Ganguly, Agarkar bolster India
SYDNEY, Dec 4 — The Indians made a charge for a morale-boosting victory ahead of the first Test against Australia with solid knocks from Saurav Ganguly and allrounder Ajit Agarkar on a controversy-marred penultimate day of their second tour match against New South Wales here today.

Indian eves held by Japan
NEW DELHI, Dec 4 — Indian women received the first taste of gritty opposition as the high-scoring hosts were held to a 2-2 draw by a determined Japan allowing South Korea to join them at the top of the league table in the 4th Asia Cup Women’s Hockey Tournament here today.

LUCKNOW : Leander Paes receiving the winner's trophy after annexing the BPL-ATP challenger title in Lucknow on Saturday — PTI photo

Leander Paes clinches crown LUCKNOW, Dec 4 — India’s tennis ace Leander Paes, aiming to improve his singles rankings, was made to fight by Jaime Delgado before he beat the Briton in a close encounter to clinch the ATP Challenger title here today.

North Zone take 1st innings lead
AGARTALA, Dec 4 — North Zone almost assured themselves of a berth in the semi-final of the Duleep Trophy tournament as they took a vital first innings lead of 165 runs over South Zone on the penultimate day of the Duleep Trophy cricket tournament at MBB Stadium here today.

Sampras best player of decade
THE ATP tour finally came to an end with the World Championships in Hannover, Germany, with the final event of 1999, won by the best player of the decade Pete Sampras.

Patiala Tigers to be revived
PATIALA, Dec 4 — The Patiala Tigers, the team which blazed a trail of glory through its exploits in the polo field in princely times, is being revived by descendants of the men who was instrumental in creating the legend.

Jindal Steel and Power sail into final
PATIALA, Dec 4 — The decks have been cleared for the summit clash of the PSB Tercentenary Polo Tournament as Delhi based industrialists Naveen Jindals team, Jindal Steel and Power, completely demolished the defences of their rivals, Chanda Singh Tigers by a margin of 9-2.5 goals in the second semi-final match of the tournament played at the Aviation Club grounds here today.

• Rohtas emerges leader
• Joginder wrecks Himachal
• Punjab, Haryana beaten

Siddi emerges hero as Salgaocar lift title

NEW DELHI, Dec 4 (PTI) — Goalkeeper Juje Siddi saved two penalties as National League champions Salgaocar FC became the first club from Goa to win the prestigious Durand Cup football tournament, beating Calcutta giants East Bengal 3-2 via tie-breaker in the final here today.

After the two teams were locked goalless in regulation time and 30 minutes of extra time, Siddi thwarted Raman Vijayan and Falguni Dutta while Ranjan Dey shot wide, to help his team clinch the second title in a month in its maiden appearance in the final of the 112th year of world’s second oldest tournament at the Dr Ambedkar Stadium here.

Siddi dived to his left to block a well-placed shot by Vijayan after Ghanian Habib Adekunle had put Salgoacar, which won the Rovers Cup at Mumbai three weeks ago, ahead by converting the first spot kick.

The seasoned custodian again came up with a superb block off a powerful kick by Falguni Dutta on the fifth penalty corner to give his team, leading 3-2 after their Brazilian striker Santos and East Bengal’s Ranjan Dey missed their chances, a superb victory as they get ready to defend their title in the National Football League starting here on December 9.

Besides Siddi’s heroics, Salgaocar would have to thank ladyluck as they escaped with a goalless result in a match dominated by the Calcutta outfit thanks to the superb work done by their midfield led well by veteran Tushar Rakshit.

East Bengal had themselves to blame as their forwards missed a number of chances, failing to shoot straight at the goal.

Besides Habib Adekunle, Roque Periera and Dharamjit Singh scored for Salgaocar in the tiebreaker while skipper Rennedy Singh and Ratan Singh slotted home for East Bengal. East Bengal goalkeeper Gopal Das saved an effort from Gbenga Lawal.

With this win Salgaocar claimed the President’s Cup and Shimla Trophy, besides the Durand Cup and a cheque for Rs 4.5 lakh. East Bengal took home the runners-up trophy and Rs 2 lakh.

East Bengal’s Tushar Rakshit was adjudged the Player of the Tournament and received a refrigerator from this year’s sponsors Allwyn for his superb display.

