S P O R T

Sampras, Agassi sail through
MELBOURNE, Jan 17 — Andre Agassi and Lindsay Davenport made blistering starts to the Australian Open today before Sweden’s Thomas Enqvist was brought to a shuddering halt by Australian Richard Fromberg.

• Paes clears first hurdle

Power isn’t everything: Hingis
MELBOURNE, Jan 17 — After a tumultuous 12 month-period, Martina Hingis, who begins her campaign for a fourth consecutive Australian Open title tomorrow, says she has grown up, is fitter and physically ready to take on the new breed of big-hitters.

Bagan overpower Dempo
MARGAO, Jan 17 — Calcutta giants Mohan Bagan today boosted their points tally when they overpowered spirited Dempo Sports Club in a hard fought 3-2 win in the National Football League match played at Nehru Stadium here.

Board President’s XI lift Wills Trophy
VISAKHAPATNAM, Jan 17 — All-rounder Sanjay Bangar struck a blistering unbeaten 71 and then left-arm spinner Murali Karthik produced a superb spell of help Board President’s XI script an easy 97-run victory over Karnataka to lift the coveted Wills Trophy cricket title here today.

PASADENA : United States forward Brain McBride (20) jumps over Iran goalkeeper Hadi Tabatabei (centre) after a save while defender Satar Hamedani looks on during the first half on Sunday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The game ended in a 1-1 tie. — AP/PTI

Inter-varsity final abandoned LUDHIANA, Jan 17 — The final match of the All-India Inter-University (Inter-Zonal) Hockey Tournament for men between holders Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and the hosts Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, was abandoned as the GND varsity team along with their coach staged a walkout from the PAU ground alleging “partisan umpiring” and tactics by the PAU, the organisers, to ensure win for themselves by all means. Punjab, Railways retain titles SALEM, Jan 17 — Punjab put up a superb team effort to blank national league champions Tamil Nadu in straight sets while Railways recovered in time to get the better of a fighting Andhra Pradesh 3-1 to retain the men’s and women’s titles, respectively, in the 48th Senior National Volleyball Championship here last night.

Ranji Trophy super league fixtures
MUMBAI, Jan 17 — Defending champions Karnataka, 33-time winners Mumbai and former title holders Delhi have all been pooled together in group-A of the Ranji Trophy Super League phase commencing on February 5.

Tyson arrives in Britain amid tight security
LONDON, Jan 17 — Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson flew into Britain yesterday amid tight security and controversy over his fight against British champion Julius Francis at the end of January.

Sachin hits out at Australian media
SYDNEY, Jan 17 — Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar today blasted the Australian media for trying to create a controversy out of nothing. “I am very disappointed,” he said after Sunday’s Sydney Morning Herald criticised him under the headline ‘Rain, rain go away’, on a repeat of the sawdust issue at SCG last Friday.

4th day’s play abandoned
CENTURION PARK (South Africa), Jan 17 — Play in the rain-hit fifth and final cricket Test between South Africa and England was abandoned without a ball being bowled for the third successive day here today.

District judo meet results
JALANDHAR, Jan 17 — Cantt Judo Club, the women’s section and PAP Jalandhar in men’s section proved their supremacy in the senior group of district judo championship which concluded here at Raizada Hans Raj Stadium here.

Sampras, Agassi sail through

MELBOURNE, Jan 17 (Reuters) — Andre Agassi and Lindsay Davenport made blistering starts to the Australian Open today before Sweden’s Thomas Enqvist was brought to a shuddering halt by Australian Richard Fromberg.

Agassi, the men’s top seed, sailed into the second round with a no-nonsense 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 defeat on Argentine Mariano Puerta on a sweltering centre court at Melbourne Park on the opening day of the first grand slam of the new century.

Third seed Pete Sampras moved into the second round with a straight sets victory over Australian Wayne Arthurs. Sampras won 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 and will play Sweden’s Mikael Tillstrom in the second round.

Women’s number two seed Davenport was efficient as she saw off Frenchwoman Sarah Pitkowski 6-3, 6-1.

But Enqvist, seeded sixth after making the final last year, became the first big name casualty when Fromberg scored a gripping 6-4, 7-6, 4-6, 3-6, 10-8 win in three hours and 44 minutes.

