Monday, March 29, 1999
today's calendar
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S P O R T | Monday, March 29, 1999 |
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Kerala in last four;
Chandigarh lose WI
struggle after Waugh slams 199
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Zimbabwe register 202-run victory Northern
Ireland go down to Germany Williams
unprepared for daughters' final Anand
assured of rapid play title 5 JCT
players in national camp
Top paddlers for Aspiration Cup TT Kahlon
returns best card Mundy
pockets third title Dahiya
replaces injured Ajay |
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Kerala in last four; Chandigarh lose CHENNAI, March 28 (PTI) — Thrice champions Kerala became the first team to make it to the semifinals, while star-studded Goa ousted Chandigarh 3-0 in their first match of the three team quarterfinal league of the Santosh Trophy Football Championship now in progress in three venues in Tamil Nadu. In Coimbatore, Kerala got the better of Maharashtra 2-1, while Manipur, with a brace of goals in the first half, downed Services in Udhagamandalam. Kerala, who await the winners of Bengal-Manipur tie in Udhagamandalam tomorrow, were helped by Sunny (14th min) and boniface (68th min), while Maharashtra’s lone goal was scored by Abbas Rizvi in the 43rd minute. Manipur went ahead in the 4th minute through Wangkhupler and Manaoba Singh completed the tally in the 34th minute. Goa’s scorers were Seby Coelho (40th), Somatai Shaiza (57th and Marcos Carvalho (75th). Last year’s runners-up Goa showed immaculate ball control and did not exert themselves much. Goa’s defence also worked to perfection and Chandigarh forwards could not even once come near the 18-yard line to cause any threat to the Goa citadel. With such support from the defenders, Goa, boasting of seven stars from Salgaogar, the National League champions, were content with a 1-0 lead at the break, through a well judged goal by Seby Coelho (40th minute.) Crossing over, Goa’s systematic passes saw Chandigarh under tremendous pressure. Though the Goans could have tried long rangers from the middle on a few occasions, they were content to spread their passes between the medio and the forwards. The defenders and goalkeeper Juji Siddi had nothing much to do. However, the Goans increased the lead in the 57th minute when Bruno Coutinho’s low cross met the head of Somatai Shaiza and grazed the upright before landing inside the netting. Marcos Carvalho made it 3-0. Udhagamandalam: Maintaining their recent good form, formidable Manipur beat Services 2-0 today. Striker Wangkhupler put Manipur ahead in the fourth minute of the game and Manaoba Singh sealed the fate of the rivals with a goal in the 34th to give their team three points, the same as defending champions Bengal, at the h a d p open Air Stadium here. The young boys from the north eastern region dominated the entire proceedings of the match and spurred on by a goodly crowd, launched into quick counterattacks. However, to their misfortune, strikers Azizur Rahman and Manaoba Singh fumbled at crucial junctures. Manipur could have won the match by a bigger margin had their strikers been on target. On the other side, Services, who had put up a good show against Bengal yesterday losing 1-2, could not do much as the strong defence, manned by Manipur captain Jiten Singh and Uttam Singh did not allow any elbow room for the rival forwards to move in. Coimbatore: Last year’s semi-finalists Maharashtra tumbled out of the Santosh Trophy when they were outplayed by a spirited Kerala 1-2 in a group III quarter-final league encounter here today. Kerala, who beat Assam earlier in the three-team league, will now take on the winners of group-1 in the semi-final at Chennai on April 1. Maharashtra had drawn their match against Assam, and needed a win to be in contention, but Kerala dashed their hopes. For Kerala, Sunny scored in the 14th minute while Maharashtra equalised through Abbas Rizvi in the 43rd minute. Kerala’s winning goal came off the boot of boniface in the 68th minute. The teams were level 1-1
at half time. |
