Friday, August27, 1999
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S P O R T | Friday, August27, 1999 |
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Aussies down fighting Lanka, enter
final COLOMBO, Aug 26 — Australia quelled a spirited late fightback by Sri Lanka to score their third straight victory by 27 runs to march into the final of the AIWA cup triangular one-day cricket tournament with a match to spare tonight. Heyns sets 200m world mark SYDNEY, Aug 26— South African Penny Heyns broke her own world record in the women’s 200 metres breaststroke at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championship here today. |
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 Penny Heyns of South Africa reflects at the blocks after beating her own world record in the 200m women's breaststroke semifinal of the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre. She set a new record of 2:24.42. — AFP |
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Dvorak lifts decathlon title Friedek
finds solace in sport Shot
put gold for Kumbernuss Diagana
poised to retain world title Indian
colts carve out 4-0 win Aparna
keeps hopes alive Sampras,
Hingis top seeds at US Open Jalandhar,
PP clinch trophies Tarar’s
decision to suspend board challenged Leander
Paes crashes out |
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Aussies down fighting Lanka, enter final COLOMBO, Aug 26 (PTI) — Australia quelled a spirited late fightback by Sri Lanka to score their third straight victory by 27 runs to march into the final of the AIWA cup triangular one-day cricket tournament with a match to spare tonight. Ricky Ponting led a superlative fielding display by the World Cup champions and star leg spinner Shane Warne clipped the wagging Sri Lankan tail with two wickets as the hosts were bowled out for 214 in 47.1 overs chasing 242 for victory under lights at the Premadasa Stadium here. Stylish opener Mark Waugh slammed a strokeful 84 after a splendid 83-run opening stand with Adam Gilchrist (38) as Australia reached a combative 241 for nine in their allotted 50 overs on choosing to bat, despite superb bowling by leg-spinner Upul Chandana (3/35) and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan that denied Aussie hopes of a big total. The result lifted Australia to top of the table with three wins to keep winless India very much in the race, but they will have to win both their remaining matches if they are to seal a final berth against the formidable Australians. A confident Sri Lanka, buoyed by their seven-wicket win over India last night, however gained the appreciation of their highly critical home crowd in defeat as Russel Arnold (41), Chamara Silva (55) and tail-enders Chaminda Vaas (23) and Upul Chandana (34) kept up the fight till the end. But Australia, who saw Silva and Chandana suddenly explode in the final stages to raise hopes of a miraculous turnaround, had made Sri Lankan task stiff through three run outs and superlative fielding. Australia: Sri Lanka: |
Despondency in Indian camp COLOMBO, Aug 26 (PTI) — A sense of despondency prevailed in the Indian camp after their second straight defeat last night in the AIWA Cup Triangular Cricket Tournament. Both skipper Sachin Tendulkar and coach Anshuman Gaekwad expressed their disappointment at the inability of players to rise to the occasion in the embarrassing defeats by eight and seven wickets against Australia and Sri Lanka respectively. Though they were measured in their comments to reporters today, they could hardly hide their frustration at the way the team allowed the match to be snatched away by the hosts at the Premadasa Stadium last night. Mulling over the defeat, where four run outs played a large part in restricting India to a modest 205 and their bowlers then looked stingless as rival skipper Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu struck half-centuries in contrasting styles to help Sri Lanka avenge India’s massive win in their World Cup league tie at Taunton. The win helped the hosts regain some of their poise as the island’s cricket crazy fans had slammed their heroes for failing to even make it to the Super Six stage after reaching England as defending champions. “We could not capitalise after a decent start and this was most disappointing,” said a dejected Tendulkar whose second stint as skipper has got off to a woeful start as it had at this same venue in 1996 at the start of his first term. Tendulkar said the Indian bowlers did much better compared to their listless showing in the eight-wicket defeat to Australia at Galle on August 23. “That was at least an improvement from the last game,” he said. Asked for his comments on the second successive loss, Tendulkar said “I have come here with an open mind. I have first decided to take things as they come. Hopefully we will do better in the next game”. But the Indian skipper himself will have to come good with the bat as big scores have been absent since 140 against Kenya in the league stage of the World Cup. Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid too have looked less than assured after their tall deeds in the World Cup and unless the top order clicks, with the tail refusing to wag as usual, India are in danger of being knocked out prematurely. Tendulkar spoke in a measured tone, making it evident he was not in a hurry to fix the blame for such ordinary efforts. Gaekwad blamed yesterday’s loss to the inability of the batsmen to build any durable partnerships. “That was the most disappointing aspect of the defeat,” he said. He admitted that leg spinner Anil Kumble was struggling to find his form and rhythm and said the bowler strayed in length which allowed the Sri Lankan batsmen to hit him easily. Gaekwad said he would be talking to Kumble on this aspect. Indian team members had
nets in the afternoon, for the first time on this tour
with weather clearing. They take on Australia at the
Sinhalese Sports Club ground on August 28. |
Jackson keeps nerve to win hurdles gold SEVILLE, Aug 26 (Reuters) — Britain’s world record holder Colin Jackson used every bit of his vast experience to clinch his second world high hurdles title in the tightest of finishes. The 32-year-old Jackson, who has had to play second fiddle to American Allen Johnson in the last few seasons, ran a clean technical race yesterday and produced a searing finish to dip just ahead of Cuban Anier Garcia and American Duane Ross. Jackson last won a global outdoors title at the 1993 championships in Stuttgart when he set the world record of 12.91. The Welshman’s form has been variable in recent seasons but Jackson, who first won a world medal in 1987, kept his nerve to win in 13.04 with Garcia second in 13.07 and Ross third in 13.12. The Briton waited tensely for the track announcer to declare him the winner before embarking on his victory lap. “I have learned a lot on the way to getting back to being world champion. The experience has made me much tougher,’’ he said. “The rise back has been slow progress. “I was the old campaigner who had been there before...I am certainly one of the fastest sprinters in the event. That tends to play in my favour. I ran the cleanest race and ended up with the gold medal.’’ With 1997 champion Johnson out of the competition with a calf injury, Jackson knew he had an ideal chance to improve on his silver medal in Athens two years ago. Minutes after the race he was already thinking of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Jackson now has every major title to his name except an Olympic title, having finished second in 1988, seventh in 1992 and fourth at the 1996 Atlanta Games. “Now the most important thing on my agenda in the Olympic games,’’ he said. “If I won at the Sydney Olympics I will have done the ultimate.’’ Jackson was clearly moved by the victory. His thoughts went back to his training partner and friend Ross Baillie who died suddenly earlier this year after an allergic reaction to a sandwich. “It would have been nice for him to witness that. I feel that there was a little bit missing,’’ Jackson said. The gold was important for British athletics which has been struggling in recent years with financial problems and the retirement of several leading athletes. “It is nice to be
the first to bring back the first gold medal for some
time,’’ he said. “But I think British
Athletics has got a lot to look forward to. |
Jones’ bid ends in tragedy SEVILLE (Spain), Aug 26 (AFP) — America’s sprint idols Marion Jones and Maurice Greene had nights to forget at the world athletics championships here yesterday. Jones’ bid for a sprint double ended in tragedy when she pulled up in agony in the middle of her 200 metres semifinal and collapsed on the track after suffering from spasms and cramping in her lower back. Nigerian sprinter Francis Obikwelu put Greene on warning when he ran a blistering 200 metres semifinal — clocking 19.84 seconds, two hundredths of a second faster than the American has ever run the distance. Jones’ injury robbed her of an almost certain gold. The 23-year-old has not been beaten over 200 metres for two years. Husband C.J. Hunter, who last Saturday won the shot put title, swore