118 years of Trust S P O R T THE TRIBUNE
Sunday, December 6, 1998
weather n spotlight
today's calendar
 
Line Punjab NewsHaryana NewsJammu & KashmirHimachal Pradesh NewsNational NewsChandigarhEditorialBusinessSports NewsWorld NewsMailbag


A young Thai mahout rides his elephant near the start of the men's and women's marathon in Ayutthaya, Thailand, on Friday. The 13th Asian Games begin on Sunday — AP/PTI
ASIAN GAMES
50 years on indian independence 50 years on indian independence 50 years on indian independence
50 years on indian independence


Search

Boxers' plea dismissed
NEW DELHI, Dec 05 - A Delhi Court yesterday dismissed an application of two boxers seeking interim injunction against the Indian Olympic Association for dropping them from the Indian team for the Bangkok Asian Games.

Regional Sport Briefs

BMFC beat CR, lift Rovers Cup
MUMBAI, Dec 5 — Local league champions Bengal Mumbai Football Club struck thrice in the second half to defeat Central Railway 3-0 to lift the 98th Rovers Cup at the Cooperage grounds here today.

Rain greets Indians in New Zealand
NAPIER, Dec 5 — Heavy overnight rains forced the Indian cricket team, which arrived here today after an overnight halt at Auckland, to have a light-hearted jog and a loosening-up session instead of a full work-out at the Mclean Park in the afternoon.

National School Games in Delhi
CHANDIGARH, Dec 5 — The 44th National and 20th Subjunior National School Games in the disciplines of wrestling (boys) under-14, under-17 and under-19 years, judo (boys and girls) under-14, under- 17 and under-19 years, Vinoo Mankad Cricket Tournament (boys) under-16 years and hockey (boys and girls) under-17 years are being organised by the Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi, at Delhi from December 22 to 26, both days inclusive, according to Mr B.D Gandhi, secretary-general, School Games Federation of India.

Early shocks for West Indies 'A'
CHENNAI, Dec 5 — West Indies 'A' were 79 for two in their first innings at close in reply to Indian's 297 for nine declared on the second day of their four-day cricket Test match here at the MA Chidambaram stadium today.

Emphatic 227-run win for North
MUMBAI, Dec 5 — Medium pacers Harvinder Singh (2 for 57), Ashish Nehra (2 for 45) and offie Virendra Sehwag (2 for 27) bowled North Zone to an emphatic 227-run victory over South Zone 25 minutes before lunch on the final day of their five-day Duleep Trophy quarterfinal cricket match at the Wankhede Stadium here today.

Garbin pockets tennis title
NEW DELHI, Dec 5 — Sixth seed Tithiana Garbin of Italy overwhelmed Dutch Amanda Hopmans 6-3, 6-2 to lift the flash Sports $ 75,000 ITF women’s Challenger Tennis Tournament title here today.

Reetinder Sodhi in India 'A' team
CHENNAI, Dec 5 — Delhi medium pacer Amit Bhandari and Reetinder Singh Sodhi of Punjab have been selected for the India ‘A’ team to play in the three one-day matches against the West Indies ‘A’ team.

 


Top




 

Curtain goes up on Asian Games today

BANGKOK, Dec 5 (PTI) — The continent’s sporting prowess will be showcased in all splendour and variety, with ‘friendship beyond barriers’ as the theme, to lift the sullen spirits of a region fighting economic blues when the 13th Asian Games begin formally in the Thai capital tomorrow.

The long reigning King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, will declare open the last continental games of the century at the Rajamangala National Stadium in presence of International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch at 1650 hours IST, hoping the December 6-20 quadrennial extravaganza will offer memorable fare.

Over 7000 participants from 41 of the 43 countries in the Asian Games fraternity, led by superpowers China, are in the hunt for as many as 377 gold and silver medals each and 460 bronze medals in 36 disciplines.

The fourth games, being hosted by the Thai capital stumbled through a long uncertain phase as the nation, at the centre of Asia’s recession, grappled with paucity of funds and political changes.

