Tuesday, December 28, 1999
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S P O R T | Tuesday, December 28, 1999 |
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 MELBOURNE : Indian bowler Venkatesh Prasad (left) appeals a caught behind decision for the Australian batsman Adam Gilchrist (second from left) during the second day of their cricket test in Melbourne on Monday. The umpire made the decision not out on Gilchrist who remains on 77 runs not out when bad weather stopped play.— AP/PTI |
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Railways continue march
Prathima breaks 50 kg jerk mark Isha
causes a flutter Kiwis
flay Windies’ attack Games
shifted to Madhya Pradesh Mahilpur
college, RCF in final
Rathore to lead North Zone UT
pugilists move into finals Azharuddin still optimistic Salgaocar,
Dempo split points |
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Indian bowlers fail to impress MELBOURNE, Dec 27 (PTI) — Indian bowlers struggled to drive home the advantage as Australia reached a commanding position in the second cricket Test on the second day badly hit by poor weather and a media row over India’s refusal to play under floodlights. Rain played spoilsport for the second day running with most of the post-lunch period and the entire session after tea washed out as Australia reached a solid 332 for five at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. In-form batsmen Ricky Ponting (59 batting) and Adam Gilchrist (77 batting) flayed the Indian attack to raise an unfinished 135-run stand for the sixth wicket after Prasad removed the overnight unbeaten duo of opener Michael Slater (91) and skipper Steve Waugh (32) in the morning. Paceman Venkatesh Prasad struck twin blows in the space of five runs to leave the hosts at 197 for five in the extended morning session, but the Indian bowling lacked consistency against aggressive batting with two confident appeals also turned down against Gilchrist to their chagrin. But Prasad’s aggressive celebration on dismissing Slater invited Sri Lankan match referee Ranjan Madugulle’s ire with the bowler and coach Kapil Dev called for a hearing. Only 45 overs could be sent down today despite play beginning 30 minutes early in the morning in a bid to make up for lost time, after poor weather enabled only 48 of the quota of 90 overs to be bowled yesterday. Australia recovered from the twin setbacks to reach 277 for five at lunch, but rain delayed resumption of play by almost 90 minutes and forced another interruption before bad light called a final halt at the stroke of tea. With more rain forecast for the next two days, the match looks headed for a tame draw. Resuming at the overnight 138 for three, Slater and Waugh took the fourth wicket stand to 69. The Indians finally cashed in on the opener’s penchant for shot-making as Prasad dug one short to be pulled to fine leg where Javagal Srinath took a good catch. Five balls later, Prasad struck again when he induced Waugh to edge to M S K Prasad behind the stumps as India once again seemed set to get on top of the Australian batting. India almost had the sixth wicket, but Anil Kumble’s confident claim that he had Gilchrist caught and bowled was turned down after third umpire Bill Sheahan failed to convince himself that the catch has been taken cleanly from the TV replay provided from a lone angle. Venkatesh Prasad also was certain he had the batsman caught behind when on 63, but Australian umpire Steve Davis turned down the appeal. But first innings centurion Ricky Ponting and Gilchrist attacked the bowling with the new ball taken one over before lunch having little impact on the scoring. Gilchrist’s fifty came off only 49 balls (115 m, 5x4) and he has struck 12 fours thus far. Australia: (first innings) overnight 138/3 Slater c Srinath b V. Prasad 91 Blewett b Srinath 2 Langer lbw b Srinath 8 M. Waugh lbw b Agarkar 41 S. Waugh c M. Prasad b 32 V. Prasad Ponting not out 59 Gilchrist not out 77 Extras (lb-8 b-1 nb-12 w-1) 22 Total (for five wickets) 332 Fall of wickets: 1/4 2/28 3/123 4/192 5/197 Bowling: Srinath
22-4-101-2 (nb-7), Agarkar 22-6-64-1 (w-1), V. Prasad
24-6-88-2 (nb-1), Ganguly 2-0-10-0 (nb-4), Kumble
23-3-60-0. |