“It is a great moment for Goan football. The boys played very well and it is very good to win the title,” said an elated Salgaocar coach Shabbir Ali after the match.

A dejected East Bengal coach Subhash Bhowmick said his team did not deserve to win the title after missing so many chances. “I was horrified by the number of chances they missed. It is the most frustrating moment of my coaching assignment,” said the former India coach.

“If this performance is anything to go by, I think I have not done my job well,” Bhowmick said.

Luck clearly favoured Salgaocar as they made a good start and launched two good attacks straightaway.

East Bengal got the first chance to score in 5th minute but their Ghanian striker Kennedy Amponsah, set up nicely by Indian international Bijen Singh, who was playing his first match of the tournament after returning from Abu Dhabi where he did well in the Asian Cup qualifiers, blasted over the crossbar with only ‘keeper Siddi to beat.

East Bengal soon established its midfield superiority and launched a number of attacks, but wayward shooting by their forwards did not help their cause.

The Salgaocar defence marshalled by skipper Roberto Fernandez looked tentative at times and allowed Bijen and Kennedy some chances, but survived thanks to lack of imagination and direction in the East Bengal frontline.

In comparison, the East Bengal defence was at its best against the likes of Santos, Alvito D’Cunha, Jules Alberto and Dharamjit Singh.

Ganguly, Agarkar bolster India

SYDNEY, Dec 4 (PTI) — The Indians made a charge for a morale-boosting victory ahead of the first Test against Australia with solid knocks from Saurav Ganguly and allrounder Ajit Agarkar on a controversy-marred penultimate day of their second tour match against New South Wales here today.

The tourists batted nearly the whole day to make 331, leaving the hosts to score 286 for victory.

At close, the NSW were 64 for one, with Greg Hayne batting on 36 and Gavin Robertson on five after two dubious decisions led to some heated arguments between umpire Darrell Hair and the Indians.

Ganguly (81), leading in place of the rested Sachin Tendulkar, and Agarkar (65 no) were instrumental in guiding the visitors to a potentially winning total after opener S. Ramesh’s (74) departure triggered a mini-collapse, leaving them struggling at 167 for five in the morning.

Ganguly, who came in ahead of Rahul Dravid in the line-up, went after the bowling with gusto in the second session, milking the fast bowlers at will with his trademark offside strokes.

Keeping the bowlers confused and the fielders busy by mixing aggression with clever placements, he put on 61 for the seventh wicket with Agarkar.

When looking good for a hundred, Ganguly was caught behind after playing too forward to a Don Nash delivery. He faced 122 balls in his 204-minute stay at the crease, 10 of which he despatched to the fence.

Agarkar was in brilliant touch, displaying a wide repertoire of strokes as he added 71 runs for the last three wickets. His unconquered 122-ball knock included 10 fours.

SCOREBOARD

India (1st innings) 185

New South Wales (1st innings) 231

India (2nd innings)

Gandhi b Brett Lee 28

Ramesh c Haddin b Brett lee 74

Laxman b Brett Lee 0

Kanitkar lbw b Nash 13

Ganguly c Haddin b Nash 81

Dravid c and b MacGill 7

Bharadwaj c Shane Lee b MacGill1 0

Agarkar not out 65

Kumble c Haddin b Brett lee 12

Srinath b MacGill 7

Prasad b MacGill 3

Extras (b8, lb18, w2, nb3) 31

Total (all out in 474, 110.3 overs) 331

Fall of wickets: 1-89, 2-89, 3-119, 4-124, 5-167, 6-199, 7-260, 8-285, 9-323

Bowling: Brett lee 30-7-77-4, Don Nash 21-7-67-2, Shane Lee 24-8-58-0, Gavin Robertson 6-3-9-0, Stuart MacGill 27.3-5-84-4, Greg Mail 2-0-10-0.

New South Wales (2nd innings)

G Mail c Dravid b Agarkar 15

Hayne not out 36

Robertson not out 5

Extras (b4, lb3, nb1) 8

Total (for 1 wkt, 19 overs) 64

Fall of wicket: 1-50

Bowling: Javagal Srinath 5-2-13-0, Venkatesh Prasad 5-1-20-0, Ajit Agarkar 4-1-12-1, Saurav Ganguly 2-0-4-0, Anil Kumble 3-0-8-0.

