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| Thursday, May 4, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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India overpower Bangladesh |
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Tua eager to take on Lewis
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KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 (PTI) — Junior World Cup runners-up India struggled but overcame a fighting Bangladesh side 5-1 to start their campaign on a bright note in the Junior Asia Cup Hockey Tournament. India, who created more than 15 goal-scoring chances could slot home only five of them while almost nine attempts were saved by the Bangladesh goalkeeper Mohammed Rasel Khan, who ended up as the hero for Bangladesh. Lazarus Barla, who has played in the senior team, struck twice while Inderjit Singh, Prabhjot Singh and Gagan Ajit Singh contributed once goal each to the Indian score. Mohammed Ishtiaque scored the consolation goal for Bangladesh. In other matches of the day, South Korea thrashed inexperienced Chinese Taipei 13-1 while defending champions Pakistan crushed Singapore 13-0 at the Bukit Jalil Stadium here. The scorers for Pakistan were Shabbir Mohammad (2), Dilawar Hussain, Atif Mushtaq, Muhammad Asim, Kasif Jawad (2), Zeeshan Ashraf Oasmi, Sameer Hussain (2), Mudassar Ali Khan (2) and Faraz Haider. Though the Indian victory margin was smaller compared to its two rivals, coach C.R. Kumar was satisfied with the win. “With Bangladesh
playing a packed defence it was difficult to score. But
we created the moves and I think in a match or two, the
forwards will start scoring,” he said. |
BSF shock Airlines, enter final MUMBAI, May 3 (PTI) — A golden goal in the fourth minute of extra time by left winger Habbil Topno following a fast counter-attack helped Border Security Force down star-studded Indian Airlines 2-1 and enter the final of the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gold Cup Hockey Tournament here today. Topno and inside right Shinic Hereria indulged in a fast-paced one-two down the left flank to enter the rival striking circle before the former was foiled by the Delhi team’s deep defence. But Topno collected the ball and sent a stiff grounder which beat Airlines and former India custodian Ashish Ballal all ends up and piloted BSF into the final. BSF, full of Adivasi talent, had to come back from a first-half goal deficit and square the lead early in the second half before clinching the berth in the final via Topno’s golden goal in the 74th minute of play. Earlier, Airlines went ahead in the 22nd minute through a superb reverse-flicked effort from another ex-India stalwart Mukesh Kumar, who played as a centre forward, off a minus pass from current international Sameer Dad from the left. Their lead was neutralised in the 39th minute by BSF centre forward Peter Tirkey following the sixth of their seven penalty-corners. Tirkey, from near the left post, deflected in a diagonal top-of-circle try from Kuljinder Singh. BSF will take on the
winners of tomorrow’s second all-Mumbai semi-final
between Bharat Petroleum and Air-India in the final,
slated for May 5. |
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AIX-EN-PROVENCE (France), May 3 (Reuters) — Former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott lost an appeal today against a conviction for beating his ex-lover Margaret Moore. A French appeals court confirmed a suspended three-month prison sentence against Boycott imposed in 1998. It also confirmed a 50,000-Franc (6,950) fine for causing bodily harm and a symbolic one France in damages to Moore. Boycott (59) was found guilty of beating his former girlfriend at a hotel in the exclusive Riviera Resort of Cap D’Antibes in 1996. Boycott, who has denied beating Moore, had asked the court in the southern town of Aix-En-Provence to quash the conviction imposed by a lower court in Gurasse. State prosecutor Jean-Yves Duval had asked the court to uphold the sentence, while Moore’s lawyer Stephane Choukroun had sought a stiffer punishment. “I hope that, at the minimum, the sentence will be confirmed, perhaps it will be higher,” Moore, (48) told Reuters before the verdict. Moore has claimed that former England batsman beat here up to 20 times following an argument over money. Boycott, now a millionaire author and broadcaster, has said she fell during an argument. Moore’s lawyer had argued in the lower court that photographs showed her client had two black eyes and said she could not possibly have fallen on to one eye and then the other. Moore has said she suffered black eyes and bruising to her nose, cheeks, lips and jaw and that her injuries kept her for five days off her work as head of a computer company. She has said Boycott
