‘Worst decision in heavyweight history’ BOXING was denied the price-less opportunity to walk with pride away from the most significant fight of the late 20th century, as three judges allowed Evander Holyfield to escape from Madison Square Garden with a draw he patently did not deserve.

Graf humbles Capriati
KEY BISCAYNE (Florida), March 20 — The ritual between points has been part of Steffi Graf’s game for years: she stands at the baseline, runs a forefinger under her ear to her chin, then flicks away a bead of perspiration.

Gopi, Aparna, Abhin, Nikhil in quarters
BANGALORE, March 20 — India No.1 Gopi Chand, Abhin Shyam Gupta and Nikhil Kanetkar in the men’s section, and national champion Aparna Popat in the women’s have reached the quarterfinals of the French Open badminton championship.

Kambli, Agarkar most likely to play: Azhar
NAGPUR, March 20 — Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin today said batsman Vinod Kambli and medium pacer Ajit Agarkar were most likely to play in the second Pepsi Tri-Series one-day International here on Monday against Sri Lanka.

Mixed luck for Anand
MONTE CARLO, March 20 — Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand won his rapid game with a superb play but his progress was halted in the blindfold section by Bulgaria’s Veselin Topalov in the fourth round of the Amber Chess Tournament here last night.

Dhillon, Jayant steal the show
NEW DELHI, March 20 — G.S. Dhillon and Jayant Singh stole the thunder in the inaugural 18-hole championship, organised by the Haryana Golf Association at the Classic Golf Resort here today.

Zimbabwe beat Kenya by 133 runs
DHAKA, March 20 — Zimbabwe defeated Kenya by 133 runs in the opening match of the tri-nation one-day series here yesterday. The Kenyans, chasing Zimbabwe’s huge total of 272 for 6 from 50 overs, were bundled out only for 139 with five overs to spare.

2-match suspension for Bhupinder
HYDERABAD, March 20 — Punjab and Sindh Bank forward Bhupinder Singh was today awarded two-match suspension while his teammate and international Baljit Singh Chandi received a one-match suspension for unsportsmen like behaviour during a National Hockey Championship league match here yesterday.

Bengal scrape past CRPF

HYDERABAD, March 20 (PTI) — Bengal squeezed past Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 2-1 to record their third straight victory and virtually head the five team group-H group in the National Hockey Championship here today.

Bengal had earlier defeated Kerala 8-4 and Assam 11-0 in their league encounters. Their last league outing is against Services.

Services who have played three with two wins and a draw and are sharing the second spot on the points table with the CRPF.

In the two group-G league ties, Central Excise defeated Delhi 3-1 after leading 3-0 at half time while Karnataka rallied superbly to outplay the fighting Tata Sports Boys 4-2 after leading 2-1 at the interval.

Bhupinder Singh of Punjab and Sindh Bank (PSB) was shown a red card, for his unsportman like behaviour against Pondicherry in a group-I tie yesterday, by umpire Mohendro even as his team recorded a thumping 19-1 win.

Bengal’s two goals were scored by Rajat Minz in the 20th and 36th minutes while the policeman reduced the margin through Mukesh Kumar in the 55th minute.

The excisemen opened their account through Rajinder Singh’s penalty conversion in the third minute while Aijaz, in the 27th minute, scored the second goal. Two minutes later, Rajul, chipped in with the third goal while Delhi’s lone goal was scored by R.R.S. Rawat in the 21st minute.

Karnataka found the net through field goals scored by Bikrampal Singh (9th) Bipin Fernandez (13th), Samson (57th) and B. Lakra (63rd) while Tata’s two goals came through Cheope D’Costa (34th) and Manoj (41st).

The Bengal-CRPF tie was well contested. Bengal played to a plan slowing down the pace of the game to spoil the policemen’s game-plan of fast paced game with quick and short passes.

Bengal forward Cyril Ekka, in the 20th minute, put his team ahead when he banged home a Rajat Minz pass. Earlier Ekka himself had taken a shy at the rival goal-mouth and the ball had rebounded off CRPF custodian Robindro to Minz near the cage.

Minz ’s solo effort, in the very first minute of the second half, produced Bengal’s second goal. CRPF managed to reduce the margin through Mukesh Kumar in the 55th minute.

