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| Saturday, April 22, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Saqlain gives Pak an edge for
finals
Harsimran rides to silver |
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| Hard-fought win for Seles HILTON HEAD ISLAND (South Carolina), April 21 — Monica Seles was up and down in the million-dollar women’s tennis tournament at Hilton Head, but she managed to come out on top with a 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-5) win over ninth seed Elena Likhovtseva of Russia. Galatasaray, Arsenal enter final HAMBURG, April 21 —Galatasaray Istanbul played to a 2-2 draw with Leeds United to become the first Turkish team in a European football final, but their achievement in the UEFA Cup was marred by tragedy which will not be forgotten quickly. Waugh promises to visit every year CALCUTTA, April 21 — Australia cricket captain Steve Waugh today urged people to sponsor at least one under-privileged child and join in to provide equal opportunities to every child to help them lead a better life.
National Games in Punjab may be
postponed
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Sachin’s ton puts Mumbai on top MUMBAI, April 21 (PTI) — Sachin Tendulkar entertained a goodly crowd of 15,000 with a blazing knock of 128 to help Mumbai notch up 409 in their second innings and set Hyderabad a near-impossible winning target of 591 on the third day of the Ranji Trophy final here today. Tendulkar slammed his 13th ton in the tournament and his 42nd in first class cricket in his patented style clobbering the Hyderabad attack, without injured skipper Mohd Azharuddin to marshall it, to place Mumbai — ahead by 181 runs on the first innings — in sight of their 34th title. The top-order of the Mumbai batting clicked with openers Sameer Dighe (46) and Wasim Jaffer (55) putting on 103 in 27.3 overs before Jatin Paranjpe (42), Tendulkar — who slammed 13 fours and 3 sixes in his 128 off only 124 balls — and Vinod Kambli (56) built up on the good foundation. Paranjpe, who batted for 81 minutes and hit 4 fours and 2 sixes, put on 109 runs in 18 overs for the third wicket with Tendulkar who later was associated in another cracking stand of 105 runs in 18.3 overs for the fifth wicket with Kambli, who smote 4 fours and 3 sixes, to demoralise the rival attack. As many as 173 runs were added between lunch and tea in only 29 overs by this trio of batsmen. The Hyderabad bowlers came into their own after Tendulkar was caught and bowled by Narendra Pal Singh with spinners Venkatapathy Raju (5 for 123) and off-spinner Kanwaljit Singh (4 for 136), who took his season’s tally to 62, doing the bulk of the damage as Mumbai were all out in the last over of the day. Mumbai commenced their second innings this morning after having dismissed Hyderabad for 195 in the first essay in reply to their own 376 in the last over last evening. The best chance for Hyderabad, with skipper Azhar off the field for the entire day, was to take quick wickets and put pressure on the home team but their bowling looked pedestrian barring the two spinners, Kanwaljit and Raju. Dighe and Jaffer batted in forthright manner with drives and cuts before both fell in close succession to off-spinner Kanwaljit Singh, whose final tally for the season (62) is the joint second-best in the championship, with Karnataka’s Dodda Ganesh (last season), after Bishen Bedi’s record haul of 64 in the 1974-75 season. But Paranjpe, who also batted fluently, and Tendulkar cut the attack to ribbons after the departure of the openers and Mumbai went in for lunch at 139 for 2. Left-handed Paranjpe, who looked set for his half century after clouting Raju for a four and a six off successive balls in the second over after lunch, swung the wily Hyderabad left-arm spinner for another six before being caught at backward point off the same bowler. This brought together Tendulkar and Kambli, who had made 108 when his school chum had made 53 in the first essay, and the two went on to demolish the bowling with relish. Tendulkar, who had reached his 50 in only 45 balls with six fours and a six, reached his century off 103 balls with ten fours and two sixes after seeing his friend Kambli snicking Narendra Pal Singh between Raju and Laxman when on 25. Kambli, who smote Kanwaljit for a six over long-off, later swept Raju and the off-spinner Kanwaljit for two more sixes in his 62-balls knock before being deceived by Kanwaljit into offering a low catch to short mid-wicket fielder Narendra Pal Singh while driving on-the-up in the third over after tea. Mumbai, who were 312 for 3 at tea, lost Tendulkar too three overs later after the ace batsman had clouted Kanwaljit Singh for his third six over the sight-screen. Tendulkar was caught and bowled by N.P. Singh while driving on the front foot. His dismissal triggered a bout