accused her of poorly negotiating his television
contracts after which she said she threw his toiletries
out of the window and he hit her. |
Pak look to win against Windies GEORGETOWN, May 3 (AFP) — In Test cricket, many people would consider India to be the most formidable opponents when they are playing on home soil. The West Indies too, could make a similar claim. Five years ago, Mark Taylor’s Australians became the only touring side to have prevailed over the Caribbean cricketers in the last quarter of a century. In that period, they have played 92 Tests, won 47, lost 13 and drawn 32. Such a remarkable record coupled with the West Indies’ present vulnerability makes their imminent three-Test series against Pakistan very appealing. On four previous visits to the Caribbean, Pakistan have failed to win a Test series. After taking the preceding tri-nation 2000 Trophy limited-overs series and blessed with an abundance of talent, the Pakistanis must feel this is their time. The key to the series for both sides lies in the batting. Both West Indies and Pakistan are packed with enough firepower in their bowling attacks, so batsmen on either side will have to show an enormous amount of tenacity to help give their respective side the upper hand. Many sides in international cricket would give anything for as varied an attack as Pakistan’s that comprises Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdur Razzaq, Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq with Waqar Younis in reserve. Quite a few too, would be glad to have a four-pronged fast bowling armoury consisting of the ageing warriors curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, albeit they are in the twilight days of glittering careers, supported by young bucks Reon King and Franklyn Rose. On the other hand, just as many international sides may shy away from the batting line-ups of the two combatants. While the West Indies lack obvious world class batsmen, Pakistan have the most unpredictable queue. Brian Lara’s self-imposed exile has thrown the burden of carrying the West Indies’ batting onto the shoulders of new captain Jimmy Adams, vice-captain Sherwin Campbell, left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul and, to a lesser extent, wicketkeeper batsman Ridley Jacobs. All four have struggled to put together substantial scores consistently in recent times. It does not help that the support batting of Adrian Griffith, Chris Gayle, Wavel Hinds, Ricardo Powell and uncapped Ramnaresh Sarwan only have the combined experience of 12 Tests and 563 runs at an average of 28.15. Over the last two months during two Tests against Zimbabwe and the subsequent tri-nation limited-overs series that also involved Pakistan, what the West Indies have lacked in ability they have compensated for with enthusiasm. Adams has been able to get his side to give 100 per cent every time and in every situation. Throughout, he has been realistic rather than philosophical. He has noted that giving their all may not be enough and a time will come when they will have to improve in every area of the game to win. He found that out in the last of the three-match finals in the 2000 Trophy series, when the West Indies were bundled out for a mediocre 114 and, though they fought hard in the field, the runs were just too small for their bowlers to defend. Adams is also intelligent enough to know that the comebacks with which the West Indies were able to get away against lesser lights Zimbabwe will not be allowed by a Pakistan side eager to atone for their own lapses against Australia and Sri Lanka in the last six months. Similar to the West Indies, Pakistan’s batting will revolve around a few key players - captain Moin Khan, opening batsman Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul-Haq, though Wasim Akram is capable of a cavalier lower-order knock. Saeed’s experience was badly missed at the top of the order during the 2000 Trophy series. He is arguably the best opening batsman in the game today which is testimony to his 3,583 runs at an average of 46.53. With him to open would be either teenager Imran Nazir, Wajahatullah Wasti or Shahid Afridi, the kind of opening stands Pakistan missed in the preceding limited-overs matches they could very well get in the Tests. That would take an enormous amount of pressure away from the imposing figure of Inzamam. Easily the best of Pakistan’s current crop of batsmen, he has batted superbly in the limited-overs series and it was always felt if he was dismissed cheaply, the opposition would win.
