PARIS : American tennis player Pete Sampras (left) sports the Olympique Marseille soccer club jersey of French World Cup star Robert Pires after they exchanged shirts at Bercy stadium on Saturday, shortly after Sampras' qualification for the final of the Paris Open tournament. — AP/PTI

Ponting, Bevan star in
Aussie win
PESHAWAR, Nov 8 — Ricky Ponting and Michael Bevan hit half centuries to haul Australia out of trouble and set up a five-wicket win over Pakistan in the second one-day match today.

Triumphant return
by Warne
MELBOURNE, Nov 8 — Australian leg spinner Shane Warne made a triumphant return to first-class cricket today by leading Victoria to victory over New South Wales.

Dutch beat Pak, lift Champions Trophy

LAHORE, Nov 8 (AFP) — Olympic and world champions Holland completed a unique "grand slam" of men’s hockey by lifting the Champions Trophy, beating hosts Pakistan 3-1 in the final here today.

Holland became the only side to hold all three prestigious hockey titles. They won the Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996 and the World Cup at home in Utrecht in June this year.

Australia finished third, outlasting South Korea on penalty stroke sudden death 9-8, while Spain finished fifth by scoring a golden goal to beat defending champions Germany 3-2.

Hosts Pakistan were subdued by a better Dutch side as the champions gave no quarter to their opponents.

Holland altered their ranks after their 5-3 defeat by Pakistan in the league stage last Wednesday and did not commit the same mistakes of giving Pakistani players enough space.

"I am delighted because it was my dream to complete grand slam of titles and this goes on to prove that Holland is the best side in recent times," a delighted Holland captain Ronald Janssen said.

Pakistan, egged on by a near capacity 40,000 crowd, opened the match in an aggressive manner, forcing a penalty corner in the 11th minute on a move from the right side.

Right-in Atif Bashir put the ball in the goal when he took a rebound from a Sohail Abbas push. Pakistan’s goal came in the 12th minute. Holland forced four penalty corners in the next 15 minutes and on the second short corner Bram Lomans placed the ball in the right corner of Pakistan’s goal.

Peit Geeris put the world champions into the lead in the 25th minute, converting a fine pass from Remco Van Wijk, who dodged three Pakistani defenders on a solo move.

Marten Eikelboom completed the Dutch tally when he sneaked the ball in the goal from Remco Van Wijk’s pass with two minutes remaining.

Holland defeated Pakistan with the same margin to lift the 1990 World Cup at this very ground.

For the third place, Australia defeated South Korea in a nerve wrecking sudden death penalty stroke session.

In a highly thrilling match Australian goalkeeper Lechlan Dreher stopped a penalty stroke in sudden death session to help his team record a 9-8 win.

The South Koreans owe their defeat to poor finishing by their forwards as they wasted no less than five clear chances, while Australia can thank the outstanding efforts of Dreher, who blocked several near goals.

Both teams were locked 1-1 in the stipulated 70 minutes and no goals came in extra time. They also remained level for the five penalty strokes.

Even this was not without drama as the South Koreans began celebrating thinking the fifth stroke by Australia had been missed.

But on appeal by the Australians, both umpires consulted tournament officials and awarded the fifth penalty stroke. James Elmer’s push seemed to have struck the cross bar and went out but replays showed it went in the goal and came out.

The dejected South Koreans then had to march back to complete the penalty stroke session.

In the first match of the day for fifth placing, Spain swept past defending champions Germany 3-2 when Victor Pujol scored a golden goal in the first extra session.

Both teams were locked 2-2 in regulation time. Spain equalised through a goal off a penalty corner by Xavier Ribas only a minute before the final whistle.

Juan Escarre featured prominently in the match for Spain and provided the golden pass to Pujol who took no time in pushing the ball to give Spain the winning goal.

Germany, defending their title won in Adelaide last year finished sixth in overall standings.

Olympic and World Cup runners-up Spain failed yet again to show their famous fast paced game.

Sascha Relnelt scored Germany’s second goal in the 63rd minute but the defending champions failed to hold the lead. Relnelt’s goal came off a superb pass from the right side by Christian Kurtz.

Spain, who thrashed Germany 5-1 in the league match, scored the first goal in the seventh minute when on an indirect attempt off a penalty corner Escarre connected a well placed pass.

Germany equalised in the 27th minute when Christian Achtmann netted a beautiful pass from Kurtz.

India beat Zimbabwe

SHARJAH, Nov 8 (PTI) — Sachin Tendulkar struck a masterly 20th one-day century with an unbeaten 118 and claimed yet another world record to lead India to a professionally carved seven wicket win over Zimbabwe in the Coca Cola Cup Triangular Cricket Tournament here tonight.

The 25-year little champion paced his knock beautifully to both accelerate and anchor at the same time in a gem of an effort as India coasted to 197 for three in 40.4 overs on bowling out the Africans to a modest 196 in 49.5 overs after inserting them first at the Sharjah Stadium.