The country has just about managed to put things in order to ensure continuity in a sporting event now smaller in dimension only to the Olympics after a modest beginning in Delhi in 1951 with 489 participants from 11 nations.

The lead-up to the games has been anything but smooth with the hosts themselves unsure of being able to honour their commitment despite the rich experience of having hosted the event in 1966, 1970 and 1978, stepping in whenever other countries withdrew from the fray.Top


 

Football: India enter second round

BANGKOK, Dec 5 (PTI) — India managed to defeat Nepal by a lone second half goal to claim full three points from their win in group 'C' to qualify for the second round of the men’s football competition in the 13th Asian Games today.

Hardworking midfielder Carlton Chapman fired in the winner just a minute on change of ends to enable the twice former champions inflict the second straight defeat on their South Asian neighbours and put them out of competition at the main stadium in Trang province.

India, who went down fighting by a solitary goal against strong contenders Japan, finished second behind them in the three-team preliminary group and have been placed with defending champions Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and North Korea in group 'I' of the last 16 league stage.

Japan qualified as the group topper with full six points ahead on India while Nepal, who were thrashed 0-5 in their opening encounter, went out of reckoning.

Uzbekistan emerged winners of group 'C' after mauling lowly Mongolia with Asian Games record 15-0. The former Soviet Republic, who won the gold in Hiroshima on their debut in 1994 topped the group on better goal average after holding Kuwait to a 3-3 draw.

Kuwait, who had walloped Mongolia 11-0 in their opening match finished second to qualify.

Turkmenistan topped group 'A' after shocking South Korea and putting it across Vietnam while North Korea made it as the runners-up from group 'E' behind United Arab Emirates from the two-team group.

India now take on Turkmenistan in their opening second round match at Suphachalasai Stadium on December 7 and then meet Uzbekistan on December 9 at the same venue before clashing against North Korea on December 11.

Uzbekistan’s record of 15-0 win bettered the previous highest score of 15-1, when the Philippines ran over Malaysia in 1962.

There was never any doubt Uzbekistan would win. Mongolia had been beaten 11-0 in their opening match against Kuwait.

Iran and Qatar topped their respective groups on the final day of the preliminary round.

Gold medal favourites Iran struggled to overcome minnows Laos 6-1 with three goals in the last nine minutes, helping hide the embarrassment of a below-par display.

Iran are the only Asian country to record a win at the World Cup finals at France defeating the USA.

Laos held them to single goal lead till the half time, before the three-time Asian Cup winners — and gold medallist in this event eight years ago — broke the deadlock.

A four-goal haul by striker Mubarak al Luwari was all that Qatari side needed to put off the Maldivian challenge.Top


 

India have task cut out

BANGKOK, Dec 5 (PTI) — Stung by the severe setback of losing gold medal tennis hope Leander Paes due to injury, India have their task cut out if they are to effect a revival from the depths they plunged in the previous two editions and earn respect among the continental sporting powers in the 13th Asian Games that get underway with the formal inauguration here tomorrow.

India begin action in the newly-introduced green baize game tomorrow where world professional billiards champion Geet Sethi is expected to live up to his billing as the gold medal favourite. But a solid overall show will be in order if India hope to set aside disappointments after once paving the way for the games and commanding respect in many disciplines.

After a sparse haul of one gold, eight silver and 14 bronze medals in Beijing in 1990 which was their worst ever showing in the quadrennial showpiece event, they could only manage to recover from the 11th spot to eighth with an equally modest effort of 4-3-15 in Hiroshima four years ago.

But a jumbo-sized contingent of over 320, including 240 competitors, which once again brought forth the fact that pure medal-winning merit was not the criteria during the ‘pruning’ process, will have the spotlight turned on to see where they stand.

With Asian superpowers China in a league of their own and Japan and Korea fighting their own battle, it is India which has shown little improvement by plumbing the depths with blame deflected from one quarter to another once the show is over.