Hair kicks up controversy

SYDNEY, Dec 4 (PTI) — Controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair, who caused an uproar in the cricketing world four years ago, was at the centre of another row involving the visiting Indian team whose coach Kapil Dev reacted strongly to remarks about India and Pakistan during the tourists match against New South Wales here today.

After a couple of dubious decisions on the third day of the tourists match against New South Wales, Hair rudely remarked to an appealing stand-in skipper Saurav Ganguly, “Pakistanis did this and now you are doing it”.

A senior umpire from Down Under, Hair kicked off a major row by no-balling Sri Lankan off spinner Mutthiah Muralitharan during the islanders’s tour of that country in 1995.

He later made some strong remarks about Sri Lankans in his autobiography leading to a censure from the Australian cricket which ordered him to step down from umpiring in the three-Test series against them.

Taking umbrage at this kind of sweeping remark, Kapil Dev said “I am not bothered about good umpiring or bad umpiring but no umpire is supposed to say anything like this”.

“We all make mistakes. Mistakes will be made. Nothing wrong in it. But, saying something like this, I felt was bad when I talked to Ganguly. I felt really bad. This is not the way I expected a senior umpire to react”.

Kapil Dev, however, said he was not going to file any complaint. “We have come here to play cricket and not to report and complain”.

Umpire Hair was unavailable for comment as he is bound by contract not to react in press.

Sources said Hair had gone up to Ganguly and told him “You people are not allowed to look at the replay. It is taken as a dissent by the ICC. We had told the Pakistanis the same thing and we are now telling you, Indians, the same thing”.

The protest arose first when new opener Greg Hayne was given not out by Hair while padding up to Venkatesh Prasad and then when his partner Simon Taufel ruled nightwatchman Gavin Robertson not out when the batsman had clearly edged the ball via his pads to V.V.S. Laxman at silly mid-off.

Hair was also involved in a verbal duel with Ajit Agarkar at mid-off after the fielder appeared cheesed off by the umpire negating a leg before appeal by Venkatesh Prasad against Greg Hayne.

A similar appeal against Hrishikesh Kanitkar by Don Nash had met with Hair’s approval then.

Hair then walked over to Agarkar and spoke to him gesturing with his hands.

Ganguly ran from the slips and intervened as Hair was walking back to take his position at the bowler’s end.

By the looks of it, Hair was really going hard on Agarkar. Instead of walking to the fielder, the right thing for Hair to do should have been to call up the captain, in this case Ganguly, and speak to him about the player’s ‘misconduct’.

Nothing of this kind happened. Instead, Hair went to Agarkar and towered over him, gesticulating strongly.

If the idea of the establishment is to stop ugly scenes happening in the middle, it did not make for any pleasant viewing either.

Hair has been in the centre of controversy regarding other Asian teams as well.

He was the one who no-balled Muttiah Muralitharan when the off-spinner toured with the Sri Lankan team in 1995. It was a major row then.

Hair then made strong comments against the Sri Lankans in his biography because of which he was censured by the Australian Cricket Board and asked to stand down from the three-Test series against the Sri Lankans.

There apparently is an ICC ruling which asks telecasting network to stop showing replays on the ground more than once. Today, the replay was shown on the giant screen three times.

This was not the only major issue of the day. Apparently, some Indians were not happy with the bowling action of a NSW bowler, reportedly pace bowler Brett Lee.

A pointed question was put to Kapil Dev whether his team had asked for action replays of bowling action of a particular NSW bowler. Kapil denied it.

“No we have not. But you have been seeing it. You are reporters. You know everything,” said the world’s highest Test wicket-taker.

Indian eves held by Japan

NEW DELHI, Dec 4 (PTI) — Indian women received the first taste of gritty opposition as the high-scoring hosts were held to a 2-2 draw by a determined Japan allowing South Korea to join them at the top of the league table in the 4th Asia Cup Women’s Hockey Tournament here today.

Defending champions Korea, who yesterday were stopped by Japan, made good with every opportunity to defeat Malaysia 5-1 to be on level seven points with India after three matches.

India were taken by a total surprise by their fast-paced Japanese counterparts, who despite having little hope in the tournament, played like real spoilers as Indian forwards found it extremely difficult to pierce into the rival defence.

