• Rural soccer
• Chess results
• Harsimran best swimmer
• Meet postponed

• Punjab judokas overall champs
• Punjab gymnastics
• Tennis panel

Churchill Bros hold slight edge

NEW DELHI, Aug 26 (PTI) — Goa league champions, Churchill Brothers hold a slender edge over BSF, Jalandhar, when they clash in the quarterfinal of the KBL Federation Cup Football Tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium here tomorrow.

Churchill, who began their fresh season with an emphatic 7-0 win over Langsning Club of Meghalaya in the pre-quarters here on August 24 will not get the freedom they enjoyed over their northeastern rivals, but their overall strength and sharp attack marks them as favourites.

Nippy striker Cyril Barreto, who pumped in four goals including a hattrick within eight minutes after kickoff, aided well by creative medio Mahesh Singh and seasoned Mario Soares give Churchill, almost wound up on being relegated from the national league, the right impetus.

BSF, who had also like their rivals tumbled out at the last eight stage last year, have a sturdy side with many young players to support the seasoned names. But lack of ideas in the midfield, which stood out in their narrow 1-0 win over Tollygunge Agragami, Calcutta yesterday, could prove costly.

Barring seasoned striker Gauranga Paul, who produced the second half winner, other forwards D. S. Negi and Abhay Mahato showed little opportunism despite their hard running style.

But the paramilitary side have always made up for lack of flourish with a robust and dogged approach to deny the rivals before looking for goals themselves.

The uneven playing field has been a major worry for the teams with the Delhi super league in progress giving little room for keeping it in shape.

Churchill's Scottish coach Danny McEnnan will depend much on Ghanian imports in goalkeeper Edward Ensah and stopper Osumanu Husseni who had a fine game against the speedy Langsning.

Though star striker Somatai Shaiza, who shifted from East Bengal, looked disoriented and was substituted in the previous match, much will be expected from him tomorrow. Former international midfielder Ageel Ansari, who scored twice against Langsning, adds to the strong bench of the Goan side.

BSF will depend much on the steady defence of Raghubir Singh and Tapan Bhattacharya and former Indian goalkeeper Bibhas Saha's assured collections.

Sane Lama did a good job as an attacking midfielder against Tollygunge and if Gauranga Paul, only a second half substitute in the last match playing for the first time since undergoing an operation for knee ligament tear, starts the match tomorrow should form a formidable duo.

Play kicks off at 2 p.m.

CALCUTTA: Strong title contenders Mohun Bagan appear favourites as they take on a youthful new-look F.C. Kochin in a pre-quarterfinal on Thursday.

The country’s first professional outfit, has lost most of their star players to other clubs this season.

The club authorities have sought to fill the void mostly with greenhorns from the Tata Football Academy.

Some of their players were members of the victorious Indian team in the Asian Youth Championship qualifiers at Bangalore but the fortunes of the team mostly depend on the two recruits from Ghana-custodian Ali Abubacker and star striker Abu Jomo.

Abubacker was a picture of confidence during Kochin’s successful campaign in the southern zone qualifiers in Kannur.

Bagan, on the other hand, have a lethal forwardline with the Chima Ikerie — I.M. Vijayan combination capable of stirring terror in the opposition ranks.

Facile victory for Barua

TEHERAN, Aug 26 (UNI) — Indian Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua improved his chances of clinching the second place with a facile win while GM Rustam Kasimzhanov continued to be on the top with a draw against Indian GM Pravin Thipsay in the 10th and penultimate round of the Asian Chess Championship here yesterday.

Rustam Kasimzhanov of Uzbekistan practically has assured himself of the title with his short draw with Grandmaster Praveen Thipsay and ended the day with 8.5 points. Barua and Dao Thien Hai jointly held the second spot with 7.5 points after 10 rounds.

In another short encounter, India’s V. Saravanan drew his game against Grandmaster Dao Thien Hai in a short encounter.

Barua emerged as the second place when he defeated IM Khamdamov in a see-saw battle. Playing with white pieces, Barua was a pawn-up early in a queenless middlegame arising out of a modern defence game.

But he lost it back and even landed into an inferior ending. He fought back brilliantly to finally win the game in a marathon knight and pawn ending.

In a sicilian Taimanov variation, Thipsay made an important theoretical improvement over the board, on the 18th move and Kasimzhanov immediately offered a draw. Dao and Saravanan drew the game in 19 moves from a closed sicilian.