With Paes, the Davis Cup spearhead who led India to two of the gold medals in Hiroshima out of contention, pistol ace Jaspal Rana and his gang of sharp shooters carry much weight of gold medal expectations as India take the plunge for medals in 22 of the 36 medal disciplines in the games.

Traditional powers once, Indian men’s hockey team will find it hard in their quest for glory as both reigning champions — in India’s own pool — and Pakistan have shown significant signs of regaining their poise while the eight-time Olympic champion slipped from ninth in the world to the embarrassment of losing to Malaysia and finishing out of medal reckoning in the September Commonwealth Games.

Athletics, which saw the only two games records standing in the name of Indians in Hiroshima, will be another discipline India will look to pick at least a couple of medals, but the Asian standards have really gone up to world levels in many events.

Veteran P T Usha, who once reigned as queen of Asian track and field, will become one of the rare individuals to represent their country in five consecutive Asian Games along with pistol shooter Ashok Pandit and male golfer Amit Luthra.

Indian athletes came up with a decent effort in the July Fukuoka Asian meet, but in the absence of some of the top names from China, Japan and Korea, the games could be a different scene altogether.

However, Usha, who is expected to recover fully from a recent hamstring injury, middle distance runner Jyotirmoyee Sikdar who is in good form besides throwers like Shakti Singh and Bahadur Singh are among those who can influence Indian gold medal hopes.

The unsung women weightlifters have done the country proud time and again, but the best efforts of the diminutive powerhouse Kunjarani Devi, Karnam Malleswari and company may just not be enough to topple the all-conquering Chinese from their lofty perch.

Men’s kabaddi is another event where India should gain their third straight gold since it was introduced in Beijing. But fracas between two factions, which are yet to end their fight in the courts, and a last-minute team selection following intervention by the Indian Olympic Association which picked coaches from two parallel camps to please everyone may not be the right build-up in case any surprise from those like Pakistan is lurking around the corner.

An overall effort of around 10 gold medals would be fair justification with a substantial number of minor placings, though India may not be able to dream of gold in tennis after the withdrawal of Paes.

But India have fielded a massive squad with ‘exposure’ rather than medal being the norm in many events. Squash, a new event, swimming and even men’s volleyball — Indian hopes of a certain semifinal looks virtually impossible after withdrawals forced re-grouping and with world powers China, Japan and Iran.

There are several events like judo, rowing, canoeing and kayaking besides boxing where they can look to winning at least bronze, but the all-time best of 13 gold, 17 silver and 22 bronze won in the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games looks certain to remain in realms of the past. Top


 

Cueists confident of gold

BANGKOK, Dec 5 (PTI) — World professional billiards champion Geet Sethi yesterday was confident of fetching the singles and doubles golds for India in his event and felt the Indian cueists should end up with about five or six medals at the 13th Asian Games here.

"Nothing is certain in sports. But given the seedings we should be able to manage both the gold," the three-time world champion and billiards favourite who has been ranked at the top here said after the flag hoisting at the games village in the Thammasat University Sports Complex.

The 38-year-old Sethi will team up with national champion Ashok Shandilya in the doubles and was happy both were coming into peak form for the event to run from December 6 to 19.

But Sethi, who arrived at the games from competing in U.K., did not give India much chance in carom, where he along with Mukesh Rehani will be the Indian entries. "It is a highly specialised sport, we didn’t have any practice at home as there were no tables arranged for training," he told PTI.

But India can look for snooker medals through former Asian amateur champion Yasin Merchant with Alok Kumar also in fine fettle. "Yasin is definitely a medal hope," he said, but Sethi did not look beyond the Thailand star James wattana for the snooker gold.

Sethi said the 29-year-old Wattana, despite being under pressure to perform, "is by far the favourite. But the Hong Kong amateur world champion Mark Fu just reached the English Grand Prix Pro Circuit final and he will be the man to watch".

India are entered in all events of the green baize which makes its Asian Games debut. "It is a great feeling to be in the games," Sethi said when asked to compare it with the more lucrative pro circuit.

