Monday, August 2, 1999
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S P O R T | Monday, August 2, 1999 |
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Sampras, Agassi to clash for title LOS ANGELES, Aug 1 — Four weeks later, they meet again. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, the finalists at Wimbledon on July 4, scored straight-set victories yesterday in the semifinals of the Mercedes-Benz Cup and will play for the championship today. Sampras eclipses Lendl’s record LOS ANGELES, Aug 1 — Pete Sampras added yet another impressive honour to his list yesterday when he reached the final of the Los Angeles Open to reclaim the world number one ranking for a record 271st week. |
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Davenport, Venus in final |
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Kiwis win by 9 wickets Top
athletes for Travancore meet Barua
registers upset win Blanket
protest at treatment to Cuba Russia,
Germany neck and neck Pakistan
goalie Alam declares himself fit Germany
eves rout India in squash |
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Sampras, Agassi to clash for title LOS ANGELES, Aug 1 (AP) — Four weeks later, they meet again. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, the finalists at Wimbledon on July 4, scored straight-set victories yesterday in the semifinals of the Mercedes-Benz Cup and will play for the championship today. As he has done before, Sampras made a case for being the best male tennis player ever, overwhelming qualifier James Sekulov of Australia 6-0, 6-2 in the afternoon to set a prestigious record. Agassi, the top seed and defending champion, eliminated another unheralded Australian Andrew Ilie 6-4, 6-2 under the lights. Sampras holds a 14-10 lifetime advantage over Agassi. The Wimbledon final, which Sampras won 6-3, 6-4, 7-5, is the only time they’ve played this year. The two played three times in 1998, with Agassi winning twice. “It won’t be easy, that’s for sure,” Sampras said of the final. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Andre. He’s probably the best player I’ve played during my career.” And what a career it’s been. Sampras, who turns 28 on August 12, entered this tournament ranked second in the world behind Patrick Rafter, but moves up to No 1 by reaching the finals. Sampras, winner of 12 Grand Slam titles — tied with Roy Emerson for the most ever — will thus, be ranked as the world’s best player for a record 271st week. Sampras shared the mark of 270 weeks with Ivan Lendl. “Quite amazing, a great accomplishment, especially nowadays,” Agassi said. “I can guarantee you I won’t beat that record. That’s a long time, that takes a single-minded person to do that, not to mention great.” About playing Sampras, Agassi said: “It’s the only time coming to the park where you know that even if you play your best tennis, you still might lose.” Agassi, 29, played very well against Ilie, but the 23-year-old Australian gave him all he could handle until Agassi won the final four games of the 67-minute match. In the nine games Agassi served, Ilie won only 17 points. The only service break of the first set came in the fifth game, and there were no more breaks after that until the fifth game of the second set, when Agassi took advantage of three double-faults. Ilie wouldn’t win another game. “Andre stole the show, unfortunately,” said Ilie, ranked 61st in the world. “There’s always next time. That’s what I live for, next time.” Sampras is playing in his first tournament since winning Wimbledon for the sixth time. “I’m very satisfied and glad I’m back on top,” he said. “There were times today where I felt I could do no wrong. I played very well. “If there’s a place I wanted to break this record, it’s right here in my hometown of Los Angeles.” Sampras, who has won his last 16 matches, needed just 55 minutes to dispose of the 22-year-old Sekulov, who had the look of a weekend recreational player when he took the Los Angeles Tennis Centre Court, and ultimately played like one. “I’ve never really heard of him,” Sampras said of Sekulov, immediately making clear he meant no disrespect. “It’s always little unsettling to play someone you’ve never played. I may have overwhelmed him a little bit, the way I started.” Sampras needed only 23 minutes to win the first set, accumulating 27 points to 12 for Sekulov, who got