In a fast paced, Karnataka-Tata match, Karnataka stuck two early goals through Birampal Singh (9th minute) and Bipin Fernandez (13th). Their first goal came following a goalmouth melee and their second came off a rebound from Tata custodian Brain D’Souza for Bipin to sound the board.

Tata’s fought back gallantly and equalised twice through Cheope D’Costa, in the 34th minute, and Manoj Lokhande (both penalty corner conversions) in the 41st minute.

But their joy was short lives as Karnataka came back into the game by pumping two goals in the last stages of the match through Samson Fernandez (57th) and Lakra (63rd) to seal Tata Sports’ fate.

Results (Group-G): Central Excise 3 (Rajinder 1 (3rd), Rahul 1 (29th), Aijaz 1 (27th) beat Delhi 1 (R.S. Rawat 1 (21st). Half-time: 3-1.

Karnataka 4 (Bikram Pal Singh 1 (8th), Bipin Fernandez 1 (13th), Samson Fernandez 1 (57th), Bimal Lakra 1 (63rd) beat Tata Sports 2 (Cjeps D’Costa 1 (34th), Manoj Lokhande 1 (41st). Half-time: 2-1.

Group-H: Bengal 2 (Rajat Minz 2 (20th & 36th minutes) beat CRPF 1 (Mukesh Kumar 1 (55th), half-time: 1-0.

Punjab beat TN

JAIPUR, March 20 (UNI) — Splendid showing by international Parminder Der Singh Sr helped last year's runners up — Punjab beat Tamil Nadu by 70-54 and entered the men's final in the 49th Senior National Basketball Championship at the S.M.S. Stadium here tonight.

Punjab, who trailed by 29-30 at half time, will meet the winners of Bihar and Services in the final on Monday.

Parminder, who top scored with 35 points, provided an early 6-0 lead to Punjab, but Tamil Nadu, who had shocked the defending champions Bihar in the league round, soon came close to them. Gopinath's basket saw Tamil Nadu lead for the first time on 22-21 and maintaining that, they went on the break with one point lead.

Parminder Singh Sr, prior going to the break, had come to his element and continuing the same, he made 12 points in a row and put his side ahead by 39-32 — Punjab, thereafter, did not look back and made the game a one sided affair.

Besides Parminder, Vipan Kumar 13 and Gagnesh 14 scored for the winners, while Jay Shankar (12), Gopinath (12) and Sridhar (11) were the main contributors for Tamil Nadu.

SA stretch lead to 276 runs

WELLINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) — South Africa’s Daryll Cullinan was dismissed for the first time in the series with an average of 427 as South Africa closed the third day of the third and final Test against New Zealand today on 498 for eight.

The tourists stretched their first innings lead to a daunting 276 runs and now have two days to dismiss the home side for a second time to force the victory they threatened in the first two Tests but which were both drawn.

Cullinan scored 152 before lashing a half volley straight back to part timer Nathan Astle who was bowling just his third over.

After resuming on 56 not out in a total of 235 for two wickets in the morning, Cullinan raced to his eighth Test century from a further 63 balls to reach 100 from 175 deliveries with 15 boundaries.

He was just as severe after lunch reaching 152 from 272 balls with 22 boundaries at the Basin Reserve before departing to a standing ovation from a crowd of nearly 5,000.

Cullinan’s 427 average for the series is the highest ever for a series of three or more Tests and is second only to the astonishing 563 that Wally Hammond managed in two Tests in 1932-33, also against New Zealand.

Hammond scored 227 and 336 not out in two innings.

Ironically, New Zealand enjoyed their most successful day of the series with the ball, taking six wickets after claiming just six in the first two Tests. Left arm spinner Daniel Vettori finished with 4-153 from a marathon 54 overs.
The only casualty in the morning session was Herschelle Gibbs who resumed on 115 but added just five more runs before powerfully sweeping Vettori to deep backward square leg where Shayne O’Connor held a well judged catch.

Gibbs, who took his series aggregate to 365 runs in three innings, for an average of 182.5, departed for 120 from 250 balls with 16 boundaries.

