S P O R T S

Poor umpiring holds centrestage
SYDNEY, Jan 3 — India face yet another big defeat as Australia continued their ruthless domination by riding on left-hander Justin Langer’s lucky, unbeaten 167 to pile up 331 for four in their first innings at stumps on the second day of the third and final cricket Test here today.

Sachin a victim of ‘different forces’
SYDNEY, Jan 3 — Though most of his colleagues on the tour are beaten by superior skills, Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar is a victim of different forces, the Australian media feels.

‘Go, buy a lottery ticket mate’ SYDNEY, Jan 3 — “Go, buy a lottery ticket today”, Indian paceman Javagal Srinath told Justin Langer to sum up his anguish after the Australian batsman fed on the largesse of the umpires to hit an unbeaten 167 here today. The usually calm Srinath, who saw two excellent leg before shouts against Langer shockingly turned and then bowled the batsman off a no ball, could not resist himself when the left-hander edged one tantalisingly close to his stumps.

SYDNEY : Australia's Justin Langer plays a shot on his way to the first century in the year 2000 during the third cricket test match against India in Sydney on Monday. — AP/PTI

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Poor umpiring holds centrestage

SYDNEY, Jan 3 (PTI) — India face yet another big defeat as Australia continued their ruthless domination by riding on left-hander Justin Langer’s lucky, unbeaten 167 to pile up 331 for four in their first innings at stumps on the second day of the third and final cricket Test here today.

After yet another pathetic batting performance, India were bundled out for 150 runs in the morning and were left agonising as shocking umpiring by both Zimbabwe’s Ian Robinson and Australian Darrel Hair, who turned down plumb leg before appeals, helped Australia raise a 181-run lead with six wickets in hand at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

India, under tremendous pressure to deny the hosts their second successive 3-0 Test series sweep, began well when they reduced the host, to two for 49, but a 121-run fourth wicket partnership between Langer and skipper Steve Waugh gave Australia firm command of the match.

But Langer should have gone at least thrice, the first time before even reaching double figures as poor umpiring held centrestage for the second day running.

Pacemen Javagal Srinath, who finished with two for 81, and Venkatesh Prasad dismissed openers Michael Slater (1) and Greg Blewett (19) cheaply, but were left angry and frustrated.

Robinson, who controversially declared Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar leg before yesterday, ruled Langer not out after he padded up to a straight delivery from Srinath before reaching double figures and again, when on 82, he gloved a catch off Saurav Ganguly to wicketkeeper M.S.K Prasad.

Darrel Hair was also unmoved as Prasad caught Langer plumb in front towards end of day’s play.

India once again completed a miserable batting display and had to thank Anil Kumble’s gutsy 26 and his 24-run stand with last man Venkatesh Prasad (1) for stretching their overnight score of 121 for eight wickets by 29 runs. Paceman McGrath finished with five for 48, his 16th five wicket haul in Tests, while Brett Lee returned figures of four for 39.

But Australia owed it to Langer for reaching a position of strength with three days left. Langer added 97 runs for the third wicket with Mark Waugh (32) and produced the big stand with Steve (57), who give his team the initiative and then had added another 64 for the unfinished fifth wicket with Ricky Ponting (34 not out).

The 29-year-old Langer reached his sixth Test century and struck 23 fours and looked set for a double century, but his stay was totally unconvincing. Langer had to thank the umpires for being still there and his day was made when Srinath bowled him off a no-ball and saw the batsman chop one inches past the stumps.

The shocking denial of leg before appeals evoked sharp reaction from former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar. “The same rules are applied differently for different people,” he said and wondered how Robinson could apply different yardsticks in ruling Tendulkar out yesterday and letting off Langer today.

Gavaskar, commenting on television, said the ICC should come to some consensus regarding consistent application of rules as early as possible for the betterment of the game.

India were in control early as Slater was caught behind off Srinath and Blewett bowled by Prasad. Langer too should have gone when on nine. The first leg before appeal against him was turned down by Robinson.

After leaving the hosts struggling at 57 for two at lunch, the frustrated Indians watched the Australians recover to 177 for three at tea before adding 154 runs in the extended final session.

Mark Waugh, playing his 100th Test, was bowled by Ganguly after making an aggressive 32 containing five fours and a six, but his twin Steve took over at the other end to hit up his 113-ball knock that was studded with eight fours, most of them square of the wicket on the off-side.

Srinath trapped the Australian skipper first with the delivery after claiming the second new ball and regularly beat the batsmen but without further success. Prasad also bowled tightly from the other end, beating Langer time and again.

India (first innings):

MSK Prasad c M. Waugh b McGrath 5

Laxman c Slater b Lee 7

Dravid c Ponting b McGrath 29

Tendulkar lbw b McGrath 45

Ganguly c S. Waugh b Blewett 1

Kanitkar c Gilchrist b Lee 10

Bharadwaj c Gilchrist b Lee 6

Kumble c Langer b McGrath 26

Agarkar c M. Waugh b Lee 0

Srinath c Ponting b McGrath 3

Prasad not out 1

Extras (lb-12, w-1, nb-4) 17

Total (all out in 67.5 overs) 150

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-27, 3-68, 4-69, 5-95, 6-118, 7-119, 8-119, 9-126.

