S P O R T	Saturday, July 18, 1998
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Aparna Popat, Lee annex titles CHENNAI, July 17 — National champion and top seed Aparna Popat captured the women’s singles title while second seed Lee Tsuen Seng beat fourth seed Yeoh Key Bin in an all Malaysian men’s final to win the Asian Satellite Badminton Tournament here today... Courier wants fans to get rowdy INDIANAPOLIS, July 17 — Jim Courier wants fans of the US Davis Cup team to get rowdy during this weekend’s match against Belgium... Fuerrouj runs second-fastest mile NICE (France) July 17 — Morocco’s Hicham-el-Guerrouj narrowly missed claiming his second world record in three nights when he ran the second-fastest mile in history at the Nice International Athletic Meet yesterday...

Ronaldo lashes out at media RIO DE JANEIRO July 17 — An angry Ronaldo has lashed out at the media, denying reports that he has epilepsy and ruling out further medical tests in the wake of Brazil’s defeat in the World Cup final... World Cup mixed blessing for many French PARIS, July 17 — World Cup victory gave the French a soul, President Jacques Chirac said, but France also has a mountain of unsold fuzzy stuffed roosters, huge overtime bills and disillusioned merchants... Tamil Nadu thrash FCI; Gujarat lose CHENNAI, July 17 — A plethora of goals, 13 in all, were scored in three league matches on the second day of the 76th MCC Murugapa Hockey Tournament for the Independence Cup at the Radhakrishnan Astro Turf Stadium here today...

Unusual hat-trick by Lewry LONDON, July 17 — Sussex left-arm swing bowler Jason Lewry completed an unusual hat-trick in the English County Cricket Championship yesterday... Nair flays BCCI selectors MUMBAI, July 17 — Cricket board President Raj Singh Dungarpur today expressed his reluctance to react to BCCI Treasurer S.K. Nair’s letter addressed to him criticising the national selectors over the choice of some India-A players for the forthcoming tour of Holland... Camp for National Games in August CHANDIGARH, July 17 — The Chandigarh Olympic Association (COA) has planned on a warfooting, to prepare a 205-member strong Chandigarh contingent in 16 disciplines for the forthcoming National Games to be held at Imphal (Manipur) from October 4 to 14... Coaches issued visas NEW DELHI, July 17 — The five foreign athletic coaches who could not accompany the Indian squad for the Fukuoka Asian Track and Field Meet yesterday due to denial of visa by Japan will leave here tonight after being issued the papers in the evening... Court asks Tyson to pay $ 4.4 m to Rooney NEW YORK, July 17 — Mike Tyson took a hit from a US appeals court yesterday when it reinstated a $4.4 million damage award against him in a breach of contract case brought by the boxer’s former trainer, Kevin Rooney... Ronaldo suffering from epilepsy? RIO DE JANEIRO, July 17 — Ronaldo, the star forward of Brazil’s national soccer team who has recently suffered from seizures, could suffer from epilepsy, the team physician said... No change likely in Davis Cup squad MUMBAI, July 17 — India will "most probably" retain the same Davis Cup squad, which lost the group "A" round to Italy early this year, in their encounter with Britain in the relegation match in London from September 25 to 27... All doping tests negative: FIFA PARIS, July 17 — All doping tests carried out at the 1998 soccer World Cup were negative, the sport’s world governing body FIFA has said... I’m no Ronaldo, says Woods SOUTHPORT, July 17 (Reuters) — Golfing superstar Tiger Woods, laid back and laughing after taking the joint lead in the British Open, said he was no Ronaldo and that murder on the golf course was unthinkable.