WI struggle after Waugh slams 199 BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, March 28 (Reuters) — West Indies struggled to 80 for four after a record-breaking partnership of 281 between Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting had given Australia the whip hand on the second day of the third Test yesterday. Pace bowlers Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillesspie did most of the damage after the touring team had lost their last six first innings wickets for 65. They were all out for 490. Waugh scored 199 and Ricky Ponting 104, adding a further 103 to the 178 they put together for the fifth wicket on Friday. Their 373-minute stand was an Australian Test record for the fifth wicket against West Indies, beating the 220 of Keith Miller and Ron Archer at Kingston, Jamaica, in 1955. Waugh, who came in on Friday with his side struggling on 36 for three, fell one short of his highest Test score — also made against West Indies four years ago. He batted eight and a half hours, faced 374 balls and hit 20 fours and a six which landed on Kenisington stand beyond mid-wicket. During his marathon innings Waugh passed David Boon (7,422) and Mark Taylor (7,525) to become the second highest Australia run scorer in Tests behind Allan Border (11,174). Ponting faced 290 balls and struck 10 fours. His dismissal sparked a collapse which saw four wickets go down for 25. Ponting attempted to sweep off-spinner Nehemiah Perry and the ball flew gently from a top edge to Carl Hooper at backward square. Waugh followed in Perry's next over, trapped leg before on the back foot. West Indies' reply could hardly have got off to a worse start. Adrian Griffith, playing only his second Test, was run out off the first ball he faced. He pushed to a vacant mid-off but Ponting darted across from cover and his underarm throw hit the stumps. Sherwin Campbell and Dave Joseph repaired some of the damage with a second wicket stand of 49. It then all went wrong for West Indies. McGrath took the wickets of Joseph and nightwatchman Pedro Collins with successive deliveries, both let before, and Gillespif claimed the prize scalp of Brian Lara for just eight. He fended off a rearing delivery and the ball lobbed from his glove to wicketkeeper Ian Healy. SCOREBOARD West Indies (Ist
innings): |
Zimbabwe register 202-run victory DHAKA March 87 (PTI) — A blistering knock of 140 runs by Grant Flower powered Zimbabwe to a convincing 202-runs victory over Kenya in the tri-nation cricket tournament final here yesterday. Flower’s 125 ball knock helped Zimbabwe to a mammoth 325 for six in 50 overs. In reply the Kenyan batsmen struggled all through their innings before being restricted to a paltry 123 for nine in 36.5 overs. Steve Tikolo did not bat due to an injury. Grant Flower added 98 runs for second wicket with Murray Goodwin (22) and another 126 in a third wicket stand with Guy Whittall, who hit 67 off 76 balls, as Zimbabwe posted the highest one-day score at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, surpassing the 316 scored by India in the Independence Cup final last year. The right-handed opener, who was declared Man-of-the Match for his superb effort, made full use of the two lives he got and cracked his third one-day ton after Zimbabwe lost Neil Johnson (0) with only one run on the board. He hit 12 fours and two sixes. Kenya lost half of their team for just 80 runs as the Zimbabwean bowlers struck repeatedly. Thomas Odoyo (32) and Hitesh Modi (23) were the highest scorers for them. Andrew Whittal was the most successful bowler for Zimbabwe, claiming three wickets for 29 runs. Neil Johnson (2/39), Paul Strang (2/29), Heath Streak (1/12) and A. Huckle (1/12) were also successful. Scoreboard Kenya: |
Northern Ireland go down to Germany BONN, March 28 (Reuters) — Germany warned they were still a force to reckon with by crushing Northern Ireland 3-0 in their European Football Championship qualifier but head coach Erich Ribbeck was careful not to rejoice too loudly. "We were lucky to win by such a wide margin," was his first comment after the victory at Windsor Park yesterday. "It wasn’t a bad game. We fought hard and opened the scoring at just the right moment. But it wasn’t my idea of a beautiful match." The reigning European champions had been going through hard times and Ribbeck, who took over from Berti Vogts in the wake of the shock 3-0 World Cup quarter-final defeat by Croatia in France last summer, could only be relieved. The former Bayern Munich coach had come under heavy criticism after a poor start to the campaign for Euro 2000 with a 1-0 defeat to Turkey and a laborious 3-1 victory over Minnows Moldova. Pressure on Ribbeck increased after a disastrous trip to Florida last month with an embarrassing 3-0 demolition by the USA followed by a 3-3 draw with Colombia in two friendlies. The three-time world champions are now second in group three, three points behind Turkey who have played one more match, and they will seize the group lead if they beat Finland on Wednesday in Nuremberg. "After the match against Finland we will know where we stand," said Ribbeck. "We have played only away matches so far while Turkey have had all games at home." Germany had a shaky start against a determined northern Ireland side and in the