Important results: GM P. Thipsay (6) drew GM R. Kasimdzhanov (8.5) V. Saravanan (5.5) drew GM Dao Thien Hai (7.5) GM D. Barua (7.5) beat IM S. Khamdamov (5) GM Saltaev (5) drew S. Mallahi (5) IM Amir Bagheri (5) lost to GM S. Zagrebelny (6.5) K. Aliev (4.5) lost to IM Al Modiahki (6).

Indian eves' 4x100 m relay team
to represent Asia

BEIJING, Aug 26 (PTI) — The Indian women’s 4x100 relay team, led by sprint queen P.T. Usha, has been selected to represent Asia at next month’s International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Cup in Johannesburg.

Usha, 33, who made a stirring comeback to the international scene with four medals at last month’s Asian athletics championships at Fukuoka, Japan, will also be part of the longer relay team, according to the team announced by the Asian Amateur Athletics Federation here today.

The full Indian 4x100m quatret comprising Rachita Mistry, Saraswati Dey, E.B. Shyla and Usha has been included in the 47-member continental squad for the September 11 to 13 meet.

The 4x400m womens’ relay would include, besides Usha, Damayanthi Darsha (Sri Lanka), Kazakhstan’s Svetlana Bodritskaya and Chen Yuxiang of China.

Distance runner Gulab Chand, who bagged a silver and a bronze at Fukuoka, is the lone Indian man in the Asian team and will participate in the 5000 m event.

China will lead the Asian contingent with 22 of its athletes in the team. All of them are gold medalists at Fukuoka, reports Xinhua news agency.

Chance for Lanka to prove a point

LONDON, Aug 26 (Reuters) — Sri Lanka, starved of Test cricket in England, are banking on Arjuna Ranatunga’s team eloquently stating their case for a better deal over the next five days.

When Ranatunga’s side appear at the Oval tomorrow for the one-off Test against England it will be Sri Lanka’s first Test in this country for seven years and only their fourth here since becoming a Test-playing nation in 1981.

By comparison, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan and Zimbabwe have each played at least one three-Test series against Sri Lanka while West Indies met the island team in a two-Test encounter.

Formidable batting, varied spin bowling spearheaded by the high-quality off-breaks of Muttiah Muralitharan and pace bowling strengthened by the belated arrival of Chaminda Vaas make Sri Lanka challenging opponents for buoyant England.

Sri Lanka gave a glimpse of their batting prowess when winning the recent triangular tournament final against England though they may find their talents tested on a bare pitch at the Oval.

The accomplished and popular Aravinda de Silva, who use his bat like a rapier rather than a cutlass, heads their list of batting entertainers in which opener Sanath Jayasuriya will be particularly anxious to make his mark.

Jayasuriya failed in both triangular matches against England to provide his eagerly-anticipated explosive start, but he has the capacity to adjust his game from the requirements of one-day to five-day cricket.

Jayasuriya’s 340 against India in Colombo last year — fourth highest score in Test history — has underlined the point.

While Sri Lanka should not be short of runs, the weakness in their attack is the lack of a strike bowler.

They will be lifted if left-armer Vaas is fit after joining the tour late due to injury. He is their most successful paceman, with 83 wickets at 29.02 in 26 matches.

For England, the match offers twin objectives: sustaining the form and spirit which brought victories in the last two Tests against South Africa, and monitoring candidates for the forthcoming Ashes tour.

The recall of Ben Hollioake gives the Surrey all-rounder an opportunity on his home ground to secure a berth for Australia after improved pace bowling performances under the guidance of England bowlers’ coach Bob Cottam.

Hollioake’s Surrey team mate, leg-spinner Ian Salisbury, wicketless in the last two Tests against South Africa, needs to bowl with confidence and conviction to secure his place in the Ashes squad.

Salisbury has been successful for his county in tandem with Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq at the Oval, where a surface that may be conducive to spin bowling has prompted England to add off-spinner Robert Croft to their squad.

With number three batsman Nasser Hussain nursing a groin injury, Y. John Crawley is set to take his place.

If the in-form Lancashire batsman plays, it will provide a contest within a contest as he and Graeme Hick are effectively battling for the remaining specialist batting place on the Australian tour.

Rafter triumphs; Rios ousted

JERICHO (New York), Aug 26 (Reuters) — Second-seeded Australian Patrick Rafter began final preparations for defence of his US Open title with a first-round victory last night but top seed Marcelo Rios of Chile was ousted.