three of the 12 on double-faults by Sampras. Sekulov, wearing a white bandana and red surfer shorts, drew cheers from the pro-Sampras crowd when he finally held serve in the third game of the second set after losing the first eight games of the match. Sekulov held service again two games later, but wouldn’t win another game. Sampras held service throughout, and allowed Sekulov to win only two points in the final three games he served. “I played one of the best players in the world,” Sekulov said. “I was a bit nervous before I went out there. I felt a lot of pressure. It was tough for me. He’s probably one of the greatest players ever to play the game.” Sekulov had to win three
qualifying matches to reach the main draw of the
Mercedes-Benz Cup, his seventh ATP event. He is ranked
236th in the world. |
Sampras eclipses Lendl’s record LOS ANGELES, Aug 1 (AFP) — Pete Sampras added yet another impressive honour to his list yesterday when he reached the final of the Los Angeles Open to reclaim the world number one ranking for a record 271st week. When the new ATP Tour rankings come out tomorrow, Sampras will replace Australian Pat Rafter at the top and officially eclipse the mark of 270 total weeks at number one set by Czech Ivan Lendl and equalled by Sampras himself. Ironically, the record-breaking move comes as Sampras has decided to reduce his emphasis on the number one ranking — which he has held at the end of each of the past six years. “I feel like Wimbledon was a huge confidence booster,” said Sampras, who captured his sixth All-England Championship and his 12th Grand Slam singles title earlier this month. “The way the first three or four months of this year were going, I was at a bit of a crossroads about where I was going, how important my ranking was, playing Davis Cup. “Now after winning Wimbledon, I’m going to enjoy the summer, enjoy the US Open. I’m just going to ride the wave as long as I can ride it .” Sampras was supremely relaxed yesterday, his 6-0, 6-2 victory over 236th-ranked Australian James Sekulov seeming almost incidental. After the match he received a trophy, presented on behalf of both the tournament and the ATP Tour, commemorating his 271st week atop the rankings. But Sampras, who needs just one more Grand Slam singles title to surpass the record set by Roy Emerson, said the cost of staying at the top might be too high. In his determination to end 1998 as number one, he played six straight tournaments in Europe late last year, and was too exhausted to play the Australian Open. “The last year took a lot out of me,” Sampras said. “You get kind of consumed with your own personal goals and being number one. “To stay number one, unfortunately, you have to eat, live, breathe tennis. I feel like I achieved the ranking last year, and I’m not willing to spend six or seven weeks in Europe to do it again. “If you ask me if it was worth it, I’d say ‘kind of,’” Sampras added. “It definitely set me back the first few months of this year.” Now the 27-year-old
hopes to give himself more freedom to add Davis Cup to
his schedule, prepare thoroughly for all the grand slams
and even take a few weeks off now and then. |
Davenport, Venus in final STANFORD, Aug 1 (AP) — For the second straight year, Lindsay Davenport and Venus Williams will meet in the final of the $ 500,000 Bank of the West Classic. Defending champion Davenport won the first eight games and needed less than an hour to defeat Amy Frazier 6-0, 6-4 in yesterday’s semifinals. Williams won seven straight games in the middle of her 6-1, 6-4 victory over Amanda Coetzer. The top-seeded Davenport, who defeated Williams in three sets in the tournament’s final last year and used that title as a springboard toward a US Open crown and the No 1 ranking, has won seven of eight matches against the second-seeded Williams. Davenport, who has never lost to Frazier in six matches, played nearly flawless tennis in the first set while defeating an error-ridden opponent who was playing in the Bank of the West semifinals for the first time in 10 years. The only letdown for Davenport came in the last few games of the match, when her serve became inconsistent. “I was playing so well there for a set and 95 per cent of the second set, and she was making a lot of errors. And it seemed I was always where the ball was,” Davenport said. “And then all of a sudden it was a point to go for 