that is rocking almost all major sports in the world today. The issue is also one of the contentious issues between the Indian board (BCCI) and Olympic association (IOA) in the tussle over participation in next month’s Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.

Drug abuse will never be supported by the ICC. But genuine use of even cortizone injections by injured bowlers will put them in the dock if they are tested, though it will not help boost his bowling, he added.

On penalty for dissent imposed by match referees, another area of controversy as the rule is not uniformly applied, the ICC president said there was a very thin dividing line between "disappointment and dissent."

"We are working to ensure consistency in rulings. Most of the time one will find batsmen penalised but bowlers being let off which, on the surface, looks unfair. Bowlers have scope for remonstrating and getting away on the grounds of expressing disappointment. But batsmen are not supposed to show their feeling and are invariably penalised."

ICC rule changes becoming effective from September 1:

1. Umpires permitted to consult the third umpire, if in doubt, on all dismissals barring lbw.

2. Fielders will no longer be allowed to shift positions once the batsman has taken stance. If he does so, umpire will call a "dead ball" under law 42 - unfair play.

3. Stern action against suspect action of bowlers. Umpire after only one warning, may bar him from bowling if he continues to operate with a suspect action. If it is a marginal case, it should be brought to the notice of match referee for respective national boards to take further action.

4. 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.

5. One additional light meter should be given by host board to ICC referee when he arrives. He will retain it throughout the tour and pass it to the incoming national grid panel umpire for each of the tests.

6. In case change of ball is sought after 110 overs, only replacement with new ball will be allowed. (BCCI has accepted it with the change that it will be mandatory to take the new ball after 100 overs in domestic matches).

7. If beamer is bowled, umpire should act under Law 42. The bowler will be removed if he bowls a second beamer.

8. If a batsman is found to be damaging the pitch, umpire shall follow the procedures of caution, and if proven ineffective, shall signal "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.

Thipsay, Barua triumph

TEHRAN, Aug 18 (PTI) — Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay scored his first win after two successive defeats as Indians fared well in the third round of the Asian Chess Championships today.

Thipsay beat S. Mansour of Jordan while national ‘A’ champion GM Dibyendu Barua scored a good win with black over unseeded Kerim Aliev of Turkmenistan in 58 moves.

IM V. Saravanan, who stunned senior teammate Thipsay in the second round, held Uzbek GM Sergey Zagrebelny soon after the first time control after enjoying a slender edge.

Rustam Kasmdhzanov of Uzbekistan took the lead with his third straight win, a swift 25-move verdict over Qatar’s Mohammed Al-Modiakhi, who is awaiting his GM title.

Barua and Vietnam’s GM Dao Thien Hai were joint second with 2.5 points while Saravanan has two points.

Thipsay finally won, in a Ruy Lopez opening. Playing white, the seven time national champion won on the 40th move but was once again close to time trouble. He had less than two minutes left on the clock, though his position was sound.

Barua played the queen’s gambit declined against Allev and gained advantage very early as his Turkmenistan rival played some unusual moves. By the 30th move, Barua was all over, had two extra pawns, and completed his win methodically to join Dao Thien Hai, who beat local contender M. Ghorbani.

Saravanan, looking for a GM norm, played Sicilian-najdorf with black against Uzbec Zagrebelny and equalised early. He gained early edge but squandered it by the end of first time control and readily accepted the draw offer after 40 moves.

Titles for Anju, Bhupinder
From Our Correspondent

ROPAR, Aug 18 — Mr Bhupinder Singh and Ms Anju Verma clinched the men's singles and women's singles titles respectively, in the three-day District Badminton Championship which concluded at the local Services Club.

As many as 125 players participated in 18 events from all parts of the district.

In men's singles, Bhupinder Singh defeated Sumit Sethi 15-12, 15-11 while in the women's singles Anju Verma thrashed Satuti Bansal 11-8, 11-7.

The following are the results:

Men's doubles: Bhupinder Singh and Gurdit 1, C.L. Verma and Ashok Sethi 2. Women's doubles: Anju Verma and Ravinder Walia 1, Satuti and Ruchika 2. Boys doubles (under 22): Varinder and Inderpreet 1, Harwinder and Akashdeep 2. Junior boys singles: Bhupinder Singh 1, Sumit Sethi 2. Junior girls singles: Anju Verma 1, Sunayana 2. Junior boys doubles: Sumit and Jatin Jain 1, Bhupinder and Anil 2. Junior girls doubles: Anju and Sunayana 1, Nirmala and Poonam 2. Subjunior boys singles: Gurpreet Singh 1, Harpreet Singh 2. Subjunior girls singles: Arti Verma 1, Shruti Bansal 2. Subjunior boys doubles: Gurpreet and Anil 1, Harpreet and Jatin 2. Subjunior girls doubles: Arti and Anchal 1, Shruti and Ruchika 2.

Driving range by year-end
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Aug 18--- The first phase of the proposed driving range, to be set up by the Chandigarh Golf Association at the Chandigarh Club will be completed by the end of this year.