Bowling: McGrath 18.5-7-48-5, Fleming 13-7-24-0, Lee 21-9-39-4, Warne 13-4-22-0, Blewett 3-2-5-1.

Australia (first innings):

Blewett b V. Prasad 19

Slater c MSK Prasad b Srinath 1

Langer batting 167

M. Waugh b Ganguly 32

S. Waugh lbw b Srinath 57

Ricky Ponting batting 34

Extras (b-2, lb-12, nb-7) 21

Total (for 4 wkts in 95 overs) 331

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-49, 3-146, 4-267

Bowling: Srinath 20-3-81-2, Agarkar 17-3-70-0, V. Prasad 20-8-47-1, Kumble 17-4-54-0, Ganguly 9-1-30-1, Bharadwaj 12-1-35-0.

Sachin a victim of ‘different forces’

SYDNEY, Jan 3 (PTI) — Though most of his colleagues on the tour are beaten by superior skills, Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar is a victim of different forces, the Australian media feels.

On the opening day of the third and final Test at the SCG, Tendulkar had another dubious leg before decision handed against him and then suffered an assault on his dignity by a churlish, provocative fast bowler.

This was the third leg before ruling against Tendulkar in five innings of this Test series, to go with a bad bat-pad decision which was never there. That the Indian captain has still got 274 runs at 54.80 is altogether a different matter.

Veteran cricket writer Mike Coward in “the Australian” nailed the issue when he wrote “not even a genius can do it alone especially when 50-50 decisions consistently get 100 per cent against him.”

Malcolm Conn, in the same newspaper, wrote “for the third time in five innings, Tendulkar could have felt the rub of the green gone against him.”

The media also reacted angrily against Glenn McGrath for eyeballing Tendulkar on dismissing him after he had struck the pace spearhead for three fours in that eventful over.

McGrath was severely censured by the media and everyone thought he was lucky to escape with a caution from Sri Lankan match-referee Ranjan Madugalle, who also let batsman Ricky Ponting go scot-free for abusing and waving his bat at paceman Javagal Srinath in the second Test.

“Given McGrath’s record and his capacity to extend and sometimes cross the line of appropriate behaviour, he can consider himself lucky to maintain a full pay cheque from this Test,” wrote Conn.

Mark Ray in the Sydney Morning Herald agreed. “McGrath’s exuberance at another great piece of bowling came at the expense of his personal dignity.”

Comparing the Australian fast bowler’s behaviour with that of Venkatesh Prasad on removing opener Michael Slater at the MCG, which resulted in the Indian being fined 35 per cent of his match fee and getting a suspended ban, Ray wrote “McGrath was more fortunate.”

Cricketer-turned-journalist Peter Roebuck too was unsparing in the same newspaper.

“He celebrated the fall of Tendulkar in a manner that went beyond understandable exultation. His antics went beyond anything seen in the previous match (Prasad incident) because they (Indians) had been slowly building and were sustained. It spoilt the day,” wrote Roebuck.

“It did not seem much of a way to treat a batsman of any sort, let alone a champion. Nor was it much of a way to treat a guest or a visiting captain.”

Roebuck wrote: “it was a moment of excess that must have left a mark, especially upon the youngsters and guests from overseas. McGrath was lucky to escape with a caution. What’s good for the goose must be good for everyone else.

“These Australians do many fine things, and even wore the cap of yesteryear to show respect for the champions of that period,” he wrote while holding that McGrath’s behaviour was unbecoming to another champion.

‘Go, buy a lottery ticket mate’

SYDNEY, Jan 3 (PTI) — “Go, buy a lottery ticket today”, Indian paceman Javagal Srinath told Justin Langer to sum up his anguish after the Australian batsman fed on the largesse of the umpires to hit an unbeaten 167 here today.

The usually calm Srinath, who saw two excellent leg before shouts against Langer shockingly turned and then bowled the batsman off a no ball, could not resist himself when the left-hander edged one tantalisingly close to his stumps.

“He said I would not be in his first eleven and then he told me I must go and buy a lottery ticket today”, the smiling Western Australia player told reporters after his effort left Australia in total command on the second day of the third and final cricket Test at the SCG.

“I told him I have taken half the luck from him. It was a sort of banter, it was fun, there was nothing serious in it”, Langer said after scoring his sixth Test hundred.

Srinath’s pace partner Venkatesh Prasad also suffered from dubious umpring, Aussie official Darrell Hair turning down a plumb leg before appeal against Langer and Zimbabwe’s Ian Robinson turning down a caught behind appeal off Ganguly.

