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| Sunday, January 9, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Pak
take on confident Aussies Indian
series PSCB
clinch grand double Salgaocar
rout BSF 4-0 Akhtar
permitted to play in one-dayers |
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| Iran, USA set to renew soccer
rivalry OAKLAND (California), Jan 8 — For all the history of bitter relations between the two countries, the Iranian national soccer team’s visit to the USA has been decidedly low-key. Konguvel continues winning spree India
go down to Germany Golmard
rallies to enter final HP
beat J&K in jr national handball
GND varsity lads emerge champ Army,
J&K joint winners Ashok widens lead; Manav joint 3rd Hanumant referee for 3-nation meet
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Pak take on confident Aussies BRISBANE, Jan 8 (PTI) — With their fastest bowler Shoaib Akhtar in the eye of a chucking storm, demoralised Pakistan face a tough task to turn things around as they take on a buoyant Australia in the opening tie of the triangular cricket series tournament at the Gabba here tomorrow. Australia, who drubbed Pakistan in June last year to crown themselves World Cup champions and then whitewashed them 3-0 in the Test series late last year, have looked invincible after meting out a similar treatment to India. With new pace sensation Brett Lee alongwith one-day specialists Michael Bevan, Andrew Symonds and Shane Lee added to their ranks Australia start favourites and also look the best team to reap advantage from the format of the first major one-day event of the new millennium. With as many as 12 league matches deciding which two teams will qualify for the best-of-three finals, the hosts who have been a picture of consistency to emerge the best cricket team in the world will be a tough nut to crack. Added to their all-round strength, Australia are also a cut above the rest in fielding and their attacking approach to the game has left both their rivals in the tourney far behind. Pakistan, their morale hit by the ban on Akhtar, have a string of all-rounders like Azhar Mohammad and Abdul Razzaq who could make all the difference, but their brittle batting will be a major worry after the visitors lost three consecutive one-day ties against Australia A and Queensland in a scrappy attempt to rebuild their challenge. “We have not played 50 per cent to our potential. We have a very talented side. Bowling and fielding are no problem. It’s our batting. We have to bat our 50 overs,” team coach Intikhab Alam said on the eve of the match outlining the weak areas. The drafting in of seasoned Waqar Younis as replacement for Akhtar has given Pakistan the right ammunition to fire away alongside skipper Wasim Akram, Razzaq and Mehmood with the crafty off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq also expected to play a big role. The 23-year-old Akhtar, dubbed the “Rawalpindi Express”, is still in Australia awaiting any possible review by the world body, ICC, of its earlier decision to slap a one-month ban on the bowler for suspect bowling action. “The boys are keyed up. They will come good. They have to,” Alam said. But Australian skipper Steve Waugh, whose tactic of applying relentless pressure produced cracks in the Pakistan ranks, described Pakistan as “unpredictable and dangerous”. Waugh, who led Australia to a thumping World Cup triumph to also spark off a crisis in Pakistan cricket, said the record of his team in one-dayers reflected their strength. “We have lost one game of the last 15... That’s a pretty good record. We’ll try and keep our standards high. “We don’t want to play to other people’s expectations, only to our own. That is to be very professional and respect playing for Australia,” he said. Waugh warned his bowlers would maintain the same discipline as in the Tests and was sure 23-year-old Brett Lee would fit into the side well. Australia, who were dealt their first defeat as World Cup champions by a resurgent Sri Lanka in Colombo last year, will however, be careful not to let any complacency creep in and will also be wary not to let Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar or the dangerous Inzamam-ul Haq cut loose. The hosts who beat both India and Pakistan on their way to