Asian Games silver medallist India, coming into this tie after two resounding wins, took an early lead when captain Sita Gussain blasted the ball into the Japanese post on Marystella Tirkey’s pass following their first penalty corner.

Looking to continue with their winning ways, Indian forwards attacked rival territory quite a number of times, but their game-plan failed to click today.

The ever-alert Japanese defence not only countered the moves but also fed long-rangers to their forwards who kept India on tenterhooks all the while.

India looked like going into the breather with a 1-0 lead but Miura Keiko made a spectacular move from the right flank and was fouled near the scoring area earning Japan a short corner. Keiko was right on the spot and struck a full-blooded shot into the Indian post (1-1).

The second half saw India struggling to keep pace with Japanese manoeuvres which came at much faster rate than in the first half.

Hori Natsumi and Saito Naoko continuously tested the Indian defence to carve out several chances for Japan as the game continuously moved from one end to the other.

A complacent India, with most of the forwards including Suraj Lata and Pritam Rani lacking the pace they showed in their first two encounters, looked helpless as they messed up scoring on penalty corners.

It was sheer luck for India that in the 48th minute, Pritam Rani’s reflex, after a goal-mouth melee, saw the hosts take lead (2-1).

Sandeep Kaur took the first shot and it was stopped by Japanese defenders but the ball remained in play. While the Japanese women desperately tried to clear it, Pritam Rani found the golden chance and she dived forward to push it in.

North Zone take 1st innings lead

AGARTALA, Dec 4 (UNI) — North Zone almost assured themselves of a berth in the semi-final of the Duleep Trophy tournament as they took a vital first innings lead of 165 runs over South Zone on the penultimate day of the Duleep Trophy cricket tournament at MBB Stadium here today.

However, a sparkling unbeaten 149 by Sridharan Sarath and a gritty 84 by J.R. Madangopal helped save South Zone from the ignominy of a follow-on.

At stumps, North Zone were 77 for one in their second knock after South Zone in their first innings were all out scoring 424 earlier in the day. North Zone in their first innings amassed a mammoth 589 losing all their wickets.

Chasing North Zone’s mammoth 589 in the first innings, South Zone’s first innings ended after lunch today at 424.

At the end of the third day yesterday, South Zone were fighting with its back to the wall to avoid a follow-on at 207 for four. Today they added 217 runs losing the remaining wickets.

North established an overall lead of 242 in their second innings at the end of the fourth day today. In their second innings, North Zone scored 77 losing opener Ashu Dani’s (15) wicket at the end of the day.

North Zone (Ist innings): 589 all out.

South Zone: (Ist innings): Nanda Kishore lbw b Nehera 1, Ashish Kapoor c Dahiya b Nehera 0, Tilak Naidu c Dharani b Sodhi 55, J.R. Madangopal b Chopra 84, Sridharan Sarath not out 149, Robin Singh c Dharmani b Chopra 28, S. Siruguppi c Dahiya b Navdip 4, Sunil Joshi c Dahiya b Sodhi 75, S. Mahesh b Navdip 3, Venkatapathy Raju c Dharmani b Sehwag 13, Manzoor Ali Khan run out b Navdip 0.

Extras (B-4, LB-2, NB-6) 12.

Total 424 for all out in 133 overs.

Fall of wickets: 1/1, 2/2, 3/96, 4/168, 5/210, 6/222, 7/366, 8/373, 9/400, 10/424.

Bowling: Ashish Nehra 17-5-56-2, Shakti Singh 20-1-56-0, Reetinder Singh Sodhi 24-5-65-2, Nikhil Chopra 33-3-126-2, Navdeep Singh 31-7-81-2, Virender Sehwag 8-0-34-1.

North Zone: (IInd innings): Ashu Dani c Kapoor b Raju 15, Vikram Rathore not out 40, Rajiv Nayar not out 14.

Extras (B-1, LB_1, NB-6) 8.

Total 77 for one in 29 overs.

Fall of wickets: 1/42.

Bowling: Robin Singh 5-0-8-0, S. Mahesh 3-0-11-0, Ashish Kapoor 11-1-40-0, Venkatapathy Raju 10-4-16-1.

