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| Saturday, April 29, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Why IOA wants Games on schedule ?
Dalmiya to file suit
against Aggarwal Bindra hails probe |
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Terrorist threat to
Sydney Olympics Youhana, Wasim lift Pakistan Academy launch Aggressive punching the key, feels
Grant Favourites Japan keep slate clean Gade enters semis Atul-Navneesh duo lifts title
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Why IOA
wants Games on schedule ? CHANDIGARH, April 28 — Why is the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Mr Suresh Kalmadi, insisting that the 31st National Games, scheduled to be held in Punjab from November 5 to 16 next, be conducted as per schedule ? It was only recently, during the first meeting of the National Games Organising Committee held here earlier this month, that it was suggested that the Games be deferred to a later date to make them more meaningful as also more competitive. In fact, the National Games Organising Committee set up a three-member committee consisting of Punjab Olympic Association (POA) President, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, who is the Union Minister for Sports, the POA Secretary, Mr Arvind Khanna, and the Secretary-General of the Organising Committee, Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra, to conduct talks with the IOA to see if the Games could be deferred. But even before the talks could be held Mr Kalmadi pre-empted them by announcing that the Games would be held as per schedule. The National Games Organising Committee has argued that the National Games are scheduled to be conducted shortly after the completion of the Sydney Olympics, to be held from September 15 to October 1, and therefore it is quite likely that the cream of Indian sports personality who will go to Sydney to represent the nation might skip the National Games. And if that were to happen then the Games would lose much of its lustre. It has also been argued by the POA that the organising committee might find it difficult to get adequate guarantee money for the television rights of the National Games if they are held shortly after the Sydney Olympics, which again would be a highly-televised event. Therefore, it would be prudent if the National Games were deferred to a later date. According to the rules and regulations of the IOA for the National Games “the Games are required to be held once in two years leaving those years in which the Olympic Games and the Asian Games are scheduled to be held. Only in exceptional cases or natural calamities the IOA can allow relaxation for the general rules.” By the IOA’s own rules the 31st National Games should be held in 2001, the year Punjab is currently proposing to hold the Games, and not this year as is being asked by the IOA President. In the past as well the National Games were held in odd years right from the time these were revived in 1985. For instance the Delhi games were held in 1985, the Kerala games in 1987, the Karnataka games in 1989 and the Manipur games in 1999. Only in the case of the Maharashtra games were they held in February, 1994, after a severe earthquake hit Latur in 1993, forcing postponement of the Games as the nation was involved in a massive relief effort at about the time the Games were scheduled to be held. The last National Games were conducted by Manipur only last year and by its own rule the IOA should have asked Punjab to conduct the Games in 2001 and not in 2000 as is being done. It is learnt that Andhra Pradesh is very keen to host the 32nd National Games sometime in 2001 and it is primarily for this reason that Mr Kalmadi is insisting that the 31st edition of the games be held in November next. But even in this stern
stand of the IOA there is a small catch. The IOA
Secretary-General, Mr Randhir Singh, has said the 31st
National Games might be postponed by a week as the
Olympic Council of Asia meeting is scheduled to be held
on November 11 and 12. But this meeting is only for the
IOA big-wigs so why trouble the 10,000 odd sports boys
and girls who will assemble in Punjab for the National
Games? Obviously, the IOA wants to have its cake and eat
it too. |