Aparna Popat, Lee annex titles CHENNAI, July 17 (PTI) — National champion and top seed Aparna Popat captured the women’s singles title while second seed Lee Tsuen Seng beat fourth seed Yeoh Key Bin in an all Malaysian men’s final to win the Asian Satellite Badminton Tournament here today. Popat overcame a stiff challenge from compatriot Neelima Choudhary, rallying back from one game down to beat Neelima 6-11, 11-6, 11-8. Malaysian number nine Lee was outclassed by his opponent in the first game, but came back strongly to take the next two to win the match 12-15, 15-8, 15-6. Yeoh, ranked 11th and playing his first major tournament final, took an early 8-5 lead with powerful smashes. He further increased it to 12-7 before Lee fought back to even scores at 12-12. But Yeoh prevented any further damage and won the game with yet another powerful smash. Lee, who won two satellite events last year in Seoul and Taipei, wrested the initiative in the second game playing winners at the right moments. Yeoh tried to put up a fight with powerful smashes, but Lee lived upto his reputation to clinch the game at 15-8. Lee won the third game easily, racing to a 9-2 lead. Yeoh’s smashes failed to find the mark and eventually he gave up, managing to snatch only six points. In the women’s final, Neelima dominated the first game with her clever drop shots and took an early 3-0 lead. She improved it further to 8-3, before Popat found her touch. The Karnataka player was found wanting on many occasions as Neelima tightened her grip on the game and was soon on game point at 10-6. In the third game, Popat shot to a 4-0 lead, thanks mainly to her strong forehand smashes, which had no answer from Neelima. But the Andhra girl was in no mood to gift away the match and fought back from there to even scores at four-all. Popat’s power play helped her wrest the initiative as she took four points in a row. But she was confronted by a fighting Neelima, who again drew level at 8-8. A poor serve saw Popat wresting the advantage and serve for the match.

Courier wants fans to get rowdy INDIANAPOLIS, July 17 (AP) — Jim Courier wants fans of the US Davis Cup team to get rowdy during this weekend’s match against Belgium. Courier, who never has played on a losing US team in 11 Davis Cup series, has seen many loud fans cheer on teams from South America and Europe when they’ve played on their home soil. "The potential problem here is fans are not aware of what Davis Cup is like in those places, and what it can be like for us, the players," Courier said yesterday. It’s a real intense experience when you’re playing in South America and southern Europe where the fans are very passionate. "We played in Brazil a few years ago, and you almost fear for your life, it is so intense." Courier will play the opening match today against Filip Dewulf. "The fans here don’t have to make the other players fear for their life, only that they know we’re in America, and they’re (playing) on foreign soil," he said. "I think it is important that they get behind us and give us their energy." The USA already appears to have everything in its favour experience and surface. Courier and Andre Agassi, who will play Christophe Van Garsse in Friday’s other singles match, both have been ranked No. 1 in the world. Dewulf is the highest ranked player on the Belgium team at No. 43 and never has been higher than 39. The match is being played on hardcourts, the surface where the US team learned to play the game. Belgium’s players come from a clay background and have had little success on hardcourts. Belgium’s hopes will depend heavily on Dewulf, who also will play doubles with 17-year-old Xavier Malisse. The two never have played together and will face Todd Martin and Richey Reneberg on Saturday. Courier has been struggling and is 11-13 this year after losing five of his last six matches. His victories include a dramatic comeback over Russia’s Marat Safin in the decisive fifth match of the opening Davis Cup round in April. The 3-2 triumph was the 17th straight on US soil by the USA. Meanwhile, at Hamburg, Germany, defending champions Sweden are favoured against a young German team. The Swedes are led by Jonas Bjorkman, the world’s ninth-ranked player, and Thomas Enqvist, No. 18. The Germans are relying on inexperienced Nicolas Kiefer and Tommy Haas. But the Germans, three-time champions, also have three-time Wimbledon titlist Boris Becker. Becker, now the head of the Davis Cup team, could insert himself into Sunday’s singles if his two young proteges falter. The former world No. 1, easing into retirement, reached last week’s Swiss Open final. Bjorkman will face Haas in the first singles, then Kiefer will play Enqvist. In Saturday’s doubles, Becker and David Prinosil meet Nicklas Kulti and Enqvist. Italy, banking on the surprising Davide Sanguinetti, face the black brothers of Zimbabwe in a quarterfinal match on clay at Prato, Italy. Italy’s top-ranked player, Andrew Gaudenzi, will meet Wayne Black in today’s opening singles. Sanguinetti, ranked No. 56 in the world but a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon, will follow against Byron Black. In Saturday’s doubles, Gaudenzi will team with Diego Nargiso against the black brothers. At Coruna, Spain, the Spanish team will be trying to reach the semifinals after an 11-year drought when they face Switzerland on clay. Spain will be led by Carlos Moya, the world’s No. 4 player. Moya, the French Open champion, will face Ivo Heuberger in the first singles match today, followed by Alex Corretja, who is ranked No. 7 and is fresh off winning the Swiss Open, against Marc Rosset.