5-5. It got really close there at the end.” Davenport rolled through the first set in 21 minutes, struggling only in the sixth game, when she had to fight off two break points. “There’s a lot of pressure for you to close out the match after being up 5-1, so I was probably rushing a little bit,” Davenport said. “But the last couple of points I was able to calm down and get my bearings again.” Frazier had six double faults in the opening set and made 18 unforced errors in that set, compared to just five winners. “I think maybe I panicked a little bit because she does so much with every ball, she can hit winners from everywhere,” Frazier said. “Maybe I tried to go for too much of a shot.” The second semifinal was
tied 1-1 in the first set when Williams began slamming
winners from all over the court and won seven straight
games. She was leading 4-1 in the second set when Coetzer
rallied to win three consecutive games, but Williams
rebounded to break Coetzer’s serve and then served
out the match. |
Tendulkar the best captain: Bedi MUMBAI, Aug 1 (UNI) — Former Indian cricket captain Bishan Singh Bedi has advised skipper Sachin Tendulkar to be transparent in his dealings considering that he is occupying a high-profile assignment “next only to prime ministership”. The outspoken spinner, whose captaincy was marked by courage and controversy, said the BCCI should remember that the “captain is the boss”. In an interview to a leading eveninger, Bedi also exhorted Tendulkar — often touted as the world’s best batsman — to rise upto the calibre of the legendary Don Bradman. “He has been compared to Sir Don Bradman and now he must live upto it not only as a batsman but also as a captain”, he noted. Bedi sidelined victorious skippers like Polly Umrigar, Ajit Wadekar and Sunil Gavaskar, and rated Tendulkar as the best and most positive captain from Mumbai. “Now he has to
recreate the kind of dressing room atmosphere that
brought about many triumphs for Mumbai under him,”
Bedi said and added that Tendulkar should usher a
togetherness in the Indian team so that “it can
flourish as never before”. |
Pakistan goalie Alam declares KARACHI, Aug 1 (ANI) — Pakistan’s top goal-keeper Ahmed Alam has declared himself fully fit, adding that he was available for any international assignment of the national hockey team. “I’ve fully recovered from shoulder injury and have begun training to come back in rhythm,” said Ahmed, who was not considered for the Pakistan team which will be touring Holland and Switzerland in August for two quadrangular tournaments. Ahmed, who suffered a shoulder injury during the Champions Trophy in Brisbane in June, could not appear in national trials for the European tour held on July 26 in Lahore because of fitness problems. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) selection committee, decided to drop the experienced goalie from the trials and picked up Mohammed Qasim and an unheralded Qadeer Basheer for the European tour. Meanwhile, a report from Lahore has said that the national hockey team will play three warm-up matches between August 3 and 6 before leaving for Europe to take part in two four-nation tournaments. “We’ll play against departmental teams to get necessary match practice, when all members of the team reassembled after a five-day break,” said Pakistan manager Shahnaz Sheikh. Though the team had adequate training during the month-long camp, playing side matches would enhance temperament and confidence of the players, he added. Shahnaz said the camp would end on August 7 (Saturday). Pakistan will appear in a tournament in Holland from August 10 followed by a similar assignment in Switzerland from August 15. Prior to the tournament in Zurich Pakistan will play a 2-Test series against the Swiss team. “After an overnight stay in Karachi the team will leave for Amsterdam on August 8,” he said. The manager also said
that right winger Mudassar Hussain, who was nursing a
muscle injury in his right thigh, would have to prove his
fitness in a warm-up game on August 3,before a decision
was taken on his selection. |
