Sunday, March 28, 1999
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S P O R T | Sunday, March 28, 1999 |
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Lanka keeps hopes alive VISAKHAPATNAM, March 27 — The beleaguered Sri Lankans reversed their sliding fortunes to script a thrilling 12-run victory over Pakistan to keep their hopes alive in the Pepsi Cup triangular one-day cricket series here today. Anand remains 4th overall MONTE CARLO, March 27 — Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand was held to a draw in both rapid and blindfold games by Jeroen Piket of the Netherlands to remain fourth overall while Russian Vladimir Kramnik maintained his overall lead by a full point after the ninth round of the Amber Chess Tournament here last night. |
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Jyoti,
Feroz hog the limelight |
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Waugh
puts Aussies on top with ton Cullinan
stars in South Africa win Elaborate
security for one-dayer Williams
sisters set up title clash Former
champs Punjab bow out The
break should do me good: Sachin
Sasikiran
held by Koshy Keen
contests on the cards |
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Lanka keeps hopes alive VISAKHAPATNAM, March 27 (PTI) — The beleaguered Sri Lankans reversed their sliding fortunes to script a thrilling 12-run victory over Pakistan to keep their hopes alive in the Pepsi Cup triangular one-day cricket series here today. Chasing a victory target of 254 in 48 overs (two overs deducted because of slow over rate), skipper Wasim Akram raised hopes of a sensational Pakistan win with a blistering 79 off 60 balls after a disastrous start but the islanders kept their cool in the final stages to dismiss Pakistan for 241 in 46.3 overs and throw the series wide open. Akram was in devastating form as he took his team within sniffing distance of victory slamming four sixes and five fours during his hurricane knock but the Lankans swung the game back in their favour after his departure to record their first win in the series from three outings. With Pakistan at a precarious 98 for six, Akram led the fightback as he put on a rollicking 83 runs for the eighth wicket with Saqlain Mushtaq (28 not out) but it went in vain as the tailenders succumbed quite tamely in the home stretch. Earlier, electing to bat, the Lankans rode on a sparkling 101 by Man of the Match Mehala Jayawardene and some lusty hitting by all rounder Upul Chandana (35) to pile up a healthy 253 for eight in their allotted 50 overs on what looked to be a good corporation stadium batting track. Star bat Aravinda de Silva and skipper Arjuna Ranatunga fell cheaply to medium-pacer Azhar Mehmood (4/40), but Marvan Atapattu (28) and Hashan Tillekeratne (25) made vital contributions to lift the score. The 21-year-old Jayawardene, who struck his second one day century, showed great character by holding one end up as the Sri Lankan later order put up a gutsy show after Ranatunga won the toss and elected to bat in the tie they had to win to be in the race for a final spot. Pakistan, looking to seal the final berth with their third win, began on a disastrous note as paceman Pramodya Wickremasinghe, who took four for 48 in the first match at Jamshedpur against Pakistan, struck in quick succession. He removed the explosive Shahid Afridi (0), teenage debutant Imran Nazir (2) and the experienced Ijaz Ahmed (12) as Pakistan found themselves at a precarious 19 for three in the first five overs of the innings. Inzamam-ul Haq and Yousuf Youhana played cautiously to stem the rot and add 39 runs for the fourth wicket as new ball bowlers Wickremasinghe and Eric Upasantha stuck to their tasks admirably to dry up the run flow. Off spinner Ruwan Kalpage, introduced in the 16th over in place of Upasantha, provided the breakthrough by evicting Inzamam-ul Haq by taking a brilliant return catch. Pakistanis plunged further into trouble when Youhana, who has not managed to put up a big score in the series so far, went for a mighty heave but could not connect properly and spooned a catch to Marvan Atapattu on the boundary line off Kalpage for 21. It was left to Azhar Mahmood (37) and Moin Khan (16) to salvage the innings somewhat as the two put on 34 runs for the sixth wicket, but Akram single-handedly threatened to take the match away from Sri Lanka before De Silva (2/26) removed him in the 45th over to pull the match his team’s way. Pakistan were reeling at
146 for seven when Saqlain Mushtaq joined Akram to give
his captain excellent support to maintain his