Langer sympathised with Srinath: “He bowled his heart out and is a very good Test bowler. I can understand what he must be feeling. I’d be feeling the same if I was in his place”.

About the no-ball off which he was bowled, Langer said he heard the call early. “I can’t believe it. It was the same at the Oval last year against ALex Tudor. I really needed some luck to stay out there in the middle. But someone up there was looking after me”, he added.

Indians’ misery complete Down Under

SYDNEY, Jan 3 (PTI) — The ugly side of the Australian spectators came to the fore when a boot was thrown at Venkatesh Prasad fielding at the boundary, but the umpires shockingly chose to ignore the complaint by Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar than draw the attention of the officials.

India, at the receiving end of poor officiating by both Zimbabwe’s Ian Robinson and his Aussie counterpart Darrel Hair that saw Justin Langer survive to make 167 not out and enable Australia take a firm grip on the second day of the third and final Test here, had further misery piled on them by the two.

Tendulkar’s request to the officials for using sawdust near the bowlers’ run-up in the afternoon was surprisingly turned down by Hair.

The Indian skipper, who was upset at the indifference of the umpires despite a boot being hurled from the stands, said he told Hair that wicketkeeper M S K Prasad was struggling with his foothold, still drying after overnight showers.

“The spot was soggy. I checked twice. MSK (Prasad) was not getting proper foothold. I requested the umpire and he said ‘No’.”

Tendulkar asked whether there was anything against this in the law, but the umpires discussed it and turned down the request. “It was not going to stop the ball,” a resigned Indian skipper told reporters after the day’s play.

Coach Kapil Dev also disagreed with the umpires. “There was nothing wrong in it. It wasn’t going to harm the game. It was not delaying the game,” he said.

Justifying why Indians wanted sawdust spread in the afternoon session after not asking for it in the morning, Tendulkar said: “There was need for it in the afternoon and not in the morning because the pace bowlers operated first and MSK was standing back since the ball was new. When the ball becomes old, the wicketkeeper naturally comes up”.

The Indian skipper also felt the umpires were wrong in not taking any action after he complained that the boot was thrown at Prasad, who could have been hit and injured.

Tendulkar said he brought it to the notice of the umpires but nothing was done about it. “I brought it to their notice. They only said ‘it’s a boot, what can we do’. I think they should have taken action,” he said.

Asked whether he had officially reported the behaviour of the officials, Tendulkar said: “We may or may not report the incident, but that happens only at the end of the game”.

The Indians, going through a nightmarish series where they are 0-2 down and in danger of losing this match also in an embarrassing manner, have received a raw deal from the umpires as well as Sri Lankan match referee Ranjan Madugalle.

While Tendulkar, who had stood up and dominated the formidable Aussie attack, has been handed out three dubious decisions in five innings, the match referee has adopted a soft approach towards the Aussies while slapping a stiff penalty of 35 per cent match fee and a suspended sentence of Venkatesh Prasad for his reaction to a dismissal in Melbourne.

With several leg before appeals and a genuine caught behind shout turned down against centurion Langer, the Indian misery has been complete Down Under.

Kapil had sought footage on Lee’s bowling

SYDNEY, Jan 3 (PTI) — Indian cricket coach Kapil Dev had reportedly sought video footage of new Australian pace bowling sensation Brett Lee, whose suspect action is grabbing the spotlight as rapidly as his wicket-taking ability.

Neither the Indian players, who privately raised doubts about the 23-year-old’s action after facing him in their four-day clash against New South Wales last month, nor Kapil Dev wished to comment on it though a TV producer confirmed the Indian coach asking for the footage.

TV replays have clearly shown that his arm does bend when he tries to bowl extra quick, like Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar who has, however, been slapped a one-month ban, and even the Aussie media has joined the growing chorus of criticism.

“First Muttiah, then Chauhan, now Shoaib, next Brett?” read a banner held aloft by an Australian at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday after some of the thunderbolts hurled by Lee on the opening day of the third Test here yesterday.

One particular ball he bowled to Hrishikesh Kanitkar beat the batsman for pace all right, but it showed he clearly bent his elbow at the point of delivery.

Surprisingly, neither the world body, ICC, which has banned Akhtar after he was reported by New Zealand match referee John Reid during Pakistan’s recent Test series Down Under, nor the Australian officials themselves have stirred.

It were the Aussies who had taken it upon themselves to provide footage on Akhtar’s action much before the ICC officially decided to give its ruling, but the silence has been deafening in the case of Lee.

A television producer has confirmed Kapil Dev did ask for footage on Lee’s action when the New South Wales bowler first made his mark taking seven wickets in the four-day tie here last month.

“The Telegraph” led the comments on Lee’s action today.

“People who have a query with Lee’s action have no problem when he bowls outswing with a new ball. But they feel when he returns with the old ball and comes wide threatening inswinging yorkers, his action opens up and may deteriorate as the young quick strives for extra pace”.