Dalmiya to file suit against Aggarwal CALCUTTA, April 28 (PTI) — International Cricket Council President Jagmohan Dalmiya today decided to file a criminal defamation suit against Prasar Bharati’s former financial expert, Arun Aggarwal, for accusing him of “dubious deals” while awarding telecasting rights and threatened to “expose the persons hiding behind him”.“My solicitors have been advised to go ahead with criminal and other proceedings against Arun the “prime accused” in what he called the telecast rights “scam” and said that it could not have taken place without the connivance of DD officials. “I have no other option but to take legal action. This is necessary to unearth the truth and to find out the persons who had set up Aggarwal and were hiding behind him”, Dalmiya said. Prasar Bharati today sought to steer clear of the controversy raised by its former financial expert Arun Agarwal accusing ICC President Jagmohan Dalmiya and Mark Mascerenhas of WorldTel of involvement in the telecast rights “scam” of the ICC knock-out tournament in Dhaka in 1998 saying it was for Agarwal to face any legal action taken by Dalmiya. “Arun Agarwal (financial expert) is no longer in the employment of Prasar Bharati. Whatever he has said, he has said as a private individual and he faces the consequences as a private individual”, Prasar Bharati Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rajeev Ratan Shah told reporters. Shah’s comments on the issue came a day after Agarwal’s allegation and “dubious deals’’ while awarding telecast rights for the tournament. Dalmiya threatened to take legal action against Prasar Bharati if it did not clarify its stand by today. He made it clear that whatever Agarwal has done was neither at the behest of the Prasar Bharati nor with its blessings and, therefore, if there was any legal action “he has to fend for himself”. At the same time, Shah said that the Prasar Bharati has now “nothing to do” with that sports consortium against which Agarwal had made serious allegations. He said the former financial expert’s report was deliberated upon by Prasar Bharati and referred to the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) for investigations. CALCUTTA: Mr Dalmiya last night denied allegations of “dubious deals” while awarding telecast rights for the 1998 ICC knock-out tournament in Dhaka and threatened to take legal action against Prashar Bharati if it did not clarify its stand by tomorrow. “I will wait till
tomorrow to know Prashar Bharati’s stand on the
issue. If it do not clarify, I will ask my solicitors to
move the courts of law, “Dalmiya told a crowded
press conference here. |
Prabhakar ‘to give’ all details NEW DELHI, April 28 (UNI) — For former test all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar, government’s announcement of a CBI probe into match-fixing in Indian cricket was a “somewhat vindication” of his allegations on the issue. Prabhakar created ripples three years back with his disclosure that he was offered money by a teammate to play below potential during the 1994 Singer Cup in Sri Lanka. Prabhakar, however, had so far refrained from naming any player saying he had no legal protection in the absence of evidence. “I will provide all details to the CBI,” the former India player said reacting to the government’s decision. “I will help all those who want to weed out corruption from the system,” he added. Coach Kapil Dev welcomed the government today ordering a CBI probe into betting and match-fixing allegations in Indian cricket. “It’s good. The government should do it. Doodh ka doodh, pani ka pani ho jayega (the grain will be separated from the chaff),” Kapil Dev told PTI when asked to react to Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa’s announcement in the Lok Sabha this morning. The former skipper, who had strongly reacted to allegations of wrongdoing against him by calling for a thorough probe and halting of all international fixtures by the Indian team said, “Those guilty must be punished and those not guilty should not have doubts chasing them around”. “This air of suspicion should be removed once and for all,” Kapil Dev said. Prabhakar, who first raised allegations of match-fixing in 1996 when he claimed he was offered $ 25,000 by a teammate to play badly during the 1994 one-day tournament in Sri Lanka, said the probe “will do