counterattacking ways. The late onslaught by Akram put the Lankans under great pressure as Ranatunga spread the field to contain the runs which came in a torrent. Akram struck lusty blows with brutal power, smashing Wickremasinghe all over the place the 44th over that went for 16 runs as Pakistan raced to 227, needing 27 runs from five overs. But De Silva saw his back when Upul Chandana at deep midwicket took a well-judged low catch as Akram swung him. Any Pakistan hopes of still pulling off the win were dashed when Arshad Khan, having taken a second run due to a misfield at long on, stepped out for a third to be run out and Sri Lanka wrapped up the issue when Shoaib Akhtar gave a tame return catch to Wickremasinghe at midwicket. De Silva finished with two for 26 bowling 6.3 overs at a crucial phase. Off-spinner Ruwan Kalpage finished with two for 61 while Wickremasinghe claimed three for 34 after a brilliant first spell of 7-1-16-3. With today’s results throwing the tournament wide open, Sri Lanka travel to Pune to take on India on March 30 while Pakistan and the hosts will meet in the final league tie at Mohali on April 1. SCOREBOARD Extras (b-2, lb-8, w-8, nb-7) 25 Total (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 253 Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-70, 3-86, 4-86, 5-157, 6-218, 7-228, 8-238. Bowling: W. Akram 10-0-39-0, S. Akhtar 8-0-45-1, A. Mahmood 10-1-40-4, Saqlain 10-1-39-1, Arshad 9-0-62-0, S. Afridi 3-0-18-0. Pakistan: Extras (lb-1, b-1, nb-12, w-9) 23 Total (all out in 46.3 overs) 241 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-2, 3-19, 4-58, 5-64, 6-98, 7-146, 8-229, 9-238. Bowling: Wikremasinghe
9-1-34-3, Upasantha 10-1-40-1, Boteju 9-0-57-0, Kalpage
9-0-61-2, Chandana 3-0-21-1, De Silva 6.3-0-26-2. |
Anand remains 4th overall MONTE CARLO, March 27 (PTI) — Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand was held to a draw in both rapid and blindfold games by Jeroen Piket of the Netherlands to remain fourth overall while Russian Vladimir Kramnik maintained his overall lead by a full point after the ninth round of the Amber Chess Tournament here last night. The 29-year-old Anand continued to lead in rapid play with 6.5 points, one point ahead of second placed Kramnik, but lying seventh in blindfold section with just 3.5 points, out of nine. Anand, with an aggregate of 10.0 points, meets veteran Russian Anatoly Karpov in the tenth and penultimate round. Russian-born Spaniard Alexy Shirov joined Kramnik at the top of the blindfold section with 7.0 after an interesting win over Karpov, though the former world champion upstaged his younger rival in rapid play to ensure a draw. Kramnik maintained his overall lead with 12.5 points, ahead of Vaselin Topalov (11.5) and Shirov (11.0). He was held to a draw in both rapid and blindfold games by Predrag Nikolic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. But Topalov reduced the margin between him and the leader with a good win over Vassily Ivanchuk in blindfold and played out a draw in rapid. Topalov won in 41 moves from an English opening. In the rapid game, Piket was slightly better placed despite a giant knight on E4, but Anand equalised. The game lasted just 25 moves from a bogo Indian and both players were content with the draw. In blindfold, Anand with white did make an attempt for a full point but did not succeed. The ruy lopez game ended in a 28-move draw. Shirov suffered a setback against Karpov in rapid. In the king’s Indian game lasting 36 moves, Karpov surprised Shirov in the opening and then went on to win an advantageous ending. But that was neutralised in an error-filled blindfold game lasting just 23 moves from a caro kann. Shirov made many mistakes, but Karpov’s position became helpless when he exceeded the time limit. Ljubomir Ljubojevic beat
Joel Lautier 1.5-0.5. Lautier lost the rapid play in a
marathon 86-move nimzo Indian defence game. In the
blindfold, Ljubojevic managed a quick draw in 24 moves of
a queen’s gambit accepted variation game. |
Jyoti, Feroz hog the limelight MEERUT, Mar 27 — Even as overnight leaders Basad Ali and Uttam Singh Mundy continued to lead the field, it was the turn of Jyoti Randhawa and Feroz Ali to grab the limelight with blistering rounds of five-under 67 during the third round of the Rs 5 lakh AGC-Wills Meerut Open today. At the par-72,6,785-yard Army Golf Course, Basad and Mundy (both Calcutta) shot identical rounds of one-over 73 in extremely windy conditions to aggregate six-under 210 after 54 holes. But the leaders will now have to play really well on the final day as pre-tournament favourites Randhawa and Feroz closed gap with superb rounds. Randhawa, the reigning Hero Honda Masters champion, moved to within one stroke of the leader with his 67, while Feroz, 1998 Wills Indian Open champion and winner of the last professional event played here, was in sole possession of the fourth place with a four-under 212. In joint fifth place were this year’s Indian Open runner-up Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia, who shot a four-under 68 today, and Color Plus Open champion Sanjay Kumar (Lucknow) and veteran Rohtas Singh, both playing level-par rounds to be three-under 213 for the tournament so far. "Conditions were really testing out there today", said Mundy after ending his 18-hole battle with the winds. During the round, he made bogies on the 2nd and 