Lee has captured 11 wickets at a measly average of 9.15 from his first three Test innings, but Mark Ray of the “Sydney Morning Herald” has also written that a few of Lee’s deliveries indeed drew suspicion.

Like in the 60s, throwing has become the most contentious issue dogging international cricket in the past five years.

Akhtar was banned on Thursday after an ICC panel ruled that the Pakistani tearaway was indeed guilty of chucking and was an uncertain future in international cricket.

But surprisingly only bowlers from the subcontinent have been regularly subjected to embarrassment while those like Lee have gone scot free.

Australian umpire Darrel Hair, who stirred a hornet’s nest by no-balling Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan seven times for chucking in 1995, was surprisingly quiet on Lee’s action.

Two Indian off-spinners Rajesh Chauhan and young Harbhajan Singh were also reported for throwing and had to undergo corrective action before becoming eligible for selection again.

Akhtar still believes nothing is wrong with his action. “It is totally fluent. It doesn’t stop anywhere. If I stopped and then pitched the ball, that is wrong, that is throwing.”

“I don’t stop my arm anywhere. They say I bend my arm a little bit. They don’t have any objection with the point of delivery. They are talking about when I try to bowl bouncers or when I bowl fast. They say I bend the arm a little bit.”

“If I do, every second bowler does all around the world. I can give four or five names. Why do they have a go at me? I am simply the best and better than the rest,” Shoaib Akhtar has been quoted as saying as he was forced to return home after reaching for the upcoming one-day triseries tournament.

Commenting on Lee’s action, Ray narrated the history of chucking, starting with Geoff Griffin of South Africa, who was the first bowler to be no-balled for throwing during the 1960 Test series in England.

Griffin claimed the first Test hat-trick for South Africa at Lord’s, but made headlines after he was called 11 times for throwing in a Test.

“...In an exhibition match, after the Test finished early, Griffin was again no-balled. He was forced to finish his last over underarm, played the rest of the tour as a batsman and was never picked for his country again.

“Illegal actions indeed were a serious issue in the 60s.

The England team which lost 4-0 to Australia in 1958 was convinced several bowlers it faced on that tour were throwers.

“England were concerned by Ian Meckiff, who generated disturbing speed from a casual approach. Meckiff took 17 wickets at 17.17 runs in four Tests including 9-107 at Melbourne.”

“England bowlers Tony Lock and Peter Loader deliberately threw the ball in the nets against their batsmen to give them practice against an attack which included Gordon Rorke, whose action was largely regarded suspect.

“Not that England were unscared by the controversy. Lock, a devastating left-arm spinner on the uncovered pitches of the 50s had already been no-balled in the West Indies.”

“In 1960, England and Australia cricket authorities agreed on a truce on throwing while they set their respective houses in order. Meckiff continued to represent his country, albeit with a modified action which sharply reduced his effectiveness.”

“In the first Test against South Africa in December 1963, Meckiff was no-balled by umpire Colin Egar for throwing his second, third, fifth and ninth balls. Richie Benaud withdrew Meckiff from the attack and decided not to try him at the other end. He retired from first class cricket after the match.”

“The controversy has again raised its head in the 90s. Six years ago, New Zealand fast bowler Danny Morrison was bowling in a Test match in Perth when he made the most astonishing confession to the umpire: ‘Sorry umpy, I chucked that one’.

“It is impossible such a confession would not destroy a career today,” the Herald added.

Donald wrecks England

CAPE TOWN, Jan 3 (Reuters) — South Africa, who had bowled England out for 258 reached 97 for one in their first innings at tea on the second day of the fourth Test today.

South Africa began the session at seven for nought and Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs carried the score to 43 before the first wicket fell.

Gibbs cut a Chris Silverwood delivery firmly to point where Michael Vaughan held a head-high catch. His 29 was a mixture of good fortune and magnificent strokeplay, He played and missed as well as smashing four glorious boundaries through the covers.

Jacques Kallis joined Kirsten and was dropped with his score on 11, wicketkeeper Alec Stewart putting down what would have been a stunning catch off the bowling of Silverwood.

A thick edge low to his right appeared to be under control until his arm made contact with the ground and the ball was dislodged with the force of the blow.

Kallis, 37 at tea, batted aggressively, pulling Silverwood over the square leg boundary for six to go with four fours.

Kirsten has been more sedate, moving to 23 after two and a quarter hours at the crease.

Scoreboard

England (first innings):

Butcher c Kirsten b Donald 40

Atherton c Kirsten b Donald 71

Hussain c Boucher b Adams 15

Vaughan c Kirsten b Donald 42

Stewart c Kirsten b Donald 40

Caddick c Cullinan b Donald 0

Adams c Pollock b Kallis 10

Flintoff c Rhodes b Klusener 22

Gough c Boucher b Klusener 4

Silverwood not out 1

Tufnell b Kallis 2

Extras (1b-6, w-2, nb-3) 11

Total (all out in 113 overs) 258

Fall of wickets: 1-115, 2-125, 3-141, 4-213, 5-213, 6-218, 7-231, 8-253, 9-255.