triumph in England last year, will also be aware the two teams will be keen to strike back in the tournament. The inclusion of all-rounder Andrew Symonds will provide much flexibility to the young Aussie side. With key batsmen Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh and Ricky Ponting in good touch and the likes of Shane Warne and Damien Fleming known for their late flourish, Australia can expect a winning start. Pakistan team management is relieved Azhar Mehmood has recovered from a thigh strain and is fit to play tomorrow to lend the right balance for the day-night tie. Australia, fresh after a short break since their innings victory over India with two days to spare in Sydney earlier this week, could have two sets of brothers playing tomorrow if Brett Lee and elder brother Shane are picked alongside Steve and Mark Waugh. The teams: Australia (from): Steve Waugh (capt), Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Michael Bevan, Damien Martyn, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming, Brett Lee, Adam Dale, Shane Lee. Pakistan (from): Wasim
Akram, Saeed Anwar, Wajahatullah Wasti, Yousuf Youhana,
Ijaz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Inzamam-ul Haq, Moin Khan,
Abdur Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohd Wasim,
Shoaib Malik, Waqar Younis. |
Indian series SYDNEY, Jan 8 (PTI) — The recent Test series between India and Australia may have ended on a disastrous note for the visitors, but it has left the cash registers at the Australian Cricket Board doubling the home team’s joy who won it 3-0. The series was financially very successful for the ACB as it attracted huge crowds. The crowd figures, in excess of 300,000 is the best the Indian tourists have ever drawn in three-Test series Down Under. When India last toured Astralia in 1991-92, the figures were 254,000 for a five-Test series. Around 65,000 people watched the Adelaide Test, 130,000 in Melbourne and in Sydney it was 106,000 with atleast 42,000 spectators watching the match on the spell-out first day. The figures could have been even higher if the final Test had not finished in just three days or if it had not rained on the first two days of the boxing day Test at Melbourne. ACB Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said an extra 20,000 could have been expected on each of the two days at the MCG had the weather been kind. The figures were clearly higher than the 265,000 the ACB expecting from the series. Even against Pakistan, the ACB was budgeting for 85,000 but it turned out to be far in excess at 104,000. In the Perth Test alone, which was also a three-day affair, the figures were 42,166. Meanwhile, the Australian players too are expected to gain much from the series. If Australia also wing the Carlton and United triangular one-day series, to go with their 6-0 Test triumph of the summer, it could mean an extra bonus of $ two million for their cricketers. Leading players like Steve Waugh and Shane Warne may earn an extra $80,000 each for a second successive session. Both could make as much as $500,000 just from their total cricket payments. They already earn large sums from other sources such as sponsorship, endorsement and media work. Big crowds in Melbourne and Sydney will significantly boost the ACB’s income and the players will get a direct share. Under a new payment system negotiated between the ACB and the Australian Cricketers Association, players receive 20 per cent of all cricket income up to $ 60 million and 25 per cent of anything above that. The system operated for the first time last season with players initially being paid on the ACB estimates of income. Because last year’s
estimate was $60 million and eventual revenue exceeded $
70 million, all national and state players shared an
extra $2.5 million with the national team gaining the
largest bonuses. This season the ACB has estimated total
income at $65 million, giving the players an automatic
pay rise, and that figure will be easily passed if
Waugh’s men continue to draw big crowds. |