Kapil dismisses media ire MELBOURNE, Dec 27 (PTI) — Indian coach Kapil Dev dismissed as “baseless” stringent criticism by the Australian media today after India refused to play under floodlights on the rain-hit opening day of the second cricket Test yesterday. Kapil Dev expressed surprise after the local media used vitriolic language in slamming the decision of the tourists and said his team was only following the decision taken by the Indian board two months ago when conditions were drawn up for the current series. “The Indian board had refused before we came here. I don’t understand what the fuss is all about. I think if they want to raise an issue, it is baseless,” commented Kapil Dev. He categorically said there was no question of agreeing to such a move, saying his team was not used to playing under lights and that it was for the world governing body, ICC, to make it mandatory if teams were expected to oblige. “It should be in the playing conditions and in this case Indian board had conveyed their decision long time ago,” he said after local newspapers blamed India saying their stand had left some 50,000 boxing day fans in the cold. The Indian coach said he was aware the issue was not raised by the Australian board but only by the local media. “I cannot be concerned about anything other than on official reaction,” Kapil Dev said. “As far as we are concerned, we had the same reply when we were asked (by match referee Ranjan Madugalle) in the Adelaide Test. It is not at MCG that we have let known our opinion,” he said. “I am not saying playing under lights is good or bad. Simply we are not used to it and then I can’t decide without speaking to my board. If it was made mandatory by ICC for every Test team to play we would have played,” he said. Kapil Dev, however, said as a player he did not mind this innovation, to be “honest to the paying public”. “As a player I can see this point of view. The game has changed so much, if there is something for the betterment of the game then why not,” he said. Last year, England had also refused to accede to such a request during the Ashes series and the media comment looked clearly reckless. The language was consistently vitriolic, often derogatory and at time hostile as they ripped into the Indian team. The headlines ranged from “Test cricket stuck in the dark ages” and “Meek Indians fail to see the light and worse”. “The Australian” said, “a terrified India have become the second Test playing country in as many seasons to threaten the future and foundation of the game by robbing paying spectators with a refusal to continue to play under lights.” “Like the dead hand of England last summer, India have refused to allow six million dollars worth of technology to be used for playing and promoting a game which will be seriously threatened if it does not move with the modern entertainment age.” As Michael Slater and Steve Waugh walked off on being offered light at 5.48 pm yesterday, Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar appeared to have a chat with his counterpart. Tendulkar would have least imagined the local Press had already made up its mind on the issue, without bothering to know the Indian board had refused at least a month prior to the tour it would not play under lights. “The Australian” said India may yet be responsible for the death of Australia’s most popular and important test. “For all of their
great players, population and love of the game throughout
the world’s largest democracy, India’s away
record is a disgrace. It will not improve if the players
and administrators cannot do better than simply
follow”. |
Prasad fined, handed suspended ban MELBOURNE, Dec 27 (PTI) — Indian paceman Venkatesh Prasad was today fined 35 per cent of his match fee and handed a four-month suspended ban of one Test or two one-dayers for his outburst on dismissing opener Michael Slater on the second day of the second cricket Test here today. Umpire David Shepherd reported the player following the incident that took place in the morning session at the Melbourne cricket ground. Prasad, who had Slater caught by Javagal Srinath pulling to fineleg for 91, charged up and made exaggerated pumped up action with his hands clearly aimed at the departing batsman. He was spoken to by Shepherd who along with fellow umpire Steve Davis reported to Madugalle who held the hearing at the end of the day’s play before announcing his decision. Madugalle levied the fine — about Rs 40,000 — and also the suspended ban, which will come into effect if he misbehaved in the next four months. It was the second time
that Prasad was being punished. He was fined 30 per cent
of his match fee for using “abusive language”
after dismissing an English batsman in a triangular
one-day tournament in Sharjah this April. |