good for the future of the game” and assured full cooperation in the investigation. Prabhakar, who met Dhindsa this morning ahead of the announcement in Parliament, said now that the Central agency has taken over “none will dare spoil the interests of the country. “He (Dhindsa) promised he was going to do something when I met him in the morning and he has fulfilled it,” Prabhakar said. Asked whether he had revealed the name of the player who he claimed tried to bribe him, Prabhakar would only say “I told him whatever I should tell him”. Prabhakar’s allegations had led to the cricket board instituting a probe by former Chief Justice of India, Y.V. Chandrachud, in 1997, but the report submitted in November that year and made public only recently absolved Indian players and officials of any wrongdoing and was criticised as “eyewash”. Asked whether he would cooperate with the CBI probe, Prabhakar said, “If they need my help, I am willing to give all details I have got. I am ready to help people who are willing to clean the system”. Former India skipper Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi welcomed the government decision and said ordering a CBI probe was the right move as the issue had international ramifications. “It is good an agency, which has experience in investigating something with international ramifications, has been given the job. “I don’t think the BCCI or the ICC can carry out such an investigation,” he said, adding that former players like him wanted such an investigation as only CBI can deal with other agencies like the interpol. But Pataudi, who was among those who attended yesterday’s meeting of players and the BCCI officials called by Dhindsa here, urged that “innocent people should not be harassed by CBI”. In Mumbai, former captains Polly Umrigar and Ajit Wadekar welcomed the CBI probe. Umrigar, also former BCCI executive secretary, said, “Let it get cleared once and for all by a proper investigating agency”. “It’s a good move especially for the fans who will be happy knowing that a proper agency is doing the job. Let them offer protection to people who are making these allegations and let us see how many come forward (to reveal names and offer proof)”, the former India all-rounder said. Wadekar also said the government move was on expected lines and added “something concrete will come out. Yes, there should be a time-frame (for the probe to be completed)”. Bapu Nadkarni hoped the CBI investigation will restore the public’s faith in the game. ‘’it has taken a lot of beating and the suspense should be now removed. But it should be done swiftly,’’ he added. Naveen Tamhane hailed
the step as the correct way to bring back the focus on
the game. ‘’let the truth come out and let us
start playing as gentlemen,’’ he appealed. |
Bindra
hails probe NEW DELHI, April 28 — While welcoming the Centre’s decision to institute a CBI probe into the match fixing allegation, the former President of the BCCI, Mr I.S. Bindra, said the probe should not confine to betting and match fixing. “The probe should not confine to player and match fixing as administrators of the game are bigger culprits than players,” Mr Bindra said. He said the probe should focus on three issues. They were match-fixing and betting, the nexus between broadcasters and BCCI officials and the privatisation of the game. The report submitted Mr Arun Agarwal, former Financial Adviser to Prasar Bharati, alleged that Mr Jagmohan Dalmia and WorldTel’s Mr Mark Mascarenhas swindled Doordarshan of $ 4 million over the telecast rights of the ICC tournament in Dhaka two years ago. Mr Bindra said: “The report submitted by Mr Agarwal should also be part of the CBI investigation as report has only touched the tip of the iceburg.” The privatisation of cricket, he said was only benefiting a few administrators of the game and the huge amount of money being generated in the process “is not getting back to the game.” “Twenty matches in
Sharjah generate about Rs 700 crore and the match
beneficiary and the board there do not get more than Rs
50 crore,” he said, adding “the probe should
focus where the rest of the amount goes?” |