Rafter held on for a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 triumph over Spain’s Javier Sanchez before Rios fell to 1997 French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil, 6-3, 7-6, (7-4).

Rios’s defeat came one day after he lost the world number one ranking to Pete Sampras for the second time this year. The Chilean left-hander will head into the year’s final Grand Slam event starting next week with four losses in his last five matches.

"I’ve not been feeling very good the last few weeks," said Rios, who has been suffering with allergies and was ill on Monday night. "I’ve been tired and my body is not reacting good. I need to rest and get ready for the Open."

Seventh seed Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia, the 1990 runner-up, was toppled by Hicham Arazi of Morocco 5-7, 6-3, 7-6, (7-2), while eighth seed Felix Mantilla handed fellow Spaniard Sergi Bruguera his 32nd loss in 41 matches this year, 6-4, 6-4.

Ivanisevic was granted a wild-card entry despite reaching Sunday’s final at New Haven, where he was denied his first title on US soil by Slovakia’s Karol Kucera.

Belgian Filip Dewulf defeated Australian Mark Woodforde 6-4, 7-6, (8-6) and Daniel Vacek of the Czech Republic eliminated 1993 champion Marc Rosset of Switzerland 6-1, 6-4.

Bohdan Ulihrach defeated fellow Czech Slava Dosedel 6-4, 7-6, (7-5), France’s Nicolas Escude dispatched Sweden’s Thomas Johansson 6-1, 6-4 and Martin Damm of the Czech Republic beat Spain’s Jordi Burillo 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

The 21-year-old Kuerten has struggled since becoming the first Brazilian to win a Grand Slam last year in Paris. However, his form is beginning to return after he won his second career title in Stuttgart, Germany last month.

The 22-year-old Rios, seeded second at the US Open, fell to 26-6 on hardcourts this year but still leads the ATP Tour with five titles.

"When you are at the top, everybody is expecting you to win every match but you’re going to have your bad days and bad weeks," said Rios, who added that his slump is not related to the firing of coach Larry Stefanki two weeks ago.

"It was a decision I made. It was personal and it’s over. The losing is not because I’m not with Larry," Rios said.

The 25-year-old Rafter has points to defend this week, having reached last year’s final before losing to Spain’s Carlos Moya, and more than 1,000 points for winning last year’ US Open.

Bradman greatest living Aussie: PM

CANBERRA, Aug 26 (AFP) — Cricket legend Sir Donald Bradman is the greatest living Australian, Prime Minister John Howard said today on the eve of "the Don’s" 90th birthday.

"I would like to say to you Don. You are the greatest living Australian without any argument," Howard, a cricket devotee, said on television.

"You are not only the greatest cricketer Australia has produced and the world has seen, but you are also an Australian legend, an Australian icon. You brought hope and inspiration to a depression-weary Australian nation in the 1930s."

Bradman’s birthday will be celebrated at a gala dinner in his home-city Adelaide tomorrow for 1,300 people, but he won’t be there. He will be at home with his family having long retreated from public life.

In a glorious cricket career Bradman finished with an aggregate of 6,996 runs in 52 Tests from 1928 to 1948 for an astonishing average of 99.94.

He hit 29 hundreds, 13 half-centuries and his highest score was 334 in the first innings against England at Leeds in 1930.

Bradman is the third oldest Test cricketer in the world after England’s Alf Gover and New Zealand’s G. Lindsay Weir.

No Test cricketer has hit the ‘ton of life’ with England’s Francis Mackinnon being the oldest at 98 years and 324 days. Mackinnon died in February 1947, a year before Bradman retired from Tests.

Howard said Bradman’s name was still as widely known as it was in his sporting heyday.

"The extraordinary thing about you is that although it’s almost 50 years since you stopped playing cricket, your name is still the greatest name in world cricket," he said.

"What is so marvellous about Don Bradman is his values, his love of sport for the sake of the game, and not just the dollar. The fact that he is a modest, understated man, a person who shuns publicity but has without doubt been, I think, the most properly celebrated Australian of this century," Howard added.

A national treasurer

Adelaide (Reuters): "The Don" turns 90 on Thursday and cricket’s finest batsman appears well set to amass yet another century in his final innings.

Sir Donald Bradman is regarded as the greatest living Australian and, as the years pass, his achievements at the crease grow ever more impressive.