as he saw his wife fall. He smashed his fist into the seat in front of him in the stands before dashing to her side. Obikwelu’s time left the Nigerian stunned. “I was in shock when I crossed the line and saw my time,” the 20-year-old said. Greene, the 100 metres world record holder, timed 20.10 seconds in his semifinal and although he slowed up near the line, the Nigerian’s time has given him plenty to think about. But Greene, insisted he was still on track for the title. “It went well,” he said. “I am feeling sore in some places because I am taking my body to places it has never been. It is a challenge but I love challenges.” Former world champion Frank Fredericks moved into the final but will wait until today before deciding whether to run or not tomorrow night. Britain’s Colin Jackson drew on all his experience to win the 110 metres hurdles title — six years after his last title. The 32-year-old world record holder looked beaten as he trailed Cuban Anier Garcia and American Duane Ross in the dash for the line but the Welshman dipped at the last second to snatch a dramatic victory. But it was several seconds before he knew the gold was his. Garcia thought he had done enough to take the title but when the announcer shouted out Jackson’s name the Briton immediately grabbed a Union Jack and the Welsh flag to make his lap of honour — his face split in a wide grin. Cuba’s Daimi
Pernia, sister-in-law of 1995 and 1997 800 metres world
champion Ana Fidelia Quirot, ran the fastest race of her
life to win the 400 metres hurdles title. |
Dvorak lifts decathlon title SEVILLE, Aug 26 (Reuters) — Three personal bests carried Tomas Dvorak to a second successive world decathlon title although they were not enough to take the Czech over the 9,000-point barrier. Dvorak, the world record holder, opened the competition as if he was determined to become the first man to cross the 9,000 mark, posting personal bests in his first three events on Tuesday, the 100 metres, long jump and shot. But the 27-year-old Army officer was unable to sustain his momentum over two days of competition, finishing with a score of 8,744 points, well off his world mark of 8,994 set in July when he broke Dan O’Brien’s seven-year-old record. Britain’s Dean Macey, who until three months ago had not competed in a decathlon for almost three years because of stress fractures to both shins, was a surprise second on 8,556 while American champion Chris Huffins took the bronze with 8,547. “My goal was 8,838 points, a point better than my Athens result,’’ said Dvorak. “However, conditions here weren’t suitable for such a score. The world record was totally out of my mind.’’ Dvorak finished day one with 4,582 points, just 45 points off his opening day total when he set the record in similar sweltering conditions and still within sight of the 9,000 points he coveted. But despite his impressive start, Dvorak held only a 36-point advantage over Macey. Macey made his big move in the evening session posting the top height in the high jump and the best time in the opening day’s final event, the 400 metres. When they returned to a stifling Olympic Stadium for day two, Dvorak reasserted himself by clocking the best time in the 110 metres hurdles to open up a more comfortable 113-point gap on Macey. The next two events, the discus and pole vault, was Huffins charge, closing to within 24 points of the Czech. But Dvorak then recorded the day’s second best score in the javelin, giving himself some breathing room with a 112-point lead going into the 1,500 metres, the final event. With 9,000 points and a world record out of reach, Dvorak did enough to make sure he would retain his crown stopping just before the finish line, as if to savour the moment, then stepping over pumping clenched fists at his side in celebration. “I knew that by doing a good series I would win”, said Dvorak. “The only real problem for me was the pole vault because I have a sore finger. “I was especially
pleased with my long jump and the 1,500 and 110 metres
hurdles were also good. Everything else was under my
standard”. |