"You can’t describe the feeling. I’am overwhelmed to be a big part of this event," he said. Sethi recently reached the UK Open final losing to his arch-rival Mike Russell of England. He also made it to the last eight of the Northern Open in Middlesborrough where he went down to seasoned Aussie Robbie Foldvari.

The Indian cueists, who went through a two-hour training session at the multi-purpose hall in the Muong Thong Thani Sports Complex where the green baize events would be held, were pleased with the quality of tables and the atmosphere.

But India just might have to wait for the gold till the fag end as billiards, both singles and doubles, are scheduled for December 17 to 19. Top


 

Meagre allowance for Indian athletes

BANGKOK, Dec 5 (AFP) — India’s athletes are battling not only the rest of Asia but the shocking apathy back home from sports officials that has reduced them to second-class citizens.

Karnam Malleswari goes for gold in the first ever women’s weightlifting event at the Asian Games after surviving on a diet allowance of $ 3 a day.

The men’s hockey team, once the masters of the game and attempting a long-awaited comback into the world arena, spent post-training hours trying to rope in a sponsor for their kits.

Sharpshooters Jaspal Rana and Mansher Singh, gold-medalists at the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia in September, practice abroad because the government has refused them import licences for guns and ammunition.

Yet, despite the problems, India is billed to garner its best medal haul since the 1982 Asian Games at home in New Delhi.

Having won 57 medals in New Delhi, the Indians hit an all-time low of 22 at Hiroshima four years ago comprising four gold, three silvers and 15 bronze medals.

"It could be seven golds in Bangkok,’’ said Alexander Krasilshehikov, an Ukranian specialist on training methods who has been hired by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

The athletes know that whatever success they gain at the Asiad they will remain poor cousins of the cricketers, India’s most popular and wealthy sportsmen.

The day the Indian Olympic Association announced a cash reward of Rs 25,000 for the Commonwealth Games gold medalists, the independent Indian Cricket Board decided to pay the cricketers Rs 1 lakh each for merely taking part in the games.

This, when the Indian team led by Ajay Jadeja and including master batsman Sachin Tendulkar, failed to even qualify for the semi-finals.

"This is just not good enough,’’ says Ukranian Dmitri Riabourkha, the coach of the Indian rowing team.

"In my country, they give $ 50,000 for an Olympic gold medal. In India, it’s just around $ 2,500 for coming first in the Asian Games.’’

Malleswari hopes to lift a combined tally of 235 kg to win the Asiad gold but coach Tomas Stoichev, a world champion from Bulgaria, is worried his under-fed ward may tire easily.

"It’s because of the food,’’ he says. "There’s only chicken, no beef, no pork.’’

Stoichev’s request to increase the diet allowance from $ 3 to 10 has been kept pending by the authorities till after the Asiad.

"When will they listen to us, two months before the Olympics,’’ he asked, adding that Malleswari was a medal contender at the Sydney Games in 2000 where women’s lifting will be introduced.

Her male counterpart Satish Rai does not depend on government funds anymore. He spends Rs 10,000 a month on his diet allowance from a fund raised by friends in his native Karnataka.

"I need special proteins and vitamins. In India it is only chicken and fish. Our coach cooks a pork dinner for us every Sunday,’’ Rai said.

Hockey goalkeeper Ashish Ballal, recalled to the team after four years, thinks it’s a joke to talk about India’s gold medal chances when the team was not even provided a kit before departing for Bangkok.

"Who cares for Indian hockey,’’ he told an Indian magazine recently. "The Indian Hockey Federation is not run by professionals.’’

Fellow-goalkeeper A.B Subbiah said the IHF had promised the team Rs 80,000 a year for expenses, but then this year only Rs 20,000 had been paid up.

"We spent all our time after training looking for sponsors for our kits,’’ he added. Top


 

Snippets
Big demand for free passes

ASIAN Games officials said on Saturday they have been swamped with last-minute requests for passes giving free access to venues from people claiming to be VIPs, reports Reuters.

