Coutinuo, Bhutia score as India triumph
MARGAO, May 1 — Hosts India retained the South Asian Football Federation Coca-Cola Championship by scoring a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Bangladesh in the final here today. Both the goals came in the first half.

Fake sports goods racket unearthed
JALANDHAR, May 1 — The police here claimed to have busted a spurious sports goods racket in which fake goods of established brandnames like Nivea, Silvers, Vijayanti, Rakshak, BAS, Vampire, COSCO, Indian Maharaja, Sanspriel greenlands etc. were being manufactured and sold.

S. Waugh served with defamation notice
BRIDGETOWN (Barbados), May 1 — Court authorities have delivered a writ of defamation filed by Barbados’ Police Commissioner to Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh at his hotel room in Barbados.

Sachin set to achieve another feat
CHENNAI, May 1 — Sachin Tendulkar, the finest batsman in the world, has the best of chance of becoming the highest run-getter in World Cups, as he needs just 277 runs to surpass the leader Javed Miandad of Pakistan.

Chiranjeev shoots three-under 69
NEW DELHI, May 1 — India’s Chiranjeev Milkha Singh shot a three-under 69 in the second round of the Fiat and Fila Open , being played at the CircoloGolf, Turin, Italy, to comfortably make his sixth cut in ten European PGA Tour events.

Courier, Williams in last 4; Novotna out
ATLANTA, May 1 — Magnus Larsson, winless this year on the ATP tour before this week, upset second-seeded Australian Jason Stoltenberg to reach the semifinals of the AT&T challenge yesterday.

Jimmy Adams returns as key player
LONDON, May 1 — Few players mirror the wildly fluctuating fortunes of one-day cricket better than West Indian batsman, bowler and part-time wicketkeeper Jimmy Adams.

Coutinuo, Bhutia score as India triumph

MARGAO, May 1 (UNI) — Hosts India retained the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Coca-Cola Championship by scoring a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Bangladesh in the final here today.
Both the goals came in the first half.

India scored through skipper Bruno Coutinuo (26th minute) and B. Bhutia (44th minute).

Bhutia who was adjudged the Coca-Cola ‘Most Valuable Player of the Match’ and received cash award of Rs 10,000 was also recipient of the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award which carries a cash amount of Rs 25,000.

By winning the championship India became richer by $50,000 while runners-up Bangladesh received $25,000.

Defending champions hosts India, for the first time in the competition, put up a pleasing display, with fine co-ordinated moves and perfect understanding between the frontliners Vijayan, skipper Bruno Coutinuo and Baichung Bhutia. Striker Vijayan who was seen in poor light until the final and had earned criticism from all quarters for his indifferent attitude towards play, rose to the occasion, as the Indians played as a cohesive unit.

Baichung Bhutia and Coutinuo who with their untiring efforts have been most consistent right through the tournament, between themselves emerged a goal scoring combination and they both achieved it.

The hosts with fine promptings by medios Jules Alberto and S. Venkatesh, played at a fast pace which the Bangladeshis just couldn’t cope up with and they introduced as many players possible of the rearguard to thwart Indian onslaught on their goal. So much so was the pressure on the Bangladesh defence, that India forced two flag-kicks within the first twenty minutes of play against none by Bangladesh during the entire first half of play.

India almost forged ahead in the third when a right back Prabhjot Singh’s 30 yard long rising try sailed inches over the bar.

India took the much sought after lead in the 26th minute. Bhutia pounced on a defensive clearance outside the box, moved towards the left flank, cut past defenders M. Hassan Mamun, Rajani Kanta Barman and goalkeeper Mohammed Haq. He then laid the bail on a platter diagonally at the goalmouth and Coutinuo without hesitation sent a knee high volley into the unguarded goal.

The hosts completely outplayed their opponents in all departments and consolidated their position a minute from the breather.