of bottle-throwing from one section of the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium and play was stopped for 15 minutes. On resumption, Raju and Kanwaljit got rid of the remaining five batsmen while 65 runs were added — 31 of these by Paras Mhambrey who struck six fours. Scoreboard Mumbai (1st innings): 376 Hyderabad (1st innings): 195 Mumbai (2nd innings): S. Dighe lbw b Kanwaljit 46, W. Jaffer c Raju b Kanwaljit 55, Paranjpe c Manohar b Raju 42, Tendulkar c and b N.P Singh 128, Kambli c N.P. Singh b Kanwaljit 56, Muzumdar lbw b Raju 15, Mhambrey c Fiaz Ahmed b Raju 31, Agarkar c Kanwaljit b Raju 1, R. Pawar lbw Kanwaljit 5, Kuruvilla c Manohar b Raju 13, Saxena not out 4. Extras (lb 1, w l, nb 11): 13 Total (all out in 89.3 overs, 379 mins): 409 Fall of wickets: 1-103, 2-106, 3-215, 4-320, 5-344, 6-376, 7-378, 8-389, 9-397. Bowling: Narendra Pal
Singh 12-1-76-1; Fiaz Ahmed 12-4-48-0; Manohar 5-0-25-0;
Raju 28.3-7-123-5; Kanwaljit Singh 32-4-136-4. |
Saqlain gives Pak an edge for finals PORT OF SPAIN, April 21 (AFP) — Leading the three-match final series 1-0, Pakistan has been given another bowling option for the last two matches against West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval on Saturday and Sunday with the arrival of off-spin bowler Saqlain Mushtaq. In a relatively brief career, Saqlain has established himself alongside Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan as one of the leading off-spinners in the modern game. His arrival in the Caribbean had been delayed by two weeks after he underwent several tests in England for blood clots. Saqlain’s brother, Zulqarnain, told Dawn newspaper from Lahore the 23-year-old had been treated well and is now in perfect health. He arrived in Bridgetown on Monday, but did not play the opening match of the finals at Kensington Oval. Saqlain will give a greater edge to Pakistan’s bowling which has been without the services of its main strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar. He was hardly missed on Wednesday when they gamefully defended a modest 197 for eight off 50 overs. Even without Shoaib, Pakistan’s attack looks formidable. If Saqlain is added, it can only get stronger and will take a substantially improved batting performance from West Indies to get over them. Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis are still a potent new-ball force, all-rounder Abdur Razzaq will offer them support with his fast-medium bowling, along with the spinners, of whom leggie Mushtaq Ahmed has been the best on tour. Though Wasim and Waqar gave little away in their opening spells, it was Mushtaq’s 10-2-23-1 that clinched Wednesday’s match for Pakistan, since he bamboozled West Indies’ batsmen at a time when they might have contemplated cutting loose. Though Pakistan’s bowlers will be proud of successfully defending 14 times out of 19 matches since last year’s World Cup in England, they will want much more from their batsmen. “We were aiming to get about 250 (on Wednesday) because the pitch was playing very good, but in the middle of the innings we collapsed,” captain Moin Khan, whose form has been sparodic, remarked. Saeed Anwar’s missing experience at the top of the order has meant Pakistan has not received the kind of starts they have come to expect. Though vice-captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has been the shimmering example with scores of 32, 51 not out, 34, 69 and 66, he has lacked for collective support. Teenager Imran Nazir and Shahid Afridi have each had a major innings in the series, but the glue has not been there. They have both been guilty of playing reckless strokes and not giving the respect deserved by the West Indies new-ball bowlers, Curtly Ambrose and Reon King. The batting problems have been compounded by the low production from others like Moin, Younis Khan and Yousuf Youhana. Pakistan however, are one of the most unpredictable side and it will not be far-fetched to see them post a monumental total during the weekend. Some of the old habits the West Indies had dispensed with over the last month returned to deny them in the opening final. They let Pakistan wriggle free in the dying overs and then literally shot themselves in the foot with some careless batting. “In a few areas we were a bit exposed (on Wednesday), but I think the main thing was more on the mental side and I am sure with a bit more experience and a few more matches, we will definitely improve in this area,” Adams said. Teams: West Indies (from): Jimmy Adams (captain), Sherwin Campbell (vice-captain), Philo Wallace, Wavel hinds, Chris Gayle, Ricardo Powell, Ridley Jacobs, Franklyn Rose, Nixon McLean, Curtly Ambrose, Reon King, Sylvester Joseph, Laurie Williams, Mahendra Nagamootoo. Pakistan (from): Moin
Khan (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Imran
Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Abdur
Razzaq, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmed, Arshad
Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Wajahatullah Wasti,
Mohammed Wasim, Mohammed Akram, Naved Qureshi,
Atiq-uz-Raman, Shoaib Malik, Irfan Fazil. |
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NEW DELHI, April 21 (PTI) — International Cricket Council President Jagmohan Dalmiya yesterday termed as imbalanced the assertion of former Indian cricket board chief I.S. Bindra that every match is fixed and every player involved in it. Reacting to the charge by Bindra at a press conference here that “every single match in cricket is fixed in one form or the other and every single player who has played or is playing is involved in some way or the other”, Dalmiya told Doordarshan in an interview: “What can I say. I think he has lost his balance saying that all the matches are fixed.” CALCUTTA (UNI): Former Board of Central for Cricket in India (BCCI) President P.M. Rungta yesterday expressed “shock and anguish” at the allegations levelled against him by another former board President I.S. Bindra. “I firmly deny any involvement in match-fixing and I am confident that all sensible people will condemn this mud-slinging exercise of Mr Bindra,” the Rajasthan Cricket Association president said here. The senior BCCI official, who is in the city owing to a bereavement in the family said: “I have been associated with the board for nearly 50 years and I am really disappointed with Mr Bindra’s baseless outbursts.” Mr Bindra, in a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday, had named Mr Rungta, a top cricket official and a former board Secretary, as being involved in corrupt practices. He also claimed that every international team and its players indulged in this malpractice in some form or the other and blamed players and administrators for bringing disrepute to the game. Mr Rungta, while responding to why Mr Bindra chose him to make the allegations, said “During the annual general meeting of the board last September at Jaipur, Mr Bindra wanted my support in the elections which I had refused. “In fact, after the BCCI elections, Mr Bindra had filed a suit against the board in Mumbai High Court, but failed to obtain a single order against the board,” Mr Rungta informed. Mr Rungta said the board had put forward some specific questions before Mr Bindra, asking him to disclose the names of cricketers, who were reprimanded by him during his tenure of BCCI presidency and also the name of the former secretary of the Pakistan Cricket Board, who had hinted to him that the match between India and New Zealand at Sharjah in 1998 was fixed. “Instead of providing a satisfactory answer to these questions, Mr Bindra is making statements which are baseless and untrue,” Mr Rungta added. Referring to Mr Bindra’s claim that all teams and players were involved in corrupt practices, Mr Rungta said: “If Mr Bindra had so much information, he should immediately go to the Delhi Police and disclose all facts.” Reacting to Mr Bindra’s statement that there were certain facts to which only he (Mr Bindra) was privy, Mr Rungta said: “This could perhaps explain Mr Bindra’s connections with the underworld. Mr Bindra referred to a match in Sharjah in 1998 when he was not even the BCCI President. The public may be interested in knowing why he went to Sharjah then, with whom and as whose guest. “I do not wish to
get into this mudslinging business. My final word of
advise to Mr Bindra is that he should immediately consult
a psychiatrist,” an infuriated Mr Rungta observed. |
BCB chief rejects Bacher’s claim DHAKA, April 21 (PTI) — Bangladesh Cricket Board today rejected South African Board chief executive Ali Bacher’s allegation that their upset victory over Pakistan in a league tie of last year’s World Cup in England was fixed. “I don’t believe it. Our boys played well in every department in that match. It’s an endeavour to downgrade our success,” BCB President Saber Hossain Chowdhury said here. UCB managing director Bacher was quoted by Australian newspapers as saying Pakistan’s shock defeat — bowled out for 161 chasing 223 for victory — in their last group tie against minnows Bangladesh at Northampton was fixed. He, however, had said he did not have any evidence to back his allegation. The BCB chief said Bacher had only indicated that rigging was a possibility and was not sure about it. “I don’t believe Ali Bacher has alleged about Bangladesh-Pakistan match but only indicated it as a possibility. We showed our mettle in every department in that game and beat Pakistan. Such an allegation will demoralise our cricket,” he said. To media references that the top five Pakistan batsmen failed to reach double figures, Chowdhury said: “Pakistan’s top order even struggled against (debutants) Scotland early in the tournament. So