Tens of thousands of applications for special identity cards have piled up on the desks of games officials and hundreds of people have turned up daily to demand passes.

Organisers had planned to supply a maximum of 45,000 special passes allowing free access to venues to sports officials, government agencies, the media and visiting delegations.

But now many Thai army officers, rich businessmen and influential politicians too are sending their drivers and assistants to get cards, officials in charge of issuing the passes said.

« « « «

Strike by drivers

Drivers of a fleet of three-wheeled motor tricycles assigned to transport athletes and officials between venues during the Asian Games went on strike on Saturday, complaining they had not been paid for two weeks.

The games organisers arranged to have 200 of the vehicles known in Thailand as "tuk tuks", at the main sports complex during the games.

« « « «

Sheik Ahmad

Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheik Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said on Friday he intends to run for a third fourth-year term in the OCA presidential election slated for next fall, reports PTI.

"I haven’t heard about anybody else will go for the election, so I will continue with my work unless the general assembly has another opening," Ahmad said.

Sheik Ahmad was elected to the OCA presidency in 1991, succeeding his father, Sheik Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who was killed during Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in August 1990.

« « « «

Oldest competitor

BANGKOK, Dec 5 (AP) — Besides being the oldest competitor in the Asian Games, 65-year-old Mongol Kanfahklang figures he has a good chance of becoming the oldest gold medalist as well, says AP.

His sport is billiards, never before included in the Asian Games, and he is playing at home in Thailand. The five-time Thai national champion is ranked second behind India’s Geet Sethi, whom he expects to meet in the gold medal match. His chances also are considered good in the doubles event.Top


 

Boxers' plea dismissed

NEW DELHI, Dec 05 (PTI) - A Delhi Court yesterday dismissed an application of two boxers seeking interim injunction against the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for dropping them from the Indian team for the Bangkok Asian Games.

Civil Judge Mahesh Chandra Gupta, in his order on a plea by two Services' boxers — Rajesh Basnet and Rama Nand — said there was nothing on record to show that the recommendation made by the selection committee was final.

The two boxers claimed that they were dropped at the last moment while their passports, tickets and visa were already cleared. They said the IOA and Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) had not given any reason for their omission.

Gupta, who had issued notices to the IOA, IABF and Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) on Wednesday, fixed the next hearing on December 21.

IOA counsel had submitted that "medal winning prospects" were the main criteria for selection of the team members and the two boxers could not fulfil the same.

However, Sarvajeet Singh Sangwan and Balvinder Ralhan, counsel for the two boxers, said they were thinking of moving an appeal against the court order.

The boxers had termed the action of the sports bodies "illegal and arbitrary" and claimed that they were informed of the selection by the selection committee on November 10.Top


 

BMFC beat CR, lift Rovers Cup

MUMBAI, Dec 5 (PTI) — Local league champions Bengal Mumbai Football Club (BMFC) struck thrice in the second half to defeat Central Railway 3-0 to lift the 98th Rovers Cup at the Cooperage grounds here today.

In an all-Mumbai final, after a fast paced but barren first half, dominated by the railwaymen, substitute Herbert Philips netted the first goal for BMFC in the 67th minute.

The big Nigerian Emeka Achelifu then scored a brace, first scoring from a penalty spot in the 72nd minute and then off a diving header in the 87th minute to record BMFC’s first victory in a major tournament.

Central played most of the time with 10 players after their hero in the earlier matches custodian Raghuveer Kanolkar was shown the red card for handling the ball outside the box to prevent Achelifu from scoring in the 14th minute.

They were further handicapped in the second half when Masood Ansari was also sent out by referee J. Ravishankar for blocking with his hand an Uday Konar shot at the goal.