Right wing back P. Singh floated the ball at the Bangladesh goalmouth. Vijayan left high up and headed the ball angularly, which the goalkeeper cleverly parried it forwarded only to see the ball land at the feet of Bhutia who made no mistake to volley it home to help India cross over with a two-goal advantage at half time.

Bangladesh's lone threat at the Indian goal came in the 42nd minute, Mohammed Alfaz sent a low cross from the right but Mizanur Rahman just failed to tap the ball past a helpless goalkeeper Virendra Singh.

After resumption of play, the hosts continued to play in the same vein. They carved out clear chances that had a goal-look. In the 59th minute, Coutinuo from the middle, laid a long lofted pass to Vijayan at the top of the box. Vijayan outsmarted a defender and shot into the outer netting with an open goal in front of him.

Then in the 67th minute deep defender Robert Fernandes snatched the ball from an attacker, covered about 60 yards of ground, raced down the middle and from just inside the box unleashed a left-footed volley that narrowly missed the target.

Bangladesh were awarded a penalty in the 88th minute by referee S. Selearajen from Malaysia when an Indian defender P. Singh handled the ball. Mohammed Misanur Rahman who took the shot, however, shot straight into the upright.

When heroes caved in to India's teamwork

LONDON, May 1 (AFP) — Cricket’s World Cup finally came of age in 1983, its third edition providing all the drama, shocks and surprises that the previous tournaments had lacked.

The fact that India took the trophy, thus depriving Clive Llyod and the West Indies of a glorious hat-trick, was perhaps the biggest upset of them all.

With five defeats and only one previous World Cup victory to their name — and that against East Africa — India had begun the event as 66-1 outsiders.

The so-called lesser sides, however, were beginning to develop stategies to give them a greater say in the 60-over one-day game, an evolution reflected in the fact that first time, each of the eight nations taking part in 1983 recorded at least one victory.

This was to be a World Cup based not so much on larger-than-live heros than on canny teamwork.

Once again, there were two groups of four, but this time they played each other twice before the semi-finals.

The drama began from the very start. On the opening day of the tournament, Kim Hughes’ Australians lost to Zimbabwe, the only non-test side in the field and making their debut in the Cup, by 13 runs.

That result — perhaps matched only by the West Indies’ defeat to Kenya in 1996 — remains the greatest upset in World Cup history.

Australia’s topsy-turvy form — they beat Kapil’s India in group ‘B’ by 162 runs at Trent Bridge, then lost the Chelmsford return match by 118 — saw them crash to their greatest humiliation, with just two wins out of six.

The West Indies, however, with most of their 1979 stars still in harness and strengthened by such newcomers as Malcolm Marshall and Jeffrey Dujon, appeared as powerful as ever.

They won five out of their six group games — significantly, the one side to trip them up was India, with no front-line West Indian batsman reaching 30 in the 34-run loss — while England topped their group with an identical record.

The Indians highlight, however — 175 not out by Kapil Dev against Zimbabwe after his side had been reduced to a desperate 17 for five — sadly did not get the coverage it deserved after BBC camera crews went on strike.

The tournament took a breath in the semifinals, with India comfortably seeing off England at Old Trafford and the West Indies breezing past Pakistan by six and eight wickets respectively.

The final on June 25, however, made up for the pause in excitement.

Not that many people would have favoured India after 54.4 overs of the match.

By then, the West Indies quicks had skittled them for 183, with Andy Roberts the pick of the bowlers with three for 32, including the prized scalp of Sunil Gavaskar — off 10 fiery overs.

Every top order batsman had made a start but failed to progress, the top score of 38 coming from Krishnamachari Srikkanth.

The game seemed as good as decided as the West Indies reached 50 for one wicket in reply when Kapil Dev suddenly set off to catch Vivian Richards in the deep.

The dismissal proved the turning point, the innings unravelling in the face of neat, tight bowling and intelligent field placement.

When Mohinder Amarnath — the semifinal hero with 46 and two wickets for 27 against England — trapped Michael Robert leg before with one of slow floaters, the West Indies had been bowled out for 140, 43 short with eight overs still remaining.

