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Anand blunders, loses to Kramnik Steve Waugh seeks a fresh start LONDON, July 14 — Francois Botha will draw inspiration from boxing legend Muhammad Ali on Saturday when he attempts to win the WBC and IBF world heavyweight titles from world champion Lennox Lewis at the London Arena. Ramesh wins, placed
joint second Saqlain, Anil Kumble
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 Johnson, Greene have little in common save speedBefore their likely 200 metres shootout in Sydney, Maurice Greene and Michael Johnson face off first in the US trials starting today (Friday). Maurice Greene is so brash he wears T-shirts proclaiming his excellence. And Michael Johnson seems thoroughly irritated by brash people. PBA grants affiliation to PSEB
Sahara Cup from September 9 Joyner-Kersee eyes Olympics Merger “before” FIH meeting Merchant shocked
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England revive hopes with win MANCHESTER (England), July 14
(Reuters) — England revived their hopes of reaching
the final of their home triangular one-day tournament by
thrashing previously unbeaten Zimbabwe by eight wickets
at Old Trafford yesterday. Zimbabwe, already assured of
a place in the Lord’s final on July 22 after three
consecutive wins, were skittled for 114, a record low
total against England, in 38.4 overs after opting to bat
in the day-night encounter. Alec Stewart — who
equalled the world one-day wicketkeeping record of six
catches in an innings — then saw his team cruise to
their first victory in the event in just 20.3 of their 50
overs, with Andrew Flintoff making 42 not out. The 114
kg Flintoff, upset by media criticism of his weight, had
the last laugh as he was promoted up the order to No 3
and smashed two sixes and three fours in his 45-ball
knock. Man-of-the-match Flintoff, asked about his
performance, said: “I played all right, for a fat
lad. I had a lot of criticism and the best way to react
was to score runs”. The all-rounder, selected as a
batsman following a back injury which stopped him bowling
and which the British media attributed to his
over-eating, was involved in an unbeaten partnership of
58 off 48 balls with Graeme Hick. Hick ended the match
with a four, six and a single off consecutive balls off
leg spinner Paul Strang, whose 15 deliveries cost him 28
runs. England had looked inept in their two previous
tournament performances while Zimbabwe have oozed
confidence and professionalism. This time the roles were
reversed. England made quick work of Zimbabwe’s
top-order danger men before the visitors finished the job
themselves by self-destructing. Opener Neil Johnson,
with scores of 95 and 51 against the West Indies,
departed for seven. He edged behind as he tried to force
Andy Caddick off the back foot with the score on 14. Guy
Whitall, man of the match in his last outing after making
83 against the West Indies, was also caught by Stewart,
off Darren Gough for 15. His dismissal sparked a slide
that saw five wickets fall for 27 runs in 16
overs. Alistair Campbell, with half-centuries in his
previous two innings, continued the procession, run out
for 10 after setting out on a suicidal single. Murray
Goodwin was bowled for 21 by Mark Ealham as he shaped to
cut a full-length ball. That made it 64 for four. Things
got even worse as Bryan Strang, trying to pinch-hit his
side out of trouble, scrambled a single before failing to
connect with five huge swipes at Alan Mullally and edging
the left-armer’s sixth ball into his stumps. Grant
Flower fenced the same bowler to Stewart for a four-ball
duck and, at 65 for six, the contest was effectively
over. Captain Andy Flower (28) and Stuart Carlisle (19)
eked out a 49-run partnership before the last four
wickets fell in nine balls without a run being added.