England recall Atherton, Hick LONDON, Aug 1 (AFP) — England called up Michael Atherton and Graeme Hick today to add experience to their batting order for the third Test against New Zealand, which starts at Old Trafford on Thursday. England named injured captain Nasser Hussain but are keeping Mark Butcher on stand-by to take charge if the Essex batsman is unfit. Former skipper Atherton is expected to open the innings as he continues to recover from his long-standing back trouble. With chairman of selectors David Graveney leaving his batsmen in no doubt that time is running out for them to perform for their country, Hick also earns a recall. It is the Worcestershire batsman’s eighth return to the fold in an international career stretching back to 1991. He comes in as a replacement for Leicestershire’s Aftab Habib, who has failed to impress during the opening two Tests of the series. Off-spinner Peter Such, overlooked after claiming 11 wickets in the final two Tests of the Ashes series, has been brought back into the fold as a possible partner for Phil Tufnell on an Old Trafford wicket which is expected to turn. The team: Nasser Hussain
(captain), Mark Butcher, Michael Atherton, Alec Stewart,
Graham Thorpe, Mark Ramprakash, Graeme Hick, Chris Read,
Andy Caddick, Alan Mullally, Peter Such, Chris
Silverwood, Dean Headley, Phil Tufnell. |
Kournikova needs to be ‘consistent’ PALO ALTO, California Aug, 1 (DPA) — With the exception of the legendary Steffi Graf, only one player on the women’s tour has proved she can sell out a stadium at a mid-sized event on a cool Tuesday evening — Russian teenage idol Anna Kournikova. At the $ 500,000 Bank of the West Classic during the week, legions of Kournikova fans flocked to the Stanford University site to get a glimpse of the 18-year-old glamour girl. One enthusiastic male fan carried a placard that read, “I hate tennis, but I love Anna.” Kournikova said: “I can’t change any reactions I cause so I just go out there and play. It’s always like this. I like it.” Yet for all her popularity, the multi-talented Kournikova has yet to prove that she is a prime-time player. She has beaten most of the game’s elite players but has yet to win a singles title in her career of nearly four years. The number-13 ranked blonde has most of the qualities needed to move into the top-five: terrific movement, a thumping forehand, a razor-sharp two-handed backhand, a bullet return of serve and one of the game’s most formidable volleys. “She’s a great player,’’ said fellow teen phenomenon Mirjana Lucic said. “She’s very quick. You can never count her out of a point.” Another on the circuit, Venus Williams, added: “She moves well and doesn’t give in. That’s a good quality.” But Kournikova still lacks three ingredients that most champions have: a good serve, the ability to change strategy mid-match and perhaps mental toughness. Number one Lindsay Davenport said that perhaps Kournikova didn’t play enough low-level events when she started her career. “In the beginning, it’s important to learn how to win small tournaments when you are seeded No 1,” Davenport said. “It’s also important to learn how to pull out a match when it’s 5-5 in the third. I’m sure Anna will break through, but the longer she goes without winning a tournament the harder it will be because the questions will keep coming about why she can’t.” Kournikova says she does not feel like she has fallen behind her peers, Martina Hingis, and Venus and Serena Williams, all of whom have won titles. She said: “We all know Martina is great. Venus and Serena have a power advantage. But Martina won her first Grand Slam when she was 16 and Lindsay Davenport won her first when she was 22. That shows you it doesn’t matter how old you are. You have to treat us the same as the old players. We just go out there and play. We are human beings. We don’t judge ourselves by age or name, just who wins the match. My time will come. I’m just taking it a match in a time.” Davenport said that there are some positive aspects to Kournikova’s woes, pointing out that even when she served 32 double faults in a match back in January at the Australian Open, she still managed to win. “That was pretty remarkable,” Davenport said. “To serve that many double faults and still win shows you have to be pretty strong mentally. Anna needs to be a little more consistent because she doesn’t hit with a lot of topspin, so when she’s off her flat ball tends to fly out more.” Kournikova believes she
is improving every day and agrees with Davenport that
consistency is the key. “I’m much better than I
used to be,” she said. “I have to continue to
work and concentrate and just go out and play my game.