Hansie Cronje’s hard hitting innings of 72, with 11 boundaries off 126 deliveries, ended when a fierce on drive against Vettori was well caught by Dion Nash at mid on while Jonty Rhodes (3) top edged a sweep off the same bowler to depart for just three.

Mark Boucher (8) was bowled by a cleverly flighted Vettori delivery shortly before the close of play while Lance Klusener’s attempted off drive against Dion Nash resulted in a inside edge to Adam Parore for 19.

Shaun Pollock finished the day unbeaten on 43 from 104 balls with Steve Elworthy on three.

New Zealand (First innings): 222 all out
South Africa (First innings): overnight 235-2
G. Kirsten b O’Connor 40
H. Gibbs c O’Connor b Vettori 120
J. Kallis c Horne b Nash 17
D. Cullinan c and b Astle 152
H. Cronje c Nash b Vettori 72
J. Rhodes c Young b Vettori 3
S. Pollock not out 43
M. Boucher b Vettori 8
L. Klusener c Parore b Nash 19
S. Elworthy not out 3
Extras: (b-10, lb-6, nb-5) 21
Total: (for eight wickets, 165 overs) 498
Fall of wickets: 1-73, 2-105, 3-258, 4-403, 5-415, 6-420, 7-440, 8-498
Bowling: Doull 24-4-77-0, O’Connor 24-4-89-1, Nash 25-7-76-2, Vettori 54-16-153-4, Harris 22-0-66-0, Astle 16-8-21-1.

Manisha annexes triple crown

CALCUTTA, March 20 (PTI) — Maharashtra’s Manisha Malhotra won the women’s singles to finish with a triple crown while Germany’s Marcus Hilpert bagged the men’s singles title in the national grasscourt tennis championships here today.

Malhotra, who won the mixed doubles partnering Asif Ismail and lifted the women’s doubles crown with K. Janaki yesterday, continued her superlative run humbling Archana Venkatraman of Karnataka in straight sets 6-3 6-4 in the final at the CC&FC Court today.

The men’s final was a one-sided affair with fourth seed Hilpert conquering the third seed Nitin Kirtane of Maharashtra 7-5 6-3 in just over an hour.

Displaying delightful backhand ground strokes, Hilpert completely dominated his opponent who looked off-colour, making a series of unforced errors.

Kirtane, however, made the early charge breaking Hilpert in the third game of the opening set, but the German broke back in the eighth to level 4-4.

After the next three games went with serve, Kirtane, serving at 5-6, made a crucial double fault to concede the game and the set 5-7.

Kirtane, who showed an occasional fondness to charge down the net, made better serves in the second set.

Both players retained their serves in the first seven games, but Hilpert, who raised his game by a notch in the eighth, broke Kirtane and polished off the tie 6-3.

The women’s final saw the 22-year-old U.S-based Manisha rely on a serve and volley game to tame Archana who, despite hitting some good ground strokes, failed to match her more experienced rival.

Archana broke Manisha in the fourth game to open up a 2-1 lead, but the Maharashtra girl broke back in the very next game to restore parity.

Manisha, thereafter, seemed in control breaking Archana in the sixth game and clinched the set 6-3.

Continuing with her good showing, she broke Archana in the opening game of the second set.

Archana had her chance in the next game as Manisha served two double faults and was down 30-40, but finally the Maharashtra girl retained her service by sending down two aces.

Archana, however, succeeded in breaking Manisha in the fourth game.

The Karnataka girl raced to a 40-0 lead, but Manisha fought back to reduce the deficit to 40-30, but then netted an easy shot to lose her serve.

But Archana’s joy was shortlived as she was broken back in the next game.

The sultry and humid weather seemed to take its toll on the players as Manisha dished out very poor quality serves in the sixth game and sent down two double faults to lose her third service game.

Finally, in the ninth game Manisha broke Archana again and kept her serve in the next game to take the title.

Sourav Panja and Nitin Kirtane won the men’s doubles crown taming top seed Asif Ismail and Marcus Hilpert 7-6 (12-10), 7-5 in a keenly contested final.

Ismail lost his serve in the fourth game of the opening set to give his opponents a 3-1 lead, which was offset soon as Panja lost his serve in the next game without claiming a single point.

The games then went with serves and at 6-6 the tie break was resorted to. Hilpert and Ismail opened up a 5-2 lead, but their opponents rallied brilliantly to level at 5-5.