Terrorist threat to Sydney Olympics LONDON, April 28 (PTI) — Osma bin Laden, the Saudi-born leader of the Al Qaeda terrorist group, has been identified as the biggest threat to the Sydney Olympics scheduled in September this year even as organisers gear themselves up to ensure that the games go smoothly, media reported yesterday. Within the past few weeks, uncorroborated intelligence reports from Pakistan have suggested that associates of Bin Laden have travelled to Australia, but it remains unclear whether this is related to fund-raising for Bin Laden’s long campaign against the Saudi Government or for more sinister purpose, The Times Daily reported. Just outside the showpiece Stadium Australia in Sydney, a simple, stainless-steel panel bearing 11 names hangs in the Olympic plaza. The monument commemorates the worst horror in the history of the modern Olympics: the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes and officials in Munich in 1972 in Munich. Although Bin Laden is believed to be seriously ill with kidney and liver problems, his group is still active. Last week, 28 alleged Bin Laden supporters were charged in Jordan with plotting millennium bomb and gas attacks against westeners. Also, in the Philippines, Abu Sayyaf, a murderous terrorist gang, has admitted that Bin Laden still funds its training. There is no indication that Bin Laden’s campaign against “western imperialism” will abate, the report said. Concerns that Bin Laden could disrupt the Sydney Olympics surfaced last year when Michael Sheehan, the counter-terrorism co-ordinator for the US State Department, warned Australian intelligence that foreign terrorists might try to launch attacks at the games. Now officials are starting to reveal details of how they plan to combat possible attacks. Controversial new X-ray machines that “strip away” clothings are being considered for Sydney international airport, while police armed-response teams will be on 24-hour standby at four points around the city. Australian special forces have been preparing for action, swooping over Sydney Opera House in blackhawk helicopters and swinging to the ground on ropes. More than 4,000 troops will be drafted in to help with security during the games, expected to attract 10,000 athletes and 340,000 foreign tourists. Every vehicle entering a venue will be searched using techniques learnt partly in Northern Ireland. Security officials have already arrested one alleged terrorist, Mehmet Akin Kayirici, an unemployed chef, who has been charged with threatening to launch missile attacks during the Olympics. Meanwhile, workers are racing to complete the work at Olympic venues, the report said. “At present there
is no specific threat of terrorism against the Sydney
Olympics,” claims Daryl Williams, the Australian
Attorney General. “But Australia stands ready to
deal swiftly and efficiently with any threat against the
games and national security,” he said. |
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GEORGETOWN, April 28 (AP) — Half centuries by Yousuf Youhana and Mohammed Wasim lifted Pakistan to a superior position against the West Indies under-23 team on the opening day of their four-day, first-class cricket match at the Uitvlugt Community Centre. Youhana hit an unbeaten 73 and Mohammad 59 as Pakistan, choosing to bat, reached 261 for six when play ended five minutes early because of rain. Youhana has so far batted for just over four hours, faced 181 balls and hit eight fours and has shared an unbroken 68-run partnership the seventh wicket with captain Mushtaq Ahmed, whose 38 not out off 52 balls contained four fours and one six. Pakistan (Ist innings): Wasti c Phillip b
Cunningham 26 Extras (b-14 lb-2 w-1 nb-9) 26 Total (for 6 wickets) 261 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-102, 3-112, 4-136, 5-187, 6-193, Bowling: Collins
14.2-0-47-0, Jeremy 18-2-46-2, Joseph 8-1-27-0, Alexander
16-1-48-2, Cunningham 20-7-36-1, Samuels 14-3-28-1, Hinds
2-0-13-0. |
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BANGALORE, April 28 (PTI) — The first batch of 24 trainees arrived here today as the stage is being set for the launch of India’s first National Cricket Academy on May 1. Academy Director Hanumant Singh and one of the coaches, Vasu Paranjpe, are already here and had preliminary discussions with the Academy’s coordinator, Brijesh Patel. Hanumant Singh told PTI that former Australian cricketer Rodney Marsh, who is the Academy’s Advisor, would come tomorrow and stay here till May 3. He said the second batch of the remaining 20 trainees would join the camp, which will be on till August end, in the middle of next month. While former Test cricketer Roger Binny would be the other coach, Rajesh Kamath had been appointed as assistant coach, Hanumant Singh said. He said the trainees