it cannot be taken as a proof”. Chowdhury said the BCB would lodge an official protest if anyone made allegations against Bangladesh. The BCB is an associate member of the international body (ICC) which has been granted official one-day status. On the raging betting and match-fixing scandal, Chowdhury said: “Earlier it was in the air and everybody used to speculate, but the confession of Hansie (Cronje) has proved it existed for a long time”. Urging that the mess be cleared once and for all, the BCB President said: “We have to sort out corrupt players and officials and must stop it. We can’t have dishonest players in this honest game. “Moreover, we have to stop the unnecessary fights between regions blaming each other for betting and match-fixing,” he added. Asked to comment on
former Indian board (BCCI) President Inderjit Singh
Bindra’s allegations two days ago that every team
was involved in corrupt practices, Chowdhury said there
was no proof to substantiate such a claim. |
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KARACHI, April 21 (AFP) — Pakistani umpire Javed Akhtar today denied any involvement in match-fixing and dismissed allegations against him as “baseless.” Responding to comments published by South African cricket chief Ali Bacher in Australian newspapers, Akhtar said he had never been involved in wrongdoing. “Its totally a baseless allegation and an attempt to malign Pakistan,” Akhtar told AFP. Dr Bacher told The Australian and two other newspapers yesterday that two matches at last year’s World Cup, one involving Pakistan, were fixed and Pakistani umpire Akhtar was also under suspicion for the way he handled the Leeds Test of South Africa’s tour of England in 1998. “I don’t know whether this interview attributed to Dr Bacher is true or not but I have never been involved in any wrongdoing, my career is unblemished,” said Akhtar, who has officiated in 49 one-day matches and 17 Tests. “If this interview is true then I will talk to the Pakistan board and will protest,” he said. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials are planning to reply the allegations after getting the excerpts of the interview. “I was never approached by anyone and I never thought of doing anything illegal,” Akhtar said. “When South Africa lost the Leeds Test there was some noise on my competence as umpire and this is very common when a team loses,” he said. The pandora’s box of match-fixing opened earlier this month when the Indian police charged South African captain Hansie Cronje and three other players of fixing matches during a one-day series in March. Cronje was sacked as captain after he admitted to taking some $10,000 to $15,000 but denied any involvement in match fixing. Akhtar was also criticised for his decisions in the World Cup match between hosts England and India. “I officiated matches to the best of my competence and criticism is very common in cricket, umpires are blamed after a team loses,” he said. Akhtar, who played one Test for Pakistan before turning umpire in 1969, officiated two Tests as International Cricket Council (ICC) neutral umpire before retiring in 1999 due to health reasons. “Match-fixing is a
very obnoxious crime and the ICC must eradicate this
curse for the betterment of the game,” he said. |
Chandrachud shrugs off criticism MUMBAI, April 21 (PTI) — Former Chief Justice of India Y.V. Chandrachud today shrugged off criticism of his report which has absolved Indian cricketers and administrators of any involvement in betting and match-fixing. “People are entitled to critice,” he told PTI asserting that he had decided not to join issue “at this juncture”. “I conducted the probe on the basis of evidence tendered before me. Now I do not want wish to speak about it,” he said. Justice Chandrachud had, in his 94-page report, absolved Indian players, cricket administrators and journalists of any wrongdoing and dismissed allegations by former all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar as “imaginary and unrealistic”. Asked about the
criticism being levelled against him after his report on
the probe was tabled in Parliament yesterday, Justice
Chandrachud said criticism will be there. |
Harsimran