Nasser Hussain slams ton DURBAN, Dec 27 (AFP) — England captain Nasser Hussain made the third-slowest century by an England batsman before South Africa’s bowlers hit back on the second day of the third Test against South Africa at Kingsmead today. Hussain made 146 not out in an England total of 366 for nine before bad light stopped play 16.2 overs early. England failed to take full advantage of a sparkling fourth wicket stand of 156 between Hussain and Alec Stewart (95), losing five wickets for 26 runs on either side of tea before Hussain accepted an offer of an early close after being struck in the ribs by a lifting ball from Allan Donald, bowling with the third new ball. Hussain batted for more than ten and a half hours and faced 463 balls. He hit 17 fours. The England captain reached his century after batting for 466 minutes and facing 343 balls. Only two batsmen have batted longer for England before reaching three figures. Peter Richardson took 488 minutes against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1956-57 while Clive Radley needed one minute less against New Zealand in Auckland in 1977-78. Hussain played the anchor role on a second successive day of heat and high humidity, although he hit some cracking coverdrives, pulls and hooks. It was Stewart, however, who lifted the tempo of what had been a slow-paced match. England had crawled to 135 for two in 85.1 overs on the first day but the crowd got much better value for money today with 231 runs scored off 81.3 overs and seven wickets falling. England (first innings): Butcher c Klusener b Adams 48 Atherton b Hayward 1 Hussain not out 146 Maddy c Adams b Donald 24 Stewart lbw b Hayward 95 Adams b Adams 19 Flintoff lbw b Cronje 5 Caddick lbw b Cronje 0 Gough c Klusener b Donald 9 Silverwood c Boucher b Pollock 0 Tufnell not out 0 Extras (b1, lb14, w3, nb1) 19 Total (9 wkts, 166.4 overs) 366 Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-82, 3-138, 4-294, 5-336, 6-345, 7-345, 8-363, 9-362. Bowling: Donald
23.4-3-67-2, Pollock 33-14-55-1, Hayward 20-3-74-2,
Kallis 23-9-38-0, Klusener 17-5-38-0, Adams 43-17-74-2,
Cronje 7-5-5-2. |
Railways continue march NEW DELHI, Dec 27 (UNI) — Defending champions Railways continued their victory march as they thrashed Andhra Pradesh 51-25 in the women’s section of the 50th Senior National Basketball Championship here today. Tamil Nadu girls also recorded their second win outplaying Chandigarh 68-22. In the men’s section Services recorded a thrilling 87-77 win over their traditional rivals Railways. Andhra girls put up a good fight in the first session against formidable Railways and trailed 21-29. However, Railways totally outplayed Andhra in the second half conceding only four more points to their rivals. G.Jose (13) Sheela (9) and Aprana (5) were the main scorers for the winners. D.Anandhi (8) Sophie (6) and Lalji UP (5) reduced the margin for the losers. The Tamil Nadu-Chandigarh match turned out to be a one-sided affair with girls from the southern state dominating the proceedings throughout while leading 42-14 in the first session. Chandigarh girls looked tired drained-out in the second session and could gather mere eight points before throwing in the towel. N.Shyamala Suguna (15), P.Preehi (13) were the star strikers for Tamil Nadu. Sarita (8) Ranjeeta (6) scored for the losers. The most exciting match of the day, however, was in the men’s section between Services and Railways. As the match opened, Services cagers established an early lead and looked like emerging easy winners. They led 47-22 in the first session but the situation changed dramatically as the railway men fought back gallantly in the second half. The Railway cagers set up such a fast tempo that it rattled their rivals. Vishal and Ravi Kumar led the Railway assault as they notched up 55 points in this session but services managed to scrape through. G.S.Thabi (20) Peter John (19) and Phool Singh (12) were the leading scorers for the Services. Vishal (14) Ravi Kumar (13), Mahinder Singh (10) scored for the losers. This was Services’ third straight win while for Railways it was the first defeat in two outings. In the group ‘C’ hosts Delhi whipped Tripura 82-30 after leading 42-10 at half time. Sanjay Mohanty (11), Parveen Kumar and Yudhbir Singh (10 each) played main role in Delhi’s win. Sardara Singh (10), Sathya Prakash (9) and R.M.Lakra (2) were the leading contributors for the losers. Delhi women also recorded their third successive win defeating Bengal 66-44. The winners led 32-20 at the breather. Mandeep Kaur top scored for the hosts with 28 points. Shivani Gupta (16) and Nishitha Chaudhari (14) were the other scorers. For Bengal, S.Prithi Vinitha (13), Romi Barua and Shantha Rao (12 each) scored. Strong contenders Rajasthan continued their victory march as they scored 76-61 win over Haryana. The winners were ahead 44-33 at half time. This was Rajasthan’s third win in a row. Ashok Kumar with 29 points led Rajasthan’s victory march. Mahipal Singh (13) and Mangi Lal (9) were other main contributors. Devinder (28), M.Atul (17) and Jaswant (9) scored for Haryana. Kerala men overwhelmed Jammu and Kashmir 80-59 after leading 38-23 at the lemon break. Santosh John (21), Joseph John (18), Sunny Thomas (14) scored for Kerala. Kuldeep Singh (26), Joseph John (18) and Anup Singh (7) reduced the margin for the losers. Andhra men drubbed Himachal 70-43 (half time 33-12) in a group ‘D’ match P.B.Srinath (21), S.Vinay Yadav (11) and M.V.Rajesh (10) were the scorers for the winners. Ashok Kumar (19),