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Safin maintains winning streak PALMA DE MALLORCA (Balearic Islands), May 3 (AP) — Fresh from his weekend Barcelona Open victory, Russian Marat Safin continued his successful run, winning his opening round against Romanian Adrian Voinea at the $ 500,000 Mallorca Open tennis tournament. Safin, seeded fourth, defeated Voinea 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) and eradicated memories of having been knocked out of the same tournament in the first round last year. In other play yesterday, Mallorca-born Carlos Moya eased past Germany’s Marc-Kevin Goellner 6-3, 6-4, snapping the German’s five-match winning streak against Moya since 1996. Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela had to go to three sets to dismiss Sweden’s Magnus Gustafsson 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Gustafsson’s compatriot Mikael Tillstrom fared better, downing Spaniard Francisco Clavet 6-4, 6-3. Spain’s Albert Portas ousted Italy’s Andreas Gaudenzi, winning the two sets by 6-2 while fellow countryman Galo Blanco won his first set 6-1 against Bulgaria’s Orlin Stanoytchev and then took the second set 6-4. Norway’s Christian Ruud defeated Dutch player John van Lottum 6-3, 6-2, and Costa Rica’s Juan Antonio Marin eliminated Spain’s Jacobo Diaz 7-6 (7/2), 6-3. LAKE BUENA VISTA (Florida): Anthony Dupuis of France ousted top-seeded Andrew Ilie of Australia 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4) in a controversial first-round match in the US Men’s Clay Court Championships. Ilie, who came into the tournament with a career-best 10-match winning streak, squandered four match points, converted only one of 15 break-point opportunities and lost the match without ever dropping his own serve last night. For Ilie, the turning point was a confrontation with Dupuis early in the second set. Ilie complained throughout about Dupuis’ slow play, at one point calling out to the crowd, “I could go to the bathroom and be back before he’s ready.” Between games the Frenchman approached Ilie’s chair, the Australian stood up, and the two stood nose-to-nose in a heated discussion. Ilie claimed Dupuis threatened to kill him. He should have been defaulted right then and there, said Ilie, who admitted that the incident affected his play. Dupuis denied the charge and said he was upset by Ilie’s taunting. The unseeded Dupuis, 27, saved the first match point with a service winner at 5-6 in the second set tie-breaker and then took the next two points to win the set and even the match. The two then held serve routinely until Ilie earned three more match points on Dupuis’ serve at 5-6. After Ilie misfired on a backhand on the first match point, the Frenchman saved the next two with a service winner and a disputed forehand winner that was initially called out before the chair umpire overruled the linesman in Dupuis’ favour. Dupuis then secured his upset victory from 4-4 in the tie breaker by sweeping the final three points of the match. In other matches, third-seeded Gianluca Pozzi of Italy beat Alexander Popp of Germany 6-3, 6-2, fourth-seeded Jason Stoltenberg of Australia defeated Alex Moron-lopez of Spain 6-1, 6-4 and Belgium’s Xavier Malisse of Belgium beat India’s Leander Paes 6-3, 6-2. HAMBURG: South Africa’s Amanda Coetzer rolled past Ruxandra Dragomir in straight sets on Tuesday at the Betty Barclay Cup, where Venus Williams will make her comeback after a six-month injury layoff. The eighth-seeded Coetzer blasted the Romanian 6-0, 6-4 on a slow second day at the $535,000 event. Williams, who captured her first clay court title at the event last year, has been sidelined with tendinitis since losing to Hingis in the season-ending Chase Championships in November last. Hingis could regain the top ranking if she reaches the tournament’s final. The Swiss teenager hasn’t played since beating current No 1 Lindsay Davenport at the Ericcson Ppen in Miami, Florida. In other matches,
Romania’s Irina Spirlea beat Natasha Zvereva of
Belarus, 6-2, 6-3. France’s Anne-Gaelle Sidot
outclassed Germany’s Marlene Weigaertner 5-7, 6-2,
7-6 (7/3) and Ananda Hopmans of the Netherlands ousted
Spain’s Magui Serna 6-4, 6-4. |