rides to silver NEW DELHI, April 21 — Harsimran Singh Brar of Chandigarh rode to the silver in the 3000 metres individual pursuit for boys under 18 years, on the concluding day of the five-day 53rd senior, 30th junior and 16th sub-junior National Track Cycling Championships at the Yamuna Velodrome here today. In a two-horse race for the gold, Harsimran had to play second fiddle to N Budha Singh of Manipur, who sped away with the gold, with a time of 4:12.60 while the Chandigarh boy posted a time of 4:12.80 to claim the silver. While the Railway men swept the team title logging 29 points, the Manipur women proved too good for the rest, and cantered away with the team gold, tallying 34 points. Manipur also walked away with the team titles in the boys under-18 (34 points), sub-junior boys under-16 and 14 (33 points) and sub-junior girls under-16 and 14 years (20 points) titles, while Maharashtra prevented a complete Manipur sweep by taking the junior girls under-18 team title with a tally of 17 points. In the individual category, Punjab’s Gurpreet Kaur won the girls under-16 and under-14 titles, logging six and 10 points. Rakesh Kumar of Railways emerged the best cyclist in the men’s section with six points, while T. Chitra of Kerala and O. Beena Kumari of Manipur emerged joint-winners of the women’s title with 10 points each. Interestingly, the organisers of the nationals “forgot” to award medals to many of the winners, and the mandatory ceremony was conducted only when some of the medal winners protested. The championships, marred by accidents, witnessed one more on the final day, when Vishnu Chand of Kerala, a sure gold medal prospect, crashed in the last lap of the 1000 metres sprint event for men, and broke his collar bone. He was just a few metres away from the gold, when the accident occurred. Since the final medallists are decided on the best of three rides, Vishu Chand got the silver with a time of 12.30 seconds, while the gold was snatched away by Ineous Peter of the Border Security Force with a time of 12.50 seconds, and the bronze went to Rakesh Kumar of Railways (12.54). Later, the organisers
clarified that the best times recorded are credited to
the riders, and the finals are held on best of three
matches. In the decider, Vishnu Chand entered the sprint
zone outside the red line, and Ineous Peter entered the
second from below. But Vishnu Chand slid down the track,
and crashed 110 metres from the finish line, injuring
himself, while Ineous Peter got up and completed the
balance of the distance, to complete the race, and hence
the heat and gold was awarded to him. |
National
Games in Punjab may be postponed Chandigarh, April 21 — There is every possibility that the 31st National Games, scheduled to be held in Punjab from November 5 to 16 next, might be postponed. At the first meeting of the 31st National Games Organising Committee held here today under the chairmanship of the chairman of the committee, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab, a number of delegates expressed the fear that the Games might lose appeal and lustre if organised shortly after the conclusion of the Sydney Olympics. Most members of the committee were of the opinion that holding the National Games on the scheduled dates might prove to be counter-productive and sportspersons might not be motivated enough to take part in these shortly after the completion of the Olympics. “Certain top stars might even give the National Games a go by,” it was feared. After a lot of discussion a three-member committee under Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Union Minister of Sports who is also the Working Chairman of the organising committee, was constituted which would hold talks with the Indian Olympic Association to examine if the games could be held at a later date.The other members of the committee are Mr Arvind Khanna, Secretary of the Punjab Olympic Association, and Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra, Secretary-General of the National Games Organising Committee. Mr Bindra, who briefed the media after the meeting, took pains to underline the fact that Punjab was absolutely ready to hold the National Games on the stipulated dates. “But the Organising Committee is seeking a change so that the participants at the games are motivated enough to give off their best”. And as the Asian Games were scheduled to be held next year the participants at the National Games “would have something to look forward to”. He also said the three-member committee would hold discussions with the President of the Indian Olympic Association, Mr Suresh Kalmadi, and the Secretary-General, Mr Randhir Singh, so that the question of dates could be settled at the earliest. Today’s meeting was assured by the Punjab Chief Minister that the games would not suffer due to lack of funds. But in the same breath he said the games “should be the best ever held”. The meeting expressed its satisfaction at the progress made in terms of infrastructure, procurement of equipment etc. Mr Dhindsa said the state “would not be let down” in the organisation of the games. In his capacity as the Union Minister of Sports he said “the Centre will not let down the state government” in the successful conduct of the National Games. While today’s meeting gave its formal approval of the budget for the Games, the question of TV rights of the games, sponsorship, sale of tickets etc was also discussed in depth. It was felt at the meeting that at least 50 per cent of the cost of the games