Bowling: Donald 26-13-47-5, Pollock 27-8-59-0, Kallis 20-4-61-2, Klusener 16-5-42-2, Cronje 3-2-5-0, Adams 21-9-38-1.

(Scoreboard incomplete)

BSF share points with Kochin

KOCHI, Jan 3 (PTI) — Former international Bibhas Saha’s heroics for Border Security Force, Jalandhar under the bar helped his side to split the points with formidable FC Kochin after a goalless draw in the fourth National Football League match here today.

FC Kochin, who played a pleasing game with short passes, dominated for major part of the match but were not sharp and intelligent enough to beat a confident Saha, who showed good reflexes and anticipation time and again to thwart several attempts by their rival striker Vijayan and Jo Paul Ancheri.

The Kochin outfit had a clear edge in the first half play. They did more of the attacking and had quite a few scoring chances but a goal somehow eluded them and they ended the session goalless.

The hosts whose morale is up after tasting their first win over State Bank of Travancore, Thiruvananthapuram last week, pressed home from the beginning but despite some hectic moment in the BSF defence could not muster a goal.

At the other end, securitymen could have walked away with full points had substitute Gaurana Paul converted a golden chance with custodian Saji Joy at his mercy with ten minutes to go for the final whistle.

Salgaocar defeat Churchill

MARGAO: Defending champions Salgaocar brought Churchill Brothers’ winning spree to an end inflicting a solitary goal defeat on them in the 4th edition of the National Football League here today.

Salgaocar, who dominated major part of the first half, scored the goal in the 33rd minute through Gbengal Lawal after a brilliant move initiated by captain Robert Fernandes.

Fernandes, from the centre, relayed the ball to Alvito D’Cuna on the right and the forward passed it to Joao Santos on the side line.

The Brazilian eluded two rival players and sent a goalmouth cross where defender Denzil Ferrao failed to intercept and Lawal volleyed the ball home.

Churchill, who suffered their first defeat, felt the absence of striker Andriy Malchevky due to two bookings. They dominated the last quarter of the first half and the second half but could not convert the chances that came their way.

Luck also deserted Churchill as Rocky Bareto’s and Anthony Mathew’s headers hit the bar.

With this win, Salgaocar now move to the second place with 11 points, one point behind Churchill

Bagan get past East Bengal

CALCUTTA: Former champions Mohun Bagan put their title campaign back on rails, overcoming arch-rivals East Bengal by a solitary second half goal in an exciting 4th National Football League exchange here today.

Medio James Singh scored the lone goal in the 75th minute with an excellent on-the-run right footer, propelling Bagan to their third win in five matches. Nigerian striker Stephen Abarowei did the spadework by scooping up the ball from near the opponents’ box.

Bagan have gleaned 10 points, same as Tollygunge and are two points behind leaders Churchill Brothers. East Bengal, who have also played five matches, have fallen behind with seven.

The winners maintained constant pressure on their rivals with their midfielders toiling hard all through the 90 minutes. James Singh was particularly outstanding, tormenting the East Bengal defence time without number with his searing runs and incisive crosses.

Bagan’s Thai left back Dushit played a key role in the triumph constantly moving up the left flank to feed his frontliners.

Bagan, in fact, could have won by a better margin had Singh’s snap shot in the opening minutes of the second half not kissed the post off East Bengal custodian Prashanta Dora’s hands.

The East Bengal players tried to regroup after absorbing the initial Bagan thrusts and attempted a number of long rangers, but failed to break the Bagan defensive cordon.

25 teams likely for jr national handball
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — Final touches are being given to all arrangements for the 22nd Junior National Handball Championship for Boys to be held at Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana, from January 6 to 11, Mr S.S. Channy, President, Punjab Handball Association, said here today.

Mr Channy said that 25 teams are expected to participate in the championship. An organising committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana, Mr Arun Goel, has been set up. Besides, a dozen sub-committees to look after various aspects of organisation of the championship have also been set up.

Some of the sub-committees would be headed by Mr S.S. Sandhu, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, and Mr Kuldip Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police. The Director of Sports, Col Raminder Singh, has been supervising the arrangements for smooth technical conduct of the championship.

According to Mr Ashok Aggarwal, Secretary, Punjab Handball Association, teams would be divided into six pools and top teams of each pool would qualify for the quarter-final league.

The winners and runners-up of the last nationals at Rohtak — Madhya Pradesh and Punjab — will head the pool A and B, respectively. From quarter final league, four teams will qualify for the semi finals.

Mr M.S. Brar, additional organising secretary, said that more than 40 matches would be played during the championship.

Mr K. Sivaprasad, organising secretary of the championship, said that more than two dozen technical officials would be in Ludhiana for the conduct of the matches. The playgrounds for the championship would be ready in a day or two.