Fuerrouj runs second-fastest mile NICE (France) July 17 (Reuters) — Morocco’s Hicham-el-Guerrouj narrowly missed claiming his second world record in three nights when he ran the second-fastest mile in history at the Nice International Athletic Meet yesterday. El Guerrouj, who shattered Noureddine Morceli’s 1,500 metre record on Tuesday, just missed taking the Algerian’s mile mark of three minutes, 44.39 seconds as he clocked 3:44.60 on a still warm night on the Cote D’Azur. The race was expected to be a showdown between the two north African middle distance maestros but Morceli withdrew just six hours before the start of the meeting with a pulled muscle in his right thigh. On Tuesday in Rome El Guerrouj took an incredible 1.37 seconds from 1,500m record set by Morceli on the Nice track last year. The two men had already run the four fastest miles of all-time and El Guerrouj said he had come to Nice with his sights set on erasing Morceli’s record. "I was here for the world record," said the 23-year-old Moroccan, adding he will attempt the mile record again later this month in Paris. "Until 1,200m to go I was sure I had it but I was a little tired and couldn’t do what I wanted. I’m not a machine. I can’t run a record every time, I just try to run as fast as I can." Apart from El Guerrouj, the meeting produced four other season best marks. Cuba’s world record holder Javier Sotomayor soared to a season best height of 2.34m to win the high jump from American Olympic champion Charles Austin, who was second with 2.30. Kenya’s Bernard Barmassai, the 3,000m steeplechase world record holder, ripped over seven seconds off the season’s best performance clocking 8:01.53. In the women’s 3,000m, Morocco’s Zahar Ouaziz was pushed to a season best time of 8:28.66 by Ireland’s Sonia.

Ronaldo lashes out at media RIO DE JANEIRO July 17 (AFP) — An angry Ronaldo has lashed out at the media, denying reports that he has epilepsy and ruling out further medical tests in the wake of Brazil’s defeat in the World Cup final. "I don’t have anything, it’s nothing like that," Ronaldo said yesterday. "I am not going to have more tests. The tests were already done in France and I am satisfied. "I am very bitter with the Press for the reports about my health," he added. "The Press only says S--." The strong statements from Ronaldo to reporters who mounted a guard outside his house marked his first face-to-face confrontation with his nation’s media since the poorly explained convulsion that he suffered last Sunday, hours before the World Cup final. France stunned the defending champions 3-0. "Brazil lost to France in the final because the whole team played badly and they found in me an excuse for the defeat," Ronaldo said. "I asked Professor (Mario Jorge) Zagallo to play in the final, because after the tests I started to feel ok," he added. Visibly nervous in front of reporters, Ronaldo said he felt "very well physically. I don’t even have any pain in my knees. I want to assure everyone who has worried about me that I am healthy." The Brazilian striker admitted he was saddened by the defeat. "I also suffer with all Brazilians," he said after he signed a few autographs for children waiting patiently in front of his house. He said he would spend the next 30 days resting with his girl friend, Suzana Werner, but he didn’t intend to say where. The epilepsy reports were fuelled by comments from Brazilian team doctor Lido Toledo, who had said in the last few days that Ronaldo’s mysterious convulsion could have been caused by epilepsy or some other neurological problem. Other possible causes put forward - and still unproved - included a severe allergic reaction, profound stress or a panic attack. The most imaginative scenario, circulated on Brazilian internet sites, was that FIFA, the Brazilian federation and apparel giant Nike, the Brazilian team’s sponsor, plotted to "award" the World Cup to the French. In an exchange, FIFA would insure that Brazil would stage the 2002 World Cup now that security problems between North and South Korea seem to threaten their co-hosting of the tournament. The rumours were widespread enough to prompt a denial from Nike that it applied pressure to include an ailing Ronaldo in the starting lineup on Sunday.