The resultant penalty kick was converted with perfection by Achelifu. Up by two goals, BMFC made several goal-bound moves, most of them engineered by man-of-the-tournament James Singh, and made the score card 3-0 to stop the fine run of Central Railway so far in the tournament.Top


 

Rain greets Indians in New Zealand

NAPIER, Dec 5 (PTI) — Heavy overnight rains forced the Indian cricket team, which arrived here today after an overnight halt at Auckland, to have a light-hearted jog and a loosening-up session instead of a full work-out at the Mclean Park in the afternoon.

The Indians, who were greeted in Kiwiland by a media hype over the batting exploits of Sachin Tendulkar, with the star batsman’s face peering out of several newspapers and magazines, are serious about making the most of the two first class fixtures prior to the first Test commencing at dunedin on December 18.

However, the weather forecast here before Monday’s opening four-day tour fixture against State Insurance Central Stags, the new name for Central Districts, is rather gloomy with the meteorological office forecasting a soggy summer.

Central Stags do not seem to possess much firepower to rattle the Indians but their coach, former New Zealand all-rounder Dipak Patel, said, "it would be great to see an international team of this class."

Patel was trying to play on the Indians’ concern over the lateral movement of the ball besides some extra bounce. His remarks came a few hours after New Zealand’s Australian coach Steve Rixon had said that it made sense (for the home team) to prepare lively pitches.

"I have not spoken to any curators (about preparing a lively pitch) and nor will I. But we have to look at what suits us to win Test matches and that, to me, is bouncier wickets," Roxon had said.

Indian coach Anshuman Gaekwad said it was natural for New Zealand to want to prepare pitches to suit the home side. "It happens all the time. It is expected all over the world now", he said.

Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin said a successful team had to be prepared to play and perform on all types of pitches. "Why should it worry us? We have got the players to perform in all conditions", said an unconcerned Azhar.

"We are professionals, We've got to play in the given conditions. We cannot shy away and say the wicket is bouncing or turning," he said.

"The same thing happens when the New Zealand team comes to India. There are always complaints all around. But at the end of the day the better team will win".

Proof that sub-continental players were likely to struggle on these pitches came when the strong Pakistan 'A' squad, led by Rashid Latif crashed to 58 for seven against New Zealand 'A' in the first 'Test' at Hamilton 100 km from here.Top


 

National School Games in Delhi
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 5 — The 44th National and 20th Subjunior National School Games in the disciplines of wrestling (boys) under-14, under-17 and under-19 years, judo (boys and girls) under-14, under- 17 and under-19 years, Vinoo Mankad Cricket Tournament (boys) under-16 years and hockey (boys and girls) under-17 years are being organised by the Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi, at Delhi from December 22 to 26, both days inclusive, according to Mr B.D Gandhi, secretary-general, School Games Federation of India.

Players who are below 19,17 and 14 years as on December 31, 1998, are eligible to take part in these games.

All the states/UTs and other units of the federation have been requested to confirm their entries immediately to Mr Sat Pal, Deputy Director of Education (Sports), Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi, Chhatrasal Stadium, Model Town, Delhi, so that the Delhi Administration can make the necessary arrangements with regard to mess arrangements and accommodation, Mr Gandhi said.

During the course of these games young probables will be selected in the disciplines of cricket and hockey for the various foreign tours which the federation hopes to undertake to play matches with the neighbouring countries. So the units have been requested to ensure that all players take part in these games.

Meanwhile, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Directorate-General of Youth Services and Sports, has agreed to hold the C.K. Nayudu Cricket Championship (boys and girls) under-19 at Jammu from December 28 to January 2,1998, both days inclusive.

All the states/UTs and other affiliated units of the federation have been requested to ensure the participation of good players in this championship as during the tournaments probables for the Indian school cricket team will be picked for playing test matches with teams of neighbouring countries.

All players who are below-19 years of age as on December 31,1998, are eligible to take part in the tournament.

Similarly, the Jammu and Kashmir Government had agreed to hold the games in the disciplines of hockey (boys) only (under-14) and korflak (boys and girls) under-19 also at Jammu from January 7 to 12.

Mr Gandhi said that it had been made clear to the units that a player can take part in one age-group in a particular sports year.