6th and a birdie on the 5th to make the turn at one-over. On the back nine, Mundy bogied the 12th and birdied the 15th to finish one-over for the day. "I persevered throughout the day and am glad that I am still at the top spot", said the twice Honda-siel PGA champion. Basad made three birdies, but was undone by four bogies. He was two-over at the turn with bogies on the 3rd and 6th holes, but three birdies in the back nine as against two bogies ensured that he still finished the day leading the pack. "Tomorrow will be a battle of nerves. Whoever keeps his, will win. I will try my best", said the veteran. Among the very few to have mastered the wind was Randhawa. Playing on the course where he honed his skill, the 27-year-old fired seven birdies and two bogies in his round of 67. "I was extremely focussed today", said Randhawa after the round. A three-putt bogey on the third was the only blemish as Feroz went on a birdie binge from the word go. Birdies on the 1st,4th,5th and 8th were interspersed with missed chances on the 2nd,6th and 7th holes. A bogey on the 10th was dampener for his return journey, but he soon set the record straight with birdies on the 11th, 14th and 15th holes. "When I played last afternoon, the conditions were equally windy. I learnt from that experience and it helped today", Feroz later said. Also turning in good score was the pro-am winner Mohd Islam. His three-under 69 took him up to joint 20th spot. Scores:(after 54 holes):
210 Basad Ali (66, 71, 73), Uttam Singh Mundy (68, 69,
73): 211 Jyoti Randhawa (70, 74, 67): 212 Feroz Ali (71,
74, 67): 213 Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (73, 72, 68),
Rohtas Singh (73, 68, 72), Sanjay Kumar (71, 70, 72): 214
Mukesh Kumar (71, 71, 72): 215 Balbir Verma (70, 72, 73),
Mohammed Maqbool (70, 75, 70): 216 Akbar Ali (67, 74,
75), Vivek Bhandari (70, 71, 75), Amritinder Singh (68,
73, 74): 217 Vijay Kumar (70, 72, 75), Gaurav Ghei (68,
76, 73), Shiv Prakash (73, 73, 71), Yusuf Ali (71, 76,
70): 218 Ali Sher (74, 68, 76), Rafiq Ali (72, 75, 71):
Ams: 237 Deep Binder (77, 83, 77): 238 Abhishek Ahlawat
(76, 85, 77): 240 Abhijit Sethi (79, 76, 85). |
PCB under pressure to include Sohail KARACHI, March 27 (ANI) — Pressure is building up on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to include former captain Aamer Sohail in the World Cup squad, according to well-placed sources here and in Islamabad. The sources claimed that some unnamed government functionaries had sent instructions to the PCB to include Sohail in the World Cup squad at all costs. As a result, the PCB have now got in touch with chief selector Wasim Bari, urging him to change the provisional squad in order to accommodate the opening batsman. The developments have taken place in the wake of a note sent by Sohail to the President’s secretariat and to the Federal Minister for Information and Sports Mushahid Hussain some weeks ago, in which the former skipper claimed that he was being victimised by the PCB and the selectors since he had had a major role to play in the ongoing probe into match-fixing and betting allegations against certain players. Sohail had also claimed that the PCB chairman Khalid Mahmood had asked him to withdraw all charges against captain Wasim Akram if he wanted to play again, something which Mahmood has denied, describing Sohail as a compulsive liar. The secretariat accordingly asked Bari to explain the reasons for not considering Sohail for the World Cup, to which he did respond in writing. Apparently the response either did not satisfy the secretariat or those in favour of having Sohail in the team are exerting far more pressure on the government functionaries to have him back in the side. The existing situation is that the selectors are now being told to include Sohail. To do this, the PCB would first have to get clearance from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The ICC rules say that once a board has submitted their preliminary pool of 19, the final 15 will have to be drawn from among them. No player outside the 19 can be included in the final squad without the special approval from the ICC. The selectors, as a result, now find themselves in a dilemma, because with Pakistan on a winning spree and having gelled together well under Wasim, they fear Sohail’s inclusion would only create problems. It is no secret that he is not popular among the players. It is understood that Wasim, too, has also got wind of this development and has conveyed from India that he would not like to have Sohail in the World Cup squad. It is a well-known fact that Wasim and Sohail did not get along well when the latter was leading the side. Sohail privately claims
that Wasim sabotaged his reign as captain earlier this
season. However, there is no doubt that the forced
inclusion of Sohail at such a late stage for the World
Cup, is not going to have a positive impact on the team
and there could be more trouble ahead. |