eighth minute veteran Libero Lothar Matthaeus had to clear off the line a volley from debutant Mark Williams. Werder Bremen striker Marco Bode showed the visitors the way by heading home from a perfect cross by Oliver Neuville three minutes later. From then on, Germany were clearly the better team. Bode made almost certain of the three points with a second goal from a free kick before the break. Midfielder Dietmar Hamann put the issue beyond doubt just after the hour when his long-range free kick was deflected past goalkeeper Maik Taylor by defender Steve Morrow. Often blamed in the past for sticking to defensive tactics and keeping his faith in ageing stars such as Borussia Dortmund midfielder Andreas Moeller, Ribbeck took risks and they paid off. Moeller was left on the bench and Newcastle United’s Hamann was asked to orchestrate play, which he did well. In an unusual move for a German coach, Ribbeck fielded three strikers. While captain Oliver Bierhoff looked totally lost on the pitch, the other two men up front were brilliant. Neuville demonstrated his skills by setting up Bode for Germany’s first goal and Bode was the match winner. "It’s a great
success but first of all for the team," said Bode.
"All the criticism after the games in Florida was
justified and we had a lot to prove. Now we can look
ahead with optimism." |
Stoichkov to retire in June 2000 SOFIA, (Bulgaria), March 28 (AP) — Bulgaria’s ‘94 World Cup hero Hristo Stoichkov will retire when his contract with Japanese J-League team Kashiwa Reysol expires in June 2000, the state news agency BTA has reported. Bulgarian Soccer Union (BSU) official Ivan Vutzov said on Friday that Stoichkov had informed him of his plans, the BTA reported. Stoichkov signed a two-year contract with Kashiwa shortly before the World Cup finals in France last year. Calling the 33-year-old midfielder "Bulgaria’s most prominent ambassador to the whole world in the recent years,’’ Vutzov said the BSU would organise a farewell match for Stoichkov. The peak of Stoichkov’s career was Bulgaria’s all-time best fourth place at the World Cup finals in the USA in 1994, where the sturdy left-footed winger shared the leading-scorer standings with six goals. In 1994, he also collected the European Player of the Year award after helping Spanish Soccer Giant Barcelona to its fourth successive Spanish League title. Inter Milan’s Brazilian ace Ronaldo won the same award in 1997 and France ‘98 World Cup star Zinedine Zidane won in 1998 while playing for Juventus. Before leaving for Japan, Stoichkov helped Barcelona win four Spanish league titles between 1990-94 as well as its first ever European Champions Cup in 1992. He was sold in 1996
despite protests by Barcelona fans. He rejoined Barca
briefly before falling out with Dutch Coach Louis Van
Gaal last year. |
Williams unprepared for daughters' final KEY BISCAYNE, March 28 (Reuters) — Richard Williams, architect of the thriving tennis careers of his daughters Venus and Serena, finds himself unprepared for today’s unprecedented Lipton Tennis Championships women’s final between the sisters. "I am already nervous, shaking," Williams said at a news conference yesterday, "For me, it would be a great opportunity to see what we’ve been planning for all our life. After doing all the planning, I learnt I am not ready for it." "My only hope in watching my babies is that I don’t cry. I didn’t know I was so sensitive until just a few days ago," The final between defending champion Venus Williams and the Tour’s hottest player, Serena, will be the first championship match between sisters on the WTA Tour since open tennis began in 1968. In the men’s game, there was an all-sibling final this decade when John McEnroe beat younger brother Patrick in the final of a 1991 Chicago tournament. In between emotional moments related to his daughters’ success, father Williams rambled on about the family’s ambitious off-court plans, including developing three businesses every year expected "to produce anywhere from 10 million to 15 million us dollars a year" to " we’re thinking now about buying Rockefeller centre for $ 3.9 billion". That sort of success may be hard to achieve, but there is no denying the results enjoyed on-court by the hard-hitting Williams sisters. Serena, who comes into today’s final on a 16-match winning streak having won her first two career titles at the Paris indoors and Indian Wells, said what matters most to the family is that one of their own will be bringing home the title. Their father, however, does not want to see trophy on display regardless of who wins. "I do not allow no trophies in my house," he said. " I’ve never allowed one trophy in the house at no time." "I put all the trophies out in the garage. When they move, they can take those trophies with them." According to Venus, who won her fourth career tournament by successfully defending her Oklahoma City title in February, the sisterly match will take place and then will be forgotten. "In the end,