would be raised by this means. All associations were also told that they should do their bit to raise resources for their respective games. Mr Dhindsa said he had already taken up with the Planning Commission the question of releasing additional grants for the games. In this connection the Punjab Olympic Association has already brought it to the notice of the Centre that both Karnataka and Manipur were granted additional funds on an ad hoc basis when the National Games were held there. The ad hoc grants have been sought in addition to the grants already in the pipeline under various schemes of the Centre. The meeting , on the suggestion of a number of former Olympians and international stars of non-Olympic games, was informed by Mr Badal that the Maharaja Ranjit Singh awards would be awarded by the third or fourth week of next month. Also, medal winners of the National Games, Asian games and the Commonwealth games would be given their cash awards at the function where the Maharaja Ranjit Singh awards were given away. The Punjab Chief Minister also told the meeting that he would hold a special meeting with former Olympians of the state on April 29 where issues relating to former sportsmen would be discussed threadbare. The meeting was requested by former Olympians that the job reservation for Class I and Class II posts for international sportspersons should be taken out of the purview of the Punjab Service Commission and decided by a special committee of sportspersons and sports administrators. The Punjab Chief Secretary who was also present at the meeting promised to examine the issue. Also, the question of giving jobs to sportspersons in various Punjab corporations came up for discussion . The meeting approved the constitution of different committees for organising the mega event. A working committee, a steering committee, five regional committees and 15 sub-committees were constituted. The chairman of the organising committee and chairman of the working committee have been authorised to change, modify and add names in different committees. The meeting also paid
tributes to hockey legend Udham Singh who died recently. |
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HILTON HEAD ISLAND (South Carolina), April 21 (Reuters) — Monica Seles was up and down in the million-dollar women’s tennis tournament at Hilton Head, but she managed to come out on top with a 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-5) win over ninth seed Elena Likhovtseva of Russia. One moment, Seles would look unbeatable. Another moment, she did not look anything like the player who has won nine grand slam titles. “I’m playing some good tennis periods,” Seles said yesterday. “But also I have some huge drops in my game. Today I definitely had some huge drops and then I had some really good highs.” Likhovtseva had something to do with the way Seles looked. The Russian used a deceptively fast serve and good quickness to keep Seles off balance. “I really felt I got down on myself (in the second set),” said Seles, who did not drop a set while winning last week’s tournament at Amelia Island, Florida. Seles at times appeared to be totally uninspired in the second set, but the world’s seventh-ranked player came on strong to take a 3-1 lead in the third set. Likhovtseva reversed the early break and had Seles down 4-5 and 5-6, but the American was able to force a tiebreak to decide the match. In the tiebreaker, Seles appeared to find new focus and energy, bouncing back from 2-0 down to win six of the next seven points. A long ground stroke by Seles and a backhand service return winner by Likhovtseva brought the score to 6-5 before a wide forehand from Likhovtseva ended the one-hour, 59-minute match. “She just served really well,” Seles said. “I had a hard time reading her serve, and even her second serve was going in the 90s, and I just couldn’t attack it.” Likhovtseva’s serve to the outside corner of the deuce side often handcuffed Seles. “There were two key games in the third set when she almost aced me four or five times in a row on the deuce side,” Seles said. Ruxandra Dragomir of Romania, the 11th seed, upset 1999 runner-up and sixth seed Anna Kournikova of Russia 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 6-3 to earn a berth opposite Seles in the quarter-finals of this clay-court tournament. Jelena Dokic of Australia ousted seventh-seeded American Amy Frazier 6-2 6-2 and will take on top seed Mary Pierce of France in the quarters. Pierce defeated Anna
Smashnova of Israel 6-1 6-2. |