Waugh puts Aussies on top with ton BRIDGETOWN, March 27 (AP) — Australian captain Steve Waugh hit a magnificent, unbeaten 141 to lead his team to a powerful position of 322 for four on the opening day of the third Cable and Wireless Cricket Test against the West Indies. The 33-year-old revived Australia yesterday after they slumped to 36 for three after just over an hour. At close, Waugh was still there after collecting his second successive Test ton following an even century in the first innings in the second Test in Jamaica two weeks ago. The New South Wales batsman has been in the middle for 323 minutes, facing 241 balls and hitting 15 fours during his 19th Test century. Waugh’s revival of the Australian innings came via successive century partnerships with Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting, both of whom collected half centuries. Langer compiled a well-organised 51 in two and a quarter hours before being bowled by off-spinner Carl Hooper midway through the day. The Western Australia left-hander hit four fours from his 84 balls, passing 1,000 runs in his 19th Test along the way. He and Waugh added 108 in two hours to take the sting out of the West Indian attack. Ponting, who only came into the team as a replacement for the injured Greg Blewett, was unbeaten 65 at the close. The 24-year-old Tasmanian struck seven fours in 203 minutes, facing 162 deliveries. Waugh went to three figures just after tea from 149 balls, 207 minutes and with 10 fours, more than half with flowing drives off the front foot. Waugh, in his third match as skipper, also moved into third place among Australian run-scorers during his knock. He took his tally to 7,477 runs and ahead of David Boon (7,422). He only trails his predecessors as Australian captain, Mark Taylor (7,525) and Allan Border (11,174). Earlier, it was the West Indies fast bowling greats who gained the early advantage for their team after Waugh won his third straight toss. Ambrose struck twice in one over after Walsh had provided the initial breakthrough. Ambrose, the 35-year-old Antiguan, took his tally of wickets to 359 in 87 tests. Jamaican Walsh, a year older, moved to 412 wickets in 109 matches. Walsh removed left-hander Matthew Elliott for nine to a wicket-keeper’s catch, his dismissal sparking a slide in which three wickets fell for five runs in 19 balls. Elliott’s opening partner Michael Slater hit a six and two fours in 23 before he edged Ambrose low to first slip where West Indies captain Brian Lara snared a low catch. Two balls later, Ambrose gained the prized scalp of Mark Waugh, bowled off the inside edge for a "duck." But Waugh, in association with Langer and Ponting, made sure that it was not to be the West Indies’ day. Ambrose was the best of the home team’s bowlers, with two for 67 off 21.3 overs. Walsh and Hooper each took a wicket. SCOREBOARD: Australia (first innings): Slater c Lara b Ambrose 23 Elliott c Jacobs b Walsh 9 Langer b Hooper 51 Mark Waugh b Ambrose 0 Steve Waugh not out 141 Ponting not out 65 Extras: (leg-byes 6, no-balls 27) 33. Total: (for four wickets) 322. Wickets fell at: 1/31, 2/36, 3/36, 4/144. Bowling: Curtly
Ambrose 21.3-4-67-2 (no-balls 11), Courtney Walsh
22-5-86-1 (no-balls 11), Nehemiah Perry 16-3-60-0, Pedro
Collins 23.3-4-79-0 (no-balls 5), Carl Hooper 7-3-24-1. |
Cullinan stars in South Africa win AUCKLAND (NEW ZEALAND), March 27 (AP) — A sensational display of hitting by South African batsman Daryll Cullinan carried his team to victory over New Zealand today in the fifth one-day cricket international at Eden Park. South Africa thrashed New Zealand by 143 runs after making 290 for five, then dismissing New Zealand for 147 in 36.1 overs. South Africa leads the six-game series 3-2 with the final match scheduled for Wellington on Tuesday. Cullinan hit 94 in 56 balls, including seven sixes and five fours, to decimate the New Zealand attack. He dominated a 145-run stand for the fourth wicket with century-maker Jacques Kallis and at one point hit four sixes in five balls from left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori. He was on target to hit the second fastest one-day century, but slightly lost pace just before being bowled in the penultimate over of the innings. Only four players, Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka, Shahid Afridi and Ijaz Ahmed of Pakistan and West Indian Gordon Greenidge, have hit more than seven sixes in a one-day innings. SCOREBOARD Kirsten c Twose b Harris
70 Extras (B-1, NB-1, W-2) 4 Total (for five wkts, 50 overs) 290 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-12, 3-124, 4-269, 5-270. Bowling: Allott 10-0-47-4, Nash 7-2-29-0, Larsen 7-0-48-6, Astle 10-0-72-0, Harris 7-0-37-1, Vettori 9-0-56-0. NEW ZEALAND: Extras (LB-8, W-6) 14 Total (all out, 36.1 overs) 147 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-51, 3-67, 4-68, 5-70, 6-107, 7-123, 8-129, 9-147. Bowling: Pollock
6-1-23-1, Kallis 7-1-31-1, Klusener 6.1-1-21-2, Elworthy
6-0-26-2, Cronje 6-0-26-3, Boje 5-0-12-0. |