Bradman reached three figures 29 times at Test level and finished his career at the extraordinary average of 99.94.

His closest rivals in the averages, like South African Graeme Pollock, West Indian George Headley and England’s Herbert Sutcliffe, struggled to reach the sixties and it looks increasingly likely that Bradman’s will be one sporting record that is never broken.

Bradman, who has kept out of the public eye for many years will not make any appearances to celebrate his entry to the "nervous nineties".

The death last year of his wife and childhood sweetheart Jessie after 65 years of marriage reinforced his desire to shun publicity.

"I understand a few weeks ago he had a round of golf and he shot a 91 off the stick, which was just extraordinary at 89 years of age," said Michael Brock, organiser of a dinner in Bradman’s honour.

Modern-day cricket greats genuflect before Bradman. A special guest here this week will be Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, the player Don says most reminds him of himself in his heyday.

Bradman is regarded in Australia as a national treasure. He has been idolised by generations as their greatest sportsman.

No other batsman, before or since, has equalled his ability to dominate an attack while guarding his wicket jealously.

Asked during a rare interview in 1996 to explain why some of his records remain unchallenged, he said: "I saw much better batsmen than I was. Lots of them, They just kept getting out."

Failure in his last Test innings before retirement at the Oval in 1948 denied Bradman the magical Test average of 100 and enhanced the mystique surrounding the man.

Needing to score a mere four runs to achieve the landmark figure, Bradman was dismissed for a duck, much to the disbelief of a huge crowd and teammate Arthur Morris who looked on stunned from the other end of the pitch.

"It was a really emotional moment for everyone," Morris recalled of an event whose 50th anniversary fell earlier this month.

"Typical of Bradman, he just tucked the bat under his arm and walked off as if he had got 100," he told Reuters. Bradman refused to countenance the theory that tears of emotion had affected his vision.

Such was Bradman’s skill that England’s attempts to contain him culminated in the infamous "Bodyline" series in 1932-33 when English fast bowlers aimed short-pitched legside deliveries at the batsman’s body rather than the wicket.

Bradman, who was knighted in 1949, played 338 first-class innings, scoring 28,067 runs at an average of 95.14. He led his country for 12 years until his retirement.

Upset victory for Varun
From Our Sports Reporter

HOSHIARPUR, Aug 26 — Varun Khanna of Amritsar created a flutter when he upset second seed Amardeep of Patiala in the boys singles under-13 in three well-fought games in the Punjab State Badminton Championship for juniors which is in progress at the Indoor Stadium here today.

Aggressive Varun displayed good speed and sharp down the line smashes which helped him upset the second seed 15-10, 11-15, 15-12.

Another upset was witnessed in the girl’s singles under-16 event when Indermeet of Hoshiarpur defeated fourth seed Madhuri of Jalandhar in three games 13-12, 11-12, 11-7. After loosing the first game Indermeet upset Madhuri with speed and stamina.

In the same event, top seed Vidhu Vatral of Patiala faced tough resistance from Navneet of Hoshiarpur. Navneet won the first game easily at 11-7 but lost the other two well-fought games 7-11, 9-11.

Unseeded Harpreet of Ropar caused another upset when he crushed third seed Abishek of Amritsar in straight two games 15-8, 15-1, in the boys singles under-13 event.

Results:

Boys under-16 (pre-quarterfinals):

1. Dilpreet (Ldh) beat Iqbal Singh (Ptl) 15-12, 15-13. 2. Vaibhav (Asr) beat Harpreet (Rpr) 15-5, 15-2. 3. Varun Gulati (Asr) beat Ramnik Singh (Jal) 15-7, 15-8. 4. Akhtar (Sangr) beat Amit Sharma (Jal) 15-3, 15-8. 5. Akshay (Asr) beat Raj Kumar (Jal) 15-4, 17-15. 6. Rohit Kapoor (Jal) beat Mayank (Asr) 15-10, 15-11. 7. Ankit Dhir (Ldh) beat Assim (Sang) 15-4, 15-7. 8. Varun Khanna (Asr) beat Amardeep (Pta) 15-10, 11-15, 15-12.