Parveen Kumar (6) Surjit Singh (5) chipped in for
Himachal. |
Prathima breaks 50 kg jerk mark KALYAN, Dec 27 (PTI) — Prathima Kumari of Petroleum Sports Control Board (PSCB) retained her women’s 58 kg class title in style by shattering the national clean and jerk mark twice on the second day of the Senior National Weightlifting Championship here today. Prathima, who had clinched the same weight class in the last edition held this June at Bangalore when she had represented Karnataka, first cleared 115.5 kg to better the Indian Weightlifting Federation-nominated standard mark of 112.5 kg. She then added 2 kg more to the barbells to create the new standard of 117.5 kg on way to the crown. Her snatch effort of 87.5 kg combined to her clean and jerk performance, gave Prathima a total lift of 205 kg and helped her keep the title easily ahead of silver winner Krishna Kumari of Andhra Pradesh — younger sister of Karnam Malleswari — who, interestingly, had turned out in PSCB’s colour in finishing second at Bangalore. Krishna Kumari’s total effort of 177.5 kg (snatch 77.5 plus clean and jerk 100) was 7.5 kg better than the total lift of bronze-medal winner L. Kaur (Punjab), who finished third behind the two Kumaris in both sections. Prathima Kumari’s PSCB mate N.P. Rejitha took the gold in the 63 kg class by dominating both snatch and clean and jerk events for a combined effort of 197.5 kg. Yesterday, Kunjarani, the lone medallist for India at last month’s World Championship in Athens, cleared 75 kg in snatch and 97.5 kg in clean and jerk to surge to the overall gold with a total clearance of 172.5 kg, 10 kg better than silver winner Tikina Gopal of Police. Parbhati Bhattacharya of Bengal bagged the bronze in total lift (150.0 kg) ahead of Sharada Siddhi of Karnataka and Sonia Devi of Manipur who stood third in the snatch and clean and jerk events, respectively. In the men’s 56 kg
weight class, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Pandian
unexpectedly took the third position behind Muthu and
Pondicherry’s G. Suresh Kumar in the snatch by
hoisting 110 kg. |
Don Bradman casts giant shadow over cricket SYDNEY, Dec 27 (AFP) — For all of cricket’s glittering revolution — the helmets and coloured clothes, the soaring light towers and TV hype — the game remains awed by a quiet little man who quit 52 year ago. Sir Donald Bradman, 91 and living a reclusive life in Adelaide, Australia, was pioneer of self-promotion, using his enormous profile to make money off the field decades before sports were engulfed by commercialism. On the playing field his dominance was so complete that former English cricketer Denis Compton described his as “a batsman appearing not just once in a lifetime but once in the life of a game.” The rise of limited overs cricket from the 1970s to the current day, hastened by Kerry Packer’s rebel World Series Cricket, was the biggest change this century in a game proud of its traditions over the past 100 years. Countries such as Sri Lanka, the World Cup winners in 1956 with an exhilarating new approach, emerged to challenge the established nations. Others, notably England with Jack Hobbs, Walter Hammond, Herbert Sutcliffe and later Ian Botham, and then the West Indies, with their fearsome fast bowlers from Wes Hall to Curtly Ambrose and the genius of Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards and Brian Lara, enjoyed periods of greatness before falling from the peak. Pakistan had a run-scoring machine called Hanif Mohammad and later produced great all-rounders like Imran Khan. India matched him with Kapil Dev, New Zealand with Richard Hadlee and England with Botham, whose amazing 149 against Australia at Headingley in 1981 produced one of the most astonishing turnaround victories of the century. A generation of South African players, including Graeme Pollock and the great opener Barry Richards who found work in Packer’s WSC, were denied full