PSCB clinch grand double LUCKNOW, Jan 8 (PTI) — Petroleum Sports Control Board men and women scored contrasting wins to clinch team titles at the 61st Senior National and Inter-State Table Tennis Tournament here today. PSCB men, the defending champions who made it to the quarterfinals as the second placed team in group A after being stunned by Rajasthan in a preliminary league match, blanked Punjab 3-0 in the final with India No 1 Chetan Baboor, Subhajit Saha and Arjun Dutta scoring convincing victories. But their women counterparts faced a stiff competition from holders Railways before winning 3-2 in the summit clash with top-seed Mouma Das beating Railways’ star Kasturi Chakraborty in the decider to beak a 2-2 deadlock. The PSCB men, who scored an easy 3-0 victory against Railways in the semifinals, went ahead when Saha outplayed Punjab’s Deepak Thukral 21-17, 21-17. But national champion Baboor had to pull up his socks to beat Vineet Chopra 21-15, 20-22, 21-13 before Arjun Dutta clinched the win by defeating N. Ravi Chandran 21-17 21-19. The PSCB women displayed excellent ball control. A mixture of aggressive attack and solid defence saw them outplay the star-studded Railways. Kasturi Chakrabarty surprised Poulami Ghatak 21-17, 23-17 to give Railways a superb start but Mouma Das and N.R. Indu defeated Anandita Chakrabarty and Moumitta Dutta, respectively to put PSCB 2-1 ahead. While Das scored a 21-16 22-20 victory, Indu was impressive in her 21-15 21-14 win over Dutta. Anindita Chakrabarty levelled the scores for Railways, beating Ghatak 25-23, 21-10 before Mouma Das clinched the issue in favour of the PSCB, outplaying Kasturi Chakrabarty 21-16 21-15 in the decider. Earlier, in the men’s semifinals played today, PSCB scored a comprehensive 3-0 victory against Railways with the star trio of Baboor, former national champion S. Raman and Arup Basak vanquishing their rivals with ease. Raman beat Shivaji Dutta 19-21, 21-12, 21-12 while Baboor downed Bhushan Thakur 21-17 21-14. Basak edged past Nupur Santra 21-11, 19-21, 21-16 in well-fought three games. Thukral had an easy time against Uttar Pradesh’s Rahul Prakash Sarkar, winning 21-19 21-12 while Chopra had to quell a strong challenge from Kaushik D. Sarkar before winning 19-21, 22-20, 21-17. Zabarjit Singh of U.P. salvaged some prestige for the hosts by defeating Ravi Chandra 21-17, 9-21, 21-17 before Thukral settled the issue by prevailing 23-21 21-18 over Sarkar. Team championships (finals) Men’s: PSCB beat Punjab 3-0. S. Saha b D. Thukral 21-17, 21-17 C. Baboor b V. Chopra 21-15, 20-22, 21-13. A. Dutta b N.R. Chandran 21-17, 21-19. Women’s: PSCB beat Railways 3-2. K. Chakraborty b P. Ghatak 21-17, 23-21. M. Das (PSCB) b A. Chakraborty 21-16, 22-20. N.R. Indu b M. Dutta 21-15, 21-14. A. Chakraborty b P. Ghatak 25-23, 21-10. M. Das b K. Chaktabarty
21-16, 21-15. |
Salgaocar rout BSF 4-0 MARGAO, Jan 8 (UNI) — A brace by medio Jules Alberto enabled defending champions Salgaocar, Goa, to keep their unbeaten record intact. They played against a weak defence to crush new entrant Border Security Force Jalandhar 4-0 and gain full points in the fourth edition of National Football League match played at Nehru Stadium Fatorda here today. The Salgaocar goals came in the first half through medio S Venkatesh in the 3rd minute, striker Joao Dos Santos in the 35th minute and medio Jules Alberto in the 40th and 43rd minute. With this win Salgaocar topped the league table with 14 points registering their fourth victory and two draws. Another Goan outfit Churchill Brothers have now dropped to second place with 12 points, while BSF remained on same four points from as many of matches. In a totally one-sided affairs Salgoacar played at full steam in the first half and pumped in the goals at will with a control of midfield by Jules Alberto, S Venkatesh, Habib Adenkunle and Dharamjit and strikers Alvito D Cunha and Brazilian Joao Santos combining well. Salgaocar fired the first salvo as early as in the 3rd minute of the first half through medio S. Venaktesh. The goal was a result of fine combination. Jules Alberto headed to S. Venkatesh who made no mistake to tap in off a flag kick taken by Alvito D’Cunha. Salgacoar increased their lead through Brazilain import stiker Joao Dos Santos in the 35th minute of the first half who after collecting a ball from Jules Alberto dribbling past a host of defenders and shot into the net 2-0. Five minutes later Jules Alberto made it 3-0. Two minutes before the lemon break Jules Alberto scored his second goal off a free kick taken by Alvito D’Cunha and Salgaocar were leading by 4-0 at half time. Salgoacar could have
further increased their lead had not Venkatesh missed the
gilt-deged chances that came their way. Ten minutes from
the second half Salgoacar rested their goalkeeper Juje
Siddi and was replaced by Raghivir Khanolkar. Not a
single good move was seen from BSF side today, though
they played reasonable well in their last match against
F.C. Kochi. |
Akhtar permitted to play in one-dayers CALCUTTA, Jan 8 (PTI) — The International Cricket Council (ICC) today allowed Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar to play in the forthcoming triangular series in Australia while keeping the suspension in force for Test matches. Since the advisory panel on illegal deliveries had found that Akhtar had a problem while bowling a bouncer, the ICC decided to permit the fast bowler to play in one-dayers where bouncers are called “no-balls”, ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya announced at a press conference here. “Sir Clyde Walcott, the chairman of the cricket committee and I believe that since bouncers are not used in one-day cricket as they are called ‘no-balls’, it would be best to permit Shoaib to play in the forthcoming triangular series in Australia while continuing with remedial coaching to be conducted by Pakistan Cricket Board,” Dalmiya said. He said further video footage will be taken during the triangular series under the supervision of match referee Cammie Smith and the advisory panel will have a second review of Akhtar’s action prior to the Pakistan versus Sri Lanka Test series in Pakistan beginning in February this year. Dalmiya said the umpires were at liberty to apply law 24.2 if they felt any bowler was not delivering the ball legally. He said that the procedural issues raised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will be dealt with by the ICC’s Executive Board in its meeting on February 9 and 10 next. Akhtar’s bowling action was reported by umpires Peter Willey of England and Darrel Hair of Australia and Kiwi match referee John Reid with specific concern about his bouncer and extra fast delivery. “The video footage of Shoaib’s actions were made available to the advisory panel which reviewed the footage and felt he had a problem with his action while bowling a bouncer”, Dalmiya said. “Any decision of the advisory panel is binding and should be respected by all concerned”, he pointed out. He said the ICC had set up the advisory panel on illegal deliveries to assist players who may have suspect actions to take corrective measures rather than be ‘called’. “It is the ICC’s unflinching resolve that cricket should be played in the fairest manner”, he added. Asked whether the ICC
will nominate a former fast bowler to assist Akhtar in
taking remedial measures, he said: “We will provide
all possible assistance so that he can play again. If the
Pakistan board wants us to nominate a player, we will do
it”. |
Iran, USA set to renew soccer rivalry OAKLAND (California), Jan 8 (Reuters) — For all the history of bitter relations between the two countries, the Iranian national soccer team’s visit to the USA has been decidedly low-key. The Iranian players mill casually about the lobby of the Marriott Hotel in this northern California city where they remain when not training at the nearby Oakland Coliseum. Friends and relatives come and go, for there are approximately 200,000 people of Iranian descent living in this area, and each player seems to have at least a handful of well-wishers on hand. The Iranians open a three-game tour tomorrow at the Coliseum against Mexico, a nation they have never faced in soccer, then travel to Los Angeles for a game on Wednesday against Ecuador. The tour culminates on January 16 at the Rose Bowl in a rematch of a US-Iran meeting 18 months ago at the World Cup in France, which Iran won 2-1. Both teams were later given the FIFA fair play award for that politically charged match. A week in advance of the match at the Rose Bowl, 35,000 tickets have already been sold. Southern California is the home of about a half-million people of Iranian descent. Iran’s visit had to be funnelled through several US governmental agencies for approval. The visit had been in the works since last spring, but a proposed match last June had to be scrapped while the US State Department and Department of Justice cleared the way bureaucratically and politically for a team from a country which has no official diplomatic links with the USA. “There is nothing of a problem between the American and Iranian people,” said team technical director Jalal Talebi, who lived in northern California for 18 years and was the head coach at France ’98. “It is between the governments, and I believe these disputes are behind us.” Acrimony between the two governments began with the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the US-backed regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The USA severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980 after militant students seized the US Embassy in Tehran, holding 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. Only when Iranian wrestling teams were cleared to visit the USA in the 1990s did the sporting frost begin to thaw. A dispute over the policy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to fingerprint every Iranian national entering the USA threw the tour in doubt last month. A compromise was worked out, and members of the Iranian party were not fingerprinted on Wednesday when their plane landed in Chicago for passport checks and clearance of customs. The party arrived in Oakland on Wednesday night, and more than 250 fans were on hand at the airport to greet them. The players and coaches were taken through an alternative gate to avoid the fans, and their bus to the hotel was escorted by a fleet of police motorcycles. More than a dozen journalists for publications and broadcast stations serving the Iranian community are covering the team’s visit. The hotel lobby sometimes becomes a studio as TV crews converge on players to record sound bites. For some reason, the team’s luggage did not arrive until the following night, and so soccer shoes and jerseys had to be borrowed from local merchants for a training session on Thursday afternoon. The team will be sequestered at night on a single floor of the hotel and two bodyguards will be on duty at all times. The hotel will be under surveillance by the US Secret Service, and the Oakland city police department has been alerted. But for the most part, the Iranian visit resembles those of the National Football League or National Basketball Association teams that often stay here rather than one from a country which once labelled the USA “the great Satan.” Head coach Mansour Pourhaidari said: “This is much more of an issue for the media than it is for me and my players.” Iran have brought nine France ’98 veterans, including six starters. Since France ’98, striker Ali Daei has played for Bayern Munich and now plays for Hertha Berlin, and forward Mehti Mahdavakia has emerged as a star since moving to Hamburg from relegated Bochum last summer. But Pourhaidari has played down the importance of results on this tour. “The hope is at this tournament that the foreign-based players come here and get good practice with the players who play within the country,” said Pourhaidari, who took over from Talebi as head coach after the World Cup and led Iran to the Asian Games soccer championship in Thailand in December, 1998. “We are happy to play against three strong teams, to measure our strength and our weaknesses as we prepare for the Asian Championships and World Cup qualifying .” Iran travelled to Canada last June to play in the Canada Cup tournament, in which they posted a win and two draws. They have not won a match since, having tied Japan 1-1 and Denmark 0-0 in friendlies last year. Pourhaidari admits this tour extends beyond goals and points. “Sports can narrow
the gap between countries ,” he said, “and we
are also happy to help this process.” |