The Swede saved three match points in the final game but paid the ultimate price for a sloppy performance after committing 73 unforced errors.

Fromberg, an occasional Davis Cup player for Australia who turns 30 in April, has never made it past the fourth round of a grand slam in a career stretching back to 1988.

Russian starlet Anna Kournikova later provided one of the shortest matches of the opening day, whitewashing a hapless Patricia Wartusch of Austria 6-0, 6-0 in just 34 minutes.

Lethargic Mark Philippoussis was counting his blessings after scrambling through his opening match against an unheralded Israeli qualifier.

The Australian 16th seed stormed to a two sets to love advantage before becoming embroiled in a five-set dogfight with Noam Okun, who finished last year with a 186 ranking.

Philippoussis survived to fight another day and Italian Andrea Gaudenzi after prevailing, 6-4, 6-2, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 in two hours 43 minutes.

Philippoussis, who pulled out of last Saturday’s Kooyong Classic final against Andre Agassi with a stiff neck, said he felt progressively weaker during the centre court encounter and felt relieved to have got out of a hole.

“I made it very hard for myself and I wasn’t feeling too great out there ... I don’t know how I got out of that one,” said 23-year-old Philippoussis.

Scud Philippoussis has his supporters for winning the 2000 Australian Open, but he faces a series of tough matches, possibly bumping into Agassi in the fourth round.

Much of the early drama had been provided by British hope Tim Henman, the 11th seed who stumbled his way to a 6-7, 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 win over Frenchman Jerome Golmard.

Henman did not drop his serve against Golmard, who beat him in the first round of the Open two years ago, but had to fend off 11 break points.

Eighth seed Todd Martin of the USA also had a tough opener, fighting back from two sets down to beat Byron Black of Zimbabwe 5-7, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 8-6 in another early marathon.

The first seed to fall was Anke Huber of Germany, the women’s 15th seed beaten 6-4, 6-4 by Kristie Boogert of the Netherlands.

A grumpy Karol Kucera, the men’s 14th seed, then fell 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to Thailand’s Paradorn Srichaphan, the Slovak saying his own poor play had more to do with the loss than anything the lowly-ranked Paradorn contributed.

Former Australian champion Jim Courier, who won in 1992 and 1993, was beaten 6-7, 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 by Frenchman Nicolas Escude.

Escude will meet ninth Seed Richard Krajicek in the second round after the Dutchman beat Fabrice Santoro 6-1, 6-2, 7-5.

Paes clears first hurdle

MELBOURNE, Jan 17 (AFP) — India’s world No 1 doubles player Leander Paes, who had to qualify for the singles main draw, cleared the first hurdle when he beat Australian wildcard Dejan Petrovic in the first round of the Australian Open here today.

The Indian ace won 6-2 3-6 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 and now plays Sweden’s Andreas Vinciguerra in the second round. Vinciguerra defeated Argentinian Hernan Gumy 7-6 (7/2) 6-1 6-1 earlier in the day.

Power isn’t everything: Hingis

MELBOURNE, Jan 17 (AFP) — After a tumultuous 12 month-period, Martina Hingis, who begins her campaign for a fourth consecutive Australian Open title tomorrow, says she has grown up, is fitter and physically ready to take on the new breed of big-hitters.

Questions have been raised about how the tiny Hingis will cope in the year ahead with the likes of the muscular Williams sisters and French powerhouse Amelie Mauresmo, who crushed her in the Sydney semi-finals last week.

But the world No.1 insists power isn’t everything.

“Power is not everything. You can also use speed and I try to do that; use their force and power and just block it away,” says the Swiss 19-year-old.

“I have been successful for the past two or three years pretty much with that so I think I can continue with that.”

And she is looking fitter and feeling stronger.

“I think I’ve gotten much stronger and I can rely on my physical abilities,” she says. “I can go longer in my rallies. I don’t feel exhausted after every single one, I can play my game and wait for my chances.

“Everybody’s so much stronger now, hitting harder, physically in much better shape, so I had to keep up with everybody if I wanted to stay at the top of the game.

“You have to improve all the time because tennis gets faster and better and better, especially women’s tennis in the past two or three years.”

