S P O R T	Friday, July 24, 1998
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Johnson anchors relay team to world record NEW YORK, July 23 — World and Olympic 400 m champion Michael Johnson anchored the US 4x400 metre relay team to a world record of two minutes and 54.20 seconds here yesterday at the Goodwill Games... Heptathlon queen bids adieu NEW YORK, July 23 — Jackie Joyner-Kersee saved the best for last, making a tearful but triumphant farewell to the heptathlon... Air India, Mumbai XI start favourites CHENNAI, July 23 — Air-India and Mumbai XI, who are to clash in the semifinals of the 76th MCC Murugappa All-India Hockey Tournament here tomorrow, are the favourites to win the Independence Cup...

Defeats fired us up: Neelam NEW DELHI July 23 — An urge to avenge the defeats the Indian athletes suffered at the hands of the Chinese women in the last few years fired them up to try and come up with good performances in the Asian athletics championships, discus silver medalist Neelam J. Singh said here today... Something to smile about. (From right) P.T. Usha, Gulab Chand and Neelam J. Singh proudly show the medals they won in the Asian Athletic Championships, on their return home on Thursday — PTI

Chanda shoots into lead BALAGUER (Spain), July 23 — Giant-killing 15-year-old Indian Sandipan Chanda (6) continued his brilliant run scoring a sterling win over compatriot P. Konguvel to take joint lead after the seventh round of third Balaguer International Open Chess Tournament here... Chinese gymnast may not walk again NEW YORK, July 23 — Paralysed Chinese gymnast Sang Lan, whose bravery has impressed doctors, might be healthy enough to return home in a week but probably will never walk again... Italy turn to Zoff to revive fortunes ROME July 23 — Italy have turned to legendary former captain Dino Zoff to revive the national team’s fortunes after a disappointing World Cup... NZ Federation Cup in city from Aug 2 CHANDIGARH, July 23 — Indian Air Force, Delhi will take on Haryana State Electricity Board in the opening tie of the Kalyanai Black Label North Zone Federation Cup Football Tournament to be played from August 2 to 10 at the Sector 17 football stadium here... Ronaldo had epileptic fit: Carlos SAO PAULO, July 23 — Ronaldo suffered an epileptic fit hours before the World Cup final... Muralitharan leads Ceat ratings Anand, Rebel settle for a draw South Sector win Jacquet's successor next week Brazil cancels Japan visit

Johnson anchors relay team to world record NEW YORK, July 23 (AFP) — World and Olympic 400 m champion Michael Johnson anchored the US 4x400 metre relay team to a world record of two minutes and 54.20 seconds here yesterday at the Goodwill Games. Jerome Young, Antonia Pettigrew, Tyree Washington and Johnson split the only 100,000-dollar athletics world record bonus to be paid from the Goodwill Game’s five million-dollar prize money pool. Johnson had also anchored the former mark of 2:54.29, set in 1993 at Stuttgart, Germany by a US team that also included Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts and Butch Reynolds. Johnson ran the first final leg unchallenged in 43.1 seconds, ending any doubts he is still slowed by nagging left leg injuries that hampered him the past two months. Johnson gave calming advice to Young just before the start and he responded with an opening leg of 44.4 seconds. Andrew Pettigrew took the baton and followed in 43.2. He had sensed the time was right for a world record when Johnson led a us 400m sweep on Tuesday. "I knew we had a chance to break the world record," he said. Washington ran his leg in 43.5, setting the stage for Johnson. The games’ first world record came on a night when two-time Olympic heptathlon champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee won her final competition in the seven-event discipline edging fellow American Dedee Nathan by 23 points in what she called the greatest heptathlon of her legendary career. Joyner-Kersee began the second day 34 points behind Nathan but won the discus and outscored Nathan in the javelin to grab a 46-point lead entering the concluding 800 m run. She finished sixth in 2:17.61 but only 1.6 seconds behind Nathan to secure the victory. Also on track, Maurice Greene outraced 100 m world-record holder Donovan Bailey to anchor a US 4x100 m relay victory in 37.90 seconds and avenge a loss to the Canadians at the 1996 Olympics. "What can I say. The USA is number one," Greene said. "This is a new beginning for the US 4 x 100." Bailey’s response: "let them say what they want. We’re still coming together as a team." Paralysed Chinese gymnast Sang Lan, (17) was in guarded condition awaiting spinal fusion surgery tomorrow that might make her healthy enough to return home within a week, but she is unlikely to ever walk again. "It’s fair to say it would be unlikely," attending doctor Vincent Leone said. "She understands she has a very serious condition. She’s very frustrated. But she hasn’t cried much. She’s a very tough young lady." Sang landed on her head while performing a flip during a warm-up for the vaulting competition on Tuesday and suffered major spinal cord injuries. Women’s marathon world-record holder Tegla Loroupe of Kenya won the 10,000 m in 32:15.44. She twice lapped 5,000 m world-record holder bo Jiang of China, who was ninth and last 3:19.4 off the pace. Cuban world champion and world-record holder Javier Sotomayor won the high jump with a leap of 2.33 m, edging American champion Charles Austin on fewer misses despite a sore ankle. Russia beat world and Olympic champion Spain 11-5 to win water polo gold but the Americans, helped by three gymnastics titles, took a 19-17 lead over the Russians in the overall gold medal race. Romanian officials threatened to withdraw women’s gymnasts because two of the four judges were from the US. US women have won four of the five possible titles, two yesterday at the expense of Romanians. Karch Kiraly, winner of the inaugural Olympic beach volleyball title in 1996, and fellow American Adam Johnson opened Goodwill competition with 15-8 victory over Canada for the event.