During the hockey championship probables will be picked for holding a coaching camp under the long-term development programme.Top


 

Early shocks for West Indies 'A'

CHENNAI, Dec 5 (PTI) — West Indies 'A' were 79 for two in their first innings at close in reply to Indian's 297 for nine declared on the second day of their four-day cricket Test match here at the MA Chidambaram stadium today.

The visitors began shakily, losing opener Adrian Griffith in the very first over and would have been in deeper trouble but for two dropped return by Obaid Kamal and Rahul Sanghvi.

Earlier, aided by a superb 143 from captain Hrishikesh Kanitkar and a fine 61 from M S K Prasad, India 'A' declared their innings at 297 for nine shortly before tea.

Soon after, Doda Ganesh gave the early breakthrough removing Griffith (2). Kanitkar brought on spinners Nikhil Chopra and Sanghvi to apply pressure on the visitors.

West Indian opener Wavel Hinds, who has been among runs in the series, and Shervin Campbell (37 batting) had difficulty in negotiating the spinners who were able to extract some turn from the otherwise placid turf.

Hinds (26) had two reprieves — the first when he was on four and the second when on nine — before he made his exit caught by Wasim Jaffer at silly point off Chopra.

At close, Christopher Gayle (7) and Campbell were at crease.Top


 

Emphatic 227-run win for North

MUMBAI, Dec 5 (PTI) — Medium pacers Harvinder Singh (2 for 57), Ashish Nehra (2 for 45) and offie Virendra Sehwag (2 for 27) bowled North Zone to an emphatic 227-run victory over South Zone 25 minutes before lunch on the final day of their five-day Duleep Trophy quarterfinal cricket match at the Wankhede Stadium here today.

South, reduced to 124 for four yesterday by medium pacer Amit Bhandar three-wicket haul, failed to put up any resistance today and lost their last six wickets for 34 runs in 18.2 overs.

Only overnight batsmen Vijay Bhardwaj (49, 134 b, 9x4) and Somashekar Siraguppi (51, 86 b, 7x4) put up a fight with an 85-run fifth wicket stand as the North bowlers ran through the South’s innings like a hot knife through butter.

The semifinals will be played from December 9 to 13, with North Zone taking on Central Zone at Valsad and West Zone, joint winners along with Central Zone last year, meeting East Zone at Rajkot.

The final would be held at Aurangabad (Maharashtra) from December 17 to 21.

North Zone skipper Vikram Rathore, who made a responsible 136 in the second innings, spearheaded a real fight along with his deputy Pankaj Dharmani (72) by adding 180 runs for the third wicket which changed the complexion of the game.

South, who took things a little bit easy, suddenly found themselves in an impossible situation, needing to get an imposing 417 runs for an outright win, after their opponents declared their second innings at 445 for nine, against some very accurate bowling by Harvinder Singh, Ashish Nehra, Amit Bhandari, Virender Shewag and Pradeep Jain.

Injuries to Robin Singh, who was hit on the face while batting in the first innings, and H Ramkishen (on his right hand) did not help South’s cause either.

When South batted for the second time, one expected them to come up with a better performance than what they actually displayed especially with some of the most talented youngsters in the country like Vijay Bhardwaj, S Sriram, S Somasunder, Shiraguppi, Arvind Shetty and S Sharath in their ranks.

Except for opener Shetty, who scored 59 and 36 in the two innings, and Shiraguppi, who came up with useful 26 and 51, the other South batsmen failed to impress. Top


 

Garbin pockets tennis title

NEW DELHI, Dec 5 (UNI) — Sixth seed Tithiana Garbin of Italy overwhelmed Dutch Amanda Hopmans 6-3, 6-2 to lift the flash Sports $ 75,000 ITF women’s Challenger Tennis Tournament title here today.