Test careers by their government’s apartheid policies. The nation returned in 1991 after two decades of isolation and is now challenging for top status again. But it was Bradman and his prolific batting which unites the sport and links the fans and players of today to the days of old. His career average was 99.94, a figure learned by most Australian kids before they get to the two times table. It was monumental compared to those of other great players. Next was Pollock on 60.97 and West Indian George Headley on 60.83. Other giants of the game, included the brilliant all-rounder Garfield Sobers on 57.78, India’s Sunil Gavaskar on 51.12 and Greg Chappell, the second best Australian with 53.86. Of those still playing, India’s little master Sachin Tendulkar is 11 places below Bradman on 56.68 and Lara, the world record holder for most runs in the Test innings with 375, is the 21st at 51.98. “Figures are not entirely conclusive but it is difficult to avoid their significance if a man produces them year after year against every type of opponent and under all conceivable conditions,” said Bradman in his book “Farewell to Cricket.” And there he was, after 6,996 Test runs, conclusively averaging 40-50 ahead of the rest. “Poetry and murder lived in him together,” wrote English journalist R.C. Robertson-Glasgow. “He would slice the bowling to ribbons, then dance without pity on the corpse.” Bradman played just 52 Tests — Tendulkar has already played 71 and his first tour of England in 1930, aged 21, was his greatest. He scored 974 runs in seven innings at 139.14, including two double centuries and a triple century. He rated his 254 in the second Test at Lord’s his finest moment because “practically without exception every ball went where it was intended to go, and it make him the youngest player to score a Test double hundred. With that flawless innings behind him, he became the first player to score a triple century in the next match. Bradman’s dominance in 1930 led to the biggest sporting rift of the century between Australia and its mother country. England arrived for the 1932-33 series with an odious tactic specifically created to nullify Bradman but also used against his teammates. England captain Douglas Jardine surrounded the Australian with a legside fielding cordon and then ordered his bowlers to aim at their opponents bodies and heads with short-pitched balls. The English called the tactic “leg theory” but the Australian description of “Bodyline” better reflected the menace and the pain suffered when several players were hit by pacemen Harold Larwood’s thunderbolts. Jardine was hated Down Under but the restricted Bradman to a series average of 56.57, the worst of his career, before authorities banned the dangerous tactic. Just as most cricket fans know Bradman’s average, they also know how it all ended. He needed four runs in his final Test innings to average 100 over his career but was bowled for a second-ball duck by England’s Eric Hollies. There were suggestions he missed the gentle off-spinner because his eyes were full of tears. “Of course, that’s rubbish,” Bradman said in 1996. “I was certainly emotional, but I wasn’t that bad.” Bradman became a
selector and official with the Australian Cricket Board
before disappearing from public life. He granted a rare
audience to Tendulkar last year, happy to meet the man
whose batting he says most reminds him of himself and
whose best days might come in the century ahead. |
Isha causes a flutter Chandigarh, Dec 27 — Qualifier Isha Chopra of Yamunanagar created a flutter sailing past fifth — seeded Keiko Tameishi of Japan 6-1, 5-1 (conceded) in the first round of the $ 10,000 ITF Women’s Tennis Circuit ‘99 meet at the CLTA court here today. The 17-year-old Isha, a class XII th student of St Thomas School, Yamunanagar, who notched up three impressive wins in the qualifying matches and playing in her first international tournament, looked in fine touch right from the word go. She displayed fine temperament and remained in control almost throughout the match before the diminutive Japanese, who reportedly had a bad stomach and looked tentative, conceded the match, when trailing 1-5 in the second set having lost the first set at 1-6. “I felt confident once I went 3-0 up in the first set. Then I kept my cool and played my game,” said a relieved Isha after the match, who now has a herculean task at hand facing the Lucknow leg winner Urska Vesenjak of Slovenia in the pre-quarterfinal match tomorrow. Tameishi, in fact, was too erratic with her serve and committed several double faults. Except for occasional flashes of