Defeats fired us up: Neelam NEW DELHI July 23 (PTI) — An urge to avenge the defeats the Indian athletes suffered at the hands of the Chinese women in the last few years fired them up to try and come up with good performances in the Asian athletics championships, discus silver medalist Neelam J. Singh said here today. "When I lined up for my first attempt, I felt very inspired and was full of confidence. I thought we could try to take revenge for some of the previous defeats we suffered at the hands of the Chinese athletes and I tried my best," Neelam, who hurled the discus to a distance of 56.81 metres to finish second, said. Spearheaded by the peerless P.T. Usha, the Indian team, which won a gold, three silvers and eight bronze medals at the Fukuoka (Japan) meet which ended yesterday, returned this evening with its richest haul in international meets in the recent past. Usha, who anchored the Indian quartret to the gold with an inspirational run and also claimed two individual bronzes in the 400m and 200m, said she was satisfied with her comeback but said she could have won a gold medal if she had gone there after participating in four or five meets at home. "I think after participating in five or more races at the highest level, I would be able to do even better. As of now I am satisfied with my performance," said the ace sprinter who equalled her national mark of 23.27 twice in finishing third among the best of Asian athletes at the age of 33. Usha said her target would be the gold medal in 200 and 400 metres at Bangkok Asian Games and hoped she would be able to do better in December. Though disappointed at not getting the gold despite leading the field after two rounds when the competition was abandoned because of rain on the third day, Neelam said the new found confidence would be an inspiration to go for the gold at the Bangkok Asian Games in December. "With the confidence I gained from this win and tough competition from youngsters in the squad, I hope I can win the gold medal in the Asian Games," Neelam said. Young distance runner Gulab Chand, who won a surprise bronze in 10,000 metres and then produced a tremendous ‘kick’ to beat fancied Japanese athletes to claim silver in 5,000m, said the long preparatory camp before the team left for Fukuoka helped him in returning his best performance till date. The distance runner from Uttar Pradesh was happy with the coaching facilities at the camp and said guidance from Russian coaches also helped him in bettering his performance. Gulab Chand, whose surprise ‘kicks’ in the last 250m now make him a ‘marked man’, said he ran shot distances during the camp to get the strong late burst. Quartermiler Paramjit Singh, who clocked the first sub-46 after the legendary Milkha Singh, said his aim was to become the first Indian to go below 45 seconds. Paramjit felt with some concentration on his finish and more experience he could achieve his target.