While hugely talented Kapil Dev, one of the game’s greats, was clearly the cornerstone of India’s 1983 side - he averaged 60.60 with the bat and took 12 wickets at 20.41 — it was Amarnath, a batsman who bowled a bit, who again won the man-of-the-match award.

His 26 runs and three lower-order wickets for 12 off seven overs might not have compared with the heorics of previous final matchwinners Clive Llyod in 1975 (102 not out) and Vivian Richards (138 not out) in 1979.

But it confirmed a trend — that outsiders have a chance against the one-day greats if they can counter brazen ability with intelligence.

Fake sports goods racket unearthed
From Our Correspondent

JALANDHAR, May 1 — The police here claimed to have busted a spurious sports goods racket in which fake goods of established brandnames like Nivea, Silvers, Vijayanti, Rakshak, BAS, Vampire, COSCO, Indian Maharaja, Sanspriel greenlands etc. were being manufactured and sold.

Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, Jalandhar, said here today that information was received by the police that there were several factories in the city which manufactured such goods and if raids were conducted huge recoveries could be made. A special operation was planned and the following premises, M/s R.R. Sports, ENPEE Industries and Rana Sports were raided by police parties.

During the raids huge quantities of cricket bats, stickers of reputed companies, boxes, printing screens, unfinished products were recovered. The SSP said these goods were being sold as genuine brands at rates much lower than the market rate which adversely affected the business and reputation of firms like Silvers, Reebok, BAS etc.

He added that Mr Vivek Mahajan, one of the proprietors of M/s R.R. Sports had been arrested while his partner Mr B.M. Rajinder Mahajan had absconded. Nearly 2,500 unfinished cricket bats, 90 Reebok bats, 14 BDM bats, 15 Sunridges Sports and 55 Reebok stickers were recovered from them. Mr Narinder Kumar Arora, ENPEE Industries had also been arrested and fake sport goods recovered from him.

The SSP said a nexus between certain residents of Jammu and Kashmir and these persons had also been unearthed and five Kashmiris were arrested from the premises of M/s R.R. Sports. These persons were manufacturing cricket bats by using Kashmir willow and were putting established brandname stickers on them.

The cost of an unfinished willow of genuine brand is between Rs 800 and Rs 1000, while the duplicate ones can be obtained for Rs 300 to Rs 400. Genuine brand willow sells for Rs 5000 and above, while duplicate ones are available for as low Rs 1000 each. This had set up a parallel sports goods industry which was thriving. Shakeel Ahmed, Abdul Mazid, Nazir Mohammad, Mohammad Ashraf, Ghulam Hassan were those kashmiri's who have been arrested.

Mr Yadav said the records of these firms had been seized which revealed that huge transactions for the supply of duplicate sports goods to a large number of dealers had been taking place.

S. Waugh served with defamation notice

BRIDGETOWN (Barbados), May 1 (AP) — Court authorities have delivered a writ of defamation filed by Barbados’ Police Commissioner to Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh at his hotel room in Barbados.

Team manager Steve Bernard confirmed the delivery of the court papers yesterday. Police Commissioner Grantley Watson is suing Waugh over the Australian’s comments following unrest at a cricket match last week.

The writ was issued to Steve at the team’s hotel at around 4 o’clock this afternoon,’’ Mr Bernard said. "It included a document that has to be filled in within eight days to state whether he will be contesting the case.’’

Mr Bernard said a lawyer provided by the Australian High Commission would review the case before deciding whether to contest the complaint against Waugh, 33-year-old veteran of 115 Tests and 258 one-day internationals.

Mr Watson filed a writ in the Supreme Court claiming damages from Waugh for remarks he allegedly made following bottle-throwing by spectators who interrupted the seventh and final one-day international of the Australian tour of the West Indies, the weekend Nation newspaper reported on Friday.