Mullally and Craig White both took two for 13 and
batsman Marcus Trescothick, bowling for the first time at
international level, two for seven off just 10
deliveries. Flower said: “I hope we weren’t
complacent after our three wins — there’s no
room for that. I was very impressed with England’s
bowling but it was not a good performance by
us”. Zimbabwe now have six points from four games,
England three from three and the West Indies one from
three. Stewart’s six catches matched Australian Adam
Gilchrist’s performance against South Africa in Cape
Town in April. Scoreboard Zimbabwe: Johnson c Stewart
b Caddick 7 Whittall c Stewart b Gough 15 Goodwin b
Ealham 21 Campbell run out 10 A Flower c Stewart b
White 28 B Strang b Mullally 1 G Flower c Stewart b
Mullally 0 Carlisle c Stewart b Trescothick 19 Viljoen
c Stewart b White 0 Streak not out 0 Strang lbw b
Trescothick 0 Extras (b-1, lb-4, nb-8) 13 Total (all
out in 38.4 overs) 114 Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-38,
3-55, 4-64, 5-65, 6-65, 7-114, 8-114, 9-114,
10-114. Bowling: Caddick 8-2-26-1, Gough 8-1-31-1,
Mullaly 8-2-13-2, Ealham 10-4-19-1, White 3-0-13-2,
Trescothick 1.4-0-7-2. England: Trescothick lbw b
Streak 29 Stewart lbw b Streak 12 Flintoff not out
42 Hick not out 23 Extras (lb1,w3, nb5) 9 Total (2
wickets) 115 Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-57 Bowling:
Johnson 3-0-12-0, B Strang 6-1-22-0, Streak 6-0-32-0,
Whittall 2-1-15-0, P Strang 2.3-0-28-0, Viljoen 1-0-5-0. |
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Anand blunders, loses to Kramnik DORTMUND (Germany), July 14 (UNI)
— Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand (4) squandered an
advantageous position and lost to top-seeded Russian
grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik (4) in the sixth round of
Sparkassen Chess meeting super tournament being played
here. Anand’s loss has allowed GM Peter Leko (4) of
Hungary and Kramnik to catch up with him at the top of
the table. Englishman Michael Adams (3.5) is closely
following the leaders. “It is crazy,”
exclaimed one of the grandmasters after watching Anand
blundering his own exchange in a near-winning position.
“It is unbelievable that it is a game between the
world No 2 and No 3 players,” was the reaction of
another as both the players committed common mistakes in
the game. It was Nimzo-English set up adopted by Anand
successfully against Garry Kasparov in his world
championship match in New York, 1995. Kramnik obtained an
advantage of bishop pair and an initiative on the queen
side. Anand left without counterplay, took advantage of
Kramnik’s time shortage and rammed his king-pawn
ahead breaking open the white castle. Kramnik, who was a
pawn ahead comfortably till then, found himself at the
mercy of the black pieces. Kramnik, the current world No
2, had to return his extra pawn to his predecessor just
to stay in the battle. Anand’s knights were closing
in on the white king, huddled uncomfortably behind the
queen. Playing lightning fast, Anand overlooked a strong
bishop-move from Kramnik, which forked Anand’s
knight and rook. Anand had to give up an exchange on the
40th move and he resigned after putting up resistance
till 65th move. It was an unfortunate loss for the
Chennai-born Indian who had pulled himself out of
difficult position by opting for an ingenious pawn
sacrifice. He also lost a golden opportunity to take away
valuable ELO rating points from Kramnik. Grandmaster
Peter Leko, warned by the organisers three years back for
drawing his games without fights, drew effortlessly
against Michael Adams from the black side of classical
Spanish opening. The Hungarian teenager gave up his
bishop pair but kept the position locked and caught on
with Anand and Kramnik on four points. The computer
program Junior 6 was similarly frustrated by Armenian
Vladimir Akopian (2.5). The Khalifman-Piket encounter
also resulted in a peaceful manner. Only Russian
grandmaster Evegeny Barrev (3) scored a fighting win over
German grandmaster Dr Robert Hubner (1.5). |
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Murali bowls Lanka to title win COLOMBO, July 14 (AFP) — Hosts Sri Lanka unleashed their batting might to overwhelm South Africa by 30 runs in the Singer Cup one-day cricket final here today. Sanath Jayasuriya’s men notched up a massive 294 for seven from 50 overs, the highest score in the tournament, before keeping South Africa down to 264 for