brilliance, when she hit a couple of forceful down the line winners, the 22-year-old failed to put up the display in keeping with her seeding. Isha kept her nerves in control and did not allow herself to be weighed down by the fact that she was participating in her first tournament of such an importance in her career. She relied more on deft placements than forceful strokes to outwit her rival. Rest of the matches went along the expected lines and no upset was there to be seen.Urska Vesenjak brushed aside India’s Arathi Venkatraman in just 50 minutes, while her twin Massa Vesenjak faired even better needing only 46 minutes to dismiss India’s Stutti Smit. Results (1st round): Archana Venkatraman (Ind) b Tara Kanbargimath (Ind) 6-1, 6-4; Radhika Tulpule (Ind) b Ayako Suzuki (Japan) 6-4, 6-0; Manisha Malhotra (Ind) b Sheetal Gautam (Ind)
6-1, 6-4;Urska Vesenjak (Slov) b Arathi Venkatraman (Ind)
6-1, 6-0; Anna Nefedova (Russia) b Harsimran Kaur Bedi
(Ind)6-3, 6-4; Maria Kondratiava (Rus) b Simmi Rani 6-0,
6-2; Shalini Thakur (Ind) b Geeta Manohar, 6-4, 6-1;
Sveltane Mossiakova (Rus) b Yamini Thukkaiandi (Ind) 6-1,
6-3; Rushmi Chakravarti (Ind) b Anna Anikanova (Ukr) 6-3,
6-1; Masa Vesenjak (Slov) b Stutti Smit (Ind) 6-1, 6-0;
Antonia Matic (Cro) b Krishma Patel (Ind) 6-3, 6-2;
Vishika Chhetri (Ind) b Nikita Bhardwaj (Ind) 6-1, 3-6,
5-3 (conceded); Olga Kaliojnaja (Rus) b Jasleen Randhawa
(Ind) 6-2, 6-2; Jayaram Sai Jayalakshmi (Ind) b Nandini
Perumal 6-0, 6-1; Katarine Daskovic (Yug) b Catherine
Turensky (Ger) 6-1, 6-4; Isha Chopra (Ind) b Keiko
Tameishi (Japan) 6-1, 5-1 (conceded). |
Kiwis flay Windies’ attack WELLINGTON, Dec 27 (AFP) — New Zealand pounded the West Indies bowlers into submission and almost certainly sealed a Test series win on the second day of the second cricket Test here today. Led by Australian-born Mathew Sinclair’s debut innings of 214, New Zealand posted 518 for nine declared, a seemingly unbeatable position. They hold a 1-0 series lead after beating the tourists by nine wickets in Hamilton earlier this month. New Zealand (1st innings) Spearman c Walsh b King 24 Stead c Campbell b King 17 Sinclair b King 214 Fleming c Adams b Chanderpaul 67 Astle run out 93 McMillan c Jacobs b King 31 Cairns c Adams b Rose 31 Parore b Rose 5 Dion Nash not out 2 Vettori c Campbell b Rose 2 Extras (b-5, lb-12, w-1, nb-14) 32 Total (for 9 wkts decl.) 518 Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-76, 3-240, 4-249, 5-456, 6-507, 7-507, 8-514, 9-518. Bowling: C Walsh 41-5-112-0, R King 36-11-94-4, F Rose 32.3-5-113-3, N Perry 32-5-120-0, J Adams 26-9-45-0, S Chanderpaul 6-1-15-1. West Indies (1st innings) Griffith batting 2 Campbell lbw b Cairns 0 Perry batting 3 Extras 0 Total (for 1 wkt) 5 Fall of wicket: 1-1 Bowling: Cairns 3-1-3-1,
Nash 2-1-2-0. |
Rumblings in hockey team NEW DELHI, Dec 27 (PTI) — Rumblings within the Indian hockey team threatened to erupt once again with veteran Dhanraj Pillay staging a “walkout” from the ongoing national camp at Jammu following “differences” with chief coach Vasudevan Baskaran. Pillay, one of the six seniors who were summarily axed even before India’s Asian Games victory celebrations had died down before being reinstated for the November Asia Cup held in Kuala Lumpur, met the Indian Hockey Federation chief KPS Gill here to voice his grievances. Confirming that Pillay had met him, Mr Gill told PTI today “someone had deliberately misrepresented to him regarding the coach. I explained it was not correct and convinced him that he should rejoin the team”. Mr Gill denied there was any major problem within the team and that seniors Pillay and winger Mukesh Kumar had any tiff with Baskaran, but said “this is a deliberate mischief being played by someone from outside. We are determined to find out who the person is and we will nail him”. He said the Pune-based
Pillay, who along with Mukesh Kumar reportedly had
differences with the coach over the tactics being worked
out for the upcoming tour of Spain, had taken permission
from him to go home to attend to personal work and that
he would rejoin the side when it reaches Delhi in a day
or two. |
Games shifted to Madhya