it’s a competition — the best competitor
wins," Venus said. "As soon as you walk off
court, the competition is over." |
Rehman tells PM all about match-fixing KARACHI, March 28 (ANI) — The discarded Pakistan fast bowler Ata-ur-Rehman has been assured of justice in the match-fixing and betting issue by Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif himself. "I told the Prime Minister that the cricketers who had brought to the fore the match-fixing and betting issue in the Pakistan cricket team were being victimised for telling the truth," Rehman told newspersons on Saturday. According to him, he had informed the Prime Minister about the guilt of some current players and the problems being faced by the cricketers who had spoken about match-fixing and betting issue before the judicial commission and requested him to ensure that no one was victimised by the PCB and selectors. "I told Mian Sahib about how I had been getting threatening calls and about how PCB chairman Khalid Mehmood had told me that if I wanted to play cricket again I would have to withdraw my charges of match-fixing against the Pakistan players," said Rehman. He disclosed that the Prime Minister had asked him to submit all his grievances and complaints in writing and he had done this. "The Prime Minister
has assured me that no injustice would be done with
anyone and that he would ensure the truth behind the
match-fixing and betting allegations with no guilty
person being allowed to go scot free, he said Ata, adding
that Senator Saifur Rehman had also taken keen interest
in the whole episode who, he said, would also look into
the matter. |
Anand assured of rapid play title MONTE CARLO, March 28 (PTI) — Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand virtually assured himself of the rapid play title after draws against FIDE world champion Anatoly Karpov of Russia in both sections in the penultimate round of the Amber Rapid and Blindfold Chess Tournament here last night. Anand played out a quick 25-move draw in rapid play to maintain his lead in the section with 7.0 points and kept his fourth position overall after he and Karpov were content to draw the blindfold game without much exertion. Russian world number three Vladimir Kramnik was assured of the overall title by logging 13.5 points after a draw with Boris Gelfand of Belarus. He had shared the honours with the Russian-born Spaniard Alexy Shirov last year. After the tenth round, Anand is one point ahead of Kramnik in rapid and unless he loses to Vassily Ivanchuk in the final round and Kramnik wins, Anand will emerge clear winner in the section. With a round to go, Anand, despite gaining only 4.0 points in blindfold section, had logged 11 points to remain fourth behind Kramnik, Shirov and Vaselim Topalov (12.5). Kramnik holds a clear one-point lead over Topalov and Shirov, who joined the Bulgarian at the second place. Shirov beat Ivanchuk in just 17 moves of rapid play to regain the ground he lost to Topalov, who lost a chance to edge closer to Kramnik with a draw against Jeroen Piket of the Netherlands. In rapid play, Karpov playing black chose a drawish line of a nimzo Indian game to split the point in just 25 moves. Anand was happy with the draw as his nearest rival Kramnik (6) was also held by Gelfand while Piket and Topalov also split the point. Karpov and Anand were once again engaged in a harmless battle in the blindfold section, their second nimzo Indian game ending in a 19-move draw. In the Piket-Topalov match, the Dutchman missed a possible winning chance in rapid before the game ended in a draw after 62 moves. Another Dutchman Loek Van Wely poured more misery on Frenchman Joel Lautier, who went down in the rapid game. The game lasted 36 moves from another nimzo Indian, which featured in three of the six rapid games. But Lautier avenged his
defeat in the blindfold section winning in just 19 moves
of a sicilian game. The dutchman was mated in the opening
itself after a careless castling move for the only
decisive result in the section on a listless day on which
players were keen not to lose. |
5 JCT
players in