The peerless Tendulkar rattled up his eighth century this year (118 n.o.-112 b, 14x4, 2x6) which with his 16 Test hundreds fetched him yet another impressive record as the scorer of most number of Test and one-day hundreds put together (36), which placed him ahead of the record of 35 held jointly by India’s Sunil Gavaskar (34 and one) and West Indians Vivian Richards (24/11) and Desmond Haynes (18/17).

The one-day century world record holder also reached the 7500-run mark when on 44 to lead the total domination of the Zimbabwean team by India to notch up their second straight win and almost ensure a place in the November 13 final.

‘Man of the match’ Tendulkar, who systematically dismantled the Zimbabwe bowling and skipper Azharuddin 28 (56 b) came up with decisive 92-run third wicket stand before the former took a single to deservingly bring about victory just into the slog overs.

Earlier the Indian spin formula struck again for the second time in succession as Zimbabwe crumbled after a good start to be bowled out for 196 in 49.5 overs.

Put in to bat, Zimbabwe started well compiling 43 runs in the first 10 overs, but as soon as Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin pressed his spinners into the attack, the Africans were reduced to 83 for six by the 26th over.

Allrounder Heath Streak (59) came at the right moment and played a responsible innings sharing a 68-run seventh wicket partnership with Craig Wishart (25) to save Zimbabwe from acute embarrassment.

Streak and Wishart worked out a mini revival for Zimbabwe. The all-rounder was particularly severe on Sunil Joshi, carting him for two huge sixes in the 40 over to put Zimbabwe’s total past 150.

A well-settled Wishart missed the line of Kumble’s straight delivery and was trapped leg before and with runrate dipping well below four runs an over, Streak went for lofty shots hitting three boundaries before skiing a Kumble delivery which Saurav Ganguly converted into a well-judged catch at point.

Zimbabwean tailenders then went after every ball but could hardly get past the tight Indian fielding.

Eddo brandes (11), who fell to paceman Ajit Agarkar’s yorker and Paul Strang (12) collected few quick runs to drag their teams’ total just near to the 200-run mark.

Openers Alistair Campbell (25) and Grant Flower (17) gave Zimbabwe just the start they needed. Kumble came in as first change and he removed Flower in his very first over, trapping his leg before.

Skipper Campbell had departed when Agarkar ran him out with a direct throw at the non-striker’s end when the batsmen tried to steal two runs.

Off-spinner Nikhil Chopra, playing only his third one-dayer, turned in one so sharply which new man in Neil Johnson failed to understand and his stumps were dislodged after he had scored just three runs.

Murray Goodwin and Andy Flower, who came together with Zimbabwe 49 for three, stayed on for the next eight overs putting on 23 runs before Goodwin holed out to Robin Singh at forward short-leg off Nikhil Chopra.

Flower fell to a low catch by Kumble off Joshi and Craig Evans (8) also fell quickly when the left-arm bowler clean bowled him for his second wicket.

Young off-spinner Chopra bowled on the trot for impressive figures of 10-0-21-2, while Joshi, who was a bit expensive, also returned with two wickets for 43 runs.

Zimbabwe:
Campbell run out 25
G Flower lbw b Kumble 17
Neil Johnson b Chopra 3
Murray Goodwin c Robin b Chopra 14
Andy Flower c Kumble b Joshi 10
Craig Evans b Joshi 8
Craig Wishart lbw b Kumble 25
Heath Streak c Ganguly b Srinath 59
Paul Strang run out 12
Eddo Brandes b Agarkar 11
Andrew Whittall not out 5
Extras (lb-3, nb-2, w-2) 7
Total (all out in 49.5 overs) 196
Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-47, 3-49, 4-72, 5-80, 6-83, 7-151, 8-175, 9-190.
Bowling: Javagal Srinath 10-0-37-1, Ajit Agarkar 9.5-0-57-1, Anil Kumble 10-0-31-2, Nikhil Chopra 10-0-21-2, Sunil Joshi 9-0-43-2, Sachin Tendulkar 1-0-4-0.

INDIA:
Ganguly st A Flower b Strang 28
Tendulkar not out 118
Mongia c Johnson b Strang 1
Azharuddin c Johnson b Strang 28
Jadeja not out 12
Extras (lb-1, w-6, nb-3) 10
Total (for 3 wkts, 40.4 overs) 197
Fall of wickets: 1-62, 2-69, 3-161.
Bowling: E Brandes 6-1-26-0, N. Johnson 6-0-25-0, H. Streak 5-0-33-0, P. Strang 10-2-32-3, A Whittal 3-0-30-0, C. Evans 4-0-18-0, M. Goodwin 6.4-0-32-0.