Kirtane and Panja, thereafter, played a disciplined game to win the tie-break 12-10.

Ismail lost his serve in the opening game of the second set, but the score again became even as Panja was broken in the next.

Ismail failed to retain his serve again in the seventh game, and Panja-Kirtane were up 4-3.

In the next game, with Panja serving at 15-40, Ismail and Hilpert failed to take advantage of two break points and Panja hit a good high forehand to take the game to duece and finally managed to save the game.

But in the tenth game, Panja, serving for the match, sent down a double fault to lose his serve and the two pairs were again tied 5-5.

But Ismail was broken again in the 11th game and Nitin retained his serve to clinch the title.

‘Worst decision in heavyweight history’
From John Rawling in New York

BOXING was denied the price-less opportunity to walk with pride away from the most significant fight of the late 20th century, as three judges allowed Evander Holyfield to escape from Madison Square Garden with a draw he patently did not deserve.

Lennox Lewis was left to parade nothing more than a moral victory when the title of undisputed world heavyweight champion would have been the fitting reward.

Even Holyfield’s staunchest supporters were left shaking their heads in disbelief. The initial disappointment and anger within the Lewis camp quickly hardened into the firm feeling that they had been the victims of a darker plot, hatched in the maze of boxing politics through which only Don King steps with any certainty.

"This is a decision which makes me ashamed to be an American" was the verdict of Roy Jones Jr, the brilliant light-heavyweight commen-tating on the American cable network HBO. Meanwhile, Wallace Matthews and Michael Katz, the New York journalists who have turned Lennox-baiting into an art, were preparing to turn the power of their pens and their newspapers against King. Lewis’s manager, Frank Maloney, articulated his disappointment by hailing Lewis "The People’s Champion" and saying: "Lennox was blatantly robbed. This has to go down as the worst decision in heavyweight history."

HBO commentators made Lewis a winner by six rounds. Glenn McCrory, working as a ringside analyst for Sky Sports, had Lewis ahead by a four-round margin. Anticipating a possible home-town verdict, and analysing the context from a one-eyed pro-Holyfield stance, I had Lewis winning by five rounds. But the judges disagreed. Shrieks of astonishment from the 21,000 crowd greeted the announcement of New Jersey judge Eugenia Williams’s card, which made Holyfield a two-round winner. The South African Stanley Christodoulou gave it to Lewis by three points, and Britain’s Larry O’Connell scored it a draw. For round after round Lewis had worked stylishly behind his jab, keeping Holyfield at range, confining him to throwing wild, ineffectual hooks. Only in the third round, where he had predicted he would end the fight, and in the sixth, when he punished Lewis for contemptuously dropping his gloves, did Holyfield threaten to seize control.

Lewis concurred: "I thought I lost two rounds, that’s all. Did he hit me with the jab? I hit him with jabs all night. I believe there should be an automatic rematch, though I doubt if he’ll want one. He looked an old man. He looked slow, and missed a lot. I had him hurt a couple of times".

"I’m disappointed but happy, because the whole world can see for themselves what happened. I don’t know what the judges were looking at, but somehow I knew they would not let me leave with all three belts."

Lewis’s trainer, Emanuel Steward, added his condemnation: "I make my living out of this sport but tonight I’m ashamed of boxing. Perhaps there has to be an investigation. I gave Evander three rounds at most. It looked like Lennox was working with a sparring partner, except this sparring partner got $20million. "It was not a close fight. Lennox controlled it with the jab and played with him. This hurts boxing and we can’t just laugh. People are paying millions of dollars to watch. I think it was disgusting."

Earlier in the week Holyfield had shown signs of slurring his words. After the contest he was, at times, virtually indecipherable. The 36-year-old International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association champion should surely walk away from the sport he has graced for his own good, because it seems he is already treading the tragic path of so many before him. Yet he shows no signs of quitting, and seems ready to step through the ropes for another $20 million if, as King intimated, a rematch goes ahead this summer at an outdoor venue, possibly the Yankee Stadium baseball ground in the Bronx. "I’d a blessed day today," Holyfield said as he adopted a familiar religious refrain. "He proved he was great, and I take my hat off. But I thank God for another opportunity. Yeah, I did predict he’d get knocked out in three rounds. I was wrong. Maybe it’s the next fight where he gets knocked out in three rounds."