World Cup mixed blessing for many French PARIS, July 17 (AP) — World Cup victory gave the French a soul, President Jacques Chirac said, but France also has a mountain of unsold fuzzy stuffed roosters, huge overtime bills and disillusioned merchants. On a grand scale, most Frenchmen agree, the month-long soccer extravaganza was a smashing success. But now, as accountants begin to tote up the francs and centimes, others see it as a mixed blessing. Although soccer fans came by the hundreds of thousands, the freer spending tourists who normally fill up France each summer stayed away. And Frenchmen sat home by their television sets. At the same time, official spending soared because of serial mass littering, fighting in the streets and the constant underlying threat of terrorism. Few figures are available yet, but the evidence is clear. "Frankly, we expected better," said Yazid Chaboune, manager of Paris Souvenirs, on the Champs Elysees where fans of every team made their headquarters. "It is simple to understand," he said. The good clientele, those who come to see Paris and buy souvenirs, won’t show up until later. World Cup people only eat and drink. We get nothing." But restaurateurs and hotel keepers had equal complaints. "Business is off, probably by more than 10 per cent for most of the better places," said the Doreen Dempski, manager of the posh Laperouse Restaurant. "We had a few big parties. But that’s it." Laperouse had to cancel a major event for Christian Dior when the Haute Couture fashion shows were postponed. The pret-a-porter show was moved to New York to avoid clashing with the World Cup. Bordeaux and Nantes reported minor windfalls, offset by heavy municipal expenditure. Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse saw the same phenomenon as in Paris. At Fauchon in Paris, spokeswoman Alice Bouteille said sales were not affected one way or the other. "We never had any illusions," she said. "These are not deluxe gastronomy customers." In human terms, the cost was high. A 42-year-old Frenchman died from injuries suffered when a woman lost control of her Volkswagen and plowed into the World Cup victory party on the Champs Elysees early on Sunday. At least 80 were injured. A young policeman remains near death in Lille after German neo-Nazis slammed him in the head with a metal bar during a carefully planned bout of violence. Thousands of injuries, some of them serious, were reported at the 10 World Cup venues. Many were from Marseille where local ethnic north Africans and English fans fought pitched battles. Only time will determine whether France can amortize more than a billion dollars spent on lasting projects, such as the 80,000-seat Stade de France and stadium renovations elsewhere. A more immediate problem is what to do with all the soccer paraphernalia that is growing rapidly obsolete. The official France '98 shop on the Champs Elysees, scheduled to close on August 15, offers mounds of jerseys marked Iran, South Korea and two dozen other country names in limited demand. French team items remain hot, but few people seem interested in the approved World Cup cologne or playing cards. Some merchants cleaned up over the past six weeks. Sales of television sets and video recorders doubled. Anyone offering beer in bulk or canned-air horns is happy. But they are exceptions. Mr Rene Faucheux, whose combination sandwich shop and butchery caters to all levels of consumers, was as thrilled as any Frenchman to see a World Cup victory. But for the rest, he was not impressed. He would have much rather had a normal month, with his regulars and the reliable flow of tourists he sees every year. "The World Cup crowd is terrible," Faucheux said. "They make a mess, lots of noise, scare away normal customers, and spend little. Except for a few guys, I don’t think anyone made money."

Tamil Nadu thrash FCI; Gujarat lose CHENNAI, July 17 (PTI) — A plethora of goals, 13 in all, were scored in three league matches on the second day of the 76th MCC Murugapa Hockey Tournament for the Independence Cup at the Radhakrishnan Astro Turf Stadium here today. In all three one sided matches, the losers failed to score. Tamil Nadu netted six goals against the Food Corporation of India, Indian Hockey Federation colts scored five against Bihar and Services, playing their second match, disposed of Gujarat, quarterfinalists in the last nationals, 2-0. Tamil Nadu’s L. Prabhakaran scored three goals (2nd, 4th and 6th), forward Thirumalvalavan two (3rd and 5th) and Devasakayam Felix (first). In the only match played in the morning between IHF colts and Bihar, the latter dominated the first 15 minutes but could not withstand the strain as they were not used to playing on synthetic surface. Bikram Pal Singh (first-32 and second-44) and Syed Irshad Ali converted a ‘stroke’ (for an intentional foul by a defender on Bipin Fernandez) to make it 3-0 for the colts. Mangra Munja (56th) and Gurjant Singh (59th) scored the fourth and fifth goals respectively. Gujarat,who came up with few half chances against Services, managed to keep their citadel intact in the first half. In the second half, they kept the armymen at bay for the first 15 minutes. However, Services found the target in the 48th minute through Kamal Horo. Four minutes before close, Paramjit Singh settled the issue.