Law on throwing needs to be reviewed: Bedi

NEW DELHI, Nov 8 (PTI) — Indian spin legend Bishan Singh Bedi has said it was time the International Cricket Council (ICC) changed the law on ‘chucking’ to end the controversy over the way in which bowlers were being hauled up for suspect action.

Castigating the cricket board (BCCI) for not backing teenaged off-spinner Harbhajan Singh — pulled up for a suspect bowling action but subsequently cleared — like Sri Lanka had stood by their off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, he said it was time ICC redrafted law 42 governing ‘unfair play’.

Bedi said video clippings on Harbhajan, Rajesh Chauhan, Muralitharan and his teammate Kumara Dharmasena, made it appear that all of them throw, ‘only because the law says so’.

"But unfortunately, the authority vested with umpires to call for throwing has been taken away and given to the referee who is so far away from the scene of action," he said.

The venerated left-arm spinner said BCCI’s handling of the Harbhajan episode — which has ended with the ICC-appointed former England off-spinner Fred Titmus clearing his action — had only left him under tremendous psychological pressure.

Bedi himself had a two-hour private session with the Punjab youngster here recently and suggested that he had to correct certain flaws in his delivery style.

"The problem was actually with the position of his left arm. The boy was rushing in too fast and his head was falling away. These were exactly the things pointed out by Titmus, but we are yet to get out of our colonial hang-over," he said in an interaction with PTI journalists yesterday.

Bedi, who is the second highest Indian Test wicket-taker with a rich haul of 266 in 67 matches, said the way BCCI had buckled to ICC only showed "we are undermining ourselves".

The fact that the initial complaint on Harbhajan was made in June but the bowler came to know of it only in October showed how were handled by both the ICC and the BCCI, he said.

Both Rajesh Chauhan, who was embroiled in a similar row earlier, and Harbhajan were never called for throwing in a match unlike Muralitharan, Bedi said and pointed out that a change in law 42 (unfair play) was needed as the authority of umpires has been removed and now vested with match referees.

Bedi took exception that Kapil Dev, the world Test bowling record holder who is in ICC’s panel on throwing, was kept in the dark and did not rule out that England, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand had a vested interest since Asians had more supple limbs and bowled intelligently.

Asked whether ICC was biased as only Asians were coming under scrutiny, Bedi would only say: "If any such thing is there, then with India’s Jagmohan Dalmiya as ICC President, it should be eliminated."

Criticising the heavy dose of one-day cricket, he said the BCCI "is putting the cart (read profit) before the horse (principal that is cricket)", which will affect the team.

Bedi did not reckon India was a strong contender for next year’s World Cup in England unless the team drastically improved. "It’ll be the first half of English summer. We need to work on both bowling and fielding, and most importantly our players, barring Sachin Tendulkar, need more commitment".

In his assessment, South Africa and former winners Australia were the frontrunners.

Saying that the proliferation of one-dayers was seriously affecting Test cricket, Bedi suggested that the 30-yard circle be done away with. "it is neither small to stop a single nor big enough to prevent a tonk".

Bedi was for making it mandatory that two fielders remain in close catching positions throughout the 50 overs. "With present field restrictions, a bowler’s mentality is only containment, which he also takes to the test," he said.

Blaming the BCCI for ignoring domestic cricket and adopting an administrative approach which went against promoting a "cricket culture", Bedi said an association of ex-Test players would soon be launched to change this.

"Prakash Padukone is our inspiration," he said in praise of the former All-England badminton champion who successfully led the demand for change in the game’s administration last year and helped return focus on players.

On Tendulkar, Bedi denied the world’s best bat was a failure as captain in his tenure in 1996-97. "Sachin was one of the brightest young captains we have had. But he did not get the cooperation from rest the team," he said.

On the raging betting and match-fixing allegations on cricketers, he quipped: "There can be no smoke without fire. I’am happy I left the scene before such things cropped up. Cricket is too honest a game," he said.

Bedi rated West Indian legend Sir Garfield Sobers as the best batsmen he has ever bowled to. "Sir Garfield was the greatest. There won’t be another like him," he said.

He rated "Tiger" Pataudi as the best captain he had seen and played under, rated him as one of the best on the outfield on a par with South Africa’s Colin Bland.

Ponting, Bevan star in Aussie win

PESHAWAR, Nov 8 (Reuters) — Ricky Ponting and Michael Bevan hit half centuries to haul Australia out of trouble and set up a five-wicket win over Pakistan in the second one-day match today.

Australia now lead the three-match series 2-0.

Ponting struck a sweetly timed 55 and Bevan 57 not out as Australia overhauled Pakistan’s 217 for seven in 50 overs with 11 balls to spare.

Ponting and Bevan put on 82 for the fifth wicket in 104 balls after off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq captured three wickets in 14 balls to reduce Australia to 90 for four.

Ponting, who passed 2,000 runs in one-day cricket during his innings, hit five fours in his 70-ball knock.