Heptathlon queen bids adieu NEW YORK, July 23 (AFP) — Jackie Joyner-Kersee saved the best for last, making a tearful but triumphant farewell to the heptathlon. In what the two-time Olympic champion called her greatest heptathlon effort, Joyner-Kersee overcame a two-year layoff to win a fourth consecutive Goodwill Games title here yesterday in her last heptathlon. "The tears were starting to come when I was walking onto the track prior to the 800," she said. "Fans were going, `Jackie, Jackie’. It was a great feeling. Then it dawned on me. This is it. This is really it." Trailing fellow American Dedee Nathan by two points with two events remaining, Joyner-Kersee took the lead with a 43.33 javelin toss and ran 2:17.61 in the concluding 800 to edge Nathan by 23 points. "With me it was just digging deep and saying, `Jackie go with them’. You have to bite down. Dig deep and go for it," she said. "The high point and the low point was walking out on that track for the last time. I didn’t want to break down then. I knew I had to get through. There were people out there who thought I would quit. I knew I could do this. I had to still keep plugging away," she said. Joyner-Kersee won with 6,502 points. Far from her world-record 7,291. But when asked to name her greatest showing in the seven-event discipline, Joyner-Kersee said, "definitely this is the one." Joyner-Kersee, 36, had not competed in a heptathlon since the 1996 Olympics after winning the 1988 and 1992 titles. But she hung on to win and go 4-for-4 in winning Goodwill heptathlons. Joyner-Kersee thanked spectators for their cheers, saying they gave her strength to continue when her reserves were low. The finish brought tears to the eyes of coach and husband Bobby Kersee, who buried his head in his hands after his wife crossed the finish line. "Up until she crossed the finish line, I tried to be the coach. After she crossed the line, tears just came to my eyes. The emotion just hit me. I have always said the husband can’t show up until the meet is done." Joyner-Kersee is not quite finished yet. She will compete in the long jump at a Grand Prix meet on Saturday near her Hometown of east St. Louis, Illinois. "I can’t believe it’s over," Kersee said. "I can’t believe the time went so quick."

Chanda shoots into lead BALAGUER (Spain), July 23 (PTI) — Giant-killing 15-year-old Indian Sandipan Chanda (6) continued his brilliant run scoring a sterling win over compatriot P. Konguvel to take joint lead after the seventh round of third Balaguer International Open Chess Tournament here. Overnight leader GM Lev Pshakis (6) played a safe draw allowing Sandipan and GM Komlenovic to catch up with him. After both scored hard-fought victories yesterday. GM J. Beccera, IM N. Dublan and IM Herrera - all with 5.5 points - were placed second followed by six Indians - IM K. Sasikiran, Neelotpal Das, V Saravanan, Rahul Shetty and Roktim Bandopadhyay - with five points each. Chanda, who scored a brilliant win over highly rated Filipino GM Ranola Yves in the previous round, is on roll in the tournament with three successive wins. Chanda employed Sicilian Schevenegian variation against Konguvel, the same defence which he used in his win over the former national ‘A’ champion at Andorra. Konguvel came up with a strong improvement over last time’s effort and seemed to have forced Chanda on the ropes. But the schoolboy from Calcutta came up with solid defensive play to snatch full point from his more experienced opponent. Sasikiran drew with GM Westernin after missing some winning chances in the endgame while Das, Saravanan, Shetty and Bandopadhyay recorded facile victories.