I’m a more mature player. I’m using shots a
little bit more and playing more patient, not going for
too much right away.” |
Kiwis win by 9 wickets LONDON, Aug 1 (Reuters) — New Zealand warmed up for the third Test against England beginning on Thursday at Old Trafford with a nine-wicket victory over county champions Leicestershire today. The tourists were set 199 to win after Leicestershire made 333 in their second innings at Grace Road. But captain Stephen Fleming (82 not out) and Craig McMillan (85 not out) shared a 170-run second-wicket stand to cruise to victory at 202 for one. Shayne O’Connor, New Zealand’s left-arm pace bowler, strengthened his claims for a Test call with six second innings wickets for 65. Leicestershire
(first innings) 125 all out (A.Penn 6-51) New Zealand
(second innings): M. Bell lbw b Brimson 14, S.
Fleming not out 82, C. McMillan not out 85. Fall of wicket: 1-32 Bowling:
Ormond 12-2-35-0, Boswell 10-2-48-0, Brimson 13-4-41-1,
Dakin 9-0-43-0, Maddy 4-0-19-0, Stevens 1.1-0-6-0. |
Top athletes for Travancore meet THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Aug 1 (PTI) — The cream of Indian athletics will be seen in action when the curtain goes up for the Travancore All-India Marathon and the national athletic meet, offering the highest prize money for any athletics event in the country, here tomorrow. Nearly 250 marathoners will sweat it out in the gruelling test of human endurance, covering a distance of 42.195 km, in the fifth edition of Travancore Marathon, accorded the status of a national event. The marathon is to be conducted on a new route this year to ensure more public participation. Top marathoners from Services, CRPF, BSF, CISF, Uttar Pradesh and police teams from various states are to compete in the race which has on offer Rs 1 lakh as prize money for the winner. The runner-up would pocket Rs 50,000 while the third-place holder would be richer by Rs 25,000. With the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games scheduled to be held in Kathmandu in September, the event is more significant as the performance here would be considered for the selection of Indian teams for various championships. The race, to be flagged-off from the university stadium, will see participants running through Pattom, Kesavadasapuram, Mannanthala, Kudappanakkunnu, Peroorkada, Kaudiar, Vellayambalam, Palayam, East Fort, Manacaud, Thiruvallom, Poonthura, Bheemappally, Valiya-thura, Airport, Shankumu-gham, All Saints College junction, Pettah, General Hospital junction and Asan Square before finishing at the starting point. Prominent marathoners who would be seen in action include Vijay Singh of Artillery Centre, Hyderabad, who had won the fourth edition, and Bhairav Singh Lone of Tisco, winner of the third edition in 1997, Rajendra Prasad Varma (Bihar) and B.I.I. Bosco of Southern Railways, who was runner-up last year. In the athletic meet to be held on Aug 3, competitions in 100 m, 400 m, 1500 m, long jump, shot put, discus throw, hammer throw and javelin throw would be held for men. On the distaff section, competitions in 100 m, 400 m, 1500m, long jump,discus throw and javelin throw would be held. The winners in the circuit meet will get the highest ever prize money with the winner collecting Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 for the second place and Rs 5000 for the third slot winner. Notable athletes who are
participating include Paramjit Singh, P.H. Abdullah, Anil
Kumar, Amit Khanna, Vikram Singh, Lijo David Thottan,
Jata Shankar, Shakthi Singh who are currently in the
Indian camps and Thirugnana Durai. |