Bevan, scorer of 83 in Australia’s 86-run victory in the first match on Friday, made his runs off 53 balls.

He and Darren Lehmann carried Australia to victory after Ponting’s dismissal with a stand of 48.

Earlier, spirited late order batting revitalised the Pakistan innings after Brendon Julien had taken three wickets to reduce them to 59 for five.

The fightback was led by all-rounder Azhar Mahmood who scored 65. He was well supported by wicketkeeper Moin Khan (41) and Wasim Akram (34).

Mahmood and Akram helped Pakistan collect 79 from their last 10 overs.

SCOREBOARD
Pakistan:
Sohail c Ponting b Julian 15
Mahmood c M Waugh b Fleming 14
Ahmad c S Waugh b Julian 5
Malik c Young b Julian 8
Yohanna run out 0
Khan lbw b Young 41
Mahmood not out 65
Akram c Ponting b McGrath 34
Akhtar not out 8
Extras (lb-11 nb-3 w-13) 27
Total (for seven wickets, 50 overs) 217
Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-41, 3-41, 4-43, 5-59, 6-137, 7-194.
Bowling: McGrath 10-1-34-1, Fleming 10-1-41-1, Julian 10-3-40-3, Steve Waugh 10-0-44-0, Ponting 4-0-21-0, Young 6-0-26-1.
Australia:
M Waugh b Saqlain 19
A Gilchrist c & b Saqlain 42
R Ponting c Salim b Azhar 55
S Waugh lbw Saqlain 0
D Martyn c Moin b Wasim 4
M Bevan not out 57
D Lehman not out 26
Extras (lb-2, nb-8, w-7) 17
Total (for five wickets, 48.1 overs) 220
Fall of wickets: 1-63, 2-67, 3-71, 4-90, 5-172.
Bowling: Wasim Akram 10-0-32-1, Shoaib Akhtar 9-0-56-0, Saqlain Mushtaq 10-1-35-3, Arshad Khan 8.1-0-39-0, Azhar Mahmood 9-0-46-1, Salim Malik 2-0-10-0.

Triumphant return by Warne

MELBOURNE, Nov 8 (Reuters) — Australian leg spinner Shane Warne made a triumphant return to first-class cricket today by leading Victoria to victory over New South Wales.

Warne took a wicket and scored 24 runs to steer his team to a 29-run win in a one-day match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"It's very exciting. I was very happy with the eight overs I bowled", Warne said. " I'm not far away. I'm not far off bowling flat-out for as long as I like".

Warne, regarded as the world's best slow bowler, had not played a first-class match in more than six months after undergoing shoulder surgery.
He hopes to play in the upcoming Ashes series against England but wants to fully test his shoulder before he makes his return.

"I'm way ahead of schedule at the moment, but it's not something I'm rushing", he said.

"I've just got to get some match fitness and match practice and get some bowling under my belt".

Batting at number eight, Warne blasted 24 off just 29 balls then took one for 23 eight overs, claiming the wicket of Scott Thomson when he skied a shot to Matthew Mott at mid-off.

Australian and NSW captain Mark Taylor was encouraged by Warne's performance but does not expect him to back before the third Test in Adelaide starting on December 11.

The fact he bowled eight overs straight was great for Australian cricket", Taylor said.

"It was probably great for cricket full stop, although I'm not so sure the English side will agree with me".

Services skittled out for 178

NEW DELHI, Nov 8 (PTI) — Punjab spinners held sway to claim all but one wicket as they bowled out Services for a paltry 178 runs on the rain-truncated second day of their North-Zone Ranji Trophy cricket tie at the Palam ground here today.

Skipper Chinmaya Sharma struck a defiant, watchful 65 (10 x 4) and was the ninth man out, but the rest of the Services batsmen were helpless against the slow bowlers.

Left-arm spinner Navdeep Singh took an impressive 4 for 30 and young off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, in his first match after getting a clean chit on his bowling action, took three wickets for 54. Leg spinner Sandeep Sawal, who has come in this season in place of veteran Bharti Vij, took 2 for 19.

Punjab were 5 for none in 3.1 overs when play, extended beyond scheduled close, was halted owing to fading light.

Services, overnight 49 for two, lost wickets regularly after play began at 1 p.m. as early morning showers had left the outfield wet. Almost the entire morning session and an hour in the afternoon was lost yesterday owing to rain.

Chinmaya Sharma and C.D. Thomson (21 - 3 x 4) added 47 runs for the fifth wicket to revive the innings from a poor 69 for four, but Sawal found the breakthrough when Thomson lofted him to Harvinder at long-off. Chinmaya’s stay ended when he miscued a sweep off Navdeep Singh for stumper Pankaj Dharmani to run round and pouch the catch at short midwicket.

Harbhajan, bowling with an easy action, kept the batsmen on tenterhooks and looked to have overcome the recent distraction over his action.