Unusual hat-trick by Lewry LONDON, July 17 (Reuters) — Sussex left-arm swing bowler Jason Lewry completed an unusual hat-trick in the English County Cricket Championship yesterday. He had taken the wicket of Michael Smith, another left-arm medium pacer and a rival for an England place, with the last ball of Gloucestershire’s first innings and went on to snatch the wickets of Nick Trainor and Dominic Hewson with the first two balls of the second. But Sussex lost the match at Cheltenham and unfashionable Gloucester headed towards the top of the county championship with their fifth win of the season. They beat Sussex, who had been third in the title race, by seven wickets and rose from sixth place to third as they close the gap with Surrey, the only other side with five victories. At one stage Gloucester, set to make 118 in their second innings, were 29 for three but an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 88 from Matthew Windows (60) and captain Mark Alleyne (27) saw them home. Leicestershire made the best progress among the other championship contenders. They gained a first innings lead of 162 over Northamptonshire and took the first four second innings wickets for 89. Alan Mullally, watched by the England selectors this week with a view to a place in the fourth Test which begins at Trent Bridge on Thursday, added three more wickets to his first innings tally of five as Northants struggled to 161 for six in their second innings. Surrey, 35 ahead of Middlesex after first innings collapses by both sides, built up a big lead over their London rivals at Guildford by making 335 for eight in their second innings. All Brown was again their top scorer with 79. Yorkshire were 358 for seven against Nottinghamshire, 124 ahead, thanks to an innings of 131 from Australian Darren Lehmann at Scarborough. Nottinghamshire quick bowler Kevin Evans finished with five for 101.England left-arm spinner Ashley Giles turned allrounder as he scored 75 in Warwickshire’s 367 and then captured five wickets for 48 as Hampshire finished 118 behind on first innings. By the close Warwickshire had extended their lead to 142. Worcestershire gained a first innings lead of 43 over Lancashire at Lytham and their Australian captain Tom Moody rubbed in their advantage with an undefeated 93 in the second innings. Worcestershire ended the day on 196 for six, which put them 239 ahead. West Indies batsman Carl Hooper hit 100 for Kent, who ran up 313 for seven in reply to Essex’s 295. Close of play scores in four-day English County Championship cricket matches yesterday: Day two: At Southend: Essex 295. Kent 313-7 (C.Hooper 100, D.Fulton 50). At Guildford: Surrey 150 (A.Brown 51; C.Batt 5-51) and 335-8 (A.Brown 79, A.Hollioake 59). Middlesex 115. At Edgbaston: Warwickshire 367 (A.Giles 75, D.Brown 51, N.Smith 51) and 24-0. Hampshire 249 (G.White 79; A.Giles 5-48) At Scarborough: Nottinghamshire 234 (T.Robinson 114, U.Afzaal 71). Yorkshire 358-7 (D.Lehmann 131, D.Byas 54; K.Evans 5-101). Day three: At Cheltenham: Gloucestershire beat Sussex by seven-wickets. Sussex 191 (W.Khan 59) and 162 (Peirce 59). Gloucestershire 238 (T.Hancock 76) and 118-3 (M.Windows 60 not out). At Lytham: Worcestershire 350 (V.Solanki 87, R.Illingworth 50) and 196-6 (T.Moody 93 not out). Lancashire 307 (I.Austin 59 not out, M.Watkinson 55, W.Hegg 54). At Leicester: Northamptonshire 322 (A.Swann 92, M.Loye 76) and 161-6. Leicestershire 484 (A.Habib 198, B.Smith 153; F.Rose 5-123).