Barua registers upset win LAS VEGAS, Aug 1 (PTI) — Grandmaster Dibvendu Barua of India opened his campaign at the FIDE World Chess Championship in style with a stunning victory over much higher-rated Russian Alexander Khalifman in the first round here. Playing with white pieces against 36th-seed Khalifman 72nd seed Barua posted an impressive win to move into the second round of the 100-player draw at the Ceasers Palace Hotel. Barua, who arrived on the world chess scene when he was just 13 beating the then world No. 2 Victor Krochnoi is to meet American Gata Kamasky in the second round. The Indian with an ELO rating of 2550-78 rungs below the Russian maintained country’s lone presence at the championship which already has lost most of its glamour following non-participation of too rated players. The championship being held for the first time on the knockout basis was left without the crowdpullers - Gary Kasparov and Anatoly Kardov both of Russia and India’s Vishwanathan Anand. The Russians had disputes with FIDE over the format of the championship while Anand opted out following his other commitments. Barua’s opponent in the second round, Russian-born Kamasky is the former challenger to world champion Kasparov. He is making a comeback after a three-year hybernation due to studies. Kamaskv who migrated to the USA with his boxer father, had decided to complete his studies in micro-biology when he was at the peak of his career in 1996. AP adds: In the opening round players were in a fighting mood with 25 of the scheduled 36 games throwing unclear winners as only 11 ended in draws after nearly seven hours of play. Kissan Ilvumzhinov President off the International Chess Federation (FIDE) made the ceremonial first move for Mathias Wahls before a standing room-only crowd. The seven-round
elimination tournament continues through August. |
Blanket protest at treatment to Cuba WINNIPEG (Canada), Aug 1 (Reuters) — The 42 countries taking part in the Pan-American Games have protested at the way the beleagured Cuban delegation had been treated by sports agents and local media. The protestors included Cuba’s political enemy the USA as well as the hosts Canada. In a statement released yesterday, the 42 Chefs de Mission said: “In the light of the treatment of athletes and officials from the Cuban delegation by some journalists and sports agents at these 13th Pan-American Games, the 42 Chefs de Mission that represent all of the delegations during these games, strongly denounce these negative actions.” “(The actions)...have affected not only Cuba, but all of the Americas and have interfered with the Olympic movement and the spirit of equality and good sportsmanship.” “The Olympic
movement is the strongest expression of freedom,
friendship and fraternity among the countries of the
world, and these actions are compromising those
ideals.” |
Russia, Germany neck and neck ISTANBUL, Aug 1 (Reuters) — Russia drew alongside Germany at the top of the medals table when Svetlana Timoshinina and Evgenia Olshevskaya won the women’s synchronised diving platform final on a rainswept final day of the European Swimming Championships. Timoshinina, bronze medallist in yesterday’s individual highboard event, and Olshevskaya took the lead in the third round of the five-dive final and never relinquished it to bring Russia their 11th gold of the championships with an aggregate total of 272.46 points. Britons Amanda Page and Lesley Ward, second going into the last series of dives, threw away their chance of a medal with a poorly executed final effort on a reverse 2-1/2 somersaults which netted them only 45.36 points and dropped them to fourth. Defending champions Ute
Wetzig and Anke Piper of Germany profited from that to
take the silver medals with 264.69, while French pair
Odile Arboles-Suchon and Julie Danaux, silver medallists
in the only previous staging of the event in 1997,
snatched the bronzes with 254.94. |
Germany eves rout India in squash MUMBAI, Aug 1 (UNI) — Germany beat India 3-0 in their opening pool ‘C’ tie at the 8th world junior girls team squash championships at Antwerp (Belgium). According to information
reaching here, Nichole Fries gave the Germans the lead by
beating India’s Pia Abraham 9-4, 9-2, 9-1. The clash
lasted 28 minutes with Simone Leifels beating Deepali
Anvekar 9-6, 9-0, 9-3 and Kathrin Rohrmuller routed
Vaidehi Reddy 9-1, 9-6, 9-2 |
NZ jr athletic meet on Aug 20, 21 ALLAHABAD, Aug 1 (UNI) — The 11th All-India North Zone Junior Athletic Championship will be held at Madanmohan Malviya sports stadium here on August 20 and 21. Honorary secretary of UP
Amateur Athletic Association P.K. Srivastava told
newspersons here yesterday that about 900 athletes from
Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh and Punjab will participate, besides the hosts
Uttar Pradesh. Boys and girls below 20,18,16 and 14 years
would participate in 110 events. For the first time, pole
vault for girls below 20 years has been included in the
championship. |
Wrestling squads announced PATIALA, Aug 1 (FOSR) — The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) today announced a nine-member squad in the Greco-Roman event for the World Junior Wrestling Championships being held at Bucharest (Romania) from August 12 to 15. The WFI selection committee also selected a nine-member squad in free style which will take part in the World Junior Wrestling (free style) Championships scheduled to be held at Sydney from August 19 to 22. Greco-Roman team: Jasbir Singh (50 kg), Mukesh Khatri (54 kg), Sarup Singh (58 kg), Satish Singh (63 kg), Chander Vijay Singh (69 kg), Jagbir Singh (76 kg), Mukesh Kumar (85 kg), Satish Kumar (97 kg), and Anil Kumar (130 kg). The coaches to accompany the squad will be Mr Kamal S. Singh and Satbir Singh. Free style team: Sushil Kumar (50 kg), Dharampal (54 kg), Jagbir Singh (58 kg), Shokindar Singh (63 kg), Chand Ram (69 kg), Sandeep Kumar (76 kg), Nishant Singh (85 kg), Anil Mann (97 kg) and Palwinder Singh Cheema (130 kg). The coaches to accompany
the squad are Mr Randhir Singh and Mr Partap Singh. Soccer star Penev hangs his boots VITO (Spain), Aug 1
(Reuters) — Celta Vigo striker Lubo Penev today
confirmed he had retired from playing soccer to become
president of CSKA Sofia in his native Bulgaria. |
H
TT tourney CHANDIGARH, Aug 1 (BOSR) — The 21st RS Mehta Memorial Table Tennis tournament will be organised from August 27 to 29 in which players from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh will take part. The three-day tournament will be held at Sector 23 indoor TT hall. The events to be conducted include, men’s singles, women’s singles, junior boys and girls singles (Under-17 and under-14) and cadet boys and girls singles (Under-12). Entries close on August 24 with Mr Rajeev Kaushal, at the Sector 23 TT hall. Azad for academy in UT CHANDIGARH, Aug 1 (TNS) — Dronacharya awardee Desh Prem Azad, who groomed such cricketers as Kapil Dev, Yog Raj Singh, Chetan Sharma and Ashok Malhotra, has welcomed the idea of the Board of Control for Cricket in India to start zonal level cricket academies in addition to the national academy proposed to be established at Bangalore’s SAI complex. In a letter to the board president, Mr Raj Singh Dungarpur, Mr Azad has suggested that Chandigarh be made the venue for one of the zonal academies. He said Chandigarh was at an equal distance from all states that comprise the north zone. Youngsters from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Services, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh would find it convenient to reach the city. He suggested the Sector 16 cricket stadium as the ideal place to start such a zonal academy. Mr Azad, who is also a member of the Chandigarh Sports Council, said the stadium had already been the venue for the pace bowlers’ academy. He said the academy would be a great honour for Kapil Dev, who played on the Sector 16 ground and learnt the basics of the game under him. CLTA office-bearers CHANDIGARH, Aug 1 (TNS) — Justice SS Sodhi (Retd) was re-elected president of the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association here yesterday. Mr Jai Singh Gill was elected as honorary Secretary and Mr M Ramsekhar was elected the treasurer. All elections were unanimous. The tenure of the office-bearers will be four years but Mr Rajan Kashyap, will continue as chairman of the CLTA until the 2001. The general body elected Mrs Vineeta Rai, Adviser to Administrator, Chandigarh as patron of the association while Mr Sarabjit Singh, Mr D.V. Bhatia, Dr Reet Mohinder Singh and Mr R.K. Jain were unanimously elected vice-presidents. The CLTA has decided to
host three international tournaments in 1999-2000, namely
the ITF Women’s Tennis Tournament in December, 1999,
ITF Men’s Future Circuit Tennis Tournament in
January, 2000 and ITF Junior Tennis Tournament in
February, 2000 |
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