Scoreboard

Services (first innings) (overnight 2 for 49) Narender Singh c Dinesh Mongia b Harbhajan Singh 15 Sarabjit Singh c Harvinder Singh b Harbhajan 32 Pankaj Maitrey c D Mongia b Sandeep Sawa 2 Sanjay Verma lbw b Harvinder 0 Chinmaya Sharma c Pankaj Dharmani b Navdeep Singh 65 CD Thomson c Harvinder b S Sawal 21 Amit Nadkarni b Navdeep Singh 0 JP Pandey c D Mongia b Harbhajan 2 MV Rao c Navjot Sidhu b Harbhajan 12 Sachin K Kulkarni not out 11 Arun Sharma c D Mongia b Navdeep Singh 4.

Extras (b 8, lb 1, nb 4, w 1) 14.

Total (all out in 89.1 overs) 178.

Fall of wickets: 1/46, 2/49, 3/55, 4/69, 5/116, 6/116, 7/140, 8/161, 9/173.

Bowling: Harvinder Singh 17-8-38-1; Lalit Kapoor 12-4-28-0; Harbhajan Singh 32-14-54-3; Sandeep Sawal 11-3-19-2; Navdeep Singh 17.1-3-30-4.

Punjab (first innings):

Vikram Rathore batting 1 Reetinder Sodhi batting 4.

Total (for no loss in 3.1 overs) 5.

Bowling: MV Rao 2-0-4-0; JP Pandey 1.1-1-0-0.

Jyoti Randhawa wins golf title
From Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, Nov 8 — Jyoti Randhawa(Meerut) fully demonstrated that he had a stout mind in his youth as he came from behind to win the Hero Honda Masters (Omega Tour), rather untroubled, by four strokes at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) course here today.

Randhawa, who was lying fourth yesterday, played a virtual faultless round to get six-under 66 and an aggregate of 275, 13 under, for him to win the title and $ 32,300 amidst deafening cheers.

Jeev Milkha Singh (Chandigarh) seemed to succumb under mounting pressure as he could play a round of level-par 72 and an aggregate of 279, nine-under. This provided him a runner-up position and $ 22,260 as his share of prize-money.

Gerry Norquist (USA) played one over 73 to get an aggregate of 281. He was placed third. Rob Huxtable (USA) gave the most outstanding display to get seven-under 65. This saw him jump to the fourth position along with Arjun Atwal and Mike Cunning (USA) with an aggregate of 282.

Randhawa, a picture of concentration, was least bothered about the penalty of two strokes that he suffered last evening. He began with a birdie on the first and had two more birdies on the 5th and the 8th to finish his first nine in three-under 33.

Taking a leaf of his morning’s play, he went about in his resolute style, getting birdies on the 10th, the 14th and the 15th. He seemed all set for his yet another birdie when he wavered in his concentration. He got a bogey instead on the 17th. But he made ample amends to get birdie on the 18th. He had, in all, seven birdies and one bogey.

Emphasising that he owed everything to his father in his golfing success, Randhawa said that he played his natural game without any pressure whatsoever. "My sterling display in the last week’s tournament at the Army Course was actually key to this success", said Randhawa, adding: "I was striking the ball well and truly low on the target".

Jeev, who was in hunt of this title, offered no excuses. "I should indeed have played better, but I could not", said Jeev, adding: "Regardless of my display, let me be candid that Randhawa deserved to win the title since he could produce a card of six-under on the final day of the competition", "This speaks volumes of his nerves and guts", said Jeev.

The sponsor Pawan Kant Munjal was particularly happy that Randhawa won the title and Jeev was runner-up. "The fact that two Indians got the first two positions shows that Indian golf is on the take-off", said Munjal.

The day’s best round came from Huxtable, who carded seven-under 65. He had three birdies in the first nine and another four in back nine. The fact that he had no bogey in all 18 showed that he truly played a faultless round of golf.

Arjun Atwal, who finished fourth along with Mike Cunning and Huxtable, had round of one-under 71. He was out in level-par 36 and back home in one-under 35.

Leading scores:

275 Jyoti Randhawa 69, 67, 73, 66. 279 Jeev Milkha Singh 67, 71, 69, 72. 281: Gerry Norquist (USA) 65, 73, 70, 73. 282: Rob Hauxtable (USA) 72, 72, 73, 65, Arjun Atwal (India) 71, 69, 71, 71 and Mike Cunning (USA) 68, 68, 72, 74.

Orissa register 155 run win

AGARTALA, Nov 8 (PTI) — Orissa beat Tripura by 155 runs on the final day of their East Zone Ranji Trophy cricket match at the Narshing Garh Ground near here today.

Orissa have eight points after the win.

Chasing a victory target of 284, Tripura collapsed early yesterday and were bundled out for 128 runs after less than an hour’s play today.