Air-India, Mumbai XI start favourites CHENNAI, July 23 (PTI) — Air-India and Mumbai XI, who are to clash in the semifinals of the 76th MCC Murugappa All-India Hockey Tournament here tomorrow, are the favourites to win the Independence Cup and the cash prize of Rs 60,000. In the prestigious tournament held under the auspices of the Indian Hockey Federation to celebrate India’s golden jubilee of independence, Indian Airlines and Tamil Nadu would play in the second semifinals. The tournament with the participation of cream of players in the country representing their respective clubs and the state units has gained much importance as the federation has billed it as selection trials for probables for the forth coming Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games in Malaysia. The presence of all the four elected national senior selectors and the two observers along with the two others nominated by the Federation Secretary K. Jyothikumaran has prompted the players to bring out their best. However, players like Mukesh Kumar and Indian captain Dhanraj Pillai have not shone well yet in the tournament. It now remains to be seen whether the selectors, who are on the soul-searching act would give their nod for the reputed but weaker players by inducting young bloods like forwards Gagan Ajit Singh of Air-India and L. Prabhakaran of Tamil Nadu. The arrival of IHF President K.P.S. Gill to Chennai is doubtful and the list of selected ones (40 in all) would be released on Saturday, according to federation sources, which confirmed ouster of V. Bhaskaran and induction of either M.K. Kaushik or Balbir Singh in his place as national coach. Bhaskaran, who has been sidelined without any part to play in the ongoing tournament, has been looking forward to Mr Gill’s arrival here for a one-to-one talk on the treatment meted out to him and also to plead for his retention. Bhaskaran is likely to decline any offer by the federation to coach the national junior team, if removed as senior coach. Mr Jyothikumaran, however, had told reporters that Bhaskaran had not been removed and he was still the national senior coach. As far as the Murugappa tournament is concerned, Air-India vs Mumbai match will dish out an interesting dual. The rivals know each others game well. While Mumbai has many Olympians and internationals in their rank, a combined eleven from different clubs, Air-India could be the best settled squad having been playing together for a long time now. Mumbai have to quell the challenges of Gagan Ajit Singh and experienced Darryl D’Souza and the key player Edward Aranha in the attack. Edward in particular was the only player seen on view in the tournament to have exploited the off-side rule to full advantage. Corneliouis D’Costa has come in with good performance in the absence of Anil Aldrin and defender Stephen Perera would be hard to be beaten. Despite off-from Dhanraj Pillai in front and dependable Gavin Ferriera and captain Sabu Varkey supporting him, Mumbai has a formidable attacking side in dependable medio Enrico Fernandaz, who is capable of overlapping both in attack and defence, which is mainly manned by Sandeep Somesh. Ravi Nayakar has to play a more attacking role for Mumbai to win their match against Air-India. The nippy forward Claeas Ferriera’s abilities to score also cannot be ignored. In the Indian Airlines vs Tamil Nadu match, the former with experienced attackers like Mukesh Kumar, Brojen Singh, Altaf-ur-Rahman in their ranks and Lazarus Barla in defence and A.B. Subbiah in the goal added to Mohd Riaz, their latest recruit, and Shakeel in midfield were tipped to have an easy time with the hosts. For Tamil Nadu, the attack with L.Prabhakaran, Paul Kirubhakaran and Felix has depth but the defence could be split by seasoned and speedy forward like Mukesh Kumar and Brojen Singh.

Chinese gymnast may not walk again NEW YORK, July 23 (AFP) — Paralysed Chinese gymnast Sang Lan, whose bravery has impressed doctors, might be healthy enough to return home in a week but probably will never walk again. "It’s fair to say it would be unlikely," attending physician Vincent Leone said. "She understands she has a very serious condition. She’s very frustrated. But she hasn’t cried much. She’s very tough young lady." The 17-year-old Chinese vault champion suffered a spinal cord injury on Tuesday after landing on her head while attempting a forward flip in a warm-up for competition at the Goodwill Games. Sang has been given sygen, an experimental nerve regenerating drug used in paralysis cases but not yet approved for common use in America. The drug helped American football player Dennis Byrd recover from a spinal injury. "It has yet to be proven completely successful so I have an obligation to the patient to remain skeptical, but we are willing to look at any kind of treatment to help Sang walk again," Leone said. Sang will undergo a spinal fusion operation here tomorrow and might be healthy enough to return home in a week. Sang suffered a fractured-dislocation of the sixth and seventh cervical vertabrae and cannot move her legs. Sang has minor upper muscle movement but doctors are uncertain if she will ever walk again. Sang has undergone a spinal realignment and been placed in traction. Tomorrow’s surgery will be followed by the insertion of metal implants to prevent bones from sliding and make her well enough to travel home. Goodwill Games insurance policies will pay Sang’s medical expenses and organisers are paying to fly her parents halfway around the world to be at their daughter’s side. They are expected to arrive on Saturday. Sang’s rehabilitation will be a long process and beset with troubles. Chinese Olympic Committee Secretary General Tu Mingde had to deal with a gymnastics squad shaken by their teammate’s injury. No thought was given to walking out of the competition, Tu said. He said proper safety considerations were in place for the event. US and Chinese officials agreed the incident was simply a tragic accident. Tom Gulotta, Nassau country’s chief government official, said Sang inspired him when he visited her in the hospital.