At Sunday’s match at the Kensington Oval, spectators among a crowd of about 14,000 threw bottles and other debris onto the field after the West Indies opening batsman, Barbadian Sherwin Campbell, was given a controversial run out.

Play was interrupted for 45 minutes before the Australians agreed to Campbell’s reinstatement and continued the match that the West Indies eventually won by eight wickets.

But Waugh told reporters afterward that he had been advised by the Police Commissioner and other officials that the safety of his players could not be guaranteed if they did not resume play.

The Police Commissioner denies making the statements. In his lawsuit, he claims the comments defamed him because he is legally responsible for guaranteeing the safety of Barbadians and visitors alike.

Sachin set to achieve another feat

CHENNAI, May 1 (PTI) — Sachin Tendulkar, the finest batsman in the world, has the best of chance of becoming the highest run-getter in World Cups, as he needs just 277 runs to surpass the leader Javed Miandad of Pakistan.

Tendulkar, 25, is poised to achieving this feat surpassing seven others above him in the table of run-getters.

Amongst the top 18 run-getters in the World Cup, only Sri Lankans Arjuna Ranatunga (6th) and Aravinda De Silva (9th), Mohd Azharuddin (13th) of India and Australia’s Mark Waugh (16th) would be seen in action in the coming World Cup but Tendulkar (8th) is the front-runner to achieve the feat, as he is closest to Javed Miandad’s figures. Brian Lara of West Indies is placed lower in the order.

Tendulkar, rated as "public property in a country of enthusiasts" by "Wisden", has an enviable average of 67.17 — his strike rate being much higher — from an aggregate of 806 runs in 14 innings, twice unbeaten.

Tendulkar, has scored two centuries, both in the last World Cup (in India) in 15 appearances in two World Cups.

Having got out on a number of occasions in 70’s and 90’s, Tendulkar scored his first World Cup century (unbeaten 127) against Kenya on February 18, 1996, at Cuttack. He went on to better this individual best (137) so far in World Cups against formidable attack of the Sri Lankan’s, the eventual winners, in New Delhi.

In the previous six World Cups, in which 158 matches have been played amongst 14 countries, Pakistan’s Javed Miandad has tallied 1083 runs from 33 matches (30 innings) for an average of 43.32, followed by Viv Richards of West Indies with 1013 runs from 23 matches.

Though there are seven others ahead of Tendulkar in the galaxy of stars for most runs in World Cups, Tendulkar has the unmatchable average (67.17) having made his 806 runs in only 15 appearances. Mark Waugh’s average is 62.90, second best among the players.

Also, amongst the leaders, Sri Lanka’s Arjuna Ranatunga is presently in sixth spot with a total of 835 from 25 matches, average being 52.19.

Tendulkar, younger than any member in the list of top 20 scorers, is known for his technique, concentration and application beyond his years, and expected to pursue his goals with a passion. It would be small wonder, if Tendulkar attains the mark in the league phase itself, where India is scheduled to play five matches.

Chiranjeev shoots three-under 69
From Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, May 1 — India’s Chiranjeev Milkha Singh shot a three-under 69 in the second round of the Fiat and Fila Open , being played at the CircoloGolf, Turin, Italy, to comfortably make his sixth cut in ten European PGA Tour events.

According to information reaching here, the Chandigarh pro was tied for the 33rd place at four-under 140 along with such illustrious names as reigning and twice Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal and twice US Open champion Lee Janzen of the USA. Jeev played a one-under 71 round yesterday and was tied for 54th place.

For the second successive day, the Hero Honda-sponsored Jeev began badly with a bogey on the very first hole (the 10th of the course). But the 27-year-old exploited the course to the hilt, making biridies on all four of them. His other birdie came on the 366-yard par-4 7th, and the only blemish came on the 17th hole.

Leading the tournament at halfway stage was Spain’s Francisco Cea at 12-under 132. Cea, who beat Sergio Garcia, considered as one of the topmost potentials in the world right now, in the 1995 Spanish amateur championship. But the younger will face tough time over the weekend as he is being chased by Tour veterans Padraig Harrington of Ireland and Russell Claydon of England at 10-under 134. Scottish duo of Gary Orr and Dean Robertson were in tied fourth at nine under 135.