Resuming at the overnight score of 92 for eight, the hosts lost their last two wickets after the addition of 36 runs to their tally. B Bhatnagar (34) was the top scorer in Tripura’s second innings.

S Roul was the most successful bowler, taking four wickets for 22 runs. S Satpathy and S Khan bagged two wickets each.

(Scoreboard)

Orissa: 168 and 269

Tripura: (1st innings) 154

S Dhanda c Mohanty b Morris 4

R Choudhury c & b Mohanty 2

A Bilaskar c Mullick b Satpathy 23

N Asrani c Parida b Khan 4

T Chandra c Das b Roul 15

B Prajapaty c Mohanty

b Satpathy 31

A Debbarma c Mullick b Roul 1

S Chtodhury b Roul 5

R Bhatnagar lbw b Roul 34

R Debbarma b Khan 02

A Sukla not out 00

Extras (b-2, lb-4, wide-1) 07

Total 128

Fall of wickets: 1/5, 2/14, 3/38, 4/38, 5/59, 6/63, 7/83, 8/91, 9/128.

Bowling: D Mohanty 6-4-9-1, R Morris 5-3-3-1, S Satpathy 11-1-44-2, S Khan 14-4-44-2, S Roul 14-5-22-4.

Indian cagers bow out

CALCUTTA, Nov 8 (PTI) — Hosts India played their hearts out but succumbed to strong contenders Qatar 58-79 in their last group-B league match to bow out of the 15th Asian Basketball Confederation Championship for junior men at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here today.

The Indians, who desperately needed to pull off an upset victory over Qatar to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive in the championship, could not counter their superior opponents much to the dismay of the small but vociferous home crowd.

The hosts played a tight game to keep the Qatar cagers at bay for most part of the opening half but their rivals found their bearing after the breather to fashion a comfortable win.

Defending champions China, Qatar, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Philippines and Kazakhstan were the six teams who have already made it to the quarterfinal league stage of the 15-team championship.

India completed their group-B league engagements with just two points, having won their match against Pakistan and lost to Malaysia and Qatar.

The hosts, who finished 13th in the last edition of the championship held in Malaysia in 1996, would now seek to improve their overall position in the placement matches.

The Indians again relied on their captain S Robinson to do the bulk of the scoring as he alone fetched 21 points for the team. The fleet-footed Des Raj and Vinay Kumar Yadav chipped in with 11 points each.

With Qatar keeping on increasing the lead in the second session, the Indians made a number of long-ranged attempts but were not always lucky in getting points.

The towering D Bashir was the pick of the Qatar cagers as he piled up 24 points for his team while Ali Saleh contributed 20 points which contained as many as five three-pointers.

Qatar thus complete their group-B league engagements with six points to take the top position with an all-win record.

In the most exciting match of the championship so far, Kazakhstan edged out South Korea 79-78 in the extra time in their last group-D league match to romp into the quarterfinal stage. Both the teams were locked 69-69 at the end of the full time.

Strong contenders Japan, who had already assured a berth in the quarterfinals, thrashed Kuwait 82-36 in the last group-C league match while Philippines pulverised Bangladesh 108-38 in another ridiculously one-sided group-C league match.

PSEB, PSB record victories
From Our Sports Reporter

JALANDHAR, Nov 8 — Punjab and Sind Bank defeated Indian Airlines 5-0 whereas Punjab State Electricity Board, Patiala, outplayed Russia-XI 4-1 on the third day of 15th Indian Oil Surjit Memorial Hockey Tournament at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium, Burlton Park, here today.

PSEB took the lead in the 10th minute through Deepak Thakur. Kuljit Singh added another goal to made it 2-0.

After half time Deepak Thakur scored two more goals for PSEB.

The Russians reduced the margin through Gerifzianov who converted a penalty stroke.

In the second match of group B, Punjab and Sind Bank opened their account through Bhupinder Singh (jr) while Rajinder Singh (jr) scored the second goal. Parminder Singh scored the third goal for PSB and added another shortly thereafter. Harpreet Singh completed the tally in the dying minutes.

Maintenance Command finish third
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — Maintenance Command gave a splendid display of hockey when they beat Air Headquarters 2-1 to earn the third place in the Air Force Inter-Command Hockey tournament being played here at the Sector 42 Hockey stadium. Air Headquarters got the fourth place. On the penultimate day three matches were played. Training Command secured the fifth place, Central AC sixth, Training Command seventh and Southern AC finished last.

Balbir Singh of Maintenance Command scored the first goal in the sixth minute. Dominic of AHQ equalised in the 56th minute and till the end both sides were level 1-1. Then in extra time Balbir struck and scored the winning goal for his side.