Italy turn to Zoff to revive fortunes ROME July 23 (Reuters) — Italy have turned to legendary former captain Dino Zoff to revive the national team’s fortunes after a disappointing World Cup. Zoff signed a four-year contract yesterday, replacing Cesare Maldini who was widely criticised after Italy’s quarterfinal exit in France for relying too heavily on dull, defensive tactics. Zoff comes with a pedigree second to none, leaving an indelible mark on the game as goalkeeper, coach and boardroom supremo. The 56-year-old enjoys an almost mythical status in his home country as the man who led Italy to victory in the 1982 World Cup in Spain. He is the oldest player to win a Cup Winners’ medal. He was in Italy’s European Championship-winning team in 1968, captained the side 59 times and was capped a record 112 times in all, playing his last match for Italy in 1983. Zoff had a glittering career in 'Serie A' as a player and coach at Juventus, who won the UEFA Cup and Italian Cup under his guidance in 1990, and as coach and president of Lazio. Zoff coached Italy's Olympic squad through an unbeaten qualifying campaign for the Seoul Games in 1988 and his major tasks now will be to make sure Italy qualify for the 2000 European Championship — and then make it to the 2002 World Cup. But his initial goal will be to wipe away the bad memories of France '98. His first match in charge will be a European championship qualifier against Wales on September 5. The team's lacklustre performances at the World Cup, where they were knocked out by France on penalties in the quarterfinals, hurt a nation which adores soccer above all else. To rub salt into the collective wound, their hyped-up striking hero Alessandro del Piero was a flop. Maldini coached the national under-21 team for 10 years before winning the numero uno job, beating Zoff among others to succeed Arrigo Sacchi in December 1996. Zoff was then considered too expensive for the job. Zoff made an ignominious start to his career, conceding five goals in his first team debut for Udinese when he was 19. However, like vintage wine, Zoff – the player and manager – has improved with age. He was 40 when he captained Italy to World Cup glory in 1982, consistency a key factor in his longevity as an international goalkeeper. After a number of club switches, Zoff settled at Napoli and won his first cap for Italy in April 1968 on his home ground in a European Championship game. In 1972 he moved to Juventus, where he enjoyed his most rewarding period at club level, winning five championships and two Cups. He set an Italian league record of 903 minutes without letting in a goal, but went even longer at the international level. After conceding a goal to Yugoslavia at the end of 3-1 win in September 1972 he went unbeaten in 12 matches. His 1,143 minutes without letting the opposition score created a world record. He marked his 100th appearance for Italy with a clean sheet against Poland at the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Zoff lifted the prized trophy in front of over 90,000 fans in Madrid after another supreme display against the then West Germany.