As the fighters left their press conference the voice of King was the last to be heard: "It’s subjective, judges are human beings. But when you have a dispute, let’s resolve it, let’s do it again. There are more embodiments, more ingredients. We’ll dance again."

So Lewis will fly back to Britain with only what he brought, the World Boxing Council belt, but his stock has surely risen with the public, especially the 7,000 who travelled across the Atlantic to help make this such an emotion-charged occasion.

When Lewis sits down to discuss terms for a rematch he will no longer need to take the thin end of the wedge. In the eyes of the boxing world he will leave New York able to claim with justification that he has earned the right to be considered world No 1.
— The Guardian, London

Graf humbles Capriati

KEY BISCAYNE (Florida), March 20 (AP) — The ritual between points has been part of Steffi Graf’s game for years: she stands at the baseline, runs a forefinger under her ear to her chin, then flicks away a bead of perspiration.

The German star did it only out of habit yesterday, because she didn’t break a sweat against American Jennifer Capriati.

Two comebacks collided, and Graf showed no mercy with a 6-0, 6-1 victory in the second round of the Lipton Championships. The rout sent the message that at her best, the 29-year-old Graf is still tough to beat.

"That’s the best she’s ever played against me," Capriati said. "She would beat anybody today, the way she played. That was like her no. 1 days."

While Graf has been slowed by injuries for much of the past two years, Capriati, at 22, is perpetually on the comeback trail. Despite a humble 2-4 record in 1999, she claims to have rediscovered the joy of playing.
"Right now I feel the best that I’ve felt in a long time," she said. "What I want out of tennis is not necessarily just winning. I just want to play well and have fun playing well."

In other results yesterday, Jim Courier earned a second-round match against long-time friend and foe Pete Sampras. The two former Lipton champions will meet today for the 20th time on ATP Tour in a rivalry that dates back to their days as juniors.

"It’s an early-round kind of appetiser for the fans," said courier, who advanced by beating Norway’s Jan Frode Andersen 7-6 (8-6), 6-2.

Fifth-seeded Patrick Rafter of Australia beat countryman Andrew Ilie in their first career meeting, 6-3, 7-5. Also winning were no. 6 Tim Henman of Britain, No. 7 Richard Krajicek of the Netherlands, and No. 12 Greg Rusedski of Britain. Kenneth Carlsen of Denmark upset No. 13 Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia for the first time in their seven matches, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

On the women’s side, No. 3 Monica Seles beat fellow American Brie Rippner 6-3, 7-5. France’s Amelie Mauresmo and Americans Mary Joe Fernandez and Chanda Rubin also won.

Graf is seeking her first tournament title since November, and based on yesterday’s performance, she’s a threat to upstage such youngsters as Swiss Star Martina Hingis and American sisters Venus and Serena Williams

Moving swiftly like one of those teen-agers, Graf won in just 47 minutes. She lost only nine points in the first set.

"I’m at my best if I play like that," said the five-time Lipton champ, who is thankful that good health has allowed her to play 21 matches already this year.

"I appreciate that a lot. It feels great after having a few years of a lot of struggles, finally to go out there and not have to be worried about everything."

At one time, Graf vs. Capriati was a much-anticipated showdown on the WTA Tour. Now they’re friendly practice partners, and yesterday’s match was their first since 1993.

Before the injuries that sidelined Graf, Capriati left the tour because of personal problems that included an arrest on drug charges. Capriati plans a full schedule this year but cheerfully admits she may never again play with the skill and confidence that made her a French Open semifinalist at age 14.
"It’s been so long since I’ve been out there in the quarters, the semis, the finals, the important matches against top players," she said. "Mentally I still have to get all that back - if I ever get there."

Indian athletes "did not use steroids"
From Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, March 19 — The Amateur Athletic Federation of India (AAFI) while denying allegations that use of steroids was responsible for Indian athletes faring poorly abroad, yesterday reviewed the country's performance in the Bangkok Asian game besides planning future strategies.