Heyns sets 200m world mark SYDNEY, Aug 26 (AFP) — South African Penny Heyns broke her own world record in the women’s 200 metres breaststroke at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championship here today. The 24-year-old Olympic champion swam 2 minutes 24.42 seconds in a semifinal to better her record of 2:24.51 set last month in Los Angeles. It is Heyns’ sixth world record in six weeks, Heyns also lowered her world record in the 100 metres breaststroke heats on Monday, clocking 1:06.52. Heyns had previously broken the 100 metres breaststroke world record twice in one day in Los Angeles on July 18. She had brought the time down to 1:06.95. There have now been eight world records set at the meet in the first five days. The women’s 200 metres breaststroke final is tomorrow. She set four world records in two days in Los Angeles last month. Heyns record breaking feats have been celebrated in her home nation, a minor swimming country compared with Pan Pacific championship hosts Australia. “You will go down in history as a legend — a heroine who accomplished what we thought was insurmountable,” said the South African Sports Minister, Mr Ngconde Balfour. “Penny, you are the pride of our nation. We are all basking in the grandeur of your success.” Thompson, who broke the 200 metres butterfly world record earlier in the meet, returned to action with the fastest qualifying time from the heats of the 100 metres freestyle. Thompson’s 56.13 seconds edged Costa Rican Claudia Poll, who was disappointment in the 200 metres final last night. Krayzelburg also got back into action after his world 100 metres backstroke record, qualifying second from the heats of the 200 metres. Krayzelburg is aiming to
break Martin Lopez Zubero’s 1991 mark of 1:56.57 but
didn’t sound completely confident despite saying he
was happy with his heat time of 2:00.54. |
Friedek finds solace in sport SEVILLE, Aug 26 (Reuters) — Charles Friedek, son of a black American serviceman stationed in Germany and a local woman, suffered cruel racist taunts as a child in Giessen. He found solace in sport and last night Friedek leaped 17.59 metres to win the world triple jump title. “It was not a good thing to be a semi-black child in Germany in the 1970s,” said Friedek. “It was very rough at school. I never really integrated, I sometimes got beaten up, I was really an outsider.” “Even now I get people shouting at me, ‘go back home, you asylum seeker’. But in my tracksuit I’m accepted. What happens in your personal life and what happens in the sporting arena are two different things. I have never encountered racism in athletics. “However the one thing being German has taught me is how to go for gold,” he added. The lessons paid off handsomely in the fourth round as he bounded out to 17.59 metres, the longest mark in the world this year. No one else could get near the mark in the remaining rounds as he added the world outdoor gold to the indoor title. After recent heel injuries, Friedek made a late decision to compete in Seville. “I am very surprised to have won here. I could never have hoped for anything more than a bronze medal,” he said. Friedek learned yesterday that your coach usually knows best. Spectators were astonished to witness a fierce argument raging for several of the early rounds between Friedek and his coach Bernd Knut, who was sitting in the stands. After Friedek leaped 17.19 in the opening round, his coach tried to get the athlete to move back in his approach run. Friedek refused but after fouls in the second and third round he complied with his coach’s demands for his fourth effort and was rewarded with the gold medal leap. “Usually it is up to the athlete to make a decision but in a case like this where he can’t see what is going on he should listen to the coach,” Knut said. The gold medal and the $ 60,000 first prize cheque were an early birthday present for Friedek who turns 28 today. However, he will keep all his public celebrations confined to Spain. “It is almost always the same with airport immigration people at German airports. They might wave the 10 guys in front of me through, and then because I am black I get questioned and my passport closely examined. Germany is still a very conservative country,” Friedek bemoaned. On a night when Friedek triumphed over all the personal adversity he has faced, which included his father leaving him and his mother when he was just six, he also defeated all the other top triple jumpers in the world. Bulgaria’s Rostislav Dimitrov finally got the silver medal he lost at the World Indoor Championships in March, after being disqualified for providing a positive doping sample. Britain’s Jonathan
Edwards, the 1995 world champion, had to settle for the
bronze medal this time with a second round 17.48. |