The cut was applied at two-under 142 and 80 pros made it to the third round.

Also making it past the first two rounds were Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros and Berhard Langer of germany Winner of three British Opens and two Masters, Ballesteros was tied for 49th place at three-under 141, while Langer was in joint 16th place at six-under 138 after a four-under 68 second round.

Courier, Williams in last 4; Novotna out

ATLANTA, May 1 (Reuters) — Magnus Larsson, winless this year on the ATP tour before this week, upset second-seeded Australian Jason Stoltenberg to reach the semifinals of the AT&T challenge yesterday.

Stoltenberg was the runner-up here the past two years, but was never in yesterday’s match as he fell 6-2 6-2 to the eighth-seeded Swede, who has not entered a semifinal since Cincinnati last August.

Joining Larsson in the final four was fifth-seeded Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean, qualifier Stefan Koubek and Jim Courier, who had to win two matches on another cold, wet day in Atlanta to gain the semifinals.

Larsson next faces Austrian Koubek, a 7-5 6-2 winner over Spaniard Alberto Martin.

Koubek, who ousted Michael Chang in the first round, will be playing his first career ATP tour semifinal.

Larsson got off to a fast start and never let up as he won the first eight points of the match and was two service breaks up at 4-0 before Stoltenberg knew what hit him.

An early service break in the second set put the Australian in another hole and he never recovered.

Courier, whose second-round match with fellow American Justin Gimelstob, was halted by rain after just two games on Thursday, rolled to a 6-1, 7-6 victory early in the day.

The former world number one and recent US Davis Cup hero came back in the evening and defeated Argentine Martin Rodriguez by the same score.

HAMBURG (AFP): Top seed Jana Novotna failed to reach the semifinals of the Betty Barclay Cup on Friday when she was beaten 6-4, 3-6 by Barbara Schett.

The Austrlian now meets fourth seed Mary Pierce, who outplayed Conchita Martinez of Spain 6-4, 6-4.

In the other semifinal, second seed Venus Williams will face third seed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario after beating South Africa’s Amanda Coetzer 6-4, 6-3. Sanchez Vicario advanced with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Sylvia Farina of Italy.

Schett held four match points before losing to Novotna in Berlin nearly a year ago, and she could have been forgiven for believing history was about to repeat itself.

Serving in the second set at 5-3, she fought off seven break points, was taken to deuce 11 times, and finally claimed victory on her seventh match point.

"That was one of the longest games I’ve ever played," said Schett. "I tried serve and volley, which I don’t usually do, and I think I was a little lucky at the end. But she also made a lot of unforced errors at the beginning."

Schett was the more persistent and aggressive player and was less prone to errors than her opponent. She also moved more easily, and was quickly into the net after any short ball offered to her.

Pierce was delighted with her victory over Martinez, while cautioning that a title in Paris next month rather than one in Hamburg this weekend is her priority.

"To beat her you have to really be playing well and hit a winner to get the point, because she gets every ball back," said Pierce. "The difference was when I was more aggressive and coming forward."

Martinez has recently signed up her doubles partner, Patricia Tarabini, as her coach.

"We’ve played together for about four years and she knows my game better than anyone," said Martinez. "She won’t just be a practise partner. I want her to help me get my confidence and consistency back. She’ll keep reminding me of what I can do with my game."

BOL (CROATIA) (AP): Top-seeded Julie Halard-Decugis of France has clinched a spot in the semifinal of the Bol Ladies Open, defeating Spaniard Cristina Torrens-Valero 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4.

Halard-Decugis, ranked 21st in the world, could have ended the match in the second set on Friday, at 5-4, but she squandered two match points and was forced into a tie-break.

Torrens-Valero drew energy from the seeming turnaround and broke to a 2-0 lead in the final set. However, she ran out of steam and allowed Decugis to crawl her way back and secure victory.