Leander Paes clinches crown

LUCKNOW, Dec 4 (PTI) — India’s tennis ace Leander Paes, aiming to improve his singles rankings, was made to fight by Jaime Delgado before he beat the Briton in a close encounter to clinch the ATP Challenger title here today.

Paes came out unscathed 7-6 (7), 7-6 (7/5) to retain the title he won last year, but with a new ranking system coming up from the dawn of year 2000, points earned here hardly mean anything.

The Indian was not his usual self today as both the sets went into the tie-breaker, but kept his cool, winning vital points to emerge winner.

Delgado, who yesterday disposed of top seed Pradorn Srichaphan of Thailand, exhibited some excellent backhand passing winners but failed to sustain the momentum and faltered at crucial points.

A serve and volleyer, Paes was hampered by the Briton’s style of play as he pinned the Indian to the baseline and did not allow him too much of room.

Down with a mini-break in the second set tie-break, Paes blasted an ace on his second serve and from then on there was no looking back.

“I had to fight my way back... but it is satisfying to win when you are not playing your best tennis,” a beaming Paes said. The Indian now heads for the Jaipur Challenger.

Srichaphan had the consolation of winning the doubles title when he and Dne Krisnian Pless defeated the British pair of Martin Lee and Delgado 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 in the final.

Sampras best player of decade
by Vijay Amritraj

THE ATP tour finally came to an end with the World Championships in Hannover, Germany, with the final event of 1999, won by the best player of the decade Pete Sampras. Coming back after taking time off for a bad back injury which forced him out of the US Open, Sampras completely overwhelmed his fellow American Andre Agassi, who was easily the best player of the year. Agassi, having won two Grand Slam events this year, the French and the US Open and reaching the finals of the Wimbledon, went into the World Championships a clear favourite to win it, especially as Sampras was coming in after quite a lay-off. With both being in the same group of the round-robin format, Agassi easily beat Sampras 6-2, 6-2 to go undefeated in his group and Sampras had to win both his other matches to qualify for the semifinal.

Agassi got by the Russian Kafelnikov 6-4, 7-6 and reached the final impressively. But when Sampras suddenly came alive in his semi-final against the German Nicolas Kiefer with a convincing 6-3, 6-3 win, Agassi knew he would have a different Sampras on court than the one he played in round-robin event. He also put a lot of pressure on himself by saying to the world press that he would not consider himself No. 1 unless he won this event. On the other hand, he should have been a lot more relaxed as he had already secured the No. 1 spot on the ATP computer ranking a few weeks earlier and Agassi was right.

Sampras came out for that final in great form winning the opening set 6-1. Agassi had a brief chance to win the second as he led 4-2 but never felt quite comfortable. Sampras went on to win in straight sets and his fifth World Championship. It is quite amazing how he could come back after his back problem with hardly any match practice and dominate a World Championship field. It just goes to show what a great champion he is. He completes the year with a great comeback and sets himself as the runner for the first Grand Slam event of 2000, the Australian Open in January. Sampras and Agassi have been the real key for increased interest in the sport. Sponsor support along with bigger crowds and better TV coverage has been due to these two star athletes of our sport. TV coverage for the coming year is going to be even more extensive and that might continue as long as there are more players with star quality playing finals of major events once Sampras and Agassi quit the game.

Women’s tennis, on the other hand, has a drastic turn for the better and worldwide interest has increased. There are more young players with star quality competing at the highest level along with some of the veterans of the ladies tour. Along with skill, the clash of personalities has made women’s tennis very exciting. The William sisters, Kournikova, Lucic and others have added tremendous depth to women’s tennis and the matches from the early rounds have become more competitive. The good news for tennis fans as we enter the new millennium is that the sport is safe and sound and will continue to provide entertainment as we marvel at the greatness of these athletes. — PMG

Patiala Tigers to be revived
From Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Dec 4 — The Patiala Tigers, the team which blazed a trail of glory through its exploits in the polo field in princely times, is being revived by descendants of the men who was instrumental in creating the legend.

After a gap of more than 65 years the descendants of Gen Chanda Singh, the mainstay of the Patiala Tigers,have decided to revive the team and endeavour to establish Patiala on the polo map of the country.