Indian spikers lose to Tunisia

DUBAI, Jan 3 (UNI) — India crashed out of the fifth Rashid International Volleyball Tournament when they went down fighting 2-3 to Tunisia in an exciting semifinal here last night.

The match had all the ingredients of a thriller as India, the three-time winners, did not allow any liberty to Tunisia, the Arab and African champions, until the last set.

In what turned out to be the best contested match of the tournament, India lost 18-25, 25-27, 25-21, 25-21, 11-15 .

In the crucial fifth set, some of the Indian players looked jaded,especially Ashish Arora, who had been so far the hero of the Indian team in the tournament. Ashish completely failed in attacking and conceded at least five crucial points. The Tunisian players took advantage of the situation and unleashed telling smashes to get the better of the Indians.

Indian spikers Joby Joseph and Amir Singh played well but their herculean effort was not good enough for the team.

For Tunisia, Mohammed Bagdadi, Majid Toumi and Noureddine Hfaied excelled.

At a post match Press conference, Indian Chef-de-Mission Kodanda Ramaiah said, “Our receiving of service was not up to the mark...we gave a good fight but lost because of lack of physical fitness”. He also attributed the team’s defeat to failure of Ashish in the match.

Mr Ramaiah, however, added that “it was a good experience for us and we certainly lost to a better team”.

India, who had defeated Cuba, the UAE and Pakistan in their earlier outings, will now play for minor placings.

Stage set for winter games
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 3 — South East Asia’s oldest and only natural ice-skating rink, is all set for the second National Winter Games beginning here from January 4.

Weather conditions, which play a vital role in freezing of water naturally, have been ideal for the past one month. The continuing dry spell and clear sky have been a blessing in disguise and the organisers face no problems in preparing the rink for the big event. The entire rink, equal to five tennis courts in area, has been covered with a thick, shining layer of ice.

The weather gods, Mr Bhavnesh Banga, secretary the Shimla Ice Skating Club which is hosting the games, hopes will keep smiling on the winter sports enthusiasts over the next week and the event will be completed smoothly. It has been a good season so far and already 55 skating sessions have been held till yesterday.

While the ice-skating events are being held here, the skiing events will be conducted on the Solang slopes in Manali in the second leg of the games from February 4 to 10. As many as eight teams, including two each from Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal and one each from the Army, Delhi and Rajasthan, are participating in the ice skating events. The number of teams for the skiing events will be about a dozen as teams from Uttar Pradesh, ITBP and some other organisations will also participate.

The 79-year-old ice skating club, which earned the country an envious position, started preparing the rink early as it was not only to host the National Games but also the South Asian Federation winter games, which had to be deferred for next year for want of artificial ice making machine.

The rink has been renovated and new stands have been constructed for spectators, at the bus stand end. Proper drains have been provided to check seepage from the hill side and new side boards have been provided to ensure that the ball does not slide out of the rink during ice hockey matches.

Although winter games are being held in the state for the past several decades, the event was more of a festival as the sport had no recognition from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) until two years ago. It is for the first time that the games are being held under the aegis of the IOA in the state. It will no more be a carnival and all the events will have the competitive element like all other games.

Hosts Himachal Pradesh, who won the overall championship in the first National Games held in Gulmarg two years ago, will be keen to retain the top position. They are likely to face a stiff challenge from teams of the Army. Jammu and Kashmir did quite well in Gulmarg. While Himachal won the figure skating and speed skating events, the Army bagged the ice-hockey title to finish runners-up in the first edition.

The speed skating and figure skating events will be held for both men and women but ice hockey will be only for men. In the second leg both alpine skiing and nordic skiing events will be held at Solang. These will include slalom and giant slalom for both men and women and 15 km freestyle and 4x10 km relay for men only.

The opening ceremony, a colourful event, will be held on The Ridge where Mr U. Ananth Kumar, Union Minister for Sports and Youth Services, will be the chief guest. The annual winter carnival of the club will take place at the rink on the same evening. Exhibition skating, ice-hockey matches, basket jumps and fancy dress competition will be the highlight of the programme. The competitive events will be held every morning and evening from January 5 onwards.

The administration has made elaborate arrangements for the games which will be a full dress rehearsal for the South Asian Federation Winter Games to be held next year.

PCB appeals against ban on Akhtar

ADELAIDE, Jan 3 (Reuters) — The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said today they had lodged an appeal with the International Cricket Council (ICC), claiming the decision to ban fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was racially based.

A nine-man ICC panel suspended Akhtar for a month after ruling last week that his bowling action was illegal.

But PCB Secretary Shafqat Rana told Australian Radio today that Pakistan would challenge the ruling.

“It’s only against the Asian cricketers,’’ Mr Rana said. “Why not against others? Why not against (Australian) Brett Lee, when he bowled the faster ones? Why not (retired Australian) Ian Meckiff, why not (England’s) Darren Gough?’’

The manager of the Pakistan team currently in Australia preparing for a triangular one-day series which includes India, said the PCB had already notified the ICC of their plans.