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MUMBAI, May 3 (UNI) — Zee Telefilms is making an all out bid to gain a foothold in sports arena and has recently acquired airtime rights to market domestic and international cricket matches organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Similarly, it is making an aggressive bid for the telecast rights of the 2003 and 2007 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cups, Zee Telefilms’ CEO R.K. Singh told UNI. Mr Singh said Zee’s Direct to Operator (DTO) package offering a wide variety of choices to the viewers from its bouquet of channels, would be launched by June this year. In addition, it would also be launching shortly a Kannada Channel from the Alpha brand. Zee Telefilms is in the process of upgrading Siticable, its infrastructure network in over 43 cities and franchisee in 73 other cities from coaxial cable to optical fibre cables, Mr Singh said. With the state government announcing its policy to set up optical fibre network in Mumbai and other nearby areas, the network would be benefited by way of speeding up implementation of the upgradation process. Mr Singh said cost effectiveness of the Siticable upgradation programme is being worked out and would be finalised in the next 10 days. He further stated that with Zee Telefilms acquiring 51 per cent stake in the South Indian channel Asianet, the network’s penetration in the south would increase substantially. Besides, regional channels help regional clients in advertising the products in a targeted manner. “Zee will be an exclusive platform for the South Indian viewers from the Asianet bouquet of channels. With this, we will be deep in the psyche of the viewers down south”. Referring to mushrooming of various other channels, Mr Singh said in the present dynamic environment, Zee Telefilms, being the pioneer in the satellite and cable revolution, had the confidence to deliver the goods to the consumers keeping in mind the market needs. Besides, it possessed the required managerial expertise in the changing scenario and was pragmatic and cost efficient. “I see no reason why we should not succeed in the competition,” he said. Mr Singh said Internet
service provider (ISP)-related products and services from
Zee’s group company E-Connect India Ltd, were coming
in the market in a big way and there had been a
significant increase in the number of hits, page views,
registered users for its Internet service Zeenext.com.
Besides, Zee network has also acquired radio licenses for
28 cities in the country. |
Aussies advised to ignore warning SYDNEY, May 3 (Reuters) — Australia’s top swimmers have been advised to ignore warning of legal action and wear bodysuit for the national Olympic trials in Sydney from May 13 to 20, a leading manager said today. Rob Woodhouse, who manages gold medal hopes Michael Klim and Susie O’ Neill, said his swimmers were likely to accept the advice of world swimming body FINA validating bodysuits, backed this week by the the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. “Our advice to our swimmers is not to worry about what they may or may not be wearing and concentrate on their swimming,” Mr Woodhouse told The Australian newspaper. Australian swimming coach Don Talbot has pleaded with opponents of the suit to let the issue rest in the best interests of the national team ahead of the Sydney Olympics. “It’s wrong for their psychology. Our swimmers need to get up there without the threat of being sued,” Talbot said. Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) President John Coates yesterday said the AOC would postpone the announcement of the Olympic swimming team, scheduled for May 20, by at least two days in anticipation of appeals against the Australian swimming team’s selection because of the use of bodysuits. But Mr Woodhouse said: “I don’t know of any swimmer who wouldn’t wear a bodysuit based on what the AOC is saying.” However, Mr Woodhouse said he was concerned that swimmers would be distracted by the ongoing uncertainty regarding the suits. Teen star Ian Thorpe’s manager David Flaskas said Thorpe, who has trialled suits from two different companies, was disappointed the issue was still not settled. Mr Coates said the AOC would require Olympic team swimmers to sign a disclaimer relieving it of liability if a suited swimmer was subject to a legal challenge. Mr Coates’
nightmare would be for Australians swimmers to have their
Olympic successes overturned after protests from other
competitors regarding the legality of the neck-to-ankle
bodysuits. |