And, as her record shows, she revels in the Melbourne conditions.

“The tough conditions, the heat, everybody’s complaining about it, but I just like it,” she says.

“I’m in good shape right now, I feel good. I feel fit and I just try to defend the title one more time.”

Named after Martina Navratilova and a child prodigy, Hingis has occasionally bordered on the arrogant, putting her foot in it more than once last year.

She called Amelie Mauresmo ‘half-a-man’ here, served under arm at Roland Garros and was humiliated by a qualifier at Wimbledon after an apparent bust-up with mother Melanie.

She was called “a thoroughly disagreeable brat” by none other than John McEnroe, but says she has matured and learnt from past experiences.

“I learnt a lot about myself at the French Open and then Wimbledon,” she says, referring to the disappointments as “like education”.

“Losing the French Open final was tough but going out at the first round at Wimbledon was worse. I have thought about it a lot. I’m now feeling better than I did at those tournaments.

“I think I pay more attention to what I do, what I say. I just try to control myself better. It doesn’t always get there, I’m still 19 ... but I’m improving, I think.”

She takes on Croation teenager Mirjana Lucic, who knocked Monica Seles out of Wimbledon in the third round last year.

Bagan overpower Dempo

MARGAO, Jan 17 (UNI) — Calcutta giants Mohan Bagan today boosted their points tally when they overpowered spirited Dempo Sports Club in a hard fought 3-2 win in the National Football League match played at Nehru Stadium here.

James Singh in the 13th minute, Dipendu Biswas in the 65th minute and substitute Remiras Barreto in the 90th minute scored for Mohan Bagan while for Dempo Sports Club Kanan Priolkar in the 44th minute and Mohammendreza Ebrahim scored during injury time of the second half.

With this win, Bagan now stand at par with Mahindra and Mahindra, Mumbai, tally-wise with 15 points from eight outings. However, Mahindras with a better goal difference are at third place below table toppers Churchill Brothers with 18 points and Salgoacar Sports Club with 16 points. Mohan Bagan are at fourth place.

Mohan Bagan after being tied 1-1 at the lemon break played more organised game and struck two more goals to seal the fate of Dempo Sports Club.

Board President’s XI lift Wills Trophy

VISAKHAPATNAM, Jan 17 (PTI) — All-rounder Sanjay Bangar struck a blistering unbeaten 71 and then left-arm spinner Murali Karthik produced a superb spell of help Board President’s XI script an easy 97-run victory over Karnataka to lift the coveted Wills Trophy cricket title here today.

Chasing a target of 263 for an outright win, none of the Karnataka batsmen could really hang around for long as Karthik (4/17) ripped through the middle order, bowling with great control to reduce the summit clash to a rather one-sided affair. Karnataka were bundled out for 165 in 40.4 overs.

Karnataka skipper Sujith Somasundar (38) topscored for his team while Anand Yalvigi (28) and J. Arun Kumar (26) were the other notable scorers on what seemed to be a good batting track after the early morning moisture had dried out.

Electing to bat after skipper Mohammad Azharuddin won the toss, Board President’s XI recovered from three early jolts through a valuable 97-run fourth wicket partnership between Jyoti Yadav (56) and Nilesh Modi (51) which pulled the team out of a hole while Bangar wrested the initiative with a blistering unbeaten 71 to take the score beyond the 250 mark which looked quite doubtful at one stage.

Paceman Dodda Ganesh produced a dramatic first over as he evicted opener Shiv Sundar Das with the very first ball and then sent back skipper Azharuddin with the fourth to leave the Board President’s XI gasping at zero for two, taking full advantage of the early morning juice in the track.

Scoreboard

Board President’s XI: S.S. Das c Shiriguppi b Ganesh 0, J. Yadav b Yalgivi 56, M. Azharuddin c Johnson b Ganesh 0, S. Sriram c B. Akhil b Khan 13, N. Modi c Ganesh b Johnson 51, S. Bangar not out 71, A. Kapoor c Shriguppi b Khan 17, V. Dahiya run out 1, D. J. Gokulakrishnan c Somasundram b Ganesh 33, M. Kartik run out 0, T. Kumaran not out 1.

Extras (lb-4, nb-2, w-13) 19.

Total (for 9 wickets in 50 overs) 262.

Fall of wickets: 1/0, 2/0, 3/20, 4/117, 5/144, 6/184, 7/186, 8/249, 9/249.

Bowling: Ganesh 10-0-60-3, M. A. Khan 10-0-61-2, Johnson 10-1-55-1, Yalgivi 10-0-41-1, Katti 10-0-41-0.

Karnataka: J. Arun Kumar b Karthik 26, M. Beerala b Kumaran 21, S. Somasundar run out 38, T. Naidu c Yadav b Karthik 1, S. Siriguppi c Bangar b Sriram 22, A. Yalvigi c and b Karthik 28, B. Akhil st Dahiya b Karthik 0, D. Ganesh c and b Kapoor 3, S. Johnson c and b Kapoor 0, A. Katti not out 7, M.A. Khan run out 0.

Extras (w-5, nb-2, lb-11, b-1) 19.

Total (all out in 40.4 overs) 165.

Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-51, 3-53, 4-92, 5-142, 6-144, 7-158, 8-158, 9-159

Bowling: Kumaran 7-2-25-1, Gokulakrishnan 8-0-33-0, Bangar 7-1-25-0, Karthik 8.4-3-17-4, Kapoor 6-0-24-2, Sriram 4-0-29-1.

Ranji Trophy super league fixtures

MUMBAI, Jan 17 (PTI) — Defending champions Karnataka, 33-time winners Mumbai and former title holders Delhi have all been pooled together in group-A of the Ranji Trophy Super League phase commencing on February 5.

The three groups are:

Group A: Rajasthan (Central 1), Karnataka (South 3), Mumbai (West 1), Bengal (East 3) and Delhi (North 2).

Group B: Baroda (West 2), Railways (Central 3), Punjab (North 1), Hyderabad (South 2) and Bihar (East 2).

Group C: Saurashtra (West 3), Uttar Pradesh (Central 2), Haryana (North 3), Orissa (East 1) and Tamil Nadu (South 1).

The Super League phase is to conclude on March 16. The knock-out quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are scheduled to be held from March 30 to April 3, April 9 to 13 and April 19 to 23.

The super league fixtures are:

First round (Feb 5-8): Karnataka v Mumbai at Bangalore; Rajasthan v Delhi at Delhi (both group A); Baroda v Bihar at Baroda; Punjab v Hyderabad in Punjab (both group B); UP v Haryana in Haryana; Saurashtra v Tamil Nadu at Rajkot (both group C).

Second round (Feb 14-17): Delhi v Bengal at Calcutta; Rajasthan v Karnataka at Bangalore (both group A); Baroda v Railways (Railways to host); Bihar v Hyderabad at Hyderabad (both group B); Saurashtra v Haryana in Haryana; Orissa v UP at Kanpur (both group C).

Third round (Feb 23-26): Mumbai v Delhi at Delhi; Bengal v Rajasthan at Calcutta (both group A); Baroda v Punjab in Punjab; Bihar v Railways at Jamshedpur (both group B); Tamil Nadu v Haryana in Haryana; Saurashtra v Orissa at Rajkot (both group C).

Fourth round (Mar 4-7): Karnataka v Bengal at Calcutta; Mumbai v Rajasthan at Mumbai (both group A); Bihar v Punjab in Punjab; Railways v Hyderabad (Railways to host) (both group B); Saurashtra v UP at Rajkot; Tamil Nadu v Orissa at Cuttack (both group C).

Fifth round (Mar 13-16): Karnataka v Delhi at Bangalore; Bengal v Mumbai at Calcutta (both group A); Baroda v Hyderabad at Hyderabad; Railways v Punjab (Railways to host) (both group B); Orissa v Haryana at Cuttack; Tamil Nadu v UP at Kanpur (both group C).

Tyson arrives in Britain amid tight security

LONDON, Jan 17 (Reuters) — Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson flew into Britain yesterday amid tight security and controversy over his fight against British champion Julius Francis at the end of January.

Around 100 security personnel, including police, airport officials and Tyson aides, were on hand at London’s Heathrow Airport to control some 400 reporters and fans who had gathered in the arrival hall to greet the American, who flew in from New York on Concorde.

Tyson, surrounded by a further group of bodyguards, struggled to walk through the throng as the fans and reporters pushed aside the barriers but the boxer managed to reach a black car waiting for him outside the hall.

“I have never known a reception like this at an airport for a boxer,’’ fight promoter Frank Warren told reporters. “I just want to get him back to the hotel safely in one piece.

“Mike was concerned about the problems over the fight beforehand but he’s obviously delighted that it is now on.”

Britain made a late decision on Thursday to allow Tyson into the country despite his conviction for rape. For days, government officials had said Tyson’s visit was purely a matter for immigration officials.

British rules state that anyone convicted of a crime which carries a sentence of 12 months or more in Britain should not be allowed into the country unless they could demonstrate “strong compassionate reasons” for the trip.

But Home Secretary Jack Straw granted Tyson leave to be in Britain until January 30 — the day after his bout against Francis in Manchester.

Speaking in a television interview yesterday before Tyson’s arrival in the early evening, Straw said he was “not particularly looking forward to his arrival’’.

Straw said in making his decision he had to balance his “abhorrence” at Tyson’s criminal record and the “inconvenience” that would be caused to the public if the fight was called off.

Tyson was convicted of rape in the USA in 1992 and sentenced to six years in jail. He then served another term for attacking two elderly motorists and was freed eight months ago.

AP adds: Anti-rape campaigners have reportedly asked the high court for a judicial review of the government’s decision to allow Tyson’s entry into Britain.

Justice for Women, a group which campaigns against domestic violence and sexual assault, will argue that Home Secretary Jack Straw acted beyond his powers by over-riding immigration rules.

Mr Straw, who heads the department that oversees law enforcement, cited “special circumstances” on Thursday in admitting the volatile American. He said he was moved by small businessmen in Manchester who stood to lose money, and ordinary fight fans hoping to see Tyson’s first fight in Europe.

Tyson is scheduled to receive between £ 5-7 million (about Rs 34.40 to 47.40 crore) for the fight. The journeyman Francis will pick up his biggest payday of £ 350,000 (about Rs 2.40 crore).

If the fight is called off, Mr Francis said he would face bankruptcy after spending between 50,000 and 75,000 pounds on sparring partners and training costs since the fight was announced a month ago.

Fight promoter Frank Warren said he would lose at least £ 600,000 with a cancellation.

Sachin hits out at Australian media

SYDNEY, Jan 17 (PTI) — Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar today blasted the Australian media for trying to create a controversy out of nothing.

“I am very disappointed,” he said after Sunday’s Sydney Morning Herald criticised him under the headline ‘Rain, rain go away’, on a repeat of the sawdust issue at SCG last Friday.

It said Tendulkar sought to lead his team off SCG midway claiming rain had made the playing arena too treacherous.

“Where we are concerned, it was no issue at all,” said the Indian captain. “I am extremely disappointed (by the report)”.

The report said Tendulkar, after pacing around the wicket square, rubbing his hands on the grass, insisted it was too slippery, claiming it was unfit for immediate return to play.

It went on to say Tendulkar, vice-captain Sourav Ganguly and pace bowler Javagal Srinath clustered in an agitated group around umpire Peter Parker seeking use of the super-sopper to dry the wicket surrounds.

With their cause all but lost after the dismissal for 100, any delay was a good delay for the Indians, added the report.

“But, with a near-capacity crowd of 38,000 watching the engrossing clash, Queenslander (Peter) Parker is believed to have taken a strong stand with Tendulkar, pointing out that it was imperative that, as well-paid professionals, they complete the game. And he directed them to play.

“It was fortunate he did, for the spectacle of the Indians trooping off SCG with the rain having cleared would have been most provocative, the best possible way to foment trouble. The Indian expatriates’ disruption of the game in Melbourne would have been a tea party by comparison,’ it said.

“I am surprised and shocked, said Tendulkar. “At no stage did I issue any threat (of a walkout)”.

“What I did tell the umpire is that the area was slippery and it would be better if we could dry it out,” he said. “The rain was quite stiff and the conditions were never going to be ideal. I was more worried about the player and injuries to them since we are already carrying two injured players (Ajit Agarkar and Jacob Martin) in the party”.

He said: “Initially, the umpires had a point of view nothing more could be done but then he agreed to my suggestion, saying he would reconsider if anyone slipped”.

“In fact as things happened, he did call the groundstaff,” said Tendulkar. “There certainly wasn’t any confrontation”.

“The least the writer could have done was to take my version before putting it in print. What has hurt me is that it has placed a wrong picture before everyone,” he said.

The Indian captain said he was particularly hurt by the statement any delay was a good delay for the Indians.

This is the second time on the tour that Tendulkar has been the target of local media on sawdust issue. At Sydney, it was reported that Tendulkar was angry and had blasted the umpires for refusing sawdust on the second day of the Test. It was incorrect since Tendulkar had only replied to a query by Indian media and never, at any stage, appeared to be angry.

Amid so many problems, the last thing Tendulkar wants is to get embroiled in any controversy. As it is, his hands are full with his team’s form, he can understand the attempt could be to throw him off his game. But he would not like any official action based on these incorrect reports. This is what has got him upset, again.

4th day’s play abandoned

CENTURION PARK (South Africa), Jan 17 (AFP) — Play in the rain-hit fifth and final cricket Test between South Africa and England was abandoned without a ball being bowled for the third successive day here today.

England captain Nassir Hussain offered to play a one-day match tomorrow if conditions improved but officials said this would not be possible.

Match referee Barry Jarman of Australia said a wet bowlers’ run-up area on the southern side of the pitch made conditions dangerous for bowlers.

Heavy rain fell over the Gauteng area from Friday to yesterday after South Africa had reached 155 for six.

Inter-varsity final abandoned
From Anil Datt

LUDHIANA, Jan 17 — The final match of the All-India Inter-University (Inter-Zonal) Hockey Tournament for men between holders Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and the hosts Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, was abandoned as the GND varsity team along with their coach staged a walkout from the PAU ground alleging “partisan umpiring” and tactics by the PAU, the organisers, to ensure win for themselves by all means.

Guru Nank Dev University and Panjab University, Chandigarh, the winners and runners-up of North Zone inter-varsity hockey tournament also held here at the PAU, had earlier lodged protests with the organisers regarding wrong formation of pools for the all-India meet.

Mr Karamjit Singh Brar, manager, Panjab University team informed that their team was placed in pool ‘C’ while PAU which finished third in the North Zone competition were put in pool ‘B’. Mr Brar said that this wrong formation of pools was made to avoid GND varsity and led to a clash of winners and runners-up of zonal tournament in the round four of the all-India championship. And a result, PAU took on Kurukshetra University and made their entry into the finals quiet easily.

Today, the final match between PAU and GND varsity was a pathetic story of rough play and repeated protests by the GND varsity bench.

With a few minutes to go for the lemon break, one of the umpires Dr Sanjeev Sharma (employed with the PAU) showed “yellow card” to GND varsity’s Tejbir Singh. Soon after, Lakhwinder Singh and Ajit Pal Singh met the same fate, were sent out of the field and GND varsity were playing with eight players for some time. GND varsity players walked off the field but were persuaded to resume the play.

As the two teams occupied the field in the second session, PAU were awarded three penalty corners in quick succession which went abegging. This followed a brief hold up and some players from both sides were seen grappling with each others.

As the PAU team was awarded yet another penalty corner midway through the second half, GND varsity players were called off the field by GND varsity coach and manager. As the GND varsity left the field, PAU took the corner hit and scored a goal in the vacant net to add insult to injury.

Dr Singh said that he was withdrawing his team against “biased umpiring”.

Earlier in the match to decide the third spot, North Zone runners-up, Panjab University, Chandigarh, whipped Kurukshetra University 8-1 after leading 5-1 at half time.

Manvir Singh (3), Manjit (2), Navdeep, Harwant and Ranjit (one goal) scored for winners while Dharmender Singh was the lone scorer for Kurukshetra University.

Anand draws level with Kasparov

WIJK AAN ZEE (The Netherlands), Jan 17 (AP) — Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand of India caught up with Russian Garry Kasparov at the top in the Corus Chess Tournament when he beat Bosnian GM Pedrag Nikolic in 40 moves.

The world No. 2 played a dynamic kingside attack to cut open Nikolic’s defenses before winning the battle.

Anand and Kasparov, who was held to a draw by Dutchman Jeroen Piket, both have 1.5 points after two rounds of the 13-round event.

The two are tied for the lead with Russia’s Vladimir Kramnik, Piket and Jan Timman.

Kramnik drew with compatriot Alexander Morozevich.

Timman defeated Armenian Smbat Lputian with the black pieces and the day’s other decisive game was a win for veteran Victor Korchnoi over local hero Loek van Wely.

This strong 14-grandmaster tourney concludes on January 30.

Punjab, Railways retain titles

SALEM, Jan 17 (PTI) — Punjab put up a superb team effort to blank national league champions Tamil Nadu in straight sets while Railways recovered in time to get the better of a fighting Andhra Pradesh 3-1 to retain the men’s and women’s titles, respectively, in the 48th Senior National Volleyball Championship here last night.

Punjab men dominated the final throughout with their defence and attack playing to potential as they ran over an uninspiring Tamil Nadu 25-18 25-17 25-17 in just 56 minutes.

The one-sided match disappointed a large home crowd as last year’s runners-up Tamil Nadu, packed with three current and five former internationals, surrendered without a fight.

Earlier, Railways women were given a tough fight by the youthful Andhra Pradesh before they prevailed in a 25-11 25-23 25-27 25-16 victory, their 14th on the trot, to retain the Sivasubramaniam Trophy.

The men’s final, a repeat of the one in the last edition at Chinsura, was expected to be a close one as both the teams entered the knockout phase with all-win records, but Tamil Nadu put up a below par performance as their defence crumbled under the onslaught of the Punjab spikers.

Punjab came up with splendid blocks to take the wind out of the hosts’ attack.

Tamil Nadu’s attack too failed as their main spikers Harun Khan, Sayee Krishnan and Anand Kurup were blocked out by the Punjab defence spearheaded by Roy Joseph. Spiker Amir Singh and Pritpal Singh also came up with some fine blocks.

In the women’s final, Railways won the first set easily, but the youthful Andhra team gave them a tough fight in the second before winning the third. Too many unforced errors and a superb effort by Railways striker Vini Thomas in the fourth set saw the defending champions win in 91 minutes.

Earlier, Railways men and Tamil Nadu women finished third defeating Kerala teams in the play off matches between the losing semi-finalists.

While Railways dropped a set before outplaying Kerala 26-24 17-25 25-20 25-23 in the men’s section, Tamil Nadu emerged surprise winners in a five-setter in the women’s section. Kerala women, who were shocked by Andhra Pradesh in the semi-finals, were in for further embarrassment as the hosts carved out a 25-19 17-25 17-29 25-22 15-07 win.

In the men’s final, Punjab, the National Games winners, began on an attacking note with Jagbir spiking well while Pritpal, Roy Joseph and Amir Singh blocked out the Tamil Nadu spikers.

Points were closely fought till 8-8 in the first set, after which erratic spiking by Tamil Nadu saw the holders race to a 17-10 lead. Though Tamil Nadu managed to save four set points from 24-14, Jagbir’s powerful shot saw Punjab take the set comfortably even as the crowd fell silent.

Tamil Nadu’s woes continued in the second set as the Punjab spikers kept beating the net defence and took a 12-8 lead.

The losers did manage to close the gap to 13-10, but once again Punjab managed to widen the lead to 18-11 as Amir Singh came up with a couple of good blocks Anand Kurup spiked a few winners at that stage, but Manoj Kumar hit powerful shots to rattle the Tamil Nadu defence as Punjab took the set. The match was virtually over and even the crowd started thinning.

The Punjab men were unstoppable in the third set as Amir Singh and Jagbir Singh spearheaded the attack exposing the rivals’ weak defence while Roy Joseph and Pritpal Singh blocked effectively.

The winners led 16-10 and increased the gap to 21-15. With Punjab serving for the match, Kurup hit out, leaving the crowd stunned as the championship came to a close in an anti-climax.

In the women’s final, the Andhra girls looked out of touch in the first set as Railways spikers led by veteran Salomi Ramu, Geetha Raju and Shiji Kurian were unstoppable, while Andhra’s key spiker Radhika, who played brilliantly in the semi-final, was erratic.