Girls singles under-16 (prequarterfinals):

1. Sindhu (Ptl) b Parminder Kaur (Ldh) 11-3, 11-1. 2. Navneet (Hsr) b Radha (Asr) 11-0, 11-0. 3. Gurpreet (Hsr) b Harneet (Ldh) 11-1, 11-0. 4. Indermeet (Hsr) b Prerna (Ldh) 11-1, 11-3. 5. Madhuri (Jal) b Stuti (Rpr) 13-11, 11-1. 6. Jaspreet (Ptl) b Balreet (Ldh) 11-11, 11-2, 11-8. 7. Shahnaz (Sang) b Gorika (Hsr) 11-1, 11-3.

Girls singles under -16 (semi):

1. Vidhu (Ptl) b Navneet (Hsr) 7-11, 11-7, 11-9. 2. Arti (Rpr) b Gurpreet (Hsr) 11-1, 11-8. 3. Indermeet (Hsr) b Madhuri (Jal) 13-12, 11-2, 11-7. 4. Shanhaz (Sang) b Jaspreet (Ptl) 11-0, 11-2.

Boys doubles under-16:

1. Ashok & Iqbal (Ptl) got W/o Gurinder & Deepak (Gsp). 2. Ankit &Amandeep b (Ptl) Suresh & Jaskaran (Jal) 15-3, 15-5. 3. Akshay & Mayank (Asr) b Ankur & Anuj (Ldh) 15-6, 15-11. 4. Vaibhav & Sandeep (Asr) b Asim & Akhtar (Sang) 15-6, 10-15, 7-15. 5. Harjot & Ramnik (Jal) b Anil & Apurav (Rpr) 15-0, 15-2. 6. Jasmeet & Abishek (Hsr) b Sumit & Veshesh (Ldh) 15-2, 15-13.

Girls singles under-13 (semi):

1. Arti (Rpr) b Heena (Jal) 11-0, 11-0. 2. Vandana (Ptl) b Stuti (Rpr) 11-2, 11-5.

Girls doubles under-13:

1. Samreen & Meenu (Asr) b Rabsimran & Farina Singh (Ldh) 17-15, 15-5.

Boys singles under-13:

1. Sahil (Jal) b Nittin (Hsr) 15-3, 15-0. 2. Vipul (Jal) b Kleen (Sang) 15-11, 15-4. 3. Mohd Kazim (Sang) b Rajan (Gsp) 15-6, 15-7. 4. Vaibhav (Asr) b Anuj Dhand (Ldh) 10-15, 15-6, 17-14. 5. Gurinder (Gsp) b Varun Arora (Jal) 15-10, 15-5. 6. Dineshwar (Asr) b Nand Lal (Ptl) 15-10, 15-6. 7. Harsimran (Jal) b Raj Kumar (Ldh) 15-8, 15-6. 8. Harpreet (Rpr) b Abishek (Asr) 15-8, 15-10.

Innovative training methods at camp

CHENNAI, Aug 26 (PTI) — Innovative training methods based on suggestions from coach Anshuman Gaekwad and Australian consultant Bobby Simpson were put into practice at the ongoing cricket camp for the 22 probables for next year’s World Cup.

With Sachin Tendulkar having left for Australia last night to participate in the 90th birthday celebrations of Australian cricket icon Don Bradman, the others underwent strenuous workout for over five hours in the longest session so far in camps in recent times.

Saurav Ganguly, who was off the field yesterday due to ‘sore throat and mild temperature’, was back in action as running between the wickets and ‘open net practice’ were held at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here.

For running between the wickets, Simpson and physio Andrew Kokinos recorded each player’s timing. He was made to repeat the process till he showed improvement in the effort.

Chennai has been the venue for camps during the last four years and it was for the first time that an open net practice was held to field in simulated match situations.

Gaekwad said: "This method helps players to place their shots (for quick singles) and improve upon fielding."

Football academy set up at St. Stephen's
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 —With an aim to catch them young, a football academy for the children aged between 7 and 10 has been set up at St. Stephen's School in the city.

This is probably the first academy of its kind in this age group in the country.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Harold Carver, the Principal of the school, gave details of the academy which aims at "developing the best talent in the country".The first batch of 25 is already undergoing training . In the second year the academy will be opened for the students of other schools in the city. In the subsequent years the academy will be opened to children from Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

Mr Carver said in the first instance a group of 50 students were selected on basis of their height, weight, basic speed, vertical jumping power and standing board jump power. The number was subsequently reduced to 25. This was preceded by three meetings with parents who were assured that the academic interests of students would be looked into by arranging special classes for them.

Children in the academy attend normal school. After lunch at the school these children attend special supervised study. Subsequently they are sent to the play on Panjab University fields, Mr Carver said.