Elaborate security for one-dayer SAS NAGAR, March 27 — The Punjab Cricket Association stadium here will bear the look of a cantonment during the April 1 tri-series match between India and Pakistan as the Punjab Police has made a huge 'bandobast' involving about 2000 security personnel to prevent any untoward incident. Besides making security arrangements, special traffic management will be undertaken by the police to ensure that that there are no problem, for visitors, spectators and residents during the match. The regulations include closure of two roads along the stadium for normal vehicular traffic during the match hours. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr B.S. Randhawa, the local Superintendent of Police, said as many as 1200 constables, 311 Head Constables, 245 Non-Gazetted Officers, excluding Inspectors, 53 Inspectors, 18 D.S.Ps and nine Superintendents of Police would be put on duty. The entire force will be supervised by a DIG and IG. Every gazetted officer will be allowed to be accompanied by a security guard, who will be allowed to carry only small weapons. In addition to this, to tackle any eventuality arising out in any of enclosures, an unspecified number of the members of a specially created rescue force would be deputed at each of 11 entry points of the stadium. "We have made such a provision that these people would be able to reach the trouble spot within no time," said Mr Randhawa, without disclosing the exact number of force members to be deputed at each gate. Elaborate parking arrangements have also been made by the police so that there was not any chaos on this account. As many as 12 separate parking lots have been created for parking of different categories of vehicles. "For each parking lot, passes of a specified colour are being issued, and no body without these passes and tickets will be allowed to enter the parking lots. Any vehicle found parked at a place other than parking lots will be towed away,"said Mr Randhawa. For about 60 vehicles of the visiting VVIPs, a special parking lot, number 1, has been earmarked in front of the entrance to the stadium, while other parking lots have been created at different places around the stadium."We are expecting about 200 and 700 vehicles in the lot number two and three, which have been created in an open space adjacent to the Sports Complex and near the Housefed Complex respectively," he said. The entire traffic flow in the city and around the stadium will be manned by security personnel to be deployed on two different layers of nakas. There will be 10 nakas forming the part of the inner ring which will be formed in a radius of one kilometre of the stadium, while there will be 12 nakas to keep a tab on the flow of traffic in different parts of the city, he added. "The normal traffic flow will not be allowed on the roads forming a part of the inner security ring," he added while saying that guide maps have been printed on the backside of tickets for the convenience of spectators. Nobody will be allowed to carry pagers, mobile phones, carry bags or any eatable along with him. Mr Randhawa said in view
of the visit of about 1000 spectators from Pakistan and
to keep a tab on their activities intelligence officials
would be deputed in different parts of the complex. |
Williams sisters set up title clash KEY BISCAYNE (Florida), March 27 (AP) — Sisters Venus and Serena Williams scored impressive wins to meet in an unprecedented family final in the Lipton championships. Serena came from behind in both sets to beat top-ranked Martina Hingis of Switzerland, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). Three hours later, venus completed a 6-4, 6-2 victory over five-time Lipton champion Steffi Graf of Germany. The all-sister women’s final tomorrow will be the first since the open era began in 1968. When asked who would win, Venus said: "A Williams." Serena rallied from a 4-0 deficit against Hingis to earn her 16th consecutive victory. She needs one more for her third tournament title in a row. "I’ve worked really hard all my life since I was 4 years old," said Serena, 17. "There comes a time you have to start winning. All my hard work is finally paying off." Venus, 18, showed a new dimension in her powerful game by playing patiently and waiting for Graf to make mistakes. Williams dominated from the start, taking a 3-0 lead in each set, and broke Graf’s serve six times. Dutchman Richard Krajicek will try for his first US tournament title since 1993 when he plays unseeded Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean today. Hingis, 2-0 previously against Serena Williams, was simply overpowered this time. Hingis’ serve is the weakest part of her game, and the muscular Williams took advantage by repeatedly ripping return winners. But Williams also was erratic. She made nine backhand errors in one game alone, an 18-point marathon. The margin was lopsided in her column for both unforced errors (49-14) and winners (48-11). Williams lost 13 consecutive