Davenport likely to defend Sydney title

SYDNEY, Jan 3 (AFP) — American Lindsay Davenport is expected to recover from a chest infection to defend her Sydney International tennis title here next week.

The world No 2 withdrew from the Millennium Cup women’s exhibition tournament in Hong Kong this week but Sydney tournament spokesman Craig Gabriel said he expected Davenport to play the January 9 to 15 event which this year switches from the White City to the new Olympic venue.

“That was only an exhibition which meant nothing in comparison to playing in Sydney,” Gabriel said.

“When we last spoke she was very excited about playing here. She said she was looking forward to defending her title and also playing at the Olympic venue, because she is also the reigning Olympic champion and intends to be back in September to defend that title.”

Kaif named captain, Sodhi vice-captain

CHENNAI, Jan 3 (PTI) — Mohd Kaif of Uttar Pradesh and Reetinder Sodhi of Punjab have been named captain and vice-captain of the Indian cricket team to participate in the under-19 World Cup scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka from January 9.

The five-member national junior selection committee comprising Rajinder Goel (chairman, North), Mahindran Rajdev (West), Sashikant Khandkar (Central), Ashish Sinha (East) and S. Kangralkar (South) and coach Roger Binny today met at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium and announced a 14-member squad for the tour.

The team will leave Channai for Colombo on January 6.

The team: Mohd Kaif (capt, UP), Reetinder Singh Sodhi (vice-capt, Punjab), Yuvraj Singh (Pun), Venugopal Rao (AP), Niraj Patel (Gujarat), Sallab Srivastav (UP), M. Tripathi (UP), Ajay Ratra (wk, Har), Vidyuth Sivaramakrishnan (TN), Mahir Diwakar (Bih), Anup Dave (Raj), Manish Sharma (Pun), Arjun Yadav (Hyd) Ravneet Ricky (Pun).

Dr G. Nandakumar of Tamil Nadu will be the team manager.

17 teams for Thomas Cup qualifiers
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — As many as 17 teams will participate in the Thomas Cup and 12 teams in the Uber Cup qualifying rounds to be played at New Delhi from February 13 to 20, according to Mr T.P.S. Puri, former chief national badminton coach and the IBF member. The top three teams would qualify for the final rounds to be held at Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) in May.

Hosts India have been put in group ‘Y’ in the Thomas Cup and in group ‘A’ along with Zambia and Sri Lanka in the Uber Cup.

The Indian squad will be chosen next week in Mumbai. The first three teams would qualify for the eight team finals while a similar qualifying tournament from where three more teams would make their way to the finals, will be held at Sofia (Bulgaria) . The seventh team would be the hosts, Malaysia while Thomas Cup and Uber Cup reigning champions Indonesia and China respectively take the eighth place.

China, Japan, Thailand, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Singapore, Hongkong, Iran, Mauritius, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Australia, Zambia, Chinese Taipei and hosts India would fight for a place in Thomas Cup finals while Japan, Thailand, Pakistan, Singapore, Hongkong, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Australia, Zambia, India, Chinese Taipae and Indonesia would take part in Uber Cup qualifying rounds.

Four qualifiers spotted

CHENNAI, Jan 3 (PTI) — Andy Ram of Israel shocked top-seed Czhek Jiri Vanekl to qualify along with three others for the main draw of the ATP Tour Gold Flake Open Tennis Championship beginning here this evening.

Jamie Delgado of England, Yaoki Ishi of Japan and Martin Spottl of Austria were the other three to progress to the main draw.

In the third and final qualifying round, Andy Ram, seeded seven, beat Vanek 6-4, 6-4, while second seed Delegado overcame Eyal Ran of Israel 2-6 6-2 6-1.

In the other two matches, stocky Japanese Ishi, the fifth seed, put paid to the aspirations of third-seeded Tomas Ketola of Finald with a 6-3 6-1 win, while sixth seeded Barry Cowan fell by the wayside to unseeded Spottl at 3-6, 4-6.

In the main draw, Spottl will meet second seed Cedric Pioline of France in his first round match tomorrow, while defending champion Byron Black faces Delgado.

National Games: MCs to get HUDCO loans
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Jan 3 — The Union Minister for Estates and Works and president Punjab olympic Association, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, has said that required infrastructure for the fourth coming National Games, would be set up at Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Patiala.

He said the municipal corporations concerned would be provided soft-term loans by HUDCO. The sports facilities would be maintained by the municipal corporation after the Games.

The National Games would be conducted at Ludhiana, Patiala and Jalandhar. The opening and closing ceremonies would be organised in Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana.

Mr Dhindsa said that a new synthetic track would be laid in Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana. Besides, a new indoor stadium at a cost of Rs 14 crore was being built in Ludhiana to organise different indoor games.

He assured that Shaheed Bhagat Singh stadium on the Pakhowal road would be developed. He announced a grant of Rs 51.000 for stadium.