Corina Morariu of the USA, a two-time runner-up at Bol, had no such trouble making short work of Czech Adriana Gersi, 6-1, 6-4.

Morariu, seeded fourth in the tournament, dropped her game in the last set after a 3-0 lead, but it was not enough to give Gersi a window of hope.

Fifth-seeded Sarah Pitkowski of France, seeking her second straight title after winning in budapest last week, defeated another Czech, Sandra Kleinova, 6-2, 6-1.

It was Pitkowski’s eighth consecutive win on the tour.

In the remaining match, Conchita Martinez-Granados of Spain disposed of the local favorite, 17-year-old Jelena Kostanic, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5.

In an evenly fought battle, Martinez-Granados climbed from a 2-3 deficit in the first set tie-break to snatch the next four points. In the second, she rose again from 2-0 down and defended a set point at 5-4 to make way for the win.

PRAGUE: Fifth-seeded Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia beat defending champion Fernando Meligeni of Brasil 7-6 (7-2), 6-0 on Friday to reach the semifinal of the $ 475,000 Czech Open.

Hrbaty moves on to face Czech qualifier Michal Tabara, who beat Orlin Stanoychev of Bulgaria 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 in his quarterfinal match.

Also in other quarterfinals on Friday, Czech Slava Dosedel outlasted Arnaud Di Pasquale of France 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 7-5 and German Puentes of Spain beat compatriot Eduardo Nicolas 6-1, 6-2.

In the other semifinal Dosedel will take on Puentes.

Hrbaty, the only seed left in the tournament, struggled against Meligeni in the first set. The Brazilian broke Hrbaty for an early 2-0 lead, but the Slovak then won five games in a row, turning the set around.

Meligeni still managed to level at 6-6, but Hrbaty won the tie-break easily and cruised in the second set.

Di Paquale led Dosedel 5-2 in the first set with powerful baseline play. The Czech then started attacking at the net and drew even at 5-5. Both players then held serve, taking the set into the tie-break, Di Paquale jumped out to a 5-1 lead, squandered three set points and allowed Dosedel to prevaile.

Di Pasquale recovered to take the second set and led 5-3 in the third before the Czech fought off a match point and rallied to claim the match.

Jimmy Adams returns as key player

LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) — Few players mirror the wildly fluctuating fortunes of one-day cricket better than West Indian batsman, bowler and part-time wicketkeeper Jimmy Adams.

He was overlooked as a limited-overs player after the 1996-97 season and his Test place also seemed in jeopardy following some mediocre performances.

But Adams has bounced back so strongly in the recent series against Australia that not only did he become a key part of the West Indies one-day line-up he ended up as captain when Brian Lara was injured.

Adams admits he thrives on challenges, and if West Indies are to add to their previous two World Cup titles, his versatility with bat, ball and gloves could well be a key element.

During the recent seven-match series against Australia in the Caribbean the 31-year-old Jamaican was called on to hold down the number three batting berth while Lara battled a wrist injury. He was then asked to lead the team when that problem forced lara onto the sidelines.

Adams responded with a string of scores to be the West Indians most productive batsman of the tournament, but he is realistic enough to know that does not guarantee he will retain the all-important batting role come the start of the World Cup.

"Things have turned around in the last two or three months but I think one of the things about one-day cricket that’s always been stressed is the need for flexibility," Adams said.

"To be fair I'm a bit versatile so I think that helps in this type of cricket.

"I could be keeping today or bowling tomorrow or batting wherever, it’s just part and parcel of the type of cricket that we play."

One thing of which Adams is certain, his stint as captain has not fuelled him with ambition to wrest the position from Lara, a switch which was mooted in some quarters following the disastrous South African tour.

"I’m realistic, I've always been a Brian (Lara) man," Adams said. "I think Brian is the man for the job. If for some reason he can’t play we’ll see what happens because we’ve got a lot of people who are capable of doing the job."