Eastern Command beat Central AC 3-1. After trailing by 0-1, EAC came from behind to score three consecutive goals in the 52nd, 55th and 62nd minutes. Sujith scored the lone goal for CAC while Anil Yadav, Inderpal and JS Thapa scored for EAC. Training Command blasted Southern AC by 5-0, with goals scored by DS Rana, VK Singh, Uday Kumar, MK Dogra and VC Pant.

The final will be played tomorrow between Western Air Command who yesterday beat Air Headquarters by 4-3 (sudden death) and South Western AC who had beaten Maintenance Command by 1-0. The match will start at 2.45 pm. The Air Force team for the Services Hockey Championship to be held at Jalandhar from Nov 30 will also be announced.

Harish, Shikha clinch crowns
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 — Harish Kumar of A.G. Audit Haryana, won the men's singles crown in the 11th Chandigarh State Table Tennis Championship defeating Anoop K.C. of SGGS College, Sector 26, in three straight sets today.

Shikha Sharma of Government College for Girls, Sector 11, clinched the women's title defeating Barkha K.C. of the same college in three straight sets 21-11, 23-21, 21-16,.

The mixed doubles crown was won by Ajay Thakural and Barkha K.C. defeating Tarun Akku and Shallu in a well fought match at 2-1 with game scores 15-21, 21-13, 22-20.

Dr B.C. Gupta, Secretary Transport, Punjab, distributed the prizes.

Results:

Men's singles semifinal: Harish Kumar b Dixit, 18-21, 21-19, 21-15, 21-14, Anoop K.C. b Tarun Akku, 16-21, 17-21, 21-16, 21-10, 21-16.

Women's singles semifinal: Shikha b Smitha Kapoor, 21-11, 21-10, 21-12, Barkha K.C. b Shallu Kapoor, 17-21, 22-20, 19-21, 21-18, 21-13.

Mixed doubles: Tarun Akku and Shallu Kapoor beat Shikha and Harish Kumar 18-21, 21-16, 23-21, Ajay Thakural and Barkha K.C. beat Anoop K.C. and Anuradha, 21-15, 21-14.

Final:

Ajay Thakural and Barkha K.C. beat Tarun Akku and Shallu Kapoor, 21-15, 13-21, 22-20.

MDU wrestlers in limelight

ROHTAK, Nov 8 (TNS) — Defending champions and hosts Maharshi Dayanand University and D.A. University maintained their supremacy on the opening day of the All-India Inter-University Wrestling Championship here today.

As many as 450 wrestlers of 59 universities are taking part in the five-day competitions. MDU wrestlers excelled by winning all the four weight category bouts in the first round and two bouts in the second round.

In the first round Rakesh Kumar easily beat Bhart Kumar (Ajmer) and Yad Ram overpowered Sanjay Malik (Udaipur) 5-1 on points.

In the 54 kg and 63 kg categories Rakesh Kumar and Yad Ram (MDU) maintained their winning streak outclassing Rathore Denesh (Gujarat) and Shiv Parsad (Jabalpur) by fall in the second round.

In the first round, Sanjit (MDU) showed his class against Chavan Sanjay (Bombay University) in just 35 seconds in the 76 kg category.

Earlier, Mr O.P. Kaushik, Vice-Chancellor, inaugurated the tournament.

GND varsity, PU in football semis

PATIALA, Nov 8 (FOSR) — Holders Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjabi University Patiala, GND University Amritsar and Kumaon University entered the semifinals of the North-Zone Inter-University Football Tournament at the university campus grounds here today.

The hosts had a tough time against the sturdy and robust defence of PAU. However they managed to make it to the last four with a last-minute goal. Panjab University demonstrated a lot of skill as they routed Aligarh Muslim University 6-0. Guru Nanak Dev University did not have to exert much against Kurukshetra University whom they beat by a 2-0 margin. The fourth team to make the semifinal grade were Kumaon University who beat Meerut University 2-0.

The semifinals will be played on league basis.

Ranjit adjudged best boxer

SANGRUR, Nov 8 (FOSR) — Ranjit Singh of Sangrur was declared the best boxer of the 31st Punjab State Junior Boxing Championships, which concluded here. Sangrur with 35 points won the overall championships while the second place went to Hoshiarpur. Hoshiarpur secured 27 points.

Results (All finals)

Light fly wt. Amrinder Singh (Sunam) beat Harpreet Singh (M.Kotla), Fly Wt. Ranjit Singh (Sang) beat Love Kumar (Gsp) bantam wt, Bahadur Singh (Sang) beat Hans Raj (Khanna), feather wt. Pawan Kumar (Hsp) beat Aman Kumar (B.C.Sang) light wt. Deepak Kumar(Sang) beat Jatinder Kumar (Hsp), Lt. welter wt. Bikram Singh (Pta) beat Sanjiv Kumar (Hsp), welter wt. Sukhdeep Singh (Sang) beat Rakesh Kumar (Sunam), lt. middle wt. Hardeep Singh (Mansa) beat Gursharan Singh (T.Saboo). Middle wt. Narinder Singh (Sang) beat Rakesh Kumar (Hsp) Lt. Heavy Wt. Ajit Pal Singh (Jal) beat Satpal Singh (Sang). Heavy Wt. Dilsher Singh (Pta) beat Navpreet Singh (Hsp). Super Heavy Wt. Sukhdev Singh (Sang) beat Ishan Sharma (Sunam).