The Italian took just 77 minutes to breeze past the Dutch, who was the seventh seed, to collect the winners cheque for $ 13,750 and 62 ATP points. The Dutch had to settle for $ 6,750 and 42 points.Top


 

Reetinder Sodhi in India 'A' team

CHENNAI, Dec 5 (PTI) — Delhi medium pacer Amit Bhandari and Reetinder Singh Sodhi of Punjab have been selected for the India ‘A’ team to play in the three one-day matches against the West Indies ‘A’ team.

Five national selectors, who met here today to pick the squad also named wicketkeeper Saba Karim in place of M S K Prasad, who was in the Test team. Hrishikesh Kanitkar has been retained as captain for the one-day series.

Cricket board secretary J Y Lele who announced the team, said "all selections were unanimous. The selectors have chosen the team with the ‘one day concept’ in mind and to give chance to youngsters."

The first one day match will be played at Hyderabad on December 11, the second at Ahmedabad on the 13th and the third and final match at Mumbai on December 15.Top


  H
  REGIONAL SPORT BRIEFS

Football title for St Xavier's

CHANDIGARH, Dec 5 (BOSR) — St. Xavier's Senior Secondary School, 44, lifted the title in the Chandigarh Subjunior Football League for the St. Xavier's Trophy, overpowering Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, 3-0 in the final at the football stadium, Sector 17 here today.

Amit Jain of St. Xavier's took a powerful shot from the top of the 'D' which went straight into the goal in the third minute. Encouraged by the early lead St. Xavier's put continuous pressure. In the 12th minute Dheeraj Gosain dribbled past two defenders and scored a fine goal. Sandeep Singh of Guru Nanak School, who in the earlier matches had played. Stellar role, was checked at every point by the defence. At half time St. Xavier's school team were leading by two goals to nil.

In the second half Guru Nanak School boys got several chances and the best was in 37th minute when Bhupinder failed to capitalise on a shot, thus losing an opportunity to reduce the margin. However, Vaibhav of the winning team scored the third goal in the 46th minute with a solo effort.

Maninder, Baljit to the fore

CHANDIGARH, Dec 5 (BOSR) — Maninder Kaur of Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana, and Baljit Singh of Government College, Hoshiarpur, secured the first position in 200 metres for girls and boys respectively on the second day of the Panjab University Inter-College Athletic Meet at the PU campus here today.

Earlier yesterday, Malkiat Singh of Government College, Hoshiarpur, improved upon his own record in pole vault with a distance of 4.20 m as against previous one of 4 metres.

Rakesh, Manav surge ahead

CHANDIGARH, Dec 5 — Rakesh Duggal and Manav Dhawan surged ahead on the second day of the 16th Chandigarh Senior State Billiards and Snooker Championship at the Sector 22 centre here today. Four matches were decided and in the first match, Rakesh Duggal fought hard to down Bhupinder Singh in four frames the scores being 63-27, 41-52, 51-29 and 62-41.

Pramod Kumar who yesterday had beaten Sanjay today got a drubbing at the hands of Tarun Kumar who got the better of Pramod in four frames at 17-54, 42-33, 24-60 and 53-56.

Manav Dhawan whipped Rishi Walia by 3-0 the scores being, 69-13, 56-8, 66-27. In the last match, Rajeev Khosla went down fighting to Gurpreet Singh at 5-53, 16-51 and 48-71.

 

SGGS school eves bag title

CHANDIGARH, Dec 5 (BOSR) — Shri Guru Gobind Singh Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, emerged victorious in the junior girls section on the penultimate day of the Chandigarh State Volleyball Championship at the sports complex, Sector 7 here today. Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, remained runners-up.

Panchkula judoka for Asian Games

CHANDIGARH, Dec 5 (BOSR) — Twenty two-year old Anuradha of Panchkula will represent India in judo (below 52kg) in the Asian Games beginning tomorrow at Bangkok.

Anuradha's coach S. Bedi of the Sports Department said this was her first official international competition. Earlier, Anuradha had participated in two international meets in Vietnam and Bangkok.Top


  Image Map
home | Nation | Punjab | Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir |
|
Chandigarh | Editorial | Business |
|
Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather |
|
Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail |