Monday, November 23, 1998
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S P O R T | Monday, November 23, 1998 |
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Neil Johnson powers Zimbabwe to win SHEIKUPURA, Nov 22 — Neil Johnson hit a fine maiden century today to guide Zimbabwe to their first one-day win on Pakistani soil with a six-wicket triumph that tied the series 1-1 with the decider in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. Davenport ends Graf's winning streak new York, Nov 22 — Top seed Lindsay Davenport brought the 1998 Steffi Graf revival tour to a close last night, defeating the resurgent German star to set up a showdown with second seed Martina Hingis in the final of the season-ending Chase Championships. Bedi to contest DDCA election NEW DELHI, Nov 22 — The enfant terrible of Indian cricket Bishen Singh Bedi fired a salvo against the Delhi and District Cricket Association by announcing his candidature for its presidentship in the elections to be held here tomorrow. |
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Butcher slams century |
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PSB secure berth in last
four
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Neil Johnson powers Zimbabwe to win SHEIKUPURA, Nov 22 (Reuters) — Neil Johnson hit a fine maiden century today to guide Zimbabwe to their first one-day win on Pakistani soil with a six-wicket triumph that tied the series 1-1 with the decider in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. Set an easy rate of 4.24 runs per over after dismissing Pakistan for a modest 211 on the last ball of the 50th over, the visitors scored 212 for 4 in 40.4 overs. The 28-year-old left-hander Johnson put on 101 in 114 balls with Grant Flower before Saqlain Mushtaq broke the partnership by having Flower caught by Saeed Anwar at short fine leg off a top edge. Flower struck 42 in 57
balls with five fours and a straight six off Aamir Sohail
as the pitch dried under bright sun and gave the
Pakistanis little help. Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell had put Pakistan in to bat on a pitch which had some early morning moisture and watched his pace bowlers, Eddo Brandes, Craig Johnson and Heath Streak reduced the home side to just 116 for seven before a late rally. AP adds: "I hope we will continue the good work in the last match. All players gave their best, especially Johnson and Flower (Grant), who gave us the solid foundation of 101," said captain Campbell. Johnson brought up his century in the 39th over when he drove part-time spinner Saeed Anwar to cover boundary for his 13th four of the innings before Shahid Afridi had him bowled with Zimbabwe needing only three runs for victory. "I will cherish this moment for the rest of my life, but I was a little disappointed not to be there in the middle when victory came," said Johnson after his man of the match winning knock. The fast improving Zimbabweans, who have beaten India once and defeated world champions Sri Lanka twice, recorded their only second one-day international victory against Pakistan in 18 matches. Their only win before today came in 1995 when they beat Pakistan by 74 runs at Harare in 1995. Openers Grant Flower (42) and Johnson put their team on the road to victory with a superb 101 off 114 balls for the first wicket. Flower top edged off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq to Saeed Anwar at short fine leg in the 18th over before Mushtaq bowled Craig Evans (2) off a straight delivery. Aamir Sohail removed Murray Goodwin, who made 30 before he was bowled while attempting to hit a big hit off Pakistan captain’s left-arm spin. The 28-year-old
left-handed Johnson, who hammered 74 in Zimbabwe’s
four-wicket loss against Pakistan in the first match on
Friday, played a determined knock of 103 with 13 fours
and capitalised on a wayward Pakistan bowlers during his
122-ball innings with some attractive strokeplay. Pakistan never recovered from the early collapse when it was reduced to 36 for three by the end of 10th over. Hasan Raza, the youngest ever Test player, who made his debut here at the Sheikhupura Stadium against Zimbabwe in 1996 at the age of 14 years and 234 days, and Saqlain Mushtaq’s quick 29 lifted them from 153 for eight to 211 all out in 50 overs. Pakistan: Zimbabwe: |
Butcher slams century BRISBANE, Nov 22 (Reuters) — Mark Butcher scored a rare century today as the first Ashes cricket Test between England and Australia looked to be heading towards a draw. The English opener equalled his highest Test score of 116 on the third day at the Gabba as the tourists advanced to 299 for four in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 485. In passing 285, England successfully avoided the follow-on but effectively killed off any chances of either side winning the match. Play was abandoned more than an hour before the scheduled finishing time on Sunday because of thunderstorms and more rain is forecast on the final two days. Graham Thorpe was 70 not out with Mark Ramprakash unbeaten on 29 when the umpires called an end to proceedings as the black clouds overhead opened up. Earlier in the day, Butcher ended his run of bad luck by posting only his second Test hundred after making 116 against South Africa earlier this year. The Surrey lefthander, playing in his 15th Test, had started the day on 23 with England at 53 for one and needing a big innings to avoid the follow-on. Butcher and Hussain, who also resumed on 23, answered the call by piling on 74 runs in the first hour on a perfect batting pitch. Hussain, who dropped two vital catches when Australia were batting, was the more aggressive of the pair, hitting 10 boundaries, before departing for 59, edging Michael Kasprowicz to wicketkeeper Ian Healy. England captain Alec Stewart was dismissed soon after for eight when he hit a full toss from leg-spinner Stuart Macgill straight to Kasprowicz at deep backward square leg. But any fears of a batting collapse were quickly dashed as Butcher and Thorpe settled in at the crease. Butcher, whose tour of Australia has been plagued by injuries and poor form, had a lucky escape on 92 when he was bowled by a Kasprowicz no-ball before lunch. He survived to go to the break on 93 then brought up his second Test century shortly after the re-start when he drove Macgill through extra cover for a boundary. Australian captain Mark Taylor, playing his 100th Test, tried seven different bowlers in an attempt to get the breakthrough. He eventually succeeded when Butcher was brilliantly caught and bowled by a diving Mark Waugh, but it was too late. England were on 240 when Butcher left after an innings spanning 179 balls and 220 minutes and in control. Thorpe, who made a double century in England’s tour game against South Australia this month and has been England’s leading runscorer in the past two Ashes series, safely steered England past the 285 run mark before rain stopped play. SCOREBOARD Australia (Ist innings) 485 England (Ist innings) M. Butcher c and b M. Waugh 116 M. Atherton c M. Waugh b McGrath 0 N. Hussain c Stewart b Kasprowicz 59 A. Stewart c Kasprowicz b Macgill 8 G. Thorpe not out 70 M. Ramprakash not out 17 Extras: (LB-7, B-1, NB-9) 17 Total: (for four wickets 94.2 overs) 299 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-145, 3-168, 4-240. Bowling: McGrath 24-7-66-1, Fleming 22-5-62-0, Kasprowicz 18.2-2-2-61-1, Macgill 16-2-57-1, S.Waugh 3-0-17-0, Ponting 3-0-10-0, M.Waugh 8-1-18-1.
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Davenport ends Graf's winning streak New York, Nov 22 (Reuters) — Top seed Lindsay Davenport brought the 1998 Steffi Graf revival tour to a close last night, defeating the resurgent German star to set up a showdown with second seed Martina Hingis in the final of the season-ending Chase Championships. Just over a month into her reign as the top-ranked player in the world and a week after losing to former number one Graf in the Philadelphia final, Davenport prevailed 6-1 2-6 6-3 in match in which neither the 22-year-old American nor Graf approached top form. "I think we both didn’t play so good," said Graf, whose stirring autumn run fell two wins short of a fairytale ending. "It wasn’t a great match," agreed the US Open champion. "You get days like that where both players don’t play so well. There were a lot of errors and not a lot of great points." Hingis, looking to end a puzzling six-month title drought, scored a 6-2 7-6 (9-7) victory over 15th-ranked Irina Spirlea of Romania to earn one last shot in 1998 at the player who seized her top ranking and US Open crown. Tonight’s match — the only best-of-five-sets contest in women’s tennis — will mark the second championships final for both players, who last clashed two months ago in the US Open final. Davenport reached the final here in 1994, losing to Sabatini, while Graf claimed her fifth championships title by beating Hingis in the 1996 final. "It will be really fun, one versus two," said Davenport, winner of a WTA Tour-best six titles this year. The top ranking will not be up for grabs as Davenport has already wrapped that up for 1998. "It’s the last tournament," said Hingis. "I opened this year with the Australian Open victory and I would like to close it out the same way." Hingis appeared to be in for a much longer day when Spirlea raced out to a 5-1 second-set lead. But the Romanian, who has habit of mid-match mental lapses, watched as the 18-year-old Swiss ran off six games to take a 6-5 lead. "I was just waiting for her mistakes and they never come," said Spirlea, who only qualified for the 16-player field when Venus Williams pulled out injured. "She was all over the court. Sometimes she came with some unbelievable shots," Spirlea said of Hingis. After repeatedly failing to close out the set, Spirlea finally held serve to force the tie-break in which she squandered consecutive set points at 6-4 and 6-5 with backhand errors. Spirlea saved one match point by depositing a backhand right on the baseline to make it 7-7. But at 8-7, after Spirlea sailed a forehand wide, Hingis had the match on her racket and belted a rare ace down the middle. "It was a big thrill to win with an ace," she said, flashing a big, toothy smile. Graf, attempting to reach her seventh final in 13 trips to Madison Square Garden, was riding a 12-match unbeaten streak with two titles since a return from September wrist surgery. The oft-injured German had won her previous three matches after dropping the first set. But her luck ran out as she suffered a hamstring injury in the third set that hampered her mobility and gave Davenport the edge down the stretch. "It’s been a long three weeks and everything feels really tired. I guess it was just a little bit too much today," said the 29-year-old owner of 21 Grand Slam titles. Graf had trouble getting her game together early as Davenport sailed through the opening set in 23 minutes. But from 2-2 in the second, Graf began to serve better, keeping Davenport from teeing off on second-serve returns with more strategic placement on her initial delivery. Graf served two love games and broke the top seed twice to run off four straight games and send the match into a third set. With a 3-2 lead, Graf appeared on the verge of seizing control of the match. She reached triple break point in the next game, when disaster struck in the form of "a sharp pain." "From then on I felt it," Graf said. "It just wasn’t quite the same anymore." Davenport won the next five points to level the set at 3-3 instead of having to face Graf serving for a possible 5-2 lead. At the end of that game, Graf had her right thigh massaged by the trainer and then heavily taped. The German star continued to play, but her ability was clearly restricted and Davenport took the last three games. "I’m disappointed right now, but in general I gave it everything I had in the last three weeks and that was a lot," Graf said. "It’s been great, it’s been exciting, a lot of fun."
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Bedi to contest DDCA election NEW DELHI, Nov 22 (UNI) — The enfant terrible of Indian cricket Bishen Singh Bedi fired a salvo against the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) by announcing his candidature for its presidentship in the elections to be held here tomorrow. With a number of Test and first class cricketers present at the press conference held here yesterday, Bedi said the cricketing conditions at the DDCA had deteriorated to such an extent that any self-respecting parent and cricketer found it difficult to enter the Kotla. "I appeal to all those who care for the welfare of the game in the Capital to come forward and support the cause of the game by backing me in the elections’’, the former Indian captain and one of the finest left-arm spinners the world has known, said. Flanked by former Indian Test players Prakash Bhandari, Maninder Singh, Chetan Sharma and first class cricketers Rajinder Pal Singh, Akash Lal and others, Bedi said that what had happened at the DDCA in the last one week when the under-16 team was selected "is a shameful incident and is the reason behind my decision to contest the elections". He further said: "I know I have very little chance of winning the elections as the proxy voting prevailing at the DDCA leaves very little chance for a genuine candidate to win but I thought this was the best way to highlight this issue". Bedi and cricketers of
past and present were of the opinion that unless
cricketers come forward to run the game in the Capital,
it will "be simply impossible for genuine talent to
flourish". |
PSB secure berth in last four NEW DELHI, Nov 22 (PTI) — Punjab and Sind Bank thrashed Sports Hostel, Lucknow, 8-1 to secure the last semifinal berth in the 35th Nehru-ONGC Senior Hockey Tournament at the National Stadium here today. The bankmen, who had one
point from their opening super league match against
Air-India, needed a big win to upstage the Mumbai outfit,
leading pool III with four points from a win and a draw
but with a better-goal average. The bankmen face IHF (Blue) while SAIL will take on BSF, Jalandhar in the semifinals tomorrow. Harpreet Singh Channi struck thrice, Parminder Singh and Ram Saran added two goals and skipper Sandeep Singh Ghuman completed the tally as Punjab and Sind Bank virtually toyed with the Lucknow defence and scored at will. Channi put the bankmen ahead in the third minute and Parminder Singh made it 2-0 three minutes later. They continued with the offensive and added two more goals when Ram Saran (28th) and Parminder (31st) struck in quick succession to give them a 4-0 lead at half-time. Channi (45th, 65th) scored two more while Ram Saran (42nd) and Parminder (60th) added one each after the break to complete the rout. Ayaz Ahmad (53rd) struck the consolation goal for the Lucknow team. Later in two
inconsequential matches Rock Rovers, Chandigarh, defeated
Northern Railway 3-2 in a closely fought match and Army
XI routed Afghan Club, Pakistan 8-2. |
Asia Cup tennis meet begins today NEW DELHI, Nov 22 (PTI) — Reigning Asian champions India, the top seeds at the ATF Asia Cup Tennis Tournament, will have their task cut out in the absence of number one player Leander Paes as eight teams vie for supremacy at the DTA Deco Courts here from tomorrow. The second edition of the eight-nation tournament, conceptualised by the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF), will also serve as the warm-up event for the all-important quadrennial Asian Games, which start in Bangkok from December 6. India, which won the crown last year when Paes teamed up with Mahesh Bhupathi and Kirtane cousins Nitin and Sandeep, this year are in a somewhat tight situation without Paes. But non-playing captain Jaideep Mukherjea is not worried. "Mahesh (Bhupathi) is an experienced player now and he can influence others to perform. I am confident that we will put up a good show and with a bit of luck win the title again," Mukherjea said. He said Prahlad Srinath has been doing well and Syed Fazaluddin has had a good season. "They are capable of pulling off surprises and I am sure of our chances," Mukherjea said. India is yet to decide on its singles players and doubles team. "As of now Mahesh Bhupathi and Fazaluddin will be our doubles combination," team coach Enrcio Piperno said.
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Indians continue unbeaten run NEW DELHI, Nov 22 (PTI) — India continued their unbeaten run in the inaugural Kanishka World Cup Cricket for the Blind by beating strong contenders Australia by five wickets at the Karnail Singh Stadium here today. Manvender Singh (44) and Ramkaran Sharma (74) rescued India from 5-64 with an unbeaten 136-run stand for the sixth wicket as India rallied well to score 200 for 5 in 28.3 overs after inserting and restricting the Aussies to a paltry 198 for six in 40 overs. The duo came together after India had lost Pratap Bisht (6), Vishal Kumar (38), Sushil Guard (1), Viresh Patel (4) and Rajesh Kumar Singh (zero) cheaply and guide them to their fifth straight win. Indian fielders effected four run outs to restrict Australia below the 200-run mark after they had recovered from a poor start with 53 runs apiece from Paul McKenna and Eugene Nagruk. Garry Stichcombe added 34 runs. Pakistan continued their winning spree by beating England by six wickets and South Africa thrashed Sri Lanka by seven wickets in other matches played today. Brief scores: Australia: 198 for 6 (Stichcombe 34, McKenna 53, Nagruk 53), lost to India: 200 for 5 (R. Singh 44 n.o., M. Singh 74 n.o.). England: 224 for 6 in 40 overs (H. Swanepool 52, J. Iturby 74, B. Reynolds 30), lost to Pakistan 226 for 4 in 36.2 overs (Quresh 33, Ashraf Bhatti 94). Sri Lanka: 256 for 5 in 40 overs (C. Suriyaarachchi 102, D. Ruwankumara 57), lost to South Africa 257 for 3 in 31.5 overs (Scott Field 138 n.o. J. Kutze 48).
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Haryana, Delhi settle for draw ROHTAK, Nov 22 — The Vijay Merchant cricket tie between Haryana and Delhi ended in a draw at Vishwakarma Stadium here today. Haryana, who had gained a first innings lead, got five points whereas Delhi got three. Delhi began the day by losing the overnight batsman Nikhil Kumar for 17 in the very first over today. The batsmen who followed him batted cautiously. Rajat Jaswal and Kunal Bhardwaj were associated in a second wicket partnership of 59 runs. Kunal made 30 in 114 minutes after facing 89 deliveries and Rajat scored 51 in 280 minutes. He faced 210 balls and struck three boundaries. For Haryana Deepak Jora bowled well to capture four wickets for 21 runs in 7.4 overs. Play was finally called off at the fall of the eighth Delhi wicket when the score read 198 after 97.4 overs. Now Haryana meet Jammu and Kashmir at the same venue on November 24. SCOREBOARD: Delhi (2nd innings): Nikhil Kumar lbw Rahul Rathee 17, Rajat Jaswal c Deepak Joon b Gaurav Vashishta 51, Kunal Bhardwaj lbw Deepak Jora 30, Rajiv Uniyal lbw Rahul Rathee 19, Sushil Kumar c Rahul Rathee b Gaurav Vashistha 6, Sanjay Kumar lbw Deepak Jora 26, Deepender Bola c Anuj Mehndiratta b Deepak Jora 89, Amandeep Singh c Rahul Rathee b Deepak Jora 25, Abhishek Sharma n.o. 0. Extras 15. Total (for 8 wickets in 97.4 overs) 198. Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-93, 3-125, 4-137, 5-143, 6-172, 7-198, 8-198. Bowling: Rahul Rathee 20-11-25-2, Sandeep Kharab 7-1-17-0, Sunil Choudhary 15-2-55-0, Gaurav Vashishta 26-12-39-2, Deepak Joon 18-6-25-0, Deepak Jora 17.4-2-21-4, Anuj Mehndiratta 4-1-7-0.
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Kaypee rescues Haryana AMRITSAR, Nov 22 (UNI) — Veteran Amarjit Kaypee led Haryana’s fightback with a fine century to put the match virtually out of Punjab’s grasp at the end of the third day of the four-day North Zone Ranji Trophy league encounter at the Gandhi Grounds here today. Kaypee who came to the crease when Haryana were tottering at 23 for the loss of three wickets yesterday recorded his 25th century in his 99th Ranji Trophy appearance. In terms of Ranji Trophy centuries Kaypee is placed third after Ajay Sharma (29) and Brijesh Patel (26) and in terms of runs scored in Ranji matches he again occupies the third position after Ashok Malhotra and Brijesh Patel. Kaypee’s knock of 145
which was studded with 23 hits to the fence saw Haryana
finish the day at 340 for the loss of nine wickets. Still
95 runs short of the hosts first innings total. For
Punjab medium pacer Bharat Bhushan bowled impressively to
record career best figures of six for 82 in only his 15th
Ranji Trophy appearance. This is the third instance that
Bhushan has taken five or more wickets in an innings in
the four-day fixture. Kaypee, however, found a valuable partner in Sanjay Dalal and the two were involved in a 92-run stand for the seventh wicket. Kaypee departed at the score of 234 after the tea interval becoming Bhushan’s sixth victim. After Kaypees's departure the threat of a follow on still loomed large over Haryana but Dalal (43) and Pardeep Jain (33) put on 60 runs for the eighth wicket to ward of this threat before both of them were out at the score of 294. The last pair of Pankaj Thakur and Vineet Jain both of whom are unbeaten on 29 and 12 runs, respectively, have so far put on 46 runs for the last wicket. Punjab: (Ist
innings): 435 |
Johl’s team wins Hero Gulf pro-am
title CHANDIGARH, Nov 22 — Local golfer Amandeep Singh Johal and his team of GS Aujla (-18) Major B.M. Singh (-16) and G.S Sandhu (-14) won the pro-am event, which marked the conclusion of the Rs 8 lakh Hero Golf Chandigarh Open at the Chandigarh Golf Club course today. Displaying excellent golf, the amateurs in the team played nett 13-under the par to tally 131 points. Johal played four-over 76 to make the combined team total nine-under par 207. In the second place was the team of H.S. Kang (-2), Col Harkirat Singh (-18) and K Yoo (-18), which was led by the Calcutta pro Nabin Mondal. While Mondal played one-over 73, the amateurs contributed 135 points to tally nett eight-under par 208. The second runners-up prize was bagged by Jeev Milkha Singh’s team comprising Pawan Kant Munjal (-16), Parnlta Garewal (-1) and Dimple Minocha (-13). Jeev, playing an excellent back nine, played five-under 67, while his amateur partners added 143 to tally a nett six-under par 210. For their part in the win, Johal got Rs 8,000, Mondal Rs 7,000 and Jeev Rs 5,000. The amateurs were awarded silver salvers. The best pro card was Jeev’s five-under 67. He started with a bogey, but made the turn at one-under with three birdies and another bogey. Jeev then added four more birdies on the back nine. IPS Mann, Captain of the Chandigarh Golf Club, showed his prowess with the driver when he won the longest drive prize. On the designated 18th hole, he drove a distance of 295 yards to win the prize. The other spot prize, closest to the Pin on the 14th hole, was won by S.P.S. Matharoo, who hit a very good tee shot to land just 18 inches from the cup. Later, at a glittering prize distribution-cum-dinner ceremony at the CII Convention Hall, Mr Pawan Kant Munjal, Director, Hero Honda Motors, and Mr Sunil Kant Munjal, Executive Director, Hero Cycles, gave away the prizes. The pro-am was played on the best nett score format. Each team comprised one professional and three amateurs. The team total was the sum of the professional’s score and the best two amateurs’ score on each hole.
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Manjeet survives scare CHANDIGARH, Nov 22 — Neeraj Daniwal of PFC, Delhi gave a harrowing time to fancied Manjeet Pal Singh of Haryana before the latter could win on points on the third day of the 6th All-India Invitational AK Misra Memorial Boxing tournament in progress here at the skating rink, Sector 10, today. Sunil Kumar of PEPSU and Rakesh Kumar of Himachal Pradesh also moved up by demolishing their opponents to win on points. Anil Pathania of Himachal Pradesh was knocked out in the first round by Sandeep Sharma of Haryana who used body punch to win his bout. Vinod Singh of Gujarat and Ranjeet Singh of PSEB were declared unfit to fight and gave the walk over to Love Kumar of Punjab and Gurpreet Singh of PEPSU, respectively. Results: Welter weight — Naresh Kumar — PFC, Delhi b Harbhajan Singh — 16 Sikh (RSC-outclass). Malwinder Singh-Pb b Satish Kumar-PEPSU (RSC IInd round) J. Shyam-S. Rly b Ajay Kumar-UP (on points, 5-0) Sanjeev-Chd, 'Y' b Vishal Singh Chd 'P' (knock out, body punch). Middle weight: Rajesh Kumar-HP b Nirwair Singh-Chd 'P' (on points), Sunil Kumar-PEPSU b Ashok Kumar-PSEB (on points), Pawan Kumar Panwar-IG, Delhi b Kapil Manchanda-J&K (knock out IInd round), Harvinder Singh-16 Sikh b Jagdish JN-Ktk (on points). Heavy weight: Gurpreet Singh-PEPSU b Ranjeet Singh-PSEB (on points), Pramod Sharma-IG, Delhi b Amrik Singh-J&K (on points), Baljit Singh-Pb b Surjit Singh-Chd, 'Y' (RSC outclass), Manjeet Pal Singh-Har b Neeraj Baniwal-PFC, Delhi (on points). Fly weight: Love Kumar-Pb b Vinod Singh-Guj (on points), S. Kumar-S. Rly b Karamvir Singh Negi-Chd 'P' (RSC outclass), Rajesh Panchal-IG, Del b Narinder Singh-PEPSU (on points 3-2) Sandeep Sharma-Har b Anil Pathania (HP) (knockout — Ist round). Feather weight: DS Negi-Chd 'Y' b Anudeep PEPSU (Disqualified), Manoj Panwar-IG, Delhi b Prem Raj-Chd 'P' (RSC — IInd round), Jagdeep Singh-Pb b H. Sivraj-Pond. (knock out — Ist round), Gopal Singh-KC, Allbd. (on points).
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Desert Challenge from Dec 24 CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — The Desert Challenge is scheduled to be held in Rajasthan from December 24 to 27 next, according to Mr Tutu Dhawan, chairman, Performance Cars Racing Trust (PCRT). The Desert Challenge "is going to be the ultimate challenge. After the Great Desert — Himalaya event of 1989 there has been no event in the desert. This is going to be a totally new terrain. So far rallyists have been going up and down mountains, into forests, on gravel tracks. This is going to be a realy smooth rally. Driving on sand is a whole new experience for a lot of drivers", said Tutu. He has just returned from the desert in Rajasthan after finalising the route. The whole event is being run on an 8 to 10 sq km area, so that tight control can be maintained. PCRT prides itself on running a near perfect event. This tight configuration will make it easy for the officials, communications, service and safety arrangements. "Some of the stages are in the open, some of them on the tracks the villagers use. They have walls on either side to keep team free of sand. Once you enter, it's like a Swiss sledge run-like a pipe, only the top is open," said an enthused Tutu. There will be five stages and a total of 126 km in the rally. "On December 24 we have a controlled route survey," explained Tutu. "We don't want to upset the local scenario.The locals have no knowledge of a motoring event. We don't want to annoy them, frighten their cattle and so on." The rallyists will be taken in a convoy accompanied by officials. The recee will start early morning and finish before sundown. And all the competitors have to attend. Road books have already been handed out. PCRT hopes to include a 17-km special stage from Amer to Nahargarh Fort. However, permission is still awaited. The event itself will be run on December 25 and 26. In case the special stage is included, flag off on December 26 can be as early as 4 a.m. Standard entries will be accepted from November 25 to December 15. However, late entries will be accepted till December 20.
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India-Pak hockey Test series in Feb NEW DELHI, Nov 22 (PTI) — India and Pakistan will play a nine-match hockey Test series in February next year with India hosting the first phase of four matches before travelling across the border to play the remaining five. The Indian and Pakistan hockey federations today arrived at an understanding to hold the series from February 2 to 25, beginning with the Indian leg from February 2 to 11. Delhi, Bhopal, Hyderabad and Chennai will be the venues for the Indian leg while Lahore will host the fifth and the ninth Tests with Karachi, Peshawar and Rawalpindi being chosen the other venues. Announcing the decisions taken at a two-day meeting between officials of the two federations, Indian Hockey Federation president K.P.S. Gill and his Pakistani counterpart Akhtar Rasool said the number of matches have been fixed at nine to ensure the series produced a clear verdict and that each Test would end decisively. The series will be an annual affair and the winners will claim a rolling trophy to be donated by India. India and Pakistan resumed their reciprocal Test series early this year after a gap of about a decade, by playing eight matches split equally in either country. Pakistan won the series 4-3. A joint competition committee has also been formed under the chairmanship of Punjab (Pakistan) Hockey Association president Inam Rana which will work out ways for exchange tours at all age-groups. "The idea is to put the Asian style again on top of the world. This can be done only by playing between us," Rasool, Olympian and former Pakistan captain said. The two sides have also agreed to pick teams of 18 players each, which will include promising youngsters who can also be played and given vital exposure. The usual practice is to announce 16 players for international fixtures. Mr Gill said both countries were in the process of rebuilding their sides and having an 18-member team will be of great use to assessing talent. PHF secretary S. Mudassar Asghar said players from both sides would develop strong temperament playing before sellout crowds that any Indo-Pakistan hockey clash attracts. "This toughness will be very useful when we play European teams." The matches for which the television rights will be sold by respective federations in their countries, would generate funds vital for development of the game and also attract people "now following only cricket" back to hockey in the subcontinent, Asghar said. Initially it was planned to hold a 10-Test series after the Dubai six-nation tournament to be held from March 4 to 12 and before the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia (April 4 - 11), but both sides settled for the schedule lasting 23 days. Asked about payment to players, IHF secretary K. Jothikumaran said it depended on the revenue while Asghar emphatically said players would not be paid any money. The schedule: First Test: (February 3) Delhi; second Test (February 5) Bhopal; third Test (February 8) Hyderabad; fourth Test (February 10) Chennai. Fifth Test (February 16) Lahore; sixth Test (February 18) Karachi; seventh Test (February 20) Peshawar; eighth Test (February 22) Rawalpindi; ninth Test: (February 24) Lahore.
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Yamunanagar win championship YAMUNANAGAR, Nov 22 (FOC) — Yamunanagar gymnasts annexed the overall championship in the 13th Haryana State School (primary) Tournament which concluded at Sports Complex, Faridabad yesterday. Mr Kulbhushan Sharma, gymnastic coach, Yamunanagar, said here today that in the individual section, Harjinder Singh of Yamunanagar won the all-round best gymnast title while Rastra Kumar and Arvind of Yamunanagar got the second and third positions, respectively. The other member of the team included Gorav Kumar, Sunny Pal and Sansar Datta. All six players belonged to Vidyavati Bal Niketan School, Yamunanagar, and these players were trained under a special coaching scheme — gymnastic nursery — run by the Haryana Sports Department. Innings win for Punjab boys PATIALA, Nov 22 (FOSR) — Punjab needed just one ball to steamroll J and K by an innings and nine runs, in the process collecting a maximum of eight points for their efforts, in the Vijay Merchant Trophy Cricket Tournament (under-16) league match played at the Dhruv Pandove stadium here today. Needing nine runs to make the hosts bat again, J and K were all out for 171 runs in their second essay. Medium pacer Harikrishan Kali sent tailender Traiq Lone’s