Nair flays BCCI selectors MUMBAI, July 17 (PTI) — Cricket board President Raj Singh Dungarpur today expressed his reluctance to react to BCCI Treasurer S.K. Nair’s letter addressed to him criticising the national selectors over the choice of some India-A players for the forthcoming tour of Holland. Dungarpur said here: "I don’t want to react to the letter by Mr Nair as the India-A team has already been selected and, moreover, I think it is a very minor matter". "He (Nair) must have written the letter as the representative of Kerala Cricket Association and not as a board official", Dungarpur added. According to press reports, Nair had highlighted the grave inconsistencies in the policies which have been adopted from time to time by the national selection committee. Criticising the selection of the India-A team for the tour of Holland, Nair had remarked that it (selection) "has cast a shadow of doubt in the minds of a lot of cricket followers in this country, mainly over matters concerning selection of the various Indian teams". Nair has also hit out at the selection committee which "by its wayward actions has brought disrepute not only to BCCI but also to the Indian cricketing feternity at large". This is the second time that the "A" team’s selection has come under criticism in cricketing circles. The "A" team chosen for the tour to Pakistan earlier this year under the leadership of Rajasthan’s Gagan Khoda was roundly criticised "as biased selection" by former Test stars Brijesh Patel and Vaman Kumar through a letter to Dungarpur. Their main grouse was over the inclusion of Andhra medium-pacer N. Madhukar, son of BCCI Vice-President and Andhra Cricket Association President N. Venkat Rao. However, this is the first time an office-bearer has come out openly against the team selection.

Coaching camp for National Games in August By Our Sports Reporter CHANDIGARH, July 17 — The Chandigarh Olympic Association (COA) has planned on a warfooting, to prepare a 205-member strong Chandigarh contingent in 16 disciplines for the forthcoming National Games to be held at Imphal (Manipur) from October 4 to 14. The COA along with the Sports Department, Chandigarh Administration, will conduct the three-week first phase coaching camp at various sports complexes in the city in the first week of August. Instructions in this regard have been issued to those in charge of the 16 disciplines, Mr K.S. Sahota, Secretary, COA, said here today. The next phase of the coaching camp will be held after a short break. The first phase of the coaching camp was compulsory for all city probables or else they would be dropped from the squads. The city contingent would be finalised in mid-August. The detailed bio-data of each individual participant/team should be submitted so that the same could be sent to the Games Techincal Conduct Committee (GTCC of the National Games) well before the last date, Mr Sahota said. Mr Sahota said the Chandigarh contingent would take part in archery, athletics, boxing, caneoing and kayaking, fencing, gymnastics, hockey (women), judo, rowing, shooting, swimming, wrestling, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, weightlifting. The contingent would consist of 121 men, 46 women and 38 officials. In the last National Games held at Bangalore, the 239-member Chandigarh contingent bagged 18 medals (one gold, seven silver and 10 bronze). The Khumanpampak Main Stadium with a seating capacity of 20,000 will be used for the opening and closing ceremonies.

Coaches issued visas NEW DELHI, July 17 (PTI) — The five foreign athletic coaches who could not accompany the Indian squad for the Fukuoka Asian Track and Field Meet yesterday due to denial of visa by Japan will leave here tonight after being issued the papers in the evening. The Japanese embassy authorities here attributed the inordinate delay in issuing visas to the coaches, from CIS countries, to non-receipt of clearance from their foreign ministry in Tokyo, an Amateur Athletic Federation of India official said today. Coaches Aleksei Ivanov (throws), Gueorgui Tchernychev (middle and long distance) and Masseur Gennadi Kossarev (all Russian), sprint coach Valery Moshkovsky and team doctor Yuri Boyko (both Ukraine) could not accompany the team which left here yesterday for the July 19 to 22 meet. "The Japanese authorities speeded up things following reports in the press and granted the visas this evening," the AAFI official said. The embassy officials pleaded helplessness saying they could not issue the visas till their foreign ministry cleared the names of the five after contacting the respective embassies in Tokyo.