Talking to TNS the AAFI secretary-general, Dr Lalit K Bhanot, said earlier Indian athletes had not been performing up to the mark abroad as their training was inadequate. Now, however, we have taken remedial measures so that athletes are able to maintain their consistency levels for longer periods".

Mr Bhanot said there was no question of athletes participating in the Asiad after using steroids as they had been extensively tested before the Asian Games and even during the games. "The testing procedure is so superior that you cannot escape even if you have used steroids six months before the test", he added.

However, the AAFI secretary-general admitted that the steroids had come to the country. He said as many as 30 junior athletes had been banned for using steroids. The AAFI was taking steps to check the menace and 50 samples had been taken during the Junior National meet.

Earlier, speaking at the two-day seminar on athletics development in India at the National Institute of Sports here yesterday, Mr Bhanot said Sunita Rani's performance was the most unexpected one while the performances in the 4x100 metres and 4x400 metres women's relays, men's 5,000 metres and shot put did not measure up to expectations. He called for detailed analysis of these failings.

The seminar also witnessed some frank discussions by senior SAI coaches. 1978 Bangkok 400 metres medallist Kamaljit Kooner said: "We have become the carriers of old athletes". She wondered whether the country was spending money only to see senior athletes maintain their performance levels and not improve upon them.

Senior SAI coach RS Randhawa asked why the peaking of the athletes for the Asiad had not been calculated earlier. "What use is it today to tell us that some athletes were not able to peak for the games", he said.

Speaking on the occasion, SAI Executive Director, (Teams) OP Bhatia said all athletics events which had been relegated earlier would be revived. He said, however, to make this possible athletes, coaches and facilities needed to be identified. He said India would participate in all events in which it had potential in future international events.

Mr Bhatia was also clear in fixing targets for coaches. "Take what you want but fix targets besides evolving a strategy to make the medal mark in the coming Olympics and Pusan Asiad". He also stressed that it was not necessary for athletes to attend training camps at a particular place only and that flexibility would be allowed to suit the coach and the athletes.

Gopi, Aparna, Abhin, Nikhil in quarters

BANGALORE, March 20 (PTI) — India No.1 Gopi Chand, Abhin Shyam Gupta and Nikhil Kanetkar in the men’s section, and national champion Aparna Popat in the women’s have reached the quarterfinals of the French Open badminton championship.

Popat, seeded 49, beat Denmark’s Ann Weekstrom (46) 11-8, 11-9 yesterday and later thrashed German Petra Overzier, ranked 164, 11-6 11-1 to reach the last eight stage, a Badminton Association of India Press release said here today.

She will meet Ling Wan Ting of Hong Kong.

In the men’s pre-quarters, national champion Gopi Chand, ranked 49 in the world, had an easy 15-3 15-3 win over F Kouchler of Denmark and later beat Richard Doling of England 15-14 15-3. He plays martin Hagberg (Sweden) in the quarters.

Abhin Shyam Gupta (170) beat Thomas Viborg of Iceland (115) 15-3 15-5 and later turned the tables against Yeoh Kay Bin of Malaysia in a marathon three-setter for a 12-15 15-3 15-10 win. Abhin played with supreme confidence to beat the Malaysian, runner-up in the last world junior championships. He will meet China’s top-seed Chen Gang (12).

Kanetkar (101) played equally well and won over J Aalto 15-12 15-2 and Duka Nyqvisr (125) 15-5 17-15 (Finland). He will now meet Ng.Wei (126) of Hong Kong for a semifinal berth.

However, Sachin Ratti (197) lost a close second round tie to Marcos V of Portugal (100) in three sets 13-15 15-5 12-15.

It was mixed luck for Manjusha Kanwar when she won her second round match against Gillian Ma Tin (82) of Scotland in straight sets 11-4 11-1, but lost her pre-quarter final to top seed Zhou Mi (4) of China 4-11 9-11.

Kambli, Agarkar most likely to play: Azhar

NAGPUR, March 20 (UNI) — Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin today said batsman Vinod Kambli and medium pacer Ajit Agarkar were most likely to play in the second Pepsi Tri-Series one-day International here on Monday against Sri Lanka.

He said both Kambli and Agarkar had been laid off for a long time due to injuries and it was better to gauge their match fitness as early as possible.