The hosting of the Punjab and Sind Bank Tercentenary Polo Tournament has acted as a catalyst for the grandsons of Chanda Singh — Paramjit Singh Dhillon, Harinderjit Singh Dhillon and Pushpenderpal Singh Dhillon. They have decided to get together to establish the team with the guidance of the Patiala royal family scion Capt Amarinder Singh. They are also helped by the fact that their nephew Jasjit Singh Barnala has his own stud farm. Jasjit and his horses participated in the current tournament.

Talking to TNS at the Aviation Club grounds where the tercentenary polo tournament is being held, Mr Paramjit Singh said “we have the horses and will scout for talent to form a good team. Paramjit said it would be the family’s endeavour to ensure the team participated and won the next polo tie held in the city.

“Earlier, we did not think it was possible to hold a tournament of this scale in the city”, says Paramjit when asked how they had got the idea to revive the Patiala Tigers team. “We were also hampered by the fact that the polo ground in the heart of the city is no longer suitable for polo due to creation of a gymnasium on its premises”.

The brothers said the tournament had presented a golden opportunity as the ground which had been used to host it had been taken on rent from the Aviation Club. They said as the ground was not being used it could be developed as a permanent polo field which could be taken on lease from the club. Only when a permanent field is available can other infrastructure be raised, they said.

Though the brothers themselves do not play polo their is a rich polo tradition in their family with them also being horse lovers. They said Gen Chanda Singh was also born in a family of horse lovers and had graduated to playing polo while training ponies for British officers when in the 16th Bengal lancers. They said Gen Chanda Singh scaled dizzy heights even being offered the rank of a noble in the Spanish court when he visited Spain during the reign of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh. They said the General’s sons Brig Fateh Singh and Capt Baghel Singh played polo with the last Patiala ruler Maharaja Yadavindra Singh.

“Although we did not play polo we have sporting blood in us and want to do something to revive the game in the city. We feel it would be the best tribute to Gen Chanda Singh and the Patiala Tigers besides the city which nurtured it once, yet lost the game to the vagaries of time”, they added.

Jindal Steel and Power sail into final
From Our Sports Reporter

PATIALA, Dec 4 — The decks have been cleared for the summit clash of the PSB Tercentenary Polo Tournament as Delhi based industrialists Naveen Jindals team, Jindal Steel and Power, completely demolished the defences of their rivals, Chanda Singh Tigers by a margin of 9-2.5 goals in the second semi-final match of the tournament played at the Aviation Club grounds here today.

Jindal Steel and Power will square off with 61st Cavalry who have already entered the final. It will be an absorbing contest as the Cavalry men have one of the best polo teams of the country and have been the architects of many enchanting moments playing in the domestic circuit.

It seemed that the match was all over before it began as Jindal Power and Steel had in its team some of the country’s top league players, including India’s top ranked player, rookie Sameer Suhag. The youthful exuberance of Sumeer Suhag, who enjoys an astonishingly high handicap of plus five in the countries domestic circuit, was much in evidence as he with his stunning backhanders and ‘under the neck’ taps slotted in four goals, with each effort a notch above the previous one.

For the Chanda Singh Tigers quartet, the heroics of Vikram Sodhi, playing with a handicap of plus two, were not enough to keep in check the marauding rival forwards.

It was some top drawer stuff from Jindal Steel and Power team as they exhibited splendid ball control and never allowed their rivals enough space to manoeuvre and wilted under the sustained pressure from the Jindal polo foursome. Right from the first chukker itself, when Sidharath Singh scored a peach of a goal after connecting an Aman Suhag pass, the Jindal team never looked back and only enlarged the leeway with every subsequent chukker.

Midway in the third chukker the Chanda Singh Tigers players had a chance to reduce the already swelling margin, but Jai Shergill hit the 40-yard penalty wide off the mark.

At this stage the match had been completely reduced to a no-contest. So ruthlessly was the Chanda Singh Tigers team being beaten, that had it been a boxing match the referee would have stopped the contest. But rules of polo do not allow for such bounties to be extended to teams being whipped mercilessly and the Tiger’s team had to endure yet another chukker for their agony to end.

For the losers, who started with a one-and-a-half goal handicap, the lone scorer was Brijpal Singh. For the winners while Sameer Suhag slotted in four goals, both Sidharath Singh and Simran Shergill scored a brace and Aman Suhag, younger brother of Sameer Suhag, who got a chance to play only because Naveen Jindal did not turn up, scored one goal.