This was stated here by CGA president D.P. Azad. Further , Dr Donato Di Ponziano , Deputy Chairman, PGA of Europe , has arrived in the city to assist the association in setting up the academy, which is aimed at improving the standard of Golf in the region, as well as in the country.

Donato, who happens to be the coach of Harmeet Kahlon, Amardeep Johl and Parneeta Grewal, was quite optimistic about the idea and felt India could produce world golf champions in the near future.

Donato will be paid 27000 ponds for the three year contract. "Basically my role will be to guide the CGA about the infrastructure needed and teach the golfers how to avail them," Donato informed.

"I am very proud of Harmeet Kahlon, though he still has a long way to go. He has a very good chance of winning the gold medal in the forthcoming Asian Games," Donato said about the city golfer.

Kapil ousts Sanjeev
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Aug 18 — Kapil Chadha ousted Sanjeev Dhawan by 2-1 on the third day of the inaugural Jaswant Singh Bhullar Memorial Prize-Money Snooker Tournament here today.

In the first frame, Kapil Chadha did fabulous potting and bagged the frame convincingly while in the second frame, Sanjeev Dhawan fought back and took the frame 63-59. The last frame was a see-saw battle for both the cuemen. Kapil Chadha with his fine potting won the frame 56-41.

Other results are: Kamal Kant b Amardeep Singh 81-15, 37-50, 73-23, Sunny Bhalla b Krishan Kumar 79-42, 75-26, Saurav Khattar b Manish Bansal 54-32, 60-24.

Ludhiana school hockey league from Sept 5
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 18 — The Aryan Hockey Club will organise the Ludhiana District Schools Hockey League to be played on weekends from September 5, Mr Sukhvir Singh Grewal, president of the club, announced here today. Top eight teams of the district will participate in the league.

A decision to this effect was taken at the annual general meeting of the club held under the chairmanship of Mr Sukhvir Singh Grewal at Ludhiana yesterday. He said that teams that have qualified for the league are Kila Raipur Senior Secondary School, Malwa School, Roomi School, Jarkhar School, Namdhari Jatha, Bahadurgarh School, Kamalpura School and Raikot School.

After the district league, the Punjab State Super League for the Harbans Singh Pannu Memorial Cup will be organised from the first week of October. The defending champions SPDA, Patiala; Sports School, Jalandhar; Burlton Park Hockey Academy, Jalandhar; Shivalik Academy, Chandigarh and other teams will participate in this league. Besides, the team finishing at the top of the district league will also qualify for this super league, he added.

Earlier, the general house elected Kulwant Singh Boparai as its new general secretary. A former inter-university player, Boparai has been closely associated with promotion of hockey at the grass-root level. He replaces Mr Paramjit Singh, who expressed his inability to continue.

Gurdishpal manager of hockey team
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 18 — Former international and national junior selector Gurdishpal Singh, a Superintendent-cum-Sports Officer in Customs and Central Excise Department here, has been nominated manager of the Indian team that will take part in a four-nation tournament in Hamburg, Germany, later this week. A message to this effect was received only yesterday.

Earlier, Mr Gurdishpal Singh was designated to accompany the Indian contingent as an expert. The Indian team led by centre-half Rahul Singh is expected to leave for Germany tonight.

Meanwhile, the Indian Hockey Federation has nominated Dr Joginder Singh, an orthopaedic surgeon-cum-sports medicine specialist based at Schweinfurt, Germany, as doctor of the Indian contingent for the Hamburg tournament. He will join the Indian contingent when it arrives there tomorrow.

National grasscourt tennis in Calcutta

CALCUTTA, Aug 18 (PTI) — Tennis buffs in the city will have plenty to cheer about this winter with the metropolis being the venue of several international and national tennis events.

The senior national grasscourt championship, which would attract the cream of tennis talents in the country, would be held from January 4.

The Bengal Tennis Association (BTA) had opted to host the senior national grasscourt championships for five years in a row starting from 1998, the BTA secretary Manik Goswami said.

Apart from the $ 25,000 (about Rs 10.5 lakh) prize money challenger in February next year and the proposed doubles challenger in December first week, the city would host another major international meet for the first time — the international tennis federation men’s future meet.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has introduced the men’s future meet this year in place of the satellite events.

South Club, which has hosted a number of Davis Cup ties, will be the venue for the Indian leg from November 9 to 15.

The meet would not only carry a prize money of $ 15,000 but would give opportunity to several Indian players to gain crucial ATP points in both singles and doubles.

Legal notice for drug tests

NEW DELHI, Aug 18 (PTI) — Marathon runner Sunita Godara has issued a legal notice to the government saying the Arjuna Awards and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award should not be given to the awardees till they were made to undergo drug tests.

The notice to the Human Resource Ministry, issued through advocate Raman Kapoor, said if the government went ahead with the award ceremony scheduled for August 29, she would approach the courts of law in this regard.