Agarkar broke down with a stress fracture on his landing foot on the eve of Indian team’s departure and Kambli twisted his ankle a year ago. Both were pronounced fit for inclusion in the World Cup probables but the Indian skipper was keen to find their match worthiness before the selectors announce the final list.

The most likely choice for the vacant opening slot of Sachin Tendulkar is in-form Sandogopan Ramesh. The left hander has made a fine debut in Tests but the main challenge in the one-dayer will be to take advantage of the 15-over field restrictions. This will also serve as one more challenge to Saurav Ganguly.

With skipper wanting Kambli to play, the aggressive Amay Khurasia all rounder Giyaneshwar Pandey may not find their names in the twelve tomorrow.

Mixed luck for Anand

MONTE CARLO, March 20 (PTI) — Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand won his rapid game with a superb play but his progress was halted in the blindfold section by Bulgaria’s Veselin Topalov in the fourth round of the Amber Chess Tournament here last night.

Russia’s Vladimir Kramnik won his blindfold against the Netherlands Loek Van Wely and drew the rapid game to take sole lead as overnight joint leader Anatoly Karpov faced reverses at the hands of French g.m. Joel Lautier.

Fide world champion Karpov lost in blindfold game to former world junior champion Lautier and then settled for a draw in rapid to drop down to third position as Lautier (5.5) moved up to the second spot.

Kramnik, with six points, leads the pack of 12 players with seven more rounds to go into this rapid and blindfold chess championship. Anand (3.5 points) is languishing down the points table on sixth position.

World number two Anand and Topalov played the best rapid game of the day in which the Bulgarian seemed to make a reasonable pawn sacrifice. Anand had different plans and concluded the game with a nice mating attack.

Anand’s win came in 34 moves following a kings Indian defence as Topalov’s black missed a chance earlier on.

In the blindfold section Topalov turned the tables on Anand and stunned the Indian champion. Topalov killed him by strict positional means, showing the disadvantages of a tripled pawn. It was a caro-kan game that went into 63 moves before Topalov won.

Dhillon, Jayant steal the show
From Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, March 20 — G.S. Dhillon and Jayant Singh stole the thunder in the inaugural 18-hole championship, organised by the Haryana Golf Association at the Classic Golf Resort here today.

Dhillon won two titles. He was declared the best with 80 points in the group for the handicap 10 and above and was outstanding in stableford format with a tally of 46 points.

Jayant was the best in the section of handicap of nine and below. His tally of points was 79. Ashwani Kapoor was the runner-up in this category with 80 points.

Playing on the international standard of the course, the players were quick to acclimatise hitting the ball well and putting consistently.

"Though we have formed the association recently, we will soon overtake others in organising the competitions for various sections of the state", emphasised a spokesman of the Haryana Golf Association, adding: "We will soon have clinics for promising golfers".

Ms L.M. Goel, who was the lone woman participant among about 60, hit the ball long. "I began playing about six years ago and I am delighted that I played on this superb course", said Ms Goel.

Results: Handicap below 9: Jayant Singh1, Ashwani Kapoor 2, Handicap 10 and above: G.S. Dhillon 1, Pradeep Jain 2. Stableford System: G.S. Dhillon (46 points) 1, S.K. Sharma 43 Points 2. Longest drive: Ms L.M. Goel. Cloest to pin: S.S. Sawhney.

Zimbabwe beat Kenya by 133 runs

DHAKA, March 20 (AFP) — Zimbabwe defeated Kenya by 133 runs in the opening match of the tri-nation one-day series here yesterday.

The Kenyans, chasing Zimbabwe’s huge total of 272 for 6 from 50 overs, were bundled out only for 139 with five overs to spare.

Kenya will play hosts Bangladesh today in the second day-night match at Dhaka’s Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Zimbabwe:
Johnson c Odumbe b Odoyo 15
G. Flower c and b T. Suji 22
Goodwin run out 12
A. Flower b T. Odoyo 83
A. Campbell c T. Suji b A. Karim 37
E. Brandes run out 53
G. Whittal not out 22
H. Streak not out 9
Extras: (lb-9, w-6, nb-4) 19
Total: (for 6 wickets, 50 overs) 272
Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-52, 3-63, 4-169, 5-222, 6-246.
Bowling: Martin Suji 9-0-70-0, Tony Suji 10-1-51-1, Thomas Odoyo 10-2-26-2, Asif Karim 8-0-46-1, Maurice Odumbe 10-0-45-0, Stephen Tikolo 3-0-25-0.