points in the early going, setting the tone for her streaky performance. "I was like, ok, when do you start playing?" Hingis said. "She was just too confident. She thought I would miss everything." After Hingis won the first four games, Williams won the next eight. Hingis then won five in a row for a 5-2 lead in the second set before Williams began her final charge. She broke Hingis’ serve to reach 6-6, hit three consecutive forehand winners in the tie-breaker and slammed yet another to close out the match. Williams then broke into a grin, raised both hands and staggered across the court, as if overwhelmed by her achievement. "I guess it’s my biggest win," she said. "I’ve never beaten the No 1 player before, now that you mention it." "She played a great match," Hingis said. "It’s a good time for her, not for me." Despite the defeat, Hingis
will remain No 1 when the new rankings are released next
week as second-ranked Lindsay Davenport of the USA
withdrew from the tournament because of a sprained wrist
after reaching the quarterfinals. |
Former champs Punjab bow out CHENNAI, March 27 (PTI) — Former champions Punjab were shown the exit by talented Delhi players who split points in a goalless quarterfinal league encounter of the Santosh Trophy national football championship here today. While Punjab have completed their engagements with just one point from two ties, holders Bengal managed to beat a fighting Services 2-1, with all goals coming in the first half, for their first victory in group I, in Udagamandalam. In Coimbatore, thrice champions Kerala brightened their chances of making it to the semifinals with a confident 3-0 win over Assam in group III. Like hosts Tamil Nadu, Kerala also require a draw to make it to the last four stage. Kerala play Maharashtra, who, having drawn with Assam earlier, are in a must-win situation. Tamil Nadu, who beat Punjab 3-1, will take on Delhi on Monday, while runner-up Goa will play Chandigarh tomorrow. For Kerala, diminutive rightwinger Asif Saheer slotted a brace (1st, 37th mins) and veteran striker Shaji rounded if off in the 76th minute. Star shooter Baichung Bhutia drew first blood for Bengal in 17th minute through a header and later scored his second, a penalty, in the 23rd minute. Rajesh Kumar Singh reduced the margin for services in the 40th minute. It took some time for the fancied Bengal, in pursuit of their sixth straight title, to adjust to the conditions. Much was expected of the star-studded team, but their strikers found the rival defence, well marshalled by Ignatious and Naveen Gurung, a tough nut to crack. In the match between Delhi and Punjab, the former were swift and perfect in interceptions and short passing. Punjab went into attack seconds after kick off, but international Kuldip Singh’s pass from the centre to Manmohan Singh on the right was wasted by Singh whose try sailed over. Punjab medios, totally marked and invariably dispossessed of the ball, played second fiddle to Delhi attackers. Both Dinesh Dondiiyal and the pony-tailed Joy Paul Raj were astute in restricting the mobility of the Punjab medios. However, it was Delhi who appeared set to achieve the all-important lead but both their best chances in the first 25 minutes of play came to nought with Bhupinder Thakur and Dharmender Kharola’s tries being saved by custodian Baljit. It was not Delhi’s day as one superb lob from about 20 yards by Dondiyal hit the inside of the upright and bounced back to play in the 31st minute which was cleared by Balwinder Singh. Four minutes before break, Sanjeev Sharma’s controlled chip was also saved by ‘keeper Baljit Singh. Crossing over, Delhi medios created a lot of openings but an alert B Singh under Punjab bar thwarted their efforts. Though Delhi dominated the
proceedings for 15 minutes midway through second half,
their efforts did not fructify. However, it was Punjab
which held sway in the last 10 minutes. But Harjinder
Singh showed lethargy in utilising a good chance off a
free ball near Delhi goal when custodian Biswanath Deb,
who had charged out, missed to collect the ball. |
The break should do me good: Sachin MUMBAI, March 27 (PTI) — Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, who is recuperating from a back injury, has said he needed to rest physically but more important was the ‘mental rest’ he had received during the current lay-off from cricket. "I could rest mentally only by spending a lot of time with my family and they rallied around me to ensure I got that," Tendulkar said here last night after the launch of a World Cup commemorative gold medallion depicting his face on one side. "Of course it has been very hard to stay away from the game and when at home, I keep practising before a mirror with my bat", Tendulkar, who has skipped the current tri-series involving India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka due to a back problem, said. "I really do not remember the last time I had such a long layoff from cricket but this break should