Attacking Valencia defeat Barcelona VALENCIA (Spain), May 3 (AFP) — Valencia served up a feast of attacking football to score a deserving 4-1 win over Spanish rivals Barcelona in their Champions League semifinal first leg at the Mestalla stadium here last night. Only a titanic performance from Barcelona at their Nou Camp fortress in the second leg next week can now deny Valencia a place in the final in Paris on May 24 against the winners of the other semifinal between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Two from Miguel Angel Angulo, a Gaizka Mendieta penalty and a sizzler from Claudio “Piojo” Lopez helped Valencia soar with only a Mauricio Pellegrino own goal to lift the Catalans. Valencia fans, meanwhile, clearly thought it was all over bar the shouting as they chanted: “!Si, si, si, vamos a Paris!” (Yes, yes, yes, we’re going to Paris). Barcelona’s beleaguered Dutch boss Louis Van Gaal was dismayed, saying: “I am very disappointed with this result although we are not eliminated yet with a game still to come. It will be very difficult but not impossible.” Van Gaal’s Argentinian counterpart Hector Cuper, who led unfashionable Real Mallorca to last season’s last ever Cup Winners Cup final, said: “Now we must make sure there are no slip-ups so we can get to the final. “Valencia played a great match. The players showed great strength and I am delighted with the fans who were singing non-stop. Now we must keep a sense of balance.” Midfielder Mendieta was also careful not to get carried away, saying: “It was a very good performance with a very efficient team against a very good team. Barcelona are still very dangerous and there are still 90 minutes to play.” His French team-mate Jocelyn Angloma was also cautious, saying: “we knew we had to win at our place. It wasn’t easy. No-one was expecting it. But now we have the away leg.” History was on Valencia’s side as they had won both previous European encounters with their rivals — as well as two of this season’s earlier meetings. With meetings in recent seasons between the two averaging four goals apiece the 50,000 crowd knew they were in for a classic — and the vast majority went away well satisfied as that average was surpassed. Rivaldo, twice on target for Brazil against Ecuador last week in a World Cup qualifier, had promised before the game that Barcelona would score at least once to set themselves up for next week’s Nou Camp return. Indeed the Catalan giants have scored in every European match they have played since a 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in September 1998. But without suspended Portuguese playmaker Luis Figo, they were on the back foot from the early stages and went behind after 10 minutes when Angulo swivelled to crash home a rising drive from inside the box. Rivaldo tried to galvanise a tentative Barcelona with two efforts which flew just over before Farinos sent a piledriver whizzing above the Barcelona crossbar as Valencia quickly got back into the groove. Barcelona keeper Ruud Hesp almost let a loose ball dribble over his line but gathered his wits to avert disaster before Farinos became the first name to go into Swiss referee Urs Meier’s notebook on 20 minutes for bringing down the marauding Rivaldo. A turning point looked to have arrived on 25 minutes with Valencia’s Kily Gonzalez hitting the post with a shot on the turn before Lopez crashed home a drive only for the effort to be chalked off for an apparent shove on Boudewijn Zenden although the challenge looked a fair one. Barely a minute later, Valencia fullback Pellegrino — a former Barcelona man — turned the ball into his own net to level the scores at 1-1 after a tantalising cross from the left by Dutchman Zenden. But two minutes before the break Angulo put Valencia back in front from close range after a searching low cross from Kily Gonzalez, who had robbed Gabri. And a minute into first-half time added on Gaizka Mendieta made it 3-1 from the penalty spot after Pujol clattered into the rampaging Angulo, who along with strike partner Lopez, Kily Gonzalez and Mendieta, was proving far too hot for Barcelona suspect defence to handle. Barcelona rallied after the interval and skipper Pep Guardiola fired wide on the hour before Van Gaal sent on Jari Litmanen in place of Dani. Another player not on
song, Patrick Kluivert, then sent a tame header into the
arms of Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares on 67 minutes.
The final goal was a masterpiece with Valencia breaking
in numbers and Lopez rifling home a first time left-foot
shot. |