would participate in two tournaments in September —
Coromandal Trophy here and Buchibabu event in Chennai
— as also the Challeger Trophy, for which the
cricket board is to announce the dates and venue. |
Aggressive punching the key, feels Grant NEW YORK, April 27 (AFP) — World heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, Britain’s first undisputed ruler of boxing’s big men in more than a century, wants to prove he can dispatch pretenders to the throne impressively. Unbeaten American challenger Michael Grant, who more than matches Lewis’ massive size, sees aggressive punching fury as the way to dethrone the king in tomorrow’s showdown here at Madison Square Garden. The result should mean excitement from the opening bell rather than another tedious tactical title fight such as Lewis and Evander Holyfield staged twice in 1999, the rematch completing the Briton’s 12-year quest for a unified crown. “You have to jump on him. Punches are going to rain over him,” Grant said. “I have the size to catch up with him. It’s going to be tough to get out of my way. He’s going to have to commit and fight. My advantage is I’m faster.” Lewis, seven years older than Grant at 34, has a rare reach disadvantage but far more experience in world title bouts, solid counter-punching skills, a strong jab and a powerful right hand. “I hope he comes at me. It will make the fight shorter,” Lewis said. “Michael Grant has never seen a boxer like me. It’s going to be a shock for him. It’s going to be a real action fight.” Lewis, 35-1 with one draw and 27 knockouts, has rarely faced a rival who will attack from the start. Shannon Briggs staggered Lewis in the first round of their 1998 fight, but failed to finish him and was stopped in round five. Lewis might have a foe in Grant who can handle an active pace into the late rounds, presenting a challenge that trainer Emanuel Steward hopes will bring out the best in the champion. “Is Lennox Lewis a warrior? I want that question answered too,” steward said. “I don’t think the fights with Evander solidified him as a strong heavyweight. I know the talent is there. I believe this is the fight where it is going to come out.” Grant, 31-0 with 22 knockouts, said the champion’s best days are behind him and predicts a 10th-round knockout, expecting to grow stronger in late rounds while looking for Lewis to tire. “It’s my job to impose my will on him,” Grant said. “He tends to slow up in the later rounds, get lackadaisical. I’m going to expose him. I’m going to make this guy fight. If he comes in firing, I will be ready for him. I feel like my time has come.” Lewis has gone 12 rounds in his past three fights and five times overall, winning four decisions and settling for a controversial draw here last year against Holyfield on dubious judging of a fight most viewers thought he won. This will be Lewis’ 13th world title fight and Grant’s first. Lewis has won his past 11 fights since a loss to Oliver McCall in September of 1994 — two months after Grant made his professional debut at the age of 21. Lewis will make $ 10 million and Grant $ 4 million. They will fight for World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation titles. A judge’s ruling stripped Lewis of the now-vacant World Boxing Association crown. Don Turner, Grant’s trainer, guided Holyfield and Henry Akinwande in title losses to Lewis. But he likes Grant’s chances better. “He brings more size,” Turner said. “Grant has showed
in all his fights unbelievable stamina,” Steward
said. “In most of his fights he was getting stronger
at the end. He has great punching power late in the
fight. He is dangerous all the way down the line. He is
coming in confident and has the physical strength to make
it an interesting fight. But I think Lennox is going to
be a little too much.” |