nine in the day-night clash at the Premeds Stadium. Opener Gary Kirsten scored 76 before Jonty Rhodes and Lance Klusener made a brave bid for victory by adding 54 for the seventh wicket. But the asking rate of 10 runs an over at the end proved too stiff for their team. Rhodes smashed a run-a-ball 43 and Klusener made 39 before Sri Lanka pressed home the advantage in front of 30,000 excited home fans. Spin once again proved to be South Africa’s nemesis with off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan taking five wickets. It was Sri Lanka’s fifth consecutive triumph in the tri-series which also featured Pakistan, and gave the hosts the psychological edge in the three-Test series against South Africa starting next week. SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka: Jayasuriya run out 68 Gunawardena b Adams 49 Atapattu c Kirsten b Kallis 11 Jayawardene
Sangakkara c Rhodes
Arnold c Klusener b Pollock 51 Vaas not out 17 Chandana c Boucher
Extras: (lb-10 w-10 nb-7) 27 Total: (50 overs, for 7 wickets) 294 Fall of wickets: 1-84, 2-110, 3-167, 4-174, 5-254, 6-291, 7-294. Bowling: Pollock 9-0-54-2 (2w 2nb), Terbrugge 4-0-38-0 (2nb), Adams 10-1-29-1 (1w), Kallis 10-1-64-1 (3w 3nb), Boje 10-0-56-1 (4w), Klusener 7-0-43-1. South Africa Kirsten st Sangakkara b
Hall b Muralitharan 35 Kallis run out 7 McKenzie lbw b Chandana 10 Boje st Sangakkara b
Rhodes lbw b Dharmasena 43 Boucher lbw b Chandana 1 Klusener st Sangakkara b
Pollock c Sangakkara b
Adams not out 2 Terbrugge not out 0 Extras: (b-4, lb-8, w-3, nb-3) 18 Total: (for 9 wkts in 50 overs) 264 Fall of wickets: 1-91, 2-102, 3-127, 4-142, 5-170, 6-175, 7-229, 8-251, 9-264 Bowling: Vaas 7-0-29-0, Zoysa 6-0-40-0, Arnold 2-0-11-0, Dharmasena 10-1-39-1, Muralitharan 10-0-44-5, Jayasuriya 6-0-35-0, Chandana 9-0-54-2. |
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Steve Waugh seeks a fresh start MELBOURNE, July 14 (AFP) — Australian skipper Steve Waugh wants next month’s one-day series here against South Africa to represent a fresh start for the troubled game of cricket. Waugh said the game was losing its integrity because of the negative publicity generated by controversies such as the South African bribery case and the phone sex scandal that has placed Shane Warne’s vice-captaincy in jeopardy. The three-match one-day series from August 16 at Colonial Stadium will be the first official international games to be played indoors and launches a hectic 18-month schedule for the Australian team. “I’d like to see this as almost a fresh start for cricket — over the last 12 months we’ve had so many bad things happen,” Waugh said today. “I think people want some positive stuff out of cricket — they’re sick of reading the negative stuff. “It’s changed a bit in recent times — even the conversations I have, people are always talking about bookmakers and bribery and have associated that with cricket.” Waugh, here to promote the limited-over series, was careful not to inflame the South African bribery issue, Warne and Lee. Waugh was most candid on Warne, who will learn early next month whether his much-publicised phone sex controversy will cost him the Australian vice-captaincy. An English newspaper published details of lewd telephone conversations between Warne, who is playing county cricket for Hampshire, and a young English woman last month. “It’s tough for Warnie, because he’s bigger than the game — anything he does is going to be huge news and it’s going to be 10 times than if someone else does it,” Waugh said. “He’s too valuable to Australian cricket to lose, he could be the first man to take 500 Test wickets, I want to see him keep playing.” Waugh expects every top-level Australian cricketer playing overseas to be at their best for the one-dayers here, making particular reference to crack paceman Glenn McGrath. “Glenn is playing for Australia, I expect him to be 100 percent - that’s where his priority lies, he’s playing for his country,” Waugh said. He said South Africa would again prove tough opponents, as they did earlier this year when they beat Australia 2-1 in a home one-day series. The scandal that cost South African Hansie Cronje his reputation and cricket career broke just as the Australians arrived in the country. The Australian captain has no doubt South Africa, which he rates as the No 2 Test and one-day side behind his own, will arrive here ready to play hard. “They still see it as payback time for the (1999) World Cup....it’s a bit of unfinished business (for them),” Waugh said. Australia tied a World Cup match against South Africa and won a thriller in the Super Six last year on the way to taking out the tournament. |