national camp CHANDIGARH, March 28 —Punjab’s premier soccer outfit JCT Phagwara’s impressive run in the recently-concluded National Football League has not gone un-noticed and as many as five players of the team now figure in the list of 25 probables picked for the forthcoming SAFF Football Championship scheduled to be held in Goa. Among those selected for the coaching camp are goalkeeper Virender Singh, stopper back Deepak Mondal, full back Daljit Singh, promising medio Ram Pal and new recruit Hardeep Gill who usually plays as right striker. The players will report at Bangalore for the coaching camp scheduled to begin on April 5 which will be followed by the final coaching camp at Goa from April 11. It is after a fairly long spell that so many players from Punjab have been picked for the national camp. Punjab did not have a single player in the team which represented India in the Bangkok Asian Games. The All-India Football Federation also took note of the fact that JCT were among the few teams which relied purely on local talent and did not sign any foreign player in the previous season and yet performed creditably, finishing fifth with nine points in the final round of six teams.This round included Salgaocar, East Bengal, Churchill Brothers, Mohun Bagan, and FC Kochin. In the first leg, there were 12 teams, out of which six qualified for the final round. JCT Phagwara’s coach Sukhwinder Singh has also been appointed national coach till the SAFF tourney. Olympian P.K.Banrjee, who recently quit club coaching in Calcutta, has been appointed technical director. Sukhwinder will be assisted by assistant coaches Krishnaji Rao of Bangalore and former national goalkeeper Brahmanand of Goa. For the under-23
pre-Olympic tourney which is likely to be played either
in Thailand or India, two players of JCT figure in the
list of probables for the camp which is also likely to be
held in Bangalore from the first week of April. The
players selected are forwards Hardeep Sangha and Sukhjit.
The name of Surjit was also considered but he opted out
because of exams. Hardeep Gill, who has been picked for
the SAFF camp, may also find a berth in the under-23 team
as he is eligible for both the camps. |
Top paddlers for Aspiration Cup TT MUMBAI, March 28 (PTI) — Four-time national champion and world number-81 Chetan Baboor (PSCB), teammates S. Raman and Arup Basak would be seen in action in the two-day Aspiration Cup Table Tennis Tournament to be held here from April 10. In the women’s section national champion Poulami Ghatak of Bengal, N.R. Indu of Banks Sports Board (BSB), Mouma Das of Indian Oil and Anindita Chakraborty of Railways will vie for top honours. Other top women players in the fray are former national champions Kasturi Chakraborty of Railways, M.S. Mythili of PSCB (Petroleum Sports Control Board) Montu Ghosh of Railways, Kanchan Basak of PSCB, Arul Selvi of BSB and T. Pradeepa of Tamil Nadu. This was announced yesterday by Mumbai Suburban District Table Tennis Association (MSDTTA) joint secretary, Dr Bukul Parekh, who said six youngsters from the states will join the fray along with top 10 paddlers in both sections. Mumbai youngster Mallika Parekh would spearhead the local challenge along with five more Maharashtra girls yet to be named. Other contenders for the men’s singles in the Rs 1.75 lakh Aspiration TT tournament include Arjun Dutta of PSCB, Subhajit Saha of Bengal, Bhushan Thakur and Nupur Santra (both from Railways) Deepak Thukral of BSB, Souvik Dey of Bengal and R. Rajesh of Tamil Nadu, who are expected to give a tough fight for title prize money of Rs 50,000. The men’s runners-up will take home Rs 25,000, the losing semi-finalists would get Rs 7500 each and the losing quarter-finalists Rs 2500 each. The women’s singles
winner would be richer by Rs 30,000 while the runner-up
will get Rs 15,000 and the losing semi-finalists Rs 4000
each. The losing quarter-finalists will pocket Rs 2000
each. |
Azhar ruled out due to injury MUMBAI, March 28 (PTI) — Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin will not play in India’s last two league matches of the ongoing triangular limited over series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan because of a shoulder injury. Azharuddin has consulted sports medicine expert Dr Anand Joshi, who has advised him rest. Ajay Jadeja will lead the team against Sri Lanka at Pune on March 30 and against Pakistan at Mohali on April 1. Jadeja was India’s vice-captain on their last tour to New Zealand. Azhar would be fit to play the day-night final at Bangalore on April 4 if India qualify for the title clash. Azhar had complained of a sore shoulder prior to India’s match against Sri Lanka at Nagpur on March 22. He then played that match and the subsequent league match against Pakistan at Jaipur on march 24. Allrounder Hrishikesh Kanitkar has been inducted into the 14 for the Pune match in place of Azharuddin. India are already without the services of master batsman Sachin Tendulkar for the entire tournament due to back injury.