Favourites Japan keep slate clean TOKYO, April 28 (PTI) — Favourites Japan toyed with rising Kazakhstan notching up a 3-0 win to keep its slate clean while China from the other pool ensured their place in the World Group play-off in the Asia Oceania Group I Fed Cup tennis championship in Osaka today. Top seeded Japan proved their overwhelming dominance by again resting top woman Ai Sugiyama, but still winning easily fielding number two and three singles players. India, who yesterday lost to Japan 0-2 and then beat Kazakhstan 3-0 to chalk up a 2-1 record with a three-match rubber against Hong Kong to spare, had a rest day today. Fed Cup hopefuls India led by Nirupama Vaidyanathan and Sai Jayalakshmi, Manisha Malhotra and Radhika Tulpule in their ranks, will take on Hong Kong tomorrow. But the Indian contingent will keep an eye on the Japan-Thailand match as a win for the elephant country will see India forcing a three-way tie. Nana Miyagi defeated Alissa Velts 7-5 6-3 to give Japan 1-0 lead against Kazakhstan and Yuka Yoshida stamped the hosts’ authority with 6-4 6-1 beating of Valeriya Khazova. In the inconsequential doubles, Ai Sugiyama and Shinobu Asagoe crushed the Alissa/Valeriya pair 6-1 6-0 to continue their domination. Thailand recorded a 2-1 win over Hong Kong to keep alive their hopes to force the three-way tie. Tamarine Tanasugarn beat Tong Ka-Po 6-3 6-4 to give Thailand an unbeatable 2-0 lead after Napaporn Tongsalee had put them ahead through a thrilling three-setter. Tongsalee defeated Olivia Graveraux 6-7 (5/7) 6-1 11-9. Hong Kong earned a consolation win in the doubles with Chan Lee and Lam Po-Kuen edging past Benjamas Sangaran and Montika Anuchan 7-6 (7/2) 1-6 6-1. In pool B action, China dominated New Zealand 3-0 to make a strong claim for a place in the World Group for year 2001. Li Na beat Nikki Tippins 6-0 6-2 and Yi Jinggian edged Leanne Baker out 6-3 6-3 before Li Fang and Li Na combination trounced Baker/Shelley Stephens pair 6-1 3-6 6-3 for China’s easy win. Asian Games singles champion Yayuk Basuki teamed up with Wynne Prakusya to clinch a 2-1 win over third seeds Taiwan and keep Indonesia’s hopes alive in the championships. The win left both Indonesia and Taiwan with three wins against one defeat in the pool B round robin. Earlier, Irawati
Iskandar put Indonesia ahead with a 6-0 6-4 win over Tsai
Ya-Fang before Janet Lee drew parity with a 6-4 6-2
defeat of Prakusya. |
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GLASGOW, April 28 (Reuters) — World number one Peter Gade surprisingly dropped a game yesterday before claiming his European badminton semifinals place with a 15-1, 11-15, 15-5 success over Sweden’s Tomas Johansson.Top seed, Gade, the European titleholder, seemed set to sweep through but Johansson had other ideas and his heavy, steep smashing unsettled the talented Dane on several occasions during the second game. But in the decider, Gade rapidly regained his concentration, raced into a 5-0 lead and never looked back. Gade’s compatriot, Olympic champion Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen, posted an emphatic 15-1 15-2 quarterfinal victory over unseeded German Jens Roch and, at the age of 34, appears as if he can still entertain hopes of a stout defence of his title at the Sydney Games. Hoyer-Larsen sat out last month’s All-England Championships to be with his sick wife but he remains in the top three in the world rankings and a seasoned campaigner. While Denmark celebrated the safe passage of their big guns, there was good news for Wales, not normally noted as a force in badminton, as they continued to upstage hosts Scotland and neighbours England. Richard Vaughan reached the last four of the men’s event with a battling 15-13, 15-13 victory over Sweden’s Martin Hagberg, while in the women’s quarterfinals, Commonwealth champion Kelly Morgan brushed aside fifth seed Judith Meulendijks of the Netherlands 11-1, 11-1. Both Welsh players have booked their Olympics berth, with Vaughan having risen to world No 18 and Morgan, who has been a top 10 player, at 15 semifinal against Gade, however, will pose Vaughan with a searching test. Morgan, who has bounced
back after a disappointing show at the All-England
tournament, also faces a stiff examination in the
semifinals where she meets top seed Camilla Martin,
Gade’s fiancee and world No two. |
Atul-Navneesh