Konguvel continues winning spree HYDERABAD, Jan 8 (PTI) — Top seed international master (IM) P. Konguvel continued his winning spree by defeating R. Preetham Sharma in the fourth round of the Global Trust Bank All India Open Chess Tournament here today. On the top board, Sharma played Bird’s Opening against Konguvel and on the 17th move Sharma made a pawn sacrifice for king side attack. After accepting the pawn, Konguvel defended accurately and grabbed one more pawn at f5 square and converted the material advantage into a win. On the second board featuring Sicilian Defence closed variation game between S.K. Rathore and K.N. Gopal, both had centralised knights and open “F” files with rooks in symmetrical position. But Gopal played accurate in 30th move by moving his queen to 94 square which was exploited by Rathore by sacrificing his knight to gain exchange and the game in 40 moves. Fourth round results: Preetham Sharma R 3 lost to Konguvel P 3; Sunil Kumar Rathore 4 b Gopal K N 3; Kalyan Kumar Y 3 lost to Vishal Sareen 4; Ravi T S 4 b Beenish Bhatia 3, Nisha Mahota 3 lost to Muralidharan M B 4. Neqi VS 3.5 drew with Muralikrishnan B T 3.5; Rupesh Kant 3.5 drew with Ramnanababu B 3.5; Subramanian S C 4 b Dongre R M 3; Dinesh Kumar G 3 lost to Venkataramana J 4; Lakshmana Rao D 3 lost to Sankar A 4. Amardip S Bartakke 4 b Dilip Das 3; Ravi Kumar 4 b Mari Arul S 3; Pradeep M Paranjpe 2.5 lost to Tejas Bakre 3.5; Koshy Varugeese 3.5 b Gopalakrishnan K 2.5; Mishra N K 3.5 b Sudhakar K V 2.5. Santanu Lahiri 2.5 lost to Jayant Gokhale 3.5; Soman S S 3.5 b Kumaresh P 2.5; Rahul G Shetty 3.5 b Rashmin Pulekar 2.5; Pallavi G Shah 2.5 lost to Visweswaran K 2.5; Ramu K 3.5 b Vedant Goswami 2.5. Anirban Guha Roy 3 drew
with Shantaram K V 3; Manish Joshi 3.5 b Vijay Amal Raj V
2.5; Dipanjan Das 3 drew with Rajendra M 3; Srinivass G V
3 drew Laltu Chatterjee 3; Rajendra Kumar Sahu 3 drew
with Adway Chowdhury 3. |
India go down to Germany BARCELONA, Jan 8 (AP) — India, after being made to fight by Canada yesterday, gave in to a fast and aggressive German team losing 1-2 in the Four-Nation men’s Hockey Tournament yesterday while Spain won their second consecutive match to top the standings. India went ahead in the 10th minute through Dilip Tirkey, but Christophe Bechnamm got the equaliser for the German team eight minutes later. The winning goal for Germany came in the 62nd minute off the stick of Florian Kunz. India will face the leading team of the tournament Spain in the final league games today while Germany will take on Canada. Earlier, Javier Arnau and Eduard Tubau scored two goals apiece to help Spain to a 7-3 routing of Canada. Spain are now the favourites to win the tournament after their second victory. Spain defeated Germany in their first game yesterday. Spain got off to a good start when Jan Linares scored in the fourth minute. Pan-American Games gold-medallists Canada, looked up to their task when their retaliated with an equaliser from Bindi Kullar five minutes later. But Spain began dominating from thereafter with Arnau scoring his first goal in the 14th minute. Eduard Tubau made it 3-1 in the 22nd and and then 4-1 in the 32nd minute. Kullar got Canada’s second goal in the 40th minute but Pablo Usoz put in a fifth for Spain in the 43rd minute while Arnau made it 6-2 in the 52nd. Francisco Fabreoas
finished the scoring for Spain in the 61st minute while
Canada got a third consolation score from Ranjeer Deal in
the 65th. |
Golmard rallies to enter final CHENNAI, Jan 8 (PTI) — Playing inspired tennis, Jerome Golmard of France rallied from a set down to beat a fighting Martin Damm to move into the final of the ATP Gold Flake Open Tennis Tournament here tonight. Fourth seed Golmard clinched the semifinal encounter, beating his Czech rival 3-6 6-3 6-3 after an hour and 40 minutes on the centre court. Golmard will face the winner of the other last four match between his second seeded compatriot Cedric Pioline and Markus Hantschk to be played later tonight. In the first semifinal, both Golmard and Damm served big and indulged in some enthralling rallies that had the capacity crowd applauding. The Golmard-Damm match brought out the best in both players as each set was closely fought. Neither of them gave any quarter nor asked for any. However, as in all such matches, there is no room for any margin of error. And it was Golmard who won the crucial points, especially in the second and the deciding third set. Golmard fired in 11 aces, while Damm 12 Golmard had a higher percentage of service points won 75 to Damm’s 63. His first serve percentage was 62 to the Czech’s 54. The unseeded Damm lobbed and served solidly in the first set and returned well too. He secured the break in the fourth game with a backhand return and that was enough as he never dropped serve (6-3).
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HP beat J&K in jr
national handball LUDHIANA, Jan 8 — National Handball Academy, Bhilai, along with SAI (W) Gandhinagar, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh entered the super league of the 22 nd Junior National Handball Championship here today. Two other teams which along with these four teams have joined holders Madhya Pradesh and last year’s runers-up Punjab are Maharashtra and Kerala. NHA, Bhilai, knocked out Rajasthan 29-13 to top the group ‘A’ after leading 11-7 at half-time. The notable scorers for the winners were Sushil Kumar (11) and Naya Chander (7). For the losers Jaswinder Singh and Narpal Singh scored four and three goals, respectively. In group ‘C’ SAI (2) Gandhinagar defeated Orissa 19-6 to register their second victory en route to the super league. The main contribution for the winners came through Navdeep (4) and Harinder and Asif (three each) for Orissa Rajan Dass netted thrice and Swaroop Ray contributed two goals. In another group ‘C’ encounter SAI (2) edged out Bihar 31-22 after establishing two-point (13-11) lead at lemon break. Maharashtra faced tough resistance from Delhi before emerging victorious 21-15 to top group ‘D’ Manoj and Dinesh of Delhi scored four goals each. In group ‘E’ Himachal Pradesh beat Jammu and Kashmir 29-20. The winners led 18-12 at half time. Today’s results: Group ‘A’ NHA (Bhilai) ‘B’ Rajasthan 29-13 Group ‘B’ Manipur b Haryana 33-22, Manipur b Tripura 24-10 group ‘C’: SAI (west) b Orissa 19-6 Bihar b Orissa 20-7, UP b Bihar 14-12, SAI (2) b UP 33-16 Group ‘D’: Maharashtra b Karnatka 31-22, Maharashtra b Delhi 21-15 . Group ‘E’: J and K b Gujarat 17-4, HP b J and K 29-20. Group ‘F’: Andhra Pradesh b West Bengal 19-9.
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South Africa win Hopman Cup PERTH, Jan 8 (AP) — South Africa won the Hopman Cup in its eighth attempt when defeating surprise finalists Thailand in a thrilling mixed teams tennis tournament final today. Amanda Coetzer, partnering Wayne Ferreira for the fifth time, held off a gallant challenge from Tamarine Tanasugarn to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, and then Ferreira resisted two set points to overcome Paradorn Srichiphan 7-6, (14-12), 6-3. Tanasugarn, who had already defeated four players with a higher ranking this week, had Coetzer on the ropes after taking the first set and building a 3-0 lead with two breaks of serve in the second. With Coetzer patrolling the baseline, Tanasugarn often dictated from the net, and her ability to hit into the corners and keep Coetzer on the run made her look a likely winner against a perplexed opponent. “She made me feel
uncomfortable and I couldn’t execute very
well,” said Coetzer. “I didn’t know what
to do at the start.” |
GND varsity lads emerge
champ LUDHIANA, Jan 8 — Last year’s losing semi-finalists, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, scored a comfortable 3-0 victory over runners-up Panjab University, Chandigarh, to emerge champions in the 37th North Zone Inter-University Hockey Tournament for men at the astro-turf hockey stadium of the Punjab Agricultural University here today. The last league match of the tournament began on a fast pace with GND varsity boys dominating completely the first 10 minutes of the game. In the process they forced four penalty corners which went abegging. Panjab University lads made counter attacks repeatedly and earned three penalty corners (11th, 14th and 16th minutes) but could not convert any. GND University went into lead in the 23rd minute when Manjit Singh scored a fine field goal but wasted an opportunity to enhance the lead in 32nd minute when they failed to convert a penalty corner. GND varsity players resumed with added vigour. They forced a penalty corner in the 44th minute, the Sukhamritpal Singh sounded the board to make it 2-0. Trailing by two goals, Panjab University players went all out for the kill but relied mainly upon individual efforts which came to nought. On the other hand, GND University frontline showed better coordination than their rivals which enabled them to pump in one more goal in the 62nd minute by Parabhdeep Singh (3-0). As