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Kahlon returns best card CHANDIGARH, March 28 — The National Amateur Golf Champion and local favourite Harmeet Kahlon made the most of windy day returning the best card (74) of the day taking the India A team to a score of 156 in the international golf team championship at the Chandigarh Golf Club here today. His team-mate Digvijya Singh had a card of 82. Just a stroke behind the leaders was the India B duo of Amit Luthra and Amish Jaitha. Amit had a three-over card of 75 and his team-mate 82. The competition was tough with the Pakistani team of Waqas Ahmed and Ahmed Ali Shah just another stroke behind (158). Ahmed Ali Shah had a five over card of 77 and Waqas 81. Sri Lankans were five stroke behind the Pakistani golfers (163). Anura Rohana had a score of 81 and Lalith Kumara 82. The Pakistani golfers are happy at playing on the green course of the Chandigarh Golf Club. It is their first visit to the City Beautiful. Harmeet Kahlon made a good
start scoring birdies on the fourth and fifth holes. But
then a bogey in the second hole saw him finish the first
nine with a one-under score. But the windy conditions in
the return nine saw him dropping strokes in the 10th,
15th and 17th holes for the two-over card of 74. |
Mundy pockets third title MEERUT, March 28 — Uttam Singh Mundy, enjoying his best season in the Wills Sport Indian Golf Tour, added a third title to his 1998-99 kitty when he won the AGC- Wills Meerut Open by a clear margin of four strokes at the Army Golf Course, today. At the par-72, 6,785-yard course, the twice Honda-Siel PGA champion from Calcutta shot a four-under 68 on the final day to aggregate 10-under 278 for the tournament to take home the winner’s cheque of Rs 83,300. In second place at six-under 282 was the Indian Open runner-up Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia, who shot a three-under 284. Chowrasia’s earning for the week was Rs 55,550. Delhi’s Mohammed Maqbool and Feroz Ali (Calcutta) were joint fifth at three-under 285, while another Calcutta golfer, Yusuf Ali shot a three-under on the final day to finish seventh at two-under, one stroke better than veteran Rohtas Singh of Delhi. In a roller-coaster round, Mundy exploited the par-5s to the hilt as he made two eagles, on the 7th and 17th. Till the seventh, things didn’t look good for the bearded pro, who started with a bogey, but made up with a birdie on the 4th. a double bogey on the 6th made him two-over at that stage. But a remarkable 30-footer eagle putt got him going and he added birdies on the 8th and 14th, before making another eagle on the 17th. "Right now, life feels like heaven," said a visibly elated Mundy. Just two weeks back, he was sinking into depths of despair after making six-over in just four holes to miss the cut in the $-300,000 Wills Indian Open. This came when he was one under after 29 holes and was easily within the cut. "The eagle on the 7th got me going. That has to be the turning point for me," he added. Chowrasia is a different player after finishing joint runner-up in the Wills Indian Open. His 69 today had four birdies including three in the last four holes. It was a great comeback for the 20-year-old soft-spoken Calcuttan, who had started with a bogey. "The finish at the Indian Open has given me a lot of confidence. It has made me stronger mentally," he said after the round. The early charge was made by the Hero Honda Masters Champion Jyoti Randhawa, who took the sole possession of lead with birdies in the first two holes. But he fizzled out thereafter, and made consecutive bogies on the 5th and 6th. He was still in the race with another birdie on the 9th, but three bogies on the back nine put him out of contention. "It was irritating. I missed a few opportunities which came my way. But I guess, one has to learn from such situations," said Randhawa. Sanjay Kumar, the Color Plus Open champion in Chennai and runner-up in Wills Northern Open in hometown Lucknow earlier this year, played a sedate one-under 71 with three birdies. " I could have had a better finish had I putted well today, "he said. Results (after 72 holes):