Galatasaray, Arsenal enter final HAMBURG, April 21(DPA) —Galatasaray Istanbul played to a 2-2 draw with Leeds United to become the first Turkish team in a European football final, but their achievement in the UEFA Cup was marred by tragedy which will not be forgotten quickly. The yesterday tie was overshadowed by the death of two Leeds fans on the eve of the first leg game in Istanbul. Thursday’s match at Elland Road took place without Turkish fans for security reasons. No major incidents were recorded although 12 people were arrested when they attacked police and three camera teams outside the stadium. Leeds fans also smashed the window of a bus carrying Turkish officials. Gheorghe Hagi’s fifth-minute penalty and Hakan Sukur’s 14 metre drive in the 42nd put the turks ahead twice, with Eirik Bakke respondsing for Leeds with successful headers in the 16th and 67th. Both sides ended the game with 10 men as Harry Kewell and Emre Belozoglu were controversially red-carded within seconds just before half time. Galatasaray advanced 4-2 on aggregate, but in the May 17 decider in Copenhagen will run into another English team in the form of Arsenal, which will keep the bad memories alive. Arsenal won 2-1 against French side Lens and 3-1 on aggregate. The Gunners restored at least some English pride at the end of a terrible week which before Leeds’ ouster saw the Champions League elimination of holders Manchester United and Chelsea. Thierry henry and Nwankwo Kanu scored in the 42nd and 87th for Arsenal, who have already won the first leg 1-0 at Highbury. Pascal Nouma grabbed Lens’ temporary equaliser in the 71st. Both finalists did in fact not start the season in the UEFA Cup, but were lucky losers after the first round of the European Champions League. Leeds boss Peter Ridsdale tried to ease tensions with a full page open letter under the headline “Tonight must be all about football’’ printed in all major British papers. A minute of silence was
observed in commemoration of the two victims, but any
hopes of the 39,000 fans that Leeds could turn around the
tie then evaporated quickly. |
Waugh promises to visit every year CALCUTTA, April 21 (PTI) — Australia cricket captain Steve Waugh today urged people to sponsor at least one under-privileged child and join in to provide equal opportunities to every child to help them lead a better life. “Every child should get an equal chance in life. If we can help them to live a better life, we should try for it. You should also sponsor one of these kids”, Waugh, who is here to to raise funds for ‘Udayan’, a home for leprosy patients and their children, said. The cricketing icon spent a few hours with over 400 beaming schoolchildren and posed for photographs with them in a unique awareness-building on leprosy and fund-raising programme at the Calcutta Football and Cricket Club here. “Udayan is a great cause and I would like to see as many kids supporting this project. We should give these kids in Udayan a chance”, Waugh told the children in a brief speech. Contemporary cricket’s most successful captain, who reached the city for a three-day visit on Wednesday specially for the cause, urged the children to do some work for Udayan inmates. Waugh, who raised Rs 20.85 lakhs in a charity dinner on Wednesday, promised to return to the city every year and work for the Udayan children. “Every year I will try to come back to Calcutta and try to raise some funds. I want to see a few more buildings coming up in Udayan”, Waugh said. Waugh, who has led Australia to a record number of consecutive Test victories, was given a traditional welcome as he arrived at the CCFC and mingled with the children who patiently awaited the arrival of their hero. He spoke about leprosy and all the myths associated with it. “Not many people really understand what leprosy is all about. I also did not know many things and believed that if you touched them you could have it. But I know now that these things are not true. You should also be aware of such things”, he explained. For a fee of Rs 200 each, school-children got photographed with the star cricketer and also got his autograph. The snaps were taken in groups of 20 and they would be later handed over to the respective schools. “It is a dream come
true for me. I was eagerly looking for this day when I
can meet Waugh and take a photograph with him. I will
treasure it for life”, Ragini Choudhury said. |
Trainees selected on merit: Hanumant MUMBAI, April 21 (PTI) — National Cricket Academy Director Hanumant Singh said today trainees for the academy, stating at Bangalore on May 1, were selected on merit and not region wise. Reaching to allegations, made by Andhra Cricket Association Secretary N. Venkata Rao that no trainee from Andhra was in the list, Hanumant Singh told PTI here that the 44 players selected were shortlisted after taking the opinions of senior and junior selection committee chairmen and the coaches. “Moreover, the academy is not restricted to just 44 players as we are planning to invite ‘visiting trainees’ soon,” he added. Elaborating on the concept of visiting trainees, Hanumant Singh said: “When we invite say a former left-arm spinner like Bishen Singh Bedi then we will call a few promising left-arm spinners from all over the country to attend the camp for a few days”. “Likewise when a