they won all three league matches, Guru Nanak Dev University were declared the champions. Later in the day, hosts Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, registered a 4-0 convincing win over Kurukshetra University to finish third. PAU’s forward Yadwinder Singh emerged the hero of the day as he scored a fine hat-trick, the first of the tournament. Kurukshetra lads were no match for the PAU boys who ran over them in no time, though the victory margin suggests something different. Kurukshetra’s Prabhdeep Singh and Parveen Kumar were outstanding and weaved some good moves but could not beat PAU’s strong defence. PAU went ahead in the third minute through Jagroop Singh’s penalty stroke conversion. Yadwinder scored three goals (48th, 49th and 62nd minute) for his hat-trick. Dr Harbans Singh, former
Principal, Khalsa College, Amritsar, gave away prizes. |
Army, J&K joint winners SHIMLA, Jan 8 — The Army and Jammu and Kashmir were declared joint winner in the first phase of the second National Winter Games here today. Himachal Pradesh (Blue) and J&K (Blue) were declared joint winners of the bronze medal. The final match as well as the tie for the third place of ice hockey was abandoned as bad weather made the ice at the rink unfit for play. Pankaj Prabhakar of Himachal Pradesh was adjudged the best overall male skater, while Anjali Sood was adjudged as the best female skater. Addressing the gathering, Col N. Kumar, president, Winter Games Federation of India, thanked the state government and the Shimla Ice Skating Club for successfully organising the skating events. He assured that the Winter Games Federation of India would take up the matter of installing an ice refrigeration machine at the Shimla Ice-Skating Club so that in future matches were not be abandoned due to unfavourable weather conditions. He also promised that to encourage ice skating an under-18 ice hockey team would be sent to Thailand by the end of February. He also gave prizes to
the winners. |
Ashok widens lead; Manav joint 3rd MUMBAI, Jan 8 (PTI) — Delhi youngster Ashok Kumar fired a two-over par 72 to widen his lead after the penultimate round of the four-day Classic Stripes Western India Amateur Golf Championship at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club course in Chembur here today. In joint third place
overall was Manav Das of Ambala, who fired in the best
round of the day along with Kumar to shoot his way up
from yesterday’s ninth position with a 54-hole tally
of 224. Hanumant referee for 3-nation meet MUMBAI, Jan 8 (PTI) — Former Indian Test star Hanumant Singh has been appointed International Cricket Council (ICC) referee in place of former Pakistan skipper Intikhab Alam for the triangular cricket series between hosts South Africa, Zimbabwe and England from January 21 to February 12. Hanumant Singh and another Indian Test star Gundappa Viswanath are the two Indian nominees on the ICC’s nine-nation panel, according to an Indian cricket board official here today. Mumbai-based Hanumant
Singh was appointed after Intikhab Alam turned down the
ICC offer following his appointment as the Pakistan
cricket team coach. |
Subjunior hockey from Jan 28 HYDERABAD, Jan 8 (PTI) — The ninth Sub-Junior National Hockey Championship will be held at Nalgonda in Andhra Pradesh from January 28 to February 7, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) said yesterday. Releasing the groupings of the championship, the IHF said probables for the Asian Junior (Under-16) Hockey Championship to be held at Singapore from June 15 to 25 will be selected during the national championship. Peter Menezes of Mumbai has been named as tournament director. The following are the
groupings: Group-A: Orissa, Services, Madhya Bharat,
Kerala; Group-B: Karnataka, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir,
Tripura; Group-C: Bihar, Bhopal, Gujarat; Group-D:
Patiala, Uttar Pradesh, Pondicherry, Vidarbha; Group-E:
Punjab, Bengal, Maharashtra; Group-F: Tamil Nadu,
Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram; Group-G: Chandigarh,
Hyderabad, Himachal Pradesh, Assam; Group-H: Andhra,
Mumbai, Manipur, Rajasthan. |
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