278 Uttam Singh Mundy (68,69,73,68): 282 Shiv Shankar
Prasad Chowrasia (73,72,68,69): 284 Jyoti Randhawa
(70,74,67,73), Sanjay Kumar (71,70,72,71): 285 Feroz Ali
(71,74,67,73), Mohammed Maqbool (70,75,70,70): 286 Yusuf
Ali (71,76,70,69): 287 Rohtas Singh (73,68,72,74): 288
Basad Ali (66,71,73,78), Balbir Verma (70,72,73,73), Ali
Sher (74,68,76,70): 289 Gaurav Ghei (68,76,73,72), Shiv
Prakash (73,73,71,72), Rafiq Ali (72,75,71,71): 290
Mukesh Kumar (71,71,72,76), Akar Ali (67,74,75,74), Vivek
Bhandari (70,71,75,74): Amateurs: 316 Abhijit Sethi
(79,76,85,76): 318 Abhishek Ahlawat (76,85,77,80): 332
Deep Binder (77,83,77,95). |
Dahiya replaces injured Ajay NEW DELHI, March 28 (PTI) — Wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya will lead Delhi in the absence of injured captain Ajay Sharma when they take on Hyderabad in the five-day Ranjit Trophy knockout quarterfinal which begins at Hyderabad on March 30. Veteran Ajay Sharma has been ruled out after fracturing his finger in a match recently, according to a Delhi and District Cricket Association release here. Delhi will also miss off-spinner Nikhil Chopra and rising all-rounder Virender Sehwag, who are both in the Indian team for the ongoing triangular one-day cricket series. Harender Chaudhary and
Sohail Rauf have been inducted in their place. |
Lipton tennis title for Krajicek KEY BISCAYNE (Florida), March 28 (Reuters) — A day after celebrating his daughter’s first birthday, Richard Krajicek provided the perfect gift yesterday with a four-set victory over unseeded Sebastien Grosjean to win the Lipton Tennis Championships. Krajicek completed an impressive 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5 triumph in typical fashion with a booming ace on match point. The seventh-seeded Dutchman pounded out 26 aces in the two hour 41 minute match against the Young Frenchman. "I didn’t buy her (anything), but I won Lipton for her," Krajicek said of daughter Emma’s birthday. "We had a birthday breakfast and the cake was later in the day." Krajicek’s $ 360,000 victory over the baselining 74th-ranked Frenchman gave the Dutchman his 17th career title, but first in America since winning in Los Angeles in 1993. It was the second title of the year for Krajicek, who won in London last month, but this one was not an easy victory. Krajicek, who is 17-4 for the year, was feeling sick throughout the week and battled weakness and loss of appetite. "I played very economic tennis today," said Krajicek, who earlier in the week defeated re-established number one Pete Sampras for the fourth straight time and the sixth of eight times in career meetings. With the victory, the 1996 Wimbledon champion, who had surgery on his left knee last November, will move up in the ATP rankings to fourth tomorrow. "The title is more important than the rankings," said the 27-year-old Krajicek. The 20-year-old Grosjean, playing in his first ATP Tour final, had a set point on Krajicek’s serve in the ninth game of the fourth set to draw even at two sets apiece, but the towering Dutchman’s second serve elicited a weak return and he eventually held for 5-5. A demoralised Grosjean, who gives away eight inches to the 1.96 m Krajicek, then was broken at 15-40. The 1996 ITF junior world champion in singles and doubles, Grosjean will now move into the top 50 rankings. In a David and Goliath match-up, Grosjean used pinpoint groundstrikes to topple Krajicek in the first set, breaking serve twice to wrap up the set. But Grosjean was unable to work the same magic against Krajicek that he did against other worthy opponents on his way to the final. Grosjean, who had his biggest even payday with a $ 190,000 check, had ousted two former French Open champions like French titlist Gustavo Kuertin in the second round and ended number-one Carlos Moya’s brief two week rein at the top of world ranking by saving three match points in a third set tie-breaker to win a fourth round match. "He’s a fighter,
he’s a small guy,but he uses everything he has on
the court," Krajicek said of Grosjean. |
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