The diet is planned by trained dieticians.

The dream of starting the football academy had been conceptualised by Bhupinder Singh, a coach of the Sports Authority of India. He said he was inspired while he attained an advanced diploma in coaching in Germany, where he saw similar camps. In India the training starts very late which is one of the major reasons for poor results, he said.

Mr Carver said the performance evaluation of children at the academy would be done every six months. The academy would also organise tournaments in the same age category to encourage other institutes to develop the sport.

He said the necessary infrastructure was expected to be completed within two years. The academy expected to have its own land in a part of the city for which negotiations were on. Just a few months into the project and the children were already feeling the difference.

St. Kabir annex trophy
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — Star-studded St Kabir High School, Sector 26 won the Chandigarh Cadet Football Tournament for boys under 14 years, which ended at the Sector 17 Football Stadium, here to lift the glittering St. John's trophy, today.

The winning school was also awarded a cash prizes of Rs 5000 the team will take a part in the Subroto Cup Football Tournament to be held in Delhi in the second week of September.

St Kabir High School, beat St Soldier International Public School, Sector 28, by a solitary goal after a barren first half.

The match started on a fast pace and both teams began putting pressure on each other from the start. In the fifth minute of the game, Sanjay of St Kabir sent a pass to his team-mate Surinder, whose try from the close range missed his target narrowly.

On the counter move, Harshdeep of St Kabir made a solo effort but his a fine try was well collected by the rival custodian Angad. At half time both teams were goalless.

In the second session, Amarjit of St Soldier International Public School-28, got a corner kick which was well saved by St Kabir goal-kepeer. Yet another corner proved abortive.

In the 40th minute, St Kabir lads started a well planned move to the rival goal area from the right Amarjit gave a back pass to his team-mate Jagjit Singh who slowly rolled the ball his team-mate Anmol Kapoor who placed the ball into the corner of the goal net beyond reach of the St Soldier goalkeeper to put his team into the lead.

Mandeep of St Soldier got a through pass from Amarjit but St Kabir custodian left his charge to effort a brilliant save.

Surinder Singh, Rohit Kumar of St Soldier; Parviz, and Anmol Kapoor of St Kabir; and Praghav Jain and Prabhdev of St John's High School, were declared best players of the tournament.

Jones bristles at talk of Arron

LAUSANNE (Switzerland), Aug 26 (AP) — World champion Marion Jones might have hoped her 100-metre win at the Athletissima Grand Prix would halt talk of new sprint sensation Christine Arron.

But Jones’s latest victory yesterday in a perfect season has only served to heighten anticipation of a showdown between the 22-year-old American and the newly-crowned European champion next Friday at the Grand Prix in Brussels.

"I’m just looking forward to racing in Brussels and I wish people would stop talking about Arron,’’ said Jones. "I just wish everyone would stop asking me about her so much.’’

"I’ve raced her twice and beat her both times,’’ Jones added, saying she wouldn’t be adapting her preparations to Arron specifically.

The versatile Jones said she was also looking forward to encountering warmer weather in Brussels, saying that the cool, gusty conditions in Lausanne might have slowed her down a bit.

Despite the unfavourable temperature, Jones still produced a time of 10.72 in what she described as one of her best races in Europe.

Jones wasn’t the only one held back by the conditions.

Despite the fact it’s one of the fastest tracks in the world, the nippy conditions prevented any serious attacks on world records at the Pontaise stadium.

Though they each posted wins, crowning a successful evening for the Americans, world champion Maurice Green and double Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson failed to set even the most insignificant of records.

With a top-flight field gathered at the lightning-quick track in Lausanne, Donovan Bailey’s world record of 9.84 was widely expected to face a stiff challenge.

The only notable absentee was the Olympic champion Bailey himself, still out with a thigh injury sustained in Zurich.

However, the temperature combined with two false starts hampered any attempts to break the barriers.

"The cold and the false starts hurt,’’ said Greene’s coach John Smith.

Johnson, too, felt the cold.

"It’s extremely hot in Dallas right now,’’ he said after the 400 metre race, adding that he hadn’t wanted to push too hard against the increasing wind.

The conditions helped safeguard Butch Reynolds’ 10-year-old record of 43.29. Two weeks ago it survived Johnson’s challenge in sweltering conditions at Zurich, when he posted a dangerous season’s best of 43.69.

But Johnson felt yesterday’s win showed improved form after an indifferent start to the season.