Rohtas emerges leader

DIGBOI, Dec 4 (UNI) — Rohtas Singh showed flashes of the brilliance that earned him a career tally of over 100 titles, as his four-under 68 saw him perched atop the leader board at three-under 213 after round-three of the Servo Master Golf here today.

Scores: 213 Rohtas Singh , 214 Ali Sher, 215 Digvijay Singh, 218 Vishal Singh, 219 Harmeet Kahlon , 220 Feroz Ali, 223 Amish Jaitha, Rezwan Ali 224 D. Patel, S.S.P. Chowrasia, Rafiq Ali.

Amateurs: 231 Gaurav Diwan , 232 Simarjeet Singh, 234 Amit Ahuja, 236 Raj Singh.

Joginder wrecks Himachal
From Our Sports Reporter

ROHTAK, Dec 4 — Bowlers from Haryana and Himachal Pradesh dominated the proceedings on the opening day of the Vijay Merchant cricket match at Vishwakarma Stadium here today. As many as 15 wickets fell today as seven batsmen failed to open their accounts.

Scoreboard

Himachal Pradesh (Ist innings) Subash b. Joginder Sharma 1, Ramnik b. Saurav Virmani 10, Pankaj Thakur c. Dharmender b. Kuldeep Diwan 44, Munish Gupta b. Joginder Sharma 0, Paras Dogra b. Joginder Sharma 0, Ankur b Joginder Sharma 0, Manish Sharma lbw. Kuldeep Diwan 9, Sachin Rana b. Kuldeep Diwan 17, Varun lbw. Joginder Sharma 11, Anuj Puri not out 4, Suchandan b. Joginder Sharma 0. Extras 19.

Total (all out in 58.4 overs)

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-26, 3-32, 4-32, 5-33, 6-62, 7-88, 8-98, 9-115.

Bowling: Joginder Sharma 17.4-7-38-6, Saurav Virmani 10-3-22-1, Sandeep Kharab 2-0-3-0, Kuldeep Diwan 17-9-18-3, Deepak Jora 2-0-2-0, Ashok Punia 5-2-8-0, Shankar Saini 4-0-12-0, Gaurav Bharadwaj 1-0-5-0.

Haryana (Ist innings)

Kuldeep Diwan c. Ramnik b. Sachin Rana 0, Bhuvnesh Sharma run out 16, Sandeep Kharab run out 29, Deepak Jora b. Pankaj Thakur 0, Ashok Punia c. Munish b. Pankaj Thakur 0, Gaurav Bhardwaj batting 3.

Extras - 13. Total for 5 wickets 61.

Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-31, 3-36, 4-46, 5-61. Bowling: Varun Badla 9-5-13-0, Sachin Rana 9-2-16-1, Pankaj Thakur 8-2-14-2, Anuj Puri 2-0-10-0, Paras Dogra 1-1-0-0. Suchandan 0-1-0-0-0.

Punjab, Haryana beaten

KOZHIKODE, Dec 4 (PTI) — Most of the strong teams got through, without much resistance, to the quarter-finals of 61st National Table Tennis Championship for under 12 sub-junior boys and girls here last evening.

Results:

Sub-junior (boys): Himachal lost to Maharashtra “B” (0-3), Uttar Pradesh bt Bihar 3-0, Kerala bt Delhi 3-1, Pondicherry bt Haryana 3-0, PSCBA bt Punjab 3-0, Bengal bt Tamil Nadu 3-2, Assam bt Maharashtra 3-2 and Bengal bt Gujarat 3-0.

Cadet girls: Bengal bt MP 3-0, Gujarat bt Bihar 3-1, Assam bt Punjab 3-1, Maharashtra “A” bt Chandigarh 3-2, Tamil Nadu bt Bihar 3-0, and Bengal bt Assam 3-0.

Sub junior girls: Kerala bt Gujarat 3-0, TN bt Madhya Pradesh 3-0, Delhi bt Sikkim 3-0, Bengal bt Punjab 3-0 and Karnataka bt Sikkim 3-0.

Jalandhar, PAP wrestlers excel

JALANDHAR, Dec 4 (FOSR) — Hosts Jalandhar and PAP wrestlers excelled on the second day of the 14th All India Hola Mohalla Wrestling Championship currently underway at local Raizada Hans Raj Stadium here.