NZ Federation Cup in city from Aug 2 CHANDIGARH, July 23 — Indian Air Force, Delhi will take on Haryana State Electricity Board in the opening tie of the Kalyanai Black Label North Zone Federation Cup Football Tournament to be played from August 2 to 10 at the Sector 17 football stadium here. Releasing the draw at a Press conference organised at the PCA Stadium, SAS Nagar, on Tuesday, Mr S.S. Jha, Commissioner Customs and Central Excise who is also the patron of the Chandigarh Football Association, said as many as nine teams, including JCT Phagwara and PSEB, would take part in the tournament being held in the city for the second time. The winner of the tournament will join the eight seeded teams in the main round to be played later. According to Mr Rakesh Bakshi, secretary, CFA, Chandigarh's Youngster Club will make their debut in the tournament. The players are undergoing training in the city at present. Youngster Club are the current champions of the local league. Holders Salgaoncar, last year's runners-up East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan Sporting, Churchill Brothers, Dempo, BSF and ITI are the eight seeded teams who will begin their campaign in the main round starting on August 19. The zonal tournaments will be played at Chandigarh, Nagpur, Cuttack, Shillong, and Kannur. The Federation Cup winners will pocket a prize of Rs 20 lakh while the runners-up will be awarded Rs 15 lakh. The teams finishing third and fourth will get Rs 10 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, respectively. The following is the draw of the North Zone qualifying round: August 2: Indian Air Force (Delhi) v HSEB; August 3: PSEB v Himalayan Tigers; August 4: YMCA (J&K) v Youngster Club (Chandigarh); August 5: JCT Phagwara v winner of (1); August 6: City Club (Delhi) v Sports Hostel (Haldwani); August 7: winner of (3) v winner of (4); August 8: winner of (2) v winner of (5); August 9: rest day; August 10: winner of (6) v winner of (7).

Ronaldo had epileptic fit: Carlos SAO PAULO, July 23 (AP) — Ronaldo suffered an epileptic fit hours before the World Cup final, said Roberto Carlos, the striker’s room-mate in France. When I heard that it was just a convulsion, I thought it was strange, since I had already heard from others, including doctors, that it was an epileptic fit,’’ Carlos said at a Press conference. The defender who plays for Real Madrid did not elaborate on the difference between a convulsion and an epileptic fit. Carlos said he had been waiting for an official announcement of Ronaldo’s condition before commenting on the subject. The cause of the 30 to 40 second fit Ronaldo suffered just hours before the World Cup final has been the subject of intense speculation here even now, 10 days after Brazil lost 3-0 to France. Doctors for both the national team and representatives of Inter Milan, where Ronaldo plays professionally, have said examinations, first in France and then in Rio, show the 21-year-old striker to be in perfect health. The horrible way Ronaldo reacted, with his body all tense and saliva in the corner of his mouth, leaves me unconvinced that it was just a convulsion,’’ said Carlos. Carlos said that Fiorentina striker Edmundo also believed that Ronaldo had suffered an epileptic fit. According to some reports, defender Cesar Sampio had to pull Ronaldo’s tongue from his throat during the fit.

Muralitharan leads Ceat ratings Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 23 — South African fast bowler Allan Donald, after his six-wicket haul in the third Test against England at Old Trafford , moved ahead in the Ceat cricket rating. He is currently at the second position with 26 points to his credit. Sri Lankan off-spinner Muralitharan, who has got a slender one point lead over Donald, leads the Ceat cricket ratings as on today. Indian super star Sachin Tendulkar is at the sixth position with 18 points to his credit. The other Indian to feature in the top 10 is allrounder Ajit Agarkar (16 points) at the ninth spot. Ceat International cricketer of the year 1997-98 — Sri Lanka's opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya — shares the 9th position with Ajit Agarkar in the Ceat cricket ratings of 1998-99. The Ceat cricket rating which leads to the Ceat International cricketer of the year award takes into account international cricket played by the nine Test and eleven one day playing countries during the period May to April. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh. The latest Ceat cricket ratings as on 23rd July 1998: Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lankan 27 points); Allan Donald (South Africa 26 points); Alec Stewart (England 23 points); Daniel Vettori (New Zealand 19 points); Jacques Kallis (South Africa 18 points); Sachin Tendulkar (India 18 points); Dominic Cork (England 17 points); Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka 16 points) and Ajit Agarkar (India 16 points). Anand, Rebel settle for a draw NAPLES, July 23 (PTI ) — Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand of India faced one of the toughest battles of his career when the Dutch computer programme Rebel almost went for a kill before the Indian played some clever moves forcing the machine to offer a truce. World number two Anand, playing white in the first of the two classical games of the eight-game exhibition match on Ischia Islands near here last night, was in trouble right from the beginning when his queen’s gambit opening was answered with chigorin defence. After their seven games, the man-machine fight, which the pentium-powered computer won on the first day itself with a 4.5-1.5 margin, now stands at 5-2 in favour of Rebel, a programme written by Dutchman Ed Schroder. Rebel surprised Anand with his second move and the Indian, baffled by the early onslaught, played coolly and it was the computer which made a silly mistake to give Anand a chance to rebuild the game. Anand castled queen side as rebel made a foray into his area with the aid of its central forces. The machine gained two more chances but Anand was clever to neutralise and force the Dutch programme to settle for a draw.