duo lifts title AMRITSAR, April 28 — Unseeded local lads Atul Kumar and Navneesh Sharma today won the doubles under-16 title in the Aita National ranking tournament being played in the Punjab State Lawn Tennis complex, Ram Bagh gardens, here today. On their way to the title, they toppled the top-seeded pair of Wrick Ganguli and Mahanandan Tyagi in the quarterfinals and scalped the fourth-seeded Delhi pair of Varun Giri and Amit Arora in the semis, all in straight sets. The girls doubles title was won by the top-seeded pair from Andhra Pradesh — Mansi Modi and Bhavna — who defeated the second-seeded pair of Neha Singh and Simer from Chandigarh.In the boys under-16 singles semifinals, seventh seeded Mahanandan Tyagi, a Sweden based Indian from Delhi upset the top seed, Wrick Ganguli of Delhi in straight sets to set up a title clash with second seeded Rahul Varma of Delhi.In the other semifinals, unseeded Navneesh Sharma of Amritsar gave a fright to second Rahul Verma before going down 4-6 5-7. The singles finals will
be played tomorrow.Results:Semifinals: Singles: Girls
under-14: Tara Iyer (Delhi) b Parul Goswami (Delhi) 6-2,
6-2 Neha Singh (Chandigarh) b Bhavan V (AP) 6-4,
6-2.Girls under-16: Mansi Modi (AP) b Neha Singh
(Chandigarh) 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) Parul Goswami (Delhi) b Simer
(Chandigarh) 6-4, 6-3.Boys under-14: Yuvraj Chaudhari
(Chandigarh) b Siddharth Gulati (Delhi) 6-2, 6-4. Vivek
Shokee (Del) Harneet Singh (Chd) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.Boys
under-16: Mahanandan Tyagi (Del) b Wrick Ganguli (Del)
6-3, 6-0, Rahul Verma (Del) b Navneesh Sharma (Punjab)
6-4, 7-5.Finals (doubles): Boys (under-16): Atul Kumar
and Navneesh Sharma (Pnb) b Anoopanand and Gurjeet Singh
(Chd) 6-1, 1-6, 6-3.Boys under-14: Vivek Shokeen (Del)
and Jiten Bishnoi (Har) b Gurdit Singh and Harneet Singh
(Chd) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. Girls: Mansi Modi and Bhavna V (AP)
b Neha Singh and Simer (Chd) 6-2, 6-2. |
briefs
Railways win bridge meet KASAULI, April 28 — Indian Railways won the T.P. Khosla Trophy at the 31st Summer National Bridge Tournament for the fifth time in the team event defeating Maharashtra A. About 28 teams participated in the event. Eight top teams qualified for the quarterfinal round robins. Uttar Pradesh with 235 victory points and Karnataka with 233 victory points emerged as the top teams in group A and group B, respectively in the quarterfinals. The semifinals witnessed a keen contest. Maharashtra A knocked out Maharashtra B, gaining 10 International Match Point (IMPs) and Indian Railways beat UP by 21 IMPs. Rs
10 lakh earmarked for schools, colleges CHANDIGARH, April 28 — The Haryana Sports Department will spend Rs 10 lakh on setting up sports wings in schools and colleges for the benefit the budding players. While stating this here today, the Commissioner and Secretary, Sports, Naresh Gulati, said that the educational institutions having sufficient sports infrastructure and potential in a particular game would be allotted the sport discipline. About 12 to 20 sportspersons would be admitted in each wing. The department would provide free coaching and equipment besides Rs 50 per day to each trainee as refreshment money. The educational institutions would provide only equipment and play-ground to these players. He said 48 sports wings were opened for boys and girls in various educational institutions during the last year which yielded encouraging results. The schools could send their proposals in this regard through the district sports officer concerned up to May 15 and colleges up up to May 25 to the state sports department for allotment of wings. Ranking
tennis tourney CHANDIGARH, April 28 — The all India ranking tennis tournament for boys and girls will begin here tomorrow with qualifying rounds at the CLTA, Sector 10. The main rounds will, however, start on May 1. The top ranking players taking part in the tournament include, Chatwinder Singh and Wrik Ganguly (under16), Somdeep Appaneni, Ardaman Sidhu and Yuvraj Chaudhary (under 14), Manasi Modi, Tara Iyer, Monika Goel and Satvika Saboo (under 16) and Tara Iyer, Neha Singh, Parul Goswamy and Bhavna V (all under 14). The matches for boys and
girls in under 14 will be played on clay courts while in
under 16 section it would be played on synthetic courts. |
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