Internationals Bhagat Singh and Paraminder Singh Dumchheri and Harvinder Singh Alamghir entered the semifinal (for E.G. Bharat Mal Samrat title) in plus 85 kg weight category.

The other results:

40 kg (Bal Kumar title): Saleem (Jal) beat Kuldip Singh (Pathankot) by fall. Harkamaljit Singh (Asr) beat Mohan Singh (Phagwara) on points. Vikas Bhagat (Asr) beat Suraj Singh (Jal) by fall.

45 kg (Bal Kesri title): Rohit Kumar (Jal) beat Rakesh Kumar (Gurd) by fall. Santokh Singh (Jal) beat Parmod Kumar (Asr) by fall. Rajiv Kumar (Jal) beat Hunny (Kapurthala) by fall. Inderjit (Faridkot) beat Upkar Singh (Faridkot) by fall.

55 kg (Shane Punjab title): Kulwant Rai (Gurd) beat Amit Sharma (Hoshiarpur), Ravinder Singh (Phagwara) beat Raman Kumar (Asr) by fall, Rajinder Singh (PAP, Jal) beat Ajay Kumar (Asr) on points, Saroop Singh (PAP, Jal) beat Simranjit Singh (Faridkot) by fall.

65 kg (Sitare Punjab title): Gurbinder Singh (PAP, Faridkot) beat Vinod (Asr) by fall, Bhupinder Thakur (PAP, Jal) beat Sukhdeep, Faridkot, on points, Gurbinder Singh (PAP, Jal) beat Hardeep (Raipur Dabba) by fall, Gurbinder Singh Patti (PAP, Jal) beat Purshotam (Raipur, Dabba) by fall, Rakesh Kumar (PAP, Jal) beat Balraj (Raipur, Dabba) by fall.

75 kg (Punjab Kumar): Jangbahadur (PAP, Jal) beat Rachpal (Asr) by fall, Parveen Singh (Jal) beat Lakha (Asr) on points, Sikander Kumar (PAP, Asr) beat Gulabdeen (Hoshiarpur) by fall, Ravail Singh (Asr) beat Bhupinder Singh (Jal) by fall, Sukhraj Singh (PAP, Asr) beat Sarwan Singh (Jal) by fall.

Mixed day for Sangrur cagers

CHANDIGARH, Dec 4 (TNS) — The hosts Sangrur had a mixed day on the opening day of the 50th Punjab basketball Championship, for men and women, which got under way at floodlit Government Senior Secondary School Basketball Stadium at Dhanuala this evening. Earlier, the championship was inaugurated by Mr Anirudh Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur.

Sangrur men recorded a narrow win over Amritsar while their women lost to Muktsar represented by girls of dasmesh Academy, Badal.

Sangrur defeated Amritsar 76-70 in men's opening game after trailing 41-37 at the breather. Malkiat Singh, playing as pivot for Amritsar, had a splendid game today as he scored at will. Though Sangrur had the tallest player of the game in Rajpal Singh, he was virtually off colour as he missed numerous scoring chances. Gurvinder Singh (16), Lakhbir Singh (13), Rajpal Singh (16) and Parveen (14) were the main scorers for winners while Malkiat Singh (33) and Rakesh (15) top scored for Amritsar.

Muktsar defeated Sangrur 36-32 after trailing 15-22 at the breather. Playing tight manto-man game in the second half, Muktsar girls fought back into the match after veteran Gurdev had potted five three pointers in the first half. Sukhbir was successful in masking Gurdev in the second half and that clinched the game for them.

Gaganpreet (18) was the top scorer for Mukatsar while Gurdev Kaur was the top scorer for home team with 20 points.

In other games in men's section, Faridkot defeated Mukatsar 40-35 after leading 22-16 at the half time. Bathinda defeated Ferozepore 65-63 in an absorbing game after leading 41-25 at the breather.

In the women's section, Hoshiarpur defeated Faridkot 51-10.

Selection trials

PATIALA, Dec 4 (FOSR) — Trials to select Patiala district women’s teams in athletics, basketball, handball, gymnastics, kabaddi, judo and volleyball will be held here on December 8, according to the district sports officer.

The team will participate in the Punjab State Women’s Sports Festival to be held at the polo grounds here on December 13 and 14.