Pradesh CHANDIGARH, Dec 27 — The National School Games in certain disciplines which originally were to be hosted by the UT Education Department at Chandigarh from December 25 this month have been reallotted to Madhya Pradesh, disclosed Mr Pritam Singh Chhabra, Secretary-General, School Games Federation of India. The table tennis events in the under-14, under- 17 and under-19 has now clubbed with the National School Games already slated in kabaddi to be held at Devas in the first week of January next year. Mr Chhabra also announced that TT probables will be selected during these National School Games for the coaching camp in preparation for the Asian Schools Table Tennis Championship scheduled to be hosted at Hong Kong next year. Similarly, the basketball and hockey probables will also be chosen during these games for the Asian Schools Basketball and Hockey Championship to be held at China and India, respectively, later next year. Mr Chhabra said the SGFI has accomplished the hosting of under-19 age groups this year and the last leg of the National School Games would be held at Trivandrum from February 1 to 6, where athletics — boys and girls for under 14, 17 and 19 — will be conducted. Other events in this school games are : Football (boys-under 17), Volleyball (Boys and girls) U-17, and ball badminton - boys and girls (under-19). The National School Games in kabaddi boys and girls (U-14,U-17), basketball boys and girls (U-19) kho kho-boys & girls (Under 14, 17 and table tennis (boys and girls) in all age groups will be held in Devas in Madhya Pradesh in the first week of January 2000. It may be recalled that
Chandigarh had agreed to organise games in December but
later backed out at the eleventh hour due to lack of
funds . |
Mahilpur college, RCF in final FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 27 — RCF Kapurthala and Khalsa College Mahilpur entered the final of the All-India Baba Zorawar Singh Baba Fateh Singh Shaheedi Football Tournament here today. In the first semifinal, Khalsa College Mahilpur, defeated AG Haryana. The Mahilpur boys took the lead through Dharminder Singh and Amarjit consolidated the lead by scoring the second goal in the 60th minute. For AG Haryana, Virinder Kanwar reduced the margin in 75th minute. The college boys are considered hot favourites for the title. In the second semifinal last year’s winners RCF Kapurthala defeated Fine Switch Gears, Phagwara, 2-0. Till half-time both the teams played a goal-less draw. In the second half Manmohan Singh scored a fine field goal in 60th minute and Jaspal Singh scored the second goal for his team in the 70th minute. In this match three yellow cards were shown. The final will be played
tomorrow at 1 pm and Jathedar G.S. Tohra will give away
the prizes. |
Rathore to lead North Zone CHANDIGARH, Dec 27 —Vikram Rathore of Punjab will lead the North Zone team in the limited overs Deodhar Trophy Cricket Tournament, according to a communication from the convener of the North Zone Selection Committee, Mr Sunil Dev. The 15-member team has eight players from Delhi, four from Punjab while Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh have one player each in the squad. The zonal selectors also decided that in case Ashish Mehra of Delhi was not fit by the time the team played its first match then his place in the squad would go to Rahul Panta of Himachal Pradesh. The following is the team —Vikram Rathore (Punjab), Ashu Dhani (Delhi), Pankaj Dharmani (Punjab), Rajeev Nayyar (Himachal Pradesh), Virender Sehwag (Delhi), Dinesh Mongia (Punjab), Vijay Dhiya (Delhi), Amit Bhandari (Delhi), Rahul Sangvi (Delhi), Robin Singh Jr (Delhi), Ashish Mehra (Delhi), S.Singh (Punjab), Jasbir Singh (Haryana), Surinder Singh (Jammu and Kashmir) and Minhum Minhas (Delhi). Mr Suresh Lutra of Delhi
will be the manager of the team. |
UT pugilists move into
finals CHANDIGARH, Dec 27 — City pugilists Mukesh Kumar, Anand Kumar and Mandeep Singh made their way into the finals in their respective weight group on the penultimate day of the 7th All India AK Misra Invitational Boxing championships in progress here at the skating rink, Sector 10 today. In light fly weight Mukesh (Chd) beat Trilok Negi (Del) and SB Thapa (AR) beat Vikas Verma (Bihar). In fly weight Anand Kumar (Chd) beat SP Jha (Bihar) and SK Thapa (A R) beat H Bhatti (9th A Regt). In bantam weight Mandeep (Chd) beat Anish (Bihar); Naveen (Del) beat Basant (9th A. Regt). Other results: Lt Fly weight: Mukesh Kumar (Chd-Y) b. Ramesh Singh (Chd-P) - W.P.; Tirlok Negi (Delhi) b. Ram Parsad (U.P) - W.P.; Vikash Kumar (JBC Bihar) b. Sohan Singh (Hry)- W.P.; S.B. Thapa (Assam Rifles) b. C.S. Ashok (T.N.) -K.O.I. FLY: S.B. Jha (JBC Bihar) b. V.N. Murthy (A.P) - W.P.; Anand Kumar (Chd-P) b. Malkit Singh (PUN) - W.P.; H. Baite (9th Assam Reg) b. Naveen Dev (Hry) - W.P.; S.K. Thapa (Assam Rifles) b. R.S. Chhina (P.F.C. Delhi) - W.P. Bantam weight: Avish Kumar (JBC Bihar) b, Rajesh Singh (Assam Rifles) - W.P.; Mandeep Singh (Chd-Y) b, Amrinder Singh (PUN)- W.P.; Naveen Dabas (PFC Delhi) b, Ravinder Singh (BEG-R) - W.P.; Basant Malla (9th Assam Reg) b. Narinder Singh (PEPSU) - W.P.; Feather weight: G. Ramesh Kumar (TN) b Neeraj Kumar (UP) - RSC.H. II; Ganesh Giri (BEG-R) b. V Sankar Rao (A.P.) - RSC.OC II; Y. Rabi Singh (9th Assam Reg) b Vinod Jha (Delhi) - RSC.OC I; Jai Parkash (PFC Delhi) b. Sachin Kumar (CHD-Y) - RSC OC II. Light weight: Y. Romesh Singh (9th Assam Reg) b K.S. Sivaraman (TN) - W.P.; Ravinder Singh (Hry) b. Hayat Singh (BEG-R) - WP; Sukhwinder Singh (PSEB) b Devinder Singh (Chd-P) W.P.; Anil Kumar (PFC Delhi) b Abhishek Kumar (U.P.) - W.P. Light Welter WT: Ramesh