Court asks Tyson to pay $ 4.4m to Rooney NEW YORK, July 17 (Reuters) — Mike Tyson took a hit from a US appeals court yesterday when it reinstated a $4.4 million damage award against him in a breach of contract case brought by the boxer’s former trainer, Kevin Rooney. The US second circuit court of appeals said the men had an oral contract in which Rooney would represent Tyson "for as long as the boxer fights professionally." Tyson fired Rooney in 1988 when he aligned with promoter Don King. Rooney had sued Tyson alleging that the former heavyweight champion breached his employment contract. The case was tried in Albany, New York, in 1996 and a jury awarded Rooney $4.4 million. However, in February 1997, a federal district judge threw out the verdict on grounds that the proof at trial did not support the verdict. Rooney then appealed to the second circuit. The federal appeals court asked New York’s highest state court to determine whether under state law the language in the oral contract established that the pact was for a definite period of time. Because the state court found the oral contract was for a definite duration and that it should last until the end of the boxer’s career, the federal appeals panel threw out the district court’s ruling. Ronaldo suffering from epilepsy ? RIO DE JANEIRO, July 17 (AP) — Ronaldo, the star forward of Brazil’s national soccer team who has recently suffered from seizures, could suffer from epilepsy, the team physician said. Ronaldo suffered between 30 and 40 seconds of convulsions just hours before Brazil lost 0-3 in the World Cup final match against France on Sunday, leading many in Brazil wondering whether Ronaldo should have played in the game at all. "Whenever a person suffers from stress and is epileptic, it could cause a crisis," team doctor Lidio Toledo told Globo Television. But Dr Toledo was quick to add that the exact cause of Ronaldo’s convulsions were not yet confirmed. The French doctors who treated Ronaldo on Sunday were quoted in Globo newspaper as saying that they did not believe Ronaldo was suffering from epilepsy. The decision to allow Ronaldo to play in Sunday’s game drew criticism from Mr Massimo Moratti, the owner of Ronaldo’s Italian club, who said team coach Mario Zagallo should have kept him on the bench during the World Cup final.

No change likely in Davis Cup squad MUMBAI, July 17 (UNI) — India will "most probably" retain the same Davis Cup squad, which lost the group "A" round to Italy early this year, in their encounter with Britain in the relegation match in London from September 25 to 27. All-India Tennis Association General Secretary Ramesh Desai said here today he did not expect any change in the team composition of Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Syed Fazulluddin and Prahlad Srinath. However, the selectors have the option of making a change if they desired, he added. Desai also ruled out any conditioning camp or trials for the Indian team before the crucial round which India must win to keep its superb record of staying in the elite group. At home the monsoon lingers till end of September and Indians have to practice on grass since that will be the turf Britain will meet India on. AITA will leave it to the players to play abroad and get tuned for the match, Desai said. All doping tests negative: FIFA PARIS, July 17 (Reuters) — All doping tests carried out at the 1998 soccer World Cup were negative, the sport’s world governing body FIFA has said. About 35 per cent of the 704 players in the 32 participating teams underwent random urine tests after their matches, FIFA said yesterday in a statement. "Taking only the semifinalists into account (France, Brazil, Croatia and The Netherlands), 64 per cent of the players from these four teams had undergone tests for prohibited substances at least once," it said. "All doping tests carried out at the 1998 World Cup proved to be negative." Under FIFA rules two players from each team were tested after every match following a random draw made at halftime. Only three players have ever been sanctioned by FIFA for contravening doping controls at the World Cup: Ernst Jean-Joseph of Haiti in 1974, Willie Johnston of Scotland in 1978 and Diego Maradona of Argentina in 1994. I’m no Ronaldo, says Woods SOUTHPORT, July 17 (Reuters) — Golfing superstar Tiger Woods, laid back and laughing after taking the joint lead in the British Open, said he was no Ronaldo and that murder on the golf course was unthinkable. Asked about his superstar status and comparisons with the Brazilian footballer Ronaldo, Woods recounted the tale of Colombian player Andres Escobar, who was shot dead after scoring an own goal at the 1994 World Cup. "I don’t see that happening in golf if I go ahead and hit a bad shot or something like that," Woods said yesterday after completing his first round in a five-under-par 65 to take a joint lead with fellow American John Huston. However, the 22-year-old Californian was shadowed discreetly by four security guards around the Royal Birkdale course yesterday, as he was at last year’s British Open. American fears they were flying into the Arctic wastes of England — shown by the thermal clothes worn by many U.S. Golfers here — proved groundless and Woods quickly warmed to his task, cheered on by several thousand followers. "When you hit a good shot and some of the kids are screaming and yelling, it was pretty neat," said Woods, whose round started in cool weather but finished in heat that made him feel at home. "Somebody could even have got heat stroke out there," he said.

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