Indian colts carve out 4-0 win BERLIN, Aug 26 (PTI) — Indian juniors carved out their second big victory by trouncing Belgium 4-0 to virtually book a semifinal berth but Egypt stunned favourites Germany 4-3 in the junior challenge hockey tournament in Poznan, Poland. India, who had thrashed Egypt 8-2 in their opening tie, moved to the top of pool ‘A’ to virtually seal a semifinal berth ahead of their last league clash against Germany, Waled Mohammad emerging the hero with three goals. India scored all their goals in the first half and did not exert much after the break in view of the upcoming tough match against Germany. Half-back Arjun Halappa drew first blood with a penalty stroke conversion in the sixth minute. India scored two more goals in the next four minutes with Prabhjot Singh guiding home off a rebound following a penalty corner and Paramjit Singh scoring a field goal. Len Aiyappa completed the tally with a penalty corner conversion, five minutes before halftime. “We made frequent changes in the team’s lineup and rested key players in the second half,” coach C R Kumar said. Egypt rebounded from their defeat to India in style to stun Germany. Both teams have one win each, but Egypt face the winless Belgium in their last group match and have better hopes of making the semifinal than Germany. Waled Muhammed scored a field goal in the 23rd minute and converted a penalty corner four minutes later as Egypt took upper hand in the first half of the closely fought encounter. Captain Max Landshaut responded for Germany with a brace in the space of two minutes, a penalty corner goal followed by a “stroke” conversion with three minutes from the halftime hooter to help restore parity. But Egypt went ahead again off a field goal by Ahmed Mutwaly in the 41st minute and consolidated the lead two minutes later when Waled Muhammad found his third goal through another field attempt. With the spirited
Egyptians ranged against them, the Germans could only
reduce the margin when Mathias Wathias completed a field
move in the 67th minute. |
Shot put gold for Kumbernuss SEVILLE, Aug 26 (Reuters) — German Astrid Kumbernuss completed a perfect comeback to top-class athletics by becoming the first woman to win three women’s world shot put titles. Olympic champion Kumbernuss, the 1995 and 1997 world champion, only returned to competition in May after having a baby and recovering from a knee injury. But she produced a fifth round effort of 19.85 metres to take the gold ahead of compatriot Nadine Kleinert and Russian Svetlana Krivelyova yesterday. Kleinert was second with
19.61 metres and Krivelyova third with 19.43 metres. |
Aparna keeps hopes alive BANGALORE, Aug 26 (PTI) — On a dismal day for India, Aparna Popat was the lone player who kept the country’s hopes alive when she defeated Nicole Grether of Germany 11-4, 11-4 to enter pre-quarter final today in the 1999 Konica Cup Singapore Open Badminton Championship being played at Singapore. According to Badminton Association of India release Aparna who sailed through the second round will meet former world No 1 Gong Zichao of China in the pre-quarter finals. India lads put up a poor show in singles as all the four players bowed out of the tourney, losing their first round matches. However, Nikhil Kanetkar and Siddarth won their first round doubles against a Singapore pair and would take on a Malaysian combination in the second round. The first Indian player to crash out of the tourney was Nikhil Kanetkar, who lost in straight games to Ji Xinpen of China 14-17, 9-15, Abhinn lost to Jaison Wong of Malaysia 7-15 13-15, Gopi Chand was humbled by Saman Ismail of Malaysia 2-15, 15-13, 11-15, siddarth lost to Anders Boesen of Denmark 13-15, 9-15. Neelima Choudary and
Manjusha Kanwar also crashed out of the championship
losing their first round matches. |
Sampras, Hingis top seeds at US Open NEW YORK, Aug 26 (AFP) — Pete Sampras, seeking a record 13th Grand Slam singles title, will be joined by Martina Hingis as the top seeds for next week’s US Open Tennis Championships, the US Tennis Association announced on Tuesday. French Open champion Andre Agassi is the second seed, marking the fifth time in the Open era (since 1968) that two American men have been seeded 1-2 at the US Open. Australian Open Champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia is the third seed, followed by two-time defending champion Patrick Rafter of Australia. For the first time since 1988, three American women are among the top four seeds. Defending champion and reigning Wimbledon champion Lindsay Davenport is the second seed, followed by 1997 runner-up Venus Williams and two-time champion Monica Seles. A four-time champion, Sampras is seeded number one at the US Open for the fifth time, tying the Open era record of John McEnroe (1981-85). This is also the eighth straight year that an American man is the top seed at the US Open. Rafter will look to become the first man to win three straight US Opens since Ivan Lendl in 1985-87. But like Sampras, Rafter arrives in New York ailing. He aggravated tendinitis in his right shoulder during his match with Sampras in Cincinnati two weeks ago and played two matches before pulling out in Indianapolis. Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil is the fifth seed on the men’s side, followed by Britain’s Tim Henman, American Todd Martin and 1998 semifinalist Carlos Moya of Spain. A finalist in 1997, Britain’s Greg Rusedski is the ninth seed, followed by Marcelo Rios of Chile and last year’s runner-up, Mark Philippoussis of Australia. Philippoussis may not be able to compete due to the knee injury he suffered at Wimbledon. He had surgery to repair cartilage damage in July, but swelling in the knee forced him to withdraw from the ATP Tour event in Commack, New York, this week. The 1997 champion and last year’s runner-up, Hingis is the top seed at the US Open for the third straight year. She captured her third consecutive Australian Open title in January but suffered back-to-back defeats in the French Open final and the first round at Wimbledon and took a temporary break from the game. Davenport did not drop a set at last year’s US Open and became the first American-born woman since Chris Evert to win the event. Venus Williams has looked strong in her US Open tuneup events, reaching the finals in California events at Stanford and San Diego. Two years ago, she became the first unseeded woman to reach the US Open final since Pam Shriver in 1978. Last year, she lost to Davenport in the semifinals. A nine-time Grand Slam champion, Seles missed a month of action with an arm injury before reaching the final at last week’s Du Maurier Open in Montreal, but she was denied a fifth straight title there by Hingis. Seedings: Men: 1 Pete Sampras, (USA); 2 Andre Agassi, (USA); 3 Yevgeny Kafelnikov, (Russia); 4 Patrick Rafter, (Australia); 5 Gustavo Kuerten, (Brazil); 6 Tim Henman, (Britain); 7 Todd Martin, (USA); 8 Carlos Moya, (Spain); 9 Greg Rusedski, (Britain); 10 Marcelo Rios, (Chile). Women: 1 Martina Hingis,
(Switzerland); 2 Lindsay Davenport, (USA); 3 Venus
Williams, (USA); 4 Monica Seles, (USA); 5 Mary Pierce,
(France); 6 Amanda Coetzer, (South Africa); 7 Serena
Williams, (USA); 8 Jana Novotna, (Czech Republic); 9
Julie Halard-Decugis, (France); 10 Arantxa
Sanchez-Vicario, (Spain). |
Jalandhar, PP clinch trophies JALANDHAR, Aug 26 — Jalandhar’s Vikas Prashar (10.70 seconds) and Mandeep Kaur (12.71 seconds) were the fastest athletes in men’s and women’s section, respectively, in the 76th Open Punjab Athletics, Championship which concluded here at the Sports College complex yesterday. Punjab Police won the over-all trophy in the men’s group while hosts Jalandhar clinched the over-all trophy in the men’s under-22 age group. In women’s section Jalandhar was both the trophies. Gurpreet Singh of Amritsar, Pritpal Singh of Punjab Police, Joga Singh of Jalandhar, Harjeet Kaur, Mandeep Singh and Prabjot Kaur, all from Jalandhar, here declared the best athletes various categories. In this two-day long championship 17 new meet records were set. Gurpreet Singh of Amritsar created a new record in 110 metres hurdles, Gurmeet Singh and Pritpal Singh both of Punjab Police, proved their supremacy in men’s under-22 triple jump even, respectively. In the women’s under-22 category Prabhjot Kaur of Jalandhar created a new record in 110 metres hurdles, triple jump, 400 metres hurdles and long jump. Punjab Police’s relay team created a new meet record in 4x100 metres relay with 42.51 seconds. Final results: Women’s U-22 100 m: 1. Navjot Kaur (Jal) 12.83 sec, 2. Baljeet Kaur (Fatehgarh Sahib) 12.95, 3. Akwinder Kaur (Kap) 13.54 sec. Triple jump: 1. Prabhjot Kaur (Jal) 11.58 m, 2. Navjeet Kaur (Jal) 10.36, 3. Sapinder Kaur (Jal) 9.63. Discuss throw: 1. Satwant Kaur (Amt) 36.30 m, 2. Sunita Attri (PP) 33.78, 3. Narinder Kaur (Jal) 32.72. 110 m hurdles: 1. Prabhjot Kaur (Jal) 5.06 sec, 2. Manjinder Kaur (Hsp) 15.69, 3. Palvinder Kaur (Jal) 16.06. Men’s U-22 discus throw: 1. Sukhbir Singh (Jal) 47.80 m, 2. Harbhajan Singh (Amt) 46.30, 3. Jagjit Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib) 46.28. 1500 m: 1. Kashmir Singh (Amt) 4:13:13, 2. Sanjeev Kumar (Kap) 4:13:99, 3. Harjinder Singh (Amt) 4:15:11. Javelin throw: 1. Manohar Singh (PP) 61.14 m, 2. Hari Om (PP) 60.98, 3. Davinder Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib) 59.98. Pole vault: 1. Satpal Singh (PP) 4.00 m, 2. Surjit singh (Jal) 3.70, 3. Jagdish Singh (Hsp) 3.50. 4x400 relay: 1.