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LAS VEGAS, May 3 (AP) — David Tua likes what he sees in heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. And he would like to see more of him soon. Tua said he came away impressed by what Lewis did in demolishing Michael Grant in their title fight on Saturday night, but even more convinced that Lewis is ready-made for him in the ring. “Lewis looked great. He went out there and did what he had to do,” Tua said. “But I’d like to fight him right now.” That won’t happen, of course, because in boxing nothing happens easily. But Tua is firmly in place as the IBF’s No 1 contender, and Lewis has to fight him by November 13 or give up that piece of his title. “He’s the world champion and the one everybody eyes out there,” Tua said in a conference call. “But the fans deserve what they should get. They need to see David Tua go out there and destroy Lennox Lewis.” Tua’s handlers had tried to get him the fight that Grant took on Saturday night, only to get knocked out in the second round by Lewis. That didn’t happen, but Tua has been promised a Lewis fight by the November deadline. Promoters for Lewis said the champion will fight on July 15, against Francois Botha in England, then take on Tua sometime in the fall. In the meantime, Tua (35-1, 30 knockouts) began training last week for a May 29 fight against an unnamed opponent to keep busy. “Lennox is obviously taking a road to avoid David,” said Tua’s promoter, Dan Goossen. “He can’t avoid him by November, though. He has to fight him or give up the title.” Lewis, of course, is already down one title, after a judge ruled the wba could strip him for fighting Grant instead of its No 1 contender. He’s unlikely to want to lose another. Tua, of America Samoa, would be dangerous to Lewis if only because he is a big puncher who fights well inside. At 5-feet-10-inches, he would be seven inches shorter than the champion, but his swarming, all-out style could pose problems. “Lewis for many years has looked good against taller and bigger guys,” Tua said. “All he has to do is punch straight at them. For me, he’ll have to punch down. I’ll slip punches, hit him in the body, hit him in the chest.” Tua said he was also looking forward to a possible Mike Tyson fight in the future. That fight would match two boxers almost identical in size and shape and fighting styles in what would figure to be a brawl from the opening bell. “That fight should
be on Independence Day because it would be
fireworks,” Tua said. “We’re both strong
guys, one from a different era and one from the present
era but with two same styles of fighting.” |
Saeed Anwar to miss first Test GEORGETOWN (Guyana), May 3 (Reuters) — Pakistan will be without experienced opener Saeed Anwar when they meet the West Indies in the first Test starting at the Bourda on Friday.Team manager Khawaja Nazir said Anwar was still in some discomfort following knee surgery in England. It is still not clear
whether he will be fit for the second and third Tests of
the three-match series.Pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar enhanced
his chances of playing with a rigorous session in the
nets yesterday.Nazir had said Akhtar would play in
Pakistan’s final warm-up game against the West
Indies under-23 team and his subsequent non-appearance
had promoted speculation he was not fully fit after a
groin injury. The West Indian batsman Shivnarine
Chanderpaul, who missed the recent triangular one-day
series also involving Pakistan and Zimbabwe because of
fatigue syndrome, has been passed fit to play in the
opening Test. |
Yuvraj in
semis CHANDIGARH, May 3 — Yuvraj Choudhary and Ardaman Sidhu of Chandigarh in boys and Neha Singh in girls (under-14) moved into the semifinals of the AITA Junior Ranking Tennis Tournament being played here today at CLTA courts, Sector 10. Earlier today defying the sweltering heat , the spirited boy from Chandigarh Harneet Singh played well against Delhi’s Sidhharth Gulati before going down in three sets at 7-6 (5), 5-7, 2-6. Another interesting and thrilling match of the day was witnessed between Rahul Verma of Delhi and Anoop Anand of Chandigarh. Lanky Anoop lost the first set after a tough battle at 6-7(8-6) but went on to win the second set easily. But Rahul finally made his way to the last four in the under-16 section. In girls under-16, the match which went for three sets and generated much curiosity among spectators was between two Andhra Pradesh eves Manasi Modi and Bhavna V which fell in the lap of the former at 6-4, 5-7, 7-5. Results:(quarterfinals) — girls under-14: Tara Iyer (Dli) b Isha Toor (Chd) 6-1, 6-1; Parul Goswami (Dli) b Neha Rana (Dli) 6-2, 6-2; Neha Singh (Chd) b Simmer (Chd) 6-4, 6-4. Boys under-14 — Ardaman Sidhu (Chd) b Abhinav Grover (Dli) 6-2, 6-0; Jitin Bishnoi (Har) b Kushagra Mahajan (Dli) 6-2, 6-3; Sidhharth Gulati ( Dli) b Harneet Singh (Chd) 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-2; Yuvraj Choudhary( Chd) b Gurdit Singh (Chd) 7-5, 6-1. Girls doubles: Neha Singh & Simmer (Chd) b Khushleen Kaur & Amanpreet (Chd) 6-0, 6-2; Mallika Malhotra & Sanya Judge (Chd) b Neha Rana(Dli) & Harsimran Kaur 6-1, 6-2; Bahaar Paul & Alipt Sidhu (Chd) b Parul Goswami & Anjani Kant (Dli) 6-1, 6-4; Manasi Modi & Bhavna V(AP) b Pallavi Sahrma & Sanjana Kapoor (Chd) 6-0, 6-4. Girls Under-16: Parul Goswami (Dli) b Monika Goel (Dli) 6-4, 0-6, 6-1; Tara Iyer (Dli) Kamalpreet Bhullar (Pb) 6-1, 6-0; Manasi Modi (AP) b Bhavna V(AP) 6-4, 5-7, 7-5. Boys under 16:
Mahanandan Tyagi (Dli) b Ardaman Sidhu (Chd) 6-0, 7-5;
Varun Giri (Dli) b Wrik Ganguly (Dli) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5;
Rahul Verma (Dli) b Anoop Anand (Chd) 7-6(8-6), 2-6, 6-2. |
Plans for unified Korean teams SEOUL, May 3 (AFP) — Plans for South and North Korea to field a joint team at the 2002 World Cup finals are set to be discussed on the sidelines of a historic inter-Korean summit scheduled for June, officials said yesterday. South Korean Culture Minister Park Jie-Won said in a policy report to President Kim Dae-Jung on Monday that Seoul would make a new proposal for a unified World Cup team. Park’s initiative has been welcomed by the President, who will visit Pyongyang from June 12 to 14 for face-to-face talks with North Korea’s reclusive leader Kim Jong-II. The President’s office quoted Kim Dae-Jung as saying South Korea should be ready for brisk sports exchanges with North Korea if the summit produces good results. “North Korea’s soccer, marathon, table tennis and basketball teams are world-class. Sports exchanges are the easiest way to promote inter-Korean reconciliation,” Kim Dae-Jung said. South Korean government
and sports officials welcomed Park’s initiative as
timely, saying the summit could cajole North Korea into
getting involved in the World Cup finals, which are to be
hosted jointly by South Korea and Japan. |
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NEW DELHI, May 3 (UNI) — Indian women lifters won four gold and two silver medals in the Asian Championships, which started today at Osaka in Japan, according to information reaching here. N. Kunjarani Devi, winner of 21 medals in the world and 26 in the Asian meets and the sole winner of a medal in the Athens World Championships, once again showed her mettle, when she took the gold medal in the 48 kg category by lifting 107.5 kg in jerk. Though her snatch of 75 kg was not her best, her total of 182.5 kg was more than what she had lifted at Athens. The overall winner was Japan’s Niyanagi Kaori, who lifted 185 kg in total. Kunjarani won two silver, for snatch and overall. Sanamacha Chanu in the 53 kg class won three gold medals lifting 87.5 in snatch and 110 kg in jerk, with a total of 197.5 kg. Her main rival was Li Zhou of China, the world record holder in 48 kg jerk. Li Zhou’s world record in 48 kg is 195 kg. It was obvious that she was made to go to 53 kg class, as her body-weight was only 49.28 kg. Making Sanamacha lift in 53 kg was a wise decision, as she had put up a dismal performance at Athens, when she failed in all her snatches. The performance of
Kunjarani Devi in snatch was disappointing as she had
lifted 72.5 kg in the 1997 nations, just two months after
a knee operation. She obviously needs medical treatment.
The absence of Taranenko and the doctor, who could not
go, due to visa problems, obviously had an effect. |
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NEW DELHI, May 3 (PTI) — A two-member team from the Scotland Yard arrived in the capital and held talks with top officials of the CBI and Delhi police here today on the cricket match fixing and betting case in which South African star Hansie Cronje and a London-based NRI are among the suspects. The team comprising Sergeant Martin Hawkins and detective Brook Hollburry met top officials including Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police (Crime) K.K. Paul, Additional Commissioner of Police B.S. Brar, Deputy Commissioner of Police P.K. Srivastava, and other officers investigating the case. “They are currently
inquiring into the match-fixing allegations in which some
Indian nationals are suspected to be involved in the
UK” police spokesman Ravi Pawar told PTI. |
Tax concessions for sports bodies NEW DELHI, May 2 (UNI) — Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha today proposed extension of benefit of 100 per cent deduction on the donations made to any recognised national sports association. Moving the Finance Bill, 2000 for consideration in the Lok Sabha, the Finance Minister said tax benefits would be available to sports associations, which are recognised under Section 10 (23) of the Income Tax Act as well. While presenting the Union Budget for 2000-2001, Mr Sinha had proposed to allow tax benefits to the Indian Olympic Association only. Almost all national
sports associations had demanded that tax benefits on
donations should also be available to all apex
associations like the Indian Hockey Federation and
others. |
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