Sangrur, Amritsar enter semis

SANGRUR, Nov 8 (FOSR) — Holders Sangrur alongwith Amritsar, Ropar and Hoshiarpur entered the semifinals of Punjab Schools Cricket Championships for Girls under 19 in progress at War Hero’s Stadium here.

In the first quarterfinals Sangrur defeated Patiala by 17 runs while Amritsar won the second quarterfinal against Faridkot by 13 runs. Hoshiarpur thrashed Moga by 64 run while Ropar defeated Gurdaspur.

GMS-35, St John's in final

CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 (BOSR) — Government Model School, Sector 35 will clash with St John's School in the final of the under-16 Edmund Rice Cricket Tournament here.

Today, GMS-35 beat New Public School, Sector 18 by 38 runs while St John's School got the better of St Kabir School by six wickets in the semifinals.

Results: First semi final: GMS-35; 162 for 8. (Balwar Pooni 52, Mohammad 26, Prabhjot Brar 32, Rosha 27, Chander Pratap 2 for 28, Sachin 2 for 13.) NPS-18; 124 for 8; (Bhaskar 27, Nitin 23, Siddharta 17, Supreet Singh 12, Brinder 11, Sahil 2 for 17, Jaideep 2 for 10).

Second semifinal: St Kabir; 125 for 7. (Manjeet 32, Akshay 21, Jayant 19, Sumit 11, Karanveer 10 NO., Harjot 3 for 21, Nischal 2 for 14, Rajat Talwar 1 for 10.) St John's; 126 for 4. (Varun Sethia 49, Sikander 16, Kanu 15. Ajay Paul 12, Akshay 2 for 18.)

Ropar bodybuilding

CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 (BOSR) — The Ropar District Bodybuilding Association will be organising the Junior Mr Ropar and Subjunior Bodybuilding Championship at Shivalik Public School, SAS Nagar, on November 15.

The weighing-in and pre-judging will be held at Olympia Health Club, Phase VII, SAS Nagar. Bodybuilders below 21 years for Junior Mr Ropar and below 18 years (Subjunior) must produce their original birth certificates at the time of weigning-in.

Boxing trials

CHANDIGARH, (BOSR): Trials to select the Chandigarh A and B boxing teams in different weight categories will be held at Boxing Coaching Centre, Sector 46 sports complex on November 9 at 4.30 pm, according to a press note of the Chandigarh Amateur Boxing Association. The selected boxers will participate in the All-India AK Mishra Memorial Boxing Championship. Those interested may contact Mr Shiv Singh, Coach, at the sports complex.

Youth CC win

CHANDIGARH, Nov 8 (BOSR) — Youth Cricket Club defeated Vampire XI by 111 runs in the Shiromani Khalsa International Foundation Cricket Tournament being played here at Gursagar ground today.

Youth CC made 197 runs and Vampire could manage only 86 runs. Navneet Thapar scored a fine 71 runs for YCC. Inderjit Saini claimed four wickets of Vampire XI.

Veterans athletics

HISAR, Nov 8 (FOSR) — The 8th Haryana State Veteran Athletic Championship will be held at Nahar Singh Stadium Faridabad from November 28, according to Mr Y.P. Malik, general secretary of the Haryana State Veteran Athletic Association. He said in a statement issued here today that about 300 athletes from all districts and universities are likely to take part in this two day meet.

The state team for national meet would be selected during this two-day championship.

Delhi 202 for 4

NEW DELHI, Nov 8 (PTI) — Mithun Manhas struck a half-century and Akash Malhotra made an unbeaten 41 as Delhi reached a comfortable 202 for four wickets against Himachal Pradesh on the truncated second day of their north zone Ranji Trophy cricket tie today.

Brief scores: Delhi (first innings) 202 for 4 in 63 overs (M. Manhas 66, A. Malhotra 41 N.O., Praveen 2/75).

Vidarbha 177 for three

NEW DELHI, Nov 8 (PTI) — Vidarbha were 177 for three against Railways at close of play on the second day of their four-day central zone Ranji Trophy cricket match here today.

Resuming at nine for one after soggy ground conditions following overnight showers had delayed start of play at the Karnail Singh Stadium by nearly three hours. Vidarbha lost another wicket at 22 when Z Hussain had Abhay Kale (4) caught behind.

Brief score:
(Vidarbha (1st innings) 177 for 3 (P Sutane 88, Y Ghare 61).