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Botha relishing challenge LONDON, July 14 (AFP) — Francois Botha will draw inspiration from boxing legend Muhammad Ali on Saturday when he attempts to win the WBC and IBF world heavyweight titles from world champion Lennox Lewis at the London Arena. As a little boy in his native South Africa, Botha began his pursuit of the heavyweight championship at the age of six after watching Ali beat the then champion George Foreman in the legendary “Rumble in the Jungle” in Zaire. “Muhammad Ali was the best there ever was,” said the 31-year-old Botha. “After watching him beat Foreman, I said to my dad, ‘One day, I am going to win the heavyweight championship of the world’. That’s when my dreams started.” At the age of seven, Botha took up boxing, but lost his first five fights. He almost threw in the towel and contemplated another career. However, instead of giving up, he persevered and his hard work soon paid off. “I distinctly remember losing those first few fights,” recalled Botha. “You might say that it was a rather inauspicious beginning for someone who was looking to become the world heavyweight champion someday. “Of course, I was extremely discouraged. People thought I would quit, but in my heart, I never thought of giving up.” Originally known as “The Tiger” in the amateur ranks and later on as “The Bomb” because of his fiery temper, Botha now goes by the moniker of the “White Buffalo.” “The white buffalo may be extinct in today’s day and age, but there is one left,” he declared. Botha almost realised his dream in December 1995, in Stuttgart, Germany, when he squared off against Axel Schulz for the vacant IBF championship. Although he out-pointed Schulz the fight was declared a no-contest after the giant South African tested positive for an anabolic steroid. Almost a year later Botha got his chance to regain the IBF title when he squared off against American Michael Moorer but was sent to the canvas in the 11th round for the first time in his career. He survived two more knockdowns in the same round but a series of unanswered shots from Moorer to open the 12th round prompted referee Mills Lane to call a halt to the bout. But this time around Botha, who now resides in California, feels better prepared for the Lewis clash and is relishing the task ahead. “Lennox Lewis hasn’t felt the Buffalo’s power yet. So many of these heavyweights underestimate me — they think I’m a fruitcake.” Botha is expected to pick up around $ 1.5 million for the fight but money is not his motivation for winning the contest. An astute businessman, Botha owns several
restaurants and has just patented champagne glasses which light up when filled with ‘bubbly’. If he wrestles the two belts from Lewis on Saturday to become the new champion, the ‘Buffalo’ will have every reason to celebrate and will no doubt raise a glass to his role model Muhammad Ali. |
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Rafter, Hewitt put Australia ahead BRISBANE, July 14 (Reuters) — Patrick Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt combined to put Davis Cup holders Australia in control of their World Group semifinal with Brazil by winning today’s opening singles matches. Rafter demolished world No 4 Gustavo Kuerten 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 before Hewitt swept past Fernando Meligeni 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 to leave Australia needing to win just one of the remaining three matches to book a place in the December final against either Spain or the USA. “We’ve got them pinned on the ropes, but that doesn’t mean anything,” Australia’s non-playing captain John Newcombe said. Showing no signs of fatigue and jet-lag after their Wimbledon campaigns, the Australians demonstrated their grass-court superiority to easily overcome their South American opponents whose best performances have been on clay. “I don’t care what surface you play on ... that was not a result that I thought I would get off Gustavo,” Rafter said after his 81-minute romp. “I don’t know if he really believed that he could beat me.” Kuerten, a two-time French Open champion, was clearly uncomfortable on the super-fast temporary grass court at Brisbane’s ANZ Stadium and later announced that he would not be taking part in Saturday’s doubles as originally planned, citing a groin strain. Brazil’s non-playing captain Ricardo Acioly said he had still not decided on who would partner Jaime Oncin in Saturday’s pairs against Mark Woodforde and Sandon Stolle even though Brazil needs to win the rubber to keep the tie alive. Kuerten dropped service five times during the match and failed to get a single break point on Rafter’s delivery. Demoralised by the manner of his defeat, he said: I didn’t find anything to bother him during our match. “It was the toughest day in my life to lose a match that way.” Rafter had