"I’m actually right now not in as good shape as "I was,’’ Johnson said. I’m just trying to win races now.’’

Americans took the first three places in the race, with Jerome Young and Danny McCray coming in behind Johnson to complete the US clean sweep.

Allen Johnson added to the Americans’ success, claiming the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.07. He edged European champion Colin Jackson, who finished second, .02 back.

It was a disappointing return to competition for two more of Britain’s European champions.

In the triple jump, Jonathan Edwards finished second behind Germany’s Charles Friedek, who won with a jump of 17.07. Edwards was .07 short. Steve Backley had to settle for third place in the javelin.

Easy victory for Steffi Graf

NEW HAVEN (Connecticut), Aug 26 (Reuters) — Fourth seed Steffi Graf of Germany sailed to victory over Henrieta Nagyova of Slovakia yesterday in the second round.

Graf, tuning up for her long-awaited return to the US Open, beat Nagyova 6-1, 6-3. Graf accepted a wild-card entry into this event, which she won three times when it was known as the US women’s hardcourt championships.

Despite being ranked 38th in world, Graf will be eighth seed at next week’s Grand Slam event in New York. She missed last year’s US Open after season-ending knee surgery.

Wimbledon runner-up Nathalie Tauziat of France fell to countrywoman Amelie Mauresmo 6-7, (4-7), 0-6. Sixth seed Swiss Patty Schnyder, who leads WTA Tour with five singles titles this year, disposed of Italian qualifier Rita Grande 6-4, 6-3.

American Chanda Rubin rallied past Russia’s Elena Likhovtseva 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 and, Spain’s Virginia Ruano-Pascual got past American Anne Miller 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

Anke Huber of Germany made short work of Italy’s Silvia Farina, 6-2, 6-3, and Alexia Dechaume-Balleret of France ousted Joannette Kruger of South Africa 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, (7-5).

Top seed and defending champion Lindsay Davenport of the USA will be seeking her fourth straight title.

Seeded second at the next week’s US Open, Davenport could overtake Martina Hingis as world’s top-ranked player if she wins the Final Grand Slam event of the year. She has won 12 straight matches, including a three-set triumph over Hingis two weeks ago. The top four seeds received first-round byes.

Sri Lanka veterans win by 14 runs

AGRA, Aug 26 (PTI) — Riding on Brenton Kuruppa’s half-century, Sri Lanka beat India by 14 runs in the opening match of the Independence Cup Veterans Series here today.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, Sri Lanka scored 171 in 36 overs helped by Kuruppa’s hurricane 54 off 44 balls (6x4, 4x6), Amal Silva’s 33 of an equal number of balls and skipper Duleep Mendis’ 27.

For India Nayak was the main wicket-taker with three wickets for 29 followed by Raghuvar Bhatt (2/25) and Sandeep Patil (2/9).

The visitors then aided by impressive bowling from T. Arunaserry (4/36) and Ashok de Silva (3/14) restricted India, replying on a wet pitch, to 157 for nine in 40 overs.

Roger Binny was the top scorer with 36 runs in 44 balls, Madanlal (30) and Kirmani (31) were the other main contributors.

India and Sri Lanka will play two more matches in Delhi and Amritsar.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka 171 in 36 overs (B. Kuruppa 54, A. Silva 33, D. Mendis 27. Nayak 3/29, R. Bhat (2/25), S Patil (2/9).

India 157 for 9 in 40 overs (R Binny 36 S Kirmani (31), Madan Lal 30. T. Arunaserry 4/36, A. de Silva (3/14).

Rohan among 8 more probables

MUMBAI, Aug 26 (PTI) — The Indian cricket board today added eight more players, including Karnataka all-rounder Sunil Joshi and Bengal’s Rohan Gavaskar, to the list of 22 cricketers now undergoing a training camp in Chennai, at the behest of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Cricket board chief Raj Singh Dungarpur said here today that Joshi, Gavaskar, Jyoti Yadav (UP), Amay Khurasia (MP), Sanjay Raul (Orissa), Nikhil Chopra (Delhi), Jatin Paranjpe and Paras Mhambrey (both Mumbai) were added to the list of players already picked as probables for next month’s Sahara Cup at Toronto and Commonwealth Games at Kuala Lumpur.

"This has been done for the purpose of applying for Malaysian visas in time. The entire list of 30 players has been sent to the IOA to help them apply for the Malaysian visas. It is easier to delete names later," he pointed out.