leg stump cartwheeling with a nippy delivery which cut back off the seam to put an end to whatever hopes the J and K lads might have had of making Punjab bat again. Brief scores: J and K (Ist innings): 144 all out, Punjab (Ist innings): 324 all out. J and K (2nd innings): 171 all out (Charanjit 100 n.o., H. Kali 3 for 17, Rajiv Jolly 1 for 20, Rajesh 1 for 43). UT athletics team CHANDIGARH, Nov 22 (BOSR) — The following athletes in the under-22 age group have been selected by the Amateur Athletic Association, Chandigarh, for participation in the 61 National Athletic Championship to be held at Ishapore (West Bangal) from November 28 to 30, a press note of the association has said. The team: (Men) — Harmeet Singh, Lakhbir Singh, Sumit Sharma, Ved Prakash, Neeraj Kumar, Vikramjit Singh, Rajesh Rathi, Sarwan Singh, Rajesh Kumar Mohit. (Women) — Rachna, Daya Verma. Coach-cum-manager — Mr Parmod Sharma. Consolation win for PSEB MUMBAI, Nov 22 (PTI) — Substitute Kamaljit’s hat-trick helped Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), Hoshiarpur, record a consolation 3-1 win in their last league match over group-X toppers State Bank of Travancore, Thiruvananthapuram, in the 1998 Bristol Rovers Cup Football Tournament at the Cooperage here today. Kamaljit, who came in place of winger Harjinder Singh in the 35th minute, scored his first goal three minutes later off striker Kuldip Singh to help his team lead 1-0 at the breather. After the interval he pumped in two more goals in 60th and 81st minutes with winger Sukhbir Singh and Kuldip Singh helping him with accurate passes respectively. Striker Ingnatious Sylvester scored the lone goal for the losers. PSEB, who had drawn both their previous encounters finished second with five points while the bankmen who had won their first two matches moved into the quarterfinals with six points to their credit. In the other inconsequent match, Chennai Customs drubbed Bank of India 4-0 after leading 3-0 at half time. Winger Kulothangan (14th minute), forward and skipper Raja Rajan (16th), substitute Suresh (21st) and mid-fielder Raja (60th) were goal scorers for customs. SBOP enter final CHANDIGARH, Nov 22 (BOSR) — A fine knock of 73 runs by Suraj Salhotra helped the State Bank of Patiala team defeat Punjab State Electricity Board in the semifinal of the 4th Gursagar Cricket tournament here at Gursagar ground today. SBOP will meet Godrej Cricket Club in the final to be played tomorrow. Brief scores: PSEB, Patiala: 193 all out. (Lakhbir Singh 47, Sanjiv Kapoor 36, Chander Shekhar 28, Ranjiv Sharma 4 for 24, Munish Bali 3 for 41). SBOP, Patiala: 196 for 7. (Suraj Salhotra 73, Rahul 25, Rajeev 17, Lakhbir Singh 2 for 22). Title for GCC CHANDIGARH, Nov 22 (BOSR) — Godrej Cricket Club dethroned Mohali Gymkhana XI by 159 runs to win the final of the 22nd JAL Cup League Cricket Tournament at the Sector 16 cricket stadium here today. Brief scores: Godrej CC: 302 for 3 in 35 overs. (Rajesh 121, Yuvraj 118 n.o. V. Chawla 46, B. Singla 2 for 39). Gymkhana CC: 143 all out. (Harjit 54, Krishan Mohan 49, Tuli 3 for 18, Bhanot 3 for 24, V. Khajuria 2 for 7). Ludhiana colleges joint winners CHANDIGARH, Nov 22 (BOSR) — Government College, Ludhiana and Arya College, Ludhiana were declared joint winners as they secured 10 points each in the Panjab University Inter-College Weightlifting Championship here today. The third position was bagged by GKSM Government College, Tanda Urmar. Results: 56 kg: Ranjit Singh — GGN Kh. College, Ldh. 1, 62 kg: Kulvinderjit Singh — Govt College, Ldh. 1, Gurjodh Singh — SB College, Bulhowal 2, Sukhdev Ram — BAM Kh College, Garhshankar 3, 69 kg: Pardeep Sharma — Arya College, Ldh 1, Jarnail Singh, GKSM GC — Tanda Urmar 2, Rampal Singh — SGGSC, Chd 3. 77 kg: Kuldip Singh — Arya College, Ldh 1, Jaspal Singh — GKSM GC, Tanda Urmar 2, Avinash Singh — LR DAV, Jagraon 3. 85 kg: Kawaldeep Singh — Govt College, Ldh. 1, Pardeep Tejpal — GGN Kh Ldh. 2, Mandeep Singh — GKSM GC, Tanda Urmar 3. SD college win CHANDIGARH, Nov 22 (BOSR) — GGD SD College, Sector 32, defeated Government College, Sector 46, by 210 runs in the Panjab University Inter-College Zonal Cricket 'A' Division (men) tournament played at PU Campus here today. Brief scores: GGD SDC, Sec
32 — 325 for 9 (Ravinder Nain 114 not out, Amit 58,
Sanjay 27, Gulrez 24, Raj Kumar 2 for 42, Naranjan Singh
2 for 46, Kuldeep Singh 2 for 43) Govt College — 46:
115 all out (Ravi 36, Sanjay Dhull 5 for 17, Jasreet
Bajwa 3 for 30, Amit 2 for 33). |
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