only arrived in Australia on Tuesday after losing Sunday’s Wimbledon final to Pete Sampras, but shrugged off his weariness with a textbook display of serve-and-volley tennis. “That was the place for me to play, especially against Gustavo, at the net,” the dual US Open champion said. Hewitt, who also arrived in Australia on Tuesday night after reaching the Wimbledon mixed doubles final with his Belgian girlfriend Kim Clijsters, made a flying start against Meligeni by breaking the left-hander’s first two service games. The Adelaide teenager also dropped his own opening service game but recovered to take the opening set in 33 minutes and was rarely troubled again as he wrapped up victory in an hour and a half. |
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Johnson, Greene have little in common save speed Before their likely 200 metres shootout in Sydney, Maurice Greene and Michael Johnson face off first in the US trials starting today (Friday). Maurice Greene is so brash he wears T-shirts proclaiming his excellence. And Michael Johnson seems thoroughly irritated by brash people. Two of the world’s fastest men have little in common besides speed. Greene frequently flashes smiles so enormous they seem to explode out of him; Johnson’s standard expression is no expression. Greene accelerates low to the ground like a bowling ball. Johnson runs so upright he appears to be leaning backwards. Oh, they do have one thing in common: each believes he will win three gold medals in Sydney — and the 200 metres is where they will have to scrap it out. For only one, of course, can triumph. Greene has his sights set on winning the 100 metres, the 4x100 metres relay and the 200 metres. Johnson wants gold in the 400 metres, the 4x400 metres relay and the 200 metres. A preview of their expected 200 metres showdown will come during the US Olympic track-and-field trials in Sacramento, California. By nature a pure sprinter, Greene has only recently concentrated on the art of rounding a curve in a race. Last year, he won his first 200 metres world title. Johnson has long been a master of the oval track. He is the world record-holder in the 200 metres and 400 metres. Green is 25, talented and cocky. As the world record holder in the 100 metres, he can lay claim to being the “world’s fastest man” — and does. The vanity plates on his car read, “Mo Gold”. The T-shirts read, “Pheno-Mo-nal”. A few weeks before, Johnson sat in a neat, black linen suit at a news conference in Houston, Texas. Wearing wire-rimmed glasses, he looked like a calculus professor studying a problem. A self-proclaimed “boring” person, Johnson did not specifically say Greene was callow or misguided. Not specifically. Read: Johnson does not consider Greene a major threat in the 200 metres. Greene has no Olympic medals; Johnson owns three — all gold. By September 28, the men’s 200 metres final in Sydney, it will be clear who is the world’s best. An enlightening preview should come at the trials on July 23. Very tall poppy syndrome “If Ian at 6 ft 5 inches had size 6 feet he would have been falling over repeatedly because of lack of balance,” was how Ian Thorpe’s mother Margaret reacted to reports that a German swimmer had said the world record breaker had big feet and hands because of growth hormones. “His father has size 13, I have size 11 and his sister has size 10 feet, so he’s come from a large stock,” Margaret said laughing off the latest accusations against the 17-year-old swimming sensation. German swim team captain Chris Carol Bremer told Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper the public should be made aware of the side effects of using banned growth hormones. The press has come in for some stick here for translating and interpreting that flimsy quote to once again cast a shadow of doubt against the young national hero. Mrs Thorpe told of how Ian could never fit into his age clothes and how they once had to pay $ 400 to make him a pair of dress shoes. “Fortunately now Adidas takes care of his track shoes and he has found a dress shoe brand which goes up to his size,” Mr Thorpe said. “Shaqueel O’Neill has size 22 shoes so Ian has some catching up to do,” she joked about the growth hormone allegation. The Sydney teenager has repeatedly declared himself free of drugs and offered himself for testing. Olympic reunion for warring team-mates Like it or not, Wimbledon finalist Pat Rafter will have to put up with Davis Cup dropout Mark Philippoussis at the Olympic Games. Following outstanding campaigns at Wimbledon, Rafter and Philippoussis will be among the six male players nominated by Australian selectors for Sydney in September. Davis