The eight players were chosen by the national selectors "a couple of days ago," Dungarpur said, apparently through a teleconference involving the selectors, Indian skipper Mohd Azharuddin and Anshuman Gaekwad both of whom are in Chennai with the campers.

Both teams would be chosen as scheduled in Chennai on September 4 and the list has been boosted to 30 as the IOA has repeatedly asked that the team for Kuala Lumpur be chosen immediately as the deadline for sending the names to the games organising committee had already expired.

Rural soccer
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — In a keenly contested match Kherar ousted Muggowal by a solitary goal and moved into the pre-quarterfinals along with five other teams — Jandoli, Kherar, Nangal Khurd, Kaindhowal and Chak Mallan in the 18th Punjab Rural Junior Football Tournament being held at Nangal Khilarian village, 20 km from Hoshiarpur, today.

In another exciting match for the day, Jandoli beat Kaharpur by 4-3 in a tie-breaker while Kherar edged out Barian Kalan 5-4 also through a tie-breaker.

Other matches: Kaindhowal b Bhullewal Rathan 3-2; Nangal Khurd b Lehli Khurd 1-0; and Chak Mallan b Rampur 1-0.

Chess results
From Our Sports Reporter

JALANDHAR, Aug 26 — The Amar Tiwari Memorial Punjab Junior Chess Championship concluded here yesterday.

The results of the tournament are:

Boys under-19 Vikas Sharma 1, Arvinderpreet Singh 2, and Harmanpreet Singh 3.

Boys under-16: Amitoj Cheema 1, Manowmeet Singh 2, and Sandeep Kohli 3. Second and third respectively.

Girls under-19: Neeru Bhargav 1, Swati Sharma 2, and Sumiti Malhotra 3.

Girls under-16: Rupinderdeep Kaur 1, Swati Beniwal 2, and Harneha 3.

Mr K.K. Sharma, managing director, Urban Citizen Cooperative Bank, and Mr R.S. Mehta, Principal, MGN School, distributed the prizes.

Harsimran best swimmer
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — Arvind Sehdev of St Stephen's School-45 in the boys under-14, Harsimran Brar in the boys under-17 who bagged three gold medals, and Atul Sharma, a student of Government Senior Model Secondary School-16 in the boys under-19 were declared best swimmers in the respective age categories in the Chandigarh Inter-School Swimming Championship which ended at the Sector 23 Swimming Pool here today.

Joint-Director (Sports) Chandigarh Sports Department gave away the prizes. He also announced a cash prizes of Rs 500 each for all best swimmers.

Punjab judokas overall champs
From Our Sports Reporter

PATIALA, Aug 26 — Punjab judokas gave an impressive performance in the sub-junior (U-14) National Judo Championships which concluded at Mumbai recently.

According to reports reaching here, both Punjab boys and girls teams bagged the overall team championships. In the individual events (boys) three of Punjab boys, Vishal Kumar, Karambir Singh and Rakesh Kumar, won gold in their respective weight categories. Vikram Kaushal and Munish Kumar also gave a good performance as both chipped in with a bronze each.

In the individual events Punjab eves Manisha, Monika Deep and Tarinder Kaur won the gold in their respective weight categories, while Sazida had to rest content with a silver. Both Rajni Walia and Ranjit Kaur bagged bronze.

The Punjab team was declared overall champions of the meet as they bagged a total of 11 out of 14 medals at stake.

Punjab gymnastics
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Aug 26 — The sub-junior Punjab State Gymnastics Championship for boys and girls will be held at the NIS, Patiala, on August 29 and 30, according to a press note of the Punjab Gymastics Association.

Gymnasts from all over the state are expected to take part in the championship.

Mr R.P.S. Pawar, Commissioner, Patiala Division will inaugurate the meet.

Meet postponed

PATIALA (FOSR): The Open Punjab Prize Money Badminton Tournament which was to be organised by the Punjab Badminton Players Welfare Association (PBPWA) here from September 3 to 5, has been postponed, according to a press release of the PBPWA. Fresh dates will be announced later.

Tennis panel

MANSA (FOC): The following have been elected office-bearers of the District Lawn Tennis Association: president — Mr Balraj Singh Bhunder; general secretary — Dr Lakhwinder Singh; senior vice-president — Mr Raj Kumar; vice-president: Mr Surjit Singh Brar; and treasurer Mr Chaman Garg.