batting coach is invited we will see that some young
batsmen are invited as visiting trainees,” he added. |
Shiv Prakash wins J. Hampstead Open GURGAON, April 21 (UNI) — Kanpur’s Shiv Prakash put all his experience and skill into play to emerge victorious with a superb birdie on the 18th hole at the Rs 12-lakh J. Hampstead Open golf tournament, at the par-72, 7070-yard, DLF Golf and Country Club here today. Prakash finished with a tournament tally of 10-under 278. Gaurav Ghei, who bore the brunt of Shiv Prakash’s assault, had to settle for second spot at nine-under 279. Despite leading the field for three days in succession, Digvijay Singh finished third at six-under 288. At joint fourth spot were Mukesh Kumar, Feroz Ali and Rafiq Ali at four-under 284. Shiv Prakash’s return to form has come pretty late in the season, but was still good enough to win him two events, the Eicher Central India Open 2000 at Mhow a month ago and now the J. Hampstead Open. The short, stocky professional proved once again that height and girth have nothing to do with winning golf tournaments as he carded a final day’s score of two-under 70 to take home the winner’s cheque of Rs 1,94,400. Shiv, starting the day two strokes behind Digvijay, fought a close battle with Ghei, the two tied at identical scores till as far down as the 16th hole. A brilliant birdie on the 18th handed Prakash the title. His other birdies of the day occurred on the fourth, sixth and 10th, while the Kanpur-based golfer dropped shots on the seventh and 15th. ‘’I am thrilled to win. My feel and confidence were there all along’’ said the champion, who bagged the biggest pay cheque of his life. Gaurav Ghei must feel awful. He is seldom found squandering a game on the final hole. Indeed it is the other player who has always choked when battling with Ghei in a crunch situation. Birdies on the sixth, seventh, ninth and 15th and bogeys on the fifth, 14th and 16th, highlighted his day’s play. Gaurav earned a purse of Rs 1,34,400 for his effort. ‘’I putted terribly’’ he added almost in afterthought after posting a final day’s score of one-under 71. Digvijay Singh was a shadow of the player who led the field on the first three days. A terrible round of golf studded with bogeys on the fifth, 14th and 18th and a double bogey on the 11th was given a more presentable look by birdies on the 16th and 17th. In the race for the rookie of the year, Digvijay is certain now to lose out to Harmeet Kahlon. Digvijay scored four-over 76 for the day.
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Punjab
Police beat Union Club PATIALA, April 21 — Favourites Punjab Police beat Union Club, Ambala 5-0 to win the second All-India Manjit Memorial Football Tournament which concluded here today. Some fireworks were expected in the summit clash but Punjab Police with cohesive play rattled the rival defence in the first minute itself and slottied in two more to be 3-0 up in the first 10 minutes. In the second half the cops slowed down the pace of the game and added two more goals to kill the match as an intense contest. Striker Buta Singh
opened the floodgates when his power packed right footer
skimmed the far post before the ball nestled itself in
the netting. It was some inspired stuff from the cops
when Vijay made full use of a loose ball to send it past
a sprawling Ambala goalkeeper Rahul Kumar and when
midfielder Balbir dodged his way past a couple of
defenders to make it 3-0, the writing was on the wall for
the Ambala team. |
Bodybuilding
title for Vitender NEW DELHI, April 21 — Mr Asia’ Vitender Singh of JCT Mills, Phagwara won the Dorian Yates Classic Bodybuilding Championship organised by the District Rewari Amateur Bodybuilding Association at Bal Bhawan, Rewari, according to information reaching here. Vitender Singh, a trainee of Padmashree and Arjuna Award winner Prem Chand Degra, beat off a strong field, comprising top bodybuilders of India, to win the top position and a cash award of Rs 10,000. ‘Mr India’
Shyam Sunder of Delhi won the second position and a cash
award of Rs 4,500, while another Delhiite, Upender Singh,
took the third position, and a cash prize of Rs 3,500. |
New
courses at NIS CHANDIGARH, April 21 — The new session at the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, will introduce two new disciplines, fencing and handball, for the diploma in sports coaching (one year). At Bangalore, another
centre for sport’s coaching, three new disciplines,
softball, shooting and taekwondo will be started,
according to Lt. Col. BS Ahluwalia, Executive Director
SAI NIS, Patiala. He was also of the opinion to start
roller skating as it was a fast growing sport in India. |
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