Cup selectors John Newcombe, Tony Roche and Allan Stone, who double as Olympic selectors, will this week make their recommendations to the Australian Olympic Committee. Despite what they might think of Philippoussis’s withdrawal from this week’s Davis Cup semifinal against Brazil in Brisbane, their hands are tied regarding games selection. The criteria for the Olympics are set in stone. The International Tennis Federation has ruled that if a nation has four players ranked in the world’s top 50 after the end of Wimbledon they are all eligible for direct acceptance into the 64-player men’s singles draw. Tennis Australia will nominate a six-member men’s team — four singles and a doubles combination. Those players in the top 50 include Lleyton Hewitt (8), Rafter (14) and Philippoussis (18). Six-time Wimbledon doubles champions Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge will attempt to win back-to-back gold medals after their Atlanta triumph. Herb dose for Kookaburras The Australian men’s hockey team (Kookaburras) have drawn inspiration from athletics great Herb Elliott as they prepare to erase the frustrations of 10 failed Olympic men’s hockey campaigns. The Rome 1500 metres gold medallist spoke to the squad before announcing the names of the 16 men charged with delivering the coveted medal they have promised for so long. Seven of the 16 players have tried before latest. This latest bunch of Kookaburras are hoping to end one of Australian sport’s longest and most painful droughts. Only eight of the 16 are likely to be around for Athens in 2004 but Davies’ message was directed as much at them as the senior players. There are nine first time Olympians in the squad while York and Stacy will be competing at their fourth games. Australia has won three silver medals and two bronze in 10 Olympics since entering the hockey competition at Melbourne in 1956 where they lost to India in the semi finals. The determination to take gold runs deepest for captain Michael York and his deputy Jay Stacy who were there at Seoul in 1988 when the Australians were raging favourites after winning all five qualifying games only to crash out to eventual winners Great Britain 3-2 in the semifinals and finish fourth. Coach Terry Walsh also tasted defeat as a player in 1976 at Montreal when the Kookaburras lost to New Zealand 0-1 in the final and he is determined to reverse the trend at his first Olympics as mentor. Walsh said the side had learnt from bitter experience that the semifinal round of Olympic competition was far different from the round robin phase. Veteran striker Davies has told his team-mates to treat the Sydney Olympics as their last chance to win gold.
— PMG  |
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PBA grants affiliation to PSEB PATIALA Since the prevailing rules under the BAI’s
constitution do not permit affiliations to other bodies,
other than district units, PSEB’s affiliation would
not have been possible. However, the PBA strongly
presented PSEB’s case to the BAI, and this decision
will certainly prove to be a shot in the arm for PSEB
sport. Apart from the Punjab Police, PSEB is the biggest
employers of sportspersons in the state. Sources say
that one of the factors which helped PSEB in its efforts
to take affiliation was that it was pointed out by the
PBA to the BAI authorities that the entire state team,
which participated in the last senior national badminton
championships held at Kochi, comprised players who were
either employed full time with PSEB or those shuttlers
who had been contracted by the power board for a period
of atleast three years. Off late, PSEB has been
contracting players as recruitment of sportsmen has been
banned by the board authorities. Although the powermen
have been granted affiliation vide PBA’s letter
dated July 11, signed by the association’s honorary
secretary, Mr Rajinder Kalsi, it also been made clear
that affiliation apart, the PSEB will have no voting
right whatsoever in the PBA. At present the cream of
Punjab badminton is employed with the PSEB. Among the top
PSEB players who have made a mark for themselves in
recent years are this year’s state champ Rohan
Kapoor, former state champions Ram Lakhan, Jaideep Kohli
and Mohammed Salim. It also has in its ranks national
doubles player Chanderdeep Randhawa and former junior
international Yogita Sharma, who at present is the coach
of the PSEB squad. Cricket tournament Atma Ram Kumar
Sabha School (ARKS) beat Budha Dal Cricket Academy (BDCA)
by a narrow margin of five runs in the Patiala District
(U-16) Cricket Tournament league match for the Britannia
trophy, played at the Dhruv Pandove Stadium here on