South Sector win By Our Sports Reporter CHANDIGARH, July 23 — Defending champion North-West Zone, Chandigarh; last year's runners-up Rapid Action Force, Delhi; Western Sector, Mumbai; Special Sector, Delhi; Manipur-Nagaland Sector, Imphal; South Sector, Hyderabad; North-East Sector, Shillong; and Eastern Sector, Calcutta, qualified on the fourth day of the Seventh Inter-Sector CRPF Volleyball Tournament being held at the CRPF Complex, Hallo Majra, near here today. In the last league match of pool "D", today South Sector Hyderabad ousted Jammu and Kashmir Sector 15-0, 15-3, 15-13, in less than an hour and moved into the quarterfinal. Lifter Anthony Josephy showed excellent coordination with his team-mate Smasher S. Parveen on the net. Later, Jammu and Kashmir's lifter Suresh Kumar and Smasher Mast Ram also excelled. In another league match of pool "B", Eastern Sector, Calcutta; beat Northern Sector, Ramgarh; by 15-5. 15-13 and 15-10. Eastern Sector spikers won the first set comfortably by 15-3. However the rival players gave a hard time to Eastern Sector, who struggled to take the second set by 15-13 and the Eastern Sector claimed the last set 15-10 and the match. Eastern Sector moved into the quarterfinal and will face Manipur-Bagaland Sector tomorrow for a berth in the semifinal. In pool "D" last league encounter, Special Sector, Delhi, defeated Bihar Sector 15-6, 11-15, 15-8 and 15-4.

Jacquet's successor next week PARIS, July 23 (AFP) — World Cup champions France will know the identity of their new coach at the start of next week with Roger Lemerre favourite to succeed Aime Jacquet. The man who will be overseeing the next era in the blues’ history will be paraded to the world at a Press conference on Monday morning. Lemerre played a key role in France’s accession to the summit of world football, acting as Jacquet’s assistant since January. The former international defender, (57), is fancied for the post ahead of Jean Tigana, Guy Roux, Jean-Claude Suaudeau and Raymond Domenech. Whoever is named will not have long to wait before seeing his team kicking a ball in anger, with France due to play a friendly against Austria on August 19 followed by a Euro 2000 qualifier against Iceland on September 5. Jacquet is to stay with the French team, taking on the role of director of coaching, replacing Houllier who has moved to Liverpool as joint coach alongside Roy Evans. Brazil cancels Japan visit TOKYO, July 23 (Reuters) — Beaten World Cup finalists Brazil, undergoing an intense period of soul-searching after their shock 3-0 loss to France, have cancelled a planned visit to Japan next month, Football Association of Japan (JFA) said today. The JFA said in a statement that Brazil had informed it the team could not compete in a match scheduled for August 19 in Osaka against Japan’s national team. "Brazilian football authorities informed us they could not make the visit because the future direction of its team would be under discussion through the end of August," the statement said. The Brazilians have also asked for a scheduled friendly against South Korea to be postponed until October, citing a need to resolve "internal problems". Brazil’s defeat at the hands of France earlier this month sent the soccer-mad South American nation into mourning, and the media has slated coach Mario Zagallo for his decision to play star striker Ronaldo despite rumours he was ill. The federation is expected to appoint a new coach to replace Zagallo, who according to the Brazilian media is negotiating a contract to head the Japanese squad in its preparation for the 2002 finals, to be co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.

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