Ludhiana, 2. Jalandhar, 3. Ferozepore. |
Diagana poised to retain world title SEVILLE, Aug 26 (Reuters) — Frenchman Stephane Diagana was poised to retain his world 400 metres hurdles title after watching one of his main rivals miss qualifying for tomorrow’s final. Diagana won his race comfortably in 48.18 seconds, his best time this year, while Zambian Samuel Matete, the 1991 world champion, finished sixth in the other semifinal. South African Llewellyn Herbert, a silver medallist two years ago in Athens, pulled out before the first round heats because of a groin injury. Herbert and Matete were the two fastest men in the event this year. “I’m the clear
favourite now but that’s okay, I can handle
it,” said Diagana. “I expect to run under 48
seconds.” |
Tarar’s decision to suspend board challenged KARACHI, Aug 26 (Reuters) — Pakistan’s President Rafiq Tarar has been served with a court notice asking him to explain why he suspended the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and appointed an ad hoc committee in its place. The Lahore High Court issued a pre-admission notice to Tarar, the patron of the board, and five others on a petition filed today by the Lahore Cricket Association, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters. The association is challenging Tarar’s decision to suspend the PCB, which under the board’s constitution the patron has the right to do. The court gave Tarar and the others until Tuesday to respond to the petition. Tarar suspended the PCB on July 17 and appointed an ad hoc committee headed by Mujeeb-ur-Rehman. No official reason was given at the time. The Lahore Cricket
Association asked the court to declare Tarar’s
decision “illegal, without lawful authority and of
no legal effect”. |
Leander Paes crashes out NEW YORK, Aug 26 (PTI) — India’s number one Leander Paes, who fell to a new low in the ATP singles ranking, tasted another humiliation in his singles career when he was beaten in the first round of qualifying tournament of the US Open Tennis Championships starting on Monday. Paes, after failing to make a direct entry into the main draw of the tournaments was trying his luck through the gruelling qualifying event but fell at the first hurdle. He lost to Michael Hill of Australia 3-6, 6-7 leaving no Indian men in the singles fray. Meanwhile, India’s
top woman Nirupama Vaidyanathan won her first qualifying
match upsetting Tithiana Garbin of Italy. Nirupama
prevailed 7-6, (7/2), 7-6 (7/1) over the 121st ranked
Italian. |
Amanjot ousted CHENNAI, Aug 26 (PTI) — Top seed Amanjot Singh of Chandigarh was upset by Maharashtra’s Vivek Khaveri 6-2, 6-3 in a boys singles (u-16) quarter-final match of the Mini/Sub Junior Open Tennis Championship here today on a day when semi-finalists were spotted. Singh resisted briefly, from 0-2 down to 2-2 in the first set, and from 1-5 to 3-5 in the second, before fading out. “Amanjot has a
powerful serve and is basically a baseliner. I returned
serve well and did not allow him to settle down”,
seventh seeded Jhaveri said later. |
Indian eves lose WELLINGTON, Aug 26 (AP) — Two late goals by second-half substitute Kylie Foy led New Zealand to a 5-1 win over India today in the first of the three women’s hockey Test matches. Jyoti Sunita Kullu
scored India’s only goal in the fourth minute of the
second half. The second Test will be played on Saturday
in Levin with the third in Wellington on Sunday. |
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