Friday. For ARKS, young all-rounder Kalish was the star
performer as he scored a neat 38 and then took two
wickets conceding 27 runs. Gurvinder (15) and Rahul
Sharma (17) were shaping up well, particularly Rahul
Sharma who showed slick technique in dealing with the
spinners, but his short but crisp innings came to an
unfortunate end when he was run out after he slipped on
the turf. For BDCA only Dhanwant Singh (41) batted with
determination, but his knock was to no avail as BDCA went
down by five runs in a thriller of a match. Brief
scores: ARKS school: 127 all out (Kalish 38,Gurvinder
Singh 15, Rahul Sharma 17, Shiv 10, Daljit 2 for 38,
Yadvinder 2 for 12, Gagan 1 for 12, Vijay Bir 1 for
16) BDCA academy: 122 all out (Dhanwant 41, Vijay Bir
10, Lakhbir Singh 3 for 19, Kalish 2 for 27, Shiv Kumar 2
for 20). |
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Saqlain, Anil Kumble shine LONDON, July 14 (Reuters) — Saqlain Mushtaq took six for 63 in 30 overs as county championship leaders Surrey hit back in their top-of-the-table clash with Yorkshire at The Oval yesterday. Second-placed Yorkshire looked poised for a commanding first-innings lead after England batsman Michael Vaughan (80) and Australia’s Darren Lehmann (55) steered them to 189 for four in reply to the home side’s 226. But they lost their last six wickets for just 53 runs against Saqlain and spin-twin Ian Salisbury (3 for 105) as they collapsed to 242 all out for a lead of just 16. In the final two overs Surrey lost opener Mark Butcher lbw to Chris Silverwood without scoring to end the day on one for one in their second innings. Lancashire were left facing a hefty first innings deficit against Somerset who opened up a lead of 131 at Taunton. Replying to the visitors first-innings of 239, Somerset advanced from their overnight 48 without loss to a commanding 370 for six after 121 overs. Their Tasmanian captain Jamie Cox led the way with 171 off 321 balls, including one six and 19 fours. He shared in two century stands, adding 104 for the first wicket with Mark Lathwell (43), and 199 for the third with Peter Bowler (95). Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble took four for 32 as Leicestershire dismissed Durham for 171 to lead by 51 after the first innings at Leicester. |
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Ramesh wins, placed
joint second BENASQUE (Spain), July 14 (UNI) —Defending champion G.M.D. Komijenovi was in his elements and recorded a decisive victory against overnight leader G.M.M. Marin of shape top spot with G.M.K. Movsziszian after the eighth round of the Benasque Chess Tournament. Both have seven points each. IM R.B. Ramesh played a consistently aggressive game against IM S. Kovacevic (2367) Yug to move the joint second with 6.5 points. IM V. Saravanan stumbled to his first loss when he blundered a pawn against GM C. Para. Vedant Goswani played poorly in a winning position and later avoided several draw opportunities in search of an elusive win and finally lost to WGM-Cristina Foisor (2386). IM R.B. Ramesh faced the trompowsky attack to his King’s Indian defence. Ramesh employed a rarely used setup and emerged with double bishop advantage early in the opening. Important results of the 8th around. IM R.B. Ramesh (6.5) beat IM. Sfobodjan Kovacevic (5.5) IM. V. Saravanan (5.5) lost to GM Cituentes Parada (6.5) Vedant Goswani (5) lost to WGM Foisar (6) GM D. Kombenovic (7) beat GM M.Marin (6.5) GM G. Hernandez (6.5) drew IM I. Cosma (6.5) GM Campora (5.5) lost to GM K.Movsziszian (7) GM Kuzmin (5.5) lost to IM H Hidalgo (6.5) GM Psakhis (6) beat Larsen Karsten (5) |
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Sahara Cup from
September 9 NEW DELHI, July 14 — The Sahara Cup one-day cricket tournament between India and Pakistan will be revived when the two countries meet for a five-match series in Toronto (Canada) from September 9 to 17. The matches will be played on September 9, 10,13, 16 and 17. All the matches will be telecast live. The fourth edition of the Sahara Cup was not held last year due to the Kargil conflict. “We (the Sahara Pariwar) felt it was the minimum duty we could perform for those who were fulfilling the extreme duties of sacrificing their lives at Kargil for peaceful and beautiful existence of their fellow countrymen”, explained Chief Controller of Sahara India Pariwar UK Bose at a press briefing here today. But joint managing director of IMG Ravi Krishnan said this year’s tournament would be counted as the fourth edition “and hopefully, we may hold 10 editions of the tournament as the desire is to continue”. |