Kenya:
K. Otieno c Campbell b Strang 24
R. Shah c and b Strang 28
S. Tikolo run out 3
M. Odumbe c sub (D.Viljoen)
b A. Whittall 13
H. Modi c Campbell b Strang 4
S. Gupta c A. Whittall b Strang 0
A. Vadher c Andy Flower b Strang 8
T. Odoyo lbw Streak 25
T. Suji c Campbell b Grant Flower 2 A. Karim not out 16
M. Suji b Streak 0
Extras: (b-1, lb-6, w-6, nb-3) 16
Total: 139
Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-64, 3-65, 4-72, 5-72, 6-84, 7-92, 8-101, 9-135.
Bowling: Branbdes 6-1-33-0, Streak 7-2-12-1, Johnson 5-1-13-0, Strang 10-1-22-5, A. Whittall 10-0-24-1, G. Flower 4-0-26-1, Campbell 2-0-2-0.

2-match suspension for Bhupinder

HYDERABAD, March 20 (PTI) — Punjab and Sindh Bank (PSB) forward Bhupinder Singh was today awarded two-match suspension while his teammate and international Baljit Singh Chandi received a one-match suspension for unsportsmen like behaviour during a National Hockey Championship league match here yesterday.

Tournament director, Mohammed Ghouse, who slapped the suspension on the two players however let-off another international Baljit Singh Saini, who was also involved in an attack on a rival player during the PSB’s clash with Pondicherry in group-1, with just a warning here today.

The incident occurred in the 56th minute following a stick clash between Balamurugan of Pondicherry and Bhupinder Singh.

Even before umpire Mohendro could blow his whistle for infringement, Bhupinder along with Saini and Chandi, assaulted Balamurugan with their sticks. Balamurugan needed eight stitches on his forehead while Bhupinder was shown the red card.

Ghouse, after consulting the umpires, who had given a written complaint to the tournament director, decided to suspend Bhupinder for the remaining two league matches against Madhya Pradesh tomorrow and Air-India on March 22. Chandi will miss tomorrow’s match while Saini has been severely warned for his unruly behaviour and asked to restrain his temper.

Rural sports mela
Tribune News Service
TALWANDI SABO, March 20 — Khalsa rural sports mela will be organised here from March 24 to March 26 at Guru Kashi College on the occasion of tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa.

According to Mr Maggar Singh convener of the organising committee, competition in kabaddi, volleyball (shooting), tug-of-war athletic, horse riding, tent pegging, 100 metres race of sarpanch and panchayat members and turban making would be held.

Suitable cash prizes would be given to the winners by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal.

DCW defeat SCR
From Our Sports Reporter
PATIALA, March 20 — Diesal Component Works (DCW) beat South Central Railway (SCR) by 63 runs in the All-India Inter Railway Cricket Tournament league match played at the DCW Sports Stadium here today.

Scores: DCW 239 for 9 in 50 overs (Sushil Handa 53, Harjeet Bajwa 89, Jaspal Gill 39, Habib Khan 2 for 33, Rajesh Patel 2 for 31, Chetan Joshi 2 for 40) SCR: 176 all out in 42 overs (Noel Micheal 38, A. Sridhar 64, Chetan Joshi 15, Kiran 2 for 44, H. Bajwa 2 for 48, Roshan Saini 3 for 18. M. Dixit 2 for 18).

Navneet in fine nick
By Our Sports Reporter
CHANDIGARH, March 20 — A fine knock of 64 not out by Navneet Thapar helped Punjab Warehousing Corporation Cricket Club to beat Youth Cricket Club in the opening match of the 3rd Chandigarh League cum knock out Cricket Tournament being played at the PGI cricket ground here today.

Brief scores: YCC: 125 for 7 in 25 overs (Chand Rana 35, Rajesh Vaid 28 n.o, Sarpreet Gill 2 for 18, Avinash Chander 2 for 36), PWC: 126 for 2 in 21.4 overs (Navneet Thapar 64 n.o, Anil Sharma 30).