Overwhelming win for PAU
From Our Sports Reporter

LUDHIANA, Jan 3 — Hosts Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana, overwhelmed CSJM University, Kanpur, 16-0 and Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi, wrecked MJP Rohil Khand, Bareilly, 10-0 to enter the quarter-finals of the North Zone Inter- University Hockey Tournament for men at the astro turf stadium of PAU here today.

Two other teams which made it to the last eight stage were Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, from group ‘A’ who edged out Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, 4-1 and from group ‘B’ Kurukshetra University outplayed Lucknow University 3-0.

With this, PAU Ludhiana alog with Kurukshetra University MDU, Rohtak and Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi have joined the current champions Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, last year’s runners-up Panjab University, Chandigarh, and last years losing semi-finalists Punjabi University, Patiala, and GND University, Amritsar in the quarter-finals.

The group ‘D’ match between hosts PAU and the CSJM Varsity, Kanpur, was an one-sided affair with the former dominating the proceedings throughout. PAU boys went into the lead in the third minute through their forward Yadwinder Singh. Two minutes later Jagroop Singh successfully converted shot corner to make it 2-0. Hosts maintained the pressure under which the Kanpur varsitymen wilted PAU led 8-0 at half-time.

After changing ends, PAU added eight more goals to score a comfortable 16-0 win. Nadveep and Paramjit contributed three goals each while Yadwinder and Sukhdeepak scored a brace each.

The group ‘C’ match between Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi and MJP Rohil Khand, Bareilly, too was a lack lusture affair. Delhi varsity boys established 5-0 lead at the breather and pumped in five more in the second half to beat Bareilly varsity comprehensively 10-0. For Delhi, the main scorers were Ranjit Singh (3), Kamlesh Kumar (3) and Meraj (2).

In a group ‘A’ match, Sandeep Mann put MDU, Rohtak, in the 16th minute. In the next minute, Satish Kumar found the target to make it 2-0.

After the lemon break, HP University lads checked their rivals effectively till the 50th minute when Rohtak’s Parvesh Kumar increased the lead 3-0.

HP varsity reduced the margin through penalty corner conversion in the 59th minute by Sunil Sen. In the dying minutes of the game, Rohtak scored another gial through Satish Kumar to clinch the issue 4-1.

In group ‘B’ Kurukshetra University faced a stiff challenge from Lucknow University before emerging 3-0 winners. After the first barren half, Kurukshtera men struck the first blow in the 45th minute through Rachhpal Singh. Midway through the second half, centre forward Dharminder enhanced the lead (2-0). Two minutes before the long hooter Prabhdeep Singh scored to wrap up the issue three-nil.

REGIONAL SPORT BRIEFS

Academy win

GARHSHANKAR, Jan 3 (FOC) — In the inaugural match of the 38th Principal Harbhajan Singh Memorial Football Tournament as the SGGS Khalsa College, Mahilpur, DAV College Jalandhar beat ASSM College, Mukandpur, 1-0 Both teams were goalless till half time. In the second half Davinder Singh in his solo effort kicked the ball straight into the goals.

Football Academy Mahilpur defeated SN College Banga 5-0 First goal for the Academy was scored by Sher Singh (10th minute), Nirmal Singh (12th) Navjot Singh (14th) Nirmaljit and Sukhjinder Singh were scorers. All goals were scored in the first half of the match.

Hardeep scripts Muktsar win

MUKTSAR, Jan 3 (TNS) — A field goal by centre forward Hardeep Singh helped Muktsar to win 1-0 against Kapurthala in the inaugural match of the fourth state-level Dashmesh Hockey Tournament Championship which started here today.

Muktsar team, playing on home turf, dominated the proceedings from the state of the match.

In another match Punjab and Sind Bank Academy crushed Bathinda 4-0. Mr B.S. Soodan, Deputy Commissioner, who inaugurated the championship said about 14 teams, including Punjab Police, PSEB and Namdhari, were participating in the championship.

A prize of Rs 21,000 would be given to the champions while the second place team would get Rs 11,000

Police beat Sports Club in opener

PATIALA Jan 3 (FOSR) — The Patiala Police beat the Sports Club, Samana, 2-0 to win the inaugural match of the Patiala District Football Championships which commenced at the Polo Grounds here today.

With the first half remaining barren, the match came to life only after the breather with the cops medio Gurbax Singh being the livewire for his team. After a couple of solo runs down the middle, Gurbax Singh received a pass from the left flank and volleyed the ball home leaving the Samana custodian bewildered and putting his team a goal up. Thereafter the cops went all out and in the last minute of the match, even as cops linkman Harish Singh rose above the defence to head the goal home to make it 2-0 for the Patiala Police.

Earlier, the tournament was inaugurated by Mr S.S. Boparai, an NRI and President of the Patiala District Football Association. Mr Boparai announced a price of Rs 20,000 to the Patiala district players if Patiala lifted the trophy in the forthcoming state football championship.