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Joyner-Kersee eyes Olympics SACRAMENTO, July 14 (Reuters) — Jackie Joyner-Kersee wants to compete one more time in the greatest sporting event of her life — the Olympics. That, the 38-year-old world heptathlon record holder said yesterday, was the reason she came back to the sport after a two-year retirement. She will compete in the women’s long jump qualifying on Friday at the US Olympic trials. “To have the opportunity of making five Olympic teams,” said the three-time Olympics gold medallist. “It’s a test of your discipline and your desires.” So, this evening, the American record holder in the long jump will join 26 other competitors on a runway at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento to take the first step towards making the Olympic team for Sydney. “I really don’t think this is a long jump competition,” her husband and coach, Bob Kersee, said at a news conference adjacent to the stadium. “The number one story here is, can Jackie Joyner-Kersee make her fifth Olympic team? Beating Marion (Jones) or Dawn Burrell is not what counts. What counts is her finding that good jump that gets her on the team. If she does that, as her coach, she is writing history for me again,” said Kersee, who has coached numerous Olympic medallists. “It’s the ultimate goal for me.” Only one other US woman athletics performer has achieved that goal: long jumper Willye White, who competed for the US Olympic teams from 1956 through 1972. The Kersees, who now live in St Louis, Missouri, began discussing her possible return in March, Joyner-Kersee said. “Bobby was working with some football guys, and he said why didn’t I start doing some different things,” Joyner-Kersee said. “I looked at him like he was crazy.” But the more the two talked and worked, the more Kersee began to see the possibility of his wife, who last competed in July 1998, returning. There were ups and downs, Kersee admitted. Joyner-Kersee even left the track one time in April determined not to return. “I took a week off and came back,” Joyner-Kersee said. By June 10, she was ready to compete in a meet in Long Beach, California, Kersee believed. But achilles problems cancelled the appearance. Finally, about 10 days ago, “I felt a little bit better,” she said. Yesterday they declared that Joyner-Kersee would compete in the trials. |
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Merger
“before” FIH meeting CHANDIGARH, July 14 — The merger of men’s and women’s national federations in hockey will take place before the Federation de Internationale (FIH) meeting scheduled to be held in November at Paris (France). This was revealed by Ms Vidya Stokes, president of the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation, while talking over phone from Shimla this evening. On the issue of four key hockey players, she said that they had committed a big mistake by not reporting at national camps prior to the pre-qualifying meet. All four could not have the similar reasons at the same time. But keeping in view their past performances and duty they did for the country, apologies had been sought from them by June 15. The committee had received apology from three players so far. The executive committee meeting of the IWHF will be held on July 17 at Delhi. Ms Stokes was not happy with the condition of hockey grounds in India and said the inadequate number of synthetic turfs were a big setback for the development of hockey in the country. She was of the view that every state should have at least one hockey turf. |
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Merchant shocked MUMBAI, July 14 (PTI) — India’s young cuiest, ranked No. 2 in the country Rupesh Shah, sidelined Joven Alba of Philippines 5-3 in the pre-quarterfinals of the Asian Snooker Championship in Hong Kong yesterday. Former Asian champions Yasin Merchant of India and Sam Chong of Malaysia bowed out of the championship with identical scores of 3-5 against 1996 under-21 world champion Ivan Chan of Hong Kong and Ng Ann Seng of Malaysia, respectively, according to information received here today. Others to progress into the last eight stage were Somporn Kuthawang and Noppadon Sangnil (both from Thailand). Kuthawang beat Pang Weiguo of China 5-2 while Sangnil ousted Kevin Cheung of Hong Kong 5-1. Saleh Mohammed of Pakistan, who had a 80
clearance while accounting for Da Hailin of China 5-3, also made it to the quarter finals. Former Asian and world champion Mohammed Yousuf of Pakistan was shocked 1-5 by Hung Chung-Ming of Chinese Taipei while in a marathon five-hour match Marlon Manalo of Hong Kong pipped his compatriot Jackey Chan 5-4. |
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