Kumar (PFC Delhi) b Sanjeev Kumar (CHD-P) - RSC.I Ist;
Harinder Kumar (PUN) b Gurwinder Singh (PEPSU) - W.P.;
Karanvir (PSEB) b. Ajay Sagar Yadev (U.P.) - W.P.; Shashi
Kant (Hry) b K. Nitya Singh (Assam Rifles) - W.P. |
Narrow win for MP CHANDIGARH, Dec 27 — Madhya Pradesh had a narrow 23-21 victory over Uttar Pradesh in the semifinals of the 14th Senior National Korfball Championships which entered the penultimate day here today at Panjab University grounds. Earlier in the quarterfinals, Haryana prevailed over Delhi 20-14 while Rajasthan defeated Maharashtra 18-5. The finals will be played tomorrow at 2.30 p.m. Results: semifinals: MP
b UP 23-21. Quarterfinals: Haryana b Delhi 20-14.
Rajasthan b Maharashtra 18-5. |
Azharuddin still optimistic CHENNAI, Dec 27 (PTI) — Former Indian cricket captain Mohd Azharuddin yesterday expressed confidence that he would be recalled to assist the national team. “I am very optimistic on my getting back into the Indian team. I have confidence in my ability and I do not see why I should not get a chance to play for India again,” Azhar told reporters during the Hyderabad-Tamil Nadu South Zone one-day tie at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here. Azharuddin, who last played for the country in the World Cup in England, is yet to get the nod from the selectors for a berth in the national team. The selectors are to
meet in Mumbai on December 30 to pick the team for the
one-day triangular series involving India, Australia and
Pakistan. |
Baljit Saini ties the knot CHANDIGARH, Dec 27 — Olympian Baljit Singh Saini has tied the knot with Ms Bhupinderjit Kaur, daughter of Mr Mohinder Singh of Hoshiarpur, according to family sources. Saini, a regular member of the Indian hockey team who plays as a right half, has represented India in many international meets, including the Atlanta Olympics. He was also a member of the national team which won the gold in the Bangkok Asian Games. The reception to bless
the newly wedded couple at Ropar today was attended by a
large number of internationals and officials connected
with the game. |
Hockey camp for UT players CHANDIGARH, Dec 27 — The subjunior World Cup is being held in April 2000 at Singapore in which India are likely to participate. Accordingly the IHF was decided to hold the Subjunior National Hockey Championship at Hyderabad from January 22 to February 2, 2000. The Chandigarh hockey
team will participate in this championship and a coaching
camp will be organised in collaboration with the UT
Sports Department from January 4, at the Sector 42 hockey
stadium at 3 p.m. Interested players should report to Mr
Jasbir Singh, hockey coach. Players born on or after
January 1, 1984 are only eligible, according to Mr S.N.
Vohra, secretary, Chandigarh Hockey Association. |
Salgaocar, Dempo split points MARGAO, Dec 27 (PTI) — A heroic effort by keeper Vikrant Sharma in his first match helped a spirited Dempo hold defending champions Salgaocar to a goal-less draw and split points in the National Football League here today. With this draw,
Salgaocar now have eight points from two wins and two
draws and are four points behind Churchill Brothers who
are leading the table with 12 points. Dempo who lost two
matches and drew two have two points. Salgaocar played an
offensive game right from the word go and got numerous
chances but forwards Santos and Alvito D’Cunha
failed to either find the target or beat the keeper Vicky
who played an excellent game. |
H
Cricket tourney CHANDIGARH, Dec 27 (BOSR) — The Punjab Cricket Association will organise the second PCA Inter Institutional Cricket tournament from December 29 in which seven teams — State Bank of Patiala, PUNCOM, FCI, Customs, PSEB, DCW and Reserve Bank of India will take part. The tournament will be played simultaneously at Patiala and SAS Nagar. According to Mr MP
Pandove, secretary PCA, the two different zones will
comprise SBOP, PSEB and DCW, and PUNCOM, Customs, FCI and
RBI, respectively. |
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