do me good", the master batsman said. "I have been playing throughout and would have liked to continue doing that but there are times when one would like to relax and spend some time with the family and I do it in the company of my daughter and wife", he added. When asked whether he would be available for the Sharjah tournament involving Pakistan, England and India, he simply said "we will have to wait and see". The medallion, issued jointly by the Corporation Bank and Societe Generale to commemorate the 1999 World Cup at England depicting Tendulkar on one side and the slogan "support India 1999" on the other, was launched by the 1983 World Cup winning team's skipper Kapil Dev. When asked about his feelings on the medallion Tendulkar said: "I am really very honoured. I would like to keep it close to my heart and try to follow paaji's (Kapil Dev's) footsteps and bring back the World Cup after 16 years". "The medallion (the highest recognition for an Indian sportsperson by a corporate firm) is a very sentimental thing. I am proud to be an Indian first and a cricketer later and I feel it is important to win medals for the country," he added. "It does not matter
whether cricketers win it or athletes and wrestlers do,
as long as they win it for the country. So I am happy it
(the medallion) is for everybody. |
Independent sports ministry on cards? PATIALA, March 27 — Decks have been cleared for the formation of an independent Ministry of Sports, delinking it from the ministry of Youth Affairs, Women, Child Development and Sports. At present it falls under the vast Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD). According to sources in the HRD ministry proposal has been cleared at the lower levels and is awaiting clearance from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Ms Uma Bharti holds independent charge of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Women, Child, Welfare and Sports. The Ministry is likely to be headed by a Minister of State. After India's fine showing in the 13th Bangkok Asian Games where India won 35 medals, the best performance since the 1986 Seoul Asiad, there had been calls for delinking the Ministry of Sports. Ms Uma Bharti, prior to the Bangkok Asian Games, when disciplines were being identified by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Sports Authority of India (SAI) for participation at Bangkok, has said that she was unable to resist pressure from national sports federations (NSFs) politicians and bureaucrats when it came to selecting contingents for international events. The age-old national sports policy is also being reformulated keeping in view the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2002 Pusan Asian Games. Another major policy matter awaiting approval from the ministry is the manner of distribution of government grants to national sports federations. Now in a major policy reversal, the government grants will be linked to the performance level of the NSFs, which subsequently will also benefit various other sports schemes initiated by SAI. The ministry, based on
fine showing in the Bangkok Asiad, has identified six
disciplines for the Sydney Olympics which include
athletics, hockey (both men and women), boxing,
weightlifting (women) and shooting. |
Sasikiran held by Koshy NAGPUR, March 27 (PTI) — International master V Koshy put a halt on youngster Krishnan Sasikiran’s winning spree by holding him to a draw in the fifth round of the 36th National "a" Chess Championship here today. However, Sasikiran with 4.5 points still remains the leader. R B Ramesh was just half-a-point behind him. Koshy played his favourite English opening and obtained a solid position. Sasikiran played incisively as usual and weakened the black squares in Koshy’s position by capturing the black bishop with his knight. Koshy was forced to weaken his castled position and his king was in deep trouble as Sasikiran’s pieces penetrated through the black squares. Sasikiran missed a mating combination on the 31st move and had to settle for the gain of a pawn. Koshy simplified the position and forced a draw. IM R B Ramesh moved into the second spot with a facile victory over Shankar Roy. Roy, playing white in the alapin variation, sacrificed one pawn after another without gaining any significant compensation. Ramesh coolly completed the development of his pieces and scored a fine victory. IM Abhijit Kunte played solidly to hold G Prakash. Prakash declined the benko gambit and preferred to play solidly in keeping with his style. The players jostled for the initiative with subtle manoeuvring but neither could succeed in getting the upper hand. Since both sides had seven pawns each, the position remained closed and they agreed for a draw on the 26th move in a level position. Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay after two defeats, outplayed IM Neelotpal Das to move into fourth place. Das employed the Sicilian dragon which Thipsay countered with classical variation. The opening produced no major surprises and a thematic position was reached. Thipsay, who had been having an uneven tournament, was in his elements today and kept Das on a tight leash with good strategical ideas backed by precise calculation. Das was unable to come up with any counter play and was soon reduced to passivity. Thipsay timed his attack to perfection and crashed through the kingside with an exchange sacrifice. Das resigned on the 39th move when Thipsay forced him into a hopeless pawn ending. The game between IM R G
Hegde and V Sarvanan ended in the latter’s favour as
Hegde landed into trouble after his rash play in the
opening. Sarvanan chose a side variation of the kings
Indian defence which was a surprise for Hegde. |
Keen contests on the cards CHANDIGARH, March 27 — The Circus Ground in Sector 17 here will witness a galaxy of mobike riders some of them of national repute at the Indian Oil Servo Super Cross to be organised tomorrow by the Chandigarh Motor Sports Association along with the Indian Oil Corporation Limited. CMSA has this time again invited the national level riders like Ashok Raja of Pune riding a RM-125 Suzuki in the Open class and a highly modified Suzuki Shogun in the Expert class. The other rider to compete is Kunal Singh of Jaipur who will be riding two separate bikes. Nipinder Jassy of Delhi will be seen in YZ-125 Yamaha and is a sole member of that team. Gagan Kapoor and Deepak Singh both will be there in the Expert class and team from Assam has four members all making their debut moto. Saurav Gill has entered the Moto-cross after being a rallyist and will be seen on Honda CR-250 and Rahul Makol on RM-125 Suzuki who will be another contender. Ajay Sharma in YZ-250 is from Mumbai and a rider of repute. Delhi is fielding the largest contingent comprising nearly 20 riders and will compete in both Open and Expert categories. This is an FMSCI-approved event which means uniformity of rules and regulations applies all over the country. It will apply safety for the riders, organisers and the general public. The action starts tomorrow
at 11 a.m. The meet will be inaugurated by Mr Jagdish
Sagar, Adviser to the Chandigarh Administration. Mr
Sarabjit Singh IPS Director General Police, Punjab, will
distribute the prizes in the afternoon. |
H
Sunil, Saurabh in
final Chattwinder Singh, the under-14 national champion moved into the semifinal of the under-16 event in boys section. Results: Boys under-18 (QF) Chattwinder Singh b Gurneet Singh 9-2; Aakash Sharma b Manish Chowfla 9-2; Gursewak Singh b Sumit Singh 8-0. Boys under-16 (QF) Chattwinder Singh b Simranjeet Cheema 8-2; Ardaman Sidhu b Devanand Jha 9-4; Tushar Liberhan b Ankit Raj 9-2; Anoop Anand b Yuvraj 9-3. Men’s singles (QF) Sarbrinder Singh b Aakash Sharma 10-2; Sunil Kumar b Robn Dhingra 10-7; Saurabh Singh b Devender Kapoor 10-3; Birbal Wadhera b Gursewak Singh 10-6. Girls singles (SF) Neha Singh b Simmer 10-5; Mallika Malhotra b Sanya Judge 10-2. Boys U-18 (SF) Aakash Sharma b Gursewak Singh, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. Men’s singles (SF)
Sunil Kumar b Sarbrinder Singh, 6-4, 6-3. Saurabh Singh b
Wadhera 6-1, 6-4. Earlier Mr R.P. Mittal, SSP, Hoshiarpur, inaugurated the tournament. The following are the
results: Patiala b Muktsar by 46-17 (half time score 29-11) Lakhbir Singh (11) of Patiala was the main scorer. Women: Kapurthala beat Ferozepore by 50-26 (half time score 35-15) Geetu-18, Dimple-11 were the main scorer for Kapurthala and Ferozepore, respectively. Golf championship
in May A press note issued by the CGA said the association would organise two coaching camps for the golfers spotted during the championship. The CGA driving range would be set up in Chandigarh Club in association with the Chandigarh Club on its premises. The range would be operational by the middle of this year. The association would have its permanent office in the Sector 42 hockey stadium and would enrol new members. |
Karate trials By Our Sports Reporter CHANDIGARH, March 27 — The Amateur Karate Association of Chandigarh will hold trials to select the UT men and women team for the South Asia Karate Championship to be held at Indore (MP). The meet is jointly organised by Shotokan Karate Association and All India Karate Federation. The trials will be held on April 2 at MDAV School, Sector 22, at 8 a.m. Fighter CC win Brief scores: Falcon Club: 84 all out in 21.2 overs (Sunil 22) Sanjay 3 for 10, Iqbal 2 for 6) Fighter CC: 85 for no loss in 7.2 overs (Vikrant Gupta 85 N.O), Bombay CC: 155 for 6 in 25 overs (Manan Dogra 53, Sunil Chudhary 35, Amrinder Singh 27, Ankur 2 for 20) Eleven SC: 119 for 9 in 25 overs (Anup Rana 29, Sanjeev Sharma 3 for 13). ARI Cricket Club
beat LIC Scores: LIC Chandigarh:
137 all out in 23 overs (Madan Lal 20 not out, Gautam 19,
Akash 19, R. Malhotra 4 for 22, Vikram 2 for 26. ARI,
Jalandhar: 139 for 4 in 23 overs (Karan Sidhu 61 not out,
Rakesh Malhotra 20). |
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