District judo meet results
From Our Sports Reporter

JALANDHAR, Jan 17 — Cantt Judo Club, the women’s section and PAP Jalandhar in men’s section proved their supremacy in the senior group of district judo championship which concluded here at Raizada Hans Raj Stadium here.

The championship was conducted in subjunior, junior and senior age group in all weight categories of boys and girls. The final results of the championship are as follows:

Sub junior girls: 20 to 23 kg: 1 Manisha, 2 Gurpreet, 3 Manjinder Kaur and Pushpraj. Below 27 kg: 1 Renu, 2 Bharti, 3 Jasvir and Priyanika. Below 32 kg: 1 Bharti, 2 Anu, 3 Rimpy and Bhavna. Below 36 kg: 1 Rajni, 2 Jyoti, 3 Sonia and Geeta. Below 40 kg: 1 Meenu, 2 Ritu, 3 Nancy and Navneet Kaur, above 40 kg: 1 Salma, 2 Neetu, 3 Neha.

Boys below 20 kg: 1 Lakshy Rana, 2 Maninder, 3 Akshay Rana and Amanpreet. Below 23 kg: 1 Abhi, 2 Mukesh Kumar, 3 Pankaj Prashar and Vishal. Below 27 kg: 1. Ravneet, 2 Karanveer Singh, 3 Sarabjit Singh and Vishal. Below 30 kg: 1 Varun Rana, 2 Vijander Solanki, Vikas and Vicky. Below 32 kg: 1 Vishal, 2 Pawan, 3 Sahil Sharma and Happy. Below 35 kg: 1 Puneet Passi, 2 Sukhbir Singh, 3 Rajesh Kumar and Amit Kumar.

Below 40 kg: 1 Navdeep, 2 Shivdeep Sharma, 3 Inderjeet Solanki and Satish. Below 44 kg: 1 Gurpreet Singh, 2 Vishal Kumar, 3 Amit Kumar and Gurtej Singh.

Junior girls: 36 kg: 1 Arti, 2 Gurpreet. Below 40 kg: 1 Priyanka, 2 Sarita. Below 44 kg: 1 Poonam, 2 Priyanka, 3 Reena. Below 48 kg: 1 Balvir Kaur, 2 Sangeeta, 3 Rajni Bala and Anuradha. Below 52 kg: 1 Jaswinder Kaur, 2 Rajwinder Kaur, 3 Archana. Below 56 kg: 1 Poonam, 2 Sandeepna, 3 Renu. Below 61 kg: 1 Shinam, 2 Rajwinder. Above 66 kg: 1 Palma, 2 Pooja, 3 Harisham Kaur.

Senior girls: 44 kg: 1 Asha, 2 Vanita 3 Sonu and Amita, below 48 kg: 1 Jaswinder Kaur, 2 Geeta, 3 Tripta and Pooja, below 52 kg: 1 Navneet, 2 Sharan Preet 3 Mamta and Monika Bhardwaj. Below 57 kg: 1 Renu, 2 Sunena, 3 Harjeet. Below 63 kg: 1 Parvinder Kaur, 2 Paramjit Kaur, 3 Minakshi and Sukhwinder Kaur, below 70 kg: 1 Sukhjit Kaur, 2 Usha Devi, 3 Manju. Below 78 kg: 1 Reena, 2 Rashmi. Open: 1 Harwinder Kaur, 2 Mitu, Namrata.

Boys: 56 kg: 1 Naresh Kumar 2 Raj Kumar, 3 Mukesh Kumar and Inderjeet. Below 60 kg: 1 Vishal Bhardwaj 2 Kulwinder Kumar, 3 Som Nath and Sanjiv Kumar. Below 66 kg:- 1 Jagdeep, 2 Naresh sw 73 kg: 1 David, 2 James 3 Victor and Parminder. Below 81 kg: 1 Sarbjeet Singh, 2 Jaswant Singh, 3 Rakesh Kumar. Below 90 kg: 1 Kuldeep Singh and 2 Sukhbir Singh, below 100 kg: 1 Deepak and 2 Shivpal. Open: 1 Munish Rait 2 Jagmohan Kanth, 3 Rajiv Kumar.